i^!^^ f 
 
 ,1*^-' W^: 
 
 »iA4s 
 
 i*. 
 
% 
 
TEN 
 
 SERMONS 
 
 . 6N VARIOUS SUBJECTS, 
 
 SY THE LATE ELHANAN WINCHESTER, 
 
 PREACHER OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSAL RESTORATION, 
 
 HotTDort : 
 
 PRlNtED BY W. BURTON, FETTER LANE, 
 
 ^.VZ> SOLD or 
 
 TEULO^f, lOO, HOUNDSDITCH. 
 
 ^j^RSON'S, f ATERNOSTER ROW, BELCHER, IN THE BULL-RING, 
 
 BIRMINGHAM, BLUNDELL, BATTLE, SUSSEX, 
 
 AKD MAY BE HAD OF ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN ENGLAND. 
 
 Price Sy. Qd. in Boards^ 
 1799. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 ^TpHE following Difcourfes were taken in (hort» 
 hand by a conftant hearer of Mr. Winchefter, 
 and were intended to have been corre<fled and pub- 
 !i filed by him. But as Providence has difpofed 
 otherwife, they are prefented to the Public in their 
 prefent (late. They were publifhed periodically in 
 the Univerfalift's Mifcellany for the years 1798 
 and 1799. This mode of publication was adopted 
 in order to difleminare them, and to make them 
 cheap. The candid reader will make proper 
 allowance for a pofllmmous work. 
 
 Nov. 19, 1799. 
 
S E R M O N, ^c. 
 
 BY THE I.ATE 
 
 RLIU^AN JriNCHESTER. 
 
 TnEVER before I'UBLISIiED.] 
 
 SOLOMON'S SONG, Chap. V. lo. 
 
 Mj hcloi-ed is irhile and ruddy ^ the chiefc/i among ten 
 
 thoufand. 
 
 THE Devil has had fo much influence upon the heads of 
 even fume good men, as to make them fuppofe that 
 this very beautitul book of the facred fcriptures is nothing 
 more than a dialogue between Solonionand Pharaoh's daugh- 
 ter, and to perfuade others that this was the firft intent of 
 Solomon in the writing of it \ but that he being an infpired 
 writer, the book, notwithfcanding the original intention of 
 its author, was typical of Chrill: and his Church. But let 
 good men fuppofe what they will, or bad men endeavour by 
 their vain imagination?, ftcp by Itep, to undermine the au- 
 thenticity of the holy fcriptures, this book contains in it 
 (Certain and indubitable evidence of the divinity of its origin. 
 There are in it feveral expreflions not in the k^ali adiptcd to 
 create love, and feveral remarks tb.at make it certain that it 
 could not have been wrote for Pharaoh's daughter. 
 
 Would Pharaoh's daughter have ever faid, " Look not 
 *' upon me becaufc I am black, becaufe the fun harh looked 
 *' upon me : my mother's children were angry with me, 
 *' they made ir,e the keeper of the vineyards, bu mine own 
 ♦' vineyard have I not kept." If the brethren of the daugh- 
 ter of a poor Arabian had turned their filler out to keep the 
 B vineyards, 
 
vineyard;;, and Hie hud been under the ncecfTity of obeying 
 thtir imperious diftatts, it is not likely that the daughter of 
 the great King of Egypt, who gave fcvcral cities to Solomon 
 as a portion with her, fhould be in fuch a fitnation with her 
 brethren, or that had they been fo inclined, that Pharaoh 
 would have permitted it. 
 
 But of the Church of Chrill this is true. Her mother's 
 f(ms have often been angry with her, they have blacken- 
 ed her charaftcr, they have driven her out into the 
 wildernefs, they have made her appear as an outcaft of 
 fociety, a mock, a ridicule, a contempt to mankind. — 
 This is indeed one proof of her being the fpoufe vi 
 Jcfus: like her hufjand ilie bears her cfofs, and remem- 
 bers his words — " Woe be -to von ^^ hen all men fpeak well 
 *' oi ycu :" nnd this was fpoken of fcrihcs and pharifecs, the 
 profciFing church of tliat day : aiui the fponfc of Chrift knows 
 it, (he knows that all that will live godly (hall fuffer perfe- 
 cution, and that fevcrfly, trorn h lends, Irom* men of the 
 fame profedion of faith, having before them the hopes of 
 glory through the fame means ^ this increafes the pains of it, 
 the fevered wounds ure thofe given by a friend : O, how fe- 
 vere arc the pangs that arife in the wounded bofom ot a be- 
 liever, from the contempt, th.e ridicule, the reproach of that 
 man who profefles u) believe in the Lord Jefus Chrilt ! It 
 almolt diggers his faith, he trembles for himfelf, and (or his 
 pcrfccutor. But Chriflians murt exped it : *' their mother's 
 " children will be angry with them." They were with their 
 mailer fo enraged, as at lad, under the empty form of 
 law, tudawluUy to put hiin to death. So they likewifc 
 ferved the apoltlcs ; Paid fuffered many perils from falfe 
 brethren, and fo have the martyrs, and fo does the Church 
 of Chrift now. If t!>cy fuffer not death, as in days paft, 
 it is bec.iufe they are reflraincd, not by the fpirit of perfecu- 
 tiun being deli royed, but by the fpirit of the times, which 
 does not permit it to (hew itfelf in impiifonment, tortures, 
 and death. 
 
 Btit there is one mark evident as the fun when it fliincs, 
 that this bcautiiul poem refers lo Chrill anil his Church 
 alcne: mII ■v\ho know anything ab<;ut natural love, know 
 full well that ii dDc'."- not wiih tov conipititorvs ; it is Llhfh, 
 narrow, CMifincd, iin.l cannot bear, without the greatell 
 jealoufy, the lead d-tM-ec of any thing lijre rivilihip ; but 
 here the fpoufe of Chrilt paints in the moil lively beauuful 
 
 chaiaders, 
 
{ 3 ) 
 
 chara£lers, the glory of her fjioiife, and pointb- out to the 
 daughters of Jerufalem where ihcy may t-.nd him Here then 
 is a mark which the vviltlom of Goil has caufed to be fet 
 upon this book, that no profane wit of man may be able, 
 confiltent wi:h truth, at any tifrie to turn it into ridicule : 
 for while the love of man and woman is felfil'n and confined, 
 full of envy, hatred, jealoufy, an<1 revenue, this book invites 
 ail to love the beloved obje6\ : '< VViiither is ihy beloved gone, 
 ** O thou faiicit among women ? Whither is thy beloved 
 " turned afide r that wc may Tcck him with thee," t\'c. 
 This is indeed the nature of the love of ChriR, when it is 
 fhed abroad in the heart by believing : it caufes the Chriltian 
 to paint the objefl of Ids love in the mofl endearing animat- 
 ing cohnirs ; he ihews how great, how kind, how compaf- 
 fionatc, how powerful, is the fon of Gad: it giveili fuch a 
 glorious view of his delire and his a'aiiiiy Jo help the wants 
 of poor loft creatures, that a!! around are ready with the 
 daughters of Jerufalem to cry out, •' VVhiiher is thy beloved 
 •' goner" We long to fee him, to taite of his goodnefs, to 
 enj )y his favour, to be animated by his prefence : O, tell 
 us, thou believing fuul, '* whither is thy beloved turned 
 *< afide, that we may feck him with thee." Was not this 
 your cafe, O believer, when you hift foi;nd that Chriit died 
 for you ? Did not you love him ihe clii-f among ten ihou- 
 fands ? W^as he not to your foul altogether lovely ? Did you 
 not wifh that all might love him ? Was not your heart ex- 
 panded by this love, willing that all might come and enjoy 
 him as you then did r How then did your language glow 
 wiih divine fervour, when you fpake of the dying Redeemer ; 
 your v/hole foul as it v.ere breathed in your fpeech, and every 
 thought appeared as it werj- alive. The love of Chriit, there- 
 fore, thus ftands diftinguilhed from all carnal love, and by it 
 fepa.'-ates this book from all danger of mifapplication by any 
 holy foul ; but on the contrary, gives iiim heavenly language 
 to exprefs the brightnefs of his th<-.ughts of the greati;efs (;f 
 the love of Chrift : there not being «jnc palfage in the whole 
 book but what may fully and properly be applied to Chriit 
 and his Church. 
 
 Having thus difcovered the glorious fubje6l of thi'; poem 
 to be Chrift, let us now fpeak of his charader. When I 
 read this book 1 am delighted with it, becaufe it fets forth 
 in the happieft form of expreffion, thy love, O Jefu^^, to my 
 foul; I fee thy tendcruefs, and my foul runs on the wings of 
 B 2 faiih 
 
( 4 ) 
 faith to meet thee, fvvift as «' the chariots of Aminadib." 
 Speak, O believer, can you love the Lord Jefiis Chrill too 
 fnuch ? Can he be too precious unto your fouls r Can your 
 hearts be too full of a fenfo of his goodnefs ? Gr can you 
 tell how tniich he loved you, when he gave himfcif for you? 
 O, how did he leave the bofom of the Father, and take our 
 nature upon him, becoming liable to its infirmities, fuffering 
 reproach, contempt, ridicule, poverty, becoming a fcorn, 
 in outcart of fociety, without Ihelter, without home: how 
 did he -weep over thofe woes fin had brought upon man-, 
 and at laft die for us, the juli for the unjuft, to bring us to 
 God. How great indeed! how vart ! how unbounded was 
 this love ! Surely fuch love " many waters cannot quench 
 *< it, neither can the floods drown it," It riles fuperior to 
 pain, forrow, anxiety, and death. It bur(h the bands of 
 mortality, and triumphs over Hell and tire grave. 
 
 This is my beloved. The true believing foul can fay of 
 Chrift, he is' niy beloved, all my aftedions are his. Our 
 Lord told the unbelieving Jews, •' If God were your father 
 <' ye would have loved me, for I proceeded and catne forth 
 *' Irom the father." Love is here ufed by him as the touch- 
 ftone of their religion. Let m.en boaft of their faith, and talk 
 of their works, " he that lovcth not is not of God, for God 
 ** is love." There is no true religion without love being in 
 the inmoft foul, guiding all the affedions, making every 
 temper and pailion of the heart fubordinate to it. For God is 
 a fpirit, and mufl be worfnippcd in fpirit and in truth, and 
 he is love. Therefore love is that fpi ritual worfhip which 
 the Father requires : he that lovcth fulhllelh tiie law ; with- 
 out love to God, to Chrill, to all mankind, the Chriliian is 
 <lead whilft he liveth ; hut hs that hath this love,- hath ChriH: 
 fonmd within him and is alive to God, through Jefus 
 Chrift our Lord. Like C'hriil he is coinparatively dead to 
 every thing elfc. All things elfe are counted but as dung 
 and drofs, fo that he may win Chiift. Thou profeHbr of 
 C hrilliauity, haft thou this love for Chrill? Is it fuperior 
 both in quantity and quali:y, to every other temper of thy 
 mind? If not it cannot be accepted ! Thefe are the words* 
 of the Lord jefus Chrift : of thy redeemer: of him that 
 bought thee with his ov^'n precious blood. " He that loveih 
 «< father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me : 
 ^< and he that loveih fon or daughter more than me, is not 
 << worthy of iiie ; and he that taketh not up his crf>rs and 
 
 " follovvctb 
 
( 5 ) 
 *' followcth after me, is not worthy of me." He cxprefsly 
 fays, in another place, if the love of our parents, brothers, 
 filters, wife and children, is not hatred in comparifon of the 
 love we have for him we cannot be his difciplts ; thercfora 
 before our love can be accepted by him, it mnft be fiiper- 
 eniinent unto every other inclinaiiiui, and the Chriftian can 
 fay thus, I love Chrift, tor he is worthy to be fo loved : my 
 beloved is worthy to be loved, " he is while and ruddy, the 
 " chicfclt among ten ihoufands." He is white, pure, holy, 
 harinlefs, undchled ; he never was dorik-d with an unclean 
 thought, or an unchalie delire, no not ior a moment. His 
 bofom was like fnow to fire. If any unholy fire fell upon 
 him, it was iminediately quenched by his ptirity : i'\n had no 
 part in him.. For though in all things elfc he wms like unto 
 man, it was with '* lin only excepted " Chrilt is fpoken of 
 as being white, ptlre, holy, as the eternal Father ; free from 
 all lin, in thought, word, or atSlion: as when he wastranf- 
 figured upon the mount, his garments bcctme by the fplen- 
 dour of divine glory fo white, that no fuller upon earth could 
 whiten it. So was his character at all tiuies fo ;ree trom all 
 impurity, that it was not polfibie for all the malice ot his 
 enemies to blacken it : many attempted it, but all their flan- 
 ders fell off from him in a inoment. Ke could appeal to his 
 enemies, " which of you convinceth mc of fm r" He could 
 appeal to his accufers. and by the bold integrity of his con- 
 fellion, force an unjull; judge to declare, " 1 find no fault 
 in him " 
 
 He is alfo ruddy, glorious, and beautiful, though once 
 marred more than any man, the contempt and fcorn of the 
 people ; yet when he (hall con.e again in the glory of his 
 Father, he fhall then be a perfe6t ilandard of perfedt beauty, 
 far exceeding our fiili parents when they came forth in all 
 the beauty of paradifaical innocence froin the hands of the 
 great Creator. Paul faw hiin anrl was (blcken blind by the 
 fplendour of his divine glory ; and whin the holy apoifle John 
 beheld him, " he fell at his feet as d -ad." Who can con- 
 ceive the'greatnefs of the glory that could caufe fuch an ef- 
 fect. How very beautiful mullChrifl be, when all things in 
 nature, beautitul as they appear in their prcfcnt degenerate 
 ffate, are but fparks of hi*< b-jauty by whom they were cre- 
 ated. All the glory and beauty we have ever feen, are but 
 fcattercd rays ot his glory : truly we may fay of him that he 
 indeed is the chicfelt among tenthoufands. How very highly 
 
 does 
 
( 6 ) 
 docs David fpcak of him in the xlvth pfalm, " Thon art 
 ** fairer than tlie children of men : grace is poured into thy 
 *' lips : therefore God hath blcHed thee for ever. Gird thy 
 *' fword lipoii thy thigh, O mighty o-ie, with thy glory and 
 " thy m.ijtity : and in thy inajeih' ride profiierouliy, becaufe 
 *» of truth, and meeknefs, and rii^hieoiifntrs : and thy right 
 «» hand Ihall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are 
 " th.arp ii) the hearts of the King's enemies, whereby the 
 " people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God! is for ever 
 *' and ever; the fceptre of thy kingdom is a right fctptre ; 
 •« thou lovcft righteoufnefs and hatcit wickcdnefs; therefore 
 «' God thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladnefs 
 " above thy fellows." This is a glorious defcription of 
 llie King ot Gory. Life, wifdom, and power areafcribed 
 to the blelTed Redeemer. Whatever is excellent in the 
 whole creation he pofTelTes in his perfon, with a fomething 
 that they cannot polTtfs, incommunicable glory ; the meek- 
 nefs of a Chriftian is in him united wiih the Almighty 
 failhfulnefs of a God; the tender feelings of a creature; 
 the unbounded power of a Saviour; the humility of man- 
 hood, the infinite wifdom of deity, all that is amiable, all 
 that is defirable, all that is glorious, center in him. He 
 is altogether lovely ; he is the chiefeft among ten thoufand. 
 The fcripture never fails to point out unto us the failings 
 of God's heroes, whether they be in a Mofes, an Aaron, 
 or a David. It is the hook of truth and the book of God. 
 It ftridly records what has been without any partiality to 
 y man ; yet there are fomc chara£lers a^ainft whom 
 
 an 
 
 no 
 
 evil thing is recorded, becaufe no evil was tound in them by 
 their enemies. Though tlie enemies of Daniel perfuaded the 
 rerfian monarch to make a law to catch him that they 
 might put him to death, it. was becaufe fo great was his 
 uprightnefs, that they would not, with all their m;i1ice, 
 caft any other ftigma upon his chaiader, than that he 
 dared ra;her to obey God tlian ir.an No fault is meniiuncd 
 of the three Avorthies who had the courage to refill the cpm- 
 ihand of the great King Nebuchadnezzar in wovihipping his 
 golden image, though backed by oRVrs of pomp, wealth, 
 and earll)ly glory, or in cafe of rcfufal, to fufF-r a moft aw- 
 ful death. Neither was there any fault foimd in Samtiel, 
 the Prophet of the Lord; nrr in CaKb and Jofhua, his 
 faithful fervants. Thefe, and many other chara(!:^ers, the 
 fzcred waitings record no fault of. But great and glorious 
 
 as 
 
( 7 ) 
 as they were, as he that bnildcth an hoiifc is greater than 
 the houlc, fo JlTus, the i'wH and only begotten of his father 
 in his characlt-r uiiiteth all ihat was excellent in all their 
 charatlers, and is higher in excelling than the highell •, 
 fiircly, tl'.en, he is wortiiy to be loved! 
 
 He was likewife great in power to do good, he healed the 
 fick, he gave fight to the blind, he unltopped the cars of 
 the deaf, he caufcd the lame to leap like the hart, and fet 
 free the man whole body was enflaved by wicked demons; 
 he fi^ake and the tempcll hearkened to his won!, univcrfal 
 nature knew his voice, and by obedience to his will con- 
 telVed his fovercign power. But great as all thefe things 
 were, fome of them mankind have performed by his per- 
 miin(>n, and others have impioully pretended to perform ; 
 bnt there was one tiling bcyontl the imitation of man, fu- 
 perior to the boli'cd impiety ot wickednefs ever yet to pre- 
 tend to, that b'.'loiigcd to his charadler, in h.im dwelt the 
 fuUncfs of the Godhead bodily : artonilhing thought ! Who 
 can fully comprehend it r He had all wifdom. We know, 
 fay his Difciplts, that thou knowell all things. He fcarch- 
 eth the leins and the heart, and trieth out ail our wavs. 
 
 Omnipotence bclongeth unto him. The Father hath given 
 all things into his hands '* Thou hafl: given him," faith 
 he, " power over all flelh, that he might give eternal life 
 ♦' to as many as thou had given him." " For he hath put 
 *' all tilings under his feet. But when he hath put all 
 " things under him, it is manifeft that he is excepted who 
 " did put all things under him." Here is then omnipotence 
 in the liands of Chrilt to the utmoft poHible extent, the eter- 
 nal Father being alone excepted. Om.nifcicr.ee likewife is, 
 ■wherefoeV(.-r two or three are gathered together in my name, 
 there, faith he, am 1 prefent in the midfl: of them. If he 
 polTeiTed not this, what folly would it be to call upon his 
 name ? The Saints have it not, therefore p'-ycr to them 
 isufelefs; but Jefus is endowed with omnifcience, he is 
 therefore an ob e6l: of worfnip ; for which reaJon it is faid, 
 " Wherefore when he b.ingeth in his firfl begotten Son into 
 " the world he faith, and let all the Angels of God worlliip 
 ** him; and this great this glorious Savioiir is our beloved." 
 
 Confid^r likewife his love to Hnners ; furely tjiis, to poor 
 guilty fallen creatures that lland in need of a Saviour, would 
 of itfelf alone, be fufiicicnt to engage our affcitions. To 
 us, indeed, he is the chicfeft among ten thoufand, none in 
 
 heaven 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 heaven or earth are like him. Who like him that dwelt la 
 imcreated fplcndour in the bofom of the Father, would have 
 laid by his glory, difrobed himfeit of his Ma elly, and 
 taken upon himfelf our fin, degraded nature, and atter fuf- 
 teriiig all polhble human evils at lad to die a painful, 
 Ihamcful, accurfed death for finners, for his finfid enemies, 
 his finfui, ungrateful, unjuft enemies. Was ever love like 
 this ? Human love can go no farther than for a man to lay 
 down his life for his friend ; and one poor folitary inltance of 
 this, in the cafe of Damon and Pythias, has appeared, to the 
 aftoniihment of mankind. Dionyfius, the tyrant of Syracufe, 
 had condemned Damon to death, and given him permidion to 
 retire to his own country to fettle his affairs, on condition that 
 he procured a perfon to remain in prifon, under the equal for- 
 feiture of his life, if he did not return by the appointed day. 
 Pythias heard the condition, unfoliciied he accepted the offer 
 and Damon was fet at liberty. The day arrived, Damon 
 had not returned, and Pythias was led forth to execution. 
 Surrounded by the guards, he walked with a Heady pace, 
 and contented air. The tyrant, upon a moving throne, 
 drawn by fix milk-white horfes, fat penfive and attentive to 
 th.e conducl of the prifoner, who came to the fcaffold, vault- 
 ed lightly upon it, and Ipeholding for fome time the appara- 
 tus of death, he turned with a pleafing countenance, and ad- 
 dreiFed the aflTembly : 
 
 " My prayers are heard. The gods are propitious ! Yon 
 <* know, my friends, that the winds have been contrary till 
 «' yeilerday. Damon could not come, he could not conquer 
 <* impjllibilities : he will be here to-morrow, and the blood 
 '* which is Ihed to-day Ihall have ranfomed the life of my 
 " friend. O, could I erafe from your bofoms every doubt, 
 *< every mean fiifpicim of the honour of the inan for whiom 
 *' I am about to fuffjr, I fhould go to my death even as I 
 <' would to my bridal! Be it fufficieut, in the mi;.m time,, 
 '* tliat my friend will be found noble, that his truth is un- 
 .«» impeachable, that he will fpcedily approve it, and that he 
 *< is MOW on Ills way, hurrying (ui, accufing himLlt, the 
 «' adverfe elements, and the gods. But I hafte to prevent 
 ** bis fpeed. Executioner, to your office !" 
 
 As he pronounced the laft words, a buz began to arifc 
 among the remoteft of the people ; a diifant voice was hL-ard: 
 the crowd caught the words, and " Stop, flop the exccu- 
 " tion," was repeated by the whole all'embly. A nun came 
 
 at 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 at full fpecd. The throng gave way to his approach. He 
 was mounted on a ftecd covered with foam. In an inltant he 
 was oft' his horfe, on the fcaffbld, and had Pythias embraced 
 in his arms. Dionyiius heard, beheld and coni'idered all 
 with altonilhment. His heart was touched , — his eyes were 
 opened ;— he defcended from the throne; — he afcended the 
 fcafFold. — *' Live, live, ye incomparable pair !" Ue exclaim- 
 ed, ♦* Ye have borne unquellionable teftimony to the exiitcnce 
 of virtue, and that virtue equally evinces the certainty of the 
 exiftence of a God to reward it. Live happy, live renown- 
 ed! and, O, form me by your precepts, as ye have invited 
 me by your example, to be worthy of the participation of fo 
 facred a friendfhip. 
 
 But Chrirt: laid down his life for his cold-hearted enemies; 
 he died, the jult one for unjuft wicked men, to bring them to 
 God. The patriot dies fighting for his country, — he lays 
 down on the bed of honour, -he has with him fpe£lators of 
 his courage, — and death or vidory brings him immortal fame. 
 He knows that he iliall be honoured by his countrymen, and 
 that his very enemies fhall admire his courage; not fo Chrift: 
 He had not before him any expedation but of malice, out- 
 rage and contempt; and nothing but the power of faith, 
 which by giving, as it were, life to the hope fet before him, 
 could make him endure the horrors of the crofs, and de- 
 fpife its fhame, being fuppofed to be an impoftor, and as 
 fuch treated with the bitteieft revilings and cruel mockings. 
 It was a great thing in him to fuffer fo cruel a death, when, 
 by the leaft exertion of his power, he might with eafe have 
 dcftroyed a world in which fuch cruelties were permitted to 
 be adcd. under the facred name of J nil ice. We find it very- 
 difficult to bear trifles from each other and from mankind, 
 but let us never rnore dare to complain, let us learn to bear 
 fufFerings from Jefus. He was led like a lamb to the ilaugh- 
 ter, and as a iheep that is dumb before her (hearers, fo opened 
 he not his mouth. With patient dignity let us filently imi- 
 tate our mailer, looking forward to that period when we (hall 
 ftand before him as fovereign of the world, to receive a re- 
 ward at his hands. 
 
 The words of his mouth were fwcet. Kow fweet, how 
 eloquently perfuafive mult have been the words of that mouth 
 whicli could difarm the officers of the furious Pharifees that 
 came agaiiill him fuUof fiercenefsand rage; but he fo charm- 
 c«l them with the fweetnefs of his converfation that they went 
 C away 
 
away without touching him, and told their mafters, never 
 man fpake like this man. It might be indeed metapiiorical- 
 ly faid of him, that he calmed the tigers, and the lions licked 
 his. feet. They not only retufed to perform the unjufl; or- 
 ders they had received, but even dared to bear alfo a meafurc 
 of reproach for his fake, for their mafters faid imto them, are 
 ye alio deceived? 
 
 How fweet are the words of his mouth to a poor heavy 
 laden foul, linking beneath the confcionfnefs of part: tranf- 
 grelTion, and dreading the awful indignation ot^ Jehovah 
 againfl: fui. *' Come unto ine all ye that labour and are 
 heavy laden and I will give you reit ; take my yoke upon 
 you for it is eafy, and my burtlien for it is light." '< Be of 
 good cheer," poor trembling iinner, " thy hns are forgiven 
 thee." O could I repeat unto you all his words that exprcfs 
 the univerfality of God's everlalling and unchangeable love, 
 I fliould indeed warm your hearts, and under a fenfc of the 
 gre^tnefs ot divine benevolence, and the vaflnefs of a Savi- 
 our's love, your fouls would indeed cry aloud, the words of 
 his mouth are fweet. We tremble at the wrath of the Al- 
 mighty from a confcioufnefs of the depravity of our nature, 
 and our many departures from the light of truth; but now we 
 behold that Jehovah by hiscondu6l has in our hearts exem- 
 plified the truth of his word, ** A gentle expreflion turneth 
 away anger, but grievous words ftir up flrife." We were 
 enemies to God by our wicked works, but the Son of Go4 
 has convinced us that by it we were enemies to ourfelves, 
 that God really hath always loved, and hath now, by the 
 gift of his well-beloved Son, convinced us of it. His good- 
 nefs hath led us to repentance, and being now become recon- 
 ciled to God, with joy of heart we confefs that hii words are 
 indeed fweet. 
 
 Yea, he is altogether lovely. Where has been the man, 
 but Jefus, of whom this can truly be faid ? Wherever there 
 is the fmalleft degree of imperfedion, that perfon cannot 
 be altogether lovely ; for there cannot poffibly be any thing 
 amiable in imperfection. Every human chara£ler is imper- 
 fect, but the weaknefs is paifed by, the error is loft in the 
 fiiperior exccKcncy of the traits that may belong to the per- 
 fon. In all charaders but that of Chriit, we may ir)ake a 
 debtor and creditor amount, and ftrike a ballance ; but in 
 him there is no poflibility of doing it : His charader was all 
 perfection : " He wus fairer than the fons of men, grace 
 was poured into his lips." He was no doubt lovely in his 
 
 perfon j 
 
[ " ] 
 
 perfon ; even in his human body, there appears to have been 
 fomething particularly plcaling i for it is obferved, that as 
 he grew in ftaturc it was likewife in favour not only with 
 God but with men. How lively were his thoughts, they 
 were continually of peace and not of evil ; always feeking 
 what good he could do. How oppofite the character of 
 Chrift to that of Satan, his grand advcrfary ; the one conti- 
 nually going about to fee what evil he can do, whiKl it was 
 the bufinefs of our Lord to do good. His actions were al- 
 ways good, becaufe the principle upon which he performed 
 them was good. It was a principle of obedience, " 1 come" 
 faith he, '* not to do my own will, but the will of him that 
 fent me :" He therefore did the works of God. How good 
 is Jehovah, who caufcth his fun to rife and his rains to de- 
 fcend upon the wicked as well as the good ? How very bene- 
 volent is he, whofe tender mercies arc over all his works, — 
 who loveth not the death of a firmer, but had rather that he 
 would turn from his iniquity and live r The Father and the 
 Son were one, — Chrifl: was in all things like him: He tefti- 
 fied the greatnefs of his origin by the benevolence of his na- 
 ture. How amiable, how altogether lovely was his condudl! 
 Behold him weeping at the tomb of Lazarus ! See him mourn- 
 ing over Jerufalem, that was about to take away his life ! 
 Look after him as he goeth to Calvary! Behold him com- 
 forting the mourners ! Hark ! he prayeth for his enemies ! 
 " Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." 
 
 He is indeed altogether lovely. How lovely was he on 
 the morning of refurre6lion, comforting the poor mourning 
 penitent Apoftle, and cloathcd in his refurredion body ! 
 How lovely is he to the hopes of the believer, whofe expec- 
 tations are confirmed by it, whofe higlieft ambition is to be 
 like him, and who never thinks of the promifes made unto him 
 but by faith ; he looks back to the glorious defcription that is 
 given of his blefled Lord, and by the view is animated to 
 prels forward with frefii ardor in his courfe, — he runs the 
 race with renewed vigour, and by faith realizes future glory. 
 
 How lovely is he in his afcenfion ! Our friend, our bro- 
 ther, poficlfed once of like infirmities with ourfelves, and 
 therefore capable ot feeling for all our wants, and pains, and 
 cares, — he is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and 
 ftands before the throne of his father forever, to make inter- 
 ceflion for us. Oh, how lovely, how altogether lovely is he! 
 C 2 fitting 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 fitting upon the throne of his glory, and protedting every 
 believing foul that cafts his care upon him. 
 
 If to us he is now fo lovely, only by the exercife of our 
 faith, how much more lovely will he be when we fliall be- 
 hold him as he is ? To you that believe, he is indeed precious 
 now ; but then fhall you fee him at the right hand of God, 
 and myriads of angels hearing his voice and proud to obey his 
 command :. All heaven fhall refound with his praife, and 
 glad earth from her poles re-eclio back the found! All na- 
 tions fhall then worfhip at his feet, and obey, with holy joy, 
 his will; then fliall the earth bring forth her increafe, and 
 God, even our own God, fhall blefs us, and all the ends ot 
 the earth fhall praife him ; then indeed fhall all know him 
 to be altogether lovely, perfed in beauty, fupremely excel- 
 lent in wifdom, power, and glory. 
 
 O my foul, do thou now love this Saviour! thou never 
 canft love him enough! thou canft not love him as he hath lov- 
 ed thee. Who could ever have thought that fuch perfe£lion 
 could ever have flooped to fo cruel a death, to redeem thee 
 from the punifhmeht due to thy crimes. May the thoughts 
 of fuch tranfcendent love melt my heart to tears, and caufe 
 my whole foul to overflow with gratitude at the confideration 
 of fuch unmerited tcndernefs, fuch enduring love. So great, 
 fo ardent, fo pure is his love, that it might melt an heart of 
 adamant. May it have upon our fouls its full efFe6l, that 
 we may believe in him, love him, obey him, and fo prepare 
 to meet him in his kingdom, and be for ever with him. 
 
 CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST SEKMON. 
 
SERMON II 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 ELHANAN WINCHESTER. 
 
 [never before published.] 
 
 ISAIAH XXI. II and 12. 
 
 He calhlh to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the 
 night? Watchman, what of the night ? The watch- 
 man faid, the morning conieth, and alfo the night : 
 If ye will enquire, enquire ye : Return, come. 
 
 IF politicians can afTert that the liberty of the prefs is for 
 the happinefs of mankind, and ought not to be reftrained ; 
 I can with equal veracity affirm that the liberty of the pul- 
 pit is for the happinefs of fociety, and ought not, for the 
 welfare of mankind, to be ever curbed by any power upon 
 earth, if the charadlers of thofe who fill the minifterial office 
 are agreeable to the word of divine truth. They ought to be 
 unreftrained in their fpeech, that they may be able to fpeak 
 with the more boldnefs, fpeaking in the name of fehovah the 
 Lord of heaven and earth. In every country where this is 
 not the cafe, the legiflators are guilty of the blood of their 
 fellow-creatures, Ezek. xxxiii. 2. and 6. " If the people 
 *' of the land take a man of their coafts, and fet him tor their 
 ** watchman : If when he feeth the fword come upon the 
 <' land, he blow the trumpet and warn the people ; then 
 '* whofoever heareth the found of the trumpet, and taketh 
 " not warning ; if the fword come and take him away, his 
 " blood fhall be upon his own head. He heard the found of 
 
 '< the 
 
( u ) 
 
 *' the trumpet, and took not warning, his blood fhall be upon 
 '* him : But he that taketh warning fhall deliver his foul. 
 " But if the watchman fee the fwordcome, and blow not the 
 ** trumpet, and the people be not warned ; if the fword 
 ** come, and take any perfon from among them, he is taken 
 *' away in his iniquity ; but his blood will I recjuire at the 
 ** the watchman's hand." A watchman ought therefore to 
 have free liberty of fpeech, when he addrelleth a people in 
 the name of Jehovah ; and it is incumbent upon him to ufe 
 aright, without defiring or particularly attempting to pleafe 
 any body of people, or focieiy, or Ce^, or party whatfoever: 
 neither ought any fervant of the Lord Jefus Chrift to refpe£l 
 any man on account of his wealth, title, or power. Though 
 Herod, the mighty tyrant of Judah, heard John the Baptift 
 gladly, and did many things on account of what he faid to 
 him, yet how boldly did John reprove him on account of his 
 wickednefs in taking his brother Philip's wife. John muft 
 have known that his reproving him would occafion him to 
 lofe his life, yet the (olemn office of a fervant of the moft 
 high God, would not admit his parleying with fiefti and 
 blood; his duty muft be performed, the confequences muft 
 be left with his God. Neither ought any earthly afFedion to 
 permit them ever to hide the truth of God ; for the man who 
 loveth father or mother, wife or children more than Chrift, 
 is not worthy of him. 1 feldom can read without aftonilli- 
 ment of the boldnefs of the ancient Prophets in reproving 
 the abfolute monarchs of the earth. Witnefs the man of 
 God who warned the wicked king Jeroboam when he ere6led 
 an altar to his idols, that he might prevent the Ifraelites from 
 going up to worftiip Jehovah at Jerufalem. Behold Elijah 
 ftanding before the wicked Ahab ; or the poor defpifed Mi- 
 caiah making the fame monarch tremble left he fliould hear 
 the truth from him. With what almoft fupernatural courage 
 does Jeremiah fpeak to Zedckiah, and (hew him the awful 
 threatnings of the God of Ifrael that were ready to fall upon 
 himif he perfifted in his difobcdience to the warning voice. 
 Sometimes indeed their boldnefs coft them their lives, but in 
 general they lived to fee the fulfilment of their prophecies. 
 A man fpeaking therefore from the pulpit in the name of 
 God, ought to fpeak without reftraint. 
 
 Let us examine, firft, the words of the prophecy as they 
 ftand — the oracle concerning Dumah or Idumea. 
 
 The Prophet had been fpeaking of the nations that fur- 
 
 rounJed 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 rounded J udea, and foretelling their different fates, and tak- 
 ing no notice of any other nations in the world, but of fuch 
 as were contiguous to Jiidea, or fiich as the Ifraelites had to 
 do with. Edom had been from the going forth of the chil- 
 dren of Ifracl from the land of Egypt, one of the moft bitter 
 enemies the Jewi(h people had todo with: At their coming 
 up from their hard (lavcry in Egypt, inltead of comforting 
 them, they met them in warlike array, and refufcd them a 
 palTage through their borders to the land of Canaan, which 
 they well knew had been promifed to their fathers by the 
 God of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob. Notwithltanding the 
 very moving meffage of Mofes, they refufed them a palFage 
 although they offered to pay for the very water that they 
 or their cattle might drink ; and as then, fo to the end of 
 their being a nation, they rejoiced at every evil that befel 
 them, and continually fought opportunities to do them a dif- 
 fervice. On this wicked nation God had threatened deftruc- 
 tion, whilit on the Jewifli nation he only threatened fevere 
 chadifement, hut had promifed that they fliould exilf as a na- 
 tion while the fun and moon endured, Edom as a nation 
 has long fince been annihilated, vvhilft on the contrary the 
 prophecies have been ftridly fulfilled in the prefervation of 
 the Jewifh people, nor (hall all the combined powers of hell 
 and earth be ever able to dcftroy them. This accounts for 
 the ambiguous manner of this prophecy. — A melfenger, a 
 believing Edomitc, feems to be rcprefcnted as addrefTing the 
 Prophet, and fays unto him, *« Watchman, what of the 
 night ? Watchman, what of ths night r" hs much as if he 
 had faid, I know the wickcdncfs of my countrymen in paft 
 ages, and 1 kno-.v their prefent iniquity ; Jehovah has re- 
 peatedly threatened them with deflrudion. You, a Prophet, 
 Hand like a watchman, overlooking the enemies of the peo- 
 ple of God : you make known to the children of men that 
 which is coming on, that thofe who fear God may be prepar- 
 ed to efcape the impending vengeance. Say, O Prophet ! 
 has the Lord God of Ifrael delivered you any melTage con- 
 cerning my country ? Isthemeafure of its iniquities yet 
 filled up ? May I venture to ftay in the land of my forefathers, 
 or mud I flee for my life ? The Prophet feems to anfwer, I 
 have no good news for your people ;— the threatenings of the 
 Moft High muft be accompliflied ; as a nation God hath 
 ("worn he will deftroy them ; the morning of their profperity 
 is palfed, and the night of deftrudlion hafteneth on : 1 am 
 
 not 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 not now commiflioned to fix the time ; go your way therefore 
 in peace, and if you dill fhould wifh to know, come and 
 enquire at fome future opportunity. 
 
 In all probability, the enquiring Edomite, difmifled by 
 the Prophet in this gentle manner, returned home to his 
 country, and died in peace ; but the nation purfued its wick- 
 ed courfe, and after being frequently overrun by the furround- 
 irig nations, was at lad, in the time of the Maccabees, en- 
 tirely deftroyed as a nation, thofe who efcaped the fword 
 being incorporated with the Jewifli people ; and as not one 
 Chiiilian perilhed in the ficge of Jerufalem, I fhould fup- 
 pofe not one Edomite efcaped. 
 
 When this queition was afked, many things that had been 
 fotetold, then remained to be accomplifhed, which have now 
 long fmce been fulfilled. Full feventeen centuries have paf- 
 fed away fince vengeance has been poured out upon that na- 
 tion. A long, dark, gloomy night this has been to Edom, 
 and to many other nations, who were the enemies of the 
 children of Jfrael, according to the word of the Lord by the 
 prophet Jeremiah xlvi. 28. " I will make a fulfend of all 
 ♦' the nations whither I have driven thee ; but I will not 
 ** make a full end of thee, but corre6l thee in meafure ; yet 
 •♦ I will not leave thee wholly unpuniflied." The exiflence 
 therefore of the Jewifh people, amidft the defolation of all 
 the furrounding nations, is a wonderful iaftance of divine 
 providence fulfilling prophecy. They, like the Arabians, 
 have, according to the declarations of God, had the hand ot 
 all mankind agajnft them ; yet, in the midil of all, they have 
 been preferved, monuments of juft punifhment, divine faith- 
 fulnefs and mercy; whilil: all their perfecuting enemies, 
 however mighty they may have been, have one atter another 
 been cut off, and nothing is now left but the hiftoric page 
 to record that they have ever exifled; whilft their defpifed, 
 hated, oppreiled, feeble Oaies flili live, and fliall foon be ex- 
 alted from the (hmghil! of contempt and corruption, to prin- 
 ciples of virtue, to the knowledge of Chrift crucified, to a 
 throne of dominion, — to be princes and kings throughout the 
 earth. The intimations of God ought therefore not to be 
 flighted: Whatfoever he pronounces muft take place: His 
 purpofes fliall ftand, he will do all his pleafure. 
 
 Son of man ! faid the Lord unto Ezekiel, I have made thee 
 a watchman unto the houfe of Ifrael: therefore, thou fhalt 
 hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 
 
 When 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 When I fay unto the wicked, O wicked mnn tlioii fhalt 
 furely die ; if thou do(i: not fpcak to warn the wicked from 
 h.is way, that wicked man Ihall die in his iniquity, but his 
 blood will I require at thine hand. And as from the hand 
 of Ezekicl God would require the blood of thofe who might 
 perilh, if he did not warn them according to the word of 
 God, fo will God likevvifc require at the hand of every mi- 
 nifter the blood of thofe wfio may periOi through his unfaith- 
 fulncfs, if he warn not his flock when he fecth the fword is 
 coming; and this is not only applicable to an infpircd nief- 
 fengcr of the moil high God, but likewife to that minifter- 
 ing fcrvant who iliall be appointed by the people. But if 
 he blow the trumpet and warn the people, he (hall deliver 
 his foul. Happy indeed is that minilfer of the gofpel who 
 can fay with Paul, I am pure from the blood of all men, 
 for I have never omitted to declare, according to my knov/- 
 ledge, the whole counfcl of God. 
 
 Perhaps fome of you may fay to mc, Watchman what of 
 the night r Can you tell us what is coming on r Do you pafs 
 your time in vifiiing, trifling, finding fault, flander, idlenefs, 
 in vifitings, and labours of little or no conlequence ? Or do 
 you fhidv the times and the word of God? What can you 
 fay, O watchmen ! to dire6t us how to a£t ? 1 know that 
 fome of you will be ready to put fuch qucftions to me ; they 
 are folcmn ones ; may the God and Father of our Lord Jc- 
 fus Chrift write them upon my heart. I regard nor being felf- 
 condemn-d, le. all that is wrong in meperi!h ; daily would I 
 be grateftil for perfonal enemies; the falfthoods they aifcrt 
 teach me patience, and fliall foon be forgot; but the fevers 
 truths they tell, teach me to know myfeif ; they lay open my 
 faults, and put it in my power to corre6l my ways. 
 
 Paul, writing to yonug Timothy, exhorts him " to give 
 attendance to reading, to exhortation, to d.)6lrine; meditate 
 upon thefe things, give thyfelf wholly to them, that thy pro- 
 fit may appear to all. Take heed unto thyfelf and unto thy 
 d()<Srine, continue in them, for in doilig ibis thou i^ialt both 
 fave thyfelf and them that hear thee." He likewife exhorts 
 him *♦ to (tu.dy to (hew thyfelf approved un'o G(xl, a w ;rk- 
 man that needeih not to be alhamed, rightly dividing the 
 word ot divine truth." It furely is as great a dilerace to a 
 minifter of the gofpel not to be as ready to give an anfwer 
 concerning any part of the word of God, as it would be or 
 a counfellor at the bar nc/t to be able to anfwer any quelHon 
 at law that hh client might put to him. The lead that is 
 D incuui- 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 incumbent upon him, I's to have a general knowledge of every 
 liibjecl in the fcriptures ; he is continually to labour in the 
 vineyard of his mailer, and by night and day to pray to God 
 that he would crown with fucccfs the word he has to deliver. 
 And like Paul, the agt:d fervant of the Lord Jefus Chrift, 
 continually to fay unto others, " pray for us." Thefe are 
 the means by which a watchman ought to gain inlbu61:ion ; 
 every Chriltian might in this way daily grow in wifdom : 
 but a watchman is dedicated to the fervice of God, and in 
 his tiirre and all his employments ought to be feparated from 
 idlenefs and fm, that by purity, by diligence, by faith un- 
 feigned, he may with all wifdom divide the w^ord of divine 
 truth fo as to be able to give unto every man that portion he 
 nccdeth, approving himfelf unto the confciences of all men 
 that he is a workman that needeth not to be afhamed. 
 
 But fay you, " Watchman what of the night?" Yes, it 
 is night, a dark, gloomy night indeed! In the night coun- 
 terfeits pafs for current coin, the eye cannot fearch through 
 the falfe garb that covers them, but with the mofl: careful 
 iuvedigatiun. Is it not thus with doctrines? Row very many 
 counterfeits are there that pafs for truth amongfl: even pro- 
 feflbrs r Falfehoods- are received from father to fon, and 
 fpread abroad through the world for the do6lrines of the 
 Lord Jcfus Chrift. O that he, the Sun of righteoufnefs, 
 would arife, and with the bright beams of the millenium 
 morn chace away the clouds and darknefs of this night of 
 error and fuperftition ! then would be feen the full glories 
 of divine truth, and errors would difappear like the fliadcs of 
 darknefs before the morning light ; men would then fee the 
 beauty of the doctrines of the Lord Jefus Chrifl, and it would 
 be their delight to follow his teaching voice. 
 
 I am certain it is the night of Chriftianity, becaufe Chrif- 
 tians, like men travelling in the night, are apt to millake 
 each other, owing to the obfcurity of the night ; they know 
 not each other; tliey millake one another's charadlers and 
 .principles, and falfehood is taken for truth and truth for falfe- 
 hood. The man who makes bad coin is guilty, but that 
 man is not guilty who in a millake takes it for good ; he may 
 lofe by his carelellhefs or misfortune, but is to be pitied and 
 iM)t condemned. It is this miltaking of each other's princi- 
 ples atid charafler which leads them into difputes and wars ; 
 ih'^y fight under the banners of party, and often through 
 niiilakc unite the moll difcordant fentiments together to fight 
 sgainfl the truth. The boll of Chriftians united together 
 
 ' agaiuit 
 
( 19 J 
 
 againft the univerfality and reftoring power of all redeeming 
 love, is not nriuch (lillimilar to the va(l, unconncdWd, jar- 
 ring army which Xerxes ot old brought againll little Gixecc. 
 But I truft the believers in the univerfai loye of God will 
 oppnfe them, not with the weapons of carnal warfare, bur 
 with the word and fpirit of truth. Then let profefling 
 Chriftians through iniltake fight, rsge, and accull: \ tl-.c Chrif- 
 tian by his peace and humble walk v\ iih God will be up with 
 them,, for all their wrath will be call away ; and when the 
 day begins to dawn their adverfaries will fee their folly, will 
 condemn themfelves, and be alhan-icd before them. Then 
 Ihall the watchmen in Ifrael fee eye to eye, and an evident 
 diftindion will be vifible between him who fervcth God 
 and him who ferveth him not. 
 
 In the night ravenous hearts prowl about after ihcir prey j 
 bears, lions and tigers th^jn go forth in fearch of the unguard- 
 ed flock, or to feek an opportunity to evade the vigilance of 
 the fliepherd. In like manner, evil angels now prowl about 
 in fearch of their unguarded prey^ Thefe are dii^cult to be 
 encountered ; millions of creatures invifiblc to man, infer- 
 nal fpirits. Ephef. vi. 12. " For we wreftie not againft 
 flefli and blood, but againft principalities, againlt powers, 
 againft the rulers of the darknefs of this World, agaiiiii fpi- 
 ritual wickcdnefs in the high places." Thefc have ivo good 
 defigns towards mankind; thefe delight to tempt the chil- 
 dren of God to fm, that they may accufe them before the 
 throne of the Moft High, as they did Job of old ; but the 
 night fhall foon clofe, and they ftiall retire to their dens; 
 for when the day fpring from on high ftiail arife on the mil- 
 lenial morn, Satan and his holt (liall be call: into the bottoo)- 
 lefs pit, and be (hut up, and fealed for a thoufand years, 
 that he deceive the nations no more for a thoufand years. 
 
 -Evil men are likevvife compared to ravenous beafts ; they 
 compafs me about like dogs, fuiih the Pfalmift, 1 know it is 
 night by feeing thefe roam at large. Even in London, the 
 moft civilized city in the world, when I iicar men blafpheme 
 the Deity, and fpeak evil of the Mo(t fligh, or profanely 
 uf^e his name, imprecating curfes on themfelves or others it 
 furely is night ; was it day, the mouths of all would be full 
 of blcliings: but fm ftalks boldly abroa:!, fcarcely any daring 
 to condeinn her. If it was day the whole body of unjult 
 men, whether thieves or extortioners, or thofe who, while 
 they elude the eye of man by the outward appearance ot vir- 
 tue, but are fecn by the penetrating eye of Jthovult to Ls 
 D 2 unjuft 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 im'iift and defiled, defraiiding men by their weights and 
 meafures, by their deceit, cunning and fraud, of flie profits 
 of their labour, would be reformed; they would be con- 
 f uiuk:^ and aihamed of their iniquity, and would learn to 
 labour with their own hands, that they might become the 
 benefadlors of A^ciL'ty, a bleding to mankind. 
 
 Was it day, there would be none to rob man of what is 
 more valuable than his labour, his foul ; not only by falfe 
 dodrincs, but by inilamins{ the paffions and perverting them 
 from their proper end. Man was created for the glory of 
 his God, that by regulating the animated works of creation, 
 he might create around him univerfal harmony ^ but, alas ! 
 how many are there who, inflead of feeing h their glorj to- 
 aflift their fellow creatures in the paths of -virtue, are never 
 pleafed but when they can, by inflaming their paffions, bias 
 them to all evil! O! it is night, dark night; a night aw- 
 ful with the fhades of vice which obfcure virtue. Recti- 
 tude of principle and of life are, indeed, but too little 
 known ; were it day, fin would fliew its horrid form, ini- 
 quity would be aihiimed of the uglinefs of its features, and 
 would flee trom the haimts of men ; iliould it exiil, it 
 •would be only in fecrct, leaft, Ihonid it be known, it (houlJ 
 be held up to the reproach and fcorn of mankind. Then 
 would truth and righteoufnefs flourilh; peace and joy would 
 abound, and earth would bring forth her increafe, and ( -od, 
 the tender parent of all, would pour down his blcflings 
 upon mankind 
 
 Was it day, men would fee their true interefts ; then there 
 would not be heard the roaring of cannon, nor the found of 
 the trumpet to prepare the army to battle. Once fmce the 
 formation of man ihere was a glimpfe of light, a faint re- 
 fem>blance of the brightnefs of the millenial day, under So- 
 lomon the miighty, the wealthy, the wife ; and, during 
 the time he obeyed God, the good. Man then lived happy, 
 and praifed God, the author of every good and perfc6l gift ; 
 riches flowed in upon them fo abundantly, thnt through the 
 plenty of gold, filver was a metal but lightly elfccmed Men 
 lived then in fafiity, every one fitting under his own vine 
 and fig-tree, enjoying in peaceful content the kind bounties 
 of the God of tiature. Before that happy reign, and ever 
 fmce frequent wars have impoverijlied the nations, and 
 kept this earth comparatively, a dcfert uncultivated wilder- 
 refs. Was the money that has been fpent in wars fince 
 the time of our Saviour only, to have been fpent in cnlti- 
 
 vatiiiLT 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 vating the arts of peace, the whole world wouki have been 
 a gaidt-ii, and a lumdred limes its prefent inhabitants would 
 have been able to i ave eninycd not only tlie conveiuencies 
 but likewife the luxuries of life ; but war has defolated the 
 world, and made the earth barren. But they that fhall live 
 when tITii. niiiht of defolation fhali cloft , (h:;ll fee the Prince 
 of Peace, who fhall di'jiel the clouds of ihife and conten- 
 tion, and caufe war to be no more; then every man fhall 
 indeed enjoy the bounties of Jehovah, none daring to make 
 him afraid. 
 
 But what time of the night is it ? the fourth and laft 
 watch : f(Jon Ihall it ciofe ; and he who fhall remain, if 
 amonglt the faints of God, (hall hail with holy rapture the 
 coming of the Melhah in the c'ouds of heaven in power .and 
 great glory. Then indeed fliall the day break, and the 
 fun fhall arife in all 'he fulncfs of divine 'uitre. whilfl the 
 clouds of ignorance, fuperflition, talfehood and vice fhall 
 vanilh at the fplendor of his appearance. The appointed 
 time for God to favour Sion is not far off; good news to 
 the nations of the earth, Chriff will foon appear to put an 
 end to the night of vice and opprefilon, and on you that 
 fear his name the Sun of righteoufnefs will arife with heal- 
 ing in his wings. I hail the day ! and through faith with 
 joy behold the wonderful things God will do for the chil- 
 dren of men when Jefus fhall lit upon the throne of domi- 
 nion, and rule with the fccptre of righteoufnefs all the na- 
 tions of the earth. Then fhall the vallies be exalted, and 
 the high places be brought low, the crooked fhall be made 
 {trait, and the rough places fmooth, and all nations fhall 
 behold the glory of God. 
 
 The meanb by which thefe changes fliall be brought about 
 are earthquakes ; ihey are the inllrumcnts God will make 
 ufe of to level the mountains and exalt the plains ; they 
 fhall turn the ffreams of living waters into the dcfart and 
 make the wildernefs to look gay, and bloom with the rofe, the 
 box, and the myrtle ; they fhall fcatter plenty through the 
 fandy defarts of Arabia, and cover the uncultivated wilds 
 thereof with the lovely charms of vegetation. In thofe flays 
 Ihall men learn wifdom from the Son of God ; they fhall be 
 well acquainted with nature, and (hall adore the name, of Je- 
 hovah, and magnify him for all his works. 
 
 How very different is this from the prefent Rate of things ! 
 yet glorious and beautiful as the world will then be, the 
 brightncfs of the millenial day mufl clofe in a fliort but 
 
 awfidly 
 
( ^2 ) 
 
 awfully dark night to fome, but the brighteft of all days 
 to others, to fuch as have palled to the regions of glory ; they 
 fhali fee no more night ; but thofe whom Satan has deceived 
 fhall, in the height ot their folly, go up againft the Lord 
 and furround the camp of the faints. Then fliall indeed 
 the lafl: and mod dreadful of all nights come up«n them, 
 when the judgment (ball be fet, and the books fhall be open- 
 ed, and angels and men be judged by Chrift ruid his faints. 
 Then fhall the thunders roar and the lightnings flafh, wliiUt 
 the earthquakes Ihake and burft the lolid ground, and from 
 all parts volcanos fhall pour forth their melted lava and de- 
 luge the globe with flaming defolation ; then fhall the earth, 
 and all that is therein, be burnt up ; the lovely farm, the 
 well-built city, the houfe of prayer, yea even the temple of 
 Jehovah fliall yield unto the fury of the all devouring flame. 
 Then fhall the wicked bewail their tranfgrellions. when all 
 this world fhall be turned into a lake of tire and brimffone. 
 At that awful moment, of what ufe will be tlie riches of this 
 world, its pomp, its power, and all its carnal pleafures, 
 when all Nature fhall be melted into one fiery ruin, and the 
 niighty ocean fhall itfelf.be turned into flames? Awful 
 night indeed ! night illuminated onlv by the glooriiy flames 
 of hell ! 
 
 How dark and gloomy muft be the ideas of thofe who 
 fuppofe this night mufi: be perpetual, that all its gloomy 
 horrors fliall never end ; ideas fufficient to flrike a terror 
 through the foul, and vail our brighteft hopes, and caft a 
 cloud over the mofl exalted of our expeiffations. But a day 
 fhall break upon the eyes of mankind brighter than as yet 
 ever has been, a day that never more fhall end. I faw, fays 
 the Revelator, a " new heaven and a new earth ; for the 
 firfl: heaven and the firfl earth were pafied away, and there 
 was no more fca." It muft therefore be of the fame fubftance 
 as this our earth, but of a diflerent form, not having on it 
 any fca ; a glorious place it will be, the habitation of righ- 
 teoufnefs; "for the tabernacle of God Ihull be with men, 
 and he will dwell with them, and they Ihall be his people, 
 and God himlelf fhall be with them and be their God." 
 *' And God ihall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and 
 there fliall be no more death, neither forrow nor crying, 
 neither fhall there be any more pain, for the former things 
 arc paired away ; and he that fat upon the throne faid, be- 
 hold, 1 make all things new." 
 
 Is 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 Is not this do6lrine ftamped with wifdom, power, and 
 goodnefs, and agreeable to the benevolent command to pray 
 for all men without wrath or doubting ? He that has given 
 the command will fulfil its prayer, and Chrifl; fhall fubdue 
 all things unto himfelf, and then refign his mediatorial king- 
 dom to the Father, that God may be all in all. And when 
 he has thus become to his creatures, night fhall for ever ceafe, 
 and there fliall be light without darknefs and day without 
 night. O, then, cry unto God and give no reft day or 
 night until he has eftablilhed Sion, and made her a glory 
 and honour throughout the whole earth. 
 
 EKD OF THE SECOND SERAION, 
 
 SERMON 
 
SERMON III 
 
 ?Y THE LATE 
 
 ELIUNAN WINCHESTER. 
 
 [nF.VER before ruCLISHED.] 
 
