«^%r.^; * p?y?*i E Qy^'f //-> ^ Princeton, N. J I -:§ ^7iW/, Section. ..p^pij=;=>- \ JT W"' SERMONS O N V Various USEFUL and IMPORTANT SUBJECTS. Adapted to the FAMILY and CLOSET. In TWO VOLUMES. By GEORGE LAMBERT. VOLUME n. / have not Jhtinned to declare unto you all the counfel of God. Paul. Look to yourfelves, that we lofe not the things which we have wrought^ but that we receive a fuH reward. John. YORK: Pointed by A. Ward ; and fold by C. Dilly, Lon- don ; J. Smith, Sheffield ; alfo by T, Browne and the other Bookfellers in HuU. MDCCLXXXVIII. TO THE CHURCH and CONGREGATION, Fish-Street, HULL* My dear Brethren and Friends, THIS volume is not intruded upon you by your Minirter ; but is made public in anfwer to your repeated and earneft requeft. I am by no means infenfible ot the refpedt ;and affedion you have thereby dilcovered to rnyfelf, but am far from being convinced that a degree of partiality, on your part, has not led to the rcqueil ; you have thought more favourably of the fermons delivered to you, than I have rnyfelf. Such publications are now become very frequent and numerous; manv of them, in my humble opinion, far fu- perior to any of the fermons now put into your hands, not one of which was compofed with a view to the prefs, or with the molf diflant intention of furvivmg the feafon in which they were delivered, except in their influence upon the hearts and lives of thofe who heard them. They are now delivered to you from the prefs, as near as pulfible, in the fame a 2 garb IV EPISTLE DEDICATORY. garb in which they appeared in the pulpit : You now have them, luch as they are, and may God condelbend to own and to accom- pany them with his blelTing, then will they be further ufeful to you and to others like- wife. I think it my duty, and hope that none of you will conlider it as fervile flattery, to take this opportunity of acknowledging my gratitude to God for the long feries of hap- pinefs, apparent ufefulnefs, and growing efleem which I have been privileged to enjoy amongft you. May we ilill love as brethren, fympathize with each other's weaknc ffes, and promote each c-ner's progrefs towards the heavenly country. With feveral of you I have long walked in Chriliian fellowihip : Let not languor and indifference increafe, the nearer we approach the end of our journey. The prize is great: — Not lefs important than ■when we firft began the purfuit : — -Our con- dud: will be attended to by our younger bre- thren : — Let not our example tend to abate their ardour, but rather animate and encou- rage them to prefs on, and to perfevere to the end. Be faithful to death: This be the watch-word amongft us, And he THAT ENDURETH TO THE END SHALL BE SAVED : This be the encouragement to ex- hilarate us in the purfuit. With pleafure alfo would 1 feizc this opportunity to addrefs mylelf EPISTLE DEDICATORY. v rnyfelf to a refpedlable number of my younger brethren and friends. You have turned your backs upon the fins and follies of the age in which you live, and have fet your faces to- wards that Jerufalem which is above. Pcr- fuaded I am you will never have caufe to repent of what you have done : May your condud: from day to day, and from year to year, even to the end of your lives, confirmi more and more your approbation of that choice you have made. Real religion is real wifdom, ftrength, happinefs, and honour: It will fortfy your minds in danger, furnifh you for every prelent duty, adorn your cha- racSers in the world, keep you near to God in the clofet, and caufe you to fliine and to be ufeful in your families, when God fliall fee proper to fettle you in the world. ** Reli- gion's ways are ways of pleafantnefs, and all her paths are peace :" And the further you purfue your journey in thefe paths, the fuller will be your conviction of the truth of what is here alferted. With many of you, my younger brethren, it cannot be exped:ed that I ihould travel much further in this world: Tlxough our fentiments agree, there is a difparity in our years, perhaps a greater in conflitution. You, I truft, will live for the honour of yefus Chriji and his religion, when my lips will be doled, and I laid filent in the grave. The folemn feparating day will come. Vi EPISTLE DEDICATORY. come, may come foon ; but the communion we have enjoyed is not, we truft, confined to this prefent impcrfedl: life. There is a day coming, a world yet remains in which wc hope to meet — to know — to rejoice in you, as the crown of our miniftry, and as our com- panions for eternal ages, where we ihall teach you no longer in the knowledge of the Lord, but fhall (ec, know, and rejoice in him to- gether. Give diligence that my hopes meet not a dilappointment in that day ; but that you may then be found without fpot and blamelefs. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are fandified. There is yet another clafs of my hearers, whom I wouki by no means at this time pafs by unnoticed, I mean fuch who have heard thefe fv^rmons without any ferious impreffion remaining on the mind after the dilcourfc was concluded. Refpeding you 1 have hitherto laboured in vain. After every effort on my part for the good of your fouls, you remain ju(f as you were — except it be more cr.r-tlcls, more carnal, and more guilty in the fjghtof Ciod. 1 hefe diicourfes, which died away with the found upon your ears, are flow phiced before your eyes. Read them— Refiecfl: upon their contents — And remember -ihat you, as well as i, have to give an ac- counl EPISTLE DEDICATORY. vH count of them before God. Prepare to meet him: Meet him 3/011 muft; but to be prepared to iwtQt him lliould be your great, your prefent, your conftant concern. May the Printer of thefe difcourfes, as an instru- ment in the hand of Providence, have more fuccefs in this refpeit with you, than the Preacher had when he delivered them to you. It is more than probable that fome copies of thefe fermons may fall into the hands of perfons whom I never knev/, nor fliall be acquainted with while in the body. Such will find that falvation by grace through faith in ye/us Chrijl to the honour of God's charadier, and as it tends to promote the interell of real holinefs in the hearts of men, is the principle which runs through them all. This I ap- prehend to be the doiftrine of the fcripture, of our venerable Reformers from Popery, and which will be found to (land in that day when every dod:rine, incompatible with this» ihall be confumed as wood, hay, and Hubble. A dod:rine which I have more than once ex- perienced the fupport of, apparently in the near approach of death ; which, while I live, I truil it will be my endeavour to vindicate, and when I die 1 hope to prove a truth. Other foundation can no man lay (Paul him- felf being witnefs) which can fupport the foul in its lad and foiemn apoearance before Gcd; viii EPISTLE DEDICATORY. God ; and that on this foundation all wh® read thefe diicourles miy build for eternity is, and fea/l he, the prayer of Your fincere and affedtionate Servant in the Gofpel, Hutt, March .0,7 Q. LAMBERT. i7»a. > ERRATA. Page. 45 Line lafi in the note, dele ths* 78 3 for of, read 19. 124. 12 after him, add, . This. J 50 18 ior fcourge the very, tend Jcour^eiJ^ tvtrj»] 202 19 for ivorti, read luor/J. 215 7 after That, add ivhich. 397 Line laft but three, dele /». 360 Line laft but three, for /, read je. CONTENTS. C O N T E N X S. # K.^.E X^^^^^'^"* S E R M O If , f^|10l>OGXO^^/X^ Salvation in Chrift a Acts iv. 12. Neither is there falvation in any- other : for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we mujl be faved. p. i« SERMON II. l^ridc humbled and Grace exalted in the Juftification of Sinners. Rom. ix. 30— -32. What Jhall we fay then ? That the Gentiles which followed not after right eoufnefs, have attained to rtghteoujtiefs, even the righteoif- nefs which is of faith : But Ifraely which followed after the law of right eoufnefsy hath not attained to the law of right eoufnefs. Wherefore f Becaufe they fought it not by fait hi but as it were by the works of the law : for they fumbled at that fumbling fone, p. 22, b SERMON sr CONTENTS. SERMON III. God honbured by an humble offering : Or, Salvation connected with a Chriftian Con- versation. Psalm L. 23. Whofo offereth praife, glorifieth me : and to him that ordereth hts converjation arighty will I Jhew the falvatton of God, P* 4i» SERMON IV. ThcNecefTuy and Advantages of Reconcilia- tion with God. Amos iii. 3. Can two walk together except they be agreed? p. 61. SERMON V. The Glories of Jefus Chrift as the end of the Law difcovered. John i. 14. latter part of the verfe. We beheld his glory y the glory as of the only begotten of the Fat her , full of grace and truth, p. 79. SERMON CONTENTS. XX SERMON VI. The Duties of Faith, Prayer, and Application to God, recommended by a great Prince, ..and a gracious Saviour. Psalm Ixii. 8. TruJI in him at all times ; ye people, pour out your heart before hifn : God is a refuge for us, p. 98. SERMON VII. The Believer viewing a coming Saviour in his preient work. Revelations ii. 25. That which ye have already, holdfaji till 1 come, p. 117. SERMON VIII. Divine Power magnified in the Believer's Prclervation. I Peter i. 5. Kept by the power of God through faith unto falvation, ready to be revealed in the laji time. p. 138. b2 SERMON xii CONTENTS, SERMON IX. Dying Remorfe : Of, the Pangs of a wlcke4 Man's Conicience in the Clofe of Life. Proverbs v, 12, 13. JIow have I hated mflru^ion, and my heart de-f fpifed reproof ? 1 have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that inJlruSled me, p. 1^6, S E R M O N X. Invigorating Comfort in a dying Hour : Or, the Compofure of a good Man's Mind in the clofing Scene of Lif?. Genesis xlix. 18. / have waited for thy fahationy O Lord. p. 176. SERMON XL Hypocrify expofed. Proverbs xxv. 14. IFho/o hoajletb himfelf of a falfe gift, is like clouds and wind without rain. p. 195. SERMON CONTENTS, 5cii* SERMON XIL Gofpel Vifiations, Acts xv. 14. Simeon hath declared how God at the firfi did vijit the Gentiles, to take out of them a peupU for his name, p. 215. SERMON XIII. Profeffing Chriftians warned by the difperfed fews^ Lamentations i. 18. I^he "Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled againfl his commandment : Hear, I pray you all people, and behold tny Jbrrow : my vtrgins and my young men are gone into captivity, SERMON XIV. Modern Miracles. Psalm cxlvi 8. I'he Lord openeth the eyes f the blind : ^he Lord raijetb them that are boned aown : '£he Lord loveth the righteous. p. 256. SERMON siv CON TENT S. SERMON XV. God glorified . by Inftruments of his own forming. Isaiah xliii. 21. ^his people have I formed for myfelfy they Jhall Jbew forth my praife, p. 274. SERMON XVL Happy Mediocrity : Or, an humble Plea prefented to the univerfal Proprietor. Proverbs xxx. 7, 8, 9. ^Tivo things have I required of thee, deny me them not bejore I die. Remove far from me vanity and lies -, give me 7ieither poverty nor riches, feed me with food convenient Jor me : jLejl I be full, and deny thee y and fay. Who is the Lord? or left I be poor, and Jleal, and take the name of my God in vain, p. 294. S E R xM O N XVII. God the refuge of his Saints. Psalm Ixxi. 3. ^e thou my Jlrong habitation, 'id hereunto I may continually refort : thou hafl given command- ment to fave me, for thou art my rock and myforirefs, p. 313. SERMON CONTENTS. XT SERMON XVIII. The Soul voluntarily humbled under God's fovereign and faving Hand. I Peter v. 6. Humble yourfelvcsy therefore^ under the mighty band of God, that he may exalt you In due time, p. 332. SERMON XIX. Dark Difpenfations illumined : Or, prefent Twilight ulhering in a glorious Day. Zech. xiv. 6, 7. It Jhall come to pafs in that day that the light Jljall not be clear nor dark ; but it Jhall be one dayt which fljall be known to the Lord* net day nor night : but it JJjall come to pafs that at even- time it Jhall be light, P- 351- SERMON XX. Spiritual Gain from temporal LoHes : Or, the Death of the VVidow's Son. I Kings xvii. 18. Art thou come unto me to call 772y Jin unto re- membrance, and to flay my font p. 371. SERMON 3fvi CONTENTS. SERMON XXI. Chrift's Charge againft his profefling People* Psalm Ixix. 8. / am become a Ji ranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother s children* P- 391- SERMON XXII. Acceptable Worfliip : Or, God approached through a Mediator. Ephes. ii. i8. Through him we both have an accefs by one Spirit unto the Father. p. 410. SERMON SERMON I. Salvation in Chrift alone. ACTS iv. 12. Isfeither is there fahation in atiy other: for there is 72one other name under heaven given among men whereby we mujl be faved, IN all human laws, particularly thofe which regard the honour of the fovereign, or the welfare of the fubjed;, plainnefs and perfpicuity are defirable, in oppoiition to all ambiguity of language or indeierminatioa of fentiment. Thus doubts and diffidence are excluded, the mind meets the will of the legiflature unmallced, the line of duty becomes plain to every honeft man, and thofe barriers which fecure our rights, or are intended to guard againfl: fraud and tranfgreffion, are well maintained and defended. Where there is no law, there can be no tranfgreffion ; and where the law is equivocal or indeterminate, there tranfgreffiions will multiply, while the tranfgreffion will be lefs reprehenfible in its nature, and fraud will find an eaiier apology Vol, II, A Vu 2 Salvation in Chrift alotie. in order to palliate the offence : And in thofe cafes where the life or death of the fubjed: is made to depend upon his obedience to, or tranfgreffion of, any particular law, there the greatiiil care and caution become needful to guard agai nil every mifapprehenfion on the one hand, and every excufe on the other. Hence, in the laws of our own country, a great va- riety and multiplicity of words 'are ufed and crowded together to exprefs the fame thing, in order to prevent all mifunderftanding, evafion, or guile. Without this, men would torture, twift, alter, yea even invert the de- fign of the legiflature. But if fuch care be peculiarly requilite in human laws, where our lives and property are at flake, how much more is this precifion neceffary in the laws of heaven, efpecially thofe which relate to our fouls and eternity ? There is no fort of com- parifon between the life of the body and the value of the foul; — between our condition for time and our flate for eternity. What would be the balance between the whole material world and an immortal foul, fuppofe the one gained, the other lofi: ? In this cafe, the gain would be imaginary and momentary; but the lofs, the enjoyment of happinefs, complete and eternal in glory, and the en- during all the mifery and horrors of damna- tion in hell for ever. " The world pafTeth away, and the lufl thereof; but he that doth the will of God, abideth for ever." * What * J John ii. 17c then ' iSalvation in Chrljl alone, ^ then fhall a man give in exchange for his foul ? In matters which relate to falvation, the revelation which God has been pleafed to give us is exceeding plain and exprefs ; fo plain that he that runs may read its contents. This fubjed is not couched in ambiguous phrafes or unintelligible terms ; but is adapted to the weakeil; capacity : And, in condelbenfion to the ignorance of the human mind, the great God has been pleafed to treat the greateft' fubjed: in language the mofi: plain and fimple. The words of the text fully evince the truth of this remark. Salvation is now to be ob- tained — but in no other way through no other name than Jefus Cbrifl: '* For there is falvation in no other, nor is there any other name under heaven given among men whereby we mud be faved." The preceding chapter informs us that Peter and John, foon after the feafl: of Veiite- coji, going up to the temple, and obferving a man at the gate, who had been lame from his birth, they looked upon him v/ith com- pafTion, and in the ria?}2ey that is, by the au- thority and powTr of Je/us Chriji, they wrought a perfed: and inftant cure upon him. This event happening in fo public a place, foon brought a great conconrfe of people to- gether. They expreffed their aftoniihm.ent indifferent ways ; fome gazing upon the man, whom they had long known as a deplorable objed:; and others on the Apoftles who had ■ A 2 effeded 4 Salvation in Chrift alo}:-'. efFedted fo remarkable a change upori him, Peter feizes this as a fuitable opportunity to addrefs himfelf in a very afFedtionatedifcourfe to the affembled multitude : With all due humility, he firft allures them that it was not through any fuperior power or holinefs naturally refident in him, or in his fellow- difciple, that this great change was effeded; but that this miracle was wrought by the power, in the name, and in confirmation of the miffion and refurredion q£ Jefus Chri/i : Even that 'J ejus, who had been io lately cru-^ cified by them and their rulers, and expofed to fliame near to that place. However, he takes it for granted that they had done this from ignorance, and had thereby been ac- complifhing what the Prophets had before predicted concerning the fufferings of the MefFiah. He invites them, therefore, to re- pentance — warns them of the danger of per^ lifting in their infidelity — and afiures them, that God having raifed up his Son, 'jefus, had fent him to blefs them, in turning every one of them from their iniquities. While he was thus proceeding in his difcourfe, the Captain of the Temple appears, authorized to feize them, and to bring them before the "Sanhedrim. The next day, the court being affembled, they are introduced, and their an- fwer demanded to thefe queftions : By what tower have ye done this f And in whofe name i Inftantly Salvation in Chrijl alone, 5 Inflantly Vete.r finds his mind fortified againft fear, and enlarged to fpeak his fenti- ments with the greateft freedom ; addrefTing himfelf therefore to them, with all the re- fpedt due to the rulers of the people, and pointing to the poor man that had heen healed, who was alfo prefent upon this occafion, her delivered himfelf thus : ** Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Jfrael, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole, be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Jfrael, that by the name oi Jefus Chrijl oi Nazareth, 'whom ye crucified, whom God raifed from the dead, even by him doth this man fland before you whole. This is the {lone which was fet at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there falvation in any other- for there is none other name jiiven amt)np- men" whereby we mufi; be faved. "* Some have taken much pains to debafe the mean- ing of the Vs^ord, here rendered fahatio?i, in- finuating that in this place it fignifies onlv healing : But is there ground to conclude that all thofe rulers were fo afflicted in their bo- dies as to need fuch a cure? Or, were the Apoflles themfelves in fimilar clrcumllances ? No; this could not be his meaning; for it is evident that Peter includes himfelt, and all that heard him ; and takes it for granted that both he and they needed to ?^v>^\yioJeJusChrili * Afls iv. s— 12. for 6 Salvation in Chriji aJofie, for fpirltual healing. The miracle alluded to was only to be conlidered as a teftimony given from heaven, to prove that 'jelus Chriji was the head of the corner ; that is, the Sup- porter and Saviour of all who, by faith, be- come connedted v/ith him.— What 1 propofe by difcourfing Irom theie words, is to fhew, I. That all mankind, fince the fall, are in fuch a ftate and condition as to need falvation. II. That though fuch be their condition, the generality, indeed all, while in that flate, difcover either the greateft igno- rance how falvation is to be attained, or the ftrongeft averfion to that way and method in which God hath revealed it. But, III. In order to remove that ignorance, and to fubdue this averfion, God is pleafed in the volume of revelation, efpe- cially in the New Teftament, to declare in the mofb clear and peremptory man- ner that the only way in which men can be faved, is througli Chriji, and by him. Such is the method we propofe to follow in this difcourfe. May God blefs what fhall be faid to our convid:ion, or the bringing of Gur minds to correfpond with the fentiment contained in the text. The firft thing we propofe to fhew is this, I. That Salvation In Chriji alone, y I. That all vjankindi fmce the fall, are in fuch a ftate and condition as to need jahation* What the fcripture uniformly tellifies upon this head, the hiftory of all nations, and our own obfervations upon the condud: of man- kind, confirm. In Adam all finned, became obnoxious to difpleafure, and died in virtue of the fentence of God's holy law. Hence they are faid to be dead in trefpajjes and Jins', and, by nature (not as originally formed of God, but as debafed by fin) children of wrath. Under this head, we do not propofe to enter upon a long and laboured difquifition of a point, which probably few or none of yoii doubt or deny. The whole fcheme of that falvation revealed by the Gofpel is founded upon this principle, that men are in a con- dition which needs falvation. Could that principle, therefore, once be proved falfe, the whole ftrudure would crumble to nothing, as the Emprefs of RuJ/ia's fuperb palace, formed of fnow or congealed water, diilblved before the fummer's fun. However, that we may endeavour to make our ground- work good, under this head we propofe to glance at two things. I . Every one who tranfgreffes againfl God's law, thereby, at once, becomes a rebel againfl God, and is enthralled under the power of Satan. Sin is a tranfgrefTion of the law. He that breaketh the lav/, difiionoureth God; he that offendeth in one point is guilty of all ; and 2 Salvation in Chriji alone, and curfed is the man that continueth not iii all things written in the law to do them. To tranfgreis, therefore, what the law enjoins, or to omit what it requires, is an offence againf}; thelaw,andagainil the authority of the divine Lawgiver, fince it is both the tranfcript 'cf his nature, and thedifcovery of his mind and will. This law requires fupreme love to God, as the great fource of Being and of BleiTednefs reditude of mind, or truth in the inward parts — and perfedl, univerfi^l, and unremitted obedience to every part of his revealed will. And who can objed: to the reafonablenefs of every part of this require- ment ? Is it not highly reafonable that this God fhould be loved ? That the creature fliould prefcrve thofe powers which his Crea- tor originally gave hini ; and that he fhould anfwer the end for which he was at firfl made? In a word, is it not reafonable that the crea- ture fhould heartily approve of, and cheer- fully perform whatever God requires, and hate and ftudioufly avoid every thing that he forbids ? But while our reafon and judgment juftify the Lord in ail thefe claims, every mouth mud be flopped, and each of us iland guilty, by cur own fentence, before God — Confcience, in every one, mud teftify that we have, as individuals, fmned and come fhort of the glory of God. Who amongft us all have loved this God as he ought to have been loved by us — ferved him', agreeable to his juil Salvation in Chriji alone. ' 9 jufi and reafonable requirements — or returned unto him in proportion to thofe favours and benefits which he has conferred on us ? Here God muft be pronounced julT:, and ourfdves guilty j and was he to enter into judgment with us, fo as to mark iniquity, who of all the human race could fland before him ? If then things be thus, the evidence is clear to a demonftration, that, by the deeds of the law, nofledican be juftifiedinthe fight of this holy- Lord God. On the contrary, that, as in- di\/iduals, we have tranfprefled and ftand condemned at the bar of God's holy law. We have proved ourfelves to be rebels againft the divine authority, and enemies in our minds by wicked works. By fm we have difhonoured God, and have been led captive by Satan. Nor is this the condition of a few individuals only, but, 2. It is the flate and Htuation of ^//, unl-^ verja/ly, and "iv'ithout exception, confidered as under the fall. *' They are all gone out of the way ; there is none that doth good, no not one." It is true, indeed, that the inhabitants of the feveral nations of the earth may, and do very much differ in their tempers, man- ners, cuftoms, and difpofitions ; but, as one obferves, ** Let an imnartial iudp-e take four unconverted men, or children, from the four parts of the world ; \qI him examine their adions, and trace them up to their fpring; and, if he makes fome allowance for the ac- VoL. II. B cidental iC Sahalion in Chrijl alone* cidental difference of their climate, conflito^ tion, tafte, and education, he will foon find their difpofition as equally earthly, fenfual, and devililh, as if they had been caft in the fame mould. Yes, as oak trees are oaks all the world over, though, by particular cir- Gumftances, fome grow taller and harder, and fome more knotty and crooked than others: So all unregenerate men refemble one another ; for all are proud, felf-willed, impenitent, and lovers of pleafure more than lovers of God. Sin manifefls itfelf among black and white, favage and civilized na- tions, Turks and Jews, Heathens and Chri- ilians, whether they live on the banks of the Ganges or the Thames, the Mrjijippi or the Sey?ie, whether they flarve in the fnows of Lapland, or burn in the fands of Guinea.'* It is not the charadter of a particular fed: of men, of any peculiar nation, climate, or age only ', but of men univerfally, and in all ages iince the lapfe of our firft parents, that they are dead in trefpaffes and fins. The Apoftle Peter was here fpeaking to the greateft and rnofl learned men in all the yewijh nation ; — that nation which God did then honour with advantages peculiar, and above all the nations of the earth, and yet he here afferts that even thefe men were in that condition which needed falvation. Now, men being univerfally, by fm, in a jClate of condemnation and flavery, unafTifled by Salvation m Chrijl alone. 1 1 by divine revelation, we could have conceived of no poffible way in which they could be faved, but either by repentance for their pad condud:, or by a fuperior kind of obedience to that required by the law, in future, which (liould be able to make up the deficiency of the paft : But repentance is not rellitution ; and an obedience fuperior to that which the law requires cannot be given by human na- ture ; for the obedience it requires muft be perfe(5l, perpetual, and univerfal, and that of the beft of men is defedlive. Thus having glanced at the firft thing pro- pofed, viz. That all mankind, fince the fall, are in fuch a condition as to need falvation, we proceed to remark, II. That though fuch he their CO Jidit Ion, the generality, indeed all, while in that Jiate, dif- cover either the greateji ignorance how falvation is to be obtained, or the ftrongefl averfion to that way and method in which God hath revealed it. I. The amazing Ignorance of the gene- rality, as to this fubjedt, is but too evident, even at the firft glance. We refer not to the inhabitants of thofe nations who never had or heard of the Gofpel, but even of thofe coun- tries v/ho are the mofl privileged in this re- fpecS. It is aftonifhing to fee how the human underftanding is darkened, and what a variety of methods the God of this world has taken to blind the eyes of them who believe not, B 2 left 12 Salvation in Chrijl alon^. left the light of the knowledge of the glorious Gofpel of Chrift, who is the image of God, fhould fhinc unto them. Among the Hea- thens, even Socrates is reprefented as intima- ting to his inzndAlcibiadeSi the neceflity of the appearance of fome extraordinary mellenger, in order to remove the darknefs which covered the human mind, that men might know and approach God with fuccefs. Men may, indeed, have fome {cn^Q of lin — fome idea of the necellity of fatisfacrion — and conviction that fometliing is requifite in order to their being happy ^ but how low, groveling, and imworthy are their conceptions of the way of acceptance with God. Let a people — a people who had the beft means of knowing how God was to be approached with propriety a people under deep conviction of the evil of lin, and in earneft to obtain acceptance before God — willing to part with any thing fo that they might obtain it — let one of their num- ber, and he the beft qualified, be permitted to fpeak for the whole, and you will inftantly difcover the ignorance and folly of the human mind refpedmg this great fubje(fl. , I have reference to the words of the Prophet Micaky •* Wherewith {l:iall I come before the Lord, and bow myfelf before the high God ? Shall I come before him with burnt-ofterings, with calves of a year old ? Will the Lord be plea- fed with thoufands of rams, or with ten thoufands of rivers of oil ? Shall I give my firft- Salvation iti Chrtjl alone, i^ firft-born for my tranfgreffion, the fruit of my body for the fm of my foul" * ? Invention could go no further, nor could conjecture rife higher. Part of the propofal was too much for any one to give; but infinitely too little to expiate the lin of the foul, or to fatisfy the claims of the moil: high God. We will fuppofe the perfon here alluded to, to have been a man pofTefled of a very quick and fruitful invention ; he could conceive well, ^nd exprefs what he had conceived with great propriety, and in the moll elevated lang'?age; but in him you have a fpecimen (and we have fuppofed, not one of an inferior fort) how ignorant men are about the method of ob- taining falvation. 2. There * Micah vi. 6. Dr. Butler, Rifliop oi Durham, and Dr, Loivih, V>\^^o^ oi London, with feveral others, un.-^* come fliort of the requirements of this law; and, as profeflbrs of the true religion, fome of them, at leafl, fpared neither pains, diligence, or expence that they might attain to the rip^hteoufnefs which it required. By the Law of Righteoufnefs, then, muft here be meant the Moral Law, or rather that righteoufnefs which it required. V/e now pafs on to confider, IL The condition, difpofition, and fuccefs of the perfons here referred to, viz. the Jews and the Gentiles. I. As to the Jeivs. They, as was obfer- ved before, had the rule of duty. To them pertained the giving of the law, and the or- dinances of God and the fandtuary. They might eafily know what it was that God re- quired of them, for they had a full and clear difcovery of the mark they were to aim at continually before them. Their minds were left in no uncertainty as to what God requi- red of man, his word being as a light to their feet and a lamp to their paths.— It is a great privilege to have the mind and will of God in our hands, that we may confult it in all our courfe through this wildernefs. To this we are to give heed as to a light ibining in a dark place. Where men have no rule re- fpedting the line of duty, every thing is left to conjed:ure and uncertainty. Nor had the Jews the law of the Lord only, but many of them aimed at conformity to the requirements in the yujlification of Sinners, 29 Tequirements of it. They laboured with de- lire, with diligence, and perfeverance, to at- tain that llandard wliich this law fet before them. Zealous for this law, they went about, fparing no pains, to efiabliili their own righ.tc- oufneis by it j bat, continually difappointed in their purfuit, they endeavoured to lower the requirements of this law to their imper- fedl attainments, till at lad its very fpirit was fo difguifed and obfcured, that little more than the letter was regarded. While things were viewed in this light by the Apoftle P^2^/ previous to his converfion, he tells us that touching the righteoufnefs of the law he apprehended himlelf blamelefs. He faded, he prayed, he laboured abundantly, as did alfo many of the Pharijees ; but when he faw that a covetous defire was forbidden ; when the commandment came not only in the letter, but in its fpirit and power, then fm revived, and he died to every hope of obtain- ing eternal happinefs by his own obedience. This, however, was far from being the cafe with all of that feet; fome we find had the effrontery even to go into God's prefence, and there to boalt of their good difpoations, and the fuperiority of their character, when com- pared with others. Wit nefs the Pkarifcc in the temple as reprefented in the parable. . They thought by their zeal, their diligence, and their long round of duties, that tliey were doing God fcrvice. Miu:aking the letter for the fpirit of the law ; fubitituting fliado-ws for JO Trtde humbled and Grace exalied for the fubilance, and the oblatiosis of the hand for the love and obedience of the hearty they followed after righteoufnefs. They had a zeal of God, as our Apoftle himfelf bears them witnefs, but it was not according to knowledge. Ceremonies were rigidly obfer- ved, facrifices voluntarily offered, the form ©f godlinefs diligently maintained,, while they Feiiiaioed deiiitute of its pov/er.- — This fub- i€<^is wifely calculated to iliew us the danger ®f miftakes in matters of religion. Some liiave zealoufly efpoufed the fentiment .of the iainocency of error, and have warmly con- tended, that if a man means well, though tJiere may be many errors in his creed, and many imperfeftions in his conduct, yet no doubt lie Hands approved in the %ht of God. How far this may apply to the cafe of ihofe who were never favoured with a divine reve- lation, we pretend not to fay | but as to thofe who are favoured with that advantage, the ©pinion of the Apoftle is here determinate. Not to enter into any long reafoning upon the fubjed:, the only quellion that lies be- fore us is this — Did our Apoftle give a true defcription of thefe yews^ or did he not ? If 3iot, the reflection mul^ fall upon himfelf^ but if he did, then the defcription that he gives us of them is this They did follow after the law of righteoufnefs. and yet they did not obtain that which they followed after. The reafon that he alhgns is this — That they Ibnght it not in the right wavj. jioi by faith, hia ^ I Pride humlkd and Grace exalted ■J iut as it were by the "works cf the law. They had falfe ideas of what this iaw required, and of what alone could fatisfy its demands. la this lay the ground- work of their error. Far though they followed after the law of righ- teoufnefs, yet thty did not €Lttain They came infinitely iliort of the mark ; and the event, iboner or later, proved to each one of theru, that ** by the deeds of the law no fleili could hi jufti£ed in the fight of God, for by the law is the knowled{>e of fin/' The whole o power of that iaw with refpeift to an uncon- verted linner, is either to coavince hiiii of iin, or to condemn him for it. 2. Refpediing the Gentiles, their ctife was very different. Their condition, their dif- pofition and facccfs^ are drawn out in very different colours. They were grofsly igmrmif : For although fome traces of the iaw of nature remained upoa their minds, yet thefe were faint and very Jmperfed:, compared with what divine revelation held forth io thtjeios. TruCj in- deed, their confciences, m many things, ac- cufed or excufed them; but ignorance of God was deeply impreired upc»xi ail that they pro- feiTed or pra^ftiicd. Nor were they only ignorant, but uncon" aerned \'ik.cv^'iiQ, Their ignorance did not put them upon the enquiry after truth, or ilir them up to feek the Lord : But chey are re- prefentcd a?? felting in darknefs, and in the A'allej ^2 Pride humbled and Cirace exalted valley of the fliadow of death ; infenfible of danger — unaffeBed with their condition, and at eafe, as to the ilate of their fouls. In- llead of following on to know the Lord, or enquiring, where is God my Maker? They do not feem fo much as to have defired the knowledge of his ways, or inclined to retain him in their thoughts. Nor was this all : Ignorance and want of concern is far from conftituting the whole 6f their charadlerj they were unholy likewife^ Inftead of following after the law of righte- oufnefs, they were notorioufly wicked — wick- ed even to a proverb; and this their wicked- nefs appeared even in their more folemn and public ads of devotion. They gloried in their very fhame, were reprobate to every eood work, and wrous[ht all manner of un- clean ncfs witli greedinefs* The ^eivs were very careful, diligent, and laborious; they did a great deal to recommend themfelves to the divine favour; but thefe Gentiles had done nothing to merit favour at the hands of God — all that they deferved was v/rath and mifery ; and yet we are told that they attained to that righteoufnefs which they had not been fol- lowinr>- after. How evident is it from this reprefentation of the Apoflle, that human merit has nothing: to do in the falvation of a linner. Evident it is, that the falvation of thefe poor Gentiles (as indeed of every fmner) is of pure free mercy. In their cafe, as in many /;/ the yujlification of Smnefs, 3 3 many others, the Lord is ** found of them that fought him not, and manifefts himfelf to them that enquired not after him." Their falvation was not hy works of righteoufnefs that they had done, but freely of Grace. In their cafe, God {hewed the way, the only way in which he would in every age accept finners. Human merit and human diligence are in this cafe entirely excluded in the ac- ceptance of a fmner before God, and it is proved to be *' neither of him that willeth> nor of him that runneth," for in that cafe thtjews had fucceeded in their purfuit j but thefe Gentiles found it to be entirely of Him who fheweth mercy. To them was made known the unfearchable riches of Ckrijl by the preaching of the Gofpel -, with joy they received the word, mixing it with faith, and embracing it as a report worthy of all their ac- reptance, that " yefus Chrijl came into the world to fave the very chief of linners." . Though once ignorant, unconcernedi unhofyy tranfgreifors of, inftead of followers after, the Law of Righteoufnefs, now they obtained mercy, and attained to righteoufnefs y even the righteoufnefs which is of faith. This natu- rally introduces the third thing we propofed to conlider, viz. in. ^he reafon affigned for the want offuc^ cefs on the one fide, and for the obtaining it on the other', and fo far is this from being refol- ded into any decree or purpofe of God, that* Vol. 11/ E . on 3 4- Pride humbled and Grace exalted en the contrary, Vv'e find it traced to and re* folved into the different principles by which th, how he is to be approached, and what he requires from you. This will inform you refpedting the pcrfon, the ofhces, the charadier and grace of Jefus Chrtji, and dired: you to the Holy Spirit, as the great inilrudor and ap- plier of all the grace and truth that is in ChriJL This word will unfold the purpoles, the promifes, and the providences of God to your view, {hewing how all of them are fo united, as to make all things work together for sood to thofe who love him. — And as to men, this rule will teach you how to order your converfation towards the fmner and the faint -, towards friends and enemies; towards rela- tions and Grangers. By this rule you are re- quired to walk orderly towards them that are without, giving no offence to Jew or Gentile, or to the Church of God. In fliort, this word will be found as a light to your feet and a lam.p to your paths, profitable for all things i God honoured hy an humhle Offering. 