YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Gift of the

PEABODY INSTITUTE, BALTIMORE

SERMONS,
Src. SfC.

The Rev. GEORGE PATTRICK, LL.B.

SERMONS,

With *

A HELP TO PRAYER,

The Rev. GEORGE PATTRICK, LL.B.
late vicar of aveley, essex; joint lecturer of
st. Leonard's, shoreditch; sunday-evening
LECTURER OF ST. BRIDe's, FLEET STREET;
LONDON; AND CHAPLAIN TO THE
RIGHT HON. LADY DACRE,
OF LEE.

TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED,
MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY R. NOBLE, OLD BAILEY*,
AND PUBLISHED BY T. WILLIAMS, STATIONERS COURT,
LUDGATE STREET.

M DCCC 1.

CONTENTS,
MEMOIRS, from p. 1 to p. 88.
SERMONS. I. Cheist the way : from John xiv. 6. - - - p« 3
II. Cheist the truth : from John xiv. 6. - - p. 21
III. Christ the life: from John xiv. 6. - - - p. 39
IV. The gospel a faithful saying: from 1 Tim.
i. 1.5. ----- --p. 61
V. Cheist the chiefest among ten thousand :
from Cant. v. 10. ----- --p. 81
VI. The ascension of cheist: from Psalm
lxviii. 18. ----- - - - - p. 103
VII. Cheist the head: from Eph. iv. 15, 1(5. p. 123
VIII. The holy ghost the comfortee : from
John xiv. 26. - - - - - - p. 149
IX. Faith working : from James ii. 22. - - p. 169
X. The love of god and man: from 1 John
iv. 11. - - - - - - - p. i91
XI. Christian graces: from 1 Pet. iii. 8. - p. 211
XII. Cheistian loyalty: from Mat. xxii. 21. p. 229
XIII. The Pharisee and publican: from Luke
xviii. 14., - -- - - _.p, 247
XIV. On the times: from 2 Kings vi. 15. - - p. 267
XV. The barren fig-teee : from Luke xiii. 8, 9. p. 295
XVI. David's curses the believer's prayers:
from Ps. cix. 12, 13. - - - - - p. 315
XVII. God's sword and bow: from Ps. vii. 12. - p. 339
XVIII. On the confession : from 2 Cor. i. 13. p. 359
A HELP TO PRAYER  _ _ p. 377
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

MEMOIRS,

Src, $c.

MEMOIRS,
4rc $c.

IT is a principal design of this Volume to assist the
friends of our departed brother, in fulfilling the injunc
tion of the Apostle: — Remember them, tvho  have
fpoken unto you the word of GOD (Hebj xiiL 7.)*
Over some guides we must drop a tear in silence, and
draw the veil of charity; but others have fought a good
fight, have finished their course, and have kept the
faith (2 Tim. iv. 7.) Such a character is now brought
forward. May the same divine grace, which gave him
all that he possessed as a christian, incline every
reader of these pages to follow his faith, remembering
the end of his conversation: JESUS CHRIST, the
fame, yesterday, and to-day, and for ever (Heb. xiii.
'7, 8.)
The following Memoirs are drawn up from the com
munications of Mr. P.'s friends, from his Letters, and
from a Journal, which he kept for many of the latter
years of his life.
Mr. Pattrick was born at Mark's Tey, a small
village, near Colchester, in Essex, on Aug. 20,
1746; and Avas descended of a very respectable family.
His father and grandfather were farmers; and his
family have occupied the same estate for more than a
century. He was the youngest of four sons; the eldeft
of whom died in 1776, and the other survive him.
Mr. P. was educated at St. Paul's School, in Lon
don-; and, after finishing his education at this place,
where he made considerable proficiency, he left school
about sixteen years of age, and was entered as Clerk
•with an eminent Attorney at Colchester. Upon
a the

" MEMOIRS.
the expiration of his clerkship, he spent about a year
and a half in London, with a view to farther im
provement in his profession. After this preparation,
he entered upon the practice of the Law, at Ded ham,
in his native county, in Feb. 1769; where that ju
dicious Expositor, Mr. Burkitt, spent the last ten
years of his laborious ministry.
At Dedham, Mr. Pattrick lived nearly two years ;
and, during this period, he dissipated a considerable
part of a moderate fortune, left him by his father; not
in any flagrant immorality, for he has often told Mrs.
P. that he was accounted by his acquaintance an
exemplary young man; but he had a great tafte for
polite and fashionable company, and easily and imper
ceptibly disburdened himself of his property, by giving
genteel and expensive entertainments.
A lady, who knew him at Dedham, relates an in
cident, which strikingly marks his retiring and modest
character; and which seems an earnest of that prime
Christian grace, humility, with which he was so
eminently clothed, both as a christian and a mini
ster. He then attended the Sacrament at Dedham
Church; and it was matter of surprise to the Ministers
and Churchwardens, that some person had, twice or
thrice, put a guinea into the plate. A little closer
observation was made at the next collection; and it
was found, that Mr. G. Pattrick put in a guinea,
endeavouring to elude notice, by fastening it with a
little wax to the under side of a shilling. " It was like
the man," says his friend, the Rev. R. Storry, of
Colchester; who adds, " I have known him send a
dozen or two of wine, to a poorer brother, without any
intimation whence it came; which was not discovered
for years, and then came out casually."
While at Dedham, he was impressed with the piety
of some amiable friends, and determined to be like
them. He procured religious books; studied and
prayed; distributed Bibles and Prayer-books; gave
alms j

MEMOIRS. Ii
alms; attended the service of the Church, whenever its
doors were open; fasted every Friday before the Sa
crament; and communicated regularly.
He, who should view such a character as this, and,
with his eye upon this fundamental truth, the con
trite heart is the seat of true religion,
should say, " All this may be, and yet it may come
short of true godliness," would be branded, by a large
class of professed christians, as censorious and fana
tical. Yet, with all this piety, our brother was the
life of the gayest circles, and Master of the Ceremonies
at the Assemblies. A wise man will, however, enter
his protest against that rash determination of character,
that well-intended but precipitate and premature
treatment of young persons, which damps and retards
them in the outset of a religious life. It is often for
gotten, that we have senses exercised to discern good
and evil (Heb. v. 14.); but that they, with whom
we are talking, even if the Spirit of God have
opened their eyes, do but yet see men as trees walking.
It is a wise and a difficult part we have to act, with
those who are upon the point of turning from the
World to GOD; that we may neither countenance sin
in our brother, nor throw stumbling-blocks in his way.
Elisha (2 Kings v. 18, 19.) conceded much to the
immature state of Naaman's mind; and a greater
than Elisha left it to the promised influence of his
SPIRIT, fully to remove the ignorance and prejudices
of his disciples. I have yet many things to say unto
you, but ye cannot bear them now. Horcbeit, when
he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide
you into all truth (John xiv. 12, .13.) No man put-
teth a piec*tȣ.jtzeiw cloth unto an old garment, Sec,
(Mat. ix. 16," 17.)
Had some good people been witnesses of our bro
ther's carriage, in this incongruous mixture of seri
ousness and gaiety, they might have proved, with the
best intentions, real hindrances to his progress. Re-
a 2 ligioin,

MEMOIRS.

lIGION, IN ITS BEGINNING, IS TO BE TREATE1T
WITH A WISE AND TENDER F AITH-FU LN ESS. The
testimony, to be borne against the world, should be
honest and decisive; but "the manner should be con
siderate, and the vieAvs we give, adapted to the light
and comprehension of those whom we would win over
to GOD. 'ihis is an important and a delicate sub
ject. The si fest ground, on which to deal with per
sons in our brother's frame of mind, is the highest
ground. It should be remembered, that the heart is
always self-righteous, in the commencement of a reli
gious life — knows little of its own depravity," and of
what the Apostle so forcibly calls the filthiness of the
spirit (2 Cor. vii. 1.) It places its efforts in externals.
If Ave make too much of these, we work with the
heart's evil. Rather aim to give such persons a just
idea of true godliness ; — that it will look down on
these things aslittle and mean, — that these pursuits will
be dis-relished, — that it will lose all taste for such
frivolous and injurious occupations.
After a short residence at Dedham, in the practice
of the Law, Mr. P. determined to change his profes
sion, and enter into Holy Orders. This most im
portant step of his life took place, almost before any of
his friends knew of his intentions. His vieAvs and
motives herein will be best understood, from a letter
which he Avrote upon the subject, to a near relative, of
which the folloAving is an extract : —
— — My reasons for not following the Law are, my not having a suf
ficient knowledge i-f the practical, and an inability to the study of the
theoretical part; which I have long endeavoured to conquer, but with
out success. Besides which very material deficiencies there are many
parts of the profession, that, were I ever so well acquainted with it, I
want both courage and resolution to perform. Under these circum
stances, proved by three years' experience, can I ever expect to gain
credit in the Law, or even subsistence by if ? certainly not. To pre
vent your asking me, why 1 never mentioned these circumstances be
fore, give me leave to say, that, had I made you acquainted with them,
they would have been productive of uneasiness, which would" naturally
have arisen to you, for reasons too obvious to need mentioning here. This

memoirs. 5
This has, by keeping you in ignorance, been avoided hitherto, and I
hope prevented for the future ; for immediafely upon being ordained, I
become qualified to do the duty of a curacy provided for me, and esta
blished in a profession, which 1 have for some years most earnestly de
sired, though I have not made, till within these last few months, any
efforts to accomplish it, being fearful of many more difficulties arising
in my way, than I have since found. 
In this statement of his motives, Ave discover little
of that high sense of the dignity and the duties of
the sacred office, Avhich place it far above the level
of other professions, and render the choice of it, from
merely secular vieAvs, little short of impiety. That our
friend's motives Avere Avholly secular, he himself has
acknowledged; and his subsequent conduct, for some
years, but too Avell confirmed the confession.
The man, Avho has been taught to read his oavii
heart, feels a holy jealousy of his motives; and it is,
therefore, no matter of surprise, that Mr. P. in look
ing back upon the moti\'es Avhich influenced his change
of life, .should Avholly condemn them. Yet as he speaks
in the above letter, of having " for some years most
earnestly desired" this profession, and says in another
part of it, not quoted above, that it " would make him
unhappy to relinquish, Avhat he owns his heart was
much interested in," we may believe, that the Lord
of the Vineyard Avas gradually drawing and opening
his mind, to right vieAvs of the sacred function, in which
he afterwards so usefully employed him.
One reflection, however, is ohvious: God forgives
THE MOTIArE, AND EMPLOYS THE MAN. It may
be designed as an abiding cause of future humiliation,
that we should often have to look back with shame,
upon the leaven of secular views and bye-ends, Avhich
governed the mind in its determinations, at that most
serious moment of every Minister's life. Pehaps few
of us, hoAvever Ave persuaded ourselves at the time of
the perfect integrity and singleness of our motives,
can review this period at the distance of years, without
gome such mixture of holy shame. Mr, P,

O MEMOIRS.
Mr. P. was ordained to the curacy of St. Michael,
Mile End, Colchester, on Sunday, Dec 23,
1770. He entered himself this year as a Fellow Com
moner, at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
Sept. 22, 1771, he Avas ordained Priest. Aug. 21,
1772, he was presented to the living of Aveley, in
Essex, by Bishop Loavth, through the interest of
Lord Dacre, of Bell House, in the same parish;
having held the curacy for some time before. In
March 1773, he took the curacy of Wennington,
which he held Avith his living for many years. In Dec
1775, Lord Dacre appointed him his Chaplain. For
the first five or six years after his ordination, he re
sided with his elder hrother at Upminster Hall, in
Essex, about four miles from Aveley; from Avhich
place he served the Church, there being no parsonage
house upon the living. In Oct. 1779, Mr. P. remov
ed from his lodgings at Wennington, at Avhich
place he had lived since he left his brother's ; and went
to reside at Aveley, in the house given to him for his
life, by Lord Dacre.
During this period, our brother Avas learning, that
the love of God and the love of the world
are irreconcileable ; — a lesson, which, sooner or
later, will be learnt by every Minister of CHRIST,
Avho is deserving of that high name. It is an interest
ing and instructive portion of his history; and the
more so, because he did not prove a very apt scholar
upon this point. He struggled long against his con
victions; and laboured hard, to bend his groAving
sense of religion to habits of frivolity and gaiety. It
appears that much of his time was taken up at the
harpsichord, and in electrical and other experiments.
In a note in his Diary, written in Sept. 1775, he
says, " I am amazed at my own absurdity and incon
sistency. I see and am sensible, that I squander
aAvay my time in the most idle and useless manner to
myself and others; and yet do not find in myself any

memoirs. 7
any sort of disposition to change my conduct!
' Man is a reasonable "being !' What, then, ani I?"
During these first ten years of our brother's mini
stry, his mind was gradually opening to a more serious
sense of religion, than he seems to have felt when he
entered into the sacred profession. This change ap
pears to have been wrought by almost imperceptible
degrees. So far as can be collected, the following
Avas one of the first circumstances Avhich brought him
to \riew religion as a business of the heart, and the
ministry as laying claim to the undivided exertion of
his poAvers. His noble patron, Avishing to avail him
self of Mr. P.'s legal knoAvledge, was in the habit of
soliciting his assistance , to unravel a variety of old
deeds, genealogies, &c. His natural urbanity united
with his gratitude to draAV him into a ready compliance.
But, the business growing under his hands, he found,
at length, that almost the Avhole week Avas frittered
away among old parchments, and that preparation for
the duties of the Sunday was driven into a corner.
It struck him, that this was an employment utterly in
congruous, to the character and office of one, who had
engaged himself in Avinning souls; and the impres
sion, aided, no doubt, by a good share of very allow
able disgust Avith his employment, Avas indelible.
The Rev. Nathaniel .Gilbert, Vicar of Bled-
loav, Bucks, whose friendship with Mr. P. began a
few years after this period, and continued uninter
rupted to the death of Mr. P. , writes thus concern
ing the state of his friend's mind : — " Though I have
good evidence to believe, that even before the change
of his sentiments, he was not only irreproachable in
the eye of the world, but highly esteemed ; though he
had a strong sense of the decorum that becomes the
ministerial character; and so performed the stated du
ties of his office, as to be considered in the light of a
very respectable Clergyman ; yet I well know that I
*speak only his own after-thoughts of the true state he
was

8 MEMOIRS.
was in at this period, when I say, that, neither in Doc
trine nor in Life, Avas he then, Avhat either the Christian
or the Ministerial calling requires. His decency of
conduct Avas a mere Worldly decency, influenced by
no higher consideration than the praise of men ; and his
preaching, like his life and manners, was conformed
to the model of the fashion, rather than to the unac
commodating standard of truth and duty. It Avas, in
a Avord, much more his study, to render himself agree
able to an extensive circle of polite acquaintance, in
the opulent neighbourhood where he then resided, first
as the Curate, and afterwards as the Vicar of the Pa
rish, than to approve himself to GOD, to fulfil his
ministry, and to save himself and them that heard him.
How" truly all this aftenvards became his character ;
Iioav he renounced the world, which had once been to
him so full of charms; how completely he shook off
the fetters of a, gay and frivolous acquaintance, sus
taining their contempt with as much cheerfulness as
he had before courted their regard; Iioav intirely he
addicted himself to the work of the Ministry, both in
private, and in public, diligently searching the Scrip
tures to form his oavii opinions, and conscientiously
unfolding their truths to the multitudes who heard
him; Iioav clearly, in short, he afterwards both un
derstood, and preached, and liA^ed the gospel of his
Saviour, Avhose poAver he had felt, and whose love
he had tasted; all this is well knoAvn to great num
bers, and to none perhaps better than to myself." His
progress toAvards this state, it is our present business to
describe.
True grace will shake off the fetters of
avorldly connections. The struggle may be long
and severe, but the grace of GOD will finally triumph
in every soul, which he has marked for his own, and
Avhich he has determined to draAv out into usefulness.
Lord Dacre, it appears, felt the change in our bro
ther s spirit and conduct. His increasing thoughtful- ness,

MEMOIRS. 9
ness, and his growing vieAV of the obligations of Chris
tianity and the sacred office, rendered his habits of
intercourse with the polite world increasingly irksome.
What is habitually painful cannot long be dissembled.
His patron's family could not but feel that his heart
Avas no longer Avholly Avith them.
How long our brother laboured under this contest,
may be judged of from a note in his Diary, in 1788,
nearly ten years after this period, Avhen he lived at
Morden College. " Lord and Lady D's. friendship
and affection for me," says he, speaking of the last of
the above-mentioned noble persons, " seem to continue
and increase ; and become burdensome, and opposed
to those interests which every dying man must pursue.
I am out of humour Avith myself, on account of my
man-pleasing, time-serving disposition, which renders
me unable to act according to my own will." He
Avrote this in a letter, which he left open, that they
might see it.
All this will be considered, by the world at large,
as cynical and morose ; and some, of whom we hoped
better things, will tax this spirit as unnecessarily ri
gorous and severe. Yet it Avould probably have cost
our brother less, to emancipate himself from the bonds
of the worst vices. For habits of worldly conformity,
many specious pleas are at hand. Too many pro
fessors of serious religion have occasion for such pleas,
and we hear of such persons using them. Our friend,
for a time, did the samfe. But the grace, which had
begun the good work in him, constrained him, at
length, to feel the vanity of such pleas as had before
beguiled his judgment, and to take, Avith boldness
and decision, that path Avhich latitudinarian professors
call rigid.
That innocent amusements consist well with that
religion which is cheerful in its very nature, is the
artifice by which men endeavour to impose upon
themselves, and to cover, Avith a specious misrepre
sentation,

10 MEMOIRS.
sentation, a frivolous, worldly, and ungodly mind.
But experience ultimately taught our brother, that
the friendship of the f For Id is enmity with GOD, and
that whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the
World, is the enemy of GOD. (James iAr. 4.) He,
at length, yielded to the evidence, and ceased from
the attempt to reconcile things in their very nature
not to be reconciled. If any young minister, who
feels himself in a similar situation, read these pages,
may the grace, Avhich deliA'ered our brother, make use
of his example to impress this solemn injunction, Be
not conformed to this World ! The comfort of since
rity in the service of his Master, cannot be received
by Him, who halts thus between GOD and Baal.
Sad victims might be pointed out of this deadly enemy
to vital Godliness and real Ministerial usefulness.
Our brother's mind appears, during this period, to
have opened very gradually, to a right perception of
the truth as it is in JESUS. A female parishioner
was rendered the means of much good to him in this
work. Being herself in the habit of hearing some of
the more serious of the London Clergy, when she
went to town, she earnestly recommended it to him
to do the same. He did so ; though he confessed
since to a friend, that he concealed it from her, and
always affected to receive her counsel with contempt !
At the latter end of 1775, Mr. P. seems to have
been much exercised in his mind upon the doctrine of
Predestination. Some notes in his Diary of this period,
speak of some sermons which he heard in London,
from which he appears to have gathered, that bringing
forward the doctrines of Predestination and Reproba
tion, and insisting upon them, entered necessarily into
the system of the more serious Clergy. Speaking of a
sermon Avhich he heard, he says : — " I think the ser
mon Avas good, and, upon the whole, the best lan-
'guage of the kind I have heard. The preacher con
demned to eternal death, as usual, all who are not
true'

