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THE

BRITISH PULPIT:
CONSISTING OP

DISCOURSES BY THE MOST EMINENT LIVING DIVINES,

ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND:

ACCOMPANIED WITH

PULPIT SKETCHES
TO WHICH ARE ADDED

AND SELECTIONS ON THE OFFICE, DUTIES,

AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.

SCRIPTXJRAL ILLUSTRATIONS

REV. W. SUDDARDS,
BECTOB OT GBACE CHX7BCH, PHILADELPHIA.

SIXTH

EDITION.

VOL.

NEW
ROBERT CARTER,

II.

YORK:
58 CANAL STREET.

1844.

THE NEW YORK'

PUBLIC LIBRARY

2o088?
ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILOEN FO'-'OATIONS.
IONS.

1903

INTRODUCTION.

In presenting to the public the second volume of the British Pulpit,

the editor avails himself of the opportunity thus afforded of expressing
his thanks for the patronage given to the former volume, of which
nearly two thousand copies have been sold within six months.
The prevailing literature of the present day is evidently of a light and

ephemeral character. The teeming thousands of novels and romances

which float through the length and breadth of the land, plainly demonstrate that a taste has been created for a species of reading calculated
rather to amuse the fancy than to improve the heart
to inflame the
passions, than correct the life.
It is true, that efforts are made for the
improvement of our widely scattered and rapidly increasing population
for the lessening of their miseries, and the augmentation of their
happiness. But even some of these are of a defective character; for it
unfortunately happens that many are anticipating certain results from
causes altogether inadequate to their production.
Their hearts glow
with impassioned ardour, as they enlarge with enthusiastic animation
upon the influence of civil liberty, improvements in political economy,
beneficent laws, diffused philosophy, and wisely formed plans of education
but with the destiny of man in a future state of existence, they
meddle not, while his responsibility to God as a moral agent gives
them no concern. Thus they reach not the moral part of his nature,
and consequently leave him with wants which neither philosophy,
lavvs, science, liberty, knowledge, or education, can possibly supply.
This supply can only be found in an acquaintance with, and appreciation of, those heaven-inspired truths of revealed religion which direct
not only to the disease and desolation of our fallen nature, but to that
blessed Redeemer who is mighty and willing to save.
Legislative
enactments will not make us benevolent; the principles of political
economy will send forth from our hearts no steady flow of generous
feeling to our fellow beings
neitlier will a knowledge of chemistry
or mechanism curb the unruly passions, or correct the vicious practices
of wicked, unprincipled men.
To reach these, we must avail ourselves of the instructions of that record which reveals the covenant of
God as a resting place for the soul ; which makes known Jesus Christ
as the atonement for sin
and spreads before the eye a bright and
beauteous heaven as the Christian's final and glorious home.
These
truths alone are sufficient to grapple with the miseries and vices of our
world and, under the sanctifying power of their Author, regenerate and
save the nations of the earth.
For while all other efforts shall prove
abortive, yet, under the reign of the Prince of Zion, and amidst the
diffusion of the principles and power of his gospel, domestic affection,
public virtue, and universal peace, shall be enjoyed by the nations of
;

INTRODUCTION,

all nations shall call

our earth. " All nations shall he blessed in him
him Blessed." The si2;ns of the times seem to indicate the dawn of
The almost universal peace at present prevailing
that auspicious day.
;

among

tlie

nations of the earth

affording facilities for translating into

is

every language, and circulating through every region, that blessed

volume which " liveth and abideth for ever." Travellers are exploring
every land, commerce is extending to every people, our ships are
touching upon every shore and a way is thus opened for sending forth
the missionary of the cross to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.
And we rejoice that the Christian church, experiencing a revival of
religion greater and wider than that which accomplished the reformation of the sixteenth century, is putting on her beautiful garments and
going forth into the strong holds of idolatry, to publish among perishing
millions the unsearchable riches of Christ.
The prediction of Daniel
" Many shall run to and fro, and
is receiving its accomplishment
knowledge shall be increased." And we trust the time will speedily
arrive when tlieir sound shall go through all the earth ; when the animosity of parties in the church shall only be seen on the dark page
of a past history; and when there shall be but "one fold," as there
is but " one Shepherd ;" and Jesus Christ shall be all in all, the theme
of every tongue, the joy of every heart.
Hasten it. Lord God Almighty! Thy people in all lands say. Amen.
Among the means instituted by God for the accomplishment of this
great and glorious result, is found that of a living ministry, established
for the proclamation of that plan of redeeming mercy which is made
known in the oracles of divine truth. And it must be a source of joy
to the Christian, that God is I'aising up in all Christian lands, and in
some heathen countries where the missionary has unfurled the banners
of the cross, men who, like Barnabas and Paul, are willing to hazard their
lives for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
large portion of these
worthies, during the last three hundred years, have been found in
Great Britain and it has been well observed by a reviewer of the
;

first

volume of the British Pulpit,

" E norland

that

the home, the bulwark of Protestantism; the champion of Bible

light and knowledore ; and amidst all her agitations, she is a Christian land ; hers
is a Christian people ; nowhere on earth, in modern times, has the gospel been more
successful ; nowhere has the cross of Christ been better held up as the power of
God for the salvation of men. Are not these reasons why British preachers are
interesting to us on this side of the water?
hear of them ; we read the works
of some of them ; but we wish to know how they preach in their ordinary, regular,
parochial work, that we may see what kind of sermons people hear in England, and
what kind of preaching it is, which in that country is carrying on the cause of Christ."
is

We

It will

be the earnest desire of the editor of the British Pulpit to

meet these wishes, and to spread on the pages of the successive volumes
of the work, sermons by men of every name, who preach not themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord.
The portraits accompanying the volume are said to be excellent
likenesses of the men they picture to the eye. It is scarcely necessary
to say that they are among the choice spirits of our age; men of sterling

worth, whose praise

is

known

in all the churches.

INTRODUCTION.

The Rev. Rowland Hill was born at Hawkstone, Shropshire, Au^st 23, 1745.
He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, where, after attending to the
In consequence of
regular course ol' study, he took a degree as Master of Arts.
certain irregularities in lay preaching and other matters, it was with considerable
difficulty he received ordination ; and such at that period was deemed the excess
and extravagance of his zeal, that many of the churches were closed against him.
In 177'2, he laid the foundation stone of Surrey Chapel, which, when completed,
became the scene of his untiring labours until the close of his life, in April, 1833,
at the advanced age of eighty-nine years; having toiled in the service of his Master
Whatever were the peculiar eccentricities or errors of
for more than sixty years.
Rowland Hill, there can be no doubt of his exertions in the cause of Christ having
been crowned with great success. He came into public life when England was
passing through a dark night ; or rather, when she was feeling the dawn of returning

day.

The opposing elements kept up a long and severe conflict; and during this
Rowland Hill was found faithful to his post in the battle field, preaching

period,

the unsearchable riches of Christ; occasionally itinerating through dark districts

of country, braving the noontide summer's heat and winter's piercing cold, as also
the sneers and opposition of wicked men, that he might bring perishing sinners to a
knowledge of the truth. He was a warm supporter of all the benevolent and religious societies of the age and after a life of toil and consecration to God on earth,
he is no doubt now reaping a rich reward in heaven.
The Rev. H. Melville, A.M., minister of Camden Chapel, Camberwell, is
one of the most popular Episcopal ministers in the British dominions ; and if
a highly intelligent, faithful, fearless, and impressive announcement of divine
truth is well calculated to secure popularity of the best kind for the minister of
the gospel, tlien does Mr. Melville put forth his energies to obtain it. As a preacher,
he is always masculine, and frequently vehement many of his sentences are
unusually brilliant and his powerful appeals are admirably adapted to move the
conscience and impress the heart. Placed in the vicinity of London, he occupies a
and the overflowing congregations to
position of vast importance and influence
which he rninislers, both in his own parish and elsewhere, give proof of the estimation in which he is held. May he long continue a burning and a shining light.
Dr. Andrew Thomson was born July 11, 1779. In 180-3 he was set apart to the
work of the ministry ; and in consequence of the strong and fearless part which he
took in the councils of the Presbyterian Kirk of Scotland, he has been generally
designated the " lion of the Scotch church." As a preacher. Dr. Thomson was
decidedly evangelical; but his sermons were chiefly of a practical nature; he rarely
entered into abstruse speculations, or bewildered his hearers with philosophical
perplexities.
As a theologian, said Dr. Chalmers, in a funeral sermon preached
on the occasion of his death, he was of the olden theology of Scotland. As a controversialist in the affairs of the church to which he belonged, and the party whose
cause he espoused, he displayed unrivalled talents, as a public speaker; and a
firmness of nerve which neither opposition nor overwhelming majorities could move.
In private life, he is said to have been every thing that is amiable and engaging
His pulpit oratory was distintender in his affections, warm in his friendships.
guished by a nervous vigour which never lost its power ; while a faithful discharge
of pastoral duties endeared him to the people of his charge. But the prophets do
not live for ever: on the 9th of February, 1831, he returned home from the Presbytery, apparently in excellent health, in company with some of his friends, from
whom he parted at his own door he was not, however, permitted to cross the
threshold alive
the hand of death arrested him he fell to the ground in a state of
insensibility, and never spoke again.
Medical aid was immediately procured, but
all in vain
the vital spark had fled ; the parish of St. George's was bereaved of its
pastor ; the kirk of Scotland, of one of its ablest defenders ; the British and Foreign
Bible Society, of a warm and able supporter and the oppressed of every land, of
an ardent and devoted advocate. This unlooked-for event caused the city of Edinburgh to be clothed in mourning ; and men of every creed showed their esteem of
the man, and their respect for the minister, by crowding in thousands, as his body
was conveyed to the place of sepulture.
The Rev. Richard Watson was a minister in the Wesleyan Methodist Society,
and certainly Avas one of the brightest ornaments of that distinguished body. To a
A 2
:

INTRODUCTION.

intellect and grasp of mind which fall to the lot of few men, Mr. Watson
added the riches of theological literature, and the emhellishments of a chaste and
His tall figure; his long, thin face; his high, overarched fore8terlin<T eloquence.
head, hearing the traces of deep reflection ; together with his chaste, simple, and
appropriate action, gave additional force to his clear and solemn announcements of
His Theological Institutes stand deservedly high, as a work of great
divine truth.
research, and give ahundant evidence of his talents, under the influence of genuine
He had a supreme regard
piety, being consecrated to the service of pure religion.
for the word of God, and was strongly opposed to extravagant speculations on religious subjects. After quoting, in one of his controversial pamphlets, an objection
to what he deemed an important truth respecting the divine essence, and expressing
his conviction of the metaphysical soundness of his argument, he exclaims, " But
a truce to these reasonings I willingly give them all up for a single word of the

power of

them not they seem to bring me irreverently too near

would not break through and gaze. While 1 write, I feel how just, and
reproving, are the words of the poet of Paradise

testimony of

God
yet how
to

God

I affect

Dark with excessive light thy skirts appear,

Yet dazzle heaven, that brightest seraphim
Approach not, but with both wings veil theii' eyes."

During the sickness which terminated his honourable and useful career, he displayed the patient spirit of the Christian waiting for the coming of his Lord. He
had a strong attachment to the forms of the Established Church, and when debarred
from the public ordinances of religion, used them in his family, not omitting the
Psalms, the Epistles, or the collect for the day. He would frequently say, " Read
I am very fond of that when I cannot go out on the Sabbath,
to me the Te Beum
because it seems to unite me in spirit with the whole catholic church on earth and
in heaven."
The sting of death appeared to be removed and feeling his entire dependence
upon Christ, he looked at the valley of death as the pathway of life. To a friend
he remarked, that for some time he had a desire to live a few years longer, .that he
might accomplish some matters that he thought might be useful; "but now," said
he, " the desire of it is taken away."
He then spoke of his unworthiness, and of
his firm reliance on the atonement of Christ, and said,
"A guilty, weak, and helpless worm,
On thy kind arms I fall
Be thou my strength and righteousness,
,

My

Jesus, and

my

all."

On

the 8th of .Tannary, 1833, without any apparent pain or convulsive struggle,
this eminent Christian minister departed this life, in the fifty-second year of his age,
in the joyful hope of a glorious immortality.
Rev. Charles Simeon. This eminent clergyman of the Church of England presents an instance of how much good the inventive genius and ardent spirit of real
piety may accomplish in a comparatively private station.
He was born the heir of
a considerable estate ; and has resided from his youth
first as a scholar, and then
Having early attained a spiritual
as a fellow
at the university of Cambridge.
knowledge of the truth, he has devoted his life and influence and wealth to the promotion of the principles of evangelical piety in the English Church. He has now
attained the age of near fourscore years ; and for more than half a century has occupied the ground on which he still stands, testifying to small and great the great
principles of the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
When he first commenced his efforts
as a preacher in Cambridge, it was in the face of much reproach, for what appeared
to many to be new doctrines in the church.
But under the blessing of God, he has
seen these holy doctrines spreading their influence around him, until a very large
portion of the clergy of the Established Church are united with him ; not a few of
whom have been influenced in their course by him, in preaching the same faith
which was once destroyed. The influence of Mr. Simeon upon young men in the
university preparing for orders, has been very great and useful.
Many such look
up to him as to a father in the Lord, and have reason to bless God for having
stationed him thus, as it were, " a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord.*'

INDEX

I.

ALPHABETICAL ARRANGEMENT OF PREACHERS.

PREACHER.

Adkins, T.

W.

The

Paul's Reasoning before Felix

Sacrifice

FAQB
201

Lamb

Ascriptions of Praise to the

W.

Atherton,
AoLD,

SUBJECT.
.

and Exaltation of Christ

105

97

Belfrage, H.

The Soul an Object of benevolent Sympathy and Regard

The Course of the Gospel

Blackburn,

J.

Necessity of Watchfulness

Beaumont,

Bowers,

E.

J.

J.

Bradley, C.

J.

Dale, T.

Dillon, R. C.

81

The unpardonable Sin

Important Question

307

Professed Subjection to the Gospel of Christ

393

Chalmers, T.

J.

Drew,

S.

The Evil and Danger of popular Ignorance

The Effects produced by Divine Grace

The

J.

Sacrifices

of Christian

471
133
169

409

287

Dixon,

French,

which Paul was willing

to

...*..

...

...

make

Cause

in the

of Christ

Geddes,
Good,

J.

J.

Hambleton,

J.

Hamilton, R.

71

377

The moral Condition of the World a Source

Sympathy
The Worshippers in the heavenly Temple
The Sin and Punishment of Achan
The Privileges of the Children of God

BuDDicoM, R. P.
Bunting,

W.

Hill, R.

Hunter,

J.

277
185

141

The Joy of Heaven over a repentant Sinner

The blessed Results of persevering Prayer

177

249

Character unalterable after Death

223

Recognition in Heaven

463
451

Glorious Displays of Gospel Grace

The Dangers

to

which the Young

are exposed from the

En385

ticements of Sinners

INDEX.

James,
Jay,

J.

A.

Jebb, Bishop

Jklf, R.

W.

The Duty and Advantages

W.

JuDKiN, T. J.

Legge, G.

LiEFCHiLD, T.

LoMAS,

J.

LoRiMER,

J.

FAGB

SUBJECT.

PBBACBEB.
Irving, E.

G.

of religious Meditation

207

The Influence of Memory in increasing the Misery of the Lost

No Temple in Heaven
The Influence of Christ's Resurrection
The Danger of Relapse
The Christian Sabbath

115

God the Source of Happiness

The Sin of Backsliding

247

Christian Perfection explained and enforced

Restoration of the

to their

S.

The

Sufferings and

27
43

Triumph of Christ

M'DoNALD, G. B. The Nature of Conversion and

The Employment of Angels
Macfarlane, J.

123

the Sources of

Delay

Melville, H.

Mysteries in Religion

The Power

59

of Wickedness and Righteousness to reproduce

17

themselves

W.

The Duty

Newton, R.

Profit

Noel, G. T.

The Encouragement

Parsons, E.

Parsons,

Naylor,

J.

343
35

M'Neile, H.

335

own Land, and Conversion

to the Faith of Christ

M'All, R.

91

445

401

Jews

266

of improving God's Visitations

153

317

and Loss
to

299

Prayer

The Messiah's Increase

The eleventh Hour

193

257

Raffles, T.

A Message from

Reed, A.

The Importance

Robertson, A.

Seasons of Trial, Times of Preparation

353

Robins, S.

Human

161

SiBTHORP, R.

W.

Stowell, H.

Styles,

J.

Styles,

J.

Townley, H.

Waogh, A.

God
of Consideration

and Spiritual Knowledge

215
327

The March of the Church

429

485

God the Bestower of all good Gifts

The Question of Miracles considered
The Vanity of Pleasure

The

435

The Nature

Influence of the

Love of Christ

of Prayer

231

367

421'

INDEX

n.

ARRANGEMENT OF TEXTS.

BIBLICAL

PBEACHEH.

TEXT.

PAGE

Genesis xxiv. 63

E. Irving, Presbyterian

207

Exodus

T.

335

25

xvi.

Deuteronomy
Joshua

vii.

Judges

iii.

Kings

A. Reed, Congregational.

R. P. Bcddicom,
T. Raffles, Con

215

T. Liefchild, Con

401

H. Stowell, Ep

20

2023.

xiii.

1 Chronicles xxix. 14.

Psalm

10

i.

Proverbs

xi.

30

Proverbs xxix. 18
i.

Ecclesiastes

ii.

Ecclesiastes ix. 10.

Song of Solomon

...

viii. 5.

Isaiah xi. 11

Isaiah

xlii.

231

Hunter, Pr

385

J.

E. Beaumont, Methodist

J.

Dixon,

Me

277
161

Styles, Con

367

Me

343

Ep

429

G. B. M'Donald,

R.

13

16

W.

Sibthorp,

J.

G. Lorimer, Pr

S.

Drew, Me

H. M'Neile, Ep

Isaiah

R. S. M'All, Con

Jeremiah
Ezekiel

10, 11

viii.

ix.

W.

20

J.

Zechariah xiv. 8

Matthew

xii.

31, 32.

Matthew xii. 43
Vol. II.

45.

Naylor, Me

Bowers,

193

43
185

Isaiah xW. 15
liii.

71

Con

E. Parsons, Con

Isaiah ix. 7

169

J.

J.

327

421

S. Robins,

18

Ecclesiastes

Ep

Waugh, Pr

A.

xlv. 2

Proverbs

Judkin, Episcopal.

xxxii. 29.

1921.

J.

Me

59
123

153

471

H. Belfrage, Pr

377

Pr

287

T. Chalmers,

R.

W.

Jelf,

Ep

445

INDEX.

10

Matthew xx. 6

J.

Matthew

xxii.

Matthew

xxiv. 14

Mark

xiii.

Mark

xv. 42

Luke

XV. 16

Luke

xvi. 25.

Luke

xviii. 1

Me

317

Parsons, Con

257

R. Newton,

26

xvi.

T. Dale,

42

Ep

307

R. Hill

35, 36

J.

451

Blackburn, Con

....

Geddes, Pr

177

J.

A. James, Con

115

Ep

249

J.

Good,

French, Pr

Acts xxiv. 24, 25

W.

Romans

vi. 3,

Rt. Rev. J. Jebb.

Romans

viii.

17

J.

BaNTiNG,

W.

R.

141

Auld, Con

97

Corinthians

xiii.

12.

Corinthians

xiii. 13.

.J. Styles, Con

2 Corinthians

V. 14, 15.

H. Townley, Cow

2 Corinthians

ix. 13.

R. C. Dillon,

Ephesians

H. Melville,

Hebrews

iv.

Hebrews

vi, 1

Hebrews

x. 12, 13.

1 Peter

12

i.

463
485

Ep
Ep

G. T. Noel,

16

J.

...

Lomas,

W.
J.

17

241

Ep

299

Me

27

Atherton, Me

105

Macfarlane, Pr

35

T. Adkins, Con

Revelation v. 12
Revelation, vii. 14, 15.

C. Bradley,

W.

Revelation xxi. 22

RevelatioE xxii. 10

13.

J.

435
393

G. Legge, Con

12

ii.

91

409

Hamilton, Con

..........

Me

353

J.

J.

vi.

81

A. Robertson, Pr

Acts xxi, 13

Galatians

PAGE

PREACHER.

TXT.

Matthew

199

Ep

133

266

Jay, Con

Hambleton, Ep.

...

223

GENERAL INDEX TO SUBJECTS.

Page

Achat's

Buddicom.

siit

consequences

of.

Buddicom

170

72

Raffles.

216

to the middle aged

Raffles.

to the old

Raffles..

217
218

Address to the young

to the rich

Raffles..

to the skeptical

Raffles.

Affliction serviceable to

Nayhr.

man

156

383

the blessings of
Africa, prospects of

Watson.

239

Styles .

371

240

Ambiguous preaching

Amusements of

the world

Anecdotes of French

140

infidelity

Angels delight in viewing the subject of redemption

feel great pleasure in the

triumphs of redemption

joy over the conversion of sinners

occupy a high place in creation

power, and extent of observation

Atonement, blessings secured by

Backsliding

181

Macfarlane.

40

Geddes.

180

Macfarlane.

37

Macfarlane..

39

Liefchild..

403

372

409

Bunting.

of God, heirs of (Jod

'

Christ, adversaries of

ascriptions of praise to

AfJierton ..

Ill

Adkins

202

Dale.. 313

of.

Adkins.. 200

de ath of

death

37

Geddes.

Forbes.. 326

Children sold by their parents

\iews

Macfarlane.

Styles.

Card-playing dangerous

believers'

218
219

438

Toivnley .

of.

Atherton ..

exaltation of.

110

figuratively represented

Adkins.

199

humiliation of

Melville..

341

Dale.

not thought of by some

sacrifice offered

purpose of

sufferings of, expiatory, voluntary,

and

awfiil

308
106

Lessey.

108

Irving

sought in retirement

Lessey

by

11

208

M'All.

123

GENERAL INDEX TO SUBJECTS.

12

Page
Christ, sufferings

in his incarnate state

of,

the Resurrection and the Life

De Courcy

Melville.

419
175

the views of the formalist concerning

Dale.

311

unworthy thoughts respecting

Dale.

309

Hambleton
Bunting.

227
418
394

come

will

to

reward every

man

Christian, duties of the

experience

Dillon

perfection explained

Lomas.

29

Lomas

30

how

to be obtained

Lomas.

necessity of.

31

Bowers

478

often rendered ridiculous

Styles

485

argued from analogies in creation

Melville .

17

Cities uncongenial to meditation

Irving.

209

Considerations for parents and tutors

Baxter.

444

weeps over sinners

Christianity, doctrines

truth

of,

of,

Danger of the aged

Death,

all

must submit

to

contrast

Parsons.

261

Reed.

330

Reid.

391

Reed.

332

necessity of preparation for

Blackburn.

86

ought to be seriously expected

Blackburn.

bed scenes

how we may

prepare for

scene
the nature

M'Do7iald.

343

Blackburn.

85

Townley

of.

the result of

time

87
214
436

Chalmers.

uncertain

of,

DiiRculties in religion

Jebb

93

Discipline of the cliurch

Hall.

427

Divine grace and

its

Drew.

subjects

187

342

Dream, singular
Education, Christian, a preventive of

evil

a great benefit to the community

Ehud's message

to

Ephesus, description

Eglon

Examination necessary

French

Gaming

J.,

infidel

277
283

Rajjles .

215

Stowell.

324
236

Reed.

331

preaching

reclaimed

exceedingly injurious

Gift of tongues

God, goodness

Dixon

of.

Erection of churches, a noble charity

Fletcher, Rev.

Dixon

of.

159
Chateaubriand.

400

Styles.

371

Styles.

491

Legge

242

Foster.

441

proofs of the existence of.

Legge.

241

what

Legge.

242

M'All.

127

invisible

is

implied in being without

Gospel, adapted to universal diffusion

full salvation

confers great temporal benefits

Dillon.. 393

M'All,

128

GENERAL INDEX TO SUBJECTS.

13
Page

Gospel, diffusion of the

and suiEciency of the

fireeness

Parso?is.

194-

Chalmers.

290

power of the

395

Dillon

preaching of the

Parsons

196

the course of the

Belfrage.

349

triumphs over sin

Parsons.

194

Harvest of eternity regulated by the seed sown in time

Melville .

23

James.

115

punishment

Hell, a place of

no temple in

Jot/.

mental anguish of the inhabitants

James.

torturing recollections in

James.

Holy Ghost,

Hope

Immortality of

116
291

Wardlaw.

176

Toller.

247

Hamilton.

463

to the soul

man

266
116

Chalmers.

sin against

an anchor

Goode

Importunate widow

250

Indiscriminate reading dangerous

Sfyks.

474
373

Influence of worldly amusements

Styles.

369

Jowett.

351

Lorimer.

Idolatry of

Bowers,

pagan nations

Jerusalem and

its

vicinity

rejection of Christ

Lorimer.

44
47
48
44

results of their conversion

Lorimer

54

treatment of the

Lorimer

Bowers

Jews, general history of the

great things done for the

Lorimer.

prospect of their return to Palestine

Lorimer.

unbeUef and impenitence of the

witnesses for

Judgment

to

God
of.

Knowledge, limited nature of human

of

God

human,

168

Robins.

163

Robins.

164

Bowers.

475

God

McDonald.

344

Hambleton.

223

Newton.

318

Sfowell.

233

of.

comes from God

destroyer

means employed for

his conversion

God

Naylor.

Drew.

19
.

53

430
.

185

Judkin.. 335

to restraint

powers of his soul

Sibthurp .

of.

Vol. II. B

Melville.

naturally ignorant of

opposed

483

often attended with sorrow

his ability to give,

nature

Raffles.

Robins.. 163

character vmalterable after death

own

103

Robins.

Mahometan delusion
Man, a depraved being

his

46

Auld.

productive of happiness

unsanctified, leads from

dignity

45
475

Lorimer..

come

solemnities

Newton,

319

TtENEral index to subjects,

14

Paga

Man,

his

powers ought

to be rightly directed

spirituality of.

Mental discipline

divines,

and students

m theology

Styles.

368

Newton.

318
69

Burder.

248

Ministers should seek to save souls

style should be popular

should

the sick

visit

Miraculous endowments considered

Gerard.

248

Scott.

264

Styles.

488
375

Missions, Christian

Monuments

human grandeur

of

Collyer

perish

275

Moral evidence

Bums.

34

training

Robertson.

363

Mystery in astronomy and anatomy

M'Neil.

M'Neil.

61

nature of a

M'Neil.

60

Recessity for a

M'Neil.

59

Bowers.

477

Natural sins

297

Paradise

French

Paul, a lover of freedom

character

of,

as a preacher

preaching

extended travels
sacrifices

for

Auld.

French

of.

made by

Persecution overruled

143

good

Pharaoh's heart hardened

97
104

Auld.

effects of

141

French.

143

French

148

18

Melville.

366

Pious family

R. Hall.. 315

Popery
modifications

Robertson

of.

Prayer a Christian duty

design

Noel.
Noel.

to

Waugh
Waugh

God's regard
nature

of,

acceptable

right views necessary to

Principles of religion to be understood

Psalmody, observations on

of Sheba

Recognition in eternity

Redemption, harmony of
to

what

its

scheme

had regard

Waugh.
Lamas

299

300
303
4 25

423
421

28

287

Porteus.

58

Fletcher.

191

Hamilton

Macfarlane

37

Thorpe.

229

Styles.

374

466

152

Religious conversation
pleasures

Repentance
Retirement serviceable to

Chalmers

Procrastination, danger of.

360

Noel.

of.

encouragement

Queen

61

in the doctrine of the Trinity

man

Revivals of religion

Righteousness a branch of religion

Geddes.

179

Irving.

207

R. Hill.

453

Auld.

100

GENERAL INDEX TO SUBJECTS.

16
Page

Sabbath, a day of consecration

for prayer

and praise

self-examination
often violated
signal benefits conferred

on the

of.

opposed

to

Judkin

337

Judkin.

336

Judkin

339

man

Lessey.

105

Jelf.

445

Robertson.. 354

Fenebn.. 114

Scriptures
writers

of,

wise and good

No.

Scripture difficulties.

men

205

Collyer.

114

No. 2

122

No. 3

131

No. 4

140

No. 5
No. 6

192

255

No. 7
Scripture illustrations.

Seed,

336

Judkin.. 338

Sacrifices, nature of.

Satan, agency

Judkin

325

The sun

No.
No.

1.

"

2.

" Let

No.

3.

" He shall

sit

No.

4.

"When

beheld the sun,"

No.

5.

" Whosoever slayeth Cain,"

when sown, produces

him
I

shall not smite thee,"

take hold of

70

strength."

80
286

as a refiner."

&c
&c

286
305

359

Chalmers.

288

Chalmers

289

Robertson

Sin against the Holy Ghost

the only barrier against a return to

20

Melville.

its like

Signs of the times

Sinners, conversion

my

&c

God

of.

diversity of conduct in

Soul, duration of the

endless existence of the
faculties of the

immutability of the

Geddes.

182

Geddes.

178

Newton
Beaumont
Beaumont.

Hamilton

320
75

73
89

nature of the

Newton
Beaumont.
Beaumont.

needs instruction and persuasion

Beaumont

76

redemption of the

Beaumont.

74

redemption of the

Newton.

321

Sunday-schools valuable

Beaumont.

79

loss

of the

mystery of

its locality

Temples of worship deserve our attachment

Theatre
a school of vice

Uncertainty of

human

expectations

Unjust judge

Unknown

322

tongues

73
72

Joy.

269

James.

428

Styles.

372

500

Logan

Goode.. 250

M'Crie.

Liefchild.

462

Vanity reproved
Verity of divine predictions

419

405

GENERAL INDEX TO SUBJECTS.

16
Watchfulness, necessity of

Wisdom, nature

of.

Worship, variety of motives in attending

Youth a

favourable time for religious improvement

an important period
exposed

to

Liefchild.

406

Beaumont.

78

Dale.

307

Nayhr .. 156
Hunter.

bad example

Hunter.

seductive representations

Hunter.

"aSS
.

386
387

THE

BRITISH PULPIT.
SERMON

I.

THE POWER OF WICKEDNESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS TO RE-PRODUCE

THEMSELVES.

BY THE REV.
LATE FELLOW AND TUTOR OF

H.

ST. PETEr's

MELVILL, M.A.
COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, AND MINISTER OF

CAMDEN CHAPEL, CAMBERWELL.

'For whatsoever a

man

soweth, that shall he also reap."

You may be all aware that what is

termed the argument from analogy has
been carried out to great length by thinking men, and that much of the strongest
witness for Christianity has been won
on this field of investigation. It is altogether a most curious and profitable inquiry, which sets itself to the tracing out
resemblances between natural things and
and which thus proposes to
spiritual
;

establish, at the least, a probability that

creation and

the

same

Christianity have one and

author.

And we

think that

we

by

to

this earth

go

at length into

coincidence.

assuming
argument

its
is

there run the

God of

lieve that he

We

be-

who, with a devout mind,

searches most diligently into the beauties

all

perceive,

existence, that the furnished

clear

and convincing.

same

principle through na-

If

prove, with an almost geometric preci-

we

for the illustration of the Bible.

demonstration of this

But you may

tural things and spiritual, through the

book of nature and the Bible, we vindicate the same authorship to both, and

sion, that the

ance of having been actually designed

vi. 7.

whilst conversely the laws obeyed

and its productions may be
traced as pervading the appointments of
It were beside our purpose
revelation.
ture

shall not overstep the limits of truth, if

declare that nature wears the appear-

Gal.

God

of creation

Christianity.

is

also the

look on the natu-

firmament with its glorious inlay of

and it is unto me as the breast;
plate of the great high priest, " ardent
with gems oracular," from which, as
from the urim and thummim on Aaron's

ral

stars

and mysteries of the material world, will

himself metconstantly by exhibitions ephod, come messages full of divinity.
which seem to him the pages of scripture And when I turn to the page of Scripture,
written in the stars, and the forests, and and perceive the nicest resemblance bethe waters of this creation.
There is tween the characters in which this page
such a sameness of dealing characteristic is written, and those which glitter before
of the natural and the spiritual, that the me in the crowded concave, I feel that,
Bible may be read in the outspread of the in trusting myself to the declarations of
landscape, and the operations of agricul- the Bible, I cling to Him who speaks to
17
VoL. II.
b2
find

THE BRITISH

18

me

from every point, and by every splendour of the visible universe, whose voice
is in the marchings of planets, and the
rushing of whose melodies is in the

PULPIT.

into a glorious heritage.

We

are thus

aware that there runs through the Creawith our race the principle
or sameness, between

tor's dealings

of

an

identity,

which man sows and those

which he reaps. But we think it possiinquiry, we take one great principle, the ble that we may have contented ourselves
principle of a resurrection, and we affirm, with too superficial a view of this princiin illustration of what has been advanced, ple ; and that, tiirough not searching into
that it runs alike through God's natural what may be termed its philosophy, we
and spiritual dealings. Just as God hath allow much that is important to elude
appointed that man's body, after moulder- observation. The seed sown in the earth
ing away, shall come forth quickened and goes on, as it were, by a sort of natural
renewed, so has he ordained that the process, and without direct interference
6eed, after corrupting in the ground, shall from God, to yield seed of the same deAnd we wish it
Vield a harvest of the like kind with scription with itself.
.'tself.
It is, moreover, God's ordinary well observed, whether there be not in
course to allow an apparent destruction spiritual things an analogy the most peras preparatory, or introductory to, com- fect to what thus takes place in natural.
He does We think that upon a careful examinaplete success or renovation.
not permit the springing up, until there tion, you will find groundwork of belief
has been, on human calculation, a tho- that the simile holds good in every posrough withering away. So that the maxim sible respect so that what a man sows,
might be shown to hold universally good, if left to its own vegetating powers, will
*' that which thou sowest is not quickenyield, naturally, a harvest of its own kind
wings of the daylight.
But, though

we go

the things

not into the general

We

may observe
it first die."
yet further that, as with the husbandman,
if he sow the corn, he shall reap the
ed, except

and description.
shall study

We

to establish this point

in regard, first of all, to

the present scene

sow the weed, he shall of probation; and, secondly, to the future

reap the weed. Thus with myself as a re- scene of recompense.
sponsible agent, if I sow the corruptible,
We begin with the present scene of
I shall reap the corruptible; and if I sow probation, and will put you in possession
the imperishable, I shall reap the impe- of the exact point to be made out, by rerishable. The seed reproduces itself. This ferring you to the instance of Pharaoh.
is the fact, in reference to spiritual things, We know that whilst God was acting on
on which we would fasten your attention
the Egyptians by the awful apparatus of
corn, and if he

whatsoever a
shall he reap."

'

Now, we

man soweth,

that also

are all, to a certain extent,

familiar with this principle

for

it

is

forced on our notice by every-day occur-

We

observe that a dissolute and

reckless youth is ordinarily followed by

rences.

plague and prodigy, he is often said to

have hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that
the

monarch refused

to let Israel go.

And

it is

a great question to decide, whether

God

actually interfered to strengthen and

confirm the obstinacy of Pharaoh, or only

left the king to the workings of his own

a premature and miserable old age. We heart, as knowing that one degree of
see that honesty and industry win com- unbelief would generate another and a
monly, comfort and respect, and that, on stauncher. It seems to us at variance
the contrary, levity and a want of care- with all that is revealed of the Creator,
fulness produce pauperism and disrepute. to suppose him urging on the wicked in
And yet further, unless we go over to his wickedness, or bringing any engine to
the ranks of infidelity, we cannot question bear on the ungodly which shall make
God
that a course of disobedience to God is them more desperate in rebellion.
earning man's eternal destruction, whilst, willeth not the death of any sinner. And
through submission to the revealed will thoug', after long striving with an indiof his Maker, there is secured admittance vidual, after plying him with the various

THE POWER OF

SIN

TO RE PRODUCE

ITSELF.

19

Now that which took place in the case

excitements which are best calculated to
stir a rational, and agitate an immortal of the Egyptian is, we argue, precisely
being, he may withdraw all the aids of what occurs in regard generally to the
the Spirit, and so give him over to that im.peiiitent. God destroys no man. Every
worst of all tyrants, himself; yet this, man who is destroyed must destroy himwe contend, must be the extreme thing self. When a man stifles an admonitioa
ever done by the Almighty to man, the of conscience, he may fairly be said to
leaving him, but not the constraining sow the stiflings of conscience. And
him, to do evil. And when, therefore, it when conscience admonishes him the
is
said that God hardened Pharaoh's next time, it will be more feebly and
heart, and when the expression is repeat- faintly.
There v/ill be a less felt diffied, so as to mark a continued and on-go- culty in overpowering the admonition.
ing hardening, we have no other idea of And the feebleness of remonstrance, and
the meaning than that God,

moved by

the facility of resistance, these will in-

the obstinacy of Pharaoh, withdrew from

crease on every repetition

him, gradually, all the restraints of his

grace and that as these restraints were
more and more removed, the heart of the
king was more and more hardened. We
look upon the instance as a precise illustration of the truth that " whatsoever a
man soweth, that shall he also reap."
Pharaoh sowed obstinacy, and Pharaoh
reaped obstinacy. The seed was put
into the soil ; and there was no need, any
more than with the grain of corn, that
God should interfere with any new power.

God

Nothing more was required than

seed should be
its

own

left to

nature.

that the

vegetate, to act out

And though God, had

he pleased, might have counteracted this

nature, yet, when he resolved to give up
Pharaoh to his unbelief, he had nothing
to do but to let alone this nature.
The
seed of infidelity, which Pharaoh had
sown when he rejected the first miracles,
was left to itself, and to its own vegetation.

It sent up,

of

own

accordingly, a harvest

make

interferes to

but because the thing

of

the

not because

man

callous,

sown was

stifling

conscience, and therefore the thing

reaped

Holy

is

stifling

of conscience.

The

every man.
Conscience is but the voice of Deity
heard above the din of human passions.
But let conscience be resisted, and the
Spirit

with

strives

Spirit is grieved.

Then, as with Pha-

raoh, there is an abstraction of that in-

fluence by

which

thus there

is

to the

evil is

kept under.

And

a less and less counteraction

vegetating power of the seed, and,

more and more abundant upSo

that, though there must be a direct and
mighty interference of Deity for the salvation of a man, there is no such interference for his destruction.
God must
sow the seed of regeneration, and enable
a man, according to the phraseology of
the verse succeeding our text, to sow " to
the spirit."
But man sows for himself
therefore a

springing of that which was sown.

the seed of impenitence, and of himself,

and Pharaoh was not to be persuaded by " he soweth to his flesh." And what he
any of the subsequent miracles. So that, sows, he reaps. If, as he grows older,
when the monarch went on from one de- he grow more confirmed in his wickedgree of hardness to another, till at length, ness ; if warnings come upon him with
advancing through the cold ranks of the less and less energy if the solemnities
prostrated first-born, he pursued across a of the judgment lose more and more their
blackened and devastated territory, the power of alarming him, and the terrors
people for whose emancipation there had of hell their power of aff"righting him
been the visible making bare of the arm why, the man is nothing else but an exof Omnipotence, he was not an instance hibition of the thickening of the harvest
perish the thought of a man com- of which himself sowed the seed ; and he
pelled by his Maker to offend and be puts forth in this his confirmed and settled
lost, but simply a witness to the truth of impenitence, a demonstration, legible by
the principle, that " whatsoever a man every careful observer, that there needs
oweth, that also shall he reap."
no apparatus for the turning a man graduits

kind, a harvest of infidelitj',

THE BRITISH

20

PULPIT.

God; and

ally from the clay to the adamant, over

indifference to

and above the apparatus of his own heart,

left to itself and let alone to harden.
greatly desire that you should
rightly understand what the agency is

and recklessness,

We

through which the soul is destroyed. It

is not that God hath sent out a decree
against a man. It is not that he throws
a darkness before his eyes which cannot

mower

is

fool-hardiness,

nothing else but the

of the fruits of his

own husbandry

and thus witnesses, with a power which

outdoes all the power of language, that
" whatsoever a man soweth, that also
shall he reap ?"
It is in this

we

mannerthat wegointo what

term the philosophy of our text

when

be penetrated, and a chilness into his applied to the present scene of probation.
blood which cannot be thawed, and a We take the seed in the soil. We show
torpor into his limbs which cannot be you that, by a natural process, without
Harvest-time bringing an the interference of God, and simply
overcome.
abundant produce of what was sown in through his ceasing to counteract the
the seed-time, this, we contend, is the sum tendencies, there is produced a wide crop
God interferes not, of the same grain as was sown. And
total of the mystery.
as it were, with the processes of nature. thus, all kinds of opposition to God proHe opposes not, or, to speak more cor- pagating themselves, he who becomes
rectly, he withdraws gradually his oppo- wrought up into an infidel hardihood, or
sition to, the vegetation of the seed. And hilled into a sepulchral apathy, i-s nothing
this is all. There is nothing more needed. but the sower living on to be the reaper,

You

resist a

motion of the

Spirit.

Well

the

husbandman

in the

successive stages

resistance.

of an agriculture wherein the ploughing,

has resisted once will have less

the second time,
and less than that the third time, and less
So that there
than that the fourth time.
comes a harvest of resistance, and all

and the planting, and the gathering, are

all his own achievement, and all his own

then, this facilitates

further

He who

difficulty in resisting

destruction.

Now we have

confined ourselves to the

supposition that the thing

sown

is

wick-

But you will see at once that,

You indulge yourself once in a with a mere verbal alteration, whatever
ance.
known sin. W^hy, you will be more has been advanced illustrates our text
easily overpowered by the second tempta- when the thing sown is righteousness.
tion, and again more easily by the third, If a man resist temptation, there will be
and again more easily by the fourth. And a facility of resisting ever augmenting as
what is this but a harvest of sinful indul- he goes on with self-denial. Every new
gences, and all from the one grain of the achievement of principle will smooth the
way to future achievements of the like
first indulgence] You omit some portion

from the single grain of the

first resist-

edness.

kind; and the fruit of each moral victory

for we may consider the victory as a
study of the word. The omission will
grow upon you. You will omit more to- seed that is sown is to place us on loftier
morrow, and more the next day, and still vantage-ground for the triumphs of rightcanmore the next. And thus there will be a eousness in days yet to come.
harvest of omissions, and all from the not perform a virtuous act without gaining
solitary grain of the first omission. And fresh sinew for the service of virtue, just
as we cannot perform a vicious, without
if, through the germinating power of that
which man sows, he proceed naturally riveting faster to ourselves the fetters of
from bad to worse if resistance produce vice. And, assuredly, if there be thus
resistance, and indulgence indulgence, such a growing strength in habit that
and omission omission, shall it be denied every action makes way for its repetition,
that the sinner, throughout the whole his- we may declare of virtue and righteoustory of his experience, throughout his ness that they reproduce themselves
progress across the waste of worldliness and is not this the same thing as proving
and obduracy and impenitence, passing that what we sow, that also do we reap 1
would yet further remark, under
on, as he does, to successive stages of
of spiritual exercises, of prayer, or of the

We

We

THE POWER OF
this

SIN

TO RE-PRODUCE

head of discourse, that the principle

of reaping what
be traced through

We

lanthropy.

eminently

we sow
all

is specially to

the workings of phi-

are persuaded that if an

man

charitable

experience

great reverse of circumstances, so that

from having been the affluent and the

become the needy and dependant, he would attract towards himself, in his distress, all the sympathies
benefactor, he

of a neighbourliood.

And

whilst the great

man, who had had nothing but iiis greatness to recommend him, would be unpitied or uncared for in disaster;

ITSELF.

2i

apprehensions of truth be derived often

from the effort to press it home on the in-

and conscience of the ignorant,

shall pronounce the cottage of
the untaught peasant your best schoolhouse, and the questions even of a child
your most searching catechisings on the
majestic things and the mysteries of our
And as you tell over to the poor
faith.
cottager the story of the incarnation and
crucifixion, and inform him of the nature
and effects of Adam's apostacy; or even
find yourself required to adduce more
elementary truths, pressing on the neglected man the being of a God, and the
it shall
immortality of the soul ; O
constantly occur that you will feel a
keener sense than ever of the preciousness
of Christ, or a greater awe at the majesty of Jehovah, or a loftier bounding of
spirit at the thought of your own deathlessness ; and if you feel tempted to
count it strange that in teaching another
you teach also yourself, and that you
carry away from your intercourse with
the mechanic, or the child, such an accession to your own knowledge, or your
tellect

that

you

and the
had grasped tightly
his wealth, would meet only ridicule
when it had escaped from his hold the
philanthropic man, who had used his
riches as a steward, would form, in his
penury, a sort of focus for the kindliness
of a thousand hearts, and multitudes
would press forward to tender him the
succour which he had once given to
others ; and thus there would be a mighty
reaping into his own granaries of that
very seed which he had been assiduous
in sowing.
go on to observe, that it is the own love, as shall seem to make you the
marvellous property of spiritual things, indebted party, and not the obliging;
though we can scarcely affirm it of natu- then you have only to remember, and the
avaricious man,

who

We

ral,

the

that

others

gives

effort

to

teach them

enlargement

to

our

to

own

We

sphere of information.
are persuaded,
most experienced Christian cannot sit down with the neglected and
grossly ignorant labourer; nay, not with
the child in a Sunday or infant school,
that the

and strive

to

explain

and enforce

the

great truths of the Bible, without finding

own views of the gospel amplified

and cleared through this engagement in
the business of tuition. The mere trying
his

to

make

a point plain to another, will

oftentimes

make

to ourselves.

it far plainer than ever

In illustrating a doctrine

of Scripture, in endeavouring to bring it

down to the level of a weak or undisciplined understanding, you will find that
doctrine presenting itself to your own
minds with a new power and unimagined

and though you may have read

writers on theology, and
mastered the essays of the most learned
divines, yet shall such fresh and vigorous

beauty

the standard

remembrance
that

it

is

will

sweep away

surprise,

a fixed appointment of the Al-

mighty, that " whatsoever a

man soweth,

that also shall he reap."

In respect, moreover, to alms-giving,

we may

assert that

there

is

evidently

such a present advantage in communicating of our temporal good things, that

the giver becomes the receiver, and thus
the principle under review finds a fresh
illustration.
The general comfort and security of society depends so greatly on
the well-being of the lower orders, that
the rich consult most for themselves when
they consult most for the poor. There
must be restlessness and anxiety in the
palace whilst misery oppresses the great
mass of a population. And every effort
to increase the happiness, and heighten
the character of the poor, will tell powerfully on the condition of those by whom
it is made
seeing that the contentment
;

and good order of the peasantry of a

country give value to the revenues of

its

THE BRITISH

22

and merchants.
For our own
never look on a public hospital
or infirmary, we never behold the almshouses into which old ag'e may be received, and the asylums which have been
thrown up on all sides for the widow and
the orphan, without feeling that, however
generously tlie rich come forward to the
relief of the poor, they advantage themnobles

we

part,

PULPIT.

of the living God, delivered in earnest-

have

almost

ness

and

made

a breach in the strongholds of Sa-

tan

affection,

shall

Ay, we believe

that often,

when

himself up in the
strength of his Master, launches the thunderbolt of truth against vice and unrightminister,

gathering

eousness, there

is

a vast stirring of heart

through the listening assembly and that

selves whilst providing for the suffering as he reasons of " righteousness, temand destitute. These buildings, which perance, and judgment to come," though
are the best diadem of our country, not tlie natural ear catch no sounds of anxiety
;

only bring blessings on the land by serv- and alarm, attendant angels, who watch
it may be, as electrical conductors,
the workings of the gospel, hear the deep

ing,

which turn from us many

flashes of the

many souls, and almost start

bounding throb of aroused and

beatings of

lightning of wrath, but, being as centres

at

whence succours

agitated spirits.

sent through dis-

are

community, they

tressed portions of our

are

fostering-places

for his

If Satan ever tremble

ascendancy,

it is

when

the preach-

kindly disposi- er has riveted the attention of the uncon-

of

tions towards the wealthier

may

the

ranks, and

verted

individual,

and, after describing

shall be parent to a line of misdoings.

and denouncing the covetous, or pouring

out the torrent of his speech on an exhibition of the voluptuary, or exposing the
madness and misery of the proud, comes
down on that individual with the startling
announcement, "thou art the man." And
the individual will go away from the
sanctuary, convinced of the necessity of
subduing the master passion; and he
will form, and for a while act upon, the
resolution of wrestling against pride, or
of mortifying lust, or of renouncing avaBut he will proceed in his own
rice.
strength, and, having no consciousness

We

of the inabilities of his nature, will not

therefore be so considered as struc-

which

tures in

kingdom's prosperity

nursed, that the

gateways would be

their

man soweth,

ever a

is

inscription over

fittest

this,

" whatso-

that also shall he

reap."

Now
topic

before

we

turn

close application of

statements.

You

to

the

second

we would make

of discourse,

some of our foregoing

perceive the likelihood,

or rather the certainty, to be, that, in all

cases,

there will be

power

in evil,

a self-propagating

so that the

have shown you,

stifle

a conviction

for

is

pathway which leads

faction of conscience.

wrong done

example, that

the

first

directly to stupe-

And we

desire to

fasten on this fact, and so to exhibit

that all

may

to

step in a

it,

discern their near concern-

seek to God's Spirit

little

for assistance.

In a

time, therefore, all the impression

wears away. He saw only the danger

of sin he went not on to see its vileness.
;

And

the mind soon habituates itself, or

ment therewith. We remark that men soon grows indifferent, to the contemplawill flock in crowds to the public preach- tion of danger, and, above all, when pering of the word, though the master natural haps distant. Hence the man will return
passion, whatsoever

it

be, retains undis-

puted the lordship of their spirits.

And

may be avarice, or it may be

voluptuousness, or ambition, or envy, or
pride.
But, however characterized, the
this passion

dominant lust is brought into the sanctuary, and exposed, so to speak, to the exorcisms of the preacher. And who shall
say what a disturbing force the sermon

quickly

to his old

haunts.

And whether

be to money-making that he again

gives himself, or to sensuality, or to ambition, he will enter on the pursuit with
an eagerness heightened by abstinence;
and thus the result shall be practically
the same, as though, having sown moral
it

stupor, he were reaping in a harvest tremendously luxuriant.

And, 0, if the
will oftentimes put forth against the mas- man, after this renouncement, and restorater passion, and how frequently the word tion, of the master passion, come again

THE POWER OF
to the sanctuary;

and

if

SIN TO RE-PRODUCE ITSELF.

again the preach-

er denounce, with a rig-hteous vehemence,

every working of ungodliness; and the
fire

be in his eye, and the thunder on his

makes a stand for God, and

tongue, as he

and semi-in-

for truth, against a reckless

fidel
felt

generation

alas, the

convictions, and

will be

sown

man who

their stiflings,

more inaccessible than

He

more impervious.

has

will

ever, and

have been

23

our text, to suppose that what

reaped
in the future shall be identical with what
is sown in the present.
It cannot be
questioned that this is a fair representation.
The seed re-produces itself. It is
the

is

same grain which the sower scatters,

We may, there-

and the reaper collects.

fore, lay it

text, that

down

what

as the statement of our

is

reaped in the next

shall be literally of the

life

same kind with

But if this be

hardened through the vegetating process what is sown in this life.

which has gone on in his soul. A far correct, it must follow that a man's sinmightier apparatus than before will be fulness shall be a man's punishment.
required to make the lightest impression. And there is no lack of scriptural evidence
And when you think that there the man on the side of the opinion, that the leaving
is now sitting, unmoved by the terrors of the wicked, throughout eternity, to their
the word, that he can listen with indiffer- mutual recriminations, to the workings
ence to the very truths which once agitat- and boilings of over-wrought passions, to
ed him, and that, as a consequence on the the scorpion sting of an undying remorse,
reproduction of the seed, there is more of and all the native and inborn agonies of
the marble in his composition than before, vice; that this, without the interference
and more of the ice, and more of the iron, of a divinely sent ministry of vengeance,
so that the likelihood of salvation

is fear-

may make

that

pandemonium which

is

ye can need no other

warning against trifling with convictions,
and so making light of the appointment,
that " whatsoever a man soweth, that

sketched to us by all that is terrible and

ghastly in imagery and that tormenting,
only through giving up the sinner to be

also shall he reap."

ends of a retributive economy, awarding

to wickedness its merited condemnation,
and displaying to the universe the dread-

fully diminished

his

own

tormentor,

God may

fulfil all

the

But we proposed to examine, in the

second place, the application of the principle of our text to the future scene of fulness of rebellion.
It may be, we say, that there shall be
recompense. There can be no question
that the reference of the apostle is, spe- required no direct interferences on the
cially, to the retributions of another state part of God. It may be that the Almighty
of being. The present life is emphati- shall not commission an avenging train
cally the seed-time the next life the har- to goad and lacerate the lost.
The sinvest time. And the matter we now have ner is hardened by being left to himself;
in hand is the ascertaining, whether it be and may it not be that the sinner shall be
by the natural process of the thing sown punished by being left to himself 1 We
yielding the thing reaped that sinfulness think assuredly that the passage before
us leads straightways to such a concluhere shall give torment hereafter.
may have habituated ourselves
You will observe that, in showing the sion.
application of the principle under review to the idea that God, as it were, shall
to the present scene of probation, we take into his own hands the punishment
proved that the utmost which God does of the condemned, and that, standing over
towards confirming a man in impenitence them as the executioner of the sentence,
is the leaving him to himself, the with- he will visit body and soul with the indrawing from him gradually the remon- flictions of wrath. But it consists far
strances of his Spirit. The man is lite- better with the character of God, that
rally his own hardener; and, therefore, judgments should be viewed as the natuliterally his own destroyer. And we now ral produce of sinfulness, so that, without
inquire, whether or no he will be his own any divine interference, the sinfulness
seem required, if we will generate the judgments. Let sinful
punisher?
TTould maintain rigidly the principle of ness alone, and it will become punish
;

We

We

THE BRITISH

24

ment. Such is, probably, the true account of this awful matter. The thing
reaped is the thing sown. And if the
thing sown be sinfulness, and if the
thing reaped be punishment, then the
punishment, after all, must be the sinfulness and that fearful apparatus of torture which is spoken of in Scripture, the
apparatus of a worm that dieth not, and
of a fire that is not quenched, this may be
just a man's own guilt, the things sown
'n this mortal life sprung up and waving
n an immortal harvest. We think this a
point of great moment. It were comparatively little to say of an individual who
sells himself to work evil, and carries it
with a high hand and a brazen front
against the Lord of the whole earth, that
he shuts himself up to a certain and defi;

PULPIT.

serve, that

it

may

not be needful that a

material rack should be prepared for the

body, and fiery spirits gnaw upon

soul.
It may not be needful that
Creator should appoint distinct and
traneous arrangements for torture.

the
the

ex-

Let
what we call the husbandry of wickedness go forward ; let the sinner reap what
the sinner has sown; and there is a harvest of anguish for ever to be gathered.
Who discerns not that punishment may
thus be sinfulness, and that, therefore,
the principle of our text

tion
is

may

hold good,

the very letter, in a scene of retribu-

to

A man

" sows

to the flesh ;" this

the apostle's description of sinfulness.

He

is

" of the

flesh to reap corruption ;"

this is his description of

" sows

punishment.

He

by pampering the
nite destruction.
The thrilling truth is, lusts of the flesh; and he "reaps of the
that, in working iniquity, he sows for flesh," when these pampered lusts fall on
himself anguish. He gives not way to him with fresh cravings, and demand of
a new desire, he allows not a fresh victory him fresh gratifications.
But suppose
to lust, without multiplying the amount this reaping continued in the next life,
to the flesh,"

By

every excursion of and is not the man mowing down the

harvest of agony ? Let all those passions
unhallowed craving, and by all the mis- and desires, which it has been the man's
doings of a hardened or dissolute life, he business upon earth to indulge, hunger
may be literally said to pour into the gra- and thirst for gratification hereafter, and
nary of his future destinies the goads and will ye seek elsewhere for the parched
of final torment.

passion, and by every indulgence of an

stings

which

shall

madden

his spirit.

lays up more food for self-reproach.

He
He

widens the

field over which thought will

pass in bitterness, and mow down remorse. He teaches the worm to be ingenious in excruciating, by tasking his
wit that he may be ingenious in sinning
for some men, as the prophet saith, and
it is a wonderful expression
" are wise
to do evil."
And thus, his iniquities
opening, as it were, fresh inlets for the
approaches of vengeance, with the growth
of wickedness will be the growth of

punishment
that his

and

at last

resistance

to

it

will appear

convictions,

his

neglect of opportunities, and his deter-

mined enslavement to evil, have literally

worked for him a " far more exceeding
and eternal weight" of despair.
But even this expresses not clearly and
fully what seems taught by our text.

We are searching for an identity or sameness between what

reaped.

We,

is

sown and what

is

therefore, yet further ob-j

tongue beseeching fruitlessly one drop of

water] Let the envious man keep his
envy, and the jealous man his jealousy,
and the revengeful man his revengefulness ; and each has a worm which will
eat out everlastingly the very core of his
soul. Let the miser have still his thoughts
upon gold, and the drunkard his upon the
wine-cup, and the sensualist his upon voluptuousness; and a fire-sheet is round
each which shall never be extinguished
We know not whether it be possible to
conjure up a more terrific image of a lost
man than by supposing him everlastingly
preyed upon by the master lust which
has here held him in bondage. W'e think
that you have before you the spectacle of
a being hunted, as it were, by a neverwearied fiend, when you imagine that
there rages in the licentious and profligate, only wrought into a fury which has
no parallel upon earth, that very passion
which it was the concern of a lifetime to
indulge, but which it must now be the

THE POWER OF
employment of an

SIN

eternity to deny.

TO RE-PRODUCE

We

you reach the summit

of all that is tremendous in conception,
when you suppose a man consigned to
the tyranny of a lust which cannot be
conquered, and which cannot be gratified.
are persuaded that

ITSELF.

25

dom marks out/in terrible language the

doom of the scorners. "I also will
laugh at your calamity, and mock when
your fear cometh." And then, when he

would describe their exact punishment,

he says, " they shall eat of the fruit of
It is, literally, surrendering him to a their own way, and be filled with their
worm which dies not, to a fire which is own devices." They reap, you see,
quenched not. And whilst the last does what they sowed. Their torments are
W'e have a simithe part of a ceaseless tormentor, the " their own devices."
man, unable longer to indulge it, will lar expression in the book of Job, " even
writhe in remorse at having endowed it as I have seen, they that plough iniquity
with sovereignty ; and thus there will go and sow wickedness reap the same."
on (though not in our power to conceive, Thus again in the book of Proverbs,
and, O God, grant it may never be our " the backslider in heart shall be filled
may add that
lot to experience) the cravings of passion with his own ways."
with the self reproachings of the soul; solemn verse in the last chapter of the
and the torn and tossed creature shall for book of Revelations, which seems to us
ever long to Ratify lust, and for ever be- exactly to the point. It is spoken in the
prospect of Christ's immediate appearing.
wail his madness in gratifying it.
Now you must perceive that in thus "He that is unjust, let him be unjust
sketching the possible nature of future still ; and he which is filthy, let him be
retribution, we only show that " whatso- filthy still ; and he that is righteous, let
ever a man soweth, that also shall he him be righteous still ; and he that is
prove that sinfulness may holy, let him be holy still." The master
reap."
be punishment, so that the things reaped property is here represented as remaining
The unjust conshall be identical with the things sown, ac- the master property.
cording to the words of the prophet Hosea, tinues for ever the unjust; the filthy for
"they have sown the wind, and they shall ever the filthy. So that the indulged
reap the whirlwind." We reckon that the principle keeps fast its ascendency, as
rigid application of the principle of our though, according to our foregoing suptext requires us to suppose the retribution position, it is to become the tormenting
of the ungodly the natural produce of principle. The distinguishing characternever departs. When it can no
their actions.
It shall not, perhaps, be istic
that God will interpose with an apparatus longer be served and gratified by its
of judgments, any more than he now in- slave, it wreaks its disappointment tre-

We

We

terposes with an apparatus for hardening,

or confirming in impenitence.

Indiffer-

ence, if let alone, will produce obduracy

produce
torment.
Obduracy is indifference multiplied ; and thus it is the harvest from
the grain. Torment is obduracy perpetuand this again is
ated and bemoaned
harvest the grain reproduced, but with
thorns round the ear. Thus from first to
last " whatsoever a man soweth, that
also does he reap."
We would add that our text is not the
only scriptural passage which intimates
that sinfulness shall spring up into pu-

and obduracy,

if let alone, will

nishment, exactly as the seed sown produces the harvest. In the first chapter
of the book of Proverbs, the eternal wis-

VoL. II.

mendously on its victim.

There is thus a precise agreement between our text, as now expounded, and
other portions of the Bible which refer
to the same topic.
We have indeed, as
you will observe, dealt chiefly with the
sowing and reaping of the wicked, and
but just alluded to those of the righteous.
It

would

not,

however, be

difficult

to

prove to you that, inasmuch as holiness

is happiness, godliness shall be reward,
even as sinfulness shall be punishment-

And

it is clear that the apostle designed to include both cases under his state-

ment, for he subjoins as

" he that soweth to the
the flesh reap corruption

soweth

its illustration,

flesh, shall
;

of

but he thai

to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit

THE BRITISH

26
reap

PULPIT.

everlasting." We cannot indeed them

life

to the toils of tillage

plead, in the second case, for as rigid an

of reaping.

application of the principle as in the

much

We

cannot argue, that

call

the

first.

what we

We

know

by the hopes

that

it

is

with

opposition from indwelling corrup-

with many thwartings from Satan

and your own evil hearts, that ye proseThere must be constant interferences on cute the work of breaking up your fallowthe part of Deity.
God himself, rather ground, and sowing to yourselves in rightthan man, is the sower. And unless God eousness. Ye have to deal with a stubThe prophet Amos asks,
were continually busy with the seed, it born soil.
could never germinate, and send up a " shall horses run upon the rock, will
harvest of glory.
We think that this one plough there with oxenr' Yet this
It is
<listinction of the cases is intimated by is precisely what you have to do.
"St. Paul.
The one Sows " to the flesh ;" the rock, " the heart of stone," which
natural

is, for

tion,

process of vegetation.

you must bring into cultivation. Yet be

Above all things, pause
not dismayed.
not as though doubtful whether to prosecute a labour which seems to grow as it
" No man, having put his
is performed.
each case, precisely the same, hand to the plough, and locking back, is
Rather
sufficient rigour of application to fit for the kingdom of heaven."

husbandman, himself the

other sows " to the Spirit," to the Holy Ghost; and here there
is a superinduced soil which differs altogether from the natural.
But if there be
himself the
territory.

not, in

there

is

The

bear out the assertion of our text.

remember

that

it

was "

We

a crown of right-

eousness" which sparkled before St.

Paul
and we may, therefore, believe
that the righteousness, which God's grace
has nourished in the heart, will grow
into recompense, just as the wickedness,
in which the transgressor has indulged,
will shoot into torment. So that, although
it were easy to speak at greater length on
;

we may

comfort yourselves with that beautiful

declaration of the Psalmist, "they tha)
sow in tears shall reap in joy." Rathe;
call to mind that saying of the apostle

"ye are God's husbandry." It is Goo

who by his Spirit ploughs the ground
and sows the seed, and imparts the in
" My Fafluences of sun and shower.
ther," said Jesus, " is the husbandman ;"
and can ye not

feel

assured that he will

Look ye on to the
whether harvest-time. What though the winter
respect be had to the ungodly or the dis- be dreary and long, and there seem no
obedient of the earth, that " whatsoever a shooting of the fig tree to tell you that
man soweth, that also shall he reap."
summer is nigh ] Christ shall yet speak
And now, what mean ye to reap in that to his church in that loveliest of poetry,
grand harvest-day, the day of judgment? " Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over
Every one of you is sowing either to and gone, the flowers appear on the earth,
the flesh or to the Spirit ; and every one the time of the singing of birds is come,
of you must, hereafter, take the sickle in and the voice of the turtle is heard in the
the case of true believers,

down

lay

it

give the increase

as a demonstrated truth,

his hand, and

mow down

Then

the produce of land."

We will speak no longer

on things of terror. We have said enough

his husbandry.

cannot

tell

which ye

And we pray you

amongst you may But

shall be the harvest.

We

you the glory of the things

shall reap.

We

cannot show

wavings of the golden corn.

God that the careless
this we know, that " the sufferings of
find these words of the prophet ringing this present time are not worthy to be
m their ears, when they lie down to rest compared with the glory that shall be
this night, " the harvest is past, the sum- revealed in us;" and, therefore, brethren,
mer is ended, and we are not saved." beloved in the Lord, "be ye not weary
But, ere we conclude, we would address in well doing, for in due season we shall
a word to the men of God, and animate reap if we faint not."
to

alarm the indifferent.

the

SERMON

II.

CHRISTIAN PERFECTION EXPLAINED AND ENFORCED.

BY THE REV. JOHN LOMAS.

" Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us

Heb.

The

apostle, in this chapter, exposes

the danorer of apostacy, and guards ao^ainst

it.

desire after perpetual progress is

go on unto

perfection."-

vi. 1.

To

stood.

leave principles before they

are thoroughly

mastered,

is

expose

to

ourselves to constant error in our future

one of the most effectual antidotes to a course.

Every person who has been
spirit of declension and St. Paul, having employed in public instruction knows
;

the verity of the Christian

that false or inadequate notions of first

system, and thus laid a safe foundation

for practical admonitions, exhorts the He-

principles propagate themselves, and pro-

brew converts,

steps

estahlished

in the

words of the

text,

seeking after a perfect

acquaintance with the wliole Christian
scheme. Without any formal introduction to the passage before us, I shall endeavour, first, to explain, and, secondly,
to enforce the exhortation of the text.
First : What are " the principles of
THE DOCTRINE OF ChRIST," AND IN WHAT
sense are THEY TO BE LEFT? HOW AND
WHY SHOULD WE LEAVE THEM, AND GO ON
to diligence

in

UNTO PERFECTION?

"The

principles of

the doctrine of Christ" are those ele-

mentary truths which

lie at

tion of Christian experience

the founda-

and Chris-

duce multiplied errors

our

of

in all

progress.

subsequent

communi-

In

cating a knowledge of any system, you

first

require that the elements should be

You

mastered.

will never introduce a

pupil into the art of spelling before the

alphabet
sential

acquired

is

to

this

step

is

So,

future attainments.

es-

in

mathematical science, certain axioms,

admitted to be true, must first be mas-

them to
more abstruse and

tered, before the application of

the demonstration of

complex propositions can

ever be ad-

mitted.

Many

mistakes, with regard to

nature of experimental religion,

the

would

Paul specifies the chief be avoided, if men would only adopt the
of these in the verses which follow the same maxims in the study of religion

tian practice.

the duty and necessity of repentance enforced by the solemnity and certext

tainty of the

judgment

cessity of the

Holy

to

come

the ne-

Spirit's influences,

and of his reception by all Christian believers

with the joys produced by a
sense of pardon, and the hope of future
;

glory.

These

truths St. Paul denomi-

nates "the principles of the doctrine of

Christ," because they constitute the fun-

which they admit

to

other studies, and if

to decide, to

be important in

men

did not

all

presume

dogmatize upon the matters

of experimental religion, and to sound

its

depths, before they had put themselves

into possession of the line

fathom them.

which should

an important part,
therefore, of the duty of every public
teacher, frequently to inculcate " the principles of the doctrine of Christ," and to
It is

damental parts of the Christian system

insist upon them often and with great
they are, so to speak, the alphabet of emphasis, especially in the case of those
Christian doctrine. Now, these " prin- who, " ever learning, are never able to
ciples" are not to be left, in any sense of come to the knowledge of the truth."
the term, till they are thoroughly under- Ignorance of these principles sometimes
:

27

THE BRITISH

28
reflects discredit

always

upon the teacher, and

upon the pupil.

reflects disgrace

PULPIT.

principles are

to

of a science are

left as

the axiom*

when understood,

purpose of making application of

Till first principles, then, are mastered,

they are not, in any sense, to be left. A
principle is mastered when satisfactory

for the

evidence is possessed by the student.

Truth has its own kind of evidence.

which has

them

be

left,

to larger propositions

principles

are to be left, as a conquered

country,

hands of a successful general, is left, after he has garWith regard to truth which may be sub- risoned it with his own troops, that he
mitted to the test of experience, we have may bring under his dominion that porsatisfactory evidence of it when we feel tion of the enemy's territory which yet
its experimental effects
he understands stands out against his arms.
the doctrine of repentance who has felt its
In this sense principles are to be left;
sorrows he understands the doctrine of and we oppose this part of the exhortation
pardon who has tasted the peace which of the text to errors which it appears to
flows from it he knows the principles of provide against.
First, we oppose the
the gospel, with regard to the influence spirit and maxim of the text to the error
of the Spirit, who has been " sealed" by of those who are continually suffering
that Spirit, as a Spirit of adoption, and their faith in first principles to be shaken
'vho has " the witness in himself." Now,
men who indulge a doubtful and skepwhen principles are mastered by a know- tical temper who know not when to be
ledge of their experimental results, then satisfied with evidence who are conwe are to " leave" them.
stantly examining questions touching the
But, again, as principles are not to be principles of religion, as though they
left, in any sense, till they are thoroughly
never had been settled, and as though
understood, so neither are they to he they never were to be settled. The conabandoned. To abandon principles is to duct of such persons, St. Paul describes
apostatize fatally.
This appears to con- as resembling the conduct of a man who,
stitute the character and danger of those after having laid with care the foundation
numerous professors, whose condition St. of his building, should be perpetually
Paul describes, in such vivid language, removing the stones that constituted it,
in the verses that follow the text. They, distrusting the stability of the ground
it appears, had reached a state of hopeless
beneath.
by, a man should take care
and irrecoverable apostacy how 1 by that the ground on which his foundation
renouncing first principles. How is a stands is good that is to be his first
man to be recovered from speculative or business but after he has satisfied himpractical error?
You must attempt his self, by careful inspection, that he has
recovery by making your appeal to some good ground to rest upon, and his foundatruth which he yet admits; but suppose tion is once laid, of course it ought to be
he admits none
suppose he has re- laid once for all. Now, with regard to
nounced the whole body of Christian the leading truths of religion, and our
truth, and you and he have no one reli- personal interest in them, no man, as I
gious principle in common how is the have said just now, should satisfy himself
recovery of such a man to accuracy of till he has sufficient warrant for his faith,
thought, or propriety of conduct, to be and scriptural reason for concluding himeffected 1 The thing is practically impos- self to be an accepted child of God
but
sible.
First principles, then, are not to after he has satisfied himself on that point,
be renounced. When St. Paul, therefore, he is to take the matter for granted, and
exhorts us to " leave" them, it is of course not to be perpetually and doubtfully askimplied that these principles are to be ing for fresh evidence in order to make
left for the purpose of applying them to that clear which has already been estasubsequent discoveries and attainments blished to his own satisfaction he is not
in religion.
Principles are to be left as to be perpetually calling up again from
the alphabet of a language is left when their graves the ghosts of objections which
the pupil proceeds to put letters together
have repeatedly been exorcised by the
fallen into the

CHRISTIAN PERFECTIOxX ENFORCED.

light and

power of

truth
he
beginning anew

continually

is

not to be

the

great

though
doubt were always to hang on this important subject. To indulge a temper of

work of

religious

inquiry, as

this kind is to foster the unbelief of our

hearts
it

to

is

to create a skeptical spirit

it is

expose ourselves

of doctrine

of temptation

it

ourselves from

to invite

it

is

all

maxim

every wind
the assaults

effectually to debar

progress in religion.

Principles are to be

the

to

is

left,

and

we oppose

of the text, secondly, to the

conduct, to the indolence of those who

regard principles as though they consti-

29

were already perfect; but I follow after,

if that I may apprehend that for which
also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
We are, then, to " leave the principles
of the doctrine of Christ"
we are to " go
on unto perfection." .Must I, then, &condly, spend a few moments in explaining THE EXHORTATION, AND THEN
PRESS THE WHOLE ON YOUR SERIOUS ATTENTION? "Let US go on unto perfection."
What is this perfection towards
which we are continually to make progress \ The term here refers, perhaps,

rather to

doctrine

ledge, than to

Christian

to

Christian

know-

experience or

There are practice; but then, of course, knowledge

be feared, of this character. is only of importance as it is connected
They can ascertain with great precision with holiness, and as it is connected with
they can practice ; and we may take the term,
the date of their spiritual birth
describe most minutely all the circum- therefore, without committing any error,
stances which accompanied and which, in its common and largest acceptation.
to their own satisfaction, verify the change; What, then, is this perfection towards
they are continually recurring to the which we are to be continually making
fact of their conversion, sometimes with advances'? Suppose I could not describe
self-complacency and sometimes, it is to it, or suppose I were to decline doing so
what then ] Suppose one acquainted
be feared, in a spirit of indolence and
satisfaction inconsistent with all religious with the alphabet of religion only were
improvement. Now, my friends, though to decline attempting any explicit reprethe principles of religion are of importance sentation of the perfection of the scheme
what then'? We prefer taking some
because they are fundamental, yet the
principles of religion are but the alphabet scriptural statements which will be found
The doctrine of justifica- to place the subject the most unobjecof the system.
tion by faith is important rather from the tionably before us, and then to offer a few
grand truths with which it stands con- remarks by way of guarding the doctrine.
nected, than when viewed in its own in- Would you, then, have a scriptural reThe great design of the presentation of that perfection towards
sulated state.
New Testament of the epistles that were which we are to go on then take it in
written for our instruction and admoni- the prayer of the apostle for the Ephe" For this cause I bow
tion, and of the promises which are given sian churches
to excite Christian diligence, is to make my knees unto the Father of our Lord
the man of God perfect, and thoroughly Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family
to furnish or qualify him for every good in heaven and earth is named, that he
word and for every good work. What is would grant you according to the riches
the value of what we know in religion, of his glory, to be strengthened with
except in as far as it is preparatory to might by his Spirit in the inner man;
what remains to be learned 1 What is the that Christ may dwell in your hearts by
value of the attainments already secured faith ; that ye, being rooted and grounded
in religion, except in as far as they may in love, may be able to comprehend with
be stepping-stones to future attainments'? all saints what is the breadth, and length,
" Not as though I had already attained," and depth, and height; and to know the
was the spirit of the apostle, such his love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
tuted the whole of religion.

some,

it is

to

'?

solicitude to make future and that ye might be filled with all the fuladvances in religion " Not as ness of God."
Go on till you underthough I had already attained, either stand all the parts of that comprehensive

ardent
larger

c3

THE BRITISH PULPIT

30
and sublime prayer

till

you have

climbing, while

spi-

pressions in

it,

state represent

There

them.
there

is

we

are endeavouring to

reach the summit above us, to be able,

ideas corresponding to all the ex-

ritual

and till your religious till we reach it, clearly to command the
and imbody the whole of whole of that prospect which the sunmiit

is

the perfection of faith

Ihe perfection of love

there

is

itself will give to us.

given to us of

If the descriptions

scenery are, in some

its

described the fulness of the Christian

respects, difficult to be understood

character.

if

we would have

and

clear views, let us use

Would you take a more brief and sum- all diligence in the ascent, and the higher
mary view of the same state ] then you we reach the clearer will be our views,
you shall have it in the words of the and the more extensive the prospect we
apostle John
that simple and yet sub- command.
Let us " go on unto perfection." Do
lime writer " God is love, and he that
dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and you ask how ? By fidelity to the light
God in him !" Or will you take a view and the grace we possess, and by the
of the same state from another expression prayerful submission of our hearts to the
What is the evi- teaching of the Holy Ghost. Let us " go
of the same apostle 1
dence are you asking by which we may on unto perfection !" How? diligently,

know

that our love, the leading and car-

dinal grace of

daily, continually

Let us " go on unto

we do not,

perfection," and beware, that

the Christian character,

has attained to its maturity what is the with regard to this great doctrine of our
evidence by which its maturity is dis- holy religion, take our standard of it from
we
tinguished ? " There is no fear in love
the experience and views of others
but perfect love casteth out fear because must take our standard of it, exclusively,
fear hath torment. He that feareth is not from the representations of holy Scripture.
made perfect in love." " Herein is our In the methods by which God the Holy

that we may have Ghost conducts Christians to the knowday of judgment: because ledge of his will, and to the enjoyment of
as he is so are we in this world."
Bre- conformity to him, there is an almost
thren, I confess, unhesitatingly, tliat if I endless diversity ; and though religious
abstain from making any comment upon biography is extremely serviceable, from

love

made

boldness

perfect,

in the

expressions like these,

satisfied

it

is

because

that no terms I could

the general principleswhich

I feel

employ

it

could render them

more clear in their

meaning, and that to substitute any others
in their place would be only to " darken
counsel by words without knowledge."
Will you allow me to say a word or
two by way of caution here and of direction there ?
Are you then ready to say
that

many

to us

it

establishes,

when we

pro-

pose the experience of others, as the certain standard by which our own progress
and attainments are to be regulated. It
is an evil which has a tendency to generate

an

artificial

character in religion,

inconsistent with that beautiful variety

which obtains

alike in the productions of

grace and in the works of nature. And

we are sometimes disposed to think that,

of these expressions describe a

state of which it is extremely difficult to

form an adequate conception ] Let me
make one remark. In going on " unto
perfection," we are not to be solicitous
that doctrinal clearness should precede,
and be independent upon, an experimental
acquaintance with the truth. Religion is
a subject, from beginning to end, to be
experimentally understood. Clear views
depend much more on fidelity to the
grace and knowledge we profess than
they do upon any thing else; and we
must not always expect, while we are

becomes injurious

in this

way, some sincere inquirers

after

holiness prescribe to the Almighty a path

shall conduct them, which
does not leave the Holy Spirit to work as
he will ; forgetting, that as " the wind

by which he

bloweth where

it

listeth," so the

Holy

working upon the human mind,

acts by laws of which he does not give
any account unto us, and which are not,
in respect of their applications, always
Spirit, in

uniform.
|

Let us " go on unto perfection ;" and

CHRISTIAN PERFECTION ENFORCED.

let

us take care not to confound a part of attach precise ideas to the expression.

religion with the whole, nor to substitute

What

one Christian grace for the whole Chris-

of a man, as distinguished from the un-

the characters of the understanding

We sometimes think this derstanding of a child are, is not difficult

mistake which we are in danger of for us to ascertain; and though the macommitting.
In describing Christian turity of manhood does not preclude imperfection, the sacred writers do, indeed, provement, yet it does designate a precise
sometimes select one special grace to il- and explicit state. Now, so it is with
tian character.
is a

They

lustrate the character of the saint.

select often the grace of love

and they

regard to the Christian

on unto perfection"

describe Christian perfection by the ma-

of our faith

turity of love; and they tell us, as the

purified

proof that love is mature, that " it casteth

But then, the maturity of love
out fear."
supposes and depends upon the maturity
of other graces besides love; and if
confine our views exclusively to this,

may
and

be liable to mistake

sentiment

in

In order to Chris-

in practice too.

tian perfection, maturity in

well as maturity in love

It

we
we

be sought.

implies the perfection of our faith

the

perfection of our hope as well as the perfection of our charity.

Once more, let us remember, in going

on unto Christian perfection, that the
terms employed here and by other sacred
writers have a definite meaning, and describe a state to be attained in the present

world.

Do

the sacred writers exhort us

to mortify the

deeds of the body

They

assure us, also, that the flesh, with

affections
slain.

and

They

its

may

be crucified and
do not exhort us to a warlusts,

fare of the successful issue of

which there

no prospect. Do they exhort us to " go

on unto perfection ]" They use the term

" perfection"

in a definite

and

in

an ex-

attainable in the present life

reference to which,

and with

we may have

as clear

views and as satisfactory experience as we

have in regard to the principles of the doctrine of Christ.

We understand

what we

mean, when we apply the term " perfection" to vegetable productions.

Vegetable productions are perfect

have reached
possess

their proper size

As

ing.

we

also,
to

go on

perfect

to the faculty of

understanding,

are to seek to be

men.

to perfection of love

when

it

absorbs

soul, fixing

all

We

are

and love

is

the powers of

them upon God

when

excludes everj' contrary propensity, and

when we love the Lord our God with all
our heart and soul and mind and strength,
and our neighbour as ourselves.
But
with regard to all those subjects, it is the
it

and there we
seek and to have the
constant teaching of the Holy .Spirit^
that " unction from the Holy One" which
privilege of the Christian

leave the matter

will

to

make every matter

plain to him, as
duty renders it desirable;
and therefore, above all things, a spirit
of docility and prayer should be inculcated upon us in all our religious purfar as present

suits.

is

plicit sense, to describe a state actually

are to " go

until the eye of our faith is

from every darkening and obscuring film, is vigorous and clear in its
perceptions, and the discoveries made to
it are constantly and incessantly enlarg-

knowledge as the

is to

we

unto the perfection

I
to

proceed, lastly, in a very few words,

enforce upon you the exhortation of

the text

" Leaving the principles of the

doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection."

And how shall I enforce the

exhortation

I will

enforce

it, first,

by

reminding you that your safety depends

upon your obedience to the admonition of
the text.
If you would not be forsaken
by first principles, you must leave them;

if you would
not make a retrograde
when they movement in religion, you must seek to
when they advance. The only term upon which

pass.

you retain the possession of that which

you now enjoy, is, that you profit by the
talents intrusted to you, and set them out

we

to

there

all their

is

qualities in a perfect state

a law beyond

which

it

cannot

We know what we mean, when

speak of the perfection of the human
nature.
When we speak of the maturity
and manhood of a rational being, we

proper use. Indolence is the first step

towards declension spiritual declension
;

will

be followed by apostacy, provided

THE BRITISH

32

PULPIT.

Son of God on what does the value of

depend 1 It depends on the interest
abandonment o-f our religious creed, and which it gives you in the sacrifice and
the entire loss of our enjoyments, is in intercession of Christ it depends on the
Christian diligence. The history of every union which it establishes between you
And upon what
backslider will illustrate this remark, and the Son of God.
and the awful possibility of backsliding, does the value of that interest depend ?
finally and fatally, should impress it and why is that union with the Son of
upon us. It is awfully possible, not God to be prized] Why, because that
only that an individual may lose the relation to the Son of God will conduct
cheering sense of the Divine favour, but you to the possession of divine nature
that he may doubt the reality of his past and into the enjoyment of conformity to
experience; that, from doubting the reality the Son of God. Now, to detach faith

we

persevere in

against

final

it

and the only security

apostacy, against the total

faith

of his past experience, he

question the truth of

may go

on to

all spiritual religion,

may treat the whole as visionary

and enthusiastic
and that, to use the
strong language of the apostle Peter, he
may "forget that he was purged from
his former sins"
that the sense which
memory retains, or might retain, of past
enjoyments, is so totally obliterated, that
no trace remains, no intellectual perception of spiritual things; and in the utter
void and darkness of a spirit, thus abandoned by the light and comforts of the
Holy Ghost, skepticism, unbelief, take
up their abode, and the last estate of that
man will often become much worse than
that he

the first!
things,

of

it

With regard
has in

it

very

a moral virtue.

Christianity requires

to faith in divine

much

That
is

the quality

faith

which

not necessarily

produced by the force of evidence addressed to the understanding; it depends

very much upon the state of the affections, and resides in the heart, viewed on
the whole, as much as it does, or perhaps
more than it does, in the understanding
and unfaithfulness to religious light and
enjoyments will very frequently conduct
us to speculative infidelity. Now, our
safety depends on our Christian diligence ; and if we do not desire, if we do
rot wish to lose entirely the mental perception and the satisfying conviction of
first principles, let us leave them, and
" go on unto perfection."
Must I enforce upon you the exhortation of the textl
Then I will do it, secondly, by reminding you that the value
of all your past aftai7vnents depends upon
the application which you make of them
;

to

future possessions.

You

believe in the

from the great end of it to separate the

knowledge we have acquired of principles from the important truths to which
they are intended to conduct, is to de-

them altogether of

prive

their value.

admit the importance of prayer

which

often felt the consolations

parts

in trouble

it

You

you have

has been

to

place of refuge, and in weakness

it

im-

you a
it

has

you know a way to

the throne of grace.
On what does the
value of that knowledge depend 1 You
have put into yourliands a privilege which,
if rightly exercised and improved, may
been your strength

command

all

the blessings of the

new

You

have learned to pray that

you may " pray without ceasing ;" you
have had the mental eye of faith opened,
that there may be spread before it all the
wonders of spiritual sight here, and,
covenant.

finally, all the

surpassing glories of the

beatific vision hereafter

the sweets of

you have tasted

communion with God

that

you may be excited to aspire after more

intimate and uninterrupted fellowship
with him ; you have felt the powers of
the world to come, that you may be encouraged to go on till you are made perfectly meet for the inheritance of the
saints in light
Of what value is an
acquaintance with the alphabet of Chris!

tianity unless w^e

this

knowledge

make an
to

application of

further

attainments

in it?

Must

enforce upon

you the exThen, thirdly, I

will remind you, that a regard to the
credit of religion and your own consistI still

hortation of the text?

ency of character, should induce you to

attend to it.
Is religion valuable in any
degree 1 Then it must certainly be valua-

CHRISTIAN PERFECTION ENFORCED.

33

which it can another argument, and that is drawn from

There is nothing noxious the injluence which Christian diligence
religious knowledge
it is impossible
will have on the character of your closing

ble in the highest degree in

be attained.
in

that our desires after holiness can be ex-

hours. If

we

desire that our death should

to the religion we profess

conformity to Christ
if we wish to make a triumphant as
can be too absorbing and ardent. Here well as a peaceful exit a joyful as well
the largest desires are laudable
here the as a safe one, then let us remember that,
most vigorous exertions are to be com- generally speaking, the character of death-

cessive, and that our ambition to be dis-

tinguished by a

full

be honourable

mended

we

consult the credit of bed scenes is determined by the diligence,

which we profess, we by the fidelity of our previous lives.
ought to be desirous of making a fair re- Many conflicts which disturb the repose
presentation of it to the world around us. of the dying saint would be spared, if he
And how can we do so unless we have were, in his earlier stages, more conourselves attained to " the measure of the scientiously faithful in the duties of the
;

and as

the Christianity

We

stature of the fulness of Christ T'

are to " let our light so shine before

"

Christian warfare

men" many

painful

much self-reproach
many distressing

fears

good doubts, wjiich too often cast a gloom

works, may be led to glorify our Father over the closing scene of his earthly pilwho is in heaven." But yon know very grimage, would have many of them
well, that with regard to spiritual pro- been avoided, had he attended to this exductions, as with regard to natural pro- hortation of the apostle.
Do you desire
ductions, generally speaking, their beauty to have " an entrance ministered to you
is not reached till their maturity is reach- abundantly into the everlasting kingdom
ed. The bloom, the beauty of the tree, is of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ?"
not perfect till the fruit is ripe
the beauty Then, remember the direction which preand symmetry of the man is not exhibited, cedes that passage ' Giving all dilitill his full stature and proportions have
gence, add to your faith, virtue
and to
been reached. So it is with the Chris- virtue, knowledge
and to knowledge,
tian
the f\iir exhibition to the world of temperance and to temperance, patience ;
the beauty of holiness, of the loveliness and to patience, godliness; and to godliof the Christian character, is not to be ness, brotherly kindness and to brotherly
expected but in the case of those who kindness, charity. For if these things
have attained its perfection. " Whatso- be in you, and abound, they make you
ever things are pure, whatsoever things that ye shall neither be barren nor unare lovely, whatsoever things are of good fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
report; if there be any virtue, and if there Jesus Christ."
What a fine exposition
" Wherefore the
be any praise, think on these things" and of the text before us
do them.
Let all these, beautifully rather, brethren, give diligence to make
blended together, be the ornament of your calling and election sure for if ye
your character, that others may glorify do these things, ye shall never fall for
your Father who is in heaven. Let your so an entrance shall be ministered unto
humility be freed from all meanness of you abundantly into the everlasting kingspirit
let your benevolence be purified dom of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus
from all selfishness seek for that dignity Christ." Your exit shall be the exit of
said

it is

that they, seeing our

of the Christian character, which

tirely

removed from

member

all

pride

is

en-

a conqueror, your last expressions shall

and

re-

be notes of triumph.
Shall I still enforce the exhortation of
the text?
Then I will do it by reminding you, finally, that Christian diligence
will have a favourable influence on our

that the mixture of selfish

and

corrupt affections with spiritual graces,

has a tendency

them, as

it

to debase the quality of

prevents their growth and full

expression.

Must

tion of the text

Vol.

IL 5

upon our present

sometimes give death

future state as well as

enforce
1

still

further the exhorta-

Then

I will

do

it

by

condition.

We

credit for effecting a greater alteration in

THE BRITISH

34

the intellectual and spiritual state of a

I say this is
Christian, than it deserves.
possible.
ture glory

At any

rate, the

degree of fu-

ture attainments

according

and go on unto perfec" And this will we do, if God

permit." Let ours not be the state of
tion."

those described in the verses following

" For it is impossible for those
the text

made

evidences of Christianity are of

nature.
They address themselves neither to the feelings nor passions
of men.
Had not this been the case, the

minds of men would have been over-awed

and their belief extorted by terror. Moral
evidence

is

answer as a

of

others the best fitted to

all

test

by which

cerity of our faith.

The

to try the sin-

clear light of

demonstration, or any kind of evidence

which men might be disposed

raised from the dead in order to attest the

Let us,

" leave the principles of the doc-

once enlightened, and have

gift, and were

of the heavenly

The

a rational

Spirit, re-

trine of Christ,

tasted

ON MORAL EVIDENCE

will be the

ceive in the time of the harvest.

who were

assurance of hope unto the end !"

grant us this grace

to regard
adapted for
the trial of our understandings on practical questions, because it would lead to
right conduct in opposition to the greatest
insincerity of mind.
Were a man to be

to the zeal

you manifest in the seed-time,

returns you shall, under the
then,

full

And may God

Amen.

the splendour of our future

the weight and magnitude of our

recompense, will be determined by the
degree of our fidelity and of our Christian
diligence. Borrowing, then, the allusion
from the words of the text, I ask you, on
what form in the heavenly school, do you
intend, when you enter it, to take your
eeati Do you mean there to go into the
alphabet class T you begin there where
you leave off here. Where do you intend
to begin ] with what class of the celestial
inhabitants do you desire hereafter to be
Will you always be in the
associated 1
rear] or do you desire to take the foremost rank among the inhabitants of the
According to your dilicelestial world 1
gence and fidelity now, will be your fu-

crown

PULFIT.

as irresistible, would be

ill

were he to opeimmediate conviction on the mind of

the person to whom he made his appearance, where would there be a permanent
test of the sincerity of his belief? Assent
would be extorted by fear, the faculties
of the mind would be put to no tti&l.
Hence it appears that moral evidence is
truth of Christianity, and

rate

best suited to our circumstances, as

it

Holy Ghost, and puts our faith to a constant trial. Of this

good word of God and kind is the evidence actually furnished in

partakers of the

have tasted the

It is addressed
the powers of the world to come, if they support of Christianity.
shall fall away, to renew them again unto to the intellectual faculties; it calls for
repentance ; seeing they crucify to them- the full exercise of the judgment and
and it is fitted
selves the Son of God afresh, and put whole reasoning powers
him to an open shame." " But, beloved, to produce a rational and permanent conwe are persuaded better things of you, viction so powerful as to triumph over
and things that accompany salvation, the suggestions of carnal reason, and the
though we thus speak." Let us, there- sudden bursts of irregular passions or of
Burns.
fore, all use " the same diligence to the animal feeling.
;

SERMON

III.

THE EMPLOYMENT OF ANGELS.

BY THE REV. JAMES MACFARLANE, A.M

MINISTER OF STOCKBRIDGE CHAPEL, EDINBURGH.

Which things

We
richly

scarcely remind

need

the temple

frau^t with

the angels desire to look

service

you how view

into"

Pet.

i.

12.

this figure as intimating the fact,

was that the angels in heaven are no indiffercoming ent spectators of the development of the

of old

the intimations of a

Messiah; nor need we remark how every plan of mercy, but that their eyes are
department of the temple itself, construct- fixed upon it, as though there were
ed as it was on a divine model, bore some nothing else in the whole circle of crea-

which could,

pointed reference to the great blessings

tion

of redemption. Into no portion of its precincts can we enter which is not filled
with the holiest inspirations to no cor-

forth their regards.

live

in

in

To

comparison, call
us, at least,

who

a clearer and more perfect dis-

pensation, there is no mystery or doubt

whether of its outer court or of its in- as to the studies and employments of the
most recess, can we turn, v.'hich does not celestial throng. It is our privilege to
speak of a higher and more spiritual eco- know that the sufferings of Christ, and
ner,

nomy

than what the bleeding victim, or the glory which should follow, are the
smoking incense, might at first seem common ground of meditation on which
You know, for instance, for saint and angel meet, and that the loudest
to indicate.
Scripture informs you, that the holy of song of the redeemed on earth is but the
holies was a type of heaven, whither the faint echo of that anthem in heaven,
great Forerunner has now gone with the which seraphs, and the spirits of the just
the

blood of sprinkling to offer up the praj'ers

You know,

made

perfect, conspire in singing to

Him

on the throne, and to the

mercy-seat which covered the ark where- Lamb, for ever and ever. It is our priviin lay the book of the law, was a type of lege to discover, in the covenant of grace,
Jesus, whom God has set forth as a true a chain of sympathy which binds heaven
mercy-seat, and who covers and shelters to earth, a centre of union around which
his people from the curse of the law, be- the holiest thoughts of men, and the highing made a curse for them. Now, you est exercises of angels, ever circulate
will observe, that over this mercy-seat for though the message of its unsearchawere placed two cherubim overshadowing ble riches is falling here with but little
it with their wings, looking down upon
impression on the ears of a listless and
the ark with bended head, the posture of alienated world, the finger of inspiration
deep contemplation, as if there was that points us to a scene where those lofty inof

all

saints.

too, that the

that

sittelh

which called forth their most pow- telligences who live in the light of the
sympathy, and exercised their most upper sanctuary, whose faculties are defixed attention.
Hence, it could not but veloped most widely, and whose aflfechappen that the devout Jew, whose mind tions glow most intensely, are expending
rose from the shadow to the substance, their deepest regards on the great mysteand from the type to the reality, would ries of redemption. This is the one sub
35

there
erful

.36

THE BRITISH

PULPIT.

which thrills heaven vicissitude of seasons, the superintendand lays angels and arch- ence of a faithful friend, and the bounty
angels prostrate hefore the throne of the of an unwearied benefactor, or meet the
This is that field of glory footsteps of a parent in the worlds he had
Eternal.
whose height no manifestation ean dis- formed, and the arm of a Creator workplay, and whose depth no created being, ing visibly on the right hand and the left?
however exalted, can fully comprehend. they have but to turn from earth to heaThis is the golden treasury of mercy on ven, and from heaven to earth; they have
which the fixed gaze of the cherubim has but to survey the new .Jerusalem, the capifor ages been turned, and from the fulness tal of all creation, or contemplate those
of which they draw such fresh supplies wandering worlds which are balanced on
of knowledge as are adequate to the ut- the emptiness of space; they have but to
most measure of their still expanding ca- gaze on the solid earth, or the rolling seas,
pacities.
They feel no weariness they and everywhere will they behold the skirts
know no decay. Infinity is the only range, of that robe of glory with which the Deity
and eternity the only period, of their in- is clothed ; everywhere will they behold
vestigations.
They have long basked in wisdom, and goodness, and power, porthe effulgence of the beatific vision, and trayed in characters too bright to be mistaken.
Yes the foundation of the temstill as time revolves do they desire to
look into these things, without danger of ple of knowledge is laid deep, and wide,
exhausting their powers, and without the and lasting, on the face of the universe.
possibility of terminating their inquiries. All creatnres, whether animate or inaniAt the threshold of such a subject the mate, demonstrate the being and perfecand it
question at once occurs, How is it that tions of Him who formed them
the heavenly host contemplate the work cannot be supposed that those sons of God
of man's salvation with so much interest T who raised the song of triumph as they
And in answer, we remark, _;?r.s/, that it saw Omnipotence calling this world into
IS BECAUSE THEY OBTAIN HERE THEIR MOST existence, should ever forget that shout of
joy with which they hailed the birth of
EXTENSIVE VIEW OF THE GLORY OF GoD.
mean not from this to say, that time, or cease to admire the wonders of
angels are not awake to the glories which creation throughout the endless progress
But nature, with all its
are so profusely scattered over all exist- of their being.
ence, as to be observed by men of every lessons of wisdom, must now yield to
country, and kindred, and clime. Dwell- grace ; and the era, when this fair system
ing in the heaven of heavens, and as the arose at the divine command, must not
messengers of God, in which capacity we vie with that, when, from condemnation
have reason from Scripture to believe that and misery, it emerged into happiness and
they visit not only this world, but the peace. Every other theme of study must
innumerable planets which steal along the fade away before it, and acknowledge the
face of the sky, they have the most ample supremacy of an enterprise, the very oband perfect opportunity of understanding ject of which is "glory to God in the
the endless multitude and the astonishing highest, on earth peace, and good-will to
character of the works of creation and men." This constitutes the bright centre
providence. Nature, in all its diversified to which all the divine attributes converge,
operations, lies stretched out before them, and from which they are again reflected
and from the throne of their Creator, they over the intelligent universe. This forms
behold a golden chain of bounty which the choicest spot on which, amid much
leaves no world beyond its embrace, and that is great and glorious, the eye of
no creature beyond its control. Would angels most instructively dwells.
they trace wisdom in the minute, or power
It must not, however, be supposed that
in the magnificent ?
Would they scan this superiority consists in any thing of
Jehovah's ways in the movements of the outward grandeur or external magnifimaterial universe, or in the even tenor of cence.
There is little in the manger of
his providence 1
Would they see, in the Bethlehem, or in the company of fisherject of all others

with rapture,

We

THE EMPLOYMENT OF ANGELS.

men

the

little in

judgment

hall of Pilate

other region

37
on the

darkness

and the

bosom of Deity,

poverty of this? Does it not offer more

than all the riches of this globe could
purchase, or the services of all the seraphim in heaven could earnl What more

that is calculated to attract the carnal eye,

than a crucified Saviour could angels wish

or in the hill of Calvary

the

commencement

little

either in

or in the evolution of

that plan of grace, which, from eternity,

had been folded up

in the

to behold
to what theme but salvation
with no external majesty, the cross of could the regards of time, or the studies
Christ was to the Jews a stumbling-block, of immortality, most instructively turn?
and to the Greeks foolishness, and it per- Every divine attribute has here its dehaps might have been imagined that an- mands satisfied, its claims vindicated,
gels would have cqncurred in the estimate, and its essential dignity displayed and
and that the heavenly throng would have exalted.
All harmoniously unite, and
turned away from such an uninviting each lends its aid and co-operation in enscene to seek for occupation in other nobling the other; wisdom dignified by
spheres and in other studies. But we power, and power regulated by wisdom
look, and the calculation is reversed. As mercy sustained and invigorated by jusa scheme of grace in which the glory of tice, and justice tempered b}' the meltings
God is manifested, through the medium of love grace establishing its throne on
of every thing that is awful and striking, the basis of Jehovah's truth, and the warm
the gospel is replete with much on which tide of mercy's beams mingling with, and
the soul of the believer feeds as its rich- pervading all.
what an exhibition of
est repast, and in that man of sorrows, in every divine perfection is unfolded here
that weeping babe and dying victim, the Who can expatiate over this field of diprincipalities of heaven beheld the most vine goodness and compassion, and not
glorious object in the whole created uni- call upon his soul, and all that is within
verse, because in him the perfections of him, to bless the Lord 1
Take the highDeity shine forth in their most stupendous est creature in the universe, darken the
exhibition.
The veil of flesh and the light of creation around him, give him all
guise of a servant, hide not from them the the powers which earth or heaven can
majesty of God, nor in the indignities of supply, and let him bend those powers to
Calvary can they forget a finished work this one eflfort the knowledge of a salvaa perfect redemption.
Their under- tion wrought out for ruined man and
standing is riveted on those unsearchable how much will he learn? As much as

or to arrest the carnal attention.

Attended

riches

whereby the guilty

fugitive is call-

ed back from his apostasy, and invited to

an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled,

and that fadeth not away.

tions

bow

Their

affec-

before that sovereign liispensa-

to lay

him

prostrate before the throne in

the heavens

as

much

as to convince

him

measure thereof is longer than

the earth, and broader than the sea. Ages,

that the

as they pass over him, still find

him

at

which overlooked their fallen bre- the task, breathing the fervent prayer,
thren, and brought the fellow of Jehovah "Lord, show me thy glory;" and eter-

tion

from his throne, and stretched forth the

golden sceptre and established a spiritual

kingdom

in the

witness him
gazing on an ocean whose depth no line
may fathom, and whose bounds no eye

misery.

On

may

glory

very recesses of guilt and

every feature of the work

described, and from every point

nity, as it rolls on, will still

reach.

Nor

will the interest with which angels

the majesty of power and the rectitude of survey the great mystery of redemption,
justice, the immutability of truth, and the as displaying the perfections of Deity,
beauty of holiness beam forth in lines of lose any thing in its intensity when we
is

undying

Does

growing character,
depending on the gradual development of
the majesty of offended Godhead ! Does the plan of mercy. The mind of man
it not unfold the depth of human wretchcan seldom rest for any period of time on
edness, and let in the brightness of an- a study, however elevated, which is not
light.

it

not preserve un-

reflect that it is of a

tainted the dignity of a violated law, and

THE BRITISH FULHT.

increasing the boundaries of his
ledge, or rewarding

him with fresh

knowinfor-

tion, that the

woman

seed of the

bruise the serpent's head

It

should

was now

that a field of knowledge, as yet untrodGod's pur- den, was opened up before them, a field
poses, to tlie human race, been as familiar over whose shadowy outline the dimness
to the angels at their beginning as at their of futurity still partially rested. It might
close, they would long ere now have tired be, that with patriarchs and prophets of
in the contemplation of a subject which old, they looked to the day of Christ
was ever presenting the same unvarying when yet afar off, and that, like the early
aspect. But, believing as we do from our travellers, they were cheered by some
text, especially when compared with the few streaks of the rising sun; yet was it
context, and with other passages of Scrip- to them but the faint presage of the openIt might be, that with Noah,
ture, that this knowledge is of a growing ing day.
nature, and that they, as well as we, only and Abraham, and Moses, they desired to
learn the several parts of this design of see; yet were they not able clearly to disgrace in their successive accomplishment, cern the face of Jehovah's mercy, shroudroation;

and

it

perhaps might be supposed,

that had the intimations of

it is

at once manifest that the celestial

company are perpetually alive to a subject

which is gradually disclosing, with broader and

more defined

features, its purposes

The church on

was, beneath the covering of a

It might be, that with
the very followers of the Lamb, they
traced the footsteps of their own King on
earth, and watched over him at Bethlehem, and ministered to him in the wilderness, and comforted him in the garden of
Gethsemane yet still, in the fulness of
ed, as

earth was the

groundwork on which were inscribed the
praises of the living God, in order, as the
apostle informs us, that by that church
his manifold wisdom might be made the

of mercy.

known

heavenly places. The wells

of salvation from which the saints below
ever drew their supplies of knowledge and
of strength, were the common resort of
angels, and amid type and ceremony, from
a bleeding victim and smoking incense,
from the ark and the mercy-seat, from the
prophet's school and the high priest's
temple; they too, we may well conclude,
were gathering up those bright intimations which strung their harps to a higher
melody, and tuned their songs to a loftier
praise.
What, with them, is knowledge
now, was thus perhaps at one period but
mystery and gloom. Who can tell what
silence reigned in heaven when, by the
fall

of

in

Adam,

the

harmony of

all

creation

had been broken, and God himself, in the

awful majesty of holiness, stood ready to
pronounce his threatened award] What
could angels expect for man in that hour
of apostacy, but the full measure of insulted wrath, and the miseries of an irreversible decree ]
And, O
when the
uplifted arm was stayed, and no voice bui
that of rnercy was heard, saying, " Deliver from going down to the pit, for I
have found a ransom," who can say with
what holy joy they weleomed the iatima!

it

typical

economy.

consummation had
knew how Judas
should betray, and Pilate condemn, and
latter day, ere the

arrived,

God

Jews
Not yet is
the

alone

crucify, the Prince of peace.

the vision full

harvest reaped.

The

not yet

years, as they

is

the

sweep

over our world, and bring to pass the purposes of Jehovah, are extending the boun-

wisdom, and though surrounded with a blaze of glory, visibly

gathered from every point of a finished
redemption, the loftiest spirit who surrounds the throne is still travelling in the
great circle of knowledge, like the planets
daries of angelic

in

their course, unfettered in his

move-

ments, and unsullied in his progress. His

zeal dreads not the languor of weariness,
nor his pursuits the inroads of decay.

Every new view

is

yielding

God

a fresh

revenue of praise, and still does he desire

to look into it, that he may show forth
the greatness of
to

Him who

stepped forth

our aid unsolicited and uncalled, except

by the tender accents of

his

own unme-

rited grace.

Secondly. We remark, that it is not

MERELY IN A SPECULATIVE POINT OF VIEW
THAT ANGELS CONTEMPLATE THE GREAT
WORK OF REDEMPTION, BUT THAT THET
DESIRE TO LOOK IMTO THESE THINGS, BE-

THE EMPLOYMENT OF ANGELS.

39

CAUSE OF THE GOOD WHICH THEREBY distinct knowledge of the perfections of

RESULTS TO THE HUMAN RACE. Men and Deity than creation yields, they should
angels once belonged to the same peace- not rejoice the less in these discoveries of
ful family, and had no tempter interfered Godhead, because they have changed the
to mar the harmony of their union, they moral aspect of our world, and again
had still lived in the bonds of a holy and opened up a channel, through which the
happy fellowship. At the birth of time, sympathies of heaven may flow out over
no impediment existed to the spontaneous the habitations of earth. If angels weep,
flow of social affection, or to the inter- they must have wept over that act of
course of heaven and of earth.
The apostacy which drove man an exile from
voice of the Lord God was hailed with paradise
and if they rejoice, it must be
delight ; and as there was no disposition to behold him no longer presenting that
in man to hide himself from his presence, image of sin, with which their holy spiso was there nothing to arrest the foot- rits can hold no alliance. The miracles
;

steps of angels, or destroy the

niality

of kindred

feeling.

conge- of grace are

Our world ing

to thern

no mean or uninvit-

That reconciliation cannot be neglected which satisfied divine

was

spectacle.

not yet degenerate, but reflecting in

every scene the beauty and the holi- justice, and from the smitten rock pourii
ness of the upper sphere, the very angels forth those healing streams which a
its

smiled upon it as the home of brethren

Vvhose souls burned with a common love
to the great Parent of all.
But when man
revolted from his lawful Sovereign

broken law- had dried at their source.

That salvation cannot be overlooked,
which is working a radical cure in the
when very centre and seat of the malady,

conscious guilt abashed Adam in the pre- cleansing the fountain of corruption, resence of a pure Being, and made him de- novating the very constituent faculties
sirous of hiding himself from his view,

not only did sin separate between

of

the

man them

human mind, and

to a

constraining
pure and holy service. Be-

and God, but shut up the very gates of cause visited by its influence, the lust of
heaven to the egress of the celestial host. the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the
Henceforward the chain w'hich bound to- pride of life all lose their charms when
gether the intelligent creation, was snap- contrasted with the requirements of the
ped asunder, and, dissevered from the moral law. Because touched by its reharmony of the moral universe, our globe viving energy, the believer springs from
became a prodigal in the family of God. the cell of condemnation and the embrace
Henceforward happiness gave place to of death, into all the holy activity, and livmisery, holiness to sin, and far from the ing beauty, and usefulness of the regeneabode of his innocence, our great proge- rate man. The veil is removed which
nitor saw the flaming sword of the once eclipsed the glories of the world to come ;
friendly cherubim, guarding the place the fetters of passion are burst asunder,
where he had talked with God, even as iniquity is abandoned, the love of God
one friend talketh with another. We can- cherished, and with the joy of Christ in
not, therefore, but suppose, that as the his heart, and his praise on his lips, the
friends and lovers of mankind, who take once abandoned transgressor sinks to the
an emphatical pleasure in all that advances grave, rich in all those spiritual endowour happiness, the angels should desire to ments which can support the soul in the
contemplate a scheme which has again re- hour of death or prepare it for the comunited us to their company, and by destroy- munion and happiness of heaven.
"Old
ing the works of the devil, holds out the things have passed away, behold, all
blessedness of Eden, under circumstances things have become new."
Over the
of still greater serenity and peace.
We whole inner man, the influences of
cannot but suppose, that, next to the glory heaven breathe once more, displaying
of God, they should be mindful of the themselves in their loveliest forms, aid
salvation of man; and that while they in their highest glory.
Once more does
seek in the mysteries of grace, a more the flame of devotion burn, and prayer

THE BRITISH

40
deligrht to

make known

praise to offer up

giving,

and

welcome

faith,

its

request, and

incense of thanks-

its

though not sight,

the presence of

Him whose

to

face

he shall yet behold in righteousness, and

be s-atisfied with his likeness.
Once
more does the disencumbered spirit rise
upwards to its proper good, and, amid the
remembrance of miseries escaped, and
the anticipation of mercies in reserve,
pant for the hour when, freed from all

PULPIT.

ing sinfulness of sin, and, on the other,

their very loyalty must serve to augment

when Satan

their joy,

man
too

restored

so that

much importance

the blessings with

is

defeated, and

we cannot
to the

assign

idea,

that

which redemption

is

incitement to their study

The gospel is the
in the celestial world.
seed which, lodged in the heart, gradufraught, is an

produces a new creature a seal

which, stamped on the soul, leaves the
corruption, it shall be raised in its attach- deep and abiding impression of the divine
ments to a congeniality with a holier and image a light chasing away the shadow
happier sphere. This is the glory ; these of darkness the rod of Christ's strength
are the triumphs of the gospel ; and, im- and the sceptre of his might, by which he
pressed with their greatness, they who bends the nations before him, and subonce watched the earthly paradise, the dues unto himself a peculiar people in
ally

wo, now celebrate the the day of his power. The ministry of
benevolence of gratu- reconciliation is the moral lever, which is
lation and joy, and desire to contemplate raising our world from the depth of mia scheme which, like the ladder of Jacob, sery into which it had sunk
the great
is binding the throne to the footstool by resurrection which is gathering into one
raessengers of

change with

all the

imparting to both the harmony of one

great and peaceful throng.
In adopting such an argument, it must
not be thought that we are travelling be-

yond the range of Scripture, and indulging in the mere wanderings of fancy,
which may, or may not, have their origin
in truth.
in

We

know

that there " is

joy"

heaven over one sinner that repenteth,

thus

intimating that

the very

seraphs

notice and rejoice at the success of that

process on character which conforms

man

image of Christ, and that this,

more than any other cause, conspires to
to

the

scatter

blessedness

Bound

over

the

celestial

the dispersed

the

members

of Christ's

body

stream which, issuing from the

throne, is running through the dry places
of this earth, reflecting from its peaceful
bosom many a smiling village and ChrisInstead of holding forth a sin-

tian shrine.

gle cup of water to the fainting pilgrim,

it

has opened up a fountain in the desert, to

which nations repair; instead of sheltering itself amid the ruins of Jehovah's
sanctuary,

it

recognises no other limits

but those of the globe

it

scorns a nar-

rower temple than the earth and the skies.

United in the sympathy of a common
faith, and touched by the inspiration of

holy obedience by the same Spirit, the sons of the stranger

the distinct apprehension which they are bowing down before it, and from their
have of the supreme excellence of that numberless habitations, are sending forth
Bein^ in whose presence they dwell, they the high praises of God and of the Lamb.
know 4he peace which flows out upon Here the dark understanding has been
them who are admitted to his fellow- illumined; there the rebellious will has
ship; and this knowledge must doubt- been softened
here the troubled conless be accompanied with the convic- science has been tranquillized ; there the
tion of the extreme wretchedness of depraved affections have been sanctified.
those who rebel against the majesty of The prejudices of the idolater have fallen
Living in the purity of the before the wisdom of the just; the pride
heaven.
upper sanctuarVf they drink pleasure at of the philosopher has humbled itself bethe fountain head, and belonging to the fore the Spirit of truth ; the profligate
government of .Jehovah, they owe and Gentile and the bigoted Jew have bepay to him an unlimited love and obe- come the willing subjects of the Prince
dience.
Their minds, then, on the one of peace. Yet a little while, and all
plains.

to a

hand, must be fully awake to the exceed-

flesh shall

come

before the Lord

yet a

THE EMPLOYMENT OF ANGELS.

little,

and the human heart shall become an

and this earth one great temple,

41

Are these
In conclusion.
and employments of angels?

the

studies

Then, my
which the children of men are made friends, we would turn this day from
meet to join in the new song, and to mingle heaven to earth, and remind you, that, if
with the innumerable company of angels destined to become their companions
Even now has the hereafter, you must be associated with
in the Zion above.
This
decree gone forth, and this central fire, them in spirit and in character now.
this mighty reservoir of spiritual light, is world is a nursery, in the distant soil of
but awaiting the divine command, to burst which the spiritual plant is reared, until
up in splendour, to disperse the gloom, removed to adorn the paradise of God,
and consume the impurities of a degene- and it is impossible that they should have
any meetnessfor its pure pleasures and its
rate world.
holy

altar,

in

It is

who
may

not to be wondered, then, that they

rejoiced
be,

wept

over man's birth, and,

at his fall

who

it

exalted society,
all

sung the demands.

descent of peace on earth, and are still

the heralds of the good news of repent-

who

are total strangers to

those ardent affections which religion

think

how

And

yet

little this

is

it

melancholy

world, amid

its

to

bus-

tling pursuits, is reflecting the exercises of

ance to their fellow spirits in the heaven- heaven how to a wicked generation the
ly kingdom, should desire to contemplate empty vanities of time and sense have a
an object thus full of mercy to the human more exquisite relish than that bread of
race.
It were unnatural to conclude, that life with which angels are replenished
amid all the joys of their father's house through eternal ages. It is mournful to
the inhabitants of heaven should not de- hear the scoffing of the ungodly, while

the highest intelligences wonder and

end such a change of cha- adore to behold the lofty attitude of unracter, and such a transformation of will concern with which men listen to that
as assimilate man to God, and the wor- which is the study and the delight of
Why this
ship of the footstool to the nobler services principalities and powers.
which encircle the throne. Deeply im- great dissimilarity of moral taste between
bued with seraphic love, there is no delu- seraphs who bow before the throne and
sion in the idea that thej' enjoy all the creatures who dwell upon the footstool 1
luxury of philanthropic affection as time \Yhy should the man whose soul burns
discloses the fresh trophies of redeeming at the contemplation of nature going forth
grace.
Accustomed to look upon the in her majesty, feel no holy love as he
whole human family with a benign aspect, traces the living footsteps of heavenly
Why should the philanthropist,
there is no presumption in the thought grace 1
that they turn their attention to that trea- whose eye kindles at the mention of an
sure house of mercy which is scattering enterprise which has touched the chains
so many blessings on our path, that they of the captive and bid the slave go free,
bend an attentive eye on the progress of turn away with aversion from that sublime
the gospel
that they sympathize with undertaking which, more than all the 'bounthe toils of those holy men who have ties of creation, is fraught with m^rcy to
borne the ark of the true God into the the human race T And, bove all, why is it
lonely wilderness, and that they are wait- that the philosopher and the sensualist, the
ing for the era when the kingdoms of worldling and the profane, start from their

sire to

have

look into those mysteries which

for their

this earth shall

our

God and

become the kingdoms of appropriate occupation to fling the sneer

Nor as eter- of ridicule against him who dares to break

of his Christ.

nity runs on, can it be imagined that the

highest archangel should forget that love
which is gathering up all that is fair and

the frivolous current of ordinary converse,

'dings of salvahope and

holy out from the ruins of the tomb, and joyl If angels tremble, 'tis at such a
the deeper ruins of the fall, ^d in the sight.
This sad neglect of every thing
new Jerusalem is more than realizing the which ought to occupy the attention, is
harmony and the peace of Eden.
as clear as it is tremendous. This disVol. II.
d2

by adverting

to the glad

tion as the main-spring of his

THE BRITISH

42

cordance between the employments

heaven and the pursuits of earth, is disqualifying man for the pure services of
the upper temple, where the triumphs of
the cross are felt as the most animating
Nay, to you they are
subject of delight.
not only important as a matter of study,
but as a matter of deep and serious inteIt is on your account that angels
rest.
desire to look into these things, and if
you seek to neglect them on your own,
nothing can be expected for you but a
"certain fearful looking for of judgment
and of fiery indignation to devour the ad-

PULPIT.
becomes the power of God to his
" Beloved, if God so loved

of faith,

As

versaries."

then you would not pe-

rish in the vision of light the

most

clear,

us,

we ought

To

this gracious principle

also to love one another."

religious

the

which

blessed, and

land

may

are

now

have

blessing, our

Christian light and

of

be traced

which

institutions

Yet the increase of these

have been received with

privilege.
institutions

distrust,

as

though they must, of necessity, exert

an injurious influence upon the modes
of charity, long established and unques-

Now this

tionably useful.

not be valid, unless the

employed

objection can-

means already
wants of men,

to supply the
and especially the wants of their perishing

ample for the purBut the wants of society, like the

of the upper numbers of which it is composed, are

and advantages the most distinguishing

as you would enjoy

salvation.

somewhat of

the

souls, are sufficiently

pose.

glories and the felicities

sphere in this the house of your pilgrim- continually increasing, and like its feaage, we would call upon you to make tures, continually varying. If, indeed,

the blessings of redemption

vation and

all

your desire.

all

To

your

sal-

sit in faith

beneath the shadow of the cross

to de-

the

means of Christian mercy could not

be extended, however enlarged

its spirit,

the multiplication of societies, claiming

by the ministration of the Spirit all its exercise, would necessarily produce a
our hope and happiness from the inesti- diminution of assistance to those already
mable merits of the Lamb that is in the in operation. But when the kingdom of

rive

midst of the throne to cast anchor on the

covenant favour and covenant faithfulness
of Father, Son, and Spirit, are the grand
and only sources of holiness and joy.
Without these you cannot enter the kingdom of God without these you have no
meetness for the inheritance of the saints
in light.
The lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eye, and the pride of life, must
stand eclipsed by the riches of th' cross,
or in the midst of rejoicing hosts, you
would still be wretched and sigh again
for the scenes you had left.
The snng
of salvation must be learned now, or the

Spirits of the just

made

perfect, shrink-

ing from your presence, would seek some

purer spot in the realms of space, where

heaven

by divine grace in
means of a holy liberality

is established

the heart, the

are invariably extended

temporal possession

is

because every

then regarded as a

lent by the Most High, for the

promotion of his own glory, and for the
good of his creatures. " A new commandment," said the Redeemer, " I give
talent

unto you, that ye love one another; as I

have loved you, that ye also love one
another."
Now the aflfection of the Son
of

God towards

universal.

He

lost

transgressors

was

did not refuse to cleanse

the leper, because he had raised the dead

nor did he

turn

away from

the impor-

tunate cry of the blind, because he had un-

stopped the ears of the deaf, or had made

no jarring voice would mar the melody the lame to walk. In like manner, while
of their heavenly anthem.
Wherefore the ingenuity of Christian benevolence
"how shall you escape, if you neglect delights to invent new schemes of mercy,
its expansiveness includes those alreadyAmen.
this great salvation ?"
appealing to its protection. Indeed, such
diff'usive liberality is the

ON THE PRINCIPLE OF BENEVOLENCE.

necessary result
God hath said,

of divine appointment: for

PRINCIPLE of heavenly benevolence " The poor shall never cease out of the
produced in the heart of a land therefore thou shall open thy hand
Christian, when the gospel, received by wide to thy brother."
Buddicom.

is invariably

SERMON

IV.

ON THE RESTORATION OF THE JEWS TO THEIR OWN LAND, AND

VERSION TO THE FAITH OF CHRIST.

CON"-

BY THE REV. JOHN GORDON LORIMER,

MINISTER OF ST. DAVId's CHURCH, GLASGOW.

come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time,
remnant of his people which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from
Fathros, and from Cnsh, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamalh, and from the
islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts

"And

it

shall

to recover the

The
of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall
13.
not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vlx Ephraim." Isaiah xi. 11

You

aware of the object of our to enlarge our acquaintance with ScripI have been requested ture ; and, I trust, it will be found not
and prevailed upon, though surrounded inappropriate to the benevolent object of
by many much better qualified, to preach this meeting, but fruitful in motives and
the annual sermon in behalf of the Glas- encouragements to induce us to contribute
gow Society for promoting Christianity to the christianization of so remarkable a
among the Jews. In fulfilling this en- people.
gagement, it seems natural and desirable
None, I presume, need to be told who
to make choice of a subject which is the Jews are all, even the least informed,
directly connected with the Jews.
The are pretty well aware of their origin and
are all

present meeting.

claims of other societies may be advocated without much special reference to

but the arguments

their object;

in

be-

half of this society are, like the people

themselves,
requires

peculiar,

and

the

a peculiar treatment.

this the less called for, that there

faithful students of the Scriptures, they

is

are continually brought before us in

some

seems

aspect of their character or history.

We

would

at present restrict

subject

be no little indifference felt, and misapprehension entertained, as to the Jewish

cause, considered as a whole.
There is
much connected with the Jews which
would supply us with an important and
interesting theme of contemplation
there
is little, indeed, connected with their
history and prospects which might not
be so improved ; but the theme to which
is, their

Scriptures,

Nor

to

By

the early reading of the

they are introduced to our
knowledge at a tender age we frequently
read of them in maturer years; nay, as
history.

your attention

future conversion to the faith of

them from travellers and

and sometimes we behold a few

often hear of

others

of this people with our

own

hi'tory.

The

consideration of

it

will tend

Many

and history ; and, through the medium of

In
these, impart that interest to others.
this way, there are iew, I believe, who
have not a better general idea of the past
history and present character of the Jews,
than perhaps of any other people. The

Christ, and restoration to their own land.

This theme is a very pleasing one much
more pleasing than many parts of their very singularity of the Jews

eyes.

men, who care nothing about religion, and

would do little to change the religious
state of the Jews, are interested in them
as suitable and affecting subjects of poetry

ing out, in

all

their stand-

important respects, from

43

THE BRITISH

44

PULPIT.

every other nation under heaven, renders

the knowledge of them deeper and more
memorable. On these grounds it may not

anon rebelling against God, in spite of

warning, and expostulation, and judgment. Their history is the history of the

seem necessary, nor

richest blessings conferred

is it so, to enter into

partially en-

any enlarged accounts of them. We take joyed speedily abused. It is the history
for granted, that you are acquainted with of obedience, disobedience, and deliverthe past and present state of the Jews. ance, in successive and most varied forms.
We shall only give such a brief and gene- At length, when many difficulties and
ral sketch as may recall your previous many wars had passed away, and the
knowledge, and better fit you to contem- national prosperity reached its height, ten
of the Jewish tribes, in punishment of
plate their future prospects.
You will remember, then, that, after sin, are carried captive to Assyria ; and
God had made trial of the dispensation of from that captivity they have never reproclaiming,
diffusing the knowledge of divine truth turned to the present hour
generally among all the families of the in their doom, God's hatred of sin, and
The two
earth, though the wickedness of man determination to punish it.
proved the inefRcacy of this plan, he, remaining tribes, after a various experi-

fter the deluge, to

show

the sovereignty

ence

now

repentant,

now

rebellious

long making proof of the power and

mercy and forbearance of God, and proamily, and constituted him and his pos- claiming these attributes abroad to others,
erity the objects of his favour, and the are visited with a similar captivity. They
lepositors of his truth. Abraham and his are carried to Babylon, and for seventy

ind freedom of his grace, selected a single

ndividual from the heart of an idolatrous

after

descendants, through Isaac, are the favoured individuals. While all the world
is left for ages in spiritual darkness, to

years retained there.

At the

expiration' of

the appointed time, they are

derfully restored

their

temple

most wonis

rebuilt;

prove the universal depravity of human their religious character is improved.

nature, and the need of redemption, these They successfully contend with their
and, in righteous retribution,
individuals are blessed with special pro- enemies
tection, and promises, and revelations, these enemies are themselves punished
and institutions, and are enriched with for afflicting God's ancient people.
The day of the long-promised Messiah
blessings temporal and spiritual. In order
The prophecies, often reto try their faith, and exercise their graces, draws near.
and elevate their characters, and make peated, become clearer and more nuthem indirectly the authors of spiritual merous as their fulfilment approaches.
good to others, their earthly lot is a very There is a pause in the book of prophecy,
checkered one ; in punishment of their and a pause throughout the world and,
sin and disobedience, it is now and then a amid universal and excited expectation,
suffering one. At one time, they are nearly the Son of God, the Mediator of manEvery prediction is
consumed with famine ; then they are kind, descends.
every type meets its antitype;
slaves next they wander as outcasts in a fulfilled
wilderness; ere long they enter the land but, strange to tell, the Jews receive and
which has been prepared for them, as tri- acknowledge not the claims of their King.
umphant conquerors, the envy and the In bitter disappointment and malignant
terror of the surrounding nations. Fresh envy, they, with the exception of a small,
communications are received from hea- but sufficient, class of witnesses from
ven ; more stable institutions are founded ; their number, reject him. They hate,
direct intercourse with God is upheld the and scorn, and persecute, and calumniate
prophetic word respecting the great Re- him, from his cradle to his grave; they
deemer of the world is enlarged and actually crucify him, and pray that his
brightened. Still does this favoured fami- blood may be upon them and their childTheir prayer is heard. They contily, now swelled into a nation, prove the ren.
power of the same depravity which reigns nue to oppress and persecute the servants
in the Gentile world around, by ever and and church, as they (Tppressed and perse;

THE RESTORATION AND CONVERSION OF THE

JEWS.

45

cuted the Master and the Head; and, in but the Jews have never been so worn out.
forty years, agreeably to the prophetic In spite of all the fires of persecution, they
warnincrs, Jerusalem, their beloved city, are probably at this moment as numerous

destroyed

is

the dust

institutions

all

temple levelled with as ever

their

their

distinctive religious

and privileges swept away

they have adhered to their pecuThough, consulting

liarities in all ages.

their safety,

it

would have been

politic to

multitudes of them slain and crucified, drop their distinctions, and be absorbed in
though
after the manner of Him whom they the surrounding mass of nations
multitudes enslaved, and all they often seemed to be on the point of
crucified
;

dispersed and scattered

of heaven sometimes

winds losing

to the four

their separate

^istence

though

they had the strongest temptations to

though they
coalesce with others ;
weep among its ruins. Ever since the gained nothing by their religion but
period referred to, down to the present suffering, and might have exchanged it
moment, the Jews have been exiles and for one that would have brought them

denied even the

privilege to visit their native land, and

though, at one
wanderers. They have had no political honour and wealth
existence among the kingdoms of the period, they might easily, and with little
earth
they have been scattered in all sacrifice, have united with the Mahomthey medan power, and not only saved themcountries, even the most distant
are to be found in all climates and states selves from oppression, but gratified their
though the abrevenge upon others;
of society.
;

which sorption of the ten tribes shows that there

they have received has been substantially was nothing in their natural character to
the same.
In righteous punishment of prevent them mingling with others, and
yet, in spite of
their awful crime, they have been made a being lost among them
proverb and a by-word, till their very all these things, the Jews have preserved

And

in all lands the treatment

name

a reproach.

is

They have been

spoiled, and oppressed, and massacred,

by

Heathen, and Mahommedan, and Roman

they
Catholic, and nominal Christian
have been ground to the dust for ages,
and that often by nations who knew not
their sin.
Their history is one uniform
history of suffering, and oppression, and
despisal, unrelieved by one solitary excep-

their separation,

and gloried

distinction, rather than been

it,

in

it

as a

ashamed of

as a disgrace. Scattered, yet preserved,

this respect, stood

they have, in

quite

through the lapse of centuries.

There is no similar case amid Assyrians,
or Greeks, or Romans, or Goths, or Europeans.
There is no similar case in
the history of the world and there is no
tion, softened only somewhat in these explaining what has happened on human
latter days by the progress of society, and or ordinary means.
And what is the state and character of
the humanizing influences of the gospel

and

in a great

yet,

measure, this

ment has been unprovoked on the

the Jews.

treat-

part of

False pretexts have often been

got up to shelter the aggressors.

alone

the

With

Jews now %

a few exceptions,

too inconsiderable to be mentioned, they

same treatwhich they have been subjected

are suffering at present the

The ment

to

Jews have often been accused of crimes for the last 1800 years.
which they never committed, and of which oppressed and persecuted
their

persecutors

innocent;

but

knew

this

that

they were

only proves

is

still

more proached

clearly and impressively that the judg-

ment

tries

from God.

are

in

they

all.

affected

them]

purified,

and

are they

many

coun-

and rehow has this

softened, and

despised

And
Has it

refined

Still

in

their

character?

And
convinced them of their sin
scattered and persecuted, they have con- have they, by experience, been driven to
tinued to preserve themselves separate repentance and obedience, and to the

And while

from
of

all

the

Jews have been thus Has

other people.

men being worn

There

are instances

out by persecution,

and of their sentiments dying with them;

it

"?

of that truth which

they have so long disowned ] No. Per-

acknowledgment

secution has often

may

say always

THE BRITISH

46

improved and elevated the moral and

reli-

gious character of Christians. The primitive church flourished through the

blood of martyrs. But the persecution
of the Jews has only served to rivet their

PULPlT.

ing for truth

than before.

Not

suffer-

mercy

thus

living,

..

I
^

the divine character.

But we

are

anticipating

what more

properly belongs to another part of the

We have seen the past and

having no ennobling object discourse.

making a

and
visible, and most impressive demonstra*
tion of the most prominent perfections of
his

prejudices, to degrade their character, and

make them worse

promises, and the exuberance of

to his

the

and character of the Jews;

God, without his blessing, their bitter and now a very interesting question arises,
What is to become of these men for the
experience has done them no good.
before

them; bearing the judgment of present

Intellectually considered, the

Jews

are

miserably low, and can boast neither of

literature nor science.
They are grossly
ignorant even of their own Scriptures;
hardened in infidelity and the worst errors
most puerile and superstitious in their
notoriously enreligious observances
slaved to the world
addicted to many
immoralities,
yet, withal, boasting of
the proudest self-righteousness.
Such
has been, and such continues to be, the
general character of the Jews.
Having
lost all reasonable hope of the world to
come, they have abandoned themselves
wholly to the pursuit of this; and it has
moulded their character accordingly. But,
with all this, though their history has been
so perverse, and worldly, and rebellious;
so hostile to the will of God ; they have
not frustrated him in his purposes. They
have not lived, and sinned, and suffered,
for no end.
might be apt to think so,
and that God had been disappointed but
no.
In every age, they have been his
;

We

They

witnesses.
illustrated

state

have, in their history,

and proclaimed the providence

They have all along declared,

of God.
and continue
prepared the

to declare, his unity.

way

for the

They

coming of the

Son of God, and contributed

essentially

to the evidence of that event.

They were

the depositaries, the guardians, the authenticators of the Old

Testament Scrip-

They proved and proclaimed the

shocking depravity of human nature, and

tures.

the method of salvation through an atone-

ment. They are the type of God's people

In their rejection, they
in every age.
have been the means of exhibiting God's
insufferable hatred to sin, and his awful
justice; and, in their restoration, they
will be the means of proclaiming universally the faithfulness of God, his fidelity

future

They

are neither so inconsidera-

ble in numbers, nor so

circumstances, that
ferent as to

we

what the

commonplace
should

result

may

in

feel indif*

Are

be.

they to continue the same in the future

have been

in the past, and as

Are they to descend
the day of judgment, the same scattered,

that they

they are at present?

to

despised, oppressed, ungodly, rebellious,

worldly, incorrigible people,

that they
have hitherto been ] Is there to be no
favourable change, either upon their tem*

poral or spiritual condition?

Are body

without hope one

generation following another in misery
and degradation? Doubtless, this is what
the Jews, and all sinners, deserve. Their
abuse of privilege is such, that no punishment is too severe for them ; but is this
what is destined for them 1 Can we only
commiserate their irretrievable fall ?
Supposing that the men of the world
had the destiny of the Jews at their command, and could accomplish for them
whatever they willed, what would they
do 1 They would probably think it enough
to lighten and improve their earthly condition
they would (if it did not seem
unfavourable to the commerce of the
world) seek to amalgamate them with
other nations; perhaps they would even
think it desirable that they should be
collected together into one country, and
speak one language. But, though something for their good might be accomplished
in this way, Scripture contemplates much
more. God has revealed it as his purpose,
that the Jews shall be preserved as a
distinct people; shall be restored to their
own land ; shall embrace the faith of the
gospel
and shall be signally blessed
and honoured, both as regards their temporal and spiritual estate. This is a very
and soul

to

perish

THE RESTORATION AND CONVERSION OF THE JEWS.

Helightful prospect; and
blish

its realitj'

how do we

esta-

47

him and by no events, humanly speaking, would that glory be more

beautifully displayed, than by their resto-

yet brought

There are various considerations which

would lead us to anticipate this event; ration to their own land, and to the faith
much which seems to prepare for it; and and obedience of Christ. In accomplishthere are, besides, the distinct announce- ing these events, there would be a mighty
ments of the word of God upon the sub- manifestation of power and wisdom, forject.
We have to remember, then, that bearance and compassion, not to speak of
the past history of

t!ie

Jews has been very

truth.

The

very length of time that the

more so than that of any Jews have lain under the curse of God,
other nation which has been. They have and the severity of their punishment, and
been remarkable in their origin in the the mystery which overhangs their condimiraculous events which befell them in tion and prospects, would render their
deliverance, and consequently the manitheir separation
in their preservation
and in their punishment. Every part of festation of divine glory, more illustrious
their history is wonderful.
This would when it came. The greater the previous
lead us to expect that their future history darkness, the brighter and more grateful
should be remarkable also. We generally the coming light. Thus does there seem
find this to be the rule of Providence. to be good reason, so far as God himself
There is a correspondence and consistency is concerned, why he should interpose in
in God's dealings with any one subject. behalf of Israel.
Now, the restoration and christianizalion
Think, again, how much God has alWith God, and,
of the Jews would be thus remarkable, ready done for them.
remarkable

and of a piece with his other dispensations

towards them. It would not be so wonderful that they should continue to be
punished as they are at present; that
would be an ordinary case of moral retribution
but that they should be restored
and converted in spite of so many obsta;

way

how

indeed, with wise

men

also, the past is a

pledge of the future and how large is the

honour and the goodness of which he has
made the Jews partakers in former times
;

How

did he single

them out from the

nations, and dignify their ancestors with

the

name

of his friends, and

make

special

them, and work special

that they should be honoured in those miracles for them; deliver them from
respects in which they have been most Egypt; put them in possession of Cadishonoured, how remarkable and how naan
uphold a succession of prophets
worthy of the other wonderful events of among them; send his own Son, and, as
the Jewish history
to his human nature, make him one of
Again we have to remember, and it their nation and number! And can it be
cles in the

of both,

singular

revelations

to

strengthens the foregoing consideration,

that the Jews are capable, by the events

believed that, after

short, and

much to the illustra- he allow them to

tion of God's glory.
The grand design wretchedness and
of all that has been created, and which is treat them now as
supposed, of adding

brought

to pass, is to

glory.

By God's

manifest the divine

dispensations towards

all this,

do no more

for the

live

God will stop

Jews
Will

and die

alienation]

"?

in their

Will he

he never cared for

them before \ When all the Gentile world
is to be christianized, are the Jews alone
if

Jews, that glory has been already to remain unbelievers'?

When all is
There is not an moving forward to a happy change, are
attribute which has not come in for a they alone to stand still
are they to be
measure of praise ; but the capacity of an exception of wo amid universal reillustrating the divine perfections by the joicing?
To say the least, it would be
Jews is not exhausted by what has already very strange, considering God's revealed
taken place. It is easy to see that they character, were he to allow the Jews to
are susceptible of bringing God a much remain for ever in their present condition.
larger revenue cf glory than they have It would be against all analogy ; it would

the

strikingly illustrated.

THE BRITISH PULPIT.

48

be leavingf his work incomplete. In Cod's

works there is generally a large measure
of compensation. This applies to grace
as well as to providence.

The

Gentiles,

being long excluded, have been

admitted to the privileges of the Christian
The western quarters of the
church.
world, after having long been enveloped
in spiritual darkness, have been enlightened w'ith the gospel
while the east,
once highly favoured, has been abandoned
to darkness and so of many similar cases.
Now, the Jews have been so long alienated from the church of God, tliat, on the
principle of providential compensation,
we might expect them to be ultimately
brought in. Their suiFering has been no
after

common

suffering, either in

severity or

has been wonderful in both

respects. They are not like poor neglected
slaves, who never knew any better treatduration.

It

bones within the borders of Canaan, in

the full expectation that one day that
land is to be inhabited by, and to form
the sepulchre of, their children.
Then we have to consider that the Jew'S
are visibly separated from all other nations.
This was predicted of them, and
it has been strikingly realized.
However
mixed up with others, they have always
been a distinct people ; even more so now
than when they dwelt apart in their own
land.
It is of no moment to inquire how
this has been brought about ; whether by
the nature of their religious institutions,
or

by the peculiar

The

fact is certain

fact.

The Jew

he possess

is

interposition of
;

it is

God.

also a continued

not reckoned, nor does

full political privileges in

countries in

which he sojourns.

the

He

is

Often he lives

treated as a stranger in all.

in a separate district in large

towns

ment. They were once very diff'erently district appropriated to Jews. In character
regarded and honoured
the most favour- and habits, and even outward appearance,
ed of God's children. And surely, then, he is readily distinguished; associating and
we would expect that they were not to intermarrying only with his own nation.
continue always what they are; that, in Now, what is the object and use of this
There must be
the future, some balance, some compensa- remarkable separation 1
Possibly to make the
tion, awaits them for their present depres- some design in it.
sion
nay, that the compensation will be punishment fall more heavily upon the
glorious and large, as the depression has sin of the Jews ; but this will not explain
been deep and protracted.
the whole.
It will not explain the contiThen we must remember that the actual nued distinction, now that the punishment
circumstances of the Jews at present be- is becoming less severe. There seems to
token a propitious change.
Dark and be no way of explaining it, but by
hopeless as their case seems to be, there believing that some great and wonderful
are circumstances in their feelings and event awaits them in the future ; and
condition, which intimate that at least what can that be but their restoration and
conversion? It cannot be their amalgatheir temporal state shall be improved
that they shall be restored to their own mation with other nations for this would
land.
The Jews themselves expect that not be very wonderful. It would not be
one day they shall be restored and this worthy of so singular and protracted a
and, besides, were this what
expectation is not the vague idea of a few separation
individuals, got up as a refuge from pre- was contemplated, we would expect that
there should be some approach to amalgasent pain
it is the prevailing idea of the
Jewish nation in every age, and it is mation now. On the other hand, if the
persevered in, in spite of the hardest Jews are to be restored to their own land,
experience which should damp and de- there must be a separation, and that conSo strong is the impression, tinued from age to age ; otherwise they
stroy it.
that many Jews, when dying, make pro- could not be known to be Jews, when
vision that their bodies, and those of their they return. And for the same reason, if
friends, shall be buried in the land of their they are to be converted, and so made the
fathers; and some repair thither in the instruments of spiritual good to others, a
decline of life, that they may lay their separation is desirable, nay, necessary,
;

THE RESTORATION AND CONVERSION OF THE JEWS.

because

it

make

will

their conversion the

more striking and proclaimed, and so the

more useful.
These things all point to the restoration
and tlien they are heightof the Jews

Scriptures,

and

49

what they declare

see

upon the subject under consideration

and, on entering this field, the first thing

consider, that in

which strikes one is, that there is no

passage of Scripture w hich declares the
final rejection and abandonment of the

and mode of life, the Jews

They
are eminently a moveable people.
are the most moveable people on the face
of the world. They count no country
It is their business to travel
their home.
from country to country. They are not
tied down to fixed pursuits such as those
of agriculture, which cannot be readily

Jewish nation. Amid all the severity of

the language which is applied to the
Jews and that is not small there is no
pronouncing their case hopeless. There
is always, whatever the interpretation
may be whicL we put upon the language,
some softening, and qualification, and
intimation of a change. Now% supposing

ened

in force

when we

their pursuits

with.
Even in Poland, where
they are most numerous and stationary,
they are chiefly engaged in trade and

parted

it

to

be an established part of the plan of

Heaven, that the Jews, as a people, were

finally to perish in unbelief, is

it

possible

commerce, and cannot be prevailed upon

to engage in any thing else. As a whole,
they are most remarkable as dealers and
exchangers in money. Their property is
convertible in the easiest manner.
They
are, so to speak, upon the wing; they
could change their abode at a moment's

imagine that, among the many threatenings and curses, there would have been
no distinct announcement to this effect?
Assuredly not.
But we have much
stronger evidence than this w^hich, at

warning.

overflow with allusions, and prophecies,

declarations respecting the future

And

if,

from the Jews themselves,

to

the best, is but negative.

both of the Old and

The

New

Scriptures,

Testaments,

we and

we find restoration of the Jews. There is scarcely

above all others, most an Old Testament prophet who is not
change masters. It is full upon the subject and the ten tribes,

turn to the land of their fathers,

it

in a condition,

apt and likely to

very partially inhabited inhabited, where as well as the two, are represented as
there are a people, only by the wandering being destined to be restored, though the
Arab, almost as migratory as the Jew. event, to human apprehension, would
The government is fast hastening to dis- seem much more arduous and unlikely.
:

solution.

the

is

It

interest,

humanly

speaking, of no great or powerful nation

to hinder the establishment of the Jews
in Palestine.

It is rather for their

tage to promote

it.

The Jews

are sufii-

this the stipulation.

Scripture revelation on this subject

so enlarged, that

it

is

impossible to do

more than select a very few passages and

advan- the same remarks which apply to them will

ciently able to purchase the land with

money, were

The
is

There

be found to apply to
the first things

many

which

perusing the Scriptures with a view to

passages
where the land of Canaan is promised and
given to Abraham and his posterity for
this question, is the multitude of

period at which these aspects of

are

and

So

it is

more

striking than at

much

for

fact.

They

sufficient

it

of

in

no country which has more the appearance of waiting for an inhabitant; no

country which it would be easier to
appropriate
and perhaps there is no
is

One

others.

arrests our attention

ever, and for an everlasting inheritance,

for

Now,

an everlasting possession.

known

two tribes did

the presumption of reason and not actually inhabit Canaan more than
to

tlie

present.

are pretty strong.

They

are

give force and courage to

many schemes

of

human

enterprise; but,

well

fifteen

not

that the

hundred years, and the ten

more than half

then,

it

that period.

tribes

Unless,

be intended that both should

however plausible, they are not sufficient inhabit the land for some lengthened
on which to rest religious faith and period in the future, the promise and
practice.

We

must now betake ourselves

Vol. II 7

God have failed and who

moment credit this 1 It is no

declaration of
to the

can for a

THE

50
answer

to

sa}',

such language is
no intinaalion, where

that

There

figurative.

is

the passages occur, that this

The assumption
language

is

the case.

is

gratuitous; nay, the

which we

to

BRITISH PUI>HT.

occurs in

refer

passages, which give no counte-

plain

nance to figure; where figure seems to

be out of place. At least, this remark
applies to many of them.
Then there are a multitude of passages

which

distinctly declare

shall be restored to their

for

instance,

Moses

that the

own

the promises

God by

of

in the 26th of Leviticus; where,

after declaring in the strongest

the dispersion of the

mans,

Jews

land. Take,

Jews by

manner
the Ro-

above thy fathers."

Here both

a spiritual

conversion and a temporal restoration are

most distinctly marked and neither were

accomplished by the restoration from
Babylon; for this embraced, compara:

tively,

but a

small

nun)ber;

these possess the whole land

were they
It

is

many

all

nor did
far

less

turned in heart to the Lord

impossible to understand

this,

other passages, figuratively

and

a figu-

rative restoration to a particular country

seems almost unintelligible.

Passing from Moses to Isaiah, what
clear and striking passage

tained in our text.

that the people here

is

that con-

There is no doubt
spoken of are the

Jewish people, for they are expressly

distinguished from the Gentiles in the
will I remember my covenant with Jacob
prophecy ; and it is not less clear that the
and also my covenant with Isaac, and also period spoken of is the period of Messiah,
my covenant with Abraham, I will re- for the chapter contains one of the most
member, and I will remember the land;" illustrious predictions of the coming of
evidently alluding to the promise of the Messiah and the deliverance from Babylon cannot, with any propriety, be denoland of Canaan given to the patriarchs
and, in the same chapter, it is declared, minattid by God setting his hand the
' And for all that, notwithstanding all second time to recover his people; and
it is

added, "that,

they confess

if

their iniquity, and turn to the Lord, then

many names are given of the countries

them where they are scattered, which is much
away neither will I allow them to more descriptive of the second captivity
destroy them utterly, and to break them than of the first. Indeed, no language
utterly, and to break my covenant with could be more clearly descriptive of a
them for I am the Lord their God." national restoration to their own land. It
This is introduced subsequent to the seems expressly intended to exclude
destruction of the Jewish nation by the every other interpretation. It will not do
Romans, and must be regarded as point- to say that their conversion to the faith
that
ing to a happy change, both in their of Christ is all that is intended

their sins,

when they be

enemies,

their

will

in

not

the land of

cast

doctrine is clearly taught in other pastemporal and spiritual condition.

So again, in the 30th of Deuteronomy, sages, and it may be in the last clause of
our text, in this passage ; but this is
it is declared to the Jews, " When all
these things have come upon thee, the manifestly not the great doctrine.
Spiblessing and the curse which I have set ritual conversion is not confined to one
before thee, and thou shalt call to mind, place, which is the idea attributed to
among all the nations whither the Lord restoration in the passage it is common
thy God hath driven thee, and shalt re- to all countries and climates. And in the
turn to the Lord thy God, and obey his 33d of Jeremiah, God expressly speaking
voice with all thy heart, and with all thy of his people, says, " Behold, I will bring
;

then the Lord

God

health and cure, and I will cure them,

and will reveal unto them the abundance
on thee, and will return and gather thee of peace and truth ; and I will cause the
from all the nations whither the Lord thy captivity of Judah, and the captivity of
God hath scattered thee, and will bring Israel to return (here even the ten tribes
thee into the land which thy fathers are spoken of;) and I will build them as
possessed, and thou shalt possess it and at first." And then, in the same chapter,
he will do thee good, and multiply thee speaking of the days of the Branch of
soul, that

thy

will

turn thy captivity, and have compassion

THE RESTORATION AND CONVERSION OF THE

righteousness,

days

shall

it

is

declared, " In those

Judah be saved, and

shall dwell safely ;" thus

we combine
and

ration

Israel

marking, when

the verses, the national resto-

conversion of

spiritual

the

Jewish people.
There is no passage, however, more
striking upon this subject than the vision
of Ezekiel, contained

of his prophecy

in

the 37th chapter

the vision of the

We

rection of dry bones.

ought

the whole of the chapter^ but

am

afraid

Though

that year time will not suffice.

not at all improbable that the restora-

it is

tion here

spoken of primarily referred

the restoration from Babylon

God

of the works of

there

analogy, so that one

the picture of another
it is

resur-

to read

as

is

to

children of Israel were

to

51
abide

many

days without a king, and without a prince,

and without sacrifice
which has been
most strikinglj' verified for eighteen hundred years; and not only so, but they
were to be without image, or ephod, or
teraphim ; that, though surrounded with
idolatrous nations, and strongly tempted
to join in their worship, they should continue to maintain the unity of God, which
has been not less strikingly realized and
that afterwards they should return and
seek the Lord their God, and David their
king, and fear the Lord and his goodness
;

in the latter

days.

And

if the first

two

many

parts of the prediction have been so truly

a beautiful

established, shall the last part prove falla-

in

the earnest and

is

JEWS.

yet, with

all this,

abundantly clear that nothing less than

cious

We

might

refer

but

we

are obliged to hasten to

New

the ultimate restoration and conversion of brated passages in the

We

all the tribes is contemplated.

are
expressly told, that the whole house of
Israel is intended to he described by the
vision
and the terms of the prophecy

ycu, also, to

various passages in the minor prophets;

In the 21st of Luke,

we

two

cele-

Testament.

are told,

"That

Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the

Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles
be fulfilled." This is said by way of
will not suit a more restricted application
comfort to the christianized Jews. Now,
for the return of the Jews from Babylon it is clear, from these words, that when the
was comparatively small; and those who times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, whatreturned were not all converted in soul, ever these may be, Israel shall be no
and their prince could not be said to reign longer trodden down. No word could
over them for ever; and the opposite of better express the degradation and desothese things is contemplated in the vision. lation to which the Jewish cause is
And then the imagery employed is subjected ; but, as truly as it has been trodmost admirably descriptive of the state den down, so truly shall it one day cease to
and character of the Jews. Once they ha<l be trodden down. The moment that the
been alive to God; but now they were times of the Gentiles are completed,
dead; they were bones, and dry bones; Israel shall arise. The one event shall be
not only without the life of religion, but the signal for the other
and when shall
hostile and averse to it.
They were this be 1 There may be diversity of
scattered bones; no longer a nation, but judgment in the interpretation of the lanlimb separated from limb scattered about guage of the passage; but, both from the
like bones in a churchj-ard, or on a field words themselves, and from the reference
of battle. So opposed are the Jews to a which the passage bears to the prophecies
spiritual change
so unlikely are they to of Daniel, there seems reason to conclude
;

become

Can
it

is

the subject of

it,

these bones live?

that

it is

asked,

intimating,

exceedingly improbable

that

and,

to

that the times of the Gentiles are the

times of the Gentile apostacy the twelve
hundred and sixty years of Daniel and of
John on the expiry of which Jerusalem

mere human apprehension, what could be

But they are to live; the shall be rebuilt. However this may be,
more so]
breath of the Lord is to breathe upon the fact is certain, that when the times of
them, and they are to become living the Gentiles are completed, the Jews shall
souls.
no longer be trodden down.
So we might refer you to the prophecy
And these views are confirmed and
ii( Hosea, in the Sd chapter, that the enlarged
by the announcement of the

THE BRITISH

52

PtTLPIT.

the aspect of events seems to warrant j

broken off and, more than this, we prevent the restobranches of an olive tree, but at the same ration of the Jews proving such an illustritime declares, that one day they shall be ous example of the power and faithfulness
grafted in; and who proceeds still farther of God as it is fitted and intended to
in telling us that blindness, in part, has be.
It would not be so wonderful that
happened to Israel until the fulness of the the Jews, in a converted state, should
Gentiles be come in; and so all Israel, return to Palestine, as that they should
according to the prophecy, shall be saved. return in the character of enemies, opFrom this it is clear, that the Jews are posed to God, and opposed to the
one day to be converted; and the period prophecy, yet still overruled in will to
is assigned, "When the fulness of the accomplish God's designs ; and when we
Gentiles is come in ;" which, agreeably think that the whole intention of God's
to the original, may be interpreted to mean dealings with the Jews is to manifest the

apostle Paul,

in the

who compares

the

"

the

same with

11th of the Romans,

Jews

to the

the declaration of Luke,

When

the days of the Gentile apostacy

are fulfilled ;" or, what is probably still
better,

when

the fulness of the conversion

perfections

of his character,

supposed

the

in the

is

the

vision of Ezekiel, before

communicated

order

more probable. And then,

to the dry

life

\s

bones, there are

various preparatory movements of consiis come in, or is in the

course of coming in. The blindness is to derable importance described as taking
There is a shaking and uniting
rest upon Israel only until the christiani- place.
zation of the Gentiles. Whatever may be of bone with bone, and a coming up of
the interpretation which is adopted, there flesh and sinews, and a covering with

of the Gentiles

can be no doubt that the Jews are not to

remain forever in spiritual darkness ; that
one day their blindness is to be done
away, and that they are universally to
rejoice in the light of the gospel.

Having established

the

doctrine that

the Jews, as a nation, shall one day be

restored to their

own

land, and converted

to the faith of Christ,

we

must, before

any breath is imparted;

which would well describe a national

skin, all before

restoration in an unconverted state.

same idea seems

And

be conveyed in
the 12th of Zechariah, where Jerusalem
is said to be inhabited in her own place
even in Jerusalem, and to be the object
of God's providence and protection against
enemies, before the Sjiirit of grace and
the

to

supplication, making the inhabitants new

which arise out of this doctrine, and creatures, is represented as descending.
which may be considered as subservient But, though the national restoration
to the right knowledge of it. Though we should precede the general conversion of
cannot pretend to the same certainty re- the Jews, that is no reason to relax our

concluding, advert to one or two points

specting these, as respecting the doctrine

itself, still they are highly important, and

diligence about the latter; for our great

duty of labour r: mains the same, whatever

worthy of our consideration. Believing may be God's purposes; and, though the
that the Jews are both to be restored and nation may not be converted, there is no
reason to believe that many individuals
it is an interesting point to inWhat will be the order of these may not be converted ere the restoration
events'?
Which will come first? Of takes place.
Another interesting point, connected
course we do not, nor would we, desire
to speak strongly on this point; but, fol- with the subject which we have been

converted,
quire.

lowing the

intimations

we would

of reason

and

considering,

is

the time

when

the restora-

and conversion of the Jews is to be

The order is interesting
tion of the Jews to their own land will accomplished.
precede their conversion. If it be other- still more so is the time but here also
wise ; if the conversion is to take we must confess our ignorance, and speak
place first, we, humanly speaking, post- with diflidence.
There is reason to bepone the restoration to a very great lieve that the time is near. The amount
Scripture,

say that the restora-

tion

distance

to a

much

greater distance than

of interest and labour

which has beeo

THE RESTORATION AND CONVERSION OF THE

among

Christians, during the

JEWS.

53

last

over the destruction of Babylon, or the

antichristian church, is a Hebrew doxo-

is

log)'',

called forth

twenty years, in behalf of the Jews,

unprecedented in their history. More
has been done, and is doing, than has been
attempted since the days of the apostles.
Within these few years, the gospel has
been preached at Jerusalem, where it has
not been preached for centuries.

Jews

If the

are destined to return to their

land as Jews, and not as Christians, tliere

to be a necessity that they should
;

from the operation of

and the

as,

specially distinguished from the twentyfour elders and four living creatures, the

representatives of the converted Gentile

church.

own and

seems

return soon

sung by Jews. The doxology is

nowhere else found, and the Jews are

various causes, the softenings

changes which are taking place among

them, there would be danger, if long per-

The

scene

is

laid in

heaven;

the chorus of the song. Hallelujah, is

Hebrew

An

examination
doubt that
the great rejoicing company are Jews,
and that the Hebrew doxology has been
the

in

tongue.

of the prophecy leaves

employed

to

mark

little

their restoration to the

church of Christ. It may be added, that

sisted in, of their losing their distinctive the prophecy has never yet received its
character, and being assimilated to sur- full accomplishment; in which the reprerounding nations in which case, neither sentatives of various nations are described
their restoration nor conversion would be as taking hold of the skirt of a Jew, and
so visible, nor the fulfilment of the pro- saying. We will go with you, for we
have heard that God is with you; and
phecy so conspicuous.
;

Then

there

seems reason

the restoration of the

connected

in

to believe that

Jews

is

intimately

Scripture with the

fall

of

Antichrist, and shall immediately follow

Popery has, through her

and
savage

this intimates that the

Jews

are to bear a

part in the instruction and conversion of

the

Gentiles

restoration

consequently,

must precede

their

own

this; and, as the

conversion of the world

all

is represented as
being contemporaneous with, and immediately subsequent to, the overthrow of

ages, one of the most formidable obstacles

Antichrist, so the evidence is the stronger

conversion or restoration of the

Jewish people. vShe has been their worst
enemy, both for body and soul. Now, as

that the restoration and conversion of the

it.

idolatries

corruptions of Christianity, and

persecutions of the Jews, been, in

to the

we know

are numbered;
two hundred and
sixty years of her darkness must be drawthat her days

that the one thousand

Jews

is at

hand

at least is not afar off, or

discouraging distance.
The next point which merits our notice
and we can speak of it with greater
certainty than the others, though necessaat a

is the
so we may expect that, in rily in a very hurried manner
same proportion, the restoration of the great advantage, the blessed consequences,
Jews is near. The fall of popery will not which will flow from the restoration and
only remove a great obstacle out of their conversion of the Jews. These conseway; it will supply the Jews with the quences are far more glorious than we

ing to a close

the

most striking proof of the divine truth of

Christianity.
It will show them the
admirable connexion between the prophecy and the fulfilment; between the
threatening and the punishment.
And it
will, at the same time, be the means of
showing them what true Christianity is,
separated from every error.
These views accord with the distinct
intimations of prophecy. Jerusalem is to
be trodden down until the times of the
Gentile apostacy are fulfilled, and no

can conceive,

or

than

have ever been

realized in the history of the church of

Never has the time been when

Gentile were members of the
Redeemer's church at the same moment;
Christ.

Jew and

did not exceed thirty years.

Hitherto there has been division, but then

or, at best, it

there shall be union.

To

the

Jews themselves, the change

happy one. It will

will be a great and a

be a termination to their dispersions and

wanderings; their reproach, and

their

It will be
In the book of Revelation, the sufferings, and persecutions.
song of joy and triumph which is sung an end to their ignorance and prejudices;

longer.

e2

THE BRITISH

54
and

their irreligion

liness,

their

infidelity

their world-

immorality, and

Christ and to Christians.

hatred

to

PULPIT.

the

Jews

become

will

the most admirable

missionaries of Christianity.

They were

is no
most delight- reason why they should not be so again.
ful prophecies.
It will be the season of Their very character as wanderers
the
pardon and holiness, and spiritual wor- hardships and oppressions which they
ship, and spiritual illumination.
It will have endured; a sense of the amazing
be the season of gratitude, and strength, mercy which has been vouchsafed to them,
and vigour, and hope all in their warmest will all, with God's blessing, form them
and brightest forms. It will be the season into the noblest missionaries ; will raise

It will

be a

so in primitive times, and there

fulfilment of the earliest and

mean

of heavenly affections and ancient espou-

up a nation of St. Pauls.

sals; the joy of the

prodigal

lime, the Gentiles, already christianized,

restored; a reversion to the blessedness

will, from God's dealings towards the

Jews, be led to stronger faith, and warmer
love, and more adoring gratitude ; to
brighter hope, and redoubled prayers, and
a more devoted obedience. And this state
of things will come in admirable time to
strengthen the zeal of the Jews. A lioly
rivalry, in the good work of diffusing the
knowledge of the gospel, will be provoked between the two parties, and kept
up; they will stir each other up to jealousy, like runners in a race ; and the
glory of the millennial days will be

of

of

Canaan;

a brief preparatory foretaste

blessedness

the

long-lost

The

heaven.

of

change shall be glorious, to compensate

for past dishonour.
According to the
depth of the degradation, so shall be the
largeness of the mercy and the joy. The
Jews shall not only be happy and blessed
in their restoration and conversion
they
shall walk first among the christianized
;

nations of the earth

they shall be looked

upon as the elder born

they shall be

which they
enjoyed before, and none shall be offended.
All shall rejoice in their exaltation "And
thou,
tower of the flock the stronghold of the daughter of Zion unto thee
shall it come, even the first dominion, the
restored to the pre-eminence

In the

hastened.

Nor

mere expectations or
however natural and probathey are borne out by the views of
are

these

speculations,
ble

Various are the passages

daughter of which intimate, in no doubtful language,
Jerusalem."
that the conversion of the Jews holds an
Nor shall the restoration and conversion important connexion with the conversion
of Israel be of advantage only to them- of the Gentiles, and that they are to bear
selves; it shall be of the utmost advan- a part in carrying it forward
that until

kingdom

shall

come

Scripture.

to the

tage to the Gentile nations; to the world

at large.

In every age, the Jews have

been of use

others; they have been

and instructers
nations
have been benefited just as they have
held intercourse with them.
What they
have been in the past, they are destined
to

their pioneers

the

Jews

are christianized, there is to

comparatively

among

little

the Gentiles.

be

spiritual conversion

The most

striking

passage to this effect, is the celebrated

one in the Ilth of the Romans: "Now,
if the fall of the Jews be the riches of the
world, and the diminishing of them the

There are many ways riches of the Gentiles, how much more
which we would expect them to be of their fulness? for if the casting away of
their restoration to their them be the reconciling of the world,
use to others
own land, and conversion to the faith of what shall the reconciling of them be,
Christ, will be a most illustrious proof of but life from the dead ]"

to be in the future.
in

the divinity of the Gospel.

It will spread
abroad universally the evidence of its

From
of the

this

we

Jews was

learn, that the rejection

the occasion of the call-

Mahometans, and ing of the Gentiles

to the church of
argues the apostle, the
astonishment; it will silence every objec- rejection of them be accompanied with so
tion, and put to shame all the scorn of much good, how much greater will be
infidelity.
And then we may expect that the good which will attend the conversion

truth

it

will

strike

heathens, and nominal Christians, with

Christ; and

if,

THE RESTORATION AND CONVERSION OF THE JEWS.

of the Jews

The reasoning

is

blood

beautiful

and strong-. The apcstle does not tell

us how great the spiritual advantage to
the Gentiles will prove.

much more; implying

declare

aright; that

it

us,

We

we must bear in mind what is the

good which has accrued to the Gentile
world from the rejection of the Jews. We
must remember all the thousand indescribable blessings, direct and indirect, which
have flowed forth upon the world from
Christianity, for the last eighteen hundred
years; the countries which it has civilized, the souls which it has saved ; and
apostle,

this is but the

fruit of the fall of the

Jews, and from

endeavour

What must

to estimate.

fruit of the fulness of the Gentiles

it

be the

how

immense and inconceivable

There

is

yet another advantage which

will attend the restoration and conversion

of the Jews, it will promote. the glory of

God, and that in a most w-onderful manner.
This is so evident, from what has
just been said, that it needs no farther
illustration.
Just think what an illustration of power, and providence, and fidelity, and goodness, there w'ill be, in safely
gathering together and establishing the

Jews

in their

own

land,

in spite of all

difficulties

and opposition in the way!

What

illustration

an

Christianity;

of

What an illustration of the mystery

God's providence and sovereignty

fier!

saving the worst; making the longest

continued rebellion a step to the highest
honours; converting the most aged and

all

of

the Sancti-

too vast to be

that the

then remember that

the efficacy of his intercession

of

and so he concludes by telling

change itself, and the joy
which it will awaken in the world, will
be like that which would be produced by
one being raised from the dead.
can
conceive no change to be greater, or more
What joy would be
joyful than this.
called forth, were a dead city, a dead
nation, to arise to life 1
What would be
the feelings of spectators and relations]
And what, then, will be tlie joy called
forth over the resurrection of a world of
dead souls 1 To enable us to enter in the
least degree into the noble views of the
estimated

power and compassion of

He

asks how
that he cannot

it is

the

55

the

truth

of

the faithfulness of God's

providence; his patience and forbearance

in his treatment of sinners
What an
illustration of his condescension, and
mercy, and omnipotence, in the conversion
of the hardened and unbelievingr Jews
!

Whataproof of the virtue of the Saviour's

incorrigible apostates into the very instru-

ments of christianizing others; and decking the crown, which they would fain
trample in the dust, in new and unheardof splendours. By no supposable history
of men, or nations, could God manifest

more of

The

his glory, or to greater advantage.

we have
by which the

important point which

last

to consider,

the vieans

is

and conversion of the Jews

We have seen
the order, and the time, and the blessed
consequences, and now we are anxious to
know the means. The very interest of
restoration

are to be accomplished.

the

former points makes us the

anxious about

this.

It is a point

more
which

comes home

peculiarly concerns and

to

we

can speak
with considerable certainty regarding it;
ourselves

and

happily

with more certainty than, in the present

state of our knowledge, we can speak of
many other points. It is not improbable
that, in carrying into effect the restoration
and conversion of the Jews, God may see
meet to employ supernatural agency. The
case of the Jews is so very peculiar, and
so many of the great events in their history
have been indebted to special interpo-

such as the deliverance from

;
Egypt, the entrance into Canaan ; the
deliverance from Babylon, and destruction
of Jerusalem, that we would not wonder

sitions

that this should be the case in the future.

The shaking among

the dry bones, pre-

paratory to the imparting of spiritual

life

may intimate as
and perhaps this may explain va-

in the vallej' of vision,

much

Scripture

rious

hints

history of the Jews,

would not be easy

as

to

to explain.

agency, too, will solve

tural

which
and which

the future

which otherwise

it

Superna-

many of the
may be

difficulties

at first sight

started,

are started against the

literal

Jews

restoration to, and abode of the

in their

own land.
we must

this is admitted,
it is

an important truth

But, while all

not forget

for

that the restora-

THE BRITISH

56

PULPIT.

tion and conversion of Israel is to be

brought about, under God, chiefly by

sent remain in a state of unbelief; that,

human

the Gentiles, they also

instrumentality.

through your mercy, that

is,

may

mercy of

the

obtain mercy.

what might, so far, have been And what is the meaning of this? What
what is confirmed by the is the meaning of the mercy of the Genexpress announcement of Scripture. Even tiles, but the money and the resources
where God most visibly interposed in an- which, out of a principle of holy compasThis

is

anticipated, and

times in behalf of the Jews, he

always made use of human agency. The
deliverance from Egypt was miraculous;
but still, through the medium of Moses,
human agency was employed, so far as it
could extend ; and what has been in the
cient

past
It

we may

believe will be in the future.

would not be

safe or desiriible that

raan should be released from his duty to

man and

so even where

conspicuously,

God works most

our duty to work also.

it is

sion, the Gentiles put into operation for

the spiritual welfare of the Jews'?

the

is no room, apart from sin, for remissness and inactivity in the Jewish

day ]
But

cause.

the society,

But

there is

more than

Scripture

this.

human agency

must now very shortly advert to

whose claims have brought

us together this evening.

is to

that society,

you

be the greatest instrument in the converThe prophet Jeremiah

sion of the Jews.
is commanded by God to go to the north,
where the ten tribes lay scattered, and to
proclaim to them these words " Return,
thou backsliding Israel, and I will not
cause my anger to fall upon you," and so
And in doing this, what was he
forth.

Christianity

among

required to do, but to act the part of a

And in the vision of Ezekiel,

is commanded to pray to the
God under the emblem of breath,

missionary 1
the prophet
Spirit of
or

wind

"

Come

from the four winds,

breath, and breathe upon these slain, that

they

may

live !"

command,

It

was

in

obeying

this

in the exercise of prayer, that

the bones arose and lived.

And what was

this but prayer for the outpouring of the

Spirit"?

The

apostle Paul, again, in his

second epistle to the Corinthians, declares

that there is a thick veil hung over the
minds of his unbelieving countrymen,

when

they

read

Moses and

the

law;

he assures us, shall be taken

does this imply, but
that the word of God, through the teaching of the Spirit, is to be a great means of
their conversion, and therefore must be

which
away.

veil,

And what

carefully circulated
lastly, the

same

amongst them

And,

apostle, in the 11th of the

Romans, informs us

that the

Jews

at pre-

point to

Scriptures

There

clearly teaches, that

Thus

missionary
labour, and prayer for the Spirit, and the
circulation of the word of God, and pecuniary contributions, as forming the chief
part of the agency which is to be employed
And what
for the conversion of Israel.
are these but the means which faithful
men have employed, and are emplc^'ing,
in this great and good cause at the present

do

The

know,

all

object of

is to

promote

And

the Jews.

after

what has been said as to the means by

which this is to be accomplished, namely,
by the instrumentality of men, under the
blessing of God, it is not necessary for
me to detain you with any lengthened
observations.
One would think that so
clear a case would preclude the need of
any observations at all but the truth is,
that there is a very great amount of misapprehension and error, and consequently
indifference, entertained upon the Jewish
and, from
cause, especially in Scotland
;

small ness of

the

the

subscriptions

in

Glasgow, I fear that this great city cannot

be exempted from the charge of languor
too.

The reasons of this are manifold. The

comparatively small number of Jews;
their peculiar position, standing out from
all

other men, and so disturbing the flow

of natural sympathy

the worldliness, and

wickedness, and obstinacy of their character; the strong prejudice and suspicion

of

insincerity

profession

of

which

attach

Christianity

to

the

their

small

comparative amount of what has been

accomplished for them ; the frequent disappointment and failure of the Jewish
converts
tion

the diversity of the interpreta-

which has been given

to the prophe-

THE RESTORATION AND CONVERSION OF THE JEWS.

Jews, and the little
study which is given to them at all ; the
apparently hopeless loss of the ten tribes
mistaken notions of what are the Divine
purposes respecting Israel, and the dread
the
of interfering with these purposes
difficulty of seeing how the Jews can be
collected from all countries, and restored
cies belonging to the

the

medium

in these

of our

latter

57

own language

days, no

little

that,

has been

for them ; that there is

change in the public feeling
towards them, and that tliey are treated
with much more kindness; that, on the
other hand, they have met and encouraged
the kind and Christian exertions which
have been called forth in their behalf;
to their own land.
These and similar considerations have that there have been, and are, as many
all tended to create an indifference and pleasing symptoms of progress and sucinsensibility to the spiritual interests of cess among them as in the circumstances
that their
the Jews. It were not difficult to answer might have been expected
them separately, and to show how unwar- conversion is clearly predicted, and shall
that it will
rantable is the feeling and the conduct certainly be accomplished
which they have called forth but we prove peculiarly honouring and glorifying
shall rather, by way of balance, remind to God, when it comes ; and that there is
you of many considerations on the other every reason to hope that it may be near,
side, which, in addition to those motives and that the present shakings and convulwhich should always influence us in sions among the nations may be designed
christianizing the soul, whether that soul to hasten it.
We should consider, too, that, as we
belong to a Jew or a Gentile, should
peculiarly interest us in the christianiza- value self-interest, it becomes us to exert

done, and

is

doing

a considerable

ourselves in behalf of the spiritual welfare

tion of the children of Israel.

We

should consider that the Jews are

God's ancient people; that in themselves
they are considerable in numbers; that
we owe a vast deal to them that they
have been the authors and guardians of
;

the Scriptures, the depositaries of

many

of the great truths of revelation, the bene-

Jews ; that, as no people or nation

have ever oppressed them without sufferof the

ing for

it,

so there

is

reason to believe

who

comfort and christianize

them shall be peculiarly honoured and
blessed
and that it is specially befitting
and most desirable that Great Britain,
that those

the world
that they have which, in point of religious privilege,
most severely, and for a very may be regarded as the successor, in
protracted period, and that we have borne modern days, of the ancient Israel, should
factors

of

suffered

our share in the infliction

that they are

the objects of the deepest compassion,

be eminently distinguished

for her labours

in this glorious field.

Let me, then, earnestly exhort you to

and degraded, and their lend your prayers and pecuniary contribufuture punishment must be so much the tions, and general interest and assistance
more severe tliat they hold an important to the Glasgow Society for promoting
connexion, as instruments, with the sal- Christianity among the Jews. We do not
The object contemvation of the Gentiles, and that little can ask without reason.
be expected in this field until they them- plated is one of peculiar interest, and
selves are christianized
that Christ and importance, and glory. It is not the mere
his apostles were much interested in their restoration of the Jewish people to their

inasmuch as
and

their character is so worldly,

deceitful,

salvation, previous to their declared apos-

own

tacy, and that less cannot be expected

might be, and however pleasing to the

benevolent mind, we could not, amid the
manifold and more pressing spiritual
claims of mankind, urge this plea very
strongly.
It would be comparatively a
small matter that the Jews went back to
Canaan, and were established within its
borders to-morrow, if their minds were to

apostacy has taken place, and

been so long persisted in; that we enjoy
peculiar advantages in reasoning with the
Jews on the subject of Christianity, inasmuch as they acknowledge the divine
authority of the Old Testament Scriptures,
and are pretty easily accessible through
after the

OL.

II.

land.

However

patriotic that object

THE BRITISH

58

remain in their present state of alienation

from the faith and love of Christ. Poets
and philanthropists might rejoice, but
Christians would continue to mourn.
Their national restoration, however, is
not our chief object, nor is it so much
within our province. Our great desire,

and labour, and prayer, is to christianize

minds ; to make them new creatures
to restore them to the favour and image
of God, and carry them in triumph to the
heavenly Canaan.
No object can be more noble than this:
and, in the use of appointed means, it is
within our reach, and will not retard the
temporal restoration of Israel by an hour;
and the channels of labour are already
provided, and there are pleasing signs
which strengthen and encourage us in the
proper application of them.
There is
every thing to warm and excite there is
nothing to damp or discourage; and,
thougli there were, there is enough, and
more than enough, on the otlier side, to
compensate for and master every discouragement.
Awake, then, to interest and zeal in
the cause of Israel.
Give your minds to
the study of their case.
Investigate the
their

PULPIT.

totally void of all true

harmony, that

it is

impossible for the congregation to take

a part with them ; who, therefore, sit
absorbed in silent admiration, or total
inattention, without considering themin any degree concerned in
going forward. In London, it is
generally a contest between the charity
children and the organ, which shall be
the loudest, and give most pain to the
ear.
By this means, the chief end and
design of psalm singing is completely
defeated
for, whatever may have been
advanced to the contrary, it is most

selves

what

as

is

certain

that

parochial

psalmody

was

originally intended to be a j)art of divine

worship, an offering of praise, adoration,

and thanksgiving to the Almighty ; in

which, of course, the whole congregation,
as being all equally interested, were to
take an equal share.
" Directions should be given to the
organist not to drown and overpower the
singers by the unremitted loudness and
violent intonations of the full organ; but
merely to conduct, and regulate, and
sustain their voice, in a low and soft
accompaniment on what is called the
choir-organ. The congregation would then
prophecies regarding them ; investigate soon be tempted and enabled to join it."
their present condition
Among other advantages resulting from
cast away all
indifference; pray, and labour, and con- the improvements in psalmody, which he
tribute for their spiritual good.
Treat recommends to his clergy, the bishop
them as fellow immortals treat them as adds
" Whenever you had occasion to solicit
friends
treat them as benefactors ; repay
;

the benefits which they have conferred

the benevolence of your parishioners for

upon you and upon the church of Christ; your charity schools, you would have no
approve yourselves the true children of need to call in the aid of any other
Abraham, the true brethren of Paul men musical performers; for there is no other
of the same spirit with those whom you kind of musical composition so well calclaim as your patterns and glory.
culated to touch and affect the heart, and
melt it into tenderness, kindness, and

compassion, as well constructed and well

regulated psalmody.
" I have no hesitation in saying that it
The following remarks of Bishop Porteus, in a primary charge, delivered in the would be highly improper to substitute
diocese of London in the year 1790, are choral and cathedral music in our parish
partly applicable to various congregations, churches, in the room of that plain, natuand are therefore recommended to the at- ral, soothing melody, of our best old
psalm tunes; which speaks more forcibly
tention of all whom they concern.
" In country parishes, psalmody is gene- to the hearts, and gives more warmth to
rally engrossed by a select band, who sing the devotions of a Christian congregation
a most wretched set of tunes in three or than all the ingenious and learned confour parts, so complex, so difficult, and so trivances of complex counterpoint."
OBSERVATIONS ON PSALMODY.

SERMON

V.

MYSTERIES IN RELIGION.

BY THE REV.

M'NEILE,

H.

A.M.

PERCY CHAPEL, FITZROY SQUARE.

a God

'Verily thmi art

that hidest thyself,

God of Israel,

the Saviour."

Isa. xlv. 15.

" Be still," saith the Lord of heaven unfathomable depth of the Fountain of
and earth, "and know that I am the Light itself. INIore light hath fallen upon
Lord." "I will be exalted among the us, and, with the New Testament in our
heathen ; I will be exalted in the earth." hands, we might truly say, " Verily thou
"O taste, and see," saith the Psalmist, art a God that revealest thyself, Father
inviting the people of God to the enjoy- of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour."
ment of their privileges, " taste and see, And yet, when that revelation is examined,
And again: and examined, if possible, with apostolithat the Lord is good."
"To know thee," saith the Saviour, in cal skill, we must exclaim, in unaffected
apostolical humility, in ignorance, conhis prayer to the Father, " is eternal life
to know thee, the only true God, and scious and confessed, " O the depth of
;

Jesus

whom

Christ

Among

the

all

thou

hast

sent."

the riches, both of the

by which the ledge of God

objects

human understanding can be exercised,

or the human affections engaged, the

out

Who

wisdom and know-

His ways

hath

known

all

who

believe that there

beyond dispute,

is

God himself

God
God in
a

is

mysteriousness of his person and

existence, God in the sovereignty of his

things

and

providence,

God

in

the

Jesus
Christ, God in the energy of his saving
power by the Holy Ghost.
My dear Christian brethren, I gladly

riches

of

his

atoning

love

in

myself of this renewed opportunity

of calling your attention in this place, to
this the highest of all themes which can
occupy the tongue or the attention of human beings. " Verily, thou art a God

avail

that hidest thyself,

Saviour."

O God

of Israel, the

whom

to

him, are

to

be glory

for ever

all

and

ever."

the

creation

mind ] Who
" Of him,

hath been his counsellor"?"

most important beyond comparison, and, and through him, and

with

are past finding

his

am

persuaded,

my

brethren, that one

of the most important features in the

subject which I desire now to bring before

J'ou,

that

exists

is

the

for a

indispensable neccssHy

mystery.

The

pensable necessity of a mystery

human mind

is

indisfor the

so constituted, that either

abuses the mystery into superstition,

or it rejects the whole truth because of
the mystery, and plunges, however unit

consciously, into infidelity.

To

without abusing, a mystery,

nise,

attitude to

Such was the exclamation of brought,

which a

finite

recogis

the

mind must be

in rightly receiving a revelation

under the
weight of the revelation that had been
given to him. Something of God was
made known to him ; but much remained
unknown. A beam of light had fallen
upon him, but it was only sufficient to

from the living God. For observe suppose God to make a full and adequate

make him

finite

the

prophet,

when

sinking

intelligently conscious of the

revelation of himself; there is a point in

the

examination of that revelation, at

which man's understanding must fail

for man's understanding, at the best, is
;

God

is infinite.

The

finite

59

cannot

THE BRITISH

60

grasp the infinite; and, therefore, there

must needs be a point, at which the
power of the finite understanding that
can take in that infinite communication,

would cease and at a particular point,

there would be an horizon to man's perceptions of truth. That is, to us there
would be a point at which the revelation
would cease to be explanation, and a
man's view would be bounded, and a
mystery would commence. For what is
;

PULPIT.

truth

but the cause

is

in the infirmity

of the creature, and not in the infirmity

of the truth

The

itself.

of the proposition

subject matter

too high

is

it

is

be-

We cannot demonstrate

yond our reach.

we

cannot enter into

If such a
statement were made concerning three
men being one man, the subject matter
of the proposition being within the bound-

a contradiction, for

the matter of the statement.

we can
one should be capaunexplained
a truth told, told dis- ble of proving the contradiction; but
tinctly, but not reasoned upon and ex- when such a statement is made of God,
plained
a truth so told that we can the subject matter of the proposition is
boldly say what it is, but not so explain- beyond our reach and though this statea mystery

mystery

is

a revelation

aries of our cognizance, so that

reason concerning

it,

ed as to enable us to say how it is. The ment may seem contradictory, the fault
personal existence of God, as declared is here
in man's understanding, not in
in Holy Scripture, is a mystery ; it is a the truth.
Is not this the same in other things, as
revelation unexplained, a statement unreasoned
and it presents a horizon to well as in religion 1 Do we understand
The metaphythe human understanding, which fades ourselves, my brethren ]
into mystery
and I wish to show you sician inquires into the human mind and
how unreasonable the man is who will the anatomist searches into the veins, and
reject the objects in the foreground, and arteries, and joints of the human body;
in the centre of the landscape, because he and they each make many discoveries
cannot, with equal precision, discern the but there is a point at which they are
objects in the horizon.
both baffled
the union of mind and matGod Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ter, and the power of the one over the
one God distinct, yet not divided sepa- other. It is a mysterious region, the fact
rate, yet still one.
The Son; coequal of which cannot be denied, but the exand coeternal with the Father yet be- planation of which cannot be given.

gotten of the Father.

The Holy

Spirit

proceeding from the Father and the Son,

The Son sent by the Father, and filled
with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
received from the Father, and sent by
the Son.
The Father God
the Son
God ; the Holy Spirit God ; and yet
" Hear,
there is but one God.
Israel, the Lord our God is one God."
God saying of himself, "I am, and
there is none else ; I know not any."
God saying to himself, " Let us make
man in our image, after our likeness."
What human understanding can grasp
this?
There is a revelation unexplained ; the Trinity is an imperfect discovery,
;

They guess about

it

and some, fasten-

structure, deny
mind altogether, and would confine the
man to organized matter. What I wish
to show is, that in the science which connects itself with the existence of a man,
there is a region of mystery
there is a

ing upon the material

fact:

and in philosophjr, facts hold the

place which revelation holds in religion.

This Book contains our facts. Expe-

rience gives the philosopher his facts

and facts bring him to a point where he
must confess mystery.
Where is the
metaphysician that hath ever explained
the action of mind upon matter, and the
ready movements of flesh and bone, at
There is a great dif- the secret bidding of the mysterious
not a contradiction.
The visitant within ? And where is the anaference between these two things.
intellect, to which nothing is mysterious, tomist who hath discovered its origin,
must be infinite but a finite intellect can with his searching knife ? No there is
take cognizance of a contradiction. There a mystery in it.
Now, where would be
may seem to be a contradiction in the the philosophy, where would be the
:

MYSTERIES IN RELIGION.
reason of the man,

who would deny

the

proximate facts which are discovered by

the anatomist, and the proximate statements which are made, truly, by the metaphysician, because,

you press them

if

both a tittle further, you come to a mysWould there be reason, would

tery?
there be philosophy, in rejecting both of
these branches of human learning, because they bring you, when legitimately

pursued, into a region where you must

confess yourself a little child, and receive
the fact unexplained ?
For a mystery in

philosophy is a fact unexplained ; as a

mystery in religion is a revelation unex-

61

and explain gravitation, would take upon

them to reject the Newtonian system of
philosophy in the heavens?
Now let us return to our sublimer
theme. Here is a mystery concerning
the existence of God
he is a " God that
hideth himself;" he has given some information, but he has maintained a reserve,
and there is a darkness. Suppose that
the Trinity of persons in the Godhead
were made plain to us; it would onlv be
;

by the revelation of some farther-off point

in the truth, which would throw forward
the Trinity into the landscape, and enable

us to look through

it;

and then the point

would occupy the place of the

Much has horizon, and we would have transferred
so revealed

plained.

Take another

instance.

been discovered, and much has been demonstrated, in the science of astronomy.
The motions of the heavenly bodies have
been made matter of calculation amongst
men ; and true calculation ; the results
proving themselves true, by periodical

the mystery from one part of truth to an-

and we w^ould still have a mystery

we are finite, and God is infinite.
Now, where is the sense, the reason, the
other

for

philosophy, the superior discernment

where is the more reasonable religion, of

But rejecting the doctrine of the Trinity, bethere is a point at which we reach a mys- cause there is a mystery in it, and rejecttery here.
Upon what do all those cal- ing the proximate statements of redempculations depend upon what do all these tion, which all hang upon the Trinity,
motions rest? Upon a quality, which because, that when pressed home, they
Sir Isaac Newton baptized
he gave the involve the human mind in a mystery,
mystery a name he called it " gravita- and make man feel, what he ought to feel
returns

of

observation.

infallible

tion."
Grant gravitation, and we can
reason about the solar system. But what
Who can explain that]
is gravitation ?

Why should
Yes

why

Why

matter have gravity

we know

It has.

that he

is

little

ignorant child, at his

highest attainments, in the presence of

his

No;

Maker?

this boasted reason is

This rational religion

pride.

but

fusal of the mystery.

should hi There is here a mystery.

should the tendency of matter be to

a determination to be

it

has

that is a fact

the centre of the earth

Wliy

is

it

man should
ing as a

It

is

the re-

looks very like

what the

devil said

" as God," instead of bechild. And, verily, I say to

be,

little

you could bore through the you, dear brethren, except a man receive
centre of the earth, if you had a hollow God's truth as a little child, willing to
diameter through the earth, and drop- understand what his Father explains, he
ped a ball through it, it would vibrate at shall not enter into the kingdom of God.
My object in this much, has been to
the centre, and having fallen down, it
would fall up again, back to the centre, reconcile you to the existence of a mysand would never, and could never fall tery as regards the Godhead revealed,
fact, that if

through

No

one can

tell

why

it

is.

but not explained, in the Bible.

The

mystery grant this, which is Trinity is in the horizon, the Trinity in

it is the horizon of revelation to
in the horizon, and you prove your nearer Unity
But this must be granted as the us upon this point; it is the gravitation.
object.
mystery in the matter. And where would Granting it, the whole statements of rebe the reason, I ask, where the philoso- demption are capable of demonstration
phy, where the sound sense, where would rejecting it, the whole scheme of redempbe the supreme discernment of the men, tion is a nonentity ; for there is no Mewho, because they cannot reason through, diator, there is no atonement, there is no

Here

is

THE BRITISH

62

Reject the Trinity, and the

Sanctifier.

gap which

man

made between God and

sin has

finds no one that can

it

fill

All

up.

PULPIT.

can excite the smallest hesitation about

ascribing still unto God in glory, holi-

The

ness, unsullied holiness.

elect an-

upon Christianity leave this gels see and know this they perceive
gap unfilled up. Admit the mystery; and that their original numbers are thinned,
by the assistance of it, and resting upon that thousands who at one time joined
with them in singing the praises of their
it, we are in possession of the fundamental element of truth which invests God have been cast down into darkness
false glosses

importance, and with demonstrative clearness, the mediation, the

with

infinite

and

They know

ruin.

well,

full

that

company,
atonement, the recovery of the fallen possessed a single power but what God
or were tempted by a single
creature back into the very bosom of gave them
opportunity but what God made for them
God, which is salvation.
" Verily God hideth himself;" not as and yet instead of reasoning upon that
regards his personal existence only, but fact, as we are sometimes tempted to reaas regards the sovereignty ok all his son, and thereupon calling in question the
WORKS IN CREATION AND PROVIDENCE, holiness of their Maker, we know that
" Of him, and through him, and to him the language of the elect angels before
neither Satan, nor any of his

He

are all things."

is

the origin, he

is

the throne, with that history before their

eyes, and the torments of their former

no creature can come into existence at companions clear in their intelligence
any time, can continue in existence for a that their language is, " Holy, holy, holy,
moment, or can perform one single act, Lord God of Hosts." Here is a mystery;
mental or bodily, but in conformity to, in we have intelligence enough to grapple
compliance with, and in subserviency to, with this mystery in its difficult parts,
An- but we have not information enough to
the eternal will of the living God,
Here again we
gels, principalities, and powers in hea- overcome this difficulty.
ven angels, principalities, and powers are brought into a horizon. Where now
the support, he

fallen to hell

the end of all creation

is

the visible creation of

all

suns and planets, with their satellites

innumerable, their atmospheres around
them, and their millions of multitudinous
beings upon them, all at every moment of
existence hang upon the absolute will of

God,
all

motion, for

for life, for breath, for

things.

He

spake the word, " Let

is

the sense, the reason

superior discernment,

solitude of eternity.

This

lesson for us to learn,

my

we may know our place, and

know something of our God

a glorious

is

friends, that

hideth himself, indeed, but a

Holiness, as well as power,

God

is

it

is

not a further explanation of

the mystery, but

it is

a very significant in-

struction to us, that the apparent difficulty

ma}'
that

swer

that

that repliest

against

illustration is,

"Hath

insepara-

has the power

to do what he will without control, he
has also the right to do what he will
without injustice. There is nothing in

ble from our

for as he

the history of the fallen angels,

which

the

we

revealeth himself in part.

is

greater

in reply, an appeal to our igno-

God
God

that
;

the

exercise of soundness of discretion and

judgment, in rejecting the sovereignty of
God, in the absolute doing of all things,
because that in following it out we are
involved in a mystery as regards his
moral government] If a man is to say,
"If God do all these things absolutely,
who hath resisted his will 1 who can resist his will 1 why, or how, can he then
the language of the Scripfind fault]"

them be," and the solitude of eternity

was peopled with the wonders of creaand were he to speak the word
tion
" Let them cease to be," annihilation
would be instantaneous and universal, ture is,
and God would be left again alone in the rance
:

where

and

lies

on us, and not on him

is,

" Nay, but

for the an-

man, who

God

art

thou

And

the

not the potter

power

over the same clay, to make one vessel

unto honour,and another unto dishonour]"
Is there

brethren

any explanation
;

it

the mystery, and leaves

It is

in

that

Nay,

reasserts the very depth of

it

unexplained.

a revelation unexplained

nothing

MYSTERIES IN RELIGION.

63

can be more clearly stated yet there is God hath revealed himself; not unto the
clearing up of the difficulty, but unto the
no explanation of it whatever.
There is, then, moral government with intelligent view of it so far that we have
our God who hideth himself, at the same become intelligently ignorant. Is that a
contradiction in terms'?
time that there is absolute sovereignty
Inielli gently
and the principles of his moral govern- ignorant.'''' No man will say so, but the
ment are the principles of equity, and man who is so ignorant as not to be con" God cannot scious of his own ignorance. The wise
righteousness, and truth.
be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he man will acknowledge, that the height of
any man: but every man is tempted, his wisdom consists in having become
;

''

when he

is

drawn away of

Then when

and enticed.

his

own

lust,

lust hath con-

intelligently ignorant.

It is of the nature
of an intelligent creature to decide upon

and sin

the evidence before it ; and to decide freely

upon that evidence, and it is in the nature
This is the pedigree of damnation man's of things, that God, in his supreme proviBut if a dence, should minister whatever quantity
unto death.
lust
unto sin
man shall reason thereupon, and say, of evidence, upon every subject, he seeth
" Well, if it be so, that man's sin is his fit to every person. Such person, then,
own, and the evil he does originates in decides freely, in the exercise of his freehimself; then, by parity of reasoning, will, upon the evidence submitted to him ;
the good that he does must originate in but the amount of evidence, the measure,
Hearken to the next the time, the place of the evidence, all
himself also."
words of the apostle " Do not err, my these are in the sovereign disposal of

ceived,

when

it

it is

bringeth

sin:

forth

finished, bringeth forth death."

:

gift and God in his providence.

So that, by mifrom above, and nistering a certain quantity of evidence to
Cometh down from the Father of lights, a man upon a point, the decision of the
with whom is no variableness, neither man's mind, according to the action of
Here again the free-will, is secured, without any violence
shadow of turning."
mystery is repeated sin is ascribed to done to the constitution of the moral creaHe acts freely upon the evidence
the sinner's own act and deed, according ture.
and all that is good he has ; the evidence, the quantity of it,
to his own free-will
is ascribed to the sovereign grace of God. the measure, the time, the place, all the
Verily God hideth himself whilst he re- outward circumstances connected with it,
vealeth himself. Mercy and truth go be- are in the sovereign disposal of God. Has
fore his face, as a Saviour; justice and any man the whole case before him, in all
judgment are the habitation of his throne. its bearing, direct and indirect, present
Now, dear brethren, observe how one and future, of any question upon which
class of persons, in order to get rid of he is called to decide?
No such thing;
this mystery, as they vainly think, mag- the man must needs look through futurity

beloved brethren.

every perfect

gift

Every good
is

human

nify

as to
his

make

turning

into eternity, to see all the bearings of

in this great subject, so

his conduct: but upon what he does see,

he acts freely. O verily God is a God
that hideth himself while he revealeth

free-will

power

point of

the

into

the omnipotent

God pause

in

designs for super-omnipotent man.

And mark how another

party, to get rid

of the mystery, as they vainly think, on

the

other side, deny

human

the

free-

agency, and make man a piece of matter,

as a machine.
Neither of these two
things,

when pressed

so as to infringe

himself.

My

dear brethren, one of my objects at

time is, to implore you not to be
turned back from the simplicity of faith,
by plausible talk about the unreasonableness of admitting mysteries. It is a time
this

yet the truth when the foundations of our faith are

admission of both these state- sifted it is a time when we, who are the
ments, as a revelation from God unex- authorized teachers of the faith, ought to
plained.
It is a mystery.
may in- grapple with these siftings, and go to the
deed say more upon this point. Here foundations themselves. It is a time

upon the

other, can be true

lies in the

We

THE BRITISH

64

when we

should be prepared to stand in

our places, and meet the diversity of attacks that are made upon our faith; not

by railing
ing

for railing, but

that the

PULPIT.

the

man

commanding

struck be his

his punishment is enhanced

ficer,

if

of-

the

man struck were the king, his offence is

by sound teach- high-treason, the punishment is death.

minds of our people, being

may

be fortified, not to retort against error, but to

reject the error, and to be quiet.
Now let us take another point in which
God verily hideth himself while he revealeth himself, and in wliich we must
again find a mystery it is in the riches
OF his atoning love in Jesus Christ.
now come to use expressions with
which you are more familiar but if you
will examine the expressions, you will
find that they involve you in a mystery,
in possession of the subject,

Now

mark

throughout;

the offence
it

was

was

striking a

the

same

man; but

the punishment varies with the position

and dignity of the man struck so that

from a petty fine, or a short imprisonment,
for striking one man, the punishment is
magnified into death for striking another
:

man.

Apply

this to an offence against the

God, and see what sort of a punishment such an offence calls for and
who shall bear that punishment ] Lay it
upon a finite creature it will take him
as dark and as inexplicable as either of through all eternity to endure, and he
will never have finished it
for, the puthe two we have hitherto touched upon
either the Trinity of the persons, or the nishment being infinite, it must either be

We

Infinite

absolute sovereignty of disposal in the

infinite in quantity or infinite in time.

Godhead. " God so loved the world that finite creature can have but a finite quanhe gave his only begotten Son, that who- tity, and therefore he must have an inWho shall endure that pusoever believeth in him should not perish, finite time.
but have everlasting life :" " In this was nishment so as to make an end of it?
manifested the love of God, that he gave Whoever does it must have infinite powhis Son to be the propitiation for our er; and yet the punishment to be endured
sins:" "He hath made him to be sin which a man deserves for breaking the
for us who knew no sin, that we might be law of God, must be such a punishment
made the righteousness of God in him." as a man can feel, such punishment as
He hath laid our sins upon him, and his can attach itself to the constitution of a
and yet we have seen that it must
blood " cleanseth from all sin." What man
statements are these 1 For " sin is the be such as can appeal with infinity to
Who shall entransgression of the law :" the law is the claim merit before God.
expression of God's eternal mind and dure it, if there is not a person to endure
truth
not one jot or one tittle of the law it, who, while he has a divine nature to
give infinity to every pang, has a human
can be made void
it must all be fulnature to give infinity to every pang; so
it must all be magnified as the
filled
expression of the righteous character of that every suffering shall apply to us, and
God. An offence against that high and have merit with our God 1 If there be
glorious declaration of God's character not such a sufferer, there is no salvation.
;

is

an offence against himself, the Infinite

The demerit of the offence must
bear proportion to the dignity of the per-

And how can

God.

Here

son offended.

proximate mystery of redemption. Who

God and man one percan explain it?
son as soul and body compose one man,
God and man composing one Christ; so
that the lash of the broken law shall take
effect on human flesh, and the reproaches
deserved by fallen men shall break a human heart ; and yet the person who has
human flesh to be lacerated, and a human
heart to be broken, shall have merit wi

Look how this may be simply illushuman things. Suppose a man

were to commit an offence consisting of
trated in

the act of striking another

man

the pu-

nishment justly awarded to that offender

will vary with the dignity of the person
struck. If the man struck were an equal,
his punishment is comparatively light.
Suppose the offender were a soldier; if

is

there be such a sufferer

the mystery

holy incarnation.

the mysterjr of the

The

incarnation

is

the

MYSTERIES IN RELIGION.

65

God, and shall, instead of being exposed ears so to hear, in human matters, let him
to the punishment throughout eternity, exert those moral powers in this greater
be able to concentrate and to exhaust the matter, and let him hear the love of God
punishment at once.
manifested in his Son. Thus all who hear
Here is a mystery. Now, I am well the gospel are put upon a fresh trial they
persuaded, that it is because of being are transferred from the comparatively
involved in this very mystery, that so untried state of Tyre and Sidon, into the
many of our reasoning and educated fel- deeper trial of Chorazin and Bethsaida.
low countrymen and fellow sinners are, in The result of that truth, owing to the
mind, if not avowedly in creed, rejecting corrupiion of human nature, is, according
But to the Word of Truth, that men love darkthe peculiarities of the atonement.
where is the reason, where is the judg- ness rather than light, because their deeds
ment, where is the superior discernment, are evil ; and that they all, with one conof refusing the proximate lesson, because sent, begin to make excuse. Then what
of being involved in an ultimate mystery 1 must be the consequence 1
If all, with
Let me appeal again to the astronomer one consent, begin to make excuse, if it
and to the anatomist; and let me send be the universal characteristic that they
:

these reasoning Socinians, or others,

who

atonement because of the mystery

let me send them back to school, to
learn where there is any science without a
mystery. Let us turn them to their own

reject the

how

hearts, to see

the

love darkness rather than light, then is

the light cast out.

reasonable being

mysterious visitant within shall enable

to move the fingers and hands without; and when they have explained all

and made it perfectly clear, then let

us hear their reasoning (but not before)
this,

who

way
God

pivot, on

or other,

so

trial,

it

would

be,

when every

hears the words of

the gospel, is put, as

movement of some moral

them

And

but that, in that moral

it

which he

were, upon a
one

is to turn

and incline to the love of

or the love of sin

when

the love

overcome him, brings him

down, and he is making excuses, when
of sin has

they are all, with one consent, making

excuses then comes the grace of God,
And )'et again when the glorious the effectual energy of salvation, by the
statements connected with the work and power of the Holy Ghost, turning the
person of Jesus Christ, God and man in sinner on the right side of this pivot, and
one person, are made in the hearing of securing him to God for ever.
This is the way of salvation ; if it
men, they proclaim such a manifestation
of God's love towards man, as is calcu- were not for this, there would be no sallated to put every reasonable being upon vation at all, after all that Christ has
enough is done for every done. This is the transcribing into the
a moral trial
man that has the reason of a man, and book of the church, the names that are
that hears the Word of God, to put him written in the book of life.
upon a moral trial a trial between the
This is God, in the energy of hi9
love of sin and the love of God the love SAVING POWER, BV THE HoLY GkOST.
of God manifested in Christ, and claim- Now here there is a mystery
for if man
ing the sinner's love in return, and the be so fallen, that the moral trial he is put
love of sin, experienced in the heart and upon by the statements of redemption
flesh, holding the sinner a willing cap- in Jesus Christ, would invariably turn
To this the Saviour appeals when against him, and if God knows this, then
tive.
he says, " He that hath ears to hear, let it seems to our reasoning mind very like
him hear." He that hath natural capaci- a mockery of our misery and indeed it
ties to hearken to other subjects, to be is so denounced by many.
Here the real
influenced by what he hears, to be in- reason is, that they will not have a mysduced to undertake self-denying labours tery they will judge God to be a God
upon the authority of evidence given, that does not hide himself; but that
and the practical power of that evidence while he proclaims himself a Saviour,
over his moral composition he that hath he should leave nothing still hidden.

against a mystery in religion.

:

Vol.

n.

f2

THE BRITISH

66

PULPIT.

"Whereas, thong-h known as a Saviour,

is yet a God that hideth himself in
many particulars, and in this among- the
rest. There is honesty in his invitations,
" Look unto me, and be ye saved." There

the subject matter of the dispute is alto-

honesty in the statement, " As 1 live,

I have no pleasure in the death of him
Why will ye die !" There
that dieth.
is honesty in the command, " Repent and
believe the gospel, and ye shall be s^ved."
There is honesty in the promise, " Ask,

The evidence for the fact of the revelation

is let down to the men
it stands en histo-

and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall

knock, and it shall be opened unto
find
you ;" and there is truth in the statement,
that, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." And here is
a mysterious connexion between the possession of the outward means and the
reception of the inward power. It is in
the means, and yet not invariably in the
means. "Faith cometh by hearing;" yet
How is this? God,
not to all that hear.
verily thou dost hide thyself from us.
And shall we refuse these facts upon the
face of revelation, because the admission
Let
of them involves us in a mystery

a moral

he

is

"?

me

ask again, where is the superior discernment of this, where is the judgment
in this case to blot out these pages from
the Bible, because they involve us in a
mystery by their admission or again to
admit that we are as little children, and
:

to receive the facts of our divine philoso-

phy? The

facts of our divine

philosophy

are the verses and the chapters of this

book;
would

and he

is

no philosopher

reject a single fact, because

who
it

in-

volved him in a difficulty, or opposed

some previous theory. Nay, how is all
sound philosophy followed, and prosecuted unto truth, but by holding men's
theories in abeyance, under the command
of fresh facts, so that fresh facts shall
rectify theories, and theories shall be
prostrated before facts

And

so should

gether changed immediately.

should

only say of such persons, or of such a

state of things, at present, that the evi-

dence

for the revelation is not

mysterious.

rical

testimony;

it

stands in

its

miracu-

lous authority before the eyes of men, cor-

roborated by facts, and handed

authentic testimony.

demonstration, connected with

the character of the

first

promulgators of

the truth, as involves the

the revelation

in

greater

credulousness, than those

But

men who deny

absurdity of

who

receive

that is not our present subject;

a separate

own

down by

stands in such

It

place.

about

it

and important
All

am

at present is,

si

bject in its

concerned to say
that the evidence

for the origin of the revelation is not

terious

it

is

let

it.

it is

down

mys-

within the reach

human science and human inquiry,

and any man who refuses to inquire about
it, and denies it in ignorance, deserves
the consequences.
Here, then, my brethren, I have invited
you to contemplate God in these four aspects in which he is set before us
some
statements in each made clear, brought
forward into the front ground of the picture; and in each a mystery hanging, in
the dimness of the horizon, upon us.
And what would we have as creatures!
Would we stand upon such a pinnacle,
" Vain
that there shall be no horizon ?
man would be wise, though he be born
like the ass's colt :" and because he has
intelligence enough to perceive that there
is a mystery, and pride enough to refuse
to submit to it, he abuses the reason and
of

intelligence in the pride of refusing

what

he might know, because he cannot know

what God still keeps secret. Be ye reconciled to mysteries ; and be ye satisfied
with revelation. These are the statements, my brethren, this is the view of

men's judgment be before verses of the

Bible; for these are facts from God.
Now one expression more, one topic things, this is the combination of truth,
briefly touched upon, is necessary here, for which our forefathers bled in this
without attempting to explain thfe
for the force of the moral land
I perceive
demonstration I am offering you step by mysteries, they asserted and reasserted
You find them in
step, evidently rests on the reception of the facts of the case.
If a man the formularies of the church
the perthis book as God's revelation.
jsay, " I deny these verses are revelation," son of God, declared with simplicity and
:

MYSTERIES IN REUGION.
plainness, and

You

not attempted to be ex-

67

are aware of the sentiments

it

has

God to allow me to utter in this

claimed with equal simplicity and plain- place, to many of you who were present
Now, my dear
ness, in the evident purpose which he on the late occasions.
God

pro-

plea^ed

purposed in Christ Jesus; the all-sufficiency of the atonement in the blood of

Jesus, proclaimed distinctly; and the

friends,

mysterious combination of God and man

in one person, declared, but not explained
and the invincible energy of the

were

plained

the sovereignty of

winning the

power of the Holy

Spirit in

will of the sinner.

And being made

will-

ing

in

the day of God's power, he shall

run

in

the

way

commandment,
knowledge of God

of God's

and delight in the

himself; and so go on

in

good works,

desire exceedingly to bear in

mind myself, and

fellow

our

it

in

to call the attention

men throughout

my power

out

making a vigorous
preach

which our fatiiers bled in this land

these are the boundary marks which they
have set up for us to exclude " philosophy falsely so called," and to exclude, on
the other side, the abuses of the mystery
to which I briefly alluded at first, by
heaping up more mysteries, and more
mediators, which the Romish system

various

in

his

for

had so largely introduced.

we are in
church, we h^ve,

Armed

on

both sides

the formularies of

the

in

so to do, to the

alarm that is spread, and the danger that

hovers over the church in the sister kingdom. How frightfully she has neglected
With what awful apathy hath
her duty
she sat by while millions of her fellow
creatures were ignorant of the language,
the only language they could speak, withto

God

heart,

of

land,

retribution of Divine Providence in the

and dictated by the glory of his

heavenly Father in this life, unto eternal
salvation
I say these are the statements

arising out of the love of

this

their

ecclesiastical effort

people in

the gospel to the

own tongue

How hath

she reposed

quietness within her

mansions, while hundreds and
thousands of the people have been like
sheep going astray without a shepherd,
or left to the prowling wolves w^ho would

in

her ease and

And now, when

devour and rend them
the retribution comes, when the hand of
!

God

is

turned to chastise the negleclod

daughter,
cry

now an alarm, and next an

And truly, my dear

raised.

is

out-

bre-

thren, the negligence deserves chastise-

in the formularies of the church.

ment: but negligence in a child, and a

own, a child of the same
family, of the same sentiments, based on
the same foundation, belonging to the
same Father with ourselves negligence
does not call for destruction. For amendment chastisement unto amendment is

them

a righteous thing.

truth,

been but

exhibiting in a more enlarged form, and

rendering with more distinctness to your

understandings, as

God hath

permitted

me, the statements which are compressed

into an attitude of defence against heresy

Hold
meddle not with them who
love to change such truths. My brethren,
it is most deplorable to think how the
best things become abominable, when
abused by man's mismanagement; and
there is no instance of this more deplorable than the way in which these very
formularies of the church have been
abused the way in which the church
itself has been abu ed
the way in which
that which ought to have been for the salfast:

vation of the united en:pire, has, through

child that is our

We

see in the pro-

he is a God that
" hideth himself" from those that will
not see ; but in his ways there is a reve-

gress

how God works

lation to those

who

will see.

We

see the

righteous retribution of Providence, tl

coming where negligence has

been long practised. You find it in your
own affairs, in your relative and domestic
condition, throughout all your business:
if in any particular you have l>een negligent, if, after repeated warnings, you
trouble

pride, through unbelief, through worldly-

have continued negligent, be sure thy sin

will find thee out; domestic trouble, rela-

minded ness, become the cause of conten-

tive

negligence, through slotcfulness, through

tion,
strife

and is likely to be th^ cause of

and even danger in the laad.

losses, failures

in

business, disap-

pointment among friends these will be

the inevitable consequences of continued

THE BIUTISH

68

negligence in business, or inattention to

the practical duties

ot'

PULPIT.

talk about

what

And endowments

friendship.

to

is

be done with the

our forefathers gave,

that

body is no exception to the age of endowments seems to be gone

negligence be practised entirely. What! shall the shade of
more and more, let warnings be rejected, popery rise up, and say with scorn and
let neglect be persevered in, in despite contempt at our better creed, " We were
the church as a
rule

this

let

of warning, and the secret reproaches of the endowers chiefly; we were they tha*
conscience ; and I say, God forbid that gave thousands to build places of worIf we ship ; and you find it difficult to gather ?
should be hundred pounds to clear a debt." Takf
ruined.
I believe it is in the righteous away the reproach, as far as lies in you.
chastisements of a wise and watchful as regards this place at least; and let the
Father that the preservation of the child collection now made, be made from libe-

our Father should not chastise.

were

left

ourselves

to

we

ral hearts

consists.

and loving hearts, to the honour

is worshipped here in spirit

aware of the peculiar object of Him who

connected with our present meeting to- and in truth.

You

are

gether in this place, as regards the conease of your assembling

tinuance and

My

dear friends,

renewed, and (as

I thank God for this

have already hinted)

yourselves together here, and the relief for the present, the last opportunity of
of this place of worship from a debt that declaring these truths in your ears.
I

hangs over it. It is connected with

If the truth I
I have been saying.
have been telling you is the truth preachif this be (as we beed from this place
lieve it is) a member of the church we
belong to, the formularies of the church
honoured here, the truth of God proclaim-

believe
and not from mere fancy, but
from very satisfactory and delightful evidence from time to time conveyed to me
that he hath not suflfered me to speak
altogether in vain from this place. Hearts
there are which have been touched and
melted under the truth, and which have
ed within these walls then, brethren, thanked God in secret, and who have
by all the value you set upon this truth, from time to time given expression of
I would again avail myself of this last their sentiments to myself also, of what
lingering opportunity of addressing you the Lord has done for them under the
(it may be) for a considerable period, to ministry of the Word from my unworthy
ask your liberality to free this place from lips. Blessed be the Lord God Almighty,
The days of large the Saviour, for these things I shall bear
this encumbrance.
endowments seem to be at an end. Men an aflfectionate remembrance towards the
talk of despoiling the church of her en- flock assembling in this place: and I would
dowments, but we hear of few who endow aflTectionately entreat you to bear me upon
her afresh as some of our forefathers en- the sacrifice and service of your faith bedowed her. There have been men of fore God that, in the large and populous
large possessions in this world, who have sphere where I am now called to labour,*
built such places as this, and larger places God would help me with great power
than this,from their own private resources. and teaching of his Holy Spirit to speak
Sacrifices they must needs have made; the truth in the love of it, with singleness
but they had a Master who recompensed of heart, to honour God, and to desire the

still

what

them
loss.

for the loss, if

Alas,

how

it

could be called a

closely calculating have

our pecuniary sacrifices become for the

sake of the gospel, and with what rigid
econontiy do

we

dole out help for such

occasions as the present!

Bear this reproach, my brethren it is
not said in unkindness to you personally
:

salvation of all

my
that

God,

it

who

shall be intrusted to

Dear Christian

charge.

may

be so

and

friends, pray

beseech our

in the tender love of his dear

Son
your

Jesus Christ, to minister to

all

hearts in

anxieties

all

the

affectionate

that you feel in private about your friends

and relations ; in all the trembling apprebut from a feeling in which hensions that you experience for your
While we so
St. Mary's Church, Liverpool.
I participate with shame.

far

from

it;

MYSTERIES IN RELIGION.
own

60

your doubtfulness re- situations of life even in the midst of

specting his truth, and labouring study necessary business, let your hearts stir
of his word
praying for divine teaching, up with ejaculatory prayer, catching a
in all the difficulties of your relative situ- blessing from God every hour of the day.
ations, in all the turmoil of necessary Walk with God.
business, and the frequent interruptions
And what shall I say more ? The time
of those meditations which compose your would fail me to give utterance to what
chiefest joy that in all these things, and my heart contains to my Christian friends.
the variety of the plague of the experi- Dear brethren, the peace of God, with all
ence of the inner man in evpry believing that that contains, of the great God
souls

in all

soul, the unction of the Holy One may Father, Son, and Holy c'host
the blessbe full, and rich, and powerful, preserv- ing which is richly laden in Christ Jesus
ing you from all evil, making you dili- in our nature, which is conveyed in faith,
gent in business, fervent in spirit, serving which is applied and experienced in and
the Lord, with all prayer and supplication by the Holy Ghost, the blessing of God
for all saints
with prayer for all that are which brings his love down, which draws
in authority, for our king, for those who your love upwards, which assimilates
rule under him, for all ministers of reli- you to him, which conforms your characgion
that we may be godly and quietly ter to his, and gives the mind that was
governed, and in all possess a patience in Jesus to the members of Jesus ; the
under the various provocations of domes- blessing of God which bringeth heaven
tic life ; that you may have self-posses- upon earth, that it may take you and
sion, self-command, self-denial, that the make you heirs of heaven
the blessing
various little difficulties which thwart of God be amongst you
and distress from day to da}^ may be
And if there be a man or woman here
warded off by a willingness to yield, as present who is yet a stranger to these

far as

truth will permit you, for peace'

sake.

