CHRISTIAN RETIREMENT; OR SPIRITUAL EIERCISES OF THE HEART, BY THE AUTHOR OF " CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE, AS DISPLAYELl IN THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF ST. PAUL." ^ FROai THE FOURTEEIVTH LONDOPf EDITION. NEW YORK: ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, No. 285 BROADWAY. 1851. PREFACE The Bible is the sacred storehouse of heavenly wisdom. Its pages are stamped with the divine seal of eternal truth, and contain the charter of our hopes, our privileges, and our joys. Whatever tends to lead us from the love and study of the Holy Scriptures, should be dreaded as inimical to the highest interests of mankind ; whilst every attempt, how- ever feeble, which has for its object the promotion of the Redeemer's glory, and the good of souls, will be received with affectionate indulgence by real Christians, who well know that success in any effort of usefulness is from above. " Not by might, nor by j^ower, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord,''^ is a declaration at once calculated to strengthen the weak, and to humble the strong. The simple design in publishing the following reflections, is to induce a habit of self-examination and prayer ; and to excite to a more diligent perusal of the word of God. The Author, therefore, desires to come in the kindly as pect of a Jriendly visiter ; and if privileged to enter into the sacred retirement of the Christian, would there, through the blessing of God, endeavor to lead him into a closer com- munion with his own heart, and with Jesus, his exalted Saviour. PREFACE. Nothing new is here presented to the Christian. The good old way in which the palnarclis, prophets apostles, and all true believers in every age have journeyea to the heavenly Canaan, is pointed out. Jesus is the way, the only way to the Father ; the living way to holiness, happiness, and heaven. The prophet Isaiah was commanded to teach the people by line upon line, and precept upon precept ; where, there- fore, the same unspeakably precious truths recur again and again in these pages, their recurrence will not offend the humble believer who has tasted that the Lord is gracious. As bread and water are always pleasant to a healthy- stomach, so the bread of life and the water of life are pecu- liarly refreshing to the soul which is hungering and thirsting after righteousness. An original hymn is subjoined to each meditation, which, it is hoped, may assist the spirit of piet}^, although it can lay little claim to the charms of poetry. The Christian reader must kindly excuse the frequent want of close con- nexi/)n between the hymns and the meditations to which they are attached, as they were composed before the present volume was contemplated by its author. Should the Lord condescend to bless these humble ex ercises of the heart, to the guiding of some young inquirei to the Friend of sinners ; to the quickening of some luke- warm professor ; to the convincing of some sceptic ; or the comforting of some afflicted behever; to the Triune God of our salvation be all the praise. ONTENTS Reliremer.tv . . . , 9 Insensibility to • , . 'u ihings ]^3 The Fall . 17 The Prohibition in Ps.radise , 24 Unbelief .... . 28 The total Depravity of the heart . 35 The Deceitfulness of the heart . 40 Keeping the heart . 45 The Blessedness of a new heart , 50 The Immensity of God . 55 The Divine Sovereignty . 63 The Two Covenants . . 70 The Love of God . 7G The Gift of a Saviour . . 83 The Design of the Gospel . . 93 Perverted Views of the Gospel . 98 The Nature of Christianity . . 102 Neglecting the Gospel 107 Ir»:ido<]iiatc viev/s of human nature . 112 Two common Errors. . . 117 The cause of Scepticism . 122 The Almost Christian « 126 6 CONTENTS. Conversion The New Creature . . . • . Christian Unity Following the Lord fully The two great Instruments in the com'ersion The two Sources .... The two Pillars The two Ways ..... Mercy rejoicing against Judgment Intellectual and Spiritual light Knowledge and Wisdom Passive Impressions and Active Habits Union to Christ ..... The Christian Character Christian Motives .... Christian Conversation Christian Privilege .... Agreement necessary to Communion Separation from the world . The importance of Self-knowledge The Spirit of Prayer .... The Cautions and Warnings of Scripture Self-deception Lukewarmness ..... Forgetfulness of God Watchfulness ..... The Danger of Riches The Thorns of the Parable . The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus The three Enemies .... Indwelling Sin Trials of sinners CONTENTS. 7 PAGB Affliction 330 The character of Martha and Mary .... 339 The character of the Bereans . . • . . 343 The Living Water 350 The Burning Bush ••••••• 356 Adoption • • • . 364 Faith 370 Hope .... • • • • . 378 Lore 384 Joy 393 Peace 398 Humility 402 Meekness 407 Purity 411 Godly Fear 416 The Believer's Aim and Hope 420 True Happiness . 427 True Religion 432 Election 439 Spiritual Vision 447 Heaven ....»•••• 451 The Blessedness of Saints 458 Christian Obedience 464 Day of Judgment • 470 CHRISTIAN RETIREMENT, I. ON RETIREMENT. How needful to the real Christian, surrounded as he is by sensible objects, which have so powerful an influence on his mind and affections, are seasons for retirement from the hurry and distracting cares of the world ! The soul e-annot prosper in spiritual things, without much secret converse with its God and Saviour. Many duties are unavoidably of a pubh'c nature ; but these, except in extraordinary cases, should not occupy those portions of time, which are sacred to meditation, reading the Scriptures, and prayer. There is something peculiarly pleasant and profitable in the interchange of activity and retirement. As activity sweetens retirement, so retirement pre- pares the mind for renewed activity. Those persons who are most engaged in active labors for the benefit of others, will find peculiar need for frequent retirement. In their closets, they must draw down from the Fountain of love, by faith and prayer, that spiritual strength, and those heavenly graces, which alone can enable them to labor perseverlnghj, as well as suffer patiently for Christ's sake. The present times, which are so happily characteriz- ed by religious exertion, render this duty highly need- 10 RETIREMENT. ful. It is no nncomuioii thing to hear excellent per- sons complain, that their whole time is nearly divided between their own avocations and the claims of multi plying societies ; thus leaving little or no leisure for the important duty of Christian retirement. Hence, spirituality of mind is much injured from the constant bustle in which some benevolent persons live. They have frequent cause to join in the lamentation of the Spouse in the Canticles : " They made me a keeper of vineyards ; but mine own vineyard have I not kept." The increase of valuable institutions, formed for the purpose of extending the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth, calls for perpetual gratitude to God, who thus designs to bless our favored island with the light of his truth, and to stir up his faithful servants to those interesting labors of love. But it never was the design of Infinite Wisdom, that one duty should extirpate another. As every thing is beautiful in its season, so there is a time for every thing. The art of doing much, consists in giving to every duty its proper place, time, and quantity. Here much wisdom is required ; yet by prayer, waichfulness, and self-denial, much practical knowledge may be attained. When we seldom retire for holy converse with God, is there not great reason to suspect some latent, though perhaps unconscious repugnance to the more silent, un- obtrusive offices of secret devotion ] Some persons grow almost melancholy if much alone. This surely betrays a defect either in the constitution or the heart. Absolute solitude is decidedly injurious ; since He who made us hath declared, that "it is not good that man should be alone." But occasional re- tirement, for the delightful purpose of holding converse with the Saviour, greatly refreshes the spiritual facul- llETiRKMENT. 11 lies, just as rest from bodily labor recruits the wasted powers of our animal frame. Some good men are so wedded to their studies, that iney can scarcely force themselv^es from their beloved retreat; while others are so fond of active pursuits, that their minds seem averse to the sedentary employments of the closet. Like birds of passage, they live upon the (ving. Both these extremes are faulty, and consequently hurtful to each part}^ Every man has his circle of duty to fill up. This is larger or smaller, according to the station in which God has placed him. Let no one think that he may live for himself alone. Each indi- vidual has a sphere of usefulness to occupy ; and his happiness is closel}^ connected with the performance of his duty. Our divine Redeemer has left us an example ihat we should tread in his steps. May we daily study the conduct of Him whose life was one continued exer- cise of unwearied benevolence — "who went about doing good." Nothing can more beautifully exemplify the duties of holy retirement and active benevolence, than the life of Jesus. In the Gospels, we read how incessant were his labors for the spiritual and temporal good of the thousands who followed him. And there w^e alsp read, how " he went up into a mountain apart to pray ;" how "when the evening was come, he was there alone f"* how "he continued all n\3HIBITI0N IN PARADISE. Much of the beauty of Scripture is lost to us for "want of spiritual discernment. The ways of God appear dark, in proportion to the thick film which rests upon our understanding'. The view which the Rev. Hartwell Home has given of the prohibition in paradise, in a note in the first vol- of his " Introduction to the Critical Study of the Holy Bcriptures," is very important. He says "that the par- ticular injunction given to our first parents not to eat of THE PROHIBITION IN PARADISE. 25 the fruit of a particular tree, has been a favorite subject of sneer and cavil with the ^i^^posers of revelation." U is awful to reflect, how weak, polluted v^^orms of earth dare to charge^the infinite wisdom of Jehovah with folly. Surely we must say with the Psalmist, "God is strong and patienf^ — and God is provoked every day. The following considerations show at once the reason- ableness, holiness, and goodness of the law of paradise. 1. As God had made man the governor of this lower world, and crowned him with so many mercies, "it was manifestly proper that he should require some particular instance of homage and fealty, to be a memorial to man of his dependance, and an acknowlcvdgment on his part, that he was under the dominion of a higher Lord, to whom he owed absolute subjection and obedience. 2. "What instance of homage could be more proper, circumstanced as man then was, than his being obliged, in obedience to the divine command, to abstain from one or more of the fruits of paradise 1 3. "It pleased God to insist only upon his abstaining from one; at the same time that he indulged him in full liberty as to the rest." 4. This easy and reasonable prohibition "served both as an act of homage to the supreme Lord from whose bountiful grant he held paradise, and all its enjoy- ments ; and was also fitted to teach our first parents a noble and useful lesson of absiinence and self-denial; one of the most necessary lessons in a state of proba- tion ; and also of unreserved submission to the autliority and will of God ; and an implicit resignation to his su- preme wisdom and goodness." 5. This test of their obedience, from the nature of it, "tended to habituate them to keep their sensitive ap- petites in subjection to the law of reason ; to take them off from too close an attachment to inferior sensible 26 THE PROHIBITION IN PARADISE. good ; and engage them to place their liighest happi- ness in God alone " 6. This injunction not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, would also tend, "to keep their desires after knowledge within just bounds, so as to be content with knowing what was really proper and useful for them to know; and not presume to pry with an unwarrantable curiosity into things which belong not to them, and which God has not thonorht fit to reveal." Now who can seriously meditate upon these valuable considerations, without being affected at the goodness of God in commanding, and at the baseness of man in transgressing, such a reasonable test of his obedience ? This law was truly a law of love ; and the breach ot' it was the highest instance of ingratitude and rebellion. How inconceivably great is the grace of God, that at the v^ery time when he came down to pronounce the sentence of death upon his offending creatures, he should reveal, by promise, an Almighty Saviour, even HIMSELF, who should destroy the power of darkness, finish transgression, make an end of sin, bring in ever- lasting righteousness, and form a people to show forth liis praise ! If we examine attentively the foregoing consider- ations, we shall find that nothing was imposed upon Adam, that we are not now commanded to perforin, with respect to the spiritual part of the injuction. We must love God supremely — acknowledge our de- pendance upon him — seek our whole happiness in him — delight in his law — be resigned to his will — ^keep our sensitive appetites in subjection — and check all unhal- lowed curiosity into the v/ays and wisely hidden things of God. Every deviation froii^ this state of heart and practice THE PROHIBITION IN PARADISE. 27 IS a deviation from the holy law of God; and as a neces- sary consequence entails guilt and misery upon us. Thu.dulge a sinful thought, and cherish in my mind those dreadful evils, which nothing but the blood of God incarnate could exj)iate and wash away ] Can I sin agairist such transcendent love ? We must dwell with delight on the griicious opera- tions of the Holy Spirit, in leading the trembling sinner to Jesus ; in enabling him to believe with the heart imto righteousness ; and in causing him to love that precious Saviour, who is the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely. We must be continually looking with an eye of faith to Jesus, as our great example; remembering that "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." He left us " an example that we should follow his steps;" and hath declared, "my sheep hear ni}^ voice, and I know them, and they follow me." His whole mediatorial character must be the object of our thoughts, till our souls are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord. In order to the keeping of the heart with all diligence, we must labor to set the Lord always before us. We must feel ourselves surrounded with his omnipresence, to whom the darkness and the light are both alike ; who weigheth the spirits ; who is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Oh ! my soul, trifle no longer with thy thoughts. The irregular desire, the impure look, the angry pur- pose, though unseen by man, are all recorded by the omniscient God ; and will be condemned as actual transgressions of his holy law, in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed. Hasten then to Jesus for grace to save thee, and to 5 50 BLESSEDNESS OF A NEW HEART. keep thee. For ever renounce all hope of saving thy- self by any merit of thy own. If " ihe thought of fool- ishness is sin," v;here is tlie man that liveth and siniieth not 1 Blessed Saviour ! in thee alone have I righteousness and strength. Put forth thy mighty power. Deliver me from the assaults of Satan, and the workings of an evil heart. Enable me to watch and pra}^ to wrestle and fightj to libor and strive in thy promised strength, till conflict si ill end in victor}^, weariness in rest, and mourning in .arnal songs of joy. With guilt oppressed, bow'd down with sin, Beneath its load I groan ; Give me, dear Lord, a heart of flesh, Remove this heart of stone. A burden'cd sinner, lo ! I come, An heir of death and hell ; Oh ! seal my pardon with thy blood. And all my fears dispel. Nor peace, nor rest, my soul can find, Till thy dear cross I sec ; Till there in humble faith I cry, .My Jesus died for me. Oh ! give this realizing faith. This soul supporting view ; Till old things be for ever past, And all witliin be new. IX ON THE BLESSEDNESS OF A NEW HEART. It is delightful to contemplate the beauties which 1.3 contained in one short passage of the Holy Scrip- litres. In grace, as in nature, we find much beauty in BLF.SSEDNKSS OF A NEW HEART. 51 what appears coiup:iralivoly mimUe. Faith, hkc tlie microscope, discovers tlic liiddcii charms, and presents to our mind those excellences, which lie undiscovered to the eye of reason. The following short promise is of this description : " I will give them one heart and one v/ay :" Jer. xxxii, 39. The wliole of the Christian character is summed up in these few words. Tliis precious promise virtually contains every thing v^'hich relates to inward and out- ward godliness ; faith working hy love ; and love w^ork- ing hy obedience, '•! v» ill give them one heart and one way." The two great features of the Christian charac- ter are here expressed : singleness of heart, and con- sistency OF conduct. Without a single eye, that is, without a unity of desire, and a unity of design, to promote the glory of God, all profession of faith and love is hypocritical and vain. True faith is simple in its dependance, and looks only unto Jesus for pardon and peace, and every other spiri- tual blessinfj. ' It draws off the mind from all other ob- jects, and causes the believer with "one heart" to rely upon the atonement made by the Son of God for sin ; and to draw only out of his fulness every needful grace. This "one heart" i.-, therefore a most comprehensive blessing. The more we examine into it with spiritual discernment, the more of new beauties we shall dis- cover, unfolding themselves to our enlightened minds. When Adam was in a state of innocence, he had only "one heart." Since the fall, the heart of man is " divided :" Hosea x, 2. The world, sin, and self, each claim their share ; and as the Almighty will have the ichole or none, he has, in righteous displeasure, left his rebel creatures to the miseries of a divided and dis- tracted heart. BLES&EBNESS OF A NEW HEART. But in the covenant of grace, lie promises to repair ;;? breach ; to give us "one heart," that we may fear rjs name, seek his g'lory, become liis portion, and thug enjoy, through the merits of tlie Saviour, tlie inestima- ble blessings of communion with himself, peace of con- science, and assured ho})e of glory. "Unite my heart to fear thy name," was the ardent prayer of David. Through the fall, we are dead in trespasses and sins. There is no movement for God. All is disorder and confusion, like a broken watch, whose wheels lie scat- tered here and there, and whose spring ceases to work. But when divine grace renovates and regulates our •spiritual faculties ; w^hen our heart is united ; when we have "one heart''' given to us;, when all our soul is alive for God ; and with singleness and simplicity aims at nothing but his glory, and the fulfilment of his will : then we become new creatures ; then we are a people formed to show forth his praise ; then we possess an inward witness of our union to Jesu3, and our adoption into the family of God. All the family of God, possessing this "one heart," must necessarily be united to eacli other in brotherl}^ love. This loving spirit our blessed Lord made the badge of discipleship. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one anotiier." St. John makes it a mark of conversion : " we know that w^e have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." St. Paul strongl}^ exhorts to unity and icllowship ; and declares that all divisions mark the carnality of the mind, and the unsoundness of profes- sion. This "one heart" is then a great blessing, sinc« it constitutes the very essence of the Christian charac- ter, as opposed to unbelief, and the love of the world and sin BLESSEDNESS OF A NEW HEART. 53 "I WILL GIVE THEM ONE AVAY." Cluist is illC Olie only way to the Father. Faith is the one only grace whereby we become interested in the work of Jesus. Love is the one only principle which gives intrinsic ex- cellence to our various operations. Universal holiness is the one only Scriptural evidence of our possessing true faith and love ; and being savingly united to Jesus, the living way to the Father. Our outward conduct must, therefore, be in consistency with our principles and professions. We must have "one way," the way of God's commandments, and walk sleadily in that one way, that we may fear his name for our present and everlasting good. Thus the whole Christian character is contained in this short, but beautiful promise: "I will give them one heart and one way." Here, we behold one of the sweet fruits of mercy hanging on the tree of life. All the precious promises are so many pledges of God's covenant love, which he engages to fulfill. "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord;" bul here holiness is promised as the work of Jehovah in the hearts of poor sinners. Vriiat we cannot do, God has graciously promised to perform. He who says "I will," is Almighty and true. All his declarations of mercy are marked by solidity and stability, "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saitli the Lord, that hath mercy on thee." "Thy word," saith David, "is tried ro the uttermost, therefore thy servant loveth it." This he could affirm from personal experience, having felt its blessed influ- ence on his own heart. "Thy word hath quickened me." "Thy word is true from the beginning." "My ^4 BLESSEDNESS OF A KEW HEART. soul hath kept thy testimonies, and I love them exceed iiigly." "For thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes^ and I have walked in thy truth." Oh ! thou divine Redeemer, out of whose inexhaus- tibl 3 "uiness I would daily draw a rich supply of grace into my needy soul, be pleased to impart unto me this *' one heart ;" that to please thee, may be my greatest happiness, and to promote thy glory my highest honor. Preserve me from false motives, from a double mind^ and a divided heart. Keep me entire to thyself, and erable me to crucify every lust, which would tempt m^'' h art from thee. Enable me by thy grace to walk in "one way;" one uniform path of hol}^, child-like obedience. Suffer me not to start aside like a broken bow. When tempted to turn aside to the riglrt hand or to the left, ma}^ I hear a voice behind me saying, " this is the way." And oh ! may I keep steadily therein, till I reach the outer bor ders of the wilderness ; and then, blessed Jesus, may some blest seraph be commissioned to bear my happy and transported spirit along the shining way which leads ii thine abode ; till brought before thy throne, I see thy face, behold thy smile, and faU x.-i ecstasy at thy fe.et lost in wonder, love, and praise Fill me, Oh Lord, with holy joy, With humble, filial fear ! My undivided heart employ In praise to thee and prayer. Protect ms ^rom the power of ill ; Defend my soul from sin ; Subdue my proud rebellious will, And make me pure within. Create an ardent, active love. Thy goodness to proclaim ; Oh may I sweetly feci and pro.ve The power of Jesas' name J IMMENSITY OF GOD. 55 May Jesus my beloved be, My shepherd and my friend ; Uniie my soul, Oh, Lord, to thee, In bonds that ne'er shall end ! Then will my raptured soul repeat The wonders of thy grace ; Till prostrate at thy mercy-seat, I view thee face to face. X. ON THE IMMENSITY OF GOD. ) r is from tlie Holy Scriptures alone, that we can at lain just views of the being, nature, and character of God. How sublime are the revelations of the divine perfections there made known to us ! Who can grasp this one thought — "Thus saith the high and lofty One, ^,hat inhabiteth eternity?" We are astonished w^ien we read of the Egyptian pyramids, and the magnificent palaces of mighty mon- archs ; but what sightless atoms are they, when com- pared WMth eternity, that boundless habitation of the King of kings. " From cverlastmg to everlasting, thou art God." The existence of one supreme Being, who is without beginning, is consonant with right reason ; for he who made all things, must necessarily be before all things. A creature cannot make itself. This would imply ex- ertion before existence, which is an absurdity And }^et how far above our finite comprehension is the nature of the self-existent, eternal Jehovah. Our minds are lost when we plunge into infinity. "Who by searching can find out Godl who can find out the Almighty to perfection ?" The voluir.e of creation displays the wisdom, power, 56 IMMENSITY OF GOD. and goodness of God. What Avonderful contrivance^ what wise adaptation of one part to another; what power in upholding, what goodness in preserving the myriads of creatures which fill the air, the earth, the sea, is discoverable around us. "A late eminent astronomer found, that in 41 min- utes not less than 258,000 stars in that part of the hea- ven, called the milky way, had passed through the field of view in his telescope ! What must God be, who made, governs, and supports so many worlds, w\u telleth the number of the stars; and calleth them ah by their names." It is, however, from the volume of Inspiration tha-. we derive our knowledge of the moral attributes of the Deity ; and obtain those awful, yet sublimely interest- ing views of Him with whom we have to do, which at once elevate and purify the soul. The Holy Bible may well be called the Book of God ; not only because it has God for its author, but because it is filled with such revelations of his glorious character, as surpass the powers of human reason fully to comprehend. How fervently did ihe apostle pray for his Ephesian converts ; that the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give unto them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him : that 'he eyes of their understanding being enlightened, they might know the hope of his calling; and the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints ; and the ex- ceeding greatness of his power towards those who be- lieve ; that being rooted and grounded in love, they might be able to comprehend, with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth and height; and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, and so be filled with all the fulness of God. IMMENSITY or GOD 57 Wc stand upon the sea-shore, and survey witn admi- ring delight the wide extended ocean, wlio.^e distant waters lose themselves in the blue horizon. But what is this great abyss of waters, compared to that ocean of Almiglity love, which is without a bottom and a sliore ? Oh ! my God, when I contemplate thy sovereign will, which, from eternity, in higliest wisdom, consulted my welfare, I am lost in astonishment. Wben I reflect upon thine omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence ; upon thine infinite holiness, inviola- ble justice, and unerring wisdom ; upon thy faithfulness, and truth ; thine everlasting love, tby sovereign grace, thy patience and long-suffering — how am I filled with awe and dread ! Yet faith can contemplate this bright display of uncreated excellence, and rejoice in tliy infi- nite perfections as exhibited and liarmonized in Jesus, the incarnate AVord. Here I behold, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord. Oh ! that wliilst beholding, I may be transformed into the lovely image of the Saviour, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Who does not long to feel the purifying effect of these sacred views of God in Christ 1 Lord, make me humble, whilst I meditate on thy humility ; loving, whilst I think upon thy love ; holy, whilst I dwell upon thy purity; just, whilsf I contemplate thy righteousness ; merciful, ^'hilst I behold thy grace ; joyful, whilst 1 review tliy everlasting covenant. Oh ! fill my heart with gratitude, and my mouth with praise. To thee, blessed Jesus, do I look. Remove all spiritual darkness from my mind : all spiritual deadness from my heart. Cause me to know thee, as my Saviour ; to follow thee, as my leader ; to '.ove thee, as my friend ; to trust in thee, as my atone- ment ; to be found in thee, as my righteousness ; to feed on thee, as the living bread ; to walk in thee, as the way to the Father ; and to dwell with thee in heaven for ever. 58 IMMENSITY OF GOD. What comfort may every humble believer derive from the declaration of his Lord ! "am I a God at hand and U'jt a God afar off] Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him ] Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord]" "Wheie two or three are gathered together in m/ name, there am I in the midst of them." "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." How liappy must that soul be, whose refuge is always near. But to have an ene'ny always near us ; an enemy armed with omnipotence — an enemy, made so by our wilful transgressions ; is a consideration most appalling. Yet this is the case, as it respects every impenitent sinner. The thought of such a God being ever near, whose eye is ever upon us, whose power can crush us in a moment, and drive the outcast spirit into outer dark iicss, would, one would think, awaken every dormant sei^j^ibilit}^, and arouse every sleeping sinner. Yet, alas ! surrounded with such peril, the soul sleeps on in dread- ful security, till either grace ciuicken it to repentance, or justice awaken it in the fire that shall never be quenclied. Lord, awaken my drowsy sense. Quicken all my powers. Draw me by the powerful, constraining influ- ence of thy love ; and cause me to rejoice in this sacred truth, that thou art always near, my help in trouble and my life in death. When we begin to iv.easure distances with respect to natural objects, we are lost in astonishment. What thought can reach the boundary of creation ] Many suns have probably been sending forth their rays in quick suc- cession from the first moment of creation, whose light lias not reached our earth. Who, then, can measure guch distances] And yet, what are millions of worlds revolving round each rtlier, compared with infinite space^ and eterna duration ] If we cannot, by the boldest flight IMMENSITY OF GOD. 59 }f imagiiiatioii, conceive tlie mighty stretch of creation, how shall we dare to sin against that inconceivahly glorious Being who filleth heaven and earth with his presence— who inhabiteth eternity ! How truly sublime are the questions of the enraptured prophet Isaiah! "Who hath measured the Vv^atcrs in the hollov/ of his hand ; and meted out heaven with a span : and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains m scales, and the hills in a balance 1" " Behold the nations are as the drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance : behold he taketh up the isles as a very little thing." " All nations before him are as nothing, and they are counted to him less than nothing and vanity." " It is he that sittetli upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers : that stretch- eth out the heavens as a curtain ; and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in." " Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? — there is no search ing of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might, he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary ; and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Every doctrine of Scri])ture is designed to promote our growth in grace. They arc given to us, not for specu- lation, but for practice. From this view of the divine mmensity, we are taught humility, reverence, and cir cumspertion. Wherever we arc, whatever v/e are doing, the eye 'j 60 IMMENSITY OF GOD. God is upon us, viewing us, not as an indifferent spec- tator, but taking cognizance of every action, of every word, yea of every thought that rises in our minds ; that, from this awful, this continued, this never to be a-voided scrutiny, our eternal condition may be fixed at the judg- ment day. How plain are the declarations of Scripture : " God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil:" Eccles. xii, 14. "He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness :" Acts xvii, 31. " God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ:" Rom. ii, 16. "Every one of us shall give an account of himself to God:" Rom. xiv, 12. "The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels : and then he shall reward every man accord- ing to his works :" Matt, xvi, 27. For by actions, the sincerity of faith in Christ is best known and evidenced. And our reward, though not of debt but of grace, will be more or less glorious according to our works, those fruits of faith, done for Christ in this present world. See Matt, x, 42, XXV, 34, 40. Dan. xii, 3. 