MEMOIRS. 11
true believers, in his sense of the word  These doc
trines seem hard to be believed ; and, though I am
quite devoid of prejudice against them, I c/annot be
convinced." This passage is extracted, 'because it
shoAVs his mind opening to the truth, but labouring
at present, under partial and disproportionate views
of it.
The divine Sovereignty, and the doctrines, Avhich,
by many christians, are considered tb spring out
of it, are some of the last views of truth, to which
human reasonings are brought into subjection. Our
brother's mind resisted long ; but, as he became more
feelingly convinced of its utter inability to fathom the
deep things of GOT), and, that, if there be anything
in the Universe above its present comprehension, it
must needs be the divine purposes, and the unfolding
and accomplishment of those purposes, he cordially
received that view of truth, which, by way of dis
tinction, is called Calvinistical. He never spake,
hoAvever, arrogantly or flippantly upon these points ;
but they appeared to produce in him those fruits of
humility and gratitude, which will ever accompany a
right vieAV of them.
The truth, which Mr. P. at first heard with jealousy
and suspicion, by the grace of GOD he did not long-
hear in vain. His visits to town became frequent,
and he at length took lodgings there, chiefly, as it
appears, with a view of withdraAving more from his
worldly connections, and attending unobserved the
more serious preachers of the Gospel. SeA'eral little
traits, scattered here and there through his journal,
in the close of 1778, and in 1779, mark a growing
light in his mind and seriousness in his spirit. He
speaks of a few moments of pious meditation, resulting
from some apparent success in his Ministry, as beyond
all moments of sensual enjoyment, Avhich he could
conceive ; and that it is Avith real satisfaction he can
say, that he can close his day with reading Whit-.
field's

12 MEMOIRS.
field's Sermons, Avith as much avidity as he should
have formerly felt in reading a novel. He Avas natu
rally silent and reserved, unless Avhere he had become
perfectly intimate and familiar; but, about this pe
riod, he frequently laments his backwardness to reli
gious conArersation, and thinks it is Avorldly prudence
that seals up his mouth. In 1779, a note intimates
that he first established family prayer.
We have noAV settled our brother at Aveley, and
have taken a brief view of the first Ten years of his
Ministry, and the opening of his mind to serious
views of religion and the Ministerial office. A note
in his Journal, 26th Dec 1779, marks a Avatchful
frame of mind. " Coming out of Church, I asked a
friend if he Avas fond of skaiting. My heart smote
me, and told me it Avas too quick and uncouth a
transition. I Avas too much off my guard, and must
be thought by my congregation little enough attentive
to the proper business of the place, in Avhich I had
been officiating."
In 1780 and 1781, he was an assiduous attend
ant upon preachers in tOAvn, with Avhom he had yet
formed no personal acquaintance. Some occasional
remarks in his Diary discover, that his mind was im
perceptibly opening to clearer views of evangelical
truth: It was his practice at this period, to take notes
of what he heard, and frequently to enlarge upon these
notes to his OAvn congregations. The latter half of
1780, and nearly the former half of 1781, he Avas
unable to engage in public services. What effect this
illness had upon his mind, and how far it was a means
of assisting his progress, does not appear from his
Journal ; but doubtless it Avas sanctified to this end.
A note he made upon a preacher in this period Avill
give some notion of the state of his vieAvs. " Where
the SPIRIT of the LORD is, there is liberty. There
were comfortable and agreeable passages in it, but I
am too carnal to edify much." In

MEMOIRS. 13
In the latter part of 1781, Mr. P. introduced him
self by letter to Dr. Conyers, of Deptford; by
Avhom he Avas affectionately received. He sought the
acquaintance and friendship of this excellent man for
the best and highest of purposes ; and what he sought,
he obtained ; and did not fail to improve by an assi
duous cultivation of this friendship, and by opening
his heart and its difficulties to this Christian friend.
The letter, by which he introduced himself, discloses
that genuine humility and self-abasement, Avhich dis
tinguishes every real Avork of grace upon the heart.
As it enters much into the history of the Avriter'smind,
and may be profitable to the reader, it is subjoined
intire:~— To the Rev. Dr. Conyers, Deptford.
Aveley, October 12, 1781.
He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax. —
So far as an earthly disciple can resemble an all-perfect Lord ; so
far, I am told, the good Shepherd Lam addressing is of a similar spirit
and temper. Indeed were it otherwise, I should scarcely venture to
lay myself open to you ; and, as it is, the task is by no means pleasant.
Few people in the world will choose to make known their defects to
others, and especially to a stranger to whom they wish to recommend
themselves. Man is too proud a being, to submit willingly to a dispa
ragement of his parts and understanding; or suffer an imputation of
ionorance, with temper. With how much reluctance then must I, who
have been a blind leader of the blind for several years, confess my igno->
ranee and want of knowledge even of the fundamentals of my pro
fession ! With how much pain must I, who am in high repute with my
neighbours, who judge from the outward appearance only, throw off
the mask, and disclaim all the piety and goodness I have the credit of!
Far from the holiness and purity I am thought to possess, I am a
hypocrite, and know not what uncleanness and impiety I might fall
into, if worldly prudence did not restrain me ; for, as I certainly sin
much in thought, so should I in deed, much beyond the measure I do,
if GOD, that knoweth the wickedness of my heart, did not keep me
from the union of temptation and opportunity. I want not to be con
vinced of sin. My sin is ever before me. But I want the wounded spirit
and the broken heart. These I am a stranger to, and to the sorrow
that distinguishes or works repentance. The fear of future judgments,
and the* wrath of GOD, make no impression upon my mind; nor yet
hath

14 MEMOIRS.
hath any of that lorce of GOD been shed abroad in my heart, that is Said
to occasion an hatred of sin, or a delight in holiness. Prayer, reading
the Scriptures, and the various duties of religion, I delight not in ;
or however, not after the manner I conceive those do, who have a true
sense of their efficacy.
To say nothing of the abstruser points of religion, were you to question
me on the principles and grounds, on which our sacraments are insti
tuted, the principles or Articles of the Church of which 1 am a member,"
(I blush to say a teacher), or, in any respect, call on me for a
reason of the hope that is in me, far from giving you a satisfactory ac
count, I do believe 1 should scarcely find you a reply. Still, with all
this ignorance, I envy heaven-born souls, and wish for the attainments
of an advanced, enlightened, and spiritual christian, without feel
ing in myself any adequate inclination, to tread the steps by which I
must arrive at them ; and yet, I natter myself, 1 have a real desire to
know the truth as it is in JESUS. I have the utmost regard for those,
that possess vital holiness ; and I never listen to the conversation of
truly spiritual men, but my heart burnetii within me. I thirst for more
knowledge and interest in the subjects that engage their attention ; and,
•while my heart has been hot within me, thus musing, I have often wished,
but hitherto in vain, that the fire might kindle, and that I also could
have spoken with my tongue.
To promote and encourage these desires, which I am persuaded are
of heavenly tendency, I wish I could occasionally spend some time in
a little family, devoted to GOD, whose principles, hopes, and pur
suits, were alienated from the things of this world, and wholly directed '
towards the treasures and the glory, that will be revealed in another.
Though unable to contribute any thing on my part, to the instruction
or improvement of such a society, yet I should be happy, could I be
permitted, to hear and attend to the conversation and exercises, that
Would be the employment of such a house. I, being a stranger, could
not think of obtruding myself upon you as a boarder, for now and then
a few days, though I bless GOD, able and willing to avoid being bur
densome, as to expence, to any one ; but, if* I might have access to
your family at those seasons, when knowledge or instruction may be
gained, I would gladly seek a temporary residence in your neighbour
hood, to this end. Yet, how contemptible and mean should I appear
there, in your eyes, or in those of any who should chance to know my
profession, and what an unworthy shepherd, what a slothful labourer,
I have been in the pastures and in the vineyard of my Master!
It may seem very strange in me, who am unknown to you, to ob
trude on you so long a letter ; but as I presume my name may have
been mentioned to you, through the good-natured zeal of an honest
young man of your acquaintance, viz. John Barrett, of Green
wich, I chose to give you the foregoing frank account of myself,
Jest he, not knowing me quite so well as I know myself, might'have
represented me in a different light from that I really stand in. A
short

MEMOIRS. 15
short reply from yourself, that you have-not only received this letter,
but consigned it to the flames, will be esteemed a. particular favour
conferred on, Rev. Sir,
Your most respectful and obedient humble servant,
G. P.
In the close of 1781, Mr. P. felt the effects of his
situation at Aveley upon his health, and was so
much debilitated by an ague and fever, that he was
obhVed to eno-aw a curate.
o o © -
About the beginning of 1782, he took lodgings at
Deptford, partly for the recovery of his health, and
partly that he might attend upon the ministry of Dr.
Conyers, and benefit by his advice and experience.
He mentions, in his Diary, a trait of this good man,
which is worth recording. " He told us of the beauty
of holiness, that prevaded at Helms ley, when he Avas
pastor; particularly in the singing, and at the Sacra
ment; at which ordinance fout hundred Avould con
stantly attend. He could scarcely refrain from clap
ping of hands, and dancing for joy, on such occa
sions ; though he confesses he had not then the clear
views of a crucified Saviour, which he iioav has."
By the advice of the faculty, Mr. P. in the summer
of 1782, took a journey into South Wales, for the
establishment of his health. At Pembroke, a friend
asked him to pray with his family. '• Quite un thought
of and unexpected," says he, " I \Tentured to under
take it for the first time in my life before strangers,
and got through it tolerably well." He speaks of his
return to his people in such a manner, as discovers a
growing and mutual regard between them — the reAvard
and the test, usually, of a faithful ministry. " During
my journey, I had, it seems, many prayers sent after
me; and my being restored to my congregation, is
considered as a blessing to them. May GOD make
it. so!"
In the early part of .1783, he paid a visit to Col
chester;

16 MEMOIRS.
Chester ; the scene of his gaiety, and the first theatre*
of his Ministry. Upon this occasion, he felt his cou
rage and faithfulness particularly called upon ; as it
was his first appearance among his early associates since
the change of his sentiments, and he found himself
constrained to bear, both in public and private, a de
cided testimony to the truth he had been enabled to
receive. " I can truly say," says he, " that four
hours spent Avith  , though my old friends, were
hours of tediousness to me. GOD grant that Avorldly
pleasures may be more and more so!" In another
place, he says, " Last night I passed several hours
waking; and, far from counting it an affliction, I
praise GOD for it as a blessing; part of it being spent
in the spirit of prayer and supplication, in Avhich I
found sweet consolation. Conversation with holy-
minded men leaves a SAveet impression, even upon so
dark and unimproved a mind as mine. To this,
next to GOD, do I OAve the comfort of last night."
In this visit to the neighbourhood of his native place
and early connections, he left, it seems, a thorough
conviction upon the minds of his former acquaintance,
that he Avas become quite another man.
A letter, written upon his return to the Rev. R
Storry, to Avhose friendship this visit first introduced
him, will let the experienced reader into a clear view
of the present state of his mind : — «
To the Rev. Robert Storry, Colchester.
Dear Sir, Aveley, March 4, 1783.
I GOT safe home here, on Friday evening last; and, though the
day was very winterly and bad, caught no cold. GOD's mercies have
evidently followed me, through every part of my late excursion. Though
ill with a cold the beginning of it, and occupied with engagements, that
occasioned my almost perpetual travelling about, in weather but ill
suited to an invalid, yet I seem to have gained an increase of healtfi,
as to the body. In another respect, I must still be said to be out of
health ; weak, sickly, and in want of medicine ; but I hope I shall one
day be met by a physician, that will shew me all my disorders, and the
consequences of them, and apply the remedy.. This remedy, though long,

MEMOIRS. 17
long and often pointed out to me, I consider myself as not having as
yet thoroughly tasted. I have thus far experienced its excellency,
though hitherto kept at a tantalizing distance from me ; I am sensible of
its sweet smelling and very precious odour, and I doubt not but when,
in GOD's time, the whole prospect of my distempered soul is opened to
my view, with a just sense of the awful consequences of the malady it
is infected with, if not counteracted, I doubt not but, in this case, I
shall be enabled to speak moie feelingly of its efficacy:
i thank you very cordially for your kind reception ; and more espe
cially bless GOD, that he hath given me grace and favour in your
sight; for, had you not been in some degree resembling him, who
breaketh not the bruised read, nor quencheth the smoking flax, I should
have kept my distance, but, as it is, I shall now draw near you, when
ever the opportunity serves, with a gladsome heart; and, indeed, I
must see you often, before I shall effectually reap the benefit and ad
vantage from you which I hope ; for I am dull of apprehension, and
need line upon line, and precept upon precept, often taught and incul
cated, before I shall make a proficiency; nor shall 1 make a proficiency
herein, till GOD shall give a blessing to the means. I remember many
things you said to your people, and some that serve with me as leading
to further inquiry ; yet, I know not how it is, but there is a false kind
of pride, that keeps me from asking questions, that would betray all
my ignorance. I have, however, a question or two in reserve, and,
in some future letter, if you will give me leave to write you letters,
perhaps I may propose them.
From June 1783 to June 1784, Ave find our bro
ther travelling in France and Italy. The immedi
ate motive of this tour does not appear. It is proba
ble, that he had not yet attained those vieAvs of reli
gion, and of the ministerial calling in particular, AAdfich
would have made him feel such a secession from the
means of grace in a christian, and from the pas
toral duties in a minister, utterly unjustifiable; un
less the call were decisiAre and unquestionable. It is
not unlikely, that the more perfect re-establishment of
his health Avas the motive that satisfied his own mind;
but there can be little doubt, perhaps, that he Avas too
easily satisfied. A mind fully instructed, and not fet
tered by its temptation, would not have been drawn
into such an excursion, by even the strongest motives,
Avithout great exercises. But to expect that our bro
ther should feel and act in this case, as might be ex-
b pected

16 MEMOIRS.
pected from a clear-sighted and mature christian,
Avould be to deal prematurely and unfairly Avith his
present attainments. And yet, though this alloAvance
be made, it must still be acknoAvledged, that he ap
pears to have been under a temptation, Avhen he en
tered upon this scheme. That taste for virtu, Avhich
in his younger days had strongly captivated him, but
became afterwards Avholly chastised, — and that fond
ness for travelling, Avhich he retained to his death,
but Avhich was ahvays rendered, as his mind became
more deeply impressed, subservient to the highest
ends, — appear, in this instance, to haAre led him astray.
That he did not, in taking this tour, act even ac
cording to the light he then had, may appear from the
folloAving extract of a letter from P a r i s to some friends-
in Essex: — To the Misses F., Dedham. Paris, Aug. 20, 1783.
 THE lively, dancing, singing beings, that 1 am with, live and be
lieve and think, as if this world were all ; but you, I trust, are as those,
who believe there is an everlasting state to come; you, did I say ? but.
why you, in particular ? not you only, but all that believe and trust
and hope in the Master I ought to 9erve ; and serve him, I confess,
in the duties of my profession, rather than in being a vagabond, as I
seem to be, on this beauteous earth, which he has created : but I trust
he will, in His own due time, bring mc home again, and pardon this
offence, in wandering abroad for pleasures I should find at home. 
And it must be confessed, that the journey appears
to have added little to his light, to his piety, or to
his zeal; for, though his Diary exhibits a very minute
account of incidents, yet it has nothing in relation to
the state of his mind. When writing to the same friends,
indeed, he appears to have had a grateful sense of
the kind hand Avhich protected him:— Naples, Jan. 17, 1784.
 1 SOMETIMES feel a little gloomy, when I recollect the time
and fatigue that must take place, before I can again enjoy the actual
society of yourselves and other friends. This time two years, it was an

MEMOIRS. IQ
An awful season ! I came to Dedham, in the comfortable hope, that
mine eyelids would be closed by a sisterhood, with whom, more than
all the world besides, I wished to pass my expiring days ; but, as it
seemed, I came to die with those that were already dying ; yet, such is
the goodness of an experienced Providence, we both still live, monu
ments of undeserved mercies ! Perhaps my female friends cannot boast,
as I can, an intire health ; yet, I doubt not, they are ready to ac
knowledge with me, how much we owe, and yet what bankrupts and
beggars we are, in our songs of praise to that Providence, for the
blessings both one and the other have received. But that which some
times makes me gloomy now, is, if any thing befall me, I have none
to die with, or follow me to the grave : nay, scarce a grave would be
afforded me ! But, though I sometimes thus think, I think still more
on the escapes and preservations I have hitherto had ; and comfort
myself with the assured hope, that, if he whom 1 profess to serve,
will have it so, there is no disease, nor Sickness, nor misfortune, by
land or sea, nor any other earthly cause or power, that shall prevent
my safe return ; and I really think, that, if this, through GOD's
goodness, shall be the case, I shall not straggle so long or far again;
For the pleasures, the tumultuous pleasures, of £ lively and dissipated
people, are no compensation for the more tranquil and the superior
pleasures, that I might enjoy at home, in the society of wise, virtuous,
and serious friends. — —
The Christ ian, in proportion as he understands
and feels the obligations of his profession, will hus
band his time. The present world is the only stage
on which he can, as a redeemed sinner, glorify his Sa
viour among sinners. Much more does the Christian
Minister, in his best frames, feel the irresistible weight
of this reflection ! Here, he stands between the living
and the dead ! Here, he sustains the highest office,
that can be devolved upon a human being, — that of an
ambassador from CHRIST to Sinners ! When his lamp
is burnt out here, it will blaze brighter in a better
world; but it will be no longer a light, to shew
wretched sinners the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin 6f the world ! When his voice is lost in
death, it will awake again in eternal praise; but it
will no more say to the perishing, Behold the Lamb !
In this vieAV, how important is a Aveek! — a day! — -an
hour ! Such a man will feel, that his hours- glide
insensibly into days, his days into weeks, his weeks
* b 2 into