As

far as lieth in

you,

my

beloved

things, and

grace,

knows

may God,

not the
in his

power of

infinite

this

mercy,

I have now been permitted

say a blessing to such one. Let a
mystery be recognised let objections be
formity is not necessar)' to unity.
O given up; let the vain strugglings of a
bear with one another.
There are diver- proud understanding be prostrated ; O
sities far more than in men's hearts who let your hearts be touched.
Fellow sinlove the truth.
You are nearer one an- ner, believe in God, believe also in Jesus
other than you think, in conversation yield to your own conscience
seek the
after
the proof is, when you kneel Holy Ghost ask, and ye shall receive,

brethren, be at peace

amongst yourselves, render what

be at unity amongst yourselves. Bear

with one another, remembering that uni-

to

down
are

to pray,

you held

conversation

how much more closely

together than when your
controversial.

is

of

holiness

among

yourselves.

is true.

MEXTAL DISCIPLINE FOR DIVIXES AND

re-

from all sin, refrain from all falsehood, from all misrepresentation in society, from all exaggeration of reports,
from all slandering, from all traducing of
a neighbour behind his back.
I beseech you, brethren, be ye holy,
Walk closely with
for God is holy.
God, be much in private, secret prayer
as much as lieth in you in your various

STU-

DENTS IN THEOLOGY.

among

you, and less of willingness to discover differences.

There is
strength in unity
be strong in the unity
frain

God

let

there be more, then, of the unity of the

Spirit

for

L Reflect much

on the indispensa-

ble and transcendent importance of per-

sonal religion.

H. Aim, with the most conscientious

solicitude, at purity of motive in all your

ministerial engagements.

HL

Repress, to the utmost, the feelings of vanity and pride, and the undue
desire of popular applause.

IV. Let the grand points in religion

have their due prominence in your discourses.

THE BRITISH

70

PULPIT.

utmost
XXI. Do full justice to the talents and
V. Aim,
excellencies of other ministers, without
eeriousness and earnestness of manner.
VI. Let a deep sense of responsibility the spirit of rivalry or jealousy.
in preaching, at the

at the divine tribunal secure ministerial

fidelity.

VII. Let there be

in

your discourses

the utmost clearness of discrimination

between ths two great classes of charac-

XXII. Deem it not justifiable for a

Christian pastor to indulge, beyond certain limits, in the pursuits of literature

and science,

XXIII. Suffer not the pressure of

which your hearers must necessa- public engagements to contract unduly

ters of

the exercises of private devotion.

rily consist.

Vlli. Let pointed appeals

to the heart,

XXIV. Guard

against levity of spirit

and direct applications to the conscience, and demeanour.

XXV. Cherish the
form a prominent feature in your disIX.

Do

ality to

which

strictest purity of

thought, of sentiment, and of demeanour.

courses.
not aim at a degree of originwhich you are not equal, or of

the subject under consideration

does not admit.
X. Study assiduously the best way of
access to the human mind.

XXVI.

Cultivate and display the most

delicate sense of honour, in all the inter-

courses of

life.

XXVII. Remember

the pre-eminent
importance of prudence and discretion.
XXVIII. Study and display that courtesy, which is the essence of true polite-

XI. In your preparations for the pulendeavour to derive from the subject ness.
XXIX. Observe punctuality in all your
on which you are about to preach, that
spiritual benefit which you wish your engagements.
XXX. Do not hastily abandon a stahearers to receive.
XII. Attach due importance to the tion of usefulness, in which you have

pit,

devotional parts of public worship, and acquired a moral influence.

Rev. H. F. Burder.
be solicitous to conduct them in a spirit
of evangelical fervour.
XIII. Cherish earnest desires, and enSCRIFTURZ! II<.USTRi\.TIOX78.
couraging expectations of success.
XIV. Exercise an humble and entire
NO. I.
dependence on the promised influences
The sun shall not smite thee hy day, nor the
of the Holy Spirit.
XV. Endeavour to adopt the most moon by night. Ps. cxxi. 6.
Mr. Carne, in his "Letters from the
interesting and efficient methods of coninstruction
to
the East," has observed, "the eflFect of the
veying religious
moonlight on the eyes in this country
young.
XVI. Endeavour to regulate, on prin- (Egypt) is singularly injurious. The
ciples which an enlightened conscience natives tell you, as I found afterwards
will approve, the time devoted to pastoral they also did in Arabia, always to cover
your eyes when you sleep in the open
visits and friendly intercourse.
XVII. Cultivate, with daily solicitude, air. It is rather strange that the above
passage in the Psalms should not have
spirituality of mind.
XVIII. Cultivate, and display. Chris- been thus illustrated, as the allusion
The moon here really
tian zeal for the general interests of true seems direct.
strikes and affects the sight when you
religion, both at home and abroad.
XIX. Propose to yourself as a model sleep exposed to it, much more than the
sun a fact of which I had a very unthe character of the apostle Paul.
XX. Guard against every approach to a pleasant proof one night, and took care
Indeed,
sectarian and party spirit; and cherish to guard against it afterwards.
the feeling of Christian love to all who the sight of a person who should sleep
embrace the faith and " adorn the doc- with his face exposed at night, would
soon be utterly impaired, or destroyed."
trine" of the gospel.

SERMON

VI.

THE SOUL AN OBJECT OF BENEVOLENT SYMPATHY AND REGARD.

BY THE REV.

'

The

He

J.

that winneth souls is wise."

men form of spivery different from that

which they form of temporal tnings. A
estimate which

ritual things

is

much

our alara is temporal evil

is

the object of

spiritual

evil

excites our pity dad kindles

our compassion

but an individual pe-

rishing in ignorance and dyiii^j in

sin,

Now, this is
no compassion.
what might have been expected to have
been the case, as to those who are avowedly infidels, who profess no sort of solicitude whatever, beyond that which terminates in the body and in time; but
what, I say, is the case as to multitudes
excites

of those

who make

a profession of a belief

in the inspiration of the Bible'?

many

xi. 30.

up the substance of the land

eat

and

that there will be nothing left to clothe

the orphan, to feed the hungry, to sustain

widow

And

yet,

of those are quite indifferent to the

spiritual wretchedness which is multiplied

around them ; and not only are they indifferent to it themselves, but they frown
upon others who are endeavouring to meet
it, and, in some measure to diminish it.

According

to

them we

are,

the

erful

ambition and pursuit as temporal good.

An individual who is the victim of temporal

Prov.

and they affect to feel a powsympathy with the temporal ilV; of

with tlie physical wretchednot so much the object of our mankind

spiritual evil is not so

good

BEAUMONT.

E.

by our

folly,

ness of

human

of

it,

sent,

most philosophical individual pre-

that Christianity, and Christianity

alone, has done

temporal

ills

who

thus

not only do

nothing towards them, but who scorn and

sneer at those whose object it is to turn
the sinner from the error of his ways.
I know that the objection which they
bring forward, often shrouds itself under
that, what with our
this accusation
Sabbath Schools, and what with one

thing and another,

we

shall absolutely

for the relief of the

was

done by philosophy, human reason, hu-

man

policy,

human

sagacity, or

humanity

from the beginning of the world

down to this hour. There never was a
grosser fallacy than that which would
teach and represent, that the influence of
Sabbath-school institutions, and kindred
institutions, will dry up the sources of
relief for the temporal ills of mankind.
itself,

But

I will

venture to say this

much

that

as to those societies and institutions, the

anotiier set of

who

more

of mankind, than ever

must be a great

underrate our efforts

multiplied

the most learned, the most histori-

cal, the

object of which

faith or in the feelings of those

it is

our enthusiasm, and our fanaticism, turning the world upside down. Now, there
error in this, either in the

nature, as

around them and yet I will venture to

say
for we cannot stop now to go into
the matter, but I throw it off as an assertion and I challenge any one to the proof

ills

is

the relief of the physical

of mankind, you will find

names

it

is

not

occupy the reports of these institutions, from the names

of those who fill the reports of your Sabbath Schools, your Bible Societies, your
Mission Institutions, and your other conthat

federacies for the diminution of spiritual

evil ; the fact is, they are the same indi-

and since
Sabbath Schools and
other kindred institutions, there has been
far more done for the relief of the tem71

viduals that contribute to both

the

formation

of

THE BRITISH

72
poral

ills

of

mankind than ever was done

before.

And however much we may

feel affect-

ed and distressed at the thought of the

abounding of human wretchedness around
us, there never was a tii if when 90 many
feet were at'tually moving to the abodes
of wretchedness, so meny hands actually
dealing out bounty for the relief of the
needy, as at this time and, therefore, I
could not this evening, if my object was
to plead for one of these institutions
;

which aim

at the relief of the physical

mankind, render such

distress of
tions

more

institu-

effectual service, than b}' turn-

PULPIT.
I

To direct

propose this evening. First,

YOUR ATTENTION TO THE OBJECT WHICH

IS HERE PROPOSED TO OUR BENEVOLENT
SYMPATHIES AND REGARD THE SOULS OP
Secondly, To the duty which is
MEN
HERE ENJOINED UPON US, IN REFERENCE
And
TO THIS OBJECT TO WIN THEM.
ThirdJy, We shall notice the commendation THAT IS pronounced UPON
THE MAN THAT WINNETH SOULS " He

THAT WINNETH SOULS

IS

WISE."

In selecting this subject, as being directly Jippropriate to the interesting occa-

sion

which has gathered us together at

have at once in view the ulti-

this time, 1

your attention to the spiritual evils of mate object of all Sabbath-school instibecause 1 am quite sure of tutions; for although there are certain
;
one thing that the charity that shall ad- social and civil and domestic and inteldress itself to that, will so warm and lectual advantages, which infallibly must
glow and dilate and expand itself there, grow out of Sabbath- school institutions,
that it will spread to the relief of all the their main, their cardinal, their ultimate
ills of human nature.
object, is the welfare of the souls of those
" He," then, saith Solomon, " that who are their objects. This is what we
winneth souls is wise." Perhaps you have in view. And therefore I proceed

ing,'

mankind

will say to

me,

why

take such a text as

this to address us with"?

Why, u

is

to direct

First,

your attention to.

object here

The

proposed

which marks out the duty of minis- TO our benevolent sympathy and reI grant, indeed, that it GART)
the SOUL OF MAN. Where shall
ters of religion.
is our office and prerogative, and that it I begin, or what words shall I employ,
for
ought to be our daily and nijfhtly an
in discoursing to you of the soul

text

up this
the text found

hourly study and labour to

fill

But where is
announce it to you as a part of the
Did I read it out of
epistle to Timothy ]
the epistle of Paul to Titus ] Did I read it
out of any one of the seven letters which
are contained in the last book of the Bible,
and which were addressed to the ministers
of the seven Asiatic churches ] No I told
you, that the text was in the book of the
Proverbs and that is the people's book

character.

Did

"?

more than the preacher's. And the text

being found in the book of Proverbs,
shows us that every man ought to address

"?

philosophy and theology and

poetry and oratory and history and ethics
have written and said and sung about the

after all that

what a mystery

human

soul,

soul of

man!

Who

In thinking on

it,

it is

The

of us understands it?

let

us endeavour, for a

moment, to fix your attenticn on

nature and frame nf the human soul.

single
the

In nature, then,

it

is

not material

it is

and immaterial. Especially in

addressing such an assembly as this, it
would be improper to show, by any train
of argument, how it is that the soul is
spiritual; I will therefore adopt the only
popular method of showing it, and that
spiritual

himself to this noble enterprise, and that

it should not be considered as appropriate is, by showing that tlie body is divisible,
that it is an aggregate of
to ministers only ; that it should not be or separable
considered as the peculiar and exclusive parts, a congeries of innumerable parduty or prerogative of the ministers of ticles cemented together and, therefore,
religion, or those who fill certain offices when death ensues, the body crumbles to

endeavour to win souls, pieces and that mass which we now call
but that every man is summoned to arouse the body becomes disjointed, and goea
himself to this noble enterprise for the into a million fragments, and these are
text saith, "he that winneth souls is wise." blown and wafted hither and thither ; but

in the church, to

THE SOUL AN OBJECT OF SYMPATHY.

homogeneous substance

the soul is a
it

inseparable.

indivisible, insoluble,

is

And,

when

therefore,

philosophers

accidents happen

knew

tuous enough to

make up the mass which we call tbe

human body, has any effect or influence

soul, in its nature

to

whatever on the composition of the human soul, because the soul is not matter; if it were matter, it would be soluble, it would be divisible, and its parts
would go to pieces. If it were matter,
it would be resolvable
if it were matter,
its parts and particles would be separable; but the soul is not separable, and

therefore

it

not matter,

we know

is

And

not matter.

it is

and must be

if it is

spirit

for

of no other substances but these

is,

is

mysterious

that the soul

is,

and

all

that

presump-

The subwe know

or other, con-

and that

soul leaves the body, the

all

know.

somehow

nected with the body

then there ensues

am

that any philoso-

sa)',

ject

nor

phers, even at this day,

body, with which the soul has now

an affinity, or when a limb shall be taken
away, or more limbs than one, or a considerable portion of the animal economy,
the integrity of the soul remains untouched, indivisible, inseparable.
The
soul remains entire.
No dissociation of
the several parts and particles which go
to the

73

body

when

the

dies,

and

those great physical

changes on the body which make death

so

unwelcome

But

to us.

ficient at present,

and

may

it

just to

be suf-

say, that the

in its frame, is infi-

superior to the body

;
and that
while the body is nothing but an accumulation of parts and particles, the soul
is, in itself, a complete substance, and
undergoes no change, as to its essence,
amid all the contingences to which the
body may be subject. The soul is spiritual, and not material ; and although it
dwells in matter, it is perfectly and entirely distinct from it.
The soul of man Shall we endeavour
to form some estimate of it, by noticing
its Maker, its origin?
Think of the human soul, then, as formed for eternity as
occupying all the attributes of Jehovah in

nitely

two matter and spirit, flesh and mind,

body and soul these make up the whole
of what we know to have any existence
in the universe of God.
its formation
as made in the true image
Now, philosophers have speculated of God as made next in rank and degree,
much about the locality of the soul in though equal in blessedness, to the angethe bod)'.
It was the opinion of Aris- lic multitude.
But how has the gold betotle,
whose philosophy held such a po- come dim how has the most fine gold
tent sway over all Europe, and that for been changed
how has the crown of our
many centuries that the soul of man original dignity fallen from our head
had its local residence in the brain and And yet, this jewel is left, though it is
not, as the popular philosophy teaches, now incrusted only with sin
though it is
in the whole volume of the two hemis- not in the condition it was when it came
pheres of the brain, attached to the whole from the hands of its Maker, still there is
mass of it in the skull but that the soul that about it that tells us something of
dwelt in a small gland in the brain, which what it was. Just as the glory on the
is called the pineal gland
that it abode clouds of the western horizon, after the
there as a bird in a cage
and gave forth, sun has set, tells us that the sun has been

from that very, very small glandular body,

there, although

it

has

set,

so are there

volitions to the nerves, the nerves

seen in the soul of man, in the wreck to

muscles, and the muscles acted on

and so he accounted for the
;
ordinary functions of life.
Whether the
soul is attached to any particular portion
of the brain, or whether it is connected
with the whole volume of the brain, or is

which it has been subjected, traces and

marks of its primeval glory and dignity.
Such is the faculty of reason and the
power of conscience and the compunc-

associated with the whole nervous struc-

man

all its

to the

the bones

it is over the whole body,

nor do I think Aristotle

ture, ramified as

know not
knew nor do

Vol. II. 10

know

that

any of the old

tions of remorse that attend the footsteps

of the sinner, record the

power of

the hu-

conscience still.
Shall we endeavour to think of the
human soul, by forming a notion of its
capacities

and facuUies and properties

THE BRITISH

74

of the
of
of the
the heart of the creations of genius
of
the glow of enterprise the
proving
son the voice of conscience

Think of

its

poWfer of thought

re-

memory

cording pen of

tablet

light
;

man

rea-

all

PULPIT.

voice

It is the soul that is

within

it is

the flood of thought and feeling that gives

to the

human

powwhich it possesses. Think,

power over matter It can convoice that million fold

er and variety
too, of its

and
and thus after the spirit shall
may sublimate matter even to infinity
have fluttered away from the world, it
you may throw it from crucible to cruci- will still be acting on minds, generations
you may make it perform a million off; and though it shall have left the
ble
of transitions as to its form and condition ; world, yet, by having memorialized its
but you can never produce the power of own discoveries, and having committed

to us that the soul of

tellectual,

is spiritual, in-

You

immortal.

immaterial,

vey the
tablets

spirit of discoveries to notes

thought from matter.

it

No

modification of them

will ever give rise to a single thought

but the soul has the power of thought.

Think, too, of its power of knowledge.
Rivers have their limits, the ocean has its
bounds, but the soul of man wanders on
and on, exploring invisible and distant
objects.
It plunges into the abysses of
creation, past and present
it ascends to
the very footsteps of the eternal throne,
to which it has been invited by the Saviour, and is stayed there only by the
glory of him who sits upon it; and if,

like the child of ambition, of

to^ has

whom

his-

he had conquered the world he sat down and wept,

because there were no more worlds to
told us, that w^^lien

so, if the human soul ever

conquer,
could acquire so much knowledge as that

suppose there was no more

knowledge to gain, it, too, would weep,
because it could acquire no more. If
Sir Isaac Newton had been alive at this
day, from the day in which he flourished,
he would have been learning still. What
a wonder is the human mind and this
power of knowledge, which is the prerogative of it, will be found throughout
eternity to be one source of our happiness
i^one spring of our enjoyment.
Then, think of its power of pleating !
How it can charm by description dazzle
by comparison enliven by wit convince

it

should

by argument. thrill, captivate, and carry

Think of its power
away by eloquence
of acting on matter in the glow of painting in the symmetry of architecture in
!

the beauty of sculpture

ing tones of music, and

all

riety of intonations of the

For, what

is

less variety to

in the

enchant-

the vast va-

human

voice

to something or other that shall

hand them downward to posterity, man
may be said to live onward, as it were,
through an indefinite series.

But, in thinking of the soul, let

take

scriptural

the

me

way, and the way

of you will immedi-

which I am sure all

ately sympathize with, in endavouring to
prove its value, and that is, by observing
that the soul must be of inestimable

value, for its redemption has been effected

by Jesus

have intimated

Christ.

ready, that the soul of

man has

fallen

what must be

man

is lost

al-

that

from his high estate.

O,

the value of the soul in the

estimation of Almighty God, when he did

not think it too much to give his own Son
in order to

ransom

it

God

so loved the

world yes, God so loved the soul now

you shall estimate its value, if you can

God so loved the

deem it and save

soul, that in order to re-

it, he gave up his only

O, go in devout contemplation to Gethsemane, and see the Son
of God covered over with sweat and
blood, and hear the plaintive accents
which burst from his lips when he said,
" My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even

begotten Son

Follow him to mount Calvary ; to the bowing of the head and the
giving up of the ghost yon sun hid its
unto death."

face

the

the earth wrapt itself in

rocks burst asunder

very centre shook, and

mourning

nature

felt that

to its

her Lord

was suffering and dying

O, if you can
fathom the depth if you can span the
length
if you can soar to the height of
!

Son of God if you

can weigh the tears and the blood which
he shed
if you can measure the sighs
the sufferings of the

which gives such end- and the sobs that he heaved, then, but
the intonations of the human not till then, will you be able to learn the

that

THE SOUL AN OBJECT OF SYMPATHY.

God

Son of

75

as to the past part of his

soul, however, is not eter-

value of the human soul

God gave up his life to ransom the soul of existence. The
man. When v/e are, from certain circum- nal in that sense it was created coeval
stances, incapable of estimating; the value with the body: but a ^ar/e^os/, that is,
of any given object that may be presented as to the futrj-e part of its existence, the
to our notice or contemplation, from our duration of the human soul to come, will
incapacity or the limited nature of our run on in parallel lines with the duration
understanding and other mental faculties, of the throne of God. And as to the
for the

16 eternal

speculations which have been entered into

by philosophers and divines, as to whether
the soul is naturally immortal or not, I,
may
though the human soul mocks our efforts for my part, can see no weight in the
and eludes our touch and though neither question ; it is no matter whether it is so
poetry, nor theology, nor philosophy, nor naturally, as a special donation from heaif

can only find out, from some source

what the object cost, then we
and
form an idea of its value

we

or other,

history have ever done

we may know its

when we find out

justice

it

some

value, in

it,

man,
his

if

own

he gain the whole world and lose

soul ]"

moment

soul, let us think for a

the gift of

be applied to the duration of the human

soul, and that is a w^ord which you underwhich the
stand just as well as 1 do
peasant comprehends the meaning of as
well as the philosopher that is, the word
ETERNITY. Eternity thou word of solemn and mysterious import, thou art the
only word that can be applied to the du-

can trace

eternity

man

And what

is

That question has been asked

again and again, and wise

have answered

must confess

me

it

in

men and

sages

ways.

different

that the

answer

that

has

most appropriate, is the

answer furnished by a boy in a Sunday-

struck

school.
nity

as the

He was

asked,

After a pause, the

What

little

is eter-

boy

said

not, indeed, a very little boy, but he

Almighty

It is appli-

cable to the lifetime of the Almighty

as

it is

said a parte ante,

that

it

and a parte post,

wood

to death, but you can go no

your own observations. But

it

furtlier in

that death does not terminate

that
that it is immortal

we know

existence

its

existence runs on through endless

O, how valuable then is the huages.
its

man

soul

Perhaps

this

may

part of the subject

itself

which

is

suffice,

namely,

proposed

to

on the

first

the object

your bene-

volent sympathies and exertions. I find

that I am to advocate the cause, this

evening, of some nine hundred of these

There are some nine hundred insouls.
dividuals
the

who

are receiving instruction in

are making their

two schools, who

annual appeal to your benevolence this

and every one of these nine
hundred souls is thus valuable, as I have
stated to you, and far more valuable than

was evening

one attending a Sunday-school

Eternity
I defy
is the lifetime of the Almighty.
a divine to give a better answer. I defy
any man on earth to furnish a more satisEternity, indeed, is the
factory answer.
lifetime of the

for us to

is so thick, the forest

so dense, you cannot go after it, but you
hear it dashing on by the furiousness of its
So it is with the human soul ; you
roar.

the

is

ration of the soul of

enough

Like a mighty river,

the track of which you can follow from
region to region and from soil to soil,
but which, at last, bewildered, you lose,
by the river entering into a deep and imbowered wood, you can follow it no
further

this is a

It is

never, never dies.

bewildering subject on
the endless duration of the souPs existence.
There is only one word that can

though

God.

that the soul is immortal

know

In forming an estimate of the

Again.

human

is, tliat it is so,

or other, either naturally or as

somehow

that God, in order to

gave up Jesus Christ, his onlybegotten Son ; and we do not wonder,
therefore, that Jesus Christ should exclaim, as he did, " What shall it profit a

save

we know

All that

ven.

yet,

sort,

any language of mine, or that of any

other, can by any possibility represent:
and therefore, if, before we close the subwe should assume something like an
earnestness of appeal, you will bear along

ject,

with us when

we come

to that appeal,

THE BRITISH

76

PULPIT.

because it is an appeal on behalf of two edges of the sword ; and you know
nearly a thousand souls; and I ask, the mother of harlots has endeavoured
whether it is not an appeal which calls to ride over the world, to enslave the in-

something like earnestness on behalf tellect, and bend down the human soul,
of the individual intrusted with such an and bring souls to God in that way; but
for

advocacy as

this,

and

for

something

liberality on the part of those to

is

made

like

whom

it

souls are not so to be got

they must be
sweetly drawn, not dragged, not driven.

You know,

must be very

especially as

far as the

being well aware children of Sunday-schools are concerned,

how many may be inconvenienced and and all other children, that a sweetness
oppressed, from the extremely crowded of manner is preferable to power of argustate of this audience, and I pass on to ment; and though the p^ower of arguconsider,
ment may do something with some of the
Secondly,
The conduct described in more philosophical and stoical members
THE TEXT, IN REFERENCE TO THIS OBJECT, of the human family, yet that which is
AND RECOMMENDED TO OUR ADOPTION BY to win and fascinate and touch the heart
THE WISE MAN. " He that winneth souls of a child, is the sweetness and softness
of love.
And in fact, it is that which
is wise."
He that
I hardly need detain you for one mo- touches the heart of any man.
ment in the way of a word of caution. knows well the mechanism of the human
By winning of souls, in the text, as ap- heart, has told us, that the cords of love
plied to men, we are not to understand and the bands of man are what must be
that we can win them as principals.
No used and if you want to bind a man,
it is only as instruments and accessories.
you must not attempt to bind him down
Christ is the ransomer of the soul
that by the cable rope of philosophical arguwe have seen already, and that you will ment, but by throwing around him the
He it is who hath soft and silken cords of love. That, and
bear in your minds.
won them that hath bought them that that alone, will bind a man down.
hath ransomed them
that hath purchased
As instruments we are to labour to win
them that hath done the great thing souls. How, then, is it to be done ?
which we never could have done for them.
First,
are to endeavour to win
But though we cannot win them as prin- them by instruction The soul of man is
cipals, we may win them as instruments naturally ignorant.
Knowledge is wantand accessories. This is what you are ed knowledge is delightful to the mind
summoned to labour and to attempt to do.
knowledge is agreeable to the soul as
" He that winneth souls is wise." This light is to the eye or honey to the palate.
has been rendered by a French commen- The soul of man when first created was
tator,
" He that sweetly draweth souls created in the image of God in the
Now, I know
to God, rnaketh a holy conquest of them :" image of his knowledge.
and of all the versions of the golden that it is possible that knowledge might
but I have
sentence which I have taken for my text, be communicated by miracle
there is none that seems to me to fall in no right to expect that it will be so comI

brief,

We

with the meaning so fully, as that of

Diodoret,
" He that sweetly draweth
souls to God, maketh a holy conquest of
them." Souls are not to be got by compulsion
souls are not to be driven.
You may apply your instruments of torture to every inch of the surface of the
body, and the body may be within sight
and within feeling of death, but the soul
will not be a slave, and spurns the
thought of slavery. You know Mahomet
pushed his conquest with the point and

God

might communicate
mind of man directly,
as he did to the minds of the prophets and
There was a direct communiapostles.
cation of knowledge, of the material, the
element of knowledge a direct inspiration into the minds of the prophets and
apostles but we have no reason whatever
to suppose, that in that way knowledge
will ever be communicated again. Knowledge is to be communicated, now, from
mind to mind from one to another.
municated.

knowledge

to the

THE SOUL AN OBJECT OF SYMPATHY.

Thus

the very prophets were to

nicate

what they had

commn-

to the people

and
j

thus the apostles were to go into

all

the

77

dle, Christ the beginning, Christ the end.

Nothing will touch the heart of a child so

soon, or so deeply, as to hear the story

Babe of Bethlehem

of

Man

world, to communicate their knowledge

of the

every creature. Thus, then, the man

who has knowledge is bound to communicate it to the man who has not.

of Sorrows on the hill of Calvary, in the

to

And

as to

Thus,
tomb of Joseph of Arimathea
then, let us communicate instruction, and
the method of communicating by knowledge labour to win the souls of

instruction, especially in a Sabbath-school

am

the

not talking about other schools

the language should be plain, familiar,

the children.

Secondly, W^e must do

sion

it

by persua-

for the soul is not only ignorant,

and simple. Illustrations may be brought but perverse. Its ignorance calls for illufrom science and nature; but this we mination, and its perverseness and obmust take care to do in such a way as to stinacy call for entreaty and persuasion.
make all these, as instruments, subser- Therefore, we are to employ, as the means
In the month of of persuasion, every argument and motive
vient to spiritual good.
July or August, if you saw a corn field that can be drawn from the soul, in all its
covered with flowers of every hue and value the love of God in giving his Son
the solemnities of
size and colour, the spectator might be in order to save it
the glory of
a day of judgment
gratified with the sight, and the mere death
traveller might be amused with the spec- heaven, and the terrors of hell. You must
the proprie- take the unconvinced up to mount Sinai,
tacle ; but not so the owner
tor, the farmer
he would have every that he may gaze on the mountain burnflower torn up by the root, and thrown ing with fire ; but you must take the
over the hedge
he does not want his humble and meek and penitent, to mount
field covered with poppies,but with wheat. Calvary; and let the thunders of Sinai
Plainness of speech, then, is necessary. be quenched by the sweet accents of CalDo not represent Sinai and CalIt is remarked by Job Orton, in his Me- vary.
moirs of Dr. Doddridge, that, having once vary as two hostile forts, but as two impreached about the primitive Christians, pregnable foi tresses, to break down ignowhen one day, walking, a person came up rance, depravity, and sin. An air of
to him and asked, what sort of Christians seriousness finely softened down with
"I told alFectionate tenderness, is that which we
the primitive Christians were ]
him," said the biographer, " they were the ought to endeavour to cultivate. Never
and I took care, ever court a grin when you should win a soul.
first Christians
after, to use the phrase, first Christians, Seriousness of manner, combined with
and not the primitive Christians." And affectionateness of spirit, are the charms
we should use we are to employ the artillery we are
so it is as to children
easy and not hard words words easily to command. We are to clothe our words
cut on the tablet of the memory, not with plainness, seriousness, and affection ;
those which are so tortuous as that they that an impresson may be made on the
cannot be engraven in the youthful mind. minds of those to whom we direct our
We should teach them the knowledge of instructions.
Once more. It is our duty to endeaJesus Christ. Parents, fathers, mothers,
Sunday-school teachers, masters, alto- vour to win souls bi/ admonition. It is
gether, should adopt the resolution of the said of the venerable Eli, who in many
respects was an excellent character and a
apostle, who thus expresses himself,
' God forbid that I should glory, save in
good man, that he did not admonish his
It is necessary, sometimes, to
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." children.
" We preach Christ," in the dignity of rebuke with all authority and all earnesthis person, in the fulness of his love, in ness ; and Eli whispered when he should
the excellence, in the perfection of his have thundered, and was all blandness
and softness when he should have been
sacrifice, and in the power of his Spirit
There are
Christ first, Christ last, Christ the mid- all authority and majesty.

03

THE BRITISH

78
times

when we should use

all

the autho-

which Cod and providence and grace

have intrusted to us. Thus by solemn
admonition, as well as by gentle persuasion and the words of instruction and
wisdom, we should endeavour to be in-'
strumental in winning the souls of our

rity

fellow creatures.
to

relative value of one substance to all other

substances around

it;

that is the

man

the

philosopher supposes to be the wise man.

Again the moralist considers the know:

wisdom that is, the

him to understand

ledge of ethics as

knowledge

that leads

his own nature, and the laws which are

binding on society in general and his
duties and obligations towards God, hi?
fellow creatures, and all rational and in;

But, Ihirdly, and lastly,

mulate you

PULPIT.

this

go on

to sti-

by the

WHICH THE WISE MAN

IN

eulogium
THE TEXT PRO-

NOUNCES ON THE CONDUCT OF THOSE WHO

WIN SOULS " He that winneth souls is

Now,

telligent beings.

who

then,

the Bible pronounce to be the wise

does

man

'\

your politician versed in historic

wise."
lore, competent to determine the fate of
Now, wisdom has very great reputation empires ? Is it the naturalist or philosoamong mankind it has so high a reputa- pher or chemist the man who undertion, that you cannot pay a man a higher stands every thing in nature 1
Is it the
compliment than to say that he is a wise moralist ? Is it your ethical man ? Is it
man. Mankind have that feeling about your man who understands the laws of
the matter, and all are exceedingly sensi- the different relations binding the different
tive about their reputation for wisdom and orders of society ? No, my frit nd. Who,
knowledge; and hence, you cannot offer then, does the Scripture pronounce to be
a fouler reproach, a more poignant or the wise man ]
I will tell yon
first,
cutting stigma to a man, than to say of the man who saves his own soul
and,
him, that he is a fool every man feels secondly, the man who labours to save
that the indignity is an intolerable one
the souls of others.
First, The Scriptures pronounce that
one that cannot and will not be put up
with. Such, then is the reputation of man to be wise, who saves his own soul.
wisdom so hii^h so universal. Now, That was a benevolent expression of the
Solomon says, " He that winneth souls is man, Moses, which he uttered with regard
wise." I know very well that men differ to the Israelites when, after having led
very much about what makes up wisdom. them for forty years during their peregriFor instance the politician considers that nations in the wilderness, he said, "0,
the knowledge of the art of government that they were wise."
In what sense ?
constitutes wisdom
that the man who is " O, that they understood this
that they
well versed in liistorical research in the would consider their latter end !" The
history of nations, and understands the man who is wise for time, but not for
best mode of governing states and dis- eternity
wise for business, but not for
tricts and empires, is the wise man.
The salvation wise for the body, but not for
philosopher considers the naturalist the the soul, is not a wise man. A man may
wise man he who knows all the sub- be highly gifted a man of talent: well,
stances of the three great kingdoms of call him so, and have done with it; but
nature, animal, vegetable, and mineral, call him not a wise man if he has not
who understands all their sympathies religion. A man may be rich and opuand antipathies, all their uses, all their lent; but if he neglects his soul and rel"
gion, call him not a wise man
good qualities and all their bad ones
call hiin
who has taken the gauge of every sub- a rich man, and have done with it. A
the
stance in nature, from the sun down to man may have the gift of eloquence
the meanest atom that floats in the air, power of persuasion and of moving others
from the smallest insect that dances in around him may be hid under his tongue ;
the sunbeam to the gigantic elephant that very well, say he is anteloquent man, and
who have done with it; but if a man has not
stalks oi" the surface of the earth
has studii^d nature and her laws, the chain religion, he is not a wise man. No man
of cause and effect, and can determine the is wise but the man who saves his sou]
Is

it

THE SOUL AN OBJECT OF SYMPATHY.

and prepares

eternity.

for

will

It

be

Engraving

ren.

is

79

going on upon these

nine hundred souls.

A moral, religious,
most monstrous, the most and Bible education is being communiatrocious folly in the universe, for a man cated to them, by the instrumentality of
and we must not be too
to have neglected the interest of his soul this institution
to have been absorbed in the claims of impatient as to the results that will
his body, the claims of commerce, the follow.
I might advocate the cause, on the
claims of business, or any other claims
whatever, whilst he has neglected those of ground of its tending to the due observfound, hereafter, to have been the most

earregious, the

his soul.

Secondly, The text pronounces that

man to be wise, that is instrumental in

winning

the

souh of

his fellow creatures.

ance of the Sabbath. How many of these

children would be profaning the day of the

Lord

would be blaspheming the name

would be corrupting the

of the Lord

air

with their breath

now

they are

have not time to go into this ; but there

are three views which I meant to have

ting at

taken, to follow*iip this doctrine in the

in

on that account may fairly be pronounced

a wise man.
Secondly, that such a man
connects himself with the coming in of the
mediatorial reign of our Immanuel, and on
that account is to be termed a wise man.
And, lastly, that the man who wins the

saving them.
Again. These schools are of considerable value in producing habits of social
order and the worship of God, in many

but

sit-

wisdom's doors, and are drinking

knowledge and instruction, communitext.
First, I meant to have shown you, cated to them by men of like passions to
that such a man, in his conduct, is pro- ourselves, who, from love to their souls,
moting the honour and glory of God, and are endeavouring to be instrumental in

families

who were

strangers to

it

before.

was once at a meeting at Nottingham,

souls of his fellow creatures, is the best when a man stood up to give the account of
Laying his hand
friend of the human race, and most effec- his conversion to God.
tually promotes the welfare of mankind on the head of a boy who was by the side
around him. Wherever souls are over- of him, he said, " This boy is my son,
looked, there

is

a limit put to intellectual

and social improvement, and ignorance

becomes perpetuated.
Perhaps you may ask, what
vantage that results from
school instruction

are too impatient.

of husbandry

farmer has
bour.

to

The

the ad-

Sabbath-

fact is, that

we

In husbandry and be-

nevolence, matters are the same.

ters

In mat-

and agriculture, the

wait for the return of his

fact is, that the process

la-

of

Bible education is going on in these nine

hundred children, and this Bible education is very much like the process of en-

Engraving is a slow process

the engraver works upon the metal, and
graving.

perhaps

it is

many days

or

weeks before

the effects are visible on the surface, and

not even after months of

toil, unless you

hold the surface in some particular direction, so that the light may fall on it in a

particular

way.

and

this,

my

He went

But the engraver goes on

son, is

my

spiritual father.

your Sunday-school some

to

One

years ago.
is

all this

The

Stibbath evening,

when

he came home, he said, Father, if I die

before you and go to heaven, I am afraid
I cannot stretch out my hand to welcome
you there.' 'Why not V " said the father,
struck with the observation. " Because,'
said the boy, ' the teachers at the Sundayschool, and the Bible, and the preacher,
all tell me, that swearers and Sabbathbreakers and drunkards, living and dying
such, must, in the next world, be in a
place of torment.' "
Conviction seized
the mind of this man, as he told us ; he
found his own way to the chapel ; and
the impressions that were made upon him
there, together with what his little boy
had said, were the means, under God, of
'

'

his conversion.
I

believe a great deal of this

on now.

know

that

it

is

is

going

the order of

working at his task, and by-and-by, after nature for parents to teach their children ;
weeks and months, it starts up at last like but I know it is an order that the God of
a thing of life. So it is with these child- nature and grace often smiles upon and

THE BRITISH

80

PULPIT.

Testament she read, felt, and underOne day the priest came into the
house, and saw the book on the table he
immediately laid his hands upon it, and

blesses for the children to teach their pa-

that

do not mind how the matter

goes on, so that it does go on. It is with
this as it is with the dew.
Some say that
that it comes from
the dew falls down
the sky ; but according to the most abstract and recondite philosophers, dew
rises up from the earth
it ascends and
does not descend. I do not care whether
it is down or up, or up or down, or down
and up, or up and down, or both, so that
it does but come, and enough of it, to
refresh all the waste places of the earth.
So with regard to knowledge I do not
care which way it is, whether it goes from
the parents to the children, or from the
children to the parents, or both ways any

stood.

rents.

way, every way

the

I trust the friends

more the

better.

of this school will

have no feeling towards other institutions

"What is that?" "That," said

mother, " is a book that has been
given to my little girl by somebody."

said,

the

The

priest found out

proceeded
and stood

what the book was

to the fire

by

put
the

it

into the

element of
destruction had completed its work. The
little girl then burst into tears, because
her Testament was burned ; and the mother wept, because she sympathized with
her daughter ; and while mother and
daughter were both in teats, that minister
of mercy walked away.
Well, the little
girl felt so much for her mother, that she
turned to her, and said, "Do not be so
much distressed for although the priest
has burned the Testament, I have got the
fire

it till

same kind, except that of a kindly

one.
There are many other Sunday- first nine chapters of the gospel of St.
schools besides our own, in the neigh- Matthew by heart, and they cannot burn
bourhood, and there is a great necessity them I" Give the children that which
and for the friends and teachers cannot be burned. Amen.
for them
of this school to have any other feelin^tT
of the

towards the teachers of other schools,

than a most friendly one, would be just
as foolish as for the

family to

fall

'l"Tre

all

complexion,
fact is,

of the

out with one

cause they do not

size,

members

we

all

happen

fruits

the seed
piety

NO.

to

be of one

intonation of voice.

belong to one human

Let 1dm take hold of my strength, that he may

; and he shall make peace

make peace with me

with me.
I

you want

The
;

to

fact is,

know what are the

we are only sowing

and the principles of virtue and

which

are cast into the

minds (f

these nine hundred children, remain there,

concealed for a while

II.

nother be-

family.
Still,

SCRIPTURZ: II.I.USTI12LTICXTS.

same

but they will

Isa. xxvii. 5.

when preachcan convey the mean-

think, (said Mr. Toller,

ing from this text,)

ing of this passage, so that every one

may

understand it, by what took place in my

own family within these few days. One
of my little children had committed a
fault, for which 1 thought it my duty to
I called him to me, exchastise him.

awaken, in some, new associations of life,

and then there will be all the harvest you plained to him the evil of what he had
done, and told him how grieved I was that
I remember some time ago,
anticipate.
conversing with an individual who had I must punish him for it. He heard me
been in Ireland, and who related the fol- in silence, and then rushed into my arms,
lowing fact to me. A little girl of Ca- and burst into tears. I could sooner have
tholic parents found her way to the Pro- cut oiT my arm than have then struck
there she made him for his fault he had taken hold of
testant Sunday-school
considerable progress, and she obtained my strength, and he had Tnade peace ivith
a copy of the Testament as a present
:

SERMON

VII.

NECESSITY OF WATCHFULNESS.

BY THE REV.

BLACKBURN.

J.

OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF A SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER, WEO DIED SUDDENLY AT THE

?Ui\DAY-SCHOOL, ON THE PRECEDING LORD'S DAY MORNING.

" Watch ye, tTierefore

for ye know not when

the

midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning

Mark

master of the house cometh, at even, or at

lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping."

35, 36.

xiii.

In the Holy Bible, which we acknowledge to be a revelation from God, there

the sinner, but that the wicked turn from

wicked way, and live. Turn ye, turn

why will ye die, house of Israel]"
affecting addresses, tending to prepare our And, prompted by this benevolence, he
minds for the good pleasure of our God, departs sometimes from the ordinary proand for those eternal realities which sooner cedures of his providence, and permits
or later shall open to our view. " Prepare some splendid illustration of our own
to meet thy God, O Israel !" is an admo- mortality to befall us. We foolishly imanition that has again and again been gine that the old, the diseased, and victims
sounded in our ears; and that preparation of premature decay, will first pass from
has been called for upon the evidence of the stage of life to the gloomy sepulchre:
our frailty for " the voice said, cry and and we look upon the healthful, and the
All robust, and the young, with feelings of
the prophet said, What shall I cry ?
flesh is grass, and all the goodliness extraordinary interest, imagining that they
are found,

my brethren, many solemn

is

his

ye;

thereof

and

as the flower of the field.

The

grass withereth, the flower fadeth, be-

are

to

continue

when

their

forefathers

But God comes out

say, sirs, he comes out of

have passed away.

cause the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon of his place ; I

But we his place, and commands the dart from
it: surely the people is grass."
are so familiar with exhortations of this his unerring hand to smite the young and
sort, that they pass by us as idle words, the healthy, and the mostblooming among
and we regard them not: they seem to us us, while his word addresses every specas tales that have been again and again tator of the tragic event. " Because there
told, which command not even our atten- is wrath, beware lest he take thee away
tion, and glide over our rninds as the arrow with a stroke ; for then a great ransom
cuts through the atmosphere, without cannot deliver thee."
leaving a trace behind. God might leave
My brethren, this is the view that I
us with the testimony of his word he take of the solemn providence which has
might say, " I have called, but they have brought so many of you together this
:

let them alone

You have heard from this desk,
I will give night.
them up to the desire of their own hearts." again and again, the faithful warning of
But no while he is a just God, he is also God's blessed word; you have heard,
a Saviour; he is not willing that any again and again, the admonition of his
should perish, but that all should come to ministers, entreating you for Christ's sake
the knowledge of the truth. "As I live," to be reconciled unto God and you have

not heard

saith the Lord,

Vol. II. 11

"

I desire

not the death of heard without emotion and without re-

81

THE BRITISH

82

PULPIT.

God has now shown yoii, in a verge of perdition. I shall first attempt
manner, how frail yon are, and to show how this ltth<trgy is produced.
that there is but a step between you and
As there is a two-fold method of prodeath. You have seen that benevolent oc- ducing slumber for the body, so also for
cupation, even within the precincts of the the mind. The former is the natural effect
sanctuary, cannot preserve you from the of ahundani toil and lalniur : and the
shaft of death; and that one who came to second is by the infiuencc of deadly opiates.
the house of God to impart knowledoe to Man gains sleep either by the fatigue of
others, whose feet stood on tlie threshold of nature, which demands it, or by the
the sanctuary, just ready to approach to the narcotic influence of drugs, which conaltar of God, was not secure, even there, strain it.
Let me speak, then, of those abundant
from that stroke which shall ere long
level in the dust every one that now hears labours that wrap you in spiritual slumme. Who may be next summoned at the bers. The labours and cares of the world
bidding of Jehovah, God only knows: occupy you from hour to hour: you rise
whether he who speaks, or those who are in the morning, and hurry to your famicongregated to hear. But this we know, lies, your warehouses, and your oflices;
that admonitions, such as are contained in there the cares and claims of business
our text, become doubly necessary under occupy the day ; and after the excitement
such a providence; and if we seek not and the anxieties of worldly business,
instruction from such an event, we shall you are ready to say. Well, I have no
pentance.
etrikinof

be guilty of strange neglect; indeed, of time for religion. The Bible is neglected,
and if the word of God, prayer is restrained, the sanctuary is forcriminal apathy
and, even on the Sabbath day, it
illustrating his providence, and his provi- saken
dence giving weight and solemnity to his may be, that some of you forsake the
word, do not impress us 0, my hearers, house of Gotl with this apology, " I work
hard all the week, and I want a little
say what more can be done
Allow me, then, faithfully to address pleasure on the Sabbath day." Yes
you this evening, in connexion with this thus your abundant labours bring on a
solemn subject. 1 shall' notice frim the spiritual lethargy, and cause your soul to
text, first, THAT IT IMPLIES A DANGEROUS sleep. You so fatigue yourself by rising
HABIT THAT OF SLUMBERING. Secondly, up early and late taking rest; ye mothers
THAT IT ANTICIPATES AN AWFUL EVENT
and mistresses, by asking yourselves,
THE COMING OF THE MaSTER UPON THOSE What shall we eat, and what shall we
WHO SLUMBER. And, ihirdly, it commands drink, and wherewithal shall we be
AN immediate duty "Watch and pray, clothed ? ye masters, by asking yourlest the Master, coming suddenly, find selves how you shall get wealth, how
you shall prosper in your lawful calling;
you sleeping."
In the first place, I observe, that our that ye drown the consciousness of etertext supposes a dangerous habit of nity in the things of time and,
slumbering.
" Let Christ, and grace, and glory go,
"If he sleep, he shall do well," said
To make your lands and money sure."
:

the disciples to Jesus, concerning their

friend Lazarus. David said, " God giveth
to his
that,

beloved sleep."

"The

sleep of the

sweet." How, then, can we speak of it

as a dangerous habit] My brethren, you
perceive at once that it is not of bodily
repose, but of spiritual slumber, that our
Jesus refers to that mental
text speaks.
lethargy by which so many of our fellow
creatures are lulled; and in which, I fear,

some of you

Is not this a

solemn, but a faithful repre-

And we know sentation ] Do you not thus yield to a

labouring man is slumbering lethargy, and forget God, and

are slumbering on the very

heaven, and hell, amidst the bustle and

turmoil of earthly things?
will tell

me

know you

that I cannot understand the

know

claims of business, and that

what

fearful whirl

it is

to

pool that

is

metropolis,

embark on the

do not

rushing round this mighty

and which makes all who

embark upon

it

dizzy and unconscious

NECESSITY OF WATCHFULNESS.

83

do know, that it shall profit a] dangerous delusion. Let me, therefore,

mail nothin;? if he sfain the whole world entreat you to avoid all unscriptural
and lose his own soul. \V hat can a man opinions concerning God, and not to be
Let me lulled into false security by any popular
give in exchangje for his soul 1
rather live in obscurity and privation; let nostrums concerning his mercy. O, there

But

this I

me rather die neglected in a workhouse, are fancied specifics m morals as well as

and have the smile of God upon my in medicines, which are recommended to
brow, when the sweats of death glitter mankind as the things that cure an unthere, and enjoy the ministrations of an- easy conscience, but which drown it in
gels to waft my spirit from the transient unconsciousness. Let me charge you not
scenes of this life loa blessed immortality,
rather than grasp all the world can give,
and die without the friendship and ihe
benediction of

But

God!

another mode by which

slumber, and that is by the use

there

men seek

is

of deadly opiates.

believe narcotics are

supposed to diminish the animal sensibility, and to suspend the nervous influence,
and so to superinduce sleep. Now, it is
very certain that there are moral opiates
which lull the minds of men under a religious stupor; which allay their susceptibility of impression and feeling; which, in
fact, if we could give them words, would
say, " Peace, peace," when there is no

to

be led astray. Read the Bible

selves, and take heed that

for

your-

you cry

not,

" Peace, peace," if there be no peace

"for there is no peace, saith my God, to
the wicked."
There is another class of moral opiates,
which consists nf false opinions of ourselves.
Individuals argue from their circumstances they say, " God threatens
evil upon the wicked, but I have gjne
on ; I am not plagued as other rr-en, I am
:

not in

trouble

like

other

healthy, prosperous, and rich

am

surely

God

men
;

would not bless me, if he were indeed so

angry with me he would not prosper me
if his indignation was raised against me
peace; which sa}', "Peace and safety," from day to day." But this is arguing
when sudden destruction cometh upon altogether on one side the statement of
them. Let me speak of a few of these the divine word. The Christian dispen;

sation has never exhibited temporal pros-

things.

There are the false noiinns of God perity as an evidence of the divine favourwhich men entertain. They think that Temporal piosperity is designed as a test
as the stewards of the
of your fidelity,
he is altogether such a one as themselves

that he is as short-sighted as they are;

that he
is

as careless as they are; that he

is

as changeable as they are; that he

as indolent as they are.

think of

God

they do

but they say, "

thus, they

is

who is
prosperity, may

that individual

poral

and, therefore,

blessed with tem-

be ulling up the

uttermost by the
would not act as use of that very prosperity which he
If they did not

Tush

God

will

he will not punish ; he will

change his mind he is very merciful he
will not pour wrath to the uttermost on
Thus they cherish false
the guilty,"
notions of God, and dream that he will act
inconsistently with that character which
was, and is, and will ever continue to be,
not regard

manifold grace of God

measure of wrath

thinks

Let

is

me

in the

a token of the divine favour.

entreat you, then, not to indulge

God has
God regards

imagination that, because

prospered
you.

to the

righteous
riches of

you, therefore,

" The little that a

sirs
man hath is better than the
many wicked." When Jesus,

no,

the Son of God, the darling of Jehovah's

you to heart, sojourned amongst men, his cirremember, that however much you may cumstances were humble, his appearance
Could
flatter yourselves that your favourite no- mean, and his condition lowly.
tion of God is the correct one
yet, if it you have seen him, on your principles,
be not derived from this inspired book, you could not have supposed that he was
No; he
the only fountain of true knowledge con- the beloved Son of the Father.
was a poor, persecuted, afflicted man;
cerning God, you are awfully mistaken
aad that, to think thus of God, is a most but he was the heir of all things still.

the same.

Now,

let

me

entreat

TIIE BRITISH PULPIT.

84

Do

not imagine that God prospers you

because you are good, but rather inquire
whether he is not trying you by the prosperity that he gives. Remember that the
goodness, and forbearance, and long suf-

days have passed, they may fall beThere are some of

you, no doubt, who have been led to speor

neath their influence.

culate about the physical cause of the

and ask thyself, " Shall

death of our young friend but let me entreat you not to be led ofi'from the admonitions which the providence addresses to

God

you, by speculations respecting the physi-

fering of

against a

God

leadeth thee to repentance,

I continue to sin
so merciful and gracious ?"

The issues of death

and science often stands
they form of their own merit, and are abashed and confounded when she perdisposed to think that their moral quali- ceives that the vital spark has fled, and
Let me entreat
ties are such as must commend them at cannot assign the cause.
This is an evil which is you, therefore, not to indulge in imagined
once to God.
charged on one of the Asiatic churches: security, but to feel that between you and
"Thou sayest I am rich, and increased death there is but a step. We sometimes,
on board a vessel at sea, have heard the
with goods, and have need of nothing
and knowest not that thou art wretched, waters, as it were, rushing against our
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and pillow and the thought, that there were
naked." O, my friends, do not think you but a few inches of oak between us and
ait rich, but as you have the true gold ; eternity, has pressed upon us. But, sirs,
that you are increased in goods, but as you let me remind you that, whether on sea
have the treasures of divine grace ; or that or land, there are but a few delicate memyou need nothing, but as you have the branes between you and eternity the vital
friendship of God, and all the stores fluid, which pursues its course through
which his omnipotent grace supplies. our veins, is kept there by a substance so
Latter not yourselves with such mis- thin and delicate, that even our emotions
and then our spirits are
taken opmions; they will soothe your may break it
souls into a fatal security, from which launched into eternity.
O, then, let me
you may only wake amid the dread reali- entreat you not to yield to the imagined
ties of the eternal state.
yecurity by which these slumbers are
Thus have I spoken to you of this dan- characterized
gerous habit of moral slumber, and shown
Then this slumber is also distinguished
you how it is produced. Let us notice, in by delusive dreams. Sleep is the time for
the second place, how it is characterized. dreams. You find you have often waking
There must be an imagined security. dreams, produced by the moral lethargy
For who would compose himself to sleep which oppresses your souls. Do you not
Who would fancy joys that you never realize] imaif he really felt in danger]
yield himself to repose, if he knew that gine pleasures that you never obtain ] Do
in his house there were burning ele- you not pursue idle fancies, and delusive
ments, ready to burst into a flame]
or, speculations ] My friends, let me entreat
that its foundations were tottering, and you to hear the voice of God
It is high
that the building would soon be in ruins ] time that you awake out of your sleep,
or, that an assassin was lurking near that these visions of your fancy should
his bed, and at a secret hour would burst pass away, and that you should realize
And so, my brethren, the man your condition, and see where and what
forth ]
that yields himself to this moral slumber you are.
This spiritual slumbering is characdoes not think himself in danger. As Dr.
Young emphatically says, " Men think all terized also by a. death-like inserisibility.
men mortal but themselves." They speak Individuals are buried, as it were, in a
of diseases and dangers, but they feel not deep sleep. It was by such a sleep as
that the seeds of death are putting forth this that Saul was enwrapped, when he
It was
their poisonous fibres within their own lost the skirts of his royal robe.
vitals ; and that, perhaps, ere a few weeks by such a sleep as this that Samson was
Individuals are disposed to lull their

consciences also, by the notions which

cal

cause of death.

are from

God

NECESSITY OF WATCHFULNESS.
held in Delilah's lap, when the fatal
shears were applied to his locks. It was
in

such a sleep as this that Sisera lost his

when the treacherous nail entered

life,

into his temples.

my

And how can you

say,

85

approach of Christ by death. For, though

it may he said that Christ does not come
he comes

to us literally at death, yet

us by his messenger

to

and, as the magis-

trate is the representative of the king, so

you are in- death comes to us as a messenger from

moral sleep, you also our God and Saviour. He kills, and

friends, but that, while

dulging in this
may be betrayed. ^ly dear friends, it is
the duty of Christian ministers thus to
speak to you; though you sleep; though
you turn on your couch, and say, "A little
more sleep, a little more slumber, a little more folding of the hands to sleep
Why do you disturb us 1 Why do you
call us thus early to the consideration of
When the angel
the duties of the day ?"
I

makes

alive ; he command? death to

and with him are the ssues of
life ; and at his girdle are the keys of the
invisible world, and of death.
And this
general use I am making of the passage

he

arrest us

IS

further justified to

my own

by the thirty-seventh verse

conscience

" And what

his visitation of individuals and communities by calamities ; as we find, in the

!"
I say unto all. Watch
concerning this matter, we have
to say, 1st, that its season is most uncertain. Our text tells us that we know not
when the Master comes ; a^ oven, from six
o'clock till nine; or at midnight, the second watch, from nine to twelve; or at
the cock-crowing, from twelve to three
or in the morning, from three to six.
There is no knowing at what hour he
may come for you obseive there are four
periods spoken of in one night, to impress
us with this conviction, that the season
may not be very distant, though the hour
is most uncertain. Now, do not speculate
I entreat you not to speculate about the
probability of an old age that you may
never see; about the stable nature of your
constitution, which you may never realize.
have often seen the strong man most
unexpectedly bowing himself; and therefore I entreat you, my friends, with all
affection, to remember that the season of
your dissolution is most uncertain. Your
sun may go down, young man, ere it has
arrived at its meridian height.
Your
sun may set, busy and active man, while
and the darkness
it is yet meridian day
of eternal death may succeed all the
brightness and glory of your summer's
noon. Remember that Jesus has said,
" Be ye also ready for in such an hour
as ye think not the Son of Man cometh."

third chapter of Revelations, he said to

the church at Sardis, " Remember, there-

2dly,

went

to the prison of Peter,

wrapt

apostle there,

in

he saw the
and he
;

sleep

smote him with his rod, and the apostle

arose and followed the angel forth to dayBut how often have
light and liberty.
the ministers of God smitten you, with
the rod of his word, and cried to you,
" Awake thou that sleepest Arise, and
!

upon thy God!"

But you have
slumbered on, and the slumber may
peradventure continue, till you awake in

call

perdition.

Let me, in the second place, entreat you

TO ANTICIPATE THE AWFUL EVENT TO
WHICH OUR TEXT REFERS THE COMING
OF THE Master to those who are
ASLEEP.

This parable was addressed by our

Lord primarily to his disciples; intimating that he was going to heaven, and
that he left to them, and to the ministers
that might succeed them, the government
and that he entreated all
of the church
;

his servants to be diligent and watchful,

coming. The
used in a three-fold
sense.
It refers to his own appearance at
the judgment, when he shall come a
second time without sin to salvation to

and to be prepared
coming of the Lord

for his
is

how

say unto you,

Now,

We

As

the season is most uncertain, so,

its

suddenness

is

very probable.

we

Our

watch at all
and hold fast, and repent. If, therefore, times, lest, coming suddenly, the Master
thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as find us sleeping. I wish it most distinctly
a thief, and thou shalt not know what to be understood, that I do not regard
hoar I will come upon thee :" and to the sudden death, in itself, as a mark of the

fore,

thou hast received and heard,

text intimates that

are to

THE BRITISH

86
olivine displeasnrt.

Aesirable

lliat

all

It

PULPIT.

would not be very be answered with the

Christians should die

suddenly, btcauac the world would then

be deprived of a most edifying scene, the
close of the Christian's life, and his calm
and joyous anticipation of the coming of
But sudden death, as it regards
Christ.

stern reply,

an account of thy stewardship

" Give

thou may-

My dear
be said to you to-night.
Ere the
O, realize such a surprise
morning comes ; no Christian friend near

est

longer steward."

be no

friends, this

may

you
no opportunity of calm reflection
0, given you; but one convulsive deadly
rushes to your
at once to be absent from the body, and pang seizes your heart
to be present with the Lord to escape all head; the cords of life are broken; and
the languishing of sickness; all the wea- your spirit, naked and unprepared, is
O,
risome nights that are endured through the found in the presence of your God
successiv? stages of a protracted disease; my friends, realize the solemnity of such
all the humiliating circumstances attendant an event! be admonished by a voice from
upon growing infirmity ; all the sorrows the tomb of our departed young friend,
which accompany the parting scene; all " Prepare O, prepare to meet thy God !"
My
Then let me, in the third place, notice,
the terrors incident to dissolution
brethren, it would be a blessed thing for that OUR TEXT COMMANDS AN IMMEDIATE
us to go, if prepared, as our young friend duty: '' IVutch for ye know not when
" Men
did, and on a Sabbath morning too; to the Master of the house cometh."
the Christian,

is

doubtless a blessing.

from th3 church on earth to the

church in heaven. But let it be rememstep

bered, that

solemn

we

if

are not prepared,

Was

visitation indeed

to Lot's wife,

when

her soul

it

it is

not so

felt its petri-

will praise thee,

when thou doest well

to

W'e commend the man who

thyself."

anticipates the time of trial, and provides

against

We

it.

admire

the

prophetic

prescience of Joseph, which led him to

prepare a store of seven years, against the

body f Was it not so to Nadab and

Abihu, when mortal fire anticipated the famine that was coming on all the people.
Was it not so to Ana- We go forth in the summer, and look on
fire of perdition]
nias and Sapphira, when their lie to the the little ants that are busy laying up
Holy Ghost brought on them a display stores for the winter; and we think it
Was it not so to supplies a lesson full of moral instruction.
of his divine power?
Herod, when, amidst all his royal pomp, But while we see that it is a very good
the angel smote him that he died ? thing to provide against the time of trial,
Remember, my friends, that death may we allow ourselves to be unprepared.
It found Abel " W' atch, therefore, lest the Master coming
surprise you unawares.
amidst the pasture scenes of the open suddenly, he find you sleeping." Now,
field; the royal Eglon, when seated the idea of a servant's watchfulness for
in his stately parlour to receive an em- the coming of his master, conveys two
Herod amidst the tri- thoughts: theirs/ is, that oi efficient preit found
bassy

fied

umphant pageantry

of a court

it

found paration

Sisera and Eutychus, wrapt in the un-

consciousness of repose and how it will

Look to it,
find you God only knows.
The
then, that it find you prepared.
Master comes suddenly. He who has
provided you with support who has given
;

the second

is,

that of constant

expectation.

me

you

to regard

an

preparation for the coming of

'he

First, let
efficient

entreat

Lord. A message was sent to the busy

king of Israel " Set thy house in order,
Let that
for thou shalt die and not live."
message come to you, and ask if you are
:

you your wages; who has afforded you

Do you inquire what
the means of improvement; he will come prepared to die.
perhaps suddenly, and say, " Give an preparation I regard as necessary ? No-

The wicked thing short of true religion repentance

and slothful servant will then be confused towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus
and alarmed " My accounts are not made Christ, with all the attendant graces
up, my balances are not struck ; I am not which God imparts with them, are essenprepared for his coming:" but he shall tial to our preparation for the coming of
account of thy stewardship."

NECESSITY OF WATCHFULNESS.
Let me press these upon you, my
" The times," said Paul, when
hearers.

God.

addressing a learned and interested audience,

" the times of this ignorance, God
winked at: but now he commandeth all
men everywhere to repent because he
hath appointed a day, in the which he
will judge the world by that man whom
he hath ordained; whereof he hath given
full assurance unto all men, in that he
hath raised him from the dead." Surely,

brethren, this

command

of

God

to

all

87

while it is called to-day; the

Cometh, when no man can work."
wise king of Israel long before
" whatsoever thy hand findeth thee
do it with thy might; for there
rne,

niirht

The
said,
to do,
is

wisdom, nor device, nor knowledge,

the grave whither thou

there are

some of you,

are in no

way

usefully

goest."

my

no
in

Now,

brethren, that

employed

for

God

and his church; you are not occupyinof

your time, talents, and influence for Gd
and your country as you ought; and you

must include say, " Well, when

have settled my
competency, and
to that repentance which is unto life; to have released myself from the burdens
that repentance which needeth not to be which now oppress me, then I intend to
repented of] I mean not that cold assent do this or that for the Lord :" and, lonuto a general confession, with which many before that period arrives, you may be in
are satisfied, acknowledging that they eternity
Let me, then, impress upon
have sinned and done wickedly; but go you the importance of serving God, and
no further. No; but I ask. Have you redeeming some portion of time for the
so felt your sinfulness, as earnestly to glory of Him who gave his Son to die
importune for pardon, and to crave for for you. And be not afraid of doing too
the mercy of God through the Lord .lesus much ; there are multitudes of people
Christ]
The apostle of the Gentiles who do far too little. When the laborious
exhibited that mercy in Christ to the Calvin was most energetic in the pulpit,
" All things are of in the study, and in the consistory, some
Corinthians, thus
God, who hath reconciled us to himself brother said to him, " Calvin, you work
by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the too hard." "What," said he, "would
ministry of reconciliation." And what is you have the Master come and find me
the subject of that ministry]
"To wit, idle ]" O, my friends, let it be our great

men, everywhere

yourselves.

to repent,

Have you,

then, been brought

business,

realized

that God was in Christ, reconciling the anxiety to be so busily employed for
world unto himself, not imputing their God, that, should the Master come sudtrespasses unto them ; and hath commit- denly, we might say, " Lord, at thy
ted unto us the word of reconciliation. bidding we leave the work we love, to
Now, then, we are ambassadors for live with thee for ever." Happy that
Christ, as though God did beseech you servant, who, when his Master cometh,
by us, we pray you, in Christ's stead, be shall be found so doing!
ye reconciled unto God." This, brethren,
Our text, when it exhorts to watchfulis the great business to which we, as the ness, implies, secondly, constant expectaministers of Christ, have to address our- tion.
We know not when the Master
selves, "beseeching you, in Christ's cometh.
You say to your servant, " On
stead, to be reconciled unto God ;" to such a night I exp^ei to return from my
seek for pardon through his atoning journey; do not go to rest, for the hour
sacrifice; to ask for grace through his of my arrival is uncertain." The servant
effective intercession.
Nor can we omit watches; coach after coach arrives; he
to name, as another part of an efficient knows not how soon you may come, and
preparation, that devotedness to our Mas- therefore he has the house ready, the
ter's service and cause, which the New usual comforts prepared, and vigilantly
Testament plainly enjoins upon all his awaits your return. This is the idea of
Our divine Master himself the text, and it calls for constant expectafollowers.
has set an example to his followers of tion of the coming of the Lord. O, my
this self-consecration ; for he said, " I brethren, I pray God that this feeling
must work the work of him that sent may be more present with us all, and

THE BRITISH

88

we may be willing to die at our

Master's summons
Thus Aaron was
that

told to o;o up to

mount Hor, take

sacerdotal robes, and die

off his

and he went

up without a murmur. Thus Moses ascended Pisgah's height, and breathed out
his spirit there, at the command of God.
Thus Job waited all the daj's of his
appointed time, till his change came.
Thus the aged Simeon said, " Lord, now
lettest thou thy servant depart in
for

peace

mine eyes have seen thy salvation."

Thus

the youthful Stephen cried, " Lord

Jesus, into thy hands

Thus

commit my

spirit."

the devoted Paul could say, "

now

am

ready to be offered, and the time of

my departure is at hand" " I am willing
not only to suffer, but to die for his name's
sake."
This constant preparation for

death,

mind

my

brethren,

is

a blessed state of

PULPIT.

their loss
to

you,

if

heaven
apprehension that they have gone down
to perdition, would be an affliction under
which nothing but extraordinary grace
could sustain you. I, therefore, solemnly
entreat you to care for the spiritual welfare of your children.
Remember that it
should ever lie near your heart. You
have nurtured them from infancy educated them in childhood and youth; have
introduced them into business; and now
you anticipate their connexions, and talk
!

ful

of their settlement in life

their mortality

" If sin be pardon'd, I'm secure

familiar wilh our

was

but

realize

All these things were

young

friend

a business, prospects, and

she had

a lover, and

anticipating her settlement, dreaming

of long years of pleasure

went down

but in an in-

chambers of
0, then, my friends, do not
make that a secondary which ought to be
the first concern
Do not say, " When my
children grow older, they will be more
steady; they will be more prepared to
stant she

would be comparatively nothing

you knew that they had gained
But to lose them with the fear-

to the

the dead.

Death has no sting beside

sin its damning power,
But Christ the ransom died."
.

The law gave

Thus, my dear friends, have I opened listen." You know not what a night may
you the thoughts which this solemn bring forth ; this night their souls may be
providence, and this impressive subjwt, required of them.
Appeal, then, to your
have suggested to my mind. But before children ; say to them, "You know that I
I sit down I must distinctly address my- love you, that I have sought your best
self to different classes in this assembly. interests, and have supplied you with all
First, I must address the numerous pa- that parental affection could grant consistrents of rising fcnuilies that are now in ently with parental obligations
as you
the presence of God, Our bereaved friends love me, then, take my advice, and seek
know too well that 1 deeply sympathize first the kingdom of God and his rightwith them in the solemn providence eousness." Charge them, while they are
which has taken away the delight of yet young, to seek the Lord God of their
their eyes at a stroke, to suppose that fathers, that the angel of the covenant
what I address to other parents is intended who hath guided and blessed you all
to afflict their ersonal feelings.
Let me, your life long, may also bless them.
therefore, enrreat you to remember that it Thus may this solemn providence create
is your first duty to seek after the spiritual a concern in the minds of parents for the
welfare of your own children.
Nothing young people of their households, and let
can cause a greater anxiety to godly them become the interpreters of God's
parents, when a child has been suddenly will in this awful providence speaking
removed, than the inquiry, Was he pre- home to the heart.
pared to go ? And as the lives of our
To the young people of this congregation
children are as frail as the life of our de- I most affectionately address myself. My
parted young friend, and may be removed dear young friends, it is obvious that a
as suddenly, I charge you, before God, youthful healthy frame, sprightliness of
that you make it a prayerful duty to talk disposition, and buoyancy of natural temto

form no security against the attacks

individually and alone with your children,

per,

about their preparation for eternity.

of death.

0,

Our young

friend attired her-

NECESSITY OF WATCHFULNESS.
self last

tomed

Sunday morning with her accus- break off our sins by righteousness, and
came down to the breakfast consecrate all our powers to his service.

care,

My strength is exhausted, and I fear

table with her accustomed cheerfulness,
charged her sister to make haste, hurried your patience may be wellnigh spent.
to the post of duty in the adjoining school- Let, however, my text abide in all your
room, took her place at the head of her hearts: if nothing else is remembered,
" Lest the Master, coming
class, found herself a little faint, went to recollect this
May He,
the door, and there fell, and, as 1 believe, suddenly, find you sleeping."
immediately expired. O, how little did who can address not only the ear, but the
she think, when in her chamber dressing heart, arouse your minds to duty, and
that morning for the sanctuary, that she speak to you in accents of peace ; lest, ere
Let me long, }'ou hear his voice, as in accents of
should return to it again no more
entreat you, my dear friends, not to leave thunder, saying, " Depart from me, ye
your chamber any morning without bow- workers of iniquity !" INIay God com
ing the knee before God, lest peradventure mand his blessing! Amen and amen.

you go not there again.

Let

me

speak

Sabbath-schools,

of your

care.

to

you, ye teachers in the

to the dear children

THE IMMORTALITY OF TUE

and

This

is

SOUL.

Christianity affirms our future

a most admonitory

exist-

providence to you. God, by this awful ence its postulate. It is not the revelation
visitation, has come into the midst of of the fact, but a description of its nature,
you, and exhorted you, with renewed and a provision for its beatification. And
emphasis, to work while it is called it is for him who impugns "the word of
to-day.
Do not, then, allow any subject life," still to bear the burden of his own
The only differto preclude from your attention the great immortality as he can
the sal- cnce'between him and his fellow travelobject you should keep in view
towards eternity is, that he has
It lers
vation of the souls of these children.
!

thrown away the torch and the staff,

which the others acknowledge to encatechisms, and texts of Scripture; but lighten and help them. The argument
they must have a spiritual understanding, must rest with the infidel he must prove

is

that
well that they read the Bible
minds are stored with hymns, and
;

their

them. that man is not immortal for this is the

Let them, then, be impressed by your obligation on any one who sets himself in
earnestness, your importunity, your tender defiance of general consent.
Now, whatever is, may still be a body
and affectionate appeals constrain them
to feel that their teachers are in earnest impelled into motion continues in motion
about religion, and are determined, by the and the presumption is, that man, who at
blessing of God, that they shall love reli- present exists, will always exist, unless
gion. You, my dear children, who are in the strongest reasons can be opposed. Is
to

make

these truly beneficial

t<>

the class over which our departed

friend

young

presided, are especially addressed

I hope she was

you; that she directed you
to many solemn passages of Scripture,
and entreated you to love the Lord while
you were young. Remember that she
has gone to her account, and that soon
you may have to follow her. How awful
will be the meeting of teachers and scholars, pastors and people, at the bar of
We have reason to pray that God
God
would forgive our iniquities ; that he
would give us grace to serve him with
newness of life that henceforth we may
Vol. IL 13

by

this

faithful

providence.

to

such a contrivance likely to perish 1 And

he continue to exist, should not his
being, as it advances, become more grave 1
Extricated from its littleness of pursuit,
and disciplined of its frivolity in taste,
is not his immortality the pledge of a
more solemn state of things'? Can the
grub of time be the butterfly of eternity ]
Death will, however, be urged as the
if

palpable extinction of the being.

man

But no
atom

will assert that then a single

of the body is destroyed.

The

organic

structure is altered; fibre and fluid are

decomposed

the whole enters into

combinations, but not a particle

h3

new

is lost.

THE BRITISH

90

Why

may

soul?

It

PULPIT.

not the same be true of the immortality for man, let the skeptic atwas held by the body; the tempt to vindicate the character of his
body has been affected by mechanical God. It cannot be denied that it is the

causes which could not reach the soul

fervid aspiration of our nature, that the
the soul has become disengaged.
Many cessation of being is regarded by us as
changes took place in that body through the greatest possible infliction, and that
life, and yet the soul was the same.
And each yearning of our bosom disposes us to
to the last, amidst the wreck of its corpo- "give all that we have for our life."
real vehicle, how often does it triumph! Something of this feeling, we admit, may
I speak not of the hero, the martyr, the have been benevolently given, though
patriot who kisses the block, the chief death were the last scene of all, as a
who chants the death-song but of one precautionary instinct, that we might
;

whose springs of

life

vigours spent.

are shivered, and

prize and guard so important a deposit.

There a lambent

But this is a nobler tending of our being.

and damp of It cannot bear that its garner of affections,
death can extinguish. There a might and its treasure of purest delights, shall,
puts forth itself, victorious in that grasp, in a moment, be crushed.
It cannot
beneath which all things wither. And endure that its high studies, and wonderhave we not witnessed the holy spectacle ] ful acquirements, shall be instantaneously
the mind rising in majesty, while all its blotted into night.
It cannot brook the
barriers were falling from around it!
It sudden transition from the intellectual
And yet
is then greatest when it might be ex- soul into the sleepless clod.
then freest when it the theist must conceive that the Deity
pected to yield
might be expected to waver; then boldest has raised tliese hopes to crush them, and
when it might be expected to shrink! taught men to ascend a mount, whence
" Death is thus a spontaneous act, a they might descry the boundless prospect,
more ardent prayer of the mind."* Are that they might die on that mount. And
not, then, the probabilities strongly in thus represented cruel to man, he is defavour of the soul's independence and scribed as equally unjust to himself.
indestructibleness ] And should a desire His creatures, made capable of underbe felt to confuse the properties of matter standing him, are perplexed with his
and spirit, of which the hnman being, in conduct, but confide in its destined explahis present state, is compounded, we nation.
They have only seen "a part of
shall again remit the disputant to the Him." They have heard but a passage of
common sense of mankind. All allow an infinite history, and beheld but a scene
them to be as different things, as differing of the eternal drama. They " wait the
and inconvertible properties can prove great teacher Death, and God adore."
them. And whatever physiological hardi- But while their spirits are wrapt in
hood has dared, we wait with perfect anxiety, they perish in the suspense!
composure for it to prove that man is a Ready to burst into the song of wonder,
mere machine; that intellect is the result love, and praise, their lips are sealed in
of organization and a modification of mat- endless silence
that
Let, then, the unbeliever consider his
ter, most subtilized and alternated
thought is an effect of refined substance case. He is hastening to judgment
He
and arrangement, even though it will will soon enter into eternity. His reallow, that no more of grossness enters jection of Christianity does not, in the
into its nature than into the effluvium of slightest degree, alter these laws of his
a rose, and the tone of a vibration. And being. For him there is no pause, no
if soul and body be such foreign essences, choice. He is borne resistlessly forward
how can it can be supposed that they are however his spirit may recoil, his step
subject in themselves to the same acci- cannot. Each moment, each pulse, testifies his progress.
He is always accountdents, or perish by the same fates'?
And on the supposition that there is no able, and shall live always. Rev. R.
Hamilton.
* De Stael.
all his

fire

plays,

which no

chill

SERMON

VIII.

THE INFLUENCE OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.*

BY THE

RT. REV.

JOHN JEBB,

LATE BISHOP OF LIMERICK.

Know
death

ye

vp from

Rom.

not, that so

therefore,

many

of

rts

as were baptized unto Jesus Christ, were baptized into his

we are buried with him by baptism,

the dead,

into death

that like as Cftrist

vms raised

by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of

life.

vi. 3, 4.

"If we have been

planted together in

the likeness of Christ's death," says the

"

apostle,

we

shall be also in the likeness

of his resurrection.
Christ,

we

we be dead with
we sliall also live

If

believe that

with him. Let not sin, therefore, reign

your mortal body ; but yield yourselves unto God, as them that are alive
from the dead. Reckon yourselves to be
dead, indeed, unto sin, but alive unto
God, throuorh .Tesus Christ our Lord.
For then, being made free from sin, and
become servants to God, ye shall have
your fruit unto holiness, and the end
in

which the church

has adopted from Saint Paul and, by the
lips of her ministers, has this day solemnly delivered to her children. Language peculiarly accordant with the spirit
and design of this great commemorative
festival.
For, it were in vain to celeis

Christ.
the
first

If,

power of

therefore,

experience

sufferings

the language

not,

we would know
we must

his resurrection,

and

the
if,

fellowship

of

his

we would
kingdom, we must

at the last,

inherit his victorious

everlasting life."

Such

day at least have dawned,

and the day-spring have arisen in our
Christ, indeed, has died for our
hearts 1
offences, and risen for our justification.
But to us, it will be only aggravated condemnation that Christ has died, except
we be made conformable to his death.
To us, it will be no more than accumulated wo that Christ has risen, except in
spirit and affection we also be risen with

less to us the

merely through the chinks and crelife, amuse our fancy

vices of a worldly

with the dim perspective of a reversionary heaven. It must, on the contrary, be

our great aim and purpose, by the imitation, and through the grace of our blessed
Lord, in self-denial, in self-conquest, in

brate the death and resurrection of our

self-possession, in the love of high and

be our serious

heavenly objects, and in the attainment

of pure and holy dispositions, to possess
an inward, and a present heaven ; the

blessed

Lord, unless

purpose

to

imitate

show

it

forth that death, and to

that resurrection, in

the whole

tenor of our lives and conversation.

It

is

usual indeed, on

this

day,

to

pledge, at once, and foretaste of that eternal rest which remaineth to the people

expatiate on the blessed hope of immor-

of God.
This doctrine is abundantly confirmed
more immediate concern, which demands our more by the sound and venerable words of our
immediate thought and care ] For how church liturgy. In the collect for the
could the most absolute assurance of im- vigil of this holy day, we are taught to
mortality be a source of real comfort, un- implore, " that, as we were baptized into
the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, so,
* Preached on Easter Sunday.
tality.

But

is

there not a

91

THE BRITISH

92
by

continual mortifying our evil and cor-

rupt affections,

him."

we may be

buried with

In the ordinance of baptism,

"immbly beseech

we

our most merciful Fa-

we, being dead unto

and living unto righteousness; and
being buried with Christ in his death,
may crucify the old man, and utterly

ther, to grant, that

sin,

abolish the whole body of sin."

exhortation, at the close of the

In the

same

of-

fice we are reminded, " that baptism

doth represent unto us our profession,

which

is, to follow the example of our

Saviour Christ, and to be made like unto
him that, as he died, and rose again for
us, so should we, who have been baptized,
die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness, continually mortifying every
evil and corrupt affection, and daily proceeding, in all virtue and godliness of liv;

ing."
truth,

And, as the summary of this great

we

are

briefly instructed,

in

the

church catechism, that " the inward and

spiritual grace of baptism, is a death unto
sin,

and a new birth unto righteousness."

But why do

thus revert to the

first

PULPIT.

and length, and depth, and height of that

solemn vow, promise, and profession,
which we have all made in our baptism ; which most of us have repeatedly
sealed and ratilled, in the presence of
men and angels every past infringement
of which, we are this day called upon to
acknowledge and bewail at the foot of
our Redeemer's altar and every requisition of which we are this day invited,
through the divine grace, and heavenly
benediction, henceforth and for ever to
fulfil
by the solemn dedication of ourselves, our souls, and bodies, to be a
reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto
;

God.
" Know ye not," says the apostle,
" that so many of us as were baptized
into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his
death ]" This engagement, it must not
be concealed, requires many things,
which, in this world, are habitually disregarded, if not systematically opposed ;
crucifixion of the flesh, mortification of
the body, discipline of the mind, subjugation of inordinate affections, extinction

principles of the doctrine of Christ, to

of vain desires, calm forbearance under

those obvious and familiar truths, wiiich

provocation, patient endurance of contra-

from earliest infancy have, been imprinted diction, and a constant watchfulness
on our memory, and which, in all reason, against excess, even in the most innoshould be no less deeply imprinted on our cent propensities of our nature. These
conscience and our hearts 1 To your- are truly difficulties. But it is not by
selves, my brethren, I would freely ap- shrinking from difficulties, that we shall
peal, in full assurance of a candid and become proficients in any valuable attainingenuous reply. Are these first princi- ment ; and least of all, in the attainment,
ples, these obvious and familiar truths, beyond exception or competition, the
thus deeply imprinted in your memory, most valuable and important, that service
thus indelibly engraven on your con- of God, which is perfect freedom. Never,
science, thus vitally operative in your in any one of his most gracious and atIf they be, no apology is need- tractive words, did our blessed Lord exhearts 1
The repetition tenuate or evade the first impediments of
ful for their introduction.
Poverof what we love and value is never pain- a Christian life and conversation.
But if, indeed, by the cares of this ty of spirit, penitential sorrow, spiritual
ful.
world, and by the deceitfulness of riches, hunger and thirst, a strait gate, a narrow
and by the desire of other things, the way, a yoke, a burden, a cross, a warimpression of these great truths be ob- fare, the amputation of a right hand, the
literated or impaired, (and whether they excision of a right eye, these he conbe not so obliterated or impaired, let tinually enjoined upon his disciples, as

your own consciousness bear testimony,)

indispensable prerequisites to purity of

then assuredly, my brethren, it is neither

it is, on
superfluous nor unseasonable
the contrary, our indispensable and im-

heart, to peacefulness of spirit, to the safe

enjoyment of

this present world,

and to

the final blessedness of that inheritance,

mediate duty in this holy place, and at incorruptible, undefiled, which fadeth not
this holy season, to consider the breadth, away ; now, indeed, reserved in heaven,

THE INFLUENCE OF

CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.

but gloriously to be revealed in the last prejudices,

if

principles, if propensities, if

tastes, if habits unfriendly to seriousness,

time.

and and uncongenial to religion, were not interwoven with the very fibres of society.
gion, we must unreservedly acknowledge. And thus interwoven, who does not feel,
Christ himself has announced them, has that compared with their disentangleAnd who shall presume ment and eradication, the intrinsic hardenjoined them.
to contravene his declarations, to abrogate ships of a Christian course are light and
Difficulties therefore, in religion,

especially in the

commencement

his laws'?

Let not, therefore, the

however, an important insignificant]
which men ex- crimes and follies of mankind be visited
the most part, and in upon the holy cause of Christianity. Let

It is,

of

reli-

truth, that the difficulties

perience are,

for

surmountable height, difficul- not the diseases of the patient be assumed

Nature is as an argument against obedience to the
ties of human manufacture.
How physic'an. Let not the wanderings of
rarely left to her own process.
frequently are the movements of Provi- the sheep be alleged to prove the cruelty
dence counteracted, and the Spirit of God of the great Shepherd, who, by all means,
resisted, by the conventional usages, the would restore them to his pasture and his
their least

unexamined maxims, and the unsuspected

fold.

pleasures of a thoughtless and contamiI speak not of the notorinating world ?

to

The

difficulty of religion

something

ourselves.

in

must be traced
It must espe-

ously profligate and openly profane. But cially be traced to the neglect or the mishow commonly, in families devoted nei- management of early religious instituIf the divine grace of baptism were
ther to extravagance nor dissipation, are tion.
the first affecting inquiries of children duly cherished and protected on the part
parents, then assuredly
silenced, and their earliest feelings of of Christian
devotion chilled, by the cold, repulsive,
intimidating answers of parents,

who

ab-

stain from all appearance of enthusiasm,

with far more trembling solicitude than
they abstain from all appearance of evil ?
And by the grave and prudent of this
world how carefully in after-life are all
graces, all accomplishments, all attainments of knowledge, all mysteries of wisdom instilled, infused, inculcated, with
the sole exception of the one supreme
imperishable grace, and accomplishment,
and knowledge, and wisdom, of an immortal and accountable being 1 Thus it is,
that with respect to the greatest of all

concerns, the ductile season of childhood,

Christ's yoke would be easy, and his burden light, to many of the rising generation.

Self-denial,

self-discipline,

self-

conquest, would then be habitually cherished, and cheerfully embraced, as the

means, not only of future blessedness,

And in keeping the
but of present peace.
very hardest of Christ's sayings, then
would there be reaped a rich reward ; the
reward of an approving conscience, of
home-felt serenity, of a free and filial ac-

God. Yes, my brethren, if

your children were formed by mild parental discipline, and nurtured by religious
education, and invigorated by the influence of steady, consistent, undeviating
good example if your domestic circles
were made what God and nature intended
them to be, domestic sanctuaries consecrated by cheerful unaffected piety, by
solid and substantial goodness, by generous and manly sentiment, by peace, and

cess unto

and the impressible period of youth, are

suffered to pass away unemployed and
unimproved.
For merely human purposes indeed, inferior faculties are cultiBut the greatest
vated and cherished.
faculty of all is utterly neglected and
abandoned that faculty, to which all the harmony, and mutual good will if, in
rest should be instrumental and subser- the natural and easy flow of conversation,
vient ; that faculty, which stamps immor- the deep truths of Christianity were
not magistality upon our nature; the faculty of familiarized and endeared
loving and imitating our Saviour and our torially imposed as a task, not controverGod. In such a world, so trained, and so sially debated as a system, but introduced
disciplined, it would be miraculous, if with unstudied gracefulness, and recom;

THE BRITISH

94

PILPIT.

at once to the taste, the judgment, and the affections, by a happy temperament of elegance, good sense, and
cordiality; if youth were thus early and
imperceptibly instituted in the principles
of happiness and virtue, drawn rather by
example than by precept, rather by experience than reflection, to regard our holy

who have

religion, not as a theory, but as a senti-

white robe of innocence,

ment, not as the austere and gloomy prohibitress of pleasure, but as a salient
well-spring of the most diversified, the

gation of the faithful.

mended

long been established

in

the

ways of holiness and virtue 1 God forbid ? For then how few could comfortably

approach

Such was not

of

table

the

Lord

the

the spirit or the practice of

the ancient church, in times even of her

At Easter, the newly

strictest discipline.

baptized, indeed, were presented, in the

also

were

forfeited

at

Easter

station

in

to the

congre-

But the penitent

restored

to

their

the church, and re-

most intellectual, the admitted to the communion of the sacred

enjoyment; then, mysteries. And, at this day, what is the
You
truly, many hardships would be mitigated, cheering invitation of the church 1
many obstacles surmounted, many impe- will hear it presently from the altar ; hear
diments removed. Then to crucify the it also, now from the pulpit. " Ye that
flrsh with its affections and desires, to be do trulj' and earnestly repent you of your
dead to all the vanities of this wicked sins, and are in love and charity with
world, to imitate the self-denying, suffer- your neighbours; and intend to lead a
ing Son of God, would be accounted, not new life, following the commandments of
a wearisome burden, but an inestimable (lod, and walking from henceforth in his
privilege.
Then would your children holy ways, draw near with faith, and
preserve the grace of baptism pure and take this holy sacrament to your comfort,
undefiled, increasing in wisdom as in and make your humble confession to
stature, and in favour with God and man. Almighty God."
This is our encouragement, a sober,
Then would your sons grow up as the
young plants; your daughters as the practical encouragement, to approach the
Let us not, howpolished corners of the temple. Then, mercy-seat of heaven.
No superin the deepest and most spiritual sense of ever, deceive our own souls.
the word, there would be no decay, no ficial sorrow for the past, no half-hearted

most
most

refined, the

inexhaustible

leading into captivity, and no complain-

ing in our streets.

Happy

are the people

resolutions for the future, can enable us

worthily to

approach

that

holy table.

Yea, blessed are The penitence which God requires, and

the people who have the Lord for their which alone he will scknowledge and
receive, must be deep, earnest, universal,
God!
Truly blessed are the people thus de- and morally eflncacious. It must be the
commencement of holy desires, good
livered from the bondage of corruption
whose advancement in religion is thus counsels, and just works. It must be folwho are lowed and attested, by a thirst after spidaily and hourly progressive
thus dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto ritual improvement, by a -pursuit of high
God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. and heavenly objects, and by a proficiency
To them, this day is, in reality, a joyful in all those Christian graces, which confestival ; uniting the calm remembrance stitute, and which adorn the Christian
of the past with the most glorious antici- character and spirit.
But who, it may be said, is sufficient
pations of the future; and affording the

who

are in such a case

comfortable assurance, that as their life

is now hid with Christ in God, so when
Christ,

who

is

our

life,

shall appear, then

shall they also appear with

I3ut shall

we

him

in glory.

confine the salutary influ-

for these things

Truly,

my

brethren, if

Scripture were silent on the subject, rea-

and conscience, and experience,

would loudly testify, that we are altogether insufficient of ourselves.
But Chrisson,

ence of this great festival to those who tianity enables us to add, that our suffihave inviolably kept their baptismal co- ciency is of God. From the diversified
venant 1 Shall we confine it, even to those and most instructive annals cf human

THE INFLUENCE OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.

nature, in

all

times, and under

all

dispen-

it is, indeed, unquestionable, that

should vainly attempt, by our own

sations,

we

mere strength,

to

sway

resist the

of a

bad habit, the force of a single

singrle

in-

ordinate desire, the incursion of a single

wrong

we

As

passion.

well, in truth,

might

plant our foot upon the shore, and say

unto

the

whelming ocean,

" Hitherto

shalt thou come, but no further

and here

waves be stayed."

shall thy proud

the raging of the sea,

still

human

For to
and the mad-

sion for us,

95

abundantly able and will-

is

ing to apply.
Therefore,
and earnestly desire to be

we

if

truly

made con-

formable to his life, and death, and resurand if from this desire we contemplate with the mental eye of faith,

rection

whole adorable character; in thus

we shall become what we

his

contemplating,

We

behold.

shall acquire, not a likebut a community of nature.

We

ness,

become partakers

shall
is

of that

mind which

in Christ Jesus, as really as the branch-

sap and nutriment

incommunicable prerogative of God alone. from the parent vine. Then we shall
With man, indeed, these things are im- dwell in Christ, and Christ in us; we
possible; but with God, all things are shall be one with Christ, and Christ with

ness of the

possible.
evil

He

can enable us to resist all

to fulfil all good.

he can enable us

By the working
may be planted
of Christ's
the

heart, are alike the

same

of his mighty Spirit,

we

together in the likeness

death.
Spirit,

By the working of
we may be planted

together in the likeness of his resurrection.

" Planted together

in

the likeness of

es derive their vital

With him we shall crucify the flesh.

With him we shall overcome the world.
us.

We

shall be planted together in the like-

ness of his death.

We

shall be planted

together in the likeness of his resurrec-

And

like as Christ was raised from

by the glory of the Father,
even so we also shall walk in newness of
tion.

the dead,

life.

This is the great practical object of

remarkable our holy faith. " In Christ Jesus, neither
words derive their best and only adequate circumcision availeth any thing, nor uninterpretation, from the language of our circumcision availeth any thing, but a
" I am the vine, new creature." " If any man be in Christ
blessed Lord himself.
ye are the branches. Abide in me, and I Jesus, he is a new creature ; old things
in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit are passed away ; behold, all things are
But what is this newness
of itself, except it abide in the vine, no become new."
more can ye, except ye abide in me. He of life? What is this new creature]
that abideth in me, and I in him, the same Saint Paul acquaints us, that " the new
Christ's death

his

planted in the likeness of

resurrection."

bringeth forth

much

These

fruit.

me, ye can do nothing."

For without
This is the

distinctive feature of Christianity.

God's workmanship, created in

works ;" and
"after God, he is created in rightis

Christ Jesus unto good

that,

are to imitate our Saviour Christ, indeed,

eousness, and true holiness."

be made like
imitation of Christ
from the imitation
Would we resemble

the

is

intrinsically differs

"

and

to

unto him.
of

a mere

But

mortal.

a wise and virtuous

He cannot alter our

and minds ; we must labour to
produce the resemblance for ourselves.
Would we resemble our Lord Jesus
Christ T Without him we can do nothing.
But by his own omnipotent energy, he
will accomplish our desire.
In the nature, the words, the actions, the demeanour and deportment of incarnate Godhead, there dwells an assimilative power,
which he who ever li veth to make interces-

fellow creature"?
.

We

man

hearts

And what

the source of this blessed renovation

We

are not under the law," says the

"but under grace." That

which not
merely conveys the knowledge of our
duty, but which graciously imparts the
power of performance. As many as receive the eternal and incarnate Word, to
them giveth he power to become the
sons of God
even to them who believe
same

is,

apostle,

we

are under a dispensation

on his name.

And how may we ascerBy obey?

tain our title to this character

ing, from the heart, that form of doctrine

which hath been delivered

to

us

by

feeling a cordial and affectionate persua-

THE BRITISH

96

PULPIT.

may

sion of Christ's nature and office, as our

hearts, in order that

friend, our benefactor, our instructer, our

whole of your external conduct.

our prophet, our king, and our

it

influence the

And

it

only so far as Christianity does actually

God ; and from that persuasion, by ha- live in your hearts, and pervade and anibitually resorting to him, on every emer- mate your whole lives and conversation,
priest,

is

gency, great and small, for guidance, for that you can either have comfort in the
strength, for support, for confirmation, in hour of death, or capacity for a blessed
the ways of God's laws, and in the works eternity.

Thus proceed-

of his commandments.

Apply your

and the fault will be entirely our own

if we do not thus proceed, we shall be
enabled to soar beyond the pitch of our
natural powers.
We shall prohibit sin
from reigning in our mortal body. We
shall no longer yield our members instruments of unrighteousness unto sin ; of

hearts then,

my

brethren,

and only wisdom.

And before you leave the house of God,
ask of him'who worketh in you, of his
own good pleasure, both to will and to do,
that even those among you who have
hitherto been least mindful of your true
happiness, may, from henceforth, be wise
We shall yield unto salvation. God, who heareth the
iniquity unto iniquity.
ourselves unto God, as them which are young ravens that cry, delighteth to be
We shall yield our implored for such substantial blessings.
alive from the dead.

ing,

members instruments

We

unto God.
sin.

We

shall

He

righteousness

of

shall be

this day, to this truest

made

free

become servants of

from

for

awaken

right-

eousness.

fore,

And now, my

brethren,

suflFer, I

entreat

you, a few parting words of exhortation.

By assembling here this day, you declare
and man)' of you
yourselves Christians
;

intend to seal this profession by the most

solemn attestation

power of man

which

to give.

it

is

in

the

In this discourse,

has been my earnest wish to imbody,

and present before you the vital principle
of that Christianity which you believe
and profess; a principle, without which
the most correct belief, and the most
plausible profession, is but as sounding
And I
brass, or as a tinkling cymbal.
would now beseech you unreservedly to
give your whole hearts and minds to that
inward spirit of religion, which, in our
blessed Saviour's own sense, is beyond
imaginable comparison, the one
all
THING NEEDFUL. If you liavc, to this day,
lived content with outward acts, and oc-

hath instituted this holy solemnity,

express purpose that it might

the

it

Feel, there-

this very solicitude.

my

brethren, as you ought to feel

and give vent to your feelings at the footWho,

stool of your Redeemer's table.
that is here present, can promise himself
This
another return of this festival ]
thought may well strike terror into every
But to him who from
negligent mind.
this day shall begin to live for God and
for eternity, what loss can it imply, what
terror can it bring'? Let our life be righteous, and death will be our gain. Let the
grace of God reign in our hearts, and we
shall be equally fitted for both worlds ;
fitted on earth to enjoy the blessings, and
to do the will of our heavenly Father;
but especially fitted for that great change,
which nothing can render supportable
but a spiritual conformity to the death,
and a spiritual participation

in the resur-

This con-

rection, of our blessed Lord.

I

formity, and this participation,

not here in vain,

we

are here

if

we

are

assembled

And if we implore it faithto implore.

Chris- fully, we may entertain a hope, not less
tianity must live in your hearts, before it rational than fervid, that "Almighty
can be efficacious in your lives. You God, who, by his special grace prevent-

casional observances, let there be, hence-

forward, an end of your delusion.

your ing us, doth put into cur minds good desires, will, by his continual help, enable
you shall appear to honour religion in the us to bring the same to good eflfect,
churches. Christianity must live in your through Jesus Christ our Lord."

mustdelight

to cultivate religion in

closets, or

will be to little purpose that

it

SERMON

IX.

PAUL'S REASONING BEFORE FELIX.

BY THE REV. WILLIAM AULD.

"

And

when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jeioess, he
and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteoustemperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered. Go thy way for this time;
after certain days,

sent for Paul,

ness,

when I have a convenient

season,

I will

call

for

thee."

Acts xxiv. 24,

25.

The office of the Christian ministry he " reasoned of righteousness, tempercannot be magnified too highly. It excels ance, and judgment to come;" and such
was the impression produced by all this,
every other pursuit of this busy world
in honour as far as heaven rises above the that, it is added, "Felix trembled, and
in importance as far as eternity said, Go thy way for this time; when I
earth
and in the awfill- have a convenient season, I will call for
stretches beyond time
ness of lis responsibility hey ouA the tongue thee."
There are three things suggested by
of man to tell, or the heart of man to
conceive. If, therefore, we, the ministers these words, which we shall endeavour
of religion, speak to you with authority, to bring before you. First, The manner
proclaiming with all faithfulness the IN WHICH Paul preached second, Thb
blessings of the gospel, or thundering forth TOPICS ON WHICH HE pp.EACHED ; and third.
all the terrors of the law, we entreat you The effect which his preaching om
to bear with us ; for to act otherwise, THE present OCCASION PRODUCED.
I.
Let us consider the manner or
would be dangerous to you, dishonouring
to God, and fatal to ourselves ; and wo the style of Paul's preaching on the
be unto us if we speak not the truth, the present occasion.
whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
He did not utter dogmatic assertions ;
And, in such a style of preaching, we what he advanced he supported by arguHe did not deal in vague declaare but imitating the example of Christ, ment.
of all the pro- mation he did not indulge in airy specuthe head of the church
phets that went before him, and of all the lations which might please, but not proLook to fit; he did not call to his aid the artifices
apostles that followed after.
the apostle in the case before us
his of rhetoric, in order to produce eifect;
body was in chains, but his spirit was nor did he labour to adorn his discourse
free ; though he stood at the bar of a with the embellishments of a gaudy elotyrant that could dispense life or death at quence, which, like the meteor's flash,
pleasure, yet he did not flatter, or fawn, might dazzle for a moment, but leave beor seek his favour, but, rising above the hind not a ray of light or of heat; he did
smiles or the frowns of man, he boldly not work up some pathetic story, or
pointed out his sins, warning him of his breathe forth the glowing descriptions of
danger; and, as an humble advocate of fancy, to touch the tender passions of the
the cross of Christ, he directed him along heart. No. His was a nobler aim than

which the that of the actor, merely to please the

mightiest prince, as well as the meanest ear, or draw tears from the eye. " He
beggar, alike must take. " He spake," reasoned," he addressed man as a rational
it is said, "of the faith in Christ," and
being; and his great object was to en-

that road to the city of refuge,

Vol. II. 13

97

THE BRITISH

98

PULPlT.

mind and carry conviction to Christ, it is just because the lessons of

True it is that until the the gospel are too simple, and its precept?
heart be moved, no good can be done
too pure for tlie pride of their unrenewed
and we grant that the feelings and affec- hearts. And on what occasion, we would
lighten the

the judgment.

man do occupy a prominent place in the religion that is from

above. But as in nature, so also it is in
grace
light must first be created.
It
would be like tracing figures on the sand,
to be effaced by the returning wave, if

ask. did ever our holy Christianity shrink

we

Every other

tions of the inner

excited the feelings of the heart with-

imparted knowledge to the head. That devotion which

is founded on ignorance will be superstition, and may answer well enough the
out having beforehand

back from the scrutinizing glance of thig

philosophy'? Every page of history can attest how it has always courted
inquiry: it asks nothing but justice; it
seeks no indulgence it craves no mercy.

worWs

religion

retires at

the ap-

proach of light
but just as the day of
science and of art draws nearer its meridian effulgence, the ("luistian temple ap;

pears the stronger in its foundations, and

purposes of priestcraft; but it the more majestic in its structure. And
can never be called a " reasonable ser- the farther you enter into its interior, and
vice," nor will it be accepted by Him the more closely, by the torch of reason,
selfish

who

forbiddeth " the halt, the maimed,

and the blii-id, to be offered in sacrifice."

Accordingly, the apostle laboured to
bring forward the principles of Christianity
its

to establish

doctrines

its

facts

to explain

its

to

defend

truths, and

up its evidences, whilst all his

"reasonings" on theso topics he made to
bear on the judgment. Knowing that if
the judgment were once convinced, then,
but not till then, the conscience might
be aroused, and the heart taken possesto clear

eion

you examine
and

its

will

the infidel king, exert

powers of his
might he call

all

the reasoning

highlj' gifted

mind

well

and
Greek and Jewish learn-

into exercise his rich

varied stores of

ing; the occasion befitted archangel better

than man.

He

of.

its altar, its divinity, its sa-

worship, the more clearly

you discover inscribed on all around
you, " The hand that made us is divine !"
Well, then, might the apostle, as he went
about Sion, and showed its bulwarks to

crifice,

reasoned.

This teaches us that he

the meavs. He did not,

some, leave the individual, as the
to reason about?
It is the religion of saying is, "in the hands of God," and
babes, not of men. It fits the dark ages look on as if he had nothing more to do
that are bygone, but not the present." In till "the period of divine visitation."
reply to such an accuser, we would say. On the contrary he bent his whole soul
Have you the presumption thus to decide to produce conviction and conversion in
on a religion that you have never exa- the mind of Felix, with as much earnestmined, or examined, like the spy, solely ness as if all depended on himself fully
with a view to find out faults'! True our aware that, as in nature, so also in grace,
religion is fitted for babes; and it is its nothing can be done without labour; and
greatest glory that a "wayfaring man, the more labour we bestow, the more reathough a fool, shall not err therein." But son will we have to hope for the divine
If then, my hearers, there is
this is also as true, that it affords scope blessing.
for the exercise of the loftiest intellect, any over whose wanderings you mourn,
and among its disciples it tells of a it will not be enough merely to wish their
Locke, a Newton, and a Bacon, who peace; it will not be sufficient merely to
paused in the midst of their inquiries to prny, even night and day, for the divine
exclaim, " O, the depth of the riches both mercy on their behalf; to your prayers
of the wisdom and the knowledge of you must add your exertions, and your
God !" And if but comparatively few of duty will but be half done till you meet
the great and the learned of this world them face to face, and ^^ reason" with
iiave hitherto bowed before the cross of them on those things that concern their

He

reasoned.

infidel,

"

is

But "what," asks the did not lay aside

there in the Christian religion

like

PAUL'S REASONING BEFORE FELIX.

You must

lernal peace.

them
the tender mercy
set before

99

world's guilt, and infinite digntiy to give

to his sufferings a requisite value and ef-

ihe value of the soul

of the Father the all-importance of the ficacy ; unless, w'e say, such a substitute
Redeemer's salvation ; you must press can be found, there is no alternative but
on their minds the evil of sin the vani- that man must bear the doom his guilt
ties of time
the unsatisfactoriness of has merited.
But where can such a sub-

the

world the awfulness

of a judgment-

stitute

]
Search among the fallAdam, but none such is there;
among the sons of the mighty

be found

day, and the dread realities of a coming

en race of

in short, you must use all the

arguments that Scripture and reason can
suggest, and with all the love, and all the
faithfulness, and all the prudence in your
power, urge these arguments on them, as
motives to seek the Lord ere it be too
late.
It is only by acting thus that your
prayers for your friends will be heard
and in no other way will you be able to
shake your garments free from their
blood.
So acted Paul when he stood

search

eternity

Such was the

before Felix.

around the throne above, but none such

there; search the wide universe, but

is

you

will find no created being in heaven, or

under the earth, able to open

" the book of salvation with the seven
seals."
But " weep not," says the gosin earth, or

pel,

"the Lion of

prevailed I" "

the tribe of .Tudah has

God

so loved the world, as

send his only begotten Son, that in his
life we might have an example, by hie
style of death a sacrifice for sin, and by his ascento

sion all power might be obtained to ben. Let us now consider what were stow blessings on our head." And, now
THE TOPICS ox WHICH HE THUS PREACHED. that our Redeemer liveth, there is in his
These topics are two -faith and prac- fulness a rich supply of all things necestice ; and what God hath joined together, sary for our welfare in this world, and in
Faith is here that which is to come and the blessings
let no man put asunder.

Paul's preaching.

men of every age,

only basis on which true and character, and condition even to the
practice can stand ; it is the only spring chief of sinners; and, in order to their
from which pure, heavenly, spiritual mo- enjoyment, we are called only to believe
put

first,

and practice

last,

and justly,

for

the

faith

is

rality

can flow.

in his

First, " he spake concerning ihefailli in

Chrisf

of his grace are free to

that

is,

the Christian faith, or

name

only

for the fulfilment

to trust in his

of his promise

word,

only

to

look up to him, with reliance on his power

which Christ is at and faithfulness, for mercy to pardon, and

once both the author and the subject. grace to help us, in every time of need.
Man, he would tell him, is guilty of Such is an outline of " the faiih in Christ,"
having violated the law. In consequence concerning which the apostle spake; and
the gospel scheme, of

down

of this violation, he has brought

upon himself the sentence of death

the

death of the body, the death of the soul,

and the death of both

would

it

Vain

for ever.

be (he would remind him) to

rely for deliverance on the general

of God, and vainer

still

mercy
hope

to build a

of pardon on his repentance for the past,

or

his

amendment

for the future.

The

the
large the

security of the divine government

if

we

are anxious about the welfare of a

single soul, let us

remember

that nothing

but this blessed gospel can ever prove

"the power of God unto salvation."

It

an important fact too important to be

here passed over that, for many long
years, the Moravian missionaries had laboured in Greenland, but all to no puris

pose.

They began by

instructing

the

ignorant natives in the principles of natn-

the
happiness of the world at
ral religion
the existence of God
the government
faithfulness, justice, and even goodness creation of the world
of God, call aloud for the punishment of of all things by a providence; but no

the transgressor.

neces- success attended their efforts. All was

can be found vain till they came to speak of Jesus:
of his own to offer, al- then their attention was arrested, and the

So great

is this

sity, that unless a substitute

possessing a

life

siighty power to sustain the burden of a

first tear

was seen

to trickle

down

their

THE BRITISH

100
cheeks; and then,

for the first time, their

PULPIT.

ror to those that do evil"

which before were cold as the ings

snows on whicli they trod, were warmed will
hearts,

or the

that the bless-

deep-drawn curses of a nation

fall on its ruler's liead, according as

with the rays of divine love ; and, at the he acts the father or the tyrant of his peosight of a crucified Redeemer, there then ple ; and, in fine, he would warn him,
arose, amidst the icy mountains of Green- that though a nation's curse should never
land, to the throne of the eternal, the visit him on the earth
though he should
song of " Moses and the Lamb." Yes, live and die amid the praises of his fiat
Christ crucified is the power of God tering courtiers yet, when he came ti
resign his crown to God, who gave it
unto salvation
But as the sick man will never send then there would be a reckoning accord
for the physician till he is aware of his ing to his deeds.
But were Paul in the midst of us
danger, so the sinner will never betake
himself to the covert of redeeming blood, though he would find no kings, yet there
are many with whom, and in like manner,
till he become sensible of his lost and
sinful condition.
The apostle, therefore, he would "reason of righteousness."
not only preached the gospel ; he also Most of us are engaged in the commercial
proclaimed the law. He conducted Fe- pursuits of life, and in all our bargains
lix, if I may so speak, along the foot of we are called to be just
in all our enSinai, that after having heard the thun- gagements to be faithful
and in all our
ders of a broken law, he might welcome dealings to do toothers as we would have
with greater gladness the peace-speaking them to do to us. Now, is there any who
voice of Calvary.
cannot open his account-books
who can"/Te reasoned,'''' it is said, "of right- not meet in the face those with whom he
eousness, temperance, and judgment to is connected in business
who cannot
" Righteousness," you know, lay his hand on his conscience, without
come.''^
consists in the observance of what man being reminded that he acts otherwise?
owes to man. No topic could be more Then to such we would say. You call
appropriate on the present occasion, for yourself a Christian, but to this name
Felix was notoriously cruel, and unjust, you have no title ; for he that taketh un
and oppressive in his government to due advantage over his neighbour is des
such a degree, that, at the complaint of titute of love; and it is written, " Who-

the Jewish

nation, he

Rome, where, with

was

recalled

to

soever loveth not his brother

is

not of

he escaped God." Nor will it in the least lessen

a sentence of perpetual banishment. No your guilt, to plead that these practices
doubt the apostle would lay before him are common in the course of trade, and
those duties that are incumbent on rulers. that without them it would be impossible
A lofty station in society, he would tell for business to be carried on ; for, howhim, does not tolerate those vices that ever lightly they may be thought of by
religion condemns, nor does it dispense men, they are all loudly condemned in
with those duties that religion requires the Word of God which commands us
in the hunriblest sphere of life
that, to " do justly, and love mercy."
And
though raised above his fellow men, yet aware of this, as you must be, how can
he that wears a crown, is but the servant you dare to supplicate the divine blessing
of the Lord of Hosts, whose laws he is on your unjust gains 1 or what peace of
bound to obey, and whose character, as mind can you expect in their enjoyment]
the world's governor, he is bound to imi- Perhaps on this point, however, you are
that the prince is not exalted to a easy, and think that all is safe, because
tate
throne, nor does he get his exchequer no human eye is upon you but have you
filled by the hard-wrought industry of his forgotten that all your ways are manifest
subjects, merely for the gratification of before that God with whom you have to
his ambition, or vanity, or lust, but for do, and in the presence of that conscience
And
the welfare of the community, that he that, ere long, will speak out]
may be a " praise to the good, and a ter- though here you may live a life of envied
difliculty,

PAUL'S REASONING BEFORE FELIX.

prosperity, yet hereafter

cape what

is

you cannot

written against those

who

" shekel great and the ephah

small, and falsify balances by deceit."

make

the

But, in reasoning of "righteousness,"

take a wider range than this.

we may

We are all
of

man

bound

members of the great family

and our poor brethren we are

to relieve, the ignorant to instruct,

the wretched to comfort, the benighted to

save.

And

is

there any

who, from

101

would address^ar?j/s, who of all the

rest have the most solemn duties to perParents, you have brought into
form.
the world beings that w'ill be happy or
miserable for ever; and, whilst you educate them for this world, affection, religion, and your baptismal vow, call on
you not to forget their education for the
next.
And do we address any who are
deaf to this calH We do not mean those
who, by their idleness and intemperance,

es-j ly, I

his

nothing for the leave their children unfed, unclad, and

starving family in his neighbourhood ] Is uneducated ; alas
these are seldom to
there any who can be arrayed in all the be found within the reach of a preacher's

abundant

table, can spare

and yet have voice it is those we mean who are careno compassion on the poor old man that fully training up their children in those
passes the window shivering in the blast ? habits of diligence, and regularity, and
Is there any who can sit by the blazing economy, which are necessary to fit them
fireside, and rest on a bed of down, and for the life which now is, but who never
yet drive from his gate, in the dark and once direct their attention to the life
stormy night, the houseless wanderer 1 which is to come ; in whose dwellings
Is there any who can come up to the the voice of prayer and the melody of
house of God on the peaceful Sabbath psalms are never heard, and who suffer
morning, and yet, when reminded of their children to grow up as if they had
those on whom no Sabbath dawns, and no God to serve, and no soul to save. With
to whom no sanctuary opens its gates, such, and we fear their number is by no
refuse to send the Bible and the mission- means small inour Sabbath assemblies, we
ary to cheer, and to instruct, and to save 1 are loudly called to reason of righteousWith such we would reason ; and we ness. Your offspring, let it never be forwould say to them, You are deaf to the gotten, are committed to your care to be
voice of humanity, as well as to the voice educated for God, and trained up for imof God. You show no mercy to your mortality.
You condemn the poor being
fellow men, and how can you expect, that neglects the temporal well-being of
since Scripture forbids it, mercy at the his family: he has, indeed, "denied the
You seem, too, faith, and is worse than an infidel ;" but
hands of your Maker
to have forgotten that all your goods, what name, appropriate enough, do you
fineries of fashionable dress,

temporal or spiritual, are but a loan intrusted to you, not for your benefit merely, but for the benefit of the human race.
And though this truth may be neglected,
nay, though it may be despised on the
earth, yet it will be acted on at the day
of judgment; and then it will be found,
that he only who has " visited the sick,
clad the naked, taken the stranger to his
house, given his bread to the hungry, and
a cup of water to the thirsty," shall receive the welcome, " Well done, good
and faithful servant!"
There are, however, closer and more
life, to which in
manner we may apply the rule of
righteousness I mean the domestic
and,
passing over all other members of a fami-

sacred relationships of

like

reserve for yourselves

The poor man

you thus reprobate what has he done?

Why, he has only starved the body of
his child he has only murdered the body
of his child, and perhaps brought that
body to an untimely grave. But what
have you done ? You have starved the
immortal part, you have murdered the
;

precious soul

nothing

and,

the

first

death

is

comparison of the second,

where all is weeping and wailing, and
" no more any sacrifice for sin for ever !"
O I beseech you to reflect! How will
you be able to leave behind you in the
hour of death your unrenewed and unsanctified charge 1 how will you be able
to gaze on their despair, when you meet
them at the place of judgment? and of
i3
!

in

THE BRITISH

102
wo, you will

flee farthest

from

the c rses of your children, you

will

all in outer

PULPIT.

would tell them, that of all the vices in

this wicked world there is none so small

seek the darkest corner of hell, and ther. in its beginning, so gradual and unperwill drink the deepest agony; and ceived in its progress, yet so destructive
as the cursed pass b}- they will point the in its consi (juences.
Not only does it
fingLT, and say, " Yonder is a murderer ruin the health, ruin the industry, ruin
a parent who murdered his child
a the fortune, ruin the character, ruin our
murderer of its soul .'"
peace, ruin our family, but what is far
But the second class of duties concern- worse, it weakens the memory, it darkens
ing which the apostle reasoned, was the mind, it hardens the heart, it stupifies
^^ temperance,'''' or
the right government the conscience, it unfits for religious duof the passions and the appetites
and ties, it makes its poor victim regardless
whilst righteousness respects those duties about the law of God and the opinion of
we owe to others, temperance has refer- men, it makes him unconcerned how he
ence to those duties we owe to ourselves. lives, and reckless how he dies. Say
Nor was this topic less appropriate than not, if we are speaking to any such, that
the former; for Felix not only was unjust it is but on rare occasions you go to exin his government, but also addicted to cess.
So said many whose prospects
sensuality and lust; and the woman call- were once fair as yours.
Once we reed " his wife" was one whose husband garded them as travellers to Zion
but
was still living, and whom Felix had now we weep to see how, step by step,
seduced from her conjugal allegiance. they have thrown aside all religion and
No doubt the apostle would remind him all decency, and now go about forsaken
that the " pure in heart alone can see of men, and, as it were, accursed of God ;
God," that nothing that defileth or work- go about like fallen angels that once
eth abomination shall stand in the pre- were glorious, and are left as beacons
sence of the Eternal.
Like John the amid the desolation of the waters, to
Baptist, when before Herod on a similar warn us of those rocks on which they
occasion, he would warn him that it was have made shipwreck.
Little may this
not lawful to have another's wife; and vice be condemned among men, and the
that " because of these things came the poor wretch as he staggers along the
wrath of God upon the children of dis- street may excite the laughter rather than
obedience."
the pity of the passers by ; but it is rankBut though, in the present audience, ed amid the vilest vices that darken the
there be none chargeable with offences page of Scripture ; and on the last page
of this sort, yet there are many other of revelation, among the last sayings of
crimes common amongst us, respecting the last prophet, just as he was leaving
which the preacher is often called to rea- the earth, he turned round and said, " The
son of " temperance." Is it not a fact, drunkard shall not inherit the kingdom

you

some that can come up to

God on the peaceful Sabbath

God."

Yes! he

that there are

of

the house of

heritance, hut

morning, scarcely recovered from the debauchery of the Saturday evening, and
who have the courage to take into their
lips that holy name which a few hours
before they profaned in their songs of
midnight revelry
Yes; these are still,
!

many instances, called Christians

they find little difficulty in getting their
children baptized, and, awful profanation
in

they are allowed to take into their hands

the bread and the wine of the holy sa-

it

though he thirst
wine as it stirreth

is

shall have an

in that place

for the

in-

where

wine, the red

itself in the cup, not a

drop of water shall be given to quench

his thirst.

There are many other characters with

in like manner we may reason of
"temperance;" but at present we have
only a few words to say to the worldling,
who, perhaps, in his character, comprises

whom

all

the rest.

lives in the

The worldling is one who

world as if he never were to

"With such we would reason, leave it. Amidst the bounties of Proviand with a kindly but warning voice we dence he never thinks of the giver ; amidst

crament.

PAUL'S REASONING BEFORE FEUX.

103

the fluctuations of time he gives himself shall be extinguished, and all nature be
dissolved ] Whitner has that spirit gone?
no concern about the approach of eternity
:

he lives as if he had no soul to

save, as if God and religion were all a
fable, as if there were no heaven above
and no hell beneath. Stopping such a
in short,

It

departed with the last breath; it has

above the horizon of things seen

risen

and temporal; naked and disembodied, it

has been ushered into the presence of the
one in his career of folly, we would say, Eternal, there to give in its account!
Here a law was given it, there it will be
be temperate in earth-born pursuits
make not tlie immortal soul the drudge asked how that law has been obeyed
of your body ; and, for the pleasures of a talents were here committed to its care,
short passing hour, barter not your eter- there it will be inquired what use wa3
made of them in this world a vineyard
nal peace.
Remember what you are
you are a being that shall never die. And was given it to cultivate, and in the next
whither are you going? to eternity! And the fruit will be sought for. And though
what preparation are you making for that the sinner here may escape the visitation
long journey] none absolutely none! of wrath though he may be praised by
True, you are never idle you are ever an unthinking world vhen he lives, and
" pulling down your barns and building be honoured by it when he dies, yet on
greater."
But what will this avail thee that day appointed for winding up the
in the hour that thy soul shall be required affairs of this earth ths sentence of men
of thee
Will it do away the terrors of shall be reversed, and th individual shall
the last enemy, or appease the wrath of receive according to his deeds. It is selHim that silteth on the throne, or open dom we think of that day that last day
that day of days.
for thee the gates of immortality 1
that day of the Lord
Ah
no.
As Johnson once said to Garrick, Yet on that day when the sinner's eyes
when the latter was showing him a fine shall be opened to behold the judgment:

"?

estate

"It

Yes

which he had lately purchased,

which renders death terrible."

is this
!

these

things will only aggravate

your doom, and increase your eternal

misery. Once more we beseech such to
be temperate in earth-born pursuits. Remember what you are you are a sinner
lost; and what, if you continue as you
are, you must shortly become
a sinner

lost, lost, lost

for ever

But the last topic, and which he employed as an argument to enforce his reasonings on righteousness and temperance,
was, " the judgment to come." It is obvious, from many considerations, that this
is but the infancy of our being.
Soon the
youngest in this assembly shall breathe

seat and

Him

that sits thereon, then con-

science, no longer asleep, shall speak in

thunders louder than the crash of falling

worlds, and more awful than the blast of
Then, it will
the archangel's trumpet!
recall to his mind the sabbaths, the sermons, and the sacraments on earth he hag
despised

and,

m.thinks,

things his thoughts will

among
revert

other
to

the

we are now met. And as

remembers how the preacher this day

wrapped

in

he
reasoned of " righteousness, temperance,
and judgment" to come, the voice of conscience will thunder in his ear, " You

knew your
And when

duty, but you did

it

not

!"

away from the judgment-seat, and when passing through the

his wide open gates of wo, and when lying
be down amidst the weeping, and cursing,

shroud
A day after that he shall
covered up in the dark coffin a few days
more and he shall be carried to the sepulchre of his fathers. But where all the
while has the spirit gone T it is the body
only that was wrapped in the shroud,
that was covered up in the coffin, that
was laid in the grave whither has that
;

place where

his last; then he shall be

and

wo

driven

that are there,

again, louder and

still

still

the

same voice

louder, shall pro-

claim in his ears, "

Y^u knew your duty,

not!" And when he sees
across the gulf Lazarus in Abraham's
bosom, and hears the songs of the ransomed multitude coming down from the
but you did

it

which defies the stroke of gates of heaven, then the voice of his
death, which shall live when the sun sleepless conscience, agfaia and again,
spirit

fled

THE BRITISH

104

shall for ever proclaim, " You might

have been saved, but you would not
You might have stood in yonder throng,
you might have joined in yonder anthem
You knew your duty, but you did it not !"
III. The effect which this sermon
PRODUCED.
That sermon is worthless which does
not reach the heart ; and that heart must
have been hard, indeed, that could have
!

PULPIT.

was changed,

his thoughts troubled him,

smote against each other like
Belshazzar, when he saw the handwriting
on the wall that proclaimed his days to
be numbered, and his kingdom to be departed from him; "he trembled"
but
who can describe the fears of a guilty
conscience brooding over its woes
his knees

Unfit foreartli, undoom'd for heaven.

Darkness above, despair beneath,

it flame, within it death ?

withstood the reasoning of an inspired

apostle, and on such important subjects.
He felt but was it grief for his past
sins? was it hope in the divine mercy 1

Around

These impressions on the mind of Felix

were the result of God's Spirit; and if

was it reliance on the power and faith- Felix had acted right, lie ought to have
fulness of Him who is able to save humbled himself under the mighty h^d
unto the uttermost?
No! It was not of God, and sought for pardon and mercy
grief for sin, but terror on account of its through faith in that Christ of whom the
punishment; it was not that godly sor- apostle spake to him. But these salutary
row which calm? and purifies the heart, impressions were but of short duration :
but the foretaste of despair which rages like one suddenly awakened out of his
in outer wo. " He trembled." The apos- sleep, he felt a moment's alarm
but,
tle had entered with the candle of the with that infatuation common to fallen
Lord into the recesses of his bosom, and humanity, he again folded his arms to
disclosed all those images of wickedness slumber.
Could the apostle have told
which, with all the cowardice of conscious him how he could be happy without reguilt, Felix had striven to conceal from quiring to be holy
how he might escape
himself; and so vividly did Paul portray iiell and enjoy earth how he might be dethe doings of that day when the books livered from the curse denounced against
shall be opened and the judgment set, his sins, but left in the enjoyment of the
that Felix was made to feel as if it had sins themselves, gladly would Felix have
already arrived
as if he had seen the listened to his message.
But since the
Judge make bare his holy arm, and heard apostle could preach no gospel but that
that sentence proi.ounced which should which proclaimed salvation, not in sin, but
doom him to eternal despair. And, neither from sin since the apostle could promise
the sophistry of a deceitful heart, nor the a happiness only flowing from and parallel
suggestions of the wicked one, nor the with holiness, what did the poor infatuated
fatal influence of Drusilla, nor the flatter- Felix resolve to do ?
He dismisses the
ing speeches of Tertullus, nor the pomp preacher, but retains his Drusilla; he
and splendour of his office as the viceroy clings to the pleasures of sin which are
of the Roman emperor
not one nor all but for a moment, but he parts with his
of these things could pacify the fears of eternal salvation
to the message, to the
" He messenger of God, to God himself, he
his guilty awakened conscience.
trembled," like the meanest criminal that says, " Go thy way for this time; when
ever stood at his own tribunal; " he 1 have a convenient season, I will call for
;

trembled," like the benighted traveller, thee !" But we never read that that conwhen all on a sudden the lightning dis- venient season ever came he never, as
closes the awful precipice on whose brink far as we learn, sent for Paul again, at
he is approaching; "he trembled," like least to hear the gosppl preached
and
the man under sentence of death, when the next time that Felix trembled was,
in his cell at the midnight hour he hears we have reason to fear, in that place
j

the knocking of the

scaffold on

row

which he

hammer
is to

" he trembled"

erecting the

die on the mor-

his

where there is weeping, and "trembling,"

and wo, without ceasing and without rest

countenance for ever.

Amen.

SERMON

X.

THE SACRIFICE AND EXALTATION OF

CHRIST.

BY THE REV. W. ATHERTON.

*'

But

this

man, after he had

God ; from

The

offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat

henceforth expecting

apostle

showing,

is

till

his enemits be

in this chapter,

'

the superiority of the sacrifice and priest-

hood of Jesus Christ, when compared

with those sacrifices which were offered,
and those priests that gave attendance, at
the Jewish altar; and on which things
the Hebrew Christians had trusted for
acceptance with God.
He shows their great superiority by a
variety of arguments. The first argument
is drawn from the priesthood of the people :
"Every high priest taken from among

men

is

ordained for

men

taining to God, that he

gifts

and sacrifices

for

in things

may
sin :"

offer

made

down on

his footstool."

hand of

the right

Heb.

x. 12, 13.

make

the comers thereunto perfect.

man, because he continueth
ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood."

never
'

But

It

this

was

so full of dignity, so full of merit,

so teeming with virtue

it

was stamped

with such an infinite desert, that such a

Tho
sacrifice once offered was enough.
Jewish high priests, in humble reverence
and in readiness to serve, stood within
the veil offering the

" But

same

sacrifices

he had offered one

sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on
This one sacrithe right hand of God."
fice of Christ stands opposed to the mul-

per-

both

but the

this

tiplicity

man,

after

of sacrifices that were

High Priest is the Lord from under the law.

Sacrifice, you know, was a
heaven, " God over all, blessed for ever."
The Jewish high priests, in their official ordinance, in which a minister

offered

Christian's

ministrations, had

first to offer

religious
set apart

an animal as a victim to endure the pain

sacrifices

which was a tacit and the death which had been incurred by
confession that they were sinners. The the transgression of the guilty sinner; or
Christian's High Priest, however, was it was presented to God in order to prowithout sin he knew no sin, had no sin cure some special favour, or to propitiate
This mode of worship
of his own to atone for, and was more divine justice.
for

their

own

sins,

perfectly fitted to

make atonement

We

are not to
certainly very ancient.
look for the origin of sacrifice to Sinai,

for the

is

sins of others.

Another argument he draws from the

themselves
they offered the
blood of bulls, and of goats, and of
lambs, which could not take away sin.
Our High Priest offered himself, a Lamb
without blemish ; he poured out the price
of our redemption for us, which is empha-

nor even to

Abraham and Noah

sacrifices the

sacrifices

smelling savour

views back as

And

whose

Lord received as a sweet

but we

far as the

as the practice

was

are to carry our

days of Adam.
ancient, there is

no doubt the appointment was divine

certainly the light of nature

would never

have sought, nor could the power of

He draws another argument from the human reason discover, such a strange
multiplicity of their sacrifices, which mode of approaching God as that of
were repeated, and offered year by year offeiing an innocent victim in the place
continually; proving that they "eould of the guilty. Besides, how could persons
105
Vol. H.

tically called the blood of Christ.

THE BRITISH

106

PULPIT.

tliat God would have accepted

The offering of our Redeemer's body,
which he had never required 1 If though certainly acute, and tragical, and

expect
that

God had never required, how could it be torturing, has been considerably exagexpected he would have received 1
Or gerated at the hands of some injudicious
wherein could they have exercised that persons. He was bound with cords in
faith

which was indispensable, unless an uneasy

God had made some promise

to it?

When we

in reference

find that sacrifice

was

immediately from the time

when sin entered the world ; immediately
about the time when the great Deliverer
was promised, in what other light can
we view it, than as intended to point out
appointed

position

the face, both with a

he was smitten on
mock sceptre and

the rude hand of the wicked ; he was

scourged, or whipped, which, in his state

of body, after his agony in the garden,

must have been exquisitely painful his

sacred limbs were unnaturally extended,
nails were driven through the sinews of
this gresacrifice that should be oflered his hands and feet, and the whole weight
for the siiiS of the world 1
of his body was sustained by those nails.
We are not, however, to understand The prophet says, he " gave his back to
this Deliverer as being man only.
If we the smiters, and his cheeks to them that
lo k into this epistle, we shall find the plucked off the hair: they gave him gall
apostle representing him as greater than for his meat, and vinegar for his drink;
the prophets:
ne more perfectly reveal- so that his visage was marred more than
ing to men the mind and will of God, any man, and his form more than the sons
more clearly opening to them the path of of men." These were sufferings of no
;

.t

salvation, and as being the partaker of a

higher life. He is described as greater
than Moses; as more intimate with God

than Moses; the author of a more excellent dispensation; the bringer in of a

more distinguished
people of God.
He is

common

kind.

But, in suffering, he offered his mind.

The

sufferings of our Redeemer's soul

must be considered as the soul of his
sufferings.
These he anticipated at a

when he

better covenant, and a

distance,

leader of the

tism to be baptized with

greater than

Aaron as a

said,

"

and

have a bap-

how am

We

being straitened till it be accomplished !"

a priest of a heavenly, a divine, and an must, however, go into the garden of
unchanging kind he is a priest, not after Gelhsemane, to witness this sacrifice ofthe order of Aaron, but "a priest for ever fered.
Being there, with those of his
priest,

Melchisedec."

after the order of

He

who had

witnessed his
he became exceedingly
heavy and sorrowful ; that is, he bare
such an oppressive weight of sorrow and
anguish, as threatened to dissolve the
union of the body and soul. At length
he gave vent to his feelings in words,
saying, " My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death ;" that is, if some
help be not sent, if some support be not
than the angels thfmselves, and of whom afforded from heaven, this night, in this
it was said at the beginning of creation,
garden, death must ensue; for the body
" Let all the angels of God worship him." cannot sustain the mind under such a
All this goes to prove the proper divinity weight of anguish as I now experience.
of Him who was the brightness of the He falls on his face, and cries, " Father,
Father's glory, the express image of his if it be possible"
to display and to harperson, and the heir of all things.
monize thy perfections if it be possible
This God-man offered one sacrifice to save a world of sinners in any other
FOR SIN, and that was the sacrifice of way than this, " let this cup pass from
himself, which we may consider as im- me :" and when he had thus prayed, he
plying surrender
he offered his body. broke into a perspiration, and that was a
is

disciples alone

David as a
king: "Thy throne, O God, is Lc ever
and ever." His "dominion is an everlasting dominion;" and of the increase
of his kingdom and of his government,
thank God, there shall be no end. He is
greater than Abraham, .s the father of a
more numerous and s[ iritual race, and as
bringing more sons unto glory
greater

transfiguration,

described

as

greater

than

THE SACRIFICE AND EXALTATION OF

CHRIST.

107

sweat of blood. Now, brethren, what surely this must have been exquisitely
must have been the agony of his mind, trying. His glory and his honour must
when, in the bloom and prime of health, have been swallowed up in shame but for
supported by conscious innocence, raised " the joy that was set before him." And
above the natural fear of death, with the
prospect of an abundant entrance into the
what must have
kingdom of heaven
been the agony of his mind when even
;

the vital fluid, interrupted in

its

natural

course of circulation, was forced through

the coats of the veins, the vessels, and

integuments, and bathed his body in a

Surely the cause and
sweat of blood
I

the design of those sufferings were not of

what was that?

The

joy of bringing

many

sons to glory.

Why,

to rescue thee, sinner,

What was

thati

from depravity and misery; to snatch thee from the

death of sin, and to bring thee to blessed" For the joy that was set before
ness.
him, he endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand
of

tlie

throne of God."

He

offered, in sacrifice, the consolations

an ordinary character. But, said the prophet, " He shall see of the travail of his

of heaveiis protection, when he cried,

" .My God, my God, why hast thou for-

soul, and shall be satisfied'" in

and everlasting consequences.

saken

its

present

mel"

There has been some theo-

logical discussion respecting the sense in

He offered, in sacrifice, his glory ; by which the eternal God forsook the man
which we understand how glory will fol- Christ Jesus; and various solutions have
low up the shame. Every good man has been offered to meet the difficulty. Suffice
a proper sense with regard to dignity of it to say, that there was a mysterious
character and propriety of conduct, and union of nature between the eternal God
must be sensibly alive to his own reputa- and the man Christ Jesus. This, I'rom
tion
so that when he is wounded in his incarnation, was, and to eternity must
these, he is deprived of that which is be, indissoluble.
To divide these two
most valuable to his feelings, and most would be to deprive the Saviour's blood
important in a worldly point of view. of its efficacy, and undermine the great
Now, our Redeemer's feelings were not doctrine of the atonement. There was a
blunted and stoical; he was alive to his union of favour, a display of grace, such
reputation; his sense of indignity, and as subsists between the blessed God and
shame, and dishonour, were exquisite; his adopted children; the same in nature,
nay, they were delicately fine; and when but in Christ superior in degree.
Now,
they called him an enemy to civil govern- this cannot be lost without sin and Jesus
ment, and deceiver of the people; when Christ would not fall into this, for with
they said, " He is mad, a glutton, and a him, and in him, the Father was ever
wine bibber;" when they said he had pleased.
he
a devil, that he was not fit to live
But there is a union ef protection. God
must have felt the indignity with great has said to his people that he is a wall of
acuteness.
But when his private grief fire round about the righteous; that he
is invaded by the mob, with lanterns, as
will encompass them s with a shield.
if they came to apprehend a person who This protection, however, he can withhad recently coqfiaiitted some horrid mur- draw on certain occasions, for wise reader
when he is to be dragged from one sons, as he did in the case of Job. So
;

magistrate's house to another, in the dead

of the night, to be arraigned on charges

of high crimes and misdemeanours; to be

long as this union of protection remained

to our Lord, the Jews might take up
stones to stone him; they might lead him

mock majesty, compelled to bear his

own cross, executed between two notori-

brow of the hill to cast him down,

but they could not touch a hair of his
head.
But now the dogs of hell opened
their mouths on him; the strong bulls of

ous cut-throat thieves; betrayed, denied,

and forsaken by those who knew him

hell are

tried,

condemned, smitten on the

spit upon, scourged, arrayed in

face,

emblems

of

to the

; now earth and

allowed to do their worst; and

Bashan beset him around

THE BRITISH

108

such is that worst, as to lead him to cry

God, " Why hast thou abandoned mel

to

why hast thou forsaken me ]"

He offered, in sacrifice, his

PULPIT.

sufferings of Christ,

directed to sin:

Christ

suffered

we

are immediately

died for our sins;

once for sin, the just
he

he bare our sins in his

he was wounded
;
for our transgressions, he was bruised for
W'e know of no sacrifice
lay down his life for his friend ;" but our iniquities.
" when we were enemies, Christ died for being offered, either from the Old or
us." The Redeemer said that none could New Testament, but what it had some
call
take away his life ; he had power to lay it connexion with sin. That religion
it Socinian, or what
it Unitarian, call
down, and he had power to take it again
he laid down his life for the sheep. We you please that religion that has no safor the
therefore find that his death was earlier crifice for sin, is not Judaism
than was usually the case with male- sacrifice of Christ formed a very importfactors ; earlier than the death of the ant part of the Christian and .Tewish
religion
it is not Christianity, for the
malefactors who were crucified with him
not through extreme torture, not through sacrifice of Christ is the glory of the
Jesus died for sins
loss of blood, not through the breaking of Christian system.
his bones for we are told " he cried with not his own, for he was without sin ; he
a loud voice," showing that there was no died for the sins of the whole world.
This man offered himself a sacrifice for
loss of strength, demonstrating that the
Life

life.

" Greater love

dear to every creature.
hath no man than this, that a man
is

for the unjust;

own body

on the tree

vital organs

pulse

was

were

of

full

and

beating,

life,

that every

that

he

died

transgressions of

The

it.

man exposed him

to

the

displeasure of God, to the stroke of jus-

voluntarily.

He

sin to avert the consequences of

Suf-, tice, to the wrath of heaven, the death of

offered, in sacrifice, his will.

be loved
sake ; and shame and death
foes. The Redeemer prayed
of suffering might pass from

fering can never

for its

own

the

body, to anguish of mind.

Jesus

that the cup

Christ paid the penalty, that he might

deliver the sinner from the consequences

him

of his sins; and every sinner that accepts

are terrible

yet he

sacrifice of Christ by faith, the

he voluntarily re- finger of God's mercy, dipped in the
signed himself to that train of overwhelm- blood of his Son, writes that sinner as
ing and distressing ideas that threw his one over whom the second death shall
mind into an agony that bathed him in a never have power.
He died in order that he might remove
bloody sweat he gave up the consolation
Here there was the presence of sin by doins; avjay the
of heaven's protection.

gave his person

who

put

it

into the

to torture

hands of those of the

no

force, there w?.s

no compulsion

thing was free: this

body, and
mankind.
Perhaps

spirit,

man

every

offered himself,

and glory, and

life, for

love of it, by cleansing the guilty in the

fountain opened for sin and uncleanness,

rendering

the

person

without spot, or

wrinkle, or any such thing; that he might

so renew the nature of man, so endear the

it may be asked, /or what purSome tell principles of grace to him, that he might
pose he offered this sacrifce.
us that Christ died to confirm the truth of deny ungodliness and warldly lusts, and
his doctrine. No, brethren, his doctrines live above the practices of sin.

And further, he offered himself a sacriupon their own evidence, on their

moral influence, confirmed by his stu- fice to recoveT the forfeiture of sin. Sin
pendous miracles. It has been said by had forfeited the image, the love, the
some that he thus suffered and died to protection of God. Through sin man had
set an example to his followers how they lost every spark of happiness in life and
should endure suffering. No; he lived comfort in death, and every title to glory ;
to teach us t^ live, and he has left an but by the sacrifice of Christ we receive

rested

that we should follow his steps.

Whenever we think or read about the

example

that

all

This

we

lost in the transgression.

sacrifice

was

so complete in both

THE SACRIFICE AND EXALTATION OF

CHRIST.

109

Having

so voluntary, of them that slept."

it was
body and mind
and of his own accord it was stamped disciples as far as his favourite Bethany,
;

led out his

with such an iafinite desert, tJiat one

such sacrifice, oblation, or satisfaction,
as Christ offered, was enough; it never
needed to be repeated, either in the mass
It does not need
or in any of its parts.
human merits, human sufferings the one
offering of Christ is enough, if you believe it and you will accept it, and if you
will accept of it as a fall and present salOne such sacrifice is a sufficient
vation.
atonement for the sins of the world.
are now directed to the exaltaThis was
tion OF our Redeemer.
through the medium of liis resurrection.
That Jesus Christ really died on the
cross, was attested by the water and the
blood that flowed after the insertion of
the spear, anatomically demonstrating
And
that the heart had been pierced.
that he rose again, according to the Scriptures, we have conclusive evidence. We
have the testimony of the angel, who
said, " He is not here, he is risen."
have the testimony of the women who
were early at the synagogue. We have
the testimony of the two doubting disciples who met him by the way. We have
the testimony of Thomas, who would not
believe his eyes
he must have another
have the
sense, touch, convinced.
testimony of all the twelve; the testimony of " five hundred brethren at once ;"
the testimony of Paul, who was " as one
born out of due time." We have the
testimony of the Roman soldiers, who
became as dead men ; to say nothing of
the story invented by the Jews, that his
disciples had stolen away the body while
:

We

We

We

the soldiers slept.

There is no fact connected with our

Lord's history, of more importance than
his resurrection.

Upon

the truth of this

event depends the divinity of his mission,

the truth of his doctrine, the credibility of
his miracles, the satisfaction of his atone-

ment, the truth of his promises, especially

the promise of his raising the human body
from the dust. Seeing that there is no
fact of more consequence than the resurrection, there is no fact that has such
abundant evidence. " Now is Christ risen

from the dead, and become the

first-fruits

he lifted up his hands and blessed them,

and while he was in the act of blessing
them, a cloud received him out of their
sight.

And

he has

now " sat down at the right

God is a great and inviwith whom, literally, there

hand of God."
sible Spirit,

can be neither standing nor recumbency;

we must, therefore, understand this phrase
figuratively and it is, first, expressive of
rest.
The Jewish high priest, wlien he
entered within the veil, never sat down:
his work was not done he had to return,
:

and

to

the

same

were spared:

"But

come back and

sacrifice, if his life

offer

he had offered one sacrifice

down on the right
hand of God." Not that Jesus Christ
had ceased from his mediatorial acts not
that he has ceased to be alive to the interests of his church and of his people.
No ; he bears the names of his people on
this

man,

after

for sins, for ever sat

the breastplate of his heart; he

knows

with the feeling

of their infirmities he receives, perfumes,
and presents their prayers he sends down
on them the Holy Ghost, he answers their
requests, he avenges their injuries, he
their state, he is touched
;

marks in his book their works of faith

and labours of love. And it is to be
expected that you give him some token
of that kind, that he may have works of
Moreover, he is
faith to record of you.
superintending the repairing of their man-

and the brightening of the crowns

shall adorn their ransomed heads.
As it respects suffering, active and paswhen he shall
sive, he has sat down
appear again, it will be without a sinsions,

which

offering to the salvation of the world.

But this expression, " sat down," intimates his being honoured. To be placed
at the right hand of eastern majesty, was
an honour for court favourites and sucThe highest honour
cessful generals.
Solomon could confer on his mother,
Bethsheba, was to give her a place at
his right hand. When we read that Jesus
Christ is at the right hand of God, we
understand he is raised to the highest
honour; he is raised above all principalities

and powers

having done his work to

THE BRITISH

110

the perfect satisfaction of his Father,

it

that, at

the

are

should bow, and every tongue confess

Hence

Father."

" Worthy

is

God

the

the language of heaven

the

Lamb

that

was

slain

"Go,

ye,

nations."

It

next words?

that he is Lord, to the glory of

is,

what

God to give him a name therefore, and teach all

the name of Jesus, every knee would have been useless,

has pleased

"

PULPIT,

worthless, for

us to have gone into the world to preach

gospel, if he had not received the

the

power

and

brethren

it

dominion.
Yes, rny
thus looking at the posi-

the
is

power, aiJ riches, and wisdom,

and strength, ".nti honour, and glory, and
blessing."

tion, lookingat the magnitude of the work,

contemplating our exalted Redeemer sit
ting at the right hand of our heavenly
This phrase is expressive if power, of Father, invested with all power and with
authority, and dominion.
Indeed, the all sovereignty, that we see nothing can
right hand is sometimes employed as an withstand the power of his will. There he
emblem of power. Now, when our Re- shall sit until according to the promise

to receive

deemer is placed at the right hand of of the Father to him, " Sit thou at my
Gcd, we understand him as invested with right hand, until I make thine enemies
power: he is now the ruler of all things, thy footstool" the purposes of his will
the governor of all worlds.
The Lord shall he fulfilled.
Jesus Christ is King; and all the acts of
Of THE ADVERSARIES OF JeSUS ChRIST,
his government, all the acts of his reign, we observe, frst, that Satan is the most
are for the

encouragement, glory, and

church; for the present

stability of his

and eternal welfare of his people.

"

is

given to be the

Head

over

all

He

things

to the church, which is his body :" he

can therefore raise up whatever instruments he pleases; he can give these
instruments whatever talents he thinks
proper; and whether their talents shall
be many and great, or few and small, he
can render those talents efficient and sufficient to answer the end for which they
are given
for with him is the residue of
;

subtle, ancient, and

formidable.

When

were sown among the wheat, it was

said, "an enemy hath done this;" and it
is
further added, "the enemy is the
wicked one." Satan was the enemy of
Christ's person, and mission, and saving
work he showed his enmity when, on
tares

the cross,

seed of the

"he bruised the heel of the

woman." He is the enemy

of man
and he shows his enmity to him
by blinding his understanding, hardening
;

his heart, polluting his imagination, sen-

sualizing his passions and his appetites,

and robbing God of the affections and the

services of the creatures he has made.
Satan is the enemy of the pious; to their
turn the hearts of men as he listeth
kings, holiness, their happiness, their usefuland peasants, and savages, saints and sin- ness; and this he shows by agitating,
ners.
He can make the events of trade perplexing, and distressing their minds
and commerce; he can make the wrath of on the subject of Christian experience,
man, and the wrath of the very devil, to throwing hinderances in the way of duty,
serve him and to serve his cause.
He and tempting them to depart from the
ever reigns in the kingdom of nature, and living God.
makes the rivers in their channels, and
But, my brethren, this adversary shall"
the stars in their courses, fight in his be the footstool of the woman's all-concause.
Jesus Christ can bring whom quering seed that was given to bruise his
and what he will to do the purposes of head. Already this adversary has been
conquered, when the Saviour spoiled
his grace and salvation.
It is on this ground that missionary principalities and powers, and made a
the Spirit.

He

holds in his hand the sceptre of the

kingdom of Providence; so that he can

Without these we show of them openly and by that genedo nothing, and expect nothing. ral outpouring of the Spirit of God which
Our Redeemer based the subject himself shall fall on us by and by, the power of
here
"All power," says he, "is given Satan shall be broken, the armour on
unto me in heaven and in earth." And which he has trusted shall be taken away,
exertions are based.

could

THE SACRIFICE AND EXALTATIOx\ OF

his

goods shall be spoiled

having the

the

antjel

key of the bottomless

pit

old serpent, and

and confine him, and seal
his ruin, never more to go about and
shall

lay hold of the

shall bind him,

CHRIST.

Ill

Paganism presents

the most delusive

prospect of happiness and of safety.
Now, these are enemies to Christ, because he is light and truth
these are
:

and dark as the chambers

These systems degrade God's

false as hell,

deceive the people.

of death.

Another adversary of Jesus Christ is

Error. Error may be said to be a hydra
with many heads.
The first head which presents itself in
this hydra has the face of a beast; by
which we understand the errors of popery

creatures, rob the

Redeemer, murder the

as such they must

men and
come down by the
souls of

general diffusion of

knowledge, by the spread of the Scriptures, by the propagation of the gospel,

by the piety and by the influence of God's
so decided an enemy to Christ that people, these systems shall be overturned.
that system in the New Testament is Every error of the church of God
PhariThat system takes seeism, Antinomianism, denying tlie Lord
called Anti-Christ.
from the common people the word of life, that bought them will be brought to lick
which is the key of knowledge. It takes the dust. The conflict has begun some
the ordinances of men, and doctrines of noble battles have been won, and shall
devils, for oracles of God.
It exalts the go on till all is subdued by the sword of
creature to the throne of the Creator.
It the Lord and of Gideon.
gives to saints and angels the honour and
Another enemy is to be fonnd in wicked
worship due to the Saviour of the world. and unconverted men. We might conceive
It gives license to crime by the sale of it possible for superstition and idolatry to
indulgences. It has ever infused a perse- be destroyed from the earth and yet, so
cuting and uncharitable disposition. It long as men are unconverted to God, they
has blinded the understandings and dead- are enemies to Christ. Men are born into
ened the consciences of myriads of men the world with a nature of enmity, not
for ages, and opposes almost impassable submitting to God's law; every sin man
barriers to the spread of experimental commits is an act of hostility against the
and practical godliness.
living God. They are enemies to his jusNow, this enemy shall be the footstool tice, which is pledged to punish them; they
of Jesus Christ.
With the flash of his are enemies to his law, which restrains
eye, at the brightness of his appearing, their passions and abridges them in their
the man of sin, the son of perdition, shall gratification of them they are enemies to
be subdued. The great angel has already Christ's gospel, which requires sacrifices
cast the millstone into the pit, saying, that they are unwilling to make, and im"Thus shall Babylon fall, the seat of the poses terms to which they are unwilling
beast."
to submit ; they are enemies to his people,
Another of these errors has the face of who resemble him, and whose piety conthe false prophet, by which we may un- demns their licentious laxity.
derstand the delusions, impurities, and
But these enemies shall be the footstool
abominations of Mahometamsm.
The of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Upon
next has the face of a dragon by which unconverted men Jesus Christ will emwe understand the cruel, the impure, the ploy his gospel, and his word on their
licentious, the hellish abominations of understanding, and his Spirit on their
Paganism, or Heathenism.
Paganism conscii;nces, and his providence on their
gives to the mind the falsest idea of circumstances and their bodies; and these
God, or extinguishes the idea of the weaj ons shall be mighty, through God,
Supreme Being from the human mind. to the pulling down of strongholds. By
Heathenism substitutes, in the place of these wea, ons some shall see their error,
the great Jehovah, idols and devils wor- shall discover their wickedness, shall
ships them by the impurest rites, pro- perceive their danger, and tremble at it;
pitiates them by the bloodiest sacrifices. shall let the weapons of their rebellioa

THE BRITISH PULPIT

112

power. As all have sinned against God,

worms, to the footstool of Christ's the sentence is passed upon all the saint
mercy; shall cordially embrace, with as well as the sinner must meet this great
arms of faith, the despised Nazarene
foe they must meet, they must struggle,
they shall give him their hearts, and they must grapple in the stern grasp and
affections, and lives, in devotional obedi- in the cold embrace of death, that fair
ence and they shall joyfully suffer for frame of thine must fall. But thou fallest
drop out of their hands; shall crawl, like
guilty

his sake.

The enemies

of Christ shall

to rise in glory

their wills, their con-

Thy

sciences, their affections, their powers,

like

become

his guests

being subdued to the obedience of faith

and those who withstand these means of
mercy, who resist these weapons of grace,
shall be swept away with the besom of
destruction, when, from the dense smoke
of the perdition of hell, they shall confess,
as it is said of the apostate Julian, " O,
thou Galilean, thou hast conquered me !"
I refused to be overcome by the power of
thy word, by the power of thy gospel
and now, in my turn, I am overcome by
the damnation of hell
Another enemy of Christ is death. He
is said to be the last enemy that shall be
destroyed.
Death is shrunk from with
almost instinctive abhorrence by all animated nature. To the wicked man, death
is the king of ttrrore ; it separates him
from his pleasures, cuts him off from
his sins, drives him from his idols
it
does away the possibility of moral and
spiritual improvement, it seals his everlasting ruin. And even some of the saints
view death as a foe, having been all their
lifetime subject to bondage.
Brethren,
what devastation has death made in the
fair workmanship of God
See the blasting, withering influence of death on the
finest animal frames, the brightest intellectual agencies
Who can ever look at
the corpse of a parent, a husband, a child,
a friend, without saying, "An enemy
hath done this]"
Yes and this enemy holds in bondage
;

as thou fallest thou liest.

body shall be changed, and made

unto Christ's glorious body. Soon
vile

the trumpet shall sound, the dead shall be

raised incorruptible, and death and hell
shall be cast into the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone: death shall be
done away, and God shall be all in all.
Lastly, all these enemies have been
made by one worse than the devil himSin made a
self; and that enemy is sin.
demon of one of the brightest angels that

stood before the throne

man

enemy

sin

made

inno-

and a vassal in his life against God; sin brought

all the error and idolatry, and superstitions and abominations that are on the
earth
sin "brought death into the world,
and all our wo." When the gospel shall

cent

an

in his heart

when the gospel

saving influence on the
children of men, then the practices of sin
shall come to an end ; and when all the
people of God shall be brought safe to
be universally preached,

shall

exert

its

their Father's house, sin shall be annihi-

And for this purpose the Son of

God was manifested for this purpose he

lated.

offered himself a sacrifice for sin

for this

purpose he has commanded his gospel to

be preached to every creature ; for this
purpose he is at this moment seated at
the right hand of God, invested with all
power, with all energy to employ whatever instrument or agent he thinks proper,
to give a blessing to those means that they
may be effectual. And when death shall
be done away, and when sin shall be
of corruption the bodies of the saints who annihilated, he will rise up from his seat,
have died in the Lord. It is very true and not till then, and deliver up the kingJosus dom into the hands of his Father; and
this enemy is a conquered one.
Christ encountered death in his dark do- God shall be all in all.
Here we discover, brethren, the characmain and, as he entered it, he said, " O,
They are said to be enedeath, 1 will be thy plagues ; O, ^rave, I ter of sinners.
Enemies to Christ?
will be thy destruction :" he snapt those mies to Christ.
chains of which it was impossible for him Can that be true ? Is that not a libel on
to be held ; and he rose superior to its human nature that deserves to be prose!

THE SACRIFICE AND EXALTATION OF

cuted and punished by the judges

enemy

to

goodness

An enemy

An enemy

An

to

bene-

CHRIST.

113

we know no way of bringing these

rebels to God but by the moral suasion

but

him that hath of the gospel. Jesus Christ could subdue

An his rebels by miracles, by providences,
loved us, and given himself for us 1
enemy to him in whom met and combined by angels but when he redeems men, it
whatsoever things are true, and lovely, will be by himself overcoming men; and
and of good report ] Strange as it may be when he converts men, it will be by the
and one would scarcely think there was agency of man, the instrumentality of
volence

to

scarcely sufficient iniquity in any

nature to be an

enemy

Where is that person that has a

spark of love to Christ, of zeal for the
glory of his name, who has tasted of the

human man.

of Jesus Christ

experience and practice say that we will

not that grace shall reign in us and rule

sweets of his forgiving love, who does

not feel a wish to have something to do
all things but loss for the excellency of in bringing these rebels back to God 1
the knowledge of Christ, so long we are Jesus Christ has prepared his soldiers;
found in a state of enmity to Christ.
he has marshalled his powers, he has
We learn, again, that these enemies of equipped them for the fight; some of
Christ, these unconverted persons, must be them have taken the field ; others are
his footstool, whether at home or abroad. ready to go forth to fight the battles of
Are any of you unconverted] Are any of the Lord: he has done his part; we are
you in a state of hostility of mind to the required to do ours.
are to pray for
blessed Jesus ?
Remember you must the extension of his kingdom we are to
come down. Will you be subdued by bear his banner in the arms of faith and
justice or by mercy ]
Will you be con- prayer we are to supply the pecuniary
quered by the sceptre of his grace, or will means so long as human instrumentality
you be broken in pieces by the iron rod of is employed in extending the triumphs of
his wrath 1 Will you be subdued by the the cross.
Money will be requisite ; and
Lamb of God, or will you be torn in we ought to be forward in supplying these
pieces by the Lion of the tribe of Judah] pecuniary means. The battle has begun,
Must Jesus Christ conquer you by the the conquests have commenced the work
sword of his Spirit, and by the power of is going on, and God has honoured you
his blood ; or must you be brought to by giving you a part in it. We read that
submission by the flames of hell? O, even the dark papist is turning over the
kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye pages of God's word
that the Mahomperish from the way
He has offered a medan has confessed the founder of his
sacrifice for you and for the world ; he system an impostor; that pagans have
has sat down at the right hand of God been converted, and now despise idolatry.
his Father, and he will never rise from We know that within the last twelve
that seat till the world is saved or lost
months, in our own country, ten thousand
till thou art converted or cast into outer
who were rebels to Christ have been
darkness.
subdued by the word of Christ, and numFinally, we see the duty of the people to bers in our foreign stations.
Yes ; the
extend by conquest the triumphs of the kingdom of hell is shaking the gates of
Redeemer, the empire of the Saviour; to perdition tremble. Let us not rest, but
bring home his rebel outcasts, that they take up a bold and manful stand in our
may be saved from sin and Satan's snare. own places, until we join in that blessed
Look at the vast population of the globe; acclamation, "The kingdoms of this world
what a melancholy aspect it wears
In are become the kingdoms of our Lord and
fifty years perhaps the whole of this of his Christ
the Lord God omnipotent
generation will be swept off the stage of reigneth !" Yes, and he will reign till
time ; and, if unconverted, where will he has subdued all to the obedience of
Now, the Lord has no faith, till death and sin are dead, and
that portion be ?
over us.

So long as we refuse

to

count

We

pleasure in the destruction of sinners

Vol.

1L 15

God

shall be all in all.

Amen.

THE

114

BRITISH PULPIT.

SCRIFTTTRi: DIFFICULTIES.
NO.

The infidel must either dispute the

evidence, and disprove the facts which

I.

the authority of the revelation,

attest

or
Socrates is reported to have said, conhe must take the revelation upon its own
cerning the writing-s of Ileranlitus, that
assumption, and proceed to show that its
60 much of them as could be understood
must be pronounced excellent and admi- contents cannot be worthy of God to
impart, nor of man to receive.
It is but
rable; and that that portion might be
very rarely that infidels attempt any thing
believed to be so which could not be
more than to carp at the mysterious and
understood. It is very certain that the
obscure parts of the sacred volume.

objectors to the sacred Scriptures, in rest-

ing their opposition upon a few obscure

places and apparent contradictions, have

These they endeavour

as possible from

to isolate as

all its

much

sublimer and less

questionable portions
they pass over in
little of the wisdom and none
silence the great mass of its contents, and
of the candour of that arni*b!e heathen
fix, with malicious subtilty, upon a f(^w
and our modern Deists, at i^ast, appear
hard sayings, which they endeavour to
very unlikely to be benefited by an exwrest from their connexion, or to pervert
ample of modesty and fairness, which the
to an import altogether foreign;
and
malignity of their minds disqualify them
which, by being placed together, rehave
disdained
no
to appreciate.
They
peated with disingenuous exaggerations,
artifice, however mean, and withheld no
and, in their condensed form, surrounded
railing, however violent and unjust, by
with the murky and distorting atmosphere
which they could excite the very low;

displayed

human nature of hostile matter, present

An awful spirit of midable appearance than

est and worst passions of

against revelation.

a far more forreally belongs

to them, or than they are ever felt to

and rashness is fallen upon
possess, when they are casually met with
them, and their attempts to make good
in the fair and honest perusal of the
their argument resembly any thing rather
sacred volume itself.
than that dispassionate and serious spirit
of inquiry, which alone becomes so grave

blindness

and momentous
lead to
It is

its

a c,uestion, or

which could
THE SCRIPTURES.

sacisfactory termination.

by no means

upon the solution of

to

be admitted that,

doctrinal, historical,

philological, or philosophical difficulties,

The word

of

others.

faith,

or the obscurities in the contents of reve-

is

bread that nou-

sword that pierces

the odour of life to those

It is

depends the question at issue between the who live by

infidel and the Christian. The main body themselves;
of the Christian evidence stands quite independent of tiie imperfections in the text,

God

and

rishes some,

it

is

and die sincerely to

the odnur of death to

who

are alienated from God, and

up in themselves by pride. The
best nourishment turns to poison in
corrupted stomachs
whoever looks for
scandal in the word of God, deserves to
find it there to his own ruin.
God has so
mixed light and shade in his word, that
the humble and docile find there nothing
but truth and comfort, whilst the indocile
and presumptuous find nothing but error
and incredulity. All the difficulties imme-

those

live shut

Let the question of external evidence be first settled, before the book itself
then let the Christian
be scrutinized
advocate avail himself of the benefits of
the first stage of proof through which he
has advanced ; or let him require, before
he proceeds to the solution of the difficult
places, what he has a right to assume,
that the book is of divine origin, and is to diately vanish when the mind is cured of
be estimated fairly by this pretension, as presumption then, according to the rule
being placed, by the very fact professed, of St. Augustin, we pass over all we do
in circumstances altogether different from not understand, and are edified at what we
lation.

any human composition.

do understand.

Fenelon.'

SERMON

XI.

THE INFLUENCE OF MEMORY INCREASING THE MISERY OF THE

BY THE REV.

"But Abraham

said, Son,

remember

J.

A.

Our Lord Jesus

llie

greatest of

all

Christ

was not only

preachers, but unques-

tionably the most awful.

JAMES.

that thou in thy life time receivedst thy

and thou

likewise Lazarus evil things: but noiv he is comforted,

ful,

that lifted

His discourses There

abound with more frequent allusions to

the punishment of the guilty, and with
more fearful descriptions of it, than can
be found in almost any other portion of
holy Scripture. How tremendously fearful is the parable of which the text is a
part; in which He that hath the keys of
the unseen world seems to throw the door
of it ajar for a few moments, and to give
us a glimpse of that world where hope
never enters, and from which misery

art tormented."

good

is

up his eyes

and

xvi. 25.

to the rich

torment.

in

a dreadful taunt in the admoni-

tion, a sting not to

then,

things,

Luke

when addressing himself

man

LOST.

my

This,

be described.

hearers, is the subject of dis-

the incourse on the p'esent occasion

fluence of memory increasing the misery
of the lost.

That there is a state of inconceivable

and interminable punishment for the
wicked in another world, is one of the

first principles of revealed truth, which

cannot be discredited without withholdIn that ining assent from the Bible.
never can pass. Much of the parable, I spired book a state of rewards and puadmit, is what might be called drapery ; nishments is placed in the very front of
but it is not the drapery of error, but of its announcements, and it is interwoven
truth.
The sentiments conveyed to us with the whole texture of 'evealed truth.
that there is a state of punish- To doubt this, is not so far to mistake as
are these
:

ment prepared

for the

wicked

in

another

world, and a state of blessedness for tiie

that every man when he dies
righteous
:

enters

upon one or other of these states;

that the circumstances of the present

(I

mean those of

life

riches or of poverty)

to contradict the

my
The

testimony of God. Yes,

hearers, hell is a dreadful

poet

may make

reality.

the source

it

gloomy and awful images with which

of
to

adorn the creations of his genius, the

dramatist may work it up into a form for

have no influence of themselves upon public amusement, the swearer may emman's eternal destiny. Poverty, if united ploy it to add venom and fury to his oath,
with piety, will exclude no man from the scoffer may use it to point his epiheaven; riches, if connected with, impeni- gram, or sharpen his wit; but notwithtence and irreligion, will keep no man standing this shocking levity, this vulgar
obscenity, this awful impiety, it is a fact,
from hell.
But there is another sentiment convey- whatever men do with it, that there is a
ed in the language which I have selected lake that burneth with (ire and brimstone,
as the subject of discourse this evening, and that " the wicked shall bo turned
and that is, thai memory will have an into hell, and all the nations that forget
important influence in aggravating the God."
It is not improbable that the greater
misery of the damned. " Son, remember," was the expression which our Lord part of the punishment of the wicked
the curse of
put into the lips of the father of the faith- will be mental anguish
115
:

THE BRITISH

116
Jehovah will
to receive

upon a

fall

The

it.

and

made bare

more from

will arise probably

reflections

spirit

sufferings of the lost

dispositions,

positive inflictions of the

their

own

than

Almighty

circumstance which ought

to

and not only

it were, with ourselves
with ourselves as we are to be, but with

as

ourselves as

any
;

PULPIT.

I ki'

ever struck you, but

we

increase

we now

are.

w not whether

this

it is

thought has

a terrific one

mysteriously and wonderfully

mysteriously and

are

rather than diminish the apprehension of formed, and not less

man

punishment: for wonderfully placed. What, speaking of

body in the a lost soul, will he remember in anothei
First, The possessions he hah
case of a rational being to those of the world 1
mind ? What is mere pain, received IN THIS " Son, remember that thou in
through the nerves, compared with heart- thy lifetime receivedst thy good things,
but
remorse and self-reproach 1 By univer- and likewise Lazarus evil things
sal consent, there is no hell like that of a now he is comforted ; and thou art torguilty conscience; other punishments ar^ mented."
Yes, all shall be recollected
without us, but the source of this is the gains in business that this lost soul
within us. It is admitted on all hands, in perdition secured when he was an inthat the faculties of the soul will be habitant of our world ; his patrimonial
inconceivably strengthened in uiother possessions, his accumulations of wealth,
world; the immortal part of man will his splendid mansions, his gay equipage,
then arrive at the maturity of its powers, his sumptuous living, his retinue of serboth for good and for evil ; the good will vants, every thing that constituted his
be strengthened, the evil will be made gayety and his grandeur, and all his pomp
more resolute and determined, and all andcircumstance. But whatad vantage will
the passions more lively and vigorous. it be to have a voice perpetually saying to
Among these faculties, the memory will him throughout eternity, " Son, remember

what

concerning

this

are the tortures of the

bear

its

part in the

way

of influence. This

astonishing power of the

human mind

is

susceptible of almost illimitable degrees

now

thy
good things ?" O the sting of that past
tense, "thou hadst^ Worldly possessions
that thou in thy lifetime receivedst

some possess it to an
almost incredible certainly
astonishing. By its mysterious constitution we very frequently find, that thoughts
rise up that had been lost, not only for
hours, days, weeks, months, but for
years; a circumstance which renders it
not impossible nor improbable, that the
memory will be so strengthened when

in

the soul shall arrive at

last, evil as

of strength
extent that

is

its

eternal state,

whole series of its actions, of its

words, of its motives, will again be revived
the history of the man's whole
self be again brought before him, so that
he will seem to be living through all that
he did and all that he was, in that other
state of existence. We are always, therefore, my brelhren, sowing seed which is
to spring up to be gathered in eternity
" Be not deceived what a man soweth
that shall he also reap he that soweth to
the flesh shall of the fit ah reap corruption ;" while " he that soweth to the

that the

Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life ever-

lasting."

We

are thus to live for ever,

hand, or

in

expectation, are generally

a source of high gratification

alienated,

when

lost,

but

when gone

when

for ever,

what consolation do they generally yield

to him that possessed them ? And this lost
sinner will in many cases recollect by
what dishonourable and dishonest means
these possessionswere gained. Successful
fraud and villany, while the fruits of

them

they are, yield a gratification

to evil-disposed

men but when

:

the fruits

are all withered, and there is the bare,

blighted, leafless, and fruitless tree of

what pleasure
be to remember possessions ? And

guilt that bore them, then

will

it

even where there may be no guilt, where

no guilt may have been contracted in acquiring possessions, yet to recollect possessions for which the man sacrificed his
soul

O then

for a

man

to recollect that

his Bible, and his minister,

sounding
" V/hat shall

ally

it

profit a

the

whole world, and lose

He

is

tff

were perpetu-

in his ears the expression,

man if he gain
his own soul ]"

then to recollect this very expres>

THE INFLUENCE OF MEMORY.

by his own experience,

men,

117

such there be here to-night, do

convicted of the veriest folly that an im- consider how soon you may be stripped
mortal creature can commit of sacrificing of all that wealth, and go, a naked, penthe immortal for the mortal, heaven for niless spirit, into eternity; and if you
earth, things unseen and eternal for things have not employed your wealth (as, if
to have a voice, answering to the character I have just
seen and temporal
whispering to the soul through eternity, named, you have not) for the glory of
as there was in the case of Esau, when God, eternally to hear this voice, " Thou
he arose from the consumption of his hast had thy consolation, now nothing
transient meal, "This is the price of thy remains for thee."
Secondly, Lost souls will remember
birthright;" to have a voice whispering
their routs
in the soul for ever, "Thou hast sold the THEIR WORLDLY PLEASURES
high possessions of eternal life and glory and parties, their public and private enfor gratifications and possessions that are tertainments, their lawful and unlawful
gratifications, their scenes of revelry and
now for ever gone !"
But there will be another kind of re- seasons of mirth, their home-bred demembrance of those possessions ; or, in lights and their fashionable amusements.
other words, a remembrance of them con- And will these things throw one ray upon
nected with another idea
and that is, the gloom of everlasting night? Will it
that they have all been spent upon a blunt the thought of the worm that never
sion, and

to stand

if

man's

That property, granted to

employ for the glory of God, and

self.

dies, or mitigate th

fearfulness of the

quenched 1 The poet

for the good of mankind, for the relief of has said, and every man's experience susmisery, the instruction of ignorance, and tains the propriety and truth of the exthe salvation of lost souls, had all been pression, " Of joys departed never to respent on himself, for his own gratifica- turn, O how painful the remembrance."
tion, and the aggrandizement of his fa- Conceive of a man of title, and of wealth,
mily. Men will learn at the day of judg- and of family, and of enjoyment, sudment, if they never learn before, that denly arrested in the midst of his proswealth is a talent to be employed for the perity, by a power that he cannot resist,
good of man and for the glory of God ; and hurried away to a dark damp cell,
and then think what will be the feelings loaded with irons, and left with no other
of the lost spirit, to look back on hun- employment than the dreadful one of condreds and thousands spent on his own trasting the scene that he has left with
gratification, and that of his family, and that to which he has been brought; but

him

to

fire

that is never

spent for terrible, brethren, as the transition seems,

good of society. And that man's case is susceptible of hope;
connected with this, it is to be recollect- he may yet expect to he redeemed and
ed, that, in the present world, rich men restored to all that he has lost; if he be
are sometimes estimated in society rather a Christian, if this is not within the
by their wealth than by their virtue,
range of his expectations, he may look
very false standard of respect, but so it is
to brighter scenes abve, that will inand that tribute is paid to a man's purse finitely more than compensate for all
which cannot be demanded for his cha- this ; or if he be not a Christian, he will
racter.
But think of that man having look with something like consolation to
passed into the unseen world, to take his the grave, where the wicked cease from
place among the meaner lost, and to be troubling, and the weary are at rest. But
for ever hearing the taunt from pauper think of the votary of this world's pleatongues, " Art thou also become even as sure, think of the man of fashion, think
we ? For remember that thou in thy life- of the woman given up to little else than
nothing, or next to nothing,

God, and

for the

time hadst thy good things, we our evil earthly delights, suddenly arrested in
ones ; we are both tormented together their career, and carried into eternity,
now." O ye rich men, ye prosperous away from all their pleasures, to a land
tradesmen, ye hoarding men, ye covetous where no sounds of mirth, no voice of

THE BRITISH

118

song, no note of music ever breaks upon

where no pleasures of the turf,

the ear,

or of the field, are to be followed, where

the card table an'l the theatre exist no
longer, where th^ rnerry dance, and the

PULPIT.

some sins, in the case of most men,

which stand out with peculiar promi-

are

nence from the

Perhaps,

rest.

case of most of us, there are

we

in

the

some

that

concert of sweet sounds no more are to

cannot soon forget God has forgiven

them, but we can scarcely forgive our-

be enj jod

selves.

" But darkness, death, and long despair.

Reign

in eternal silence there."

to look

back on such a scene of de-

which

lights for ever gone, of pleasures

had no connexion with the inoral nature,

and therefore no connexion with man's
eternal destiny, except

destiny of

My

it

be that dark

and miserable

lost

hearers, accuse

me

spirits.

not to-night of

Is

possible to forget them

it

We

ought not to forget them

the remembrance ought to go through life, for
the sake of caution, for the sake of humility.
David went back as far as his
youth, and said, " Remember not against
;

me

the sins of

my

youth."

It

is

thus

the case sometimes with Christians:

is

who

also the case with those

Christians
of

they pass over a multitude

minor

it

are not

transgressions,

some

perhaps

but

sins they have committed,

the foul purpose of putting out the light

ftf human joy in the abodes of men ; tell

there are

me

them, the recollection is ever rising up in

their minds; it occurs in the hours of
silence, in the hour of midnight: sometimes in company, remarks are made by

not that

came

from the

of consolation

infuse the

or to
into

No

it.

sures which

hither to dash the cup

lips of mortals,

venom

of melancholy

only speak of those plea-

the

word of God

and which are put

forbids,

the recollection of

individuals

in

place of

those

but

which the word of God

exhibits.

I tell

with

you neglect and despise reI tell you, that if you are lovers
ligion
of pleasure more than lovers of God
tell you, that if you are not renewed by
the Holy Spirit, to taste that the Lord is
gracious, and to have joy and peace in
I tell
believing through Jesus Christ
you, that if you are given up to the enjoyment of a worldly mind and worldly
you, that

if

courses, this scene that

am

alluding to

awaits you. I am only stepping between

you and pleasures that would weigh you
down in that world where the sounds of
pleasure are never heard.
there

are

pleasures presented

brethren,
to

you,

whom

what

who

which

is

painful

are altogether strangers,

they suppose are acquainted

their

and

history,

they imagine

said is an accusation of

is

to

them

and in reading, they meet with facts that

throw their memories back on these
transgressions.

It

is

possible

am

ad-

dressing some to-night of this character;

it is

probable

night,

who,

I
in

am speaking

to

some

to-

the hour of temptation,

have fallen, and they have fallen grossly

and grievously. Now all their peace is
blasted, and all their self-respect is gone.
O that they would forget that one sin
that they could hide themselves from
the recollection of that one
for some
Lethean billow to put away a remembrance so painful they would be willing
that the past should be one universal
:

placed within your reach, which will fit

you for pleasures which are for ever, for blank, if it could take away the rememjoys that exist through endless ages, at brance of that sin. The sting remains;
the right hand of God.

Thirdly,

The lost

s .ul

will remem-

The great
IN ETERNITY HIS SINS.
multitude forget theirs now as soon as
ber

they are committed ; and any man that

sets himself down to the task of counting
the

number of

his

transgressions, will

engaged in as hopeless a work

as numbering the stars that burst on his
view on a clear winter's night. There

find

he

is

and there is a wound in the conscience,

festering and burning, which nothing can
Yes; there is balm for that. Beheal.
fore I go on to the application of the idea,
let me pause in the train of my thought
and representation, to speak to the wounded conscience, of a physician even for
that; a balm, even, as I have said, for
that deep wound ; the blood of Christ
can cleanse even from that sin. God

THE INFLUENCE OF MEMORY

laith,

am

*'I

Give not

willing to blot

thyself

up

wounded

for

our

out."

reckless and

to

hopeless despair; look to

it

Him

that

was
and

transgressions

bruised for our iniquities: Jesus Christ

But the

will receive thee, and forgive thee.

think,

my

hearers, if

now

be so pain-

it

sometimes to look back on the past,

what will it be in eternity, when all the
man's sins will rise up in his view, and
he must see them; when the voice that
ful

he hates, but cannot silence, will go over

the catalogue, and be for ever sounding
in his ears the sins that he hath commit-

ted, the sins of his youth.

think, for

ever to hold fellowship with dark thoughts

and guilty recollections ; to find himself

for ever and for ever in the company of
his sins.
And then, you know, all the
sophistry by which the deceitful heart
practises upon the mind of man will be
detected it will no longer be a doubt what
sin is; it will no longer be a question
whether it be a great and enormous evil,
;

or a

The

trifle.

lurid flashes of perdition

will throw light on this subject, and for

is an inexcuses will be
silenced, all pleas will be cut off, and the
poor creature will come back to this tremendous reflection, " Sin is as great an
evil as it was represented, and I stand
without excuse in the commission of it."
It is a fearful thing when it is said, God
" setteth our sins in the light of his countenance ;" it is not less fearful when we

ever settle the question, that sin

finite evil

and then

all

are told that he will set

of our

own

them

countenance, and

in the light

we

shall see

them.

principles of the Christian religion.

You

cannot remember the time when a father's

hallowed voice in tones of prayer floated

you

eternal welfare of their offspring,

had no such parents. You remember the

books that were placed in your hands
while yet at home, and the letters that
were addressed to you when removed
from the vigilance of a father's and a
mother's eye.
O the advantages you
have enjoyed
Kept from the society of
the wicked, and introduced to that of the
righteous by all that the most judicious,
tender, and affectionate treatment could
do, trained up for God.
Now think of
all this being in vain; and, if in vain, all
!

remembered

this

eternity, where the

you no good, but will

in

recollection can do

aggravate your misery.

And

then think

of the religious advantages of a public

nature that you

have enjoyed.

Think

of the ministers that you have heard.

speak now to the stated worshippers in

this place. Whose bust is that?* Whose

monument
stone,
to

still

you

is

that

W' ho, by that silent

speaketh, though he

The man who,

of the blessed God, and

is

dead

for half a cen-

tury, here preached the glorious

who

gospel

hath

now

ascended to his God to give in an account

of his stewardship.
O what addresses,
public and private, you have heard from
him
And think of the men he called
around him to assist him. To say no!

who

thing of those
those

who

are

still

live, think

now with him

of

for eternity

Think of the plain, and faithand thundering discourses of Theophilus Jones, who so soop followed his
venerable co-pastor t^ hi? rest and reward, that, as it were y a double voice
from the tomb, this congregation and anheaven.

in

The

lost soul will recollect IN ETERNITV ITS MEANS OF GRACE,

ITS OPPORTUNITIES OF SALVATION, ITS ADVANTAGES FOR OBTAINING ETERNAL LIFE.
Children of the righteous, I speak now
to you. Let recollection now begin call
to your remembrance, as you sit here, the
advantages of a religious nature that you
have enjoyed as far back as memory can
carry you.
You cannot remember the
time when a mother began, even upon
her knees, to teach your infant mind the
Fourthly,

119

your early ear. You cannot remember

the time when you began to hear of salvation through Jesus Christ, of heaven
and hell. If there are children whose
parents are such monsters as to forget
to

ful,

'.

other might be impressed. Think of the

good, the wise, the peaceful, the judicious Mr. Griffin, who has within these
last

two months passed away

to

that

blessed world to which he had been the

instrument of elevating so
tal

souls.

many immor-

These men, and

* Pointinp' to a

others that

monument with a

bust of

the Rev. R. Hill, recently erected behind the

pulpit of Surrey Chapel.

THE BRITISH

120

PULPIT.

have preceded them into the world of Bible, to pray, to hear sermons'? You
spirits, you have heard, and heard them, seemed setting out for the kingdom of
some of you, in vain. You will never heaven the Spirit strove with you, and
hear them more. Yes, you will they you seemed yielding to his influence the
will preach to you still hy the means of cords of love seemed to encircle your
your own conscience that memory, that hearts you appeared to be about to be
mysterious faculty of yours, contains all drawn by them but as you approached
their sermons; though now for a season the gate of life, you saw it was narrow,
the remembrance may be lost, the con- and you observed that the road looked
science will take them up again in an- difficult
there was some besetting sin
other world
ay, in the world of misery, that you had, and you could not give it
if you continue in unbelief, and preach up
there was some evil companion that
them to you again. What subjects you solicited you, and you could not abandon
have heard discussed by these men, and him; you were ridiculed, and you had
others, of the law and the grace of the gos- not courage to bear with opposition, and
pel 1 They have knocked by their varied you had not firmness to encounter it; and,
themes at every door of the heart; they
melancholy spectacle, you were seen
turning back, and walking the ways of
have appealed to your hopes and fears
and yet in the case of many it has been God no more. Sometimes it is painful
in vain.
Now then (I want still to give to you now to think of this, and you are
my subject a close bearing on the con- ready to say, " O, that I had never heard
now, I say, think what it will that sermon
science)
0, that I had never had
be, for a man who has lived and died and those impressions; O, that those convicperished in unbelief, under the sound of tions had never taken hold of my heart
the gospel, to spend eternity in counting 1 cannot enjoy my sins as I once did
I
sabbaths that were lost, and in hearing am half spoiled for the world, though 1
again sermons that were once heard, but am not a member of the church." Yes,
heard in vain, and hearing them then and you know, that often the scene of
when they are accom])anied with no of- festivity, in which others experience no
interruption, is marred for you.
Then
fer of mercy, no invitation to Christ
when they will only be heard as the think, young man, think what will be the
;

when

knell of past opportunities of salvation,

case in eternity,

and the sinner will feel, that to have

heard them, and to have heard them in
unbelief, has increased his condemnation, and sunk him deeper in the bottom-

"Son, remember thy impressions; remember thy convictions." O, what a

less pit.

folly,

Fifthly, The lost soul in eternity

WILL REMEMBER ITS IMPRESSIONS, CONVICTIONS, PURPOSES, AND RESOLUTIONS, ON
EARTH. And have not most that hear
me, at some period or other, had these

Have
moments when, by ser-

impressions, had these convictions'?

there not been

heard, or afflictions by
which you have been visited, or events
that you have witnessed, or books that
you have read, or hair-breadth escapes

mons you have

that have been

granted to you, or the

counsels of friendship

impressions of a

superior nature have been

your mind

Were you

made conscious

of sin,

made upon

not, for a season,

made

serious and

thoughtful, led to take up the neglected

a voice shall say,

victim of folly will you appear to yourself there;

that,

Christian,

O,

how

will

you curse that

when you seemed almost a

when you seemed about to

decide for heavenly glory, you suffered

yourself to be drawn back.

You

will

your conduct will

appear, the climax of all folly and madness; to have begun to feel something of
the importance of religion and of eternity,
and then to have given it up, and through
that eternity to have the mind thrown
back upon these seeming beginnings of
good things, with the recollection that
they are lost now for ever
Thus, my hearers, you see, that memory will then have a very important influence on the punishment of the wicked.
Yes; if memory could be lost, half of
hell could be lost with it
it is memory
appear

to yourself, or

THE INFLUENCE OF MEMORY.

that will give the sting to

Let me,

death.

for a

the second

few moments, pre-

sent the contrast to this.

Memory

go with the righteous

abode, and it will open

their

to
to

will

eternal

True

that they

it is,

but
will recollect that they also sinned
it will be no tormenting recollection; it
:

bend

will

them the lower before

the

121

have done for

us, in the way of good, and all the good
that we have done to others, and shall
all

that others

God we shall
work together for

ascribe all the glory to

them a source see how

Standof pleasure not to be conceived.

ing on the summit of Mount Zion, they
shall look down the winding path which
led to the ascent, and observe every step
that they have taken.

remember

things

all

good

the connexion of events

the con;
nexion of our history with the history of
;

the world at large

and

memory

will be

ever connecting the past with the

for

present

the eternal
And

world.

present of another
thus to the righteous, " Son,

remember," will be a note of joy, which

will for ever exhilarate and delight his

throne of the Eternal, and as they sink,

their joys will rise immeasurably high.

heart.

and the
more humility we have, the happier we
and thus the very recollection of
are
our sins in heaven will, by producing
deeper and deeper humility, be no source
shall be
of tormenting recollection.
lost in adoring gratitude, and wonder,
and joy, at the grace that pardoned and

place before you, with all affectionate

Humility

in a creature is bliss;

We

sanctified them.

We

shall

remember

the history of Providence, and

all

all

the

Now, my dear

hearers, let the preacher

seriousness, for your decision, the ques-

Will you

have your memory your

heaven, or your tormentor in
hein Do consider; consider this; it is
no imaginary thing; it is what concerns
you all ; and therefore, do, to-night, de-

tion

friend

in

cide.

Remember now, remember now,

your sins, and

of Christ.

fly for

Now

pardon

to the bloof^

the recollection will be

methods of grace, and the connexion of beneficial ; now the recollection will be
we shall recollect how God seem- the means of salvation. Go home toed following us through all the scenes of night, remembering your sins, and fly for
our existence, and so uniting them as pardon to Christ. Remember the God
that all things should work together for against whom your sins have been comboth

our good

mons

we

shall

remember those

ser-

that produced the saving impres-

sion on our heart, and the names of the

preachers that were the honoured instruments of thus doing good to our souls
all

the hallowed scenes of piety, through

mitted

remember Jesus

Christ,

who

waits to save you remember your possessior.s, and consecrate them all to God,
:

giving yourselves to the Lord. Repleasures, and sacrifice all

first

member your

that are sinful, all that are injurious to

your soul's best welfare ; and come to

the possession of that pleasure which
now is satisfying without being polluting
tial world; we shall again enjoy afresh
those seasons, and those scenes of com- and it will be the commencement of endmunion with God, which have now sanc- less felicity. Remember your opportunithey are all presented to you totified many a spot, and made it dearer to ties
us than any other that can be found on night: we speak not of them in the past
the face of the whole world; we shall tense; God is here, waiting to be graremember all those victories over sin, and cious: Christ is here, in the fulness of
self, and Satan, and the world, through his mediatorial grace, as the way to the
which we were conducted by the omnipo- Father; the Spirit is here, waiting to rewe shall remem- new and sanctify your hearts; the Bible
tent grace of our God
ber all those seasons of conference and is here, to direct you in all those high,
the mico-operation, which Ave spent in this sacred and mysterious concerns

which memory now so delights

to travel,

will be travelled over again in the celes-

world of ours, and then and there see the

results of all that we now do for Christ,
results which we cannot at present, in
our partial ignorance, anticipate

Vol.

IL 16

we shall

nisters of religion are here, to help

in

to

you

from the city of destruction

the city and habitation of God ; your

your

parents,

flight

young people,

are here, seated

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122

PULPIT.

by your side, perhaps, to-night, sending analogous difficulties, and, in many reup many an earnest prayer on your be- spects, difficulties of a more mysterious
half; and perhaps, almost turning upon

you as the

preaclier goes on, not with

tlie

taunt of Abraliam to the rich man, but

with all the affection of a father's or a

mother's heart, saying, " Son, remember."

Remember now thy Creator in the days
of thy youth, ere the evil days

come

which no place

Remem-

and less tractable character, that, with

any rational and

consistent theist,

friend of revelation

may

the

soon bring the

controversy to a close. Let the words

of revelation be received as the production of that

same Mind which gave being

and law to the rational inand then the congruity, in the

ber now your impressions, your convic- nature and extent of the mysteries and diftions, your resolutions ; call them to re- ficulties, discernible in all the separate dePerhaps there are some who partments of his works, becomes rather a
collection.
take them seal if unify than an argument of contrahave begun to lose them ;
up again to-night; would God the preach- diction, and should be construed into an
er may have come up for this blessed pur- identity rather than into a discrepancy of
pose, of retouching and retracing some authorship. It is to be admitted that there
impressions that have almost vanished might be difficulties of such a nature as
completely tocancel and set aside theclaim
from the heart. O begin again to-iiight
shall be found.

in

" I will
again the resolution
serve the Lord ;" take up again the purpose of surrendering yourself to him,
take up

and becoming his

grant that this

for ever

may be

and ever. God

the case.

to the universe,

telligences,

every difficulty or
mystery, however, that can, even by infidels, be supposed to annul these pretensions: they seem, by the very effort of exaggeration, to be conscious that every diffito inspiration. It is not

for it is the culty, and every mysterious page in reveIn conclusion, remember
substance of the sermon short and un- lation, do not amount to a forfeiture of
certain as is your existence in this world, its claims. Hence the laborious artifices,
your character is perpetually receiving the special pleadings, employed to magand you are nify some of these hard places into abhere the stamp of eternity
all, and always, and everywhere, and surdities, some into philosophical imposin all things, gathering those materials sibilities, and others into a violation of
which must inevitably be the source of the moral principles of human nature;

the most tormenting or the rn st felicitous recollections throughout eternity.

SCniPTTUTRE DIFFICULTIES.

and hence, too, the grosser and more vulgar artifice of construing the vices, or the
occasional lapses of the leading characters of Scripture, to the discredit of reve-

lation,

NO.

It

is

work of

duce, as far

II.

importance to reas possible, both the number

vital

or

even of

Every degree of

its

author himself.

difficulty

short of in-

volving a contradiction to the perfections

of the Deity, a violation of the law of

and the force of scripture difficulties ; at reason, or the moral sense of conscience,
all events, to show that, whatever is their may be consistent with inspiration, and
number and their nature, there is not one may be perfectly congruous with all that
If so much is
that can fairly be construed into an in- can be known of God.
validation of the primary claim, which shown, the Deist is left without excuse,
revelation sets up for itself, of being the and his infidelity involves him in the
word of God. The departments of na- charges of inconsistencj and absurdity
Benson.
ture and of providence supply so many

SERMON

XII.

THE SUFFERINGS AND TRIUMPH OF CHRIST.

BY THE REV.

"When
days,

and

and

thou shalt

R. S.

M'ALL, A.M.

make

the pleasure

shall be satisfied."

his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his
of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul,

Isa.

liii.

10, 11.

where the meekness and humility of

the might and
which require to be noticed.
majesty of the Godhead. We sometimes
First,
The aspect in which that form not only an inadequate judgment of
WORK IS HERE REPRESENTED BY WHICH these sufferings, but one which is not
OUR Saviour accomplished his great sufficiently practical in its tendency beUNDERTAKING.
cause we do not connect as we ought the
It is not necessary to make any apolo- union of the two natures, in our own megy for applying this passage to Jesus ditations upon this subject. The divinity
Christ.
The most pathetic of all the of the sufferer extracts from our sympaprophets here places in our view the ago- thies. We know, indeed, that the divine
nies which the Saviour endured on earth, nature did not suffer, but this did not prein connexion with the glory that should vent him from feeling all that he was capafollow. The passage teaches us.
It only made him
ble of feeling as man.
That the sufferings of Christ were more capable of feeling, and added to the
In calling your attention to this inte-

resting passage, there are

three things

flict

the

man were mingled with

expiatory and piacular.

No explanation
can be given of them consistent with the
character of God, but that he was punish-

ed

poignancy and intensity of his sufferings.

He had a spirit unequalled for sensibility and affection, and keenness of feeling.
To form a just conception of his

by way of propitiation. " All we,

have gone astray we have sorrow, we must unite the ideas of com-

like sheep,

turned every one of us to his

own way

passion for the grief of the distressed,

and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity and horror at what was cruel and unjust;
of us all."
It reminds us also,
of indignation at the oppressor, and pity
That his sufferings were voluntary. for the oppressed ; of a wish to deliver
The words would more properly be ren- the guilty, and an abhorrence of iheir
dered, " when his soul shall make an sin.
We must connect all the iniquity
Intimating that he which he witnessed, and all the knowby the agency of another, ledge he had of the human heart. We
but of himself. Also,
must think of all the wickedness, the
That his sufferings were most intense hardness of heart, the unbelief, the deand auful. Reaching to the bottom of pravity, the unholiness of man; to give
overwhelming him with horror us a just idea of his sorrow. All his days
his soul
and dismay. " The travail of his soul." were grief; his whole life was a pilgrimThe expression implies, extremity of toil age of wo. Good men have always felt
and labour active and energetic suffer- keenly the wickedness and distress of
ing a struggle with conflicting tenden- others. Paul was filled with indignation
cies
the utmost agony of spirit
a con- when he saw a city wholly given up to
133
offering

for

sin."

suffered, not

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124

PULPIT.

Elijah was filled with grief at What was required to have still wished
beholding the wickedness of Israel. Jere- the welfare of those by whom he was
miah wept abundant tears for his sin- deserted
To have felt the scorn of his
But what were the emo- impotent but implacable foes
ful country.
What
tions of the soul of Jesus when he saw must he have felt when a rude hand smote
men abandoned to the evils of their na- him when he was bound when they
What distress must he have felt railed on him in mockery, and bowed the
ture
as he passed through cities wholly aban- knee before him
when they gave him
doned to crime
If his approach to Jeru- gall to drink
when they bade him come
salem caused him to shed tears, how down from the cross when even the
abundant must have been the tears he thieves reviled him
O what was then
shed over a lost world
Add to this the required to go as a lamb to the slaughter,
fearful preparations for his death
the to bow with meek submission, to be
malice of his enemies the fears of his dumb as a sheep before its shearers
But
friends
the false-heartedness of the trai- all this was little compared with the last
tor who was about to deliver him t> his act of his spirit, when he offered himself
foes.
All was fully anticipated by him. as a sacrifice for the sinful.
He longed to enter on his sufferings, yet
know nothing of the nature of this
trembled at the idea of what he had to sacrifice but this we know, that it was
" I have a baptism to be bap- an act of amazing energy, of strenuous
encounter.
tized with," said he, " and how am I labour.
It was not submission merely ;
straitened till it is accomplished."
But it was a direct and positive consecration
when the hour actually arrived, what of his whole being; as if he would place
must have been his feelings'?
Well himself on the altar, and become himself
This was " the
might he exclaim, " My soul is exceed- the sacrificing priest.
ing sorrowful, even unto death !" He travail of his soul.''^ True, it was mystebeheld all, overpowered with terrific rious ; but while it serves for the salvagrandeur.
He well knew how heavy tion of the redeemed, it is enough ; and
was that burden of wrath which his Fa- it shall be progressively unfolded in
ther was about to cause to fall upon him. glory.
Let us notice,
He saw the sword undrawn, and felt already the keenness of its edge. When
Secondly, The sublime and heavenly
he hung upon the cross, the angels of SATISFACTION ARISING TO THE REDEEMER
heaven and the spirits of the deep all be- IN CONTEMPLATING THE EFFECT OF HIS
held the conflict with suspense.
Even SUFFERINGS.
inanimate creation felt a pause. And not
It is the pleasure arising from the exCompared with this,
till his sacred head had fallen helpless on
pectation of success.
his bosom
not till his eyes were closed all the charms of wealth and fame sink
This cheers the
not till his blood was cold, and his into insignificance.
whole frame stitFened, did the earth cease loftiest spirits under all they are called
idolatry.

We

sun come from his darkto put forth

But then, nature resumed
their dead.
her wonted appearance.
had he sunk
in that awful hour, where had been the
hopes of guilty men how changed had
been the aspect of this auspicious day
What then had been our doom
Where
then would have been those songs of
praise which now fill every heart with joy!
What hopes and feelings should we now
have cherished amidst the blackness and
darkness of eternity

It is greatest in

the greatest

to tremble, the

to

ness, of the graves cease

minds. This idea was habitual to Christ,

and it sustained him amidst all his suffer" He for the joy that
ings and sorrows.
was set before him endured the cross,"
&c. And it is this which still cheers him ;

But what resolution

was

required

suffer.

for

it

yet remains to be fully realized.

down on the right hand of God

he had offered one sacrifice for sins ;
from henceforth expecting, till his enemies be made his footstool."
// is the pleasure of the most pure and
exalted benevolence.
By the kind and
"

He

sat

after

merciful appointment of our Maker,

we

THE SUFFERINGS AND TRIUMPH OF

CHRIST.

125

how mighty the

are made to feel pleasure in removing that the change effected
But how much
which causes pain. What an ecstasy of consequences involved
delight is felt when we have unbarred greater is this work where the understandwhere the conscience is
the dungeon of the prisoner, and burst ing is darkened
How great, seared where the whole life, with all its
the fetters of the slave.
where the man seems
then, must have been the joy of ihe plans, is polluted
Saviour, when by his sufferings he chang- as if the brand of perdition were already
ed the sounds of deepest misery into stamped upon his forehead, and the chains
sounds of unspeakable joy. See him of darkness were already wrapped around
when he ascended up on high, " leading him, and as if the adamantine spell were
I

never to be broken
How awful is the
men, even for the rebellious."
The state of the infidel of the blasphemer,
heavenly powers crowd around his cha- &c. And how mighty must be that influence by which these are renewed
But
they mark his honourable scars
riot
the most inveterate
the crown of thorns is exchanged for a the change ensues
diadem of glory the reed for the sceptre habits are loosened the chains are
of omnipotence scoffs and revilings for broken. A mighty hand has loosened the
light
adoration and triumph
the prison door is opened
All but his bonds
wounds are changed all but the marks penetrates the recesses of the dungeon ;
These remain and they sounds of peace are heard and the captive
of laceration
show that he has turned the weapon upon lifts his eyes to heaven in transports of
himself.
Behold him upborne before the joy
And what must be the joy of the
Ancient of days
The kingdom divine Redeemer while the redeemed soul passes
is given him
a kingdom that shall not from darkness and enters the light of
And now, what can be God
The curse is cancelled the senpass away
the
added to all this ] What more can be tence of condemnation is erased
captivity captive, and receiving gifts for

enjoyed

It is

not the undissembled, the

unanimous acclamations of angels nor,

which is above all this, the decided approval of his Father, which constitutes
;

No; he looks
something more suitable to the ample
benevolence of his soul. It is to behold
a renovated universe made to share his
honours it is to see the souls for whom
he suffered brought to the possession of

doom

Hell trembles
and heaven exults with acclamations of triumph
This satisfaction is to be estimated
of eternity is reversed

his sublimest satisfaction.

only by considering the knowledge of

for

this

suck satisfaction as springs

from

importance and difficulty of the

event brought to an accomplishment,
I
speak not now of the way in which salvation was purchased ; but of the way in
the great

of the way

all

We

know

the process and its effects, in

both as to ourselves and others.
But the whole is fully known to him.
Could we but look within, and see the

only

part,

opposition of principles

his glory.
It is

which the Saviour possesses.

corruption
of death.
the

first

the struggles of

the conflict with the

Could we witness the

kindling ray of light

powers
effect of

could

we

by the new and

and the beauty which is

see the change produced

spiritual creation,

which not soon to fade, but to flourish for ever, we

the sinner is brought from the bondage of might then have some better conception
corruption, into the liberty of the sons of of the mighty operation.
But he sees
God. Even when the individual has been the whole, from the first germ, to the
blessed with a pious education, and all period when mortality is swallowed up
around concurs to make him pious and of life. He sees all, from the first sigh,
To
the work of salvation goes regularly on, to the triumphant song of praise.
till it ends in the joys of heaven
even in him, the darkness of the abyss of wo

which

it

is

applied

in

such a case, how great are the difficulties and the unutterable joys of heaven are
it meets with from within
how fearful ever present. He is fully aware of the
the opposition encountered
how great torments of the damned, which know
1.3
;

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126

PULPIT.

alleviation, and which time cannot ex- influence of his atonement forms the chief
haust
and also the joys and bliss of doctrine of the gospel. Indeed, it may
heaven, which shall run on for ever
properly be called the gospel itself; it is
// is sutisfuclion arising from the pecuthis which makes it glad tidings.
Sepaliar relation of his character and ivork, to rate from this, the doctrines of immorta-

no

the event ilsef,

With what

and

all its consequences.

satisfaction did the apostles,

confessors, and martj'rs, rejoice

lity,

of the resurrection, of judgment to

come, &c. are

all

sources of dismay and

me

not that the record of

success of their labours, in the result of my crimes shall be brought before God ;
their toils, and especially in the last scene that the trumpet of the archangel shall
of their lives when they closed their eyes summon me into the presence of my
in

the

Tell

horror.

But tell me how my sins may

the friends Maker
who have struggled be blotted out, and my crimes for ever
Avith so many difficulties, now see the wiped away
Tell me this, and I shall
fruit of their labours
The slave of listen to the sound of the trumpet with
Demerara, the wanderer of Africa, and joy, and it shall be to me the tidings of
the superstitious Brahmin, now join in the purity and heaven.
Whether we invesin blood

With what joy do

of this institution,

songs of the redeemed. But he sees all

he knows all his converts, and he is not
:

ashamed
tlon for

to call

them

is

them brethren; hisaflec- character of man,

intimate, and his joy in

their salvation is great.

result of

his death

And

Christian

about

is

when

the

and agonies alone.

In the last scene of his

yea,

it is all

to

go

life,

when

the

his

eternity

his wickedness,

ness, and helplessness

or

the

weak-

or the character of

Christ, his humility, his cross, or his glory

they

is this

all refer

us to this doctrine, and

which gives them

and glory.

to his rcAvard

the crown is placed upon his

God, his holiness,

tigate the character of

his immutability,

all

Beside, there

trine so truly Christian.

is

it

their interest

no other

The

doc

heathen, in-

some expiation is necesand the very nature of the sacrifices

He fixes his eyes on the countenance of they offer implies that there should be a
the Redeemer, and all the glories of relation between the sacrifice and the naheaven are lost in the bright vision of ture of the persons who have sinned. But
Christ and his glory. And these emo- never has the removal of the guilt of sin
tions of joy will be reciprocal.
The been represented as the design of Deity,
Saviour will delight in his people, and his and not as the wish of the sacrificer himpeople will delight in him. O think of self; never has the victim been represented
head, and he
joy,

what

is

the period

When

is arraj^ed in

the garments of

the source of his exultation

when they

ed

all

holy as angels,

shall all be collect-

heart shall be joined to heart,

all filled

with the fruits

deed, believe that

sary

as provided

by God, and

not

by man, and

an object infinitely dear to

him; and never has that sacrifice been
that

victim

This will represented as efficacious, and as an obbe the consummation of his joy. Then ject to be confided in. The whole range
his triumph will begin ; then his joy will of thought, and all the annals of history,
be complete then not one effort will be furnish no such scenes of humility and
unblessed, not one wish uncrowned This grandeur, as are associated in the hall of
leads us to consider,
Pilate, the sorrows of the garden, and the
Thirdly, The certainty that this ignominy of the cross. Other systems
SALVATION SHALL BE FINALLY REALIZED.
agitate, alarm, appal
this soothes, raThe connexion of this passage fur- vishes the soul, excites the obedience of
nishes our
love, and the ardour of hope.
This
First Argument.
The sufferings of makes the system apart from all that is
Christ are assumed as the basis of this human
the very conception is as singuassurance, and lead us to observe the lar as it is sublime.
Other founders of
natural and inherent attraction of this religion, though many of them sagacious,
doetrine.
The inseparable and certain appealed not once in their whole history
of righteousness and peace

THE SUFFERINGS AND TRIUMPH OF

CHRIST.

127

strong-est, the

Christianity have done much, but there

our feelings, the principle

of sympathy and love. Now, the gospel

has never been even the attempt by the

to

which forms the

that

simplest of
is

all

calculated to excite these in the highest

By this means it is not only

adapted to us, but is proved to be the
design of Him alone who knows the
degree.

ThFs ensures

heart.

among

its

universality,

its

They have

abettors of false religions.

founded no missions, they have made no

efforts to effect the happiness and salvaOther systems may
tion of mankind.
have forced themselves on the attention,
and their principles may have been en-

mankind, wherever forced by the sword and by blood but

there is grief to be consoled, or sin to be the gospel alone has been propagated by
forgiven.
peace and love. When was it ever heard
But this certainly arises,
that the abettors of the pagan religion
2dly, From the tendency of the gospel endured trials and sufferings to propagate
Where are the graves of
to an unlimited and ceaseless diffusion. their system 1
We may here refer to the first periods of their reformers and missionaries, who
Christianity. 'The apostles submitted to aimed to do good, and died in the attempt ?
loss
they yielded to what was imposed When has the Brahmin or the Hindoo
upon them ; they counted not their lives ever traversed our shores, in order to condear to them
they were content to be vert us to the belief of the Sanscrit, and
We
poor that they might bring the tidings the worship of their divinities'?
They have heard, indeed, of the efforts of infiof ntisearchable riches to others.
esteemed themselves nothing; their work delity to subvert Christianity but what
engaged all their thoughts the miseries sacrifices have they made to do this T
of the world absorbed them ; a desire to Where are their missionaries rW'hy, with
save that world influenced them with an all the love which they profess for men,
ardour which nothing could abate; and this and their rooted enmity to all superstiwas all the reward they sought, that they tion ; why do they not seek to Aveaken
might make known to those by whom they and remove the superstitions which have
were doomed to death, the tidings of sal- so long held Tartary and China in bondvation and joy.;, Holy men day-stars from age ?
Why, seeing they are so very beon high! It is to them, under God, we nevolent, do they not seek to clothe the
owe all our means of grace the principles naked Indian ? And with all their zeal
and hopes of Christianity all that glad- for peace and amity, why do they not
dens mankind all that causes happiness seize from his grasp the tomahawk and the
in this world, or in that which is to come.
scalping knife, and prevent the recurrence
They tell
This gave rise to missionary exertions
of murder and of bloodshed 1
but the principle before was unknown. In us of their love of freedom of their abacceptance

all

we

see every thing calculated

horrence

simple; its
doctrines are easily apprehended its rites
its sacrifices are unbloody
are few
its
promises are joy and peace; its duties
are practicable
it hopes are unspeakably

tempt of

the gospel

for extension.

Its

faith is

The

bright.

character of

the

gospel,

therefore, is favourable to universal diffu-

sion

it

has been, and

it

will not cease

employed with the greatest effect,

till the necessity for employing it shall be
done away.
But the spirit of missions is not only
to be

one principal feature of the gospel

it is

of priestcraft

their

con-

denominated religion ;
let them look, then, at native savages, and
What are they not
try to benefit them.
men 1 Why, then, do they not pity
them] Why do they not seek to elevate
them to the rank of men ? Why do they
not aim to exalt them by science and by
truth?
Are they not bending under the
yoke of bondage and oppression'? Then,
all

that is

why
Is

do they not attempt

there

priestcraft

men

to liberate

among them no
?

Among

Men who what have

have embraced even

forms of attempted? 'y^\vaX

they done ?

them

juggling,

them, then,

exert themselves!

peculiar to that system alone.

corrupt

of

let

these

will not ask,

What have

trials

no

they

have they en-

THE BRITISH

128
dured

What

PULPIT.

have they made 1 names behind them. It has made this

of their mar- land the cherished abode of freedom, the
the print of their feet centre of the arts, the nursery of benevoWhere have been seen lence, the Pharos of the world.

sacrifices

Where

are the

monuments

tyrs?

Where

is

upon the desert

their attempts to relieve the perishing, to

succour the distressed 1 No, brethren ;

these are not the triumphs of such men.
It is not thus they have chosen to display
the result of their principles.

No;

From

amazing progress.
is not more
than it has effected. No enemy remains
to be conquered which has not already
4thly,

What

its

the gospel has to do

We

been vanquished.
hope, indted, for
nothing from the agency of men ; but for
labours belong to the very men they ma- every thing from the omnipotence of God.
lign.
This is the very department of When at first the whole Roman empire
Christianity; and those who possess it was confederated for its destruction, it rose
praise is at once given up to us

this

these

triumphantly over all. When all the

learning of Greece conspired to counteract
is embraced, ike greatest temporal advan- it, it overthrew their boasted philosotages in connexion with its spiritual bene- phy. The disputers of this world, with
That which philosophy aimed in all their commanding eloquence, were
fits.
vain to accomplish,, Christianity has done. unable to resist the authority of the goswill aim at its universal diffusion.

From

3dly,

its

conferring, wherever

it

once destroyed by its influ- pel. The marble effigies of their heroes
teaches the barbarian to seek and gods, together with the temples that
another's benefit, instead of smiling at contained them, have crumbled away, and
the reeking knife and the warm blood of left behind them little more than the mea human victim. Instead of revenge and mory of their names. What difficulties,
Idolatry

is at

ence.

It

blood,

it

Additional

breathes peace and affection.

loveliness is given to the

scenery of nature.

changed

for the rural

cities rise,

Rome, imperial Rome, has

1
The swamp is ex- passed away and Greece, Corinth, and
village. Towns and Athens, where are they ]
But the gospel
;

and temples and palaces

ter in the waste.

The

ships of

It is

not espoused by a

commerce few fishermen merely

it has taken deep

and not in nations

glit-

which were once desolate; and savages are converted into men.
Observe what missionaries have accomplished
what civilization they have introduced
what sanctity has been added
to the dearest ties of nature, by religion.
See how Christianity has turned carnage
and war into peace and gentleness. See
what it has done for children, striving,
are seen in places

like

the prophet in

the wilderness,

" make ready a people prepared

Lord."

Who

then, can be presented to the spread of

the gospel

does not from

to

for the

shall triumph.

root in all nations

only,

but

in

minds

shall oppose it?

are vast
is

We

And what

also.

believe that there

that there
that myriads are

masses of ignorance

extensive desolation

bound by the spell of an infernal agency ;

we remember the extent of Mohammedan
superstition

we

we take all

into the account

confess that these things form a strong

barrier

to

human

efforts.

But already

the holy banners of the cross are seen

waving on the

citadels of Zion ; even

behold her pearly gates already
mount all difficulties, till it sits enthroned crowds inhabit her ; and soon shall she
in triumph over all mankind.' If all this be filled with all nations, and kindred,
is seen more fully in the islands of the and people, and tongues.
No sophistry
South sea, it is only because it is there can be employed against her greater than
seen and felt at once in its influence on a that of Porphyry and Julian ; no opposiwhole people because it is there brought tion morefierce than that of Nero and Cali-

cipate a complete triumph

all this anti-

It shall sur-

now we

But what it has done

has in fact done in every country
called Christian, through the instru-

into full display.

there,

now

it

mentality of

men who have

not left their

gula; no barbarism more rude than that

of Scythia and Britain ; no darkness
greater than that of Esquimaux and Hottentots.

Nothing can be brought against

THE SUFFERINGS AND TRIUMPH OF

more formidable than has already been
overcome. "The Lord of hosts is with
the God of Jacob is our refuge."
us
5lhly, From the promises of final success, and the encouraging appearances in
the circumstances of the church in the precannot contemplate these
sent day.
it

We

wiihout humility and gratitude.

We feel

CHRIST.

129

and of party have long been opposed

prescribed will of God. These
days, however, are passing away. The
church is roused from her lethargy ; she
to the

has listened to the voice of

calls her to arise,

to

make

Him who

the solitary

places glad, to cause the wilderness to

and blossom as the rose. And

rejoice

now, what may we not hope to accom?

Formerly we had great hindoing with the efforts and zeal of its first derances; we had but few agents, &;c.
promoters. Had we been imitators of But now, thousands of our brethren share
the apostles, what prospects might not in our sympathies, stimulate us in our
But other mo- labours, assist us by their exertions, and
now have burst upon us

much is doing, and

when we compare what we

grateful that so

yet

we

are

blush

plish

An ordinary
have actuated us. Theirs was a rejoice in our success.
manly temper of mind, contemplating Christian may now effect what would
But what is have required the energy of the apostolic
great and noble objects
ours] Alas! though there are some ho- character in days that are passed away.
nourable exceptions, they are, in general, When the world had long been in darkwhat we should be ashamed to name, and ness, God raised up those master spirits,
and if
even blush to feel. But it is better that Luther, Zuinglius, Knox, &c.
the censure should fall on us, than on our their successors had followed up their
cause.
It is better that scoffs should be efforts, the world had soon been enlighttives

levelled

at us, than

which assure us that

what it is destined

ened. At such periods men are raised

become up, who might in other times have pined
we had away in inactivity. We cannot estimate

at the declarations
it is

not yet

to be.

If

commission, the difficulties would have long since rolled

away. W^e rejoice that the apathy is removing ; and that there are so many
whose lustre is so great, that it is almost
enough for our honour that we are their
contemporaries.
There have been many
missionaries ; and tliere are others fired
with the same ardour, and yearning with
the same compassion over the souls of
men, and longing for their salvation. By
many of these I am now surrounded ;
many have borne the burden and heat of
the day ; in hope they have rejoiced
against hope
they have been strong in

too highly the qualifications of a missionary ; nor can we sufficienly rejoice that

they would not relinquish what they have

great

been

faithful to our

many have been raised up. There

may be services which require equal
there may be enterprises even
skill
so

But there are none

more dangerous.
which require such simplicity, such spinone which take their colour so
rituality
completely from another world. Here
;

there is not the stimulus of earthly ambition ; there is no compelling necessity to

no great consequences to be dreadHere all is

drawing back.
all is voluntary and
peaceful and solemn
spontaneous all is plain and simple,
A single eye and a
faith, giving glory to God in seasons of tending to one end.
darkness and difficult}^. Being persuaded single heart is all that is needed. A
of the promise, they embraced it, though Christian missionary is an honourable
afar off, assured that what he had pro- man ; though he be mean in the eyes of
mised he was able to perform.
And the world, and scorned by some, he is a
urge

ed from

man, the more

illustrious for that

very scorn. The age of violence and of

have suffered, for all the privations they blood is gone ; but the feelings w^hich
have endured. To such men as these, I animated the martyrs are not extinct;
am not disposed to address the language they still glow in many breasts the spiof censure. I would share in their zeal, rit of the martyrs is among our missionseen, for all the

sleepless

nights they

and rejoice in their success. Still, what

have we done % The spirit of the world

You 1117

aries.