1 Cor. xv, 41, 42. In like manner, the punishment of unbelievers will be proportionate to their respective degrees of wickedness, and their comparative abuse of light, mercies, and privi- leges vouchsafed to them. "Wo unto thee, Chorazin ; wo unto thee, Bethsaida : for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. I say unto yju, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you." " Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment ; for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shall IMMENSITY OF GOD. Gl be :ondemned." Because our words will evidence the Btate of our hearts ; and therefore prove us either in the faith, 01 unrcgenerate, before an assembled world. " He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, And make manifest the co'.;:iselsof the heart :" 1 Cor. iv, 5. How infinite is that omniscient God, Avho can search the deep recesses of every heart ; yea, of hundreds of millions of hearts in every age, and at the same moment of time, without confounding in the least degree the motives and purposes of his rational creatures ; and who at the great day of account will reveal to each his secret sins, while all shall stand speechless and self-condemned before his awful tribunal ! Lord, give me grace to judge myself now, that I may not be condemned in that day. Oh, send down thy blessed Spirit into my heart ! Sanctify every thought, every affection and desire. Purge me with the cleans- ing blood of thy dear Son. Clothe me with his spotless righteousness ; that, being viewed by thee in Christ my Saviour, 1 may be saved with an everlasting salvation; and never be confounded, world without end. "Tnou, God, seest me." To feel the abiding im- pression of this solemn truth, would be a sacred preser- vation from sin. When an evil thought arises in my heart, should 1 like to divulge it to my nearest friend? Ah ! no. Conscience, shame, or a regard to his good opinion checks the disclosure. What ! and shall I dare to indulge such a thought, exposed to my Almighty friend, and naked in his sight, when I would not dare to mention it to a fellow worm ! Where is the fear of God '? Where is the belief of his omniscience 1 Where is the awe of his omnipresence ? Where is the dread of unal judgment 1 Yea, where is my love to Christ, who died to save me from my sins? " Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps ?" Job xxxi, 4 6 63 I3IMENSITY OF GOD. This method of addressing conscience may, through grace, present a powerful harrier against the injections of Satan, and the workings of natural corruption. Lord, strengthen me more and more ! Give me grace never to harbor a thought which 1 should be ashamed to express. May I never forget, that, as speaking is but thinking aloud, so thinking is speak ing to thee, Avho requirest not, like weak mortals, the medium of words and sounds. Thou hearest the inward voice of the soul, pouring out itself before thee in silent 3'et fervent breathings of desire ; and thou knowest the subtile workings of inbred sin. May I ever consider myself as in th)^ immediate pre sence ; surrounded by thy immensity. " Thou, God, SEEST ME." May this thought constrain me to act with purity, truth, and sincerity, when no* human eye can (observe my actions ; or, if my actions are visible, when they cannot unveil my motives. May I do all from a principle of love to thee, and with a simple desire in all things to promote thy glory ; for thine eyes "run to and fro throughout the v/hole earth, to show thyself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards thee." How consoling is this vicAV of the divine immensity, with respect to our distant Christian friends ! Where- ever they are, whether crossing tempestuous oceans, or dwelling in distant climes ; whether traversing dreary deserts, or climbing craggy steeps ; God is still near them, to protect and bless them. Should he call them out of the body, when separa'.eil from all they love upon earth ; yet he is still near, to cheer their departing spirits, and to conduct them in safety to their eternal home. Let me then rejoice. Oh Lord, in thy presence. I^^.i me be always happy in this sweet assurance, that thou DIVINE SOVEREIGx\TY. 63 art a sun and shield, and wilt give grace and glory to every humble follower of the Lamb. Oh may I live daily nearer to thee by faith and pray- er ! Unite my heart to fear thy name. Bind my affec- tions to thy cross ; and suffer me not one moment t/) wander from thee, or lose tlie thought of thy immensity and glor}^ It is in thee that I live, and move, and have my being; it is from thee that I derive every spiritual and temporal blessing ; and it is through thee that I Iwrnibly hope to be brought in safety, as a monument of mercy, into thy everlasting kingdom. Oh, holy, holy, holy Lord ! Whom angel-hosts adore ; "When shall I join, in raptured strains, The bright celestial choir? In pity, view a sinful worm, A prisoner here below ; A pilgrim journeying through the land Of darkness, sin, and wo. Ten thousand voices round thy throne Unite in hymns divine ; " Salvation to the Lamb !" they cry, As high in bliss they shine. Fain Avould I now begin the song, To thee, my God and friend ; Then mingle with the choirs above, In praise which ne'er shall end. XI. ON THE DIVINE SOVEREIGNTr. At the creation, amidst the darkness of chaos, Jeho- vah said, "Let there be light, and there was light." When veiled in human flesh, he commanded the raging 9i DIVINE SOVEREIGNTT. wind and waves, saying, "Peace, be still: and imme- diately there was a great calm." To his tempest-tossed people he now speaks these composing words : " Be stil), and knov/ that I am God" — and they find rest unto their souls. In violent public commotions, God can " still the madness of the people ;" and in inward mental agonies, he can calm the agitated spirit. " When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble ? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him — v;hether*it be done against a nation, or against a man only V Job xxxiv, 29. When we read the history of past ages, and consider the ever-changing scene before us ; when we study man, and perceive though but a small portion of the passions and contending interests, which shake the fabric of so- ciety; how delightful, how composing to the mind, is this all-gracious declaration, " Be still, and know that I am God !" The political world, like the air and sea which sur- round us, is ever in n::otion ; but the happy believer finds his rest in God. In the present day, the human mind seems to be acted upon in a most remarkable manner. Knowledge is diffusing its light in every direction; and the intellectual powers are acquiring an expansion, which their ancient boundaries can neither limit nor control. The Christian world is all awake to the spiritual and moral degradation of mankind, and is laboring to dis- seminate the sacred truths of revelation, which alone can raise our fallen race. The enemies of the Gospel and of social order are alike awake to their deeds of darkness. There is, therefore, at the present eventful period, au ex^ident struggle between light and darkness. The strug- gle may be violent, but the believer hears the cheerinp DIVINE SOVRREIGNTY. 65 voice from heaven, which dissipates every rising fear : " Be still, and know that I am God." Oh my soul, rejoice that the Lord reigneth. He can calm the rough surges of the mind. He can bid the inward tempest cease. He can pour an enlivening ray upon the drooping heart ; and cause a sweet serenity and peace lo reign within. Trust in the Lord at all times. Be still, and know that he is God. There is something peculiarly soothing to the heart of a pious Christian, to know that he who rules over all worlds, in whose hands are the destinies of nations, and who guides the minutest concerns of families and indi- viduals, is his father and his friend. The more we know of God, of his power, wisdom, love, faithfulness, and truth ; the more we shall bow be- fore his throne in humble adoration, and filial confidence and love. To know God in Christ ; to know him as a covenant God ; to know him as our God ; is to possess all the sources and secrets of true peace, in the midst of sur- rounding storms and tempests. This knowledge will raise us above the agitated elements of the world, and place us in that pure region wliere the soul can breathe more freely, and expand her powers more fully. Faith views with admiration the perfections of Jehovah. Hope rests the fulfihncnt of her expectations on these perfec- tions. Love delights in them, and gradually assimilates the soul to them. Whilst patience calmly waits, under every changing dispensation, for that abundant harvest of rich blessings, whicli the God of truth has promised, and which his faithfulness will perform. Come, then. Oh, my soul, and learn, from this view of thy privileges, the blessedness of trusting in God. " He changes not, nor knows the shadow of a turn." All his promises are yea and amen. All his ways are 6* OG lOIV'lNlE SOVEREIGNTY. vighteous and trae. Cast thy care upon him who careth for thee; and, under every trying event, be still, an«l know that he is God. It is truly animating to reflect, that, whilst every thing seems given to change, the Almighty has de- clared, " My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." " I change not." The purposes of God are moving steadily and directly tow^ards their fulfilment Many things, according to our short-sightedness, appear to thwart his designs. Persecutors arise, and cut off his most zealous servants. Death seizes eminent laborers in his vineyard. Unforeseen circumstances spring up, and appear to check the progress of the Gospel. Hence we are ready to exclaim with David, " Lord, let not man have the upper hand." But is not this the language of despondency ; the language of a soul looking through a dark and gloomy medium 1 Man never had, and never shall have, the upper hand. David was in a right frame when he sang, " The Lord reigneth." This is the triumphant song of the redeemed above. " Alleluia — the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Nothing can happen without the divine prescience and permission. The Almighty sees the end from the beginning. Unto him are known' all his works, and all events from eternal ages. He has firmly laid his eter- nal plans of goodness, justice, and mercy. All things serve him. He lias made even the Avicked for the day \)f evil. Prov. xvi, 4. Can any thing, then, unforeseen, strike across his purposes, or derange his plans ] Can any man who is crushed before the moth, the creature of a day, turn aside the grand machine of providence, whose constant wiieels revolve their everlasting rounds ? Ah ! no. As every thing respecting the eternal purposes of Jehovah DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY. 67 springs from his own will, so every thing shall ternnnate in his own glory. Higher and farther than this, we can- not go. " He is Alpha and Omega, the heginning and the end ; the first and the last." Clouds and darkness may surround the throne of the Eternal, and veil his hright designs : hut faith can pierce the veil, and view, heyond this darkening scene, the rising glories of Emanuel's kingdom. How great, then, is the hlessedness of true religion ! How highly privileged is the child of God ! As nothing can happen without the divine permission, so every thing shall work together for good to them that love God ; to them who are the called according to his purpose. Satan may rage, the world may frown, the flesh may rebel, and providence may seem to cross the humble be- liever ; but yet, notwithstanding all this tempest, his soul is safe, being hid with Christ in God. He may groan, being burdened ; yet still he can rejoice. He looks through the curtain of time, which hangs over the glories of eternity: and, in joyful expectation of soon entering within the veil, he endures, with much long-suffering, the trials of this transitory state. Not so the worldling. He knows no joys but those of sense, or those perhaps of a more refined nature, flow- ing from intellectual pursuits. But in respect of heav- enly pleasures, arising from communion with his Saviour, v\nd a delightful foretaste of future bliss, he is an utter stranger. To him, "the future is a dark unknown." His views are indistinct and dim, when he reads or hear? of joys for ever flowing from those sources which are now the objects of his unvarying dislike. What happiness can arise from the contemplation of being eternally with Jesus, when prayer and meditation lire irksome and insipid] What happiness, from the idea of being made like Jesus, when holiness is offen- 68 DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY. sive 1 or from the consideration of beholding his glory, when the splendors of this world have far more powerful attractions'? It is true, he prefers heaven to hell, as a choice of two evils ; but he secretly disbelieves the word of reve- lation, and therefore hopes that hell has no existence, and that death is an eternal sleep. If he be not thus far advanced in infidelity, yet he flatters himself, that God will be more lenient and merciful than his own word declares him to be. Thus he ventures upon the dread- ful step of putting the truth of God to its most awful test, and passes through death to learn by tremendous experience the madness of his unbelief. Happy, thrice happy, is the man who receives with childlike simplicity the word of God, and acts upon it. He sees God in every thing, and can feed upon the hidden manna. He finds the promises to be full of truth and comfort. On them, as on a rock, he rests in safety. With wonder he beholds the raging tempest, which, sweeping over the nations of the earth, clears away deep-rooted prejudices, and prepares a smoother path for the chariot of the everlasting Gospel. He knows that glorious days are hastening on, and therefore is not discouraged, though they be preceded by a stormy night. He hears the voice of his Almighty Father, speaking in gracious accents to allay his fears' " Be still, and know that I am God ;" and is kept in perfect peace. Come, then. Oh my soul ! and take courage. Fear not the face nor the frown of man. The Lord reigneth, be the earth ever so unquiet. Sing with David — unite with Luther, and say, " God is our refuge and strength; a present help in trouble." Be not dismayed at the troubles of the earth. Trem- ble not at the convulsions of empires. Only fear God ; DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY. 69 only believe in his promises ; only love and serve him; and all thing's shall work together for thy good, as they assuredly will for his glory. Life is hastening quickly away. Eternity is at the door. Live, then, for eternity, and leave with God the concerns of time. Leave in his hands the safety of his church, and the security of liis cause. Cleave to him with childlike simplicity. Seek his glory. Aim at per- fection. Look high, and look forward ; and soon thou shalt be removed out of the reach of evil, and be placed Becurely in the paradise above. In times which are gloomy and sad, When nations are trembling with fears, The Christian, in confidence clad, Serene amidst dangers appears. He knows that the black low'iing sky, Whose bosom destruction contains, In a moment will vanish and fly, When God his dread vengeance restrains. la iJm, whom archangels adore, In him, whom the cherubs obey, Whilst thunders tremendously roar, He trusts without fear and dismay. Tis Jesus who reigns in his heart, Whilst Satan is raging around; *Tis faith quenches every dart, As pointless they fall to the ground. The peace he enjoys in his breast, Descends from a reconciled God : Whilst sinners, those strangers to rest, Groan under the stroke of his rod. When troubles invade and oppress, When death tears his comforts away He still, in the midst of distress. Has God for his comfort and stay. TO TWO COVENANTS. Thrice blessed, thou saint of the Lord ; In Jesus thy refuge is found ; Oh ! trust to his promise and word, And joys shall increase and abound. Yes ! joy shall increase like a stream ; Thy peace, lilie the waves of the sea; Thy grace into glory shall beam ; And Jesus thy portion shall be. XII. ON THE TWO COVENANTS. The covenant of works, in the order of time, was pr.i- claimed to Adam before the covenant of grace. But the covenant of grace, called in Scripture the everlast- ing covenant, was entered into by the divine persons in the Godhead, before the world w^as made. Whilst contemplating this dispensation of mercy, our views must stretch themselves into eternity. We must pass beyond the origin of earth, and enter into those revelations which record the purposes of God ere time began. And how wonderful are the counsels of infinite love, wisdom, and power ! Jesus, in the volume of inspired truth, is declared to be " the Lamb of God, who was foreordained before the foundation of the world," 1 Peter i, 20. " Slain /row the foundation of the world," Rev. xiii, 8. His redeemed ones were " chosen in him before the foundation of the world," Ephes. i, 4. " From the beginning chosen to sal- vation," 2 Thess. ii, 13. "According to his own pur- pose and grace, which was given them in Christ Jesus* befogs the world began,^^ 2 Tim. i, 9. "Elect accordin/j[ to tho foreknowledge of God the Father," 1 Peter i, 2:. " Predestinated according to the purpose of him who TWO covc?:ants. 71 worketh all things after the counsel of his own will," Ephes. i, 11. From these glorious passages, and many others of similar import, it is evident that the whole economy of human redemption w^as devised and planned in the eter- nal counsels of Jehovah before the earth or man wr.s formed. Hence we are taught that the covenant of grace originated in the everlasting love of God. But with respect to us finite creatures, who can know nothing of the purposes of God, but as he is pleased to reveal them, it may aptly be called a Nev/ Covenant. When Adam was created in the image of God, the Lord placed him in a garden of delights, surrounded with every thing that could gratify his pure and inno- cent desires. In the midst, however, of this garden, was placed the tiee of knowledge of good and evil, as a reasonable test of his obedience ; for God created man in righteousness and true holiness, w^ith powders and facul ties to know and serve him. In the garden was als(^ placed the tree of life, as a pledge of immortality. Of this tree he might freely eat, whilst he continued obedi- ent to the divine command. But man, alas ! ate of the forbidden fruit through the subtle temptations of the serpent, and thus the covenant of works was broken, and death entered into the world by sin. His whole posterity are involved in the dreadful con- sequences of the fall ; for the Scriptures declare, " In Adam all die." All die spirituaUy ; for "we are con- ceived in sin, and brought forth in iniquity." "We are by nature the children of wrath." All die naturally. The sentence, " Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return," extends to all the children \>{ Adam. " It is appointed unto men once to die." *'By man came death." " Death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." 72 TWO COVENANTS. All die eternally, if left in righteous judgment, to the awful consequences of transgression : " the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." *'He that believeth not, shall be damned." In tliis wretched, lost, and sinful condition, when he was v^ithout strength and without hope, Adam heard the voice of mercy. Tbe seed of the woman was proclaimed and promised. Jehovah spake the word of life, at the very moment when justice was lifting up the sword of vengeance, as if determined to magnify his mercy above all his name. Oh what encouragement is this to trust in him, whose love outstripped his justice, or rather provided a satis- faction to it, that mercy might have free course, and be glorified in the salvation of a ruined woild ! The new covenant was then made known : new to Adam; and (may we not hope?) more delightful to his guilty, trembling soul, than all the sweet harmony of birds which had regaled his ear in the lovely groves of Kden. At the voice of pardoning grace, hope revives, love* rekindles, and joyful admiration holds the mind in won- dering meditation on the goodness of our justly offended Creator. The covenant of v;orks made with Adam being broken, all hope of happiness from that covenant is done aw^ay for ever. But the covenant of grace made with Christ, the second Adam, is immutable and everlasting. Jesus, in our nature, fulfilled all the conditions, per- formed all the requirements, and answered all the de- mands of the broken covenant of works. By his unsin- riing obedience and meritorious death, he brought in everlasting righteousness ; and thus became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him. So that TUG COVENANTS. 73 now, all the blessings of the covenant of grace are made over to every fallen son and daughter of Adam who truly believes in Jesus. Here, then, is the spring of the believer's hope, and peace, and joy. Here he finds security and stability. Here he reposes his soul, and smiles at every storm. Oh how rich, how full, how sovereign is the covenant of grace ! This covenant, as we have seen from the pages of eternal truth, was made before the v»^orld be- gan — made from eternity. What a wide expanse for the mind to range in ! But we need a guide, or else our minds will soon be lost in wandering mazes and dangerous speculations. This guide is the Bible, read Vvith prayer in a spirit of humil- ity and faith, under the teaching of the Holy Ghost. Wliere the line of revelation stops, there we must stop ; or rather, where it enters into the unfathomable depths of eternal wisdom, there vre must pause, and wonder, and adore. "We must not dare to tread within the veil, or curiously to pry into those hidden myste- ries, which God has wisely concealed from mortal eyes. "Thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know here- after," will compose and satisfy every humble, loving, obedient, grateful follower of the Lamb. What personally concerns every believer is this : have I the spirit and character of those who are interested in the covenant of grace ? If not, what will all its glories and blessings avail me 1 I shall only resemble a person looking over the title-deeds of a vast estate, in which he liath no interest. Hdw plain and express is the word of God, in de- scribing the character of the redeemed ! Here is no Ambiguity — no darkness — no mystery. It is a faithful mirror, held up to all mankind. Happy indeed are they, who beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the r 74 TWO COVENANTS. Lord, are changed into the same image, fioui glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord ! The character of God's peculiar people is thus por- trayed by the pen of unerring truth : — They are "chosen in Christ, that they should be holy and without blame before him in love.^^ — " Chosen to salva- tion, through sanctification of the Spirit, and beiief of the truths — "They are saved, and called with a hohj call- ing, not according to their works, but according to his own pm-pose and grace." — "They are elect according to the foreknowledge of God, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." — "They are predestinated unto the adop- tion of children.''^ — "Predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son.''^ — " Created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath foreordained that they should walk in them." — "They are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that they should show forth tlie praises of him, who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light." — " He gave himself for them, that he might redeem them from all iniquity, and purify imto himself a pecu- liar people zealous of good works." Such is the spirit and 'character of those happy souls who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before them in the Gospel : the character of all who truly believe in Jesus. To them all the promises of God in Christ Jesus are yea and amen ; sure and abiding. Tc them the most affectionate exhortations are addressed. **Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowela of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering ; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another : if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." — " Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one an" TWO COVENANTS. 75 Other, even as God for Christ's sake liath forgiven you." — *' Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling savor." — " Let the peace of God rule in your hearts." — "Put on charity" — and "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." — "Be clothed with humili- ty." — " Love not the world, neither the things which are in the world." — "Seek those things which are above." — " Set your affection on things above." — " Let your speech be alway with grace." — "Rejoice evermore — pray without ceasing." — "Abstain from all appearance of evil." — " Fight the good fight of faith."—" Be faith- ful unto death." These beautiful exhortations contain a lively portrait of the true believer. How different from the worldling, the nominal Christian, the cold-hearted adherer to the Gospel, the double-minded professor ! Here, all is life and energy. Here, all is spirit, unction, and power. Here, we see "the workmansliip of God" — "the new creation in Christ Jesus." Where these lineaments are found, there grace is be- gun ; where they are wanting, all pretensions to religion, all hope of final salvation, all self-appropriation of the promises, is delusion — a device of Satan, to lull the soul to sleep on the lap of carnal security, till it drop into the flames of hell. Lord, open thou mine eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of thy law. Change my heart by the powerful influence of tliy Holy Spirit. Fill my soul with humility, love, and purity. May Christ be formed in me the hope of glory. May Christ dwell in my heart by faith. May love and every grace abound within me, till I am brouglit b}^ sovereign mercy to the general assembly of the church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven. 76 LOVE OF GOD How free the love, how rich the grace, A pard'ning God bestows ; To Adam's vile apostate race In boundless streams it flows. What joy arises in the heart When Jesus' cross appears — Salvation to my soul impart, Subdue my guilty fears. Eless'd Saviour, speak the healing word, Bid all my sorrows cease ; Be thou my great atoning Lord, My righteousness and peace. Oh, let thy precious blood divine Wash all my sins away ! Then will my soul resplendent sliine, Through heaven's eternal day. XIII. ON THE LOVE OF GOD. *' God is love !" sweet truth ! Oh my soul ! rejoice dally in this blessed revelation, " God is love." Before all worlds, before any being was formed, *' God IS love" — love, eternal and unchangeable. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. He is love. How inconceivably great is the love of God ! All worlds rolling in the infinite expanse ; all beings inhab- iting those innumerable spheres, which extend far be- yond the boundaries of the most excursive imagination ; all the myriads of angelic spirits, which dwell for ever in the bright effulgence of uncreated I'^^ht, are only the overflowings of that love, which is inexhaustible. The immense fountain loses not one drop, though countless millions are filled by its stream? It is ever LOVE OF GOD. 77 flowing"; ever full. Lord, thou art love. Oh, fiL my soul with tiiy love ! Thou canst not be diminished, and I shall be made everlastingly blessed. When the Almigiity created the angels in heaven, and man in paradise, he endued them with powers suit- 'i-i*. to their distinctive degrees of excellence. Both were formed holy, and consequently happy. All nature pro- claims the benevolence of the deity ; ibe unbounded goodness of Jehovah. The moral law emanated from the love of God. This law was stamped upon the heart of Adam, when in a state of innocence. It is a transcript of the divine mind; holy, just, and good. When man sinned, he broke the law of God. He fell under its curse. To redeem him from this wretched state, Jesus, the Son of God, assumed our mortal nature, expiated our guilt, and brought in an everlasting right- eousness. He burst the bars of death. He ascended up on high ; and reigns the sovereign Lord of angels and of men. When the "royal law" of love v/as broken in para- dise, how soon did Adam's first-born imbrue his hand in a brother's blood ! Violence overspread the earth with awful rapidity ; till God, in righteous judgment, swept the fiuilty rebels from the earth, by a tremendous flood of Welters. Every succeeding age has been marked by miseries of every name, all flowing from one common source — an evil heart of unbelief. Sin is the cause of misery, and sin originates witli man. If it be asked, what is the true cause of man's inabil- ity to love and serve God, may we not answer, a criminal indisposition of heart so to do ? It is not that man cannot love God, from a natural incapacity, arising from a total destitution of understanding, will, and affections ; but 78 LOVR LF VOD. mther that he loill not, owing to a deep-rooted enrnity against the holy character and coinmands of God. This aversion of the heart from God, constitutes the chief guilt of man. Man is a responsible being, and r^ render an account to God, from whom he receiver all it.j powers, for the abuse of those talents committea to his trust. He can love the world ; he can love sen-* sua! delights; he can love riches and honors, yea, every thing wdiich tends to gratify his passions, and to exalt him in his own eyes, or in the estimation of others. He has a will to choose what is pleasing to his animal ap- petites, and to refuse what is painful or distasteful to him. He has an understanding to judge upon worldly matters ; and a quick eye to discover the path to tem- poral advancement. He finds his hopes and fears, his joys and griefs, his love and hatred, brought into con- tinual exercise with the ever-varying events of life. Hence man does not labor under a natural incapacity His inability is altogether of a moral kind. Sin has darkened and corrupted all the higher faculties of the soul ; so that now " the world by wisdom knows not God." — " Men choose darkness rather than light, be- cause their deeds are evil ;" for " the carnal mind is enmity against God," This wrong state of the heart, this evil bias of the soul, this radical corruption of our nature, is universal. It spreads itself through the whole human race, with- out exception ; for all are born in sin ; all are by nature the children of wrath, and the heirs of hell. So powerful is this innate evil, this natural indisposed- ness of the heart towards God, that neither reason, con- science, nor philosophy can remove it. God alone can turu the heart of the sinner to him- self. The language of divine revelation is, "thou hasP^ destroyed thyself, but in me is thine help." LOVE OF GOD. 79 While, therefore, in deepest self-abasement we bear the burden of our guilt, and acknowledge tlmt we have destroyed ourselves; we must ascribe all the glory of our salvation to omnipotent love, in whom our help is founds and say, with the grateful Psalmist, " Not unto us. Oh Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give the glory, for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake." The whole human race must soon stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. No plea will then be accepted in arrest of judgment. In that awful day, every mouth shall be stopped, and all the world will become guilty before God : " for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." From this view of our fallen state, we may scriptu- rally conclude, that sinners, if left to themselves, would never turn to God. And hence we see the blessedness and necessity of that grace which turneth us from dark- ness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God. It is a true saying of St. Augustine, that without free will there could be no condemnation ; and without free grace there could be no salvation. But the voice of sovereign love declares to the great Melchisedec, "thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power ;" Ps. ex. Here is set forth the power of God ; the persons on whom that power is exerted ; and the blessed effects of it upon their souls. This power is the power of God unto salvation. When he works, who can let it ? It is convincing power, converting power, sustaining power. Oh that this divine power, this energy of love, may be felt in every soul ! Lord, may I feel it in mine. But on whom is this power exerted 1 When we view the whole human race sunk in sin and misery, in a state of open rebellion against the maje?ty of heaven, where shall we find " his people i^" The very 80 LOVE OF GOD. words, "they shall be willing-," imply tbat they were not always so. Prior to this great change, they " were enemies in their minds by wicked works." They are "his people" in purpose and grace ; chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy and without blame before him in love ; predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son. When Paul was at Corinth, the Lord appeared to his persecuted servant, and said, "Be not afraid, but speak ; hold not thy peace : for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee, for I have much people in this city." Oh ! that my proud heart could submit to receive sal- vation as the free gift of unmerited mercy ! Lord, make me Avilling in the day of thy power, to yield myself unto thee, a living sacrifice, as my most reasonable service. We see what is the effect produced by this power on the minds of "his people." — "They shall be icilling^^ — > willing to receive Christ — willing to suffer for Christ — willing to give up all for Christ. This change in their will is not effected by any natural effort of their own, or by the moral suasion of others ; but solely by the power of God, through the instrumentality of the Gospel. " I am not ashamed of tlie Gospel of Christ," wrote the apostle to the Romans, "for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Those fa- vored souls, who are tlius made willing in the day of God's power, are not compelled by an unwelcome force to embrace salvation ; but are sweetly and lovingly in- clined, through the soft influences of heavenly grace, to choose, delight in, and appreciate the work and ser- vice of Emanuel. They are made willing. Their whole heart goes forth towards the Saviour, as when Jesus said to Levi at the receipt of custom, " Follow me." They love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. They embrace LOVE OF GOD. 81 him as their only Saviour — his precepts as their only rule — his promises as their only support — his cross as their only glory — his righteousness as their only boast — his people as their only friends — his heaven as the'r only home. Oh what a change ! Lord, may I long, and pant, and labor after this blessedness. Stir up my soul to seek it more and more. I have here an evidence to judge of my own charac- ter. " Thy people shall be willing." If, then, I belong to this happy number, I must be willing to be saved on God's terms ; to delight in his salvation, to choose his ways. Do I feel my will subdued, and cheerfully in- clined to embrace, in humble faith, the ichole revelation of mercy, as made known to me through a crucified Jesus? Lord, put forth thy mighty grace. Let this very day be the day of thy power. To-morrow may find me in the world of spirits. Oh may I now be willing to be w^holly thine ; that every succeeding hour may only increase my willingness to do and sufier thy w^hole righteous will ! How different is earth to heaven ! Here, an awful disinclination of heart to love God is discoverable in all the fallen children of Adanj. Even the regenerate feel with grief this hated deadness of soul to God. " My fOul cleaveth unto the dust," was the lamentation — "quicken thou me, according to thy word," was the fervent prayer of David. In heaven, all is governed by the sweet constraining" prmciple of pure, undivided love. Were a soul to leave this world under the influence of alienated affections, how could such a soul be either meet for, or happy in, that blessed place, where every note is liarmon}^ and every heart is love 1 Reason, even in its present beclouded state, must see the unfitness of such a sonl for g^ory ; when that glory 83 LOVE OF GOD. consists ill loving God with a supreme affection, and being made like him in all his communicable perfec- tions. How great, then, is the happiness of loving and serv- ing God, whilst journeying through this vale of tears ! This is the sweet peculiarity of the religion of Jesus. It diffuses joy and gladness wherever it is received in the simplicity of faith. " God is love ; and every cne that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." To love God, and to be the object of his love, constitute the bliss of angels. The opposite of this is hell. What poor miserable creatures we are, whilst in a state of nature, and under the power of sin and Satan ! We smile, when we should sigh. We laugh, when we should mourn. We appear gay and sprightly, Avhen we should be of a sorrowful spirit. But, Oh the blessed change which takes place when the Gospel comes to the heart, not in w^ord only, but in power ! Then we receive beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Then we are privileged to rejoice alway, and to delight ourselves in the abundance of peace. Oh happy, blissful state ! thus to be the genuine disciples of the blessed Jesus, who hath assured his faithful people that he will manifest himself to them, as he does not unto the world ; yea, even come unto them, and make his abode with them. Who can contemplate these wonders of grace, and not feel the holy influence of this precious revelation — "God is love ?" Surely none but they who know not God ; for thus saith the apostle, " He that loveth not, knoweth not God ; for God is love." Thou trembling saint, cast off thy fear, Thy mourning garments lay aside ; 'Tis Jesu3 speaks : "Be of good cheer, My love, my sister, and my bride." GIFT OF A SAVIOUR. 