20 MEMOIRS.
into months, and his months into years. Each year
robs him of a large portion of that only time and^
opportunity, Avhich Avill ever be intrusted to him, ot
thus serving his Master;
Singula de nobis anni pnedantur euntes:
and he will be earnest, therefore, in his petitions for
grace, that he may redeem the time.
In a few letters, Avhich Mr. P. transmitted to his
friends, there are some lively descriptions, Avhich may
not be unpleasant to the reader : — Paris.
 1 AM alternately charmed with the richness and splendour,
that is diffused through every thing in this city ; and disgusted with the
sluttishness and filth, that is blended with it. The FRENCH are a
most untidy people. As are their houses, so are their persons. There
is scarce a common lodging, that has not rich plates of looking glass,
carved and gilt ornaments, and drawers and cabinets of beautifully in
laid woods. At the same time, the floors are laid with tiles, or bricks ;
and, either the fire place, or some other corner of the room, is the
reservoir of all the dirt and rubbish, that months, and perhaps years,
have collected. So also with their persons : those in the lowest depart
ments, — waiters at coffee-houses and inns, lacqueys, and porters, have
heads dressed for an assembly ; when, at the same time, the squalidity
of their apparel, and their slovenliness about their heels, will assault
the greater part of the five senses.
There is a vivacity about the French, the feminines especially,
that makes a very pleasing impression on a stranger ; i-nd persons we
are daily dealing with, though we know them to be picking our pockets,
yet do it with such good humour and address, that there is no
possibility of being angry with them. Amongst ladies of the ton, there
seem to be many who possess a large shave of the beauties of nature ;
but they manage their faces as they do their meats. Meats, that are
in themselves naturally good, they totally disguise by their cookery ;
and reduce all things to nearly the same consistency, ste%ing them to
rags ; and instead of the true taste, savour them with the artificial and
unnatural taste of the stewpan, and culinary compounds.
The faces of the women of fashion are perfectly covered up with a
thick coating of paint, and all complexions are reduced to that white
and red, which is furnished by- the paint pot; and the colours, fur
nished by Dame Nature, seem to be so out of vogue, that they are not
even imitated. 1 do not think your parlour wainscot has a thicker
coating, than some of these ladies' faces have, particularly the elder
ladies. I saw two or three the other night, who must be near, if not
altogether, three-score years and ten, who looked more blooming, than any

MEMOIRS. 21
any thing nature ever produced at fifteen ; nor should I have known
the difference between seventeen and seventy, but from t)>e conical ap
pearance of the cheek bones, and the fosses and redoubts, that time,
in despite of art, had formed in their faces.' 
Naples.
 Nice is a sweet and delightful city, situated in a broken punch
bowl. The broken side is open to the sea ; and the sides are intirely
covered with vines, and orange and lemon trees, and olive yards,
speckled over with seats and villas of the gentry.
Genoa is of the same nature, but on a large scale. The whole
city is arranged round a semicircular bay of the sea, rising gradually
therefrom ; and street above street in height, make a wonderful and
beautiful amphitheatre. The neighbouring high hills and rallies, are
eovered with a profusion of palaces and villas. In the city there are
intire streets of palaces, adorned with marble.
Leghorn is another, but smaller sea port city, situated in a fertile
flat. Home is a large, dull, and, in many parts, a dirty city. There
are 500 palaces, more or less ; but they stand in narrow streets, and
are very lofty and very d;:ik. The lower floors are all grated in the
windows, and look like prisons ; but within, the}- are filled with pic
tures and statues, precious marbles, and costly furniture. In the en
virons and ail over it, are curious remains, of the grandeur and fine
taste of the antient Romans, and fragments of buildings perfectly
amazing. Naples is all life, noise, and bustle ; naif as big as London, but
more populous in proportion. The country about it rich, fertile,
and romantic. It encompasses the finest bay of the sea in the world,
and, as seen from thence, appears to be the finest city in the world.
Proud Mount1 Vesuvius, with its fuming crest, is seen from every
part ; though, the sea is between it and us. Other mountains and other
shores, enriched with spacious buildings, adorn the prospect of this
place; which, on the whole, is much like Genoa, but on a scale
still larger.
lt is the splendour of the churches, that most attracts a vulgar eye,
like mine. They are mostly covered, so that there is not a hand's
breadth of floor, sides, pillars, or roof, that is not richly decorated
with paintings, statues, or very precious marbles, and pictures of the
finest and first-rate masters. The breadth of St. Peter's is the
length of St. Paul's ; yet not an inch of space is there within, that is
not thus adorned. I heard mass in it on Christmas- day ; when the
Pope officiated, and there were present all the Cardinals, the nobility
and gentry of R,ome, the Emperor of Germany, and the King of
Sweden, besides 15 or 20,000 well dressed people. The altar was
covered with the Pope's mitres and tiaras ; richer in diamonds and
jewels, than any royal crown I ever saw,
The Functions, as they are called, i. e. public ceremonies on certain
days, are very magnificent and pleasing. The dead are carried to the.
grave

£% MEMOIRS.
grave, and attended by vast processions singing them to their eternal
rest. Sometimes the body is drest in gay attire, and carried, exposed
to view, upon a gilded litter ; at other times in gilded boxes, and under
embroidered palls, but buried without any coffin at all ; but at Rome,
a coffin is carried after the body, as a part of the procession, and at
the end of the ceremony it receives the body, and is pitched endwise
down into the pit.
On certain grand fetes or holidays, in many of the churches, music
is introduced into the service ; and such music, being by the most ex
cellent instruments and performers, as is almost enough to ravish the
heart, and make a man forget he is upon the earth. But oh ! if such
strains are heard here below, from men that are by no means saints,
and yet are capable of exciting such sensations, what shall we feel,
when ail the hosts of Heaven shall strike the lyres! when saints and
angels sing !
Let us then glory in the hope, that we shall meet and mingle there
our voices. There are fhp regalia ; there is the concert ; there is the
jubilee ! That alone deserves the pursuit and anxious toils and labours
of the. christian ; and whatever little rubs and disappointments we
meet with in our journeyings, all will be well, when once we are landed
iit that port, — the desired haven, where all our griefs, and sufferings,
und fear's, will be laid aside, and assumed no more for ever ! To that
day and to that rejoicing, it is my wish, that you and I may be pre
served. But yet, if GOD's will Le so, I desire to meet you again on
this side the gra\e. The hope of this, and the enjoyment of some few
other friends, are all that in this lite is worth our wishes. When you,
pray for absent friends, bear me also upon your heart, and beg that I
may be kept in safety, and returned in the same health I now enjoy,
to assure you with my mouth, as I now do with my pen, that I am
your's with the sincerest and warmest affection, G, P.
Soon after Mr. P.'s return to England, he took
lodgings in tOAvn, at Avhich he spent part of most
weeks, returning to Aveley on Saturdays.
In May 1786, he Avent into the North of England,
and travelled through Scotland.
The folloAying letter, of Direction and Consolation,
discovers a mind not a little advanced in the know
ledge of itself and the privileges of the Gospel ; —
To Mrs. R. , Macclesfield.
Great Cumberland Street, Jan. 24, 1787.
My dear Friend,
I FEAR the last letter I sent you appeared so full of myself, as to
make you think me less attentive than I ought to be, to your still more
important

MEMOIRS. 23
important business. If I, like Martha, be cumbered with many
things, as must in truth be said of me at present, you ha\e chosen that
better part, and rejoice, my dear friend, that it shall not be taken from
you. Do not fancy that I flatter, for flattery would be despicable on this
Subject, when I say, I envy you your humble mind, and the genuine
marks you bear about you, that GOD is at work upon your soul. If
you really find yourself " poor and worthless," be assured, that none
but GOD's own SPIRIT can supply such lessons ; and to your inquiry,
" if GOD will not heal the mind he hath stricken," you may be
satisfied, unless he be false and faithless to his word, that he surely
will. A broken and contrite spirit, it is his delight to dwell with. The
soul that mourns because of its sin, is his beloved, and shall inherit
blessedness ; and the soul, that hungers and thirsts after righteousness,
shall be filled.
If I have any knowledge of the truths of GOD, I believe you to
bear about you, the humble, fearing marks of his true children.
Come, then, to your God and your Father, with the confidence of
a child. Claim boldly, at the Throne of Grace, the great and
rich mercies he has promised you, in JESUS's name. Whensoever
you read the divine Word, and see a. precious promise, claim it as your
own; and for your warrant, you have his' word and his oath, that,
asking in his Son's name, believing that you shall receive, you shall
receive. But unbelief is our great enemy. We cannot helieve and think, that
he will really give such good gifts, to such unworthy rebels as we are ;
but if we can believe, all things are possible to them that believe. But
plead with him boldly, frequently, and perseiceringly, and you shall
surely receive, if you faint not, the building up and the establishing iij
the faith, which your soul wants. But remember, that the work must
be all his own. Still, still be conscious, that you are wretched, and
poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked, as to all that GOD esteems ;
and that, in yourself, you have nothing to commend you. Take n is
counsel, and buy of JESUS the tried-gold of the Gospel ; but buy this
wine and milk without money and without price. Receive of JESUS, as
the be^ar does an alms, the grace to live according to the Gospel
precepts. All that is good in you, attribute to the good SPIRIT, that
hath wrought it in you ; and all that is evil, take to yourself, and be
thankful the curse, the reproach, and the punishment of it, hath been
borne by your Surety.
There is no condemnation, to them which are in CHRIST JESUS.
He lives, and ever will live, to plead our cause, and make intercession
for transgressors. He now stands before GOD, with his blood upon
his hands, the redemption price he has paid for us, and is able thereby
to save all, all without exception, that come unto GOD by him.
Come, then, dear friend ! Come, whosoever will ! Sinners ! sinners !
sinners! not the righteous, JESUS came to save. If you and I, then, sin*.

2-i MEMOIRS.
sin ; grieve for this sin, but rejoice that we iave an Advocate with the
Father, JESUS CHRIST the Righteous, and he is the propitiation
for our sins.
Aveley not suiting Mr. P.'s constitution, he found
jt expedient to procure another -situation. Oct. 10,
1787, he Avas chosen Chaplain of Morden College,
Blackheath. This place he obtained through the
interest of the late Lord Dacre, of Leigh; to Avhom
he had been Chaplain from the decease of his prede
cessor in the title, Lord D. of Aveley.
His A'ieAv of his oAvn situation ¦will be seen in the
folloAAring extract: —
 IT will be some time before the apartments at the College will
be ready to receive me ; and till they are, my daily duty is dispensed
with, and I have only to provide for the Sundays ; and hitherto, I
have found this enough ; for my audience, situation, and predicament
arc so special, that special preparations are also necessary. I need the
wisdom of the serpent, and the innocence of the dove; and if the LORD
does not supply me with both, I must be wrecked at last. I have been
hitherto assisted and supported, and I know there is one, who is able
to keep me from falling. 
Mr. Gilbert writes thus of the character of his,
friend, a little before and about this period: — " My
acquaintance Avith him commenced, Avhile he Avas yet
but emerging out of darkness into light," and some
considerable time before he saAv eA'ery thing clearly,
either as to matters of faith or practice. I had the
opportunity, therefore, of watching his progress and
his groAvth, and never did an example of greater in
tegrity, united Avith more solid practical Avisdom, fall
within my observation. Diligent in inquiring after
truth, he Avas always honest in avowing the discovery
of it, and in framing his conduct agreeably to its
dictates. Regardless of the censures of some religious
persons of more zeal than-judgment, Avho reproached
him as tardy and irresolute, he Avould advance no
faster than he could see his OAvn Avay, and refused to
walk

MEMOIRS. <25
walk by another's light; a method of proceeding,
though sIoav, yet sure; and often promising in the
end a better establishment in the truth, than the hasty
procedure of those, Avho incautiously suffer themselves
to be driven in matters of religion, beyond the mea
sure of their OAvn light, and of their strength. His
path, more Avarily explored, Avas the pat h of the just,
and, like the shining light, it shone more and more
unto the perfect day. His light, at length, rose in
obscurity, and his darkness became as the aeon- day."
The fervid zeal of our brother, which had, for some
time, draAvn full churches in Essex, accompanied him
to his neAV sphere. The chapel of the College Avas
small, but croAvded; and, it appearing to him that
much good might be done by meetings at his OAvn
house, in watering the seed scrwn in public, he invited
Serious persons -to attend his family exercises tAvb
evenings a week. On these occasions, he expounded
the Scriptures, and prayed; and. here he first acquired
the habit of speaking from Notes, which he chiefiy
used the latter years of his life, though he still, not
unfrequently, preached sermons wholly, written.
To the Rev. R. Storry, Colchester.
Morden College, Feb. 27, 1789.
MY Chapel is very small compared with your Church, and my
hearers consequently few in the same comparison ; but still, those who
attend me hear with a seemingly willing ear. I am glad, therefore,
not to be separated long from them. The pleasure of preaching to
them, is, indeed, allayed from the consideration, that there are few,
I fear, who hear with an understanding and converted heart. How
ever, it is something to be permitted and enabled, to sow the seed,,
which, after lying dormant and inactive in the ground of the heart for
years, has, in many instances, been known to strike root at the last,
and produce good fruit, even after the sower is no more. It is like the
prayers of many of GOD's people, whose offspring, when the praying
parent is laid in the dust, have been called in answer to the petitions of
those, who prayed with faith while living.
On this ground I shall still continue, if GOD bestows the power,
to preach -r and you must give me your prayers, that the seed of the
divine word, though sown in much weakness, may, in GOD's due
time,

26*

MEMOIRS.

time, be prospered with abundant growth. All things are possible with
him; and, although my old men are apparently an unfruitful soil to
plant in, yet if the descending dews of the grace of GOD shall water
the same, to dissolve the stones and soften its rocky texture, what may
not be effected ! The old men may be constituted children and babes
in CHRIST ; and if so, the sooner their second childhood commences
the better. 
In the Autumn of 1789, Mr. P. married Miss Fer-
riday, of Madeley, in Shropshire. Some ex
tracts from his letters, Avill discover the state of his
mind, upon this interesting occasion; and will furnish
an example to young persons, of the manner in Avhich
they should engage in this holy relation.
Morden College, July 4, 1789.
-I NEVER wish to think of you in any other way than in per

petual prayer, that your soul may be comforted by the divine pre
sence ; and that in body, soul, and spirit, you may be kept by the
power of GOD unto salvation, and if consistent with the will, the grace,
and the glory of our God, that you may be given unto me as an help
meet, to walk through this life with, to the glories and the bliss of the
eternal world. < i Mo r den College, July 15, 1789.
 O WHAT a precious life shall we live in the marriage state, if
it be a life, of faith in the Son of God ! a life of mutual help in seek
ing the LORD! and a life of love, first, in him, as the genuine pro
prietor and rightful owner of our hearts, and, secondly, in love one
towards another, on account and for the sake of our interest in and
nearness unto him ! \
As these are our chief views in seeking marriage with one another, I
cannot help being firmly persuaded, that the LOllD will sanctify the
union, and favour the consummation of it with his presence. .
 IF our hearts are, by the sweet influences of the Sun of
Righteousness, kept warm towards GOD, no coldness, no chilling
contempts of the unbelieving world without us, shall damp our joys.
Our mutual joys, independent of the blessed JESUS, the only true
source of real joys, will indeed be few and little ; but if, through you
as the channel, I look to him, who makes you what you are, and if
you, through me look at him, who gives me life to confer mercies and
comforts upon you, we shall be reciprocally instruments of joy and
rejoicing to one another, and fellow helpers in all that can bring real
happiness down from Heaven into our hearts.
Macclss*

MEMOIRS. 27
Macclesfield, Aug. 11, 1789.
AS our union is sought, on both sides, with a view* of being
thereby more intimately united to CHRIST, than we have ever yet
been, we cannot do better than look at the properties and affections
that subsist between GOD and his people, CHRIST and his church.
I could point out to yju many things, in which there is the strongest
analogy between the two unions ; and would with pleasure ; but, on the
recollection how much more spiritually and eloquently it may be done
by our amiable friend at the Vicarage, I will send you to her; and if
you will be pleased to lead her to this subject; she will sweetly describe
and point out these things to you; and from her eminence in grace as
well as conjugal deportment, she must be more capable than most
people I know, of doing justice to it. And when she has done, she will
give us her prayers too, that our union may be graced by the blessed
JESUS with all those essential properties, that must distinguish and
result from our marriage to himself. 
Macclesfield, Aug. 16", 1789-
 BE not anxious under the apprehension, that you may not be
what I expect. I am a poor, needy, guilty sinner myself; wanting
mercy, wanting grace, wanting love ; and I expect not in a wife the
perfect workmanship of GOD, but a believing sinner, sensible of her
needs, thirsting after the powers of the Gospel, and panting after that
holiness of it which JESUS CHRIST will surely work, both in you
and me, if we fail not to look unto him for it.
If you can give up the world for CHRIST, if you are desirous to
wean yourself from worldly engagements, and become more peculiarly
GOD's child, and an heir of CHRIST s kingdom, have no further fears
about the matter; you are the wife that I want, and you are the
child that GOD will own ; and may the LORD help you to take me
by the hand, and lead me forward to the gates of Paradise ! And this
will surely be the end of the connection, if we enter upon it with the
determined purpose to give ourselves to GOD, set up GOD's worship
in our house, give the right hand of fellowship to all that love the
LORD, and open our hearts as well as our doors to the LORD's children.
These are my views, as I have often told you in the place and at
the times, when politer courtship might have been expected ; but let
there be no compliments between thee and me ! I seek you for the
sake of GOD, and may GOD give me a still increasing favour in
your eyes, not for my sake, but for the sake of GOD and your own
soul. " Only in the LORD," is the Apostle's limitation
(1 Co r. vii. 39.) to all marriages, And no wonder,
that a marriage, entered into in such strict obedience
to this injunction, Avas peculiarly blessed. So large a
share