Missions are no longer

to

be regarded

THE BRITISH

130

as schemes of doubtful success.

plans of operation are matured
stations are determined

PULPIT,

heritance

if we have
among them

tified

we

Their redeemed
;

their

obstacles have

if

an in-

obtained
that

sanc-

are

can look forward to the

success has heavenly kingdom; we owe it all to the

;
been afforded. Many have embraced the goodness of our God. What, then, shall
gospel; and their influence is extending we account it too much to suffer and to
like so many radii to every part of the do 1 Here we may display the promptness
circle.
A wave offering is presented to of our obedience. For this is his comthe Lord, and the rich harvest will fol- mand. All are under his control ; some
low. The handful of corn sown on the with and some against their will; some
top of the mountain, shall grow and be- so as to enhance their reward, others so
come as the cedars of Lebanon ; the little as to add to their misery. But how
one shall become a thousand. A single awfnl will it be to facilitate, like Pilate
pagan added to the church, becomes the and Judas, the plans of salvation, which
pledge of millions; the foundation of the will have no influence on them at last!
enemy's citadel is sapped, its strength be- To which class of agents do you belong ?
gins to decline, and its fortresses shall be How forciby does this great cause appeal
overturned. In one truly converted, we to our compassion. Myriads are perishsee a germ which shall vegetate, and fill ing in sin and debased by crimes ; seekdesert regions
we see one who shall ing heaven by sacrifices of greater horror
cause songs to be raised on account of than the very crimes which they are to
myriads.
propitiate.
See them hurried forward
Light springs up.
The gloom and into eternity
A succession of immordarkness of ages has vanished. There is tal beings is ever on the march from one
no error no idolatry. The voice of tu- region of existence to another from seen
mult, and the trumpet sounding to war to unseen
from that which is probationand bloodshed, is silenced. There shall ary to that which is unalterable from
be no sword bathed in slaughter. None that which is finite to that which is inshall invade by violence the property of finite ; a change to a world where their
his neighbour.
Wasting and destruction destiny is fixed for ever. Of these, how
shall no more be heard.
The Sabbath of few have ever seen that light which is to
the world is come. Notes of joy shall direct their steps to the vast unknown
arise from every part.
The name of state of existence how few have heard
Christian shall be hallowed. Kings shall the tidings of salvation
O that we
lay their sceptres at the feet of Christ. could view this dreadful procession of
Legislators shall prevent evil, and not souls to the tribunal of God
We caninflict it.
Government shall show that not; but they are passing along, some to
they are but subordinate agents. The regions of wo, and some to bliss ; some
kingdoms of this world shall become are pressing down to darkness
and
the kingdoms of our God and of his others, from all they enjoyed in the world,
Christ; and all things shall be put un- are just about to have their light and joy
der his feet.
His empire shall be the shrouded in darkness for ever
And
boundaries of the earth ; and it shall be where is the minister of peace to guide
said of Zion, " Behold, thy God reign- them 1
Where is the Saviour to deliver,
th !"
where the intercessor to plead for them 1
but there is no eye to pity,
( And now, brethren, what a variety of They die
motives are here exhibited to animate us no arm to save them. And shall we withthat we may extend to all mankind the hold instruction ?
We have the means ;
benefits of the gospel salvation.
Here those means are sufficient, and are deall may find motives; here is a lav/ful signed to be universal.
O tell them of
sphere for ambition ; here is ample room the sacrifice and blood of Christ of the
yielded to their exertions

'

Lamb

God that takes away sin. Show

We were once involved in darkness and them how they may enter by a new and
in guilt ourselves
and if we have been living way into the holiest of all. Show

for the exercise of devotional gratitude.

of

THE SUFFERINGS AND TRIUMPH OF

them how,

may

thouofh laden with sin, they

Show them the

fountain in which they may be cleansed
from all impurity. How they who are
afar off may be brought nigh, be made
admission.

find

kings and priests unto God, and be satisfied in his presence for ever and ever.
These, brethren, are the motives by
which we would excite you to a renewal
of those exertions and contributions which

you have been accustomed

to render.

will not debase the subject

by using any

inferior motives

sented, he

for wliere these are pre-

generous feelings
who can refuse. But I ask not that man's
offering
I would have this cause served
is

dead to

all

by willing Christian

offerings.

We plead

not with skeptics.

Our only

real

we

our hands,

CHRIST.

131

should remember that

contains the revelation of

and

it

may

God

to

it

man

naturally, therefore, be expect-

many things beyond man's

understanding, and to discourse of many
subjects both novel and mysterious.
2.
The greater part of these writings

ed to include

was composed to serve a present purpose

and, unless we enter into that purpose,
and are prepared to follow the argument,
we must of course fail to comprehend the
writer.
3.

As

these hooks are of extreme an-

tiquity, they of course refer to

facts,

persons,

places,

opinions of antiquity

customs,

prejudices,

many

and

of which

have long since died and been forgotten

unless we recall them to mind, the refermies are presumption and confidence; ence will be unintelligible.
our only hope is perseverance, reflection,
4. The books which we are concerned
and pra}'er.
to understand do not come to us as they
This society is confined within no nar- were written. Their original languages
row, party, sectarian views. It has for are not generally understood, and we
thirty years pursued its course.
God has read them in all the disadvantages of a
This translation may be
been pleased to bless its exertions, by translation.
causing whole nations to renounce idola- imperfect, or its expressions may have
try, &c.
Persevere in your course in become obsolete ; and, in some cases, the
proportion to the extent of your means ; learned authors may have mistaken the
and supplicate the blessing and the grace sense of their originals.
of God.
Grant me but this, and I have
To one or other of these sources, may
no more to ask ; my end is answered, my most of our difficulties be referred.
success is sure.
And we apprehend that any one of
Missions are services of toil, but we such difficulties is, to a common reader,
have not to share them. Other men have insurmountable. (1.) If it arise from the
taken this toil upon them, and have profound m3'Steriousness of the theme,
hazarded their lives for the sake of even the largest and most cultivated mind

Men whom

Christ.

no

no danger of the sea

pestilence of clime, can divert from

their purpose.

them

ene-

We

pledge ourselves

to

that they shall not fail through the

And much
fail to comprehend it.
more he, who is little accustomed to
may

intellectual

which

exertion.

(2.)

Difficulties

rest in the line of argumentation

and proof employed, or in perceiving the

and object of the writer, are not
hunger, of cold, or of nakedness in a likely to be solved without some illustrastrange land.
(3.) Allution and help from others.
sions, and figurative diction, do absolutely
failure of

we

will

our pecuniary supplies

not permit them

that

to perish

of end

require literary and classical explanation.

SCRZFTURZ: DXFFECUZaTIIlS.
NO.

The

difficulties

(4.) Obscurities in the English words,

or misconceptions of the meaning, from

III.

which

are

met with

in

the understanding of the Scriptures, arise

from various causes to point out some

of these causes is the object of the
:

present paper.
1,

When we

take the Scripture into

or men can be safe, cannot

be remedied but by the aid of superior
learning, such as we can only come at by
On all which acthe help of books.

which no man

counts, the English reader of the Scriptures must sometimes feel his loss ; and

THE BRITISH

132

without the means of applying

to

books,

These books

he will be helpless.

are

often costly, and often useless to the persons who most need their help. Hence
the duty of the public teachers of religion

giving their attention to clear up in some

measure the difficulties the people may
find.
And hence one instance of the
of a

necessity

standing

ministry,

which reference may be had

to

for informa-

we know what the writer wishes

Now, sometimes this is not so
readily discovered.
Many examples in
ble, if

to prove.

book of Job, ix. 22 24

in the
Psalms, xl. xlv. xlix. in the Prophets,
the

Isa.

xxi.; in the Epistles,

Cor.

i.

We

17

may

23.

Thess.

observe,

Rom.

iii.

2.

iv. 15.

by the way, from

these latter instances, in the Epistles of

Paul,

how

little

credit is

enemies of Christianity,

tion.

We

PULPIT.

due

to

those

who would have

now

proceed to adduce a few ex- us suppose, that the early believers were
difficulty already weak silly enthusiasts, the letters written to these people show, that they must
1.
Difficulties necessarily resulting have been men of good sense and sound
understanding, or they never could have
from the nature of the subject.
The sacred writers being inspired to understood them.

amples of each kind of

mentioned.

3. Difficulties arising from the facts

speak of the unseen world, of eternal objects, of the invisible and infinite God, and customs alluded to.
Customs. Ps. cviii. 9. Josh. ix. 4.
are in the situation of Paul after he had
been in paradise he found himself una- Matt. ix. 17. Acts xxii. 25.
Persons. Acts xxiv. 25. Felix and
ble to express what he had seen and
heard so as to make himself understood. Drusilla. 2 Tim. iv. 16, 17. 1 John ii.
1822. 2 John 7. 9. Antichrists.
2 Cor. xii. 4. Dan. xii. 8.
Places. Ps. cxxxiii. 3. Comp. Deut.
When they speak of God, it cannot be
but that their language should be sublime iv. 48.
Opinions.
and obscure, beyond our full comprehenEph. iii. 5, 6.
Matt,
sion.
Exod. iii. 13 15. Does any man xii. 24.
understand this 1 Job xi. 7, 8.
Adages. Matt. xxi. 21. 2 Cor. xiii.
When they speak of the Son of God, 2. Matt. xix. 24. Jer. xiii. 23.
human language is not adapted to express
4. From an imperfect, mistaken, or
the subject, and human understandings obsolete translation.
cannot fully know it.
Imperfect. Gen. xiv. 22. 2 Kings
John i. 1 5.

Matt. xi. 27.

iii.

The being and

Spirit are
iii.

attributes of the

beyond our thoughts.

8.

The unseen world

heaven

Holy

9.

John
hell.

4.

11. Isa. Iviii.

xxxii. 10.

Heb. iv. 5 iii. iv.

Mistaken. 1 John iii.
Obsolete. 2 Cor. viii.

Ps. xxxvi.

Gen. xlv.

16.
1.

Cor.

ir.

6.

Rev. xxi. &c.

It is our consolation to remember, that

which never can be no one article of our faith stands affected
by these difficulties.
perfectly understood, at least in this life
They leave the
but still they are more likely to be some- foundation of our hope immovable. The
what illustrated, when we borrow all the grace of Christian charity depends not
light and information which good and on the decision of controverted questions.
wise men, who have diligently studied, It is only our knowledge or desire of

These

are things

can give us.

which

2. Difficulties

result

from the

nature of the argumentation.

For instance,

some

inquiry,

if

we

we

read an answer to

shall

have

difficulty in

understanding the answer, unless we know

what the question was. If we read an

argument,

it

will be

much more

intelligi-

knowledge, that is hindered or mortified.

Knowledge is power. And as the same
great author has well said,
It was the
desire of power in excess that caused the

angels to fall
it was the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall ; but
in charity is

nor angels

no excess, neither can

in danger by it.

men

come

il

SERMON

XIII.

THE WORSHIPPERS IN THE HEAVENLY TEMPLE.

BY THE REV. CHARLES BRADLEY.

"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made
the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him
day and night in his temjile." Rev. vii. 14, 15.
them white in

The

figure under

which heaven

is

re-

presented to our view in this vision,

is

all

our desire; there live the Christian

friends,

who

w-ere once dear to our souls

crowded with worship- on earth and there, if we are the reThe deemed of the Lord, when the days of
pers, and resounding with praises.
that of a temple,

man who

loves the tabernacles

of the

are,

indeed, seasons

in

the life of the

own

our tribulation are ended, will be our

Lord as the saints of old loved them, will eternal home. O, rnay we
view this representation of his future enter that house of rest
residence with peculiar interest. There love to fix our thoughts on
contemplate

its

blessedness

all

one day

May we
it
!

all

now, and

May we

established Christian, in which the pros-

often experience, within these walls, a

pect of this heavenly temple brings to his

foretaste of its joys

heart a peace and a blessedness, which

pass

all

understanding.

While

his soul,

The

representation

which the beloved

disciple has here given us of the happiness

in the secrecy of retirement, is rising on

of the heavenly world, suggests

the wings of faith to the footstool of

four

its

subjects

for

these

our consideration

God, the veil, which conceals eternity temple, the worshippers in this temple,
from his sight, seems to be drawn aside, the nature of their worship, and the priand heaven, with all its glories, opens to vileges they enjoy. We shall, however,
He beholds the splendour of find sufficient matter for our present medihis view\
the heavenly house, he hears the songs of tation, if we confine our attention to the
its redeemed inhabitants, and deems him- two former of these subjects.
L Let us consider, first, the temple
self already a partaker in their joy.
Would we, my brethren, enter into the HERE SPOKEN OF.' It is a heavenly temple,
Christian's secret, and share his honours a holy place, not standing on this perishand his happiness? Our affections must able world, but having its foundations laid
first be fixed where his are fixed, on
on the everlasting hills of heaven. All
things above. We must have a treasure other temples have been erected by man,
in eternity, and our conversation must be but this temple has been built by Jehovah
Let us, then, this very hour, himself, to be the eternal dwelling place
in heaven.
strive to elevate our minds to the dwell- of his beloved church, and the seat of his
He dwelt, indeed,
ing place of God. W^hile seated in this own glorious throne.
earthly house of prayer, let us lift up our figuratively in the temple at Jerusalem,
thoughts to that glorious temple above us, and had the chambers of his priests surin which all the triumphant church are at rounding him on every side but he dwells
this very moment assembled and pouring visibly in this heavenly house, and is
There dwells the gradually collecting within its walls all
forth their praises.
Saviour, who is all our salvation and the countless myriads of his saints, and
33
;

THE BRITISH

134

make them

PULPIT.

and chapter, as standing round about the

throne, and falling before the throne on
Where this temple is, we know not, their faces, and worshipping God. But
"We are, indeed, taught to consider heaven these are not the worshippers referred to
but we in the text. There is another, and a more
as a state, rather than as a place
have reason to conclude, from several numerous class of priests, serving in this
passages of Scriptutr, that there is some temple, singing another and a louder song,
portion of the universe set apart to be the and occupying as honourable a place.
palace of its great King; that there is " These are they, which came out of
will

for ever ministering

rejoicing priests around

liis

throne.

within the

some

boundaries of the

creation

glorious world, where Jesus in his

human form now

where he

lives and reigns, and

will eventually assemble, with

washed their
made them white in the blood
Lamb."

great tribulation, and have

robes, and

of the
1.

This description reminds

us, first,

company of angels, all of the former condition of these worshipIt tells that it was an earthly conthe sinners of mankind whom his blood pers.
dition.
They were not, like the angels,
has purchased.
the innumerable

All that
it

we know

of this world

really exists, and that

purity and peace.

Our

it

is

is,

that

born in this house

they were natives of

a world of an apostate world, and had an

Bibles, indeed,

us something of its glories, and more

than our limited capacities can fully
comprehend; but still, the most glowing
descriptions that language can convey,
tell

origin.

once

The powers

earthly

of their nature were

far less exalted

than those of their

fellow worshippers, and they were altogether incapable of sharing in

many

of their

Their spirits were united to a

and the most exalted conceptions to which frail body, a body of humiliation, taken
our imaginations can reach, fall infinitely from the dust of the earth, and rapidly
short of that dazzling splendour which tending to dust again.
The
Their condition, too, was a sinful one.
fills the courts of the living God.
world which we inhabit, though defiled Their great tribulation was brought upon
by sin, and under the curse of God, has them by the greatness of their sins. Not
yet so much order, beauty, and magnifi- that they were more sinful than the other
cence in it, that we are often delighted inhabitants of the earth which they dwelt
and astonished as we contemplate its on, but they were once as much encomscenes.
What, then, must be the glory passed with infirmities as any of their
of that world which has never felt the brethren, as dead in trespasses and sins.
polluting touch of sin, which was pre- There is not one among them who was not
pared, before the foundations of the earth a transgressor while on earth, and who has
were laid, for the thrones of the redeemed, not to this very hour a remembrance of his
and adorned for a full display of the Al- guilt. It is this remembrance which makes
mighty's unclouded brightness ] Happy their gratitude so fervent, and their song
so loud. It is this which draws from them
are they who dwell in such a temple
Blessed is the man who is but a door- so exalted a hymn of praise, that the angels cannot reach its strains, and are
keeper in such a house
II. The happy beings who are the forced to wonder at its sweetness.
They were also in an afflicted condition.
WORSHIPPERS IN THIS SPLENDID TEMPLE
ARE DESCRIBED IN THE PASSAGE CONNECT- Not a single sorrow nor care now enters
ED WITH THE TEXT, AND OUR SECOND their hearts, yet they were once in " great
services.

Many

SUBJECT OF CONSIDERATION LEADS US TO

tribulation."

TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE.M.

a state of peculiar distress

of them

came out of

and sufferings.
Who, then, are these rejoicing worship- " They had trials of cruel mockings and
Many of scourgings yea, moreover, of bonds and
pers, and whence came they ?
them are natives of this heavenly world, imprisonment. They were stoned, were
and have been for countless ages minis- sawn asunder, were slain with the sword.
These are They wandered about in sheep skins
tering servants in this house.
described, ia the eleventh verse of this and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted,
;

tormented.

THE HEAVENLY

THE WORSHIPPERS

IN

them were

some

All

of

in

degree men of sorrows. They were as

well acquainted with poverty and want,
anxiety and care, as we are now. Their
bodies were as weak and liable to pain
and sickness as our own. Their houses
of mourninor were as frequent and gloomy,

and
It

graves as dreary and cold.

was the same with their spiritual

tlieir

troubles.

They

felt, at

seasons, the

painful and suspicious fears that

we

same
feel

they were assaulted by the same temptations, stricken by the same arrows, and
forced to struggle with the same enemies.
Nf>t a single temporal or spiritual sorrow
can ever enter into our hearts, which has
not been a thousand times felt, in all its
bitterness, by these rejoicing inhabitants
of the heavenly world.

TExMPLE.

135

" They have washed their robes, and

made them while in the blood of the
Lamb."
Without this washing, they
could never have been admittf d into the
heavenly temple; for nothing that defiles
has ever entered there. Even in that
earthly

Lord

at

house, which was built for the

Jerusalem, his priests were con-

wash in the sacred laver before

they approached the mercy-seat, whicii
was the symbol of his presence; and
strained to

surely he will not admit one, \;ho

is

de-

and unclean, to minister before him

his temple above. He that was so care-

filed
in

ful

not

of the purity of his earthly house, will

suffer his

heavenly mansion to be

polluted.

The

robes of these priests were once,

indeed, defiled and stained by sin.

Their
garments were as mean and polluted as
these worshippers; it was an earthly, a ours are now, and neither men nor angels
sinful, and a suffering one.
Let us look, could have cleansed them. Ten thousand
secondly, at thei r present condition. Here, tears of penitence could not have washed
however, our knowledge again fails us, them white, nor the blood of martyrdom
We know what it is to be sinful and concealed their stains. How, then, was
afflicted creatures upon earth, but we do their filthiness removed?
By the water
not know what it is to be holy and re- of baptism ? All these priests were injoicing beings before the throne of God deed washed in this water, but it was not
in heaven.
In this far distant world, we this which purified their souls.
Daily
can neither see all the glories of the experience proves that no outward means
temple above us, nor enter into the full can remove the crimson stain of sin, or
meaning of its services. Some particu- do away its filthiness. While we are
lars, however, of the present condition of contending that baptism has this power,
the redeemed saints are given us by the thousands around us, who have been bap2.

Such was

the original condition of

beloved disciple
It

is

in this vision.

tized in the

name

represented to us as a state of death-blow to

all

of Christ, are giving a

our reasonings by their

peace, a state of freedom from sorrow and

worldly and ungodly lives.

This, as
come out of their well as every other ordinance, is, indeed,
tribulation; they have passed through it, sometimes made the means of communiand left it all behind. Their wearisome cating blessings to the soul but there is
pilgrimage is brought to an everlasting no inseparable connexion between the
end. They have exchanged an earth of outward visible sign and the inward spilabour and misery, for a heaven of peace ritual grace of any sacrament. A man
and rest. The billows of adversity, which may go to the table of the Lord, and yet
once filled their souls with fear, still roll not discern the Lord's body there. He
on and rage; but they are rolling far may be washed in the water of baptism,
beneath them, and can never again toss and yet be as much in the gall of bitterthem with their waves. We deem it a ness and in the bond of iniquity as Simon
mercy to be kept for a day, yea, for an Magus or Judas Iscariot.
hour, free from anxiety and sorrow ; but
Could we but once be brought, brethren,
some of these worshippers have not shed to see something of the real nature and
a single tear, nor been harassed by a extent of the depravity which reigns

from pain.

They

are

single care, for ages.

Their state

is also

within us,
a state of purity.

we

should that very

moment

be convinced that no outward ordinances,

THE BRITISH

136

no human exertions, can cleanse the soul

that the evil is too
from its pollution
powerful and too deeply seated to yield
We should
to such remedies as these.
;

PULPIT.

criminals, hut he views

them

Christ

in

as acquitted criminals, as beloved childas having obtained,

ren;

by an act of

grace, a complete and perfect pardon, and

see that the matter will not admit, for a received from him a title to richer privi
moment, of doubt or argument.
Our leges than their sin had forfeited. They
feelings would at once refute the most were, indeed, continuall)^ contracting fresh

defilement as long as they remained on

There is, indeed, a fountain which has earth, and were constrained to wash
power to wash away sin and uncleanness again and again in the same fountain that
subtle reasonings.

is a spiritual fountain, possessing cleansed their robes at first; but if this

a spiritual and mighty efficacy. These fountain had left the unpardoned guilt of
heavenly priests have discovered this sa- only one sin upon their souls, that one
cred laver, and in their songs they point sin would have disqualified them for the
We find them always as- pure services of the habitation of God,
it out to us.
cribing the change which has passed on and have barred for ever its sacred doors
them to one cause, and giving to one being against their entrance.
" Unto him that loved ns,
all the glory.
This free and full pardon of their sins
and washed us from our sins in his own is not, however, the only blessing which
blood, and hath made us kings and priests the heavenly worshippers have obtained
unto God and his Father, to him be glory through the blood of the Lamb. Had
and dominion for ever and ever." " They this been all, they could never havejoined
have washed their robes, and made them in the worship of the heavenly world, nor
white in the blood of the Lamb ;" tliat sung the songs of Zion. The same founblood, which, the Bible tells us, cleansetb tain that freed them from the guilt of sin,
from all sin, and which can make the washed aw <iy sin itself, freed them from
sinner's defiled robes as white as snow. its reigning power, and put a new and
"7%ere/ore," says the text, "are they holy principle within their hearts. Not
before the throne of God." This was the that they were at once brought into a
reason why the everlasting doors of the state of perfect purity. As the consecraheavenly temple were opened to them, tion of some of the Jewish priests was
while thousands of their fellow sinners carried on for many days before it was
are for ever excluded from its courts
completed, so the purification of these
" they were washed, they were sanctified, priests was a long and arduous work.
they were justified, in the name of the Years passed away before some of them
Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our were completely sanctified, and made

but this

God."

meet

When

once they had applied to this

cleansing fountain, they were brought
into a state of pardon and acceptance

"

with God.

He

blotted out as a thick

cloud their transgressions, and as a cloud

The guilt of their sins,
their sins."
strictly speaking, still remains on them.
They still deserve, and ever must deserve,
the wrath of

God

but

all their liability

punishment is completely and for ever

so entirely removed from
done away
them, that their reconciled God deals
with them in heaven as though he remembered their sins and iniquities no
more. In this sense, " He does not see

to

iniquity in Jacob,
Israel."

God

nor perverseness in

looks upon his saints as

to

minister

light; and they

among

were

all

the

saints

plagued

in

to their

dying hour,

in a greater or less degree,

with the struggling corruptions of their

hearts.
But sin could not follow
them beyond the grave. As soon as their
evil

liberated souls escaped from this world

of pollution, they entered a world where

this

enemy can never come; and

now

unsullied purity and perfect holiness.

all

is

Their graces, which were so often obscured and sullied here on earth, now
shine forth with unclouded brightness
and never-fading lustre. " Christ," says
the Scripture, " loved the church, and
gave himself for it, that he might sanctify
and cleanse it with the washing of water
by the word, that he might present it to

THE WORSHIPPERS IN THE HEAVENLY TEMPLE.

137

himself a glorious church, not having great multitude, a multitude which no

spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, man can number."
but that it should be holy and without
But here it may be asked. Whence can
blemish."
this great multitude come? We read our
may observe, further, that the Bibles, and we find the people of God
state of these worshippers in the tem- spoken of there as a little flock.
ple of God is a state of triumph.
The look around us in the world, and are
white robes, in which they are clad, are sometimes tempted to ask. Where shall a
not their only ornaments.
We are told godly man be found ] How, then, shall
in the ninth verse of this chapter, that this great multitude be brought to glory?
they have palms in their hands.
From what unknown globe has sovereign

We

We

The palm

tree,

cient nations,

among many

of the an-

was an emblem of

victory.

mercy fetched them? We dare not say,

answer to these inquiries, that all who

in

Hence its branches were used to adorn tri- are now rejoicing in tiie heavenly courts
umphal processions. The general, whose were once inhabitants of the earth on
victories the triumph was designed to which we live.
The benefits of redeemcelebrate, carried a small branch of

his

hand, and

a conqueror.

deemed

When,

were once

we

in

as

the re-

therefore,

are described as having

their hands,

it

was thus recognised

palms

in

are reminded that they

soldiers,

who were

not

ashamed

to confess the faith of Christ crucified,

may be as extensive as the

boundaries of the creation.
There is,
ing grace

however, every reason

the

great multitude

spoken of

to

suppose that

of saints

in this vision,

who

are

were originally

strangers and pilgrims in this world of

sorrow.

It is true,

indeed, that the

way

which leads from this sinful world to the

arm completely heavenly mansions is represented in the

but fought manfully under his banner, and

by

the strength of his

We

conquered every enemy. The saints on Scriptures as extremely narrow.

earth, indeed, are warring the same war- see, too, that there are few walking in it.
fare in which these glorified beings were But it does not therefore follow, that the
engaged, and are continually obtaining greater part of the human race descend
victories in it; but then they must wait by another road to another kingdom.
till all
the days of their warfare are Millions of the children of men are, we
accomplished, before they can have the trust, carried yearly in their infancy to
triumphal chariot and the palm.
The the realms of light, and many an aged
soldier never triumphs till the war is saint also is seen patiently walking in
ended, and the enemy completely sub- the path which leads to God, and will
dued. The saints in heaven have finished soon be standing in his temple a rejoicing
the painful conflict, and are now gone up priest. Satan does not number among his
for their reward to Jehovah's temple. subjects all the inhabitants of our globe.
And
what blessed triumphs are theirs
The Redeemer has a people on the earth.
What glorious spoils What everlasting He is seeing of the travail of his soul in
shouts of victory and songs of joy
Their many places, and in a thousand hearts,
triumph is a never-ending triumph. Their though we see it not. Who can tell how
palms will never wither. Their robes of many an humble Christian has been trahonour will never fade.
The lustre of velling to the land of rest, while almost
their crown never can be tarnished. The all around him, and even the honoured
light of day will be extinguished, and the instrument that first turned his soul to
stars of heav! n be darkened, but the God, have been ignorant of his faith ?
brightness of their glory will be as incor- The man has poured forth alone his prayruptible as the throne of God.
IMen have not seen the
ers and tears.
3. As we look on these worshippers in uplifted eye, nor heard the secret prayer
heaven, we may observe, thirdly, the for mercy but the angels of heaven have
greatness of their number. They are said, rejoiced over the weeping suppliant, and
in the ninth verse, to be " a multitude, a at length carried him in triumph to the
Vol. 11. 18
M2
!

THE BRITISH

138
temple of his God.
before

We

know,

too, that

the destruction of this world of

it will become the kingdom of our

Lord and of his Christ. A time is rapidly

sin,

approaching,

when

the standard of the

cross shall be erected in every land, and

Jesus of Nazareth reign in every place.

need not fear being solitary inhabitants of the heavenly house. God has not
built so splendid a temple to be the only
blank in his crowded creation. We, and
all around us, may make light of that voice
which invites us to enter in but still the
marriage supper of the Lamb will be
abundantly furnished with guests.
A review of the cheering subject, which
we have thus briefly considered, leads us

We

to observe, in conclusion, that the gospel

PULPIT.

Let us, then, prepare to meet out

promised trials, and not only to niee\
them, but to welcome them with cheerfulness and joy.
They are designed to
help us forward in our course, to lead us

tion."

which will take us to the

temple and the throne of God. " Oui
light affliction," says one who had tasted
of much severer sorrows than ever fell to
the lot of any of us, and was quite as
capable of forming a true estimate of
on in the road,

is

" Our light affliction, which

but for a moment, worketh for us a far

their nature

more exceeding and eternal weight of

glory."

There

is

another reflection suggested to

us by the words

we have been

considering.

How

the

between the

great

is

contrast

of Christ does not promise to its followers present and the future condition of the
any exemption from the calamities of life. followers of Jesus ! Those whom the
It tells us that man is born to trouble, and apostle saw in this glorious temple are all
that the servants of God shall have their said to have come out of great tribulation.
of the sorrows of mortality.

They were,

perhaps, some of the first and

most persecuted members of the church.
But what a blessed and wondrous change
sentations.
It promises us happiness in
has passed upon them
They were once,
heaven, and many joys in the road which perhaps, wandering about in sheep skins
leads to it; but, at the same time, it and goal skins; they are now clothed in
plainly tells us that this road is a path of white raiment, walking the streets of the
trial. All the saints are, indeed, described
new Jerusalem, and treading the courts
as rejoicing; but, then they are said to be of its splendid temple. They were once
"rejoicing in tribulation." Their near- glad to fly for shelter to mountains, caves,
ness to God has neither removed calamity and dens of the earth they are now occufrom them, nor blunted tlieir feelings pying everlasting mansions in Jehovah's
when smarting under it. Who, then, are house. Those heads, which are now
we, brethren, that some special exemption encircled with crowns of glory, \vere once
should be made in our favour'? David, bowed down under a sense of guilt. Those
and Paul, and every other saint, have tongues which are now shouting "Worthy
drunk of the cup of sorrow: why, then, is the Lamb," were once complaining of
should we expect it to be always kept their wretchedness and sin. Those hearts
from our lips'? Have we deserved it less which are now glowing with the most
than they, or do we need it less ?
Have exalted happiness, and rejoicing in spotwe fewer sins to be subdued, less pride, less purity, were once full of corruption
less self-dependence, less earthly-mind- and perplexity, and aching with cares
edness, to be rooted out'? Tribulation is and sorrows.
the portion of all the redeemed and, if we
Has such a change as this passed on
have ever tasted of redemption, it will, in these once sinful and afflicted saints?
some shape or other, be our portion. Our And is there no change awaiting those,
Saviour tells us so. This is one of the who are now following the same Lord in
the same path of tribulation'? Shall they
first sayings he addresses to them who
follow him, and one of the first truths he never exchange a world of suffering for a
generally makes them feel the meaning heaven of rest, a vale of tears for a mount
of, " In the world ye shall have tribula- of joy ?
O, look, my Christian brethren,
full portion

The

Bible does not attempt to cheat us

into a profession of religion by false repre-

THE WORSHIPPERS IN THE HEAVENLY TEMPLE.

to that glorious

church of the

army of martyrs,
first-born.

to that

See them on

139

tions; whether, through grace, they have

forced

me

to see

my

spiritual

misery and

Listen to their songs of wretchedness; whether they have made

Soon, very soon, shall you be me feel the plague of my sinful heart, and

thrones.

their

triumph.

numbered with them.

Only tread in led me to seek for help in a crucified
wash in that fountain which Saviour; whether they have softened,
cleansed them keep close to that Saviour changed, humbled me] The great quesserve faithfully tion is. Have I washed in that fountain
in whom they believed
that God whom they loved and feared; which God has opened for sin and for

their steps;

and your robes shall soon be as white as

your songs as joyful, your crowns

uncleanness,

and

have

been

really

power of

theirs,

cleansed

as bright.

giving way, and the love of holiness

gradually gaining strength in my heart]

But

the voice of consolation is not the

only language that the Holy Spirit addressf'S to us in the text.

a loud

call

to

Here

is, lastly,

self-examination.

may

This

the

sin

0, brethren, how few among us can bear

bring our profession of Cliristianity to
such a test as this
have no heart!

felt

God, and yet we may

not be in their number. The gates of
this heavenly temple may be optened to
ten thousand times ten thousand ransomed
sinners, and yet closed against us. There
is another and a very different house, in
which we may be forced to seek an everThere is the dwellinglasting home.

feel

fore the throne of

Is

to

stand be-

great multitude, brethren,

there

We

sense of our spiritual pollution we

not our need of Christ; we desire

not the

washing of his blood.

As

for

inward purity, purity of heart, we seldom

think of it, and can hardly understand

But what is that

is meant by it.
hope of heaven worth, which is not
accompanied with this inward purity ]
Does not the Scripture say, " He that

what

hath this hope in him,"

a good hope of
temple of the living God. To which of heaven, " purifieth himself even as God
these mansions, then, are we hastening] is pure]" and do not your consciences
We must soon be lodged for ever in one testify that there is no communion beor the other of them
which will be our tween purity and you ]
habitation ] Shall we be the ministering
Dare not, then, in direct opposition to
priests of Satan or of God ]
the word of God, to hope for heaven till
If we obtain a faithful answer to such sin is become hateful to your soul, and
questions as these, we must not be con- perfect holiness the first wish of your
tent with referring to our present troubles, heart; till you have gone with a feeling,
and drawing an inference from them that penitent, and believing heart, to the
all will in the end be well. Tribulation, it fountain which infinite mercy has opened
is true, is the portion of the people of for transgressors on the cross, and washed
God but it is also the portion of another your defiled robes and made them white
and a more numerous people, the children in its sacred water. This fountain is still
The Reof the wicked one. The severest afflictions standing open for sinners.
prove nothing as to our spiritual state and deemer's work of salvation is not yet
character.
may be amongst the most completed. Though he has already carwretched on earth; and yet, notwith- ried innumerable thousands to his house,
standing all our sufferings, we may be there yet is room, room for thousands
also amongst the most w^retched in the more, room for you. Do you really desire
world to come.
may resemble the to enter in ] Have you but a willing
This is all a
glorified inhabitants of heaven in their and an humble heart]
former state of tribulation, and yet never gracious Saviour asks. Take it to his
However polluted by iniquity,
be made partakers of their present happi- cross.
ness.
The question to be asked is not he will cleanse it there, and make you a
whether I have been afflicted, but whether pure and rejoicing worshipper for ever ia
my afflictions have been sanctified afflic- the temple of your God.

place of Satan in eternity, as well as the

We

We

THE BRITISH

140

SCRIPTURS BirnCULTIES.

PULPIT.

contradictions should be reconciled ; that

seeming discrepancies should be adjusted ;
that mistranslations should be corrected

Like

Holy
some

all

other ancient writings,

Scriptures present

many

the

difficulties,

customs and

that references to obsolete

ceremonies should be explained

in

of which will defy every attempt at word, that our Scriptures should be raised
solution, while there are others which in the utmost degree to the original chamay be fully and satisfactorily removed racter which they sustained.

by an acquaintance with general science.

Nor should

the circumstance that these

ANECDOTES OF FRENCH INFIDELITY.

themselves in the saThe following anecdotes are related by

cred volume be permitted to excite any Madame la Comtesse de Genlis, in a
surprise, much less any distress of mind, work entitled "The Dinner Parties of
:"
to those persons who may meet with them the Baron d'Holbach
" Morvel, an actor, sat in the pulpit of
Let them
in the course of their reading.
only call to mind the fact, that the books the cathedral of Notre-Dame, at Paris,
difficulties present

High

of Scripture were written by different

persons, in almost every variety of circumstance ; that they refer to people

during the French revolution, as

Priest of Reason ; and, eight years

authentic documents, which might reflect

light on some obscurity of expression or

the Goddess of Reason, was seated upon

the high altar of the church of Notie-

after-

wards, he died in the most dreadful state

whose customs and habits were totally of ravirtg madness.
" Mademoiselle Aubry, an actress of
dissimilar to our own ; that they narrate
histories of which we possess no other the opera, nearly naked, and representing

vagueness of description that they were Dame, to receive the solemn homage of
written in other languages than those in the people. This same woman, seven
which we now possess them; and that, years afterwards, playing Minerva, in an
in addition to the mutability of language, opera, and being placed in a sort of car,
must be added the difficulties of trans- fell from the top of the theatre, all the
lating out of one tongue into another. Let cords of the machine breaking at once.
all this be considered, which, indeed, is The fall knocked out her teeth, broke
but a small part of the several circum- her shoulder and one of her legs, and
stances which might be brought forward, disfigured her face in a most frightful
and then we shall see the folly and un- manner. Two children, who were to have
;

fairness of those

who would

difficulties of Scripture as a

urge the

reason

why

been placed at the foot of the goddes",

representing the Genii of Arts, were detained by an accident in the Rue des

should not be received as an authentic

and inspired book ; for it should be borne Lombards they were taken into a shop,
in mind that these difficulties are almost where they remained a quarter of an hour.
exclusively confined to matters of an his- Mdlle. Aubry wished to wait for them,
torical mture; not affecting, even in the before she mounted the car the audience,
remotest degree, the doctrines, upon the however, would not suffer this ; and even
knowledge and belief of which the salva- when a few minutes longer delay was
The children
tion of every man to whom they are solicited, they refused it.

it

proposed depends. These are written in arrived just at the moment of the fall
" Here we observe the ' high priest of
the plainest and most intelligible manner,
and of their several parts there is the most reason' dying distracted; the 'goddess'
receiving her punishment

sirable,

character in

Nevertheless, it is deboth for the honour of revelation

and the satisfaction of the inquiring mind,
that even the difficulties to which we have
referred should be

removed

that apparent

committed

the very same

which her crime had been

perfect harmony.

and innocence spared in the

;
person of the children. What food for
reflection

!"

SERMON

XIV.

THE SACRIFICES WHICH PAUL WAS WILLING TO MAKE

IN

THE CAUSE

OF CHRIST.

BY THE REV. JOHN FRENCH,

MINISTER OF THE RELIEF CHURCH, COLLEGE STREET, EDINBURGH.

" ^^^lat

mean ye

to

weep and

to

? for I am ready not to be bound

name of the Lord Jesus." Acts xxi. 13.

break mine heart

also to die at Jerusalem

for

the

When

Paul uttered these words, he

return from one of those
Christian missions in which he had so
zealously embarked for the spread of the
gospel. In this, and a preceding mission, he had visited some of the most
celebrated regions and renowned cities

was on

his

of the world.

With

only, but

indefatigable step,

But if Paul had his share of sufferings,

he had his triumphs too. The gospel
prospered in his hand.

His divine Mas-

gave him souls for his hire. His fellest enemies were at times given him as
ter

the trophies of his faithfulness, patience,

and heroism.

He who

in the

same night

thrust Paul's feet into the stocks, and

consigned him, all scourged and wounded as he was, to the deepest dungeon of
Europe. He had sailed the waters of the a prison that very same person, on that
Mediterranean sea. He had coursed his very same night, lay trembling as a penitrack among those innumerable islands tent at his feet, bathing his wounds, askthat so beautifully stud the Grecian Ar- ing the way of salvation, and humbly reOn the soil of ancient Troy ceiving the baptism of a Christian at his
chipelago.
along the classic shores of Greece at hands.
The gospel which Paul thus taught to
Antioch, Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth, and
Athens, he had planted the standard of thousands was, in these its early days, a

he had

toiled his

way

tion of Syria, Arabia,

over no small por-

Asia Minor, and

the cross, and proclaimed that Jesus of powerful, fruitful principle. They who
embraced it felt its softening influence
Nazareth was the Saviour of the world.

In the performance of this arduous duty melt their hearts, and prompt them to all
he had passed through many perils, suf- the charities of life. They gave with no
fered many hardships, and been the vic- niggard hand to the support of the gospel,
tim of the most atrocious persecution and to the relief of the poor. And as the
and cruelty. Those places now named poor Christians in Jerusalem were at this
may indeed be famed for many things, in time suffering many privations, it would
history, in fable, and in song; but amid appear, that, collections having been made
all their other celebrity, for this also have in the most of those Gentile churches
they obtained an infamous notoriety, that which Paul had planted, the apostle himof the most benevolent

men

the world ever saw, spoke to

them

when one

whom

self

was

sent as their honoured almoner,

to carry this their

bounty

to their suffer-

ing brethren in Jerusalem. It is in the

they mercilessly treated him as the ve- prosecution of this object we meet with
riest wretch that ever society hunted out him in our text. As the apostle proceeded on his journey, he received many, and
of its pale.
141
in the

language of truth and soberness,

THE BRITISH

142
these by no

means obscure

intimations,

that this journey to Jerusalem

was

to

be

PULPIT.

1. And here I remark that the spirit of

our text implies that Paul was willing to
sacrifice his ease and comfort, and to devote all the energies of his body and soul

eminently perilous. He tells us, that in

every city to which he came, the Holy
Ghost witnessed that bonds and afflic- to the honour of Christ's name.
The spirit of our text, we say, warrants
Apprized of such a
tions awaited him.
fact as this, no wonder that his attached this specification. For here the mere toil
friends might wish to save a life so dear of voyaging by sea and travelling by land
and so valuable as was Paul's. And, in this, his present mission, implies no
however questionable and ill-judged their mean sacrifice of ease, and no mean exinterference with the course of events penditure of laborious exertion.
The
which the Holy Ghost foretold, it was whole of Paul's apostolical life was an
no doubt, on their part, a well-meant illustration of his willingness to do and
kindness to the devoted Paul. Accord- bear the utmost of which humanity is caOf his mere travels alone, those
ingly, when first he landed at Tyre, and pable.
now when he had reached Cesarea, his parts of Scripture which describe them
Christian friends in both places most afford us but the scantiest itinerary. A
earnestly besought him not to go up to brief chapter will at times comprehend
that Jerusalem that had killed so many the toil and travel of many thousand
Had Paul passed over these in
prophets, stoned so many of God's mes- miles.
sengers, and upon

whose

inhabitants

was

be charged all the righteous blood

shed upon the earth, from the blood of
righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias,
whom they slew between the temple and
the altar.
But Paul's was never the craven heart
of a coward. Tell him where duty lay,
and no terrors could shake his soul, or
turn him from his invincible attachment
to Christ and his cause. While sensibly
to

alive therefore to these, the intense

sym-

pathies and melting entreaties of friendship,

we

hear

him replying with

passionate fervour of a saint, and

all
all

the

the

the lady-like fashion of

tourists,

enjoying

which

pliances

can

now

supply,

many modern

those helps and ap-

all

science, art, and luxury

many might have

him the pleasure of

envied

some of the
loveliest regions of the globe. But when
we hear him saying of himself, and of
visiting

" Even unto the preboth hunger, and thirst, and

his fellow apostles,

sent hour

we

and are buffeted, and have no

working with our hands being reviled, we
bless; being persecuted, we suffer it;
being defamed, we entreat we are made
as the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things ;" and when, with
are naked,

certain dwelling-place; and labour,

:

" What
break mine more precise reference to himself, we
heart 1 for I am ready not to be bound hear him enumerate the catalogue of his
only, but to die at Jerusalem for the name sufferings, "In labours more abundant,
in stripes above measure, in prison more
of the Lord Jesus."
This text presents two topics for illus- frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five

resolute heroism of a martyr

mean ye

to

weep and

to

times received I forty stripes save one.

tration.
I.

The

which Paul was Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was
in the cause of I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a

sacrifices

willing to make
night and a day I have been in the deep
Christ.
n. The EXALTED OBJECT FOR WHICH in journeyings often, in perils of waters,
he was willing to make these sacri- in perils of robbers, in perils by mine
it was for the name of the own countrymen, in perils by the heathen,
fices

Lord Jesus.
It is

only to the

in perils in the city, in perils in the wilfirst

of these topics

derness, in perils in the sea, in perils

your atten- among false brethren ; in weariness and

tion.
We are then, in this discourse, to painfulness, in watchings often, in hunillustrate the sacrifices which Paul was ger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold
and nakedness.
Beside those things
willing to make in the cause of Christ.

that

we

shall at present call

PAUL'S
which

WILUNGNESS TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST.

are without, that

me daily,

which cometh

143

tions eminently calculated to promote the

honour of Christ's name.

As magisweak, and I am not weak ] who trates, ministers, physicians, teachers,
Is offended, and I burn not]"
and still merchants, traders, artisans, all in your
farther, my friends, when we contemplate different spheres, may do something for
not only these, properly speaking, his Christ.
Let it be a question then with
passive toils, but also his more active every conscientious man and woman in
strenuous efforts to save souls when we this assembly, " What is it that I can sathink of him toiling with his hands to crifice 1 what is it that I can suffer 1 what
earn a bit of bread, while he distributed is it that I can do for the name of the
so munificently the bread of life to others Lord Jesus ?"
i^when we think of him planting so
Need I specify what you can contribute
many churches, watering those already to the furtherance of Christ's honour.
planted, preaching in synagogues, and in Some can give their labour, some their
all places of public resort, visiting from time, some their talents, some their wealth,
house to house, writing epistles, reason- some their influence, some their examing with the learned, grappling with the ple, some their prayers some may give
enemies of civil liberty, and asserting the all of these, some two or more of them
sacred rights of freedom, declaiming be- and there is not one of you but who may
fore a Felix, a Festus, and an Agrippa, at least live, and suffer, and pray for the
with an eloquence more powerful than honour of Christ's name. Who, I ask,
that " which fulmined over Greece, and is so insulated in this world as not to
shook the throne of Macedon" in short, have father, or mother, wit'e, vhild, browhen we think of him as doing every ther, sister, friend, neighbour, or acthing, and attempting every thing, where- quaintance, to whom he may do some
by he might win souls to Jesus, we feel good ? Who absolutely so busy, as not
that we live in the age of little men, that to have one odd hour, one spare moment
Who
Christian character is dwarfed by the to devote to religious purposes ]
barrenness of a degenerate age, and that so talentless, so mindless, so actionless,
would we do for Christ all that duty as not to be capable of filling some post
binds us to do, we must look to such of usefulness in the Christian church?
examples as that of Paul, and strive to He who cannot speak and argue, can act
catch from him that burning zeal for the and he who can do but little even in that
Redeemer's honour, which existed and way, may at least have it said of him,
flamed so mightily in his ardent soul. that " he has done what he could." Who
We hold up to your gaze the example of so ignorant as not to know something
Paul, and we call upon you to act in the which, if communicated, might instruct
Who so poor
spirit of his heroic declaration, which we some more ignorant soul ]
upuii

Who

the care of all the churches.

i*

are

now

therefore, to

home
what

as not to be able at least to

considering.

Applying

branch of our subject,

our own cases, bringing it

this

to ourselves, the question

are

now

is,

the sacrifices of ease and of

show a

will-

ingness to help religion forward'? While

the sun endures, and while the Bible
lasts, the poor widow's mite shall stand

blazoned on the inspired page

in brighter

what the attempts and ex- memorial than the richest endowments
ertions which all of us in our various ever consecrated to the support of relispheres ought to make for the honour of gion by titled wealth or ostentatious
It will not do to take charity.
Christ's name 1
But still some of you may object we
refuge under the excuse, " I am not an
the question is. Are you a have not time, we have not convenience,
apostle ;"
Christian 1 Are you a disciple of Jesus 1 we have not means, we have not money
We urge in reIf you are, Christ will find you work in to engage in this work.
every sphere of life. There is no station ply, that even though every one of these
which any one of you occupies, but in apologies and excuses were sustained,
which you may make sacrifices and exer- there is not one of you but must be push-

comfort, and

THE BRITISH

144

PULPIT.

every good work;" "to be zealous of

good works;" " zealously aifected in all
good things ;" " that you are to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord ;" " that
name." And in relation to a still greater you are to contend earnestly for the faith
number, I would press the inquiry, that once delivered to the saints ;" that " you
in Older to add to your means and ability are to run, and strive, and fight in the
of doing good, may nothing be taken business of salvation
that you are as it
from your sleep, nothing from your hours were to take heaven by violence;" and
of idleness and amusement, nothing from that when you have done all, from a conthe cost of your pleasures, nothing from sciousness that you have done too little,
the luxuries of food, and the luxuries of you are to acknowledge yourselves " uned to the last extremity to get rid of this
" that at least you can give the
claim,
example of holy living, and the benefit
of your prayers, for the honour of Christ's

dress, and the luxuries of furniture 1 Can

nothing from ne of these be spared to
honour Jesus or save a soul 1 Let conscience, taking its station at the foot of
Christ's cross, and instructing itself by

the plain uncompromising

precepts

profitable servants."

Feeling the force of these the comof your God, I trust every Christian now hearing me will exclaim with

mands

the poet

of

God's word, give an answer that will

God.
But, upon what objects, then, perhaps
you ask me, are we to lay out all this exsatisfy at the judgment-seat of

Awake, my dormant zeal for ever flame

With generous ardour for immorta! souls
!

And may my

my

head,

my

tongue,

my

heart,

all.

Spend and be spent

in service so divine.

penditure of labour, time, talents, wealth,

influence, example, and prayers

my

friends, the

immensely

ways

Why,

of doing good are

numerous

You may

and diversified.
countenance and support all the

varieties

of religious institutions

may

you

2d. In the second place, I remark, that

Paul

was willing

friendships for

the

to

sacrifice

name of

earthly

the Lord

This idea is prominently suggested by these affecting words, " What

Jesus.

contribute to missionary societies, mean ye to weep and to break mine

you may lend them your assistance
heart?"
you may take an interest in SabbathCould the endearments of the tenderest
schools
you may form and support friendship have restrained Paul from the
libraries
you may circulate tracts you performance of his duty to his Saviour,
my give your attendance at prayer meet- such a powerful motive was not wanting
ings you may visit the sick
you may in his case. He was loved with no comread the Scriptures to the aged you may mon affection by those among whom he
counsel the young and inexperienced
laboured in the ministry of the gospel.
you may frown on every species of error Our text is one proof of it. These perand crime; you may reprove sin; you sons entreated and besought him to have
may display public spirit by patronizing a care for his safety and his life, and
scientific, literary, and humane institu- when they could urge and beseech no
tions; you may do what you can to re- more, they employed the sad but powermove all national, provincial, or local ful eloquence of weeping and of tears.
grievances in short, you may encouarge This, however, was not one solitary ocand adopt all scriptural means for the currence. In the preceding chapter, at
spread and revival of religion for the the conclusion of a narrative, to me more
growth of piety and the increase of hap- exquisitely pathetic than almost any
piness wherever man has a dwelling writing I am acquainted with, we meet
with the following account of Paul's
round the wide circle of the globe.
Now, my friends, having shown you parting interview with the Ephesian
what you may do for Christ, I insist on church. " And when he had thus spoken,
your coming to the conviction that it is he kneeled down and prayed with them
your duty to do it. Surely you read in all. And they all wept sore, and fell on
your Bibles that you are to be " ready to Paul's neck and kissed him, sorrowing
or

PAUL'S WILLINGNESS TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST.

most of

for

all

the words which he

show

prepared to

145

that Paul

was

in the

not

wrong, we call upon you, in duty, to go

and do likewise. Beware lest earthly
friendships of any kind wean your hearts
from Jesus, and rob him of his due. I
would not have you undervalue friendship, for it has been said, and I believe
justly, to double our pleasures and divide
our sorrows ; but never let it usurp that
sovereign place in your hearts which belongs to God and to Christ alone.
Let this caution extend to those friends
who are related to us by the ties of blood
and affinity. An excessive attachment
to these is very apt to cool the ardour of
Christian zeal. The love of a husband,
and the fondness of a father, have often
proved serious obstacles to an intrepid
avowal and defence of the gospel. Ah !
well does he who has fought in the battle field, know how much the thoughts
of home, of wife, and of children, have
rushed upon his recollection, palsied his
arm, and almost unmanned his heart,
when the drum beat to arms, and when
the battle's opening roar foreboded to his
mind that never should he again see his
home and his children. Could the sol-

the language of cold and unfeeling re-

dier but get rid of these feelings, the bit-

buke. His own heart was wrung by this

proof of their affection. The state of his
soul thus described by himself, was an
echo to their weeping; and the mental

terness of death

spake, that they should see his face no

more."

Now, my

hearers, we are by no means

suppose that Paul was insensible to
these, the melting sympathies of friendto

ship.

No

Paul's soul was not of that

iron mould, that sterner stuff, that makes

some men think it disgraceful to shed a

and unmanly to display any tenderNeither his piety nor his

manners were of that austere kind that
extorts our veneration, while we are chilled into distant awe by the cold repelling
air which is ever thrown around them.
tear,

ness of feeling.

The

was of

sanctity of Paul's character

warmer, kindlier, and more attractive

form.
He had the secret of winning
hearts. He threw his heart and soul into
all that he said, and wrote, and acted;
and when this is perceived, congenial
minds, like all other affinities, cling to
each other with mutual ardour and affection.
The very language of the text affords illustration of this remark upon the
" What mean ye,"
apostle's character.
said he, " to weep and to break mine
a

heart ?"

pang was

This you will observe

to

is

him the more severe,

that a

purer and a loftier principle forbade him

to yield to their pressing entreaties.

was

and,

would
And what the

he rush upon the foe.

warrior thus feels the Christian also experiences.

He finds that not merely in'

circumstances of danger, but even in the

His more ordinary duties of every-day

the bitter agony of giving a denial

weeping

would be past;

fearless of all other consequences,

the cares of a family, and the

life,

attach-

ments which it calls forth, are frequently

most unfavourable to piety and religion.
Here, then, is the nobleness of Paul's Let not, then, these social ties so wind
present sacrifice. Like all eminent saints, round your heart, so engross your sympahis character was a well balanced one. thies, as to neglect your duty to your
He loved his friends well, but he loved God and your Saviour. Yours may not
his Saviour better.
Earthly friends had be the trying lot to live in persecuting
their claims which he duly regarded, but times, when it would have become you
the love of Christ was uppermost in his to arm for Christian war, and to die a
to

friends

pleading even for

himself.

soul.

In

the

very hour, therefore, in

which he might be

said

to

enjoy the

luxury of loving hearts, he was willing

to tear himself from them; and, though
it should be to bondage and to death, to
go wherever God, and truth, and duty
called him.

And now, my

hearers, if

Vol. II. 19

you

are not

martyr's death, and when the last farewell of weeping friends and relations
might have proved the bitterest dreg in
of sorrow which you had to
but remember that temptations, as

the cup
drain

dangerous

come from

to

your spiritual safety,

friends and

relations,

may
when

neither war, intolerance, nor persecution,

THE BRITISH

146

disturbs the enjoyment of domestic peace.

PULPIT.
In the precrding context,

we

learn that

came down from Judea a certain

pass through Eve's hands to Adam, even prophet, named Agabus; and when he
in a state of peaceful, happy innocence ] was come to Cesarea, he " took Paul's
Was not Samson shorn of his strength girdle, (or sash,) and bound his own
through a blind love for Delilah, rather hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the
than by the might of the Philistine bands ? Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at .Terusaand was it not from the v/ifeof his bosom lein bind the man that owneth this girthat Job received the dreadful counsel to die, and shall deliver him into the hands
curse God and die"? Attach then to every of the Gentiles. And when we had heard
the fruit of the forbidden tree

Did not

there

'

due importance; and, since!

God has the first and indisputable claim
to your regards, let no earthly affection
divide your heart with him. Said Christ,
' He that loveth father or mother more
than me, is not worthy of me; and he
that loVeth son or daughter more than me,
And he that taketh
is not worthy of me.
not his cross and foUoweth after me, is
not worthy of me."
object

its

'

But,

besides

these,

there

other

are

friendships in the world, which, though

not to be coveted, are very apt to decoy

us from the path of duty. I refer to the
corrupting influence of those persons

we

and they of that

to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean
ye to weep and to break mine heart? for
I am ready not to he bound only, but also
to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the
Lord Jesus."
I crave your particular attention to this
noble declaration as made by Paul. Observe the remarkable circumstances in
which it was made, and which characterize it.
It was not upon a contingency
which might happen or might not happen, that Paul declared his willingness

these things, both

place besought

him not

to surrender his liberty. It was not upon

whose birth, rank, and fortune, place the gloomy foreboding of a diseased mind
them above us in society, and to whom dreading the occurrence of evils which
It was not a
slavish minds are but too apt to crouch for might never take place.
the paltriest favour a nod, or a smile. peradventure that Paul was to be made a
Thus Moses was exposed to the ensnar- prisoner. It was as certain as the Holy

ing blandishments of the court of Pha- Ghost could testify it from his infinite
raoh ; Elijah was tried at the court of knowledge of all events past, present,
Ahab and of Jezebel ; John the Baptist and future. In every place to which Paul

was

tried

by

for

friendship of

time by the

sinister

Herod and Herodias

that of Felix and Drusilla; and

own Knox had

Paul
our

withstand the witching

beauty and duplicity of a Scottish queen.
Your lot and mine, my friends, are not
to

likely to be cast in spheres like these

our own
brought
ger

is

in
in

the

rank superior to
alliance with vice, and we are
contact with it, there the dan-

but wherever there

same

is

in kind, if not in

degree.

had lately come, the testimony was repeated, that bonds and imprisonments
awaited him ; and even now when within
little more than one day's journey of Jerusalem, and when solemnly told by language and by symbol that his hands
should be manacled, and his feet fettered
like a slave; it was in these circumstances of peculiar solemnity that Paul,
taking up the very language of his doom
from the mouth of the Holy Ghost, declared his readiness to be bound at Jerusalem for the name of his blessed Master.
Observe here, also, what was the his-

such circumstances, let the elevating consciousness of being a Christian

of being born of God, and of having a
hom in the skies, restrain you from con- tory of the man who made this declaraceding one essential truth, or diverging tion. He was not one who slighted un-

In

all

one line from the track which God's word

and your conscience tell you are right.
3d. In the third place, I remark that
to sacrifice his liberty

Paul was willing

for the

name

of the Lord Jesus.

tried hardships.

"

He jests at

scars

The

poet has said,

who never

felt a

wound."

Paul was not one of this description. He

was not one who acted the braggart in

PAUL'S WILLINGNESS TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST.

who had proved a coward in

He knew well what imprisonment

peace, but

war.

147

longer the oppressed thralls of sin, of

Satan, and of hell.

was. He could count the cost of forfeitI have

only further to observe here,
ed liberty, for he had already, for the that the sacrifice which Paul thus prosake of his religion, been frequently a fessed himself willing to make, was one
prisoner.
which, as you know, he actually made.
Wiiat then? Did Paul slight or un- He did not falsify his engagement, or
dervalue liberty ] No ! not for one mo- quail before his enem.ies when his chains
ment are we to suppose it. His history were put upon him. The noblest stroke
warrants me to say, that the love of free- of oratory which, perhaps, he or mor-

dom

burned as ardently

as ever

it

in

bosom

Paul's

did in that of a Brutus or a Tell.

We

are to

who

contended

remember

this

was

the

man

ever uttered, was when in the presence of Agrippa

with these fetters
upon his arms, he exclaimed, " Would
tal

to God, that not only thou, but also all

judgment- that hear me this day, were both almost
seat of Felix and of Festus.
This was and altogether such as I am, except these
the man who would not abate one jot of bonds !" Through the injustice of Felix,
his civil rights, when he conceived the in these bonds he was confined for two
assertion of tliem could be of any possi- years a prisoner at Cesarea; and, subsequently, at Rome, for other two years he
ble advantage to himself or to society
who, at Philippi, would not even walk was a chained prisoner at large, with a
out of his dungeon till the magistrates soldier to guard him.
themselves came and acknowledged that
Paul well knew that Christ deserved
they had wronged him, and besought him all, and more than all this at his hands,
to depart.
This was the man, who, on though no advantage should result from
for liberty against all the

iiirelings of intolerance at the

But

another occasion, protested against being

it.

bound, and against having one stripe laid

ypon him, because he was a Roman citizen.
This was the man, who, when unjustly and brutally struck in the .Jewish
Sanhedrim, by the command of the higli
priest, intrepidly and indignantly replied,
*' God shall smite thee, thou whited wall
for sittest thou to judge me according to
the law, and dost thou, command me to be
smitten contrary to the lam .?" In short

make

to stimulate his

willingness to

the sacrifice, he no doubt believed,

the event showed, that great good

would flow from his imprisonment and
his bonds, whereby an increase of glory
would redound to the hoivoured name of

as

Jesus.

At this stage of our subject, then, we

would glance at the b mefit which accrued
to

the im-

the religion of Christ, from

prisonment of Paul.

Through Paul's captivity at Rome, the

was the man, who, rather than
submit to proconsular tyranny and injus- gospel was carried at once to the very
tice, appealed to Caesar, and was thus heart of the Roman empire, from which,
transmitted a prisoner to imperial Rome. as a radiating centre, it no doubt more
this

Paul then was not one who slighted

the freedom which, at this time, he proits

this

it.

What

enigma?

then

the sacrifice

name

to

pro-

distant

same

the

access to the very palace of the imperial

is

this riddle?

was

to

Through

providential occurrence, the gospel found

C^sars

and though a Nero might

the solution of remain a tyrant and a monster,

The

explana-

tion is to be found in the object for

the

way

He

in other circumstances have bled to de-

fend

its

vinces and colonies.

value, and might

fessed himself willing to sacrifice.

appreciated highly

readily found

be made.

of the Lord Jesus

It
it

some

still

high-

influential oflicers

for

of his household and of the state were

at least favourably impressed towards the

for

Christian faith.

which

was
was

ly probable that

it is

At

all

events,

we

are

the honour of him, who, in the form of certain that the intrepid and magnania slave, was led to prison, to judgment, mous bearing of Paul under his bonds,
and to crucifixion, that men might be no tended to the furtherance of the gospel.

THE BRITISH

148

and inspired the primitive converts with

a courage that made them bold to preach
the truth without fear.
But to the captivity of Paul, in a more especial manner,
are

we

indebted for

many

of those in-

spired epistles which bear

These were the fruits of

When

hours.

name.

his

his

captive

he could no longer, with

his living voice, go round the world as a

Christian herald, calling upon

come

men

to

Jesus and be saved, with the unrestrainable spirit of a faithful and devoted minister, he instructed the churches
to

his pen, and sent down to us these

precious memorials of his inspired wis-

by

dom.

What

a blank

would have been

in

the canon of Scripture had these epistles

not been written

Paul shall

still

By

though dead,
the churches till

these,

speak to

time shall be no more. By means of these,

we may yet be said to be instructed, and
counselled, and comforted by Paul, even
while now his sainted spirit is witii God
and with Jesus, sharing in all the glories
and blessed with the felicities of that
happier world.
And now, my Christian hearers, from
the example of Paul, let me urge upon
you the duty of being prepared to make

PULPIT.

treatises in confutation

of his enemies,

which were eminently useful

to the

work

of the Reformation, and which, but for

might never have been

produced. It was in a lonely monastery
on the banks of the Rhine, that John
Huss, the Bohemian reformer, was kept
for many years a doomed prisoner, and
where he wrote several useful Avorks for
his confinement,

the

benefit

prison that

of

the church.

It

was

in

our great Scottish linguist

Buchanan wrote his beautiful version of

Psalms of David. It was in prison

the

that the learned Grotius produced his admirable treatise " On the Truth of the
Christian Religion."
And it was in pri-

son that John Bunyan wrote his well

known inimitable allegory which, by
into foreign tongues, may
be called, not merely a British, but

translation

now

European Christian

jail

In the

classic.

of Bedford, for twelve years and a

was this good man a prisoner, and

because he would not refrain from
preaching the gospel of Christ. Liberty
was offered him on condition that he
would not, hut with dauntless honesty
he still replied, " If you let me out today, I shall preach again to-morrow."
a similar sacrifice for Christ, if God in
To these instances I would only add
his mysterious providence should ever the highly interesting case of Bernard
demand it at your hands. And I urge Palissy. "This person was one of the
this as a duty, with the more confidence most extraordinary men of his time, and
that these favourable results, arising from had greatly benefited his country by his
captivity and imprisonment, were not pe- improvements in the arts.
Although a
culiar to the case of Paul.
Every Bible Protestant, he had, through the royal
reader is well aware what benefits flowed favour of Charles the Ninth of France,
to God's church from Joseph's imprison- escaped from the massacre of St. Barment in Egypt from Esther's exile as a tholomew. But having soon after been
captive maid in Persia; from the confine- shut up in the Basfile, he was visited in
ment of Jeremiah in the dungeon; from prison by the king, who told him that if
from he did not comply with the established
Daniel's captivity in Babylon
Peter's imprisonment at Jerusalem ; and (popish) religion, he should be forced,
from John's banishment to the lone isle however unwillingly, to leave him in the
of Patmos. Nor is modern history want- hands of his enemies. ' Forced /' replied
half,

all

ing in illustrations of the happy effects Palissy,

which have flowed from a sacrifice of but they

For ten
months Luther was shut up in the castle
of Wartenberg; but there he translated a
great part of the New Testament into
liberty in the cause of Jesus.

German

there he wrote his notes on the

there he composed many

evangelists

I can

'

speak like a king;

force you cannot force me.
He never regained his liberty,

this is not to

who

die.''

but ended his

life in

the Bastile in the

ninetieth year of his age."*

the spirit of

men

* See Pursuit of
culties.

like these

that

would de-

Knowledge under

Diffi-

PAUL'S WILLINGNESS TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST.

scend upon
their zeal,

us.

that the mantle of claim.

and their

their devotedness,

courage, might

fall

No

He was now

habitually ready to run

all

149
long time
hazards in the

for a

upon the Christians cause of Jesus. He who ere this had

been in deaths oft he who at Lystra had
been stoned, drawn out of the city and
left as a dead man by his murderous assailants, may surely, without any suspi-

of our degenerate age.

We are far from wishing that the trying times of persecution may return, for,
under a sense of our weakness, our prayer
should ever be, " Lead us not into tempta-

cion of empty boasting, receive credit for

But surely, surely, to display the an engagement from which he was not
zeal of working in peaceful times is as likely to flinch.
To desert his post, to
tion."

clearly our duty as to

show

the zeal of recant his faith, to flee from duty because

Let a danger lay in the path, were assuredly

suffering in times of persecution.

e^enerous shame, therefore, for our poor

stinted attainments excite us to

ardour
is

in the

renewed

Christian race, and

if

God

mercifully exempting us from imprison-

ment, captivity, or exile

if

he

is

bless-

ing us with the sweets of liberty, let the

rich blessing only be the more gratefully

and diligently improved

the giver.

to the

never the actions of the apostle Paul.

common

this he possessed a

soul with all

spirit of

who have

martyidom

in

In

feature of

displayed the true

every age. Such

was the spirit of an Esther, who, in the

cause of humanity, and with the penalty
of death, for intrusion into the

king'e

honour of presence, before her eyes, went notwithstanding into the king, e.xclaiming, " If

4. In the fourth place, we remark, that I perish, I perish !"

Such was the spirit
Paul was willing to sacrifice his life for of a Nehemiah, who, when threatened
the name of the Lord Jesus.
with assassination in the performance of
Paul was a man who lived exclusively duty, and when advised to flee for safety
for Christ.
It was the first, last, con- to
the
temple, undauntedly replied,
stant feeling of his soul, "how shall I " Should such a man as I flee? and who
best promote the honour of my God and is there that, being as I am, would go
Saviour ]" He knew no end, and sought into the temple to save his life ] I will
no end of existence but this. If the glory not go in." Such was the spirit of the
of Jesus could be best promoted by living, three Hebrew captives, who, when a
then, though hardships unutterable should flaming fiery furnace had been heated to
be his lot, he was willing to live, because sevenfold fury for their destruction, adhe could live to the honour of Christ; dressed the intolerant tyrant, in these
but if, by dying, he could honour Jesus words of cool and matchless heroism,
the more, then to die was he willing, "O Nebuchadnezzai we are not careful
since by dying he could die to the glory to answer thee in tl is matter.
If it be
of Jesus.
Living or dying, Paul's wish so, our God whom we serve is able to
was to be the Lord's.
deliver us from the burning fiery furnace,
We do not found this opinion on our and he will deliver us out of thine hand,
text merely.
His whole life proves it. O king! But if not, be it known unto
On a recent occasion we find him saying, thee, O king! that we will not serve thy
"The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every gods, nor worship the golden image which
eity that bonds and afflictions abide me. thou hast set up."
Such was the spirit
But none of these things move me, nei- of a Daniel, who, when he knew that the
ther count I my life dear unto myself, so decree was signed, dooming him to a den
that I may finish my course with joy, of lions if he oflfered up one prayer to
and the ministry which I have received God or man for thirty days, yet notwithof the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel standing, with calm resolution, went into
of the grace of God."
We are not to his house, as if no such decree had passimagine that Paul was on these occasions ed, and with his windows open to Jerusurprised by the warmth of his present salem, " kneeled upon his knees three
feelings into a hasty engagement from times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks
which afterwards he might wish to re- before his God as he did aforetime."
,

n2

THE BRITISH

ISO

PULPIT.

We

never read
Paul, we say, shared in the spirit of a spurious enthusiasm.
Having entered the field, he of him inflicting on himself those gloomy
these men.
kept it never laid down his arms never penances or unnatural mortifications, prac-

sought quarter never from cowardly feel- tised by Brahminical devotees or melannever read of him ating cried " hold " to the persecutor, but, choly monks.
had he possessed them, would have laid tempting to scourge himself into piety,
down ten thousand lives for the love lie or starve himself into saintship ; in him
an enlightened sobriety tempered the
bore to .Tesus.
I can imagine thai some may allege sternest and most inflexible resolution.
have already shown, he guarded his
I
that there was enthusiasm in all this.
know well, my friends, in common with life, liberty, and civil rights, on all occaSHry student of ecclesiastical history, that sions, like one who was accountable not
for three hundred years the name of a only for their use, but also for their loss.
Christian was death, martyrdom became He never unnecessarily threw himself
so coiT.mori that towards the close of that into the hands of his persecuting enemies.
period a morbiJ unnatural craving for it He promptly availed himself of every
seized n:nj' Christian professors. They lawful means of defence and escape, and
they suffered gra- suffered only when suflering could be
courtd persecution
tuitous torture, and, in some cases died avoided in no other way than by neglectIgnatius is ing his duty, denying his faith, wronging
almost vvitlitjut necessity.
said to have displayed this questionable his conscience, and offending his God.
ardour for martyrdom. Origen is said to Sooner than do these all the martyr rose
havo been so earnest to suffer with his in his soul. The sufferings which Paul
father, when he was a youth of sixteen endured had thus about them all the reyears of age, that, if his mother had not quisite sterling value of a martyr's knowkept his clothes from him, he would have ledge, and a martyr's sincerity. He well
run to the place where his father suffered, understood the religion which he professHe was able to give to every one
to profess himself a Christian, and to suf- ed.
It is related of a poor wo- that asked him a reason of the hope that
fer with him.
man of those times, that, making haste to was in him, with meekness and fear. He
for what
the place where many Christians were to knew well what he believed
be burned, she was met by a persecutor and for whom he suffered and, knowing
who addressed her, " Why make such this, there was no sacrifice short of his
haste to that place, there are many to be soul's salvation which, in proper time and
burned]"
"Ah!" said she, "that I place, he was not willing to make in
know, and I am afraid all will be done proof of his sincerity. And it was under
I and my child would the influence of this devout and most rabefore I come.
tional enthusiasm that Paul, on the prefain suffer with them."
Now, while I admit that men have en- sent occasion, exclaimed, " Wiiat mean
dured the most extreme torments in fana- ye to weep and to break mine heart 1 for
tical adherence to a false creed, and have I am ready not to be bound only, but to
thus illustrated the maxim, " that it is die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord
not the blood but the cause that makes Jesus."
You are aware, my friends, that though
the martyr;" and while I also know that
a strong necessity must be made out, and Paul was thus ready to die at Jerusalem,
a proper spirit possessed for dying as a should his master's honour demand it, it

We

We

martyr even in a good cause, since some

may rush on death, as the warrior at
times does, from a greedy lust of fame;
yet, after all these admissions are made,
I also know that Paul, in common with
thousands of those who have bled for
Christianity, possessed every qualification

was not

as a martyr, without the slightest taint of

tremity of

for a considerable period that the

forfeit of his faith

was

called for at his

During four years, as already

stated, he was a prisoner at Cesarea and
Rome. Subsequent to this he itinerated
the world, as he had done before, preachhands.

ing the gospel, encountering every ex-

danger, enduring hardship*

PAUL'S WILUNGNESS TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST.

and privations, but
the

mark

still

pressing on to

for the prize of his high calling.

151

also to every friend of Jesus, and of re-

ligious liberty,

>'

Btivare

.'

be ye also

And even after he vv-as fully ripe for hea- ready for the hour of danger and of trial."
ven, when life to him was loss, and death Let no friend of freedom, then, desert his
gain unspeakable, even then the blessed
Paul, with a self-denial never surpassed

by any follower of

Christ,

have his coronation

by continuing on

in

to
if,

save
But at length

earth, he could

souls and honour Jesus.

martyrdom

the land, that

man

is

a tool and emissary

of Satan, and has in him the

same death-

less principle of hostility.

In the hand

arrived.

of a merciful Providence, public opinion

the precise time was, ancient his-

may now be your safeguard, but just because religious liberty is on the adv.\nce,

the period

When

was willing

glory delayed,

There is no truce in Satan's heart

towards the church or her liberties ; and
if there be a tyrannical priest or peer in
post.

of

his

torians are not fully agreed

they are

all

agreed, however, as to the manner of his just because the scriptural churc' >; of
Being a Roman citizen, he was Christ in this island, instead of existing
death.
at a place called Salvian Wa- by mere sufferance, have the present
about three miles from the city of prospect of existing by constitutional
Rome, and his body was interred in the right and law, just on that very ecount
Ostium way. P^rom his second epistle hell and its emissaries are so much the

beheaded
ters,

to

Timothy

it

appears that he anticipated

both the time and the nature of his death.

The sayings of dying men have often
been repeated. This was Paul's " I am
:

now

ready to be offered, and the time of

my departure is at hand. I have fought
a good fight, I have finished lay course,

more likely to take the alarm, and make

some desperate effort to regain the prey
taken from them. Judging by the spirit
of high-church intolerance breathed by
many in our times judging by the tone
of stern defiance assumed, the bitter and
rancorous spirit displayed by many of the
dominant church party toward those who

have kept the faith. Henceforth there

up for me a crown of righteous- are asserting merely their rights and
ness, which the Lord, the righteous claiming nothing but their own ^judging
Judge, shall give me at that day ; and by these things, it is not a breach of
not to me only, but unto all them also charity to say, that there are men in our
land who clearly indicate that had they
tliat love his appearing."
And now, my Christian friends, in but the power, they have unquestionably
concluding this discourse, let me urge the will, to light up the smouldering fires
you to imitate the example of Paul, in of bigotry, and to draw the sword of perbeing willing to sacrifice life itself for secution again from its scabbard.
Let Christians, then, stand to their
It is true,
the name of the Lord Jesus.
you at present enjoy religious liberty and arms, take good heed of passing events,
You are blessed watch carefully the ebb and flow of publive in peaceful times.
with the privilege of worshipping God lic sentiment, guard well their liberties,
as your consciences dictate, free from the and come what come m.iy, though it
I

is laid

Ma- should be to offer up our lives on the

Here the serpent brood of altar of Christianity, never, never again
persecutors have, for the time, slunk into to let the souls of Scotchmen be enslaved
their den.
The Sharpes, the Lauder- and misled by priestly tyranny. But redales and the lords of the council, who member, my fellow Christians, though
argued so powerfully with boot, thumb- the necessity should never arrive, it is

sano-uinary penalties of Scotland's

rian

days.

screw, and gibbet, have all passed away.

The Scottish Attila, Clavers, has gone
to his account, and bloody Bell sleeps in
But remember that eighteen
his orrave.
thousand of their martyred victims also
While their blood
sleep in the dust.
cries to heaven for vengeance, it cries

your duty to reach the conviction that

your life should be at Christ's call and
" We are to take
solely at his disposal.

up our cross and follow him."

" We

are to resist unto blood striving against

"
are not to love our lives to
sin."

We

the death."

Besides, you have other

THE BRITISH

152

PULPIT.

enemies than these with which you have the longest, shall be short, and its termiwage, in this life, an interminahle war. nation glorious
a few steps more
Sin, Satan, and the world, are your band- few struggles more
a few wrestling
ed deadly foes till death close the strife, prayers and efforts more, and then your
from this war there is no discharge. sorrows and sufferings shall all be ended ;
Here also there can be no honour in re- then the rude blasts of life shall all be
<< Forward,,''''
treat, no safety in flying.
spent
the thick clouds of trial shall
is the motto of all Christ's soldiers
have all passed away, and the eternal
" victory or death," is the watch-word sunshine of glory shall settle on your
here.
Let the Spirit of the Lord then head. Yes, there remains a rest for the
come upon you as it came upon Samson people of God. Beyond these skies there
of old. " Quit you like men and be is a purer heaven, where God, and Jesus,
strong."
Remember, that in Christ's and holy spirits dwell. There, they who
army every true soldier is a hero, and have Avon the crown of saintship, or of
every hero crowned. Hear your Saviour martyrdom, shall wear it. Never shall
saying, "To him that overcometh will I they be tried by danger or hazard more.
grant to sit with me on my throne, even Their battles are all fought
their victoas I also overcame and am seated with ries are all gained
and the loud shout
my Father on his throne."
of salvation to God and to the Lamb,
Still, further, let it be remembered for rises in triumphant jubilee for ever and
whose sake you suffer. It is for Jesus, ever. Amen.
who, by the shedding of his blood, has
RELIGIOUS CONVERSATION.
answered to God for all your sins for
Jesus, who has plucked you as a brand
I WILL tell you a story which I have
from hell's burning fire, and blessed you from very good hands, of two very emiwith the hope of heaven's unutterable nent men, both for learning and piety, in
glory.
It is for Jesus, at whose name the last age, or rather the beginning of
heaven now rings with hosannas for the present the one of them a great preJesus, in whom God the Father supreme- late, (indeed a primate,) and the other a
to

ly delights

whom

for Jesus, before

che-

rubim and seraphim bow down and adore

for Jesus, at

whose

the redeemed cast

feet the spirits of

consult the interest of learning, and the

crowns, while

church so when they had

despatched that, they seldom parted from
one another without such an encounter as

all their

they cry, " Worthy, worthy

that

was

churchman of great note. These two eminent men, as they often met together, to

is

the

Lamb

slain."

affairs of the

" Come, good doctor," saith the

But perhaps a sense of your own weak- this
ness overwhelms you
then remember bishop, "let us now talk a little of Jesus
:

that the strength of the Lord of Hosts

ever on your side.

is

The name

is

of the Lord

Christ."
doctor,

Or, on the other side, said the

my lord, let me hear your

" Come,

grace talk of the goodness of God, with

His perfections are your wonted eloquence let us warm one
whatever perils and dangers another's hearts with heaven, that we may

a strong tower, into which his people

run and are safe.

pledged, that

may

befall you, at least

your soul and

In every

the better bear this cold world."

And

this

salvation shall never be lost.

they performed with that holy reverence

hour of need, he commands angelic legionaries to take their station as guards

around the fighting Christian. Had you
but faith, you might with a keener vision

and ardent zeal, with that delightful sense

and feeling, that afforded matter of admi-

than that given to the prophet's servant,

them.

ration to those of their friends or servants

that

happened to be present, or to overhear

Here is now an example of holy

see these hills and the wide cope of hea- conference, without a preface, and yet
ven lined with horses and chariots of without exception: a precedent, easy to
fire, all ready to minister to the heirs of imitate wherever there is a like spirit of
piety.
Goodman's Winter Evening Cow
salvation.
In fine, remember that your conflict, at ference.

SERMON XV.
THE DUTY AND IMPORTANCE OF DULY IMPROVING GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL
AND GRACIOUS VISITATIONS.

BY THE REV.

The harvest

is

past, the

summer

is

W.

ended,

NAYLOR.

and we are

not saved."

Jer. viii. 20.

the mournful conclusion of This appears to have been their state

mournful indeed, if only when, in the anguish of their distress,
;
applied to their political state, as a nation they exclaimed, " The harvest is past, the
suffering the horrors of an invading army ; summer is ended, and we are not saved."

Such was

ncient

Israel

These words, in whatever sense they were

it is supposed that, at this period,
Jerusalem was a besieged city, and that employed by Israel, are descriptive of the
Israel, instead of humbling themselves moral state of many at this day, who,
before God and imploring the interposi- after all that God has done for them and
tion of his power, had listened unto the to them and with them, are constrained,
deceptive language of the false prophets, on reflection from conviction, to confess,
who flattered them with a speedy de- " Many favoured harvests of blessings
liverance but the period of promised de- have passed by, and many summer sealiverance came ; it passed by, and sal- sons of valuable opportunities have ended,
But still more but we are not saved from the dominion
vation was unknown.
mournful is this conclusion, when ap- of sin and danger of eternal death." Sofor

plied

to

their

moral

state,

as a people

who had

allowed gracious opportunities

of spiritual salvation to pass by unimSuch opportunities they had
proved.
frequently been favoured with

for

God

had sent unto them all his servants, the

who had plainly warned them
of danger, and had clearly pointed out to

prophets,

them

the only

serious consideration !
thought
This scripture, suggested by the present

lemn

calculated to pro-

season of the year,

is

mote our instruction

in righteousness,

attending to those important truths

First,
To PROMOTE OUR SALVATION
way of deliverance. Among FROM THE DOMINION AND CONSEQUENCES

WE

ARE GRACIOUSLY FAVOURED OF

OF SIN,

he loved his country, and wept

over her desolations ; he traced all her
calamities unto the wickedness of her inhabitants; and their sin he faithfully reproved, and their reformation he diligently sought; yet his labours among
them were so fruitless and despised, that
he declared, " When I would comfort
myself against sorrow, my heart is faint
There were, however, seasons
in me."
when they were constrained to reflect on
their ways, and were made sensible of
the folly and danger of their conduct.
Vol. II
20

God WITH AN ABUNDANCE

it

observe.

these the prophet Jeremiah took a lofty

station

by

pre-

From

sents unto the reflecting mind.

we

it

OF SPIRITUAL

BLESSINGS.

The word

harvest, whether

it

be em-

ployed literally or figuratively, is a word

expressive of abundance so that harvest
and
blessings are abundant blessings
numerous are the blessings with which
we are favoured of God, designed by
;

him

to

promote our salvation.

Among

notice a few, deserving of conTo promote our salvation,

sideration.

many we
God has
First,

granted unto us.

The teaching of his

153

gospel.

THE BRITISH

154

PULPIT.

That the gospel

is designed of God and

sacrificial
in its effects, answerable unto
promote the salvation of the designs of grace ; and, as a propitiaman, is manifest from the nature and im- tion, so acceptable unto God, that through
port of those instructions which it affords
Christ, all the human race may find
for, by the gospel, we are instructed con- mercy.
Thus does the gospel teach
cerning the r.ecessHy of salvation. Thus, man, that he may be cheered with the
it informs us that man is naturally dehope of and encouraged to seek for salvapraved, that he is born in sin, bringing tion.
Further, the gospel instructs us
into the world with him corrupt principles concerning Ike method
It
(f salvation.
and carnal propensities, being so far gone informs us, that though God has so abunfrom original righteousness that he is of dantly provided for the salvation of man,
his own nature inclined to evil.
It in- yet, by him, none are saved irresistibly
forms us, that this depravity is so deep
that, on the part of man, there must
that his very thoughts are evil in the sight be a penitent mind, a yielding will, and
of God, his mind enmity itself against a believing heart that true repentance
God, and his heart desperately wicked must and will appear in sorrow for past
before God ; thus proving, that it is im- sin, and in an entire abandonment of sin
possible for those who are in the flesh to
that a yielding will must be manifested
please God.
It informs us that this de- by obedience unto all the commands of
pravity is universal
that no individual God
and that faith must have for its
has escaped " the fault and corruption of object, Christ crucified, in whose blood
our nature"
that it is as wide as the em- there is redemption of soul and forgivepire of the human race for " all flesh has ness of sin.
Thus does the gospel teach

calculated

to

corrupted

God's way upon the earth."

informs us that this depravity is invariably manifested in the life

that the
tree being evil, the fruit is evil also
that
It

God

brings the charge of sin against all

mankind ; so that, " if we say we have

and have not sinned, we deceive

ourselves, and the truth is not in us "
It
further informs us, that this depraviiy is
so dangerous to man and so oflTensive to

no

sin

that

man may

be brought into a state of

salvation, and "

is life

know him whom

to

know

eternal."

Secondly, Warnings of his providence.

the ministry of the gospel many are
careless they neglect it, or they slumber
under it thus the voice of Providence is

To

to rouse them to concern.

Providence is frequently the voice of God to
man, and by this he speaks with power
God, that by nature we are all the child- and terror; and beyond the sound of this
ren of wrath, having the wrath of God voice none can go, and all are subject
abiding on us. Thus does the gospel unto its visitations and by the warnings
teach, that we may see our moral state of Providence the salvation of man is
and the great necessity of salvation. designed of God. For this purpose, .JehoAlso, the provision if salvation.
Thus, vah warns hy dreadful calamities. Thus
the gospel informs us that God has not the stormy tempest that lifts up the waves
left man unto the consequences of his de- of the sea and dashes in pieces the firmpravity
on the contrary, in order to save built ship, entombing the crew and pashim from its miseries, he has laid help on sengers in the grave of the deep, is the

employed

one who
only and

mighty

to deliver, even his

Son. It informs us
that, for this purpose, the Father spared
not his Son ; but when, to rescue man
is

beloved

from the curse of sin, it became necessary

that one should bear the sin of all, and
by death make atonement for all, .Tesus
being the only one qualified to make that
atonement, the Father gave him up to the
demands of justice and power of death
;

yea, that his death, in

its

nature,

voice of

God unto man

the irresistible

blast that spreads desolation and death

through the dark mines of the earth,

the

voice of

God

to

man;

the

is

forked

lightning that darts with inconceivable

rapidity from the heavens, and shivers the

oak of the

consumes

the cattle of

the field, penetrates into the dwelling of

man, and
being,

was by

is

forest,

in a

moment deprives him of

God unto man and

the voice of

these calamities mortals are warned

THE DUTY OF IMPROVING GOD'S

of the absolute power of God.
By prevailing sickness and disease. Thus God is
pleased to visit nations, cities, and neigh-

VISITATIONS.

155

be stifled, and his drawings be withstood,

and sin be committed, then the influence
of the Spirit

is

felt in

the bitter reflec-

bourhoods, with mortal malady. The tions of guilt, in the piercing anguish of
burning fever, the fatal dysentery, and remorse, in the keen upbraidings of conappalling cholera, scatter the arrows of science for the past, and in the horror and
death in all directions, bereaving parents fear which attends the thought of the
of their beloved children and depriving future ; and why these diversified operachildren of the protection of their affec-tions of the Holy Spirit] Doubtless, their
;

tionate parents

God warns

and by these visitations

his creatures of their vanity,

and teaches them

that

neither health,

is the salvation of man.

Fourthly, Labours of faithful ministers.
To gather the harvest, reapers are

object

strength, nor youth, can secure continued

required
and to promote our salvation,
sudden death. A friend, a God employs ministers who are spiritual
neighbour, perhaps a relative, in the reapers. Thus the gospel is not only
slumbers of the night, or engaged with compared to the plough, and its truths to
the party of pleasure, or amidst the busy seed, but ministers to husbandmen and
bustle of business, is arrested by the cold reapers.
Under this character they are
hand of death, and in a moment number- spoken of by Christ " The harvest truly
ed with the dead. By these events men is plenteous, but the labourers (reapers)
are warned of the nearness of death, the are few."
To them, in this character,
" He that
danger of delaying a preparation for death, this promise may be applied
and the advantage of living fully prepared goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious
for that solemn hour.
seed, shall doubtless come again with
Thirdly, Injluence-of his Spirit. Even rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
the warnings of Providence are over- In this character, they are designed of
looked by many, or soon forgotten.
God God to be blessings unto the world, by
has therefore graciously granted his Spi- gathering the souls of men into the kingrit to follow men at all times, and into all
dom of grace. With this blessing in this
circumstances, that by it he may work land we are abundantly favoured of God.
in them his pleasure.
The influence of Days have been known, even in Britain,
this Spirit is manifested by convincing when the word of the Lord was so premen of the evil of sin. Not only that sin cious that there was no "open vision"
is an evil in its nature, but an evil against when the heralds of salvation were not
that it cannot be committed found one among many thousand ; but in
the soul
but to the soul's injury; so that it is an our day the word of the Lord is multievil for man to yield unto its power. plied, and great is the number of those
Thus we are imboldened to assert, that who publish it ; so that all in our land may
few sin ignorantly ; that most, if not all, hear " the joyful sound." Thus we prove
" Many
feel a revolting conscience from sin, and the truth of the ancient promise
health.

By

an accusing conscience for sin, and this

conscience is of the Spirit.
By drawing
men from sin. Thus, when sin is planned,
contemplated, and resolved on, it is the
Spirit that cries

" avoid

and turn away."

When

is

entered,

" Let
and

it is

it,

pass by

the Spirit that again cries,

man forsake his ways ;"

the wicked

to the

language of this

any, are entire strangers.

Spirit,

kindly
sin.

oflTers

his

to resist sin.

kw,

Nor does

Spirit merely speak against sin

man

it,

the path of sin

if

the

shall run to

and

be increased."
our teachers

walls

of

fro,

Our eyes frequently see

they statedly stand

Zion,

blowing

the

trumpet, and proclaiming the

on the

warning
oflTers

of

peace, beseeching us, in Christ's stead,

to be reconciled unto God ; and thus they

become

the savour of life unto life, to all

believe their report, and allow themselves to be drawn by them into the

who

he also< garner of the church.

powerful aid to help

By reproving men for

and knowledge shall

Secondly,

We observe,

To promote our

salvation,

WE ARE NOT ONLY FAVOURED OF GoD WITH

Should the convictions of the Spirit AN ABUNDANCE OF SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS,

THE BRITISH

156

PULPIT.

BUT ALSO WITH NUMEROUS GRACIOUS SEA- ful to the body and distressing to the
SONS AND FAVOURABLE OPPORTUNITIES.
mind, are generally gracious visitations

The summer is the season accounted

favourable for the performance of particular works; and with such seasons, in
reference to the special

we

vation,

For

God.

First,

for
it

graciously favoured

this purpose,

Though we

aged persons

of

sition

opportunities

for

many

the

habits of evil,

repent of their sinful conduct, to call upon

They

hinderances.

by a stubbornness of dispo-

dulness of

self-examination.

By
us down into the dust of death.
them, when rightly exercised, the mind
is humbled, the heart is softened, the
will brought into submission, and a
teachableness of disposition produced.
By affliction, many have been brought to

salvation, yet

that such events are

from being numerous, and that they are

attended with
are hindered

afford

he grants,

to obtain

must be confessed

far

sal-

They

solemn thought, holy meditation, serious

inquiry, important reflection, and faithful

By them we are reminded of our dependence on God that

summer season of youth. life and health are at his disposal, and
do not deem it impossible that it is an easy thing with him to bring

are

work of our

designed of God to promote our spiritual

benefit.

apprehension

power of long established

and the absence of express promise but God for his mercy, and resolve to amend
though no promise is given unto the their ways and their doings, and some
aged, as aged persons, to encourage them from them have dated their new creation.
to expect the mercy of their offended With such summer seasons many present
God, yet the summer season of youth is have been favoured. You can call to
encouraged by special promise, such as, remembrance when Providence seemed
" Those that seek me early shall find me." to frown on your path, and you were
Thus the young are divinely assured that brought into circumstances of difficulty
the early dedication of themselves unto and distress.
You can recollect when
God, is highly acceptable in his sight
certain members of your family were laid
that it is his pleasure concerning them, on the bed of suffering, and you had
and that they will meet with a gracious reason to fear their sickness would be
reception.
Again, this summer season unto death yea, when your own bodies
is not only favoured with cheering pro- were oppressed with pain and weakened
mises, but, in the performance of this by disease, and you appeared to be drawduty, the young have not such difficulties ing near unto the eternal world
and why
to contend with as the aged have ; a long these dispensations 1
No doubt they
course of sin has not spread its baneful were granted of God to work in you sal:

influence over their passions and princi-

ples

in

them there

is

not so

much

to

be

undone, removed, and forgiven as in the

aged nor have they such bitter regrets
to feel, nor such desponding thoughts to
encounter, as those must have who defer
the concerns of their souls unto the "winter
period of life. This summer season is
also generally favoured with the smiles
of health, vigour of strength, power of
memory, and freedom from anxious care
;

and painful solicitude

respecting

worldly circumstances; and

all

their

vation, that you, also,

might say, "It

is

me that I have been afflicted."

Thirdly, Summer season of special visi-

good

for

tations (f grace.
That nations have been
favoured with special spiritual visitations,
is a

scriptural truth

and that individuals

are thus visited, is manifest from general

experience.

There

who

is

scarcely an indi-

not only what

be termed the ordinary striving of
the Spirit of God, but also the very pow-

vidual but

has

felt,

may

erful influence of that Spirit;

and that,

these are

especiall)' in seasons of suffering, in the

Young

retirement of solitude, in the ordinances

favourable to spiritual prosperity.

your summer season work of religion, and under the powerful miniswhile the gospel sun shines upon you try of the gospel, when they have been
filled with fear, roused to concern, melted
with such meridian glory.
Secondly, Summer season of affliction. down with contrition, and mightily drawn
Dispensations of affliction, however pain- to give themselves unto God. Have not
people, this

is

"

THE DUTY OF IMPROVING

GOD'S VISITATIONS.

157

many of you experienced such visitations truth. We are well aware that there is
when " the kingdom of God has come a disposition in man to call such facts
nigh you" when the powers of the world in question, and to conclude, there is
when such abundant mercy with God that he
to come have been tasted by you

a voice you have distinctly heard, and a

voice you clearly understood, said unto

you, " This

vation."

is

the accepted time of sal-

Those

visitations

have been

re-

never has and never will consign an

immortal soul to everlasting destruction.

But

show

facts,

that

numerous and

indisputa'tle,

blessings and

opportunities

And why

this may pass away unimproved

and when
Doubt- they do so, finally, why should we hesiless, for the purpose of assisting you to tate to declare, that destruction
endless
" make your calling and election sure."
destruction, must follow 1
Ask me for
Thirdly, It is possible for spiritual facts to prove this awful truth ] I refer
BLESSINGS AND FAVOURABLE OPPORTUNI- you to the old world. They had a long
TIES TO PASS AWAY, AND LEAVE MAN A and favoured opportunity, all the days
STRANGER TO SALVATION. The bloSsiugS Noah was preparing the ark God was
of the most abundant harvest have an speaking unto them and waiting to save
end, and the longest summer comes to a them ; but they regarded not his longclose
so will the blessings and opportu- suffering grace, and the flood came and
nities of salvation, and this they may do brought their blessing and opportunities
and man remain destitute of salvation. of salvation to an end. Ask me for facts
This truth is variously confirmed we to prove this awful truth 1 I refer you to
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, in the days
observe,
The word of God asserts the of the Redeemer's abode with men.
First,
truth.
There are few truths more expli- They were blessed with the works, excitly revealed than this, and doubtless it ample, and ministry of Christ and his
They saw the wonders which
is revealed with clearness for our solemn apostles.
warning. In an early age of the world attended the Saviour's death, and they
Jehovah declared, " My Spirit shall not heard of the power of his resurrection,
alway strive with man." By this scrip- yet what was the ultimate state of thouShall we believe the faithful
ture it is plainly intimated, that the Spirit sands?
of God may be withdrawn from many, Amen 1
Hear, then, his testimony. He
with whom he has long strove, and the wept over Jerusalem, saying, " If thou
periods of his strivings have an end. Of hadst known, even thou, at least in this
this Israel was warned when Jehovah thy day, the things which belong unto
but now they are hid from
declared, " Be thou instructed, O Jerusa- thy peace
lem, lest my soul depart from thee." And, thine eyes." Ask me for facts to prove
" Wo also to them when I depart from this awful truth ] I refer you to many aged
them." Indeed, were ii not possible for persons of the present day, who have had
them to pass away unimproved, and many calls and offers of salvation but a
leave man a stranger to salvation, what long life has been spent without God,
can those scriptures moan, which declare and now they have sunk into such a state
the existence of such tremendous circum- of mental imbecility, that they are not
they
stances, such as, " Because I have called, capable of receiving instruction
and ye refused I have stretched out my have become mentally dead, while dead
hand, and no man regarded ; but ye have in trespasses and sins ; and where is the
Ask me
set at naught all my counsel, and would promise of salvation unto such
none of my reproof, I also will laugh for facts to prove this awful truth 1 I refer
at your calamities, I will mock when you unto many hearers of the gospel,
Then shall they who, from the days they were seated on
your fear cometh.
call upon me, but I will not answer ; they their mother's lap and were led by a fashall seek me early, but they shall not ther's hand, have been trained to observe
find me."
holy Sabbaths to attend the house of

peated atrain and ag'ain.

special influence of divine grace

"?

Secondly, Numerous facta establish the

God, and

sit

under the ministry of the

THE BRITISH

158

PULPIT.

By tlie gospel they have

life.
An unsaved state is a state of dan^ett
been convinced, warned, instructed, and Not merely of temporal calamities, howinvited ; yet, to this moment, they remain ever tremendous-^of bodily death, howstrangers unto saving grace.
Ask me ever painful but the danger of the wrath
for facts to prove this awful truth 1
I
of God, who is terrible in majesty- the
refer you to the damned in hell.
Many of danger of eternal judgment, which canthe inhabitants of perdition were once as not be conceived
the danger of the death
you now are in a state (jf probation. To of the soul, that death which never dies.
them the gospel was preached on them In a word, unsaved by grace from the
the providence of God called
with them dominion of sin, man is every moment in
the Spirit of God strove
and among danger of the eternal curse and consethem the ministers of God diligently quences of sin. So that an unsaved state
laboured.
They had summer seasons of is, of all others, the most deplorable and
youth, of affliction, and special visitation ; alarming.
Let us now,
but death found them in the path of transApply these important
Fifthly,
gression, and now they find themselves TRUTHS.
In doing so, we would conwith him who once exclaimed, "I am sider the language of this scripture as the
tormented with this flame." Ask me for language of.
facts to confirm this awful truth 1
regret for
Shall
First, Penitential regret
I refer you to yourselves'?
Nay, do not having abused such precious blessings
shrink from this personal application of and neglected such favourable opportunihave none of you cause to take ties. And who can reflect on the worth
the truth
up the lamentation of mourning, and say. of the soul, its fallen condition, the misery
have had many bountiful harvests of it is in, and how near it is unto eternal
blessings, and many bright summer sea- misery
who can reflect on the suitablesons of opportunities ; but, alas, " we are ness of the blessings of salvation to raise
We observe, once more,
not saved !"
the soul from its fallen state, and secure
Fuurihiy, The state of those who its endless happiness who can reflect,
ARE NOT SAVED BV GRACE IS MOST DEPLO- that a soul so circumstanced, and blessRABLE AND PERILOUS. Let US Contemplate ings so valuable, have been neglected and
the wretclied condition of such.
In doing despised, without regret ] Such folly and
so, we notice.
such wickedness should humble us into
An unsaved state is a state of guilt. the dust, and move a heart of stone to
Such are guilty before God, and guilty contrition. We tremble for the safety of
against God
they have broken his law, those who can review God's great goodand the condemnatory curse of that law ness, and their great vileness, without
rests upon them.
They are impure in his deep compunction of mind. We trust,
sight, and he cannot behold iniquity with therefore, that you are saying, with feelword of

We

pleasure.
that

It is oflfensive to his

nature

" abominable thing which his soul

./?77.
unsaved stale is a state nf misery.
Real happiness is only to be found in the
light of God's countenance; but "the
face of the Lord is against them who do
evil ;" and where he frowns misery must
dwell
so that the unsaved from sin must
be strangers unto happiness. Ask them.
Have they joy ] " It is like the crackling
:

Ask them. Have

of thorns under a pot."
they rest? "They are like the troubled
sea which cannot rest !"
Ask them.
1 " There is no peace,
God, unto the wicked."

Have they peace

my

summer

is

"The

ended, and

harvest

we

is

past, the

regret that

are not saved."

hates."

saith

ings of regret,

we

Secondly, Awakened fear the fear of

who discovers his danger, and is
concerned about it. And well may this
a person

discovery occasion fear

fear that

God,

justly displeased with the abuse of past

mercies, should henceforward

withhold

mercy a fear lest the horrors of an

unsaved state should speedily come upon
them. Such conduct on the part of man
has merited such abandonment from God.
And do you not fear, you who know you
you who are
are not saved by grace ]
assured, from the word of God, that withhis

THE DUTY OF IMPROVING

GOD'S VISITATIONS.

you must perish for ever 1 live nf your state P

can you contemplate your danger of ber of the unsaved

out salvation

And

destruction

eternal

God

forbid

indifference

we

hope, from real

Rather,

concern, you are saying, "

summer

past, the

for our safety, for

Thirdly,

is

we

with

The

harvest

we

ended, and

159

Are yon of the num1

Reflect on that state.

Unsaved, what are you The servants of

Satan, the enemies of God, the negleclers
of Christ, and resisters of the Holy Spirit.
Unsaved, where are you ] In the gall
"?

is

fear

are not saved."

of bitterness, in the broad

inquiry the inquiry

on

way

of destruc-

awful verge of perdition.

of those who are anxious to learn whether Unsaved, what are you doing 1
You are
salvation is yet possible
who are saying, destroying your own souls, rejecting the
" Can I, after abusing so much goodness kingdom of heaven, and making eternal
after placing myself in such circum- death sure.
Unsaved, where are you
stances of jeopardy, yet obtain salvation'?" going?
Your path may appear wide,
Thanks to the long-suffering grace of pleasant, and easy; but look to the end
Serious

tion,

the

God,

it

is

Your

possible.

ings are yet continued

life is

not yet closed.

harvest bless-

your summer of
This, with you,

of

it!

See, see!

it

terminates in hell!

Being unsaved, are you

is

with
your pros-

satisfied

yourselves, your state, and

1
Satisfied without an interest in
Christ?
Satisfied without a title to
you the Spirit of God strives with you
heaven ? Satisfied under the sentence of
you may be saved, for the blood of Christ eternal death ] Surely not. But should
pleads for you, and the arms of mercy are any be so satisfied, we address them in
wide open to receive you you may be the language of the Holy Spirit, "Awake,
saved, for unto you the word of salvation thou that sleepest ;" for, if you do not
is sent
sent, because God waiteth to be thus awake, in eternity, in the language
g-racious
sent, to assure you that " God of fixed and black despair, you will have
hath not appointed you to wrath, but to exclaim, " The harvest of God's
to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus bounty is for ever past, the summer of
Christ." Is, then, your inquiry, "Though his mercy has for ever ended, and we
many harvests are past, and many sum- must for ever remain unsaved."
mers have ended, can we yet be saved ?"

not the inquiry of eternity, but of time.

You may

pects

be saved, f^r ministers invite

;

We

reply to you, salvation

Fourthly,

is possible,

REV.

and near.

consuming

Affectionate

warning,

It

On my

JOHN FLETCHER

PREACHING.

occasional visits,

was struck

warns you, that your privileges are pass- with several things. Preaching on Noah
ing away your time is
that as a type of Christ, he was in the midst
your careless conduct is inexcusable
of a most animated description of the
and that your eternal destiny will soon terrible day of the Lord, when he sudEvery feature of his exbe fixed.
It warns you, that, as the denly paused.
great work your hand findeth to do is the pressive countenance was marked with
saving of your souls, you should do that painful feeling and, striking his forework mightily, and immediately making head with the palm of his hand, he
haste and not delaying to enter into a exclaimed, " Wretched man that I am
It warns you, that the Beloved brethren, it often cuts me to the
state of salvation.
delay of a week or a day may prove fatal
soul, as it does at this moment, to reflect,
it warns you, that this sermon may be
that while I have been endeavouring by
your last blessing that this ordinance the force of truth, by the beauty of holimay be your last favourable season and ness, and even by the terrors of the Lord,
that the sun of your last summer may to bring you to walk in the peaceable
have risen upon you: considerations paths of righteousness, I am, with rewhich should lead you to pray, " Lord, spect to many of you who reject the
so teach me to number my days, that I gospel, only tying millstones round your
may apply my heart unto wisdom."
neck, to sink you deeper in perdition !"
Fifthly, We inquire, Is the text descrip- The whole church was electrified, and it

THE BRITISH

160
was some time

before he could resume the

PULPIT.
"

hope

have not been

mean to be
On another occasion, after the morning so: but I wanted more love then, and 1
service, he asked if any of the congrega- feel I want more now."
This mild antion could give him the address of a sick swer silenced him; and sent him away,
man whom he was desired to visit. He I trust, better acquainted with Mr.
was answered, " He is dead, sir." Fletcher's spirit, and his own. They
" Dead
dead !" he exclaimed ; " An- are not generally of the best spirits themother soul launched into eternity
What selves, who are first to complain of the
can I do for him nov/ Why, my friends, spirits of their opponents.
will you so frequently serve me in this
On his way to Ireland Mr. Fletcher
manner 1 I am not informed you are preached in a large town ; and towards
the conclusion of his sermon stated his
ill, till I find you dying, or hear that you
Then sitting down, he cover- sentiments respecting the eminent degree
are dead !"
ed his head with his gown; and when of holiness to which a Christian might
the congregation had retired, he walked attain in this life. All the ministers of
home buried in sorrow, as though he had the place attended to hear him ; and all
but one stayed to shake him by the hand
lost a friend or a brother.
All of Mr. Fletcher's opponents were after the service. That one was the
able, and most of them humorous writers. principal clergyman, a polished gentleThis circumstance frequently obliged man and an old acquaintance. In the
him, contrary to the habitual gravity of morning Mr. Fletcher, who suspected no
his character, to encounter them with offence, said to Mr. Gilbert, " I had not
subject.

-Mr. Fletcher,

bitter.

Certainly

did not

their

own weapons;

made him pass

those

who

and

perhaps
with

tiiis

for a bllter writer

could not bear to see their

own

sentiments treated with the same freedom

with which they

treat those of a contrary

They who wish

description.

to

judge

the pleasure last night of shaking hands

with

my

friend

of quitting the

Mr.
I cannot think
town without seeing him.
,

As you are acquainted with him, perhaps

you will walk with me." They accordingly called, and were introduced
but
when he presented his hand with his
:

would do well to read

Mr. Fletcher's works before they censure usual respectful cordiality, it was rudely
him and to bear in mind that the respect declined. " I never preach any thing,"
due to truth will justify a degree or free- said his friend, " but what I experience.
dom with doctrine, which esteem and love Do you, Mr. Fletcher, experience that
according

to truth

will not allow towards the persons of

advocates.

its

will not recriminate on his

respectable opponents ; but relate an

anecdote which will exhibit his patience
and gentleness under severe and rude

When

eminent degree of holiness, that Christian

which you spoke of last
night ?"
Unprepared for discussion,
especially with an angry disputant, he
answered mildly, " My dear brother, we

perfection,

dying serve the same blessed Lord why then

should we disagree because our liveries
minister called upon him. Though he are not turned up exactly alike 1" Findhad been forbidden to converse, and the ing his friend still rude and repulsive, he
gentleman was a stranger, Mr. Fletcher suddenly caught his hand, kissed it, and
admitted and received him with his usual bowing low, said, " God bless you, my
But the visiter, instead of brother," and retired. It is creditable to
courtesy.
conversing on such subjects as were the religious principles of this gentleman,
suitable to Mr. Fletcher's Christian cha- that Mr. Fletcher's patient kindness was
On his return from
racter and afflicted circumstances, entered not without effect.
warmly on controversy ; and told him, Ireland his friend called upon him, asked
" He had better have been confined to his his pardon in the handsomest terms, and
bed with a dead palsy, than have written treated him with the most respectful disCommunicated by the Rev.
so many bitter things against the dear tinction.
My brother," said Melville Home.
children of God."
censures.

circumstances at

apparently

Bristol,

in

a dissenting

SERMON
HUMAN AND

SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE.

BY THE REV.

'

In much wisdom

It

keep

is

in

is

much grief: and he that

S.

ROBINS.

increaselh knowledge increaseth sorrow."

highly important that we should

mind, as well in respect of the

declarations of Scripture, as of the

XVI.

On

Eccl.

the great reckoning day,

debt book

max- account

is

opened, and

for the

we

when

i.

18.

the

are held to

employment of even the

ims of mere temporal and secular con- lowest faculties with which we have been
cernment, that many things which, in gifted ; that will surely not be overlooked,
one point of their application, are alto- or unheeded, which is the distinguishing
gether undeniable, may in another point prerogative of our nature, and bj' which
be contrary to reason and experience
we are adapted to study the attributes of
that many positions which, up to a certain God, and to serve and glorify him for
limit, are true beyond all question, may, ever.
The talent must be used, not laid
if strained, and urged beyond that limit, by; it must be put out to interest, not
become as evidently untrue. The words hidden in a napkin nor buried in the earth.
of the text may serve as an illustration of
It is, indeed, a high and noble thing to
this principle.
The intended application consecrate our minds, with all their best
is clearly of limited extent ; if it were and brightest faculties, to him who beThere
universal, it would involve a paradox; stowed them for his own service.
and it would assert that which is contrary is no finer spectacle than that which is
not only to the testimony of our own presented by the man of science, who
minds, but to the plain statements which searches the records of creation, written
are made in many other places of the in characters which no time can obliterate,
word of God. There is wisdom which and on a page which no changes can
bringeth no grief; and there is knowledge efface and fetches in from them proofs
whose increase implies no increase of of the character, and illustrations of the
sorrow.
We shall find in the Bible no dealings and doings of Deity who, while
plea for ignorance. " That the soul be he listens to the voice which they utter in
without knowledge it is not good," is the his ear, acts as nature's interpreter for
declaration of Scripture; and they are nature's God, and brings forth evidences
rendering a mighty disservice to religion, of everlasting truth wherewith to put to
who represent it as disconnected with the silence the cavils of the objector. Or one
;

Of all who has become familiar with the lanwhich the Lord has bestowed guages of other lands, may dedicate this
upon his creatures, none ranks higher, or power also to a holy service, and make it
involves weightier responsibility, than the the means of extending the limits of the
gift of intellect.
No endowment with Redeemer's kingdom, by sending forth
which He has invested them can be ranged the tidings of salvation through his blood,
in its importance above that, by which to the nations which have long been sitman is separated, and marked off, from ting in darkness and the shadow of death.
the lower creation, and by which he is While another who is strong in argument,
made to differ from the beasts that perish. and able to detect fallacious reasoning,
161
o2
Vol. II. 21
cultivation of the mental powers.

the gifts

THE BRITISH

162
and

to give force to truth, will

find

topics in the defence of which he

better

or

more

no

may

spend his

satisfactorily

intellectual strength than those whicli the

gospel furnishes forth.

And

if

there even

PULPIT.

They would

have been charged.

take

the things of the gospel out of the sphere

of reason, and confine

them altogether

it

that while the truth

is,

is

to

Hence

the regions of feeling and affection.

overspread

were a period, when it was laid with the and obscured by multiform delusions
weight of a special duty upon the people while frantic claims to special inspiration
of God, to improve to the utmost their are asserted, in maintenance of wild, and
mental faculties
period in which

for his service, it is the

our lot

is

cast.

extravagant, and antiscriptural doctrines,

The we

are told the case

is

one

to

which the

apostles of infidelity are abroad, and are

ordinary process by which error

doing their master's work with unceasing

and unwearying devotedness. There are
subtle and keen witted men, who have
rendered themselves up to the one unholy
design of puUinor down the fabric of pure
and undefiled religion; and while they
are putting forth all the powers of cultivated minds for the achievement of their
purpose, it is surely the time when the
servants of the cross should keep their
intellectual armour bright and burnished.
The days are at hand when there will be
a yet fiercer conflict between the principles of good and evil ; when the struggle
for the mastery will be yet more tremendous ; when they who love the Lord
Jesus Christ cannot remain in neutrality,
but must contend earnestly for the faith
once delivered to the saints, in promulgating which apostles laboured, and in
the defence of which martyrs braved the
scaflfold and the stake.
We do not doubt
the issue of the great contest, because we
know that the might of Omnipotence is
engaged on our side, and that the word of
Him who cannot be.unfluthful is pledged
to his church.
But we have no warrant
to look for a special blessing, while we
commit the protection of our Zion to
unpractised hands while we intrust the

futed,

defence of our spiritual citadel to

who

men

possess xeal indeed, but not accord-

ing to knowledge. The church of Christ

has probably suffered not less from its
professed friends, than from

its

that

cannot be applied

it

is

is

re-

vain

in

unanswerable arguments are urged,

the expected result does not follow, but

occasion

is still

given to the enemies of

the Lord to blaspheme, and the hearts of

those

who

love his

name

are depressed

and saddened, as they see one and another

of the weaker brethren made to stumble,
and wander from the narrow way. The
apostolical injunction to be "ready to
give an answer to every man that asketh
a reason of the hope that is in us," is
addressed not only to the distinguished
and highly gifted champions of gospel
truth, but it belongs with as much directness and force of application, to those
whose position is far lower, and whose
attainments are of a far meaner order. If
we would be kept from imbibing erroneous opinions which must hinder our own
souls, and may be the cause of hinderance
to others, we must bring the powers of reason to bear upon the subjects of revelation,
in a simple and prayerful dependence upon
the Spirit, without whose teaching, indeed,
human powers could not avail for the
discovery of the least fragments of divine
truth.
Such an employment of mind,
the words which I have chosen for our
present topic, are far, indeed, from discouraging.

And

in order to set this matter

before you with

more clearness and

pre-

cision, I will consider, in the first place,

SOME OF THE CASES IN WHICH THE APPLIavowed CATION OF THE TEXT IS UNDENIABLE and,
;

and without charging hypocrisy in the second place, some of those in

or deception upon all of the former class WHICH no APPLICATION OF IT CAN BE
who have done injury to the great cause of MADE.
truth, we blame them that they have so
As to the first head of our subject, we
often suflfered the mind to lie fallow and may say, in general and compendious
untilled ; and have counted it a small terms, that the text applies to all the
thing to leave in abeyance the intellectual acquisitions of knowledge which are inde

enemies

endowments with the use of which they pendent of God, and from which

consi-

HUMAN AND

SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE.

derations of the soul and of eternity are

163

he knows noand all the acquisitions

of human science must necessarily pro- by which he has been distinguished from
duce dissatisfaction and disappointment. his fellows, will have no bearing upon its
When it has been urged to its farthest weighty concernments. " Whether there
extent, its discoveries are but mean and be knowledge, it shall vanish away:
ignoble in comparison of what remains whether there be tongues, they shall
its acquisitions are little cease."
He may have taken larger
yet unknown
worth, when contrasted with the extent strides than his contemporaries, in the
of the field, which can never be brought field of human attainments and he may
within its grasp and compass. If it be be able to illustrate his chosen subjects
applied to the objects and operations of with such eloquence that riveted attenexternal nature, it soon reaches the boun- tion hangs upon his words; but, in spite
dary line beyond which its investigations of the admiration which he excited, he
cannot advance. It may accumulate facts, must soon go down to the quiet chamber
and, by a careful and precise induction, of the grave; the tongue which spoke
form a system connecting together vari- with such force and persuasion will be
ous phenomena, it may pronounce of one put to silence; the distinction which he
class, that they are cause, and of another, earned by mental superiority must cease,
that they are effect; but of their mode of and his very name will, after a few geneinfluence, or of the exact relation which rations, be forgotten.
2d. But there are circumstances in
they bear to each other, nothing is known.
And if science be applied to trace out the which sorrow more directly tracks the
machinery and operations of our own footprints of that wisdom which is of the

excluded.

The

tauorht in a better sehnol,

'

limitation of the sphere

thing of eternity

minds, the result

One

is still less satisfactory.

generation of metaphysicians builds

The

earth.

human science, the

human learning,
many a heartrending

annals of

history of students in

up a system which another generation might furnish forth

employs itself to pull down and to de- page. We might read of man}' a one,
who, having ardently pursued the object
stroy.
1st. Human knowledge is confined with- which seemed to promise most of reputaThe tion and advancement, has derived from
in narrow limits in point of time.
present is that which it can alone claim. his pursuit only the keenness of disapThe annals of past ages convey false- pointment and the bitterness of a broken
At this time, and within the
so that heart.
hoods intermingled with truth
the most patient and unwearied research compass of this crowded city, you might
cannot distinguish between fact and fic- go into many a chamber where the
and infinitely the larger portion of scholar is consuming life itself in the
tion
the transactions which have occupied the acquirement of knowledge which will
You might see the sad
millions of mankind, have obtained no not profit him.
;

record, and have left no memorial.

Of

the mighty future, which lies be5'ond the

boundary of time ; of that inconceivably

long existence, to which the present life
forms but the commencement and the
vestibule, unassisted reason can make no
discovery. There hath no voice come to
us but the voice of revelation and of God,
to tell us of our

own

it

waning strength over the nightly

lamp until the hectic colour settles upon
his pale sunken cheek; till, with wasted
limbs, and unstrung nerves, he bears in

in conceal-

the aspect of his emaciated form the evi-

everlasting destiny

must remain wrapped

ment and mystery to him who

and

sinking to an
untimely tomb, because he followed his
one object too intently and too devotedly
labouring during the day, and stealing
hours from repose, that he might spend
spectacle of such a one

his

dence of premature decay. And while he

have toiled patiently is sacrificing so much for intellectual
and unweariedly, and he may have been distinction, he is keenly and painfully
pointed at with the finger, as the wisest sensible of neglect. He feels himself a
among the wise ; but unless he has been lonely and forsaken creature. The world

teaching.

He may

rejects this

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164
mark

mankind

PULPIT.

of mind, the lofty and noble endowments which the Lord has bestowed, are
ral engagements, to care for his success. so often made the means of widening the
Others there are of firmer temperament gulf of separation which divides us from
and bolder spirit, who are rising to him. We may embark so ardently in the
distinction, and grasping the splendid cause of human wisdom, that, while we
advance, step by step, to higher and more
rewards which society has to bestow
they are better suited to struggle with the envied attainments, we may, in exactly
world and, though they may belong to the same degree, be travelling into ?
an(?
a far inferior class of minds, they have region of remoteness from God
battled with the stream, and have planted while we use his gifts for the achieve
their feet upon the vantage ground, on ment of our present purpose, we may
which his eye and his hope have long consign to inconsideration the condition
been vainly fixed. He goes down to his of responsibility which he has annexed,
grave; and with him maybe buried the and from which we cannot finally escape,
bright expectations of parents, who, with tnat they should be used to his glory, in
the willing credulity of the heart, believed the promotion of his own everlasting
no object too high for his attainment; or purposes. The effect will be to keep us
the last hopes of his own home circle to far from God, since the pride which
whom he was the centre of affection and chambers itself in the natural heart, and
delight.
This ardent pursuit of know- rises in determined hostility against the
ledge, this uncheered and unmitigated humbling doctrines of the cross, will be
And if increased by continual accessions; and as
toil, has destroyed many a life.
there be no revelation of the truth of God we advance successfully in the acquireto the heart; if no dawning of spiritual ments of human knowledge, we shall be
day hath broken upon the darkness of tempted to compare ourselves with those
the soul
if the gospel of the Lord Jesus of meaner attainments, from whose ranks
Christ has never come with its converting we have stepped forward, and wanting
and healing power, it is not easy to ima- the counterbalance of grace in the heart,
gine a death-bed more uncheered and we shall be further removed from the
unhappy. The man feels, when he is simplicity of that childlike spirit, in
dying, that a deceived heart has turned which it is required that we should go as
him aside ; he sees that he has been learners into the school of Jesus Christ.
is too

busy

are too

to

his doings;

much occupied by

their

own

ties

seve-

labouring for that which

is

its
its

not bread

4th.

To

be thus turned aside

from him

with all who is the source of present blessing and

energies, devoting the mind, with all eternal hope, will sooner or later he felt to
bright and powerful faculties, for that be an evil and a bitter thing. It issues

that he has been spending

which could not

satisfy

life,

the

soul,

nor

not unfrequently in yet more disastrous

The. mind which has been so

deeply engaged in following the discoveries of science, and sjathering stores of
intellectual treasure- in ways which it has
shaped out independently of God, may at
works in tracing the various processes length, in the uncurbed pride of reason,
through which they pass, and the various reject the evidence for the truth of his relaws to which they are subject, as to vealed word may deny hia nrovidential
forget the high attributes of the Creator interference in the transactions of the
may be so engrossed by earth; and, plunging yet deeper in the
himself.
the gifts which he has bestowed with a abyss of unbelief, may join the fool of
If
free and liberal hand, as to be altogether old, in denying his very existence.
It is a there be a human creature whose condiforgetful of the bounteous Giver.
saddening proof of the ingratitude of the tion might well excite profounder pity
heart, and of the utter depravity to which than that of others, it is he who, being a
our nature has fallen, that the very facul- wanderer in the wilderness, has quenched
comfort his

hour of need.
3d. Human knowledge, ivhile it is unsandified hy grace, tends to lead us away
may become so absorbed
from God.
in the contemplation of the Creator's
spirit in the

effects.

We

We

HUMAN AND

SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE.

lo5

which would have the fable of the nurse, and the delusion
way; who, being born of the priest; the days of unspoiled and

in his soul the light

guided hirn on his

to an inheritance of sorrow, has closed
against himself the only well-spring of
abiding comfort. Such a one may not
only present the fearful spectacle of infidelity in his own person, but, with an
unholy devotedness, he may use his influence and his talents in perverting the faith
of others, and making them the same in
their unbelief as he has himself become.
But while he is thus doing the work of
the great enemy of mankind, he is also
preparing the way for consequences which
he neither expected nor desired. He may
pride himself upon the strict integrity

which

is

stamped upon his dealings

the

carefulness and consistency with which

he performs the

offices of his station

and

the respectability and unimpeached credit

with which he bears himself in the relations of social life; but while he is conveying the subtle poison of his opinions
to the minds of others, he cannot predict
the effects in which they may result.
The young and intellectual, upon whom
he had taken pains to fasten his opinions,
may not be able to exercise the same
mastery over their passions, and to restrain so successfully the outbreak of evil

propensities,

when

the curb of religious

principle has been withdrawn, and the

outworks of morality have been beaten

down. Having become infidel in opinion,
they may become debauched in practice;
following out, in their natural result, the
principles to which they have been prose-

may become such as their

companions learn to pity or scorn, and
such as society desires to weed out of its
pale.
He who with so much assiduity
converted them to his views, may be yet
in the fulness of his own unchecked pros-

lyted, they

perity

but his heart will be

wrung with

anguish as he marks the blight and the

ruin which he caused, but which he can-

not remedy. And when

comes upon him, when

his

own

evil

day

his leaf is sere

and yellow, and the blossom of his life is

gone, he will feel the full bitterness of a
There may be times
desolate spirit.
when memory will call up early recollections, and go back to the days when
he had not j'et learned to call the gospel

unperverted childhood, when in the holy

observances of a pious family circle, the

morning and evening prayer was offered

by those into whose hearts no doubt had
ever entered, that the living God was
their guardian and provider, or that Jesus
had clothed himself with their nature, and

had borne the burden of their sins upon

the cross.
There may he the remembrance of the peace which then dwelt in
his bosom, and has never since been
lodged there, and with this remembrance
there may be a momentary stir of slumbering affections, and a gushing forth of
long-forgotten feelings; but the heart has
been too long hardened, and the mind too
much warped, to dwell on scenes and
recollections like these. Yet, as he compares the present with the past, he may
feel that he has made but an ill exchange.
Just as

we may

conceive the habitual

whose pleasures

have long
been those of the wine-cup and the midnight revel, looking back to the days
when his limbs did not totter with premature weakness, nor his pulse throb
with habitual fears when he could stoop
in the midst of the pleasures, and exercises, and labours of youth, and bathe his
brow and quench his thirst in the crystal
stream.
He remembers the past, but the
power of simple and unblamed enjoyment
drunkard,

is

gone.
5th.

But fur

ihe

man

loho has lived in

proud

defiance of God, there will come a

season luhen he icill reap a fuller harvest

When he
of disappointment and sorrotv.
is shut up in his death-chamber, and is
preparing to pillow his head in the sepulchre, the evidence for the existence and the
interposition of Deity,

which he laboured

so long to resist and to exclude, will rush

upon him with overwhelming force.

may have lived, but he cannot die an
del.

The God whom he

the restraints of

whose

He
infi-

renounced, and

authority be set

himself to castaway, will make his terrors

It is nothing, in his present
to be felt.
extremity, that he has been distinguished
among his contemporaries, and that his
name has been emblazoned high in the
records of learning and science.

On

all

THE BRITISH

166
these

things he

now

will

They cannot

inscribed.

vanity

see

soothe the un-

quietness of bodily suffering, nor

lift

the

burden from the self-accusing conscience.

He

will feel, at length, that in his

wisdom hath been much

much

and in the
increase of his knowledge hath been inHe hath treasured up
crease of sorrow.
evil for the latter day, and has laid upon
his own soul the bitterness of anguish,
which found him out at the last.
6th. And that which is true of indiviIf
duals, is not less true of communities.
it

be a dangerous thing

grief,

for a

man

to culti-

vate intellectual accomplishments, at the

expense of personal piety, no less is it

hazardous, that religion should be dissociated from knowledge, in the prevailing

schemes

for the instruction of a people.

And among

all

the features of the time

which cause anxiety

to

those

careful for future days, and

for the generation

who

who

who

are

tremble

are to follow, there

none which threatens more disaster and

calamity than the growing pride which,
is

irrespective of the claims of the Creator,

would deify the

creature.

phy

are at

intellect of the

fallen

The men of the new philosowork, who are content that the

people should be of any religion, or of

no religion, provided only, that stores of
perishable wisdom be accumulated. With

them is leagued the cold skeptic, whose

weapon is sarcasm, and whose ready
argument lies in a sneer; who, if knowledge be but diffused, would not complain
though the

altar

should be polluted and

PULPIT.
But

now

pass on to consider,
Some of the
CASES IN WHICH NO APPLICATION OF THE
TEXT CAN BE MADE.
1st. It cannot he applied to the knowlet

us

briefly, in the second place.

ledge <f ourselves, and of the condition to

which our nature has fallen. No acquisition is

more important,

threshold of

all

for

spiritual

it

lies at the

advancement;

none more difficult, for the heart is deceitabove all things, as well as desperately
wicked. Tlie evidences of sin are around
us on every side. The wreck and ruin of
creation proclaim what it has done.
Its
disastrous effects are visible, even to the
heedless eye, in the blight and wretchedness which it has cast upon a world,
which, with all its furniture and all its
tenants, God, at first, pronounced very
good. But it is chiefly in its consequences
to our own nature, that we should seek the
evidences of the deadly work which sin
hath wrought. It lurks, however, so
deeply in the hidden and unexplored
recesses of the heart, it is so contained
in its concealment, that, while we are
borne down by its effects, the cause
escapes our observation.
Even when
the pressure of bodily pain wrings the
groan of anguish from the bosom, or
adversity makes us poor and unprovided,
or bereavement makes us desolate in spirit, we often remain ignorant of the rod
of bitterness, from which every human
sorrow has sprung.
If sin be indeed
such, in its character or measures, as to
excite scorn and avoidance in those with
ful

And we cannot doubt that whom we are bound up in the intercourse

old enemy of human souls, who made of common life, we may feel it to be an
But, if we have earned retree of knowledge the instrument of evil thing.

overthrown.
the
the

busily employed spect by the strict moralities of a conwhich bid so fair sistent course; if our words have weight
If in the decision of others, and our example
for the advancement of his kingdom.
the flood shall not overwhelm us, and has influence among men of integrity and
shall not sweep away whatever of holy reputation, it is hard to persuade ourand excellent yet remains if the monu- selves that there may yet lie as wide an
ments of ancient piety, which have come interval of separation between us and
down to us from a God-fearing ancestry, God as that which divides him from the
which the heart loves to cherish, and on most reprobate and reckless of sinners.
which the eye loves to linger, are yet Nature resists the admission we can
spared to us, it will be only through the learn its necessity only by the teaching
undeserved interposition of Him, whom, of the Spirit, which unfolds our moral
as a nation, we are schooling ourselves to history, and shows us to ourselves. Such
knowledge is blessed in its results, when
renounce.

his earliest temptation,

is

in helping forward plans

HUMAN AND
vre

come

in

SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE.

the brokenness of a self-

distrusting and self-abasing heart, to seek

other help and other merit than our own.

Ere we can

attain to

fools, in order to

it,

God, as he is revealed in the gospel

record of his love to a ruined world, is to
open the inlets of comfort to the soul.

we must become
martyr
for, if any man

be wise;

to bear his

knoweth nothing yet

to the

know

he

ought

to

own

in our

thinketh that he knoweth any thing, he

as

167

To know

of unforgiven transgression.

land,

who was going

testimony amidst the flames

truths of the gospel, opened his

Testament for the last time, and prayed

Tht declaration of the text carumt be that he might be pointed to some passage
applied to the knowledge if God. No subject whose strong consolation might carry him
on which the intellectual faculties can spend through the appalling terrors of the scene
themselvesissoelevatingand ennoblingas which awaited him God directed him to
the character of him who bestowed them. a text, which was the last upon which
it.

2d.

We shall never, indeed, master the might}'

subject, nor hold

it

within the compass of

our minds, nor grapple with the incon-

Christ

many

Neither

details.

can angels accomplish this by the devotion

of all their immortal energies. And yet
the Lord hath published records of him-

many

eternal, to

is life

thee the only true God, and Jesus

ceivable magnitude of

its

"This

his eye rested.

know

whom

And

thou hast sent."

a saint, in his hardest conflict,

in his direst

for

and

extremity, has this blessed

truth sufficed.

If

reconciled Father,

we know God
all is

well.

as our

We

may

not, indeed, left

be carried over dark and troubled waters,

but we shall be safe in the ark in which
the Lord has shut us in
the tempest

The

may sweep

self,

on

which

it is

a bright and

glowing page,

He

our privilege to read.

hath

himself without witness.

whole world teems with God. The

across the sky, but

its

vio-

meanest objects on which the eye can lence cannot harm us, for we shall have
rest are eloquent of him, and bear their found a haven.
concurrent testimony to the lines of his
But if Scripture knowledge is to proeternal character.
But no contemplation duce such effects, it must never be sepaof God, out of Christ, can give comfort to rated from grace. This separation is one
the heart which has become conscious of of the dangers which specially belong to
transgression of his law.

Every divine

a period of so

much

religious profession

tremendous array. as the present. It is no breach of charity

Holiness turns with loathing from the to believe that there are many persons
guilt which Omniscience detects Justice who pore on the pages of the Bible, and
claims its victim, and Omnipotence is have become familiar with its statements,
ready to punish with the outpouring of over whose lives and conversation its
irresistible vengeance.
The revelation ])rinciples have never exercised any
attribute is gathered in

of the power of the gospel

is

revelation of peace to the heart.

the only
It is

the

one blessed scheme by which, while all

have their complete and
awful vindication, the overture of free
pardon is made to those whom sin has
ruined and rendered helpless.
We bless
God that not even the veriest outcast, not
even the vilest among the children of sin
and shame, can come in vain to plead their
cause in mercy's presence chamber. Not
the attributes

perceptible control.

It falls

within the

limits of an easily imagined possibility,

that

we might

gather from

the

Bible

opinions of faultless accuracy, and frame

a creed so scriptural that its articles could
not be impugned

and yet, that while

we

were distinguished by an unwavering

maintenance of such a creed, and were
noted for sturdy partisanship of such an

adopted system,
the

we might

kingdom of God

as if

be as far from
we had never

human family, heard the sound of the gospel, and no ray

condemnation of of truth had dawned upon the darkness
the great day, will be able to urge, in of the soul.
We can never become wise
arrest of the righteous sentence, that he unto salvation, unless we go with the
desired to participate in the blood-bought outpouring of humble hearts, to seek
pardon, but was left in the hopelessness better guidance than our own, to ask

a single individual of the

who

shall fall under the

THE BRITISH

168

PULPIT.

be that, as he draws near the close of his

and journey, and even when he is laid upon
to subdue the hostility of the carnal mind, his dying bed, God may reveal to hira
as well as to open the difficulties of the many things which, in his best and brightest hours, he had never been able to
revealed word.
There is no necessary connexion be- discern. Just as we may have seen how
tween the gifts of the Spirit and the the ray of closing light brings into view
attainments of human learning ; no con- distant objects, some village spire, or
finement of the blessings of spiritual stately building upon the remote horizon,
knowledge to men whose minds are which the eye sought in vain, until the
furnished with other stores.
God often sun was sinking behind the western
hides these things from the wise and hills.
prudent, and reveals them unto babes.
This knowledge shall not only form
Many a tenant of the mud-built cottage is the staple of our earthly happiness, but
able to lay hold of the hope of immortality shall outlast the span of our present exwith firmness of grasp, which the ancient istence, and reach forward into the outdoubt not
philosopher and the modern skeptic could lying region of eternity.
never attain. He may be able to tell no- that heaven will contain whatever of
thing of the more abstruse and recondite unimagined beauty, and grandeur, and
evidences of his religion, but he can pro- sublimity can gladden the eye; that it
duce the evidence which never fails to will include whatever can call forth the
satisfy his own heart, which he derives warm affection of hearts, over which sin
but
from the complete and wonderful adapta- shall no longer have any control
tion of the gospel to his wants.
It found
neither can we doubt that heaven will be
him poor, and has left him rich ; it found in the highest degree a place of intellect.
him ignorant, it has made him wise ; he The redeemed will make continual acquiwas by nature a sin-polluted and a sin- sitions of knowledge. It may be that the
ruined creature, and the gospel has shown range of their observation will be indefihim how his sin has been atoned for, its nitely enlarged ; that they may gaze with
guilt for ever put away, the sentence of undazzled eye upon all the works of God,
its condemnation cancelled, and its power as they lie open to their view, through
curbed and restrained. And God may the wide extent of worlds and systems ;
often make such a one, though untaught and that they may look back on the
in schools, to be the instrument of con- mighty designs which He has been rollEven ing on from the beginning of time. Many
version to the wise of this world.
many a minister, on whose labours abun- a dark dispensation will be made clear;
dant success has rested, might bear his and as they trace the harmony between
testimony, that he was first guided by the administration of Providence and the
Providence to such a lowly disciple, from dealings of grace, they will see how all
whom he might gather much precious things have been working together for
instruction in the realities of his religion, good to the people of the Lord.
And as
which he never learned in colleges and they travel on their pathway of light,
they will have for their companions the
halls.

for the gracious influences of the Spirit,

whose

office it is

to

convince of

sin,

We

Such knowledge continually

As

the believer goes on his

increases.

way, he gra-

dually discovers more of the will and the

dealings of his Father. At first there
might have been much of zeal, and less

of knowledge; but, while

burns as brightly as when

the
it

was

kindled in his bosom, the latter

creased by continual accessions.

former
first

is

It

in-

may

unfallen spirits,

who

will consecrate their

lofty faculties to unrol the mysteries of

divine
into.

love

which they

And God

desire

to

look

shall advance his glorified

by continual revelations of himself.

Increasing knowledge shall be an element|
saints

of that blessedness which, for aught

know, may increase

for ever.

in the

we

same proportion

SERMON
THE

SL\

XVII.

AND PUNISHMENT OF ACHAN.

BY THE REV.

R. P.

BUDDICOM,

M.A., F.A.S.

"And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel,
and make confession unto him ; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. And
Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and
thus and thus have I done : When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two
hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and
took them

and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of

" Love worketh no

bour

the

law."

ill

to his

neigh-

First,

therefore, love is the fulfilling of

It

is

an essential

part of

may be

vii.

19

21.

Firat,

six of Achan.
His punishment.
The word of the Lord

were

absolute ruin.

to

had
Its

be slain ; its silver

and gold, its vessels of brass and iron,
were to be consecrated to the Lord, and
laid up in his treasury, as witnesses of the
awful manner in which he had vindicated

this duty is too

frequently viewed in a partial and inade-

quate light.

Had Achan been

Josh.

The

Second,

inhabitants

detrimental to those

Unhappily

tent."

doomed Jericho

charity to abstain from any line of con-

duct which
around us.

my

asked, whether he

to

desired to bring defeat and death into the

the glory of his name, and the terrors of

camp and armies

his justice.

of Israel, he would pro-

Every man

of Israel

was

keep himself from the accursed

thing, lest he should make himself
accursed by the taking of it, and make the
camp of Israel also a curse, and trouble
In defiance, however, of this precept,
it.
so plainly, so solemnly enforced, did
Achan, as he went through the city to
execute the decree of God, permit himself to be tempted by a splendid robe, emoffender, but, in some degree, upon the broidered in the looms of Babylon, by
some shekels of silver, and a wedge of
society to which he belongs.
This frequent connexion between the gold, to transgress the commandment of
guilt of a transgressor, and the sufferings the Lord, and to commit a sacrilege
of those who are innocent of his offence, against the INIost High.
The conduct of every offender against
may be ordered by the Most High, among
other beneficent ends, to make us more the divine law resembles that of Achan.

bably have spurned at the question. Yet,

while he gratified his sordid avarice with
the Babylonish garment, and the shekels
of silver, and the wedge of gold, he
sharpened the sword of the men of Ai
against his brethren, and charged his soul
with the guilt of their slaughter in the
battle.
Even thus the consequences of
individual sin fall, not only upon the

we may

neither

of that spiritual

wound

united, nor bring dishonour

rified

Head.

to

He is surrounded by incitements to sin:

members but each transgression is marked with
body with which we are the impress of a divine prohibition, and

vigilant over ourselves and each other

that

warned

Such

the

upon

its

glo-

a holy caution is evi-

dently taught in the history before us,

which comprises,
Vol. II. 23

branded as an accursed thing, too plainly

to be mistaken ; and infallibly communicates of that curse to those who wilfully
touch it. When the temptation is the

169

THE BRITISH

170

PULPIT.

most strong or seductive, a handwriting making a covenant with our eyes, that we
like that upon the wall of Belshazzar's should not admit evil desires through
palace appears, to deter the endangered them, to pollute and defile us.
The
soul, and testifies, " Because of these senses must be kept under due restraint;
things Cometh the wrath of God upon the and the prayer of David should often rise
children of disobedience
be not ye, to our lips " Turn away mine eyes from
therefore, partakers with them."
But the beholding vanity, and quicken me in thy
god of this world blinds the eyes of those way." Let the Lord, O Christian, be
who believe not the declarations of the always before thee, if thou wouldst walk
God of truth, and leads them thus to safely. Then " let thine eyes look right
;

onward, and let thine eyelids look straight

There are some circumstances in the before thee." Turn neither to the right
confession of Achan, marking the pro- hand, nor to the left, lest " the lust of the
gress of sin, from its first entrance into eyes" insnare thee.
the heart, to its outward commission,
Secondlj^ Inatienlion io this important
which may serve as the history of almost caution occasioned a mournful progress
every offence committed against the law in the guilt of Achan. Undue admiraof God, the soul of the transgressor, and tion was productive of sinful desire.
the sacrifice of .Tesus Christ.
Bear with " When I saw among the spoils a goodly

Tuin.

me while I lay them before you ; that, Babylonish garment, and two hundred
under the teaching and influence of the shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold
Holy Spirit, ye may at once discover the of fifty shekels weight, the7i I coveted
danger by which ye are beset, and the them." The moral law of God forbids
means of escape from it.
the commission of all evil, whether
First, An undue fatniVtarify ivith things against him, or our neighbour.
The
forbidden was the Jirst cause of .ickan^s spiritual explanation of the Saviour has
" I saw among the spoils a also shown, that the commandments may
downfall.
goodly Babylonish garment, and two be broken, without the actual transgreshundred shekels of silver, and a wedge sion
that murder may be the enmity of
of gold of fifty shekels weight," That the spirit, and adultery the impurity of
man must walk through life without eyes, the heart. But even the literal precept
or passions, without the exercise of rea- discovers the mind of God in this respect
son, or the kindlings of affection, who, and while tiie first nine commandments
amidst the numberless evils of this per- forbid, with his voice, any unholy pracverted world, never looks upon, nor is tice the tenth, which cries, "Thou shall
solicited by an occasion of sin.
Every not covet," lays the axe to the root of all
one must rather pass, like the Israelites improper desire enjoining us, in " whatamong the spoils of Jericho, through ob- soever state we are, therewith to be conjects strongly exciting him to offend tent," without anxious wishes for any
against the decree of God, and take pos- thing which our heavenly Father has
session of some gratification, which will seen good to deny.
bring the wrath and curse of the Lord upon
No part of the divine law, separate
him. Temptations to sin will look bright from its blessed office of being a schooland captivating, as the garment, and the master, to bring us to Christ, discovers a
silver and gold glittered before the eye greater manifestation of divine love, than
And that same deceitfulness the tenth commandment, whether it reof Achan.
of sin, which opens the eye wide to gaze spects our own peace, the welfare of our
;

upon the exterior attraction of an accursed neighbour, the common good, or the glory
thing, by some mysterious mechanism, of God.
If sinful desires be entertained,
closes the ear to the rebukes of con- they must pollute and distress the mind,
science, or to the denunciations of God. even though the course of providence, or

The eye

is

the great inlet to that mischief the operations of restraining grace, should

which works upon

no

the heart.

safety, except in

There

is

imitating Job, by

hinder the perpetration

plated sin.

The

of

the contem-

great majority of

men,

THE

SIN

AND PUNISHMENT OF ACHAN.

171

however, practise upon themselves a alone awhile, and then do to me accordgross and fatal delusion, by thinking ing to that which hath proceeded out of
nothing evil which is confined within the thy mouth." Beware, however, that ye
If any unIf the sovereignty listen not to the seduction.
recesses of the heart.
of God were confined by those limits hallowed desire have arisen within you,
which bound human authority, and could go in prayer to God, through the mediatake cognizance of external disobedience tion of Jesus, for the almighty help of
But his Spirit, to enable you to subdue it:
only, such a view might be correct.
as " the Lord seeth not as man seeth ;" and, in the sufficiency of that grace, rest
as he "looketh upon the heart," such an not day nor night, until it be brought into
opinion merely leads those who entertain subjection to the will of your God and
it,

to sport

ceivings.

themselves with their own de- Saviour. Carnal nature may plead for its
That professor of the gospel of indulgence, as Lot for Zoar, " Is it not a

adorn the doctrine of Utile one "?" But that wisdom which the
and avoid Holy Ghost teacheth, will show you,
the peril of making shipwreck of faith, that as the least neglected spark may enand of a good conscience, must pray kindle a conflagration, to lay waste a
" that all carnal affections may die in city, so may an unobserved lust burst at
Christ,

God

who would

his Saviour in all things,

may consume

things belonging to the

and grow in him." " Let
the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be always acceptable
in thy sight,
Lord, my strength, and
my Redeemer!" It must not suffice him,

length into a flame, which

that the stream of evil gushes not forth

nion over us, they instantly become our

him, and that

Spirit

may

all

live

to the

light

up

the heart.

in

its

fountain

must be

dried

Thence proceed

evil

thoughts, the leaders of all that terrible

army of mischief, sin, and sorrow, which

and eternal peace of the

offender.
All our desires, if we wish
them not to lead us into sin, must be kept
in entire obedience to the revealed will
and law of God. If they usurp a domithe

present

While Hagar was

remorseless tyrants.

no act of
charged upon her ; but

undutifulness

a servant,
into

when she

is

is

given

Abraham's bosom, she taunts the

our Lord Jesus Christ has so forcibly

described.
Here then must be the main
Little does that
conflict of a Christian.

patriarch's wife, disturbs his house, and

man know of
own deceitful

himself, he cannot consent to part with

spiritual warfare,

heart,

of

of

his

the divine re-

quirement, or of his causes

of danger,

who

does not feel that safety and hope

depend, under the salvation of the cross,
upon the courage and constancy with
which the battle is fought against the
bosom sins that do most easily beset him.
no easy task to take the child of our
cherished, though sinful desire, as Abraham took his son, and to offer it upon the

It is

altar of a divine

gains an influence over him, so strong,

that, until enjoined by the Most High
her.

One

security alone remains

thy heart with

Nehemiah,

all

diligence."

therefore,

" Keep
Imitate

when he and

the

captains of Judah were endeavouring to

rebuild Jerusalem, while

their

enemies

We

made
conspired to hinder them. "
our prayer unto God, and set a watch
A Chrisagainst them day and night."
tian should pass through the temptations
around, him, as Israel

wished

to

pass

That unholy through the highway of Edom, turning

patiently upon the not aside, but hastening towards the pro-

command.

affection will not lie

nor re- mised land, with his eye and heart so

wood, and beneath the knife
sign itself to death, as a lamb that is fully occupied by the glory and joy set
brought to the slaughter, which is dumb. before him, as to have no desire for
Such a heavenly
If it perishing vanities.
It will resist, remonstrate, plead.
should see the tempted spirit in earnest minded ness is the best remedy for the
;

for its extermination,

it

will only desire,

were, a respite from present execution ; and such a delay as Jephthah's

daughter required of her father; " Let me

as

it

love of sinful things.

He

only

who has

thus learned to " walk by faith," and to

" count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus"

THE BRITISH

172

PULPIT.

his Saviour, will be able to escape the " when it is conceived, bringeth forth
pollutions that are in the world through sin :" but the sad process stops not here.
lust.
He only who can hope, that by the " Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth
grace of adoption, his body has become death." Following, therefore, the course
the temple of the Holy Ghost, a habita- of this dark though instructive history,
tion of God through the Spirit, will be we reach
anxious to preserve himself from all deSecondly, The consequences of Achan's
filement.
Only such a man is happy in GUILT.
" Blessed are
his life, and in his hope
When Ahab met Elijah, he cried, in
the pure in heart, for they shall see God." the consciousness of his own offences,
Thirdly, IL rarely happens that evil rests " Art thou he that troubleth Israel
ivith the indulgence of desire.
Satan " I have not troubled Israel," answered
is too malignant an enemy to leave the the indignant prophet, "but thou and
transgressor, until evil be consummated. thy father's house
in that ye have for"Lust, when it is conceived, bringeth forth saken the commandments of the Lord."
sin." Such was the experience of Achan. Similar to this reproof was the mournful
Unholy desire led him into flagrant trans- address of Joshua to Achan, when sengression. " I saw these things, I coveted tence was about to pass upon him.
them, and took them." When the great " Why hast thou troubled us? The Lord
enemy of man has led captive the soul in shall trouble thee this day." He was
the bonds of any evil concupiscence, his not merely his own enemy, but the enemy
greatest work is done.
Some promise of of the tribes among whom he dwelt. His
secrecy, some assurance of delight, some offence had a double aspect of wrath,
favourable opportunity, some removal of upon others, and upon himself.
restraints, or some sudden and violent
First, It brought shame, defeat, and
temptation, will be cast before the endan- death into the camp of Israel.
His inigered bond-servant; and he will be con- quity was visited upon them. "Israel
tented, nay, think himself in the way of hath sinned, and they have also transpeace and happiness, to do the bidding of gressed my covenant which I commanded
his dreadful master, and earn the wages them for they have taken of the accursed
of sin, eternal death. As Christ formed thing: therefore the children of Israel
:

in a believer's heart is the principle of could not stand before their enemies, be-

and the hope of glory, so evil desires

formed in the mind of an ungodly man,
will, in all probability, be nurtured into
actual wickedness, and become practical
presumptuous sin. Behold their consequences in Achan's trespass, and in the
life,

circumstances which led to its commisand be warned against them.

sion ;

Avoid the persons, the places, the amuse-

cause they were accursed." The divine

presence and power manifested among
them, and displayed in their behalf, could
alone cover their heads, and give them
That previctory in the day of battle.
sence was withdrawn, that omnipotence
ceased to protect and prosper them, while
the sin of Achan remained undiscovered
and unpunished. " 1 will not be with
you any more, except ye destroy the
accursed thing from among you." The
men of Israel and .Joshua evidently considered their disgrace and defeat before

ments, the books, which would lead you

into temptation.
If seduction should
assail you, endeavour to realize 'the presence of the Lord, the terrors, and the
mercies of his love. So that when the Ai, as a mark of
tempter aims his fiercest and most fiery " The Lord's arm
dart, you may each say, " How can I it could not save,
do this great wickedness, and sin against it could not hear;

God
The

the divine displeasure.

was not shortened,

that

nor his ear heavy, that

but their iniquities had

separated between them and their God,

and their sins had hid his face from them

that he would not hear."
Is it asked,
amidst the fluctuation of public opinion,
have seen, and the agitations of political conflict,

history of iniquity, like the roll in

Ezekiel's vision, is "written within, and

without, with lamentation, and mourning,

and wo."

" Lust," as we

THE
'*

Who

is

the bitterest

SIN

enemy

AND PUNISHMENT OF ACHAN.

of his coun-

173

offending God, the terrors of almighty

The answer is at hand he who justice, executed by almighty power;

most daring violater of the law of who that views with the eye of faith the
his God.
That man does his country woes inflicted by the worm that dieth
more mischief than all the armed array of not, and the fire that never shall be
human foes. His guilt sharpens their quenched, can see a mistaken fellow creatry ]"

is the

swords, and nerves their arms, and invi- ture ruining his soul, and sinning away
On the other hand, every hope of its eternal salvation, withit turns the councils of that land where
out being moved to sorrow, and agitated
his sin is committed, encouraged, or by a regret, too frequently as vain as it is
tolerated, like the counsels of Ahithophel, poignant?
And shall not this very grief
into foolishness.
It brings dissension of others, like-minded with the compasinto the cabinet, and weakness, or cow- sionate Saviour, be reckoned by a just and
gorates their devices.

ardice, into the field.

It

makes

the hearts

of the people melt and become like water

before their enemies. As Christians, as

holy

God

as aggravations of the trans-

My

gressors' guilt]

brethren, if Chris-

have expostulated with any

lovers of our brethren, whose safety or of you upon the evil of your way ; if
whose life our guilt may endanger ; as tears have flowed from the eye, and anpatriots, who regard our country, and guish has filled the heart of a parent, a browould make her the real glory of all ther, a sister, or a friend, in consequence
lands, we are loudly required to repress of the dishonour which you have done to
the love, and abstain from the commis- the mercy of God, the blood of Christ,
Otherwise, however the pleading of the Holy Ghost; if they
sion of all evil.
secretly it be wrought, it will have an have remonstrated with you, besought you
awful manifestation in the shame, re- to have pity upon yourselves, laid your
proach, disgrace, and danger, which it awful case before God in prayer, and still
may produce to the land and the institu- found you obdurate ; will not this, suppose
tions which we are bound to honour and yo, be required of you in the day of final
defend.
retribution 1 Will it not add to the guilt of
Secondly, The guilt of Mian brought the devoted city in judgment, that Jesus
sorrow upon Joshua and the princes of wept over it, and would have saved it]
" Joshua rent his clothes, and And shall you be guiltless of this addiIsrael.
fell to the earth upon his face before the tional item in the awful reckoning for
Bear the conviction
ark of the Lord, until the eventide, he sin 1
Alas, no
and the elders of Israel, and put dust on deeply in your minds and while there is
In this distress he was joy in the presence of the angels of God
their heads."
led to expostulate with God, in earnest over one sinner that repenteth while the
sincerity, yet with a great alloy of unad- eternal Father Avaits their recovery to bid
vised eagerness, doubt, and even de- heaven and earth rejoice over it, and to
spondency. Among the collateral and cry, " This my son was dead, and is alive
;"
indirect evils of sin, must be reckoned again ; he was lost, and is found
God
desires
to
the shame and sorrow which it produces while the Lamb of
see in
in the minds of those who are jealous for you of the travail of his soul, and to be
the glory of God, and anxious for the satisfied
and while the hearts of Chrisbest interests of their brethren. Rivers tian friends yearn over you, to bring you
of water ran down the eyes of the man to salvation, listen to the united voice,
after God's own heart, because Israel obey the heavenly impulse, and be saved.
Thirdly, Against considerations cf this
kept not the law of the Lord. Paul
mourned over the iniquities of the false liind, hoivever, Jlchan might have been
" Many walk, of steeled and fortified but there were conteachers at Philippi
whom I have told you often, and now tell sequences to himself which would repay
you even weeping, that they are the ene- his transgression, and make its folly and
mies of the cross of Christ." Who that bitterness come home to his mind with
tian friends

knows the

dreadful

consequences

of] terrible regret.

For a time the garment^

p2

THE BRITISH

174

and the shekels, and the wedge lay in his

and though he could not wear the
one, nor spend the others, he might pride
himself upon possessing them, in the
miserable delusion of a covetous spirit.
But the Israelites were summoned before
the Lord, and the hour of recompense was
at hand.
At first he might stand enwrapped in security, and little fearful, that
among the mighty multitude assembled
round him, he alone should be detected
but his unholy confidence could not abide.
The tribe of Judah, to which he belonged,
is taken ; and the probabilities of discovery are vastly increased. Some rising
fear begins to struggle with his unholy
confidence: and now his heartthrobs with
a quicker and louder alarm for the family
of the Zarhites, of which he was a member, is selected from the rest, as containing the guilty man. That family comes
near by its household and lo the family
Whither now shall
of Zabdi is taken.
Achan flee, and where is the hope of
secrecy with which he lulled his soul to
sleep, in its guilt and crime ? The family
of Zabdi advances, the last lots are given
forth
and behold, Achan, the son of
Carmi, is found, and stands among the
countless thousands of Israel, pointed out
by the unerring finger of God, as the man
who had taken the accursed thing, and
made himself a curse by this presumptuous act of sacrilege. The talents and the
raiment were beautiful in the eyes of
Gehazi, when he bestowed them in the
house but how dim and worthless would
they appear, when the prophet's voice
thundered in his ear, and he went from
the presence of the man of God, " a leper
as white as snow!" Ananias and Saptent

PULPIT.

bably before men assuredly in that day

when the thousands of Israel who surrounded Achan will be as a drop of water
to the ocean, compared with the unimathe
assembled
ginable multitude of
world.
Every secret sin will then shine
as clearly before the eye of God, as the
sun appears in the unclouded heaven.
" There is no darkness, neither shadow
of death, where the workers of iniquity
may hide themselves." Wrath will deAs Achan, his family,
scend upon them.
and all that he had, were stoned, and
burned in the fire, so must obdurate trans;

gressors perish in the fierceness of that

which the breath of an offended

flame,

God

will enkindle in judgment.

then

was Achan's joy

thing

Where

in

Where

the accursed

also shall be the pleasure

which the wicked, and those who forget

God, took in the toys and trifles for
which they have been contented to barter
eternal

their

profit a

man

if

peace] "What shall it

he gain the whole world,

own soul 1 Or what shall a

give in exchange for his soul 1"
O

and lose his

man

what will be the deep, the unavailing anguish of the convicted offender, when the
last lot falls upon him, and when, in answer to his cry, " Hast thou found me, O

mine enemy
the Judge shall exclaim,
" I have found thee !" My brethren, let
the fate of Achan warn you to flee temptation, as Absalom's brethren fled from the
feast,

when

they

saw

their brother

Amnon

murdered at the table for his offence. If

you have already ventured upon the dark
and downward way of wilful transgression, let the example of this lost Israelite
meet you in the sad career; even as they
who pursued Abner stood still when they
phira came boldly before the apostles, saw the bloody body of Asahel in the path
doubtless taking credit to themselves for before them.
the craft with which they had cheaply
First, The experience of the Israelites
earned a good report of being merciful to on this occasion should teach us, never to
;

the poor: but

when

they

fell

dead at the

apostle's feet, the value of their

undervalue the strength of a single tefnpta-

money Hon. The spies whom Joshua sent to

Of all view Ai thought meanly of its defences,

must have perished with them.

the delusions which the god of

this and said, " Let not all the people go up,
world can spread before the heart, the but let about two or three thousand mea
practical infidelity which whispers the go up and smite Ai and make not all the
hope of impunity for sin is the most com- people to labour thither, for they are but
mon and the most dreadful. Be sure, how- few." In this presuming confidence, and
ever, that your sin will find you out pro- willing to spare themselves the toil of
;

THE

SIN

AND PUNISHMENT OF ACHAN.

warfare, they attacked this despised city,

Your
repulsed with loss.

ious to escape

175

from human judgment,

than to be acquitted through Christ, in

temptations may appear small, your the judgment of eternity. " If w'e say
means of resistance and victory within that we have no sin, we deceive ouryourselves amply sufficient ; but the selves, and the truth is not in us ; but if

and were

least temptation

is

irresistible

The

unassisted strength.

by your we confess our

feeblest arrow

he

sins,

is faithful

and

just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse

you are pro- us from all unrighteousness."

The example of Joshua
Thirdly,
vided with no other armour than your own
sufficiency, is deadly enough to destroy loarns us, that prayer for the mercy of
you eternally. Peter was never more in God must be joined with an earnest zeal
The leader of Israel
danger, than when he imagined it impos- for his holiness.
sible that he should deny his Master; nor lay before the ark, engaged in fervent
Samson, with all his strength, than when supplication: .but the divine command
he confidently slept in the lap of Deli- reached him, " Get thee up ; why liest
Israel hath sinned.
lah. " Let him that thinketh he standeth, thou upon thy face ]
ye cannot stand
take heed lest he fall." Remember that Up, sanctify the people
in the quiver of Satan, if

and blood, but before your enemies until ye take away

with the principalities and powers of sin. the accursed thing from among you."
" Take unto you, therefore, the whole Individual or national fasts and supplicaarmour of God, that ye may be able to tions are the mockeries of humiliation
stand in the evil day, and having done all and prayer, unless we aim to wash our
When we
Self-sufficiency is the bane of hearts from wickedness.
to stand."
man. Be persuaded of your own ina- search the chambers of iniquity within
bility.
Be persuaded of Satan's power. us, by the word and Spirit of God, and
Look to the all-sufficient Spirit of God desire the expulsion of every idol, we
for help ; and imitate him who said, " I may hope for success.
If we endeavour
can do all things through Christ which not to mortify all the iniquity, against
strengtheneth me."
which w'e implore divine help, we are
Secondly, The conduct of Achan should assisting Satan to close our eyes, and
impress upon us all the necessity of a tempting God to harden our hearts.
prompt and ample confession of our offences " Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto
against the law of God. No sooner was prayer." Live in the spirit of prayer
he urged on this point by Joshua, than he and improve the graces which you entreat
made a most ingenuous disclosure of his the God of mercy, through his Son, to
" I have sinned against the Lord bestow upon you. Depend upon God
guilt.
God of Israel, and thus and thus have I but see that ye receive not his grace
done." " Whoso covereth his sins shall in vain. " Work out your own salvation
not prosper, but he that confesseth and with fear and trembling ; for it is God
forsaketh it shall have mercy. If any that worketh in you both to will and to do
say, I have sinned and perverted that of his own good pleasure."
Cast out
which is right, and it profited me not, the accursed thing. So shall your prayer
God will deliver his soul from going be heard, your warfare assisted, your vicdown to the pit, and his life shall see the tory secured, your triumph made eternally
light."
Thus cast yourselves upon the glorious."

you wrestle not

v/ith flesh

mercy of the Father,

at the cross of his

Son. Thus give glory to God that he hath

convinced you of sin that he has not yet
recompensed your rebellion in the woes
of hopeless and eternal judgment; that
he has provided an atoning Saviour,
whose blood cleanseth from all sin ; a
sanctifying Spirit, who can make you new

THE RESURRECTION AND THE

LIFE.

creatures in Christ Jesus.

Be

less anx-

"

The

resurrection and the life ;" these

are thy magnificent titles, captain of our

salvation

And

thee body and

we commit

for thou hast

to

re-

both, and thou wilt advance both

noblest and most splendid of por-

deemed
to the

therefore

soul

THE BRITISH

176

Who

tions.

quails and shrinks, scared

PULPIT.

took sweet counsel upon earth, we shall

toil only to
heighten our

"Who among recount our

by the despotism of death
you fears the dashing of those cold black ecstacy, and
!

between us and the promised land ] Men and brethren, grasp

your own privileges. Men and brethren,
Christ Jesus has " abolished death ;" will
ye, by your fearfulness, throw strength
into the skeleton, and give back empire
to the dethroned and the destroyed ?
Yes, " the resurrection and the life"
" abolished death." Ye must indeed
waters which

die,

and so

But

if

roll

far death

remains undestroyed.

the terrible be destroyed

when

it

can no longer terrify, and if the injurious

be destroyed when it can no longer injure; if the enemy be abolished when it
does the work of a friend, and if the tyrant
be abolished when performing the offices
of servant ; if the repulsive be destroyed
"when we can welcome it, and if the odious be destroyed when we can embrace
it; if the quicksand be abolished when
-we can walk it and sink not, if the fire be
abolished when we can walk through it
and be scorched not, if the poison be
abolished when we can drink it and hurt
not
then is death destroyed, then is
death abolished, to all who believe on the
" resurrection and the life ;" and the noble prophecy is fulfilled, (bear witness,
3''e
groups of the ransomed, bending
down from your high citadel of triumph !)
;

"

death,

grave,

will be

thy plagues

will be thy destruction."

" I heard a voice from heaven"

O
for

call to

mind the tug and the

more

din of the war, only that, with a

bounding throb, and a richer song, we

may feel and celebrate the wonders of
redemption. And when the morning of
the first resurrection breaks upon this
long-disordered and groaning creation,
then shall our text be understood in all its
majesty, and in all its marvel
and then
shall the words, whose syllables mingle
so often with the funeral knell, that we
:

disposed to carve them on the cypress tree rather than on the palm, " I am

are

the resurrection and the life," from the

chorus of that noble anthem, which those

for whom Christ " died, and rose, and
revived," shall chant as they march
from judgment to glory. Rev. H. McU
ville,

A.M.

What
out hope

would the
?

life

Remove

man be withand you take

of

it,

away

at once the relish of prosperity,

and the support and solace of adversity.
Let the tide of prosperity run ever so
high, and flow with unebbing fulness
ever so long, if the hope of its continuance be destroyed, it is instantly deprived
of all its power to satisfy.
Let the prosperous man be certainly assured, that his
prosperity is to last but one day longer;
that, at the close of so short a time, its

the angel's tongue, that words so beauti-

springs are to be dried up, and he is to be

melodiousness
left in all the dreariness of universal
" saying unto me. Write, blessed are the desolation: would that day, think you,
dead which die in the Lord from hence- be enjoyed by him ] No the extinction
forth
yea, saith the Spirit, that they of hope would be the extinction of joy.
may rest from their labours, and their And O what would adversity be without
works do follow them." It is yet but a hope
This is the last lingering light
little while, and we shall be delivered
of the human bosom, that continues to
from the burden and the conflict, and shine when every other has been extinwith all those who have preceded us in guished. Quench it, and the gloom of
the righteous struggle, enjoy the deep afl^iction becomes the very blackness of
raptures of a Mediator's presence. Then, darkness
cheerless and impenetrable.
ful

might have

all

their

reunited

to the friends

with

whom we Wardlaw.

SERMON

XVIII.

THE JOY OF HEAVEN OVER

REPENTANT SINNER.

BY THE LATE REV. JOHN GEDDES,

MINISTER OF

'

I say

Likewise,

unto you, There

is joy in the

that repenteth."

An

CHURCH, GLASGOW.

ST. A N D R E w's

presence of the angels of

God

over one sinner

Luke xv. 10.

may be deemed remarkable, Jesus Christ, who, while upon earth,

own account, or on account knew what was transacted and felt in heacircumstances which invariably ven, who knows the feelings and the joys

event

either on its

of the

accompany

it.

In both these respects,

the event mentioned in the text merits

of angels, for he is their Lord, that we

receive the declaration, " I say unto you,

joy in the presence of the angels

over one sinner that repenteth."
saved, a soul converted, a child of dis- In discoursing from these words, it is inobedience becoming an heir of God. To tended, in humble dependence on the dithe sinner himself, it is the one thing that vine aid and blessing, to consider, in the
is needful, not essential to any title that first place, The event itself ; and to
he may have for heaven, but essential to consider, in the second place, The joy
his meetness for heaven and that change WHICH THIS event PRODUCES.
of character, without which it is impossiIn the first place, attend to the event
ble that he can ever stand before God in itself, thus expressed, " a sinner that re-

attention.

It is,

markable on

its

in

own

the

first

account,

place, re-

a sinner

there

of

is

God

judgment, or be admitted into his pre- penteth." In the first part of this statewhere there is fulness of joy, and ment we are all included, being all sinto a place at his right hand, where there ners.
From the second part we may be
are pleasures for evermore.
And in re- excluded, for we may not be all penitents.
gard, again, to the circumstances which It may, with regard to many present, be
are invariably combined with it, we find the melancholy fact, that up to this hour
that the interest produced by it is not they are still in the gall of bitterness,
confined to earth. It gladdens saints, but and in the bond of iniquity, still children
it also gladdens angels. It is glad tidings
of disobedience, and heirs of wrath, still
on earth, but it is good news also in far from God, still at enmity with him,
heaven. Among angels even, who know and still rolling sin as a sweet morsel in
how precious the soul is, and who form their mouths. There are notorious proflifar higher estimates regarding both the gate presumptuous sinners, whose necks
glory of God, and the happiness of man, are as iron, and- whose brows are as
than we do, we read, that there is joy brass who glory in their shame who
over one sinner that repenteth. Nor are work all manner of iniquity with greediwe fancying now an interest in our wel- ness who declare too plainly for us to
fare which is never felt.
Our faith here be mistaken, that they are the slaves of
is not passive nor dependent on the say- Satan
who gratify their own inclinaing of man. It is upon the authority of tions, and evil lusts, and sinful propensiVol. II
177
23
sence,

THE BRITISH

1*76

who

PULPIT.

mouths continually!

rious thought, even on the Sabbath, evef

and re- enters to restrain them, or awaken them,
say, With our tongues or bring them to serious concern, and
strain
will we prevail, with our lips will we who are saying, " Let us eat and drink,
There for to-morrow we shall die," and are preprevail, who is Lord over us?
are secret, disguised, concealed sinners, sumptuously saying, " To-morrow shall
who endeavour to maintain a fair show be as this day, and nmch more abundant."
before men, who study to keep an out- And there are worldly-minded sinners
Ward decency, but whose hearts are in- who have no time, no inclination, and no
wardly corrupt, awfully depraved and leisure, for religion. They are careful
polluted, and in regard to whom, there about many things; they are concerned
they are wholly occuwill be some fearful disclosures on the about this world
day of judgment, when the books will be pied and engrossed by it; their hearts are
opened, and when the Lord will bring to overcharged with the cares of this life,
light the hidden things of darkness, and thoughit benot with drunkenness and with
will make manifest the counsels of the gluttony; and many things are continuheart. There are Pharisaical sinnefswho ally rising up to choke the word, and to
vainly fancy that they have no need for render it unfruitful ; and their hearts are
repentance, who attend to small matters, inclined unto covetousness, and not unto
but neglect the weightier, who tithe as God's testimonies; and money is to thecfi
and they are pierced
it were mint, and anise, and cummin, but the root of all evil
who neglect judgment and mercy, and through with many sorrows, and are
do not walk humbly with God who are making shipwreck of faith and of a good
ties

set their

who
prayer who

against

God

cast

ni!"

fear

going about to establish a righteousness conscience. There are also procrastiof their own, justifying themselves in nating sinners, who admit the necessity,
their own eyes; who are a generation that but delay the duty of repentance, who
are even pure in their own eyes, and yet fancy that to-morrow will be a more conare not washed from their fillhiness and venient season than to-day, who stifle
in regard to whom it will be proved, that present conviction, who put away from
in going about to establish a righteous- them present serious impressions, who
ness of their own, they have neglected the pave life with good intentions, and at last
righteousness of God, which is through die as they live still far from God.
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and which, Nay, there are even, in some measure,
while it attends to small matters, and convinced and awakened sinners, whose
does not leave them undone, attends also convictions have not terminated in conLike Cain, they complain, and
to the weighty matters, having received version.
the doctrine that is according to godli- they wander, and they reckon somehow
that God is hard, and that they are sufiiss, and being clothed with humility,
Like
are rooted in faith, and established in fering more than they can bear.
There are also stupid, unconcerned Esau, they weep, but it is for an earthly
love.
sinners, who look no farther than the portion, and because they succeeded not
body and time, who put no other ques- according to what they reckon due to
;

tions than,

we

What

shall

we

eat,

what

drink, and wherewithal shall

who

shall

we

their talents, their skill, or their industry.

They

be

think

themselves wise, or they

whom

think themselves warranted in not set-

they live, and move, and have their being,

60 as to pray before him, wiio do not live

ting their desires and their affections on

clothed

know

not

God

in

things above, but in desiring earnestly

under the power of the world to come, those other gifts that perish with the
and who know less of God than the ox using; or, like Pharaoh, though they be
knows of its owner, or the ass of his softened beneath the immediate pressure
master's crib. There are light-minded, and pain of the rod, yet the moment that
careless sinners, whom sorrow never judgment is withdrawn, they return again
clouds, to whom pleasure in every form to their folly, and to their wickedness,
is welcome, and into whose hearts no se- and say, Who is the Lord that we should
'

THE JOY OF HEAVEN OVER A REPENTANT

SINNER.

179

otey him: we will not. listen to his voice, and hatred to it, and we turn from it unto
Or, like Ahab, they may clothe them- God with full purpose of heart, and enselves in sackcloth, and

walk steadily
hearts

are

are turned

ashes, and

sit in

for a season,

not right with

but

still their

God.

Tliey

from many sins outwardly,

deavours after new obedience. The repentance supposed is not a seeming but a
real repentance, and is in complete harmony with the law and the gospel. The
law is honoured by the terror which it
produces the gospel is honoured by the
peace which it maintains. The law is
magnified by the alarm that has been excited, and the gospel is magnified by the

and yet they retain the love of sin inwardly; and when an opportunity presents itself, and when former temptations
return, they harden themselves against
God, and act wickedly; or, like Herod,
they approve of much, and they may even communication of
;

practise

much, but they

chat purifying hope

which maketh not ashamed. The sinner
At one is humbled, the Saviour is exalted, God

retain their dar-

ling and their besetting sins.

breach the enemy continually enters, is obeyed, and the penitent himself praises
and the citadel of the heart is taken ; at God, and says. He hath delivered mine
one leak the water continually enters, and eyes from tears, my feet from falling, and
the soul is sunk in ruin. And they are my soul from hell.
These remarks explain, in the first
like Herod at last with the daughter of
Herodias, under the dominion still of ini- place, the kind of event thai is here men'
quity, led on to commit evil, which they tinned, and I have been the more particuonce abhorred; and like Hazael, though lar in explaining the nature of repentance
they may have been astonished at their unto life, inasmuch as we are ready to
former state, and reckon themselves dogs flatter ourselves in our own eyes, to think
i

do such wicked things, yet these and

such things they do, and are swallow'ed
to

that

we

are penitents

to think of ourselves

when we

down at last into utter perdition. There we ought to think, to

was a Judas who repented, but, in de- partial and a seeming,
he thrust himself into God's presence. There was a Dives, of whom we
read as having repented, but it was too
late, and he lifted up his eyes in hell, and
was in torment. None of all these can
be the repentance spoken of in the text.
The repentance that we have now been
speaking of is mere local repentance,
mere formal or superstitious repentance
spair,

the

which

and

real repentance,

ply because

we

are not,

more highly thaa

be satisfied with a
instead of a full

and

to

suppose, sim-

are better outwardly than

we once were, that we are therefore all that

we ought to be, and that we may say unto
ourselves. Peace, when there is no real
and lasting foundation
is

for our peace.

It

pleasing to think of the privileges of

the penitent, and of the interest taken in

him
But

that even angels rejoice over him.

none conclude that they are peniworketh death not the repentance of the tent, unless they have received that grace
gospel, which is through faith in .lesus, which has really created the clean heart,
and through looking to the cross unto which has really renewed the right spirit,
eternal life.
These convictions mention- and which is really serving God in newed are consistent with the heart in which ness of life; for if any man be in Christ,
conversion has never taken place; but or a true penitent, he is renewed, old
the repentance now supposed is repent- things have passed away, and all things
ance unto life, a change of heart as well have become new. There is a change of
as a change of state, a reigning in the heart that will delight in heaven, along
heart over sin, and a breaking off of the with a title that will secure our admislife from it, a relative change as to God
sion into heaven and the same righteouswe are justified and a real change as to ness that is wrought out for us by the
his law
we are made to delight in it. Redeemer is in connexion with the rightWe have a true sense of sin we have eousness that is also wrought in us, and
apprehensions of the mercy of God in by us, and for us, by the Spirit, the SancChrist we have grief on account of sin, tifier, and the Comforter, making us meet
repentance of the world,

let

THE BRITISH PULPIT.

180

they receive the information, we can

Let us seek, therefore, for the real tho- enter into no explanation. Upon this, as
rough change that repentance necessarily upon many other points, we must be
imparts, and let us not go away in our satisfied with ascertaining the ultimate
thoughts or in our imagination, to think fact, though we cannot understand nor
of the happiness of the saints, without reason respecting the immediate means.
also meditating on what is equally essen- This one thing simply, we are informed,
that we may be that they do know, and that when they
tial to be really a saini
made holy, in all manner of life and con- know it they rejoice. And it is to us,
versation, and that we bring forth fruits though of them we know so little, a
pleasing testimony of benevolent intemeet for repentance.
Let us proceed now, then, to meditate rest, of affectionate regard, and of exalted
0\the joyfulness of the event mentioned in and endearing sympathy. It introduces
It makes
the text. " There is joy," says our Lord, us already to the hopes above.
" in the presence of the angels of God us, even now, in some measure acquaintover one sinner that repenteth." Think, ed with the angels that are before the
then, in the first place, of the high cha- throne. They can enter into our feelings,
racter, of the high rank of the order of and we may in some measure enter into
beings now spoken of as rejoicing An- theirs. And when the veil of sense shall
gels, who occupy a higher place in the be withdrawn, it may, for aught we know,
scale of creation than men, who are pure be one of the first discoveries in the celestial state to be introduced to, and to be
spirits not having bodies as we have
who are distinguished, it would appear, made acquainted with, that angel, or with
into different orders themselves, as mark- those angels, who have more especially
ed by their different names in the Bible, received commission respecting ourselves,
Seraphim or Cherubim, thrones or domi- who have encamped about us, who have
nions, principalities or powers, lights or been ministering spirits to us as the heirs
who are spoken of as of immortality, who have had continual
burning lights
excelling in wisdom and in strength, who charge over us, who, when we were but
hearken unto God's voice, and do what he little ones, but babes in Christ, saw the
commands who are represented as the Father's face in heaven, and have been
morning stars, who sang together for joy watching over us continually, really
when the foundations of the earth were though unseen, and are our guardians till
laid, when the heavens were stretched we sit down with them in our Father's
out by his power, when the firmament house, and are admitted into the presence
was established in his wisdom, and when of God, their Lord and ours and we
the earth was founded in his discretion. know surely enough of the character of
These angels look not only into the angels, and of the scheme of redemption,
scheme of creation, but also into the to find reason upon reason why at such an
scheme of redemption, and they are per- event they should rejoice. God displaymitted not only to know its general cha- ed some of his glory in the wonders of
racter, but also the history of its indi- creation, but he displayed the same glory,
vidual success among the children of and glories of another character, and all
men, to whom it is addressed and for combined, in higher measure, in the

for the inheritance of the saints in light.

whom
it
*'

it is

provided.

They

can describe

generally, as in their song of praise,

Glory

to

God

in the highest,

earth peace, good will toward

And

if it

was

and on primeval purity, and to celebrate God's

;" but praise as its Creator, much more may

men

they have also a particular information

regarding its effectual application, for

when

scheme of redemption.

their exercise to behold nature in all its

we see how they will rejoice in God

when they behold the unfolding and ap-

is a change plication of that scheme according to

communicated to them, and there which mercy and justice, righteousness
is a joy among them respecting him. and peace, have been united, according
Now, with regard to the manner in which to which grace is reigning through right-

that

is

a sinner repents there

THE JOY OF HEAVEN OVER A REPENTANT

eousness, and
the ungodly

God

just even in justifying joys.

who believe

in Christ.

These

angels have no pleasure in our fall, and

the way of our restoration must awaken
every benevolent sympathy within them

so that their rejoicing

is

both for the

God and the happiness of men,

communion restored between God and

glory of
for

in the

They

are,

SINNER.

presence of God,

their feelings,

and

181

moreover, continually

who

by the intimations of

who

directs all

guides them

still

own will, and

own glory. And,

his

by the revelations of his

therefore, whether we consider what they
in themselves would do, or what God in
his providence would allow them to do

them, and between themselves and men, either in the one case or in the other, we
and for the prospect now set before them may well argue an intensity of feeling
of having the children of disobedience when angels, always happy, are said to
and the heirs of wrath sanctified and glo- rejoice, when not a few but all are spoken
rified, and made companions and asso- of as joining in the triumph, and when
ciates with themselves in the heavenly that triumph is, moreover, mentioned as
state, so that they may again call them taking place in the presence of God
Thus it is that beings of high season of hosanna, a day of jubilee, a
brethren.
rank, in the order of intelligent creation, loud hallelujah unto God, animating all
the saints, pervading the innumerable
rejoice over sinners' repentance.
In the second place, we may consider company of angels, gladdening Jesus the
the intensity, the universality of the feel- mediator of the new covenant, approved
ing that is produced. It might be true to of by God the judge of all, and all cen-

say of the angels in heaven, that they rejoice, though the joy was but slight or
transient, although it pervaded only a
The idea,
part of the heavenly host.
however, conveyed to us here is the idea,
not of a slight or of a transient, but of a
deep and of a permanent impression, and
it is the idea, moreover, not of joy only
among a few, but of joy among all, of
but one feeling and one expression of
feeling, through all the innumerable com

tring in this

the Redeemer seeing of the

travail of his soul

and

satisfied.

the angels administered to Jesus

Thus
when

he was a man of sorrows and acquainted

with grief, when he was in an agony,
and the sweat was as it were great drops
of blood falling down to the ground ; and
were it no other scene in heaven than
Jesus seeing of the fruit of his travail and
satisfied, we can easily suppose how all
is true that is

here expressed,

how much

pany of angels. Heaven in its every- more is true that cannot be expressed,
day or ordinary course, if I may be al- and that cannot be conceived, but is
lowed so to speak, is the place of joy, known in heaven. Joy there is there
and, therefore,

when any event

is

spoken

of here as producing joy, the very men-

over one sinner that repenteth.

Again we may think,

in

the third place,

supposes joy to an extraordi- of the season at which such joy is stated

nary extent something beyond the or- as commencing, not when the sinner enters
dinary measure of joy, something fit for heaven, not when his repentance issues in
being marked as a change, and a change eternal life the joy will then follow of
from happiness to still greater happiness coursebut when his title to heaven has
among the abodes of the blessed. Men been received, when his meetness for it
smile or weep for trifles, they are deeply is but beginning, and when he is still to
affected with matters of no great moment, make progress in the way to Zion with
and there is often a universal sensation his face thitherward when he is to wage
either of joy or of grief, when there is war with Satan, and with the world, and
no great reason either for the one or for with the flesh, and when there is a long
the other, but mistaken these angels can- course lying before him, a race which he
not be in the theme which they choose has to run, a warfare to which he has to
Their own clear under- expose himself, and a fight which he has
for transport.
standings, their own pure wills, and their to endure, and painful exercise through
own elevated affections, raise them far which he has to pass, before he is made

tion of

it

above other unseasonable and unstable

perfect through suffering.

It is

a pleas-

THE BRITISH

182

PULPIT.

ing proof of the promptitude with which

the intelligence is conveyed to heaven,
that it is so soon known. It is a pleasing
proof also of the character of the joy

ing on the penitent

tears, yet they know

produced, that even though it be but beginning as to its ultimate issue, yet there
is an immediate feeling of joy respecting
But especially this joy is presented
it.

subjects of his love.

when he is feeling most his unworthiness, when he can do nothing more than

saints

cry out " Lord, be merciful to me, a sin" Lord, what wilt thou have me
ner !"
to do ?" " Speak, Lord, for I thy servant

that

who

cloud,

who

who
who

is

sowing in

is

behind the

smiles for ever over those

are the objects of his care and the

They know how

behind the frowning providence he hides

a smiling face, and that they will ere
long reap in joy. Though they have
to us in an interesting light, when we sympathy with the saint when he bows
behold these blessed spirits looking down his head, and can think of his gray hairs
with interest upon what is just taking going down with sorrow to the grave,
place, when the penitent is shedding they have such experience of the provitears, when he is making his confessions, dence of God, as to know before the

" Lord, I believe

Lord
mine unbelief." "

hear."

help
if

thou

thou wilt,

thou canst make me clean." To them it

is a pleasing thought that another ingrafting is taking place to the living tree, that
another stone is preparing for the heavenly building, that another member is adding to the body that constitutes the fulness of

Him who

filleth

all

in all,

and

born in the redeemed

For, dead thougii he be to the
family.
world, yet in Christ he can anticipate the
time when his infant powers shall reach
that another heir

their

is

know, that

their tears will finally

be wiped away, and that the same heart

seemed at one time ready to burst

with grief, will at another time also be
ready to burst with joy, even as Jacob's
did when, not thinking to see Joseph
himself, he exclaimed, " Lo
I have seen
even Joseph's seed, his sons, and his
sons' sons."
Such bliss attends those
who wait for the salvation of God. Angels so long observing providence, are
not cast down, nor are their prospects
clouded as ours, when God is pleased to
make us go forth and sow in tears under
the promise that we shall reap in joy.
They see how the Lord Jesus Christ has
done how he has guarded over his own
how he is the companion, and the comforter, and the friend of all his people.
!

manhood, when receiving the sinword he shall grow They know

that we are the objects of his

when he shall be fit for strong heavenly care they know that we are
meat, when he shall be strong through under His protection, who feeds his flock
the word of God abiding in him, when like a shepherd, who gathers the lambs
in old age he shall bring forth fruit, when with his arm, and carries them in his
he shall be beautiful as the lily, and bosom, who will not break the bruised
strong as the cedars of Lebanon, and reed nor quench the smoking flax. They
when, no longer a hoping penitent, he know that we who are believers are for

cere milk of the

thereby,

shall be a sanctified and glorified saint,

ever rising up beneath this great

and be for ever associated with saints

and angels, hearkening unto God's voice,
and doing whatsoever he commands. To
us there seems a long, a dark, and doubtful interval between, long days, and nights,
and years, in the world of tribulation
but to angels, who do not unite time as
we do, and over whose blessed abodes a
thousand years pass away even as a single day, the transition seems but short
between the trials of the sinner and the
triumphs of the saint. And though many
a dark frowning providence is now lower-

deemer's hand
promises, that

to

we

be the heirs of
are

Re-

many

coming out from

great tribulation to a great inheritance,

we are tried in the furnace, heated

seven times, in order that Christ's own
image may be formed in us, and that the
trial of our faith is therefore exceeding

that

precious.
I

have only

to state, in the last place,

that each case of conversion is supposed

to be of stifficierit magnitude to produce this joy.
There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner

here

THE JOY OF HEAVEN OVER A REPENTANT

Numbers

SINNER.

183

myriads that have ever inhabited the

sary in order to convey to us the idea of world, even down to the present moment.
value or importance. There are many All the joys of all that have dwelt upon
subjects in regard to which number, and the earth, and who are now laid in the
number chiefly, constitutes the claim to dust, have passed away as if they had
consideration, and here the number does never been ; but the soul of righteous
not decrease, but on the contrary, aug- Abel has been always in heaven, and
ments the interest, and yet still though always delighting ever since our Lord
there be but one, yet each one is of suffi- died upon the cross. The single penitent
cient value. No doubt there was great joy malefactor has received within his own
on the day of Pentecost, and when thou- individual existence happiness more real,
sands were converted ; no doubt there was and happiness more lasting, than the hapgreat joy afterwards, when five thousand piness merely temporal of all the millions
were added to the church ; no doubt there that have been upon our globe during the
that repenteth.

are not neces-

was

great joy again,

when

a multitude of

the priests and of the people believed

continuance of the Christian era. And

when days, and nights, and years, shall
have passed away with the lusts of the

but still each individual as marked in

heaven's book, may be considered as a flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride
fit occasion for praising God, and as servof life, when the pleasures of sin shall
ing to minister to the delights of angels. all have departed, the joys of the peniOr we shall even take it in another light. tent shall still remain, and the triumphs

You may suppose that one soul converted may, in special circumstances, or at
particular seasons, or because of the individual character, be of great importance,
even as the conversion of Paul included
within itself the conversion of thousands
even as Paul was a chosen vessel, and
took many from darkness to light, and
from the power of Satan unto God. And
we can almost conceive in heaven a kind
of joy like to the day of Pentecost itself,
when the news reached heaven that souls
were approaching, and approaching from
the earth to the Father, and that the
church was multiplied, walking in the
fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of
the Holy Ghost.
But neither is a case
of this kind put down as the only case

On

of angels over

them

shall

still

be con-

sidered as affording them suitable joy,

even though connected with the history

of but one immortal soul brought out of
a state of sin and misery into a state of
salvation through the Redeemer.
The
soul dies nut with the body
it dies not
though it be unclothed it passes into
another world and still exists.
Before it
It fears
all is eternity and immutability.
or it hopes, it grieves or it rejoices, it
loves or it hates, it swells with ceaseless
transport, or it shrinks with ceaseless
horror at the constant opening of eternity.
Soon my body shall have the clods of the
valley to cover it, and my memory shall
perish from the earth ; but shall memory

itself die

shall the soul that

now

lives,

and moves, and sees, and hears, and

however few may be the conversions that speaks within me die ? No. When the
are taking place, or however obscure, un- years which I have lived have passed
fitted

excite joy.

to

the contrary,

may be the indithough there be included in his conversion no more than

his own soul's salvation, though he be
removed from the world and leave no
other proof behind him than such a proof
as the penitent malefactor on the cross
may be supposed to have left; though
we think simply on what one immortal
known,

or unimportant

away

vidual

converted,

soul will

soul

necessarily receives,

we

like the years before the flood,

still

my

be in the eternal world.

And,
how solemn the question, shall
it have gone up to heaven, or shall it
have gone down to hell 1 Shall it be
trembling with devils, or shall it be rejoicing with saints and angels ] Shall it
be weeping and wailing, or shall it be
holy, singing the song of Moses, the serShall it
think of vant of God, and the Lamb'?
!

something that outweighs in value all be filthy still, or shall it be holy still?
the happiness merely temporal of all the Damnation men speak the word. Do

THE

184

BRITISH PULPIT.

Could to us by awful judgments in the midst of

if?
your fiercest enemy 1 us, by disease in different forms carrying
O how could you endure the everlasting us away, so that many die as it were in
burning ] Were it uttered as with a voice a moment suddenly. Now as the tree
from heaven, there were for you no re- falls so it must lie. As death finds us,
maining hope. Would it not be an awful so will death also fix us. There are no
voice to any one individual here ] Won- pardons offered, there are no pardons
der not, then, if angels rejoice, if they sealed in the grave. The way to heaven
are as gods, having no pleasure in our is open from earth, but it is not open
death, but willing rather that we would from hell. The offers of mercy are free,
turn from our wickedness and live. And and full, and unrestricted here, and we
they

know

you breathe

the
it

meaning of

to

"Let the wicked forsake

way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts, and let him return unto the
Lord, and he will have mercy upon him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly

me now say with regard to any, if

any such there be, still far from God,
that if it were given to that one even
now to repent and to live, rest assured
that angels, even as they have rejoiced

say, therefore,

before, will be at no loss to rejoice again

pardon."

let

that they will utter

triumph

if

over

still

you the

their notes of

Spirit

shall

his

penitent

is like ]

What is a man
What does our
He is like a piece

that is not a

Lord say he
of lost silver

pause, making you to surrender to Jesus,

and to exclaim, Lord, what wilt thou have
me to do? what shall I do to be saved 1

to

and suggesting to you the answer, " Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved, and inherit eternal life."
We have considered then, in the first
We have
place, the event of the text.
considered, secondly, the joy produced by
Let me press both these upon your
it.
attention, and let me warn you against
treating with indifference a subject which
angels view with interest, not as it were
Anfor their own sakes, but for yours.
gels know our danger
they see the awful
misery that sin produces they know the

come penitent children, till we arise and

come to our Father, till we say. Father
we have sinned, and are no more worthy

dreadful state of the impenitent in hell,

and because they have no pleasure in our

death, they desire to see us seeking and
loving God. Therefore I pray you to
give hit d to Jesus. He came into the
world to seek and to save the lost. He
loved us, and gave himself for us, and
he now says, " Come now and let us
reason together though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be white as snow
though they be red like crimson, they
;

God has given his

shall be as wool."
providence to warn, and he has given
his word to direct and encourage us.
God is now, in his providence, speaking

its

owner, like a lost sheep, like a

and we are all in Heaven's

prodigal son
sight as

to

prodigal children,

be called thy children.

till

We

we

be-

have de-

parted from the chief end of our being.

We are not glorifying God, and not enjoying him, while we remain impenitent;
and the lamp of life is only allowed to
burn to give us time and space for reTo-day, therefore, if we will
pentance.
it becomes us not to
harden our hearts against him. Wherefore I pray you to search the Scriptures,
that you may understand the privilege,

hear God's voice,

that

you may know the duty, and

you

may

that

desire after the graces of true

And I pray God that your

be pardoned, that your souls
be sanctified, that you may be ena-

penitents.
sins

may

may

bled to delight in the Lord God after the

inward man, and that losing one kind

of pleasure, the pleasure of sin, you

may

and a greater, the love of

his Son, and the righteousnes and the
gladness that will ever arise in the upright in heart.
May the Lord bless his
word, and to his name be the praise.
find another

Amen.

SERMON

XIX.

THE EFFECTS PRODUCED BY DIVINE GRACE.

BY THE LATE REV.

DREW,

S.

A.M.

by a way that they knew not ; Twill lead them in paths that they
make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These
I do unto them, and not forsake them." Isa. xlii. 16.

"And I will bring

I

have not known

the blind

will

things will

We

seem, my friends, to be placed on a

surrounded on all sides
kind of isthmus
with infinite and eternal duration. Time,

did

it

in order to confer

happiness

that

man might admire, adore, and love that

God to whom he was indebted for his

perhaps,

may

being, and derive felicity from a state of

starting

up

constant dependence upon him

who

the fountain and

genuine

be compared to an island
the boundless ocean of
eternity ; destined to live for a few revolving years, then to sink down and
in

when one unbounded

disappear,

sea of

duration will involve and cover

infinite

source of

all

is

happiness.

That we are " fearfully and wonderfully

made," is a truth clearly and explicitly
expressed in the language of revelation

all.

But what

become of our immortal and all the investigations of science, and

spirits ]
We allow that they must con- all the experience of nations in succestinue to live somewhere.
We uniformly sive ages, tend to confirm the fact. We
admit that we have within us a something possess bodily powers we possess menwill

We

that cannot die.

to

God

home.

we view

We

up

trace our origin

eternity as our future

came from God

we

are

surrounded with the immensity of God,

tal

energies

there are certain faculties

belonging to the spirit, there are certain

powers and senses belonging to the
body ; they have little or no kind of
affinity with each other, and yet they all

we must stand before the

God, to give an account for enter into the general character of the
the deeds done in the body, and to receive compound man.
from him the righteous awards of mercy or
When God created man, he endowed
of justice that happiness or that misery his body with five senses seeing, hearwhich God shall see proper to assign to ing, feeling, tasting, smelling. These
every individual of the human race.
senses are so many inlets of knowledge
There can be no doubt that we are and, through the medium of these senses,
and, ere long,

tribunal of

indebted for the origin of our existence to

the infinite God
in short, there is not a

we

blessing, there

species, in nature, time, or eternity, but

could be without any of these senses, no

knowledge whatever of an external world,
nor of any other existence besides his in-

we must

dividuality, could possibly be

is

not a favour, there

is

not a perfection that can be found in our

trace

When God

up

called

to the

man

eternal

God.

into existence,

there can be no question that he did

it,

in

reference to himself, to display, amplify,

hold an intercourse with the external

world.

Were

it

possible that existence

And were we

known

to

be deprived of any
of these senses, or rather, I should say,
if we had been created with four senses

man.

to

and unfold his glory ; and, in reference to instead of five, all that knowledge which
man, it seems to be equally clear, that he we acquire through that fifth sense, of
Vol. II. 24
185
q2

THE BRITISH

186

we should then be destitute, would

us totally unknown.
Why God imparted five senses, neither
more nor less, is not for us to determine
whicli

be

to

we resolve the whole

into infinite

wreck of matter, and the crash of worlds"

would have been unheard no modulations
;

of sound, no tones of music, no

human

voice divine would ever have reached our

wisdom, organs; all creation would have been

wrapped up in eternal silence
Do you
think, then, that any individual could
have formed any conception of that sense
of which all were destitute 1 It would be

goodness, and omnipotent jjower. If more

had been necessary, without doubt more
would have been given ; if less had been
sufficient, no doubt one or more would
have been withholden. I can have no con-

when

PULPIT.

suppose
Suppose that

folly to

it

mankind had been

formed without the sense of vision that
eternal and infinite knowledge, that all no individual had been blessed with the
the powers of Deity were exhausted by power of discernment; creation would
the communication of five senses.
He have been wrapped up in total night,
that gave to man the power of seeing, darkness would have enveloped the world ;
hearing, feeling, tasting, smelling, might, no brilliancy of colour, no variation in tint
without all doubt, if he had been so and shading, no visibility of objects would
pleased, have given to him a sixth sense, ever have been presented to the mind all
perhaps a seventh, perhaps an eighth. would have been enveloped in gloomy
Where shall we put bounds'? I know of darkness. Do you suppose, under such
none
And who can say, among the circumstances, that any individual could
higher orders of intelligences that surround have formed an idea of sight, of its nature,
the throne of God in glory, that their of its character, of its properties, of its
ception,

contemplate

infinity,

om-

all

nipotent power, inexhaustible resources,

senses are precisely the same as ours;

constructed in the

more nor

same manner,

less in point of

neither

number, and

that they have their adaptation precisely

same

1
Our bodies are of the
our senses are designed to
communicate with earthly objects ; they

the

as ours

earth, earthly

suited to our condition

spirit

when

the

becomes disembodied and enters

the regions of immortality,

sume

but

to

who

will pre-

say that there will not be new

powers and

man

No

more than

could form an idea of sound

no more than we, with our five senses,

could form an idea of what would be the
object of a sixth or seventh sense.
should have no way or means of ascer-

We

taining

have each that earthly adaptation which

is

its effects ?

operations, of
a deaf

it.

Let us
little
If,

now

carry forward the idea a

stage beyond what

when

race were

all

have supposed.

the millions of the

wrapped

some marvellous

human

darkness, God, by
power, should come
in

and energies de- down with his energy from heaven, or

veloped in the human spirit, of which, at rather send down his energetic Spirit
present, we can form no conception'?
from thence, and give to one solitary
Without all doubt, we must admit the individual the power of vision, of sight,
possibility of these things. Were you to of discernment,
he would enter a new
ask me what would be the nature of a world, and, surrounded with new wonders,
sixth or a seventh sense,
which I have he would be lost in astonishment. He
presumed to be within the reach of possi- would talk a language which, to all others,
bility,
I would candidly reply to you, I
would be totally unknown, and they,
cannot tell ; I have no conception of it I perhaps, would be ready to say, A poor
have no name for it; I have no idea of it. visionary, a madman, an enthusiast!
Suppose that God had created the whole led away by wild reveries, he talks of a
of the human race without the organ of sense which he cannot explain, and a
hearing, I would ask. Do you think that something which no individual but himany of the human family could have had self possesses the man deserves bedlam
any idea of sound
No The beating of rather than serious attention
Tell us
tempests, the roaring of seas, the rattling what is the nature of that sight which you
of thunder, " the war of elements, the have; explain it to us.
faculties

'?

THE EFFECTS PRODUCED BY DIVINE GRACE.

Colours cannot be explained to a blind
man; an attempt has been made, Mr.
Locke records an instance where an effort
was made to communicate, to an intelligent man who had been blind from his
birth, some idea of colour; and scarlet
was chosen for description, because it was
conceived to have a greater distinctness,
and to be more glaring than any other;
but, after a great deal of effort and trial
to

communicate

to

him some knowledge

of a scarlet colour, he told them he

Being rethought he understood it.
quested to explain it, his apprehension

was, that it bore a strong resemblance to

the sound of a trumpet. And such would be
our notion of light and colour, if we were
destitute of the organs of vision, " though
a man were to declare it unto us." People
would, perhaps, be ready to say. Have
any of the doctors believed him] Have
any of the rulers embraced this wild
notion ]
Have any of the Pharisees believed this report you give 1
Do you
think that you are the sole favourite of
heaven, that you should be favoured with
the discernment of a new world, while
all around are wrapped in what you call
darkness"?
It is absurd to suppose it;
and if another, and another, and another
were to be possessed of sight, bestowed
just in the manner I have supposed, they
would be only ready to say that
"The mad enthusiast never is at rest,
Till half the world

And

is

like himself possess'd."

they would count such as the

and offscouring of mankind.

Now, what I have supposed,
of the bodily organs,

we

filth

find

awfully

verified, in a spiritual sense, in reference

whole of mankind. We are blind,

by nature we can have no
kind of spiritual comprehension of the
objects of these different senses, till by
Divine power they are restored to us.
There can be no doubt that the passage

to the

we

have not known I will make darkness

light before them, and crooked things
straight.
These things will I do unto
them, and not forsake them."
First,
have here the subjects
OF divine grace. There is scarcely, in
the sacred writings, an epithet that is
more generally applied to man, than that
of darkness or blindness
spiritual darkness, spiritual blindness and all the great
branches of the gospel dispensation, more
or less, carry our views to the change
which is effected ; taking away the scales
:

We

of ignorance, restoring eyesight to the

blind, giving light to

are deaf;

them

that

walk in

darkness, and that are sitting in the region or shadow of death. Itis to give light
to

them

light to

that the gospel

them

was

sent

into the world

that the Spirit of

to give light to

to

give

God came
them

the gospel is preached, and that

that

God has

sent forth his Holy Spirit to inform the

judgment and enlighten the understanding, in order to renovate the heart and

make men wise unto salvation.

Our first parents were not born

blind

but they departed from the living God,

and sunk so

far

down below

their original

state of purity, that they lost sight of

heaven, and went into a region of darkness. There they groped, and there they
grovelled, and there they brought forth,
and there they increased their family

and from them have sprung the millions

human race all in that state of

obscurity and darkness, " far gone from
of the

in respect

187

bring the blind by a way that they knew

not; I will lead them in paths that they

Thus sin has

waste " not here and there a kingdom,
despatching, at one widebut a world
extended blow, entire mankind ;" so that
all, from first to last, from the earliall
original righteousness !"
laid

est periods of history to the present hour,

in all the latitudes, longitudes, climates,

and zones on the face of the earth,

wherever you find a branch of the human
condition of man ; and there are three family uninstructed by Divine grace,
points in it, to which I will beg to call there they are, by nature, in a state of
your attention. The first is, The sub- mental darkness. A deep cloud of darkjects OF DIVINE GRACE ; the second is, ness rests upon them " they have eyes,
The operations of divine grace ; and but they see not; they have ears, but
the third is. The effects of divine they hear not; they have hearts, but they
"I will understand not." There is a call, that
GRACE IN ITS OPERATIONS.
before us primarily refers to the spiritual

THE BRITISH

188

PULPIT.

who sleep should awake "Awake, indistinct notion that God is merciful.
They have
thou that slecpest !" and arise from thy Where did thty get it?
vile stale, and God will give thee health, learned it from the language of the sacred
and life, and power
To rouse men from writings; but tliey know nothing of its
their slumber is the great and primary nature, nor how it can operate, withoul
object of the gospel, that they may be interfering with the claims of justice, nor
brought into light and life and salvation. how God can "be just, and yet the justiThe
If you ask for any proof of this, arising fier of him that believes in Jesus."
those

from fact, fact will furnish very strong way of mercy, then, is a way of which
and very powerful evidence. We know they know nothing.
Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Chrisl
that we are under the inspection of God.
allow it yet we act as though God may also be considered as the way. "I
did not see us.
We know that God has am the way, the truth, and the life," he
" no man cometh unto the
appointed a day in which he will judge observes
God has pointed
the world in righteousness, yet we make Father but by me."
no preparation for the awful moment! out our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
He warns, and cautions, and admonishes as the medium through which he conus against sin, and yet we live in the descends to come down and visit the
practice of it
He invites and encourages blind the medium by which he takes
us to the observance of his law, the the blind man by the hand the medium
acceptance of his mercy, to experimental through which we can have access to
and practical godliness, and yet we put the throne of God the medium through
these things from us, not merely " as which he pours light upon the soul.
though to die were no conCern of ours," He is the Sun of righteousness to illubut we seem to act by nature precisely as minate the moral world, and to awaken
though vice and virtue had changed their the souls of men, making them sensible
characters; as if future rewards were of their state and condition, opening
offered to profligacy and iniquity ; and their eyes, and giving them to see that
that the righteous would be banished they are sinners
that they are far gone
from the presence of the Lord
Do you from original righteousness that they
think men would act thus if they were are guilty, liable to punishment, exposed
not blind ] Jews and Gentiles are in a to perdition and that they have no right
state of darkness
all are in a state of to call God their friend, nor to expect
darkness of moral darkness; and, in salvation at his hand.
that state of moral darkness and obscuA soul, thus awakened and brought
rity, they must have remained throughout into the path of genuine repentance, finds
time, until ushered into the light of the a consciousness of guilt. This enters into
eternal world, did not God come forth the very essence of repentance.
A readiand call us, in infinite compassion, to ness to forsake sin also enters into it
forsake our sins
and hence,
breaking off from sin by repentance, and
Secondly, Divine grace, making these a calling upon God for mercy; all these
DISCOVERIES, LEADS "THE BLIND " THE are connected with repentance a conSUBJECTS OF ITS OPERATIONS " BY A WAY sciousness of guilt, a sorrow for sin, a
THAT THEY KNEW NOT."
forsaking of it, and a calling upon God
They knew nothing of the way of mercy. for mercy and this is one of the " paths"
Independently of the dispensation of the which "the blind," by nature, know
gospel, meroy was never revealed
never nothing of. You may talk to them of
made known. Wherever you find mercy repentance, and they will say, " Go thy

We

coming from God,

it

has more or less a

reference to the dispensation of the gospel.

This is the way. All men are blind

by nature on this subject, spiritually
blind, knowing nothing as they ought to
know. They have, it is true, a general

way for this time ;

convenient season,
The mere

objects

when

have a more

I will call for thee

of animal

!"

sensation

swallow up every thought; there is no

sorrow for sin there is no consciousness
of it; " Nature's blush seems, by custom,

THE EFFECTS PRODUCED BY DIVINE GRACE.

have been wiped off, and conscience
deadened by repeated crimes !"
to

You

observe

the blind by a
I

it

way

"I

said,

is

that they

will bring

knew

not;

them in paths which they have

known." Then, there are more paths

will lead

not

The

than one.

path of repentance

lowed by the path of

in the truths of the gospel

promises of God.

Jesus

faith in

What
What

man know

of this

ually blind

man know

is fol-

faith

faith in the

does a dead
does a spirit-

They

heart.

189

are led into the

way

of holi-

ness, rising higher, and shining brighter,

the divine life, till every thing sinful

and unholy is eradicated from the human
heart, and the soul is fitted and prepared
for an inheritance that is incorruptible,
undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for all who are kept
in

by

the

power of God, through

everlasting

faith,

unto

life.

Loaded with

and deprived of spisank from God,

nothing and it is only when God comes became enveloped with clouds of darkdown and visits the soul, by bringing ness but, when visited by the Spirit of
home his word of power with all its God, enjoying his pardoning love, and
awakening energy, that the eyes of the enabled to call God Father, by the Holy
understanding are open, that the judg- Ghost given unto it, the soul receives a
ment is informed, that the conscience is greater and a still greater degree of moral
alarmed, and that the soul is led to seek perfection, till it mounts and rises, and
after God.
holds communion with God, whose Spirit
Now, when the soul is brought into the shines upon it with beams of bliss ; it
path of repentance and into that of faith, lays up treasure in heaven, " where
1

of this

He knows

sight,

ritual

sin,

the

soul

there

must be a discovery of Jesus

his greatness and in all his glory

his

mediatorial

in all
in all

beauties of character

assuming our nature, magnifying the law,

and making it honourable fulfilling all

righteousness, bearing our sins, and car-

moth nor rust doth corrupt, and

where thieves do not break through nor
steal ;" and, where the treasure is, there
the heart is also. " I will bring the blind
by a way that they knew not I will lead
them in paths that they have not known."
Such is the operative influence of Divine
neither

rying our sorrows making an expiation

for our offences, satisfying the claims of grace on its subjects.
justice, opening the door of mercy, and our attention to,

throwing wide the kingdom of heaven

all

believers

There

is

to

another "path," which, by

nature, is " not

known :" I mean, thirdly,

THE PATH OF OBEDIENCE. Whenever the
man that was blind is led by the Spirit
of God to true repentance and to faith in

Thirdly,

Let us

now

The effect produced.

make darkness

turn

"

them,
and crooked things straight." Who can
make darkness light before them but the
Fountain, the Author, the Source of light,
and life, and being, and all the blessings
connected with life ? You may talk of
will

light before

is also led to practical learning

you may talk of philosophical
His own judgment is not the inquiry, as much as you please but all
standard of his obedience. This is the will be found cold, insignificant, and
language of false philosophy; the genuine insufiicient to accomplish the amazing
standard of obedience is the authority of purpose.
Was it ever known, from the
God. If God commands, man's duty is creation of the world, that any man opened
to obey
and although he sees not, and the eyes of one that was born blind ?
knows not, in what trials, difficulties, No
What would you think of a comand perplexities he may be involved, in pany of blind men that should unite

Jesus Christ, he
godliness.

rendering obedience to the command of together, even though they stood high in
God, yet he knows that submission to the general character of their profession, to
the Divine authority is the great criterion operate on the eyes of a blind individual,
of his actions.
and try to restore him to sight? You
There is another " path" into which all might say it would be worse than the
those that were blind are brought by the

blind leading the blind,

operative influence of Divine grace on the

fall

into

the ditch.

when both would

How

could they

THE BRITISH

ido

PULPIT.

know

he hath
Avhat tliey were going either to ing cloud under which I trembled
They know revealed himself to me as a God pardoning
procure or to perform 1
not the nature of light, nor are they iniquity, transgression, and sin. I can call
acquainted with the organs of vision. him Father, by the Holy Ghostgiven tome
he has broughtmefromdarkness into his
Sight can never be restored to blind
men but primarily by the light of hea- marvellous light, and taught me to rejoice
ven ; and this is one of tlie first effects in his free and full salvation. " Bless the

produced by the operative influence of Lord, Omy soul, and all that is within me;
my soul, and forget
bless the Lord,
the Spirit of God.
Thus will the
Even the discovery of our state and not all his benefits."
condition
our knowledge that we are Almighty make darkness light before
under the displeasure of God in a state them, and crooked things straight. They
may find dark and gloomy dispensations
of guilt
in a state of moral pollution
under the influence of every evil and dia- of Divine Providence, and may meet with
bolical passion
led captive by the enemy a variety of obstructions in their journey ;
of our souls, at his will, are degrees of and, if they were in a state of blindness,
discernment that are imparted to the soul they would stumble into the snares set for
are some of the effects produced by the them, and fall into the pit: but, guided
operative influence of the Spirit of God. by the light of God's Holy Spirit, there is
The soul that is thus awakened, is led to another effect produced ; they step aside,
and the same they step over, they avoid the danger
call upon God for mercy
Spirit directs it to "behold the Lamb of they put their trust in God, knowing that
God that taketh away the sin of the he careth for them they have an eye to
world." Its language is, " Believe on the recompense of reward and, although
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be here they may be required to walk through
saved." Behold in him an able Saviour, deep waters of affliction, to suffer a variety
a suitable Saviour, a ready Saviour, a of bodily inconveniences, yet they are
willing Saviour, "able to save to the always ready to sa)', This is not my
" for we know that, when the
uttermost all who come unto God by home

him

Behold in him every qualifica- earthly house of this tabernacle is distion which a human spirit, possessed of solved, we have a building of God, a
immortality, can possibly require.
house not made with hands, eternal in
The human spirit must live for ever. the heavens." That is my house and my
It wants happiness that shall run parallel portion
where my treasure and my heart
with its existence and, therefore, it must are, there is my abiding place
Their
be interminable. Eternal happiness never language is,
!"

can be procured unless there be an infinity

of merit
and an infinity of merit implies
an infinity of nature in the person who has

" I'll suffer

that infinity of merit, and purchases that

infinity of happiness.
fore,

We

Till

my

out my threescore years,

Deliverer come

To wipe away his servant's tears,

And take his exiles home."

learn, there-

from hence, that, in proportion as

Thus crooked things are made straight
is an able Saviour, before them ; because God will either

our Lord Jesus Christ

meet the demands of all those remove the obstruction out of the way or
give them grace to bear and overcome it,
and made the partakers of his salvation ; and render it subservient to his divine
that there must be in him an infinity purposes, in order that their graces may
of nature; and an infinity of nature can be refined, and that their crown of glory
may shine with brighter lustre.
only belong to God.
Believing in Jesus Christ, the soul
"I will bring the blind by a way that
steps into the liberty of the sons of God, they knew not; I will lead them in paths
and its language is, " Once was I dark- that they have not known I will make
ness, but now am I light in the Lord." darkness light before them, and crooked
He hath taken away the cloud, the frown- things straight. These things will I do

sufllicient to

who

are brought from darkness to light,

THE EFFECTS PRODUCED BY DIVINE GRACE.

unto them, and not forsake them." There
is a perpetuity in the promise; but we

must never
is

forget, that,

101

Our revolving

3'ear after year.

wherever there friends and neighbours, the diseases of

our bodies at all times, and all the calais always

perpetuity in promise, there

a correspondent perpetuity expressed or

implied in the character to whom it is
given,

years, our

swiftly-fleeting months, the death of our

God has promised

that he

"will

mities that flesh

is

heir to,

these

all

warn us to prepare to meet our God

Remember, there is grace in Jesus;
!

do these things unto them, and not forsake for he who has an infinity of merit, with
them." Do these things to whom 1 we regard to the perpetuity of its duration,
ask; "not forsake" whom] who are has an infinity of merit with respect to
they ] Why, those that are brought by the extent of its application and, therethose that fore, " whosoever will may come and take
a way that they knew not

are conducted in paths that they have not

known

those

to

whom

darkness

is

made

and crooked things are made straight

will never

light,

they are the people whom he

leave nor forsake; while they continue to

put their trust in him, they shall be as

Mount Zion, that can never be moved.

we have

Here, then,

the character of

the individuals expressed, the operations

of divine grace pointed out, and the effects

resulting from those operations; but

may

of the water of
it

we

life

We

freely."

want

"There

are undone without it!

is no other name given under heaven and

among men, whereby we can be saved,
but the name of Jesus." " Now is the
accepted time behold, now is the day
;

May God,

of salvation !"

in his infinite

mercy, impress these thoughts upon our

minds, and lead us to holiness, happiness,
and heaven, through Jesus Christ our

we Lord

Amen.

carry our views beyond the bounds

of time, into the regions of the eternal

world, where glory, honour, immortality,

and eternal life shall be their portion for
ever and ever.
What, then, may we learn from the
whole] Do not say that you are not
blind because you can discover objects
with your bodily senses. The question
is, not whether you are blind as animals,
but whether you are blind as spiritual
beings.
Where is your love to God]
Where is your obedience to God ] Where
is your conformity to the will of God ]
If
destitute of these things, it is a melancholy
proof that spiritual blindness still hangs
upon the spirit. But remember that Jesus
is passing by
call upon him, for he is
ready to say, " What wilt thou that I

THE E.XAMPLE OF THE (lUEEN OF SHEBA.

If the queen of Sheba went from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom
of Solomon probably from Ethiopia, then
deemed the utmost part of the earth from
;

Jerusalem

that she

tion as to her

that her

own

might obtain instruc-

duties and obligations,

own mind might be impressed

and informed

what ought

ings in relation to

to

Him who

be our
is

feel-

greater

than Solomon]

She went, notwithstanding the distance

She had a long journey

of her residence.

to perform, with little of those facilities

and accommodation for travelling which
we enjoy. And yet she went all the way
to Jerusalem that she might hear and witshould do unto thee]" Let your answer ness the wisdom of Solomon. Will not
be, " Lord, that I may receive my sight," this procedure on her part condemn those
my spiritual sight that I may be brought of us to whom God has brought nigh his
by a way that I knew not that I may be word] You have his ordinances; his
led in paths that I have not known
that Sabbaths are every week enjoyed by you
I may be led to the Saviour of the world,
his house opened for your reception
through the blood of the everlasting cove- his word in a language you can undernant
stand.
That word is nigh you, and the
For this end is the gospel preached
gospel is brought near to you. Are you
for this end the word of God was given neglecting it]
Are you taking no pains
to us
for this end God spares and calls to understand it ]
Do you let Sabbaths
us day after day, month after month, and and opportunities pass by unimproved 1
:

THE BRITISH

192

The queen

of the south will rise up in the

judgment against you.

She went, notwithstanding

the anxi-

have pleaded, " I have so much to do, so

many cares devolving upon me, that I
cannot go." But she acted on different
principles, and was well rewarded for her
Can you, then, plead any cares,
labour.
any anxieties, any occupations, as a reason
why you should not make every effort,
submit to every sacrifice, go through
every necessary
attend to the

in

diflUculty,

wisdom

order to

Son of

of the

God-

in order to listen to the oracles of truth

in order to seek the things that belong to

your everlasting peace

shall

we

eat, or

what

Say

shall

SCRIFTURZ: DIFFICUI.TZES.
NO. V.

all

She might

eties of her public station.