55 things 'y — and, walking according to it, you will have peace. In order to the accomplifliment of this, let it be izzn that your converjation is m Chri/i'^. It is by the grace, Vv^ifdom, and ftrength that you receive from him, that all this is to be effefted. Without him ye can x3o nothing. His grace alone will be fuf- ficient for you, and his ftrength is made per- fed in weaknefs. Your work then is to re- ceive H.m, and to walk in him day by day. Lean not to your own underftanding, but go in the ftrength of the Lord God, relying upon him, even him alone. You will never be able to make any progrefs in the divine life, but by a conftant application to this Sa- viour, and the ufe you make of him by faith. Without him, the correfpondence between God and you muft fail for ever :— And with- out j'cA''^ ^'^'^{/^ yoiJ will do no good amongft men. He that lives a life of faith on the Son of God, will be adtive, tender-hearted, ready to fupply the wants of his fellow-crea- tures according to his ability, difpofed to forgive injuries, and will be concerned above all for their foul's profit. He will do all this through Chrift flrengthening him, and will own that all his fufhciency is of God. 2. As to the privilege connecfled with this ordering the converfation aright, it is added, that to jiich Jball be fieisju the Jalvatirji of God. The X Pet. liJ. 16. 56 God honbiired hy an humble Offering, The difcovery of this every true believer has, in a greater or lefs degree, at prefent ; but the more full manifeftation, as well as the complete enjoyment of it, is referved for the future world. The fubjed: to be manifefted is the Sahca- iion of God 'y fo called, we apprehend^ for its great magnitude. Hence we find large trees, iHled trees of God, and great mountains, mountains of God. It may alfo be called God's falvation, on account of its excellency and importance. He is the great author and end of it. And this falvation is a great J'al- 'Dation, as it in circles the whole church of believers, extends from eternity to eternity, and includes all the glory of God : It pro- ceeds from him, centres in him, and the complete manifeflation of himfelf is feen in the whole of it. O how great mufl that falvation be, which has grace enough in it to pardon all our fins, to fandify all the powers of the mind, to fupply every want, to fubdue all oppofition, and to fatisfy every defire and demand of the foul. To every believer it appears a great falvation- — but every believer fees but a part of it — yea, all the deliverances which all of them put toge- ther have enjoyed, are no more than the fur- face of it : Still the greatnefs of it remains, which will be found fufficient to extend it- felf, fo as completely to fill all the ages of eternity. How great then mufl that falva- tion God honoured by an humble Offering, 57 tion be, of which God himfelf is the centre^ and eternity the circle that furrounds it. l^his fuhation is now ahnojl ready to be re- vealed. That day, which fhall difclofe the important fccret, approaches nearer and nearer every fabbath, and every hour. At prefent, time, like a vail, feparates you from the profpedt. The work is now in hand every day brings it nearer to its confumma- tion — and, when completed, it will appear to be worthy of God in every part of it. Hence an Apoftle reprefents the people of God, as kept by his mighty power through faith unto falvation, ready to be revealed in the laft time. * And ^he revelation of this falvation will fully fatisfy the fouls of God's people with everlafting pleafure and dehght, *' I will (hew, or, I will make him to fee, thefalvation of God/' that is, he will both give the dilcovery, and the facul- ty alfo properly to conceive of it, and take it in : And if harmony can delight, what muft it be to fee a company compofed of millions of millions, even all the ranfomed of the Lord, each prefent to bear his part in this glorious fong of falvation ! If the enjoyment of the greateft delicacies can delight, here the v/hole treafure of divine goodnefs, grace, and mercy will be difplayed ! Or, if grandeur can flrike the mind, here all the glory of God will be jfevealed, zi\^ every perfedioa manifefied ia Vol. II, H V^ * iPst. i. 5, 58 God honoured by an humble Offering. its full proportion ! It will be a filling fub- jedl to all the people of God ; and the vilion will be growing more bright and more ex- tenfive, as the ages of eternity roll along. There ^Jehovah will make all his goodnefs pafs in review before his adoring people, and "will be glorified in his faints for ever and ever. Upon the whole we infer, 1 . That if lincere confeflion be the way to glorify God, there are multitudes who with- hold this honour from him. — It is not barely faying I have finned, or, that I am verily guilty in this or that infi:ance; but it is to be humbled, to be abafed, to be annihilated as it were before God, upon the account of fin. It is to feel difpleafure, refolution, and ven- geance againfi: fin. To fee how it dishonours God, defiles the foul, and brings darknefs and condemnation upon the mind. Renoun- cing then all confidence in, or dependance upon, yourfelves; nay, loathing yourfelves becaufe of vour iniquities, have ye joined iffue with the law in condemning fin, while ye have fled for refuge to the hope fet before you in the Gofpel ? Has fin been confefi^ed, pardon implored, and juftice honoured, while ye have taken fand:uary in the arms of the God of mercy ? This is to abafe felf and to honour God. 2. From this fubjed; it appears to be vain and prefumptuous tt5 hope to fee and enjoy / God^ ^noured by an humble Offering, 59 enjoy the falvatlon of God, where there is not a ftudious defire to order the converfa- tion aright- Sandification is no lefs a part of falvatlon than j unification ; but both of them are from C/^r/yi, and both of them through faith in him. By union with ^ejus Chriji, the foul is not only abfolved from guilt, but in him has a title, and from him a meetnefs for glory. And the intent of the Gofpel being preached to the race of fallen Ada?n is, that they may receive forgivenefs of lins, and an inheritance among them that are fan6tified by faith that is Chriji Jefus, * Such are faid to be wafhed, yea they are fandiified : And {hould it be afked, how are they fanfti- fied ? the anfwer is, relatively^ being juftified in the name of the Lord Jejus, and really by the Spirit of our God. 3. How much caufe have the followers of Chri/i to be humbled on account of their de- ficiencies in this refpecl ! In many things they all offend; but perhaps in nothing more than in this, a want of realizing views of, and dependance upon, Jefus Chriji. To this fource may be attributed all the defers of their con- verfation and condud:. Did they live more on him, they would exprefs more of his image in their condud, and thereby adorn the do6trine of God their Saviour in all things. That we may be more convinced of this dQ-- fed, more humbled on the account of it, H 2 and * Ads xxvili. 18. tr~----' 6o God honoured by an humble Of'irin^, and led into more lively and conftant afts of dependance on him, God grant of his abound- ing mercy, for the Redeemer's fake. Amen, SERMON SERMON IV. The Neceffity and Advantages of Re- conciliation with God. AMOS iii. 3. Can two walk together except they be agreed? N^O; it is impofTible that they fhould ; for fuppofe that they fet out at the fame time, yet if it be not from the fame place 5 or {hould they fet out from the fame place, yet if it be not at the fame time, they cannot walk together; or fhould it be the cafe that they Itart at the fame time and place, yet if there be any previous difagree- ment between them, if they really diflike one another, they will foon feparate. ** Friend- ihip is the very life of fellowfliip, and con- cord of communion." The evidence of this we fee continually in the world at large ; but more from the want of friendfhip than from its genuine effects. From whence arife all thofe envyings, bickerings, perfonal contefts, open ruptures, or numerous law-fuits — whence all thefe, but from the difagreement there is found in men's interefts, principles, or tem- pers ? 62 T!he NeceJJtfy and Advantages of pers? They infringe upon each other's rights, or they impede the execution of one another's fchemes ; or there is that want of affecSlion, of public fpirit, and concern for the good of others equally with their own, which is ef- fential to happinefs and order in fociety. — - Even in the natural world, we fee that things which are different in their nature, are fo far from uniting, that they oppofe each other with all their force : Thus darknefs and light feem to ftruggle for a feparation, or to gain the fuperiority. Thus water and fire mutu- ally oppofe each other; and oil, while it adds rage to the one, entirely divefts the other of its fury. If poured upon fire it increafes the blazev but if upon the tempeftuated ocean it reduces its rage, and begets a perfecftcalm. But to come to the fubjed; before us. Notice had been taken in the preceding chapter of the fins of Ifraei, of the peculiar aggravations which accompanied their con- dud:, and of the defolating judgments with which, on that account, they were about to he vifited. To this they are required to pay the mod ferious regard as to a meffage from God, ver. i. Hear this word that the Lord bath Jpoken agatnft you, O children of Ifrael, agahiji the whole family which I brought up jrom the land of hgypt. Though Amos was the mefienger, it was the word of the Lord which he delivered. — This word is direded to Ijracl:, as a family. To the whole familv. That "Reconciliation with God. 63 That family Vvhich the Lord had formed, preferved, built up, multiplied, and wonder- fully appeared for. From this we remark, that God fees and is much dilpleafed witli the fins of his own family. If his children tranfgrefs, he will vifit their iniquities with a rod, and their tranfgreiiions with ftripes. Though he be the Father of the family, he will alfert and maintain his authority therein. Fie loves his children, -but it is not with a blind partiality, for he fees that folly is bound up in their hearts, and he will employ the rod of corrediion to drive it away ; ** Whoai he loves he chaflens, and fcourgeth every fon whom he receiveth." The Lord's conduct, we find, had been very gracious towards his family, but they had not rendered according to the goodneis done to them : They had returned evil for good, and unkindnefs for his generofity.— - Ver. 2. Tou only have L known of all the fa- milies of the earth ; therefore I udHI pimifi you Jor all your iniquities. As God, he knew all the families, that is, all the nations of the ■earth j but, as a Covenant God, he had not difcovered fuch affedtion and regard for any other nation as he had for Ifrad. To them he had given a good inheritance 3 had favoured them with the knowledge of himfelf and of his will J eftabliflied his worfliip amongft them, and, by a fpecial providence, watched ©ver and defended them. But though, as a family. 64 'The NeceJ/ity and Advantages of family, they had been thus highly favoured^ having God fo nigh unto them, yet they had grievoully departed from him -, though, as children, he had brought them up with fuch tendernefs, and delivered them from fuch mifery, yet they had rebelled againll him -, loaded with benefits, they had proved un- grateful, rejedied the revelation that had been given them, and diftrufled or denied his pro- vidence. Their fins were more aggravated and heinous than thofe of other nations. The time was now come that judgment (hould be- gin at the houfe of God. Slighted mercies and abufed privileges lay a once-protefted peo- ple open and expofed to the moft awful and defolating judgments. — The Lord had been long amongft them, and had received many affronts from them ; but now their fituation was become defperate. Things had got to fuch a pafs, that a feparation was abfolutely neceffary. How could they expedt that he would any longer walk with them, when every day he faw himfelf affronted to his face? His promifes were not believed, his com- mands were difobeyed, his worfhip was pol- luted with their own inventions, his provi- dence difregarded, and his Prophets either defpifed, infjlted, or murdered : He refers therefore the decifion to themfclves, v^'hether it were poiiible, things being fo circumflanced, that they could walk any longer together. Evident it was, thart the parties vvere entirely difagreed» Reconciliation rjith God, 65 difagreed, and therefore it was time to fe- parate : For, Can two walk together except they he agreed^ What is here faid oi Ifrael in particular, tnay, in a more general view, be applied to mankind at large. Once they and their Crea- tor walked together in the flridieft agreement; many were the favours with which they Were then loaded ; great their advantages : — But man being in honour continued not ; he walk- ed contrary to the Lord, and thus the com- munion was broken. In this difcourfe we propofe to (hew, I. That there is a very great difagreement between the Lord and mankind in ge- neral. IL What it is for God and Men to be re- conciled, or agreed. And, IIL That one end of this agreement, or reconciliation, isj that men may walk with God. Thefe things being con- iidered, we (hall clofe with an inference or two fr©m the fubjedt. The firft thing we have to (hew is, L T^hat there is a *very great difagreement between the Lord and mankind in general. The evidence of this mournful fadt is fo plain, that little need be faid in confirmation of it, if God be what the word of revelation ex- prefsly declares that he is, and what right Vol,. IL I reafon 6^ ^he Necejity and Advantage of reafon alfo teaches us that he mufl: be, or Ke cannot be God : — And on the other hand, if men in general are what our eyes, our ears, and our experience prove them to be, it is not only impoffible that they {hould be agreed, but it is further manifeO: that the difagree- ment between them mail be very great. This will appear if weconfider the general conduSl of mankind, or their temper and difpofition, I. The conduB of the generality of man- kind fhews that there is a very great dif- agreement between God and them; — fuch a difagreement, that it is impoffible, things continuing as they are, they {hould walk to- gether : For inftance, God is an holy God — He requireth truth ia the iaward parts. This is his command, ** Be ye holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." — And this God cannot be deceived with any falfe appearances, for he " fearcheth the hearts and trieth the reins of the children of men." The wicked condud; of men is an indubitable evidence what enemies they are to this God in their minds. What a fcene of abomination is every day paffing in review before him ! Thoufands of thoufands of tranfgreflbrs, all at work at once ; each of them exerting all his wiles and all his powers in the practice of iniquity. The Lord is reprefented as looking down from heaven upon the habitations of the fons of men; and what was the refult of the enquiry ? He faw that they were all gone out of the way J- Reconciliation with God. 67 Way; that they had all done abominably; that there was none of all the fons of Adam that did good ; no, not one, ftridtly conlidered as his defcendant. Aftonifliing forbearance, that he does not at once fink fuch a wicked world under the weight of the moft awful and complicated judgments ! It is not from any want of power, nor is it bccaufe he is not difpleafed, for God is angry with the wicked every day ; but it is becaufe he waits to be gracious to thofe who will accept of his grace, and that all the reft may be rendered eternally inexcufable : But, though he thus delays the ftroke; though he even continues to load his very enemies with his bounty, we are not thence to conclude that he is agreed with them : quite the reverfe. Scripture informs us that he endures with much long-fufFering the veiTels of wrath fitted for deftrud:ion. — f^arthly fovereigns are acquainted only with a few of the difcontents and murmurings that may be amongft their people; they do not apprehend in how many inltances their laws are broken, and their revenue injured ; but the Lord fees all the wicked works, he hears all the wicked fpeeches that there are in the world, wherever tranfaded, or by whomfo- ever fpoken. Now, if God's way be a way of truth and holinefs, and if this be the courfe of the inhabitants of the world at large, how evident is it that they do not walk together, 1 2 and 6$ ^he Necejpty and Adimntages of and the reafon is plainly this, they are not agreed.' But, 2. The temper Sy as well as the condud: of men, is another proof that there is a great difagreement between God and them. This is the will of God even their fandification. He demands of them the love, the fubjedion, and the obedience of their hearts : He requires that they fhould bow to his fovereign will, realize his prefence in all places, and at all times feel their hearts attached to his glory : But is this the cafe ? So far from it, that many are faid to hate him in their hearts. — ■ They are at enmity with his law, and could we hear that language which he both hears and underftands, one is faying. Depart from me, for I deiire not the knowledge of thy ways — another, I will not obey his voice-— and a third, Tulh, God feeth not. Could we fee as God feeth, that the hearts of the fons of men are fet in them to do evil, what an awful and diflrefiing profpedt would it be to behold every heart unvailed at once, and all the windings and workings of fin laid bare to our view in a moment ; but God feeth all this without the leaft interruption or intermiflion. Men are proud, paffionate, unclean, and un- holy ; aduated by the lufts both of the flefh and of the mind. And how, fuppofe ye, is it poffible that God fliould agree with fuch ? They have affronted his holinefs, and injured his juftice, and fpurned at his authority, and rebelled Reconciliation with God, 69 rebelled againft his government; havedefpifed his Son, and refifted his grace, and how can he be reconciled unto them r — Thus the outward conduSl and the inward tempers of natural mea fufficiently evince that there is a great dif- agreement between God and them. — But vfz haften to fhevv, II. What it is for God and Men to he recoii^ ciled, or agreed. Something feems neceflary on each part. In the Lord Jefus Chrtji the grand fcheme of reconciliation hath been opened on the part of God. He himfelf pro- vided a Deliverer — one who had the intereft of each party at heart — one who was fully able to remove all the obftacles on either fide that lay in the way of a reconciliation — one alto- gether qualified to effed: a reconciliation upon the moil equitable and honourable terms, and to render the fuccefs of his interpolition of permanent advantage to every fucceeding age. *' God was in Chrifi reconciling the world unto himfelf, not imputing their trefpaffes." Juilice is now fatisfied, wrath removed, ho- linefs honoured, truth vindicated, the law magnified, the throne of mercy eret^ed, and the reign of grace eftabliihed. The minillers of religion are likewife fent forth in the name, and by the authority of Jefus Cbrift to pray you to be reconciled to God. All things arc now ready, and behold the Lord waiteth to t)e gracious. But upon the part of man like wile 70 ^he NecrJJify and Advantages of likewlfe two things are found neceilary, in order to this agreement. 1. It is neceflkry that man fhould be made willing to accept of God's free favour ; to re^ ceive his Chrift, and to bow to the fceptre of his Javercign grace. God has refolved to glo- rify himfelf in his Son Jefus Chriji, and in the falvation offinners through him. The mind of the fmner muft be brought fully to scquiefce therewith. He muft cordially re- ceive the reconciliation, and fay from the heart. Let God have all the glory ; yea, and let him be eternally glorified in faving me and my fellow-finners in this way. When this is the cafe, men begin to be reconciled to the holinefs, and to the juftice, and to the authority and law of God. They then be- gin to fee that fin is that evil and bitter thing ■which God's word defcribes it to be; that it deferves that punifhment which he has de- nounced againft it ; and that it is reafonable and abfolutely necelfary, that fatisfacftion ihould be made on account of it. The fcheme of Redemption and Salvation, hy y e/iis C hrij} , now begins to appear a very glorious fcheme, every way worthy of the counfel of God to devife, and of his character to accomplifh. It now appears a report truly ** worthy of all acceptance that Jefus Chriji came into the world to fave fmners — that he fuftered for fin, the juft for the unjuft — and that he is able to fave to the very uttermoft all that come un- to "Reconciliation witb GvJ^ yt to God by him." — But reafonable, wonderful, worthy of God, and glorious as this fcheme ap- pears in itfelf to the enlightened mind, nothing can be more oppofite to the proud and feif- fufficient heart of the natural man than freely and fully to acquiefce in a falvation which is entirely of God j and, as fuch, to embrace it. In this falvation there is not the leafl room left for the creature to glory : God poiTe/Ies the whole honour. The exceeding greatnefs of tiie divine pov/er is found neceflary to make a people willing to accept of grace as God's gift, and of falvation as his work : Thus it is in Chriji alone, that this agreement between God and men can take place. Men never agree with him till they are brought to ap- prove of his plan, of his Cbrijiy and that he himfelf {hould be the j^reat All in All af their falvation. Chriji is our peace, opening the way for this reconciliation by his obedi- ence and death; and, by his Spirit and Grace^ reconciling the minds of men, and bringing them cordially to receive his favours. In order to this reconciliation, or agreement, being complete, 2. It is requiiite that m£.Ti be reco?iciled to the whole will of God, (o as to approve what he approves, and to hate what he hates. The mind muft be difpofed to efleem all his com- mandments concerning all things to be right, and to hate every falfe way. Their minds are fo reconciled to iho. will of God^ tha.t thev ^2 The NeceJ/tty and Advantages of they follow him as his dear children j they enter into his mind fo as to approve of it from their hearts, and delight in his law after the in\^ard man. Imperfections are indeed evident in the whole conduft of the moft eminent believers ; for they fee but in part, and are fenfible that they come amazingly fhort of that which they fee and approve to be right: Bat though there be great evidences of imperfediion in their obedience, yet they are not partial in their regard to the .will of God : They do not follow one precept while they wilfully reject or tranfgrefs another ^ but they approve of them all, and defire to ftand complete in the v^'hole will of God : They fee a beauty in holinefs; they long to be transformed into the image of a holy God, and this alone will fully fatisfy them. Their defire is to believe all that God hath revealed. Such read the fcriptures, and pray to have their underflanding and hearts led into every revealed truth, and bow their fouls to the mind and will of God revealed in the fcrip- tures. Such perfons would not wifh to havd one chapter, or even a fmgle verfe left out of the Bible; but, with a mind open to con- viction, their prayer is, *' that which we fee not. Lord teach thou us." — Such perfons ap- prove of all God's precepts, they neither charge that as too hard, nor this as too re- trained ; but their language is. Lord, thou -(halt guide us with thy counfel. — They have likewife Reconciliation with God, y^ likewife a defire to bow to the fovcreignty of God in the difpenfatlons of his providence, and would blefs his name whether he gives to, or takes away from them. — It is alfo their defire to honour the Lord, as the great in- flitutor of ordinances, doing what he has re- quired, becaufe he has required it, and en- deavouring to keep up communion with him in all his appointments. Knowingly they would not turn their backs upon any divine inftitution, but would be found walking in all the commands and ordinances of the Lord blamelefs. But where any of the doctrines of divine revelation are obftinately rejected, any of God's commands difregarded, any of his providences rebelled againft, or any of his ordinances habitually flighted, it proves that fuch perfons are not fully reconciled to God, or they would be found walking with him. Thus we have feen, that to accept of God's gtace, and to be obedient to his will are the evidences of the foul's reconciliation to God. This being proved, we pafs on, IIL To (hew thdt one end of this reconciUa- tiori^ ot agreement^ is that men may be brought to walk with God 'y and how glorious doth the Work of man's Redemption, the whole plan of his Salvation, and the operations of God's Spirit upon the heart appear, when viewed in this light ! Can that dodrine tend to li- centioufnefs, which is exprefsly defigned to bring men to walk with God ? And we affert Vol. IL K that 74 ^-^^ NeceJJtty and Advantages of that the do(flrines of Juftification by faith, of Salvation entirely of grace, and of the Spirit's operations and influences upon the heart, have this direct tendency : Their proper and necef- fary influence, where truly received, is to encourage and to enable men to v^^alk with God; and nothing but a licentious abufe of thofe grand articles of the Chrifl:ian Faith can poflibly prevent this. That fnan doth not really believe thofe dodrines with his heart, who does not both feel and' give evidence to others, that they have this influence upon him. To walk with Gody how great the idea ! What an honour conferred ! What advantages muft refult from it ! And what circumfpec- tion and Jludious concern are necefTary to pre- ferve and promote it ! I. What an honour is it conferred upon a fmful and imperfed: creature to w^alk with God ! Angels bow before him, but believing linners are permitted to walk with him. llie honour, though ineffably great, is invifible to an eye of fenfe, otherwife fure the courts of princes would be left thin, and princes them- felves would ftep from their thrones to feek this more exalted honour of walking with God. This was the honour conferred upon Enochs upon Abraham, upon Hezekiah, and upon ail good men in every age. This is the honour of all the faints ; for truly " their fellowfliip is with the Father, and with his Son J ejus Chrijir Reconciliatton ivith God. 75 Chriftr — And as the honour conferred upon them is great, fo, 2. The advantages refulting from it muft likewife be great. They who walk with God are under his peculiar care, and he has wifdom fufficient to guide, and power to keep and to defend them. His eye is always upon them, and his ear open to their cry. He has pro- mifed never to leave nor forfake them j to watch over them by night and by day j to keep them as the apple of his eye ; and to preferve them by his mighty power through faith unto falvation. — Being in his company, they fliall alfo have his friendly counjel in all their dif" Jiculties. He has promifed that the fecret of the Lord (liall be with them that fear him, and he will £hew them his covenant. — Walking with him, they y/W/ likewife ^^•i'£' his fupport, and come up from the wildernefs leaning upon their beloved. He will ftrengthen them for all their journey with him, and for all the fer- vice that he requires at their hands ; and his grace fhall be fufficient for them; his ftrength fhall be perfed;ed in their weaknefs : God being in their company, they fhall vvant no- thing that is really good for them. 3. In walking with God great circumfpec- iion is alfo neceil'ary. Remember ye are un- der the eye of him who can detect the lead deviation from the rule of the precept and from the line of duty. Your God feeth you. ** All things are naked and open to the eye K 2 of 76 The NeceJJtty and Advantages of of him with whom ye have to do;" and you will have need frequently to addrefs him as one of old did, " Search me, O God, and know my thoughts ; prove me, and know my ways ; and fee if there be any way of wickednefs in me, and lead me in the way everlafting. Who can underftand his errors, cleanfe thou me from fecret faults ; keep back thy fervant alfo from prefumptuous lins, left they have dominion over me." But though he be infinitely wife to deted; a failure, he is alfo full of compaffion. He knows your frame, and remembers that ye are but duft. The believer may often ftumble in his way, perhaps fometimes fall ; but his face is ftill towards Zioni and he rifqs again to purfue his courfe. 4. In walking with God, ajiudloiis concern is necejjary to keep up the agreement. See that God and you fall not out in the way. He is not unreafonable in his demands : All that he requires of you is, that ye fhould look to him for fupport and dirediion in every ftep, and not lean to yourfelves. The conftant exercife of faith upon his wifdom, promilb, and power is neceilary to your v/alking with him. Loiing (ight of him, ye will loiter or wander. It is by faith the intercourfe muft be kept up. By faith ye walk, ye run, and • fhall finally prevail. — Having now concluded what we propofed, we fhall draw to a clofe in an inference or two from the fubjeifl. And, 1. How "Reconciliation with God. yy 1. How awful, pitiable, and diftrefling is the condition of thole who are not in a ftate of agreement with God ! Their own confciences Sometimes proves to them how awful their condition is : Where {hall we borrow lan- guage or images whereby to reprefent it ? They are at hand : What do you fuppofe muft a poor animal feel which beholds a lion approaching in all the majefty of power ■ furroundi ng it with a leer of anger and dif- dain, and ready to fpring upon it and feize it for his prey ? Or how will the poor bird flutter and pant, when caught in the fnare of the fovv'ler, and taken by his hand? Thefeare the images employed in the fubfequent verfes : Wi/l a lion roar in the forc/i, when he hath 7io prey ? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing f Can a bird foil upon the earth, where no gin is for him ? Shall one take up a foiarc from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? Such is the condition of fm- ners , and this the warning which an holy and powerful God gives them, *' Confider this, ye that forget God, left I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver" *. It will be found a fearful thing to fall into his hands, if he then be our enemy. 2. They u^ho are reconciled to God, and walk with him upon earth, fliall be admitted to walk with him alfo in glory : They fliall fee his face; fiiall enjoy his company; be owned as his fi-iends ; led to his treafures of * Pfdlm L. 22. g^^O'* 78 T^he Necefftty and Advantages, &c» glory, and be delightfully fatisfied in his pre- fence. The Lamb which is in the midft of- the throne fhall feed them, and lead them of fountains of living waters, and God fhall wipe away all tears from their eyes. In his light they fliall fee lighf, fliall drink of the rivers of his pieafure, and be led by him from hap- pinefs to happinefs, from glory to glory, throughout all the fucceffive ages of eternity. That it may be our prefent privilege, and our future honour thus to walk, God grant for 'J ejus' s iake. Amen, SERMON SERMON V. The Glories of Jefus Chrifl: as the end of the Law difcovered. John i. 14, latter part of the verfe. We beheld his glory ^ the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, T was Go.d's purpofe from eternity to create this world, the inhabitants of hich you and I are a part. Had angelic minds been left to conjecture what fort of a world it would be when completed, not- withftanding all the fuperior advantages thev had of knowing God, as well as their fupe- rior capacities to conceive properly of him, yet it is highly probable that their idea would have come amazingly fliort of what it after- wards appeared to thofe heavenly intelli- gences, when* this work was adually finifli- ed. Then they fa^w^ and were fatisjied with tJie complete order of the great defign : — The power, the vvifdom, and the goodnefs difplayed in this great produdicn of Omni- potence, 8 b ^he Glories of ^ ejus Chrtji potence, caufed all thefe morning ftars i6 ling togethefj and all thofe fons of God to fl:iout for joy. A fcene was then opened, fufficiently cxtenfive and various, to employ their contemplative powers. The opening glories of creation exhibited themfelves more and more to their view, and in all, they faw and adored the great Creator. — But foon, probably very foon, this harmony was bro- ken — diforder vvas introduced. Sin threw its thick vail over all the beauties of tliis lower creation. Man rebelled, and God withdrew his fmile of approbation from that very crea- ture which once bore his image. Scarce was that divine image imprelTed, but it v/as obliterated, or greatly obfcured. — We pre- fume not to fay v/hat effed: this awful change would have upon the minds of angels. Pro- bably they expeded what man himfelf feems to have expedied, viz. that judgment would immediately ered: its throne j and, having configned the criminals to hell, would reduce this world back to its primitive chaos.-— God's thoughts, however, are not like our thoughts. His defigns exceed even the ca- pacity of angels. He had other difcoveries to bring forward, and other fcenesflill more grand and glorious to open. Scenes in which more of the marvellous of the Godhead would be difplayed, and more of his complete charader would be exhibited to the minds, both of fm- ful men and of admiring angels. Redemp- tion lis the "End of the Law difconjered, 8l TiON was now to be proclaimed, and gradually to be introduced. Sin having entered, God has opportunity, in the ages to come, to (hew forth the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindnefs towards us, by Chrijt Jefus. Nor inuft the knowledge of an event, at once fo interefling and important, be limited to that age in which the great work was to be ac- compliflied, or to the few ages that might fuc- ceed it. The benefits refulting from this glorious work were to extend themfelves backwards and forwards, even to all the ages of time. It became, therefore, neceflary that the difcoveries of it, though, perhaps, at firft more dark and diflant, fhould be af- forded to the human race; accordingly we find, that it was intimated to our fird pa- rents. The difcovery of it kept enlarging gradually under the miniftry of Mofes and the prophets ; at length, ** God fent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of fons," The chara(5tcr, the complete character of this glorious perfonage is clearly and fully de- Icribed in that chapter from which the text is taken. His divine — his human— and his complex character, as mediator, is here abundantly fet forth. As the eternal \'vord, lubfifting in the one 'Jehc^^aby he /j, and e^oer laas, God over all, blelTed for ever. He was 7:'fth God — wa? God — ^and by him aU things V^OL. II. L nx'trc 82 The Glories of J ejus Chriji were made, — Confidered in his low eftate, he nims tnade Jieflj. He alTumed the human na- ture into union with his divine; and, as God manifell; in the flefh, he dwelt, or tabernacled, amongft us. Viewed in this his complex character as niediator, there appeared fuch a glory in him, as then drew forth, and ftili continues to draw forth, the admiration of all that converfe with him. In him dwel- leth all the fulnefs of the Godhead bodily. All the counfels, the purpofes, and the pro- mifes o^ Jehovah, meet in him. He is their centre i — their fubftance — their glory: And low, mean, and defpicable as was the ap- pearance he made while here upon earth, through all that Ihade which furrounded him, his own difciples beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten oj the Father, full of grace and truth What I propofe to your conhderation from thefe words, is, I. The glory of the auguil perfonage, de- fcribed in the text. II. The peculiarly gracious way in which this his glory is made manifell, viz. in \\\it fulnefs of his grace and truth. III. The way and manner in which this was {t.^xi formerly, and is to be difco- vered ftill ; vjcjaw, or beheld it. You need no information what are our ideas of this phrafe, the only begotten of the Father. as the "End of the Law difcovered. 