28 MEMOIRS.
share of happiness from the marriage union has seldom
fallen to the lot of others, as attended Mr. and
Mrs. P. through the feAV years they lived together.
Vixerunt mini concordid, per mutuant caritatem, et in-
vicem se auteponendo ; nisi qndd in bond uxore tanto
major laits, quanto in mala plus culpa; est. ^Tacitus
de vita Agricol^f,. vi.)
To Mrs. R., Macclesfilld.
Morden College, Oct. 15, 17S9.
My dear Friend,
I ALWAYS read your dear letters with a spaikling eye. The
breathings of friendship, piety, and Christian love, and, above all, the
important prayers to GOD, which they contain, render them truly
edifying and refreshing to my soul. May the LORD hear your
prayers for us ; and pour down upon your head, and the head of your
dear husband, the double of all the good things you would implore
for us !
I feel happy in the acquisition I have to my dear praying friends,,
by the addition of those with you. Your's I have, for some years,
possessed ; but you have those with you now, that strengthen this holy
artillery, by which Heaven is attacked, and its best blessings will, I
hope, by spiritual violence, be taken, and everlastingly impressed on-.
our souls. There are few days, nay, I believe, I may say none, in
which the inclinings of my heart and thoughts are not towards your
house, and especially while I am at prayer. Do let us, my dear
friend, be doubly earnest in supplication and intercession for one
another. Those that seek shall surely find, and that, not only for
themselves, but for others also. The effectual, fervent prayer of the
righteous shall, we are told, avail much. And I find, for my own
part, in my present state, I more than ever need the benefit of inter
cessory friendship, as my relative circumstances become more ex
tended. Happy enough, in the Outer-man, I certainly am at present;
but, through answers to prayer it must be, if this happiness continues;
and if it does continue, I more peculiarly need prayer, for the correctives-
and restraints of grace, to keep me, from setting up here my rest. So
depraved is nature, the more GOD heaps his providential mercies
upon us, the more inclined are we to forget him. Times of trial are,
mere usually, times of nearness. But trials we dare not pray for. It
is sufficient to take up the cross, when our dear Master lays it upon
vis ; and then we may expect the grace required to the bearing of it,
in answer to our faithful prayers.
And, indeed, in the Inner-man I am not without my sufferings;
being much oppressed with the weight of sins, that become more and
more visible daily ; — I mean with regard to, unfavourable dispositions of

MEMOIRS. 2<)
of a mind, that will still be carnal, in spite of all my wishes to the
contrary. The old man, I find, dies hard, if he dies at all ; and some
times, I almost am tempted to despair whether he ever will die or not.
He is ever lifting up his head (horned and armed as it is at all points
against the life of grace,) to the great disquiet and discomfort of my
soul. The pride of my heart is so fibrously inrooted, and its dreadful
allies, vain glory, the fear of men, and the love of praise, are so in
woven into all I do, that all my ministerial attempts seem justly ren
dered frustrate, and I wonder so unworthv and unfaithful an instrument
is still spared ; but still spared I am, and have much to be thankful
lor, in the measures of life and power, that are lent me (however dull
and cold in my heart towards GOD, I in general am) during the seasons
of my public preaching : — nor am I altogether deserted in the family ;
where, GOD be praised, we always spend our Morning and Evening
half hour, and on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays, at
evening, we double that period of time. I am happy to say, these are
the sweetest seasons of my life, and still happier ia the hope that they
are equally sweet to my dear partner. 
While our friend's house Avas the abode of peace,
and he Avas strengthening his domestic bonds for the
LORD, a storm was gathering abroad, and the great
enemy Avas labouring to disturb his public usefulness.
As the transaction was very extraordinary, and re
flects, in all parts of it, the greatest credit upon the
character of Mr. P., and may furnish occasion for
profitable remark, it may be proper to detail it at
large. The election of Mr. P. to the chaplainship of Mor-
den College, the views with which he entered upon
it, and the difficulties which he met Avith, have been
mentioned. It seems that a considerable body of the
Pensioners Avere as much dissatisfied with their Chap?
Iain's manner, of preaching, as he Avas Avith the ill suc
cess it appeared to have with them.
The operations against Mr. P. began by a complaint
to Lord D. of the EArenihg Expositions. This Avas
followed up, in Feb. 1790, by the folloAving strange
Petition, presented to the Trustees of the College : —

TO

50 MEM 6 IRS.

To the worthy Trustees or Sir John Morden's College.
WE, the underwritten members of the said College, beg leave humbly"
to lay our grievances before you ; hoping that vou will not be offended
with this our petition: as we cannot help thinking you. have been im
posed upon, in the choice of our present Chaplain, by his having con
cealed his real methodistical principles, at the time of his making appli
cation to succeed to that office. His discourses from the pulpit, during
the time of his occasionally preaching in the life time of the late; Mr.
Brown, and for some time after being appointed chaplain, being very
materially different from those since preached by him, and especially
within the last five months.
The sermons preached for near twelve months past, and with a degree
of vehemence and enthusiasm during the last five months, instead of in-
strutting us in our duty to GOD and our Neighbours, treat almost solely
upon Faith and Grace, and such like controversial points of religion;
Moral Duties being scarcely ever impressed upon us, or the observance
of them recommended ; so that his discourses appear to us, not so pro
perly instructive sermons, as the expounding the Scriptures according
to the notions and opinions of the Methodists ; and that his prin
ciples are those of that sort of people appears plain, not only from
the doctrine he delivers, but also from the manner of his delivering
it, and the illiberal and insulting language which he makes use of
in addressing us.
That we may not be thought to complain without reason, of the
language or expressions which have been made use of, we beg leave
to relate the very words which have been applied to us from the
pulpit, — expressions by which we feel ourselves greatly hurt. We
have been told, that we are " Traitors, Rebels, Murderers, Convicts
under sentence of condemnation, hoary-headed sinners from three-score
to four-score years of age, hardened in our crimes, with souls afflicted
with the Palsy, as well as our bodies, and totally devoid of grace."
These descriptions of us we hope we are no ways deserving of ; for,
although we have not the presumption to think ourselves by any means
perfect, yet we trust that our behaviour, both in a religious and moral
light, does not do any discredit to the memory of our pious founder,
or to the worthy guardians of his benevolent institution, by whose
kind appointment we enjoy a comfortable retreat in the decline of
life, in the happy asylum of this College.
We are at a loss to account for the grounds, which have induced ouf
Chaplain to apply such illiberal epithets ; which we cannot help say
ing we conceive to be very unbecoming the sacred place they were used
in, as also the character of a Clergyman ; and must impute it to the
violent warmth, with which he generally, especially for some time past,
delivers his discourses, which might occasion his losing his temper ; or
else, to an enthusiastic zeal, to frighten us -to attend his Evening Lec
tures at his own house ; he having, at the conclusion of the time of
leaving off preaching on the Sunday afternoons for the winter months, given1

MEMOIRS. S\
given out frottl the pulpit, that he should expound the Scriptures,
three times a week, at his own apartment. We hope, however, that
We shall not be blameable, in not attending at these lectures; being in
formed that they are rather such meetings as are usually held by the
Methodists, or such as dissent from the Church Established, and not
such as are commonly used by our ministers ; no part of the service of
the book of Common Prayer being, as we understand, made use of:
but the service consists, as we understand, of an extemporary prayer of
the Chaplain's, singing of hymns, and expounding some text of Scrip
ture. We think it our duty to represent to you, that these evening meet
ings at the Chaplain's are not confined to the members and servants of
the College, but are open to all persons who choose to come to them :
and we are told, that it is not uncommon, to have the number of
persons assembled at these meetings, to amount to forty, or fifty, or
more, and that many who attend are very illiterate, and people of weak
minds ; the manner in which the Scriptures are expounded to them,
we apprehend maybe of fatal consequence.
Lest any doubt shall arise, whether the Chaplain is a methodist
or not, We beg leave to add, that, upon his leaving the College, the
latter end of last July, to go into Shropshire, he appointed a
Gentleman to preach for him, on a Sunday afternoon, well known
to be of that persuasion; and which Gentleman would have preached,
we understand, at the inconvenient hour of six o'clock, instead of the
usual hour of three, if not prevented by your directions to have the
service performed at the accustomed time.
Another complaint we beg leave to lay before you is, that the morn
ing prayers, on the week days, are not read near so constantly, as they
are directed to be by the founder's will ; owing to the frequent absence
of the Chaplain from the College ; which occasions many of the
members non-attending the church prayers in a morning ; for, although
ithe prayers, according to the service of the book of Common Prayer,
are scarcely ever omitted being read in the Hall, by one of the members,
when the Chaplain is absent, yet there are seldom so many members at
tend, to hear the prayers read in the Hall, as do at the Chapel, when the
service is performed there.
The illiberal expressions, addressed to us from the pulpit, bring
continually to our minds the Text, upon which the Chaplain preached
his first sermon to us, after he was appointed, viz. Will you, that I
come among you in love, or with a rod? and, although there did not ap
pear to us any thing exceptionable in this discourse, as the greatest part
of it treated upon the former part of the Text, and give us to under
stand that his doftrine would be meek and gentle, and that he hoped
to live with us in friendship, and the latter part of the Text was dis
coursed upon only towards the conclusion of the sermon, and spoke as
if the rod would be made use of only in case of our being inattentive
to our religious duties, and profligate in our manners : we are con
cerned, however, to find, that, for a considerable time past, the Case is al
tered to the very reverse of what was then preached; as we scarcely ever now

S& MEMOIRS.
now hear of love, gentleness, or meekness from the pulpit, but are1
almost constantly put in mind of the rod, by the illiberal and, as we
conceive, improper and unjustifiable invectives, with which we are
branded. We, therefore, hope that, from your wonted goodness, you
will take these our grievances into your consideration, and remove this
rod from us. And we, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. Sec.
This Petition was signed by \Q out of the 27 Pen
sioners. Of these 19, three recanted, one declared
he knew not Avhat he did Avhen he signed, another
vowed that he signed contrary to his judgment, and
another never heard the preacher: so that this Peti
tion can be considered as representing the sentiments
of only 13 out of the 27 Pensioners.
A fummons to Mr. P. to attend the Trustees on
the 3d of March, Avas grounded upon this Petition.
They admonished him to preach so as not to make the
old men uneasy, and to give up the Evening Lec
tures. The contents of this Petition Avere not at first com
municated to Mr. P. ; but he Avas required by the
Trustees to comply Avith Three new regulations ; which
regulations, Avith Mr. P.'s ansAvers to them, follow : —
March 24, 1790.
Terms proposed by the Trustees of Morden College, to Mr. P.
and his answers, given in the 21st of April.
lft Condition. — That Mr. P. do undertake not to preach any thing,
but what he has previously written down.
Answer. — Mr. Pattrick cannot with any propriety literally sub
scribe, to the first condition ; as he never writes any thing so accurate,
as not to require correction, amendment, or supply in the delivery ;
but, as Mr. P. presumes the Trustees can only mean to express their
wish, that he should preach wiitten sermons to the gentlemen of
Morden College, with that he certainly will comply.
2d Condition. — That, in praying by the sick, he shall not make
use of any other prayers, than those prescribed in the Common
Prayer Book ; and shall conform to the other directions of the Rubric;
on all other occasions.
Answer. — Mr. P. can have no objection to using the prayers pre
scribed in the Common Prayer Book, in Visiting the sick Pensioners :
but if the wishes of the patient and particular circumstances cause then!

MEMOIRS. 33
them to request any other prayers, it is presumed the Trust will not
oppose the sick or dying in such requests; especially as by Canon,
preachers are authorized to instruct and comfort the sick, as they fhall
see most needful and convenient ; and on all other occasions the di
rections of the Rubric shall be conformed to.
3d Condition. That whenever Mr. P. shall have permission from the
Trustees to be absent from the College, such a Clergyman shall be ap
pointed to do the daily duty, as well as the Sunday duty, as shall be
approved by the Trustees, or the Treasurer.
Ans. This may subject Mr. P. to much expence, ormuch confinement;
nevertheless, when Mr. P. has permission from the Trustees to be
absent from the College, a Clergyman, that cannot reasonably be dis
approved by the Trustees or the Treasurer, shall be provided to do
the daily as well as the Sunday duty.
_ Mr. P. 's answers to these proposals were accompa
nied by the folloAving Letter : —
Gentlemen,
INCLOSED you receive, by tfie hands of my friend, Mr. Rash-
leigh, my written answers to your requisitions, and which answers
will, I trust and hope, be perfectly satisfactory: if so, I presume
I may request, that whatever written papers or accusations have been
exhibited against me may be immediately destroyed; as not having seen
any such, I have had no opportunity to answer or contradict them.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
G. P.
Mr. R. received the following reply from the
Chairman of the Board : —
Sir,
- I am sorry to tell you, there is not one of Mr. P.'s answers that we
think satisfactory.
In pursuance of this determination of the Trustees,
the following Notice yvas conveyed to Mr. P. through
his Solicitor : —
Dear Sir,
By the direction of the Trustees of Morden College, I am to in-
fqrm you, that the dismission of Mr. Pattrick, from the Chaplain-
ship of that College, is absolutely unavoidable ; but, as the Trustees
would wish, in the performance of their duty, to preserve every ap
pearance of civility and delicacy to Mr. Pattrick, should he signify
tis intention, within a fortnight, to resign his situation, it would be
c more

oi MEMOIRS.
more agreeable to them, than to proceed to a more pointed and public
dismission. I am, Sir,
Old Broad Street, Your obedient humble Servant,
April 21, 1790. Thomas Bennett,
P. S. The Trustees will meet again at Batson's, this day fortnight,
at two o'clock precisely.
This Notice dreAv from Mr. P. the folloAving reply : —
Gentlemen,
Mr. Rasiileigii has favoured me with the letter from the Treasu
rer to him, by your order, of the 2lstult. , intimating your determination
to dismiss me from the Chaplainship of Morden College, in a more
public and pointed manner, unless I should signify my intention to re
sign, within a fortnight, which, you are pleased to say, will be more
agreeable to you. Conscious of no offence, I fear no public censure.
If, therefore, it is your unalterable resolution to dismiss me from the
Chaplainship of Morden College, the only favour I have to ask is, that
such dismission, and the true cause of it, may be as public as possible;
for a disgraceful resignation, 1 never will submit to.
I am, Gentlemen, Your most obedient Servant,
G. P.

On the 1st of June, Mr. P. again met the Trustees.
The malecontents Avere in the room, standing round
the Trustees. The charges Avere read, and the old
men Avere called upon to ratify their deed, Avho all
did so, except the three before-mentioned, Avho ex
pressed a wish to withdraw their signatures. Mr. P.
Avas asked if he had any questions, which he wished to
propose to the complainants. He replied, that he
wished to ask them severally, if they were members of
the Church of England, and could subscribe bond
fide to her Creeds, Articles, and Liturgy; and if they
would support their charges in the most solemn Avay
that could be proposed. The question Avas deemed
improper by the Trustees. Mr. P. refused to plead
at that time, desiring a copy of the charges, and
time. A copy of the charges was at length put into liia

MEMOIRS, 35
his hands, but without authentication or signature;
it being only intimated to him, that it Avas signed by
19 of the members of the College.
Mr. P. and his Solicitor appeared before the Trus^.
tees, in the course of the same month. The folloAv-
ing Memorandum was made, of Avhat passed on the
occasion : — MEMORANDUM,
To the question, " Is this the' accusation against Mr. Pat
trick?" (producing the unauthenticated paper, sent to him by the
Treasurer), the Trustees, after a long debate, would give no direct an
swer ; but said, they had a right to judge of Mr. Pattrick's conduct,
from any channel through which it might be represented to them. With
this answer I was obliged to be satisfied, as I could get no other. When
I desired an attested copy of the paper, with the names of Mr. P.'s ac
cusers, the Trustees would not give an answer, but said they should de
bate upon it; and, after the debate, they gave a positive refusal.
I then said, that I would rest Mr. P.'s defence upon this single point,
viz. That if any four of the nineteen persons, who had signed his accu
sation, would venture to swear it was true, I would give up his defence.
I had no satisfaction upon this head ; but, after a short debate, one of
the Trustees informed Mr. P. that it was the unanimous determination of
that board, to dismiss him from the Chaplainship of Morden College;
so that, in fact, he is dismissed, without any avowed accusation against
him, without having the pretended accusation verified on the oaths of
his accusers, and without, delivering up their names, in order to give
Mr. P. an opportunity of punishing them for exhibiting a libel against
him.
T. R. June 15, 1790.
The affair Avas, at length, closed, by the following
AGt of Dismission: —
WE, James Lee, Samuel Bosanquet, Richard Clarke,
EdwaudFoster,AVilliamCooke,Riciiard Muilman French
Chiswell, and Peter Hammond, Members of the Turkey Com
pany, and Visitors of a certain College, situate near Blackheath, in
the Parish of Charlton, in the County of Kent, founded by Sir
John Morden, late of Ricklemarsh, in the said County, Bart.
deceased, by virtue of the powers and authorities to us given, in and by the
last will and testament of the said Sir John Morden, bearing date on
or about the fifth day of'OcTOBER, in the year of our Loud 1702, and of
all other powers and authorities in us vested, or us thereunto enabling,
HAVE, by this present writing under our respective hands and seals, ,
displaced, and by these presents DO displace, the Rev. George Pat-
c 2 TRICK,

56 MEMOIRS.
trick, from being Chaplain of the said College, called Morden Col
lege, situate as aforesaid : AND wc do hereby prohibit and forbid tha
said George Pattrick, from henceforth, from performing, in any
wise, the ofticc of Chaplain of the said College : AND we do hereby also
require him, the said George Pattrick, to resign and quit the apart
ment and rooms, with the garden and appurtenances thereto belonging,
occupied or used by him at Morden College aforesaid.
IN WITNESS whereof, we, the Visitors aforesaid, have hereunto set
our respective hands and seals, the 22d day of June, in the year of our
Lord 1790, &c. CvC.&c.