PULPIT.

not,

we

"

.^nd Noah said, Cursed

a servant of servants shall he
Infidels cavil at
be unto his brethren.
this curse, because it falls upon the de-

Gen.

be

25

ix.

Canaan

scendants of the offender. Ham,, the son

of Noah ; and Christian apologists have
generally been content to reply, that Pro-

vidence

may and

does visit the sins of

But will

the fathers upon the children.

not be obvious, upon looking steadily

at the subject, that the cavil and the
For
reply are alike beside the mark?

it

the curse

fell

upon the offender

in his

What own

drink, or

proper person. The vices of the

Canaanites could not but be their plague,
whatever had been the character of Ham.
The wretched slavery of that people was

be clothed ]" Your

attention to these things will not be interfered with by your supreme attention to not inflicted in consequence of their fabut their slavery was/orethe things which belong to your everlast- ther's crime
ing peace. "Seek first the kingdom of told as a punishment on their ancestor.
God and his righteousness, and all these Had he been a good and righteous man,

wherewithal shall

we

things shall be added unto you."

She went, though uninvited.

he might have been spared the foresight

There of so much misery. It is well for a
was no offer, no appeal made to her. father's peace that he does not know
Mere report, general testimony that she what the wickedness of his sons will one
Can you say day suffer. Milton makes his Adam cry
heard, induced her to go.
you are uninvited 1 What is this word out
but the record of invitation, full of mercy
" O, visions ill foreseen
.
and love? What is the ministry but the
!

ministry of reconciliation, exhibiting inducements and considerations to bring

you

to

seek at once the knowledge of this

Solomon ? Will she not rise

greater than

judgment against you ?

She went to hear the wisdom of a mortal, at best fallible, and who, after all,

up

in the

was guilty of sad and

But you are invited
life.

is

here

in

man

seek

be foretold what shall befall

Him or his children. Evil, he may be sure.
Which neither his foreknowing can prevent;

Henceforth

to

he the future evil shall no less

In apprehension than in substance feel,
Grievous to bear."

And

Paradise Lost,

to

listen

to,

and

Then

recollect

It

was a reward

xi.

770.

for their dutiful re-

verence

to

their father,

how Japheth

to

know

the

Bible,

in

for

that their

Shem and
own piety
way perpe-

and obedience should be in a

tuated to their descendants; and it was
Ham's and Canaan's curse to be foretold
the that their descendants would be unhappy
So that both the blessing and
the slaves.

the queen of the south will rise up in

the judgment against the men of this
generation ; because a greater than So-

lomon

Let no

criminal defection.

receive the instructions of heavenly wis-

dom, of eternal

....

testimony of heavenly wisdom, in

mysteries of divine truth. Rev. Joseph

the curse

Fletcher.

who

fell

upon the heads of those

deserved them.

SERMON

XX.

THE MESSIAH'S INCREASE.

BY THE REV. EDWARD PARSONS.

"

The

The increase of his government."

inquiry which relates to the per-

sonal character of that Being

who

sus-

tains the responsibility of redemption,

is

Isa. ix. 7.

common hope

our

excited by his

the expectations

all

coming were vain and

all

most important and interesting. For what are

is
would it avail to us if this person has he shall not reign for ever and
only inferior powers 1 If the Lord Jesus stroy this truth, and we have
Christ had not been impeccable, he could
not have sustained the character of a Saviour.
He might have been virtv.ous, he
might have presented an example, he
might have exhibited a martyr's constancy
still, all would have been in
;

vain

the tide of

human

guilt and misery

would have rolled on, and men would

have been borne down by it to endless

ro-

hopes of missionary success

vain he
not a universal Saviour,

mantic

out pardon

De-

ever.

guilt with-

life without relief

the Bible
without truth revelation without importance Christianity without peace. But,
blessed be God, there is not a sound of
prophecy, nor a voice from heaven, nor a
revelation of truth, that does not bear on
this doctrine, that does not render it lu-

minous and

He was man

interesting.

in

he might redeem he was

despair
To suppose that God could Deity that he might be enthroned and
have sent a person into the world who " of the increase of his government there
was not able to accomplish the work of shall be no end."
redemption, would be to suppose that he
"The increase of his government!"
order that

was capable

of

mocking

at our miseries,

and sporting with our woes.

What

can

And yet,
this

apparently, as to external things,

prophecy was never likely

we

you think of the person of the Saviour,

when you are told that the responsibility
that he
of government rests on him

realized.

If

was born

in a

sustains the appellation of " Creator of

acquainted with grief

character, he

refer to his

manger

was

if

man

we

to

birth,

be
he

refer to his

of sorrows, and

if

we

refer to his

" foxes had holes, and the birds

that he is " the brightness of his Father's of the air had nests, but he had not where
glory, and the express image of his per- to lay his head ;"
if we refer to his misthat by him all things consist
son ;"
sion, it was to establish no earthly throne,
that in all things he is to have the pre- to restore no mortal dynasty
if we refer to
eminence that he is the " Wonderful, his name, it is not found in the annals of
" thou
Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlast- empires, or the records of heroes
all

things by the word of his

power"

state, the

ing Father, the Prince of peace ;" and

that " of the increase of his government

shalt call his

and peace there shall be no endl" If

you take away from us the divinity of
Jesus Christ, you destroy all missionary
exertions, and remove the foundation of
Vol. II
25

refer to his doctrines, they

name

Jesus, for he shall

save his people from their sins ;"

posed

to all

if

we

were so opthe prejudices of the Jews,

to all the superstitions of the Greeks,

that to the one they

were a stumbling193

THE BRITISH

194

block, to the others foolishness

we

PULPIT.
of

immortality.

Ignorance
and
men to his success, multitudes who liad a great multitude, which no man can
heard him cried out, " Not this man, but number, shall join in the song of praise.
Barabbas !" to his death, it was igno- For the arm of the Lord shall be made
minious Jerusalem re-echoed with the bare, and " all the ends of the earth shall
cry, " Away with him, crucify him, cru- see the salvation of God."
" The increase of his government !"
cify him
if he be the Christ, let him
corne down from the cross
he saved And this implies,
others, himself he cannot save !"
2. The triumphs of grace over the sin
He
had glories, it is true, but they were in- and misery of man. 1 know that when
visible
he had a crown, but it was not I have said the knowledge of the gospel
seen by men. His gems were not seen, shall be diffused, I have said enough to
his crown was not noticed, because his rouse the most indifferent.
For
what
brow was encircled by a crown of thorns. a different world would this then be
How unlikely that he should ever reign Then learning would become the legitithat he should ever triumph
that he mate garden of unsophisticated truth
should ever glory in the success of his then useless studies would be forsaken
cause
But, whatever scorn, or calumny, for the investigation of the inspired oraor opposition, it has had to encounter, cles
then navigation would aim to difthat cause has succeeded
and while the fuse the knowledge of God our Saviour
fabrics of human fame, and skill, and
then statesmen would desire only the
policy, have been successively blasted, real welfare of those for whom they
we to-night behold a pledge of its in- legislate then thrones would never be
crease, and mark some of the brightness the seat of violence and of wrong.
But
with which it is destined to blaze for you feel that this would not be enough ;
ever.
He must reign from pole to pole the text refers to something beyond the
He must reign when yonder heavens are diffusion of truth. Millions of prodigals
shrivelled as a scroll, and this earth has must be brought to the house of their
fled away
He must reign till all his Father millions must burst the defoes become his footstool, till God shall grading chain asunder, and enter the
be all in all
Let us attend.
glorious liberty of the sons of God
First, To THE INCREASE OF HIS GO- millions must have the agonizing tear of
VERNMENT.
sorrow wiped from their cheeks, and
1. This implies the extended diffusion taste the pure and holy joys of religion
many must "come from the east, and
of the lainivledge of his gospel ! Who can
contemplate the darkness that is in the from the west, and from the north, and
world without alarm ? Think of England, from the south, and sit down with Abraof Ireland, of China, with the millions ham, and Isaac, and .lacob, in the kingrefer to his followers, they

were

if

fisher-

the

lustre

shall

be exchanged for information

its

of India and the Ganges,

dom."

polluted streams lighted up by

is this

of her sons

with

O
!

what an exhilarating prospect

often have you mourned

How

many funeral piles of Persia, withering under the blasting hand of Mahometanism
of Africa, sunk in fanaticism or

while you have seen the path that leads

to ruin thronged with passengers.
But,

And when you have

glorious shall be his triumphs, so com-

this scenery of general

darkness and depravity, then think of the

plete his grace, that sooner shall the phi-

so

cruel barbarism

thus surveyed

Saviour's government

"the increase of

his

government!"

So

losopher number the atoms of which this

is
composed, or the astronomer
For the Sun of righteousness is not to count the stars of the spangled sky, than
rise on a few nations only, but to shed any man number the redeemed who shall

increase of the

his brilliance over

The

earth

be gathered to Christ, before the last

thunder shall have rumbled in our ears,
darkness of despair. The valley of the or this universe be wrapped in the final
shadow of death shall be illuminated with flame. " Lift up thine eyes round about,

demons

all

the earth.

of superstition shall sink into the

THE MESSIAH'S INCREASE.

and se&

all

gether, they

they gather themselves to-

come

thee

to

the abundance

of the sea shall be converted unto thee,

the forces of the Gentiles shall come
unto thee."

" The increase of his government

This involves,

!"

The

diffusion of the peaceful influence of the gospel, in calming the pas3.

105
"

He must

he
enemies under his feet."
" Thou shalt break them with a rod of
iron
thou shalt dash them in pieces like
a potter's vessel." This applies to every
individual, and to every system that ophis progress.

hath put

reign

till

all

poses Christ.

vernment"
shall fall.

"The

then the

increase of his go-

power of

infidelity

That system desirous of erect-

its fabric on the ruin of happiness,

and capable of triumphing only in despairinscribing on the tomb, " Death
this system, in
is an eternal sleep ;"
morals monstrous and in reason absurd
Gigantic evil
this system shall be destroyed, and the
calculate thy horrors
preceded by terror followed by devasta- revelation of God shall appear in all the
nourished by light of truth, and in all the glory of
tion
fed by cursed pride
human wo. Gigantic evil diffused wher- eternity. "The increase of his governthen, the energy of antichrist
ever thou art introduced by tears, by ment"
groans, and by blood ; and the shrieks shall be destroyed. O antichrist! direful
of widows, and the pangs of the father- has been thy reign. The power of the
less, are superadded to the evils of this lion, the cruelty of the leopard, the venom
Gigantic evil
thou of the serpent have all been united in
wilderness world.
art never satisfied ; thy triumphs are thee, and grievous has been the havoc

and allaying the violence of unhappy men. " Of the increase of his
government and peace there shall be no
what pencil can
end." O war, vear
what skill can
portray thy deformities
sions,

ing

those of death, thy carnival

is in the
But, " the increase of his go-

grave.

vernment!"

this shall

be the influence

of peace; for the gospel

was

sooner

is

No

peace.

made known, but those

it

which even febe present, ceased.

of the gospel is the spirit

gladiatorial spectacles, at

males did not blush

Yes

the spirit

of peace; and

it

to

says,

"If

thine

enemy

hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him

drink." And when the gospel prevails,
the temple of Janus shall be closed
the
sword and the shield shall be hung up
the olive branch shall wave over the
globe a voice from heaven shall say,
" Peace, peace, be still" this universe
shall become the temple of concord, amity, and love
and the angels beholding
it shall return to heaven, and strike their
harps to that song, " Behold, how good

and pleasant
together in

it

is for

unity !"

brethren to dwell

Then " Ephraim

which thou hast made in the field of

Christ! But thou shalt be destroyed;
and while there is not a demon in the
bottomless pit who shall not shudder at
thy fall, there is not an angel in heaven
and all heaven, and
but shall rejoice
earth, and hell, shall reverberate the
:

shout, " Babylon the great

fallen!"

ment"

"The

and

is

fallen, is

increase of his govern-

then Paganism shall be an-

Paganism, though it now triumphs over more than three hundred milthough thoulions of the human race
sands are crushed beneath its pondrous
wheels Paganism itself shall one day
disappear. " The increase of his government" and Mahometanism, though men
have been forced into the belief of it at
the point of the sword, and though it has
nihilated.

ways obtained its triumphs

over myriads, this system also shall be
completely annihilated. "The increase
in various

vex .Tudah, nor Judah Ephraim." of his government" and the malignancy
Christ shall be "the Prince of peace." of the Jews, though they exhibit to the
All shall be but one brotherhood
love world an awful proof of the retributive
shall be their only passion, and eternity providence of God
though they show
the duration of their joy.,'
the brand on their brows inflicted by the
" The increase of his government !" wrathful hand of an incensed Jehovah,
And this includes,
this malice and impenitence shall all bo
shall not

4.

The annihilation of all that

opposes

destroyed.

" The increase of

his govern-

THE BRITISH

196
merit"

and

all

that opposes the mani-

festation of his glory shall be completely

"Gird thy sword upon thy

most Mighty, with thy glory
and thy majesty. Reign thou in the midst
Roll on, ye years
of thine enemies !'?
destroyed.
thigh,

and bring forward th^t blessed day, when

our earth shall receive him in all the
beauties of his glory, and be fully prepared for eternity
But,
Secondly, How is the government of
Christ to increase ? By what interposition ?
By the agency of miracles'?
No; the age of miracles is gone; and
we have no encouragement whatever to
entertain such a hope.
How then is it to
be increased?
By the distribution of the
Bible, and suitable tracts, by pious individuals ?
Doubtless, this may be the
!

means

of great usefulness.

be increased

By

How

is it to

the education of the

young?

True, it is said, "all thy children shall be taught of God," and so on.
But we look for something more than all
this, f How then shall it be increased? I
answer, by the instrumentality of the
preached gospel. I know this is regarded
by some, as a mean, a foolish dispensation ; but it is still " mighty through God,
to the pulling down of strong holds."
This was identified with the increase of
Christ's government, by all the declarations of prophecy, and by the expectations of believers in all ages.

spoken of

at

This

length by Paul, in his

epistle to the Corinthians, "

Christ crucified," &c.

And

We

is

first

preach

the identity

of preaching the gospel, and the success

" For as the
of it, is testified by Isaiah.
rain

cometh down from heaven," &c.

The

apostle John, also, tells us,

another angel

"I saw

PULPIT.

sophy

Where

have

we

ever heard of
have heard from
shore after shore, of the triumphs of the
But the triumphs of
religion of Christ.
philosophy
Why, what shores has she
ever visited ? What dim eye has she ever
What funeral pile has
brightened up?
What idol has
she ever extinguished ?
she ever dashed from its pedestal ? What
no
profligate has she ever reclaimed ?
the preachthe preaching of the cross
ing of the cross J the preaching of the
CROSS
this only, and this everywhere,
has been the means by which the ignorant have been informed, the prodigal reclaimed, the wanderer restored, the sorrowful cheered ; and by this, and this
only, will the kingdoms of this world
become the kingdoms of our God and of
!

those triumphs?

We

his Christ.

But here

Do

would suggest a caution.

not suppose that the preaching of the

cross of Christ will be the instrument of

destroying heathenism, Avithout the influences of the Holy Spirit.J^I will sup-

pose that by some supernatural power

we could raise a gorgeous edifice instead
I will suppose that we
of every hovel
could bring down to these temples heaI will suppose that they
venly visitants
each spake wilh melting eloquence ; that
they could exhibit a dying Saviour ; that
:

they could reveal the red right arm of the

Almighty about to plunge the sword into
There
the side of the spotless victim
!

might be astonishment, there might be

alarm, but there would not be conversion.
'We might as well expect to remove the
world by a lever of straw, as move the
spiritual world by any means irrespective
of the Spirit of God.J No doubt you all

midst of heaven, respect your particular ministers ; but,

having the everlasting gospel to preach I charge you, never come to hear a serto them that dwell in the earth," &c. mon without prayer for the Holy Spirit
And Christ himself has said, "The gos- never behold your minister ascend the
pel of the kingdom shall be preached in pulpit without prayer for the Spirit:
all the world for a witness," &c.
never hope for the success of missionaare aware that some, in these extraordi- ries without the Spirit. / On the very
narily portentous times, regard these fore-front of all our exertions must be
things as enthusiasm and madness. They written, " Not by might, nor by power,
tell us that the change for which we but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts."
seem so anxious, is to be effected by the If we could procure missionaries as
triumphs of philosophy. The triumphs eloquent as Paul and Apollos, what would
The triumphs of philo- they be without the Spirit ? " Neither is
of philosophy
flj'

in the

We

THE MESSIAH'S INCREASE.

watereth,^ but

God

giveth the in-

that

Where

an angel shall

tell

the

pleasing tidings before the throne, and

while

crease."

197

And soon

he that planteth any thing, nor he that world.

all

crowns are cast

at the feet of

the necessity or Jesus, that song shall be struck up,

CERTAINTY OF THIS INCREASE OF THE Sa- " Blessing, and honour, and glory, and
Why we may power, be unto him that sitteth on the
viour's government ?
throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and
find it,
Thirdly,

is

ever." )
In the divine appointment.
"The increase of his government."
In the claims of his mediatorial
And now, as a Christian minister; as
sacrifice on the cross.
" Being found in fashion as a man, he standing between the living and the dead ;
humbled himself and became obedient as looking forward to that time when I
to death, even the death of the cross. must stand before the throne and meet
1.

2.

all again
I must ask you, if you
have received this gospel, and felt its
power, by the Holy Spirit 1 If you are
not Christ's friends, you must be Christ's
foes ; if you are not Christ's subjects
now, you must be condemned by him at
the judgment day. O ye immortal souls
destined to rise in glory, or to sink in wo,
have you known the power of the Saviour
Eph. i. 21, 22.
pality," &c.
Better never to have
In the events which have lately to redeem you]
4.
taken place in the theatre of the world. been born, never to have been blessed
What has meant this havoc among with rational powers, than to have rejectmonarchs, this demolition of thrones, ed Christ and his salvation
By all that
this soaking of the ground with streams is solemn in the attributes of God
by
of human gore, this confusion, dismay, all that is touching in the Saviour's
and sorrow ] Is it to be ascribed only to cross
by the value of your souls ;by

Wherefore also God hath highly exalted

you

him, and hath given him a name which is

above every name, that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow," &c.
3.
In the very nature of his exalta" God hath raised him from the
tion.
dead, and set him on his right hand in
the heavenly places, far above all princi-

mons by the
;

the clashing of

human

wills, to the col-

lision of contrary interests, to the inter-

vention of any secondary agents'?

we

look above all these

quires an elevation above

no

our hope acall

human

dy-

and we hear a voice from the ex" I will shake all

nations, and the desire of all nations

the joys of angels

yells of de-

to flee to the cross of Christ.

that

If I

knew

my

tongue were henceforth to be sithat my voice would be no longer

nasties,

lent;

vocal

come."

by the

agonies of the lost, and

the bliss of the redeemed
I charge you
;

cellent glory, saying,

shall

that my body would sink into

tomb at the conclusion of this service,
would cry. Flee to the cross of Christ
;

the
I

In the proofs with which toe are Flee to the cross of Christ! See, the
furnished of the final evangelization of arms of his compassion are extended,
5.

We

know

while this voice breaks on your astonishLook unto me, and be ye saved,
all the enemies of Christ shall be deCome unto me, all ye that are weary
stroyed.
We know that a period is ap- and heavy laden, and I will give you
the world.

well

that the finger

of prophecy points us to a period

when

when the Sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in his wings,
to disperse the darkness of every clime.
Six thousand years of sorrow have passed
over this world, only as a storm that
spends its fury, and then rocks itself to
Already, the light breaks upon the
rest.
already, the army has set
mountains

proaching,

out on

its

march, which

is to

subdue the

ed ears, "

rest."

is required this night

on behalf of the Missions of the United
Brethren.
Their exertions, as missionaries, have been nearly coeval with their
existence.
Their vessel is bound even

Youi* liberality

to the most barbarous and inhospitable

climes, fraught with the gospel of salvation.
Its ballast is Christian principle;

r2

THE BRITISH

198
its sails are

is

Christian affection

its

helm

Christian prudence; and by the gales

PULPIT.

sion,

bond nor

in all."

but Christ

free,

They have

is all

and

strong claims,

Thirdly, Because of their great and

of Christian benevolence, it has been
wafted over many a difficulty, and has remarkable success. 1 do not wish to disrescued many from the grasp of the de- parage any society ; but there is one
stroyer.
Allow me to state some of the thing which must not be concealed, the
number of their converts in heathen lands
peculiar claims of these missions.
First, Their misaionaries have been dis- exceeds more than threefold, what is in
tinguished by their attachment to evan- their own churches at home
Thirtygelical truth.
They have preached, not eight thousand in union with them, gamoral ethics, not philosophy, but the thered out from among the heathen, with
gospel of Christ
the truth, the whole whom they expect to spend a happy etertruth, and nothing but the truth.
If nity, and yet they have not more than ten
these United Brethren went into heathen thousand in communion with them in all
climes preaching any other gospel than Christendom. As the blessing of God
that which is contained in the New has thus been upon them, and paved their
Testament, God forbid that we should way, should not Christians in general be
!

help them

But when we know

that

and end has ever been to

save souls by the preaching of Christ
crucified, how can we possibly withhold
our support?
They are distinguished,
Secondly, By their most peculiar and
Christian liberality.
They are Moravians ; but they have not acted as Moravians, but as Christians.
They have
aimed to make Christians
they have
acted, not for the honour of a particular
sect, but for the glory of the Redeemer.
their object

On the very front of

may see inscribed,
"Let names, and

And

their operations

sects,

Jesus Christ be

we

as liberal as possible in rendering

assistance?

And

Fourthly, Because

them to
without

them

this.
it is

maintain their

impossible for
missions,

own

the assistance of other Christians.

how

can it be in the power of so

small a body of Christians to carry on
so extensive a work.
Go to the frozen
Indeed,

shores of Labrador,
to the

West

to

Indies; and

South Africa,
when you con-

sider their important and successful missions,

feel assured, that if

the Saviour's glory, you will

you regard

come

for

ward, and assist in this great work, not

only by your donations, but by your reguand

parties fall,

lar

As our

subscriptions.

friends visit

all in all."

you from seat to seat, let each individual

This is a feeling we should all culti- say, " Did Christ come down from hea
Did he hang on the cross
vate.
If there be one spirit which 1 ab- ven for me ?
hor and detest more than another, it is for me? Is he arranging all the dispen
And can
that cold, calculating principle of secta- salions of providence for me ?
rianism, M'hich adopts its own particular I withhold my support from his cause ?
no!
views, and aims to promote precisely its
" But drops of grief can ne'er repay
own opinions
If I had the voice of an
archangel, and could make it reach from
The debt of love I owe
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
one end of the universe to the other, I
'Tis all that I can do."
would say. Perish such a system as this
I

No;

we

Awake then, zeal awake, gratitude !

awake, devotion
awake, compassion !
tists, and so on, but as Christians. Chris- awake, benevolence
It is the call of
tian is our name
the Bible is our text- God, my Father,
it is the call of Him
book the cross is our passion and our who died upon the tree, it is the call of
word as we go on should be, " There is millions of souls, it is the call of Provineither Jew nor Greek, Barbarian nor dence,
it is the call of judgment,
it is
labour not as Methodists, as
Episcopalians, as Independents, as Bap-

Scythian, circumcision nor uncircuraci-

the call of eternity

SERMON

XXI.

ASCRIPTIONS OF PRAISE TO THE LAMB.

BY THE REV.

" Worthy is the

Lamb

ADKINS.

T.

was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and honour,
and glory, and blessing." Rev. v. 12, 13.

that

Man

is

an ambitious creature

desire of obtaining

and a

some species of excel-

lence is deeply inwrought

temper of the human mind.

into the

very

But the path

to excellence is of steep ascent;

made

is

expense of another
and a universal genius is seldom presented to the view of the world.
In
at the

we may

subject,

we

meditate on this

gain materials for the

information of the one and for the benefit

of the other.

The

and the

cultivation of one part of our nature

often

hearts, that, while

division

subject requires no ingenuity of

:

the plan which

have proposed

is,

i. to meditate on the character of

Christ as the Lamb.
taking our estimate of human nature, we
II. To VIEW his death.
frequently discover that those who most
III.
To CELEBRATE HIS PRAISE.
excite our admiration by the gifts of their
First, We are to contemplate Christ
intellect, awaken our disgust by the dege- AS HE IS REPRESENTED UNDER THE CHAneracy of their hearts. Disappointed in RACTER OF A Lamb.

To

our search after excellence on earth, let

us direct our attention to Heaven to aid us
in our search.
The sacred Spirit draws

excellencies

aside the veil that hides eternity from

mortal view, and presents to our attention
one in whom all imaginable virtues con-

the

choicest productions of nature and

all

the inventions of art, and combining

aid our conceptions of the varied

of

the

Saviour,

the

in-

spired writers lay under requisition all

these, they endeavour, through the media

who, at once, by of our fancy and feeling, to instruct our
All
his ineffable grandeur, must command judgment and improve our minds.
our homage, and, by his unspeakable ten- images of worth are, in one part of the
derness, must awaken our love.
Listen, sacred Scriptures or another, employed by
brethren
what sounds were those which these inspired writers to delineate the
this morning, with so unearthly a nature, character of Christ, the Rose of Sharon,
burst upon our ears'?
It is the song of the Lily of the valley
the Root and
angels and it is of Jesus that they sing. Offspring of David
the bright and INIornO that the employment of heaven may ing Star. But 0, all nature fails to reprebecome, for a short period, the employ- sent his worth the stars hide their heads
ment of earth and, in the temple not before the lustre of this Morning Star
made with hands, and in this clay- the sun itself hath no glories compared
built sanctuary, may the song be heard, with this cloudless Sun of righteousness
" Worthy is the Lamb that was slain !"
the beauties of nature bend low before
The subject is as attractive as it is this Rose of Sharon, and " nature, to
sublime, and, while it overwhelms us make his glories known, must mingle
by its grandeur, allures us by its beauty. tongues not her own." And yet, meMay the sacred Spirit condescend to dic- thinks, there is no one image so frequently
tate to my understanding, and to your employed as that in the words of the text:

centrate and shine; and

199

THE BRITISH

200

PULPIT.

" Behold/' said the precursor of the Mes- was expended in prayer for them, and he
siah, " the Lamb of God, which taketh gave vent to the feelings of compassion,
away the sin of the world." The apostle and to the agonies of the moment, in these
Peter speaks of him as "the Lamb with- words, "Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do." Adorable Lamb
out blemish and without spot."
Here let us compare the image and the of God may we follow thee, though a>
The lamb is an appropriate an infinite distance, in those steps thou
original.
symbol of innocence and meekness, appa- hast honoured by thine example. Whilsl
!

rently as unable as unwilling to resist any

may

be inflicted; it bears
them with a meekness and passiveness
which have won for it the image we have
employed. But view for a moment this
injuries that

thou art a

may we

Lamb

May we

flock.

to forgive

and

to suffer,

not be spoilers nor tigers of the

and pray

for

bless them that curse us,

them

that despitefully use

any contest, may it

symbol as illustrating the excellencies of be the heroic effort to overcome evil by
Jesus. Never were the lamb-like virtues the diffusion of good.
n. Meditate ON THE DEATH OF Christ.
brought to so severe a test, and never
were they so strikingly portrayed. A " Worthy is the Lamb that was slain."

may

recluse in his cell

reason justly on

the duties of forbearance and forgiveness

but it is difficult to carry into practice the

And

us.

if

there be

Let us view this part of the subject in the

following order:
First

He was

slain decretivcly in the

purposes of Jehovah. To the all-comprenot only the theory but the practice of hensive mind of the Deity the future lies
He chose, as a clearly known and he saw, even before
every possible virtue.
dictates of sober solitude

yet Jesus gave

twelve disciples
to be witnesses of his life and heralds of
Of these, one denied him.
his death.
another betrayed him and they all forsook him and fled. His motives were
test of his excellencies,

questioned,

his

character traduced,

his

man, his disgrace and fatal

fall
though his prescience had no influence on the moral mind of man for the
the creation of
:

prescience of the Deity and the accounta-

bleness of

man

though the

are perfectly harmonious,

reconciliation

may

not

be

That which
his eye foresaw, his compassion deternor did they cease till they had pierced mined to counteract; and hence, he apwith a spear that heart which had never pointed his Son to be the substitute of
beaten but with benignity and love. " He man. He determined to raise a new spiwas led as a lamb to the slaughter." See ritual empire, reflecting his glories and
miracles assigned to diabolical influence
he was persecuted even unto the death

that brutal officer taking advantage of his

defenceless situation to smite him with

the palms of his hands

and shall not fire

descend from heaven to avenge the insult,
and to punish the impious wretch ] Ah,

we know

brethren,
of!

How

not what spirit

different

was

we

are

the disposition

that dictated the reply, " If

I have spoken
witness of the evil but, if well,
why smitest thou me 1" Go to the cross
see there the heartless mulof Calvary

evil, bear

titude.

" Thou

Hear ye not

that fiendish cry,

that savest others, save thyself!"

will he not call down from heaven

twelve legions of angels to crush instantaneously, beneath the weight of his

And

power, those insects of existence that

Behold the lamb-like
against him 1
tues of the

Son of God

rise
vir-

his last breath

clearly

discerned by us.

resounding his praise; and, as the only

way by which this could be effected, he
gave that Son to take upon him our nature
to suffer, to bleed, and to die.
Without
arguing the point whether any other

would have been available, we maintain,

that if it could, the Deity would never
have given up his Son to suffer and to die.

We

assert, therefore, that Christ was

appointed to be slain in the annals of

eternity.

Every

from the cradle

part of the undertaking,

from the
was arranged

to the cross

carnation to the ascension

in-

according to the council of that mind

which cannot err. Especially does this
apply to the very fact of his death. " Hira
being delivered by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken,

and by wicked hands have crucified and

ASCRIPTIONS OF PRAISE TO THE LAMB.

And on

slain."

apostle speaks of

this principle
liin:i

as " the

it

is

Lamb

the

slain

before the foundation of the world."

This part of our subject may serve to
correct an

error into

which individuals

the one

was

201

received, the other rejected.

Cain brought of the first-fruits of the

earth
Abel brought of the firstlings of
the flock.
On what principle was it that
;

was received, and the oilier reThe recognition of the Supreme

Being was the same image the value of
the sacrifices was nearly equal. On what
principle was it, then, that one was
the one

are disposed to fall with reference to the

jected

atonement of Christ, who view it as the

purchase of the favour of the Deity
whereas, the very opposite is the case.
The love of God was the fountain from
whence the satisfaction of Christ took its
rise and that sacrifice became an honourable medium through which mercy, with-

received, and the other rejected

came

to

God

was an

Cain's

liever.

Cain

as a deist; Abel as a beoffering of grati-

Abel's was an offering of faith.

Cain merely acknowledged the Deity as

tude;

out money and without price, might

the moral governor of the world
Abel
descend to the vilest of the vile.
Secondly, He was slain emblematically acknowledged him a covenant God, who
by the sacrifices under the Levitical dis- had then disclosed his purposes, which
pensation.
It would have been incom- should be fully developed by the sacrifice
patible with the wisdom of the Deity to on the cross; "God testifying, of his
have allowed those who lived prior to gifts, that he was righteous." The victhe incarnation, to have been ignorant tim which Abel offered, presented to the
of that event; or that that event should delighted eye of his faith, the sacrifice
hurst at once upon the world, like the sud- of the cross, once offered, which, by the
den appearance of a meteor in a stormy effusion of its guiltless blood, should take
;

sky.

To

who

lived

enlighten the minds of those

previous

to

the

coming of

away

the sin of the world.

To this early appointment of sacrifice

maybe traced all the modes of sacrificing

Christ to usher in, by a successive

development, the God-like scheme of which have obtained through the world.
redemption God appointed sacrifices to That they did obtain through the world,
be offered between which and the victim is an undoubted historical fact: Europe,
they represented, there is so striking an Asia, Africa, and America present us with
agreement, that, if Scripture were silent the same fact. In our own country, we
on the subject, reason would discover have only to look back a few ages, and
that the one was an emblem of the other. we see the deluded Druid offering his
Some, referring to the origin of sacrifices, victim on the sacrificial pile. Reason
I would
could not originate this; there is sometell us they arose in priestcraft.
ask these sagacious expositors, Who were thing in it repugnant to reason, and conthe priests in the days of Cain and Abel, trary to the best feelings of our hearts
when sacrifices were offered ; and what and, so far from hoping this would purpriestcraft could then be displayed'? And chase the favour of the Deity, one might
as it respects the gains of priestcraft, have expected it would have drawn down
what gains could be obtained when the his wrath. Since reason, therefore, could

patriarchs offered the victims out of their

own

flock

The

fact is, there is no

not originate this, nor discover the har-

way mony

existing between the one and the

of accounting for the origin of sacrifices

other, there is no other

but by the appointment of God.

this fact than

I will

refer to the first instance of sacrifice con-

tained
faith

in

Abel

the sacred
offered to

sacrifice than Cain,

Scriptures.

"

By

Vol. II. 26

way

of elucidating

light that is

on the pages of inspiration

that

thrown
it

took

from the sacrifice established by

God, and was a symbol of him who was

its rise

God a more excellent

by which he obtained the Lamb

witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it, he being
dead, yet speaketh." Here you perceive
Cain and Abel brought their sacrifices;

by the

slain.

Thirdly, The

Lamb was

slain insfru-

mentally by the hands of the Jews.

sacrifice of the Son of God was
deepest,

direst tragedy, that

The
the

was ever

THE BRITISH

202

PULPIT.
" he bore our sins and carried our

acted against a person; not merely sus-

that

taining the negative character of inno-

sorrows."

moment let us pause ar J

There are those who will ony
perfidy of the Jews, the rancour of the contemplate Christ as an example of
high priest, every diabolical engine that excellence dying to perfect that excelingenuity could invent was brought to lence. But we must take a different view
bear upon him and yet we have here a of it. The nails that pierced his hands,
most striking illustration of the truth of and the spear that cleft his heart, were
" He maketh the wrath of not half so sharp as the frowns of his
Scripture.
man to praise him." So that, while they Father's countenance, which for us he
were giving vent to the rancour of their bore. The vinegar and the gall were not
breasts, they were carrying into effect the half so bitter as that cup of trembling
mysterious purposes of redeeming love. which he took from his Father's hand.

who was in possession of every

The malice of the betrayer, the

cence, but

virtue.

Here

for a

reflect.

He was

For,

Fourthly,

will remind

you

that he

every nerve
every part of his

wounds

rent with

quivered with agony

God for system was convulsed in death; yet this

Amidst the efforts drew not a single murmur from his lips,
of men who have opposed divine revela- while our sins wrung from his heart that
bitter cry, "If it be possible, let this cup
tio'n, none have been more frequent, nor
more disastrous in their consequences, pass from me."
my soul
than the endeavour to explain away the
O, my brethren, and thou,
design of the death of the Son of God. it was our sin that mingled the cup of
He died, say they, simply as a pattern of bitterness our sin nailed him to the
resignation, and by no means as an atone- cursed tree; our sin made the blackest
ment for sin. Why, then, was a person midnight of despair to kindle in his soul

was

slain really by the justice of

the sins of his people.

How
of such infinite dignity chosen 1
can we reconcile this view of the subject
with his previous conduct, and his conduct in his last moments ]
He had
evinced fortitude such as nothing could
bend
he had walked on the bosom
of the deep, and had calmed its tempests
into peace ; and yet, when brought to
the concluding scene of life, this fortitude
appears to be gone. Hear you not that
exclamation, "Father, if it be possible,
let this cup pass from me!"
Go to the
affecting scene of Calvary
see him bow
his head, and exclaim, in an agony of
;

"My

grief,

God,

thou forsaken
took,

meV

To

is

of

say that this

on the work of celebrating the

feel disposed to

We

Saviour's praise.
the

imitate

conduct

painter of antiquity

the

celebrated

who drew

a veil over

of

which his pencil was unable

that
tray,

and

left

which was not depicted.

that

to por-

the imagination to delineate

But

if

we

inspired writers celebrate the praise of

underrate

his

of his followers

human

sufller-

character for

candidates for the crown of martyrdom,

and sought death

Tliere

is

way he suflTered
one way of giving a

in the

only

solution to this moral

was
was

turing

who became

many

it.

whom we have pierced, while we

HI. Celebrate his praise. " Worthy
And
is the Lamb to receive power," &c.
before I enter upon the subject, I will
confess it rises before me in all its naked
majesty, and I almost shrink from ven-

and place him below the level

to

fortitude,

hast

then, and let

him

merely from the pains of were

nature, and the infirmity of

ing,

why

Come,

our eye affect our heart; let us look on

be silent, the very inanimate parts

of creation would start up, and the very
stones would cry out.
I would remind
you, however, of the mode in which the

rise

its

God,

rtiy

our sin pierced his side, and brought out

blood and water.

slain for sins not

slain

atonement

that

God, as an
the sins of his people, and

by the
for

he
his own that he
enigma

justice of

the

to

Son of God.

energetic
epithet,

They

expressions

and term

collect the

heap

on

most

epithet on

term; and their

ardour, rising above view, they can only

give vent to their feelings by the excla-

mation,
First,

"Worthy is the Lamb."

He is worthy of the trust and

ASCRIPTIONS OF PRAISE TO THE LAMB.

His worthiness thy

confidence of his people.

is

founded on the perfection of his charac-

and mediatorial work; for glorious

thought he combined in himself all that
is awful in the Godhead, with all that is
He unites whatattr^^tive in the man.
ever is invisible in power, and touching
in goodness, and melting in mercy, and
wonderful in wisdom, and unsullied in
holiness; and these qualities in the Godhead and in the man, are presented to the
delighted eye of adoring gratitude, as at
once the God, the Surety, and the Friend
of man. Were he only man, we dare not
ter

him; for, "Cursed is man who

trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his
arm." Were he only God, we dare not
approach him for d God out of a mediBut combining
ator is a consuming fire.
in himself the Godhead and the humanity,
trust in

203

ones been taken from thee 1 or

hast thou consigned to the tomb the wife
of thy bosom? or hast thou taken thy
little

station at the grave of those

most loved]

whom

thou

hast thou wept at the

or

of joys which can never

Art thou bowing thy head like
the bulrush to the storm?
The Lamb
that was slain is thine unchanging friend
he is a brother born for adversity
he is
recollection

'return?
,

the

friend

that

sticketh

closer

He combines

brother.

ful to save,

with

grave, and into

than

that is

into the

the realities of eternity

all

powersympathetic

that is

Are you looking down

to feel.

Do you

all

all

from the prospect of entering on the margin of the eternal world ?

Jesus is thy friend taking his station by
thy side, he declares that he is the resurrection and the life ; that he has the keys
our veneration for the one, and our confi- of hell and of death
opening the door,
dence in the other, compel us to reverence he bids thee go down, and promises that
and to love.
he will raise thee up again. In short, the
And I would remind you that we have Saviour, whose character we are endeanot only to trust him in his character of vouring to place before you, is worthy of
recoil

mediator, but in the perfection of his work

for

what he

people.

is

to

himself, he

is

to his

There

Delightful thought!

is

not a necessity within the verge of imagination

which any

in

in liberty

and in

is

an abun-

the

In every

health and sickness

and
bondage prosperity
adversity under every aspect of

situation of life

assembly can trouble, and

this

possess, but for which there

Lamb

the confidence of his people.

all

Lamb

is

in

in

in the

in

in

very agonies of death,

worthy your confidence and

was slain. your love.

remorse for
Secondly, He is worthy of the adoration
the past, and trembling with apprehension and praise of the redeemed spirits above.
for the future ?
Do you see angry omni- We are taught this from the context, in
potence rising before you and brandishing which we find that the redeemed spirits
dant source in the

Are yoa guilty

his destructive

comes your

that

stung with
sword

The Lamb

be-

friend; there is no guilt he

who

stand around the throne join in the

ame song.

In fact, the full excellence

cannot pardon, no impurity which he of the Saviour will never be known nor
cannot cleanse; and your sins shall, felt till mortality shall be swallowed up
through the ablution of his blood, be in life. Here the extent of our knowledge
as though they had never been.
Does beclouds our understanding; the remains
sin gain the victory over you, and, under of indwelling sin chill the ardour of our
the burden of an accusing conscience, do love; here we see through a glass darkly,
you drop the silent tear? The Lamb is but then we shall see him as he is, and
your friend Jesus has promised, "sin know him even as he is known. There
shall have no dominion over you;" he the veil that hangs over our spiritual
will supply you with unremitting com- vision shall be drawn aside, and the
munications of the supernal influences to eternal perfections of the Lamb that was
resist, and will crown you with success. slain shall stand open to your gaze, and
Are you the subjects of affliction ? Jesus every thing will combine to remind us of
Has the storm our obligations. If we look back to this
the Lamb is your friend.
beaten on your naked bosom has wave vale of tears, and carry the recollection
after wave rolled over your head ?
Have to the sins from which we have been

THE BRITISH

204

if we look to the eternity where

no sin shall annoy, and where we shall
associate with spirits all holy and blessed
as ourselves,
all behind and before, and
around and within, will combine to call
forth the feelings of rapture, and the
songs of eternal praise will fill the swelling choir, while it rises in peals such as
earth never heard, such as heaven cannot
contain: " Worthy is the Lamb that was

released

slain."

Thirdly,

He

is

worthy

the

adoration

of the purest inteUigerices nf the universe.

The angels are given into the hands of

Christ for the

church.

spiritual

When Jesus,

benefit

of his

the Lord of angels,

descended into this fallen world, there

was an angelic choir which announced
the glad tidings to the shepherds " Peace
on earth and good will to men." They
became his attendants through every scene
of his mournful history; they ministered
to him in the desert, gathered round him
in the path of wo, and, ignorant, perhaps,
of the design of his mission, wondered
when, and where, and how this mystic
scene would end. Their attendance increased as he approached the termination
of his course.
They supported his head
as he agoni/ed in the garden of Gethsemane; they clustered around him as he
hung upon the cross
:

"Around the bloody

tree

They press'd, viith strong desire,

The wondrous sight to see
The Lord of life expire;
And, had their eyes have known a tear,
They would have wept, and dropp'd it there.
"And when array'd in light,
He left his dark abode,
They haste, in rapturous flight,
Up to the throne of God
They waved around their golden wings,

PULPIT.

and united in singing,

"Worthy

is

the

Lamb."
Fourthly, He is toorthy of the finat
conquest of the lourld. To this he is entitled as the reward of his mediatorial work.

The path

of suffering

was

the

rofujl

to

honour, and from the cross he stepped

into the mediatorial

government of the

world for, because he " humbled himself

and became obedient unto death, therefore
God hath highly exalted him, and given
him a name which is above every name,
that, at the naine of Jesus, every knee
should bow, and every tongue confess
that he is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father."
see, yet, not all things put
under him; but, looking down the vale
of time, we contemplate the prospect
which the pencil of heaven, dipped in the
colours of its own rainbow, can alone
describe.
The dominion of the glory of
the Lamb shall be continued and ever
increasing; the renown of his deeds shall
flow down the tide of time, and be prolonged in ceaseless rapture, even aftei
this world shall have been doomed to
;

We

destruction.

And

is

there a heart, this morning, that

will refuse to strike a chord in this un-

earthly

choir?

insensible

that

Is

there

bosom

so

the excellencies of the

Saviour have no attraction] I ask you,

and pray that you may ask yourselves,
What think you of Christ ? Tell me
what you think of him, and I will tell
you what he thinks of you ; tell me what
you think of Jiim, and I will tell you
what you think of the world, of sin, of
the moral attributes of the Deity, of the
value of your souls.
This is the medium through which you

must discover these objects in a practilight; but if you do it without a

And struck their harps of sweetest strings." reference to the Lamb, sin will have no
terrors, and will awaken no disgust; the
And when the Son of God assumed the attributes of the Deity will present no
glories of the crown
when they beheld attractions your soul will lose its value
him placed again at the right hand of in your own estimation, and eternity will
God, they saw the attributes of Deity be destitute of all that is grand. I beshining forth in a radiance unimaginable
seech you to lay this to heart; try your
they saw creation developing itself in ten characters by this test. What think you
;

cal

thousand wonders, so as to illustrate the of Christ] Imperfect as this exhibition

power, and wisdom, and glory of Jeho- of his excellencies has been, you must
vah and again they struck their harps. discover, that if you have no estimation
;

ASCRIPTIONS OF PRAISE TO THE LAMB.

205

is a fearful indication that which have descended to us from Solothere is a spiritual blindness clouding mon, abundantly confirm the decision of
your faculties, and an awful obduracy in the Scriptures in naming him the wisest

for him,

it

your heart. I require no other proof of

the deep seated depravity of the soul,
than to ascertain that it is destitute of
love to Christ; and 1 require no more
decided proof of your being in a state of
safety, than by your disclosing such spiritual enlivening views as will compel
you to unite in the exclamation on which
we have been meditating, " Worthy is the

Lamb."
Again
is

alone

is

you are
port

recommend you

pardon

to study the

if

If you are guilty,

you are unholy, here

the fountain that can cleanse

if

in affliction, here alone is sup-

dying, through

obtain eternal

May

of taste,

and

majestic
Isaiah.

We

unfounded,
author of
says, that

sublime

productions

of

disdain to answer the bold,

ignorant

assertions

of

the

"The Age of Reason," who

"a school-boy should be pu-

nished for producing a book so full of

bombast and incongruity as the book
Isaiah."
A man who can thus
speak of a production so truly sublime,
upon general, we might say universal
consent, has forfeited all claim to criticism and he must feel something like
degradation who should sit down to answer so palpable a misrepresentation.
We pass over the words of Jesus Christ,
for surely it will be admitted that " never
man spake as this man." Luke rises
before us as claiming to rank high in
respectability.
His writings will appear
to any unprejudiced mind impressed with
the stamp of genius and of literature.
In

called
I

character of Christ.

here

He must be strangely destitute

who can read, unmoved, the

of men.

the

him alone can you

life.

Holy

Spirit write

on your

hearts, and on the tablet of your minds,

which has been delivered in accordance with his will ; and his name shall
have the praise for ever and ever,
that

WRITERS OF THE SCRIPTURES

GOOD MEN.

WISE

AND

Who

will call in question the understanding or the accomplishments of

Moses 1 Under what circumstances of

support of this position is it necessary to

do more than appeal to the short and
elegant preface to his gospel ; after which,
having once for all introduced himself,
he disappears, and the historian is lost in
" Forasmuch as many
the narrative 1

honour has his name been transmitted

through ages and generations, till, irra- have taken

in

hand

to set fcrth in order a

things which are

most surely believed among us, even as
they delivered them unto us, which, from
talents the most illustrious, he added all the beginning, were eye-witnesses and
Born at ministers of the word It seemed good to
the learning of the Egyptians.
the fountain head of literature, he drank me also, having had perfect understanding
copious draughts of the salutary stream. of all things from the very first, to write
Before him the celebrated lawgivers of unto thee, in order, most excellent Thediated with all

its

pristine glory,

it

has

declaration

of those

To a
reached even these latter days
mind far above the common standard to
!

antiquity, although

much

later than this

ophilus, that thou mightest

know

the cer-

renowned legislator, shrink away, as the tainty of those things wherein thou hast
stars which shine through the niglit fade been instructed."
The apostle Paul is a
first tints of the morning, and name too great to be passed over in silence.
hide their diminished heads when the His defence before Agrippa is a mastersun uncovers his radiance. In like man- piece of genuine eloquence and feeling
ner, all the writers of the Old and New and he who can deny it, after reading the
Testaments demand our respect as men sentence with which it closes, appears to

before the

of supereminent talents, and of solid wis- us most unreasonably prejudiced, and irredom. No one can read those psalms claimable by the force of evidence. " Then
are ascribed to the king of Israel, Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou perand imagine that David was a man of a suadest me to be a Christian. And Paul
common understanding. The fragments said, I would to God, that not only thou,

which

THE BRITISH

208

but also all that hear me this day, were

both almost, and altogether such as I am
His writings,
except these bonds!"
from first to last, discover an extraordi-

PULPIT.

lence,

and

to

what devotion, what love to God

man, are visible! What genuine

zeal did they manifest!

zeal distin-

guished from mere enthusiasm, both in

No good
nary mind, and a fund of intelligence its object and in its tendency
worthy a disciple who sat at the feet of man can read these writings such is
Gamaliel. Those who were unlettered their holy fervour and such their exalted
men, have no less a claim upon our piety without being made both wiser
Who does not per- and better Do you not discern in them
respectful attention.
ceive a blaze of genius and of talent hearts weaned from the present world,
!

bursting through

all

the obscurity of their

and counteracting the original narrowness of their education 1 They were

all wise men ; and their wisdom carried
with it the most decisive evidence that it
was from above it was " first pure, then
birth,

and

with the glorious prospects of

fired

futurity?

Do you

things an

integrity

not perceive in

ardent in the support of their cause, and

ready to suffer every extremity for ill

Yet

that integrity, and that ardour, min-

peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated,

full of mercy and of good fruits, without

gled with

and without hypocrisy."

have pronounced but a small part
of their eulogium, in saying that they
were wise men for talents are often
found united to vice; but they were also
eminently good men. They were men.
do not design to hold them up to
your view as perfect characters for such

continually insist upon these

partiality,

We

We

a representation would neither accord

with truth, nor agree with their pretensions

but they were as perfect as

in its most exalted state upon

The
seems capable of being.
charges against the character of David
have been heavy, but they have been as
ably refuted. The light which he enjoyed was small, compared with the
meridian glory which illumines our walk
through life. And he must have a hard
heart, and a most unreasonable con-

humanity,
earth,

science,

who

can urge David's failings

him with much severity, after

the contrition which he fdt and ex-

against

pressed.

Considered in connexion with

all

which made them

humility, temperance,

ness, goodness, and truth

Do

mild-

they not

things as

the genuine effects, the necessary conse-

quences, and the distinguishing characof their religion"?

unprejudiced person calmly
teristics

let
sit

any

down

to

where all their weaknesses appear, and where none of their

faults are extenuated, and he must conclude that they were good men
read their lives,

We

might, without departing much

from our plan, draw up, by way of contrast, the lives and actions of the principal adversaries of revelation, and oppose

them

to those of its first assertors.

We

think that the confessions of Rousseau

would look but

penitential
trite

when

ill

placed by the

of Peter,

tears

sighs of David.

The

the con-

or

licentious life,

and the gloomy death of Voltaire, would

be a striking contrast to the labours, the
patience, the perils, and, above all, the
triumphant expiring moments of Paul.
We shall not, however, pursue this
subject.
These lives will be contrasted

But we

the other and excellent parts of his cha-

another day.

these defects resemble the dark

spots which, to a philosophic and scrutinizing eye, appear on the sun's disk;

before the patrons of infidelity speak so

racter,

bitterly

of the

failings

will

add,

that,

of David, they

should place by his life the conduct of its

but which, to any unassisted organ of most strenuous and most distinguished
and the comparison would
vision, are swallowed up in the blaze of advocates
;

his glory.

In the writings and the lives

of the apostles, what piety, what benevo-

reflect

but

little

upon themselves.

honour and
Collyer.

little

credit

SERMON

XXII.

THE DUTY AND ADVANTAGES OF RELIGIOUS MEDITATION.

BY THE LATE REV.

"And Isaac

Whosoever

went

to

E.

IRVING, M.A.

meditate in the fields at eventide."

hath walked forth, like

the patriarch, about the eventide, into the

Gen.

The good and

xxiv. 63.

come

be-

fore us, dressed in sober colours, the

gay

ill

of the past

silent and retired places of nature, and divested of vain-glory, the evil divested
seen the dusky mantle of twilight falling of remorse ; every thing sobered down
upon the earth, must have felt stealing like nature in its twilight varieties of
over his own breast, a state of repose and dress, its splendours shaded, its defects
a sober shade of thought in harmony veiled, its asperities smoothed, and alto-

with the aspect of nature around him ; for

is a twilight of contemplation in
the soul, midway between the excitement
of action and the deadness of slumber
the stir of passion is at rest, and the
noisy calls of interest have subsided
and a pensive mood cometh on rich with
sober reflections
and the soul careth not
for a companion to express herself before
and if, by chance, she hath one by
her side, both she and her companion
steal into themselves, and though they
love each other dearly, they fear to intrude upon the sweet and unperturbed
work, which the soul is carrying on in
her sacred recesses and the soul being
left alone peruseth herself, and meditates
her condition, and the body keepeth harmony with the deep and solemn occupation of the mind by a slow and solemn
pace; and the eye to catch no disturbance
casteth itself upon the ground, and the
there

ear

is

witching influence of the solemn hour;

and our present occlipation cometh up for
judgment before us, and we meditate its
usefulness and its end
then errors are
not ashamed to confess themselves, and
the soul not averse to consider them, and
better purposes and resolutions are engendered.
The vanity of life now showeth itself without a preacher, its speedy
;

passage, like a morning cloud,

pointments, and

its

its

disap-

sorrows, and

all its

The soul becomes philosophiher own accord, she wonders at

troubles.
cal

of

her thoughtfulness, and the richness of

her reveries afford her delight

then she
ascendeth from herself to her Creator,
:

from earth

to

heaven

and,

haply,

to

assist her meditations, she strayeth to the

sacred habitations of the dead, or wandereth beneath the lonely ruins of ancient

temples, when the solemn moon, queen

conscious only to the stillness of of silence, stealeth forth to rule the dark-

nature, and

we seem

to

time flowing past us.

nature

gether softened and harmonized by the

so stripped of

is

hear the stream of ness of the night, and the stars come
When outward forth to attend her course. Then looking
its

gay colouring, up unto the heavens, to the moon, and to

the stars, which God hath ordained, we
feel with the psalmist, " What is man

and divested of its turbulent and noisy

agitation, and the body hath also attuned
itself

to

the

mood

of

the

soul,

then

that thou art mindful of him, or the son

most of man that thou visitest him?" and

profitable and delightful moods, which when we look upon the earth, falling
it ever partakes in this changeful being. asleep under
the watchful moon, the
207
Cometh

to the breast

some of

the

THE BRITISH

208

birds silent in their nests, and the beasts

on their grass}^ couches, and the

busy men silenced by

the grave

immortality

hum

PULPIT.

which place and association and

sur-

of rounding scenery can give for solemn and

sleep, the sister of devout thoughts

and

do grudge

then, if ever, the voices of the loss of that spirit of the olden time,
lift

themselves within the

bosom of man, and he feeleth his dignity

of nature, which the commerce of the

which, though leagued with superstition,

did so much for the honour and accommodation of religion, putting to

shame the

world obscureth, and he calmly looketh mercantile spirit of these days, which
forward to his change, and he loveth the findeth infinite means to waste on assemSaviour who openeth up life and immor- bly rooms, and club houses, and domestality beyond death and the grave ; his tic villas, and regal palaces, while it is
soul passeth upwards to the communion of content to do worship under the most
God, and in this recess from worldly meagre, unsubstantial shell work, which
turmoil, he hath the presence of divine will hardly bear the strife of the elethought, and a sort of intermediate state ments, much less the hand of destructive
between the activity of life and the rest time.
of the grave.
Even the heathens, both the philosoOur Saviour, in the days of his flesh, phers and priests, were alive to the consought the aid of silence, and solitude, nexion between retirement and religion
and shade, to hold communion with his between the mystery of twilight and
heavenly Father. After the bustle of the mysteriousness of things unseen.
crowds and severe occupation at Caper- The Pythagoreans, who brought philonaum, when all the sick of the neigh- sophy into Greece from eastern climes
bourhood had been brought unto him to the Druids, before whose fearful altars
be healed, and he had healed them, he our fathers bowed, followed their science
retired by break of day, he departed and and their religion beneath the canopy of
went into a desert place. So also, after shady groves and the sybils dwelt in
feeding the multitude with the loaves and solitary caves, and the ancient mysteries
fishes, he departed unto a mountain, and were transacted in darkness, and the most
spent the whole night in prayer.
So revered shrine of Jove was hid in the
also, during his residence at Jerusalem, he bowels of the desert, and the superstitions
taught in the temple by day, and at night which, from time to time, brought Israel
he withdrew to the mount of Olives. under heaven's scourge, were transacted
Showing to us that the infirmities of mor- in groves and under high places. All
tality which he partook of, required to be which being combined in the examples of
healed with these solacements of quiet and holy writ, and confirmed by every one's
meditation in order to act in concert with experience, proves it to be the voice of

nature, ever certifying that the things of

within him. So also we showed in one the world unseen are fostered bj' meditaof our evening discourses, that his ser- tion and retirement, and that these are
vants in the ministry have found their essential parts of a religious man's occustrength in such secret retirements from pation proving that no people have been
Our fathers, perceiving so ignorant as not to perceive that the
the busy world.
the fitness of this, did erect those ancient things of futurity are best reflected on
cathedral churches, monuments of their when the things of time are out of sight,
piety and art, and as it were a grove of and that the world to come ariseth before
stony arch work, where with the dead us as the world that is departed from us,

the higher faculties of the divine Spirit

beneath your feet, and monuments of the and that God cannot come where IMamworthy dead around the walls, and clus- mon or Belial or any god of this world is
tering arches over our head, with a dim exercising their sway ; which great truth
religious light, like the light of twilight, it doth only establish the more, that dearound you, the soul might partake a signing men have been able to take advansolitude ill the midst of populous and tage of seclusion and mystery, in order
noisy cities, and have all the advantages to dupe and deceive mankind. If Gad

THE DUTY AND ADVANTAGES OF REUGIOUS MEDITATION.

were not more easily apprehended in solitude than in open busy places, heathen
priests and Christian monks would not
have foregone the pleasures of life, and
retired to cells and privacies in order the

more

effectually to overawe the people

and there would have been no hermits in
caves of the earth, nor dervises upon the
;

too short to

them

209

our spirits are

every thing but active engage-

fulfil

all

exhausted
ment, or as active dissipation, is excluded,
and the mind never comes into that quiet
and repose which is necessary for reflection and meditation on its own estate.
Nature speaks and cries aloud against the
;

spoliation to which cities subject her, and

edge of deserts, nor any other form of so soon as we are able she prompts us,
mortification and concealment;
these for a part of the year, to escape out of
tricks of superstition are addressed to the midst of the unnatural excitement,
real propensities of the mind, otherwise and leave her to her own various moods
they would take no hold, and bring no and inclinations
or, if we allow not ourprofit; and the universality with which selves these occasional relaxations, and
these devices of Satan have succeeded, drudge it all the year, at our mechanical
doth only prove more strongly the uni- or commercial callings, it is in the disversality of the principle concerning tant hope
most fondly cherished though
which I discourse, that religion is essen- distant of being at length able to leave
tially connected
with retirement, and altogether these abodes of bustling men,
solitude, and meditation, and can hardly and imbosom our family in some sweet
be felt in full power apart from them.
rural retirement, where we may pass our
;

We

who live in cities are, in a great

degree, cut off from imitating the example of Jesus, and the patriarchs, and h ly

We

men.

cannot go forth into the field

at eventide to meditate; nor is there any
mount hard by, like the Mount of Olives,
to

which we can

lives in peace.

But, alas

desired time arrives,

that the

it

ere that

much

generally happens

mind, which cannot always en-

dure, hath lost the noble faculty of exciting

herself

excited

by

by thought,

or of being

nature's silent and changeful

when night fall- moods and being removed from what

And though no walls agitated and stirred her powers in popu-

retreat

eth upon the earth.

be around our city, and no barrier defend lous cities, she grows stagnant and corour going out or coming in, we are shut ruptive, and breeding melancholy and
in by its very extent, and cannot easily disquiet humour, seeks in self-defence
escape from its noise and occupation
the world's agitations again
and so it
and the twilight is chosen by layers Cometh to pass that the powers of reflecin wait to molest the goings out and in tion and meditation, and prayer and selfof the inhabitants, and temptation spread- examination, and heavenly mindedness,
eth its wiles for the unwary, and un- and whatever else is above the world, are
seemly sights are obtruded before our utterly lost, and the soul is bound down
eyes and so most of us are effectually and fettered to things seen and temporal,
hindered from the enjoyments of these and lost from almost every occasion of
meditative moods, which it is the object being acted upon by the creation or proof this discourse to recommend.
AVe vidence of God. The active world, which
live the most of us in business and bustle, was to be only her stage, hath become
activity is in the movement, and anxiety the city of her habitation
the body and
in the countenance of almost every face the things of this world which were
we meet through the live-long day ; the intended for the furniture and dress, with
interests and concerns of life infix and which she was to play her part, have beentwine with us, and will not be rebuked come the ornaments and only happiness
away from our thoughts and when an of the soul, the end and object of her
interval of leisure and relaxation hath very being, her consummation of good or
occurred, it is so forestalled by pastimes of evil.
and public amusements, and there are
I do not know how it is with other
outstanding so many engagements to gay men who endeavour to serve their God,
and social companies, that truly time is and keep him ever present in their minds,
Vol. II.27
82
:

THE BRITISH

210
but

can speak for myself, that the greatI find to such heavenward
communication, is the frequency of enI

est obstacle

gagements, and the invasion of business,

the one savouring of the other so much,

PULPIT.

with John in Patmos, I will unravel the

mysteries of the future, and hold com-

munion with the inhabitants of the world

unseen

want of such devout exercises

In

of

calm thought and undisturbed meditation

from her own precious cogitations; duties our city religion hath in it little mellow^
press one upon every side, which by rea- ness
it is formal, ceremonial, fashionason of their multitude, being only half ble, active, talkative, and worldly; and
discharged, the mind hath no pleasure to it hath little tenderness of feeling and
reflect upon when they are past, and so softness
it is shut up in doctrines which
many remain undone, and so many stand can only pass current from mouth to
over against the first unoccupied moment, mouth, which doctrines want expansion
that from morn to even, from the time we over the soul and spirit of human fellowthat both avail equally to divert the soul

leave our bed-chamber,

again,

what

is

till

we

enter

but a succession

it,

it

of

City congregations have, in geneno taste for the contemplative moods

of the mind, but call out for the strong
excitement of controversy, declamation,
ship.
ral,

waves succeeding each other, and wearing us out till sleep comes more delicious than activity, and oblivion more or passion something that may stir them
pleasant than consciousness, and dreams in the way after which they are accusmore happy, because more tranquil than tomed to be stirred by the occurrences of
;

realities.

Who, during

stretch his limbs

the

day,

can

upon his couch, and

every-day

life

the

must be cast

simplicity

of

the

and pastoral dusay, Now it is over and ended, I will ties foregone for a sort of religious agency,
sequester myself, I will give my mind the and business, and a commerce of relireins, and let it have its course 1
Who gion, to all ends of the earth, producing
can say. Now the world is shut out, in spiritual matters such a character and
nothing waits for me, and I wait for spirit as are produced in secular matters
nothing, let me have a space for medi- by the commerce of merchandise; and
tating my latter end, and considering the prayer is the exercise of a formal hour,
end and issue of my days 1 Now will I and hath its stated intervals; but there
make me glad with a little converse and wanteth the spirit of prayer which ever

communication with

my

Maker. I will
heaven; I will put
the earth under my feet, and I will meditate upon the providence of God, which
ruleth over all.
Now also will I escape
from the span of time, and the house of
my earthly tabernacle, and give my soul
up to thoughts of eternity and infinity.
With Job I will meditate the ancient of
days, and lose myself amongst the unsearchable wonders of his power.
With
David I will contemplate the history of
his loving kindness to every thing that
liveth, and call upon all things in all parts
of his dominions, to magnify his name, or
with Solomon, I will go to the depths of
wisdom, and discover the vanity of all
things beneath the sun
or with Paul, I
will endeavourto apprehend withall saints
what is the height, and the length, and
exalt

my

thoughts

to

pastor

off,

with God, and beareth the

commune with his holiness
for the domains of God and of
Mammon border so closely upon each
other in cities, that the noisome vapours
and exhalations of the one, hinder the
plants and fruits of the other from reaching their full growth, and putting on their
converseth

soul on high to
;

fairest

appearance.

men and

We ought, therefore,

whose lot is cast in

this populous city, and whose appointment from God it is, to do our offices
therein faithfully and well, to be upon
brethren,

our guard against these the temptations

of our dwelling place, and take precautions

that they do not destroy our

knowledge

and our fellowship with

God. For whatever we may gain is a
poor reward for the loss of those sweet
enjoyments which grow out of an exthe depth of the love of God in Christ amination of our ways, and a well orderJesus, which passeth knowledge ; or ing of them before the Lord ; and what;

of ourselves,

THE DUTY AND ADVANTAGES OF RELIGIOUS MEDITATION.

we may do outwardly for the sake of
our happiness, is nothing so important as
that which we may do inwardly, by a
right regulation of our desires and affections and passions, from which inward

erer

'

some object which

the eye with

with

is

always soliciting

presence, and the heart

its

winning charms.

its

211

This

call,

therefore, for a season of each day, is not

be prudently resisted by any one, saint

sinner, to whom I now speak ; and
selves to the incessant calls that accumu- though it be true that God, in calling sinners to repentance, doth generally use the
late upon us from without.
Therefore, I do recommend to my flock, ministry of the word in public places,
and to all who hear me, to make a stand the well timed counsels of religious
against the oppression of the world, how- friends, good examples, and other things
ever it may recommend itself, and to not met with in solitude ; yet when we
have of every day a clear and vacant are by these means called to thought, if
discipline

we

are cut off if

we

lend our-

to

or

space to themselves, to make of it what we take not our refuge in solitary meditaLet no pushing of business, tion, the seed will not take root, but will
they please.
as it is called, let no harvest of gain, let be plucked away by the angels of the
no promises of pleasure, nay more, let no evil one, or burnt up by heats and fires ot
desires to serve another, or to profit the pleasure, or choked by the cares and anx-

commonwealth,

or to superintend chari-

do and transact any thing however good and noble it may be, hinder
you of a period in every day, whereon
this world hath no claims, and wherein
you may do or not do, read or not read,
write or not write, but be yourselves
your own free masters to attend to those
interests in which none in the universe
save you yourself is concerned. Tliis
world, with all the good or ill, profit or
loss, within its continent, can nothing
avail to gain j^ou that other world in
which you are to be for ever miserable or
happy, seeing all ye make, and all men
ye oblige and serve, with all ye enjoy,
can ye stand in no stead to obtain an
abundant entrance into the joy of your
Lord, which, whenever it is obtained, is
obtained through solitary reflection on our
ways, and solitary prayer for mercy, and
ties, or to

solitary perusal of the Scripture, solitary

meditations, reflections, and resolutions.

Seeing these future things are so attained

ieties

of

seemeth

active
to

me

life.

And

besides,

it

a kind of degradation of

commit the vessels in

which our eternity is embarked to the
random influence of wind and tide, instead of steering by the guidance of our
own reason, and that better light which
God hath shed on us from above. This
interval of self-possession which I move
every one to inquire after, and desire and
ourselves, thus to

claim as his own right for God and eternity

and which no master would refuse

to his

that

it

return

most menial servant, if he knew

was sought for an end that would
him profit manifold this interval

hear me may possess

without trenching upon necessary action
or necessary rest, I would have you to

which

all

who

fill up
with those employments of the
mind that are intermediate between action

and rest, necessary to bring the one

gently on, and to invigorate and direct
the other to calm thought and meditation ;
I would have it devoted to the remember-

I ask of you, who are candidates

ing of the past, to the weighing of the
them, too much, when I ask you to have present, and to the forecasting of the
a season of each precious day to the exer- future. But, verily, though the mind
cise of such solitary avocation with the were to do nothing but lie upon its weathings of the world unseen. Although ried oars, and gather her strength again,
you may already be advanced in the it is her sacred right, and if you refuse it,
knowledge and enjoyment of these ever- she will lose sprightliness, originality,
lasting things, they will fade from your determination, and all the other noble

unto, do
for

possession if ye do not court them and

converse with them alone, even as love
fadeth when its object is never present or

oever thouorht

of,

or transferreth itself to

qualities of self-guidance, and fall into

the drudging regularity,

the

measured

pace and joyless occupation of slavery,

being truly a slave, not to another, per-

THE BRITISH

212

PULPIT.

weak and

haps, but to that great leviathan which

enslaves us all, the present evil world.

affected or fanciful brain

To

do but demonstrate the complete eradica-

favour these contemplative moods,

every one

who

let

can, escape into the soli-

tude of nature, and stretch himself at

ease amidst her soft and silent scenes ;

and

let

those to

whom

this is forbidden,

themselves to their private

chambers, and spreading before them the
book of God, give themselves largely and
liberally to consider all his wonderful
works and gracious ways unto the children of men. Their checkered life let
them review its wayward courses its
sinful wandering
its various escapes
separate

utter
unprofitableness ;
and over
against these set the bounty of God, his
its

long suffering, his special mercy, his evident working for our welfare, his naming
of us, his calling of us, his blessing us

with his grace, and the right hand of his

power, which hath brought us up hitherto
and hitherto defended us. Then in such
meditations God's Spirit will lake a part,
and prompt you to fall upon your knees
and render him thanks. You will pay
your vows unto the Lord, and devote be-

silly sentiment, the fruit of

;

in

tion of those finer parts of nature to

this

addresseth

discourse

an

which they

itself.

which
For

these contemplative moods, which I have

sought to turn to the service of religion,
are not the resting time merely of the

mind, but the breeding time then it is

and engenders new conceptions
and purposes then it alters, and amends,
and occupies itself with speculations
about the end and meaning of human life.
It here achieves its liberation from the
bondage of custom, and, away from noise
and folly, takes its fill of calmness and
freedom
and I will be bold to say, that
no man was ever blessed to design aught
beneficial to his kind, to change any of
the currents of custom, who did not devote and addict himself much to retirement and solitude and no man was ever
:

creative,

converted

without

from the error of his ways

much

private meditation, secret

Nay, nawhich

prayer, and self-examination.

ture speaks in behalf of the lesson

day endeavour

such
holy occupation shall be commanded to
fall upon you, and your visions of the
night shall not trouble you, and in the

speaks
man, woman, and
child.
What meaneth that jocund face,
and merry heart, and joyous spirit, with
which people leave the noise of the city
behind theml What means that roving
of the eye unwearied over the aspects of
the country]
Why do poets ever cull
their images of happiness and innocence
from the country 1 Why do we citizens

morning you

in

plant herbs and flowers around and in our

and when eventide

comes again it will bring with it its season of thought and reflection ; and new
revelations shall be made to you from
above, and your way well ordered and
sure shall shine more and more unto the

very houses'? Why do we ornament the

hangings and furniture of our chambers
with rural scenes
hang pictures of the
country upon our walls ]
is it, but

fore

him

the service of your future life

and the consolations of the Holy One shall

descend upon you, and with a peace that
passeth understanding you shall lay yourselves
fulness,

down
and

into the

sweet

shall

your uprightness

lap of

sleep

his

care-

after

awake and walk

I this

to inculcate

within the bosom of

"?

Why

that there are parts of our soul

which

call

simple form, which long'

perfect day.
after her silence and verdure, and which,
Now I know that your ignorant wits, feeling themselves ready to perish through
city bred, and by the excitement of the much bustle and occupation, do, by a descity rendered incapable of such medita- perate effort, serve themselves therewith,
tive moods, do, when occupation of busi- and will construct emblems of the counness ceases, look out for occupation of try everywhere, importing its producamusement, and after days passed in tions, planting bowers, and shady walks,,
offices, chambers, and counting-houses, and evergreens, in the very heart of the
think the evenings best spent in parties, most populous and living quarters of the
for nature in her

crowded assemblies. To town. Therefore, in the lesson and argusuch what hath been said will appear ment of this discourse I am borne out by
in theatres, in

THE DUTY AND ADVANTAGES OF RELIGIOUS MEDITATION.

the voice of universal nature

universal

except in a few, who, never escaping

during the time when soul and body are
conformed, out of the alley or lane in that
quarter of the city where they were born,
become a sort of fixture which cannot
bear to be removed. But what are such
unfortunate

people

they

are,

among

213

nance, and self-examination scared away,

which

hold to be the foundation-stone

and I myself,
;
endeavour, as God gives me the
ability, with sincerity and singleness of
heart, to lead this congregation, have
need of all my grace and fortitude to be
hindered from giving way to some of the
of religious edification

who

humours into which the consciousness of

such conditions as surround me would
shrubs of the city are to
Which regraceful trunks which display themselves betray a less resolute man.
buke, brethren, take not amiss those of
in their natural woodlands.
I know, moreover, that the persons of my congregation know me too well to
the city, showing the same prejudices in think that I would say any thing unkind,
another kind, will say that all this con- and they lament the evil as much as I can
cerning which I discourse matters nothing, do. I speak not of them I speak not
men, what

the

dwarfish

and stunted
the noble and

simply point to the

effect which city bustle and excitement
are regularly held, and the temple attend- have upon the most sacred service of
ed upon, and the weighty matters of the religion.
church regarded. But what, I ask, is the
O brethren, I have seen Sabbath
devotion that cometh not out of contem- sights, and joined in Sabbath worships,
plation of God's works ? or what is the which took the heart with their simpliprayer that proceedeth not from the city, and ravished it with sublime emoknowledge of our own hearts ] Truly, I tions. I have crossed the hills in the
have heard a peasant's prayer, the prayer sober and contemplative autumn, to reach
of a man who conversed with his God, the retired lonely church betimes, and as
and his own soul more informed with the we descended towards the simple edifice,
spirit of piety, broader and deeper in its whither every heart and every foot directreligious sentiment, and nobler in its ed itself from the country around, on the
ascriptions of praise and utterance of Sabbath morn, we beheld issuing from
humility, than would have supplied the every vale and mountain glen, its little
formality and cant of many city conven- train of worshippers coming up to the
And for the religious conversa- congregation of the Lord's house, around
ticles.
tions of cities, I hold them the most futile which the bones of their fathers reposed,
and unprofitable speculations which the near to which reposed the bones of one
places for display, for who had in cold blood fallen for his God,
world holds
affectation, for every thing but true-heart- at the hands of that wretched man, the
ed piety, whose right place is in tlie visit- hero of our northern romances ; bones oft
ing of the sick, and the comforting of the visited by pious feet, and covered on the
afflicted, and the upholding of the desti- hill side, where they lie with a stone
tute.
They are a sort of war of opinions, bearing an inscription not to be exceeded
a muster of parties, an idolatry of some for substance by any in that sacred mauephemeral creature dressed in his brief soleum, which containeth the ashes of
popularity, and distracting and not attract- those whom the nation delighteth to hoing pious and humble and heavenly nour. In so holy a place the people assemmoods. And for temple service, to go no bled under a roof, where ye of the plentiful
further than this of our own, which we south would not have lodged the porter
endeavour our best to sanctify, what an of your gate. But under that roof the
assemblage of staring varieties, prying people sat and sung their Maker's praise,
irreverent talkings, by which the pious " tuning their hearts, by far the noblest
provided the family devotion be regularly
attended to, and religious conversations

against any one,

and contemplative moods of the true wor- aim," and the pastor poured forth to God
shippers are put to flight, their virtuous the simple wants of the people, and
strains of conversation put out of counte- poured into their attentive ears the scope

THE BRITISH

214

of Christian doctrine and duty, and

having filled the hearts of his flock with
his consolations, parted with them after
much blessing and mutual congratulation,
and the people went on their way rejoic-

PULPIT.

pray unto your Father which is in secret,

and your Father which is in secret shall
reward you openly. Fear not the loss
of lime or of fortune, but retire to seek
the Lord, and he will light upon you the

what meaning there was in the light of his countenance, which shall give
you more joy than when your corn and
what piety what intelligence
The men were shep- wine and oil do most abound.
what simplicity
herds and came up in their shepherds'
ing.

whole

DEATH SCENE.

guise, and the very brute, the shepherd's

servant and companion, rejoiced

was

tx>

We

come

may

as well think of seeking a

a Sabbath
a Sab- refuge in the applause of men, from the
body and soul were condemnation of God, as we may think
equally refreshed, and all nature around of seeking a refuge in the power or the
seemed to sympathize in the unity which skill of men, from the mandate of God,

O,

at his feet.

bath of rest

it

the

breathed through the congregation ; and

the fruits of such Sabbaths were manifest.
The people were healthy, manly, and

that

shall depart from us.

never thought, when called

our breath

And have you

to the chamber of the dying man, when

and though the parish was of you saw the warning of death upon his
how its symptoms
large extent, there was not in all its bor- countenance, and
ders a house for dispensing fermented gathered and grew, and got the ascendBut ency over all the ministrations of human
liquors, those poisons of the land.
were the people stupid 1 yes, in what an care and of human tenderness, when it
over-excited citizen would call stupid, that every day became more visible, that the

happy

they cared not for courts or parliaments, for plays, routs, or assemblies, but
they cared for their wives and children,
their laws, their religion, and their God
and they sang their own native songs in
their native vales, songs which the men I
speak of can alone imagine and compose,
is

patient

was drawing

that nothing in the

to

his close, and

whole compass of

art,

any of its resources, could stay the

advances of the sure and last malady,
have you never thought on seeing the bed
of the sufferer surrounded by other com
or

forters than those of the patriarch, (Job,)

and from whom we citizens have to be when from morning to night, and from
served with songs and melodies too, for night to morning, the watchful family sat
we can make none such ourselves. Now at his couch, and guarded his broken
these comparisons mislead, and I fear I slumbers, and interpreted all his signals,
may show unkindness, but I mean none and tried to hide from his observation the
I mean only the statements of truth, that tears which attested him to be the kindest
you, my friends, may be moved to take of parents, when the sad anticipation
thought of these matters, and set your spread its gloomy stillness over the
time in order before the Lord, and stand household, and even sent forth an air of
for leisure and liberty against the mani- seriousness and concern upon the men of
fold invasions to which we are exposed. other families; when you have witnessed
For until you do so your religion will not the despair of friends, who could only
prosper your accounts with God and turn to cry at the spectacle of his last
your con- agonies, and had seen how little it was
eternity will remain unsettled
your soul that weeping children and inquiring
science will remain confused
unoccupied your religious fruits imma- neighbours could do for him, when yoa
It is as necessary as activity and have contrasted the unrelenting necessity
ture.
This world calls for the of the grave, with the feebleness of every
occupation.
latter, and I have thought it my duty as surrounding endeavour toward it, has the
your pastor to call for the former. Re- thought never entered within you How
how
fuse it not for the sake of your spiritual powerless is the desire of man
Commune with yourselves sure and how resistless is the decree of
well-doing.
Chalmers.
in secret.
Enter into your closets and God
;

SERMON
A

MESSAGE FROM

BY THE REV.

And Ehud

'

XXIII.

said, T have a

RAFFLES,

T.

message from God unto

or

sure that

sembly

to

God had especially commisaddress us you were

you
to

if

work some miracle

in order to

confirm

your high authority, we should listen to

you this evening with the most profound
reverence, and with the deepest awe
we should hang upon your lips with the
utmost attention, and drink in your words
with avidity as you uttered them ; but we
see before us a

ourselves

you

man

of like passions with

are attended

by no signs

is nothing
about you this evening beyond your ordinary appearance in the house of God
what mean you then, by saying, " I have

of divine inspiration;

there

thee."

two only

And perhaps you are ready to say, if

we were certain you had if we were
sioned

GOD.
D.D.

Judg.

in the

iii.

20.

congregation

have

not a message to a select part of this as-

You

have a message

to

you

are all equally interested in

all.

it

have a message to each of you in your

turn; and 0, that conscience were alive
and faithful, to apply that to each indiAnd here
vidual which belongs to him
I am free to confess, I feel apprehension
and alarm, lest the message should be
lest some should pervert it,
misapplied
and wrest it to their own destruction^
lest some should take what does not belong to them, and reject what is obviously
addressed to them lest what is designed
to check the presumption of this man,
should only feed the despair of that but,
however much the message may be mis!

Have
a message from God unto thee
you, indeed, had any immediate commu- interpreted, misapplied, scorned or renication from heaven concerning us ] No. jected; though it should prove to some
Have you any new revelation to deliver the savour of death unto death, in the deto us 1 No ; and yet, " I have a message livery of it, I dare not forego a faithful
from God unto you :" that message is in and a full disclosure; I must discharge
this book that many of you the solemn trust committed to me, and
this book

book that many

this book that
some have even dared to pronounce a
fiction and a fraud
but a book which,
notwithstanding all the opposition, and
scorn, and contempt by which it is encompassed, contains a message from the
Most High to the human race ; and that
message, it is my duty this evening, as
far as I myself understand it, and as far
neglect and despise

this

of you hate and oppose

look up to

Him who

for the gracious

searches the heart,

influences of his

Holy

apply what belongs to each individual as I advance.

that you
I have a message then
may listen a message from God unto
you. You are acquainted with the hisSpirit, to

tory with

which

are connected.

the words of my text

Eglon was a haughty

tyrant, and a cruel persecutor of the peoas our limited time will allow, to deliver ple of God; and Ehud was raised up to
be their deliverer, by executing the venunto you.
" I have a message from God unto geance of incensed Heaven upon the
you." And I have not a message to one tyrant. In order the more eflfectually to

215

THE BRITISH

216

PULPIT.

secure his purpose, he sought a private

interview with the monarch, on the
ground that he had a solemn messaore to

death than you]

The unwary king, thrown off his

guard by the secret influence of Heaven
that was thus hurrying him onward to

and

hinil

his

own

man
fore

Single out the oldest

and set him beme, count the number of his years,

in the congregation,

will

venture to say, that some

young person

in this

assembly may die

young person may

you not by name, it is not

before him, and that

commanded his ser- be you. I call

Then said Eliud, "I for me to do it; but if those books in
message from God unto thee ;" which are written human destinies were
destruction,

vants to

retire.

have a
and rising up to receive it with a reve- opened to me, doubtless I might be able;
rence that might put many of us to the but the uncertainty that rests upon it
blush, Ehud caught the prey in the snare should warn you to serious thought; and
he had laid, and plunged his dagger into the consideration that it may be^ you,
the monster's heart.
He had indeed a should have all the effect of certainty in
message. He was in his summer par- stirring up your minds to deep and inthe scene of his luxurious retire- tense consideration after the things that
ment, the scene of his enjoyment and re- belong to your peace. For have you not
pose, but which was suddenly converted seen many, young as you are, gay and
into his sepulchre ; and the bloody tyrant, vigorous as you are, bidding fair for life
without warning, without preparation, as you do, suddenly cut off by fell diswas summoned to appear at that tribunal ease, and hurried prematurely, as men
where the oppressor and the oppressed are wont to say, " to the house appointed
must stand. O, my friends, I have no for all the living?" But is not the seasuch message from God to you happily, son of youth, you ask, the season of
I am not commissioned to execute the hilarity and mirth]
Is not this the pevengeance of the Most High upon any
riod of festivity and enjoyment ]
And
I have no weapons of destruction in my would you abridge the period of felicity,
hand I have the sword of the Spirit, too short, alas! at best? Far be it from
and I pray God that it may be quick and me to do this ; I am not old myself. Far
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged be it from me, my friends, to abridge you
sword. Most anxious am I, that the ar- one solitary emotion that is worthy the
rows I may be enabled to draw from this name of pleasure, of one solitary pursuit
quiver to-night, may be sharp in the heart that can yield you satisfaction and real
of the king's enemies, for " I have a mes- enjoyment.
But the pursuits and enjoysage from God unto you."
ments of youth are not of this descripIn looking round upon this vast assem- tion ; and it is concerning them that I
bly, I know not where to begin. I would have a message from God unto you. Will
distribute you into various classes, that you listen, then, while I deliver it ] " Rethere may be the greatest distinction and joice, O young man, in thy youth, and
precision in my address.
I will address let thy heart cheer thee in the days of
you, then, according to your several ages, thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy
stations, states of mind, and the varieties heart, and in the sight of thine eyes but
of your character.
know thou, that for all these things God
I shall address myself,
will bring you into judgment."
Now, it
lour,

First,

And
you

To THE YOUNG
may be, my dear

is

it

friends, that

start astonished

you.
aged,

You fancy
who are

that I begin with

should begin with the
just stepping into the
I

grave; or, at least, with those who are

more advanced in life ; because you think,
that as they are nearer death, religion is
of more concern to them than to you.
But how do you know they are nearer

as if while

you

are mustering vour

strong arguments, while you should indulge in this or that appetite, this or that
passion, this or that scene of gayety and

pleasure

it is

as if in the midst of all,

God were to address you and

to say
Go,
go to the scenes of gambling and of
gayety go to the ball-room, to the card-

table,

to

the theatre

go

frequent the

go

tavern, the cock-pit, the horse-race

A MESSAGE FROM
mingle with the thoughtless and the gay
associate with whoremongers, and
adulterers, and gamblers, and duellists,
and sabbath-breakers, and blasphemers
go drink deep of the intoxicating bowl
imbibe their awful spirit, copy their
hideous character, pursue their objects of

go

his

GOD.

217

righteousness, and

all

other things

added unto you." " What shall

it profit a man, if he should gain the
whole world and lose his own soul; or
what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul ?" Now, I beseech you, ponder
shall be

moment

for a

the important points of this

message which the Almighty presents to

ingenuousness, all the simplicity, all the your consideration. If you are absorbed
comparative innocence of youth is lost in the cares and perplexities of life, and
and absorbed in the art, and cunning, and the deceitfulness of riches, how can the
intrigue, and desperate hardihood and good seed grow and flourish in your
Go but take this heart 1 If you are principally concerned
callousness of vice.
let in accumulating the wealth and honours
consideration with you as you go
this ring in your ears in the midnight of the world, how can you expect the
" For all blessing of God ? And if you should
revel and the mazy dance
these things God will bring you into accumulate wealth to an unexampled dejudgment." What! say you, will he gree, what will it avail you if you have
bring me into judgment for this trifle'? obtained it at the expense of your eternal
Will he censure me for this amusement ] interests'? O ye that sigh for wealth,
Will he condemn me for that innocent that are eager to be rich, that pant after
enjoyment 1 It is not for me to vindicate the mansions and the trappings of the
the Almighty in the presence of his crea- great, think of him " who was clothed in
attachment,

till

the mildness, all the

all

tures

God

words

deliver his

am bound

to

do

will bring

"For

you

into

this is all I

all

these things

judgment."

leave conscience to be the interpreter

this

is

night

all

your preacher has

the rest shall be done

do

to

by the

to-

silent

in your own bosom

and if, after
having fixed your eye on that great white
if,
after having these flaming
throne
records unfolded to your view
if, after
having contemplated the dread assembly
they gather round you if, after having

preacher

doom

listened to the dreadful

they thun-

purple and fine linen, and who fared

sumptuously every day." O how must
the answer of Abraham have agonized
his bosom, when he requested that he
would send Lazarus to dip the tip of his
finger in water to cool his tongue, torHow
mented with the infernal flame
must it have given teeth to the gnawing
worm, and fury to the unquenchable fire!
" Son," said he, "remember that thou in
thy lifetime receivedst thy good things,
and likewise also Lazarus evil things
but now he is comforted, and thou art
!

tormented." Think of that rich voluptuary, that wealthy idiot, that vaunting
go, infatuated
cle
wretch, in the Scriptures, who made
go, till
himself sure of life, because he had had
attained
and, when he surveyed
hardi- success in trade
hood, a more desperate callousness, than his barns and coffers filled with plenty,
is usual at your tender age
go, and, if said to his soul, " Soul, take thine ease,
it were possible, I could weep over your
eat, drink, and be merry ;" but what was
delusion tears of blood
his consternation and horror, when sud-

der in your ears

if,

after all,

you

will

nothing can stay you but miragograce

of
youth, bent

on your own destruction

you
have
a more determined

go

HAVE A MESSAGE FROM GoD UNTO YOU denly a voice addressed him, " this night
WHO ARE IN THE MERIDIAN OF LIFE.
this night thy soul shall be required
I

You who
business
I

engaged

in

its

active

ye merchants, ye tradesmen,
message
from God

have a

"Be
in all

make
^'

are

unto you.
anxiously careful for nothing; but
things by prayer and supplications
your requests known unto God."

Seek ye
Vol. II

first

28

the

kingdom of God and

of thee !"

Look

at

the splendid ban-

how
quet of the guilty Belshazzar
gay how luxuriant how they give the
!

reins to

their

unhallowed revelry, and

call for the sacred vessels that

they

may

But ah
give a zest to their debauch
what is the cause of that awful silence
!

THE BRITISH

218

PULPIT.

Why

do the knees of the monarch smite the twelfth is about to strike, and you
one against the other] Why is his eye are not ready for the coming of your
The young
What infatuation
so intently fixed upon yonder walH Lord.
There are the fingers of a man's hand know they mat/ die soon, but you know
writing his irrevocable doom, even in the you must, and still you are unconcerned;
midst of his gayety and splendour; and yet while your frame decays, your day
it is an accepted time
that night he sunk from his throne, never of grace lingers
to rise again, till summoned to the tribu- still
your case is melancholy, but it is
not desperate.
The parable of the lanal of his insulted Maker.
Better have a life of toil and obscurity, bourers in the vineyard, and the case of
of meanness, wretchedness, and poverty, the dying thief, will not allow us to dewith a title to heaven at the last, than spair even of you. There is an arm that
!

enjoy the splendour, and wealth, and can snatch you from perdition, as the
luxury of a court, and sink into hell. jaws of the gulf are closing upon you.
Ye men of business, you are upon the But what a dreadful crisis have you
brink of an abyss, you are perpetually reached
How do heaven and hell hang
within a vortex that has drowned multi- upon every moment of your fleeting time,
There is
tudes in perdition.
look up to him and every breath you inhale!
whose grace alone can deliver you, and hope, but, perhaps, it will not be long; a
!

make you

few years at most, and, perhaps, but a

few days, and you may be numbered with
"Awake,
I HAVE A MESSAGE TO THE OLD AND the redeemed or the damned.
GRAY-HEADED.
then, thou that sleepest, and arise from
You have passed, perhaps, the bound- the dead, and Christ shall give thee
ary line of human existence, or you are light."
drawing near to the expiration of your
But there are several stations into
threescore years and ten.
What is the which I shall divide this congregation,
answer of God to you 1 " The hoary and to whom I have a message from
head is a crown of glory, if it be found God.
in the Avay of righteousness."
Is that
I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM GoD UNTO THE
honour yours?
Then I venerate your RICH.
hoary hairs, I respect your accumulated
No man's station, however exalted, no
years ; yours is the wisdom of experi- man's wealth, however prodigious, can
ence, yours is the knowledge of God
possibly exonerate him from receiving it.
and, doubtless, if you could unfold your The monarch upon his throne
the judge
history, it would be replete with lessons upon the bench
the merchant upon the
of instruction.
God has led and guided exchange, reject it at their peril. What,
you from your youth until now, and he is say you, no message of congratulation
saying, "I will never leave you, I will upon my success in trade, my increasing
never forsake you." " Though you walk wealth, my extensive possessions 1 None.
through the valley of the shadow of But I have a message of warning;
death, I will be with you, my rod and " Charge those that are rich in this
my staff shall strengthen you ;" and you world, not to trust in uncertain riches,
may say, "cast me not off in the time of but in the living God." It is a message
old age, forsake me not now that my of caution.
" How hardly shall they
strength faileth me."
But are you an that have riches enter into the kingdom
aged sinner, a hoary-headed trifler, scoff- of God." It is a message of admonition.
ing at eternity, with one foot in the What says the wise man, " Wilt thou
grave ? Alas
alas
I have a message set thine eyes upon that which is not?"
from God unto you " The Judge stand- Is not? say you. Have I not my wealth
spirit,

diligent in business, fervent in

serving the Lord.

eth

at

door."

the

quickly, and

render

unto

shall be."

my

"Behold

reward
every man

The

is

with

as

his

eleventh hour

is

come

me

to

work
past,

in

my

coffers, in

did mansion

my

lands, in

my

splen-

and estates? Heajr again

his declaration, " Riches make to themselves wings, and flee away as an eagle

A MESSAGE FROM GOD.

219

with you," said he, "but me ye have

you are not to make your riches your not always." By doing good to the
trust.
There is nothing in which men poor of his flock, his people are regarded
are more disposed to pride themselves, as doing good to him ; " and a cup of
than in their wealth. Full coffers and cold water given in the name of a discian empty head, splendid trappings and a ple, shall in no wise lose its reward."
ragged morality, outward magnificence Consider, my friends, from how many
and inward misery, are often found to- temptations you are exempted by reason
gether; but if men properly considered of your poverty ; and remember, likewealth, instead of congratulating them- wise, that the greatest good, for the most
selves upon the possession of it, they part, has been accomplished by the poor;
would look upon it with apprehension and it has been so from the beginning.
and dread. To whom is the gospel It was the poor wise man that saved the
preached emphaticallj' to the rich ] No city. The Redeemer of the world was
but to the poor.
Who, for the most poor, " and had not where to lay his
head." The first apostles and preachers
part, receive the gospel
the rich ] No
but the poor.
Of whom is it said that it of the gospel were poor. The great reis easier for a camel to go through the formers from popery were chiefly poor.
eye of a needle than for them to enter They had none of the attractions, none
of the powerful influences of wealth.
the kingdom of God
the poor'?
No
Was the Redeemer of Our faithful ministers and missionaries
but the rich.
mankind wealthy ] No poor. Are riches are, for the most part, poor; and it is
No but the from the humblest walks of life that our
the proper soil for piety?
most formidable obstruction to its growth. Sunday-school teachers are supplied, who
Do they tend to make us aspire after have proved so great a blessing to the
heaven] No their tendency is to attach world. Who, then, shall despise the
us to the earthf<they endear every thing poor? W^ho shall trample on the pious
He touches the apple of the Reto the Christian which he ought to dis- poor ?
regard.
Has not God shown his con- deemer's eye, and tramples under his feet
tempt of riches by giving them to the the Son of God.
meanest and the most despicable of the
There are also various states of mind
human race? who, then, that thinks as which press upon my notice, and I have
he ought, would wish to have this splen- a message from God unto these.
Who would wish to
Are any of you skeptical? I have a
did encumbrance ?
surround himself, on his way to heaven, message from God unto you.
This is an age of abounding infidelity.
with these gaudy encumbrances, to have
weights upon his garments, in a race so The most daring and monstrous opinions
are cherished and expressed with unhesimomentous, though consisting of gold?
tating lip, and unblushing countenance.
I HAVE A MESSAGE TO THE POOR.
Are you poor and pious ? Then yours This is an age oi free inquiry, as it is
" Blessed called. The epithet licentious would be
is the kingdom of heaven.
are the poor in spirit, theirs are durable far more appropriate for this freedom of
riches and righteousness."
How many inquiry is an abandonment of the oracles
considerations are there, which should of God, for the oracles of Paine and Vol-

towards heaven."

You

perceive, then,

tend to reconcile you to your poverty

" The poor have the gospel preached unto
!

them."

The promises

of Scripture are

taire
and is there any one here who is
disposed to follow the alluring and fascinating path of these pretended emanci:

The pators of the human mind ? Are you

messengers were directed to go forth into sincere ? Do you really wish to ascerthe lanes and alleys of the city, and to tain the truth ? I have a message from
bring in the poor to the feast which the God unto you, " If any man will do
Christ committed his will, he shall know of the doctrine
rich had despised.
the poor to the consideration of his whether it be of God ;" that is to say,
"The poor ye have always if any man sincerely desire to ascertaia
church.

principally applicable to the poor.

THE BRITISH

220
God

the mind of

in the Scriptures, that

PULPIT.

are not certain that these oracles are di-

he may yield his spirit to the authority vine, and what more evidence would you
Do you want mathematical dethat he may submit his life to have?
of God
It were madness to ask it
that he may obey monstration ]
the rule of his word
The truth of the
all that it enjoins
that he may be all upon a moral subject.
that it requires
that is the man who Scriptures is not to be established by
shall ascertain the truth, and be emanci- lines and figures, as you m.ay ascertain
What evidence
pated by its freedom. But it is not the quantities and powers.
man who comes to speculate who comes do you wanti Is it evidence of testito gratify an idle curiosity
who comes mony'? You have it; and, I venture to
to idolize his reason
who comes with say, there is more evidence of the Scriptures than of any other history on the
all the pride of his unsubdued nature
who comes cherishing the love of sin face of the earth. An evidence of all
that is not the man who shall know the possible variety, that has undergone the
truth
he comes not with a proper spirit; test of the closest scrutiny, and has
he insults the glorious Author of truth by arisen with accumulated force from every
the disposition he brings, and God will effort that has been made to undermine it.
not honour such dispositions in its dis- What evidence do you want] Is it the
covery.
Be assured that infidelity has evidence of prophecy 1 You have it.
far more to do with men's hearts and The Jews, at the present day, are a
lives than it has to do with their heads. living and a mighty argument in proof of
There would be fewer infidels, fewer the truth of the Scriptures. They are
skeptics, if the Scriptures were more exactly now, what, ages ago, the inspired

indulgent to the passions of the

human

What

oracles declared they should be.

wonder not if men reject evidence do you want 1 Is it the evithe gospel, whose pride is unsubdued
That evidence was
I dence of miracles]
and

heart;

W'onder not that

gospel, and say

men should
it

turn from the

a fiction, that they

is

are resolved to cherish their lusts, and

sink or

swim with

the world.

No

it

He that will embrace the

gospel must take up his cross ; must
deny himself, if ever he would win
cannot be.

Christ.

He must

bring

all

his reason to

He must be
contented that the dim taper of his intellect shall be absorbed in the mighty blaze
of this meridian sun.
He must turn
the authority of revelation.

given in the

first

the Christian system, and, having

plished

it, it is

who shall follow

they may believe a

the condition of those

done away;

accom

for if mira-

had continued to the present hour,

they would have ceased to operate in the
cles

way of miracles. The rising of the sun

to-morrow morning will require as much
the omnipotent power of God as the resurrection of a dead man from the tomb
but that ceases to be a miracle, because
it has continued without interruption from
the beginning of the world to the present
hour; and, therefore, it has become one
of the fixed laws of the material universe
and so, if miracles had continued till
now, the long lapse of years would have
confirmed them as the laws of the intellectual and material universe.
W^hat,
then, do you require?
Are you still so

from the world and embrace the Saviour,

and be what he will have all his followers
But take care, I beseech you, lest
to be.
in your fancied love of the truth
lest in
your ardent desire for the emancipation of
the human mind from the fetters of superlest in your fondness for specustition
lation, you press onward until your heart
is cold and callous, and yours becomes infatuated as

ages of Christianity, in

order to establish the divine authority of

to say, unless I see a

cle I will not believe.

man

mira-

Let him raise a

life, and I will give him

have a message from God
unto you." " They have Moses and the
Is YOUR MIND DEISTICAL 1
prophets, they have Christ and his aposYou want more evidence to prove that tles, if they believe not them, neither
this holy book is the word of God
you will they be persuaded, though one rose

strong delusions, that

and so be damned because they have

pleasure in unrighteousness.

lie,

dead

credit.

"

to

A MESSAGE FROM
from the dead ;" and

GOD.

221

DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

prove that
At length, however, "when a convedeclaration true. Was not Lazarus raised
from the dead in the presence of the Jews ] nient day was come that Herod on his
Did they not see him pale and ghastly, birth-day made a supper to his lords,
and silent in the tomb? Did they not high captains, and chief estates of GaliI will

when the daughter of the said

Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased
Herod and them that sat with him, the
And yet these very men resisted the Sa- king said unto the damsel. Ask of me
viour, denied his Messiahship, thirsted whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it
It may be here observed, that
for his blood, and vi'ere not at rest till thee."
they exulted in his dying groans. " You public festivities are generally seasons of
hear the voice of Jesus, at whose fiat he
1
Nay, did they not themselves
assist in unbinding his grave-clothes ]

lee; and,

arose

know

not

what

is sufficient

God

spirit

you are of." There temptation

evidence to justify the ways

men

your condemnation, if,

you reject him.
Do I SPEAK TO ANY WHO ARE DESPONDING AND PENITENTIAL 1
What a sudden change what a deI turn from the hardlightful contrast!
ened and the impious to the penitent and
the humble, from the proud and callous
to the broken in spirit.
You feel the
burden of your guilt, you mourn over the
aggravation of your crimes ; you think
your case, perhaps, even beyond the reach
of the Saviour's love ; but you are mistaken.
You have not yet fathomed the
depths of his grace, the length and
breadth of his ability to save. You have
of

to

in

after all this evidence,

so speak,

for, in
is

fire

those revels,

added

to

if I

may

gunpowder;

and the dancing of a young female before

so large an assembly, and before such a

company, seems to have in

nature of an immodest act.
ever this

may

be, (for I

it

the very

But, how-

know

the world

of fashion and sensuality will be ready to

dispute the point with me,) I say, however

may be, she bewitched Herod, and

caused him to exclaim, like a man who
had lost his senses, " Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee;"
and, as though this were not rashness and
extravagance enough, " he sware unto
this

her,

Whatsoever thou

will give

it

kingdom."

shalt ask of

me,

thee, unto the half of

" And she went

What

forth,

my
and

not scaled the heights to which his mercy

said unto her mother,

can reach. " I have a message from God

unto you." " Come, and let us reason
together, saith the Lord though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be white as wool
though red like crimson, they shall be as
" Look unto me, and be ye
snow."
' My
saved, all ye ends of the earth."
thoughts are not as your thoughts, neither
are my ways as your ways, saith the
Lord." " Wherefore he is able to save,
even to the uttermost, all that come unto
God through him, seeing he ever liveth
to make intercession for us."
And now,
blessed Jesus, gather this congregation
impart thy grace, that they may feel the
meltings of thy love ; woo and win them
to thee, and may they be thine in that
glorious day, when thou shalt come to be
admired by thy saints, and glorified in

and she said. The head of John the Baplist,"

You see here, that lust paves the
way to murder ; that it will prefer even

so horrid a gratification as

this

to

the

and that the revenge

will inspire, even in a woman, will

half of a
it

kingdom

shall I ask

stick at nothing,

she

came

however

in straightway

" And

horrible.

with haste unto

the king, and asked, saying, I will that

thou give me by and by, in a charger, the

head of John the Baptist." Prodigious
Give me in a charger
such a dish as
this to be added to the festivity
And
shall a young damsel have the heart to
bear such a request as this, and shall she
go " with haste to deliver it to the king V*
!

My

dear hearers, you see here the curse

of a wicked mother

daughter w^ho had

You

here see the

countenanced the
all them that believe.
My message is adultery of her parent, now countenancing
delivered; may I have to rejoice in its her in murder, and acting with her in the
success, and your souls be saved in the business. You see a hardness of heart,
day of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
a cruelty of disposition, in this young
first

t3

THE BRITISH

222

PULPIT.

complished, and hrilliant, remember, SO

Herod himself for the iiistory proceeds, were Herodias and her daughter. But
' And the king was exceeding sorry yet, tiie question is, what were these idols in
for his oath's sake, and for their sakes fact? what were they in reality ? Why,
splendid sepulwhich sat with him, he would not reject painted putrefactions
person, which, no douht, shocked even

chres

her," not considering that rash and un-

Give me," (said

lawful promises are far better broken than

this

wicked young

"I will give thee (says Hekept not considering that he was a just woman)
and holy man, and that he had frequently rod,) to the half of my kingdom. ask !"
" Give me,'" (says she) "What] more
heard him gladly, from a conviction of
splendid apparel 1 a more magnificent
the truth of what he said.
I say, Herod
a retinue more superb and imdid not sufficiently call these things to palace ]
mind, or is it possible he should not have posing? a better opportunity of distinrecalled his order]
The truth is, my guishing yourself as an accomplished
brethren, you can have no hold of a man young woman ; a higher rank; a greater
who is the victim of a criminal passion. mark of my favour than you have yet re-

Sin

is

a net which so entangles a man,

he cannot even help himself. A

point of false honour has destroyed its
thousands not only in that day, but in
every day
in our own day particularly.
A victim of sin, a slave of the devil (to
speak as plain as I can, where I ought to
speak plain) is implicated in a quarrel
about a dog or a harlot, and then a point
of false honour is to be settled, and he is
to be dragged into the field, to put his life
and soul into jeopardy he is to destroy
that

himself, or his friend, in order to settle a

point of false honour.

ceived

head,

swimming

"

No

want

man's
Yes, thus
she demanded
that her mother and she
might, if they pleased, toss with their
profane hands the head of that man who
was sanctified from the birth who was
" a burning and a shining light," who was
seeking their salvation who was standing
I

in

a dead

blood !"

as the harbinger of the

" Let

me

and

Sun of righteous-

my

mother have that

man's head swimming in blood that we
may treat it with scorn, and show that
we have got rid of our chief disturber,"
" What are you not, as a damsel, as a
young woman, shocked at such an idea;
would you not shudder to look upon such
a spectacle, as the head of John the Baplist swimming in blood, in a charger?"
" Give me the head of John the Baptist
in a charger !" As if she had said, " I will
demonstrate to you that sin can rage in
the fairest bosom
I will show you that
hell can burn high under all these brilliant
trappings and accomplishments!"
ness.

The passage before us strongly instructs

us as to the nature and real character of

men are ready to

body, soul, and reputation.
I say, we are taught by this passage
the real character and value of those idols
for which men are ready to sacrifice body,
soul, and reputation ; and a prominent instance of this stands before us
one of
the world's idols
The daughter of HeAh my dear hearers, if the spear of
rodias danced before Herod, with his
high estates, and lords, and captains, and Ithuriel, as the poet describes it, could
exceedingly pleased him
nay, quite in- touch many of the distinguished and adfatuated Herod, or else what could have mired characters that the world looks up
induced him to make such a promise, that to and idolizes, what transformations

those idols for which

sacrifice

he would give her even to the half of his wculd take place what discoveries would
what horrors would be diskingdom
Because the damsel might be be made
closed
instead of the charms which are
beautiful
accomplished brilliant
is
!

the king to lose his reason, and to talk in

this

random manner

Now,

learn from

this to guard against the danger of the

world's idols.
attention, if

upon

it

If any thing catches your

you

fix

your mind and heart

because you see

it

beautiful, ac-

now

so

would

much admired

How

quickly

enchantment be dissolved
Let us, then, learn, from the history before us, the real nature and character of
those idols for which men sacrifice body,
soul, and reputation.
Ckcil
the

SERMON XXIV
CHARACTER UNALTERABLE AFTER DEATH.
BY THE REV. JOHN HAMBLETON,

M.A.

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him
and he that is righteous, let him be righteous slill: and he that is holy, let him he holy
And, behold, I come quickly ; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as

" TTie time is at hand.

t>e

filthy

still.

his

still

work

We

shall be."

saw,

Rev.

xxii. 10. 12.

Sunday morning, that of inspiration, "The time is at hand. He

awakening of that is unjust, let him be unjust still
in the dust of the earth, and he which is filthy, let him be filthy

last

there should be a general

them

that sleep

and we saw the portions

which they
lasting

life,

awake
and some

will

for eternity to

some
to

to

ever-

shame and

everlasting contempt.

fixed,

There is one class of characters

you perceive, and sealed for eter-

nity.

"And

still."

he that

be righteous

still

What impression the solemn subject let him be

may have left on your minds I know not other class,
I am anxious, however, that our Advent manner.

holy

Sundays should not

all slip past,

without

our having seriously considered the so-

lemn things connected with the

rious advent of our

Lord

last glo-

things,

my

which we shall all find ourWith

selves most deeply concerned.
God's help, I will endeavour, therefore,

brethren, in

that the fault shall not be mine, if that

day, which the Scriptures so often and so

is

righteous, let

and he that

There

still."

and

fixed

sealed

him

holy,

is

is

the
like

in

This must refer to the decisions of the

day of judgment, for it is then that the
Saviour will reward every man according
to his work, as the latter portion of our
text declares ; and it is plain also that
the decision here spoken of is for eternity
for how can that be reversed which the
What hope is
Scripture hath affirmed ?
held out by God that the solemn sentence
of the judgment day will ever be set
:

emphatically speak of, as the day of all

days the most awful, should find any of aside 1
No how could it be altered
without violation and injury to the truth
you unprepared.
1 crave your attention and your prayers of God?
If the sentence of everlasting
for you and me, while I proceed to open punishment, when finally passed, could
the subject presented in our text, by con- be reversed or mitigated, where were the
:

sidering these two important points

approaching when
men's characters will be left as they
are found, with no hope or possibility
of a change.
Secondly, The Saviour's last coming
TO JUDGMENT WILL BE THAT SOLEMN TIME.
The time is approaching when
I.
men's characters will be left AS they
ARE FOUND, WITH NO HOPE OR POSSIBILITY
OF A CHANGE. Mark this, in the words
First,

The time

God

truth of

But, brethren, I

is

so

much

am

not

now

to

speak

men

of the opposite portions of

in that day, as of their opposite character,

and
to be changed
two classes of men are presented to our

henceforward never
notice.

mates

How
that

repeatedly Scripture intitwo, and only two, large

classes will then comprehend

kind

learned, in

all

man-

among men, we have

some way or other, to divide
223

Here,

THE BRITISH

224

PULPIT.

and subdivide many virtues and vices,

and to lake such partial views as to

that day.

think a man good, virtuous, moral, because he shows a regard to one particular
virtue, though, it may be, he disregards
many others, and utterly despises that

ing to others as thou wouldst they should

Christian holiness, which rises far above

Is this all that is

meant by

loving thy neighbour as thyself; by do-

do unto thee by that new law given us

by Christ, to love one another as he loved
And supposing the sinner's conUS'?
science does not yet feel the charge as

and without just in reference to God himself, let me

Lord. The ask. Is it not just that thou shouldst have
Scripture, though it speaks of different honoured thy jMaker] Has he not a right
Christian graces, yet it does not allow- to thy obedience 1 Does he ask for more

what moralists
which no man

that a

man

is in

call virtue,

shall see

tlie

a right or safe state,

who

it

evidently gathers

men

into

than

is

his right or due,

each of us, "

My

two great thine heart!"

If

cultivates one, but neglects another; and

son,

when he says

my

child, give

God make

a law,

to

me

which

holy, just, and good, has he not a just

classes, according to the quality of their

is

actions, the motives of their conduct, the

right to expect that

inward principle of their souls, and speaks

tures should personally obey

man

you and

all

his crea-

it ?

Is, then,

man in the sight of God,

or wicked, just or unjust, carnally minded who gives to God no honour, no service,
or spiritually minded, godly or ungodly. no love, breaks every commandment of
Thus, in our own case, God doubtless the first table of the law, and habitually
could at this moment divide all who are disregards the gospel, hates, it may be,
of them accordingly as they are righteous

that

here present into two classes as easily aS

a shepherd could divide the sheep from

its

the goats.

every one

two classes

In our text, each of these

is

distinguished

by two

characteristic

Let us think of them as they

epithets.

may

are here described, for

it

discovering

character.

class

is

our

true

aid us in

One

divided into the wicked, and the

other into the good.

hand," when

it

" For the time is

" He that

will be said,

at
is

him be unjust still: and he

that is filthy, let him be filthy still."
The two epithets which characterize

unjust, let

the unholy,

are unjust and filthy.

It
would, perhaps, startle, and even offend
the sinner, were I to say that every sinner
is an unjust man ; yet such I believe he
in the sight of a holy God. But I must ex-

use the word unjust in a larger

sense than he has probably been accustom-

plain that

a just

very name, and then boasts and glories

pays every one his due? Not

I must tell thee that thou
exceptest at least one, and that is thy
God ; he does not get his rightful due.
that he

Every person,

therefore,

who

is

living

and love of sin, is unjust

and unrighteous in the sight of God.
How can he be otherwise? "This do,
and live :" but he has forsaken, you see,
There is no commandthe whole law.
ment which he has fully, and spiritually,
and habitually obeyed.
It is true, indeed, that there is another
way in which we might be accounted and
treated as just; but I must not speak of
in the practice

that yet.

the

am

to describe, at present,

man who has

hitherto despised that

He may

have in notion a
form, a fancy, an imagination of the plan
good method.

of salvation, but he knows not the reality,

have understood by it, or he would not still be an unjustified,
being unjust in worldly dealings being unrenewed, unregenerated sinner. Unredishonest and fraudulent; not paying ho- generated, indeed, he is ; he has followed
nest debts; and there his conscience may his corrupt nature; he has indulged his
not accuse him. It is well so far; I have fallen propensities he has never cared to
no desire to lay to his charge sins of which seek for that grace which might have
he is not guilty. But supposing such a man created him anew ; and now, therefore,
as he often boasts he can
pays every he is unjust, and, unless a mighty change
one his due, is this all the demand or the take place, the time is at hand when it
justice of God ?
for it is that, my bre- will be said of him, " He that is unjust,

ed to do.

He may

thren, with

which we

shall

have

to

do in

let

him be unjust

still."

CHARACTER UNALTERABLE AFTER DEATH.

The

other description given in the text

one that also will not

please him; nor was it intended to do so.
of the sinner,

" He

is

that is fillhif

many will

dislike

word. Would that we were all as

ready to quarrel with sin as we are to
quarrel with its scri])tural name
But
that

the Scripture

is

too

to

faithful

flatter

pronounces sin to be a filthy thingbefore God.

Does not the same word
occur in the book of Job, the 15th chap" What is man that he should be
ter ]
olean ? and he which is born of a woman,
that he should be righteous ? Behold, he
putteth no trust in his saints
yea, the
heavens are not clean in his sight. How
much more abominable ?LnA filthy is man,
which drinketh iniquity like water !"
us.

It

Thus

also

the

psalmist,

the

in

14th

psalm, says, " The Lord looked down

from heaven upon the children of men, to
see if there were any that did understand,
and seek God. They are all gone aside,
they are altogether become filthy^''
the

same word describing the same

225

hast uttered against holy things,

all

are

loathsome, and depraved, and offensive

unto God.
But it is also true, that thou
mightest have had all this forgiven thee;
that the blood of Jesus Christ would
have cleansed thee from all ; that the
Spirit of Jesus Christ would have made
thee a new creature. But, when hast thou

gone

to

Christ?

for the Spirit]

When

hast thou prayed

Thou

hast rather been

contented in thy filthiness, and wished to

continue in sin, and there thou

this

art

up

to

moment an unchanged, unpardoned,

unjust, and filthy sinner.

But now

will tell thee of a time

when

this will be fixed as thy character for ever,

beyond
said,

unjust

hope

all

The time
"

is

He

still

or possibility of chang',.

at

hand

that

is

he that

at

which

unjust,

it

will

him *)e
let him be

let

is filthy,

is something very
solemn even in the form of this exprf ssion: the word still, at the end of ea'-.h

filthy still."

There

clause, repeated four times in the verse.

That word seems to sound as the deathIsaiah declares that " all our righteous- knell to* the hope of the ungodly. Those
nesses are as filthy rags." The apostle who die unjust and filthy, will rise
There is no
Paul applies this word, in the epistle to unjust and filthy still.
fact.

to language
" Let no repentance in the grave, whither we are
communication proceed out of your going. There is nothing in the mere act
mouth." In his epistle to Timothy, he of dissolution, which can change the
applies it to the love of sordid gain
not essential character of the soul. There
" greedy offilthy lucre." This expression is nothing in the society of lost spirits,
occurs, in fact, in several other places. in the other world, which can purify an
Thus, Lot in Sodom was vexed with the evil heart. There is none but God who
And can change the heart, forgive sins, and
filthy conversation of the wicked.
again, St. Paul says, " Having, therefore, cleanse and purify the soul; and God
these promises, dearly beloved, let us himself offers to do it only in one way
cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of through the merits of Christ, and the
the flesh and spirit." Here are, brethren, gracious operations of his Holy Spirit.
Scripture proofs enough, if proofs you But he makes no promise to do it for
want, that sin is an abominable and de- any, after this life, in any way whatever;
filing thing.
A corrupt thought in you on the contrary, he plainly declares, that
God accounts guilt; a depraved imagina- as you will die, so you will rise ; as the
A seal, then,
tion is odious in his eyes; an impure tree falls, so it must lie.
desire is a violation of the spirit of his is to be put, if I may so speak, upon
law.
And now, sinner, still unrenewed every man as he leaves the world. If
in heart, what thinkest thou of this? he leave it unjust and filthy, judgment is
How many corrupt thoughts, depraved sealed upon such a character, with all its
imaginations, and impure desires, has the accompanying punishment, never to be removed throughout eternity. The thought
soul-piercing eye of God seen in thee
How many filthy words have escaped is absolutely overwhelming. It is easy
thy lips
Those obscene jests, those to form sinful habits ; to shake them oflF

the Colossians,

filthy

wanton songs, those

Vol. XL29

idle speeches thou

at last

may

prove utterly impossible.

It

THE BRITISH

226

PULPIT.

tem- proper sense of the term. He fulfilled all

is easy for you to laugh
he loved God supremely,
perance, virtue, holiness, and pitty; but righteousness
know that unless you use aright the space perfectly, unceasingly. He was without
at purity,

given you for repentance, you shall spot or taint of sin, original or actual
gnash the teeth in bitter agony, wailing, and, to crown all, his death was a sacrifice
and remorse. " Be not deceived God is for sin an atonement to justice. In him
for whatsoever a man the sentence against sinners is removed,
not to be mocked

now

soweth, that shall he also reap." God is their guilt freely forgiver, ?.\\d the righta God of justice; and, if you serve sin, eousness of Christ is imi i.ted to them,
justice must see that you are paid your and made available for their justification ;
wages and " the wages of sin is death." and thus, in St. Paul's words, which I
If you choose to be unjust and filthy now, will repeat, "Through the obedience of
when you have all the motives of the gos- one shall many be made righteous." This
henmotives bedewed with the tears, and act ofjustification takes place now.
pel
steeped in the blood, and bathed in the ever any, truly penitent and humble, put
dying agonies of Christ: if, with these the trust of their souls in the meritorious
feelings in your heart, you yet choose to righteousness and death of Jesus Christ,
be unjust and filthy, will it not be perfect they are completely forgiven: "Being
justice in God, having warned you so justified by faith, they have peace with
long before, to say to you in that day, God ;" and when that day comes that
" He that is unjust, let him be unjust great and glorious day then their justistill
he that is filthy, let him be filthy fication shall be openly confirmed. "He
that is righteous, let him be righteous
still r'
O, this surely gives us an awful idea still." "Who shall lay any thing to the
of hell
The character unchanged man charge of God's elect? It is God that

with the desire of sm re- justifieth."

still unjust
But we must also remain holy. By
maining the poor paltry pleasure gone
the punishment abid- nature we are unholy, filthy, vile ; but
the enjoyment past
the Holy Spirit, given for the Saviour's
ing the mutual encouragement ceased
and all sake, creates men anew unto holiness,
mutual reproaches continuing
God preserve us from brings them to hate sin to seek for a
this for eternity
new heart to mortify lust to separate
that awful state
It is time to turn to the brighter side. from the world, which still lieth in wickturn from what we told you sounded edness, and to follow after holiness. This,
like the death-knell of hope, of joy, to you will observe, is not the same with the
Listen, now, and you will being made righteous before spoken of.
the ungodly.
hear what shall resemble the death-knell That was through the righteousness of
through his work done for the
of sorrow, temptation, and conflict to all Christ
" And he that is soul in that respect we are to be comthe faithful in that day
and plete 171 him. But this being made holy
righteous, let him be righteous still
is through the grace of the Holy Spirit
he that is holy, let him be holy still."
And who is righteous] Is it not writ- working in you mightily humbling, enten, '" There is none righteous, no not lightening, convincing, guiding, animatone ?" Yes; but is it not also written, "Ey ing, sustaining. In this respect we are to
to watch
fight, wrestle
the obedience of one man shall many be strive to pray
made righteous ]" Properly and strictly against sin. We are to grow in grace
speaking, Jesus Christ is the only right- to ripen in knowledge
to wax stronger
eous man who has ever lived. Others and stronger to become more zealous^
may be called righteous in an inferior active, devoted, charitable, kind more
sense ; or, when compared with other like the new Adam, and less like the old
men, they may appear righteous. Thus Adam.
Now, I hope you understand who is
Enoch, Noah, Daniel, and others, in this
secondary sense, were virtuous men; but righteous and who is holy. One and the
Christ alone is righteous, in the full and same man is meant whom Christ justi;

We

CHARACTER UNALTERABLE AFTER DEATH.

fies,

Spirit also

the

must be no

difference betwixt righteous-

ness and holiness

joined, let not

ever

There But, then,

sanctifies.

man

"

What God

through

himself justified

thinks

hath

Who-

put asunder."

Christ, and yet despises holiness,

is

not

227

day your state shall be

confirmed.
There may afterwards be
improvement and expansion, but there
can be no change in the essential character of the soul.
Will you not forsake
every evil way ] Do you mean to draw
back unto perdition?
Will it not be
reward enough for toil, effort, patience,
in that

whoever thinks
much of holiness, but depends not on
Christ, and on him alone, for justification, and exercise of faith in Christ, if, in that
has to begin afresh he must become a day, we may hear Christ say of us, " He
that is righteous, let him be righteous
little child, and sit down at the feet of
stiin"
Jesus to be taught of him.
The word slill, will then be
My brethren, whoever mistakes me solemn indeed for it will be spoken just
now, and from a perverse mind will not afterwards to the ungodly. It will bring
make out those vital points which I have heaven or hell ecstacy or anguish
God is my what you might have been, if left to
laboured much and often
witness, and your consciences are my yourselves, with what you are, through
and righteous

justified

witnesses

to

room

will be no
*'

He

you, with

set before

plainness of speech
for

in

that

all

grace, into such near contrast, that I sus-

day there

pect you will be so overwhelmend with

doubting or mistake.

that is righteous, let

him be

right-

gratitude, that

you will

Christ, and say,

"Not

fall at

the feet of

unto us,

Lord;

eous still and he that is holy, let him not unto us, but unto thy name be all the
be holy still." Sweet words these, and praise." But,
They show you, you
full of comfort.
II. When and how shall this be?
that desire to be faithful, that the charac- " Behold, I come quickly, and my reward
ter which God is now forming in you by is with me, to give every man according
No as his work shall be."
his gospel is meant to last for ever.
" Behold, I come quickly." How often
wonder that the influences of the law and
No the Scripture calls men to behold " Bethe Spirit in your heart are so deep.
wonder that the touches of the divine hold, he Cometh, and every eye shall see
artist, in tracing his own image on your him."
How little do multitudes behold
No him
souls, are so delicate and so fine.
That day will take numbers by
wonder that he sends you sermon after surprise. Brethren, if we all beheld it
sermon, prayers. Scriptures, warnings, aright, made it a matter of serious medi:

exhortations,

explained.
racter

to

chastenings.

The

All

is

here

righteous and holy cha-

should be other Christians

Behold, he cometh
quickly: but who are we to behold ? "I
than

your passport
through Christ, who
the door

for

eternity

for

is
heaven,
your preparation for the pure and holy
pleasures of heaven
If a child be expected, in the course of

we

which God is training you,

is meant to be your cha- come"

through Christ,
racter

we

tation,

I,

too often are.

I,

the Saviour, the

Redeemer

the prophet, priest, and king

I,

the

righteous judge, the one rejected, the per-

man of sorrows, the offended Son

"I come" sinners, tremble;
believers, rejoice!
"I come" infidel,
behold him whom you have dared to
secuted
of

God

come to a throne, what care,

what labour, what expense are employed deny; believers, behold the Lamb of
to form him into a character which may God, which taketh away the sins of the
become his station! You, my brethren, world! "I come" whose coming has
years, to

it"

Christians indeed, are to inhabit the

palaces of heaven, to be heirs of God,

been so long promised, and so long and

" I come quickly"
earnestly expected
!

and joint-heirs with Christ. Is it not

Ask of
yes, my brethren, quickly.
what means
light, therefore, that you should now be time whither it flies so fast
tvained and educated to that righteous, its haste?
It will answer, "I am speedholy, spiritual, sanctified character, in ing forward that day
I am coming to
which alone you can be happy in heaven ^ meet my Lord I hasten forward to eter-

THE BRITISH

228
"

nity."

Ask

come quickly," says Jesus.

of death,

why

he

right hand and on the

men

is

so rapidly, on the

left,

mowing down

sweeping away generageneration making hardly any

like grass

tion after

between young and old, rich

and poor, prepared and unprepared, just
and unjust, the filthy and the holy ? Death
will tell you, " Christ is coming, and then

distinction

my work

shall

will terminate

cease

my

my time

is

commission
shortening

My brethren,
is

infidels still ask,

the promise of his coming ?"

"Where
Here,

in

is

him be righteous
holy, let him be holy

is

with me,

righteous, let

more of my business I must and he that

my work of destruction."
My reward

I cannot tell

return to

of imagery are not yet cleansed

the
whole house is vanity. In the midst
of all this, hear a sound ; a chcvriot
approaches, a trumpet sounds, in the
twinkling of an eye he is here, and we
are not ready
We have not acted like
those of his servants who hear him say,
"Behold, I come.
He that is unjust,
and he which is
let him be unjust still
filthy, let him be filthy still
and he that
is

PULPIT.

still:
still.

give every

to

according as his work shall be."

he passes sentence on the unholy,

man

When
it is

the

the promise, " Behold, I

come reward which Christ gives them for requickly." The Scripture declares it, and jecting him; for continuing in sin, and
all things show it.
Even though a thou- serving Satan. But to the faithful it is
our text,

is

sand years should first intervene, they are

but as one day.
Christ will be here
quickly ; much before some are prepared
for his coming.
If any would here ask

also Christ's reward; for Christ bled for

me

he gives it freely of his grace. And this

reward will then be to every man accord-

them more minutely when it

will be, to let them know the day, the
hour of his coming, to describe the manner, I return to such the solemn warning
of Christ, " Behold, I come qinclibj'"
that ought to be enough.
Are you prepared for his coming, or are you not ] If
you are, go and serve him, praise him,
glorify him, do all you can for him.
" Happy is that servant whom his Lord,
to tell

them on the cross

he paid the penalty,

offered the sacrifice, endured the death,

fulfilled all

righteousness.

It is his; for

work shall he. If his work,

by Christ, who knows the
heart, shall be found a work of faith, a
work of true penitence, a work of genuine
goodness, a work of grace, there shall be
inp; as his

when

tried

a rich reward, not for our sake

for

our

condemn us but for

Christ's sake, in whose name and for
when he cometh, shall find so doing." If whose sake it was wrought. But if your
some of you are not prepared, O get ready work prove bad, unjust, filthy if, when
best works would

instantly, for he will be here quickly

My brethren, do not speculate

appeals

Christ

to

the

searching

test,

and busy
yourselves with curious questions on this
point.
Our duty here is as simple and
plain as it can be.
are servants left
in charge to get ready for our Lord, who
has sent us word that he is soon about to

there appear sensuality, formality, self-

come.

Life and death are set before you.

Try
your own work by the standard of God's
truth. Ask God for his Holy Spirit to keep
you from self-deception. There are, I re-

We

If,

instead

of setting ourselves

every one to his work, we should gather

in groups around the fire to discuss such

When do you think

he will come? Which way, by the east,
In what chariot ? In
or by the west?
questions as these, "

what dress?

work
must be your sentence and portion for

righteousness, according to your

eternity.

My
what

peat

brethren,
shall be

it,

either

settle all these

therefore,

choose

in that day.

but two great classes

among you

you

you

W'ith what attendants?" justified

Though we should never

now,

your portion

are justified, or
either

are not

you are filthy, or you

God. If you are

are holy, in the sight of

we should dispute over them in an ungodly state, now turn to God

we became angry with each other; now believe on Christ; now pray for his
and if we were, the house is not ready
Spirit; noiv begin in right earnest.
If

questions,
till

work is not done the uppermost you delay and hesitate, and again give
room is not yet furnished the chambers yourselves up to sinning, God may give
the

CHARACTER UNALTERABLE AFTER DEATH.

229

you up. " Ephraim is joined to his idols; delivered, he does deliver, and he will
But it is not so yet! still continue to deliver, his ransomed
let him alone."
Those fears, those alarms, those resolu- people, until the last enemy is swallowed
tions, those ejaculations of heart are a
token for good. Be ready against Christ
comes. And, to believers, let me saj',
Trim your lamps, and hasten, brethren,
Look for, and delo meet your Lord.
pend on his coming; set your house in

order

get every

away

in

the heart

seek

to

pletely sanctified

Lord

is at

spot of

filth

the Saviour's blood

hand

washed
Prepare

have the soul com-

be ye

also ready

the

up

in

victory,

Redeemer

are

and the banners of the

in triumph over

waved

every hostile foe.

Further, the resurrection of Christ has

power of

death.
Death is
Death receives his
authority from the hands of divine justice.
Death inflicts the stroke of punishment on
a guilty world. How resistless his power
How vast his dominion! But view the

regard to the

the penalty of sin.

work

Redeemer

in connexion with
" Verily, he took not
on him the nature of angels, but he took

of our

the king of terrors.

REDEMPTION.

on him the seed of Abraham ;" the nature

redemption which Christ has of man " That, through death he might
effected has regard to the puiver of Satan. destroy him that hath the power of death,
It is scarcely possible to conceive of a that is, the devil ; and deliver them who,
more affecting description than that which through fear of death, were all their lifethe apostle has given us when speaking time subject to bondage."
Long before
He tells us they are the days of his incarnation, he is introof his fellow men.
led captive by the devil at his will. This duced, in ancient prophecy, as saying,
evil spirit works and rules in the children " 0, grave, I will be thy plague!
O,
of disobedience. He purposes to keep his death, I will be thy destruction
I will
ransom them from the power of the grave
wretched vassals in chains of darkness
the blackness of darkness for ever. Satan
He
I will redeem them from death."
is the strong man armed, who keeps his met the stern monster in his own dark
palace and his goods in peace; but the dominions, and tremendous was the conRedeemer, who is stronger than he, comes test. " Sorrowful even unto death," his
with delivering grace, seizes the strong " sweat was, as it were, great drops of
man -armed, binds him in fetters which blood falling to the ground;" and he
he cannot break, secures the prey from cried, "My God, my God, why hast
the mighty one, and sets the lawful cap- thou forsaken
The great Redeemer
What a triumph did the felt the severity of the stroke. He bowed
tive at liberty.
Son of God achieve, when he bowed his down for a season under the weight of
anointed head upon the cross, and cried, his power but he did not see corruption ;
with a loud voice, " It is finished !" He and the third, the appointed day, he rose
then not only blotted out the handwriting as a triumphant conqueror.
But, mark
of ordinances that was against us, nailing in passing through the dominion of death,
it to his cross, but he also " triumphed
he destroyed his dominion he extracted
over principalities and powers, and made his sting he dispersed the gloomy hora show of them openly." When he as- rors of the tomb he threw wide open the
cended up on high, " He led captivity gates of life, and glory, and immortality,
captive."
He dragged at the wheels of and laid a firm foundation for that glohis triumphal chariot the monstrous pow- rious triumph which countless myriads
ers that had enslaved and destroyed the will enjoy at the last day, when they will
world and, when he had thus ascended universally exclaim, " Lo this is our
in holy triumph, " He received gifts for God ; we have waited for him, and he
men yea, for the rebellious also, that the will save us this is the Lord we have
Lord God might dwell amongst them." waited for him we will be glad, and
By the power which he received after the rejoice in his salvation."
accomplishment of our redemption, he has
Redemption has respect to the wrath

The

meV

THE BRITISH PULHT.

230

which is to come the wrath which is yet celestial state, is borrowed from the
Thus
Tlie divine displeasure scenery of the earthly paradise.
to be revealed.
is the most awful subject that the mind we read of the rivers of paradise, of the
of

man can contemplate

it is

expressed

flowers of paradise

the tree of life that

by all that is terrible. It is grew in the midst of paradise of the

After all the jmrily, innocence, and blessedness of the
still ivrath which is to come.
But there is this difterrors of the law and the agonies of con- paradisaical state.
science; after all the outpouring of its ference there is no curse in the heavenly
paradise
no tree of death no lurking
fires upon the guilty nations in time, and
but
its awful manifestations in the day of serpent to beguile, deceive, and ruin
judgment; after untold myriads of ages the throne of God and the Lamb is there,
have passed in the vengeance of eternal and he that sitteth on the throne dwelleth
among them, and is their God and they
fire, it is still wraih which is to come.
Now, the redemption proclaimed in the shall hunger no more, neither thirst any
gospel extends the whole interminable more ; but the Lamb which is in the
length of this manifestation of the divine midst of the throne shall feed them, and
To this great deliverance shall lead them unto living fountains of
displeasure.
the eye of the church of God in all waters, and the soft hand of God shall
ages has been directed. Every believer, wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Let us, then, my brethren, take our
under the gospel dispensation especially,
is waiting for the Son of God from hea- harps down from the willows, and with
ven " even Jesus, (as the apostle says,) Peter, himself a stranger in the earth, let
who is to deliver us from the wrath that us sing the Lord's song in a strange land
And how glorious will be " Blessed be the God and Father of our
is to come."
The divine Redeemer Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his
the deliverance!
abundant mercy, hath begotten us again
will triumph over a benighted world
the unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of
the multitude will be innumerable
the glory will fill all Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritpraises boundless
ance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that
eternity, and shine through all eternity.
Once more: The redemption of Christ fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for
has respect to the forfeiture and the reco- us, Avho are kept by the power of God
very of the heavenly inheritance. By man through faith unto salvation, ready to be
came death by man came also the re- revealed in the last time." Yes, paradise
" By one man sin has been lost, but paradise has been resurrection of the dead.
gained and redemption is proclaimed, as
entered into the world, and death by sin
but they who receive abundance of grace, it respects the restoration of the forfeited
and the gift of righteousness, shall reign inheritance.
I would earnestly entreat those who are
in life by one Jesus Christ." " "When the
fulness of time was come, God sent forth in a state of alienation from God seriously
made of a woman, made under to consider their present condition.
his Son
Are you not under the condemning
to redeem ihem that were under
the law
(condemned by) the law, that they might sentence of God's law, and unable to
receive the adoption of children, and if satisfy its divine demands ? Are you not
(heirs of the pro- under the ariest of divine justice, which
children, then heirs
mise, heirs of salvation, heirs of life cannot be relinquished, but which will be
heirs of God, and joint- satisfied in inflicting punishment upon
everlasting)
The second Adam you 1 Are you not tied and bound by the
heirs with Christ."
came to repair the ruins of the first. The chain of your lusts and passions'? Are
first Adam, by sin, lost the earthly para- you not exposed to the anguish of death,
dise ; the second Adam, by his obedience, and the wrath which is to come T Without
restores it to a heavenly paradise. Hence, a Redeemer, without a deliverer, must not
the beautiful imagery employed by pro- everlasting destruction be your inevit;ible

in Scripture

phets in describing the millennial reign

doom?

of our Redeemer, and the glories of the

lead

you

that this consideration

to a

timely reflection

may

Thorpe

SERMON XXV.
GOD THE BESTOWER OF ALL GOOD GIFTS.

BY THE REV.
ST.

" But wlio am.

sort

for

The

all

I,

and what

is

H.

my

we should he able to offer so willingly after

own have we given thee." 1 Chron. xsix. 14.

scene which these words intro-

to our notice,

is

have some share in raising the blessed

and seeing he could not himstructure
self be allowed to erect it, he would provide, ere he left this world, materials for
;

He

its erection.

himself offered with

all

his might willingly to the Lord, to an

extent and an amount which

then

is

is

perfectly

asked, " Who

willing" (addressing the rulers

astonishing

and

then

" Who then

willing to consecrate his service this
day unto the Lord ?" In answer to the

and the hundreds of Israel)

is

monarch's prayer, God was pleased to

pour down so abundantly the spirit of
love and liberality on the assembled
multitude, that they gathered together a
mighty store of gold, and silver, and
brass, and iron, and precious stones.
It
would appear that at the time the words
*

On

Belialf of the Free Church, erecting in

the parish.

A.M.

people, that

things come of thee, and of thine

one of the most

affecting and interesting that can well
They lead our
occupy our attention.
thoughts to that venerable monarch of
Israel, the son of Jesse, the sweet singer
of Sion, now grown gray in the service
of God; yet in his breast the fire of zeal
for his divine Master burns brighter and
clearer amidst the visitations of judgment.
Though himself disallowed by God, because his hands were stained with blood,
from building the temple for the Lord of
hosts ; yet his heart longed at least to

duce

STOWELL,

Mary's church, Islington.*

thit

have read to you were uttered, thfc

monarch stood surrounded with his people, and before him the mighty accumulation of their free-will offerings
and

then

it

was

that his aged

heart leaped

within him for joy, and he took up the

words that are before us, break-

beautiful

ing forth in simple ascription of

praise, and all the glory, to

alone they belong

be thou. Lord

God

Him

all

to

the

whom

and he said, " Blessed

of Israel, our Father,

and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the

greatness, and the power, and the victory, and the majesty
for all that is in
the heavens, and in the earth, is thine
thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou
art exalted as head above all.
Both
riches and honour come of thee, and thou
reignest over all
and in thine hand is
power and might; and in thine hand it is
to make great, and to give strength unto
all.
Now, therefore, our God, we thank
thee, and praise thy glorious name.
But
who am I, and what is my people, that we
should be able to offer so willingly after
for ever

this sorf?

for all

and of thine

things

come of

thee,

own have we

given thee."
These interesting words, my Christian
hearers, so appropriate to the object that
bespeaks our special regard this morning,
will lead

me,

That the

in ihe first place, to observe.

disposition and the ability

TO GIVE TO God are alike from himself

in the next place.

That the

disposition

TO GIVE calls for PROFOUNDER GRATITUDE

231

THE BRITISH

232

THAN EVEN THE ABILITY TO GIVE

and

ill

That the

ability and
THE disposition TO GIVE TO GoD ARE

the

place,

last

PULPIT.

So

that, as truly as that

we

existence from God, so tnly

our existence in God.

In

derived our

we

continue

him we

live,

NEVER MORE NOBLY EXERTED THAN WHEN and move, and have our being. We canEXERTED IN ERECTING TEMPLES TO THE not lift an arm, or draw a breath, or tell a
GLORY OF HIS NAME. May lus heaveiily pulse, or think a thought but as we are
Spirit give

efficacy

to

his

own

living

word

enabled, actuated, maintained in the use

of our powers, and in our existence,

The

ability and the disposition to

GIVE TO God come alike froji himself.

That our

ahility to give to

to ourselves, appropriating to

same omnipotence

by

that called us out

of nothing.

Would you have

God comes

from himself, might seem a position too

obvious to need illustration but however
we may admit it in theory, we are continually tempted to deny it in fact; and if we
examine our own breasts, we shall find
that we are continually prone to this act
of ungodliness, this atheistical act of

assuming

the

ply illustrated'?

fancy

to

that

more simmight take you in

melancholy asylum for
this truth

minds within no great distance

from this house of prayer I might take
you through its desolate and gloomy
cells; I might point you to minds in
ruins, that were once more vigorous, perhaps, more clear, and more in all their
ruined

and ascribing to ourselves, activity, than yours at the present mowhat simply and solely belongs to Al- ment. Why are those minds demolished,
mighty God. If we admit the position while yours continue in their vigour and
that he made healtlifulness ]
Who hath made you to
that we came from him
us, and not we ourselves that we are his differ?
I could take you to the graves
creatures that he formed us by his pow- around the walls of this house of prayer
er, and fashioned us by his wisdom
I might point out to you many who might
ourselves,

body is curiously and wonder- have been now as strong and as active
wrought by his workmanship and as you but their spirits have returned to
that our minds and all its mysterious God who gave them
the head to think,
faculties are his inspiration; then that and the hand to act, and the heart to
that our
fully

simple position necessarily involves our

complete dependence on the bounty of the
Creator. For what have we in the powers
of our body, or in the faculties of oi:r
mind, that have not come from God 1
And if they came from God, then to God
they belong no tie can be more indefeasible, no tie can be more perpetual, than
:

the

tie

that attaches the creature to the

Creator; which will last as long as the

lasts, and which never will

cease to exist
or

therefore,

are the Lord's, whether

deny it.
But the ahility

made you

in the dust.

differ?

Who

hath

could take you

into huts and into cellars

I could show
you individuals who were once as wealthy
:

as the wealthiest of you, clothed in splen-

dour, and faring sumptuously every day

who now

are clothed with rags, and are

reduced to such abject distress, that they

have not bread or water with which to
satisfy

the

cravings of

nature.

Who

my

brethren,

we

believe

in

it

hath

business, as skilful in their specula-

who have formed their purposes

more as ardently, and carried them out into exremember that he ecution with as much energy, as ever you
tions

to

to

made you to differ? I could point

you out many who have been as diligent

Creator

we

prompt, are cold

give comes

still

from him, when w-e

has not given (if indeed he could give)
to us, or any other creature, independent
There can be but one indeexistence.
pendent being, as there can be but one
uncaused being: and that one being must
and
be the cause of all other beings
that independent being must be the sustentation of all the beings he creates.
:

have and yet their energies have been

employed in vain their plans have been
frustrated, and disappointment has met
them at the end of every path. Who
hath made you to differ? I could lead
you to others who, from some sudden
revolution which no eye could foresee,
have been reduced to the greatest de;

GOD THE BESTOVVER OF ALL GOOD

spondency and the greatest disappointment. Who hath made you to differ?
Beloved brethren, we are all of us
stewards and it is required in a steward
that a man be found faithful and whether
we have two talents, or whether we have
whether we are rich men, and have
ten
much to (jive or whether we are poor
men, and c;jn only give the widow's mile
;

te the treasury of the sanctuary;

equally dependent upon Him.

" for
all from him

received

come

of thee, and of thine

we

We
all

are

have

things

own have we

What beautiful

GIFTS.

233

which hitherto selfishness has ruled alone,

and kindled the fire of heaven where
Never can
there burnt the fire of hell.
man give to God, till God has given him
a heart that is filled with the only princi-

make any

that can

ple

of his

gifts or

offerings acceptable to his Father in hea-

He

ven.

ment

will never forego his retjuire-

" My

son, give

me

thy heart ."

and give him what we will our talents,

our time, our efforts, our comforts, our
yet, if the heart be
lives themselves
kept, all is a vain boasting: God looks

on the whole with abhorrence, indignation, and contempt; and still he says,
should first put the gift in the hands of "My son, give me thine Aear/'." But if
his creatures, and then invite them to give the heart be given, whatever follows, that
the gift back to him, receiving it as if it gift through .Tesus Christ shall be accepted with the Father and the cup of cold
were their own
given thee."
sion

the

in

Mighty God

is

condescenit that he

If,

then, beloved brethren, the ability

to give is

from the Lord, of

whom

are all

would further show you that the

disposition to give to God of what he has
given to us, is more, if possible, from
him. Man, when he came from the hand
of his Maker, was made in his image,
and was therefore full of love for " God
things, I

and he that dwelleth in love

dwelleth in God, and God in him." But
man, as a fallen creature, has lost that
image, and therefore, instead of being

is

love;

full of

God,

is full

of selfishness.

Self

has taken the place of God in his breast

all his object and all his aim is to ag-

pamper
Could we dissect the actions that

grandize, to exalt, to gratify, to

self.

appear good and noble in the eyes of men

could we dissect the motives and see
the principles from which they spring
we should be ready to lament where they
admire, and to weep where they rejoice.
Beloved brethren, man is naturally so
selfish, that however, from the promptings
of natural pity, he may sometimes give,
and however he may at other times, by a
mere regard to character, or the applause
or the censure of his fellow worms, give
bountifully and largely
yet of this you
may be assured, that no man can give to
God, give out of love to God, with a single eye to his honour, with a simple
wish of his acceptance of the gift, but
God has given him that disposition, re-

newed him in the

Vol. II. 30

spirit of that

mind

in

water, given from the bidding of a heart

God, shall
nowise lose its reward ; it has a value
stamped on it all its own, because it is
given from a disposition that is bestowed
by the Spirit of God.
Beloved brethrer, let a man only try by
his own unaided efforts, will, and affecand he
tions, to do one disinterested act
will find that he might sooner quicken
the dead, that he might sooner arrest the
waves of the sea, than by any power or
resolution of his own do one disinterested
How can he do
act out of love to God.
" Make the tree good, and his fruit
it?
good or else make the tree corrupt, and
Out of a renewed
his fruit corrupt."
that has already been given to

in

heart renewed actions will spring; out of

an unrenewed heart nothing but a polluted
Beloved
spring of iniquity can flow.

brethren,
that

therefore a position alike

it is

commends

itself to Scripture

and to

reason, that the ability and the disposition to give to

God must

come from

alike

himself.
I

am

led, in the next place,

from the

words of the Psalmist, to show you, that

WE OUGHT TO BE MORE PROFOUNDLY
THANKFUL FOR THE POSSESSION OF THE
DISPOSITION, THAN OF THE ABILITY, TO
GIVE.

You will perceive by a reference to the

passage, that the emphasis of the psalmist's gratitude is laid upon the willingness, rather than

the ability

u 2

for

it

la

THE BRITISH

234

said, " the people rejoiced, for that they

offered willingly, because with perfect
heart they offered willingly to the Lord
and David the king also rejoiced with
great joy :" and his language was
" Who am I, and what is my people, that
:

we

should be able

after

this

sortl"

to offer so

willingly

You

perceive,

will

whole stress of his

gratitude is laid upon the willingness that
the Lord had given them to give to him
O brethren,
that had given to them all.
it was not the mighty accumulation of
it was not so much the amount
treasure

brethren,

that the

of the gold, the silver, and the precious

stones, that filled the heart of the

monarch

with such ecstacy it was the readiness

and the cheerfulness with which the peo:

They felt it to be a privilege

they considered it their highest honour to
give thus to the Lord God of Israel.

ple gave.

PULPIT.

the salvation of our fellow

our gold

For the

ability

to give is granted to multitudes that are

enemies to God, and rebels in their minds,

and who will perish everlastingly. We
know, alas that God often " filleth the
!

belly of the ungodly with his hidden trea-

the rust of our treasures

whole heart as with lire ;

wish, amid the torments of

shall

that w-e had been born with

Lazarus on the dunghill, rather than
found with the rich man in the mansioa.
Waste of wealth, of knowledge, and of
talent, does but enhance our guilt, and,
Well would
therefore, deepen our ruin.
it have been for many of the rich and the
great that they had had to beg thei? bread
from door to door, rather than bsd the
rich gifts of God's bouniy to rendi^r their
future account the more dark and the
more tremendous.
Brethren, it is not so with the disposition to give which comes from God.

the

lost,

God

gives this only to his people.

of them are poor

of

far transcends the ability

we

and

rent to you, that the gift of the disposi-

God,

thert

will eat up our

the

without the disposition.

men

cankered, and our garments

are moth-eaten

Beloved brethren, by a very few and

simple arguments, it may be made appation from

is

crumbs that

table

falls

but they are rich

God

rich

in

!\Iany

with
from the rich man's

like Lazarus,

ff^d

rich in the love

the hope of heaven

rich in the heart that is filled so largely

with benevolence that it can grasp the

world in its embrace rich, tlierefore, for
having nothing, they possess all things.
The disposition to give is God's precious
;

talent put into the souls of his

own

child-

him, because they

sure ;" that they leave their substance to are born of him.
He puts not off his
their children
that they build their heritage vi'ith the poor perishing wealth
houses, and call them by their names, so of this world
he would make them
that they should endure for ever and yet tliink little of these things compared with
they go down to the grave, to the narrow the unsearchable riches of Christ. And,
tomb, and the shroud and the coflin are all brethren, one grain of genuine love to
their wealth can procure them, and be- man, springing from love to God, its only
ren.

They

are like

yond this world the wealth of the world source, is worth all the wealth of Peru
would not procure one drop of water to and if we had tlie whole world without
:

we

are poor in our riches, and deso-

cool their tongue, parched in that flame.

that,

late in the

itself; all are

midst of our glory for " what

mrm if he gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul !" And
the soul that hath not love to God, springing forth in love to man, is dead while he
lives; and going into eternity thus dead,
his death must be eternal.

reward hereafter. But if we make them

objects of themselves ; if we use them
if we are
as though they were our own

give to

unfaithful stewards; if we are using in our-

position can never

brethren, think

little

of wealth in

it-

honour in itself human applause

itself distinction in this world in

self
in

but phantoms and shadows,

except as they are consecrated to God.
Then, indeed, they may subserve his
glory, our own happiness, and our own

selves

what God gave us

might

set forth his glory,

in order that

we

and set forward

shall

it

profit a

Further, brethren,

God

the

disposition

to

calls for livelier gratitude,

inasmuch as the

ability

without the dis-

make

man happy

but the disposition without the ability

fills

the man's breast with

what riches

GOD THE BESTOWER OF ALL GOOD

Many

can never purchase.

of the sons

God ; he does not reap where he

not sown, nor gather where he has

hcis

splendour, a wicked

not strewed

heart,

a resisting

troubled sea

when

it

up
estimates do

cannot

rest, casts

mire and dirt. O what false

we sometimes make of happiness
The
mind is the seat and centre of a man's
misery or of a man's enjoyment such as
the heart is, so is the man's belief.
The
man who has all the wealth of the world,
but has not a heart to use it for God,
must be feeding on ashes a lying and
deceiving heart hath turned him aside;
he is sowing to the wind, and shall reap
the whirlwind; he is following a shadow,
and grasping a phantom he is sowing to
the flesh, and of the flesh shall reap cor!

But a heart

ruption.
to

God, and rich

that is rich in love

in love to

him

but accounts

that is

faithful in little as faithful also in

He

will not

condemn

has not two talents;

it

if

he

is

condemned,

will be because the one talent

den

for the

for

hid-

The poor man's

glory of God.

will be as bright as the rich

it is

according

man's
and
;

to the faithfulness,

not according to the ability, that

we

shall

Are there not

be judged at the last day.

many

was

a napkin instead of being laid out

in

crown

much.

man because he

of the poor, rich in faith, rich in

liberality, rich in love

And

if

they are

ever tempted to envy their richer neighbours, it is on such occasions as these,

when their hands can so ill obey the

promptings of their hearts, and when

man, however they would give largely into the treasury

If there is one
of the house of God.
object more than another that calls for

poor the circumstances of the individual,

has in it a well of water springing up
into everlasting life ; is filled with a joy
with which the stranger intermeddleth

235

a just

of wealth and grandeur have, amidst their

conscience, and a mind which, like the

GIFTS.

profoundest pity,

not the poor

it is

man

who

has the heart, but not the hand to

give ; but it is the rich man, who has the

with a peace which passeth all

understanding a hope that maketh not hand to give, but not the heart. He is
ashamed. It has in that blessed disposi- the poor man poor in the eyes of angels,
tion a source of joy which thousands of poor in the eyes of God, poor for eterrich men, if they but knew its precious- nity.
ness, would buy with all their substance
Further: The disposition to give calls
and gladly would kings give up their for profounder gratitude than the ability
crowns and their sceptres, could they but to give, inasmuch as the disposition to
taste for one hour the joy that springs give brings us likest to that blessed Refrom disinterested love. He is the happy deemer, who was not, when on earth, a
man who can realize from his own expe- man of wealth and grandeur who came
rience the sublime sentiment of our Lord not in the splendour of the monarch,
when in human form below " It is more with thousands of attending legions ; but
blessed to give than to receive." If we was himself " a man of sorrows and
know not that blessed truth, we are acquainted with grief," not having where
strangers to real happiness ; if we have to lay his head, and being dependent on
never tested that fountain of living water the charity of others
so that from the
not

that

maketh glad the

The

disposition to

with the
according
according

abiliii/,

God.
give, unaccompanied

is

city of our

received

of

God

hand of charity, the Lord of the universe

received the pittance of his daily support.
Does not this tell us that it is not the

what a man hath, and not ability to give that marks a man as the fawhat he hath not. Though vouriteof heaven, but rather the disposition
we give all our goods to feed the poor, to give. For what was he giving? Giving
and have not charity, it profiteth us the glories of heaven giving the homage
to

to

nothing if our hearts be inspired with

heavenly charity, then, though we give
but u crust of bread, or the widow's mite,
God accepts it; and it is more in proportion to a poor individual than the gifts of
God is
the nrreatest sovereign on earth.
:

of angels
to

own
giving"his
Ye know

heart's blood,

save sinners.

the grace of

our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he

was rich, yet for our sakes he became
poor, that we through his poverty might

be

made

rich."

And when was

this

THE BRITISH

236

PULPIT.

mind in tis that was in Christ Jesus 1 the truth of the divine word home to
Wlien have we counted all things hut the conscience those charities that are
dung and dross, that we might glorify our adapted to promote the ordinances of reliFather, and render to him what he has gion, the sustentation of the sanctuary,

for the publication of the gospel,

lent to US'?
I

am,

in the last place, to

show you, by

THE ABILITY AND THE DISPOSITON TO

GIVE ARE NEVER MORE NOBLY EMPLOYED

it

God

where-

save them that bethese should take the first placr ia

pleases

to

that

lieve

THAN

our estimation, and have the largest share

of our benevolence.
The worldly mari

IN ERECTING

TEMPLES FOR THE WOR-

SHIP OF God.
Charity, to he fully efficient, must be
wisely regulated ; and the charity that

will give to the necessities of the ^lody

does not proportion its gifts to the urgency

of the claims upon it, is wanting in that
wisdom which is from above. Let prudence ever guide the hands of your cha-

because the exigences of the

one are obvious and palpable to the senses
of the unconverted man
but the exigences of the soul can only be known to

rity, to

give to objects in proportion to

it

is

only the Christian

man who

will

give, from conviction, to the exiger.ees of

the soul

him who

own

conscious of the exigences ot

is

momentousness and their magnitude.

There are objects of a temporal
nature momentous and deeply affecting.

his

To

education, for the conveyance of the light

their

build alms-houses for the aged and

the destitute;

to

rear

asylums

for the

insane; to support dispensaries for afford-

ing medicine

for

the sick;

to erect in-

firmaries for the reception of the

;

if eternity

his lifetime,

is

his interests

and his destinies all centring there ; if,

as man is found in this world, he is found
in that world
then the charity that has
to do with the soul and its eternal inte;

rests, as far transcends the charity

to

charity

nearest to the charity of

incarnate

shall be proclaimed to every crea-

coming of our Lord,

then to provide for the preaching of that
ture before the last

gospel in

its

simplicity and purity

to

the

Further

in

if,

order that the solemni-

zation of the ordinances

of religion be
accompanied with

decently conducted,
prayers and

the

that

fitting,

the

praises

God may be

that

glorified

there should be decent and

fit

by

are
it,

houses of

prayer, (and though, in early times, the

rock and wilderness might form the
place of ministration, or a highway, that
yet, at least,

it

were

a reflection on our Christian country, a

upon the preaching of the goson our gratitude to Gof,

if it were necessary thus to drive the
gospel abroad, as it were, and not to furreflection

pel, a reflection

nish a place for the tabernacle for the ark

of our

God)

then, assuredly, to furnish

of prayer, decent, suitable, and

prepared for the ministration of the gospel,

of time, but to heal the

bly,

immortal Spirit, and furnish it for the

ages of eternity. Therefore, the charities
that are designed to instruct the ignorant,
to illuminate the dark mind, to convey

is

sublimest charity.

God houses

who came from heaven

sometimes employs

of heaven to the heart, yet, after all, it is

by the ministration of his word that he
most glorifies his name. If, indeed, the

earth, not to heal the body, or provide for

the exigences

God uses sometimes

which seed might be sown,

do with the body alone, as eternity

transcends time, and the deathless spirit
outweighs the tenement that it inhabits.
Therefore, if charity is to be guided by
discretion, and discretion is to be informed by Scriplure, the charity that has
to do with men as immortal beings, is the
has

Further: though

the written word, and

wounded gospel

and the maimed to deal out our bread to

the hungry, our water to the thirsty, our
garments to the naked these are exercises
of the charity that delights in doing
good. But if man be not the creature of
time, but a candidate for eternity
if his
nature involves not merely the tent of
clay, but a Spirit deathless as Deity

soul.

and the worship of the public assemis,

of

Christian

all

charities, perhaps, that a

man can

promote, the noblest,

and most exalted, and the most acceptable to God
for it is, of all means, the
:

most

likely,

humanly speaking,

that

God

GOD THE BESTOWER OF ALL GOOD

v/ill

make

effectual to the

salvation of oracles of God.

and the perfecting of his saints.

Beloved brethren, let not this be
thought a strongor assertion than may be
borne out by truth. Surely I may apply
the observation to many that surround
Biiiiiers,

me, and say,

Is not your

GIFTS.

own

parish a

am

237

Beloved brethren,

it ia

the truest charity for time, as well as for

eternity

for the

There

soul.

is

body as well

as for the

a liberality, a prudence,

a forethought, a truth

let there

be up-

rightness, and these will all follow in the

train

of

the

blessed gospel

of Christ

Let there be but this in any

pressing?
Can you not testify, that population, and you diminish the amount
since that revered individual whom God of poverty, destitution, and crime, and
has exalted now to such a vast scene of the amount, consequently, of evil, and
ministration (may that God, who has ensure the amount of social happiness
called him to it, give him strength in pro- you make more little cottages bright and
portion to his day, that like a fine setting happy ; you make more fathers and mosun, his last days may be his brightest) thers to train up their children in peace
can you not testif}', that since that and love, in uprightness and honour
revered individual, in the providence of and thus, my dear brethren, you leaven
God, had the oversight of the affairs of the mighty mass of our population.
this vast population of your, at that Every church where the gospel is faithtime, destitute, and very much neglected fully preached, is, as it were, a little pool
parish ; and since, the good hand of his of Bethesda, from whence go forth healQod with him, he has been able to give ing waters to heal the salt desert, and to
willingly himself, and you, his people, cure the corrupting marshes, that before
were enabled to give willingly also, and stagnated around that locality. Therecheerfully, to the service of God, and fore we may appeal to your own observayou have seen on the right hand and on tion, and to the matter of fact in this
the left hand, the houses of prayer, with parish, whether the erecting of temples
their heaven-pointed spires and their to the glory of God, and for the minisdecent turrets, and you have heard the tration of the gospel, be not the most
sound of the Sabbath-speaking bell, sublime and noble charity that can eninviting your wandering and Sabbath- gage the heart and the hand of the Chrisdesecrating population to bend their steps tian man.
Beloved brethren, our brethren without
can you not witness
td the holy waters
that since then, there has been a mighty the pale of the establishment in this parish,
reformation within your parish ; and can I believe, have also set you an example.
you not say yourselves, that many of you, I wish not that their temples were fewer,
then strangers to the method of salvation, I wish that yours were increased tenhave been gathered home by the great fold ; and that, instead of keeping behind
Shepherd ; and that many who laughed the population, as is usually the case, the
at religion, now fear it; and that many places of prayer went before the congrewho blasphemed the holy Jesus, now gation and that thus there were ready
praise his holy name ; and many that furnished the apparatus of spiritual and
were hastening to hell, are now travelling moral improvement. Then indeed there
to heaven ; and many that were dead in would be hope that we should have our
sin, are alive to God ; and that many that population springing up in the fear of
were without God and without hope in God. Then we should have more hope
the world, are now children of God, and that that blessed exhortation of the aposAnd I may tle, that was read in our ear this morning,
heirs of everlasting life"?
appeal to yoursel ves,whether you have not would be carried into effect, that all men
a plain, an ocular demonstration, that would be loved, that God would be
there is no charity to be compared to that feared, and that the king would be howhich furnishes houses of prayer, if noured.
Beloved brethren, let me remind you,
those houses of prayer be occupied with
ministers that speak according to the the church of England has been verily
living illustration of the argument I

Jesus.

THE BRITISH

238

PULPIT.

home to }'our minds, to

worship, which, up to a very late period speak to you thus plainly and publicly.
disgraced her.
I say advisedly, dis- If those who are rich
net poor in heart,
graced her. Had it not been for those not with the poverty at which God looks,

guilty in the restrictions as to places of ing the subject

suicidal restrictions, a large proportion,

but with

that

poverty which makes a

say one moiety, of all

without her pale, would

man spend all on himself, who has not so

much nobleness or generousness of heart

have been within her blessed enclosure:

we should have had their little turrets,
and we should have had the Sabbathspeaking bell echoing from them. She
has driven many from her bosom by not
providing room for them
for, however
you may think you have provided suffi-

given him, that he can feel any ha|ipiiiesB

in giving to God, but spends all upon his

ciently, there are individuals in the situa-

the individuals that are indeed poor for

might venture

to

now

the chapels

tion of one

who

dred times better, by waiting

see,

think

to

therefore,
it

at this

room

God

paltry self, and csn have no concep

Lord
any such are here,

tion of the duty of giving to the

who gave him

I

all

if

would say, 0, you are the objects of

pity: you are, indeed, the mendicants

has borne testimony that eternity.

she has been long resident here, and has

sought in vain a solitary sitting for herself,
in the church of England.
If that individual had been driven into the arms of
dissent, w-e could hardly have blamed
her; though she would have done a hunpleased

own

it

had

and

until

disciple

You God
however you may love

open a door
that

till

0, never rest satisfied till y lu,

by the grace of God, taste the love of
Christ; making you love one another;
until you are led to feel the impulse and
the power of that motive of the apostle,
" The love of Christ constraineth us ;"

for her.

well supplied, in reality there

moment urgent

is

necessity for more

you can

feel the appeal of that

whom Jesus

loved, " Beloved, if

so loved us, then should

one another."

love of
cross

God

of

as

it

You must
is

we
find

also

the

manifested in the

Christ, the love

of

God

in

church of England.
Hear choosiTig you, calling you, redeeming
her crying to you, her children, " Length- you, accepting you, sanctifying you, gloen my cords, and strengthen my stakes, rifying you and then, brethren, it cannot
that I may gather to my bosom the multi- be but you will love one another.
tude of my multiplied children." If the
To the poor I would say, to my Chrischurch of England had allowed the tian brethren who have little to give,
principle of voluntary charit)' in her breast Give of that little, and God will esteem it
more liberty, you may rest assured, that much. If you give it to him with a
it would have wrought more powerfully heart overflowing with love, a heart which
within her and we might have looked to he has given to many a poor man, then
our temples, and said. Here are the fruits may your Saviour say to you, as he said
of voluntary love in the church of Eng- to the poor church of Smyrna, " I
in the

land.

So

far is

overlaying and

an establishment from

swamping

that principle,

it does but regulate its extravagances,

supply its deficiencies, and give it direct
and permanent energy.
Therefore, brethren, let us now prove,
that greater enlargement is given to us
for furthering the interests of the church
by multiplying her sanctuaries, that that
principle, though it may seem to have
been dormant, when not attended to, that
the fire was there, and only needed to be
allowed to kindle, that it might blaze
I am
forth in its beauty and splendour.
led, therefore, beloved brethren, in bring-

that

know thy poverty;

blessed

is

but thou art rich."

man of whom his

the poor

Saviour can say, " Thou art rich ;" for if

Christ makes us rich, we are rich indeed.
But without him, though the universe
were ours, we were poor, poor and perishing.
O, then, let the poor man be rich in
faith, rich in Christ, rich in contentment,
rich in love, rich in charity; and he has
no cause to envy his richer neighbours;
but rather to bless God that he has not
put him ofFwith the riches tbr.t perish, but
given him the imperishable riches of his
grace.

Christian brethren, I wonld plead with

GOD THE BESTOWER OF ALL GOOD

GIFTS.

239

you on behalf of that house of prayer, that has given you all that you have.
which you through the liberality that Whatever of intellect, whatever of call-

God has given

you, have so far raised,

by your liberality, will fit
and furnish as becomes the temple of
God. You have well done in that which
you have done; and assuredly whatever
you have given for that object, will not
cost you a paiig upon your death-bed.
You have spent much in other ways that
you will look back on then with shame,
alann, and contrition ; but for what you
have s^iven to God, from love to God, in
order that your poorer brethren might
become rich through the knowledge of
Christ Jesus, you will thank God and
say, " Who am I, and what am I, that I
and,

trust,

whatever of strength, whatever of

whatever of comfort, whatever of
domestic endearment you possess, all
this give him ; and you may be assured
you will not have too much to give to
God. What you keep back unduly from
him, that you lose ; what you give, out
of love to him, that you save.
O, be
misers there ; be avaricious there
you
cannot have too much treasure before you
in heaven.
For a man to have it said of
ing,

riches,

him when he dies, "Such a man has left

behind him hundreds of thousands" how
would angels read this on his tomb
They would view it as a mill-stone that
should be enabled to give thus willingly sunk him deeper in hell, if he had saved
to please my GoJ ! for all things come of it by robbing his God, and thus robbing
Angels would
thee, and of thine own have I given his own immortal spirit.
read it
Christian humility would
thee."
if

am

told, brethren,

that the

locality

where that new structure is raised, is one

where it is especially needed. I am told
poor around it are casting towards it many a fond look of expectation,
and are gladly expecting the time when
that the

it

will open its doors to

welcome them

to

hear the glad news of salvation. I may

add, too, without presumption, from considerable personal

whom
fallen

him

his grace, and, in giving

given himself.

may God

knowledge of him on

that he who

is to minister in your
one that loves, I believe,
preach the gospel of Christ with
is

May you

him

that,

so give, and

so give to you, through Jesus

Christ our Lord.

PROSPECTS OF AFRICA.

the choice of your minister has

sanctuary,

allow it so to be written there

with joy
and gratitude, if it were said, He died
poor, for he had given all to God
and yet
given
rich, for God had given all to him

We

need no laborious and critical investigation to determine whether " Ethio-

pia shall soon stretch out her hands unto

and one God ;" no prying into the mystic counthat, from his long ministration amongst sels of heaven, to ascertain whether " the
you, his acquaintance with your habits, time to favour her, yea, the set time, be
his sympathy with your sorrows, has come."
Go to the colonies, where her
loves to

a fervent and devoted

spirit

especial aptitude to serve in that especial

ministration to

which he

is called.

So

that

can indeed assure you, as far as we may

judge of man, he will indeed serve the
Lord Christ amongot his poorer members
with devotedness of heart and soundness
of doctrine.
May the great Shepherd
and Bisliop of souls, that has called him
to a post of higher responsibilty, so succour him by his grace, and guide him by
his wisdom, that he may save himself,
and those that hear him
I

Christian brethren, I invite you then

to the honour and privilege of giving

something

to the great

God and Saviour

sons are in captivity ; scarcely is there

one of them where this society alone has
not one or two, in many, five or six sacred
buildings for worship and instruction devoted to their use, and which they regard
as peculiarly their own.
One colony
I

except.

Sacrilegious hands there rent

and denied to the negro

" house of prayer." But that is a
For the
solitary monument of shame.
congregations,
rest, in those crowded
it

to the earth,

his

in those spacious edifices, Ethiopia already " stretches out her hands unto

God," and, led

by

the

light

creates our Sabbaths, meets

which

us at the

THE BRITISH

240

PULPIT.

us, the benedictions of the

chase such instruments

tion could form them?

and the

principle of

same throne of

grace, and receives, with

common Father
common Saviour. And the pro-

human

What educaWhat implanted

action,

where wealth,

and honour, and ease, are all absent,

could send them forth 1
They are the
instruments of Heaven, prepared to our
hand and for our use, and indicating, by
the very nature of their preparation, lire
tribes are already in the fold, and hear and special use to which we are to apply
They are the agents to carry forth
love the voice of the great Shepherd. them.
the front our charities to the heathen, to bear our
hail you as our brethren
ranks of all those swarthy tribes which light into the darkness we pity, and our
are deeply buried in the vast interior of mercy into the misery over which we
an unexplored continent, you stretch out sigh. Without them we should sigh in
your hands unto God, as a signal for the vain, and our sympathies would termiand the signal shall nate in ourselves; by them we reach and
tribes beyond you
be followed, and every hand of thy relieve the case of destitute millions, and
millions, Africa shall raise itself in devo- transmit the blessedness of which we
tion to thy pitying Saviour, and every lip are anxious that all should partake.
shall, ere long, modulate accents of grate- Thus, man is made a saviour to his felful praise to thy long-concealed but faith- low, and the creature of a day the instrument of conveying blessings which
ful God.
God is eminently with us in this have no bound but a limitless eternity
' labour of love ;" nor is it the least imitself!- i?. Watson.

dawning upon parent

Africa also. Hottentots, CafTres, Boschuanas, Namaquas, Corranas, Griquas, in
the south, Bulloms, Foulahs, and Mandingos, in the west, some of all your

phetic promise

is

We

portant of the indications of his presence,

that he

whose prerogative

it

is to

send
AMBIGUOUS PREACHING.

forth labourers into this harvest is con-

On coming

ducting the steps of so many into the

African field that a number of holy men,
from year to year, have infused into their

liked the sermon of Dr. B. "

hearts a special compassion for this race,

said he,

out of church,

asked Mr.
how he

P., a distinguished pious lawyer,

I

think, sir,"

" that it comes under the third

" How so 1" said L "A certain

and prefer to ease at home, and the peace head.''''

and credit of the Christian ministry in French preacher," he replied, after a
their native land, the danger, the toil, and long and pompous introduction, said, " I

which still attend the shall now proceed, my hearers, to divide

work of negro instruction. Let the me- my subject into three parts. 1. I shall
mory of those who have finished their tell you about that which I know, and
work be blessed of those who have burnt you do not know. '2. I shall tell you
in fevers, languished in prisons, sustained about that which you know, and I do not
with meekness the scoffs and jests of the know. And 3, and lastly, I shall tell
impious, and sunk into a premature you about that which neither you nor I
how much preaching
grave. Their "reward is on high," and know,"--Alas
And, as " comes under the third head !" How
their " work with their God."

the reproaches,

who now endure

when Paul supplies the text, has

Tully, Plato, Epictetus ta\ight! ilf there
was more simple, plain prc/iching to the

the cross and

whether they labour under the
suns of the West Indies, or in western

often,

Africa breathe pestilential

conscience,

to those

glory in

it,

air,

southern parts of that continent

hills

and through deserts, "

to save that

which

to

or in the
toil

over

seek and
these be

is

with us.

What

of

an

ostentatious

to

no

profit

we

should see more faithful,

more done to
advance the mild kingdom of peace.
gold could pur- Friend of Plain Truth.

is lost," let

witnesses to us, on the part of God, that

he

instead

display of learning, or strife about words

consistent Christians, and

SERMON XXVI.
GOD THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS.

BY THE REV.

" Without

God

in the world."

" The fool hath said in his heart, There

no God." A fool, indeed, he must be
for an idea more pregnant with all that is
horrible, I confess myself unable to conis

ceive.

reason

do not mean

though,

in that respect, the indi-

vidual v^ho cherishes

"

itated a

may be denomispeak of its fatal

it

fool ;" but I

influence on all that

No God

mind.

is

dear to the

Banish, then,

fidence in the present,

future

all

human
all

con-

faith on the

a lawless chance presides in the

The

universe.
fixed

contrariety to

its

sun knows no

glorious

government

or, if it

LEGG. A.M.

G.

rules the day,

Eph.

ii.

but shapeless masses and

;
I hear but the roar of

I see

alarm.

12.

spectral horrors

elements, and

am myself tossed,

God

dance.

There

there is required but a contrary bias in

night

clothed with

matter, and

it shivers into a thousand

motes, destined but to blind.
Order, whose voice is heard by the stars
in their courses, is expelled from its

distils

fantastic

repose

God

and sheds

its

heavenly light around us,

and chaos exults in their con-

throne,

And

fusion.

life

which

life

is

seen

whirled,

and agonized in the fathomless profound.

No God The thought is enough to scare
reason from its throne, and to despoil the
intellect of its every power.
But the sentiment in connexion with the
text conveys the truth that there is a
God and the thought is the return of
There is a God
life, and order, and joy.
and, therefore, spring brightens into the
beauty of summer and autumn, in its
season, comes with the horn of abunis

is

its

and, therefore,

starry garb, and

on our eyelids the blessing of

and day comes with the rod of
its power, unveiling the face of nature,
and opening the sources of joy. There is
a

and, therefore, love

still

warms

our spirits, and animates us yet more and

waving in the beauteous verdure of the more. There is a God of the present;
field, which is felt thrilling and throbbing and, therefore, our earth runs its course
in our hearts, and seems to glow through- through the heavens, and marks its periout the universe;

life

expires and sinks

into torpor, or disappears in anguish

despair.

No God

when some

know

and

not, then,

ods of revolution until

all

the purposes of

And God

beneficence are accomplished.

is,

no

God

less, a

of the future, inhabiting

eternity
and never shall the light of his
wide countenance cease to smile on creation,
around I know not when some monster until the voice from his throne is heard
shall spring from the womb of nature, to diffuse happiness which eye hath not
whose errand shall be pestilence and seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man

of the planets shall rush from

their spheres, and spread destruction

death I know

man

not

when

the passions of

and all this confusion become worse confounded.

No
My mind seems torn from its
God
centre, and all nature to feel conscious
shall

be

let loose,

Vol. II.31

conceived.

How

delightful

the

deration that such a Being there

who has

given us

enjoy, and at

all

whose

sures for evermore

is

consi

One

things richly to

right hand are plea;

One with whom

241

is

THE BRITISH

242

PULPIT.

whom

world it is possible to live without any

mental recognition of him, without any
Without God ] Surely the idea is impos- individual consciousness of relation to
By him all that is was made by him. The rational spirit of man may be
sihie.
him all that is subsists in him we live, so absorbed in the materialism around a?
His never to cast a glance to the Author of all f
and move, and have our being.
eye is on the smile of the child, and his and the immortal spirit may be so swepl
glance on the tenderness of the mother. down by the current of circumstances as
life, and witlinut
Without whom, did

the fountain of

death

all is

His

say

are the tones of a friend, and his the

to

have no perception of

him,

to the

kingdom of

a will, a

name

of

Of him, and

its

relationship

no presentiment
existence of its dependence on the Most High.
and by him, are all things
And though so complete a degradation
without him is, therefore, impossible
nature had its birth in his smile, and his be not ours; though there is generally
He among our race some hallucination of the
emile alone perpetuates its course.
willed it, and we came into being; he Deily, and some vague anticipation of
the future, yet it is a melancholy fdct,
wills it again, and we die.
While God has given to the inferior that, as to the greater portion of our race,
animals existences which yield to the there is no prominency of any consciouoimpulse of nature, and passively fulfil his ness respecting him, that deserves the
voice of a parent.

to

spirits,

pleasure, he has given to

man

This was the

life.

state of the

mind, which places him first in the scale Ephesians, to whom the apostle wrote;
of being; and while divine Providence and, alas! my hearers, we fear this may
conducts him to fulfil his destined end, be the case with some of you. V e shail
he can be conscious of all this he can endeavour, this evening, to exhibit what
he can, with the un- is included in being without God and
appreciate all this
derstanding, know the relation in which we shall do so in order that those who
he stands to God himself. He can rise feel a consciousness that such is their
above the scenes of this earth, and survey condition may be aware of its character
the revolutions and dependencies of the and its consequences, and may be brouglit

heavenly bodies, trace their courses, and

ascertain their periods.
He can rise
above nature altogether, and wing his
flight to nature's God, and survey him in
his perfections, rejoice with him in his
works, and participate with him in his
love.
Thus can he walk and dwell with
God ; this is the high distinction with
which reason is privileged. This privilege the angels enjoy in heaven, because they have been made like God
;

this

was

the highest privilege of our

sire in the

first

garden of Eden; and can you

conceive a greater dignity, or a diviner

to regard the system
blessing than this ]

nigh by the blood of Christ.

We

it is

any

First, It is to be ivithuut

reference

being and beneficence ; and, secondly,

ivithuut any regard to his authority and

to his

will.

First,

we

say,

it

not to have

God

to be

is

reference to his being

and

is

common with the angels, and in common with your Head. Can there be any

reign claim on our homage.

We

in

without any

beneficence.

of things as tbe empire of Omnipotent

Love, and to feel that you have an interest
in

What

shall consider, first.

TO BE WITHOUT GoD IN RELATION TO THE

present; and then, What it is to be
WITHOUT God in relation to the future.
In answer to the first question. What
IS IT TO BE WITHOUT GoD IN RELATION
TO THE PRESENT, WC Say,

all

It

our thoughts.

are his creatures, and he has a sove-

We

have

re-

ceived innumerable benefits at his hands;

dignity greater than this, or aught that

he has given us every demonstration of

can pour sublimer joy into the mind? his being, and his goodness meets us at
This is, indeed, to be an heir of God. every turn. Whether we examine the
But, while this is the high distinction of minutiae or the magnitude of this world

man,

it

has

its

reverse, and

to live in this sense

it

without

is

possible

God

in the

whether we regard the petals of a flower,

or measure the refulgent sun that gives it

GOD THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS.

l)loorti

W'hether

welook on

insect, or contemplate the

we

divine; whether

ment,

how

it

the ephemeral

human form

look at a single ele-

imparls

its

influence, or at

whom we may

243
that all their

not say,

hearts, and souls, and minds, and strength

are

the

world's entirely

into the world

Man comes

an object of sense, and

matures

into

nature

carnal

being of sense.
His
he is altogether of the
power; in either view we have abundant earth, earthly. No sooner is his conand sciousness awake, than all his senses
demonstration of the being of God
waken too. His passions and emotions
he, how great and good
But what personal experience has each afterwards arise, and throw around a
reason advances in its
of us had of his being and goodness] To sweeter charm
whom do we owe our rank in the scale of majesty ; but still sense is ascendant.
being] our reason in its glorious pow- The prospect of worldly good arouses all
The genius of
ers 1
our emotions with all their objects ? the energies of his mind.
the whole

system of nature,

in

all

its

variations, as the display of omnipotent

is

Whose wing was over us in ihe days of

Who shielded us in the impeinfancy]
and in whose
tuous career of youth]
strength do we this evening stand ]
Surely all these are the expressions of

the earth (so to speak) has thrown its

and
be a chain,
though wreathed with flowers, he grasps
it in his hand still, and will not let it go.
This is the melancholy fact this is the
his goodness and truth; to him we are
indebted for all.
And, standing in this nature of man. He is entirely devoted
place, can I forget for a moment to whom to objects that are seen and temporal, to
we are indebted f)r the gospel, the pros- the utter disregard of things that are
for Jesus unseen and eternal. This is the character
pect of life and immortality]
And
Christ, the author of eternal salvation to of the vast majority of our race.
all who believe]
Here we have not only let me ask you and be not offended that
whether this be not the chagiven to us an exhibition of the perfec- I ask you

chain around

immortal

the

however you may show

it

spirit;

to

tions of
tn

God, but those

in a direct relation

ourselves, imbodied in an act which

stands alone in the history of the world,

and

in the

annals of eternity; he spared

own Son.

you sustain ] Is God supreme in

your thoughts, or is the world the subject
Do you
of your chief contemplations?
walk in the light of God's countenance,
or are you led captive by the wicked one
at his pleasure ] You rise in the morning,
and look abroad with invigorated strength.
Let me ask you if your thoughts then
aspire to Him whose you are, and whom
you ought to serve ] You sit around the
table, and partake of nature's feast, and
do
the gifts of nature are in your hands
your thoughts aspire to Him on whom all
depend ] You engage in the business of
the world, and object after object crowds
racter

This is his greatest

and most transcendent gift. All these
wc have received from his hand ; and
they should excite the most adoring
admiration, and the most fervent love.
Nothing less than such admiration and
euch love constitute the relation in which
we stand to God these he claims, and
these we ought to render.
But where are we to look for this admiration and for this love]
When have
they been rendered ] Shall we look at on your attention
not his

we

Him, whose

do you then remember

the wheels of provi-

look for them in the

nnsophisticated simplicity of childhood,

dence, and

or the fiery ardour of youth, or the staid

and who worketh

our race]

sobriety of

Shall

manhood

ter of the child

all

its

Mark

the charac-

do you not discover in

nothing but sense]

evolutions

Obs(;rve the youth, in

all

the superfluity

energy; and what do you find

but the same expression of materialism,
adorned perhaps with fancy] And, in
manhood, how few are there, respecting
ef

liis

are

all

counsel of his

the

all

mazes of circumstance,

own

all

will

things
]

And

after

the

again the

shades of night return, and the world is

shut from your view, and goodness and
mercy are still your portion: do you then,
in faith and love, rise to Him who has
preserved you, asking pardon for the past,
and confiding in him for the future] O,
my hearers, with how few of our fellow

THE BRITISH

244
beings

is

this

How many

the specimen of a day

who, from day to

day, and from week to week, live without

God

are there

in the

world

without Him who

ought to be the centre of the soul But the

love of pleasure, or the love of riches, or
the love of honour, is the superior emotion
!

of your soul ; and thus God is banished

from your presence, and your spirits have
no share in his love.
Is not this a degraded condition'? You
are, in this state, far removed from the
However moral
highest style of man.

you

may

be

however
may

intellectual

you

or

most
deplorable and most ignoble. While you
remain without thoughts of God, you are
exiled from a place more brilliant than
ever imagination can conceive while you
respectable you

be

are

continue without a sense of surrounding

goodness, you are excluded from a parathe

dise,

loveliness of

entered the

mind

to

which

imagine.

And can

the immortal soul thus be satisfied

of the world

who

ye

never

it

children of sense

are reckless of your fate,

we

Men

ye

conjure

PULPIT.

therefore,

first sire

discourse of

turous

beheld

expression of infinite
heard it in the rap-

the

is

Our

love.

of Eden.

Much

the

and
bowers
the glow

seraphs,

the immortal

its effects in

still felt in

is

of holy feeling, in the nobleness of selfeffort, and in all the good with
which our world abounds; and it shall
be felt most illustriously in the celestial
world, whose builder and whose maker
is God.

denying

You

perceive that, in our obedience to

this will, there can be

what

He

of

is the state

man

no hardship; but
in relation to it?

has not rendered unto

him

nor worshipped

God

his due,

beauty of holiness he has broken his bands asunder,

and cast away his cords from him. This
law included the whole of our nature; it
in the

would have
all

filled

the understanding with

great and beautiful forms

it

would

have filled the heart with all pure and

ennobling emotions it would have filled
the life with all good and glorious doings.
;

But where

is

man who has

who has acted

the

thus to God, or

rendered
in

every

awake; by other relationship according to the will

the love of the King of heaven, and the of God ]
W^ho is there that cannot take
destiny he has given you to fulfil, to up the language of Jehovah, " They are
awake from the degradation of your state, all gone aside they are altogether betear the veil from your eyes, burst the come filthy
there is none that doeth
!"
fetters that hold you to the earth, and good, no, not one
become, each of you, an heir of heaven
There are two classes involved in this

you, by

all

that

you

love, to

We

remark, in the second place, that, charge those who have the semblance of
be without God, is to live without any good, and those who are destitute of every
regard to his authority and to his will. appearance of it. To the first class belong
This is an inevitable conclusion from the those whose honour is unstained, and
preceding position. Being strangers to whose integrity is unimpeached, and
the character and perfections of God, it is whose beneficence pours forth blessings
of necessity that you are disregarding on every hand.
do not blame men
his authority and his will.
The idea for possessing these attributes religion
furnishes the most serious considera- would impart them to all ; but these virtions, and may lead to the most important tuous qualities may be the result of a
results.
generous love, or they may be mere a$To be without God is to be without sumpiion and pretence. In either case,
regard to his authority and will.
they increase and aggravate the guilt
are the creatures of God, and are bound and, so far from diminishing the doom,
His they will enhance it in seven-fold fierceto yield obedience to his laws.
authority is founded on the relationship ness.
For, if they be the result of a
that exists between him and us, as the mere generous nature, there is a deeper
Creator and the creature ; and his will is responsibility involved ; there should be
the expression of that authority. The more ardent thanksgiving, and more deessential feature in his will is the exhi- voted service
and if the authority of
bition of sovereign love; and his law, God be disregarded while these qualities
to

We

We

GOD THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS.

are cherished, then the nature
tion

is

merely

If they be assump-

a lrightf\il deformity.

245

the beatified and glorious host of heaven.

Be

we

reconciled,

beseech you

and pretence, the mere garb of a more down your weapons of

interested and selfish purpose, they are

indeed contemptible

tiiey are their

own work

condemnation, and " He that sitteth in

heaven shall laugh the Lord shall have
:

them in derision."
But far more numerous

give yourselves to him.

cast

"This

and
the

is

of God, that ye believe

on him
whom he hath sent." Submityourselves
to his sway submission is no dishonour
;

it

is

rebellion,

gives to the angel his crown of glory,

the class of and to the saint his harp of love

it

is

who have not even the appearance of no degradation it gives birth to all the
good who have broken their bands asun- sympathies of heaven. " Seek, then, the
der, and cast away their cords from them. Lord while he may be found." " Consider
those

minds a civil war rages, and this, ye that forget God, lest he tear you
enmity against God ; and every aspect in pieces, and there be none to deliver."
We have now shown you what it is to be
of turpitude, and every perpetration of
guilt, proceed from these.
All these are without God in the worlds in reference to
the result of a disregard to the authority the providence, and in reference to the will
Nothing but that, as a fixed of God. We might marshal before you
of God.
the flood to
principle in the mind
a permanent, ever- the ministers of his wrath
the flames to conlasting principle in the mind, is adequate deluge your produce
the pestilence to
to control our nature, and harmonize its sume your dwelling
emotions. It is, indeed, the key-stone of snatch away your dearest friends. We
our moral nature, the centre of our social might show you the ravages of disease,
system. Remove it, and it is as if the stone and recount the shipwrecks of fortune,
which is the security of the arch were and the wastings of the desolating sword.
removed ; remove it, and it is as if the We might show what God has done to
sun were blotted from the sphere, and the vindicate his honour; we might set belaw of central gravitation annulled. The fore you the anguish of sorrow, the bitterauthority of God, as the presiding, domi- ness of remorse, the agonies of the worm
nant principle of the mind, has been that never dies, and the fire that is never
removed; and the consequence has been to be quenched. But this might not suit
This is the period
that all virtuous action has been para- universal experience.
lyzed, God is spurned, and his govern- of probation. God showers his blessings
ment treated with insult and dishonour.
on one class as well as on another his
Who is not involved in this charge ? rain descends on the unjust as well as on
In their

Where

is

the individual

that has

ever

been walking as seeing him who is invisible ? Who has held all his laws sacred ?

Let, then, the external circum-

the just.

stances of the unrighteous, or the

man

God, be what they

Who is there before me who has not lifted may, let every morning introduce him
his arm in rebellion against him ? It is a to a region where he may move in
solemn consideration: unless you have honour, or yield himself to worldly pleabeen subdued by the constraining love of sure ; let every evening present to him a
Jesus unless you have been made new round of delights, and night spread for
let his
creatures in him, the principles with him her soft couch of repose
which you were born which have grown present circumstances be all his heart
with your growth, and strengthened with can wish, so that he may say, " Soul,
your strength, have put you in a position take thine ease; eat, drink, and be
of opposition to God, have placed you at merry !" all this is but for a time ; in an
that

lives without

variance with the Most High.

Think,
my dear hearers, my fellow beings think
of the position in which, as sinners, you

hour
better

it

shall

had

it

come

been

to

for

an end and then,

if he had never
;

him

been born.

Having shown you, then, what it is to

whose hand are the thunders of omni- be without God, in relation to the present,
potence you are standing aloof from all we proceed now to show, very briefly,

are placed.

You

are at variance with

him

in

x2

THE BRITISH

346

PULPIT.

WHAT IT IS TO BE WITHOUT GoD IN RE- it all ] Who can tell :n^ wo of the Spiiit,
with its aspirations after bliss, cast away
LATION TO THE FUTURE.
We said, to be without God in relation from all bliss, banished to eternal wo ]
to the present was to be without any Who can tell the agony of its regret, and
regard to his being and beneficence, or the fierceness of its despair?
To be without God, in the future, is to
any regard to his authority and will. We
shall keep up the same idea, and say that, be without any regard to the authority of
And though this may appear at
to be without God, in reference to the God.
rather an unmeaning addition, yet if
you truly weigh and ponder its meaning;
authority (f if you reflect that it is the authority of

future, is to be without ai^y experience of

goodness

the

and

beneficence

without any regard

the

to

first

God

cf

God

God.

that sustains the pillars of heaven,

be without any experience of and maintains the bliss of the redeemed ;

the goodness and beneficence of God. Tell that it is the authority of God alone that
me, my hearers, what we shall have left preserves this world in a state of order,
when that goodness is withdrawn ] What and prevents the elements from running
to

It is

is

there in the* heavens above, or in the

earth beneath, or below the circling

what

into confusion

when we

reflect that the

waves absence of the authority of God would be

the entire abolition of the laws, and the

consequent unhingement of nature when
what is there in our you reflect on all this, you must perceive
the range of society
entire consciousness, that we do not owe in it the seeds of a burden of incompreWithout the hensible woes; it is, indeed, the very
to the beneficence of God ?
Without the authority
beneficence of God, farewell to the green essence of hell.
farewell to the of God, every element is unbridled, and
earth and the azure sky
every passion let loose. No authority of
stars of night and to the king of day
Then hail, ye doleful sounds of
farewell to the mountains where the eagle God
whirlwind and earthsits enthroned, and to the valley where elements confused
is

there in the frame of our bodies,

or in the constitution of our spirits, or in

farewell

Hail,
quake, flood and conflagration
ties of creation, to the treasures of hea- ye imps of darkness, miscreant shapes,
Without God
whose breath withers the soul, whose
ven, and the rolling year
And
Farewell, then, to all the charms of friend- yell rends every fibre of the heart

the beasts repose

beau-

to the

ship

to all the delights of charity

human kindness
pomp and circumstance of life

the exquisiteness of
all

the

to all

hail, too,

ye

foul beings, chiefs in hell,

ages past, were driven from hea-

to

who,

to

ven into the bottomless pit

in

But where is the reality of the picture I

ever soothed the melancholy spiNever more shall delight sparkle in have gazed on ? O, that shout of Satanic
O, that look of unutterable
never more shall the heart beat execration
the eye
high with conscious pride; never more contempt! Who but a madman would
all that

rit

shall the soul rise in the consciousness of desire

its

immortality.

The heavens

rolled together as a scroll

its

works

shall be

the earth and

my

Gone for
manly exploit

shall be burnt up.

to

live

authority of

a world

in

God

without the

dare not utter what

fancy would draw forth

but do, for
moment, think of a world in this condition
every spirit actuated by its own
;

;
ever shall be the theatre of
and of noble eflfort gone the chance of passions, every element pursuing

its

own

Gone, career. Think, what must be the condihappiness and ever-rising joys
Yes, from the sense, but tion of those involved in such a doom.
did I say?
!

never from the soul. Never shall the

vision of the splendid universe vanish
never shall the
from the mental eye
voice of blessed spirits cease to hum in
;

the ear.

And who

shall tell the

wo

spirit,

with

all

its

will

not penetrate farther into the

but we cannot
hear the cry which reverberates from the
pit for ever and ever; we cannot think of
;

of the agonies of the lost throughout eternity,

high
capacities of good, for ever banished from

the immortal

We

secrets of the dark abyss

without warning you to flee from the

wrath to come. If you are now living

GOD THE SOURCE OF HAPnNESS.

247

without God, live not another hour in hearers, we repeat again, " Seek ye the
Lord while he may be found call upon
BUch a condition.
There are before me those who have him while he is near ;" and he will bring
already recognised him as their Father himself near to you, and you shall become
and their portion and we call on them to the sons and daughters of the Lord God
awaken every power of thanksgiving- and Almighty
;

How

happy

which you are

raised

praise.

is
!

the condition to

How transcendent

which you have expe-

the deliverance

THE CHRISTIAN HOPE AN ANCHOR TO THE

SOUL.

rienced by being saved from these tre-

mendous woes

Before you

is

of iiappiness; awaken, then, every

a vessel

may blow,

are conscious that

is

at anchor,

power maybe dreadfully boisterous;

of thanksgiving and praise.

And you who

When

an eternity

the sea

wind

the

the tempest howl, and

you are waves heave; but

if

the

what

the ship be

they call sea-worthy, in a firm, stout constill living without God ; you who are
conscious that you are living without any dition, the cable sufficiently strong, and
recognition of his kindness, and of his the anchor struck deep into tenacious soil
love, as manifest in every situation of beneath, though she be most terribly tossed
you who are conscious that you are and buffeted about by the winds and the
life
waves, yet she rides in security on the
still living in violation of his laws, in;

sulting his

my

kingdom and

of your condition

he

may

his

be found

to

0,

think

Seek ye the Lord while

repair instantly to the

throne of mercy, on which

seated as the

honour

we beseech you

dear hearers,

Lamb

Immanuel

is

slain for the sin of

the world. Repair instantly to the mercyseat,

a stay

is

keeps her from driving among

rocks, and striking upon quick-sands; if
all be firm, and steady, and tight, she
rides upon the storm, and outbraves the
to

her,

tempest, severe as it may be.

admirable propriety and aptness

With
is

this

which has been sprinkled with the image made use of by the apostle himself,

blood that speaketh better things than the

blood of Abel. If you seek him, he will

be found of you
will cast

you

if

you forsake him, he

off into outer darkness, into

JVow

ceaseless misery, into eternal wo.

matter of choice with you to live

without God; hereafter it will be matter
it

surface of the deep, the anchor

is

of necessity.

Now

you choose

to

live

without God, without the God of holiness

and love; you choose to stand aloof from
him and all his joys; you choose to do

in

describing the actual

operation

and

The

best,

exercise of the Christian hope.

the most eminent, exemplary, and hopeful

Christians, while they are here, in

the world

selves

and

in

the body, find them-

by no means exempt from the

common

cares and evils of their fellow

men, nor exempt from the peculiar

lations of the Christian

life,

tribu-

the strug-

gles, the self-denials, the difRculties, the

conflicts of the Christian warfare.

They

O, what magnanimity! 0, what all find their great Lord's prediction veriheroism
You choose now to stand apart fied in one way 'or another: "In the
from the Eternal, the Glorious, and the world ye shall have tribulation." They
Divine the time is coming when you are in many cases, as it is scripturally
shall be obliged to stand apart; when, /or expressed, "tossed with tempests," on
ever, you shall stand aloof from all the the uncertain, turbulent, and changeful
glories of the divine character.
Now he ocean of life. But the question is, la
calls upon you
he lifts up his voice, he these circumstances, what do they actuestands liis hand ; you will not hear, you ally find the gospel hope to be to them ?
will not regard. The time is coming What is the essential end it answers to
when you shall call on him, but he will them 1 Does it still the storm as with a
not answer ; you shall stretch forth your word ] Does it rebuke the winds and the
hand, but he will disregard; nay, "he waves, and, as by miracle or magic, prowill laugh at your calamity, he will mock duce instantaneously a great calm, as
when your fear cometh!" O, my dear Christ did] No; in ordinary cases, it
this

THE BRITISH

248
does not

in

some very extraordinary be admitted, which would be very unsuit-

it may have done so: in

high-wrought descriptions from the
pulpit, by young, inexperienced orators,
it is sometimes represented as always
doing so; but this certainly is not the
ordinary experience of the most serious

ones, perhaps,

florid,

Christians

it

PULPIT.

was

not the ordinary expe-

able to a philosophical examination of the

evidence of principles. Were a metaphysician to produce a proof of the being of

God, he would satisfy himself with giving
a plain and conclusive argument for it;

but a preacher should set that argument

in a more popular light, that it may pro-

"Troubled on duce a sense of the divine existence, fit to

cast down, as remain with men, and to influence thera
He must turn every part into
sorrowful, as poor, as having nothing," in life.
is more frequently the language of their sentiment he must show that he himself
But the ordinary operation has a strong conviction of it he must net
experience.
of the Christian hope, is exactly that, to urge the argument in general, but must,
the renewed mind, which the anchor is to in every part of it, give a vie '' of some
rience even of apostles:

every side

persecuted

particular existence, and a lively picture

it is a stay and rest to
of the impressions of the Creator which
keeps the storm, as it were, at bay
the same proof which he repreit bears
it keeps the mind from being driven on
temptation, despondency, and destruction; sents, so as fully to convince the underthere is an humble, cheerful, consoling, standing, he must make to strike the
supporting sense of security amidst all, in imagination, and to touch the heart.
the promises, and consolations, and pro- Gerard.

the vessel at sea;

it; it

visions of the everlasting covenant.

other words, "

passeth

The peace

In

of God, which

understanding, keepeth

all

SEEK TO SAVE SOULS.

the

heart and mind, through Christ Jesus."

does not annihilate the cares, and conflicts, and troubles of life, nor ward off
their influence altogether, but keeps the
mind in some degree of security and
serenity in the midst of all.
Does not
this just correspond with your experience. Christians 1
Your hope is not the
It

actual accomplishment of every thing to

During

a recent voyage, sailing in a

heavy sea, near a reef of rocks, a minister
on board the vessel remarked, in a conversation between the man at the helm
and the sailors, an inquiry whether they
should be able to clear the rocks without

making another tack

when

the captain

gave orders that they should put

avoid

all

risk.

off",

to

The minister observed,

that we have so careful a
The captain replied, "It

you; you are not in the harbour; you " I am rejoiced

have not reached the eternal shore you commander."
have not actually entered into rest; you is necessary that I should be very carefind yourselves at sea still
and some- ful, because I have souls on board. J
;

times tossed and agitated not a little;

but your hope sticks by you as a fast and
steady friend.
Rev. T. N. Toller.

MINISTER

STYLE SHOULD BE POPULAR.

PREACHER

is

uot Confined to the ab-

think of my responsibility; and, should

any thing happen through carelessness, I
should have a great deal to answer for:
I wish never to forget, sir, that souls are
very valuable!" The minister, turning
to

some of

his congregation,

who were

upon deck with him, observed,

"The

and cold method of argumentation, captain has preached me a powerful serbut may throw in whatever tends to make mon I hope I shall never forget, when I
the force of the argument better felt, or am addressing my fellow creatures on the
In concerns of eternity, that I have souls on
to render it fitter to touch the heart.
such sermons, a degree of ornament may board .'"
stract

SERMON

XXVII.

THE BLESSED RESULTS OF PERSEVERING PRAYER.

BY THE REV.

'

And

he spake a parable unto them to this end, that

faint."

The

J.

character under

Luke

GOOD.

men ought always

to

pray, and not

to

xviii. 1.

which the psalm- ardent aspirations of prayer and

Nor do

praise.

speak of those kindly and pleaPsalm, is "Thou that hearest prayer." surable emotions of godly sorrow, workHe sets this character of God especially ing repentance unto salvation never to be
These are indeed very prebefore him, when he would approach his repented of.
throne, as his encouragement so to do. cious emotions, they are rich in blessings
And it appears from the following verses to the soul ; but they are usually brief,
in that psalm, that sin lay, at the time, merely occasional refreshings by the
heavy upon his mind. He immediately way, to support us under the general
We are ready to say
realizes God's readiness to hear the ruggedness of it.
prayer of his humble suppliant, that he at such times, " Master, it is good for us
might have confidence to come to him, to be here." But it is not so, or we
and cast his burden down, where alone should certainly enjoy more of such seahe had any prospect of relief "Iniqui- sons. In truth, if such communion with
ties prevail against me ; as for our trans- God was ordinary with the soul, it would
gressions, thou shalt purge them away." be more like that sensible communion,
But it is very necessary, my brethren, which is reserved for a future state but
that we should have the same persuasion " the just shall live by faith ;" and this
Prayer is true of every particular respecting it.
that it is not in vain to pray.
ist

addresses

God,

in

the

sixty-fifth

is

as essential to the life of the soul as

"The

just shall

live

by faith"

his

one of prayer must be a prayer of faith, not of

the very first acts of spiritual life as it sense, and by the engaging of the soul in
was said of Saul of Tarsus " Behold this exercise I mean our steadfast conhe prayeth." There was an evidence tinuance in our patient waiting on God,
that he was a spiritual man, a converted in the unshaken conviction of his faithfulAnd it is the principal ordinance ness and love, whatever be our measure
being.
appointed by God for maintaining spiritual of sensible enjoyment, by it we bring
bread

is for

the body.

Prayer

is

life in

vigour, and for bringing

it

to

ma- honour

suppose that there is nothing,

by which we form so true an estimate of
our spiritual condition at any time, as by
the enjoyment of our souls in this allimportant exercise.
I speak not here of sensible enjoyment
turity.

in

prayer,

when

lively feelings of devotion,

our hearts burn within us, and our

tongues catch the holy flame, and the

whole soul is poured forth unto God in

Vol.

n. 32

to God. It is, assuredly, the evidence of spiritual health and strength,

and of no small measure of divine grace,
in

those in

We

whom

it is

found.

are such creatures of sense, that

the best of us, the most spiritual

us, are not half

awake

among

to spiritual things.

We are continually prone

to live

more on

our feelings in religion, than on the simple word of truth ; and when God shuts

us up to this, so that

we have

nothing

849

THE BRITISH

350
but his word
hopes, and
our hearts

to

of truth to animate our

support our courage, then

fail

up prayer; and
up,

it

is

us,
if

we are
we give

ready

to

give

not entirely

it

turned into bitter lamentation,

complaining, and desjjonding we expect,

in fact, nothing from it.
But our gracious Lord well knew the
;

PULPIT.

who

alone could redress the

woman,

this

wrong of
which

in virtue of the office

he sustained, was totally devoid of feelIt was vain to hope,

ing or principle.
because of the justice of her plea, because of any guilt in the sight of God,
or public scandal

among men,

that

might

attach to the neglect of an appeal that

and discouragements which

cause us to grow weary and to faint in
this duty, and here he sets himself to
their removal.
And, in his admirable
acquaintance with the spring and action
of the human heait, he is not contented
with a bare exhortation to the duty of
persevering in prayer, but, with wonder-

was so reasonable, Vvhich came from one

whose destitute condition demanded pewe are told, he " fearculiar sympathy
ed not God, neither regarded man."
There was no such thing as touching
him by those common arguments and
motives, which would address them-

he sets here before us a case, in

which the extreme of helplessness on
the one hand, and a heartless and cruel
indifference on the other, are combined
and by simply stating, what all men see

to the feelings of

difficulties

ful skill,

selves, generally, either to the fears or

circumstances so hopeless, he
brings home the appeal with irresistible
energy to every soul whether it is posin

sible,

where God

is

the party on the one

Such, then, was

one who " feared not God, neither regarded man," and the only person, in
virtue of his office, who could relieve her.

Now,

to be, the natural result of importunity,

even

men.

the character of the person appealed to

consider further the case of the

applicant.

may have

Men, who long sue in vain,

in their power to prevail at

it

the last; or, if they cannot succeed of

themselves, their friends

hand, and the people of his love on the

their

other, that their cry shall be ultimately

influence,

may

take up

cause; and family interest, family

may
we have a

at

length

prevail.

But

poor destitute and friendMay the spirit of Jesus, my brethren, less widow. Argument she has none,
cause us to feel the force of this striking helpers she has none, and, as we have
similitude; may he encourage us by it seen, hope from the character of the
to never-wearying, never-ceasing prayer, judge she could have none; her sole rethough every thing in us, around us the source was, then, to come from day to
word of God, the providence of God, the day, and use the same appeal Avenge
long-continued silence of God, may seem me of mine adversary.
" They shall not be
to be against us
Alas, my brethren, how awful is the
disregarded.

here

ashamed

that wait for

Consider,

me."

in the first place,

which we cannot omit, though

indeed foreign to our immediate pur-

reflection,

The case

PUT BY OUR BLESSED LoRD IN THE PARABLE BEFORE US.

Secvndly, The exceeding encouragement WHICH IT IS CALCULATED TO AFFORD US.
First, The case put hy our blessed Lord.
" There was in a city a judge, which
feared not God, neither regarded man
and there was a widow in that city, and
she came unto him, saying. Avenge me
of mine adversary." Now mark, how, in
the circumstance here mentioned, there
was every kind of discouragement. First,
in the character of the person to whom
the application was made.
The man
;

it

is

pose

say,

how

awful

is

the reflection,

that such a picture as this should be one

drawn from real life. Inhere are not a

few, like this wicked judge,

who

take

advantage of the friendless and powerless

condition of the widow, and the orphan,
the weak in sex, or age, or circumstances,
to injure them, as they suppose, with imforgetting or despising the eye
punity
of Him, who has described himself the
father of the fatherless, the judge of the
widow, and as God, in his holy habitation, who has declared himself judge of
all such
their Redeemer is mighty, he
shall plead their cause for them.
;

THE BLESSED RESULTS OF PERSEVERING PRAYER.

But to return. If we were addressingsuch a person, what could we say to her;
nuy, what in general might we suppose,
Of what
fjiat she should say of herself ]
use is it that I should cry to this man
jvhat hope can I possibly entertain, when
God and man are alike set at naught by
liim ?
I must abide by the wrong, and

tion, as respects
is

God,

251

or as respects

man,

replete with animating assurances.

Take

the case,

my

brethren, as repre-

He

senting the character of God.

whom

to

the

it

is

must be

ultimate appeal

made, in all circumstances of distress and

" The poor committeth himself
need
unto thee; thou art the helper of the
:

But it was not so, brethren, fatherless." On him alone it depends,

She came, saytng. Avenge me of to give or withhold all blessings or dehow important then, is a
mine adversary and when once coming liverances.
and saying this was of no avail, she came proper acquaintance with his character,
and said it again and igain, from day to and with his revealed will, if we would
day. Her cry was importunate her plea draw near to him with any confidence of
suffer all.

here.

was

altogether against hope

persevered

hope.

in

she

still

by the abandonment of her plea,

if any thing could be gained by its continuance ; and therefore she came often,

be

lost

Avenge me of mine adversary.

saying.

And he would

his favour.

Consider, then, what

All must certainly

not for a while

but after-

self.

to

It

was

God

is

in

him-

not in vain, saith our Lord,

cry importunely to the unjust and un-

feeling
us.

man

and shall not God avenge

is his character, as he

Think what

himself has described

it,

for

assuring the

wards he said within himself, Though I fainting heart of the guilty and undone
My brethren, the difficulty here
fear not God, nor regard man, yet because sinner.
this widow troubleth me, I will avenge is to select, where all Scripture is full of
Listen to a few pasher, lest by her continual coming she encouragement.
weary me. And thus, you observe, under sages. " The Lord is gracious, and full
these truly hopeless circumstances,
her importunity prevails; and the result,

of compassion, long-suff'ering, and

here represented by our Lord in the parable before us, is as natural as it is in-

all,

all

Earnest desire constrains us

importunate ; and importunity will
often succeed where there is no feature in
the case that could give us the faintest
prospect of relief.
And now consider, in the next place,

structive.
to be

the exceeding

parable

encouragement which

calculated tu afford us.

is

the Lord said, "

judge

saith,"

this

And

Hear what the unjust

that wicked heartless

laan, following the only selfish impulse

of his

own

evil heart,

moved by

the

great kindness."

good

of
to

him ; he also will hear

and will help them." Again:
" The same Lord over all is rich unto all
O what words, I
that call upon him."

them

that fear

their cry,

say, of encouragement are these, not setting forth the Lord's riches, as they dis-

own

play merely his

mere as Hezekiah
foreigners

" Hear what the unjust judge

but he

And

is

and his tender mercies are over all

Here again, more particuhis works."
larly, as respects the praying soul. "The
Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon
him, to all them that call upon him in
" He will fulfil the desire of
truth."

din of her importunity to relieve her

saith.

"The Lord

is

glory and greatness,

displayed

his

wealth

to

who had

no share in them
rich without any limitation.

here any exception, any

any thing that should check
though he bear long with them ? I tell me, and discourage me, when I would
you, that he will avenge them speedily." appeal to him, and take the comfort of
Now observe, that our Lord here argues thisl No, my brethren, "He is rich
from the less to the greater from the unto all that call upon him :" for " whofdct of successful importunity, in a case soever shall call on the name of the Lord
shall

which

not

cry

God avenge
day and

his

night

own

elect,

unto

him,

For

is

there

limitation,

seemed every way desperate, to the

encouragement of such importunity, in a case where every consideratiiat

shall be saved."

a';indant

is

But we may go further than this. It

not God's mercy only, which affords

THE BRITISH

252

encouragement and confidence to the sinner, to urge his suit before him.
It is
true this is the first consideration, which
will revive the hopes of the convinced
and self-condemned penitent; but when
he comes to understand the revelation of
God's grace, in the gospel of Jesus
Christ, then he will see, that the glory

PULPIT.

which God has made, the

which God has been
at, that he might open a way for sinners
to come and plead with him for blessings
and remember, that he would hate
the provision

pains, so to speak,

been infinitely righteous in rejecting us,

in rejecting any cry of guilty and vil
offenders.
But he has set for u^ the
of every attribute of the divine character throne of grace; and to do this '-^'38 no
is justice to the Son of his love.
His mere act of sovereignty on the part of
faithfulness to his covenant engagement, God, as he said, " Let there be light, and
his truth in the fulfilment of innumerable there was light;" but it required the
promises, his unchangeableness in exe- sacrifice of his own well beloved Son for
cuting his revealed purposes all these sinners. Yes, my brethren, the founda-

are deeply concerned in his taking up the

tions of that throne of grace are laid in

cause of those who commit their spirit to

him, who commit their temporal and
their spiritual interests into his hands.

blood

My

brethren, the poor

we have been

case

promises

were

The honour

to plead.

terest of the

man

widow, whose

considering, had no

to

whom

or in-

she came,

nowise involved in granting her

petition.
She had no friend at his court
to intercede for her, and still less could
she plead any thing like affinity to him,
in

before

was

whom

she came

her only hope, and

it

her importunity
prevailed.

But we must remember,

that the be-

liever in Jesus has all this on his side,

when he comes to God through Christ.

Jesus has procured for him reconciliation
to God, has merited for him a free bestowal of all spiritual blessings. The

the

they rest
blood of Jesus
"
have boldness,"
saith the apostle, " to enter into the holiest of holies by the blood of Jesus ; by
a new and living way, which he has con;

upon his cross

We

secrated for us through the vail, that is

say his flesh." It is to such a God,

we come, seated on a throne

to

then, that

of grace, and

revealed

as

all

the

beams of

his glory,

on that throne of grace

mercy and peace to whomsoever will.

There also is provided for our encouragement, the blood of sprinkling, that our
may be cleansed from guilt,
that we may have courage to speak to
Him, who sits on that throne, as a friend,
a father, a reconciled God, and as one
who has no charge of condemnation to
consciences

lay against any who believe in Jesus.

God, has promises, There also we have an advocate with the
exceeding great and precious promises, Father his own Son Jesus Christ the

believer, in

of

all

coming

things

which

to

pertain unto life and

godliness
so that he may go to God,
with God's own pledges in his hand ; he
may remind God of his own words; yea,
he may plead the oath of God, as the
w^arrant for expecting the mercy which
he asks " God, willing more abundantly
to show unto the heirs of promise the
immutability of his counsel, confirmed it
by an oath that by two immutable things
wherein it was impossible for God to lie,
we might have a strong consolation, who
have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the
hope set before us." Well, then, I ask,
shall not God avenge 1
To confine our thoughts to a few particulars where eniimeration is endless and
encourajement inexhaustible. Consider
:

righteous, the propitiation for our sins;

one

who

for

us, ever

ever liveth to

make

that

lives

intercession

we may come

through him, and daily, in a sense of our

renew our peace with God.
There, too, is that Spirit of God, that
defilement,

cleanseth our infirmity

He

meets the

bewildered and faint-hearted soul the

man ignorant, in a great measure, of what
are his own wants and dangers, and he

makes intercession

for

him according

to

God

to

the will of God.

And

is

whom we

this,

my

brethren, the

who

has
thus provided for sinners
did he conceive the plan and arrange it, and by his
Son execute it, and by his Spirit reveal
it?

And

are invited

shall not

God

is it

he

avengfe

shall

an

THE BLESSED RESULTS OF PERSEVERING PRAYER.

unjust judge be overcome by importunity,
and shall God have gone thus out of his

way

to give us ordinances, and after all

say to any, " Seek ye me in vain."
But we may here consider another particular which adds exceedingly to the

encouragement of our importunity in

drawing near to God and that is, not
only God's character to whom we come,
but the deep and peculiar interest which
he has in us, who thus come to Him
through Christ, " his own elect." The
poor widow drew nigh to one who had
;

not a spark of feeling for her, or of favour

towards her; it concerns not him for a

moment who
her

but,

was

she
it

or

what became of

far otherwise,

is

my

bre-

thren, with all God's praying people

they are " his

to

him

in

own

elect."

They belong

a relation inconceivably near

and dear, even as they are one

in Christ;

a relation surpassing in interest

is

known upon

earth

all that

whoso toucheth

them toucheth the apple of

his eye.