 DANIEL VII. 9 and lo. 
 
 / hsheld till the thrones were cafi down,, and the Atic'ieni 
 of Days dul Jit, whofe gaj'ment was white asftiow, 
 and the hair of his head like the pure wool : his throne 
 was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as hurning 
 fire. A fiery fir earn iffued, and came forth from he- 
 fore him I thoufand thoufands miniflred unto him^ 
 and ten thoufand times ten thoufand flood before him : 
 the judgment was fet ami the hooks were opened. 
 
 *T^HE prophecies of the Prophet Daniel are fhort, but they 
 -*■ are very important, for they contain the outlines of moit 
 of the events thai have as yet happened, or that (hail happen, 
 from the time that he delivered them until the fecond coming 
 of the Lord Jcfus Chrilt, when his prophecy ceafcs. So 
 very particular has Daniel been in fomc parts of his pro- 
 phecy, that feme have alferted that it was written after the 
 events had taken place ; but however Individuals, who love 
 not the truth, or who, being too idle to examine whether 
 thefe things written therein be fo or not, may have endea- 
 voured to invalidate thefe prophecies ; yet we, who believe 
 in the word of Revelation, are convinced that they mulf be 
 truth, becaufe we know that in this prophecy all that Daniel 
 foretold is not yet accomplilhcd, but is now going on, as 
 
 \vc 
 
(■ 25 ) 
 we itiay daily behold, if we are not wilfully blind to the 
 accomplilhment of prophecy, and fhall continue To to doj 
 till the whole is fulhlled. Tliis book contains only tvvelvtf^cj 
 chapters, yet the learned Bilhop Newton declares that he ' 
 had been (jbliged to (hidy fcveral hidories to explain a fmall 
 part of it, fo full, yet fo clear, and at the fame time lb con- 
 cife, is the revelation of the things that were coining to- 
 pafs that was given to Daniel. 
 
 This prophc^cy appears to have been given unto Daniel ia I 
 a vifion of the night, in which the dream of the prophet, > 
 under the direction of the fpirit of God, made known thofe 
 things unto him which he was about to perform ; and the 
 holy man, taught by the word of God, knew it to be pro- 
 phetical, and recorded it for the inflru£lion of believers in 
 after ages. '< In the firO: year of Belfhazzar, King of Baby- 
 Ion, Daniel had a dream, and vifions of his head upon his 
 bed : then he wrote the dream and told the fum of the mat- 
 ters, Daniel fpake and faid, I faw in my vifion by night, 
 anxl behold the four v.inds of the heavens (trove upon the 
 great fea, and four beads came up from the fea, divers one 
 from another. The firft was like a lion, and had eagles 
 wings ; and I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, 
 and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to Hand upon 
 the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it." The 
 defciiption of thefe beads are fo very appofite to the empires 
 they were to reprefent, that it is no very difficult tafk to ap- 
 ply them. " The firft w^is like a lion." The Babylonian 
 empire, which if not formed by Nebuchadnezzar, was fo 
 much increafed under his reign, that il was like a new em- 
 pire, of prodigious extent, added lo the old one : it was 
 flrong, exceeding powerful ; like a lion overcoming all the 
 other empires with which it contended ; mighty as the 
 lion in the day of battle, and fvvift as the eagle in the rapi- 
 dity of its conquefts. But the \vings thereof were plucked, 
 when Nebuchadnezzar, the great and mighty Monarch of 
 Babylon, afcribed the glory due to the King of kings unto 
 himfelf : when he forgot that which Daniel had before told 
 him, that Jehovah, " the Moft High, ruleth in the king-' 
 dom of men, and giveth it to whomfoever he will, and fct- 
 tcth up over it the bafeft of men." When forgetful of his 
 dependence upon this overruling God, Ncbuchadnfzzaf 
 exclaimed, in the pride of his vain glorious heart, " Is not 
 this great Babylon that I have built for the houfc of the 
 kingdom, by the might of mv power, and for the honour 
 E of 
 
( 26 ) 
 of my Majefty ?" Then were his wings plucked, his dig- 
 nity was taken away, his power vanifhed like the mifty va- 
 pour before the folar ray, when there fell a voice from hea- 
 ven faying, " O Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is fpoken, the 
 kingdom is departed from thee, and they fliall drive thee 
 from men, and thy dwelling iliall be wiih the beads of the 
 iield ; they fhall make thee to eat grafs like oxen, and Ceven 
 times fhall pafs over thee, until thou knoweft that the Mod 
 High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whom- 
 foevcr he will* The fame hour was the thing fulfiled upon 
 Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven from men, and did eat 
 grafs as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of hea- 
 ven, till his hairs were grown like eagles feathers, and his 
 nails like birds claws." Before this he had been like a fe- 
 rocious beaft, delighting in carnage and death ; but now, 
 when recovered from this humiliating ftate, how altered ! a 
 man's heart was given unto him ; he had fufFered, and he 
 now ceafed from fm. Love to God guided his ways; and 
 as it particularly manifefls, or at leaif ought to manifeft 
 the charader of the man in contradidlion to that of the beaft, 
 he with his lips glorified Jehovah, and with his tongue made 
 confeffion of his name. How changed was the great and 
 mighty tyrant Nebuchadnezzar ! He who had proclaimed, 
 that whofo fell not down at his command and worfhipped 
 his golden image, fhould be caft into the midft of a burning 
 fiery furnace : Behold him now, the meek, the humble man : 
 at the end of the days allotted for his fufFering, hear him re- 
 cord in all the dignity of royal language, and yet with the 
 piety of a fervant of the living God, ** I, Nebuchadnezzar, 
 lift up mine eyes unto heaven and my underftanding returned 
 unto me, and I blefTed the Moft High, and I praifed and 
 honoured him that livcth for ever, whofe dominion is an 
 everlafting domininon, and his kingdom is from generation 
 to generation, and all the inhabitants of the earth are re- 
 puted as nothing, and he doth according to his will in the 
 army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and 
 none can flay his hand, or fay unto him what doft thou ? at 
 the fame time my reafon returned unto me, and, for the 
 glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightnefs returned 
 unto me, and my counfellors and my Lords fought unto me, 
 and I was eftablifhed in my kingdom, and excellent Majefty 
 ■was added unto me." Wonderful change indeed! furprifmg 
 alteration! No longer the felf-willed tyrant of mankind, 
 proud, haughty, and overbearing, fcattering nations and 
 
{ i? ) 
 
 overturning of kingdoms. No longer boafting of his power, 
 but afcribing unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name. 
 Now, faid he, Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praife and extol 
 and honour the King of Heaven, all whofe works are truth 
 and his ways judgment, and thole that walk in pride he is 
 able to abafe." 
 
 And this facred truth, not only this haughty Monarch, 
 but all the vain glorious fons of pride fhall, like him, confefs, 
 *' the Kings of the earth that are upon the earth, and the 
 hofl: of the high ones that are on high." Every tyrant who 
 rules over the children of men for his own glory, and only 
 intending his own individual advantage, whether he be Lord 
 over a family or the Monarch of nations, he fhall with Sa- 
 tan, the head of the atrial principalities and powers, " be 
 fhut up in the prifon, but after many days they fhall be vi- 
 fited." ♦' At the end of the days" of their judgment, a 
 heart of fledi fhall be given unto them ; their reafon fhall 
 return ; their honour, and their brightnefs, and excellent 
 Majefty fhall be added unto them ; and they fhall praife, and 
 extol, and honour the King of Heaven : they fhall own all 
 his works to be truth, and his ways judgment; and fhall 
 rejoice in the glorious efficacy of that power which they 
 now know is able to abafe thofe that walk in pride. 
 
 ** And behold another beaft, a fecond, like to a bear, and 
 it raifed up itfelf on one fide, and it had three ribs in the 
 mouth of it between the teeth of it ; and they faid thus unto 
 it, arife, devour much flelh." This was the Perfian em- 
 pire, which, in extent of dominion, was much greater than 
 the Babylonifh monarchy which had preceded it. It was 
 like a bear, blood-thirfty and cruel ; of which hiftory gives 
 very many horrible inflances. It raifed itlelf up on one 
 fide, or into one dominion, by Cyrus, at the head of his 
 Perfians, who, at the conqueil of Babylon, was a fubjed 
 to the King of the Medes, and general of his army ; but 
 afterwards, upon his death, became Sovereign, and raifed 
 the Perfians above the Medes, and denominated his prodi- 
 gious extent of dominion by the name of the kingdom of 
 Perfia. " It had three ribs in the mouth of it between the 
 teeth of it \ and they faid thus unto it, ♦* Arife, devour much 
 flelh." Sir Ifaac Newton, and Bifhop Chandler, with great 
 probability, explain thefe three ribs, as being the three king- 
 doms of Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt, which were conquered 
 by the Medes and Perfians ; and, like ribs, ferved to Itrengthcn 
 that vaft empire. They were likcwife io the mouth of the 
 E 2 bear. 
 
( 28 ) 
 bear, between its teeth, being very nnich opprefled by the 
 Perfians. 
 
 And they faid unto it, « Arife, and devour much flefh." 
 All hiflorians who have defcribed the Perfian monarchy, 
 fpeak of it as greedy ot blood, delighting in cruelly, exercif- 
 ing, witiiout the torm of law, the power of lite and death 
 over their fiibjeds ; pulling off the fkin of men Avhiie alive ; 
 and for the individual offence of one man deftroying a whole 
 neighbourhood. This dominion was the moft cruel of any 
 r.ver exercifed ; the reading only of their punifliments ftrike 
 the foul with horror. 
 
 ' ** After this I beheld, and lo! another like a leopard, 
 •which had lipon the back of it four wings of a fowl, the 
 leaft had a!fo four heads ; and dominion was given to ir." 
 This beaft reprefented the Grecian einpire, which was firfl: 
 formed by Alexander, furnamed the Great, as the leopard is 
 fmal! compared with the lion and many other of the favage 
 race ; yet he is remarked for the audacity of his courage, 
 which often leads him to contend with animals vaftly his fu- 
 perior in firength. So Alexander, though inferior to num-r 
 bers in ft:;tiiie and ftrength, at the head of only about thirty 
 thoufand Greeks, ruHied upon, and overcame the Perfian mo- 
 narch, at the head of hundreds of thoufands of his braveit 
 troops. This heart had upon the back of it " four wings of 
 a fowl," denoting the impetuofity of his flight, in twelve 
 years Aibjugating to hiinfelf great part of Afia, part of Eu^ 
 iope, and part of Africa. ** The beafl had alfo four heads," 
 reprefenting the fom- Captains of Alexander's army, who 
 Ihared his extenfive dominions among them ; *' and domi-r 
 nion was given to it." Well might the Prophet obferve, 
 ** the Moft High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth 
 it to whomfoever he will." It is God alone is the firft caufe 
 of all fuccefs ; it is true, that he makcth uf'e of means in ger 
 neral ; but how very feldom is it that human forefight would 
 think the ineans adequate to the end. What man, who had 
 never witnefTcd the progrefs of vegetation, could fuppofe the 
 mighty oak, whofe branches fpread wide over the plain, 
 could ever have iprung from tjie contemptible acorn ? Or 
 what politician is iliere, that would not have cond^inned the 
 fchernc of Alexander, as the extreme of rallied madnefs, in 
 -atempting, with a few thoufand Macedonians, to overthrow 
 the wide-extended Perfian monarchy, full of troops, troops 
 •which only waited the nod of their fovereign, that they 
 raight march onward to conquefi, gr to death ? But it was 
 
 not 
 
( ^-9 ) 
 not of man to gain dominion, but of God, to give it accord- 
 ing to his plealiirc: as Lord of the Univerfe he has a right to 
 dilpofe of the government thereof; and he doth difpofe of 
 them, in judgment, or mercy, as to his infinite wifdom feems 
 bell, none daring to fay unto them, What doeft thou ? 
 
 " After this i faw in the night vifions, and beiield a fourth 
 beaft, dreadful and terrible, Itrong exceedingly, and it had 
 great iron teeth : it devoured, and brake in pieces, and Itamp- 
 ed the refidue with the feet of It ; and it was divers from all 
 the beads that were before it, and it had ten horns." 7 his 
 beaft reprefented the Roman Empire, which was, indeed, 
 *' dreadful and terrible ;" no kingdom was before, or has 
 been fince, fo exceedingly ftrong, or whofe threats were fo 
 much dreaded by every other (late. The name of a Roman 
 made the nations to tremble. We may obferve the terror it 
 llruck amongit the nations, from what is recorded of Paul, 
 the prifoner, bound, and about to be fcourged, he cries out, 
 *f Is it lawful for you to fcourge a man that is a Reman, un- 
 condemncd? ' The centurion, terrified at the adion he was 
 about to have performed^ flew wiih anxiety to hio Comman- 
 der, crying, *' Take heed what thou doelt, for this man is 
 a Roman !" Wherever the Romans came, they with the edge 
 of the fword devoured the nations, removing their youth, the 
 ftrength of the nation:-, into their armies, and fending them 
 to fight their battles at the fartheft part of their dominions ; 
 they likewife brake in pieces all the ancient forms of govern- 
 ment, and by the vail: extent of their dominion, might be 
 almoft called the maftcrs of the world. " And it was divers 
 from all the beafts that were before it ;" divers in extent of 
 dominion, in form of government, and in its political po- 
 licy as well as duration. 
 
 ** And it had ten horns," which, as explained by the angel 
 at the 24th verfe, are " ten kings that fhall rife,*' or, as the 
 phrafe in Scripture language implies, ten kingdoms ; of 
 which Machiavel has given us the names, i. The Oftra- 
 goths in Mxfia, 2. The Vifigoths in Parmonia, 3, The 
 Sueves and Alans in Gafcoigne and Spain, 4. The Vandals 
 jn Africa, 5. The Franks in France, 6. The Burgundians 
 in Burgundy, 7. The Heruli and Turingi in Italy, 8. The 
 Saxons and Angles in Britcin, 9. The Herns in Hungary, 
 10. The Lombards, at firft upon the Danube, afterwards in 
 Italy. 
 
 " I confidered the horns, and behold there came up among 
 them another little horn, before whom there were three of 
 
 the 
 
( 3<^ J 
 *he firft horns, pluckt up by the roots." The leanied Bifliop 
 Newton fuppoies thefe to be the exarchate of Ravenna, the 
 kingdom oi Lombardy, and the ftate of Rome (for further 
 particulars, fee his very excellent Diifertations on the Pro- 
 phecies). ** And behold in this horn were eyes like the eyes 
 of a man," denoting his cunning and forefight, and conti- 
 jiual vigilance to promote his own intereft ; "and a mouth 
 fpeaking great things," explained afterwards by the angel, 
 " he (hall fpeak great words againfl the the Mod High." 
 And what power has, under the pretence of religion, fpoken 
 fo much againft the truths which infinite wifdom has caufed 
 to be recorded for our inftrudlion. In ages part he has af- 
 Xumed the title of God, God's vicegerent upon earth. He 
 has taken upon him, under this name, to overturn empires, 
 dethrone kings, and trample upon the necks of Emperors. 
 He has fet nations in confufion, and by the dint of fuperfti- 
 tion, through the power of his interdi6l, caufed the dead of 
 the nations to lie unbuned, who have dared to refufe to pay 
 obedience to his will. 
 
 " I beheld till the thrones were cail down." Nothing can 
 /hew the wonderful patience of the Deity, more than his 
 long forbearance with this fourth monarchy, and its ten de- 
 fcendants, through long fccnes of violence, iniquity and per- 
 fecntion, from its firft rife, and under all its variety of forms 
 of Government, to the prefent times. Leaft Chriftians over- 
 whelmed by their fufferings, tired out by the long continued 
 perfecutions of Heathen and Aniichriftian Rome, with the 
 dodrines of Chrill obfcured by unreafonable fuperftitions, 
 and interefted devices of mankind, fliould be attempted to 
 give up their faith, and ftop fhort in the purfuit of that 
 Crown which they were called to ftrive after: Jehovah be- 
 fore hand, fliewed himfelf the Governor of the univerfe ; 
 foretelling thofe things that were coming on for many ages. 
 He declared, that tliis little horn, *' fhould wear out the 
 faints of the moft high." Whofoever has read the perfecu- 
 tions of the papal powers in France, in Germany, in Mora- 
 via, as well as in this coimtry ; cannot but fee, how the 
 power of Ai'itichrift has worn out the faints of the moft 
 high. Millions have been put to death, by every fpccies of 
 tortute, independent of ftill greater numbers who had been 
 caft out to want, wandering about as the outcali of fociety, 
 of whom the world was not worthy. When we confider 
 thefe things, it is not to be wondered at, that God has 
 taken up fo large a portion of the Scriptures, in foretelling 
 the dcftrudion of this power. 
 
 " I beheld," 
 
( 31 ) 
 "I beheld," fays Daniel, "till the thrones were caffc 
 down." The ten thrones into wiiich the kingdom of the 
 fourth bead was divided; I beheld, I looked forward and 
 faw the downfall of the Roman Empire, and beyond it ; 
 even to the hurling down the ten thrones, or kingdoms 
 which had been ereclcd upon the ruins of that Empire; I 
 beheld them caft down ; their dominion deltroycd, that union 
 of church and ftate, wliich had made the name of Chrif- 
 tianity, governed them by principles contrary to the fpirit 
 of Chriftianity ; by worldly motives, of wrath, of pride, of 
 malice, of pomp, of felfilh carnality and worldly minded 
 craft; inftead of meeknefs, gentleneis, and love,; ufing the 
 perfuafive arguments of the fvvord, and legal penalties ; in- 
 head of the perfuafive eloquence of a holy life and convcrfa- 
 tion ; of facred truth, and the demonftrative power of the 
 fpirit of Gods I beheld them, fays Daniel, all call down ; 
 the whole Antichriftian fyflem deftroyed, trampled undcr 
 foot, the vengeance they had exercifed upon tiie faints of 
 tne Moft High came home to themfelves ; and they, being 
 unfupported by the fpirit that was in Chrift,' were fwept 
 away by overwhelming dellrudtion. The angel fays to John, 
 in the Revelations, fpeaking of this period, " Come out oi 
 her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her fins, and that 
 ye receive not of her plagues ; for her fins have reached 
 unto Heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Re- 
 ward her, even as flie rewarded vou, and double unto her 
 double, according to her works : in the cup which ihehatli 
 filled, fill to her double, &c. &c. Rejoice over her, thou 
 Heaven, and ye holy Apoflles, and Prophets, for God hath 
 avenged you on her." Yes! we ought to rejoice over the 
 fall of Anti-chrift ; they who have iluin the Saints of God, 
 God will revenge their caufe, and cut their perfecutors off 
 from the earth, he doth avenge common murder. ** Whr ff> 
 fheddeth man's blood, by man (hall his blood be fhed." How- 
 much more will God avenge himfclf upon them who have 
 dared to deftroy his people r What had before been fhewcd 
 to Nebuchadnezzar in the vifions of the night, under the 
 form an image, is in this chapter exhibited to Daniel, un- 
 der the forms of four favage beads, defcribing the nature of 
 thofe great monarchies, which were to arife from the time of 
 Daniel, and to continue t-U tlie fecond coming of Chrift ; 
 and were till then to be the perfecutors of the Church of 
 God whether Jewifh or Gentile. 
 
 After this follows the fublimc and majeflic defcription of' 
 
 Tchovah, 
 
( 32 ) 
 Jehovah, as given in our text. " The ancient of days did 
 lit." Not our blelTedLorl, but the Eternal Father; the 
 God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. For 
 it is faid ver. 13. '* I faw in the night vifions, and behold 
 one like the Son of Man came in the clouds of Heaven ; and 
 came to the ancient of days, and they brought him near be- 
 fore him." They would not have brought Chrift near to 
 himfelf ; there could not be any greater than Chrift to whom 
 Chrift could be brought, to receive dominion ; it muft there- 
 fore have been the immortal God, the Father of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jefus Chrift. 
 
 God had long fince fpoken by the Prophet, faying, Jen 
 xii. 7. *' I have forfaken mine houfe, I have left mine heri- 
 tage, I have given the dearly beloved of nny foul into the 
 hands of her enemies. Judgment having been executed by 
 him upon his houfe, the Prophet here reprefents him as com- 
 ing back with mercies to his people ; and fitting upon the 
 throne of judgment, to execute vengeance upon their ene- 
 mies. Hov/ awful were the judgments they had executed 
 upon the Saints of the Moft High! Rev, xiii, 17. " No man 
 might buy or fell, favc he that had the mark, or the name of 
 the beaft, or the number of his name." Under the Anti- 
 chriftian power this was literally fulfilled. 
 
 *' The ancient of days." The eternal Godhead is defcribed 
 by this appellation ; he who was before all days, time itfelf 
 having fprang forth from his eternal exiftence ; he is the God 
 of all ages, ruling with uncontrouled fu^ay, all times and pe- 
 riods ; and therefore is juftly called the King and God of all 
 the ages. He is the felf-exiftcnt, the firft of all beings. He 
 fat upon his throne, and his ** garment was white as fnow." 
 David, fpeaking concerning the Deity, faith, Pfalm civ. 2. 
 «' Who covereftthyfelf with light as with a garment." When 
 our blefted Saviour was transfigured upon Mount Tabor, his 
 garment, through the brightnefs of the light of the glory of 
 God, became white as fnow, fo as no fuller upon earth could 
 •whiten it. " And the hair of his head like the pure wool," 
 denoting its purity, its brightnefs, and its perfection. " His 
 throne was like the fiery flame," fhewing the greatnefs of 
 his wrath againft the tranfgreftions of mankind. *' Our God 
 is a confuming fire" againft fin ; who then can approach the 
 fiery flame ? Who can dwell amidft the overflowings of his 
 furv, when he (hall arife to take vengeance upon the un- 
 godly, and to cut off tranfgrcflbrs from the earth ? ** His 
 wheels as burning fire," fublime, awful defcription of th« 
 
 fwiftncfs 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 fwlftnefs of his power, when he fliall come to punifh tranf- 
 greffion. " A fiery (tream ilhied and came forth before 
 him," ready to deftroy his enemies. How foon at his woid 
 were the powers of nature unchained, and the ftreams ot h's 
 fire, in overwhelming torrents, poured forth upon Sod 'tn and 
 Gomorrah ? ^nd how foon, at his command, Ihall the inun- 
 dating fiery torrent turn the mountains, hills, vallics, and (eas, 
 into one va(l burning lake? At his word, in a moment, fire 
 Cometh forth to devour his enemies, as he did Dathan :ind Abi- 
 ram of old ; or as when it came down at the requeft of the 
 prophet, and dtftroyed the captains and their fifties Fiie, 
 in the Scriptures is reprefented as one of the dreadful infl u- 
 ments to execute the judgments of God. God hio^fulf is 
 compared unto fire, and we know as little about the nature 
 of fire as wc do about the nature of God the firli caufe of ts 
 exiftence. It is in fa£l one of the grandcit ftcrets in nature. 
 God, the immortal Father, is in Scripture called by the name 
 of fire." ** Our God is a Confuming fire." The Son of 
 God is called '* the light of the world i" and the fpirit of 
 God is compared unto wind : ** The wind bloweth where it 
 lifteth, and thou hearef^ the found thereof, but cand: not tell 
 whence it cometh, and whither it goeth : fo is every one 
 that is born of the fpirit." The fire will not burn withoit 
 the air, and without fire there cannot be light ; they are all 
 dirtindl from each other ; the imay;ination of man may di- 
 ftinguiOi them, but his utmoft art cannot feparate them. 
 
 How av/fully grand is the attendance of Jehovah in the 
 courts ot Heaven ! Millions of intelligent, angelic beings 
 continually rniniftring unto him ; a thoufand thoufand rtood 
 waiting upon him, whilil ten thoufand times ten thoufand 
 ftood before him. 1 do not think thefe numbers are given 
 as being exa6t, but that, on the contrary, they reprefent the 
 immenfe multitude of the attendants upon J-.hovah as being 
 innumerable. John the Revelator faw in like manner the 
 throne of God, and fays that the nimiber of them who attend- 
 ed before him, ** was ten thoufand times ten thoufand, and 
 thoufand of thoufands, faying with a loud voice, Worthy is 
 the Lamb that was (lain to receive power, and riches, and 
 wifdora, and (trcngth, and honour and glory, and blelling." 
 The number of God's fervants in the univerfe are not a few ; 
 if we cotild fee aright, we fhould fee their nimiber far greater 
 than we can now conceive ; the numbers of the creattires of 
 God are perhaps as innumerable as the drops of water in the 
 pcean ; his power is infinite, and the number of beings he 
 F has 
 
( 34 ) 
 has created, are known only to himfelf. And though fo im- 
 menfe in multitude, he knows the number of the hairs upon 
 the heads of each of them ; his knowledge extends to all 
 their concerns, nothing is fo vaft as to be above his care, nor 
 fo mmute as to be beneath his notice. When we contem- 
 plate the invifible world, it yields to the Chriflian one con- 
 tinued ftream of holy joy, he feels delight ariling from the 
 thought that the number of pure and happy' beings that love 
 and obey his God by far exceed the multitudes of thofe that 
 are ignorant of him, or in rebellion againft him. I cannot 
 -but think that moral evil never reached any part of the crea- 
 tion, but that fmall part where we dwell. This earth and 
 its airy atmofphere are the regions to which the hoft of fallen 
 angels and men are confined. Thefe are the regions of dark- 
 nefs, over which Satan ruleth in the hearts of the children of 
 difobedience. Wh n Satan and his hoft firft fmned, this was 
 the Tartarus to which they were confined in unknown chains 
 ofdarknefs; and when this world was created, and man, 
 the appointed Lord of it had rebelled, power was again given 
 to "atan over all confined to this lower world. I think this, 
 becaufe Chrift could never die but once, and he died upon 
 this our earth. Upon the fuppofition that all the moral evil 
 that had crept into the creation was confined to this world, 
 it was wife, it was kind in God, to fend his only begotten 
 Son into this world to die, that by his death he might reftore 
 the who!e creation to its original perfection. But if evil ex- 
 ifted in any other part of creation, there alfo Chrift tnuft have 
 died, or the love of God could not have been made known 
 unto them as it has been made known unto us; and the love 
 of God, therefore, would evidently appear unequal, by not 
 going forth equally in tender mercies unto all his works : 
 therefore, as God fent his Son here to die, to mc it is evi- 
 dent, that here was the only place of moral evil ; and here 
 Ihall it be confined till all are reftored to the image of God, 
 their maker ; then may the creature be trulted any and 
 every where ; but rebels and traitors are not to be truftcd 
 out of their prifon bounds. Holy angels may be permitted 
 for wife purpolcs to come here, but impure beings, like 
 men and devils, cannot go to thein , becaufe God <will have 
 moral evil confined to its prefent bounds, until it is totally 
 eradicated : thofe who have ftood virtuous under temptation 
 may fafely be permitted to vifit the abodes of vice ; and fee 
 the horrid effedls of it, and contraft it with that happinefs 
 which themfelvcs experience from their own feparatioa from 
 
 all 
 
( 35 ) 
 ail evil, {o that the curfc of fin oiirGod will finally turn into 
 a blelling ; a blelling unto them who learn from the fad ex- 
 perience of others, and a blefling unto them who, having 
 luffered, have ceafed from fin, and now profit by th.cir own 
 pad experience. 
 
 The angels arc fwifter than light : it is computed that the 
 fun is about 90 or 100 millions of miles dillance from this 
 our earth; we know how long the beams ot lit!;ht are coming 
 from that far dillant orb to this our lower world, but an angel 
 travels far quicker. 
 
 With womrrous fpeed the loiar beams, \\k<i thought. 
 He Iwift outflics. 
 
 The moment a command is given from the throne of Je- 
 hovah, his fwitt-winged meflenger is on this our earth to 
 execute it : how often has a righteous man in danger called 
 upon God, and found that in a moment he has fent his angel 
 to deliver him. When we confider the almofl: innumerable 
 dangers with which the unprotcdled infant is furroundtd, we 
 cannot pollibly account for fo many growing up to years of 
 maturity, but for the interference of thofe heavenly melfen- 
 gers. who, as our blelled Lord faith, always beholding the 
 face of his heavenly father, are in the moment of danger fent 
 by him for their deliverance. We find, indeed, in the loth 
 chap, of Daniel, that there was an interval of three weeks 
 between the prayer of Daniel and the anfwer being given to 
 that prayer; but we are likewife informed, that from the 
 fird day that Daniel chaftened himfelf before his God, and 
 fet his heart upon the underftanding his promifes, that his 
 word was heard, andjan angel fent in anfwer lo his prayer; but 
 the evil angel, who had the ear of the King of Pcrfia, with- 
 ftood him for twenty-one days : this, indeed, is a curious anec- 
 dote, illurtrating the condii6l of Providence in the govern- 
 ment of man by the inllriunentality of invifible agency. 
 How fwift and powerful are the enemies of mankind. In 
 one night an angel flew one hundred and eighty thoufand inen ; 
 on another memorable occafion, in one night all the fir(l-born 
 of the whole nation of Egypt were defiroycd. If the crea- 
 tures of God, the minillering fervants that execute his will, 
 are fo mighty, how wondertul in power mull he be who 
 formed themr Tremble before the great and terrible Jeho- 
 vah, the God of the whole earth ! Tremble before hiin, ye 
 fons of men, reverence his name, nor dare to difobey his 
 commands. 
 
 F 2 But 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 But the angels of God are the guardian fpirits of maa~ 
 kind; our Lord fpeaks of the guardian angels of infants; 
 the maid fcrvant, in the Ads of the Apoftles, thought {lie had 
 ften rhc ai'gel of Peter; Paul fays, " Are not th^y al: mini- 
 ftciing fpirits fent forth to minifter unto thofe who are the 
 heirs ot lalvatioii r" Jews and Gemiles had the fame idea 
 of them ; and Ihall v^e, who ^all uurftrlves Chriuians, boldly 
 di card fiich tratlitional evidence, when fupported by the au- 
 thority of the Word of Truth r 
 
 There are i( me who have formed the flrange idea, that 
 all the r.ngelsot G('d were at one time men ; but this is an 
 ii-npoflibdiiy, tor all the human beings that have ever been 
 bcrn into this our world would not amount even to the num- 
 ber of thofe angels who Itand before the throne of God= 
 Comp re the Pfalms, ifaiah, Daniel, and the Revelations, 
 with the glorious fight which Jacob faw when he called the 
 place Mahanaim, the hoif, from the number of the angels 
 that he beheld ; and likewife Bethel, the houfe of God, from 
 the glorious angelic aitendants of the imir.ortal Jehovah, who, 
 obedient to his voice, afcended and dcfcended, uniting earth 
 to the manfions of Heaven. Whenever we wander from 
 Scripvuie, we may imagine any thing ; but whllll we en^ 
 deavour to guide even our thoughts by it, though through hu- 
 man weaknefs we may err, never can we Ifray tar from the 
 legions ol tru'.h ; from Scripture it is evident the angels are 
 a fuperior order of beings, polfelTcd of vaft power, and know- 
 ledge, and love ; and yet fo humble are they, as to be happy 
 in being appointed by God to minilter unto mankind; and, 
 more particularly, io attend upon thofe, who by faith have 
 become the heirs of falvation. 
 
 '* The judgment was fet ;" not that lad judgment men- 
 tioned in the Revtiaiions, when, *• the fea Ihall give up the 
 dead which are in it, and death and hell iliall deliver up the 
 dead which are in them ; and they fnall be judged, every 
 man according to his works." Judgment doth not take 
 place until atter the millenial reign of Chrift, and the 
 tecond rcfurndion ; but the judgincnt that Dar.iel fpeaks of 
 is that which takeih place atter the thrones are cait down, 
 and our blell'td Loid ihall appear the ftcond time, when he 
 fhall come in the glory of his father and his holy angels, 
 without fin, unto falvaiion : for Daniel fays, '' I faw in the 
 r.ight tifions, and behold! one like the Son of Man came 
 with the clouds of Heaven, and came to the ancient of days, 
 and they brought him near before him, and there was given 
 
 him 
 
( 37 ) 
 him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom ; that all people* 
 and nations, and languages (hould fcrvc- him : his dominion 
 is an cvtrlal\ing dominion, which Ihall not pafsavvay, and his 
 kingdom that which (hall not be dcltroycd." It is therefore 
 evident, that this jvudgrnent taketh place at the fccond coming 
 of Chrilh prior to the millcnial reign ; tor the kingdom of 
 Chril^ upon earth, is contraltcd with the other great monar- 
 chies that had preceded ; tbcy were to have ♦♦ their domi- 
 nions taken away," but his dominion was not to pafs away ; 
 from various caul'es their kingdoms were brought to an end, 
 but the kingdom of Chrilt was to be that kingdc^m which 
 was to fwallow up every other kingdom, and was not to be 
 dcdroyed by old age. or furrounding enemies. On the con- 
 trary, it was to lalt through the niillenial age. and when that 
 was clofed, it was ftill to go on fubduing all its enemies, un- 
 til Chrift, having fubjugated every enemy to his government, 
 deftroytd even a defire to rebel, conferred peace, joy, and 
 righteoufnefs, upon s'll intelligent crtatures, it Ihould, in the 
 full zenith of its power, in the meridian fplendour of its 
 glory, be refigned into the hands of the immonal God, and 
 pafs away, not by dcftrudiion but into increafed glory, into 
 never-ei.ding felicity. Thus we find the circumftances, ths 
 time, and the place, are different in this judgment from that 
 mcniiontd in the Revelations. That this jiid^^ment was fet, 
 or appointed, to give the Son of God dominioji over the earth, 
 when he ihall come to reward all his fcivanis according to 
 their works ; and give rewards unto all that fear his name, 
 both great and fmall, 
 
 ** And the books were opened ;" the books of God's re- 
 membrance, wherein is recorded the upright condu£t ot 
 his faints^ Malachi iii. 16. •• A book ot renxmbrance was 
 written before him, for them that feared ihe Loid, and that 
 thought upon his name : and they fliall be mine, faiih the 
 Lord of HoUs, in that day when I iTiake up my jewels ; and 
 I will fpai'e them, as a man fpareth liis own fon that ferveth 
 him." The condu^ of the faint of God may be forgot. en 
 by themfelves, but it i.'^ never forgotten by God ; no doubt, 
 the virtuous condudl of Mordecai was forgotten by hinifclf ; 
 contented w ith having done his duty, he had no thoughts of 
 reward, but a book of rtniimbrance was kept before the 
 King, and upon its being read, it was found recorded that 
 which he had done ; and the confequence was, that his ene- 
 my, the man who fought his life, and the deftrutSlion of his 
 whole nation, "vvas appointed like a tr.enial fenant to array 
 
 hira 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 him with regal pomp, and walk, proclaiming before him, 
 ** Thus fhall it be done unto the man whom the king de- 
 lighteth to honour." So Ihall it be in that dav, the book of 
 remembrance (hall be opened, and even the gift of a cup of 
 cold water to a difciple of Chrift, becaufe of his being adif- 
 ciple, fhall be mentioned to their praife ; then (hall royal 
 robes be given unto them ; they (hall be confidered askings 
 and priefts unto God : then (hall their enemies fee, and be 
 adonKhed, and with holy reverence proclaim before them; 
 thus (hall it be done unto him whom King Jefus dclighteth 
 to honour ; no more (hall flones and reproach be cafi: at 
 them, but the nations (hall fhout before them, Kofannah to 
 him that cometh in the name of the Lord. 
 
 Then (hall no good w^orks be forgotten, the forrows, the 
 reproaches they have borne, and all their labours of love, 
 fiiall be brought to remembrance ; our God will then open 
 his book, and every work of obedience fhall be brought to 
 light: well pleafed at the recolle£lion of them, the guardian 
 angels of the faints (hall fay, For this, and that, and the other 
 a6ts of obedience, no honour has been done unto them ; 
 now (hall they be honoured for their good confeflion, before 
 men and angels, according to the promifes made unto them 
 by him who is the true and faithful. He will prove to them 
 the awful truth of that faying, " Vengeance is mine, and I 
 will repay, faith the Lord." Yes, Jefus the Mediator (hall 
 come as Judge, and (hall not keep filence ; he will caufe the 
 books of remembrance to be opened before his friends and 
 enemies ; then fhall the good deeds of the one be abundantly 
 rewarded, and all the evil deeds, even to the hard fayings of 
 the other, (hall be brought againfl; them. 
 
 Confider the majefty of God ; what an awful fubje6f is 
 this? What are the monarchs of the earth compared with 
 him? He treads upon princes like worms, and the nations 
 of the earth are but like grafshoppers before him. Baxter 
 very juflly obfcrves, that monarchs are but as the great 
 worms of the earth, and their fubjetSts the little ones, before 
 God. When, indeed, we think aright of the majefly of 
 God, and our own littlenefs, we mulf be hutnblcd at the 
 thought; we muft reverence, we niuft obey him. Shall not 
 God employ our thoughts ? What ful»jc6l fo worthy of them 
 as he, our Creator, our Prefcrver, our Reitorer ? What fub- 
 jed fo grand as the niaje(ty of Jehovah, before whofe pre- 
 fence the nations are as nothing, and lighter than vanity. 
 
 Confider the juftice of God! He rcv/ardcth every man ac- 
 cording 
 
( 39 ) 
 cording to his works ; he is juft in all his ways ; the Judge 
 of all the earth will do right ; he is no refpecler of perfons, 
 but out of every nation, he that fcurcih God, and doeth 
 righteoufnefs, (hall be accepted of him. He has patience, 
 and long forbearance ; he is not in hafle to punifli ; judg- 
 ment is the Itrange work of Jehovah ; but though (low in 
 the execution ot his threatcnings, yet, unlcfs prevented bv 
 repentance, his jurtice will repay ; the jiill retribution oi 
 God is fure ; it overtakes every guilty and unrcformed man, 
 and will likewife overtake every proud, uiijult, cruel na- 
 tion : long did he forbear with the ante-deluvian race, with 
 the Canaanites, with his fervants the Jews, with all the na- 
 tions of the earth. Oh ! how long has he borne with the de- 
 filiating powers of Antichrift ; he has permitted them, in his 
 aftonilhing forbearance, to fpread confulion, ilaughter, and 
 death, for twelve hundred and fixty years over his Church, 
 but the days of his patience are exhaulted ^ I will arife, faith 
 my God, 1 will pour out my vengeance upon their iniquities , 
 no longer fhall their guilt, their pride, their oppreflions, their 
 cruelties, be hidden ; I will demolilh every power that pro- 
 tedteth them ; 1 will give them blood to drink, for they are 
 worthy. 
 
 It is a dangerous thing to be the enemy of God ; he waits 
 long before he is willing to correal ; he lovcth not the for- 
 rows, groans, and pains of his creatures ; but he loveth ur- ; 
 happy we cannot he unlefs we love him ; we cannot love 
 him unlefs we are acquainted with him ; to know him is not 
 pollible, whilft wrath, malice, and felf-will continue; if, 
 therefore, we will not lay them all at his feet, and follow 
 Chrift, we mull in this life experience afflidion ; fhould we 
 efcape it, flill life is Ihort ; and if we are found enemies to 
 God by wicked works, what fhall we have to endure? It is, 
 indeed, a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living 
 God, for our God is a confuming fire ; he can deftroy both 
 foul and body in hell. O! then, love the Lord your God ; 
 blefs the hand that leads you to the knowledge of his falva- 
 lion. O! examine your hearts, and try yourfclves if you 
 are his enemies, or if you love and fear his name ; if your 
 heart boweih down to his jullice, obeycth his commands, and 
 longeth for the coming of Chrift: if you do thefe things, 
 calm refignation fhall fill your fouls with peace ; happy ftiall 
 you be here, and happy fhall you be in the kingdom of your 
 Lord. 
 
 LND OF THE THIRD SERMON. 
 
SERMON IV 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 ELHANAN WINCHESTER. 
 
 [never before published.] 
 
 MARK XIV. 29. 
 
 The Son of Man indeed goeth, as it is izrifien of him j 
 hut wo to that man by zvhom the Son of Man is be- 
 trayed ; good -were it for that man if he had ne^uer 
 been born. 
 
 THIS pafTage of Scripture has been thought by fome to 
 be the ftrongeft that could poffibly be brought againft 
 the dodrine of God's univerfal and efficacious love ; I think 
 there areftronger pafTages than this, though noobjcflionsfrom 
 Scripture or reafon can be brought fufficiently ftrong to be 
 called unanfvverable ; but, on the contrary, a little refle£tion 
 will, without many words, convince any candid and unpre- 
 judiced mind, that thofe very paffages, or arguments, will, 
 without any diftortion of them, be eafily made to prove the 
 truth of that dodrine they were brought to condemn. 
 
 The fm of Judas was exceedingly great, let his motives 
 have been what they might ; forthegreatnefs or fmallnefs of 
 a fm depends not on the enormity of the ad, but on the mo- 
 tives that led to it; the killing of a man may be juftifiable 
 felf. defence ; the wounding of a man may, on the contrary, 
 be the compafiing his death, murder! both by the laws of 
 God and man. Three motives are generally afcribed to 
 Judas as the caufe of his condu6l : ift. Malice againft the 
 Saviour for fo frequently dilUnguiOiing him in his difcourles, 
 and at lad pointing him out in the piefence of the reft of the 
 
 difciples 
 
f •" ) 
 
 iJifciples as tlie individual pcrfon who fhould betray him. It 15 
 ' faid, from that time the Devil entered into Judas : like Satan, 
 inftead of corrciling his bad principle, he gave up his whole 
 foul to revenge, aiiddLtermiiicd lodeftroy the carthlyexiltence 
 ot his mafter, becaufc that malKr knew the depravity of 
 his heart. If this motive for the condudl of Judas could be 
 eftabliOied, it would prove the bafeil motive that could poffi- 
 bly have aduated him, for it is a great crime to imagine the 
 death of any one, a greater to endeavour to put that imagi- 
 nation in a way to be compleated ; this is malice prepenle ; 
 by the laws of every civilized nation, it would be called wil- 
 ful murder. 
 
 2. The next motive afcribed to Judas, is avarice; this 
 they fay is demonftrable from the epithets which arc applic(i 
 "to him, a devil, a thief, and from his bearing the bag. I 
 fufped much the truth of this mofl: commonly recei\ed mo- 
 tive for his condudl ; had he been a thief, or a covetous man, 
 \vould he have been trufted with the bag which contained 
 that which was to fupply all their wants ? Our Lord needed 
 not that any one fhould tell him what was in man, for he 
 read the heart, and would not make any one to Cm by put- 
 ting them into an office where the temptation was greater 
 than they, from their peculiar propenfity, could have re- 
 fifted ; he was not the tempter of men, but their Saviour, and 
 came not to deftroy the fouls of men, but to feek and re- 
 ftore that which was loft. If avarice had caufed Judas to 
 betray his mafter, when we confider how wealthy a party 
 he had to deal with, the Sadducees and Pharifees, the rich, 
 the mofl: opulent men of the nation, is it not reafonable to 
 fuppofe that he would have made a demand of wealth equal 
 to his avaricious difpofition, but how trifling was the fum 
 he required, thirty pieces of lilver; it appears from the 
 fmallnefs of it, that avarice was not, could not be his motive. 
 I remember that many years fince I read a book which 1. 
 have not from that time ever been able to meet with, this 
 book laid down a motive for the conciud of Judas which to 
 me appears to be the mofl: rational and conliftent with the 
 reft of his condudl of any motive whatever that has fince 
 been afcribed unto him, and this motive was ambition ; 
 Judas appears to have poirciled a very large portion of that 
 ambition which the reft of the difciples exhibited in their 
 conducSl on various occafions ; they all appear with the reft of 
 the Jewifh nation to have expedcd that the Mediah would 
 become at that time a Saviour unto Ifrael from the hand of 
 G th» 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 the Romans. They could not behold him firfl: crucified, 
 and then exalted to the right hand of God, to have all power 
 cr'iven unto him both i-^ Heaven and in earth, that at the time 
 appointed by the Fa .er he might come in the clouds of 
 Heaven, attended b}- ti r- Angels of God, and the Spirits of 
 the Juft made perf^-cL to take unto himfdf the dominion of 
 the earth, and fi .iing peculiarly as King upon the throne of 
 David, through the Jewifh nation, to govern all the vi'orld: 
 .hence arofe the contempt of the Jews for the mean appear- 
 ance of Jelus, and hence followed frequent difputes who 
 Ihould be the greateft in the promifed kingdom amiongft them 
 who belioved on him, hence they expe£led that he would foon 
 caff off his difguife, and Ihew the glory of his character to that 
 nation who would have repeatedly made him King, and to 
 the temporal exaltation of his faithful difciples. Led aftray 
 from the path of duty, through this principle of ambition, 
 I conceive Judas to have been, when he- betrayed his mafter: 
 many were the timics in which Judas had feen that all power 
 was given imio Chrift both in Heaven and in earth ; be had 
 feen the winds obey his voice, he had likev;ife beheld that 
 creative pov/ers belonged unto him when he caufed the lopt 
 off limbs of the maimed to fhoot forth anew, as like wife 
 when he fed the multitudes; he had known him when led 
 to the brow of the mountain to be cafl. down headlong, ftrike 
 thofe enemies with temporary blindnefs, and unnoticed walk 
 through the midft of them ; the miracles that he performed 
 muft have convinced him that the Father loved him, heard 
 him always, and granted him whatfoever he afked ; he had 
 heard Jefus declare that he was the promifed Mefilah ; the 
 hope of the ancient Patriarchs; the J^on of God ; the King 
 of Ifrael : feeing all rhefe things, having a heart filled with 
 ambition, doubtlefs he both hoped and expedled that when 
 he had betrayed his Lord into the hands of the Pharifees, his 
 mortal enemies, that whcr. they attempted to defl:roy his life, 
 he would arife and fhake himfelf as .uoretim.es, and take 
 unto himfelf, by the great nefs of his j-jwrr, that dominion 
 ■which, by inheriiance, as alfo by prornifc, belonged unto 
 him, that his nation fhoijld then have \h. government of the 
 world, and his apoRles, according to the promife made them, 
 fhould fit upon twelves thrcnes, governing the twelve tribes 
 of Ifrael. Doubtlefs he rv: . r.;.d thus within his own mind, 
 three years have I followrd my Lord, and notwithffanding 
 his repeated declarations that he is the Mefliah, and the va- 
 rious manifcftxtions of his divine power, 1 am no nearer the 
 
 poiTeilion 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 pofTeflion of the promifed kingdom than I was the firfl day » 
 what can I do to make my Mailer aOlimc his real cliarader» 
 fhew his power, and take unto himfclf hi.^ great glory r For 
 this purpofe I will betray him into the hands of his enemies, 
 I know their rage and malice againft him ; when they at- 
 tempt to execute their wicked purpofcs, he will, with a 
 word, ftrike them dead, and then take the government upon 
 his fhoulders and rc't^^n from Tea to fea, and from fliore to 
 fhore, anil from the banks of the fwelling Jordan to the ut- 
 niofl coafts where the raging ocean dathes the rocky ram- 
 parts ot the earth ; my Lord knows the htart of his faiihful 
 fervant, he loves me, he will perceive that the defire of his 
 exaltation was the caufe of what I did, he will pardon my 
 zeal, and knowing that it was not hatred to his perfon, 
 character, or office, but love to him, and anxious longing 
 to behold his glory, I fliall eafily perfuade hini to forgive 
 me, and on account of my fuperior anxiety in his caufe, be 
 exalted to the higheft place of honour in his kingdom, 
 becaufeby my means the prophecies have been accomplilh- 
 ed, therefore I (hall be received into the greatell favour, 
 and have the higheft honours coi ferred upon me. 
 
 That which renders this motive the moll probable is that, 
 when Judas faw all his expedations difappointed, his mafter 
 led like a lamb to the fiaughter, and inftead of frowning 
 awful terror, beheld him arraigned at the unjufl: tribunal 
 of wicked men, meekly fubmitting to all their fcoffings, 
 fpittings, and contempt, faw him fcourged, crowned with 
 thorns, and led forth to be cruciiied, he appears to have 
 been aftonifhed and rcgardlefs of danger; he manifefted his 
 forrow by hurrying to the priefts, confefling his guilt, return- 
 ing the reward of his iniquity, and when all would not undo 
 that which his impatient ambition had done, the violence of 
 his grief flrangled liim, as I think the paflagc might be ren- 
 dered xxvii. 5. in Math, which fays, that he hanged himfelf, 
 particularly as the circumftance mentioned by Peter of his 
 falling down upon his face, and his bowels gulhing out, 
 feems to confirm it, there being inftanccs of very violent 
 grief occafioning fuch a fuffocation. 
 
 Great indeed was the crime of Judas, if it went nofmther 
 than the betraying innocent blood ; when we confider the 
 difference between a ftate of guilt and a ftato of purity, we 
 may indeed fay, with our Lord, good were ii for that man 
 had he never been born. But with how much greater pro- 
 priety may it be faid, when we confider the perfon of him 
 G 2 whom 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 -whotYi he betrayed, his friend, his Lord, the King of Ifrael 
 the Son of God. Let his motives have been ever fo pure 
 the awful confequences {hould teach us never to do evil that 
 good may come, for however we may plead the excufe be- 
 fore men, the time will come when, with anguifh of foul 
 and confufion of face, we Ihall own our condemnation to 
 bejuft. Judas did thus; how painful were the feelings of 
 his heart, how bitter his refledlions. I have finned, in that 
 I have betrayed innocent blood: how did he curfe his folly 
 when thofe who tempted him to evil replied to him, what is 
 that to us, fee thou to it. Overpowered by the reproaches of 
 his own foul, groaning under the profpedl of the crucifixion 
 of his beloved Lord, the violence of his grief overpowered 
 nature, his inwairds fwelled, his breath was flopped, fufFo- 
 Cation enfued, he fell down on his face, his fwollen carcafe 
 burft, and his bowels guflied out — awful ftate! Behold the 
 inen who defpifed his Lord pafs by the bleeding carcafe, and 
 whilft they approve the deed he had done, curfe the doer of 
 it, and brand his name with traitor. Better indeed had it 
 "been for him had he never been born ; better, far better from 
 the womb to have palled to peace and joy; ignorant of evil, 
 to have gone to thofe peaceful abodes where the wicked can 
 never trouble, and where no contending paffions ere diftur^> 
 the peaceful breaft. 
 
 But v/hen we confider the perfonal confequences it was of 
 to Judas. He had laboured for three years in the vineyard of 
 Chrift, and would have had his name, but for this offence, 
 enrolled amongft the ambaffadors of Chrift, and after a few 
 fhort years of trial, would haye relied from his labors, walk- 
 ing in his own uprightnefs, till the coming of Chrift in 
 glory, then would he have come with him to be high feated 
 on a glorious throne, to reign with Chriftj and fit as a 
 Judge over a tribe in Ifrael. But oh! how altered was his 
 Situation by this offence! his apoftlefhip taken away, the 
 glory within his reach by one falfe ftep removed, inftead of 
 a fulncfs of approbation for integrity of condud, confufion 
 of face at the fight of his maftcr would now clothe his coun- 
 tenance with fliam.e ; add the perfonal confequences that 
 Jceep rifing one above another as the effcdls of his fin, and 
 >ve fhall find no need for endlefs never ceafing flames to juf- 
 tify the faying of our Lord, good had it been for this man 
 Jiad he never been born, for then would he not have tanta- 
 lized himfelf with the profpecfl of glory, to have funk into 
 fuch defpair and horrors of mind that the tongue of man 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 cannot defcribe : but unfullied by ambition, and iincon- 
 taminatcd by fin, his fpirit would have departed from the 
 womb to the realms of peace, where forrow could never 
 have clouded his brow, where imagination could not paint 
 ideal profpe6>s in all the beauties of the garments of trutli, 
 that they might vanirti in a moment, and leave him to the 
 horrors of defolaiion, whilfl: refle6lion painted, in dcepeft 
 tints, the vilenefs of ambition and ingratitude. 
 
 Without bringing in the awful ideas of endlefs, tmceafing 
 punifliment, there has b^cn even in the woes of this life 
 fomething fo painful to the feelings of the mind, as to caufe 
 even good men to wilh they hail ncer been born ; and that, 
 although they were aifured of their Creator's favour, and 
 were confident of happinefs after death. Holy Job, 3d 
 Chap, fpake and faid, *• Let the day perifh wherein I was 
 born ; and the night, wherein it was faid, There is a man child 
 conceived. Let that day be darknefs. Let not God regard 
 it from above, neither let the light fliine upon it. Let dark- 
 nefs and the fliadow of deaih flain it ; let a cloud dwell upon 
 it ; let tt>e blacknefs of the day terrify it, &c. becaufe it 
 flmt not up the doors of my mothci 's womb, nor hid forrow 
 ifrom mine eyes. Why died I not from the wotnb ? Why 
 did I not give up the ghofi: when I came out ot the belly ? 
 Why did the knees prevent me, or why the breads that I 
 fliould fuck ? For now fhould I have been Itdl, and been 
 quiet, I fhould have ikpt, tiicn fliould I have been at reft: 
 with kings and counfellors of the earth, which built dcfolate 
 places for themfelves : or with princes that had gold, who 
 filled their houfes with filver : or as an hidden untimely- 
 birth I had not been ; as infants which never faw the light. 
 There the wicked ceafc from troubling : and there the 
 weary be at reft. There the prifoners reft together, they 
 hear not the voice of the opprelTor. The fmall and the 
 great is there, and the fervant is free from his mafter." 
 Again, in the loth Chap, v. 18, Job expreftcs the fame 
 thought that it would have been better for him never to have 
 been born. •' Wherefore then haft thou brought me forth 
 out of the womb ? O that I had giveii up the ghoft, and no 
 eye had feen me ! 1 fliould have been as though I had not 
 been. 1 fliould have been carried from the womb to the 
 grave." Yet, was this man afraid of endlcTs mifery ? 
 Although the day of rcfurredion is at our door, compara- 
 tively to what it was in his day, yet where is the beft of 
 men in modern times that exprelfes himfclf with a ftronger 
 '■' • • confidence 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 confidence of faith In his corning, who fhall reward every 
 ipan according to their works, and give rewards to all that 
 fear his name, both fmall and great. ** I know," faid he, 
 «• my Redeemer liveth, and he Ihall (land at the latter day 
 upon the earth ; and though after my fkin worms deftroy 
 this body, yet in my flefh fhall I fee God, whom 1 fhall fee 
 for myfelf ; and my eyes ihall behold, and not another, 
 though my reins be confumed within me." And fo great 
 was the holy man's confidence in the goodnefs of his Creator, 
 that he cried out, *' Though he flay me, yet will I truft in 
 him :" yea, fo confident was he of the integrity of his condu6l, 
 that he could appeal to the all-fearching eye of the all-feeing 
 Jehovah for the truth of his innocency ; and could fay, 
 *' He knoweth the way that I take : when he hath tried me, 
 I fhall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his Heps, 
 his ways have I kept and not declined ; neither have I gone 
 back from the commandment of his lips. I have efteemed 
 the words of his mouth more than my neceflary food." It 
 is therefore evident that he had no allufion to endlefs mifery, 
 yet he wifhed that he had never been born, and that whilft 
 he had before him a certain profpc^t of a glorious refur- 
 rection, and a prefent convidion of the integrity of his 
 ways, with the full approbation of Jehovah to the whole of 
 his conduct ; for lie never retraced any part of his former 
 sffertions, but thofe in which he had dared to call God to an 
 account for his condudl towards him ; therefore, without 
 .fearing future punifhment, good men may wifh they had 
 jiever been born. 
 