A Friend, well acquainted with the xvhole Transaction,
has contributed the following
REMARKS
On Mr.Pattrick's expulsion from Morden College, and par
ticularly tcith a reference to the Petition which occasioned it.
THIS interesting part of Mr. P.'s history must not
be passed over Avholly without remark; 'though, to a
great part of our readers, Ave are ready to hope, that
much explanation may be unnecessary. A little knoAV-
ledge of human nature, and a small acquaintance Avith
the Scriptures, and with the genuine Doctrines of the
Church of England (as' contained in her Articles,
Homilies, and Liturgy, and in the Writings of her
Reformers and Standard Divines, from Latimer and
Ridley, doAvn to Hopkins and Beveridge), will
qualify any man at once to explain the true motives
of all this opposition raised against Mr. P. , and to
judge of the nature and soundness of the doctrine
which he preached. We see nothing neav in this con
duct of his opposers ; in their bitter enmity ; in their
application to him of a reproachful name; in their *
ignorant,
* Is it not matter of surprise, to hear men, who profess to receive
thai view of Scripture Truth which is held by the Church of En g l a v d,
betraying

MEMOIRS. 37
ignorant, absurd, or exaggerated statements. All Ave
perceive is, — the same corrupt principles of the human
betraying such ignorance of the first principles of that Truth, as to
rank " Faith and Grace," as matters of indifference, among " contro
versial points of religion" ? and to sec them assuming a ground of cen
sure against their Minister, because he rather preached as a Christian
Divine, than declaimed as a Heathen Moralist? But it is no unusual
thing, to see ignorance of Vital Godliness and enmity against it, co
vered wish a specious zeal for Moral Duties; as if the opus operatum
were all that GOD regarded ; and as if he, who searchcth the heart and
tricth the reins, did not chiefly respect the spring and principle and end
of all actions.
Substituting Morality for Religion has been the curse of too many of
the English Pulpits, and has justly called fofth the strong remonstrances
of .Bishop Horsley, and of several of our venerable Rulers; and if
their remonstrances, and the varied voice of the LORD speaking loudly
to the spiritual shepherds of this land, do not avail, under the divine
blessing, to effect a radical and general change in the system of our pub
lic ministrations, we must expect that GOD will surely visit for these
things. And these things are said and done by persons, who profess themselves
Members of a Church, which speaks thus in one of her Articles:
u Works done before the Grace of CHRIST, and the inspiration of his
SPIRIT, are not pleasant to GOD; forasmuch as they spring not of
Faith in JESUS CHRIST: neither do they make men meet to receive
grace, or (as the School Authors say) deserve grace of congruity; yea
rather, for that they are not done as GOD hath willed and commanded
them to lie done, we doubt not but they have the nature of Sin." That
Mr. P. was in his Doctrine a true Son of the Church, may appear to any
one, who will read the following Sermons; wherein he will be found
to consult the interests, both of Religion as it respects GOD, and of
Morality as it respects. Man, by closely modelling his1 teaching, with
regard to the points in question, after the plain meaning of this Article ;
securingChristianObedicnce, in the only way in which it can be secured,
by representing it as springing out of a believing union with CHRIST the
living Head, wrought through the Grace of the HOLY SPIRIT de
rived from hiA, conformed to his warrant and example, directed to the
glory of GOD by him, and acceptable only through his availing inter
cession. Many members of the Church of England, who cordially receive
her Doctrines and Discipline, and such only are her true members, are
under high obligations to one of their body, for what amounts to no
thing less than a Demonstration of their exclusive conformity to her
standard. Overton's " True Churchmen," printed at York, in
Svo, 1801, and sold in London by Rivingtons, is an unanswerable
Defence of the Church of England and her Genuine Sons, against the
Sophisms of her False Children.-  Edit. heart

58 MEMOIRS.
heart producing the same effects, under like circum
stances, with regard to him, as formerly they did
Avith regard to the primitive christians, our bles
sed Lord and his Apostles, and the Prophets and
holy men of GOD Avho Avere before them. • We read
in the Avhole transaction, only a practical comment on
the declaration of him, avIio kne7v what was in man,
¦ — Light is come into the world, and men love darkness
rather than light, because their deeds are evil; and a
clear and strong testimony borne, (for such to every
discerning eye will be the aspect it presents), to
the conscientiousness of Mr. P.'s character, and his
fidelity and zeal as a. dispenser of that Gospel, which
has ever been a stumbling-block to the self-righteous,
and foolishness to the self-Avise.
That Mr. P. should be called a methodist* Avill
excite no Avonder in those who know the Avorld;
though it mayAvell be questioned, Avith Avhat justice he
or any other man can be so called, Avho has no religi
ous connection Avhatever, Avith any body of chris
tians out of the Church to which himself belongs ;
Avho conscientiously preaches the true Doctrines of
that Church, agreeably to his OAvn solemn subscrip
tions; Avho observes her Discipline, confines his Mi
nistry within her Pale, and yields all dutiful obedience
to her appointed Governors. But the world has al
ways had bad names for good things, as well as
good names for bad things; and, under this disguise —
thin enough indeed, yet sufficient for those who Avjsh
to be deceived— the true Nature of both Good and
* If the reader wish to understand this epithet, and to employ it with
due discrimination, he may refer, for the clearest account of the Proper
find Improper use of it, which has, perhaps, ever been given, to Cecil's
Memoirs of Cadogan, p. 2y — 36. To incur the proper application
of this name, by aiming at " Christian Godliness," while we set at de
fiance " Christian Order," is inconsistent with the character of a Son-
of the Church of England; but, to be exposed to the improper
application of it, by aiming to unite " Christian Godliness" with
" Christian Order," is the character and the glory of her only true
and honourable Sons,  Edit, Evil

MEMOIRS. 39
Evil is conveniently veiled from sight. The effect of
a Name is Avonderful, and the great Adversary of
CHRIST'S religion has sheAvn his subtlety, in the
ample use he has ever made of it. The name of
christian once served his purposes, as that of piet-
est, huguenot, puritan, ,&c. afterwards did, and
that of methodist docs noAv. The opprobrious Epi
thet, — its currency once established, and its value
known, — becomes the convenient Substitute of Argu
ment, Truth, and Reason; and may be gratuitously
applied, Avhercver it is designed to fix a stain, Avith
a certainty of its accomplishing the end, and Avith
equal Ease and Advantage to him who applies it: —
Avith ease; for Avhat is easier than to call a bad Name,
the meaning of which not one person in a thousand
will ever think it necessary to ask you? — And Avith
equal advantage as Ease; for Avhat have the Drunk-.
ards and SAvearers in any Parish of this Kingdom to
do, Avhen they begin to be disturbed in their sinful
courses, but to call the preacher a methodist? — and
then, both in their own opinion, and in that of all the
world, they stand fairly excused for never minding
more a word that he says.
That Mr. P. should have told his auditors at Mor
den College, that they Avere "Traitors, Rebels, Mur
derers, and Convicts under Sentence of Condemna
tion," would neither have excited their surprize nor
indignation, had they not erred, not knowing the
Scriptures. For do not the Scriptures thus describe all
men by nature, as "Traitors" and " Rebels" against the
mostHigh GOD ? — as "Murderers," inasmuch as he that
hateth his brother is a murderer, and every real peni
tent alloAvs the charge against himself, in a yet more
atrocious form, Avhile he looks at him, whom he hath
pierced, and mourns bitterly ? — as " Convicts under
Sentence of Condemnation;" for the Scripture hath
concluded (trvvix.\inrtv, shut up as Convicts in Prison)
all under sin, that the promise by faith of JESUS
CHRIST might be given to them that believe ? It

40 MEMOIRS.
It Avill be farther admitted, that Mr. P. might (and,
speaking as the Oracles of GOD, that he must) have
described his hearers as by nature " Paralytics," as
spiritually impotent, and " totally devoid of grace:" —
nay more, that he might have thought himself justi
fied perhaps (and Avith too much reason), in expres
sing his fears, that some of them Avere " hoary-head
ed sinners, from 6*0 to 80 years of age," and still des
titute of true repentance — in the language of the Pe
tition, " hardened in their crimes." But that he said
this of them all, Avhich seems to be intimated, is po
sitively denied ; the Writer of this Article having per
sonal knoAvledge of several among the Pensioners of
the College at tint period, of Avhom Mr. P. , on good
grounds, judged very differently; and that he said it
of any in the manner here insinuated — Avith marked
allusion to their bodily infirmities, or other personality
conveying insult and contempt, is a malicious slan
der. He said it. (if indeed he did say it), from mo
tives of the truest charity, and Avith some participation
of his Master's views and temper, Avhen addressing
this apparently severe language to certain persons of
ins oavn day, who thought as well of their " beha
viour, both in a religious and amoral light," as these
Petitioners, Ye hypocrites, ye generation of vipers,
hoic can ye escape the damnation of Hell ?
The Fact, that Mr. P. read and expounded the
Scriptures, sang hymns, and prayed in his oavii apart
ments, and that he admitted "some of his Avell-inclined
neighbours, on certain evenings of the Aveek, to join
him in these devotions, is allowed to be justly stated.
But the reader, probably, is disposed to ask, Avith some
surprise, " And Avhere is the Harm of all this? Can
a Clergyman be better employed, than in singing, and
praying, and expounding the Scriptures? And, if he
should invite som» of his neighbours to join him in
these exeicises, is it not at least quite as innocently
done, and as much in character, as if he had asked them

MEMOIRS. 41
them to his house to feast and make merry, to partake
of a dance, or to join in a card party?" — in anyone of
Avhich cases, probably, Ave had never heard a Avoid of
this Petition, and Mr. P. might have remained quietly
in his post, as Chaplain of Morden College, to his
death !
" But he prayed extempore, and did not make use of
the Church Liturgy; and on this account it was, that
the Petitioners refused their attendance at his domestic
Lectures, and thought them a proper subject of com
plaint. "—There Avas- something, however, surely rather
over scrupulous in all this, considering that the whole
Church Service Avas generally read twice a day in the
College, and by the Chaplain himself, if at home;
Avhich he always Avas on those days at least, on Avhich
the Lectures in question Avere held.
" But the Fact still remains, that Mr. P. prayed
Extempore." And Avhat then? Is there any LaAV,
ecclesiastical or civil, that forbids extemporary prayer,
e\7en in the Pulpit, and much less in the Family? Did
not Wilkins, one of our Bishops, Avrite a Treatise on
the Gift of Prayer, and earnestly recommend the cul
tivation of this Gift? And have not others of our
Bishops practised the same sort of prayer, particularly
the great and good Usher, avIio is celebrated by the
Author of his Life for his fluency, fervency, and co
piousness therein? The truth seems to be, that the
abuses of the practice, among the Fanatics of the last
Century, first brought it into discredit Avithin the
Established Church; but the abuse of any thing is no
argument against its use. Certain it is, that no Cler
gyman of the Church of England can be justly
charged Avith irregularity, if his conduct be measured
either by Law or ancient Usage, for not using the
Common Prayer in his Family Devotions. Many
Clergymen, remote enough from the suspicion of
Methodism, use other forms of devotion in their fa
milies, according to their own discretion; and Avhe- ther

42 MEMOIRS.
ther these be Avritten or extemporary, they are equally
private composition *.
Of the charge contained in the concluding para
graph of this extraordinary Petition, and by Avhich
Mr. P. is represented as having materially altered his
ffyle of preaching, from great mildness to Avrath and
invective, it is sufficient perhaps to say, that it is
no uncommon case for faithful Avarnings and reproofs,
though dictated by the purest benevolence, to be mis
taken for invectives ; and that occasions of giving
such Avarnings and reproofs Avould, in the natural course
of things, be more likely to occur some time after
Mr. P.'s settlement in the College, and upon his better
acquaintance with the principles and habits of its in
habitants, than at the beginning of his residence.
They, Avho best kneAV Mr. P. , Avill not need to be told,
that he was, in private life, a man of too much suaA'ity
of manners, and as a christian, and a minister,
of too much humility and charity, to have been capa
ble of the offensive manner ascribed to him, whatever
warm and strong remonstrances he may have sometimes
thought himself called upon to address to the persons
under his immediate charge ; and which they so grossly
misconceived, or so maliciously misrepresented.
Mr. P., hoAvever, freely forgave all the parties con- ,
cerned in his expulsion ; and in no instance did he
ever more exalt his own character as a christian,
or exemplify the holy and amiable nature of the prin
ciples he professed and taught, than on this occasion.
Accused thus unjustly — denied the privilege, alloAved
even to a felon, of being heard in his own vindication,
— and ultimately deprived, by an unprecedented, ar~.
bitrary, and even questionable act of poAver, of a situa-
* Extemporary Prayer, either alone, or in connection with Liturgical
forms, constitutes the worship of all the other reformed Churches, at
home and abroad; so that the general Practice of the Ministers of the
Church of England, which rejects extemporary prayer altogether, and
the Prejudice which prevails against it in this Country, are peculiar to
ourselves, and' unknown every where else. tioa

MEM0JRS. 45
*lsri most delightful both to himself and Mrs. P., and
of considerable emolument, he submitted, as to an
net of GOD and not of Man, Avithout a murmur, and
without an expression of resentment, either by Avord
or deed.
And that which happened unto him, happened, as
he trusted, and his friends foresaw, for the furtherance
of the Gospel. His light Avas removed from a corner,
to be set upon an hill. His sphere of usefulness, very
contracted at Morden College, was greatly enlarged,
on his settlement first at Carshalton, and afterwards
in London.

Hoav our brother felt under this affair may be ga
thered from the following extract : —
To the Rev. R. Storry, Colchester.
Morden College, June 26", 1790.
THIS is, in some degree, humiliating to the pride of my heart;
but I know I stand in much need of such discipline ; and if it but
bring 'me nearer to GOD, I trust I shall much rejoice herein bye and
bye. And, indeed, now I feel myself bound to praise the LORD, for
that I am dismissed with at least some colour of faithful attachment to
his cause, rather than to have been continued here under unchristian
' compliances, or deprived of liberty to preach and act as my profession
requires. 
His mind appears to have been much exercised in
the conflicts of sin and grace, during the interval of
suspension from' ministerial employments, which fol
lowed his dismission, and for some of the succeeding
years. He frequently complains, in his Diary, of a
low state of mind ; of being grieved Avith temptations
to mental sin ; of causes, Avhich he discerns in him
self, of self-suspicion and jealousy ; of carnality of
spirit; of having little life, and seeming to impart
little. The following Letter, Avritten about 1791, to
a friend at Aveley, will disclose his feelings on this
subject more fully : —
Mr

44 memoirs.
My Friexd,
Your letter, which Mr. CrOwther delivered to me some months
•go, has often stared me in the face, and reminded me of your request
at the bottom, desiring to hear something from me about 'religion.
But what can you opect from an empty \cssel ? I sometimes think I
have no religion. Wells uithout water, gold grown dim, painted se
pulchres, sounding brass, and tinkling cymbals, are descriptive of the
state and attainments of my lean soul. Indeed this is true — a mere
pot-sherd; though, in appearance, as some may think, an ornamented
vessel, — sound, intire, and tit for use ; yet, alas ! I am like a vase
without a bottom. Behold, said the men of Jericho, the situation of
this city is pleasant, as my Lord seeth, but the waters arc naught, and
the ground barren. The Fig Tree, that JESUS cursed, looked green,
was full of leaves, seemed pleasing to the eye; but what ol this? — the
time of figs was not yet. LORD, when wilt thou make my barren
tree to bear !
I thank you for the prayer with which your letter ends ; but yon urge
it too coldiy. If you would render me the service of a Christian bro
ther, urge it warmly, and urge it often, in your seasons of devotion and
intercourse with GOD. A heart so cold, so hard, insensible, and be
numbed as mine, needs more than a common and general view and ap
plication of the h.ve of JESUS to dissolve it; and if ever I receive it, I
expect it through the prayers of the children of GOD. Fain would
my soul be melted by the beams of the Sun of Righteousness;
fain would I, that mine eyes were as rivers, emitting floods of tears, be
cause my inner-man keeps not GOD's Law. Fain would I melt at the
look of love, that J ESUS gave the false Apostle, that caused him to with
draw to bitter weeping. — Happy they, whose tears flow like Peter's,
Magdalen's, and David's! Yea, blessed arc they that mouruwpon
such a score as this, for they shall be cohifortcd ! Cut my mourning is
more after the fashion of those, that mourn with the sorrow of the world.
If I ever had a harp, to sing the high praises of my GOD, it has long
hung upon the willows : but I doubt whether I ever had a harp of the
true Jerusalem make. The LORD has promised the return of the cap
tivity of his people; and if I am one of his, a harp, and a golden
one, shall one day be put into my hands, and skill therewith to make
excellent music ; and sing a song that neither you nor I are yet acquaint
ed with. But alas! I am yet by the streams oj 'Baby lon : in on enemy'*
country; a strange land ; a wilderness oj Zin ; subject to the incursions
of the canaanite, the moabite, and ammon; the rudeness of
birds and beasts of prey; and my soul dwelleth among lions: yea, some
times I -.ecra to be sinking in deep mire, where is no standing for the feet;
andmysoul cleaveth — that's a sad word! yet my soul clf.avetii ta
the dust, the dirt, the filth, the scum, the ever) thing that is polluting to
the touch, the taste, and-feelings of the renewed man: and the soul's
cleaving to all this, describes how strongly it is wedded to it; how fast it
clings ; how reluctantly it lets go its hold ; how hard the old man dies.
It is this cleaving that shuts out the soul from communion with GOD.
b It

MEMOIRS. 45
It is this right-hand of iniquity, that checks the hand of faith, from lay
ing hold on the hem of Jl'.SU's robe, to heal the bloody issue. It is this
right-eye of mental sin, (for where wc dare not sin with the hand, we do
it with the mind, the fancy, the imagination), that blinds and sliuts up
the eve of faith, from seeing the atoning blood, the justifying righteous
ness, the sin-purifying bath ; for, though then; is a fountain opened for
sin and ancleaimess, it is like the well by Hag a it's side: — though dyin*
with thirst, she saw not the fountain, till an angel came to shew it her.
Oh ! what a blinding property has that dust. to which my soul cleaves!
Dust of the summer roads obstructs the view of earthly prospects: no
wonder then, if the dust my soul cleaves to, obstruct my brighter views
of GOD's everlasting love; if it dim the eye of faith, and keep close-
drawn the veil, that .conceals the glorious prospect of that, which Ste
phen saw, and which would, if beheld, enliven and invigorate the soul,
to pursue its heavenly way with better speed, a hastier stride, and n
more expanded wing.
Well ! though I am in the valley, it is good for me. I can acquit the
justice, and admire the wisdom of GOD, who hedges me up there. I
can see reasons for it. Though GOD's ways are unsearchable, and
we cannot fathom his counsels, yet we are sometimes enabled to trace
his hand a little; and, though I deserve to be disinherited of my pater
nal inheritance, 'yet, being such (i. e. a paternal inheritance), it can
never be, if I am a child. I trust that all this is the training, leading,
and fitting of me for possession.
I am also a leader, and in some respects, a blind one of the blind.
One reason why the LORD feeds me with unpalatable food and bitter
medicine, as needful to restore my own sick soul, is, that 1 may be
somewhat a judge of the spiritual maladies of others. But perhaps vou
will say, having so long practised in this spiritual Faculty, 1 ought, by
this time, to be a master in the profession ; but alas ! so far from this, in-
of perfect wisdom, I am daily and increasingly detected of folly ; instead
of ripeness, greenness; instead of strength, weakness; instead of suffici
ent grace, utter insufficiency, emptiness, ignorance, and unfitness for
the work. LORD! why hast thou borne thus long with me ! Why
hast thou commissioned one to dispense healing medicines to others,
whose own leprous, paralytic, soul needs so much healing!
Well! JESUS is all-sufficient. The sight of his wounds will be
our healing,— HOLY SPIRIT, give us this sight! A view of his wis
dom will make us wise, — HOLY SPIRIT, disclose to us this view!
Seeing his merits as ours will make us holy, — HOLY SPIRIT, shew
them to us! Sympathy with JESUS in his agonies will teach our
hearts to bleed, our breasts to heave, our souls to mourn, — HOLY
SPIRIT, vouchsafe us this blessed fellowship ! The prospect and be
holding of the everlasting love that planned, and of the love that exe
cuted salvation, and endured the pains that wrought it out, shall teach
our souls to love, — HOLY SPIRIT, do thou display it in our hearts !
—and grant that love may overflow my hitherto hardened soul ! Oh,
may