83 Father. Many eminent in the church, both for their learning and piety, have underftood and explained the phrafe of the eternal gene- ration of the divine nature of the Son in the Godhead. We have fuppofed, and ftill fup- pofe, that this defcription has reference to the eternal conllitution of Chriji, in the co- venant of grace, to be the mediator. As fuch, he was fet up from everbftir.g ages, and his delights are faid to have been with the Tons of men. As fuch, he engaged for the whole church of believers in every age, and graciouily undertook to a6l that part for them which {hould capacitate him finally to bring them to God. Eternal generation, if the idea be reflridted to the divine nature of our Lord, muft, we apprehend, indicate fome inferiority or fubordinate exigence ; at leaft, fome infer this from it; but this, we affert, is not the dodrine of the fcripture, nor is it the intention of thcfe who maintain that fentiment : But upon this head, we prefume, ourfentiments are fufficiently known already — we fee no reafon for alteration — nor need we repeat. We proceed, therefore, I. To confider the glory of the nugiiji perjo- nage^ defer ibed in theje words. The apoftle iaith, ijoe beheld his glory. — Under this head we remark, I. That, as fubiifting in the Godhead from all eternity, this everlafting word poflefled all divine, and every poilible perfe!att. xi. iS.— Jolin vi. 35, 37. — Jch 1 x. z%. 94 ^^^ Gloria ofjefus Chrifi 2. The fulnefs of that grace and truth which was in hirn, appeared aifo in all that he did. When upon earth he went about doing good was never weary in that de- iightful employ: By night and by day, in fecret and in pubHc, this was his conftant co^urlb. He always diicovered the greatefl readinefs to teach the ignorant, to fuccoiir the diftreiled, to comfort the mourner, and to heal the fick. Who ever met with a r?- pulfe from this gracious Saviour ? Or if re- pulfed, it was only the repulfe of a moment, and intended either to quicken the ardour of their application, of to prepare the way for larger and fuller difcoveries of his grace and glory in their relief. His words and actions, while he dwelt among us, v/ere a full de- monftration to aii who converfed Vv^ith him, that he was full of grace and truth. Such v/as the glory that was then mani- fefted. It was feen by faith ; and fuch were the means, whereby his difciples had the dif- coveries o> it iormerly ; and it is only in the very fame way that we can have the pri- vilege of behoidiiig it at this day. That ye/us Chrijt is full of grace and truth, the, word declares -, ana when God is pleafed to open the eyes oi the mind to behold the wonderful things which are therein contain- ed, then have we, m lome meafure, fmiilar ideas of the glory of "J ejus Chrijh In all that he as the End of the Law dif covered, 95 he hath done, formerly for others, or is now doing, the fuhiel's of his grace and truth is exhibited. May we both lee its glory, and have proper conceptions of the great encou- ragement that it holds forth to us, then ihall we alfo unite with the apoflle in faying, "we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only be- gotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." But to draw towards a clofe : From what h!ls- been advanced upon this fubjed:, it be- comes us ieriouily to inquire what difcoveries we have had of the glory of this great Re- deemer ? It is the privilege «i?7':;, as well as formerly, for his difciples to fee this glory^- This glory is to be iQ.^n in the fame inflances, and m the fame v/ay. Faith ftill beholds ^efiis Chrijl as full of grace and truth; and this appears in his word, which, though it no longer lounds in our ears, is put into our hands, and is continually under our eye. It is no lefs manifelf in all that he hath wrought for the fupport of his caufe in the world, and in all that he hath wrought in the hearts of his people in every age. The wonderful ad:s of his grace have been many, and the efficacy of divine truth has been manifefl in each of them. But have the eyes of the mind been opened, fo as to fee the encouragement thefc difcoveries open to you, and the glory which they reflect upon him ? Having contemplated the fuitablcnefs, the ability of this Saviour, have ne Glories ofjefus Chrijl have ye fled to him for refuge, for help, fof falvation? They who know his name will put their truft in him. But how many read the fcriptures, fit under the clear and faith- ful difpenfation of the gofpel, have tranfient convictions, and fome liaihes of comfort, and yet never have their eyes fo opened as to be* hold the glory of 'Jefus Chriji '^ Others re- main infenfible of their danger, unaffed:ed with their ftate, unacquainted with this De- liverer. They fee no more form or comeli- nefs in him, than the very men who cruci- £ed him. But remember, my brethren, that they who never fee the glory of Chrifl's grace and truth on earth, and fee it fo as to feel its influence upon the heart, fhall never be per- mitted to fee it in heaven. This view of the glory of Chrifl: will have its effedis in all who are bleflTed with it. Such will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord. The love and the power of fin will not prevail in fuch. Quite the reverfe ; beholding this glory of the Lord, they will be changed into the fame image^ from glory to glory, even as by the fpirit of the Lord. This image reflected upon the mind, will afl^ed: the heart : Chrifl: will be loved — will be depended upon — will be imi- tated. And thus will he be formed in the heart, and his temper, condud:, and grace be cxempliiied in cur deportment. His falva- tion as the End of the Law dif covered* 97 tion will operate within ; and grace and truth will, in its meafure, fhine forth in his difcipies. May the fame mind that wds in Chrtji Jefus appear in us alfo ; and while we behold his glory, may we feverally be en- abled to advance and fpread it. Even fo» Miek» Vol. II. N SERMON SERMON VI. The Duties of Faith, Prayer, and Application to God, recommended by a great Prince, and a gracious Saviour. PSALM Ixii. 8. ^rujl in him at all times ; ye people, pour out your heart before him : God is a refuge for us, IT has been a common practice, In different ages and countries, for Princes to iflue out proclamations for the advice, the caution, or the inftrudtion of their people. In our own land, and within the compafs of a few years, we may recoiled: proclamations calling the people to fail and humble themfelves be- fore God, during the late war, as likewife for a day of general thankfgiving at the con- clulion of it. By the Pfalm before us we are introduced as it were into the prefence of a great Prince, who had been led through a variety of difficulties, and compaffed about by innumerable dangers : Influenced by a principle God the ObjeSi of a Believer s Trujl, 99 principle of pure and undefiled religion, he ftood undifniayed, contended in the ftrength of his God, till he had furmounted every op- pofition, and finally attained both honour and peace. Long had he been detained in the fchool of advci fity -, hard were fome or the leflbns which he learnt in it, and painful the methods by which he was inilrudied. At length he is brought out of this fchool of experience, and placed upon the throne of IJrael. He finds himfelf fixed at the head of a great people ; a people highly diftinguifhed by their God, and remarkably honoured with the revelation of his mind and will. But how does he begin to adl in that exalted ftation ? Refolved to unite all his authority and influence, for the fpiritual and permanent good of his fubje(fts, as a true father to his people, he fleps forward from his throne, teaching them how to love and rely upon the Lord ;■ to trud in him, to pray and make application to him in all their difficulties : This was the proclamation of the Jfraelitijli Monarch to his people, T^ruji In him at all times \ ye people ^ pour out your heart before him : God is a rejuge for us. The Pfalm from which the text Is taken opens with a folemn refolution to truft in God alone, without having recourfe to any finful expedient, or dependance upon an arm of fiefh, ver. i, 2. The Pialmift then ex- poflulates with his enemies, and predids their N 2 ruin. 1 00 God the ObjeSi of a Believer s Tnijl, ruin, ver. 3. How long will ye itriagine mif-^ chief againji a ma?i f Tejhall he Jlaiit all of you 1 as a bowing wall jb all ye be, which is out of plumb, and as a tottering fencey which has ho cement to bind the flones thereof to each othe^ — He faw that the efforts of his adver- faries were to withhold from him the honours which God had promifed to confer upon him, or to deprive him of them, ver. 4. This coniideration led him to recline, if poflible, more firmly upon the Lord, and there alone to ground all his confidence, ver. ^-—y. And the advantages which he derived from fuch conduct, led him to recommend this fame method to his people in all their trials ; Tru/I in him at all times-, ye people, pour out your heart before htm : God is a rejuge for us. Such is the literal explication of the words in the connediion in which they {land : And a glo- rious profpedt it mufl have been, to behold one of the potentates of the earth, flepping forward to recommend real religion to his fubjedsj and, what was more, to recommend it from his own example and experience. But what if, under all this, a greater than David be underftood as addrefiing himfelf to us in the words of the text ? fefas Chri/l, when he appeared as man's Redeemer, trufled only in God that he would deliver him. He v/ould not accept of deliverance from his fuf- ferings, even whe^ he was invited to it; and when no more was required to effedl it than the Qod the ObjeB of a Believer s ^rufi» i o i the exertion of that power which he pofTef- led. Jf he be the King of Ifrael, faid the yews, let him come down from the crofs and we will believe him, ver. i, 2. — Jf^^s Cbrijt alfo exprefsly foretold the dangerous and tot- tering ll:ate of the Jew i//j church and nation, agreeable to yer. 3. He faw through all the confultations and propofals of his -enemies, how they were calculated to-prevent him from executing that work he had engaged to per- form — to withhold from him that honour which was the reward of his work, even the joy which was fet before him, ver. 4. This led him with the greateft confidence to com- mit himfelf wholly into the hands of his Fa- ther, ver. 5 — -J. And now, as vidorious over all oppofition, as the great head of the- Chriftian Church ; yea, and as one who fym- pathifes with all his members in their various trials and ditEculties, he invites, exhorts, and by his own example recommends this important duty to us ; Truj^ in bim at ail times y ye people , tour cut your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Thefe words we pro- pofe to confidcr as a call or invitatiou, I. To Faith. II. To Prayer; and, III. To a perfonal and particular applica- tion to the Lord, at all times, and under all our troubles. "^/Ve (liall then con- clude with two or three infeiences from the fubjed:. I. Thefc 102 God the Objecl of a Believer s Trujl, I. Thefe words are to be confidered as a call or invitation to faith in God at all times. By faith in God we mean that affiance in him and dependance upon him, which is propor- tioned to the manner in which he difcovers himfelf to the foul, and alfo to the degree in which that difcovcry is enjoyed : Now there is rjo other difcovery which God hath given of himfeif, which can produce or nouridi fuch a truft, but that revelation which he has made in Chrift Jefus. The light of na- ture exhibits no fuch difcovery. — The cove- nant of works affords no fuch encouragement; for while the one fliews that we have all Iranfgrtiled, the other proves that, as tranf- grefiurs, we have forfeited all claim to every privilege : But, in and through yfus Chrijty all the attributes and perfedtions of Jehovah are viewed in harmony, are viewed, as en- gaged by compad: to fave to the very utter- moft all that come to him by this Saviour. We are all in a tlate of dependance. We cannot fubfifl: as of ourfclves, either with re- fped^ to the foul or the body. In ourfelves we have v\o ftrength^ nojhck. We have many enemies and m.any wants. It is as vain to lean upon any arm of ileil:i, as to rely upon ourfelves ; But it is reafonable it is highly reafonable — it is highly reafonable, at all times t that we fliould lean upon the Lord; or, as the text expreffes it, that we (hould trujl in him. We apprehend this phrafe, at all times, Go J the Objc6i of a Believer s Trtiji, 1 03 times, is to be confidered as applicable to the feveral branches of the text. It is reafonable that we {hould truft in God at all times; that we fliould pour out our hearts before him at all times ; and that we fhould make him our refuge at all times ; that is, in every feafon, and upon every occaiion. The reafonable- nefs of this truji is what v.^e propofe to en- large upon under this head of difcourfe. And, I. It is reafonable that we fhould truft in the Lord, becaufe he is pojj'ejjed of every poffible -perfeBion. Were men required to truft, that is, to place their confidence in the princes of this world, one would make choice of this prince, becaufe he is po'iveful; a fecond of that, becaufe he is a wife and prudent gover- nor; a third of another, becaufe he is re- nowned for juftice and equity in all his deal- ings with his fubjeds. Probably it would be difficult, if not impoffible, to fix upon one, in whom all thefe qualifications would be found equally united. Was that the cafe, and were men left to their choice, that fove- reign would probably have the greateft num- ber of fuL^edts, i^ he were not owned tmi- verfal monarch : But every perfection is found in God; for he is powerful, vvife,compaftionate, holy, juft, good, and true. All thefe excel- lencies meet in that blelTed and glorious Be- ing, on whom we arc called to place our con- fidence. He is able to defend us in every danger. ib'4. God the Objedf of a BeUevers TruJ!. danger, to infl:ru many hands, without looking up by prayer to that God who has all their hearts in his hand, who allows you the privilege to confult him, and who is able to keep every thing that you commit to his care: Keep not the Lord, there- fore, out of yourfecretSj but in all things, by prayer, with fupplication and thankfgivinc?-, let your requelb be made known to him. — - The title v^'hich he hath alfumed is no lefs glorious to himfelf than it is encouraging to you. The God that heareth prayer. Be it your concern to honour him under it. Once more ^ when we are exhorted at all times to pour out the heart before God, it intimates that 2t Jhould he our jludirjus concern to prejerve an holy Jeriyoiir in our prayers. It is not futlicient to draw near to God with our lips, if the heart be far from him. Words are foon loll in air, but prayer is the labour of the heart : When engaged, therefore, in that dutv, remember with whom ye have to do; 1 1 2 God the ObjeSi of a Believers TruJI* do ', remember the importance of the bufineff ye have to tranfa<:ft with him; and that as God is a Spirit, fo he feeketh fuch to worfliip him, who worlhip him in fpirit and in truth. Guard againft a cuftomary formality in your devotion. Stir up your hearts to lay hold upon the Lord, and give him no reft till he ftablifh, ftrengthen, fettle you, and finally perfe(fl that which concerneth you. He will be found of them that feek him ; but he will be fought with the whole heart. Pieud, O plead therefore with him to pardon your fin, to ftrengthen his own work in your fouls, to guide you in every ftep, to profper the work of your hands, and to perform all that which he hath fpoken to you of. Thus the heart is poured out in Confejion and Supplication, And when it is faid that we {hould do this at all times, it intimates that it fhould be our con- cern to keep up a regular correfpondence with God — to acquaint him with all our aff'airs—rcon- fulting him in the manner oj conduciing them — and to preferve an holy fervour in the whole of our devotion,— ^Q have yet to confider the words, III. As a call or invitation to make a per- fonal and particular application to God at all times, ** God is a refuge for us." Confidered as the words of Davids they reprefent this to be the common privilege both of the ksfjg and his fubjedts. There was equal accefs and encouragement for the pooreft fubjedt as for the God the ObjeSl of a Believers Trufl. 113 the greateft prince. They all ilood in need of God for their refuge ^ and all who applied to him in truth found him fuch. But viewed as the language oiJefusChrift addrefled to the whole church, the words intimate that he confiders them all as his brethren, and is not afhamed to own them as fuch i that though he be the head, he acknowledges them as his members ; and that through him they have accefs to the fame privileges that he himfelf enjoyed while engaged in che ar- duous fervice which he performed, and fuf- ferings which he endured on earth. In all their afflictions he is afflifted, and of all their joys he is a partaker; and for the encourage- ment of the whole body, and of each indi- vidual, he fays, God is a refuge for tis. This intimates, 1. That now there is accefs to G(?^ through yefus Chrijl: He who might juftly have de- ilroyed, is become our Deliverer. The way is now open the wrath removed God is reconciled He waits to be gracious He flands engaged by word, by covenant, and by oath, to fave to the very uttermoft all that come unto him by Jefus Chrijl. This God is a refuge and ftrength to his people, and a very prefent help in every time of trouble. There is now accefs to him, and acceptance with him through fefus Chriji. 2. When it is faid that God is a refuge for us, it proves that there is room with him. — • Vol. II. P Millions 114 ^^^ ^^^ ObjeB of a Believer*: Tru/i, Millions have fought refuge here, and what they fought they have happily attained; yet there is room for millions of millions more. He whofe perfe(5lions are infinite cannot want room to embrace numbers which no man can number. There is room for the whole church j room for the greateft of fmners who repent and turn to the Lord — room for the weakeft that believe — room for thofe who have the leaft ground to expedt it on account of their complicated offences. 3. When it is faid God is a refuge for us, it fhews likewife that there is Jecurity and fupport in him for all his people 3 Jecurity at all timesy againft all their fears, and from all their enemies ; enough to fupply all their "wants, to fatisfy all their defires, and to fave their fouls with an everlafting falvation ; they fhall never be a(hamed nor confounded world without end. The inferences from this fubjedt are fuch as thefe : I. That faith, prayer, and application to God are not only the privileges, but the duty of all the hearers of the Gofpel. That faith is their duty, is evident from fuch confidera- tions as thefe : Whatever is plealing to, or acceptable in, the fight of God, muft be right in itfelfi but when the Jews inquired of ye/us Chrijly what they muft do to work the works of God, the anfwer he returned to them was : ** This is the work of God" which he God the Ohjedf of a Believers Trufi, 1 1 5 he both requires and will approve, " that ye believe in him whom he hath Tent." Further, to omit that which is not our duty can be no fin, and what is no fin, can deferve no punifh- ment ; but where punifhment is inflided, guilt is always fuppofed ; but he that belie- veth not (hall be damned. Now, as damna- tion comprehends in it the greateft punilh-' ment that the human mind can conceive ; and as this punifhment is faid to be annexed to unbelief, it muft prove that this want of faith is a fin, and a great fin, and in the fight of him who is the mofl competent judge, a fin deferving of eternal damnation. That prayer alfo is a duty, may be inferred from many paflages of fcripture, particularly from Peters addrefs to a man whom he had pro- nounced to be in the gall of bitternefs and ia the bond of iniquity ; yet he requires even that man to pray to God that the thoughts of his heart might be forgiven him. — It is therefore our duty to " feek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is nigh ;" yea, " that the wicked fhould forfake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and turn to the Lord !" What can be more reafonable — more proper. 2. From this fubjecft, how blameable are even God's own people ? How much do they diflrefs themfelves, and difhonour him, by not making more ufe of him as their refuge. They fiy to creature- refuges; they complain P 2 to 1 1 6 God the Objedi of a Believer s TruJI» to their fellow- mortals, they confult them in difficulties, inftead of flying by faith and prayer to God as their refuge. This is blameable. 3. Hence it appears to be a very reafonable duty, as well as a delightful employ, to comfort others with the comforts wherewith "we have been comforted of God. O blefs the Lord, all ye faints of his; fpeak of his goodnefs all the day long, point others to him as a refuge ; declare what he hath done for your own fouls, and when heart and flefh fhall fail, may this God be found the ftrength of our hearts, and our portion for ever, for Jefui's fake, Amen^ SERMON SERMON VII. The Believer viewing a coming Saviour in his prefent Work. Revelations ii. 25. That which ye have already y hold fajl till I come » THE want of conneding the prefent with the future, both in our ideas and condu6t, is the foundation of many errors, and the reafon why many of our privileges become vain and unprofitable to us. In the concerns of the prefent life, men are generally wife and provident; but, in what relates to the future, they are thoughtlefs, inattentive, or unconcerned. With a view to a future harveft, the hufbandman exhaufls his flrength, and relinquifhes a part of his property. He breaks up his fallow ground with labour, and he fcatters his feed with liberality , and in both he plows and he fows in hope of being repaid with a plentiful crop. With the hope of enjoying reftored health, the infirm gives up his prefent purfuits or pleafures, and re- figns himfelf to the prefcriptions and regi- men appointed by his phyfician j and every man 1 1 8 The Believer viewing a coming Saviour man exerts and employs his little fkill, influ- ence, or property, in order either to fupport or to aggrandize his family. They fnatch the prefent moment, and vvi(h to improve every apparent advantage, in order to attain that which they account more valuable or de- lirable than the prefent enjoyment. In na- tural concerns, a fenfe of honour makes mea faithful to their trull:; but does the fame principle influence them in matters of infi- nitely greater importance ? Thus, for in- ftance, you are intrufted by the great Lord of all with the care of an immortal foul; with the volume of divine revelation, and the privileges of gofpel-inftitutions ; but where is that anxious care — that ardent foli- ' citude for your fouls — that ferious attention to their worth and wants — that felicitous de- fire for their fafety, which becomes you as reafonable creatures? — You have the bible; but is it read with that attention — examined with that care — efteemed and valued in that proportion that it ought ? Or, are the ordi- nances of God attended upon with that fe- rious reverence, diligence, or conflancy,— • with that fenfe of God's prefence in them, or of that lall folemn and fl:rid account that you have to give of them ? Alas, How many negled: their fouls and their bibles, while others attend upon the means of grace only occaflonally, and when it fuits their conve- nience, or, if conllantly, with a trifling in- difference. ,*;,//2 his prefent Work. 1 19 difference, in (lead of hearing for eternity, mixing faith with the report of the gofpel, or preffing into the kingdom of heaven with refolution. Inflead of all this, they trifle with the firlt concern, they tempt God to anger, and do every thing in their power to fill up the meafure of their iniquities. In order to Simulate your mind ferloufly to attend to the things which concern your everlalling peace at this feafon, we claim your regard to thefe words of the faithful and true witnefs, addrefled to the church of Thyatira. The author of the epiftle to this church, is Jcfus the fon of God, reprefented as having his eyes like a flame of fire, fig- nificant of his infinite wifdom and his pene- trating knowledge, both into men and things. His feet are alfo defcribed as brafs, de- noting the fteadinefs of the proceedings of his providence, his ftrength to fupport his friends, and his power to crufh his foes. In this epifl:le he approves their general condudt, pronouncing it to have proceeded from a right principle, viz. love: He accepts their fer- vices, is pleafed with their faith, commends their patience, and confirms his approbation, of their condud:, by this honourable tefti- mony, that their lajl works were more than their Jirjlt ver. 19. But after all that is faid in away of commendation, an exception fol- lows, to fhew that perfecfl churches and per- fect charadlers are not to be found upon earth. 120 ^he Believer viewing d coming Saviour erath. The fault charged upon fome in this church is, that they had too much con- nived at thofe who afTumed the character of infpired teachers, and who, in order to a^'oid perfecution, had endeavoured to feduce fome of that community to commit fornica- tion, and to eat things offered unto idols* yezebel is particularly mentioned; but whe- ther we are to underftand fome individual perfon, or thofe falfe teachers, who too clofely copied the example of that woman, we pretend not to fay ; but great is the wrath which is denounced againfl them, ver. 20 — 23. Thou Jiiffereji that woman je^ zebel, which calleth herfelf a prophetefsy to teach and to feduce my fervants to commit Jorni^ cation, and to eat things facrijiced unto idols. And I gave her /pace to repent of her fornica- tion, and fhe repented not. Behold, 1 will caji her into a bed, and them that commit adultery ivith her into great tribidation, except they re- pent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death ; and all the churches JJjall know that 1 am he which fearcheth the reins and hearts -, and I will give to every one of you aC' cording to his works. From all which it ap- pears, that fome of that church had been fnared and taken by thefe diabolical delu- iionsj fuch they are reprefented to be: However, the great Head of the church de- clares, that it was not his intention to lay ^nv unneceffary burden upon his followers. His in his frefint Work* 1 2 1 His yoke they had cheerfully taken upon them ; his name they had profefTed j and the power of his grace they had experienced. The diredtion and command that he requires them to regard is comprehended in thefe words : But unto you Ifajy and unto the reft in Thyatira, as many as have not this doSlrine^ and which have not known the depths of Satan^ as they /peak, I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already ^ hold J'aji till I come. In this difcourfe we propofe^ I. To mention fome things which true believers have already in diftindtioa from others. II. Their duty refpeding thefe things^ which is to hold them faft. III. The encouragement which is propofed to excite them to this duty, and is ta*^ ken from the coming of y ejus Chrift, That there is a very great, and, indeed, an efiential difference between believers and un-» believers, is evident from the different prin^ ciples by which they are adtuated, and their oppofitc pradice; from the teftimony of fcrip- ture, and the whole hiflory of the world and church : But this difference will be pecu^ liarly manifefled in that laft and great day^ when the precious fhall be feparated from the vile, and the Lord himfelf, as the judge, fhall diftinguifh between thofe that ferved bini, Vol. II, Q^ and 122 T^be Believer viewing a coming Sainour and fuch as ferved him not. Then the grand line of reparation will be drawn, and all the inhabitants of this earth fliall fland in their proper company, to mix no more, or change their character for eternity. But, as propofed, we fhall, I. Mention fome things which true believers have in difiinSi ion from others. The perfons mentioned in the text are reprefented as ha- ving fomething, which it was required they fhould hold fafl. To particularize in two or three inftances, I. True believers have received the know- ledge of the method of falvation by Jefus Cbnjt alone. This do6lrine has been pub- lished in their ears, and has been embraced by them. They have been led to view them- felves in the very fame light in which the fcripture reprefents men to be under the fall : Not only as dead, by a legal and juft (tn- tence, but alfo as dead in trefpafles and fms. They fee fin to be what God's word repre- fents it to be, infinitely odious to his nature, diametrically oppofite to his holy will, and eternally ruinous to that foul who, in the hour of death, is found under its power. To them it appears, a clear fcriptural truth, that, by the deeds of the law, no flefh can bejuftified in the fight of God; that without fhedding of blood there is no remillion ; and that the death oi Jefus Chrijl was abfolutely neceflary to bring finners to God. To them no other wa)f in his prefent Work* 123 way appears fo fui table to the flate and con- dition of man, or fo honourable to the cha- rader of God. They fee further, that by the one oblation of this Saviour once offered, he hath for ever perfected them that are fanc- tified J that his blood has an infinite etiicacy to cleanfe from all fin ; and that as the righ- teoufnefs which he wrought out and brought in, is held forth to -all the hearers of the gof- pel in the diipenfation of the word, fo it is upon all them that believe. They can conceive no other way in which the great "Jehovah could be jult to himfelf, and yet juflify the ungodly. This is a fixed and fettled principle with them, that it is not by ** works of righteoufnefs that they have done, but through the wafliing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghofl," that they muft be faved. Nor are thefe matters of mere fpeculation with them. They are not trifling, unintiuential notions, but docftrines, in their efteem, of infinite importance. They have received, and flill do receive it as a faithful faying, and worthy of their accep- tance, that ** T^fas Chrijl came into the world to fave finners," fuch as themfelves, even the very chief of finners. Thefe are dod:rines in which they fee the glory of the divine character maintained — in which the dignity of the Saviour's perfon and work are exhibited — in which the holinefs and fpiri- 0^2 tuality 124 ^he Believer 'viewing a coming Saviour tuality of the divine law is demonftrated — - dodlrines, in which the miferable and help- lefs condition of man, by the fall, is (cX forth — in which the types and promifes of the Old Teftament appear fully anfwered and in which the glory and grace of the gofpel are admirably advanced and exalted. Thefe are doctrines which afFedt the heart, influence and adorn the conducfl, and keep up the moft lively views of the perfonal ex- cellency of Jefus Chrijly and of the foul's conftant need of him, is furely an inquiry of infinite importance. How fliall a fmner appear with acceptance before God ? And that doftrine, which gives a full and fjtisfa J*'*"* »'»• *•— t ^ ^°''* ^'''" 9' Believer s Prefervdtiort. I47 lie had ftretched the power of thought, in order to guefs what fort of a work it would be — would his conceptions, think ye, have exceeded ? or rather would they not have fallen far, very far (hort of what God has fince produced ? No doubt the latter would have been the cafe. Yet, as was hinted be- fore, falvation is the kernel of the creation; this forms the foot-ftool, but that the throne of the Deity. What a glorious exhibition then will that be when the work is complet- ed ! Salvation (hall be brought forth to be admired, and to be enjoyed, by all the faints ; to be enjoyed as the marvellous work of the Deity, and as the glory of the great God. Then {hall it be feen what infinite wifdom could plan, grace could accomplilh, and power effedt. The vail that now covers the glorious work will then be taken off, that every eye may fee, and all the ranfomed of the Lord may be eternally filled with the glory and honours of his falvation* It is ready to be revealed in the laji time, Proceed we, II. To confider the medium whereby every believer is now conneSied with this falvation, and fiall eventually be preferved to the full en- joyment of it through faith* **Kept through faith unto falvation ;" that is, he is preferved by a dependance upon the Lord "Jefus Chrijl-, and by humble expectation of a full, though future, falvation. " The life he now lives in the flefli, is by the faith of the Son of God/' T 2 Frow 148 Divine Power m^gnifieti in the From him he derives ftrength, fupport, en- couragement, comfort, and confidence. — In a word, all his help, and the whole founda- tion of his hope, is out of himfelf. He looks to Jefus to flay his fins, to perfect his graces, and to complete and crown the work of falvation in him. Faith bears him up while on a tempeftuous ocean, and brings him fupport in the ftorm. Looking to ye/us is his work, his ftrength, and his vid:ory. — This fimple method is the appointment of the all- wife God. He approves no other, has inftituted no other, and will admit of no other. Looking to Jejiis^ the Author and Finifher of our faith, is the only fuccefsful way to lay afide every incumbering weight, difengage ourfelves from befetting fms, and run with patience the race that is fet be- fore us. * But fimple as this method may appeal-, there is hardly any thing more diffi- cult than to keep the foul in this humble, this felf- degrading, this Chrift-exalting frame. — In this concern the true believer labours un- der many difad vantages. I . From the different views he has of the fame objedl at different times. There arc feafons when he is favoured with fuch enlar- ged views of the merit of the Redeemer's death, and the completenefs of the falvation procured by him, that had he ten thoufand fouls he could venture them all with confi- dence upon that bottom. He fees that where * Hek xU. I, s. "^ 'Believer s Prefervaiion, 149 fin hath abounded, grace doth much more abound ; that the riches of mercy are un- fearchable; and the prom ifes of God appear to him {o many breafts of confolation ftream- ing with comfort. — At other feafons the Re- deemer is ah-noft out of light — guilt inter- venes, and hides the only refuge and remedy from his view ; promifes feem to have loil their favour, and to be exhaufted of their treafure. He views them, as with different eyes, hears their language v/ith different ears, .and feels different emotions within relpeding "them. His faith is very languid — it ff aggers, it links under accumulated burdens, and Vvcre it not for the power of God it niuft expire. -O affejfting feafon ! in which the foul feems to have loft all profpe<5t of a precious C;6r//f, and of a promiled falvation. 2. Faith labours under great difadvantages alfo at feafons from the fuggeftions of Satan. His devices are deep laid, and the feafon of his attacks well chofen. He has his thou- fands of games to play, and thoufands of ob- je<5i:ions to raife againft the believer and his faith : nor will he leave one mean untried in order to break the bruifed reed or quench the fmoaking flax. He will accufe, examine, and crofs-examine your faith, and employ every artifice to invalidate its claim. Peter, "while in this confli(5t, was fore toiled and broken. His Lord alone could difcern that living principle which, had it not been under the 150 Divine Power magnified in the the protedion of his own power, had becftf entirely loft. Is the foul exercifed with a •variety of trials ? The adverfary will infinuate that were you a believer this would not be the cafe; and though your mountain have flood ftrong for a feafon he will aftault it, and endeavour to fhakc your confidence, to fap your hopes, or to rob you of your com- forts^ If, on the other hand, all things have worn i fmooth and placid afpec^ for a con- fiderable feafon ; if there have been no per- fonal affliction, no domeftic trial, no cloud upon your fecular concerns^ he will iniinuate that were you an accepted child, you would certainly be an afflided one j and, perhaps, back the inlinuation with this fcripture, that •* whom the Lord loveth he chafteneth, and fcourge the very fon whom he receiveth ; if therefore ye be without chaftifement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye baftards and not fons." 3. Faith labours under great difad vantages alfo from the variety of trials it meets with both from without and from within. Your conned:ions in life, your employments in the world, as well as inward fears, doubts, and difcouragements have a tendency to keep your faith very weak and languid. You do not fee that progrefs and fuccefs in the divine life as you forrherly expected. Little advan- tage feems to have been gained againft your common enemies — little progrefs made in the Chriftian Believers Prefervatlon, T51 Chriflian courfe ; nay, at feafons, perhaps, ycu are ready to conclude thatyou are more defiled, and more exercifed with doubts and diftrefl'es than ever. You are brought almod: to give up the very hope of falvation, to yield to the torrent of temptation, and to conclude that it is in vain to wait for the Lord any longer. Once more, 4. The length of time likewife that the foul hath to wait for this falvation is a great trial to faith. At firft ye were willing to wait: It then appeared a duty, and a refolutioa was formed that you would wait for the God of your falvation ; but after fome time is elapf- ed, and little evidence of the progrefs of the laving work in the heart is ko^Wy llrong cor- ruptions, unfandtified tempers, and unruly paf- fions are felt, ye would entirely faint did not the promife aii'ure you that now is your filvation nearer than when ye firil: belTeved — You mud inevitably fail, unlefs faith had hold of that power which is able to make the promife good. A foul thus born up for years, in the midll of all the adverfe winds of temptation, though tolfed with the billows of corruption, is furely no lefs than a prodigy of the divine power, and to that our text albribes it which leads us to notice, 111. The infallible fupport and fecurity of that frail medium of connect ion which fuhfjh betiveen the foul and falvation : It is kept by the power cf God; This fl:iews, I. That T^2 Divine Power magnijied in the 1. That faith, and all the other graces of the Chriftian, are under the guardianfliip of the divine power, and that fin, and all his other enemies, have to contend with Omnipo- tence itfelf. What an animating and exhilerat- ing thought ! Kept by the power of God, faith lives, hope out-rides the ftorm, and grace prevails. The bruifed reed is ftill fupported, and the fmoaking flax is yet fupplied. With this in view, the weakeft believer may exult with the greateft of the Apoftles, and fay, having obtained help of God, I continue to this day! It is becaufe his care is unremitted, and his compaffions fail not, that we are not confumed. 