 We, in like manner, find the holy prophet Jeremiah, 
 20th Chap, expreffing himfelf in furalar language ; he had 
 fufrered but one night's imprifonment^ and inftead of con- 
 fidering that thofe who fufFer for well doing the fpirit of 
 God, and of glory, refteth upon thtm, he foolifhly charged 
 the Moft High, ** O Lord ! thou liafl deceived me, and I 
 ,am deceived ; thou art flronger than I, and haft prevailed ; 
 I am in derifion daily ; every one mocketh me. For fince 
 I fpake, I cried out, I cried violence and fpoil : becaufe 
 the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a 
 derifion daily. Then 1 faid, I will not make mention of 
 ,him; nor fpeak any more in his name. But his word was 
 in my heart, as a burning fire fhut up in my bones, and I 
 ■was weary witli forbearing, and I could not flay. For I 
 heard the defaming of many, fear on every fide : report, 
 (fay they) and we will report it. All my familiajs watched 
 
 fcr 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 for my halting ;^ faying, Peradventure he will be enticed, 
 and we fhall prevail againft him, and we will take our re- 
 venge on him. But, the Lord is with me as a mighty ter- 
 rible one : therefore my perfecuters fliall ftiimble, and they 
 fhall not prevail ; they fliall be greatly afhamed, for they 
 Ihall not profper ; their concealed iTiaaie fliall not be for- 
 gotten. But Jehovah of Hofts, who trieth th5 righteous, 
 •whe feeth the reins and the heart, I fliall behold thy ven- 
 geance on them, for unto thee have I opened my caufe. 
 Sing unto the Lord, praifc ye the Lord : for he hath de- 
 livered the foul of the poor from the hand of evil doers." 
 Here we behold the ailurednefs of the prophet in the favour 
 of his God ; he was certain, fully confident in him, in whoni 
 he believed ; he well knew that he would never leave hitn 
 nor forfake him ; he looked beyond tlie prefent moment; he 
 faw his enemies alhamed at their part condu6l ; he beheld 
 the arms of the Almighty Jehovah around him for his pro- 
 teflion, and ftriking terror into his foes ; yet, whilft the 
 majefty of his proteder caufes him to burfl: out into a fong 
 of praife, even then, at that moment, he lihewife cried 
 out, <* Curfed be the day wherein 1 w^as born ; let not the 
 day wherein my mother bare me, be blelfed. Curfed be 
 the man who brought tidings to my father ; faying, A man 
 child is born unto thee, making him very glad. And let 
 that man be as the cities which the Lord overthrew, and 
 repented not ; and let him hear the cry in the morning, and 
 the fliouting at noon tide. Becaufe he flew me not fron; the 
 womb ; or that my mother might have been my grave, and 
 her womb always great with me ; wherefore came I out of 
 the womb to fee labour and furrow, that my days fliould be 
 confumed with fliame r" Here then fcripture explains ii- 
 felf, and demonftrates that our Lord had not in his idea at 
 the time a thought concerning the endlefs mifery of Judas, 
 for we may obferve that the language of our Lord is always 
 a comment upon the Old Teftament ; and in this fpeecii 
 concerning Judas, he ufes an Old Tellament plirafe, a 
 phrafe which we have ihewn that two good men (ifed, men 
 who were the fervaiits of the Lord, who were h.is peculiar 
 favourites, approved of by the Searcher of Hearts for the 
 integrity of their condu£l, and the perfeflion of their obe- 
 dience ; yet they, with a certainty of the divine protedlion, 
 and the full alliirancc of f\iture happincfs, on account of 
 prefent trouble, wiflied thev had never been born. 
 
 That 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 That which man efteemsa happinefs, as,being th€ fourc* 
 from whence pleafure flows, is various, according to the 
 circumftances in whicli mankind happen to be. In the days 
 of our Lord, when fociety was about to be deftn-yed by- 
 divine judgment, it was a blefling to have no children, to 
 have no tie v/hatever that might impede their flight from the 
 awful troubles which, like an inundating flood, was about 
 to overwhelm the Jewifli nation ; but in the days of Solo- 
 mon, when the kingdom was blefled with peace and tem^joral 
 profperity, that wife prince pronounced him to be a happy 
 man who was blefled with long life, much wealth, and 
 many children. This was the middle age of the world, 
 the moft glorious period it has ever yet known, when the 
 fons of Ifrael, the firfl: born of God, were governed by the 
 wifeft; of men, even by him who was a type of the Prince of 
 Peace. Yet hear, ye Chriftians, what this great, (and 'ere 
 he fell Into idolatry), this good man hath faid, Ecclef. vi. 
 V. 3. *' If a man beget an hundred children, and live many 
 years, fo that the days of hii years be many, and his foul 
 DC not filled with good, and alfo that he have no burial, I 
 fay an untimely birth is better than he." What would ye, 
 who believe in Chrifl:, think of that man, who, after having 
 lived many years in the enjoyment of the bounties of Provi- 
 dence, and been the parent of an hundred children, and yet 
 ihould be difcontented and unfatistied with the good that 
 God had given him, and unwilling to lay down this frail 
 body in the duft, from whence it firfl: came ; and who, 
 after death, (hould not have the honours of an elegant fu^ 
 ncral, would you think fuch a one had better never to have 
 been born ? Would you not think the blefllngs of Provi- 
 dence .infinitely fnrpafled the petty honours of a leaden 
 coflin, a hearfe and fix, cfcutchcons, feathers, and all the 
 little pomp that attends the burial of the great r I know you 
 would. You look for glory — for immortality. You be- 
 lieve that the power of that God, who hath raifcd up your 
 blelfed mafler, i« capable of coIIeiSling the fcattered frag- 
 ments of your fratne from the four winds of the heavens, 
 and of reuniting them, after the fample of the glorified body 
 of Chrifl Jefus. Yet, fays the great, the wife, the infpired 
 Solomon, '* I fay an untimely birth is better than he, for 
 he Cometh in with vanity, and dcparteth in darknefs, and 
 his name fliall be covered with daiknefs." And what would 
 this be to you, if your name is written in the Lamb's book 
 of life J Let darknefs and total oblivion cover your name 
 
 from 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 from the memory of the fons of men, fo you but have it 
 honoured by your Lord, before his holy angels, and the 
 fpirits of ju(t men made perfe6l ; grateful for ihe blefTings 
 you have enjoyed, you dare not to fay, with Solomon, That 
 the man who hath poficlfed fuch a fuper-abundance of the 
 bouiuies of Providence, " hath not fcen the fim, nor known 
 any thing," much lefs dare you to draw a contraft betweea 
 fuch a one and an untimely birth, and pronounce in favour 
 of the latter, becaufe " he hath more reft than the other: 
 yea, though he live a ihoufand years twice told, yet hath he 
 feen no good," Where, fays the greateft and wifeft of men, 
 is the difference between the child who never was born, 
 and the hoary head laden with glory ? It is, faith he, in 
 favour of the child who never came to the birth, for he hath 
 never fecn trouble. This language is much ftronger than 
 that which our Lord ufes concerning Judas ; he only faid. 
 Good had it been for that man had he never been born ; 
 not exprening even a thought concerning his future hap- 
 pinefs or mifery ; and who are we, that we fhould dare to 
 add to the language of Chrift ? Will he approve of us for 
 painting, in all the horrors that human language can afford, 
 the fufferings that Judas ftall undergo throughout a never- 
 ending eternity ? Or will he not rather fay. Judgement is 
 my ftrange work, I came not to deftroy but to fave ; and 
 who art thou that calleft thyfelf by my name, and readeft of 
 the contrition of a repenting finner, and yet fo defpifeft the 
 glorious chara(£lcr that belongeth to me as a Saviour, as to 
 aifert that I fhall endlefsly delight in the grcanS, and anguifh, 
 and defpair, of a returning prodigal, or an erring child? 
 How often haft thou bcirayed my caufe, and by the pufilla- 
 nimity of thy condudl led thy brethren into evil r If I 
 extend mercy to thee, why not to Judas ? If 1 have over- 
 looked the pride of thy heart, the felfifhnefs of thy conduft, 
 the perverfenefs of thy ways, the weaknefs of thy faith, 
 fhall 1 caft off for ever that man who bore for three years 
 the crofs with me, that man who fhared my fufferings in 
 the fltfh, and dared to take a part with me in the reproaches 
 of mankind ? Go thou, my difciple, and learn that I love 
 not only to fhew mercy myfelf, but that 1 prefer a love of 
 mercy, and an exhibition of it in the conduct of my difci- 
 plcs, before hecatombs of burnt offerings, and all the pomp- 
 ous facrifices that the pride of humnn nature can caufe to 
 afcend befoie me. 
 
 H As 
 
( 50 ) , 
 
 As our biefTed Lord did not revile Judas, or reproach him, 
 or fpcak of hitn with harlh epithets, no more did hisapoftles. 
 Companion and truth dropped from their lips ; they felt for 
 him, and mention his name with tendernefs, but with vera- 
 city, afTcmbled together to choofe another apoftle in his room. 
 We do not hear them exclaiming againft his chara6ler, and 
 holding him up in the eternity of torments as an objeft of 
 terror, left any of thcmfclves fhould betray another, or be- 
 tray their Mafter by betraying his caufe. None of thefe 
 unkind fpeeches dropped from their lips ; but ' thou. Lord, 
 ■which knoweth the hearts of all men, fhew whether of thefe 
 two thou haft chofen, that he may take part in this miniftry 
 ;ind apoftleftiip, from which Judas by tranfgreflion fell, that 
 he might go to his own place." If Judas fell, that he might 
 go to his own place, and fuch fall was pre-acknowledged by 
 God in the prophetical writing, what man that calls him- 
 felf a believer in the fcripture will be bold enough toaflert, 
 that the intention of that Being, whofe name is love, was to 
 caufe Judas to fall that he might confign him to endlefs, un- 
 ceafing mifery ? If Judas had a place peculiarly called his 
 6wn, I fhould rather think it was a throne in the kingdom 
 of our Lord, and that his repentance, and public death, were 
 confidered by Chrift, as a fufficient expiation of the crime 
 which he had committed ; for our Lord had before faid, that 
 his twelve apoftles " fliould fit on twelve thrones judging 
 the twelve tribes of Ifrael. Judas was then alive, and our 
 Lord never retraced the propnife he then made, and Matthias 
 was not chofen to fit upon the throne prepared for Judas but 
 to fill up the part (which was vacated by his death) in the 
 miniftry, and to compleat the number of apoftles, who were 
 to be jhe ambaftadors, who were to go over the whole world, 
 to make known the love of God manifefted in Chrift 
 Jefus, and to befeech men to be reconciled unto the Father 
 through him. But to aftert that this place was hell, and that 
 the fire thereof (hall never ceafe during the exiftence of the 
 immortal God, I deny, and demand of fuch bold afterters to 
 come to the wordand to the teftimony to fupport their bold 
 aflertions; and till they do this, with all my candour I muft 
 confefs that I believe that evil will befal that man who 
 evil thinks. 
 
 The fouls of children exift before the birth of the child. 
 Elizabeth faid unto Mary, *' Lo ! as foon as the voice of 
 thy faliitation founded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my 
 womb for joy ;" which could not have been unlefs the mat- 
 ter 
 
( 51 ) 
 Icr of which the babe was formed had been animated by 
 the fpirit of life, therefore the children carried from the 
 womb to the grave are the hapfiicft of all human beings; 
 their eyes bthold no forrow, the found of woe never break- 
 cth upon iheir ears, anxiety didurbcth not their repofe, they 
 feel not the pangs of fear, of doubt, of fufpicion, carccometh 
 not near ihcir bofom, their thoughts are not c-icvatcd by hope, 
 and then in a moment hurled into dcfpair ; but their bodies 
 lay down in the filent grave, there undifturbed it deeps with 
 the alhes of the wife, the witty, the fair and the great, 
 whilrt the iinmortal part chaunts before the throne of its 
 Father the overflowing fong of grateful love. Better indeed 
 had it been for Judas not to have been born, then would he 
 have efcaped all the woes of hutnan life, and the miferies of 
 defpair ; the maddening flings of confcicnce, awakened by 
 ambition, would have been for ever unkown ; ignorant of 
 nought but forrow ; eternity would have been an unclouded 
 day, palTed unceafingly in the prefence of his God. 
 
 The Great Parent of mankind has manifefled his love to 
 human nature, by taking at leaft one third of the infants that 
 are born to himfelf before they are two years old. How 
 amazing is the providence of God, who feeing all the events 
 that fhall happen, in mercy takes away unto himfelf fo large 
 a portion of the human race, whilft they are comparatively 
 innocent, being free from fin, and pain, and forrow, and un- 
 contaminated by thofepervertedpafllonsthat hurry thpgrown- 
 iip man into vice, judgment, and the fecond death. Truly 
 without (training the point, had it not been proverbial, our 
 Lord might have faid, Good had it been for Judas had he 
 never been born. The days will foon arrive when tlie fame 
 divine love will operate in a different way, Chrilt fhall reign 
 upon the earth, and then children and the fruit of the womb' 
 fhall be an heritage from the Lord, for all fhall know Je- 
 hovah, from the leafl unto the greateft. Thrice happy day5, 
 when the fcythe of divine love fliall no longer be lifted up to 
 fweep the children of men from the earth ! 
 
 1 have been compared with Judas by fome who lia\e 
 thought that he was doomed to endlefs mifery, and have been 
 in their efteem found more guilty, and by them doomed to a 
 much fcverer punifhmcnt. Judas, fay they, only betrayed the 
 word incarnate, but you the word revecdcd ; the infirmities 
 of human nature might be urged in liis favour, but having 
 the whole blaze of revealed truth, your pcivcrfion of it ren- 
 ders you far more iiicxcufable than he was, and your place in 
 H 2 heU 
 
( 32 ) 
 
 hell tenfold hotter than that in which he was confined : but 
 let me be condemned by man, I fhall (land cleared of the 
 charge before my God. I therefore rejoice and give thanks 
 to my God that he hath made known his boundlefs love unto 
 me, and continually do 1 blefs his name for having called 
 jne to proclaim it to the children of men : 1 mark the day as 
 the happieft of my life in which 1 firft ftood up in defence of 
 the univerfal and efficacious love of God ; for Jehovah faith, 
 Ifaiah xlv. 22. " Look unto me and be ye faved all the ends 
 of the earth, for I am God and none elfe. I have fvvorn by 
 myfelf, the word is gone out of n:iy mouth in righteoufnefs, 
 and fhall not return, that unto me every knee fhall bow, 
 every tongue fhall fwear. Surely ! each fhall fay. In the 
 Lord have I righteoufnefs and ftrength : to him all fhall come, 
 and "all that are incenfed againil him ihall be afhamed." 
 Since, therefore, Jehovah hath fworn by himfelf, that unto 
 him every knee fhall bow, and every tongue fhall fwear, 
 every creature muft return to his firft eftate of pure, holy, 
 loving obedience, and every creature muft regain his inheri- 
 tance, and do homage for it to him who is the Great Creator 
 and Proprietor of all, even unto Jcfus, by and for whom all 
 things that are were created; and before this can poflibly take 
 place, he will know their fincerity, for he fearcheththe hearts 
 and tryeth the reins, and he will not have a divided heart, 
 but he will have the whole heart, and that perfedl obedience 
 to his will, which can alone fpring from a principle of love. 
 Bowing and fwearing on the part of the criminal, fheweth 
 pardon and protedlion on the part of the Sovereign ; fince 
 then God hath fworn by himfelf, that the time fhall come 
 when every knee fhall bow unto him, and every tongue 
 fwear unto him, he hath by fo doing fworn that there fhall 
 come a time when every creature that hath a knee to bow, 
 or a tongue to fwear witli, fhall find that pardon and protec- 
 tion from him which he only as a fovercign Lord of all the 
 earth can beftow. He fays, " the word is gone out of my 
 mouth in righteoufnefs, and fhall not return." Was I there- 
 fore to affert that by far the greateft part of mankind fliould 
 be damned for ever, fome few bigots I might pleafc, but I 
 ihould contradi61: the word of divine truth ; I fhould give 
 God the lie, and challenge the faithlulnefs of his promife ; 
 therefore I dare not do it, for he hath fworn by himfelf, and 
 the oath fhall be accomplifhed ; every knee in heaven, in 
 earth, and in hell ftiall bow unto hiiri, and by his name, and 
 in obedience to his will every tongue ihall fwear. Self 
 
 aba fed 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 abafed with the confcioufnefs of their dependance upon their 
 God, they (hall contels their guilt and depravity, and own 
 that in Jehovah alone is all their righteourncfsjand from him 
 is their itrength. To him alone (hall they come with holy- 
 reverential joy ; yea, even all thui were incenfed againft him 
 for his providential condiid, or the purity of his truth fhall 
 beafliamed and confounded at their pad folly, although they 
 rejoice that God is pacified towards them, whilrt in Jehovah 
 the feed of Abraham by faith (hall be juitified, and fhall glory 
 in his name. 
 
 Unlefs the ApoRle Paul can be faid to ufe vain, empty, 
 liigh founding words, he gives in the ift chapter of the Colof- 
 fians, the (trongefl proof of the univerfal reftoration, for he 
 fays of our blelild Lord, that he " is the image of the invi- 
 fible God, the firft born of every creature ; for by him were 
 all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, 
 vifible and invilible, whether thrones or dominions, or prin- 
 cipalities or powers : all things were created by him, and for 
 him, and he is before all things, and by him all things con- 
 fi(l,and he is the head of the body, the church, who is the be- 
 ginning, the firlt-born from the dead, that in all things he 
 might have the pre-eminence : for it plcafed the Father that 
 in himdiould ail fulnefs dwell ; and having made peace by the 
 blood of his crofs. by him to reconcile all fLings imto himfelf ; 
 by hiwy whether they he things in earth or things in heaven." 
 Hercthen the Apoltle confines the reconciliation of Chrift to 
 the all things that he created in heaven or inearth; lor it is not 
 likelythat he would havechangedthc extent of themeaningof 
 the words all things, w ithout having given us notice ; his not 
 having given us fuch notice, I cannot but conclude, that if the 
 finner or evil fpirit can be produced who was not created by 
 him, then inflanCk-s are to be produced who Rial I not be re- 
 conciled by him, for the Apoitic draws a parallel between 
 the creation of all by and for Chrilt, and the reconciliation of 
 all by the blood ot the crofs, that he might have the willing 
 homage of all that were created by and for him. I cannot 
 therefore but conclude, that the argument of the Apolile 
 proves that the Redoration of all, is as general and univerfal, 
 wherever Reconciliation was wanted, as creation itfclf was. 
 
 1 dare not to depreciate the reconciliation by Chrid Jcfns, 
 though by not doing it I diouid lofe every friend I have in 
 the world, I mud hold it in all the extent which the ffrip- 
 tures declare, and that not becaufe others do, but becaufe 
 my God hath Shewed me that it is my duty to do fo ; for I 
 
 have 
 
( 5-> ) 
 have not received the do6\rine of the reconciliation of all 
 from men, but from the fcriptures of divine truth, and I fee 
 the beauty of the dodlrine, and my foul feels its agreement 
 with experimental religion, having felt its pov/er and experi- 
 enced the peace of mind, the joy and righteoufnefs that it 
 brings, I charge all you who believe in the do£lrine topub- 
 lilh the glad tidings of reconciliation unto all mankind, 
 fpread wide abroad the joyful news that God by Chrift is re- 
 conciling the world unto himfclf, not imputing unto his crea- 
 tures their trefpaiTes and fins, and that finally all fhall be fub- 
 dued to bow down to the fceptre of divine love, and own 
 Jefus the Mediator to be Lord of all to the glory of God the 
 Father. By thus fpreading aroimd you the glorious news of 
 univerfal reconciliation with me, you ihall foon behold that 
 it is a doclrine whofe fruits are bcnevoknce, purity, and 
 a£live obedience to all the commands of Chrift ; and divine 
 wifdom has now in mercy to the children of men called forth 
 various arguments in favour of this dodlrine that have been 
 for ages part hidden from man, on purpofe that the know- 
 ledge ot it may harmonize the fcriptures, be in agreement 
 with reafon, and every attribute of the Deity and ihewantsof 
 his creatures, and by fo doing deftroy infidelity from the 
 earth. 
 
 There is no poflibillty of difputing fo as to gainfay parti- 
 cular truths. It is a truth that God hath commanded us in 
 his word to lift up holy hands for «// without wrath or doubt- 
 ing; now, can any rnan pray for all without doubting if he 
 does not believe that God will hearken to his prayer ? If the 
 heart is filled with the love of God and man, he may wifh it, 
 but he cannot pray without doubting, if he does not believe 
 thai \\\s prayer will be anfwered. 
 
 When you firft received the pardoning lo^-u^ of Chrifl in all 
 its frcenefs upon your heart, did you not at that time perceive 
 '.here was a fufficiency in him to fave, not only you, but all 
 {he world; nay, ten thoufand worlds had fo many needed it? 
 and did not your whole foul long and pant that the whole of 
 the human rac(=- might become partakers of it ; yea, even 
 your enemies ? Would you have left one of the human race 
 \!nrc:florcd had your power been equal to your good will } 
 Is there one of any nation, tribe or family that you would 
 fiot have wifhed that the blood of Chrift might not blot out 
 his fins ? On the contrary, had you had it in your power, 
 wouhl you not gladly have parted with ail fo that you might 
 favc all ' Had you thought yotir prayers would have been 
 
 anfwered. 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 anfwered, would you not have afked for the falvatlon of all? 
 and had you poirdred power, would you not have brought all 
 to the knowledge of and obedience to the truth ? To thefc 
 qucftionsevery Chriflian will anfwcrin the affirmative. Froni 
 whence did they obtain this difpofuion, from nature or from 
 nature's God ? The univerfality of the experience points to 
 the fource from whence it flows — it was from God the Crea- 
 tor of all, tiiat the univcrfal love to all, and the ardent dcfire 
 to do good to all firfl arofe. If then this beneficent temper 
 came from him, how much more does it dwell in him if the 
 fmall drop that you, O believer! pofTefs, makes you feel fo 
 cxquifitely for the happinefs of others ? how unfathom.ably 
 deep muft the ocean of love be which is in him ? Yours is 
 indeed but a drop from the ocean, or a fpark from the irrf- 
 mortal fire, cannot he then accompli(h the purpofes of his 
 love? You may defire to do the good which you are unable, 
 your fpirit may be willing whilft your flefh is weak, but that 
 which God determines he can perform ; he has the means in 
 his power, and knows well how to guide them, and therefore 
 he has determined to reflore all, and bring them to the know- 
 ledge of the truth : he wiU do it ; altho' it may take ages to 
 accomplifh it. This to us makes it appear long, for he afls 
 not rafhly like weak man, but confidently and efTcdlually; 
 he will therefore fo a6l upon his fallen creatures, as to reftorc 
 them confidently with their knov.ledge and the freedom of 
 their will, but at lait " all things Ihall be fubdued into 
 Chrifl, then fliall the Son himfelf be fubjeci unto him that 
 put all things under him, tl^at God may be all in nil.'* 
 
 SERMON 
 
SERMON V. 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 ELHANAN IVINCHESTER. 
 
 [never before published.] 
 
 JOHN XIV. 1—3. 
 
 Let not your hearts he troubled y ye helieve In God, he- 
 Jieve alfo in me. In my Father s houfe are many 
 manjions ; if it was not Jo, I ivould have toJdyou ; 
 / go to prepare a place for you. And if I go 
 and prepare a place for you, I will come again and 
 receive you unto inyfelf, that where I am, there ye 
 may he alfo. 
 
 NONE of you can poflibly be ignorant that man is born 
 to trouble ; pain of body, anxiety of mind, frequent 
 difappointments, with various direful effe&s arifing from 
 error, prejudice, and ignorance, are as certain fruits of our 
 prefent fallen eftate, as an efFe6l can follow a caufe. By all 
 the experience of all mankind, and by all our own paft ex- 
 perience, it is not in the power of any, or indeed every earthly 
 poneflion, to keep us from anxiety and trouble; cares will 
 frequently cloud the mind, and without fomething more folid 
 than earthly good, for the foul to rell upon, the mind of man 
 will always find an empty void that wanteth to be filled up ; 
 a reftlefs craving of fpirit, that panteth for an unknown 
 fomething to gratify it ; a peace, that human wifdom, the 
 moff endearing frieiuUhip, though attended with wealth, and 
 pomp, and glory, can never give. Behold Solomon, the 
 wife, the rich, the powerful, the glorious \ the fons of God 
 liftened with attention to the wifdom that dropped from his 
 lips \ riches were to him as the fund upon the ihores of the 
 
 mighty 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 mighty deep ; nations feared, honoured, and obeyed hlin ; 
 diftant realms heard ot his fame, and came from the utmoft 
 bounds of the earth to behold his glory. If tiiefc things 
 could give happincls, who amongrt the Tons of men would 
 have had fo large a portion of it ? Yet hear him in the fuU 
 ncfs of poirellion pronounce their jud culogium, — " v'lnity 
 of vanities, all is vanity," empty of folid good, light as the 
 palling ihadow ; they fill not up the immortal mind — wiih 
 ought — but vexation of fpirit. For us, it is an animating 
 thought, that infinite goodncfs has propofcd a remedy for all 
 thefe difquietudes that trouble and perplex the mind in this 
 tranfuory Hate. Pa'lling, therefore, from the confideration 
 of what will not fatisty the cxpanfive foul of man, I ihall 
 proceed to fpeak of thefe things that will render our happi- 
 nefs permanent. 
 
 " Let not your hearts be troubled; ye believe in God!" 
 What is God ? Where is the defcendant of Adam who cant 
 explain his nature ? Say ye philofoplicrs, whillt tracing ef- 
 feds to caufes, have ye been ever able to trace out the Great 
 Firft Caufe ? Can you tell his form, or point out the mode 
 of his exigence ? Where is the throne on w hich he fits, or 
 the etherial palace that contains him ? All, and every quef- 
 tion concerning him, is as far beyond your anfwering, as 
 the revolutions of the heavenly bodies ar(: beyond the invefli- 
 gation of the meanefl reptile that crawls on the earth. 
 
 What is God ? Who can tell ? Who think upon fucli 
 an elevated fubjedl without being overwhelmed with its 
 magnitude! Of neceflity he mult be eternal; but. alas! 
 what is eternity r He mud: be infinite ; but who can com- 
 prehend infinity? So poor is human language found to be, 
 when it would attempt to pafs the narrow confines of finite 
 intelligence. Incomprehenfible in his nature, yet he cer- 
 tainly exifts, or we could never have been. Infinite, un- 
 bounded in intelligence, muft the Great Creator be, or, he 
 never could have communicated undcrftanding to fuch an in- 
 numerable number of beings. Wife is he beyond human 
 comprehenfion, or he could never have foretold the various 
 occurrences that Ihould take place, ages before the agents 
 in thofe tranfa6lions had an exigence. Yes, the Creator 
 of all is, indeed, in power unbounded, and in wifdom infi- 
 nite, and far beyond being fearchcd out by the circuhiicrib- 
 ed underifandiiig of his creature, Man. 
 
 The fame argument that teaches us that there is a God, 
 
 makes known to us that he is love, it is bv inference alono . 
 
 1 ' tl)at 
 
( 58 ) • 
 
 fliat we know he exifts. The heavens, the earth, animated 
 and vegetable nature, all cry aloud that there is a God. 
 Their order, their proportions, their wonderful economy, in 
 every minute particular, as well as the aRonifhing regularity 
 in the combined arrangement of the whole mafs, unerringly 
 demonftrate the whole to be the workmanfhip of one all-wife 
 and almighty Intelligence; and the fame mode of reafoning 
 by inference muft prove that he is love. He could not have 
 any defign in the formation of any creatures, but to commu- 
 nicate a degree of happinefs adapted to the capacity he had 
 given it for enjoyment. A being entirely and completely 
 happy, could not have a wifh br.t to make others happy alfo. 
 Undoubtedly he muft have as benign intentions as the crea- 
 tures he hath made. Whence was the beneficence of human 
 nature derived ? — Ts it acquired by man, or is it an emana- 
 tion from divine love ? Of what ufe is the mifery of his 
 creatures to God; doth their wretchednefs give him glory? — 
 if not, the Mod High could not have created any being to 
 be finally miferable. 
 
 As the works of creation declare the exiftence of God, and 
 the exigence of creation manifefts that he is Love; in like 
 manner the whole of his providence manifefts his goodnefs : 
 all that lives, and breathes, and moves, has its exiftence 
 from him ; it is he who fupplicth all their wants ; it is he 
 that opened wide his liberal hand, and all things are filled 
 with good ; that tender mercy, that is over all his creatures, 
 is made manifeft by the whole government of his providence. 
 The Creator of all nature becomes the fteward of his own 
 vvorkmanftiip, and condefocnds to fpread the tables of thofc 
 creatures his hands have formed ; it is he that waits upon 
 them, he watchelh all their motions, and ftands ready to fup- 
 ply the defires of every heart. 
 
 The book of nature goes thus far, but the book of revela- 
 tion goes ftill further; it lays open to the underftanding 
 of man tlie fecret fprings that regulate the providential con- 
 du6l of duty: there we behold not only wifdom, love, 
 power, and goodnefs, but heights and depths of them, far be- 
 yond what the loftieft imagination of the wifeft of men could 
 dare to have thought of. Had it not been for revelation, 
 where could we have beheld the love of the J^eity going forth 
 in a£ls of mercy and benignity to his rebellious creatures. 
 'How could the finner, man, have known that his Sovereign 
 would have looked upon him with a propitious eye, and par- 
 doned his rebellion ? Coufcious guilt, and the awful cx- 
 
 pcdation 
 
( 3P ) 
 
 pc6tation of" defervcd punidimcnt would have fliook h]z 
 foul with aiiguifh and dcTpair; but the book of revelation 
 holds forth to man, a God whofc hands are loaded wi'.l 
 mercies for his creatures in diftrefs ; a God not only capab' , 
 but willing, to recover them from their prefent fallen ftate. 
 A God, whofe charader is, that he is infinite in goodnels, 
 pardoning iniquity, tranfgreliion, and fin. The heathen 
 world, with the book of nauire laying open before them, and 
 aided by tradition to read its facrcd pages; yet doubted this 
 fublime truth: hence they thought their gods had their bo- 
 foms ihaken by the fame abominable palhons that agitated 
 their own troubled breads ; revenge and malice, hatred and 
 cruelty, fwayed their fceptres over unhappy fiibjeds ; but 
 with our " Jehovah there is mercy, and with him plenteous 
 redemption," Pfal. cxxx. 7. therefore, Ifaiah Iv. 7. " Let 
 the wicked forfakc his way, and the unrighteous man his 
 thoughts; and let him turn unto the Lord, for he will have 
 mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly 
 pardon." For, Job xxx. 27 and 28, " he looketh upon 
 men, and if any fay, I have finned, and perverted that which 
 was right, and it profited me not ; he will deliver his foul 
 from going into the pit, and his life fhall fee the light." 
 
 The belief of the exifience of a God is well calculated to 
 give cafe under the '.roubles of life. We are weak and helplefs, 
 incapable of forefeeing danger, and equally incapable ot 
 averting it when feen. The confcioufnefsot an onmiprefent 
 Being, who not only loves us, but who is continually upon 
 the watch to do us good, and who always orders all the con- 
 cerns of this our mortal exifience in fuch a manner, as is 
 mod conducive for our prefent peace and future glory; is in- 
 deed a iliought, that mult tend to brighten up the dark (hades 
 that will continually becloud our temporal journey. It is a 
 belief that will give us joy under the darkeli difpenfations of 
 Providence, it will ca'ufc a ray of divine light to pierce 
 through the gloomy cloud ; it wiU'indeed give confidence to 
 our ileps, arid chear our hearts with the animating hopes ot 
 future glory. 
 
 In the awful hour of death what comfort doth the belief o-. 
 the exiftence of God afford to the departing fpirit of the dy- 
 ing faint. And to ynu, O ye fons of men, what lupport 
 would fuch a belief yield in that trying hour. — For ycu 
 foon mult die, — in a few fleeting years ar moft, — and per- 
 haps days, — hours, — or even moments, and your mortal ex- 
 igence is over. If you have this btlkf happy are you ; if 
 I 2 y^'ic 
 
( 60 ) 
 
 your foul is fixed upon the rock of ages, from a firm pcrfua- 
 lion that " Jehovah liveth for ever," and, that after death, 
 yon {hall leave this earth and earthiy things, und feek that 
 bright abode, where liveth, in light inaccellible, the immor- 
 tal God ; — how calmly refigned will you meet the awful 
 Itroke. — De';th, diverted of all his terrors, may Hand before 
 you, whilft the jaws of the gloomy grave ihall feem deco- 
 rated with the delights of paradife, to welcome you into thofe 
 manfions of reft, and peace, and joy. 
 
 . The belief of a God, rightly applied, is, therefore, an ani- 
 mating thought to the believer, in all the various occurrences 
 of life, whether profperous or adverfe, whether painful or 
 joyful ; whatfoever may be the fccnes in which he is en- 
 gaged, in them all he beholdeth the otherwife invifible hand 
 that guides every fpring for the good of thofe that love him : 
 he fees that all are but means in the hands of Infinite 
 Wifdom to occafion greater holinefs here, that he may give 
 jncreafing glory in the age to come. 
 
 " Ye believe in God, believe alfo in me ;" and a joyful 
 thing it is that we have a Chriil to believe in. What a com- 
 fort it is to man, that the Son of God took our nature upon 
 him, and became in all things like unto us, fin only except- 
 ed. Under every temptation, what a heart-cheering circum- 
 flance it is for us to know, thus was my Lord tempted, and 
 he endured the temptalion, he became a conqueror over it, 
 that he might be able to comfort and fuccour us under all 
 our temptations. It is he that appoints our trials, and he 
 well knows our flrength ; and if for the advancement of our 
 future glory, he permits us to be tried to the uttermod, he 
 will never permit any temptalion to go beyond our ftrength; 
 but will make a way of efcape, that we m.ay behold his good- 
 nefs, rely upon liis care, and evermore confide in his pro- 
 ted'lion and ailillancc. 
 
 When the Son of the riigheil: took human nature upon 
 him, he took not the regal, or the princely dignity, he had 
 not his name enrolled amongft the mighty or the wealthy; no 
 independence of fociety inarkcd tlic fituation t!iat lie choll', but 
 he took upon him the form of a fervant ; hence all tiie higher 
 ranks may learn to truft him, for he was higher than the 
 higheft of them all; he ruled not like them, a few of the 
 fons of men ; but was the chief prince, the king of king?, 
 the governor of the whole earth ; therefore the highcfl: ranks 
 of mankind may indeed fly to him for flieUer, and c;ii\ their 
 
 evcrv 
 
( 61 ) 
 
 every care upon him. But ye lower ranks of fociety, ye poor 
 dependent fons of men, how has he graced your fituation. — 
 Are ye poor? — he was dependent upon the bounty of women. 
 — Does your cottage fcarce (helter you from the fcorching 
 fun, or midnight blaft r — he had not a place where to lay his 
 liead. The Creator of heaven and earth, the king of kings, 
 in his own dominions, wanted that Ihelter himfelf had 
 provided for fparrows and foxes. Are ye defpifed ? — be- 
 hold him ridiculed, laughed at, crowned with thorns, mock- 
 ed, bufTcted, fpit upon. Is your good evil fpoken of r — be- 
 hold his life, a life fpcnt in the exercife of every adt of bene- 
 jficence, and yet the fcorn he was of thofe for whom he was 
 fpending his llrength. Do your friends forfake you in ad- 
 verfity r In the hour of danger one of his friends betrayed 
 him, and the refl: forfook him and fled. Are you ill-treated 
 and falfeiy accufed? — he was marked as a drunkard, a he- 
 retic, a friend of Satan, his chara6ler blaftcd, and to com- 
 plete their villainly, under the folemn mockery of law, un- 
 ■juftly put to a cruel death. He has therefore given us 
 ftrcngth to endure temptation and comfort under all our af- 
 flictions in every various fituation of life ; for he was in all 
 tempted, even as wc are ; but in all was without fin for he 
 never yielded to temptatation; yet the face of his Father was 
 hidden froin him, when under dreadful agony he cried ' My 
 God! My God ! Why hall thou forfiiken me r" With what 
 confidence, with what full afllirance may we truft him in all 
 the various fcenes of life ! Jefus, our friend, our brother, 
 our Saviour, he beholds us, he fees our diftrefs, he pities 
 our weaknefs, he fympathizes with us, he feels for all 
 our pains, he l^ftens to every groan, he will counfel, aflifl:, 
 and fiipport us under every affliclion. 
 
 The fame Jcfiis is now highly exalted, and fits at the 
 right hand of the Father. He hath taken human nature with 
 him to the throne, and by it he has raifed the fons of Adam 
 higher in the fcale of beings, higher than the Angelic Hod, 
 thofe pure and Holy Beings who have never fallen from their 
 allegiance. He that was defpifed and rejc.^ed of mankind 
 is now highly exalted, and has a name given that is above 
 every name that can be named in Heaven and on earth ; wc 
 therefore uho believe on him ought to rejoice in tribula- 
 tion, knowing that he is both able and willing to deliver us 
 from all our troubles. 
 
 Men of the world laugh at Religion, and make a mock at 
 'he comforts of it j but Religion, a belief in God, a behold- 
 ing 
 
( 02 ) 
 
 ing him in the face of Chrifl Jcfus, as reconciling the world 
 unto himfelf, is neceffary to deliver a man from the pain that 
 the troubles of life would otherwifc occafion ; this Religion 
 alone can give peace in all the fcenes of life, elevating the 
 foul above the anxieties of hum.an nature — and this religion 
 is a fruitful tree ; fome of its fruits are, 
 
 1. Refignation to the will of God This fweetens the 
 
 otherwife unpalatable cup of pain and difappointment, it 
 takes off the keen edge from afflidion, a certainty of the Di- 
 vine Government, and the end of it, through refignation, 
 brings forth patience imder affiiclion; end by the experience 
 of Divine goodnefs, fills the foul with immortal hope. Thofe 
 who know the chadening hand of an Almighty Father, or 
 who behold the Captain of their Salvation placing tliein at 
 a poft of honour, that, like foldiers, they may manfully en- 
 dure the fight of faith : — thefe know the fweets of that refig- 
 nation which arifeth from a knowledge of the Divine Go- 
 vernmen ; thefe can teftify the holy calmncfs of mind that 
 it produces; how it levels the inquietude of the foul, and fills 
 the mind; though enclofed in a tortured body or dafalfrous 
 fituation; — with peace, — with joy,— with gratiiude, — with 
 Heaven. 
 
 2. Faith in God, and our Lord and Saviour Jefus 
 Chrift ; produces love to God, becaufe he firft loved us ; 
 and according to the ftrength of our faith is the greatnefs of 
 our love. The more we have of this love to the Father and 
 the Son, the more perfedl will be our obedience to their 
 commands, the more energy will it give us in the perform- 
 ance of every duty. This Divine love is calculated to difrufe 
 joy and gladnefs through every lituation of life we may be 
 placed in : is it amongif the wealthy and honourable, it gives 
 us an opportunity of rnanifefling our gratitude to the Author 
 of all good, and of imitating his condud who opens his 
 hand and difFufes blefTings on his dependent creatures. Js 
 poverty our lot ? — Our Father appointed it ; our elder bro- 
 ther and Sovereign Lord hath borne it ; our heavenly Father 
 will fupport us under it : he is good, and we are unworthy 
 cf his tender iriercies ; let our love be manifalled by our 
 grateful dependancc upon his paternal care. 
 
 3. This Ffoly Faith produces !infeigned humility ; with- 
 out it ther^ is no genuine Chrifiianity : the cjofs of Chrift 
 humbles the afpiring independence of man ; it lays before 
 us our depravity, our weaknefs, our helplefs eifate, how ut- 
 terly incapable we arc of ourfelves to recover the ima^e of 
 
 God 
 
( 63 ) 
 God which we have loft by tranlgreflion. Sweet indeed are 
 the fruits of humilty, it levels all the tormenting paflions of 
 the foul, and enables the believer to pafs through the ftormy 
 fea of this life without murnuir or complaint. With holy 
 Job, in the midli: ofatfli6lion, we fhall cry out, "Naked 
 came I from my mother's womb." The confcious fcnfe of 
 our own unworthinefs will prevent our feeling trouble 
 with intenfenefs, it will blunt the edge of anxiety, and 
 entirely prevent rage, anguifh, and defpair ; and in the 
 fiery trials that attend our journey through life, we fhall 
 liave this confoling refledlion, that if we obtain the fa- 
 vour of God all the troubles that can befall us are not worthy 
 of a murmur, and even they fhall pafs away like the fummer 
 tempeft, giving fuperior luftre by the palfed ftorm. It is 
 thus that the belief in one Supreme and Almighty God, 
 and Jcfus of Nazareth, the Son of his love, is calculated to 
 produce fi^ch difpoHtions of mind and Aich confoling hopes 
 as are fully capable of making the fleeting moments of time 
 not only calm, but joyful, through the glorious confequenccs- 
 that keep continually arifmgto view; like the afcending hills, 
 one abo'. another, till the fpiritual eye, though aided by all 
 the powers of imagination, is loft in the diftant profpedl. 
 
 The goodnefs of our God has not left us to the powers of 
 fancy to animate our faith, but on the contrary, paints the 
 glowing fcenc before us with all the brilliancy of imagina- 
 tion, whilft Truth, immortal Truth, guides the pencil with 
 unerring precifion, and then commands us by faith to make 
 it our own : it bids us take a furvey of the promifed glories, 
 to realize them, that we may be fupportcd by them under all 
 the troubles of life, and on wings of faith foar high above all 
 the aftiidions to which human nature is fubjeft. *♦ in my 
 Father's houfe," faith our Lord, " there are many manfions, 
 if it were not fo 1 would have told you." 
 
 The Redeemer of men did not come to earth on an er- 
 rand of deception, he had dwelt in the bofom of the Father 
 and was well acquainted with the manfions of glory ; he has 
 promifed to come again and take us to this glory; yet, left 
 we fhould not be fully faiisfted with that promife, but faint 
 through uncertainty as we paO'ed onward upon our journey, , 
 he has in the facred writings caufcd many of thofe glories 
 to be particularly marked out; with this hope beyond them, 
 that the eye hath not fcen nor car heard, nor hath it entered 
 into the heart of man to concoivc the gloiic; that fhall be re- 
 vealed. Here 
 
( 64 ) 
 Here below, riches, honours, and plcafures are either (ha- 
 
 dows, or, like the fummer brier, beautiful flowers furrounded 
 by thorns which lacerate the hand that dares to gather then\ ; 
 not (o the enduring riches, honours, and pleafures which God 
 hath prepared for them that love him, and hath revealed them 
 unto us by his Spirit ; thefe fhail not pafs away, they are not 
 liable to the fluduating viciffitudes of human exiftence, but 
 are built on the promife of Jehovah, and have his unchange- 
 able throne for their foundation. 
 
 . In this life, a man to be reputed rich mufl have an houfe, 
 yet this habitation is but tranfient ; if the winds fhake it not, 
 if the earthquake does not overturn it, yet time fhall under- 
 mine its foundations, the lofty roofs, the folid walls, and ail 
 its pompous decorations fhall foon pafs away ; if hiftory re- 
 cords its name, the fearching eye of the antiquarian fhall 
 fearch for it in vain, its place fhall not be found, oblivion, 
 with all its gloomy horrors, fhall cover the once frequented 
 fpot, whilft Nature reaffumes the domain that art had taken 
 from her i not Co the habitation we are promifed by Chrift, 
 when our earthly houfe of this tabernacle is dilTolved ; for 
 then we fhall have a building of God, an houfe not made 
 with hands, eternal in the heavens, like the workmanlhip of 
 Jehovah, in the fun, moon, and ftars, it is ftrong, enduring ; 
 not like the fhallow art of man, which builds a palace for a 
 few years : the ravages of time cannot Ihake its fabric, nor 
 ftll its viciffitudes moulder away its immortal foundations. 
 
 But what is a houfe here below without pofTeffions ? With, 
 all the luxurioufnefs of art bellowed upon it, without a gar- 
 den or lands, it would be but an ornamented prifon. Man 
 was not made for the folitary confines of ftone walls, the 
 world was made for him, earth is his habitation, and the 
 lord of the univerfe cannot be fatisfied without beholding 
 his demefncs : — but alas ! thefe demefnes mufl perifh — his 
 inheritance ftoops beneath the inclement fky — the howling 
 tempefl overturns his labours and roots up his folid oaks — 
 the lightning, thunder and rain, pr the want of them, blaft 
 his nobleft expedations, and overwhelm his inheritance ia 
 ruins ; not fo the inheritance that his Maker hath promifed, 
 that is incorruptible, undefiled, and fadcth not away ; the , 
 earthquake or tempefl connot injure it, the blight polluteth 
 it not, ages deflroy not its beauty, for God, the great giver 
 of it is its preferver, and time, which now mars inheri- 
 tances, fhall add, with every revolving 9ge, frcfti luftre to 
 the incorruptible pofTeffion, 
 
(65 ) 
 
 To be eftecmed a great man now, it is thought neceffary 
 to have a town refidence in that city which contains the 
 palace of the king : — but oh, liow poor, how mean is the 
 habitation ! it appears grand only by comparifon with the 
 contemptible dwellings with whicli it is furrounded, or from 
 the wcakncfs of the being who ercded it. How different from 
 this is that city which is the peculiar rcfidcncc of the Saints, 
 that glorious city whofe builder and maker is God, the walls 
 thereof arc like jafpcr, and the materials of which the habi- 
 tations are eredlcd, bright, tranfparent, and dazzling, like 
 the purcft burnilhed gold : comparifon here doth not create 
 imaginary beauty, but every houfe refledls glory upon all, 
 and the whole bcfpeaks the praife of the Divine Architedt 
 who planned, and the Almighty hand that finiflicd it. 
 
 This earth is liable to various changes, indeed Co much 
 fo, that the viciOitudes of life, are bccoint proverbial amongft 
 jnen. But we look for an higher itate ; a ftate that cannot 
 change, or if it doth, it ihall be from glory to glory, rifing 
 nearer and nearer continually to the perfc^lion of Deity. 
 The kingdom of God is a glorious and happy kingdom, 
 where forrow and pain are not known, the cares of this 
 mortal life are there forgotten, the laws are righteous and all 
 the fubjeds happy. It is a kingdom firmly cflabliflted, no 
 enemy can (hake its throne or overturn its conflitution. It 
 is firmly fixed on the bafis of eternal love, and cannot bo 
 moved. Let us then, who arc candidates for this kingdom, 
 make our calling and ele6lion to it furc, by loving and obey- 
 ing Jehovah the Sovereign thereof, and placing the mod un- 
 limited confidence in his wifdom, and goodnefs, and power. 
 
 Behold, ye fons of men, fome few of the blellings that at- 
 tend the Chriftian. Honour is defirable among men ; they 
 fearch after it as a jewel of ineftimable value. But of hov/ 
 little value is all the earthly honour that can be heaped upon 
 man compared witli the honour that comes from God! Here 
 a tew mortal attendants may wait upon us, and perhaps 
 defpife the obje£l they attend, obey us from fear or interefl, 
 and behind our backs hold up our follies and infirmities to 
 ridicule: but at the hour of death behold the Chriftian's aw- 
 ful pomp ! an heavenly convoy awaits him to carry him to 
 the Kingdom of Glory. — Behold ye fons of pride, behold the 
 poor defpifed beggar, Lazarus ! — See him upborne on the 
 wings of angels to the bofom of Abraham in the Paradifc 
 of God— what an honour is this! all the folcmn pageantry 
 cf flate tliai waits upon the carcafe of a Dives, com- 
 K. pared 
 
(66 ) 
 
 pared vviih this, is lefs worthy of notice than the yellcv'- 
 varnifh when contrafted with burnilhed gold ; how it exalts 
 the charader of a Chriftian ! the pure nndefikd fons of the 
 morning take pleafure in waiting upon the heirs of falvation. 
 
 On earth, that man is honoured who is adtnittcd into the 
 royal prefence, and permitted to pay pcrfonal homage to 
 mortal majefcy : but the Chridian foars above eartitly courts 
 and d) ing kings— Heaven's awful Majeily he pants to view, 
 and longs to prollrate before the King of kings ; with David 
 he crieth out, " When Ihall I be admitted into the courts of 
 the palace of my God." 
 
 The Chriftian has felt the infirmities of human nature, ' 
 and knows his liability to fink beneath temptation ; he there- 
 fore looketh forward with holy expedlaiion to that period 
 when temptation fhall be no more ; but he fhall be in the 
 hands of his heavenly Father, kept in unfullied purity till he 
 fhall again appear on earth to reign with his Lord. 
 
 The love of praife is in the bofom of every man, and in 
 men of enlarged minds, perhaps, has always been the greatefv 
 ilimulus to a6fion: with what fortitude have they endured 
 hardlhips, with what patience have they borne adverfity, 
 with what zeal have they purfued their obje6l— to obtain 
 the praife of m.en, the praife of a comparatively fmall num- 
 ber of mankind, and that praife intermingled with ignorance, 
 envy, jealoufy, hatred, and all the perverted pallions of the 
 human breaft. But the Chriftian has before him the appro- 
 bation of his Creator, the high plaudit of the fearcher of 
 hearts, who fhall before men and angels approve of his con- 
 du6f with a " well done, good and faithful fervant, enter into 
 the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the 
 world. '<- No envy will attend this approbation ; a confciouf- 
 nefs of the truth of it will raifo effecm in the breaRs of the 
 angelic hofts, whilfl: the King of kings welcomes them with 
 ** Come ye blelTed of my Father." Happy indeed the fervant 
 of God who has this approbation ; a liilening world fliall be- 
 hold him with reverence, whilif the firlf-born fons of God 
 hail him, welcotne to the manfions of glory. 
 
 Higher glories dill await them when their crucified Lord 
 fliall appear in all the glory of his Father to reign as fove- 
 reign of the earth ; for they having died in Chriit (hall rife 
 •with him, fee him as he is, and appear with him in all the 
 radiant fplendor of thofe morning ft ars, the firft-born fons of 
 God, Then (hall they be the pricfts of the Moft High, and 
 their lips fhall teach rightcoufnefs to the fons of men. Ther^ 
 
 (hall 
 
f 07 ) 
 fhall they fit, like Solomon, on glorious thrones, wliiKt the 
 nations Hock to their tootltools to catch the wifdom that 
 fiovveth from their lips. They fhall rule the kingdoms in 
 rit^hteoufnclV and creaie peace amonglt the nations ui the 
 earth. Then, throuqh their mitiidration, fliall univcrfal 
 joy ncrvadc all perplcs, and Gr,d, the inmnrtal parent, fliall 
 caule the carlli to bring forth iis incrcafc, he lliall pour 
 down his blcdings upon mankind, and all the ciuis ot the 
 earth fliall praife hinj. 
 
 Crowns arc here too often obtained by treaclicry, and 
 ^ power unjultly got is too apt to be preferved by ads of op- 
 * prcflion. The fituation of a man implicth not his htnefs 
 for it : not fo in that kingdom which we look to obtain, 
 for, Jefus", the great fovcreign thereof, knoweth the capa- 
 city of each, and it is he that will give a crown of righte- 
 oufnefs, that fadeth not away, to all that love his appearing; 
 then will their power be fully eltablifhed in ri<^hteoufnefs, 
 not liable to arts of defigning traitors, nor fubjcft to the 
 mifconccptions of mankind — tlicir tiuoncs fhall not be over- 
 turned, but fliall overturn all their oppofers till the end is 
 anfwercd for which they were eftabliOied, by the full fubjec- 
 tion of the whole creation to the will of God. 
 
 But higher Itill fhall their glory arife, even far beyond the 
 imagination of man to conceive, unaided by revelation. 
 For thus faith the Lord, '* To him that overcometh will I 
 grant to fit with me on my throne, even as I alfo overcame 
 and am fet down with my father on his throne." Aflonifhing 
 thought ! how high doth the ambition of a Chriftian afpire ! 
 unbounded by temporal thrones and the government ot na- 
 tions, it pants after the throne of God, and longeth to fit 
 •with his Sovereign on the f^at of dominion, a dignity as far 
 beyond that of the monan-hs of the Eafl, as the glory of the 
 lunar orb is exceeded by the fplendor of meridian day. 
 
 Surely the confidcration of thefe honours that awnit the 
 Chriftian Believer is fufHcient to fupport him imder the little 
 troubles of affliding life — a life in which, notwithftanding 
 there is much evil, Itill there is alfo much good, yera^ a pre- 
 ponderating good, good that fhould call forth contioiial gra- 
 titude. Let the men of the world be difcontentcd and re- 
 pine under the boimties of Providence ; let not your licarts 
 be troubled though a cloud fhould be before you and ynnr 
 paths fliould be darkened. You believe in Chrift ; he has 
 fealed his promifes with his blood, that we may have a Aire 
 ground for our hopes, a folid foundation on which our ex- 
 K 2 pedtations 
 
( 08 ) 
 
 pe£lations may reft, when we look forward for unceafing 
 pleafures and continual joy. Independant of the glorious pro- 
 mifes of which we have been fpeaking, there are lefs de- 
 lights held forth in the word of Divine truth, that thera 
 may be a fuitable hope adapted to every difpofition and fitua- 
 tion of man. 
 
 Are you in pain of body or diftrefs of mind? You ftiail be, 
 delivered from pain, from forrow, from ficknefs, frotn dif- 
 appointment, from evil tempers and from death ; all inquie- 
 tude fhall be for ever gone ; the racked mind and tortured 
 body (hall be no more; all fhall be peace, calm ferenity, 
 meeknefs, gentlenefs and love ; joy (hall arife within,whilll 
 the fmiles of peace fhall grace the form divine. 
 
 Do you love to fee fplendor, dignity, and glory ? You 
 Ihall fee the King in his beauty, Jefus, attended by twenty 
 thoufand thoufand of the angelic hoft, in all the glory of 
 his Father — you fhall join his train — you fhall behold his 
 glory, and be like unto him. 
 
 Do you love the fweetnefs of friendfhip, and pant for the 
 fight of them whom your foul loveth ? — Jefus is your friend 
 and brother, your abfent friend ; how often have you longed 
 to behold him ! How often have you anticipated the joyful 
 meeting ! How little and low are the rncetings of earthly 
 friends compared to the pleafures of meeting with Jefus ! 
 Love and gratitude fhall then call forth every endearing af^ 
 fe£lion of the foul, and melt it into all the extacy of love — 
 to fee Jefus — him who created us — who died torus — who 
 hath continually fupported us under every trouble, and who 
 fhall then have delivered us from all our diflrefles, O my 
 foul, where art thou ? the reflection carries me beyond the 
 powers of human language, and fills me with unutterable 
 blifs. 
 
 How often have we here read with admiration of the pity 
 and fortitude of the Martyrs and Saints of God ! — but there 
 we fhall know them-— we fhall liften to the tale of pafl 
 ages, and be filled with admiration at the providential hand 
 of Deity, the faints of God, the prophets, the apoftles, the 
 martyrs, the patriarchs, will be our companions; we fhall 
 hear them recount the wonders of Divine love, and liften 
 with filent rapture to the extatic tale. What fcenes wilt 
 thou open to our minds, and how fliall we be aftonifhed at 
 this unravelling of fuch a combination of events! Glory to 
 the Highcfl; will be our fong, and obedience our delight. 
 Here we canpot gratify fully that principle of the human 
 
 mind 
 
( eg ) 
 
 mind that is formed for a£lion : like Deity itfelf the foul of 
 man is for ever moving : but O how unlike him in the pur- 
 fuits which give it motion ! But there we fliall be made 
 rulers over many things ; there will be a variety calculated 
 to give happincfs, and a knowledge that (hall yield vvifdoni, 
 that may enjoy the adive fphere, by giving that ability 
 which fhall enable the foul to fill it up aright. The capa- 
 city of man is unbounded as his thirit for it, and he Hiall 
 then find the works of creation and providence are equally 
 unbounded with his capacity and defires. How grovelling, 
 therefore, mult be their ambition who fol?ly exercife them- 
 felves with the trifles of this life, and that have no enjoy- 
 ments but fuch as are common to the brutes, born as they 
 are to fuch high enjoyments, b'>rn for dominion, and yet 
 contented with being flaves! But you, my dear Chrirtian 
 friends, let not your hearts be troubled at the vicifTitudes of 
 life, and the various'affli<5lions to which it is expofed. Ye 
 believe in God! ye likcwife believe in the Lord Jefus 
 Chrift ! Quickly will time pafs away, and with it all your 
 affliilions; then, in the manfions of blifs ftiall you hear the 
 voice of uncreated harmony, and enjoy riches, honours, plea- 
 fures, and glories, in the prefcnce of God and his Chrift, ages 
 nvithout end. Amen. Amen. 
 