It

253

Cruelty,
indeed enter there in vain ?
sense, and impenitent unbelief, say. Yes,
they do; the heaven-born faith of God's
elect, says No, and that in all darkness,
No, though he slay me, yet will I trust
in

him

truly I have looked long, and

yet he delays, but

will look again to-

wards his holy temple

tarry, I will

wait for

it,

though the vision

for

it

shall surely

come. This is the language of faith.

That poor widow conquered the wicked
judge by waiting long for him, pressing
him with importunity and shall not God
avenge his own elect, who cry day and
night unto him, though he bear long with
them ] " I tell you," saith our Lord, " he
will avenge them speedily."
Thus, then, the parable set forth by
our Lord powerfully teaches us this important lesson
always to pray and not
to faint.
My brethren, this were our
wisdom, though all things, as respects
God's character, or our own condition,
were just as hopeless, as in the case we
have been considering. How much more,
then, should it be so, when the purposes
when his tenof his unchangeable love
:

he bears long, as respects them

their adversaries seem to triumph, and
for the present they have an advantage
der regard for every thing which concerns
over them in number and in influence
their spiritual enemies oppress them, and his chosen and faithful people, is taken
make them sad whom God has not made into account 1 But even supposing that
put the case that sinners,
sad ; and all things oftentimes appear to it was not so
be entirely against them. There have in drawing near to God, have to draw
been times when the very name of this near to a being even such as I have deGod and Saviour exposed them to brutal scribed a wicked and unjust judge; that
cruelty and indignity, to the loss of all they were as destitute of any thing on
their earthly substance, yea, to the fire their part to touch the heart of God, as
and the sword and this same name of was that widow to touch the heart of her
their God, confessed in this day, not in judge; yet even so, her case will prove to
word only, but in power, still exposes you that it were wise to pray, yea, althem to the enmity of an unbelieving ways to pray and not to faint.
world, to the furious assaults of princiThus you perceive our gracious Lord
palities, and powers, and the rulers of comes down, as it were, to those low and
the darkness of this world.
God seems hard thoughts, which we are too apt to
to wink at it, to care nothing for it; the entertain of God, and those discouraging
enemies of the church without, the more apprehensions which beset us, as respects
is true

dreadful adversaries of the soul within,

soem to be carrying all before them.

We

ourselves.

We

think of

was said here, has forsaken me God has

cry was uttered
"Avenge me he is so high, and we are

might say of God, as

it

God

often, as

though nothing could move him.

forgotten

God

me

he
so mean
he would not for is so holy, and we so polluted it is vain
a while." But do those cries, this im- for us to expect any favourable notice at
poalunate wrestling of his believing, his his hands.
Or, again, if we were sure
sorely oppressed people, which enter into that we were his people, his own elect,
the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth do they so that the promises and encouragements

when
of

my

the

adversary.

And

THE BRITISH

254

of his word belong to us, then

we

PULPlT.

more

baud of
worth while to
then we could persevere with faith, with spend on God
Surely so it is unbethe assurance that in his good time we lief turns all the revelation of God's
should receive an answer of peace. But love in Jesus Christ, all the promises of
you must observe, my brethren, that the his word so free, so full, so without
argument here for prayer rests not on limitation turns them all into a lie.
any revelation of the grace and goodness Surely it is so; the most senseless of
of God, and still less on any evidence in men must at times have consciousness
ourselves, that we are the people of his of sin and of danger, by reason of sin
choice.
It is true, as far as these tilings from which they would gladly seek deare apprehended, so far we have yet more liverance, if they really thought that
abundant encouragement to wait patiently prayer would avail them.

draw

near,

we

could

say, with holy courage,

receive

man

solicitation at the

than you think

it

"?

But further, sailh

But our subject addresses itself to the
were quite other- praying remnant, to the people of God,
wise, put these things at the very lowest, to those who are ready to faint while
still
she, who under similar circum- God delays to speak, and avenge their
persevering prayer.

in

our Lord, suppose

it

O my beloved brethren, learn

from this subject always to pray and not
always to pray and not to faint.
to faint.
It is no new thing for the elect
But let me apply this subject, in the of God to be thus exercised not because
first place, to those among us, and perGod is slow to redress, or indifferent to
haps they are many, who never pray. the sorrows of his people, or that he h&s
And I speak not here, my brethren, of any pleasure in their anxieties and vexfimerely repeating prayers, saying our tions, but this experience is suited to
prayers as people do; that is customary creatures in our condition.
As a disciwith very many, who know not at all pline it is very useful, as all the people
what real spiritual supplication is, fer- of God sooner or later find and confess.
vent desire of the soul after God, and It serves to keep us proud sinners humthey are conscious that this is so with ble ; it makes us dependent, calls out
them. Their hearts go not forth to God and keeps in exercise the various graces
from day to day they do but repeat the of the Christian character; and brings
form, and that form speaks of blessings, glory to God, while it manifests the
which they are well contented to go reality of the power of his grace in creawithout, and depicts spiritual enjoyments tures who are naturally so feeble and
which they neither feel nor care for they weak. God makes it also the occasion
do it because they have been taught to do at the last of putting glory on his people,
it, but they know not what it is to pray
in the undeniable evidence which is thus
stances continued to urge her suit, and

gained

it

by so doing,

is

cause.

a lesson to you,

my

indeed.

brethren, let

how awful

you,

me

say to

your character and

contrast with the people
is

work in their
more abundant commu-

afforded of the truth of his

souls, and in the

your conduct, in
See the mark by which they
of God
are here described
" who cry day and

appointed, though long expected, delayed

night unto God."

you, whatever be your

And have you

nication of the desired blessings in the

season of

its

bestowal.

then,

say to

whatever
never give up

trials,

then no spiritual wants your discouragements,

no danger of wrath to prayer. Be in your own estimates as
come is there no enemy seeking your was this poor widow, and let God be no
destruction as well as others, and have better in your eyes, no more likely to beyou no need of Christ, as a precious friend you, than this unjust judge, if you
Saviour from guilt, from the love and dare to think so, yet, I say, even as she
power and curse of sin ? And if it be so, prevailed by her importunity, so shall
does God care so little for you that you you. And
what shall not you do with
count it altogether fruitless labour to be your God 1 We are far too ready to cona suitor: that even the unjust judge shall clude judgments by a fear that God has

are

you

in

THE BLESSED RESULTS OF PERSEVERING PRAYER.

fixed this or that so to be, so that

it is

no

use to plead with him, especially as it

has often been tlie subject of our prayers,
and there was no immediate improvement
in our prospects. For instance, our friends
or our dearest relations are graceless unconvertible persons, they go on from year

and then seem to us to grow

harder in their wickedness; we are ready
to think we know God's purposes respecting them, we count their salvation
to be hopeless, and if we mention them
in prayer it is with very faint, if any
to year,

reproach
Lord, yet

255

"Truth,
an argument.
dogs eat of the crumbs that

into
tlie

from the master's table."

great
and successful faith
Nay, my brethren,
to ascend yet a step higher, this very
Lord himself has taught us by his own
fall

example, when he was one of us, always

to pray and not to faint
and that under
circumstances of all others that we can
conceive most discouraging.
When he
had to drink that bitter cup of wrath
which our sins had mingled, in the full
acquaintance with the absolute necessity
;

God will answer our which there was for his so doing, that
So again, under personal afflic- the whole intention of his coming was so
tions, we are ready to grow weary of to do, that all the salvation of the souls
God's kindnesses, and say there is no need of men depended on his so doing,
of them
there is no hope of their being and the glory of God, his Father, in not
otherwise
he is of one mind and who passing it by, did he pray ] Yes, he
shall turn him.
So again, in our conflict prays " Father, if it be possible, remove
with corruption, the experience of the this cup from me. Being in an agony,
dreadful and constant opposition of our he prayed yet more earnestly."
It was
expectation, that
prayer.

cruel adversaries,

many a

when we have made

power seems
then, it seems

struggle, and yet his

hardly to be touched. O
impossible that God can care for us.
have used every argument, we have pray-

We

ed,

we have

confessed,

we have

wept, and

resolved, and resisted, and yet there

no
What shall we do
effectual deliverance.
more'?
Do, my brethren, as this poor
widow did come again and again, come
with the same plea, " Avenge me of mine
Lord, help

me

prayed.

O may
my

not let thee go unless thou bless

was

faith

in

draw

near, and

pray and not to faint."

to

SCRZFTURi:
Gen.

me,
" always

Amen.

I>IFFICT7I<TIi:S.

ii.

And

there

was

not a

man

ground. This verse has, by

some persons, been thought contradicto

till

the

tory to chap.

Adam

i.

27,

where the creation of

has been already affirmed.

The

however, results only from

inattention to the scope of the two
passages, with their respective contexts.
difficulty,

me." The inspired

exercise that

should be the language of every praying

Lord, I cannot let thee go, I cannot
soul
desist from this suit of mine unless thou
bless me.
Again, the woman of Canaan

the Lord teach you and

brethren, to

Always

there

reason, but

is

pray and faint not. We do not want instances of this, and most successful instances.
Jacob, my brethren, did this
he had wrestled all night, and instead of
prevailing, his strength was withered by
the touch of him with whom he strove
but he let not go, " No," saith he ; when
the angel said unto him, " Let me go, for
the day breaketh," he said, " No, I will

Now

to

he was sure that prayer

could not be in vain
and we are especially told, respecting this prayer on this
occasion, he was heard, in short he
pray, and

to

adversary."

man

not for him, then, as

historian first gives a gene-

account of the whole creation, in six

days and then, carrying on his history,
describes particularly the formation of
ral

Adam
this

In the third verse of

and Eve.

chapter

it

is

said,

that

God had

Jesus himself, the all-tender rested from all his work, which he had
and compassionate Saviour, repels her created and made, that is, he ceased to
from him, calls her almost in the direct make any more creatures ; thcrefo'' uam
terms a dog; be it so then, as a dog, was not made after this.
will she come to him and turn the very
Ch. iii. 24
And he placed at the tzat
did this

THE BRITISH

256

PULPIT.

This passage of Scripture has exof the garden of Eden cherulim, and a him.
Jlaming sword which turned every toay, ceedingly puzzled translators and critics,
to

way

keep the

of the tree of

lift.

The

words here rendered, " a flaming sword

turning every way," are, literally, " a
flame turning or folding upon itself."
The Jewish Targum paraphrase the
" And he thrust out the
verse thus
man, and caused the glory of his pre:

and that with reference

to

both of

In reply to the question,

clauses.

its

"why

Cain's sacrifice was not accepted as well

as Abel's 1" the former part of the verse

has been quoted, as if Cain had been an

exceedingly wicked man. But the reason
will be better understood by considering

sence to dwell of old, at the east of the the nature of sacrifices, which were of
garden of Eden, above the two cheru- two sorts, eucharistical and expiatory
bims." If such be the real import of the the former consisting of the fruits of the
passage, says Bishop Home, and it relates earth, the latter of a living animal, the
only to the manifestation of the divine life of which God would accept, instead
presence, and its well known symbol, of that of the offender. Abel brought a
above or between the cherubim, may we sacrifice of atonement, acknowledging
Cain brought a sacrinot conclude that the design of such himself a sinner.
manifestation, at the east of the garden fice of thanksgiving, expecting to be acof Eden, was the same as it was con- cepted without repentance. The Almighty
fessedly afterwards in the tabernacle and seems to expostulate thus with Cain
temple viz. to reveal the will of God " Why art thou sorrowful 1 If thou wert
for the conduct of his people
to accept so righteous as to need no atoning sacrithe sacrifices oflfered to him
and favour- fice, thou shouldst be accepted ; as thou
ably to regard the prefigurative atone- art not, sin will lay in the way, till thou
ment made by "the sprinkling of blood, hast removed it by an atoning sacrifice or
without which there was (after the fall) sin-offering." The concluding clause of
no remission ?" And all this was done the verse, " and unto thee shall be his
" to keep, or preserve, the way to the desire," is not spoken of sin, as many
tree of life," immortality being now the have understood it, but of Abel's submisobject of a new covenant, with other con- sion to Cain, as his superior
that is,
ditions.
There were good reasons, adds " Thou shalt ever have the right of prithe excellent prelate, why our first parent mogeniture, and in all things shall thy
should not be suffered, in the state to brother be subject unto thee." It seems
which he had reduced himself, to " put spoken to remove Cain's envy.
forth his band and eat."
And Cain talked with Abel his
The dispensaVer. 8
tion of Eden was at an end.
Old sacra- brother: and it came to pass, when they
ments were abolished, and new ones were in the field, ^c. The present readwere to be instituted. In the spirit of ing of this text is much embarrassed.
repentance and faith, the delinquents The Hebrew word, which our translators
were to wait " till one happier man have rendered " talked," will not bear
should regain the blissful seat," and this meaning: but, not finding any thing
" open the kingdom of heaven to all be- that was spoken on the occasion, they
lievers ;" himself the true tree of life in have ventured to intimate that there was
:

the paradise of God.

which has been

fidels,

Thus,

this text,

so long the butt of in-

a conversation indefinitely.

correct editions of the

and the stumbling-block of be- there

becomes cleared of its

but throws a light and glory

is

In the most

Hebrew

Bible,

a hiatus or deficiency marked,

lievers, not only

which

difficulties,

versions, and in the Samaritan text.

on the whole patriarchal dispensation.

Ch.
'V)t

iv.

If thou doest well, shalt thou

And if thou doest not

shah be his

desire,

door.

And

and thou shalt

cording

supplied in the principal ancient

to these, the text

consistent, thus

Ac-

reads clear and

" And Cain said unto

unto thee

Abel, his brother. Let us go out into the

field; and it came to pass, when they

rule over

were

be accepted ?

uiell, sin lieth at the

is

in the field, that

Cain rose up," &c.

SERMON

XXVIII.

THE ELEVENTH

HOUR.*

BY THE REV. JAMES PARSONS.

The

eleventh hour."

TiiESE words occur in a memorable

Him who spake
It is to the folas " never man spake."

parable, pronounced by

lowing

effect.

is like

unto a

"The kingdom of heaven

man that is a householder,

which went out early

morning

in the

hire labourers into his vineyard.

when he had

to

Matt. xx.

the close of the relation, that this parable

was intended to illustrate the significant

maxim which preceded

are

first

penny a day, he sent them into his

And he went out about the third
hour, and saw others standing idle in the
market-place, and said unto them, Go ye
also into the vineyard ; and whatsoever
And they went
is right, I will give you.
their way.
Again he went out about the
sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
And about the eleventh hour he went out,
and found others standing idle, and saith
unto them. Why stand ye here all the day
idle? They say unto him. Because no

shall be last

it,

" Many that

and the

last shall

that the

Jews were not

to

be sole pos-

sessors of the promise of honour and ever-

for a

lasting life previously announced,

vineyard.

that the Gentiles,

man hath hired

Go ye also into

He

be

The specific principle to which

both the maxim and the parable applied,
first."

And was,

agreed with the labourers

6.

ated from

but

who had longbeen alien-

God, were about

to

be visited by

the tidings, and introduced to the blessingrs

by

of mercy,

and that while the Jews,

their obdurate unbelief,

were about

to

lose their national pre-eminence, and to

be visited by desolating judgments, the

Gentiles were to occupy their place in the
aboundings of privilege, and to be admitted in innumerable multitudes to the felicities

of the future world.

stating this to be the primary oband what- ject of the Saviour's narrative, we cannot
soever is right, that shall ye receive." but observe, that circumstances connected
The subsequent part of the narrative with the lives and spiritual position of
states, that at the conclusion of the day, the individuals, may be in some respects
labourers who had begun their work the analogous to what it records, with this
last, received their reward the first ; that public and general view, respecting the
their recompense was equal to the amount labourers.
To say that it applies directly
with which those were remunerated who and originally to individuals, and on that
had " borne the burden and heat of the principle uniformly, and in every part, to
day ;" that against the discontent of the expound it, would be a mistake by no
latter, the " goodman of the house" means trivial ; but still there seems no
asserted his right to make his own dis- possible impropriety in founding upon it
tribution ; and that the arrangement acted those remarks which are suggested by
upon was unaltered and was final.
resemblances, and which, in themselves
You will perceive, from the remark at true and important, cannot be stated and
us.

saith unto them,

the vineyard

* Addressed to the aged.

Vol.

II

33

While

urged without promoting the best inteimmortal souls. I now venture,

rests of

y2

257

THE BRITISH

258

PULPIT.

from the motto selected and read, to ad- are like grass which groweth up; in the
vance and enforce some remarks of this morning it flourisheth, and groweth up;
nature, tlie particular application of which in the evening it is cut down, and witherwill be to a class you will at once iden- eth."
Sometimes life may appear to
tify, when we name the following topics occupy extended dimensions,
yet the
of our discourse
That the time men- period will arrive when, by all, it will be
tioned may represent an advanced period considered hut like a day,
so swift its
in human life,
that men are to be found flight, so ephemeral its duration, so inin this period inattentive to the concerns tangible its events; when it will seem to
of true religion,
that they who are shrink into a mere point; and when all
found inattentive in this period are in- its transactions shall be as if crowded
volved in peculiar perils, and thatdivine into one of the very least measurements
grace sometimes displays itself, by
f chronology,
a whole existence being
making this period to be one of true and " but as yesterday when it is past." O,
saving conversion. Let those on whom it is of vast importance to admit and to
years have multiplied render to these improve the estimate
remarks their most devout and serious
In our arranged application of the
but let none be unconcerned or phrase of the text, it will point us to the
regard
let all seek to deduce the im- time when life is about to terminate.
careless,
provement which may prepare them for " The eleventh hour" is near the close of
the
their own eternity.
the day ; the sun has far descended
First, The time mentioned may repre- shadows of evening are rapidly diffusing
sent AN ADVANCED PERIOD IN HUMAN and deepening, and prognosticate that
shortly the season to which that hour
LIFE.
Amidst the numerous figurative repre- belongs will be finished. Hence we are
sentations of human life, it is frequently led to contemplate the case of persons,
and appropriately compared to a day. who are soon to be removed from the
When we single out one of those specific scenes of earth, and to go down to the
periods which are marked by the rising abodes where " the light is as darkness."
and setting of the sun, we find that there Especially we have to consider, as being
those who have
is presented to us a miniature resem- in this period, the aged,
blance of an entire existence. We are long passed the more active seasons of
accustomed to speak of the morning of existence, who are fast f Ifilling their
life, the meridian of life, the evening of " threescore years and ten," or it may be
life ; the morning signifying the season are beyond them ; and who now totter in
of youth, when much of existence ap- the feebleness and decay which prove expears still unoccupied, and when there hausted powers, and are a public proclaseems a constant unfolding and advance mation of approaching death. They also
of the intellectual and corporeal powers ; are in this period, who, although perhaps
the meridian signifying the season of the number of their years is comparamanhood, when nature is judged to have tively few, have been paralyzed in tho
attained its perfection, and to be clothed sinews of strengh, and stripped of the
in its highest glory ; the evening signify- resources of constitution, by the spoiling the season of age, when there is a ing hand of early infirmity, and of
regularly progressing decline, and when whom it is plain that their " sun will go
down while it is yet day." And many
it is necessarily calculated that probation
will soon terminate in the destiny of the may be in " the eleventh hour" who know
they may be securelycounf ing up,
By this emblem, the general fact it not
grave.
of the brevity of life is impressively and reposing on, their reasons for expect:

illustrated.

In application to that fact,

David employed

it,

connected with an-

other figure, in one of the most emphatic

of the scriptural representations as to the
state

of man.

"In

ing a long future continuance in this

world, while death is standing by, and
laughing at their arithmetic ; and amidst
their

dreams of health and numerous enarm of the king of terrors

the morning, they joyments, the

THE ELEVENTH HOUR.

who have wellnigh passed

may be lifted, to strike and prostrate

ihem as his victims.
" The eleventh hour," the period in
this manner illustrated, should never be
viewed without heart-stirring emotion.
Its position and connexion require that it
should be seriously pondered by all men,
whether far advanced in ag[e, whether the
subjects of premature decline, or whether

their

Not only does

the course of

existence without having

which we have adverted, are

still

incon-

siderate, unprepared, and endangered, can

scarcely be contemplated without a fearIt might he expected, that

with the progress of life there would be
an augmenting anxiety respecting the

ful surprise.

method of

por-

it

earthly

admitted the influences of religion, and

who, in the solemn circumstances to

rejoicing in imaginations of vigour and

unshaken health.

259

its

close;

it

might be expected,

tend a speedy separation from the associ-

that with the increasingly distinct appear-

ations and scenes of this visible world

ance of the final change, there would be

more urgent and diligent preparation to
meet it it might be expected, that the
members of a generation wellnigh passed
away, would present a uniform and an
instructive example of holy readiness for

it is

on the verge of another state

it

is

on the borders of the line which separates

from doom
and adjoins the

probation

regions where .Spirits dwell in retribu

tion.

Momentous

is

the change,

when

There the moment of their departure, and that

then comes a summons from beyond the "The eleventh hour" would be one of
grave, which none can disobey.
We go, devout waiting, the aflTections being disenand at once there flashes npon us the gaged from this world, and the whole soul
light of judgment
we go, and we gaze absorbed in the anticipations of another.
upon the peopled habitations of everlast- Such a state of mind would always obing fate we go,
and our hearts ^ive up tain and govern, were the passions of men
their secrets to the scrutiny of Jehovah
to be regulated by the prospect of their
we go, and the voice from the throne eternal award the character would thus
the

little

space beyond

it is

past.

pronounces, in thrilling accents, the sen- be adapted to the season, and the season
tence of vengeance or reward
would prelude the rising of immortal
we go,
and we dwell where songs of happiness g'ory.
:

ring in their melody through the temple

of the skies, or where the weeping and

bowlings of despair proclaim the terrors

and torments of the damned
How is it
possible to view the approach and arrival
of " the eleventh hour" with indifference 1
!

Ought not

the thoughts of

it

to

be

fre-

quent, and ought not every thought of it

to be carefully improved 1
Will ymi not

endeavour

apply

high emotions
it requires ?
I now press the contemplation of it upon you, especially on those
who have been heedless of its advance,
and cannot but express the wish of
intense earnestness
" O that ye were
wise, that ye understood this, that ye
would consider your latter end 1"
to

it

to the

Men are

to be fouxd i\ this
PERIOD inattentive TO THE CONCERNS OF
Secondly,

TRt'E religion.

The

fact of insensibility to religion, on

Yet how

far

different

is

the

truth

How many have been found near the termination of the day,

and

who have

who have

not entered,

not desired to enter, into

There are multitudes who

have traversed the career of time, and
have come to the verge of eternity, in
whose bosoms has arisen no serious conthe vineyard

cern for the well-being of that soul which

so soon

must be the inhabitant of heaven

You have yourselves seen

persons perishing in premature disease,
totally unimbued with the principles of
piety, and averse to their proclamation,
or of

hell.

when

the sentence of death

stamped upon

their

brow.

was

visibly

You have

yourselves seen the infirm and aged, to

whom the lease allowed for the tenure
of existence has gone, of whom you
could not believe that they had ever been
animated to work for God, and seek for
Painful and affecttheir own salvation.

who have arrived at

" the eleventh hour," appears, at the ing is it to look upon the numerous remfirst sight, singular and strange.
Men nants of a former time we see around us

the part of persons

THE BRITISH

260
tottering under the

weight of accumulated

Long

years, and yet unborn to God.

in-

struction has imparted no knowledge, and

gray hairs

brought no wisdom.
passed away, and

have

Opportunities have

appeals have died into the silence of

getfulness,

and

all

opportunities

afforded,

They

appeals uttered in vain.

all

for-

stand, bleaching for the harvest of eternity,

and already trembling

ren and unfruitful

for the sickle, bar-

they stand, idle for the

and already surrounded

whole day of life,

by the shadows, which deepen and black-

en until they reach the palpable darkness

of an everlasting midnight in hell.
In what manner is this mournful fact of
inconsideration, at such a period, to be
accounted for 1 The ultimate and complete explanation can alone be found, in
referring to that depraved disinclination
to attend to spiritual things, which forms
a part in the present moral constitution of
human nature, and which characterizes
without exception every human being.
From the earliest years we all dislike to
recognise the claims of God, and the importance of eternity ; and find our pleasure in indulging the passions, and resorting to the courses, inflexibly denounced
" love darkness
by the divine law.
" The carnal mind is
rather than light."
enmity against God." Now, all whom

We

we observe closing their probationary state

without religion, are persons in whom
this sad hostility has been left to its
unfettered course, and by long indulgence
has fastened its unwavering hold.
In
their past experience, varieties not incon-

siderable

may

be discovered

their edu-

PULPIT.

ant realities of religion.

Some of you

" have not the knowledge of God ; I

speak this to your shame." Your hearts
have never yet been softened into contrition
you are yet going about to establish
a righteousness of your own
you yet
feel no need of Christ, and stand far
apart from an interest in his atonement
3'ou yet love the world and worldly things,
and have no treasure but on earth and
were this moment to be your last, you
would appear without a plea before the
judgment-seat. And why is it? Tell us
not of excuses and apologies for your
:

long delay; think not to exonerate yourselves from guilt, and to prove that your
course till now, may be accounted for by

adequate and unexceptionable reasons,

it,
to nothing, after all, is your

repeat

conduct to be traced, but to the wicked

alienation of your minds from God. Whatever you may be able to state as disadvantages and obstacles which have attended
your earlier career, you cannot avert or
evade this affecting fact; and you must
possess a thorough conviction of its truth,
and become the subjects of all the feelings it can inspire, if you would escape
the destroying wrath of the avenger.
Can you say that you have not possessed
abundant means of knowledge, and that
you have not possessed many opportunities

of turning to God, if you would T

Can you say

that this is the first time

you

have had any suggestions, as to the importance of sah'ation and the solemnities
of

eternity

Have

conscience, provi-

dence, and religion been silent until

now?

Then let the

no and you know it
delusion which attempts to conceal from
you youi real case be shaken off, and go,
in profound self-abasement, to the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness,
!

cation, and their connexions in life, may

have been more or less favourable to spiritual knowledge and impression ; their
talents and privileges may have been
but at the root, as alone imparting security from the
unequally distributed
this grand evil is to be found,
And let us all, whatever
as the wrath to come.
poisoning principle, the source of all position we occupy in the term of life,
their fearful indiiference ; and we have to seek for the blessing of grace, which
regard them in one appalling light the shall conquer our natural corruption
that
examples of continued and confirmed de- tremendous foe, and implant the principle
:

of regenerated holiness

pravity.

There

are persons within the hearing

of this address, far advanced in

whom

life, to

applies the distressing charge, that

they are

now inattentive to

the all-import-

let

us

all

piously

breathe, and henceforth live in the practical spirit of the desire to

we

Him

derived our being, and

long bring us to death,

from

who

" So

whom

will ere

teach us to

THE ELEVENTH HOUR.

261

numher our days, that we may apply our its roots deep into the earth. The more
rooted the habit of sin, the harder the
wisdom .'"
To enforce further the important appli- alteration of the soul. Every sin in an

hearts unto

cation in view, remark

Thirdly,

unregenerate

They who are found

inat-

man

is

new

an adding a

stone to the former heap upon the grave,

tentive IN THIS PERIOD, ARE INVOLVED IN to hinder his resurrection. It is a fetter

and a bond of iniquity ; and the more
PECULIAR PERILS.
To exist without bsing influenced by new chains are put upon thee, the more
personal religion, not exercising repent-

ance toward God, and faith toward our

Lord Jesus Christ, is, in every case, to be
Impeniin a state of alarming danger.
tence, at all periods of life, is under the
direct condemnation of God; and, re-

membering

the inflexibility of the divine

justice, and those uncertainties attached

to

human

existence which

bring into contact with

may so

rapidly

no transgressor
of any age can be looked upon, but with
anxiety, and fear, and trembling.
Yet
when we contemplate a sinner whose day
is evidently waning towards its last moit,

ments, and who is yet in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity,
we find circumstances connected with
his
far

which

condition,

justly

excite

greater intensity of solicitude.

To

those circumstances let us more distinctly

advert.

The principal evil connected with

transgressors of " the eleventh hour" is

unable wilt thou be to stir. Satan will

be diligent to keep up his own work the
;

longer his possession, the more difficult

his departure."

Ministers

of the

gospel,

and

other

pious men, have had constant occasion to

observe the unquestionable truth of these

solemn principles. They have been led to

remark

much

in

coincidence with them, that

made upon the

aged than upon the young; that the number of conversions in advanced life is comparatively few that the v/armest and most
melting appeals are heard with imperturbable indifference that while younger sinners have quailed and trembled, the gray
in age and wickedness have been unmoved as the adamant and that on every
hand, the testimony of fact painfully
less impression is

the word of inspiration

" Because sentence against an evil work

corroborates

is

not executed

speedily, therefore the

heart of the sons of

which prolonged them

men

fully set in

is

do evil." Is it strange, then,

inattention to religion has necessarily pro- that they should regard you, ye ancient
duced.
The continued indulgence of transgressors, with fearful and unequalled
depravity always renders that depravity apprehension 1 Is it strange that, towards
more decided and more inveterate. It is you, their exhortations should be more
like the operation of the fluid, by which importunate, and their agency more imthe softest substances become hardened passioned ? Well indeed may they labour
into petrifaction.
Every human being with the most vehement energy of soul,
must, with the course of time, be the to arouse you, and cause you to flee from
subject of a constant moral progression, the
dangers of inattention in " the
the

hardness of heart

advancing either

The

in

holiness or in sin.

to

eleventh hour!"

Further, we have to remember the

augment with hinderances arising from the pressure of
the lapse of opportunities and years. " A bodily pain, or from the decay of the intelbody dead some few hours," observes an lectual faculties. Religious consideration
eminent divine,* " is a subject more is much and necessarily retarded by the
indisposition

unfitness for

it,

to

religion,

and

the

regularly

capable of having life breathed into it,

than when it is putrefied, and partly

mouldered

to

dust.

young

tree

may

more easily bo taken up and transplanted,

than a strong old oak, which hath spread
*

Chamock.

inconveniences resulting from corporeal

disease
and how often is the closing
period of existence a season of sore
disease and anguish, when the mind can
scarcely raise a tl\ought away from the
convulsions which are to accomplish the
:

fall

of the earthly tabernacle

The

diffi-

THE BRITISH

262
often

them now

a loud alarm, and entreat

from the inteladvanced age, are even

The powers of the
more portentous.
mind, except in some singular and extraculties

PULPIT.

resulting

escape

lectual state of

sumed

for their lives, lest

?

to

they be con-

Endangered immortals

we

the sight of your retribution,

As in
invoke

without one moment's delay, to

have awake, and arise, and turn, lest the wrath
Is it possible that
a greater reluctance to receive new ideas, should be upon you
and attempt arduous efforts. For this any will yet remain unconcerned, when
reason, as well as from the force of moral they look upon this climax of the peril of
perversion, the great business of salva- " the eleventh hour ]"
ordinary cases, naturally lose a portion of you,

acuteness and activity, and

their

Let us now in some degree relieve the

awfulness with which our subject is
invested, by remarking
Fourthly, Divine grace sometimes
DISPLAYS ITSELF, BY MAKING THIS PERIOD
TO BE ONE OF TRUE AND SAVING CONVER-

tion is viewed with repugnance, and its

very grandeur silently argues for its continued neglect and delay. There are many
instances of rapid decline, when the grasp
of the understanding not only slackens,
but fails, and the humbling and mournful imbecility of a second childhood suspends the exercise of memory and
thought, and leaves man but a helple&s
and a desolate wreck. If tliese be tiie
concomitants of age and sickness can

SION.

" The eleventh hour" may be the

of entering the vineyard.

moment

we

estimate their palpable influence

dangers,

and

at

also notice,

world.

We

inevilable

never can

sions of fear,

and

we

must be

qualified

God

by the

is able to

render the very season of extreme peril,

vbserv-

which may be seen the most illusarm in achieving

the work of eternal redemption.
Suppose
that in

miseries of the eternal

have already mentioned the

we

to

it

delightful reflection, that

to the

period with the interests of which

now

can resign

be pronounced too late.

All warnings of danger, and all expres-

once from inattention

ils

We

with emotions of despair.

God none

In expounding this perilous state,

able nearness

any circum-

of the reach of mercy, and are to be viewed

in " the eleventh hour ]"

must

tliat

must we the hope of salvation with respect

not reiterate the fervent prayer, that

would save you

imagined,

first

not for a

stances of rational existence are beyond

spiritual opportunities, without perceiving

their appalling

to be

It is

trious operation of his

are

specially concerned, as being on the

not that there

no energy suflicient to

is

verge of another, and a retributive state

and because they who have reached it,
are not prepared to enter that state for the
enjoyment of acceptance and happiness,
they have only the prospect of being
overwhelmed in its unspeakable and
irremediable sorrows.
Behold, then,
how fearful the spot of ground on which
now they stand
The last promise of
mercy is about to be hushed into silence.
brief space will put them for ever beyond the reach of grace and hope. The
voice of the Judge is about to pronounce

produce, in practised and inveterate sin-

The

fully introduced to the privileges of the

godly sorrow and repentance

and suppose not that when they do repent, their acceptance is doubtful, and
their salvation may not be accomplished.
Yea, we assure you, that if there be within your bosoms the stirrings of contrition,
no matter how heinous may have
been your guilt, and no matter how protracted your inattention and delay,
you
will find the grace of God to be abundant and ample
your long-continued
iniquities will be forgiven; you will be
ners,

the sentence of

flame of Tophet

his
is

indignation.

already flashing upon

glorious gospel, and

be made heirs of

enwrap them in the eternal life; and when you shall have
torment of its everlasting fire. Does no passed the darkness of the grave, there
thrill of horror pass through your bosoms. will arise upon you a sun whose light
Do you not shall never go down, and which shall
as you gaze upon them ]
feel as if you wished to rush forward and shed a changeless radiance over the
snatch them away 1
Would you not cry scenes of immortality.
tliem, and will soon

THE ELEVENTH HOUR.

An example

is

sometimes

the most

263

cal truth in the strongest possible point

method of impressing a general of view " I will be gracious to whom I

truth
and a well-known and beautiful will be gracious, and have mercy on
example is at once suggested here. The whom I will have mercy." Again, such
communication of mercy to the thief who conversions manifest the riches of grace.
was crucified with the Redeemer, well They show the exceeding greatness of
illustrates the principles just stated, and the power which dwells in pardoning
What limitless efficacy must
presents to you an encouragement most kindness.
His trans- there be in that which in a moment can
animating and delightful.
gressions in former life had doubtless change the current of the affections, and
been numerous and atrocious, and even effect the absolute moral transformation
when suspended on the instrument of of the nature, which can blot out the
forcible
;

ignominious death, he had joined in reIt was

viling the Redeemer of the world.
amid the very pangs of the expiring agony,
and when his spirit was trembling on the
verge of eternity, that he melted into the
tenderness of penitence, and exercised the
confidence of faith, and wrestled in the
fervency of prayer; and then, when a
few moments would have launched him
into the realms of hopeless condemnation, he received the pledge of forgiveness, and the promise of being, ere that
day had gone, in paradise with his Lord
It was a ransom in " the eleventh hour,"
!

it

was

a rescue from the borders of the

It is a pattern

pit.

of the might of mercy,

numberless transgressions, remit

the condemnation of the law, and grant to
the soul the favour of the living God, and
guilt of

the title to a glorious eternity

Every

act of renovation like these, is a special

display of the boundlessness of redeem-

ing love, and magnifies, and confers fresh

honour on

Him who

is

" able

to

save to

the uttermost."

Around persons converted

in this period,

there gathers a transcendent interest;

we

cannot look upon them without a high

excitement of feeling. Each age of life
possesses an interest peculiar to itself.
There is an interest attached to the conversion of early youth, which belongs not

against the guilt of despair. to meridian manhood, or to old age; there

Should despondency rest her heavy hand is an interest attached to the conversion
upon you, when the plague of the heart of meridian manhood, which belongs not
has been revealed, think of the expiring to old age, or to early youth and there

a witness

no circumstances can be desperate,

and learn, that
the bruised reed never shall be broken,
and that the smoking flax never shall be
quenched, and learn, that the cry for
pardon shall always enter into the holy
place, and secure a triumphant entrance
into heaven.
All saving conversions accomplished
near the termination of life, are remarkamalefactor

and

learn,

that

is

an interest attached

of old age,

to

the conversion

which belongs not

to early

Circumyouth, or to meridian manhood.

stances will doubtless suggest themselves rapidly to the contemplative mind,

inducing to regard the converts of " the

eleventh hour" with emotions beyond

what can be inspired by the view of those

who are sooner born of God. The
mariner saved from the wreck as the
vessel is dashing upon the rock, is surely
the subject of a deliverance more affect-

of divine grace, which

no case to be overlooked. Such
conversions manifest the sovereignty of ing, than he who escapes ere it enters
They show that spiritual bless- amidst the foam of the breakers. And
grace.
ings are communicated in a perfect inde- can there be, in the universe, any case
pendence of human merit, and are to be approaching to theirs, whose souls are
traced to no source but to the mere good saved when on the very point of sinking
pleasure of God. The long continued to perdition, and who become illumined
estrangement of the heart from them, and with the glories of heaven, while there
ble

exhibitions

ought

in

was rapidly gathering around them the

which impenitence till "the eleventh outer darkness of the abyss"? In their
At
hour" implies, place the grand evangeli- age they shine forth as the morning

the consequent accumulation of iniquity,

THE BRITISH

264
eventide

it is

light

Their light rises

obscurity, and their darkness is

noonday

Is not the event

parable sublimity, and must

it

not absorb

to

Him,

they,

for

Let them, ere

they depart from the abodes of living
men, be diligent in redeeming the lime,
let them
cultivate, during the little
remnant of their probation, the very
highest devotedness of piety, let them
it!

live only, that they

praises of

Him who

for the

that at once they

circumstances of peril, this

wondrous deliverance has been effected,
themselves to rejoice in it
and what fervent gratitude ought they to render to

Him who wrought

my heart's desire and prayer

is,

ought

greatly

God," alike

to

of incom-

And how
whom, in the

" Brethren,

in

as the

the soul of the observer in admiration and

in praise

PULPIT.

may show

aged and the young,

repent and turn

may

so that the possibility of their

condemnation may exist no more.

Whether you be obscured amidst the

final

shadows of "the eleventh hour," or

whether there be upon you the bloom and
growing splendours of the morning, now
"yield yourselves unto God." Thus, to
be Christ, and to die will be gain
and when the judgment of the great day
shall have accomplished its transactions,
we shall unite, clothed with immortal
vigour, in celebrating the praises of
grace,
happy for ever and ever.
live will

forth the

VISITING

hath called them out

of darkness into his marvellous light.

Earnest indeed should tliey be, in rendering honour to their God, ere another
world receives them to its glories
In concluding the statements and exhortations arising from the view of " the

now needs

Two

of

THE

SICK.

my parishioners, a man

and his

wife, lay at the point of death.

had

heard of the circumstance; but according

to my general custom, not being sent for,
I

took no notice of

woman

being

it

now

till

one evening, the

dead, and

the

man

my

neighbour Mr.
had been several times to visit
added. The discourse has already applied
itself.
I have but to ask
Can the aged, them. Immediately my conscience rewho have been till now unconverted, con- proached me with being shamefully negsider the momentous truths which have ligent, in sitting at home, within a few
been pressed upon their attention, and doors of dying persons, my general hearyet depart from the sanctuary unmoved 1 ers, and never going to visit them. DiIs it possible they can be told of the rectly it occurred to me, that whatever
appalling dangers that surround them, contempt I might have for Mr. N.'s docand of the only refuge that can save trines, I must acknowledge his ^roc//ce to
them, in vain] Ye hoary sinners! re- be more consistent with the ministerial
eleventh hour,"

little

to

be

dying,

heard

that

word bring character than my own. He must have

urgency more zeal and love for souls than I had,
will but increase the obduracy of your or he would not have walked so far to
hearts, and be emphatically " the savour visit, and supply my lack of care to those
of death unto death." The next appeal who, so far as I was concerned, might
will find you still further from Cod, and have been left to perish in their sins.
still nearer
to damnation.
The i^ext This reflection affected me so much, that
appeal ! O this may be the last that shall without delay, and very earnestly, yea
ever reach your ears
The decisive with tears, I besought the Lord to forgive
change may be close at hand.
Even my past neglect; and I resolved thencenow the grasp of death may be upon forth to be more attentive to this duty
you. Even now, mercy may be uttering which resolution I have, by divine grace,
her farewell, when gone, to return no been enabled hitherto to keep. I went
more for ever. And shall she go, and immediately to visit the survivor, and the
shall the doom be sealed ?
God, avert affecting sight of one person already
it!
May the arm of thine omnipotence dead, and another expiring in the same
now be stretched forth, and pluck them chamber, served more deeply to impress

member,
you not

I repeat, that if the

to

repentance,

all

its

as brands out of the

fire

my

serious convictions.

T.

Scott.

SERMON XXIX.
NO TEMPLE IN HEAVEN.

BY THE REV.

W. JAY, A.M.

AT THE REOPENING OF TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD CHAPEL.

And I saw

'

no temple therein

for

the

Lord God Almighty and

Rev.

My brethren,
rious book

The

first

ries of

this sublime but m)'stebe regarded in two ways.

by studying the whole se-

may
is,

prophecy which

it

the

Lamb

are the temple of

it."

xxi. 22.

contains, con-

ble from the fulfilment of it; and in all

God

ages

has so accomplished his

show how very

predictions, as to

we

own
little

can previously conjecture with accuways are not

cerning the church to the end of the

racy, and to prove " that his

world; and the other

our ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts ;

but as the heavens are higher than the

ticular passages.

we

is, to

attend to par-

The former

are compelled

to

decline;

of these

we

are

afraid to venture our feeble bark on an

earth, so are his

We

ocean so deep and so terrible.

do
not, indeed, go so far as the witty and
satirical Dr. South, and some who say,
" the book of Revelations always finds a
man mad, or leaves him so ;" but we
have known some wise men, and some
men certainly not very wise, who have
employed much of their time and attention upon it to very little purpose, unless
to draw away the mind from the one
thing needful, and to gender strife and
self-conceit.

Some

of these interpreters

ways than our ways, and

his thoughts than our thoughts."

But then there

are particular passages

here, which, like the heavenly luminaries,

shine the more brightly from the surrounding darkness. This is the case in
the address to the seven churches, with
the representation of the person and glory

of the Redeemer, and the^ accounts of the

heavenly world. To some countries we

comparatively indifferent, because
we have little connexion with them but

feel

if

was a country in which we had

possessions, many endearing rela-

there

large

have outlived their own empty schemes, tions, and where, after a while, we were
and have been ashamed of their confi- to reside, not for a season, but for life,
dence; and the schemes of others in suc- we should be glad of a map, and be
cession will equally evince that " there thankful for any particular instructions.
is no prophet among us, nor any thing
Such is heaven to all the heirs of
that telleth how God is."
glory; but w-hat is heaven here? It is
There were babblers in prophecy be- here represented as glorious; and John
fore the death of Fuller; that great man after surveying the gates, and the wall,
that
called them " the fortune-tellers" of the and the foundation, and the extent
church. However this may be, we know is, having surveyed it externally, he looks
that our Saviour in more than one instance within
but what he there remarks is rasaid, " These things have I spoken unto ther of a negative kind; for, according to

you before it come to pass, that when it our present state, and according to our
is come to pass )'e may believe."
The present experience, we know what heaven
benefit of prophecy is principally deriva- is much more by what it is not, than by
.

Vol.

n. 34

265

THE BRITISH

266

PULPIT.

what it is. Two things two kinds of

There is none to the devil. Here he has
things rather, he found wanting there
innumerable followers, and the Scriptures
no death

There was no night

things.

first, evil

no sorrow no

pain

all tears

(here we have enough of these) were

wiped from the eyes, and all these former
things were passed away.
But there
were also good things wanting there, and
things which now seem very desirahle
and necessary. Light is sweet, and a

pleasant thing

eyes to behold
the sun; but "the city had no need of
the sun, neither of the moon to shine in

Where

it is

for the

the believer who does not

have loved the habitation of
thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth
But " I saw no temple
there," says John.
What a world must
it be where as to nature the sun can be
dispensed with where as to grace, the
temple can be dispensed with
How
little of this state do we now know
How little can we know while we are
" Eye hath not seen, nor ear
here
it."

now

say, "

is

heard, neither have entered into the heart

man

him not only the "prince of this

world," to show that they are lils subjects, but " the god of this world " to
show that they are his worshippers. He
has his cause here, his followers, his
ministers, his chaplains, (for Taylor is
not the only one,) he has his scriptures,
and there are days set
his ordinances
apart for his honour, and places of worship open for his name.
All that is in
the world, "the lusts of the flesh, the
lusts of the eye, and the pride of life,"
call

all

these are so

many homages

to

him;

and every sin is a giving place to the

devil and giving praise to him too.
For
now he transforms himself into an angel
of light, and his people are taken captive

by him at his will.

always be the case,

But

this will

this will

not

not be the

they will soon see him as

he is; they will see what a wretch
cursed wretch they have been serving
here
how he has deceived them how
he has destroyed them, and after having
been their tempter, proving only their
case long;

which God hath prepared for them that love him."

On such an occasion as this, you may, tormentor; and therefore the Scriptures
perhaps, think it strange that I have say, "They shall look up and curse their
chosen such a subject, a subject that god and their king."
leads me not to speak of the importance
JVo7ie to God there.
In some respects
and excellency of religion, but its anni- it would be unnecessary. Now, we have
of

hilation

the things

not of the observation of the

Sabbath, but of its abolition not of the
value of the temple, but of the state
where temples will be no more; but I
beseech you to hear me patiently while I
endeavour to show,
Fiisf,

That there

is

no temple in

HELL.
Secondly,

of

all we now endeavour to induce you to believe. Then the threatening will be fulfilled
then it will be said,
"the end is come, the end is come," the
insulting question will be addressed to
your conscience, " what fruit had ye then
in those things whereof ye are now
ashamed ]"

the truth

That there

is

no temple

IN HEAVEN.

Thirdly,

preachers, and we find it no easy thing to

convince you of the evil of sin and the
wrath to come; for sin is deceitful, and
this wrath is future and invisible, but
hereafter such labour will be unnecessary.
You will " walk not by faith but by
sight"
you will see and you will feel

That there are temples on

EARTH which DESERVE OUR ATTACHBIENT

AND oup. RESPECT and
Fourthly, That we are assembled
TOGETHER THIS MORNING IN A TEMPLE
WHICH HAS PECULIAR CLAIMS UPON THE
;

AUDIENCE nEFOKE ME.

There will be,

therefore, in hell a rec-

him who slrall proclaim thy word,

and bid each hearer give attention.
And, First, my dear hearers, there is

but though you will

be conscious of your desert, and acknowledge that God is justified when he speaketh, and clear when he judgeth. yet it
will be the mere conviction of the con-

NO TEMPLE

science, and being

Lord, touch with a living coal the

lips of

IN HELL.

titude of conception

unaccompanied with

NO TEMPLE

IN HEAVEN.

267

any degree of hope, no penitence will all will revive in your memory, and reflow from it, no adoration, no love to main fresh in it for ever. A city young
God, and no love to your fellow sufferers, man some time ago when he was dying
no union with them. Here, there were in the country said, " O my father often
confederacies among them which looked told me that the conscience reproached
!

like friendship, hut there all will be hateful,

hating one another; not only sorrow,

but nmtual accusations and railings

there

when
to

it

did not speak, and

be true

before

me

and what

is

it

now find it
now spread

to peruse, but a roll written

and without with lamentation,

and mourning, and wo ]"
but gnashing of teeth.
But I hasten from this part of our subBut, my dear hearers, here you have
the means of grace, and though now you ject, to observe. Secondly, That there
are afar off, you may be made nigh ; while IS NO TEMPLE IN HEAVEN.
First, There is no idol temple there.
you are in the land of the living you are
in the land of hope; and O that you may Idolatry very soon entered our world,
know " the things that belong to your and there were "gods many, and lords
peace now, for then, they will be hid many." In the absence of revelation, it
from your eyes." O that the long-suf- is hardly to be wondered at, that the
fering of God may be your salvation. O heavenly bodies, especially such a usethat the goodness of your God may lead ful creature as the sun, should have been
you to repentance now; for there will be worshipped. But gods were made out
no calls to repentance there, no space for of human beings, and generally made,
repentance there, no mercy-seat there, not for their moral virtues, but at best
no llirone of grace there, no herald to pro- for some physical qualities, and often, for
claim, " behold the Lamb of God," no even their passions and their vices; and
Saviour to say, "look unto me and be they "changed the glory of the incorsaved, all the ends of the earth."
You ruptible body, to an image made like to
now mingle with the godly much, you corruptible man, and to birds, and f urjoin with them in their social exercises
footed beasts, and creeping things;" and
you pass much of your time in the solemn made gods out of the works of their own
but there will be no temple hands, and thus they mocked the Owner;
temple
there; no, there will be no temple there. the Upholder of all things, from age to
And it would be well, if when you age, was pushed aside from his own
have nothing more to do with these works, and saw his glories given to anthings in the way of privilege, you other.
And how long has this custom
should have no more to do with them in continued] How wide has it spread]
But this will How many of these temples to devils
the way of punishment.
not be the case.
You will be detached and not to God
eternal infamy! are
from all the appendages of godliness, there now standing, found even under
unless, indeed, from the remembrance of our own dominion, to some of which
them. This will adhere to you for ever; thousands annually repair, in the service
and a vivid recollection of the desks here, of which thousands are destroyed, the
and the pulpit, and the figure of the taxes of whose worshippers are collected
preacher, and what from time to time by British officers, the income arising
you have heard these will serve as fuel from which, after the expenses of Jugto the fire that never will be quenched, gernaut and other devils are defrayed,
and as food for the worm that never dies. goes to the support of the British governNow you attend us on the Sabbath, and ment in the East
plunge into the dissipation of the week,
Then, again. There is no temple there
and think no more on the subject but for heresy and error. How many Mahow will you weather an eternal life, hometan temples are there now, where
where such expedients fail
Now you Jesus the Son of God is placed below
can easily forget sermons, (how many the false prophet
How many anti-chrishave some of you forgotten]) but there tian temples are there now, in which
will not only be

weeping and wailing, within

"?

THE BRITISH

268

PULPIT.

"the man of sin,"

and

revL'lalion)

a difl^erence

(I use the word of

" the son of perdition, exalteth and opposeth himself to all that is
called God so that he sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself to be God I"
How ni'any temples are there, where the
Lord of glory and he whom all the angels of heaven adore, is degraded to the
level of a mere creature and a mere man,
and where his precious atonement which
put away sin, which finished transgression, which brought in everlasting right;

eousness,

is

considered as the grossest

How many

and where there is only

with regard to the mode of
the administration of an ordinance, the
in discipline,

of sprinkling for instance, they can-

gift

not live in peace, nor be able to com-

memorate the dying love of Jesus at the

same table. Really, one would sometimes imagine, that each denomination
expected that hereafter there would be a
party temple of their own, into which

would submissively
mistaken,

rest

all

but they are

these differences will then

all

be done away, and

we

shall be surprised,

we should
temples are there now, where men are be grieved, that we have attached ourmade to be their own saviours, where selves sc exclusively to our distinctions
they are expressly taught to go about to here. When the corn is carried home to
establisii their own righteousness, instead the same garner, no inquiry is made
of submitting themselves to the righteous- whether it grew in this field or that field
ness which is of God
And there are before the harvest. Children may differ
temples, where people are told that sin in age, in size, in dress, and in schooling,
cannot hurt a believer, where sanctifica- but they are all one family. Do we becorruption of Christianity

and

if grief

could enter heaven,

tion as

much

as justification

merely of imputation

is

a business

where

lieve this

Do

v.'e

believe that the per-

ungodly fection of the future state is such, that

men (for the Scriptures use no ceremony there will be no party temple there. My
here, but call them by their own proper dear hearers, you never find in the Scripname, ungodly men) turn the grace of tures such a command as this, " Take
our God into lasciviousness. O what a heed where you learn," though you read,
blessed power, when through all the " take heed what you hear," and " take

compass of Immanuel's

land, there will

not be one of such temples found

how

blessed,

when

and

in the approach to

the Lord shall be king over

all

it,

the earth,

and in that day there shall be one Lord,

and his name Wonderful.
Again, Thirdly, There is no pariy temple there.
Now, even the followers of
Christ cannot see eye to eye. Well, "let
every one be fully persuaded in his own
mind." As population increases, of course,
temples will be necessarily multiplied.
There is no harm in this, provided they
but
will love each other and co-operate
;

alas

we

frequently find

altar

erected

against altar, and the bigotry of the at-

them to exclaim, " The

temple of the Lord, the temple of the
Lord are we !" Hence, frequently those
who worship the same God through the
same Mediator, and by the influence of
the same Spirit, live estranged from each
other as if they did not belong to the
same community; and in some cases
where there is an accordance in doctrine

tend-ants leading

how you hear." You will not herehave the question addressed to you,
where did you worship 1 but, whether you
have worshipped the Father in spirit and
in truth.
But is this true? Will there
be no party temple there ] Do we believe
heed

after

this

Do we

believe that the perfections

of heaven arise from

him

Surely

it

is

desirable to approach as nearly to that

state
I

now,

in disposition, as possible.

shall be saved, not as a

particular church, but as a

inember of a

member

of the

church universal
I feel myself a thousand times more dignified and honoured
I

by the name of

a Christian,

which com-

prehends us all, than I should by the

name of an Episcopalian, a Dissenter, an
Independent, a Baptist, or a Methodist,
Finally, There will he no material temple there.

The

reason

will be unnecessary.

is,

because they

They

are

now

in

the order of means, and then the end will

be accomplished.
if

the things

means

You

which

will observe, that

are in the order of

are continued in

any case, the con-

NO TEMPLE IN HEAVEN.
tinuance implies their imperfection, or at

they have not so far answered

their purpose.
For example now, if the
least, that

cess

269

we may

even overrate our present

do this whenever we forget that their institutions and services
are not to be regarded for their own sake
;

temples.

We

mediation of Christ continued after the

day of judgment, it would be a proof that
-they are not ends, but means
they are
It had not previously fully accomplished
not religion, but the instrumentalities of
all its purposes
but it will have fully ac- religion, and these temples, therefore, are
complished all its purposes, and, therefore, not in all respects essential to religion

God even here. We read of no temple in the

The world before the flood, though we do read
from year that men began to call on the name of the

the kingdom will be delivered up to

the Father, and

Jewish

God

sacrifices

will be all in all.

were repeated

Lord in the family of Seth. Adam and

comers thereunto per- Eve had no temple in paradise, and Milfect, for otherwise they would cease to ton beautifully represents them as always
be offered." So it was with the Jewish performing their morning and evening detypes, they were abolished by the arrival votions in the open air.
Isaac went out
of the reality, just as the dawn is abolish- into the field at evening tide to meditate.
ed by the coming of the perfect day. We And all through the book of Genesis,
may observe the same with regard to the though you constantly read of offerings,
Lord's supper ; he now says, " Do this in you never read of the temple. The taremembrance of me ;" because he is ab- bernacle indeed was a temple, but it was
sent we are liable to forget him, and it is for the ark and not for the people ; they
of vast importance that he should live in worshipped in the outward court with no
our thoughts. But this will not be the covering over them. But you say Solocase when we are present with him, and mon built him a house; but God said it
for ever with the Lord. The order of the was more than he expected or wished,
means is now established for the work of and that he never said any thing of the
the ministry ; but when there is no sin- kind from the beginning to any of his
ner to be converted, no saint to be edified, servants. And this temple too, after a
the work itself will cease with its object. time, was profaned and consumed. And
There will be no need of an army when during seventy years, while the Jews
the enemies which we see to-day we were in Babylon, they had no temple or
shall see no more for ever
no need of synagogue, though there were many men
prayer when we are filled with all the peculiarly pious, as we see in the case
fulness of God
no need of patience of Daniel, and Shadrach, Meshach, and
when we are no longer required to suffer Abednego, and Ezra, and Nehemiah, and
on the way no need of faith when we Joshua, and Zerubbabel andjothers. The
see no need of hope when we enjoy. first Christians, towards the close of the
There will be no charity there, for there third century, had no temple, properly so
will be no penury
there will be no called, but they worshipped wherever
mercy there, for there will be no misery. they could obtain accommodation; they
All duration will be one perpetual Sab- never attached holiness to walls, and to
bath, and all space one temple.
mortar, and to timber.
The Arian empeBut we observe in the third place, ror established Arianism, and then the
That now there are temples on earth godly said to them, " You have the temwhich deserve our attachment and ples, but we have the truth." If we come
our respect.
how we redown to our forefathers,
In the determination of the regard vere their memories
O ye men of God,
which is due to them we are liable to we continue to repair to your tombs, and
err, both on the side of excess and de- when the letters begin to be erased, we
ficiency, and, therefore, we shall now inscribe them afresh, and say, " of whom
have to assail formality on the one hand the world was not worthy," when they
and enthusiasm on the other. It is pos- were banished, not only from their homes,
sible for U3 to err now on the side of ex- but from their temples, how was it with
to year, because, says the apostle, " they

could not

make

the

THE BRITISH

370
them]

They assembled in corners, prirooms, and in woods- unconsecrated 1

No ; they were consecrated by
their presence, or rather by the presence
cf their Lord and Saviour, who had said,
" Where two or three are gathered together, there am I in the midst of them."
Yes, and you make too much of temples

vate

PULPIT.

without food and without sleep. What

should we think of a man who could be-

come
live

enough to despise these

now, and to think he could
without them? What shall we do

here

spiritual

vulgarities

Shall

we

appeal to the divine pre-

him who knows what is in

man, and what is necessary for himl
What does he say ] What is his command] "Forsake not the assembling
yourselves together as the manner of
some is." " Worship the Lord in the
sence

to

now when you think of confining God to

them. " The Most High dwelleth not in
temples made with hands," saitli the prophet, " heaven is my throne, and earth is
my footstool what house will ye build beauty of holiness, for all these things
;"
me," saith the Lord, " or what is the have I required of the house of Israel
and what say his promises] "In all
place of my rest]"
If Christians are called to travel on the places where I record my name, I will
Sabbath, not at the beck of pleasure, but come unto thee, and I will bless thee."
if they are placed by Providence "I will make the place of my feet gloof duty
" I will bring them to my holy
if by accident, rious."
in a soil of barrenness
or disease, or relative distress, they are mountain, and make them joyful in my
confined and are unable to repair to the house of prayer, for mine house shall be
sanctuary of God, then he will make them called a house of prayer for all people."
know that though they cannot follow him Or shall we appeal to reason with regard
he will follow them. Then he will turn to the actual state of man ] Let us with
the bed, or the sick chamber, or the house much brevity take six views of man,
of mourning, into none other but the each of which will show, though our
house of God and the gate of heaven, temples are to be dispensed with hereafter, yet they are important and necesand convince them that,
sary now.
" Whene'er we seek him he is found,
Let us view man physically let us
:

And

every place

is

holy ground."

look at the constitution of his nature.

And Mr. Newton has

very properly observed, that when Christians are deprived

of the public means of grace, they should
remember that they are still in the possession of three things, the throne of
grace, the WQrd of grace, and the spirit
of grace. You also err on this side,
when you repair to the house of God
without seeking the God of the house,
or depend upon the influence of his holy
and blessed Spirit for he will assuredly
convince you that there is one greater
than the temple, and that though Paul
may plant and Apollos may water, he
;

alone can give the increase.

But we

are

more likely

to

side of deficiency than excess

having opposed

was reserved

own

It

philosophers of our
times, to prove that the possessions
for the

of the most enlarged mind are, from ideas

originally admitted through the

medium

of the senses, or from contemplating the

own minds employed on

And what reason
world have we to suppose that re-

portion of our

the ideas of sensation.

in the

ligion will not operate in the

same way,

and derive benefit from external things]

God, who from the beginning knew, God

has acted all along upon the truth of

Locke's principle, he addresses us chiefly
in his word by facts. The apostles spoke
of those things which they had seen, and
err on the heard, and handled, of the good word of
and, there-

which

life.

All the observations of Christianity

which instruct and

impress us entirely through the medium
siasm that would rise above them, and of sensation and reflection. Preaching
despise them. Things that are not ne- is an address to the ear. The Lord's
" Becessary in eternity, are important and supper is an address to the eye.
Hereafter we shall live fore your eyes," says the apostle, "Jesus
iiecessarjr here.

fore,

rests in temples,

formality

we must

assail enthu-

are founded on facts

NO TEMPLE
hath

Christ
crucified

been evidently set

among

j'ou."

forth,

Or, rather

it

is

IN HEAVEN.
aid

Is

it

to

271
he maintained from some-

Can

thing innate only?

its

principles

an address even to the taste, " Eat ye all be sustained, sufficiently sustained, by
of this drink ye all of this." But here abstract reflection and occasional reflecyou see the God of grace not renouncing, tion ? Do they not require something
substantial, something fixed, something
but acknowledging the God of nature.
Secondly, Let us view man as an im- frequently returning to realize and to inmortal being, who has deep wants and vigorate them? And are not habits alone
mysterious cravings which distinguish formed by the repetition of particular
him from all the orders of inferior crea- acts? Christians, therefore, are always
tures surrounding him, the subject of thankful for such ordinances to remind
to restrain them
to stimulate
hopes and fears which nothing earthly them
can remove or satisfy. It is only the in- them to refresh them to comfort them.
stitution of religion that can meet these They are even thankful that what is their
hungerings of a strayed immortal, and that privilege is made by God himself their
can introduce a voice, saying, "Where- duty, and that they are bound to wait
fore do ye spend your money for that upon the Lord, because they that wait
which is not bread ? and your labour for upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
Hearken dili- Whatever reason some may assign for
that which satisfieth not?
gently unto me, and eat ye that which is their giving up the Sabbath and the sancgood, and let your soul delight itself in tuary, be assured of this, that when these
fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto are given up in a general way, all is
me hear, and your soul shall live, and given up practically or gradually. You
I will make an everlasting covenant with will find the private duties of religion
always best discharged by those who atyou, even the sure mercies of David."
Then, thirdly, view man as a depraved tend to public ones for it is an undeniabeing.
Who can deny this ? But what ble fact, that one duty aids the principle
is the inference]
If he be ignorant, he and the disposition of another duty; and,
needs to be instructed if he be wander- therefore, not only does the neglect of
ing, he needs to be reclaimed
if he be ordinances tend to evil, but it implies
It shows already the danger of
careless, he requires to be aroused
if he evil.
be averse to duty, he stands in need of alienation from the life of God in the
every address and motive that can excite soul. And, I beseech you now to oband influence him. Can religion be safe- serve this, that with regard to those
ly left to the choice and disposition of Christians whose attainments in religion
such a being as this every man to be his are such, as to seem to place them above
own priest] Why, what kind of ministry ordinances, they are the individuals that
would such a being as this be enabled or always prize them most, and always atdisposed to exercise? No, Christianity tend upon them the most constantly. It
is like its Author, it goes and seeks that was Ezra that said, "I beseech thee,
which is lost; it goes after the strayed give us a nail in thy holy place." It
sheep in the wilderness until it find him. was David that said, "Iwas glad when
Then, fourthly, view man as a renew- they said unto me. Let us go into the
ed being. Thus he is made to differ from house of the Lord"
a man after God's
others, and to differ from himself; but own heart
a man who had more experithough he be a changed creature now, he mental religion than any individual, peris an imperfect one.
He is surrounded haps, before the coming of our Saviour.
with numberless diversions and tempta- And by the way, be it remembered too,
tions
he abounds with much evil within. that he was not a recluse; he was the
Religion is planted in him, but then it is hero of the day, he was the first general
an exotic, and it is a very tender one. of the age, the first statesman, the first
Can religion be kept lovely and flourish- musician, the first poet. This was the
constant man who said, " A day in thy courts is
insr in the soul without aid
;

THE BRITISH

272
better than a thousand ;" " I

would rather

PULPIT.

How many

there are,

humanly speaking,

be a door-keeper in the house of my God who would never have been struck by
divine truth, had they not, from curiosity,
than dwell in the tents of wickedness."
Then, fifthly, view man in his civil we will suppose, entered the house of
being. But here you will meet with him God
Here is one he comes and stands
among the ranks and degrees of life, and in the aisle, and he gives a leering sideHe seems, at first,
these ranks and degrees of life are proper. look to the preacher.
The Scriptures enforce attention to this; careless; but he soon feels, and he soon
no advantage is ever derived from the blushes ; for the preacher seems acviolation of this.
But then it will be quainted with him, and he seems known
acknowledged that they may become ex- of all, and adjudged of all. He goes
cessive and injurious ; and I would ask home reproaching the minister, and saywhat there is that can check them, and ing, " If men have faults, they should
sanctify them like public worship, where be reproved in private, and not before
I will never enter
the rich and the poor meet together^ a whole assembly
where, without any injury to the decen- that place again" not knowing what
The Sabbath comes round,
cie and decorums of life, all can min- he says.
gle in the same company all can sit he walks to the door, and affects a kind
down at the very same table where the of contempt for the place but he does
peasant is dignified without any degree not really feel one. He steps back; he
he hears
where the master feels himself comes just within the doors
of pride
where the king again, is more impressed, and more alarmto be only a servant
where ed and now the danger is, lest he should
feels himself to be only a subject
and lest despair
the judge descends from his awful tribu- say, There is no hope
nal, and, kneeling by the side of other should sink him to an unregenerate state.
criminals, cries, " God be merciful to me But he enters again ; and the minister
who has shown him his disease, shows
a sinner."
Lastly, Let us view man puhlicly in his him also the remedy ; and he is made to
connexion with the state, for ivhose safety, know the truth, and the truth sets him
and for whose icelfare, he ought to be con- free, and he walks in the glorious liberty
cerned.
Now, if religion be essential to of the sons of God. And this is not all.
the safety and welfare of a country, we Many of these things have occurred unbut when a
contend that these institutions and obser- der our own observation
vances are essential to religion. And we man gains good in such a place as this,
would ask. What would any nation, what he carries it away ; he diffuses it ; it is
would any neighbourhood be, if the Sab- multiplied. Let us suppose a case, and
bath and if our temples were given up 1 the substance of it has actually passed
How rude 1 how savage 1 how insubordi- under the preacher's own observation
nate 1 how insulting 1 are found those in more than once. A villager passes a
the different parts of the country that are Sabbath in the city, and by some circumbrought up much away from the influ- stance he is induced to attend where the
ence of the means of grace 1 There are gospel is preached he hears to purpose
no persons but have occasional religious he goes back impressd with other views
excitements, and is it not desirable that and feelings than those with which he
At first, his wife is alarmed, lest
these periods should be seized and im- came.
proved? Even a bad man will frequently he should be beside himself; but she
feel a temporary conviction ; and in such soon finds that he is a better husband,
a place as this, that conviction may be that he acts conscientiously and consistconfirmed, and become a principle. Per- ently ; that he now begins to treat her
sons may enter the house of God in with tenderness and affection that, inaffliction ; but, though they first repaired stead of spending his evenings abroad,
to it as an asylum, they may afterwards he loves to spend them at home ; and
continue there as adorers in the sanctuary. she often sees him after his labour with
!

NO TEMPLE
a Bible spread on his knees, and sees his
sleeve often wipe

And now

away many round

tears.

also he begins to love his child-

ren, and he is concerned to " train

them

IN HEAVEN.

273

world, he must be a reformer and a re-

He

prover.

will have to oppose reiorn-

ing errors, and

will, therefore,

follies,

become

and vices;

he

a disturber and a

up in the nurture and admonition of the troubler, and, therefore, he is likely to

Lord." But he cannot confine his reli- draw upon himself reflection and region to himself or his family
he looks proach and sometimes with many, and
at the state of his neighbourhood, and is for a length of time, he will lie under
affected with the condition of his fellow misrepresentation, but by and by his chacreatures there. He speaks with them in racter breaks forth through the obscurity ;
;

conversation according as he has oppor-

" his righteousness

is

brought forth as the

But he goes back to light, and his judgment as the noonday."

the minister who was the means of
Some are born for a family, some for
awakening him, and says to him, " Sir, particular places and periods, some for
you do not know me, but, blessed be all places and all periods. His name is
God, I know you." And weeping and now embalmed in many a country but,
relating his experience, he says, " Now, O
what did he in his own T What was
that I have tasted that the Lord is gra- the state of religion, when he, with others
cious, I am concerned that others should whose hearts God had touched, sprung
taste and see that the Lord is good.
O up ? While the establishment, they were
sir, if you did but know the state of our sleeping in the dark
while the dissentneighbourhood, you would come over ers, they were sleeping in the light
He
and help us." He goes he preaches to was the main instrument of awakening
a few
they are impressed
he goes them both, and of commencing a revival
again
he preaches to more by and by of evangelical religion, which continues
tunity or ability.

they are enabled and encouraged to build

a place of worship
a church is formed
there, and a considerable congregation
and thus the single grain that was drop-

ped there springs up and brings forth

fruit, in some thirty, in some sixty, and
in some a hundred fold.
I am afraid I have been too long here ;
and yet it seems to me I have been very
brief on this important part of our subject.
But I hope this will be sufficient
to convince you that w^e cannot part with
our temples yet; and, if they are to be
dispensed with in another world, yet
they are

now every way

important and
important;
and, therefore, that the Jews well understood the thing when they said of the
centurion, " He loveth our nation, and
necessary,

even

politically

hath built us a synagogue."

We

will, therefore, pass, fourthly, to

still;

and, notwithstanding the croakings

of some,

Vol.

Rev. G. Whitfield.

H. 35

increasing, and will continue

and spread

till

the " earth is

with the knowledge of the Lord,

as the waters cover the sea."
Illustrious and dear founder of this temple
it
would be vain and presumptuous in me
to think of adding any thing to thy fame !
Thou hast long ago heard from angels,
and the .Judge of all, " Well done, good
and faithful servant of God, well done !"
But here is another claim which this
place has upon you ; it arises from its useThis, it is impossible for us to
fulness.
calculate
it will only be known at the
last day.
But you must reflect on the
filled

largeness of the place

you

must

reflect

on the number of years that it has been

opened
you must reflect on the multitudes who have attended here from time
to time
you must reflect on the immensity of sermons that have been preached
here, the services that have been performed here you must reflect on the number
of eminent servants of God of every denomination, of every grace, and every
kind of talent, (0
how many could be

That we are now assembled in

A TEMPLE THAT HAS PECULIAR CLAIMS
UPON THIS AUDIENCE.
And the first of these will be derived
from ihc character of the illustrious
founder.* Whenever a man is called
to do the great work of God in our named
observe.

is

to increase

of

life

but their names are in the book

who have here preached the
!)

THE BRITISH

274
gospel

PULPIT.

and its power. You mfnt can be derived from such a quai'tef
how many have become as this. The sentiment is natural to us

in its purity

must think

was

by the patriarchs it was felt

dying Jacob. "In the cave,"
says he, "that is in the field of Machpe-

teachers and ministers themselves, afler

it

they were called here; you must think

what a number of persons have been converted here from the beginning.
When
God shall count up his jewels, of how
many will it be said, " this and that man

by the
lah,

felt

which

is

Mamre, in the land

Abraham bought with

before

of Canaan, which

the field of Ephron, the Hittite. for a posYes, and the Highest session of a burying-place. There they
himself shall establish it.
buried Abraham, and Sarah his wife;
Perhaps there is hardly a place here there they buried Isaac, and Rebecca his
where some good has not been accom- wife ; and there I buried Leah." Are
plished.
Perhaps there are some here there not persons who say these things,
this morning who can point to a place and, in saying them, feel a tender and
and say, "There my stupid conscience solemn connexion arising from hence]
was awakened to the inquiry
what There lies my beloved child there lies
must I do to be saved?" another would my beloved friend, who was as my own
say, " Here my self-righteous hopes were son
there lies the minister by whose
all removed, and I was laid bare at the labours my feet were turned into the path
foot of the cross."
Another would say, of peace there lies a mother whose lips
" How often here have I been instructed, first taught me to pronounce the Recomforted, and quickened !" How many deemer's name, and in consequence of
would look to the communion table and this we will not forsake the house of our
say, " How often has he there been known God.
of me in the breaking of bread."
But there is one more claim, and that
How
many would say, " I have had numberless is derived from the future. As to some
afflictions, but I have found him here in of you, you will not want the temple
" Now is your salvation nearer
his palace for a rest, here he has been the long.
Father of the fatherless, and the Judge than when you believed. The night is
of the widow, in his holy habitation."
far spent, and the day is at hand." Yes
There is another claim ; and this is and as to others, how soon may they be
derived from the relation many of you removed
You have taken places, and
have to the hallowed remains that lie in- you consider them as your own but
terred here.
You cannot say, my Chris- how soon ma)' they be found vacant, and
tian brethren, with the Jews of old, "the place that once knew you shall
" Our holy and beautiful house in which know you no more for ever!" And at
our fathers worshipped is burned up with most with regard to any of you, you will
fire; and all our pleasant things are laid
only occupy your places for a few years,
waste." But you can say, Here our and when those few years will come,
fathers worshipped thee.
Here our dear then you will go that way whence you
friends, with whom we took sweet coun- shall not return.
But here are your
sel together, and went to the house of families; and they are the hopes of our

were born here

!"

God

in

gone

men made
company

of just

The

gone, their

tliey are

souls are gone

to join the spirits

perfect.

saints below,

and

all

But
the dead

But one communion make

All join with Christ their living head,

And of his grace partake.

churches.

dear hearers, reflect this

morning that here your children, and your

children's children, will be serving

him

when

soft

the

clods of the valley are

about you, and so "a seed shall serve

him; it shall be accounted unto the Lord
for a generation.

shall

They

My

declare

his

They

shall

come and

righteousness unto a

people that shall be born, that he hath

neighbouring vaults and let done this."
persons of hardened minds despise the
These are the claims that this place
thought that an importance or endear- has upon you for what ? For a regular

you

are gone, but their bodies lie near

in the

NO TEMPLE
and constant Bttendance here, for your
improvement of the means of grace, that
your meeting together may be for the
better and not for the worse; that your
profiting may appear unto all men. Why,
that you may endeavour to bring others
here, that God's house may be filled with

that

his table

say, peace

275
within

he

'<

thee.''''

Let thy

work appear unto thy servants, and thy

glory unto their children. And let the
beauty of the Lord our God he upon us
and establish thou the work of our hands
upon us ; yea, the work of our hands establish thou

Amen.

it.''''

may

be filled
with guests. Why, that you should render a liberal aid in the support of the ad-

inhabitants

IN HEAVEN.

ministration of divine things here.

and

Why

MO.NUMENTS OF HUMAN GRANDEUR PERISH.

Thr monuments

of

human

greatness

with this I must close that you

should aid in discharging the debt that
has been incurred by the purchase and

yield in succession to the destroying in-

repairs of this place.

only a temporary influence,

Christians

are

comes stewards

to

stewards, and

it

be-

be found faithful, and

always looks suspicious when stewards

grow very rich when they dress very
fine
when they live very fine, and die
Tery rich. In our day I make no scruple
it

to say that

it

is

disgraceful for a Chris-

Whatever

fluence of time.

is

magnifi-

cent, or beautiful, or excellent, possesses

mands only a

and

transient admiration

com;

in

course of a few years, or at most a

few ages, imagination is required to supply departed graces, and genius mourns
over extinguished glory. The combinatiie

tions of society

ing

eff"ects

have produced astonish-

to

man

in

his

collective

We

allow that a strength nothing is impossible, and few

Christian is to provide for his own house, things appear even difficult ; he has dared
but conscience will soon adjust this busi- every thing and he has achieved so much
ness and we say again, that it is uncome- as amply to repay him for his labours.
ly, and especially in such a day as ours, for The extent of sovt^reignty which he
tian to die very rich.

the professors of religion to die very rich.

grasped,

when he

stretched his sceptre

wish all our ministers would enter into over numberless provinces, and planted
an agreement never to preach a funeral the line of his dominion from sea to sea,
sermon for a man that dies so inglorious- demonstrated the unbounded character of
ly; or, if they do, that they will say at his ambition, and the incalculable variety
the end of the sermon
and the worthy of his resources. The stupendous proeditors of the magazines will say in the ductions of art, on which he inscribed
obituary
what they died worth, that his victories, and which he intended as
every one may see how they have been, the pillars of his fame, have combined
year after year, laying up treasures, and and exhibited all that is sublime in conwith what sincerity they have been sing- ception, and all that is graceful in execuing
tion.
Could he have attached durability
to these, his triumph vyould have been
" All that I am, and all I have,
complete he would have bound time to
Shall be for ever thine
his chariot-wheels, and rendered the
I

duty bids me give,

cheerful hands resign."

Whale'er

My

my

monuments of
the

But

am

deviating as well as

making But

a greater trespass upon your time; for

I never wish to say much upon these oc-

money matters. I am not

fond of teasing, or tricks upon such occasions as these, and therefore I will leave
the business with you, only sayino-,

casions about

his greatness coeval with

existence of

the

heavenly bodies.

power has dissolved

all the associations which he formed, and
overthrown all the structures which he
that irresistible

He touched the seats of empire

with his commanding sceptre, and the
thrones of the earth crumbled into dust.
raised.

Scarcely was the head of the monarch

"Peace be within these walk, and pros- laid beneath the sod, before his dominion
peri I y within this place. For my bre- perished. Scarcely the active hand of
thren and companions'' sakes I will now the warrior stiffened in death, ere the

THE BRITISH

276
provinces which he had

won

PULPIT.

revolted,

the inspiration of the poet is a lambent

and another hero arose to run the same

career of danger and oppression, to mark
out the globe for himself, and to resign,
in his turn, a crown so hardly achieved.
Of Nineveh of Babylon we have no
remains of Egypt we have only charac-

playing around the imagination

from age to age, and shedding its mild
and brilliant light upon distant lands and

flame,

times,

when

the consuming element of

The magic pen of

from their resting
ters of degradation
of Rome there exist place the departed shades of princes and
but the melancholy fragments of ruined warriors, and imbodying them in their
:

discord

is

forgotten.

the historian

raises

With the respective empires, proper forms, brings them again to act
monuments of their power have been their part upon the stage of time, fills the

grandeur.
the

defaced or destroyed.

Time

has wasted

extinguished the paros

prostrated the colossus dilapidated the
temple unravelled the labyrinth broken
the gardens

down

world with new agents, and enables us

to judge of their characters with ease and
accuracy; while we feel ourselves sheltered from the miseries at the same time

mausoleum upon its dead

that we ascertain the extent of their policy
pyramids to mark the pro- and achievements. Yet this mausoleum
gress of his effacing hand passing over of former greatness rears its majestic

and

the

left the

them, and
ambition,

name

to deride

when

its

the folly of

the

of their projectors.

When these exhibitions

ty are swept

much

human head only

works outlive

of

away from

of

human

abili-

the earth, or so

them only remains as

to

awaken than

sentiments of pity more lively than those

of admiration, history restores the em-

and science rears the fallen cities

anew. Again Palmyra rises from among
her ruined temples and tottering pillars
again Rome assumes the sceptre of the
world, and binds distant nations to her
pire,

throne.

The work

of the destroyer

is

but half effected, while the record of

former times remains.
The heroes of
antiquity live over again ; and the great
monarchies burst forth afresh in all their
primeval splendour. Letters seem to promise that immortality which neither arms
could command, nor arts acquire. The
blaze of war is quickly extinguished
it is indeed a devouring fire
but it is
:

for a season.

In vain the poet

and the historian promise themselves, or

the subjects of their eulogy, immortality:
in vain they flatter themselves that they
have erected a monument more durable
brass, loftier than the royal elevation

of the pyramids; which neither the wear-

ing shower, the unavailing tempest, the

innumerable succession of years, nor the

flight of seasons, shall be able to demolish they dream but of a fame that
shall move round the circle of time.
Many such a fond enthusiast has floated
down the stream, without leaving even
the wreck of his name as a memorial.
And of those who have stood highest on
the records of renown, a part of their
Time has not
works has perished.
spared even science. The precious fragments of ancient writings resemble the
ruins of some great empire
enough remains to delight, to impress, to instruct
but these remnants cause us to lament
:

the more bitterly that which is lost to us,

Like the beacon which is kindled to as an evil irreparable, and afford a lesson
affright the nations, it burned for a night, more ample of human vanity than of huand expired upon its own ashes. But man distinction. Collyer.

short lived, in proportion to

its fierceness.

SERMON XXX.
THE EVIL AND DANGERS OF POPULAR IGNORANCE.

BY THE REV. JAMES DIXON.

ADDRESSED TO TEACHERS OF SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

WTiere there is no vision, the people perish: but he that Jceepeth the law, happy is he."

Prov. xxix. 18.

The

you

Now,

believe that Sunday-school indo this in an especial manner,

spected secretary of the Sunday-school and that they are highly calculated to
Union, requires me to address myself eflTect great good in the world, because, I
especially to the teachers of Sunday- observe,
schools and, as our time must necessaFirst, That Christian education,
rily be siiort and limited, I shall enter, COMMUNICATED TO A PEOPLE, MAY BE
without detaining you by way of preface, CONSIDERED AS A PREVENTIVE OF EVIL,
upon the subject of this service.
and is to be taken up and prosecuted
Let me, however, be permitted to make under this view with every legitimate
one preliminary remark that sensible prospect of success. If, my brethren,
men, who engage in any enterprise what- there be in human nature a disorder of
ever, must be influenced in their exertions the mental faculties, it must be of infinite
by the importance of the end to be accom- consequence to attempt to correct it by
plished, and the prospective probabilities introducing, as early as possible, the
of success deriving their main stimu- seeds of divine truth into the mind. It is
lating motives from the nature of the by such efforts, for instance, that the
institution to which they attach them- evils of ignorance are alone to be met
selves.
It will not, therefore, be neces- and mastered ; and let me tell you, that
sary for me, in recommending to you the the ignorance, the error, the darkness,
cause of Sunday-schools, to enter into and the bewildered judgment observable
much detail, but rather to take up one or in man, are not accidents of nature, but
two of the great leading principles of such are general, innate, and universal.
institutions, and bring them as clearly
The cause of this disorder of the human
before your attention as I can.
And mind is to be found in man's fall from a
allow me to say, that I wish to be influ- state of rectitude and holiness into a state
enced by these feelings and motives of sin and evil.
The soul, my dear
myself. I should not attach myself to brethren, has been involved in a state
any institution whose principles I did not of midnight darkness, as the fruit and
and you
approve of, and I could not approve of consequence of original sin
them if I did not think they imbodied the have, therefore, in human nature, under
leading features of Christianity; for 1 all its different exterior formations, and
can only expect success just as they in- classes, and situations, and modes of
invitation

evening, which

to

address

this

received from the re-

stitutions

corporate and exhibit the great essential

principles of revealed truth.

happiness, and sources of misery, two

things
a spiritual and intellectual nature

277

THE BRITISH PULKT.

278

its

influence of heavenly grace, and the joys

faculties lie

and privileges of the great salvation.

But, although in man's mental and
moral condition there is an entire incapacity for good and spiritual enjoyment, I
wish you to understand that there is no
incapacity to evil, to darkness, and error.

remaining entire and unimpaired in

essential properties, while
in a

its

state of entire disorganization

and
In the very lowest form of hu-

ruin.

manity

in

the negro, the Hottentot, the

Esquimaux, as well as the lowest and

most debased of our own population
you have a spiritual and noble nature Indeed, there is that in his nature which
remaining in its nature entire, capable of propels him into scenes of darkness, and
improvement, capable of wisdom, capable mischief, and misery, incessantly. The
of religion, capable of contemplating and ignorance and errors of his state are laid
enjoying God, and formed for immortal- deeply in a vigorous and lively nature;
ity
but you have, at the same time, a and if he does not move on in the path
nature wholly disordered and involved in of wisdom and piety, he progresses with
utter ignorance of its own faculties, not- fearful rapidity in the path of error and
withstanding. The soul of man, in its evil. Since we have fallen from God
present degraded state, is something like since we have lost our primitive and
an existence, if you could find such in innate rectitude and innocence departed
bjects of from our paradisaical perfection, and lost
the universe, surrounded by
sensation, but without any capacity to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God,
enjoy those sensations. If you could find we necessarily go astray, directly, straight
such a nature as this, you would have forward, heedlessly, in the ways of evil,
something analogous to the state of the until arrested by the interposition of God,
human soul ; for every person that is by the power of his Spirit, the grace of
born into the world is surrounded by all the gospel, and made to appreciate the
that is fitted to draw forth the noblest great and glorious privileges of the
;

faculties of his nature

the works of God,

the noble footsteps of the divinity, the

Christian revelation, through the saving

influence of true faith.

words of salvation, the privileges and

Such, then, is man's real state; and do

you not instantly discover the great value
eye to behold this scenery of moral and and importance, in such a case, of early
spiritual beauty, he has no ear to be instruction in the knowledge of religion?
charmed by the sounds of this salvation. What so highly calculated to give vigour
blessings of true religion

but he has no

he not like that

which I have
just adverted
a being whom the light of
every morning invites to praise and to the
richest enjoyment]
But no that light
he never saw that enjoyment he never
felt!
Every sound in the universe pouring its chorusses of sweet music on his
ear
but no he is insensible to the
charming melody; the fragrance of every
flower casting its perfume upon his senses
but no
to revive and cheer him
he
cannot enjoy it; the rich fruits of every
clime thrown into his lap to extend and
but no he can
increase his happiness
neither appreciate nor enjoy them. Most
If so, then, brethren,

is

personification of misery to

and strength

man, as the

to the prostrate intellect of

truth of

cated to the mind

God

early

What

communi-

so well calcu-

lated to disperse that cloud of midnight

darkness which has thrown its shadows
over the soul, as the communication, in

early

life,

of a knowledge of the word

of God, and the great principles of true

religion?
What so calculated to check

man's eccentric career

in error

and folly,

as a regulating principle of truth deeply

rooted

power?
remove

in

from

principles

the

his

mind
the

of

so

it

that

calculated

those

soul

by which

influence

a counteracting

as

And what

is

to

vicious

governed, as
and grace

truth

man a mass of which a knowledge of the Holy Scripmass of misery an unsightly tures is adapted to communicate ? And
and unseemly immortal existence, until although we know very well that efl!'orts
truly, then, is the soul of
evil

it

pleases

God

to

impart unto

it

true

wisdom, the quickening and elevating

of this description are not invariably successful, yet the seed

sown

early in the

THE EVIL AND DANGERS OF POPULAR IGNORANCE.

youthful mind must,
stances,

innumerable

in

by removing

which

or destroying the

influence of darkness, check the

mind

in
;

ventive of evil.
of instruc-

tion has this invaluable advantage espe-

connected with it, that

advantage of and accommodates
cially

its

the opinion of others

shall

only remark, that every child born into

is evidently born an alien from

God his powers entirely perverted from

good, determined to evil, and the sensual
nature fully and entirely predominating
;

Our Sunday-school method

the mind in

is

the world

career of folly, and prove thus a pre-

its

279

the direct and formal imputation of sin,

in-

youthful state,

susceptible of impression.

it

when most

It is

over the intellectual and moral.

takes

itself to

'

evident.

spiritual

nature

This is
would, of

course, necessarily delight, as in

its

own

native element, in spiritual employments,

a well
I

known

fact, that continuance in ignorance

and vice darkens more fully the intellect,
increasingly hardens the heart, benumbs
the feelings, and produces a more invete-

converse with God, in the dischargo

of spiritual duties, a relish for the beau-

in
j

ties

and excellencies of true religion, in

the fine play and development of holy

ways of folly, which affections, and the devout contemplation

must give way with proportionately greater of the animating prospects of eternal life.
difficulty at more advanced periods of life. But no
you find nothing of this in man ;
As the oak strikes its roots deeper, and till changed and renewed by the Spirit
gains more firm and inflexible fibres by its of God, he lies prostrate, grovelling in
rate obstinacy in the

'

continued exposure

and

rudeness of the
continuing in

sin; and although seen to possess great

a state of darkness, must increase in the

dignity sometimes, his heart nevertheless

obstinacy of indurate vice.

is

to the

human

storm, so the

spirit,

my

consequence, then,

up the youthful mind

to

plant in

the

It is

of great

brethren, to take

as early as possible

darkened

nature

the

the

dust,

delighting

defiled and

in

sensuality

degraded by the inherence

of passion and unholy principle.

was under a law of

If he

would lead him

holiness,

to a life of usefulness

it

and

devotedness to the will of God but no

he is not under the law of holiness, he is
under the influence of an opposite law
dominion of evil.
a law of sin and deatli, which reigns preBut in our present state there is not dominant in his nature. If he possessed
only a disorder of the mental faculties; truly the life of God, it would appear in
there is something worse than that
the emancipation of his noble nature from
there is an entire depravity of the human the thraldom of evil
his cheerfulness in
heart; and that entire depravity is not devoting himself to holy service
in the
an accident, but is innate, and belongs fine flow of sanctified affections, and in
to our state.
If so, it must be of great the constant tendency of his heart towards
consequence to meet the exigencies of God and spiritual things. But no death
the case, and endeavour to correct this hath enthroned itself in his moral constievil also, by the counteracting influence tution, and spread its dark and dismal
of religious instruction and the grace of dominion and influence throughout all his
God. The depravity of human nature, nature, and there is in him no spiritual
brethren, seems to consist in three things emotion till produced by the life-giving
the complete depravation of the heart; influence of the Spirit of God.
the deep-planted existence of every evil
This, my brethren, is man's state and
elements of truth, the principles of true
religion, which can alone remove the
darkness and overturn and destroy the

principle; together with a powerful pro-

pension to sensual indulgence.

Without

at all entering into the very difficult ques-

mode

tions respecting the

ruption

whether

deprivation

of our

it

of man's cor-

originated

first

in

the

parents of the

and indwelling of the Holy Spirit,

according to the opinion of some, or in
gift

although

it

is

not necessary to

assums

that every principle of evil actually

appears in the life and habits of every
individual
which I do not assume yet
we must maintain, that however calm,

and unruffled the extehowever

engaging and cheerful the politeness and
placid, beautiful,
rior, in

the case of children, and

THE BRITISH

280

PULPIT.
man,

which

am

inviting your

courtesy of maturer years, there lies every

in

principle of evil infolded in every heart.

attention, is peculiarly mischievous, be-

We

to

admit the doctrine which cause it is found to belong to ourselves.

be a favourite in some modern If we were merely exposed to some exterschools, that human nature is raised, in nal foe, some evil influence from society
some instances, to great moral excellency or the world, we might then guard ourand virtue, independent of the influence selves against it; but the awful truth is,
of the gospel, and the correcting and con- that our worst enemies are in our own
believe hearts. And here we see the great value
trolling providence of God.
that man is entirely fallen, and owes every of a Christian instruction being conveyed
excellency of mind or character not to to our youth, as it meets the case not only
himself, but either to the controlling pro- of the intellectual but moral nature of
vidence of God, or the illuminating influ- man. Let the law of God in its divinity
ence of divine grace that every man, in and authority be powerfully impressed on
fact, is the world in miniature ; and that the youthful mind, and it is at least proall its evils, its pride, its ungodliness, its bable that its authority, force, and divinity
various passions, its avarice, its selfish- will arrest the course and current of evil
Let the true nature and obliganess, all lie hid in every heart; so that, if within.
you could, brethren, by some great and tions of Christianity be deeply impressed,
astonishing revolution, reduce the world's in lessons of plain instruction, on the
teeming population to a single individual, youthful mind, and it is at least probable
if appointed by the Creator to repeople that those lessons of instruction will arm
the earth from his own nature, the world, the youth against his temptations to folly
Let the true nature, dignity,
in the course of a few years, would be and sin.
value, and immortality of the soul, be
just as corrupt as it is at present.
adopt this principle because it has taught in your elementary lessons of inlet especially
existed, in fact, already; for the seed of struction to your youth
all the evil of the world actually once the doctrines and precepts of our divine
existed in the heart of one solitary indi- Christianity, the love of the Deity, the
vidual, who has impressed his dark evil death of the Saviour, the promised influimage upon his numerous progeny, the ence of the Spirit of grace, the way and
whole human race, just as the seeds and method by which sinners are accepted in
leaves of the oak bear, season after season, Jesus Christ, the necessity of repentance
the image and impress of the leaves and and pardon
be pointed out and aflTecseeds that precede them.
This is the tionately pressed upon their attention,
state of every man.
and it is to be hoped, at least, those
But there is another fact on which I lessons, taught by the Spirit of God, will
may dwell for a moment that there is in influence their hearts, stop them in their
man a powerful propensity also to ungod- career of folly, and lead them to repentliness and evil.
Human nature is not as ance and Jesus Christ.
it has been supposed by some, a negaAnd why, my brethren, should not our
tive piece of depravity and evil ; active, youth be taught to turn their reflections
powerful principles dwell in his heart, to religious truth as soon as they are
prompting him to constant rebellion
capable of reflecting on truth at all ?
principles which cannot be controlled by Why should they not be taught to underany mere resolution or tuition. How very stand the lessons of Christianity as soon
often do they swell the heart with passion, as they are capable of understanding any
propel our youth to rebellion against God lessons whatever ]
Why should not our
and the practice of immorality against youth be taught to breathe the praise of
all the advices that can be given to them, God as soon as they are capable of utterswaying their dark sceptre in the soul, ing any sentiments or feelings whatever?
spite of every good purpose and resolu- Why should they not be conducted to
tion?
the throne of the heavenly grace, where
And, my brethren, this power of evil Christ is seated as the Saviour, as soon
do
appears

not

to

We

We

THE EVIL AND DANGERS OF POPULAR IGNORANCE.

281

any subject which is really good is considered evil,

as they
whatever 1 I see no reason why that and that which is a real evil is considered
should not be the case ; and if you would good ; that which is great, and noble, and
meet the exigencies and moral wants of dignified is considered little and mean,
society, you must descend to the very and that which is really little and mean
lowest state in which humanity is to be is considered dignified and great; that
found, and take up the human mind at its which is a source of real glory and
lowest state of sentiment, and lead it thus honour is considered, in the estimate and
can

contemplate

opinion of this foolish world, as a source

knowledge of Jesus Christ.
There is another remark which I would of shame, and that which is a source of
make upon this subject that, in human real shame is considered as a source of
to the

nature, as seen on the great theatre of the

you

will easily perceive

sentient feelings

greatly preponde-

world
the

at present,

real honour.

Now,

just so far as this principle of

judging becomes universal, just so far as

And passion predominates over reason, and

rating over the rational and moral.

must be of great consequence, I think, becomes the law of society, you may
meet this fault of our nature, endeavour depend upon it that society is put in conto curb and correct man's passions, and stant jeopardy.
It matters not what the
elevate him as a thinking and rational frenzy or passion may be
the danger
being.
The evil to which I am now arises from the passion itself: the passion
it

to

directing your notice,

to every

is

open and obvious

more a creature of

Man

dominion of pasmoral sense becomes

entirely blunted, man is rendered incapable of embracing religion and developing
or manifesting its various graces and
fruits.
Yet your children are born into
such a state of society, and it belongs to
you, my brethren, to give them the corrective
it belongs to you to place a
book in their hands, to communicate
instruction to their understandings and
principles to their minds, by which the
passions shall be brought into a state of
control and subjection to more noble principles
it belongs to you to give them a
book which teaches, " All flesh is grass,

of frenzy and (if

we allow

the great prin-

and true religion)

madness. In this world in which we
live scarcely any thing is judged of as it
of Scripture

is; that
a

which

is

essential

mere accident, and

accident

light trifling reading; the

sion

exists, the

still

and the glory of

grass

man

is

as the flower of

the grass withereth, and the flower

fadeth, but the

for ever I"

word of the Lord endureth

This

is

the great lesson that

will feel impressed with this

as soon as ever they go into

business, into society, or pleasure, they are
instantly met by a race of men in a state
ciples

or

must be corrective of the ebullition of

Witness your sons and your passion, and bring mankind to sobriety

sentiment.

daughters

pomp

feeling than of reflec-

am sure you

be for wealth, for luxury, for

grandeur, for pleasure or amusement, or

is

he follows, in an infinitely greater

number of cases, the promptings of passion
rather than the deductions of his reason
and judgment, and has left impressed in
society and on the world a great many
more marks of his passion than of his
wisdom. Indeed, my brethren, this very
circumstance of passion preponderating
over reason, is one of the greatest weaknesses of our nature ; and a greater
quantum of misery and misfortune arises
out of it than from any other source
whatever. They who pander to human
taste, you must know, judge correctly
on this subject; and hence you find that,
by genius and industry, and the exercise
of every other inventive and creative
faculty, they endeavour to accommodate
themselves to this state of the passions.
tion

may

infinitely

man's attention.

is

that

considered

Vol. II. 36

is

considered

which

is

a mere

essential;

that

and reason, and subjection to religion.

Your time will not permit me to show
how that which is preventive of evil in
individual cases, must be preventive of
evil in the body politic ; and that, therefore, the efforts of our Sunday-schools

must be

infinitely valuable to society

that principle.

on

They must communicate,

for instance, to the public mind a very

powerful impetus of good principle, and
2 a2

THE BRITISH

282

elevate considerably the standard of pure

On

morality.

these topics, however, our

time will not tiiis evening allow me to

dwell and, therefore, I pass on to remark,
Stcondly, That religious or Christian INSTRUCTION MUST BE CONSIDERED
;

PULPIT.

where the

fruits of

wisdom and

religion

appear to grow.

It is held, I know, by some, that we

have less of genius now than in former

The

times.

have less

to

we

truth is this, brethren,

now than

discover

in

former

times. Astronomy and the system of the

VERY VALUABLE, AS IT COMMUNICATES universe could only be discovered once
KNOWLEDGE, AND GIVES THE MEANS OF the use of the compass and the art of
EXERCISING A SOUND JUDGMENT.
navigation could only be discovered once ;
;

appears very evident that Christian many mechanical and chemical

power such as is with their application to different
furnished by no other means, to rouse our could only be discovered once:
dormant energies from their slumber, and you have fewer discoveries only
It

instruction possesses a

powers,
objects,

so that

because
But supposing
to raise man to a nobler capacity for men- there is less to discover.
tal exercise. And let me just remind you you had less of genius now than in former
that, in our own times, during the course times, you have now an infinitely greater
of one single generation, by inducting a number of persons than before who are
people to the knowledge of teitors, and, walking in the light of tested and demon,

knowledge of Chrisyou have seen entire nations

shake themselves from their barbarous
practices, and emerge, as if by enchantment, into a slate of civilization, intelliIn the South
gence, and Christianity.
Sea islands, no sooner were the people
taught the knowledge of Christianity

through

that, to the

stiated truth

of mind,

tianity itself,

if

so that the whole surface

may

be allowed such a

representation, has, since the introduction

of general
great

true as
it is

education,

been

number of degrees.
it

elevated

And

if this

respects general knowledge,

especially so as to religious

be
it

know-

ledge; -for, since the introduction of

Sunday-schools, and the dissemination
with the use of the means of grace and the of the Scriptures, you have an infinitely
Christian ministry
than, as if through greater number of minds than formerly,
the influence of magic, they instantly who, at least, possess the elementary
threw off the barbarous practices of their truths of Christianity, whatever use they
ancestors, demolished their bloody idola- may make of their knowledge
whether
try, adopted simple principles of proper or not it leads to salvation, it shines in
conventional government, and built for their hearts, and they may thus be
themselves Christian edifices
have
rising brought personally to enjoy it.
from the deepest degradation and super- attributed all this to the influence of
stition to the dignity of knowledge, civili- religious instruction
and there appears
the art of reading, connected, of course.

We

zation, and,
to

still,

And

what

is

of greater importance

to

the happiness of true religion.

think

that, in our

it is

own

it

country, since
if

national, at least bordering

ject of

we have

not strictly

upon

it,

inasmuch as

who

is

the sub-

it,

illustrated.

You may remark

its

moral influence has been felt throughout

every class of society and Sunday-school
instruction, connected with other modes
of education, have acted on the public
mind like a lever, and raised it from that

tliis,

elevates the individual

and keeps the sensual nature

of man under control, as we have already

not going too far to say,

had a system of education,

be a clear reason for

another principle

knowledge is creative, or communi

cative, if you prefer the phrase.
But for
this quality, knowledge would be of very
that

insignificant value indeed; and this is a

chaotic state of darkness, in which seas

hopeful circumstance for the full illumination of the world.

There is at present

of error and ignorance had rolled over

a great

for

many

generations, to

a platform,

it

was going to say, of elevated happiness,

such as never before was witnessed, and

mass of

intelligence in our

own

communitjr and in other parts of the

world ; and, therefore, upon the principle
to which I have alluded, one may hope

THE EVIL AND DANGERS OF POPULAR IGNORANCE.

that the sphere of light and salvation will
be constantly enlarging itselt"; for the
mind, which, by the blessing of God,
has already received the light of truth,
will not rest in itself, but bear out the
truth in every direction throughout the
world.
And let me remind you that religious
education or instruction affords the materials for

forming the mind on

all

ment; and the people

of rudeness and

283

will, in that state

ignorance,

idolatries to the throne of

offer

their

power, without

discovering or feeling their degradation.

And hence you know

that all tyrants, both

and ecclesiastical, have attempted
constantly to keep the population in a
state of ignorance, who, in their turn,
willingly submit to it.
But the commuthe great nity nmst either be governed by power,

mind of our
on that account, of great

subjects brought befjre the

civil

or the interests of the

community must

upon knowledge. Now, it is assumed

value.
Every man who attains to great- that the population of this empire are not
ness or usefulness, must judge and think to be governed by mere power; and if not
for himself; and, if he is to judge and to be governed by mere pow. r, it must
think for himself, it is of infinite moment be by knowledge; so that the quantity
that he should possess correct rules by of true wisdom and light possessed by
which he is to judge. In communicating such a community must, under such
education to your youth, therefore, you circumstances, be of great consequence.
confer a double benefit; you confer posi- Every man who elevates his own chative knowledge of the great truths and racter, elevates the community with it,
facts of religion, and then, secondly, you and adds to the general stock of good.
give a new power or faculty to the soul And hence the real amount of national
itself.
And while uneducated persons, wisdom will not depend at all on her
youth, and

is,

altogether ignorant of Christianity, are

rest

codes of laws, or her written literature,

wholly incapable of forming an opinion mouldering in our museums or public

on any great question that is submitted libraries, but in the number of minds
to them, and in which their eternal wel- brought under the influence of Christian
fare is involved, the instructed mind, saving knowledge. Egypt has possessed
possessing the great principles of reli- her pyramids and her monuments in the
gious knowledge, will, if he properly uses midst of her ignorance and darkness
his privileges, find his way safely through Greece had_her poets, orators, and philosophers, in the midst of her degrading
all the difficulties of this life to the glories
Italy, the remains
subjection to Turkey
of a better.
And let me tell you, that the quantum of her sciences and her arts, in the midst
of Christian education and of religious of her comparative bondage and barbaknowledge possessed by a community rism ; and it may happen that England,
will, under some aspects and circum- too, may possess, at some future period,
stances of that community, be of infinite the remains of her wisdom by the side
consequence and value. When the state of barbarism, decay, and ruin. I hope it
of society is made to depend a great deal may not be so
God forbid it should. At
more on the modifications of public opi- all events, the amount of knowledge
nion than written codes of law, this will possessed will be of great moment to
;

be found to be especially the case.

When

society, in times, for instance, of great

any society or kingdom is governed by agitation when first principles are to be

mere codes of law by arbitrary enact- debated, it is of consequence that we
ments, then, as there is no scope or room should understand those principles, and
for the exercise of private judgment, the attain to an elevated state of wisdom.
quantum or degree of religious knowledge
Whether such be the signs of the times
or education possessed by the community in which we live, I leave you to judge;
will be of very little importance indeed. but one fact appears obvious to me, that
When governed by military law, the law the time has passed by when the human
of the sword, there is of necessity no kind mind and human institutions can remain
of scope for the exercise of private judg- stationary.
Those institutions that have

THE BRITISH

284

been surrounded by a venerable antiquity;

institutions which our forefathers have
planted with an expectation, perhaps, that
they would stand like pyramids, and de-

scend unaltered

to their

remotest posterity,

are found to contain the seeds of decay.

The

public mind

is

borne from established

and every

institutions to first principles,

man

is

asking, not what exists, but what

I say, then, that those who are

giving our youth a good judgment, and
rules for its legitimate exercise, are conis right.

ferring a public benefit also.

And

if

we happen

to exist in

times of

great religious excitement and agitation,

then we have another case in which the

PULPIT.

me to extend my illustraadvantages of a religious

education to the length to w^hich I had
intended to carry it, and I must therefore
be content with simply sketching the
outline of what otherwise might have
been largely insisted upon.
Thirdly, The next position which I
intended to have taken is, That, as the
MEANS OF COMMUNICATING HAPPINESS AND
ENJOYMENT, INSTRUCTION IS OF GREAT
VALUE AND IMPORTANCE.
This world, you must be reminded,
brethren, is in a state of misery, because
will not permit

of the

tion

it is

under the curse of God.

anxieties, too, peculiar to

There are

human

nature,

amount of true knowledge possessed by but not peculiar to any class of men.
the community must be of great import- There is much of equality in this respect.
If zealous efforts are making to The merchant embarks in a foreign enterance.
extend the Messiah's empire, and convert prise, and all his anxieties are swallowed
the world to God, there must necessarily up; thousands, perhaps, depend on its
be difficulties, hazards, and dangers asso- success, and the happy and honourable
ciated with this work; so that these existence of his own family. The fisherdifficulties can only be met successfully man embarks his trading vessel to earn
by a great deal of well-principled wis- a scanty maintenance, and he is just
dom. If there be much enthusiasm and as anxious about his little concerns.
fanciful dreaming notions entertained in Even the poor man who begs at your
the times in which we happen to live, door for bread, watches your looks and
supported by powerful minds and great waits for your determination with equal
eloquence, it is of much consequence that anxiety, because his home, his well-being,
the community should possess the grand and even his life may depend on your ca-

wisdom and scriptural

knowledge, in order that they may resist
and reject those wrong ideas. And if
infidelity has become audacious enough
to step beyond its enclosures, for the
purpose of extending its pestilential influence and to ruin the minds and prospects

principles of true

sual resolution.
afflictions

The

poor, however, have

peculiar to themselves, from

dependence, the nature of their employments, and the casualties to which

they are subjected. Now, it may be said
by some, that to communicate light and
knowledge into the dismal abodes of the
of our youth, it will then also be of much poor, is only to illuminate misery and
consequence that they possess the know- show them their pitiable state of wretchledge and principles that alone can defend edness. But instruction and knowledge
and guide them. And if the old way- will afford, at least to some of the poor,
marks of truth are lost; if creeds and the means of advancement in life; and
confessions and the folios of olden times although they cannot give to all the means
no longer exert their former influence on of success and happiness for there is not
men's minds, when they are led back to perhaps scope for that yet, if success
discuss first principles in religion as well follows only in a few instances, your
as in politics, it is then, too, that we exertions shall have been greatly reshould have a well-instructed population. warded.
But knowledge will also arm the mind
You will see, then, the nature and
extent of the blessing conferred on our with power, by which the ills of life may
youth by Sunday-schools, embracing not be better sustained. And I cannot but
only the individual but the general benefit think that to the instructions received at
of the community at large. But our time Sunday-schools and elsew here, not a little
their

THE EVIL AND DANGERS OF POPULAR IGNORANCE.

285

and magna- ant is it that our youth should possess a

of the courage, and
nimity displayed by many of our poor knowledge of that book in which they are
How important
countrymen under depression, misery, and to believe for salvation
dark and grinding poverty, scarcely ever, that they should early be instructed in the
his atoning
perhaps, to be paralleled, is to be chiefly doctrines of Jesus Christ
attributed.
It was the blessed book they death, his perfect righteousness, his infortitude,

were there taught

the blessed

to read

God they were

adore and confide in

Redeemer

in

whom

the grace of tercession, the fulness of his grace, the

indwelling of the Spirit in the human

heart, and all the great principles of
holiness that emanate from his teaching,

there taught to

the salvation of the

they were taught

believe the supports of the

Holy

to

is to rest on, and experience

form of, these doctrines
I am addressing myself, I presume,
chiefly to Sunday-school teachers. I have
given you my own thoughts on the importance of such institutions.
Need I
add any thing as a stinmlus to your zeal ?
Then think of your suffering fellow countrymen, and the dangers to which our
youth would be exposed, without such
institutions and your continued efforts and
zeal.
They are too important in their
nature to be abandoned. They cannot be
abandoned. Then consider your work in
connexion with the grand design of the
Saviour's appearing among men
think
of this ; you are co-operators with him in
effecting the redemption of the world, not
the Saviour hath no partmeritoriously
ner in the work of his sufferings
but in
bearing out, so to speak, the doctrines of
the cross, and endeavouring to impress
them on the minds of the rising gene-

since faith

Spirit

the comforts of true religion they were

to take the

then taught to seek and to cherish, and

the blessed hopes of eternal life these
sustained them in the dark and cloudy
day so that the slanderer who says there
:

is

something antipatriotic

cation of

knowledge

in the

communi-

to the poor, receives

own

in this practically his

refutation.

Besides, knowledge, coupled with true

religion, enables the poor to support their
afflictions

by giving them consolation and

support here, and the hope of heaven in

a future state. Some evils can only be
overcome by being endured but, as certainly as the sun rises, as certainly as
the tide ebbs and flows, and one season
;

follows another, so certainly shall evil,

and calamity, and suffering rest upon our

world. The storm and the thunder may
fall from different parts of the heaven on
different portions of the earth

most certainly the storm

we

but descend

will, so

long as

are under the curse of sin and aliena-

ration.

Consider your efforts, too, in connexion

Those, then, who do
You
their fellow creatures most good, will with the extension of the church.
lead them to expect true comfort only in are performing the most interesting ofllce
religion, in communion with God, and of a minister of Christ, in communicating
in the blessed hope of a glorious immor- knowledge to the rising race, and extendtality.
ing the triumphs of the church. Consider
Fourthly, Considered as the intro- your efforts in connexion with the general
ductory MEANS OF LEADING MEN INTO happiness of man. If the world is ever
THE FAITH AND EXPERIENCE OF THE GOS- to be illuminated and emancipated from
PEL, EARLY RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IS the reign of darkness, the word of God
OF INFINITE VALUE.
declares, that " it shall be full of the
If it is
It is a principle of the gospel that the knowledge of the glory of God."
faith of true Christians should rest upon a ever to be the blessed abode of peace and
written system of doctrine, and that their amity, and brotherly affection and love,
experience shall be moulded accordingly ; the word of God declares, that " the lamb
that faith which does not rest on the writ- and the lion shall lie down together." If
ten Scriptures is not faith and a religious it is to be the dwelling-place of God our
tion

from God.

experience which
character from the

does

not

derive

same source

Christian experience.

Then how

is

Saviour, not corporeally, but spiritually

it declares, that

its

not and individually, then

import- " unto

1

him every knee

shall

bow, and

THE BRITISH

286

PULPIT.

every tongue confess that he is Lord." his love are both engaged to do all in the
Let me remind you that this great work best manner for them. Their trials do
cannot be accomplished without your con- not come at random; the very hairs ot
Go their head are all numbered. As the lady
tinued and most zealous exertions.
was returning to tell her friends what she
on, then, undismayed by difficulties

had heard, just as she turned from the

shop door the silversmith called her back,
and said that he had forgot to mention one
thing; and that was, that he only knew
that the process of purifying was complete

by the opposition of interested men, undaunted by the desertion

ever look up to
of pretended friends
God for the assistance and grace you,
and may the Lord go with you
require
may his blessing rest increasingly upon
unappalled

by seeing

his

own image

in the silver,

your labours; and may the light of his When Christ sees his image in his people,
countenance shine upon you and give his work of purifying is accomplished,
Amen.
you abundant peace
|

NO. IV.

The most ancient and general idolatry

in the world was that wherein the sun
and the moon were the objects of divine

SCRIFTURi: IIjZjUSTRATIOITS.
NO.

Some time

III.

ago, a few ladies were read-

worship. This idolatry was founded upoo

" Being the third chapter of Malachi

hold, I will send my messenger, and he
:

shall

One

prepare the

way

of the ladies gave

before
it

me," &c.

as her opinion,

a mistaken gratitude, which, instead of

ascending up to the Deity, stopped short
I

at the veil

closed him.

which both covered and

With

dis-

the least reflection or

that the fuller's soap, and the refiner of

penetration, they might have discerned

were only the same image, intended
the Sovereign who commanded, from the
to convey the same view of the sanctifying
minister* who did but obey. In all ages
influences of the grace of Christ. " No,"
mankind have been sensibly convinced of
said another, "they are not just the same
the necessity of an intercourse between
in
remarkable
something
image; there is
and man: and adoration supposes
silver,

the expression in the third verse: 'He

shall sit as a refiner and purifier of sil-

God
God

to be both attentive to man's desires

and capable of fulfilling them. But the
ver.'
distance of the sun and moon is an obstamight be so. This lady was going into
cle to this intercourse. Therefore, foolish
the town, and she promised to see a silmen endeavoured to remedy this inconversmith, and report to them what he
venience by laying their hands upon their
without
She went,
said on the subject.
mouths, and then lifting them up to those
telling him the object of her errand, and
false gods, in order to testify that they
begged to know the process of refining
would be glad to unite themselves to
silver; which he fully described to her.
them, but that they could not. This was
?"
"
" But do you sit, sir
O, yes, madam,
that impious custom so prevalent throughI must sit, with my eye steadily fixed on
out the east, from which Job esteemed
the furnace; since, if the silver remain
himself happy to have been preserved
injured."
She
too long, it is sure to be
" When I beheld the sun when it shined,
at once saw the beauty, and the comfort,

"

They

all

said, that possibly

it

or ike

moon walking in

brightness,

my

" He shall sit as a

heart hath not been secretly enticed, nor
Christ
refiner and purifier of silver."
my mouth kissed my hand,^^ Job xxxi.
sees it needful to put his children into the
26, 27. Rollin.
but he is seated by the side of
furnace
His eye is steadily intent on the
it.
* Among the Hebrews, the ordinary name
work of purifying, and his wisdom and for the sun signifies " minister."
too, of the expression,

SERMON

III.

THE UNPARDONABLE

SIN.

BY THE REV. THOMAS CHALMERS,

D. D.

I say unto you. All manner of sin and blasfphemy shall be forgiven unto men : hut
blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever sj/eaheth a
uord against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him : but whosoever speaketh against the Holy
" Wherefore

the

Ghost,
xii.

it

shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the

world

to

come."

Matthew

31, 32.

Let us never suspend

constraining energy

and all that is tenand all that is terrifying, in his Sabrambling in a vain and impertinent pur- bath argument, plays around his heart,
suit of what we do not know.
Thus without reaching it. The judgments of
much we know from the Bible, that God go abroad against him and, as he
influence of

the practical

what we do know, by

idly

der,

God refuses
who ask it,

not his

that

Holy

Spirit to

them

every right movement

of principle within us is from him,
that
when we feel an impulse of conscience,

we

feel the Spirit of God knocking at the

door of our hearts, and challenging from
us that attention, and that obedience,

Mhich

is

that if

we

due

to the great

Lawgiver,

follow not the impulse

voke and dissatisfy him who

thor of

it,

and

is

we

pro-

the

Au-

that there is such a thing

tempting him to abandon us altoand to surrender the friendly

office of plying us any longer with his
admonitions and his warnings. Hence
an emphatic argument for immediate
repentance.
By every moment of delay
we hasten upon ourselves the awful crisis
of being let alone. The conscience is
every day getting harder; and he who
sits behind, and is the unseen Author of
all its instigations, is lifting every day a
feebler voice, and coming always nearer
and nearer to that point in the history of
every determined sinner, when, left to his
own infatuation, he can hold up a stubborn and unyielding front to all that
instrumentality of advice and of expostulation that is brought to bear upon him.
The preacher plies him with his weekly
voice, but the Spirit refuses to lend it his
as

gether,

carries

his

friends

or

children to

grave, a feAV natural tears

may

the
bear wit-

ness to the tenderness he bore them

that Spirit

who

but

gives to these judgments

their moral significancy, withholds

from him the anointing which remaincth
and the man relapses, as before, into all
the obstinate habits, and all the uncrucified affections, which he has hitherto
indulged in. The disease gathers upon
him, and gets a more rooted inveteracy
than ever and thus it is, that there are
thousands and thousands more, who,
though active and astir on that living
scene of population that is around us,
have an iron hardness upon their souls,
which makes them, in reference to the
things of God, dark and sullen as the
grave, and fast locks them in all the
all

insensibility of spiritual death.

Is there

ance

who

left

to

no old

man

of your acquaint-

realizes this sad picture of one

himself, that

tempted so rapidly

Then know,

that

we have now
to

at-

lay before you

by every deed of wilful

by every moment of wilful delay

matter of repentance, that by
every stifled warning of conscience, that
by every deafening of its authoritative
sin, that

in the great

voice amono' the temptations of the world,

and the riot of lawless acquaintances,

287

THE BRITISH

288

PULPIT.

are just moving' yourself to the limits desolation, and your destruction cometh
of this helpless and irrecoverable condi- as a whirlwind, when distress and antion.
have no doubt but you may guish come upon you then they shall
have the intention of making a violent call upon me, but I will not answer; they

you

We

suddenly turning round to the shall seek me early, but they shall not
you die but this you will find me."
You see, then, how a man may shut
not do, but by an act of obedience to the
reproaches of a conscience that is ever against himself all the avenues of reconThere is nothing mysterious
getting harder this you will not do with- ciliation.
out the constraining influence of that Spi- in the kind of sin by which the Holy
rit who is gradually dying away from Spirit is tempted to abandon him to that
you this you will not do, but in virtue of state in which there can be no forgivesome overpowering persuasion from that ness, and no return unto God. It is by
monitor who is now stirring within you, a movement of conscience within him
but with whom you are now taking the that the man is made sensible of sin,
most effectual method of drowning his that he is visited with the desire of reforthat he is given to feel this
voice, and disarming him of all his mation,
authority.
Do not you perceive that, in need, both of mercy to pardon, and of
in a word, that he is
these circumstances, every act of delay grace to help him,
is madness,
that you are getting by drawn unto the Saviour, and brought into
every hour of it into deeper water, that that intimate alliance with him by faith,
you are consolidating a barrier against which brings down upon him both acceptyour future return to the paths of right- ance with the Father, and all the power
eousness, which you vainly think you will of a new and constraining impulse to the
be able to surmount, when the languor way of obedience. But this movement
and infirmity of old age have got hold of is a suggestion of the Spirit of God ; and
you, that you are strengthening and if it be resisted by any man, the Spirit is
multiplying around you the wiles of an resisted the God who offers to draw him
entanglement which all the struggles of unto Christ is resisted. The man refuses
to believe, because his deeds are evil
death-bed terror cannot break asunder,
that you are insulting the Spirit of God and by every day of perseverance in these
by this daily habit of stilling and neglect- deeds, the voice which tells him of their
ing the other and the other call that he is guilt, and urges him to abandon them, is
sounding to your moral ear through the resisted ; and thus the Spirit ceases to
organ of conscience ? And oh, the des- suggest and the Father, from whom the
perate folly of such a calculation! Think Spirit proceedeth, ceaseth to draw ; and
you, think you, that this is the way of the inward voice ceaseth to remonstrate,
gaining his friendly presence at that aw- and all this because their authority has
ful moment, when the urgent sense of been put forth so often, and so often
This is the deadly offence
guilt and danger forces from the sinner turned from.
an imploring crj^, as he stands on the which has reared an impassable wall
brink of eternity ? " How long, ye sim- against the return of the obstinately
This is the blasphemy to
ple ones, will ye love simplicity, and the impenitent.
scorners delight in their scorning, and which no forgiveness can be granted,
fools hate knowledge 1
Turn ye at my because, in its very nature, the man who
reproof.
Behold, I will pour out my has come this length feels no movement
Spirit unto you
I will make known my of conscience towards that ground on
words unto you. Because I have called, which alone forgiveness can be awarded
I have stretched out him, and where it is never refused even
and ye refused
mine hand, and no man regarded but ye to the very worst and most malignant of
have set at naught my counsel, and would human iniquities. This is the sin against
none of my reproof I also will laugh at the Holy Ghost: it is not peculiar to any
your calamity; I will mock when your one age it does not lie in any unfathomafear cometh.
When your fear cometh as ble mystery. It may be seen this day in
step, and

right path ere

THE UNPARDONABLE
thousands and thousands more, who, by
that most familiar, and most exemplified
of all habits a habit of resistance to a
sense of duty, have at length stifled it
altogether, and driven their inward monitor away from them, and have sunk into
a profound moral lethargy, and so will
never obtain forgiveness, not because

ever refused to any

who

And

SIN.

as there

289
nothing dark or incom-

is

prehensible in the nature of this sin, so

there is nothing to impair the frceness of
the gospel, or the universality of its calls

and of

power of salvation
which is
expressly ascribed to it that where sin
abounded, grace did much more abound.
to all

its offers,

who

or its

will, or that attribute

never said that pardon through that

is to cleanse from all sin, is
they have made their faith and repentance extended to any but those who believe.
If you do not believe, you do not get parimpracticable. They choose not to repent
and this choice has been made so often, don and if you will not believe, because
and so perseveringly, that the Spirit has you love darkness rather than light,
forgiveness

is

It is

repent and believe the gospel, but because blood, which

let

them

alone.

They have

obstinately

you will not

if

will not abandon those evil deeds

upon them
ways.

refused the gospel salvation

to their love of

to

abandon the

evil of their

the

you, through the con-

Spirit tells

science, that

you
which

believe, because

darkness rather than

light; and the Spirit has at length turned
away from them, since they will have it
so.
They wish not to believe, because
their deeds are evil ; and that Spirit hath
ceased to strive with them, who has so
ofteu spoken to them in vain, and whose
many remonstrances have never prevailed

clung

you must forsake

in

coming

unto Christ, if his repeated calls have

been so unheeded and so withstood by

you that he has

striving,
is

ceased from
your sin
just because you have

at length

then, the

unpardonable

is

reason

why

why
:

the reason

your case is irrecoverable is just

Take all this attentively along with because you have refused the method of
you, and the whole mysteriousness of recovery so long and so often that every
this sin against the Holy Ghost should call of repentance has now come to play
be done away. Grant him the office with upon you in vain ; the reason why you
which he is invested in the word of God, lie under a guilt that can meet with no
even the office of instigating the con- forgiveness, is not that one or all of your
science to all its reprovals of sin, and to sins are of a dye so deep and so inveteall its admonitions of repentance,
and rate, that the cleansing power of your
then, if ever j^ou witnessed the case of a Saviour's atonement cannot overmatch
man whose conscience had fallen into a them. Let the invitation to the fountain
profound and irrecoverable sleep, or, at that is open in the house of Judah circuleast, had lost to such a degree its power late among you as freely as the preacher's
for sure we are that there does
of control over him, that he stood out voice,
against every engine that was set up to not stand, at this moment, within the
bring him to the faith and the repentance reach of any of us, any desperado in vice
of the New Testament, behold in such so sunk in the depths of his dark and unnaa man a sinner against conscience to such tural rebellion that he is not welcome if
a woful extent, that conscience had given he will ; but if ye will not come that je
up its direction of him or, in other words, may have life, this is your sin; this is
a sinner against the Holy Ghost to such the barrier in the way of your forgiveness.
an extent, that he had let down the office Grant us repentance and faith, and we
of warning him away from that ground of know not of a single mysterious crime in
danger and of guilt on which he stood so the whole catalogue of human depravity
immovably posted, or of urging him on- that the atoning blood of our Saviour canward to that sure road of access, where, not wash away. But, withhold from us
let us see the man
if a man seek for pardon, he will never repentance and faith
miss it, and where, if he cry for the clean who stands unrebuked out of his wickedheart and the right spirit, he will not cry ness, by all that conscience has reproached
him with unmoved out of the hardness
in vain.
Vol. II. 37

-^'

2B

THE BRITISH

290
of his unbelief,

by

all that

power of

ten-

derness whicii should have softened his

unrelenting bosom, when told of the

Saviour who had poured out his soul

unto the death for him; if all this resistance and contempt of his has been so longand so grievously persisted in, that the
Spirit has ceased to strive,

then,

it

is

not the power of the gospel that is in

fault, but the obstinacy of him who has
rejected

it.

The

sufficiency of the gospel

much

PULPIT.

will ever find the crimson inveteracy of

his manifold offences to be

reach of

its

ing power.

purifying and

And

tell

its

us

beyond the

peace-speak-

if it detract,

by

a single iota, from the omnipotence of thia

great gospel remedy, that there are

sinners in the world

who

many

refuse to lay

it ]
To the hour of death
within the reach of all and of any

hold on
will.

This

is

it

is

who

the period in the history

of each individual, at which this great act

of amnesty expires
and, to the last
minute of his life it is competent for me,
and for every minister of the gospel to
urge it upon him, in all the largeness,
and in all the universality which belong
to it ; and to assure him that there is not
a single deed of wickedness with which
of immovable dormancy, that the Spirit his faithful memory now agonizes him,
gives him over, it is not that the gospel not one habit of disobedience that nov\r
does not carry a remedy along with it clothes his retrospect of the past in the
for one and all of his offences, but because sad colouring of despair, all the guilt of
he refuses that gospel, that it is unto him which, the blood of the Saviour cannot
the savour of death unto death.
do away.
But, though we may offer, that is not
A king publishes a wide and unexcepted amnesty to the people of a rebel- to say that he will accept though we may
lious district in his empire, upon the bare proclaim, and urge the proclamation in
act of each presenting himself, within a his hearing, with every tone of truth and
limited period, before an authorized agent, of tenderness,
that is not to say that our
and professing his purposes of future loj'- voice will enter with power, or make it3
alty.
Does it at all detract from the resistless way through those avenues of
clemency of this deed of grace, that many his heart, where he has done so much to
of the rebels feel a strong reluctance to rear a defending barrier, that may prove
this personal exhibition of themselves, to be impenetrable.
Though there be
and that the reluctance strengthens and truth in our every announcement, that is
accumulates upon them by every day of not to say that the demonstration of the
their postponement ; and that, even before Spirit will accompany it,
even that Spithe season of mercy has expired, it has rit who, long ere now, may have left to
risen to such a degree of aversion on their himself the man who, his whole life long,
parts as to form a moral barrier in the has grieved and resisted him.
It is still
way of their prescribed return that is true that the pardon lies at his acceptaltogether impassable 1
"Will you say, ance ; and it may be as true that there can
because there is no forgiveness to them, be no pardon to him, because he has
there is any want of amplitude in that brought such an inveterate blindness
charter of forgiveness which is pro- upon his soul, that he will neither receive
claimed in the hearing of all or that par- the truth nor love it, nor feel those
don has not been provided for every genuine impulses by which it softens the
offence, because some offenders are to be heart of man to repentance.
And thus it
found with such a degree of perverseness is, that while the blood of Christ cleansand of obstinacy in their bosom, as con- eth the every sin of every believer, the
strains them to a determined refusal of sin against the Holy Ghost shall not be
all pardon T
The blood of Christ cleans- forgiven because, with this sin, and with
eth from all sin ; and there is not a human its consequences upon him, man wills not,
creature who, let him repent and believe, and repents not, and believes not.
is

not detracted from by so

as a jot

very hour may we

proclaim it as the savour of life unto life
to the very worst of sinners who receive
it.
But if he so turn aside from its invitations, and the habit be so fixed with
him, and conscience get into such a state
or a

tittle.

So

this

THE UNPARDONABLE

SIN.

291

ROW for the inteTesting question,

against all that is appalling in the judgam I to know that I have commit- ments of God, and cling to this perishable

A.nd

How

beyond the scene, under the most trenching experiences of its vanity, and walk their unfalright solution of this question, if well tering path amid all the victims which
understood, would go to dissipate all mortality has strewn around them, and
that melancholy which has been felt by every year drink deeper into the spirit of
ted this sin that

is

said to be

reach of forgiveness

many

We

are sure the

You

a bewildered inquirer.

can-

not take a review of the years that are

gone, and fetch up this mysterious sin to

your remembrance, out of the sins that
are past.
There is not one of them,
which, if turned away from, in the faith
of that pardon which is through the blood
of the atonement there is not one of
them beyond the reach of the great
redemption of the gospel.
The sin
against the Holy Ghost is not some
awful and irrevocable deed, around which
a disordered fancy has thrown its supersti^ous array, and which beams in deeper
terror upon the e)'e of the mind, from the
very obscurity by which it is encompassed. There ought to be no darkness
and mystery about it. The sin against
the Holy Ghost is such a daring and

preroga-

rebellion against the

obstinate

tive of conscience, that all

its calls

to

the world,

till the moral disease rises to

such an inveteracy, that all the engines of
conversion, unaided as they are by that
peculiar force and demonstration which
is from on high, fall powerless as infancy
upon them, and every soul amongst
them, sunk in torpor immovable, will
never, never be made to know the power
and the life of a spiritual resurrection.
We know nothing that goes further to
nullify the Bible, than the habit of subjecting the interpretation of its passages

any other principle than that all its

must consist and be in hamiony
with each other. There has a world of
mischief been done by the modifications
that have been laid on the obvious meanto

parts

ing of Scripture, with the purpose of rendering it more palatable to our independent views of what

is

and noble.

fact, is

This, in

and wise,
deposing the

right,

word of God from that primitive authority

which belongs to it, as the court of highest
appeal,
all whose decisions are final and
irreversible.
Grant us that there is no
been carried forward to such a point in contradiction between what we find in
the history of the unhappy man, that his the book of God's counsel, and Avhat we
conscience has ceased from the exercise know by the evidence of our own expeof its functions, and the Holy Ghost has rience, or the overbearing testimony of
penitency have been repelled, and all
its admonitions to flee to
the offered Saviour have been withstood ;
and all this obstinacy of resistance has

the urgency of

laid

down

his office of

we hold to be the ignoabout the whole of that spibut, unaccompa- ritual and unseen world which lies beyond

prompting

the tenderness of a beseeching

be sounded
nied as

it is

in his ear,

by

that

it,

and

God may

others; and such

power which makes the

a willing and obedient people,

it

reaches

man

rance of

circle of his

count

it

own

observation, that

we

not merely his most becoming

and piety, but we count it also his soundest

and most enlightened philosophy, to sit
among those imaginary few who mourn down with the docility of a little child to
and are in distress, under an overwhelm- all that is intimated and made known to
ing sense of its enormity, I look for it to him by a well-attested revelation. After
those thousands who, trenched among the the deductions we have just now made,

not his sullen and inflexible heart

Instead, therefore, of looking for that sin

secularities of the world, or fully set on

the

mad

career of profligacy, are posting

we know of no other principle on which

we should ever offer to modify a verse or

way, and a clause of the written record, but the

principle of that entire consistency which
pass over them, and turn with contempt must reign throughout all its communica-

tTieir

careless and infatuated

suffering Sabbaths and

opportunities to

We

from the foolishness of preaching, and tions.

know of no other cross-exhold up the iron front of insensibility amination which we have a right to set

THE BKITISH

202
of

faith,

ing terms and modifications

to this verse
of the Bible unnecessary, and gives, we
think, even to its literal and unrestricted
meaning, a most placid consistency to all
that is leading and undemable in the doc-

witness to the invisible things

tlpoii tins

than to try

condemn

it,

by

it

itself,

out of

if possible,

and

its

to

own

mouth, by confronting together its own

We are only at freedom to
depositions.
Sustain or to qualify the literal sense of
one of its announcennents, hj the literal,
and equall}'' authoritative sense of some
And such is
other of its announcements.
our respect for the paramount authority of
Scripture, that we know of no discovery more pleasing than that, by which
the apparent inconsistency between two
places is so cleared up, that all necessity
for encroaching upon the literal sense of
either of them is completely done away,
for it goes to establish our very impression of the unavoidable sanctity of its
varied communications, and to heighten
our belief that every semblance of opposition between the particulars of the
divine testimony, exists not in the testimony itself, but in the misapprehension
of our own dark and imperfect under-

trine of the

first
it

not true that

manner of

it is

is, that it is since Christ withdrew

from the world that he now carries forward
by the Spirit, as his agent and substitute,
the business of pressing home upon men
the acceptance of the gospel, by working
with their consciences. He emploj^s the
Spirit as his witness, since he himself has
gone away from us and as in the business of entertaining the calls and offers of
the New Testament, our doings are more
exclusively with this Spirit, and not at all
with the Saviour himself personally, we
are surely as much in the way of committing the sin in question, as in those days
when the Holy Ghost was not so abundantly given because Jesus Christ was not
then glorified.
All those, be assured,
who refuse the gospel now, do so, because
they refuse the testimony of this witness
do so, because they stifle within them
the urgency of his rebuke, when he tells
them of faith and repentance do so,
when he offers to convince them on principles that v/ould be clear to themselves,
could they be only so far arrested by the
imperious claims of God, and of eternity,
as to attend to them, that they are indeed
in a way of guilt and alienation, which,
if not turned from, through the revealed

truth

Testament.
all

indispensable condition,

and thus make the clause to tell us how,

such is the power of the gospel, that all
the sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven of
those who have embraced it, save that one
sin against the

Holy Ghost, for

the remis-

sion of which, not even their acceptance

Mediator, will land them in the condemgiven of nation of a most righteous and unmitiga-

of the gospel of Christ could avail them.

Now, the

explanation

we have

this sin renders all this

vain to think, that the sin

Holy Ghost is confined to that

period of the world at which our Saviour
made his personal appearance in it. The

sin' shall

this

sin

All

so reject this gospel have sinned

It is quite in

by

manner of

against the

be forgiven unto men,

with the exception of this blasphemy
against the Holy Ghost, which they conceive to occur but seldom in the history
of human wickedness. They would say
that there is forgiveness to no sin whatever but on the faith and repentance of
him who has incurred it, and we must
therefore suppose this, and qualify the
clause

other

all

Holy Ghost ; and none who

have accepted this gospel have incurred
this sin, nor shall they want the forgiveness that is there provided for them.

clause of the verse,

New

say,

of

against the

by some of the unde-

niable doctrines of the

offers

who

specific iniquity,

They would

that sin,

shall be forgiven but this one only.

Holy Ghost to lie in the

commission of some rare and monstrous,
cannot admit the

If the sin

in virtue

edly true-that

sin against the

v/ithout qualifying

Testament.

and irreversibly put away from us, then

it is true-"it is absolutely and unreserv-

Now, if you look to the thirty-first

verse of the twelfth chapter of Matthew,
you will perceive that all who think the

same time,

New

Holy Ghost be just

of which the calls and

against the

the gospel are so rejected as to be finally

standings.

but, at the

Fl/LPIT-

work of annex-

ble law.

THE UNPARDONABLE
And

day of reckoning, will

this verse, in its most plain and obvious
literalitjs be so accomplished on the hosts
who are assembled round the judgmentseat, that all who are free from this sin
shall have their every other sin forgiven,
just because they have obeyed the gospel
in embracing the overtures of forgiveness
and that all who on that day shall find
no escape, and no forgiveness, have this
doom laid upon them just because each,
without exception, has incurred the sin to
which no forgiveness is awarded, by the
very act of neglecting the great salvation.
thus, in the

The

sin, then, against the

Holy Ghost,

in fact, the sin of all

293

own

conscience ? Was there a wilful and resolved suppression of the force

of evidence]
Was there an habitual
their

stifling within them of the movement and

the impulse of moral principle ?
Was
there a firm and deliberate posting them-

selves on the ground of opposition in the

whole of their past resistance to this Jesus

of Nazareth ]
Was there an obstinate
keeping of this ground 1 Was there an
audacious and desperate intent of holdinor
out against

all that could be oflTered in the

shape of proofs or of remonstrances on the

side of Christianity

Was

there a volun-

tary darkening, on their part, of the light

when

it began to dawn upon

and threatened to carry their
who, living under convictions away from them 1 Was there

so far from conferring any rare distinction

of wickedness on him who is guilty of it,
is,

SIN.

of truth,

their souls,

the dispensation of the gospel, have, by

a habit of fetching up, at all hazards,

the " savour

every argument, however false, and however blasphemous it rmy be, on which
they might rest the measures of a proud
and interested party, and thus might give

their rejection of

it,

made

it

of death unto death." It is a sin which

can be charged upon every man who has
put the overtures of forgiveness away

from him. It is a sin which if, on the the shape, and the colouring of plausigreat day of examination, you are found bility to that systematic opposition they
to be free from, will argue your accept- had entered on 1
ance of the gospel, in virtue of which its
It strikes us, that the whole history of
forgiveness is made sure to you. And it the Pharisees in the New Testament,
is a sin which, if found on that day to holds them out in the very attitude of
adhere to you, will argue your final mind which we have now described to
refusal of the same gospel, in virtue of you. And think you not that, in the work
which your forgiveness is impossible, of maintaining this attitude against the
because you are out of the only way given warfare of all that moral and miraculous
under heaven, whereby men can be saved. argument which was brought to bear upon
So that, this sin, looked upon by many as them, they never smothered the instigathe sin of one particular age, or, if possi- tions of conscience, and through it rebelble to realize it in the present day, as only led against that Spirit who conveyed, by
to be met with in a few solitary instances this organ of the inner man, the whispers
of enormous and unexpiable transgres- of his still but impressive voice 1 "Which
sion, is the very sin upon which may be of you convinceth me of sin," says the
made to turn the condemnation and the Saviour " and if I tell j^ou the truth,
ruin of the existing majority of our species. why do you not believe me
Did conBefore we have done with this subject, science never tell them how impossible
there is one question which remains to be it was that Jesus of Nazareth should lie T
disposed of does it appear from the his- Did not the words of Him that spake as
torical circumstances of the case, that that never man spake, bear upon them the imconduct of the Pharisees which called press of truth as well as of dignity 1 Is
forth from our Saviour the denunciation there not such a thing as the suspicious
of the text, bears a resemblance to the aspect of an impostor'?
and is there not
account we have given of the sin against also such a thing as the open, the dethe Holy Ghost, as exemplified by the clared, the ingenuous, and altogether
men of the present generation 1 In their overbearing aspect of integrity 1 and is
rejection of Christ was there a determined it not conceivable how, in this way, the
rebellion of purpose against the light of words of the Saviour might have carried

b2

THE BRITISH

294

such a moral evidence along with them

as to stamp an unquestionable character

on all his attestations 1 Now, was there

no resistance of the Holy Spirit in the act
of shutting the eye of the judgment
against the whole weight and authority
of this character ] In the person of Jesus
of Nazareth, the men of that day were
honoured with the singular privilege of
beholding God manifest in the flesh of

seeing

all

the graces of the

Holy

Spirit

substantiated, without one taint of imperfection,

on the

who wore

life

and character of one

the form of the species

witnessing,

if

we may

of

so express our-

selves, a sensible exhibition of the

God-

of having the truth of God

human utterance upon
with a
tone of inimitable candour of seeing the
head

fall

in

their ears,

earnest longing of

God

after the creatures

PULPIT.

and the sullen immovable hardness,

all this was withstood and
overborne, there was such an outrage
upon the authority of conscience, and
such a dark and determined principle of
rebellion against Him who prompts it
with all its instigations, as by provoking
him to cast them off from all his further
communications, might raise an eternal
barrier against that faith, and that repentance, and that obedience to the gospel of
Christ, through which alone forgiveness
is extended to a guilty world 1
To aggravate still further this resistance to the moral claims of the Saviour
on the part of his inflexible enemies, let
us see how these very claims told on the
consciences of other men. The officers
nity,

by which

whom

they sent to apprehend

he had formed, stamped in living and

undeniable traces upon a human countenance of beholding the tenderness of the answer

God expressed in human

who wept over the sins and
of mankind

and

all

the

tears

him when

they went faltered from their purpose at

what they saw and heard ; and when they
returned with their errand unfulfilled, and
in their

by him never man spake

mouth " that surely

man," they

like this

found the masters they had to deal with

goodness of were men of sterner materials men who

the sufferings

Deity announcing itself distinctly in the knew not what it was to falter men who
mild and impressive sympathies of a reproached them for their moral sensibility
and who had sternly resolved at all
human voice ? Think you that there was
no struggling witli their own consciences, hazards, and in defiance to all principle,
and no wilful blending of their own hearts to rid themselves of this dangerous preon the part of those by whom such an ex- tender.
Again, when they instigated
hibition was resisted 1
Surely, surely, Pilate to a capital sentence against him,
the Spirit of God did much to subdue the Roman governor was shaken by all
their acquiescence in the alone way of that he observed of this innocent victim
salvation when all his fruits, and all his but look all the while at the unrelenting
accomplishments were gathered upon the constancy with which they kept by their
person of the Redeemer into one visible purpose, and in the barbarous prosecution
assemblage when the whole force of this of it schooled the governor out of his diffimoral ascendency was made so nearly, culties, and raised the frenzy of the popuand so repeatedly to bear upon them
lace, and surrounded the best and the
when truth, with all its pleading energy, kindest of the species with the scowl of
assailed them, and gentleness tried to win a brutal and reviling multitude.
And,
them over to the cause of their own eter- lastly, when he had sealed his testimony
and the soft eye of compassion by his blood, mark how the man who prenity
beamed upon them and the unwearied sided over his execution was overpowforbearance, which no weight of personal ered into the acknowledgment, " Surely
injustice could overcome, told them how, this was the Son of God ;" and how the unfor their sakes, Jesus of Nazareth was softened and unsubdued stood fast to their
ready to do all, and to suffer all and object, and got his body to be watched,
patience, even unto martyrdom, left a and a story to be devised, and a falsehood
meek but a firm testimony behind him. of deliberate manufacture to be thrown
Oh, think you not, that in the perverse afloat, with which they might stem the
representations, and the s'^!*--ful malig- growing faith of our Saviour's resurrection.

THE UNPARDONABLE
Now,

SIN.

295

between the eth forth evil things. And, surely, when

resolved and inflexible hatred of the Jew- after our Saviour had uttered such a pecuish persecutors of Christ, and the relent- liar sentence of condemnation on the sin
ings of other men, do you see no suppres- against the Holy Ghost, he expressly
sion of the voice of conscience
no connects the words of the mouth with
resistance to that light of principle which the dispositions of the heart, ere he tells
sends forth an occasional gleam over the us that it was by our words we shall be
path of the. determinedly apostate do justified, and by our words we shall be
you see no one of those ingredients which condemned we ought no longer to do
give to the sin against the Holy Ghost all what we are sure is done by many in their
the malignancy that belongs to it
or, obscure imaginations upon this subject;
rather, in this hard and unmovable hos- we ought not to liken the sin against the
tility against One, whose challenge to Holy Ghost to the spell of some magical
convince him of sin they dared not to incantation, deriving the whole of that
entertain
against One, of whom they deadly taint which belongs to it, from
could not fail to perceive, that he was the some infernal charm with which the uttermildest, and sincerest, and the most unof- ance of mere language is darkly and unacfending,and the most unwearied in well do- countably impregnated.
But, knowing that every denunciation
ing of all the characters that had met their
observation
do you not perceive how it of our great spiritual Teacher had some
Avas in the course of their own offended clear and unchangeable principle of mopride, and their own threatened interest, rality to rest upon ; and perceiving, as we
that they made their systematic resistance do, that on this very occasion he refers us
to every moral argument, and hurried to the disposition of the heart, as that
away their minds from every painful which gives to the utterance of the tongue
remonstrance and that too in the very all its malignity, let us, when reading of
style in which the obstinately impenitent this desperate guilt of the Pharisees, look
of the day do, in resistance to every de- to the spirit and moral temper of the
monstration of guilt, and to every warn- Pharisees; and, if possible, gather a someing of danger, walk in the counsel of their thing that may carry to our own bosoms
own hearts, and in the sight of their own a salutary and convincing application.
And a single glance at the circumeyes 1 It is very true, that it was upon
an outward act of speaking on the part of stances may be enough to satisfy us, that
the Pharisees, that our Saviour uttered never, in any one recorded passage of
But re- their history, did they evince the bent of
this remarkable denunciation.
member what he says himself upon this so inflexible a determination against the
never such a
subject: how the things which came out authority of conscience
of a man are evil because they are the wilful darkening of their own hearts
products of a heart which is evil. Re- against the light and the power of evimember what is said a few verses before dence, as in the passage that is now before
how our Saviour knew what was in man us. The whole weight of that moral
knew the thoughts of those Pharisees argument on which we have already exand it is upon his knowledge of their patiated, was reinforced by a miracle so
thoughts, that he ascribed such a malig- striking, and so palpable in its effects,
nity, and laid such a weight of condemna- that all the people were thrown into
But what constituted the
tion on the words which conveyed them. amazement.
Remember what is said a few verses peculiarity of the miracle was, that it was
after, where the fruit is represented as just such a miracle as the Pharisees themwhere selves had been accustomed to look upon
bad, just because the tree is bad
the words have their whole character of with veneration, and had viewed as an
evil imparted to them, just because it is example of successful hostilitj' against
out of the abundance of the heart that the the empire of darkness. They had faith
mouth speaketh ; and out of the evil in these possessions. They counted every
humours of the heart that the man bring- one of them to be the work of Beelzebub
in this

difference

THE BRITISH

296

PULPIT.

and the casting out of any of them as a head, and the misery of an irrecoverable
direct triumph of warfare against the condition that was of their own bringing
Prince of the Devils. They themselves, on. He had long borne with them and
it would appear, laid claim to this power it will be seen in the day of reckoning,
of dispossessing these demons and we when all mysteries are cleared up, how
have no doubt that the imagination of great the patience, and the kindness, and
such a power residing with tliem and the unwearied perseverance were, which
their children, or proselytes, Avould help they had resisted.
For, though the Spirit
to give them that prophetical sanctity in strives long, he does not strive always
the eyes of the common people, which and they brought on this crisis in their
they so much aspired after. But when history just by the very steps in which
the very thing on which they tried to every impenitent man brings it on in the
strengthen their own claims to authority, present day by a wilful resistance to the
was done by that Man, the progress of light of their own understanding by a
whose authority among his countrymen resolute suppression of the voice of their
they were determined, at all hazards, to own conscience.
But we must bring all these explanaarrest,
they went round the whole compass of their principles, and quashed the tions to a close. The distinction between
voice of every one of them, rather than speaking against the Son of man and
own the hand of God, or submit to the speaking against the Holy Ghost, may
demonstration of his power in the miracle be illustrated by what he says of the difbefore them.
It was indeed a desperate ference between bearing witness of himfetch which they made for an argument, self, and another bearing witness of him.
when the very work in which they gloried, If he had had no other testimony than bis
and on which they founded the credit of own to offer, they had not had sin. If he
their order, was so maligned and misre- had not done the works before them which
presented by them. They had ever been none other man did, and which no mere
in the habit of ascribing the possessions son of man could do, they had not had
sin.
of that age to the power of Beelzebub
If he had had nothing to show on
and now, to give a colour to their hatred which to sustain the character that sigof Jesus and his claims, they suppose the nalized him above the mere children of
house of Beelzebub to be divided against men, their resistance could have been foritself, and they ascribe to his power a given.
But he had shown the most
miracle, the doing of which went to dis- abundant evidence on this point he had
possess him of a part of his empire. They just performed a deed which their every
pretended that their sons, or their prose- habit, and their every conception, led
lytes, had the power of casting out those them to ascribe to the Spirit and the
possessions, and never failed to ascribe power of God
he had brought forward
this power to the Spirit and the counte- what to their own judgments was the tesnance of God but now they turned round timony of the Spirit and they resisted it.
upon the matter, and, by rearing their It was no longer now an opposition to
argument against the Saviour in the direct man, and a railing of man, but a conface of their own principle, did they prove temptuous negligence of man
all this is
how firmly they were resolved to lay hold sinful. But it was not that which blocked
of any thing, rather than admit the claims up the way against the remission of sin.
:

of one

Thus

who was

so offensive to them.

It

mo-

to

did they give, perhaps, at this

ment, a more conspicuous evidence than

they had ever done before, how every
proof, and every remonstrance, would all
be wasted upon them. The Spirit of God
had gone his uttermost length with them
and, on abandoning them for ever, he left
behind him their blood upon their own
;

was when they reviled him who offered

lead them on in that way, that they

were ever strengthening the barrier which

lay across the path of acceptance.

While

the last and most conclusive proof that

would be given of Jesus having indeed

the seal and the commission of the Spirit
upon him, was not yet tried, and found
ineffectual

all

their

opposition to

him

THE UNPARDONABLE
partook of opposition to one of

SIN.

297

whom

sweetest harmony saluted the ear; all

was nature smiled, and creation, "through all
any thing more than the son of man was her realms, gave signs of joy."
still in reserve.
Amidst all these beauties, we may
It still partook of opposition to a fellow man.
But, when that imagine our great progenitors to have
decisive evidence was at length offered, wandered forth.
We may conceive with
and the Spirit interposed with his last what delight they would rove together
still

the most decisive evidence that he

and

greatest

own

seal,

attempt to vindicate his

and to authenticate his own
commission on the person of Jesus of
Nazareth, then that which was before
the speaking evil of the Son of man
became the speaking evil of the Son of
God ; and that aggravated to the utter-

through the lovely groves of their terresparadise. How sweet would be their

trial

communion how unalloyed

No moments of coldness and
!

temporary cessation of

their bliss!

distrust; no

warm

affection

was experienced. The flame of love burnt

pure and bright;

lustre

its

undimrned,

would now be per- and its power unquenched. Every thinoAnd the Pharisees, by around them conduced to their pleasure.

most length that

mitted to go.

it

smothering the light of

which

the

all that evidence

Their path was strewed with flowers
had brought for- the)' wandered through a wilderness of
the miracles that were done, sweets.
Around them the brute creation

Holy

Spirit

ward, both in
and in the graces of that sinless example
which was so impressively before them,
had, by that time, raised in their hearts
such an intrenchment of prejudice against
the faith of the gospel, and so discouraged
the Holy Spirit from any further attempts
to scale and to surmount it, that all recovery was hopeless, and all forgiveness

was

gamboled in playful innocence. No venomous reptile, no ravenous beast of

with

prey,

fierce

savage

nature,

safety

through

they did
all

not

hurt

the blissful place.

was apprehended

impossible.

and

mind one feeling of alarm.

The lion laid down with the kid the den
of the cockatrice might be touched with
raised in their

to fear

nor destroy

No

danger

they were per-

fect strangers; for there existed

no cause
such a sensation. Across
their path, " the arrow that flieth by day"
Various have been the conjectures never shot.
Their peaceful slumbers,
formed as to the precise spot which the " the terror by night" never disturbed.
garden of Eden once occupied. Nume- On them the pestilence that wasteth at
rous hypotheses have been invented, and noonday never shed its baleful influence.
plausibly supported.
But, perhaps, at Pain, disease, and care, entered not the
this distance of time, and especially con- sacred limits of their abode all was hapsidering the changes which must have piness, unmingled and unalloyed.
taken place on the surface of our globe
Their communion was of the most exin consequence of the flood, as well as alted nature.
How often those superior
from other natural causes, it is impossible intelligences, who reside in the immediate
to

PARADISE.

call

forth

to decide the question satisfactorily.

Of

however, we are certain, that it was

a garden adorned with every beauty that
the beneficent Creator showered down
upon it the choicest of his favours; and
that whatever was lovely to the eye, and
grateful to the taste, and harmonious to
the ear, might there be found in full perfection.
The most enchanting prospects
met the view at every turn; the most
fragrant odours regaled the senses, and
perfumed the air; the most delicious
this,

fruits

invited

Vol.

38

the

hand

to

pluck

the

presence of the Eternal, were permitted

to visit mortals in their primeval state,
we are unable to ascertain; but it is
probable that such visits were not then
" short and far between." What sublime
discourse must our first parents have held
with such companions
What lofty subjects must have formed the theme of
conversation
What glorious discoveries
!

must have been made of the power and

goodness of the Creator; and how must
they have enjoyed such golden opportunities.

THE BRITISH

298
But, above

all,

their fellowship with

God himself must have been

of the most

sublime, ennobling, and endearing nature.

They approached him not as sinners, but

whom

PULPIT.

looking back upon past scenes of delight.

The mind loves to ruminate on the bright
and fairy prospects which once opened

may have passed

and the thought that they
have thus fled, no more to return, will
serve to mingle an emotion of regret with

before

it,

although they

he had made ; as
the sharers of his bounty, the objects of
his care, the beloved favourites of his
They looked up to him as their
heart.
friend, their benefactor, their father; and

away

they found their whole delight

and serving him.

of pleasing melancholy.
It is with an
emotion of this nature that we look back
through the long ages which are gone
by, and contemplate the glory and the
happiness of our first parents in their
pristine state of purity and perfection,
ere sin had ravaged their beauteous residence, and ere the flaming sword had
brandished its glittering terrors to prevent their approach to the tree of life.

as the creatures

in

loving

Although the earth brought forth sponwhatever was calculated to

charm and to please, and whatever was
taneously

necessary for use and sustenance, yet our

first parents did not spend their days in
idleness and inactivity.

Their pleasures

for ever;

the remembrance of the past, and will

awaken in the bosom a pensive feeling

were heightened by exertion. Although

they were strangers to laborious toil,
sloth and supineness were equally un- The recollection is imbittered by the
known. The fertility of nature required thought that the paradise of Eden no
their restraining

hand

to

prune her luxu-

riance, and every hour brought its

Thus ennui
appropriate employment.
never oppressed their minds; and though
surrounded with scenes of delight, the
continual succession and recurrence of
pleasing objects did not weary or disgust.
Thus smoothly rolled on the happy
hours of the first of mortals.
Every
moment brought upon its wings renewed
delight.
Like the peaceful current of
those gentle streams, which watered and
fertilized their terrestrial heaven, their
days glided on in calm tranquillity and
undisturbed serenity. Alas! that such
a scene of felicity should ever have
vanished
and that what was once a
glorious reality should have passed away
as a morning dream, and as "a tale that
;

is told."

There

longer exists

own from

its

gressing the

sometimes a satisfaction

in

that

man has been

driven

command

of his Maker, has

subjected himself both to temporal and

In this view, indeed, there
nothing whatever to awaken an idea of
pleasure; for the picture is dark and dismal, and over it broods the blackness of

eternal death.
is

despair. Put while

and

felicitv

we

think of the glory

which man has

lost,

we

are at

same time permitted to look forward

to a more glorious inheritance which
awaits the redeemed from among men,
the

and

to

contemplate that

fairer country,

more delightful paradise, of which

the terrestrial Eden was only a shadow
that

and a type.
"In paradise, within the

gates,

nobler entertainment wails;

new and old laid up in store,

Where we shall feast, and want no more."

Fruits
is

sacred precincts, and by trans-

SERMON

XXXII.

THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAYER.

BY THE REV. GERARD

'

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we

grace

TRUE

to help in

knows well

Christian

God

his intercourse with

time of need."

the

Prayer

nature and the value of prayer.

is

in

When

Prayer
measure of his felicity.
and cold, and heartless in

truth, the

dull,

this exercise of his spiritual faculties, he

culls but

scanty fruit from

comforts of

life,

Heb.

may

A.M.

obtain mercy,

and find

iv. 16.

tempted like as

we

are, yet

Let us therefore come

without

sin.

unto

the

boldly

of grace, that we may obtain

mercy, and find grace to help in time of

the source of throne

his strength, and joy, and peace.

is,

NOEL,

T.

the

varied

while he finds every

temptation to evil augmented in its power

and influence over his mind. When, on

ncff/."

The words of the text point out to us,

The duty and the design of

I.

PRAYER, and

H. Our encouragement
them.

to

fulfil

text suggests to us.

The dutt

the other hand, his prayer

is

warm,

fer-

AND THE DESIGN OF PRAYER.

" Let US

vent, and

is

quiet

and

come

smile of

God

unremitting,

all

The

joyful in his heart.

sheds its light over every object which

he contemplates, and thus disarms the
world of its power to disturb his peace.
" Watch and pray," said our Saviour,
" lest ye enter into temptation." " Pray
without ceasing," said the apostle Paul
" Be careful for nothing, but in every

The

I.

to the throne of grace, that ive

obtain mercy,

time of
First,

and find grace

to

may

help in

need.''''

The

invitation to the throne of

to be the Chris-

grace marks out prayer

tian's duty.

weakness

homage of
the

Prayer is the expression of

and dependence. It is the
the creature to the Creator;

supplication

of

an offender to his

thing by prayer and supplication, v/ith judge ; the petition of a needy heart to a
thanksgiving, let your requests be made munificent and kind benefactor; the conknown unto God, and the peace of God fidence of a child in the love of an indulwhich passeth all understanding shall gent parent the intercourse of friend;

through

ship; the acknowledgment of gratitude;

the breathings of hope, and tenderness,

The same apostle refers to the subject

of prayer in his epistle to the Hebrews
and introduces it in a very remarkable

and regard. The existence of such a

duty is recognised even by natural religion ; while it forms a marked feature in

manner. " Seeing," he observes, "that

Ave have a great High Priest, that is
passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son
of God, let us hold fast our profession.
For we have not a High Priest which
cannot be touched with the feeling of

revealed religion.

keep

your hearts
Christ Jesus."

and minds

our infirmities, but

was

in

all

points

So long, however, as the heart is under

the influence of pride and earthliness, untouched by the kindly influences of the

Holy Ghost;

like

any other service of

mere ceremony, and

religion, prayer is a

not an enjoyment.

It

may

lull

the up-

299

THE BRITISH

300
braidings of conscience, but

sacred
Christ,

of guilt
snares

does not 'prayer.

God

offers liimself to his

as the source of their happiness.

the

people

" Ac-

"drawings of the Father" to quaint thyself with God, and beat peace."
the soul is awakened to a sense Hence the removal of external injuries;
and danger; when it discerns the the prevention of external pain and the
;

nature

fearful

it

But when, under

describe affection.

PULPIT.

of

when

its

temptations

incessant production of

and

ment, could not reinstate a fallen but

intellectual and immortal creature in its
proper happiness.
No work of external

perceives the adaptation

it

external enjoy-

of the resources of the gospel, both to

this guilt and to these perils; when it

His affecGod, his taste depraved and sensual, he would unavoidaprayer then becomes the emotion of the bly continue, even under the most favourheart, the influence of thouglits and of able juncture of outward circumstances,
feelings, connected with all its highest the subject of conflict, want, and misery.
The duty is then A dreary blank would still be left in
notions of happiness.
His real necessities would
recognised to be founded alike upon the his bosom.
sympathy of aff'ection, and upon the obli- remain unsupplied. The work of mercy
must, therefore, be chiefly carried on
gations of nature
This twofold obligation is beautifully within. The application of that mercy
expressed in the direction of Jesus Christ must be felt, and be influential within.
" When thou enterest Prayer becomes then the important chanto his disciples
into thy closet, shut to thy door, and pray nel through which spiritual blessings are
The tender relationship conveyed to the soul. The atonement of
to thy Father."
thus recorded by Christ, gives the true the cross has removed the curse, and
The sorrows
character of that sacred intercourse with magnified the love of God.
of Christ have opened a way of blissful
God, which we term prayer.
Secondly, But let us advert rather to access to God, even for the outcast and
" Let us the exile; but the enjoyment of the divine
the design or object of prayer.
come to the throne of grace, ihat we may presence can alone belong to him who
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in loves the character and the intercourse of
every time of need.^^
A cold, skeptical God.
mind has sometimes descanted upon the
Hence the necessity for the teaching,
apparent inutility of prayer. " If God the discipline, the intercourse of the Holy
comprehends,

in

mercy could reach

part at least, the plan of

his case.

tions estranged from

love and compassion, as unfolded in the

sorrows of Gethsemane and the cross
;

be omnipotent and kind, and intimately Spirit. Friendship with God is the exacquainted with human wants, then the clusive method of happiness in God.
expression of those wants is superfluous. But prayer is the great medium by which
It were, likewise, presumptuous to sup- this friendship is formed and maintained.
pose, that the decisions of so great a "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling
Being in any measure can be swayed by place." " Thou art my portion, O Lord !"
my soul, thou hast said unto the
the weak and selfish petitions of a crea- "
ture,

and that a creature

the moth.'

'

crushed before

Lord, thou art

"

my God

!"

"As

the hart

panteth for the water-brooks, so panteth

Such a mind

is

equally ignorant of the

command

my

soul after

God."

These, and similar

of God.

aspirations of the heart, repeatedly felt

not intended to yield any acces-

and cherished, mould as it were the dispositions, and form the taste of the soul,
And when to this is added, an habitual
reference to God, under all the trials and
perplexities of life, it is evident, that an
alliance of the most intimate and filial
character is gradually formed between
God and the once alienated oflTender.

nature of man, as of the

Prayer

is

sion of

knowledge

to the Creator,

but to

bring the creature into a sense and habit

of entire submission, and love, and de-

pendence. The object of true religion is

to bring back the heart of a sinner to the
It is
imitation and enjoyment of God.
by intercourse with God that this object
is fulfilled,

and this intercourse

we

call

Yet

the

disease

of the heart

is

not

THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAYER.

healed at once.

con-

It 13 to alteratives,

mercy

is

301

therefore perpetual towards the

It is the atmosphere in which

Such they live. They need its influence every
though slowly, yields.
The natural air is
alteratives, meditation and prayer supply. hour and moment.
It is, indeed, the powerful influence of not more needful to external respiration,

tinually supplied,

that this

disease,

at

redeemed".

length,

the

Holy

Spirit

inward process
efficient.

which renders
at

once

this

than

and

existence of the believer's happiness.

And when we speak

we must always
presence

suppose the habitual

Holy Comforter.
Ghost"

It is

of

ever " in the

that prayer sanctifies

the heart.

pre-

the

is this

Now

of the

discipline of motives, trials, wants, supports, sorrows, joys,

mercy needful

all

healthful

it is

by prayer

to the spiritual

that he continues

the habitual enjoyment of this holy mercy.

In the most prosperous circumstances of

his

or

natural

moral

condition,

he

is

by the command of God, as

and renews by the necessities of his heart, to come to
the throne of grace. It is there that mercy

Holy

With the aid of these observations, let

us now observe the objects which prayer
has in view.
First,
That we may obtain mercy.

directed alike

dispenses
of

God

is

all

The design
complete habit of

her blessings.

to create a

dependence in the bosoms of his children.

Their safety, and peace, and joy, are to
This is the great blessing which alike be ever received as gifts of his bounty.
belongs to every child of God. I do not It is " of faith, that it may be by grace."
imagine the apostle here to refer to mercy
This principle pervades all their interas a gift connected with the sinner's course with God.
It is not simply a
original
acceptance with God.
The throne of power, or uumingled love, on
mercy to which he refers is rather the which God is seated but it. is a throne
mercy sought by a believer, who has of grace. Christ is the channel of this
By grace, and the streams descend through
already found acceptance in Christ.
faith in Christ he has already " passed him; and they are locked up in the
from death to life." His relations with mighty reservoir, except as they flow
God are those of amity and peace.
down to faith. To the strongest, the
Hence mercy appears here to designate most fervent, the most endeared, the most
the whole extent of the believer's personal favoured children of God, this principle
and habitual intercourse with God. The of faith applies. It is at the throne of
believer lives in an element of holy mercy. grace alone they expect their blessings to
" God is /oi'fi," absolute and exclusive, to be dispensed. If in the midst of the
He is love, infi- summer's heat the sap were suddenly to
all his innocent creation.
nite and absolute, likewise to his re- desert the branches, and to retreat to the
But he is likewise stem, the blossoms, the leaves would die.
deemed creation.
mercy to them. Holy mercy character- And thus, were the streams cut off which
They are flow from the throne of grace, through
izes his dealings with these.
under a system of compassion, pity, ten- the medium of incessant prayer; the
;

as well as graces, the strength, the peace of the

They soul, would wither and die. It is by
under a system of pure love.
they faith the Christian lives; and faith is the
receive no single blessing or gift
are relieved from no single privation, but result of prayer
in which I include all
through mercy and this a mercy as holy that sweet and healing meditation on
as the love which is borne to the innocent. divine truth, which is as prayer to the
Through the sacrifice of Christ, God is soul; which sanctifies thought, and di"just" as well as " good." His pity is rects its course, and clears its way into
never exercised at the expense of his the calmer and better regions of the
The harmony of the divine attri- heavenly world.
truth.
butes is never disturbed, even when the
The object then expressed under the
largest clemency is exerted towards the expression to " obtain mercy," appears to

derness, forbearance, grace,

guilty, or the largest forbearance mani-

fested to the

weak.

The

exercise of this

include the whole of those spiritual blessings which belong to the covenant of

sc

THE BRITISH

303
grace.

It

gives a specific character to

prayer, as maintained by every, believer,

to

PULPIT.

know what was

in thine heart, to

thee good at thy latter end."

"

do

know

In the hour of health, and ease, and quiet-

very faitlifulness thou hast caused me

be troubled."
The lives and experience of God's
children have been ever accordant with
By the shores of the
these declarations.
Red Sea in the howling wilderness ; in

the hour of unchecked medita-

the dungeon, and the furnace, have the

in every time,

human

life.

and age, and condition of

were, the genuine

It is, as it

term under which

described.

under
ness;

all

in

He

is

all

his

blessings are

the child of mercy,

his relations and circumstances.

in
to

under children of God received their best lesunder the smiles of God
glowing expectation of the sons. Their weakness has then evinced
The the divine strength, and afforded occasion
future, he is the child of mercy.
throne of grace is the well-spring of his for the exercise of his fidelity and love.
It is probable, that the largest efforts of
peace and joy. Thither he must repair
The
prayer have belonged to affliction.
he has nothing but in the way of mercy
or, in the hour of danger, and want, and most intense and piercing cry has "come
sorrow, and guilt, he must still be a sup- out of the depths !" The closest union
of the heart with Christ has been in the
pliant at the throne of grace.
hat a proSecondly, But another object of prayer absence of external good.
we are to go to ductive night, in all probability, was that
invites our consideration
the throne of grace, not only " to obtain to Daniel, which he passed in the den of
mercy," but to " obtain grace to help in lions
Or what a sacred hour was that,
time of need." If the term " mercy" during which the three men of God
refers, as we have seen, to the universal walked with " the Son of man," amidst
nature of prayer, under all events and the flames of the seven times heated furconditions, as applicable to o// believers
nace
Or what a season of supplication
this expression, " Grace to help in time was that, in which the great Example, as
of need," gives a character of peculiarity well as the victim of justice, passed
to it, as applicable to those who are " the whole night upon the mountain in
under some distinct and unusual pressure prayer !" " I will not let thee go, except
of mind. " Mercy" is the food on which thou bless me !" This has been ever the
" Grace to help" is solemn resolution of him, who, bereft of
all believers live.
the specific medicine or balm which the his own resources, and encircled with
case of individual suffering may require. perils, has thrown himself into the arms
" Call upon me in the time of trouble, of God, and wrestled hard for the mercy
and I will hear thee, and thou shalt praise which he needed
me."
And how high and important is this
God designs to make his people ac- object to which prayer is thus directed
quainted with their own weakness and What subject indeed is so interesting as
misery, and as well with his own kind- the interchange of faith and grace, as they
ness, strength, and fidelity.
It is in the are connected in the intercourse of God
season and circumstance of adversity, with his children
These are the brigiit
that this design is more immediately and points at which heaven touches earth.
Hence, " the These are the streams of light which shed
directly accomplished.
time of need," in an hour that makes up their beams upon the waste, and teach the
many a portion of his brief pilgrimage church that it is not forgotten of its God
on earth. " In the world ye shall have How many are daily waiting upon God in
" Many are the afiliclions this duty and privilege of prayer When
tribulation."
" These are they the presence of guilt bears down the
of the righteous."
which have come out of great tribulation, heart; when memory recalls the past,
and have washed their robes white in the and tells of ingratitude, obduracy, and
blood of the Lamb." " He hath led rebellion ; when the arrow, the " iron

tion

the most

thee these forty years in the wilderness,

to

humble

thee, and to prove thee,

enters into the soul,"

how

urgent

is

the

and voice which the advocate within thea

THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAYER.

sends up to the advocate without

how

303

These " times of need" brought thus

becomes the cry of the into connexion with " the throne of
which " helpeth our infirmities," grace," advance the soul in its know-

fervent, that is,

Spirit,

to the Intercessor,

who

everlasting throne

ledge, its strength, and its holiness. They

" a time of prove the school in which the believer
need," of great and bitter need. The learns his best and highest lessons. Here
soul is heavily burdened, and it comes he pours out his heart to God, and God
lo the throne of grace.
The mea- opens his heart to him. Here he consure of the trial is, indeed, under the fesses his own misery and unworthiness ;
limitation of wisdom and love ; but the and God his Saviour manifests his fulpromise of the word, under the agency of ness, and righteousness, and strength.
the Spirit, is more or less effective to the Here the communion of love, and faith,
relief desired
O, if the assurance, and hope, and joy, strike their deep im" Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven pressions upon his heart, and conform
thee, go in peace;" if this or a similar more or less his habitual feelings and
declaration be received into the heart, as sympathies to those of God and truth
well as enter by the ear or the eye, how
The objects as well as the duty of
joyous is the result obtained
The prayer, are thus presented by the apostle
storm dies away, and there is " a great to our view.

It

stands before the

is

Secondly, But we have yet to examine

OUR ENCOURAGEMENT TO FULFIL THEM.
" Let us therefore,''^ says the apostle,
diminished the objects of social happiness; when death has dried up the foun- " come boldly to the throne of grace."
tains which run freely with their clear The words " therefore," and " boldly,"
and salutary waters ; when pain and lead us to the previous verses of the
disease have altered the character of ex- chapter, and connect the efficacy of prayer
istence, and changed the scene of hilarity, with the atonement, intercession, and
and buoyancy, and activity, into the scene character of Christ. " We have a great
of suffering, inactivity, patience, and High Priest, that is passed into the
" This
abstraction from the previous intercourse heavens, Jesus the Son of God."
of life ; then to go to the throne of grace, great High Priest is touched with the
and to draw closer the ties which no pri- feeling of our infirmities," having been
vation, nor suffering, nor vicissitude can ' tempted like as we are ;" " therefore let
dissolve, this is to connect " a time of us come boldly to the throne of grace."
need" with the best and brightest mani- The relation of the true believer to Christ
festations of mercy and grace to the soul
thus gives value and hope to the language
Many may be the hours of comparative of prayer.
repinings, and of wounded hopes, and of
First, The prayer of a deist, and that
unhealthy wanderings of mind but these of a Christian, are offered under circumare sometimes exchanged for hours passed stances totally dissimilar.
A deist rests
at the throne of grace, to which no eye upon his own view of the benevolence
but that of God is witness hours when and power of God. He is ignorant of
Christ speaks, and pain and sorrow are God's will, of God's estimate of sin, of
forgotten; hours, when cut off from the God's intentions with respect to sin ; and
din of life, and separated from friends, he builds his expectations of succour,
and left alone with God, every murmur- when he addresses God, upon his own
ing is yet hushed, and every privation is unauthorized exposition, both of God's
hours, when the manifestation of character and of his own.
repaid
A Christian,
the Redeemer's glory to the soul has on the contrary, is invited to intercourse
shed a calm and a blissful radiance with his God on the very testimony of
around every prospect, and proved the God himself, and under the very shelter
earnest of that better heritage which is and sanction of his immutable promises.
" incorruptible, and undefiled, and that He is, as we have already remarked, a
fadeth not away."
He is redeemed by the
child of mercy.

calm."

Or when

the privations of life have

THE BRITISH

304
blood of an incarnate God.

He is " given

to Christ," under the seal of a covenant,

which

is

" ordered

In virtue of this

in all things
gift,

he

and sure."

become

is

the

" He is bought with

become his Mediator
and his Saviour. United to him by faith,
he possesses his life. " Because I live,
ye shall live also." He is a " branch of
property of Christ.
Christ

a price."

is

the true vine," and partakes of

fulness and

God "in

strength

He

its

fruit-

approaches

the fellowship of Christ," as

his father.

By

the indwelling of

the

eternal Spirit, he feels the emotions of

a child, and he cries, " Abba, Father."

It

was

the office of the high

PULPIT.

cepted offering of the blood of the cross,

and to shelter the harassed mind beneath
the omnipotence of
to

make

Believer in Christ
mark well the
grounds upon which the efficacy of thy
prayer depends. Thy very cry of guilt
and sorrow, is the result of the Spirit,
whose habitation thou art
Thou art the
property of God, and under the sure protection of Jesus thou wilt reach thy eternal home.
Pray then in faith. Consider
!

thy great

High

Priest,

Think of the

virtue of his blood; of the prevalency of

his

priest,

Him who " ever liveth

intercession for us."

Come

intercession.

throne of grace

unfold

boldly

to

his

thy heart

all

under the Jewish law, both to " offer lay bare to him its guilt, defilement,
sacrifices for sins," and to make interces- weakness, and inconsistency.
Implore
sion for the people.
This twofold office mercy with incessantrepetition of anxiety.
referred to Christ as the great antitype of " In every time of need seek grace to
help."
Jesus Christ knows all thy
and Christ wants, and " has received gifts," that
is ascended into the heavens " to make " out of his fulness thou shouldst receive
intercession for us."
He is gone thither grace for grace." He has opened the
as " our forerunner."
He is ' gone to way to God. He has unbarred the gates
prepare a place for us," and " he will of acceptance. He has overcome death,
come again to receive us to himself," and hell, and sin ; and he bids thee " be
according to that prayer, " Father, I will of good cheer." Come then with holy
that they whom thou hast given me, be confidence into his sanctuary.
Attach the
with me where I am, to behold my glory." highest value to prayer. Deem it to be
Therefore " Fear not, little flock, it is thy best preservative from sin, and thy
your Father's good pleasure to give you best antidote to sorrow. Expect large
the kingdom."
and full relief at the throne of grace.
Consider the influence of this relation Remember the eternal covenant; and conupon the nature of prayer. Under the template the nature of cverlastmg love.
priesthood and intercession of Christ, Retreat from the accusations of conprayer is no longer the unauthorized ap- science ; from the stern voice of the law ;
plication of a weak and sinful being to the from the calumnies of men
from the
Deity whom he worships but of whose malice of Satan ; from the fears and
existence and attributes he has but a con- inconstancy of thine own heart ; retreat
fused and conjectural idea. It is the lan- from all these enemies, and take thy
guage of a child reconciled and renovated shelter within the sanctuary of the Lord
in character by an interposition of mercy Thou hast a heritage in the heart of
and grace on the part of God himself. Christ. Thy name is written there, and
Under the pressure of his guilt, his weak- " thou shalt never be forgotten." " No
ness, and his sorrow, he comes to the weapon formed against thee shall prosthrone of mercy, " knowing whom he has per ;" for " he that toucheth thee, touchbelieved." He says with the patriarch eth the apple of an eye." Believe the
of old, " I know that my Redeemer broad and unembarrassed record, and
liveth."
pursue thy way, " strong in the Lord and
What an encouragement is this to pray the power of his might."
What an inducement to rest the burden of
Secondly, But the character of Christ
the heart upon a mediator of infinite is an encouragement to prayer, as well
strength ! to rely for pardon upon the ac- as his priesthood. " He is touched with
the high priest.

blood

a-s

Christ hath shed his

an atonement for sin

THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAYER.

" He was
a feeling of our infirmities."
tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

He knows the nature of pain, and grief,

and weakness not simply by his omniscience as God, but by his actual experience as man.
He was familiar with all
kinds of suffering. He endured poverty,
and scorn, and fatigue, and torture. He
struggled under infirmity, and passed
whole nights in solitary prayer.
But
perhaps no single expression so com;

pletely identifies

pathy, as that

for symwhich long

his capacity

appellation

305

SCRIPTUBi: ILLUSTRATIONS.
"

And

Lord said unto him. Therefore

the

whosoever slayelh Cain, vengeance shall be taken

And the Lord set a mark

any finding him should kill

on him sevenfold.

upon Cain,
him." Gen.

lest

iv. 15.

The learned

Shuckford was not only diswith our usual notion, that God
set a mark upon Cain in consequence of
his having killed his brother Abel, but he
makes himself merry with the ludicrous
satisfied

stood recorded on the prophetic page,

nature of

"The man

fancy had appointed to be borne about by

of sorrows, and acquainted

with grief."
All this experience of evil he retains in
When he passed into
his remembrance.
the heavens as the High Priest over the
house of God, he carried with him all the
sympathies by which his heart had been
expanded on earth. He is the same kind,
gentle, condescending, generous, faithful
Christian
friend now as he was then.
contemplate then once more thy enArt thou opcouragement to prayer.
art thou discouraged, wearied,
pressed
unworthy, defiled, inconstant, ungrateful,
worldly, doubtful 1
Art thou low and
vile in thine own esteem, and to this selfreproach, do the sorrows of life bring the
sad accession of their penalties and priremember Jesus
His
vations ?
Still
and his
blood has flowed for thy sin
righteousness is thy claim to honour and
Meantime let his compassionate
glory
nature give encouragement to thy strugHis love cannot
gles and thy prayers.
change, nor can his knowledge of thy
He knows
case be at any time obscure.
all ; he feels all ; he will succour all.
Never canst thou know his inexhaustible
kindness. No human conception can
grasp the mighty mystery of his coveBut depend, confide, petition,
nant love
!

some of those marks which

Without

him.

attempting

defend

to

those conjectures, and without adding to

the number, I shall merely endeavour
show, that the customary rendering
the passage

Among

may

to
oi

be supported.

the laws attributed to

Menu

is

the following appointment,

which

notice

especially, because

directly

attri-

is

it

buted to Menu himself, as if it were a genuine tradition received from him ; and it
describes so powerfully and pathetically
the distressed situation of an outcast, that

one

is led

to think

recollection of

some

it

is

drawn from the

real instance, rather

than from the foresight of the sufferings

of such a supposed criminal.

Crimes in general have been thought,

by mankind, susceptible of expiation,
more or less, according to the degrees of
their guilt: but some are of so flagrant
a nature, as to be supposed atrocious

beyond expiation.

Though murder be

usually considered one of those atrocious

crimes, and consequently inexpiable

yet

have been instances wherein the

criminal was punished by other means
there

than by loss of

life.

A judicial

infliction,

of a commutatory kind, seems

to

have

been passed on Cain. Adam was puCain by a living

nished by a dying life
;

pray.

Be

of grace.

ever a suppliant at the throne

Thou

art as

of his tender care, as

if

much

death.

the object

thou wert his lone

child in the universe of nature

Cast

then thy burden upon him, and say, with

For violating the paternal bed.

Let the mark of a female part be impressed
ON THE FOREHEAD, WITH A HOT IRON.
For drinking spirits, a vintner's flag
For stealing sacred gold, a dog's foot :
For murdering a priest, the figure of a headless
:

" a joy unspeakable and full of glory,"

" The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not
want."
Vol. n.39

corpse.

2c2

THE BRITISH

306
With none
With none
With none

to

with them.
sacrilice with them

to

he aUied by marriage

Abject, and excluded from

to

them

shall be deserted

vagabond on

the

earth; and any one who find eth me may

slay me without compunction, as if I
were rather a wild beast than a man."

all social duties,

Let them wander over the earth;

Branded with indel'Me marks,

They

PULPIT.

I shall be a fugitive, a

to eat

The Lord

by their paternal and

said,

"

mentioned an expia-

formerly, on account of your crime

tion

of ungovernable malice and anger, bidding you lay a sin-offering before the

maternal relations.
Treated by none wilh affection
Received by none with respect.
Such is the ordinance of Menu.

entrance

but then you disregarded that

admonition and command. Nevertheless,

" Criminals of all classes, having per- as I did not take the life of your father,
formed an expiation ordained by law, shall Adam, though forfeited, when I sat in
not be marked on the furehead, but be judgment on him, but abated of that
condemned to pay the liigliest fine." rigorous penalty ; so I do not design that
you should be taken off by sudden death,
This also is from Menu.
Let us apply these principles in illus- neither immedintely from myself, nor me-

Cain had
Abel his brother this being a very
extraordinary and embarrassing instance
of guilt, and perhaps the first enormous
crinie among mankind which required
exemplary punishment, the Lord thought
proper to interpose, and to act as judge on
tration of the history of Cain.

diately by another.

slain

fore, a heavier

this singularly affecting occasion.

pronounce, there-

sentence on whoever

destroy Cain. Moreover, to

is a

siiall

show thatCain

person suffering under punishment,

since no one else has

power

to

do

it

since he resists the justice of his fellow

men

Adam

since his crime has called

his judge,

me to

shall brand his forehead

be
with

might be ignorant of this guilt, ignorant a mark of his crime and then, whoever
by what process to detect it, and ignorant observes this mark will avoid his comby what penalty to punish it; but the pany they will not smite him, but they
;

Lord (metaphorically) hears of it, by the

blood which cried from the ground and
he detects it, passes sentence on him
" Thou art cursed from ike earth, which
hath opened her mouth to receive thy
brother^s blood
a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And
Cain said to the Lord, " Is my iniquity
too great for expiation ?
Is there no fine,
no suffering, short of such a vagabond

will hold no intercourse with him, fear-

ing

his

irascible

passions

may

take

some unguarded word, and

again transport him into a fury, which
offence

at

may

Besides this,
issue in bloodshed.
mankind, wherever he may endeavour
to associate, shall fear to pollute themThe
selves, by conference with him."
uneasiness continually arising from this

.-''^

all

state of sequestration, led the unhappy

be accepted 1 Behold, Cain to seek repose in a distant settleihoii hast banished me this day from the ment.
If this conception of the history be
face of the land where I was born, where
my parents dwell, my native country and just, and if the quotation from Menu be
from thy presence, also, in thy public wor- genuine, we have here one of the oldest
ship and institutions ; / must now hide traditions in the world ; in confirmation
myself from all my heart holds dear, not only of the history as related in
being prohibited from approaching my Genesis, but of our public version of the
former intimates, and thy venerated altar. passage,
CalmeCs Diet. Fragment, 141.
state,

that

may

SERMON

XXXIII.

IMPORTANT QUESTION.

BY THE REV. THOMAS DALE.

?" Matt.

" WJiat think ye of Christ

Did

ministers of the gospel possess

strike

Sxii. 24.

upon the ear of each

been born
exercised

Ihe power, I mean, of detecting the

thoughts and intents of the heart
what
Various, what conflicting emotions would
they probably discover in their hearers at
\he announcement of a text like this!
The idler, who has been casually or mechanically led hither to while away the
tedious hours of a wearisome Sabbath
the restless seeker after novelty, who has
been beguiled into the house of prayer
by an excursive and often unprofitable
curiosity, and who thougli among us is

us the

not of

formalist,

who

is

bound

"No

among all that have of any thing to enliven and

of woman, was possessed and night," mentally ejaculates
by their great Master alone " No promise of any thing

that power, which,

hope

interest to-

the

idler:

striking or

hackneyed subject,"

original in this

in-

ternally sighs the hunter after novelty:

" Another of those discourses," whispers

" adapted to the itching

the formalist,

ears of our self-styled evangelicals, with

whom

is every thing and duty

have no very close interest
in this topic," despondingly rejoins the
unconfirmed and incipient Christian, " I

doctrine

nothing:" "

am

only beginning to think of Christ at

all;"

while the believer's heart, pene-

trated and pervaded as

constant, and

it

individual

is

by a

lively,

experience of

which he is exter- the excellencies of him who is the chief

member, only by the tie of habit among ten thousand, and altogether deand of custom, and who, when uncom- sirable, responds to the question, " What
"
promising spirituality of doctrine begins do /think of Christ
could angels
could I
to be unpalatable, only waits for some teach me their heavenly strains
to the congregation of

nally a

plausible pretext and ground of objection,

that he

may

avoid the charge of incon-

sistency and satisfy his

own

conscience

in

exchanging one place of worship for another

the incipient but immature Chris-

tian,

who

mind

the

of

what
less

who

desires to

hear only of Christ, and values us who

are his ministers only so far as we speak

"What

differently does the in-

think

ye of Christ]"

them

to utter

marvellous

forth half his

much

quiry,

his

scribe

liever, the true believer,

how

number

own

but who requires strong stimulants, or

imagines that he does, that he may not
again relapse into his former darkness
and insensibility
and lastly, the be-

of Christ

man

sible for

awakening conviction,

has just perceived in his

dawn

speak in those burning seraphic words,

of which Paul testifies that it is not pos-

to

praise;

my

what

acts,
I

could

could not
or

show

not de-

soul he already is,

hope he will here-

after be."

But

however
some by exceed-

the inquiry of our text,

likely at once to offend

ing their expectations, and to disappoint

by falling below theirs, is one

which the minister of the gospel must
nay, which he
propose, must repeat
must zealously enforce, on which he
must habitually insist; for on the answer
307

others

THE BRITISH

308
to

spiritually speaking,

it,

They who do

all depends.

not think at all concerning

Christ, are both guilty and miserable

they

vvlio will

not think of him beyond

FULPIT.
they ask, "with considerations of

ed,''

righteousness, and temperance, and judg-

ment

to

come

what they can help, are, if possible, even

more guilty than miserable they who from any excess

seek and strive to think of him, but think

wrongly, though not free from guilt, are
more miserable than guilty but they
who cultivate and cherish the thought, and
seek to be conformed by it to the scriptural model of a true believer, they are the

happiest of those who are born to trouble,

the least criminal of those who are born

and nurtured in iniquity. This

much they are now what they will be
hereafter, when sorrow is no more, and
sin with its pollution is for ever washed
away, must be left for the Holy Spirit to
can
develope to their own hearts.
no more do it than we could transport
them to heaven on the wings of the
wind our province only extends to directing them into the path, wherein we
have his own assurance that he will
meet with them and bless them. O may
his presence be so manifested among us
in sin

are as good as their

in either appetite,

they can see no very deadly sin

though
in

the

pleasures of the table, or even in occasional intoxication, if

and, in the end,

it

if their

accounts be fairly

may

very probably

if not,

they will trust

balanced, the good

preponderate, and

be hut occasional

the weight of the merits of Christ

tiiat

shall

be thrown into the scale.

events,

it

will be time

enough

At

all

to think of

that

when

And

thus these guilty, infatuated, misera-

the hour of

trial shall

arrive."

though maintaining
many outward
things, to the ordinary regulations and proWe
prieties of the world
infatuated, though
perhaps eminent in literature, distinguished in science and devoted to philosophy
miserable, though possessing every
external source of happiness that carnal
prosperity can furnish
fill up the measure of their years, and are summoned to
this night, that the idler may be excited the bar of judgment without having sethe restless man arrested in his search cured any intercessor, without having
for something new and strange
They take their
the for- provided any advocate.
malist aroused from the torpor of erring in chance
and a dreadful chance it is
his self-complacency
the young Chris- wretched alternative, of which the better
tian stimulated to renewed ardour in the part is not to be
of which darkness, norace
and the more advanced believer as- thingness, annihilation, is the brighter
sured, animated, and encouraged
while side. O could the indigent and afflicted
we ask, and they reply to the question, believer, however friendless, however ab" What think ye of Christ ?"
ject and forlorn, however plagued all the
It is possible, it is barely possible, that day long and chastened every morning,
there may be among us to-night, owing behold these ungodly prospering in the
to the inscrutable and mysterious dispen- world, increasing in riches according to
sations of Providence, one or two of their spiritual estimate in the sight of
those most wretched and pitiable persons God
could the Lazarus at the rich man's
who do not think of Christ at all who gate full of outward sores, search into
are so engrossed by the interests, so im- the whited sepulchre of that very rich
mersed in the pursuits, so besotted by the man's heart
could the believer, lanpleasures of this delusive and perishing guishing in his garret or his hovel, withworld, that they have scarcely a thought out food to sustain his sinking frame or
beyond their present existence ; and if raiment to protect him from the piercing
they can but succeed in their immediate blasts of winter, look into the gay scenes
aim and object, will contentedly leave of festive magnificence, and, with his
the future to take care of itself will eyes open to the secrets of the invisible
recklessly mingle with the great mass, world, behold the men who are at ease in
and incur the hazard of their common their possessions, sporting and revelling
" Why are they to be molest- within the very grasp of death, he would
destiny.
:

They

neighbours, though not righteous overmuch ; t'ney abstain, generally speaking,

guilty,

decent conformity, in

ble peTSons

IMPORTANT QUESTION.
instantly learn acquiescence, if not thank-

is

he would see, indeed, that God

no respecter of persons
he would feel

fulness

the full significance of that unanswerable

300

we

can approach him with any

hope of acceptance to pass through the
dark valley without a guide
to meet
alone

death in

all

its

terrors

to

appear before

inquiry, " What shall it profit a man if a heart-searching God, in whose sight all
he gain the whole world and lose his things are naked and open, with all our
own soul ?"
iniquities fully chronicled in the book of
Should there, then, unhappily, be any his remembrance, and not one effaced
one here present who, to the question, therefrom to have our eternal portion
"What think you of Christ?" is con- with rebels, and enemies, and spirits of
strained to reply, " I do not think of him darkness
this it is not to think of Christ.
at all, excepting on the Sabbath day, To such a man death is judgment, and
when I hear his name at the close of the judgment is condemnation, and condemnaprayers in the liturgy of the church to tion must be hell. O, then, if there be
which I nominally belong" should there one indeed here who does not think of
be such a one, we would exhort him, we Christ at all, let him speedily discern his
would implore him, we would adjure him, danger, and promptly seek deliverance
by all he holds dear in time and eternity, before the accepted time be exhausted,
to ponder, to meditate on his most peril- and the day of salvation is passed.
Conous and critical situation. Either he will sider and hear this, ye that forget God,
allow that the declarations of Scripture lest he tear you in pieces, and there be
are true, or that they are false.
If, after
none to deliver.
long and patient and candid examination,
The next class of persons of whom
accompanied with earnest prayer for di- this question shall be asked, are those
vine teaching and guidance, he has deter- who labour under the same misapprehenmined that they are the latter, may God sion, yet are surely far less excusable in
forgive and enlighten him, for naught their error than the persons who were
can now avail him but the very finger of immediately addressed by Christ. These
God but if he admits them to be the are they who, to the questions, " What
former and else wherefore is he here
think ye of Christ 1 whose Son is he?"
then, O let him consider before he signs would reply, "The son of David, mortal
and seals the sentence of his own con- man, of a mortal mother, of a mortal
demnation. Not to think of Christ, of the family, and in nowise differing except in
only name given under heaven whereby superior moral excellence from his kinsmen can be saved the only Advocate men, according to the flesh." There are
with the Father the only Propitiation such among those who are called Chrisfor our sins
the only Peace-maker be- tians ; not increasing, we hope and between us and God the only pure Exam- lieve fir the poor and the afflicted, the
ple for our imitation
our only Shepherd humble and the penitent, those who de-

"?

guide us through
the shadow of death

the dark valley of sire to find in their religion a source of

to

of our salvation,

the only Captain

who

has overcome for

himself, and can enable us to overcome
the last enemy
the only availing Pleader
at the bar of God
the only Portion of
the saints throughout eternity
not to
think of Christ, is virtually to renounce

hope of salvation

God's way

encouragement, and hope,

cold and lifeless system
which can impart no more spiritual consolation and support, than a manual of
morals, or a treatise on philosophy. You
cannot impose on them the breathless
form for the living body you cannot
consolation,

discard

that

persuade them that there is light in the

leave our cause unplead, our sins uncan- closed eye, and speech in the folded lip,
celled, our enmity unreconciled and un- and life in the pulseless heart. But those
removed to array ourselves, in expecta- who are enriched with goods and have
tion of our Judge, in the polluted gar- need of nothing
those who are wise in
all

in

to

ment

that he loathes, despising the spot-

less robe of that riofhteousness in

their

own

which own sight

eyes and righteous in their

those who light the torch of

THE BRITISH

310

reason, and imagine, because it casts a

gleann across the darl^ness of their own

PULPIT.

bodies, the curious and critical hearers,

'

who are ever on the wing after novelty

and originality, attracted and captivated
of tlie Sun of righteousness in their jour- only by the rich colouring of imagination,
ney through the wilderness of life and and the glow ing ornaments of rhetoric,
these bring and the rushing and impetuous flood of
the dark valley of death
who judge of a discourse by
themselves, by what process they ought eloquence
best to know, for they will one day be the gratification which it affords to their
called to an account, to identify their fancy, and the power with which it calls
" He into exercise their reasoning fECulties, or
opinions vvitii that of the Pharisee
is," they say, " the son of Mary and Jo- the novel conceptions of the mysterious
yet still and striking images of the magnificent
the best of men
seph
a man
a man of like passions with ourselves." which it developes to their mental view.
But the Christ of whom such persons Ask these what thiy think of Christ, and

minds,

will therefore supply the place

it

speak,

it

Son

not the Christ of the Scriptures

not David's Lord as well as his

is

is

if

man

is

not the

Word which was

hovah our righteousness

whom dwelt
holy thing
Godhead bodily
of
with God, and was God

it

is

not Je-

'

they will reply,

if

they dare to

the

tell

" That depends on what we hear

of him.
We always believe he
the
the
Son of God we always acquiesce

truth

is

in

views which are taken by the church of

which we are ostensibly members, conall the fulness
in
cerning his part in our salvation, and his
it is not he, who
the
having by himself purged our sins, is sole ability to accomplish it; but we do
now sat down on the right hand of the not think much of him excepting on the
not, if it must be acknowRlajesty on high, being made so much Sabbath
better than the angels, as he hath by in- ledged, even then, unless he be powerOur
heritance obtained a more excellent name fully and persuasively set forth.
not our Christ, the impressions occasionally, perhaps, abide
than they
it is
Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, until the morrow*, but are commonly exthe Prince of Peace, the Lord over all tinct before the third day, and scarcely
things to his church, God over all, bless- ever endure throughout the week ; but in
ed for ever it is only a more exalted this we know we are wrong, and intend
at all events, we
Plato, a more virtuous Socrates, a wiser to do better in future
Confucius, a philosopher above all phi- are nearer to heaven than those who
losophers, the most disinterested and en- totally omit to mingle in the assembly of
lightened of teachers, the most patient of God's people
nearer than those who
sufferers, the most pure of moralists. deny the Lord that bought them.
And what, after all, is this ] It is, at already believe something, and hope one
best, the faint and partial outline, not the day to believe all." But thus to think of
distinct and perfect shape
it is but the
Christ is, they may be assured, comparait

is

not that

We

scanty

may

rill,

be a

not the fountain of

life

faith for the rich to live in,

who

it

but

tively of little practical utility

so far advantageous as

it

it is

only

brings them oc-

in it with casionally within the circle of spiritual

with safety? knowledge, and this advantage is fearBut tve desire to look in death to fully counterbalanced by the increasing
One who has fought with it and over- responsibility it occasions, by the aggracome it, and to turn in judgment also to vated criminality and condemnation to
which it may eventually lead. As to the
One who, though he knew no sin
though he could not know it, because he vain idea that they are nearer to heaven,
was God over all, blessed for ever yet it makes little difference, I should imawas made sin for us that we might be gine, to the man who is fainting for thirst
made the righteousness of God in him.
in the desert, and is unable to stir a limb,
The third class of persons, of whom whetherthe fountain from which he might
we make the same inquiry, " What think drink and live is at the distance of one
ye of Christ 1" are the idlers, the busy- mile or one hundred ; and as little to the

rich

or

poor,

can

peace, or be judged in

die

it

IMPORTANT QUESTION.
soldier

who marches with

party

to

defended

well

the

the attacking
fortress,

311

world as
" Nothing can be better,"

viour of

the

my
we

Saviour."
reply, " so

whether the ball of death prostrate him far as it extends. But in what sense is
" I strive," the man
in the extreme trenches, or when in act he your Saviour
That which is an will reply, " so far as I know it, to do
to mount the breach.
advantage in life, may become in death a my duty I offer to God the best services
source of unprecedented bitterness. Take I can; he will, I am sure, view my faila parallel case.
You are subject, we ings with an indulgent eye, and whatever
will suppose
we have too much reason the deficiency in my obedience may be,
for supposing it in these times
to the the merits of Christ are sufficient to counsudden attack of a violent disorder; near terbalance it. What I cannot do for myyour home dwells the physician, and he self he will do for me." But, stop
is prepared with a remedy at a moment's
who authorized you to believe that Jesus
warning; but you are attacked by a vio- would be only a partner or an associate in

lent

paroxysm

mon

or along an unfrequented path,

passing a lonely com-

in

and

the great

work

a limb,

indicate the vicinity of the

town you can- other way?

paralyzed,

that while he constituted

would admit

the gold of the image, he

when your whole frame

when you cannot move

is

When

yi)u to be the clay?

it

said,

is

what His blood cleanseth from all sin, do not

avails it that your eye is still clear to see these words virtually imply that no sin
the lights gleaming in the distance, which can be effaced and blotted out in any
not reach

Thus

to perish within sight

of deliverance only adds double bitterness to the " pang that reaches to the
heart."

Saviour,

So is he that perishes without a

though within sound of the

church-going
his house, in

and with the Bible

his chamber, in his hand
bell,

in

And do

not you find sin in-

sinuating itself into your very best per-

Do you not feel that your

most acceptable services stand in need of
Can you
purification and forgiveness?
formances

not on reflection accord with the prophet,

who

said that his righteousness

filthy

rags?

with

the apostle,

were as

who

de-

Yea, the word of clared, that when he would do good, evil

salvation itself may come too late, as it was present with him ? Be not deceived ;
is too late to bring the medicine when
Christ is either nothing, or all; either

but not in his heart.

the passage of the throat is obstructed

there

when

all of

the

body

is

and collapsing
death

We

in all the

ligion

in

the

in the

agony

insensibility

of

is

no grace in our salvation, or

grace

Whether

tives is correct,

of the apostle,

are in the next place to ask of the

formalist, the

up

convulsed

man who has been brought

forms and ceremonies of

re-

who attends public worsliip regu-

and has done so from his youth

and would not on any consideration forbear to do so
of whom his neighbours
think well, and who, perhaps, although
he does not acknowledge it, thinks better
of himself who inly prides himself on
being one of the pillars of the church,
because he is a zealous advocate of all
her rights, and dignities, and privileges,
and a determined enemy to innovation of
every sort, while there is little or nothing

larly,

it is

of these alterna-

judge from the language

declared, " By grace

who

ye are saved through faith and that not

of yourselves
it is the gift of God, not
of works, lest any man should boast."
;

And

again.

"It

is

not

by works of

right-

we have done, but accordmercy that we are saved." O,

eousness which
ing to his

remember, that unless you think of

Christ as the only Saviour, you have no
right to think of him as a Saviour at all;
then,

unless you trust him with your services,

you have no sufficient warrant to trust
him with your sins. Each require to be
sprinkled with his atoning blood; and
were it not so, your very endeavours to
serve God are so mixed and alloyed with
of the power of godliness in his heart
imperfection, that these alone would conwe would say to you, " What think ye demn you, supposing your positive and
of Christ?" "I think of him," he re- undoubted sins were wholly removed
joins, "a& the Soa of God ^as the Sa- from the light of God's countenance. If,

THE BRITISH

312

PULPIT.

you would rejoice in a good hope, a the surrounding scenery, when in an inhope sure and steadfast, let it take tena- stant all is once more involved in darkand though I cannot perpetuate
While ness
cious hold on the Rock of ages.
you hope in Christ, hope only in him. the vision to my bodily sight, I can at
Lay all your services at the foot of his least impress it on my memory, and reSo,
throne. Lei your language be, " Neither call it by the aid of imagination.
of man nor by men, but by the revelation when the voice that thunders or that persuades hath ceased, I can recall, though
of .Tesus Christ."
And now we are to demand of the in- with diminished vehemence, those thunI can
cipient and immature Christian, in whom ders of threatening and of error
the principle of spiritual life is, as it rehearse, though with impaired and imwere, struggling hard even for existence poverished energy, those sweet accents
then,

whom

and of love I can feel

emotions which inspired me
while I listened and the same form of
indescribable excellence and beauty is
present to my mental view, though more
distantly and indistinctly traced." Now,
to such a person, if such there be here
think of him, but what I desire to think present, I would say, "You do well if
of him. I have as yet but a passing this be a part, but you act most misview, an occasional glimpse of his mani- takenly if this be all. It is probable that
Jesus reveals himself with far greater
fold excellencies, his divine perfections
to

of persuasion

the light of truth appears to

be just breaking through the clouds of

error, ignorance, worldliness. and selfishness but it is yet doubtful whether they
" What
will be effectually dispersed
ask me not,"
think you of Christ T' "
such a person will reply, " what I do

again

'

the

one moment he shines out as the sun, power and efficiency in the retirement of
and I rejoice in his beams; but again the secret prayer and meditation than he
clouds intervene, and all is dark and cold does in the great congregation ; and it is
Occasionally I distinguish a certain that the excitement, whatever it
as before.
dim and a faint outline of the perfect be, is less factitious, and more genuine.
beauty and symmetry of the gospel sys- That which is contingent on the earnesttem I see how accurately it delineates ness or eloquence of the minister of God,
my condition how adequately it pro- even though he be one who resolves to
how, without know nothing but Christ and him cruvides for my necessities
compromising a single attribute of the cified, cannot be much in itself; whatGodhead, it does all for me which I was ever the temporary impression may be, all
incapable of doing for myself; but this its real and permanent efficiency is deview does not abide with me my know- rived from the inward teaching and inledge is more theoretical than experi- fluence of the Holy Spirit. Let us, then,
mental and if I think of Christ only as affectionately admonish these, that, while
he appears to myself, I cannot think of they seek in public, they seek also in
:

employ all private; the discourse, however they may

that which have been impressed, attracted, enchainerroneous, and enlarging that which ed, transported, penetrated through and
inadequate I range from church to through, has done them but little real

him

as I ought.

legitimate
is
is

tlierefore

means of correcting

service, if it has not driven them, so to

and en- speak, into the presence of God j'ea, to
It is not
treaty, which shall waken my dormant the very foot of the cross.
energies, and rouse into vigilance and what we think of Christ in a moment of
activity the sentinel of conscience, who excitement; every dying man, whatever
I can- may have been his sentiments in life,
is too often sleeping at his post.
not yet think of Christ as I would and as feels an Omnipotent Saviour to be all in

church

in

affecting

quest of that animating and

style

of

exhortation

but when health returns, then the

ought; but those powerful portraitures all
his manifold excellencies which I brightness of his glories is obscured, the
sometimes enjoy, are to me as the flash excellency of his salvation is forgotten
of liffhtnins which reveals for an instant and so when the temporary excitement

of

IMPORTANT QUESTION.
of a glowing and forcible discourse

is

may be
Let such,
with answering the
from the feeling or

passed, our thoughts of Christ

much what

they were before.

then, be not satisfied

question of our text,

impression of the moment; let them consider what they always think of Christ,
not what they sometimes think of him.
A. father is always regarded as a parent,
a beloved brother or sister

is

always the

object of like fraternal affection

but

is

is
Christ to them always as a father T
he always as a brother? is he always as
There should at all times be
a friend 1

but one answer to the question, "

think ye of Christ?"

And

do not

313
times exert sufficient power
leaves.
To speak without a

at all

to unfold its

figure, if

the

you demand

true

believer,

Christ] then whatever be his frame of

mind and

Every blessing

/think of Christ?"

him

calls

my mind

to

as the Giver

every
every

as the Comforter

When

sor-

as the

sin

my

unclose

re-

every

deliverance as the Preserver

Redeemer!

whom the question shall now be proposed in the last instance, there luill be
but one answer. Ask him, " What think
you of Christ," and the substance of his
answer will be, " Christ is precious."

whether

moment

feeling at the

he be in the valley of humiliation or on

the lofty and shining summit of hope and
of Christian assurance
whether it be
with him the night of heaviness or the
morning of joy, he will reply, " What do

What row

in the case of the true believer, to

any moment of

at

what he thinks of

eyes

after the seasonable rest of nightly sleep,

it

my

is

the

first

sessed of riches, Christ

my

treasure,

If I

among
am pos-

my

crowning

waking thought,

have Christ.

first,

is

or

pearl of great price

possess them not, his love

is

if I

better to

me

We

do not, indeed, assert that the feel- than the gold of Ophir, or the merchanings even of the experienced believer dise of Tyre, or the palaces of Babylon.
will not fluctuate in liveliness and in- My earliest prayers, offered to the God
but, substantially, they will be of my salvation, are made acceptable
tensity
and when I descend into
identical.
It will be the sober, solid, through him
settled conviction of his mind, that the active intercourse with the world, I am
Every
favour of Christ is better than life, his perpetually reminded of him.

love stronger than death, his

He

perior to the grave.

Christ,

who

is

power

will

su-

the Light of Life,

much

we do

of the natural sun; it sometimes darts forth in full splendour its

as

quickening and enlivening rays somenow

times it retreats behind a cloud
the face of nature wears a lovelier smile
from the influence and manifestation of
its brightness, and now all creation seems
as though arrayed in mourning for its absence yet, of all the light that we see,
and of all the warmth that we feel, the
;

sun, visible or not,

And

is

event and incident of

think of to

the sole source.

so the believer thinks of Christ.

His

my

members of
cle,

and

loftier,

am

if I

prosperity

am

my affliction.

him

in

but

am

wisdom

am

flower, to display

its

his

hope

like

of his

see

him

my

in

recognise

rny ignorance,

I feel

who

is
it

my

may

by insult and provocations, to speak

unadvisedly with my lips, but I remember, who endured the contradiction of
sinners against himself; I am led into

be,

look up to him who is

am exercised by infirmities, but I think of him who hath
Deliverer;

borne

my

sicknesses and infirmities; I

suffering, I think

most gorgeous hues hear of those who are

and emit its clioicest odours when unfolded by the potent rays of a summer
sun but that heart throbs with life when
it does not glow with love, and that
flower lives by the sun, though his rays
Vol. n. 40
;

afflicted, I

wellnigh betrayed,

expand

receive from

thus directed to him

to

the marks of
I

and more watchful

blessed,

if I

my

made

brings Christ

social and domestic cir-

temptation, but

not always

all

discern the adumbration

purer,

love

my

the immediate experience and effusion of

is

life

considerate affection which

heart does not always dance for joy in

his Saviour's transcendent love

In

recollection.

Him who is to me the source of all

comfort; I hear of those who are dying,
I think of Him who is their life; I am
of

reminded of the departed,

think of

as the eternal portion of those

2D

Him

who have

THE BRITISH

3.14,

Conscience whisdeparted in the Lord.

pers of ingratitude and rebellion, and fear

PULPIT.

and affectionately admonish, that such

thoughts of him w ill not suffice ; they

anticipate judgment, and a pro- may abide a breeze, but they will not enwe may pass thus through
found sense of my unworthiness would dure a storm
but I think of life, but we cannot thus pass through
counsel bitter things
Jesus as the Sacrifice, who has atoned death. Nothing will avail us in the tuas the Surety multuous and troubled sea but a Rock
for my transgression
who will appear for me in judgment as nothing will illumine us in the dark valthe Judge to whom all judgment is com- ley but a Sun ; and who is a Rock, save

would

who

miltfd, but

to

me

will be only a Sa-

the Lord

and

who

is

viour and Deliverer. Do you ask then,

" What I think of Christ]" All that is
excellent, estimable, and precious, is

Sun of righteousness

that he
concentrated in the name; and
were all now, as he will be all hereafter

but as

And now, brethren, it is for you to answer to yourselves the question, " What
do / think of Christ 1" By this you may
determine what Christ thinks of you:
" For them that honour me I will honour;
but they that despise me shall be lightly
esteemed." In the first instance. His
thoughts towards you are of mercy and
for what can be greater love
of love
;

than this, that a man lay down his life

but if that mercy be out-

fur his friends'?

raged, and that love contemned, what

may His thoughts

is the

fountain of

of

you become'?

life to

revive, but

He

become everlasting

fire to tor-

consume'?
then, if you
have not made up your minds to die
w-ithout Christ, and therefore, to live
without him if you have not determined

ment and

to

to try

how

far other

pleas for acquittal

then, brethren, finally, do

think of Christ, not only as he

he

is

to

you

of the Spirit, which

portrayed

Has

is

is

you

himself,

the

power
God,

the finger of

his precious

image

in

all

its

living and lovely lineaments on the tablet

of your heart

Do you

daily realize

him

as the only propitiation for your sins

the only provider for your wants

your

only introducer into the presence of the

great King
your only guide through life

your only portion through eternity

few weeks since, when the

evil that is

now

mercifully mitigated seemed to impend over this devoted city, and they
who had long feared for others, began at
last to

may you

he not be the torrent of angry waters, to

overwhelm and to destroy 1 He is the
fire to revive and cheer, but may he not,
if rejected,

What

a Sun save the

alone'?

tremble for themselves, what did

think of Christ?

Did your hearts

him as a refuge from

storm, a shadow from the heat, a

instinctively turn to

the

shield against the pestilence, a guardian,

who would

either avert the shaft of death,

key that unlocked

?
O do not
await the recurrence of some such fearful
visitation to determine where you have
placed your confidence, and where you
have fixed your love. Let every power
of the mind
let every affection of the
heart
let every impulse of the will concur and combine to answer this night the
important question on which eternity depends a question which you could not
hear, did man propose it with thunders
and earthquakes, unless at the same time
or transform

the portal

it

into the

of eternal glory

and acceptance will avail you, or whether

you can appear before God without any
plea at all, be not satisfied unless you can
return a satisfactory answer to the question," What think ye of Christ?" Surely
there are none here who imitate the fool,
that says in his heart there is no God,
and does not think of Christ at all?
Surely there are none who do think of the still small voice of the Spirit should
But there mat/ speak it to the heart, " What think ye of
Christ, but not as God ?
be some who think of him only in the Christ r'
thou God of mercy, press home this
moment of excitement others who think
of him occasionally and by halves, as momentous question on the hearts of
though he would do that for them which these thy people, ere that great and territhey cannot do for themselves, and this ble day, when thy beloved Son shall be
alone.
But all such we would earnestly manifested at once in all his splendours

IMPORTANT QUESTION.

315

terrors as a no other effect upon them, than to elate

be demanded of ihtir pride and augment their arrogance.
An equal change in the state of feeling
some by the ministers of wrath, ready to
bear them to eternal flames ; of others by towards an object which has itself underthe angels, that do ihy bidding, and waft gone no alteration whatever, and where

as a Saviour, and all

Judge

when

his

will

it

the spirits of the redeemed, the heirs of the party by which

immortality, to the mansions of the blest.

" What think ye of Christ?" O give us

now as a Saviour,
we should hereafter see him only as
Judge
Amen.

adhere

to

to their

it

is

displayed profess

ancient tenets,

it

would

The causes of
phenomenon, may partly be

be difficult to specify.

grace to think of him

this singular

lest

ascribed to the length of time which has

elapsed since we have had actual expe-

enormous cruelties of the

papal system, and to the fancied security
rience of the

ON rOPERV.

Innumerable symptoms appear of

we

possess

against

their

recurrence

prevailing disposition to contemplate the

partly to the agitation of a great political

of popery with less disgust,

witness their progress with less

question, which seems to have had the

doctrines

and

to

alarm, than has ever been

known

since

All the zeal and acon one side ; and while every
absurdity is retained, and every pretenthe Reformation.
tivity are

sion

defended,

which

formerly

cause of Popery
with that of Protestant dissenters. The
impression of the heart has, in a manner,
spent itself; and in many, its place is

effect of identifying the

occupied by an eagerness to grasp at predrew sent advantages, and to lay hold of every

upon popery the indignation and abhor- expedient, for shaking off the restraints
all enlightened Christians, we which a narrow and timid policy has im-

rence of

should be ready

to

conclude, from the

The

posed.

influence of these circum-

much

altered state of public feeling, that a sys-

stances has been

tem once so obnoxious had undergone

some momentous revolution. We seem,

indifference to religious truth

on

this occasion, to

its

most

literal

have interpreted

in

sense the injunction of

and believing all

"hoping

all

things,

things."