2. Though this fupport be fometimes im- perceptible to the believer himfelf, it is al- ways real. The Lord keeps him by night, ■when he cannot fee his protedlor, as well as by day, when he can more clearly difcern him. Unfeen, he guides him llill, and un- felt, he fupports. Probably at feafons the true believer is no more able to defcribe the manner of his fupport than he can tell how foul and body are held together from year to year. He perceives it no more than a babe, hanging at his mother's breaft in a beiieged fcrtrefs, is fenfible of the means of his pro- tedlion. And fuch is the idea that feems to be conveyed by our Apofile in the original. Kept as within an impregnable garrifon un- der Believer s Frefervatton, 1 53 der the obfervation of an all-feeing eye, and under the protection of an Almighty hand. 3. As this fupport is conftant, fo is it like- wife fufficient. Is any thing too hard for the Lord ? No, he is able to do exceeding abun- dantly above all that we can afk or think. — He fainteth not, neither is he weary. Look back to ancient generations — colled: into one view all the wonders he hath wrought, and then remember for your encouragement, that ** his arm is not fliortened that it cannot fave, nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear." His power is infinite, and all the church (hall know what is the exceeding greatnefs of this his power towards them that believe, accord- ing to the working of his mighty power. * The Father is greater than all, and none fliall be found able to pluck them out of the Fa- ther's hand, -f* The inferences we deduce from the fubje(fl are thefe : I. How great is the privilege of the true Chriftian. He is fecured to an inheritance, and fecured fo as no heir to an earthly in- heritance can be. Nothing iliall intervene between him and his patrimony ; nothing prevent his future and full enjoyment of it. No, not all the trials of life, the confli(5ts of a dying hour, or the alTaults or accufations of his grand adverfary. His God ftands engaged to him by promife and covenant, and he Vox. II. U knows * rph, I, 19.— t Jchfi X. »9, 1 54 Divine Power magntfied in the knows in whom he has believed, and is pcr- fuaded that he is able to keep that which he has committed to him againft this day of fal- vation. Though oppofed, grievoufly oppofed, he {hall ftand, for his God is able to make him ftand. * 2. That fame power, which will finally reveal and bring forth lalvation for the enjoy- ment of faints, has alfo treafured up, and will at laft infli(fl wrath upon fmners. The day is coming when all their hard thoughts of God, and their rebellious condudt againft: him, will be expofcd to view. Judgment will be protradled no further, nor patience longer fuffer abufe. Vengeance (hall be taken upon them that know not God, and obey not the Gofpel of Jejui Chriji They fhall be banifhed from the prefence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, and will find it an awful thmg to fall into the hand of the living God. Confider this, ye that trifle with Cbrtjiy with your fouls, and with the Gofpel. Fly for refuge to the hope that is now let before you; take fan6tuary under the fhield of Omnipotence: Kifs (that is, fubmit to, and embrace) the Son and be happy. Our God waits to be gracious — is flow to anger — ready to pardon —and declares that he that Cometh to him he will in no wife caft out. 3. From this fubjedl learn to look to, rely on, and take comfort from the Majefty of God, as engaged to fave to the uttermoft all * Rom. xiv. 4. that Believer s Prefervation. 155 that come unto him hy Jefus Chrijl : Look to him and be ye faved : Be flrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might : Go forth in his ftrength, relying upon him who promifeth to give power to the faint, and to increafe the ftrength of thofe who have no might. Thus out of weaknefs will ye be made ftrong, and as having nothing, will enjoy all things. And thus, as in the cafe of the Apoftle Patilt " his grace fliall be fufiicient for you, for his ftrength fhall be perfected in weak- nefs." * ** Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to prelent you faultlefs before the prefence of his glory with exceeding joy ; to the only wife God our Saviour, be glory and majefty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen" -f* • 2 Cor. xli. 9.— — f Jude ver. 24, 25. U 2 SERMON SERMON IX. Dying Remorfe : Or the Pangs of a wicked Man's Confcience in the Clofe of Life. Proverbs v. 12, 13. How have I bated inJlruSiion, and my heart defpifed reproof^ I have not obeyed the voice of' my teachers y nor inclined mine ear to them that ififlruSied me, IT may be faid of human laws that they are the very life and fupport of fociety in every civilized ftate : without them all would be diforder, rapine, and diftrefs — in them the magiftrate, as with the finger of authority, draws the line of defence around both our perfons and property. The laws of this land take every individual under their protection, and place the executive power, armed with the authority and fupport of the whole nation, as a terror to them that do evil, "but a praife to them that do well. Confi- dered in this light, human laws are to be viewed as flrong and neceflary pales, fixed upon the precipice of dellrudion, to guard the Mans Confcience in the Clofe ofLtfe, 157 the though tlefs and the rafh from falling. But laws, however pure in their principles, reafonable in their requirements, juft in their prohibitions, kind and falutary in their ten- dency, or good in their end ; I fay laws, with all thefe qualifications, hold forth but the fhadow of protedion to the induftrious, or the phantom of deftrudion to the rapacious, unlefs penalties andpunifliments be annexed to them. The order and advantage of fociety requires that, in fome cafes, thefe penalties be enforced j yet thefe punifliments are not only for the fatisfadion of juftice, and for the reformation of the tranfgrelTors, but alfo for a warning to others againft fimilar crimes. Few principles appear more reafonable in themfelves than this, that every man fhould fecurely enjoy that life which his God gave him, and quietly pofTefs that property which the great difpofer of all things has allotted to him. Upon this iimple foundation the laws of our country are built ; and that man who would infringe upon another's right in either of thefe cafes, deferves to be deprived of his liberty, or excluded fociety. But how many, tempted by the profped: of what another pof- feffes, leap over this inclofure, hoping to bear it away with fecrecy, and enjoy it unde- te(fted. Under this delufion, many have ventured upon fin, and, perhaps, when too late, have bewailed their folly and their crime. Locked up in a gloomy prifon, loaded 158 Dying remorfe : OrtheFangsofamcked loaded with galling fetters, and pierced to the very foul by the fting of remorfe, they have given vent to the bitternefs of its anguifh in fuch language as this : ** What have 1 done ! Into what fhame and difgrace have my covetous defines, or unbridled lufts plunged me! My folly has deceived me. By prelumption 1 am undone; and what now remains but a publication of my guilt the fentence of judgment — and the approach of death in a public execution." But human laws, however ufeful and ne- ceflary, cannot inforce every duty, or pre- vent every crime. They can only take cog- nizance of the outward adion. In this God's laws have greatly the pre-eminence, they reach the principles of adion, and extend their authority to our very thoughts. A per- fect copy of this facred code is to be found in the volume of Revelation ^ Minilters, like magiftrates, are to publifh thefe laws, ufe their vigilance, and exert all their ability in enforcing and carrying them into execution. It is true they are not inverted with the power of the fword, or required to punifh the offender : Their duty is to warn the unruly, invite the inattentive, and fteadily to perfevere in commending the truth to every man's confcience, as in the fight of God, alTuring every man that God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteoufnefs by 'Jejus Chriji, The Mans Confclence hi the Clofe ofLife, 159 The minifter's office is to point out the rea- fonablenefs of the divine command ; the ad- vantages that ftand infeparably conncdted with obedience; and the promifes of divine aid in the way of duty. Men are to be informed that the claims which God makes upon them are founded in love j that their prefent good and future advantage are all he aims at; and that it is no unreafonable fervice which he requires at their hands. Not only fo, but while we proclaim the reafonablenefs of what he requires of you, we are commanded to open the treafures of his grace, and difplay them before you. By the gofpel, even thofe who have rebelled are invited to return to their allegiance, and ** the wicked forfaking his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and returning to the Lord, ftiall find mercy and abundance of pardon." Such is the gra- cious remedy ; but if this be rejected, ** there remains no more facrifice for lin, but a fear- ful looking for of judgment which Ihall de- vour the adverfary." Thus fmners are gra- cioufly invited and folemnly warned; but how many fpurn at the authority, refift the grace, trifle away the day of falvation, defy the judgments of Omnipotence, and finally make room for painful and hopelefs reflec- tions, crying out for eternity, //oi • have 1 bated injirubtion, and my heart defpiftd re- proof^ I hdve not obeyed the voice of tny teachers* x6o Dymg remorfe : Or the Fangs of a wicked teachers^ nor inclined mine ear to them that injlrutled me. Waving all attention to the preceding con- text, fuiiice it to remark, that thefe words are reprefented as the dying rcfle(5tion of a wicked man on the borders of the grave, with his bones filled with the fins of his youth. In the words we propofe to confider, I. The view, the comprehenfive view of a minifter or a parent's duty, refpediing finners in general, or young people in particular. II. The duty required of thofe who are pofiTefied of thefe advantages. III. The manner in which too many treat thefe privileges. — And IV. The future a^d awful efFe(5t of fuch conduct. — After which we ihall clofe with a few general refled:ions upon the - fubjed. T. The comprehenjive view this paffage af" fords us of the nnnifters or parenfs duty, re^ fpedling finners in general, or young people in particular, comes firfi: for our confideration. This is reprefented as confifting of two parts, viz. InfiruSlion and Reproof I. It is the minifler's duty and province to inflrudl men in the way that leads to holi- nefs and happinefs ; how they may honour Cod v/hile upon earth, and finally attain the" full Mans Confcience in the Clofe of Life. 1 6 1 full enjoyment of him in heaven. The only way to be happy, my fellow-finners, is now to feek acquaintance with God — to confign yourfelves over to his care and fervice to bow to the fceptre of his grace — and to de- rive all your help and comfort from that blefled and inexhauftible treafure which he has laid up in 'Jejus Chrifl. It is our office to invite you to be reconciled to God — • to fhew you the way in v,^hich this invaluable privilege is to be obtained — and to fet before you the advantages, the ijieJt'miabU advantages, that are to be derived from it, both in time and eternity. With pleafure we meet you, from time to time, to inftruCt you in that di- vine fcheme, wherein our God can bejuft, yet juflify the ungodly fmner who believeth in ^ejiis : In which theri. is a difcovery made how fin can be freely forgiven, peace pof- felTed, and real pleafure enjoyed. Our defire, as well as our duty, is to inform you hovv the ignorant may be made wife; the weak valiant; the fearful courageous j the guilty accepted ; and the impure made holy. The . amiable, yet honourable character of God -, the humility, grace, offices, and glory of Jcfus Cbrift y the works of the Holy Spirit; the neceffity of converfion ; the privileges' and duties of the real Chriftian -, and the grand fcheme of falvation in its feveral parts: Thefe are the fubjeds to which we devote our thoughts, and in which we anxiouflv de- VoL. II. X ' fire 1 62 Dying Remorfe : Or the Pangs of a wkked fire to be the happy inftruments of inftrudt^ ing our fellow-mortals. To point you to the path of life, the treafures of Chnji, and the manfions of glory. This is the delightful tafk we have undertaken, and which is com- mitted unto us by our great and divine mafter. At other feafons we endeavour to lay before you the various devices of Satan, the deceit^ fulnefs of fin, and the depravity of the human heart ; while, at the fame time, we dired: you to the armour of God, the treafures of di- vine wifdom, and the promifes of ftrength, fupport, fandification, and falvation. We inform you how temptation may be reiifted with fuccefs ^ how fin is to be vanquifhed by a fteady looking to Jefus-, and how a depra- ved heart is purified by faith. In a word, we affure you, that yet there is room in the arms of divine mercy for the very chief of finners, and adfnittance into the kingdom of heaven. "We have God's authority, I fay, to afTure you that all things are now ready for the ac- ceptance, findtification, and falvation of every linner that cometh to him by Jfus Chrifii and that he who thus cometh to him fhall in no wife be rejected. And while the faithful minifler holds out the neceffary inftrudlion to his people, godly parents are no lefs careful to inculcate inftrudiion upon their tender charge. They furnifb you, my young friends, with God's word, intreating you to examine its contents, and Mans Confciefice in the Clofe of Life, ifij and to take heed that ye order your way ac- X as the fubjed would fwell too much, were we to carry it on in this double point of view, in what remains, we fhall 'confine our thoughts- to the former branch alone. — Proceed we, therefore, to confider in then ext place. III. The Maris Confcience in the Clofe of Life. 169 III. The light and indifferent manner in 'mhich too many treat thefe privileges. Some pay little or no attention either to the inftrudions or reproofs of minifters. They feldom come under the found of their voice, and therefore cannot poiTibly derive any ad- vantage from them — or, if they do attend, of the great numbers who crowd under the means of grace, how few comparatively give evidence, that they reap any faving advantage. Their minds enter not into the important truths that are delivered j and, by a fatal prefumption, they ward oif all the arrows of convi(ftion which are employed againft them. The fecret language of their heart is, I Ihall have peace, though I walk in my own ima- ginations. Thus the danger of fin, the ne- ceffity of converfion, and the judgment of the Almighty appear to them but as idle tales. Ihey do not incline their ears to tnflruc^ tion. Others, again, are fo far from inclining their ear to it, that they really dejpife it. In their hearts they have an oppofition and dif- tafte to the gofpel ; for ** the natural man re- ceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, they are fooliilmeis to him, neither can he know them becaufe they are fpiritualiy dif- cerned." .If, therefore, the particular vices they are mofl addided to, be expofed and ftruck at, they immediately defpife the re- VoL. II. Y j^rcof 170 Dying Remorfe: Or the Pangs of a wicked proof — refolve to run the dreadful venture — • to procraflinate the necelTary reform — or to thruftfrom them the word of life andfalvation. Others, neceffitated to attend by the au- thority of parents or fuperiors, even hate the gofpel. They are detained before the Lord ; but this is the language of the heart, When will the fabbath be over ? How long will it be ere von babbler hath finifhed his tedious harangue? The doctrine advanced galls their coniciences i under it they find no red; yet from it can obtain no releafe. Thus are they dragged to it with reluctance, fit under it ■with diflike, and retire from it with difguft. Others again a(fl a contrary part to the fpi- rlt and precepts of the gofpel. They are proud, pafiionate, earthly-minded, intem- perate. In words they own God, but in works deny him. Thefe are fi:rong marks that fuch perfons have not obeyed the voice of their teachers. Either, Sirs, adorn the gof- pel, or do not injure and difgrace it by your profeflion. It is in vain to fay. Lord, Lord, if we do not the things that he hath com- manded. If this golpel do not transform the hearts and lives of men, their profeflion of it is a trefpais made upon the grace of the difpenfation. Brethren, the compliance of the heart with the gofpel, and the conformity of the life to it, are indubitable evidences ^hat ye really love it : But if the temper and walk Maris Confcience in the Clofe of Life* iyt walk be contradidlory to this gofpel, pro- fefs what regard for it ye may, thefe are the evidences that ye /jate it in your hearts. Such is the condudt with many; but as a guard againrt: it, we have propol'ed to conlider, IV. 'The awful effects of fuch a conduB, if f erf fed in to the clofe oj life. Such will mourn, at the laft. They will cry out in the bitter- nefs of their fouls, when the ftorm of death commences *. T^hey fiail mourn at the lafty when their feJJj and their body are co?fumed, faying, how have we hated ivfruSlion, and our hearts defpifed reproof We have not obeyed the voice of our teachers, nor inclined our ears to them that irifru5led us. But in particular, I* With what painful reflexions may we fuppofe fuch perfons muft review the courfe of their lives, if reafon and recollection be then in exercife. — O painful review, privi- leges flighted — warnings difregarded — a loul negledted — a Saviour crucified atrefh — -heavea contemned — and hell deferved. An ancient naturalift remarks, that the mole never be- gins to fee, till it is about to die. The truth or falfehood of this we pretend not to fay, but O what an awful view have lome per- fons had of murdered time and flighted Y 2 mercies^ * The word here tranOated to mourm fignifies alfo tp roaft as a lion when prefled with hunger, Prov. xxsviii. 15 : or like th« acean in the time of a Jtorm, lui. v. 30. 172 Dying Remorfe: Or the Pangs of a wicked mercies, when they come to the borders of eternity. Confider then in time. Sirs; what can ye do in that folemn day, when death refuies to quit his prey, and God to comfort? A reflediing feafon will come. May that fea- fon not come too late. 2. Bitter remorfe is, no doubt, included in the reflection. In that honeft hour, fin- ners will both fee and condemn their folly. Every vain excufe will then be difmifTed ; fhadows retire, and realities alTume their pro- per form and place. In that feafon God will be juftified, minil1:ers juftified, parents and faithful friends juftified, and men will con- demn themfelves, and charge the guilt to their own account. O what a confeffion wiU be extorted, when the fmner comes to lie upon the rack of his own confcience. 3. They will then fee that they have com- mitted an irretrievable miftake. Haftening to the grave, and no repentance there. The fummons into eternity muft be obeyed — the fentence — the final irreverfible fentence muft be pronounced the everlafting ftate be fix- ed ; and what horrors of defpair ! What agonies of diftrefs ! What anticipations of damnation will then torture the departing fpirit ! Dreadful fcene ! The moment of difr folution approaches — the door of mercy final- ly clofes life and time expire eternity— and, what is ftill more jawful, damnation commences. Maris Cmfctence in the Clofe of Life* 173 commences. In that moment hope periflies, and the never-dying (inner finks down under the infupportable load of unpardoned guilt in- to the bottomlefs pit of everlafting perdition! There remains no facrifice for (in ; but — fiery indignation, which fhall devour the ad- verfary. A few general reflexions fhall clofe the fubjedt. And, 1 . Hence let parents learn to be found di- ligent and faithful in the difcharge of their duty towards their children. Watch over them, as thofe that muft give an account, and meet them as witnefTes for or againft you in the day of judgment. Travail over them in birth, till ye behold Chrifi formed in them the hope of glory. Train them up in the way wherein ye would wifh them to walk, iri future. Reprove with meeknefs of wifdom ; rebuke with tendernefs mixed with autho*- rity ; and exhort with earneflnefs animated by afFediion for them, and the importance of the duty ye recommend to them. Ever a(fl. with this facred axiom in view. That he that winneth fouls is wife. 2. If the difpenfation of the gofpel be in- tended for your iiiflru^ioji and reproofs then with what temper of mind, difpoiition. 6£ heart, and earneflnefs of de(ire (hould ye ftatedly attend upon it ? Attend with defire to know and to do the will of God. As ig- norant 174 Dying Rcmorfe: Or the Pangs of a Wicked norant come to be taught, and as needy to receive. Bow to God's authority revealed in the fcriptures, and fubmit your judgments and fouls to the determination of the Lord God Almighty. In all your attendance upon gofpel-ordinances, cultivate the frame and fentiments of Cornelius, who, fpeaking in the name of his family and aflembled friends, addreffed the heavenly meflenger thus, " We are all here prefent before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." 3. Faith in the report of the gofpel, and compliance with it, is not only attended with peace in this life, but affords fupport and confidence in our departure out of it. What pleafure is it now, to have the teflimony of our confciences, that we love inftruftion, and have not defpifed reproof, but have obeyed the voice of our teachers, and inclined the ear to them who have in{lru(fted us ; and with what peace may we hope to be indulged when we remove from this world. There remains a reil for the people of God. — Their end is peace their courfe is finifhed with joy and life clofes honourably in company with God. Finally, 4. If fuch are the advantages of being taught of God here, what muit it be to be taught by him hereafter ? To be led into all truth — fee light in his light contemplate truth no longer in the copy, but in the ori* ginaU r Mans Confcience In the Clofe of Life ly^ ginal. Such muft be truly wife, perfe or, like the rope which forms a connection between the velfel and the fhore, to which w^e before al- luded, though it may fometimes hang loofe — may dip into the water — may be hid from our fight, yet the connection ffcill fubfifts, and the advantages of it eventually appear. This hope of falvation gives fupport to the mind under the adverfe blafts of providence, and enables the foul to outride the fevereft florm : It renders theheavieft afHid;ions com- paratively Invigorating Comfort in a dying Hour, 1 89 paratively light, and (hortens the fevereft trials. — Such is the account that "Jacob gives us oi the life of a believer. He has fuch an abiding fenle of his loft condition* as to ex- clude every idea of help from himfelf ; but he is favoured w.-th foiue happy difcoveries of that falvation which is hcla out to hiin in the promiie — the hold he h s of thu pro- mifc tends to promote activity and diligence. He perfcveres in the ufe of appointed means; and by the hope he has of this falvation, he is born up, and carried fafely through ail the advei'fe trials he meets with. iiut we have yet, II. To confider thefe words af "Jacob, as holding out the view teat a dying belitver has cf death. ** I have waited for thy falvation." Can words more clearly evidence, that fuch a perfon looks upon death — as the period to all his miJery—'SLS the door which was to admit him to the enjoyment of a full Jaivation — and as that grand ingathering feajon, when all his graces Jioall be jully ripemd, and lodged J aje with his God for eter?iity ? I. Living m expedation- of God's falva- tion, the good man makes it appear that he looks upon death as the period to all his mi^ J'eries. Temptations can follow him. no further; there he lays down the body of fiii and death, to bear the iniuppirtable burden no longer. \i\ a dying hour he refigns every thing but his hope ; and that contains a trea- fure igo Invigorating Comfort in a dying Mmr, fure fufficient to enrich him for ever. He is to figh, to Ibrrow, to fufFer no more j for the days of his mourning are now brought to a conclufion. The root of indweUing fin is now effedtually eradicated, its fruit deilroyed, and itb very being done away. His warfare is ended, the fierce, the tedious, the once- doubtful confli6t is to be renewed no more. Death, which to many is the beginning of forrow and fuffering, to him is the end of both : It is the period of his mifery, and the port of his falvation. He enters into peace, that he may reft for eternity, yacoby in his dying moments, confidered himfelf as bid- ding an happy farewell to forrow : Efau had perfecuted him; Laban had deceived him; his own family had caufed him many an anxious thought and many adiftrefiing hour : He had known what it was to be full and to be hungry, to abound and to fuffer want; but now, he beheld death in waiting to put a period to all his trials. 2. Jacob confidered death as the door ijuhich was to admit him to the enjoyment of a complete falvation. View the good man juft going to receive the full anfwer of all his prayers ; to gather the full- ripe fruit of his faith and hope, and to take pofiefiion of that incor- ruptible inheritance, the title to which he had long held in the promife. But a ftep between him and life eternal — a moment be- tween his waiting foul, and a perpetuity of blifb. Invigorating Comfort in a dying Hour, 191 blifs. His heart and his flefli began to fail hiai, but his hope did not; that was in full vigour flill, and brightened the more as the (hades of death gathered around hira. Fie coniidered himfelf as going to God, without any thing unfriendly in his foul towards him, or apprehending any thing unfriendly from him. The fupport of the everlafting arms were experienced, and his foul was willing to be feparated for a feafon from the body, that it might find reft in the bofom of his God. The diftant intercourfe, which had been kept up fo long between God and his foul, infpired him with the ardent defire to enjoy greater intimacy, and uninterrupted communion. His expectation had not been in vain — he had waited — and now the cha- riots of falvation were ready to receive and convey him to the deiired country. Nothinor now remained to feparate between him and the objedt of his hopes but death, and that 'he faw and welcomed as the door which was to admit him to the enjoyment of full fal- vation. 3. This great and good man confidered death as that grand ingathering feajon, ivheji all his graces fiould be *J ally ripe, and him/elf lodged fa fe with his G'^ti Jar eternity. It is in this view that the righteous man is faid to come to his grave like a Jhock of corn jidly ripe *. After being expofed to many a ilorm— befet and entangled with manv a * Job V, ;0. weed 192 liruigoratini Comfort in a dying Hour, weed — Aibfifting under many a dark and frov/hing fky, and weighed down under many a heavy ihwwer, at length it is ripened — is gathered, and honied llife from every danger; So your now nnperfedl graces will then at- tain iho. fummit <:){ their growth, and be ad-.* vanced to nobler icrvices in a better worldi Ye fhall fee God, fhail ierve him and enjoy him without an intervening vail, an inter- rupted moment, or the poffibility of an end. Faith {hall be crowned with victory j hope, ■with enjoyment ; and love, with everlafting delight, in a word, the report of falvation fhall then be realized, exceeded, and the bleffing pofiefled. Eternity ! a glorious eter- nity in all its unmeafured ages, will be em- ployed in unfolding, explaining, and enjoy- ing the contents of this great, this lignificant word Salvation. On earth it is waited for, in heaven pollefled. From this fubje(5t, I. Learn to refled upon the death of the righteous. *' Mark the perfect man, and be- hold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." His life was an honour to the doc- trine he profelfed, and his death is a con- firmation that there is a reality in religion. What can the world do for its votary v*^hen death comes to lay its cold hand upon him ? It retires, withdraws all its charms and all its deluding hopes in a moment, and leaves him to grapple with the King of terrors alone. Invigorating Comfort in a dying Hour, 193 alone. Not fo religion ; it fteps forward with its friendly aid; it fupports him with its comforts in a finking hour, and (hews that precious in the fight of the Lord is the death of his faints. 2. Who would not wifh to be in fuch a frame as Jacob was, when he comes to die ? It was not peculiar to Balaam to wifh to die • the death of the righteous, and that the lafl end may be like his. There are two feafons in which the wicked envy the lot of the righteous, viz. wben upon their dying bed,,^. and when, like the rich man in the pai :r; -, they (hall behold their height ot happinefs from the galph of niifery* At other ieaibns they are defpifed— their life is accounted madnefs and folly : But il^ ye would widi to have your lot with them at the laft, then let them at preknt be Honoured with your r.p- probation and company Better to take up religion with all its crotfes now, than link tit laft under the reproaches or your owii cc;a- fciences, and the curfes of the Almighiy, 3. Examine whether there be a re.ir:.;i;.{ble ground to hope that, when ye co.i5e to (he, Jacob's cafe will be your cife. Coniid;.-!- yuur latter end— inquire into the ftate of your fouls— learn to die daily — and ic) to number your diy^s as to apply your hearts unto wif- dom. Live in the uaiiy exercife or faith on, and expectation of, this falvation. The Vol. II. B b wicked 194 Invigorating Comfort in a dying Hour, wicked fliall be driven away in his wicked- nefs,. but the righteous hath hope in his death. 4. There is a clofe connection between the work of God in the'foul and that falva- tion, which he hath prepared for his people in eternity. He will not forfake the work of his own hands, but will crown it with honour. Jacoby you fee, could appeal to God as his witnefs, refpedting what had been the frame and difpofition of his foul — and God crowned the hope which he had planted and preferved in his foul. He crowned it with falvation. In his hands may we be found living and dying for J ejus Chrijl\ fake. Amen,. SERMON J S E R M O N Xr. Hypocrify expofed. PROVERBS XXV. 14. Whofo boafteth htmfelf of a falfe gift, is like clouds and wind without ram, THESE words are defcriptlve of charac- ters almoft as common as various, and as flattering in their appearances, but as de- ceitful in reality as the image by which they are here reprefented. They, for a feafon, raife the hopes of thofe who are moft depen- dent on them, but foon difappoint their ex- peftation. In the prefent degenerate ftate of human nature, time and circumftances fre- quently make it but too evident that men were not what we once took them to be ; and he muft be almoft as great a ftranger in the world as theDifciples luppofed their unknown Lord to be in Jerufalemy w^ho is not already convinced of this. Deeds, bonds, and re- ceipts are required by men in their dealings one with another to guard againfl: fraud aiiddecep- tion. But why? The plain fait is, that the more knowing men are in general, the more B b 2 their 196 Hypocrify expofed, fufpicion increafes, and every precaution is found neceflary to guard againft impolition. The world is become a mere mafquerade ; characters are affumed, appearances are put on, and almoft every man walks in a vain fliew. The feeds of deception are fcattered far and wide, and w^e have hypocrites not only in religious concerns, but in civil affairs likewife. The world has its hypocrites as well as the church, Almoft every week's Gazette holds up to public view a number of infolvents^ and fome no doubt on account of their appearing to be what they really were not. The profcffions of their lips, and the fair figure they made in life for a feafon, inapofed upon the unwary; but at length the vifbr dropped, the bailiff entered, the ftiop was cloftd, and their name inrolled in the lift of bankrupts. Should any fufpedt that we tranfgrefs the limits of our province in thele remarks, there are two things we willi luth to notice : The Ji?lft is, that the fubjed: before us is 'd proverb, which, in the general, is full as applicable to the civil as to the religious concerns of men: And, Jeco/idly, our delire is at all times to point out the degeneracy and depravity of human nature, that men may fee the neceftity there is for the intcrpotition of a Saviour, and that they muft be renewed in the fpirit of their minds. The daily condud of numbers is at once a comment upon, and a confirmation of. Hypocnfy expofed. jqy -of, what the fcripture fays of man's fallen ftate; and he that denies this fad: feems at once to have clofed the eyes both of his mind and of his body. He equally difregards what God fays and what men are doing. Jn words, perhaps, he expatiates upon the dignity of human nature ; while they, by their works, are gainfaying what he affirms. It is no doubt an evidence of found wifdom to give diligence to know the Itate of our worldly affairs, much more fo in concerns of higher importance. The form of godlinefs may be affumed by perfons who are deftitutc of its power. There may be a profelhoii of religion where the real principle of it never exifted. Some may pretend to ftand hii^h in Cod's favour to Whom he will one day lay. Depart from me, I know^ you not. Many who appeared to begin in the fpirit have aw- fully concluded in the flcfli. It becomes us, therefore, to maintain a gcdly jealcufy • fre- quently to examine ourfeives whether we be in the faith, and fincerely to refer ourfeives to the judgment of him who feeth not as man feeth, and who is as incapable of deceiving any as he is of being deceived. Let us ever keep this in mind, that w6o/b boajleth himfelf of a falje gift, is like clouds and wind without rain. We may compare a proverb to a curious piece of cut glafs fufpended in the midft of a large company, and which prefents different obje{^s igS HypGcrify £xpofed. obje<5ls to the feveral eyes that are directed to it; fo a pruverb is an objed: to which diffe- rent men may look, and from which they may receive inftrudion, both in their civil and their religious concerns. — But to attend more particularly to the lentence now before us, iVh'^fo boajieih himjilf oj a Jalfe gift, is like clouds and wind ivilhout rain. In doing this, let us confider, I. The perfons here defcribed. II. The image by which they are repre- fented. And III. The inftrudion or improvement which we fhould draw from it. I. T7'? perfons here defcribed, are thofe who boqfi themielves of a fa/fe gift. We pretend not to fay whether the facred penman refers here to perfons who pretend that they have it in their povver, and that it is their intention to confsr fomething upon others, but in the event prove falle to their propofals — or whe- ther he refers to perfons who profefs really to have attained what they never poifeffed : However under each of thefe are to be found characters which claim fome attention. I. There are perfons who not only boafl: that it is in their power, but profef, that it is both their dcfire and intention to lay them- felves out for the benefit of others, particu- larly for their country their friends or their Hypocrify expofed. 19^ their God, who eventually make it appear that they boafted themlelves ot a falfe gilt. The condu'^it of btatehnen in ijarticui ir is full to the purpole : Thole who have attained the fummit of power, are, by their opponents, who envy their htuation, rcprefented as ini- mical to the interell of their country, un- friendly to the rights of men, and aiming at the downfal of liberty, or at the ellabliih- ment of defpotifm ; while they themfelves profefs to have no intereft at heart but the caufe of liberty and of the people. AbfalQjn^ like, their cry is, O that I were, judge in Ifraeiy then would I do fo and fo; but let their ambition be gratified ; advance them to the honours which they afpire after, and they alio in their turn give ground to conclude, that they leek their own, not the welfare of the community. The event makes it evi- dent, that they bad not the power or incli- nation which they pretended, lince they have failed in the performance of that which thev had fo liberally promifed. In profeiiion all are patriots, but few are fuch in priii<_ipie and pradice. Honour, or afSuence, or power is the objed: of their ambition. 