 SERMON 
 
SERMON VI, 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 ELHANAN WINCHESTER. 
 [never before published. 1 
 
 GENESIS XLV. 3. 
 
 And his hrcthren could not anfwer him, for they were 
 
 troubled at his p-efuice. 
 
 TPIE hlflory of Jofeph and his brethren, notwithdanding 
 it is a true hiitory of fa6\s that have really happened, 
 was not written on account of the things thcmfelves, but be- 
 caufe of tise important inllruction it conveys to all who read 
 it from that time to the prcftnt, as alfo through all fucceed- 
 ing ages till change fliall be no more. It teachcth us, by 
 flriking fads, never to be cad down at adverfity, nor ever to 
 do injuftice to thofe in our pou'er, not knowing how foon the 
 man who now fitteth on the pinnacle of profperity may be 
 iliut up with the children of mifery in the habitation of dif- 
 trefs, or how foon the flave in the prifon of adverfity may be 
 elevated to the throne of princes. We arc likewile taught 
 by the relation of fa6ls, that Jehovah who fitteth at the helm 
 of human affairs, knoweth how to bring about the mofi: im- 
 portant purpofes by thofe very ways which his enemies take 
 to thwart his defigns. On this thought I reflea with pecu- 
 liar pleafure; Jehovah, my all wife Creator, hath a fyftcm for 
 his condufl towards his creatures ; vaft, intricate, wonder- 
 ful, glorious, a fyflem that {hall reftore all his works to more 
 than primreval pcrfedlion, and will accomplifh all his good 
 pleafure ; the wrath or wickedncfs of his adverfaries fliall not 
 obftrudl: the accomplifliment of his purpofes, and all their 
 attempts to fruftrate his defigns, fliall but ferve to fulfill 
 them. How remarkably was this made manifeft in the cafe 
 of Jofeph whom God had appointed to be a Great Saviour 
 
 to 
 
( n ) 
 
 to the Seed of Abraliam, and to many nations a type of our 
 blclleil Lord, the Great Saviour of his people from their fins, 
 and through them all the nations of the earth. 
 
 Goil manifelted himfelf unto Jofcph in a dream, and he 
 faid unto his brethren *' Hear, 1 pray you, this dream which 
 «' I have dreamed. For behold we were bemling fhcaves in 
 ♦* the field, and lo, my (heaf arofe, and Hood uprii;ht ; and 
 ** behold your Iheaves llood round about, and made ftbeifancc 
 *• to my Iheaf." How doth the felfifli pride of the human 
 heart relilt all government but that of their own will! ihey 
 can fcarce bear a rival in the exercife of power much lefs 
 can they bear an equal to be exalted to rule over them, even 
 ihouch by the fpecial appomtmcnt of God. Jofcph by tell- 
 ing th.cm his dream did not ufurp dominion, but only fore- 
 told that which Ihould come to pals in the way of Providence; 
 it would have been a time to refill when he began to rule ; 
 fraternal nffcdion ihould have led them into a candid judg- 
 ment, and true wifdom Ihould have taught them to know that 
 God could have accomplilhcd his purpofes in the future ad- 
 vancement of Jofcph, quite confiltently with the welfare of 
 his brethren, not only fo, but to have made their glory and 
 happinefs dependant upon it. 
 
 Nothing more fully manifefts the folly of mankind than 
 their unbounded thirll atter dominion, and their envy at the 
 merit of others. The bretiucn of Jofeph felt as men envious 
 at the fuperior merit of their brother, and hated him becaufe 
 of the divine blcfling; they could not bear that he, their 
 younger brother, Ihould rule over thetn, and fought a proper 
 opportunity to jirevcnt it. Jacob having large polTefiions of 
 cattle, his ions were his ihcphcrds, and tended them at a dif- 
 tance from the vale of Hebron, where Jacob refided ; Jofeph 
 and Benjamin being the yoimgelt, flayed with their father. 
 Jacob, ar.xious for his childrc;n's welfare, fent Jofeph to en- 
 quire after them, no fooner did th.ey fee him at a diftance, but 
 they cried out, " Behold this dreamer ccmeth ;" and thy con- 
 fpired together to flay him ; but overcome by the perfuafion 
 of Riiebcn, who fought an opportunity to refcue him from 
 their wicked intentions, they cad him into a pit, out of which 
 they afterwards took him, and fold him to a caravan of Illi- 
 maelite inerchants, who were pafllng that way to go into 
 Egypt. 
 
 When brotight into Egypt, the Iflimaclitcs fold him unto 
 Potiphar, an oihcer in the army of Pharoah,anil captain of his 
 guard. How cltimablc is integrity, when it fprings from 
 
 piety, 
 
( 72 ) 
 piety! it makes a man valuable in the eyes even of them who 
 know not God; it leads them to obferve the difference of the 
 condu6t between that man whofeareth Jehovah, and him who 
 feareth him not : true religion giveth a man an holy confi- 
 dence, it calleth forth his induftry, it maketh a man to be a 
 calm, a6live member of fociety ; this was the cafe with 
 Jofcph. The Lord was with him, and he was a profperous 
 man in the houfe ot his maimer the Egyptian; and his matter 
 could but notice it, for he faw that the Lord was with him, 
 and made all the work of his harlds to profper. This caufed 
 him to have a regard for Jofeph, and made him to Ihew that 
 regard by outward a6ls ; he promoted Jofeph to be the over- 
 feer of his houfe and fteward of his polTeihons. This was 
 indeed the true end of religion. It was the leaven of piety 
 fermenting the world. The mafter fees the condu6l of his 
 fervant, and is by it led to fee the hand of Jehovah, Jofeph 
 here treadsin his father Jacob's fteps, and has, by fo doing, the 
 blefling of the God of his father Jacob. The mafter fees that 
 the Lord is with Jofeph, and in confequence he made him 
 over feer over his houfe and all that he had ; and the Lord blef- 
 fed the Egyptian for Jofeph's fake, and the blefling of the Lord 
 was upon all that he had in the houfe and in the field. Happy 
 indeed is that mafter who has an upright, faithful believer for 
 his fervant ; and happy that fervant whofe condu6l is fuch as 
 to bring down the blefling of Jehovah upon his mafter's ha- 
 bitation; more bleffed is he than the children of princes, for 
 he is even now an inftrument of communicating bleffings ; 
 tied up by his fituation from pouring forth from the horn of 
 plenty with a liberal hand, he by his uprightnefs calleth down 
 bleflings from heaven, and giveth, by his condud, a thoufand 
 times more than he receiveth. 
 
 Jofeph was a goodly perfon, a handfome well proportion- 
 ed man ; and his miflrefs, fmitten with his beauty, forgetting 
 the native modefly of the female, not only longed for, but en- 
 treated his embraces. But he refufed. The fituation of Jofeph 
 as houfe fteward, placed him in the way of temptation, and 
 gave his miftrefs an opportunity to tempt his virtue to the 
 uimoft, and that by the ftrongeft pafTion of mankind ; but fuch 
 is the energetic influence of true religion, that it enabled him 
 to overcome the powerful temptation, and to reafon with 
 her on the ftrong principles of gratitude and religion, to bring 
 herbacktothe paths of virtue. ''My mafter, faic^ he, knowcth 
 Tiol what is with me in the houfe ; he hath committed all that 
 he hath to my hand j in this houfe there is nooe greater than 
 
 1 i 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 I ; he hath not kept bnck aught but thee, becaiiie thou 
 art his wife i how then can I do this great wickednc fs, and 
 fin againrt God?" So Itrong arc tlic palhoiis ot' the children 
 of Adam, when not controuled by the' higher principles of 
 piety, founded on the knowledge of tlu: charader oi Jehovah, 
 that like the raging tempelt, they fwell and beat upon all tho 
 puny bulwarks of reafon and prudence, until they have fwept 
 away every vel^ige of them. In vain did Jofeph rcufon and 
 difpby liis mafter's love and his own fcjrvile condition. She 
 iViW intreated him day by day, but finding that Ihe could not 
 Ih.'.ke his piety, watching for opportunity v^-hcn all the men 
 of the houfe were abfent, (he caught him by his garment, 
 and faid, ♦* Lie with me;" but he kft his garment in her hand 
 and tied. Then fhe called the m.en of the houfe, and faid 
 unto them, " See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to 
 mock us; he came in unto me to lie vvith me, and I cried 
 with a loud voice; and it came to pafs, when he heard that 
 I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with 
 me and fled and got him out :" and Hie laid up his garment by 
 her until her Lord came home, when Ihe related to him the 
 fame fidious tale. 
 
 There is not any word more abufed than the word Love. 
 Love is a pure and holy emanation of the Deity ; it partakes 
 of his nature, and is only known to dwell in the bofom of the 
 pofTeflbr, by the benign adions it produces ; it is ever doing 
 good to the beloved objed, and the longeft returns of ingra- 
 titude changeth not its nature; like Jehovah him.felf it is un- 
 changeable. It m.anifelts itfelf by kindncfs, gentlenefs, pa- 
 tience, meeknefs, forbearance, tendernefs, and ever driving 
 to communicate, and almoft creating opportunities of doing 
 good; but love, human love, is a felhlh paffion, it is con- 
 tinually feeking gratification, it loveth the objed for the 
 fake of felf, and feeks to do it good for its own enjoyment; 
 unreturned or unregarded, it manifefts its perverted nature 
 by hatred, malice, and revenge, as in the wife of Potiphar; 
 when the pofiellbr of it cannot accomplifh his purpofes, wil- 
 lingly would he facrifice the honour, charader, and even 
 life of tl>e beloved objed. "Behold," faid ftie, toher hufband, 
 behold the Hebrew Have which thou haft brought to us, 
 came in tmto me to mock me, and it came to pafs, as I lift 
 up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me and fled 
 out." 
 
 It is not to be wondered at that Jofeph's matter (hould be 
 wroth with him, and unheard, condemn his faithful fcrvanf 
 L to 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 to a piifon, where the king's prifoners were bound ; doubt- 
 lefs, he was ordered to ciofe conftnement, and to be heavily 
 fettered, for it is faid by the Pfalinift, *< his feet they hurt 
 ■with fetters, he was laid in iron." But even there, '* The 
 Lord was with Jofcph and ihewed him mercy, and gave him 
 favour in the fight ot the keeper of the prifon. And tlie 
 keeper of the prifon committed to Jofeph's hand all the pri- 
 foners that were in the prifon, and whatfoever they did there 
 he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prifon looked not 
 to any thing that was under his hand, becaufe the Lord was 
 with him, and that which he did the Lord made it to prof- 
 per." Happy Jofeph, who could thus arife above flavery and 
 imprifonment I Truly it may be faid of the righteous man, 
 all that he doeth fhall profper." It is not with Jofeph as it is 
 •with too many of the great men of the world, the place did 
 not make the man great. But the man was good, and 
 through his piety, whether he Vv^as a (hepherd in the fields, 
 a fteward of a palace, aprifoner, goaler, or prime minifter, 
 he was always great, for he ferved Jehovah, and his blefllng 
 is always on them that fear his name. 
 
 *' And it came to pafs after thefe things, that the chief but- 
 ler, and chief baker of the king of Egypt, had offended their 
 Lord, and Pharaoh was wroth with them, and he put them 
 in ward in the houfe of the captain of the guard, into the 
 prifon, the place wliere Jofeph was bound, and the captain 
 of the guard charged Jofeph with them, and he ferved them, 
 and they continued a feafon in ward. And they dreamed a 
 dream both of them, each man his dream in one night ; 
 and Jofeph came in imto them in the inorning and looked 
 upon them, and behold they were fad, and he alked them, 
 ■wherefore look ye fo fadly to day ? And they faid unto him, 
 we have dreamed a dream, and there is not an interpreter of 
 it. And Jofeph faid unto them, do not interpretations be- 
 long to God ; tell me them, I pray you." How concife, and 
 yet how beautifully did Jofeph take off their attention from 
 himfelf, who was about to interpret their dreams, and lead 
 them to the God of Ifratl, who had given the dream?, and was 
 by him about to give their interpretation ; he was indeed a 
 wife man, tor he was intimately acquainted with the fountain 
 of wifdom, and dwelt under a conftant fenfe of the favour of 
 his God. " And the chief butler faid unto him, in niy dream, 
 behold a vine was before me, and in the vine three branches, 
 and it was as though it budded, and the bloffoms fhot forth, 
 and the clufters thereof brought forth ripe grapes ; and 
 
 Pharaoh's 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I look the grapes and 
 preffed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into 
 Pharaoh's hand. And Jofcph faid unto him, this is the in- 
 terpretation of it. The three branches are three days, yet, 
 within three days (hall Piiaraoh lift up thine head, and re- 
 itore thee unto thy place, and thou (lialt deliver Pharaoh'^ 
 cup into his hand, atter the former manner, when thou waft 
 his butler. But think on me when it (hall be well with thee, 
 and fhew kiiuinels I pray tliee unto me, and make mention 
 of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this hotife. For, 
 indeed, I was Rolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, 
 and here alfo have I done nothing that they fhould put me 
 into this dungeon." Alas, poor Jofeph ! the bitternefs of ad- 
 verfitv brought home to thy wounded heart, thy domeftlc 
 fire-fide, thine aged parent, thy beloved Benjamin, and thy 
 hard hearted, envious, cruel brethren. If profperity in the 
 houfe of Potiphar had made thee forget thy father's houfe, 
 adverfity again brought every paft endearment to recollec- 
 tion, and nvide thee, o man of God, become a fuppliant to 
 an Egyptian prifoner ; but, alas! the butler forgat Jofeph: 
 no doubt he promifed to requite thy kindnefs and thy wif- 
 dom, but aflli6Hon part — the iiiltrumcnt of foothing it was 
 buried in oblivion ; men live for themfelves, none but the 
 man of God liveth for focicty, and in the day of profperity 
 delights in recolle^ling and rewarding paft obligations. 
 
 *' When the chief baker faw that the interpretation was 
 good, he laid unto Jofeph, I alfo was in my dream, and 
 behold, I had three white bafkcts on my head, and in the 
 iippermoft balket there was all manner of baked meats for 
 Pharaoh, and the birds did eat them out of the baflcet upon 
 my head." The interpretation of good to one man, leads 
 others to try their fortune in the fame lottery, though but 
 few prizes, yet every one hopes to be a gainer, and meets 
 more than double difappointnient from his neighbour's 
 fuccefs, compared with his own mifchance. This was the 
 cafe of Pharaoh's unhappy baker, he had heard the promifed 
 rcftoration of the butler, and hoped to meet wiih a like 
 promife. How dreadful muft have been his difappoiutment, 
 when Jofeph faid, "This is the interpretation of thy dream. 
 The three bafkets are three days, vet, within three days (hall 
 Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and (hall hang thee 
 on a tree, and the birds fhall eat thy fleOi from offrhee." 
 Happy is that man who expeclcth not worldly blelTings, for 
 he can never be difappointtd. Happy, liuicc liappy the be- 
 L 2 liever. 
 
( 76 ) 
 
 lievcr, who feeth the hand of Jehovah ordering all thingy, 
 and is contented that he fhall appoint his itation, his fup- 
 port, his comforts, his trials, and the length or fiiortnefs of 
 his journey ; in every fituation of life that man is at home, 
 he is, indeed, the foldier of Chrift, continually liftening for 
 the word of command. ° 
 
 The butler was delivered from his prifon, and for two 
 years forgot Jofeph. God, as a father, chafteneth thofe 
 •whom he loveth, that being tried in the furnace of affliclion, 
 they may come thereout more feparated and purified from 
 fell and pride, and all the bafe alloy that intermingles with 
 the fpirit of that man who hath not'known advcrfity. The 
 child of God may fufFer long, but the eye of his heavenly 
 Father is upon him, he feeth his arllidion, and lifteneth to 
 all his cries, helooketh down upon him in his loweftatc, and 
 will, if requifite, fhake an empire to its foundation, but 
 that he will work his deliverance. Jofeph, the innocent, 
 uncomplaining Jofeph, was forgotten for two whole years, 
 when Pharaoh dreamed two dreams, and in the morning his 
 fpirit was troubled, and he fent and called for all the magi- 
 cians of Egypt, and all the wife men thereof, and told them 
 his dreams but there was none that could interpret them un- 
 to Pharaoh. O how vain is human wifdotn, with^ all the 
 foolifh pretenfions of weak or wicked men, to the know- 
 ledge of the black art, to explain the myfterious revelations 
 of God ! He that revealcth all things that are to come to pafs 
 alone can enlighten the mind to expound that which he hath 
 revealed; none of them could interpret the dreams unto Pha- 
 raoh. Egypt, at that time renowned for arms, for arts, for 
 commerce, and for fcience, could not produce a man that 
 could explain a dream. The monarch of the Ead muft be 
 troubled, and all the wifdom of the Eaft cannot fpeak peace 
 unto him. What awiul attention muft have ran through the 
 court of Pharaoh, and from thence to the city, the country, 
 and through the nation. The butler, who hr.d long forgotten 
 Jofeph, isj by the conflernation of the court, brought to re- 
 member his former comforter. **This day, laid he to Pharaoh, 
 do I rem.ember my faults, Pharaoh was wroth with his fer- 
 vant, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's 
 houfe, both me and the chief baker. And there was with us 
 a young man, an Hebrew, fervant to the captain of the 
 guard, and wc told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams, 
 to each man according to his dream he did interpret ; and it 
 foon came to pafs, as he interpreted to us, fo it was ; me he 
 
 rcftored 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 reftored to mine office, and kim he hanged. Then Pharaoh 
 fent and called Jofeph, and ihey brought him hallily out of 
 the dungeon, lind he (haved, and chanircd his raiment and 
 came in unto Pharaoh, and Pharaoli laid unto Jofeph, I 
 have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret 
 it : and I liave heard fay of thee, that tliou canfl underftand 
 a dream to interpret it. And Jofeph anfwered Pharaoh, fay- 
 ing, it is not in me. God ihall give Pharaoh an anfwer of 
 peace." How pioiilly doth the humbled Jofcpli fpoak ; I 
 never can read it without being humbled in my own fpirit. 
 It is not in me \ God ftali give Pharnoit an anfwer of peace. 
 Fit us, holy Father, for thy work, that in all we do or fay, 
 we may afcribe gl^ry unto thee. 
 
 "And Pharaoh faid unto Jofeph, I ftood upon the bank of 
 the river, and behold there carne up out of the river, fevea 
 kitie, fat flefhed, and w^ll favoured, and they fed in a mea- 
 dow ; and behold feven other kine came up after them, poor 
 and very ill favoured, and lean liefiied, fuch as I never faw 
 in all the land of Egypt for badnefs, and the lean and ill 
 favoured kine did eat up the firft feven tat kine, and when 
 they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had 
 eaten them, but they were dill ill favoured, as at the begin- 
 ning. So I awoke. 
 
 *< And I faw in my dream, and behold, fevea ears came up 
 on one ftalk. full and good ; and behold feven ears, witliered, 
 thin, and blafted with the eaft wind, fprang up after them, 
 and the thin ears devoured the i'tven good ears: and I told 
 this unto the Egyptians, but none cotild declare it unto mc." 
 
 And Jofeph faid, the dreams of Pharaoh are one ; God 
 hath (hewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The feven 
 good kine are feven years, and the feven good ears are feven 
 years : and the feven thin and ill favoured kine that came up 
 after them, are feven years, and the feven empty ears, blaft- 
 ed with the call wind, lluill be feven years of famine. This 
 _ is the thing which I have fpoken unto Pharaoh : What God 
 is about to do he (hewc'Ji unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come 
 feven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. 
 And there fhall arife after them, feven years of famine, and 
 all the plenty fliall be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and 
 the famine (hall confuixie the land, and the plenty Ihall not 
 be known in the land, by reafon of the famine following it, 
 for it (hall be very grievous ; and for that the dream was 
 doubled unto Piiaraoh tv/icc, it is becanfe the thing is e(la- 
 bli(hed by God, and God will fliortly bring it to pafs. Now, 
 
 therefore, 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 therefore, let Pharaoh look out a man difcreet and wife, and 
 fet him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and 
 let him appoint ofEcers over the land, and take up the fifth 
 part of the land of Egypt in the fcven plenteous years ; and 
 let ihcm gather all the food of thofe good years that come, 
 and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh ; and let them 
 keep food in the cities, and that food fliall be {lore to the 
 land againfl the feven years famine which ftiall be in the 
 land of Egypt, that the land perifh not through the famine: 
 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the 
 eyes of all his fervants. And Pharaoh faid, Can we find fuch 
 a one as this, a man in whom is the fpirit of God. And Pha- 
 raoh faid unto Jofepb, Forfamuch as God has Ihewed thee 
 ail this, there is none fo difcreet and wife as thou art. Thou 
 Ihalt be ruler over my houfe, and according to thy word fhall 
 all my people be ruled, only in the throne will I be greater 
 than thou. And Pharaoh faid unto Jofeph, See I have fet 
 thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his 
 ring from his hand, and put it upon Jofeph's hand, and arrayed 
 him in a vefture of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his 
 neck, and he made him to ride in the fecond chariot which 
 he had, and they cried before him, Bow the knee, and he 
 made him ruler over all the land of Egypt : and Pharaoh, faid 
 unto Jofeph, I am Pharaoh, without thee (hall no man lift 
 up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." 
 
 What believer in the truth of Divine Revelation that is 
 vvell acquainted with this hiftory of Jofeph, can ever be mad 
 enough to attempt to vindicate his own chara6ler ? With 
 holy fortitude did he fuffer under a falfe accufation : no re- 
 proaches do we hear againft his falfe accufer ; but, like the 
 Son of God before the Jewifli Sanhcdrirn, he anfwercd not 
 a word. The fudden elevation of Jofeph, and the caufe of 
 it, mufl have occafioned much re-examination of all his pafl 
 condu61:, and call a ray of divine glory over his fiifFering vir- 
 tue. Worthy indeed was he to rule, who, by his wifdom 
 and uprightnefs, could fo make known his integrity of con- 
 duct, as that he flood at no time in need of exculpation. Be 
 it my motto ; be it yours ; be it the motto of every Chriflian. 
 God defend us ! What have we to do with the approbation 
 of mankind ? Let us approve ourfclves in the fight of God, 
 and he will, in his own good tline, caufe us to be approved 
 of before the eyes of mankind, then will unjuft afperfions be 
 made manifeft, and the uprightnefs of our condu6l will biirft 
 forth, like the bright (hining of the fun through the miily 
 
 vapour. 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 vapour, and the enemies who hated and reproached us (hall 
 bow the knee and do us reverence, with folemn veneration. 
 
 Pharaoh appears in tlic charaiSler of Creation's univerfal 
 fovereign, he looks not back to all the fay fo's and t'alfe ac- 
 cufations of mankind : but he at once enters into the charac- 
 ters of men, and rewards [ofeph according to merit; fo Ihall it 
 be at the coming of Chrid [cfus of Nazareth, who will enter 
 into the characters of his faints, and reward them according 
 to merit ; the fons of men fliall own the juftice of his ap- 
 pointments, and proclaim, Bow the knee before his firlt-born 
 fons. 
 
 How tranficnt are human ftates ! Jofcph, tiiis day the be- 
 loved fon of a wealthy parent, dwelling in his father's habi- 
 tation and being the comfort of his heart ; to-morrow be 
 hold him fold as a Have itito a itrange land. See him this 
 day fteward and ruler over the palace and fervants of a 
 prince ; fee him on the morrow utijultlyaccufed, and call into 
 prifon : behold him with his eye call down, his legs fettered, 
 and humbled to the dull, and all his thoughts mournfully re- 
 fledling upon his cruel degraded ftate. This hour behold him 
 in his prifon cloaths, his eye fad, his heart heavy, the ways 
 of the footfteps of Divine Providence fliadowed over with 
 clouds and darknefs : behold him the next hour blelfed with 
 the fmiles of a wife and mighty monarch, adorned with all 
 the outward decoration of human grandeur, whilll the 
 greateft nation of the earth owns the juftncfs of his exalta- 
 tion, and liftens with attention for his commands. O hope ! 
 though thou forfakefl: the bofoms of all the rcll of mankind, 
 thy throne ihould be eredlcd in the heart of the believer, for 
 he knoweth that Jehovah ruleth, that although his paths may 
 be in the wliirlwind, and his footlleps in the great deep, 
 yet he holdeth the reigns of government, and ordcrcth all 
 the concerns of human life according to the counfel of his 
 own will. 
 
 What a wonderful chain of circumflances attended the 
 promotion of Jofeph ! Had there been but one link wanting, 
 the whole would have been deltroyed. Had not Jofeph noticed 
 the evil conduct of his brethren, they would not have hated 
 him : If they had not hated him, he would not have been 
 fold for a flave. if Potiphar had not purchafcd hiin, his wife 
 would never have been fmittcn with his beauty ; if (he had 
 not luijuftly accufed him, he would not iiave been cafl into 
 prifon. If the butler and the baker had not been imprifon- 
 cd, he could not have interpreted their dreams, nor Piiaraoh's, 
 
 nor 
 
( 80 ) 
 
 nor have been promoted over Egypt, nor faved the lives of 
 millions, nor would the pofterity of Abra'.iam have gone into 
 Egypt, as Jehovah had foretold, nor would a nnmberk Ts va-. 
 riety of the gracious pronnifes of Gud been accompliihed ; 
 truly, our God doth, indeed, turn the curfe into a blcliing, he 
 overuled the wickednefs of man, and by it faved many nations 
 from being deftroyed by famine, and, indeed, in faving. the 
 feed of Abraham, he faved the "world. 
 
 "The feven years of plenty came to pafs, as Jofeph had 
 foretold, ar.d he ftored up the produce of the fields in the 
 cities which they furroundtd ; fo wonderful was the produc- 
 tion of nature, that he gathered corn like fand, in fiich pro- 
 digious quantities, that he ceafed to number the amoiint of 
 ih The feven years of famine followed, and dreadfully fe- 
 vere It was in all the countries furrounding Egypt , but in 
 Egypt, through the pn vidence of Jofeph, there was bread, 
 and vv!:en the (lores faved by the people were expended, the 
 people cried unto Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh faid unto 
 the Egyptians, go unto Jofeph, and what he fiith unto you - 
 do." It is btit juft here to obferve the beneficial eiteds oi 
 good government. Egypt, the granary of the world, would 
 have been famiflied, had not the commerce of the people 
 been partially retrained ; had it been wholly retrained, the 
 ueighbouring nations would have been deitroycd, and vaft 
 quantities of that corn which was the gift of God for the be- 
 nefit of mankind at large, v/ould have ulelefsly perifhed ; 
 but by treafuring up the exceedings of the years of plenty, 
 and permitting the commercial induftry of the people to be 
 freely exercifed with the remainder. Eg) pt was enriched, the 
 nations blefled, and God glorified by his bounty to his 
 creatures. The mafs of mankind rnufl be governed to be 
 happy, and happy are they if their governors rule over them 
 in the fear of the Lord. 
 
 Though the land of Canaan was, in after ages, very pro- 
 ductive in corn, in the days of Jacob, it appears to have been 
 chiefly pallurage. They foon, therefore, felt the effeds of 
 the famine, and Jacob faid unto his fons, *' Why do ye look 
 one upon another r Behold, I have heard there is corn in 
 Egypt, get you down thither, and buy for us from thence, 
 that we may live and not die." Jacob well knew the faith- 
 fulness of God, and that the promifes he had made of the 
 feed of the woman coming from his loins Ihould, in the tul- 
 ncfs of time, be accomplKhed, and yet he doth not fay to his 
 children, you are the chofen of the Lord, have but patience; 
 
 ' toi- 
 
( 81 ) 
 
 " for a Hule lime, the windows of lieavcn fiiall be opened, 
 and bread rained upon you fooncr than you (hall pcrilh— 
 No! the good old Patriarch well knew that although Jehovah 
 could do any thing, yet he choofes rather to give to the dili- 
 gent hand his blcliiug. Why do you look upon one another ? 
 Perhaps they began to defpair. The fodder is gone, we have 
 not food for our cattle, they will foon die, and we wlii.her, 
 fhall we go r Perhaps they began to look with evil eyes 
 upon each other ; or, if it had not come to this, as yet tiicir 
 minds began to be humbled, they felt the dependence of their 
 fituation. FafUng will pull down the lofty thoughts ot man, 
 and for the time lay his proudelt boalling in the dnfl: ; when 
 famine comes with all its ghaftly horrors, the tottering knees 
 fcarcc fuppo'-t the (kin-covered ikeleton. " Why do ye look 
 upon one another," faid the good old Jacob, ** Behold I have 
 heard that there is corn in Egypt, cheer up your fpirits, my 
 fons, if God our Creator has with-held the blefllngs of the 
 earth from us, he has poured out with a liberal hand to Egypt ; 
 expetH: not enjoyment without labour, arife, go down to 
 Egypt and bily corn. Why thould man defpair ? the God 
 of all fledi feedeth the ravens, and provideth food for man. 
 This day another labours and we partake of his repaft ; to- 
 morrow it is our turn to labour, and invite them to the 
 meal. The God of all fle(h unites fociety by their mutual 
 wants, and by it givcth the greatelt (hare of bleflings to hirn 
 that is molt diligent in procuring them. 
 
 And the fons of Ifrael came into the land of Egypt to our- 
 diafe corn, and Jofeph was the governor of the land, and he 
 it was tiiat fold to all the people of the land. And Jtjfcph's 
 brethren came and bowed down themfelves before him with 
 their faces to the earth. When Jofeph faid to his bretluen, 
 ** behold my (lieaf arofe and Rood upright, and behold your 
 /heaves arofe and ftood round about, and made obeifance to 
 my (heaf." Had he explained it by faying. Ye (hall willingly 
 come to me, rejoice in my profperity, and with plealure re- 
 verence my dignity, would they have believed him ? Would 
 they not have called him an afpiring fool, an nband ned liar; 
 and fwore fooner to fufFer any evils than to have- permitted 
 him to rule over them, or than they would pay him any 
 homage? Had good old Jacob faid to them, Mv Tons, ;. ou 
 fee tiie dreadful efre£ls of the famine; but Egypt is a 
 foreign country, their cuftoms are different from ours, can 
 you bend your minds willingly to fubmit to any thing the 
 governor of it may i.ripofe r doubtlefsly they would have 
 M anfwercd 
 
( ^^2 ) 
 
 aafvvered yes ; but had he faid, Your brother Jofeph is go- 
 vernor, you cannot buy corn there unlefs you honaage him 
 for your fuperior, would they have done it? I think not, 
 but have anfwered, we will ftarve firft, we will not go down. 
 This is the true fpirit of the Jews ; they will fooner fufFer 
 the bitterefl deaths rather than acknowledge Jefus to be the 
 Melliah. Upon the Continent many have chofe whipping ra- 
 ther than to pronounce the name of Jefus, although it is a 
 common name amongft them, fignifying Saviour, or Re- 
 ftorer, and when they have been at lalt forced to pronounce 
 it, they have fpit after it, to (hew their abhorrence of the 
 name. There is not any thing in heaven, earth, or hell, they 
 fo much hate as the name of Jefus of Nazareth. So did the 
 ])rethren of Jofeph hate him. Was he not innocent, did he 
 not love them ? Yes ! but he reproved them. Tellafalfehood 
 of a bad man and he may forgive you, but tell of his evil 
 deeds and you forfeit his efteem for ever ; all men curfe the 
 liar, and yet not any who know not God love the truth — ■ 
 They love to hear the truth of their neighbours, but them- 
 felves they love to deceive, and hope by it to deceive others. 
 This was the cafe with the Jewifh nation, our Lord teflified 
 before his Father, and before the nation, that the deeds of 
 his brethren were evil ; this occafioned their hatred towards 
 the Son of God, and made them unintentionally fulfill the 
 prophecy concerning him, that he fliould be a man whom 
 the nation defpifed and rejected, a man of forrows and ac- 
 quainted with grief. But as hi? vifage was marred more 
 than any man's, and his form more than the fons of men, 
 fo fhall he fprinkle many nations : the kings fhall fhut their 
 mouths at him, for that which has not been told them fhall 
 they fee ; and that which they had not heard {hall they con- 
 fider. Thus faith the Lord, the Redeemer of Ifrael, and his 
 holy one, to him whom man dcfpifeth, to him whom the 
 nation abhorreth, to a fervant of rulers kings fhall fee and 
 arife, princes alfo Ihall worfhip, bccaufe of the Lord that is 
 faithful. I have propofed this queftion, has there ever been 
 any man whom the JewiHi nation abhorreth but Jefus of 
 Nazareth ? I know of no one, not even of all their wicked 
 kings and falfe prophets, although one of them cod them the 
 lives of 580,000 men, and, indeed, almofl: deftroyed the 
 name of the Jewifh nation ; fo that it might be faid, that 
 from his time begun their defpair of ever regaining their 
 own land ; yet his name is never mentioned with that con- 
 tempt which they affix to the name of Jefus ; and yet Jefus 
 
 never 
 
( 83 ) 
 
 never deftroyed them, but he healed the fick and wrought 
 numerous miracles in their favour, and to thij day they d(j 
 not attempt to deny it. 
 
 Jofeph's brethren never thought to aflc any favour of him, 
 his name they detefted, and delivered hii pcrfon into the 
 liands of Grangers : but God knew how to make them bow 
 the knee bctorc him. He ftnt famine amongft them. Won- 
 derful the etfccls of famine ! the ftrength faileth, and the foul 
 becomes depreHed ; bread we muft have, or our life is 
 gone. This fhall be one of the great means in the hands of 
 God, to keep in fubjc6lion the nations to Jefus, during his 
 inillenial reign : no rain (hall come upon ail the nations of 
 the earth who fend not their annual deputies with homage 
 and tribute to Jcrufaiem — no rain, no corn, the earth will 
 not yield her fruits, famine enfues, and awful defolatiou 
 ihall humble tlie haughty fpirit of man. 
 
 God knew how to break the ftaff of bread among the 
 Egyptians, though fertilifetl by the Nile, as well as in the 
 land of Canaan, which depended upon the ihowers from hea- 
 ven. The Egyptians cry to Pharaoh for food. ** Go to 
 Jofeph," faid he. So now, when the fons of men are in 
 diftrefs, and cry to God, the Unlverfal Parent. ** Go to 
 Jefus," faith he, 'Mook unto him ye children of diftrefs." 
 All ye remote peoples of the earth looked unto him and be 
 faved. Every knee will he make to bow in homage, and 
 every tongue fwear allegiance to the name of Jefus. Nothing 
 can be more difagrceable to his enemies than the thoughts ot 
 this ; but Jehovah hath fworn, and fhall he not accomplilh ? 
 Every knee, whether Jew or Gentile, fliall be conftrained to 
 reverence him whom the Creator delighteth to honour, and 
 every tongue fliall confefs his goodnefs to the glory of God 
 the Father. 
 
 *' Andjofephfaw his brethren and he knew them, but made 
 himfelf ftrange unto them, and fpoke roughly unto them. 
 Whence come ye ? And they faid from the land of Canaan 
 to buy food : but he faid unto them, ye arc fpics, to fee the 
 nakednefs of the land ye are come." Doubilefs they thought 
 this mighty man of Egypt a ftrange fellow, and had many 
 lofty thoughts at the perfonal affront he put upon tbcra : 
 had we come to beg his corn, he might have been fo rough 
 and imperious ; but when we come as cuitomers to purchafe 
 it, he might have been more civil : but they were hungry, 
 and famine humbled their language ; Ihev wanted food, and 
 M 2 it 
 
( Si .) 
 
 jt would not do id (peak rafhly to hirr., who alone could fup- 
 ply their wants. Happy the man who is fo humbled as to 
 be enabled to manage his tongue; happier (till, if the 
 thoughts ot his heart are brought into fubjection . 
 
 << You are itrangcrs," faid Jofepli, you are fpies, you are' 
 coine down from the laud of Canaan to fpy out the barren- 
 nefs of our country ;" and they faiduniohiin, <' Nay, my 
 Lord, but to buy food are thy fervants come, we are all one 
 man's fons, we are true men, thy fervants are no fpies: and he 
 faid unto them, Nay, but to fee the nakcdncfs of the land 
 arc ye come. And they laid, thy fervants are twelve bre- 
 thren, the fons of one man in the land of Canaan ; and 
 behold, the youngell is this day with our father, and one is 
 not. And Jofeph faid unto them, That is it I fpake unto 
 you, faying ye are fpies. Hereby ye fliall be proved : by 
 the life of Pharaoh, ye fhall not go forth hence, except your 
 youngeli: brother come hither. Send one of you, and let him 
 tetchyour brother, and ye Ihall be kept in prifon that your 
 words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you, 
 or elfe, by the life of Pharaoh, furely ye are fpies. And he 
 put them all together into ward three days." 
 
 By all this, who would not fuppofe that Jofeph had not 
 fome fpite againlt his brethren, and was fully refolved to re- 
 venged himfelf upon them for their former cruelty r On the 
 tiiird day he fecmed to relent, and fent for them again, and 
 faid to them, ** This do and live ; I will not entirely ftarvc 
 you, for I fear God. If ye be true men, let one of your bre- 
 thren be bound in the houfe of your prifon: go ye, carry 
 corn for the famine of your houfes : but bring your youngeft 
 brother unto me, fo Ihall your words be verified, and ye fl)all 
 i^iot die." 
 
 How wifelv did Jofeph work upon their paflions, fo as to 
 J^ing home their former crime to their minds, and caufe 
 them to (land felf-condenmed. There is no need for an ac- 
 cufer when God, by his providential dealings, bringeth a man 
 to the knowledge of himfelf; guilt and its attendant horrors, 
 then harrow up the foul, and every thought accufes and con- 
 demns. The man fiiteth in judgment upon his pail life, and 
 awfully fever,e is the I'entence that he palfcs. '^Aud they faid 
 one to another, we are verily guilty concerning oiir brother,- 
 in that wc faw the anguifli of his foul when he befought us, 
 and we would not hear, therefore is this diftrefs come upon 
 us. And Reuben anfwered thcm» faying. Spake I not 
 unto you, faying, do not fin againft the cliild : and ye would 
 
 n ot 
 
( 85 ) 
 
 not hear. Therefore behold alfo his blood is requJrecT. An<f 
 they knew not that Jofcph underftood them, tor he fpoke 
 unto them by an inierpeter." 
 
 Thus God adls by man ; he does not fpeak immediateivj 
 but by his providences, and bringeth man to the recollcdioij 
 of his guilt, and to the open confelfion of it, crying out with 
 the publican, Lord, have mercy upon me a (inner. Jofeph 
 had now brought his brethren to the acknowledgment oli" 
 their guilt, he carries on the fcene till they by mutual re- 
 crimination make known to liim who is the moft guilty. 
 Little did they think of the feelings of jofeph ; he was touch- 
 ed with their infirmities, he faw the evil of their nature, and 
 was determined to work in them a radical cure. Judgment 
 was his (Irange work ; it forced him to turn himfelf about 
 and weep. He then returned to them again, communed with 
 them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before 
 their eyes. 
 
 "Then Jofeph commanded to fill their facks with corn, and 
 to reftore every man's money into his fack, and to give tlieiH 
 provifion for the way. They had not got far upon their 
 journey, when opening his fack to give his afs provender, 
 one of them found his money : and he faid unto his brethren , 
 my money is reflored, and lo! it is even in my fack, and 
 their hearts failed, and they were afraid, faying one to an- 
 other. What is this that God hath done unto us r" Dread- 
 fully frightened indeed, to go down into Egypt to buy corn, 
 and there to be taken for fpies, to pay for that corn, and find 
 their money ia their facks, and perhaps to be purfued and 
 taken up for thieves, or when their brother returned with 
 ihcm to be all feizcd, and cither put to death or fold fur 
 Haves. 
 
 Arrived at home, they acquainted their father with the 
 rough trcatinent they had received from the Lord of Egypt. 
 ** He took us for fpies, and would have that we came to fearch 
 out the barrennef^ of the country. It was in vain wc denied it; 
 in vain we declared our integrity, relating to him all our fa- 
 mily circumltances ; he imprifoned us, and when he fetus 
 free, he retained Simeon in cuflody, until wc fliould bring 
 our youngelt brother, Benjamin, down to confirin, by his 
 appearance, the truth of our llatcmeut, and then iie woyld 
 deliver Siineon to us again, and permit us to tratlic in the 
 land." Ilicy then opened their facks, and to their great 
 aftonilliment, every man's money was found in his fack ; 
 fear and horror fcized them, Simeon, a prifoner, and by 
 
 fome 
 
( 86 ) 
 
 fomc finaccountable circumftances, all the money which they 
 had paid for their corn returned. Doubtlels they thought 
 the Lord of Egypt will only know the money was not paid, 
 he will not be acquainted with our integrity, we fhall be 
 fuppofed to be crafty knaves, Simeon will be ill treated, and 
 when we return for corn, we (hall be punidied for villainy. 
 
 Their aged parent fees their diftrefs, but parental tender- 
 nefs for his abfent child is only increafed by their afflidion. 
 ** Me have ye bereaved ; you have lopned off the branches 
 from my withered trunk. Jofeph is not, and Simeon is not, 
 and will ye take Benjamin away ? All thefe things are againft 
 ine." Poor old man ! all thy fair expedlations appear to be 
 blafted, the ftorm feemcd to pelt thy once happy habitation, 
 thy decayed body feem.ed to have all its props taking away, 
 and to be about to fink into the grave, deferted, comfortlefs 
 and alone. When that which is our prefent pride is cut off, 
 and all our future hope withered, what is man ? 
 
 '' And Reuben fpake unto his father, flay my two fons if 
 I bring him not to thee; deliver him into my hand, and I 
 will bring him unto thee again." Poor confolation this 
 to the good old man, to be permitted to flay his grand 
 children becaufe he had loft his child. Educated in the 
 tetnpeft, hardened by the inclemency of the weather, 
 Reuben's foul feems to have poirelTed but little of the tender 
 affeftions ; guided by the impulfe of the moment, he appears 
 to have been equally ready to do good or evil. All alive to 
 the voice of mifery, his utmoft defire was to relieve it by 
 any means, juft or unjuft ; equally alive to the impulfe of 
 his pafiions, his utmott defire was to gratify them ; in the 
 ways of virtue unftable as water ; he never excelled. The 
 man wliofe principles are not firmly efl;abli(hcd upon the 
 condu6l of God, he who is not guided by motives fuperior to 
 the feelings of the fiefli, will never attain any great height of 
 virtue : his brighteit adions will be like the dazzling light- 
 ning which altoni flies and deflroys, whilff his common walk 
 of life is grovelling, if not injurious, 
 
 *' The tamine was fore in jhe land, the corn they had 
 brought from Egypt was expended, they began to feel 
 the want of bread, and their father faid unto them, go 
 again, buy us a little food : but Judah faid, The man did 
 Iblemnly protcft unto us, faying, ye fhall not fee my face 
 except your brother be with you. If thou wilt fend our bro- 
 ther with us, we will go down and buy thee food; but if 
 thou wilt not f-snd \nm we will not go down, for the man 
 
 faid 
 
( 87 ) 
 
 faid unto us, yc fiiall not fee my face except your brother be 
 with you. And Ifrael faid, wherefore dealt ye fo ill with 
 me as to tell the man ye had a brother r And they faid the 
 man afl:ed us ftraitly of our ftatc, and of our kindred, fay- 
 ing, Is your father yet alive, have ye another brother ? and 
 we anfwercu him accordingly : Could we certainly know- 
 that he woulil fay. Bring your brother down ? And Judah 
 faid unto Ifrael his father, Send the lad with mc, and we will 
 arife and go, that we may live and not die, both we and thou, 
 and alfo our little ones: I will be fiirety tor him, of my 
 hand Ihait thou require him. If I bring him not ujito thee, 
 and fet him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever. 
 For except we had lingered, furcly now we had returned this 
 fecond time." 
 
 How rational, manly and perfuafive is the fpcech of Judah! 
 it had the delired efFcd, and the good afFe£lionaic old man 
 faid, " If it mult be fo novv, do this, take ailvice, foften the 
 roughnefs of the Lord of Egyj^t with a prefent, do him 
 homage, make an acknowledgment of his fuperiority, and 
 gain his favour by fhewing your dependence upon him. 
 Take of the heft fruits of the Ir.nd in your vefTels, a little 
 balm, and a little honey, fpices, myrth, nuts and almonds, 
 and take double money in your hand, and the money that 
 was brought again in the mouths of your facks, carry it 
 again in your hand, peradventurc it was an overfight. Take 
 alfo your brother, and arife, go again unto the man, and God 
 Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may fend 
 away your other brother and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of 
 my children, I am bereaved," 
 
 What flrange ideas had the good old Patriarch of his bed 
 earthly friend ! Little did he thmk that the man whofe tem- 
 per he fought to mollify was at that time taking much pains 
 to make him a joyful parent of virtuous children ; that his 
 hoary hairs might defcend to the grave crowned with joy and 
 full of peace. Jufl: fuch ideas have the children of men of 
 their belt friend, Jefus the Saviour. They behold his rough 
 treatment of them in all the crofs fcenes of providence, but 
 they behold not his kind compa/Tion, and the tender fynipathv 
 of his heart ; in their highcll fnlferings he renders them lcf>. 
 than, they deferve, and then only aftlids that he may humble 
 the proud imagination of their heart, and fubdue every lofty 
 thought into obedience to his will. 
 
 Well, down to Egypt they again go, and once more ftand 
 wilii Benjamin their brother before Jofeph, who bids his 
 
 houfe 
 
( ss .) 
 
 houfe it'/wnid kill and irakc ready that flicy may dine \\'\d\ 
 him. " And he brought Simeon out unto ihtMin, and brought 
 them into Jofcph's houfe, and gave them v/atcr to walli their 
 feet, and he gave tlieir aifes provender: and when Jofeph 
 came home they brought tlie prefent which was in their hand 
 into the houfc, and bowed themfelves to him unto the earth. 
 And he afked of their welfare, and faid, " Is your father 
 well, the old man of whom ye fpaker Is he yet alive? 
 And they anfvvercd, Tliy fcrvant our father is in good health ; 
 he is yet alive, and they bowed down their heads and made 
 obeifance. And he lift up his eyes and faw his brother Ben- 
 jamin, his mother's fun, and faid, Is this your younger bro- 
 ther of wiiom ye fpake unto me ; and he faid, God be gra- 
 cious unto thee my fon. And Jofeph rnade hafle, for his 
 boweU' vearned upon his brother, and he fought where to 
 weep, and he entered into his chamber and wept there. And 
 lie wafhed his face, and went out and refrained himfelf, and 
 faid fet on bread." 
 
 There is fomething pectliariy beautiful in this part of 
 the hillory of Jofeph, it Ihews his cbarader in a moft afFed- 
 ing and amiable point of light. Neither adverfity or profpe- 
 rity had deftroyed his fraternal love ; his whole foul melted 
 over his brother, prudence not permitting him to pour forth 
 his affections till he had tried if his brethren loved Benjamin, 
 and if affli6lion had brought them to that union that is fo 
 defireable in a family. The man who has not focial affec- 
 tion may talk of the tendernefs of his heart, but his anions 
 give the lie to his words, and canfe him to fland condemned 
 from his own lips. Whenever I fee a family of children 
 tmited in love to each other, always anxious to manileft it 
 l>y kind aftions and mutual forbearance, fhould they have 
 many and great failings, yet I am confident that 1 then be- 
 hold a family who have ftrong flamina of virtue, which if 
 called forth, would make them ornaments to fociety, a glory 
 to their Maker, a inutual fupport to each other ; fuch a fa- 
 mily tniglit put fortune's roughed frowns at defiance, and 
 fmilc amiiin the fcorn, rcpronch and contempt of mankind. 
 
 Dinner time caine, and Jofeph arranged them all accord- 
 ing to their ages, the eldelt firit and the youngcff laft ; and 
 the men wondered and were aflonifhcd, they could not ac- 
 count for it. It was all enchanted ground ! He then fent 
 menos to each of them, but to Benjamin a mcfs of honour, 
 five times as much as the rcff, being determined to call forlii 
 all the envy of their hearts if any was left, and they drank 
 
 and 
 
( 89 ) 
 
 atid were merry with him. And he commanded the fteward 
 of his houfe, faying, " Fill the mens facks with food, as much 
 as they can carry, and put every man's money in his fack.'« 
 mouth, and put my cup, the lilver cup, in the lack's mouth of 
 tlie youngefl:, and his corn money." And he did according as 
 Jofepli had fpoken, and when the morning was light the men 
 were font away, they and their afles. 
 
 Doubrlels they went merrily on, anticipating the pleafures 
 of home and the joys of their Other's heart at the light of his 
 beloved Benjamin. The good treatment they had experienced, 
 fo contrary to what tiicy expeded, muft have given them a 
 more than common elevation of fpirit.— When on a fudden 
 Jofeph's fteward overtakes them and fays, " Wherefore have ye 
 rewarded evil for good, has not my lord treated you as friends, 
 has he not returned you the money which you brought to pur- 
 chafe corn ; are you ftill fo covetous as to fteal his filver cup, 
 out of which he divineth ? And they faid unto him, where- 
 fore faith my Lord theie words ? God forbid that thy fervants 
 fhould do according to this thing. Behold, the money which 
 we found in our facks mouths we brought again unto thee out 
 of the land of Canaan ; how then Ihould we fteal out of thy 
 Lord's houfe filver or gold ; with whomfoever of thy fervants 
 it is found let him die, and we will be my Lord's bondfmen. 
 And he faid, now let it be according to your words, he with 
 whom it is found fliall be my fervant, and ye fliall be blame- 
 lefs. I^hen they fpeedily took down every man his fack to the 
 ground, and opened every man his fack. And he fearched, and 
 he began at the eldeft and he left off at the youngeft, and the 
 cup was found in Benjamin's fack. Then they rent thei^r 
 cloathes and laded every man Iiis afs, and returned to the city.'* 
 
 " And Judah and his brethren came to Jofeph's houfe (for 
 he was yet there) and they fell before him on the ground. 
 Jofeph addreffed them roughly. What deed is this that 
 vou have done ? Did you not fuppofe that a man like me could 
 certainly divine? But' Judah modeitly, yet boldly comes for- 
 ward and faid, what fhyjl we fay unto my Lord ? what (hall 
 wefpeakr or how ftiall we clear ourfclvts ? God hath found 
 out the iniquity of thy fervants, behold we are my Lord's fer- 
 vants, both we and he'alfo with wliom the cup is found.— -God 
 forbid (cries Jofeph) tliat I (liould dofo, the man in whole hand 
 the cup is found he Ihall be mv fervant, and as for you, get you 
 up in peace unto^'our father." 
 
 Judah again came forward and makes an oration, which for 
 
 beautv, fimnlicitv, and pathos, is one of the moft excellent of 
 
 N '^ anv 
 
( ao ) 
 
 any reconfed in any hiftory facred or proplisne. " O my 
 Lord ! let thy fervant, 1 pray thee^ fpeak a word in my Lord'a 
 ear, and let not thine anger burn againft thy fervants, for thou 
 art even as Pharaoh. My Lord aikedhis fervants, faying, have 
 y€ a father, or a brother ? and v/c faid unto my Lord, we have a 
 father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one, and 
 his brother is dead and he alone is left of his mother, and his 
 father loveth him. And thou faidefl: unto thy fervants, bring 
 him down unto me that I may fet mine eyes npon him. And 
 we faid unto my Lov<l, the lad cannot leave his father, for if lie 
 ihould leave liis fatlier his father would die. And ihou faidefb 
 unto thy fervants. Except your youngeft brother comedown 
 with you, you ihaJI Ice my face no more. And it came to pafs, 
 when we came up unto tliy ferv,-:int, my failicr, we told hinj 
 the words of my Lord. And my father iaid, goagiin and buy- 
 iis a tittle food ; and we laid, we cannot go down, ifom- youngell 
 brother be not with us ; and thy fervant, my father, faid unta 
 lis, Ye know that my wife bare me two fons, and the one 
 went out from me, :rnd ! faid, furely he is torn in pieces, and 
 I law him not fmce ; and if ye take this alfo from me, and 
 raifchief befal him, ye fliall bring down my grey hairs with 
 forrow to the grave. Now, therefore, when 1 come to thy 
 fervant, my fether and the lad be not with us, feeing that his 
 jjte is bound up in the lad's life, it (hall come to'pafs, when he 
 feeth the lad is not with us, that he will die, and thy fervants 
 fball bring down the grey hairs of thy fervant our father, witlv 
 forrow" to the grave. For thy fervant became furety for the 
 lad, faying, If 1 bring him not unto thee, then I rt^all bear the 
 Mame to my father for ever. Now, therefore, I pray thee let 
 tiiy fervant abide inllead of the lad, abondfman unto my Lord, 
 and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how fliall I go to 
 wy father and the lad be not witii me, left peradventure, I Ihall 
 ice the evil that ihall come upon my father." 
 
 A dilcourfe fo impiefiive, fo full of filial piety, came- home 
 to every tt'nder feeling of Jofeph's heart ; his end was anfwered, 
 he faw that his brethren loved their brother, that all the envy 
 . that rankles in the bofoms of a divided family was dellroyed. 
 Benjamin was fuppofed to be guilty of theft, yet inftead of up- 
 braiding they acknovvledge his guilt, and offer their own lives 
 or liberties-^ to redeem his. This was what Jofepli wanted ta 
 know,, to fearcli their hearts and call forth every root of bitter- 
 nefs that might be conce.iled, that every feparate interefl arif- 
 ing from their having ditlcrent mothers might be deftroyed, i'o- 
 that be migtit be Enabled to return tliein unto his aged pa- 
 rent 
 
( 01 ) 
 
 rent cloathed in meeknefs, gentlencfs, and warni fratenva 
 love, 
 
 Jofeph loved his falher, the fpeech of Judah blew upon tlic 
 filial flame, it foewed him his aftcdionate aged parent ftili 
 niourninf;; over his abfcnt child, he could no loivj,er refrain, he 
 caufcd all the attendants to go out tVom him, he wept aloud, 
 and laid, " I am Jofep'.i ; doth my father yet live ? and his bre- 
 thren could not anfwer him, for they were troubled at his pre- 
 fence. And Jofeph faid unto his brethren, Coine near unto 
 me I pray vou, and they came near^ and he faid, I am Jofeph 
 your brother whom ye fold into Egypt. Now, therefore, be 
 not grieved nor angry with yourfelves that you fold me hither, 
 for God did fend me before you to preferve lite." 
 
 Much inftrudlion is contained in this account of Jofeph ; 
 the behever can but infer if Gou could ad by fuch intricate 
 providetice, to bring the brethren of Jofeph to bow down unto 
 him; cannot he a<5l by the fame myfterious c'.ian of providen- 
 tial circumflances to bring the Jewilh nation, the brethren of 
 Jcfus, to be troubled at the prefence of Jefus, to be aflonifhed 
 at their ingratitude to him, and to bow unto him with a volun- 
 tary fubje<ftion and pay full homage to his fceptre. If fuch an 
 intricate plot as this could be laid with fo much wildoin, and 
 carried on with fuch firm rcfolution by a man like ourfelves ; 
 fay cannot tlie true Jofeph, him whoconftituted the ages, can- 
 not he lav down fuch a plan and caufe it to take place as fhall 
 bring his brethren after the flcfh to bow down unto him. How 
 are ye flow of heart to believe all that Gotl hath fpoken by his 
 fervants of old concerning Jcfns the McfTiah. whofe name is 
 exalted liigh above every name in heaven and on earth, that 
 he may accomplilh the glorious plan of reftoration which the 
 immortal Fatl;er harh contrived for all his creatures. ^V"hat an 
 aftonilhing fcene will that be, when the prefent midnight 
 fhades of mental darkncfs (lull dllappear at the brightnefs of 
 the fplendor of Jefus of N:r/,arcth, when he ccmcth in all the 
 glory of his Father, attended by the ini.umerable holl. of firft 
 born faints and holy angels. 
 