83 Oh listen to the voice of love ! Its gentle accents whisper peace ; The Saviour, from his throne above, Delights to view tliy joys increase. Eless'd Jesus ! cheer each drooping heart ; "As corn revive" each fainting soul ; Thy presence, gracious Lord, impart ; Oh make each wounded sinner whole ! Then shall thy church more beauteous grow, "As lihes" in Judca's vale ; Like wid'ning streams "her peace shall flow,'* Whose " spiings in thee" can never faiL Ye trembling saints, no longer fear, Your mourning garments lay aside ; Since Jesus is for ever near, The church's husband and her guide. XIV. ON THE GIFT OF A SAVIOUR. Before the earth was formed, or man created upon it, the Almighty foreknew that his moral creatures would apostatize from him. The angels had already sinned, and were cast into the place prepared for them. They were doomed, in righteous judgment, to be the eternal monuments of divine indignation. A just, yet infinitely gracious sovereign, did not determine to leave man under the same hopeless con- demnation. The revelation is truly wonderful. Jesus Christ, tlie eternal Son of God, "God over all, blessed for evermore," was foreordained in the councils of heaven to be a sacrifice — a propitiation — an atonement for the sins of apostate man. 84 GIFT OF A SAVIOUR. As " all things were made by him," so all things were made "for him." Earth was to be the theatre on which should be displayed the mercy and justice of Jehovah. The glorious plan was gradually unfolded through succeeding ages. The bleeding lamb was instituted as the appointed emblem of the Saviour of the world. When offered up in faith, in humble reliance on the divine mercy, and with a contrite heart, the believing suppliant, thus approaching the mercy-seat through the bleeding victim, found pardon and peace. In this way, the ancient believers obtained rest unto their souls. Tliey trusted in God, and were not con founded. The prophets depicted in glowing colors the glories of Emanuel, whilst they blended the deepened shades of his amazing humiliation with the resplendent lustre of his divine nature. When the "fulness of time" was come, how grand to the eye of saints and angels was the entrance of the Messiah into our world ! The angel Gabriel was commissioned to convey the glad tidings to Zacliarias, that he should be the father of him whom Isaiah and Malachi had predicted as " the voice," — " the messenger," who should prepare the way of the Lord. He was then sent with joyful new^s to the humble virgin at Nazareth ; announcing to her that she should be the highly favored mother of the Messiah, of whose kingdom there should be no end. The tender fears of Joseph were next dispelled by a dream, in which he was assured that he who should be born of Mary, his espoused wife, was no less than the Son of God, who should save his people from their sins. The emperor Augustus was made the instrument, though unconsciously, of bringing the virgin mother to Bethlehem ; thus fulfilling the prophetic declaration of GIFT OF A SAVIOUR. 85 Micah, and establishing the truth of (he descent of Jesus in the line of David, by a public enrolment. When born in the city of David, the infant Saviour Avas announced by the angel of the Lord to the humble shepherds of Judea, who were keeping watch over their flocks by night; whilst the angelic host sang, in exult- ing strains, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men." In the temple, during the ceremony of Mary's puri- fication, and the dedication of her Son to the Lord, Simeon took the blessed child in his arms, and declared him to be "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel ;" while Anna, the prophetess, spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. When returned to Bethlehem, the divinely directed Magi of the east came to pay their homage to the infant King, presenting to him gifts — gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Herod and all Jerusalem were troubled, whilst saints and angels were rejoicing, at the birth of the long-ex- pected deliverer. When John entered upon his prophetic office, he bore witness to the dignity of the Messiah ; and pointed to Jesus, as the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. The Father himself testified of his Son ; for Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water : and lo ! the heavens were opened unto him, and the Spn-it of God, descending like a dove, lighted upon him ; and lo ! a voice from heaven said, " this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The blessed Jesus, when he made himself public to the world, astonished the thronging crowds by his stu- pendous, yet beneficent miracles; by his heavenly wis- 8 86 GIFT OF A SAVIOUR. dom ; by his holy example ; by his unwearied labors to do good. The worldly, the proud, and the self-righteous, could not endure the light of his doctrine, and the keenness of his reproof. Hence they conspired against him, how- ever discordant were their peculiar views and practices. Herod and the high priest — Pilate and the Scribes — Sadducees and Pharisees — heathens, and the professed worshippers of Jehovah, — all suffered their national antipathies and religious differences to merge into one common cause against the Lord and against his anoint- ed. Herod, from jealousy ; the chief priests and Scribes, from envy ; Pilate, from slavish fear ; and the common people, from popular feeling excited by their rulers, con- spired the death of Jesus, whose meekness and inno- cence, contrasted with the rage of his bloody enemies, shone like the arch of heaven on the angry cloud. He died praying for his murderers. He died a sacri- fice for their sins. He died, a sacrifice for the sins of a lost world. Amazing love ! Oh my soul, look to this precious, bleeding Saviour ; trust in him for thy whole salvation; rejoice in his grace, and adore that wisdom that could overrule so much wickedness, to produce so much good ! How awful the period ! The sun was darkened ; the rocks rent ; the veil of the temple was rent in twain ; the graves were opened ; and many bodies of the saints which slept, arose, and appeared in the holy city after his resurrection. On the third day, the conquering Saviour rose tri- umphant from the dead ; appeared to his w^eeping fol- lowers ; ascended into lieaven in their sight ; and soon after his session at the right hand of power, poured out upon his infant church that great promise of the Father — the Holy Ghost. GIFT OF A SAVIOUR. 87 How wonderful was the effect of this heavenly gift ! The apostles, once illiterate, now spake wilh new tongues ; their former fears were lost in an undaunted courage ; timidity gave place to zeal. In the emphatic language of the sacred historian, "they were aW filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the word of God with boldness.^'' They preached Christ in the face of danger and of deatli. Thousands, tluough their labors, were turned from Satan unto God. Churches were planted in all the known countries of tlie world; and at length they seal- ed their truth wilh their blood, counting it all joy to suffer for the sake of their beloved Lord. Great is the mystery of godliness — God manifest in the flesh. That the Almighty should become the Saviour of his rebellious creatures, by taking upon him their nature : that he, who rules over all worlds, should stoop, not to be a mighty monarch, but an humble carpenter : that he, who created and provided the foxes and the birds with holes and nests, should voluntarily leave himself desti- tute of a place where to lay his head : that lie, who is the great proprietor of all tilings, should condescend to be supported by pious females, who ministered to him of their substance : that the Fountain of felicity should become a man of sorrows and accpiainted with grief: that the Lord of glory should be despised and rejected of nien : that the Judge of quick and dead should stand, like a criminal, at an earthly tribunal, cliargcd with crimes which he never committed, and condemned for transgressions of which he was declared innocent: that the Majesty of heaven should be spit upon, scourged, and crucified : that the Lord of life should pour out his soul unto death : this, this is the wonder of wonders — the unsearchable riches of Christ, 88 GIFT OF A SAVIOUR. " Not to be thought of, but with tides of joy ; Not to be mentioned, but with shouts of praise." Well may Christ be styled by the enraptured prophet— " y/onderful !" Men are naturally fond of great things, and yet they feel an aversion to the greatest thing in the world — the REDEMPTION OF THE SOUL. This would be i^nexplicable, had we not the volume of inspiration to unfold to us the hidden reason. This aversion to so glorious a work arises from the state of the human heart, and the nature of redemption. The heart is in love with sin ; yea, is itself desperately wick ed. Sin is its food ; its element ; its very constitution. Salvation by Christ is a deliverance from sin; a reno- vation of the heart to holiness ; a surrender of the soul to God. Hence arises the enmity. Darkness is opposed to light ; and Satan reigning in the sinner, to Christ the Saviour claiming his usurped possession. This enmity is universal, and proves the universality of the fall. Wherever redemption by Christ is faithfully preached, and honestly exhibited in the life, there it is powerfully resisted both by the worldly laity and mercenary priests. As the bitterest enemies of oru- blessed Lord were those w^ho wore the sacerdotal vestments, so multitudes of the faithful have, in all ages, been devoured by wolves in sheep's clothing. Lord ! clothe thy ministers v/ith right- eousness, that thy people may sing with joyfulness. None can receive the Gospel in the love and power of il,, but those who are enabled by sovereign grace so to do. All others lie under the just condemnation of wiU fully rejecting it ; and shall be punished for such rejec- tion. Men may cavil at such a statement as this, and call it inconsistent ; but God will, ere long, vindicate his own cause. GIFT OF A SAVIOUR. 89 If it be true, that "by grace we are saved," it is equally true, that "this is the fondemnation, that light is come into the world; and thfit men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil." This great redemption is by price. And Oh ! what a price ! the precious blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God. This blood cleanseth from all sin ; satisfies offended Jus- tice ; clears away the obstacles in the sinner's path to glory, and procures pardon and peace, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. " He made peace for us, by the blood of his cross." — " We have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." This redemption is by power. God, the Holy Ghost, descends into the sinner's heart, applies the healing ba4m to the previously smitten conscience, and, by his almighty influence, produces the new birth, the new creation. He leads the trembling sinner to the bleed- ing sacrifice ; points to the cross ; gives saving faith; causes joy to spring up in the heart ; and thus enables the soul, delivered from the penalty and pollution of sin, " to sing in the ways of the Lord," and to glorify the rock of his salvation. None can love this work of grace but the subjects of grace. This sadly wounds the pride of man ; but so it is. We must for ever stand indebted to unmerited love for this great salvation. All boasting is licre excluded. He that glorieth, must glory in the Lord. The language of the redeemed is : "in the Lord, have I righteousness and strength." Oh ! that I may now put the crown upon the head of Jesus. May all my affections centre in him. To him may I devote every power, and be altogether consecrated to his praise. Oh ! my soul, for ever bless thy beloved Lord, for thus becoming thy Redeemer He is ahvays near his people 8* 90 GIFT OF A SAVIOUR. to support and comfort them. He dwells in their hearts by faith. He abides in them by his Spirit, to tnligliten their minds, to purify their hearts, to regulate their wills, to direct their walk, to lead them in the paths of right- eousness, for his name's sake. Thus they are safe and happy under the Shepherd's care. Their union with their divine Lord is sweet and con- stant. They "lean upon their beloved," and are sup- ported through the wilderness. They are made strong by his strength ; wise by his wisdom ; righteous in his righteousness ; holy by his grace. They daily receive out of his fulness, who of God is made unto them, "wis- dom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." Jesus is the head over all things to his church. All power is given unto him in heaven and in earth. As he rules over all, so he overrules all for the good of his people. Hence the apostle could confidently declare, "all things shall work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his pur- pose." All this is cheering to the humble followers of the Lamb. Are they in trouble ? Jesus appoints it for their good. Are they joyful 1 The joy of the Lord is their strength. Well may the believer triumphantly exclaim : " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ]" "We are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Jesus is the universal Lord : to him every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in ea/th, and things under the earth. Jesus will be the Almighty Judge ; all nations shall be assembled before his throne ; he will render unto every man according to his works. When, through faith, the sinner is admitted into the family of God, and changes both his state and nature, through the blood and spirit of Jesus, then his desire is GIFT OF A SAVIOUR. 91 to maintain the peace Avhicli he has happily ohiained through helieving". This he learns to do from the prophet Isaiah : "thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." A wandering-, backsliding, double heart; can never enjoy peace. To possess the blessing of peace, trie mind must be stayed upon God. This is the same as " abiding in Christ :" being " steadfast in the faith," " rooted and grounded in love." It implies stability, constancy, perseverance. The mind must be stayed upon the covenant of grace as an unchangeable, everlasting covenant ; ordered in all things and sure. In this covenant, every thing is treasured up which can furnish the believer with grace here, and glory hereafter. Staying his mind, therefore, upon this covenant of life and peace, he finds rest unto his soul. The mind must bow with humble reverence to the authority of God. Pride and rebellion destroy peace. Humility and submission promote it. The believer must wait the Lord's time for deliverance : " Oh ! tarry thou the Lord's leisure ; be strong, and he shall comfort thine lieart," is the afTectionate advice of David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel. This childlike reliance on the divine goodness tran- quilizes the mind in seasons of darkness, perplexity, trial, and temptation. That soul is tli^ most happy, which can the most cheerfully accpiiesce in the appoint- ments of infinite wisdom. Murmuring and repining grieve the Holy Spirit. Resignation and contentment produce serenity and sweetness of mind. Whilst cultivating these important duties, which are brought into daily exercise by the very nature of Chris- tian experience, the mind is kept in peace, holiness ia 92 GIFT OF A SAVIOUR. promoted, and God, the author of all good, is equally glorified. Who, then, dare say, that the doctrine of grace, abounding to the chief of sinners, through a crucified Redeemer, is a doctrine which tendeth to licentious- ness? As a vitiated stomach may corrupt the most wholesome food, so a wicked heart can turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, and, under a most dreadful delusion of Satan, sin that grace may abound. But let not this evil be charged upon the holy Gospel of Jesus, any more than the disordered frame upon the wholesome food. The natural and spiritual consequences in both cases are similar. The one, arising from a bad stomach — the other, from a bad heart. Blessed Jesus ! bestov/ upon me, thy unworthy ser- vant, that realizing faith, that tranquilizing hope, that operative love, v/hich will enable me to know and serve thee more and more, till my soul shall be made meet for that happy world, where all sin and sorrow shall flee away, and where perpetual peace and purity shall glad- den the redeemed for ever and ever ! What soul can reach the lofty height, From whence the Saviovir came to die ? What soul can trace the Lord of might In his profound humility ? Angels, who stand before the throne, Here feel the weakness of their pow'rs ; [n wonder, they, adoring, own Thff Lord of life, both theirs and ours. Oh ! for a heart of faith and love. To taste the Saviour's richest grace, To emulate the choirs above, Who ever see his blissful face. Blest Spirit ! beautify my soul With humble joy and holy fear ; Thy pow'r can make the wounded whole, And bring each Gospel blessing near. DESIGN OF THE GOSPEL. 93 Descend and dwell witlilu my heart ; The Saviour's image let me bear ; Then bid mc hence \\'ith joy depart, And ansels' bliss for ever share. XV. ON THE DESIGN OF THE GOSPEL. What a dreadful change sin hath made in man ! His heart, once the abode of peace and every heavenly dis- position, is now the cage of every unclean and hateful bird ; a den of wild beasts ; a nest of vipers ; a loathsome sepulchre. How is tlie gold become dim — liow is the fine gold changed ! In this deplorable condition grace finds us, and from this state of v»^retchedncs3 grace redeems us ! The glorious design of the Gospel is to throw a lustre around the Godhead, by affording a display to all intel- ligent beings of tliose infinite perfections, which harmo- nize at the cross of Christ ; and by this sacred union of mercy and trutli, righteousness and peace, to restore fallen man to the favor and image of his Creator. Holiness is the glory and happiness of man. When he lost his holiness, he lost his happiness. Through the atoning blood of Jesus, we obtain the removal of our guilt ; and by the power of the divine Spirit, the renewal of our nature. Being thus made holy, Ave become once more happy. A great spiritual change is effected — no less than a new creation ; for if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature. This, then, is the will of God, even our sanctification. Hence we find that the Gospel is designed to reveal to us, yea, to put us in possession of, the richest blessings: 94 DESIGN OF THE GOSPEL. pardon of sin ; justification of our persons, by faith ii\ Jesus ; the renovation of our souls ; adoption into the family of God ; peace with God ; access to God ; union with Christ ; communion with the Father and the Holy Ghost, through him ; victory over sin, Satan, and the world ; consolation in trouble, light in darkness, life in death, assurance of future glory, and fruition of bliss in the world to come. How little is the genuine nature and design of Chris- tianity considered by the generality of professing Chris- tians ! How inadequately is its power felt, and its sweetness enjoyed, even by those who sustain the char- acter of believers in Jesus ! We live lamentably below our privileges. Oh ! that a spirit of revival may be felt among us ! Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the days. Revive it in my heart ! Christ is the salvation of all his dear, believing people ; they look to no other; they love no other; or, if tbey love others, it is Christ in them who is the chief object of their affection. It is, therefore, evident, that the great design of God in the Gospel is to form a people unto himself, who shall show forth his praise ; a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Here I behold a way of access opened to poor perish- ing sinners, through faith in the atonement of Jesus. Lord, give me faith in thy dear Son. Enable me to cast my soul Avithout reserve upon thy covenanted mer- cies in Christ Jesus. In him alone is eternal life. In him alone are trea- sured up grace, mercy, and peace. He that hath the Son, hath life ; for this is eternal life, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Oh for a heart to believe unto righteousness ! Blessed Lord, this heart thou only canst bestow. Thou know- est my wickedness and wretchedness ; my frailties and DESIGN OF THE GOSPEL. 95 follies ; my helplessness and total alienation of heart from thee. Thou knowest from what height of happi- ness I am fallen through original sin, and into what depth of misery I am plunged through wilful transgres- sion. But, Oh sovereign love ! Oh matcliless grace ! thou hast pitied me ; thou hast sent thy Son, thy only Son, to save me. Tliou hast assured me that all who believe in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Yet, in the midst of all this profusion of mercy, examine thyself. Oh my soul, whether thou be in the faith. Have 1 ever yet believed unto life ? Have I that faith which is given to all the children of God, called by the apostle " the faith of God's elect," — a faith "according to godliness," — a faith which " worketh by love," — Vv^iich "purifieth the heart," — which "over Cometh the world," — which "substantiates and evi dences thinars not seen 1" Jesus hath said, "by their fruits ye shall know them." " A tree is known by its fruits." Here, then, is an un- erring standard, a sure criterion of judging; for men do not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles. What, then, are the fruits which I am daily bringing forth 1 What is the general tenor of my thoughts ? If sinful thoughts arise, do I cherish them ] Am I fond of retaining them 1 Or, have I obtained the mastery over my imaginations, so as to be able almost instantly to suppress them, when contrary to purity and holiness? Do I find delight in secret retirement, meditation, read- ing the Scriptures, and prayer? Am I careful of my words ? Do I love to discourse about the things of God, in such a manner as to render my conversation profit- able ? Is Jesus, that endearing name, often upon my tongue ; not from mere profession, or religious parade, but from a heart-felt love to him ? What is the nature 96 DESIGN OF THE GOSPEL. of my actions'? Do they spring from a lively faitn, that by them my faith may be known, as a tree by its fruits'? Am I careful "to maintain good works," know- ing that, if a child of God, I am created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that 1 should walk in them 1 By some persons, this train of self-examination may be termed legal; but where these evidences of grace in the soul are wanting, all pretension to Gospel liberty is a device, a delusion of Satan. St. John hath declared, "If we ask any thing accord- ing to the will of God, he heareth us :" therefore, it follows as a consequence, that if we are not sanctified, it is because we do not in sincerity ask this blessing from our heavenly Father. We are not only to ask, as It respects the subject-matter of our prayers, what is agreeable to the will of God ; but, to obtain the bless- ing, Ave must also ask in that spirit w^hich he requires, and which he alone can impart. Wc must ask in faith; then comes the blessing : " whatsoever ye ask in my name, believing,^^ said the divine Redeemer, "ye shall receive." We have here the reason why so few are sanctified. Either they do not pray at all ; or, if they pray, they do not ask in faith. Hence, the whole guilt lies vipon the sinner. He has no desire to be sanctified, being destitute of true faith; and so his prayers are formal, heartless, and unanswered. But Oh! when we duly contemplate the grand design of the Gospel, v/hat an encouragement is held out to the awakened sinner, who is crying out, "what must I do to be saved?" What an encouragement to know that God loills his sanctification ; and that if he ask accord- ing to the will of God, he shall assuredly obtain his request ! He listens to this declaration of love : " be- DESIGN OF THE GOSPEL. 97 lieve in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ;" and relying-, through grace, on the merits of his Saviour, and making mention of his righteousness only, he sup- plicates at the mercy-seat for pardon and purit}^, for peace and perseverance, and obtains all the riches of the everlasting covenant, to the praise and glory of God. However disputants ma}^ marshal one part of divine truth against another, the glorious doctrines of the Gos- pel, like stones in a compact edifice, are firmly united together. No created power can separate them. Men may disagree in sentiment, but they cannot destroy the unity of truth. The word of the Lord endureth for ever. The Gospel of Christ, like the rivers in Eden, branches itself out into many fertilizing streams. Each truth makes glad the city of God, the church of the Most High. This sacred river shall continue to flow, with progressive increase of blessedness, till the whole earth shall be filled with spiritnal beauty and gladness, through the knowledge of the glory of the Lord When the rosy streaks cf morning Fiit across the darken'd cloud : When the growing splendors brighten O'er the midnight's sable shroud ; Then we know the sun, advancing. Will diffuse the genial ray, Till its beam, profusely pouiing, Form the briglit, the perfect day. Thus the waiting saints, beholding, 'Midst the shades of mental night, Streal^s of light, divinely shining. Hail with joy the rapt'rous sight. Now they know their Lord is coming; Jesu's praise they sweetly sing j Hail! they cry, thou Son of glory, Rise with healing on thy wing. 9 98 PERVERTED VIEWS OF THE GOSPEL. Nations wrapt in awful darkness, See the glorious li ^ht appear ; Deserts wild and barren places All the charms of Eden wear. Truth, and love, and holy concord Bless the desolated earth ; Sighs, and tears, and bitter anguish Yield to joy and sacred mirtli. Hasten on this happy period, Shine, blcss'd Saviour, from above, Till each nation be thy portion — Fruit of thy redeeming love • XVI. ON PERVERTED VIEWS OF THE GOSPEL. ]\Ien, in general, have most low conceptions of true leligion. They neither understand its nature, Dor desire to understand it. When we look into the nominally Christian world, it Avould almost seem as if the g»"eat bulk of professing Christians thought nothing about the holy design of the Christian dispensation, or of their own responsibihty respecting it. Their views are awfully erroneous, on a subject of all others the most important. Taking their own wisdom for their guide, they go on stumbling in the dark, till either Sovereign Grace makes them wise unto salvation, or Infinite Justice suffers them to reap the fruit of their own folly, in " the blackness of darkness for ever." Some consider the Gospel as a mitigated law, whereby the standard of holiness is lowered, and a door opened for the commission of venial offences. Others imagine that mercy, by being ultimately ex- tended to ally will rejoice against judgment ; though all PERVERTED VIEWS OF THE GOSPEL. 99 may not, reach (liaL standard, which some ovcr-right- eoiis enthusiasts deem essential to salvation. Some view the plan of salvation as happily accommodated to the wants of sinners. Jesus they acknowledge as the only Saviour, whose merits are apportioned to the defi- ciencies of each applicant for mercy ; so that very moral persons need less of the Saviour's merits than the profli- gate, as their own excellencies help to fill up the scale of righteousness. Thus Jesus becomes a mere make-weight in the balance of their good works. Oh the pride and blindness of the human heart ! Others blasphemously make Christ the minister of sin, declaring that nothing can hurt the privileged be- liever ; no, not even the cherished evils of his own de- luded heart. They assert that Christ has done all ; and left him nothing to do but to rejoice, although unsub- dued corruptions are continually breaking out in his life and conversation. They maintain that divine grace is the more glorified, by thus rising superior, in its gifts of mercy, to the infirmities and allowed sins of believers. Thus, the moral law is set aside, and holiness considered as a burden, from which they are happily freed. How Satan can transform himself into an angel of light, the more efiectually to allure and destroy ! Awful delusions indeed ! Such self-deceivers love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. Of divine truth, they are " willingly ignorant." How great is the change, when God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shines into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of his glory, in the face of Jesus Christ ! By this divine process, we become new creatures, bear the in^age of the Saviour, shine forth in the beauty of holiness, and live to his glory, who worketh all things after the counsel of his will. The redeemed sinner is a child of God. He is born from 100 PERVERTED VIEV>'S OF THE GOSPEL. above, and resembles his heavenly Father in his imitable perfections. " God is love." Hence, every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. God is '* glorious in holiness." His people are, there- fore, a holy people ; being called with a " holy calling." God is just. And his children are all righteous. They walk before him in uprightness, simplicity, and godly sincerity. God is eternal truth. His redeemed ones speak the truth from the heart. They abhor deceit and lies. God is almight}^ His people " are strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;" and come off "more than conquerors through him that loved them." God is " rich in mercy." His children are commanded to be merciful, even as their Father vv^hich is in heaven is merciful. God is wisdom. All his faithful servants are enlight- ened by his Spirit, guided into all truth, and made wise unto salvation. Thus, every communicable perfection which resides in the Deity, is reflected by the new creature to the praise of his glory, from v>'hom cometh every good and perfect gift. From this view, we perceive that the mere externals of religion will avail nothing unto salvation. There must be the accompanying power of godliness, and an inward experience of the truth upon the heart. Head- knowledge, without heart-work, is but a shadow, good for nothing. The gracious promise of our all-merciful God is sweet- ly proclaimed by the prophet Jeremiah : " I will give them a heart to know" me that I am the Lord;" and St. Paul declares, that "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness." "My son, give me thy heart" is the PERVERTED VIEWS OF THE GOSPEL. 