1 his repre- fentation is but too evidently confirmed in. real life, and the lelFon detiucible from it is this : •* Truil not in men for ih^y will de- ceive you : Lean not on an arm of fiefli :" Remember and rejoice, that it is an invifible power which fupports the ilacc, guards our 2 CO Hyfocrify expofed, our liberties, and defends our perfons and properties. Few periods have made it more evident than that in which we live, that in politics men boajt themjeives of a Jalfe gift. And is there not fomething fmiilar to this to be found in domellic concerns ? An im- prudent parent, for inftance, trains up his children as if they were to be heirs to thou- fands : The effed; of fach a conduct is, their cxpedaticns are raifed, an air of fuperiority is all'umed, till death arrives, and with one hand removes the parent, while, with the other, it prefents difappointment to his pof- terity. In fome inftances, whole families have been fupported for years, by the expec- tations which have been raifed by fome rich relation. Fair profeffions have given birth to hope, and have fupported it when pro- duced ; till at lad: an imaginary flight has turned the tide of favour, and changed his deluiive fmiles into frowns; or probably death, by executing his office, has at once expofed the true circumiiances of the ho- noured relation, and evidenced that he boaft- ed himfclf of a falfe gift. His removal cloaths their perfons with fable, and fills their fouls with difappointment. — Hence learn not to truft in uncertain richesj but by faith and prayer coniign all your concerns to the paternal care of the living God. Such fliall not be fed with delufive hopes; for they that truft in him ll:iall not be confounded : Their Uypocrtfy expofed, 201 Their bread (liall be given, and their water fhall be fure. No real good will he with- hold from them. Such fliall be kept in per- fe(ft peace, whofe minds are flayed upon him, becaufe they truft in him. He will honour the confidence they place in him*. Their hope fhall not make them afhamed; but the God they wait for, and rely on, will do for them exceeding abundantly above all that they can afk or think. The fame remark holds good in the pro- feffions which fome people make, refpedting the great concerns of God and their fouls. They pretend to have a peculiar reverence and refped; for religion, and the difcoveries and hopes it affords : They readily acknowledge that it is the duty and intereft of every man to be concerned for the everlafling fafety and happinefs of his foul ; They affure you that they have very good difpofitions this way themfelvcs, and that they feel very ftrong de- fires to give more attention to thefe things than they hitherto have done. Were they but dif- engaged from fuch an employment ; would Divine Providence but indulge them fo far as to raife them above anxious care, or beftow upon them the conveniences and comforts of life, then they would more openly devote themfelves to God, and evi- dence the regard they have for the interefls of religion. They aflent to all that you can fay upon this head as very right, and wifh you to believe that it is not the want of a prin- VoL. IL C c ciple 202 MypGcrify exfofed, ciple to love and ferve God that hinder* them ; but the want of opportunity. Per- haps the leafon arrives when their defire is granted 5 they have all that heart can rea-t fonably wifh ; but the event proves that they boafled fhemfelves of a falfe gift. Their hearts remain as ftrongly attached to the world as ever, and as much eftranged fronnk God. They are as cold, as carelefs, as car- nal as before. The bulinefs of the world is purfued with the fame avidity, and the care of the foul as much negled:ed, as when they prafeffed only to want the opportunity. But do fuch at prefent want either opportunity, obligation, or argument ? Nor^e of thefe : The evidence is full and decided againft them, that they have boafted themfelves of a falfe gift. Their hearts were never really divorced from the word, or united to the Lord. Thus we fear in a variety of cafes, fimilar to that which has been mentioned, thoufands put the awful cheat upon themfelves, and endeavour to impofe upon others likewife. They purpofe much — they promife fair; but their reiolutions, like the opening blofToms .. in the fpring, fall to the ground, and leave the tree that bore them in a rtate of bar- rennefs. Are we now addrefiing ourfelves to any of this charadler ? Ye have pretended, it may be, to fix the time, or to mark out the fituation in life when ye would yield vourfelves and vcur fervices to God. That time Hypocrijy expofed. 203 time is paft, and that condition is attained ; but have ye kept your promife ? Has the en- gagement been performed ? ■ Do ye live as thofe who are born from above, and who really defire to prefs into the kingdom of heaven ? Inftead of this being the cafe, pro- bably ye are carnal, ftrangers to ferious con- verfe with God, and unmindful of a future ftate. All the buftle you have made about your good principles and folemn purpofes have been but empty boailings of falfe gifts. The plain fa6l is, ye never loved God from the hearty for had ye done that, ye could not have lived thus long without him. Ye ne- ver knew the real precioufnefs of Jefus ChriJ}, otherwife ye had long ere this renounced all as drofs and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of him. Ye never yet faw, in a proper light, the dignity, the value, the in- finite worth of your fouls, and the things that relate to your everlaiting peac^, or ye could not have trilled with them in the man- ner ye have done, and" rtill continue to do. Depend upon it, while this is the cafe, what- ever convictions ye may have known, ye were never really converted to God. What-* ever itrong refolutions ye may have formed, ye were never fmcere in them. Brethren, i,t is high time for you to confider how long ye have been deceiving yourfelves. The man who knows what ought to be done, and yet remains inattentive to his prefent duty C c 2 , ' ■ and 204 Uypocrify expofed* and unconcerned about it, is more criminal than thole who are wholly ignorant and thoughtlefs. Convidlions flighted will ren- der condemnation much more awful 5 and that man who thinks he is fomething when he is nothing, is a double cheat. He im- poles upon himfelf as well as others. But while there are fome who profefs to have both the power and the intention of do- ing good to others, or of cauling their light to fhine before men, there are others, 2. Who profefs that they have attained what they really never pofTelled : And what is this but boafting themfelves of a falfe gift ? Such are they who make a great fliow, in order to appear what they are not, and thus impofe upon them who judge from appear- ances. Thofe of you who are converfant with bufinefs, frequently meet with perfons of this charader, and therefore we need fay the lefs about them. But is it not truly afFedl^ing, that fuch cheats fhould be found in the religious, as "well as in the commercial world? Only con- verfe with thefe people, and you are amazed at their attainments in religious knowledge. You appear to yourfelves meer dwarfs com- pared with them, and are overpowered with aftonifhment and confufion in their prefence. They are able to explain all the dodrines of the gofpel with propriety, and vindicate theni with Hypocrify expofed. 205 with the mod fubftantial arguments. Pro- bably Judas was capable of all this ; for he went forth with the other Apoftles to preiich the golpel, and was not in the It a ft luipected of hypocrify by any of his brethren ; evea when their mafter declared that one of thc^ir number (hould betray him, every one of them lulpe(!ted himfcif, rather than the real traitor. In every age there is realon to tear that many who feem rich in gitts, increaled in knowledge, and in want of nothing, are, notwithftanding, miferabie and poor, and blind and naked. With men they hive a name to Yixt; but in the fight of God thty are dead. And fair as their piofcliion niuy be to the eye, they are deltitute of tiie power of vital and pradtical godiinefs. Like ifmely ** they flatter with the mouth, and lie to God with their tongues j but their hearts are not right with him, neither are they iledfart: in his covenant*." Such appears to have been the condition of the fooiiih virgins : They aflbciated with t^e wife, united with them in the profcfiion of the fame faith, and had every appearance of being influenced by the fame expectations of the bridegroom's com- ing : VViiat the one did, the other did ; and where thofe went, thefe were found. The wife difcovered not the leail fufpicion of the lincerityof their companions; nay, the fooiiih themfelves, in the end feem greatly dilap- pointed. They were deceived — they were pfaim jxxviii. 36, 37. und^'ne. 2o6 Hypocrify expofed, undone. Awful event ! it proved that they had miflaken gifts for grace, and had put their profeiiion of faith in the place of the religion of the heart. Their creed (lands charged with no errors ; but their hearts were not right with God. With the mouth they made confeffion of their hopes of falvation ; but, when the Lord came, it appeared that they had not believed unto righteoufnefs. And what was fuch a profeffion but boafting of a falfe gift ? They were all the time dif- guifed hypocrites ; and the deception was fuch, as not only to impofe upon others, but themfelves alfo. They do not appear to have entertained any doubt refpedling either their prefent fmcerity or their future fafety. They were very confident of the goodnefs of their ftate, and exprelTed themfelves in the language of the moil unfliaken alTurance. They pro- fefled that they loved Jefus Chrtji -, and, what is more afFeding, they feem really to have thought that their flate was fafe ; but all the time they were boafling themfelves of a falfe gift. Let him that thinketh he fland- eth, bev/are that he fall not at lail as they did. Gifts may {hine upon earth — may be admired by men — and may deceive the pof- feifors j but they will be deteded in the clofe of life. The door will be Ihut, and the de- ceiver refufed admittance into heaven. But we proceed, IL To Hyfocrtfy expofed. 2oy II. To attend to the image by which fuch perfons are reprejented. They are like clmdi and wind without rain. The Apoftle 'Jude fpeaks of fome in his day, who made a great profefTion of religion, and were far from be- ing fui'peded of hypocrify ; yet he reprefents them allb in the language of the text, as clouds 'without water carried about with winds*. The image is not more natural than it is common. Specious and hopeful as the profped: may be, it terminates in difappointment. How often have weobferved the clouds hanging over our heads, loaded with the treafures that adorn the earth and make it fruitful, apparently ready to pour down that liquid life which gives beauty to the flower, and maturity to our fruits ; but in the moment of exped:a- tion the winds have rifen, have driven the clouds before them, leaving the earth ex- pofed without a (hade to fcreen it from the heat of the fun, or a fliower to refrelh it when thirfty. — The perfons here defcribed, like thele clouds, have no command over themfelves : They are hurried along before the blafl of every temptation ; ever about to do good, but never attaining that which they purpofe, till, perhaps at length, death bears them intirely away from our view for ever. In themielves they were all promife, all ap- jpearance; and in others, they railed hopes which were blafled by the dilappointment. - How fully is the image of fome of the jude,v6r. 12. hcarers 2o8 Hypocrify expofeJ. hearers of the Gofpel reprefented in this glafs. The horizon of the rehgious world is at fome feaions almoft covered over with thefe deceit- ful clouds, but, alas, they come to nothing. Their appearance excites our hopes; their pro- mifes encourage our expectations for a time; but temptations fcatter them, or death cuts them off a id all our hopes concerning them. How neceffary therefore to be regarded is the counfel of the Apoftle James, ** Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your ownfelves : For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glafs ; for he r^eholdeth himfelf, and goeth his way, and fl:raightv.'ay forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whofo looketh into the perfe(^ law of liberty^ and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man iliall be bleffed in his deed." * The gift which fuch a man has is genuine, and the graces he difcovers are true. By receiving grace he will deiire to ferve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear: His fajth will be productive of good fruit, and his purpofes will iffue in per- formance. Inllead of boafting himfelf of a fahe gift, he will be humble and faithful in the pofTeirion of that which is true. Let us now, III. Endeavour to deduce the infiru^ion and improvement which tbisjubjedi holds forth, * Jamc^ i. 2S -25. The Hypocrijy expofed, 209 The leiTons to be learned from it are various, and we need to have them frequently incul- cated upon our minds : For inftance, this fubjed; tends, I. Much to evince and confirm the doc- trine of fcripture, with refped: to the depravity of the human heart, A Prophet alTures us, that it is deceitfult and deceitful abo've all things 'y that it is 'wicked — dtjperately wicked; yea, fo defperately wicked, that ?2one but God can either k720w it or cure it. What various forms of deceit can the heart of man put on! What fraud can it conceal under the fair profefTions of friendlhip; and what vile luds under the inchanting mafk of love! This wq fee exemplified in the narrative o^ Amyion and T^amar, * How are men continually deceived, or deceiving one another, by fair propofals, by fpecious appearances, or by folemn pro- mifes. Though few will acknowledge the heart to be fo bad as the fcripture reprefents it, yet when they come to trade and barter one with another, almoft all men diicover the fulleft conviftion of its truth. The fufpicious language and guarded conduct of the buy- er, prove what are his viev/s of men ; he fears an impofition : But fuch is the depravity of man's heart that it is- capable not only of impofing upon others, but upon him felf. Thoufands, it is to be feared, have been Vol. II. D d cheaicd s i.am. Z'.iw 2IO Hypocnfy exfofed, cheated for ever by this worfl of all de- ceivers : And in the parable of the virgins, out of ten profelfors, our Lord has reprefented this to be the cafe with five. Let all v^ho name the name of Chrijl look well to them- felves — examine your hearts with an honefl diligence be impartial in your dealings in this important bufinefs ; and, after all, feri- oufly refer yourfelves to the judgment of that God who fearcheth the heart and trieth the reins of the children of men. Be concerned to know your true (tate and your real charac- ter. Bevv'are of felf-deception ; and, as ye value the happinefs of your fouls, be diligent that ye may be found of God in peace, with- out fpot and blamelefs. Apply to God with the Pfalmift, ** to fearch you and try your hearts, to prove you, and know your thoughts, to fee if there be any way of "wickednefs in you, and lead you in the way everlaflmg." 2. This fubjed:, properly confidered, has a tendency to call off our trull from crea- tures, and from all undue dependence on them. The language of it in eiFed: is this, Ceaie ye from man whofe breath is in his noflrils, for wherein is he to be accounted of. It clearly difcovers the egregious folly of leaning upon any arm of Hefli, or building our hopes upon thofe mutable profpet^s or deiufive promifes that frail mortals, like our- felves. Hypocri/y expnfed, an felves, may hold out to us. Men may de*- ceive and difappoint you; but if God be the foundation of your truft and dependence, he neither can nor will. Men have nothing, are nothing, can do nothing, without him*. Glorious as is the natural fun, it Qiines but by his power and permiffion. He gives the light, or he veils it as he pleafes : Bright as is the prefent hour, the next may be overfpread with clouds ; fo it is with men, they fhine to-day, they die to-morrow. This hour the lamp of profelTion burns clear, probably the next the blaze goes out for ever. Thefe things, however, are not mentioned to make you fufpicious or cenforiousrefpeding others: No, every one that knows himfelf will ac- count others better than himfelf, and put the mofl favourable conflrudtion upon their con- dud: : But we muft all ftand before the judgment- feat of Chrijiy and then (hall cha- raders appear to be what they really are. . 3. it is likewife evident from what has been faid that gifts, unlefs accompanied with grace to improve them, are not to be covet- ed. To others they be profitable; but if they tend to elate and puff up the polTelforSj they are exceedingly dangerous. We may be ambitious to pray with the fame degree of corrednefs and fluency that we admire in ano- ther, or to fhine as much in converfation upon the mod interefting fubjeds ; but let us re- D d 2 member 212 H)ipocnfy expofed, member with Paul, that though we have all knowledge, fpeak like Angels, or work mi- racles, if deftitute of love to God, we are but a founding brafs and tinkling cymbal. Though gifts be the gold which adorns and beautilies the temple, grace is the temple that fandtihes the gift. Better is it by far to feel the imprelTion and favour of divine truth in the heart, than to be able to make the moil lively reprefentation of it with our lips. Covet earneftly then the beft gifts, that your faith may be fincere, your know- ledge influential, your comforts well found- ed, your experience folid, and your hopes purifying. Reft not in the externals of re- ligion ; but be concerned to grow in grace, to make progrefs in the divine life, and to be, as it were, abforbed in love to God, and humility before him. Let your orna- ment be that of a meek and quiet fpirit, which is jn God's light of great price. He relifteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. The Pharifee, when dreffed up in all his imaginary excellencies, w^as reje(5ted, while the poor humbled Publican was gracioufly approved and accepted. 4. This fubjedt, while it tends to expofe the folly of diliimulation and hypocrify, re- commends and exalts a principle of iincerity in our dealings, both with God and with men. Remember that all things are naked and Hypocrify expofed, S13 and open to him with whom ye have to do : He feeth not as man feeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord judgeth the heart. Let then the approba- tion of God be what ye aim at and in your dealings with men let integrity and upright- nefs preferve you. «j. This fubjed: demands both humility and thankfulncfs from thofe who have been made partakers of the bed of gifts. — What have fuch but what they have received ? Ye are debtors to grace, and cannot honour God more than ingenuoully to acknowledge it. — ■ Paul did fo, when he declared that by the grace of God he was what he was. Rich as he was in gifts, in knowledge, in ufefulnefs, he attributed it all to grace. Grace llione in him, and through him. Grace wrought by him and was honoured in his dodtrine and life. And are ye made partakers of Jejus Chrift, of the heavenly gift and calling ? What will you render to the Lord, or how will you (hew forth the praifes of him %vho hath called you to glory and virtue ? — O ho- nour him in your walk — honour him by your converfation and conduit, for herein is your Father glorified that ye bring forth much fruit. Adorn the dodlrine of God your Saviour, and fhew that the grace of God which bringeth falvation, teacheth you to deny ungodlinefs and worldly lulls, and to live ^14 Hypocnfy expofed* live ibberly, righteoufly, and godly in the world- Truft in God -triumph in Chrift— and look for lalvation : And at laft may we appear to be God's workman fhip, created in Chrtjl unto good works, and partakers of the heavenly gift, for "Jejus fake. Amen. SERMON acffi SERMON XI[, Gofpel Vifitations, ACTS XV. 14. Simeon hath declared how God at the firjl did vifit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name, TH E nature of the Gofpel, and the delign of its being difpenled among a people, are often too little regarded by num- bers who ftatedly attend under it. Thefe words are therefore chofen to fhew you — that God has an end in fending the Gofpel to a people. That was his end in fendmg this Gofpel to the Gentiles at firjl^ is the end which he has alioays in view, and has now in fending it to you and that God's end in this is always anfwered ; for the word fliall not return to him void, but Oiall accomplifh his pleafure, and profper in the thing where- unto he fends it. — The end we are informed which God has to accomplifli by the Gofpel is, to feled: a people for himfelf, and thereby to get eternal honour to his name. The 6il Go/pel Vijltations, The words now read as the foundation of our prefent difcourfe, are part of the fpeech delivered by the k^Q>{S\t'Jamesm the church oi Jcrufaltm. — Ihe occaiion which led to it, we are informed, was this : Paul ^nd Barna- bas having continued a confiderable time at Antioch^ endeavouring to confirm the fouls of the Difciples in their adherence to "Jefus Chriji and his Gofpel, at length a particular cir- cumflance occurred, which not only gave them much uneafinefs, but was the means of confiderable confufion in that church : Cer- tain judaizing teachers coming down from yudea got amongft the members of the church, and boldly alferted, that except they were cir- cumeifed after the manner of iV/ the meeting is therefore adjourned for the pre- fent, and a time fixed for them to aflemble again, to examine more fully into the cafe. The appointed feafon being arrived, the church, with the Apoftles and Elders, affemble together. After fome debate, Peter rifes, and freely delivers his fentiments upon the fubjed; thus, " Men and brethren, ye. know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Geniiles by my mouth fhould hear the word of the gofpel, and be- lieve. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witnefs, giving them the Holy Ghoft, even as he did unto us j and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the difciples, which neither our fathers nor . Go/pel Vifitatwns, 219 nor we were able to bear ? But we believe that, through the grace of the Lord Jefiis Chri/iy we fliall be faved even as they*." He faw, and openly profeffed, i. That they that were faved were faved by Grace. — Con- fequently, 2. Not by their obfervance of the law or rituals of Mofes, — And 3. That the grace of Chnji was fo abundant, that it wa$ fufficient for the believing GetitileSf as well as believing Jews, Peter having clofed his fpeech, folemn filence pervades the whole church, while Barnabas and Paul repeat again what God had wrought by their inftrumentality among the Gentiles ', probably adding what gave oc- cafion to their prefent vifit to the church of Jerujaitni \. — Their narrative being ended, Jamesy who, fome fay, was paftor of that church, addrelfes the aHembly upon the fame fubject, endeavourin!:^ to corroborate what Peter had before delivered. Men and brethren^ hearken unto mey bimeon hath declared how God at the jirji did vifit the Gentiles, to take out a people for his name, 6rc. From thefe words we are led to confider the three follovv-r ing things : I. The idea under which the preaching of the gofpel is here held forth, viz. As a 'vifit from God, II. The particular intent of this vifit, ^0 take out a people for himfelf. E e 2 III. The *Ver. 7— II. f Ver. 12. 220 Go/pel Viji fat ions » III. The principle from which he ads, and the e}id at which he aims in this. It hfor the honour of his name. The firft: part of our propofed method 13 to confidcr, I, >''The idea under which the preaching of the gofpel is here Jet forth, *' A vilit from God." Gody faith James, hath vijired the Gentiles. This vifit was — by the miniftry of his fer- vants — -intirely of his grace — with the kmdeft intentions towards that people and a vifit which is long lince over. On each of thefe particulars we (hall dwell more fully in our meditations. I. Introductory to a vifit from perfons of any eminence, it is common to fend a fervant to make known the intention of the vifitant. Thus Paul and Barnabasy in the cafe before us, had been fent, as fervants of the God of grace and falvation, to make known to the Gentiles his purpofe and pleafure. By their dodlrine they were preparing the way for that vifit of falvation which the Lord intended to make to the habitations and hearts of this people. They exhorted them to turn from dumb idols, and to adore the living and true God. Their work v/as not only to prepare the way, but, by their preaching, the Lord prepared a people for his name. And their very appearance in a place was an intimation of intended mercy, and that God had a people Go/pel Vijitatiom, 221 people in that place to vifit with his falva- tion. Had it been that God had no?2e to viiit at that place, or if it was not his delign to vilit them at that jeajbn, it is more than pro- bable that he would not ^ have lent his ler- vants to them at that time: On the contrary, from what we (hall have occalion to remark prefently, there is ground to conclude that he would hive prevented it. As the morn- ing ftar therefore ufhers in the day, fo thefe Apoliles, who indeed were ftars in the Lord's hand wherever they appeared, intimated, that the Sun of Righteoufnefs was about to rife, and the day of that people's falvation was at hand. They were meffengers of glad tidings, who publilhed peace, and invited fmners to be reconciled to God. My brethren, you have not thefe Apoftles ; but we intreat you to conlider theie things with fom^e degree of application to yourfelves. This is the day of your viiitation. The mi- nifters of the gofpel are as much under the guidance of a fpecial providence fiow as the Apoftlci Vv'ere formerly. They do not come unfent. They appear to inform you, that God is now engaged in the gracious diC^ign of reconciling finners to himfeif, hy "J efus Cbrift^ not imputing their trefpaffes to them. They exhort you to ftir up yourfelves to lay hold upon the grace which is now brought nigh, and to pay a proper regard to that difpenfa- ticn of mercy which has vinted you. Men and 222 Gofpel Vlfitations, and brethren, to you is the word of this fal- vation fent. It isnot faid brought, left yoa fliould fuppofe that our appearance amongft you is by the will of man ; but this report h Jent to you by the fpecial appointment and providence of the great God. We appear not in our own name, or on a bufinefs which concerns our own perfonal intereft or advan- tage only ; but, as melTengers from the great Lord of all, we appear to publifh his will, his purpofe, \\'\h claims. And TisJefusChri/i, while he was here upon earth, fent his difci- ples, two and two, mto every city and village whither he himfeif would come j fo we have to aflure you, that this day of great privi- leges is the fcaion in which God draws near to feparate a people for himfelf. Solemn thought ! O that every individual amongft you would give it the attention it deferves. This is the feafon in which God comes forth to felect and diftinguiOi the happy men, who ihail be honoured to have fc;liow{liip with him in his heavenly palace for eternal ages. My brethren, it is not a concern of fmall importance what fort of attention you pay to this gofpel. He that heareth the fervant, honoureth the maftcr ; and he that flights the meflage, infults him that fent it. Thofe who open their hearts to give God entrance, ho- nour the report, aiid ihall receive the end of their faith in the fdv?tion of iheir fouls ; biit he that flights the meftage bars his heart againft Go/pel Vijitations. 223 againft God, and adjudges himfelf unworthy of a vilit of faivation ; and there can be no neutrality in this cafe, you muiT: either re- ceive or rejed: the propofal ; for this golpel will be the Tavour of lite to life, or of death to death in all that hear it. 2. The vilit which God here afforded thefe Gentilesy as indeed all future viiits ffom him, originate intirely with him, and proceed from his mere grace. He manifefts himfelf to thofe who inquired not after him, and fre- quently comes without an invitation from his creatures. There are fet times to favour particular nations, or parts of thofe nations; and when the fet time is come, he, who re- serves the times and feafuns in his own hand, opens the channel for the conveyance of the bleffmg to them. This great Ihepherd knows where to feek his fheep, luhen to look after them, and by what means or inftruments to reflore, or bring them fafe to the eternal fold. Many attempts have been made by good men, yea, even by the Apoftles them- felves, in fome cafes, to force, if I may fo fpeak, a vifit upon a people. Their inten- tion in this, without difpute, was good, and the attempt had fomething laudable and com- mendable in it 3 but fuch methods have fel- dom, if ever, proved fuccefsful in the event. We find even Paul and Ti??iGthy, on a parti- cular occafion, ready to run unfent, but their mailer interpofed to prevent it. The facred hiiloriaii ±2* Go/pel Vifitatlonu hidorian informs us, " When they had gonff throughout Phrygia and the region of Gala- tia, they were forbidden of the Holy Ghoft to preach the word in Afia, after they were come to Mxjiay they aiTayed to go into Bi- thynia ; but the fpirit fuffered them not *;" But it is more frequently othervvife. Mofes we find was unwilling to go to Ifrae/, when God commanded him to announce his pur- pofed vilit of falvation to them : Ifaiah alfo did not difcover the greateil: readinefs in the day of his Gommiffion : And in th& cafe here particularly alluded to, viz. Peter s firft vifit to the Gentiles, we all know with what dif- ficulty he was brought to comply with the orders of his Malter* A viiion muft prepare him — an exprefs command muft be given him — and, after all, he feems to go about the work with much diffidence and apparent relud:ance* And why has God vifited thefc nations ? Why honoured the place of our refidence^ and at this feafon, with the gracious difpen- fation of his mind and will ? Has he been found by none who inquired not after him ? Has he dealt fo with every people, as with the people of this kingdom ? Or with every place, as with the inhabitants of this town ? O to regard the day of our privilege, as the feafon of our merciful vilitation ! — Vifits of falvation aUvays originate with God. They are intireiy of his grace. * Aas;xvi. G, 7. 3* *^he Go/pel VifUaiionu 225 5. The vifit here mentioned was accom- panied with the kindeft intentions towards that people. It was to open a correfpon- dence between him and them> which was to laft for ever. — -To make himielf known to them, that they might be enriched with his faving benefits. Before the Apoftles were fent to this people, they were without God^ without Chnji^ without hope, aliens from the commonwealth o^ Ifrael, and Grangers to the covenants of promife. 1 hefe Apoftles were fent to turn them from darknefs to light, and from Satan unto God, that they might receive forgivenefs of lins, and an inhe- ritance among all them that are fandified by faith in Chrijt 'Jejus, In the nature of things it could not be otherwife -, for ** How could they call on him, in whom they had not be- lieved ? And how could they believe in him> of whom they had not heard ? And how ihould they hear without a preacher ? And how {hould they preach except they were fent*?" Thus God y^Wi minifters, as we have feen, by his fpecial providence. — Thefe minifters are Ko preach the gojpel^ that is, 'Js- fiis Chrfji, and falvation by him. — This gof- pel is to be heard with attention, meeknefs, and reverence. — This hearing is to introduce or increafe the knowledge of God and his ChrijL This knowledge is to fupport, nou- rifh, and exercife faitb. And that faith Vol. II. F f turns * Rom. X, 14. 226 Go/pel Vijitdtions. turns the key of all the promifes, ihflitu- tions, purpofes, and providences of God, and introduces the foul to the enjoyment of all their important treafures. This, therefore, ** is life eternal, to know the only true God and Jefus Chnjl whom he hath fent. And to this knowledge we are introduced by the gofpel, and by the gofpel this knowledge is ftill increafed. To convert the thought- lefs to pardon the guilty — to inftrud; the ignorant to ftrengthen the weak to fanc- tify the impure and to fill the empty with all the fulnefs of God : In a word ; to blefs men upon earth, and to guide them fafe to heaven. ^Thefe are fome of the kind in- tentions of God, when he vifits a people with the difpenfation of the gofpel. — But, Sirs, have ye thefe evidences in yourfelves, that this gofpel has thus vifited yoii ? Has it illumined your darknefs, fubdued your pre- judices, captivated your hearts, filled your fouls with joy and peace in believing, that ye might abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghofl: ? Has it come to you not as the word of man, but of God, in power, in demon (Iration of the fpirit, and in much alTurance ? We add once more, 4. God's vifits to thofe places, to which the ApolUe 'James here alludes, are long fince over. It was a vifit a gracious vifit. But remember it was only a vifit. There was Go/pel Vijitations, 227 ivas a very flourishing church at Antiochy the city from which Paul and Barnabas had been fent upon this occafion, which con- tinued for a long time. The famous Chry- Jofiom preached in this place in the fourth century. But fince that the candleftick has been lemoved. The place has been con- vulfed by frequent earthquakes, taken by the Saracens, and deftroyed by fire. There is now no church at Antioch — no.city remains — only an heap of ruins fufficient to point out the place which God once vifited with the gofpel. Brethren, the day of our merciful vifita- tion will likewife have an end. When God has filled up his purpofes, and the inhabi- tants of this nation and place have filled up the meafure of their iniquity, the gracious vifitant will withdraw : Rut wo unto a place and people, when the Lord departeth from them. When he goes, all good retires with him, and the pafiage is left open for every defolating judgment to enter. To fome of us, who are now under the gofpel, it may prove a very fhort vifit : Death may foon call upon you and me to quit the fand:uary, and to take up our abode in the darknefs of the grave. Be careful, therefore, to improve the opportunities you have. Seek the Lord while he may be found ; be willing to learn while he is waiting to teach, and afk of him while he is ready to confer his favours upon thofe F f 2 who 228 Goffel Vifitations^ who are unworthy of them. Say to the hea- venly vifitant, as Jacob did upon another oc- cafion, ** I will not let thee go, except thou blefs me." — Thus having coniidered the dif- penfation of the gofpel under the idea of a vifit from God, we go on, 11. To attend to the particular intent <^f the vijiti viz. " To take out a peopley^ir himfelf. Here we remark, I. That this gofpel is to be proclaimed and publiHied indefinitely to ail that come under the diipenlation of it. Thus the commiffion runs. Go out into all the world and preach the gofpel to every creature, Minifters are to be as free and liberal in this difpenfation, as the clouds are in dropping rain. Every drop is under a divine diredtion, even what falls upon the ground wiiich bringeth forth thorns and briers, fl-kall, in the event, produce 9l fvveet favour to God. Oar commiffion is to men — to men us iinners*-an j the fum of it is to proclaim ialvatio > to them. ** As Mojh lifted up the ferpent in the wildernefs, even fo inull; the Son u.t man be lifted up: That v.'hofoever beiievstii in him, (liould not periQi> but have eternal life. For God fo loved the world, that heg-ive his only begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him, fhould not perilh, but have everlailing life. For God fent not his bon into tb.e world to condemn the world 5 but that the world through him might be faved *." Eventually there may he found fome rejeders of the gofpel amongll * John iii. 14—17. you. Go/pel Vifitations, 229 you. However, we have authority now to iay, '* Men and brethren, to you is the word of this falvation fent," and, ** all that believe in Jefus Chrijl are now justified from all ,tlii/igs,from which we could not be juftiiied by the law of Mofes, Beware, therefore, left that come upon you which is fpoken of in the Prophets, Behold, ye defpifers, and v/on- der, and periCh ; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye fhall in no wife be- lieve, though a man declare it unto you *." The only remedy is now proclaimed and pub- lished among you. 2. The intent of this gofpel being preach- ed, is to make a feparation for God. He has promifed to bear teftimony to the word of his grace, that it fhall not return to him void, but accomplifli that for which he hath ap- pointed it. This gofpel is the grand inftru- inent of feparating the church from the world. It always has been fo from the firft day in which it was publiilied, and will befo to the end. In all places vi'here this is pub- .lifhed, men arrange themfelves in the view of that God who feeth their hearts, accord- ing to their proper and refpeftive characters. They that believe, take their fide, and they who do not believe, take theirs^ Mixed as this aflembly is in our view ; in the fight of God there is no confuiion : There arc amongll you believers and unbelievers. — The Lord is even now feeking out his friends, and feparating the precious from the vile. Solemn » Aas xi;;. 30, 40. thought! 230 Go/pel Vijttations, thought ! The reparation is now begun. It may not be altogether vifible to us at pre- fent ; partly through the exterior conformity of finners, in this day of privileges ; and partly through the many imperfediions which ftiil accompany the beil: of men -, but that falfe covering will one day be removed. Then it will appear that God has been fetting apart them that are godly for himfelf ; and their godlinefs will be the evidence of it. And is it fo, that this is the day in which the folemn feparation is making ? Then let each one put fuch queftions as thefe to him- felf : Am I likely to be feparated for, or from the Lord ? To be diftinguifhed as a fa- vourite or as a foe ? Have I believed — do I believe the report of the gofpel, and believ- ing it, do I fly for refuge to the hope which it fets before me ? Do I approve of Jefus Chrifiy of his dod:rine, his inftitution, his precepts, and his method of faving finners ? Or am I oiFended in him, and unmindful of it y Do I behold and believe in him as the wifdom of God and the power of God j or, is he as a root out of a dry ground, without form or comelinefs in my efteem ? Is it my defire not only to be pardoned, but faved from all mine iniquities, and to be fandified in body, foul, and fpirit ; or, am I rolling fin as a fweet morfei under my tongue, and hating holinefs at my heart ? In fine, have I taken God to be my God — Cbriji for my treafure — the word for Go/pel Vifttationu 231 for my guide — holinefs and heaven for my end ; or, is the reverfe of all this the cafe with me ? Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and elecftion fure, that at laft you may be found of him in peace. Be earn- ed with the Lord to take away all your ini- quity, and to fandtify you thoroughly. 3. The end of fuch vifits God has always in his eye, and the event, with reipedt to him, is certain. This we are affured, that though many be called few are chofen ; but God knows, with the greateft certainty, all the fruits and effects which will refult from the preaching of the goipel in this, and in every other place. Hence we find, that when Paul firft preached the gofpel at Co- rinthi he was much oppofed, the name of that Jefus whom he preached was blafphem- ed; a few indeed believed, but the major part of the people were quite averfe to the gofpel. While things wore this difcou- raging afpe(3:, a vifion appeared to him by night, faying, " Be not afraid, but fpeak and hold not thy peace ; for I am with thee, Jind no man {hall let on thee to hurt thee ; for / have much people in this city ■*. The Lord knoweth them that are his ; and from the beginning knew who would believe, and who rejed: him and his benefits. His word cannot return to him void. His work is all before him, and he knows the fouls which he has to vifit with faivation during the con- « AAs xviii. 9, 10. tiuuaace 232 Qojpel VifitationU tinuance of the gofpel in this place, towfl^ and nation. — We add, once more, 4. Thofe who will be left at laft, will bs left without excufe. How inexcufable, fup- pofe ye, will they be found who have attend- ed to the gofpel with no ferious concern to know, underftand, and profit by it ! Negledt- ing fo great a falvation, how can they efcape, or excufe their inattention to it, and uncon- cernednefs about it ! Should any fay, but how can they do otherwife ? Is not faith the gift of God ? It is ; but v/e venture to pronounce thofe men inexcufable who do not endeavour, to improve and profit by that convidtiou which arifes from their own experience. We would fay to fuch, you have attended long under the gofpel, but it has been all in vain* Such will be your condition ftill without ex- traordinary aid. But how fhould you a<5l upon this convifton, if you ad:ed as reafon- able men ; yea as your very children would ad; in fimilar circumilances ? What childj aiter trying and trying again' at. the requeft of a parent to lift fome confiderable weight, and all in vain, would not cry out for the pa- rent's -lid? And what parent would, in fuch cafe, withhold his alfiflance? But if *' ye being evil, know hov/ to give good gifts to your children — how much more will your hea- venly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that afk it ?" — But Chrijl pronounced thofe inexcufable who rejed;ed him and his doc- trine. Go/pel VlfUatlons. 233 trine, and afTerted that it would be more to- lerable in the day of judgment for the inha- bitants of Tyre and Sidon, We have the fen- timent of eternal truth fully exprtfl'ed upon this head : *' Becaufe I have called, and ye refufed j I have ftretched out my hand, and no man regarded j but ye have fet at nought all my counfel, and would none of my re- proof; I alfo will laugh at your calamity: I will mock when your fear cometh Then fhall they call upon me, but I will not an- fwer ; they (hall feek me early, but they fhall not find me. For that they hated know- ledge, and did not chufe the fear of tho Lord : Therefore fliall they eat of the fruit of their own ways, and be filled with their own devices *." It yet remains that we confider, III. The principle from which the Lord a6ts, and the end at which he aims in this. It is jor the honour of his name. Re takes out of them a people for his name. That is, h(J adts thus, I. That he may have a people who fhall believe in, reft on, and honour the name of fefiis Chrifl. Salvation is in none other; for ** there is no other name under heaven given. among men, whereby we rauft be faved." The Lord has declared that he will caufo this name to be remembered unto all gene- rations; therefore fhall the people praife '^oL, II. G g bifla* * ProY, i. ?4 — %(). 20, 51, 234 Go/pel Vijitations. him. Becaufe this J ejus made his foul ail offering for fin, he fliall fee his feed, and the pleafure of the Lord (hall profper in his hand : He fliall fee of the travail of his foul,, and (hall be fatisfied. 2. The name of the Lord is honoured in them, as they are his vvorkmanihip created in Chri/l Jejus. The change effedied in them is all of God, and intirely of his grace. It is he iXysii has made them to differ from what they were formerly. He called, convinced, quickened them, and works in them both to v/ill and to. do of his own good pleafure. It is he that makes them willing in the day of his power, and (hews forth the riches of his grace in their juftification, adoption, pre- fervation, and fandification. Are they adorn- ed with the fruits of righteoufnefs : It is he that hath wrought all their works in them? The change he has been efFed:ing upon the hearts of men from generation to generation, has been like the lighting up of fo many bea- cons one after another, to fhew men their danger and the remedy ; and to evidence his care to guard them againfl the one, and to excite them to attend to the other. 3. Til is feparation is made with a view to sijlorify his grace, power,, and holinefs, in the pardon, prefervation, and falvation of the wiiole church : Thus runs the language of our pardoning God: ** 1 will cleanfe them from all their iniquity, whereby they have finned Go/pel Vifitatlons, 235 ianned againft me, and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have finned, and whereby they have tranigrefled againft me. And It {hall be to me a name of joy, a praife and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which (hall hear all the good that i do unto them *. It is to the praife of the glory of his grace that we are made accepted in the beloved. He will come to be glorified in his faints, and to be admired in all them that believe. Then (hall the church appear the fulnefs of him who filleth all in all." To conclude. From this fubjedt may we be led to blefs and praife the Lord, that ever the feparating wall was broken down between the ^ews and the Ge^itiles. Long were the vifi- tations of divine mercy continued with, and almoft confined to, that people. But they grew proud of their peculiarity : They treat- ed the heavenly vifitant with ceremonious for- mality and indifference : \t length they ex- cluded him from their principal city, and with wicked hands they crucified the Lord of life and glory. He fubmitted to the in- dignity, but foon he revived to punidi it. Their city was left to them defoiate when he withdrew, foon after they were driven from it, and ever fince have they been fmart- ing under the marks of his juft difpleafure. He has now, for a long time, been going amongft the Gentiles to feek from amongft G g 2 them * Jer. xxxiii. S, 9, ^3^ Gcfpel VifitaUons. them a people for his name. By the mini- itry of the golpel he is come even unto you. Behold, he now waits to be gracious. He ilands at the door and knocks, declaring that if any man hear his voice and open to him, he will come in and fup with hinj, and pri- vilege that man to fup with himfelf. May we ail be fenfible of the grace difcovered in the propofal, be difpofed to receive the word with all readmels of mind, and this be the language of every one of us, ** Lord remem- ber me with the favour thou beared to thy people, and vifit me with thy falvation,'* Amen. SERMON SERMON XIII. Profeffing Chriftians warned by the difperfed 'Jews. Lamentations i. i8. libe Lord is right eousy for I have rebelled againjl his commandment : Hear, I pray you all people, and behold my forrow : my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity » IF we allow the government of 'Jehovah over the univerfe, and over man in par- ticular, it is natural for us to conclude, that he can be at no lofs for means to convey his will and pleafure to them as the fubjecfts of his government : And as he can, it feems neceflary in the very nature of things that he {hould do it, feeing that where tiiere is no law there can be no tranfgreffion. The me- thod that he takes to do this, we may con- clude, will always be the mott fuitable to the feafon or occalion when it is revealed : For he who is infinite in underftanding, and who fees all things as they really are, can be at no lofs for inftruments, and he will chufe and fix upon fuch as are beft calculated to anfwer the 23 5 Trofejjing Chnfllans warned the end defigned. And where,, or by what- ever method he reveals his pleafure refpedling the line of duty, or his difplealure againft t^e condu6t of any of his rebellious creatures, it is the duty of all thofe who love and fear him, cheerfully to liften to the one, and with caution to avoid the other. Now the ufual me- thods earthly fovereigns have taken to dilcover their will to their fubjed:s, ha\^ been either the promulgation of laws requiring obedience, or the inflicting of punidiments upon notorious tranfgreffions, as a caution and preventative. Something analagous to this is to be traced in the condud: of the Almighty towards his creatures ; tho' in thefe refpcdts earthly fove- reigns have probably imitated him rather than he thtm. The will of God is comprehended in the facred pages of the Old and New Te- flament : There every thing relating to the ■worfhip of God, the duty, intereft, and ob- ligation of men are fo clearly revealed, that he that runs may read, the moll fimple may obtain information, and the moft daring can- not ealily pervert the meaning. Subjecftion to God, love to him, and dependence on him ; together with fubmiffion to his will, obedience to his authority, and faith in the record that he hath given of his Son j this is the fum of what is required, and this appears both right and realonable; jufl for him to claim, and equitable for man to yield. Sin is hy the difper/ed yenvs, 239^ is either a tranfgreflion of this reafonable rule, or a want of conformity to it. He that ofFendeth, though but in one point, is ob- noxious to the divine difpleafure : He juft- \y deferves to be treated and punidied as a tranfgrelTor ; for though God delights in mercy, is • flow to anger, and ready to pardon, yet the honour of his government requires that fome examples of difpleafure be exhibited for the benefit of others ; nor can more fuitabte perfons be fixed upon than thofe whole advantages and obligations to love and to ferve him have been peculiar. A remark- able inftance of this kind we have in x\\Q'JewiJh nation. Early were they diftinguifhed by the reparation of their progenitor Abraham-, and long indulged with the fovereign and pecu- liar marks of the divine favour; great were their privileges and advantages compared with ail the furrounding nations : Rich was the treafure that was depofited amongfl them : His law in their hands — His prefence in their fandtuary His pleafure refpedting future times exhibited to them under the thin veil of folemn inftiturions : That veil fo thin that we are almoft aftoniflied at the blindnefs of their minds which faw not to the end of the things which were to be aboliflied'. But though thus privileged, thus enriched, thus remarkably diftinguilhed, they clofed their eyes againft all the evidence ; they fliut their hearts againft the promifed Saviour; they ^nned 240 Profejjing ChrijVians 'warned^ finned away the day of their merciful vifita- tion J murdered the great Deliverer that their God had provided for them ; rejeded the counfel of God againft themfelves j and plun- ged not only themfelves but their pofterity in- to fuch calamities as they have not been able to extricate themfelves from, for more than feven- teen hundred years. In them we behold the evil of fm and the confequences of unbelief. In their punifhment and prefervation we fee what God hath wrought. We fee them oppref- fed, yet preferved ; fcattered amongft many nations, yet kept diftind: from each, from all of them : a warning to every eye which beheld them, and to every perfon who compares their pad: with their prefent condition. The words which we propofe now to coniider Were originally delivered by the Prophet Jeremiah^ as reprefenting the JeiniJI:) nation in perfon. And though they may originally have a much higher date than the laft and general difper- fion of the Jeix'ijTo nation, yet may eafily be accommodated as defcriptive of their condi- tion in the prefent age. True, this is not the language of their lips, but is it not the language of their appearance amongft the dif- ferent nations ? Ihe Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled againji his Gommandment : hear, I j)ray you, all people ^ and behold my farrow : my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity. Thefe words we propofe to confider as de- fcriptive, I. Of hy the difperfed^Jews^ 24 1 J. Of the Condition : II. Of the Confejfion : And, III. Of the Caution of the Jewifl nation* held forth to us^ and to all the nations amon^ whom they are difperfed* We confider thtyvwSf in their prefentdif- jperfed conditionj as the heralds of the divine Majefly, to confirm the truth of Revelation, to warn allj, to whom the Gofpel is fent, of the iin of unbelief, and to difplay to the eye the execution of all the judgments denounced ^gainft them in God's word. But we wifh you to underftand that the intent of this dif- courfe is not to excite your enmity againft that abandoned people, but to draw forth your pity towards them, and your prayers for them^ You are here called to liilen to them, and to learn what God is now fpeak- ing by them, and through them, to you* From the exalted privileges they once enjoy- ed, but enjoy no longer, you are called to learn the great duty and neceility of attending to the things that belong to your peace. May- almighty power and grace fandtify what we have now to lay before you to thefe valuable and important purpofes. I. The Condition of the y^ws, as a nation and people^ is pictured in very ftrong language in the paffage before us : My, virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.. '. Alfedi ng reprefentation [ L.etu5 endeavour as much. as ; Vol. II. H h ' polilble 142 ProfeJJi?tg Chrljliam warned poflible to realize the idea. Suppofe then all the young, the vigorous, the adive of the inhabitants of this nation removed : Parents bereaved of their children : All of them borne away from our view except the aged, the decrepit, and the infirm. None left to till our fields, to prune our orchards, or colledt our harvefts. In that cafe, what would re- main but diforder, barrennefs and poverty, famine and death ? We fhould behold gray hairs declining by flow, but forrowful fteps to the filent grave, joy banifhed, the reign of peace and plenty ended, forrow and fadnefs, inifery and wretchednefs confummate. No hope — no helper — none to alleviate diflrefs; and to increafe the real evils we felt our- felves, the painful reflehus! Not to detain you with the repetition of parriculars, from his account we learn that the number of thofe who were known to be llain. during their lail conflid:, was no lefs than one million three hundred and fifty-feven thoufand fix hundred * Deut. xxvlii. ver. 29. aUu by the Jtjperfid yews, 251 arid fixty men ; and not even to pretend to guefs the thoufands who were butchered in cold blood, fie informs us of ninety-feveri thoufand who were fent into captivity. Such were the devaftations of war ; and to thofe may be added the thoufands alio devoured by famine and peftilence. — Behold their forrov/ then as delineated in their hiflory. See it likewife in the appidrance of thelf country. Where is now the once fair and fruitful land that flowed with milk and honey, and fmiled under the protedion and bleffing of the Almighty? What is its condition now? It is troden down of the Geiitiles^ and be- come fo barren, that fome have even ftaggered at the account the Scripture gives of it while in its vigour : It is now a land of flavery and fuperllition : Its vineyards blailed ; its vallies barren, its hills no longer cloathed with ver- dure. The kidney of the wheat and the blood of the grape, once renowned in prophecy, are fcarce to be found. There, dcfpotifm is en- throned and induilry has retired : There, ac- cording to the account of modern travellers, the truth of prophecy flands con feifed ; and therCj is to be leen, in tlie moft awful charac- ters, how the Lord turneth a fruitful land in- to barrennefs for the iniquity of them that dwell therein. Would you behold their forrow ? It is to be feen in l\\/'.* All which is mentioned by way of encouraging their faith at that feafon, *ver, 14 \j. But what were IfraeYs deliverances, firft fromE^y/>/, afterwards from Babylon, when compared with that which God now promifed to work for them ? Great as the wonders were that he had wrought, they would hardly admit a comparifon with that new thing whicii he was about to intro- duce, viz. the Redemption and Salvation of finners 27S God glorified by Jnjlruments finners by the Lord 'Jefiis Chriji, efpeclally as difplayed in the calling and converfion of the Gentiles In former works his power had been gloriouily difplayed ; in this his wifdom and grace were to be no lefs exalted. Ver, 18 21. ** Remember not the former things, neither confider the things of old* Behold I will do a new thing : now fhall it fpring forth, fhall ye not know it ? I will even make a way in the wildernefs, and rivers in the defert. The beafts of the field fhall honour me, the dragons and the owls : be- caufe I give water in the wildernefs, and rivers in the defert, to give drink to my people, my chofen. This people have I formed for my- felf, they fhall fbevv forth my praife." The leading articles held forth by thefe words to our particular attention are thefe three, viz. I. That it is the prerogative of God alone to form the fouls of men for his fervice and enjoyment. II. That in this adl of fpecial fovereign grace he has always rcfped; to himfelf; that is, to the difplay and manifeftation of his own glory as the end, And III. That from this, as from all his other works, he will eventually derive a glo- rious revenue of praife. And while this triumphant language of the lieart-forming God is the fubjedt of our me- ditation, may we be found feverally looking up of hh own forming^ 279 up to him by fervent prayer, either that he would form us for himfelf, or favour us w^ith the comfortable evidence that already we are his workmanihip, created in Chnjijejiis unto good works. » The firft thing we propofed to attend to in this difcourfe is, I. That it is the prerogative of God dlone to form the Jouls of men anew, both for his fervice here, and enjoyment hereafter : "This people have 1 formed for myfelf." We apprehend it may not be unprofitable, under this head, to take notice both of the fubjccls of his work^ manJJjipy and of the work it/ef I. The. Jubjedls of his workmanfliip are fin- ners of Adams family, or, as we hinted in the introdudiion, fmners of the Gentiles \n par- ticular. A people, at one time, apparently unnoticed and uncultivated, lying under all the diforders and diTadvantages of the fall. Sin has deftroyed the once-fair and glorious image in which man was created. Sin has thrown every thing out of order, not only in the world at large, but efpecially in the na- ture and conflitution of man. His powers are all debilitated — his paffions debafed — his afFed:ions deranged — his attention diverted from its proper objed: — and his mind led cap- tive by every delufive vanity. Sin has un- made the man which God created, and his poflcrity are no longer what their forefather originally 2 So God glorified hy InfirUtnents originally was. Man was created in know- ledge, righteoufnefs, and true holinefs ; noW the darknefs of ignorance pervades the mind of his pofterity, irregular appetites direct all their purfuits, and fin reigns in the heart to bring forth fruit unto death. The image of God is loft, and the heart of man is become the feat of ignorance, vanity, and confufion. But thefe remarks, though juft, we appre- hend are too general; permit us, therefore, to call your attention to a nearer and more par- ticular view of thefe fubjeds of the divine! workmanfhip. Behold and wonder at humaa nature as degraded by fin. It has precipi- tated man, once the head of this lower world, and who then wore the image of God as his brighteft ornament, from the height of ho- nour, almoft to a level with the brute crea- tion : Nay, degraded him fo low> as to rank with the moft fierce, or more ftupid of ani- mals. This feems to be intended by thes flrong metaphoric language exprelTed in the preceding verfe. " The beafts of the field Ihall honour me, the dragons and the owls, becaufe I give waters in the wildernefs, and rivers in the defert, to give drink to my people, my chofen." And is this great Arti^ ficer able to fubdue difpofitions fo favage ? Can he tame men who have been fierce as dragons ; or bring thofe who, like ovi^ls, have long been the inhabitants of darknefs, to re- joice in the clear fhinings of gofpel-light, and baik of his own formhig, 2S1 bafk under the beams of the Sun of righteouf- nefs ? Will he deftroy the enmity of rebel- lious hearts ; caufe the obdurate neck cheeft* fully to bow to the Saviour's yoke 5 or make thole who have loved darknefs to rejoice in the light of the Lord ? All this he is not only able, but has promifed to do^ and the pleaiing wonderful effeds of gofpel-light and of fovereign grace are defcribed under this ^very image in the fame prophecy. " The parched ground fliall become a pool^ and the thirfty land fprir.gs of water : In the habi- tation of dragons, where each lay, fliall be grafs with reeds and rushes. And an high- way fhall be there, and a way, and it fliall be called the way of holinefs, the unclean fhall not pafs over it, but it fliall be for thofe : The way-faring men, though fools, fliall not err therein. No lion fliall be ther6> nor any ravenous beafl: fliall go up thereon, it fliall not be found there j but the redeemed ihall walk there. And the ranfomed of the' Lord fliall return and come to Zion with ibngs and everlafting joy upon their heads, they fliall obtain joy and gladnefs, and for- row and iighing (hall flee away*." How defcriptive are thefe words of the power, the aftoniibing power of renewing grace ! It fur- mounts the greatefl: difliculties, fubdues the moft ftubborn heart, caufes even dry bones to live, and enables tranigrefl!brs, once dead N n in # Ifai. XXXV. 7, &c. 282 God glorified by Infiruments in trefpafles and fins, to arife and to adore. Sin hath rendered the world we inhabit a wildernefs, a defert, a dry and barren land ; but where the waters of the fanftuary reach, wherever the river of mercy flows, there God has honour, even from perfons who before were favage as the beafts of the forefl:, fierce as dragons, or ftupid as the owl. Such were fome of you, but now renewed, even in the fpirit of your minds ; ye have your fruit unto holinefs ; old things are pafled away, and be- hold all things are become new. Once ye were not a people, now the people of God j once ye had not obtained mercy, but novy have obtained mercy. We may therefore derive encouragement from this confideration, viz. That power be- longeth untoGod, and that nothing is too hard for him to do. He can humble the moft ftub-^ born heart- — renew the moft depraved will— ^ exalt the moft debafed foul — -and bring or- der out of all that contulion which fin has introduced into the world. This God has power to bring every thought into fubjedlion to himfelf, to fubdae the moft violent cor- yuptions, and to break the firmeft bonds of lin. The refidue of the fpirit is with himj and as this fhould be matter of comfort to every believer on his own account, fo of en- couragement likewife, refpeding thofe who lay near to him in the bonds of friend(hip and the ties of blood. The bafenefs of the ma- terials vf his own forming* 283 terials is no itnpediment in the way of this work ; on the contrary, if poffible, it tends the more to difplay* and glorioufly to exalt the power of that God who produces the ad- mirable change. The excellency of the power is feen to be of God and not of man. But, 2. The work itfelf claims our attention* T^his people have I formed for myfelf How great is the change ! compared with what they were formerly, it may well be faid that old things are pafTed away, and all things are become new* By renovating grace, the Lord forms this people for himfelf. They are his workman ihip> created in Chriji J ejus unto good works* They partake of a divine na- ture, being united to that living head Vvha is both God and m^n in one perlon. Chriji is formed in them, for they were predeftinated to be conformed to his image who is the firll- born amongft many brethren. This impor- tant change is reprefented in the Old Tcfta- ment under fuch language as this, taking away the heart of ftone, giving them an heart of flefh, putting his fpirit within them, and writing his law upon the mind. In the New, they are faid to be renewed in know- ledge, righteoufnefs, and true holinefs after the image of him who created them. The whole of the work is the Lord's, and his grace> wifdom, and power are to be admired and honoured in it. To him they are in- debted for what they are ; and for every be- N n 2 nefit ^^4- God glorified by Injiruments nefit and bleffing received. A great cHang^ hath paffed upon them ; but who hath made them to differ from what they once were, and ftill had been, but for this God ? Or what Jove they whch they have not received ? Every good gift, and every grace by which they are diftinguiOied, is from above, and Gometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variablepefs nor Shadow of turning. To this fcurce the Apoftle of the Gentiles taught the Colojians, and in them all ilicceeding profeiTors to afcribe it. ** Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers with the faints in light ', who hath delivered us from the power of darknefs, and hath tranflated us into the kingdom of his dear Son*." But is there ground, brethren, for you to hope and con- clude that this great and necelfary change has pafl'ed upon you ? Having fled for refuge to the hope fet before you, are ye daily put- ting on the Lord Jejus Chrift as your righ- teoufnefs, llrength, and ornament? This is that neceilary and important change^ without- which ye muft for ever remain Grangers to true peace upon earth, and be for ever exclud- ed from the kingdom of God and glory. The evidences of this change are many :. .Perfons who once faw no beauty in Chri/ty and who felt no need of fuch a Saviour, now account him 'infinitely precious, altogether lovely, w^onderfully, yea exad:ly, fuited to their va- # Gol. i; 12, 13. nous tf his own forming, 2S5 rlous wants. Men who were once impure, now pant after holinefs j and, feeing their unworthinefs, build all their hopes of heaven upon the free mercy of God, and the com- plete fatisfadtion and merit of Chrift, Like new-born babes they defire the fincere milk of the word, an confecrate your bell fervices to him — ftu- dy his glorious character — bow to his au- thoritative pieafure fall into his gracious hands — begin his praifes here and prepare for the nobler celebration of his honour in eternity. Look up to this God now to form you for himfelf. The forming feafon will loon be over, and remetnber that ** there is no v/ork, device, or repentance in the grave, whither we are all going." Be ye therefore ready : Addrefs youri'elves to him who now litteth upon his throne, making all things new ; and, when he fhall appear, may an abundant entrance be ?.diiiiniltered unto us into his everlafling kingdom. Amen, SERMON S E R iM O N XVI. Happy Mediocrity : Or, an humble plea prefented to the univerfal Pro- prietor. PROVERBS XXX. 7, 8, 9. ^wo things have I required of thee, deny me them not before I die» Remove far from 7ne vanity and lies j give me neither poverty nor 7'icheSj feed me ivith food convenient for me : Left I lie full, afid deny thee, and fay, fVho is the Lord ? or left I be poor, andjieal, and take the name of my God in vain. ' i ^ H E chapter before us is afcribed to J[ Agur, the fon ot fakeh. Some fup- pofe it to be only a name aillimed by Sola- mon, and that no other than himfelf is in- tended ; but this feems highly improbable, both from his deicent and from his prayer. His father's name is particularly mention- ed, and the petitions oltcred here by no meaiiS fuit with that condition in which Solomon was placed by the hand of divine providence ; who he was we prefume not to fay H^.ppy Mediocrity, 295 fay farther than what is related of him in the firft verfe of the chapter. Evident it is from the context that he was a wife, humble, and eminently good man. We find him freely acknowledging his ignorance refpedling the unfearchable greatneis of the divine Majefty, and the wonderful works of his hand. Ver. 2, 3, 4. Surely I cwi more brut ijh than any man,^ and have not the undeyjlanding of a man, I neither learned ivijdom, nor have the know- ledge of the Haly. Who bath afcended up into heaven^ or dej'c ended .^ Who bath gathered the wind in his Ji/is f Who hath bound the waters in a garment ?* Who hath ejlablijhed nil the ends of the earth ^ What is his name, and what is his Sotzs name, tf thou <:anli tell f He profef- Xeth the moil: unfeigned elfeem and reverence -for the word of God. Fer. 5, 6. Every •word oj- God is pure : he is a JJoield unto them that' put their trujl in him. Add thou not unto his words, Icjl he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. He then relates what was the daily and the importunate prayer of his foul. But previous to our review of the prayer, wc would make a if:,\w general remarks on the introduction to it, which is contained in ver. 7. Two things have I required of thee^ ■deny me them not before I die. From which. .w-e remark, That God is to be owned by all his intelligent creatures y as the great proprietor and difpofer of all things. He doth whatfoever he pleafetli not 296 Happy Mediocrity, not only in the armies of heaven, butamongft the inhabitants of the earth. Riches and poverty are aUke at his difpofal ; he appoints and commiffions them at his pleafure, con- ligning this to one, that to another as he pleafeth. The earth is the Lord's and the fulnefs thereof; the filver and the gold, yea crowns and fceptres belong to him. He formeth the light and createth the darknefs ; he makes peace and creates evil ; he, even he, doth all thefe things. * He fixes the boun- daries of every man's habitation, and allots that meafure of plenty or of poverty vi^hich his fovereign pleafure feesbefl foreachof them. Poverty and riches are here reprefented as proceeding alike from God. He affigns to every one his portion, and deals forth with infinite wifdom the evidences of his pleafure. He gives or takes, adds or diminifhes, accord- ing to the rule of an infinite underilanding. We remark further from this introducflioa to^y/^ivrV prayer, that importunity and perfeve- rance in prayer is a great duty. ** Two things have I requefted, deny me them not." He follows the application — cannot bear a denial, is all importunity to obtain. He prays, and he looks up, fo that his eyes may be faid to exprefs the language of his foul as much as his lips. Like the Patriarch, he cannot, will not, let the Lord go till he has conferred the bleffing upon him. 1 have dejired, deny me not, Earneftnefs and importunity become * Ifalah xW. 7. ^^ Happy Mediocrity, K^J us when neceffity fpurs us on, and the blef- lings of God are to be obtained ; As one ob- ferves, '* A lazy fuitor begs a denial," and formality in prayer puts a negative upon the very petitions we prefent. " Ye alk and have not, becaufe ye afk amifs." Pray in prayer. Wreflle for the blelTing. It is worthy of all the ardour with which ye can purfue it. IC comprehends both grace and glory. Once more : In all our addrejfes to a throns of grace, a dying day Jhould be kept in view.—^ ** Deny me not before I die." God's bleffings are the life of the foul ; thefe denied, the foul languifheth. We faint, we are undone for ever without them. View yourfelves as upon the borders of your graves every time that ye bow before the throne of mercy. The re- mark of a good man, whom I lately con- verfed with, was much to this purpofe. He obferved, " that the gradual approach of his trials had, he trufted, prepared his mind for that great change which feemed to be at hand. That for fome time part he had ha- bitually gone to a throne of grace, and re- tired from it a^s though it were the lad tim^e that he fhould have the opportunity to go to, and that he had found himfelf calm and fe- rene in the idea that this might be the cafe."* Happy, defirable frame ! May we fo wreftle Vol. II. P p and * The perfon here alluded to died in about four days after this, io the full exercife of reafon and of grace. It might be ttuly Caid of him that his end was peace, and that his eouife i^as finiftied with joy. 2g^ Happy Mediocrity, and plead as thofe who are purfued by death, and have eternity in view. Every approach to the throne of grace is a Jftep nearer to the throne of judgment. There muil be a laH: vilit for each of us to make there, and may every viiit be improved by us as though it Vv^ere the laft opportunity that we may have, to afk for, or to receive grace : Be importunate to obtain that before a dying hour which is not to be had after it. Thefe things being remarked, we propofe more fully to confider, I. The prayer itfelf. II. The reafons upon which the petitions are grounded. We fliall then clofe the fubjed; with a re- flection or two. I. We propofe to confider the prayer of Agur^ which is, Remove far from me vanity and lies ; give me neither poverty nor riches ; feed me with food convenient for me. The fum of this prayer coniifts of three parts, which may be arranged under thefe three words. Remove — Withhold — Confer, I . He pleads that vanity and lies tnay be re- moved far from hmi. By vanity and lies fome underftand the fame as poverty and riches ; others, that fin, in its various approaches and appearances, is intended. Certain it is, that though fin aflumes the mofl: fpecious appear- ances in its approach and temptations, yet it always Happy Mediocritj, 299 always Iffijes in deception and difappoint- ment. It promifes pleafure or advantage, but terminates in pain and mifery. To the mind of a good man fin appears the greatell of all evils. It is that which he both dreads and deprecates. Having been repeatedly de- ceived by it, he intreats the Lord to remove it far from him. We {hall conjfider the be- liever in this petition as fupplicating for par- doning grace — crying for preventing good- nefs — and acknowledging his own weaknefs. When he fays remove far from me vanity and lies, may not the words be confidered aa a fupplication for pardonhig grace ? In how many inftances have we been deceived and impofed upon by fin ! How long have fome of us been living under the deception ! But the foul, awakened to a fenfe of its ftate and danger, .fees that it has been fo long lying under a load of guilt and a fentence of con- demnation. Sin is hated — is confeiled — the confcience is burdened — and the foul implores pardon and forgivenefs \ and to pardon fin is, in the language of fcripture, to put it away, or to remove it from the foul as far as the eafi is from the wef : For this dcfirable bleffing bur- dened finners plead. They fee and feel their need of that ineftimable favour. Their prayer is, ** Take away all iniquity, receive us graci- ou fly and love us freely." bin is that intole- rable burden which, uniefs removed, mufl inevitably fink them into the depths of de- P p 2 fpair 300 Happy Mediocrity, fpair and ruin. The pardon of lin, therefore, is the firfl and grand buiinefs which the awakened finner has to attend to at a throne of grace. He fees that he has followed after lying vanities j that he has been wretchedly deceived; and that unlefs fin be removed, the feparation between God and the foul mufl be everlafting. Were this important truth feen in its proper light, believed as it ought to be, and felt in all its vafb importance, with what earneftnefs. Brethren, fliould we plead for the pardon of fin every time we go to the throne of mercy, our cry would be, " Lord, remove far from me vanity and lies." But is not preventing goodnejs, as well as pardoning mercy, implored in this fentence? When he requefls that the Lord would re- move from him vanity and lies, it is the fame as if he had defired, with the Pfalmill:, to be kept back from prefumptuous fins, left they Should gain the dominion over him. We need every moment to be kept far from the objed: of temptation j and it is a mercy in God to remove that far from us, which the folly or the deceitfulnefs of our hearts v/ould otherwife prompt us to follow to our ruin. To be kept from the evil that is in the heart, and not to be led into temptation, are pe- titions never to be forgotten. No more would be neceffary to ruin the moft wife or eminent profeiTor, than to fuffer or permit thofe ob- je(5ts of temptation to come full into his way to Happy Mediocrity » 301 to which his depraved nature is mofi: indined. When this is the cafe the piety of a David is ftained, the wifdom of a Solomon changed into foolifhnefs, and the ftrength of a Sampfon is re- duced to weaknefs : But as parents lay thoic things out of the way which they apprehend might be prejudicial to their children ; fo the Lord, to evidence his regard to his family, re- moves far from them vanity and lies. Were not this his condu(5t, how much more frequently (hould we be allured by falfe appearances thaa we are, and impofed upon to our great diftrefs, if not to our utter deftrudlion. A gracious God looks all around, yea kindly goes before his family, that he may remove every dilli- <;ulty and danger out of their way. Surely nothing can more fully exprefs the foul's acknoivledgment of its iveaknejs than the words now before us, " Pardon and prevent," fays the finner, *' for J fee that I am neither able to remove the guilt of fin by any me- thods I can devife, or to relift the leaft tempta- tion to fin, unlefs fuccoured and alTifled b}?