 When Chrift Cni\ came, his bretliren knew him not; they 
 (aw him him only as the fon of the Carpenter. In like man- 
 ner, when the brethren of fofeph went down into Egypt, 
 they knew not Jefeph, they law in him the Lord of Egypt, 
 but they beheld not in him their brother, all was dark and 
 wonderful, they were aftoniHied other Grangers fliould be 
 permitted to buy corn, but that they fliould be accounted as 
 ijpics, that he iliould permit them to carry corn home with 
 N 2 them 
 
( 02 ) 
 
 them to their families, and yet detain Simeon from them. So 
 when Jefus came he healed tlieir fick ami fupphcd their wants, 
 but concealed himfelf, the\ law not in his pcrfon the glories of 
 the Mefliah, they uifcovered not in him the pomp, the fplen- 
 dor, or outward dignity of the feed of David, the ruler of the 
 world, and in confequence thereof they reje6^ed hitn. There- 
 fore, becaufc they reje6ted in the perfon of Chrilt the counfel 
 of God againft themfelvcs , they have been now for .nany ages 
 paft, fcattered abroad over the face of the whole earth, the 
 fcorn, the reproach and contempt of mankind. Still they re- 
 main the brethren of Jefus — all their ingratitude and blafphe- 
 mous reproaches have not dcflroyed his fraternal affection for 
 them — he hath brought them into great diftreffes and will con- 
 tinue to bring them into greater ; nothing they have ever yet 
 fuffered is to be compared with what remains for them to fufFer, 
 as appears by comparing the prophecies of EzekicI with thofc 
 of Zechariah. Then at the moment of their diftrcfs fliall the 
 Lord even Jefus appear as their Saviour. Othenhow will their 
 hearts be troubled when he fliall fay I am Jetus, Jefus v;hom 
 you mocked, ridiculed, fpit upon, reproached ! Jefus whom 
 ye crucified, whofe name you have held in abhorrence, whofe 
 love you have negledled and defpifed ! Aftonifliment and 
 weeping (hall take hold of them — no wonder when memory re- 
 calls all their paft ingratitude, when recolk6lion caufesall their 
 folly and all their crimes to appear before them ; no wonder 
 that overpowered with (hame and deep contrition, every family 
 and every individual fliall feek the inmoft retirement to pour 
 forth their fupplications to that brother whom they have def- 
 fpifed and rejeded, no longer (hall they refufe to pay obedience 
 unto him. 
 
 Judah could make a fine oration, but when he knew it was 
 Jofeph whom he had addreffcd, he could fpeak no more. So 
 {hall it be with the Jewilli nation in that day, when they fhall 
 look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn. No more 
 will they attempt to plead their own innocence, and indire6tly 
 caft the blame upon him with a *' thou faidell: unto thy fer- 
 vants," but confcioufnefs of guilt and heartfelt contrition will 
 Utterly filence cvjcry defence, with Lord be merciful tome a 
 fmner. 
 
 Every punifliment God inflicts is full of love, all is intended 
 to fubdue and humble, that the rebel may know his own heart, 
 snd feel the plague of it that he may be healed. Great is the 
 rnalignity of fm, it is of a hardening nature, it groweth upon 
 the habits till it contaminates the (bul of man. It becomes re- 
 
 quifite 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 quifite to man that he iliould fufFer that he mny ccafc from fin, 
 and the fame afflidlions which lend to humble the pride of the 
 huniun heart, tend to fubdue at the fame time the whole foul 
 of the liiiner into pcrfe(5l obedience to the fceptre of Jefus. 
 Jofcpli appears to have had as httle of envy, guile, pride, and 
 revenge in his compofition as any man whatever ; his foul oa 
 the contrnrv. feems to have been fonned for love and friend- 
 Ihip, yet he found it necellary to purfue for feme time this 
 rough my flerious treatment of his bretlircn ; he Jinew that envy, 
 hatred and malice had guided their at^tinns, and that fuch paf- 
 ilons were contrary to brotherly love, to domeftic felicity, to 
 virtue, to prefent enjoyment and to future glory ; his fraternal 
 affedion and his wiidom led him, therefore, to the exercife of 
 his power, that he might correal every evil principle that muft 
 otherwife have been a bar to their happineis ; he longed for 
 them to be in fuch a ftate that he migiit mingle his foul with 
 theirs, and have mutual flux and reflux of pure uncontami- 
 nated fraternnl love from the heart. Thus it is with Chrifi and 
 his brethren the Jewifh n;uion ; therefore, it was under his di- 
 rcv^lion that Jerufalem was furro-jnded by the Romans, he favv' 
 the wives of his brethren hill and eat their own oflspring ; it 
 was uncier his infpedlion that the walls of his beloved city was 
 furroundcd by the bodies of his crucihcd brethren, and greater 
 miferies than thefe by his appointment Ihall take place. Yet 
 he loved them, he wept over them, he died for them, his heart 
 is not changed, he ftiJl coinpafiionates their diftrefles whilfl: he 
 inflicts tliem. It is therefore from his love that they fpring — 
 the ha?diiefsof their hearts necdeth fuch fevere afllidions to 
 foften and fubdue them ; all the kind adls that he could poflTibly 
 have exh'bited, would never make them lubmit, but when they 
 are come tlirough their own guilt and folly to their vvorfl: 
 eftate, and as a nation are about to be deftroyed, his rtiewing 
 himfeH in the air as their Saviour, and bringing them a full de- 
 liverance, appearing in all tlie glory of his Father, attended by 
 angelic liofts with the fird born ions of God, exhibiting his 
 lianus and feet and fide pierced and wounded for them, this 
 Ihall indeed overpower the ftubbornnefs of their hearts, and 
 bring them with contrite hearts joyfully to fubmit themfelves 
 unto him, and if the Jewilh nation who have hitherto relifted 
 every offer of mercy, can be brought to a voluntary fubmiirioii 
 to the Son of God, I have no bciitation upon my mind con- 
 ccaning the full falvation of the Gentiles. 
 
 Our Lord favs, if the mighty works which he wrought in 
 Canaan, had been wrouglit amongfl the heathen in Sodou), 
 
 G'jmorrah, 
 
( 94 ) 
 
 Gomorrah, or Nineveh, they would have long fmce repcnfcd 
 in I'ackcloth and afties. If Jefus, therefore, knew how to 
 bring down the ftubbornnefs of their hearts, how eafily can he 
 lubdue the hearts of all mankind. If he will be gracious to 
 that ftubborn hardened nation, will he not have n°ercy upon 
 all and pour forth a fpirit of prayer and fupplication upon all ; 
 but Chriftians are fond of faying all, all, inviting all, intreat- 
 ing all, and promifing all, and yet by all meaning only afmall, 
 puny, pitiful, little petty circle, and not like the fcriptural, a 
 circle enclofing within it the vaft circumference of creation. 
 The goodnefs, juftice, and mercy of God muft all harmonize 
 together, then every attribute of Jehovah will fhine in perfc6t 
 fplendor and none of his attributes eclipfe each other. In the 
 means to and final accompliflimeut of the full reftoration of all 
 the creatures of God, none can flievv which is the greateft, his 
 wifdom, his power, or his love, but all aie equal for in all hjB 
 is infinite. 
 
 Let me recommend to your further and more leifurely con- 
 fidcration the charader of Jofeph, who is the greateft of all 
 the fcriptures types of Chrift Jefus, excepting Mofcs— but Jo- 
 feph anfwers to the charader of Jefus in fiftv inftances. 
 
 Now unto the king, eternal, immortal, invifible, the 
 •nly wife God, be honour a»id glory to the ageof ages. Amen ! 
 
 SERMON 
 
SERMON VII 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 ELIUNAN JP7NCIIESTER, 
 
 [never before published.] 
 
 HOSEA XIII. 14. 
 
 J wiU ranfom them from the poucer of the grave : I will 
 redeem them from death : death ! I will he thy 
 plagues ; grave ! I will he thy deJirnBion ; repent- 
 ance Jhall he hid from mine eyes. 
 
 IT will be neceHary rightly to underfland thefe worJs, to 
 confider them in conneiStion witli the whole of the pro- 
 phecy. God was fpeaking of a rehellious people that he was 
 determined to deftroy ; notwithftanding all his invitations and 
 promifes, exhortations, and thrcatenings, they ftill continued 
 rebellious ; hardening themfelves in iniquity. *' They fin," 
 I'aith God, *' More and more, and have made them molten 
 *' images of their filver, and idols, according to their own un- 
 *' derfbnding, all of it the work of the craftsman ; they fay of 
 *' them, let the men that fncrihce kifs the calves," It was 
 from the iniquity of the Ifraelites, that the anger of Jehovah 
 was kindled ; tliey having refilled his offers of mercy, he be- 
 begins toincreafe the fevcrity of his threatenings, and tells them, 
 *' They fhall be as the morning dew, that paffeth away ; as 
 ** the chafF, that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor ; 
 ** and as the fmoke out of the chimney." 
 
 Jehovah had long been gracious unto them, lie had given 
 fertility to their fields, he had bleffed the labour of their hands ; 
 traffic had increafed their merchandize, the hand of his Provi- 
 dence had poured plenty into their lap, they enjoyed his bene- 
 ficence, and " According to their paflure, 'io were they filled ; 
 
 thev 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 they were filled, and their heart was exalted : Therefore*' faith 
 Jehovah, " have they forgotten me." Awful confideration ! 
 the ox knoweth his owner, and the afs liis mafler's crib ; 
 hut Ifrael did not know the hand that liberally fupplied all his 
 wants. The fons of men fcarce ever confider from whence 
 their bleffings are derived. They get exalted, and their hearts 
 are lifted up, and God their maker is difregarded. 
 
 God will be known amongft his j)eople, his name fhall be 
 exalted amongft all the nations ; if his goodnefs leadeth them 
 not to repentance, his afRidtive difpenfations, fliail manifeft his 
 power ; the ftubbornnefs of all the enemies of Jehovah Oiall be 
 lubdued ; they fhall behold his love and kils the rod that fmote 
 them ; for they fhall be fmitten according to the hardnefs of 
 their impenitent hearts : for they trcafure up upito themfelves 
 wrath, againfl the dav of wrath. Thus did Ephraim of old ; 
 it was the iniquity of Ephraim, that occafioned the denuncia- 
 tion of the awful judgments that Jehovah by his Prophet, de- 
 nounces againft them- It was this that as it were, forced the God 
 of love to fav, '* I will be unto them like a lion ; as a leopard 
 *' by the way, 1 vvill obferve them, I will meet them as a bear 
 *' bereaved of her whelps, and vvill rend the caul of their heart ; 
 *' there will I devour them like a lien, the wild beaft (hall tear 
 '* them." What language can more fully fpeak fentimentsof 
 revenge ; love unreturned, breaking forth like a fire. It 
 feems as though Jehovan, having now cxhaufied all his pa- 
 tience, was determined to fweep them entirely away with the 
 befom of deliru61ion. But immediately after this awful de- 
 nunciation of vengeance, mercy comes flowing in, in a ftrong 
 and overflowing tide. " O Ifrael ! thou haft delhoycd thyfelf, 
 hut in me is thine help." Artonifhing thought ! it explains the 
 whole caufe of the evils that befall mankind. Thou haft def- 
 troycd thyfelf, no fatality, no decree, no abfolute ncceflfity 
 for men or nations to fin and ruin themfelves; No ! it is their 
 own free choice ; happinefs is before them if they will but feek 
 the good of others, if they will but trace out the revealed con- 
 du6t of God, aivd imitate it. But they feek their own ad- 
 vantage, their o\\i\ glory. In their public and private con- 
 du6t, even in their fulcmn adoration of Deity, they vvill purfue 
 their own vain imaginations, and not the laws of their Maker, 
 irhcy corrupt their uudciftandings, their do6trines, their wor- 
 {hip, their pra6lice ; tlity deftroy themfelves. Tiie leaft de- 
 viation from truth, is a dcviarioij from wifdom and from hap- 
 piyefs, and muftincrcafe till mifery and dtftru6tion enfue, un- 
 lets the arm of Jehovah turn the overwhelming tide with the 
 
 rock 
 
( 97 ) 
 
 rock of affliction. The Jews of old deviated from the wor- 
 fhip appointed by God; and they deviated not out of contempt, 
 but that they might honour him : they had his v^^ord, but ftu- 
 died it not. It was thus that Micah made the molten image, 
 and appointed a Levite to be the prieft of Jehovah ; and thus 
 onward they went, by little and little, adding to, or diminifliing 
 from his law, till gradually they fell into grofs idolatry, and all 
 its abominations. In like manner the church of Chrift thought 
 to honour God by adorning the fimplicity of his worfhip with 
 Jewifli ceremonies ; till, at lafl, they ere(9:ed the throne of an- 
 tichrift in the temple of Jehovah; whil ft error, fuperftition, 
 and abomination ri vetted the oppreflive chains of perfecution, 
 fubftituting found for fenfe, fhew for religion, ignorance for 
 wifdom, till they had totally deftroyed the purity and fimplicity 
 of divine truth. Happy indeed is it for the church of God, 
 that though they deftroy themfelves, in him is their help. 
 
 " I will be thy king," faith Jehovah to Ephraim. " Where 
 is any other that can fave thee in all thy cities ? and thy 
 judges, of whom thou fai^jft. Give me a king and princes? 
 1 gave thee a king in mv anger, and took him away in 
 my wrath." Jehovah here reprefents himfelf by way of 
 contraft, gratifying the defires of his people in giving them a 
 king — one chofen from amongft thofe whom he appointed as 
 judges and faviours to his people, under himfelf the Great 
 Judge and Saviour. Thefe kings had ruined them by their 
 foJIy, ignorance, pride, and ambition; he promifesto re-af- 
 fume his ancient title of Kingof.Ifrael— " I will be thy king;** 
 and, by the exercife of his fovereignty, to reftore his deflroyed 
 people to more than their ancient glory. He docs not fay, that 
 he wiir wait tijl they call upon him to retake his throne; but 
 he declares, that they fhall cat the fruits of their own felf-de- 
 pendence ; and that, when they have fufficiently fuffered, for 
 ever to ceafe from their £n, " I will," faith he, " be thy help; 
 I will come unto thee in the hour of extremity, manifeft my 
 loving kindnefs, and help and fave thee, O Ephraim ! I v/ill 
 not, as I have done before, give thee a king in my anger, be- 
 caufe of thy pride and felf-dependencc, and take him away in 
 my wrath becaufe of his rebellion againft me; but I will pity 
 thine afflictions; in mercy I will (end tliee a deliverer; one 
 who fhall not rebel againft my will; one who fhall promote 
 my glory amongft the fons of men; my loving-kindncfs (hall 
 eftablifh his throne; and to him fliall the nations of the earth 
 pav their tribute." 
 
 O « The 
 
( 98 ) 
 
 " The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up, his fin is hid. The 
 forrows of a travaihng woman fliall come upon him ; for he 
 fhould not ftay long in the place of the breaking forth of chil- 
 dren." Here God declares, that, in confequence of his folly, 
 death fhall be the portion of Ephraim. His iniquity is bound 
 up— -As a bag of money, according to the cuftom of the Eaft, 
 was bound up when its fum was con:pleted, fo was the iniquity 
 of EphraiTn; his Cm was hid; his punifoment cnfued : the 
 forrows of a travailing woman fhould come upon him : fa- 
 mine, fword, captivit'/, and peftilence, with all thei/ horrors, 
 fhould come upon him, becaufe he would not iubitiit to the 
 divine difpenfations ; he U'ould not bend his neck to the yoke 
 of divine government. 
 
 In the midft of thefe awful denunciations of judgment comes 
 in the words of my text—" I will ranfcm them from the pow- 
 er of the grave." It is eafy, by comparing the word heie ren- 
 dered grave, to prove that God, b^ his prophet, did not mean 
 to fay, that he would fnatch them from the deftruclion he had 
 threatened ; but, on the contrarv, that they fiiould fuffer, be 
 fwept off by death, and caft into hell, the place of punifhment, 
 and afterwards be redeemed from it ; for the fame word occurs 
 Pfalm ix. 1 8. " For the wicked (hall be turned into /;t7/, and 
 all the nations that foro;ct God;" as likewife in many other 
 places : the word, therefore means the receptacle for departed 
 fpirits : and as Ephraim was to be cut off for his fins, he 
 was to go to hell to be puniflicd for them, vet even there does 
 the promife reach. " I will raiifom them from the power of 
 hell;" the band of hell; which fliall, as it were, be clofed 
 upon them to hold them faff; I will open it; I will ranfom, I 
 will deliver them. 
 
 We fee, therefore, that it was in confequence of the folly 
 of Ephraim that he was condemned to death. He was an 
 Uiiv/ife fon. Alas ! his heavenly father had inflruiSted him in 
 wifdom, but he rejected the counfel of God ; he would walk 
 after his own vain imagination : he was indeed unwife, for he 
 fought for wifdom in his own headffrong will ; in doing what 
 he thought right in his own eyes. And may not this be the 
 cafe with fome of you ? In fo large a congregation it is not im- 
 probable but that there muft be fome unwife, headffrong chil- 
 dren ; felf-willed^ lovers of thcmfclves ; men and women who 
 have deffroyed thomlclves. Before I Iwiu my prefent views of 
 the love of God, I could not behold a large congregation with 
 my prefent feelings. I cculd but think on the many prefent 
 
 whQ 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 who were called to be partakers of future glory, and how very 
 few amonglt the number would become cho(en to that happy 
 fituation. "My foul v/as harrowed up with the horrid idea of 
 a dreadful eternity of mi(ery, forrow ever new, and anguifli, 
 pains, and groans for ever young. According to the views I 
 then had, I was more difpofed to weep over them than invite 
 them to believe : I confidered the muliitude of them as doomed 
 by the unfrurtrable will of eternal tate to never ending mifery. 
 And the j(<ys that arofe at the repentance of a few, v*'ere not 
 equal to the forrows of my heart for the cndlefs lufFcrings of 
 the many : the weight of the awful confideration was by far 
 more than a balance to all popular applaufe : I trembled at the 
 praifes of Tinners, who might, as 1 thought, be doomed to fuch 
 everlafting milery. 
 
 " I will redeem them from death." This cannot but imply 
 that Ephraim mull die ; that redemption fliould not take place 
 upon them in this life. " I will redeem them from death :" 
 they mult then be under the power of death, or they could not 
 be redeemed from it. Ephraim had finned gricvouilyj and the 
 fruit of fin is death, as naturally as that when a woman hath 
 conceived, fhc in due time bringeth forth her offspring. So 
 when fin is conceived in the heart, it goeth on to outward 
 adion, till the fruir, being fully ripe, it bringeth forth death. 
 This awful confideration is leldom in the heart of the Tinner, 
 when he is roiling the delicious moriel of iniquity beneath his 
 tongue, and crieth out " How fweet is it !" Little doth he 
 then think of the bitternefs, the woe, the mifery that will en- 
 fue. The talfe may be plcalant on the palate, but how bit- 
 ter is the digeftion of it. The eyes of the drunkard fpar- 
 kle with joy when he bcholdcth that the wme is red, when it 
 giveth its colour in the cup, when it moveth itfell aright in the 
 glafs J his heart pantcth with delight when he vicwcth the 
 Iparkling glalsj he feizeth it v/ith rapture, and with his whole 
 foul purfueth the feilive fcene. But death is in the cup ; his 
 eyes are inflamed with fire ; his fpirits are elated v/ithout caule ; 
 he feels fuperior dignity in his natuie j his underftanding is 
 darkened j his apprehcnfion is gone ; he taketU offence where 
 none was given ; his dignity is wounded : he findeth that the 
 pleafing poifon biteth like a lerpent : he hath woe, he hath for- 
 row : his fpirit is contentious, and his tongue talkative : he 
 gets quarreUome, and hath wounds without caule. He foi- 
 getteth the end of his manhood ; perhaps the wife of his bu- 
 Ibm is forgotten : he beholdeth a ftrange woman ; he longetli 
 for her embraces, and his heart uttcreth pcrvcrfe things : his 
 O 2 corporeal 
 
( lOO ) 
 
 corporeal faculties are weakened ; he roclceth about like the 
 waves of the ocean ; he is unfteady, like the vcllel that float- 
 eth upon its billows : his faculties are overpowered ; and al- 
 though by himfelf he complaineth of being beaten, he waketh 
 from the fumes of the v/ine, and is covered with aches and 
 bruifes ; whilft the fevered blood beats the aching temples in 
 its impetuous courfe. It is not drunkennefs alone that bring- 
 eth its punifhment with it. No ; every vice is followed by 
 punifhment ; and every rational man cannot but difcern the 
 hand of Jehovah in caufing every perverlion of his gifts to be 
 attended with pain. 
 
 I made choice of this vice to illuftrate my fubje61:, becaufe 
 fome fuppofe it to be of fo trivial a nature, that God will not 
 regard it. They fay, If it is a fm, it is only a fm againfl 
 themfelves ; but if they trace out its pernicious confequences, 
 they mufl. find that it extends its baneful influence from them- 
 felves to all around them, and renders every one dependent 
 on them miferable : it deftroys the underllanding, and renders 
 the governing ima2;e of God lefs than a beaft. To his cofl 
 every one who delighteth habitually to put the bottle to his 
 mouth, and is mighty to drink ftrong drink, fhall know, that, 
 by his habitual drunkennefs, he bath fliut the gates of the mil- 
 lenial kingdom againft himfelf: he fhall tremble and be afto- 
 nifhed when he findcth that his name is enrolled with the for- 
 nicator, adulterer, and murderer. If this fin is fo fevercly. 
 threatened in the Scriptures of truth, what fhall we fay of the 
 profane fwearer ! The drunkard may perhaps plead the fever 
 of his body which maketh him to crave the liquor to quench 
 his thirfl ; he may perfuade himfelf that his health requires 
 it ; and if he is overtaken by drunkennefs, it was unintention- 
 al ; but the fwearer, the man who lightly taketh the name of 
 his Maker within his polluted lips, or dares madly to wifli 
 curies upon his fellow-creatures, ftands without excufc. No 
 temptation whatever has he to plead as an alleviation of his 
 ^uilt. If he believes there is no Gcd, or no future punifh- 
 nient, he cannot but be confidered as a fool for ufing words 
 without meaning; and if he beheves that there is a God, his 
 bold, blafphemous impertinence muft merit the fevereft punifh- 
 inent at his hands in the day that he cometh to punifh the un- 
 godly, and them who know him not. 'J'he common fwearer 
 IS guilty of a crime that Satan and his fallen hoft would trem- 
 ble at : bad as they are, there is not a devil that would execrate 
 himfelf-— not one amongit thofe impure fpirits that would call 
 down damnation on his own head. No ! they exped the awful 
 
 prifon 
 
( >oi ) 
 
 prifon of hell with folemn horror ; they tremble at the nanie 
 of Jefus ;' they dread the day when he fliall fit in judgment 
 upon them ; and amongll: all their millions there is not one 
 that invocates upon his head the vengeance of the living God. 
 — O man, thou huft efpied the iniquity of the infernal hod, 
 and thou confignclf them^ without pity, to unceafmg tor- 
 ments, vet dareft to expect pardon thyfclf, even when thou 
 fmneft far more than the unhappy inftruments who fcduced 
 thee from thy allegiance ! Where is the man that would con- 
 tinually mock the name of an earthlv monarch in his prefence? 
 Where is the man that would be (o ungrateful as continually 
 to ridicule his benefactor ? If fuch infiances cannot be pro- 
 duced, every reflecting mind cannot but pronounce the com- 
 mon fwearer to be the maddeft and moft ungrateful of human 
 beings : he mocketh the fovereign Monarch of all nature, and 
 turns into ridicule bis Creator, Preferver, and daily bountiful 
 Benefactor. 
 
 Numerous, indeed, awfully fo, are the iniquities that will con- 
 sign men to the fecond death ; all liars (hall have a part in the 
 lake that burneih with fire and brimflone ; none ihall enter into 
 the holy city that lo\eth or maketh a^lie It is a folema 
 thought, when we come to confider how this vice intermin- 
 gles itfclf with all the concerns of mankind. Behold the 
 Itatefman, the nobleman, the gentleman, the merchant, the 
 tradefman, the mechanic, high and low, rich and poor, each 
 and all have their refpective hes of bufinefs, of poiitends, and 
 of folly : no ftation leeineth free from it; it feems to have be- 
 come a part of education ; efteemed neceflary, even by men 
 calling themfelves Chriftians, to lie with a good grace ; and 
 whilft they are ready to murder the man viho chargeth them 
 with the crin?e, they feel no compundtion of hea-'t if it is not 
 found cut : and ;f they have fufticient impudence to avov/ their 
 wickednefs, tlicy boaft of it as their glory, I dare not fay that 
 fome lies poiTefs not Icfs guilt than others ; but this I dare fay, 
 that no one who loveth or maketh a He fliall have a part in the 
 holy city. Chriftian, dare to refle6t before you fpeak. Better 
 indeed would it be to fuffer death than to fpeak fallfihood, and 
 lofe an habitation in the New Jerufalem, in the city of the liv- 
 ing God, which Cometh down from heaven. God is truth, 
 but the liar is untruth ; he is therefore diametrically oppofite to 
 God. One is light, and courts the clofelt examination ; the 
 other is darknef«, and avoids it. How then can light and dark- 
 ncfs have fcllowfhip with each othei? It is true, they are more 
 or lefs heinous as thev afFcci the liar or die fociety to which he 
 
 belongs, 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 belong?, or the world at large. Some lies involve men in 
 quarrels, maltce, and death ; others difturb the peace of fami- 
 lies ; others fet the vi'orld in arms, and cover the field of battle 
 with o;roans and blood and horror, whilft defolated nations 
 mourn over their deflrudtion ; others are for the fake of filthy 
 lucre ; they are diiSfated by felf love, and keep up the jealoufy, 
 the fufpicion, the mirtrufl of mankind ; others fpring from 
 pride of heart; and, to prevent the condemnation of man, men 
 fooliflilv dare the condemnation of Ciod ; others fpring from 
 the love of lau;:hter; and the merry foul awfully weighs his 
 fpiritual inheritance againft a joke ? Alas! alas! who fhall 
 trace out the falfehoods of the human heart and human tongue ! 
 The guilt of them all muil: be according to the malice of the 
 offender, and the extent of the confequences. But when we 
 confider the dangers to which men are expofed by habit, by 
 inclination, by occupation, and by their pafTions, we cannot 
 but obferve the wifdom of that faying of the apoftle James ; 
 *' If any man offend not in word, the fame is a perfect man, 
 and able alfo to bridle the whole body." Almighty Father, give 
 us more holv refolution that we may at all times fpeak the 
 truth ; what we would wifh thee to hear, what we may not 
 repent of when we fliuU be called to appear before thee to 
 give an account of the deeds done in the body. 
 
 Defpifing the gofpel and rejecling the offers of pardon made 
 unto man by Chrilt Jelus our Lord is another crime that fhall 
 incur the penalty of the fecond death. When men who have 
 received the gofpel can become fo hardened in unbelief as to 
 trample under foot the fon of God, and to account the blood 
 of the covenant wherewith they were cleanfcd an unholy thing, 
 it is not to be wotidered at that fuch characters muit meet 
 with fevere punifhmcnt. They are fick unto death, and yet 
 the only remedy that c?.n reftore them to healtii the\' reject : 
 they muft futtcr the pains that their mental difeafe occalions, 
 till fuch time as that they feel and tremble v/ith horror at its 
 awful pangs, and gladly take hold by faith of that remedy 
 which the merciful compalTion of their heavenly Father pro- 
 videth for their difeafe. If a man will defpife the faithful in- 
 llruftion given him in the facred v»'ord, there is a great danger 
 of that man's finring unto death ; for if they who defpifed 
 the law of Mofes, died without mercy, of how much forer 
 punifhment muft that man be thought worthy v.-ho rejeds the 
 ion of God, and tramples upon the mercies of divine good- 
 ncfs ; who, when God hath made known his love by the gift 
 of his fon, and he, having believed the divine report, brought 
 
 forth 
 
( '03 ) 
 
 forth fruit unto life, and, through faith, tafted, by that hoj>e 
 which fuileth not, of the power of the age to come, having, 
 even in this mortal ftate, realized by faith the glories of the 
 kingdom of the MefTiah ; if fuch a one turns back into the 
 kingdom of Satan, through the terror of man, or the powerful 
 efFecls of filth lucre, the impulfe of his paffion*--, or any other 
 overcoming evil, there remaineth for him no more facrifice for 
 Im ; he hath rcjeiStcd the pardon freely bcftovved upon him by 
 his fovereign ; he hath treated his favours v/ith contempt : he 
 hath rebelled againlt his iVIakcr, his Redeemer, his Beiiefa(51:or, 
 and his Sovereign : he mull: fufter the penalty due to his crime ; 
 the fecond death and all its infernal horrors awaits him ; hell 
 is now heating for him— for" him, and for every wilful tranf- 
 greflbr fhall the cloud capped mountains, the mighty con- 
 cave of this hollow globe, with all the beauties of art and na- 
 ture be diflblved into one unconfined deluge of burning lava, 
 the awful lake that burneth with fire and biimftoce throughout 
 the age of ages, which is the fecond death. 
 
 All unrepented fin leads down to death. Awful thought ! 
 — All fin is a deviation from truth; ever}' individual devi- 
 ation leads the mind of the deviator into darknefs ; and, 
 through the (hades that cover his path, he makes anotier falfe 
 Itcp, and from that another, till at laft he flumbles on the gates 
 of hell and death. Thus David finned when he deviated Irom 
 that firmnefs with which he ought to have held the reins of his 
 go\'ernment, when he omitted to punifh Joab for the murder 
 of Abner. As the reprefentative of Jehovah the king of 
 Ifrael, he ought not to have faid, " Ye fons of Zeruiah are too 
 hard for me," but to have enforced the law, and caufcd the 
 nriurderer to be put to death, that ihe land might not become 
 polluted with blood: but David from fear deviated from his 
 duty. And alas !" who is there aniongll us, that, in the fame 
 fituation, might not have done the fame ? But when we fee 
 the upholding hand of Jehovah, and the awful confequences of 
 difobedicnce, we may have our integrity prcferved. To this 
 one weak flep of David may be attributed the future daring 
 ambition of Joab, the inceft of /..mon, the fratricide and im- 
 piety of Ablalom, and all thofe troubles that fh K'k the throne 
 of David to its centre, and filled his houfe with adultery, with 
 rebellion, and with death. Repent then, of all your iins ; think 
 o\er frequently your pnft tranfactions j weigh them in the ba- 
 lance of the (anctuary, and i;;reatly dare, in all yojr adlions, to 
 manjfcll yourfclves the djfciples of the fon of God, and prefs 
 Jorward after a crown that fadcth not away. 
 
 But 
 
( I04 ) 
 
 But what death is that to which Ephraim was fentenced, and 
 from which he has here the promif? of dcHverancc ? Some fay 
 it is natural death. But what righteous man would expe6l de- 
 liverance from that? Would the all- wife Jehovah fpeak of 
 natural death as the moft dreadful of all puniftiments ? Too 
 many of the giddy and thoughtlefs of the mafs of mankind, 
 laughing at it, meet it with unconcern, whilft the righteous, 
 who know the terrors of the law, and the glories of the age to 
 come, fufFer it. What is natural death but an extinction of 
 the prefeot fcene of things ; in itfelf it implies not pleafure or 
 pain. All muft die — the high, the mighty, and the noble, 
 with the beggar, the mifer, and the contemptible— It is the 
 lot of humanity ; and can this he holden up by Jehovah as a 
 peculiar punifhment that fhould fall upon Ephraim? " I will 
 tear them like a lion." What, by natural death ? iSo Jehovah 
 hath already torn Noah the righteous man, who alone was 
 found worthy to be preferved when a world was cut off. So 
 he deftroyed Abraham his friend, Alofes the holy maa with 
 whom he converfed face to face. This deflrudlion of Ephraim 
 muft therefore be fomething more awful than natural death ; 
 for all muft die ; and in itfelf death is not a punilhment. If, 
 therefore, the death of the body had been all that was threat- 
 ened to befal Ephraim, it would not have been any threat to be 
 heeded; for where is or has been (except Enoch and Elijah^ 
 the man who did not expeft death ? 
 
 The prophet fpeaks of the iniquity of Ephraim as fully 
 compleated — " The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his 
 iin is hid." According to the cuftom of the merchants of the 
 Eaft in their traffic, the money was told out, it was then put 
 into, a bag, which was bound up, it was marked and fealed, 
 
 and it palled current without any future infpeclion 
 
 Thus God reprefents himfelf as having told out the iniquities 
 of Ephraim ; the number of them was compleated ; he there- 
 fore had (ftill keeping on the funile) bound up the bag, and 
 laid it by in a place of fecurity, not to be increafed by an accu- 
 mulation of additional guilt, nor to be diminished by the fm- 
 fubduing fruits of repentance. 
 
 Yes ; " the iniquity of Ephraim was bound up ; his fin was 
 hid," His guilt being compleated, vengeance was gone forth; 
 and the prophet fpeaks as feeing the juft judgments of the Al- 
 mighty as having fwept him away from the world, and placed 
 him in a place of confcious cxiftence and direful fufFerings — 
 " 1 he forrows of a travailing woman fhall come upon him : 
 jhe is an unwifc fon j for he ihould not ftay long in the place 
 
 of 
 
( 105 ) 
 
 ^f the breaking forth of children." Here we behold the caiifc 
 aiul the cfFecl---Thc cauft: of Ephraim's dc(l-ru6lion whs his 
 folly; he leaned unvvirdy to his own ways, and finned; and 
 the confequence that followed was, that, after repeated warnino-s 
 and checks, he was fwept from the earth by the providential 
 conducl of God, in war, pcftilence, and famine; and in his 
 future ftate was doomed to forrow, milery, and woe^ comjiared 
 to the pangs of a woman in labour. Compare this with the 
 fpccch of VVifdom, in the firfl chapter of Proverbs---" How 
 long, ye fimplc ones, will ye love iimpllcity? and the fcorncrs 
 delight in fcorning ? and fools hate knowledge? Turn ye at 
 my fcproof: behold, I will pour out n',y fpirit upon you ; I 
 will make known my words unto you. Becaufe I have called, 
 and ye rcfufed ; 1 have ftretched out mv hand, and no man re- 
 garded ; but ye have fet at nought all my counfcl, and would 
 none of my reproof; I alfo will laugh at your calamity ; I 
 will mock when vour fear cometh; when your fear cometh 
 like a defolation, and -.our delbuclion cometh as a whirlwind; 
 Avhcn -diftrefs and anguilh cometh upon you : then fliall they 
 call upon me, but I will not anfwer ; they fliall fuek me early, 
 but {hall not find me : becaufe that they hated knowledge, and 
 did not choofe the fear of the Lord ; they would none of my 
 counfel, they defpifed all my reproof; therefore (hall thev eat 
 of the fruit of their own way, and be filled v/ith their own 
 devices." Here is an awful description of the conduct of God 
 with the wicked in a future ftate. In the prefcnt period of 
 exiftence whofoever calleth upon him in the day of adverfity, 
 although he be a finning Ahab, or an impious Manafleh, he will 
 hear them, and be then" faviour ; but in that dread ftate, they 
 lliall call upon Jehovah, as Dives did upon Abraham, and he 
 will anfwer, *■' Becaufe I have called, and ye have refufed, — I 
 alfo will laugii at your calamity, I will mock when your fear 
 
 cometh." " Son, thou in thy life-time hadH thy good 
 
 things, but now thou art tormented." In the prefent ilate 
 of things, men fee not dillin<Slly the hand of Jehovah ia the 
 government of his providence ; but in the future ftate there 
 
 is, no infidelity-— the devils believe the tormented fpirit 
 
 beholdeth the hand cf Jehovah. God doth indeed there 
 meet his rebellious creatures as a lion; as a leopard he 
 obferveth them, yea, even as a bear that is robbed of her 
 whelps. Arrayed in terrors he meetcth them, and iubdueth them 
 till they tremble at his power. They call upon him tor mercy, 
 for pardon, for forgivcnefs. "• O tor a drop of water to cool 
 my tongue, for I am fore tormented in this flame !" Thus 
 P Jehovah 
 
( io6 ) 
 
 Jehovah leaveth them to feel pofitive pain, and with it forrow 
 and an2;uifli of heart for all that is paft. This deadens not 
 their feelings j no ! it awakens every tender fenfation of foul ; 
 it calls to mind each endearing tie that fweetened their paffage 
 through life; and with Dives, they are ready to call upon the 
 Father of Spirits to exert every natural, moral, and even pre- 
 ternatural means, to flop their much-loved friends in the mad 
 career of their impiety, and fnatch them from the painful fuf- 
 ferings of that death which the Scriptures call bvthe name of 
 deftruftion — that place of utter darknefs, where there is weep- 
 ing, wailing, and gnafliing of teeth. Solomon puts this lan- 
 guage in their mouth (Prov. v.); " How have I hated inftruc- 
 tion, and my heart defpifed reproof, and have not obeyed the 
 voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that in- 
 ftrucled me. I was almoft in all evil, in the midft of the con- 
 gregation and aflembly." Sinner, look here — Thou mayeft 
 hide thy fm in thy bofom, but the hand of Jehovah can fearch 
 it out; there is nothing hidden that fliall not be revealed, 
 however fecret thy conduct may be. If thou doft not now 
 repent, and forfake thy fms, though death and the grave cover 
 it, yet there, even in the gloomy manfions of death, the arm of 
 Jehovah (hall fliake thy foul, and, with horrid anguifh, bring 
 thee to mourn over thy pafl- mifconduil:, and acknowledge his 
 juflice whilft thou fhuddereft at thy paft iniquities. 
 
 This is a very gloomy fubjetSt, but how much more gloomy 
 muft it be to be a fubjefl: of it for days, for weeks, for months, 
 for years, nay, perhaps for ages ! How wile fhall we be if we 
 now flrive to avoid it ! We Jcnow that punifhment muft end, 
 becaufe it is of a corrective nature ; but it muft firft have an- 
 swered its end ; the fubje6\ of it muft not only fee and love 
 virtue, but muft loathe vice ; dread it as a ferpent, and flee 
 from the leaft appearance of it; obedience to God muft be 
 the only anxious defire of his heart, and his every thought muft 
 be love. Whether to bring the mind of the wicked to this 
 ftate will take a revolution of the earth when turned into a 
 lake of fire, or a fabbath of years, or a period of forty-nine 
 thoufand years, before the grand jubile is proclaimed, who can 
 tell ? Things revealed belong unto us and to our children, 
 but things that are concealed unto God. But though its du- 
 ration is concealed, its end is not ; and if we may judge from 
 the reft of the providential conduct of God, the work of re^ 
 ftoration will be gradual : for our Jehovah, although a con- 
 fuming fire, yet rewardeth every man accordiiig to his 
 works. 
 
 There 
 
( 107 ) 
 
 There are Come men who attempt to ridicule the Idea of 
 limited punilhment ; nothing can pleafc their imagination but 
 cndlefs, unceaiing horrors — fin and blalphemy increafing daily, 
 ages upon ages, without end ! O my foul ! enter thou not 
 into their melancholy fancies; but dwell upon the retributive 
 juftice of God, and fear his holy name. There is no occafioa 
 for the imagination to blow up the fire of hell into a hotter 
 furnace than God himfelf has made It, or to lengthen out its 
 duration — He has defcribed it fufRciently dreadful. Hear, O 
 finner, and tremble, and turn from thine evil ways, left thou 
 becomeft a partaker in the threatenings he has pronounced 
 airainft all that do evil. " Unto the wicked God faith, What 
 haft thou to do to declare my ftatutes, or that thou fliouldeft take 
 my covenant in thy mouth, feeing thou hateft inftrucfion, and 
 cafteft my words behind thee ? VV^hen thou laweft a thief, 
 thou confentedft unto him, and haft been partaker with adul- 
 terers. Thou giveft thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue 
 frameth deceit. Thou fittcft aiid fpcakeft againft thy brother; 
 thou flandereft thine own mother's fon. Thefe things haft 
 thou done, and I kept filcnce: thou thoughteft that I was al- 
 together like thyfelt : but i will reprove thee, and fet them in 
 order before thine eyes. Now, confider thl:-, ye that forget 
 
 God, lelt I tear in pieces, and there be none to deliver." 
 
 Dreadful thought ! thut Jehovah, the father of mercies, the au- 
 thor and fupporter of my exiftence, the God whofe very nature 
 is love— -that he fhould reprove me for my fins before men and 
 angels— -that he fliould lay open before me the wonders of his 
 providential care, and my repeated ails of tranfgreflion ; whilft 
 with horror I in vain attempt to turn from the loathfome fight. 
 You who have felt what a bitter thing It is to feel the anguifti 
 of an acculing confciencc, you can teftify, that this tearing 
 to pieces of the foul is, if poftiblc, ten thoufand times vvorle 
 than the moft cruel death. How many, to efcape the tortures 
 of their own heart, have attempted, by their own hands, to 
 flee from the fight ; but alas ! when at the bar of Jehovah, 
 none can deliver! the pangs muft be telt! whilft hell itfelf, 
 with wide extended portals, ftands ready to receive the unhap- 
 py fuffcrer, and increafe the anguifti of his mental pains by 
 pofitive fire ! Oh! 'tis a fearful thing to fall into the hands 
 of the living God. His gofpcl you have trampled upon, and 
 . treated his earneft invitations to accept of pardon, with con- 
 tempt. 
 
 When I confider the awful confequences, to the wicked, of 
 
 the dav of judgment, I think, and tremble. What, in the prc- 
 
 P 2 lent 
 
( io8 ) 
 
 fent ftate of exigence, can poflibly cprhpenfate for the loiTcs 
 that may befal me on that day, if 1 now do not make my call- 
 ing and ele6lion fure ? To have my Maker turn his back upon 
 me, and fay, I never knew^ )'ou ! To hear him order me out 
 of his prefence, as unworthy to fct my unhallowed feet in that 
 holy citv where he dclighteth to dwell ; and not onU there to 
 lofe my portion, but to have my face covered with fliame and 
 confufion whenever I behold his glorious face; that face (o 
 glorious, that none on earth can behold it and live. To be- 
 hold the Saviour fitting upon the throne of judgment, and lee 
 him unfold the books which fhall call to light the fecret a6lion's 
 of my paft life, with all my public tranfgreihons ! Lord, keep 
 jiie from beholding my fecret fins in the light of thy counte- 
 nance. Who could endure that awful fight ! Who now can 
 behold himfelf, though but partlall ■, in the fecret moment of 
 private recollecTiion, and not be diigufted! But to fee all our 
 fecret fins, our impure thoughts, and unholy deeds, ftand in ar- 
 ray, whilit pride and felf-love flee away from the fight, and 
 leave us a prey to felf-contempt, calling upon the mountains 
 and rocks to fall upon u«, and hide us from the prefence of the 
 Majefiy of Heaven—-! 
 
 Many men are fond of drawing their companions into the 
 fame fins as themfclvcs arc guilty of. If you are determined to 
 make a trial of future judgment yourfelf, Oh, do not this ! The 
 confcioufnefs of your own guilt will be fully fufficient for you 
 to bear, without increafing your forrows by the aggravating 
 reflecSlions of your companions, whom you have made to be 
 partakers of your fufFerings. As the recolleifion of having 
 done good gives delight to the godlike mind, fo the reflection 
 of having occafioned others to fuffer evil, will prove more 
 troublefome than even all our own fufl-'erings. To look 
 around you on your former thoughtlefs companions, and fee 
 them weeping, wailing, and gnafhing their teeth, and to think 
 at that moment. Had it not been for me they might now have 
 been in a flate of blifs, enjoying the prefence of their Maker, 
 and doing his holy will ; but it was 1 that led them into evil ; 
 I taught them to laugh at divine mercA'. I have robbed them 
 of their purity, their happinefs, and glory; and caufed them, by 
 
 tny tranfgreflions, to be configned to this place ot torments 
 
 Oh, then, call no comj^any to traxel with you that downward 
 road. If you are rcfolved on hellj wifely dare to go alone, that 
 you may only have perfonal crimes to luftcr for, unaggravatcd 
 by thu accumulated guilt of others. 
 
 I will 
 
( I09 ) 
 
 1 will not arm this fccoivl death with more terrors than God 
 himfcU" has done. It is indeed an awful ftute ; but fome have 
 painted it with additional horrors, they have reprefented it as 
 Ujjceafing in its duration, and to be continually increafing it^ 
 its guilt and in its puni(hment ; each day adding frefli blafphe- 
 mies to tho'b that are pa(V, and God, in confequencc, adding 
 frefh fuel to their fire, whiHt the devil and his angels are the 
 
 inilruments in his hands of tormenting the damned fpirits 
 
 But where did they learn thele things ? Not from the Scrip- 
 ture ; that delcribes the punifhmcnt of the fecond death, but 
 mentions not any of thefe things: they are the flights of fancy, 
 the invention of fome melancholy brain, and received into the 
 church as truth in the days of antichrillian darknefs: as the 
 day of divme knowledge arifes, thefe clouds of fuperitition and 
 ignorance fhall pafs away. 
 
 Believers in divine re\'elation ought not to add to, any more 
 than they would diminifli from, the language of Scripture : they 
 fliould at leaft do the facred writings as much jullice as they 
 would the Commentaries of Ca^far, or the Comedies of Te- 
 rence ; was this the cafe, inflead of reprefenting the charaiSlcr 
 of Jehovah as that of an almighty revengeful tvrant, acting 
 towards his miil.iken creatures without any end, they would 
 behold in him a companionate father, whofe mercies tail not ; 
 a benevolent Deit. who loveth e\ery thing that he hath made, 
 whofe tender mercies are over all his works, rendering his 
 creatures lefs punifhmcnt than they deferve ; one whole wa- 
 kened wrath moveth with uiiwiliing feet, whilil his ready mer- 
 cies fwiftly fly. I know the terrors of the Lord, and would 
 not, for ten thoufand worlds deceive any man concerning 
 them ; neither would I blacken the character of my God by 
 painting it with aggravated horrors— everlafti ng woe, unceaf- 
 ing tortures, mifery whilft God exifts! — Where are fuch 
 words to be found ? Not in the language of divine truth, but 
 in the dodrincs of men. Wherever the word endhj)^ or evfr- 
 Idjling^ is found in the Scriptures, or any other words ot the 
 like import, their real meaning muft be determined by com- 
 paring text and context with the other paflages where the fame 
 words occur ; but that thev any \\here convev an idea of citr- 
 riit)\ I den)', and dare to challenge the boldeil: aflertorof the 
 eternity of hell torments to prove it. By the allertion they 
 deilroy the harmony of Scripture, erafe the promifes from the 
 word of God, conlound divine truth, open the flood-gate of 
 infidelity, and totally dcilroy the doitrinc of retributive juilicc, 
 
 Wltll 
 
( no ) 
 
 with the equality of the ways of Jehovah, the rcwarder of 
 every man according to his works. 
 
 But death itfelf fhall be deftroyed; for thus faith Jehovah 
 concerning Ephraim, whom he had caufed to fufFer the fecond 
 death, " 1 will ranfom them from the power of the grave." 
 This promife is full of grace and goodnefs, made uncondition- 
 ally to the mofi: wicked and rebellious of people, and (hews 
 forth the fovereign free grace of God in the moll: ftriking 
 manner. " I will ranfom," not the righteous, but thofe who 
 had forgot God their Saviour, who had broken his covenant, 
 who had defpifed his laws, who had negle6led his worfhip, who 
 had preferred the fervice of flocks and ftones to the obeying 
 the living God-— them, faith Jehovah, will I deliver from pofi- 
 tive pain, infiided as a punifhment for their fins. The hand of 
 hell was cloied upon them ; I will open it, iaith Jehovah — I 
 will ranfom them from its power — 1 will unlock its grafp, and 
 Ephraim Ihall be delivered. 
 
 This is an abfolute promife — " I wall ranfom them from 
 the grave;" not one condition is exprefled. I will do it, {aith 
 Jehovah; 1 m\felf ; not thine own meiit, nor the merit or 
 wifdom of others ; but I will ranfom them. I will not- enter 
 again into covenant v/ith them, upon the performance of the 
 conditions of which they fhall be delivered from their place of 
 jufFering; no, unconi'itionally, of my own free will, by my 
 own free grace, this rcbelliou;:, this difobedient, this gainl'aying 
 people, 1 will ranloin, faith Jehovah, fron\ the pov/er of the 
 grave; I will fit them for the enjoyment of life and happinefs > 
 1 will call them again mv children, and they fhall call me fatherj 
 for they fl^all be my people, and I will be their God. 
 
 I once did not behold the greatncfs of the divine love as I 
 now do, but verily thought that all fuch as were laved mulf 
 here believe in the Lord Jefus, and bring forth the fruits of 
 faith in holy obedience; all the reft I concluded would be end- 
 lefsh' cut off from peace and righteoufnefs and joy. Upon this 
 narrow leak, 1 cxclucicd millions of the human race from future- 
 tiiiis. Examine the bills of mortality, and you will fuui that 
 more than tv.o thirds of the children of men are favcd without 
 faith or obedience; witneis the infants who die under two 
 ^cars of age. If God could not fave without thefe, what 
 would become of them ? They cculd not either believe or 
 obey, and they mull; be loft; for in Adam all have finned-, 
 therefore, if faith and obedience here are abfolutely necefl'ary 
 U.r falvation, they- muff be excluded fi-om future biifs. The 
 
 makers. 
 
( I.I ) 
 
 makers of human articles of laith do not fee the awful extent 
 which the premifes they lay down mull lead to. Blefled be the 
 loving kindnefs of God my father, I fee thinj^s now in a very 
 different light ; I behold that he hath provided a Saviour, and 
 a great one; and that as they, poor hclplefb innocents, finned 
 in the loins of Adam without their coiifent or knowledge, in 
 like manner, without their confent or knowledge, he hath pro- 
 vided a remedy; and therefore, as in Adam all died, fo in Chrift 
 fhall all be made alive. Hence arifes the difference of the pro- 
 vidential conduct of God. On the infant who finneth with- 
 out his confent or knowledge, falvation is beftdwed without his 
 confent or knowledge ; but on fuch as have fmned with their 
 confent and knowledge, falvation cannot be beftowed but with 
 their confent and knowledge. A child of five years of age 
 has fome fmall fhare of underftanding ; from five to ten years 
 old, it is confiderably more ; they are capable of judoing be- 
 tween what is right and wrong, bad tempers and anions and 
 good ones. Suppose fuch to die ignorant of that falvation 
 which cometh by faith, would you doom him to endlefs un- 
 ceafing mifery ? Cannot tiie feather of fpirits find means to 
 reftore him to knowledge, purity, and peace? Surely he can; 
 in him all live, and move, and have their being; and as he 
 formed them for happinefs, fo he knoweth how to communis 
 cate it. 
 
 You fuppofe the gofpcl is preached to thofe who are grown 
 to years of difcretion; but they feem to flight it. They who 
 are come to years of maturity are capable of judging, and yet 
 fin with their free confent, and with their knowledge. This 
 •was the cafe of Ephraim ; he had the good news of falvation 
 preached in figures under the Mofaical difpenfation ; he rejedfed 
 the proffered mercies ; with the full {-.offcffion of his rational 
 faculties, he caff away divine truth from him. Now, if Jeho- 
 vah can fave an infimt under two years of age, without either 
 his knowledge or confent, and can bring the infantine and 
 youthful knowledge and confent of others to receive falvation, 
 has not he pov\er to fubdue the manly underflanding of his 
 creatures by ways that we know not fully, and joyfully, with 
 the utmuft: confent of their underftanding, to receive fal- 
 vation ? 
 
 But laying reafoning afide, the promife of Jehovah is abfo- 
 lute— " I will ranfom them from the power of the grase ; I 
 will redeem them from death. O death, i will be thy plagues ; 
 O grave, I will be thy defi:ru6fion ; repentance (hall be hid'frorai 
 nunc eyes." If the prifon is dcftroyed, the prifoner mufl be 
 
 free. 
 
( "O 
 
 free. Though Ephralm may be locked up in the prifons of 
 this eaith, in a prifon fo ftrong that no human arm can poflibly 
 tleHvcr him, yet, if Jefus, who has all power both in heaven, 
 earth, and hell, if he pull down the building, ilone by ftone, 
 iliall he not be able to unchain the unhappy luftl-rer, and ran- 
 fom hirn from the tyrant's power ? He both can and will do it ; 
 he will deliver the prifoner out of the pit in which there is no 
 water. " By the blood of the covenant he will flay unto the 
 prifoners Go forth." If we fawa prifon pulled entirely down 
 to the ground, fhould we have a doubt in our minds whether 
 or not any prifoners were confined therein? Molt undoubt- 
 edly we fhould, from the Hate of the prilbn, pronounce the imr 
 pollibility of the cafe. In like manner will the Father of Mer- 
 cies put it beyond a doubt whether or not there are anv un- 
 happy creatures in a Hate of fufFeringj he will deflroy the 
 prifon. " O grave I (or hell) I will be thy deitruclion ; 
 repentance fliall be hidden from mine eyes." I am glad to 
 obferve this palTiige here, becaufe it fully confirms the abfolute 
 and unerring certainty of the action. It is not faid, as when 
 God was about to dcftroy the earth, that he repented of that 
 which he had done ; but, on the contrary, that he will not only 
 perform that which he hath promifed, in deftroying hell and 
 death, but that all looking back with regret to that which he 
 had done fliould be for ever done away— ■ repentance fliould be 
 hidden from his eyes. 
 
 I daily make mv requefl to God, through Jtfus, who fhcd 
 his blood for us, that none who hear me may ever fall into 
 the condemnation of the fecond death ; for the pangs thereof 
 are av.'ful beyond the powers of human language to defcribe : 
 but we muft not difguife the truth ; though awful, they are not 
 eternal; they are a means to an end ; and in me it would be 
 fm was I to fay that God would Jiever reftore to immortality 
 imd blifshis punifhed fubdued creatures; for God hath promif- 
 ed to ranfom them from death, hell, and the grave. 
 
 I call upon m\ own foul, and upon all that hear me, conti- 
 nually to give God thanks for his great and precious promife 
 that he will dcftroy hell and death : not that I fear them ; for I 
 enjoy, through the favour of my God, that continual peace 
 th:^t none but he can give or take awav. It is not, therefore, 
 for fear, that I preach this dodlrine. I had hope in the pro- 
 mifes of my God, and enjoyed the full afllnance c^f faith, be- 
 foie 1 knew the extent of his love ; but the knowledge thereof 
 has widened my hope and flrengthened my faith. Seeing, 
 therefore, lo much power, wildom, and goodnefsj as I now do 
 
 in 
 
( "3 ) 
 in the Deity, I feel my thankfulnefs and love increafed ; and 
 knowing the terrors of the Lord, I exhort you to flee from the 
 wrath to come, and to lay hold on the age of life. 
 
 But fonie may fay, If this doctrine be true, why do not the 
 ■wife, the learned, and the good, the gofpel miniftcrs, the ferv- 
 ants of the living God, believe it? Alas! my friends, this 
 was the queftion the Pharifees of old put concerning the Mef- 
 liah — Have any of the fcribes and Pharifees believed on him ? 
 Our blefl'ed Lord referred them to Mofes and the prophets — 
 and to them do I refer you, with this obfervation, that it is evi- 
 dent, from the apoftolic writings, and thofe of the fathers, that 
 the doctrine is not new, but that thev believed it, taught it, and 
 lived under a fcnfe of the power of it. May you do fo, that 
 you may not be hearers of the word, but doers of it alfo ; that 
 you may be amongft the number of thofe who fhall form the 
 chain of true believers from the days of Adam to the fecond 
 coming of Chrift. 
 
 By this doctrine we are taught to know the charac- 
 ter of God, that it is love and wifdom— we difcern all the 
 
 mazes of divine Providence end in univerfal good and 
 
 even in the fevereft difpenfations we Itill behold him as our 
 Father. 
 
 This do£trine preferves the believer from infidelity; it takes 
 him by the hand, and leads him to the oracle of truth, and 
 caufes him to fee infinite wifdom and unboimded goodnefs in 
 the whole oeconomy of nature and of grace j the man who 
 from his youth had been taught this do6trine would not turn 
 infidel, feeing that he would behold in all the chaftifements of 
 God, both in this age and in the next, the good of the criminal 
 was one end intended. 
 
 It deftroys bigotry from the hearts of Chrlftians-.-it ends 
 their perfecutions. No wrath, no malice, no ftrife, no evil 
 fpeaking, no back-biting, can poiTibly remain in the bofoms 
 of thofe who receive the djcline in all its connections — they 
 are not of any party ; but of the great fe<St of the firft-born 
 whole names are written in heaven ; they are the difcipks of 
 Jefus, and all their ambition is to be found worthy to be called 
 by his name. 
 