101 paternal command of the Almighty, at once reasonable, loving, and delightful. Now, let me ask myself seriously, as in the sight of the all-searching God : Am 1 reflecting the bright beams of his grace on my own soul 1 Do I love God, his peo- ple, and his ways 1 If I am a child, 1 must, of neces- sity, be filled with love ; for God is love. Do I hate all sin, and walk in all the commandments of God ; know- ing that, without holiness, no man shall see the Lord] Am 1 just and equitable in all my dealings, remem- bering that God has declared his abhorrence of all unrighteousness of men 1 Are deceitful lies hateful to my soul? Do I love the truth, and practise it in all my intentions, words, and conduct 1 Am I ready to forgive, knowing how mercy shines forth in the covenant of grace, and how much I stand in need of divine mercy every moment of my life *? Oh that I could feel more of the sweet influence of those graces in my heart ! Lord, pity a poor sinful worm of the earth. Let me not be destitute of this sure and certain evidence of belonging to thee, even that of bear- ing thy holy image. Fill me with love ; make me holy in all manner of conversation ; just and true in all my ways ; powerful in resisting evil ; merciful to my offend- ing brethren ; and wise in all heavenly wisdom. Thus may my light shine before men to thy glory, till, by thy sovereign grace, I am admitted through the gates into the city, clothed vith the righteousness of Jesus, and having the inward seal and witness of the Spirit, enabling me to exclaim "Abba, Father !" in the courts above. Almighty God, to thee belong The heart-felt praise, the grateful song ; From thee all joy and peace proceed, And grace to lielp tliy people's ncc^ 9* '02 THE NATURE OF CHRISTIANITT, Who can recount thy mercies o'er, Or fathom that unbounded store Of love divine, wliich freely gave Thy Son, rebelUous man to save? Here language fails, nor can express The riches of redeeming grace : Its depth exceeds an angel's ken ; Its height, the feeble eye of men. Behold its length, its breadth survey. Coeval with eternity ; For everlasting love alone Could place a rebel on the throne. And is this love held forth to me ? Amazing thought ! Ah ! can it be ? AngeUc tongue can ne'er express The vastness of redeeming grace! For me, a rebel worm, he died ! For me "my Lord was crucified !" Away ye sins — ye lusts, begone ; I will be his, and his alone. Almighty Jesus, make me thine; Oh ! wash me in thy bluod divine ; Preserve my soul from »!very sin. And reign the sov'reign Lord within. Oh ! clothe me in that beauteous dress, The garment of thy righteousness ; Then may I look towards thy throne, And claim each promise as my oivn. With joy shall I appear among The blood-bought flock, the ransom'd throng And when thou bid'st time be no more, Thy grace in endless worlds adore ! XVII. ON THE NATURE OF CHRISTIANITY. Christianity is a religion of love. It flowed from the eternal love of God the Father ; was published in hnes of blood on the cross of God the Son ; and is graciously THE NATURE OF CHRISTIANITY. 103 revealed to every contrite soul through the power of God the Holy Ghost. Christianity breathes nothing but love to the penitent sinner. It woos, it entreats, it invites all, without ex- ception, to partake of its blessings, and live. It holds forth the free mercy of God through Christ ; and offers pardon and acceptance even to the vilest, who come unto Jesus weary and heavy laden, as the Saviour .and friend of sinners. Canst thou. Oh ! ray soul, refuse such an offer as this? Canst thou reject so loving a Saviour ; so rich a tender of grace and mercy 1 Blessed Jesus ! behold a wretched sinner at the foot of thy cross. Enable me to look unto thee alone for salvation. Draw me, and I will run after thee. Oh ! may I daily live upon thee by faith, who art the true bread from heaven. Unite me to thyself, as the branch to the vine ; the member to the head ; and bring me in joyful triumph to thy celestial kingdom. But what am I now asking 1 Blessings rich as hea- ven, and extensive as eternity. I am imploring bless- ings bought with blood — the blood of God incarnate ! Amazing price ! yet freely paid, to purchase heaven for me ! Christianity spreads happiness around her path. True happiness can only be found in a covenant God in Christ, who hath declared himself to be a just God, and yet a Saviour; just, and yet the justifier of all who oelieve in Jesus ; yea, faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we contemplate the great Jehovah in his essen tial character out of Christ, we behold every perfection in array against us, and demanding our everlasting punishment as rebel creatures. Infinite holiness and justice, (ruth and goodness, require that sin should be 104 THE NATURE OF CHRISTIANITT. punished. Hence the Scriptures declare that "our God is a consuming fire," "who will in nowise clear the guilty." But when we view God in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them ; when we behold the Eternal Word becoming flesh, and dwelling amongst us; when we see the babe of Bethlehem, Emanuel, God whh us ; then hope re- vives, and leans with sweet, delightful confidence on the rock of ages ; love kindles into a brigh and ardent flame ; faith contemplates vfith rapture the stupendous plan of mercy ; while all our enraptured powers unite their eflforts to adore the great Redeemer's name. Lord, what is man, that thou art thus mindful of him ; or the son of man, that thou so regardest him ? Oh ! bow YtTonderful is the love of God towards lost rebellioua sinners ! " Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth ini- quity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant &f his heritage 1 He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again ; he wdll have compassion upon us ; he will subdue our iniquities ; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." The religion of Jesus is a religion of peace. The angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will tOAvards men," when they announced to the wondering shepherds the glad tidings of the Saviour's birth. Wherever the power of the Go&pel is felt, there joy and peace reign. "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as a rose. It shall blossom abundantly^ and rejoice even with joy and singing." Christianity displays the msdor^i of God. " Happy, then, is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that THE NATURE OF CHRISTIANITY. 105 gettetli understanding; for the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. vSlie is more precious than ru- bies : and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand ; and in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her ; and happy is every one that retaineth her." Take, then, to thyself, Oh mighty Saviour, thy great power, and reign over all the earth ! Fulfil thy promise to thine ancient Israel, and to the benighted millions of the heathen world. Let Satan no longer maintain his empire in the human heart. Hurl him from his seat. Dislodge him from his citadel. Command him into the deep ; for thou hast said, "All Israel shall be saved," and " the Lord shall be the king of the whole earth." Adorable Emanuel, Prince of peace. Sovereign of souls ! take away the veil from the heart of the poor Jews, who have so long been "scattered and peeled;" "without a king, without a prince, without a sacrifice." Hear the prayers of gentile Christians on their behalf, that they may look upon thee whom they have pierced; and mourn, till their sorrow, through thy forgiving grace, shall be turned into joy. Open the eyes of the perishing heathen, that they may see the misery of their condition ; the hard bond- age under which they labor ; the cruel tyrant whom they serve ; and the awful doom which av/aits them in another world. Oh ! do thou reveal to them, through the preaching of the Gospel, " thine agony and bloody sweat, thy cross and passion ;" all the mysteries of Gethsemane and Cal- vary. Show them the crown of glory which thou hast purchased ; the kingdom which thou hast prepared ; the 106 THE NATURE OF CHRISTIANITY, inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, which is re- served for all who live a life of faith in thee. Endue them with strength to renounce their sins, and to burst the chauis wiiich bind their captive spirits. Shed abroad thy love in their hearts, and transform them into thy own most holy image. And Oh thou loving Saviour, have mercy upon those thousands of nominal professors of the Gospel, who are by thee esteemed the worst of sinners ! These, Oh Lord, do unto thee the greatest dishonor. They hear of thee without emotion. They talk of thee without affection. They know thy Gospel, speculatively, but experience nothing of its power. They call thee Lord, but do not obey thee. They have the light shining around them, yet love darkness rather than light. They hear the sweet sound of grace, yet find no chord of uni- son within. They see the waters of life flowing on every side, yet never taste of their refreshing stream. They have a name that they live, and yet are dead. They profess that they know God, yet in works deny him. They have the form of godliness, yet deny tha power thereof. They express a self-complaisant pity for the poor Jew and Gentile, whilst they themselves are in a far more wretched state than these objects of their commiseration. Oh ! that the Spirit may be poured out from on high ; that the wilderness may become a fruitful field ; that every heart may experience the transforming power of thy sovereign grace, and the Avhole earth be filled with thy glory ! Thou hast said, " Surely I come quickly-— Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus." Paternal God, thy power display; Chase all the shades of night away ; Let every foe before thee fly, And bring each Gospel blessing nigh. KEGLELTING THE GOSPEL. 107 Thy cl3iug love, Oh Lord, reveal — That love which melts the heart of steel; Each stuhborn will in mercy bow, And lay the rebel sinner low. Arise, thou Sun of righteousrtess, And all thy waiting people bless ; Arise upon our hearts, and shine Till every heart be wholly thine. Inflame our cold affections, Lord ; Renew them by thy quick'ning word ; Bind every thought in willing chains, Till not a rebel thousht remains. XVIII. ON NEGLECTING THE GOSPEL. 'his declaration of the apostle, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ?" — is both a solemn question, and an awful conclusion. Those who hold infidel principles, who live in a total disregard of religious ordinances, and who persecute the followers of Jesus, despise the salvation of God. But there are other marks equally legible to the dis- cerning eye, though often unseen by the persons who bear them, on account of the blinding nature of sin, which point out the neglecters of salvation. The three following should excite alarm, and call forth the important exercise of strict self-examination. 1. If we are living in the allowed indulgence of one known sin, whether that sin be internal or external; whether it be cherished in the secret recesses of the heart ; or whether it ripen into overt acts ; we are ne- glecting the salvation of the Gospel. We may have knowledge, and zeal, and gifts of various kinds ; we 108 NEGLECTING THE GOSPEL* may do much in active exertion to promote the genera cause of religion ; we may associate with pious charac- ters, and be ourselves esteemed pious ; we may be reg- ular at church; maintain family wor&hip ; and, like Herod, do " many things :" yet if, after all, we are liv- ing in the allowed indulgence of one known sin, we are neglecting this great salvation ; and, dying in this state, must inevitably perish. Should we knock and say, " Lord, open unto us," Jesus would profess unto us, " I never knew you ; depart from me, ye workers of iniqui- ty." How awful is this consideration, and yet how just ! We may destroy all the refuse of the Amalekites ; 3^et, if we preserve Agag and the rest of the flock alive ; if we retain some beloved lust in the heart, we manifest a spirit in direct opposition to the will and command of God. 2. If we are building upon any other foundation, in whole or in part, than Jesus Christ and him crucified, Ave are neglecting his great salvation. To be saved from the dreadful consequences of sin, we must build simply and entirely on that fouTtdation which God hath laid in Zion, without daring to bring any of the materials o^f corrupt nature to mix with it. On this foundation we must pray for grace to build gold, silver, and precious stones. This must be done by adding to faith virtue, and to virtue knov\dedge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. If these things be in us, and abound, they make us that we shall neither be barren nor un- fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; whilst an entrance shall be ministered to us abundantly into his heavenly kingdom. 3. If we are preferring any eartlily object, of what- ever kind, to Jesus Christ ; if our affections are placed NEGLECTING THE GOSPEL. 109 on any other being in opposition to him ; or if wc are seeking our delight in any created thing, as distinct from him and independent of him, we are neglecting his great salvation ; yea, setting np idols in our hearts. We must love the adorable Saviour with a supreme affection ; and we must love other objects only for his sake. Our temporal blessings must be enjoyed as flow- ing from him ; our friends and domestic comforts must be received as gifts coming to us through liis redeeming grace All we possess must be held at his disposal, and with a view to that account which we must one day give. Thus, Christ must be the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and ending of all our desires and affections. Oh ! how strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life ; and few^ there be that find it. May I never forget this unchangeable truth ; that Jesus is the only way of escape from hell — and the only way of access to heaven. Lord, let thy good Spirit guide me into this consecrated way. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe. It is truly awakening to reflect how far a person may go in the circumstantials of religion, and yet be entirely destitute of the life of God in the soul. The holy Scriptures abound with declarations to this effecf, which prove the deceitfulness of the human heart, rnd the danger of resting in mere outward forms and orthodox opinions. Thus, Job describes the character of the hypocrite : " Wliat is the hope of the hypocrite, tliough he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will he delight himself in the Almighty 1 will he always call upon God ?" evidently implying, that, not having the root of the matter in him, though he had gained the ap- plause of men for his seeming piety, he would soon grow weary of the service of God. 10 110 NEGLECTING THE GOSPEL. David also shows, in awful colors, the wickedness of false teachers : " Unto the wicked, God saith, what hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouhlest take my covenant in thy mouth ; seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee 1" Thus, wicked men may enter into the priestly office, preach the Gospel, and talk about that covenant, in the blessings of which they have no personal interest what- ever. The prophet Isaiah, by the Spirit of God, sets forth the extreme hypocrisy of the Jews : " Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my peo- ple their transgression, and the house of David their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinances of their God. They ask of me the ordinances of justice ; they take delight in approachmg to God." Thus, their conduct was a strange mixture of appa- rent devotion and positive rebellion. The prophet Ezekiel was shown the true character of those who waited upon him. " They come unto thee as the people cometh ; and they sit before thee as my people ; and they hear thy words, but they will not do them ; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness." Our divine Redeemer has painted the hypocrite in liis true colors: "Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hy- pocrites ; for ye pay tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith." "Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ; for ye make clean the out- side of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess." "Wo unto you. Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ; for ye are like unto whited NEGLECTING THE GOSPEL. Ill sepulchre^^ which, indeed, appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and all unclean- ness." "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell !" When we consider that these men were held in thd highest esteem and veneration amongst the Jews for their outward sanctity and devotion, we see how far persons ma}^ go in the externals of religion, and yet be in the very gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. It was on this account that the apostle Paul so con- stantly warned the cliurches to whom he wrote against false profession, and receiving the grace of God in vain. He speaks of those who hold the truth, but who lipoid it in unrighteousness. The Epistles of St. Peter, St. John, and St. Jude, are full of warnings against false teach- ers, antichrists, and deceivers. The charges to the seven churches, in the book of Revelation, most awfully show the danger of declension, of leaving our first love, of becoming lukewarm, and, consequently, loathsome to an infinitely holy God. Many, it is to be feared, have the reputation of being spiritually alive, whose souls, in the sight of God, are dead to all the vital influences of the Holy Spirit. Ob, my soul, let not these solemn portions of God's sacred word be lost upon thee. Pray without ceasing for that grace, wbich can alone preserve thee from fall- ing, and, through tbe merits of Jesus, present thee fault- less before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Almighty Saviour ! awaken my drowsy senses, and make me alive to my real condition. SufTer me not to neglect thy blessed Gospel ; but draw me to thyself con- tinually, for thy grace is sufiicient for me. Wash me in the cleansing fountain of thy blood. Place me upon that foundation which can never be moved. Arm me for the spiritual combat; and at last make me more than 112 INADEQUATE VIEWS OF HUMAN NATURE. conqueror, through the .power of thy might and the riches of thy grace. Why should I hiiger here below, When Jesus calls my heart above? Why, Oh, my soul, the bliss (brego, The joy of everlasting love ? I feel the M-eight of nature's guilt. Beneath its pond'rous load I groan ; Oh! may the blood on Calvary spilt For all my crimson sins atone ! Blest Jesus ! speak the pardoning word ; Salvation to my spirit bring! Then will tliy grace those joys afford, Which from thy cross to sinners spring. Redeem'd from guilt and slansh fear. My soul shall wing its way to thee! While faith beholds her title clear To blissful immortalitv. XIX. ON INADEQUATE VIEWS OF HUMAN NATURE. The world is full of mourning, lamentation, and wo We see many dancing ulong in thoughtless gayety, and sporting on the brink of perdition : but this lightness of spirit is transient ; sorrow soon darkens the glare of hu man happiness, and leaves the soul in sad dejection and despair. This picture may be gloomy, yet it is true. Sin has defaced the moral excellence of man ; yea, more, has converted him into whatever is base, polluted, and depraved. All his faculties and powers are now employed ag weaj>ons against his Maker ; and the very plan of mercy, INADEQUATE VIEWS OF HUMAN NATURE. 113 whereby alone he can be restored to holiness, happiness, and heaven, is opposed, neglected, or despised. And yet we talk of moral excellence in a fallen crea- ture ; of goodness in a heart which is desperately wick- ed ; of righteousness in a condemned criminal ; of amia- ble qualities in a mind at enmity against God; of strength in a helpless w^orm ; of W' isdom in a soul beclouded in all its powers. Strange inconsistency ! "What communion hath light with darkness V The word of God condemns such a motley character, and pronounces a wo on that wnich the world so much admires. It is no uncommon thing to hear people talk about their good hearts and good intentions; when love to God, and a desire to please him, are utter strangers to their breast. These self-admiring persons consider as libellous every attempt to tear away the mask, and to expose the native vileness of the inner man. Thus, pride, vanity, self- love, and unbelief, the deadly roots from Avhence all mischief springs, conspire to keep us in a state of bond- age, and enveloped in the mist of error. It is quite compatible with the vanity of our fallen nature, to extol, as the highest excellence, thoge benev- olent and patriotic feelings which often exist in a heart totally alienated from God. The Bible acknowledges no real excellence, but what arises from the regenerating Avork of grace upon the soul. An attentive reader of that Holy Book must be struck with the faithful deline- ations Avhich it gives of the human heart. Man is there represented as he appears in the sight of God, when divested of all his meretricious ornaments. What we call vrrtiieSf will be found, when analyzed, to be mere selfish principles ; and human approbation to be the secret spring of many a splendid action. This 10* 114 INADEQUATE VIEWS OF HUMAN NATURE. disclosure is revolting to our pride. But proud man must be humbled. The Scripture hath concluded all under sin. In this state, grace at first finds the sinner. There is naturally no movement of the soul towards God ; no affection for him ; no trust in him ; no obedience t3 him. The first inclination of the heart to God is the sole operation of his own secret power, by such instruments or means as he, in his wisdom and sovereignty, is pleased to employ. The work, once begun, gradually, and sometimes, in- deed, rapidly increases. The blade, the ear, and the full corn in the ear, are of a longer or shorter period in their growth, as the principle is Aveaker or stronger ; for there are mysteries in grace, as well as in nature. But in both kingdoms, the work is of God. He be- gins, carries on, and completes the vast design. All originates in his will, and all shall terminate in his glo- ry. His language is, " I am God, and besides me there is no Saviour." " In the Lord, all the seed of Israel <§hall be justified, and shall glory." Yet man is a responsible creature, a moral agent. In this work of grace, God does not force, but inclines the heart to seek him. He does not compel the sinner, with reluctant steps, to enter in at the strait gate ; but, by enlightening his mind, and touching his heart, he sweetly constrains him to enter in, that he may be saved. His refusing to submit to the yoke of Jesus, and to accept of mercy on Gospel terms, is altogether the fruit and effect of his own depraved heart, and will justly be punished, if persisted in, with everlasting destruction. Thus, all the praise of our salvation is due to God alone ; whilst all the guilt and final miser}^, flowing from our transgressions, are chargeable solely upon ourselves. INADEQUATE VIEWS OF HUMAN NATURE. 115 ivlen may now argue, and dispute, and cavil, about the truths of revelation ; but a day is fast approaching, when "every mouth that is now opened against him, God will condemn." In that tremendous day of just judgment, the guilty conscience will speak in loudest thunder to the self-convicted soul ; whilst notes of praise will for ever ascend from hearts renewed by sovereign grace, to the fountain of eternal love. We sin, and forget the sin. But God remembers all our wickedness. Awful, awakening thought ! Every impure imagination, every unhallowed affection, every sinful purpose, though unripe ned into action, every se- cret, and, to men, unknown iniquity, is remembered by that omniscient God, who will judge the secrets of men's hearts by Jesus Christ, and strictly render to every man according to his works. Oh what a day will that be, which tears away the mask of hypocrisy from the face of sin ! which rolls away the whitened stone from off the loathsome sepulchre ; which discloses the impure chambers of imagery, and discovers all the hidden evils of a heart once admired, but now abhorred by an assem- bled world of saints and angels! In that day, the wicked will bewail, in bitter re- proaches, their forgetfulness of God, and their love of sin ; but this bitterness of soul, being utterly destitute of every gracious feeling, will only increase the sharp- ness of their torm.ent, and give additional strength to the sting of that worm which never dies ! Thus, their self-reproaches, and hatred of God, will be commensurate with eternity. Hating God — hating themselves — and hating the dreadful fiends who torment them, they will be wretched, beyond all conception, for ever and ever ! Happy are they who receive the truth as little chil- dren. Lord, give me right views of the truth, as it is 116 INADEQUATE VIEWS OF HUMAN NATURE. in Jesus ; and right feelings and affections towards thee, who art the God of my life and of my salvation. Put thy fear into my heart, that I may not depart from thee. Fill me with a reverential awe of thy holy name. Let me never pry into the wisely-concealed pur- poses of thy grace, but ever remember, and practically regard, this important declaration of Moses, " The secret things belong unto the Lord our God ; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." Y/hen I hear a sinner boasting Of the goodness of his heart, And how easy 'tis for mortals With tiieir dearest sins to part ; Then, methinks, this man's a stranger T''; the work of grace and faith ; A^' iie speaks betrays his blindness, All is darkness that he saith. Did he onr j but feel the workings Of the Spirit's mighty pow'r, He would feel the flesh rebelling, From that highly favor'd hour. Satan would not let him conquer, Without many battles fought ; This the Lord permits, that sinners Their own vileness may be taught. 'Tis the traitor lodged within us Seeks t' admit the foe without j When, by grace divinely potent, Satan has been once cast out. Inbred evils, dread corruptions. Natives of the human heart, League with Satan 'gainst the SaviouFj And determine not to part. Men would still resist the blessings Which a gracious God bestows, Did not grace of freest mercy Still with blessings interpose. TWO COMMON ERRORS. 117 Oh ! how inatclilcss is this mercy ! How unbounded is this love! 'Tis our joy on earth to feel it ; 'Tis the theme of saints above. XX. ON TWO COMMON ERRORS. There are two fatal error?, which, it is to be fear«d, ivbound amongst professing Christians. The one, which considers divine grace as disrobed of its glory, by insist- ing upon the necessity of human endeavors in the great work of salvation. The other, which declares as inju- rious to morality the stress that is laid upon the abso- lute necessity of divine grace to the production of every thing that is spiritually good in any man. The truth embraces both these propositions : viz., the absolute need of divine grace, without which "nothing is holy ;" and the absolute necessity of human endeav- ors, since God worketh in us both to v/ill and to do of his good pleasure. Though salvation be all of grace, yet God is pleased to work by means. A Paul must plant, an Apollos water, whilst Giod giveth the increase. The husbandman deposites his seed in the ground, yet God alone can crown his labors with an abundant harvest. To depend upon the divine blessing, \vithout using the means which Infinite Wisdom has appointed, is en- thusiasm. To use the means appointed, without an en- tne dependance upon the promised blessing, is impiety. If a father, for instance, should pray for the conver- sion of his children, and yet suffer them to run wild, without presenting one check to evil, under the impres- sion that the Almighty in his good time will save them, if they art to be saved; and that if they are not amongst 118 TWO COMMON ERRORS. the elect, no blame can attach to him, should they finally perish ; would ho not, by such erroneous views of the plan of salvation, be actually aiding the cause of Satan, and tlic destruction of his unhappy offspring, under the false notion of glorifying the sovereignty of God and the freeness of divine grace 1 So, on the other hand, if a father should endeavor to train up his children in virtuous habits, and be anxicus to guard them against the seductions of the world; and yat draw all his hopes of success from his own exertions and paternal instructions, without once feeling the force of that all-important declaration of the Saviour, "With- out me, ye can do nothing ;" would he not, by such conduct, manifest great impiety 1 and might not the Almighty withhold his spiritual blessing, to show how easily he can blight the most powerful human en- deavors ? To trust God with all our hearts, in the diligent use of the appointed means, is the path which Infinite Wis- dom has marked out for man, as a moral agent. To be enabled to do this in a right spirit, is the work of divine grace, and the way to obtain the divine blessing. The Bible, whilst it reveals the utter inability of man to do any thing that is good, by any natural power of his own, addresses him as a creature endued with ra- tional powers, and of high responsibilities. Hence, the sacred volume abounds with exhortations to diligence, motives to obedience, and promises of grace and strength both to do and suffer the holy will. Spiritual pride and spiritual sloth are alike condemn- ed. He who says " I will not," and he who says " I cannot," may be equally under the influence of a bad spirit. The latter, which has a show of humilitj^, may spring from spiritual sloth, as the former does from spiritual pride. When grace really enlightens the mind, TWO COMMON ERRORS. 