We

persist in maintaining, that

the adherents to Popery are materially

changed, in contradiction to their express

disavowal ; and while they make a boast
of the infallibility of their creed, and the
unalterable nature of their religion,

we

persist in the belief of its having expe-

rienced

we know

not

and improvement.

when men

In

are deceived,

it is

the effect of years since, that a celebrated nobleman,

and contrivance on the part of those

who delude them in this, the deception
originates with ourselves; and instead of
bearing false witness against our neighbour, such is the excess of our candour,
that we refuse to credit the unfavourable
testimony which he bears of himself.
There is, iu the mean time, nothing re:

ciprocal in this strange

we

often shelters itself under the mask of

candour; and to such an extent has this
humour been carried, that distinguished
leaders in Parliament have not scrupled
to represent the controversy between the
Papists and the Protestants as turning on
obscure and unintelligible points of doctrine, scarcely worth the attention of enlightened minds ;
while a beneficed
clergyman of some distinction, has treated the whole subject as of no more im-

what melioration portance than the idle disputes agitated

most instances, by the schoolmen. It was but a few

art

ceeding:

by that
which too

aided

in the

house of peers, vehemently con-

demned

the oath of abjuration, for applying the term superslilious to the doctrine
of transubstantiation.
In exactly the

same spirit, the appellation of Papist is

exchanged for Catholic, a concession
which the adherents of the church of

Rome

well

method of pro- amounting

pipe to them, but they will

know how
to

little

to

short

improve, as
a formal

of

surrender of the point at issue.

For, if

Our concessions, instead of the Papists are really entitled to the

softening and mollifying, seem to have namd^of Catholics, Protestants of every

not dance.

THE BRITISH

316

PULPIT.

denomination are involved in the guilt of

schism.
This revolution in the feelings of a
great portion of the public, has probably
been not a little promoted by another
cause. The present times are eminently
distinguished by the efforts employed for
the extension of vital religion
each denomination of Christians h;is taken its
station, and contributed its part towards

rounded with the silent pomp of death.

The very absurdities of such a religion
render it less unacceptable to men, whose
decided hostility to truth inclines them
to view with complacency whatever obscures its beauty, or impedes its opera-

the diffusion of evangelical sentiments.

trines of the gospel; and just in propor-

The consequence has

tion as

been, that the pro-

tion.

Of all

the corruptions of Christianity

which have prevailed to any considerable

extent, Popery presents the most numerous points of contrast to the simple doc-

it

gains ground, the religion of

fessors of serious piety are multiplied,

Christ must decline.

and form at present a very conspicuous

branch of the community. The space
which they occupy in the minds of the
public, is not merely proportioned to their
numerical importance, still less to their
rank in society. It is, in a great measure,
derived from the publicity of their proceedings, and the numerous associations
for the promotion of pious and benevolent
objects, which they have originated and
supported.
By these means, their dis-

On these accounts, though we are far

from supposing that Popery, were it triumphant, would allow toleration to any
denomination of Protestants, we have the
utmost confidence that the professors of

criminating doctrines essential

ways depend

to

vital

pie*y,

have become better known, and

more

fully

However

discussed,

than

heretofore.

beneficial, as to its general ef-

such a state of things may have

been, one consequence which might be
expected, has been the result. The opposition of the enemies of religion has

evangelical piety would be

tims.

virulent, their hatred

more

heated and inflamed, and they have turned

with no small complacency to the contemplation of a system which forms a
striking contrast to the

object of their

detestation.

Popery, in the ordinary state of its procombines the form of godliness

with a total denial of its power. A heap
of unmeaning ceremonies, adapted to fascinate the imagination and engage the
fession,

its first vic-

party most opposed to them,

look to Papists as their natural ally, on

whose assistance in the suppression of

what they are pleased to denominate
fanaticism and enthusiasm, they

may

al-

they may, therefore, without presumption, promise themselves the

;

distinction conferred on Ulysses, that of

being last devoured.

Whether Popery will ever be permitted,

fects,

become more

The

the inscrutable counsels of heaven,

in

again to darken and overspread the land,

is

an inquiry

in

which

province to engage.
the
are

it is

It

is

foreign to our
certain, that

members of the Romish communily

at this moment on the tip-toe of ex-

pectation, indulging the

most sanguine

hopes, suggested by the temper of the

times, of soon recovering all that they

have

lost,

and of seeing the pretended

rights of their church restored in their

splendour.
If any thing can realize
such an expectation, it is undoubtedly the
torpor and indifference of Protestants,
senses,
implicit faith in human authori- combined with the incredible zeal and
ty, combined with an utter neglect of activity of Papists ; and universal obdivine teaching,
ignorance the most servation shows what these are capable
profound, joined to dogmatism the most of effecting, how often they compensate
full

presumptuous, a vigilant exclusion of the disadvantages arising from paucity

biblical knowledge, together with a total of number, as well as almost every kind
extinction of free inquiry,
present the of inequality.
By the hie Rev. Robert

spectacle of religion, lying in state, sur-

Hall.

SERMON XXXIV.
PROFIT AND LOSS.
BY THE REV. ROBERT NEWTON.

'For what

is

man profited,
shall a man

if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul
give in exchange for his soul ?" Matt. xvi. 26.

or wfug

Surely, if the sons of ambition would

This is, indeed, my friends, one of the
most grave, and, at the same time, one of but seriously reflect on this question, they
the most interesting questions that ever would find themselves very powerfully

was proposed.

Well and truly has an arrested in their pursuit of this world's

eminent divine designated this question, honour; and if the giddy and the gay
by way of eminence, in a discourse which would but allow themselves to ponder
he has published on the text "The im- this great question, they would find themportant question."
The question relates selves checked in their eager attempts
not to profit and loss in any ordinary or after this world's pleasure and were the
trivial concerns, which will not and can- man of business, who has set his heart on
not materially affect us, whichever way the acquisition of substance and wealth,

the scale

may happen

to turn

the inquiry

regards the loss or the gain, the perdition

or could the miser,

whose name

interpretation miserable, but allow

is

by

him-

man's own soul. self to consider this question, they would

And can any thing in the universe of pause and ask themselves, Am I, then,
God be of equal importance to man with after all, making a good bargain ] " For
Nor is what is a man profited, if he gain the
the salvation of his own soul ]
this question, my friends, of partial inte- whole world, and lose his own soul ] or
what shall a man give in exchange for
rest.
It is not addressed particularly or
or the salvation, of a

exclusively to any given number of our

his soul

"?"

however, true that persons may

and unlettered, male and female; for, as professedly admit the truth, and wisdom,
every human being has a soul, it must and propriety of any given maxim or
sentiment, and yet it is a thing widely
either be saved or lost.
The great Teacher, who spake as never different from this to act habitually under
man spake, and knew how forcible are its influence in other words, a proposiright words, proposes the sentiment of tion may be theoretically admitted when
true wisdom which the text contains, by it is practically denied ; and if we do not
way of inquiry; as though, by this cir- most egregiously mistake, this is precumstance, he would indirectly teach us cisely the case with multitudes around
that no man, with a rightly-constituted us from day to day, who admit the wismind, can for a moment question or doubt dom and the truth of the maxim of the
a statement so self-evident. He employs text who know the subject carries conthe interrogatory form of speech, doubt- viction on the very face of it; but yet,
species;

it

concerns each and

all,

learned

It is,

less, that the appeal,

which

is

made

to

every man's reason and conscience, as

in the sight of God, might be the more
forcible and conclusive.

how are they acting 1 Why, they are

living from day to day, either as if they
thought, after all, that they had no souls
to

be saved or

lost, or as

3 D 3

though there
317

THE BRITISH

318
were some

sort of

impression that

it

would

PULPIT.

fully and wonderfully

body

turn out in the s.'quel that the world would

be more valuable than their soul, and,

for his dignity,

therefore, they are bartering their souls

for the

say, to the

made,"

that

man

it

is

is

not,

indebted

importance, and worth

body, after all, has appetites in
common with animal nature, and tends to
for the world.
Some who hear me know very well the dust out :f which itwas formed, and to
say, then, that
that, at the time the text was proposed, which it must return.
commerce was not carried on or conducted the soul is the man the body is but the
as in these days, through any circulating clay tenement, the soul is the deathless
medium like money, but in the way of inhabitant; the body is but the material
simply exchanging one thing casket, the soul is the precious sparkling
bartering

We

dis-^^sina of one thing for jewel that is contained within ; the body
JNow, ii this be the reference, is intimately allied to the earth, the soul
thcii, what our Saviour would teach us is claims kindred with on high
the excellence, and conseI argue
thi.s thji* the 2-".\ of man is of a nature
so excellent, and of a value so great, tirat quently the worth, of the human soul,
To
there is nothing in this world that can be from the spiritunlity of its nature.
attempt a definition of the soul, of its
proposed and accepted as an equivalent
that the world itself, the whole of it, is essence, is not the province of the Chrisnot an equivalent, and that the man who tian preacher. This he most willingly
would exchange his soul even for a world leaves to the mere metaphysician, who
would be a loser that every item in the may amuse himself and others as long as

for another

another.

account would ultimately be put

the side of

ruinous and

loss loss,

all

loss

down

on

loss

of the text may be illusby the following propositions: man

HE HAS A SOUL
IS A BEING OF WORTH
THAT SOUL IS OF UNSPEAKABLE VALUE INVALUABLE AS IS THE SOUL OF MAN, THERE
IS AN AWFUL POSSIBILITY THAT IT MAY BE
LOST FOR SUCH A LOSS THE ACQUISITION
OF A WORLD IS NO COMPENSATION.

The maxim

say, then, that

WORTH. And, indeed,

man

is

a being of

the superiority, the

man is very strikingly indicated

form and structure of his body.

dignity of

by

the

Certainly, whatever the soul be,

it

is

not

does not consist of any modification, form, or arrangement of air, earth,

fire, or water; for, although the soul can
act through the bodily material organs,
material

fatal.

trated

We

he pleases with definitions of that sort.

yet

it is,

it

in its

own

nature, quite distinct

and independent, for this plain, obvious

reason
the soul is essentially a thinking

being

it

has the power of rational thought.

Rational thought

is

not the property of

many experiments as
you please, and try into how many forms
and arrangements matter may be put, and
into how many it is capable of being
matter

The different orders of animals with which thrown,

make

as

and yet, after all these modifisurrounded on the face of this earth, cations and transformations, you will find
are grovelling ; they are prone to the earth that mere matter is senseless, thoughtless
from which they derived their existence, matter still whereas the soul thinks, and
and to which they tend but how differ- must, therefore, be something distinct
Man is distin- from matter, as thought is not a property
ently formed is man!

he

is

man is of matter.
guished with an erect form
The same thing is very strongly implied
ennobled with a majestic countenance,
which our poet has, not without reason, in the rapidity of the movements of mind.
Matter is sluggish and inert. Light travels
beautifully designated
very rapidly compared with other things ;
" The human face divine!"
but at what a very tardy rate does light
A countenance to look above this world travel compared with thought Does not
and all it contains. Moreover, man is this show that there is an essential differgifted with the power of articulate speech. ence between matter and mind 1
The
Yet it is not to the body, though, in regard same thing may justly be inferred from
!

to that,

every

man may

say,

"

am

fear-

the

power of abstraction of which the

PROFIT AND LOSS.

soul is capable

though the soul acts

319

say what are

high capabilities
through the medium of bodily organs, of knowledge and enjoyment? Its wonyet, when it chooses, it can abstract itself drous powers may be seen in the inand act independently of these organs. vention and progress of the arts and
Moreover, some tell us, and we give them sciences; and yet I am one of those who
credit, that the soul performs operations are disposed to think that both are yet in
their infancy; and, notwithstanding all
while all the external senses are dormant
and, in some cases, there are such distinct that has been done by men of genius and
characters and traces left, if I may so acquirement, there rnay rise up others of
speak, on the leaves of memory, that powers more extensive and stupendous,
persons can actually read all these opera- and genius more bright, to make fresh
And discoveries, and to improve upon the
tions in their waking moments.
what do the phenomena of dreaming discoveries of those that have preceded
prove, but that the soul can and does act them, beyond any thing that we can conindependently of the organs of the body? ceive. Of what is not the soul of man
Then, certainly, the same thing is proved capable? It can extend its survey over
by the Mosaic account of the creation of the whole circuit of creation ; it can ranThe body was formed out of sack all nature, and analyze its properties
the soul.
What cannot
the dust of the ground, and "the Lord and ascertain its powers
God breathed into his nostrils the breath the soul of man do 1 It can travel through
what? what illimitable space it can circumnavigate
of life, and man became"
he was not before " a living soul." The the globe. It can do more. The soul of
;

for,

shall

its

soul is a spark, not of earthly or material

man

soul sprang forth from Gcd,

then

the

can mount up to other worlds, and

operations, and
it can employ its
and God is, therefore, designated in this count their numbers, and ascertain their
book, "The Father of spirits :" then, in distances, and calculate their movements.
and that is Wondrous being! The soul of man can
this book, it is also written
authority to which we reverently bow
do more still. The soul of man can mount
" There is a spirit in man, and the Spirit of up from the loftiest works of nature to the
the Almighty gave him understanding." God of nature himself! For God was the
Is the soul of man of a nature so excel- soul formed
of God is the soul capable;
lent 1 Is the soul of man spiritual, imma- and short of him no rest can the soul of
Why, then, how does such an man find or enjoy! And, although moterial ?

flame

now what
now the
was when it

exalted nature rise in excellence, dignity,

rally speaking, this soul is not

and worth, above

it

all

the

modifications

of this world's gross and senseless materials

I

argue, secondl)', the excellence, and,

consequently, the worth

soul,

once was

although

it

is

and holy spirit it

sprang forth from its great Originator,

pure
yet

still

there is the capacity;

human is something that cannot be

from its any thing short of God. It

of the

from its hfty capacities,

powers and unrivalled attributes.

not

still

there

satisfied of
is

a matter

any man, that he is

What a wondrous creature is the soul of formed for God; that there is something
man! It possesses powers of large dis- within him capable of knowing, enjoying,
course, capable of looking before and and serving Him for ever and ever.
powers intellectual and sentient
after
Now, what is there in this world to
powers instinctive and excogitative
compare with the soul of man? Is it the
powers of understanding to know, of will "regent of day," as he has been called
the most
to determine, of sensibility to feel, of
the centre of the system

vast

of conscience

memory

to retain,

and of conscience, too,

own operations.
man seems to belong the

to decide on its

soul of

of interminable progression.

say

to

to

what an extent

it

may

To

the

principle

Who
travel

shall

who

glorious of

universe?

the visible objects in the

But what is the sun, even in

all

Why, he is
his meridian splendour?
unconscious of his own glory; he does
not know to how many myriads of human

THE BRITISH

320

beings he conveys light, and heat, and

The sun has no power of
blessing.
self-determination ; he acts necessarily
according to the laws which the Governor
of the universe has imposed. The sun!
Why, the sun knows nothing the sun

enjoys nothing the sun, in his noonday

splendour, is a senseless ball, compared
with the soul of the meanest slave, possessing, as

it

does, the high attributes

of intelligence, of sensibility, and spirituality.

Wondrous

creature

O, what a

PULPIT.

ness to

nil

tion of the

some

in

believe

same

a strong indica-

is

truth.

During

my

travels

parts of this country, and in the

have sometimes, when I

had a few moments to spare, taken a pen
sive walk into the churchyard ; and there,
upon the humble stone, in rude sculpture,
I have seen the names of this man, and
that woman, and of such a son and daughsister island, I

ter,

who

with

once, like myself, were instinct

And

life.

here,

have thought,

was an indication of immortality. No

man wishes, however humble his situa-

being to possess such a soul

never wishes to be
I argue the excellence, and, conse- tion, to be forgotten
quently, the worth of the human soul, blotted out of being. There is the desire,
And do
in the third place, from its duration. then, after an endless existence.
Wondrous as is this being; high as are you think that He who framed us would
have given us this desire after a thing
its capacities, vast as are its powers, if it
were destined very soon to be blotted out while that thing itself was altogether
of existence, and be as though it never had deceptive and unreall And, then, we all
been, how would it then dwindle into in- know, from what we feel in ourselves,
significance! But now the soul of man is that this cannot be the native region of
that, in this world, its proper
I
the soul
destined to an unending existence.
that it does
think this might be fairly argued from element is not to be found
on the not find here any thing congenial to its
the immateriality of its nature
admission of the one, I think the other nature, or equal to its cravings and
For capacities ; it is obviously formed for a
follows by necessary consequence.
instance, a spiritual nature, you know, good which this world does not concannot be destroyed by any influence of tain. But does not this go to presume
corruption
a spiritual essence cannot be immortality, a nobler and higher state

dissolved by decomposition of parts

an

immaterial nature cannot be destroyed by

external

violence.

we must

By

this

argument,

of things'?

Then

the conviction of responsibility,

which we

all

have, proves the same thing.

Yes, a conviction of responsibility for I

that the soul must still exist
that it is should pause before I credited any infidel
never to die. The same thing may justly that would tell me, " I have got rid of it
be inferred from the vast powers and such a thing never crosses my mind."
capacities of the soul.
The only wise Ah, they may say this in the seasons of
God never acts without reason and de- wealth and of prosperity ; they say very
sign, not unworthy of himself; and is it different things to me in the hour of
conceivable that he would have made sickness and on the approach of death.
man so wonderful, so stupendous, in his They tell me then that they were acting
that they had
capacities and powers, if he had not in- the hypocrite all the time
tended that he should exist longer than a conscience all the while and although
Would the they tried to administer opiates by infithreescore years and ten'?
vessel have been so richly freighted if delity, and sometimes by sensuality, they
he, who was the framer of that vessel still felt that they had a conviction of
and its charterer, had determined it should accountability. And what does that imbecome a total wreck as soon as she had ply'? Immortality! But still the unending
the narrow duration of the soul is not a settlement of
sailed across the stream
the question.
The grand question is,
stream of time ] No, my brethren.
Here we
Besides, the desire of perpetuity of " What saith the Scriptures
then,

arrive at the conclusion,

being

which

is

a matter of conscious-

are

always safe when

we

confine our-

PROFIT AND LOSS.

What salth the Lord ?" There

is a Being who only haih immortality, and
who has, as we here learn for certain, made
selves to "

the soul of

man

Life and im-

immortal.

mortality are broiitrht clearly and fully to

by the gospel.
What an overwhelming thought is this
Brethren, do you frequently indulge in it 1
There is something in you and in me, that
in being must always be
an existence
commensurate with eternity, which shall
never, never terminate.
Awful thought!
Yonder sun shall be quenched in total
and final darkness, and yonder moon shall
for ever withdraw her shining, and the
stars of heaven shall fall from their orbits,
light

Mail's mortal crime, the just, the unjust to

save

Dwells

He

in all

asked

321

"Sny, heavenly powers! where shall we find

such love ?
Which of ye will be mortal to redeem

heaven charity so dear ?

all the heavenly choir stood

but

mute,

And

silence

What,

was

in

heaven."

then, did the poet IMilton imagine,

" Lo, here

that if Gabriel had said,

send me;

man,

to

am

assume

am

I,

willing, for the sake of

his nature, to live, and

and die, 'the just, the unjust to

save!'" did the poet imagine that the
suffer,

the universe shall dissolve with fervent

human body would

have effected the redemption of the soul

heat, and the works that are therein shall

be burnt up but the soul shall live when

mere creature could have

the soul

death of Gabriel in a
of

man? The

thing

No

was impossible.
effected

the

redemption of the souls of myriads of

blaze out in immortality, and shall out- men. Man was redeemed, but by what?
live
Let St. Peter tell.
were " not re" The wreck of matter and the crash of worlds !" deemed with corruptible things, as silver
and gold" no, no; there had been no
There is another argument which will, proportion between the worth of that to
perhaps, be called the trite and common be redeemed and the price, in that case
argument in the month of every one; but, "not with corruptible things, as silver
be that as it may, let all such know that and gold, but with the precious blood of
every thing new in Christianity is false. Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
Revealed truth is essentially the same; without spot!" A price this, O how
and truth is not the less valuable because precious
Who can conceive the preit is either old or common.
W^ould to ciousness of the blood of Christ?
A
all

created nature shall die

shall

We

God

it

What

is

were more common than

beyond all power of angels and of

men to compute
soul from the
The argument is this If the sum paid
for its redemp- down was so incalculably great, what, in

the argument, then,

my

it

is

argue the worth of the

price which has been paid
tion.
I have already intimated that the
soul of man is not now the being it once
was. God created man upright and perI

price

friends'?

the estimation of the Divine Being,

must

have been the worth of the soul which

was redeemed by such a price? But,
fect
but by transgression he fell
the then, that redemption might be carried
crown tumbled from his head, and his into practical effect, what a wonderful
honour lies in the dust the soul is loaded diversity of means has God instituted !
with guilt and blackened with its crimes
For this he has given us the word of his
and man cannot redeem his own soul. truth
for this he has sent down the
The redemption of the soul was too pre- Spirit of his grace
for this he has
cious for man to effect
the price required appointed the holy Sabbath
for this he
was too great, and no created being could has appointed the service of the sanctuary
redeem it. Our poet of Paradise has, infor this he has commissioned his minisdeed, supposed a case and it may pass ters for this he has given us line upon
for poetry; but, depend upon it, it is not line, and precept upon precept
for this
theology.
He absolutely supposes the the Spirit strives for this the ordinances
Divine Being instiftJting an inquiry among of his grace are dispensed for this the
the angelic orders
successive seasons revolve for this the
Voi U.41

THE BRITISH

322
sun gives his light

for this the willing

earth continues her increase

time

continued, and

is

longed, and

death

that the soul

may

is

and

human

pro-

life is

delayed:

be saved

for this

this

all

O, man, O,

PULPIT.

But

into a place of pitfalls?

who

sinner

not 'he

is

has forsaken the royal

iij^id

of truth and holiness, wandered into iha

mazes of

error,

and

tumbled into th-*

is he not in dan-

ditches of wickedness,

woman, reverence

thyself!
Thou hast a ger of losing his soul for ever?
VVIiere this event takes place, there ar
whose interests are immeasad and awful aggravations
surable, whose worth is incalculable
and this ij
reverence thyself! And, secondly, trem- one; it is the man's own deed; "For
ble for thyself; for, invaluable as is tliy what is a man profited if he gain the
soul, it may by possibility be lost
Now, whole world and lose his own soul ?"
soul

soul

when

our Lord speaks of the loss of the

soul, he does not

speak of the loss of

existence, but the loss of

the loss of

that for

all

its

which

be cast

to

undone

Now,

to

away

to

be lost

there are

well-being,
it

To

desirable to have a soul.

perish

If the soul be lost,

is

to

is

be

two great ideas com-

it

is

not the act of his

neighbour, or of his minister;

man's own
did

it

lost souls in

act

the

terrible

perdition.

my own

was

it

is

it

This will be the

act.

would be scourge of
be lost

be lost

is to

its

"

I bartered

with my soul !" And, remember, this is

an incalculable loss. A man may lose
property ; he may calculate how much
:

man may lose friends he knows

how many but, O, if the soul be lost,
who can tell the amount of that loss?

prehended here; and I shall just name

them. The loss of the soul implies the
privation of all the good of which a soul
is capable in this world and in the next

If the soul

perish,

the loss of pardon, the loss of peace, the

irreparable

loss

it

is,

once more, an
that cannot be

loss

A man may

loss of holiness, the loss of happiness,

be retrieved.

and

and yet, by the blessing of Providence

upon medical aid, he may become more

the

loss

of

the

beatific

vision

the loss of the crown of glory, and the

palm of victory; the loss of the inherit- healthy than before

ance

lose health,

man may

lose

and that property his all in the world and yet,

fadeth not away ; the loss of the rivers of by industry, and the smile of Providence,
pleasure which are at God's right hand
he may become richer than before ; a
it is to be shut out from happiness, and
man may lose friends God may raise
from heaven, and from hope. And not up others in their room; but, O, if the
only does the loss of the soul imply the soul is lost, it is lost not for a day, a
loss of all the good, but the endurance of month, or a year, but for eternity; and it
all the evil of which the soul is capable. is that word " eternity," which gives
incorruptible,

undefiled,

We

cannot tell how much that is. Sin

and misery are in close neighbourhood
they go hand in hand. Who can tell what
some souls endure in this world, in the
corrodings of guilt, and the lashings of
an accusing conscience
May the gracious God forbid that any of us should
!

emphasis to bliss or wo,

or heaven.

to hell

makes a
heaven

to ease or pain,

It is eternity

hell of hell,

which

and a heaven of

my friends, by this time you

prepared for the third proposition,
and for its adoption tkat, for such
I

think,

are

ever know, by experience, what

it is to
A loss, THE" ACQUISITION OF A WORLD
be where there is no WOULD BE NO RECOMPENSE. " What is
eye to pity, no cordial to relieve, no ray of a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
hope to cheer, and where justice and world, and lose his own soul ?" You
self-condemning guilt consign the lost will observe, that our Lord does not

lose the soul

to

soul to eternal perdition

God has

mean by

this to denounce a due regard

worldly business, or the acquisition
Is not the traveller in danger of losing his of property; but still he teaches us that
life, who, bewildered in the darkness of there is danger; because, when riches
midnight, has turned out of ttje right way increase, a man is apt to set his heart

"The

soul that sinneth,

it

said,

shall die!"

to

PROFIT
pon

When

ihem.

properly

riches are a great blessing;

man

AND

viewed,

where

this

LOSS.

323

that are to circulate and pass current in

eternity

these he has lost

a man that was clothed

around him, and he blesses others splendidly, and fared sumptuously; but,
while Providence is blessing him. Again, then, he lived to enjoy himself. He died
when our Saviour speaks of a man gain- and was buried, and in hell he lifted up
ing the whole ivorld, he is not to be under- his eyes: he gained the world, and lost
stood as though that were literally possi- his soul. Where was the profit?
There
ble.
You know there waa a man that lived another man he, too, gained the
was called Alexander the Great: he was world, and lost his soul. He had inin many things Alexander the Little, creased his goods, and filled his barns
and was a wretched slave to his own with store, till the poor wretch cried out,
however, it was "What shall I dor' "Do!" "What
unsanctified passions
O, if the man were here, I
said that this man had conquered the shall I do ?"
whole world ; he never saw the whole should tell him what to do. There is
world. So, here, a man cannot strictly enough to do. Give to support the cause
gain the whole world and the expression of God; visit the fatherless and the
means that he has gained every thing of widow in their affliction. "Do!" Clothe
the world that he can possibly enjoy.
the naked, feed the hungry.
Do good;
Let us, then, suppose a case. Here is support the cause of God. But no; net
He will do something, however:
a man that has gained all the honours of he!
the honour what does he?
Why, he pulls down his
the world that he can enjoy
of titles, the honour of victory, the honour barns; he builds greater, and there he
of conquest.
He has, moreover, the ho- bestows his goods and then he says to
nour of empire, of a sceptre, of a throne, his soul, "Soul, take thine ease; eat,
and of a crown; this is the golden termi- drink, and be merry; thou hast much
Where? In heaven?
nation; he can go no higher; he has goods laid up"
wealth sufficiently ample to support his Were his heart and his treasure there
wealth in abundance: No, no
imperial dignity
His goods were lai<i up in the
he has, in addition to this, a most vigorous barns he had built. Was ever folly so
constitution; he has all pleasure at his egregious as this
God called him a
command, and he lives according to the "fool;" and he shall not be miscalled
sight of his eyes day by day: he has all by me: "Thou fool, this night thy soul
this at the expense of religion and the shall be required of thee; then whose
loss of his soul
and where is the profit ? shall those things be which thou hast
He has had the honours that are empty provided ?" The man gained the world,
" So is he that
and transitorj' a feeble taper, that death but he lost his soul
will soon put out with his extinguisher
layeth up treasure for himself, and is
and he has had them at the expense of not rich toward God." Where was the
He profit?
the honour that cometh from God.
has had sensual pleasure, as much of it
I am willing, my friends, to indulge in
as he can enjoy; but then it degrades, it supposition on this subject; for what is
leaves behind it the sting, and the poison, the supposition that truth will not justify ?
and the pain and he has had this at the I will suppose a man to be the emperor
expense of the pure, satisfying, and per- of the universe; literally to be the lord
manent pleasure which religion inspires, of this world; and that all the tribes, and
and which springs from the well of life. kindreds, and languages, and classes
Where is the profit] He has had the acknowledge his sway; he is the emworld's wealth, at the expense of true peror of the world; he has it all, as much
riches the riches of wisdom, of holiness, as he can enjoy or possess.
He has all
of reconciliation and joy; the riches that this, to the loss of religion and of his
a man is to carry with him beyond this soul.
How, then, stands the question?
is the case, the rich

is

a blessing to

There

lived

all

world the riches of which the rude hand

of death cannot rob a man ; the riches
;

How
how

little

little

of the world can he ever see

can he ever enjoy 1 Why, the

THE BRITISH

824

man

cannot absolutely wear two crowns,

conveniently to himself; he cannot occupy even two of his royal palaces at the

same time

Look,

moment,

for a

qualities of the soul and the world

at the
!

The

PULPIT.

I will, then, suppose mcrs

worlds than one, and you may go on, in
your imagination, adding world to world,
and system to system, to any given number and suppose a man to be able to call

supposition.

them all his own ; they are all acknowworld is material, the soul is spiritual
the world is limited, the soul has desires ledged to be his; he has them, but he
and capacities that are boundless the has them to the loss of his soul how
world is too little for it! What is there stands the easel Let all these worlds be
here that is suited to its nature 1 The put into one scale, and the soul into the
world is gross and senseless, the soul is other; let impartial justice hold the balet
let wisdom direct the process
sentient and rational the world is perish- lance
able, the soul is imperishable, and shall truth pronounce the decision, and we
never die he gains the world, and loses know what the language will be:
" World on world, one soul outweighs
and where is the profit 1
his soul

I will indulge in supposition yet again

and I will suppose, if you please, a human
being coeval with the world, and that that
human being is to continue as long as the
world endures he would be about six
thousand years old now but his eye has
his faculties and powers
not become dim
of enjoyment have not failed, and he is to
be satiated with pleasure, and he is to
remain in the world while it continues to
exist.
He has had all he can desire or
possess from its creation, he has had all
the honour and wealth which has been
enjoyed by this world's teeming population through the whole period of its existence ; but now this world consumes, and
How stands the case 1 He
he expires
has had the world for time he has lost his
;

them

all

Thus
ment

!"

have

far

fited,

if

"What

is

own

soul

what

or

give in exchange for his

brethren

words of

soul

are,

for these, after all, are the

truth and soberness.

We learn,
it

pro-

shall

So they

Are, tben, these things so?

my

man

he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his

man

the state-

I illustrated

in the text:

then, in the

must be man's

first

f rst interest

place, that

and highest

duty, to regard the salvation of his soul

one great business of his life.

there that deserves comparison
with it, that can occupy our thoughts or
engage our attention 1 Our souls are our
all
they are our understanding; they are
our life; they are our happiness! By
as

the

What

is

soul for eternity

Where is the profit 1 I what strange infatuation, then by what
remember how beautifully this idea is il- perversity and folly, do you prefer the
lustrated by the ever-memorable Addison, interests of the world to those of the
!

in

one of tbe papers

in

"The

Spectator,"

soul

You pronounce condemnation on

who betrayed his Master for forty

where he shows, with much beauty and

Judas,

convincing truth, that one soul is capable

of more enjoyment to eternity than could
possibly be enjoyed by any given number

pieces of silver: take heed, sinner, lest

of souls for any limited period. There is

no proportion between the one and the
other. There is some proportion between
a particle of matter and the globe there is
some proportion between a drop of water
and the ocean ; but there can be none
between the little drop of time and the
;

thou sell thy soul for a

less

of pottage

"?

1
That
Dost thou see

soul is in peril

not save thyself;

then, that

gains the whole

soul for

eternity, can gain no profit.

But

I will indulge in supposition still

farther;

and truth shall

still

justify the

sell

thy soul for a momentary gratification !

0, but dost thou begin to see that the
soul is valuable
Then, that is one point
gained.
Dost thou begin to see that thy

The man,

time, and loses his

mess

beware, sinner, lest thou

gained.

for

more worth-

sold his temporal birth-right for a

shoreless, fathomless ocean of eternity.

world

still

You condemn Esau, who

sum!

What must

there is one

who

and

do?
is

is

another point

that thou canst

dost thou ask,

tell

thee,

then,

able and willing to

save thee, and his name is Jesus. To

save thee he lived, and died, and rose

PROFIT AND LOSS.

again; to save thee, he makes intercesO, that every poor sinner would
sion.
sinful, guilty, polflee, vv^ithout delay
into his outluted, perishing as they are
What does Jesus
stretched arms of love
say 1 " Him thatcometh to me, I will in no

wise cast out." Although you have been

so unworthy, so guilty, so base, so
ungrateful; although you have so long
turned a deaf ear to his call, he says,
" Him that cometh to me, I will in no
wise cast out." Why, not to be cast
out, is to be taken in not to be excluded,
and he will admit you
is to be admitted
into his glorious kingdom; you shall be
justified and sanctified in the name of
the Lord .Tesus, and by the Spirit of your
God.
Then, O then, in every period of )'our
religious experience, whenever the world
would allure; whenever temptation would
solicit; whenever riches would entice,

325

then, if these be your sentiments, and if

these be
liberal

your feelings,

heart,

devising

through the
heart while it vibrates on the ear, and
then shall you, by the grace of God, pass
through things temporal so as not to lose
the things that are eternal; and, with
heaven in reserve, you shall have heaven

Let

begun below
Finally

those

who

if

this thrill

that a

things,

things; aud you will, in contributing to

assist the trustees of this chapel

upon the
present occasion, act worthy of your religious character, and the pious and gene-

rous feelings that

now occupy your

heart.

Amen.

scRiPTuai; DirncuLTiEs.

his soul ?"

know

liberal

will influence liberal hands to do liberal

NO. VII.

remember the statement of the text:

" What is a man profited, if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul ]
or what shall a man give in exchange for

THE WITCH OF ENDOR.

W'lTCH of Endor,

in Biblical Hislory,

woman who

had a familiar spirit, and

who was employed by Saul to consult the
deceased Samuel concerning the issue of
his contest with the Philistines.
See 1

is

Sam.

xxviii.

The

explication of this part of sacred

history has greatly perplexed

tors

and

critics.

Some,

in

commenta-

deference to

the authority of the ancient fathers of the

Christian church,

who

ascribed to magi-

power of calling up the souls of the dead, have given

cians and necromancers the

and
supposed that Samuel actually appeared
to Saul.
But to this opinion it has been
justly objected, that it is repugnant to the
the soul be so valuable, order of the natural world, and to the

are

in

state

of salvation

ought to exert themselves to the utmost

That
to promote the salvation of others.
man does not know the worth of his own
soul, who does not attach value to the
souls of others; that man does not taste
the sweets of religion himself, wh^i would
not wish his fellow sinners to be blessed
as he is blessed ; that man is not in the
way of heaven, who is not anxious to
take others along with him ; nor has he
any reason to expect happiness there, if he
would wish to go alone. My friends, the
religion of Jesus Christ is diffusive; and
if we know the worth of our own souls,

a literal interpretation of this history,

doctrines

of

respecting the
cannot be supposed
consistent with a just reverence of God,
to believe that he has subjected the souls
revelation

state of the dead.

It

of the departed, not excepting those of

most eminent saints and prophets, to

remanded back from their distinct
abodes, by the practice of the most execrable rites, and at the call of some of the
the

be

vilest of mortals,

what he has seen

and compelled
fit

to conceal.

to reveal

Natural

reason confirms the suffrage of Scripture,

when
to

it brands
the whole magic art,
which evocations of the dead, and

we shall duly value the souls of others. If

we possess the means of grace, and enjoy
the blessings of salvation ourselves, we

necromantic divinations appertain, as

founded in imposture.
Others, who cannot admit that witches
are able to disturb the souls of good men,

should wish

much

all

our fellow creatures to be

partakers of like precious faith.

Well,

all

less of prophets, are nevertheless

of opinion, that these wretched women

2E

THE BRITISH

326

can cause the devil to counterfeit the

souls of the dead ; and that, in the case
before us, an evil spirit appeared before
(See
Saul, in the likeness of Samuel.

But tliis
Patrick on 1 Sam. xxviii. 12.)
opinion gives an unwarrantable advantage
for the support of idolatry, to those impostures that were ])ractised by heathen
sorcerers and diviners. Besides, the very
apparition of a spiritual and incorporeal
being, and the gift of prophecy, are real
miracles, and cannot take place but by
divine appointment; and, lastly, the historian calls the appearance to Saul, Sa-

PULPIT.

are

answered or obviated by Mr. Fanner,

on Miracles, p. 486.

in his Dissertation

SALK OF CHILDRKN BY THEIR MOTHERS.

Malabar

children are generally a very

cheap commodity at Anjengo.

of the rainy season,

when

At the end
was no

there

particular scarcity in the interior country,

(says Mr. Forbes, in his Oriental Memoirs,) I purchased a boy and girl, of
about eight or nine years of age, as a

Bombay,

present to a lady at

money than

for

less

a couple of pigs in England.

bought the young couple, laid in two

months provision of rice and salt fish for
their voyage, and gave to each of them
four changes of cotton garments, all for the
sum of twenty rupees, or fifty shillings.
wickedness.
Many learned men have, therefore, English humanity must not passu censure
It was a happy purmaintained, that it was neither Samuel, on this transaction
nci an evil spirit, who here appeared to chase for the children they were relieved
but that the whole was the work from hunger and nakedness, and sent to
Saul
of human imposture. In support of this an amiable mistress, who brought them
opinion it may be pleaded, that the up tenderly, and, on leaving India, prowoman to whom Saul applied to call up vided for their future comfort whereas,
Samuel was merely a ventriloquist, pos- had I refused to buy them, they would
sessing an art very serviceable to those assuredly have been sold to another, and
who counterfeited the answers of the probably have experienced a miserable
dead. This opinion, however, like the bondage with some Portuguese Christian,
foregoing one, contradicts the sacred his- whom we do not reckon among the most
torian, who not only represents the Py- merciful task-masters.
A circumstance of this kind happened
thoness as affirming, but himself affirms,
Sitting one morning in my
that she saw Samuel, and that Samuel to myself.
spoke to Saul nor has he dropped the veranda, a young fish-woman brought a
while the serleast hint that it was not the real Samuel basket of mullets for sale

muel, which he could not do with truth,

if it were no other than the devil, who
here appears, not as a tempter, but as
a very severe reprover of impiety and

whom

he was speaking.
Otliers have supposed, that the appearance of Samuel to Saul was a divine
miracle ; though, whether the miracle consisted in raising Samuel, or in presenting
an image or representation of him before
Saul, it is not necessary to determine.
Accordingly, the apparition must be ascribed, not to the power of enchantment,
but to the immediate appointment of God,
as a rebuke and punishment to Saul. This
opinion is maintained by Dr. Waterland,
in his Sermons, vol. ii. p. 267, and
defended by Dr. Delany, in his Life of
David but combated by Dr. Chandler,
with objections which, as far as they
of

affect the Scripture history of the matter,

was disposing of them, she asked

vant

me

to

purchase a

fine

age, then in her arms.

boy, two years of

On my upbraiding

her for want of maternal affection, she

replied, with a smile, that she expected

another in a few weeks, and, as she could

not

manage two, she made me

offer

of her boy,

whom

with for a rupee.

child

first

She came a few days

afterwards with a basket of

just sold her

the

she would part

to

fish,

but had

Signior Manuel

Rodriguez, the Portuguese linguist ; who,

though a man of property and a Christian,
had thought it necessary to lower the
to half a rupee.
Thus did this
young woman, without remorse, dispose

price

of an only child for fifteen pence.

SERMON XXXV.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSIDERATION.

BY THE REV.

"

that they

ANDREW

would consider

REED,

their latter end."

D.D.

Deut. xxxii. 29.

We

have arrived, my dear brethren, at ness of God and life in his favour, what
the last service of the last Sabbath of a recording witness would it be against
another year. Such a position is calcu- us of our sins, and it would be for a rememlated to nourish and awaken within us brance of our sin before God
!

many

serious reflections.

One can hardly

perceive oneself to be so circumstanced

without indulging in serious contemplaIt is proper at such a time for the

mind to be thrown back on the past, to
consider the year and the dispensations
that have gone over us, and to desire to
receive from the recollection just and
holy impre'ssions. It is proper in such a
tions.

position to cherish in our

minds

a lively

On

such a time, then, it

is proper to remember our faults, and to
ought to
remember our privileges.
acknowledge the sin of the heart and the
sin of the tongue, and to fall once more,
with greater self-abasement than ever,
under the fountain which is still open to
this day,

and

at

We

away all sin.

But the exercise of mind commended

take

us in our text

is

to

noteither of these, but an

sense of the divine mercy. He who feels

that he stands thus a debtor, and remains

entire recognition of

ments

more interesting

them

all

it

is

that

of consideration, and of consideration as

altogether insensible to the goodness of it is made to bear on our present state
God, remains insensible to all just reflec- before God, and on all our future prospects
And it is made the
tions, remains insensible to all attain- of an undying life.
It is

in the divine life.

proper for us to think of the loving-

kindness of the Lord; to admire and to

celebrate his goodness, to acknowledge,
that after all our expressions, and all our
thoughts, the greatness of that goodness
exceeds our expressions, and exceeds our
thoughts likewise.
It must be difficult for us to regard our
circumstances without some increasing
sense of our imperfections and of our
sinfulness.
The mind, therefore, may be
suitably directed to penitential and re-

newed confession

of sin.

The

year that

dying away, brethren, O what a witness has it been of our remissness before
God If it were allowed to pass away
from us without our seeking the forgive-

is

to us because it is addressed to us from the lips of the living

Jehovah, as expressive of his tender

regard for our real welfare, and is desiorned to convey to our own minds
naturally inconsiderate
ble

reflections

the

reflections

most
which

suita-

may

contribute to our present and to our endless peace. " O that they would consider

end !"
There are two things then

their latter

In the Jirst place.

There

in these words.
is

the event

contemplated: in thes^co?ic^place,THERE
is the consideration which it demands.

The event contemplated

is

our latter end

demands arises
of circumstances, some of

the consideration

which

it

from a variety
those circumstances bearing on our pre327

THE BRITISH

328

Sometimes we may speak

sent state, and most of them bearing on

that

state

which

is

and eternal.
of wise, and holy,

future

Let us desire the spirit

and serious consideration

that considerconviction
conprayer that prayer

may lead to
may lead to

ation

viction

may
may

that

we
God through Jesus

lead us to cry for mercy, that

be reconciled to

Christ our- Saviour, and have peace in his

PULPIT.

of the circumstances of

in this

life,

way

which are

which form a part of a

whole, and the whole itself comprehends
a period, and there is an end, a terminaYou are
tion, to all worldly enjoyments.
conscious, perhaps, of some such periods
marking your own life. You have loolcrd
forward possibly to some event as assounited together,

ciated with the deepest trial, you have

to be con- trembled in expectation of its coming,
templated.
you have connected with it a variety of
It is nothing less than what is here circumstances which more or less would
emphatically spoken of as our " latter impart pungency to your grief it has
end" literally, our lust end. There is nevertheless come, days have brought it,
an allusion here then to other ends and years have brought it, the bereavement,
periods rather than to the period that is the affliction, the sorrow
of whatever
final
and we are open to an experience description has happened to you, and
of those periods in life, and to those cir- the whole dispensation associated with
cumstances connected with life, which the period has come to an end, and it is
may thus be denominated ends or periods now marked in your memory by a pundesignated and set apart, and which are gency and point which you will carry
marked for ever in your recollection by with you to the day of death. So there

blood.

First,

The event that

is

particular associations either of happiness

may

or of sorrow.

in connexion with the gladsome

circumstances of our being. You are
young, possibly, and you are looking
forward to larger enjoyments, you are

be a completeness, and, therefore, an

end,

But, whatever may be said of these

revolving periods in our life and our experience, they do not point us immediately
to the latter end,

and it is eminently the anxious that all subordinate joys should

end which closes all contribute to one enjoyment, you are
change, which winds up the entire occu- directing all your wishes, all your hopes,
pations, and business, and sensibilities of all your industry, all your diligence, to
this life, which especially demands our this consummation ; and you feel, that if
attention.
the consummation should be realized as
"W'e may speak of an end as it belongs you desire, that then your happiness, for
to that time of which our present life is this life at least, will be complete.
Posmade up. For instance there are several sibly it has been allowed by Providence
periods of time which mark our years, and that this very event should transpire, that
which in themselves have a complete- this very end should be realized, that this
ness, and come to an end.
The day opens chain of circumstances should be comupon us in brightness, we pass quickly plete, and that your own expectations
through its hours, we are employed in a should be accomplished, and there has
variety of engagements, we come shortly been, in reference to this association, an
to its close, and there is an end of that appointed period.
day for ever. The year, that long period
It has frequently been applied to the
latter

end,

that

of life, is complete in its time.

It also
opens upon us smiling in the bounties of
Providence ; it is characterized by great
changes; it introduces us into different
Bcenes; it exposes us to manifold trials ;
it is

sure to bring with

immense

stages of

human

life.

Our

life is

made

up of different stages, and these stages

come

We

in

succession to their appointed end.

enter, for instance, into life, in the

capacity of infants, and there

is

a period

be passed through which is denomibut the year, like the day, after passing nated uiir time. This is very much a
over us, closes upon us, and there is an period of weakness, and sometimes of sorend of the year for ever.
row ; but it is also especially a period of
it

toil

to

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSIDERATION.

joys peculiar to the time of infancy and
But the infant passes onward
childhood.
in his day, the period of childhood closes,

mortal

which

329

infixes into our nature the

sting of the last enemy; which reduces

our body to the corruption of the grave
which dismisses our spirit to an invisible

he that was a child puts away childish

he tliat was indulginor all the state, and which leaves us, and the place
delights and pleasures of this early period which knows us in our present state, as
of life, learns to discard them, and to though we had never been there. This
look upward to something more interest- is our latter end. There is a period when
ing, something more inviting, something man leaves the present state, and loaves
more valuable. This is the end of that it for ever
There is a period when he
gives up the ghost, the spirit, and his
period of liis being.
There is also a period of youth. The body descends to corruption. There is a
child becomes a youth; he is placed period when hehasdone with enjoyments,
under tutors and discipline he passes when he has done with care, and when
through a painful course of education ; every thing dear to him is as nothing.
he is to be instructed and prepared for This is his last end. No other chancres
usefulness and consistency in future shall happen to him on earth.
No more
life.
He at first does not apprehend shall he be visible among the children of
the design of those who kindly ap- men.
No more shall he be occupied
point him to this course of discipline, with business, encumbered with its cares,
and he is unprepared to submit himself entangled by its temptations, insnared by
to the yoke of such education.
But its enjoyments it is all gone and past,
quickly this period of trial and probation and gone and pastyor ever !
also passes away, and possibly the youth
The last end of man, therefore, is that
rises up into the man, puts off the things period whicii closes all hope, all society,
of bondage, enters on the wide field of and all connexion with the present state.
life, commits himself to all its responsi- In this, man stands distinct and alone.
bilities and cares,
and deems himself " There is hope," says the patriarch, " of
happy in this enlarged period of his a tree, if it be cut down that it will sprout
liberty.
There is an end to youth, and again :" there is hope under the various
things,

circumstances of the severest aflliction

and trial that light will come, and joy
heat and burden of the day, connects return, and peace will visit the breast;
himself in social relations, trains up a but there is no hope of the return of man
family, discharges the duties of a good to this low, and corrupt, and carnal state,
citizen, and looks for the appropriate when once he has been delivered from
reward of his industry, fidelity, and care. the body, and passed into the unseen
But, soon the period of manhood passes world.
to all the fears

The man,

also

away

and discipline of youth.

entering on

life,

there is an end of

strength of his years fails

bears the

him

the

the energies

that he once put forth he can put forth no

longer; before he thought, there is here
and there a gray hair appearing, but,

We are

to consider, therefore, the

event

as here described, to be the event of our

death; and

it is

this event

which

Secondly, Is to be brought under our

CONSIDERATION ouf serious, our repeatthat

expected it, advanced age ed, our prayerful consideration. "
comes and reminds him of his indisposi- they would consider their latter end !"
tion, and his exposure to his certain latter
This is to be considered and the very
end.
command to consider it indicates to us
All these periods then contribute to the bright and glorious doctrine of our
before he at

all

what

is here considered the latter end, immortality.

If man had on earth a last
and do undoubtedly lead to it. Our last end, and if that end were complete in
end is that period which admits of no relation to an invisible state, as it is comsuccession in time ; which separates us plete in relation to an earthly and seen
at once aud for ever from earth; which state, then there would be no propriety in
places us on a bed of sickness which is urging him to consideration
on the con:

Vol. II. 43

2 E 2

THE BRITISH

330
travy,

sider;

cipate

it
it
;

PULPIT.

would be liis wisdom not to con- as the angels of heaven, or for ever
would be bis wisdom not to anti- accursed as the reprobate spirits cast
it would be his wisdom and his
down from God
O, that they would
!

joy, so far as such a creature could have

joy, not to look forward

to that period

consider these things

We

are to consider that this

change

wlien he should cease to be, and when he

should pass into a state of annihilation.

our serious reflection, and to be admitted

On

as a proposition of

truth, that

u'c

latter end.

the principle of infidelity

it

is

well

not to consider, not to look forward, for

must happen

us

to

all.

It is to enter into

immutable
must thus pass through our

would spoil his enjoyment here

You are not to speculate on changes hapthis would fix his attention, and the un- pening to others
you are not to dream of
welcome subject of his annihilation would death as an event at a distance, as an
imbitter all his present pursuits, his event that happens with certainty to those
this

present indulgencies, and his present ex-

about you, while

it is

not to be realized

But when we are exhorted by yourselves. Consider, I beseech you,

here, and when, as the very object of seriously, and consider devoutly, that this
Cod's word, we are exhorted to consider event, the arrival of your latter end, must
the future, we have in that very exhorta- be realized by yourselves !
You must
tion the implied announcement of a die
you must pass out of this present
blessed immortality.
Man lives! man world the place which knows you must
lives beyond the grave
man lives be- soon know you no more for ever the
yond the state of earthly things! man present relations you have here must soon
lives for ever
man must live for ever be broken up for ever; and all the hope,
Man may cast away his inheritance, and and all the joy, which you experience or
lose his joy; but he cannot destroy his dream of in the present, life, will soon be
being, or anniiiilate his existence
and to )'ou as though it had never been
O,
hence the propriety of consideration, yes, you must be stretched on a hopeless
hence the importance of reflection, hence bed of affliction you must fall under the
the suitableness of asking what shall be power of the last adversary, the king of
jny portion in the invisible and unknown terrors
you must know what it is to constate,
what my destiny there and to tend with him, your weakness against hi9
consider that whatever happens to him strength
you must know what it is foi
pectations.

here, is only introductory to blessedness

hereafter.

There

is,

then, in this very statement, a

the spirit to be disembodied, and to pass

into eternity, and to pass

God who gave

upward

to the

it.

recognition of the doctrine of immortality.

Consider, not only that this viust hapconfounded

life and immor- pen, but that it may happen at any time.
tality are brought to light by the gospel
We have referred you to the various
man has his expectations and his thoughts periods of which life is composed we
carried on to futurity, and fixed on an have shown that these periods are termiinvisible state of tilings
man is taught nating in our last end, that end which
herein to consider this earth not his home leaves us without change and fixes our
Infidelity is

to consider this state not his rest; but

the heavenly state as his home, and the
heavenly inheritance as his portion for

state for ever.

But you

suppose that

are not, there-

these changes
and revolutions in life must happen beever.
It is to be, therefore, matter of fore your latter end shall come.
It is
deep consideration ; " O that they would possible that this last end may arrive to
consider their latter end !" that they you before those other periods of change
would consider how soon the last end shall be known. It is possible that it
will come; that they would consider may happen at any time, and therefore
what is the consequence of its arrival; happen now ! It may happen to you in
that they would consider that beyond this manhood, bearing all the burdens and
state they

must

future state they

live for ever

must be

fore,

that in the

duties

for ever blessed

youth.

to

of

life.

Alas

all

It may happen you in

what numbers fall in that

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSIDERATION.

331

must meet God, and we must stand in

even judgment. Consider and ask, and ask
while your tender thoughts are not yet with the deepest attention, whether you
tremblingly alive to God's presence. are prepared for such a change ? Are you
This last end may take the place of all prepared to meet God, to look him in the
interesting period of life to rise no

may happen

It

to

yon

more

in childhood,

other ends, may close upon you before face, to stand before his presence to anyou advance through the several changes. swer for the deeds done in the body, to
Death wails not for confirmed age and give an account of your occupations and
trembling years to close its triumphs, but engagements here, to have your whole
smites when and where he will. You heart as well as your lives no longer a
are to consider, therefore, that this change mystery, but completely exposed to yourmay happen to you at any time ; that selves and to others 1 Are you prepared
though you are now young and in health, for this ] A sinful creature, are you prethe event may be near at hand ; that pared to meet unsullied purity 1 A weak
though you are full of observation and creature, are you prepared to stand before
business, and the designs of the present Almighty power 1
An unhappy creature,
life, death may snatch you away
Under are you prepared to meet the divine forgiveall circumstances it becomes needful for ness and pardon 1 A miserable and dying
you to inquire for a Saviour, and that a creature, are you prepared to challenge at
mighty one; and to know for yourselves the hand of God, when you shall see
him who hath life and immortality to him, the blessing of life and immortality
!

whether we are prepared to meet if.

Consider, since you must die, and since you
may die at any period, and may, therefore, be called upon to die before the
dying year shall itself expire, are you
prepared for so great, so final a change 1
Are you ready ? Are you ready on the
one hand to renounce the things of the
present life 1 why then do you idolize
them so ] You have all your hopes and
thoughts fixed upon them; you, who
have as yet so many schemes unripened,
and are so unprepared to close your present state
can you be prepared for your
Can you be prepared to die
latter end 1
you who never thought of dying? Can
you be prepared to die you who are calculating with certainty on many years to
come 1 Can you be prepared to renounce
this life, and to renounce the world,

through his beloved Son? Then consider,

that when you are thus brought to your
latter end, immediately you pass into
judgment.
The judgment is set, the
Judge is on the throne, the books are
opened, the whole of your proceedings
are recorded, all your motives to action
are there brought to recollection, there
inserted in undying characters
But,
brethren, are you prepared for such a
judgment? Consider, and prayerfully
inquire whether you are prepared for such
a judgment ?
Can you stand in the judgment ] Can you plead with God 1 Can
you enter the judgment so holy, so impartial, yet so extreme 1
Can you answer
for one of a thousand 1
Can you claim
impunity before God ? Have you a conscience which can stand before his eye
and find acceptance there 1 Have you
any ground for confidence which yon dare
plead there, as you venture now to plead
to your conscience 1 Consider, I beseech

attached as you are to

yon, as a dying creature

bestow.

We
are

so

We

are to consider our latter end.

to

consider

as

it

to

ascertain

its

it

implicitly in

all

pursuits, in all its gratifications, and

in all its associations

Then

consider,

consider

it

as

you must go to the judgment consider it

as you must meet God, consider whether
you are prepared to meet him as your God

beseech you, not only whether you are

prepared on the one hand to renounce the and your Saviour.
things of this life, but whether, on the
are to consider our latter end.
other hand, you are prepared for those are not only to consider whether we are
events which must immediately follow. prepared for the great change, but we are
Scripture teaches us that two great events carefully and deeply to ponder and conmust immediately follow death
we sider the consequences of being unprepared

We

We

THE BRITISH

332

PULPIT.

meet /rim. The mind o( ihe Christian verse and stubborn mind, and refused
should frequently revert to this subject, to seek the things that related to my everConsider, I beseech you,
to promote his gratitude, his faith and his lasting peace."
hope; and the mind of the jw/je?!//^^/ frequently and deeply, the consequences
should constantly be fixed on this subject, of that latter end for which you are
as by the blessing of God it may lead to unprepared
Then consider the method hy ichich
his conviction, to his conversion, and to
Consider if you meet alone we can be prepared to meet this last
his final salvation.

to

your

latter end,

and

if

you are not pre- end.

pared to meet it, what are the fearful conHave you ever
sequences of that state 1
considered it 1 Have you ever considered
it alone in solitude, in prayer, and with
the light of the Spirit before you
full

upon you

To

beaming

enter into your latter

end, and pass into futurity unprepared to

meet God in judgment, is to fall into the

hands of his wrath ;

sentence of his law

more

to

is

is to fall
;

become

beneath the
no

is to fall to rise

the subject of in-

dwelling, hopeless, and eternal despair;

is to have the condemnation of God upon

Happily we are

revelation from

God

blessed

with a

happily, too, that

contains a grand scheme of

redeeming mercy ; and happily, too, this
is a sovereign remedy, whilst all others are
excluded from our confidence and our
The method therefore, by which
hope.
we can expect to meet God in peace, is
the method he has himself devised
devised by his infinite wisdom, accomplished by power also infinite, furnishing
to us a proof of love also infinite; and

revelation

love

which scrupled not

Son

into the world, that

send his own

we might have
to

you, the condemnation of j^our own con- life and salvation through him. Conscience upon you, the condemnation of sider that there is life and reconciliation
in Christ Jesus.
Conrider that you may
all your privileges and lost opportunities
upon you the condemnation of all that live in peace, and be at peace, and die in
Consider that your
is wise and all that is holy in the entire safety, through him.
Have you considered hope and security rest not in your own
universe of God
Have you considered this well? method of happiness, but in accepting
thisl

Have you

considered what

it is

hopeless without a friend

the judgment;

to

fall

to

to

contend

stand in

away from

judgment self-condemned

and

the

self-ac-

God's method,

in

bowing

cepts, and in believing in

here

is life

to God's preGod's dear Son

from the dead

gate of heaven which

is

here

is

the

closed against

cused, and not waiting for the sentence of the sinner, thrown wide open for your
legal condemnation ]
Have you con- admission; the gates of hell, which were

what

sidered

it

is

to lose the soul,

and

lose the soul for ever, though here you

yawning

to receive

you, are shut for ever

against you.

should have gained the world 1

The method of our salvation, therefore,
Have
you considered what it is to give an is a method adequate to all our necessiaccount in the judgment of every action, ties ; to our deep guilt, to our exposure
to just and everlasting
of every thought, of every feeling, as to punishment
It runs as large as our
well as of every sin that has estranged punishment.
you from God, and made him your adver crimes it rises above all our iniquities ;
Have you considered that the it blots out all our offences, and turns our
sary 1f
aggravation of all this wo will be self- mortality and death into the strong assuYou will have no blame to rance of immortality and eternal life.
accusation 1
no blame to refer to others Brethren, we are to know, then, that in
refer to God

but you

will bring

down

all

the accu-

"Yes," you

the fulness of the gospel there is hope;

by this divine Saviour there is life ;

and that by receiving God's method of
mercy and reconciliation we may be at
perish
I refused instruction
I despised
reproof: I had line upon line, promise upon peace with him
in Scripture language,
promise, and mercy upon mercj"^, but I " at one" with him
may venture to look
turned a deaf ear, and exercised a per- forward to meeting God in judgment;
upon yourselves.

sation

will

say,
;

"I am

justly lost;
;

that

justly

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSIDERATION.

may be

and

sure that

we have

suffi-

sideration of

it

333

much

should become so

making a believing mention habit, should be so continually entertained

of the righteousness and name of his and cherished by us, as that it should
have the nature and power of principle
Son.
While you consider that this is the great within us. Consider habitually, consider
method of safety and peace, consider prayerfully, these manifestations of the
whether you have accepted it. Consider grace of God. The Christian man will
that you are a sinful creature
that you become a considerate man
the real penithat tent will also become a considerate man.
are liable to death by reason of sin
if you remain in a state of impenitence The more we are animated by the hopes
and unbelief you will necessarily be and joys of eternity, the more shall we be
cient plea in

involved in that guilt, and involved in

for ever
ful

These

But,

truths.

are all serious and

it is

it

disposed to cherish consideration, as the

earth, and the best

aw- best companion of

a delightful truth,

introduction to light and joy.

you have heartily received the

Consider, therefore, your latter end
Lord Jesus, truly and gratefully ac- consider it that you may be wise; concepted the everlasting gospel, and have sider it in all your occupations, pursuits,
believed in the promises of God to your and engagements. In your richest joy,
salvation, you shall not see death
the let this principal consideration say to
wrath of God which was upon you shall you, " Thou must die I" In that great
be removed, and life, justification, and school let the principal consideration say
that

if

be

happiness

shall

then, have

you received

life?

Is

Consider,

yours.

this principle of

this salvation, practically

experimentally,

all

you desire

and

Do you

adoringly admire the provision of God's

wisdom

for yourself?

Do you

gratefully

as your
Prophet, Priest, and King ? Have you
entirely surrendered yourself to his keeping
and are you looking with confidence

receive Jesus

Christ in

truth

" Thou wilt pass away as an hour,

and thou must enter into rest!" Let it
impart to the Christian all its hope ; let it
convey to the sinner all its terror ! The
terror shall, by God's blessing, be salutary ; and the hope shall retain the faster
hold, until hope is confirmed in joy.
But not only does our subject commend

to you,

consideration, but the very circumstances

which we are placed invite us to it.

other year is dying away from us;
another and a new year will open upon
that though my flesh shall suffer destruc- us, if our frail life shall be spared ; and
tion, and see mortality, I shall live, and we are placed in circumstances which
shall stand with him, and be justified in call for prayerful and deep consideration.
him in that great day !" And consider, Consider how time is flying away Conhave you renounced every thing for sider how certainly you must die
ConChrist's sake 1
Are you made a justified sider how uncertain is the time when you
man? Have you this evidence of being shall be called to die
Consider that
that sin has broken after death there is the judgment
delivered from sin
Conyour heart that sin has humbled you in sider that it is only as you are found in
contrition before God
that you are look- Christ, receiving him, and walking in
ing away from yourself to him who alone him, that you can hope for pardon, justiis a sufficient Saviour ?
Are you daily fication, and peace hereafter. Consider
committing yourself to his blessing?
these things. Let the Christian consider
The whole object of the discourse is to this with believing enjoyment. Chrisfix upon our minds the importance of tian, the days are passing quickly over
giving consideration to this subject. It is you, but the days which bring you nearer
not merely necessary that the subject to your latter end, are bringing you nearer
should be entertained during a passing to an expected end, an end which shall
discourse; it is not merely necessary be joyous. Your prayers would want an
that the mind should be awakened and answer, your desires would want accomaffected ; but it is necessary that the con- plishmient, and your hopes would want
;

even upon the judgment, while you say,

" I know that my Redeemer liveth, and

in

One

THE BRITISH

334

consummation, if you were not to die

you were not to experience, after all
your changes, a latter end which admits
Every change
of no subsequent change.
to you shall be the advance of your happiness, your introduction to nearer fellowship with God ; and your last change
shall be a complete introduction to the
favour and blessedness of God's eternal
Son. Carry hope with you to the end
let it sustain you in the darkest night of
adversity let it be your companion and
joy in the midst of conflict and mortality
and let it bear you up, and bear
you onward, as the hope of salvation, to
if

PULPIT.

sider.

Believing friends are silently but

eloquently entreating

parents

lemnly offering prayer

are

so-

God, that by
his gracious influence he would dispose
you to consideration. The dying year,
as it passes away, solemnly says to your
conscience, " O, that you would consider
your latter end !" And, in the words of
our text, the voice of the living God himto

self is heard, and heard with tenderness,

saying to you, " O, that they would consider their latter end !"
It is not merely
I that speak to you
it is not merely the
affectionate parent that addresses you ; it
is not merely a waning and expiring year
the feet of Christ, to the very gates of that calls upon you, and demands your
attention,
it is the voice of
God your
heaven, and to the final judgment.
God, who can
O, that we were all wise, thus to con- Maker God your Judge
Ycu are
sider our latter end ; but, alas, brethren, kill, and who can make alive.
how many of us are unwise how many in his hands; you are all in his hands; I
of us do not consider! how many of us leave you there, and I pray that in his
Put that hands you may be constrained at last to
fear to entertain consideration !
fear away.
You are conscious of refus- tremble for your sins. Turn to him and
ing to think on this subject you enter- live, and receive the offers of his love by
tain every worldly arrangement in order his own loving Son, that you may enjoy
to shut eternity and death out of consi- that love above.
May he sanctify his word
deration.
Amen.
O, what a death you will die
if you live in this state
It is not by
refusing to think of death that you can
overcome it and put it away ; if you
A MORE thorough change can scarcely
could, then it might be wise not to con- be conceived than that which has actually
;

sider.

It is

not by refusing to consider

of judgment, to anticipate

how you

shall

Once the seat of

commerce, the very sea has shrunk

occurred at Ephesus.
active

stand there, and with what righteousness from its solitary shores
its streets, once
you shall be expelled from heaven, that populous with the devotees of Diana, are
you can avoid it; otherwise it might be now ploughed over by the Ottoman
wise and well so to refuse. Think, or serf, or browsed by the sheep of the
not think, time is flying! Think, or not peasant. It was early the stronghold of
think, death is coming!
Willing or un- Christianity, and stands at the head of
willing, you must die, and your latter the apostolic churches of Asia.
It was
end must come, and you must stand in there that, as St. Paul says, " the word
judgment I put it to your conscience
of God grew mightily and prevailed."
is it rational, is it wise, is it consistent, to Not a single Christian now dwells within
;

be appointed

to

such a destiny, and never

to consider?

it!
Its mouldering arches, and dilapidated walls, merely whisper the tale of
its glory ; and it requires the acumen of

O, that you were wise to consider your

end
0, that by any persuasion I the geographer, and the active scrutiny
could win you to consider and win you of the exploring traveller, to form a proto consider with that evangelical inquiry bable conjecture as to the very site of the
and prayerful heart that it demands from " first wonder of the world." Lettera
you^ All things are asking you to con- from the JEgedn,
latter

SERMON XXXVI.
THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

BY THE REV. THOMAS

"To-daij is a Sabbath unto the Lord."

Man

is

naturally averse from all re-

ing,

J.

JUDKIN.

Exod.

xvi. 25.

making profanation of

this

sacred

day ; resisting the ordinances of the Lord ;

will not easily bow to the yoke.
It is doing their own way; finding their own
little matter, however holy the rule, or pleasures; speaking their own words;
wise the precept, or salutary the disci- ceasing to make the Sabbath a spiritual
straint; he is a stiff-necked creature,

pline;

however great

or venerable

and

the

authority, or strong the testimonies of a

happy experience,

all are resisted

by

the

strength of an opposing pride. His secret

and dearly cherished delight is to stand
uncontrolled in his choice, and to remain
unsubmissive to any will but his own.
He shapes a path for himself; he exults,
like the untamed beast, in the lawlessness
of an evil course ; he shuts out the very

may be free in darkhe loveth darkness better than light.

Let even Him, who wrought mighty miracles ; let Christ exhort, and he refuseth
to obey ; let the appalling voice go forth
which shook Sinai with its thunders; let
.Tehovah speak, and still his posture is

light itself, that he

ness

delight, the holy of the Lord, and honour-

The answer

able?

Self;

is

one and the same,

they might be their own

Pride is the awfully influential

that

masters.

which, as it first cast from

God, keeps from God ; which, as it first
drove from paradise, prevents a return to
paradise; which, as it first went to deprinciple

people heaven,

now

goes to the thinning

of the church of Christ, and the peopling

of hell.

may you ever

may you earnestly

Christians,
pride;

Holy

Spirit that he will

pray against
beseech the

graft in

your

and that so sinking

the confident man, the boastful and vain
hearts true humility

reasoner, into the

little

child,

into

the

commands meek disciple, j'ou may learn Christ;

of the living God he glories in rebellion. you may reverence Christ's authority as
What caused Satan's fall from a world of one that teacheth you may obey his

defiance

he makes light of the

;

words as the wisdom, and the truth, and

tempest and fire] Self; that he might the love of God, to his own glory and
be his own master. What cost Adam your everlasting good ; to which I add a
an expulsion from the garden of paradise sincere and heartfelt Amen, for Jesus'
^his driving out by an angel into the sake.
"To-day is a Sabbath unto the Lord."
The answer is the same,
wilderness 1
Self; that he might be his own master. On this text I would comprehend what
What is now plunging so widely the I have to say, in the raising and the
soul of the sinner into the punishment of answering three questions.
First, How IS TO-DAY TO BE KEPT AS
God's violated law? The answer is the
same, Self; that he might be his own A Sabbath unto the Lord 1 Secondly,
master. How is it that thousands of our Why is to-day to be kept as a Sab-

bliss

what

led

him

to prefer a region of

fellows are, at the time I

am now

speak-

bath unto the Lord ?

Thirdly,

Wherb
335

THE BRITISH

330

TO-DAY NOT KEPT AS A SaBBATH UNTO

THE LordI Andmay the Lord of the SabIS

bath direct and bless for Christ's sake.

The Sabbath is a day of consecration,
a setting apart to the Lord. It was with
the Lord a day of profound rest, after the
labours of the creation ; a time, I should
say, of spiritual enjoyment and compla-

PULPIT.

mortifications of self; as to your wider

separation from the vain customs of an

as to a more complete upfrom the deep places of your
hearts, your favourite and cherished sins;
as to a more close and frequent communion with God in the spirit of prayer as
to lowlier submission to the teachings of
evil

world

rooting,

cency on a review of all he had wrought the great Guide into all truth ; as to the
for man by the wonderful contrivances of evidence of a holier fear, of a livelier
by the out- faith, of a more expansive benevolence to
his own infinite wisdom
:

stretching of his

own

infinite,

creating,

and sustaining power; by the expansiveness of his own free, sovereign, and
enriching love. It was a day on which,
as the source of all things, he looked, as
were, along his own rays, his own
emanations, and he delighted to behold
that all was good. It is a day that should
it

the brethren in Christ; as to the increase

of the love of
last

God within you,

since the

Sabbath.

Through the day also, let the self-communing voice press the inquiry. If, amidst
the exercises of the church, your hearts,

God ward if, while

you confess your sin, you think of your
be full of God, full of divine contempla- sin, you keep it before you if, while you
bewail your manifold infirmities, you feel
it is a day to be rendered to him,
tions
if, while
as the offering of the gold seven times the weight of your infirmities
you breathe requests for pardon, you are
it is a day of the whole dedicapurified
tion of the body and soul to the Lord, as deeply sensible that you stand in need of
The divine pardon if, while you pray for strength to
not our own, but as his.
command of Moses was distinguished overcome your spiritual enemies, you are
from the rest of the rules of the decalogue conscious of your exposure to your spiby a more solemn form and emphasis, ritual enemies if, while you make your
" Remember that thou keep holy the thanksgiving to almighty God for his
Sabbath-day." By Jeremiah: "Hallow mercies, and, above all, for his inestimaye the Sabbath-day, as I commanded ble love, in the redemption of the world,
your fathers." By Ezekiel: "Hallow by our Lord Jesus Christ, you recall his
my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign mercies, and do thus acknowledge the
between me and you, that ye may know grace of a God in Christ.
I am the Lord your God."
At the close of- the day, too, you will
To keep this day of the Lord is, then, ask of your souls what enlightening and
to hallow it. And how are you to do so? sanctifying effects have been produced
I will now, in the way of rule, make upon you by the services of the spiritual
answer, premising, that your spiritual house by the prayers you have prayed
exercises will he personal and particular; by the great truths you have heard to the
that they will be of the closet as well as exaltationof Christ as your only Redeemer,
and to the abasement of the sinner? And
of the temple. And,
First, The day xoill he begun, conti- whether you have added through the day
nued, and ended in self-examination.
to faith and virtue, by an exhibition of a
The Sabbath presents, as it were, a pure and consistent example, so that no
as well as words, are

standing place, a breathing place for this

violence has been done to your conduct

holy and too much neglected duty. In

the morning, as you rise from your beds,
inquire into the progress of your souls, in
sanctification and in meetness for heaven.
Weigh leisurely and solemnly the matter
in the sight of God, as to your growth in
grace, and in the knowledge of your Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ as to severer

at the

house of God by your conduct at

occurred to mar the image
of the profession in the outward conversation nothing that might, to your servants,
or to your children, create a suspicion, or
darken with a doubt your sincerity and

home nothing
;

truth.

Secondly, The day should be begun,

THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

337

and ended in prayer. Prayer have yet another opportunity to receive

at your own bedside, and prayer at your the news from heaven, the glad tidings
family altar, that upon you and yours God of great joy ; to hear what the Lord God
would vouchsafe the enlightening', the will speak, for he will speak peace to his

continued,

convincing, the sanctifying influence of people and to his saints.

Praise
that
his Holy Spirit; that, in a frame of devout you can enter this holy place without
gladness and of holy desire, and of un- fear of the violence of persecuting men;
feigned humility and meekness, you

may

enter into our religious house; that the

minister of Christ appointed

to

watch

over you might preach to the understanding and to the conscience, with demonstration and with power; that, with all
simplicity, and faithfulness, and fearless-

ness, he deliver the gospel

message as

it

that

you may worship

and securely.

in

the truth, calmly

that

you have a
occasion for meeting the gracious
smiles of Him who cometh to be amidst
and to bless the two and three that are
Praise

new

gathered together in his name.

Continued praise through the day that
you do see the marvellous light amidst the

came to him from the lips of Christ; as great darkness that, in your doubts, your
it came from Christ to a fallen, and ruined,
ignorances, and sorrows, you have un;

lost world
that, under God, you may
thus add daily to the church such as shall

and

veiled to your eyes the source of all truth

and

all

consolation

that

you have brought

near to you, amidst the severities of the

be saved.
Again, through the day, in the two
services
I say the two services of the

law, the mercies of the gospel

day

of pardon

the

rial,

and the collects will

litanies

present their

full

matter, their rich mate-

towards making your requests known

unto God, in all that may meet your spiritual as well as your bodily wants, by

your relationship

to

him

as well as to

others.

And

then, at night,

when

the gates of

the sanctuary are closed, you will

bow

amidst

the terrors of the judgment, the promises

;

amidst the despairing conflicts

with Satan, the offers of reconciliation

and of peace; that still to the bitten by
the fiery flying serpent, there stands out

which whosoever looketh

and be whole ; that still there
is opened to you the freedom of access to
a Father of reconciliation, through the
infinite merits of Jesus Christ.
Ended there will be praise on the
Christian's lips, as the Sabbath declines,
that God has been very gracious to him
at the voice of his cry ; that he has led
him once more into the garden of his
Zion, into his fruitful vineyard ; that he
the cross, to
shall live

your knees before the God and Father of

the Lord Jesus Christ, that he may have
made your hearts prepared ground for the
bringing forth of the sown word sixty and
a hundredfold; that Christ and his doctrine may abide in you richly, and with
all knowledge; that the Sabbath may has made for him a feast of fat things
shed its chastising and sweet influences full of marrow, of wine on the lees, well
through the actions of the coming week
that he has nourished him with
refined
that, indeed, men may take knowledge the bread of life, and permitted him to
that you have been with Jesus; that your draw water from the wells of salvation,
hearts are burning, as it were, with some springing up unto everlasting life. But,
new talk with him upon the way ; that
Secondly, Why are we to keep toyour faces are zealously set Zion-ward
day AS A Sabbath to the Lord 1
that you have had a closer walk with
Whyl This is not a vain, not an unGod, and a more calm and a more happy important question. There are thousands
frame; that you are ripening, shall I say, of nominal Christians who can give but a
for heaven itself.
very idle and very unsatisfactory answer;
Thirdly, Asa general direction, the day who have no better than this, because it
will he begun, will be continued, and will is the custom of the country; because it
because it is
be ended in praise.
is the habit of early youth
Begun praise to the mercies of the the example of the family; because it is
Lord, that, though in death's orb, you the badge of respectability ; because it is
;

Vol.

II

43

2F

THE

338

BRITISH PULPIT.

an exaction that is due to decency ; be- cended up on high, leading captivity

cause it is the tasked duty of the Christian ciiptive, bearing on his brow the crown
name; because it is incumbent on a man of three victories over sin, over death,
who should support the political rights of and over hell ; who thus brought life and
immortality to light; who thus consumthese are the common replies
the state
that is to say, if the man speak out, these mated his great work for which he trawould be the common replies. But we vailed through the agonies of the body,
have more solid grounds to build on than and through the agonies of the soul, being
and it ought delivered for our offences, and raised
these and if it be expected
that we be always ready ag.iiu for our justification that he should
to be expected
to give an answer to every man who ask- thus have a day dedicated to the honour
eth us the reason for the hope that is in of his name, to the expression of our holy
ns, it surely cannot be less so for our gratitude for his marvellous love; to the
practice.
Why] Because, if it be true, keeping of his ordinances; to the assemas true it is, that religion is a rational bling together of his people; and for the
service, and it be necessary and expedient more immediate propagation of his cause,
that a certain time should be appointed and to the spreading of his glories.
Another reason obtains in the fact, that
for its general rendering; and that the
choice of this time cannot reside better it was a day on which the great promise
than in the will of Him whom the act was fulfilled of the diffusion of the Holy
most immediately affects and if, more- Ghost, when there came a sound from
over, the Object himself of our worship heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and
has required the observance of a particular filled the house (see Acts ii. 2) where
day, and the Lord God hath commanded the disciples were sitting, so that they
that we keep holy the Sabbath day, I say received all fulness of consolation
for
it follows, as a consequence, that we are
he was promised to become their Combound to do so.
forter
all fulness of consolation to susAgain, that we should keep this day tain and gladden their hearts on their
holy to the Lord would appear obligatory, toilsome and their persecuted way; and
because it was a day on which the apos- had at once opened to their view the whole
tles and the early Christians assembled compass of the manifold languages by
themselves together. The passage in the wliich they were to disseminate the intelActs, independently of others, confirms ligence of the glorious gospel of Christ
this, where we read, " Upon the first day to the children of men, by which they
of the week, when the disciples came were to go forth to emancipate in foreign
together to break bread."
Because also lands, in idolatrous lands, from the
a distinguishing title hath been given to grievous bondage of Satan to the liberty
it, as denoting its institution by Christ.
of the sons of God.
It was upon the
:

St. .John

telleth us, in

the Revelations,

first

creation of a material universe that

" that he was in the Spirit on the Lord's the old Sabbath was ordained, and it was
day." Because, too, that down from the upon the second creation of a spiritual

may say, that we are thus

with an additional argument
however great the divisions, and violent for keeping the new. The blind man
the disputes of t'.iat church on other ques- could never forget the day on which he
tions, this has ever remained undoubted received sight; the lame man could never
and undisturbed. Because it is very na- forget the day on which he walked; the
tural and very consistent that the greatest leper could never forget the day on which
apostolical age,

its

observance has been

the uniform practice of the church

of

all

that,

events that could affect the interests

of a Christian world

universe,

furnished

he was cleansed

the captive could never

day when his chains and his

the sublimest of its joys
that could fetters were knocked off; no more can we
awaken the language of its proudest of the visible outshedding of that power
triumphs, should have its own day of from on high, of that Spirit of our God,
commemoration ; and that He who as- by which the dead in trespasses and sing
;

that could
;

fill

with

forget the

THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

Tare

power?

quickened; by which the dry bones

339

Was

it

not at the hand of

some

Christian minister upon the Lord's day

lying at the mouth of the sepulchre became instinct with breath, were clothrd

When was

your communion with God

again with flesh, started into being, and the most abstracted from the world, at
its greatest and highest?
Was it not on
lived.
Because, again, the Lord God has dis- the Lord's day ? When was it that your
tinguished this day by a more peculiar blessed Redeemer revealed himself most
Now, to you, as not unto the world, and the
manifestation of his divine grace.
think for a moment of that marvellous Holy Ghost seemed to shadow you with
as it not, I w'ill
energy which went forth on this dny to his larger influences ?
the conversion of three thousand souls, at ask you, when you drew near the table,
the heart-searching sermon of that minis- and partook, in faith, and in penitence,
And think for a and in prayer, af the broken bread, and
ter of God, St. Peter.
moment, of that glorious revelation of the of the sacred wine, in remembrance of
heavenly places; of the residence of the the death and of the passion of Christ
mighty angels; of their holy engage- on the Lord's day. Yes, I am sure that

ijients;

are

many here, (0, would to God there were

many more I am sure that many here

of the very antherns which they

now singing;

of their blessedness;

!")

of the great white throne, and of Him

who sitteth thereon; and of the glorified

body of Christ

will confess

tliat

they have been most

elevated in religious exercises

that they

semblance of the have enjoyed their richest of consolations

Lamb ; and of the very atmosphere of that they have been less of the earth,
heaven, where there is no need of the earthy, and more of heaven, heavenly,
I say that the
sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, upon the Lord's day.
for the glory of God doth lighten it, and testimony, the witness, is in your own

Lamb

in the

hearts, as to the peculiar manifestation

say, of the revelation to St. John of these

God upon this day. I

have thus very feebly touched on some
of the more prominent reasons for keeping
this day as a Sabbath to the Lord ; I must
leave it to your own meditations to supply

the

is

the light thereof: think,

of the grace of

things, and greater things than these, as

made on ih's day to the inspiration of tens

of thousands, with comfort and with joy
with bright hopes and happy assurances
and say, if we liave not most abundant
reason for keeping this day as a Sabbath,

others.

Thirdly, and very briefly. Where is this

not kept as a Sabbath unto the Lord?

day

a solemn Sabbath to the Lord.

But I need not have gone beyond the
walls of this church ; I need not have
travelled out of the round of your own

is not kept as a Sabbath to the Lord

where it is made a day of bodily labour;
where the
where the shop is opened
where the principle
personal experience, in confirmation of ledger is consulted
the fact, that the Lord honoureth this of money-getting is employing any of its
day above other days. \Y,hen were you means for the increase of our worldly
first stricken with a conviction of sin
state, or where even the sustenance of
was it not on the Lord's day ] When in the body is to be toiled for in those hours
the depths of j^our distress, in your which are emphaticall}' the Lord's. There
gloomy doubts and fears, were you is a striking instance of the strictness of
directed to a Saviour'?
When were you Jewish sabbatical observance in the words
relieved from the terrors of the law by about my text, where you will see upon
the grace of the gospel 1
When was the the gathering of a small round thing (I
first bursting asunder of the chains, so quote from Scripture) which lay as small
that you walked in liberty?
When as the hoar-frost upon the ground the
was the oil and the wine of the good bread which the Lord had given Israel to
Samaritan poured into your wounds? eat when they swerved from the direcWas it not on the Lord's day? When tions of Moses, and dressed it on the
did the promises of the gospel open Sabbath, the nutriment was turned, as
iefore you in all their sweetness and it were, into poison, bred worms, and

It

THE BRITISH

340

PULPIT.

when they dressed

that shops, particularly in the suburbs of

it on
remained over the Sab- London, are opened with a more shameful
bath fresh and good. So jealous was the effrontery than ever; and that the labourLord of the devotion of the Sabbath-day ing classes in a great degree waste the
then: and can he be less so now? The day in laziness at home, or spend their
time, in far greater numbers, at the tavern
question addresses your reason.
Again, this day is not kept as a Sabbath and the tea-gardens ; and that many of
unto the Lord, where you pursue your the rich devote a part of the day to the

stank; whereas,

the sixth day,

own

it

notions of ease and of pleasure, in-

stead of yielding yourselves unreservedly

to the receiving of
and to an unnecessary employment

returning of calls,
visits,

God's service where the doors of his of cattle and engagement of servants, to
temple are left standing open, and you the frivolities of conversation and the
are wanderers in the fields, or indulging vanities of dress, and to the public proyourselves, perhaps, in the latter part of menade, closing the evening with wine
the day, during the afternoon service, in- and music. And that, neglected by madulging yourselves in the chair of slothful gistrates and rulers, there are meetings
ease at home, or extending unnecessarily, held, and places opened for the utterance
some of you, the pleasures of the table. of the most profane mockeries of the
And you who absent yourselves from our revealed word, of the most awful blasafternoon service, 1 have often thought, phemies of God and of his Christ; I say,
that if, during those sacred hours, your that these things, among many others that
houses were unroofed, or your apartments might be mentioned, make me pause with
made of glass, and you could be seen of fear and with trembling, amid the awful
man, as you are seen of God, what a sweep of the retributive justice of God.
melancholy picture would be presented of
But for a moment I would turn to the
the inconsistency of your conduct with violations of the Sabbath in this district.
the prayers that you had prayed, and the These are many, and they are flagrant.
vows that you had uttered, in the morning We have more newsvenders than ever;
service.
It is my duty to bring these and while I know no man from the pulpit,
things home to you ; but I must leave but speak generally, I would ask, Are
them to a more powerful preacher than there not some here present who give,
myself, and that preacher is conscience
during this day, a far greater attention to
how speaks conscience now]
the records of politics, and of accident,
But, turning from you, for a moment, than they do to their Bibles; who shut
to the nation. I have an awful foreboding their prayer books
who have shut them
of the divine judgments that follow na- this morning service
to go home and
tional sins.
I remember the conduct of cut the newspapers, which are now lyino"
God of old in this matter ; and there can wet upon their tables ? Again, it has fallen
be no doubt but that his moral govern- under my notice, the half-closed shops
ment is upon one and the same law. I which are so inviting to the young and
know not of any curse upon the land that the thoughtless. In our neighbourhood,
seems to me so big and so ready to burst, and within a quarter of a mile from this
as the curse upon the national neglect of church, there has been to-day and there
the Sabbath. The poor and the rich are is every Sunday
there has been a perfect
alike involved here. It is to me an awful fair held, a thronged fair
all trades being
thing, as a Christian minister,labouring in carried on with the utmost impunity
the vineyard of Christ, it is an awful thing and though we bring the matter before
to reflect that, upon this holy day, some the magistrates, yet, after crossing us
forty thousand of newspapers are send- with vexatious proceedings, they at last
ing their baleful and their demoralizing pay the fine, and laugh in the magistrate's
principles through the land ; and that the face.
I say I know this to be a fact, and
vehicles of profit and of pleasure, the I have made several humble efforts to
stages and the steamboats, are increased remove the evil, but I have hitherto been
within a few years a hundredfold; and unable; and I do, therefore, earnestly
to

THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

call

upon some of you

and assist

me

and

to

come forward display being unshorn and undiminished,

invite

such as are

meet me at the commissioners'

rooms on Tuesday evening next, that we
may devise some plan to check the torrent
that is flowing in amongst us.
Other
parishes have been doing much in this
way, and it were a shame in me, as a
able, to

Christian minister, desiring the spiritual

improvement of

341

the armies of the sky might have congregated round the Mediator, and have given

homage and admiration.

was poverty that the Creator
should be moving on a province of his
in their full tale of

But, O,

it

own

empire, and yet not be recognised

nor confessed by his creatures.
It was
poverty, that when he walked amongst

neighbourhood, that

men, scattering blessings as he trode, the

anthem of praise floated not around him,
that this appeal to your assistance will be and the air was often burdened with the
met, and that you will come forward and curse and the blasphemy. It was poverty,
I

should remain

make my wishes

this

idle.

I trust, therefore,

effectual.

that, as

add no more but an earnest call upon

you, that each man betake himself to
prayer, for a more unreserved dedication
of himself to the general and peculiar
duties of this day and that while God of
his infinite grace assists him in keeping
it as a Sabbath to the Lord, he may use
all
laudable and Christian means to
excite others to its like observances
to
the blessing of the community, to the
increase of the church of Christ, and to
the glory of God.
I

THE HUMILIATION OF CHRIST.

We

are told that Christ " emptied him-

was rich, yet

sakes he became poor." But of
what did he empty himself? Not of his
self;" so that, "though he
for our

being, not of his nature, not of his

attri-

tribes

he passed to and fro, through

he had made, and whom he

whom

had come down

to

tary voice called

redeem, scarce a

soli-

him blessed, scarce a

hand was stretched out in friendand scarce a solitary roof ever

solitary

ship,

proffered

him

shelter.

And when you

contrast this deep and desolate poverty

with that exuberant wealth which had

been always his own, whilst heaven continued the scene of his manifestations
the wealth of the anthem-peal of ecstacy
from a million rich voices, and of the

solemn bowing down of sparkling multitudes, and of the glowing homage of immortal hierarchies, whensoever he showed
forth his power or his purposes
ye cannot fail to perceive that, in taking upon
him flesh, the Eternal Son descended,
most literally, from abundance to want;
and that, though he continued just as
mighty as before ^just as infinitely gifted
with all the stores and resources of essen-

must be blasphemous to speak

of properties of Godhead as laid aside, or
even suspended. But Christ "emptied
himself" of the glories and the majesties tial Divinity the transition was so total,
to which he had claim, and which, as he from the reaping-in of glory from the
sat on the throne of the heavens, he pos- whole field of the universe to the receiving,
sessed in unmeasured abundance. What- comparatively, nothing of his revenues of
butes.

It

soever he was, as to nature and essence,

whilst appearing amongst the angels in

honour, that

the form of God, that he continued to be

was

we may

assert, without re-

serve, and without figure, that he

rich,

for

our sakes

who

became poor.

" In the form of God," he had acted, as it

still, when, in the form of a servant, he
walked the scenes of human habitation. were, visibly, amid the enraptured plauBut then the glories of the form of God, dits of angel and archangel, cherubim
But now, in the form of
these for a while he altogether abandoned. and seraphim.
man, he must be withdrawn from the
If, indeed, he had appeared upon earth
as, according to the dignity of his nature,

he had right

to appear, in the

majesty and

glory of the Highest, it might be hard to

understand what riches had been lost by
Divinity.
The scene of display would

been changed.

But the

delighted inspections of the occupants of

heaven, and act as powerfully, indeed, as
before, but mysteriously and

invisibly,

behind a dark curtain of flesh, and on the

dreary platform of a sin-burdened terrisplendour of tory. So that the antithesis, "the form
2 f2

THE

342

BRITISH PULPIT.

of God," and " found in fashion as a

man," marks accurately the change to

which

the

Mediator

thus whilst, on
there

is

submitted.

no impeachment,

in

And

showings,

our former

the phrase.

of the reality of Christ's humanity, we

now extract fVom the description a clear!

witness to the divinity of Jesus; and

show you that a form of speech which

seems
was,

at first sight
if

vague and

rendered

not

indefinite,

unavoidable, yet

readily dictated by the union of natures

in the person of the

Redeemer.

Rev. U.

gloom, which it had not been accnstomeJ

to bear, and that it strongly indicated
a violent agitation of mind, apparently
After
arising from conscious remorse.
the usual salutations had passed, his
friend asked the relater the time of the
day] To which he replied, "TwentyOn hearing
five minutes after four."
this, the stranger said, "It is only one
(here his
hour since I died, and now"
countenance spoke unutterable horrors.)
" Why so troubled
inquired the dream" It is not," said he, " being minister.

have not preached the gospel

it
because I have not been
rendered useful ; for I have now many
seals to my ministry, that can bear testi-

cause

MclvilL

neither is

SINGULAR DKEAM.

GOSPEL minister, of evangelical prin- mony to the truth as it is in Jesus, which

whose name, from the circum- they have received from my lips but it
stances that occurred, it will be necessary is because I have been accumulating to
being much fatigued at the myself the applause of men, more than
to conceal
conclusion of the afternoon service, re- the honour w hieh cometh from above j
Having
tired to his apartment in order to take a and verily I have my reward."
He had not long reclined uttered these expressions, he hastily dislittle rest.
upon his couch before he fell asleep, and appeared, and was seen no more.
The minister awaking shortly afterbegan to dream. He dreamed, that on
walking into his garden, he entered a wards, with the contents of this dream
bower that had been erected in it, where deeply engraven on his memory, prohe sat down to read and meditate. While ceeded, overwhelmed with serious reflecthus employed, he thought that he heard tions, towards his chapel, in order to
On hi"*
some person enter the garden ; and, leav- conduct the evening service.
ing his bower, he immediately hastened way thither, he was accosted by a friend,
towards the spot whence the sound seemed who inquired whether he had heard the
to come, in order to discover who it was severe loss the church had sustained in
He had not proceeded the death of that able minister, * * *,
that had entered.
far before he discerned a particular friend and he replied, "No:" but, being much
of his, a gospel minister of considerable affected at this singular intelligence, he
talents, who had rendered himself very inquired of him the day and time of the
popular by his zealous and unwearied day when his departure took place. To
exertions in the cause of Christ.
this his friend replied, " This afterOn approaching his friend, he was sur- noon, at twenty-five minutes after three
prised to find his countenance with a o'clock !"

ciples

SERMON XXXVII.
THE NATURE OF CONVERSION AND THE SOURCES OF DELAY.

BY THE REV. GEORGE

Whatsoever thy hand findeth

to do,

do

it

B.

with thy might

M'DONALD.

for

there is

knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest."

To my mind

no

worJc,

Eccl.

nor device, nor

ix. 10.

his own likeness.

But beloved as he
have just was, no sooner did he transgress the
read
" No work, nor device, nor know- divine law, and thus break in on the
ledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither symmetry of that holiness which he posthou goest."
How unlike is the region sessed, than he became offensive to God,
of the dead to the world in which we and brought down on himself the witherlive!
Every thing around us is in mo- ing curse " Dust thou art, and unto dust
tion
men are busily engaged in planning shilt thou return."
schemes and executing them. But " in
Let it never be forgotten, that there is
the grave whither thou goest," naught something penal in death
it is a part of
moves but the worm which riots on the the punishment which is due to sin.
corruption of the body. There all is alike Never speak of death as a something
dead the body lies there in insensibility
which happens in the mere course of nathe mind, the most exquisitely sensitive, ture.
Nature, in her lofty and unbroken
has there no feeling
the soul, most laws, moves up yonder in heaven ; and
quickly alive to the joys and sorrows of there is no grave there:
man goes down
friendship, has there no sympathy with to the grave, not a debtor to nature, but
joys or with sorrows. There is no wis- to the justice of God. Death is not a
dom, no knowledge there: all that distin- debt due to nature: nature abhors the
guishes man from the beast ceases man, charge. There never was death in hea
proud man, has there no wisdom, no ven, where the laws of God are unbroken.
genius, no talent, no intellect; but is, in There was originally no death in paradise ;
the desolation of the matter of his body, and there would have been no sepulchre
like the beasts that perish.
in this wide weary world in which you
My friends, and why all this'? The and I live, but that sin had entered. It
solution of that question may be revolting is the hand of an enemy that lias been
to our minds, but it is not the less accu- here
sin has done this work for he put
Man is a transgressor of the law the envenomed dart into the hand of
rate.
of God
" Sin has entered into the world, death, and he raised him before us in the
and death by sin ; and so death has passed sepulchral form of " the king of terrors."
upon all men, for that all have sinned." The sentence is pronounced upon all
When you gaze upon the lifeless body flesh, and ere long it shall be fulfilled on
of a fellow creature, you have the most every one of us.
The time is not far
signal display of what sin can do and has remote when we shall be followed to the
Man was the last great work of grave as we have followed our friends
done.
God his favourite piece of workman- And 0, it will seem but a moment from

there is something unut-

terably solemn in the words

ship,

made

in his

own image, and

after

that period in

which our

friends shall take

343

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344

IT IS A SUBJECT WHICH DEimmor- MANDS OUR INSTANT ATTENTION. It is 3

of our being, awakened by the truth which cannot too fiequently be

the last look of our coffin

when we
tality

PULPIT.

time SHOW WHY

lid, till

the

shall start up in all the

brought before our minds, and' certainly

sound of the archangel's trumpet!
The circumstances of my death and cannot be too deeply impressed on them
my sepulchre are, I confess, very se- that " we have all gone out of the way,"
condary things to my mind. I care not that " there is none that doeth good ; no,
where I am buried, nor how I am put into not one." The doctrine of original sin,
the grave.
I want to know how I am to and the fact of our personal practical deget out: whether I am to rise and wing pravity, enter elementarily into all correct
my way to the right hand, and wait with notions of the Scripture plan of mercy.
joy and gladness of spirit till 1 am called We deem it utterly unlikely that any man
to give glory to God through the salva- can appreciate the salvation which the
tion I have obtained in Jesus Christ; or gospel makes known to us, and the way
whether by some instinct peculiar to in which it was procured, without that
such a raised state of existence, I shall man recognising these points: for if I am
turn away to the left hand, and, amid not an utterly depraved creature, I can-

yon

foul spirits just brought in chains

from the depths of darkness, wait till I
am summoned to give an account of the
deeds done in the body foreboding, by
that species of companionship, the dreadful destiny, inalienable and eternal in its
nature, which awaits me.
Look at the word of God soberly, and
take the word of God for your monitor,
and you will find that the great work
every man ought to engage in is the salvation of his own soul ; compared with
which the acquisition of property and the
;

settlement of families are altogether vanity

and folly " For what shall it profit a man

he gain the whole world and lose his
own soul]" And yet, upon this point
:

if

we

are most fearfully slothful.

To the
present hour, perhaps, we have been reckless of that sloth
but let us now entreat
:

of God, in solemn lifting up of our hearts

not see the exact necessity of the Chrisrevelation.

tian

If

be not an utterly

undone creature, I am not prepared to

appreciate that mercy which God has
presented in the gift of his dear Son.

my

If
case be not altogether one that cannot

men or by angels, I can

no necessity for Jesus Christ the
Son of God having become incarnate,
and suffered and bled and died. But
be relieved by

see

recognise the doctrine of man's

depravity

entire

that the heart is corrupt, the

whole powers depraved, and then the

whole scheme of the atonement breaks
in all its heavenly radiance, and
you perceive, indeed, that it is of God to
save man.
If you look at the subject, I think you

forth

will find
fact

than

man

is

it

not less true as a matter of

of scriptural

depraved.

revelation,

What

is

that

the history

him, that his Holy Spirit may show us

and that what
shall this night be advanced may be
riveted on our minds, that we may indeed do with our might what our hand

of by-gone days ?
Read it, condense it,
and give me the analysis. I shall find
you will sum it up in few pages; and it
will be the detail of empires founded in
the lust of power and extended in the
findeth to do.
lust of conquest.
I should see empires
Your attention shall, this evening, be enlarged by violence and rapine I should
directed to two leading ideas. In theirs/ see dominion extended by every species
place, 1 SHALL STATE THE NATURE OF CON- of cruelty, and at last sinking into insigVERSION TO God, and show that it is a nificance, bowed down by the weight of
SUBJECT WHICH DEMANDS OUR INSTANT its luxury and of its crime. And what
ATTENTION. Secondly, I shall exhibit is the history of modern times ] It exSOME OF THE SOURCES OF YOUR DELAY, hibits, in miniature, a very striking porAND EXPOSE THEIR FOLLY.
traiture of olden times, presenting the
My first position is. To state the na- same workings of malevolent dispositure OF CONVERSION TO GoD, AND TO tions. The very fact of the establishto

the value of our souls;

THE NATURE OF CONVERSION AND THE SOURCES OF DELAY.

345

your land, is an in which the depravity of your heart beevidence of the received opinion of man's came rampant and triumphant. Look at
depravity.
Your code of laws is like- it which way you will, you must see that
wise a proof, and your magistrates being the alteration of that soul, in its characterrors to evil-doers, form strong evidence ter, principles, and desires, should conthat man is a fallen creature, or a creature stitute man's great work.
You have
lived busily and actively to the present
powerfully inclined to depravity.
That we may be properly affected by time; but, let me tell you, it is to no purthis statement of the doctrine, we must pose if you have not regarded the salvabring it home to our own hearts and we tion of your soul as the first thing
I
mean, to no valuable purpose to no purshall then find what Scripture declares
that " we have all gone out of the way." pose that would tell after death.
If, this
Where is the man that can step forward night, your soul were to be required of
and affirm that he had never said, or done, you, you have lived to no purpose indeed.
or proposed aught which had not the You can show me your title deeds and
but which of them
highest affirmation of his sober judgment your parchments
in his after life? I never heard but of one could your feeble hand grasp when death
has spread its influence over you, and
man, and that was the infidel, Rousseau
he looked back on the life he had passed, confined you within the limits of a grave?
and solemnly declared, that if he had to You can show me your servants and retilive over again, there was nothing he had nue ; but who can preserve you from the
done which he would not again do, and grasp of death, when its icy hand lays
You can show me your
that there was nothing he would do hold of you ]
which he had left undone. We leave streets and your houses ; but in what
such vaunting, hectoring speeches to in- chamber could you have a hiding place,
fidels, and to them alone; for it requires if the heavens and the earth were to pass
the outrage of all modesty to make such away, and the day of the Lord were to
a declaration as that was.
You may, in- come on you as a thief in the night"? No,
you have been of the earth, earthy
deed, discover some flowers which, in a no
and that which is merely earthy is perishmanner, adorn the ruins of our nature,
but let not those flowers lead you to for- able with the earth.
get the desolation of the building.
It is of the highest importance that this
Man
was created in the image of God he was subject be looked at soberly and properly,
once a temple whose symmetry and whose in order that man's actual circumstances
oeauty declared its builder and its maker may be apprehended. It is not enough
to be God but now he is in ruins. Here to say, " I am sick ;" for many a person

ment of a magistracy

in

and there you

may

see a pillar polished

"after the similitude of a palace;" here

will say he is unwell who does not think

himself sufficiently diseased to call in a
physician.
Many a man will confess he
is in debt ; but he will by no means admit
that he is insolvent.
Now, I am afraid
that many persons with regard to this
doctrine speak in a similar manner. They
they
say they are a little indisposed
have a slight headache; but it will be
well by and by, when they have more

and there is an altar decorated as belonging to a temple of splendid size and ornamental appearance here and there is a
mighty fragment preserved, to give some
idea of the magnificence of the building
which once existed of the length and
breadth of it; but let not your minds be
so fixed on these as to lead you to suppose that man is still as he was when he leisure to repose themselves. They accarne out of the hands of his Maker. knowledge they are in debt; but it is only
;

You may look on some splendid acts of

benevolence, and on some deeds of piety
which you may have performed but you
must eff'ace seasons in which ebullitions
of passions were displayed
in which
;

excitement to evil was yielded

Vol. II. 44

to

and

the arrear of yesterday's business,

they can
duity.

which

make up by to-morrow's assiBut it will not do for a man to

confess that he

cry out, "

From

crown of

my

is

sick merely

he must

the sole of m.y foot to the

head, there

is

no soundness

THE BRITISH

346

me." If he talks about being a debtor

law of God, he must point to the
prison house in which such debtors are
immured, and say, "That is my place,
and out of that dungeon I cannot come
in

to the

have paid the uttermost ffirthing.''

Every man must look at it in that way,
or he will not apprehend what scriptural
conversion is, nor be disposed to tiiank
God for the gift of his Son.
Now, the conversion of the soul is one
of the most important subjects to which
any congregation can attend.
I shall
till I

somewhat

PULPIT.

knowledge to apprehend, and for judgment to decide upon. According to man's

original, the whole result of his understanding ought to constitute his rule of
conduct
for if that be perfect and complete, and if there be a mind capable of
;

looking at subjects in all their length and

breadth, the decision to which the understanding would come ought to be the
stimulus for

are

and

at

endeavouring

to

We

vided attention.

do, indeed, ])reach

about the preciousness of salvation and

about the easiness of conversion but I
;

think you will see

it

is

doing of
is set

so just, because

it

working of an omnipotent Power

is the

that

it is

so just because

it.

And

this

God has

the

work of conversion

before you as being of such gigantic

to attend

to or

be led

of the world will think of

wofully dim and

condense my observations as much as possible; and to them

I pray you to give your serious and undiject,

man

this; but their understandings are

length into the sub-

enter

Men

on by.

the

most

Vigorous

darkened.

exercises of intellect,

know

modern times have exhibited instances of this which former periods

knew nothing of. You have got your
master spirits

men

make

that can

their playthings, that can

stars

amuse them-

selves with thunder clouds

men who
can play with the watery main, and can
say to the troubled waters, " Be still,"

who can set wind and tide at defiance.

And because men's understandings have

and

reached thus

far,

there has been the in-

stature, as well as of sucli swelling breadth

ference drawn, that he has only to apply

and such immeasurable depth, that were

you not taught it is God that saves, you
would be driven to utter despair.
Let me premise what I have to observe,
by stating, that saving conversion to God
refers to all men
to man in all his powers

the

and faculties. Let no man deceive himself with the idea that there can be a
keeping back from God. The soul of
man is a comprehensive term, employed
by us to express the various faculties of

reject the conclusion.

which

that soul is composed.

Every
whole, of course you know, is made up
of parts ; and when we talk of the con-

we must search into

analysis
we must examine

version of the soul

same capacity

to spiritual

subjects,

and that that degree of attention which

enables him to become a philosopher or

man

mathematician, will enable a

come

We
other

to be-

a Christian.

deny the premises, and of course

power besides

It requires

some

that of the intellect

apprehend spiritual things to apprehend clearly such objects as these the

character of God, as revealed in the sacred volume
the nature of holiness, as
to

of revelation the

that holiness is illustrated in every part

dience which

God

character of the oberequires

the plan of

by way of
salvation which Scripture specifies. Now,
what the powers of the soul are, in order all these subjects, so very plain in their
to see how they become converted to wording, are matters to be comprehended
God.
accurately only by a man whose mind is
Now, we begin with the understandim^. under divine influence. Conversion is
The understanding is that faculty of the not to be carried on by arithmetical promind which especially refers to know- portion. No man can sit down and draw
ledge and to judgment. It is of the inferences, and then stand up in a justihighest importance that that which refers fied state-, opening his mind to the letter
to knowledge and to judgment should be of the word of God, and understanding
possessed of sufficient energy and vigour, it in all its peculiarities.
Our minds
as well as of accuracy of discrimination, must be enlightened before we can see
in order to select what is valuable for glorious things out of the law.
Now,
it

THE NATURE OF CONVERSION AND THE SOURCES OF DELAY.

conversion just does this
a darkened understanding

enlightens

it

" Ye

were people have added

sometimes darkness, but now are ye light

in the Lord
walk as children of tlie
light."
And again " The eyes of your
:

understanding being enlightened, that ye

may know what is the hope of his calling."
I put it to any of you who have
undergone the process of saving conversion, if you do not marvel at the change
in your understanding.
It seemed as if
you were buna fide new creatures. You
"wonder that when you read your Bible

you did not before apprehend it as you

do now. You seem to marvel that you
did not see clearly God's righteous character
that you did not more clearly
comprehend the nature of holiness that
when you looked at obedience you had not

a correct notion of the

strictness

Lay

requires us to exhibit.

this

God

down,

then, as a necessary part of conversion,

man, by which
he knows and judges, must be distinctly
converted to God
changed from an earthly to a heavenly state.
that the understanding of

But more than

that

the conversion of

the soul has reference to the conscience of

Hence you have St. Paul, in his

men.

epistle to Titus, speaking of those

indeed, they would turn to God.

whose

347

Manj

awful aggravation
to their neglect of God
they have hardened their consciences, they have contributed to bring themselves into a hardened state
and man is responsible to
God for such transgressions as those.
Some have spoken of conscience as the
this

vicegerent of the Almighty in the

mind

Now, whatever offices conscience may have to perform, and however distinctly it may speak, it must be
of

man.

and regulated by the word of

has a right to set up his
conscience as an argument against revelation
no man has a right to set up the
rectified

No man

God.

silence of his conscience against the direct

denunciations of the divine law.

They

have told me, that conscience is an infallible judge

a judge that hears evidence,
examines witnesses, and decides impartially and unerringly.
They have told
me, that conscience is a constant sentinel ; so busily engaged in man that it
always keeps watch, and gives kindly

when evil is near, that men

may escape from it.
Now, all that is grand and striking in
poetical expression
it may be pleasing
intimations

manner; but it is
" consciences are seared with a hot iron." not matter of fact. If conscience is this
The offices and functions of conscience judge, I know that that judge has been
are, in the unregenerate, miserably per- corrupted on the bench
he has been
formed. Even then, indeed, its voice is bribed by your passions, by your lusts,
heard more distinctly at one time than by your interests, by your prejudices. If
another: but there is such a hardness conscience is a sentinel, he has slept at
about the human heart such insensi- his post; for the enemy has come in
bility of mind, such love of the world, many a time, and he has not given the
such engagements in its pleasures, that least alarm till the enemy had a fast hold
that voice passes unheeded
and the of you. Now, it is one part of the work
voice of conscience, if it speaks loud at of conversion which I have to speak of
one time and be not regarded, seems as to-night, that this conscience is made
though it were insulted by such careless- holy that it undergoes a change so enness and when it speaks again, it speaks tire, that from its former obtuseness it
in a feebler accent, by no means so ar- becomes exquisitely sensitive ; instead
ticulate.
Thus it is, that in some people of reproving in a whispering voice, it acit has been speaking less and less disquires a great distinctness of articulation
tinctly, till I fear whether its whisperings it teaches a man immediately
at once
can be heard at all.
admonishes him of what is evil, and disMany individuals have overdone the poses him to return from sin and danger
subject, with reference to conscience. to holiness and peace.
There is nothing
They tell me Thank God, their con- in a man's conscience like saving conscience does not condemn them
if their version to God.
conscience made them unhappy, then,
Again.
The will of man is naturally
to talk in

that kind of

THE BRITISH

348

PULPIT-

Man is like a 'their heart's best affections go forth on

There is no faculty of objects that have no feeling they fix
the niind that seems to have suffered their hearts on money, or rank, or pleaequally with the will perhaps it was the sure, which will yield them no affection
stubborn and rebellious.

wild ass's

colt.

abuse of that faculty brought sin into the in return.

And then, as to worthy objects, our
world ; and therefore the heaviest curse
Be that as it may, affections ought to be restrained. There
of God fell on that.
the will of man is stubborn and rebel- is a possibility of loving lawful objects
You find fault with your children unduly. There is this great tendency in
lious.
on that principle: you tell me it is your all of us to misplace our affections and
greatest difficulty to curb their will, and so it is that men's hopes are blasted, beto restrain them; you say they are self- cause they have carried their affection to
Now, all you too great an extent and then you talk of
willed and obstinate.
mean, when you say that, is, that tliey broken-hearted men men who have died
have one will and that you have another; of grief, and tell me of a man who placed
but you go upon the principle that there all his hopes on one frail bark, and it
Now, in
is obstinacy and stubbornness in the will went down before his eyes.
somewhere. Now, " men are but child- conversion, there is a taking away of the
:

affections from

ren of a larger growth ;" and believe me,

improper objects, and this

commandment given to the spirit,

be rectified by the mere circumstance of which is made capable of obeying it
our pupilage by others. That will might " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
that that stubbornness of will is not to

is

have been subdued by parental authority,

or it might have been broken by masters
and governors
but there is still the

all

thy heart, and soul, and mind, and

Then, it is soothing for us,

strength."

as children of

same character of obstinacy against

the

which

God,

to love all those ob-

and fascinate and give

play to our hearts' best feelings, and allowing our love to warm and brighten
into all its heat and all its brilliancy, and
knowing we cannot love Him too much
who gave his Son to die for us.
Such is our idea of conversion to God.
And 1 put it to you, whether it be not a

the jects

attract

Almighty, and repugnance to the will of

Jehovah.
Now, in conversion to God, there is a
mighty change takes place here man's
will gets subdued his mind is enlightened to see the infinite value of doing God's
will
and though sometimes it is with
quivering lips and bleeding heart, yet he great work
a great work to enlighten
is enabled to say, " Not my will, but your dark minds, to subdue your stubthine be done."
Then man is endued born wills, to purify your affections, and
with new affections he has got the ca- to rectify your consciences ; and to make
pacity of loving that which is good. His that soul, which has been hitherto the
:

natural affections are entirely misapplied

and disordered and no small part of our
wretchedness in this world originates in
that our affections are misapplied
that
and disordered. Either of these two
things will account for the greater por-

seat of all that

Now,

tion of our

sorrows.

If

are entirely misapplied,

our heart, w-ith

powers,

are

and malevolent, the

that this is a subject that de-

mands our

attention, appears from the

very nature of it
man cannot be acceptable to God without conversion.
I
cannot on this enlarge
allow me to beg
:

our affections

we

is evil

very temple of the indwelling God.

giving

the question, to take

it

for granted, that

something that is needed at

less object: and so it is, that a man who some time, at least; and I proceed,
loves the world never can be happy ; for
Secondly^ To exhibit some of thE
to be happy there must be a return of sources of your delay, and to expose
love
there must be a reciprocity, a get- their folly.
It is not often we meet
ting back again in the way of kindly with individuals who sit under the word,
feeling.
That is one great reason why who will altogether ridicule the work of
all its

to a

worth- conversion

worldly

is

men

are so

unhappy; they

let

conversion

but you regard

it

as a subject

THE NATURE OF CONVERSION AND THE SOURCES OF DELAY.

which ought,

at

some

God has given you an

time, to claim your

You have to exercise, you have the word

no common ingenuity to it read
you hear

serious attention.

some of you,

the preaching of the

ask you, then, in the name of
all that is solemn, what you expect more 1
What more does that man who is waiting
God's time expect, than God has done
for him, by putting his word and the

word

In the first place, perhaps, you have

delayed on account of pretended principle.
You have said
"I have heard from
many of you ministers, and am aware
myself, of my own weakness, of my utter

any thing of myself that

no man cometh to the Father except he
be drawn and therefore, seeing I am this
very weak creature, I have resolved to
wait till that power be communicated
which is necessary for me, and then,
when God visits me, I have made up my
inability to do

God."

Now, all that sounds very speciously;

and it is what might be expected from
such a casuist as Satan ; for when he
turns commentator on the word of God,
he is very ready at expedients. But look
at it for a moment.
We acknowledge,
of course, the propriety of what you say
that without God you can do nothing
it is perfectly true, and any remarks I
may make must not be considered as

militating against the doctrine of the absolute necessity of divine interference and

means of grace before him

take you and compel you

Must God

enter in]

to

God

'

stands at the door and knocks

God
does not break the door open ; God takes
:

man

no

man

true.

to turn to

of God, and you hear

keep your minds in any thing lilie quiet,

during your rebellion against God. Will
you allow me, then, to solicit your attention while I specify some of the sources
of delay, and expose their folly 1
And
if happily I touch upon the reason why
you have not given yourselves to God,
and turned to him with all your hearts,
you may weigh what is advanced, and
pray that God will give it force if it be

mind

349

inclination to pray

sent.

heaven against his will

to

gets to heaven without his

While

you ought

to

own

no

con-

his good Spirit is operating,

be co-workers with Christ:

not that there is merit in you

but with;
such co-operation, sure I am, that
where God is you cannot come.
Then, see to what a position your declaration of waiting God's good time
will bring you.
You seem to have made
up your mind to God's good time. Now,
God's good time is the present time:
^^ Now is the accepted time
now is the
out

day of salvation." Now, God is consistent with himself: God would never
have said, " Now is the accepted time

now is the day of salvation," if the person whose eye rested on that passage
desired salvation, and he was not ready
communicate it to him at
Dear brethren, pray to God

to

that time.
:

lay aside

those foolish thoughts, and use the

that are presented to
find, that in the

you

means

and you shall

use of those means there

shall be an increase of grace.

Another source of delay

is,

that conver-

sion is unnecessary, in the very strict sense

God must " work in you to in which we speak of it to you. You tell
and to do ;" but you forget the me you have very good feelings and informer part of the verse, " Work out clinations toward religion, but that really
your own salvation with fear and trem- we talk too much about this conversion.
bling ; for it is God that worketh in you If we talk about men being moral and
both to will and to do of his good plea- good, why, every man would applaud us
sure." I fearlessly and solemnly affirm, but to go beyond actions to principles
that, in reference to many triflers, God to lay the soul open by a species of spihas done and is doing all that he has ritual anatomy, dissecting its veins and
covenanted to do. God has worked, and its fibres to exhibit all its workings of
is working.
God has given you convic- good and evil, this we think is going
tion of mind of your weakness ; God has too far ; and conversion is not necessary
given you sensibility of conscience ; God in that strict sense. Now, let us look at
has given you feeling under the word
that.
There is an admission that some

influence.

will

2G

THE BRITISH

350

PULPIT.

truth, and you will tell that that dying

is necessary.
I acknowledg.^ I
should like to know the precise point saint rejoiced that God had been the
where we can slop short. Is it that our guide of his youth and you saw that he
understanding should not be quite en- was his support in death.
Different is the scene at the death-bed
lightened ?
Is it that it is well to have
the will partly subdued, but not quite 1 of mere worldlings. I have often thought,
Is it that it is well to have the conscience that worldlings might get a salutary lesa little rectified, but not quite ? Is it that son from the death of Cardinal Wolsey.

change

it is

well to have the affections purified,

Yon

recollect his being stript of his au-

There must be a perfect thority and dignities, and the sentiments

character about that principle which is to which he uttered on his death-bed,
make man a happy creature he must be
Had I but served my God with half the zeal
altogether changed if he is to be accepta1 served my king, he would not thus
ble to God.
A conversion that does not Have left me naked to mine enemies.''
change him altogether, does not reach his No
God abandons none of his children
;
case.
What should you think of an in- in the hour of death, nor leaves them in
dividual, professing to be a physician,
their weakness and sufferings.
It is the
who being called in to see a patient la- world it is the devil that leads men on
but only in part

"'

bouring under several diseases

diseases,
however, originating in the debility of the

he gets then into scenes of wretchedness and despair, when he rejoices in their
whole constitution, what should you
unhappiness, and seems to riot in their
think of him if, on seeing many wounds
misery.
on different parts of the body, he should
Religion make a man miserable and
say " I don't see any necessity for your
unhappy
Let us look at it. Religion
being cured altogether, and your health
has to do with man's mind. Now, the
entirely restored
but it will be enough
greatest portion of our miser)' has to do
that that wound be healed, and that this
with our minds. Religion takes away
wound be healed, and that we partly heal
all the sources of a man's disquiet: it is
this great wound that you have in such a
a very singular thing, then, that these are
part; and then I shall turn you out as one
taken away only to make him unhappy.
that is to enjoy the world around you]"
It is a very singular thing that my under
Such a physician would have little pracstanding becomes enlightened, my will
tice, and would deserve no character exsubdued, my passions become rectified,
cept that of a madman. Just the same
and yet that I am unhappy. A great
species of reasoning is applicable to those
deal of my worldly distress arises from
who go part of the way of conversion,
my affections being improperly fixed
but not the whole.
strange that when they get properly
Another source of hesitancy arises from
placed, I should be more wretched than
Men of I was before. No; to say that religion
false conceptions of its nature.
the world say it is something very gloomy
makes a man unhappy, is the consumthat we must bid good-by to all that
mation of ignorance and error. Piety
gladdens the heart, and all things that
enables a rational being to get his mind
are likely to be attractive.
And where,
enlightened
a helpless being to lean on
till

my

friend, did

you learn that]

Tell us

an all-powerful arm

a sinful creature to

where you heard that news ] Was it

trust in the Saviour for pardon
a fallen
when you were standing by the death-bed
creature to look to a Deliverer.
These
of an aged servant of the Lord ]
Did he
are exceedingly strong causes for making
tell you what a fool he had been to serve
men unhappy, certainly
No it is a
God so many years ] Did he charge you
stratagem of the devil
not to be such a fool as he was ] and
" Religion never was design'd
did he tell you he had been a miserable
To make our pleasures less."
and unhappy creature all his life long?
Was it there you heard it 1 Tell the
But another and a very fatal source of

THE NATURE OF CONVERSION AND THE SOURCES

delay, arises from the idea, /Aa/ /Ae mearis

of effecting conversion are always within

our reach. Many persons have sat under

word and heard

it preached so faith'
and its simplicity so often described,
that, having become familiar with it, they
really have thought it one of the easiest
things in the world. They have only to
wait till they get into a dilemma; then
they have to put thfiir hands in their
bosom, or God knows where, and they
have the power to alter the whole bent
Beand disposition of their minds.
lievers as we are in the doctrine of general redemption, we countenance no such

the

fully,

Some

OF DELAY.

of you have delayed

351

more
convenient time should arrive I ask you
now to look at the circumstances in which
you are placed, and tell me whether that
time has not come
Your life has become
more uncertain its brittle thread has become more attenuated divine influence
is operating more powerfully; you have
till

"?

fresh

be

could

suitable?

better

What

can

Must he be compelled
stronger?

taken one

made

of salvation

offers

What

Is

it

to

you.

What more

God do more?
to

do something

not enough that he has

member

of your family

away

must he strip you altogether? Is it not

doctrine as that.
We recognise the doc- enough that he has entered into your city
trine of the divine influence
there is a and into your streets, but must he enter
grieving of the Holy Ghost, there is a into your houses ?
Must he cut every
resisting, there is a fighting against him tie of earthly enjoyment, that your hearts
and insulting him, till he hopelessly may be drawn up to him? Ah see that
abandons the man with whom he has you compel not God thus to act, " lest he
been striving. " Ephraim is joined to swear in his wrath that ye shall not enter
his idols,
let him alone."
And if there into his rest :" but yielding to those
is any man who is in the highway to be
holy influences under which many of
:

given up to remediless perdition, it is the

man who systematically procrastinates

you,

believe,

are

consecrating

your

hearts to God, and devoting your lives

work of conversion.
to his service, remember, that " WhatsoAnother source of delay is from the ever thy hand findeth to do, do it with
prospect of lengthened life. This appears thy might; for there is no work, nor deto be a leading cause of the delay of many. vice, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the
Were some commissioned angel from grave, whither thou goest." May God
heaven to enter this place to-night, and command his blessing, for his name's
to declare the names of one hundred un- sake!
Amen.
converted persons in this chapel, and say,
the

that before the setting sun of the next

Lord's day every one would be laid

JERUSALEM AND

ITS VICINITY.

in

Like many
there
minds distant view of Jerusalem is inexpressias to the reality of the message, and but bly beautiful but the distant view is all.
little
necessity to say another word. On entering at the Damascus gate, mean" Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do ness, and filth, and misery, not exceeded,
if equalled, by any thing which I had beit with thy might," would be instantly

would answer
would be an impression on
his grave, I

for

other cities of the east, the

it

their

recollected and acted upon.

Ah

about next Sabbath night,

is to

great

distance.

If

it

to talk

talk of a

were to-morrow

fore seen, soon told the tale of degradation.

"

dim!"
Thus

How

is

the fine gold become

I went onward, pitying every

might be true of some of us.
till,
thing and everybody that I saw,
is the most fatal.
If religion be worth having at all, it is turning oflf to the right, and having passworth having now, and is worthy the ed up what is called the " Via Dolorosa,"
consecration of all the powers and facul- from its being the supposed path of our
Lord when he bore his cross on the way
ties of your minds.
And what more shall I say % Instant to his crucifixion, we at length alighted
decision ought to he made on this subject. at the Greek convent of Mar Michael.

night,

Of

all

it

delusions this

THE BRITISH

352
During the

first

few hours

arrival in the holy city, there

to stir

up the heart

that this

is

Scripture.

Hunger,

jar of boiled rice and

others

all

fatigue, and the

some bread, would

have been agreeably relieved by the welof pleasant countenances, sufficient

warm room but our apartments, which had not been occupied for
six months, were floored and vaulted with
food, and a

fireplaces are unknown

land, our provisions were
stone,

all

in
to

this

seek

and, at this late hour of the day, scarcely

Hadjee Demetrius, the serto be found.

vant of the convent, in a sort of broken

Turco-Grecian dialect, proffered his tedious and awkward services, the baggage
was to be looked after, the mercenary
and clamorous guides were to be (not satis-

that was an impossiblility but) setand, lastly, as

with and dismissed
if to diffuse a perfect sadness over our arrival, the storm which had threatened and
fied

with unspent warmth

really that venerable and be-

cheerlessness of an eight hours' ride over

a peculiarly desolate tract of country,
with no other refreshment than a small

come

of evangelic rapture,

little

to a lively feeling,

loved place, renowned above

in

Solomon. Isaiah here poured

after our

was

tled

PULPIT.

forth strains

which
till

will

glow

the end of time.

Here the building of the second temple

drew from the beholders mingled shouts
and tears
ple,

and, here

made more

the entrance of

was

that very tem-

glorious than the

'

the Desire of

all

first,

by

nations,

Messenger of the covenant!'

Here,
he liad rebuilt the temple of his own
body, he began the wondrous work of
raising a spiritual temple to his Father,
shedding abundantly upon his disciples the gift of the Holy Ghost, for which
the

after

and then
sending them forth as his witnesses to
"
the uttermost parts of the earth.'
Such were the principal thoughts, with
which I had for some months associated
this visit; and, now, all were gradually
presented to my mind.
I felt, I confess, no particular anxiety
to see what are called the " Holy Places."
Many have hastened to oflTer their first
devotions at the sepulchre of our Lord
so far from having this desire, I feel
somewhat of repugnance at the idea it is
they waited in this very city

'

enough for me to know that I am not far

slightly touched us during the latter part from that scene
that Gethsemane, and
of our stage, now began to fall in torrents, Calvary, and "the place where the Lord
similar to those which had buffeted us lay," are all so near to me, that I can
on the preceding evening near Sangyl. truly say, I am dwelling in the midst of
Every thing combined to inspire a feel- them. All this, too, my heart can better
ing of melancholy, congenial enough to conceive in the stillness of the night seathose emotions with which the actual son, than by the light of day. And he,
civil and religious condition of Jerusalem who suffered here, still lives,
" Jesus
deserves now to be contemplated ; but, Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and
in no degree harmonizing with those for ever !"
Spiritually he is as near to
sublimer and more glorious thoughts, me, as he would have been had I seen
which the very name of this city gene- him, this very day, at the ninth hour,
rally awakens in the bosom of the Chris- expiring upon the cross: the blood then
tian.
shed is still fresh in its efficacy, and
When the evening had closed, how- " cleanseth us from all sin." If to have
ever, and the hour of retirement, devotion, come hither should prove the means of
and repose arrived, all that I had ever an- raising me one degree higher in love to
ticipated as likely to be felt on reaching this adorable Redeemer, I would be
this place, gradually came into my mind, thankful
but let me remember, that he
and filled me with the most lively con- desires us chiefly to view him with the
sciousness of delight at being in .Jerusa- eye of faith ; and that, although " we
lem. "This,"
I thought,
"is no other see him not" in the flesh, "yet, believthan the city of David, Hither the queen ing, we may rejoice in him with joy unof the south came to hear the wisdom of speakable and full of glory."
Jowett.
;

SERMON

XXXVIII.

SEASONS OF TRIAL, TIMES OF PREPARATION.

BY THE REV.

"

And now when

A.

ROBERTSON,

was come, because it was the preparation,

Sabbath." Mark xv. 43.

the even

A.M.

that

is,

the

day before

the

the pious Jew endeavoured to dismiss

worldly cares from his mind, and made
It is conformed to the world, and is pre- arrangements suitable to the proper obpared only to act in things pertaining to servance of the Sabbath, the arrange-

The unrenewed mind

is

not subject to

the law of God, neither indeed can be.

ments of the nation generally were in

accordance with the solemnities of a day
Hence, though the
he is not slothful in business, is also fer- of spiritual rest.
vent in spirit, serving the Lord. Things week about to be closed had been disseen and temporal have a tendency to graced by scenes of maddening violence,
carnalize the affections, and we are apt to the evening of Saturday no sooner arrived,
forget whence we come, what we are than anxiety is manifested, that the Sabdoing, and whither we are going.
He, bath should be observed with accustomed
This wish was commendable,
therefore, who is preparing for a happy decency.
immortality, gladly embraces seasons, though its origin caa be traced merely to
the present

life.

The

individual

who

is

influenced by religious principles, while

peculiarly devoted to the concerns of the

soul.

The Sabbath,

in its

regular return,

sanctioned use.

among

Many

pious

persons,

ourselves, are accustomed to

tie-

Saturday evening to preparatory

worldly thoughts, to remind us of our meditation; and notwithstanding the la^
common origin, of the one way of access ness of principle, and the prevalence of
to the Father, of death, and of eternity. impiety in the present day, the manner in
In the estimation of every fearer of God, which Saturday evenings are spent serves
therefore, the Sabbath has a retrospective as a fair test of character to try the moral
is

intended to arrest the current of our

and a prospective aspect. A pious divine

has justly remarked, that one part of the
week is properly adapted for reflection,

state of our population.

other

acts of the

ately connected with the Sabbath.

Though

By many,

that

evening is sadly abused, because that it is

in immediate connexion with adav whii'h
they pollute, and their preparation for the
Sabbath is in unison with their known

These
for preparation.
mind should be more intense,
proportion as we are the more immedi- principles of

and the
in

vote

few, to

whom

action.

Among

the Sabbath

is

a choice
a delight,

and honourable, in "remembering the

had sadly degenerated, yet customs, Sabbath" they forget not preparatorywhich originated in times of piety, were exercises, and as far as leisure pornlits,
observed even by those among them who Saturday evening is employed as the
were actuated merely by a form of reli- direct stage from a week's business to a
Saturday evenings, generally, and Sabbath's fervency of spirit. The text,
gion.
particularly those preceding festivals, therefore, authorizes us to press upoa
were seasons of preparation; and while you the propriety of spending Saturday
353
2 62
Vol. II.45

the Jews, at the period referred to in our

text,

THE BRITISH

S54
eveniiio- as

scribed by theterms

preparation for the exer-

Satan the stumblinff

Apollyoa
the Devil an accuser
block
a serpent, cunning
a lion,
the destroyer
savage and destructive not only a mur-

ensuing day. This idea,

however, we merely notice in passing-,
and we leave it for your private consideration, and we request your attention to
other ideas of still greater importance
of

ciscs

PULPIT.

the

derer, bat a niurderer from the beginning

and

not only a liar, but the father of

time of pre- lies. As a potentate, he is over the powparation, generally, is a season of trial, ers of darkness, and is the prince of the
and is painful to flesh and blood. Ex. powers of the air. The world lieth in
amination, confession, and humility are wickedness, or in the evil one, expresses
as congenial to a Saturday evening, as the extent of his dominion, and Legion

suggested by the text.

Hia
that his agents are many.
agency on the mind of man la

adoration, gratitude, and praise are to a

Sabbath night. Training is not enjoy-

shows

ment, but the means by which it is acThe way to heaven is through a

quired.
wilderness and by a vale of tears. Times
of refreshing revivals. Sabbaths to the
church, are ushertd in by a night of preparation, often dark and portentous. The
present is an era of conflicting principles,
a night of preparation, and having past,
we anticipate a Sabbath on which the

incontrovertible.

direct

He

entered

the

heart

He

tempted David to number

the children of Israel and without adding

of Judas.

quotations,

it

is sufficient to stale, that

he

rules in the hearts of the disobedient.

manner in which Satan

mind of man is above reason, yet this doctrine harmonizes with
If we deny
Scripture and experience.
Sun of righteousness shall shine, in the agency of Satan because incomprebright efl'ulgence, to dispel the darkness hensible, on the same grounds, we may
in which we are at present enveloped. also deny the agency of the Divine Spirit.
What may be said of the state of the Both are received on the authority of the
church is also true of every individual
Bible, and both are known to us from

Though

the

influences the

it is

a time of preparation, because every

individual

is

either preparing for happi-

ness or misery.

Tliese

two ideas we

their eff"ects.

If both are denied because

incomprehensible, on the same principle

we may deny that angels ever communi-

intend to illustrate in the following dis-

cated any thing to the

course.

dreams and visions.

Firnt, Times of preparation

CHURCH ARE SEASONS OF TRIAL.

in

the

is

are

why not grant that

may be made to

granted,

other communications

Secondly, Life is a time of preparation FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL, AND EITHER

WORKS FOR HIS GOOD OR EVIL ACCORDING
AS UE IS EXERCISED.

Every individual who

tions

mind of man in
communica-

If such

acquainted

mind of man ? If supposed to be

made by angels through the medium of
the

cannot Satan, as a created

mind through the
same channel 1 The organs of sense,
the

senses,

angel, influence our

with the history of the church, knows

that it has undergone various changes.

tions from

It is subject to incessant fluctuations,

angels, and the spirits of the just

either

Such

is

progressing

a state of things

and

besides, are not essential in

mind

to

mind,

for

communicaunembodied

made

or

retrogradintr.

perfect, enjoy the society of each other,

may

be expected,

and therefore what we cannot comprehend

we believe from experience, analogy, and,
above all, from the express declarations

under the spiritual warfare in which the

church is engaged.
The existence of
Satan is distinctly stated in the Bible, and
fVom 1st Timothy iii. G, the cause of his
expulsion from heaven seems to have been
pride
a feeling which, succeeding to un-

belief in our first parents, through Satan's

of Scripture.

Satan does not possess one attribute of

though fallen, he possesses

infinity; but,
all

the

qualities of

a mighty, created,

which fit him for his staagency, expelled them from paradise. tion over the powers of darkness, and aa
From Jude, verse 6, we learn the place of the prince of the power of the air;
his habitation.
His disposition is de-|and having numbers at his command^
intelligence,

SEASONS OF TRIAL, TIMES OF PREPARATION.

they a'Ccomplish as far as they are perIn exact propormitted his mandates.
tion as the heart is impure, so is the influence of Satan and when the heart plans
and evinces its wicked determinations by
actions, Satan, seeing its prevailing tendencies, suggests, encourages, and excites.
It is remarkable that Satan in
tempting our first parents, and afterwards
in tempting our Saviour, assumed a bodily
form, and one, in each case, adapted to
the prepossessions of those he assailed.
Whether, in tempting innocence, this indirect method is necessary, we do not at
present inquire ; but this we know from
the Scripture representation, that in an
invisible manner he influences the mind of
;

355

ing corruption within their hearts inclines

them to listen to the suggestions of their
enemies, and hence their principles of
action

lose

gradually their legitimate

process of assimilation

influence.

thus commences, and

is

continues, till it
arrested by divine agency.
Exposed

church is aroused from her

and as is the extent of her
apostacy, so must be the severity of her
to trial, the

lethargy,

the process of refinement through

trial,

which she must pass,

the children of

men

to regain

In effecting this change, those

the side of

God

among

her proper influence.

who

are on

are exposed to severe

privations. In giving a tone to their

minds
which they arc
to engage, prepossessions must be overfallen man.
The world in Scripture is uniformly come, prejudices subdued, and a spirit
spoken of as a platform on which a imbibed, which, in the first instance at
mighty contest is maintained between least, counteracts more or less their ineliheaven and hell. When a check is given nations. In other words, they must subto Satan's power, his malice is increased, mit to a system of training, to which
and the movements of both parties excite human nature has an aversii n. On aba commotion, which ultimately produces stract principles, therefore, it is evident
The decreas- that preparation implies trial. In the
the most beneficial effects.
suitable to the conflict in

ing of his influence excites his wrath, and nature of things, we arrive at this conthis excitement in the moral world is clusion, and independently of facts, we
overruled by God, for the promotion of may be satisfied of the necessary connexpiety; and Satan, baffled in his schemes, ion between a state of trial and a state
of improvement in the church.
Truths,
however, proved by abstract principles,
make a feebler impression on the mind
of man, than the same truths imbodied
in examples.
Hence, in the Bible, generally, instruction is furnished to us from
examples, and this palpable method is
used on the most important occssions.

and,
adopts new plans of resistance
thus, though the contest continues una;

bated, the struggle

is

more

or less severe,

according to the extent of the moral

change to be made in the world.
Principles, besides, have theirdue influ-

ence only when legitimately applied. The

church is not merely in the midst of enemies, but, she only can maintain her position by continued vigilance, and unceasSecurity begets confiing exertion.
dence, and this state produces, on the
one hand, indifference, and, on the other,
renewed activity. The friends and foes,
besides, in this contest, possess not the
same determination to defend their respective cause.

The mind

of

man

naturally

The

faith

actions,

of

Abraham

which lead us

conclusion, that he

and justly

is

was

is

illustrated

by

irresistibly to the

the friend of

called the

God,

Father of the

The goodness of God in redemption, likewise, is strikingly exem-

faithful.

plified
j

love of

God

for "in this was

God towards us;

manifested the
because, that

sent his only begotten Son into the

world that we might live through him."

In accordance, therefore, with this mode
are gratifying their natural propensities. of Bible instruction, v/e shall prove from
Those who are on the side of God are a few examples, that the time of preparadetermined in their conduct, just in pro- tion is a season of trial. These words
portion as they are renewed in the spirit " so God created man in his own imac,
of their raind. The remains of indwell- in the ima?e of God created he him,"
is set

on

evil,

and the adherents of Satan,

in opposing the interests of true religion,

THE BRITISH

350

PtJLPlT.

The}' remind

angels, they were convinced of the neces-

OS of the moral condition of man at creaAll his wishes were in unison with
tion.

sary connexion between disobedience and

punishment. P]very view of the case

are beautifully significant.

the will of his Creator.

His desires rose made them acquiesce

and were seasonably

In spontaneous movement, his
gratified.
heart heaved with gratitude to his benefactor, and his lips imbodied in accents
of praise the feelings of his mind. A
change soon was effected. The voice of
temptation was heard, listened to, and
in

rej^ular

order,

The poison of the serpent

obeyed.
The
swallowed, moral death ensued.
celestial fire which burned in his breast
at creation was extinguished, and the
moral image f God effaced. Disbelief
produced distrust, pride urged to rebellion, and the forbidden fruit plucked,
gave decisive proof of man's moral condiReasoning led to despair, and
tion.

infliction

the immediate

in

of that sentence, "in the day

that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely

die."

was

This time of preparation

to

man

a season of despair, and to angels, of

perplexing thought. It v\as an even of

preparation before no expected Sabbath,
the mere interval of respite from merited
and anticipated punishment. During this

period of preparation, light arose from

In the garden of Eden, God
appeared, in the cool of the day, rebuked

darkness.

his rebellious children, and in the relent-

ings of parental affection, announced a

plan of mercy worthy of his character,

and exactly adapted to the state of Ids

How pleasant

fallen creatures.

to

our

first

hope, the last stay of man, left the earth.

' Adani, where art thou]" connected the
pa^t with the future, and filled the mind
of man witii bitter regrets and unavailing

parents would be the transition from de-

the promise of a deliverer, trials, severe

cured for the justified and sanctified of

and unprecedented, were endured by our

They had lost happiness
first parents.
and innocence, entailed misery on an expected race, and subjected themselves
and posterity to the horrors of a violated
law. Their conduct was disgraced by
disbelief, pride, ingratitude, and imbecility; and tears were all that remained for
them, or anguish, too deeply seated in the
heart, to allow even the enjoyment of
that relief.
Angels cannot suffer pain,
but circumstances of a peculiar nature
may awaken keenly their curiosity, and
so excite their benevolence as to raise in

the

their breast a turmoil of feeling.

Egypt seem

In proportion as the evea

spair to hope.

of preparation

was severe and

trying, so

would be the enjoyment of the spiritual

wishes. This period in the history of exercises on the Sabbath which followed.
the church was a time of preparation, The wrath of Satan made to praise God,
and a season of trial. From the fall to in additional honour and blessedness pro-

If,

of

human

race,

and

new

racter exhibited in the

aspects of cha-

Godhead, would

astonish and enrapture the angelic host;

and

if

ration
it

ever their feelings of ecstatic admi-

were strung

was when,

to their highest pitch,

in the

overflowings of com-

passion, the Creator said,

"And

will

put enmity between thee and the woman,

and between thy seed and her seed
it
:

shall

bruise thy

head,

and thou shalt

bruise his heel."

The

land of

Canaan was promised

to

the patriarchs, as a sure inheritance to

their

Their descendants

in

not to have been anxious

foj

posterity.

them it ever could, with justice, be said, the fulfilment of God's promise. They
" they sat retired in wondering mazes were prosperous, and their minds were
" And
lost," it was at the eventful period to unprepared for such an event.
which we have referred. Their sym- the children of Israel were fruitful, and
pathies were awakened for man, and increased abundantly, and multiplied,
yet the wish that mercy would operate and waxed exceeding mighty, and the
in his behalf, led to consejuences at land was filled with them."
God's
which their pure minds instantly re- ways are not man's ways and before the
volted. Reasoning on the moral character fulfilment of the promised deliverance,
of their Creator, and reflecting on the his people had to endure an even of preconsequence of the rebellion of the fallen paration, " Now there arose up a new
;

SEASONS OF TRIAL, TIMES OF PREPARATION.

king over Eg^'pt, who knew not Joseph."
" And the Egyptians made the children
of Israel to serve with rigour, and they
made their lives bitter with hard bond
age."
This was the dawn of mental
preparation, but sharper trials were necessary to loosen their attachment to Egypt.
Additional burdens imposed, subdue their
spirits, and widen the breach between
" And the
them and their oppressors.

umph.
j

Those who were

357
qualified to ap-

preciate deliverance from thraldom,

were
unworthy to possess a land, flowing with
milk and honey. The carcasses of a
rebellious

race fell in the wilderness;

and a generation, reared during an even
of preparation, enjoyed the rest of the
promised land. " And the Lord said,

Because

my

all

those

glory and

my

men which have seen

miracles which I did in
the wilderness, have

children of Israel sighed by reason of the Egi'P^ ^nd in

bondage; and they cried, and their cry tempted me now these ten times, and
came up unto God," When INIoses and have not hearkened to my voice, surely
Aaron first interceded in their behalf, they shall not see the land which I swore
their case was hopeless in the extreme. unto their fathers, neither shall any of
Under the power of a haughty and impe- them that provoked me see it. But my
rious tyrant, escape from his territories servant, Caleb, because he had another
seemed impossible, and complaints ren- spirit with him, and hath followed me
dered their bondage more intolerable. fully, him will I bring into the land
The faith of the pious Israelites might whereunto he went, and his seed shall
be strong in the veracity of God ; but possess it. But your little ones which ye
every event seemed in direct opposi- said would be a prey, them will 1 bring
tion to the accomplishment of
their in, and they shall know the Lord which
wishes, and the fulfilment of God's pro- ye have despised."
mises. Those who calculated merely
If we fix our attention on that even of
from appearances, would pronounce their preparation referred to in the text, and
deliverance to be an impossibility, and connect with it past events, and those
ATould endeavour to resign themselves to which immediately succeeded, we will be
circumstances which they could not con- fully convinced that a time of preparation
After the Babylotrol.' All passing events, however, were is a season of trial.
overruled by God, to the confusion of nish captivity, the Jews were little given
their oppressors, and to give the minds of to idolatry.
The means of instruction
his own people a proper bias for the mode were more widely diffused, and, with this
of life on which they were to enter. change of circumstances, the carnality of
While Pharaoh was hardening, they were their heart operated in new channels.
softening.
Their even of preparation Satan adapted his temptations to their
was come, and with a strong hand, and out- moral state, and while externally they
stretched arm, they were delivered from worshipped God, the internal homage of
bondage.
Their even of preparation, the heart was withheld. Their religion
however, was not past, when they tri- was a form of godliness, without its
umphantly marched from the confines of power. The Essenes retired from the
their prison house; for though they were noisy crowd, practised austerities, and
prepared to leave Egypt, they were un- gratified their morbid temperament. They
prepared to enter Canaan. Trial after were the monks and nuns of Judaism,
trial
happened, and wonder succeeded and yielded to passions which should
wonder, in their wanderings in the wil- have been resisted by divinely appointed
contending
of
and, instead
derness ; and, while every occurrence means;

was intended

for their

mental preparation,

their history serves as a lesson-book to

every succeeding age. God generally

accomplishes his ends by making passing
events subservient to his will.

The

sighs

of the children of Israel, in Egypt, were

the notes of preparation for songs of tri-

against the vices of the times, they deserted their posts, and injured themselves

and

society.

The Sadducees were

infidels of the old dispansation.

was

the

Reason

their idol, pride their actuating princi-

and present gratification the consummation of their wishes. The Pharisees

ple,

THE BRITISH

358

PULPIT.

were the representatives of the religious to agitate and perplex their minds. The
people among the Jews. This is the rea- promises of God they could not doubt,
son why our Saviour uniformly reproves but how they were to receive fulfilment
them with marked severity. They wisiied was beyond their comprehension. The
to be reckoned truly religious, but the faithful disciples were scattered as sheep
Saviour traced their religious principles without a shepherd. The mangled body
and hope,
to selfish motives, and all these preten- of the Saviour was entombed
lingering in the breast,
sions, to the desire of gaining the ap- though still
Attention to ceremonies scarcely durst imbody a wish. The Jewplause of men.
and vain tradition, made a good Pharisee, ish Sabbath passed, next morning the
though by him the sanclification of his Christian Sabbath dawned, and a slumberAt this period the ing Saviourburst the bands of death asunheart was neglected.
heathen nations lay prostrate at the feet der, triumphed over death, and him who
of Satan
and the Jews, with few excep- had the power of death. The preparations, yielded to his will.
During this tion over, the trial in the divine economy
even of preparation, Simeon had a few had accomplished its purpose, and a
sons, and Anna some daughters, who different scene is now presented to our
;

observed the aspect of the times, and

waited for the consolation of Israel.

contemplation.

The

departed from Judah,

drim, an amazed multitude, a conqueror

and every event seemed to hasten the

grand consummation, foretold by the prophets.
An astonishing personage appeared, in whom their hopes centred.
With wisdom unequalled, benevolence
unwearied, and power uncontrollable, he
seemed to be the desire of all nations.
Hosannas ascend to his praise, and he

ascending on high, bearing gifts for men,

the Spirit bestowed on Pentecost, the

is

sceptre had

welcomed

as the anticipated deliverer

He announces that his kingnot of this world, and the crowd

enraptured

gifts,

and Christianity proclaimed throughout

the vast extent of the Roman empire.
The night of diffidence, doubt, and perplexity,

was the

proportion

their acclamations
he reproves
and sinners overawed retire, determined on his destruction. The disappointed change their wishes into accusations.
Envy brooded over his virtues,
and could not bear the contrast. The
reproved thirsted for revenge, and all

immediate

harbinger

of confidence, assurance, and clear manifestations of

vice,

sanhe-

endowed with miranumbers added to the church,

of Israel.

cease

Saviour,

heralds of the cross

culous

dom

is

triumphant

disciples, a stupified

as

Heaven's approbation. lu
the even of preparation

was awfully portentous, and severely trying, so were the triumphs which followed,
and the pleasures which the faithful
enjoyed.

The same

topic

we might

strikingly

from events which occurred at

the reformation.
An infidel prpe, the
sale of indulgencies, and marked degeneracy among the clergy and laity, were

illustrate

joined in the cry, Away with him, crucify

him, crucify him.
The hour and the
power of darkness was come, and the unpropitious harbingers of better times.
Saviour of mankind was apprehended, The persecuted few, the seed of the
insulted, and nailed to the accursed tree, church, under the various names of
between two malefactors. The sun was Waldenses, Hugonots, and Lollards, the
ashamed to witness such a scene, and inA'ention of printing, and the reading of
was vested in darkness; and nature mur- a Bible by an obscure monk, were the
mured her complaints in thunder the divinely appointed means to change this
earth shook and parted her rocks asun- eve of preparation into the splendid dawn
der.
The Saviour bowed his head and of the reformation. These and similar
gave up the ghost. This was, if not the topics, which will readily occur to rehour of despair to spiritual Israelites, at fleeting minds, we leave for private medi-

least

it

was

season of

the even of preparation

trial.

imbibed the

spirit

Even

the

who had
of prophecy, had much
those

tation,

and shortly apply

the principles

to

present times

which we have

illustrated.

Among Christians who observe

passing

SEASONS OF TRIAL, TIMES OF PREPARATION.

events, and

consider their bearing, the

general opinion seems to be, that the present

have of

ful events

world.

society,

is

Wonder- Sabbath about

to dawn on a spiritually
benighted slumbering world. True, as
mere glance at the aspect of yet, we see on the horizon merely an
sufficiently convincincr that its ominous cloud of small size, but it is

an even of preparation.

is

359

prophecy, the faith of the Christian leads

him, from this even of preparation, to a

late

happened

in

the

appearance is portentous. The changes

in South America, in Africa generally
the spirit of freedom imbibed by the

rapidly increasing, and will soon descend

showers, upon a parched

Satan yet holds his sway, seemthe desired ameliora- ingly undiminished among the nations,
states of Europe
tion of oppressed operatives, and the but the Captain of our salvation, going
emancipation of slaves the spread of forth conquering and to conquer, will
knowledge the union of mankind by rescue his prey from the hand of the
commerce the translations of the Scrip- mighty, and wiHi the rapidity of lighttures
the prevalent desire for temperance ning from heaven, the power of Satan
Times of refreshing we
the revivals in America, and the spread may decline.
are some of the signs of may anticipate from the presence of tJse
of the gospel
the times, from which preparation, a Lord, and the present commotions, politiSabbath of spiritual refreshment may be cal and religions, may be the appointed
Heathenism is gradually preparation to effect this desirable end.
anticipated.
Our even of preparation, as a nation, is
decreasing, and the active exertions of
missionary and Bible societies, have pre- peculiar, and may be one of no ordinary
pared the way for extensive inroads into trial. With us it is a conflicting era of
Popery on the Conti- opinion
the struggle of principle and
Satan's kingdom.
are not heathennent is on the wane. France never was the war of party.
a favourite daughter of his holiness. Too ized, beguiled by delusion, degraded by
volatile for the austerities of a debasing superstition, or devoted to infidelity.
are a compound of the whole, and
superstition, under the name of popery,

in

fertilizing

world.

We

We

worshipped the god- the idol of our worship is

The reserved Spaniard, image of clay, nor iron, nor
dess Reason.
and haughty Italian, are clamorous under gold. We are a discordant
the thraldom of an ignorant and tyrannical require to be harmonized by
in varied forms, she

priesthood.

The

delusion of

Mahomet

is

brass, nor
mass, and
a powerful
divine agency.
Not one half of our population are church-going, and we have, in
general, more of the form than the power

Mahometans themselves acknowledge that a change seems

The power of the Sultan is of
inevitable.

rapidly declining, and

neither an

godliness.

The

saintly virtues of past

gradually lessening from the inroads of times are chronicled, not exemplified.
Egypt, in Our standard of spirituality is lowered
Persia, Russia, and Egypt.
the language of prophecy, the " basest of by yielding to the influence of deterioratkingdoms," seems to have completed her ing example. Our light shines enough

and the fulfilment of that

remarkable passage is not far distant
"The Lord shall smite Egypt, he shall
smite and heal it, and they shall return to
the Lord, and he shall be entreated of
them, and shall heal them." If the Jews
are to be restored to their own land, on
degradation,

words, but too little in works. Where

is found a knowledge of Bible principles, in too many cases there is an
in

there

aversion

to

their

Our sympathies

just
are

self-application.

awakened

at

moral

their conversion, Palestine is of so little

misery in the mass, but the detail, as it

meets our every day observation, is little
regarded.
The schemes of modern times

present possessors, that were

arc truly characteristic of our Christianity.

value

to its

demanded for its former inhabitants, it We do things on a grand scale, but by

would scarcely be withheld. The issue grasping at too much, the individuality of
it

of present events
in

much

is

necessarily involved

obscurity, but connecting the

religion escapes our observation, and

feel

disappointed that the

eff'ect

we

does not

aspect of the times with the sure word of correspond to the means employed.

Our

THE BRITISH

360
are

Sabballi-scliools

justly

extolled

To

as

for training

counteract

this

state

of

society,

our power should be employed,

and, blessed from on high, our even of
preparation may usher in a Sabbath on

means

youth but
many seem to consider them as a primary,
and not a secondary means for this end
moral nurseries

PULPIT.

in

which many weary souls may find rest.

Speculation in religion must yield to the
self-application of principles, and we
to become sj>iritual teachers in the en- must discriminate more correctly between
dearing circle of home. A mighty moral their legitimate use and abuse. Parents
machine is kept in action, and humble should be urged and directed to rear their
and, hence,

in

the present da)',

we

too sel-

dom

hear tlio pressing call to parents, the

natural guardians of youthful morality,

exertions in retirement are noisutficienUy

children in the nurture and admonition of

guided, aided or respected, and their colThe

lected effect si arcely recognised.

the Lord, and neglected youth

sending

pious Sabbath-school teachers.

translating of the Bible, and

tiie

to foster parents, ardent,

committed

experienced, and
Artificial

by missionaries to heathen lands, was barriers should be overthrown, and plans

an attempt worthy of united Christian adopted for the instruction of our spiritPride and
philanthropy, but in the splendours of ually destitute population.
such a dazzling scheme we overlooked envy, the sources of partisanship, must
the mass of our population perishing for merge into brotherly kindness, and the
lack of knowledge. We need not give war of party now raging must cease, and

it

examples, for it cannot be

denied that even our most laudable efforts
have little tendency to self-application,
and the effect is the prevalence of nomi-

a spiritual crusade be undertaken against

peculiarly insnaring to the unstable and

and do good," is the motto worthy to be

inscribed on every Christian banner un-

additional

Christians
Satan, and the world.
having one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, should leave minor differences to
nal Christianity and infidelity in various jarring spirits, and unite in the godlike
grades among the different classes of enterprise of spreading the triumphs of
Pastors must come more frethe cross.
society.
This state of things has favoured the quently in contact with their flocks, and
increase of popery, infidelity and ungod- discipline be regulated by the word of
liness. Popery is addressed to the senses, God.
All the means which should be
the religion of the unsanctified nature, in adopted we attempt not to enumerate, but
every possible variety, under the sem- our duty done, conscience will approve,
blance of Christianity.
Modified in this and the result must be left to a wise overcountry to existing circumstances, it is ruling providence. "Trust in the Lord
sin,

imaginsUive, and an increasing ignorant

population readily embrace it, because it

furled in the cause of Christianity.

so easily coalesces with the spontaneous

movcnrents of their unspiritualized hearts,

Unitarianism is a species of religion more
subtle in its elements, and peculiarly
adapted for a certain class of minds.

haps, as a nation, the

tion
j

trials
j

'

allows

Oi"

ap])earance of reasoning,

mental

it

efforts, flatters natural

pride, cherishes the

spirit

of infidelity

under disguise, and furnishes apologies

for moral wanderings, which make a few
separatists so eagerly pursue this meagre
phautom. Impiety is the offspring of
folly, for the fool alone has the wish
No God, A heart set on evil is the source
of ungodliness and ignorance, and evil
habits combined make it assume its most
revolting forms.

Per-

of prepara-

has only commenced, and severe

we may have to endure, before w"e

are prepared to enjoy the glory of the

For a time we must sojourn

wilderness to acquire a temper of
mind fitted to enter Canaan,
In our
latter day.

Assuming an

dawn

'

in the

camp

the rebellious

must be

visited

with

sore judgments, and the carcasses of the

unbelieving must

fall by the way, but our

Calebs who followed the Lord shall enter
the promised land.
Our Joshuas shall
lead the host of the Lord from victory to
victory, and the angel of the covenant
shall be our defence,
A cloud by day
shall overshadow the ransomed ones, and
a pillar of fire by night direct their path,

SEASONS OF TRIAL, TIMES OF PREPARATION.

wanderings are over and their
trials passed, they enter the heavenly
Jerusalem with songs of praise, to eat
for ever angels' food and drink the water
of life, clear as crystal, issuing from the
throne of God.
Secondly, Life is a time of preparation FOR EVERV INDIVIDUAL, AND EITHER
WORKS FOR HIS GOOD OR EVIL ACCORDING
AS HE IS EXERCISED.
till

their

From

361

them

rebelled and were driven from their

habitation.
Tiiis was a necessary conse-

quence, for heaven is a place of holiness,

and sinful beings cannot remain within its

Though sinful beings

God more immedi-

sacred enclosure.

cannot dwell where

ately displays his glory, yet

from the history of

fiillen angels might
in parts

liis

seems,

it

proceedings, that

visit siiiless creatures

of created space.

Satan,

tliere-

of the Creator,

had access to the globe which we

inhabit, and tempted our first parents to

lence

rebel.

a consideration of the character

we conclude, that benevo

an essential attribute of his
nature, and that his tender mercies will appear throughout all his works. The mind
is

fore,

abode

Hell, therefore,
for

man

naturally acquiesces in the doctrine of a

parents, and
their

for the

happiness of those

whom

he

the

proper

nerations were to descend from our

creating and superintending power arrang-

ing

was

as a sinful creature.

state

God adapted

the

Gefirst

earth

to

as a temporary residence in

their journey to eternity.

God revealed

Hence, rather than exclude this his plan of deliverance to them, and the
idea from their minds, the heathens earth, though under a curse, is peculiarly
adopted the opinion of good and bad adapted to the present probationary state
deities, and the eastern nations of an evil of man.
He is placed in it now, under a
and a good principle, sharing the govern- new economy to prepare for a future
ment of this world. The idea, besides, existence. This globe, therefore, which
is confirmed by incontrovertible evidence, Satan considered as a part of his empire,
for in the Bible we are assured, that God and its inhabitants as his slaves, is made
made all very good, and delighted in the the platform for the exhibition of astowork which he had produced.
This nishing events, under the moral governworld, as wheeled into space, was crown- ment of God. By the fall, rnan was not
ed with beauty. It was worthy of the cre- only liable to punishment, but had beating hand of a benevolent being, and a come morally depraved.
Christ by dying
suitable abode for innocence and happy bore the penalty of a violated law, and
creatures.
Man was the lord of the crea- thus delivered believers from punishtion, and his habitation afforded him every ment, and he procured the agency of the
enjoyment which his heart could wish, or Spirit to create the heart anew, and thus
his imagination conceive.
He himself restored the divine image which was lost
was curiously wrought, and admirably by sin. The deliverance from punishadapted to his situation. His body was ment which Christ effected for believers
immortal and fresh in undecaying youth, is an act, and is called justification ; the
health nerved his arm for action, and his renewing of the heart is a work, and is
body was capable of obeying every im- called sanctification. The latter beings
pulse of his mind.
His powers and progressive, though an act of grace, is
faculties were strong
his mind vigorous accomplished by means.
his heart glowed with devotion
and
Life to Christians frequently is a
innocence unsullied adorned his nature. checkered scene, and at every remarkaA contemplation, therefore, of man's ble stage of their pilgrimage to eternity,
original state, proves the benevolence of fresh proofs of an unseen directing power
God, and that he wishes to make his are furnished. They are often led by a
creatures happy.
way which they know not, and conducted
Every creature is finite, and, coming to an issue which they did not anticipate.
perfect from the hand of God, may be- Ordinary occurrences are much under our
come imperfect from personal acts. By own control, and by certain modes of
an act of creation God peopled heaven action we can, in not a few cases, prewith finite perfect beings, but some of dict the result. Circumstances, however,
creates.

Vol.

H. 46

2H

THE BRITISH

362

did not foresee, and which,

from our ignorance of the cause, we term

which we

give new directions to our

and change in a greater or less
deofree the aspect of our personal history.
The meeting of a friend, the death of a
accidents,

plans,

relation, or a single

word dropped

in

con-

PULPIT.

from the medium through which they are

viewed, make a weak impression on our
minds. Our heavenly Father, therefore,
brings us more closely in contact with
the things which belong to our peace, by
preparation often perplexing, and gene-

We

rally unpleasant.

may be connected with a course joyment to future

which may either imbitter or process of training

versation,

of events

prefer present en-

happiness, and by a
suited to our case, o'lr

heavenly Father bends our stubborn

of importance may excite to activity minds, that the future may not be neglected
minds which otherwise would have cor- ill the engrossing anxieties of the present.
roded with ennui, repined in solitude, or Hence, the trials wliich we suppose calbten frittered away on trifles. Individual culated to bring our gray hairs with sorand general good may result from such row to the grave, are the divinely apSituations

o-ladden our future existence.

Minds of the pointed means of ripening us for glory.

may be The moral culture which we are receiv-

ovexruling dispensations.

strongest grasp and finest mould

wasted in uncongenial pursuits, but while

God's ends are not frustrated by such an
arrangement, the individuals so circumstanced are kept in a state of preparation.
Prosperity engenders pride, and adversity
balances, in

powers.

some minds,

sickly existence

the actuating

may

preserve

Bereavements loosen

the soul in health.

from created objects.

All
works for the good of the Christian, and
the fluctuations to which he is exposed
prepare his mind for the spiritual employ-

the

heart

ing

necessary,

is

flourish,

dise of

that

and bloom

God.

Tired of the vexations of life and an

unspiritualizing world, we are apt to
exclaim, "
that we had wings like a
dove, that we might flee hence and be at

This wish is improper, for the

mental state which has urged us to imbody such feelings, shows that we are not
fully resigned to God's way in preparing
" Blessed are the dead
us for heaven.

rest."

who

ments of heaven.
Every individual in future will be rewarded according to his works. As we
sow, so shall we reap. He that sows

afflicting feeling, but

sparingly

inactivity.

Among

reap

shall

also

sparingly.

we may grow,

for ever in the para-

die in the Lord, they rest from their

labours, and their

Heaven

is

rest

The

works do follow them."

from pain and every
it

is

not a state of

capabilities

of

mind

the angelic host there are vari-

acquired in a probationary state are kept

ous degrees, and though all are happy

in heaven, the capacity for enjoyment is

there in active play without any disturb-

As

infinitely varied.

ing force.

The wonders

of creation, the

are full

intricacies of Providence, the varied sub-

to overflowing, but all cannot partake of

limities of redemption, with a considera-

same extent of enjoyment. In the

joy of our Lord as we have employed

tion of the past, present,

our talents, so will be the measure of our

they can expatiate with

reward.
This peculiarity in heaven's
jurisprudence is too much overlooked by
Christians In their preparation for eter-

higher, therefore, the tone of spirituality

vessels

all

the

nity.

Heaven

is

recommended

spoken of by us in
the godly ambition

and

general teims,

the Scriptures escapes

endure no ordinary struggle, and submit to most unpleasant preparation to gain our wishes in this world.
The temporal object is seen, and stimu-

our notice.

in

We

lates us to continued exertion.

things, though

Spiritual

superlatively important,

to

them endless

and future, open

fields of inquiry, in

rapture.

which

The

acquired in the even of preparation, the

more exalted the enjoyment during an
endless heavenly Sabbath.

Here Satur-

day well spent prepares the mind for the

exercises and enjoyment of a coming Sabbath.
There the activities of the even of
preparation are exchanged for employments adapted to every mind, and the
more refined and capacious the energies,
the higher the range of wonders unfolded.
the more ravishing the enjoyment and

SEASONS OF TRIAL, TIMES OF PREPARATION.

Here the Sabbath

ecstatic the praise.

intended

for

bodily rest

is

and spiritual

refreshment ; there the weary pilgrim

finds repose from distracting cares, the
malice of an evil world, and the perversity of a wicked heart; there blooms

the tree

manna

of

life

found

is

the

hidden

363

feelings, and even the tear starting in the

eye, the parent causes grief to his child

from the purest motives. And is there

such a plan of sensibility in a parent's
heart in chastising his offspring, and will
not our heavenly Father have, t-owards his
own whom he aiBicts, the overflowings

which gladden of parental love. God is perfect in his

the city of our God
society
the most nature, and no impulse of feeling will
estimable employments congenial joy, make him withdraw that stroke which is
without a wish or a fear of its termina- to improve the heart. The grief which
rivers of pleasure

he causes has a direct connexion with the

tion.

The conduct

of a parent towards his

family exemplifies the system of moral

which God here subjects his

people to prepare them for the exercises of heaven.
Children wish to enjoy
training to

own

and see the future only

through the imagination. The restraints
under which they are placed, and the
the present,

Wiiom

glory of a better state of being.

he loves he chastens ; and though his

mode of culture be unpleasant to nature,
yet knowing tlie end he has in view, the
language of faith is, " It is the Lord,
let

him do what seems

good

in

hi*

sight."

It has been supposed, that the kindness

punishments which they endure, are sel- of God would be more manifest to our
dom imputed to the real motives. The race, were there no sorrow in the world.
parent who does his duty anticipates futu- This supposition originates in a mistake.
rit}% and prepares his children to be use- There was a time when affliction did not
ful members of society by mental train- depress the mind of man, but sin has
entirely altered his moral constitution,
ing.
It is unpleasant to check the lively
buoyancy of youth, and force the unwill and he has to be treated according^ to his
ing mind to labour. If he is directed by circumstances.
Were there no grief,
feeling, he may spoil his children by there would be no sin, and were there no
indulgence, and incur their blame in after sin, the present race of beings would
years but if he is guided by right princi- require to be swept from the face of the
This is not the result wanted by
ples, he will train them for the sphere of globe.
life in which they are most probably the objector, for he supposes the present
destined to act.
His children and he state of things to exist, and wishes comtherefore have different ends in view with plete happiness to be connected with a
present time.
His children wish it for sinful state. In other words he wishes
enjoyment, and the wise parent wishes it an impossibility. He wishes God not to
to be employed in preparing for active train man for immortality in the way best
life.
The wish of the one not unfre- adapted to his nature. God trains for
quently will oppose that of the other, and heaven by affliction ; and the objector
authority must interfere to gain the de- wishes the result without the means,
;

sired end.

The parent may have

to strug-

gle with the finest feelings of our nature

in enforcing obedience

when

correction

is

happiness without the unpleasant moral

training.

Were

Satan's power annihilated, and

then grief could not
what God has in

man's heart changed,

and for his future welfare, he may subject exist. This is just
him to severe chastisement. Is the lov- view by his system
ing parent at this time devoid of feeling and, to wish such an
necessary, and from affection to his child,

when

he puts his child to necessary pain

for future benefit?

judicious

ment

is

We

appeal to every

parent before us,

if chastise-

not resorted to for future advan-

This consideration overcomes the

quiverings of nature, and with excited

tage.

sent state of things,

plain of

God's way

of moral training,
end, under* the preis

not only to com-

in leading his

own

to

heaven, but argues a desire for enjoyment

without the necessary preparation. What
important end can be gained without
and is
labour, privation, and patience
"?

THE BRITISH

364

this earth to be heaven, while

hat

state

realized

wculd
state

only

it is

nature of things preparatory

in the

it

of

to

Could the
wliich

fur

possibilities be

we have

adverted,

be kindness in

God

things

world directly

in

this

to

grant a

PULPIT.

may

poses he

let

them

alone, and

may

reserve the developement of strict justice

to

another world.

of irreligious

men

Hence, a vast number

are allowed to prosper,

but in the secret counsels of God, they

may be fattening for the day of slaughter,

preparing for an awful reckoning.

Their minds may be of that nature that
affliction would not profit, and God overworld to come. Were all happy here, rules their prosperity to answer his plans
would we sigh for the happiness of of moral government. He has compasfuturity.
How would our sanctification sion for them, and does not take the
be promoted, were our minds not im- enjoyment from them which would not
pressed with tiie evil of sin 1
Where individually profit, and which they may
would be the compassion to lull us into a enjoy, and his moral government be
sleep pr found, and not to disturb our secured.
Some among the irreligious,
repose, till the terrors of futurity burst on however, who follow wickedness with
our astonished view 1
Such a state of greediness, require to be checked in their
thLngs would be most destructive to man, course and though in their case no saluand dishonouring to God.
In fact, it tary effect follows, yet, by their trials,
would merely be an act of forbearance. they may be reminded that God abhors
Were we allowed to dwell in paradise, or evil, and these may be of that nature
rather in this world such as Eden was, which arise directly from sins committed,
and at a certain period, without one pre- and may lead the minds of many, by the
vious pang,allovved calmly to retire from it training under which they are placed, to
into a state for which we were unprepared, think of God and on eternity.
O where would be the goodness of God
Towards the wicked for whom God
opposite to the preparation required for
heaven. Were there no misery in this
world, would we not easily forget the

and

in this act of forbearance

mebings of compassion
coming danger Is he not
!

not the

Is

to

warn us of exemplify

it

the friend

who

snatches us from imminent danger, though

in the act of doing so he causes momentary
anguish 1 And is it not from fatherly
affection

that

has designs of mercy, afflictions not only

God

sends afflictions to
stop abounding iniquity, and to prepare

own for that place where sorrow and

sighing are unknown 1 When Jacob saw
the end Gnd had in view by his trials, he
his

direct

his abhorrence of sin, but are

preparation

for

beneficial

These are means of grace

through which the Spirit operates and
change.

produces

new principles

of action.

Some

minds cannot enjoy prosperity without

forgetting God, and it is to them actually
a curse.
Their cup overflows, and they
quaff with pleasure the honied draught,

amidst creature enjoyments forget

God feels for the wanderre- ings of such, and though they have no
membered, with satisfaction, his trials, compassion for themselves. He sends
and was satisfied that the Lord is com- trials that he may prepare them to conpassionate.
David suffered much, but sider their ways. Unforeseen events may
frankly confessed that it was " good for occur, and one unexpected disaster after
him to be alT.icted." Christ was made another may destroy the pride of life and
perfect through sufferings, and all works bring haughty looks low.
Plans may be
for good to those who are the called disconcerted, and mental anxiety be proaccording to God's purpose.
duced, which may convince them that

fmnd

have said, "

these things are against me." Job

The
into

that he should not

all

and

the Creator.

inhabitants of the globe are divided

two great portions

the

vanity and vexation of spirit are connected

children of with every created object.

God, and the children of the devil. Those

Around the table like olive plants a
are under the power of Satan may healthy family may be reared but disease

who

not, in every case, require the interference

of God.

For wise and inscrutable pur-

may wither hopes, and foreboding fears

may mar the enjoyment of the domestic

SEASONS OF TRIAL, TIMES OF PREPARATION.

The soul may be bound up in
pledges of love, and death may
mock the sympathies of the heart, and
convert the sweets of home into gall and
wormwood. Plenty may extend her hand,
and the noise of revelry invite to the
social board, but disease may have cloyed
the appetite, the blood may flow in rapid
speed, or sluggishly move in its channels, and the sick room and the nurse be
the abode and the friend.
God knows the
state of every mind, and when he afflicts,
that his training may end in a salutary
change, the visitation is adapted to the
mind, and to the result to be produced.
How many thousands can date serious
impressions from the causes we have spe-

Adam,

365

circle.

family of

the

which cannot be repealed, "Depart from

me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, pre-

cified

and,

is

not this proof conclusive,

that times of preparation are seasons of

listen

a sei.touCB

to

pared for the devil and his angels."

Life is the season of preparation, and
death is the avenue leading to etornity.
As the joys of heaven are proportioned, so
are the

Some

punishments of the wicked.

receive few stripes, and others are beaten

with

many

stripes.

gnaw, and a
indiflferent

fire to

There
devour.

is

worm

to

If even the

endure the second death, what

will be the portion of those

who

live in

the concealed or open violation of God's

commandments.
of

God

will

another world

The moral government

be as fully developed in
in

proportioning punish-

ments as distributing rewards.

His deand

testation of sin will then be manifest,

]
O it is painful to nature to mourn the frown of incensed deity will e the
over a fortune ruined, to shed the tear of more awful as the mind is morally debereavement, and to droop under disease, graded. If the nations who forget GcJ

trial

and linger out a sickly existence but if shall be turned into hell, what is meant
is improved, how great
the by " wo unto you hypocrites," and the
kindness of Him who visited thus for sorer punishment of those who trample
beneficial purposes.
The depression of under foot the Son of God ? With hearts
the mind has been the blessed means as varied as the human countenance, so
under grace of changing the heart. The will be the different capacities of the
temporal loss has been spiritual gain. wicked for enduring suffering. Living to
The riches which flew away like an the flesh you will reap corruption, and as
eagle towards heaven, have been ex- the quantity of seed sown, so will be
changed for durable riches, the treasures your harvest. Sowing to the wind you
Drudging in
of heaven. The family circle has been will reap the whirlwind.
lessened ; but a portion better than sons Satan's service you will not lose your
and daughters has been given. Sickness reward. Were your state fixed we would
has mantled the world in sackcloth, and not add to your wretchedness by advertimbittered the cup of enjoyment; but ing to it; but you may yet escape imglory is seen in distant prospective, and pending danger, and by fleeing from the
the soul hunger- wrath to come lay hold on eternal life.
a new relish acquired
ing and thirsting after righteousness is By such appeals we imitate the compasfilled.
God, therefore, by seasons of sion of our Saviour, and the tendernes.3
of his apostles, who urged sinners by
trial, in many cases promotes spiritual
welfare, and by an even of preparation, coming wrath to be reconciled to God.
leads from sin to holiness, and from This is your day of preparation, and a
misery to happiness.
lifetime is short enough to prepare for
We now shortly address those who are heaven, and if the righteous scarcely are
not preparing to meet God.
For the saved, where shall you appear? If such
;

the heart

wicked life is an even of preparation but

not the harbinger of a coming Sabbath.
;

Anticipate,

remember

we beseech you,

repent, you suppose

but in the act of
must procrastination you miscalculate most
Think on the solemnities egregiously. The labourer was accepted

the grave, and

that as the tree falls, so

for ever lie.

things happen in the green tree, what

You will
shall be done in the dry 1

of a judgment day, and with an accusing

conscience fiom

among

it

the assembled

in the eleventh hour,

was

who

never before

called to enter the vineyard

2h2

but you

THE BRITISH

366

repeatedly have been called, and as often

have successfully
solitary

Fron)

resisted.

one

instance recorded in the Bible,

will you reason on the possibility of sal-

vation at a dying hour

Granting that

you have made a covenant with death

a specified period,

is

for

the interval of grace

to be abused, and is any other period of

your life so much adapted for repentance

PULPIT.

to a neat farm-house.
Every thing
without bespoke quietness and security ;
but as they entered by the front door, the
mistress of the house and her children
ran screaming out at the back.
The interior of the house presented an appearance
of order and comfort superior to what
might be expected from people in that station, and from the habits of the country.

them

1
In the case of Felix, did A watch hung by the side of the firetrembling resisted lead to a place, and a neat book-case, well filled,
change of life, or did the convictions of attracted the attention of the elder soldier.
the stony-ground hearers end in conver- He took down a book
it was written in
sion, and will your present resistance not a language unknown to him, but the
increase your insensibilities, and do you name of Jesus Christ was legible on
not convert life, actually, into a curse every page. At this moment the master

as the present

present

by preparing your minds

of the house entered by the door through

moving which his wife and children had just fled.
onwards in a state of moral degradation, One of the soldiers, by threatening signs,
and escaping from the ordinary means of demanded provisions
the man stood
conversion, you are rapidly assimilating firm and undaunted, but shook his head.
to the mental condition of your future The soldier who held the book approachassociates.
Your pulse yet throbs, and ed him, and pointing to the name of
capacity of suffering

for

You

enlarged

are

The

Jesus Christ, laid his hand upon his heart,

and looked up to heaven. Instantly the
be no longer. The present movement of farmer grasped his hand, shook it veheyour mind may be the strivings of the mently, and then ran out of the room.
Spirit.
Cherish convictions. Grace is He soon returned with his wife and
omnipotent. Mercy is boundless. The children, laden with milk, eggs, bacon,
bljod of Christ cleanses from all sin, &;c. which were freely tendered
and
and a Zoar of safety is prepared for you when money was offered in return, it was
yet there
lifted

is

hope.

angel has not

his hand to swear that time shall

from impending wrath, into which enter at first refused. But as two of the soland be safe, and the Sun of righteousness diers were pious men, they, much to the
shall shine on you and direct your feet chagrin of their companion, (who swore
to everlasting habitations.
grievously he would never forage with
Amen.
them again,) insisted upon paying for all
THE PIOUS FAMILY.
they took. When taking leave, the pious

Soon after the surrender of Copen- soldiers intimated to the farmer, that it
hagen to the English in the year 1807, would be well for him to secrete his watch;
detachments of soldiers were for a time but, by most significant signs, he gave
stationed in the surrounding villages.
It them to understand, that he feared no
happened one day that three soldiers, evil, for his trust was in God and that
belonging to a Highland regiment, were though his neighbours, on the right hand
sent to forage among the neighbouring and on the left, had fled from their habifarm-houses. They went to several, but tation, and, by foraging parties, had lost
found them stripped and deserted. At what they could not remove, not a hair of
length they came to a large garden, or his head had been injured, nor had he even
jrchard, full of apple trees, bending under lost an' apple from his trees. " The angel
the weight of fruit. They entered by a of the Lord encampeth round about them
gute, and followed a path which brought that fear him, and delivereth them."
;

SERMON XXXIX.
THE VANITY OF PLEASURE.

BY THE REV. JOHN STYLES,

"

/ sa'.d

to

my

heart,

Go

to,

now, enjoy pleasure

also is vanity."

How happy should we be could we profit

by the experience of others. If the lessons
of wisdom were obeyed at the commencement of life, there would be neither vanity
nor vexation of spirit in the world. But
instead of deriving advantage from the in-

who have gone before

them, every new generation is resolved to
think and act for themselves, and to rush
into scenes of folly and wretchedness, with
a temerity which nothing ought to excuse
but utter and unavoidable ignorance. In nothing is this more evident than in the eagerness with which the sinful gratifications
and amusements of the world are pursued,
as the chief good of the soul. In spite of
this testimony of the wisest of men, and
which is rendered awfully impressive by
that wreck of character and happiness
structions of those

I will prove

Eccl.

way

ii.

to

D.D.

thee with mirth: but, behold, thit

1.

heaven.

In

prosecuting

this

design, let us
I. Consider the case of those who
PROPOSE TO themselves NO HIGHER END
OF EXISTENCE THAN THE ENJOYMENT OF
WORLDLY PLEASURE.

II. Of THOSE WHO, WHILE THEY PROFESS TO BE GOVERNED RY THE PRINCIPLES

AND PROSPECTS OF RELIGION, SEEK RECREATION AND DIVERSION IN FASHIONABLE

AND PREVALENT AMUSEMENTS.

III. The GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
THOSE AMUSEMENTS, AND THE DEGREE IN
WHICH THEY MAY BE SOUGHT, WHICH
ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE DIGNITY
AND HAPPINESS OF MAN, AS A RATIONAL
AND IMMORTAL BEING.
I. In THE FIRST PLACE, THEN, LET U3
CONSIDER THE CASE OF THOSE WHO PROwhich he sustained in the pursuit of sen- POSE TO THEMSELVES NO HIGHER END
sual delight, there is not an indvidual OF EXISTENCE THAN THE ENJOYMENT OF
who, at some period of his life, does not WORLDLY PLEASURE.
say to his heart, " Co to, now, enjoy
If, in this description, I embrace not
pleasure; I will prove thee with mirth :" only the gay and trifling, but the more
nor is there one amidst the vast multitude sober and seriouspart of mankind, who are
who try this experiment, that is not forced engaged in various avocations; the busy
at last to confess, "This also is vanity." throng who have scarcely a moment's
In calling your attention to these words leisure, but who consider the present as
of the preacher, my intention is, to set the only sphere of their existence and
before you the vanity of all pleasure which enjoyment, this branch of my subject
is derived from this world, and which
would comprehend a vast proportion of
But I would confine
centres in it; and my view will be parti- the human race.
cularly directed to the subject of amuse- my attention to the idle and dissipated;
ments, in the pursuit of which, many to those whose business is amusement
waste their whole mortal existence; and who consider every day lost that is not
others mar the consistency of religious spent in folly, and who torture invention
character, and retard their progress in the to furnish expedients for carnal delights.
367

THE BRITISH

368

PULPIT.

class of our achievements of heroism and magnanifellow creatures ; and I know not how to mity may shed almost divine lustre on a
submit their case to your notice, without character which belongs only to the
blushing for human nature, and strongly empire of time ; they sink into nothing
resenting the vile indignity which is thus when viewed in the light of eternity,

These form a very numerous

offertd to our noblest faculties and

tal

immor- they do not

hopes.

man

p]very

kind

in

is

a traitor to his order and

the creation,

who avows

ples, or pursues a conduct

his high destination

princi-

the soul to heaven.

incorruptible inheritance.

unworthy of signed

as an heir of im-

Whatever would

mortality.

human

lift

In

motives and consequences, they

have no connexion with an unfading,
their

confine the

whatever would render the

present state infinitely important, and
annihilate the future, ought to excite the
just and generous indignation of all who
have any remembrance of their divine
original, or any breathings of their ancient
hope. To choose the pleasures of this
world as our highest good ; as the only,
or even the chief allotment of humanity,
is debasing to a rational nature, subversive
of all virtuous feelings and sentim.ents,
;

are de-

and the

passeth away.
If this be true of the loftiest imagina-

existence within the narrow limits

of the tomb

They

no more than a little sphere,

admiration of a world which

for

tions of

man, and of his noblest perform-

when he

thinks and acts withotit

any reference to a future life infinitely
debasing must be the pursuit of sensual
indulgencies.
He who lives for such
enjoyments as these sinks in the scale
of existence, and is debased to a degree
below simple brutality. Mere animals
obey the impulse of their nature, and
answer the design for which they were
ances,

created.

But the sensualist

calls

away

certainly destructive of present as

his divinely attempered spirit from the

well as future happiness.

1. It is most debasing to a rational
nature, whose distinguishing properties

communion with
God, and constrains it to be a purveyor
and a vassal to a piece of animated clay,
a body of corruption and death.
Instead
of holy meditation, and devout ascriptions
of praise to the Infinite Being instead
of expanding her faculties by an intimate
converse with all that is great, and good,
and fair in the universe, she is doomed
to reflect on scenes where she assisted
appetite in his sensual feast, to encumber herself with impure and grovelling
thoughts, and so to associate with flesh
and base material things, that " she grows
clotted by contagion ;" imbodies and im-

anil

are understanding, volition, and

tality.

immor-

The two former ought always

to

maintain a chief and ultimate reference to

the latter.
The understanding should be

employed

society of angels and

and sublime
in seeking
after and treasuring up refined and spiritual truths, which constitute the riches
of a soul whose destiny is to dwell for
ever in regions where such truths will be
its principal aliment.
The will should
be directed to those preferences and vigorous exertions, wbich render the earth in- brutes till she quite lose the divine
significant, and by which the spiiit is dis- property of her first being.
enthralled fr'^m sublunary attraction, and
2.
But while this devotedness to
carried upwards to the reflection of angels worldly pleasure is thus debasing to our
and the vision of God. The thoughts, rational nature, it is equally subversive
the aspirations, and all the energies of an of all virtuous feelings and sentiments.
immortal being ought, assuredly, to bear It not only degrades the intellect, it
the impress of immortality, and to mani- pollutes the heart.
fest whither we are tending, and what we
Virtue has no adequate foundation but
in obtaining just

ideas of the character of

God

consider to be the true glory of our nature.

Wliatever grandeur may mark the con-

knowledge and belief of a Deity.

must derive its principles from thence
ceptions of a mind that is contented with and these principles must be cherished
a mortal and earthly range
whatever and strengthened by motives drawn from
;

in the
It

THE VANITY OF PLEASURE.

The

immortality.

be piety

basis of virtue

must All

the resources, the consolations,

the rewards of piety, are in a future

life.

Whatever

disqualifies us for the contem-

plation of

God, of heaven, and

eternity,

obliterates the moral sense, and gives us

up

entirely to the dominion of our passions

and appetites. The pleasures of the world,
its insnaring vanities, have, more than any

thing besides, this fatal influence.

When

once they take possession of the heart,

they alienate our thoughts from God, and

369

his thoughts and wishes, hopes

and
and sorrows, centre here. He
is
akin to earth, and has voluuurily
renounced his inheritance in heaven. All
fears, joys

who propose
themselves no higher end of existence
than the enjoyment of pleasure and what
has this pleasure to bestow ]
this is implied in their case
to

That which
a

of

sacrifice

human

is

purchased with so great

all

that

nature, ought

dignifying in

is

surely to possess

great immediate advantages, and at least

which a belief of to afford, during the present life, uninterhis being, perfections, and government rupted and exquisite enjoyment.
would otherwise produce; they deaden
3. But let those who indulge such an
the repulses of conscience, and obscure expectation know that this also is vanity.
the light of reason.
They cherish the
Those who invert the order of their

weaken

the impression

sensual part of our nature

rises so

being, and confine

all their happiness to

above the rational, as to cast a dark earth, can never be happy long. Their
shadow over it. The consequence is, felicity, while enjoyed, is not the calm
that we call evil good, and good evil
serenity and holy delight of an ethereal
and wander so far from truth and right- mind; but the turbid, violent efferveseousness, that we lose all sense of our cence of the senses, wrought up to dedegradation, " nor once perceive our foul lirium.
Every repetition lessens the
till it

far

Worldly pleasures

disfigurement."

ren-

charm

yet so eager

the votary of

is

der us strangely selfish, and thus unfit us

pleasure to procure to himself gratifica-

Every social and domestic

broken asunder when it stands in
the way of imperious lust.
Benevolence
has no place in a heart devoted to its
own gratification ; and that part of virtue
which imposes restraint and self-denial,
which demands sacrifice and pain, is
wholly disregarded.
The votaries of

tion, that he is not contented to take

enjoyments in their natural course, but
with a guilty and thoughtless infatuation,
greedily swallows, at a single draught,
the pleasures of a life, drains the world
of its last drop, and then wonders that he
is miserable.
How many, in the very
morning of their days, have thus devoured
all their pleasures ; how many, surrounded
with all the sources of enjoyment, which,
for a little time afforded them exquisite

for society.
tie is

pleasure

Every

impatient

are

feeling

of

all

control.

must be indulged; every

suggestion of appetite and passion obeyed.

present only is considered, and the
future kept entirely out of sight.
Their

The

maxim

is,

" Let us

delight,

"

The most

of pleasure, then, is at the

farthest possible

ness.

As an

remove from

intellectual

real great-

being, he

is

vain and superficial, in raptures with the

merest

trifles,

and

petulant

under the

slightest disappointments; as a

of the community, he

and the

is

member

frothy, frivolous,

common enemy

of his kind

he

receives benefits, but returns ingratitude;

he lives not

feel

The

fulness of satiety."

eat and drink, for

to-morrow we die."

The man

now

for others,

nor for himself,

to

dissipated

men

are the first

complain of the dulness and sameness

of the pleasures they pursue.

tration

of this

remark,

In illus-

scarcely

am

acquainted with a book of more melancholy interest than a well known work
of a noble author; now, alas, no more!
a

man

of genius, who, possessing the

pportunity of exhausting the world of

its

pleasures, availed himself of

who,

in the

poem alluded

to,

as an accountable and immortal creature

the result of his experience

he has no birthright beyond the grave.

Vol. II. 47

of

man

it

and

has given us
his estimate

in his best earthly estate

THE

370
"And
I

(lost

seemed

How

boar, .-wirtMiiiig joy and yo\iili

pang, e'en thou must

It is

know

wilt thou vainly seek to

\nd

BRITISH PULPIT.

wo

-hou ask wliat secret

not love,

fail to

soothe?

From
It is

The
But

weariness which springs

meet, or hear, or see.

appetite, proceed to your glorious desti-

will not look

hope

The

beyond the tomb,

lor rest before.

pursues, where'er

blight of

life,

the

be.

demon

Whate'er

What

is

beiides, I've

known

eat,

drink,

bitter

disappointment here, but is followed by

the loss of heaven, and eternal banishment from the Divine presence and hapThose who live without God
piness.
who seek an end infinitely below him,

thought.

Through many a clime 'tis mine to

With many a retrospection curst.
And all my solace is to know,

But perhaps

What exile from himself can flee?

To zones, thou.,'h more and more remote.
Still, still

sleep, and perish!

sarcasm little becomes
this sacred place; and folly, whose ter*
mination is so dreadful, ought to excite
Pursuing
disdain.
than
pity rather
pleasure as the only end of a rational
existence, is not only accompanied with

nation

that settled, ceaseless gloom.

fabled Hebrew wanderer bore,

cani-.ol

which

all 1

That

an imposture.

the happiness

puppets of an empty show; ye figures ot

useless series; ye moving dust and
ashes, dead to virtue, and furious with

Nor low ambition's honour lost,

That bids me loathe my present state,
And fly from all I prized ihe most
It is Iliat

is

belongs exclusively to such a state as

this! who can be satisfied with a felicity
O, ye
so moinentary and unsubstantial ]

not hate.

it is

a reality proves

vain, then,

go.

the worst.

that worst? nay, do not ask,

shall never rise to the

in

In pity from the search forbear;

Smile on, nor venture to unmask
Man's heart, and view the kdl that's there."

Are these the triumphs of dissipation]

Is this all that remains to him who
chooses earth for his portion, and will
not look beyond the tomb 1

glory.

enjoyment of him

They must be covered with

shame and everlasting contempt.

Yes,

ye lovers of pleasure, your vain pursuits

must soon terminate your joys vanish-
while you must lie down in eternal
darkness. I turn from you to
II.
Consider the case of those

WHOSE SITUATION IS EQUALLY DANGEROUS WITH YOURS

WHOSE GUILT IS EVEN
MORE AGGRAVATED
AS
I MEAN SUCH
and could its joys PROFESS TO BE GOVERNED BY THE PRINallied to despair
accompany us to the very grave, iny CIPLES AND PROSPECTS OF RELIGION, AND
brethren, it would then be vanity. What HABITUALLY SEEK RECREATION AND DIVERSION IN FASHIONABLE AND PREVALENT
is life, though every moment should be a
moment of transport? Can any thing be AMUSEMENTS. In Order to justify what
more fleeting] And to make this the may appear, on a superficial view, a harsh
This also is vanity.
But even were not sensuality so nearly
;

whole of man, as they virtually do who

look for happiness no higher than the
earth, and no farther than the grave, is to
reduce our existence to a mere shadow
If there be no
a semblance of being.
after state, then mankind rather seem to

be than
are not

are.
;

In a

know

moment, they are and

not

when

say

to

have

seen a man. It seems as if there were

some such things before my eyes; I per-

and unreasonable conclusion,

let us, for a

few moments, particularize these amusements, and investigate their nature.

hope I shall not be understood as suspending men's eternal destiny on their

amusements simply, and as consigning
them to eternal destruction because of
these; but I exhibit them as implying a
state of mind and heart in those who
relish and pursue them, utterly imcompa-

suade myself that I see them walk to and tible with salvation.
Recreation and diversion, considered in
fro, that I talk and converse with them;
but instantly my own sense is ready to themselves, are not only lawful, they are
give my sense the lie. I am but mocked necessary.
When there is no reason
with a figment, an airy show and what against any social, or, indeed, any other
;

THE VANITY OF PLEASURE.

fJieasure, there is

always

namely, that

pleasure.

it

that the Deity

is

a reason for

it,

To suppose

would abridge us of any

371

simply ridiculous, or useless, and are to

be condemned, as they are a sinful waste
of hours which ought to be devoted to far

when it does other purposes.

not interfere with hiofher and nobler deThe first of these, namely, those which
lights, is a notion highly derogatory to supersede attendance on the public and
his goodness ; who, in forming this private duties of religion, which profane
world, seems, in some things, to have the Sabbath, and call off the mind from
pleasure, merely as such,

consulted our pleasure only, without any

other apparent end in view,

the solemn realities of eternity, are

among

most dangerous snares to innocence;

I have said that recreation is necessary.
and though in themselves they do not
Every person, even the meanest in society, violate any command of heaven, are yet,
ought to enjoy the privilege of some leisure in a heinous degree, siuful, because they
time and the employment of this is usu- strike at the sanctity of that day which
ally a fair and certain test of character. God has peculiarly consecrated to his
If, as a Christian, I feel tender coKcern
own glory. Sunday promenades, and Sunfor the happiness of a friend, I shall day concerts, I would hope, are things
observe him in his leisure hours. It will ever strange to the ears of a Christian
give me pain to find him then a loitering audience.
It
surely cannot be, that
the

trifler;

nor will

it

much

relieve

<liscover that, in such seasons, he

me
is

to

con-

stantly engaged in the pursuits of curious

speculation, or in the gratification

and

improvement of an elegant taste.

In
uch a case, I must remind him that
there are more serious concerns; I must
counsel him to seek for pleasures more
solid and sublime.
But what if my
friend is seized with the madness of
the times, and hurried into the whirlpool
of fashionable amusements! Ah! now
the chaos of his darkened mind is agitated
now there is no access for sober
;

reflections:

must stand

the feelings of one

afar off, v/ith

who beholds from

the

shore, incapable of affording relief, a dis-

the

only, I remember that

which are impossible with
Can it be
possible with God.

tant shipwreck;

things

iTien are

"denied, that the lawless, dissipated state

of mind which pervades assemblies for

vain amusements,

is

attended with total

presumptuous aversion to the influence

of the Holy Spirit of God.
Let us view those amusements which
originate

among

the dissipated, the frivo-

lous, and the vicious.

The

delight they

afford is strictly worldly, as

every thing that has relation

opposed

to

to a future

state of being.

Some

of

them

infringe 'upon

are injurious, as they

time; others are

directly levelled at the very principles
and spirit of Christianity; and others are
sacred

persons who profess to reverence

commands of God; who solemnly

the
be-

ought to remember the

Sabbath-day, and to keep it holy, can
thus openly defy all moral consistency,
and trample on the very palladium of
that religion which they would not be
thought to have renounced. Among those
amusements which are directly, and in
their own nature, opposed to the principles and spirit of Christianity, we may
place gaming, under all its various forms
and degrees; the theatre, public balls,
fashionable routs, cruel sports, and promiscuous indiscriminate reading.
Surely no Christian can have the
effrontery to stand forward as the apologist of gaming.
It requires no high
degree of common virtue, not to say
evangelical purity, to induce every person of reflection to denounce it as greatly
immoral, as well as irreligious. Every
thing that approaches to such a detestable
lieve that they

vice, or that familiarizes the principle to

the rising generation, ought to be avoided

as one

would avoid the

The

pestilence.

circle of a gaming-table,

whether

in

the

dark seclusion, among the

banditti who perform in silent fear their
nocturnal orgies to the god of play, or in
more lightsome and gay receptacles of
regions

of

the idle and the foolish of both sexes,

ought to be shunned as a traveller would

fram the poison tree of Java.

fly

At

least, parents

who

introduce their

THE BRITISH PULRT.

372

subservient to reason, and reason

children to such scenes ought, in courtesy,

and for consistency' sake, to put off their

feeiino-

Christianity; to make a specific avowal

that they have neither part nor lot in the

contrary, violates the dignity of the

of Jesse, and that they wish their

families to be for ever alienated from the

scoffing at his

Son

The

obedient to revelation.

Most
by
laws, and by impugning

name

Higli, by taking his

his authority.

stage, on the

It

in vain,

dethrones the true God,

and sets up an idol in his place it makes

it
whether I include cards in this general virtue and vice convertible terms
proscription, or they may be used with- cherishes all the irascible and malignant
it is the very hot-bed of sensuout any immediate approach to the vice passions
which I reprobate. To this I would re- ality ; it fixes on one or two amiable

church.

shall,

asked

be

perhaps,

ply that, though harmless in themselves,

and as they are sometimes used, yet, as

qualities

they are seldom employed except

in the

service of gaming, their character is at

which cannot be considered as

virtues to atone for a thousand follies and

thousand crimes;

qualities only

applauds those

it

which a man may possess

while he is utterly destitute of religion

admit them into the and others it commends, which he ought
number of his recreations. Things inno- not, which he cannot possess, if he be a
In fine, to adopt the lancent in their own nature are often made real Christian.

least equivocal, and, therefore, a Christian had better never

guage of a writer already quoted, "the

dangerous by their accompaniments;
and it has been judiciously observed, stage is the puppet-show of life, the school
that "the atmosphere of a card-table is of vice, the vortex of debauchery, the
one in which religious principles will stronghold of the god of this world, the
We cannot vestibule of destruction." In otherworldly
droop, and wither, and die.
remove any thing from its peculiar ele- amusements, something is preserved in
ment, without subjecting it to another, deference to the claims of innocence and

On this
a deleterious element.
account, there are more persons ruined
by those pleasures which are pronounced

and

'Duocent, than

The

by those

styled guilty.''

theatre is the very school of the

world, where

it

inculcates

principles,

its

and enforces its maxims, aided by every

thing that can captivate the imagination
and interest the depraved heart. This
is perhaps the most subtle and decided
enemy of religion, and commits dreadful
ravages among the youth of a great and
populous city. Contrast for it is impossible to compare
the spirit of the stage
with the spirit of the gospel. The one
is all levity, giddiness, and folly
the
The exertother sober, calm, and wise.
ing influence of the gospel is to raise
those thoughts, sentiments, and affections
which promote the true dignity of man,
and secure his best and eternal interests.
Thus it leads to devout and holy reflections on the character of God it leads us
to choose virtue, to reject vice it inspires
in one sex the love of peace, in the
other the love of modesty.
It subdues,
and promises, finally, to eradicate, all the

evil that is in

human

passions

to

modesty; but

in

this

proportion

possible

greatest possible

there is the least

of

good, with

amount of

the

Snares
the imagina-

evil.

are laid for the eye, the ear,

and the heart; the company, the

the music, the sentiments,
have all a simultaneous tendency; they
seek to throw down the mounds of virtue,
and to lay waste the excellencies of human character. Public balls, ^nd fashionable routs, are anti-christian on account of
the intercourse which must be maintained
with persons of light character and no
religion
on account of their influence in
raising and inflaming the passions
nor
can any thing be described more opposite

tion,

spectators,

more incomwhich it requires,

and the domestic order which is essential

to the spirit

of Christianity

patible with the duties

to a consistent profession of

it,

than mid-

night parties, where time and health are

miserably wasted without the slightest

compensation

in return.
There is no
more capricious, and, at the same
time, more cruel, than fashion
her votaries are slaves, and slaves of the most
pitiable description whether we consider
render what they are forced to renounce, or com-

tyrant

THE VANITY OF PLEASURE.

pelled to endure,

must abandon

it

is certain

reliffion,

The

and

all

that they
interest in

373

and the false impressions and views which

it gives of life, I must denounce its immo-

road to the kingdom

ral tendency.
Of course I am perfectly
of heaven lies not through the saloon of aware of a few splendid exceptions yet

a future world.

midnight frivolity and dissipation. There is the charge, though a most serious one,
is the enchanted ground, where those who I fear to be applied to nearly all the
wander lose their way and return no more. books which pass under the name of
I have mentioned cruel sports as dero- novels.
In making this assertion, howgatory to the Christian character; but,
indeed,

my

brethren, they depose

human-

I am taking the New Testament as

standard of morality; and by this
standard, although there will be no comparison in the shades of guilt, few will

ever,

the

they not only argue hardness of heart,

and contempt of God's word and commandment, but they place us far below escape
ity

The

condennnation.

following

unhappy creatures we torture for our appeal from a work already quoted, is
amusement: in those cases, the brutes appropriate and irresistible.
" What are we to say of works which
rise in the scale of being, and take prethe

cedence of their dastardly tormentors.

For, O,

'The Being that is in the clouds and air,

That is in the green leaves among the groves,
Maintains a deep and reverential care
For the unoffending creatures whom he
loves

;"

while the creation groans, being burdened

with the cruelties and crimes of man,
happy are they who learn and practice
this simple lesson
:

"

Never to blend
With sorrow of

away the distinctions between right

and wrong, and deceive the unwary into
the paths of vice, by surrounding them
with the waymarks of virtue what are
we to say of works which treat with contempt those admirable qualities, industry,
frugality, and prudence, while they lavish
fritter

their praises on extravagance, careless-

the meanest thing that feels."

make

promiscuous

reading,

refer

and

more

indiscriminate

home

into a prison-house,

to

supersede

character,

adapted

productions of

which

for

our

we

lascivious itmuendos,and infidel bun mots;

nobler

and which almost uniformly make love a

What are
passion wholly irresistible 1
we to say of works which justify pride,
vanity, revenge, ambition, and hatred;
which, in some cases, become the apolo-

useful

in

Very few, indeed, have leiread exclusively for amusement

knowledge.
sure to

are

vivid descriptions of sensual pleasures,

are both designed and

instruction

What

say of works which are polluted by

to

are
a

to

and

made

particularly

those works of fiction which

say of

to

the best of parents appear either

ridiculous or tyrannical]

By

we

are

works which alienate the heart from domestic and retired duties; which convert
every quiet

their pleasure or their pride

What

ness, and folly'?

and those who imagine that they can be gists of inebriety, impurity, adultery,
simply amused by books which interest grambling, duelling, swearing, lying, and
the feelings and excite the passions, are suicide'!
It is no atonement for those
egregiously mistaken. Reading is either writers, that they occasionally throw out
useful or injurious. The reading of young some good moral sentiments ; that they
persons, especially when they choose their satirize certain vices which are unfaown authors, and follow their own inclina- shionable and that they sometimes make
tions rather than the guidance of judicious the catastrophe speak on the side of
preceptors, will form their character and if virtue.
When one vice is condemned to
their choice should fall, as it too frequently patronise another
when a moral maxim
does, upon the novels and romances which is pinned on to a licentious picture when
are popular, they will only surcharge their a fable composed of intrigue and wicked;

minds with prejudices and

with

folly.

their hearts

ness

terminates

virtue, virtue

in

cold

allusion

to

and morality are only scan-

Without dwelling on the undue excite- dalized and betrayed they are only made
ment which this kind of reading produces, a slight covering to the pitfalls of vice."
;

21

THE BRITISH PULHT.

374

and I appeal to pleasures'? Is recreation and enjoymenJ

and observation to confirm the truth forbidden to them 1 A very interesting
will it be contended that these are and important question, and which it is
of it
amusements in which Christians can law- in our power satisfactorily to answer
fully indulge? To feel pleasure in them, " Her ways are ways of pi. asantness,
particularly to desire them, and not to and all her paths are peace." You sarribe disgusted with them after a little fice, indeed, but it is only that you may
After this statement

fact

observation and experience, is to betray

a state of heart exceedingly uncongenial

You relinquish vanity, and you

escape vexation of spirit; but it is not a
mere negative advantage that you derive,

enjoy.

with spiritual religion.

you enjoy a real, a positive good.
It indicates ignorance of the nature f
But if Christianity be pro- therefore notice,
Chrhtianity.
HI. The general chahacteristics of
fessed, and under its stricter forms, then

it betray great and lamentable inconsistency, or dlilerate and conscious

does

hypocrisy.

The good fight of faith is a warfare

maintained by the Christian spirit and
principles, with the principles and spirit
As the man of the world
of the world.
lives without any reference to heaven,
without any relish for its joys, the Christian is

bound

to live

in

manner worthy

of so high and glorious an expectation,

and

to derive

his

blessed a hope.
the

worldling,

satisfactions from

so

Whatever distinguishes
he

should

avoid,

and

should be, as far as possible, the reverse

Contentedly to associate with
of it.
him, in his vain follies and amusements,
is to betray our cause into his hands
to

grant a victory to our enemy.

We

THOSE AMUSEMENTS, AND THE DEGREE IN

WHICH THEY MAY BE SOUGHT, WHICH
ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE DIGNITY AND
HAPPINESS OF MAN, AS A RATIONAL AND
IMMORTAL BEING.
If yon had no other pleasures than those
which flow immediately from religicn,
you would never regret those you had
abandoned for her sake. Religion has
satisfactions of her own. A joy unspeakable and full of glory, a peace which
passeth all understanding, a blessed hope
full

of immortality.

You may

well turn away your eyes

from beholding the vanity of such a world
as the present.

For

lo

before the eye

of your faith floats a happy island of the

blessed behold the light of its surpassing
;

sounds of sweetest
Beauty reposes in all its rich
world is vain the expectation of happi- luxuriant scenery; peace, religion, and
ness in such a corner is likewise vain,
benevolence reign in all its families, and
while misery must be at the end of it.
shed into every heart a moral gladness,
It is always, says Mrs. Hannah More, uniting the whole society in one rejoicing

The attempt

glories

and the

to unite religion

listen to its

melody.

an evil

symptom when

professedly

gious people are contending for a

relilittle

symphony with each

other, and with the

beneficent Father of them

all.

Mere pain

amusement, and pleading and mortality are unknown and see, they
for a little extension of that gratification, beckon you to come; they hang out sigand fighting to hedge in a little more ter- nals of welcome to invite your approach.
Little do 0, keep that bright world in view, and
ritory to their pleasure-ground.

more of

this

they think that they are thus exhibiting a

kind of wisdom against themselves, that

this earthly scene will lose all its attrac-

tions and all its power.

If we deprive
they are not yet renewed in the spirit of you of one kind of excitement, we furnish
But, my young friends, it you with another and a better; if we take
their minds.
is time that I should turn to you
you are from you the society which would deperhaps considering whether, if religion grade and destroy you, we introduce you
:

you to abandon the amusements to an innumerable company of angels; if

and pleasures of the world, it has any of we would allure you from the vain fables
its own to compensate for the sacrifice of earth, we supplant them with the words
which it demands. You are ready to of heavenly truth.
ask, Are Christians, then, to have no
If we shut against you the theatres of

requires

THE VANITY OF PLEASURE.

375

luman folly and crime, we open before of having grieved the Holy Spirit, and
you the solemn drama of Providence, and hindered your prayers, I would give you
the wondrous scenes that shall burst both in the language of a distinguished
upon your astonished souls, when that minister of another communion.
drama shall close and introduce you to a
Amusements are lawful under the
new lieaven and a new earth, wherein following restrictions
If there is somedwelleth righteousness. In imagination, thing wholesome in them which almost
you already behold the glorious appear- refuses corruption ; if the advantages they
ance of the supreme Judge, the solemn produce balance their mischief if corruptstate of his majestic person, the splendid ed ; if, by scattering their oils around,
pomp of his magnificent and innumerable they contribute to smooth without poisonretinue, the obsequious throng of glorious ing the waves of life; if their direct or
celestials doing homage to their eternal chance expense does not break in upon
King; the swift flight of his royal guards, the treasury which every man keeps for
sent forth to gather the elect, and coveriiio- his neighbour; if they are not so closely
tlie face of the heavens with their spread- allied to the amusements of the bad as to
ing wings. The universal silent attention break down the wall of partition between
of all to that loud-sounding trumpet that us and them ; if they have no tendency
shakes the pillars of the world, pierces to wean society from more profitable
the secret caverns of the earth, and re- employments; if, lastly, they do not
sounds from every part of the circling encroach upon that handful of time beheavens, to countless myriads of joyful stowed upon man to do the business of
:

expectants rising, changing, putting on

glory, talcing wing, and contending up-

eternity.

wards

will say of

ant,

themselves

to join

heavenly host.

I'he

If all this be true, if

triumph-

to the

judgment

any of them,

will

him who uses them, he may

be a Christian, and a good Christian;

seat,

the books opened, the frightful amazed

but

looks of guilty multitudes,

tinguished Christian

tlie

equal ad-

shall

still

think him the most dis-

The good,

who

uses them the

great man,
(why, alas! are not the terms convertithe heavens rolled up as a scroll, the ble'?) while he suffers mere amusement,
earth and all things therein consumed.
will never court it.
These are the peculiar felicities conferred by religion on her faithful votaries.
A FRAGMENT ON CHRISTIAN MISSIONS.

ministration

of the final judgment,

adjudication of

the

least.

like

the

all to their eternal states,

In addition to these, there are pleasures

The commencement

arising out of the constitution of our na-

of the nineteenth

and which are appropriate to our century will form a very important epoch
present condition, which she permits and in the future history of the world. Immorsanctifies.
Religion takes nothing from tal honour will redound to Great Britain,
us that is worth retaining; besides the for the spirit with which she has taken up
exquisite enjoyments of devotion, there the project, hitherto deemed impracticaare those which spring from the love of ble, of Christianizing the vast territories
Not that the plan has
natural scenery, for the cultivation of a of heathenism.
literary taste, for the lighter branches of originated in the present age, but it has
science, the fine arts, bi'ievolence, the certainly been acted upon in a manner
intercourse of friends hi,,, and many other more systematic and effective than was
ever imagined possible. I allude particusources.
But if you wish for direction and cau larly to the translations of the Holy

ture,

tion

on the

diversions,

subject
in

of

recreation

cornexion with

'nd
iioly

profesc,ij.., and
which will teach you hew to 'iiijoy llie
whole amount of pleasure, whii> ut ary

and consistent Christian

deduction, for the painful Cvjiiscioasness

'

Scriptures into the vernacular tongues of

people to whom the missionaries are

t".

'
|

i
j

';'i

it

without which their efforts must

been exceedingly limited, even if
'- iiumber had been much greater than
Very little permanent good was
i-..

THE BRITISH

876
done before

this

work was attempted

but

the

has been accomplished in so many

instances, the labours of the missionaries

now
are

PULPIT.

commerce of mind

advancement of

it

not to aid the

dominion

political

in the

shape of war, but to extend the spiritual

dominion of the Son of God, to help to
bring about that glorious consummation,

crowned with a proportionate success.

Tiiere cannot be any one project which

is at the present time engaging the attention, and employing the mental and cor-

when

all

the

shall beat their

inhabitants of this

swords

earth

into ploughshares,

We

and their spears into pruning-hooks.

are not even called upon to send out men
admiration and aid, as those attempts for the philanthropic object of checking
which are now in active operation, to the dreadful diseases of the human body,
civilize and evangelize those vast por- but to send out devoted men for the
tions of our globe which have hitherto Christian object of allaying the more
been involved in all the horrors of super- dreadful maladies of the human heart.
stition, ignorance, and barbarism. There We are not solicited to lend our assistporeal

man,

energies of busy and ingenious

imperiously demands our

that so

no one fact more indelibly stamped ance towards the construction of some
upon the past history of man, than that mighty iron or stone bridge over rivers,
not
his emancipation from native darkness, but a wooden one over oceans
by the beams of a foreign sun darting towards the erection of some splendid
upon his benighted soil, has been suc- theatre, but for the exploring of the wide
ceeded by all those advantages of civil- theatre of the world for the grandest and
ized life, which alone assign to man his most benevolent purposes in which man
proper province in the scale of being, and can be engaged not for the rearing of
which only render his existence a real some sumptuous palace for the transitory
is

blessing to him.

any scheme

for

And

there never

improvement

dition, ever presented to

was occupation

man by

era,

when

the

knowledge of

his gospel

shall stretch from one end of the earth to

the other, and

him blessed

when

all

nations shall hail

In the promotion of this cause,

we

are

not called upon to contribute towards the

extension of the commerce of wealth, but

King of
some gorgeous temple
an unknown God, or to some god of our

kings

his fel-

low, for his adoption, that brought with

it so many substantial benefits, and such
intrinsic happiness, as that of Christianity.
It is this system which has given to the
highest order of animated nature with
which we are acquainted, an importance,
but faintly seen in the distance, by some
of the wisest of the ancients, before its
introduction to the world.
It is Christianity which has opened to its possessors
such rich and inexhaustible sources of
information, on the most sublime and
important of subjects, as will continue to
flow to posterity, undiminished in value,
to the latest period of time.
It is Christianity, in short, that will speedily spread
over the whole habitable globe, and unite
the near and the distant portioiis of it, in
one indissoluble bond of amity and peace
May the Divine Being hasten the happy

of an earthly monarch, but one

for the continual habitation of the

in his con-

to

not to build

own making, but

to build up the living

temple of the only living and true God.

This

spiritual temple, unlike materia)

ones, has no concealed parts, no portions

of

it

hidden from view

dual exertions

may

and our indivi-

help in the conversioD

some poor sinner from the error of his

ways, to place a stone in that building,
which, through eternity, may be a source
of delights to saints and angels
Surely,
then, this is a cause well worthy of our
whole mind, and soul, and strength, to
promote. Let us, then, do our utmost
in the good work, and not suffer any
unworthy considerations, suggested by
earthly policy, to prevent us from advancing our spiritual and eternal inteof

rests, in exerting ourselves, as

mi ch as

remembering, that in doing this

we are helping God, who has declared that
what he does in the conversion of the world
shall be done through human agency. Let
this thought dwell in our minds, and it
will stimulate us to work wbiie it is called
to-day, for the night c me:h in which no
man can work.
in

us

lies,

SERMON

XL.

THE COURSE OF THE GOSPEL-

BY THE REV. HENRY BELFRAGE,

'

A.nd

imcard
It

be."

it

Ike

shall be in that day, that living waters shall

former

Zech. xiv.

Among

sea,

and half of them

go

out

toivard the hinder sea

D. D.

from Jerusalem ; half of them

summer and in winter shall

in

8.

the various evidences of the

divine inspiration of the ancient prophets,

leave the land of Judah desolate, and direct their course over the Gentile world,

is one sug'gested by this chapter making truth to spring from the earth,
which claims peculiar attention. The and righteousness to bless the nations.
predictions which they delivered were We know that this flood will return to

there

often directly opposed to the

strongest Palestine, not for the resurrection of the

prejudices and to the fondest hopes of dead, but for grace to the living; tearing
their country.
There have been impos- on its stream Messiah, not in the pomp

who have uttered the language of

rebuke and alarm but it was in the season of calamity, and when the general
terror seemed likely to secure to them
attention and influence.
Smooth things
are most welcome to the ear, and most
frequent in the lips of the deceiver; but
holy men of God delivered his warnings
with fidelity and boldness, and whatever
were the pangs which they felt for their
country, they shunned not to declare the
terrors of the Lord.
These remarks are
tors

of power, but in the beauty of holiness;

and lifting its voice, not with the shout

of war, but with the song of the Lamb.
It is in the course of these waters over
the Gentile nations that

we

are especially

interested; and the contemplation of

as described in the text,

may

it,

excite feel-

ings suited to the object of our present

meeting, and adapted to lead us to improve the gospel for our eternal salvation.