 There is a meafure of felf, of pride, of perverted nature, in 
 
 every man, which muft be deftroyed, that God may be all in 
 
 ^11 : nothing is fo likely to eradicate thefe as the dodtrine of 
 
 God's Univerfal love. It is this alone that can harmonize 
 
 Q, the 
 
( 114 ) 
 
 the jarring parties of profeflors ; and when the watchmen 
 
 of Ifrael fee eye to eye then, indeed, fhall the earth be 
 
 covered with the knowledge of the glory of God. It is for 
 this purpofe, and not for the love of novelty or defire of 
 fame, that I preach this do6lrine. And it is my heart's 
 defire, that all the Lord's people may be prophets, teach- 
 ing the boundlefs love of God to the fons of men. 
 
 END OF THE SEVENTH SERMON. 
 
SERMON VIII, 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 ELHANAN fflNCHESTER. 
 
 [never before published.] 
 
 COLOSSIANS, I. 13. 
 
 Giving thanks unto the Father, mho hath made its meet 
 to be partakers of the inheritance of the faints in 
 light. 
 
 THE whole fentence, as Itftands in connexion, runs thus : 
 " For this caufe we alfo, fince the day wc heard it, do 
 not ceafe to pray for you, and to defire that ye might be filled 
 with the knowledge of his will, in all wifdom and fpi ritual un- 
 derftanding : that ye might walk, worthy of the Lord, unto all 
 pleafing, being fruitful in every good work, and increafing in 
 the knowledge of God ; ftrengthcned with all might, accord- 
 ing to his glorious power, unto all patience and long fuffering, 
 with joyfulnefs ; giving thanks unto the Father, who hath 
 made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the faints 
 in light ; who hath delivered us from the powers of darknefs, 
 and hath tranflated us into the kingdom of his dear fon j in 
 M'hom we have redemption through his blood, even the for- 
 givcnefs of fins." 
 
 This fentence contains almoft the whole of Chriftianity ; 
 for to be filled with all knowledge of the will of God, in all 
 wifdom and fpiritual underftanding-— to wall< worthy of the 
 Lord, unto all well plcafing— to bring forth abundantly the 
 fruits of good works---going on, continually increafing in the 
 knowledge of God — having the heart ihengtnened with the 
 glorious all-fupporting power of divine love, fo as to be ena- 
 0,2 bled 
 
( "6 ) 
 
 bled to endure the various viciflitudes and trials of life with 
 all patience, and long-fufFering with jo fulnefs— to give thanks 
 unto the Father, through the overflowing gratitude of the 
 heart, becaufe he hath made us meet to be partakers of the 
 inheritance of the faints in light-— having tranflated us out of 
 the kingdom of darknefs into that of his dear fon~-is, indeed, 
 to be grateful from a confcioufncf?, that, through the divir.e 
 favour, we are made partakers of all we can poffibly want to 
 make us holy here and happy hereafter. In whom we have 
 redemption through his blood, even the forgivenefs of fins. 
 But who is able to fpeak aright of thefe things ? Who can 
 fully defcribe the riches of divine grace that thele words con- 
 tain ? May the Father of mercies, by the enlightening ope- 
 ration of his fpirit, open our underfiandings, and caufe us fpi- 
 ritually to difcern the greatnefs of his goodnefs, that we may 
 indeed rejoice in his mercy, make known his truth, and live 
 to his glory, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. 
 
 It is not only one of the beft acquifitions, in point of its 
 confequences, to know the will of God, but it is one of the 
 mcft pleafmg : yet it is an acquirement no man can have any 
 chance of obtaining, with any tolerable degree of pcrfc61ion, 
 without the Scriptu^res. If we take a furvey of mankind, we 
 fhall find that the ignorance of favage nations increafes with 
 every generation--- the means of grace decreahng as darknefs 
 increafes. Their time is fo much taken up in the obtaining 
 of the neceflaries of life, that little time is left to trace up, 
 through, a chain of evidence from the woriis of creation, 
 the being of a God, and the knowledge of what he would 
 have us to do, or to le.ive undone, it is therefore a great 
 bleffino- to be pofl'efled of the revealed word of divine trutti j 
 for from the Bible a man may, with eafe, in a few days, learn 
 more of the nature of t!ie Deit , the government of his pro- 
 vidence, and his will concerning us, than, v.'ithout it, many 
 ages could teach the moft ftudious of men. For therein we 
 are taught what we ought to do, and examples are given to 
 us, not only in the condu6l of God, but alfo in the adions of 
 men— the happinefs that arifes from obedience is difplayed in 
 the moft ftriking light, as alfo the dreadi'ul confequences of dif- 
 obedience; no exaggeration, no fall'e colouring, nothing unna- 
 tural heightens the fcene, but all is fimplicity, truth, and na- 
 ture—all accords with the experience of all mcjv — In it we 
 have placed before us the promil'es of CjoJ, to animate us on 
 cur journey by holy hopes— hopes adapted to the defues of 
 every rational creature---fuitabl£ to the vvilhes of the moft 
 
 ijnoiant 
 
( '■•/ ) 
 
 ignorant or moft enlightened of men. In it are likewile the 
 threatening? of God— awful in their nature, but fuitabic to 
 corretfi the finner, and fufficient to deter all who rightly under- 
 Hand them, froii doing that which is evil-— and all is written 
 in the plaineft language; fuch, that any man, poflcfllng plaia 
 common fenfe, mav fully comprehend. If the tolly and wic- 
 kednefs of mankind had not caft a veil of obfcurity, b\' mif- 
 tranllation, fpiritualizing, and myftery, over the word of God, 
 vaft loads of annotations and commentaries would never have 
 been written — expofitions which confound the fmiple beauties 
 of truth, by multiplying words without wifdom. 
 
 If it is a bleiling to know the will of God, how much more 
 blcfled is it to be filled with the knowledge of his will in all 
 ivifdom and fpiritual under/landing I The natural man re- 
 ceiveth not the things of the fpirit of God, for they are foolifh- 
 nefs unto him ; .neither can he know them, becaufe they are 
 fpiritually difcerned. Of whr.t little avail, therefore, is it to 
 the natural man to be in poftdriop of the v/ill of God, fince, 
 it being contrary to all his purfaits, quite oppofite to all thofe 
 things from which he expe<Sls his happinefs, all its precepts, 
 hopes, and fears are difregarded as foolilhnefs : unbelief hides 
 the beauties of divine truth from him ; he follows the carnal 
 purfuits of his appetites, and relilhes notfpiritual enjoyments. 
 He-therefore mull be in poiiefiion of all wifdom and fpiritual 
 iinderftanding, to know the power of truths and ta^ reliflh it. 
 For as the members of the body have each their corporeal fa- 
 culty of hearmg, feeing, tafting, and fmeii.ij,, any of which 
 being perverted by difeafe or habit, the right exercife of thaf 
 faculty is deftroyed, until the evil that is in it is corrected — 
 even fo it is with regard to the mental faculties. Of what 
 ler\ ice is the poffeffion of the Scriptures to that man who 
 I'egards them, as a fealeJ or a ufelefs book ? The having the 
 wiil of God in his pofTeflion iS of no benefit to him if he 
 never examines it; it is a large fortune in the pofTeffion of a 
 man who neglects wealth, an.Tconfiders it as an ufelefs thing. 
 \n like manner, to be filled with all knowledge of the word of 
 truth, without having this knowledge in all wifdom and fpi- 
 ritual uodcrftanding, would be an u(ele(s pofleflion. Of what 
 avail would it be to know the letter of the word from the be- 
 ginning of Genefis to the end of the Revelations, without 
 loving that word, and wifely applying it to increale our faith, 
 encourage our hopes, give greater fervor to our love, regulate 
 our actions, and to bow down and fubdue every high and lofty 
 thought in full obedience to God ? Without all this the word 
 
 of 
 
( "8 ) 
 
 of divine truth In the head, is like riches in the pofTeffion of a 
 mifer, who has not the heart to make ufe of them : inftead of 
 a reward being obtained by his fuperior knowledge, it will 
 only increafe his condemnation. 
 
 Not being filled with the knowledge of the will of God, 
 in all wifdom and fpiritual underftanding, is the reafon that 
 many, who have been well acquainted with the outward letter 
 of Scripture, and have talked much about it, and have even 
 obeyed fome of its commands, and been looked upon by the 
 world as Chriftians, have neverthelefs turned away into infi- 
 delity. They never had entered into the fpirit of Chriftianity ; 
 they had not become one with the Father and the fon ; their 
 minds and their purfuits were not the fame ; they never had 
 fully entered into the fpirit of the truth : for if their heart had 
 been engaged in the fervice of God — if they had been filled 
 with all wifdom, and their whole fpirit had entered into the 
 underftanding of it — how great, then, would have been their 
 love to the word ! how inconceivably precious, would that 
 word have been unto them ! Happy, truly fo, is the man who 
 finds this wifdom, even the man who gets this Spiritual un- 
 derftanding : for the merchandize of it is better than filver, 
 and the gain thereof than fine gold ; fhe is more preci- 
 ous than rubies, and all the things thou canft defire are not ta 
 be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand, 
 and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of 
 pleafantnefs, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life 
 to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is every one that re- 
 taineth her. 
 
 To be wife unto falvation, what a blefling I The Scriptures 
 of truth are alone able to make us fo. It is aftoniftiing how 
 they raife, open, refine, and exalt the underftandings of 
 ■ thole who are converted by them, and read them diligently, 
 entering into the fpirit of them. I have been a happy witnefs 
 of their efficacious pov/er in enlightening the minds of thofe 
 who (at in darknefs. My eyes have beheld the men who, in 
 ■their natural or unconverted ftate, have, in their underftanding, 
 been but a degree above the brutes; but, having been brought 
 to the knowledge of the truth, and to a relifh of the word, 
 have acquiied an underftanding that has aftoniftied their for- 
 mer acquaintance, and a nobility and dignity of manners, that 
 has commanded the refpeil of mankind— -the word of God 
 has, indeed, poliftied both body and mmd, as well as fpirit. 
 Many indeed have been the inftances of men, who, without 
 natural gifts, without acquired knowledge, without eloquence 
 
 of 
 
{ "9 ) 
 
 of fpeech, or elegance of manners, from no other fource than the 
 Scriptures, have been the happy inftruments of turnins; many 
 from darknefs unto hght, and from the fervice of fm and Sa- 
 tan to love and ferve the only true God. This is the belt 
 proof that can be given of an improved wifdom. The tree is 
 known by it? fruits— -that underftanding is brought to the 
 higheft degree of perfeilion that does moft good : that man's 
 underftanding is the moll valuably cultivated whofe convcrfa- 
 tion tends moft to the elory of God and the welfare of man- 
 kind. ^ ^ 
 
 But why are we to be defirous of being filled with all wif- 
 do?n f Not to talk learnedly upon the truths of Scripture— 
 not to be able to difplay before the fons of men the acquire- 
 ments of our mind— but that ive may walk worthy of the 
 Lord. How great a thing is this ! how dehrable is the attain- 
 ment of it by a Chriftian ! Consider how great is the Lord! 
 how worthy to be feared, loved, revered, honoured, and obeyed. 
 There is not one of you but can preach upon this part of my 
 text. You all know what it is to walk worthy of the Lord ; 
 yea, there is not even a child here but knows what part of his 
 condudl would be unworthy of his earthly parent, and would 
 tend to caft a reflection upon him for the education he had 
 given him. You all know that lying, fwearing, ftealing, laf- 
 civioufnefs, uncleannefs, and every other vice, is unworthy of 
 a Chriftian. Not only- outward acls of wickednefs are un- 
 worthy of the Lord, but all wrong tempers, fulkinefs, anger, 
 wrath, malice, uncharitable or uncandid judgment— all thefe 
 are not worthy of a Chriftian : God is love ! they are contrary 
 to the nature of the Deity; they are unnatural in one looked 
 upon as a child of God. In a wicked man they are natural, 
 for they are diabolical tempers, and it is expedled that the 
 children of Satan fliould poftefs them. But peace, and love, 
 and joy, and righteoufneis, belong to the difciples of Jtlus ; 
 and that fervant a61;s unworthy of his Lord, who does not 
 poftefs them, and prefs daily after a more full attainment of 
 them : but he that has the contrary tempers, or commits fuch 
 unworthy actions, ought not to make mention of the name of 
 the Lord, left the unworthinefs of his conduit, fhould, in the 
 eyes of the world, call an odium upon his profeflion, and 
 tempt luke-warm profelTors to fm. When we refledt upon 
 the holinefs of the chara6ler of Jehovah, ■wre cannot but be 
 aftoniflicd at his forbearance in not puniftiing, by fome awful 
 judgment, fuch ungodly profeftors, that his own fpotlefs cha- 
 radler may be known to mankind. 
 
 To 
 
( I20 ) 
 
 To walk ivorthy of, the Lord is, in the whole of our con- 
 duel, to be holy, pure, free from evil in alkour actions, peace- 
 able, gentle, kind, afFedionate in al! our manners, virtuous, 
 good, benevolent towards all men, living to the praife and 
 glory of God our Father : thus did Jefus walk when upon 
 earth; he was hoi", harmlefs, undefiled, and feparate in all his 
 a(51:ions from the fmful conducl of the fens of men. His voice 
 was not heard in vain difputations, noify wranglings, and 
 brawls, and quarrels; but he was peaceable in his conduct, 
 gentle in his manners, tender-hearted, and full of pity, over- 
 flowing with aft'eiSlion, and the fmcereffc love, not only to 
 thofe who loved him, but to his enemies ; even to thofe who 
 reviled him, fpit upon him, fcourged him, and crucified him. 
 He was virtuous in all his condu£l:, and good in all his a6lions, 
 and like^God his father, v.'hofe tender mercies are continually 
 itreaming down upon the good and the evil ; fo was he, full 
 of benevolence to all ; and his outward adions were a con- 
 ftant manifeftation of the benevolence of his heart, in con- 
 tinually going about doing good. Now, all who are called 
 by the name of Chrill, fliould walk even as he walked — wor- 
 thy of the name of rChrift, as he walked worthy of the name 
 of God; commending our fouls in well doing unto every - 
 man's confcience. He, therefore, that would walk worthy of 
 the Lord, fliould make it his conftant ftudy, to regulate all 
 his words and works by this noble principle- —love to God 
 the great creator of all things, with all the heart, the mind, 
 and Icrength, and love to his neighbour as to himfelf. 
 
 That ye 7nay walk %vorthy nf the Lord^ unto allpleafing. • 
 
 JJnto all pleofi7ig of God. Now God cannot be pleafed 
 with him who believes on the fon of God, andyetobe\s 
 him not. We fhould not be pleafed v/ith a child, or fer\'ant,, 
 vho knew our will, and yet neg^eded the doing it-— and can 
 God our father be pleafed with us, if we have the knowledge 
 of his will, and yet neglect to obey it? Unto all pleafmg of 
 God ---No man can fuccced in pleafing God and man in all 
 his adions ; and tnat Chiiftian who would prefer man-pleafmg 
 to the pleafing of God^' is guilty of a fpecics of blafphemy 
 againft his Lord; blafiing the nime of Jefus his mailer, by 
 not caufing his adtions to reflcft upon mankind the conduct 
 of Chrilt Jefus. We fpcak not, therefore, as men-plcafersi 
 but as pleafers of God, even of him who tricth the reins and 
 the heart. If we pleafc God, we fhall pleale all that love God 
 and know his will : we fhall pleale the fon of God, even him 
 ^ho gave hiralelf a ranfom for us ; for whatfoever pleafeth 
 
 the 
 
C 121 ) 
 
 die Father, pleafeth the fon; and all that you do that dlf- 
 pleafeth the fon, difpleafeth the Father. If you love not 
 Chrift, and honour him not by your life and converfation, you 
 muft difpleafe the Father, who hath commanded all men to 
 honour the fon even as they honour the Father. If you do 
 thus walk worthy of the Lord unto all well pleafing of God, 
 you, by fo doing, plcafe not only the fon of God, but all 
 the holy angels, thofe pure and fpotlefs I'pirits, who continually 
 minifter before his throne ; their voices are in your favour; 
 they approve of your conduct, and fpcaic of your faith and 
 obedience in the courts of heaven. All the faints of God 
 will likewife be pleaibd with you ; they wi'l approve of your 
 walk, and earneftly defire for the inrollmcnt of your name 
 aniongft the fpiritual worfhippers of Jehovah, even the fpirits 
 of juft men made perfect. The faints below, who know the 
 will of the Lord, will approve of your conduct ; they know 
 that whofoeyer doeth the will of God iliall be accepted of 
 him ; they therefore take delight m feeing you walk, and in 
 beholding your upright converfation. Thus heaven and earth 
 fmile upon you— -the whole church, militant and triumphant, 
 are pleafed with you— -when your walk is fo worthy of your 
 Chrillian profefTion, as to be pleafmg unto God. Thofe who 
 Walk not worthy of their culling will not be pleafed, neither 
 will thofe who oppofe the golpel: in all probability they will 
 call your circumfpect conduct hypocrify. But what could 
 tempt you to hypocrify ? Nothing is to be expefted from the 
 world by the circumfpe6t Chriftian, but contempt, ridicule, and 
 reproach. Who would be an hypocritical Chriftian for the 
 pleafure of being confidered as the dirt and ofFscowering of the 
 earth ? And from God what could be expected by the hypo- 
 crite, but wrath and dreadful indignation ? If men were to 
 have ten thoufand pounds per annum for living a holy, devout, 
 godlike, humble, benevolent, uleful life, they might be tempted 
 to be hspocrites ; but where nothing is to be got, and much 
 to be loft, hypocrify canr.ct be expe«5ted to be very common. 
 Were men to be under the conftant apprehenfion of the Inqui- 
 fition, in cafe they made not a p; ofeilion of Chriftianity, they 
 might be tempted to be hypocrites ; but where the fear lays on 
 the other fide, and all the plans of pl.afurc, honor, and profit 
 are againft it, h)pocrify is not a very probable thing. Seeing, 
 then, that a man cannot gain an. thing from the world by reli- 
 gion, but has much to endure, it is not likely that, for the plea- 
 fure of enduring fufferings, men ftiould become religious hy- 
 pocrites j braving, for the fcorn and reproach of mankind, the 
 R awful 
 
( I" ) 
 
 awful indignation of ofFended Deity. Therefore, although I 
 have heard many charges brought againft people for religious 
 hypocrify, I believe them not, feeing that a man can get no- 
 thing by it ; and that, when known, he would be hated by 
 men in this life, and punifhed by God in the next. Too pre- 
 cife a Chr^flian cannot be in his obedience, and in every acStion 
 of his life, nnlefs, indeed, he add traditions to the pure word, 
 like the fcribes and pharifees of old. When we confider the 
 temptations to which we are expofed, in our friendlhip, our 
 vifitings, bufinefTes, and amufements, all call aloud unto us to 
 watch— for we cannot love God too much, fear him more 
 than we ought, or obey him too exactly. 
 
 But perhaps, fome will fay. If all my adtions require fuch 
 conftant attention to be paid them, I fhall grow weary in my 
 way : tired, and worn out with continual attention, perhaps I 
 fhall turn back into the world, and become an awful monu- 
 ment of divine iuftice. I am bold to tell thee, O doubting 
 Chriftian, if thine heart is right there is no danger; for the 
 things of God are eternally new— they leave no empty vacu- 
 um of the mind to be filled up; but give thee conftant em- 
 ployment, and increafed pleafurc in the doing of it. Thou 
 iliait have a peace in thy bofom that the world knoweth not of, 
 and pleafures that they cannot enjoy. When death hath clofed 
 thine eyes, and thou art admitted into the great family of the 
 firft-born, thou wilt find, that when ten thoufand years have 
 rolled away, with all thy increafed wifdom, thou wilt find thy- 
 felf but as an infant in point of knowledge ; the powers of 
 thy mind flill expanding antj ftretching forward atter the De- 
 ity: he is the great centre of attraction unto all his creatures, 
 and he will continually find them increafed employment— em- 
 ployment fully adapted to the increafed knowledge of his will, 
 thine enlarged heart, and improved faculties. But even here 
 below, the more we walk worthy of the Lord, the ftronger and 
 ftronger fliall we continually grow, and the nearer we draw 
 to the wifhed for haven, the ftronger fhall we fmell the per- 
 fumes that arc wafted from the heavenly Canaan ; and. with 
 Paul of old, we Ihall long for a fafe landing on that imm.ortal 
 Ihore. 
 
 " That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleaf- 
 ing, being fruitful in every good work" Some men, and they 
 too profeflbrs of the gofpel, ridicule the idea of good works ; 
 but the Scriptures, on the contrar v, feem very partial to them ; 
 they talk much about them, and exhort, not barely to an occa-- 
 iional good work, but to a being fruitful in every good work. 
 
( 123 ) 
 
 li the gorpel did not find a Chriftian employment, Satan footi 
 would-— he has a number of things pleafing to the idle man, 
 to hll up his time-— cards, chit-chat, plays, and many things 
 clfe, which if not fin, are, at leaft, near of kin to it ; thele 
 invite the flcfhly paflions of the human heart to the very bor- 
 ders of iniquity. To the man who lo\es God, time pafies 
 iWiftly awav in the doing his will. Whatever is done in obe- 
 dience to the command of God is a good work; and to him 
 who feels gratitude cf heart to his Creator for the mercies of 
 redeeming love, fuch good works are trul/ grateful. He feels 
 no aching void, no idle time tempts him into evil ; between 
 reading the Scripture, thinking on them, comparing ipiritual 
 things with (plriiual, performing liis locial and relative duties, 
 fludying hiftory, biography, ^'c. Sec. feeking out the diftrefTed, 
 comforting and relieving the afflicted, ordering his family, in- 
 fl-ru(fling ihem in their duties tb God and man, and innumera- 
 ble other et ca:teras^ he can fmd fufficicnt employment in good 
 works for the Chriftian to perform, and fully to enable him to 
 be fruitful in ihem. If he has any complaint, it is not of 
 wanting employment, but 6f wanting time fully to enjoy the 
 delightful employments he has to periorm. 
 
 Good works are a fource of continual exertion to the hu- 
 man mind; the man who will be fruitful in them, muftjoin 
 tliought and action conflantl^y together. The man who would 
 be fcripturally ju(i, muft do unto ail men as he would v/ifh 
 them to do unto him. Eafy as this duty fcems at firft fight, 
 upon examination we fliall find that it requires us conllantly to 
 ilt in judgment upon all our adlions, weighing all we do in 
 the fcales of juflice— holding our felhfh palHons with a fteady 
 rein— and at laft caufmg lelf-love to decide againft itfelf in 
 favour of our neighbour. 
 
 Again, in our condu.51 of life, what acti\ity of mind is re- 
 quired, Icaft while wc are generous, we ihould caufe our good 
 to be evil fpoken of,by being unjuft. Owe no man any thing, 
 faith our Lord : if we riMitly conllder this command, what a 
 continual exertion of waichlulnefs would it caufe, to enable us 
 to bring forth the good works of obedience? What a guard 
 muft the generous mind put upon itfelf, left, like Saul ot old, 
 if Ihould prefer facrifice to obedienc. 
 
 If negative good v,/orks require fuch a cultivation of (pirit, 
 to make the Cnriftian fruitful, what muft we fay of the politive 
 good works which the Chriftian is called to perform, not leav- 
 ing the others undone! Sucii as feeding the hungry, cloathing 
 the naked, viliting the lick, the priloner, c^c. fcarching daily 
 R 2 for 
 
( IH ) 
 
 for opportunities of doing good, like God our heavenly Father 
 and Jefus Chi 'ft our great example: and yet, atti r aM thefe 
 are done, a higher good work, fti'l remainF to be perf- >rmed, 
 even the examination of our own hearts. This is i'lfleed an 
 arduous tafk-— toknow ouriel /es, to lit in judgment up'"n our 
 whole condudf, lo arraign f)ui .elves at our ov. n b.'.r, and caufc 
 the word of God to nt in judgment upon al! cu- actions, yea, 
 evei, upon our thoughts aiid vvords, O rny friends, cid we do 
 this dail', we fhould find many thing; to iv.erid; many a wrong 
 temper, and n.any a wrong aclicn, that leJi-love had approved 
 of, would then be held up to abnorrence, and turned frc;ni v,'ith 
 Ihame. 
 
 Notwithftanding the a£li\ ity of the human mind, it docs 
 rot love 'elt-corredion ; there it is .azy, even to fluggifnnefs. 
 Be adviled— -dare nobly to flnve to iijcke off thole idle tem- 
 pers, that would keep you fiom overcoming yourfelf: once 
 conqut-r thefe, and you will foon be victorious over every other- 
 temptation Refift the devil, faith the apc^ftle, and he will flee 
 from you. Begin with thyieif, thy habits, thy wr ng propen- 
 fities, thy peculiar temptations ; thefe ftrong bulwarks of fin 
 deftroyed, and th' whole heart brought into full obedience to 
 the word of truth, thou wilt, indeeo, continually do the will of 
 thy Father who is in heaven. But fliouldell thou, O Chrif- 
 tian, look back, like Lot upon Zoar, with an eye of pity, and 
 fay within thine heart, of the leaft of thy fins, Suffer it to 
 live; let me enjoy it ; lo ! is it not a little one? Soon Ihalt 
 thou f.nd, that the pleafmg phantom is of fpeedy growth, and 
 of fuch increaling power, that his gigantic arms are capable of 
 entwining chains fo ffrong about thee, that thine utmoft refo- 
 lution cannot break them. 
 
 That you may be fitted to the performance of good works, 
 let me exhort }ou, as Paul did 'Fjm.othy, to give yourfelves 
 to meditation. This is, indeed, one of the hardeft and moft 
 difficult of tafkr : My people do not know, faid Jehovah of 
 old, and he gives this as a reafon for their ignorance---they 
 do not conficer. — "J he want of confiderat;on occafions igno- 
 rance. Would men meditate on the commands, on the threat- 
 enings, on the ex.imples of divine truth — would they confidcr 
 the wifdom of God in foretelling, and his faithfulnefs in per- 
 forming-— would they meditate on his promife?, fee their 
 grcatnels and their glorv, and by faith realize them, they 
 would indeed lay in fuch a ftock ot mental abiiitv', with luch 
 an anxious defire to pleafe God, as would make them fruitful 
 in every good work. Yes, Chriftian ! never more wouldft thou 
 
 be 
 
( 1^5 ) 
 
 be heard complaining of idle time, of want of emplovment, 
 of emptinefs of mind, or making any of the frivolous excufes 
 that ignorance makes, idlenefs takes hold of, and folly pleads 
 in her behalf. But, on the contrary, a fomething would be 
 before thee ; a reality, grand, beautiful, and fati s factory ; time 
 would never hang heavy upon thine hands; between fupplyin* 
 the wants of nature, performing the neceflary duties of life, 
 enlightening thine underftanding, and communicating thy 
 knowledge, ihou wouldft have enough to do, and thou would/t 
 do it with delight. 
 
 " Being fruitful in every good work, and hitreafing in the 
 knowledge of God" The unhappy caufe of the various fedts 
 of Chriltians, is their not paying obedience to this precept.— - 
 Every fe£l has fome part of truth, but none have the whole of 
 divine truth : they feem to reafon as if they could not go for- 
 ward in making additions to their prefent flock of knowledge. 
 Surelv, as the child that has learned his alphabet may be taught 
 fpelling, reading, fcience, and go on in learning to ten times 
 the age of man, without having gone a thoufandth part through 
 even his pofTible human acquirements, fo might the Chriftian, 
 daily, even through an eternitv, go on mcrealing in the know- 
 ledge of God— by growth in the knowledge of that which 
 he laith, and hath faid, doeth, hath done, and rtill will do. Oh 
 for the arrival of that happy day when fpiritual pride, and party 
 zeal being deftroyeJ, the know'lcdge of the Lord fhall cover 
 the earth as the waters cover the lea I 
 
 Chriftian friends, when we confider the infirmities of hu- 
 man nature, we muft acknowledge it is indeed a great thing 
 for us to know the perfedlions of the Deity! His omnipre- 
 fence — " Whither fhall I go from thy fpirit ? whither fliall I 
 flee from thy prefence ? It 1 afcend up into heaven thou art 
 there : if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I 
 take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermolt 
 parts of the fea, even there fhall thy hand lead me, and thy 
 right hand fhall hold me." Aflonifhing thought ! who can 
 comprehend the omniprefencc of Deity! Local beings as wc 
 are, when we only think of it, ,ve are filled with amazement, 
 and lofl in the contemplating of the magnitude of our medi- 
 tation. 
 
 Contemplate the omnipotence of that Being who formed an 
 infed, and with the fame hands machined the va(t orrery of 
 nature! The more v/e are acquainted with geography, by 
 bringing us to an intimate acquaintacce with the earth, thtr 
 more will it fill us with fulemn awe. when we meditate on his 
 
 almighty 
 
( 126 ) 
 
 almighty power who formed the earth, the fea, and their vari- 
 ous innumerable inhabitants. But lift up thine e\eSy O man ! 
 behold the folar orb, and the earth with all the planets dancing 
 each their diurnal round ; whilft the comets take their un- 
 known courfes, according to his appointment, and the ftellar 
 lights bind up and enclofe the whole machine. Truly the hea- 
 vens declare thy mighty power, O Jehovah ! and the vaft ex- 
 pance proclaimcth the omnipotence of thine arm. Thou alone 
 doeft what thou wilt in hell, in earthj and heaven ; and all the 
 hofts that inhabit them obey thy will. Wonderful art thou in 
 power, O my God ! who fhall dare to fay to thee on any occa- 
 iion. Wherefore doeft thou thus ? 
 
 The contemplation of the power of God fhould lead us to 
 ffand in awe of him., and not to deviate from his commands. 
 It fhould lead us to confider the continual poflibility of his 
 faithfulncfs. Is any thing too had for the power of that God 
 ■u ho formed all things ? What a fourcc of delight is the con- 
 templating the power of Jehovah, as manifelled in the work- 
 manfhip of his hands I I pity the ignorant man, who faunters 
 ■-about complaining of having no'-hing to do, when the vaft 
 field of nature lays open before him, invites him to the con- 
 templation of the beauty of its parts, and the aftonifliing ar- 
 rangement and combination of the whole. Surely the man 
 who can trifle away his hours in fhuiHing pieces of paper to- 
 gether, or fits gaping at the fight of nature burlefqued, whilft 
 the works of his Creator lie unheeded before him, furely fuch 
 a man can have but an infant foul ! The iron hand of adverfity 
 muft teach him to think, ere he can fit down with the firft- 
 born fons of Jcfus, to enjoy the wonderful works of the gre^t 
 Firft Caufe of all, the Father of Spirits. 
 
 Reflcd upon the wifdom of God ; examine thine own form, 
 toine arms, thine bead, thy body, thy legs; furvey their fym.- 
 metry; how beautiful! and at the fame time how perfedtly 
 adapted fcr ufefulnefs ! Examine the unfeen parts, the arteries, 
 the veins, the pores ; confider the heart, the lights, the liver, 
 the kidneys ; take jiotice of the m.ufclcs, that give ftrength to 
 every member, and -the elaftic ligatures, which give motion 
 whilft they tie each various part togetherr Curioufly and 
 wonderfully art thcu made, Oman! what wifdom has the 
 
 Great ArchiteiSl: manifefted in the formation of thy body! 
 
 But rife above the mcrhanifm of thy outward form ; examine 
 thy mind, .its powers of retention, of thou(;ht, of judgment, 
 how sftonifliing ! how furpailing knov/lcdgc is man! Examine 
 his wildcm, manifefted m the bridges, houfes, palaces, bul- 
 
( 1^7 ) 
 
 warks, he has built. Behold the ftately vefTcI, proirdly failing 
 0:1 the ocean, and bidding deiiance to the rude tciupelt. This 
 was the wnorkmanlhip of man. If he is fo wife, how infinite 
 muft he be in wifdom, who formed him, and millions of fuch 
 creatures ! endowing them all with intelledual powers. De- 
 fcend from man, examine the beauty of the mi:.ute'1 infedt, 
 how exaclly fitted for its end are all its parts. It is the worlc- 
 manfhip of inhnice wifdom; his creation teems with life; 
 every part fo combined by his infinite wifdom, that like linJcs 
 in a chain, each depends upon the other, and the whole upon 
 him, the great Firft Caufe and Laft End of all things. Its or- 
 der proclaims the wifdom of its Maker, and the excellency 
 of his government. 
 
 But how great is his goodnefs ! God is love I his tender 
 mercies are over all his works ; he loveth every thing that he 
 hath made; his mercy endureth to the future age; to that age 
 of jubilee when there fhall not be occafion for Jehovah to ex- 
 erciie his mercy ; for as mercy is the going forth of compallion 
 in comforting a creature under diftrefs, the period will come 
 when there will not be a creature under diftrefs, to whom Je- 
 hovah canfhew mercy: for when all his creatures are fubdued 
 by Chrifl:~-when he hath reconciled all things, whether they 
 be of heavenly or earthly original, by the blood of the crofs — 
 when, by the blood of the covenant, he hath brought forth all 
 the prifoners out of that pit in which there is no water, then 
 will (jod be all in all, in every creature ; his will will be the 
 rule of government ; every heart will be in his image ; the 
 whole fpirit of e\ ery creature whom God hith created, will be 
 conformed to the image of his fon. God the Creator will 
 look upon all things that he hath made, belicld their beauty, 
 their order, their harmony; and his mercy, which now goeth 
 forth in acts of compafTion, will then be changed into aftection, 
 delighj, love; God wiL indeed be ah in all, and all his crea- 
 tures will be in him. 
 
 But as this glorious period hath not yet arrived, behold, O 
 Chriftian! the goodncls of that God, who, in the condiiil of 
 his providence, openeth wide his liberal hand, and all things 
 living are filled with plenteoudicfs. Whin we but confider 
 the magnitude of London, its numerous inhabitants, .upon 
 what various caufes depend the fupply of their food, hovir in- 
 numerably many links there are in the chain that kccpeth them 
 together, and giveth them food to eat and raiment to [)ut on, 
 we mull: confefs it is his hand alone which keepeth the chain 
 unbroken, and preventeth peftilence, famuie, and dcatii. E.v- 
 
 teiid 
 
( 1^3 ) 
 
 tend thy furvey; comprife within thy view the wants of a na- 
 tion, nay, the wants of a world, and its infinitely innumerable 
 inhabitants. Reduce thy furvey, confider the hand of that 
 God who hath hitherto helped thee, O man ! Perhaps thou 
 art hoary headed, and he hath led thee through the we;iknefs of 
 infancy, the follies of youth, the independance of manhood, 
 and here thou art ftill after all thy cares, doubts, fears, dangers, 
 follies, weaknefs, fins; I fay, here thou art, a monument of his 
 goodnefs, the child of his providence, the dependant on his 
 bounty. His goodnefs has perhaps led thee to think again on 
 thy rebellion and his love, and taught thee not to truft on manj 
 whofe breath is in his noftrils, but on the living God ; he fup- 
 plieth thy wants, and giveth thee that peace which the world 
 knoweth not of." Chriftian, thou oughteft Indeed to join in 
 the apoftle's prayer, and fa}-, Increafe us in the knowledge of 
 thee, O God. 
 
 " Strengthened with all might." We are all weaknefs and 
 helpleflhefs of ourfelves: unable to think, or fpeak, or a<5l 
 aright, but through the might/ power of our God. Was it 
 not for his communicated power, we {laould be able to do in- 
 deed but little; but God (Irengthens us with all might; it is 
 this that fupports us in the midli of doubts, and fears, and 
 temptations; it is this that enables us to rife above them, and 
 to come off conquerors ; for we can do all things through 
 Chrift who ftrengthens us. 
 
 " According to his glorious power." And fhall we then 
 doubt the poflibility of our fuccefs in our fpiritual warfare ? Is 
 any thing too hard for Jehovah? Is there any befetting fin 
 which, through his glorious power, we cannot overcome ? Is 
 there any evil which, being under his proteifion, we need to 
 fear? It is confidence in this glorious power that renders the 
 religious man confiftent in his charadter and conduct. Who 
 can tell the greatnefs of this power ! May you, my friends, 
 be flrengthened with all might, to overcome every evil, ac- 
 cording to the greatnefs of this glorious power, by which you 
 are fupported, and this ihall enable you to acl aright in every 
 ChrlfUan duty, which otlierwife you would be unable to per- 
 form. 
 
 " Unto all patience and long fufFering with joyfulnefs." 
 Confcious weaknefs fills a man with fear ; it unmans, and takes 
 away even the real ffrcngth that a man has : but when a man 
 has ftrength, and knows it, he can patiently bear the feoffs and 
 taunts of mankind. Impatience is a proof of cowardice, and 
 cov/ardice of real or fuppofcd weaknefs: the Chriftian, there- 
 fore, 
 
( '^9 ) 
 
 fore, who Is ftrengthened with all might according to the 
 mighty power of God, mulT: manifcfl it by his patience in all 
 the alfli(5lions and crofs providences of life, and by his long 
 forbearance, with jovfulnefs, under the contradiction both of 
 faints and finners : for it is the temper of Chriilian'ty t;hat muft 
 manifefl: the reality of it: without thele it is all emptiwelsi 
 found without kn(e; not the light but the ridicule of man- 
 kind. 
 
 Glorious is the power of Jehovah; it is infinite, bui- grlori- 
 ous, becaufe its exertions are always direfted by goodnefs. 
 How wonderfully great doth that power n.anifeft itielf to be ia 
 the falvation of fallen man ! But it is equalK glorious, be- 
 caufe the a6t calts a ray of fplendour upon the charailer of 
 Deity that would not otherw;fe have been vifible. In vain 
 v^ould fallen creatures have drove to riff above their loft eftate 
 to aftate of puritv and holinefs, unaided by the divine power; 
 but the exercife of that power, through the medium of Chrift 
 Jefus, will not only now fave the firft-born, the eledl of God, 
 but will finally reftore all fallen creatures to a ftate of perfec- 
 tion that fliall make the power of Jehovah appear truly glori- 
 ous; for the whole creation, in all its parts, anfwering the 
 wife and benevolent purpofes of its good Creator, fhall give 
 glory to his name by its beautv, harmony, and love. 
 
 God, who has this glorious power, is miich readier to be- 
 flow it upon us than we are to afk it of him. He waiteth to 
 be gracious ; he treafures up the bounties of his hand, that he 
 may liberally bellow them upon all his children who feel their 
 wants and come with faith unto him: he rejtfleth none; and 
 whenfoever two or three are met together in the name of Jefus 
 Chrift: his (cn^ what things foevcr taey agree to aik the Father 
 in his name, believing, they fhall receive. 
 
 It is greatly to our fatisfaction to know If we have this pow- 
 er or have it not; we are not left to the doubts and uncertain 
 feelings of our hearts, which may be too often excited or de- 
 prcllcd by outward circumftances, or even by the food which 
 we eat : v/e know that we are the children of God when we 
 do his wilj ; we are confident that we are parcakers of this 
 mighty power when we can do tholi? things which we before 
 could n()t do; and I know that I have this power, becaufe I 
 preach the goipel, the good news of falvation by Jefus Chrift, 
 
 unto you : for none can preach ihc gofpel unlef^ he is fent. 
 
 Contidcnt that 1 preach the gofpel, 1 own the authority from 
 whence Ipicicli it; not in my own ftrength, but becaufe I am , 
 ftrengthened, for this purpofe, with all might, according to his 
 ^ glorious 
 
C 130 ) 
 
 glorious power, unto all patience, and long fufFering, with joy- 
 ful nef?. 
 
 Do you love (jod? There was a time when you did not 
 love him. Whence, then, arifeth the difference in your tem- 
 pers between what yon now arc, and what you then was? Is it 
 b) the exercife of vour reafon, or b the mighty power of God ? 
 Do you love the people of God ? This alfo is by his mighty 
 pBwer ; for as we were enemies to God by wicked works, fo 
 
 we hated all that loved him and were obedient unto him. 
 
 Do you love your enemies ? No natural man can do this. 
 If, then, you do more than others, it is God alone that gives 
 you this power, to reduce the precepts of religion to praSice, 
 and make the fpeculative opinions of thehigheft degree of hn- 
 man virtue to be a certainty, nay, enabling you even to rife 
 high above them, foaring aloft on the wings of holy obedience, 
 
 daily drawing nearer and nearer to the perfedions of Deity 
 
 The knowledge of my fpiritual ftate is not an imaginary thing; 
 it arifeth not from certain infatuated feelings of a mind inflated 
 by fancy, but it arifeth from the full exercife of the judgment. 
 i know that I pleafe God, and that he approveth of my con- 
 duct, and hath caufed my name to be written in the book of 
 life, when lam confcious that I keep his commands, and that I 
 am enabled by htm to do thofe things which no natural man 
 can poillbly perform without that power which cometh from 
 above; but, as that power is ever ready to be btllowed upon 
 all who aHc for it, it is no difadvantage to man that it muft 
 come from God. 
 
 Givifig thanks unto the Father^ ivho hath made us meet for 
 the inheritance of the faints in light. 'J 'here is an inheritance 
 for us with the faints in light; but we mull be made meet for 
 the enjoyment of it. It is a glorious inheritance-— an inherit- 
 ance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, re- 
 ferved in heaven for you who are kept by the powe^ of God, 
 through faith unto falvation. This inheritance the apoftle 
 Peter had fuch glorious ideas of, that he fays, " Blcfled be the 
 God and Father of our Lord Jcfus Chriif, who, according to 
 his abundant mercv, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope 
 by the refurreclion of Jcfus Chriit from the dead, to an inhe- 
 ritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, re- 
 ferved in heaven for you." Our Lord likewife fpeaks of this 
 inheritance, John, xiv. " Let not your hearts be troubled ; ye 
 believe in God, believe alfo in me. In my Father's houlc are 
 many manfions ; if it were not fo I would have told you. I 
 j^o to prepare a place fur you. And if I go and prepare a 
 
 place 
 
( IJI ) 
 
 place for voii, I will com£ again, and receive you unto myfeir, 
 that where I am, there ye mav be alio." Paul lilcewife lived 
 in holy expectation of a part in this inheritance of the faints 
 iu light. " For (faith he, 2 Cor. v. i.) we know that if our 
 earthly houfe of this tabernacle were diiTolved, we have a 
 building of God, an houfe not made with hands, eternal in the 
 hea\ens." Again, fpeaking concerning Abraham, Heb. xi. 
 10. he fay«, he looked for a cicv which hath foundations, 
 whof« builder and maker is God. The holy men of old fpeak 
 in the mod exalted human language of this inheritance. 'I'hey 
 call it a crown of life and glory, a fceptre of rightepufnefs, a 
 citv whofe builder is God, a kingdom that cannot be moved, 
 all denoting its ftabllity, its dignity, its power; the meaneft of 
 thefe defcriptions exalts the confequencc of the inheritJfhce, and 
 reprefents the Imallcr portion in it as of greater value than all 
 the prefent kingdoms of the earth ; for like the pafTing fhadows 
 they flit away, but this inheritance hath Jehovah himlelf for its 
 founder, and his unchanging promifc for its fupport. 
 
 None who believe in the Scriptures can difpute the reality of 
 this inheritance ; it was the hope of the patriarchs, prophets, 
 apolfles, and martyrs, and is now the animating hope of every 
 fmcere believer. At all times light hath been fown for the 
 righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. They have not, 
 as yet, beheld this light j they have not experienced this joy ; 
 clouds and darkncfs have overfliadowed their ways; hope 
 alone has, with a glimmering light, illumined their fteps ; 
 but on the millenial morn, when tlje fun of righteoufnefs fhall 
 arife, then fhall the clouds difperfe, the darknei's Ihall flee away, 
 and with joy and gladnefs of heart fliall ihey receive, at the 
 hands of their Lord, the rewards he hath prepared for all that 
 love and fear his name, and patiently wait for his appearance. 
 
 As this is a real inheritance, fo there is a mectnefs requifite 
 for the taking pofleliion, and for the enjoyment thereof. The 
 God that hath created the fun, moon, and ftars, that formed 
 this earth, and hath cloathed all nature with beauties, hath 
 given man fuch faculties of body ai.d mind, as may enable him 
 to improve the beauties of nature, and to encreafe his enjoy- 
 ment with his improvements; inducing man, by motives of 
 intereft, to exert himfelf in the cultivation of the powers of his 
 mind, that, by ufcful arts and fcienccs, he may be enabled the 
 better to enjoy the luxuriant blefTings that his beneficent 
 Maker hath beftowcd ; and all this only for a few fleeting 
 da) s ! The hand that formed the mighty monuments of art, 
 fceth them at farthtll but for a few rolling years, and then they 
 S 2 pafs 
 
pafs for ever from his view= The fame God that hath given 
 to nature fuch a profufion of beauties, and to his creature man 
 fuch a capability of improvement and enjoyment for fo fmal! a 
 fpace of time, hath furel" prepared fuperior beauties for a future 
 ftate — beauties that will require more perfe6l faculties and 
 higher attainments to enjoy them, feeing that his hand hath 
 formed them to be the enjoyment of ages by the faints in 
 light. As the concerns of the foul are fuperior to thofe of the 
 body, fo muft the fpiritual inheritance be fuperior to thefe tem- 
 poral blefnngs. But however beautiful, however dcfirable, 
 they cannot be enjoyed unlefs we are made meet for that inhe- 
 ritance. 
 
 Luke XX. 35. our Lord fpeaks of thofe that fhall be account- 
 ed worthy to obtain that age, and the refurrredtion trom the 
 dead ; ftrongly implying, that of profefTors there are many 
 that fhall not be accounted v/orthy to have any part in that in- 
 heritance, nor even to be amongft the number of thofe who 
 fhall fhare in the firft refurredlion. Now by comparing thefe 
 pafiages together we fhai! find that worthinefs and mectnels 
 are the fame thing ; it is, in fa(5f, a fitnefs for the inheritance. 
 
 ift. A fitiiefs for the enjoyment of the inheritance. . 
 
 2dly. A fitnefs to perform the duties thereof. 
 
 A fitnefs for the enjoyment of the inheritance, implies that 
 the mind of the inheritor is capable of enjoying the inherit- 
 ance of the faints in light ; that his temper of mind, and all his 
 purfuits are like theirs. This is aphilofophlcal propofition.— 
 Of what ufe would be the beauties of nature to the blind man? 
 or all the noblell: drains that mufic could produce to the deaf? 
 In like manner what pleafure could the fpiritual enjoym.ents of 
 the kingdom of Chrift yield to the carnal mind? As I cannot 
 live in fire, unlefs my nature is changed, fo I could not live in 
 
 the enjoyments of heaven unlefs mv heart was changed-^ 
 
 unlefs i had a mind fully adapted to the pleafures and purfuits 
 of the pkce. With the heart of Satan, heaven would be hell 
 to any one; but change that heart, let it not be the accufer but 
 ■the lover of the brethren— -not the adverfiu-\, but the willing 
 fubjed of Chrifl, and heaven would be indeed heaven, and all 
 its glories W(;uid be defirable. In like manner, if you are 
 meet to eijoy tlie inheritance of the faints of light, )'ou mull: 
 be a fon of peace, have a heart of love, with 3 lite of holii;eis; 
 for in this inheritance, there is no hatred, en\ y, animofity, or 
 ccnteirpt; no irreverence, or ntglc6t of the worfliip of God, 
 
 But every knee bows down to him, every heart adores him 
 
 ^11 is peace,. and joy, and righteoufncfs, 
 
 God 
 
( '33 ) 
 
 God has indeed prepared an inheritance for us, and vvc mull 
 he made meet for the inheritance. Now it is impoflible that 
 we fhould be thus meet unlels God hath clcanfcd our hearts-- 
 unlefs we have the fpirit of God formed within us. But al- 
 though the work is of God, we ought not to be difcoura2;ed, 
 feeing *:hat he is a God hearing and anfwering prayer — a God 
 near at hand to all that call upon him. 
 
 If God hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance 
 of the faints in light, we ought to give thanks unto him, for it 
 is an inheritance worth the enjoying: and we were in time 
 pafl: enemies unto God by our wicked works; but he hath 
 made us meet by making us partakers of the divine nature, 
 having efcaped the corruption that is in the world through luft. 
 We therefore ought to give thanks unto him, and blefs him 
 continual! V for his goodhefs, in having called us out of aark- 
 nefs into light. 
 
 JVho hath delivered us from the poiver of darknefs. Cjreat, 
 awfully fo, is the power of darkneis ! Men, dwelling under 
 the influence of the enlightening truth of Scripture, know not 
 the greatnefs thereof; but were they to take a furvev of thofe 
 •heathen countries where revelation is not known, they would 
 ftand aftonifhcd and terrified at its oppreffive influence : for 
 they dread the power of Satan, whom they call the Evil Spirit, 
 whom they fondly think rules over them like a God j and this 
 is the reafon that moft favage nations pay more homage to him 
 out of fear, than to God, their good Creator, out of love. If 
 afked the reafon, they readily anAver, that he is always ready to 
 injure thcni, and they therefore find it necelTary to deprecate 
 his wrath : but the\- are not under the like neceiHty of depre- 
 cating the Good Spirit, becaufe he loves not to injure thenij 
 but at all times delights to do them good. 
 
 \V hen we look back upon paft ages, and notice the terror 
 that fhook the hearts of men, from the powers of darknefs, 
 and their confequent fuperllitious reverence of witches, wiz- 
 ards, necromancers, and all the numerous train of thofe wi:o 
 pradtifed the black art, we cannot but obfcrve the power of 
 darknefs on the human mind, and the infinite obligation we 
 are under to the Father for the gift of his fon, who hasy by the 
 gofpel of cur falvation, almoft banilhed all fuch terroi's from 
 the Chriftian world. As the light of truth Ipreads, the fhades 
 of errcjr flee away, and (hall continue to fl.e, till truth, by the 
 brightnefs of its Ibining, filleth the whoie univerfe witti light 
 and glory. Then men Ihall no more fear the powers of dark- 
 nefs. 
 
( "34 ) 
 
 nefs, but thev (hall rejoice in the light continually, and give 
 conflantpraife to that God from whom it flov/s. 
 
 Who hath delivered us froiti the power of darkncfs. Paul 
 obferves, that hi?: fervants we are whom we obey ; we acknow- 
 ledge the authority of that fovereign whofe laws we keep 
 
 When, therefore, we are the fervants of fin, having the mind 
 covered with obfcurity, and all our future expedations full of 
 doubts and fears, and all our prefent enjoyments perverted, 
 looking for happincfs in the error of our ways, in following 
 our corrupted inclinations in fearch of good ; being led cap- 
 tive by Satan at his will; we are then indeed, truly 'fubje6l to 
 the power of darknefs, v/hich leads us to the doing of things 
 Contrary to our better knowledge. And this is one reafon why 
 I cannot admit the do£lrine of philofophical necelTity: the 
 friends of it aflert that the mind of man always a6ts from ihe 
 ftrongeft motive. Now I conceive that the fmner a£ls finfully 
 becaufe he is under the power or influence of a darkened mind ; 
 for the motives he has to do good are, if poffible, infinitely 
 ftronger than the motives to do evil, and that even in thole 
 who commit iniquity : to do good we are led by the pleafures 
 which arife from the approbation of our confcience, by the be- 
 nefits that mankind receive from it, and which muft, /even in 
 this life, return back with tenfold advantage upon ourfelves: 
 add to this, the good, in all its various ramifications, that 
 branches out from every virtuous deed, with the various pro- 
 mifes of future advar.tage that keep towering one above ano- 
 ther, till the eye of faith itfelf, looking through the telefcope 
 of truth, is lofl in the contemplation of rhem — Yet with ail 
 thefe motives to a£iion, behold the innumerahle hofts of the 
 fons of men who have the word of truth in their poffeflion, 
 and yet commit iniquity with grecdincfs: it is not from the 
 ftrongefl motive for action, but from the weakeft, owing to 
 darknefs having ovcrfhadcwed their mind, and' their perverted 
 imaginations not being able to penetrate the thick obfcure, or 
 break ."ifiinder its weighty chains. Since, then, I have every 
 impuifive motive to do good, and none to do evil but a mo- 
 mentary gratification, I cannot but conclude that I am under 
 the power of carkncfs: and would to God, that we ail could 
 fay, this was the whole caufe of our finning, and not be under 
 the nece/fity cf adding, that we, bv giving way to iniquity, 
 arc, at the lame time, under the power of moral depravity. 
 
 Bat 
 
( J35 ) 
 
 But blerted be God, he hath given us his Ton, that we may 
 be delivered from the power of darknefs; and we are not more 
 lenfible of "I'ating and drinking, than we were of being deli- 
 vered from the clouds and thick darknefs which overftiadowed 
 our fpiritual underftanding, before that we received the know- 
 ledge of divine tri;th, by faith in Chrift Jefus. I well remem- 
 ber the time when light pierced through the clouds, and dark- 
 nefs fled away : I felt new power— freih ftrength fcemed to be 
 imparted frosn above: the things that I before could not per- 
 form now feemed very eafy; the chains that before bound my 
 foul now feemed broken: I beheld the love of, God, like an 
 overflowing Itrcam, rolling on, and flowing through his valt 
 creation : I felt the force of divine faithfulnefs comforting and 
 animating my foul ; T heard it whifper to my heart, / have 
 loved thee with an everlaftlng love. How forcibly then did 
 divine goodnei's ftrike my heart, and call forth all its grateful 
 affections to my God ! I felt, i knew, that I loved God bet- 
 ter than I loved my father, or mother, or wife, or aiiy other re- 
 lation ; all the endearing ties of fraternal affection and humaa 
 friendlhip gave way to the love of my God. There was no- 
 thing but what I could do or fufFer for his fake. Was not this 
 a fenlible deliverance from the power of darknefs ?_ Inltead of 
 living to gratify my paffions, 1 now faw the end of my exifl- 
 ence, and rejoiced in living to the glory of my God. Inftead 
 of being filled with wrath and malice, and every evil temper, to 
 be able to love mv greatelt enemies ! Oh ! it was a chai;ge 
 furpaffing all my expedlations ! It was indeed a deliverance 
 that filled my foul with righteouf.iefs, peace, and joy. Now, 
 my brethren, do you know thefe things^ ? Is the power of 
 darknefs broken from your minds ? Can you love the Lord 
 your God with all your heart, foul, and flrength, and your 
 neighbour as yourfelf ? Do you do good to all, and pray for 
 all ? If fo, then you are delivered from the powers of dark- 
 nefs, and fanflated into the kingdom of his dear fon. 
 
 The kingdom of his dear fon. Thh is not a kingdom of this 
 world, but a kingdom called out of the world j a kingdom that 
 owneth Jefus of Nazjreth to be the anointed of the Father 
 ami their king: whatfoever he hath commanded, that alone is 
 clfablffhed in this kingdom ;s the lawj that alone v.hich he 
 hath foi bidden, they avoid. None are confidered as the fubjefts 
 of this kingdom, becaufe they attend this or the other church 
 or chapel, or are runners after the gofpel miniflers of the day— 
 or for belonging to this, that, or the other denomination of 
 Chriftia:is---or for eatinj, or drinking, or abflinence-— or the 
 
 obferva- 
 
( 136 ) 
 
 obfervfltion of days, but obedience to the faith, conftitutes the 
 chara6t-er of a fubjecft of this kingdom, and this fubjeft hath 
 aionian life j for this is aionian life, to know the only true God, 
 
 and Jefus Chrifl, the anointed faviour, whom he bath fent 
 
 Now the fulnefs of aionian life is a fulnefs of frbmiffion of all 
 creation to Jefus-— a bowing of the icnee to him, and ownino- 
 him to be the ruler, to the glory of God the Father. The 
 man, therefore, who is tranflated into the kingdom of Chrifr, 
 and hath aionion life begun in him, that man bows the knee to 
 Chfift— -he has within him the holy leaven, which iLall keep 
 fermenting until every thought (hall be brought into full fub- 
 je£lion to the divine will. 
 