119 and affects the heart, the sinner, though deeply conscious of his utter inability to save himself, dares not make this an excuse for continuing- in sin. Under the inflnence of the Holy Spirit, he cries mightily to God, through Christ, for deliverance from the guilt and power of sin ; and is graciously helped by him who never said to the seed of Jacob, " Seek ye me in vam." The Antinomian, and the self-righteous error, are both reprobated in the Scriptures of truth. Whilst we would carefully avoid those metaphysical niceties which darken the simplicity of the Gospel, we should pray to discover those subtle webs which Satan weaves to catch the feet of the unwary. Divine truth is beautiful in its own simplicity — and grand in its own sublimity. Every human addition, like paint on the diamond, obscures its lustre. An honest heart, and a sincere intention to please God in all things, will clear the path of duty from many a stumbling-block, which the pride of human reason has cast up ; '* for if any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God." Men, in general, are more ready to argue a point in divinity, than to crucify a beloved lust. Those who are much acquainted with the religious world, will fmd many polemical disputants for one self-denying follower of Jesus. The apostle was compelled to say in his day : " there are many unruly and vain talkers." And such charac- ters have been found in every age of the church, to the annoyance of the humble Christian. The Bible is not given to us for disputation, but for edification ; and its doctrmes are designed to have a practical tendency on the mind and heart. If real Christians, who differ from each otiier on some abstruse points of theology, were to meet on the ground 120 TWO COMMON ERRORS. of our common Christianity, they would he surprised to find how nearly they approximate each other in genuine experience and practice. They would, with delightful feeling of joy, recognise a brother, where they expected to meet a foe. The weapons of controversy being thus laid aside, and agreeing to differ on points confessedly abstruse, and beyond the power of finite reason to solve, they would cheerfully hold out the right hand of fellow- ship, and exhibit to the world that charity which is the bond of perfectness, and the beauty of tlie church of Christ. This is a state of feeling devoutly to be wished. May this spirit of mutual love and affection abound more and more amongst the true follovrers of the Lamb. Then will each member of the church militant, by his holy walk and conversation, prove his election of God ; and all the members of the body mystical, deriving daily nourishment and strength from their glorified head, be growing in a meetness for the "general assembly of the first-born," however they may differ in their views on some of those deep things of God which can only be unravelled in the Avorld of light and glory. It is no small artifice of Satan to engage the mind about non- essentials, and to beget amongst Christians a spirit of strife and contention. This artful enemy has succeeded too well in all ages, to the grief of good men, to the weakening of the good cause, and to the joy of the enemies of the Gospel of Christ. All this only tends to confirm the Scripture doctrine of human corruption, and Satanical agency. It calls for great watchfulness, circumspection, and pray- er ; as well as humility and dependance on the Spirit of truth. The grand design of God, in his revelation of mercy, is the display of his own perfections in the salvation of TWO COMMON LURORS. \2i Ills fallen cieatuies. Hence, the commana to peiis\:ing sinners is: "Look unto nie, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved ; for I am God, and there is none else, and besides me there is no Saviour.^^ Whilst the exhortation to believers is : " Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling", for it is God that worketh in you botli tc will and to do of his good pleasure.^^ Blessed Lord, give me that wisdom which is from above. Preserve me from falling into those errors, which would excuse spiritual slotli, or feed spiritual pride. Be- stow upon me the spirit of prayer; and give me grace to live in the spirit of my prayers. Cause mc to walk before thee with an humble, loving, obed'ient heart ; that, living a life of faith in thy be- loved Son, I may work by thee and for thee, while it is called to-day, before the night conieth when no man can work. Where''cr I turn my eyes within, What loads of guilt, what depths of sin, Like oceans deep, Hke mountains high. Call for the vengeance of the sky ! Deceit, ambition, iu.~t, and pride, "Within the human heart reside; There Satan, seated on his throne, Claims the whole empire as his own. But Jesus comes! the mighty Lord! He wields the bright celestial SM-ord; The Strong man arm'd is forced to fly, Whilst angels chant the victory. » * Glory to God in heaven above, On earth sweet peace and saered love; Good-will to men — the foe is foil'd, And God and sinners recoi>ciled. Come, mighty conqueror of the heart, Subdue my soul in every part; Ascend thy long-usurped throne: Be thou my king, and thou alone. 11 CAUSE OF SCEPTICISM. XXI. ON THE CAUSE OF SCEPTICISM. What a multitude of opinions we find in the religious A^orld ! How many different sects and parties ! each walling themselves round with their own peculiar tenets, and maintaining their own views of doctrine as the only ijtandard of truth. But, in tlie midst of all this diversity .■»f sentiment, how husy is the great enemy of souls in sowing the tares of uncharitableness, angry zeal, violent passions, and every unchristian temper in the Gospel field. The visible church has too long been the arena for combats which have ended in deluges of blood. Wit- ness those many persecutions which have been carried on by Christians against Christians in almost every age. Oh Almighty God, look down upon thy church, the vine which thine own right hand liath planted, that the boar out of the wood may not waste it, nor the wild beast of the field devour it. Return, we beseech thee, Oh God of hosts ; look down from heaven, behold, and visit this vine. It may be useful to inquire, from whence arises all this angry disputation in the professing Christian world] It arises, chiefly, from the pride of our hearts. To contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, is a duty ; " to give place, no, not for an hour," to those who seek to destroy the foundation of our faith, is a duty. There is, however, an existing evil of great magni- tude, and which springs from that pride of intellect, which seeks to be wise above what is written. Man is not willing to act upon the plain, revealed command of Heaven. He must search and pry into the secret counsels of Jehovah. He wishes to ascertain tohy the Almighty issues such and such commands. He CAUSE OF SCEPTICISM. J 23 endeavors to brin^ eveiy revelation from God to the rule and standard of his own peculiar mode of reason- ing" ; and when two dech^rations present themselves be- fore him, apparently opposed to each other, though prac- tically leading- to the same point, viz., the glory of God and the salvation of the soul ; instead of humbly receiv- ing both, as stated in the word of truth, and seeking to draw from each the practical improvement iiitended by them, he cannot rest till he has filled up the seeming chasm with his own confused ideas, thinking thereby to vindicate the ways of God to man ! Now, as each inquirer claims an equal right to fill up this chasm in his own way, and as very few will entirely submit to the system of another; so on this account it is, that the Christian world is filled with such heterodox opinions. Thus, leaving the sure path of revealed truth, men plunge into an ocean of inexplicable difficulties, and, by laboring to be wise above what is written, become very fools in divine things. Lord, grant that I may never exercise myself in mat- ters which are too high for me ; which thou didst never intend should be fully known in this present state ; nay, which I cannot comprehend, till the natural blindness of my understanding be wholly removed. In heaven, all darkness will be excluded. Here, I know but in part ; there, if admitted by thy grace, I shall know, even as also I am known. Make my soul then, Oh Lord, as a weaned child. Give me that sim- plicity of faith which cheerfully receives, as truth, all that thou hast revealed, though mystery surround me on every side. I find many plain and clear declarations, which no- thing but a wilful hatred of the truth can misrepresent and pervert. On these I would continually dwell ; from 124 CAUSE OF SCEPTICISM. them I would draw all the sweetness and comfort, wis- dom and strength, which they were mercifully designed to convey. As a new-born babe, may I desire the sin- cere milk of the word, that I maj^ grow thereby. I find other declarations high and sublime ; far sur- passing man's understanding. From tbese, I would learn humility. To these, I would submit my reason with humble reverence. By tbese, I would exercise my faitli, and place implicit confidence in the word of truth, although many things tbercin be difficult to com- prehend, and many past finding out. Whilst St. Peter acknowledges that, in the epistles of his beloved brother Paul, are some things hard to be understood; he also declares, that tbe unlearned and unstable wrest them, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. From these considerations, I perceive how wonderfully the holy Scriptures are cal- culated to instruct the humble believer, whilst they bewilder the proud sceptic. Like the cloud in the wilderness, they afford light to the Israel of God, whilst "the disputer of this worLl" is left in darkness. "Who is wise, and he shall under- stand these things; prudent, and he shall know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them ; but the transgressors shall fall therein." All speculative and practical errors originate in the unbelief and pride of our hearts. We are continually pained with instances illustrative of this truth. Many who, to all outward appearance, set out well, holding the grand essentials of Christianity, and exhib- iting the humble walk of the Christian, have, by de- grees, got so high in doctrines, as to pass over the limits of the precepts, considering every enforcement of the moral law as derogatory to the freeness and liberty of the Gospci. CAUSE OF SCEPTICISM. 125 The promises are to them like tlie manna for sweet- ness, whilst the precepts resemble the bitter waters of Marah. By this perverted view of the Gospel of grace, wliich makes provision for the holiness, as well as the acceptance, of the believer, they endeavor to disunite what God has inseparably joined together. Advancing in their career of bold inquiry and daring investigation ; leaving the precincts of the written word, and soaring into the interminable region of wild conjec- ture ; they fall at length, giddy with their flight, into the fatal reveries of fanatical delusion, sceptical indiffer- ence, Socinian heresy, or deistical profaneness. Such wandering stars, leaving their proper orbit, afford an awful warning to the church of Christ ; and happy is he who learns wisdom from their end, and thereby re- sists the first risings of pride and unhallowed speculation. Some, indeed, are restored by that sovereign grace which they have abused ; whilst others are left to the misery of their own delusions, according to St. Jude, who denominates them "wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." In the midst of surrounding darkness and abounding miquity ; in the midst of distracting opinions and guilty fears : — Where must we look for saving help ? To whom for refuge fly? Who dare presume to plead our cause Before the throne on high ? 'Tis Jesus pleads his people's cause, Before th' eternal throne; Presents the merit of his blood, And claims them for his own. Oh ! (or a lively, vig'rous faith, To feel this blessing mine ; P>laks me, Oh Lord, of saving grace A monument divine. 11* 126 THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN. On thee, a helpless worm I fall, On thee alone depend ; I'll trust thy grace — 'tis infinite, And knows nor bound nor end. Father! behold me in thy Son; Oh ! send thy Spirit down, To fit me for eternal joys, And seal me for thy own. XXII. THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN. In ibis day of outward profession, it is most needful frequently to reflect how far a person may go in the way of religion, and yet prove nothing at the last but an al- most Christian. This will prove to us the importance of self-examination, since nothing is genuine that will not stand the test of Scripture, tliat only touchstone of real godliness. A person may have a clear knowledge of the Gospel way of salvation ; be able to declare the truths of Chris- tianity with interest and edification ; have much fluency m prayer ; be punctual in his attendance on the means of grace ; engage actively in religious and benevolent institutions ; maintain family worship ; join the society of pious characters ; abstain from worldly amusements, and all outward immoralities : and yet, with all these shining appendages, be only an almost Christian, This, to many, may appear uncharitable, and lead them to exclaim with the disciples, "Who then can be saved 1" The fact is, all these important gifts and talents may be possessed, and these active exertions may be made, upon the principles of our fallen nature. THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN. 127 A man may have a tasfe for scriptural stiidies, and a fondness for biblical criticism ; he may have a natural fluency of discourse ; his connexions may be such as imperceptibly lead him to join the friends of religion in their activities, and, by degrees, influence him to estab- lish family worship, to separate himself from worldly amusements and worldly associates ; and yet there may be a total deslHution of evangelical principles. Faith work- ing by love may be a stranger to his heart. The Gospel declares, that "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his;" that "if any man be in Christ, he is a 7iew creature;''^ that "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." The work of grace being altogether internal, its ope- rations must be felt and experienced in the heart. This work consists in a deep humiliation on account of sin, both original and actual, whether of omission or com- mission ; in a deep sense and feeling of spiritual help- lessness and wretchedness ; in a hearty reception of Jesus Christ, as revealed and offered in the Gospel to perishing sinners ; in a supreme love of Him who died to save the vilest who come unto him in a childlike obe- dience to his will and commands, however self-den5^ing. If these things be wanting, all else is nothing but dross in the siglit of God. All short of this divine work in the soul is only almost Christianity. It is painful to the friends of Jesus to behold many droop and wither, who have given promising hopes of future excellence, and almost confirmed the expectations of pious friends concerning their religious sincerity. These hopeful professors walk well for a season, but at length they begin to draw back, by slow degrees, it may be, at the first ; but, increasing in their speed as they advance in the path of declension, they finally plunge into the world, and thus verify the true proverb. l28 THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN. "the dog is turned to his vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." With uq- easy consciences, they endeavor to justify their return, by slandering the lives of professors, and speaking evil of those things with which they were never savingly acquainted. Such persons, if they die in their apostac}^ give every reason to believe that they never knew the grace of God in truth; tbat they never received the truth in the love of it. Hence the apostle John, speaking of such characters, plainly says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us ; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us ; but they went out, that they might be manifest that they were not all of us." We may equally presume that they never tasted the inward blessedness of true religion, even peace with God and joy in the Holy Ghost, arising from a believing, self-appropriating view of the atonement of Jesus. When, therefore, their new mode of thinking and act- ing subsided ; when prosperity gilded their path, or per- secution covered it with thorns ; not having root in themselves, and being destitute of saving faith, they became weary of a service, in which their whole soul was never engaged. They cast off a yoke, to them galling and grievous, and ran back again with delight into the secretly beloved pastures of the world. " Demas hath forsaken me," said the sorrowing apostle, " having loved this present evil world." Where is the congregation of professing Christians, which does not from time to time afford melancholy proofs of this hollowness of character, this emptiness of profession, this influence of the world, to the grief of its faithful pastor, and the pious part of his flock ] Such awful characters may be considered as spies, " feigning themselves to be just men," whom Satan sends into the camp of the true Israel of God, in order to discover the THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN. 129 failings and infirmities of real Christians. These they traitorously expose to the derision of au ungodly world, hoping- thereby to bring discredit upon tlic Gospel of Ciirist, and keep men more quietly in their sins. God can indeed overrule all for good, but wo unto them by whom these oflfences come. It is, then, both awakening and alarming to reflect how far a person may go in outward profession, and yet be a dissembler with God ; an almost Christian ; *' a castaway." If the new creature in Christ Jesus can be so counter- feited, as to deceive for a time the children of God, Avhose judgment is always guided by that charity which hopeth all things ; how ought I to examine into the principles, motives, and springs of my own actions, lest, after having made a profession before men, I should be rejected as " reprobate silver" in that day, when " the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is !" Oh what need there is for sifting ourselves ! Blessed Lord, make me an humble, sincere disciple. Let me not covet after gifts, so much as graces; and after divine gifts, only that I may be useful to others, and glorify thee. I may live in the bustle of religious institutions, whilst devoid of religious affections. I may be able to advocate the cause of Christ, whilst destitute of a saving interest in his blood. I may mingle in the companies of the pious, and yet be an utter stranger to their spirit and experience. Nothing will stand tlie test of the great day, but faith which worketh by love. My soul must be united to Christ by a living faith, before my works can be accept- able to a holy God. Out of Christ, I am a dead branch. In Christ, I become fruitful, through the skill of the heavenly husbandman, who pnineth (he living branches, tha*^^ they may bring fortli more frnit to the glory of his 130 THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN. grace. This blessed receiving of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Ghost, will be accompanied by a gradual renewal of the soul into his image ; and this divine transformation will be productive of works of faith, labors of love, and patience of hope. My heart will become the abode of peace and purity. High and holy principles will be implanted in richer abundance. I shall live for Christ. His glory will be my chief aim, his law my soul's delight. Holy love will guide my movements, and become the unceasing spring of holy actions. All my desires will be to him who loved me, and gave himself for me. This is true Christianity. Oh that I may feel the power of this sacred truth ! Lord, save me from insincerity and hypocrisy, from de- clension and apostacy. Let me not be satisfied with barren knowledge and outward profession ; but let thy love rule in my heart, and shine forth in my daily words and actions, till I am translated, through grace, to those pure regions of unsullied happiness, where all thy redeemed people shall shine forth, as the sun in the kingdom of their Father, for ever and ever. Dear Jesus, fill my soul With holiness and peace ; Arise with healing in thy wings, Thou Sun of righteousness. May all beneath the sky Usurp my heart no more ; Be thou my first, my chief delight, My soul's unbounded store. In thee all treasures lie, From thee all blessings flow ; Thou art the bliss of saints above, The joy of saints below. Oh come and make me thine, A sinner saved by grace ; Then shall I sing with loudest strains In heaven, thy dwelling-place. CONVERSION. \%\ When standing round the throne, Amid the ransoni'd throng, Thy praise shall be my sweet employ While love inspires my song. XXIII. ON CONVERSION. Wherever we look, we behold some part of God's works ; some remembrancer of his power and goodness. Then, why are our thoughts so seldom led " through nature, up to nature's God 1" Here we discover the influence of sin, which so fills our hearts with the love of the creature, as to leave no room for the love of the Creator. When the Saviour was born into the world, there was no room for him in the inn. Just so it is with our de- praved hearts. Yet, wonderful condescension ! Jesus stands at the door and knocks, saying, " If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." And does not every heart fly open to receive the heav- enly visitant ? Alas, no ! Satan puts on the threefold bar of unbelief, pride, and prejudice ; whilst inbred sin, afraid of losing its darling gratifications, opposes ever}^ eflbrt to admit so kind a friend. The flesh pleads hard for self-indulgence ; the world spreads its painted bau- bles, its deceitful riches, its empty honors, its intoxica- ting pleasures ; and thus the sinner is held in vassalage to the powers of darkness. Is, then, the heart for ever barred against the Prince of peace 1 For ever barred it would be, did not sove- reign grace, by its almighty power, drive out the strong man armed, crucify each rebellious lust, and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 132 CONVERSION. When grace opens the sinner's heart, all the powers of the soul are made loiUing to admit the conquering Sa- viour, and to acknowledge him to he the Lord. OM favorite sins now become hateful ; darling lusts appear like inbred vipers. Satan is beheld in all his horrors, and vice in its true deformity. The world loses its charms. Heaven opens on the enraptured eye of faith. Holiness captivates the heart by its celestial beauties. Jesus is beheld with rising admiration, and becomes each day more precious to the soul. Such is the Avonderful change wrought in the conver- sion of a sinner, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Unbelief gives way to faith ; pride to humility ; anger to meekness ; impatience to resignation ; hatred to love ; and sin to universal holiness. The idol, self, falls pros- trate before Jesus Christ ; and nothing is extolled, or trusted in, or pleaded before the throne of God, but the precious blood and righteousness of Emanuel. All glory is now given to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and the Triune God is all in all. It is to be feared that thousands, who call themselves Christians, will never be acknowledged as such in that day, Avhen the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed, and the real character of every professor of godliness dis- tinctly known. Too many, it is to be feared, substitute a general ac- knowledgment of the truths of the Bible, for that faith in those truths which purifies the heart, and assimilates the soul to the image of Jesus. It is no difficult thing to say, " I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth ; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord." But, to feel all the love, reverence, and obedience, which, as creatures and redeemed sinners, we owe to our God and Saviour, is not so easy to fallen nature. CONVERSION. 133 It is no wa)^ con(,n\ry (o our carnal heart (o profess, and even strenuously to contend for, those truths which we have been taught from our infancy to consider as sa-cred ; or to extol that church, in whose bosom we have grown up from earliest years. But, to exhibit the fruit of tliose doctrines, and to acl agreeably to the spiritual formularies of our venerable estabhshment, is not so congenial to the natural state of our depraved hearts. So long as thousands, who bear the Christian name, live in all the gayeties and fol- lies of the world ; neglecting the Gospel, and manifest- ing a spirit in direct opposition to it : we cannot wondei that such multitudes, carried away by the potent stream of public example, rest satisfied with a faith which passes current in the world, which attaches no odium to the character, which requires no self-denial, no painful sacrifices on the part of its possessors. Many, no doubt, rejoice that they are preserved from such delusions as they suppose the people of God labor under, who debar themselves from what they term the innocent gayeties of life, and the delights of fashionable dissipation. These persons pride themselves on their superior wisdom in being able to grasp both worlds at once ; to acknowledge the importance of Christianity, and yet to enjoy those animal gratifications which give such a zest to tlieir existence. Thus they go on, like tiie rich man in the parable, faring sumptuously every day ; and never find out their dreadful mistake, till, like him, they open their eyes in iiell, being in torments ! How awfully blinded is the soul of man, until illu- minated by the Holy Spirit of truth ! Till his glorious light irradiate our minds, we can form no accurate ideas either of God or of ourselves. All is chaos and confu- sion. We do not even see men as trees walking. We are in a state of c^/ iplcte blindness, and oil our concep- 1^ 134 CONVERSION. tions are erroneous. We grope in the dark. We stum- ble even at noonday. How different from that cold assent of the underetand- ing to the general truths of the Gospel, which satisfies an unbelieving world, is the faith which the Spirit of God vv^orks in the hearts of his people. The believer in Jesus is the new creation of God. His mind is enlightened from above. His heart is made to feel its guilt and misery. He reads the word of God with an interest unfelt before. He reads it as a revela- tion of love from the God of mercy, proclaiming pardon to the guilt}^ peace to the miserable, and purity to the polluted. Every declaration bears, to his mind, the stamp of truth. He requires no other sanction than *' thus saith the Lord;" and, finding this, he reads with reverence, and seeks for grace to receive with all meek- ness the engrafted word which is able to save his soul. He finds his own character exacth^ portrayed in its sa- cred pages. He looks within, and is able to trace sin through the dark recesses and secret windings of his heart. He discovers those latent seeds of evil, those bitter springs of misery, unbelief, and pride, and lust, and covetousness, which are continually pouring forth their deadly streams into his outward life. He traces all this evil to the fall of man, and finds that the deadly poison has contaminated the whole posterity of Adam. He owns himself a sinner, both by nature and practice. He justifies the righteous judgment of God, whose law he has ])roken, and whose tremendous curse he has so awfully incurred. He no longer tries to palliate his offences, or invent soft names whereby to varnish over the deformity of sin. - He frankly and fully confesscH himself a rebel, guilty of death, and deserving of no- thing less than eternal damnation. Into this humble, broken, contrite state of heart, ho CONVERSIOX. 135 is brought by the deep convictions of that Holy Spirit, vrhose oti:ce it is " to convince the world of sin." But does this divine agent leave him in this av^'akened state of agony and despair ] Ah, no ! How good, how gracious, how merciful is God ! He wounds in order to heal ; he kills in order to make alive. When a person labors under a violent fever, every expedient is tried to reduce the wasting malady. The means used, seem, for a time, to increase the weakness and debility of the patient: but he is thus w^eakened onl}' that he may eventually become strong. No sooner is the consuming fever abated, than cordials and restora- tives are freely administered, which, given before, would have augmented the dangerous symptoms, and thus have hastened on the fatal consequences of the disease. Thus, our heavenly Physician humbles and subdues the proud heart of the sinner, and destroys the feverish thirst and burning desire after sinful gratifications, be- fore he imparts the reviving cordials of patdon and peace to restore the sin-sick soul to spiritual strength and vigor. Then the bloom of health begins to appear in the sweet tints of peace and joy, of love and hn.mility, of meekness and heavenly-mindedness, which beautify the soul, and cause the believer to shine in the image of his divine Redeemer. The happy believer now kiiovrs his malady and his re-medy. He takes with gratitude those medicmes which Infinite Wisdom prescribes. He daily feeds upon Christ by faith, and daily derives strength from this gracious source of blessedness. He feels his own weakness, and experiences the power of Jesus. He loathes himself, and truly loves his Saviour, in whose righteousness he appears all lovely in the eyes of his heavenly Father. A- a pilgrim, he journeys onwards under the guidance of that Holy Spirit who dwells in him as in a temple, 136 CONVERSION and who has promised to keep him by his mighty power through faith unto salvation. The world fascinates no longer. The mask falls from its face, and he beholds tne idol in its natural deformity. He sees the emptiness of human applause ; the madness of ambition; the de- ceitfulness of riches ; the folly of dissipation. Every thing beneath the sun assumes its true character, whilst he views it through the medium of God's holy word. He learns to form a proper estimate of temporal things He prays for grace to use the world as not abusing it ; to be moderate in the enjoyment of all created good; knowing that the fashion of this world passeth away. Has the believer no enjoyment of life ? Is he desti- tute of all rational delights because he makes the Lord Im 'portion? It would be an impeachment of the good- ness of God, to suppose his service a mere Egyptian bondage. The true believer in Jesus has the sweetest enjoyment of life. He can eat his meat with singleness of heart, praising God. He can taste the sweets of Christian friendship and domestic life : he can enjoy all the en- dearing charities of husband, father, brother : he can feel his heart expanding towards the poor, and find his joy in pouring the balm of consolation into the troubled breast: he can delight in all the beauties of natural .scenery, and relish ail the charms of sound philosophy: he can rejoice in every opening prospect for the exten- sion of tlie Redeemer's kingdom, through institutions devised by Christian wisdom and conducted in Christian sunplicity : he can weep in his best moments over the ruins of the fall, not only as felt in his own heart, but as beheld in the abject condition of the millions of man- kind : he can rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Say, then, can such a man be miserable 1 can such a man be destitute of sources ZUL NEW PREATURE. 137 of real enjo3^ment'? He lives by faith; be longs for heaven ; he desires to be daily conformed to Jesus, and to glorify hirn more, whether it be by life or death. To him, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Such is the character of tlie converted sinner. Oh how precious, how divine, how rare a character ! Lord, nnpart this grace unto me, who a#k less than the least of all thy me^xies, till faith shall end in the glorious fruition of thyself in thy everlasting kingdom of light and glory. Blest Saviour, condescend To dwell within my heart; Be thou my advocate and friend j Bid every sin depart. Incline my soul to love The path of life divine ; In concord let my passions move, Let all my heart be thine. Preserve me by thy care ; Protect me, lest I stray ; Keep me from Satan's deadly snare, From ev'ry devious way. Let angel-guards surround, And shield my soul from ill ; Whilst travelling o'er tempts-iion's ground, To Zion's holy hill. When death the message brings To call me hence away, O may I stretch my joyful wings To heaven's eternal day I XXIV. ON THE NEW CREATURE. The heart cannot be too deeply impressed with the absolute necessity of regenerating grace, nor seek too earnestly for the promised blessing. 12* 138 THE NEW CREATURE. If the value of one immortal soul exceeds in amount ftli the wealth of the globe, yea, of millions of material ivoiids, how strange that men should barter their souls for trifles light as air, and empty as vanity itself! Awful infatuation ! — By many persons, faith is con- sidered as the cheapest commodity, and of the most easy attainment ; forgetting that the eternal Son of God paid the price of his own most precious blood, that we might receive this heavenly grace, and be made partakers of everlasting glory. Faith is the gift of God ; and, if any man be in Christ, or, in other words, if any man possess this gift of faith, he is a new creature ; with him, old things have passed away; and behold, all things have become new. Ah! how little is this delightful, yet solemn truth, considered by the great bulk of professing Christians ! Solemn indeed, when viewed in reference to Christians in general; delightful, when contemplated in connexion with the present holiness and future happiness of the new creation of God. To be made new creatures, two important changes must pass upon us. We must be renewed in the spirit of our mind ; and we must walk before God in newness of life. He who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, must shine into our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ, before we can walk in the light, as he is in the light. When thus enlightened, we shall walk circumspectly ; watch ourselves narrowly; feel our own helplessness; lament our depravity; cast ourselves on Jesus unreservedly; plead his merits ; implore his mediation ; pray without ceasing ; delight in the Scriptures ; love the people of God ; shun carnal pleasures ; delight in labor for Christ and souls ; stem the torrent of general impiety, and seek THE NEW CREATURE. 