A6 memoirs.
may it melt under the dissolving beams of CHRIST Jl'.SU's smile, and
freeze no more for <w cr !
Thus, my friend, have I told you my wants and deficiencies, with
more plainness than is commonly done; the situation and circum
stances, in which you and I respectively stand, bein:; <...n,idered. But I
have two reasons for it ; your long letter to me (for which I much
thank you), desening some requital on my part is one ; a"d the other is
that, knowing my spiritual wants, you may be the better enabled to assist
me, by praying for me. And, taking it for granted that you will do so,
I shall mention that, in general tenns, there are some other points, to
which I wish supplication may bo directed; such as„ some secret and
pecidiarly subtle temptations, the enemy assaults me with; some trying*
circumstances of inward, Christian conflict. Though outwardly restrained
by grace, from stabbing the. interests of religion by an ungodly life ; yet
I am wounded by inward falls, unseen bruises, and cruel soul distem
pers, that need much of the circumcision of the spirit, and the balm of
Gilead. Still, still are there many mountains to be bi'ought low,
vallies to be heightened, rough places smoothed, and crooked paths
made straight, as respecting my Christian experience. Blessed be GOD
for the word of promise, that hath provided for such cases as these! —
But, through the faithful, fervent, and effectual prayer of the righte
ous, must the fulfilment be sought and expected. Wrestle, therefore, for
me; and more particularly that, as I am coming amongst you for a
season, I may come as a giant refreshed with wine, — in the fulness oj the
blessing of the Gospel oj CHRIST. Yours, truly and affectionately.
While our brother Avas thus exercised in his oavh
mind, he Avas learning to sympathize Avith others; and
the folloAving extracts will testify, that he had attained
to no little skill, as a Son of Consolation : —
To Mrs. A., Blackiieatii. Colchester, Jan.- 7, 1791«
-YOUR soul still seems to be confined, heavy-laden, and thirst

ing for enlargement; but, when you consider and recollect, that the ge
neral current of scripture promise, runs to persons of this description,
you ought to be satisfied and thankful for the very desires that cause
your pain. Remember how many years one waited at the pool of old;
and how long the woman in the gospel laboured under the pains of her
bloody issue, and how much she spent before the curer came. Remem
ber how long' the woman of Canaan seemed to be denied, yet resolute
ly sought relief, and found it in the end. Remember, too, how long
and often David mourned, and how good he confessed all his waitings
and endurings were in the result^ when the LORD became eventually
aa-acious. It is glorious worTT to bear the burden, where JESUS
° CHRIST

memoirs. 47
CHRIST lays it on ; and a blessed result shall follow the bearing of th«
cross after him, for whatever time and spot he is pleased to ordain it.
Would you be perfected by any other means than enduring ? Would
you have gospel freedom, before you have felt thegallings of the spirit's
bonds, so long as CHRIST wills it ? In this case, you want the palm
without the conflict, or without the conflict in that degree and continu
ance that GOD appoints you. 
To Mrs. R.j Macclesfield. Blackheath, Feb. 5, 1791.
 YOU will say, " it is, for the present, a bitter cup : — long
the conflict ! — painful the struggle ! — and great the power of the now-
prevailing darkness I" Precious earnests all ! Give thou the back to
the scourgers, and lean forward with thy cheek to them that smite.
No stroke shall be laid on thee in pain, but what shall be repaid ten
thousand fold in the glory to be revealed. He, who suffers most with
JESUS here, shall share most of the honours of his triumph, and sit
the nearest to his throne. Methinks I could envy those who suffer
the sharp and strong afflictions, through which grace upholds the re
signed believer. Afk you the Saints in Heaven, and the glorious
Martyrs, which of their pangs, temptations, and distresses, they would
have expunged from the inventory of what they underwent for JESUS ;
and how many of their tears, now treafuredup in his bottk, they wish they
had never shed ? Oh none ! will they tell you. Every conflict, every
thorn, every temptation, and every tear on Earth, will call for spe
cial songs of praise in Heaven! Behold, says St. James, and well
may he say it, we count them happy that endure. May the LORD help
you, then, to be patient in the tribulation, and to rejoice therein, as
St. Pau l did. Oh ! it is but a little while, and they who are now
near to fainting under the anguish of his thorn, shall see and rejoice in
more than the abundance of the revelations, which even the third heaven
afforded him, while his body was yet on Earth.
Did I say I envied those ? Alas ! of what am I talking ! — Such are
the objects of envy ; but I am poorly experienced in the arguments I
urge ; andl should know not what I said, nor whereof I affirmed, if the word
of inspiration did not authorize it. For my part, I seem to be one of
those, who are more in love with the Crown than the Cross. I wish
For the mansions of the blessed, and bear about me so many of the fea
tures of Satan, that I seem more fitted for his abodes ; only that, though
black in my soul as those regions are, there is a medium and means in
JESUS to wash me whiter than the snozo ; and though in characters of
the mind and temper, the traits of the vilest sinner may be found to have
defaced GOD's image in my soul, yet clothed in the blessed sin-con
cealing mantle of his love, he looks with a complacent smile — even on
ME, if I had but a bolder faith to receive it, and says, Thou art allfair}
my love, there is no spot in thee.
Truly, my dear friend, were it not for this, no consolations could
cheer my heart, or give me hope. And so much the further and the
faster,

48 MEMOIRS.
faster, as I sink and .decline from dependence on any righteousness in my
self, and all possibility of pretensions thereto, am I impelled to the refuge;
(and may the LORD, by his HOLY SPIRIT, help you and rae to be
faithful and sincere in the determination, / will make mention of thy
Righteousness, 0 LORD, and of thine only.
I had much to say about myself, in a complaining way ; but it is too
late in the letter to say it now ; which will account for what you, per,
haps, will think too hastily and inconsiderately advanced about myself;
but indeed it is true. I am far from being, what so many years pro
fession intitle the bye-ftander to expect of me. I live far below mv pri
vileges. My soul is paralytic; my graces languid; my faith feeble.
The whole head is sick j the whole heart is faint ! and much do I want of
the refreshing streams of the river of life, to make glad my soul.
And yet of providential mercies, 1 am the subject of endless and un
numbered calls, for thankfulness and praise. Mary is well ; my child is
well ; and I am well in the body; out of employ, indeed, — but I must
wait GOD's time for commission, and seek of him the will to act under
it, whenever he shall please to give it me.
I have a curate at Aveley ; but no engagement for my own labours.
This is far from comfortable. A drone in the vineyard, and a male-
content out of it. I have an impatient and an unsanctified mind !
Well, my.dear friend, pray for me, that I may not only talk and write
of the things of GOD, but feel their power, and then I shall be satisfied
in any state. —
Sunday, April 17, 1791, Mr. P. entered upon
the curacy of Cars halt on, in Surry ; hutnotheing
able to get a house there, he refided for the -winter at
Aveley; and did not take up his abode at Car-
shalton, till the summer of 1792.
To Mr. and Mrs. A., Blackheath. Madeley, Sept. 7, 1791.
 HITHERTO the LORD hath helped us ; and, amongst other
lessons which his SPIRIT hath taught us in the journey, we learn,
that the kingdom of GOD must besought within. It is not foreign
climes; it is not' distant communions ; it is not Lo, here I nor Lo, there !
Whatever we may think of better means, and more lively members of
GOD's Church that dwell far from us, it is one of Satan's delusions,
to make, us believe any other place than that we now stand in, will bs
fitter for the work ; or that any other time and circumstances will be
more favourable to it than the present moment.
We have learnt also, that no earthly pleasures are really pleasures ;
and, counting the balance of time, we have found far the greater number
of our waking hours have been fatigue, labour, vanity, and vexation of
spirit ;

MEMOIRS. 49
spirit ; and yet not a fingle disagreeable or fatal accident hath befallen
us. We have enjoyed health and spirits, for the most part ; sublime
prospects ; much good weather ; for the most part, safe roads. The
earth, the air. the heavens, the seas, stupendous rocks, vast mountains,
grand cataracts, towers, castles, lakes, vales, glens, and every possible
ingredient of created beauty, have rejoiced our eyes ; but alas ! what
little things embitter earthly gratifications ! The sting of a wasp, a
broken strap, a creaking wheel, a shower of rain, a tired horse, a pain
in the head, an aching finger, and the little trivial disappointments of
the moment, do all convince us that nothingness and vanity
are written on all below. Our home is above ! LORD, lift up thi
ther our hearts and affections, and enable us to pursue our journey to
thine abode! 
Jan. 12, 1792, Mr. P. Avas elected to the Lecture
ship ofWooLAVicn, by a majority of 319; the tAvo
other candidates having tAvo votes each ; but the In
cumbent refused him the pulpit, and he never preached
after his election.

To Mr. and Mrs. A., Blackheath. Aveley, Jan. 31, 1792.
.—THESE things should remind us, that we have no continuing
fity here, we shall do well to seek one above. If we_ could but have a
lively view of the bright glories of the upper house, we should think
every thing here abundantly mean. A time will come, when we shall
wonder what could possess us, to have been so attached to the short
lived charms of Madam Bubble.
She is a very bewitching wanton, and oft-times proves too much for
your new man and mine. We profess to crucify her ; but, instead of
this, we feed her in secret ; and that, oft-times in a far more obsequious
posture, than becomes those who have professedly enlisted against her.
We are bound, indeed, to another port ; but we cannot help touch
ing and calling by the way, and taking a cup with her, in her harbours
and booths of ease, fashion, finery, and chit-chat. It is but a little while
she can entertain us, she herself being liable to be turned out of her
house at a moment's warning ; but yet, in the little while we are regal
ed with her flimsy viands, we are stripped of our sterling gold, and re
duced to poverty, leanness, barrenness, intoxication, and dirty gar
ments ; and, what is worse than all, (or rather, it is the state and condi
tion she, puts us in, as the means of doing us all this mischief), she rocks
us to sleep ; and makes us dream, that we are soaring above her, and fly
ing with, an expanded wing to the golden gates of Paradise ; whilst,
d all

50 MEMOIRS."'
all the time, our heads are reposing in her lap, and she secretly" pouts fh?
tinctura martis, or steel drops, into the heart.
Thus, my good friends, both you and I are still, to this very hour,
the dupes of this Babylonish harlot. There is one, indeed, that can strip
her of her gaudy attire, and tear off her m<(sk. I wish, for both our
sakes, she was thoroughly undressed to the eye of our minds; and then,
I think, we should be so forcibly struck with her defilement and defor
mity, that We should run away from her. But she is a cunning jade :
she keeps out of the sun. Were she brought to that, and were the me
ridian of gospel light made to shine upon her, her apparent beauties,
finery, and attractions, would soon melt and disappear, and she would
appear in her. true complexion.
May you and I be assisted to hold, with a steady hand, this burning
mirror (GOD's Word) to her face, if haply thereby we may be ena
bled to overcome her, — and that hand is faith. — —
To Miss C.
Southend, May 31, 1792.
— -I HAVE often looked, with a jealous rye, on many properties
and qualifications you possess. They are deemed \aluables, and much-
sought accomplishments, by the, world ; and are calculated to assist a
young lady, in making a considerable figure in it. It is very natural, tha,t
a young lady should like to shine in the world; but indeed, my dear
friend, my soul would rejoice to sec you shining in a more ennobled orb;
and, my friend, one and the same person seldom shines bright in both.
The mirror and perfection of all beauty, excellence, worth, and dig
nity itself did not. II r. was despised of men. He was hated of the world.
He made no figure in it, to attract the attentions of the beau-mondc;
but was accounted thereby, as all are, who walk in the steps of the
meek and lowly JESUS, the very filth and off-scouring of all things. ¦
I am sincerely pleased with the footing on which you condescend to
solicit my correspondence; but 1 cannot help being jealous of you. lost
you should be too cIcut, too well fashioned, too much accomplished,
too good for GOD. The three first are dreadfully inimical to the king
dom of GOD; and the last, especially, aspossest, or tbought to be so,
in a person's own self, keeps many from coming to GOD, as poor, sin
ful, lost, undone, creatures, that need JESUS as their alone goodness,
and the only goodness which is the ground of a sinner's acceptance to
salvation. However, this goodness of your's, otherwise called self-
righteousness, seems to have been, in some degree, attacked ; and a con
sciousness of your deficiency of goodness, or, in other words, a reality
of sinfulness in your nature, to have been discovered to you ; but,
though you see this, you do not mourn for it sufficiently: — this is a
common case, when people begin to be in earnest; and you are con
cerned', I hope, because you cannot feel more contrition and godly sor
row for sin. Now, though I do hot wish to flatter you, I do wish to
.encourage you. A feeling of your sin is one thing, and a great thing. You

MEMOIR^ 5\
Vou can't be enough thankful, that the LORD has given it to you.
But a sense of its nature, malignity, and odiousness in the sight of
GOD, and as that in you which caused the death of JESUS, is ano
ther. This sense and view of sin is that, which makes a spiritual con
vict mourn with an heart-felt sorrow, — the sorrow of the want of which
you seem to complain ; but then, this is a sense and a view, that none but
the HOLY GHOST can give. The LORD himself imparts this, in the
ways, measures, proportions, and times also, that he sees fit. He nei
ther discovers to us the full sinfulness of our nature, nor the full nature
of sin, at once, but as he enables us to bear it; for the weight, that
the whole sense and view of sin, as it really is, would lay upon the con
science, would sink us, and destroy us in a moment.- — -

G. P.

To Mrs. Pattrick.

Macclesfield, Mar. 6", 1793.
 ON reading over my last letter to you, I felt the conviction,
that there was but one single line of it, that seemed capable of convey
ing any thing to the soul. All the rest of it was a fricando, calculated
to amuse and gratify the sense. How small a portion then of that let
ter, can I suppose to have been any way profitable to my dear Mary !
And is not that letter too true a specimen and sample of our general
intercourse ? Like it, indeed, a short portion of our day may be ap
propriated to supplication, but the chief part to things, as trivial and as
unimportant as the history of Mr. G. Like it, too, we may, in mu
tual intercourse, regard a little, so far as a short intercession may imply
it, each other's soul concerns ; but oh ! how little ! We delight, or
seem to delight, and GOD be praised for the pleasure thence arising !
in giving pleasure, comfort, ease, and gratification to one another, in
the fleshly tabernacle, and in things pertaining to it — to eat, or to drink,
•wherewith we shall be clothed, and whither we shall go, and where to
find each other, present joy ; but this fleshly tabernacle will exist but a
little while. Should we not rather, then, bestow our kind attentions
on that, which may best bestead each other's immortal and eternal in
terests ? Let us not worship each other's bodies, but lay out ourselves,
each for the other's soul ! What will be the best food, on this idea ? — ¦
what the most wholesome draughts ? Are we anxious to see each other's
soul adorned with the garments of salvation ? Lead we each other to
the fountains of life ? And do we strive to cater for each other, of the
pleasures, the banquets, the joys* and the peace that abound in the
city of GOD, and the rivers that make glad the sarne ?
Here, dear love, my heart reproaches me. You are leadable to these
things; but I am backward to lead you. I, too, am leadable; but you
do not lead me, so much as you might do» While 1 blame myself, I
will not compliment you with an acquittal,
d 2 We

52 MEArorRs.
We both of us sow too much to the ficsh ; and wc both of us lia?«-
need, not only to sow to the spirit for ourselves, but to sow to each
other's spirit. I will not say, let us take less pains to please each other
in the body (in all lawful Things I mean), — but let us take more pains
in the cultivatioti of each other's minds. If the husband miscarry in
things of a spiritual and eternal nature, the wife will be inquired of,—
" Hast thou done thy part?" — And so, if the wife fall short at last, it
will be inquired of the husband, "Hast thou done thy part? Hast
thou loved, O rthly spouse, as CHRIST did love his spouse the
Church, — giving iiiMSELF^br it, that he might sanctify and cleanse if,
with the washing of water by the word; that he might present it, glori
ous, spotless, and without a defect ?" I thought, in my prayer for thee
this morning, how short of his were my pains, my labours, and
my love for you ! That 1 might do this, is the tenor of the marriage
prayer ; and I ought to feel confounded, whensoever I wed a couple,
that it docs not more sensibly strike and convict me of deficiency, in the
best and most essential part of my duty by thee. Well, all this is, and
must be considered as, reciprocal. Can you acquit yourself? O try
and see ; and if you, like me, find a verdict of self-acknowledged guilt,
let us both endeavour, as the LORD shall enable us, to correct and
supply our omissions.
You used to take me by the hand sometimes, besides the stated sea
sons: do so still. You have, in now and then an instance, stirred me
up, and put me upon the resumption of some neglected good habit, or
some unthought-of profitable engagement : do repeat and renew these
things, wherever vou sec an opening. 1 am indolent; I am heavy; I
oft want waking ; let not thy gentler hand, and still gentler tongue, be
backward ! I oft-times find my profession and my prayers move hea
vily and slowly on; lend your kind aid. You have power, more than.
you are aware of; oh ! kt it be exerted, to the impelling me to more
faithful walking. And you must join with me, more vigorously than
you have ever yet done, in our assault upon the Kingdom of Heaven.
LORD, grant that I may find my dear Mary with an open mouth, en
larged heart, and a hungry, thirsty, panting, crying soul ! May we lift
up our cry together, and take together the kingdom with holy violence !
To speak comparatively, there is nought, as yet, but water, that hath
flowed at our marriage feast. A feast it is of herbs and love, and they
should be eaten and enjoyed with songs of praise. I would that our
water were turned into wine ; that strength, and fire, and spirit, and re
freshment, might renew and make glad our souls ; preparing them for a
bridal feast in IIlaven ! I vyould our marriage were a type and fore
taste, of an everlasting espousal with the Lamb oe God !
Oh! for this union, each of us with JESUS CHRIST! that each
possessing CHlllfeT, and CHRIST occupying and filling each, our union
may be eternal ! This is the only principle upon which it can. Oh !
that'you might find more of CHRIST in me ! and that I might find him
more and, more perceptibly in thee! Indeed I think and believe his
image does somewhat more and more discover itself; but I want, both for