 In whcin we have redemption^ throufu Ins bloody even the re~ 
 mijfion of fins. Was it not for this, I lliould live without hope 
 for mylelf, and for you, my brethren ; nor fhould I have any 
 hope for any of the fons of men. I am under theneceffity of 
 confidering all men as fmners ; both Jew and gentile; all are 
 gone aftray— none doeth good, no, not one. What is there jn 
 nature that could caule me to fee a God reconciling the world 
 untohimfcif, not imputing unto them their trefpaffes and fms? 
 What arguments could I ufe to reclaim men from the error of 
 their ways ? But bleiTed be the God and Father of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift, he hath given his fon to be a ranfom for all ; and 
 ye, who now believe in him have redemption through his 
 blood, even the forgivenefs of fms. There is not one upon 
 earth but needs pardon for the fms that are paft, and that par- 
 don comes through Chrift alone. There is no other name given, 
 but the name Jefus, by wi;ich men can be laved. It is he that 
 died for us, and who has rifen again for our juilification ; and 
 whofoever believeth on his name, fetteth bis feai to God's ve- 
 racity ; he is redeemed by the blood of Chrift; he has thejuf- 
 tification that cometh by faith: to that man God will not im- 
 pute iniquity, but he cafteth all his fms behind his back. See- 
 ing, therefore, that God hath fet forth his fon as a propitiation 
 for our fms, let us, having by faith embraced that lalvation 
 which he has held out in Chrift Jefus, walk worthy of the 
 Lord unto all well pleafmg, being fruitful in every good v/ord 
 and work, and increafmg in the knowledge of God. 
 
 £ND OF THE EIGHTH S£Rr.:Oi.\ 
 
S E R M O N IX. 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 ELHANAN fFINCHESTER, 
 
 [never before PUBLISHED.J 
 
 ACTS, VIII. 33. 
 
 In his humiliation his judgment was taken a'vay, and who 
 floall declare his generation f For his life is taken from 
 the earth. 
 
 T^-IIS verfe is a quotation fromlfaiah, liii. but in this place 
 lofes all its beauty by its incorrectneis. Bi/hop Lowth^ 
 in this, as well as in many other places, has rendered Chrifti- 
 anity a confiderable fervice by re-lifymg the errors of our 
 tranflators of the Old Teftanient. This pSfiage he renders 
 thus : 
 
 ** By an opprefiive judgment he was taken ofF; 
 And his manner of life who fhall declare? 
 For he was cut off from the land of the living." 
 
 The word judgment has two fignifications in the Englifh 
 language: l. It fignifies iinderjianding or reafon\ that faculty 
 of the mind by which a man wifely determines any tli.ngi 
 hence it is faid concerning one half-witted, He is quite a fool ; 
 or concerning any one who fpeaks of that which he doth not 
 undcrrtand, it is faid, How limply fuch an one talks ! he fpeaks 
 irrationally; he utters his words upon this bufinefs without? 
 judgment. Of fuch a charatSler it is written, *' A fuol is 
 known by his much fpeaking ;" but of the contrary charac- 
 ter, that '' he fpeaks not of things beyond his reach," fn 
 this (ei.fe none who read of the calm, determined fclf-poilefiion 
 of our Lord, when at the judgment-feat, can fuppofe that Luke 
 T the 
 
( 138 ) 
 
 the hiftorian ufes thefe words. In his humiliation it is evident, 
 that, how great foever were his fufFerings, yet his judgment 
 was not taken from him : no ; he had the full poffelTion of his 
 rational faculties, and in the exercife of chem-witaeffed " a 
 good confeflion before Pontius Pilate •," he bore his tellimony 
 to the truth with that dignity and heroic fortitude which be- 
 came him as the fon of God. 
 
 2. Judgment is taken for a fentence palled upon any man or 
 thing. An oppreflive judgment is that fentence which over- 
 bearing power, unduly exercifed, pafTes unjuftly upon unpro- 
 te£ted innocence; whilftajuft judgment is an upright deter- 
 mination, paffed after a full and righteous inveftigation : it is in 
 this fenfe that it is faid, that an unrighteous judge talccth a gift, 
 which blindeth the eyes of the wife ; making him, for filthy 
 lucre's fake, examine only one fide of the cafe before him, 
 perverting the caufe of the fatherlefs and widow, and crufliing 
 the poor beneath the terrors of oppreiTive law. In this ienfe, 
 but with a good meaning, it is prophefied concerning the Mef- 
 Cah, that 
 
 « He fliall judge thy people with rlghteoufnels, 
 And thy poor with judgment," 
 It is in this fenfe the hiftorian ufes this quotation—" In his 
 humiliation his judgment was taken away i" his righteous 
 judgment; that upright fentence which an upright bench 
 would have paffed upon an innocent perfon, was, by an oppref- 
 five judjrment, illegally taken away, in fuch a ,manner, that 
 none co'uld app^ at the unjuft tribunal to teftify his manner 
 of life, his innocence of conduft, his wildom, his gentlenefs, 
 his purity, his goodnefs-, for the arm of iniquity was lifted up 
 againft him, and his life was fwept away from the earth. 
 
 The firlt thing that ftrikcs our attention in thefe words is, 
 that Chrift went through a fhort but fuiFering ftate of humili- 
 ation: Ihort, indeed, was his hfe, but great, exceedingly great, 
 his humiliation! on account of the grandeur of his birth — :he 
 firft-born of creation, the only begotten fon of the Father— - 
 as alfo for the glory, the dignity, the. fupreme excellency of his 
 perfon; for by him, and for him, were all things created, how- 
 ever elevated above the fons of men in mojelfy and honour, 
 or how lew foever beneath the lofty fituation of man in their 
 nature, and in their weaknefs— notwithllanding their excel- 
 lency or their meannefs, it was his hand that formed them, and 
 for his government were they created. He wps the eledt of 
 God, in whom his foul delighted; who dwelt in his bolom 
 before angels were formed, or this lower nature was, by the 
 
 fiat 
 
( 139 ) 
 
 fiat of almighty power, called forth into exiftence. How 
 great, therefore, was his humiliation ! 
 
 <' Borne on the wjiipi. of boundlcfs love, 
 
 He lot'c ihVternal throne on high; 
 Our low clc^':ratlcd ftate to prove, 
 
 With man to mourn, for man to die." 
 
 He did not degrade his heavenly dignity by condefcending to 
 be cloathed in the gaudy decorations of human power, but un-L 
 cloathing himfelf of all power, he made himfelf of no repu- 
 tation,fwirhout name, wealth, or authority, and took upon him- 
 felf the form of a fervant, that form which required itritSl and 
 conllant obedience ; ?nd being thus found amongft his own 
 people, whom he had called out of the world, amongft his bre- 
 thren after the flefh, fafliioned as a man like themfclves, they 
 knew him not as the lun of God; thev received him not as 
 the Chrift, tne Mefliah, the anointed of God; and he, in this 
 humiliation of himfelf, to fulfil the will of his Father, and be- 
 come unto us an example of obedience, became himfelf obe- 
 dient unto death, even the death of the crofs, ftretched with 
 limbs'extended to the accurfed tree, and rivetted to the deadly 
 fpot hy nails penetrating the tender nerves, and all his body fuf- 
 pended by and fuftained on his wounded members ; d\'ing, for 
 hours dying, not by weaknefs of conftitution, or a difordered 
 nature, but by an overwhelming excefs of pain ! 
 
 Great indeed had been his prior humiliation ! The higheft 
 ftate of human dignity was degradation of fituation to the fon 
 of God ; but that degradation was carried on in him from the 
 womb to the grave. The fon of David to be born in a ftable! 
 At twelve years of age, with a wifdom of fpeech that aftonifh- 
 ed the learned, and growing in wifdom ; fo that at years of 
 maturity wiicn he fpake his enemies were forced to confefs, 
 that no man ipake like him ; yet notwithftanding his mental 
 ability, he, on whofe lips the multitudes hung with aftonifli- 
 ment, even he, wandered about fupported by inc hand of pity! 
 the fcorn of tne wife, and the ridicule of the profligate— v.'ith- 
 out a place he could call his own, or a {belter for his head from 
 the inclement ftorm. Spotlefs in his innocence, the eye of 
 malice could not find a flaw in his character, )et was he ac- 
 cufed of blalphemy, of gluttony, of drunkennefs, and of trea- 
 .ibn ; and at lal}, condemned on unproved charges, and crucified 
 contrar to the laws of Lis country ; he was numbered with 
 the tranfgreilbrs ; his life v/as cut off from the earth. 
 
 The greatnefs of the humiliauoii of Chmt is moft vifible 
 
 when the dignity of his perfon is contraited with the abicwl 
 
 T 2 itatc 
 
( I40 ) 
 
 ftate to which he was reduced. Man is born to forrow. Tt 
 is neceflary for the infant ruler to be trained in the fchool of 
 
 adverfity j he muft learn wifely to govern by his own often 
 
 fad experience. But in the Lord Jefus Chrift were hidden 
 
 fuch treafures of wifdom and knowledge, that he not only 
 could create worlds innumerable, and filled with animation, 
 but he could, nay had for ages, fat upon the throne of govern- 
 mert, ruling them with underftanding; for him, therefore, to 
 lay afide the radiant glories of etherial dignity— for him, the 
 reprefentative of the immortal and invifible Deity-- -for him, 
 vho being in the form of ^.Jod, thought it no robbery to be 
 equal with God: for him, I fay, to lay by his government, and 
 to take upon him the form of a fiibje6t — to be obedient, even 
 obedie't unto dearh, unto the moft degrading, the moft cruel 
 of deaths! Oh I this was humiliation! humiliation furpall- 
 ing the attainment of any rational creature, from the higheft 
 angel who treads the realms above, to man, the Lord of all this 
 world below. Far, infinitely far beneath him in dignit)', they 
 never could, by immeafureable lengths, reach that humiliation 
 which the foil of God underwent. 
 
 Wnat adds greatly to the glory of Chrift, in his humiliation 
 is, that it was voluntary. No povi^er in heaven, earth, or hell, 
 could have dethroned him. He might have exclaimed, 
 
 *' Leafriie all your forces, all ye pow'rs above, 
 An6 wiih you Jet the whole creation move, 
 Ye Hrive in vain. If I but fpeak ihe word. 
 The fi.it of the Deity is heard ; 
 And, terror fli uck, ye lay before your Lord. 
 
 Even when he had defcended from the throne of creation* 
 and humbled himfelf to take upon him human nature — when 
 his own, that he came unto, inftead of receiving him as the an- 
 nointed of the Father, rejected him, derided h;m, and were 
 about to put him to an ignominious death, even then, had he 
 called upon his father, twelve legions of thofe bright and im- 
 mortal beings who tread the etherial courts, would, in a mo- 
 ment, have appeared to his relief, and filled with terror and 
 devaftation that guilty land. Thtie was not a moment of his 
 miniftration but what he could have advanced hmifelf to what 
 dignity he pleafed, having all heaven and earth ready at his 
 cc.nmand, to do all his will, it is this exalts the chara^i-ler — 
 it i^ this that exhibits, in lively and proper colours, the great 
 thi gs he did for us. He ('id much for us— -he bare much 
 frcm the contradidtion of finners f r us; but he bare it vo- 
 luntarily: he made himfelf of no reputation ; he took upon 
 
 himfelf 
 
'( >4i ) 
 
 himfelf the form of a fcrvant. Where Is the chara£^er recorded 
 in hillory, but the charadlcr of our Lord Jefiis Chrift, wlio, 
 for the ;iood cf mankind voluntarily through life, {looped froai 
 a throne of don'.inion, and became poor and contemptible, 
 pc fli fTcd of ro J'gnitv, no outward marks cf his former gran- 
 deur, and fubjert to thatfcorn, derifion, and ill ufage, which fu- 
 perior wifdom, united with poverty, meets with from hypocrify, 
 foil;, and I'clf-love, when reproved by it; but added to all t..i?, 
 he dr mk the bitter cup of divine 'vrath, and died agonifing up- 
 on the crofs! Mv Gofl ! wlio but thy Jon would have "done 
 all this? Who but he poflefi'ed love fufficienl to become thus 
 hun^ bled for our lakes? His love alone was inde-d fuperior 
 to all motal loves; and b his wond-Trul exercife of it, he 
 hath finootfied our path to elory and immortalitv. Who 
 amonfift the Tons cA men would not Lr:ik it hard to be charged 
 with thofe cinu'S which thou, my Lord, waft charged with? 
 But if perfcdtlv iniio^enr of every charge that enraged qialice 
 could bring againft ihem, how cruel w.old they think it! If 
 filently thev bore the reproach, mankind at large would be con- 
 vinced of its truth; but fhould thev attempt to defend their 
 charader, and retort back the falfehoods up m their foul accu- 
 ftrs, the indignant fcorn of infulted innocence would be con- 
 ftrued into rage and felf-love attempting to vindicate it^fclf 
 againft the irrcfiftibic evidence of truth. This feems hard; 
 but fdently did our icuiocent blciTt d Lord bear all that malice, 
 rage, envy, prejudice, fuperft.ti'.;n, and ignorance could invent 
 to blaft his character and pr-. ve/it his uf^ifulnefs. And thus 
 doth it become his follov/ers to a£ti they fliould follow on in 
 the fame path that he walked in, and tread in tf.e (ame fteps. 
 In all things they ought to rife above the foul Ipeeches of a pre- 
 judiced multitude, committing their caufe into his hand who 
 judgeth rightly. I have taken a pretty cxtenfive furvey of the 
 Jayjo's of mankind ; of the defire to criminate on the one part, 
 and the defire to Ju/iify cncfel/on the other part, and 1 aju on 
 the whole convinced from experience and obfervation, tha; the 
 wifeft way for a Chriftian to act, is to keep a conlciei.ce void 
 of offence towards God and towards man, chearfuily practih.ig 
 all the relative, focial, and religious duiies, according to the 
 commands of God, and then leaving every contingent event 
 depending thereon in his hands, iilentiy biddmg defiasxe lo all 
 the contumely, and infultmg outrage of the children ot iiclial. 
 Short as is the walk from this pulpit to the chapel-door, I would 
 not ftep it to clear my cnaradter from the vileft fianders that 
 malice could invent. Should Jefus approve of our cha'-acter 
 
 when 
 
( H^ ) 
 
 when he cometh, he will dear it from every afperfion when he 
 clears his own; he will then make it fhine elorioufly: our 
 falfe accufers ihall behold and tremble and be confounded: 
 this will be time enough for our character tofhiie glorioufly, 
 in innocence, before the eyes of our fellow-creatures. It is 
 true, this is advice contrary to the wifdom of this world; but 
 worldly wifdom is fooliflinefs with God ; and they who begin 
 the difagreeable work of proving and fending, will foon find, 
 that in this life they need have nothing elfe to do. But v/hen 
 the trumpet fhall found, and the dead fhall awake, how awful 
 will be the account they will have to render of their ill-fpent 
 time, their wrong tempers, their want of faith in the divine 
 judgments, and that felf-righteous mark of fallen-nature, an 
 evil pronenefs tofelf-jufliiication! 
 
 But after all, the moft humiliating of all the fcencs that our 
 Lord went through was that of his death. Truly it is an aw- 
 ful thought toconfider the creator and lord of creation led as a 
 
 criminal to the bar of the creature of the creature his own 
 
 hands had formed ! to fee him there buiFeted, fpit upon, mocked, 
 fcourged, crucified ! Was there ever humiliation like this ? No 
 man could have taken bis Hfe from him : he alone had power 
 to lay it down, and power to. take it up : therefore it was that 
 his Father loved him, becaufe he laid down his life for the 
 iheep. Hers was love! here was a voluntary abafement! an 
 extreme of humiliating degradation to accomplifli the pur- 
 pofes of that love. Love imm^nfe !— love infinite! or if 
 bounded, bounded only by that creation which flood in need of 
 thefullefl- dilplay of it. Love afcending beyond himfelf to the 
 immortal Source from whence it was derived, and defcending 
 to the minuteft workmanfhip infinite v/ifdom had produced ; 
 expanding all around, and going forth in a6fs of benevolence 
 to every creature whofe mifery called aloud for mercy. 
 
 In this low degrading ilatc of humiUation, hisjudgment wai 
 taken away; julfice was net done him; every principle of- 
 equity, as far as man was coiiccrned, was perverted, that he 
 might unjuflly fuffer an ignominious painful death. Nay, 
 there was fcarce the appearance of what the Jewifh nation 
 called law or juflice exeicifcd towards him. They could not 
 accufe him of committing any crim^e againft the Jcviilhftatci 
 no, nor even againft Cadar ; nor againfl the laws of Moies. 
 Not one criminal charge cculd they bring againft him, either 
 civil, ecclefiaiiical, or moral. One charge, indeed, they proved 
 againit him-— he taught the people the knowledge of God, 
 and the way of lalvation. Debaicd indeed, niuft that govern- 
 ment 
 
( '43 ) 
 
 mcntbe that could aT: upon fuch a charge — abjecl the flavifh 
 niindfiof that nation whole rulers dared thus to pervert trutli 
 and juftice. 
 
 << Should ir e'er come when law fubmits to powV, 
 With Him refolvc my Heady bofom Iteel, 
 , Bi-avely to fuffer, though 1 deeply feel ; 
 
 Let me, as hitherto, ftilldraw my breath, 
 
 In love with life, tho'not in fear of death : 
 
 y\Md if oppreflion bring me to the grave, 
 
 i\nd m '.rk me dead, Ihe neVr Ihall mark a flave. 
 
 Let fober triumphs wait upon my bier, 
 
 I won't forgive the friend who iheds o^e tear. 
 
 Whether h::'s ravifh'd in life's e:irly morn, 
 
 Or in old a^e drops like an car of corn, 
 
 Full ripe he falls on nature's noblefl: plan, 
 
 Who lives torcafon and who dies a man." 
 
 When they accufed him of teaching the people from Gali- 
 lee to Jerufalem, thev might have added, He not only in- 
 iJrruiSls their minds, but heals their bodies — not only opens 
 their underftandings to dilcern rhc truth, and by his inftruc- 
 tion chafes away the (hades and darlcnefs from their minds, but 
 helilcewife opens the eyes of the blind, and caufes the dumb 
 man to fing the praifes of God, whilft he niaketh the lame 
 man to leap lilce an hart, with holy rapture at the wonderful, 
 mamfeftation made unto him of the divine goodnefs; and at 
 the fame time cheers the drooping fpirits of the diftreflcd witli 
 animating confolations. But thev wanted not to fearch the 
 truth ; their deeds would not bear to be brought to the light for 
 examination. Herod and Pontius Pilate, wicked men, yet men 
 unfhackled by prejudice, men who had no craft to lofe, who, 
 feared not die being turned out of the fynagogue~-thefe mea 
 could examine the accufations brought a^ainft him-'-they could 
 pronounce him guiltlefs— they, fitting o.m the throne of judg- 
 ment, could aver, " we find no fault in him;" nay, althouglk 
 the high-priefi hypocritical 1/ rent his cloaths, and fhoated 
 " Blalphemy!" yet, even before him, Jefus ftood acquitted— 
 his fall'e witneffes, fuborned to fwear away his life, agreed not 
 in their teftimony. And the innocent Jefus, ftanding at the 
 bar, was forced to be appealed to, that, by a perveirfion of his 
 anfwer, they might have fome colour of evidence, though ut- ' 
 terly diftcrted, that they might pronounce him to be guilty and 
 worthy of death. Pilate the^ heathen, the unjufl;, rapacious. 
 Pilate, wbked as he was, pronounced the accuiation that was 
 brought ^ainii- him, (even if it could be proved) univorthy of 
 fo fevere x pui.ifltment as death : he could lee through the hypo- 
 critical v«i) paint«d over with the love of truth, and zeal for, 
 
 ther 
 
( H4 ) 
 
 the character of God. Pilate could fee throngh the veil, and 
 behold that it was not through holy j.^aloufv that they brou2;ht 
 him to his bar, but that it was through envy. The contraft 
 betwixt him and the Pharifees ffruck the connion people 
 greatly: they heard him gladly; they hung upon his lips; the 
 gentlenefs of his manners, oppofed to theirs, his holy, harm- 
 lefs, and undefiled life, while yet he mingled in the comoany of 
 finners, and led them to the paths of virtue, ^"hewed the Phari- 
 fees in their proper colours, as proud, adulterous, and over- 
 bearing, fliunning the company of all but their own fec\^ con- 
 demning the people by their precepts, making religion an into- 
 lerable burthen, and, by their lives, deterring from the prddlice 
 cf it. 
 
 Yes, it was through envy th it they delivered the Lord of 
 life and glory into the ha .ds of Pontius Pilate; they envied 
 him that purify of life and difintereftednefs of love, which palfed 
 a filentbut (evere cerifure upon their iniquitous aftions and the 
 felfifhnefs of all their moft benevolent deeds, tlie/ talked of 
 purity, fanitity, and truth ; th sy held up themfelves to man- 
 kind as the fervants of the Moft High God---the pcculiai 
 worfiiippers of Jehovah; whilft beneath the hypocriticM garb 
 of outward appearance, a long face, a long prayer, and the 
 found of a trumpet before them to proclaim their almfgiving : 
 beneath thefe outward mafks they had a fpirit of felf-iovp, of 
 pride of heart, a love to filthy lucre, devouring the houics of 
 the widow, and eating up iheTupport of' the fati)er-efs, and de- 
 Iblated orphan ; hearts full of adultery, impurity, and all un- 
 cleannefs : they could not bear the Ihort prayers, the open 
 countenance, the humble manner, the generous fpirit, the dilin- 
 tereiied life of our Lord : his hie condemned their a^^lions, his 
 words pafled fevere cenfures on their iniquitous condud; 
 therefore, like Jofeph's brethren of old, tney were enraged 
 againft their brother becaufe he told them the truth, and, their 
 deeds being evil, rhey could not bear it; becaiife of their ini- 
 quity and hypocrify they could not endure his life, which was 
 holy, harmlefs, undefiled, and feparate from fui. In tiie midft of 
 poverty his lite (hone with an holy luftre ; whiUl they, giving 
 themfelves up to all iniquity, feeing the woncierkil m'.racles he 
 performed, the purity of his doitrines diftu'-'ced them much, 
 his piety more, but his miracles moft of all. It was theie that 
 cauied them to exclaim. Let us crucify him, left the Romans 
 come and take away our place and ration. 1 hey beneld thefe 
 with fear, and trembling, and rage, d-ni exnoried each other to 
 put him to death ; and, that they might bUft his charader. and 
 
 fhew . 
 
( '45 ) 
 
 fnew before the nation their zeal for the honour of Jehovah, 
 theyaccufed him of bLifphenny, hut in vain, even with the af- 
 fiftance of fuborned evidence they could not prove it; the 
 charge, as every unproved charge docs, returned back upon 
 their own guilty heads. In vain did they afterwards accufe 
 him to Pilate; tht* heathen magiftratc, inftcad of being a6^ive 
 ' to punifh, feared. He thought him a good and a virtuous man, 
 at leaft. Perhaps from the mcflage of his wife, and the man- 
 ner of our Lord at his bar, he might even have higher though 
 confufed ideas of the characler of Jefus. Who art thou? faid 
 Pilate: the judge laid aiide the dignity of fituation, and began 
 to converfe with the criminal at his bar. He was convinced 
 that juflice was not done him; that envy accufed and malice 
 ■would deftroy him. But though the outward garb of legal 
 juliice was put oji, the character of our bleflcd Lord was clear- 
 ed from everv immorality that malice and injuftice could bring 
 againd it. Pilate at lad thought that he had hit upon an ex- 
 pedient which would fave his life, but which, by its not fuc- 
 ceeding, became the means of putting him to death. " Whom 
 will ye (faid Pilate) that I rcleafe unto you, Barabbas, or Jefus 
 who is called Chrift?" Surely, thought Pilate, if I contrad 
 this infamous murderer and robber with the meek, holy, inno- 
 cent Jefus, they will behold the immenfity of difference be-^ 
 tween them, and releafe the innocent, but condemn the guilty. 
 But alas ! to the difgrace of the profeflional world, an heathen 
 could feel the common fenfations of equity and propriety with- 
 in his bofom, which a worfhipper of the tiue God could ftifle. 
 Truly they fhall come from the eail and the weft, the north, 
 and the fouth, who have felt the impulfe of divine truth within 
 their br. aft, and have acled upon it, and ftiall be received into 
 the kingdom, whilft the children of the kingdom, who have 
 had the whole of revealed truth in their polTeftion, but have 
 perverted it, or a6ted contrary to it, (ball be caft out. Under 
 the outward form of religion, it has remained for them alone to 
 blaft the rharadter of Deity, to pervert his word, to perfscute to 
 death thofe who called upon his name, and, under pretence of 
 doing the pure and holy God a fer\ ice, to be guilty of murder 
 and every irnquit'. Profeftors may call thcmfelves the difci- 
 pies of Jefus, the true worfhippers of the living God, the 
 children of the Moft High ; but he that hath not the fpirit o( 
 God is none of his. 
 
 " Whom will ye (faid Pilate) that I releafe unto you, Bar- 
 abbas, or Jefus who is called Chrift ?" In vain did Pilate rea- 
 fou with himlelf, If I propofe this atrocious ofFender, this 
 U breaker 
 
{ «46 ) 
 
 breaker through every fecial law, this abominable chara>51er, 
 this murderer, in oppofition to this holy man, they will cer- 
 tainly reject Barabbas with difdain, and choofe this good man 
 as an objecl: of their clemency. Surely malice and envy will 
 be gratified with making him appear in fociety as a pardoned 
 malefador, without carrying on their wickednefs to the jQied- 
 ding of innocent blood. 
 
 But alas! how miftakenly did Pilate reafon: they faid, 
 " Not this man, but Barabbas." Thus was our bleffed Lord 
 purfued through their iniquitous courts of injufi-ice. Examine 
 with calmnefs every ftep that was taken, and you will find that 
 through all his judgment, or that upright fentence that fhould 
 Ijave been pafled upon his a£lions, was, in this awful hour of 
 his humiliation, taken av/ay, and even the decent forms of juf- 
 tice were not attended to; when he fpake they fpit in his face, 
 buffeted him, ridiculed him, fmote him. Was this juftice ?' 
 Does juftice punifh uncondemned? Was it any other perfon than 
 our Lord Jefus Chritf that was fo treated, one might fay, the 
 court that permitted fuch proceedings to take place was more 
 degraded than the poor innocent lufFerer who was called to en- 
 dure them : but as the charafter of Jefus, his rank in creation 
 as judge of quick and dead, infinitely tranfccnded the honours 
 they bare, fo his humiliation, in being the fufferer in fuch a 
 degrading of juftice, was infinitely greater than theirs, under 
 any circumflances, could have been. 
 
 He was condemned contrary to their own laws, and contrary 
 to the legal forms of every civilized nation. The Jews had .a 
 cuflom that no man fhoujd be taken up on a fufpicion of guilt 
 on any of their folemn feafl days, or on the days preceding 
 them, on purpofe to prevent the hilarity of the day being be- 
 clouded with fuch unpleafant fights. But fo great was their 
 zeal to condemn the holy Jefus, that, contrary to this cuflom, 
 they fat up the whole of the night preceding the paflover, that 
 they might take him; and having apprehended, tried him and 
 caufed him to be crucified, and this on their mofl folemn fefli- 
 val, breaking through every fence that wifdom or fuperftition 
 had eredled, putting him to death on the very day, the hour, and 
 even the moment of that day when the law which they pro- 
 feiTed to venerate had ordered the pafcal lamb to be flain. And 
 in the accomplifhment of their cruel purpofes, they brake 
 through thofe traditions which they held as facred. It is true 
 they would not defile themfelves by entering into the judgment 
 hall; but their confciencc was not fo tender but that they 
 could bribe men to forfwear themfelves, and folemnly and de- 
 liberately 
 
( 147 } 
 
 liberately take upon themfelves blood -guiltinefs. •Confcience 
 was delicately tender about the defilements of the fle^, but 
 perfectly afleep, with all the calmnefs of undifturbed repofe* 
 concerning the defilements of the fpirit. T hey could not pol- 
 tute themfeives by entering a court of judicature on a feftival 
 day, but they could pollute that court by rendering it inftru- 
 mental- to the murdering of the holv one of Ifrael. Them- 
 feives they would iiot defile, but cared not how much they de- 
 iiled him. It was truly of a piece with all carnal, human will- 
 worfhip; paying tythes of anife and cummin, attending to the 
 trifling minutiae of unappointed ceremonies, but negledling 
 the weightier matters of the law, juftice, mercy, and truth. 
 By their own laws it is faid, that when a criminal was taken 
 up. he was not, at the fooneft, to be tried before the next day, 
 and if condemned, not to be executed before the dav after. 
 And fuch regulations had wifdom in them : it gave an oppor- 
 'tunity for the accufed toconfider of his fituation, to collect his 
 friends together, that tiiev might appear to his charafter. It 
 gave him time to confider the charges that were to be exhi- 
 bited agaip.ft him : and it gave fome little time for his accufers 
 to refleft, for their paflions to cool, and for their judgment to be 
 fully fadsfied concerning the accu(cd perfon's guilt, and of tUeir 
 own breach of the law, fliould they bear a falfe teflimony. It 
 likewife gave the judge time to reflect over the fentence 
 that had been palled- —of the aggregate of little favoura- 
 ble circuinftances that had appeared i.i evidence, and of 
 the propriety of enforcing the fentence, or pardoning the 
 criminal. All thefe wile regulations, in the cafe of our 
 blefied Lord, were neglected ; he was taken up, tried, caft, 
 condemned, crucified, and dead, in the fliort fpace of about 
 fifteen hours ; fo that his manner of lifc^ xvho^ amongft his 
 friends, could declare? Terror ftruck by the hand of power, 
 they in the moment of fear had ail forfook him and fled ; and 
 no time was allowed him to recall them as evidence to fadls 
 concerning his private lite and public miniftration. Our Lard 
 feems to allude to this circumftance, John, xviii 20, 21. " Je- 
 fus anfwered him, I fpake o^.enly to the world, 1 ever taugnt 
 in tlie fynagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always 
 refort, and in lecret have J faid nothing. Why aflcefl thou 
 me ? A(k them which heard me what I have faid unto them; 
 behold they know what I faid." 
 
 Another form of the Jewifh court was, that no procefs 
 
 could begin in it dt night. It muiT be began in the face of day 
 
 that the accufed might be aware of it, and prepared to guard 
 
 ^gainft its confequcnces j but this jult regulation was not at- 
 
 U 2 tended 
 
tended to; the procefs againft our Lord was began at night, he 
 was prechided from taking any fteps to exculpate himfelf by the 
 illegal hafte with which they hurried on his trial, even to the 
 condemning him to death, as far as they had power, before thq 
 morning dawn arofe. 
 
 By another law, to prevent a confounding of crimes, it was 
 enadted, that no two criminals could be put to death together, 
 unlefs their crimes were alike; but, contrary to this law, our 
 bleffed Lord was crucified between two thieves; numisered 
 with the tranfgreflbrs. If guilty of the crime he was charged 
 with, it had been blafphemy, but he was executed not as for 
 blafphemy, but as for theft ; his judgment was taken azuay ; not 
 even the forms of equity were preferved ; his trial, condemna- 
 tion, and execution, were alike unjuft, contrary to every prin- 
 ciple of law, and in dire6l oppofition to the accuftomed prac- 
 tices cf his nation. Pilate knew that they condemned him un- 
 juftly ; perhaps there may be feme one here prefent who may 
 afk, Why then did Pilate pafs fo unjuft a fentence, feeing that he 
 had it abfolutely in his power to have refcued him from their 
 malice. Was not the fentence that he pafled an acknowledge- 
 ment of hif suilt? The Romans aimed at univerfal dominion 
 under all then- various forms of governments ; to attain it they 
 Tuled the nations with mildnefs, and according to their own 
 jav/s; punifhing with the utmoft feverity the oppreffionsof thofe 
 whom they appointed as governors, and liftening to every 
 charge that was brought againft them. Power, whether an 
 individual or a nation pofieffes it, is the feat of jealoufy; the 
 leaft fuppofition of an encroachment ftirreth up this dreadful 
 paffion: it was on this ground that the attempts of Pilate to 
 releafe Jefus v^ere rendered abortive. The Jews cried out, " If 
 thou let this man go, thou art not Caefar's friend; who ever 
 maketh himfelf a king, fpeaketh againft Casfar." Here it 
 v/as that every virtuous refoluiion ot Pilate was ftaggered : the 
 .firmnefs of his mind in the defence of innocence was gone. 
 Pilate had, whilft governor, been guilty of various a6ls of op- 
 preffion, contrary to the fpirit of the Roman laws ; he faw, 
 therefore, and he felt the force of the charge, and iank beneath 
 its weight; he knew the fufpicious nature of Tiberius, and he 
 felt guilt in his own bofom ; this made him to condemn the in- 
 jiocent ; him of whom his underftanding was convinced that he 
 was an holy virtuous man, brought to nis tribunal by the ma- 
 lice of his enemies. If Pilate had always done as he ought to 
 have done he w(y(Jd boldly have put them at defiance. But the 
 Roman governoi could not fay " Witnefs againft me before the 
 Lord and before his anointed: v/hofe ox have I taken? or 
 
 whofe 
 
C 149 ) 
 
 whnfe afs have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have 
 I opprefTed? or of whoi'e hands have I received a bribe to blind 
 mine eyes therewith." It is fm that makes a man to be a cow- 
 ard, whilfl- innocence cxalteth his courage, and maketh him 
 bold as a lion. Pilate, had he done at all times his duty, would 
 have felt the whole ftrength of his fituation ; he would 
 have known that every good man in Judea would have ap- 
 proved of his conduft in refilling the malice of bad men againft 
 an injured innocent charaCiCr; he would have bc;eii convinced 
 that his conduct not only merited, but would ha e obtained, 
 the approbation of th- emperor. But, alas! unhappy Pilate { 
 he knew that thefe bad men could have proved him fo far guil- 
 tv of the charges that the;, could bring againlt hi -n, as to make 
 it ftrong prefumpt've evidence that the remainder of it was 
 well founded. Awful, indeed, is the career of fm ; happy the 
 man who dreads to take the firft ftep in it; innumerable and 
 mazv are its paths— he that entereth, wandereth, not knowing 
 where to ftop. The man who giveth himfelf up to his paf- 
 fions, of ambition, avarice, luft, revenge, &c. &c. may it not 
 be faid unto him, " Thou that teacheft another, teacheft thou 
 not thyfelf?" Can fuch an one reprove, rebuke, or exhort? 
 "Will not felf-condemnation prevent his duty ? or hypocrify, or 
 want of felf-knowledge, render his heart callous ? And thus 
 it was with Pilate ; his own crimes made him to condemn the 
 innocent. 
 
 y^nd zuho Jhall declare his generation? His relations were 
 far diflant from him— his lifciples had forfook him ; thev 
 fled, fearing the fame vengeance hung (;ver them as had feized 
 
 their innocent mailer he had no friend at hand to plead 
 
 his righteous caufe— the fudden arreft of Jcfus appears to 
 have ft rick en his followers with terror. It is evident, from 
 the hift jrrcal narrations of the evangelifts, that he was held 
 in high eftimation bx' a great mafs of the people ; they follow- 
 ed him from place to place ; thev hung, with filent attention, 
 on his lips— they had been partakers of his benevolence, and 
 their bodies had beenrcftored to health by his miraculous pow- 
 er. The fcribes and Pharifees, the mighty wicked, feared to 
 touch him, becaufe of the vnuration that the people had for 
 him. It would, on this account alonr^ have been almoll im- 
 poffible fur them to have carried their unjuil cruel purpofes 
 into effecl, had they but given time for hi- '"ittered friends to 
 have rallied round him, and have boldly dedared his generation^ 
 his manner of life, in thefe humiliating days of this his mortal 
 generation. But his life was taken from the earth j truly it 
 was the hour of the power of darknefs. 
 
 *' Succe.s 
 
« Succefs attended their infernal wiles: 
 J?ruis'd in the heel, the woman's facred feed 
 Felt Satan's force, and fell, yea, proli^rate fell 
 Beneath the' malice of his vengeful foe." 
 
 His life was taken from the earth. O how keen, at that 
 dread moment, were the feelings of his faithful followers ! Ve- 
 rily they thought it had been him who (hould have redeemed 
 Ifrael! Alas! how different ! him whom they had looked to 
 have feen upon his throne, judging righteoufly, ftands like a 
 malefailor at the tribunal of injuftice. The Meffiah, the king 
 of glory, is crowned with thorns, and the reflecting rays from 
 the polifhed gems of his diadem are changed to ftreams of 
 blood, gufhing from his thorn-pierced teiTi{)les. Behold the 
 Jcing of Ifrael, not upon the throne of his glory, with the kings 
 of Sheba and Seba bringing prefents unto him, and deputies 
 from every part of the habitable globe proftrating themlelves 
 before him-— but behold him ftretched out upon the accurfed 
 tree— crucified like a thief— numbered with the tranfgreffors, 
 whilft the infulting fons of violence and fuperflition cry aloud, 
 1' He faid that he fhould fave others— -let him fave himfelf. If 
 thou be the Meifiah, come down from the crois, and we wiil 
 believe on thee." ■ 
 
 JHis life was taken away ; and as he, by his doiSlrines and 
 examples, taught us to live-— fo, by this his unjulf death, he 
 has taught us to die. My God ! may I li\'e like him, and, if 
 called to the awful horrors of his death, may I learn like him, 
 to glorify thee by my death I 
 
 Trul)'tht' wiidom of God is fuperior to the wifdom of man. 
 Who could have thought the way of the crofs was the path to 
 glory? But becaufe he hath thus fuffcred, therefore hath his 
 Father highly exalted hiin, and given him^a name which is above 
 every name, that at the name of Jefus every knee fhall bow, 
 in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue 
 ihould confefs that Jeius Chrift is Lord to the glory of God 
 the Father. " For the tranfgreffions of my people was he 
 fmitlcn," faith the prophet. Wonderful in wifdom and good- 
 nefs is Jchovuh our God ! He taketh not pleafure in the death 
 or groans of itis creatures; fury is not in him, that it needeth 
 to be appeafed by the immolation of his only begotten fon ; but 
 fte findeth out a way by which he may be a jull God, and yet 
 a juftifier of the ungodly. By fuftcring he perfedeth his Iba 
 to be the hend^ of creation : by his death he rcheads and re- 
 unites the whcle of his creatures by love; he gave himlelflor 
 us, that we might tread in bis ftcps. The ipiiit of love flow- 
 
 ctti 
 
( 151 ) 
 
 cth from him, the head, to his church, and through them to the 
 whole creation, bringing every creature again into the image 
 of God, whofe nature, whofe efTence is love. 
 
 Here then we behold lUch good as full/ juftifies the Deity ii) 
 caulins; an innocent perfon to be put to death for the benefit of 
 the (juilti/. Befidcs, death was not forced upon the Lord by 
 conitraint ; but good and evil were placed before him; and, 
 fupported by the hope of the good that was before him, he en- 
 dured the evil of fuftering for the fake of the glory that fliould 
 follow— the glory of fubduing, reheading, reuniting all by 
 love, fhat, all evil being deftroyed, all error correiled, every 
 rebellion fubducd beneath his feet, he might refign the crown 
 unto his Father, that God might be all in all. The taking 
 away the life of the Mediah by the death of the crofs, was, to 
 the Jews, a Humbling block, and to the Greeks it was foolidi- 
 ne!s: they could not fee any end to be anfwered by it. The 
 one expected an all-conquering Mefiiah by the power of the 
 fword, a victorious fubduer of the nations — the others thought 
 that an almighty Being could pardon his creatures, and reftore 
 them to virtue and happinefs, without putting his fon to death 
 to accomplifh it. To the one party, therefore, the fufFering 
 ftate of the Mefliah, contrafted with his future glory, was fuch 
 a {tumbling block, that they could not, nor have they to this 
 day ilepped over it. But to the wife and learned Greeks, igno- 
 rant of the prophetic writings, it was foolilhnefs. They 
 thought it proclaimed a weak, ignorant, though kind being, 
 defirous to do good, but not knowing, how to do it in the beft 
 ' manner. He did evil in killing the innocent for the guiltv, that 
 good might come. Neither party entered into the fpirit of 
 Chriftianity— the all-fubduing power of love, the^ Father 
 ^ving the beloved of his foul to manifeft that, having givea 
 hiin for our falvation, he was willing, with him, freely to give 
 us all things. The fon, the Lord and maker of the univerfe, 
 negligent of his own glory, through the greatncfs of his love, 
 left the throne of dominion, took the form of a fcrvant, and 
 being found in fafliion as a man, he became obedient unto 
 death, even the death of the crofs: dnd this account of the 
 conduct of Chrifl is introduced by the apoiUe with the ac- 
 count of the motives or main Ipring of action in him which 
 led to fuch conduiit, " Look not every man on his own 
 things, but every man alfo on the things of others. Let this 
 mind be in you which was alfo in Chrift Jefus." Here, then^ 
 is the moving caufe, the main fpring, of focial happincis, lo 
 diftant from the conquering hero's ovcr-beaiing fpirit-— fo 
 
 contrary 
 
C 15^ ) 
 
 contrary to the complex vain philofophy of the wiAlom of this 
 "world— a fpi fit of hoping and enduring; all things— -a fpirit of 
 feelcing our own good, not by conftraining others to obey us, 
 or honour us, or pay us tribute---but by doing good to ail- 
 by being like the Deity, who feeketh not any thing from his 
 creatures, but openeth wide his liberal hand, and all things liv- 
 ing are filled with plenteoufnefs. 
 
 There was, therefore, a ncceffity for the death of Chrift ; and 
 how light fo ever Chriftians may confider this fubjeiV, the apof- 
 tles of our Lor3 reprefent it as the foundation of all our hopes 
 of falvation ; thev point him out as the only medium of accefs 
 unto the Father ; and declare that his name is the only name 
 given whereby we can be faved. Thro' him alone have we 
 acceptance with God. Let, therefore, the Jew ft'imble over 
 the threfhold of divine truth— let the wife men of this world 
 turn it into ridicule— Chrift crucified is our boaft and our 
 glory; we will glory in the crofs of Chrift, and like him go 
 without the camp bearing our reproach j Chrift died for our 
 fms ; the puniftiment of our iniquities was exafted from him, 
 and by his ftripes are we healed. " By his knowledge fliall my 
 righteous fervant juftify the multitude, for the punifhment of 
 their iniquities he fhall bear; therefore will Jehovah diftiibute 
 unto him the multitude for his portion, and the mighty people 
 Ihall he fhare for his fpoil ; becaule he poured out his foul unto 
 death, and was numbered with the tranlgreffors, and he bare 
 the fin of the multitude, and made interceflion for the tranf- 
 
 grefTors. Who his own felf bare our fins in his own body 
 
 upon the tree, that we, being dead to fin, fhould live unto righ- 
 teoufnefs : by whofe ftripes ye were healed." 
 
 Viewing, therefor^, the death of our dear Lord and mafter 
 in this manner, it is truly of confequence unto us that his life 
 was taken from the earth ; and not unto us only who have re- 
 turned unto the fhepherd and bifhop of our fouls is his death 
 of confequence, but unto all the creation of God, for he tafted 
 death for all ; he gave himftlf a ranfom for all, a teftimony for 
 its proper feafon. 
 
 The grand end of the death of Chrift was, that in Chrifl 
 God might reconcile the world unto himfelf, not imputing 
 their trelpafles unto them: it is the not feeing this iniponant 
 truth that caufes the various denoniinationi> of Chriftians to 
 have fuch contradted views of the Divine goodnefs. The 
 whole of their exhortations to each other is built upon the 
 ground of the Divine enmity to finful creatures; they fee not 
 the love of God to his creature, but his hatied to the iniq^iity 
 
 of 
 
( r53 ■) 
 
 of his creature; they behold and expatiate upon the depravity 
 of the creature, and upon his fearful apprehenfion of the di- 
 vine veng;eance; but they behold npt the caufe of this ; the 
 creature, knowing his guilt, but not knowing the divine love, 
 hates as well as dreads that being whom he confiders as having 
 all power, and exercifin.^ that power to torment and not to cor- 
 rccft ; he therefore fhudJcrs at the terrors of the Lord. 1 he 
 language of Scripture tends to inform the mind of the crea- 
 ture, and give him right apprchenfions of Deity. It doth not 
 iiiy, Appcafe the wrath of the majefty of heaven, if fo be he 
 may be gracious, and may change the hatred gf his'nature to 
 love. No ! the language of revelation is this— God is love ! 
 God. fo loved the world that he gave his onlv begotten fon, 
 that whofoever believeth on him might have everlafting life. — 
 In ChrilFs ftead we pray you, be ye reconciled to God. Sin- 
 ner, believe on him; God hath for Chrift's fake forgiven thee^ 
 there is JK>t any condemnation for the fuis that are pall:. Why 
 fhouldefl: thou fhewthy hatred to thy Maker by rebelling againft 
 his government? O turn unto the Lord, that he may ma- 
 nifeft that he hath had mercy upon thee— -that he may teftify 
 that he hath abundantly pardoned thee. 
 
 The death of Chrilt, by taking away the enmity of the hu- 
 man heart to the divine difpenlatton?, taketh away the obftruc- 
 tions that arc in the way of man's falvation, anJ difpofes him to 
 return to the Father of mercies: and 1 know of nothing that 
 tends to humble and fubdue the haughty fpirit of man, like the 
 fu fFcrings and death of Chrifl:. Oh ! they pierce the foul ! they 
 fhew him what true greatnefs is. The excellency of the love 
 of Chrifl humbles, iubdues, and levels in the duft, the ambi- 
 tion, the towering felf-approbation of man. Ic opens the 
 eyes of his mind; and, beneath the tinfel drefs of felf-righte- 
 oufncfs, and the carnal approbation of the world, it lays open 
 unto him his heart, it forces felf-communion upon him, and 
 the man judges his actions— --not by their appearance beforie 
 the eyes of man— but as they appear before the heart-fearching 
 God ; and v-'hilft thus contounded at himfclf!, the love- of God, 
 manifeffed in the gift of his fon, burfts forth upon his affonilh- 
 ed mind, with all the radiance of divine glory. Then, indeed, 
 doth the Lord Jefus appear the chiefeft among ten thouLand, 
 the faireR of the fons of men, the altogether lovely: he is, in- 
 deed, precious to that foul who hath, bv faith, wallied himfclf 
 white in th.e blood of the lamb. Aftomfned at his pafl rebel- 
 lions, he now crieth out, I can no longer lin againit fo much 
 mercy and goodnefs ! Shall 1 l:n that ^racc may abound ? Cjod 
 X forbid! 
 
C 154 ) 
 
 forbid I Thus the crofs of Chrift is indeed the mighty power 
 of God unto falvation in him that helieveth. 
 
 It is evident that the fufFerings of Chrift are a very impor- 
 tant part of divine truth; fo important, that all the prophets 
 fpake of them, and all the evangelifts have recorded the fulfil- 
 ment of their prophecies. "When we confider this, whenever 
 we hear or read of the fufferings of Chrift with attention, it 
 fliould lead us to felf-condemnation, to a holy gratefulnefs of 
 hearty and to an abhorrence of ftn; we fhould be led into a 
 contemplation of the Divine goodnefs, and a holy determina- 
 tion to aft, confidering ourfelves not as our own, but as his 
 who has purchafed us with his own blood ; and we fhould 
 here alfo loar beyond the narrow regions of felf, and fee him 
 not only the propitiation for our fins, but for the fins of the 
 whole world, the great reheader and reconciler of all unto 
 God. 
 
 Did Chrift, who knew no fin, fiifFer for us? Then let us 
 arm ourfelves with the fame mind ; let the fame difpofition be 
 in us as was alfo in him : he fuffered willingly for us, let us 
 fufFer willingly for him: let the time paft of our lives fuffice. 
 Jefus, the fon'of the Moft High, left the bofom of the Father, 
 and facrificed all the pleafures that his heart panted after, for 
 our fakes ; Oh, let us facrifice our bofom fiiis for his fake who 
 gave up his own life upon the tree for us. 
 
 Was Chrift meek, gentle, and kind in hi<; manner? when 
 reviled not reviling again, but permitting himfelf to be led like 
 a lamb to the flaughter; and as a fheep before his (hearers is 
 dumb, in like manner was our lamb-like Lord, not opening 
 his mouth. Do you tread in his fteps, not rendering railing 
 for railing, but contrarywife, blelfing. In patience poflefs ye 
 your fiDuls. Be ye filled with meeknefs and humblenefs of 
 mind to God and man. It is but little that you can fufter here 
 below — add not to its keennefs by your reftlefiliefs, nor to its 
 length by your refiftance ; but bear it in the fpirit of Chrift, 
 and then fhall ye have joy with him when he appeareth. 
 
 A lively faith in Jcfus our Lord and Saviour is a matter of 
 great importance. My faviour that was fmitten for me, fniit- 
 ten with the tongue of men, with the keen fword of poverty, 
 and with the heavy ftroke of a cruel and accurfed death, Oh, 
 may I have,a lively faith in thee-— in thy appearing in the clouds 
 of heaven in all the Tplendour of divine glory, attended by the 
 immortal hoft, with the fpirits of juft men made perfed: be- 
 lieving on the divine promifcs I caft myfelf and ail my con- 
 
( 155 ) 
 
 ccrns upon thy care, knowing that thou art able to keep to the 
 uttermoll all that which I have committed unto thee. 
 
 My beloved friends, never dcfpair of the mercv of God, 
 but confider what Chrift has done and fuffered for you; draw 
 near unto him in the full alTurance of faith, knowing that 
 thoui^h your fins be as fcarlet, you fha'.l become whiter than 
 fnow; the mountains of guilt fhall be levelled; and, freed 
 from the burden of a condemned confcience, you fhall go on 
 your way rejoicing to his kingdom. Mar he give you all of 
 his grace, that ye may prepare for the coming kingdom of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrifl-. 
 
 BND OF THE NINTH SERMON. 
 
 Xi 
 
SERMON X. 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 ELHANAN fflNCHESTER. 
 [never before published.] 
 
 ACTS, XXVI. 27. 
 
 King Agrippa, helUveJi thou the prophets? I knozv that 
 
 thou beUiveJI. 
 
 HOW very beautiful is this apology for his condua, made 
 by Paul of Tarfus, before King Agrippa ! Plain and 
 iimpJe is the voice' of truth, and carries with it ftriking evi- 
 dence of its ve-acity. Paul had received a learned education, 
 and attained knowledge furpafTmg thofe who had been through 
 the fame academic ftudies ; his writings prove him to have been 
 a very acutelogiclan, very capableof making a moft eloquent de- 
 fence; and, whi I ft he only appeared to convince the underftandincr 
 by the force of language, at the fame time to arreft the paffionst 
 and force them to become willing agents in his caufe; but in- 
 stead of employmga train of evidence to fet ofFhis caufe by 
 the powers of oratory, as human wifdcm would have done, 
 l^aul fimply related facls; he declared his manner of life: he 
 appealed to thofe who knew him for the truth of the faas he 
 aliedged, particularly his having been aperfecutor of thofe who 
 believed in the Lord Jefus Chnft. He fays " I verily thought 
 Wthm myfelf, that I ought to do many things contrary to 
 the name of Jefus of Nazareth ; which tilings 1 alfo did in Te- 
 ruklem ; and many of the faints did I ihut up in prifon, having 
 received authority from the chief priefts ; and when they were 
 put to death, I gave my voice againft them; and 1 punifhed 
 them oft m every fynagogue, and compelled them to blaf- 
 pMcmej and bang exceedingly mad againft them, I perfecuted 
 them even unto ftrange cities." It was not likely that fo 
 
 zealous 
 
( '57 ) 
 
 zealous a bigot, one whofe mind was (o firmly fet agninft Chnf- 
 tianity, would have embraced if, and fuffcred f-> much for it, 
 unlefs evidence very llrong, and mod exceedingly convincing, 
 was brought home to his undcrftanding — cvider.ce lufficiently 
 ftrong to alter the mind of a man full of zeal againfl the doc- 
 trine, almolt bordering upon phrenzy — a man puffed up with 
 knowledge, led on by mtcrcft, and fupported in his fullefl ca- 
 reer by the i.pplaufe'of his country, and by the utmoft fupport 
 of the great men thereof— -Would he, without the fullefi: con- 
 vidlion of his mind, have endeavoured to fupport that faith 
 which he had been fo very eager todeffroy ? Therefore, 1 con- 
 ceive that the fudden conviction of Paul, next to the refurrec- 
 tion of our blcfled Lord, is one of the ftrongeO: evidences of 
 the truth of Chriilianity. The fimplicity of the narration 
 carries with it a body of evidence in favour of the truth of the 
 fa6t : " Whereupon as 1 went to Damafcu?, with authority 
 and commillion from the chief priefts, ac mid-day, C) king ! 
 I faw in the v/ay a, light from heaven, above the brightnefs of 
 the fun, ftiiniiig round about me and them which journeyed 
 with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard 
 a voice fpeaking unto me, and faying, in the Hebrew tongue, 
 Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou me ? It is hard for thee to 
 kick againft the pricks. And I faid. Who art thou. Lord? 
 And he faid, I am Jefus, whom thou perfecuteft." 
 
 Paul was not afraid of being found in a falfehood; he relates 
 not a ftory of a thing done in a chamber, but in the face of 
 day; not in fecret, but in the midft of company; he dreaded 
 not being confronted with thofe whom he faid were witneflfes of 
 the fail, although he knew them to be under the power of his 
 accufers. Confcious innocence, the knowledge that he fpake 
 the truth, gave him boldncfs before his adverfanes ; if not true, 
 how eafy fur his accufers to have expofed him for a liar, a hypo- 
 crite, and a knave— if he had not been fent to Damafcus to per- 
 fecute--- if thofe fent with him had not been overpowered with 
 the fplendor of the light, and fallen to the ground, how eafv 
 was it for them to have proved its falfehood, and legally punifli- 
 ed him for the deception ! Their elevating the arm of perfecutioa 
 to crulh him, inllead of legally attempting to eftablilh his guilt, 
 proves their own wickednefs, the innocence of Paul, and the 
 truth of Chnftianity. Paul by their conduit (lands acquitted, 
 and his accuiers itand condemned before the man they had ac- 
 Cufed as crinr^inal. 
 
 " And as he thus fpake for himfelf, Fedus faid, with a loud 
 voice, Paul, thou art belide thyfelf i much learning doth make 
 
 thee 
 
( '5S ) 
 
 thee mad. But he faid, I am not mad, moil: noble Feftus ; 
 but fpeak forth the words of truth and fobcrnefs; for the king 
 knoweth of thefe things, before whom alfo 1 fpeak freely: for 
 I am perfuaded that none of thefe things are hidden from him j 
 for this thing was not done in a corner. Kino; Agrippa, be- 
 lieveft thou the prophets ? I know that thou believeft. Then 
 Agrippa faid unto Paul, Almoft thou perfuadefl me to be a 
 Chriftian. And Paul faid, I would to God, that not only thou, 
 but alfo all that hear me this day, were both almoft, and alto- 
 gether, fuch as I am, except thefe bonds." 
 
 King Agrippa was a wife and under/landing magiflrate, well 
 acquainted with all the cufloms of the Jewi»h nation, pofleffing 
 a noble, generous mind ; happy would it have been for him 
 if he had, indeed, become altogether like Paul in the reception 
 of the truth of God ; happv would it indeed have been for him, 
 had he made his earthly fcepter fubmit to the fceptre of the 
 Lord's anointed. Agrippa lived to fee the de{lru6tion of the 
 Jewifli nation, and the total overthrow of all its national polity; 
 what a comfort would Chrivlainity have been to him under the 
 fcattering abroad of that people over whom he reigned. Chrif- 
 tianity is a manifeftation of the Divine goodnefs ; the reception 
 of it is an acknowledgment of the fupremacy of the only true 
 God, and a confefTion of a holy determination, by a conftant 
 obedience to his laws, to ovv'n his authority; therefore, to be 
 perfuaded to be a Chrifb'an, would be no difgrace to the greateft 
 monarch that ever fwayed a fceptre. All the kings of the 
 earth fhall come to honour Jehovah, and, by a payment of tri- 
 bute to his Meffiah, own their fuhjeilion. In the prefence of 
 the God of the whole earth the Chrillian is a greater charafter, 
 and bears a higher title than that of any monarch on the globe ; 
 for he governs himfelf, he is a fpiritual reprefentative of the 
 Deity : and the glory of a Chriflian as much outlines that of 
 an earthly monarch, as the fplendor of virtue outfliines all the 
 pomp and parade of earthly grandeur: all the plcafures of life 
 are not to be compared with the enjoyment that arifes from 
 peace of mind, and a confcioufnefs that all our ways are well 
 pleafmg to God. 
 