139 to nbound in every good word and work. If tliis be a faithful miniature of the new creature, we must, whilst looking at unconverted man, exclaim, ""What hath God wrought!" The true believer has been justly compared to a little fiame miraculously burning in the midst of mighty wa- ters. There is every thing around him and within him that is calculated to extinguish the holy fire. Satan, the prince of the powers of the air, is constantly agi- tating these troubled waters. The world is dashing its surges against it; and the flesh, with its mire and dirt, is laboring to smother the sacred flame. But all is vain. He who kindled it, is Almighty ; he who has promised that it shall never go out, is Almighty. Oh, then, let not the afflicted, tempest-tossed believer be dismayed, but rather rejoice, inasmuch as the power and grace of Jesus are glorified by those very trials, which tend to increase the graces of his redeemed peo- ple. St. John hath declared, that "he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself." If, then, we are new creatures in Christ Jesus, we shall have the following indubitable evidence of regene- ration in our souls : Our perceptions icill be neic. A divine light will break in upon our minds. The darkness of error, wiiich ob- scured the truth from our view, will be dissipated. We shall see with unveiled face, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, and shall be changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. In his light, we shall see light ; and, following Jesus, who is t!ie ligiit of the world, we shall become the chil- dren of the light and of the day. Our principles mil he new. We shall act from pure, holy, disinterested ni.otives. Faith working by love will be the grand moving principle. Self will no longer he 140 THE NEW CREATURE. the pivot oil which we turn, but Jesus will be our all in all. Our pi-actke icill be new. We shall live no longer according to the sinful customs of the world, or the pow- erful solicitations of the flesh, but according to the holy precepts of the everlasting Gospel. We shall delight in tlie law of God after the inward man. It will be our meat and drink to do tlie will of our Father which is in heaven. Our plans tcill be new. We shall dedicate ourselves, and all we have and are, to the service of that divine Saviour who loved us, and gave himself for us. We shall not be daily occupied in forming plans for worldly pleasure, or projecting schemes for the acquisition of worldly profit ; but in devising means for carrying on the cause of truth, and for spreading the knowledge of a crucitied Redeemer throughout the earth. Our prospects will be new. The darkness being past, and the true light now shining, we shall see the dis- tant radiance of the heavenly Zion, and behold, with the telescopic eye of faith, the land which is very far off. Our pri vile i^es will be tuw. God will be now our recon- ciled Father ; Jesus, our elder brother. Saviour, and friend; the Holy Ghost, our sanctitier and comforter; angels, our ministering spirits ; and heaven, our eternal home. Our portion will be new. All those exceeding great and precious promises, which in Christ are yea, and in nim amen, to the praise and glory of God, will be ours. We shall be heirs of God, and joint heirs wiih Christ. We shall be the citizens of the New Jerusalem, and inherit that kingdom which is incorruptible and unde- tiled, prepared for all the new creatures in Christ Jesus, before the foundation of the world. CHRISTIAN UNITY. 141 To sum up all this blessedness, we shall experience in this world a progression in holiness, and in the world to come, a perpetuity of bliss. Blessed Lord ! my soul longs for this rich grace, this unspeakably glorious state. O suller me not to lie a moment longer in nature's darkness ; but speak thau the word, and light shall start into existence. Then shall the lineaments of the new creature, formed to thy glory, be daily unfolding themselves in greater likeness to thyself, till the happy hour shall arrive, when every renmant of corruption shall be for ever destroyed, and my soul be made perfect in thy everlasting kingdom Lord, what I want, and still implore, Is grace to love thee more and more ; A heart renew'd — set tree from sin, And fiU'd with hcav'nly light witliin. Oh could I reach this blissful state I For tliis, my longing soul shall wait, Till sov'reign love, with mighty power, Shall on my soul the blessing shower. Then, when the sacred drops descend From Jesus, my almighty friend, T];c fruits of joy and peace shall grow, And all the garden spices flow. With holy love and humble joy Shall grace my ev'r)- pow'r employ, Till, tar removed from sin and shame, My soul shall ever bless thy name. XXV. ON CHRISTIAN UNITY. We read much in the New Testament about Chris- tian unity. The strength and beauty of the church consists in the oneness between Christ and his people. 142 CHRISIIAN UNITY. How powerful were the pleadings of our great Advo- cate for the unity of his redeemed people ! " Holy Father, keep through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are;" "that they all may be one ; as thou. Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be me in us : ihat the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one ; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one ; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." St. Paul also dwells much on this miportant subject : " By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body — and have all been made to drink into one spirit." " Be per- fect, be of good comfort, be of one mind." " 1 beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you : but that ye be perfectly joined to- gether in the same mind and in the same judgment." "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus ; that ye may Avith one mind and one mouth glo- rify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." From our Lord's intercessory prayer, we learn that all who are the subjects of grace, are the gift of the Father to the Son ; that to such the Son gives eternal life ; that the beginning of this eternal life is to knov/ the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent ; that this knowledge is imparted by Jesus Christ through the teaching of the Spirit of truth, the Comforter ; that this knowledge is of a sanctifying nature ; that it leads to a separation from the world, and a union to each other; that these happy souls are kept from the evil that is in the world, and preserved unto eternal glory. CHRISTIAN UNITY. 143 Hence, all strife, divisions, and contentions, disfigure the beauty and tarnish the glory of the church of God. St. Paul sharply reproves the Corinthian church for their want of unity: "Ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men f Whilst to the Ephesian converts he gives this beautiful exhortation : " I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, for- bearing one another in love ; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." It may be asked, " Is it possible that all who profess lO believe in the trutlis of the Bible, will ever be brought to see every thing in the same light, and to follow, in every minute particular, the same track of thinking and acting]" This unity may, and ought to be maintained, in the grand essentials of the Gospel. And a beautiful union of faith and practice, of sentiment and feeling, does ex- ist amongst real Christians of all denominations, how- ever they may differ about the terms and explications of some abstruse doctrines, or respecting tire outward forms and modes of church government: "for the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." " It is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." When these holy characters freely un- bosom their hearts to each other, and discourse together on experimental and practical subjects, they fmd them- selves standing on one common ground — connected by one common tie — united in one common cause — and drinking into one and the self-same spirit. 144 CHRISTIAN UNITY. They all mourn over, and are deeply humoled, on ao- coiint of the corruption of their nature and the sin of their lives. They all feel the plague of their own hearts^ and so groan, being burdened. They all are conscious of their utter inability to save themselves. They all know that they are naturally without strength. They are all enabled, through grace, to look unto Jesus, tlie eternal Son of God, as their only Saviour, whose blood cleanseth them from all sin ; whose merits, re- ceived and applied by faith, form their only justifying righteousness ; whose intercession for them prevails with God ; whose promised gift, the Spirit of truth, dwells in their hearts, causing them to cry with filial love and confidence, Abba, Father. They all know and feel that they thus become the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus ; and, enjoying the presence and grace of their heavenly Father through the Son of his love, they are all enabled to resist the devil, to crucify the flesh, to renounce the world, and gradually to perfect holiness in the fear of God. They all confess how low tlieir highest efforts fall be- neath the elevated standard of Gospel holiness ; yet, forgetting the things which are behind, they press for- ward towards those things which are before, and long for that happy period, when, having laid down their bodies of sin and death, they shall shine in spotless purity in the courts above. With these feelings and impressions, they all confess themselves to be pilgrims and strangers upon earth. Their hearts are set upon things above. They sympa- thize with each other's sorrows, and gladden with each :ther's joy. They love to bear each other's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. As they all believe in the glorious doctrine of the Trinity in Unity, and in the divine and human nature CHRISTIAN UMTV. 145 of Jesus Christ, so ihev unitedly confess themselves to be sinners saved b}' grace through faith in a crucified Redeemer, and ascribe all their salvation, from first to last, to the free, unmerited mercy of God in Christ. Thus, whilst tliev acknowledge the justice of that sen- tence which condemns them, as sinners, to everlasting misery, they extol the vastness of that love which so freely saves them from the wrath to come. "With these holy views of the truth, they can each sa}- from the heart, " My power is lost — the fault is wholly mine ; Vet bid me live — the glory shall be thine." Now, if every faithful follower oi' Jesus can subscribe to these comiuon points of Christian doctrine and expe- rience, what is it that divides and separates the true family of Christ 1 Is it not the remaining corruption of our nature, the reuKAining darkness of our mind, and the subtle enemy of our souls '] These are the foes which disturb the peace of the Church, and destroy nuich of her purity and spiritual prosperity. Oh! that the Holy Spirit may purge away this old leaven of nuxlice and wickedness, and fill us with sin- cerity and truth ; that we may become a now lump; be all new creatures in Christ Jesus ; sliine as lights in the world ; and so advance that kingdom of holiness upon earth, which is criminally impeded in its progress, and marred in its beauty, by the disfigiuing contentions, strifes, and divisions of those who call themselves the followers of the Lamb. In the revelation of mercy, as in the visible works of even ion, there are mysteries wliich oy^v finite miiuls can- not fathom : for what is nuin that ho should bo wise as his Maker 1 And yet how many dare to reject the oracles of God, because thev caiuiot comprehend their 13 146 CHRISTIAN UNITY. elevated truths, or square their seemingly discordant statements with their preconceived systematic opinions. The word of God is " as a city which is at unity with itself." All is plain and clear to the divine Mind, who sees the end from the beginning, and who knows the infinitely varied movements of his own vast design. We see but a small part of his ways. Many a wheel enters into those darknesses of his impenetrable counsel, which v\^e cannot trace. But still it is moving onward in direct progression towards that glorious period, when the whole stupendous work of mercy shall be displayed to the Church triumphant in heaven, and call forth hex eternal songs of praise. There, in that bright world, those saints of God who differed here below respecting some mysterious points of deep concealment, will see with one vision. The darkness being gone, tlie veil being withdrawn, and the truth standing fully revealed to their enraptured souls ill all its beauty, symmetry, and perfection, they will then utter no jarring seiitiment ; feel no uncharita- ble emotion ; experience no shyness of approach ; but, wrapped in holy admiration and humble reverence before the throne of God, every feeling will be love, and every view of the truth in perfect accordance with the mind and will of their Creator. There, with one heart and mouth, they will glorify God and the Lamb, join in the same song, delight in the same work ; being, in every sense, one in the presence of Him who, when upon eaiih, interceded for his people : " The glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.^^ Well, then, might the apostle say to the Corinthians, when lamenting their unhappy dis- sensions, " Are 5^e not carnal and walk as men ;" as per- sons unconverted, as men destitute o( the Spirit of Christ] CHRISTIAN UNITY. 147 While we remain in the body, difTercnces of opinion on points confessedly mysterious must be expected ; but may not this be designed by Infinite Wisdom, for the ex- ercise of charity and forbearance towards each other, provided the great essentials of genuine Christianity are maintained and practicalhj believed 1 This incapacity of our minds to grasp the mighty de- sign of everlasting love towards creatures helpless in themselves, and unable to come to God, (John vi, 44,) and yet chargeable with the guilt of not coming to him, (John V, 40,) should teach us humility and entire de- pendance on the Spirit of truth, to direct us aright in the way of life and salvation. The more we know ourselves, the more we shall learn to renounce our own reasonings, and to follow simply the direction of that blessed word which is given us to be a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our path. Je- sus said, " I am the light of the world ; he that foUow- eth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." "Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you : for he tliat walketh in dark- ness, knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the chil- dren of light." Merciful Lord, be pleased to " cast thy bright beams of light upon thy church," that all thy people, being en- lightened by the doctrines of thy word, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that at length they may attain to everlasting life. Preserve me, thy unworthy servant, from that unhal- lowed curiosity which would presumptuously pry into those deep things around which thou hast thrown an Impenetrable veil. Give me a mind enlightened to dis- cover the truth, as it is in Jesus ; and a heart to love and practise the truth, as it is revealed to my soul. In the 148 FOLLOWING THE LORD FULLY. fulness of Christian cliaiity, enable me to say, "gnce be with all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sin* cerity ;" and to call every one a brother w^ho bears thy holy image, takes up his cross, and follows thee. Sweet is the joy by those possess'd, Who know and love the Lord ; No guilty fears disturb their rest, While leaning on his word. Amid the ruffling scenes of life, They trust a cov'nant God ; While all the angry sons of strife Despise his chast'ning rod. Jesus to them his peace imparts, To them his presence gives ; He dwells by faith in all their hearts, And all their wants relieves. Thus, holy Lord, may I be bless'd With graces from above ; Till peace and joy reign in my breast. The fruit of dying love. XXVI. ON FOLLOWING THE LORD FULLY. True humility is a sweet and blessed grace. It is the product of Almighty power. How calm is the hum- ble soul ! Whilst storms and tempests rage with unre- lenting fury amongst the proud and haughty of man- kind, a serene and lovely sky smiles over those who are clothed with humility. To promote this desirable state of heart, it is very useful to study those characters on which Infinite Truth has stamped a worth which revolv- ing ages cannot diminish nor impair. Such are Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Job, David, Daniel, and many others, who shine like stars in the book of God. FOLLOWING THE LORD FULLY. 149 We Cvannot but. be struck, ^vhils^ taking this survey, with the blessed testimony which God gave to Caleb ; Num. xiv, 24. He is there said to be a man *'of an- other spirit" from the unbelieving Israelites around him ; and "to have followed the Lord fully," at a time when the most awful defection took place amongst the professed people of God. To follow the Lord fully, is, indeed, a great work ; and yet, nothing less than this will bring us to heaven The work is the Lord's. " By grace are ye saved, through faith ;.and that not of yourselves : it is the gift of God," The unbelief of the Israelites was their sin, for which they suffered, not being permitted to enter into the pro- mised land. The faith of Caleb was the gift of God ; and his priv- ilege of being favored with a fruitful possession in the land of Canaan, in consequence of it, was of grace and not of debt. This strictly applies to me in a spiritual sense. Oh ! for more self-condemnation and self-abasement, when I see and feel the awful unbelief which dwells in my evil heart. And yet, if I have any reason to hope that the Lord has given me another spirit from the car- nal world around me, or from what / once had, and if this new spirit evidences itself by an obedience to his holy command, and a delight in his will, to him be all the undivided praise ! To follow the Lord fully, I must have a liveh'' faith in the promises of God made to me in Jesus Ciuist; I must experience the love of God shed abroad in my lieart through the Holy Ghost given unto me ; T must have a good hope through grace, a hope full of immor- tality : I must feel the sweet drawings of the Spirit, uniting me closer to Jesus in heart and affection : I must L3^- 150 FOLLOWING THE LORD FULLY. lenonnce all self-dependance and all creature depend- ance : I must renounce both my sins and my own sup- posed righteousness : I must quit the flattering vanities of the world, and labor to subdue the lusts of the flesh : I must be willing to bear the cross, to deny myself, and to do any thing for Cbrist : I must submit to the right- eousness of God ; yea, esteem it so inestimably precious, as to count all things else in comparison of it but dung and dross : I must have my will swallowed up in the holy, sovereign will of God : I nuist lie passive in his hand, whilst actively engaged in his service, being ever desirous, with childlike simplicity, to do and suffer, at all times and in all places, the will of my heavenly Fa ther. If this be to follow the Lord fully, then, Oh my soul, lie prostrate at his feet in shame and confusion of face. God will not accept of a divided heart. To follow him fully, I must follow him only. The language of the church is : " Other lords besides thee have had do- minion over me ; but by thee onh^, will I make mention of thy name." "Whom have I in hea-ven but thee, and there is none upon earth I desire besides thee." " The Lord is my portion, saitb my soul." Oh that this may be the language of my heart ! I can never know true peace, till Jesus reign the unrivalled Sovereign of my aflfections. Blessed Saviour ! be thou my only Saviour. Let me not trust in any thing but thee. Let me love nothing but thee, or for thy sake. Ma}^ I love thee su- premely, and love all thy people, because the}^ belong to thee. To follow the Lord fidhj, I must follow him at all times ; not only when the sun shines, but vv^hen the tem- pest lowers. This often puts faith and love to the severest trial, w^hen the line of duty runs througli rugged paths and hostile foes. Yet, if I draw back in the day of trou- FOLLOWING THE LORD FULLY. 151 ble, I cannot follow tlic Lord fully. I mnst not choose my path, but "run with patience the race which is set kefore me." I must still keep ni the narroAV way, how- ever few there be who walk in it, or however unfashion- able this path may be, amongst the rich and learned of the earth ; ever remembering that the promise of eternal life is made to those only who are found in the King's highway of holiness. If, through fear of man, or love of ease, I deviate into bye-paths and crooked ways, to avoid the difficulties of the road, I shall assuredly find them multiply upon me, without one sustaining promise ; for, thus saith the Lord, "if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." To follow the Lord fully, I must confess him with courage and constancy before an unbelieving Avorld. A cowardly believer dishonors his heavenly King, and be- trays the cause of truth. I say a cowardly believer ; for such was Peter when left to himself. Caleb was " val- iant for the truth." He believed in God, and dared to confess his faith and allegiance in the face of the whole congregation, when " they bade stone him with stones," like another Stephen. Thus he experienced the bless- edness of this divine declaration : " Them that honor me, I will honor." But, through the deceitfulness of sin, I am in danger of falling into two extremes — vain-glory, and the fear of man. Our beloved Redeemer, however, has given me an exact direction how^ to avoid both these evils. *' Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to he seen of them : otherwise ye have no reward of your Fa- ther which is in heaven." "Let your light so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glo- rify your Father which is in heaven." By observing the first precept, I shall avoid vain-glory, which is the evil forbidden ; by observing the second, I shall main- 152 FOLLOWING THE LORD FULLY. tain a holy courage in exhibiting the power of godliness to the glory of God, which is the duty enjoined To follow the Lord fully, I must cleave to him in sea- sons of general defection. Here Caleb proved that he was a man of another spirit from those around him, by cleaving steadfastly to God. Thus did the apostles, when, on many forsaking Jesus, he said to them, " And will ye also go away?" Peter replied, "Lord, to whom shall we go'? thou hast the words of eternal life." This entire surrender of the heart to God, is the work of the Spirit; for "a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." Nothing short of this will bring us to glory. Nothing short of this can give true assurance, peace, and joy. I can never taste the real comforts of religion, till I follow the Lord fully. It is the want of this undivided state of heart, which causes so much unsteadiness in the walk, and so much uncomfortableness in the experience of many professors ; w^ho, separating what God hath joined together, main- tain with warmth the high doctrines of grace, whilst they esteem of small importance the social and relative duties of the Gospel. Such persons seem to forget, that "to be really holy, is to be relatively holy;" and that no truth can do us any personal good, but as it influences and pmifies our heart and life. What can we think of those professors, who, whilst they appear saints abroad, are fiends at home 1 Can it be a matter of surprise, that they should feel no real satisfaction either in religion or in the world ? Thej^ profess so much religion, as to ren- der them the objects of the world's derision ; and yet, they possess too little of its power to enable them to taste the sweets of genuine piety. Hence, they grow morose in their temper, and uncharitable in their spirit. They are quick-sighted in discovering the mote in a brother's eye, whilst utter strangers to the l>eam in their FOLLOWING THE LORD FULLY. 153 own. They are spots and blemishes in the visible cnurcli, and verify the declaration of the propb.et : "there is ao peace, saith my God, to the wicked." But how great is the happiness of the true follower of Jesus ! His sins are blotied out. His soul is beauti- fied with salvation. He has no double aims. All his intentions are simple and single ; his one desire is to promote the glory of his God and Saviour. His heart is the abode of peace. His house the dwelling-place of joy and gladness. He has his conflicts, and he has his comforts. He has his sorrow, and he has his sup- port. God is his Father. Angels minister to him, and all things work together for his good. He may be hated of men, but he is beloved of God. He may have to pass through deep waters, but underneath are the everlasting anus. He may often groan, being burdened; but in heaven all his tears shall be wiped away. He shall there follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. He shall there experience the eternal blessedness of that glorious promise : " He that overcometh, shall inherit all things : I will be his God, and he shall be my son." Oh bless'd Redeemer, fill my soul With love and grace divine ; Subdue the pow'r of ev'ry sin, And make me wholly thine. In thee, oh Christ, may I be found From ev'ry blemish free ; Though vile and worthless in myself, Yet all complete in thee. Oh, send thy Holy Spirit, Lord, In larger portions down, Tc -Rdtness with my waiting heart, And seal me for thine owiu May holiness my life adorn ; May all my soul be love ; May ev'ry wish be form'd by thee, And placed on things above 154 TWO INSTRUMENTS IN CONVERSION. Thus will a holy evidence Confirm that I am thine ; And faith, by works made manifest, Shall prove the work divine. XXVII. — ON THE TWO GREAT INSTRUMENTS IN THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS. The written word of God is one of the sacred instru- ments in the hands of the eternal Spirit for the regene- ration of sinners. " The law of the Lord is perfect, converting; the soul." CD The preaching of the Gospel is another instituted mean for awakening dead souls, and leading them to Jesus Christ, through the accompanying power of the Holy Ghost ; for " faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." All men, without exception, are by nature dead in trespasses and sins. Multitudes, however, are quickened to a life of faith and holiness. But, how are they quickened ] hoio are they born again 1 As God is pleased to work by means, what instruments does he employ in this great work of bring- ing dead souls to spiritual life and vigor] Our blessed Lord himself hath told us, Avhen he said, " The hour is coming, and noic is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live." This voice is heard, when the Gospel is preached ; and won- derful is the effect produced by it. That our Lord meant dead souls, is evident from his mentioning another hour, when all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and come forth to judgment. Those preachers of the Gos- pel must therefore be very defective in their views, who TWO INSTRUMENTS IN CONVERSION. 155 xviii not exhort sinr.eis, under tlie idea of its being use- less to speak to the dead ; making no difference between those who are naturally and those who are spiritually dead. The hour is indeed coming, when the former shall be aroused from their slumber by the voice of the archangel and the trump of God : but the hour now is, when the latter are awakened, through grace, by the sweet sound of the trumpet of the Gospel of peace. When Ezekiel was commanded to prophesy in the valley of dry bones, and was asked, "Son of man, caii these bones Iwe?^'' he modestly replied, "Oh Lord God, thou knowest." Without reasoning upon the subject, or objecting to the work of prophesying to dr}- bones, he implicitly obeyed the divine command ; and immediately/ there was a shaking, and the bones came together, and the sinews and flesh came upon them. Then he was again commanded to prophesy unto the wind, and the breath came into them, and they lived. So when the apostles went forth at the command of Jesus, to preach the Word of life to thousands "dead in trespasses and sins," an agitation was felt wherever they came ; and multitudes were turned unto the Lord, through the power of the Holy Ghost. St. Paul writes thus to the Ephesian church : " In whom ye also trusted, after tliat ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation ;" also to the Thes- salonians, " Our Gospel came not unto you in word only,^^ (like Ezekiel's jirst prophesying,) " but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." A quickening influence accompanied the word ; and souls, before dead in sins, were quickened and saved by almighty grace. "For this cause," saith tlie apostle, "thank we God w^ithout ceasing, because when ye re- ceived the word of God, which ye lieard of us, ye received 156 TWO INSTRUMENTS IN CONVERSION. it not as the word of man, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that be- lieve." St. James, in like manner, plainly declares, " of his own will he begat us, with the word of truth." St. Peter, again, fully confirms this doctrine: "Being born not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." "The word of the Lord endure th for ever ; and this is the word, which by the Gospel is preached unto you.'' Surely, then, may the Messenger of peace say to a ruined world, "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." His duty is to preach the word. The promise of God is, "it shall not return unto me void." Our blessed Lord, in his beautiful parable of the sower, compares the word of God to seed sown on vari- ous grounds. There is the hard-beaten pathway, which cannot receive the seed : it lies on the surface, and is devoured hy the fowls of the air. There is tlie rocky ground, lightly cov- ered with earth, which admits indeed the seed; but, affording from its shallowness no moisture, in seasons of heat and drought the plant withers away. There is the thorny ground, so covered with weeds and brambles, that the seed, if it spring up at all, can bring no fruit to perfection. There is the good ground, which being ploughed and broken up, is brought into a proper state to admit the scattered grain from the sower's hand, and plentifully rewards his toil. Wherever the Gospel is faithfully preached, there the good seed of the word is sown. The soil is the human heart. Careless hearers receive no good whatever from the most faithful preaching of the Gospel. Mere animal excitements are of short duration, whilst the stony heart TWO INSTRUMENTS IN CONVERSION. 167 remains unchanged. Woildly riches, cares, and plea- sures check the growth of tlie Gospel in the soul. One soil, and only one, is good ; that is, a heart pre- pared by divine grace ; a heart deeply impressed with the command of God; "break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns, lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it ;" a heart groan- ing under the burden of conscious guilt, and crying out, *'what must I do to be saved 1" Such a heart, like soil that has been ploughed and broken up, is prepared to receive the precious seed of Gospel grace; those glad tidings of great joy which pro- claim pardon and peace through a crucified Redeemer. According to the strength of faith, is the produce which this blessed soul yieldeth, in some thirty, in some sixty, in some a hundred fold. Fruit is invariably produced by such a soil in a greater or less degree ; it is "the ground Avhich the Lord hath blessed." Happy is he who aboundeth in the fruits of righteousness, for Jesus bath declared, " herein is my father glorified, that ye bear much fruit ; so shall ye be my disciples." Now, if the word of God, or the great truths drawn from that w^ord, be the instrument of our regeneration ; if a moral change be thus eflfected by moral means ; how invaluable are the two great blessings which a God of mercy has bestowed upon mankind, viz. "the Scriptures of the prophets," and "the preaching of Jesus Christ." St. Paul knew their value w4ien he wrote, " Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my Gospel and the prf aching of Jesus Christ, according to the reve- lation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the wcild began, but now is made manifest, and by the Scrips tures of the prophets, according to the commandment of ho. everlasting God, made known to all nations for the If 158 TWO INSTRUMENTS IN CONVERSION. obedience of faith : to God the only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen." Romans xvi, 25-27. Thus the wisdom, as well as the grace of God, is manifested in appointing the Holy Scriptures and a preached Gospel, as the two grand instruments in the hands of the eternal Spirit, for the bringing of all nations to the obedience of faith. If such be the great authority, and such the sure foun- dation, on which Bible and Missionary societies are established, what must we think of those who, profess ing to be guardians of the truth, labor to paralyze the exertions, or suppress the endeavors, of the zealous servants of Christ, whose only aim is to extend the knowledge of salvation among the perishing mill'ons of mankind, by those very means which infinite love has ordained for our present and future happiness? From want of due consideration, some persons confound the regeneration of the soul Vv'ith the rite of baptism, and suppose that every person baptized is invariably born again, during the celebration of that sacred ordinance. A man cannot be born twice in a spiritual, any more than in a natural sense. If an infant be truly regene- rated in baptism, (and who dare limit the Holy One of Israel 1) he will, no doubt, manifest the change by cor responding fruits, at least in childhood, before the influ- ence of bad example has unhappily corrupted his re- newed nature. But does not the painful experience of almost every family testify, that infants in general un- fold the powers of their souls, without manifesting one genuine fruit of the Holy Spirit 1 Lies, dissimulation^ and perverseness in childhood — frivolity and licentious ness'in youth — ambition and love of the world, in man- hood — covetousness and peevishness, in old age : awfully prove the soul to be dead in sin, and an heir of hell. TWO INSTRUMENTS IN CONVERSION. 