MEMOIRS. 53
for you and myself, a fulness, that may be seen, felt, and enjoyed, be
yond any measures that have ever been yet revealed in us. CHRIST
dwelling in the heart by Faith, dwelling in our spirits, and filling us with
his fulness, are the privileges which the children of GOD are autho
rized to expect. Oh! let us, then, press forward; taking each the
other's hand, and, with more vigorous exertions, aim at the prize!
I rejoice at your visiting Mrs, E. You may say any thing to her; and,
the more you say, the more you open yourself and discover your weak
ness, the more you will win her heart, and secure her remembrance of
you in her prayers; therefore, do not reject or lose these opportunities,
while they seem to solicit and court your acceptance.
They that wait upon the LORD, shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they
shall walk, and not faint. 1 heard, last night, a discourse on these
words; and, in the conclusion, a good idea was started, by inverting
the order : walking was applied to babes in CHRIST ; running, to younw
men, or those stronger in the faith; and flying, to the fathers and mo
thers in Israel, whose faith and experience would take an higher
and sublimer view of the country whither they were bound. You and
I are but walking ; yet, waiting upon the LORD, we shall not faint :
still waiting on him, from walking with an heavy pace, we shall run ;
and still waiting for fresh renewals, we shallyfy, upon the pinions of a
lively faith, and hover near the clouds, till the heavens shall open, to
give us a glorious and an everlasting entrance !
My kind affections wait upon all your house ; and believe me, I re
main, with a sincere affection, and pray that the LORD may make me
your more faithful admirer,
G. P.
My Love to my Son; and spare him not the correction of a wise
mother. To Mrs. Pattrick. Aveley, Oct. 7 and 8, 1793.
AS to the excuse you allege, and wish me to allow for — " na
tural disposition" — I most readily and cordially do. You have a diffi
dence and a timidity about you, that well and reasonably accounts for
your backwardness. They make a part of that, which nature has given
you, and by which you are rendered more amiable and endearing unto
many. But a crafty enemy makes his advantage of these properties' in
you ; and it will require diligence, care/ and resolution, on your part,
to counteract the ilk effects that will otherwise result from them. And
though I will not flatly answer to your query on that subject, that pride
and the corruption of nature is the whole source, yet k in part is
so ; pride being more intimately interwoven into our natures, than we
are aware of; but resistance, (resisting, in the strength of GOD)
is our only remedy. We must strive against all natural tendencies in
our dispositions, that militate against the jsoul's growth in grace. But,

54 MEMOIRS.
But, my dear love, never let Satan so far get the better of you,
as to lead you to think you are without any root, in the vine
yard of grace; because, if he once gain this point upon you, you- will
cease to water, manure, or dig around the plant: you will give it up,
and let it wither, pine, and die. By no means listen to the tempter,
that suggests this, which is his common artifice ; but rather believe that
you have root, and that you are a plant plantcil by GOD, within
the inclosures of salvation. AYhat, though weak, slender, of backward
growth, vielding and bending at every blast !• — no matter; the slowest
growers do mostly endure best to the end; and in the end, make the
most substantial trees and pillars in the spiritual house. The sturdy
oak, adapted to the most honourable and durable purposes, is the slow
est grower that we have; whilst upstart, quick-growing shrubs, stand
less well the storm, and prove less valuable and useful materials in a
building. Now, with regard to lack of spiritual communion between you and
me, I deny that the. fault is all your own. I am conscious, and with
grief confess, that it lies more with me. Knowing how willing you are
to lend an ear, it lies at my door, that I labour not more to stir up
both you and myself, to spiritual life and converse: but you know the
languor of my bodily habit, and my natural indolence, constitutional, 1
believe, but not enough strove against, on my part. Pride, too, ope
rates, through the medium of an artful tempter, suggesting my " igno
rance :" my " insufficiency and inability to advise and lead you for the
best;" — " that 1 have nothing new to tell you;" — " that you are wearied
out with the sameness of my arguments, observations, discourses, and
prayers." I seem as if I would be thought something in your c>es,
and that I am nothing, and thus, I am oft-times backward. Now these
considerations, added to the languor and the natural indolence I have
mentioned, do prove, that your poor instrument wants much tuning,
regulating, and winding up ; and in this you are discouraged, because
you gently touch, and fei*ily try, without getting much by it, and so
give up the matter; but you must try and try again. Provoke me to
love and good works: ai'.ain and again lead me to converse, to prayer,
and to reading, and to exposition when reading the Scriptures, if you
really think it profitable ; for here again, the tempter steps in: he sug
gests I can say nothing to improve you, — that you are neither profited
por edified by any thing so poor an instrument as I can urge.

To Miss C. Carshalton, June 5, 1794.
.  A READIER friend you have not ; but 1 wish you one more
able to counsel you, in what is of no small importance ; — how to steer
a little bark through the rocks and quicksands of the.gay world, you
are now about to plunge into.
Did you ever bathe, in cold water, creeping in inch by inch > wheneveiy

MEMOIRS. 55
every fresh step you took gave the whole frame a shock ; and almost
suppressed the very breathing, and the beatings of the heart? — and, wea
ried out with death by the inch, have you made the experiment of a bold
plunge at once over head and ears? if you have not had experience in
these ways of taking the water, consult expert bathers upon this
subject, and apply their answers to plunges of another nature.
1 here's another illustration I might give vou ; but it would shock
your tender feelings, — the crimping of a cod ! How much less would
the poor creature suffer, if the death blow were given upon the head at
once, rather than torturing the hapless animal, by slashing and wounding
the extremities first ; inflifting fresh pains of death at every stroke ?
Oh ! how do I, who have suffered death by inches, ever since my
heart first inclined to the ways of true religion, and the cause of JESUS
CHRIST, how do I pity my beloved sister, in the view of the conflicts
that lie before her, if she is in earnest about her soul !
. Is the calm so dangerous to her ? — the sunshine sq apt to revive the
flutterings of her vankty ? — and is the storm the best thing for her1 in her
own judgment of the matter? — plunge then. I will venture to say,
this will disperse the two former and invite the latter.
And yet, as you have promised to abide by.my counsels, I desire to
Counsel with all the moderation, and shall, perhaps, with more than
faithfulness will warrant.
Determine, at all events, to secure seasons of privacy and retire
ment ; and let them be faithfully and sincerely devoted to the Throne
of Grace, and to the Word of Grace, i. e. Prayer and the Bible.
Let not stated seasons merely, morning and evening, suffice; but steal
opportunities, as frequently as possible.
Avoid ball rooms, if possible ; if not possible, determine to drink no
pleasure there. Sit self-mortified, — humbled and vexed, that you have
not power to avoid the booths of vanity. Even an Assembly, if you
are impelled into it against vour will, may be converted, by the grace
of GOD, into a place of reflection, correction, and reproof ; but take
care that will does not go with you there. Watch diligently over
those avenues through which pleasure has been wont to creep.
As to cards — the plunge would set that matter right at once ; but, if
you cannot take that, you must be content to suffer many a twinge,
gripe, and contortion of your feelings. You will have enough of
such, I hope, to convert cards and every other species of dissipation
into a cross. And if these things become your cross ; they must, of
course, become your aversion ;, and you will be enabled, I hope, to.
get free from your shackles.
In fine, dear A., on this subject I will only add, every thing de,
pends on the simplicity of your eye, and the devotedness of your
heart to the main object ; and, if your heart is right, read Is. xliii. 2.-. —
and (provided you don't take will with you to any place of dissipa
tion and amusements you may be obliged to attend) I hope and trust "-
you will find the promise made good to you ; my prayers for you shall
{ipt be wanting.' . .. ¦
About

se

MEMOIRS.

About Midsummer, 1795, Mr. P. came to refide in
town, and this was his laft remove. His fh'ft en-.
gagement here was as Assistant to the Rev. Henry
Foster. We have heard our brother uttering bitter com
plaints againft himself, and have seen him bowing his
head under a deep sense of manifold infirmities. In
deed in this respect he appears to have been greatly
exercised, and certainly very much beyond what they
could suspect, who formed their judgment of him
chiefly from the couftitutional fervour of his character.
But these are the common exercises of christians,
and more especially of those who are to direft and
comfort others. Public fituations, moreover, are si
tuations of great personal danger, and therefore G OD
often exercises his conspicuous servants moft severely,
in order to counteract the tendency of the circum
stances in which, for the good of his Church, he
has placed them. Self-dissatisfaction often keeps him
low in the dust, who is the instrument of cheering and
animating thousands.
It might be expected, therefore, as the great Lord
of the Vineyard designed our brother, in the few last
years of his ministry, for a very public sphere^ that
he should be made to feel his own nothingness, and
his intire dependance upon the grace of him who had
called him. He was, indeed, not without many sea
sons of great enjoyment, and it was evident that his
ministry Avas increasing in affection and zeal. His
exercises of mind appear to have had their right effect.
He viewed his change of situation with genuine hu
mility ; and, in the prospect of it, he says, " I see
that in me, which leads me to think, that GOD will
never put me into the situation, which now seems to
offer. If he does, he can fit me for it."
On the 19th of March, 1796, came on the election
for Lecturer of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch; where
Mr. P. watf chosen by a majority of 590; but the
choice

MEMOIRS. 57
choice of the parish not pleasing the Incumbent, a dis
agreeable contest ensued, which was not concluded
till nearly the end of the year, when an accommoda^
tion took place, and Mr. P. consented to admit the
other candidate as Joint Lecturer, with benefit of sur
vivorship, Avho has noA\r, in consequence, succeeded
to the Avhole.
At the close of 1797, a Sunday Evening Lecture Avas
opened at St. Bride's, in Fleet Street, at Avhich
Mr. P. Avas appointed Lecturer. Both these important
situations Avere offered him Avithout any solicitation on
his part. His talents were peculiarly fitted to interest
and arrest the mass of hearers ; and here they seemed
to be brought into full exercise. His aArerao-e con-
gregation, both at St. Leonard's and St. Bride's,
may be stated at 1500; seldom less, and frequently
many more.
Besides those Lectureships, he had no other perma
nent engagement, except a third share in the Lec
tureship at St. Margaret's, Lothbury, at six
o'clock on Sunday Morning; but his aid was wil
lingly rendered to his friends, on those parts of the
Sabbath, in which he was not regularly occupied.
To Mrs. Pattrick. Sept. 27, 1797.
I AM somewhat flat this afternoon. I have been looking into
one of your letters, received five weeks ago, to see if there was any thing
unanswered, that will help me out in filling up my sheet ; and that, in
stead of helping me, makes me flatter. It is a letter of your's, which I
had brought to Madeley, on purpose to talk it over; but I never had
spirits or inclination to do so. It is a gloomy letter ; and yet it is a sa
tisfactory letter, in some respects. It adverts to a subject I cannot well
talk about. It is a letter I can't read without weeping; and yet, it is a
letter that may inspire joy, in some views. You discover a mind at
work, and alive; a heart properly wrought on. If the symptoms of
your disorder have sent you to your knees, it is so far good, and shall
do' you good. I have, indeed, framed pictures of things, that, I trust,
are not likely to happen. I am far the elder of the two, and think, in
the course of nature, I ought to go first; and, when I am indisposed, I
generally suppose my time may be near, and have likewise anxious
ithoughts how it will be; and I pray GOD these reflections may put us
both on the needful inquiry. As

58 memoirs.
As to peace between GOD and the Soul, we d<> not expect a voice
from GOD sensibly to proclaim it. Your connections must be heard
with allowance upon this subject. They talk of some manifestations <>f
the divine pardon, that have never been made to me; nor, so far a< I
can find, to many known to me, whom I am wont to envy much, for
the genuine marks they seem to bear of being GOD's children.
That it is hard to believe, I grant you; but Faith, you knew, must
be looked for as a gift. GOD the HOLY GHOST must work it in the
heart. ' The LORD increase mine! increase yours! make us both to
grow therein, and find the soul's establishment! — But as to doubts and
fears, I suppose wc shall never quite outlive them, till we live bev ond the
skies. We shall never yield a perfect fruit, nor say nor do for JESUS
what we ought; nor must we hereby judge of our being belicveis. I am
sure I have no more that I can do, but cast myself on JESUS, as the
four lepers, for that we can but die. Without him, we are sure we must
perish; but, with him, and casting our souls upon him, there is a
ground of hope; and, if this ground will not bear us up, no other will.
Though in " the dark, and with expectations faint," this is the way;
and the counsel of Is, l. 10, is to our case; but wc have a promise,
that darkness shall be made light before us, Is. xlii. 10*. GOD help us
to plead his promises more belicvingly than we are wont! Oh ! my
dear love, if GOD did not receive sinners — poor, guilty sinners, through
JESUS, 1 could have no hope, for I am such. 

To Mis. W., High Wycombe.
Dear Madam,- London, Sett. 5, 179$.
YOUR welcome letter demands no answer, (I mean us to the reli
gious part of it,) but a congratulation; which I very gladly transmit.
You judge right, in concluding I shall rejoice in the pleasing account
it comprises. 1 do sincerely; and hope, that the good LORD, who
hath so manifested himself to you, as he does not unto the world, will
still shine upon you, and vouchsafe you much of his life-giving counte
nance; and, as you put your trust in him, so will he shew his mercy
upon you. Having now been taught by experience, as you have, the
blessedness and privilege of prayer, and to know, .that through and
in the very act of prayer, the blessings thirsted for by the believing
soul come, you will not fail your constant and unceasing applica
tions to the Throne of Grace, for the further blessings, and the
continuance of the divine presence you stand in need of. Like the dew
of Heaven daily sent, or the Manna in the Wilderness every night de
scending, so must the rains of Grace and the bread of Heaven be
prayed tor and expected in perpetual repetition ; for though GOD but
once gave his Son, and that Son once only suffered to consummate and
finish redemption's glorious work, yet, in the manifestations and appli
cations of it to the believer's experience, the work must be perpetual;
and I believe is usually witnessed to our feelings in certain proportions. tu

memoirs. 59
to our faith, our diligence, our close walking with GOD, our denial of
self, our rejection of the world, and our seeking of his glory; and
likewise in proportion to the need our souls stand in, or the good they arc
to derive from those views of GOD and of CHRIST, that have so much
gladdened your soul.
If your fear, lest GOD should leave )rou, proceed from a conviction
that without him you can do nothing, and act as a stimulus to keep at
the throne, pleading ins promise " that he never will," — 'tis godly,
filial fear— prize it highly. This is that fear of GOD, with which his
sttcret is; with which a sight of ins covenant is connected; and this
is the fear, which, together with the word of GOD, being hidden in
the heart, will be its preservative from sin.
Remember, my good friend, that, while I rejoice, and while you
prize, ( — you cannot too highly) the sun-shine of his grace, the
heavenly husbandman ripens not the fruit of h is vine, to fitness for his
table, at the marriage supper of the Lamb, without the shade — the
cloud — the wind. Stand prepared to receive the whole hand and
work of GOD upon your soul. If the branch of his vine, bear fruit
he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more. The sun shone bright on
St. Peter, on Mount Tabor; but, at the Mount of Olives, it was
night; poor Peter slept; and, between that and Calvary, he did
worse : — his sun was quite eclipsed, — till JESUS again beamed upon
his spul, with a convicting, pardoning look of love. St. Paul, too,
after having, been brought within the sphere of very peculiar sunshine,
was brought under need of goading by a peculiar thorn.
I do not mean to discourage you, and, therefore, for your ground of
hope, I recommend the keeping your eye fixed, not upon the work
done in .you, or any precious manifestations to you, but upon the
work done for you, when CHRIST on Calvary said, It isjinished.
If Satan sees you favoured with peculiar privileges, he will mark
you out for peculiar temptation; but believe that JESUS has prayed
for you, as well as for Peter; and trust to GOD for hearing and
answering the supplication, and you shall be sustained.
1 am your's affectionately,
G. P.
They, Avho kneAV the man, Avho reflected upon his
history, and the gradual training of his mind, Avho
considered the extensive sphere of his present ministry,
and saAv him in the meridian of his labours and almost
the vigour of his days, counted upon many years of
increasing usefulness, But
Debemur morti nos nostraque  Little

Go

memoirs.