Our attention

opposition to these conceits, the prophet

is first called to
designation HERE GIVEN TO THE
" Living waters." In such a
gospel,
climate as the east, water is regarded as
an element of inestimable value, and allusions to it had a peculiar charm; but
even to us such figures must be pleasing,
and they present the objects which they
are intended to exhibit in a form both
The simagreeable and instructive.
plicity and the beauty of Scripture imagery interest at once the fancy and the

assures them that their holy and beautiful

heart.

strikingly illustrated

of this chapter.

ing themselves

by the predictions

The Jews were

that

the

flatter-

temple which

they were rebuilding would stand to all

ages, and that the ceremonies now re-established should never pass

away

that

crowd to its altar as

Aie fountain of mercy, and worship in its

the nations should

gourts, as the threshold of heaven.

In

I.

THE

nouse should be laid in ashes that their

This designation points out the purity
forms should be superseded by the rites of the gospel. It is in the stagnant pool
of a simpler, yet brighter economy ; and that weeds grow, and that noxious creathat the waters of the sanctuary should tures abound, but the running stream is
377
2 I 2
Vol.
48
;

THE BRITISH

378
And

usually clear.

thy word,

Lord,

very pure ; therefore doth thy servant

love it. Holiness to the Lord is stamped
is

on

all its

principles,

PULPIT.

mouth of the parched

traveller with dust

but the gospel brings with it the peace

of God, when the poor and the needy

commandments, and seek water and

there is none,

This designation points out also ihe

The
it gives no indulgence to the least sin. fcriilily which the gospel produces.
Grace is its brightest character, but that "flowing stream" fertilizes the district
grace is the strongest impulse to holi- through which it passes; and "the gosness. It is amazing that parties, the most pel," saith Paul, " is come to you, as it
hostile to each other in their feelings, is in all the world, and bringeth forth
should unite in their opposition to the fruit as it doth also in you, since the day
holiness of the gospel. There are some ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God
who, in their zeal for what they call its in truth." Other institutions have sought,
It is a

rites.

dispensation of mercy, but

grace, represent

it

as their object, the promotion of

as relaxing the obliga-

tions of morality, and

condemn the

decorum

of manners, austerity of character, or re-

in-

from crime ; but Christianity aims

forming the love of God in the heart
for the sinner's hope: and others who and conduct. It has taught piety to childprofess to be eager for the promotion of hood, and heavenly-mindedness to age;
virtue, exhi'-it the gospel as more indul- charity to the rich, and contentment tO
gent than the old dispensation to human the poor ; sobriety to the vicious, and
frailty, and as requiring, not perfection devotion to the ungodly ; wisdom to the
but sincerity in goodness but the object simple, and contrition to the hardened,
of Christianity is to make its disciples It forms the gentleness which blesses fastand complete in all the will of God
it
milies, the purity which adorns churches,
animates obedience by new motives, and and the righteousness which exalleth a
by a more ample influence, and sets before nation. It must be remembered that it
us an example of all excellence, and states is the Spirit of the Lord moving on the
conformity to it as the whole duty and the face of these waters which imparts to
highest attainment of man.
them all this virtue. " It is the Spirit
culcating of

its

duties as an attempt to add

work which Christ

to the

lias

straint

completed

at

It

points out the nfreshment luh/'ch

yields.

As

so are good

How

it

cold waters to a thirsty soul,

news from

sweet are

its

a far country.

offers

of pardon to

quickens

that

thing;" and

the flesh

profiteth

no-

him our prayers should

divine influence by which
to

rise

for that

the

word of the Lord

shall

have free

awakened conscience and never was course and be glorified by which it

there language more soothing to the heart shall be evinced that the law of the Lord
than this, "Come unto me, all ye that is perfect, converting the soul
that the
labour and are heavy laden, and I will testimony of the Lord is sure, making
give you rest."
How precious are its wise the simple that the statutes of the
the

promises of help and peace to the afllicted and the feeble and how reviving is
its hope of life and immortality to the
mourner cleaving to the dust
The
world excites ; but that excitement is
momentary, and it is soon succeeded by
deeper depression. False religions can
have no other result on the mind and
heart than languor and stupefaction, but
the joy and the peace which are felt in
believing are the strength and life of tiie
!

spirit.

The

religion of

Lord are

commandment

the

that

pure,

enlightening the

and

of the Lord

is

And

to

eyes.

such a religion shall not we cleave with

purpose of heart] Will a man leave the
snow of Lebanon that cometh from the
rock of the

or shall the cold flow-

field 1

ing waters which flow from the

Zion be forgotten

To

hill

of

these questions

trust our hearts are replying, as Peter did

to a similar

Mahomet resem- "Lord,

bles the whirlwind of sand in the desert,

right, rejoicing the heart

the

to

question from his Master,

whom

shall

words of eternal

we go]

thou hast

life."

darkening the air, overwhelming all beII. Let us now attend to the place
fore it, and filling the eyes, and ears, and FROM WHICH these WATERS ISSUE.
The

THE COURSE OF THE GOSPEL.

379

been styled " the cradle of gratitude and delight. I allude to it, not
science," and from it many sublime dis- in the spirit of exultation, but to excite
coveries have been brought to the western us to advance in the path into which God
world
but none of these are, in value, hath led us, and to be in labours for him
like the law which came out of Zion. much more abundant. During the twentyWhen Christ ordered repentance and re- seven years that tlie British and Foreign
mission of sins to be preached, in his Bible Society has existed, it has circuname, to all nations, beginning at Jerusa- lated more than seven millions of copies
lem, the banks within which these living of the Scriptures, at an expense of nearly
waters had flowed were broken down, two millions of pounds sterling; and it
and the stream began to rush over the is engaged in promoting the translation,
Gentile world.
How bold was the lan- printing, or distribution of the Scriptures,
guage of Paul and Barnabas to the Jews, or portions of them, in more than one
who forbade them to speak to the Gen- hundred and fifty languages, or dialects.
tiles, that they might be saved ; " It was To this statement I may add the many
east

has

necessary that the word of God should

have been spoken to you, but seeino"
ye put it from you, and judge yourselves
unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn
first

hundreds of missionaries sent out by the

missionary societies, to make
God's way known in the earth, and above
forty of these have been sent forth by the

different

There was a striking society in whose behalf I now address

of God in this you
and when I think that all this has
arrangement, for, as Jerusalem was the been done in seasons of public depresplace where those great facts took place, sion, and during two long wars, enorto which all the doctrines and claims of mous in their expenditure, grievous in
Christianity point, it was fit that it should their sacrifices, and often alarming in
go to the Gentiles with this high pre- their aspect, I feel constrained to say,
" If the Lord
sumption in its favour, that it had been What hath God wrought
published on the spot where its Founder had been pleased to kill us, he would not
suffered and triumphed, without one sup- have accepted such offerings of piety and
ported charge of fraud or imposition. mercy at our hands, nor would he have
The connexion of the new with the old showed us things like these."
dispensation made this still more necessaIII.
But let us mark the course of
ry, for thus the attention of inquirers was THESE LIVING WATERS.
The Statement
turned to the prophecies and the rites given of it in the text seems to intimate
which for ages had been preparing the that the gospel should bless the nations
of the eastern and of the western world.
way of the Lord.
But it may be said that these waters The course of these waters has hitherto
Europe
flow from Jerusalem, as it is by the church been chiefly to the western sea.
that they are communicated.
They are has been blessed with them to a wonderbrought to the church not only that they ful extent, and now they are flowing over
may be improved but diffused. This is the vast continent of America, in a stream
" Freely ye have more majestic than that of its mightiest
our Saviour's charge,
received, freely give;" and such is the rivers.
If we look to the eastern world,
impulse of its spirit of charity. Amidst we see here and there only a scanty rill,
the regret and shame which we feel at which seems on the point of being lost
to the Gentiles."

display of the

wisdom

her long neglect of this great duty,

some consolation to think on what

hath led her

This

to

intimating

favour that region is

come, in the plans which are formed, and

do during the last forty

is

but Providence

in the

the greatest glory God

hath shed on our country a glory far
beyond any which shines on the pages
of our history, or the records of our
a glory marked by the pious of
science
other lands, not with envy, but with

years.

sand

it is

God

that the time

is

to

the attempts which are making to introduce the gospel into China, into Abyssinia, and among the different tribes and
Most unnations of the East Indies.

worthy of our character, as a Christian

people,

was

the conduct of Britain, for a

THE BRITISH

380
long period,

"What a striking

to India.

description of that treatment is given in

" Animated with

the words of Burke
all the avarice of age, and all the im:

petuosity of youth. Englishmen roll in,

one after another wave upon wave and
there is nothing before the eyes of the

PULPIT.

shall not

always be

"this gospel

so, for

of the kingdom shall be preached in all

the world, for a witness to all nations,

and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover
the sea."

When

these assurances

by

w-e consider

are

given

that

glory, as well as the salvation of

continually renewing for the food that

that these results are a

continually wasting.

have

left

monuments

is

associated

Other conquerors

diator's reward

either of taste or

set before

of the
and

him,

their

own
men
part of the Mejoy which was

natives but an endless prospect of new

flights of birds of passage, with appetites

fulfilment is

whom

with bis

power

all

tliat

is

them, but England given to him for their accomplishment in

has built no bridges, cut no canals, dug heaven and in earth, we can rejoice in
out no reservoirs, formed no roads, and hope that many shall come from the east
were we to be driven out of India, no- and west, from the north and south, to
thing would remain to tell that it had honour the name, and share the grace of
been possessed, during the period of our the Saviour of the world.
There are various circumstances which
dominion, by any thing better than the
beneficence behind

ouran-outang or the tiger." Since the

period of that speech, a most happy
change has been effected. Various ex-

indicate that a

more extensive

diffusion

of the gospel will soon take place.

The

which

have

expeditions

of

travellers,

methods have been employed for been conducted to such extent in the
improving the temporal condition of the present day, to enlarge our acquaintance
many millions there under our sway, and with the aspects of our globe, and with
different societies have made it the sphere the materials of science, shall be made to
of missionary labour; and, instead of serve the higher purpose of tracing out
producing rebellion and ruin to British channels for the water of life. He who
power, as infidelity and worldly wisdom sends the springs into the valleys, and
predicted, these preachers of the cross gives drink to every beast of the field ;
are meekly and safely guiding the feet of who waters the hills from his chambers,
and satisfies the earth with the fruit of
the natives in the way of peace.
In the Carnatic, there are more than a his works, will assuredly open rivers in
thousand reservoirs, from which water- high places, and fountains of life in the
courses are made to refresh the fields. midst of the valleys, make the wilderness
These are the monuments of princes who a pool of water, and the dry land springs
were fathers of their people, the tokens of water. The moral elements are as
of a bounty which delighted not in deeds much at his command as those of nature,
whose praise might reach the ear, or in and in their operation and influence he
memorials of vain pomp, but in opera- finds his chief glory.
tions productive of lasting utility, and of
The missionary spirit which he has
gratitude ever fresh as the stream which created and maintained is a token for
But more noble still is good. With the utmost eagerness do the
calls it forth.
their charity who have opened the wells Egyptians expect the rising of the Nile.
cellent

of salvation in that

parched

which race

may

after race

land,

at

obtain conso-

No

sooner do the}' mark

its

waters swell-

ing than they rejoice exceedingly, for

know

lation under all the sorrows of time, and

they

grace for

the fertility of their fields, and their sup-

all

the felicities of eternity.

But we look

for a

more extensive

fusion of the gospel in

all

dif-

quarters of the

There are vast regions of our

globe where millions are perishing for
lack of knowledge, and on which no
drops from heaven have fallen
but it
world.

that on its overflow

plies of water for

much more

depends

many months and with

;

we

behold
waters breaking out in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert; and much
more earnestly should we labour that
men may be blessed in the Redeemer,
delight should

THE COURSE OF THE GOSPEL.

381

nations may call him blessed. living stream opens to him more fully
no man who hath felt the terrors the breadth, the power, and the beauty
ot guilt, and obtained relief in the Re- of its course.
deemer's blood, but must feel the strongThe effects of the gospel on the souls
est compassion for those who are groan- of disciples are perpetual also.
The
ing under the power of sin ; and he who knowledge it gives is everlasting light;
gives to one perishing sinner a cup of the peace it yields is everlasting consolathis water, in the Saviour's name, shall tion
the love it inspires is a charity that
in no wise lose his reward.
never fails and the holiness it forms is
IV. But let us mark the continu- a well of living water, springing up into
ance OF THE course OK THOSE LIVING everlasting life. The influence of other
WATERS.
Their flow shall neither be monitors fails before the power of temptaimpeded by the drought of summer nor tion, and other comforters have spoken
the frosts of winter.
As the waters in vain amidst the tumult of sorrow ; but
which flowed from the rock smitten by the power of the gospel is most apparent
Moses followed the Israelites during the in seasons of trial. How delightful is
whole of their journeys in the wilderness, this view of the subject, and how happily

and that

There

all

is

adapted is it to reconcile the mind to all

till
There the sad vicissitudes of life. Poverty may
dread the cessa- come, but thy bread shall be given thee,
Sometimes this and thy waters shall be sure. Ministers,

so these waters shall continue to flow

the mystery of
is

God

is

not the least reason to

tion

of

their

course.

finished.

stream has forsaken one channel, but it

has sought out another; and sometimes
it has been like streams which sink under
ground and flow for a time in the subterranean course, but it again bursts forth,
like them, and pursues its way with as

much

purity and strength as ever.

the helpers of your joy, are not suffered

by reason of death
word of the Lord endureth
to continue,

Lover and friend may be put

but the

for

ever.

far

from

you, but the living Redeemer shall bring

the water of life to your hearts, and tell

Do you

that he will be your Friend for ever.

of other systems have wept

formed for enlightening and im- at the thought that their name and their
proving men, have passed away, that this influence should not long survive them
may be the case with the gospel 1 It de- but you may exult in the persuasion, that
pends for its permanence not on human Christ's name shall endure for ever, and

you imagine

that because various institu-

The founders

tions,

and might, but on Christ, the

of God, and the power of God.
Do you fear that it may fail through the
influence of infidelity 1 Infidel power has
been swept away before it, and, whatever
boasts it may utter, its schemes and its
efforts shall be quenched like the fire of
thorns.
Do you imagine that it may be
destroyed by the corruptions which minpolicy

wisdom

gle with

it

in

its

course

Remember

from what gross corruptions it has purified itself in its progress, and that its
holy energy is almighty and eternal. It
has been thought that the progress of
science and freedom will be fatal to it
but they will display the beauty and the
The
influence of genuine Christianity.
approach of the traveller discovers to

that his gospel shall issue in life eternal.

" Yea, he shall live :" others must die,

but he is alive for evermore: "to him

shall be given of the gold of Sheba
;

prayer shall be

made

for

him

continually,

and daily shall he be praised." And because he lives, his genuine disciples shall
live also.

In reviewing this subject, we must

surely feel the warmest gratitude to God
Wonderful must be his
for the gospel.
love to man,

who

sends

it

where

it

is

neither sought nor welcomed, and maintains it where it is despised and rejected.

Lord .Tesus, flow

These living waters,
from thy throne, and to it as a throne of
grace will we trace them. Let those who
have believed the gospel adorn it by a
him that the lake in the desert, so in- good conversation. " This I pray, that
viting at a distance, is a mere illusion of your love may abound more and more
the senses, but his coming nearer the in knowledge and in all judgment, that

THE BRITISH

382

PULPIT.

ye may approve tilings that are excellent, strengthen your interest in their favour
that ye may be sincere and without of- It has six missionaries in Jamaica, and
fence till the day of Christ, being filled they are labouring there in circumstances
with the fruits of righteousness which which require our kindest sympathy.
are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and That mission was formed to heal the
praise of

God."

broken-hearted

lighten

to

the

chains

which we could not break asunder to

ceived its message of mercy, now open make the slaves free from the law of sin
their hearts to its influence.
What will and death and to prepare them for using
wisely the privileges which might be alit avail you that the gospel is preached
to others, if that it leaves you, saying, " I lotted to them by the liberality of the age.
found you without feeling, and 1 leave An insurrection, more frightful than the
you without hopeT' There is a lake hurricane, has burst forth in the seat of
that burns with fire and brimstone, in this mission, and, though it has been supwhich the unbelieving and the impenitent pressed, the sky is dark and troubled but
shall be tormented for ever, and who can nothing will calm the negro's spirit, or
assure you that the hand of the Almighty keep him from listening to the counsels
is not now stretching forth to cast you
which would hurry him to tumult and reinto it ?
Hear the voice of mercy, and venge, like the wisdom that comes from
your souls shall live. "The Spirit and above, pure and peaceable, gentle, and
the bride say. Come
and let him that easy to be entreated. The slave must be
heareth say, Come; and let him that is emancipated but, without being prepared
athirst come; and whosoever will, let for it, it would be to him a curse, not a

And

let

tliose

who have

not yet re-

him take the water of life freely."

But I am especially called on by

blessing; and that preparation can only

the

be found in the benevolent spirit and the

duty of this evening, to urge you to act

under the influence of those views of the
gospel which have been presented to you,
and to employ every talent which God
hath committed to you, in the diflfusion of
that religion which can alone save from
ignorance, sin, and misery, in whose
Author you glory, as the way, the truth,
and the life, and whose character is the
delight, and whose promises are the hope
of your hearts.
The Redeemer is this
night claiming our affectionate interest in
his cause, and shall we refuse if?
He

moral power of the gospel.

The Scottish missionary society has
four missionaries in the East Indies.
From India, the destroying angel has

advanced

to

Europe, and has now reach-

ed our land, and his course can be traced

in

wo

desolation, terror, and

Britain, the angel of light and

but from

mercy has

taken flight to the east, with healing in

wings, and with the everlasting gosand truth, to occupy the

place of their impure fables, and their
his

pel of grace

rites of blood.
To give you some idea
mark what we put into the treasury, of those burdensome, degrading, and evil
and shall he see any hand turned away, or superstitions, I may mention, that many
anydonation unsuitable or reluctant] Our thousands of people are employed in car-

will

earnest prayers are ascending, that his

rying water from

kingdom may come, and

for the

in

these inter-

cessions shall any heart be silent?

I trust, is
all

This,

state also, that

hold

my

life is

will

friends to the

peace, and f jr .Jerusalem's sake

not rest, till the righteousness

to

Juggernaut,
is

worshipped by deeds of lewdness and

murder, too shocking to be detailed. I

which now actuates

" For Zion's sake will I not may

the purpose

of you.

Hurdwar

uses of that temple, whose idol

when

a sick person's

carried by his
banks of their sacred river,
thereof go forth as brightness, and her and there exposed without the least
salvation as a lamp t!iat bnrneth."
shelter.
His mouth, nose, and ears, are

despaired

of,

he

is

The society, on whose behalf I address

you, has special claims on your support;
and I feel it incumbent on me to advert

closely

shortly

of disease, and the convulsive struggles

to

their

diflferent

missions, to

river,

stopped with the mud of the

and vessels of water are kept pour-

ing on him

and

it is

amidst the agonies

THE COURSE OF THE GOSPEL.

of suffocation, that the miserable Hindoo

bids adieu to

life.

How

can

we

without feeling the strongest impulse to make known to them that Saviour whose yoke is easy, and whose
burden is light ; who is as rivers of water in a dry place, and as the shadow of
a great rock in a weary land.
This society has two missionaries in
Russia, one in Kaross, and one in Astracan.
The disappointment of our hopes
as to Astracan was indeed painful ; but
we will stand by those who have remained at the post of duty, amidst perils and
alarms, and the sickness of hope deferred. Of the excellent man still labouring
there, I would sa}', " The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be
given thee from the Lord God of Israel,
under whose wings thou hast put thy
trust."
Who can tell what God may do
by the remnant that is left 1 " The remple, as a

dew from

among many
the

Lord

were the

affecting

last

words of the

think of Bishop of Calcutta. After

this,

nant of Jacob shall be

383

as

peothe

some

devotion were closed, he said

late

affairs

in the

of

most

O thou God of all

hath called us to thy eternal
glory by Christ Jesus, stablish, strengthen, and settle us.
Have mercy on all,
solemn manner, "
grace,

who

may come

that they

to the

knowledge of

and be saved. There is no

other name given among men by which
they can be saved.
Other foundation
can no man lay"
and he spake no more.
What a beautiful testimony to the spirit
and the hope of the gospel. In that
spirit may we live, and in that hope may
" Brethren, my heart's desire
we die
the

truth

and prayer

may

to

God

be saved."

for

you

all is, that

you

Amen.

THE BLESSINGS OF AFFLICTION.

" 7/ is better to

than

to

go

to the

go

to the

house of mourning,

house offeasting."

Eccl.

vii. 2.

When

perplexed with the cares of this

or disgusted with its frivolous pur-

shower upon the grass that tarrieth not life,

man, nor waiteth for the sons of suits, we look around in search of some
men." Other missions have been con- otherconsolation, as asource of happiness.
When having drunk deeply of the cup of
templated by this society, and they reaffliction, the heart is wounded by its sorquire only the public aid to go forward.
How desirable would be a mission to rows, and the world withdraws its sympathy, then are we best prepared to think
Persia, where the British name is so
to our
high
where the influence of Mahome- seriously of that which appertains
eternal welfare.
But when prosperity
tanism is rapidly declining; and where

for

many

tracts

and portions of the Bible are

in circulation.

The times are portentous, and mighty

changes are on their course, and it is our
duty to diffuse those religious and moral
principles which can alone give peace to
We will most effectually
the world.
secure the safety and the repose of our

own

holds out her insnaring hand, and the

earth confers all its honours and allureis man too prone to forget
world is but a caravansary.
Then does he cling with a blind affection
to that which is deceitful, and build his
hopes upon unstable foundations. Then,

ments, then
that

alas

this

are

the interests of an hereafter

banished from the mind, as unwelcome

guests of another world. For, as Cowper
the King of

country, by fulfilling the law, and

extending the empire of

justly sings,
righteousness and Prince of peace. The
pestilence is walking around us, and so " Pleasure is deaf when told of future pain.
And sounds prophetic are too rough to suit
quick is its work, that none of us can say
Ears long accustom'd to the pleasing lute."
but to him it may be alloted to realize
Julia D
was the gayest of a fashthe words of Job, " Now shall I sleep in
Deprived
the dust, and they shall seek me in the ionable and dissipated circle.

May God

of the instructions of a parent at an early

grant that at whatever hour, and in whatever form death may come to us, it may

age, she had been brought up without re-

us waiting for the appearing, and

labouring in the work of Christ. How

of pleasure.

morning, but

find

shall not be."

straint,

and

left to

rove at liberty in search

was lovely ;

In person she

her sparkling eyes betrayed the intelli-

THE

384

BRlTISEi PULPIT.

made her deeply

gent countenance, her smiling lips the

heart that was unsoured by mortification.
Though iier education had imparted much
that was showy and superficial, yet she

gusting;

was by no means

decrees of Providence.

deficient in intellectual

the

it

want of one

The

He would have
bereavement not only as
cruel, but unjust, and have plunged head-

she could not be destitute of admirers,

pour into her ear the language of flattery. Yet, with all that

"

to confer earthly feli-

was not what the world

what she herself wished

she

city,

her, or

happy. A burst of feeling, an exhilarating flow of spirits, often enlivened her

countenance, yet as often would the va-

the

long into the vortex of dissipation.

One part, one little part, we dimly scan

Through the dark medium of life's feverish
dream,

called
to be,

sensible of
she could pour

skeptic would have arraigned Jhe

regarded

seemed necessary

whom

out the sorrows of her soul.

attainments. IJeautifiil, rich, and amiable,

who would

to

Yet dare arraign the whole stupendous pian,

If but that

little

part incongruous seem."

But God seeth not as man

seeth.

It is

and so Julia
cancy of an idle hour, or the silence of felt. The world had lost all its charms.
its frivolities
solitude, whisper that there was " one Its pleasures had satiated
thing needful." It was the want of this had lost their enchanting spell. W'ith a
requisite, that impaired her seeming joy heart broken in affliction, where could she
in this moment, and launched her out into turn, but to that neglected Source of all
a good thing to be afflicted

theextravaganciesofgayetyin the next.

was about this period that she was
on the eve of being united to one in every
respect her equal. Whatever might have
been her feelings with regard to the gaye-

all

It

goodness 1 Well would it be, if all would

"consider in the day of adversity," and
hail the chastening rod, as that which
brings the wandering soul back to its
duty.

But more than

this,

serious re-

had convinced her of the improthis last circumstance engrossed her ut- priety of the dissipation in which she
most soul, and formed one of the strongest had lived, and led her to form those resoWith- lutions which she has never since broken.
ties that bound her to this world.
ty and dissipation

out narrating
dents,

when

it

all

may

the full

in

the

which she

lived,

intermediate inci-

observed,

only be

that

consummation of her hap-

flection

Though
features is

the expression of her beautiful

still

melancholy, yet

of subdued sorrow.

it

is

that

Those sparkling eyes

piness seemed to be not only in prospect,

that once flashed with the brilliant co-

but near at hand, she was visited with

affliction and grief.
He, on whom her

ruscations of wit and youthful animation,

earthly felicity depended,

was suddenly

now beam

forth

with a mild devotional

feeling, that indicates the entire

She bears

change

her countenance

and carried to the silent grave.

To those who have been brought up in
the school of adversity, calamitous events
do not excite that unalleviated sorrow,
which rends the hearts of those on whom
the vial of misery is poured when in the
midst of their most joyful prosperity.

wathin.

the object of her love, that object which

the all-wise Creator in thus

had entwined around her heart's inmost

joys.
She was like some gay flower on
the mountain's brow, on which the un-

from his too close affection to the world

by the hand of affliction, so that he may
approach to behold the neglected face of
Him who is ever gracious and long-suflferAnd now that she has tasted of the
ing.
imperishable joys which spring from religion, she can see that the cares and
pleasures of this life are indeed " vanity
and vexation of spirit."

cut

off,

in

that humility, seriousness, and sweetness

of disposition,

which

is

one of the surest

indexes of the Christian's heart. This is

not all
her benevolence and charity to
the distressed, and her religious consolations to the afflicted, have endeared her
Julia felt the blow keenly. The chasten- virtues to the humble sons of poverty.
ing hand of Providence had torn away
Now her heart can adore the mercy of

feeling storm has poured

still

existence,

retains

spoiled

of

secret.

None

its

beauty.

its

fury,

that

even when de-

She pined

in

could sympathize, for none

could conceive the ardour of her affection.

The condolence

of the world

was

dis-

weaning man

SERMON

XLI.

CN THE DANGERS TO WHICH THE YOUNG ARE EXPOSED FROM THE

ENTICEMENTS OF SINNERS.

BY THE REV. JOHN HUNTER.

"

Youth

My

son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."

Prov.

i.

10.

most interesting and im- towards its Creator, has not assumed its
most malignant form the natural propeneternity.
In it the young begin to be sities, our strong and violent passions,
freed from that parental authority and may be more completely regulated or
discipline, which restrain them from the controlled, and the lineaments of a new
practice of vice, and give a general tone and divine nature more easily impressed
to their sentiments and conduct, in which on the understanding and the heart.
Intheir own inclinations and choice have fluenced by such sentiments and feelings,
but little share. They are then called, will the good man raise the eye of faith
is

the

portant period of our moral probation for

in

some measure,

to think, to judge,

to act, for themselves.

They

and

enter on

and of

who

holj' desire, to that

Divine Being,

alone can preserve his beloved child-

the wide theatre of the world, unaided

ren from falling, and with

by

of parental tenderness, labour, ere they

that superintending care and ardent

all

the

warmth

which had hitherto guided them in quit that endeared abode where they have
every time of perplexity and doubt, and already experienced a father's care and a
guarded them from every danger to wliich mother's love, to impress upon them lestheir virtue was exposed. Now, the prin- sons of wisdom and piety, and to prepare
ciples which had been early instilled into them for entering, with respectability and
their minds, are to be brought to the test usefulness, on the busy scenes of active
of trial. They have arduous and difficult life. This appears to have been the chief
they have powerful end for which the book of Proverbs was
duties to perform
and seductive temptations to resist; and designed by its royal author; and no
on the course of action they pursue at portion of sacred Scripture seems better
this critical period, their future character adapted for affording instruction, and comand destiny may, in a great measure, de- municating salutary reproof and warning

love,

most to the young. It exhibits an accurate

awaken- acquaintance with the various windings
ed, by the sovereign power of divine of the human heart, and with those mazes
grace, and introduced, by penitence and of error, which, in early life warp the unfaith, into the family of God
yet still, derstanding, corrupt the principles, and

pend.

readily admit, that even the

profligate youth

may

hereafter be

cannot be denied that early conversion debase the conduct. Often have these
Proverbs been employed by parents, for
is the best, perhaps the only security, for
a holy life, a happy death, and a blessed fixing salutary and important lessons on
immortality. In the morning of our days, the minds of their oflTspring; and no advice has not yet made its deepest inroads vice which this book contains, can be of
upon our intellectual and moral constitu- higher importance than that which I have
the enmity of the human mind selected as the subject of our present
tions

it

Vol. II.--49

2K

385

THE BRITISH

386

Let me then, my young

your serious attention,

meditation.

solicit

friends,

while, with

the affection of a father,

all

and of a friend, I remind you of some of

those arts by which sinners will entice
you from the paths of duty to violate the
sacred laws of your God.
In the first place, you may he exposed
to the bainful infumcc of bud example,

PULPIT.

has enjoyed the advantage of a religious

it is impossible to be brought

education,

immediate contact with dissipation

and profligacy, without deep emotions of
The youthful
repugnance and horror.

into

feels that tliey are opposite to rea-

mind

son and divine revelation; it contrasts

them with the cheerful piety which prevailed in the paternal home, and it firmly

part.
of ridicule, a}ul to the power of resolves to act a wiser and a better
Even in the bosom of the Soon, however, the young are taught by
persuasion.
most pious family, the young cannot re- dire experience, that "evil communicato the force

main

entirely

ignorant of

perceive the germs of

Tliey

evil.
in

it

their

tions corrupt good

own indeed

clearly

They do

manners."

perceive

the

distinction

between right and wrong between sin

and holiness, but they no longer feel that
in which they move; they are taught it horror and disgust which open and unin the invaluable records of divine truth, blushing wickedness, and even irreligion
and read it in every page of secular his- and impure conversation, once so powerThey have
tory, and in the daily occurrences of hu- fully excited in their minds.
man life. But while, even at this early not, indeed, learned to imitate the conperiod, they have tasted of a portion of duct of the ungodly, to stand in the way
the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of of sinners, and sit in "the seat of the

hearts

even

in

they behold the exhibition of it

the comparatively virtuous circle

evil, yet still, its poisonouni influence is,

in a great

the

scornful ;" but their reverence for all that

measure, counterbalanced by

is

holy, and their admiration of

salutary

is

good, have been greatly weakened, and

affectionate

the

counsels,

all

that

warnings, and the good example of the piety appears rather as one of the adwho are dear to juncts of a virtuous character, than ag
Seldom, however, are they the only source whence all pure and
their hearts.
permitted long to remain in these taber- genuine morality must proceed and now
parents and the friends

nacles of the righteous

their chief

whose

have

the disso-

God
to

their strict

companions begin

adherence

to deride

to the external or-

dinances of religion, to laugh at what

they are pleased to call their sanctimoni-

is

now

ous demeanor, and to represent them as

casting
^Jrhey

under the
same roof with young persons of the
same age, and engaged in the same pursuits with themselves, who are entire
strangers to every act of sacred duty
perhaps,

that their

r.ay be, that

their lot in very different scenes.

are called,

it is

It

society they will.

in all likelihood, relish.

the providence of

for they

among

associates

lute of the earth,

live

fanatics, enthusiasts, or hypocrites.

If

these arts are unavailing, they next have

recourse to the winning influence of kind-

ness

they

them

profess

that

it

will

afford

satisfaction, if for once they

will

same forbidden pleasures of

who hardly ever peruse the volume of which they have partaken, and their cominspiration
w-iio speak of the most sa- pliance they represent as a test of their
cred subjects with the most unbecoming friendship and affection.
As these arts
levity
who dare to profane the blessed succeed, they ply them with new arguname of Jehovah, or to utter oaths of im- ments and entreaties and, looking with
precation against their fellow-creatures
mildest aspect, and going about them
taste of the

who

habitually violate the duties of the

Sabbath, and are frequently debased by

with all the eloquence they can command

they rest not satisfied till they have lured

them to the performance of some act

which they feel to be in direct opposition
principles of the divine life have not been to the voice of conscience and the law
implanted in the heart by the power of of God.
the Holy Ghost, but where an individual
In the young mind, the principle of
injustice or falsehood, or

toxication or impurity.

by habits of

Even where

in-

the

THE DANGERS TO WHICH THE YOUNG ARE EXPOSED.

curiosity
ful.

longs to become acquainted with

It

new

generally strong and power-

is

objects,

and

to enter into

ragements of Christianity

common

new scenes

387

the principles, the precepts, the encouduties of

life,

to bear on the
carry them with

apt to be too confident of its strength, you into the avocations of business, and
and fearless of danger; it has not been into the society of the giddy or the gay
taught to shun the beginnings of evil, and carefully scrutinize the operations of your
to keep that strict guard on itself which own minds
strip off the disguises by
it is

How which self-partiality conceals them from

young looking, your view, or changes their real character
without apparent displeasure and awakenset a watch on the door of your lips

is

the surest protection of virtue.

often do

ing

we behold

fear, at those

spise, and

the

whom

they secretly de-

sacrificing, at the

shrine of

the world's love, principles and habits

associated with every godly affection and

holy feeling, and which they know to be

connected with their present usefulness
and their everlasting happiness. It may
be,

my

young

friends, that som.e of

moment exposed

you

shun the beginnings of

evil

let

the per-

Saviour be continually present to your thoughts, and his

life continually present to your souls
fect character of the

learn to distrust yourselves, and to live

Christ

in the faith of

cend

God

let

your souls as-

prayer for the enlightening, sanctifying, and strengthening

to

in fervent

tempta- influence of his Holy Spirit, and never,

tion I have described, and on the verge of
never, forget the solemn words of the
that dangerous precipice which is ready Lord Jesus Christ, "Whosoever shall
to ingulf you in all the perdition of guilt confess me before men, him shall the
and misery. Stand, I entreat you, ere it Son of man also confess before the angels
are at this

to the

be too late. I call not on you to abandon

the world and renounce its society.
No.
The wheat and the tares must grow together till the harvest; and the righteous
and the wicked must mingle together in
the same transactions of business, and
may even be associated in the same domestic circle. But shut not your eyes to
the magnitude of the danger to which
you are exposed say not with Hazael,
" Is thy servant a dog, that he should do
this thing?"
Remember that there is
within you an evil heart of unbelief, that
is ever ready to depart from the living
;

God but he that denieth me before

men shall be denied before the angels of
of

God."

A second temptation by which sinners

endeavour to entice the young and inconsiderate into the path of vice, is by setting
them splendid and sedudice reprethe riches and enjoyment
with ivhich it is accompanied. The young
are now entering on the serious duties of
before

sentations nf

human

life.

Reason teaches them that

they are bound to cultivate their talents,

and apply both the powers of their body
and the faculties of their mind to such
God. Be not hurried into the commis- subjects as may enable them to pursue
sion of sin from that inconsideration and secure for themselves the means of
which refuses to inquire into the path of subsistence, and to obtain situations of
duty, and which marks not the conse- respectability and usefulness. Revelation
quences of actions. Think it not to be confirms this in the strongest and most
a commendable quality, or a sign of an explicit terms, and often have they been
amiable temper, that we cannot refuse reminded by parents whom they love, that

any request, while

we know

it

to

be in-

jurious to ourselves, or subversive of the

best interests of

Him who made

us.

shrink not from your duty in consequence

of
that

the contempt of

God

is

fools.

Remember

not ignorant of the recesses

hand of the diligent maketh rich,"

It is,
but that sloth bringeth to want.

"The

however, no easy task to combine activity

business with fervonr of spirit in servand multitudes having
ing the Lord
heard the word receive it with joy, whose
religious convictions and impressions are
in

of the heart, that he is acquainted with

every word of the lips, and that the most afterwards completely destroyed by the
deceitfulness
secret actions of your life are recorded in cares of the world and the
Bringing of riches. They who, having embarked
the book of his remembrance.

THE BRITISH

388
in life, bring themselves,

by the influence the

1

of conversation and example, to consider

affluence as the highest created good, delight to think of opulence, honour,
distinction, and of

PULPIT.

adding house

They

to

and

house,

debased, and the conduct

feelings

vitiated, all the

schemes

j'ou

have formed

may

be also completely disappointed, and

that you may be taught by your own experience that " riches make themselves'

wings, and fly away, as an eagle towards

heaven." The happiness of beings does
very different sphere from that in which not consist in the abundance of what they
they are now called to move, when they have, but in contentment, which is itself
shall exercise authority, possess fame, a feast. Can all the power of Alexander,
and be permitted to enjoy the various can all the wealth of Crcesus, appease
mollify the stings of a
gratifications which wealth and luxury the wrath of God
and it may be that they indulge guilty conscience assuage the agonies
afford
even the thought that they will then be of disease give health or strength to a
save from the darts of
able to requite the obligations of worthy debilitated frame
parents and friends
to supply the wants the king of terrors, or deliver from the
cf the poor and the afflicted and to pro- miseries of hell fire? No. You know,
mote the interests of knowledge, religion, and will readily acknowledge, that it
and virtue. Indulging in these fancied cannot.
then, be not led away by
dreams of worldly greatness, while they these wicked adversaries, who care neither
labour with unwearied industry for that for your souls nor for their own, and who
meat which perisheth, they quickly be- have never yet learned the force of that
come forgetful of that meat which en- solemn interrogatory" What is a man
dureth to everlasting life.
Like the profited, if he shall gain the whole worlds
thoughtless beings with whom they now and lose his own soul ; or what shall a
associate, their first and last thoughts are man give in exchange for his soul ?"

and

field

to field.

when they

period

anticipate the

shall be placed

in a

and they sacrifice

But I have also said, that the love of
;
duty to interest, imbibe principles op- pleasure, as well as riches, has ever
posed to the purity and spotless simpli- proved one of the most successful means
city of the Christian faith, and adopt of enticing young men into the path of
maxims v,-hich they once abhorred. They vice. There are multitudes of young
now become careless about overreaching men that care not for riches, and have not
their neighbours, or indulging in petty the slightest desire to mount the ladder
fraud
they flatter the great and the of ambition, but pleasure is the enchantpowerful
they scruple not to utter false- ing sorceress whose povv^erful spell they
hood for selfish ends they cannot afford are unable to resist. Many are her worlime for self-examination, secret prayer, shippers, whom she wiles in the most
directed to the world

or reading of the Scriptures

and not unfrequently a large portion of the Sabbath

is devoted to the summing up of accounts,
concluding bargains, and preparing for the
transactions of the ensuing week.

money is the
some have coveted

love of

The

attractive forms.

our religion

is

readily admit, that

not the

enemy

of innocent

pleasure, and is the friend of cheerful-

ness;

it

expects not from the young the

gravity of age, but that sobriety of mind,

which and that chastened joy, which become a

have em- rational and accountable being. There
braced the faith, and thus pierced them- are, however, many fascinating amuseselves through with many sorrows. It was ments common in the world which are
this that induced Judas Iscariot to betray destructive of the love of God in the soul
our blessed Lord ; and it is this which of man
utterly inconsistent with that
has often led to treachery, cruelty, rob- reverence for the Deity, that awe of his
bery, murder, and almost every crime name, that veneration of his word, that
root of all evil,
after they

that has stained the annals of our guilty

race.
Beware, then, lest mammon be-

come the god you

exemwhich Chris-

purity of heart, that correct and

plary deportment, without

serve. Remember that, tianity is a form without substance, a

while thus the principles are corrupted, shadow without a reality, a name to

THE DANGERS TO WHICH THE YOUNG ARE EXPOSED.

389

which no character or being is annexed. impressions of the danger with which

There are other pleasures less criminal attended. " Wo unto them that call

own

nature, but attended with

it is

evil

good, and good evil

;
that put darkness
and light for darkness; that put
nal interests, which lead the mind from bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter."
tlie pure fountain of excellence
encroach Now this is the very course by which the
upon those hours which ought ever to be wicked at first delude themselves, and
sacred to retirement and devotion ; give then deceive others.
Earnestness about
a distaste for the private pleasures of do- the salvation of their souls, they repremestic life, and are attended with the sent as the wild ravings of enthusiasm ;
pomp and the glory which are too apt to pride, in their vocabulary, is considered
engender those habits of lightness and honourable, and humility a mark of weakfrivolity of mind which unfit for the dis- ness or ignorance; intemperance receives
charge of this life, while they prevent or the mild epithet of conviviality, and seretard our preparation for a better, and, it riousness is considered inconsistent with
may be, become stepping-stones to the that vivacity of spirit which ought ever
gratification of those fleshly lusts which to pertain to youth
revenge is termed a
war against the spirit, and end in the proper regard to one's character and repuLet tation, while meekness and patience, and
utter ruin of both soul and body.

in their

injurious effects to our spiritual and eter-

for light,

me, then, adopt the words of Solomon

<

My

forgiveness of injuries, expose the indi-

son, if sinners entice thee, consent

thou not."

All the beauties of nature,

viduals

who

exhibit them to

lery of ridicule, or to all

all

the artil-

the contempt

my young friends, are unveiled before witli which a coward is uniformly viewed.
you
there is no branch of science Bring these maxims to the test of reason
and Scripture, and you will at once perfrom which your religion excludes you
you may innocently and usefully culti- ceive that they are founded in error, and
Nay,
are incapable of rational defence.
vate the various arts of civilized life
you may peruse the page of history you I strongly suspect, that at the very time
may engage in those exercises that give you are reckoning upon them, you are
vigour to your bodies, and elasticity to aware that they will not bear to be scruyou may enjoy all the tinized, and that the morality which
your minds
charms of social intercourse when guided opinion has sanctioned must appear to
by holy and virtuous principles and you have no foundation in truth, and be utmay cherish all the sensibilities of your terly subversive of improvement and hapnature, and taste, in rich abundance, the piness of mind.
But then, it may be, that your irreliAnd are
refined luxury of doing good.
not these enjoyments of a far preferable gious companions allege, that God himkind to those to which sinners entice you 1 self has implanted certain appetites ;n
The former are the handmaids of religion, our nature, and that surely it is not conthe latter the enemies of genuine godli- trary to his will that we should follow
the one calculated to lead your their dictates. Observe, my young friends,
ness
;

thoughts to the Author of nature, the

Giver of all good, the other to estrange
you from him, and sink you lower and
lower in the scale of intellectual existAvoid, then, the wicked, and their
ence.
ways, resist their delusive arts. " 0, my
soul, come not thou into their secret ; unto
their assembly, mine honour, be not thou

that every one of these appetites and pas-

sions are in themselves innocent, useful,

and even indispensably necessary to our

usefulness in this world, and that it is

their perversion only that is criminal

and this will of Deity is clearly understood from the light of nature, for we
uniformly perceive their moderate indulgence attended with pleasure, and their
united."
A third method by which sinners entice inordinate indulgence with pain and reHunger and thirst prompt us to
the young to the commission of vice, is morse.

by concealing

its

native deformity,

sedulously endeavouring

to

and seek

diminish their

that food or those viands

which are

necessary for the prolongation of

2k2

life,

and

390

THE BRITISH

the goodness of the Creator is manifested

in satisfying these instinctive cravings ;

PULPIT.

what he did. No! the evil inclination

would be deemed the very essence

itself

but o-juttony and intemperance weaken of his crime. Now, apply this to the
and enervate the frame, and produce in- relation in which we stand towards God.
capacity for tiiought and business, and We cannot deny that we possess powers
mental imbecility or temporary insanity. of body and of mind, admirably adapted
Habits of business produce gain, but for the duties our Maker has called us to
then the immoderate desire of gain inspires the mind with corroding cares,

perform.

We

are,

what

it

true, naturally

is

wrong, but every

man, when he does what is wrong, is
aware that he ought to have refrained
from doing it. It is a perversion of the
will that prompts him to evil, and this
inclined to do

anxious fears, and that continual anxiety

and dread which poison the cup of human bliss, and often render life insupThe desire of ease and pleaportable.
sure was implanted within us to recruit
our spirits, and invigorate our frames,
when exhausted by the duties of life;
and the many sources of happiness with
which the bountiful Author of our being
has so liberally gifted us, aflbrd proof of
his constant care and love. But pleasure
is not to be our business, but our recreation ; for no sooner do we devote our

is

renders him guilty in the sight of that

Being who searcheth the

heart,

and

the reins of the children of men.

still

further to render unbelieving

trieth

But

maa

utterly inexcusable, and to afford every

who desire to obey the

law of God, the Almighty has promised

assistance to all

the influence of the

Holy

Spirit to

work

do of his own
to restrain and eradicate
time and attention to it, than it ceases to
afford gratification, and is uniformly at- the vicious propensities from their natended with satiety and disgust. Any of ture, and transform them into the glorious
you may extend these observations for image of Him in whom perfection dwells.
But there is yet one other argument by
yourselves; and apply them to the various instinctive propensities God has which sinners entice the young and the
given us, and you will see that all is good inconsiderate to act unworthy of their
that comes from the great Architect of rational and immortal nature.
They tell
the universe, and that it is human cor- them, that God is a being of boundless
ruption alone that renders our intellectual, mercy, that thousands and tens of thouour moral powers, instruments of guilt sands of his creatures are still more guilty
Then you may be told by than themselves, and that it is impossible
or misery.
some, that our nature is so weak or in- to suppose he will doom the helpless
firm, that it is utterly impossible to resist worms, whom his own hands have formthe influence of temptation, or to coun- ed, to all the misery of everlasting puteract its powerful tendency to evil. But nishment.
God indeed is merciful, and
let me ask you, would you consider this it is because his compassions fail not
a sufficient excuse for exempting an in- that you are still in the land of the living
dividual from the punishments wliich and the place of hope.
But remember,
have always been affixed to the commisremember, I entreat you, that God is
If, indeed, it was
sion of an offence 1
also just and holy, and will not allow sin
proved that he was under mental derange- to go unpunished. The attribute of inment, or acted under the impulse of force, finity belongs to his justice and his holihe would at once be declared free from ness, as well as to his goodness and
moral guilt, and the infliction of punish- mercy. Would you be persuaded of this,
ment upon him would be deemed utterly behold the scenes of nature there you
unjustifiable; but the case is widely op- see much to please the senses, to captiposite, if it be found that his intellect was vate the imagination, and inspire the
perfectly sound, and that the deed was heart with delight. The awful attributes
voluntary. It is no apology for his crime, of Divinity are also fearfully manifested
that he was impelled by what he called in the rolling thunder, which fills every
a strong and irresistible propensity to do mind with awe ; in the whirlwind and

them both to
good pleasure,

in

will

and

to

THE DANGERS TO WHICH THE YOUNG ARE EXPOSED.

which

the storm,

and

around

which

in

scatter desolation all

the mighty earthquake,

in

moment

destroys the most

391

Jerusalem, and to participate in the exalted enjoyment of its blessed inhabitants.

Amen.

magnificent city, and plunges the inhabitants into an unseen, but eternal world.

Consult, again, the dictates of conscience,

THE CONTRAST

TWO

DEATH-BED SCENES.

I SELECT from many similar cases

and it will tell of the purity of Him who
formed it, and whose vicegerent it is in which came under my observation, in the
the human breast, and in the agony of pre- course of my professional avocations in
sent remorse it will point to the still more various parts of the world, the two folexquisite misery of the worm that never lowing.
These men, through life, professed sendies, and the fire that is not quenched.
Read the page of history. It contains a timents very different from each other;
striking record of the judgments of the and at the awful hour of dissolution,
Most High, and there you may perceive, their feelings were indeed very opposite.
in characters the most deep and indeli- They were both snatched away in the
ble, that while righteousness exalteth a prime of life, one being twenty-four, and
nation, sin is the reproach, and will ulti- the other twenty-seven years old.
mately prove the ruin, of any people. long and disinterested friendship with
Raise your eyes to Calvary, and there the former, induced him to request my

you will view, in the cross of Jesus, the attendance professionally; but all human
most awful exhibition that was ever skill was vain the cold hand of death
manifested to an intelligent creation, that had seized him. Never in my life did I
Jehovah is a sin-avenging God, and tiiat see the cheering effects of a religious life
even while he is willing to pardon the more strongly exemplified than on this
His wife, his mother, and his
penitent sinner, he will not allow guilt occasion.
Yes, my young five sisters, with myself, were present.
to escape unpunished.
friends, the dying agonies of the Son of Observing his female relations in tears,
the Highest, attest this truth in a manner he requested them to come near, and,
that may well cause the heavens to be after a little pause, addressed them in
" Beloved
astonished, the earth to wonder, and nearly the following words
every human being to tremble, before the friends, I perceive with regret the anthrone of the mighty Sovereign of the guish of your souls; I say regret, beuniverse.
And even in the book of God, cause I had promised myself nothing
and upon every page of it, you meet with but tranquillity and happiness, while the
the solemn declaration, that the ungodly partition is breaking down that separates
I am entering on my
shall not elude the judgment of their me from my God.
Creator, but that the wicked shall be last journey, which, so far from being
turned into hell, and all they who forget terrible, is inviting and delightful." A
God. O then, my young friends, " Be paroxysm of pain here interrupted the
God is not mocked for interesting account, and for a minute he
not deceived
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he lay apparently insensible; but opening
He that soweth to the flesh, his eyes again, with a placid smile, he
also reap.
but he said, "I feel the infirmities of nature, but
shall of the flesh reap corruption
that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the my sense of pain is lost in my ardent
I have heartily reSpirit reap life everlasting." Flee, then, hope of salvation.
:

without

delay,

to

the

can wash away

sacrifice

Saviour,
all

whose pented of

the stains of

your past guilt, whose righteousness

your only covering when you stand
the presence of
nity, and

again to
mitted

Him who

is

in

inhabiteth eter-

all

my

sins,

and firmly believe,

my God, and the

through the mercies of

redeeming merits of my blessed Saviour,

few minutes, be nummy
bered with the chosen of God.

that I shall, in a

must create you wife! my mother! my beloved sisters!

good works, ere you can be per- I beseech you not to mourn my departure.

to

whose

Spirit

enter the

gates of the

New

I feel

happiness unspeakable opening oa

THE BRITISH PULPIT.

302

ray soul, as it bursts from this wretched

tenement." Tlien grasping my hand, he
virfaintly exclaimed, " Ah, my friend
See the effect of
tue is its own reward.
a religious life, and the blessed compo!

He consure of a dying Christian !"

lamp is nearly out; but,

"My

tinued,

blessed be God,

feel

that

has not

it

forgive
burned in vain. O Lord God
my impatience I am ready to obey thy
call, and anxious to receive thy promised
his tongue
rest." Here his voice Aiiled,
!

faltered,

and

his spirit took its flight to

bosom of its Father in heaven.

The picture of my other unhappy friend
was just the reverse of the above. He
the

had indulged

freely in all the fashionable

gayeties of the world

and

if

ever a se-

rious or useful thought obtruded on his

disordered
stifled

was immediately
debauchery.
career he quaffed away life

fancy,

by some

In this

mad

it

idle

he arrived at the
meridian of manhood, he was verging fast
A bacchanalian
to the brink of eternity.
surfeit in a distant country brought on a
to the dregs, and, before

fever,

which threatened

a speedy dissolu-

tion of life; and in this state I

saw him

luted wretch,

My

ments.
ty,

torture

life

foolishly

spent,

because

endured throughout this

that

my

well of

my

companions

me

but

all

might think

was

sincere in

His mind became so

wickedness."

agitated that

in error

never

reasoning was lost; he

of death rent his very soul.

never

am

feelings

it

have lived without thinking of God, and

why should he now think of me, unless
to damn me ]
God
it be to judge me,
shall go distracted !"
A fainting fit
I
intervened, and fortunately broke this
mournful chain of reflections: but, alas,
sensibility too soon returned, and with it
fresh trains of gloomy despondency. He
stared wildly, and roared out, " 1 have
broken from him, but he is coming again,
death
there,
there,
O, save me
save me !" After nearly an hour passed
in this dreadful state, he again became
capable of reflecting but every moment
added to his dejection. " I have been so
bad," he exclaimed, " that God can never
forgive me.
I have blasphemed and dishonoured his holy name a hundred limes,
when my heart inwardly smote me. I
have ridiculed and denied his existence,

was unable

ful

in iniqui-

yielded one hour of solid happiness.

for the first time for several years, and I

certain I shall never forget the pain-

mo-

not his last

has been spent

to repent;

and the thought

In this per-

turbed state he languished for about four

It is absolutely hours, from the time of my first seeing

impossible to give even a faint idea of him
till, at length,
overwhelmed by

melancholy interview.

paroxysm of fever closed the

The last words he uttered,

the horror, the agony, the heartrending

despair, a

harrowed up his soul, whenever the thought of death flashed across

his mind. He received me with frenzied
ardour, in which hope and fear were
strongly depicted. "Alas!" he exclaimed, "you have come too late, for I am
every way lost," I immediately
lost,
perceived that life was ebbing fast; and
being convinced that nothing short of di-

tragic scene.

terror, that

vine interposition could retard his fate, I

endeavoured to console him by drawing
his attention to the mercies of God, and

the saving mediation of a gracious Reto which he replied with asperity and violence, " If you have any

deemer;

friendship left for a degraded, self-pol-

that I could distinctly hear, were, "

will not, cannot forgive,"

was

lost in a

O my

God

the remainder

murmuring groan.

convey to you
any idea of the awful feelings which the
wretched death of this wretched man
produced upon my mind, it would, I
think, deter the most thoughtless of you
from those practices which ruin both
soul and body.
Would to God that you
had been present
My description may
not penetrate beyond the ear: but had
you witnessed the dreadful original, it
would have pierced your very hearts.
JReid's Voyages to Van Biemenh Land.
friends, could I

SERMON

XLII.

PROFESSED SUBJECTION TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

BY THE REV.

"

Your professed

subjection unto the Gospel of Christ."

It is striking to observe, while life is

passing so quickly away, the various
forms of character in which men choose
to spend this temporary scene of being,
and to enter upon a future and greater
stage of existence. Now, if some one of
these forms is more eligible than all the
rest, as a preparation for that future stage,

a thoughtful

man

portant of
I

trust

you

inquiry,

if

which
all

it is,

as the

most im-

My

brethren,

inquiries.

persuaded that this

seriously undertaken, will

are

all

2 Cor.

ix. 13.

of frequent occurrence, both in conversation

and

It is

the

Now, what

sermons.

in

word of

of your salvation
of the grace of

is it]

It is the

gospel

It is called the

gospel

truth

God

the glorious gospel

our gospel the gospel of Christ the

gospel of peace good news joyful
tidings!

wish that of

will surely

character to be his own, and be anxious

to ascertain

DILLON, A.M.

R. C.

It is, in

short, a proclamation

salvation, full, finished, free, infallible,

and eternal
We remark,
A salva
1. That it is a full salvation.
tion having no defect; a salvation which
a salvation which
requires no addition
excludes all compromise, and includes all
I

in the con-

pardon, justification, adoption, righteous-

viction, that the Christian character, with

ness, and all the qualifications necessary

soon terminate satisfactorily

all

which

it

includes of professed subjec-

for

enjoying God, with

all

the strength,

which the redeemed

which should be selected by every wise receive and enjoy, through the Holy Spition to the

gospel of Christ,

man who

awaiting his call into eternity.

is

is

the one

security, and honour,

rit.

It is, also,

A finished salvation. "Behold, the

Lord hath proclaimed unto the ends of the
furnishing three points on which we may world. Say ye to the daughter of Zion,
profitably suspend a few observations.
behold, thy salvation cometh behold, his
And I request you to view the text, reward is with him, and his work before
as containing, in the Jirst place, A sum- him !"
No part of his work did our
mary OF Christian principles "the Saviour leave behind him all was before
gospel of Christ." Secondly, An epitome him, all was done ; he satisfied all the
OF Christian experience "your sub- perfections of God, and answered all the
jection unto the gospel of Christ." And, requirements of man; he finished the
thirdly. An exhibition of Christian work his Father had given him to do, as
PRACTICE "your professed subjection to God's righteous servant, and thus became
Permit me, then, to call your attention
this evening to the words of the text, as

2.

his people's Surety; he fulfilled every jot

the gospel of Christ."

Let me, then, request you

our text as furnishing us,
place, with

A summary

of

to consider
in

the first

Christian

principles, the gospel of Christ.

And what is the gospel ? It is a word

Vol. II. 50

of the divine law ; yea, he more

As, at
it, he magnified it!
the constitution of the material world,
when it came forth from its Creator's

and

tittle

than fulfilled

hand, Omniscience itself could discern no

393

THE BRITISH

394
fault in

it,

so, neither could divine justice,

PULPIT.

the other.

The

will of

God

the Father

most severe scrutiny, discover devised it; the sureliship of God the
any failure in the obedience of man's Son accomplished it; and God the Holy
In him was the Father well Spirit covenanted to impress the seal,
Surety.
pleased and therefore do we say it was and confirm the witness upon tlie sinner's
after the

We

God

the Father devised the stu-

remark, again,
a finished salvation.
So free,
3. That it is a free salvation.

soul.

pendous plan;

God

need bring no purchase money in

our hands to buy it. God hath abounded
in all the riches of his grace towards us,
and has given us a ransom to rely upon,
of more dignity than all the heavens, and
he has
of more value than all worlds
given unto us eternal life, and this life is

responsible

the

the Son became

accomplishment of
it, by making a full payment for every
debt, and a full expiation for every sin,
and by a perfect obedience to God's allrighteous and unbending law; and upon
the credit of the bond which his Son had
given, did the Holy Father take thouWhosoever will, let him sands and thousands home to heaven
in his Son.
take of the water of life freely. It is not before his Son had shed one drop of
here said whoever is worthy, but whoever blood, or paid one mite of the mighty
Wilt thou, then, be made ransom-price wliich our iniquities deis willincr.
holy 1 Wilt thou inherit grace and glory ] manded. Nor is the responsibility of

that

we

for

Then take the water of life freely, without God the Spirit less involved in its infallimoney and without price, and without bility for to him the high office belongs
;

preparatory works, though not without

of opening the eyes of

the

blind,

of

works
but without preparatory good unstopping ears which aie deaf, and of
works
without any good works to awakening them that sleep
of giving
recommend you to the gift without any life to them that are dead and of creating
;

preparatory good works, or previous good

qualities

whatever;

it

is

to

be received

as an infinitely rich gift of divine grace,

vouchsafed through his only Son, to the

lost, the guilty, and the undone. To t/ou

Jesus every member of

Unless, then, it can
ever come to pass that the purposes of
God the Father can be revoked or frustrated, or that the fabric which has been
built by God can be brought to the ground
by man ; unless the precious blood of God
the Son can ever fail in vvashing white

anew

to Christ

the mystical body.

the word of this salvation sent

not to
you who have deserved it by your own
goodness, but to you who have forfeited
it by your sins and by your alienation
the deepest crimson-coloured sins; or,
from God ; to you is this salvation unless the Holy Spirit can ever prove
published, that as sinners you may powerless in executing the high office
receive it, and that believing you may which belongs to his peculiar province in
have salvation through his name. We the covenant of grace then it follows of
may remark,
necessity, that where salvation is once
4. Of this salvation, that it is not only imparted to the believer, where the earnis

and free, but that it is also est and first-fruits are given, then tho
" Lift up your salvation of that individual is infallible
and eternal.
eyes to the heavens, and look upon the and eternal.
earth beneath
for the heavens shall
pass on, then, from this summary
vanish away like smoke, and the earth of Ciiristian and scriptural principles, to
shall wax old like a garment, and they consider the words of the text, in the
that dwell therein shall die in like man- second place, as containing An epitome
ner; but my salvation shall be for ever, OF Christian experience
" your suband my righteousness shall not be abo- jection to the gospel of Christ." And
full, finished,

infalliblt

We

much more

lislied."

Salvation

is

not a covenant or agreement

merely between God and the believer it

is a covenant and compact between the
three persons of the Godhead, each with

than

is

there in this

is at first

word subjection

sight discernible; there

is

subduing necessarily included in it,

which carries with it a supposition that

man

likes not the gospel of Christ natu-

PROFESSED SUBJECTION TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

What,

rally.

the blind

it

may be

asked, will not

man wish for sight? Will not

man wish to be healed 1 Will vice;
poor man wish for wealth 1 In Why,

the lame

395

livered her ten thousand lectures on the

beauty of virtue, and the hideousness of

natural things certainly these results do

what has been the result?

which was powerful in promise became imbecile in performance

follow

for

not the

but there is an utter diversity

but,

that

wisdom and

philosophy positively

between things which are earthly, and

those which are heavenly
for the one,
there is a demand to which men are naturally urged by hunger, or thirst, or the
other physical sensations and appetites of

did nothing; the corruption of the

their constitution; but for the other, there

into subjection to the gospel of Christ;

no natural appetite, because, in truth,

weapons which can do this are

which are carnal, but those
which "are spiritual and mighty through
God," mark the important parenthesis,
" through God :" it is he who must give
the edge to the weapon, and force to the
blow
which, without his interference,
never can become mighty to the pulling

is

and where there

is no life there is no hunger
for, before
hunger can be excited, life must be
created.
You must not marvel, then,
brethren, if your ungodly acquaintances
do not hunger and thirst after righteousness ; they are dead in trespasses and
sins, and they must be made alive by the
all-powerful influences of God's Holy
Spirit, (for they have no power to regenerate themselves,) before they can ever
there

is

no spiritual

life;

human

heart yielded not one iota to the eloquence

of the schools; the depravity of the soul

was

far

beyond them.

that depravity give

way

And
until

it

never will
is

brought

the

not

those

down

of strongholds, the casting

down

of imaginations, and of every high thing

which exalteth

itself against the

know-

ledge of God, bringing into captivity

every thought to the obedience of Christ.

hunger after those things which afford

And now, we will shortly notice the
you all your solace and all your joy. The
dead mass of the human soul cannot proofs of subjection to the gospel of

or, in other words, the being

quicken into life of itself; it is the Spirit Christ
which quickeneth, the flesh profiteth no- made willing to submit to the humiliating
thing; the flesh never profited any man plan of salvation; and this is illustrated
living, it is the Spirit only which can in the case of St. Paul. We have recorded
quicken. This, then, is the reason why the circumstances attendant upon his conwe do not find the blind asking for eye- version ; and an account, at the same
sight, the lame for healing, or the poor time, of his previous character, princihe was a Pharisee of
for spiritual wealth ; they seek not the ples, and habits
physician, because they imagine they the most straitest sect, thinking of himhave no need of his prescriptions; they self so highly as to conceive that he was
and yet, even this
c ivet not of the transcendent fulness of doing God service
Christ, because they think themselves man, when touched by the finger of Omrich, increased in goods, and to have nipotence, fell prostrate to the earth, and
;

furnished a marvellous instance of subneed of nothing.

O, my brethren, sin has done dreadful jection to the gospel of Christ.
There is not a greater moral wonder
havoc ; it has made dismal ravages on
our mor il constitution there is a deadly than the great change of heart which was
wrought upon St. Paul at his conversion
stock of corruption in the heart by nature
the moral machine has gone into disorder, the whole powers of his mind and body
and not a single power is there within the were now engaged in a course totally opcompass of that machinery to remodel it, posite to the laws given to them by his
and replace its disordered parts. Philo- temper, his education, the society in which
sophy has had its ages of trial and he had moved ; he renounces the favour
science has erected her thousand temples, of the .Jewish sanhedrim, which it had
and from her high academic chair hath been previously his study to gain by his
wisdom (not, indeed, that which is from persecution of the church in the time of
above, but earthly, worldly wisdom) de- his legal bondage ; and, having undone
;

THE BRITISH

39G

every tbing which he had done before,

and done every thing wiiich he had before
left undone, we see hinm encountering
every hazard for the gospel's sake; his
confidence in

God

rising exactly in pro-

portion to the persecutions of men.

PULPIT.

out putting

to

you whether you are

personally, acquainted with this process

of liunniliation and subjection to the gos-

may judge

pel of Christ. In order that ye

,

or
'

God and
make one
And I will

of this matter aright between

And your own

he that once thought himself righteous

beyond his fellows, having profited in
the Jewish religion above many of his
equals in his own nation, being more

it

souls, permit

me

two observations upon

to

it.

say, that if you have been carrying your-

high in religion, then are your

views of it low and defective. But if
exceedingly zealous of the traditions of you have been carrying yourselves low,
his fathers, is now brought down and feeling your own insufficiency, and thinkso humbled, that we see him gladly ing that there is nothing good in yourclassing himself with the worst of sin- selves, then are your views of religion
And have I not
ners ; for, says he, "This is a faithful high and scriptural.
saying, and worthy of all acceptation, some among my hearers this evening,
that Jesus Christ came into the world to who, though they would be afraid so
save sinners, of whom I am chief."
far to shake off religion as to make
Now, brethren, this is subjection to the themselves easy M'ithout discharging the
yea,
gospel of Christ; and I know not that the brief round of its stated forms
Bible anywhere furnishes
perhaps, almost the whole body of cereI am not acquainted with any part of Scripture which monies, yet wanting the soul of Scripture
contains
a more striking description and ordinances, and blending at the same time,
illustration of it than this.
His character with these forms, a faith quite of a piece
and feelings, before his conversion, were with their practice building their future
those of an educated and intellectual expectations upon services, in which they
man; and need I say there are men who make God but a merely nominal deity,
are distinguished by their ancestry, or while the real object of their worship is the
their birth, or by their high station, world, which they are unwilling to resign
whose religion is as limited as St. Paul's for the Saviour; thus choosing to make a
was before his conversion; consisting of merit of their own, a propitiation of their
outward observances, not thinking of own, and a righteousness of their own,
them as they are
not to be religion and to incur the danger, and run the
itself, but only accessaries to it
not the hazard of eternal punishment, by preferselves

principle of

but important aids to it,

as adjuncts to true religion, but not the
thing itself; that they are the aliment,
but not the life the fuel, but not the

ring the world, with

it,

tions

Now,
come home to

if

ever the gospel

is

to

my

to

have gone thus

corruptions of the world, and feel their

far

dear brethren, with-

some of those various means which the

Holy Spirit blesses in bringing his people
to a knowledge of the truth
who see the

entire subjection to the gospel of Christ.

ought not

in

But if, on the contrary, I am addressing

any this evening (and I know I am addressing some such) who are pursuing

Then,

abandon the opinion that they can understand it by the force of their own unaided
powers, their intellect must be brought
low; and if they would enter into the
kingdom of heaven hereafter, they must
account themselves as sinners they must
receive the kingdom of heaven as little
children here, and be humbled into an

Now,

alluring tempta-

and everlastsuch a case I trust

there is no such a case in this church
to-night
but, if there be, it furnishes an
undoubted proof of utter ignorance of this
" subjection to the gospel of Christ."
ing peace.

those of elevated rank, and

high station, and of great intellectual
endowment, in the demonstration and
with the power of the Spirit, they must

in the discourse,

its

the present scene, to the only

solid source of real strength

flame.

in

unsubdued strength in their own hearts;

and who are thus brought gradually to a
real and lively faith in the Redeemer,
from the love, if not of gross evil, at least
from a life of worldliness and vanity, to

PROFESSED SUBJECTION TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

397

one of progressive piety whose humility he remains unmoved amidst all these
keeps pace with their progress, and who manifestations of the results of that dire
evince, by the change of their conduct, contest which is carried on between the
the great change which has taken place thing formed and him that formed it how
in their hearts such are without doubt sin- is this man to be brought, what teaching
cerely converted, and have been brought is required that he may be brought, into
into subjection to the gospel of Christ.
subjection to the gospel of Christ]
If
But by what power has this been the demands of God's law, the arena of
effected ]
How have these new princi- judgment, and the tremendous severities
pies of subjection been deposited in their of everlasting punishment, fail to brino'
hearts 1
for it must be borne in mind down the high thoughts into captivity
that, throughout this discourse, we would and obedience to Christ; if he is so conbe understood as speaking of subjection of stituted that he resists all these united
not merely of the body, for that is efforts to break down the stronghold of
heart
easily to be had. The body is often sub- sin which is in him, how is it to be done 1
jected, in many ordinances of religion, It is only to be done by the powerful miwhile the heart is still unmoved men nistrations of God's holy word, through
may be induced to attend the house of the Holy Spirit, who takes of the things
prayer, to bend the knee, to bow the that are Christ's, and shows them to his
head, and to give many external marks soul. This is, and must be, the power
of subjection to the gospel of Christ; which alone can bring him into subjection
but how are they to be attached to reli- to the gospel of Christ. It will never be
gion ; how are they to be humbled how done by himself, but only by that Spirit
is one of them to be made to kiss the who first moved on the face of the waters,
hand which chastens him, to bring him and made light and beauty to emerge out
into the docility of a little child in spirit- of the chaos of nature and her elements ;
ual things ; how are we to make him love and whose province it is, in the economy
the God he professes to serve 1 Here is the of grace, to repair the havoc which sin
difficulty. If you bring before him God's has made in it; he alone can restore the
demand of satisfaction for his violated injured fabric to its original harmony. It
law, and that does not bring him into the is he alone who in his mercy, and by
if his grace, can create man anew to good
subjection of which the text speaks
you mention to him the righteous claims works he alone must make him again,
of justice, and that does not do it; if you after the image in which he was origispread before his mind the terrors of the nally formed, and sanctify him again, by
day of judgment, with all the horrible and the faith that is in Jesus Christ; for submelancholy scenes attendant upon it, and jection to the gospel of Christ is the
that fails also ; if you open, then, the work of God, and can be done only by
;

gates of the black abyss of everlasting

wo, and let him look in upon those

unhappy victims whose transgressions
have doomed them to everlasting burnings and pains, which know of no mitigation
if you let him hear those groans
which there are ever heard, and see those
if
tears which there are ever flowing
you show him those hearts which are
;

the Spirit of God.

The

interesting question then arises in

How

does the Spirit do it?

by remarking,
that the Spirit subdues him wholly by
showing him the misery of sin, and the
the mind.

We

answer

this question

mercy of the gospel of Christ; by letting

him see how the Son of God descended

from heaven for the purpose of taking the

whole burden of offended justice upon
and horrid blasphemies; if you point him himself, and to bear, in his own body, the
to those ever-thirsting and parched lips, weight of all our offences and transgresto which nothing is ever presented but sions; and, through the full and finished
cups of burning gall if all these will not work of such an illustrious sufferer, parsubdue the man ; if his affections are so don is now dispensed to the guiltiest, and
And only
corrupt, and his heart so perverse, that grace to the vilest, of sinners.
strung unceasingly to oaths, and curses,

Vol.

II.

2L

THE BRITISH

398

PULPIT.

me the man who is brought to see rebuke, amid a crooked and perverse gene-'
God, with the eye of his mind, under ration. We never maintain the doctrines
this aspect, and you give me a man in of grace without, at the same lime, conwhom the principle of enmity is de- tending fur the grace of those doctrines;
love is implanted in his heart, and if we say, as we do say, that the
stroyed
and his whole body, soul, and spirit, is doctrines of grace must be in the head,
brought into subjection to the gospel of we at the same time affirm, most unregive

Amid the ftiilure of all other

Christ.
expedients, this is effectual : he whose
heart remained unsoftened by the threats
of God's vengeance, and proof against all
the arrows of his violated law, as they
fall into the citadel of his affections; he
whose bosom was only filled with despair
the sight of the unhappy spirits in
torment, and never felt any attachment in
the midst of all these ; he it is into whose

at

God finds his way,

breaking through all human opposition,

heart the Spirit of

and therein deposits the right principle

of repentance towards God, and faith in
our Lord .Tesus Christ, who died to subdue the poor sinner, and make him a new
And not one is there upon
creature.

whom

this

glorious transformation

been wrought, who

is

has

not ready to ascribe

his salvation to the triune Jehovah, to the

Trinity in unity, and the unity in Trinity ;

to ascribe to God the Father all the glory

of devising his salvation, to

and

tion,

glory

God

the

Son

glory of accomplishing his salva-

all the

to

God

the

Holy

Spirit all the

imparting and applying

of

that

here let

it

be most solemnly and

distinctly noted of this subjection, that

where

it

exists, there will be

nal proof of it; for

must be

what

some

is

felt

exterin

the

in

if,

having been brought into subjection

all their former pursuits, and having

thrown aside all those unprofitable and
dangerous books which have been their
former companions and counsellors, they
O, how
could quit this busy scene.
happy, say they, should we be, if we
could go and settle in some retired abode
more favourable to the best ends of our
being, where we might form our own
plans, and be less enslaved by the despotism of custom, and less driven about
by the absurd fluctuations of fashion, and
where we could find ampler means of
entirely consecrating our powers and fa-

culties to the glory of

whom we

is

the third point of our dis-

namely, that the text contains

exhibition of Christian practice

An

your

professed subjection unto the gos-

pel of Christ.

Him whose we

are,

But allow

desire to serve.

me to tell those of my young friends who

may be anxious for retirement, that it is
not essential

that

means necessary
had been

this

to

of

be especially made prominent

course,

weight
you

the gospel of Christ, and seeing the folly

it

And

tlie

deeper into the gulf of eternal perdition.

Now, I can readily conceive how happy
some of my youthful auditors, who have
learned this subjection, and who live in
this crowded and increasing metropolis,
how happy they would deem themselves

heart must be heard from the lips, and

in the life.

the heart, or else

of divinity in the head will only sink

and

salvation to his soul.

And

servedly, that the grace of the doctrines

essential to our

country,

if

to

seclusion

is

by no

our salvation, nor

growth

in piety.

If

is
it

retirement, if living in the

if solitary

communion

.with

God

had been all that was necessary, he would

have appointed us to live in solitude
but the
rather than in communities
arrangement of Providence has ordered
he has determined that we
it otherwise
should live in communities, and not in
solitude; and therein we are to hold forth
:

The original import of the text is not

merely your professed subjection to the
gospel of Christ, but your real subjection
unto the gospel which is professed. There the word of

every Christian,
may be like a
there cannot be a more distinctive feature city which is set upon a hill, and which
in our text than this, that every disciple of cannot be hid, that the light within him
Jesus Christ is to hold forth the word of may shine forth, so that men may see his
life, and to be a son of God without good works, and glorify, not him, the
is,

then, to be a profession of religion:

in a

life,

that

greater or less degree,

PROFESSED SUBJECTION TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

imperfect doer of those works, but his selves

there

is

399

scarcely a text

more
more

worthy of being remembered, or

is in heaven.
perhaps, the greater part of the profitable, than this: "Herein exercise
congregation now before me are not yourselves, to have always a conscience
Father which

By

far,

following out their Christian

vows and

void of offence towards God, and towards

man, that ye might walk worthy of the

perhaps some of them are placed Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in
in circumstances the most untoward for every good work, and increasing in the
the cultivation of religious habits and knowledge of God. You are not to forget
feelings.
Theirs are not those quiet that, " if any man be in Christ Jesus, he
scenes which are to be found in rural is a new creature; old things are passed
groves, or where they may sit beside away, behold, all things are become
murmuring rivulets, and indulge in all new." And, finally, brethren, " whatsothe rapturous feelings of silent meditation ever things are true, whatsoever things
resolutions in the society in which they

move

on the works of God around them ; but are honest, whatsoever things are just,
they are doomed to dwell amidst noise whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
and folly, and among men who know not things are lovely, whatsoever things are
God. Well! known to God are all his of good report, if there be any virtue,
works from the beginning of the world. and if there be any praise, think on these
things ;" for

it is by these things only,

which are the fruit of the Spirit, that ye
can be known.
There are three books in which every
man's character is faithfully recorded;
the book of God's remembrance, the
book of the human heart, and the book

can imagine your case, and the trials

with which you have to contend ; but be
not discontented with your present untoward circumstances; be resigned to the
will of God, who hath made of one blood
all nations of men for to dwell on all the
face of the earth, and hath determined the
times before appointed, and the bounds
of their habitation. Wherever you go
and perhaps you are now just going out
I

human

of

life.

Nov/, of these books,

two are sealed against

all

human

inspec-

no man can read the book of God's

into life
at the command of God fly to remembrance, no man can read the book
the book of
the battle, and I charge you to remember a most difficult book it is
your Captain ; I charge ye, wherever ye go, the human heart. But I charge you all,
and with whomsoever ye abide I charge my dear brethren, to remember that the
you, as I shall meet you again at the day book of human life is always wide open,
of judgment, to remember your professed into which every one may look, and even
tion

the most unlettered have skill enough to

read.
Of this, then, be desirous, each

subjection to the gospel of Christ, that

ye

be

influenced

always

the

commandments, the

of

Christianity,

by

that

it,

truths, the

laws and

all

of you, that your

life

should be

may always have the an epistle known and read of all men:
your affections; for know " Forasmuch as ye are manifestly de-

supremacy in
ye that your bodies must be temples of
the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which
ye have of God ye are not your own, for
ye are bought with a price.
I beseech you, then, by the mercies of
God, brethren, that ye present your bodies

clared to be the epistle of Christ, minis

tered by us, written, not with ink, but

with the Spirit of the living God ; not in

tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of
" Let your light so shine
the heart."
before men, that they may see your good
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto works." It is, perhaps, an error to supGod, which is your reasonable service; pose that you are to expend all your time
;

"

for herein,"

said our Saviour,

"

is

and energy on the high and peculiar doctrines of the New Testament, and one

my

ye bear much fruit."

Christ's disciples are to be filled with
the fruits of righteousness, which are by
Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise
Herein, then, exercise yourof God.

Father

glorified, that

which I would caution those who

young in the divine life; you are not
expend all your warmth upon them, so

against
are
to
j

that nothing but coldness and neglect is

THE BRITISH

400
left for the practical duties

of the

New

Testament. You must cherish continually in your remembrance that uprightness in the outer man merges into and is
co-existent with godliness of character in
the inner

given, a

No man
his life

God.

man when a new heart is

new life is always produced.

PULPIT.

with ye are called ; for then only can ye

give a sure and certain evidence of " your
professed subjection unto the gospel of
Christ."

THE FRFNCH INFIDEL RECLAIMED.

My

religious opinions have not

always

can have the favour of God, if been the same as they are at present.
is not devoted to the service of Offended by the abuses of some instiare never to forget that the tutions, and the vices of some men, I

We

was formerly betrayed into declamation

and sophistical arguments against Christianity.
I might throw the blame upon
my youth, upon the madness of the revolutionary times, and upon the company I
so that we can never speak of Christian kept: but I wish rather to condemn
principle as the root, without speaking of myself, for I do not know how to defend

virtues of society form as rich and varied

an assemblage among believers as the

virtues of the sanctuary ; doctrines and
duties, faith and works, are bound the
one to the other by an indissoluble tie,

Christian practice as growing out of that

what

and inseparable from it.

Let every one of you, then, show
your professed subjection to the gospel
of Christ by your conduct and deport-

simply the manner in which Divine Providence was pleased to call me back to

root,

my

is

indefensible.

will onl)' relate

duty.

My

mother, after having been thrown,

do not lay aside at seventy-two years of age, into a dunyour religion when you lay aside your geon, where she was an eye-witness of
Bible at the close of your morning the destruction of some of her children,
prayer; but carry it abroad with you, expired at last upon a pallet, to which
and make it your companion, your guide, her misfortunes had reduced her. The
and your familiar friend throughout the remembrance of my errors diffused great
whole business of the day; teaching you, bitterness over her last days. In her
that denying ungodliness and worldly dying moments, she charged one of my
lusts, you should live soberly, and right- sisters to call me back to that religion
eously, and godly, in the present world. in which I had been brought up.
My
And let it encourage you to know that sister, faithful to her solemn trust, com-

ment

in

world

the

commands but promises to enable you to do this. If it had

done the one without the other; if it had
commanded, without enabling you, the
Scripture would achieve but half its
work ; for we require not only inducements to lead a holy life, but a heart, a
power, a will assistance is as necessary
as motives ; power as indispensable as
precept; and all these are not only promised in his word, but conferred by the
Spirit of God, If ye will, then, brethren,
be filled with the knowledge of his will,
in all wisdom and spiritual understandthe gospel not only

ing,

walk worthy of the vocation where-

municated to me the last request of my

mother.
When her letter reached me
beyond the seas, far distant from my
native country, my sister was no more;
she had died in consequence of the
rigours of her imprisonment. These two
voices issuing from the tomb; this death,

which served as the

struck

me

came a

interpreter of death,

with irresistible force

Christian.

did

be-

not yield, I

allow, to great supernatural illuminations,

my conviction of the truth of Chris-

but

tianity

sprung from the heart.

I believed.

Christianity.

wept, and

Chauteaubriand'' s Beauty cf

SERMON
ON THE

SIN OF

BY THE REV.

"

And

came

XLIII.

BACKSUDING

T.

LIEFCHILD.

as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet
and he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying. Thus
gaith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the
commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee, but earnest back, and hast eaten bread
and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee. Eat no bread, and drink no
it

that brought

water

to pass,

him back

thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers."

Kings

xiii.

The prophecy which was denounced otherwise I shall not be able

by the man of God, and which the sub- you those sentiments, which
sequent part of the chapter records to
have been fulfilled, is interwoven with
the history of Israel's defection and the
craftiness of Jeroboam.
It is impossible
to read the account of this man's tragical
death, without being led by that to the
preceding narrative respecting his conduct, and the revolt of the ten tribes
under Jeroboam ; and brief as that narrative is, and destitute as are the incidents,
which contain no clothing or colouring
whatever, it is most admonitory and in-

An aifecting truth

structing.

to
I

22.

convey to

deem

to

be

of importance, from this affecting and

interesting relation.
It appears, then, that Jeroboam, whose
name makes so conspicuous a figure in
the whole of this history, and which

name, occurring here, is ever afterwards

stamped with reprobation in the book of
God, was at first a Hebrew youth of fair
promise and military talents. He was
taken notice of by Solomon, who made

him captain of

his

army

but Solomon

declining into idolatry, this youth Jero-

boam was brought forward in a way that

was displeasing to him. He had heard
go back that the prophet of God had taken a gar-

forces itself

upon us from every part of the

that human

20

narrative

nature is prone to
from God, and that most of our follies
and miseries into which we plunge ourselves, result from following the counsels
of flesh and blood, in preference to tiiose
Nations might be
of faith and piety.
instructed from this narrative, but Christians alone can derive from it its full
They learn from it how our
benefit.
nature in its best and renewed state is
prone to backsliding they learn from it,
" to stand in awe and sin not," and while
" they think they stand, to take heed lest

ment and rent it in twelve pieces, and had

given Jeroboam ten pieces as a token,
that ten out of the twelve tribes would
take him to be their king, and only two
other tribes, Judah and Benjamin, be left
to Rehoboam, the son and successor of
Solomon, and that merely to keep alive
Such was the
the name of David.
dotage into which Solomon sunk for
idolatry corrupts and debases the powers
of the mind as well as the affections of
the heart that he vainly thought he
could frustrate this purpose of Heaven by
they fall."
Go with me, for a short time, into a the banishment of him who was its obreview of the general narrative, and favour ject. Jeroboam therefore, fled into Egypt,

me

with a
Vol. II

silent

51

and prayerful attention,

and there he continued

3 L 2

till

the death of

401

THE BRITISH

402

PULPIT.

Solomon, when hearing of the inurinur- two, surely he is able to accomplish it,
tribes, he suddenly re- notwithstanding this mixture three times
and if he does not, why should
appears amongst them. He is chosen by a year?
them to be their king, and away they all I wish to frustrate his purpose? I have
journey with him northward, and proceed only to be faithful to my trust. But he
from IJethel even unto Dan, of which reasons just the reverse. I must reign
they took possession ; and between these I must be king I must have glory. 1
ings of the ten

two
was

Shechem, the court was

places, at
set up.

Now

the carnal policy and

will, therefore,

make an

customs of religion

alteration in the

to serve that end.

new king begin to will make religion itself a creature of the

make their appearance. He commences state not destroy it altogether, but I
turning to account the best means of will alter its customs and change ita
not abolish the feasts, but change
securing the kingdom he had so sud- forms
denly gained
and this was his fault. the times and the places where they shall
ambitious ends of this

on the end which

view in raising him to
that elevation
whether to reprove the
other tribes, or for some other purpose to
be answered by this movement he considered only how he might make the
thing turn to his glory; he consulted only
his own honour and aggrandizement, and
the preservation and advancement of his
kingdom; and all his following conduct
proceeded on this corru])t principle. For
it quickly occurred to him, while thus

have two places of workingdom. I will tell the

people that they need not go up to Jerusalem, that God would not wish to fatigue
them, and as the tabernacle changed its

Instead of reflecting

be held.

Providence had

ship in this

in

intent on
alteration

liis

own

glory, that unless

was made

will

my

place of old, so

may

his worship.

will

two altars at each extremity of my

kingdom the one at Bethel, where God
build

appeared

to

Jacob

and

surely they will

think that a suitable place of worship;

and the other at Dan, where they have

already an ephod, and teraphim,and priest,

some which they carried up from the house of

which will seem another suitacus- INIicah

in the religious

toms and spiritual affections of the people, he would soon lose the advantages
he had gained
because by the laws of
Moses, the Jews, from all parts of Pales.
tine, were compelled to go up three times

and as I
no golden altars, no ark of the
covenant, no cherubim, no golden candlesticks, I will have two golden calves, such
as I have seen them worship in Egypt,
a year to Jerusalem
at the feast of the and I will persuade the people to accomPassover, the feast of Pentecost, and the modate our style of religion to theirs,
feast of the Tables
there to appear be- that we may please them, and have them
fore God.
There Jeroboam thought they in alliance if it be necessary ; and as all
would see the temple of Solomon there the sons of Aaron and the Levites are
they would meet with some of their old gone up to Jerusalem, I will allow one of
companions among the two tribes, who the remaining tribes to aspire to the honour
would persuade them to come back
of the priesthood, and will dignify the
there they would see the sons of Aaron office by being myself the head priest.
and the Levites, who would not fail to Thus I shall have both the church and
apply every touching and tender motive the state completely under my control,
to induce them to come back
above all, and I shall be able to preserve the kingdom
they would see Rehoboam, sitting in which I have so surprisingly obtained.
state, and, perhaps, would reunite them- In this manner he reasoned
and strange
selves to him, and his blood would be the to say, all the children of Israel fell into
cement of that reunion.
the snare.
Now, what would have been the reaBut it did not occur to the son of
soning of piety in this case?
It would
Nebat and the tribes of Israel, that in
have said. Why do I plague myself with thns laying their sacrilegious hands on
ble place for public worship

have

these vain fears? If

God means

to

keep

these ten tribes distinct from the other

His institutions, profaning His worship,

and making His glory to give way to

ON THE

SrN OF BACKSLIDING.

ambition, that they only

with the great God. What! do
you not at once recollect, how your
Others made a vain attempt to introduce a

ftlieiT

carnal

trifled

golden calf into the worship of the true

God, how they suffered for it, and how
vengeance came upon them in the wilderness; so that they were slain by the sons
of Levi, and the rest of them made to drink
dirty water, rendered so by the powder of
the consamed and broken idol 1 Is that
gone out of your mind^, chronicled as it
has been in the cataloprue of those dreadful
judgments, which God has brought on
your nation for idolatry 1 Have you not
once recollected this ? No, not once.
They are so pleased with this proposal,
and their hearts are already so far from

God
I

403

that punishes him, and to crave from

im

relief

through the medium of the

which being granted by the

intercession of the man of God, he coldly
offl-rs him some meat and drink, and a

prophet;

present for his cure, as if the gifts of

God could be purchased for money. On

being told that he must noteatand drink in

the place, that he must have no communion with the idolatry, and must go back
another way from whitrh he came, Jero-

boam

is

quite content, and uses no further

entreaty.

Hitherto
fully,

We

see this

intrepidly,

man

acting faith-

and covering himself

with honour; but 0, it is an aff'ecting

change that now takes place! He has
got back to Jerusalem, at least he is on
God, that they all sanction it ; they ga- the road towards it, and he sits himself
ther together at the altar of Bethel, and down under an oak tree to meditate on
the circumstances of his most surprising
Jeroboam officiates as the head priest.
But what an awful event takes place! mission-^he thinks on the wickedness of
What an interruption in the assembly! the men profaning the worship of God
There comes a prophet of God, a true he thinks on the indignation of the true
prophet from Judah, running into the God against idolatry on the singular
very midst of the multitude, having a preservation he himself has experienced
message to deliver which he cannot with- from the vengeance of the idolaters on
hold ; and, undaunted by the vast com- the patience of God towards Jeroboam,
pany, he looks towards the altar and whose malady had been healed at his
says, " O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord, intercession; and, perhaps, a little feelBehold, a child shall be born unto the ing of pride and self-elevation began to

house of David, Josiah by name ; and

ypon thee shall he offer the priests of the
high places that burn incense upon thee,
and men's bones shall be burned \ipon

infuse itself at the thought of his being

thus honoured. This paved the way for
his fault.

In that stale of mind he

was

found by a false old prophet of Bethel,

And as a sign of the truth of who had learnt from his sons what had
thee.
these my sayings. Behold, the altar shall taken place, and the road by which he
be rent, and the ashes that are upon it was to return to Jerusalem. He shows
him the greatest respect on account of his
It all came to pass.
shall be poured out."
Jeroboam sees himself insulted by thispro- mission; he tells him he also was a
phet^tliere is the altar^and all the peo- prophet, and favoured with heavenly
ple anxiously waiting for him to give the visions, though he resided at Bethel and
signal, that they may fall on this menac- he entreats him to go back and take some
;

ing prophet and tear him

to pieces.

He

refreshment.

Here was

the temptation.

might easily have

but O, the wonderful power of God over resisted it ; he knew he had been prothose that rebel against him ! it is in- hibited from eating and drinking, but he
stretches out his

arm

to give the signal

stantly seized with paralysis, and falls

The man

did not

of Judah

know

this

was

a true prophet; he

by his side. He knows now who had every reason to doubt it ; he should
and in
is at work with him, and how vain it is have asked for his credentials,
Well, he humbles himself, default of them he should have taken the
to resist.
confesses his sin, pulls down the altar, surest course. But the temptation had
No he does go so far got hold of him, and he was assisted by
and reforms.
es te acknowledge that it is the trae the inclinations of the flesh ; he began to
lifeless

THE BRITISH

404

Pt^LPlT.

AND FOLLY OF RELF-SEEKmC,

was that ruined Jeroboam. In-

be very hungry ; and therefore, he yielded

lo him, and went back, and took liis seat
at the table to enjoy a comfortable repast.
But they had scarcely began the feast,
when the false prophet rose up and said,
"Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as
thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the
Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee; but earnest back, and hast
eaten bread and drunk water in the place
of which the Lord did say to thee. Eat
no bread, and drink no water thy carcass shall not come to the sepulchre of

THE

thy fathers."

have been gifted with talents capable of

benefiting mankind, and have been raised
they have had
to important stations
opportunities placed before them of being
of the greatest advantage to their species, and of accomplishing some mighty
work for God. For a while their end
may have been single, they may have
looked on themselves as the instruments
of Providence, and may have considered
what God had for them to do bnt when
they turned aside and began to seek their
own glory, and fame, and honour in the
world, from that moment their elevation
was rendered useless, and all their honour

Now

what would have been

the duty

of them both on the delivery of this mes-

Why,

have humbled themselves

before God, to have confessed their sins
the one of seducing, and the other of
being seduced and to have entreated the
Lord to put away their sin. Instead of
which, they are thrown into confusion,
they are unnerved by fear and alarm.
The man of Judah especially, hastens
out of the gate to his beast, and hurries
away ; but he hastens, without knowing
it, to his ruin.
A lion, moved less by
hunger than by Providence, meets him on
the road ; and having destroyed him,
instead of devouring his corpse, or the
ass on which he rode, stands guard by
him to protect him from the insults of all
passers by, who might be ready now to
ieer him, till the old false prophet, hearing of the event, comes to him, takes him
back, and inters him with honours in his
own sepulchre ; and then the lion walks
quietly away, proving that he was sent
there by Providence.
So that God
showed that he honoured and respected
his prophet, though he punished and
sage

to

chastised him for his disobedience.

Then

"After this thing Jeroboam

returned not from his evil way, but made
again of the lowest of the people priests
of the high places whosoever would, he
consecrated him, and he became one of
the priests of the high places.
And this
thing became sin unto the house of .Teroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it
from off the face of the earth."
it

is said,

Now

the first thing that forces itself

upon our

attention

from this narrative

is,

SIN

This

it

stead of consideriiig the end

which Pro-

vidence migiit have in view in his elevation, and how this might be answered, he

thought only of his

He

tage.

own

gave way

glory and advan-

to this feeling

made every thing subservient to

he

this end

and, therefore, though one prophet gave

him the kingdom, another came and

warned him of the displeasure of God,
and

predicted

overthrow.

his

Many

mighty men since that period have been

They
carried away by the same snare.

was

laid in the dust.

How

the church or state,

men, whether in
whose lives proceed

upon

and under the

happy

are those

this principle,

ence of this inquiry

influ-

not what will keep

me upl what will raise me higher?

what will increase my fame? what will
make me

celebrated and looked up to

but what are the ends Providence has

most likely in view by my gifts, talents,

and present station ? how shall those ends
be answered 1 how shall I best concur
with Providence in the accomplishment
of those ends? how shall my power be
employed, so that those gracious and
revealed ends of God shall be best answered in me ? These men, acting under
the influence of this principle, add honour
to honour
by converting it to its noblest
use you may look forward to honour even
in eternity ; while those who have turned
aside to pursue their own selfish ends are
deprived of the station which they once
filled, are thrown by as useless instruments, and left to perish in disgrace.
;

ON THE
O,

my

many

friends, there are

moment who

alive at this

SIN OF BACKSLIDING.

persons

sigh in vain

after their former stations and opportunities of usefulness, of which, alas, they
proved themselves unworthy, and which
they never can recover
They are like a
leaf torn off from a tree, where it might
have been an ornament and have flourished, to wither on the ground, to be driven
about by the winds, and to seek for some
little hole or
corner where they may
perish in the midst of ignoble peace!
!

405

by whom that altar should

be destroyed, his extraction and lineage,
as coming from the house of Judah, but
he foretold his very name two hundred
told the person

and

fifty

world.

years before he came into the

might have been thought that

the prediction about this altar would have
gone out of mind, but you read in the
It

twenty-second chapter of the second book

came down from Jerusalem, and viewing this altar, he ordered
the bones of those who were in the sepulTlierefore, let all persons, especially the chres round about to be burned upon it,
young, especially men of talent, men of while he particularly spared the sepulinfluence, and men of high station,
let chre of this man of God.
Behold a
all such persons beware how they turn
proof of the omniscience of God, of the
aside to seek after their own glory
how interference of his providence in all huthey make self the idol of their worship man aflfairs, and his faithfulness to his
and regard how they become warped word
This is only one of many preand sinister in their views and designs, dictions of Scripture, relating to past
lest God Almighty should say to them, events, which have been most literally
as Balak said to Baalam, " I thought to and punctually fulfilled.
But why do I
promote thee unto great honour, but lo, mention this l Are there not predictions
the Lord hath kept thee back from ho- which Moses uttered respecting the Jews
nour 1 go to the obscurity from which which are fulfilled and fulfilling before,
thou earnest, and from which thou ought our eyes predictions uttered by Isaiah,
never to have been raised
go get to that with respect to the destruction of Babyobscurity again, and perish there."
O, lon predictions by Jonah with respect to
brethren, take care of self-seeking!
the destruction of Nineveh
and thouBut that which forces itself more par- sands of predictions by many others
ticularly upon us from this narrative, is which have been punctually fulfilled ?
THE VERITY AND PUNCTUALITY OF THE
My dear hearers, when you touch the
FULFILMENT OF THE DIVINE PREDICTIONS. sacred volume, you touch a most sacred
The great difference between the oracles and mysterious gift a book sealed in the
of God and the oracles of the devil is in most solemn manner, by the predictions
the point of their clearness.
The false which have been fulfilled, as the book of
predictions among the heathen were re- God
and a book relating to you all,
markable for their ambiguity; they were according to your characters, with respect
of Kings, that Josiah

delivered in such a way as would suit

almost any event, according as the wishes

to a future

or fears of the superstitious parties con-

respecting a future state to the children

of men, according to their respective

cerned

in

them, might choose

to interpret.

state.

For what are

all

the

promises and threatenings of Scripture

Like that oracle which foretold that one characters here, but so many divine preof a certain family should be king first dictions of those events 1 We shall die
who embraced his mother, and when the and go into our graves, but the word of
youngest came to be king, it was found God shall never die ; there shall be a
that he had fallen on the earth, and thus challenge made to all its predictions lo
embraced his mother. Indeed there is a bring them into fulfilment, and therefore
whole volume full of these predictions we must be preserved in some other state
which were never fulfilled at all ; but to witness it, and to experience their

many

of the predictions of Scripture as

to the time, the person,

definite

and exact.

man

God

of

and the place are

In the case of the

before us, he not only fore-

truth.
Suppose, for instance, you die in
your sins, then you shall experience the

truth of

that

prediction respecting the

kingdom where Christ says you

shall

THE BRITISH

406

PULPIT.

Suppose you die unholy,

or rode along an approved servant of the

world without regenera- living God, his conscience testified to hia
whicli is not an impossible thing
fidelity, the very trees seemed to applaud
tion
I am afraid, with regard to some of you, him for his faithfulness, and from the
not a very unlikely thing because you are smiling aspect of all around him, it seemnot regenerated now ; it may be that ed as if all nature was in harmony with
But now he rode along an
the Holy Spirit of God shall never his feelings.
create your heart anew ; it may be that apostate, at least a backslider; and now
your breath is but in your nostrils, and every tiling that he sees is painful to him,
you are going you know not where you every thing seems to reproach him for his
will surely prove the truth of the predic- perfidy
and when he saw the oak under
tions, that " without holiness, no man which he had sat, the recollection of the
shall see the Lord," and that " the unholy joyous feelings he had there experienced
shall be cast into the lake of fire and must have been painful by the contrast to
brimstone." On the other hand, suppose his present emotions. There is not a
we die humble and penitent disciples of passenger he meets as he goes along, but
Christ, believers in him, doers of his he is ready to think is acquainted with
word, and servants of his cause, then we his perfidy ; or if he makes him a salutashall experience the truth of those pre- tion of respect, his heart reproaches him
dictions where he says, his servants shall for not deserving it.
And what must
see the fruit of all their works and have been bis feelings when he thought
labours of love here, and hereafter shall of his disobedience to his God, and the
have a glorious and eternal reward. public reproof he had had for it and,
Brethren, possess your souls of this when it came to be known, iiow it would
truth ; and when you read the Scriptures, encourage idolaters to think slightly and
think that you are reading the word by to speak contemptuously of the true ser*
which you will be judged, and the ap- vants of God
After all, what was the
pointment of your eternal doom regulated ; gratification that allured him thus to
and be assured, that as all the past pre- cover himself with disgrace? It was a

never come.

go out of

this

mere casual repast with a pretended servant of God.

come to pass, so all the predictions of
See, brethren, the necessity of watchihis book relative to a future world, con- FLLNESS AND OF BEING ON YOUR GUARD
cerning us, according to our different cha- AGAINST TEMPTATION.
Perhaps some of
racters, will also punctually, and to the you know what it is to have fallen by
very letter, come to pass.
temptation, and to have experienced a
dictions of Scripture, relative to events in
this world,

You

have

literally

and punctually

cannot but be affected from this

miserable diversion of feeling

perhaps

by the sin and awfulness of you have gone back from God, and the
A backsliding state. Here you see that former light of a good conscience has
an individual may be a man of God, may been put out, and the place occupied by
have a divine commission to execute, spectral terrors and fears. O, let us all
may execute it faithfully, and, at'ter all, take warning from these examples, and
narrative

may

yield to temptation and die the death. be not high-minded, for we know not how
O, what an alteration a few hours may we may have to be tried we know not
make in man's character! What a revo- how we may fall. I cannot tell but that
lution may be produced in his feelings
in one hour I might through weakness
While the aspect of all things around disgrace my character, destroy the comhim continues the same, what a difference fort of my conscience, and die dishomay it wear to him from the change that noured. O, when I think of those who
has taken place within
How would are on dying beds without blemish or
this man of God, on going back the road blot, I almost envy them
I almost envy
from whence he had been decoyed, con- those who are going into_ purity without
trast his feelings then with what they having to incur the danger of another
had been before
On his first return he storm, or another rock : but for myself I

OF THE SL\ OF BACKSLIDING.

fear,

and

would have you

to

all

fear,

not with the fear of dread, not with the

407

sure and vengeance, if he allow them to

go on in their sin without any further

fear of distrust of God, but with the fear affliction, without any further interposiof caution, with the fear of distrust of tion or check, it is the greatest of all

your own slippery, sliding, treacherous

nature, which will be slippery, sliding,
and treacherous to the last. " Blessed is
the man who feareth always."
But there is a grand lesson yet to be
taught us by this narrative, and that is,
THE PUNISHMENT THAT GoD BRINGS UPON
HIS PEOPLE FOR THEIR SINS, WHILE THE
WICKED ARE PERMITTED TO THRIVE AND
PROSPER. The sin of this man of God
was one of weakness rather than viciousness.
It was not at all to be compared to
the sin of Jeroboam and the people ; their
sin was a deliberate contempt of God,
a voluntary profanation of his worship;
but his sin was a sudden fall, through
temptation, from his steadfastness; it was
a stepping aside from his usual course, to
which he immediately returned for as
soon as he knew his sin he forsook it,
and went back to the course he was pursuing; but they, though warned and
threatened on account of their sin, still
persisted in it to the utmost, and yet their
punishment slumbered and tarried, but
his comes upon him at once.
This is the principle of the divine conduct.
In this sense, judgment begins at
You must not think
the house of God.
that because you are the people of God,
that your slips and miscarriages, your
folly and guilt, will have no other punishment than an alteration in your feelings.
Nay, you may be deeply humble and

punishments; for this sin strengthens

itself in them, the measure of their iniquity becomes full, and their eternal torments are increased.
O, Jeroboam, it was no mercy to thee,

you may entreat God

and which they are apt to think is the

connivance of his providence at their evil
deeds, as the most fearful prognostic ; it
would seem to them like that awful stillness, which nature sometimes feels while

sincerely penitent,

mercy, and you may have reason to

hope that you have found it, and that
your sin will never come into judgment
against you
but all that will not prevent
you from some outward punishment
perhaps it may be the loss of character
with all the advantages of usefulness
perhaps it may be some disorder in your
body, or some distress in your family,
and yet the wicked around you shall
And why is this 1
thrive and prosper.
The withholding it is the greatest punishment of all. God having warned sinners
of their guilt and danger, and having

for

given them some marks of his displea-

thy

that

when

arm was

again

not withered

sacrificing at the altar, and that no

further

judgment came upon

thee, or

upon

thy people while they persisted in their

unnatural rebellion, because, by that very
means, every spark of goodness was left

explode from thy nature, and thy soul

to

became as dry stubble, fit fuel for the

everlasting burning! There is no punishment for sin more dreadful than itself
nothing more dreadful than to he delivered
up to its power there is no hell so dread-

being given over to sin.

When God shall say, by suspending all
correction and chastisement towards sinas

ful

ners

that

when

drawing of

he shall say, by the withall

means of

correction, let

tliem alone, let the drunkard be a drunk-

ard

still, let

fane person
a

filthy

the profane person be a prostill, let

person

still

the filthy person be

say,

when God

Almighty shall say that concerning a

man, it is the most dreadful punishment
of all.
To be surrendered up to sin, to
be under the fatal necessity of sinning
throughout eternity, that is hell ; and if
ungodly men could interpret this matter
aright, they would look on the pause
which God is observing towards them,

she

is

gathering for the discharge of a

0, may God punish

dreadful vengeance.

me

for sin in this life, however severe the

punishment maybe, extending to the loss

of

liberty,

the loss of

to

the loss of character, to

life,

rather than let

God without judgment,

to

fall

me

see

asleep

without judgment, and be delivered over

power of sin in the eternal world.

to the

discourse
I ought not to close this
without reminding you of the only way

THE BRITISH

408

BY WHICH YOU CAN OBTAIN DELIVERANCE

FROM THE GUILT AND POWER OF SIN.
Wliether you have found little or much,
whether }'ou have been punished for it
here or have not, there is only one way
by which you can escape punishment for
it hereafter, and that is, by having recourse to that mode which infinite good-

ness has pointed out the

Jesus Christ, He must be
he must be your sacrifice,
your Saviour, or you cannot
punishment; for every one

mediation of

your surety,
he must be
escape future
of us has a

measure of iniquity which entails on us

If you are not intefuture punishment.
rested in Christ, no partial excellence of

your own, no comparative good in works

of your own, can form any part of your
security from future punishment; that
must be the mediation of Christ alone.
Unless you get there, you are never secure
from future and eternal punishment and,
indeed, unless you get there, you can
never perform any work at all acceptable
to God.
Unless you are accepted in
Christ, you cannot receive the Spirit to
purify your nature, and to make your
works to proceed from right motives, and
so be acceptable to God
but as long
as you are strangers to Christ, not interested in Christ, every thing you do has on it
that sin which renders it offensive to God.
Your very repentance, in that state, needs
to be repented of; your very tears for sin
need to be washed ; and the washing of
your tears need to be steeped in the blood
of the Redeemer.
;

You

say this

PULPIT.

pel

that we can be

saved only through

the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is

probable that some of us

may

more than
never meet

and you ought not to be sent

house of God without being
faithfully apprized of this, that without a
personal interest in the Lord Jesus Christ,
eternity must come upon you with darkness and with horror.
O, my dear friends, think of this you
who have not thought of this before you
who flatter yourselves that you have time
enough before you you who think your
health is firm and vigorous.
Unless you
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, there is
no heaven for you, but the blackness of
darkness for ever
O, that you would
pray to the Lord to open your minds that
you may receive this heaven
I preach
unto you good tidings
I proclaim to you
salvation from on high
I tell you of One
who has worn your nature, and has bled
and died on the cross for your salvation,
and I tell you he is able and willing "to
save to the uttermost all that come unto
God by him." Why, then, do you delay
again

from

the

why
make
him why do you encourage yourself
refuse to

that refusal

the application to

why do you

in

think you can-

not say to him, " Lord, have mercy upon

me," " Lord, save, or I perish" why do
you suppose that the Spirit of God will
not come to you to assist your infirmities 1
0, brethren, delay no more you
have been spared to come into another
year you have not yet found an interest

Christ

in

still

the door is open

still

mercy comes unto you still

it is in the gospel, and we are ministers
I am
commissioned to say unto all,
of the New Testament; and although we " Come, come, come !" but go away and
think it our duty and privilege to bring refuse me, and then, perhaps, the voice
before you the instructive histories of the that may succeed to mine may be, " DeOld Testament, (and where shall we find part, depart, depart !"
is

not in the history, but

materials like them,)

we

dare not suffer

this congregation to depart without

in-

forming them of the substance of the gos-

the voice of

"

Come

all

the world,

come sinner

thou,

All things in Christ are ready now."

Amen

SERMON

XLIV.

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CHILDREN OF

GOD.

BY THE REV. JABEZ BUNTING,

^'And if children, then heirs

suffer with him, that

heirs of God,

we may

and

D.D.

joint-heirs with Christ

be also glorified together."

Rom.

if so be that

we

viii. 17.

and claim the exertion of his paternal love

and power on our behalf, without fear of
" The Spirit
intimate connexion with something that contradiction or repulse.
itself beareth witness with our spirit"
has been stated in the preceding- verse
" that we are the children
this being to be regarded as an inference our conscience
It

is

evident, from the very form and

construction of this text, that

it

has an

which the inspired writer would have us of God."

Now, in the
to draw from what he has there advanced.
In looking at those preceding verses,

you will find that they contain a

ment of two interesting particulars.

state-

text of this morning, the

apostle goes on to describe the great and

blessed privilege connected with this cha-

racter
"If children, then heirs; heirs of
they describe to us the exalted character God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be
Of such, it that we suffer with him, that we may be
of true believers in Christ.
is affirmed that they are the children of also glorified together." Let us consider,
First, The privilege itself thus
God, interested in his paternal love, asFirst,

sured of his paternal care, and authorized

to expect from him every blessing which

such a Father as he can bestow upon his

The second thing stated in those

people.

Secondly., The connexion

DESCRIBED.
WHICH SUBSISTS BETWEEN IT AND OUR
RELATION TO GoD AS HIS CHILDREN.

Thirdly,

The terms on which our

verses has reference to the means whereby FINAL AND PERSONAL ENJOYMENT OF THE
those who are thus become the children of PRIVILEGE, IN ALL ITS FULNESS, IS MADE

God, are enabled to ascertain the fact of TO DEPEND.

First, Let us turn our attention to the
right and title to that character.
" The Spirit itself," it is said the divine Statement here given, Of the privilege
It is said, they
the third OF God's children.
Spirit
the Lord, the Spirit
"joint-heirs with
person in that ever blessed and glorious are "heirs of God"
Trinity, whom we worship and adore as Christ" and shall be also "glorified

their

one Jehovah, " The Spirit itself beareth together" with him.
In general terms, the children of God are
witness with our spirit that we are the
children of God." Or, to use the parallel here represented as " heirs." As the law
passage in Paul's epistle to the Galatians, of nature, and the institutions of civilized
" Because ye are sons, God hath sent society, authorize children to expect the
which
forth the Spirit of his Son into your ultimate possession of property
creating once belonged to their parents, so God,
hearts, crying, Abba, Father,"
his parin us the comforting, tranquillizing, satis- condescending to stand towards

doned people in the relation of a Father,

has pledged himself that he will act to
pardoned children, imboldening us to go them the part of a Father, and is not
God, beto him with filial confidence and reliance, ashamed to call himself their
409
2
Vol. II. 53

fyinor sense

and persuasion, that God

our pardoning Father, and that

we

is

are his

THE BRITISH

410

cause he has prepared for them a city,

and provided for them a rich inheritance.
" O, how great," says the psalmist, " is
the goodness which thou hast laid up for
that fear thee !"

them

There

is

great

goodness, which, in reference to God's

people,

not

is

laid up, but, if

we may

so

upon them, of wliich they

are, in the present world, the happy parThey would faint, if they did
takers.
not see the goodness of God in tiie land
But besides the goodness
of the living.
speak

laid out

PULPIT.

be deemed necessary by Him who wields

it, to preserve them from real danger, and
to secure for

them every

actual good.

pardoned people, are heirs of God they

have a right to God, they have an interest
in God; all is theirs, whether Paul, or
Apollos, or Cephas, or life, or death, or
;

things present, or things to

come

is

it

is in

reference to this that they are

More

their

God in Christ is their

own God and Saviour, for

his people

God

is

or privilege

what

is

God

are de-

as in reference to

future; those blessings

which are

the portion of

not yet in possession, but only in reversion,

the lot of their in-

are the blessings which, in strictness of

is

Looked at with the eye of speech, constitute their inheritance. Of

might seem that, generally this future inheritance, we have various

heritance.

sense,

God

much

not in

is

it

of religion, that the people of

signated heirs, so

particularly, they are said to be

" heirs of God."

all is

God's, and

God,

which they now partake, there is still ever and ever.

As we before intimated,
goodness laid up for them, rereference to any enjoyment
served for another and a future state
designated as heirs.

theirs; for they are Christ's, and Christ

greater

and

In

sense, even now, believers, God's

this

it

speaking, the inheritance of truly devoted

but agreeing accounts

and

one apostle

holy people in this world,

not

is

it

is

By

in Scripture.

represented to us as

"an

might seem that inheritance among them that are sanctified ;" which expression we consider, not
of shame, of reproach, of misrepresenta- merely as teaching that none but sanctified

much

to

be envied

they were

in

it

general only heirs of poverty,

tion, of opposition, of persecution.

Tliis

appears to be their inheritance to those who

only judge superficially; but, in reality,

whatever be
full

their

outward

lot,

and holy people will be allowed to partake

of the blessedness of heaven, but also that

heaven

itself implies,

and will confer on

however those who are admitted

of privation or suffering, they are

all

the while heirs of God, richer than the

into

it,

much

higher degree of holiness than they before

attained. In that world our conformity to

and greater than the greatest, of God will be more exact and striking, our
are rich and great only for this resemblance of him more accurate and
world.
complete.
They may be said to be heirs of God
In another place, speaking of this fueven at present, inasmuch as they are ture inheritance of saints, it is described
entitled, by virtue of his covenant, " well as "an inheritance of the saints in light;"
richest,

those

who

ordered

much

in

all

things, and sure," to as

what God

which phrase must,

in

like

manner, be

and as much as of
what God has, as shall at any time be
requisite for their welfare and their security. Thus they are heirs of the Divine
holiness, as far as the communication of
it may be needful to prepare them for
holy duties, and to make them meet for

considered as teaching us that in heaven

the

therefore darkly, shall

of

inheritance

They

of

is,

the

saints

are heirs of the Divine

in

light.

shall receive a great addition to our

to

guidance of it may be requisite

conduct through this wilderness world to the heavenly kingdom.
They are heirs of the Divine omnipotence,

for their safe

power may

our purity.

You know now but in part, and see but in

part.
We who are now compelled to behold many highly interesting objects of
contemplation but as through a glass, and

we

then see as

wisdom, as are seen, and know as we

far as the

as far as the exertion of that

we

knowledge, as well as

are

known.

The apostle Peter presents this inheritance in a somewhat different aspect in

reference to its safety and perpetuity
he
calls it " an inheritance incorruptible, un;

defiled,

and that fadeth not away, reserved

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CHILDREN OF

GOD.

411

in heaven for you who are kept by the mercy, in and flirough Chrid, for our
power of God, through faith, unto salva- title to the inheritance af heaven. Heaven

ready to be revealed in the last is a purchased possession but how purtime."

The circumstances of earthly chased ] Not by the tears or prayers,
parents may be suddenly reversed ; they not by the penitence or faith, not by the
may be reduced to poverty, and their holiness or usefulness, not by the sufTerchildren therefore deprived of the inherit ing or the dying of those who shall enjoy
ance which, at one time, they had good it; but by the precious blood of Christ.
But the passage just As that was the price of our soul's rereason to expect.
tion,

demption, so it was the price paid for the

apprehend recovery to us, and on our behalf, of our
from reverses; those changes and vicis- forfeited inheritance of glory. If we be
situdes which attach to all earthly things heirs, it is not by any title of our own it
attach not to thern, in reference to their is in Christ's right; it is by virtue of
theirs is Christ's title, mercifully conveyed to us,
spiritual and eternal prospects
an inheritance "incorruptible, undefiled, on God's part, upon our humble and peniand that fadeth not away, reserved in tent act of faith in Christ.
These expressions also teach us, selieaven," the world which knows no
change, " for them who are kept by the condly, that the title of true believers to
heaven is in the hit^hesl degree valid and
power of God, through faith."
All those ideas respecting heaven, and satisfactory. This must be so, if it be, as
many more which are to be found in we have stated, none other than Christ's
various parts of the sacred writings, are, title made over to us. His title is unquesquoted from Peter,
ren of

tells

us that the child-

God have nothing

to

w hat he hath amply merited by

the text of this morning, epitomized

and summed up, as it were, in one word
and that one word is comprehensive of
every thing great and good, of every thing
desirable and glorious; that one word
includes every thing that man can wish,
and every thing that God can give; they

tionable

God.
This is saying every thing in the world
for more than this God cannot promise
more than himself God canuft give.
This is what will add intensity and
sweetness to every other enjoyment of
paradise this is that which will make the
whole complete and perfect that there

which is a share in his, is equally valid.

There are, indeed, differences between
Christ's title to heaven and the title of
believers. His is an original title, earned
by himself; ours is a borrowed title,

in

his obedience unto death, he hath a cer-

and manifest right freely to bestow

upon whomsoever he will ; and he wills
to bestow upon all pardoned, regenerated,
tain

Of these he says,
" Father, J will that they whom thou hast
God shall be, in given me be with me where I am, that
are "heirs of God."
heaven, fully and perfectly his people's they may behold my glory." If, then,
portion ; they shall there have the com- Christ's title be unimpeachable, ours,
plete and uninterrupted fruition of

we

shall see

is, that there we

when we awake with
God, that there we shall

God

as he

obedient believers.

derived from him, the result of his free

gift to

us.

shall be satisfied

glorified

the likeness of

racter

behold Jesus, the Sun of righteousness,

that there we shall be for ever filled with
all the fulness of God.
Further particulars concerning this privileo-e of God's pardoned children are
included in the phrase "joint-heirs with
Christ," and " glorified together" with

him.

These expressions, taken

junction, teach us,

gether indebted

to

first,

in

to

title

to

heaven

is

one

nature, and in his chaMediator, as Jesus the once

human

as

crucified, for the inheritance of glory,

and

he is in
possession of the inheritance; he has
actually sat down at the right hand of the
that claim

has been allowed

Majesty on high, having by himself first

purged our sins; whereas we are but on
our way to that glory. But even in this
con- there is comfort for the sincere and true

believer; for the ascension of Christ into

God's heaven was not a personal and individual

that ive are alto-

Chrht, and

His

actually recognised, already pleaded and

sued out; he has put in his claim in his

THE BRITISH

412
act, terminating in

PULPIT.

itself alone, concerning " that Christ

is

Lord,

glory of

to the

God

none but himself; it was a public, official, the Father," Now, in this mediatorial
and mediatorial act; he as truly ascended glory, the recompense of his mediatorial
for us as he died for us, and rose again condescension, and suffering, and sacrifor us ; and because he liveth, we, if we fice, his saved people shall largely partifollow

him

in the regeneration, shall live

cipate.

Such is the identity which he has

condescended to establish between their
interest and his own, between their hapteach us, that there shall he a blessed simi- piness and his, between their glory and
though, of exaltation and his. As he gave up all
larity in point of nature
course, an infinite disparity in point of for their sakes when he became man, and
measure and degree between the enjoy- suffered and died, so, now that he has
ment of Christ in heaven and the enjoyment received the fulness of mediatorial recomof his glorified people there. " Joint-heirs pense, he will share it all with them, and
with Christ;" that is, not heirs under a will not have it to himself; his glory
similar title, but heirs of what shall be shall be reflected in all his members, and
substantially one and the same inherit- they shall shine illustriously in his sight.
ance.
"Glorified together" with him: Hence such passages of Scripture as the
"The wise shall inherit
so he himself says in his last intercessory following:
prayer " The glory," the identical, sub- glory" exaltation, dignity; not merely
" The upright shall
stantial, essential glory, "which thou, bliss, but glory too.
also.

Thirdly, these expressions, "joint-heirs

with Christ," and " glorified together,"

Father, givest me,

Like Christ himself,

have given them."

in

a future state,

believers will be admitted to a most in-

timate oneness with the Father; their

bodies in the morning of the resurrection
shall be raised up from the dust of the
earth, and be changed and " fashioned
like unto his glorious body, according to

the working whereby he

have dominion ;" not merely safety,

deli-

verance from wrath and condemnation,

but dominion. "The upright shall have

" Know ye
in the morning."
not," says the apostle, " that the saints

dominion

judge the world?"

that world
which often now so uncharitably and
malignantly judges them. " Know ye
not that the saints shall judge angels ]"
shall

is able even to
subdue all things to himself."
and especially that fallen angel, the chief
Moreover, we learn from Scripture that of the apostate legion, who was, in their
it is a part of the mediatorial glory of case, while they toiled and travelled on
Christ, that, in recompense and public earth, the accuser of the brethren, and
approbation of his previous voluntary harassed them by so many temptations.
humiliation, and suffering, and sacrifice, They shall have a noble triumph by and
he is now, even in his human nature, by. Then, there is that striking passage,
highly exalted. Because, when he was which I know not how to explain
which
in the form of God, and counted it no seems to hold out to us something of
robbery to be equal with God, he made which we can just catch a glimpse, suffihimself of no reputation, but was found cient to satisfy us that it is most glorious
in fashion as a man, assumed the form and most astonishing, but being seen only
of a servant, and emptied himself and in the distance, we cannot accurately debecame obedient unto death, even the fine it: " To him that overcometh will I
death of the cross therefore, God hath grant to sit with me in my throne, even
highly exalted him, and given him a as I also overcame, and am set down with
name that is above every name, and hath my Father in his throne." What does
decreed that "at the name of Jesus every that mean
to sit down with Christ on
knee shall bow" sooner or later, either his throne ? We are accustomed very
in prayer to entreat and accept his mercy, properly to delight ourselves with the
or in judgment to receive the sentence of idea of taking our places at his feet, lost
his wrath
"and that every tongue shall in wonder, love, and praise but we are
confess," voluntarily, or by compulsion, told that this is not his pleasure, however

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CHILDREN OF

much

might be our

it

gratification,

our bread, and give

GOD.

413

to those

it

who remain

We

and our joy.

what they always were
aliens and
to dwell at his outcasts,
feet; it is his determination and arrangeIt is true, God may and does bestow,
ment that those who overcome, like him, even on those who are not his children,
he admit of

duty,

if

shall

not be permitted

it,

This is
not the manner of man, O Lord God
When earthly sovereigns design to manifest their special regard for any of their
subjects, or to recompense peculiar services rendered, they bestow upon them
titles, and honours, and dignities, and
perhaps estates ; but not one of them ever
thought of raising such a favoured subject
to his throne, and making him the partner
of his crown. The maxim acted upon on
all such occasions, is that on which Pharaoh acted in the case of Joseph " Only,"
said he, " in the throne will I be greater
shall sit on the throne with him.

in the spiritual sense of the term, various

tokens of providential care, and instances
of providential bounty. It may so happen

some of these he gives a very

that to

large measure of the good things of this

life

he leaves not himself " without wit-

ness, in that he does good, and gives us

from heaven, and fruitful seasons,

our hearts with food and gladness." But whatever be the portion he
may thus assign to the impenitent and
rain

filling

unbelieving

in the

present state of things,

they have no part or lot in the inheritance

people

of his

from that they are ex-

But mark the condescension cluded v/hile they remain in impenitence,

of your Saviour: "To him that over- in unbelief: the interdict, while that
cometh will I grant to sit with me in my state of mind continues, is absolute and
Just as, in the book of
throne." Thus, then, there is an identity peremptory.
than thou."

of glory, as

it

respects e-sence and nature,

between Christ
people,

when

in his

kingdom and

permitted

to

enter

his
that

Genesis, we read that, on one

Abraham gave all that he had
that

kingdom: they are "joint-heirs" with and

him; they shall be "glorified together" him

is,

to Isaac;

he constituted Isaac, solemnly

officially,

as the son

house ever

with him.

occasion,

his

heir

who was

and yet

it is

acknowledged
to

abide in the

said in the very

Mark, then, in the second place. The same passage, that Abraham gave certain
CONNEXION BETWEEN THIS PRIVILEGE AND inferior presents to his other children
OUR RELATION TO GoD AS HIS CHILDREN. but it is added, that he sent them away,
This, of as they were not allowed to abide in the
"If children, then heirs."
course, implies that none but children house as children and heirs: they had no
will be recognised as heirs, or be allowed permanent station there.
Tremble, those of you, my hearers,
to inherit.
It is the relation that gives
and where the relation has not whose consciences tell you that you are
the right
been established, the right cannot be not children and heirs of God, that you
pleaded.
As for those who continue in have hitherto sadly neglected this great
their natural state of alienation from God, salvation tremble, lest, after all the good
who continue to be what they are by things of this life, which Providence may
nature, and as we are all by nature have poured into your lap, it should ultichildren of wrath, dead in trespasses and mately be your lot to be sent away, to
;

sins

God

as
in

for those

the

way

who

the

never come to
gospel prescribes,

by a penitent renunciation of

sin,

commanded

be

to depart

God's own house

accursed from

None

but children

and a are heirs.

Now,

this expression implies, too, that

hearty acceptance of Christ as the only

and all-sufficient Saviour; these, remain-

all

ing out of the family, belonging to the

synagogue of Satan, will not be allowed

then," of course, "heirs." This does

not always take place in the arrange-

children are heirs:

"If

children,

take their part in the inheritance of ments of human society. It often happens
God will not take the children's that the estates and dignities of the great
inheritance any more than the children's of this world descend exclusively to the
to

children.

3m2

THE BRITISH

414
male children,
the family

or to the eldest branch of

nearly,

or comparatively, to

the exclusion of the rest; but this

is

not

PULPIT.

brought into his family. We who haVe

" if so be
passed from death unto life
that we suffer with him, that we may be

God will adopt

heavenly inherit-

also glorified together."

in the distribution of the

ance. " If cliildren"

matters not whe-

of Scripture, the saints of

the rule which almighty

it

ther sons or daughters of the

It

you can

true

is

shall

be bestowed upon Christians

first-

the

brother of the family; but

though not equal honours are

similar,

store for all

who

for a

lose any part of

tributed

inheritance

this

its

of heaven

value from being dis-

among so many. As on
God are companions

and tribulation of Jesus, and

have sympathy with each other in temptations, and persecutions, and reproaches,
so in lieaven they shall have delighttul
sympathy with each other's enjoyments,
and be companions in the kingdom and
glory of that state. Every man in heaven
will feel himself much the happier, because he will know there are so many
millions of ransomed and purified spirits
who share the same bliss. Thus, in a
patience

blessed sense, each will inherit

all

things

or

For such a

the sufferings of all

that, all

the saints that ever lived, with those of

the

list,

army of martyrs
would be found

The redemption

quale.

at the head of

utterly

inade*

of the soul is too

precious to be accomplished by any com'

earth
in the

the people of

that the

meritorious in their nature,

Christ,

the noble
will

are repre-*

moment imagine

capable of expiating sin.

purpose as

in

shall be Christ's at his

coming.

Nor

any other part

God

suffering of the saints are, like those of

there are peculiar honours which

fruits, the elder

in the text, or in

sented as suflTering with Christ, none of

Almighty

'if children, then heirs."

W hen,

every man will have personally, or by

sympathetic enjoyment, the fruition of all

doing or creature
and for such a
purpose as that of atoning for sin, of
creature

of

bination

whatsoever:

suffering

meriting eternal

the sufferings of the

life,

not needed

saints are

Christ hath by

himself once purged our sins; his work

of atonement on the cross was so complete and perfect, when he poured out hi8
innocent soul; when he cried, "It is
finished," and gave up the ghost, that, in

point of merit, nothing can by possibility

be added to

We

it.

often hear

a phrase in

It is

of"

finished salvation."

much use

in

some

sec-

world; and it is a
which a very good sense may

tions of the religious

phrase to
be attached; but it is not a scriptural
notice the way in which we are to phrase, and it may be abused ; it may be
WALK so AS TO SECURE THE ACTUAL misunderstood. There is reason to fear,
" If lest some talk so much about finished
BESTOWMENT of THIS PRIVILEGE
SO be that we suffer with him, that we salvation as to forget that they are to
" work out their own salvation with feat
may be also glorified together."

heaven.

In the third place, the text leads us to

First of

become
in the

all,

we

children,

way

and trembling," while

do of his
good pleasure." But if all that be meant
by it is "finished atonement," then it is
It was to
a sound and scriptural phrase.
the atonement to which our Saviour

are to apply to

God worketh

of penitence and faith in Christ

crucified, that our sentence of alienation

and estrangement may be reversed ; that

we may be freely justified by grace, and
accounted righteous for the sake of .Tesus
Christ the righteous, and thereby become
the objects of God's gracious adoption.
But if children, we are not to conclude
that there is no further need of watchfulness or prayer.
other clause

who

"

"God

are to take care that, to

we

We

are to

remember the

we" we
we who have been

If so be that

are his children,

them

in

to will

it

is

and

that

to

when, as he gave up the ghost,

It was not
is finished!"
the salvation which was to be finished
by the atonement, but the payment of

alluded,

he cried, "It

was to purchase salvation

should believe. But with
regard to salvation, it is to be feared that,
the price that

for

all

as to

that

many

of us,

it

has not yet begun

it

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CHILDREN OF

who

hear me
have any very serious or abiding conviction of their need of salvation; it is a
question whether there be not in this, and
Is

in
is

a question

whether

all

every other congregation

or rather it
no question, for we talk no compli-

ments here there is no doubt that many

here have not yet begun even to seek

How,

salvation.

be finished

then, should salvation

But there

an atonement
which authorizes this seeking salvation
and if you come by penitence and faitli,
and plead that finished atonement, then
1

is

you

shall be saved.

"

He

that believeth

GOD.

world's side,

to the

many

escape

of

its

own,"

it cannot
no terms
with it those who come out from among
the wicked and the worldly, and arrange
themselves heartily and solemnly on

compromise

Christ's

those

who keep

are

side

tliese

whom

the world hates

will love its own.
It is

nmch

persons

the

but the world

we might escape
by abandoning Christ and

likewise plain

suffering

Christianity, and the holiness that belongs

inasmuch as we should escape a

which

shall be saved."

to

But, though the sufferings of the saints

are not in their nature expiatory or merito-

large part of that class of suffering

rious, in

be

fitly

any degree or sense, they may

termed, "suffering with Christ;"

"the

as our Sa-

whom

Those with

viour said.

should

reproaches;

its

world would love

416

we

plain

it is

it,

comes under the head of temptation from

Satan.
Our Saviour describes the great
adversary of men as " a strong

man armed,

because a large portion of the lot of keeping his goods in peace." When Sasuffering which falls to the lot of good tan can reckon upon men as his goods,
people in this world, comes upon them in people who devote themselves to him,
first,

consequence of their adherence to Christ

in consequence of their devotedness to the
truth,

Yes

and cause, and service of Christ.

we would forsake Christ, and sell

if

our souls to perdition for a mess of this

world's pottage, we might escape much
suffering,much inconvenience. We should
then escape much oi the world's reproach.

am quite aware that men of

who are in the habit of venting
I

they give themselves to

they call the faults, and follies, and inconsistencies of professors

and much is it
to be lamented that professors of religion should ever afford colour for such

But, after

all,

mere excuse

it
it

is

is

mere

not the

inconsistency of religious persons that

provokes the world's hostility, it is the

religion itself: they dislike them, not
because they have too little religion, but
because they have a little too much for
their own taste.
This is plain from the
fact, that in men of their own worldly
character and spirit, they will pardon,
(hey will even palliate and defend inconsistencies and faults a thousand times
more glaring and disgusting than any of
those which they allege against the professors of religion.
If we would go over

is

Satan's

policy with respect to his goods.

their scorn

what

That

disturb their conscience.

when men

directed against religion, but against

a pretext.

unholy suggestions, and

command, they are
his goods; he keeps them at peace. His
object is to keep them quiet; to set them
to any folly, to any gayety, that will keep
them from thinking, or that might tend to
to his

follow his beck and

the world,

on the professors of religion, wish it to

be understood that their hostility is not

pretext,

and listen

when they
when the

are no longer his goods

set

God

themselves

in

But

when

Christ

to resist evil

commences on their
and earnestly between subserviency to sin and devotedness to God,
with an earnest desire to be delivered
from Satanic power, then his object is,
not to keep them at peace, but to harass,
and annoy, and alarm them, by various,
and severe, and powerful temptations so
that, for a time, if they be new beginners
in religion, they are ready to imagine
that they were more happy and comfortable before they sought religion than they
struggle

part, heartily

have been since

the

so severe,

for a time, is

power of temptation.

We

should escape,

of suffering

too, all that class

which comes under

of self-denial.

This

is

the head

a Christian duty

not to be overlooked or superseded. " If

any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross and follow
me." The flesh must be mortified, beset-

THE BRITISH

416

sometimes

must be resisted
must be cut

ting sins

the right hand

right eye plucked out, in order to avoid

true Christians

some

And
it

all

costs

suffering to practise

If

we would abandon Christ and reliwe might possibly escape some

providential sufferings that

"

Whom

and

come upon

us.

the Lord loveth he chasteneth,

scourgeth every son

ceiveth."

It is

whom

he

re-

too possible to get into

and quenching his Holy

judicially hardened.

Spirit,
It is

not above his lord.

is

Is

it

every reasonable servant

for

master

to suffer as his

Ought

Buffers'?

the private soldier to complain of privations or perils to

which

his general sub-

Where our Captain bravely leads,

ought we not resolutely to follow'? Did
1

and then enter

right have
we to demand that, for our pleasure, a
contrary order should be established, and
that we should enter into glory without
not our Master

first suffer,

And what

into his glory?

Are not believers predestiRomans, to be

as to conformed to the image of God's Son I
possi- And does not that intend the image of

such a state of mind by long continued

neglect of God, by obstinately grieving

become

enough

not

mits

self-denial.

gion,

degree, practised himself for our sakes.

and the The servant

off,

occasions of sin against God.

this is painful work to nature

PULPIT.

suffering

'?

nated, as St. Paul tells the

ble so to provoke God, by obstinate and

his suffering in a state of humiliation, as

long continued unfaithfulness, in the

midst of outward profession, as that he
shall take his Holy Spirit from us, and
cease to ply us with the discipline of his
providence, and say, "Ephraim is joined

well as the image of his holiness

to

idols

those

let

whom

gives up

to

him alone."
There are
God, in his judgments,
a worldly, and reprobate,

and backsliding spirit.

But whatever be the nature of our sufferings, it may be called suffering with
Christ for another reason
if it be endured
in the temper and spirit of Christ. When,
forasmuch as Christ suffered for us in the
flesh, we are found arming ourselves with
the same patient mind
when, after his
example, being defamed, we entreat
when we bless them who curse us, pray
for them that despitefully use us and
persecute us, and render good for evil
when, in the midst of complicated trials
and chastenings of Providence, we say,
as Christ said, " Not my will, but thine

be done," "The cup which my Father

giveth me, shall I not drink it ]"
then
suffer with Christ, in his Spirit, and after
his example.
It is not hard or unreasonable that we
should thus be required to suffer with
Christ, in order to be glorified together
with him. It is not hard or unreasonable,
because it is with Christ that we suffer
he suffered before us preceded us in the
path of temptation, and self-denial, and
trial ; he demands nothing from us that
he has not already, in an infinitely higher

We

Suffering Christians, think that

with Christ you

will reconcile

suffer,

you

it

is

and the thought

to suffering

you will

an honour to be in any respect

conformed to such a Head. There are
many whose salvation is in danger, and
likely to be finally prevented, on this
very ground, that they have not the
heart to suffer with Christ.
But who
would not thus suffer? Why, none but
a believer none but a man in whom is
the faith that overcometh the world
none but a man who has that new principle of life which is created by the
love of God and of Christ shed abroad in
All who
the heart by the Holy Ghost.
are destitute of this, when they are
brought to this point, will uniformly say,
" I pray thee, have me excused ;" and
will decline to suffer with Christ: they
do not love him well enough to appreciate the honour of being like him in his
feel

it

sufferings.

not hard or unreasonable that we

with Christ before we are glorified,
because the subsequent glory will far
more than compensate the previous sufIt is

suffer

fering.

This

is

the apostle's

own

argu-

ment, in the verse which follows the

" For I reckon that the sufferings
text
of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us." "For I reckon"
mark
the principles of this computation, which
:

St.

Paul has recorded

for our instruction.

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CHILDREN OF

GOD.

417

The accuracy of his reckoning may be way of the cross, should follow him
justified, if we even consider nothing but the attainment of the crown.

We learn, from this subject,

the actual sufferings and the actual glory,

without reference

What

tion.

question of duraSupposinof
this

to the

mean

is

were the will and pleasure of God, after

granting you his grace, and bringing you
into his family, and making you his
children, that you should live in a world
of temptation and trial, bearingyour cross,
fighting with contumely, and meeting with
it

reproach, for a period of tlireescore years

and ten

and supposing

that, at the

end

desirableness

to

the extreme

and intpurtance of beingfouna

among Ike pardoiiedand regenerated people

O, what a blessing, according to
of God.
the text, to be a child and an heir of God !

" Behold what manner of love the Father

hath bestowed upon us, that we should be

God !" And we are not

only called his sons, but treated as his
sons; we have not only the honourable
title, but the substantial advantage of

called the sons of

of that period, he were to say, in his

the inheritance.
Is it not supremely
mercy, "It is enough come up hither; delightful to be a child and heir of God?
thou shalt suffer and sigh no more"
My hearers, is that your opinion the
and were to admit you into his glory, fixed sentiment of your mind and heart?
and that you were to live in the enjoy- Put that question, I beseech you, to yourment of that glory only for a limited selves because every thing depends upon
period, only for a period answerable to it. Do you supremely, beyond every thing
the threescore years and ten, which you else, desire to be a child and heir of God ?
had previously spent on earth, and were Can you say,
then to be annihilated, to have your bliss
" Worldly good I do not want;
and your being extinguished, never to
Be that to others given
live, or think, or be happy again ; even
Only for thy love I pant;
then, it would be infinitely worth a man's
My all in earth and heaven
while to be a saint on earth, in order to
This is the crown I fain would seize,
be a saint for a short, and transient, and
The good wherewith I would be blest;

terminating heaven.

One moment spent

Jesus, Master, seal

in that state, the vision of Christ on his

throne, and

God

in his glory,

And

take

me

to

my

peace.

thy breast."

would more

than make amends for all the trials, and

temptations, and self-denials, of a long,

If

you can honestly say, "

above

all

We

do,

other things, desire to be child-

ren of God," then behold, I bring you

on earth.
Paul did take into his reckoning glad tidings; God desires it; God and
the element of duration ; this was an item you are of a mind ; God desired it long
in his reckoning of great importance. He before you did, and made provision for it
tells us expressly, " The sufferings of long before you drew your breath; and
this short life
" are ever since you have been inhabitants of
this present time"
but for a moment;" whereas, "the glory this world, and capable of thinking and
that is to be revealed," is glory that shall distinguishing between good and evil,

long

life

But

St.

never terminate glory that shall last as

long as God shall live glory that shall
The coming glory will
be perpetual.
infinitely more than counterbalance the
previous sufferings, both in point of abstract amount and of duration. Then, it is

almighty God has been using various

methods of providence and grace, to make
you willing to become his children, to
draw you out of your state of estrangement and forgetfulness of him, and to
bring you into his family, that you might

it is not any thing of which we

have a right to complain, in the arrangements of Christ and of his gospel, that
he demands of his people, on whom he
bestows so much, for whom he has done
and suffered so much, that they should
be willing to suffer with him, and, in the
Vol. II.53

be numbered with his saints

not hard,

in

glory

While you were careless

these things, God was thinking of

everlasting.

of

you, and caring for you, and saying, in

his fatherly aflfection for you, " How
shall I put

What can

them among the children?

to bring them to a better

do

THE BRITISH

418

And has he succeeded

mind T"

his grace at last triumphed over

stinacy of your resistance]

consent

to

PULPIT.

Has from among

t'le

ob-

Do you now

be saved by his mercy through

Christ] Then there is no hinderance to

your present salvation. Arise why tarriest thou?
Wash away thy sins, by an

the pots, and puts

him among

the princes of his people.

Are you children and heirs of God

Then, be submi&sive to your worlcl/y

Though

it

may

not be in

all

?
lot.

respects

such as your nature would innocently

desire; though it may be connected with
act of present faith in ilie present Saviour, many occasional hardships, and sorrows,
calling on the name of the Lord Jesus. and privations, yet be content with your
Venture upon the merit of that great lot: you are sons and heirs of God, and
atonement; dare to trust thy soul in the does not that make amends for all ?
hands of Jesus: if he holds thee up,
Are you children and heirs of God?
thou shalt be safe and he will hold thee Then, be cunsislenf, be heavenly minded.
up, if thou wilt but cast thyself without Let your conversation be in heaven,
hesitation into his hands.
To as many whence also you look for the Saviour,
as receive Christ, to them gives he the Lord Jesus Christ, and where you
power, privilege to become the sons of hope soon to overtake the Saviour. O,
God, even to as many as believe on his grovel not here below, fond of these
name. If, then, you are willing to be earthly toys
Christians, take care of
children of God, supremely desirous of your hearts, especially in these times,
it, and will receive Christ, and renounce
when so many things are continually
your own wisdom, and righteousness, and occurring which are apt to absorb you ;
strength, and take Christ to be unto you do not forget that your principal business
wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctifi- is with heaven. If you are what you
cation, and redemption
profess to be
children and heirs of God
if you simply
receive Christ as God offers him to you,
you will soon discover how paltry, in
you will stretch out your hands to receive comparison with these high and ennothe divine fulness which is offered to you bling objects, are all the vanities of earth.
in Christ.
You need not wait till to- Do your duty in the world and to the
morrow, or next year, to become the sous world, to the utmost of your power,
of God
receive Christ, and the moment according to Christian rules; but rememyou do so, God, for Christ's sake, will ber, you are only passing through it;
receive you; he will give you right and do not suffer your hearts to be in it. You
prerogative, according to the economy of are pilgrims and strangers here; keep up
his gospel, to become, in that happy the spirit of pilgrims leave the potsherds
moment, the sons of God, and heirs of of the earth to be absorbed and intoxicated
glory.
with things of earth. It does not become
Many of you have realized these privi- you, Christians, to cherish undue anxieleges; you are children and heirs of God. ties or eagerness about things below. Do
Is it so 1
Then, be thajikfitl. " O, God, your duty to the world, in whatever stathou art my God !" said one: well, what tion of life it may please God to call }'ou ;
then? "I will praise thee I will exalt but, then, pass on ; let your affections be
thee." If you have been called out of upward and heavenward.
the world, and made hapjiy heirs of God,
Finally, remember what God requires
you are not to give yourselves high airs "f y""' *'" order to your being glorijicd
and haughty looks on that account; you that you should suffer with him. You
are not to carry your heads high, and look cannot escape this: if you are faithful
on yourselves with complacency, think and holy, it will find you out in one form
you are some great one, and to say to others or another. " God did tempt Abraham."
who are yet in the world, " Stand aside." What does that mean ? Not that God
That would be exalting yourselves;
solicited Abraham in any way to an act
whereas, the business of a pardoned man of disobedience; but God did try him,
is to exalt God.
The Lord alone will be put him to the test. God put Abraham, in
exalted in that day when he takes a man his providence, into such circumstances,
;

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CHILDREN OF

may

GOD.

419

what was foremost in his heart;

whether he loved God or Isaac most.
That is the sense in which he tempted
him: and he nobly stood the trial, and
came out as gold purified, more illustrious
and more brilliant in his character than

enough

ever.

worldly interest for the sake of pleasing

lo sift

violate,

it

That

Lord's day.

man's

trial

be, the sanctity of the

God

putting

test,

as he did

Abraham,

the

man

conscience

has

to

make any

day of that

the

is

is

him

to see

and

to the

whether
religion

sacrifice of apparent

same sense God will tempt you. God. And if the man stand the trial, and
If you become God's children and ser- prefer God's fear to every thing else,
vants, you must expect to have your there shall be a special care over him
In the

God

religion put to the test;

you

will bring

such circumstances, as that you

must really make your choice and decide,
and show what you are, and what is the
substance and texture of your religion, I
believe there is one great crisis of this
sort in every man's life
in
many
men's lives more than one
where
God so places them in circumstances as
into

to call forth their true character, that they

must show
stand

and must make

such a course to

their colours

their choice.

And, O,

in

and having done

all, to

stand

To

prefer Christ, and conscience, and heaven,

from that very time.

In one way or other we must prepare
ourselves to suffer with Christ.
Let us
pray that we may have suffering grace
for a suffering time
that we may have
Christian courage to resist evil, to fight
the good fight of faith, as valiant soldiers
ought, and so lay hold on eternal life,
ever setting it down with ourselves as a
maxim to guide our conduct, to prefer
;

the greatest suffering to the smallest sin.

Of two

temporal evils, choose the least,

says prudence; of two sins, choose neiGodliness will
ther, says the Scripture.

most tempting forms of earthly be found to be profitable, and on the

that can assail us!
How whole, " profitable to all things, having
noble
How honourable to God and promise of this life, and that which is to
advantageous to ourselves! God never come." Amen.
suffers such fidelity to pass without bestowing some special marks of his favour,
to all tiie

allurements
I

some

peculiar token of his grace.

will be your particular form of trial, God

alone can tell
he will settle it well and
wisely; he will give the due and necessary consideration to your individual
" There hath no temptation
infirmity.
:

taken you, but such as

'man

suffer

but

God

you

to be

is

common to
who will not

is

faithful,

tempted above that ye

are able; but will, with the temptation,

also

make

be able

way

to bear

to escape, that

it

:" but

still it

UNKNOWN TONGUES.

What

ye may
will be a

temptation; you will be put to the test.

For instance a Christian man, after being
in circumstances of worldly difficulty,
may hive some offer of employment,

The

following observations on modern

unknown tongue,

miracles, and the

are

from a sermon, by the celebrated Dr.

M'Crie, author of the "Life of John
Knox," &c., preached in Edinburgh,
Sunday morning, .Tune the lOlh, 1832.
The text was Luke vi. 26 ; but the re-

marks

question refer more particularly

in

to the parallel

Matt.

me

vii.

passage.

22

" Many

persons, in our day,

will say unto

There are some

&c.

in that day,''^

who

are possessed

with the extraordinary notion that the age

of miracles has not yet ceased. They are
praying for the gifts of tongues, and of

prophecy, and of miracles ; and they even

themselves that their prayers have,
relieve him from all restraints, and to in some degree, been answered. I would
enable him to provide as he wishes for not speak harshly of these persons but I
himself and family; but then he finds, cannot help thinking they labour under a

some

lucrative

situation,

some

gainful

business, which seems the very thing to

flatter

that in order to accept and to prosecute

God, he must
give up some religious principle ; he must

this calling, he

must

offend

delusion.

Would

would

tell

them

to

little

more

faith, for

they but listen to me,

pray for a

little

more

love, for a little

THE BRITISH PULPIT.

420

more humility. This would be better than

to pray, and to desire an answer to prayer,
for prophecies,

and

for tongues,

and for

miracles, even to the raising of the dead.

If they

would but consider

that

it is

often

God does not give us what we

and that, when not contented with

well that
desire

the blessings

we

enjoy under the gospel

of our Lord Jesus Christ, he

may

give us

over to a strong delusion, to believe a lie.

If they would but reflect that the gifts for

which they are so anxious, when they

were actually enjoyed by the primitive
church,

in

simplicity,

there

is

all

the flower of

its faith

were grossly abused.

and

And

reason to think that, if granted

now, when they

are

unnecessary, the

canon of Scripture having been completed, and provision being made by

that they should have "cast out devils ;"

more wonderful still that they should

have worked miracles; but the greatest
wonder of all is, that such persons should
expect to be accepted at last. They lay
down in the grave with a lie in their right
hand; and they knew it not. But more
than that!
They rose in the morning of
the resurrection, with their hand clenched,
and the lie concealed there; and they held
it up in the face of the Judge, and cried,
" Lord, Lord, are we not thine
" Lord
Lord !"
Do you think the
gates of heaven will be thrown open, on
your merely pronouncing a bare word or
on your showing false signals ] Is it not
enough that you mock God on earth T
Would you claim a right to enter into
his immediate presence, and to insult
him before his very throne, and before
it is

ordinary means for spreading the gospel,

they would be much more abused ; not his angels 1
Of all the deceptions that abound in
only in fostering pride, and self-confidence, but in withdrawing the minds of this deceitful world, the worst is that
some good people (as I am afraid has which a man practises on himself; and
been the case already) from those sub- let me tell you, my friends, it is the most

and salutary, and sanctifying,

and saving truths, by which true believers, in all ages and quarters of the
globe, have been fed and nourished up
stantial,

unto eternal life.

The following remarks from the same
discourse, though not immediately connected with the preceding observations,
are possessed of too much intrinsic value
to be allowed to glide away into oblivion
:

The vi'eight
when weighed

of one sin,

my

For one that is drawn aside,

and ruined by a false teacher, (I speak
of those in a Christian land, and under
the preaching of the gospel,) there are
hundreds who turn aside, and ruin them-

common.

selves.

There is a remark on the Sermon in

Mount, by a commentator [Matthew
Henry] whom I generally quote with
approbation, but which does not exactly
please me.
He says, " It was an excelbrethren, lent sermon !" Why, that is what people
the

heaven, say when they are going out of church',

outweighs all the gifts of prophets, and after hearing an oration
He speaks to
seers, and evangelists ; and will sink the much better purpose when he says, a
soul, not only to earth, but to hell.
little way further, " It is possible for
in the balances of

" Many will say to me in that day."

Christ would not say that few should be
saved, but he has no scruple in telling us

people to admire good preaching, and yet

remain in ignorance and unbelief; to be

to

and yet not ' sanctified.^ "

have only to add, that it is possible
It is wonderful that the workers of to be awakened under the preaching of
iniquity should have " prophesied" in the word, and to fall into deepei sleep
the name of Christ; it is more wonderful after all.
that

many

will be

damned.

'

astonished,''

And

II

SERMON XLV.
ON THE NATURE OF PRAYER.

BY THE REV. ALEXANDER WAUGH,

"

thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come."

Were
God

the object of prayer to make

acquainted with our wants, prayer

were a ridiculous exercise

niscient is

better

for the

wants than we are ourselves.

Were

recommend ourselves

object to

Om-

acquainted with our

to

its

God,

D. D.

Ps. Ixv.

bondage will be most eager for liberty;

and a sense of want will make us best
relish the blessings of salvation.

It is

painful to a minister of the gospel,

who

many

has laboured
to see

years

any deficiency

among

to

imply that he

is, to

to teach

source of

all

man

to

bow

his supplies.

before the

consider three

The nature

II.

Those who are hungry and thirsty

the
most relish meat and drink
;

will

sick

most value health; those who are

in

of those prayers

which he will hear and answer.

III. The encouragements with which
God has furnished us thus to engage
and persevere

You

in prayer.

will perceive that this is a subject

of vital religion

home

a subject

to the heart of a

which comes

man; and those

that love prayer will be sure to relish

our theme. "

draw us

all

thou that hearest prayer,"

unto thyself!

Mark

then,

The views we are to cherish

God when we approach him in

First,

OF
PRAYER.
1.

Js

We
to

are to

God

come

in Christ

to hira,

to

God

We

dered accessible by his merits.

This homage rebellious creatures

of our minds must precede our reception

of the various blessings of Divine mercy.

will

the depravity
to render this

The character under which we

when we approach

I.

But, the

dependence upon God to put his goodness to the proof. Prayer is not confined
to men, nor to Christians; the inferior
parts of the creation also engage in it.
The ravens " cry'' to God, and he hearall creatures " wail" on him,
eth them
that they may receive their meat in due
There is a desire in all who
season.
live and breathe, and this desire, according to their capacity, is prayer to the
Author of their being. The neglect of
prayer is a most dangerous feeling in the
human mind ; it springs from pride, and
it is a denial of the homage due to God.
The lamb kneels as it sucks its parent

ewe;

and

necessity and

ARE TO VIEW God

acknowledge our him in prayer.

did not care sufficiently for us.

object of prayer

a people,

in this respect,

then it were a presumptuous exercise

to be obliged to urge the
for prayer includes in it a confession of importance of prayer; but
Were its object to of the human heart seems
g-uilt and misery.
press our case on the notice and feelings often necessary.
of God, then it were an impious exerOn this occasion we will
cise; for it would be a reflection on his things

mercy, and would seem

2.

come

ren-

are

we have no right to
Many forof mercy.
;

throne
they come without thought ; they
cherish no sense of guilt; they invent
compliments ; they turn their periods,
and try how fine they can speak Really,
to the

get this

2N

421

THE BRITISH

422

PULPIT.

1
His heart
But " how much more will
guilty, depraved, endangered men, it is your Father, which is in heaven, give
in this character we are to come to him, good things to them that ask him !" That
"Through him of a mother also " As one whom his
as "God in Clirist."

this is horrid.

" God

is in

Christ, recon-

ciling the world unto himself;" and, as

son a stone instead of bread

revolts at

it.

have both access by one Spirit to tiie mother coraforteth, so will I comfort
Father." His mediation is the life of you" "I dwell with him that is poor,
cur prayers, the very inspiration of our and contrite and humble." The poor,
desires.
The throne is, as the prophet dejected, trembling soul, who is rejected
calls it, a "glorious high throne;" but it and disdained by men, shall not fail to
IMen
is also a "throne of grace;" otiierwise, have his cottage visited by Deity.

we

we

dare not approach

it,

or

lift

up our

may

pass

it

by, but

it

is

the dwelling-

home of the Lord of all power

Come; but come as sinners, and rejoice and grace! God compassionates those
whom men often despise, and is bountiful
that the way is opened.
He who to those to whose wants men turn a deaf
2. As a sin-par duning God.
eyes to

it,

or bend our knees before

has a deep sense of

most earnestly.
to study manner
of his guilt

is

guilt, will

He
or

it.

pray the

will have no time

words; the pressure

too great to allow of this.

place, the

Let us cherish these views.

As to an omnipresent and omniscient
God. We are to come to God as to one

ear.

5.

who

is

intimately acquainted with

all

our

Mercy is the loadstone which has attract- distress. There is no shadow of death
ed him to the throne. " He who listens impervious to his glance. His eyes run
in to and fro in the earth in quest of opporto my prayer is a God plenteous
tunities to protect and defend those who
mercy a God who delights in mercy
God who forgives iniquity, transgression, call upon him. Jonah was in the depths

If a man be sensible that he of the sea, but he cried unto God, and
and that God can and will par- God heard him David in the cave of
Adullani
Peter in prison
Lazarus at
don him, he will come with eagerness,
3. Js to an all-sufficient Gud.
"My the rich man's gate John in Patmos ;
God shall supply all your need, accord- these all cried to God, and they found
ing to his riches in glory by Christ Je- that God heard them. O how cheering is
sus" " My grace is sufficient for thee." this thought to the mind, that however
If we want knowledge, let us come to others may overlook or disregard, he will
him who has revealed himself as the not; he will look upon us, and this is
" Father of lights." If we want wis- more than if all creation were to fix their
dom, let us seek it from that Saviour, in attention upon us.
whom are hid all its treasures. If we
G. As to a God of infinite power and
want the aid of God's good Spirit, to strength. He who has an eye to observe,
purify and make us meet for heaven, this has also an arm to protect.
He is " the

and sin."
is guilty,

also

is

God's

gift

"

If ye, then, being

know how to give good

your children, how much more
evil,

gifts

unto

Lord God Almighty ;" there

is

no ei^eroy

therefore that he is not able to suudue.

shall your All their preparations are but as a spider's

heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to web before the fierce northern blast. He
them that ask him."
can " call the things that are not as
4. As to a bountiful and compassionate though they were."
You have often to
God. To give us evidence of this, he lament the inveteracy of your lusts; you
has clothed himself in those characters frequently feel your sins prevail but Jhe
we are sure to understand and to feel
God to whom you are here invited to
especially that of a Father
" Like as a draw nigh, is the God of omnipotence,
father pitieth his children, so the Lord and his grace is almighty. Come to him
pitieth them that fear him."
If the cold
bow the knee pray before him, and
wind blows from the north, and the son he will subjugate all by the power of his
who has been exposed to it comes home grace. Come to God,
;

hungry

to his father, will

he give that

7. In fine,

As

the

Father of Christ, and

ON THE NATURE OF PRAYER.

423

as our Father in him.

This is a relation cause ye ask not" to others, however,

iirfinitely more close and tender than that " \ e ask and receive not, because ye ask
in which our children stand to us.
He amiss" what ye ask is not suitable for
hath created us, and he knows that we God to bestow, nor beneficial for you to
are to be clothed, fed, taught, and have receive.
To ask to be rich, and great,
an inheritance provided for us. And if and honoured
what is it but to ask poihe be our Father, all jealousy, suspicion, son, to pray to be led into temptation, to
doubt, sullenness, are unworthy our be exposed to a sore and swift destruccharacter ; and poor is the excuse the tion! W hat God has required you to do,
best of us can make for these things. you may ask for grace to accomplish.
It becomes us to tell God, with reverence
What God has promised to bestow, you
and frankness, all the feelings of our may safely ask him to give.
souls. If we did but cherish these views
3. They are prayers offered up under
of God, how happy should we be in the the assistance rf his Spirit
" Likewise
darkest hour
the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities;
Secondly, The nature of those pray- for we know not what we should pray
ers WHICH God will accept. They are for as we ought ; but the Spirit itself
not the prayers of the unconverted
of maketh intercession for us, with groanthose who are still in the gall of bitter- ings which cannot be uttered." Tliis he
Their does through the teachings of God's
ness, and the bond of iniquity.
addresses are represented by the prophet, word.
And he creates within the soul
as " howling"
the cries extorted by dis- such a deep feeling of its interest in the
tress
the mere expressions of suffering things for which it supplicates, that it
humanity. The accents of anguish arising can only groan ; and that groaning is so
from the lost in hell might as properly be strong, tliat it is unutterable. The Chriscalled prayer.
tian either cannot find words at all, or is
1. They are the prayers of GoiFs child- led to ask God for what he cannot fully
" God has sent the Spirit of his understand. It is the breathing of a new
ren.

Son

into their hearts, enabling

cry, Abba, Father;" and

it

is

them

to

a strong

evidence of our being children of God,

when we combine obedience with our
" If I regard iniquity in my
prayers.
heart," said David, " the Lord will not
hear

me"

" Your

to a

have sepa-

you and me," said the

rated between

Lord

iniquities

who nevertheless
the God of Israel.

pray-

people

ed to him as
read the 50th

If

we

shall find that

against sin.

They

2.

are praye-rsfor things suitable

" This is the confidence

him, that, if we ask any
tiling according to his will, he heareth
us." To ask otherwise, is to ask him to
to

God's will.

that

we have

some

it

in

own law to please

may be said, " Ye have

violate his

us.

tian feels that

To

not, be-

God

it.

Such a Chris-

he stands on high ground

but he wishes to stand higher, and to go

on unto perfection.

Never

forget that

it

is

not the words

contained in a prayer, but the feelings of

the heart, that constitute true prayer in

the sight of God.

we we have more

Psalm, and the 1st of

something more
is required than the mere utterance of
words of prayer. A change must be
effected
there must be the temper and
spirit of a child; there must be ardent
there
desires after our Father's image
must be honest and persevering struggles
Isaiah,

nature for objects congenial to

ever hears such prayers.

In the 51st Psalra

of the true spirit of prayer

than in any one portion of the Bible be-

When the heart speaks to God,

words are a matter of indiflference.
4. They are prayers presented through
This was
the mediation of Godh Son.
side.

David's way of praying " for the Lord's

sake." Jesus Christ taught this truth
hatmost expressly to his disciples. "
soever ye shall ask the Father in my
name, he will give it to you." He is the
hallowed altar on which all the offerings
of his people must be laid, in order that
they may rise up with acceptance before

God.

" I," said Christ,

the truth, and the

life,

"am

the

way,

and no man cometh

unto the Father but by me."

Such

are

THE BRITISH

424

God will hear; and in

which, he will send down the

the prayers that

answer

to

Such prayers as
blessings of his love.
marrow of practical religion.

these are the

This

is true

Christianity

God

the life of

This is the grand end of all

our knowledge, of all our profession, of
all our attendance upon sacraments.
True religion is the rising of the heart
It lies in devoutly admiring liis
to God.
greatness, reposing in his government,
in the soul.

submitting to his authority, confiding in

his goodness, and ardently desiring to
form the temper and the conduct after the
example of his Son. Prayer holds such
a distinguished place in religion, that the
whole of religion is frequently described

by

it.

"This
thee

that

of Jacob."

The

that seek

God

the generation of

is

seek
first

them

thy face,

act of a renew-

ed soul is prayer; the last act is like unto

it; and the interval is only dignified in
proportion as

This, alas
assign

We

filled

is

it

up by prayer.

the only reason

why many

we

can

do not love prayer.

have already considered the cha-

racter of the

make

to

is

God

to

whom

Christians are

supplication, and the nature of

those prayers which will rise with accept-

We have

ance before him.

now

to con-

sider,

Thirdly,

The encouragement God

PULPIT.

he permits us to use importunity

have set watchmen upon thy walls,
O Jerusalem, which shall never hold
their peace day nor night; ye that make
mention of the Lord, keep not silence,
and give him no rest," &c. Jesus Christ
was a man of prayer; and in addition to
his own example, he has furnished us
with many parables, such as that of the
importunate widow ; the application made
by one friend to another in bed the fact
is, that importunity generally marks sincerity, and with this God is well pleased.
The case of the woman of Syrophenicia
is in point; she pressed her suit with a
holy vehemence, amidst much that was
discoiraging and our Saviour admired,
and publicly extolled her importunity.
God allows us access continually, permits us to come " in every time of need."
And though, for wise reasons, the blessings for which we importune may be delayed, they shall at last be bestowed, and
in many cases be hastened. " The vision
is for an appointed time; but at the end
not lie: though it
it shall speak, and
tarry, wait for it, because it will surely
come."
Such is the access God has
granted us. What pity that some should
be found so disingenuous as to presume
on this allowance, and to be less sensible
of it, because it is a common and standcess, so

"

HA? GIVEN TO SUCH PRAYERS. Here I ing privilege

Just as the blessings of
would notice,
air, and water, and bread, are set little
I. The free access tvhich God has given store by, because we enjoy them every
!

A throne is provided, and it is called day. O, if access to the throne of grace

" a throne of grace." A mediator is pro- were allowed but once in a century, how
vided, and through him we may have eagerly would the church long for the araccess with acceptance.
Having such rival of the important moment! Blessed
a high priest, we are invited to "draw be God, we may come continually.
nigh with a true heart, in full assurance
This is one encouragement.
Then

us.

of faith."

And

this privilege is

sented as extended to

all

ages and conditions.

" Unto

nations

Hear

St.

repre-

to all

Paul's

consider,
2. The readiness God has manifested in
hearing the prayers of his people.
have a remarkable testimony to this effect
in Isaiah Ixv.
"It shall come to pass,
that before they call, I will answer; and
whiles they are yet speaking, I will
hear." As soon as the desire is formed,
God knows it, and acts accordingly.
Daniel says, " Whiles I was speaking,

We

church of God
which is at Corinth, with all that in
every place call upon the name of Jesus
Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours,
grace be unto you and peace," and so on.
And thus our Saviour, when he taught us
to pray, saying, " Our Father," taught
US to unite ourselves with all others, and praying, and confessing my sin, and
everywhere, that call upon him in sin- the sin of my people Israel, and presentcere prayer.
And as God allows us ac- ing my supplication before the Lord my

liberality

the

ON THE NATURE OF PRAYER.

God

was speaking

yea, whiles I

425

he had received, and intent on

prayer, even the man Gabriel touched faking a full revenge. But Jacob wrestled
me, and said," &c.
hard with God in prayer, using the most
3. The liberality with which God has powerful arguments,
God heard his
always answered prayer. It is here as prayer, changed the heart of his brother,
in a time of extreme drought, when a and their meeting was accompanied with
nation presents prayer to God for rain
kind embraces and affectionate words.
the rain falls not only on the parched there is nothing that can bring alienated
land, it falls also on the heath, the beach, friends together like prayer! This brings
the sand, the sea, and the rivers.
So the heart into an element so warm, that
here if any man feels his need of wis- all its hardness and coldness will soon
dom, and asks it of God, he finds it be- disappear. You may remember also, the
stowed upon him, not in scanty, but libe- great things which God did in answer to
ral measures.
God is represented as the prayers of Moses; Guch as the rebeing plenteous in mercy, abundant in moval of the various blagues of Egypt,
goodness, rich in communication. " The and the innumerable manifestations of
same Lord over all, is rich unto all that mercy to the Jewish people. Think of
call upon him."
In the epistle to the Elias, of Asa, of Jehoshaphat, of HezeEphesians the mind of the great apostle kiah. And what shall be said of David ?
seems to swell with his theme " Now These were all men of like passions with
unto him that is able to do exceeding us, and yet, how great things God did
abundantly above all that we ask or for them, and for those in whose behalf
think."
What is God able to give 1 all, they called upon him. What encourageabove all, abundantly above all, exceed- ment is all this to prayer
W^e are not
ing abundantly above all, above all we to expect miracles to be wrought for us,
can ask, above all we can think.
What but we are taught to expect all that is in
a sublime climax is here! and all to God
Observe further,
illustrate and confirm the liberality of
5. How God is represented as overcome
God. Thus, you may remember when hy prayer. Thus in the case we have
Solomon prayed for a wise and an under- already referred to, Jacob at Peniel. The
standing heart, God was pleased with his prophet Hosea says, " By his strength he
request, and said, "Behold, I have done had power with God
yea, he had power
according to thy words lo, I have given over the angel, and prevailed
he wept,
thee a wise and an understanding heart; and made supplication unto him."
Here
and I have also given thee that which we have a fine picture of the success atthou hast not asked, both riches and tendant on the holy wrestling of a suphonour," &c. Such is the liberality of pliant mind with God. In Exodus xxxii.
our heavenly Father's heart
And now, there is another fine illustration of this
what shall we think of the state of that fact. The Israelites had very greatly
man's heart who has not offered prayer to provoked God, and he determined to deGod for a week, for a month, for whole stroy them but while he intimated his
years ? Is he the friend of his own soul 1 intention to Moses, aware that Moses
If he be destitute of God's salvation, would intercede for them, he says, " Now,
;

in

injuries

surely he has nothing but his

blame

to

own

sloth

therefore, let

he has not because he asks

sume them."

not.

me alone, that I may conDo not interpose thy pow-

erful supplication.

Moses, however, did

The great things God has done in intercede, and was successful " the Lord
answer to prayer, form another strong repented of the evil which he thought to
4.

A similar instance
to its continual exercise. do unto his people."
has softened hard, malignant hearts. occurs in Numbers xiv. God said again,
Jacob had lost the affections of his " I will smite this people." But, said
brother Esau; he had given Esau just Moses, "the Egyptians will hear of it,
reason to hate him, and he might well and they will say that thou didst slay
expect to find him brooding over the them, because thou wert not able to bring
encouragement

He

Vol. II. 54

THE BRITISH

426

into the land which thou didst promise to give them rather let thy power
be maiiil'ested in forgiving them" "And
the Lord said, I have pardoned according
Thus God has, on many
to thy word."
occasions, put on the appearance of alteration, in order to encourage holy im-

They

them

PULPIT.
assure the praying- soul that "the

eyes of the Lord are upon the righteoiis,

and that his ear is open to their cry"
4hat " the prayer of the upright is his dethat " he will fulfil the desires of
Hglil"
'

those that fear him, and hear their

land save

them"

that

cr.v,

"every one that

portunity and perseverance on the part of ;asketh, receiveth," &c. ore.

In the pro-

phecies of Hosea, a mighty chain is reand who shall dare to say you will not presented as passing through heaven
from heaven to earth from earth to the
be successful 1
" I will hear, saith the Lord, I
6. The sxipernaiural inslii.ci created in church.
his

Imitate

people.

these

holy

men

'

renewed minds, which leads to prayer. will hear the heavens, and they shall
bestows upon a man the hear the earth, and the earth shall hear
ability to pray, it is, in effect, giving that the corn, and the wine, and the oil ; and
man an encouragement to pray. It was they shall hear Jezreel."
said of Saul of Tarsus after his conver9. The gracious and eiidearing relaAnd this tioiis ill ivhich God sta7ids to his people.
sion, "Behold, he prayeth."
same man afterwards, writing to the In the enumeration of the various laws
Galatians, says, " Because ye are sons, which were given to the children of IsGod hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son rael, w^e meet with a very tcuching proof
into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" of the gracious disposition of the Almighty
.^" Wilt thou not from this time cry unto towards his creatures " If thou lend
me. My Father, thou art the guide of my money to any of thy people that is poor
youth ]" " How," said God to his peo- by thee, thou shalt not be to him as a
ple of old, "shall I put thee among the usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him
all

When God

children

me my

And

said.

Thou

shalt call

usury. If thou at

all

take thy neighbour's

away raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it

powerful, unto him by that the sun gceth down;

Father, and shalt not turn

from me." This instinct is so

that wherever it exists, it leads its pos- for that is his covering only; it is his
sessor to look upwards
to pray affec- raiment for his skin
wherein shall he
tionately to God
to plead with fervour sleep 1
And it shall come to pass, when
and importunity to take hold of the he crieth unto me, that I will hear ; for I
skirts of the robe which covers the am gracious."
He who will thus look
Deity, namely, his promises. The Spirit on a poor man, will not fail to lock on
of God is imparted to the souls of the those who cry to him for salvation.
In
renewed, to help their manifold infirmi- innumerable passages of Scripture he reties.
He has great reason to doubt his presents himself in the touching relation

regeneration
7.

who

is

not a

man

of prayer.

The glorious and continual

sion if Christ.

What

interces-

an encouragement

" If any man sin, we have an

advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous; and he is the propitiation
is this

our sins." In the 17th chapter of

John, we have an admirable specimen of
for

the mode in which he intercedes for his

people; and it is the consolation of all
who pray to God aright, that he is "able
to save them to the uttermost that come
unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth
to

make

intercession for them."

8.

The numerous promises of God.

These

cluster in every page of the Bible.

of a parent

of a father pitying his child-

them every good thing of a

mother comforting them, bearing them
on his mind with greater constancy of
affection than is even felt by the mother
towards her sucking infant. He declares,
that " in all their afflictions he is afflicted," and that "by the angel cf his presence he will save them," lie assures
them, ' that as mountains :>ne round
about Jerusalem, so he is round about
them." He says, "he that toucheth you,
toucheth the apple of mine eye." Think
of these, and many, many more endearing relationships which he sustains, and
then ask if it be probable that he will
ren, giving

ON THE NATURE OF PRAYER.

spiritual,

reject

persevering

fervent,

prayer

In fine, the experience of God's people

forms a strong ground of encouragement

And here, to which

we turn? Abraham,

prayer.

to

saints shall

Moses,

fact,

good;

men

all

rejoiced in

all

In

David,

Elijah,

these were

Jacob,

it."

up

calls

real necessities

to

it is

calculated to inspire
;

it

bring the various perfections of

view

and

in

tends

God

to
full

way it is likely
who engages in

every

to benefit the individual

Tlie reasonableness of the exercise,

it.

the comparative ease with which

be engaged

it

may

and the ample encouragement held out, leave all without excuse

who

in,

neglect

From

it.

may we

the whole,

not refer,

all flesh

Amen.

come."

ON THE DISCIPLINE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

great are the privileges of good

Whatever may be the wants they

men

feel,

they have a Father in heaven, whose

eyes are ever upon them, whose heart is

whose hands are ever open, whose

AM

from thinking lightly of the

far

power with which Christ has

armed his church. It is a high and mysterious one, which has no parallel on
earth.
Nothing in the order of means is
equally adapted to awaken compunction
spiritual

in

the guilty with spiritual censures im-

The

partially administered.

sentence of

excommunication, in particular, harmonizing with the dictates of conscience,

and re-echoed by her voice, is truly terrible

How

1.

fill

thou that hearest prayer, unto

thee shall

our recollection our

and confidence

gratitude

"

and success.

the very exercise of prayer does

it

to our

ply them all; and what hath he said

" Open thy mouth wide, and I will

of prayer, and they

efficacy

its

of the

Paul;

Daniel,

427

Will God, think you, deny himselfj The

whole world cannot supply a single want
of your souls ; but God can and will sup-

it

through

who

voice of

is

the

its

legitimate

despises

God speaking

organ, which he
or neglects, ranks with

"heathen men and publicans," joins the

synagogue of Satan, and takes his lot

They have an Advocate, ever nigh,

and willing to plead their cause.
They have a Spirit intimately acquainted
with them, ready to inspire acceptable
prayers.
Let such prize their privileges,
and avail themselves of them to the very

with an unbelieving world, doomed to

Excommunication is a sword,
which, strong in its apparent weakness,
and the sharper and more keenly-edged
for being divested of all sensible and exterior envelopements, lights immediately
on the spirit, and inflicts a wound which
no balm can cure, no ointment can mol-

utmost.

lify,

love,

stores are ever boundless and inexhaustible.

able

2.

How

diator

access to

should we bless

God

and burn,
atonement,

God

prayer.

no blessings of salvation

Son, but delivered him up for us all,

shall he not with him also freely

give us
3.

things

evident

is

all

How
who

the sin

neglect prayer

and folly

is

seated on his throne

he

in-

you to come, that you may be blessed, and you keep away
0, what cruelty
If
do you practise on your own souls
you are lean, and ill-favoured, and not
what you ought to be, it may generally
be traced to your wilful neglect of prayer.
vites

healed by the blood of

by

applied

penitence

and

axiom
more fully verified, " the weakness of
God is stronger than men, and the foolishness of God is wiser than men," than
in

is that

By

the discipline of his church.

it

en-

with foreign aid, they have

of robbed it of its real strength ; by calling

in the aid of temporal pains and penalties,

of grace,

till

In no one instance

cumbering

And the case

is much th'^ same with those who pray
coldly and indifferently.
God the God
those

but which must continue to ulcerate

for a MeBut for him there could be no

could be enjoyed. But God hath given

us Christ; and "he that spared not his

own
how

perdition.

they have removed

the flesh, from
to unite

it

its

it

from the

spirit to

contact with eternity

to secular interests

and, as

the corruption of the best things is the

worst, have rendered it the scandal and

reproach of our holy religion. While
it

retains its character as a spiritual ordi-

nance,

it

is

the disorders

the chief bulwark against

which threaten to overturn

THE BRITISH

428

religion; the very nerve of virtue; and,

next

to

the preaching of the cross, the

principal

antidote

to

" the corruptions

that are in the world through lust."

PULPIT.
of these

first

in a state

a contradiction in tejms.

Is

it

R. Hall.

piety as instinctively shrinks from the

theatre,

discipline, will either fall into confusion,

fessed the

much worse,

aside the

the last is

not too manifest to be denied, that

wretchedness, in which laws are either

not enacted, or not duly administered ;
so a church which pays no attention to
that little

or nothing remains worth regulating.

THE THEATRE.

^nd as a kingdom, how-

ever excellent its constitution, will inevitably sink into a state of extreme

or into a state so

sets

Dis-

cipline in a church occupies the place of

laws

positions

necessity of faith altogether

as

human

life

does from the

point of a sword or the draught of poi-

son

Have

rality,

not all those wlio have promost elevated piety and moborne an unvarying and uniform

The testimony

against the stage?

Even

the

more virtuous pagans condemned this

excommuni- amusement, as injurious to morals and

right of inflicting censures, and of pro-

ceeding

in

extreme cases

cation,

is

an essential branch

to

of

that

the

of nations.

interests

Plato, Liv)',

power with which the church is endow- Xenophon, Cicero, Solon, Cato, Seneca,
ed and bears the same relation to disci- Tacitus, the most venerable men of anti;

the brightest constellation of vir-

pline, that the administration of criminal

quity

justice bears to the general principles of

tue and talents

government. When this right is exerted

in upholding the faith once delivered to

the hemisphere of philosophy, have all

which ever appeared upon

denounced the theatre as a most abundant source of moral pollution, and asregard to the laws of Christ, it maintains sure us that both Greece and Rome had
their ruin accelerated by a fatal passion
its proper place, and is highly beneficial.
Its cognizance of doctrine is justified by for these corrupting entertainments. Wilapostolic authority:" "A heretic, after liam Prynne, a satirical and pungent
the saints, or enforcing a conscientious

two

or three admonitions, reject."

Nor

writer,

who

suffered

many

cruelties for

any purpose to urge the difference his admirable productions in the time of
betwixt ancient heretics and modern or Charles I., has made a catalogue of authat to pretend to distinguish truth from thorities against the stage, which contains
error is a practical assumption of infalli- every name of eminence in the heathen
bility.
While the truth of the gospel and Christian worlds
it comprehends
remains, a fundamental contradiction to it the united testimony of the Jewish and
is possible: and the difficulty of deter- Christian churches; the deliberate acts
mining what is so, must be exactly pro- of fifty-four ancient and modern, general,
portioned to the difficulty of ascertaining national, [)rovincial councils and synods,
the import of revelation ; which he who both of the western and eastern churches ;
affirms to be insurmountable, ascribes to the condemnatory sentence of seventyit such an obscurity as must defeat its
one ancient fathers, and one hundred and
primary purpose. He who contends that fifty modern Popish and Protestant auno agreement in doctrine is essential to thors; the hostile endeavours of philosocommunion, must, if he understands him- phers and even poets with the legislaself, either mean to assert that Chris- tive enactments of a great number of
tianity contains no fundamental truths, or pagan and Christian states, nations, mathat it is not necessary that a member of gistrates, emperors and princes.
/. .S,
a church should be a Christian. The James.
is it to

SERMON

XLVI.

THE MARCH OF THE CHURCH.

BY THE REV.
IN AID OF

"

Who

is this that

cometh

tip

from

R.

W. SIB

THORP,

B.D.

THE MORAVIAN MISSIONS.

the wilderness, leaning

on her beloved ?"

Sol. Song

viii. 5.

These words contain an exclamation sion to the numbers of the redeemed.

by some persons who are in- Astonished and delighted at beholding
troduced into this sacred song, called those who were not expected
behold" daughters of Jerusalem," on beholding ing their beauty and grace as they come
uttered

the entrance of the spouse leaning on her

Without entering into any critical consideration of the meaning of these

words, I shall presume, that by the
" beloved" is meant the Lord Jesus, &c.
and by the " spouse,^' the church, which
he has purchased and redeemed unto himIt
self by his own most precious blood.
is not so easy to say who are intended by
the " daughters of Jerusalem ," but this
beloved.

title

is

up from the desolate wilderness of heathenism ; separate congregations, and

separate Christian churches have exclaimed, and are exclaiming at the present day, " Who is this that cometh up
from the wilderness, leaning on her
beloved 1"

Among

the pleasing features of the day

which we live, there are none which

more delight the Christian mind than the
in

benevolence and good will of one denowhich, mination to another. Not that I would say
form the the church has attained too much of this

intended, probably, to designate

individual

Christian

churches,

though collected, may be said to

bride, or spouse, the church; yet, sepa- disposition ; too much of that harmony
rately, they may be considered as partak- which should exist between children of
ing in her joys, sorrowing in her sorrows, the same God too much of the sympathy
and sharing in her feelings. So Bishop which should exist between members of
Hall considers that passage, " with joy the same body too much of the union
and rejoicing shall they be brought unto vi^hich should exist between inheritors of
Bigotry is the offthee :" he understands by these, separate the same kingdom.
Christian congregations.
The exclama- spring of popery and its spirit is maintion in the text appears to be elicited tained by the haughty claims, the prefrom the lips of those who uttered it, on tended infallibility of that church and
viewing the church of God coming up it has been the cunning of its priests to
from among the Gentiles " Who is this foster that system, because it upholds
the themselves.
that cometh up from the wilderness
The conduct of Christians
;

wilderness, the wild wilderness of hea- in some of the earlier centuries

was but

But ill calculated to remove this disposition ;

thenism leaning on her beloved
the words will admit of an application to and the state and conduct of the church
any period, or age, or part of the world, of God, in the beginning of the last cenin which there has been any great acces- tury, was but ill calculated to foster bve
429

THE BRITISH

430
and harmony.

in

If,

PULPIT.

I may specify some

now pondence.

the present day,

there is a better state of things; if

particulars of corres-

We are very
more of the g'ood-will and harFirst, It is trackless.
shoukl subsist between incapable of forming any adequate idea
brethren of the same family, 1 attribute of the corruption of human nature.
Our
it principally
to that diffusive
system faculties are far t o weak to give us a full
which now prevails, and which forms the insight into the depravity of fallen man.
peculiar feature of the church at this day. God only knows what is in God
and he
The ardour of foreign conquests, and the only can tell how far man has fallrn from
jealousy of one nation against another, the image of God
God who made the
has united those who were of different machine who put all its parts together
opinions, and led them to go forth against with such infinite skill ; he only can tell
the common foe ; and this same principle, how far that machine is shaken by the
acting in reference to religious conquests, fall.
But there are striking facts which
has been productive of great good ; and cannot fail to impress the minds of all
what might have been productive of who are not blinded by ignorance and
there is

mony which

inconceivable mischief,

has been over- pride.

by God, as the means of promoting

1. One most affecting feature in the
his glory.
There are still occasions in character of man is, his ignorance of God.
this country on which the remark of an When I say that man knows not God, I
ancient observer is verified, " See how do not mean that he does not exactly
ruled

these

Christians love !" and in which,

also, the

remark

ther one

member

bers

exemplified,

is

suffer,

all

"Whe-

the

mem-

with it; or one member

be honoured, all the members rejoice
with it:" and in which is fulfilled the
suffer

apostolical

exhortation,

" Bear ye one

understand

hend

all

lowest,

occasions, on which it is the privilege of

a member of the established church to

who

the

cause

of

another

Christian

church, episcopal in its constitution, and

venerable for its antiquity, for its early

character

that

he does

his providential

that

he docs not comprebut that he

knows him not at all ; he might as well
not exist for any idea man has of Him ;
and yet, He is his creator, his preserver,
dispensations

another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of

Christ." The present is one of those

plead

his

not estimate aright all

his

his perfections full}'

benefactor.
there

millions

And

yet, taken

are five

who know

not

the

at

or six

hundred

their

Creator,

recognise not his existence five or

six hundred millions who recognise not
:

the source ff their blessings: five or six

hundred millions of

sufferings, for the purity of its

sul)jects

not recog-

members, nising the king who reigns over them

I
and for that Christian zeal which has do not say that there never were any
made it so distinguished in the cause of among the heathen who knew any thing
missions. There is in the churches which of God
I apprehend there were some
!

they have been instrumental in forminsj,

much, which gives us occasion to exclaim,
as we behold them, " Who is this that

Cometh up from the wilderness, leaning

tradition

on her beloved ?"

rising

who

rose far above their fellow country-

men some who had some knowledge of

Supreme Being. This might be from
;

it might be from good sense

;
above vulgar ignorance ; it might
First, To OFFER SOME REMARKS ON THE be some rising gleam of the Spirit who
GENERAL STATE OF THE HEATHEN WORLD, has never " left himself without witAS ELUCIDATING THE EXPRESSION IN THE ness." But these were insulated cases;
TEXT, "THE WILDERNESS."
and the light they had seemed not so
By a "wilderness" we commonly much to guide them to him, but to show
understand a barren, trackless waste, how far they and the mass around were
unproductive of what is good, and pro- from him.
But among the heathen,
ductive of what is evil.
I cannot show generally, there is no knowledge of God.
how fitly, in every respect, the heathen Go from north to south, from the Greenworld is compared to a wilderness, though lander to the New Zealander, and you

propose.

THE MARCH OF THE CHURCH.

any who know their Maker,'
Benefactor, and their King.
In this

431

will not find

their

that there is nothing to please the eye of

respect they are lower than the brutes, for the

them

/Ae^ have instinct which leads

to ac-

knowled^^e iho hand that feeds them, the

person that cares for them and they have
" The ox
something like gratitude.
knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib ;" but man, gifted with reason,
and having intellectual faculties, knows

not say that

will

less

some flowers;

desert

may

there

which are pleasing

alike waste;

wide wilderness

the

In

traveller.

there n-rows

all

it is

be

in the track-

some

fruits

and
which, if broucrht into culture, mFffht
adorn the parterre or the garden, and be

to

taste;

tlie

or the orchard.
So
some things in the heathen
not, considers not his Owner, his Creator, which are pleasing.
But we shall noWhat a bar- where find the graces of Christianity
his benevolent Provider

useful

there

in

the field

are

ren, trackless desert is the heathen world

How

there is not one plant of grace, one fruit

compared to a wilderness
2. Man has no knowledge of the way
This results from the other the
to God.
way to God springs from the knowledge
" He that cometh to God must
of God.
believe that he is."
The knowledge of
the existence of God, and of his characfitly is it

ledge of the

way

to

the heathen there is

question, "

So

to the knowGod. But among

no answer to this

and perfections, leads

ter

that if

How

we

shall

God I"

get to

could suppose

it

possible

immorwanted to know how he might

be saved, he would not find a single
pathway which would lead him to God.
that a heathen, feeling he had an
tal

soul,

The

fallen state of

human

where marked so stronjly

nature

is

no-

as in the chi'd-

ishness and imbecility of man, as to his

ideas of the

way

to

God.

ancient heathen there were

minds,

was
in

who

before

Amongst the
men of mighty

of righteousness;
j

them

to

grow

we might

philosophy,

men

in

that

flowers from marble

nowhere

there

is

the soil suitable, nothing in

for

nothing in
the atrao-

sphere genial to their growth.

There

some principle of cori'

allow it to have
some influence. This the apostle intimates, when he says of the Gentiles,
"These, having not the law, are a law
which show the work
unto themselves
of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience also bearing witness, and their
thoughts the mean while accusing, or else
excusing, one another." I suppose conscience, therefore, to have some weight,
But then,
and operation, and influence.
This is its
first, it operates restrictcdiy.
utmost effect: not to produce positive
virtues, but only to restrain from positive
And, secondly, it never operates
vices.
1.

science

is

and

we must

were giants strained from

poetry, in science, in

is

as well look for

could grasp any subject that clearly, purely.

them

there

evil

The man may

by

it;

but this

be reis

from a selfish motive, from a regard

own good or misery.

only

to his

men who laid down those principles

And
2. There are religious systems.
which have ever since been recognised.
But take these lofty spirits to find out any in these there are some beautiful moral
way of arriving at the knowledge of God, receipts; and I will not undertake to say
It is that these have no influence on their conand there was not one could do so
But then, even in these moral
astonishing to find into what ignorance duct.
they sank when they came to speak of codes will be found actual vices. If they
God. Among the heathen in the present' forbid adultery, they acknowledge reday, there is the same darkness as to venge if they inculcate hospitality, they
God, without the same light as to other allow rendering evil for evil. They are
art

This

subjects.

is

an aflfecting thought as

to the blindness of tht, heathen world

as cold bones covered with skin

is

no

flesh,

no

vitality,

there

no nourishment.

3. Civilization and cultivation exists

you will not find a single among them. But their civilization has
Increase
path, a single track to God, to holiness, to fostered and encouraged vice.
What a " wilderness /" But of population is an increase of evil, if
heaven
Secondly, His burrenas it is trackless. there be no counteracting principle ; and

take what part you will, east, west, north,

or south, and

THE BRITISH PULPIT.

432
advances

in

luxuries of

acting

and science, and the

there be no counter-

art,

if

life,

And

of diminishing vice.
I

am

bold

civilization

gave

to say,

No

the greatest

and

cultivation

of

degree
never,

instead

increase

will

principle,

rise

to

you must search

to find any one
flower, any one grace of which you can
any one

virtue.

this wilderness in vain

say,

this

is

barren;
unproductive.
It is

lovely,

this

is

Christian!

human nature lies

The cause is clear

waste,
;

there

no cultivation ; there is nothing to improve the parched soil. No, brethren ;

vivifying waters are wanted ; the soil is
barren because arid, and arid because the
is

" Until the Spirit be

Spirit is not there.

poured from on high," the wilderness

will not be " a fruitful field," nor will
" the fruitful field be counted for a forest."
Brethren, let us pray for this Spirit to be
poured out on the heathen.
Thirdly, It is productive only of what
When man sinned,
is noxious and evil.
God's curse fell on this fair earth which
he had once pronounced "good;" and
instead of its bringing forth flowers, and
all that was good, as its spontaneous produce, thorns, and thistles, and weeds,
came up, and became its spontaneous prosee in this an illustration of
duce.

We

the state of the whole region of the hea-

then world.

St.

Paul has

in

the

Ro-

mans given us a catalogue of noxious

weeds and it is the same to this day
;

because the soil is the same, and cannot

produce any thing better. There is something in the

which

fruits

of

are as /ar from

human nature,
God as they are

capable of being, except they were diabolical ; and because light is gone, it is
as dark as possible.
Now God is love.
Look at God on earth at Jesus Christ in
the form of man you see a God loving,

showing

and compassion, and melting tenderness. Wherever he went, the

sick, the poor, children, followed and
were benefited
all to whom he could,
he manifested his kindness, his love ; and
he was " the brightness of his Father's
pity,

glory, and the express

son."

Now, go

image of

to the

his per-

heathen world,

and you will behold as great a contrast

as _^o 1 can conceive of; the poor are not

regarded

the aged are not provided for

the sick are not attended to

with God

who

He

perfect in truth.

he should

Again

love.

is

is

child-

little

ren are lost sight of; contrast

" not a

all

this

God is
man that
;

;" he is upright, true, un-

lie

word ; there is in him, I

had almost said, the most perfect honesty.
Now look at the heathen you see lying;
failing to his

dissimulation

absolute want of integrity

every thing the most opposite to honesty.

An authentic witness testifies of the

most polished natives of India,

that he

never asked a question of one of them,

when he did not find them first look him
the

in

face

that they

answer he wished

Look

might see what

God

for!

is

purity.

impurity of the heathen, forcing itself into their very worship.

God
at the

wisdom.

is

Throughout the whole of

the heathen world, there

absurdity and folly.

is

God

the greatest

is just.

The

heathen are guilty of the most gross and

abs' lute injustice.
what a wilderness
fertile is cruelty, unkindness, falseY
!

hood, dissimulation, injustice, impurity,

Whatever we can
be most inconsistent with the

wrath,

violence

imagine

to

divine character,

we

shall

find

that in

abundance in the heathen world

O what
has sin done in the world
How different
from that world on which God looked on
the seventh day, and pronounced to be
" very good." There was then no misery,
because no sin angels might have visited
it, and would have found all delightful
a little heaven below, and every inhabitant exhibiting the perfections of God.
But now, should an angel pass through
the heathen world, and seek for one that
bears any portion of the image of God, he
would look in vain Does he come down
!

to

gather one fair flower

and

all

in vain

he

searches,

Is he dissatisfied

and

desirous of going back to heaven, sup-

posing him ignorant of the way, and ask-

where is the way to God ? he

no one that can give him an answer
And instead of the sons of God shouting
for joy over this fair creation, they would
exchange their songs for notes of sorrow ;
they would quit it to go back to heaven,
and cry over it in notes of lamentation,
and mourning, and wo ! Let us proceed :
ing

all,

finds

THE MARCH OF THE CHURCH.

Secondly,

To notice the power and by

this to convert

433
and change; but

us

let

GRACE OF THE SaVIOUR DISPLAYED IN THE remember that God is wiser than men it
CONVERSION OF THE HEATHEN AS SET FORTH has " pleased him by the foolishness of
IN THE OTHER PART OF THE TEXT, " COM- preaching to save them that believe."
ING UP FROM THE WILDERNESS, LEANING It is Christian, it is childlike simplicity,
ON HER BELOVED."
to adopt the means which God has ap;

church that is here represented pointed

it is
wisdom of the serpent,
I need not occupy your
blended with the meekness of the dove.
time to say that the church is now comingr He who is anxious to do most good will
up from the wilderness of heathenism as do it simply in the way of God's appointit never came before.
From the snowy ment; and this has been the object of the
mountains of Greenland from the West Moravians. They have set Christ " eviIndies
from Africa, " black, but come- dently crucified" before the heathen
It is his

as coming up.

ly" from the distant islands of the wherever they have gone; and God has
South Seas and from the sultry plains honoured, as he ever will, this means.
of India
many are coming up to God. Do we look to the W^est Indies, or to
The church seems to spring up out of the Greenland, and ask what has made the
heathen world
and Christians exclaim inhabitants what they are 1 We answer,
with delight, as they see her coming from it is not civilization, though they are
the east, the west, the north, and the civilized; it is not education, though they
south, " Who is this that cometh up from are educated ; it is not reading the Scripthe wilderness, leaning on her beloved 1" tures, though they do read them. No but
And none appear to me to have done more they preached Christ the Saviour; and
to take her, to hold her up to view, to therefore they " come up leaning," not
call on others to admire her as fair and on civilization ; not on education
not
lovely, than that ancient society which I even on the Scriptures
but on Jesus
have now the honour to recommend.
Christ "their beloved."
He has been
Now there are means, some visible and set forth before them, and on him they
external, others invisible and internal, by lean and rest.
which the great Head of the church opeBut let it be observed that this visible
rates to bring her out of the wilderness.
means of preaching is, of itself, totally
First, Js to the external means by ineffectual.
All its efficacy arises from
which the Spirit works, they are various. this, that it is the Spirit's means, the arm
There is civilization there is education by which he lays hold on her to bring her
there is the spread of the Scriptures
up. The Spirit is the Saviour's arm
he
but chiefly, the preaching of the gospel. uses the word, but he puts out also his
This is the means expressly consecrated own arm. He finds her sitting in the
by Christ himself: the outward means wilderness, desolate, in bondage, dead ;
that the bridegroom himself employed to but he passes by, and says unto her,
bring up his spouse out of the wilderness. " live ;" he lifts her up he says to her,
The Moravians have employed all these "arise, shake thyself from the dust!'*
means ; they have civilized with striking He puts his arm under her ; he leads her
assiduity ; they have educated the young up step by step, more beautiful, more
with the greatest care ; they have freely graceful, more dignified as she proceeds
distributed the blessed Scriptures
but and causes the daughters of Jerusalem
also, with heavenly wisdom and simpli- to exclaim, as he brings her up, " Who is
city they have preached the gospel. this that cometh up from the wilderness,
There is an evident union of wisdom and leaning on her beloved !"
Secondly, But he does this also hy
simplicity in this. Man must not be wiser
than God
the servant must not seek invisible principles operating internally
better means than those which his Mas- on those who are brought. The first and

has appointed. It may seem very

inadequate to human wisdom to preach
the gospel of Christ crucified, and hope
ter

Vol. II. 55

Faith gives
vigour to the church's arm to lay hold oa
Christ.
Like the man with the withered
principal of these is faith.

20

THE BRITISH

434

PULPIT.

and that they might do this, they

were willing to sell themselves for slaves,
and actually hired themselves as watchmen, that they might watch for souls.
love of being, there is their desire of They have gone to South Africa, and to
the wilds nf North America.
There they
happiness, there is their dread of misery
these are so many fingers, or sinews of have sought out, and sought effectually,
the church's arm ; they can do nothing the church of Christ, that they might bring
they are palsied and iier up. While, therefore, we look at their
of themselves

hand

there are certain properties in the

ness

heathen, as in the fingers of that hand,

which if they had life, they could put
There is conscience, there is their
forth.

But the

Spirit puts Christ before

her; and the Spirit enkindles faith within
her; and that faith looks at Christ, and
and conscience
that faith touches Christ
touches Christ and love of being touches
and desire of happiness touches
Chrict
Christ and dread of misery touches

dead.

Christ and

field

"

she comes to Christ, and

with her fingers thus put out lays hold on
Christ.
It is Christ Jesus on whom she

is this

we may

that

well

exclaim,

cometh up from the

wilderness, leaning on her beloved 1"

of labour,

Who
2.

We

may exclaim it if we look at

They have under their

their

success.

care

nearly

spiritual
in

the

forty

members

thirty-six

West

thousand

converts

of a Christian church,

stations,

Indies, in

in

Greenland, in

North and South

America, and in South Africa. And all

been done, with the exception
Christ crucified alone. It is not the wish of the assistance rendered by this society,
of imitating Christ ; it is not the resolu- by a Christian society not exceeding ten
thousand in number.
it is not
tion of obedience to his will
" Who," then, we may exclaim, " is
the determination to act for his glory all
these may help to make her feel her this that Cometh up from the wilderness,
weakness ; but it is faith by this she leaning on her beloved," white, lovely,
lays hold on Christ by this she "comes pure as the snows upon the mountains'?
up out of the wilderness, leaning on her 'Tis Greenland! it is the church of that
place leaning on Christ.
And who are
beloved."
The exclamation of the text may be these sable coloured ones, covered with
used with peculiar propriety, as it re- dust, and sweat, and blood 1 'Tis the
spects the exertions of the Moravian West Indian negroes, the servants of
missions.
Christ, made free by his Spirit, formed
1. If we look at their field of labour,
into a church, the spouse of the beloved,
we shall find that they have brought the brought up by this society out of the
church out of a wilderness indeed. wilderness, and leaning on his arm
Where have they gone 1 Is there any And who are these Hottentots, whom we
part more barren, trackless, uncultivated were accustomed to rank among the
than another, least likely to be productive brutes; the inhabitants of an arid, a
there they have gone.
of good 1
They desert land, but who are now coming up
have chosen to make experiments of the exhibiting the pure and simple graces of
preaching of the gospel on the very the Holy Spirit? They are the descendworst, and it has not been in vain. They ants of Ham, coming up from the wilds
have gone to Greenland, where the in- of Africa ; proving that God has mercy
habitants were hardly human, hardly on those descendants of Noah, as well as
rational, where they had little more than the others.
It is the church, "coming
instinct; to these they have gone, and up out of the wilderness, leaning on her
They have beloved." Cast your eyes on all the
sought to do them good.
gone to the West Indies. When their stations of this society, and think of the
own church was reduced to about six or transporting language of Isaiah "The
seven hundred members, and in very dis- wilderness, and the solitary place shall
tressed circumstances, yet they sought to be glad for them ; and the desert shall
bring the church up out of the wilder- rejoice, and blossom as the rose."

lays hold

not on

God

out of Christ, but

this has

'

SERMON

XLVII.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE LOVE OF

CHRIST.

BY THE REV. HENRY TOWNLEY.

" For the love of Christ conxtraineth us

were

dead

all

themselves, but

Mv

; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then

and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
unto him which died for them, and rose again." 2 Cor. v. 14, 15.

beloved friends,

you were

if

to

my

and, according to

Christ;

humble

who was quite ignorant of its mechanism,

he would be greatly surprised at the
noise, and at the movement of the hands
but have a little patience, explain to him
the power of the main spring, and his
surprise will cease.
So it is with the

judgment, a more interesting theme cannot be adverted to. It divides our thoughts
into two branches ; for.
First, The dying love of Christ
LEADS to an affecting INFERENCE and
we shall consider this necessary inference, " If one died for all, then were all

men

dead."

present a watch, and exhibit

to a

it

savage

And,
VVe must advert to the
the greatness of his exertions but make BLESSED EFFECT INTENDED TO BE PROthem acquainted with the power of the DUCED BV Christ's death: " He died
love of Christ on the heart, and their for all, that they which live should not
of the world

they cannot account

and

for the ardour of the Christian's zeal,

Secondly,

astonishment will cease. One exclaimed

with regard to Paul and a wiser man
never lived " Paul, thou art mad !" and
he actually had to defend himself from
the charge of insanity. At Corinth, too,
it seems he was constrained to put in his
reply to a similar charge:
"If we be
beside ourselves, it is to God ; for ye say

we

mad but if we are,

of God we seek." Ye who
are

it is

the glory

are astonished

henceforth live unto themselves, but unto

him which died for them, and rose again."

May God pour out of his grace upon us

may our desire be to live to his glory
who made us, and purchased us for that
!

and

very end
I.

We consider,

then,

The NECESSARY INFERENCE FKOM

THE DEATH OF ChRIST.

" If one died

for all, then

were ah dead.^^

But was not the apostle alive? Was he

Did he not go from
not full of activity ]

what ye behold in us, look at our intewatch must thus go when the one place to another, haling Christiaa
My heart men and women to prison ? Was there
main spring is in motion.
must thus beat; my tongue must thus no life in all this 1 My friends, it is

at

rior; the

speak;
to

can act no other part ;

am coerced

this; the love of Christ conslraineth

me; because

thus judge, "that

if one
dead ; and that
he died for all, that they which live
should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them,
and rose again." The theme, therefore,

died for

all,

then were

preseiued to oux view,

all

is the

dying

love,

of

necessary to consider the kind of death

which is here spoken of; for a man is
dead, and alive at the same time, in a
different sense.

God

dead

is

A man who

to sin

and a

alive to sin is dead to

liveth

in

livethi'''

wrong

pleasure
full

is

God

is alive

to

man who

is

dead,

of activity as to

" She that

while

she

all that is

but a paralytic, nay, dead, as to

435

THE BRITISH

436
all

that is good.

The

death here spoken

PULPIT.

" If one died

for all, then

were

all

dead."

But,

of is,

" In the day that

1. ^ judicial death.
thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely rfz'e,"
was God's premonition to Adam. A natural dissolution did not immediately take
place ; but he was a dead man, in tlie eye
of God's law, as soon as he had sinned.

2. It is

a spiritual death.

We

still-born children, in a spiritual

Look

at children

as they

they display any thing like

to

God

Do

are all

sense.

grow up, do
supreme love

they not need

much

co-

ercing in order to bring them to a throne

man drink a cup of poisen, you say, of grace? A thousand efforts must be
" He's a dead man !" he has drank that made; there must be "line upon line,
which will kill him. Of the man who precept upon precept," to bring them
has broken the laws of his country, and back to God. Nay, the very word reli'
If a

whom

sentence has been passed, and

only waiting in his dungeon for
the hour of execution, you say also, " He
So it is said, " Cursed
is a dead man !"
is he that continueth not in all things

gion implies a being brought back, a

being bound to God. We are, by nature,
spiritually dead
like the idols of the
heathen, we have eyes, but see not; ears,
but hear not; feet, but walk not; hands,
written in the book of the law, to do but handle not; eyes, that behold not the
them." A man who has committed but glory of the Saviour; ears, that hear not
one transgression against God's law, is the n)ice of his commands; feet, that
dead ^judicially dead. You would be walk not in the way of his ordinances ;
greatly horrified, if you were to see a fel- hands, that are not employed in doing hia
low creature take a naked sword, and fall will. Now, the death of Christ fully
upon it, and slay himself; but the man implies this death of ours. One object
who breaks the commandments of God of that death was to make us spiritually
draws a sword of much greater length
alive, purchasing for us the gift of the
a sword that reaches to his very soul
Holy Spirit ; without which we never
Sin slays both body and soul it destroys can be renovated, or made fit for the
the happiness of both ; it prepares both service of God. "It is expedient for
for the bottomless abyss
Now, Christ's you," said the Saviour, " that I go away ;
dying to save us from dying a judicial for if I go not away, the Comforter will
death, abundantly implies that we had not come ; but when I depart, I will send
broken God's law ; that we were exposed him unto you." The Holy Spirit is the
to death beyond the grave. For this was Comforter of God's people ; for he raises
a death (f substitution : " Christ died fur them from a state of death to a state of
all!"
"Christ hath redeemed us from life. Was not Christ a comforter to the
the curse of the law, being made a curse sisters at Bethany, when he said to their
for us;" which implies that we were brother Lazarus, who was in a state of
exposed to death. Christ was a death of incipient putrefaction, " Come forth !"

on

who

is

satisfaction, as

well as of substitution

see,

it is

that

we

Was

he not a comforter to the family 1

he less so, when he says to a
dead sinner, " Loose him, and let him
go ?" But Christ says, " It is expedient
for this that I should go away. The soul
will not be quickened, will not be comforted, unless I die; I must go to the
bar of Pontius Pilate ; I must be condemned ; I must be led forth and crucified
on the hill of Calvary ; I must be buried
in the grave; I must rise from the dead,
and ascend to heaven to receive gifts for
men, even for the rebellious, that they
implied, in the death of Christ, may be put into the way of receiving
are oy nature judicially dead. spiritual life." '' If one died for all, thea
:

"It pleased the Lord to bruise him, and

to put him to grief." Thereby God's law
was " magnified, and made honourable;"
more honourable in the eyes of the universe, than if the whole creation had
obeyed it from the commencement of the
creation of the world. Christ has magnified the law by sustaining its penalty,
and made it more honourable than if the
whole race of man had been cast into the
bottomless pit, and always making, but
never paying satisfaction. Hence, you

And

is

THE INFLUENCE OF THE LOVE OF

werf

dead"

all

dead

judicially

dead

spiritually.
3.

It is

The mind

a painful death.

CHRIST.

437

ening Spirit; could we have lived comfortably, and so as to glorify God, without
the death of Christ, then, that death

would

have been unnecessary. "If there had

con- been a law given which could have given
idea life, verily righteousness should have been
soul by the law."
The whole universe might
say, have exclaimed, Why this waste, this im-

naturally dislikes to meditate on death.

The

idea of a/u?-aZ death

is

always

nected with the idea of pain.

The

of judicial death naturally fills the

with pain. Could you hear God

" Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire," mense waste, of the sufferings of Christ,
and not be sensible of pain ] It is painful if they be not needed ] The death of
to the soul ; to be punished, with fiery de- Christ proves that righteousness could not
struction, from the presence of the Lord. come by the law; and if Christ had not
It is painful to the bndt/ ; all our pains, died, our death must have been eternal.
sufferings, and afflictions, are the result " Without shedding of blood, there is no
of sin; we begin to experience these remission :" without remission of sins,
pains on earth
and if Christ had not there is no life for the soul. But we have
come and died, we must have experi- to say,
" If one
5. This death is universal.
enced them in their maturity, and through
you,
eternity. Christ's dying a joani/w/ death, died for all, then were all dead ;"
implies the greatness of our sins. "My and I, and all the vast family of mankind,
soul," said he, "is exceeding sorrowful, are by nature dead. Now, Christ died for
even unto death:" in the garden, "he all, as it respects sufficiency. " If any
sweat, as it were, great drops of blood man sin, we have an advocate with the
And he is the propitiation for
falling to the ground :" on the cross, he Father.
cried, "My God! my God! why hast our sins; and not for ours only, but for
thou forsaken me I" Yet there was sup- the sins of the whole world.'''' Yes, there
port in all this, because of that pronoun is a sufficiency of merit in Christ for the
"
MY God."
But, O, wicked sins of the whole world, for every indiviman, should you die in your iniquities, dual of the family of man. If the popuyour soul would indeed be plunged in lation of the world were doubled if it
sorrow
if possible, you would sweat amounted to sixteen hundred millions,
great drops of blood, when God shall instead of about eight hundred millions,
swear in his wrath that you are cursed, still the death of Christ is enough for its
You will not be able redemption. There is enough in Christ
and that for ever
to use that mitigating word, my God. to quicken all that are dead, as well as to
But you may infer, from the death of comfort all that believe, and all that are
Christ, what a painful death the death of broken in heart. Yet there is a limitation,
a sinner is. The body of Christ was in as it respects its application. Some, we
;

my

some will
some will stand at the
some will stand on
right hand of God
the left
to some he will utter those
But the whole is not yet told for, words which will produce through all
Death cannot their souls an ecstatic thrill, " Come, ye
is eternal death.

excruciating pain

but

it

was

the meii-

anguish which produced that bloody

sweat. If Christ suffered such a painful
death, then the death of sin is a painful
tal

death.
4. It

produce
his

own

know,

will be raised to glory

be hurled to hell

life

a dead sinner cannot change

heart.

Where

is

the

man

that

ever raised himself from a death of sin to

a life of righteousness T Man is not able
to remove pain of body; it goes on, not-

withstanding

all his

struggles and efforts.

The

death of Christ proves it to be eternal

death, because no man could ever have

renewed himself by his own means.

Could we have obtained the holy, quick-

blessed !" To others, he will address

those appalling words which will fill them
with quaking horror for ever, " Depart, ye

cursed !"

Therefore, with regard to the

application of the death of Jesus Christ,

and the virtue of his most precious blood,
there are limits to those

believe the gospel.

He

repent and

"died

for

all,

which live should not henceforth

themselves," and so on.

that they
live to

who

2o2

THE BRITISH

438

My
that

PULPIT.

you ever thought immortal spirit! "He died for all, that
they which live should not henceforth
The word of God live unto themselves, but unto him which
thisl

brethren, have

you

individually, personally

are

concerned in

all

often coraes to us as

it

did to David.

The

died for them, and rose again." It appears

David
prophet began with a parable
tliought he spake of some one else: the
prophet pointed to the monarch with his

from these words, that the great effect to

be produced by the death of Christ is our
devoted attachment to him ; " that we
linger, and said, " Thou art the man !" should not henceforth live to ourselves'^-
The text points to thee, and to thee: "If a mean, ignoble end for, what are we,
one died for all, then were a// dead ;" and that we should live for ourselves? But,
" to him which died for us, and rose
thou art included in the number.
Thus I have directed your attention to again." Now, here notice,
1. The reasonableness of this devoted
the affecting inference to be drawn from
thus ^'judgeJ'^
the death of Christ. " If one died for all, attachment to Christ.
then were all dead ;*' it is a judicial, a Christianity is a reasonable religion ; it
:

We

spiritual,

a painful, a universal death

brings reason into

its

noblest exercise.

and it would have been an eternal death The apostle proves himself a good loto each of us, had it not been for the gician, by thus reasoning from inferences.
advent of Christ. If we looked at our He infers that men were dead ; and then
world as a vast churchyard ; now, we see he infers again that, such being the plan
a hospital erected in the midst of it; we of redemption, to renew men and make
are not very active ; we are barely alive ; them happy, it is highly reasonable to
but we groan, and our groaning is a sign love Christ, by whom all this is secured.
that life is not extinct, and that groan for Let us consider its reasonableness. Your
restoration shall not be rejected.
What life is derived fruiib Christ, and should
if we looked at the world as a valley of therefore be employed for Christ.
You
vision, full of bones now, by the coming have not quickened yourselves; your
of Christ, we behold a shaking among stores of comfort and of grace are not dug
the dry bones
and, if we can but cry, up out of the mine of your own hearts;
" Come from the four winds,
breath of the crown of glory which you are herethe Lord, and breathe upon these slain, after to wear, is not made by your own
that they may live !" we may hope to see hands.
If, then, you derive your life of
a goodly number, even in this neighbour- justification, of holiness, of glory, not
hood, who shall rise to spiritual life; and from yourselves, but from Christ; then,
our souls will be greatly refreshed
But you should not live to yourselves ; you
we must go on, and consider,
should not be your own. If you bought
II.
The love of Christ and its a house, should another occupy it? If
INFLUENCE.
Christ purchased your souls, should not
" He died for all, that they which live he possess them? I remember an illusshould not henceforth live unto them- tration of this point, made use of by a
" Look at yon
selves, but unto him which died for them, native teacher abroad.
and rose again." We have thought on the auction mart," said he ; " there is a pile
affecting inference
but be not alarmed
of goods marked with a man's name
do not sink into despair; there is com- they are his he has bought them. And
plete redemption for you.
A merchant you are not your own ; you are purchased
may be in great perplexity ; and, as he with a price Christ has a right to you."
looks over his ledger, he may tremble at Yes, brethren, Christ has a right to you ;
the apprehension of consequences
but, he does not say, " I created you," though
if you could say to him. Be not alarmed ; he has a right to you on that ground ; he
here are a hundred thousand pounds to does not say, " I have preserved you,"
meet your exigencies, he would be per- though that strengthens his claims ; but,
plexed no more. Sinner, be not afraid ; " I have PURCHASED you." And if he has
here is enough to restore thee to life, and purchased you, will you not live to him?
to administer joy and gladness to thine " If, when we were enemies, we were
:

THE INFLUENCE OF THE LOVE OF

God by

CHRIST.