- thee. In me, that is in my flelh, dwelleth no good thing." What an acknowledgment is this that both the juftincation of the fin- ner, and the prefervation of the foul in a ftate of acceptance, is all of God ! It is he that forgiveth all our iniquities, and heal- eth all our maladies. He pardoneth, and he preferveth the foal for his name's fake. O liovv fhould we ruih upon temptation, and completely ^oz Happy Mediocrity, completely ruin curfelves, did not he prevent us with the bleffings of his goodnefs ! Look back, O ye followers of the Lord, with gra- titude and with aftoniiliment, and fee in how many inflances he has withheld yon from £nnin2 ac^ainit: him ! With the cords of love he ha^ grjcicuHy held you in ; or mercifully hedged up your way, when you were ready to Tu(h upon your ruin. — And were he even now, after all the warnings you have Iiad, ail the evidences of the deceitfulnefs of fin, and all the grace ye have received — were lie now for a iingle day or hour to forfike you, how wretched, how miferable would ye be ! O plead with him to hold you op, and to hold you back ; for therein confifts both your fafety and your honour. Without him je would trifle and prefume, and fall and be fnared and taken. By this time, it is hoped, ye begin to fee the propriety of the firft pe- tition in Agurs prayer, and are led to make it your own. We need the Lord's interpo- fition continually, both to prepare us for the way, and to take up the ftumbling- block out ©f the way of the people. 2. The next plea is, that God would be pleafed gracioujly to withhold ichatever might he injurious to the fold's b eft interefl : Give me neither poverty nor riches. This petition is by no means to be underftood as prefcribing to the Holy One oi IJrael -y nor was it poverty or riches, flrictiy confidered, that he depre- cated. Happy Mediocrity, :^o^ cated, but thofe dlfagreeable eifedls or evils which are generally connected with dieni. Poverty, with the prefence and bleiiing of God, may be a profitable lituation; and riches, .where wildom and grace are given to improve and to enjoy them, may render a perXbn more happy and more extenfively ufetul. Either of them he could bear with God, but with neither of them without him. Poverty is therefore plea-ded againll on ac- count of thofe anxious thoughts, thofe per- plexing cares, and thofe grievous temptations which generally attend it. Poverty often draws the veil over God's fiiithfulnefs to liis promifes, hides comiort, anticipates mifery^ obftruds our way to a throne of grac-e, and keeps the foul upon the rack. Little do the fons of plenty imagine into what dilirefles and perplexities many of their fellow- creatures are plunged. Promifes and Providences feem to jar in their experience, and the tempeftu- ated foul is re.^dy to fay, ** It is in vain t« wait for the- Lord any longer." Diftruftfiul and di(honourable thoughts of God are fre- quently the progeny of poverty. The uiliai fupply fufpended every dream apparently cut off — the purie exhauiled an empty board — a craving appetite — perhaps a nume- rous family crying for bread, while every de- mand is as a dagger to the heart of an agoniz- ing parent.— -From fuch evils who would not wilh to be delivered ^ and yet even in fuch a iituatioj? 304 Happy Mediocrity, fituation grace has often fhone, and infant piety has fonietimes begun to difcover it- felf. A remarkable inftance of this kind is related by the great and good Mr. CarryU from his own knowledge; and after an author of fuch repute we dare repeat it : ** I remem- ber," fays he, " a woman who had a child about eight or nine years of age. Once they ■were reduced to fuch a flrait, that hunger began to pinch them fore : At length the child looking earneftly at the mother, faid. Mother y do you think God will Jlarve us ? No, faid the mother, I hope not. But if he do, added the child, yet ive ??iuji love and Jerve him Jlill. Such language argued her to be more than a child in grace." * Riches alfo are deprecated fo far as they tend to draw away the heart from God : iVe.- rior to every foe : Supported by the flrengt'li of Omnipotence, incircled with the arms of immutable afFedion, and borne up a monu- ment of all the glorious perfecftions of the Deity, it ftands uninjured by all the fly at- tacks of art and error, as well as the more open afTaults of infidelity and perfecution. — It {lands the miracle of Ch rift's power, the proof of the imbecility of men, as well as of devils, to efFed; its deftrudion. Up- on this rock the church is built, nor fhail the power of earth or the policy of hell pre- vail againft it: And ftand it mull, feeing both the purpofes and promifes o^ Jehovah are en- gaged for its fupport. Jf then, under all our fears and weaknelles, -we be led to this rock, we fhall experience fupport and liability. Here the believer -ftands fecure : When preiTed with the. mofl .; heavy 320 God the Refuge of his Saints, heavy trials, and tofTed with fliaking difpen- fations, this rock is fufficient to fuftain him. The immutable, the Qvtild.iWn^Jeho'vah faint- eth not, neither is he weary. Here David found fupport in the feafon of trial ; and he that was David's rock is Aill without vari- ablenefs or (hadow of turning : He is the fame now that he was then ; as able, as willing, as ready to fupport you as he was to fuftain him : His power is not diminilhed, nor his purpofe altered. God is a rock, his work is perfeJe^ of all this care, who is fo particularly alluded to in the command. Thou haft given commandment to fave me. Weak, helplefs, unworthy as I may be in myfelf, yet thou haft gracioufly efpoufed my caufe, interefted thyfelf in my behalf, and engaged to fave me. From this we learn, that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout all the earth, to (hew himfelf ftrong in the behalf of them that fear him-j-. Thoufands of angels ftand before him, and ten thoufand Vol. II. T t times * Pfalm Ixxiil. >S.— f z Chron. xvl, 9. 330 God the Refuge of his Saints* ^ times ten thoufand fly to execute his orders, or accomplifli his commands in the fuccoiir or falvation of his fervants*: Nay more, their trials and their enemies too are both under the command of that God, who work- cth all things according to the counfel of his own will. The wrath of men (hall praife him 'y all things move according to his direc- tion, and the intended event (hall be accom- plifhed i the top-ftone brought forth, arid the work of falvation completed to the glory of his Majefty j for, their God has command^ edtofave them. From the whole we infer,' '< 1. That while we continue in this world, it is in vain to hope to be exempt frorii trouble : David, though a King, and a man eminent for real religion, yet had his trials -, but faith in God will raife the mind above their diftrefling effecfts. The friend of God dwells on high j his place of defence is the mu- nition of rocks; bread is given himy and his vid- ter is fare \, He has fuch fupport as the world knows not of. 2. From this we infer, that complete reft and permanent fecurity arc only to be found in God. There David fought and obtained them : But how great a lofs do we fuftain by the fuperficial views we have of the divine perfections. O ftudy the charadter of God, as the grand relief in every time of trial. 3. What reafon have thofe to blefs God for their trials, when thofe trials have been • Dan. vii. 10.— f Ifai. xxxilt. 16. \\\^ God the Refuge of bis Saints. 331 the means of driving them to hinifelf. It is good for you that you have been afflidted in your pcrfon, family, orcircumftances : Thefe things, perhaps, have brought you to ferious thought; have diredied you to your only re- fuge; have given you to tafte that in God which was not to be obtained from the crea- ture. Even when your heart has been over- whelmed, you have been led to that rock which was able to yield you both fupport and fecurity. You have feen your danger, fled to the remedy, and obtained the com- fort. 4. When there will be no more occafion for ihtjortrefs to refift the enemy, God will be the habitation of his people to all eternity. — In him they will find everlalling reft, perpe- tual entertainment, and never-failing fatif- facSion. He, that has been their dwelling- place in all generations, Ihall be their reft: and their all for ever. Sorrows ftiall be end- ed, trials ended, conflicfls ended ; but they who have endured thofe forrows, trials, and conflidis, ftidll enter into reft, and drink of the river of his pleafures. That this may be our privilege, God grant for 'Jejus Chrjft's fake. Amen. Tt2 SERMON \&«ti-.'^'*^'M^n'W.O n';>Wvi =^jS 'S E R M-G •M^'Svin. ■ The Soul voluntarily humblei undei ,: God's fovereign and faving- hand^ ./ rhm ' • '^*^ i^flJ I PET. V. 6. * . , J. ^ ■' ■' (•> Humble yourf elves, thereforey under the mighty ^and of God, that he may exalt you in due l^ime. , . .' ■ ■■ ■ " THESE words, you will perceive, con- tain an inference, and point out a duty of the real chriftian, deduced from the oppo- lite character to which the apoftle had refer- red in the verfe preceding the text. He there introduces to our view the great God, armed twith omnipotent power, yet furniihed with .all the treafures of fuperabounding grace. On the one hand of this infinitely glorious, and infinitely amiable Being, he places a proud man, or rather all the fons of pride ; on •the other, the humble foul, or all of that cha- jf^^ej], who are fenfible of their ignorance, impotence, and.wajits. The conduct of each of thefe towards that glorious Being, is alfo Jdefcribed, as alfo his. towards them. Pride Is f-eprefented as the life of lin j the oppofite, Xiioi ^^ under God's f over elgn and faving Hand. 335 to that fubjedlion of mind and conduct, which is due from creatures to their Creator ; the ever - fruitful fource which oppofeth every thing in God, every thing done by him, every thing that proceeds from him. Pride is the parent of enmity, the principle, the very foul of rebellion againft God. From this fource hath proceeded all the contempt, and all the contradidion which God hath met with from his creatures, ever fmce the entrance of (in into the world, down to the prefent moment. Sinners, through the ar- rogance of their hearts, and the pride of their countenance, will not fubmit to God. His commands they trifle with — his counfels they rejedl — his authority they difown — and his yoke they endeavour to Ihake off. Againft this principle God has fet himfelf refolutely and without intermiflion. None ever yet hardened themfelves againft him and profper- ■*du) In every age great numbers have fallen in the co.iteft ; but, inftead of being warned by their weaknefs and folly, others have filled -their place, and the fame principle has fti- •mulated them to the fame condud. Now, againft all thefe proud men, God has fet himfelf in the condudl of his providence, and the threatnings of his word. Though long oppofed, he fainteth not, neither is he weary ;in the conflid:. Hitherto he has prevailed, -and muft eventually prevail ; for God rejijleth ' the proud. He firft e^poftuhtes with their VM^i folly 334 The Soul voluntarily humbled iaMy — then he checks their rage a little-^— proves their weaknefs again ^nd again — fruf- trates their attempts — and, when no other method will do, laying his hand upon them, be (inks their bodies into the grave, and tlieir ibuls into hell. God and they did not agree m this world, nor will they be recon- ciled in the next ; for that fame principle of pride which wrought fo forcibly in them upon earth, will aduate them alio in hell; and therefore God will refifl them for ever. On the other hand you fee a perfon open to conviction, fenfible of his wants, his weak- aeifes, and unworthinefs ; convinced that in him, that is in his flefli, dwelleth no good tiling, contented to be indebted to God for every faving benefit. He thirfts for God^ even for the living God is willing to be jiothi ng, fo that God may be all and in all. Humbly he bows to God's will, fubmits to his grace, loves his charaf the fons of pride with an everlafting de- ilrudtion. Ye are under that hand which will either form you for himfelf, that ye may (hew forth his praile, or feparate you from his bHfsful prefence for eternal ages^ Let each of us, therefore, take up this re- fledion, ** From this reprefentation, it ap- pears, that I am a creature under the hand of God. Efcape from it I cannot, refill it 1 may, but not with impunity. That hand will either crufh md to eternal death, or fave me with an everlafting falvation. Lord, turn thy hand upon me, and let it prove my fe- curity, even while it evidences my lubjec- tion. Purge away my drofs, create in me a clean heart, O God, and form me a veftel to thy honour and praife." 2. Our being placed under the mighty hand of God js expreffive of his ability to ac- complith his great deligns with refpe^fl to eac!i of his creatures. For a lingle moment endeavour to ftretch your thoughts through earth and heaven. Refledt upon the thou- fands, and thoufands of thoulands of angels which furround the throne of Deity, or fly through worlds innumerable to execute his pleafure. Caft your attentidn upon the dif- ferent nations of this earth and their nume- rous inhabitants, and then, in order to form fome conception of the majefty, authority, aiid matchlefs power of God, fix your atten-^ tion upon this one afTertion of facred truth, -^ U u 2 Ue 340 ^he Soul voluntarily humbled He doth what he pleafeth in the armies of hea* n)en and among the inhabitants of the earth ; none can ft ay his hand^ or have a right to fay to him, what doeji thou. Power belongeth unto God ; and, would you judge of the ex- tent or greatners of that power, know that all thefe creatures are wider his hand as fub- je5ls ; arc m it as inftruments for the condud:- ing and completing of his vaft defigns. His hand muft be a mighty hand, feeing it is armed with fovereign, unlimited, everlafting power. Only refle(fl upon the awful, the tremendous judgments which his hand has inflicfted, or upon the great, the wonderful deliverances effeded by it, and then remem- ber his arm is not fhortened, nor is his hand lefs mighty now than formerly. Could we cither look through the manfions of hea- ven, or the regions of hell, the might of God's hand would ftand confirmed in our view by millions of inflances, the moft aw- ful or aftoni(hing. His hand muft neceffa- rily be a mighty hand, for he is able to fave and to deftrov. And, 3. As he cany fo he certainly will accom- plilh the whole of his pleafure. With crea- tures to will and to do are different powers, or perfedions. They bear a very inadequate pro- portion to each other. Neither finners nor faints can do all that they wifh or incline to do: And this is one undeniable proof of the iniperfed ftate in which they are at prefent ; but under God* s fovereign andfaving "Hand. 341 but he that is perfed: — he, whofe perfedlions and attributes are all equal, with him to will and to do, are exadly commenfurate. What he inclines to do, that he efFed:s with the greatell: eafe and certainty. Hence he intro- duces himfelf to the attention of his creatures, fpeaking in this authoritative language. My CQunfel jhall Jlandt and 1 will do all my pleafure* This God is refolved to be glorified in each one of you. The humble behever will rea- dily fay, and let him be glorified — eternally, completely glorified in my fand:ification and falvation : But be ye willing or not willing, God will be honoured, either in the eternal falvation or condemnation of each individual. He will be glorified when he comes to take vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gofpel. We now go on, II. To confider the incumbent duty of each one of us as thus placed under the mighty hand of Gody this .is to humble our/elves under it. Our being under the mighty hand of God is a cafe of neceflity : We can no more avoid that, than we could avoid being born in England, or being of fuch a complexion or iiature : But to humble ourfelves under his hand, is to be adtive in the furrender of our perfons, our judgments, and our concerns to the pleafure of the Ahnighty, faying with Eli, " It is the Lord, let him do what feem- eth him good." Humble yourfelves, that is, relign and give up yourfelves to the direc- tion 342 The Soul voluntarily humbled tion and difpofal of the Lord, that he may work in you and by you all the good pleafure of his will. Now, refpedting this require* ment, we remark — That it is a duty, to the exercife of which we are called daily — upon fome particular occajions, and for the acconi'^ flijhment of that worky which we mull defpair of ever being accompliflied, except by his own hand. I. It is the daily duty, and will be the daily defire of every good man to humble himfelf under God's mighty hand. By prayer, with fupplication and thankfgiving, he comes to God daily to place himlelf, his connec- tions, and concerns under his directing and difpoiing hand. To him he diredts his prayer, and looks up for protection, for prof- perity, and with earneft defire for God to work all his works in him. He feels him- felf happy in a ftate of dependence, and efteems himfelf honoured in being under the dirediion and conduct of One who can require nothing unreafonable, and has power to ef- fed: the greateft things by the moft infignifi- cant inflruments. He would not be his own, was it left to his choice ; his defire and de- termination is to be the Lord's. Senfible how reafonable it i-s that every thought Ihould be brought into obedience to J ejus Chrifly and that every member, power, and paffion fhould be coniecrated to the fervicc of God : Ajid confcious at the lame time how infuf- iicient under God* s /over etgn andfavhtg Ha?7d. 343 iicient he is to efFedl all this of himfelf, or even the fmalleft part of it, he daily hum- bles himfelf under God's mighty hand in fuch petitions as thefe: ** Undertake, O Lord, for me. Work in me all the good pleafure of thy will, and the work of faith with power. IBring down all the ftrong-holds of lin, and build me up in faith, in holinefs, in full conformity to thy facred will." Thus he comes to God daily with a lincere delire to be moulded into the image of Jejus Chrjjl and his gofpel. Without faith in Jefus Chrijl ye can do nothing, when contending againft fin, or purfuing holinefs. His power alone can eradicate your corruptions, fupport you under your weaknefTes, and confirm and efta- blilh the feveral graces of his fpirit in your hearts. In (hort, his grace alone is fuffi- cient for you, and his ftrength muft work all your works in you, or none of them will be found acceptable. But is this your habi- tual convidion, and this your daily conduct as the effed thereof? Are you coming to him daily with the defire that he would not for- fake the work of his own hands, but would perfed: that which concerneth you ? Are ye daily devoting yourfeives to God, to his fer- vice, fubmitting yourfeives to. his govern- ment and condud, placing your fouls before him that he may erafe the charader of the old man, and upon them drav/ the image of his fon ? Are ye defirous to live, not to your^ felves. -^44 T^ he Soul voluntarily humbled felves, or for yourfelves, but wholly for the Lord ? Do ye lay yourfelves at God's feet and under his hand, that he may mould and form you to his pleafure ? Every good man goes to God daily, deiirous to learn his will, to follow the leadings of his providence, to fubjedl his mind to his pleafure, and to fup- plicate his direction in all things. His prayer is, ** that which I fee not, (hew thou me^^ and make me what thou wouldeft have me to be." And as this is the daily work of the believer, fo, 2. There are alfo particular occajions in. which he is called to this duty, and defires - to be found in the practice of it. Thus, for inftance, doth the Lord lay his hand upon^^v his perfon, his property, or his family ? He, ' bows to his fovereign pleafure. His language^ , is that of 'Job, ** Naked came I out of my^ , mother's womb, and naked fhall I return^ thither ; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blelTed be the name of the Lord." Such a perfon views himfelf as liolding every comfort in a ftate of depen- dence upon the divine pleafure ; and that no one can take from, or add to, his comforts, but under the permiffion or direction of that glorious Being, who either extends or con- . trads his hand as he fees befl:. Thus was it with David, when he was called to relinquifli his^ palace, to retire from his family, and to withdraw from thofe facred privileges which were under God's foverelgn andfa'umg Hand. 345 ivere dear to him as his own foul ; humbly he fubmits to the difpofals of his fovereiga hand, faying, ** If the Lord delight in me, he will bring me back again -j and if he fay I have no pleafure in thee, io, here am I, let him do witli me what feemeth him good :'* Or, is his way hedged up, as with thorns ? Does a crofs accompany every undertaking ia which he is engaged ? His fchemes are fruf- trated — his efforts prove ineffediual— his en- deavours return unfuccefsful, ftill he defire$ to fubmit to that hand which never crolTe? ' in vain, and which is able to over-rule out- ward crafles for the foul's advantage. — Iri feafons alfo of perfecution for the caufe of God, when called to fuffer, the humble be- liever bows to the hand of God, and places himfelf under it, that he may receive either protediion or fupport from it. If he fuffer$ .for...righteoufnefs fake, he accounts himfelf not only happy, but honoured, feeing the fpirit of glory and of God refteth upon him. , In a word, at all times, and upon all occa- fions, he defires to bow to the will of God, and to fubmit to his pleafure in all things.—^ Once more, 3. We are happy to humble ourfclves un- der the hand of God for the accomplifiment of that work which we muft for ever defpair of being accompliflied f^xcept by his own hand. Ye will readily perceive that I have refpedl to that grand work, your JanSfificaiion and J'al- ' Vol. H. X X 'v at ion. 34^ ^he Soui voItiTiiarily htmbled vativn. In that concern we have no other' refotirce, no other remedy but to place our- felves under this hand, defpairing, for ever defpairing of all help or hope from ourfclves. What but that power which is equal to every undertaking, can fubdue fuch flrong corrup- tions bear down fuch high thoughts-^ — - eradicate evils fo deeply rooted, or ftablifh, flrengthen, and perfed: graces fo weak, de- lires fo languid f V/ouId ye not defpair of fever attaining perfe^3. At even-time it fhall be light, for then the provifion that he has been making for the eternal Jiipport and enter tainme?it of his people fjall be Jet forth. —Eye hath not k^n^ nor can tongue fufficiently defcribe, what treafures of goodnels their God has laid up for them that love and fear him ; but the feafon is coming when all the comforts held out to the faith and hopes of God's people in the Bible, and exhibited to them for fo many ages, (hail be realized and brought forth for their enjoyment in the heavenly world.— Wlien all the ranfomed of the Lord are con- vened t)ark i)ifpen/ktions illumine d, 369 V^ned together, ^i^JofJma once addrefled Ijraeh fo will a greater Saviour addrefs his followers, faying, ** Ye know in all your hearts, and in all your fouls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God fpake concerning you ; all are come to pafs unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof." * Then in God's light fliall they fee light, receive the end of faith in a full and everlafting falvation, and {hall be for ever with the Lordi The refledion which arifes from this fub- je6t, and which claims the attention of every unrenewed finner, is this : In the prefent twi- light ftate fuch may pafs Unnoticed and un- detedied. Enmity againfl: God may prevail in your hearts, and ad:s of fin may be fecre- tedi You may prefume that ho one feeth in fecret, and that all {hall be well at lafl. You tnay trifle with tin, di{honour God, and go on to rejed: the claims and the counlels of 'Jejus Chrijl ; but the time will come when it will be light without a change, what has been done in darknef? {liall be expofed as in open day* Your true {late will be dif'- covered : Sins loftg forgotten will be brought to your remembrance all your miftakes will be corre(5tedj and you wi-H appear to yourfelves, and to the whole aiTembled world, what you now really are in the fight of God. Vol. II. A a a But * Jofliua xxitu 14, 27^ J^ark Difpenfattons illumined. But while this fubjed proclaims lamenta-*' tlon and woe to the impenitent finner, it holds forth the greateft encouragement to believers. You, my fellow-travellers, may meet with many a difcouragement, and pafs- under inany a fhade in the prefent twilight-' llate. As you travel through this wildernels, doubts, fears, and trials may greatly difcou- rage, but at even- time it fliall be light. All the way in which the Lord has been leading you for fo many years, fhail appear to have been well chofen. — It (liall be feen how goodnefs and mercy have perpetually followed you therein ; and, your courle being finiihed upon earth, you fliall have an abundant en- trance into his everlafting kingdom, there to unite your teftimony with the glorious company already before the throne, m decla- ring, that He hath done all things WELL. God grant us this honour for J ejus' fake. Amen, SERMON SERMON XX. Spiritual Gain from Temporal Loffes ! Or, the Death of the Widow's Son. I KINGS xvii, i8. ^rt thou come unto me to call im fin unto re^^ viembrance, and to JIdy my Jon ^^ A Very ftrange quefllon mufl the Pro- phet have thought this, erpecid.ily" as coming from a perlv>n who was under io many obligations to him, buih upon her own and her Ion's account; but upon this occaiion (he, fpake unadviiediy with her lips j and wiieu \ve have glanced upon the loiernn Providence which gave riie to this patlionate inquiry, ws fhall both lincerely pity her ckfe, and iy^npa- thize with her under thit peculiar triai with which (lie was exerciied. In the beginning of the chapter we find 'Elijah^ an inhabitant ot Gilcady apoearing with the greated iolemnity before king Ahau, ancj in the name of the Lord prediiting that nei-^ ther dew nor rain Ihould fall upon that coun-^ A a a 2 try 272 Spirituai Gain from Temporal Lojfes. try for three years and a half, but according to his word. * ".stq No fooner is the folemn meiTage delivered than he is fecretly admoniflied to retire.—- jihabi though remarkable for his wickednefs, is not permitted to lay hand upon him ; pro- bably his mind was fo powerfully imprcffed with the alarming meffage, that he diicovered not the leaft difpofition at that feafon to ap- prehend the Prophet. A place both of fafety and of fupply is miarked out iovElijab : For his iupply the brook fhall continue to flow, and ravens, the mefTengers of divine Providence^ ihall ftatedly bring him lupport. ^he word cj the IjOrd came to hiwy fiying^ Arife^ get thee hence, and turn thee eajiwardy and bide thyjelf by the brook Cherith-, that is before Jordan* And it jhall be, that thou fdalt drink oj the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according untia the word of the Lord: J or he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before "Jorrian, And the ravens brought him bread and fpjh in the morning-, and bread and jUfh in the evening ^ and he drank of the brook J Such was his abode, an; iuch his fupply for a conliderable feafon. l^iom the 7th verfe of the chapter fome have fuppoied that it was a full year. During this feaion many, whofe eycl had never penetrated this iecret rtc .s oi me Prophet, would be benefited on his account. Wherever the brook flowed, all who drank ♦ Verfe i . \ Verfe a- 6. of ♦ - Sptritudl Gain from temporal Loffes, xj% of it were bleffed for Elijalfs fake. In like manner the wicked receive and enjoy many- advantages which are beftovved upon tliem for the lake of others. The ftreams of the divine bounty perhaps flow to them and their habitations by virtue of the prayers and piety of perfons whom they never knew. At length, either as the natural efFe<5t: of tha continual drought, for the punishment of others who had not improved this fpeciaj forbearance of the Almighty towards them-^ felves — or in order to fend a blefling to a dif^ flant part, the brook becomes dry, and the Prophet is commanded to go to Zarep/Mtb, or Sarepta, a place inhabited by idolaters. Obedient to the heavenly mandate he removes^ As he approaches the place, the firft objedt which prcfents itfelf to his view is a poor woman gathering fticks. Elijah, though an Ijrnetite — a faithful fervant of the Lord — yea an eminent Prophet, is under the neceflity of beggmg to fupply his wants : But he alked in faith— he afked not with the humble im- portunity of a beggar, but with the authority of one who had his commillion from God^ The Lord had told him, that he had command* cd a widow of that place to fuftain him. *: The demand the Prophet made upon this poor woman introduces a very moving fcene; and ferves at once for a key to open the win- dow's heart and habitation, the (late of her family, and of the whole fupply which flie • Verfe 7. had 374 Spiritual Gaiji from Temporal Loffes, had for herfelf and her Ton : So he arafe, and went to Zarephath : And when he came to the gate of the city, behold^ the widow woman was there gathering of jiicks : and he called to her, and J aid. Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vejel, that I may drink. And as ihe was going to fetch it, he called to her, and [aid. Bring me, 1 pray thee, a morfl of bread in thine band> And fJ:e faid. As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a crufe : And, behold, I am gat her in'^ two Jiicks, that I may go in, and drejs it for me and for my Jon, that we may eat, and die * Every word (lie uttered we may fuppofe would pierce the l^rophet's feehng heart. Had he viewed things witli an eye of fenfe, his fliith had now ftaggered, and his language v;ould have been to this effect : ** And have 1 travelled fo far under the power of deception ? And is this the wo- man who, I was informed, had a commiind from God to fuftain me ? And is an handful of meal and a little oil her whole ftock of proviiions ? — Better to have died by the brook Cherith, where there was no one to pity or to mock me, than under the eye of fo many ene- mies to the God of Ifrael^ — But he daggered not at the command or the promiie of God. He (lirunk not at this alarmin;^ alpedit of his Providence — being lirong in faith, he glori- fied his God. In the name of that God, whom it is probable this wor.jan neither knew nor * Veiie lo— .ja. i^TVCd^ Spiritual Gain from temporal Lojps, 375- ferved, he fpake encouragement and comfort to her : And Elijah jaid unto her. Fear not j gOt and do as thou haft faid: but make me tSereoJ a little cake Jirjl, and bring it unto me^ and after make for thee and for thy fin. For thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael, the barrel of meal fhall not ivajie, ?jeitber Jhall the crufe of gH fail, until the day that the Lord fendeth rain upon the earth. And fie went, and did according to the faying of Elijah : and fie, and he, and her houje did eat many days.^ There can be no doubt but fo good a man, and fo zealous a fervant of the Lord as Elijah was, would endeavour to feed this woman's mind with the knowledge of divine truth, while {he, as the inilrument in the hand of Provi- dence, i^^ him with bread. Though the wo- man was poor, her habitation mean, and the provifion plain, -their con verfation would be profitable, their communion fweet, and their days would be crowned with goodnefs. — At length an event, little exped:ed, takes place. Black famine had been excluded by a fpecial Providence from this, favoured habitation, while perhaps it had been felt in fome^ if not in every houfe in Zarephatb. But death hath more ways of accefs to our habitations than one. Elijah was grown old : this widow was in the middle aG:e o-f life; the bloom of youth probably glowed only upon the cheeks of one of the inhabi- tants of this tent, and death marks him. for » Veife \^ iv. -'^Js 376 spiritual Gain from temporal Lojfes* his prey. The difeafe with which he is af^ Aided makes rapid progrels — probably during the feafon in which the Prophet walked out into the fields to meditate and to pray, the young man fickena — and dies. Heretofore the Prophet's return to the wi- dow's habitation had been kindly welcomed ■with a fmile, or with fuch a lalutation as this, Ble/led be thou of the Lord: But now he finds her in tears, and his ears are accofted with a very different Linguage : And Jhe faid unto Elijah, What have I to do imth thee, O thou man of God ? Art thou come unto me to call my Jin to remembrance ^ and to Jlay my Jon ? What we propofe from this paffage is to make a few general remarks, which we {hall mention, and then enlarge upon. — From thefe words it appears, that there is a great pro- penfity in the human heart, either to take no notice of thufe inftances in which we Im againft God, or foon to forget the convic- tions we have had. — That God is pleafed to make ufe of various ways and methods to convince men of their fins, particularly thofe whom he regards with fpecial favour — That by fuch methods the veil is often withdrawn, to let them fee that fuch things were really difpleafing in his fight, which they once thought little of, if not favourably concern- ing — That there is danger of giving way to a fretful, murmurmg frame of ipirit, in feafons of spirit kal Gain from Temper al L^ffcs. 377 of great trial —That feafons, in which fin is brought to remembrance, are very painful fea-i^^ fons —But that to God's people ail their trials fhall eventually terminate in their real profit. Our firft remark is, I . 