 Perhaps fome infidel may be here, who, in the midfl of a 
 land profefling fubjeiticn to the Lord Jcfus Chrift, has lived 
 the greatefl part of his days without the knowledge of God, and 
 his Chriff, and yet has been the whole time in fearch^fter hap- 
 pinefs. Oh that I could bring the doiirines of thenrrofs home 
 to your mind. You now, at times, doubt the b^l^ of a God, 
 and yet rejoice to hear that there is a great Firfl^aufe, becaufe 
 
 it 
 
C H9 ) 
 
 it takes away the anxiety from your foul— that cold deadening 
 fenfation that attends the thought of never ending death. Let 
 me aflure you, O miferable man, Clirifliinity is u truth, its 
 principles are foHd, its bafis fure ; it is not a ftrins; of afTertions, 
 but it refts upon clemonftrative principles ; it caileth not upoa 
 your credulity, hut it demands your examination, and refts its 
 evidence with the rlofeft inveftigation of your rational faculties, 
 and afks for your faith, only as it proves its truth to your en- 
 lightened judgment. The man who reads the records of hif- 
 torv, and believes, in confequence, that Julius Casfar landed in 
 this kingdom, but reading the Scriptures will not believe the 
 things recorded concerning our Lord Jefus Chrift, he is a cre- 
 dulous man, he rejects a colle6ted blaze of evidence of things that 
 can be demonftrated to be facls, whilft he creduloufly places his 
 faith on a few affertion?, which may be truth, but which has 
 but a cobweb evidence to fupport them ; for this refts chiefly in 
 the aflertion of Csefar, and inferential reafoning ; but the doc- 
 trines, the life, the death, the burial, the relurredion, the af- 
 cenfion of our Lord, reft upon the declarations of eye wituelles, 
 friends and enemies, upon the records of nations, upoa monu- 
 mental teftimonv, upon traditional evidence, upon fulfilment of 
 prophecy, upon miraculous performances. There is evidence 
 that the reafoner may examine, and of which no clofe examiner 
 can poiTibly be a fceptic. All that is recorded of our Lord, from 
 his birth to his afceniion, are not deeds of darknefs ; the curtain 
 of night was not fpread over them, and the trumpet of fame af- 
 terwards employed to found them through the earth. No! mul- 
 titudes were witnefl'es of their truth, 'i'hough born in a man- 
 ger, angelic hofts proclaimed the mighty fact, and with I'.ea- 
 \enly fongs uftiered in the Meftiah's reign^; Ihepherds faw, and 
 lillened to the lofty praif-', and, obedient to the divine command, 
 came, examined, and were convinced of its truth, and fpread 
 the joyful tidings around the nation. By divine teftimon-/, the 
 facred news was carried to diftant nations, and the fages of the 
 Eaft became, unintentionall , heralds of it to the court of 
 Herod, proclaiming to the king of Ilracl that He, whofe right 
 it was to reign, had come down from heaven to lift up his 
 ftandard, and to (way his Iceptre over his people. The mira- 
 cles that he performed, and the doctrines he taught, was iji the 
 face of multitudes, multitudes who could fee, and judge for 
 themfelves, concerning the truth of the fadts ; his enemies 
 themltlves were forced to yield their unwilling teftimony to the 
 truth. Multitudes faw him die-, the crofs was ercded on a 
 lofty fpot, and being on a folemo feftival, thoufands could not 
 
 but 
 
C i63 ) 
 
 but obferve it ; upwards of five hundred witnefTed his refurrec- 
 tion and afcenfion, converfing with him upon the nature of his 
 kingdom, and for forty days receiving his inflrutftion how to 
 carry on the woric he had committed to them : and from the 
 day that he was crucified, to the prefent hour, the breaking of 
 bread has been a flranding memorial, kept up by his difciples, 
 of the truth cf thefe things : things not done in a corner, but 
 in the face of day ; not myfterious things, which might be per- 
 formed by flight of hand, but things of which the feiifes of the 
 moft fimple underfranding could well judge ; thofe things 
 which the pens of many eye v.'itnefrcs have recorded ; the pens 
 of their adverfaries have confirmed them, and {landing memo- 
 rials of their truth have, from their firft infi:itution,'from the 
 time the fafts were performed, been invariably kept up. 
 Falfehood carries not with it fuch evidence ; more and flronger 
 evidence it is unreafonable to demand; but if demanded it is to 
 be obtained : evidence internal in the nature of things ; evi- 
 dence external in the lives of the profefixjrs, the accomplifhment 
 of prophecy, and the faithfulnefs of God. Oh then, fearch the 
 Scriptures, obferve the beauty, the excellence, the juftnefs of 
 their morality ; lee in them manifefled the wifdom,. goodnefs, 
 and power of God ; fee how every thing in them is adapted to 
 the want aiid undcrftanding of man, and particularly when you 
 invefligate the prophetic writings ; your faith then will be con- 
 firmed, your mind enlightened, and your whole foul aftonifhed 
 at the fore-knowledge of God manifeiled in them. They may 
 be divided into two great heads : 
 
 1. Such as related to the firft coming of Chrift, his life, his 
 death, his refurrciStion, his afcenfion, his glorification at the 
 right hand of the father, his fecond coming to judge his fer- 
 vants, and reign over the earth, his fecond judgment of all, 
 and his final fubduing all unto himfelf. 
 
 2. The prophecies that relate to individuals, to cities, to 
 ftates, and to remarkable fails :• prophecy is of great import- 
 ance, it is a fure word, a certain confirming teftimony of the 
 truth of revelation. 
 
 " King Agrippa, believeft thou the prophets ?" Thou haft 
 read them, thou haft heard them commented on ; thou haft con- 
 fidered them as the divine declaration concerning things to come 
 deferves to be confidered ; they all fpeak of Jefus ; each hath faid 
 a fomelhing, lefs or more, upon his fufferings, and his follow- 
 ing glory. Kuig Agrippa, believeft thou the prophets ? If 
 thou doft believe, O King, thou muft become a Chriftian, 
 for they all teftify of Chnft. 
 
 O thou 
 
( i6i ) 
 
 () liioii who art here before me, who haft read over the 
 records that God hath given concerninp; his ("on, believeft thou 
 the prophets ? They all tcftify of Jefus, the crucified, but 
 now the highly exalted laviour. Ihe firft prophecy that ap- 
 pears concerning the Lord Jelus Chrift, comes under the form 
 of a threatening, but containcth in it a fulnefs of mercy. Ge- 
 nefis, iii. 15. *'I will put enmity between thee and the wo- 
 man, and between thy feci and her feed : it fhall bruife thy 
 head and thou {halt bruilc his heel." We have an infallible 
 comment upon this prophecy, by the inlpired John. I John, 
 iii. 8. " Vhe devil linneth from the beginning ; for this pur- 
 pofe, the fon of God was manifeited, that he might deftroy the 
 worl;5 of the devil." Yes, Chrift ftiall bruife the head of 
 Satan ; he ftiall deltroy his power -, he has even now taken the 
 prey from the hand of the mighty ; but he will go on refcuino- 
 captives, overrurning his authority, crufliing to pieces his 
 power, and delivering from him the children of difobedience, 
 in whofc heart he now rulecn. 
 
 Again, God fpeaking to Abraham, faith, Gen. xxii. 18. 
 " In thy feed fliall all the nations of the earth be blefled." 
 Which piophecy Paul explains, Galatians, iii. 16. " To 
 Abraham and to his feed were the promifes made. He faith not, 
 and to feeds, as of many, but as of one ; and to thy feed, which 
 is Chrift." Tnus is the Old Teftament explained and con- 
 firmed by the new. In the promiie the feed of Abraham is 
 pointed out, the blefter of all the nations of the earth ; and in 
 the infpircd comment upon the promili?, the attention is taken 
 oft' from the various defcendants of Abraham, and fixed upon 
 one, upon Chrift, the fon of Abraham, the Ion of God, " upon 
 him, who loved us, and gave himfelf for us." 
 
 The fame promife was made and confirmed to Ifaac and to 
 Jacob, and made to extend beyond all the nations, even unto 
 all the families of the earth, that the juftification of Chrift may 
 be upon all, whether believers or unbelievers, even to the 
 ends of the earth ; for he was appointed the faviour of all, the 
 propitiatory covering for the fins of the whole world ; and this 
 juftification is made ours by faith ; being completely " upon 
 all them that believe :" upon fuch " there is no condemnation ;" 
 their paft tranfgrefTions are forgiven, their iniquities are co- 
 vered over, their tranfgrellions are hid, the fun of righteouCiefs 
 hath arifen upon them with healing in his wings. 
 
 Mofcs the faithful fervant of Jeho\ ah, was not only a great 
 
 general, a great lawgiver, a faithful hiftorian, and an excellent 
 
 poet, but he v. as alio a great prophet. Araongft others of the 
 
 Y pro-. 
 
C 162 J 
 
 prophecies th?t he delivered, is one recorded, Dcut. xviii. i^. 
 ** 1 he Lord thy God will raife up unto thee a prophet from the 
 niidftof thy brethren, like unto me ; unto him ye Ihall hearken. 
 According to all that thou dcfireft of the Lord thy God in Ho- 
 reb, in the day of the afiembly, faying. Let me not hear again 
 the voice of the Lord my God ; neither let mc fee this great 
 fire any more, that 1 die not : and the Lord fkid unto mc, They 
 have well fpoken that which they have fpoken ; I will raiie them 
 tip a prophet from amongft their brethren, like unto thee, and 
 ■will put my words in his mouth ; and he fliall fpcak unto them 
 all that I command him j and it fliall Qome to pal's, that who* 
 foever will not hearken unto my words which he fliall fpeak in 
 my name, I will require it of him." 
 
 This prophecy can apply to none but the Lord Jefus Chrifl ; 
 jn him alone does every charaiEler poflefled by Mofcs, of king,. 
 priefl, and prophet, meet ; and at the fame time, in one not 
 ©f the Aaronical family- David was a king, and a prophetj^ 
 but he was neither a priefl: or a lav^giver. Samuel was a pro- 
 phet and a judge, or adminifi:rator of the laws of Mofes, but 
 he was not either a king, a priefl-^ or lawgiver. Every king, 
 priefl, and prophet, fuftained fomc peculiar char3«Stcr be- 
 longing to Molbs ; but in the Lord Jefus Chrift, and in him 
 only, do all the various perfect parts of that characler meet; and 
 the whole is confirmed in him, as the authority of Mofes was- 
 confirmed amongfl: the children of Ifrael, by miraculous in- 
 fluence J all nature heard, and obeyed the voice of the fon of 
 God ; and teflified, that the Father had exalted him to be z 
 prince and a faviour unto his people. Mahomet fethimfelf up 
 for, this prophet whom the God of Ifrael was to raife up ; but 
 he failed in proolf. Mofcs wrought miracles to prove his mif- 
 flon, and Chrift wrought miracles to prove his ; but the fword^ 
 and the truncheon of Mahomet was that on which he founded 
 his claim, and which, without convincing the underftandiag, 
 fubdued the hearts of the people's beneath him. But our blefied 
 Lord, defpifed by the great, unbacked bv an army, by the force 
 of evidence alone, feized the underflanding, and led the w^il- 
 ling convert into full obedience to his will. How different this 
 from the condudt of Mahomet ; he demanded the implicit faith 
 of his conquered flaves ; whilfl Mofes and Chrift demonftrated 
 the truth of all they faid, and aflvcd of freemen that aflent 
 wliich publicity of conduct and demonftrative hds had a right 
 to cxpe<5t i they both called for credence to thofe things which 
 were feen, felt, and lay open to their clofefl: and codeft ex- 
 amination. 
 
 Chrift 
 
( >63 ) ■ 
 
 Chiiil was indeed a lawgiver like unto Mofcs : like him h« 
 gave new laws to the children of Ifracl, the feed of Abra- 
 liam bv faith; ami by his fovcrcign will, unfupportcd by prieftly 
 ;uithoriiy, he totally annulled all the aiKient rdigious ceremo- 
 nies that Mofes had nilHtutcd. l\iany prophets before him had 
 wrought miracles, but the urmo't they had dared to do on tijc 
 authority of them, was to call bivck the tranfgrefling Tons of 
 Ifrael to a more cxac^t obedience to the Mofaical inftitutions ; 
 but Jcfus, haviii;^ eltablifhcd by miracles his divine authority, 
 then annulled the laws of Mofes ; declaring that thofe inftitu- 
 tions were on! v typical of that fuperior dilpenfation which he 
 ■caine to inti-oduce, appealing to Moles and the prophets as evi- 
 dence for hira. Surely then, O king Agrippa, if thou be- 
 lieved the prophet Moles, thou niuli alfo believe in Jefus ot 
 Nazareth, for he prophefied of him. 
 
 Hearketi to the voice of David : looking beyond the days in 
 U'hich he livc(', like one having authority, he makes the If- 
 raelites in their moftfolemn fervices of praife demand, " Why 
 iio the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing ? The 
 kings of the earth fct themfelves, and their rulers takecounfel 
 together againft the Lord, and againft his Meffiah." How 
 exactly did the prophet defcribe the unnatural union of wicked 
 iiien to condemn our blelFcd Lord ! *' For of a truth againft the 
 holy Jcfus, the Meifiah, both Herod and Pontius Piiate, with 
 the gentiles and the people of Ifrael, were gathered together, 
 to do v\ hatever thy hand and thy counlel, <.) Jehovah, deter- 
 mined before to be done." This pi'alm contains a {hiking de- 
 fcrij->tion of the firft grand oppofition made to the perfon, king- 
 dom, and government of Jefus the Meffiah, and the conle- 
 quenccs that fhould follow. " H^e that futeih in the heavens 
 fhall laugh ; the Lord fhall have them in derifion : then (hall 
 he fpcak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his fore dif- 
 pleaiure." 
 
 Howe\'er powerful the combination might appear to man— - 
 howe\ er well calculated to ani'wer the deltrudive intentions of 
 earth and hell — in the eyes ot Jehovah tliey were ridiculous; 
 he beheld their mad attempts withfcorn-, he fruftrated the evil 
 of their intentions, and forced tliem to become the willing in- 
 ifruments of accomplifliing all that he l>efore determined 
 /hould come to pafs. Let the heathen boali: of their Jove and 
 fate. Fate is the fovereign will of our Cjod, and all the pow- 
 ers of hell, and earth, and heaven, leagued together, (hall not 
 fruilrate it. As well might the feeble fons of mortality at- 
 tempt to plL'ck the fol.;r orb from its iphere, or calt the fhadow 
 Y 2 . of 
 
r i64 ) . 
 
 of death over its glorious difplay of illuminated nature, as- tor 
 attempt to oppole and bring to nought the decree-; of infinite- 
 and incontroulable power. He whofe almighty fiat called aU' 
 creation into exiftence, has pronounced the decree, " Thv* 
 art my Ton, this day have I begotten thee. Demand of me, . 
 and I will give the heathen, thine inheritance; and the uttermolt 
 parts of the earth thy pofleffion." Yes, O King Agrippa, 
 I know that thou art acquainted with thefe prophecies: they 
 are completely fulfilled in Jefus of Nazareth; and he bath dd 
 manded of the Father that he will accomplifli his promife, 
 and caufe "the world to know that he fent him" to fubdue 
 and rule the nations. Be wife, now, therefore, O ye kings! 
 be inftruded, O ye judges of the earth ! Serve the Lord with 
 fear, and rejoice with trembling : kifs the fon, left he be angry, 
 and ye perifli from the wav. When his wrath is kindled but 
 a little, blefled are all they that put their truft in him." 
 
 The book of Pfalms, in the plaineft and moft explicit man- 
 ner, points out the particulars of the death c^f our blefled Lord. 
 *' I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of 
 joint ; my heart is like wax, it is melted in the midft of my 
 bowels ; my flrength is dried up like a potiherd, and my 
 tongue cleaveth to my jaws: and thou hail brought me into 
 the duft: of death For dogs have compafled me ; the afiem- 
 blv of the wicked have encloled me ; they pierced my hand* 
 and my feet ; they may tell all my bones ; they look and 
 ftare upon me; they part my garments among' them, and 
 cafts lots for my veflure." 
 
 It is truly aftonifhing, that any one can believe the prophe- 
 cies, and not fee them, in the moll wonderful manner, accom- 
 plifhed in the perfon of our Lord Jefus Chrift. David could 
 not fpcak thefe things of himfelf; his hands and feet never 
 were pierced; the weight of his body, Ibpported by his wounded 
 members, forced not his bones from their fockets ; throuo-h 
 the agonizing torments of a lingering, cruel death, his heart 
 melted not like wax within him ; nor through the ficrcenefs of 
 extreme pain was his mouth parched up ; neither did the hell 
 hounds of war and rapine furround huri, arid calt lots for his 
 garments. David could not defcribe cither iiis own fulFcrings 
 or the fufferings of a man, dying by the extrenuty of pain 
 upon the ciofs. In thofe days (iich a death was not known ; 
 it became the ions of l(:ience and politencis to invent fuch an 
 infernal way of making the innocent and the uncondemncd 
 pafs from the cares and anxieties of this life to che facred joy* 
 of a better. For this mode of dying was unknown, till thgr 
 mad ambitious Alexander, falR-ly called the Great, iiivented 
 
( ><5j ) 
 
 it as a punifhment on the Tyrians, for Jaring to dtfend the:n- 
 felves againft his iiiiblence and rapacity. But all the parti- 
 culars ot" this cruel death met in Jel'us the beloved, the fon of 
 David. He was poured oat like water; whea from the ex- 
 treme bitternefs of his f )ul, agon z.ing in the garden, the Iwcac 
 poured down him, in large >Jr> p , like blood from a lacerar- i 
 vefTel ; when hung upon the crols, his drained memhtrs mint 
 have been all disjoii, fd. Alas ! who can tell at that awiul 
 time the pain he muft ■ ave endured ; a boJy that cOiitainci a 
 fo'il like his, muft have been made of delicate texture ; liab e 
 through the whole of his pilgrimage to the fotteft feelings of 
 humanity; what tortures muft it then ha ^-e felt ! f'hefml 
 in full polTeirion of every fen!e, whilft tne w.iole frame was 
 torn and ftrained to the moft excruciating torture ; iiis aea: t, 
 furely, muft have melted within his fevered body, like wax 
 before the fcorching fire ; whilfi his wn -le ftiengih, dried up by 
 the excefs ot anguifh, felt that moft unbearable of paii.s, tha 
 extreme of debility from an unnerved frame; whilft tl^e moiit- 
 ening juices, which the God of nature has kindlv provided, lo 
 Ivbricate the parts in action, were dritjd up, and caufed die 
 unmoirtened tongue to cleave to the roof of tne parched jaws. 
 Every thing prophcfied concerning the death of our blcircd 
 Lord took place, even to the mi.uteft tittle. P^or inftance, 
 who would not have expeded, from vviiat happens at every 
 execution, that the furrounding multitude would have melied 
 into pity, at the tortures of the awiul death he endured ! Hud 
 he been a murderer, they doubtlefs would have felt for riis 
 fufferings. We do not find that they made any exultations, 
 over the two dying thieves, that: were crucified with hi;u ; 
 they had been robbers, and perhaps worfe, yet tney were not 
 ii^fulted with their crimes : no triumphant exclamations added 
 aggravated horrors to their expiring thoughts : but Jclus, t.ic 
 friend of the fathcrlefs, the conUbrter of the widow; he, wno 
 had been e)es to the blind, a tongue to tne dumb, and limbs 
 to the maimed ; he, whoio whole life was one continual Icenc 
 of benevolence ; even he, when uiijultly and illeiially put to 
 <iearh, had his dying momenls intuited vviih, " He laved ot'iei-s, 
 cannot he lave himfeU? If he be the Jcing of Ifrael, let hira 
 now come down Jrom the crofs." Ihefe were, iivdecd, 
 the beafts of the people ; fierce, and lirong as the bulls of 
 13afan ; gaping upon him witli t.ieir mouths like ravening and 
 roaring lions. 
 
 Again, who would have thou2;ht that the pfalm fhould be 
 accomplifticd, which lays, " They gave me ;ilfo gall for my 
 meat, and in mv ihirlt they gave mc vinegar to drink.'* 
 
 One 
 
C i66 ) 
 
 One coulfi not have fuppofed, that asiy in a civilized nation 
 could have been fo cruel j but fo they were. For it is written, 
 « And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, 
 they gave him vinegar to drink naingled with gall j and when 
 he had tailed thereof he would not drink." 
 
 The book of the Pfalms, is the only book thkt fpeaks of his 
 refurrscSlion from the dead. " Thou v/ilt not leave my foul ' 
 in hell, neither wilt thou fufFer thine lioly one to fee cor- 
 ruption." Thoun;h but once e.xprefied, yet how exaitly 
 was it acconvphrned ; as Peter, reafoning upon this pafTage, 
 has fhcv»-n, that the patriarch David could not poOibly fpeak 
 of himfelf, for he was dead a-.id burled, and his fepulchrc, 
 even at that time, was amongft them. " Therefore being a 
 prophet, and knowing that God had fworn with an oath to 
 him, that of the fruit of his loin?, acccording to the flefh, 
 he would raifc up the Mcffiah, to fit upon his throne; he, 
 feeing this, (pake before-hand of the rclurreition of Chrifi, 
 that his foul was not left in hell, neither did his fiefh fee 
 corruption." Glory be to God for the gift of his pro- 
 phetic word. It is a fure and abundant tef^lmony to the 
 <io£lrin£s of Chriftiani-t^', of which there is not any more im- 
 portant than the refurreclion of Chrid ; and therefore, there 
 is no hillorical fa£l whatfoever that has fuch undeniable evi- 
 dence of its truth. There is recorded no lefs thai? eleven 
 tliffcrent appearances of Chrift after his rcfurre£l;o:? from the 
 tjead; one of which was to five hund.'-ed brethren ; all of whom 
 appear to have been, in a general way, unbelieving of it, until 
 idemonrtrated to their fenles that it was fo ; and then fo con- 
 vinced were they that Jef-^s had arifen from the dead, that it 
 became within them a coiiilant tpring of at^cion, calling forth 
 all the powers of their mind and body in its defence. This 
 made them to march as in triur/iph to the crofs, the fword, or 
 •the ftakc, proud to feal their teftimon^' with their blood. 
 . As we appeal to prophecy that the Meillah was to die, and 
 •.then rife from the dead, fo likewiie lo the facred writings mult 
 'We appeal to prove thai he oui^ht to afcend up on high. 
 Speaking of things that were to be, as though they had been 
 .pall, the Pfalmilt fliouts cxukingly, '■' Thou halt afcended 
 up on high, thou haft led captivity captive, thou haft re- 
 ceived gifts tor mer.i, yea, the rebellious alfo, that the Lord 
 .(jrcd might dwell among them." Again, it is fpoken of in 
 a moll: triumphayit fong, ^' Lift up your heads, O ye gates ! 
 and be ye lift up, ye everlairing, doors, and the kuig of 
 glory fha'l come in. Who is this king of glory ? '/'he 
 'Herd f'ro:i.^ and miglvfy, the Lord mighty in battle. J/ift 
 
( 137 ) 
 
 »rp your heads, O ye g^tcs ! even lift them up, ye everlafr- 
 ing doors, and the king of glory {hall come in. Who is 
 this king of glory? The Lord of holts, he is the king of 
 glory." With what dignity docs Jelu?, the glorified kin?, 
 demand the gates of heaven to be opened for his admillion. If 
 the prophetic defcription is fo grand, how beyond expreffion 
 glorious muft it have been, to have feen the lovereign cf all 
 nature, demand admiliiori into thefe blcHed manfions of un- 
 clouded dav. I think I fpeak but according to the mind of 
 God, when I rpplv the 4.7th Pfalm to this grand event. " God 
 is gone up with a fhout, the Lord with the found of a trum- 
 pet. Sing praifes to God, fing praiies y fmg praill;s unto our 
 king, fmg praifes : for (jod is the king of all the earth : 
 frng'ye praifes with underrtanding." Iffuch glorious fong-s 
 cyf exuUatioa, refoundcd through theetherial courts when Jefus 
 i^iicendcd up on high, how much more glorious vill be the 
 delcent ot the fon of God, v/hen attended by angelic miriads 
 and the firft-born fons of God : he fhall leave the courts of Je- 
 hovah, and dcfcend to that mountain from which he afcended, 
 there to claim the kingdom for his own, and the uttcrmoft parts 
 of the earth for his polTeflioa. 
 
 The Pfidmift has taken a look into the etherial courts, in 
 the cxth Pfalm, and beheld the welcome reception that the 
 Meffiah, the fon of David, fiiould receive on his return froni 
 his rtute of debafement and trial here below : '' Jehovah faid 
 unto my I-ord, fit thou on my right hand until 1 make 
 thine er.emies thy footftool. Jehovah fhall fend the rod of 
 thy strength out of Sion ; rule thou in the midfl: of thine ene- 
 mies. Thy people fhalf be willing in the day of th\- power, 
 in the beauties of holinefs, from thj womb of the morning, 
 thou haft the dew of thy youth. Jthovahi hath fworn, and 
 will not repent, Thou art a prieft for ever after ihe order ot 
 Melchifedec. Jehovah, at thy right hand fhall ftrike through 
 kings in the day of his wrath •, he fliall judge among the 
 hea°hen ; he Ihall fill the places with the dead bodies ; he 
 ihidl wound the heads over many countries ; he fliall arink 
 of the brook in the way, therefore (hall he lift up his head." 
 How exailly does this' pfalmcoincide with the apoltle's lan- 
 guage concerning the prelent refidence of tlie Lord Jefus 
 Chrift. " Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine ene- 
 mies thy footftool i" who, faith the apoftles, " the heaveii-? 
 muft retain, until the times of the reftitu:ion of all things." 
 yes, he fliall fit upon the throne of his father, in glory ; until 
 that long expe<5led period, when furrounded with immortal 
 honors, he Ihall come cloathcd in power to rule over the 
 
 carih. 
 
( i68 ) 
 eanh, anu how the nations beneath his fceptre. In this glo- 
 rious day of his power, his people, who for fo many a<'es lTav<^ 
 bated his name, Ihall become his vviHintT fubjeds. Like the 
 drops, of dew upon the herbage, fliall be the number of his 
 fubjcas, -wlien a ^nation ihall be born unto him in a day— 
 when Jefus, the fnviour, coineth as the (e^d of David, tf> 
 claim his paternal inheritance, and as the firil born of Ciod to 
 be the great High Piiell of the hjinan race ; then fhalj Jeho- 
 vah judge among the nations ; yea, he fliall ari!e in awful ven- 
 geance, and fweep the miriads of Gog and Alajrog from the 
 land ; he fliall fill the valley of the fon of Hinnom with the deail 
 bodies ; he will go on conquering, and to conquer, bruiling the 
 beau and ruler of the nations beneath his feet ; he will d^rinlc 
 continually by the way, of the fountain of life-giving water, 
 therefore fliall he lift up his head ; yea, he fliall exalt himfelf 
 glonoufly, for Jehovah will put alt his enemies beneath his 
 feet. 
 
 Jt is on accoimt of the many great changes that will take 
 place in the flate of the world, and its inhabitants, at the fe- 
 cond coming of Chrill, with regard to the holinels and happi- 
 nefs of the one, and the beauty of the other, that the prophets^ 
 and particularly in the Pfalms, with f^jch holyjov, anticipate 
 the wonders of the Meffiah's reign. " iVJalce a jo.ful node 
 unto Jehovah, all ye lands, fer-ze Jehovah with' gLdnel!, 
 come before his preience with Tinging. Know ye ^at Je- 
 hovah is God, he hath made us, and not we our(elves ; ws 
 are his people, and the fli-ep of his paflure. Enter into his 
 gates with thankfgiving, his courts with praifc ; be thankful 
 and blels his name. For Jehovah is good, his mercv is 
 everlafling, and his truth is to all generations." Hence it is, 
 that in this triumphant fong, they look forward to that facred 
 day, fhouting aloud, " O ling unto Jehovah a new fon(r, for 
 he iiathdonc marvellous things ; his right hand and his^holv 
 arm hath gotten him the viaory. Jehovah hath made known 
 his fidvaiion ; his righteoufncfs hath he openly fhevved in 
 the light of the heathen j he hath remembered Ins mercy 
 and his tiuth toward Ifracl. All the ends of the earth have 
 ken the faivation of our God. Make a joyful noife unto 
 Jehovah, all the earth : irake a loud noifc, and rejoice, and 
 ling praile." 'J'hefe glorious exultations are not to be woiv 
 dcied at, when we conlider the prefent flatc of the world ; 
 individuals living for themfelves ; opprcilion through all ranks 
 of mankind direding their adtions, whiHl hypocrify guides 
 and covers them with a veil of love. Examine the prefent 
 ftate of mankind, and afk^ where is the village in the world, 
 
 wilt re 
 
( i69 ) 
 
 ^'here the happincfs and comfort of the whple is the utmoft 
 wifh of each individual ? Say, what is man by birth but the 
 children of one parent; vet, what is man really, but the op- 
 prcfTor, and the opprelFed ? He that is this dav trod upon^ as 
 dirt, exerts every power of his mind, that to-morro.v h: may 
 trample others beneath his feet. This ou ^ht not to b.' , to be 
 an inftrument of uuiverlal happinel's, is truly the birthright of 
 of every man ; and when Jeius the Saviour cometh to rule 
 the earth in righteoufnefs, men will lay claim to this grand and 
 univerfil prerogative ; the poirefTion thereof fhall fpread peace, 
 joy, and plenty throughout nature's wide domain. Jefus the 
 conqueror comes, not to drag his conquered aflals at his cha- 
 riot wheels ; not to beaflilize the fons of men ; but he cometh 
 to deftroy oppreflion, to give univerfal peace, to lay a foun- 
 dation for the recovery of his fallen creatures, and to finally 
 and fully reftore to happinefs and duty, the perverted works of 
 God. All hail ! thou Son of the Higheft ; foon mayefl thou 
 appear, and commence the promifed period of univerfal and 
 unending blifs. 
 
 Influenced by the prophetic fpirit, the prophets often fpealc 
 of the things that were to be as though they were. Thus 
 Ifaiah, fpealcing of the birth of the Meiilah, fays, " Unto us 
 a child is born, unto us a fon is given ; and the governme^ic 
 fhall be upon his fhoulder ; and his name Ihall be called. 
 Wonderful, Counfcllor, the Mighty God, the Everlaffing 
 Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increale of his govern- 
 ment, and peace, there fhall be no end ; upon the throne of 
 David, and upon his kingdom, to order it and to eftablifli it 
 with judgment and with juftice, from hencefjrth even for 
 ever ; the zeal of the Lord of Hofts will perform this." 
 Again, he fpeaks of Chrift, " Behold a virgin fliall conceive, 
 and bear a fon, and fhall call his name Emmanuel." The fa- 
 cred hiltorians record thcfe prophecies as fulfilled in the perfoii 
 of our blcfled Lord. After having related the miraculous 
 conception of the blefTed virgin, he makes this obfervation, 
 " Now all this was done, that it ntigb.t be fulfilled which was 
 fpoken of the Lord, by the prophet, faying, Behold a virgin 
 fhall be with child, and fhall bring forth a (on, and they fhall 
 call his nJimc, Emmanuel, which being interpreted, is, God 
 with us." Again, Ifaiah fpeaks of the miracles that he fliall 
 perform, as a proof of his MefTiahfhip. "• Behold my fervant 
 whom I uphold, mine eledt in whom mv foul delightcth ; f 
 have put my fpirit upon him; he flaall bring forth judgement 
 •Jiito the gentiles j he fhall not cry, nor lift up, nor caufe his 
 Z ' voice 
 
( 170 ) 
 
 Voice to be hejrd in the ftreet. A bruifed reed fliall he not 
 brealc, and the fmoking flax fhall he not quench ; he ftial! 
 bring forth judgment unto truth ; he fhall not fail, nor be 
 difcouraged, till he have fet judgment in the earth, and the 
 ifles fhall wait for his law. Thus faith God the Lord, he that 
 created the heavens, and ftretched them out ; he that fpread 
 forth the earth, and that which comethout of it ; he that 
 giveth breath unto the people upon it, and fpirit to them that 
 walk therein, T, the Lord, have called thee m righteoufnef', 
 and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for 
 a covenant for the people, for a light of the gentiles ; to open 
 the blind eyes, to bring the prifoners from the prifon, and thcni 
 that fit in darknefs out of the prifon houfe." Many other 
 pafTages of the prophecies fpeak of the temper, the conducl, 
 and the deeds of the Mefliah who was to come. In confor- 
 mity to thefe prophecies, when John fent his difciples to afic 
 him, " Art thou he that was to come, or are we to look for 
 another ?" In that very hour he gave them an anfwer, not 
 in word, but by fa6ts ; he accompliflied the prophecies. Li 
 that fame hour " he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, 
 and of evil fpirits, and unto many that were blind he gave fight. 
 Then Jefus anfwering, faid unto them. Go your way, ard tell 
 John what things you have feen and heard, how that the blind 
 fee, the lame walk, the lepers are cleanfed, the deaf hear,, 
 the dead are raifed, to the poor the gofptl is preached, and 
 blefled is he wholbever fliall not be offended in me." Thus 
 we find the facred oracles, in whatfoever they foretell, leave no 
 doubt upon the mind concerning its accomplifhment, becaufe 
 all their proofs are appeals to the underftanding of man; they 
 demand our faith according to the ftrength of their evidence. 
 
 Another character is by Ifaiah applied to our Lord ; a cha- ^ 
 radler which, like all the other marks of the Meffiah, can only 
 be faid properly to belong to him. " As many were ajtonifhed 
 at thee, (his vifage was fo marred more than any man, and his 
 form more than the fons of men,) fo fliall he fprinkle many 
 nations ; the kings fhall fliut their mouths at him, for that 
 which had not been told them fliall they fee, and that which 
 they had not heard fliall they confider." Wha: a contrafl is 
 here between the fuffering and the glorified ftate of the Mefliah. 
 In none doth thefe characters meet, but in the Lord Jcfus 
 Chriflj he was defpiied and abhorred by the nation, the beauty 
 of his countenance was marred by the flreaming blood iffiiing 
 from his thorn bepierced temples, and his form (by the anguifh 
 of his foul, a$ peculiarly the man of forrow, added to the hor- 
 
( I?' ) 
 
 ror of his fufferings) wr.s more disfio-ured thun the fens of men.*' 
 But fince bis afccnhon how has he fprinkled many nations ! 
 He haf; rained down upon them fho<vcrs of heavenly truth ; and 
 when he conieih to reign on this earth, then fliall tht' whole 
 multitude of the nations he watered hv him ; then fhall they 
 indeed live, and the kings of the earth fliall bring their triSutes 
 and lay at his feet, whilft they themfclves ftind liftening to 
 catch truth ami wifd^m as it flows from his nnouth. Yea, they 
 fliall behold fuch glory as they could not hnve conceived coulj 
 pofiibiy have been, and fuch heights and depths of knowledge 
 as the never before heard of fliall they then meditate- upon. 
 
 It is an impoflib'lit',- to read the prophecies with attention, 
 without beholdin:: Jel'us of Nazareth, as rcprefented in the gof- 
 pcl, in the moft prominent features. The whole ot the jiiid. 
 chap, of Ifaiah, contains fuch a detcripticn of the fufFerings 
 of our Lord, and his mode of burial, that was there not de- 
 monftrative evidence of its exiftence for centuries before the 
 facts happened, we fhould be almoft tempted to think an eye- 
 witnefs of the tranfactions had recorded them. " He was led 
 like a lamb to the (laughter, and as a ihecp before her fljearers 
 is dumb, fo opened he not his mouth. He was taken from 
 prifon, and from judgement, and who fiiall declare his gene- 
 ration ? For be was cut off" out of the land of the living ; 
 for the tranfgreflion of my people was h: fl^ricken ; and he 
 made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich was his 
 tomb." Sa\, do you believe the prophet^ ? # What ;'. number 
 of little particulars are here. The MefTiah, the king of Ifrael, 
 fliall fland like a vile malefactor at the bar of JMdgement, and 
 there be filent amidft all theacculations that fhould be brought 
 againfl: him ; that he, the hope of Ifrael, the dcfirr of nations, un- 
 protected, and unrefifting, Ihould be brougiit forth hkealamb 
 from the flock, to be offered up in facnfice ; that he fliould 
 die an infamous death, and yet have an honourable burial, 
 were things mconfiffent and incredible. Say, doff thou be- 
 lieve the prophets ? Then, canft thou read of the death of 
 ]<^(\.i^^ and not believe upon him ? 
 
 Zechariah, fpeaking of the entire difTcjlution of the covenant 
 whicii God had made with the children of Ifrael as a nation, 
 mentions one circumftunce that fliould at that time take place. 
 *' And i laid unto them, if ye think good give me my price, 
 and if not, forbear ; fo they weighed for my price thirty 
 pieces of filver. And the Lord faid unto me, caff it unto the 
 potter, a goodly price, that I was prized at of them. And 1 
 took the thirty pieces of filver, and caii them to the potter, in 
 Z 2 the 
 
( 172 ) 
 
 the houfe of the Lord." How circurnftantially exadl; did Judas 
 fulfil this prophecy. Surely this f^(5l could not have been un- 
 known to King Agnppa ; Paul, therefore, might with great 
 propriety of application fay unto him, Believefl thou the pro- 
 phets ? 
 
 Equally exa£l, Micah declares the place of the Mefliah's 
 birth. " But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be 
 little among the thoufands of Judah, out of thee fhall he come 
 forth unto me, to be a ruler in Ifrael, whofe goings forth have 
 been from old, from everlafting." This prophecr, though a 
 fingular one, concerning the birth-place of the Mefliah, yet 
 was literally accorrplifhed, although to fulfil it the whole Ro- 
 man empire was fet in motion. When the virgin conceived, 
 fhe was about eighty miles diftant from Bethlehem. Auguftus, 
 the greateft ot the Roman Emperors, was, on his part, unin- 
 tentionslly made the inflrument of its fulfilment ; he decreed 
 the whcle of the empire fhould be taxed. Three things, as far as 
 regards our Lord, are very remarkable in this taxation. I. As 
 it accomplifhed the prophecy, by caufing Jofeph and Mary to 
 journey to Bethl-hem, the place of their family refidence. 2. 
 It proves that Jofeph and Ma/y, being of the family of David, 
 were heirs of David :, for the taxation was upon landed pro- 
 perty. The inheritance of the family of David was at Bethle- 
 hem ; had they been younger branches they would have had no 
 inheritance to be taxed ; but beint'^ the heirs of that family, it 
 was necefiary, fortthe prefervation of the family pofTeffio-i, that 
 they fliould perfonally appear to be enrolled. 3. It precifely 
 fixes the period when our Saviour came to take away fin by 
 the facrifice of himfelf when Auguftus was Emperor of 
 Rome, ahd Cyrenius Governor of Syria. By this means alfo 
 tbe records of the heathen empire became the re^cords of the 
 Chriftian faith. Truly, the earth belongeth unto Jehovah, and 
 he ruleth all things according to the counfels of his own will. 
 Say, O infidel ! wilt thou not believe the prophets ? Such 
 an extraordinarv coincidence of circumftances could not be the 
 work of chance, but is a wonderful manifeftation of the al- 
 mighty over-ruling power of God. 
 
 Many things there are, befides the do£lrines of the crofs, 
 that are treated of by the prophets. By the prophetical writings 
 we do more than barely defend Chriftianity from the attacks of 
 infidelity ; for to defend Chriftianity is a flight thing ; let the 
 infidel bring all his boarted artillery of reafon, let him make 
 itrong his battery, let him mount his cannon, let him pour in 
 his heaviell fire, (till firm and unfhaken ftand its bulwarks, 
 
 even 
 
( '73 ) 
 
 even though defended by a weak believer, indifferently well 
 acquainted with d' -ne revelation. Yea, more, whilft dil"- 
 courfini!; on tiie prophecies relating to other matters, vv^ may 
 turn aOaiJants, and drive the re?roning dcifl: from all his ftroag 
 holds. For inftance, the mode of life of the Arabians, and 
 their pref.TV;ition, as a people diftincl from all others, cannot 
 be accoun'-f; i fir b ■ natural caufes. A wea!c, defeiicclefs 
 people, contemptible in^rheir perfons and arms, have been at- 
 tacked by viJcll dilcipliued armies, commanded b,' the greateft 
 conquerors, ?nd yet they have never been conquered ; but 
 weak, and difunited as thev are, yet they have always li;ed by 
 pillage, and at times have conquered the fineft parts, and the 
 iTinfli: populous of the inhabited globe. Reafon w'.l!, in vain, 
 be unable to account for this ; we cannot unravel the myfte- 
 ri?s thereof; every other nation has its rifmg, its meridian, 
 •Ami its fctting fun; but this nation, though driven back, otc 
 times to its ancient boundarie"?, always have thofe boundaries 
 unbroken. Invincible when fjrrounded by conquerors ; free 
 amidil nations of flavcs ; freebooters and r ^bhers amoTL'fl: the 
 ci\ilized nations of the glob:-: revelation unfolds the myltcry. 
 It is there we find that it is Jehovah, who giveth bounds to the 
 nations, that hath given .-.rdbia to the descendants ot Iihaiael, 
 and declared thai l.e Ihould be a wild man, his hand agiinir every 
 man, and every man's hand ag^i^ft him, and that he (li )uld 
 dweii in the prcfence cf all .lis brethren. Nutn; ig hi ■. in- 
 finite forefight could have foretold, and infinite powe: > : i.ld 
 have fo ordered circumftancv?, th ;t a man's whole poltcriiy 
 fliou'd thus for many ages, be adting agairll every man, r.nd 
 every man againft them, and yet fhould be prcf-ir-.eJ uncon- 
 querable amidil 'urrounding enemies. Yet this is the Cdlc 
 v/itn the whole nt that nation, and tiiey give this as a realoa 
 for it, that t. ir father Iflimael ga^ e them liberty to attack, 
 enflave, anu pujage every man, but oy illvine authority, pro- 
 mifed them, tnat they Ihould nevei be enllaved. 
 
 Inlikj manner the Lord bv Mofes threatcf.s the IfraJites 
 in cale ot difobedience, that lie will " fcattcr them aniongfi: 
 all /people,, fron the one end of the earth even unto the otier; 
 and ti,e:e thou (halt fcrve other gods, which neirher tn m nor 
 thy fai hers have known, even wood and ftone ; and a.nonglt 
 thefe n.itions thou fiia't have no eafe, neither thai! the fole of 
 thy foot have relf ; but tiie Lord fhali give thee there a trem- 
 bling heart, and fading of eyes, and iorrow of mind." And 
 in like manner the other propnets fpcak of this people; and be- 
 hold, ye infidels, .it this dav the acconipufli:nent of it. They 
 
( 174 ) 
 
 have reiecTled the prophet like unto Mofes, ajid for It they are 
 cut off from being the people of God ; and yet, in the midft of 
 all, the', dwell alone, a nation, a defpilcd nation, in the midft of 
 the naiions. Where are the Midianites, the Moabites, the 
 Ifhiraelite?, and many other nations, the ancient enemies of 
 the Jews ? They are cut off from amjofl the nations, even 
 their names are alnioft lofl- from the records of the earth ; but 
 this poor humbled people ilill remain, and will continue fo to 
 do, a diflinil people, till their elder brother, the abhorred of 
 the nation, till he fhall come again the lecond time, without 
 iin, unto their falvation. 
 
 The prophets prophefied of the Meffiah, even Jcfus of Na- 
 zareth, and the truth of their prophecies have been eftablifhed 
 by the fulfilment of their denunciations againft fuch of the na- 
 tions and cities as were cruel and oppreffive to the children of 
 Ifrael. Where is Nineveh, the mighty, containing fuch a 
 rumber of inhabitants ? her name is perifhed from the face of 
 f ' earth. Where is Babylon the lofty, the queen of cities, 
 and the miftrefs of the nations ? her ftrength is decayed, her 
 beauty is gone, the veftiges of her former foundations are bu- 
 ried beneath the floods, and the beauty of the fertile plains, 
 which furroundcd her have loft their ancient glory, and are 
 almoft pathlefs as the fandy defert. Where is Tyre, the mer- 
 chant of the nations, the ruler of the mighty waters, fhe, 
 whofe fnowy plumage winged her a path over the ftormy 
 deep ? Alas ! fhe is gone, her bulwarks lay plunged beneath 
 thole feas which they formerly govtrned, her lofty palaces are 
 fallen, and the folid rock is alone left, a humble monument of 
 her former lituation and her prefent ruin. Should any one, 
 pafling through this populous town, furvey the numerous 
 mightx fabrics which exalt their heads unto the heavens, whilft 
 their folid foundations, like nature's primreval rocks, are buried 
 deep into the bowels of the earth — fliould fuch a one, ad- 
 miring its vail: extent, its opulence, and magnificence, be tolci 
 by feme halUl'arved, contemptible locking (ervant of the living 
 God, " Thus, faith the Lord, Behold, I am againft thee, O 1 
 deflroying J>ondon, who deftroyeth all the earth, and I will 
 ftretch out niy hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the 
 rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain, and they (hall not 
 take of thee a ftone for a corner, nor a {tone for a foundation, ' 
 but] thoudialt be defolate for ever, faith the Lord j" Who 
 would think it ci edible? the prophet of tb^ Lord would be con- 
 lidered as a madman, or punifhcd as a vagabond ! his miffion 
 would be rejected, and coiifidercd as impoilibie i yet thus did 
 
 God, 
 
( "75 ) 
 
 (lOtl, by the mouth of Jeremiah, threaten Babylon, the glory 
 of ths worlJ, and the pride and wonder of the whole earth. 
 And it is come to pafs ; her broad walls, with the hundred 
 ftronrr towers upon them, her beautiful lianging gardens, her 
 ixlorious palaces, and u^l her former beauties, arc- buried beneath 
 the ftagnate waters of the Euphrates ; her former dctencc and 
 ornament is her prcfcnt ruin : it i«; now the haliitp.tion of vc- 
 jiomous reptiles, and the tlread of mankind. And as it was 
 with Babylon fo it was with Tyre, Nmeveh, 5cc. the word of 
 Jehovah hath been long accomplifhed, and they exhibit to 
 mankind the hand of Jchovidi fully accomplilhing whatfocver 
 he threatens. 
 
 *' J'.ul3;\Ticnt on leaden win^ mny flowly rife, 
 But fpreadcth fiire dettruftion as (lie ftic3; 
 Eternal ruin mniUs i.er direful ronJ, 
 Dire trophies of a fin avenging God." 
 
 Let me here paufe — Let me put to you the qucflion that Paul 
 oFTarfus, put to King Agrippa. — Believefl: thou the prophet^ ? 
 Thou beholdeir what Cod hath done in the days that are pati ? 
 H'u- arm is not fhortened ; that v.'hich he hath decl.^ired he will 
 perform, fhall furcly come to paf-. The prefent is an eventful pe- 
 riod ; fince the feventh trumpet hath began to found, what aflo- 
 nifhing events have began to take place. It was as it were but 
 tefirerda/, when we ourfelvcs would not have given credit to 
 them. Overturning ! overturning ! overiurning ! is now the 
 language of fcripture. War, famine, and peltilence, are the 
 */eapons of his hand ; it is with thefe he puinfheth the in- 
 habitants of the earth ; it is with thefe he teachcth man- 
 kind to refle6f upon the end of their exiftencc, and bringeth 
 them to the acknowledgement of himfelf; it is with thele that 
 he is now levelling the pride, the fclf-will, and tl>e ambition of 
 MKUikind. Thele are the mighty meflengers who go before 
 crying, Prepare ye the vv^ay of tne Lord, and make altraitpath 
 for our God. Jefus, the mighty conqueror comes ; I hear 
 the rolling of his warlike car, and mark the footlleps of his 
 horfes ftetped" in blood. Plow awful will be their fate who 
 oppofe him. Like water fliall their blood be poured out, and 
 the mountain of their flefli I'hall be fprcad like dung upon the 
 face of the earth. " Therefore, wait ye upon me, fjiith the 
 ]v0rd, until the day that I rife up to the prey; for my determi- 
 nation is to gather the natipn«, that 1 may aflemble the king- 
 fioms, to pour upon them my indignation, evci all my fierce 
 anger ; for all the earth fhall be devoured wfth the fire of my 
 iealoufy. ' Time will not permit an enlargement upon this 
 
 fubjea, 
 
( 176 ) 
 
 fubjeft ; the melancholy fcene is began j would ye efcape the 
 awful vengeance, flee ye to the chamber of his love; hide vour- 
 felves beneath the fliadow of his win,o;s, until the overwhelm- 
 ing tempeft is paft; for he alone is a ianduary from the llorm, 
 and a hiding place from the tempeft. 
 
 But the prophecies leave us not here amidfl the horrors of 
 darknefs and the fhadows of death, but they, in many places, 
 poficively declare, that Jefus will come, and all his faints Ihall 
 come with him; faith now realizes the -approaching fcene, 
 and hails his prefence, whilft every heating thought cries out. 
 Come, Lord Jefus ! Come quici^ly ! Come, thou Alin!o;hty 
 Saviour, rule over the earth from fea to fea, and from fhore to 
 fhore ! Oh ! come, and fway over all thy fceptre of peace. 
 
 Some of you may afk, Are you not afraid of preaching in 
 this manner ? Are you not afraid of giving offence unto the 
 governing powers ? No, indeed, not I ; I v/ould not give 
 offence to any man, or any fort of men ; but I would to 
 God that all the ruling powers were here now that they might 
 hear that Jefus, the Meffiah, will foon come in perfbn to cfalm 
 the kingdoms for his inheritance, and the uttermolt parts of 
 the earth for his pofTeffion ; and that till he comes, however 
 vain men may attempt it, there will not be any univerfal mow 
 narchy take place. His kingdom is univerfal, and his alone ; 
 and upon the throne of Ifrael, not by afpiritual, but by an earthly 
 reign, will he eftablifh it, and it fhall continue unfhaken for a 
 thou(and years. Now, what is there in all this ouc^ht to 
 give umbrage to the kings and princes of the earth ? I call 
 not on them to refign their fceptres but to fway them in riuhte- 
 oufi^efs, that when he cometh they may hold them as fiefs of 
 his will, and do homage to him as their fupreme Lord. For 
 when he cometh, they fhall either rejoice to own his fupremp 
 authority, or they fhall perifh before him. For " he fhall have 
 dominion from fea to fea, and from the river to the ends of the 
 earth ; they that dwell in the wildernefs fhall bow before him, 
 and his enemies fhall lick the duff. The kings of Tarfhifli, 
 and of the ifles, fhall bring prefents ; the kings of bheba and 
 Seba fhall offer gifts ; yea, all kings fhall fall down before 
 him, all nations fhall ferve him." In that day " che mountain 
 of the Lord's houfe fhall be eftabliflied in the top of the moun- 
 tains, and fhall be exalted above the hills ; and all nations fliall 
 flow into it; and many people fhall go and fay. Come ye, and 
 let ns go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the houfe of the 
 God of Jacob ; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will 
 walk in his paths : for out of Zion fliall go forth the law, 
 
 and 
 
( '77 ) 
 
 aivl thi? word of Jihovah from Jcrufalem. And he fliall judge 
 aotong the nations, and he fhall rebuke many peoples: ana they 
 )fhall beat their hvords Into plough fliarcs and their fpears into 
 pruning hooks; nation (hall not lift up fword againft nation, 
 neither ihall they learn war any more." Happy period this ! 
 mv foul ardcntiv longeth to behold it. I dare not condemn 
 their motives who fpiritualize thefe and multitudes of fimilar 
 and equally glorious paHages; but I pity their weakncfs ; they 
 know not where fuch conducl leadeth them, whilft it uninten- 
 tionally caufeth them to treat with contempt the word of the 
 living God. 
 
 " Believeft thou the prophets?" Under the prefent awful 
 {late of things what jov what confolation will they aftbrd !— — 
 Time, with rapid wings, is, by dreadful judgments, ufhering in 
 the grand millenial reign ot Jefus: then will the myfterious 
 (bene of providence be unravelled, and all the wonders of di- 
 vine lo> e be laid open unto men. IVanfporting thought I what 
 amazing intricacies will then be laid open, when providence 
 and prophecy are fully known. 
 
 Prophecv, like the night and day, from infancy to manhood, 
 leads us on i\cp by ftep, from light to darknefs, and then from 
 tlarknefs to light, unto the grand concluding period, which 
 fome of you are diftinguifhed by the name of Univerfalifts for 
 believing. The prophecies declare, that the head of the fer- 
 pent mull: be bruifed— -that God muft be all in all; rebellion 
 therefore muft be baniflied from the univerfe— the foes of Je- 
 fus muft become bis footftool — the curfe muft be no more- 
 tears muft he wiped from every eye— all muft be drawn unto 
 Jefus-— all muft be made new: for Jehovah hath fworn hy 
 himfelf, the righteous word is gone out of his mouth, and fhall 
 not return, that unto him every knee fliall bow, and every 
 tongue fliall fwear, furely each fliall fay. In Jehovah have I 
 rightcoufnefs and ftrength. To him fhall they come, and all 
 that are inccnfed againft him fhall be afhamed ; for at the name 
 of J1.I11S the Reftorer every knee fhall bow, of thofe in heaven, 
 of thofe in earth, and of thofe under the earth, and every tongu« 
 ihall cowfefs that Jefus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 
 For it pleafcd the Father that in him fhould all fulnefs dwell; 
 and having made peace through the blood of the crofs, by him 
 to reconcile all things to himfelf; by him, whether they be 
 things in earth or things in heaven. Yes, bleflcd be the name 
 of God our univerlal parent, Jefus the Reftorer hath given 
 himfelf a ranfom for all, and this is the proper fcafon tq^bcar 
 tcftiinony to it. 
 
 A a O Chxif- 
 
( '78 ) 
 
 O Chrlllian, believeft thou the prophets ? I know thou dofl. 
 What fources of confolation, of holy peace, and jov, and hope, 
 do they afford thee! In vain fnall infidelity raifc againft thee 
 its hydra head, boldly upon the fure word of prophecy flialt 
 tl>ou,attack the poifonous ferpent, and lay him dead beneath thy 
 feet. 
 
 Infidelity is in part to be attributed to the imperfe<f^ mode in 
 v/hich Chriftianity has been preached. It has either been fpi- 
 ritualized into tatters, or it has been reafoned out of its foul 
 and energy. The partial truth, and not the whole truth, has 
 been fpoken— The doftrines taught as the dotSlrines of tlie 
 Scripture reprefentthe Deity as imperfect in wifdom, love, and 
 power. Surely that Almighty Being who formed his creature 
 man, formed him for happinefs ; yet, on whatloever fchemc as 
 hath hitherto been taught you confider it, you make him to 
 intend, really or impotently, endlefs midry to the greateft part 
 of the workmanfhip of his hands. But blefled be the great 
 Former of all, he hath, by his holy apoffles and prophets, 
 taught us better things: he hath exhibited the beaut) of his 
 chai -i(5ter in the ali-fubt'uing perfedion of divine love. In the 
 gladdening profpedt infidelity lofes its hold upon us, Scripturs 
 becomes harmonized, and worthy to be the revelation of God, 
 Standing on this foundation, our iouls can rife aloft above the 
 clou-'yfcenes of a dark providence, and itand unfljaken amidli 
 a war of elements, a craib of nations, and the difcordant clang 
 of arriis. Belicveft thou the prophets, O Chriftian ? then let 
 an i r: .ledience rnai ifeff thy faith— fo fhalt thou find peace 
 ail' j. y •" d righteoufp Is here, and glory hereafter. Am£N. 
 
 L N D N: 
 
 rRlNTP.D BIMV. rxi\10f>y 82, rtlTIK LAM. 
 
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