439

the death of his Son,

with a reprieve, which he had obtained

much mnre, being reconciled, we shall for him
The poor man fell down at the
be saved by his life." The apostle ad- feet of the doctor, and said, " I will be
verts, in the text, to the resurrection of yours
wherever you go, I am yours
Christ, as well as his death.
The resur- Sir, every drop of my blood thanks you,
rection of Christ ratifies all; it is the for you have had mercy upon every drop
broad seal of heaven affixed to the value of it!" If so, what i3 due from us to
" Labour not for that Saviour to whom we owe our eternal
of the death of Christ.
reconciled to

meat that perisheth," said Christ, salvation ] Are these your feelings, while
for that meat which endureth unto you taste but a few drops of this mercy?
everlasting life, which the Son of man 0, what then will your feelings be when
shall give unto you
for him hath God Christ leads you to the fountain above,
the Father sealed.^''
Now, how did God and fills you with felicity in that happy
the Father seal Christ?
There was the and everlasting abode
Surely, then, the
seal of holiness
there was the seal of love of Christ should constrain you
You
miracles; but the grand and most con- are not to live to yourselves; here is a
spicuous seal of all was, the resurrection negative ; you are to " cease to do evil ;"
of Jesus Christ from the dead. This you should be dead to your own private,
this separate, selfish interests; and if you are
ratifies our morning's meditation
ratifies
the reasoning of the apostle. not, you will ruin that very interest which
Being thus made alive by Christ, it is your anxiety to promote leads you to
reasonable to serve him.
We have not a neglect your souls. Love yourselves;
dead Saviour: Christ has died, but he but exalt not your love of self into that
has also risen and we may live through supreme love which you owe to God.
him, and he, being risen, can and will Love your neighbours as yourselves; but
love God with a supreme love. Live not
receive our services.
But the chief idea of the apostle is, that in heathen selfishness, saying, " What
the

"but

he upholds this life in being, by his inter- shall /eat? what shall /drink ?" Live
cession.
He ascended ; and in heaven he not in proud selfishness, like the monarch
intercedes to preserve the life he has who said, "Is not this great Babylon
implanted. "This man," said the apos- which / have built by the might of my
tle, "continueth ever; wherefore, he is power, and for the honour of tny maable to save to the uttermost all that jesty?" All our proud towers and palaces
come unto God through him :" he is able must be levelled; the body must be kept
to save them through all their difl[iculties, down by temperance and chastity, and
AH must be
Christ brought into subjection.
and troubles, and temptations.
His
will carry you through with a high hand subordinate to the will of Christ.
and an outstretched arm. Your hills of example must influence us there must
impediments and difficulties are not too be in us the same zeal for the salvation
;

high; your thickets are not too close;

Christ will lead you on, and bring you
safely through therefore the apostle reasons very conclusively, when he says,
"The love of Christ constraineth us;
because we thus judge, that if one died
for all, then were all dead; and that he
died for all, that they which live should

of souls,

not henceforth live unto themselves, but

unto him which died for them, and rose

all

Mark,
The ardour of his attachment.

again."

" He

shall see of the trtivail of

Nothing
him but this; and
you please him most,when most you aim to
seek and to save that which is lost. The
apostles, and their immediate successors,
on whom their spirit rested, aimed to
his soul, and shall be satisfied."

pleases, nothing satisfies

distribute the blessings of the gospel to

around them.

They

travelled

into

regions which had not heard the gospel

and having established pastors, they went

"The on to plant the gospel in other countries

love of Christ constraineth us." What also. It is painful to observe by how few
must have been Dr. Doddridge's feelings their example has been imitated, and to
when he entered the dungeon of a prisoner consider how little has been done to pro2.

THE BRITISH

440

PULPIT.

pagate the gospel, by nations who owe He gave soul, and body, and all, for you.
have What could he give more] And what
so much to that very gospel.
reason to rejoice that this reproach is will you think of keeping back ]
about to be rolled away from our own
" Love so amazing, so divine,
nation, and that this apostolic spirit bids
Demands your life, your soul, your all."
fair to be revived. But, 0, when we look
How he speaks of his Be ready to die, to shed your blood for
at this apostle!
read of
labours for Christ! And yet he was a him, should he require it.
modest man, and very humble; and he the venerable Polycarp, that when he
would not have said all this, if it had not was brought forth to suffer, the proconsul
been necessary to vindicate himself from urged him again and again to ^^ reproach

We

We

Christ."
Polycarp answered, "Eighty
" In labours and six years have I served him, and he
more abundant; in stripes above mea- hath never wronged me; and how can I
sure." If we had received stripes but once, blaspheme my King, who hath saved
Eighty and six years! But, my
it would be enough to deter some of us me"?"
from preaching the gospel ever afterwards. brethren, this is only the beginning of
"In prisons frequent, in deaths oft; of our service. Paul calls himself " a serstimulate others to ac-

slander, and to

Hear what he says

tivity.

five times received I forty

save one; thrice was I beaten
with rods ; once was I stoned ;" and
then he was left for dead ;
" thrice I

vant of Jesus Christ;" and, let me assure

you, you will never find a better Master.
Search the world through, " from Britain
to Japan," you will never find abetter!

suffered shipwreck :"

Serve

the

Jews,

stripes,

some

of us have
and never suffered
shipwreck; this would be bad, did it
occur but once; the apostle endured it
thrice !
" a night and a day I have been
in the deep
in journeyiugs often ; in

never been out

at sea,

perils of water, in perils of robbers, in

perils of my own countrymen :" in short,

he endured trials, the very account of

which is too long to read we have read
;

sufficient to excite blushes on our cheeks.

May God give us all to breathe a more

ardent attachment and love to him
No!

tice also,

Tht duration of this attachment,

they which live should not hence-

3.

"That

forth live

him."

unto

themselves, but

All futurity

expression, "

imbodied

is

unto

in this

As long as
hour of death
beyond the grave
for ever and ever.
"We have begun a new year; now, let us
give this year to God. Have you devoted
it to him ?
Have you said, " Lord, I am

we

hencifurth,''''

exist below

in the

bought with thy blood I give myself to

THEE ]" Give him every month of the
year, every week of the month, every day
of the week, every hour, every moment
of the day. Let not a word, a thought,
an action, be so our own, as not to be
supremely his. Let us give our time, our
talents, our substance, our all, to God.
;

him,

tiirough

then,

" For the

love

we

us; because
died for

all,

" from henceforth,''^

and for ever.

death,

in

life,

of Christ

constraineth

thus judge, that

if one
dead ; and that
that they which livfr

then were

all

he died for all,

should not henceforth live unto them
selves, but unto him which died for them,
and rose again."
My friends, we have commenced a new
YEAR. Let me entreat you to devote it
to God.
Every evening examine how
this has been done every morning, before
you enter on the avocations and pursuits
of the day, renew your vows to him.
Peruse his will in the Bible; aim to
promote his honour and glory; and each
evening pray to him to efface all the
stains of guilt, by his most precious
blood, and to give you continually of his
Holy Spirit, that all your efforts may be
crowned with success.
Some of you are about to come to the
table of the Lord.
There Christ will be
;

evidently set before you crucified.

Pray

may be revealed in
and made "known" to you

earnestly that Christ

your hearts,
"in the breaking of bread."

My
ble

beloved friends,

subject?

commenced.
self to

God

is

not this a suita-

^n

important connexion has

Should not each give him?

Nothing can

assist

me

THE INFLUENCE OF THE LOVE OF

more

in

my

duty than to have the con-

CHRIST.

Nay, he builds

fear.

441

a ship, and

makes

straining love of Christ.

Then I shall this tremendous ocean his servant, wields
seek " not yours, but you;" your souls, Its vastness for his own use, dives to its
and not your gifts.
deep bottom to rob it of its treasures, or
And will not you pray for success 1 A makes its surface convey him to distant
celebrated commentator on the words of shores.
A much smaller object shall
the text remarks, that the expression, affect him more, when his senses are less
*^ constraincth
us," signifies to hold, to distinctly acted upon, but his imagination
keep in a station, as soldiers are held is somewhat aroused. When he travels
and kept together under one banner or in the dark, he starts at a slight but
ensign
and he refers to that expression, indistinct noise ;^ he knows not but it
" His banner over me was love." Yes, rnay be a wild beast lurking, or a robber
my friends, under his banner we shall ready to seize on him. Could ho have
rest in love.
Objects, as they approach distinctly seen what alarmed him, he
one common centre, approach each other iiad undauntedly passed on ; it was only
also ; and the nearer we approach the cen- the moving of the leaves, waved gently
tre, the nearer we approach each other.
by the wind. He stops, he considers
In the prospect, then, of a new year, of well, for he hears tiie sound of water
approaching the table of the Lord, and of falling; a gleam from its foaming surface
engaging in a new Christian connexion, sparkles in his eye, but he cannot tell
;

is

not this a suitable subject?

calculated,

It is well

unite our hearts to each other,

how

near to

it,

or

how

distant;

how

might be in his path

how
the people tremendously deep the abyss into which

by the blessing of God,

to

exactly

it

he may fall at the next step.

Had it
been daylight, could he have examined it
those around you.
Let it be the subject thoroughly, he had then passed it witliout
of your meditation, that it may be to you notice it is only the rill of a small ditch
" the power of an endless life." And in the road side; his own foot could have
when the earth is wrapped in flames, and stopped the trickling current.
to the minister,

and the minister

to the

people, and to draw forth your hearts to

may we all
This effect of indistinctness rousinor the
be among the number of those who shall imagination is finely depicted in Job iv.I4.
" Fear came
say, " To Him that loved us, and washed Eliphaz describes it thus
us from our sins in his own blood, to Him upon me, and trembling, which made all
be glory and dominion for ever and ever !" my bones to shake: then a spirit passed
Amen and amen.
before my face ; the hair of my flesh
it stood still, but I could not
stood up
discern the form thereof." The senses in
the wicked are cast into hell,

GOD INVISIBLE.

Much

is

seeing, feeling

this description are but slightly aff'ected

man

by the objects around him.

powers are roused, impelled,
by impressions made on his

the eye could

All

form, the touch could not examine the

precise nature of the object: the imagina-

his

directed
sensitive

organs; yet objects of sense have only

a definite force upon him. A hundred
weight crushes a man's strength to a
certain degree, and no more; he sustains
and bears it away. On the edge of the
ocean he may tremble at the vast expanse ; but he tries the depth near the
shore, and finds it but a few feet, and no
longer fears to enter it. The waves cannot overtop his head ; or, is it deep ] he
can swim, and no longer regards it with

Vol. II. 56

any

actuated

not

discern

scope; the mind

power of sensible
stimulate it, and the body felt

had

full

was roused beyond

the

tion, therefore,

objects to

specific

an agitation greater than if its senses

had been more fully acted upon. " He
trembled, the hairs of his flesh stood up
he could not discern the form ;" it might
therefore be terrific in its shape or tremendous in its size. " It stood still," as
:

to do something to him; to speak;

And how
perhaps to smite or to destroy
could he guard against that which ho
if

THE BRITISH

442

could not see, could not tell whence or

what it was that which, from what he
could discover, and still more from what
he could not discover, seemed to be no
;

PULPIT.

man

mere

or

we have

and

idol,

to

accommodation.

for his
If,

need

made with hands

provide him a temple

indeed, there were any doubt of his

man

mortal substance to which he was accustomed, and with which, with care and

existence, (but that

courage, he might deal safely ; but a

spirit utterly beyond his impression, hav-

proofs enough that he

is at

we do

him

reasoning

though

unknown power to impress even him, at our

who can tell in what degree ? The cer- him.
ing

left

who

incapable of

is

reasons thus,) there are

not see

hand, though

our right hand,

;

we

that he

works

cannot behold

Instead of asking, with a sneer of

Where

he

or carelessly think-

tainty of an object so near him, joined to

the uncertainty of what might be his

doubt.

powers, intentions, and natural operations, impressed him deeply with awe,
How absurd,
expectation, and anxiety.

rational

God see] a much more

method is wdlh awe and reverence

to say,

" Whither shall

how

then,

contrary to

other cases,

is

all their

feelings in

the conduct of infidels

God,

affect to despise

to

deny his

who

exist-

ence because they cannot see him, or,

without affecting this, do actually forget
and do him despite, by occasion of this
circumstance! Men who can be appalled
at some distant danger, and grow couwho
rageous at what is near at hand
;

tremble at a fellow man, or crawling reptile, and only show hardihood when their

ing thus,

is

Shall

flee

from ihy

presence? Thou hast beset me behind

and before, and laid thine hand upon me."
Could any supposition take place, even
that he was
of his momentary absence
far off, or on a journey, or asleep, and

must

needs

be

awaked

it

might be

alleged to sanction the careless, provided

they were aware of his absence, or knew

the time of his drowsiness or distance;
but an omnipresent Almighty ought to
fill

us with seriousness; and the uncer-

when, how, and

where he will work, should fill us with
Without inquiring what Eliphaz saw, deep, lasting, and constant awe.
He exists the thought makes a temple
let us apply these ideas to the Supreme
Being; let us meditate on an object of in every place I may be in to realize it,
is to begin actual worship; whatever I
infinitely greater, nearer importance,
"the invisible God," the m' st impres- may be about, to indulge it is to make all
Let other existence fade away. Amid the
sively important, because invisible.
in
us, for a moment, suppose the contrary to roar of mirth, I hear only his voice
be the case suppose the Drity to be the the glitter of dissipation, I see only his
foe

is

tainty of his operations,

Almighty.

he then loses much

he becomes fixed to one
He
spot, tliat in which we can see him.
must be distant from many other places,
and when revealing himself in other
places, must be far distant from us, even
at a time when we must need his presence. Nay, we should begin to compute
him to philosophize upon and attempt
experiments with him. Were he vast as
the starry heavens, we could measure
him ; bright as yonder sun, we could
contrive to gaze at him ; energetic as the

object of our senses

of

majesty

Ills

vivid lightning,
to

we

play around us.

could bring him

we

some

can do nothing but pray.

what may he not see?

He
The

is

present!

actions of

hands he beholds the voice of my

words he hears! the thoughts of my heart
he discerns! Could I see him, 1 might
on this side guard against his penetrating
eye, or on the other side act something in
secret, safe from his inspection; but present, without my being able to discern
him, I ought to be watchful every way;
the slightest error may fill us wi(h awful
apprehensions.
Even now, says con-

my

down science, he may be preparing his venwe geance, whetting his glittering sword, or

In no form can

drawing to a head the arrows of destrucCould my eyes see his movements,

tion.
a I might be upon my guard ; might flee to

conceive of his being an object of sense,

but

brightness; in the midst of business,

sink him to a creature; give

definable shape, reduce

him

him
to

GOD
some
blow

shelter, or shrink

away from

INVISIBLE.
the

but, a foe so near, and yet so indis-

may

cernible,

well alarm me, lest the

443

wearied mind to
sweet serenity.
I could not but say,
"This is the Lord's doing, it is marvellous in my eyes:" but I cannot discern
tiie form ; I know not what he will next

meet with an immediate

blasphemous prayer for damnation receive too ready an answer from do, nor dare
act of iniquity

reward

the

He

ments,

what can he not do?

a Spirit!

is

his powers, quick his discern-

operations

his

invisible

walk with presumptuous

steps, or repose with self-complacent gra-

his hot thunderbolt

Vast are

my

and soothing

stores,

No

sword can reach him, no shield of brass

and say, "My mountain stands

shall never be moved."
He
hides his face for a moment, and [ am
troubled
he withdraws his hand, and I
tulation,

strong, I

can protect against him, no placid countenance deceive him, no hypocritical

He is
supplications impose upon him.
in my inmost thoughts, in every volition;
he supports the negotiating principle,
while it determines on its rebellions, or
plans some mode by which to elude his
all-penetrating perception. Vain is every

die.

attempt at evasion or resistance. " God

is a Spirit;" is present every moment,
surrounds every object, watches my steps
and waits upon me, though I cannot discern his form, his measure, his power, or

affrights, stops, impresses, crushes

me.

Company

my

direct his

my

movements.

face in the bright

I see him before

walks of nature,

see a spirit passing before me,

his voice in the secret recesses;

that there is a

God,

he stands

in

full

that he

is

hear

find

near, that

view, with appalling

indistinctness, so that I tremble, and the

hairs of

my

discern

up

flesh stand

form.

the

yet

know

sence

God

what

witii

them.

dread; for the invisible Preseen, and the unknown

there

is

there

is

cannot

neither dispels

1 hate, for it

sensations, nor harmonizes

Solitude

not

felt

in

his

all

To deny

influence.

that

terrifying

some one

is

but I cannot discern his form. The rich

landscape shows him good, wise, and
bounteous: but how bounteous, good, or
wise, who, from the richest landscape,

acting upon me, must be to deny that I

can be able to guess 1 The brilliant sun

the
gives a glimpse of his brightness
vast starry concave shows his immen-

ble, yet well

sity

but

how

bright,

were impossible

to say.

how immense,
Hark

it

he speaks

he moves in
earthquake, he shines in
So much I can
comet.

in that bursting thunder, or

that crushing

blazing

that

God

easily discern, but

my

comprehension.

is still far

see

beyond

nothing but

the hidings of his power; himself is

still

unknown.

He

guides the

see him

affairs of

my

before

behold his form.

providence.

but I cannot
but he could have

face,

Who

Pharaoh
the Nebuchadnezzar of
Who but he
ancient or modern times 1
could have rooted up a firmly fixed throne,
and poised a miglity nation upon the slender point of a stripling's energies 1 I have
seen him pass before me in my own conraised

cerns, leading

me

in

a path

know, stopping me when on

Borae destruction, filling

did not

the verge of

my

exhausted

see, fee],

or

who,

to

my

am

Could

anxious.

might

call

the

assistance; but

it

known;

yet surely seen

I tell

what,

wisdom of man
is the unknowa-

the indiscernible,

the incom;'rehensible,

intangible, yet fully understood and ever

present God, that supports my trembling

frame, and meets the warmest wishes of
my too daring mind ; the resolute deter-

minations,

inefficacious

exertions,

and

the stubborn submission of an unwilling

soul.

Ah let this present Invisible encircle

me with his mercy, defend me with his
power, fill me with his fear, and save me
!

by

his almighty grace.

discern not his form,

Then, though

I shall

be conscious

of his presence, and the delightful consciousness shall fill me with reverence
indeed, but not

make my

He

sorrows, inspire my
confidence in danger, and

shall soothe

hopes, give

me

flesh to tremble.

my

supplies in every necessity. The consciousness of his nearness, approbation,

and mercy, shall enable me to endure like

Moses, as seeing Him who is invisible.
John Foster.

THE BRITISH

444

CONSIDF.RATIOXS FOR. PARENTS AND TUTORS.

1.

All

parents should

remember

PULPIT.

Know

6.

their

their particular inclinations,

corruptions, and temptations, and accord-

and that ingly keep and restrain them with the

greatest vigilance, watching against these
and hell, by neglect or by ill means, dangers as you would do against death.
7. Settle them under wise and godly
seems more inexcusable cruelty, than for
the devil, that is, a known enemy, to pastors, and in the familiar company of
godly persons, especially those of their
do it.
2. Consider how very much their wel- own age and usual converse.
near relation to their children

for a parent to betray their souls to sin

fare is intrusted to

your care.

You have

Keep them as much

8.

possible

as

home and

the teaching of them before the minis-

from temptations

have them always nearer with you,

and have a greater power over them. O,

especially those that tend to sensuality

ters,

and

to impiety, or

at

abroad,

corrupting their judg-

you knew what holy instructions, ments against religion. Thrust them not,
heavenly excitations, and good examples beyond sea or elsewhere, in an unfortified
God requireth of you for their good ; and state of mind among deceivers, as some
how much of the hopes of the church and cruelly do for the sake of a mere orthat

world

lie

on the holy skill and fidelity of nament.

parents, in the right education of youth

much

idleness, to too

of the appetite

sons

why

they

fulness or pleasing

but teach them the rea-

ought

to

exercise

the

virtues of temperance and mortification,

Remember how you dedicated them

Christ in baptism, and what was pro-

9.

Feed not their sinful desires and

lusts ; accustom them not to pride, to
3.

to

mised

to

be done, and what renounced on

their parts,

and what you bound your-

selves to do.
10.

Remember, likewise, how much

the happiness or misery of the church of

and show them the sin and mischief of Christ, and of the kingdoms of the world,
doth lie in the right or wrong education
all sensuality.
4. Yet use them with tender and fa- of youth by the parents, much more than
therly love, making them perceive that by our universities or schools.
11. Remember that your own comfort
the abstaining from these evils is for
their own good.
Cherish their profitable or sorrow in them lieth chiefly in your
delight; study how to make all good own duty or neglect. If they prove to be
delightful to them; and encourage them wicked persons and the plagues of the
by sparing rewards and prudent commen- world, and you be the cause, it may tear
dations.
Tell them of the wisdom and your own hearts. But what a joy is it to
goodness of God's word, and let them be the means of their salvation, and of
read the lives of holy men.
their public service in the world
5. Choose them such callings, habita12. Disgrace sin to them, and comtions, and relations, as will make most mend holiness by word and practice. Be
for the common good, and for the advan- yourselves what you would have them
tage of their souls; and not those that to be; and pray daily for them and
will be most subservient to the covet- for yourselves.
The Lord bless this
ousness, pride, and slothfulness of their counsel to them and to you
Richard
!

nature.

Baxter.

SERMON

XLVIII.

THE DANGER OF RELAPSE.

BY THE REV.

R.

W.

EL

F, B. D.

CHAPLAIN TO THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND, AND PRECEPTOR TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

PRINCE GEORGE.

" When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, ana
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when
findeth none.
he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Then goeth he and taketh with himself
seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there : and the latt
state

of that

The

man

is

worse than the

human

first."

Matt.

and

xii.

43

45.

relation to the world of spirits, are mani-

decided in the affirmative by the express

testimony of the Holy Scriptures.

festly mysteries inscrutable to our present

are taught in terms

nature of the

soul,

its

We

which the plainest

and they have eluded every at- understanding cannot mistake, that there
them by mere reason. exists a wicked spirit, a creature in reThe way is thus left open for revelation, bellion against the Almighty, the hater
to the discoveries of which, as proceed- of all goodness, the author of all evil,
ing from God, who is a Spirit, no ade- the enemy of God and man; that this
quate answer can be returned by reason, person, who is the prince of devils, aided
because those discoveries are above rea- by his angels, inferior agents of malice
son, and out of its sphere.
Whatever and wickedness, is personally engaged
revelation has disclosed on subjects, in spiritual warfare with mankind, opeotherwise unapproachable, it is in the rating in some unexplained manner upon
highest degree irrational to neglect, or to the soul, suggesting and furthering wickexplain away.
Some knowledge is bet- ed thoughts and actions, with success
ter than entire ignorance, even in matters exactly proportioned to the condition, and
faculties,

tempt

to decipher

of speculation, but the nature of the soul

being more a practical than a specula-

the resistance, of his victims

warfare began in paradise,

that this

where our

knowledge of its pro- first parents, yielding to his temptation,

however obtained, may throw have thereby entailed upon their descendsuch a light upon its workings as will ants a weak and sinful nature that this
tend directly to its well-being. It is, for warfare must have ended in the subjugainstance, a matter of practical importance tion of all mankirrd, had not God, in fulto know whether there is any exterior filment of his merciful promise, sent forth
power which influences the spirit of a Deliverer, who, by the most wonderful
man ; for if thej is, then any plan of means, trampled upon the common ene-

tive question, the

perties,

human

conduct,''which leaves such an

element out of the calculation, must be
erroneous or imperfect.

Now

this question,

which never could

have been determined by reason alone,

Vol. n.

is

my

that there is thenceforward provided,

each partaker in the new covenant, a
method, by which the assaults of Satan
may be sustained ; but that the chief ef;

for

forts

of the

enemy

are directed against

2P

445

THE BRITISH

446

PULPIT.

head, and secondly, to give in these extraordinary instances of Satan's influence

the church, and the religion of Christ, and

that therefore "they that are Christ's"

what may be

called almost a palpable

proof to that, and to future generations,
of the reality of the devil's personal
agency in the ordinary operations of the
prepared for the devil and his soul. Those who saw " bim, that was
possessed with the devil and had the

should be specially on their guard finalspirit, who has been thus

pernriitted to try us, shall be at length
utterly conquered, and cast " into ever;

ly, that the

lasting

fire,

angels."

Upon

legion, sitting and

this warfare then, as against the

church, and against individuals, the whole

right

mind,"

after

clothed, and in

hearing

the

his

devils

beseeching Jesus, " that he would send

them into the swine, that they might enpurpose was the Son of God manifested, ter into them," and after seeing the herd
that he might destroy the works of the of swine run violently down a steep place
devil." A right belief on this subject into the sea, the liberation of the man
is not a matter of indifference, but one, being thus identified with the destruction
which must modify and influence the of the swine, those who witnessed all
whole tenor of our lives. He, that knows this could entertain no doubts as to the
his enemy, " so fights, not as one that ordinary machinations of Satan, as reChristian religion, and, consequently, the
salvation of us

all,

depends.

"For

this

vealed on other occasions.

beateth the air."

We

It would seem that this last conclusion

concerns all was sanctioned by our Saviour himself,
mankind in every age ; but there was when he uttered the parable implied in
another manifestation of his power over the text. That it is a parable, though not
men, and another of Christ's triumphs expressly called so, is evident from the
over Satan, which most signally charac- words which follow the text; " so shall

have

thus

far

considered

that

agency of Satan, which

terized the period of our Saviour's ap-

men by

it

be also to this wicked generation."

He

had therefore a farther meaning in

and the casting forth of devils by view beyond the mere description of the
the word of God. At what time such miserable state of that man, who should
possessions ceased, it is now idle to in- again be occupied by the evil spirit,
quire; but certain it is, that during our which had been driven forth from him
Lord's ministry, and subsequently to it, for a season. The comparison, indeed,
there were multitudes of persons, not was suggested, after the manner of our
figuratively, but really, possessed of de- Saviour's mode of teaching, by the miravils, and that multitudes of such devils cle which he had just wrought in castwere cast out by our Saviour's almighty ing out the devil which was dumb, and
word and name. If we will content our- it was also the very fittest emblem of
selves with the facts, without pretending our Saviour's additional meaning; but it
to understand the manner of the posses- was intended to convey to that, and to
sion, the literal interpretation of the nar- succeeding generations, a lesson of the
rative is conclusive.
"Possession" is very utmost consequence to our salvation,
not a mere allegorical expression for no other, than the dangers of apostacy
mental diseases
the circumstances of from the faith, and of a relapse into sin
many of these occurrences forbid this in- and wickedness, "after we have been
terpretation , but it was a positive occu- once enlightened, and have tasted of the
pation, in some mysterious manner, of heavenly gift, and have been made parthe persons of men by wicked and im- takers of the Holy Ghost."
pure ""i-irits. Such facts would not have
The parable in the Agt instance was
been so carefully revealed, unless they applied to that generation " so shall it
had been intended for our learning and be likewise to this wicked generation."
use;, and the purpose evidently was, The Jews were called to salvation by the
first, to prove that our Saviour was the wonderful
works which were being
person appointed to bruise the serpent's wrought amongst them ; the throne of
pearance, the possession of

de-

vils,

THE DANGER OF RELAPSE.

Satan was visibly shaken

those,

who and

accepted the yoke of Christ, and threw

death,

447

and

possessed

spiritually

by our great enemy.

The

has

devil

were henceforward been cast forth. The house then " has
able " to resist the wiles of the devil ;" been swept and garnished."
But the
the absolute power of the evil spirit, work is not yet completed. The great

yoke of

off the

sin,

therefore, durinjr this period of probation

adversary of our salvation

is

ever on the

was, contingently on the choice of evil, watch to enter again into the believer's
He " seeketh rest, and findeth
or of good, suspended ; but it was not heart.
destroyed ; and that wicked generation none." We are still capable of falling ;
was warned, that in rejecting Christ, they and if we fall, it is under the dominion,
would ensure an entrance to their restless not of one spirit only, but of seven comenemy, and to "seven other spirits more panions more wicked than himself, and
" the last state of our souls is worse than
wicked than himself."
The parable then is founded on the the first."
actual state of those

who

unhappy persons,

our Saviour's time were possessed, and inhabited by devils; and its
first application was to that faithless peoin

who

ple,

were

rendered vain, as far as they

concerned, our Saviour's victory

over Satan. Their condition was worse

after our Lord's appearance, than it had
been before. Had he never lived amongst
them, never wrought his wonderful works,

never died
ers

to

redeem them from the pow-

of darkness, they might have had

more excuse

for their impenitence.

But

have seen all this, and yet not believed,

was a worse spiritual condition, than if
they had never seen it, than if Satan had
retained undisturbed possession of mankind. Their first state was in some sort
out of their own control, they were born
to

In this parable there are three separate

conditions, in

may be

placed

by the unclean
to

which our
;

the

spirit,

spiritual nature

first,

the possession

which

is

equivalent

our natural captivity under the serpent

the second, the casting out of the devil,

which coincides with our

spiritual reno-

vation, our deliverance from his chains,

and our capacities for working out our

salvation, under the glorious privileges
of the gospel ; and the third, the re-entrance of the devil into his former habita-

and his renewed and increased dominion over his unhappy victim, which
corresponds to the condition of those,
who have neglected, or despised the blessings and mercies of God, who "have
done despite to the Spirit of grace," and
have delivered themselves over afresh to
wickedness and corruption, to sin and
tion,

under the power of Satan, but their last

state was brought upon themselves by death.
The very possibility of so frightful a
their own wilfulness, and hardness of
" The last state of that genera- relapse might compel us to look into our
heart.
tion was, therefore, worse than the first." own hearts, and to see what is pas-ing
But, although this warning to the Jews there. It needs no argument to dnjsuade
was the first intention of our Saviour's il- us from so terrible an apostacy he who
lustration, we shall be justified in making is not moved by the simple illustration
;

a second and more general application.

Bearing in mind, that the healing of those
possessed of devils was only an instance
of that dominion over spiritual wickedness, which belonged essentially to the
character of the Redeemer, and that what
he did then for the bodies of a certain
number, he has done in a spiritual sense
for all, to

whom

the

oflTer

made, we shall see that

all

human

reasonings and exhortation.

are placed by the Christian

We

reli-

gion in a condition for attainiuf everlastThe perfecting that coning happiness.

dition

which

by the natural and

means,
depends

spiritual

are placed in our power,

some sort upon ourselves. One of

we
two things must certainly happen
warning must either use those means and make a

of salvation
this

of our Saviour, must be deaf to

is

in

against the danger of spiritual relapses,

applies with equal force to ourselves.

continual progress towards perfection, or

we shall neglect them, and gradually

We

sink into a state of spiritual debasement.

too were under the bondage of sin

THE BRITISH

448
which,

if

not remedied,

state of utter reprobation.

to

make no progress

may end
To stand

in

still,

forward, and yet

to

PULPIT.

backsliding,

own

God should abandon

imaginations'?

What

to their

wonder, that

they should be given over to serve that

be secured from backsliding, the very master, whom they have preferred to their
law of our nature forbids. There is no almighty Father? What wonder, that
middle course. Either Satan will subdue "the last state of that man should be
If we re- worse than the first]"
The means apus, or we shall subdue him.
sist him, his attacks become less fre- pointed for their redemption have been
quent, and less urgent, his power of hurt- tried, means adequate to the purpose, and
ing us decreases, and the ever blessed they have been tried in vain; "henceinfluences of the Comforter increase,
at length,

tory, and

we

till,

are assured of the final vic-

removed

to that

country " where

the wicked cease from troubling," and

where (the purpose of temptation being

accomplished)
cease.

temptation

But those who

in the conflict, those

tion,

are overpowered

who

become once more

shall

itself

yield to tempta-

the bond-servants

of their original master; and, as they arc

now

sinning in spite of knowledge, in

spite of the mercies of Christ, and the

influences of the

Holy

Spirit,

it

is

evi-

dent that their case is more hopeless than

before, not desperate certainly, for, while
their lives continue, there is still hope in

God's mercies through Christ, but more

miserable, more dangerous, more defenceless, than before.

Had

they never been

enlightened, had they never been redeem-

remains no farther sacrifice

but a certain fearful looking for

forth there
for sins,

They sink lower and

lower in the scale of spiritual beings, till
of judgment."

they are gradually qualified for that state

of unutterable anguish, in which their
chiefest misery will

be, to have been

once enlightened, once called, once redeemed, once visited with the knowledge

of Christ.

My

beloved brethren, this

is

a dreadful

picture of the ultimate state of the re-

lapsing victim of Satan.

to reflect

But

it is

better

on the description now, than

to

endure the reality hereafter. There may

be (which God forbid) some amongst us,
who have either in belief or in practice
become apostates from the Christian religion, who have " left their first love,"

and

who have

turned again to the abomi-

own aifections and

might have been some excuse, because lusts. To them the text speaks in a
" the Lord knoweth whereof we are made, voice of warning, while the general prohe remembereth that we are but dust ;" mises of the gospel forbid even them to
but they have been redeemed, sanctified, despair. But the remnant of hope, which
enlightened, and he will henceforth deal is yet vouchsafed to them, is in the merwith them, not as with mere human be- cies of Christ upon their sincere strugings in their natural state, and therefore gles for a renewed deliverance. The in" to be beaten with few stripes," but as junction given by Christ to one of the
with creatures who have been called to apostate churches in the Revelation, is,
a knowledge of his will, who have liber- " Remember therefore from whence thou
ty, privileges, assistance, means, towards art fallen, and repent, and do the first
their salvation.
But his gifts have works
or else I will come unto thee
been despised, his promises have been quickly, and will remove thy candlestick
forgotten, his worship and his holy sa- out of his place, except thou repent."
crament have been neglected, his enemy, The injunction to fallen individuals is
the rebel and apostate spirit, has been the same, " remember from whence thou
again admitted into, and enthroned in the art fallen, and repent and do the first
heart; the suggestions of the Holy Spirit works," and there is still a hope.
You
have been in vain, and the whole man, have fallen gradually into wickedness,
which should have been " the temple of you may arise gradually to higher and
the Holy Ghost," is made the habitation higher attainments in righteousness and
of devils. What wonder is there, that faith. The same God, who upon your
creatures so ungrateful, so corrupted, so repentance and faith in the first instance
ed, had they never been sanctified, there

nable idols of their

THE DANGER OF RELAPSE.

still the will, upon
and repentance, to

cast out the devil, has

your renewed

faith

more wicked spirits,

and to cleanse you from the abominations
with which they have filled you.
But, whether these extreme cases of
falling off apply to us or no, there is to
every one of us a lesson of the most
awful warning furnished in the text. The
deliverance from Satan, and the enjoyment of spiritual privileges, do not secure us from the possibility of forfeiting
those gifts, and of reversing that deliverance.
We are never secure on this side
may lessen our danger
the grave.
continually, so long as we earnestly apply ourselves to work out our salvation
but every step of that work must be
"with fear and trembling," for a moment's forgetfulness, a single thought
may renew in some degree our slavery to
Satan, and lead to consequences not now
foreseen, which may end in total estrangement from God.
Bat if this watchfulness is necessary,
what shall we say of those who never
cast out the seven

We

449

which the eye

beholds, or the imagination contemplates.
the nature of the object

To

excite,

and

to

sanctify, these va-

human

rious emotions in the

heart, for

purposes conducive to its noblest interests, the gospel presents to our view one
of the most tragical

histories ever left

upon record, and one of the most affecting

human eye ever beheld;

" Christ crucified."
His whole life was full of sorrow; but
it is in its awful close that you behold
those complicated distresses, which, like
objects that the
that of

the conflux of neighbouring streams pour-

ing their waters into one

and swelling

common

current,

with impetuous fury, all

met at the cross of Jesus, and overwhelmed him with unutterable anguish. Scenes
it

of calamity, the ravages of death, the

sorrows of the afllicted, the infirmities of

his friends, and the obstinacy of his enemies, had often before heaved his compassionate breast with many a sigh, and
made tears of sympathy and compassion
flow down his cheeks: he wept at the
grave of Lazarus and while anticipating
watch at all, who are indifferent to those the approaching doom of Jerusalem, where
attacks which are unceasingly made upon he was soon to be condemned and crucitheir faith and practice, and the conse- fied, " when he beheld the city he wept
quences of which may be eternal ? It is over it," and uttered that most pathetic
a spiritual blindness and carelessness, lamentation, that declared its guilt, and
which is unaccountable in rational be- was prophetic of its ruin.
But his most exquisite sorrows and
Such a man is warned sufficiently
ings.

by

by the voice of all Scrip- most pungent griefs were reserved for the
Once more we call upon him to last; sorrows, that were to wound a heart

the test, and

ture.

too late
formed for the most refined sensibility,
which he and anguish that was to be occasioned by
may receive he is in a state of danger; a hand he had never felt before.
On the fatal night on which he was behe is surrounded and besieged by invihe may be numbered trayed by Judas, and apprehended by a
sible enemies
" Awake thou that band of armed ruffians who had long
amongst the dead
thirsted for his blood, he had retired from
sleepest, and arise from the dead."
his disciples for the purpose of solemn

consider his ways, before

this

it

is

the last warning

may be

intercourse with heaven, to a solitary and

THE SORROWS AND SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST

HIS INCARNATE STATE.

The human mind

is

IN

the seat of a vari-

brook Cedron,
garden of Gethsemane as if

favourite spot, near the

and

in the

to intimate, that as in a garden, sin

was

It can alternately melt into sympathy, and burn with anger; can be dis-

introduced, in a similar spot the Messiah should bleed for its expiation and its
remedy; and that a garden should never
be seen without reminding us of the me-

solved with commiseration, or recoil with

be softened and allured with
;
love, or alarmed with fear; according to

lancholy catastrophe of man's fall, and

the glorious event of his redemption by
The spot was consethe Son of God.

ety of passions, that prompt humanity,

provoke indignation, and excite compassion.

detestation

Vol.

II

57

first

2p2

THE BRITISH

450

PULPIT.

innocent blood ever shed there ; and at last

Judas by the frequent visits liis sentences to be crucified, contrary to every
Master made to it: "for Jesus oft-tinies law of humanity, justice, and mercy.
The purple robe and mock sceptre,
Here, while his disresorted thither."
ciples were sleeping, " his soul was sor- with which they derided Him, who
rowful even unto death." And now, he holds the sceptre of universal empire, and
who had so often comforted others needs who decketh himself with light as with
which he receives a garment the casting of lots for his
himself consolation
from an angelic messenger, despatched seamless coat; and platting a crown of
from heaven for that express purpose. thorns, intending at once to disgrace and
Prostrate on the cold ground, while no torture the sacred brow, worthy to be
human hand touched him, nor any visible adorned with the brightest diadem; were
agent was nigh, the inward anguish of circumstances of trivial ignominy and
his soul so wrung and tortured the feel- sorrow, compared with the tragic scene,
ings of his human frame, that a preter- to which they were all to lead, and in
natural sweat exuded from his pores; for, which they were at last to terminate.
'he sweat great drops of blood falling After having suffered such pain and loss
down to the ground." The bitter cup, in of blood at the pillar, where " the ploughthe hand of inflexible justice, is presented ers ploughed upon his back and made
to his view, filled with every ingredient long furrows;" after having been blindof sorrow, which the sin of man, the folded, spit upon, and smitten on tht
rnalice of hell, the rage of the Jews, and face till " it was marred more than anj
the wrath of Heaven, could throw into it. man's, and his form, more than the sons
While his human nature shudders, and of men ;" his enemies, with hearts stufeels the most agonizing sensations in all dious in malice, and inventive in torture,
its parts; to show that the most exquisite oblige him to bear his cross up the asHe arrives at the fatal
sensibility is compatible with the most cent to Calvary.
his hands and feet are pierced with
perfect submission
his soul is all resig- spot
nation, and neither sinks nor is dismayed nails; and thus fastened, the ignominious
beneath the oppressive load. The lan- tree is forced into the ground, with a moguage of the most profound acquiescence tion which must have given an exciuis spoken
amidst "strong crying and ciating shock to his whole frame.
" Behold the man !" What a spectacle
groans and tears." "Father, thy will
be done," says the meek and submissive to heaven and earth
His sacred body,
Jesus.
"Rise, let us be going!" says bearing visible impressions of antecedent
the illustrious sufferer, ready to meet the torture and outrage, is so extended on the
storm, and seek the enemy that sought fatal tree, as to be convulsed and filled
his life.
with agony in every part: his flesh, torn
Behold him condemned for crimes, of by the brutal chastisement he received at
which lie was innocent; and recompensed, the bloody pillar: his sacred temples
with the sentence of a shameful death, lacerated by that disgraceful crown, the
for actions that merited the honours and thorns of which, by their pungency, made
empire of the universe! See! the ap- the blood, in numerous gushing streams,
pointed Judge of heaven and earth stand flow from his head
his face bearing the
at the bar of the Roman governor
who, livid marks of that extravagant and vulcontrary to the remonstrances of his own gar brutality, that durst smite a countewife and the dictates of conscience, yield- nance, the lineaments of which were caling to the mean impulse of popularity, and culated to command respect, or charm the
the clamours of an enraged multitude, beholder with every lovely expression of
prefers a robber before the innocent and lamb-like meekness and patience ;
such,
illustrious Son of God ; whom he con- in the moment of his ignominious suspensigns over to the charge of a merciless sion on the accursed tree, was the affectband of military executioners, who stain ing spectacle which the crucified Jesus
the pretorium with the most sacred and exhibited to men and angels.
De Cuurcy,
crated

by the presence of Jesus, and

known

to

SERMON

XLIX.

GLORIOUS DISPLAYS OF GOSPEL GRACE.

BY THE REV. ROWLAND H

This gospel of the kingdom shall he preached in

and

If ever my mind felt the solemn weiqrht

of those words of the crood old patriarch,
" surely this is none other but the house
of God and the gate of heaven," it is on
Can we suppose
this present occasion.
that so many of God's ministers and peo'
pie should find it in their hearts to assemble tocrelher on such a glorious design,
and He not be present with them 1 O
surely not! we believe him to be in the
midst of us. Nor can any thing short of
his special presence crown our labours
with success. What a mercy, then, that
we live in a day in which the Lord's promise is, we hope, to be remarkably verified, " Behold I am with you always, even
to the end of the world !"
Matters of salvation are of infinite importance.

The

nil the

then shall the end come."

glory of bringing souls to

L, A.

M.

world for a witness unto

Matt. xxiv.

all nations,

14.

more immediately concerned

to serve in

the ministry of the word, but also for the

conversion of the poor heathens in your

neighbourhood ; for 0, what crowds of

heathens, and worse than heathens, though
under the Christian name, are everywhere to be found amongst us
And
why may we not expect that such a fire
shall now be kindled as that not only
wonders be done among the nations that
know not God, but that, even in our own
!

land, it shall be our portion also to be

indulged with a remarkable revival of the
power of religion, " a time of refreshing

from the presence of the Lord

What littleness and insignificance are
stamped upon all the things of time and
sense, when compared to such blessings
as these

God can temporal

What

avail the things that are

comparison of those that are

The salvation of one eternal 1 Here are glories that words
confer upon us.
soul is of more worth than a thousand can never reach, nor tongue express and
My dearest brethren in the I wonder not at the sensations of one
worlds.
ministry, may God fill us with the like happy mind, who, though quite in the
ardent desires to those which warmed the agonies of dissolving nature, and beyond
apostle's heart, when he was constrained the power of giving an intelligible anto declare to his Galatian hearers, that swer to any question asked, yet, with a
" He travailed in birth again till Christ hope full of immortality though in the
was formed in them." And while you jaws of death, felt such blessedness upon
thus assemble upon the business of send- his mind as constrained him to lift up his
ing the gospel to heathen nations, may arms in triumph, and with a very heaven
Christ

is

the greatest honour

in

you, on your departure, beloved brethren,

from this our British Jerusalem, be
so filled with the spirit and power from
above, as that you may be a thousand

on his countenance thrice to repeat,

glories

the glories

the glories

the
!

Now to be made the happy instruments

of conveytf;g so much felicity, in such
times more successful, not only in pro- solemn circumstances, as this dying man
moting good among those whom you are felt, what an honour! While we live,
451

THE RKITISn FULHT.

452

may God

fill

may

be our cordial in our departing nionnents ; and may

divine mercy teach a world of sinners to
seek the same
We shall not then blush at what the
world calls the irregularity of our conduct; when an apostolic warmth of zeal
shall make every minister a missionary
around his own neighbourhood
and
when, touched with the sacred tenderness
of Christian compassion, he can never be
contented, while on earth, to leave a single sinner within his reach unconverted
;

to

God.

sally than ever, shall be stingy " Halle-

our hearts with these sur-

prising glories, that they

poor sinner in her dying moments,

requesting that a despised servant of Jesus

Christ might visit her before her departure, heard some one ridicule her

lujah! for the Lord omnipotent reigneth

King of kings, and Lord of lords !"

I mean not merely to show that the
gospel of the kingdom was preached in
all ages, since the fall of man
but more
;

especially to note the outpourings of the

Spirit in different ages,

under the divine

manifestation of mercy to mankind

our hearts

may

that

be enlarged, and ourhopes

quickened, on this present occasion.

No sooner had our first parents brought

world by their transgression,

and scarcely had divine justice pronounced the curse, when sovereign mercy
dropped the gracious promise, " the seed
sin into the

of the

woman

shall bruise the serpent's

head :" thus was the gospel

in paradise itself; they to

first

preached

whom

it

was

she should call in one of preached, we trust, lived upon the promise
such a methodistical character, a common given, and looked with longing expectastreet preacher, and field preacher roused tion after it; they even seemed to conwith zeal and gratitude to God, for the clude they had obtained the accomplishchoice,

that

instrument of her conversion, she said to

who stood around her, " Let who
will despise him, I will thank him before
men and angels, that he went out into
those

the streets and lanes of our city, to bring

my lost wandering

soul to

God."

the hint to encourage you,

in the blessed

that

work of

we may be

field

But

drop

brethren,

preaching,

instant in season, and

out of season, and do the

evangelist.

my

work of an

am now

to

follow

" Lord,
help me !" The word before us gives us
to understand, that as wonders have in
former ages been done by the gospel, so
the plan designed from the text.

in future still

greater glories shall be ac-

nor in our day is " the

Lord's arm shortened that it cannot save,

complished
or his

hear."

waxed dull, that

Nay, the longer we

ear

manifestation of

still

it

cannot

live,

the

greater glories ought

be expected ; for the time is still to

come, when the " knowledge of God," as
Bays the voice of prophecy, " shall cover

to

the earth, as the waters do the sea :" yea,

" the kingdoms of the earth shall become

kingdoms of our Lord, and his

Christ:" while saints and angels wait
with holy impatience, were it possible,

the

to rend the vault of

of the time

when

heaven at the arrival

that song,

more univer-

ment when Eve, upon the

first

son,

to

render

literally, cried,

Lord."
This
mercy

"

we may

birth of her

passage more

have gotten a man, the

call

the first spring of

man; but we

fallen

to

the

find

it

narrow channel
throughout the antediluvian world ; while
such floods of iniquity overspread the
face of the earth that God himself is
described as " repenting that he had made
man," yea, as being on this account
" grieved at his heart." In the family
awfully

of

limited

to

Noah alone was the knowledge and

God preserved.
But now the stream that began to flow

fear of

from the most early period of time gradually increases, and continues upon the
increase, like a spreading river, till ita
wide extended currents open themselves
into the

God

bosom of the ocean.

Abraham and

separated

early for that purpose.

The

his family

faith of that

renowned patriarch was strong and clear

respecting

person and glories of

a long-sighted grace;
for, notwithstanding the distance of time,
" he rejoiced to see Christ's day, he saw
it and was glad."
Paul declares that the
Christ.

same

the

Faith

faith

is

which

fies believers in

justified

Jesus in

Abraham
all

ages

justi;

that

GLORIOUS DISPLAYS OF GOSPEL GRACE.

the blessings of the same salvation are to
be imparted to us also, if blessed with the

same

faith that

dwelt

in

father of the faithful.

who

men

or prevent

them from

possessing their desired Canaan.

is

the

was

And, indeed,

all

and

him,

of renown,

453

tlie

Great

revival of religion in their days,

much good was done by their instruGod was eminently with

the great works done by the worthies of mentality

them, and they acknowledged him in all

Hebrews as done by faith in the Lord their ways. No Canaanilish foe could
Jesus, which alone rendered them accept- prevent their glorious progress ; they
able in the sight of God, for " without were conquerors, yea, more than conquerors, because they believed on their God.
faith it is impossible to please him."
A glorious increase was to be given to And cannot God give the like precious
this family,
the more they were perse- faith in the present undertaking?
When
cuted the more they multiplied.
Divine God says, " Let there be light," is it in
ordinances, instituted by God himself, the power of all hell to create darkness ?
were given them, that they might be kept When he says, "Arise, shine," shall not
apart from all other nations, and preserved omnipotence prevail] We triumph while
from their idolatry, and might be at the we believe in God. "If God be for us,
same time instructed to understand and to who can be against usi"
Once my mind had its doubts respectwait for the kingdom of the Lord Jesus
this was the casket in which the jewel of ing a mission to the heathen ; unbelief
divine truth was preserved till it shone said there were a thousand difficulties in
I thank God that my soul was
forth with all its lustre under the gospel the way.
dispensation.
The first display of a more made to blush when that text was brought
immediate outpouring of the Spirit of to my recollection, " God is able from
God seemed to be when the outstretched these stones to raise up children to
arm of the Lord brought this his Israel Abraham." Now, what is so inanimate
Had the metaphor been
out of Egypt. In reference to this period, as a stone 1
tbe Lord thus expresses himself concern- taken from trees, or any other part of the
" Go and cry in the ears of vegetable creation, there we might have
ing them
old are described in the eleventh of the

Jerusalem, thus saith the Lord, I remember thee; the kindness of thy youth, the
love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after

that

me

in the wilderness, in a land

was not sown

unto the Lord, and the

increase." Jer.

ii.

2.

was

Israel

holiness

first-fruits

And,

of his

God

that

would now create in the hearts of many,

the same holy and devoted zeal, leading
them to take pity upon heathen lands,
that they

may go forth, for his

sake, in a wilderness,

sown

in

dear name's

a land that

While God proposes

is

not

the ques-

Who

is he that will go for me 1 may

the ready answer be found in the hearts

tion,

of

many

prepared by himself, " Here

am

send me."
We next notice other revivals that succeeded
Caleb the son of Jephunneh,
and Joshua the son of Nun, stand highly
I,

recorded

in

sacred writ.

Though

sin

discovered the

vegetable

mand
living

We

life

existence,

at

of

least,

but what power can com-

stones to live, but the power of the

God

want men

for this business, Calebs

and Joshuas such as these only ought
to go forth, and such only as are armed
out of God's armoury shall succeed.
Some that have worn their own earthly
armour have fatally proved how ill it
answers their design it interrupts their
but
agility, and frustrates their intent
the armour which God's people are com:

manded

to

wear proves

just the reverse.

The helmet formed by man, though

adds a tallness

to the stature,

it

and a dig-

nity to the person, yet must be supported by the head which wears it ; but
the divine helmet supports the head, it

the wearer up with a hope full of

The shield of an earthly
warrior is burdensome to the arm that

lifts

immortality.

kept the generation of their contemporathey rotted supports it; but the Christian feels that
ries from the promised land
through unbelief in the wilderness yet it is not the strength of his arm which

nothino- could

affect

the lives of those

supports the shield, but that

it

is

the

THE BRITISH

454

marvellous virtue of the shield to support

The sword of the Spirit, which
his arm.
a living sword
and it shall not be
directed by the hand, but it shall direct
the hand of the Christian, and shall bathe
is

the word of God,

the life of

God

is

is in it,

itself in the blood of all his spiritual ene-

mies.

PULPIT,

Solomon's reign was filled with wonWe trace, however, but the more
pure and chaste part of his history, while
the Lord was truly with him.
He began his reign with divine communications with liis God, and while lie
maintained communion with him he prospered
his noblest wish was to build the
ders.

our God, give us but this pano" one shall chase a thousand, temple.
;

It was during that period that

;"
the heart of this prince was fully devoted
and two shall put ten thousand to flight
let us have but the heroism of the gospel to the Lord ; his wisdom, his riches, and
The promises of his honours were entirely dedicated to
and the work is done
the word of God are gloriously large
promote the glory of his God with zeal
may our minds be impressed witii their he completes the work which <j!od has
And now the
vast extent, and then what has been done given him to perform.
May the Lord temple is to be dedicated to Him for
shall be again done.
And, O
rouse the spirits of his people, and fill whose service it was built.
you, beloved brother ministers, with a what a day is this, when all Israel apgreater and more enlarged expectation of pears before the Lord like a multitude
doing good ; and the very expectation of which no man could number! The king
doing good will enable you to accomplish himself leads the devotions of his people,
it.
Let nothing disccurage you. Be- and God miraculously declares his approhold, God is your salvation
He goes bation of the solemn work, while flakes
before yfu, and he also is your rearward. of holy fire descend on the sacrifice
Your front and your rear are both defend- already prepared for the divine service,
ed by Omnipotence.
The devil has, and the glory of God fills all the temple,
therefore, no place left for his attack. and constrains the people to rejoice with
How glorious the defence of the cliildren reverence and godly fear.
and ministers of our God
And can we suppose that a mere outSeveral other revivals of the power of ward and visible manifestion of the
religion next appeared under the different glory of God was all that the great Magovernments of the judges of Israel. jesty of heaven designed hereby ]
O
Here, at times, God's people lamented surely no
He that is as a refiner's fire
their sins, and under their national humi- to the hearts of his people, was now
liation they sought him, and he was found doubtless working upon their hearts also,
by them.
by his invisible agency, that he might
Time would fail us to trace the like prepare them for himself, and then take
divine displays of grace through the them to his glory.
In short, does not
regency of Samuel, and the first part of this appear as the great pentecost of the
the reign of Saul, and the increasing glo- Old Testament church, similar in its
ries which rested on the church of God nature and effects to that recorded in the
while the sceptre was intrusted in Da- New Testament, when cloven tongues of
vid's hands.
We hasten to the time of fire rested upon the heads of the apostles,
Solomon. Then the reflected light given a visible sign of their preparation for
through that dispensation shone with its their important mini^try, that through
fullest splendour; but, like the shining their instrumentality great grace might
of the moon, which gradually withdraws rest upon the hearts of thousands, to
her humble light till she totally disap- prepare them for glory 1
pears and hides herself behind the sun,
And, O what views further open to
so we shall find that these gracious re- our minds when we meditate on the mulvivals gradually declined till Jesus the titudes of glorified spirits already brought
Sun of righteousness arose, creating the to God under these different outpourings
gospel day of grace, and adorning it with of the Spirit of grace
They are long
all the glories of his great salvation.
ago safely landed, and are waiting with

ply, and

'

GLORIOUS DISPLAYS OF GOSPEL GRACE.

455

was in danger from the kingdom of

holy joy for those that are now
and for others that shall yet come, till God Moab, he " sought tlie Lord with all
shall have accomplished the number of diligence," proclaimed a fast, and called
his elect, and finished his great work of all Israel and Judah to attend to it. They
came with their wives and their little
the salvation of millions of mankind.
cnmintr,

After the days of Solomon, we find,

through the conduct of wicked rulers,
awful declensions among the people; but
still different revivals are to be traced.
As through the influence of bad kings all

ones ; they repented before the Lord

they acknowledged their wickedness, and

the works of sin and the devil were pro-

tected

made

a solemn renunciation of those sins

which bring down the wrath of God on

Then

his people.

moted, so through the instrumentality of

good kings God again revived his work
in the midst of them.
During the reign of Asa, there was a

them

the

God

of Israel pro-

and then they appeared glo-

rious as the Israel of Gi d, indeed.

When

England be blessed with such

solemn fasts as these ] When shall we
prove that we meet in earnest for national

shall

glorious display of the revival of religion.

humiliation, that national reformation

Azariah the prophet faithfully discharges

his duty as a preacher before his king,
while the king, with no less devotedness,
attends to the word ; with all diligence
he sets himself upon the work of a universal reformation, destroys every abominable idol out of the land, and again
erects the altar of the Lord, which in the
times of idolatry had been broken down.
He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and
the stragglers with them out of Ephraim,
and Manasseh, and out of Simeon, " for

be effected

him in abundance when they

was with him; and they
unto the Lord of the spoil which

they

fell to

saw

the Lord

offered

they had brought, seven hundred oxen,

and they
and seven thousand sheep
;

entered into a covenant to seek the Lord

God

of their fathers with

all

their heart,

men

great

among

thereby
lead

the first

abandon those
the righteous

When

the work,

who
evils,

God

in

shall

may
our

so as to be

renounce and
have caused
judgment to bring

shall

that

vengeance against us 1 Time

would fail were we yet to proceed further
toshow the blessed and prosperous state of
religion that next appeared under the reign
of good kingHezekiah; how, immediately
when he began to reign, he opened the
doors of the house of God ; restored religion, which had been brought into sad
decay through the wretchedness of his
father Ahaz commanded the priests and
Levites diligently to seek the Lord and do
directed that the house of God
his will
should be cleansed, and all the divinely
appointed sacrifices should be duly offered
forth

his

and they sware up.

Again we find him calling all Israel
unto the Lord with a loud voice, with
shouting, with trumpets, and with cor- and Judah together to celebrate a solemn
nets; and all Judah rejoiced at the oath, passover, inviting them by a most perfor they had sworn with all their heart, suasive letter to come and seek the Lord
God, and bending the hearts of multiand sought hun with their whole desire
and he was found of them, and the Lord tudes to obey the summons ; for we are
gave them rest round about." 2 Chron. told, " the hand of God was to give them
XV. 8. 16. Now, how many precious one heart to do the commandment of the
souls were saved under this revival a king, and that divers of Asher, and
Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themfuture day alone can declare.

and with

all

their soul

Again we trace another display of the selves, and came to Jerusalem." And
power of religion in the reign of Jeho- no wonder, when God himself constrains
shaphat or rather a continuation of the the assembly to draw near, that a peculiar
same good work carried on by the son so blessing is given to such waiting tribes.
happily begun in the days of his father. Read the history of this great reformation
;

reforms the land from the remains of at large, as recorded in the 29th, 30th,
and appoints godly judges to and 31st of the second of Chronicles:
govern in different cities ; and when he there you will see the feelings of this

He

idolatry,

THE BRITISH

456

PULPIT.

great man's henrl; he conceived himself Lord

not a king for himself, but a king deputed

God

promote his praise, and to do

his will as a vicegerent of God's own
theocracy.
0, the glories of such a
kingdom, under such a government, with
God himself in the midst of it
The last revival under the reigns of
the kings of Judah was but of short
of

to

We

duration.

young Josiah
Lord

are

how

told

diligently

set his heart to seek the

and nothing in his reign deserves

our notice as the tenderness of
his spirit in reading the word of God.
This set him immediately on the work of
;

much

so

God.

Once more

up its
now languid head ; and the solemn passover appointed by the king is attended
with the blessing and presence of God.
Again they renew their covenant with
him ; and yet they were (though, as we
learn, Jer. iii. 6, 10, many among them
religion

lifts

turned but feignedly) enabled for a season

to abide by their solemn vows; for, dur-

ing

all

the

days of Josiah, " they de-

parted not from following the Lord, the

God be

and

dearer

still

dearer and dearer day by day

that Christ

may

yea,

And,

on this pre-

find out for us,

sent work, those that can forsake houses,

lands, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives,

and all for his dear sake! And why

should any refuse to forsake such low
things as these for Him who forsook his
heaven, his glory, and hid not his face

from shame and spitting, and at last laid

down his life to ransom us from the hell

most righteously deserves, that

he might make us partakers with himse'f
of blessedness in eternal glory]
1 will
that sin

make

few observations further on this

last revival of religion before the

of our Lord.

The word

of

coming

God was again

brought forth into public notice.

Ezra

stands on a pulpit of wood

from the sunrising till the noonday ; for

the

scribe

six hours at one time he reads and ex-

pounds the word of God, assisted by

twelve others of the princes of Israel,
them standing on the one side, and
six of them on the other
thus they
laboured to instruct the people ; for " they

six of

God of their fathers." 2 Chron. xxiv. 33. read in the book the law of God disAnd now a long night ensues. Through tinctly and gave the sense, and caused
a space of near seven hundred years we them to understand the reading." Neheread in the inspired records (excepting miah viii. 8.
Nor were they tired with
;

what is referred to in the forty-fourth the length of the sermon no a weeping

Psalm and some other places) but of one congregation will not speedily be weaned
revival of the power of the glorious faith- of the word of God
and it was a strong
fulness of the Jewish church in days of evidence on their behalf that God was
dreadful persecution of religion, and that with them of a truth, that their hearts
was under the government of Ezra and were melted before the Lord, and their
Nehemiah on the return of Israel from eyes were a fountain of tears.
their Baylonish captivity.
Let us a little
0, what a refreshing sight would it be
:

investigate the glories

of

that

revival.

The

people had polluted themselves by

their unlawful connexions while captives
in a heathen land, and even after their
return from the captivity.

command

These, by the

of God, were to be renounced

and yet, what dearer to nature than the

wife of a man's bosom 1
But Ezra, the
holy reformer, was at a point with the
people: the command was explicit;
wives taken unlawfully are now to be
rejected, and they yield obedience to what
nature would call this severe injunction
of the Lord.

Whatever may be dear

to us,

my

brethren, if such were the state

of our congregrations

!
tonjanifest such
tenderness of heart, and such readiness
at once to obey all that they hear from the
sacred word of truth !
Sure I am that no

sight

is

so glorious as the presence of

God upon

a worshipping congregation;
nor any thing so animating to the heart
of a minister as when he perceives that

word he preaches comes to the hearts

of his hearers, with " the demonstration
of the Spirit and of power."
the

After this period,

till

the

coming of

Christ, a gross darkness for the most part

to us,

may

our

covered the earth, religion seemed sunk

GLORIOUS DISPLAYS OF GOSPEL GRACE.

457

into formality, while the institutions of yet glorified."

He must first " put away

God, at the same time, were wretchedly sin by the sacrifice of himself" It was
blended with the inventions of men.
not meet that the blessing should be
The spirit of prophecy was now totally vouchsafed till the curse was removed;
withdrawn no zealous reformers made but when once the great work was finishtheir appearance, nor were any indications ed,
when Jesus had ascended into his
given of the people lamenting over their heavenly kingdom, according to the glo:

O ye
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors, and the King of glory shall come
in all the night is the moment which pre- in,"
when he had finished his conquests,
cedes the first break of day ; and blessed and had ascended up on high, leading
be God, we are now to contemplate the even captivity captive, then came the
glories of that bright day created by the blessed time when he would " give his
presence of Him who is " the brightness gifts to men, even the rebellious, and
deserted state, or longing for the returning

rious word, "Lift up your heads,

mercies of the Lord.

It is observed, that the darkest moment

gates

of his Father's glory, and the express come and dwell amongst them." Thus,
image of his person."
having prepared the mansions for his peoBut there is somewhat in the progress ple, he next sends down his Spirit to preof this light which demands our attention. pare his people for those mansions. O,
We find some wonderful stirrings of con- the glories of that sacred day " behold
!

science (and

conscience to

when God

now, indeed, the tabernacle of God is

work) under the preaching wiih man !" According to our Lord's
it

is

well

sets

of John the Baptist. Plain was his ap- direction, the disciples waited at Jerusapearance, but powerful was his word ; lem for the fulfilment of his promise;
his business was to " prepare the way of and, lo, he comes
their understandings
the Lord."
If, however, his word seem- are enlightened to understand the Scriped to have but a transient effect upon the tures; their hearts are inflamed, and they
minds of his hearers, one could not but preach the word with faithfulness and
I

suppose that when the Son of God commenced a preacher, wonders indeed would
be wrought, and that not a hearer could
resist when the incarnate Jehovah deBut what was
livered his own word.
accomplished by the preaching of our
Lord ]
His word was, indeed, with
authority ; and his astonished hearers
were constrained to acknowledge " never
man spake like this man." But, notwithstanding all this, and though he had
multitudes for his hearers, insomuch that
he was obliged to take the mountain for
his pulpit, though he went about from
village to village, and from city to city,
to preach the gospel of the kingdom, we
find no more after tha crucifixion than a
hundred and twenty souls, collected together in an upper room for fear of the
Jews. Where were the thousands that

power.
Before, neither the thund-ers of
John, preaching in the wilderness, nor
yet the words of grace that dropped from
the lips of Jesus Christ himself, could
effectually impress the

any

but

now

minds almost of

the preaching of a poor set

of illiterate fishermen melts the adamantine hearts of the murderers of

Christ,

and brings them by thousands to submit

to his righteous and merciful sceptre.
On the very first day after the day of
Pentecost was fully come, we hear of
three thousand
the

at

another time, we hear

to five thousand ;

numbers increased

then, again, that " believers

to the

were added
men and

Lord, multitudes both of

women

;" and, further,

" the number of

disciples multiplied greatly ;" and, what

was the greatest wonder of all wonders,
that

"a

great multitude of the

priests

were obedient to the faith." Yea, we

Where were the multitudes that attended hear of whole villages, towns, cities, and
our Lord, and were fed by his miracles ? countries, which at once were subjugated
The glorious power was not yet revealed to the Lord Jesus: "so mightily grew
Now
,nat effectually does the work: " the Spirit the word of God, and prevailed."

attended

was

the

ministry of

the

not yet given, because Jesus

Vol. II. 58

Baptist]

was

not

was the time

that a nation should be born

2Q

THE BRITISH

459

once; and, as soon as Zion travailed,

she brought forth her children. O, the
power that then went with the word
Those tiiat heard were at once pricked to
at

PULPIT.

ments'?

set of plain

illiterate fishrr-

Better, a thousand times, to have

men.

the simplicity of a Peter, than the elo-

if we are but
was, " What made useful to the souls of our fellow
must I do to be saved T' and the answer, creatures: that preaching is always the
as directly given, was, " Believe on the best that best answers the end of preachLord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be ing let us, therefore, go forth preaching,
saved." How must the decency, as we as it is worded in the text, " the gospel of
suppose, of religions worshij) have been the kingdom ;" and that, too, with simbut, O, blessed in- plicity, and godly sincerity, and not with
interrupted thereby
when God himself wrought fleshly wisdom, and what has been
terruption
so gloriously, and so many souls were done, shall be done. God will ever stand
brought into divine subjection to the cross by his own truth; and, if he be for us,
May God send us such who can be against us? Preaching the
of Christ!
blessed interruptions in all our congrega- gospel of the kingdom does all the work.
tions
I hate the pride of such as would fain
0, they are glorious
It may be asked what became of the attempt to set aside this glorious dispenmultitudes that attended the ministry of sation, and are ever attempting to estaour Lord, and his harbinger, John. It blish what they call the powers of reason
strikes me that many of these had now in its stead, and are ever boasting of the
had they,
their convictions revived, and were found mighty things that it can effect

the heart

quence of a Longinus,

their cry directly

among

who received however, a little more of the same faculty

The seed was they pretend so plentifully to possess,

the happy thousands

the gospel dispensation.

sown by John, and by our glorious

Lord, and afterward, being watered by
the descent of the Holy Ghost, sprung
first

they would not expose themselves by

such assertions ; for what can reason do
while under the influence of corrupted
nature ]
Nay, say they, it is passion and
appetite, not reason, that then govern the

What encouup to the glory of God

ragement this to every sincere minister to
Secret convic- man
be diligent in his work
!

tions

may

a long time abide in the heart

God

before a thorough conversion to

but

if

passion and appetite prevail

human understanding,

over the

so

that

in

good is avoided as an evil, and evil

sought after as a good, and these furnish
our reasoning powers with their materials,
we may easily conclude what will be tiie
conduct and the choice ; nay, say they,
shall it be said that a drunkard acts

was dead

Certainly not but

according to reason ?
he acts according to //s reason. And does
a man in a violent passion act according

" Cast thy bread

effected.

waters, and thou shalt find

days."

We

shall reap if

when

Oftentimes,

upon

we

the

many

after

it

is

faint not.

have been engaged

preaching, and perhvips in the contemptible work of street preaching, too,

when I have thought that the whole town
in trespasses

and sins, some

allow

few secret ones have been found

the

plain

expression,

like nest eggs.

and

visited

them

left

them again, and

the numbers soon increased,

till

one became a thousand.

But what remarkable evidence

the

is

little

given,

by all these revivals, that the work in

which we are engaged is, indeed, the
work of God
" not by might, nor by
power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord ;"
for what was the doctrine, especially in
I

the great revival on the day of Pentecost

The

plain simple preaching of the cross

of Christ.

And who were

the

instru-

to

reason

According

to that

which he,

at that instant of time, calls reason,

he

And both the drunkard

passionate man will give you a

certainly Joes.

and the
thousand reasons, as they call them, for
their conduct; and, however badly they
reason, it is reason to them
and, however wrongly they may be guided, yet
their reason was their guide
and it is
not likely that a wrong guide will lead a
;

man

right: in short, every man's reason

him to seek after happiness ; and,

while the carnal mind supposes there is
happiness to be had in the indulgence

directs

GLORIOUS DISPLAYS OF GOSPEL GRACE.

459

of lust and passion, reason will lead that of people.

Now we cannot thank them
road.
In short, sound reason can never for their compliment, as it is given with
be ingrafted but upon real religion.
such a wretclied ill grace but a higher
The fact proves itself. Where are the panegyric cannot bo framed. We geneconverts of these boasted rational preach- rally suppose he is the best physician that
ers ]
A fig for all their pretensions to cures the most desperate diseases. And
wisdom, if they cannot produce one single we should also suppose, that he is the
sample of a precious soul being converted best minister, notwithstanding the confrom sin to God thereby
venient terms of melliodist and enthusiast,
I bring forward the character of the that cures the diseases of the mind, in its
great Mr. Whitfield on this occasion
I
most desperate state.
hope you do not blush for me, that I menLet us try how some of these rationaltion his name on this subject, for verily, ists in religion (as they humbly wish to
God gave be thought) would be likely to succeed
I shall not blush for myself.
him a most enlarged mind, liberated him on a similar occasion. Let them seek for
;

from

the wretched trammels of educahe knew no party, his glory was to

preach the gospel to every creature
bigotry his soul abhorred; and, like a
second Samson, he has so made her
main supporting pillars to totter, that you
and I, my brethren, rejoice that she trembles to the very foundation, and live in
daily hopes that her complete destruction
tion

all

thank the devil

but I will say, I thank
for any thing
God for that permissive providence
whereby that great man, being turned
out of the churches, esteemed it his duty
His first attempt was
to preach at large.
will not say,

tion

among the poor Kingswood colliers I

defy any missionary upon earth to find a
:

colliery of the like descrip-

there take one of their nicely

posed paper pop-guns, and read

the

multitude.

it

com-

among

would willingly and

behind them, to

gladly carry the stool

see what sort of figures they would cut in

their

attempts to reform.

silly pride,

and

it is

hate such

best corrected by the

lash of ridicule and contempt.

But a

shall complete our joy.

Now

some other

part of our plan is yet to be con-

To

sidered.

trace

what has been done

since the apostles' days, time would by

and successes of a later

have already been well presented
before you.
We have now to encourage
ourselves from the promises and prophecies of the word of God, of the glory
no means allow

date

The

that shall be revealed.

text itself

darker spot, or to visit a more beniglited

people ; these he called out of the holes

gives blessed encouragement to our expectations, " The gospel of the kingdom

and dens of the earth, and to these he

preached " repentance towards God, and
faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ."

shall be preached in all the world, for a

And

yet hope

it

was

a lovely sight, to behold

weep

before,

now

turned up towards heaven,

mercy and forgiveness; knees
unaccustomed to prayer before, are now
bended down in fervent devotion before
God and their lives well and wisely
regulated by the power of that grace
which had done such wonders on their
Now, mind what these fastidihearts.

praying

all

nations; and then shall

And what may we not

when the Lord himself has
well-beloved Son, " Ask of

come."
for,

the tears of repentance unto life, white

streaks appearing thereby on their black
faces,

the end

Eyes unaccustomed said to his

now began to flow with me, and I will

the glorious effect

to

witness unto

for

give thee the heathen for

thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts
In
of the earth for thy possession]"
Isaiah, prophecy abounds

our hopes.

Give up;
bring

my

God

shall say

to the south.

sons from

far,

to

"

Hold

and

encourage

to the north,

my

not back;

daughters

from" the end of the earth." (Isa. xliii.

" For I will give thee for a light to
6.)
the Gentiles, that thou mayest be
vation to the ends of the earth.

my

sal-

In an

ous sons of pride and self-conceit had to acceptable time have I heard thee, in a
to be sure Whit- day of salvation have I helped thee, I
say on this occasion
and give thee for a
field has done good among these low sort will preserve thee,
:

THE BRITISH

460

covenant of the people, to establish the

earth, to cause to inherit the desolate
that thou mayest say to the
heritages
and to them that are
prisoners, Go forth
in darkness. Show yourselves." (Isa. xlix.
;

And

6. 8, 9.)

again in the 60th of the

same prophet, how

PULPIT.

attempts

some of our West India

is-

lands have been surprisingly evangelized

by them ; the inhospitable climates of

Greenland and Labrador have received the
glad tidings of salvation, through their
instrumentality
neither the burning re:

gloriously the Gentile

gions of the south, nor yet the frozen

" Arise and shine,

come, and the glory of
the Lord is risen upon her." Even while
"darkness covered the earth, and gross
darkness the people, the Lord should
and the Gentiles should
arise upon Zion
come to her light, and kings to the bright-

impede
amazing love for souls. A nobler,
a more disinterested example we cannot
follow than theirs
I hope we shall all
feel it our privilege to keep up the most

church

is

called to

since her light

is

forests of the north, could ever

iheir

We

friendly correspondence with them.

them heartily

will thank

to tell

us

how

of his rising," that "her sons they did the good, that we may go and
should come from far, and her daughters do likewise: a better way we cannot
should be nursed by her side." At your devise than theirs for it has answered
leisure read the whole of the chapter, the end ; souls have been brought to

ness

and take encouragement therefrom, to set

about this blessed work of God, with all
your hearts, and all your souls, and all
your strength. Convinced therefore, from
the word of prophecy, that greater things
are to be done than ever yet have been
done, let us encourage ourselves in our
God, waiting with holy expectation till
other nations " shall cast away their idols,

they that do not speak

honourably of their mission do
themselves the greatest dishonour. But
I will take the liberty to remark one odd
fancy of theirs ; they suppose that the
soul of a poor man is equally valuable,
Christ thereby

most

of God, as the soul of a rich

man, and they have ever proved it, by
going among the most abject of mankind.
that they have made, to the moles and to
What has been also done by our own
the bats, and turn unto the Lord."
Yes, government, by sending out some valuamy beloved, may not even we, that now ble missionaries to the East Indies, decompose this solemn assembly, live in serves a token of acknowledgment; and
humble hopes, that ere long we may see I heartily pray that the Arminian Methoin the sight

some devoted missionary returning, in

holy triumph, to this his native land, with

dists, so called in their mission,

some

and the

detested idol, that has robbed the

great Jehovah of his honour, renowned

and adhered tg, by its once deluded votaries, now, in the midst of the congregation, exhibited the sportive triumph of all
And, further, may we not
our hearts'?
expect to behold some humble convert
himself, blessing God in the midst of us,

may send

a free grace gospel thoughout the world

attempt set on fool by our Baptist brethren, I trust, will be crowned with
and though our difference
large success
about the ordinance of baptism may conlate

strain us to act in different lines, and they

cannot permit us to communicate with

them, yet we are determined to be up
with them, for both they, and others, if
for the work of this glorious day, in con- they love the Lord Jesus in sincerity,
sequence of which his soul was brought shall be most heartily welcome, whenever
out of darkness, to behold the marvellous they please, to communicate with us.
light of the gospel of Christ?
Our design is all the same no matter
And we have recent instances before for the name of the boat that ferries over
us, that greatly encourage us to the work. the poor benighted sinner into the land of
I am very glad to mention the conduct of gospel light and liberty, provided the
our Moravian brethren in this respect; blessed work be but accomplished. I
their zeal, their patience, and disinterested hate bigotry with my soul ; and while so
diligence in the like work, are beyond the many gospel ministers of different deno:

words can reach, and our gracious Lord has astonishingly blessed their
praise that

minations assemble together, for the same

purpose, I

still

hope

to live to see

it

sub-

GLORIOUS DISPLAYS OF GOSPEL GRACE.

4G1

no more, to divide the Christian from

the Christian; while each of us serves

leave themselves behind them; with holy

triumph they must be taught to say, Fare-

God

well, my dear native land, farewell to all

the ease and happiness, and earthly indul-

sist

in his

as brethren

own

line,

why

cannot

we

love

Let names, and sects, and parties

Jesus Christ be all in all.

gencies

have enjoyed therein

welcome

affliction, necessities, distresses

kind
I confess, in the simplicity of

fall,

And

labours,

my heart, now

dread

no

of every
watchings, fastings, I
more. Welcome a life

some expressions have dropped from now to be spent in journeying often, in

my lips, which I never designed on this perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in
very solemn occasion
perils by the heathen, in perils in the
I am sure your
patience and candour will instruct you to city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils
forgive; but we must be serious, serious by the sea
yea, welcome weariness and
indeed, while we conclude with some painfulness, hunger and thirst, cold and
remarks, on what ought to be the charac- nakedness; yea, welcome death itself,
ter of the missionaries themselves.
whenever the blessed Lord himself, who
And what manner of persons should died for me, demands that costly sacrifice
these indeed be, in all holy conversation at my hands.
These are the men that
and godliness
How full of that hea- shall be made more than conquerors over
that

venly mindedness and spiritual mindedness which shall raise them so far above
the world, as though they had scarce an
existence in it
what a holy burning zeal
for the salvation of souls
and what wisdom from above to conduct that zeal
what purity of knowledge to deal with
those whose deep-rooted fondness for
I

their ancient superstitions will

the difFiculties that

human prudence,

would present before us, to

impede the way.
Human wisdom, we well know, would
or unbelief,

soon puzzle herself in the undertaking;

while her little taper is brought to find
the

way through

darkness of

the

the

night, she only appears to add blackness

make them and

watch, with a jealous eye, over every

attempt to declare among them the truth,
as it is in Jesus.
Nor should their patience, meekness,
and childlike simplicity, be less eminent
than their zeal. They must win by love,
and conquer by holy perseverance; they
must not be like some sort of missionaries, who suppose they are to be sent a
pleasant voyage at the public expense
but they must be men "that count not
their lives dear unto themselves, so that
they may finish their course with joy,
and the ministry which they have received
of the Lord." Men that can be contented,
out of pure love to Christ, to stand in
jeopardy every hour. They must not
only live like martyrs, but perhaps die
like martyrs; we know not but the ancient proverb of the primitive Christians is
again to be revived, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church ; they must
be as dead to themselves as if they had
no being they must be completely crucified with Christ; in short, ere they embark upon the work, they must learn to
;

all

obscurity to

all

things beyond the

little

region her rays can reach

when

the sun shines forth, he spreads his

light

upon the most distant objects, and

every path

is

but,

plain before us.

Some may have apprehensions

that

can be done, because miracles are

wanting, and the gift of tongues is withdrawn. Doubtless, Peter had a notable
proof at hand of the doctrine he preached,
little

lame man was leaping in the

been healed by the name
But
of the Lord Jesus but just before.
wiiile the

temple,

who had

never cease, while souls are

God ; nor will tongues be
ever wanting, while the wonderful change
wrought by the grace of God so loudly
miracles

converted to

bespeaks the praises of his wonder-worklet heathens see what grace

can do on a real convert; and we need
not any further be discouraged for want
ing power;

of miracles and tongues.

And

that spirit

of unanimity and zeal which has hitherto

attended the work is a happy sign that

good shall be done while the torrent runs

with such rapidity, for the accomplishment of so good a design^ I would not for
;

2a2

THE BRITISH

462

PULPIT.

"I call him a Pharisee," he

" who, being full of himself, or too
sensible of the esteem of men, seeks in
his actions, however otherwise good and
holy, his own glory, and not the glory of
God. Consider, if you are not of this
number. With what dispositions did you
commands that we exert ourselves for his begin your studies 1 With what selfglory.
DifTiculties there doubtless are
complacence do you contemplate your
and an abundance of prayer, pruder'ce, progress in them]
What satisfaction
and holy zeal, will be necessary to con- have you in thinking of your dignity of
duct the work ; but God can provide all doctor?
Of the gifts with which heaven
the world but appear on

tlie Lord's side,

" Curse ye Meroz,
said the angel of the Lord ; curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, because they
came not to the help of the Lord to the
help of the Lord against the mighty,"
No, my brethren, the providence of God
o-n

occasion.

this

proceed.

said,

that is

necessary to carry on his

own way

own

and we have
nothing to do but to follow as he condescends to lead. Thanks be to God for
the unanimity, and good will, that have

work,

in

his

has favoured you?

them
have

Listead of referring

the glory of

to

your love, and

all

God, who should

all your trust, you

much; and thus, with

your knowledge, you are really ignohitherto subsisted among us; and may rant; and, with all your labours, sermons,
we still be found steadfast, unmoveable, and writings, you do little good. Your
always abounding in the work of the doctrine is heavenly; the word of God is
Lord, forasmuch as we are assured that often on your lips; but, in consequence
our labours shall not be in vain in the of your want of humility, you yourself
Lord!
do not relish the truths which you teach,
and they produce little effect on your
hearers.
The pure in heart, who seek
VANITY REPROVED.
God alone, are shocked by your sermons,
Taulere was a popular preacher be- which contain many good things, but
longing to the church of Rome, in the abound loo much with yourself." Here
thirteenth century. He had just delivered the layman paused.
For some time
a sermon on the best means of attaining Taulere was silent: he was confounded
the height of spiritual perfection, which with the clear view which, for the first
was highly applauded. A poor, but holy time, he had of his vanity and defects;
layman, came to him soon after, and by a but it was the moment of grace. " I
faithful address, made him sensible how acknowledge," he said to his instructer,
much he fell short of the doctrine which " the truth of all you say. The Holy
he had inculcated and concluded by tell- Spirit speaks by you to me. You read
ing him that he was little better than a into my heart; God alone can enable you
Pharisee.
Up to that word, Taulere to do it I was a stranger to my heart;
heard the layman with patience; but it complete what you have so well begun ;
then failed him, and he began to justify you are my guide, my teacher, my
himself with some warmth ; but his in- master." Appendix to Builcr''s Life of
flexible reprover would not allow him to Fenelun.
regard yourself too
all

SERMON

L.

RECOGNITION IN HEAVEN.

BY THE REV.

"

That

Then

shall

I know even as

the soul of every

R.

also

man who has

W.

HAMILTON.

lam known." 1

Cor.

xiii. 12.

to receive an appropriate and a

worthy impression of this fact, is far
souls of
more difficult than its bare attestation.
dreds
still
is
fact They who have quitted jhis earthly scene
which we, perhaps without any examina- have scarcely left a trace of themselves
tion, readily allow.
We cannot but ac- behind the arrow has flown, and the air
knowledge at least, when particularly has quickly closed upon the passage;
pressed
that this being which is given the leaf has fallen, and is mixed with
to us shall be perpetually carried out, the earth around the parent tree
the
shall be eternally prolonged, a dawn raindrop has sunk into the ocean, and is
without an eve, a race without a goal. lost in its depths. Our general and
We must further confess, that, whatever lesser conceptions touching the dead is,
was the impression produced upon these that they are no more, that they are exspirits during their sojourn upon earth, tinct, that they have perished
but, surenever were they so conscious of what ly as ourselves now live, exercising our
was present, so mindful of what was faculties and entertaining our emotions,
past, as in their actual state now.
Nor these spirits, no more within our range,
shall we refuse to concede that their with a mental activity to us unknown,
moral identity is unchanged, that they now muse, now revolve, now look backare the creatures of the same accounta- ward, now look forward, only more inbility as before, and that their present tensely, because their intellectual escondition is linked together with their sence is undiverted, is unincumbered,
former history, as necessarily as indis- and nothing can occur to dog its opera-

the
every generation, including hunof millions,
exist
a

hitherto

died

is

living

still

truth,

that

tions, or to fix it in forgetfulness or in-

solubly.

We

come, then, to this dread conclu- difference.

that every man who ever thought
Surely there is something very solemn,
sion
is still thinking; that every sensibility quite overpowering, in this anticipation
:

that ever felt

sciousness

still

feels; that every con-

revives

itself;

memory recalls itself;

vidual who has departed

that

every

of

my

future

know even

being;

as also

"Then shall I
am known;" that

there will be a clearness and certainty

around me, no prejudice, no distorting
tered into eternity, and is still distinctly medium, no unsettling estimate, no tremuand vividly alive to all the scenes of that lous light; and that this same clearne.sa
mortal period which is past, and of that and certainty will not only shine around
immort;il economy which has succeeded me, but shine through me, so that as
little possible as it is for me to mistake
and superseded it.
But to be able to t^ke hold of this any thing will it be for others to mistake
463
that every indithis life has en-

THE BRITISH

464

me ; I can no longer wear a mask ; I can

no longer practise an imposition ; I intuitively know, and as intuitively am
known. What will be the soliloquies of
a separate spirit in an eternal sphere 1
May such soliloquies be conceived ] " In

PULPIT.

should bring near to ourselves for our

brethren and our kinsmen, sainted and
;

glorified

in

heaven, have their present

beatitudes, their present splendours, their

Let us think of them,

us by a
a far distant world I emerged to exist- veil, and as absolutely and truly thinking
My transition and feeling as any of ourselves. But
ence, I awoke to tliought.
through that mysterious state of existence that veil will soon be torn aside ; we
was as rapid as it was momentous. The shall soon ourselves have entered that
change that I had foreknown by the name region of spirits. Will there be those
who shall be ready to welcome us 1 Shall
I was carof death at last fell upon me
ried to this far-off scene. The stars have there be those whom we ourselves can
That is not a barren specufallen from heaven, the sun is darkness, remember]
lation
it is that which surely has entime is no longer but I am what I was
I have the same in- gaged every thinking mind and every
I was what I am.
Let us attempt for a
strumentality of reflection; I have the susceptible heart.
same capacity of feeling. Strange and few moments to present the evidence on
which we rest the credibility of the fact,
avk'ful as the surrounding phenomena, I
am my own self." Then, brethren, we that we shall know when we meet each
shall have reached the result, then we other in the inheritance of light.
shall have grasped the conclusion
the
I am not opposed or insensible to evifever of the world will have ceased, all dence of rather an equivocal kind
evidence of unassisted reason and of undeits present
delusions will have fled
we shall " know even as also we are ciphered imagery. For when we are
known."
told that there is a demonstration of the
It is a relief, in considering that great eternal power and Godhead in the things
interminable monument of our future that are seen, do we resist that demonbeing, in pondering that universal per- stration ] Or when we are informed that
ception which we shall take of others, in the very instincts and in the very
and others shall take of us, to institute yearnings of the human bosom, there is
such an inquiry as this
Will Christian a pledge of immortality, do we tread that
friends then meet will they recognise pledge scornfully into the dusf?
And
each other ? There are many of us oc- let reason be however uninformed, and
cupying places here who have not only a let nature be however uninterpreted, the
thought of the present and the future ; barbarian and the savage have loved the
we cannot withstand a thought of the tale of the blue mountains and of the
past.
Our fathers worshipped in this shadows behind them, where their anmountain
here have communed with cestral shadows are awaiting their own
us, in earlier or in later passages of our arrival.
And is not this the very voice
being, those whom we have known, and of the human intellect, and the very conthose whom we have loved.
May I be firmation brought in aid of the doctrine
permitted to say, that, in casting my eye by the human heart ?
And it is not only
over the present assembly, I am only those who are rude, those who are the
struck with vacancy, bereavement, and uncivilized children of the forest and of
loss; scarcely a familiar face do I see; the wild, who have thought and surmised
and I know not whither to turn to find this, but those of more polished educasome friend of my infancy and my youth. tion, and more refined culture " O, reBut is there an absolute privation ] Are nowned day," exclaimed the Roman orathose spirits of life, and of power, and tor, " when I shall have reached the
of tenderness, quenched 1
We must divine assemblage of those minds with
think of heaven as an existing reality. which I have congenial predilections,
speak of it as if forgetting that it is and shall escape this untoward and unonly future to us. It is that which we congenial throng!"
but depart,"
present songs.

therefore, as only separated from

We

"We

RECOGNITION IN HEAVEN.
same

Baid the lyrist of the

"

nation,

to

meet our jEneas, and our Tully, and our

Ancus."
We are shadows as well as
dust.

arguments which we
which
are more scattered, and which lie upon
the very surface of things ; arguments
which we seize before we enter that
branch of evidence which is more direct,
positive, and overwhelming.

But

there are

think more conclusive than those

We

observe, that the cuntrary conclu-

sion implies a destruction which

is

quite

opposite to the dealings of God with our

If I do not know in heaven
nature.

whom

those

have known here, there

it

465

would be within his knowledge, within

the range of his intellectual sense?

Now, heaven, we generally suppose

and suppose upon scriptural evidence
is

the

consummation of our present hap-

piness, differing in degree, but not in nature.

And what makes

earth

than

us happier upon
acquaintance]
"I
have no greater joy," said the beloved

disciple,

walk

mutual

" than

to

hear that

my

children

and was that joy entirely

torn from his spirit, and was there no
comparable gem bound in his crown
when he passed from this world of distraction and discord, to that element and
that region where, like himself, all was
serenity and love ?
Therefore if we
have pleasure in such knowledge and
recognition now, it is not a forced or a
in truth :"

must have taken place an imperfection in

my mind there must be some breach
of the judgment; there must be some
abridgment of my memory there must violent inference that that pleasure will
be some failure in my mental constitu- be heightened and confirmed where all is
;

Now, we cannot suppose that that

has taken place without an immediate
agency on the part of God and thus we
must suppose that God blots out some
of the exercises of the mind and of the
tion.

But

recollection.

this

seems quite op-

posite to his ordinary dealings with us;

there

is

universe

no such law as destruction in his

there may appear to be decay,
;

but that which

is

decayed

is

always

re-

produced in its own or in some foreign

form
and therefore, unless there was
the strongest proof that we should not
know each other, we should argue that
:

it

was contrary

to all that

we might

infer

concerning the divine conduct, and proceeds upon the idea of mutilating and
injuring the human mind, making it
something inferior and unequal to what

we

see

it

now

is.

But then the converse can scarcely be

doubted
rits,

those

guilt
other,

that, in the region of lost spi-

who have

been companions in
shall recognise each

and crime
and that the scorn, and the taunt,

happiness, because

we

believe

cognition and friendship

all

is re-

it is impossible to think that

be without a history and without
a name; some, we know, will be preeminent, will be distinguished
we shall
sit down with Abraham, and with Isaac,
and with Jacob, in the kingdom of God.

Besides,

all will

And

will all other spirits

flit

before us

unstoried and nameless, so that

we

can

nothing in their history and

identify no association in our thoughts ?
Were we to adopt only this more general
evidence, we should be almost obliged to
adopt the conclusion that spirits meet and
recognise each other in bliss, because the
contrary supposition implies an imperfecrecollect

tion of absolute

enjoyment, a mutilation

by the Author of the human mind of the

mind itself; because the contrary supposition, that the sorrows of the lost ag-

gravate their

own misery by such know-

ledge, scarcely ever has been disputed

and because also likewise future happiness is but the carrying on the enlarge-

ment and perpetuity of present happiness; and because some will bear with
" Art them a name and interest, and a thou-

and the defiance, shall greatly aggravate

the torments of hell

so that

we may

easily suppose that they shall say,

thou become like one of us?" And if sand recollections and sacred associations;
so we can easily imagine that the hapthe lost spirit dreaded the thought of his
five brethren being plunged into the same piness of heaven will be augmented by
fiery deep, did it not involve the neces- its not being confined to a few, but being

sary consequence that,

Vol. II.59

when

so plunged,

true of all.

THE BRITISH PULPIT.

466
But
eucli

Scripture

let

cases

all

upon a reward: they did not deny that

a just and

they contemplated a reward, and a refull and comprehensive; but it was

a reward not of this world, not of its
withering palms, or its uncertain riches:

decide;

we must have

for

in

humbling sense of our weakness, the ward

of our knowledg-e,

limitation

we

little

that

make

our own.

the very
can seize, and define, and

When

David thought of

it

his dying child, he agonized in fasting

was

reward which consisted

in the salvation, and

conversion,

in

the

in

the

when tliat child was glory of those spirits whom th^y had inand in prayer
taken away he summoned resolution; he strumentally rescued and saved, "For
found encouragement: and this was the what is our hope, or joy, or crown of re" Now he is joicing? Are not even ye in the presence
language of his song
dead, wherefore should I fast?
Can I of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming
bring him back again? I shall go to For ye are our glory and our joy." " Tliat
him, but he shall not return to me." I may rejoice in the day of the Lord that
That his head should recline on the same I have not run in vain, neither laboured
clod ? or that his body should be devour- in vain."
"Look to yourselves, that ye
ed by the same reptile? or that he should receive a full reward." "That we may
be lodged in the same grave with him ? present every man perfect in Christ Jethink far more is meant; here is an sus."
Now all this, surely, is confirmaintimation of immortality, and of the tion strong, the confirmation of Holy
communings of two spirits in that im- Writ, that the apostles anticipated a remortality.
And the same remark may ward, and that that reward cannot, for a
be made (however common the phrase) moment, be separated from the recogniwhen the pious are said to die and to be tion of those who were the fruits of their
" buried with their fathers." It is chill- ministry, and the seals of their zeal.
ing and repulsive to think that the cemeBut when it is necessary to insinuate
tery only is referred to, and that there is kindly and soothing solace more disno mingling of the departed except in tinctly and more impressively into the
the dust of the sepulchre.
mind, the veil is raised, the eternal world
There are other phrases (for we shall is developed. "I would not have you to
be ready to go from a dispensation where be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
there was much obscurity, to another which are asleep, that ye sorrow not,
which has brought light and incorruption even as others which have no hope. For
to light)
there are many phrases in the if we believe that Jesus died and rose
latter portion of the Christian Scriptures, again, even so them also which sleep in
which we think, are not only allusory, but Jesus will God bring with him. For
" Know- this we say unto you by the word of the
whicli are absolutely decisive.
ing," said the apostle of the Gentiles
Lord, that we which are alive and remain
"Knowing that he who raised up the unto the coming of the Lord, shall not
Lord Jesus Christ, shall also raise up prevent them which are asleep. For the
us also by Jesus, and shall present us Lord himself shall descend from heaven
with you." And again, he adjures those with a shout, with the voice of the archto whom he writes, "by our gatherino- angel, and with the trump of God
and
together unto Jesus Christ."
Analyze the dead in Christ shall rise first: then
each statement, reduce it to what shape, we which are alive and remain shall be
try it by what rule yon please, there caught up together with them in the
Beems to be a banishment of all point clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and
and of all spirit, unless you suppose that so shall we be ever with the Lord."
they will know each other when raised
Now, granting that the doctrine is
up and presented together, and gathered rather assumed in Scripture than stated
together, unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
and illustrated, yet as all was truly imTo prove how disinterested was the plied, what testimony can be more disspirit and purpose of the first Christian tinct, what evidence more perfect, than
teachers, they always rested their labours that which we have now cited in your
:

'

We

RECOGNITION IN HEAVEN.

467

When standing near the grave of dare all the perils and the vicissitudes of
cars?
Bethany, our LonJ says, " Believesl thou Jerusalem's siege, all the horrors and all
this]" and when, more directly, "Thy the afflictions which were coming upoQ

again;" wa? it that the devoted city

" Here we have no
be absorbed and lost continuing city, but we seek one to
in the myriads and the millions of spi- come."
In the mean time charity was
rits; so tiiat the sisters who had lately to "cover the multitude of sins;" they
laid hi.Ti in the grave should see him and were to " let brotherly love continue."
know hi:n no moreT But what has ap- How unnatural to think that this was all
peared to me a passage more completely pent up within the present earth, and
pertinent than any other is, that in which that in heaven those amiable feelings
the inspired apostle addresses Philemon. should enjoy no scope, and enjoy no
Onesimus had wronged him, but, by a expatiation
providential course, the blind had been
The process of judgment seems to inled by a way which he knew not, and clude this recognition of each other.
A
directed by the apostolical preaching, he cup of cold water given to a disciple in
had become " a brother beloved in the the name of Jesus shall not be without
brother shall
that brother

rise

was

to

Lord."

How

was

the

how was

paired, and

wrong

to

be

re-

the injury to be

reward.

its

those

who

The

Saviour,

are before

him

specifying

shall say,

"I

was an hungered, and ye gave me meat;

I
therefore I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink
departed for a season, that thou shnuldest was a stranger, and ye took me in naked,
I was sick, and ye
receive him for ever:'''' whicli would be and ye clothed me
altogether insignificant and unsuited, visited me; I was in prison, and ye came
Now, this is reflected in the
unless there was in the heavenly world unto me."
" For perhaps,"
correspondent
"perhaps he
overlooked

said

the

which we persons of those who are in the crowd :

" Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one
of the least of these my brethren, ye
from him for a season that he might (so have done it unto me."
Then, when we go further, and conhad Providence overruled, and grace disider the Christian doctrine upon the
rected it) receive him for ever.

such

a recognition as that for

contend, where a Philemon should see

his converted slave who had departed

And

very

frequently

mementos made

plain

there

are

very

in the Siicred writ-

concerning those who have gone

and those mementos surely
are that we should carry our recollections, not to the tomb, but that we should
project our thoughts and our memories
into the world where all is light and all

ingfs

before us

destruction and the overthrow of death,

the triumph which has taken place over

monster, we find that the sacred

writings abound in hints of illation and

that

"Thanks be to God who

giveth us the vi-ctory through our Lord
of evidence.

Jesus Christ."

"Death

up

"

in victory."

is

swallowed

death, where

is

thy

" Be ye followers of them sting]

grave, where is thy victory ]"
who through faith and patience inherit Now, this implies that all that death has
the promises."
In their inheritance of done of evil and of pain shall be comthose promises were they not to be known, pensated, that the victory shall be stripor not to be remembered, by us who at- ped from him, that the sling shall be
the
tain to the same inheritance? " Remem- taken from him, and that, in fact,
ber them which have the rule over you, chasm shall be filled up. But what has
who have spoken unto you the word of been a more bitter consequence of death
whose faith follow, considering than bereavement the separation from
God

is

known.

and the loss of friends ] How,

can it be said
It is necessary, to complete this sooth- if that is never repaired,
grave
ing consolation, to think of this world that death has no sting, that the
which they inherit, and to anticipate our has no victory] How is it that you are
" Here," said the enabled to shout that cry over the coffin,
union with them.
mausoapostle to those who were about to en- and over the hearse, and over the
the end of their conversation."

relations,

THE BRITISH PULHT.

468

leum, but that the dead shall live

that they shall arise from the dust
that

you

but
but

know them when

shall

reor-

when you shall

ganized and reanimated
meet them, spirits in glory and in bliss ]
The very triumph, therefore, which is to
be achieved evolves, according to your
preacher's apprehension, that that wliich
is the principal bitter and evil in death

commencement of

the

ime

that high and sub-

familiarity, yet that familiarity will

commencement.

require

we go

haps, as

And

on, circle

then, per-

after

circle,

knowledge added to knowledge, endearment heaped upon endearment, as by a

sort of intuition

Moses and an
even as also

we

knew a
may we know

the disciples

Elijah, so
are

known.

It may, perhaps, be further contended,

made up to us. And how can it
be made up but by our reunion with that we shall be too much engaged in our
own happiness to heed the enlargement
those from whom we are now severed !
But think of the happiness of the hea- of that happiness in the knowledge of
venly world. Will all remembrance of others. But let us pause for a moment,
that world which we have left be sus- and demand what knowledge is there

shall be

pended

we

Shall

not

think

of

the

that

we

require for this happiness.

Is

it

means of our conversion what we have the knowledge of esteem, and of love,
done for cithers what others have done and of friendship 1 And there is no hap" Thou piness in religion which is contracted and
for us? Hear the new language
So that we may look around on
hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, selfish.

out of every kindred, and tongue, and

people, and nation."

Is not this a rush

of the past upon the soul

Is not this

And how

like living again?

could

that vast domain, and all that bloodbought multitude, and we may even- in-

all

quire their former condition, as well as

we gaze upon

their

present immortality

conceive of the zest and the vividness of and it will not be distracting to our own
the transport but by the contrast which happiness, to say, " Who are these, and
earth with all its vicissitudes, and sin whence come they ]"
And, therefore,

with

all its

We

our happiness not being narrow and cir-

sorrow, will supply]

cumscribed, we are happy in loving

others, in loving them even as they love
a clear doctrine of us.
And thus shall it be perfected in

therefore think that

ly an intimation, that

discovery, that

it

is

it

it is

is

not mere-

absolutely a

shall know each other

through infinite grace, we are " saved
even as they."
We are not at all, however, unconscious that objections may be raised
against this doctrine.
It may be said to
be a very restrictive one. Shall we not
range at all 1 Shall we not know all
that family of heaven, formed as it is
from the infinite family of earth] Let
us remember that eternity is before us,
and that the probability is, that we, in the
compass of that eternit}', may know and
enjoy them all. But from what centre

Scripture, that

we

if,

shall

How

we

at the earliest period proceed

we commence that joy that

be perpetuated and heightened
through the ages of eternity 1
Is it
restrictive and is it narrow to suppose
that those with whom we have taken
sweet counsel will be those whom we
shall

shall

first

shall address, or will be the first to

accost us

And though

it

shall be only

us:

we

shall dwell

in

God, and God

in us.

But

shall

we

not, (and

we honour

the

sensitiveness of the objection,) shall

we

not be so enrapt in

the

Lamb

the vision

of

so enamoured of the glory of the

beauty of

Him who

is in

the midst of the

throne, that there can be no vacancy in

our eye for the creature, and not one nook

in the heart in which a creature shall be

enshrined

There

is

something honour-

able but mistaken in the objection

cause, do

we

be-

not here honour the Sa-

Said Paul, "They glorify God

and there were those on earth
of
he spake, as being the glory of
Christ; Christ was therefore magnified
in them.
And when there are harpers
harping with their harps, and multitudes
viour?
in

me :"
whom

uniting

in vocal chorus, will not the

union of those sounds, and the swell of
those acclamations, induce each other to
love the Saviour as they are acquainted

RECOGNITION IN HEAVEN.
with each, entering into each other's
sympathies and each other's joy 1
But,

will be said, if

it

we

ber the good, must

evil

we

If

we

not

can rememremember the

recognise our beloved friends,

what we are, the taking from us that

which is gross and alloying. Now that
which makes us capable of loving must
always be honourable to us and what is
there more pleasingly associated with the
thought of home, than that there shall be
some welcome tone falling on ourears, that
there shall be some familiar feature reach:

must we not deplore the absence of those,

who, whatever was their guilt, were dear
to our bosoms, and were twined around
our hearts'? My brethren, the love which ing your eye

we owe

to

our unconverted acquaintance

and friends,

it is

not our purpose to con-

469

that there shall be something assuringand confidential in the manner of a few spirits grouped around us,

demn. Love them, and show that you

have much sorrow in your hearts for your
brethren and kinsmen according to the
flesh
but remember, that whatever you

who know us, who are unveiled to us, and

by whom we are as instantly recognised
as we recognise them
and these leading

deplore, on the supposition that they are

throne, taking the place of the very " mi-

now

us forward to the very footstool of the

any way put yourselves

nistering spirits sent forth to minister to

an antagonist attitude to the divine

will and the divine arrangement, there is

them who shall be heirs of salvation."

So that, angels having borne our spirits

or in

lost,

in

a feeling which

we denominate

ble feeling, but

which

ble, if

is in

it

divine law has

is

an amia-

really unamia-

contravention of what the

to the

heavenly threshold, there shall be

some of our best friends, our kindred

ready

demanded and denounced. them

to

meet

there,

us, and there to dwell with

for ever.

It

is

not,

Saviour, to

heaven
that forget thee that we think of them whom
in
part is done away, that thou hast loved, and whom we still love
You cannot to remember.
perfect is come.
There is an improvement to be made
conceive of that which is perfect in heaven, without the most entire absolute ac- of this subject, (which, I trust, will not
quiescence in what God has arranged, be regarded as curious speculation, but as
or what God has suffered. Then, though scriptural truth,) and it is this. Of course
this feeling will not arise and not dis- there are those who, by their incorrigible
tress, we can most easily presage, that and impenitent conduct, prove that they
there it is unknown, exactly because the have no desire to meet their sires in the
and realms of peace they love not the goodwill of God is done in heaven
whenever we ask, that that will may be ness here, and they desire not an incordone now, it is that it may be " done on ruption with the good for ever. All that
We know not we can understand and yet it may be
earth as it is in heaven."
that awful exultation which glorified that the disobedient child has sometimes
spirits raise over the downfall of their hugged the thought to himself, that his
spiritual adversaries ; but the smoke of happiness was necessary to the happiness
of a father who has extheir torment may arise, and yet they of his parents
shall cry "Hallelujah! the judgment of postulated, a mother who has wept; and
this has been the very thought and purthe enemies of God is come."

But you
which is
which is

are

perfect

in

But
tion,

is

not this an unworthy considera-

we might

that

live

indifferently

and, amidst those sweet glimpses of other

bright visions of heaven, which come on
spirits, might we not, at least, forget
and even reject those whom we loved 1
My brethren, we want nothing that rewe
verses the nature that God gave us
can find in religion nothing irrational,
every thing in relinothing unnatural

our

pose of their heart: "They cannot be

happy without me may I not therefore
be saved, even if it be by fire !" No
and let me particularly enter a caveat
:

against a sentiment like this, and protest

against that which is so unnatural, and

which

is

so unfounded.

is

Vol.

comcom-

miseration and that sympathy can stand

nothing but the refinement of you in some stead. There is an insensi:

gion

Little care you,

evidently, for parents' sympathy and

miseration, who only think that that

II.

2R

THE BRITISH

470

an ungraciousness, there

bility, tliere is
is

that

which

perfectly fiendish in the

is

suo'crestion itself.

But your parents

not then have

that

all

will

now belongs

to

PULPIT.

Know

impalpable abstraction?

Know

possible fact]

never can be denied

it

You

it

as a

as a fact that

take

away

the very zeal of piety by such criticisms

"Let him know that he Mho

for they will be as the angels of as these.
God they will not know what it is to converteth a sinner from the error of his
weep they will be perfect in their joy ways shall save a soul alive, and shall
And hide the multitude of sins" knowing
fls well as complete in their purity.
them,
;

(if

be then necessary and so ordered)

it

think not that your parents, for a moment,

would

forbid

the execution of the sen-

that he

who soweth and

he

who

reapeth

shall rejoice together.

But

this is a subject

which may teach

You

us to condole with each other, and a cir-

will not be able to cover their breast with

be

cumstance is involved in this subject

which makes us think more soberly of

grieve or

the future than of the present or of the

tence, or the stroke of the judge.

a single

shade of disquietude

able, for a single

wound

moment,

to

not

You have done your

their heart.

past.

you have done your worsi, but pa- young

There

are

some who

are

quite

assembly, and they think

rental kindness and sensibility will never they are surrounded with a world of
stand between you and the wrath of the friends. There are others who have arrived at middle age, and at absolute age.
Almighty.
This is a subject that should excite us Let me ask, then, if you are prepared for
to usefulness.
He who teaches in the heaven ] Is not this that which quickens
Sabbath-schools, and he who goes about the very thought of that heaven, that you
in the lanes and in the purlieus of the go to find more friends than you leave
This is the highest excellence,
city, what has encouraged him when most behind ]
disheartened, and fortified liim when most this is concentrated goodness, and though
relaxed ] That there is some one now his we reflect not on the present, and, least of
last,

persecutor

who

shall be his eternal joy

who is throwing all his

upon him who shall rejoice with
the mansions of their common

all,

in

this

despair of the future, believing that

that there is one

the very saints of the

ridicule

populate our earth

him

in

Most High

yet why are our

ings so lacerated, and

shall
feel-

our affections so

What is heaven but thereteacher of the thwarted 1

mind. There is a gaining of so much as we have lost, and
child most hopeless and apparently most much more than we can ever hope to find ]
irreclaimable; a few more years the child
Therefore, my brethren, though we
is lost to the teacher, the teacher to the give all glory to God and to the Lamb,
child; and now the teacher, unnoticed though we tliink of that uncreated radiand unheard of, enters on his reward. ance which spreads itself over the ever"What spirit comes and greets him now 1 lasting hills, though we think of the
That vacant face, (but O, you have made angels vvitii their harps, yet let us not
it radiant,) that idle hand, (but O
you forget, in the enumeration of all that behave taught it to strike the golden harp,) longs to heaven, in the enumeration of
that bitter voice, (but
you have made all those glories, and of all those feliciit musical with the anthems of heaven,)
ties, that there dwell those who once
live, and that very one over whom you dwelt below, that there walk those with
despaired, comes to bless you, to invite whom we once walked, that there sing
you, to repay you
those with whom we once sung.
But as
And is not this the very thought involv- we sung with them the sigh interfered^
" If any of and the tear frequently fell upon the
ing the fact of recognition
you do err from the truth, and one of you cheek ; but then we shall sing together,
convert him, let him know that he who and the song shall never fade, shall never
convertelh a sinner from the error of his drop, and shall never die away. " WhereFather's house.

child thus bear

let the

it

in

way

shall save a soul alive, and shall hide

the multitude of sins'?"

Know

it

as an

fore

comfort ye one anothei with these

words."

Amen.

SERMON

LI.

THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE WORLD A SOURCE OF CHRISTIAN

SYMPATHY.

BY THE REV. JOHN BOWERS.

"And

the Lord said unto him. Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem,
a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh, arid that cry for all the abominations that
be done in the midst thereof."
Ezek. ix. 4.

and

set

EzEKiEL, one of the greatest of the too, hearkened to the voice of false proJewish prophets, arose at a dark and ca- phets, and remained in their rebellion
laoiitous

period

in

the

history

of that

Their king, their princes, their

chief noblemen, had been carried captive
by Nebuchadnezzar into Babylon. Ezekiel, with many of his countrymen, was
placed on the banks of the Chebar, a
river of Mesopotamia.
It was here, far
from Zion, the city of their solemnities,
amidst the sad remembrance of departed
nation.

Ezekiel, with inspired conand fortitude, inveighs against

their aggravated hypocrisy and wickedness, and boldly exhorts them to re-

and idolatry.

fidence

pentance

he describes the

still

greater

desolations that were yet impending over

Jerusalem

and, beholding their universal

apostacy, predicts the

total

destruction of

and temple ; and yet, to sustain

joys, the gloom of captivity, the sighing their desponding hopes amid all their
of the prisoners, and the scorn and deri- sufferings, he proclaims, on their repentsion of the heathen population, that the ance, the promise of the divine forgiveprophet was favoured with the divine re- ness; and not only comforts them by the
velations that are contained in this book. assurance of their approaching deliverHis countrymen, who were still left in ance, under their deliverer Cyrus, but
Judea, notwithstanding the divine judg-

their city

directs their attention to the

still

more

glorious redemption under the peaceful

ments, remained awfully impenitent;
Jerusalem was still the theatre of the sovereignty of the Messiah ; and though
raos-t audacious crimes; the temple itself fallen were their altars, and desolate their
was still defiled by the most flagrant sanctuaries, and dishonoured in chains of
abominations.
The prophet Jeremiah, captivity their princes, yet he describes
who denounced the vengeance of God what, in prophetic vision, he had been
against their accumulated transgressions, permitted to behold, the structure of a

was

insulted, persecuted, and his

mes- new temple, and the erection of a new

sage rejected. False prophets abounded

amongst them, who predicted the speedy
downfall of Nebuchadnezzar's dominion,

polity,

which

was

not

accomplished on the return

only

literally

to their

own

but in the establishment of the

and the return, after the brief interval of universal church, a temple which shall
two years, of their captive king and coun- be filled with the glory of the Lord, and
land,

The exiles on the river Chebar, within whose hallowed courts the regeunsubdued by the calamities they nerated nations of the whole earth ^jhall
These mighty
had suffered, refused to acknowledge the assemble to worship.

trymen.
too,

justice of the divine chastisements

they,

predictions he clothed

in

extraordinary

471

THE BRITISH

472

PULPIT.

and sublime language, in allegorical re- the Lord's house, that he might witness
presentations, and images of obscure, yet the abominations there done by this apostate people.

majestic sublimity.

At the northern gate of the

midst of one of temple he was shown " the image of

the image of some idol god,
those mysterious visions by which the Jealousy"
whole book is so remarkably distin- or idolatry itself personified, and called
guished. The glory of the Lord appeared " the image of Jealousy," from the daring
to the prophet on the plains of Chebar. provocation which it oflfered to the maThere is seen the chariot-throne of God, jesty of Jehovah. At the door of another
magnificent and terrible beyond the ima- of its sacred courts he was shown seventy
All that of the elders of the people, the members
gination of uninspired man.
creation could contribute united to invest of their celebrated council, the sanhedrim;
It seventy of the ancient of the house of
it with unequalled pomp and majesty.
was surrounded by four most wonderful Israel, with each a censer in his hand,
and inexplicable animated forms ; it was worshipping every form of creeping thing
borne by wheels, wheels within wheels, and abominable beasts and all the idols
instinct with a living spirit. The throne, of the house of Israel portrayed upon the
which stood above the cherubim and sera- wall round about. Conducted to another
phim, was refulgent as fire its canopy of its sacred gates, still more revolting
was of crystal, ineffably resplendent. His scenes met his view.
There he was
feet were wrapped in the brightness of shown women weeping for Tammuz,
flames; lightnings flashed from his path- (the Adonis of the Greeks,) engaged
way; and around his head there flowed, within the sacred precincts of the temple
in mingled splendour, the resplendent in the impure and licentious worship of
colours of the rainbow.
He went, and the heathen deity. The prophet had not
his speed was as the whirlwind, and the yet beheld the whole of the dark picture:
rushing sweep of the chertibim's wings " Hast thou seen,"
exclaimed the voice
was as the noise of great waters ; he of the Holy One " hast thou seen this,
spake, and his voice was as loud thunder.
son of man 1 Turn thee yet again, and
The Divine Being, who, under these thou shalt see greater abominations than
circumstances of such glorious, yet awful these." And he led him into the inner
magnificence, and clothed in such awful court of the Lord's house and at the door
majesty, had appeared to his servant, to of the temple, between the porch and the
appoint him to the ofl^ce he had selected altar, the spot hallowed by the most sahim to fill, again addresses him " Then cred rights of the Jewish religion, he was
I beheld, and lo
a likeness, as the shown twenty-five men with their faces
appearance of fire from the appearance towards the east, worshipping the sun
of his loins, even downward, fire: and towards the east. " Hast thou seen this P"
from his loins even upward, as the appearreiterated, in a tone of righteous indigance of brightness, as the colour of amber. nation, the voice of God to his servant
And he put forth the form of a hand, and " hast thou seen this,
son of man ]
Is
took me by a lock of mine head
and the it a light thing to the house of JuSpirit lifted me up between the earth and dah, that they commit the abominations
the heaven, and brought me in the vi- which they commit here]
for they have

Our

text occurs in the

sions of

God

Jerusalem, to the door of filled the land with violence, and

the inner gate that looketh toward the returned to provoke me to anger;
north ; where was the seat of the image lo! they put the branch to their
of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. Therefore will I also deal in fury
And, behold, the glory of the God of eye shall not spare, neither will I
to

was there, according

saw in the plain.
he unto me. Son of man,

Israel

to the vision

Then

that

eyes

now

was

transported to the holy city, and to

the

way toward

lift

said

up thine

the north."

He

have
and,
nose.

mine
have

and though they cry in mine ears

with a loud voice, yet will I not hear
them." In immediate execution of the
divine vengeance, the prophet next beholds six men, with each a slaughter
pity

THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE WORLD.

weapon

hand,
(an emblem, as it
is thought by some, of those invisible
powers who are sometimes charged to
execute judgment on guilty nations; or
representing, as others say, the Chaldees,
by whom the city was afterwards actually
destroyed,)
six men, with each a slaughter weapon in his hand, and one clothed in
purest raiment, with a writer's inkhorn
by his side. " He" that sat on the chariot-throne of the divine glory "cried in
in his

ing great, and the land

and the city

473
is

full

of blood,

of perverseness for they

hath forsaken the earth,
and the Lord seeth not. And as for me,
say,

full

The Lord

mine eye shall not spare, neither

have pity ; but I will recompense
their way upon their head."
And he
whose office it was to affix the distin-

also,

will I

guishing mark on the mourners, reported

the
ing,

accomplishment of his functions, say" Lord, I have done as thou hast

mine ears," saith the prophet, " Cause commanded me."

them that have charge over the city to
May we not, my Christian friends,
draw near, even every man with his de- adapt these words to the events of modern
stroying weapon in his hand." And they times, to the object of our present assemwent in and stood beside the brazen altar, bling, and to the condition of the world
as though prepared to offer the fearful at large]
The history of the Jewish
sacrifice which the justice of an insulted church developes the great principles on
Deity required. But, ere the victims are which the divine government is conbrought forth, the Shekinah, the glorious ducted. Those principles, as the perfecsymbol of the presence of the Lord, was tions of the Godhead, are invariable his
seen to remove from the inner sanctuary administration through all the revolutions
between the wings of the cherubim, its of time is essentially the same; the past
;

chosen place of rest, to the tlireshold of

the door, as though unwilling longer to
dwell, as though preparing to forsake a
house which had been so polluted by
these abominations. The Lord then thus
addresses him that had the inkhorn by
" Go through the midst of the
his side
city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and

and exhibits to us the plan of the

divine procedure toward the world at
" The things which happened to
large.
them," saith the apostle, " were for examples, (were for types,) and are written
for our instruction, upon whom the ends
of the world are come." The condition

men

of the existing population of the earth

that sigh and that cry for all the abomi-

presents abominations equalling in turpi-

mark upon

set a

the foreheads of the

is

a picture of the present and

of the

future,

nations that be done in the midst thereof."

tude and aggravation, and far surpassing

No

accomplished than

in

number, those which were disclosed

he said, in mine hearing.

Go ye after him, through the city, and
smite: let not your eye spare, neither
have ye pity; slay utterly old and young,
both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon
whom is the mark ; and begin at my
sanctuary,"
which had been so horribly
polluted by these abominable idolatries.

to

the eye of the prophet; and the perfec-

"

sooner

was

this

to the others

The

prophet, left alone

fell

upon his

intercession for

God

among

the dead,

and began to make

his people
"Ah, Lord

face,

wilt thou destroy

all

the residue of

Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury

Jerusalem!"

But God, with

upon

unrelent-

tions of the divine nature, and the princi-

ples of the divine government, being the

same yesterday, to-day, and for ever,

they must provoke, as certainly and as
severely, the indignation and abhorrence

and they demand from his peoreasonably and as urgently now

as then, those acts of holy lamentation
which marked the conduct of the few
who mourned over the idolatries of
of

God

ple, as

Judah and Jerusalem.

Suffer me, then, in the

first place, to

your contemplation, some of

THE most obvious MORAL EVILS WHICH
THE CONDITION OF THE WORLD PRESENTS
offer

for

any
TO GENERAL OBSERVATION. In the SCCOTld
suspend their punishment
"Then said he unto me, The iniquity of place, to dwell on the characte;r asthe house of Israel and Judah is exceed- cribed IN the text to the people op
2r2
VoL. II. 60
ing, yet righteous vengeance, refuses

longer

to

THE BRITISH

474

PULPIT.

it was interwoven
blended with their
literature, advanced with the creations
of their poetic genius, and sanctioned by

witnessing these abominations.

third place, to consider those
EXPRESSIONS ok THE DIVINE APPROBATION
BY WHICH THEIR CONDUCT IS DISTINGUISHED. Give me not only your attention, but, what 1 most earnestly need,
your sincere and earnest prayers, that
almighty God may attend tlie word of iiis
grace with the manifestation and power

idolatry flourished too;

of his Spirit.

features

God

In

in

the

with

their

history,

Let
Egypt, let Greece, let Rome tell, that
" the world by wisdom knew not God."
Amidst these its proudest victories idolthe practice of their philosophers.

the same distinguishing

which now mark its character.

atry exhibited

Their deities were perpetrators of crimes,

and patrons of vice ; their rites were sanguinary and polluted; and the tendency
of their worship demoralizing and degrading.
From age to age the delusion
Could we have been borne by that has been perpetuated ; and, wherever man
maji-stic hand and that invisible Spirit, is found in the unmitigated darkness of
which lifted the prophet between the his apostacy, we there behold him reearth and the heaven, to show to him the fusing to retain the knowledge of God in
idolatries of the polluted city ; could we his mind, and changing the glory of the

Our office, in the first place, is an

unwelcome one it is to survey those
MORAL evils WHICH THE CONDITION OF
THE WORLD MOST PROMINENTLY EXHIBITS
TO THE EYE OF THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.
;

be

thus

transported

to

explore

those

uncorruptible

God

image made
to birds, and

into an

man, and

regions of desolation, those dark places

like to corruptible

of the earth, those chambers of imagery,

four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

those valleys of the dead,

which

the

It

surface of the whole earth presents to the ject

is
:

humiliating to dwell on the sub-

the bare enumeration of the objects

which

pure eye of heaven ; 0, what an affecting

and heartrending spectacle of multiform
transgression and iniquity should we be-

to

hold

the

is

the living

addressed the worship di:e to

is mournful beyond de-

God

Man has worshipped the sun,

moon, the stars, the elements he has
Let me mention, in the first place, the worshipped the spirits of the dead; he
idolatry of pagan nations,
Jehovah cre- has populated the woods, the rivers, the
ated the fair and beauteous structure in mountains, the valleys, the gardens, with
which we dwell a place of perfect loveli- divinities; he has worshipped the brute,
ness.
The immortal creatures whose he has worshipped creeping things ; fishes
residence it became bare his unsullied of the sea and fowls of the air have been
!

scription.

he has worthe objects of his adoration

shipped his own image, the work of liis
own hands, wood and stone, gold and
first transgression despoiled our nature of silver; and, sinking to the lowest degree
these exalted attributes; the knowledge in moral degradation, he has worshipped
with which it had been endowed was devils, and not God. The character of

image, and reflected the beauties of their

Maker. " Him first, him last, him midst,"
they worshipped, loved, and obeyed. The

day is that
monstrous impiety, obscenity, and
adoration and affection of the Creator cruelty. The ceremonies of his idolatrous
degraded into an acknowledgment of worship are those of impurity and blood;
is
gods many and lords many.
It
parents have imbrued their hands in the
melancholy to observe at what an early blood of their own offspring; the hands
period in the history of the world idolatry of the child have grasped the flaming
arose, and to what an awful extent and torch to light the fire at the funeral sacriwith what rapidity its triumphs have fice of his own mother; thousands by
spread. In nations of the greatest anti- thousands of human victims have bled on
quity, in an age when civilization had their altars
extended plains have been
diffused its meliorating influence, when crimsoned with the gore, or, like one
pliilosophy and the arts fiourished, then vast sepulchre, whitened by the bones of
obliterated

by the deepest ignorance,

its

purity effaced by total depravity, and the

his imaginary deities to this

of

THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE WORLD.

their countless victims.

Their temples

have been the scenes of the most revolting crimes, and the most diabolical

these

are

not

475

" abominations," things

which kindle
awaken our deepest

hateful, things detestable,

our abhorrence, and

horror, what is there in the range of the

contemplate this as the condition of whole visible creation of which such
five or six hundred millions of the human language may be used ]
race chills the blood, and rends the heart
To another spectacle I would direct
with horror. To see the most populous your attention the imp'-.nitence and unbenations of the earth,
China, Japan, llie lief of the Jewish people. It is mournful
Birman empire, the greater part of Tar- to behold a magnificent fabric in desolatary, Hindostan, the kingdoms of Africa, tion and ruin. Who can survey greatness
the isles of the sea,
thus enslaved by fallen; who can see the branch of a noble

spectacles.

To

by the gross- family, once distinguished by every quality which could

make it illustrious,
traces of God's image reduced to abject poverty and distress,

iron superstition, brutalized

est

ignorance, debased by vices which

destroy the last

from the human soul, transform the man

into a brute or a fiend, and hurl him into
the abyss of eternity in hopeless darkness
and despair
!

without regret
then,

With

of the people once beloved and honoured

God above

of

others on the face of the

all

earth, the posterity of

"

My God, I
My bowels
And
And

mournful scene,
vearn o'er dyinj; men,
feel the

my

fain

piiy

of God, the

would reclaim.

snatch the firebrands from the flame."

If we contemplate those portions of the

earth which are under the delusion of Mahommedanism, the spectacle is scarcely
less mournful.

To

behold one hundred

millions of immortal creatures, the unfettered dupes of an

audacious and mon-

strous imposture, an imposture arrogating

unaffected sadness,

must we contemplate the desolation

Abraham

benefactors of mankind, the repositories

and guardians of the oracles of God, their
land the valley of vision, their history an
assemblage of miracles, their prophets
divinely inspired, their temple the joy of
the whole earth
its sacred courts hallowed by the visible symbol of a present
God, and its whole worship invested with
a superhuman splendour, and (surpassing
;

all

other distinctions) of

whom

name of religion, changing the truth came, who is over all, God
How glorious their
of God into a lie, mingling its sacred ever.
the

facts with

t!ie

most preposterous

fables,

and investing with the sanction of divine

authority the dreams and reveries of an
ambitious, cruel, and voluptuous tyrant;
to see the monstrous fable upheld by
entire nations, its murderous cimeters
brandished by the tribes of Arabia, Persia, Turkey, Egypt; brandished, too, to
support a system based in falsehood, propagated by violence and blood, withering
the rights which meliorate the condition
of our species, and the virtues which
exalt and bless it; inspiring a savage disposition, dictating a barbarous despotism
leaving the corruptions of the heart unrestrained, nay, fastening
rivets

by the allurements of

them

in iron

their sensual

the friend

heirs of his covenant, tha

Christ

blessed for
exaltation

How

They
deep and affecting their fall
crucified the Lord of glory, they imbrued
their hands in the blood of the Son of
God ; and wrath has come upon them to
the uttermost.
They have been the vic!

tims of the severest persecution and the

most unparalleled miseries;

their

temple

wasted, their city trampled down, their

land cursed, their name reproached, their
tribes scattered as

vagabonds, their name

a by-word and a hissing

And

condition.
exists

not less deplorable is their moral

True

it is,

among them;

idolatry no longer

true

it is,

that those

abominations which were shwn to the

prophet are no longer practised by them.
They hold the unity of the Godhead, but

they reject his word ; they believe his

prophets, but they reject the types which
objects do not deserve the application of they profess to reverence, and which in the
the expressive language of the text; if adveut and mediation of Christ received

paradise;

which

stimulating

level

man with

the

propensities

the brute

if

these

THE BRITISH

476

PULPIT.

accomplishment. Stricken with features, but not in the great outline of

we see antichrist sitting
blindness, they preserve the its character)
books which contain their own condem- in the temple of God, Christianity robbed
nation; and they still obstinately adhere of its finest attributes, its simplicity reto their former legal dispensation ; they jected, its doctrines associated with the
are still hardened against the gospel, and grossest errors, the most degrading superstill blaspheme the Saviour of the world.
stitions, and the most unhallowed pracUnbelief, the most stubborn and unyield- tices.
What rank abomination is it, that
their full

a judicial

from century

ing unbelief, inherited

century,

to

veils their understanding,

still

and perpetuates their calamity. Pagan

idolatry and the superstition of Mahommedanism have been vanquished by the
power of the gospel but the unbelief of
the Jew spurns it with an invincible obstinacy.
What an accumulation of guilt,
presenting us with no relentings, with no
mournful confessions of their abounding
;

crimes, their bigotry, their avarice, their

sensuality, their infidel

whom

denial

Him

of

they have crucified

By an infatuated confidence in the burdens of their
Talmud, and the reveries of their rabbins,
they are still making the word of God of

none

effect

by

and substi-

their traditions,

Jehovah the most

abominable rites and ceremonies; while
piety, the vital spirit, is extinct and dead.
Dreary and desolate is the scene; the
dead valley stretches to an extent which
the eye but indistinctly traces and everywhere is seen no symptom of returning
animation
no shaking is heard among
the bones; the silence of death is there;
the bones are motionless, and still mingle
tute for the religion of

with the dust.

Brethren, let us pray for

under sanction of Christianity the Bible

should be withheld from the people, (the
word of God, which is the birth-right of

human

every

being,)

these slain that they

may

live !"

have yet to contemplate scenes of

a deeply mournful character; not merely
the abominations existing in those parts
of the earth where the gospel is unknown,
but also those
professing

themselves

to be

found among nations

These divide

Christianity.
into

the

of the Roman
Greek church.

those

the purity of its sacred worship should be

degraded with the admixture of idolatry ;
and that for pure and undefiled religion
should be substituted a train of carnal
ordinances, an assemblage of corruption,
mummery, and imagery for the meekness and love of the gospel an intolerant
and bigoted spirit, which has lit the
flames of persecution, wellnigh filled
Europe with martyrs, and made its cities
to resound with the cries of their blood
And even where the Christian church is

reformed from these errors, what evils of

appalling magnitude exist, in
too,

with those

it

states,

and

the

existing

in

common,
the

papal

There we see skepticism producing the most fatal heresies deism

states

scoffing at the authority of divine revelation

infidelity

trampling on every thing

multitudes possessing only the

form of godliness multitudes possessing
not even
every
an
object general profligacy of
every form the havoc
manners vice
wrongs and
of
of war
very
establishment of
sacred

degree

insensibility to

in

cruelties

sla-

institutions

spirit

almost

exhibited

in

and

of Christianity-

form and
widely dissemi-

every

nated throughout the several classes of

community. These are facts; and I

have not exaggerated any of them. These
are scenes over which, while tears can
flow, the eye of Christian compassion
should never cease to weep.
But before I dismiss this painful and
the

distressing part of the subject, fidelity

two divisions we see (dif- requires me to advert to some circummay be, in some of the minor stances, in the state of our own country,

In these last
fering,

Protestant
Catholic,

that its

rupted with the grossest falsehoods; that

corruption

We

are thus left to

divine and saving truths should be cor-

" How long. Lord, wilt thou be

that
angry with them? Must thy jealousy religious
burn for ever? Come, thou compassionate and long-suffering Spirit, in the midst
the
of wrath remember mercy
come from
the
the four winds of heaven, and breathe on adverse to the

them

who

perish for lack of knowledge;

THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE WORLD

which demand from ourselves Abound

we

are to its welfare, and

dearest interests

are

in

And

as

bound as our policy

its

destiny)

faithful recognition.

477

within the circle of our domestic

I

must notice (and

do

in sor-

it

row, not in anger) the general exclusion

of

God

the reluctance to

acknowledge his

Previously to this, I would, for a mo- providence ay, the refusal to admit his
ment, glance at those circumstances of en- name into some of the public documents of
couragement, hope, and gratitude, which, a professedly Christian state. Our na-

notwithstanding our abounding ungodli-

amongst us.

ness, exist

you

would

refer

to the preservation of our national

blessings

the

continuance of our

gious privileges

reli-

the diffusion of useful

tional sins, Xoo, the sins of the

community,

we

cannot contemplate
them without the deepest horror and anguish.
I must first mention infidelity
are so fearful that

bold, reckless, desolating infidelity

dif-

knowledge the unexampled circulation fusing its poisonous influence through all
What practical infithe extent of the ranks of society.
of the word of God
blessings of education, (education, I trust, delity, what practical ungodliness, what
to a considerable degree, in the principles a rejection of the gospel of Christ, what

of Christianity)

the

word of God, Sabbath

our

cities,

large and

and towns, and villages

number of

increasing

devoted, and zealous

gospel
at

preaching of the
after Sabbath, in

the

pious,

ministers of the

the vast and imposing machinery

work amongst us

for the revival

and

an exclusion of religion from the ordinary

affairs of life, what a neglect of its public
ordinances
How many are there who,
!

though they
infidelity,

true or not.

encouragement given

grossest idolatry

in the

to

management

the

that

its

it

The awful

the Lord's-day

by

all

it

or
is

desecration of

classes of society;

intemperance open, shameless, disgustthe sin of profane

ing intemperance
swearing the audacious oaths, the name
of God blasphemed, death and damnation
sported with, even in common conversa-

tion

which
Our commer-

the sensuality and lewdness

outrage public decency

of cial sins, too; the impiety and licentiousness which to an awful extent pollute

our East Indian possessions. That idolatry should there be encouraged, yea, that
agents should be employed (pilgrimhunters, I believe they are called) to
recruit the wasting ranks of pagan worshippers

of

in their

is false,

of no importance whether

These, and many others which I might

enumerate, are the rays of sunshine
which relieve the deep and overspreading
darkness of the picture ; these are spots
of verdure amidst the sterility of the desert, upon which the eye fixes with gladness and fervent hope.
the

fortns

do either secretly and

think

In the catalogue of our abominations,

the

hearts believe that the Bible

extension of pure and undefiled religion.

mention

retain

still

Christianity, and fly at the imputation of

and disgrace the public press of the

country
the number of the ungodly,
constituting, not the exception, but the
great mass and multitude of the people

most revolting services The

flagrant character of our sins,

the

boldness and impudence which characshould be made a source of sordid gain

that for this purpose its temples should terize them, notwithstanding the advanbe supported from the public coffers that tages in the midst of which they are
it is not in the absence of
licentiousness and bloodshed should be committed
made a source of public revenue, (so that light, it is not in the destitution of means
to restrain from evil or to excite to good ;
it has been asserted, on good authority,
that in the course of a few years, from but in the existence of all these to an
yea, in contempt
four temples only one million of money unparalleled extent
was received by the East India Company) of all these, in defiance of all these, our

and

that these should be the acts of national sins have acquired their present
a Christian government, representing a enormous character.
Perhaps I may, just for a moment, noChristian nation, is an iniquity so daring
and outrageous that 1 know not in what tice some of those evils which, even in
the imaginary and professedly religious
terms to designate it.

THE BRITISH

478

PULI'IT.

world demand our mournful acknowledge- of mingled rffection p.nd pit}- the sighmeiit.
Yes, we perhaps have congratu- !ing of a wounded heart the groani^ig of
lated ourselves on escaping the more a l)nrdened and a broken spirit,
They not only sigh, but cry. This is
flagrant abominations of our countrymen;
hut, evcmmong ike prafessurs of religion, intended to denote, not merely their inhow low is the state of personal religion! tense and unceasing supplications to
how defective the standard of Christian God, but also their earnest and imploring

what

Both of
small service done for entreaties addressed to men.
comparison with our these, I apprehend, are intended in these
obligations and with our means)
what phrases they cry io God in the voice of

practice!

Christ (small

in

worldliness,
ness,

what

vacillation,

what

cold-

what formality, what sectarian

ani-

prayer and intercession ; they cry lo men

in the voice of expostulation, and warn-

ing, and reproof. They cry by their own

extravagance and ostentation
These, condemnation of sin by their own resistbrethren, are surely grievous in the eyes ance to its progress
by their individual
of God, who guards the purity of his and combined efforts lo exterminate, in
church with peculiar jealousy, and will every part of the earth, its accursed inflube sanctified by them who draw nigh to ence. They cry as wisdom lifts up her

mosity, what strifes and dissensions, what

him; these must appear peculiarly odious voice in the public places of the city as
and may well make us trem- Jonah in the streets of Nineveh and as
ble, if not for our country and for the the prophets were called to cry aloud,
church, at least for ourselves for, though and not to spare, to lift up their voice like
God deals with nations and communities a trumpet, to show the people their transin their social character, yet he deals with gressions, and the house of Jacob their
" O, our God
individuals separately.
sins.
what shall we say to these things ? We
This is not an occasional, not an inciblush, and are ashamed to lift our faces dental attribute in the character of God's
To us belong shame and people; it is attached to that character at
to heaven.
confusion of face
to our kings, to our every period of time.
At a very early

in his eyes,

we have sinned against thee

but still, to thee,
Lord God, belong mercies and forgiveness."
princes, to our fathers; for
:

Let me,

in

the second place, contem-

age

in

flesh

the history of the world,

had corrupted

Noah,

its

way

when

all

before God,

a preacher of righteousness, cried

out against the prevailing ungodliness of

his time.

Lot, amidst the impuri'

-^f

THE CHAUACTEK ASCRIBED TO THE Sodom, vexed his righteous soul i. in

PEOPLE OF God in witnessing these day to day.
Moses, oppressed with
ABOMINATIONS. They are described as anguish at the idolatries of the faithless

plate

who sin;/) and who cry over them.

The first of these expressive terms,

those

cried, with holy importunity,

" Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their
apprehend, is intended to describe thitr sin
and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out
silent i^riff, their tears in secret, the of thy book."
Isaiah, in a tone of most
meltings of their compassion over the pathetic melody, deplored the condition
sins and miseries of their fellow crea- of his countrymen: "Look away from
tures.
How different is this from the me; I will weep bitterly; labour not to
apathy of the ungodly, who partake and comfort me, because of the spoiling of
rej'iice in iniquity
It is to be distin- the daughter of my people."
David,
guished from the snarl of the cynic, and overwhelmed with the spectacle of surfrom the sarcasm of the mere satirist, and rounding impiety, cries out, "Rivers of
has more feeling and sincerity in it. It is water run down mine eyes, because they
to be distinguished from the affectation of keep not thy law."
Jeremiah, in a simisorrow, a sentimental and dramatic sort lar strain, exclaims, "O that my head
of mockery and grief; it is godly sorrow were waters, and mine eyes a fountain
it is holy grief
it is honest sympathy,
of tears, that I might weep day and night
deep, heartfelt commiseration
the tears for the slain of the daughter of my peo-

people,

THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE WORLD.

pie!"

Paul,

in

of the deepest

tones

sympathy, exclaims, "I say the

Christ;

not,

my

conscience also

me

witness in the Holy Ghost,

have great heaviness and continual

bearinff

that

lie

truth in

sorrow in my heart. For I could wish

that myself were accursed from Christ
for my brethren, my kinsmen according
to the flesh." And do examples here fail
me] No; I rise from man to God. .Tesus,
the only begotten of the Father, full of
grace and truth, most tenderly, most

479

bitterness; they have felt

power.

own

Sirs, they

sins,

That

is

of sorrow, that leads

to

Christian

for their
for the

a spurious, counter-

for the sins of others,

them

condemning

and therefore they mourn

sins of others.
feit sort

its

have mourned

men

to

mourn

but has not taught

weep over their own.

The
weeps over a world lost in

He

wickedness.

sees, and cares to see,

sin establishing, sin exercising, an

almost

universal dominion over our apostate race.

He

sees, and cares to see, sin inthralling

whole nations, sin shrouding them in
tion.
When did he survey the abomina- darkness, sin subjecting them to the
tions of the world, and not melt into pity vilest idolatries, the crudest superstiover them ? Behold him in his approach tions, withering every comfort, deepento Jerusalem: "When he saw the city, ing every wo, perpetuating man's curse
he wp.pt over it." Behold him stretched through the revolutions of time, extinon the accursed tree, atoning with his guishing the light of hope in his pathway
blood for the crimes we have committed, to eternal glory, and preventing his parti-

plaintively exemplified this divine affec-

and mingling, with his departing breath,

cipation of the divine nature.

" Father, furgive them,

they know not what they do." And

regenerate

are thus

takers

divine nature, and

the prayer,

for

if,

without presumption, I may ascend from

earth to heaven
the uncreated God, in
such measure as his nature is capable,
partakes of this emotion
it is a beam of
his glory ; it is a drop from the unbounded
ocean of his benevolence, the gushing of
his own tenderness, the response of that
affection which thrills through his heart.
Say I these things of myself ? Saith aot
the Lord the same also]
"As I live,
saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the
death of the sinner; but that he turn
from his way, and live." (O, what a
conflict of emotions do those words disclose
What a struggle between the
claims of justice and paternal love!)
" Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways
for why will ye die, O house of Israel 1"

And

again

"

When God saw

that

the

wickedness of man was great on the

earth, it repented the Lord that he had
made man on the earth, and it grieved

him at his heart."

But on what principle
affection in the people of

this

God

divine

What

They are
made par-

share the sympathy, to

hold fellowship with their Saviour, Jesus

are

exalted to

Christ; his joy

joy

is their

his grief is

their grief; his glory is their glory

what

he loves they love; and what he hates

they hate. "

Do

that hate thee

not

hate them,

am

and

thein with a perfect hatred

mine enemies."
This divine affection,

Lord,

not grieved with

those that rise up against thee]

;

hate

count them

too, is

prompted

by compassion to the souls of men. In the

process of their own salvation they have
learned in

some measure

the infinite value

the amazing cost of redempthe stupendous provision made

welfare the deep, and

of a soul
tion
its

its

for

final

bitter,

and unfathomable anguish which awaits

its impenitence.
They grieve to see
millions

of their fellow creatures,

children

of the

the
the

is

men; they
of a new and

same

heirs

father,

the

of

same immortality, the purchase of

same redeeming blood as themselves,

exposed
doom.

to

this

terrible,

this

infinite

its elements ]
^ conviction of the evil
The affection is also prompted hy zeal
of s'n. Its abominable character has been for the honour of God. This is the object
exposed to their view; they have seen of their supreme, their ardent love. They

are

its

evil

by the illumination of the divine

love his honour, they prize his glory,

Spirit; they have witnessed its destructive

more

nature; they have tasted

liberty, or life

its

aggravated

than

their
;

wealth,

and

to

or

fame,

or

be the spectators

THE BRITISH

480

PULPIT.

of bis dishonour to see him insulted,

blasphemed, defied, assailed on his throne,
dared to his face, liis saints overcome, his
law trampled under foot, and the usurper
on his throne triumphing in the extent
and security of his dominions well may
sorrows fill their hearts, and well may

And am

tears suffuse their eyes

imprinted by the sprinkling of the blood

bold in asserting, that, under

the Christian dispensation, this symboli-

gloriously realized

action is

cal

the servant of

God

is

that

distinguished, not

by the handwriting of an inferior agent

not by the signature of an angel on the
conscience

but the living characters are

These acts, too, are prompted hy a due of Christ, to cancel the sinner's guilt, to
regard to their own welfare. They know secure the favour and friendship of the
the danger to which surrounding impiety Almighty; and by the Holy Spirit of
exposes them; they are not invulnerable promise, whereby he is sealed unto the

approaches are conta familiarity may blunt

appre-

to its influence

gious

its

their

They know,

day of redemption,

to obtain the glorious

privileges of the sons of

God

not

only

how

the privileges as servants, but as heirs of

largely they have contributed, in times

God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.

But if these marks are thought too

hension of them.
past,

too,

abominations; and they

know that, by a passive acquiescence in
them, they will largely partake of the sin
of them.
They, therefore, boldly protest
those

to

against them ; and, in the power of individual exertion and combined effort, they
hold conflict with the powers of darkness.

They "sigh," and

they

"cry" over

the

obscure, too mystical, to be distinguished

by others, there are some so evident, so

palpable, as to be readily recognised by
all.

The

tian, his

sacred profession of the Chris-

devotion to God, his separation

from the world, the holiness of his life,

his sighing and crying over the abomina-

abomination of their fellow sinners.

tions of the earth, his acts of piety to God
I pass on, in conclusion, to remark and benevolence to man, mark him out in
TKOSK EXPRESSIONS OF THE DIVINE AP- a manner that cannot be misunderstood.
PROBATION WITH WHICH THEIR CONDUCT In the same way, also, the Christian
IS DISTINGUISHED.
church is marked by its divine instituThe command was addressed to him tions, its order, its purity, its harmony,

whose

it was to set a mark on the

thus sighed and cried
an allusion to the practice of marking the slaves

oflice

men who

of eastern princes, or of an idol-worshipper receiving the mark of his god on his

forehead.

They

who

and cry.

sigh

set a

mark on

An

the

allusion

men

a
similar practice occurs in other portions
of the Scripture. In the memorable deto

scription of the slaying of the first-born

in

Egypt, the

Israelites

were marked

not the individuals, but by blood sprinkled

upon the door-posts.
In the mystical
imagery of the Apocalypse, ere the de-

stroying angels were permitted to smite

the earth, the servants of God were sealed
upon their foreheads. Is there not an
allusion to the

tory

hath

of the

God

same

practice in the his-

"

Messiah himself?

Him

high designation, as "the light of the

world," and the depository of God's
truth
the apparatus with which it is
furnished for the illumination and happiness of the whole race of man. This is
what the prophet was permitted to see
only in symbol, in that temple which he
so minutely describes, and of which he
said, "The name of the city, from that
day, shall be. The Lord is there." Never
may that inscription be razed never may
"Ichabod" be placed in its stead; and
may the glory in the midst of her never
its

depart!

What

advantages are secured by this

to the people of

God

In the transaction

which the text refers, it is supposed

that it was the means of preservation
from calamities. And have we not examto

Father sealed" by the

voice of prophecy
by the evidence of
miracles
by the anointing of the Holy
Ghost, when he was set apart, marked

ples in history of similar deliverances?

out, consecrated to his illustrious office.

of Egypt, people were severed from pec-

the

Thus Noah was rescued from the waters;

Lot was delivered from the fires of Sodom
;

thus, in the terrific infliction of the plagues

THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE WORLD.

481

and cattle were severed from cattle. affliction she has been disobedient, and
In the transaction to which I have ad- therefore shall be rebuked and punished.
verted, in the book of Revelations, the In the case of individual Christians sufminister of wrath, who was commissioned fering, there may be, in the life of that
to pour out the vials of the anger of God, individual, passages known only to God
pie,

was commanded
foreheads.
tion

And

men who which might justify the visitation. They

God in their have not adequately exemplified the cha-

not to hurt the

were marked with the

in the

seal of

memorable destruc-

of .lerusalem, by the

Roman army,

it is asserted, by the eminent historian

Josephus, that the Christians, escaping
to Pel la, were there preserved from the
shipwreck of their countrymen. And are
there not Christian promises to warrant
the assertion, that, in the time of public
calamities, a special care will be exercised over the people of God by divine
providence; and that, in the midst of
those calamities which are designed to
mark the displeasure of heaven against
the guilty, the people of God, in thefr
associated, in their aggregate capacity,
shall be exempted and on this principle,
that they are redeemed from the guilt of
their transgressions] They bewail them
they would prevent them
they would
;

undo them

they

testify against

them;

and, rescued from their guilt, they shall

be preserved from their punishment.

In

the inflictions of God's hand there are no

words of the text;

they have not sighed and cried, as they
ought, over the abominations of the land ;
racter described in the

their condemnation of them has not been

so strong, their abhorrence has not been
so severe, their resistance has not been so

vigorous as

it

ought; they have viewed

them with comparative

indifference,

if

not with connivance.

Since it cannot be
denied that, on this account, many good
men (good in the general tenor of their
character) are

permitted to suffer very

which the
wicked are the principal subjects, (even,
although this character of God's people
has been exemplified, where the individual sighed and cried over the abominations around him,) still, it is beyond all
largely in those calamities of

controversy, that, in eases of that nature,

them much more

upon others they suffer with
them, but not like them
the severity is
the calamity falls on
lightly than

mitigated, the bitterness

is

extracted, the

random strokes; every event has the di- sting is withdrawn it is no longer a
rection of infinite wisdom and righteous- punishment, but an instrument of instrucness.
"Them that honour me," saith tion, and a blessing; the promise of God
God, "I will honour;" and he will be is fulfilled the man delivers his soul
;

concerned for the welfare of thern who

are concerned for his honour.
It cannot be denied, however, that individual Christians frequently suffer chas-

tisement: but

may

not these be regarded

as exceptions from the general principle?

I

am aware

where
Judgments

that instances occur

the church at large suffers.

begin at the sanctuary

may begin
house of God ; because that house
has been defiled by those very abomina-

may

at the

the

man

is

saved

but the jewel

is

the casket

preserved.

is

destroyed,

God makes

up to his servant his sufferings by an

abundant communication of his grace, by
a glorious triumph over them, and by that
eternal weight of glory to which this very
suffering more immediately conducts him,
and for which (I ought to add) it has more
properly prepared him.
Now, it would be a very inadequate
view of the advantages resulting from

which are the objects of the divine this, to confine them to the mitigation of
The church slumbers, and this fear the fear of national punishment
the cries of divine judgment shall rise exists still
but the curse upon the indihigher: the church has been unfaithful vidual is deeper and more lasting; it fills
to her trust, by refusing to walk in the all the soul; it wounds more painfully;
light herself, or to impart that light to but it comes not near any man who is
the world: she is corrupt; her gold is sealed with the mark of God's approbation.
become dim, and her fine gold changed
Though, indeed, trouble may surit shall be made pure in the fires of
round him on every hand, the preseace
tions

visitation.

Vofc.

XL 61

2S

THE BRITISH

482
of

God

nacle

is

is

his pnvilion, and in his taber-

he hid. Darivness

may

the land, but in hirn there

overspread

The

is light.

etorm may rage, hut the voice of the Son

of God speaks to him within, " Peace, be
still." God is his sun and light indarkness;
God is his shield and defence in danger;
he gives him grace to sustain, to comfort,
to animate; he gives him glory as his
To the
eternal recompense and reward.
visitations of his displeasure, to the an-

guish of a guilty conscience, to the fears

and terrors of an anxious and distracted

mind, to the sting of death, to the inflictions of the final judgment,
to all these
messengers of his wrath he says, " Come
not near any man upon whom is the mark

I will

spare him as a

spareth his son

And, marshalled

him."

that serveth

man

in

PULPIT.

and still makes intercession for you

because you will not have compassion
upon yourselves. Will you not bewail
your sins, and renounce your transgressions ? " Rend your hearts, and not your
garments ; and turn to the Lord your
God;" and then shall our mourning be
turned into joy ; no more shall we weep,
but shall rejoice over you ; there shall be
joy in the presence of the angels, and a
delight shall vibrate
thrill of infinite
through the whole creation.
I must say a word to those tvho, though
not equally contributing to swell the

amount of the world's transgression, are

not moved and affected, as they ought to be.
if you can
If this be your character

behold

transgressions, and

the

grieved

glorious array, out of every nation, and

kindred, and

office of the

shall

tongue, and

with

stand

people,

Lamb

the

Zion, having their Father's

on

name

they

word

to

those of you, if those there be, ivho

by

continued impenitence and transgression

of souls

afresh

crucified

the

Spirit defeated of the

of

its

you can see the havoc of

tion

must address

Son
Holy

Mount gracious purposes

written

on their foreheads.
Brethren,

divine

his

be

not

you can see God dishonoured

if

millions

operations
sin

if

the perdi-

of your fellow

creatures sealed in darkness and death

you can see lamentation, and mourning,

and wo, and famine, and pestilence, and
if

to ike amount of the 7^ation^s plague, desolating the earth as the fruits
and the world^s abominations. Others of sin if you can see all this, and utter
weep for you, but ah you refuse to weep no prayer, and send no cry, and make no
for yourselves
You are bold in your effort, what estimate must be formed of
impiety!
You glory in your shame! your character] If to weep over sin be

are adding

The heavens

reveal

your iniquity, the

If any have

earth cries out against you.

the affection of the Saviour

it,

to

view

it

need to weep, you are the individuals if

any have need to tremble, ymi are the
men. You have brought God's displeasure on your souls you have contributed
to bring on your nation the sore judgments
of the Almighty.
Our commerce shakes

apathy,

as a reed in the wind

heart of flesh

plexes

councils

our

national

distraction per-

men's

Fools

is

make

w-ith

the

of

foot on

our shores, and brandishes his

sword over the length and breadth of the
land.
If any have need to tremble, you

to delight in

of

at sin.

the

devil.

Is this

your

Are you reckless of that

doom] Will you not rather weep over
those sins for which your Saviour died 1
character

May

your heart of stone be turned into a

May bowels of mercy be
given to you, to teach you to grieve and
to lament over the sins and sorrows of
!

fail them under the apprehension

some unknown convulsion and the mankind
angel of the pestilence has planted his
But I rejoice

hearts

affection

mock

complacency, or even

rounded by

to believe that I

many who
who have,

am

sur-

have long sighed

year after year,

and cried
mourned and lamented over

the abomina" who knoweth,

God, tions of the earth. What shall I say to
the power of thine anger]" Others weep you]
Sigh on, cry on; never cease to
for you ; the people of God weep for you ; bewail
never cease to deplore these
the ministers of the gospel weep for you ; abominations; never cease standing, as
if angels weep, their tears are shed on betwixt the living and the dead, to supyour account; your Saviour has wept, plicate the mercy of God for man, and to

are the

men

for

THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE WORLD.

to man ajrainst his wickedness;
never cease the voice of intercession for
your fellow creatures, to implore t!ie
mercy of the divine compassion ; and
never cease to resist the abounding ungodliness around you.
And let not your
lamentations end in fruitless regret, in
unavailing sorrow ; let them not be arti^the heartless
ficial tears that you shed
effusions of a morbid sensibility
nor let
them be cheap sorrows, sorrows that cost
you nothing. Show me the value of them

testify

to-night; give

me

a proof, in the

483

with the songs of the jubilee; the tabernacle of God shall be with men; and he
shall wipe all tears from their eyes.
"A

was heard in Ramah, lamentation

weeping Rachel weeping for

voice

and

bitter

her children refused to be comforted for

her

children,

Thus

because

they were

not.

saith the Lord, Refrain thy voice

from weeping, and thine eyes from tears:

for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the
Lord, that thy children shall come again
to their own border."
Amen and amen.

amount

of your contributions, to what extent they

JUDGMENT.
feelings, and
and sympathies, are deep, and
Whenever I enter a court of human
wenuine, and influential, and operative. judicature, I cannot but be impressed
Convince me to-night that they teach you with solemnity by the objects which
something for arrest my attention, and the deep and
to offer
ay, to sacrifice
tiie advancement of those objects which,
touching emotions they awake in my
you declare, excite these emotions. Does mind. I am standing in a place venerable
your heart say, " Here am I send me]" as the abode of justice, a place where
And if you cannot go yourself, what can many an unhappy fellow creature has listAnd while ened to the sentence that has doomed him
you do but send others 1
others cry out against the abominations to perpetual exile from all that his heart
of the earth, in places where you cannot holds dear his country, his kindred, and
go, sustain them by your prayers and by his home
or else, to render satisfaction
your efforts. Let your provision for the to the laws which he has violated by ao
sending of these messengers be large and untimely and ignominious death. Yonliberal
for in proportion to the magni- der sits the judge, whose appearance,
tude of the enterprise must be the magni- whose character, whose office, all contude of the means. Cry to God for the spire to fill me with veneration and awe.
influence of his Holy Spirit to succeed On either hand are the officers of justice,
their labours for the effusion of his Holy whose part it is, with iron grasp, to seize
Spirit upon yourselves, upon your fami- and retain their victim, deaf alike to his
lies, upon the church, upon the world at threats and his promises, his entreaties
large.
Prayer and pains, with God's and his tears. I now suffer my eyes to
blessing, are never in vain; he puts your wander through the crowded court, and
go.

Convince me that your

griefs,

tears into his

prayers

in his

bottle;

book

he registers your

and, though he bears

observe the numerous spectators, lured

thither, some by curiosity, and others by

elect, he will avenge them motives of a more powerful character.

Think not that by these con- Most are deeply attentive to the solemn
you deduct from your happi- proceedings, few seem unconcerned and,

long with the

speedily.
tributions

ness: there

is

a joy in grief

there

is

as the witnesses on either side give in

tears.
Though now you sow their evidence, and the advocates produce
you shall reap in joy ; though their arguments and pour forth their elonow your harps hang on the willows, quence, I catch the general enthusiasm

luxury in
in tears,

they shall be shortly strung to notes of

gladness and triumph. The groaning of
the crimes
the creation shall be hushed
that pollute it, and the woes that desolate
the sad reign of ignorance
it, shall end
and sin shall be no more; the year of release shall conae ; the earth shall resound
;

that is kindled in the assembly, and be-

come deeply

interested too.

and even agonizing,

is

How

intense,

that interest, if the

I imperlife of the prisoner is at stake

ceptibly identify myself with him, and my
imagination becomes busy in realizing the
!

horrors of his situation.

He may be guilty;

484

THE BRITISH

his crime may be heinous ; it may have

been connected with circumstances of
deep aggravation ; he may not be a
criminal to whom the monarch's clemency should be extended ; but he is a
man, and no consideration can destroy

PULPIT.

not the actions merely, bat the thoughts

of

men

are judged; a tribunal at which,

not a fellow mortal like ourselves, but

the Searcher of hearts presides

a tribunal

from whose judicial process there is no

escape, in whose proceedings there is no
the feelings of humanity which the sight partiality, to whose scrutiny there is no
of a fellow creature, at swh an awful cri- deception, from whose decisions there is
sis, must inspire.
no appeal, and in whose destinies are
I mark with eagerness
every passage in the charge delivered by involved, not the interests of time, or the
the judge to the jury, as it seems to bear life of the body, but the unchanging,
upon his doom. While those are delibe- unalterable condition of our immortal exrating, on whose verdict his fate now istence
Our Redeemer speaks of a day
depends, every moment is like an hour and an hour in which all that are in their
of unsufferable suspense, and my heart graves shall hear his voice, and shall come
sickens at the voice that pronounces him forth, some to the resurrection of life, and
guilty.
The shriek that he utters enters some to the resurrection of damnation.
into my soul; and, long after I have left On that day, and that hour, your attention
the court, the countenance of the criminal should be deeply fixed. The humiliating
is before my eyes, and the solemn sen- lesson of your own pollution and depratence of the judge is sounding in my vity; the cheering assurance of pardon,
ears
I think of the infamy connected and peace, and eternal life, through the
with a ruined character; the misery perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice of
entailed upon the wretched partner of the Son of God
the absolute necessity of
his bosom and his innocent babes
the the renewing influences of the Holy Spihorrors and the ignominy of a prison ; the rit to make you fit for heaven,
may have
fettered limbs, the condemned cell, the but little in them to interest you ; but the
last agonizing interview with a wife, a strange scenes and awful transactions of
mother, a sister, a child ; the last rites of judgment will give a fearful interest to
religion, the awful preparation, the tolling them all.
Though you may neglect and
!

of the bell, the apparatus of death; and

shudder

at the conviction that, but for the

despise them now, they will then rise

again to the contemplation of your mind.

The reflection that the Judge, the pomp

images that rise to my imagination and splendour of whose coming are burstmight have been realized in the closing ing rapidly upon your sight, is the very
scene of my own earthly existence.
Saviour whom you rejected and despised,
But we rise to a far higher and more will be like an arrow dipped in the deaddreadful tribunal; a tribunal at which, liest poison, that shall rankle for ever in
not merely you and I, but all the world your veins and nothing, in all the terrible
must stand, not as idle spectators, to appearances of nature around you, will
listen to the doom of others, but deeply appear half so dreadful as your own infainterested in its grand transactions and tuation and guilt, in neglecting this great
irrevocable decrees ; a tribunal at which, salvation
restraining grace of God, all those dreadful

SERMON

LII.

THE QUESTION OF MIRACLES CONSIDERED.

BY THE REV. JOHN STYLES,

'

And now

abideth faith, hope, charity

these
1

My

Cor.

three
xiii.

D.D.

but the greatest of these is charity."

13.

fumes of an intoxicating
expense of whatsoever
subjects presented to us in the words things are true, lovely, and of good rewhich I have now read. But in those port. The greatest enemies of faith are
addresses I confined myself to the gene- the credulous, and of the truth, those
I did not who propagate the errors that best counral topics which they unfold.
call your attention to the precise argu- terfeit its similitude.
The doctrines of Christianity have
ment of the apostle, as to the conclusions
which he had especially in view. On often been metamorphosed into gross and
But it was reserved
the present occasion, and for a particular palpable heresies.
purpose, I feel it to be necessary to offer for the heresiarch of the Scottish church
to your consideration the design and to disturb the foundation of its evidence
by converting its miracles into the jugscope of the whole chapter.
Surrounded
If ever it was incumbent upon the mi- gleries of a mountebank.
nisters of our most holy faith to set them- by his coterie of inspired damsels, he is
selves against the delusions and absurdi- setting himself up for a prophet, while
ties of fanaticism, it is at this moment, his vaticinations are made oracular by the
when individuals of imposing talents, appalling yells and contortions of his atand of great influence, from the sanctity tendant sybils. He is hailed as another
of their manners, and their acknowledged Elijah, and their unmeaning jargon is the
zeal, are unwittingly, as I am fain to be- credential relied upon as the infallible
lieve, devoting their whole moral and evidence of the divinity of his mission.
intellectual energy to the propagation of Such is the state of things at this motenets, and the exhibition of extrava- ment in the most enlightened city in the
gancies, which, so far as they are suf- world, and in an age when Christianity,
fered to prevail, threaten to root all reli- without the aid of any other miracles
gion from the minds of men, and to than those wrought by Christ and his
brethren,

have more than once

discoursed to you in this place, upon the

render the very

name of

Christianity a

round

itself the

vanity,

at

the

apostles, as they are recorded in the sa-

cred books, has subverted so many heathen altars, and diffused its influence
monstrous evil is
Novices are caught in the subtle snare, through so many nations of pagan idolaand infidelity begins to triumph. The ters. To reason with persons who are
weak are carried away by pretensions ingeniously insane would be a hopeless
But there are multitudes to
which dazzle and confound them, and attempt.
whom the subject has all the charm of
the wicked malignantly exclaim, " Aha
who are awed by the very asnovelty
aha! so would we have it."
A name of some eminence is gathering sumption of supernatural powers by
485
2s2

byword and

Already this
powerfully at work.

a reproach.

THE BRITISH

486

persons of whose devout character they

PULPIT.

THESE ENDOWMENTS, AND

THE PRE-

IS IN

who SENT EXERCISE OF THE POWERS WHICH

argument, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO CONKER.

entertain a favourable opinion, and

know

not

how

to

meet the

Both these propositions it shall be our

which, to their uninformed understandings, appear to he derived from the present business to examine and invaliScriptures.

date.

These we may he able

to disabuse,

save from the moral epidemic to

the ravages of which they are peculiarly
exposed from the temperament of their

and

to

1.

The

first,

of working
in

which

it

namely, that

miracles,

to

Ihe

powtr

the full extent

was exerted by Christ and

grand dowry, the pre-

his apostles, is the

minds, and the insidious contagion which eminent distinction, the perpetual inheritforces itself upon them under so many ance of the church, to be exercised by
impressive forms of sanctity and religion. her through all her successive generaLet us, then, with the implored assist- tions, is an assumption which, while it
ance of that Holy Spirit, " without whom indicates a perverted understanding, it
nothing is strong, nothing is holy," en- is to be feared has its chief origin in the
deavour to meet the question of miracu- heart.
lous gifts and endowments.
"To the
The abettors of this extravagant notion
law, and to the testimony if they speak have been hurried into its adoption by the
not according to this word, it is because confusion v^hich exists in their minds rethere is no light in them."
garding the distiiiction, the plain and
The oracle of the new fanaticism main- obvious distinction, which the Scriptures
tains that the Scriptures uphold him in everywhere teach us to recognise between
his pretensions. He assures us that they miraculous operation and divine ir.fiuence.
are the sole authority to which he refers Both are predicted in the Old Testament
the decision of his claims.
deny and the New ; both are subjects of exthat his assumptions receive any, the press assurance and promise
and the
slightest support from the source on delusion of the modern prophets seems
which he relies, and that the apostle, in to arise from their inability to discrimithe argument of which our text is the nate between them.
Hence the predicconclusion, is directly opposed to them. tions and promises which refer to the
And this statement we shall endeavour to latter, chiefly or exclusively, are intermake good, as we hope, to the satisfac- preted as applying equally to the former.
tion of all impartial inquiries into the When the grace only of the Holy Spirit
truth on this important branch of the is assured as the perpetual inheritance of
Christian revelation.
Lest we should, the church, because it is associated with
even for a moment, be suspected of mis- the extraordinary manifestation of his
representing the dogmas to which we are gifts, the assurance is supposed to extend
opposed, we have carefully consulted the an equal duration to both. That which
most recent and laboured publication in is temporary is confounded with what is
which they are unfolded; and, as far as permanent and pretensions, set up in
we have been able to collect the notions behalf of the Christian dispensation, as
;

We

which are there wrought out into a new a dispensation of miracles, which are
system of divinity on the subject of su- totally incompatible with its character,
pernatural endowments, they may be as a system of moral evidence and spireduced to the two following proposi- ritual influence.
tions

L That the

My

brethren,

we

contend that there

is

miraculous endowments no evidence in the Scriptures to support

POSSESSED BY ChRIST, AND THE INSPIRED the assertion that supernatural powers
TEACHERS OF THE APOSTOLIC AGE, ARE THE are to be placed at the disposal of the
PERPETUAL INHERITANCE OF THE CHRIS- church for any definite period. All that
TIAN CHURCH ; and,
we can learn from the sacred record is,
II. That the church (in which this that they were promised, and that they
DOCTRINE IS taught) LAYS CLAIM TO were given. But, on the subject of the

THE QUESTION OF MIRACLES CONSIDERED.

Holy

Spirit's influence,

ing

in

the

proofs

all

and his indwell-

are united to frustrate

believers to the end of lime,

position

numerous, specific, and

And, in our apprehension.

then,

are

it

487

miraculous

inter-

must be acknowledged
but,
is interposition which asks not
;

human agency; it requires

no words are adequate to express the ex- neither prophets to foretell, nor orators in
cellence and dignity of the gift of the unknown tongues to declaim.
With this
Divine Spirit, as the renovator, com- wise arrangement, however, which holds
It the Deity and the creature each in his
forter, and sanctifier of the church.
is in truth, as has been well observed by proper sphere, the modern advocates of
an eloquent Christian writer, 'the great supernatural gills are not satisfied they
promise of the Christian economy, and desire to be of the divine council, to be
unequivocal.

the aid of

'

stands in nearly the same relation to us,

the interpreters of the movements of his

coming of the Messiah did to providence, and to share with him the
pious Jews before his advent.' Though work and the glory of subjugating the
that the

it

has been imparted from the beginning

until

now, we are

expectation of

For

its

still to

earth to themselves as his favoured vice-

live in the daily

more copious

gerents.

This,

am

persuaded,

the root of all the sophistry with

effusion.

is

at

which

it is the promise of the Father

the they have laboured to support the general
promise comprehending all the illumina- proposition of the continuance and pertion and holiness of the church, and with- petuity of miraculous powers in the
out which nothing can be done to any church; and thus, it is to be feared, the
important purpose in religion. The great true source of all their misguided zeal,
error of the fanatics, as we have said, is in upholding this dangerous doctrine, is
in mistaking the nature of this gift, and to be found in the pride and niatiifold
confounding it with miraculous endow- ^selfishness if Ike human heart. What but
ments, not remembering that the one is insufferable arrogance could induce the
indispensable both now and for ever, imagination that, through the long course
while the others were intended only to of time, as an ordinary and common ocsubserve a temporary necessity, and, currence, men and women should be
with that necessity, were destined to found wielding the prerogatives of omnipass away.
potence
nay, endowed with, and exerThis delusion is further strengthened cising higher powers than the Son of
in the minds of those who entertain it,
God himself! What is this but deby the confessedly miraculous character grading Deity, for the purpose of exaltof that special providence, which regu- ing our fallen human nature to his throne ;
lates the affairs, and accomplishes the des- and, in the case of individual assumptinies of the church. The miracles which tion, can we conceive any thing more
are thus wrought in her behalf, and witli- daring?
Has the apostate seraph, even
out her intervention, evince the continued in the pride which cast him down from
agency of a Being invested with all power, his excellency, equalled in audacity the
both in heaven and on earth, and who is self-important child of earth, who vencarrying forward the great plan of his tures to tell the God of heaven that he
government in conformity with the will emulate, and even exceed him in
scheme of prophecy, guiding and con- the miraculous and divine works which
trolling events, depressing or exalting he performed in confirmation of his misindividuals and nations, with a view to sion]
If this be honouring the Spirit, it
the perfect establishment and universal is honouring one divine person at the exextension of his spiritual kingdom. When- pense of another, and thus it is an insult
ever he puts forth his power in opposition to both. When I read such language I
to the natural course of things, and works pause, and feel that my only choice is
out the purposes of his own will by an between blasphemy and insanity. If it
energy which not only conquers the an- be insanity, it has its origin in that pride
tagonist powers of the world, but renders which, at last, gains the mastery of the
them subservient to the very designs they understanding. If it be blasphemy, it
j

THE

488

BRITISH PULPIT.

approach that of the rnan of ments with humility and acquiescence.

all that In the preceding chapter he enumerates
the various gifts which had so long disis called God.
ought not, however, to be surprised tinguished this church, and which, in a
at this in a case of mere delusion, which greater or less degree, were the universal
has its sole origin in the weakness and inheritance of all the collected bodies of

seems

sin,

lo

who

exalteth himself above

We

depravity of human nature, when we the faithful.

He arranges them in their
consider that, in the primitive age, the proper order, according to their relative
actual possession of what is now only value, and inculcates the necessity of

was accompanied by tlie most iheir just and profitable distribution for
extravagant abuses; so that, instead of the benefit of the whole.
being consecrated to the glory of the
To the same purpose is the fourteenth
pretended,

donor, the gifts of the Spirit were set

in

chapter, which contains a variety of salu-

and those tary exhortations, all tending to restrain

pre-eminently qualified to advance the their exercise within the limits of order
spiritual prosperity of the church, by a and usefulness.
It is in this chapter
base prostitution of their extraordinary however that he more than intimates their
powers became its greatest disturbers
temporary nature, and final disappearance.
the worst enemies of its peace. To the But he prepares the way gradually, and
abuses thus engendered we are, however, by a train of reasoning which shows how
mainly indebted for this epistle to the thoroughly he was aware of the prejuCorinthian believers, which, among other dices he had to encounter, and which
important objects, is intended by St. Paul he was anxious to overcome. He evito regulate the exercise of their miracu- dently feels that he had to conterid with
lous gifts, so that the evils of which he an excessive attachment to these miracutakes cognizance might be corrected, till lous endowments, rather than to fall in
the period of their total withdrawment with any indifference as to their importshould arrive an event which the apos- ance, or with any disposition to relinquish
tle, in very clear and explicit terms in the them.
In the first place he not only anchapter before us, has predicted.
No nounces the possibility of their being
doubt these abuses were permitted by the dissociated from genuine piety, and that
opposition to his influences

inscrutable

wisdom of Heaven,

for

the

divine

heart and

them

ing expostulation.

as indispensable to her existence;

the notion of their perpetuity almost universally obtained

and, amidst the im-

posing splendours of preternatural phenomena, the influences not less divine

that were silent and unostentatious, working imperceptibly in the formation of
character, were frequently overlooked, or
regarded as subordinate and inferior, as
comparatively insignificant and worthless.
This was the state of the church at Corinth when St. Paul addressed to them
his epistle, clothed with all the authority
of his apostolical mission.

The

crisis

which renovates the

the enjoyment of hea-

influence

purpose of preparing the church generally for the new order of things about to
be introduced.
Almost from the beginning she had
been accustomed to attach undue importance to her miraculous powers to regard

fits it for

ven, but he strongly implies the fact of

this dissociation.

He assumes

the salu-

warning of our Lord,

that " many in the day of judgment would
address him in the language of unavailtary but neglected

Have we

devils in thy name, and in thy

many wonderful works

]"

not cast out

name done

To whom he

represents himself as replying, " Depart

from me, ye workers of iniquity, I never

knew you." He proceeds on the principle that these gifted disciples of their

master ought not "

to rejoice

that the de-

mons were subject to them, but rather

that their names were written in the book
of life."

How

liable

even the workers

of miracles were to fatal delusion, and

how

little

by their supernatural
by the saving influences of

qualified

gifts to profit

had arrived, and the wise and holy were the Holy Spirit, he intimates in the imin a situation to receive his announce- plied contrast between the charity of

THE QUESTION OF MIRACLES CONSIDERED.

which he pronounces the eulogy and

the

moral dispositions of these gifted persons; he represents them as envious,

vaunting in their pride, puffed up with
their own conceit, behaving themselves
unseemly, rapacious and selfish, unstable
and censorious, regardless of the truth,
but rejoicing in iniquity, suspicious, incredulous of good, impatient under restraint and opposition.
A more unlovel}^
portraiture can hardly be imagined. The
very opposite of all the graces which
adorn and dignify the Christian character.
Yet with all these moral deformities he
describes them as endowed with the gift
of tongues, as being able to prophesy and
understand all mysteries, as possessing
supernatural knowledge, as having the
faith of miracles to remove mountains,
as ostentatious in their almsgiving, and
as indulging in this virtue to such an excess as to give all their goods to the
poor.
Nay he intimates their readiness
to become martyrs to their profession
and the cause they had espoused. A
mixture of strange qualities, but none of
them implying those graces which are
the evidences of a real change of heart.
From all this he infers that, though extraordinary

endowments

are excellent in

The

gulf below.

489
of tongues that

gift

charmed multitudes as with the eloquence

bosom of
possessor that charity which is the
bond of perfectness and an indispensable
passport to the inheritance of the saints
of an angel, annihilated in the

its

in light.
This argument the apostle suggested to moderate the attachment of the
Corinthians to the miraculous powers

with which they were favoured, and to

increase the ardour of their desires after

more excellent way, or the attainment of the saving graces of the Chris-

the

tian life.

same

In furtherance of the

represents these miraculous

object he
powers as

to the infancy nf the churchas appertaining priiperly to her childhood.

suited only

"

When

I was a child, I spake as a child,

understood as a child, but when I became a man I put away childish things."
I

This

no relevancy unless

illustration has

as pointing out the precise object of mira-

which is to attest a divine mission

and to confirm a divine revelation til]
both are consummated, and no longer.

cles,

The very

idea of perpetual miracles

natural absurdity and

is

a contradiction in

There would be infinite danger

continuing them beyond the limits of

terms.
in

themselves,

they are not unfrequently their necessity. Nature would thus be

combined with some of the most odious deprived of those laws which are the
vices which can corrupt the human heart. most luminous credentials of the almighty
And indeed, my brethren, it must be power which created and sustains her;
admitted that gifts have ever been very and religion would lose all the force of
questionable distinctions. They require the moral evidence by which she appeals
for their regulation a corresponding mea- to the reason and the conscience of intelsure of grace.

As

far as the individuals

who

ligent and accountable beings.

God speaks

possessed them are concerned, they

appear to have been imparted for the trial
of character rather than for its formation.

a revelation of his mind and will through

In proportion to the magnitude of these

he must furnish that being with creden-

endowments is the degree of responsiIn the primibility which they involve.

tials

church such distinctions were often

a two-edged sword, which while it cut
down the phalanx of infidel opposition
proved fatal to the assailant himself.
The faith to remove mountains too often
superseded the faith that was to save the
The prophesying which cheered
soul.
others with a hope full of immortality,
had no power over him who held it forth,
and he stumbled from the precipice to the
Vol. II. 62

death of that being under extraordinary

circumstances, and as one of the ends of

tive

If

the

medium

to

men,

to

communicate

of a being like themselves,

which give assurance

that he is nei-

ther a fanatic nor an impostor.

If the

his mission, be a part of the wonderful

economy which he is to establish and a

number of doctrines, prophecies, promises,
and precepts, all of them possessing a
divine character, are to be communicated
to the

world subsequent

arising out of

it

it

is

to this event

and

obviously neces-

sary that the witnesses, and the instru-

THE BRITISH

490
ments who

his absence are to carry

in

forward his design to its consummation

should be clothed with adequate powers
to enable them to accomplish their task
and no power short of that of performing
miracles ought to satisfy mankind that
they are the accredited expounders of
Now the case suptheir master's will.
;

PULPIT.

and general circulation of which were to

mark the period that should terminate her
childhood ; and for this period the apostle
prepares the Corinthians, by intimating that her state of pupilage was
about to expire; and that it was high
time for her to be looking forward for
those n< bier endowments which bespoke

posed applies literally to the mission of her approach to maturity.

St. Paul then proceeds more distinctly
Jesus Christ upon earth, and the part
which his apostles and their immediate to unfold the great ivftriurity even of miconverts had to act immediately after his raculous gifts, intrusted lo living, changeresurrection from the dead, and till the able, arid fallible men, to the complete and
completion of their infallible word of permanent develupevient of the divine will
testimony in the gospels and epistles of as revealed iii the written oracles. In
the New Testament. The miracles of these pages the objects of faith are unChrist displayed not only a divine power, clouded with obscurity, every truth rises
but they were singularly distinguished in its just proportions, and all combined

by an

ethical excellence in perfect har-

mony with

the benevolence and purity of

his religion

and they likewise bore a

prophetical character, indicative of the

kind of influence which that religion was

henceforth to exert over mankind ; but
they ceased with his life.

The

miracles of the apostles were per-

formed

purpose of attesting his

resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into heaven, as well as all the doctrines they heard from his lips, and all
the events which they had known in his
history, of which they were credible and
competent witnesses.
The gifts of a
supernatural order imparted to those on
whom the apostles laid their hands qualifor the

together in perfect symmetry, appears,

shadowy indistinctness of a
form reflected from a mirror, but w ith the
daylight truth and accuracy which reveals objects as they are, and of which
not with the

we

are conscious,

when, instead of con-

templating the features of a friend' in a

glass darkly,

My

we

brethren,

see
it

him

is

face to face.

better to read the

prophecies than to hear the prophets

to

receive the revelation of the Spirit, ap-

pealing to us in characters which never

man
unknown tongue and another
man interpret. It is better to gain know-

can be mistaken, than to hear one

speak

in an

ledge from the source than to receive

it

through the discolouring channel of hufied them to teach the infallible truths of man passions and infirmity.
have
the religion they had embraced
which every kind of spiritual information in the
were not at that time imbodied in the Bible; all the prophecies that shall ever

We

written form of the inspired books

meet

all

to

be revealed,

the extraordinary exigencies of be enforced

the precepts that can ever

while the different gifted

all
;

personages in the apostolic times, notwithstanding their extraordinary endowand in duty, to console and animate her ments, were forced to content themselves
know in part and we
amidst persecution and martyrdom, and with saying, "
to extend the trophies of her Redeemer prophesy in part,"
The gospel is its
among all nations, kindreds, people, and own witness, and the greatest standing
tongues.
miracle that has been vouchsafed to the
Such in brief, my brethren, was the world. It imbodies all other miracles,
precise object and intention of miracles presents them in the form of testimony,
and the gifts of the Spirit in the apostolic and combines with them the evidence of
age; their continuance, therefore, is limit- astonishing agreement and consistency.
ed by the infant necessities of Ciiristians It portrays a character of absolute perjust gathered out of the world, without fection without a blemish, without an inthe infant church, to build her up in her

most holy

faith, to direct

her

in difficulty

We

that perfect

revelation,

the completion

firmity, a miracle infinitely

beyond the

THE QUESTION OF MIRACLES CONSIDERED.

power of

imperfect

man

displays

in

frail

conceive.

It

sublimity which surpasses

to invent or

writers

its

human com-

491

eloquence peculiar to inspiration, he breaks forth in the annunciation of a fact which was shortly to be
realized, " Whether there be prf>phecies,
they shall fail ; whether there be tongues,
they shall cease ; whether there be knowin a strain of

a divine prescience, in mere

men, which establishes their claim to a
a unity of object
spirit beyond humanity
which, separated as they were by time ledge, (supernaturally imparted,)

prehension

it

shall

away;" and the conclusion of the

whole is this, now " abideth faith, hope,

and distance, proclaims a single all-pervading mind and in their characters an

approximation to the goodness they delight to celebrate, altogether wonderful.
Inspiration glows in every page, purity
shines in all its precepts, and its doctrines shed celestial radiance on the character of God, the destiny of man, the
realities and glories of a world to come.
With this book in our hands the only
miracle we want is the union and devotedness, the universal charity and heavenly aspirations, of all who profess and

vanish

call tiiernselves Christians.

and

In carrying forward his great argument, the apostle, with an abruptness

and power not unusual in his rapturous
style of writing, opposes the temporary

of divine influence to the end of time.

Now, all that we have to ascertain in

gifts of the church, to the absolute perfec-

" abides," and the other expressions,

" cease," and " vanish away," is the
testimony of fact. If it can be proved
that miracles have continued to be performed in the Christian church during
the whole era of its existence, then it
must be admitted that we have erred in

tion of the heavenly state.

We are

never

these three

and

charitj'

est

of these

comprehended
manent and unchangeable

sentence

is

inheritance

of

but the greatIn

charity."

is

believers,

all

the

that

is

last

per-

in the earthly

that

all

the

may

reasonably hope to acquire,

all that shall constitute her real wealth.
Here, then, we have a distinct prediction, explicitly stating the extinction of

church

all

that is to be considered as strictly su-

pernatural in the gifts of the

all

that

to

is

Holy

Spirit,

continue as the result

reference to this argument and

its

con-

clusion, so forcibly conveyed by the term

Paul merely as a reasoner

and logician, but as a Christian imbued
with the spirit of his destiny, always
ready to take his seraphic flight, always
realizing to himself the consummation of
his hopes as the predestined inhabitant our exposition of the apostolic revelation
of a world where ignorance, sin, and the on the subject; but if it can be clearlyto consider St.

necessary imperfections of the present

thus, while
state, are for ever unknown

established that the facts of the case cor-

establishing the temporary character of

the

roborate and support our interpretation,

as if alread)' surrounded with the glories

that we
Conclusion is inevitable
have rightly understood and applied it.
With those who have an hypothesis to
support, it is a favourite assumption that
miraculous gifts were continued up to the
time when Constantine gave the sanction
of law to the gospel, and established

of the beatific vision, he exclaims, but

" now we see through a glass darkly, but

empire.

the miraculous
so

much

endowments v/hich were

overrated by the persons he ad-

dressed, his eagle spirit soars on high to

its

native eyry in the heavens

light from

t'le

he drinks

fountain of radiance; and,

Christianity as the religion of the

Roman

But th evidence of such a fact

by no means conclusive. I have ex-

then face to face ; now I know in part,

but then sliall I know as even also I am
known." From the height of this transcendent state of intellect and feeling, be
descends again to eartb, and, beholding
the church about to be divested of its

is

miraculous endowments, he describes the

things which are to cease, in striking contrast with those which are to remain ; and

of the post-apostolical miracles, Dr. Jor

tin observes,
" I would not engage for

amined the subject with that serious attention which its importance deserves,
and I have arrived at the conclusion
which an eminent writer has succinctly
stated in the following words. Speaking

the truth of any of

them

after the

year

THE BRITISH

492

PULPIT.

of our Lord 107." The same writer has plying itself to the investigation of this
divided the era of Christian miracles into subject, must conclude that no miracles,
four periods the first period, he remarks, properly so called, existed after the death
contains those which are recorded in the of the apostles and the individuals super;

New

Testament, and reaches

the year 70 of the Christian era

about naturally endowed by the imposition of

their hands.

to

of these

among Christians
may be of thirty-seven

there can be no doubt

the next period

" There

years, and ends about a. d. 107.

is reason,"

ble that

he adds, "

to

think

it

proba-

some miracles were then

per-

formed by those that preached and planted the gospel in pagan countries. The
third reaches from thence to Constantine.
The last period is from Constantine to

where you please

tion

is,

!"

My own

that miracles, through

tb.e

convic-

medium

But granting,

for the

sake of argument

only, that they extended to the time of

Constantine and then ceased,

we have

more than sixteen hundred years

in

which

every rational pretence to their existence

is abandoned.
Does not this triumphantly support the declaration of the apostle,

" Whether
shall

fail

they shall
ledge,

prophecies,

they

whether there be tongues,

cease; whether there be know-

shall vanish

it

The

be

there

away ]"

withdrawment of these mifirst period, and that there is not sufficient raculous functions from the fathers and
evidence to give them validity beyond members of the Christian church during
so long a period
a period comprehendthis epoch.
I do not, however, deny
that they were affirmed as having been ing four-fifths of the entire era of her
performed by contemporary writers down existence a period during which her
of

human agency, were

confined to the

total

second and third centuries, but all

that we can really ascertain is comprised
in the admission that, during " these latter periods, some sick persons were restored to health by the prayers of their
brethren
that some virtuous pagans had
their doubts and prejudices removed, and
were called to Christianity by divine impulses, dreams, or visions
and that the
martyrs and confessors received an extraordinary assistance from God, enabling
them to undergo terrible tortures and sufferings with amazing patience and constancy." This is the amount of all that
is fairly established by evidence ; and
that it differs very materially from what
may be properly considered as miraculous, and which distinguished the first
age of Christianity, must be admitted by
all who are competent to form a judgment
to the

exigencies, perils,

and triumphs, have

equalled and sometimes exceeded those

of her pristine condition

clearly

indi-

cates that their perpetuity formed no part

of the
that

design of heaven, and

providence of God, and the

original

the

saving influence of his Spirit accompa-

nying the diffusion of his truth, are

abundantly sufficient, without the aid of
miracles, to accomplish all his purposes
Seasons have ocof mercy to mankind.
curred, during the lapse of many centuries, in which, if miracles had been consistent with the general economy of the
divine government, we may be assured
that they would not have been withheld.

Could a more fitting occasion for their

employment be imagined than the appearance of

the

man

of

sin,

clothing

himself with divine attributes, and with

on questions of this nature. This dif- all deceivableness and lying wonders
ference principally consists in the follow- usurping the throne of the Redeemer, by
ing particulars
" They were not fore- pretending to the very powers which he
:

they were not wrought

had adduced as infallible criterions of his

If miracles had any other
prophetic indications of future events
design than to attest that mission, and to
no man ever laid down his life, or ever accompany the revelation founded upon
suffered distress and persecution in at- it to its closing page, would they have
testation of them."*
Indeed, we feel been denied to the witnesses prophesying
persuaded that any impartial mind, ap- in sackcloth, to the Waldenses, and the
Hussites 1 ^to Wickliffe and the suffering
* Jortin's Remarks, &c.

told

by prophets

by prophets

they contained

in

them no own mission]

THE QUESTION OF MIRACLES CONSIDERED.

who

martyrs

Would

followed

his

ia

train

they not have aided the triumph-

ant march of the fathers of the reformation

Germany,

in

Britain

Would

in

France, and

have

they not

in

pre-

condition, but

all

493

equally the slaves of a

cruel and demoralizing superstition.

Here,
field for

if anywhere, is presented a wide

working miracles and these are
;

the very individuals on

whom

these gifts

ceded or attended the revivals of religion might be expected to descend. But in

which at different periods and in various their high and perilous vocation they
provinces of the church have evinced the make no pretensions to any powers bepresence and the vivifying power of the yond those implied in the doctrines they
Spirit from on high ]
But if any thing teach, and the divine Presence with them
would seem to demand them as neces- in the form of spiritual influence, which
sary to the accomplishment of its object, ia termed " the demonstration of the Spiand if rit," and this they find to be abundantly
it is the missionary enterprise
any members of the church of Christ sufficient; and our own times have pre;

might be considered as
mind, and

in the properest

and spirit,
to receive the powers which they imply, and to exercise them, (more especially the gift of tongues,) would they
not be the zealous and indefatigable missionaries who are labouring to propagate
the gospel in pagan and idolatrous counstate

of

heart,

tries 1

sented the astonishing spectacle of whole

nations of pagans casting away their
idols,

embracing the true

faith of Christ,

and worshipping " God, who is a spirit,

in spirit and in truth ;" and all this with-

The
out the aid of a single miracle.
missionaries spent many years in acquiring the languages of the natives, lived
among them as the protesting witnesses

of their idolatrous and abominable crimes,

and without any power to rebuke them,
possible distance from fanaticism, have except what they derived from the purity
affirmed that the possession of miracu- of their manners and the fervours of a
As soon
lous gifts is necessary as a sign, before devout and heavenly charity.
sober men ought to allow themselves to as they had qualified themselves by retake part in the conversion of the heathen. ducing unwritten languages to a gramGrotius maintained, that if any person matical form and construction, and maswere employed in it at this day, in a man- tering the difficulties of unheard-of idioms,
ner agreeable to the will of our Lord, he which, for a long time, baffled their sagawould find himself endued with the power city, and rendered all their conjectures
of working miracles. Archbishop Tillot- vain, they opened their commission
son speaks to the same effect. " I think they taught in the plainest manner the
it very credible," he observes, "that if pure and simple truths of the gospel
persons of sincere minds did go to preach they endured the coldness of neglect, the

Theologians, remarkable for the so-

briety of their minds and at the farthest

the pure Christian religion to infidel na-

God would

bitterness of scorn, the cruelty of malice,

enable such

and the vengeance of the demon-priests

work miracles, without which

there would be little or no probability of
success." Dr. Barrow has expressed the
same opinion. But, my brethren, of how
little value are opinions which vanish beGood and
fore the light of experience

whose superstitions they assailed. To

such men, and in such circumstances,
how necessary, in all human apprehen-

tions, that

persons

still

to

were the preternatural gifts with

which the first propagators of ChrisBut they were
tianity were endowed
they were not even
sincere, enlightened and devoted Chris- not vouchsafed
tian men, have in this great enterprise sought, yet did not the missionaries lasion,

Polynesia, with all her

bour in vain.
and have taken up their abode among tribes, attests the power of truth, and are
civilized and savage idolaters, among living evidences that the greatest moral
people of every grade of intellect, and results may be achieved by the simplest
exhibiting all the varieties of the human means and that where there is spiritual

visited the remotest regions of the earth,

Vol.

II.

2T

THE BRITISH

494

influence there needs not the co-operation

of miraculous power.

Thus have we brought down our

in-

PULPIT.

been made to depend npon contingencies

which can either accelerate or retard,
much less frustrate, their accomplish-

quiry to the nineteenth century, without

ment; and we as confidently maintain,

any evidence to support the favourite notion of miraculous gifts being the perpetual dowry of the Christian church ;
nay, with the strongest proofs that from
the first century to the last they have
been withdrawn.
Can it, therefore, be
reasonably maintained that the various
predictions of the ancient prophets, and
the promises of our Lord and his apos-

that in the age of the church

bear out the interpretation which

our modern enthusiasts have endeavoured

supply their place. Tiiis was one of the

expedients to which the church of Rome
resorted for the purpose of upholding her

tles,

upon them 1
These predictions

to fix

either absolute

upon

or

and promises are

conditional.

the

If

hypothesis against
which we are contending, then is the
mission of the Saviour and the religion
which stands on tliis only foundation a
former,

the

vain pretence, an imposture openly ex-

posed

the face of the

in

derision and contempt.

whole world

We

right

to

included

demand

what

it

is

have a

that

was

in the predictions, inattention to

which has deprived believers through

many ages and

ration,

even

so

generations of this the

grand distinction, the crowning glory of

the faith which they have professed. On
the supposition that the prophecies pointed exclusively to the period of the apostolate, and that they were unconditional,
they have been fulfilled, and events have

were

in

when

the

perpetual ope-

at the period of their

worst

prostitution and abuse, the guilt of under-

valuing these, her high prerogatives, cannot be in justice imputed to her.

are never tired of the marvellous.

ders never satiate.

W hen

Men
Won-

real miracles

vanished, pretended ones were set up to

assumed domination.

The tendency of human nature has always been in this direction when faith
;

lowest ebb, credulity has

risen in a full tide to bear away every
vestige of rational evidence, and to obliterate all impressions derived from the
moral power of the gospel. What then

has been at

we becomes

If the latter,

then ask for the condition?

to

gifts of the Spirit

its

of the assertion, that the guilt

of the church, in repudiating her divine

charter of miracles,

the cause of its

is

abrogation, and the consequent impeach-

ment of the

truth of prophecy, and

truth of Christianity as founded

upon

the
it?

We

dismiss therefore the first proposition

as altogether untenable, as equally opposed to Scripture and to fact, to reason

and experience.
I might content myself by bringing

the entire force of the whole argument to

and thus leave
had been previously bear upon the second
foretold.
We have then a sure word the pretensions of the church in Regentof prophecy, to which we do well to square to be crushed by its overpowering
take heed.
weight but the exposure of its ridiculous
justified

that

all

The
tuity

present advocates for the perpeof

these

aware of the

supernatural

fact that

functions,

they have ceased

claims will tend to strengthen all that we

have advanced, and will prove that, if
miraculous powers are ever to be revived
in a Christian community, they have no

space of seventeen hundred years,

inform us that they were withdrawn existence at the present moment, and that
through the guilt of the church in having there never has been any thing less wor" foregone this, her inheritance, by hiding thy of a divine character than the abthe precious treasure in a napkin, or bury- surdities which are now attempted to be
ing it in the earth."
imposed upon the world, as the operafor the

Now we

affirm

that this condition

is

not once hinted at in the inspired oracles,

and

we

challenge them to prove that

it is.

Tlie prophecies of Scripture have never

tions of the Spirit of

God.

The miraculous power

of recovering

persons afflicted with long-standing maladies,

which had defied the

faculty, and

THE QUESTION OF MIRACLES CONSIDERED.

499

were deemed by human means hopeless they required credentials of a nature to

and incurable, of which a few months satisfy their hearers that they were diThe fact of their
since we heard so much, we now hear no vinely commissioned.
more; this madness has worked itself illiteracy, combined with a power of
out

the light of reason has

or, at least,

shamed

it

excitement produced remarkable effects

which have been fully accounted for on
and there
the principles of human nature

was no miracle

in

tongues, however,

the case.
is

The

gift of

the prevailing

der of the moment, and

speaking with vernacular ease and acdifferent languages of the nations they had to address, would not only
enable them to convey the truths they
taught with clearness, but would clothe
them with all the authority of heaven
these are the circumstances in which this
miraculous endowment originated. Christianity was to be immediately and universally diffused those who were chosen
to accomplish this stupendous undertaking
were persons advanced to maturity of
years, without the knowledge of any lan-

Remarkable curacy the

into retirement.

is

won-

one of the

standing exhibitions, and one of the most

powerful attractions, in a place of Christian worship, where multitudes assemble
on the Sabbath-day to be amused or
amazed. Here, too, we may affirm there
is no miracle
there is no baptism of the guage but their own ; the qualification
Holy Ghost; it is either human impos- of which we are speaking was therefore
;

ture

or

Satanic influence, or a strange

mixture of both.
pretensions,

it

differs,

points, from that

as

it

Whatever may be
which

in
it

all

its

essential

counterfeits

indispensable to

their

engaging

have been madness

made

the

attempt.

in

for

it

But can such

was displayed on the day of Pente- cumstances be pleaded

it;

would
them to have

and, without the gift of tongues,

cir-

as a reason for

and subsequently exercised in the conferring this distinction upon our moWe have not been dern apostles'? Are they in the same
able to trace any thing like a resemblance situation with the first promulgators of
between them but the name. In that the gospel ? Do they stand in the same
they are identical, but, in every thing else, relation to the Saviour, as inspired teachthey are entirely dissimilar; indeed, the ers and witnesses of the truth ? Do they
greatest possible contrariety exists be- stand in the same relation to the world 1
cost,

primitive churches.

tween them; and this will appear

if

we

consider that, in the case of the apostles

and the primitive church, this supernatural

endowment was imperatively required

was necessary as a means of spread-

it

ing the gospel, and of attesting

character

and

in the then

its

divine

circumstances

circumstances bearing something

analogy to those which occurred on the day of Pentecost, (as in
the case of missionaries to the heathen,)
If,

in

like a distant

this

important

gift

has not

stance been bestowed, can

that

it

we cannot

has been vouchsafed

in

any

in-

we imagine

to individuals

conceive of whose ministrations are confined to one

any thing better adapted for these pur- country and that the land of their faposes than for illiterate and uninstructed thers, with whose language they have
of

Christianity

whom was imposed the instant been familiar from their earliest childduty of making known a new religion to hood. Of all the gifts which enriched
all the nations of mankind, to be able to the church in her infant state, the gift of
speak the languages of the diversified tongues seems to be the least appropriate
In and the least necessary in modern times:
tribes they were called upon to visit.
the ordinary way of acquiring the ability thirty years ago it might have appeared
to understand and speak with fluency a desirable in Africa, or India, before our
very few tongues, they must have spent missionaries, by patient and persevering

men, on

a great portion of their lives; and after

industry,

having accomplished so severe a task, as

they had strangre facts and new doctrines
to announce with no other testimony than
they could themselves personally furnish,

requisite to enable
tianity

in

had

acquired

them

the

knowledge

to teach Chris-

those countries;

but on

the

shores of Scotland, and in the metropolis

of England, it would be an ostentatioua

THE BRITISH

496

PULPIT.

waste of power, conferring no benefit, according to Macknight, most correctly

and answering no adequate purpose. But expresses the sense of the original text,
'

we

are confidently assured that the gift

does exist, and that

exercised with

is

it

marvellous potency in

these

Christian

in the fourteenth
tie

chapter of the

to the Corinthians,

which,

in the

common

first

epis-

the tenth verse,

translation, is ex-

among the most enlightened ceedingly obscure.

These languages were also understood
of our people. The loftiest pretensions
are put forth, and the most pompous an- by the individuals who uttered them
nouncements made of another Pentecost; for the apostle expressly tells us that he
and one church, at least, is blessed with who speaketh in an unknown tongue edilands, and

of the fieth himself, which he could not do by a

medium, of sounds mere volubility of sound to which he
such as earth never heard, and no crea- could attach no meaning. Again, they
But, were understood by others; of course by
ture has yet been able to interpret.
if it be indeed so, and what is pretended the natives of those countries whose lanis really a divine operation, the harbinger guages they were, and who might be
of another age of miracles, and another present; and supernaturally by others
baptism of the Holy Ghost, we ask with who sustained the character of interpreconfidence, Where are the cloven tongues ters, and without whose presence and
like as of fire?
Where are the devout assistance, the possessors of the endowmen of every nation under heaven, who ment were not allowed to exercise it.
not merely heard the apostles speaking What analogy can we find to all this inin their own tongues, but heard them the gift of tongues which we are, at the
bearing testimony to the wonderful works present time called upon to reverence as
of God ?
Where, in the modern church, a communication from the Holy Spirit
are the eflfects of the tongues presumed which has justly been designated, by an
to be spoken resembling those described ear-witness, " a wild eflTusion of unintelby St. Paul as taking place in the church ligible sounds, barely maintaining any
at Corinth'?
Where the unbeliever and likeness to a language in its form and
the uninslructed, "coming in, is con- cadence; totally unknown to any of the
vinced of all, is judged of all, while the most inquiring travellers, or learned schosecrets nf his heart are made manifest, lars, of our age; not spoken, as far as
and falling down on his face, he wor- we have the means of inquiry, by any
ships God, and reports that God is people under heaven ; and, what is more
among them of a truth 1" But, my bre- extraordinary still, not even pretended to
thren, it is in vain we look for corrobo- be understood by the very individuals
If these persons really
rating circumstances to sustain the mo- who utter them.
dern pretension
How is it possible that understood the meaning of the sounds
such circumstances can arise when the with which they astonish their auditors,
real apostolic gift and the present as- they would be able to give a literal verthe

extraordinary

Spirit

through

manifestation

the

sumption of

"

differ

it

character?

their
this

gift

so

essentially in

In the primitive age

consisted

in

the

power of

speaking one or more foreign languages

without any previous application to the
study of them.
The languages thus
made known by inspiration were languages spoken by the surrounding nations, over

itself;"

this

is

evident

St. Paul's affirming that there

many

were

Verts.

This

is

the interpretation,

interpretation, it rests entirely on the

groundless and unsupported assumption,
that the words which they speak in Eng-

during their paroxysms of excitement are to be received as conveying the

which, meaning of the sounds which they have

kinds of languages in the world

as were spoken by the Corinthian con-

as

which Christianity was gradu- the

ally extending

from

to distribute them into

sion of them
unless, indeed,
words and sentences
they were extremely ignorant of their
mother tongue, to translate them with
something of their just force and expression. This is a task which no one among
them has represented himself capable of
As to what they call
accomplishing.

lish

THE QUESTION OF RDRACLES CONSIDERED.

previously emitted in their unintelligible
jargon." Well may we observe, with

an able writer, "This wild waste of human breath seems to be a work neither of
goodness, nor mercy, nor of a redemptionary, nor any other moral character
whatever." Can it therefore be the inspiration of

Heaven

Does

it

not

of which

it

a miserable counterfeit

is

And thus we are brought to another conspicuous instance of discrepancy between

The
the ancient and modern practice.
one was guided by apostolic regulation
the other sets

all

rules at defiance.

In

the modern

is

his coequal, and coessential."

Now, my

brethren, with

spect for the character of

will yield

society

to invest a

instances

of

woman

in the

seems that

this is

not an accidental freak of fanaticism

it is gravely affirmed by the oracle,
that " Jehovah has seen meet to institute

for

new

ordinance in favour of the female

sex, in particular; even the ordinance of

new

tongues

in order that

confess I have no

wife or a daughter with

like not their

dalized

woman may

be rescued from the cruel tyranny of

man, and that man may be convinced, by
Vol. II. 63

the

is in

silent

when

prophesying
I

am

scan-

see the veil of female

modesty violently thrown aside,

to ex-

hibit the bold front of the spiritual ac-

tress
is

performing a part

totally incompatible

which

in public

with the retiring

and sensitive delicacy which is woman's

loveliest charm and her best defence.
In this I have the sanction of apostolic
authority in reference to the very subject

now under
men," says

discussion.
St. Paul,
;

themselves, they are

ments. This was evident on a recent
occasion:
the leader of the band of
fanatics announced on one Sabbath, that,
in consequence of the disorder and dreadful confusion which had taken place in
the congregation, the performance would
not be continued in public, but would be
confined to the private meetings of the
church. On the next Sabbath, however,
he was constrained to recall his inconsiderate prohibition, and to allow the
madness to burst forth again in all its
irrepressible extravagance. But the most
striking contrast is visible in the prominence given to women in all the recent
it

becoming a
Pythoness or a Sybil. The proper sphere

power to restrain the churches

mere passive instru- them to speak

And

efforts to

the unfeminine distinction of

the speakers have no

exhibitions.

my

in

re-

and I

her proper dignity in the

raise her to

scale of

no man

to

my

all

women

bosom of her family

and unostentatious discharge of her domestic duties.
The
Halls, the Cardales, and the Campbells,
"If may be very estimable persons but I

one speak," says St. Paul, "in a foreign

language, let it be two, or, at the most,
three sentences, and separately, and let
one interpret; but, if there be no interpreter, let him be silent in the church."
The moderns treat this prohibition with
what, incontempt. From it we learn
deed, is afterwards expressly repeated,
that, " the spirit of the prophets was
They were
subject to the prophets."
voluntary agents, and had the power of
self-control.

she

want wish

the essential quality of the ancient gift

497

the most striking of all evidences, that

" Let your wo-

"keep

for it is not

silence in

permitted unto

but they are commanded

;
be under obedience, as also saith the
law, and if they will learn any thing let
them ask their husbands at home for it
is a shame for women to speak in the
church." How can our female divines,
and their confessors, justify their palpable and direct hostility to this express
prohibition of the holy Scripture 1
Is
this passage blotted out from their Bible?
Or do they imagine that their impulses
are of higher authority than the peremptory dictates of God's written word ?
have already observed that the supernatural gifts which distinguished the
earliest age of Christianity were imparted
for the purpose of diffusing its facts and
doctrines throughout the world; and for
the edification of the church, by orally
supplying what was then deficient in the
revelation which was about to be completed.
Now, it is very evident that neither of these objects can be promoted by
the incomprehensible jargon at present ia
vogue.
to

We

2t2

THE BRITISH

498
The new

apostles prefer remaining at

honie to exposing themselves to the toils

and perils of a foreign mission. Besides,

they would be as unintelligible abroad as

in their own country
and, as to the edi:

fication of their fellow Christians, their

own rhapsody of
sounds throws no light upon holy Scripture
has no tendency to inform the
judgment, or to warm the heart.
Instead of their affording any evidence of
their being guided by the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge, they appear to be

lous power;

employed but

singularly deficient in every quality

belongs
tianity.

to enligiitened

"As

far

which

teachers of Chris-

as I heard," says a

and then they were never

in making known and im-

pressing on those that heard them that

which St. Paul says,

" If I, or an angel from heaven, preach
any other gospel, let him be accursed."
divine doctrine of

Now,

interpretation of their

PULPIT.

present instance, as

in the

sign so

is

the

doctrine.

is

the

And, indeed,

ever since the completion of the Scrip-

and the consequent disappearance

tures,

of miracles, the assumption of supernatu-

has usually been attended with

error
some grievous departure from the fundamental truths of
ral

gifts

some

capital

the gospel.

So constantly has

this hap-

when we hear the cry of

miracles, we may be almost certain that
some new or some revived heresy is
pened, that,

competent witness, " on the only occasion

that 1 could ever induce myself to witness these strange and repulsive scenes" about to cloud with its pestilential vainstead of observing any proof that a pours the horizon of the church.
Thus
divine illumination had indeed " beamed the Almighty wisely permits extrava-

upon

their minds, the contrary was so

decidedly the case that, when they spoke
intelligibly, the matter of the speech was

gance

to neutralize falsehood

and makes

the abettors of heretical opinions to refute themselves.

no more than any child, of a common

The unknown tongues of the ninecharity-school, might very easily have teenth century (a mere gibberish of
supplied.
It consisted of a few sen- sounds) are
employed in confirmation
tences of exhortation to repentance, re- of the most heterogeneous errors. The
peated over and over again with a pover- heresies of every age are brought into a
ty of expression, and a paucity of ideas, strange alliance
and one moment we
which I was astonished to find in con- are astounded with assertions of the sinnexion with so much enthusiastic excite- ful humanity of the immaculate Son of
ment."*
God the next we are startled with the
But, as if abandoning the idea of in- paradox of universal pardon, and restructing by the exercise of these extra- stricted salvation; and, as we proceed,
ordinary manifestations, they tell us they we find ourselves within the precincts
are a sign that the church to which they of a new Apocalypse, but unsustained
belong is under the immediate direction by inspiration.
The personal appearof the Holy Spirit ; efnd that the doctrines ance of the Being who now fills the
taught by its pastor are the infallible throne, and governs the affairs of the
truths of God.
A strange and arrogant universe, again upon earth and reigning
I had almost said an impious
assump- among men in his human capacity for a
tion.
The sign, and the matter of its thousand years his wars and conquests,
attestation, are alike contrary to all that and the wondrous events which are to
we have ever learnt of Christianity in happen during this period, and which
the New Testament.
give to his history the air of a terrible
The tongues spoken by apostles and romance are all made to pass under our
evangelists in the primitive age, as we view; his near approach is announced
have already seen, were real languages, the tongue, the awful tongue, roaring
intelligible and capable of a literal trans- like a cataract, is followed by unearthly
lation
sentence by sentence.
They sounds of something that is intelligible,
were infallible indications of a miracu- proclaiming in the hearing of affrighted
* Harness's Sermon
multitudes, " 0, Britain, thou anointed of

THE QUESTION OF MIRACLES CONSIDERED.

499

hand ; fear strike on the reef whilst insisting loudnot ye, people rf God.^^
But enough of est that God will not permit them to be
extravagance and blasphemy. That it is deceived."*
delusion, and not deliberate imposture,
Great stress has been laid upon the
among some of its actors 1 am willing to blameless lives and exemplary deportbelieve.
If any thing I have said should ment of those who have been most conappear to my hearers harsh and uncharita- spicuous in this work of delusion but
h\e, let them remember that, while we good men are not infallible.
They may
the Lord, thy destruction is at

we

pity the mistaken votaries of error,

be devout in their

spirit,

but grievously

judgment. We are to reLet it also be recollected that the sober ceive doctrines, and to weigh pretensions,
and rational portion of the Christian on other grounds; the apostle supposes
community, who entertain the conviction that an angel from heaven might preach

owe no

tenderness

to

their aberrations.

that the Spirit of God is not chargeable

with any of the absurdities which have
been made to pass under his sanction,
are unceremoniously accused of committing the unpardonable sin
the sin
against the Holy Ghost.
In our own

defence, therefore,

we

are called upon to

We

repel so ungenerous an imputation.

fear that

" the great danger

is

of blas-

erratic in their

another gospel; but he tells us that his

superior nature, and lofty descent, are to

have no influence in our deciding upon

his communications.
These are to be
determined by that gospel which God
has already confirmed by miracles, and
which was preached to mankind by his
incarnate Son.

And

as

to

the

question

of personal

by as- character, we should do well to rememcribing to his holy and wise agency ber that the holiest men that ever lived
those appearances which may have had were the apostles of Christ
that the
their origin in human device, or in Sa- fathers of the church were most exem-

pheming

the Spirit of the Lord

What

tanic delusion."

this extravagance will be

We

cult to conceive.

conclusion that

it

the end of
it

is

not

all

diffi-

are guided to the

will be short-lived

by

plary and devout

and

numerable Christians

that there are inin our

dent zeal

times,

and the
adorn the
God their Saviour in all
yet regard with dismay and

the

liveliest

the lessons so awfully read to us in the

most expansive charity

history of similar assumptions.

doctrine

Preten-

own

of the purest conduct, and the most ar-

of

faith,

who

were made to this very gift of things who

tongues by a few deluded fanatics not a horror the fanaticism which we all decentury ago
but it passed away, and plore The most dangerous enemies of
its authors fell into deserved contempt.
the church are those who propagate hereHigh excitement, and fancied possession sies which she condemns, but wiiose
of miraculous endowments, have often consistency of life she cannot impugn.
been united with the belief of the immeIn conclusion, my brethren, let us
diate coming of the Son of God in personal value as we ought the glorious inheritmajesty: but "Christendom has proved ance which remains to us. Instead of
again and again, that this transcendental seeking a feverish excitement, and preconfidence may exist in vain.
Its failure ternatural wonders, let us cleave to the
in the hands of the unfortunate persons faith, the hope, and charity, which are
whom it has so frequently inspired and to abide with us for ever. These are
betrayed seems destined* to be thrown gifts of divine bestowment; and, if we
away as an example. Age after age, an attain to these, we are qualified to serve
irrepressible ardour hurries on sanguine God in all well pleasing, and to promote
spirits to grasp at the immediate miracu- the best interests of our fellow men.
lous reward of an undoubting zeal, in Faith, hope, and charity, shining in the
their own way, and upon their own terms. spirit and pursuits of all real Christians,
In spite of the shipwreck of their prede- will cause a second paradise to bloom
cessors on the selfsame adventure, they around them
will open heaven to their
dread no rocks for their own vessel, and
* Edinburgh Review.
sions

THE BRITISH

500

PULPIT.

will surround them with the har- wish to live and to die, an unexpected
monies of immortality ; the tabernacle of stroke disappoints our hopes, and lays
God will then be with men, and the all our schemes in the dust. When, after
whole earth shall be filled with his glory. much labour and care, we have reared
Amen.
the goodly structure ; when we have
fenced it, as we fondly imagine, from
UNCERTAINTY OT HUMAN EXPECTATIONS.
every storm that blows, and indulge the
Dark and uncertain is the state of be- pleasing hope that it will always endure,
ing in which we now exist. Human life an invisible hand interposes, and overis not formed to answer those high ex- turns it from the foundation.
Son of
pectations, which, in the era of youth prosperity
thou now lookest forth from
and imagination, we are apt to entertain. thy high tower ; thou now gloriest in

view

When we

first

set out in life,

fiance to the evil day;

we

we

bid de-

indulge in

thou sayest, that thy

mountain stands strong, and that thou art

thine excellence;

dreams and visions of romantic

bliss, firm as the cedar of Lebanon ; but stand

and fondly lay the scene of perfect and in awe. Before the mighty God of Jacob,
un.interrupted happiness for the time to and by the blast of the breath of his noscome. But experience soon undeceives trils, the mountain hath been overturned,
us: we awake and find that it was but a and the cedar of Lebanon hath fallen like
dream.
make but a few steps in life the leaf before the tempest. At this
without finding the world to be a turbu- very moment of time the wheel is in
lent scene ; we soon experience the motion that reverses the lot of men, that
changes that await us, and feel the brings the prosperous to the dust, and lays
thorns of the wilderness wherein we the mighty low.
Now,
man, thou redwell.
Our hopes are frequently blasted joicest in thy strength but know that
in the bud, our designs are defeated in for thee the bed of languishing, the bed
the very moment of expectation, and we of death will be spread.
Thou now remeet with sorrow, and vexation, and dis- movest from thee the evil day, and sayest
appointment, on all hands. There are in thy heart, thou shalt never see sorrow ;
lives besides our own in which we are but remember the changes of this mortal
deeply interested ; lives in which our life. The calmest and the stillest hour
happiness is placed, and on which our precedes the whirlwind and the earthhopes depend. Just when we have laid quake the monarch hath drawn the chawhen, after the ex- riot of state in which he was wont to
a plan of happy life
perience of years, we have found out a ride in triumph ; and the greatest who
few chosen friends, and have begun to ever awed the world have moralized at
enjoy that little circle in which we would the turn of the wheel.
Log,an.

We

END OF VOLUME

II.

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