'That there is a great propenjity in the hwran hearty either to take n-i yiutice of thofe lujlances in which we Jin againjl God, or fooii to J-orget the conviifions we have had. Few men pay that attention to the general tenor of their condudt which they ought, boiue rood men have refolved to flop every thought as it firil: entered the mind, and inveiligate its origin, and whither it tended, before they fuffered it to pafs ; but partly through the hurry of bulinefs, natural indolence, igno- rance, partiality to ouriielves, and a variety of things which might be mentioned, thofe who know the mod of theml'elves will fee that, however reafonable, fuch a method mufl be exceeding difficult. Solomon^ who knew as much of the heart as mod men, informs us, that there is not a juib man who doth good and fmneth not * : And the Apoftle James confirms the fentiment by that con- fefiion he made in his own name, and in the name of ail the apoilles and firll foUovv'ers of J ejus Chn/i. In ma7i\' things we offend all\. There .are {o many fins of iGjJVorance, of omifilon, finful thoughts and finfal defires,. that we find David faw reafon to humble himfelf on their account before God. *' Who, Vol. il. B b b ** fays * Zcclef. vU. sS. — f James iii. 2. JT'S Spiritual Gain from Temporal hofjeu "fays he," can underlland his errors? Cleanfe thou me from fecret faults -j-" Solomon, with all his extent of underiUnding ; David, with all his watchful circumfpedion, could neither deted nor number them. Ihey de- file the foul — from them we mud be cleanfed. — God alone can cleanfe — and it is the duty of all, and will be the prat5tice of all good men, to apply to him for cleanfing. So extenfive and fpiruual is the law of God, that it is impolTible for any one to be ac- quainted with all his defects. Through the error of our judgments, ignorance of the rule of duty, or a feifiih partiality in our own fa-, vour, how prone are we to account thofe things innocent in their nature, or that ac- tion laudable, which the law of God pro- nounces finful, exceeding finful. There are treji.iuies of deceit and vvickednefs in the hu- man heart, which are vifible alone to God. Hence pride cloaths itfelf with the garb of humility j covetoufnefs pafles amongft men for prudent care j fu-perftition affumes the Jiames of piety and zeal -, and the deceitful- nefs of fm, in ten thoufand forms, impofes upon the hearts of men fo as to ward ofFpre- fent convi(ftion&, or ruin them for ever. Even where perlbns have had fome con- vicflions that they have been a(3:ing a foolilli and unreafonable part, how foon do fuch conviittions wear off and are forgotten. Men fee their faults at feafons ; but, like perfons * pfaimxix.,2. beholding spiritual Gain from Temporal Loffes, 379 beholding their faces in aglafs, they go away and forget what manner of men they are. Like the Kom.in governor, they difmifs their reprovers and their conviiflions together. Were all thoie convidions and imprcffions, which have been made upon the minds of men while attending under the miniflry of the gofpei, as well fixed there, as they are in the book of God's remembrance, what manner of perfons would they be m all holy converlation and godlinefs ! Bat many of our convictions prove like the iha4ows of the clouds, and our in^,)re{i[ions ar- like the early dew which palTeth away. The condudit of a luimber of perfons proves the truth of this remark, ** I'hat there is a gre.it propeniity in the human heart, either to take no notice of thefe inilances va which we lin ugainft God, or foon to forget the coavidlions we have had." Whatever the iin, or iins, of this wom;)n had been, fhe icens citht-r to have taken no notice of, or to h^ve lorgotten them till this mournfui event (ook p ace. I'lien file cried out, ** Art thou cu^ie to call mv' fin to remembrance ? ' — We -notice, 2. That God is pleajsd to make ufc of vdr^'ovs ways and methods to convince men of ihnY'fihSf particularly thofc whom be regards with jpec-tal favour. Theie means are very vario^Js m thcT nature and appearance. Sometimes he effects this by the ordinary minijlry of his fervants, or by fome parti cultir B b b 2 hint. ^8o Spiritual Gain from Temporal Lojjes, hint, or remark, which is dropped by thern in tlie courfe ol their miniftry. Though by them the bow be drawn at a venture, the Lord is plealed to dired the arrow to the pro-r per, the intended mark. It proves a word with power and in ftaion : Without any dp- {\^\\ in the miniiier, to the convinced party it appears as though ibmelhing perfonal had been intended, it coires to his conlcience, not only as the word ot n man, hke himlelf, but a.s the word of God, which, as in an in- iVant, (]icw§ him all that ever he did. Had not Elijah been lent to this v/icow, probably fbe would never have lecn the rmfulneis of her former condudl, as fl:ie often faw it, under his faithrul inftrudions and reproofs : And, perhaps, fhe had never {c^^ it fo peculiarly aggravating as (he did upon this occaiion. — » And has the miniftry o[ the lervants of God been made thus ufeful to your fouls .'' Has this been inftrumental to introduce the light of divine truth into your hearts, and thrown the light of conviction over the vvhole of your paft conduct ? Have ye been convinced of the linfulnefs of lin, your i^eed of a better righ- teoufnefs than your own, and has the truth and power of the Gofpcl been confirmed in you ? If this be the cafe, though miniifers ihould remain unacquainted with the fuccefs of their labours while they live, yet you have reafon to blefs God that you heard their voice. spiritual Gain from Temporal Loffes, 38 c voice, and tlie day will come when they (hall alio rejoice with you. Perjonal trials and affliBions are alfo em- ployed at times as means to convince men of jins which otherwile they had never Teen, which they had forgotten or perfevered in. The Plalmill tells us that it was good tur him that he had been aiflid:ed, lor before he was afHid:ed he went adrav; afterwards he learned the word, and was led in the path of duty ; And no doubt many will have eternal reaibn with him to blefs God for thofe trials and af~ flidtions which have been over- ruled foi the profit of their fouls : Not that this is the ^leceiTary fruit of afHidion ; for the more fome perfons are afflided the more they tranf- grefs. But when grace accompanies the af- Hiction, then is it rendered effectual to con- vince of fin, or to promote obedience. The intention and the etfed of afflictions, when under the influence of a divine bleliing, is {ex forth in a vtry full and ftriking manner by Ehbu : *; U they be bound m fetters and be holden in cords of aiTiidlion, then he (heweth them their work ana their tranfgreffions, that they hdiVQ exceeded : He openethalfo their ear to difcipline,anii commandeththat they return from miquity. ii they obey and ferve him, they (hall fpcnd their d^xy^ in profperi ty and their years in pleaiures ; But if they obey not, they Ihall perilh by the fword, and tney fhaii die Without knowledge. "*-r-B.iU to apply this » Job xxxvi. ? — 12, remark 3^2 spiritual Gain from Temporal Lojfes. remark to the fubjedt before us. Though there be reafon to conclude, that this widow was a good woman — an J thit Elijah* s mini- ftry had been mu' h bleiTec to the profit of her foul, it is probable thif aiHidion was intended to accorapbih fome tnd^ perhaps to dete(ft fome evil wiiiciv the Prophet :> pene- tration and faiihfuincib l-^ad neve been able to difcover or to remove : Not only God's word, but his rod has a voice. He afHicIi^ls iiot willingly, or grieves the children of men; what he does is ior their profit — either it is to humble them, to take away lin, or to make them partakers of his holincfs. At other feafons the Lord brings fin to re- membrance by the deaih of very near relations^ or intimate friends. In his view, who feeth all things as thev are, there appears a necef- {ity to remove thofe out of the way who i^and between us and the means of conviction.— The Lord tears away thofe ** dear delights we fondly call our own /' thofe who have had fuch union with oar hearts that the re- moval of them cannot but wound and pain us greatly : Such wounds perhp.ps are necef- fary in order to eltc not." , They treated him with the greatefl: indignity, and fpoke of him with as much derifion and contempt, as if they thought that the very mentioning of his naaie wqujd defile their lips, or be ofFenlive to the ears of others : " We know," fay they, ** that God fpake by Mofes't as for this fellow^ we know not from whence he is*." Nay, they appear defirous to reprefent him as no part of the holy (qq^^j but a wretch under the power of the devil. *' Say we not well, that thou art a Samaritan, and ■' ■ ' haft * John ix. ag. prof effing People, 401 haft a devil i-f- And the fame hiftofian has told us further, that even his own brethren did not believe in him J. But how came the Jews to adl in fo ftrange, fo unaccountable a manner to Jejus Chrijl ? What had he done to merit fuch treatment from them ? — By his power they faw the lame walk, and perfons born blind, with whom they had been converfant, have their eyes opened, and the dead reftored to friends and to the active fcenes of life. They heard perfons who had been dumb proclaim him as their deliverer j others teftifying how water had been turned into wine -, a few loaves of bread multiplied for the fupply of thoufands; how the waves had fubfided at his word, and the winds were ftill at his command. All elements, all creatures, all difeafes, yea the very devils obeyed him ; in fhort, every thing but the obdurate hearts of men. Born at Bethlehem the appointed place, at the ap- pointed feafon alfo, when the fceptre was de- parting from Judah', and of that very tribe and family which had long before been flamed. — With all thefe evidences to confirm their minds, and to corroborate his claims, how came it to pafs that he was treated as a ftranger by his brethren, and as an alien by his mother's children? The plain reafon was, that he oppofed their pride in being the de- fcendants of Abraham^ and their carnal at- tachment to the honours and glory of the Vol. II. E e e prefent t John »Ui. 4$.«— J John vii. 5. 402 ChrijVs Charge agamjl his prefent evil world: He ref'uted the opinion they had forrned of the law of God, letting it forth in a very different point of vievv, and objeded to their condud: in the fervice of God, (liewing that he required fpintual worfhip, mercy rather than facrifice, and pre- ferred the obedience of the heart to the fat of lambs. He purged the houle of his fa- ther, driving out the buyers and fellers who had affembled therein for the convenience of traffic. On thefe accounts he was treated as a ftrartger by his brethren: For, lays he, in *the words which follow the text, the zeal of thme hoiife hath eaten me up \ and the re- proaches of them that reproached thee, are fallen upon me*. 2. Even his own Mfciples, while he it as in the extremity of his dijirefst aSted as though 'they knew hihi not. They all forfook him and fled, and left him to ftand alonfe at Pi- late's bar and in Herod's prefence. Peter, inflead of acknowledging him, declared that he knew nothing about him, when the qucftion was put to him ; nay, pretended to be almoft a ftranger to his very name. — ** I 'know not the man." — " Woman, I know ndt ''what thou fayeft." — **Then he began tocUrle ^'and to fwear, faying, I know riot the man." Enough Peter. The Jews knew very well that the difciples of Jejui Chrtjl wauld lidt curfe and fwear. — Such language would ne- ver betray him to be a chriftian. After this, we apprehend, not one perfon would afk him * ver, 9. whether proffjjing People, 403 whether or not he belonged to Jefus. No, his bluftering and bouncing oaths wouUi re- move every Tufpicion from their minds upon this fubjecl. — Let every prophane perlbn take this hint : If you can curie and fwear, with what fome may call a good grace, a difciple of Beelzebub you may be, but it is certain you do not belong to Jejus ChrijL The man who, in his common converfation, can trifle with, or infult God's name in al- moft every fentence, proves that he retains 110 reverence for him in his heart. He blaf- phemes that very name which angels blefs, and trifles with that power before whom de- vils tremble. But to return from this di- greffion, jejus Cbrijl was forfaken by his own fa- mily and followers. With propriety might he adopt the language of the Pfalmift,' and fay, / IV as a reproach among all mine enemies^ but efpectally among my neigbboiirsy and a fear to mine acquaintance : 'They that did fee me wit houty fed from mc'^. The fight of him without the camp, rejedted and crucified, caufed them to flee. Such was their condud: after all the gracious inftrudiions, rnanifeil:a- tions, and promifes which he had afforded to them. But their condud was the effect of fear, of furprize, of the depth of his difgrace, and of the force of temptation. But they repented of their cowardice, returned to their allegiance, and were pardoned an^ accepted. . E e e 2 Having * Pfalm xxxi. ii. 404 Chrijfs Charge againjl his Having (hewn how this was applicable to the church of old, we proceed, III. 'To con/ider how far the fame charge may be jvjlly preferred againjl us in the prefent day. Is not this the language of 'Jefus Chrift ftill ? •* I am become a ftranger to my brethren?" And is not there too much ground for fuch complaint with refped: to feveral of us ? I. As to many, though born within the pale of the vifible church, defcended from parents eminent in their day for exemplary piety, privileged with a religious education, and permitted to fee the truth of the reli- gion recommended to you, exemplilied in the converfation and condud: of your godly parents ; though furrounded with advan- tages and obligations, how many of you have been a6ling as Grangers to Jefiis Chrijl? You have not fought his acquaintance, perhaps, on the contrary, you have ra^. ther endeavoured to avoid it; though the propofals of this Saviour are fo libera], you have trifled with them, becaufe his require- ments are fo pure. It may be you have re- gularly kept your place in the fanduary, but have you not flighted him in private, by negleding his word, or refl:raining prayer ? In the world, probably, like Peter, you have been afraid that any mould think that you belonged to Jefus Chrift-, you have endea- voured, therefore, to convince them of the contrary, if not by a prophane, yet by a vain and 'frofejjing People. 405 and trifling converfation. Him you have not honoured ; no, you have flighted and injured him. Though every good you have pof- feffed in this life, has, in a fort, been vouch- fafed to you upon his account ; for were it not for him, every ftream of divine goodnefs would probably ceafe to flow ^ yet this kind, companionate, and gracious Saviour you have not honoured. He never yet received one prayer of faith from your hearts to prefent to his father. He never had the opportunity yet to announce, in the prefence of your re- latives now in glory, that the correfpondence was opened between him and you upon earth. No, year after year has pa fled away, and you have all this time continued fl:rangers to 'Jejus Chrijl. His name you hear and know lomething of, but you continue fl:rangers to his grace, truth,-power, and falvation. Seek him now vv^hile he may be found, left you fhould remain ftrangers to him for ever. 2. Others there are, who, though they know him, do not chufe to own him openly. In fecret, they treat him as a friend and bro- ther — they confult him in their difliculties — they correfpond with him, though at a di- ftance, they have communion with him : But either through afalfe and unreafonable dread of him, or the fear of others, they do not ac- knowledge him openly. Upon fome of his appointments they attend ; but they keep going in and out as ftrangers do at an inn not 4© 6 Chrtft's Charge againjl his not as children who belong to the houfe. Probably, while the brethren and friends of Jefus acknowledge him before God, angels, devils, and men in the way that he hath ap- pointed, thefe perfons will look on, while others of them go out with the men of the world, as if they belonged not to Cbriji's ta- miiy, although he has exprefsly commanded them to break bread in remembrance of him. How \vould profeilbrs of this clafs be lUrtled, were the perfons they retire with to addrefs them in the language of Abjalom to Hujhai. Abjalom faid to Hujhai^ Is this thy kindntjs to thy JritJicr^ Why wtnteji thnu not ivtth thy Jriena^'^ To confefs Chriji before men is our duty, our privilege, our honour ; to deny or not to confefs him is our lin Whofoever is alhamed of him and of his word, of luch will he be aibamed in that day, when he appears furrounded with honour and glory. And if yej74s Chriji has owned you for his brethren, your duty is to aifociate with his family, and to remember and confefs him in the way that he hath appointed. But, 3. Even with refped: to us, who have openly and repeatedly acknovv'ledged our re- lation to this Saviour, is there not too much ground for him to take up this complaint } 1 am biconie a Jtranger to my brethren. Are t.ur thoughts fixed upon him, and our affections going out after him as they were formerly ? Is he the pleafmg, profitable, ha- bitual. * 2 Sam. xvi. 17, profeffing People. i^oy bitual fubjcA of our meditations that he once was ? Are you converling about this baviour and recommending him to others, as thofe who know his name and defire to diffufe the favour of it ? Is it your defire and determi- nation, through grace, to know nothing amongft men, fave Je/us Cbrijl^ and him crucified ? Are ye ftirring up your hearts to lay hold upon hi? ftrength, grace, and pro- mifes, and to atiend to and honour his pre- cepts ? Are your viiits to a throne of grace as frequent as they were formerly ; and do you keep up that familiarity there, the benefit of which you have fo often found ? Do you maintain that fteady regard to the means of grace, and that conftant attendance upon them which you once obferved ? Or have you been treating the Saviour with indifference and putting a flight upon him — giving to the world that ftrength, that time, that ardour of the mind, all which were due to your elder brother ? Has "Jejus Chnji no caufe to take up this complaint againft any of us ? " I am become a ftranger to my brethren ? How often am I deprived of their cortipany in my houfe ; and even while they are there, how frequently do I detect their hearts wandering from me, and left to rove, without a reftraint from them ?" — If there be caufe for fuch a complaint, and our hearts tell us there is, then let us look up to him for the power of quickening grace to corred: our folly. And 40 8 Chriji's Charge agalnjl hit is there reafon for fuch a eomplaint againft us ? — Lord, enable us to lillen to it, and re- gard it. Condefcend not only to fpeak to our ears but to our hearts, and fay. Am I not become almoft a ftranger to you my brethren ? O to hear, and to profit by reproof up- on earth, other wife ycfus Chriji will carry this complaint sgainft us into the heavenly court, and to the Father of the whole fa- mily. He will lodge this complaint againft US; ** Father, after all that I have done and fuf- fered for my friends upon earth — after all the favours, privileges, and indulgences granted to them — after telling them that it is their duty and intereft to remember me — after ap- pointing every mean neceffary lo promote and increale their correfpondence with me ; nay, after letting them have the experimental proof of mine abundant condefcention and fuper-abounding grace : After all this, I am become a ftranger to my brethren. Father, avenge my caufe, in order to awaken thefe my thoughtlefs Humbering difciples out of their infenfibility." — Should this be the cafe, dijeaje will be commiilioned to alHid: our bo- dies — or death to flay our near relatives — or difajlers to ftrip us of our worldly property, in meafure, if not entirely— or what, perhaps, may prove more diftrefling than any or all of thefe — DarknefSf an horror of darknefs to feize upon and polTefs our fouls for the re- maining profejjing People* 409 mainlng days of our pilgrimage upon earth. As the *^^^Ql of fuch a condud: towards this compailionate friend of finners, our future days may be uncomfortable, and our courfe in this life be concluded in darknefs. And has he faid, ** Them that honour me, I will honour ?" O that we may be enabled fo to conduct ourfelves towards our elder brother, that he may intercede for us, and not plead againft uSi May we feverally rejoice in the thought, experience the comfort, and poll'efs all the advantage of having an advocate with the father, even yefus Qhrijl the righteous-— May we love him more — honour him more- follow him with greater ardour — love all his brethren on earth for his lake — and finally be received by him into his father's palace.- Amen, Vol. ir. Fff SERMON SERMON XXII. Acceptable Worfhip : Or, God ap- proached through a Mediator. EPHES. ii. i8. through him we both have an accefs by 07ze Spirit unto the Father* HAD we at this feafon to appear before our fuperiors, efpecially in the courts of princes, where forms and ceremonies are fixed, and (Iridily required to be attended to, a regard to our own eafe and fuccefs would powerfully excite us to obtain all poffible in- formation upon thefe articles, that fo, upon our appearance, we might be able to conduct ourielves with propriety and advantage; But it is not the ceremonies of the courts of princes that ye would learn, or that I would teach : Our province is to inform you how ye may draw near to God with approbation and ac- ceptance. Jehovah, the God of order, has been pleafed to fignify his pleafure relpecfling this interefting concern j and it it* our delire to fliew you the law of the houfe, that lo ye may be enabled to regulate all your addreffes and God approached through a Mediator, 4 1 r and applications agreeable to the pattern that he hath given : May we levcrally attend to it with that (implicity, that fubjedtion of mind, and that conformity of conducl:, which is be- coming thofe who deiire continually to receive the law from his mouth. Certain it is that human invention has nothing to do in the worfhip of God. The precept and the pat- tern are to be fought alone from the fcriptures, as the only unerririg and infallible formula both of faith and worship. To the law, therefore, and the teflimony we look for all necefTiry inftruction and diredtion in this im- portant bufinefs, and thither we turn with this confidence, that if a man dt^re to do the will of Gody he (hall know of the dodrine that proceeds from him, and of the method in which he can be approached by the humble fupphant. The words now read are chofen with a view to ob iate the doubts of fome — to ex- plain our o.vn fentiments — and to vindicate our practice in that part of the worihip of God to which thefe words may be coniidered as having fome reference, viz. Prayer. There is, however, one principle which we wiih to premife, and which we doubt not will be honoured with the fanction of every one who reveres the Bible as a revelation from God : It is this There can be no contradic- tions in that book which proceeds from him v/ho is of one mind and none can turn him, F f f 2 and 4 1 2 Acceptable WorflAp : Or, and which is the expreis revelation of his will to his creatures. True, every part may not appear equally clear at the firll vie-v ; every lentence may not afford the lame degree of light into the fame fubje6t : But where one may feem to fail us, another fteps for- ward with its iuperior evidence, and when the whole comes to be collected and com- pared, the fubjett appears clear and confiftent; our doubts are filenced, and our difficulties removed. Detached portions of fcripture may feem to countenance almoftany error ; but re- ftore them to their connection, view them in harmony with the reft, and they tend not only to convince you what is truth, but alfo to confirm the mind both in the belief and practice of it. With a defire to excite the warm^eft fenti- mentsof gratitude in the hearts of the Ep^-r/ian church towards the great Author of their mercies, in the chapter before us, theApollle endeavours to lead back their minds to refledt upon that (late of j'pintual death, in which the Golpel found them : They Vv'ere dead in trefpaffcs and fins — under the power of Satan, and walking in that courfe of difobedience, which led to everlafting de(l:rud:ion. — trom this confideration he both infers and proves that their falvation mufl be wholly of grace. This grace both i'eparated them for the Lord, and operated in them io as to form them for himfelf, that they might iliew forth his praife. The God approached through a Mediator, 413 The fubjed: thus far advanced, naturally led both him and them to the confideration of that happy, that honourable ftate into which thev were now broui^ht, as united to the church of God, and partakers of its invalu- able privileges. The veil was rent, the facred ihclofure laid open, and they reconciled unto God by the death o^ "J ejus Cbnjt', yea more, they had accefs to God, as a kind, a gracious, a' reconciled Father. Fer. 11 — 18. "Re- member that ye being in time paft GentiUs in the fledi — that at that time ye were with- out Chr/Jiy being ahcns from the common- wealth of Ijrael, and itrangers from the coye- i^ants of promife, having no hope, and witij- out God in the world ; but now in Chrijl "jej'js, ye who fometimes were far oiT aie made nigh by the blood o^ Chrijl -y for he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolifhed in his fitlh the enmity, even the law of commandmerts, contained in ordinances, for to make in hiixi- felf of twain one new man, fo making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the crois, having {lain the enmity thereby; and came and preached peace to you which v^^ere afar off, and to them that were ni2;h : For throuijh him vve both have an accf fs by one Spirit unto the Father." What 1 propofe from 'thefe words is, I. Briefly 414 Acceptable Worjhlp : Or, I. Briefly to explain the privilege here re- ferred to, acL cjs to God- II. Point out the grand mean whereby this privilege was firtl procured, is ftill pre- ferved, and will ever be rendered effec- tual, it is through Chrijt. IIJ . i he luitable and fufficient aid provided for enjoyment of this privilege, it is by one Spirit : r^nd, IV. The ultimate object of our hope and happinefs to whom we are permitted to prefent our humble addreffes and lup- plications, to the Father, But before we enter more particularly into this plan, we beg leave juil: to remark, that thefe words, in our apprehenfion, evideiitly hold forth the do(i:lrine of the ever-blelled Trinity. The true God is here revealed un- der a variety of charaders or offices, the Fa- ther, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and the fellowfliip which every believer has with each of them in their retpedive manifeftations, particularly in the duty of prayer, is here clearly evinced : It is through j^- A^i Chriji as the Mediator, and by the aid, affiftancc, and operation of the Holy Spirit, that we have accefs to the Father — who, as feated upon the throne of grace, claims ail the honours, an« dilpenfes all the covenant- blelfingvS of the Deity. It is, properly fi caking, the Divine Nature we worihip, whatever name be uied, chara(Sler God approached through a Mediator, 415 charader aiTumed, or office reprefented. The Son, coniidercd as to his Divine Nature, is in the Father, and the Father in the Son, fo as to be properly one; and what we remark df the Son is equally applicable to the Holy Spirit ; fo that though there be three who bear record in heaven, yet thefe three are one, that is one glorious Eflence, one God.— ■ But let us now proceed to the method already laid down. I. We propofe briefly to touch upon the glo^ rious privilege here referred to^ viz Accefs to God. Now the very idea of accefs fuppofes in it previous dijtance and prejent liberty t,j ap-^ proach. Previous diftance is evidently intimated in the idea. As Gentiles y thefe Epbejians had been without God and without hope. They had heen held off at an awful diitance, excluded from all the privileges of grace and the co-^; venants of promife. But though once fai^ off, they were now made nigh by the blood Q^ChriJi. Blefled, invaluable privilege ! To be tranilated from under the power o-f dark— nefs, and introduced into the blefled liberty of God's children. To be admitted through the rent veil of the Redeemer's flefli, into the prefence of God as a reconciled friend and father. Remember, brethren, the fituation in which your forefathers orice were in this nation; yea, refl dt upon your own condi-" tioo, previoui to converting grace : Ye were «-i ->' then;» 4 1 6 Acceptable JVorJJjip : Or, then, without. God in the world, or Chrift in the heart. O never forget your former di- ftance while in a ftate of fin and unresenera- c y i and let all the honour of the change be afcribed to him to whorni th[e whole honour is due. s Ye were once afar off, now there is liberty to approach, .There is accefsto God, and ac- ceptance before him through 'Jejus Cbriji, The word here tranflated accefs^ fignifies to be introduced as by the hand into court, and prelented by .forne intimate friend, or ap--'. pointed officer, into the roy-al preience : So "^efus Cljrijl js reprefented as introducing all his friends into the prefence of his father<> Through him ye are permitted to approach the throne of grace, and; by prayer and iup- pli.cation to make known your rtquell:. At alf- times, in all your trials and . diiiiculties-i ye are encounged to come boldly before his- throne,, that ye may obtain mercy, and hod grace to help you in every time of need. With holy boidnefs ye may open your mouths to tell him all your concerns and troubles*.* Rejoice, my fellow-linners, in the thought,' that there is accefs to God'! Every obftacle which once lay in the way is entirely and for ever removed ; and the encouragement is, that afk what ye will, while the blefling is contained in, the promile, and the plea found-' ed upon the merit and advocacy of y^-fA it fhall be done unto you. Aflonifhing pri^* - : . .. vilege. God approached through a Mediator. 4 i 7 Vilege, that poor worms of the earth, rebels againft their God, and Tinners againd their own Ibuls, can have accels to God with hope and confidence, there to plead his promifes, and to take (helter under the fliadow of his power. Proceed we, II. To lay before you the grand mean, Kobereby this privilege wai Jirji procured, isjlill prejervedy and will ever be Jound effei^ual. It is through Chrill:. -I . This great privilege of accefs to God was procured for us by the death of y^^fus Chrtft. In Chrifl ye/us ye, who fometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Chri/i^y ver, 13. V/e have admittance into the holieft of all by the blood of yejus. This is that new and living way whereby we have accefs to God. Without the foeddi ng of blood there was no remilTion j without re- miffion, no peace ; and without peace, no profpedis that could excite our hope, or draw forth our deiires. Brethren, whenever ye approach a throne of grace, never forget at what an amazing expence, and by what an extraordinary exertion that way was laid open for you. Jultice, vt'ith its extenfive demands; holinefsy with its no lefs extenfive require- ments, and wrath, with its inconceivable and accumulated curfcs, flood in the wav. I'hefe were not to be removed by your cries for pity, or refolutions to be micre obedient for the future. Thefe had flill entirely and Vol. \\, ^ g S , eternally 41 8 Acceptable W or fiip : Or, eternally blocked up the way, had not the blefled Jefus gracioufly, feafonably, and pow- erfully interpofed himfelf; and he has re- moved Iin by bearing the punKhment due to it, fatisfied juftice, honoured the claims of holinefs, and fprinkled the way to the throne of grace with his own blood, that, in every ftep you take in your approach to it, ye may both fee and feel to whom ye (land indebted for this high, this honourable privilege. And as his blood iirft procured this accefs, fo, 2. He ftill preferves this way of accefs open for us. Hence he reprefents himfelf as the {foor by which we have accefs, and as the way in which we are to walk ; and further, we are exprefsly told that no man cometh to the Father but by him. It is in his name and in his right that we enjoy this invaluable privilege. There is no accefs to God but iy and through a Mediator. He, as the great high prieft of our profeffion, hath entered within the veil; and the connedtion, the in- difToluble connection that fubfills betwixt him and his people, ftill keeps the way open. Becaufe he lives, they fhall live alfo. Dying, he opened the way, and, living, he preferves it open for the encouragement of all jhi^ friends and family. How would our fins, our ingratitude, our incredulity, our innu- merable departures from the living God, how would thefe, long ere this, have clofed up the way, had not the blelfed Redemer ccnftantly God approached through a Mediator, 4 1 9 conftantly exerted himfelf to keep it open ! It is through him who was dead, but is alive again, that we have accefs, with confidence, into the grace wherein we ftand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Let this con- lideration influence your condudl whenever ye find your minds opprefied with fears or diftrefs through your own condud: : It is not in your own name, or on your own account, but through him, that ye have this accefs to, God. ^" 3. This gracious privilege of accefs to God, as to our Father, is rendered efix;(ftual and acceptable by Jefin Chriji, He ever lives to make intercefiion for us, to per- fume the petitions of his people with the incenfe of his own merit, and to perfed: the imperfedions which attend their fupplica- tions by the addition of his infinite wifdom and divine authority. Our very petitions would be fufficient to prove our ruin, had we not an advocate with the Father to prevent the cfFeds of our folly, and to procure what we faw not the neceffity of afking. He, gracious intercefibr, throws the whole of his interefl into the fcale, which would otherwife be found infinitely too light. Acquainted with all your wants, and with all your weaknefies, he overlooks not the leaft concern of the loweft believer. It is not your arguments, however forcible in their own nature, that prevail — not your zeal, however fervent — not G g g 2 your 420 Acceptable Worjloip : Or, your frames, however lively, that give effi- cacy to your prayers — or however dull, that prevent their being heard. It is the merit and intcrceflion of J^/us which renders the work prevalent. His *' Father I will" carries fuch efficacy along with it, as renders even fighs fignificant, and gives to the moft broken petitions of the heart all the force of heavenly oratory. His prei'ence above ren- ders your accefs to God both effedual and acceptable ; for finners are now accepted in the beloved to the praife of the glory of his grace. We now go on to confider, 111. T/je J ui table and fufflcient aid provided for our enjoyment of this bUjjed privilege y it is by one fpirit that we approach the Father. ^ Three things become neceflary for the fuc- cefs and improvement of this important pri^ vilege, Knowledge i Grace ^ and Liberty. I. Knowledge. It is the office of the blef- fed Spirit, by the inftrumentality of the word, lb to (hine upon the heart, as to difcover our guilt, mifery, wants, and wretchednefs ; and ioi to (hine into us, or to vouchfafe fuch dif- coveries of the will, the grace, and the power of God, as well as of the glory, the fuitablenefs, and fufficiency of the Lord yf/z/j- Chrift, as Ihall affift us to pray. How fhould creatures, fo ignorant as we are, know v/hat to pray for, or how to perform the duty, did not ^i the Spirit gracioufly and powerfully enlighten 8' the mind with refpe(^ to the will and cha- > radter God approached through a Mediator, 42 1 racier of God, and alfo help our infirmities. It is this Spirit which leads into all truth> takes of the things of Chrt/iy and (hews them to the mind, and enables the foul to derive all its arguments from the word of eternal truth. He enlightens the mind to fee the truth, enables us to embrace it, and then to plead it before God in fuch language as this ; ** Efta-r blilh the word to thy fervant, upon Vv^hich thou haft cau fed me to hope*" Aiid O what light huth Ihone upon fome dodrine ! What comfort through: fome promife, when ye have been folemnly engaged with God in the duty of prayer. Ye both faw your wants, and how his honour flood engaged amply to fup- ply them. 2. Grace alfo is in this duty drawn forth into exercife Fatth goes forth to meet the approaching blefiing; h^^pe enters into future and dillant profpeds ; love kindles the fire beneath the facrifice ; patience bows to the "will of heaven ; and exptdation pants for the bleiiings of a gracious Father. The Spirit of grace and of fupplications is (hcd on yoa abundantly, that io your convcrlc with God may be fuitably conduced, and your com^ munion with him increafed. Thus the true believer approaches God with grace in his h-eart J and without this, elpecialiy without faith,- it is impoffible to pleafe him. ** f he Spirit hitnlclf makcth intcrccflion for us with groanings that cannot be uttered." iie puts 422 Acceptable Worfhip : Or, a cry into the heart even for the falvatlon of God, and enables the foul to afk in faith nothing doubting. Be it your chief concern, that the feveral graces be in proper exercifc in all your approaches to God. Indeed with- out that, it is no approach to him, but a /landing Aill, that you may mock him to his face. 3. Liberty is another blefTing which is re- ceived from the Spirit, in order to affift us in our acccfs to God. He enlarges the heart with fuitable conceptions of what God is through Jefus Chrijly opens the mouth to plead with him, and enables the foul, at fea- fons, to approach with freedom of fpeech, and to tell the Lord all its wants. He brings the argument to the mind, enables the foul to enter into it, and fills the plea with all the invincible importunity of faith. Like yacoby the foul becomes refolute — it wreftles for the blcffing- — it cannot be put off- — it will not recede — and finally, it obtains; **for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty/* 6uch draw near with boldnefs to a throne of grace, that they may obtain mercy, and iind grace to help them in time of need. This Spirit is the only true fource of uni- formity in the worfliip of God. The gifts that he beftows may be various, and each of his gifts may be vouchlafed in diffeient de- grees upon difi^erent perfonsj but this? Spirit is "the author of all thefe rcfrefliing difco- i. veries. God approached through a Mediator, 423 veries, all thofe neceflary graces, and all that happy liberty which are lo neceflary to the comfortable accefs which every believer finds to his God. And pity it is that any thing fhould ever intrude into our worfliip, that iliould tend to impede that exercife of the ^^ind, that lively exertion of the feveral graces, or that holy liberty which this Spirit is the author of. Howevery fo far as the accefs is real and approved, it is by this one Spirit that all the family of God, in cvtry age and place, and of every denomination, have ^accefs to him as a gracious, compailionate, 4nd reconciled Father in Chri/l Jejus. This brings us to l\iQ fourth and lail thing we pro- '. pofed, viz. IV. The ultimate obje^ of our hope and hap- \pinefs, to whom voe are privileged to prejent ^^iir humble addrejj'es and Jhpplications, it is to ^ the Father. But feeing the Son and Spirit, r,though din:in the *' Father as God, the other perfons are in •* the fame nature worfhipped." In another place he exprefTeth himfelf thus : " We worlhip the Lord Cbr ]i who is •* God and man; he is fo in one perfon; and '* his perfon who is God and Man is the cb- ** jed of that u'orlhip : For \h^ formal nofm " and ohjec^lof it is the Divine Nature in that '* perfon. Give me leave to fay, God him- " felf could not command iht Lord Chrtjt \o ** be worfliipped with divine reh'gious ado- ** ration, were he not God by nature, for the ** thing itfelf implieth a contradiction. Re- ^* ligious worfhip is nothing but an allj^na- ^* tion of that honour which is due to divine exccl- * 1 Pctsr I. SI. 43^ Acceptable TFarJhip : Or, * excellencies; namely, to truft, believe, fear, * obey, love, and lubmit to inlinite holineCs, ^ goodnefs, righteoufnefs, power in the firil * caufe, lafl: end, and Sovereign Lord of all, ' Now to alTign glory proper to divine ex- ' cellenciey, and which receiveth its nature * from its objed:, where divine excellencies * are not, is openly contradid:ory. Befides^ * God hath faid, / am the Lordy that is my ^ namt\ and my glory will I not give unto an^ ' other. He that hath not the Name of Godi * that is, his Nature, fliall not, nor can have his glory, which is to he the objed; of the wcrlhip." ^ Such is the tedimony upon this head which has been borne by thefe three eminent cham- pions for evangelic truth — and in the fteps of fuch enunently great and good men, i wilh humbly to tread fo long as i am honoured to minider in the chrirtian fandtaary — and uni- ted in worfhip and Ibciety with fuch Men I hope to fpend a biefled etwrnity. To conclude : A throne of grace is ereclcd. It is now accelTibie. — Thither diredt all your petitions and requefts, — It is your Father tha£ fills it, and we have an advocate with him, J ejus Chriji the righteous, and he is the pro- pitiation iox our lins, and not for ours only, but for the iins of the whole world. Come boldly God approached through a Mediator. 43 1 boldly to this throne. — Alk what ye will. — Cafl: all your care upon God.— It is his honour to hear prayer — it is your duty to prefent it; and he that afks fiiall have, he that leeks fnall iind. May God teach you to pray — enable you to prevail and glorify himlelf hj ihc anfwer. Even fo. Amen, THE END, I