159 Should the Ahiiiglity transform ix child after the holy image of its Saviour, ivhen presented to him in baptism, this would only evidence the sovereign mercy and grace of a compassionate God, but does not disprove the for- mer statement of facts. Man, under the Christian, as under the Jev/ish economy, is not necessarily and inva- riably changed by the outward rite either of baptism or circumcision : for St. Paul expressly declares, " He is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circum- cision whicli is outward in the flesh : but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God." Thousands, however, are turned from darkness unto light, through the grace of God, accompanying the faithful preaching of the Gospel. Those who have been baptized, and have grown up in the visible Church in the commission of every crime, have been converted from the error of their way, aiid made the humble, holy followers of Jesus, through the word of his grace. The change produced by the Spirit, when thus bring- ing the truth to the heart, is radical and universal. Tbey become, in every sense, new creatures. They are quite difTcrcnt from what they were before. Surely, then, all nuist confess, that the Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, when wielded by the Almighty Spirit, through the instrumen- tality of men appointed to preach to a world of sinners the unsearchable riches of Christ. So invaluable to fallen man is the Gospel of salvation, that the apostle exhorted the Thessalonians to pray for himself and his fellow-laborers, " that the word of the Lord might have free course, and be glorified." There is something peculiarly impressive in the object of the petition — "have free course." When the Gospel was 160 TWO INSTRUMENTS IN CONVERSION. first preached, it met with continual opposition. Yet, like some mighty river, checked in its progress by op- posing rocks, it forced its way, and fertilized all the regions through which it bent its course. Tlie Gospel still flows onwards, and shall continue to flow, till the earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. This prayer is always needful, because the enmity of the human heart is in every age the same. In the first family, we find a Cain opposing the work of faith and love. The same spirit continues to mani- fest itself, wherever the worship of the true God is es- tablished. The Israelites misused their prophets who spoke to them the word of the Lord, " stoning some and killing some." The pagan powers, as well as the Jewish rulers, set themselves against the Lord and against his anointed. The holy apostles of our Lord were called to perpetual sntferings, whilst they spread abroad, through a preached Gospel, a Saviour's dying love. Papal Rome has long carried on the work of slaugh- ter amongst the sheep of Christ, checking, by fire, tor- tures, and anathemas, the progress of genuine Chris- tianity, lest the pure, unadulterated word of God should have free course and be glorified. No wonder, then, that the thunders of the Vatican are heard to roar against the most blessed of all human institutions, the British and Foreign Bible Society. But the Gospel has other enemies, who labor to check its progress. Infidelity directs the shafts of ridicule against its holy mysteries. Socinianism, under the specious name of rational Christianity, seeks to rob the Gospel of its brightest jewel, " God manifest in the flesh." Indif ference, worldly-m.indedness, formality, and hypocrisy. TWO INSTRUMENTS IN CONVERSION 161 whilst they render the mere nominal professors of Chris- tianity barren as the sand, tend more to check the spread of the truth, than all the united attacks of its most hostile foes. There is, however, a goodly company of faithful Christians w4io delight in the Gospel of Christ, and whose lives are devoted to advance its progress through- out the earth. These are the happy servants of the Lord, wMro pray in secret, and are willing to spend and be spent, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. They meet with a double hindrance ; the one outward, from the enmity of the world ; the other inward, from the sin which dwelleth in them. Yet they are enabled, through grace, to press forward, and to help forward the work of the Lord. Oh that my station may ever be amongst this blessed flock ! Lord, make me one of the humble laborers in thy vineyard. Give me a heart to receive the truth in the love of it, and to feel its power. Teach me to pray with holy fervor, " Thy kingdom come ;" and to rejoice in every open- ing prospect of that blessed period, when the earth shall be filled with thy glory. Even now, the morning streaks begin to appear on the distant mountains : even now, the Sun of righteousness is arising with healing in his oeams. Oh what glorious times are dawning On a dark and ruin'd world ! 'Tis the long-expected morning; Satan from his seat is hurl'd. Hallelujah — Amen. Hark ! the jubilee horn is sounding, Gladsome notes are echo'd round ; Ev'ry heart, with joy rebounding. Hails the Gospel's welcome sound. Hallelujah — Amen 14* 162 TWO SOURCES. As the light is still advancing, Backward shrinks the helUsh foe ; Faith, through future ages glancing, Views another Eden glow. Halleluj ah — Amen. Idols now — the spell discover'd — Dash'd as potters' vessels, fall ; Slaves, from Pagan chains recover'd, Own Messiah Lord of all. Hallelujah — Amen. Hasten, Lord, the joyful season; Claim the heathen as thy own ; Break the pride of human reason ; Reign as Sovereign Lord alone. Hallelujah — Amen. XXVIII. THE TWO SOURCES. Whilst men of philosophic minds are busily employed in tracing effects to their causes, and others, of a more adventurous spirit, in traversing unknown regions, to trace some mighty river to its source ; how few, consid- ering the magnitude of the object, are employed in dis- covering the two most important of all sources: — the source of misery, and the source of mercy. This discovery, so essential to our happiness, and, without an experimental knowledge of which, we must for ever remain in a state of spiritual death, is but little regarded b)^ the great bulk of mankind. Human wisdom and philosophy have been laboring for ages to find out the origin of moral evil, and a reme- dy against it ; but they have failed in the attempt. The world, by wisdom, knows not God, for darkness hath covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. We need only to pursue the fabled absurdities of hea- then mythology ; to witness the self-inflicted torturer ot TWO SOURCES. 163 the Hindoo devotee ; to behold the superstitions penances imposed by the Church of Rome; yea, all the errors and evils which have abounded among Christians, Jews, Mahomedans, and Pagans, in every age ; to be con- vinced that man can never, by any effort of his unas- sisted reason, discover the true source either of misery or of mercy. The Bible alone reveals them both. There 1 learn that the sin of Adam is the source of human misery. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin." " In Adam all die." From this fountain issue ten thousand poisonous streams, which embitter life, fill the world with wretchedness, and carry unnu'.nbered millions on their boisterous waves, till they are plunged into endless perdition. There I learn, that God in Christ is the only source of mercy. "God, in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." " Beside me," saith Jehovah, " thei'e is no Saviour." " There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." " Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, w^hich is Jesus Christ." All good, in time and in eternit)^, flows from him who is goodness itself. When man had destroyed himself, and was justly reaping the fruit of his doings, it pleased Almighty God, of his own free mercy and grace, to re- veal the wondrous plan of salvation, by declaring, "that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head." This declaration of grace was unasked for and unex- ])ected ; and therefore proves to us fallen creatures, that God is the only source of mercy ; that God is love ; for he so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. As God is the source of mercy, so the channel through which this grace descends, is all of mercy. Jesus Christ, 164 TWO SOURCES. the eternal Son of God, gave krmself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. B}^ this stupendous sacrifice, divine Justice is satisfied, the holy law is magnified, the holiness of Jehovah is unsullied, and eternal truth remains inviolate ; yea, by this amazing sacrifice all the divine perfections receive additional lustre in the eyes of saints and angels. The whole volume of inspiration is occupied with tracing the various streams which flow from these sources of misery and of mercy, in opening the nature and ef- fects of sin, and in revealing the nature and operations of infinite love. To understand these aright, through tlie teaching of the Spirit, is to understand the Scriptures. To have an inward practical knowledge of them in the heart, is to be made wise unto salvation. The excellent Archbishop Leighton thus beautifully describes this stream of mercy, flowing from the Foun- tain of eternal love : " The spring of these waters of salvation, hid in the councils of God before time began, was opened immediately after the fall, and began to flow in a small but reviving brook. Increasing by degrees, and, from the very beginning, making every place it passed through fertile and pleasant, it soon became a large stream. At length the main current of the Gos- pel flowed in, and now it rolls on full of water, greatl}^ enriching the earth, a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal ; the streams whereof make glad the city of God, and shall do so, till this river empties itself into the ocean of eternity." It is truly interesting to trace the windings of this sacred stream, sometimes blessing one country and some- times another, according to the purpose and grace of Him who directs its course with wise and unerring skill. What cause for gratitude, that this river of the water TWO SOURCES. 165 of life flows in every direction tlirongh this highly fa- vored island. But oh ! how delightful to taste its sweet- ness, and to feel, through faith, its purifying and refresh- ing virtues. Blessed Lord ! he pleased to open my understanding, that I may understand the Scriptures. Give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that I may know my- self as a helpless sinner, and thee as my only Saviour. Let me never cavil at the deep mysteries of thy holy word ; but make me as a little child, humble, teacha- ble, and submissive to thy righteous will. May the knowledge of my ruined state, through original and actual transgression, fill me with shame and self-abhor- rence. May the knowledge of thy sovereign grace and pinpose-3 of mercy, through a crucified Redeemer, fill me with gratitude and adoring praise. Make me more and more acquainted Avith the deceitfulness of sin, that 1 may watch against its subtle workings; and make me more and more acquainted with thee, my Almighty Saviour, that I may daily rejoice in thy salvation, be exalted in thy righteousness, and live to thy glory. Oh tliat I felt my soul upborne On pure devotion's wings ; Far above earth's deceitful joys And sublunary things ! Where thou, bless'd Saviour, sit'st enthroned In everlasting light ; The glory of th' angelic host, The source of their delight. There, in thy bhssful presence, reigns Immortal joy serene ; No wintry storms are heard to roar. Nor desolation seen. Around thee flow unmix'd delights, Like rivers deep and wide ; While, from the ocean of thy love, Proceeds an endless tide. 166 TWO PILLARS. Can such a sinful creature, Lord, Partake this wondrous grace, To dwell with thee in heav'nly bliss, And view thy glorious face ? Ah ! then, let sin and earth usurp My wayward heart no more ; Be thou, through life, my all in all. My soul's unbounded store. XXIX. THE TWO PILLARS. *' The religion of a sinner," as good Mr. Newton usea to say, "stands upon two pillars : what Christ has done for us in the flesh ; and what he does in us by his Spirit." Christ dying for us, and Christ living in us, is the very ground and pillar of the truth. Come, Oh my soul ! retire from a busy, thoughtless world ; collect thy scattered powers ; explore the sacred volume, and examine with delight these glorious pillars, which support the fabric of thy hopes, and point to realms on high. Consider what Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, hath done /or thee, when he became incarnate. And may the review of this stupendous mercy kindle such a flame of love, as never, never will expire ! The mighty God graciously made himself of no re- putation, but took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And, being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obe- dient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil. ii, 7, 8.) And why did the ever-blessed Jesus thus hum- ble himself? Oh! mystery of love! It was to save his people from their sins. (Matt, i, 21.) It \vas that he, who knew no sin, might be made sin for us, that we TWO PILLARS. 167 might be made the righteousness of God in him ; (2 Cor. V, 21.) It was to finish the transgression ; to make an end of sins ; to make rcconcihation for iniquity ; and to bring in everlasting righteousness ; (Dan. ix, 24.) Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; (1 Cor. XV, 3.) He hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, tliat he might bring us to God; (1 Peter ill, 18.) He bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, shoukl hve unto righteous- ness : by whose stripes Ave are healed; (1 Peter ii, 24.) He was once offered to bear the sins of many ; (Heb. ix, 28.) He is the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world; (John i, 29.) Jesus, the beloved of the Father, was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil ; (1 John iii, 8 ;) that we might live through him; (1 John iv, 9;) that he might be the propitiation for our sins; (1 John iv, 10 ;) that he might be the Saviour of the world ; (1 John iv, 14.) He gave himself for us, that he might deliver us from this present evil world; (Gal. i, 4;) from the wrath to come; (1 Thess. i, 10;) and that, through death, he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil ; (Heb. ii, 14.) These are some of the glorious things w^iich Jesus hath done for us in the flesh ; and, that none may de- spair of salvation on account of their multiplied trans- gressions, it is further declared in the everlasting Gospel, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners ; (I Tim. i, 15;) that he came to seek and to save that which was lost; (Luke xix, 10;) that he died for the ungodly ; (Rom. v, 6 ;) that whilst w^e were 5^et sinners, Christ died for us ; (Rom. v, 8 ;) that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin; (1 John i, 7;) by which precious blood w^e arc redeemed; (1 Peter i, 19;) and justified; (Rom. v, 9;) and by which we, who were 168 TWO PILLARS. sometimes far off, are made nigh ; (Eplies. ii, 13 ;) and obtain the forgiveness of sins; (Ephes. i, 7.) Jesus is further declared in Scripture to be our peace, (Ephes. ii, 14;) our wisdom, righteousness, sanctifica- tion, and redemption, (1 Cor. i, 30;) the one Mediator between God and man, (1 Tim. ii, 5 ;) our Advocate witli the Father, (1 Jolin ii, 1 ;) our compassionate High priest, (Heb. iv, 15 ;) our all-prevailing intercessor, (Heb. vii, 25;) who gave himself a ransom for all, (1 Tim. ii, 6 ;) and who tasted death for every man, (Heb. ii, 9.) Therefore, says the apostle, Christ our passover was sacrificed for us; (Cor. v, 7.) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us ; (Gal, iii, 13.) And the Lord himself declared, that he came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil ; (Matt, v, 17.) Oh ! the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! How unsearchable is his wisdom, who can be just, and yet the justifier of him who be- lieveth in Jesus ; (Rom. iii, 26.) A door of hope is now opened to perishing sinners ; for, through Jesus, we have access by one Spirit unto the Father; (Ephes. ii, 18.) He is the only Saviour ; (Acts iv, 12 ;) the only founda- tion ; (1 Cor. iii, 11 ;) the only way — for no man cometh unto the Father but by him ; (John xiv, 6.) This is the record, that God hath given unto us eter- nal life, and this life is in his Sou ; (1 John v, 11, 12.) To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remis- sion of sins ; (Acts x, 43.) For him hath God, with his right hand, exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance unto Israel and forgiveness of sins ; (Acts V, 31.) And through him is preached the for- giveness of sins ; and by him all that believe are justi- TWO I'lLLARS. 109 fied from all things, from which they could not be jus tified by the law of Moses; (Acts xiii, 38, 39.) Much, very much more is revealed in the Scriptures of truth, concerning the freeness, fulness, and all-suffi cicncy of this great salvation wrought out for us by the blood of Jesus, when he took upon him our nature, and ptood in the place of sinners. But ah ! my soul, enough is here written to raise thy warmest notes of grateful adoratipn. May every sue ceeding meditation on the love of thy Redeemer, drawn from the sacred fountain of revealed truth, add fresh fervor to thy praise, and constrain ihee to live more to his glory, who loved thee and gave himself for thee. Blessed Saviour ! increase my faith, whilst I consider what thou art now^ doing in tiic liearts of thy people, through the influence and agency of the Holy Spirit. Man, through the fall, was not only excluded from (lie kingdom of heaven, but was very far gone, gone as far as possible, from" original righteousness. The image of God forsook him, and the image of the evil one was stamped upon him. He became a guilty and polluted creature, unable either to satisfy offended justice, or to peiform one single act of acceptable obedience. By the fall, he lost all title to the heaveul}^ inheritance, and all meetness for the mansions of celestial glory; and thus became an outcast — an heir of misery and death. To deliver fallen man from this state of condemnation, God sent his only begotten Son into the world, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Gal- iv, 6.) And in order to prepare and make us meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, God sends the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, enabling us to cry Abba, Fa- ther. (Ga , iv, 6.) 15 170 TWO PILLARS. At the creation, God said, "Let there be light, and there was light." So in the new creation, he shines into our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of hi3 glory, in the face of Jesus Christ. The first work of the Holy Spirit is to enlighten the eyes of our understanding, (Ephes. i, 18,) to convince us of sin, (John xvi, 8,) to show us the spirituality of the laAV, (Rom. vii, 9,) and the purity of the divine nature, (1 Peter i, 16;) to bring us into an intimate ac(iuaintance of our own hearts, that, by this knowledge of our own corruption (Jer. xvii, 9) and helplessness, (2 Cor. iii, 5,) we may be deeply humbled, (Job xlii, 6,) and led to seek for deliverance from these evils by the aid of some power greater than our own. (Isa. xji, 10.) Being thus emptied of all self-righteous notions and pioud conceptions of our own strength, and groaning under the guilt of sin, througii a spiritual application of the divine law to our consciences, we are prepared for the joyful reception of the Gospel, Avhere pardon is freely offered to every coming sinner, and grace, mercy, and peace extended to the weary and heavy-laden soul. Thus the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. (John xvi, 13.) He testifies of Christ. (John xvi, 14.) He gives us an inward witness of Ins power and mercy, in the conversion of our souls. (Rom. viii, 16.) He makes us the trophies of his victory over sin and death, and, finally, the precious jewels in the Redeemer's crown. The Spirit carries on the great work of salvation, which Jesus began in the days of his flesh, when he gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zeal- ous of good works ; by renewing us in the spirit of oui mind, (Ephes. iv, 23 ;) by making us new creatures, (2 Cor. V, 17 ;) by sanctifying us wholly in body, soul, (ind spirit, (1 Thess. v, 23 ;) by consecrating us as tem- TWO PILLARS, 171 pies of the Lord Almighty, (2 Cor. vi, 16,) and filling us with those fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God. (Phil, i, 11.) Being, through the operation of the Spirit, united by faith to Jesus Christ, as branches to the vine, (John xv, 5,) and members to the head, (Eph. iv, 16,) we receive put of his fulness grace for grace. (John i, 16.) We can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth us, (Phil, iv, 13,) and are made more than conquerors, through him that hath loved us, and given himself for us. (Rom. viii, 37.) We are enabled to crucify the flesh, (Gal. v, 34,) to resist the devil, (James iv, 7,) to renounce the world, (Mark x, 28,) \o mortify the corrupt affections, (Col. iii,* 5,) to walk in newness of life, (Rom. vi, 4,) and to glo- rify God with our bodies and our spirits, which are his ; knowing that we are not our own, being bought w4th a price, (1 Cor. vi, 20,) even with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; (1 Peter i, 19.) Thus the love of Christ constrains us to obedience. (2 Cor. V, 14.) The long-suffering of God leadeth us to repentance. (2 Peter iii, 15.) And by all the tender mercies of God, we are sweetly influenced through the Spirit of grace, to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. (Rom. xii, 1.) This part of that glorious work of redemption, which Christ performs in us by his Spirit, is so essential, that, without it, all our views of Gospel truths, however orthodox, and all our trust in his atonement, however consoling, are mere delusions; for "whom lie iustifieth, them he also glorifieth." (Rom. viii, 30.) Sanctification is as essential to our enjoyment of heaven, as justification is to our admittance into it. 172 TWO PILLARS. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Heb. xi, 6.) Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. (H«b. xii, 14.) Happy, then, is the man whose hopes of heaven rest upon these two adamantine pillars ; without either of which, the fabric cannot stand. Blessed Jesus ! may my iiope be fixed wholly upon thee. Be thou my rock, my only confidence, my soul's unbounded trust. Whilst simply resting on thy great atonement, may I daily feel this inward work of grace, that so thy living care may perfect what thy dying love began. Great God of mercy, hail ! t To thee I Uft my voice ; Thy comforts never fail The faithful to rejoice. What matchless wonders shine In rich, redeeming love ; Where attributes divine In sweetest concord move. Stern Justice smiles content, And lays his thunders by, Since Jesus underwent The death of Calvary. The trembling sinner now Can boldly plead with God; And mercy can bestow The pardon bought with blood. Thy truth, which never fails, A bless'd assurance gives ; For Christ the Lord prevails, And high in glory lives. He lives, to intercede ; To send the Spirit down To help his people's need, And all his mercies crown. TWO WAYS. 173 What depth of sovereign love, What breadth, before me lies! Its height is heaven above, Its length exceeds the skies. An ocean deep and wide, W'here angel minds are lost: An ever-swelling tide. Refreshing ev'ry coast. How rich the prospect glows Beyond tliis vale of tears; Where crystal water flows, And verdure crowns the years. Oh blessed Spirit! come. Conduct me, by thy grace. To that eternal home Where I shall see thy face. Ye happy saints, rejoice. Who feel the Spirit's pow'r; Lift up your grateful voice. And wait the joyful horn*. 'Twill soon arrive, with smiles, AVith healing on its wing ; To bear us far from toils, To Christ our heav'nly king. XXX. ON THE TWO WAYS. "Unto this people thou shalt say, thus saith the Lord: behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death." (Jer. xxi, 8.) These important words were spoken to the Jews, when the king of Babylon was draw- ing near to besiege the city of Jerusalem. Those who fell to the Chaldeans should find the way of life ; whilst those who remained n: the city should be in the way of death. 15^ 174 TWO WAYS. But these expressive waids may be addressed to all, ill every age ; and more especially to those who live in Gospel times. The commission given by our Lord to his apostles, just before his ascension into heaven, speaks the same lan- guage : " Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gos- pel to every creature ; he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved ; and he that believeth not, shall be damned." Thus, faith in Jesus is the way of life ; rejection of him is the way of death. The Gospel, therefore, sets before us life and death. Hence, St. John says, " he that hath the Son, hath life ; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life." In conformity with which truth, John the Baptist declared, when bearing witness to the divinity and Mes- siahship of Jesus : " he that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life ; and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the w^rath of God abideth on him." Our Lord declares also respecting himself, in terms too plain to be misunderstood, " I am the way, the truth, and the life ; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." All, then, who receive the Lord Jesus Christ, by a true and living faith, are in the way of life. They draw nigh to God by that new and living Ava}^ which he has consecrated for us ; and, persevering in this way, shall reach the heavenly Zion, and have right to enter by the gates into the city. This way of life our blessed Lord represents as diffi- cult to fallen nature. "Strait is the gate, and narrow^ is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." This difficulty arises not from the road itself, but from the nature of those who walk in it, Tbe first entrance is truly difficult to the awakened sinner, owing to the abounding evils of his heart, all TWO WAYS. 175 rising up against the slrait, self-denying, flesh-crucify- iijg gate by which he must enter. Grace, however, enables him to overcome these workings of corruption, ami to pass, by deep repentance and humble faitli, through the strait gate. This is a blessed step towards eternal felicity. But when in the way of life, he finds it narrow; for his desires, being sadly mixed with evil, too often wan- der after those gratifications which lie beyond the limits of the way in which he is to walk. This grieves the Holy Spirit, wounds his conscience, and occasions that warfare with his corrupt inclinations which constitutes no small part of the fight of faith. He labors to keep his heart within the boundary of the narrow way, and to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. But still, when he would do good, evil is pre- sent with him. The law in his members wars against the law of his mind, and compels him to cry out, ." Oh ! wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me 1" Yet, this painful consciousness of evil is mercifully overruled for good, by driving him continually to the strong for strength, — to the Saviour for salvation. By experience, he learns that his suflSciency is of God ; that under all exigencies, the grace of Jesus is sufficient for him ; that when he is weak, then he is strong. Tiie Christian has to journey to tlie heavenly Canaan, through the wilderness of this world ; therefore, like the Israelites of old, his soul is sometimes discouraged be- cause of the way. The world frowns — Satan assaults — providences darken — corruptions harass. All these things produce, for a season, much discouragement. Like Peter, he looks at the raging waves, instead of the omnipotent Saviour ; and then he begins to sink into despondency, and would be overwhelmed in the deeps of mental affliction, did not the compassionate Jesus 176 TWO WAYS. stretch out the hand of mercy, and uphold Mm by his mighty power. He now learns the evil of unbelief and mistrust of a Saviour's love. He is much in prayer for the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit, by whose sacred influence and direction he is enabled to look unto Jesus undei every trial, and to walk before him in love and childlike obedience. Thus, to every humble pilgrim, strength is imparted ; realizing views of the faithfulness of Emanuel are vouchsafed ; and he is made to rise superior to every discouragement, and to walk, with increasing alacrity and joy, along the narrow way which leadeth unto life eternal. How awful is the condition of those who, entering by the wide gate into the broad way, " enlarge their desires as hell ;" till, having filled up the measure of their ini- quity, they come, as vessels fitted for destruction by their own wilful transgressions, into the place of everlasting torment. What a painful consideration, that, respecting the narrow w^a}^, "few there be that find it ;" whilst of the wide gate, our Lord hath said, " many there be which go in thereat." I am a dying creature, walking on the verge of an awful eternity. Heaven and hell lie before me ; to one of these places 1 am, at the close of every day, advanced a day's journey. This day may bring me to my eternal abode of happiness or misery. The sleep which I take this night may be the sleep of death — and should it be so — where would my spirit, dislodged from earth, find itself? Oh! my soul, ask thyself, with all the solem- nity which becomes so awful a question, whither am I going? Soon I must be called into the presence of my Judge ; but, what reception shall I meet with there 1 TWO WAYS. 177 What aAvard does conscience now make 1 Have I be- lieved with the heart unto righteousness 1 Is the life which I noio live, a life of faith in the Son of God? I find, from the word of God, that two roads lie through the wilderness of this world. The one, at its beginning, is pleasant to carnal nature, being strewed with forbid- den pleasures, sensual delights, and animal gratifica- tions ; but, growing darker, and more crooked and thorny as it advances, it ends abruptly in eternal misery. The other, difficult at the entrance, requires many sacrifices, and much self-denial ; but, gradually increasing in light and beauty, it terminates in the blissful regions of immortal glory. In which of these roads am I now Avalking ? Oh my beloved Saviour ! thou knowest my heart ; thou art acquainted with every thought, affection, and desire that riseth within me. Thou know^est that I would follow thee along the narrow way. Lead me in the paths of righteousness — draw me, and I will run dfter thee. Thou art thyself the ivay to heavenly glory. When I find a cross laid before me, suffer me not to turn aside, but give me strength to take it up and follow after thee. When the travellers in the broad road, with specious arguments and smiling faces, though with aching hearts, would labor to entice me from the path of life, let me liot be deceived by their sophistry, or ensnared by their wiles. When the clouds of adversity darken my prospects, and the night of sorrow obscures my way, then. Oh ! blessed Jesus, support my fainting steps, cheer my droop- ing soul with thy celestial promises, and give me strength and courage equal to my day. When Satan tempts and harasses my soul ; when in- V>red evils rise within me nnd rebel : then, gracious Sa- 178 TWO WAYS. viour, put forth thy mighty arm in my defence, lest I fall, through manifold temptations, from the heavenly road. Thou alone art my strength. In thee I am strong. Increase my faith, that I may he daily united more closely to thyself. Wean me from the vanities of the world. Screen me from the enticements of sin. Guard me from the fiery darts of Satan. Thus may I walk, Oh ! blessed Emanuel, in close communion with thee, in the consolations of thy Spirit, in the enjoyment of thy love, in peace of conscience, and serenity of mind, till I arrive at the gates of death, where some appointed herald of glory may be stationed to conduct my disembodied spirit into thy blissful pre- sence, there to dwell with thee, and gaze on thy glories with rapture and delight for ever ! Oh! could I feel the sweet transforming pow'r, The holy influence of my heav'nly Friend ; Then should I hail the last dissolving hour, When sin and sorrow would for ever end. A pilgrim journeying through a land of wo, I daily need the Shepherd's guardian care ; 'Tis he alone my ev'ry grief can know. 'Tis he alone can break the fatal snare. Bless'd Saviour, look in pity on my soul, Enfold me in thy arms of boundless love ; Permit a traveller on thy strength to roll That burden, which thou only canst remove. Oh give me faith, to reach the blissful place Where joyful hope shall to fruition grow ; Where Zion's pilgrims shall behold thy face, And ever dwell where living waters flow. MERCY REJOICING AGAINST JUDGMENT. 179 XXXI. MERCY REJOICING AGAINST JUDGMENT The promises of God, which in Christ are yea, and in him amen, shine with resplendent lustre in the p^.p^es of eternal truth. Notliing but unbelief can prevent the soul from enjoying the sweetness, or experiencing the purifying efficacy, of those exceeding great and precious promises of grace and mercy. The manner in which many of them are introduced by the prophets, must have filled the ancient believers with astonishment. When the prophet, in the name of Jehovah, had been declaring to his rebellious people their multiplied trans- gressions, we might naturally expect to find the cata- logue of their crimes closed by a denunciation of de- served vengeance and final abandonment. But, how great is our surprise, to behold mercy rejoicing against judgment ; to find, that where sin abounded, grace did much more abovmd. The following striking passages will fully verify this assertion. In the first chapter of Isaiah, the Jews are called " a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that are corrupters." The Almighty declares his aversion to " their solemn meet- ing ;" that when they spread forth tlieii hands, he would hide his face from them ; when they made many prayers, he w^ould not hear. And tlien, instead of threatened destruction, the prophet adds, "Wash you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil^^ learn to do well: seek judg- ment, relieve the oppressed, judge tlie fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, eaith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they 180 MERCY REJOICING AGAINST JUDGMENT. shall be as white as snow; though they be red lil^e crim- son, they shall be as wool." In the thirtieth chapter, the sinfulness of the Jews is proclaimed, in forsaking the Lord, and trusting in the shadows of Egypt. The awful consequences of this de- parture are declared ; " One thousand shall fiee at the rebuke of one ; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee, till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill. And therefore" — mark the surpris ing termination — " and therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you ; and therefore w^ll he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you : for the Lord is a God of judgment, blessed are all they that wait for him." Thus we behold the lovely character of our God. Vengeance is his strange work, whilst mercy is his de- light. "As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked ; but that the wicked turn from his way and live." Again, in the thirty-second chapter, the prophet de- clares : "Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women ; upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briars; the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left ; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks." How long shall this desolation continue 1 Is the pros- pect of misery boundless 1 Ah, no ! for thus only shall it be, "until the Spirit be poured upon us from on higli, and the wilderness be a fruitful field ; and the fruitful field be counted for a forest: then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruit- ful field, and the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever." MERCY REJOICING AGAINST JUDGMENT. 181 Mercy promised, forbids despair. Long-sufTering lead- eth to repentance. How toiicliingly beautiful is the following display of judgment and mercy ! "Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the rob- bers? Did not the Lord, he against whom Ave have sinned 1 For they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger and the strength of battle ; and it hath set liim oji fnc round about, yet he knew it not ; and it jjurncd him, yet lie laid it not to heart. But now, tluis saiih the Lord that created thee, Oh Jacob, and he that formed thee. Oh Israel : Fear not, for I have redeemed thee ; I have called thee by thy name ; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fne, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah xlii and xliii.) The Almighty Creator, taking, as it were, a survey of his moral creatures, says of his chosen people, (Isaiah xliii.) "This people have I formed for myself ; they shall show forth my praise. But thou hast been weary of me, Oh Israel ! thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt olTcrings ; nether hast thou honored me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane v;ith money, neither hast thou filled me with tlie fat of thy sacrifices; but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins; thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.'^'' Surely now the deserved ven- geance will be pronounced. Oh my soul ! read with holy admiration these accents of mercy. " I, even I, am he that blotteth out thv transgressions 16 18% MERCY REJOICING AGAINST JUDGMENT. for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins ; put me in remembrance; let us plead together; declare thou, that thou mayest be justified." Must we not exclaim with David, " There is mercy with thee, that thou mayest be feared ?" Must we not acknowledge the force of St. John's de- claration, "We love him, because he first loved us ]" Must we not confess with St. Paul, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he hath saved us?" How precious are the Scrip- tures of truth ! They are full of the loving-kindness of the Lord, of the goodness of our God. The few specimens here given will serve to show the extraordinary manner in which the promises are often introduced. The prophet first declares the guilt of God's professing people, in order to humble their hearts, and convince them of sin. He then proclaims the divine mercy on their true faitli and repentance, as is strikingly shown in the first chapter of Isaiah. Well may we join the holy prophet, and say, " Sing, Oh ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it ; shout, ye lower parts of the earth ; break forth into singing, ye mountains, Oh forest, and every tree therein ; for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel." Surely mercy rejoices against judgment, whilst it ex- claims, in accents of redeeming love, " Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom." (Job xxxiii, 24.) " If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Fa- ther, Jesus Christ the righteous." — " If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." " Come, and let us return unto the Lord, for he hatli torn, and he will heal us ; he hath smitten, and lie will MERCY REJOICING AGAINST JUDGMENT. 183 bind lis up. Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains ; truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. Behold, we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God." " Bless the Lord, Oh my soul ! and all that is within me bless his holy name ; for he is a just God and a Sa- viour ; just, and yet the jiistilier of him that bclieveth in Jesus." "God is love." " Blessed is the man that trusteth in him." My soul, m grateful strains record The love of tliy redeeming Lord ; To all around his praises tell, Who snatch'd theo from the verge of hell. Why should Jehovah condescend To call himself the sinner's friend? Or why in terms so sweet proclaim His mercy in a Father's name? Blcss'd Saviour, in thy work I see Why God is merciful to me; How he a rebel can receive ; How he can all my sins forgive. 'Tis faith in thy atoning blood Averts of wrath the angry flood ; 'Tis (iiith in righteousness divine Makes all thy saving merits mine. Descend, bless'd Spirit, from above, In all the energy of love ; To me thy heav'nly gifts impart, And seal salvation to my heart. Then, in those sweet abodes of peace. Whore grateful accents never cease, A living monument of grace, I'll strive to sing thy loud cat praiac 184 INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL LIGHT. XXXir. ON INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL LIGHT. The whole world lieth in wickedness, in a state of spiritual dariiness. Out of this darkness, sinners are called by the Gospel ; and when, through grace, they arise and depart out of this valley of the shadow of death, they are admitted into the marvellous light of the everlasting covenant, and become the children of light and of the day. Thus they who were not a people become the people of God ; and they are called beloved, who were not be- loved. Those who were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ; and those who were strangers and for- -eigners, are made fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Thus grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Flence a most important and vital distinction must be made between mere intellectual light and the divine illumination of the Holy Spirit; a distinction which, like a powerful scythe, will cut down many a fair herb, many a beautiful flower, in the garden of nature. Natural light, improved by human instruction and study, is confined altogether to the head. Spiritual light, derived from above, enlightens the understanding, whilst it renews and purifies the heart. History furnishes us with many instances of men en- dowed wita all the riches of science, whose hearts were full of enmity against God ; though some happy excep- tions have, through grace, blessed and benefited the world. Intellectual light may soften the character, and im- prove the iTorals ; but experience testifies that nothing INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 185 but the power of the Holy Spirit can new-create the soul. God works by his word. Hence the Scriptural exhortation to sinners is, "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise /roHi the dead, and Christ shall give thee li^ht;" and when divine power accompanies the command, the dead soul arises to spiritual life and action. To believers, the command is, " Arise, shine ; for thy light is come ; the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee :" and then new vigor and energy is felt in these seasons of refreshing, when Jesus arises on his people with heal- ing in his wings. Spiritual light, thus descending from " the Sun of righteousness," is received through the medium of the Holy Scriptures, read with prayer : and through the in- strumentality of the Gospel, faithfully preached, and heard in a spirit of faith. But through whatever chan- nel it is received, it is always communicated by the Holy Ghost, and is known by its sanctifying effects on the mind, conscience, and heart. All who do not possess this spiritual light are in a state of darkness, however bright and luminous their intellectual light may be. How frequently do we find men of science and deep research completely blinded, with respect to the divine science of living to God ! And, what is still more painful, how often do we meet with persons, in this day of Gospel light, wlio have very clear views of the truth ; who are able to speak, not only fluently upon the mysteries of grace, but even to delight and edify those who hear them : and yet, who are them- selves destitute of true humility, genuine love to the Saviour, and that spiritual-mindedness which is life and peace. Thus, however illuminated their understandings may be, they are, in the eye of a heart-searching God, in a state of spiritual blindness. 16* 186 INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRIl QAL LIGHT. Surely, then, the above distinction is most nuportant. How many bright professors does it involve in dark- ness ! how many shining candles does it put out ! " The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, because tliey are spiritually discerned.^^ " Though I understand all mysteries and all know- ledge, and have not charity, I am nothing." "The world, by wisdom, knows not God." " They have well said, all that they have spoken. Oh ! that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always." " Not every one that saith unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven." " If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." These, and many other passages wiiich might be ad- duced, prove the immense difference betwixt head know- ledge and heart religion. The former is the pride of the hypocrite ; the latter is the portion of the humble penitent. Oh ! my soul, examine well into thy real state and condition before God. Be not satisfied with how much thou knowest, but see what effect the knowledge which thou hast attained has upon the heart and life. Art thou acquainted with thy fallen state by nature, and thy superadded wretchedness through actual transgression ? If this awful truth has been admitted into thy under- standing, 20 far it is well. But rest not here. This is merely intellectual light, if its rays extend no further. Search and see whether its piercing beams have reached thy conscience, and, like forked lightning in the midst of Sinai's thunder, struck thee with conviction and dismay. Like Saul of Tarsus, has it struck thee to the ground, anf'. laid thee low in the dust of deep humiliation 1 INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 187 Without tliH self-aljasiiig- experience of tlie total cor- niption of thy nature, and this heart-hurnhHng sense of thy own extreme depravity, all thy knowledge is merely human, " taught by the precept of men," and leaves thee in a state of spiritual insensibility ; tlie more dan- gerous, because the more liable to make thee contented with the barren knowledge of thy condition, and to substitute the shadow for the substance. With respect to all the other great and glorious doc- trines of grace, the same important questions must be put to tlie heart ; for faith, without works, is dead. The Christians, to whom St. Peter wrote, were called "out of darkness into marvellous light." Have I been thus called by sovereign grace, by al- mighty love, into a light which may be denominated " marvellous 1" The miere reception of divine truth into the mind does not deserve this appellation. But, when the light of truth discovers to myself the hidden evils of my heart ; when it shows me the deform- ity of sin, the vileness of my nature, and thus fills me with shame and self-abhorrence, it is, indeed, a ^'mar- vellous light.^^ When the light of truth reveals to my soul the blessed Jesus in the essential dignity of his person ; the suitableness of his glorious offices in the covenant of redemption ; the greatness, freeness, and extent of his love in becoming man, and expiring on the cross, that he miglit save rebellious sinners; and, when this view of a loving Saviour fills my soul with love, admiration, delight, and joy, it may well be called a *'marvello us Ugh t." When the light of truth takes away the false glare of the world, and shows me its real worth ; that all ig vanity and vexation of spirit ; when every thing is placed m its true light, and seen through a clear medium ; and when this view sobers m/ expectations, and weans my 188 INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL LIGHT. affections from the world : then it is truly a ^^ marvellous light.'' When the light of truth unveils the world of spirits, and opens to my wondering sight the unutterable glo- ries of eternity ; Avhen I behold the blissful seats, the happy mansions, and the peaceful abodes of the redeem- ed ; when I contemplate the fulness of their joy in being for ever with their Lord, and like their Lord ; and when this prospect of the saints' felicity makes holiness more lovely, and my breathhigs for the Spirit of grace more ardent ; w^hen it makes me long and labor after an admittance, through faith in Jesus, into those brighl abodes : then it is a ^^ marvellous light.'' Oh thou glorious Sun of righteousness, thou light of the w^orld ! shine into my heart, that I may be light in the Lord; and walk as a child of light, shining, by reflection, to thy praise and glory. Oh ! preserve me from resting in outward forms, or barren speculations. Let nothing satisfy my soul but the possession of thyself, dwelling in my heart by faith, and filling me with peace and joy, blended with holy fear. Oh ! grant that I may ever prefer thee to every thing in earth or heaven ; for thou, blessed Jesus, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, three persons in one Jeho- vah, art alone worthy of all love, adoration, and praise. Everlasting praises be given unto thee by men and angels. Oh my soul, begin now the eternal anthem. However feeble the string, yet let it vibrate to the praise of thy God. How^ever w^eak thy notes, yet let them ascend, in grateful adorations, to Him who hath loved thee, and washed thee from thy sins in his own blood. To Him be all honor, glory, and power, ascribed by every tongue, henceforth and for ever. Amen and Amen. KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM. 189 Oh thou, from whom all blessings spring, Accept the offering which I bring : A grateful tribute — heartfelt praise, For all the riches of thy grace. Shall I enjoy thy bounty, Lord, And not thy boundless love record? Oh ! let me tell to all around What joys in Jesu's name abound. Jesus! thy saving name contains Eternal glories — endk'ss gains; The sinner, pardon'd by thy grace, Is made thy chosen dwelling-place. Bless thou tlie Lord, my soul, and sing Unceasing praises to thy King, Whose love through all his counsels shine, Transcendent, matchless, and divine. XXXIII. ON KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM. What can be more agreeable to the dictates of true wisdom, than that a creature should love and obey its Creator, when that creature is endued with faculties capable of loving and obeying tlie Author of its exist- ence ? The reverse of this constitutes the grossest impiety. No man of reflection, however carried away by his passions, or perverted in his views of divine revelation, can help allowing, that to love the supreme good, is the truest wisdom ; and to obey the supreme governor, the highest duty. Yet men, w^ho pass for philosophers, who can unfold \\\Q beauties of nature, and even expatiate on the charms of virtue, not unfrequently are the slaves of sensual pleasure, and enemies to the Gospel of Christ : thus 190 KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM. proving, that human knowledge, however refined, can never reduce the rebel state of the affections to the love and fear of God ; or convert the wild, tumultuous pas- sions to spiritual order and peace. Men may talk wisely about worldly matters ; for our blessed Lord hath declared, that " the children of this world are in their generation reiser than the children of light ;" but the wisest worldly character can never, by any natural effort of the understanding, think and act wisely about spiritual and eternal things. Orthodox notions of the truth may indeed be imbibed, whilst the heart continues under the influence of evil , for we read of persons "holding the truth in unright- eousness." But true wisdom consists not in the bare knowledge of what is good, but in reducing that know- ledge to practice. Thus, I may knoiv that it is my duty to love and obey God; but I am only icise, when I really do love and obey him. If I had to cross a river in Avinter, which was frozen over, and were told, tliat, owing to a current in the mid- dle of the stream, the ice would be too weak to bear my weight ; this knowledge would only prove beneficial, in case I had wisdom enough to desist from the hazar^Njus attempt. Should I, after this knowledge of the state of the ice, still persist in crossing the river, my conduct would be termed temerity ; and, if drowned, men would condemn my folly. This distinction runs through all the transactions of political, civil, and commercial life. The truth is too obvious to need further illustration ; it must therefore be apparent, that " Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one, Have ofttimes no connexion." Job, with beautiful clearness, points out to us the na- ture of true wisdom It is not the knowledge of natural KNOWLEDGE AIND WISDOM. 191 objects ; neither can created things impart it. " Tiie depth saith, It is not in me ; and the sea saith, It is not ill me." " God imdcrstandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof." "Unto man he said, Be- hold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding." Tiiere is in all men a natural desire after happiness. All are anxiously in quest of it. The inquiry is, "Who will show us any good 1" Man, having lost his way through the fall, is now stumbling upon the dark mountains of vanity, in search of that treasure, which he never can find in earthly things. He wants to be happy. To obtain this bless- ing, he is willing to forego many present enjoyments. Some brave the billows of the ocean ; others dare the cannon's mouth ; multitudes rise early, and late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness, in order to accu- mulate those golden stores, which they fondly hope will purchase happiness. Riches perchance increase, but cares and vexatious anxieties grow^ up together with them. Happiness, like a flying phantom, still eludes their eager grasp, till, compelled at length to give up the chase, they exclaim with Solomon, "All is vanity and vexation of spirit." Here we may ask, why is man thus restless after an imaginary goodi why does every possession lose its value, ^and every enjoyment its zest, whilst that certain something, still desired, yet unpossessed, fastens on tbe mind, and renders all other earthly pleasures comparatively insipid? Is it not that man was originally created for nobler ends, than those w^hich he is now pursuing 1 He re- sembles a noble temple in ruins. We see the fragments of ancient grandeur ; but they are so mulilaied and destroyed, that no feeling is excited but that of pain, whilst viewing the desolation. 192 KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM. The Gospel, like a guardian angel, points out to man the way to happiness. Here he may knoio how to obtain felicity ; and here, through grace, he may be made wise unto salvation. Is he anxious to be rich 1 The Gospel unfolds to his view the unsearchable riches; whilst the Spirit is freely offered, to enable liim, like the wise merchantman in the parable, to sell all and buy this treasure. Is he thirsting after glory 1 The Gospel reveals to him that honor which cometh from God only ; and that glory which is prepared for the righteous in a future world. Is he desirous to obtain a name ? The Gospel assures him that, if a believer, his name is written in heaven ; for the righteous shall be had in everlasting remem- brance. Is he panting after pleasure 1 The Gospel tells him of joy unspeakable ; of a peace which passeth under- standing; of rivers of pleasure, which flow at God's right hand for evermore. Thus the Gospel of grace discovers to fallen man, not only the nature of true happiness, but the way to obtain it. It shows him the source of all misery — the fall of OUR FIRST PARENTS ; and conducts him to the fountain of all blessedness — God manifest in the flesh. Through faith in this gracious deliverer, the soul is saved from the guilt and power of sin. The world and, all its vanities, like the retiring tide, recede from the heart; whilst the joys of God's salvation flow in, and fill the soul with substantial and satisfying delights. The sinner made thus wise unto salvation by the eter- nal Spirit, finds the way of peace, and becomes at length — what worldlings can never be — truly happy. Oh blessed Jesus ! thou in whom are hid all the trea- sures of wisdom and knowledge, make me wise unto KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM. 193 salvation. Preserve me from being satisfied with the false glare of human knowledge, which possesses only the name, but nothing of the qualities of wisdom. Come, Oh divine Redeemer, with all thy full salva- tion, into my longing heart. Without thee, I cannot be happy; with thee, I cannot be miserable. The world may smile ; but if thou frownest, I must be wretched. The world may frown ; but if thou smilest, I am bles»ed. Let me no longer seek my comforts from creatures, how- ever fair and excellent. "All my fresh springs are in thee." Be thou my all in all, in adverse days and plea- sant seasons. Oh ! let thy grace be in me as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. Then I shall be holy and happy. All will be serene within, the sweet presage of eternal rest ! Touch'd by the power of love divine, To thee, my gracious Lord, I come ; Thy Spirit speaks — I hear the call : Dear Saviour, make my heart thy home. Too long, alas ! a wand'ring sheep, Far from thy blessed fold I stray'd ; But now my hopes on thee are fix'd ; On thee my grateful soul is staid. Thou art my refuge and my rest, Sweet peace in thee I now may find ; The richest streams of hcav'nly grace, To soothe and calm my troubled mind. Oh ! may I never from thee roam ; Or feel a single wish to stray ; Since thou hast led my wand'ring feet To Christ, the true, the living way. i7 194 PASSIVE IMPRESSIONS AND ACTIVE HABITS, XXXIV. ON PASSIVE IMPRESSIONS AND ACTIVE HABITi* It is very important to distinguish rightly betv^reeii passive impressions and active habits. We are continually liable to receive impressions of one kind or another — impressions of love and aversion ; joy anfl grief; hope and fear. A pleasing representation of a person produces a favor- able impression upon the mind, bordering upon love. How common to hear it said, " Your description makey me quite love him ;" and yet this is often but a mere impression. The description and the feeling are soon lost in the succeeding objects which crowd upon the mind. Thus, many persons are deeply impressed by awfuJ representations of the day of judgment and the horrors of hell, who yet never break off from their sins, or turn truly to God. We often hear of an impressive sermon ; a sermon calculated deeply to affect the mind and heart of the congregation. And yet, how seldom do we hear of con- versions, which are the consequences of abiding impres- sions, producing active habits. It is a truth, that impressions, if onW passive, and forming no active habits in the soul, lose tjieir power by repetition. Hence many persons, who were much affected when Jirst they heard the Gospel, and, in consequence, made some considerable profession ; yet, owing to this impres- sion being simply passive, and not leading to the forma- tion of gracious habits in the soul, have become, by degrees, so Gospel-hardened, that the sharpest rebuke, as w^ell as the most affectionate entreaty, has lost its edge and influence on their minds : they hear as though they heard not. PASSrYE IMPRESSIONS AND ACTIVE HABITS. 195 This view of tlie subject may lead us to distiuguisli between what is the operation of natural causes, and what is the operation of the Spirit of God. Impressions, however strong- at the time, if merely the result of lively description upon the imagination, will soon wear away, as the imagination loses the vivid coloring which fascinated it; just as the beautiful tints of an evening sky gradually disappear, as the sun retires beneath the horizon. But the impressions made on the soul by the Spirit of God, being of a nature peculiar to themselves, produce an immediate change (though apparently small at first) on the views and feelings of the person affected; which, deepening by repetition, form those active habits that give a new character to Ihe whole man. Hatred of sin ; a holy fear of God ; love to tlie Sa- viour ; joy in the Holy Ghost ; delight in holiness ; patience under suffering ; and deadness to the world, are the result of those saving, quickening impressions, which are made on the heart by the almighty energy of the Divine Spirit. When this is the case, the same subjects which at first impressed, continue to impress. The habits of the soul become more active and holy. Faith waxes stronger ; love abounds yet more and more ; hope becomes more lively; and obedience in heart and life more regular and delightful. But the same subjects are heard with complete indif- ference after a time, when the impressions are passive, and occasioned by the simple effect of natural eloquence on the mind. This proves that no oratory, however fascinating, can truly reach the heart, or produce gracious habits in the 60ul, if unaccompanied by a divine power. The understanding may be oonvin«3ed, the conscienco 196 PASSIVE IMPRESSIONS AND ACTIVE HABITS. may tremble ; out the affectiows can never be firmly fixed upon God, thrDugh the powwr of hmnan eloquence, or the arts of moral suasion. " A new heart ^^ ill I give you, and a new^ spirit w^ill I put within you,' is both the promise and work of almighty love. Popular ministers of the Gospel, who gather crowds of admiring auditors around them, may learn from this subject both humility and dependance. No eloquence of language, no force of expression, no pathetic appeals to the passions, can produce one saving impression upon that adamant which lies within the human breast. He who commanded Moses to strike the rock, must graciously accompany the stroke with his supernatural power, or the waters of true contrition will never flow. The humble and comparatively weak instrument may from hence take encouragement; knowing that it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord, that Satan is dislodged from his stronghold, and thb sinner saved. The weakest instrument becomes effective, in pro- portion to the skill and power of him who wields it. Hence, Infinite Wisdom is pleased, in general, to em- ploy the weak things of the world, to confound the things that are mighty, that no flesh may glory in his presence. Instances not unfrequently occur, in the experience of faithful ministers, of sermons, which they had rejected for their supposed want of good style and arrangement, but which they afterwards preached, for want of time to write better, being made the blessed instruments of fast ening conviction on the conscience, and leading the sinner to the cross of Christ ; whilst many an elaborate discourse, on which they had bestowed hours of thought, and from which they expected great results, produced no PASSIVE IMPRESSIONS AND ACTIVE HABITS. 197 other effect than that of drawing forth flattering com- mendation or critical remarks. We are taught in tiie word of God not to despise the day of gmall things, nor to lean unto our own under- standing, nor trust to an arm of flesh. Those holy- precepts operated powerfully on the mind and practice of the great apostle to the gentiles. " I came not," said he to the Corinthians, "with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God ; for I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. My speech and my preaching was not with enticmg words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power : that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God .'" And again, to the Thessalonians he writes, "As we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God which trieth our hearts ; for neither at any time used we flat- tering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness." And whilst declaring that the Gospel came not unto them in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, he rejoiced that they received the word, which they heard of him, not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh in them that believe. Thus I am taught, that whilst the ambassadors of Christ are willing to spend and be spent in the blessed work of proclaiming the Gospel of peace; it is God alone who can give efficacy to the word of his grace, according to the purpose of his own will; for his counsel shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure. Let me then learn to cease from man. May all my expectations be from God, ifhose power can change the 198 PASSIVE IMPRESSIONS AND ACTIVE HABITS. heart, and who can form a people unto himself, whc shall show forth his praise. Lord, preserve me from transient feelings and momen- tary impressions. Give me a deep and an abiding con- viction of the evil of sin ; a growing love for the blessed Saviour; and an increasing relish for holy duties. May I be rooted and grounded in love; stablished and built up in Christ: and thus enabled to hold the beginning of my confidence steadfast unto the end. The habitual frame of my heart, and the daily tenor of my life, will then prove the genuineness of my faith, and keep me, through the power of the indwelling Spirit, from those awful falls, which bring such misery on false Drofessors, and cause so many to stumble, and forsake \he right way of the Lord. Give me, Oh Lord, that holy fear, That constant dread of sin ; The brightest evidence of grace, Of light and love within. Guide me along the narrow way, Conduct me by thy grace To Jesus, my almighty friend, The sinner's hiding-place. Oh ! for a seraph's tongue to speak The praises of my God ; Lord, fit my heart to sing thy praise In heaven, thy blest abode. Till then, I would in lisping notes Chaunt forth thy matchless love; Adore thee in the church below, Then join the church above. UNION TO CHRIST 19