Little Avas it suspected by his friends, and probably
little by himself, unless in seasons of occasional dejec
tion, that the good fight was nearly fought, and the
tourse nearly finished.
We have noAv,- howeA-er, to accompany our brother
through his last stage, and to Avitness his last conflict,
in Avhich the same divine grace, Avhich had called and
Upheld him, Avas still near at hand to make all his bed
in his sickness, and to administer to him an abundant
entrance into the kingdom of his Lord and Saviour,
We have traced the Life and the Walk of his Faith,
and now, in the closing scene, Ave shall witness its
Triumph. This is much in the usual method of the
Divine dealings. They, Avho, though Avalking, like
our brother, closely with GOD, haAe been suffered to
oe in heaviness through manifold temptations, because
there was a needs be for this dispensation, and it was
salutary in its - operation, have seldom gone down
mourning into the grave. The LORD has put his
seal of approbation upon his servants, and opened
their mouth to shore forth his praise. Doubts and
anxieties and fears have vanished, and the firm lan
guage of faith has been, Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil;
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.
Mrs. P. had been at Made ley a feAV weeks, and
On Aug. 26, 1800, Mr. P. left town upon a visit to
the same place. The folloAving particulars of the de
parting scene, are taken chiefly from a letter Avritten
by a friend upon the spot to another in London.
He arrived on Wednesday, and Avas then muchin-
disnosed. On the folloAvino- Sunday he was much
worse. His anxious friends Avould fain have prevailed
Avith him to decline preaching, but he could not be
persuaded to neglect his Master's work, Avhile he
was at all able to undertake it, saying, " I shall for
get myself \ while I am so well engaged." His subject in

memoirs. 6\
in the Morning was the si-iunamite's son raised,
(2 Kings, iv.) He very solemnly reminded his hearers
of the shortness and uncertainty of life ; and, in the
Afternoon, most feelingly recommended JESUS to
his congregation, as the chief est among ten thousand,
yea, altogether lovely.
From this time his disorder increased ; and, it may
well be said, that his spiritual strength was abundantly
reneAved. He laid aside every temporal concern, and
was wholly and deeply engaged in eternal things.
Even when the A'iolence of the fever disordered his
mind, it Avas plain his heart and treasure Avere in Hea
ven. His thoughts Avere there; and the Avords he ut
tered Avere full of GOD.
He several times expressed to Mrs. Pattrick the
satisfaction he felt in being at Madeley, as the very
place where he should Avish to end his days ; spoke of
death as near, and observed to her, A\rith earnestness,
that his Avhole dependance Avas on a crucified Saviour,
on Avhom alone his hopes Avere built as on a sure foun
dation. He deeply felt himself to be the chief of sin
ners; " but," said he, '• that open fountain ! there, I
rest all my confidence; Avas it not for that, I should"
have no hope." He Avas much in prayer, for himself,
for the Church, and, in particular, for the flock under
his care, that he might meet them all at the right hand
of GOD; and for his dear wife, thanking GOD for
the help and comfort she had been to him : it appear
ed he found it hard to give her up, frequently crying,
" LORD, help me to resign her ! LORD, strengthen
me; thou hast all poAver, thou wilt help !"
One time, as she sat by his bed, he said, yvith so
lemnity and emphasis, " These are fine Avords — / am
the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me,
• though he were dead, yet shall he live ; and he that liv~
eth and believeth in me, shall never die ; believest thou
this? — That is the point." His friends, fearing he
•spent himself with so much speaking, begged he
would

6& MEMOIRS.
Avould compose himself, and take some rest ; but hi
would earnestly reply, " No interruption ! I must
speak. The time seems expired. If I stop, the enemy
Avill get ground." — The Accuser of the Brethren, Avho
kncAv his time Avas short, and that soon the glorified
spirit Avould be beyond the reach of his malice, shot
his darts, and Avould have assaulted him frequently,
but he looked to the strong for strength, and Avas more
than conqueror.
On Saturday night, the 13th, he Avas very rest
less, and got little sleep, but then, as throughout the
whole of his illness, his patience Avas exemplary ; and,
from that time, he was wholly taken up in prayer and
praise, admiring the goodness of GOD to him, and
exhorting those about him, in many precious and
lively, though broken sentences. Some of his ex
pressions were, " LORD, shall I dAvell with thee on
Ziox's hill: — shall I, LORD?" then, panting and
looking up, he ansAvered, " Yes, yes, I shall ! — but
is the Avork done? is the Avork doner — LORD, is there
any sin remains in me ? take it all aAvay — make me
tmite ready." At another time, he said, " LORD,
hast not thou said, the soul that sinneth shall die?
— yes, thou hast, but the blood of JESUS CHRIST
cleanseth from all sin, and thou hast cleansed me!*
Then, in a holy rapture, he sang,
'• Mv GOD I am thine,
" What a comfort divine!
" What a blessing to know, that my JESUS is mine!'''
Some time after, he said, " I think I am very high
on the mount to-day." When he heard the bell go
for Church, on the Sabbath morning, he asked what
it Avas : being told, he said, " How often have I gone
up Avith joy, to worship in the assembly of the saints !"'
About four o'clock, he was seized with a convulsive fit
—as. soon as he recovered, he began again, Avith a
clear

MEMOIRS. 6*3
clear and strong voice, to address himself to those
around him, saying, " My friends, it is an aAvful
thing to die! oh! prepare for Eternity!" He Avas
desired by Mrs. F. not to exert himself so much ; but
he replied, " My dear mother, I must; — GOD has
given me strength, and I must use it." Then he
offered his dying prayers for his much-loved Avife and
children ; — " LORD, support the Avidow and father
less !" and, soon after, lifting up his hands with fer
vency, he added, " GOD is all in all— Come, LORD
JESUS, come; — Noav I can say, my peace is made —
I -am GOD's and GOD is mine ! and CHRIST is
mine ! — Heaven is mine ! and Glory is mine ! —
Glory, glory be to GOD, for ever and for ever,
Amen and Amen j" — He lay still a feAV minutes ; and
then, another convulsive fit disembodied his immortal
spirit, and landed him in the Paradise of GOD,
about fiA^e .o'clock, SuxDA\r Evening, September
14, 1800; having just entered into the 5.5th year of
his age, and nearly closed the 30th of his Ministry.
" Through the rich grace of htm who bled on Earth,
He hears the inexpressive nuptial song,
In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love.
There entertain him all the samts above,
In solemn troops and sweet societies,
That sing, and, singing, in their glory move,
And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes."
On the Wednesday folloAving his remains were
interred in Made ley Church, close by the tomb of
the Rev. Mr. Fletcher, late Vicar thereof ; and near
the spot, where, six years ago, with fervent prayer,
he laid the foundation stone of the new Church.
The solemn providence Avas improved in several pul
pits in the Metropolis. And on Sunday, the 5th of
October, his Funeral Sermon Avas preached at St.
Leonard's Church, Shoreditch, by his friend the
Rev. Mr. Williams, of High Wycombe. Such
was the respect paid to his memory, that this very
spacious

64 memoirs.
spacious building Avas crowded long before Divine
Service began. It is computed near five thousand
persons Avere Avithin the Avails, besides hundreds in the
Church- Yard, who Avere unable to procure admission
" Reader," adds the venerable friend to whom the
account of Mr. P.'s death Avas addressed, and avIio
alloAved it to be printed for the use of his connections,
" To us it belongs to improve this Providence, and to
follow him as he followed CHRIST ;
Through divine grace he warred a good Avarfare —
He preached CHRIST, and suffered persecution — He
lived CHRIST, and experienced spiritual conflicts —
He loved CHRIST, and delighted to be conformed
to him — He depended on CHRIST, and was sup
ported by him :
CHRIST was truly his;
In his nature — in his benefits:
In his life — and in his death;
And such only are saints indeed."

THE most delicate part of our task yet remains;
ibr, though the preceding detail of Mr. P. 's Life, ac
companied with such ample extracts from his Letters,
in Avhich he speaks for himself, might be left to sug
gest to the reader's mind Avhat sort of man he was, yet
custom seems to impose it as the duty of a Biogra
pher, to draAv the CHARACTER of the man Avhose
life he records.
It is, hoAvever, the most arduous part of his duty;
and that, in which, if truth and utility guide his pen,
he has the least chance, of satisfying the expectations
of different classes of readers. Friendship, like love,
is often blind; and hardly will they, avIio fondly
cherish the memory of a man, useful and honourable
in his day, admit the justice of the most lenient cri
ticism,

MEMOIRS. S3
ticisnl, that detracts but in the smallest degree from
his excellence as a Preacher, or that imputes any fail
ing to him, however trivial, as a Man : While, on
the other hand, such persons as have viewed the same
character on the unfavourable side,— and every man
has an unfavourable side, on Avhich he may be viewed,
— having known him, perhaps, very partially ; having,
a few times seen him under disadvantageous circum
stances ; having had some unhappy collision Avith him,
of sentiment or character or interest, Avhich, through
their oavii infirmity, gives a strong bias to their judg
ment ; having formed their estimate of him as a
Preacher, by a single sermon, — or as a Man by some
insulated incident, imperfectly knoAvn, or greatly mis
conceived ; such persons will be ready to charge the
writer with falsehood and exaggeration, for faithfully
declaring, Avhat he really knoAvs, or honestly believes*
"concerning him.
Mr. P. may have his enemies as well as friends ;
but, alike regardless of the censure of both, and so
licitous only not to Deserve that censure, we shall en
deavour, Avith impartiality and truth, as in the sight
of GOD, to represent him to the reader as he really
was. In speaking of him as a MINISTER, it is obvious
to remark, that his Popularity as a Preacher was
evinced by the large congregations which always at
tended him; not only at his Lectures in London,
but in most other places of the kingdom, where,
during his Summer excursions, he was in the habit
of occasionally preaching. But Popularity, it must
be allowed, , is a very equivocal test of excellence.
Interdum valgus rectum videt : est ubi peccat
It may be the due tribute to that high and rare elo
quence, which wields Truth with such Energy, as' to
establish a just, and immediate, and irresistible empire
e • over

6*6* MEMOIR'S.
over those who hear. It may be that authority, Avhich
is gradually and imperceptibly acquired over the minds
of men, by tenderness, sincerity, truth, godliness, and
a holy zeal. It may arise from something, yea much,
of these commanding and insinuating qualities ; and
yet, it may mingle therewith an appeal to the ubi pec-
cat, the infirmities, of the hearers. We are free to con
fess, that our brother's Popularity was of this last kind.
He was formed for a commanding speaker. He
possessed no peculiar advantages, indeed, of person ;
but he had a strong voice, and his enunciation Avas so
clear, that every letter seemed to reverberate from every
corner of the place; and, except that his voice Avas
sometimes exerted to unnecessary loudness, Avhen he
preached in Churches smaller than those to which he
Avas accustomed, it was managed with considerable
judgment and skill. His utterance was distinctly
sIoav ; feldom or never hurried. His tones had much
nature in them, though there Avas considerable uni
formity in the manner of delivering his sentences ;
beginning Ioav, and working himself up frequently
to a loud close. The modulation of his tones Avas a
point, indeed, which he studied ; as appears from the
manner in Avhich his Avritten sermons were frequently
marked, to direct him in the delivery : and some re-»
gard to this point is certainly commendable, if kept
within due bounds, that it run not into affectation; and
if it be done from a desire, not of vain glory, but of
better recommending the Truth, by exciting atten
tion to it, or by obviating prejudice against it.
. . His manner Avas marked with great energy ; and,
with this, he combined much affection. He appeared
to feel that

¦ Adhibenda est

Almae nutricis blanda ..... suaviloquela :
and, in treating the amazing truths of Redemption,
the highest human intellect can communicate very
littls

MEMOIRS. 6/
little that is adequate, Ave say not to the subject, but,
to satisfy fully the understanding. Treated argumen-
tively and ex cathedra, the heart is starved, and the
head nothing assisted in its views beyond the plain
declarations of the Divine Word ; but there is a magic
about the heart's method of handling these things.
The language of benevolence is generally felt, and is ge
nerally attractive. We are like children, A child feels
his little heart warmed with love to his parent, whose
understanding Avould be ovenvhelmed, if you should
endeavour to demonstrate to him the nature and ground
of filial obligation. Not that the understanding is not
to be trained up in the increasing knowledge of divine
truth ; but, since all men have hearts to feel, and
fieAV haA^e heads to reason, and since the heart is the
spring of action, he, who is best fitted to address it,
is, in the very nature of things, most likely to become
popular, . and, if he address it with the Truth as it is
in JESUS, to become most extensiA'ely useful.
That Mr. P. did this, the Sermons, which follow in
this Volume, will bear testimony. His sentiments were
draAvn from Scripture and from Experience. Nothing
was recondite, or metaphysical. He Avas intelligible
and perspicuous. He had frequently a just method of
combining the Doctrines, Experience, and Practice
of Christianity; pursuing Doctrine, through ex
perience, into Practice,— and tracing up Practice,
through Experience, into Doctrine; And, in doing
this, his personal piety beamed forth, and impressed
his hearers with the conviction, that he was not merely
earnest, but sincere ; and that he was governed by the
Truth, to Avhich he Avould Avin them. Though he had
a vein of considerable humour among his friends, yet
he never introduced this into the Pulpit ; and it Avere
desirable that this had never been done, for though
the people
Discit enim citius, meminitque libentius Mud,
Quod quis deridet, quam quodprobat et veneraturt
e 2 and

63 MEMOIRS.
and some pious men may, therefore, endeavour td
turn this faculty to good account, yet there can be no
doubt, that the use of it has done unspeakably less
good than evil.
Hitherto Ave have spoken in commendation of our
brother as a preacher, and have pointed out some just
grounds of his popularity ; but a\ e are constrained by
Truth to mention a striking defect, which, though
it served to increase his popularity, did this by sacri
ficing to the unsound judgment, to Avhich the mass
of hearers must be inevitably exposed ; and, at the
same time, had the lamentable consequence of aggra
vating that evil. The defect to Avhich we allude, Avas
an attachment to the allegorical method of interpret
ing Scripture. Into this he was partly seduced by a
Fancy, that ever sought scope for exertion, and Avas
without the salutary curb of a judgment sufficiently
sound to restrain and guide it ; and it may in part be
considered as the natural consequence, in such a mind
as his especially, of his late initiation into such Theo
logical Studies, as are adapted to furnish a Minister
with matter suitable for his public discourses. The
early part of his ministerial career was dissipated in
the pursuits of the Gentleman, rather than occupied
in those of the Divine ; and habits of close thinking
and reading, every one knows, are very "seldom ac
quired after a certain time of life. Hence, our friend's
course of reading, even' after he became in earnest in
religion, was rather desultory, perhaps, than syste
matic ; and such as tended more to cherish his piety
as a christian, than to cultivate his judgment and
improve his knoAvledge as a public instructor.
For some years, it is known, that he read little else
but devotional books and his Bible. Beginning, there
fore, with a judgment not Avell corrected, and a mind
not well stored, it was natural, that he should do that
most frequently, Avhich he found most easy, and most
gratifying to his own taste ; and especially when he
found

MEMOIRS'. 6*9'
found himself often praised, however injudiciously,
for these excursions of his fancy; for it is notorious,
that some persons, and those the most likely to make
him acquainted Avith their sentiments, have held him
forth as possessing a singular talent in the interpreta
tion of Scripture ; Avhile his most judicious friends
felt that this Avas the point, upon which, from consti
tution and circumstances, he Avas most liable to err.
Our brother's judgment was, hoAvever, gradually
rectified; and a better method Avas adopted by him,
toAvards the latter end of his pious and useful course.
Within the last year or two of his life especially, it
Avas evident, that his fancy became more chastised,
and under the discipline of a juster taste, than before ;
and much less of that Avhich is here objected to him,
had occurred during the best and brightest period of
his days.
The correction in his judgment, of Avhich Ave speak,
was no doubt promoted, by the folloAving correspond
ence. He had preached a sermon from Nahum ii. 1,
at St. Bride's, upon occasion of the Voluntary Con
tributions in support of the War. This Sermon caught
the attention of the people, and he Avas strongly soli
cited to publish it; but, wishing for the opinion of
another clergyman, Avho Avas present Avhen it Avas
preached, he informed him of the request of the peo
ple, and desired his free judgment. As this' corres
pondence exhibits some traits of the Character of Mr.
P., and furnishes a very useful vieAvof the subject of
Accommodation of Scripture, and may serve, Ave Avill
hope, in some cases, as a corrective of the evil, we
gladly subjoin extracts from it. The following is part
of his friend's reply to- his inquiry : —
An early answer to. your question, can only contain an extempore
opinion ; and I feel myself incompetent to decide on the subject. I
own I am not very partial to accommodation ; and thought, while.
you was preaching, that if you had said the same important things,
from a Text in which they were evidently contained, they would have been

7* MEMOIRS.
been more convincing, impressive, and effectual : but then I observe,
that a great majority is against me in in this respect.
The ingenuity, that deduces important instructions from a Text,
which seems not to contain any thing to that special point, ex
cites the approbation and admiration of many : but some think it un
warranted, and that it gives too much scope to fancy; and tends too
much to take men off from the plain meaning of Scripture, to hunt after
such allusions, till they forget the Go, and do likewise, as has been
exceedingly the case in the Good Samaritan. Your allusions, however,
though I own I could not find the ground of them in the Text, were of
a practical nature and tendency; and thus calculated tq
produce good among those, who have a taste for Accommodation. 
To this Letter, Mr, P, returned the following re-
Dear Sir,
I SHOULD have sent you a line, expressing my thanks for your
friendly letter, sooner ; but I was minded to see how far I could retract
the expectations, that had been excited to see my Sermon ; some hun
dred copies of. which had been bespoke. For, could I not have got off
publishing, without offending too many of my friends in St. Bride's,
to whom I am under much obligation, 1 must have seen you further
about it, I have, however, so decidedly refused it, to some of those
who were the most urgent, that, though some chagrin has been ex
pressed, I hope I shall not be further urged,
I have great respect for your judgment, and therefore hesitated not
in proceeding to do as I have just mentioned ; though indeed, so far
as I have any knowledge, I was perfectly unaware that I had taken
any liberties with my Text, that spiritual application did not intirely
sanction. — What is confirmed by two or more witnesses must be true ;
and my sermonic faculty must be sadly diseased and imperfect; and
that, through a malady the symptoms of which I can't pf myself detect.
I was involved in much trouble, on receipt of your letter. It was
near the latter end of the week, and the three sermons I had prepared
for the Sunday, tried and considered by your test, nil of them appeared
to me to be tinctured with the same evil ; and 1 almost despair of being
able to get on. However, I must do my best, and wait on GOD and,
beg his HOLY SPIRIT'S teaching, in the difficult work that lies before
me. I am somewhat dejected and discouraged, at finding I have got
piy business still to learn, when my stage of life is so far advanced.——
This reply dreAV from his Correspondent the foli
lowing able vieAv, both of our brother's Character, and
of the subject of Accommodation ; —

MEMOIRS. 71
IF I had not considered you in a very different light, from that
in which I do some preachers, in whose sermons imagination and ac
commodation predominate, I should have evaded the question, or de
clined giving an answer. But I deem you to be of so right a spirit, and
your aim to be so simple, that any thing of this kind, which gives um
brage to some persons, and is not unfrcquently ascribed to a wrong
cause, must arise from an error of judgment, which may, without much
difficulty, be rectified ; if indeed we, who judge thus, be in the right.
Your sermons always have a good tendency ; as such, I must give
my approbation, leaving every man to his own method of attaining his
object ; though I may think that method is not the best of which he is
capable. I am fully satisfied, that you are capable even of excel
ling, in that way which seems to me most suited to communicate
solid instruction, — to produce abiding conviction, — and so to silence
objection, by sound speech which cannot be condemned, that they who are
of the contrary part may have nothing to say against it ; for I have heard
you, and others, who arc no more favourable to accommodation
thttn I am, have heard you, and have wondered that you did' not un
derstand where your forte lay.
When" you take a plain Text, full of matter, and, from the real
meaning of the Text, raise doctrines, draw conclusions, explain, il
lustrate, and apply the subject, there is great weight jn your manner
of preaching ; which the fertility of your invention and liveliness of
¦imagination, kept in due bounds, render more interesting to tlie
many, without giving any just ground of umbrage to the few. But, it
appears to me and to others, that you frequently choose Texts suited
to give scope to the fancy, which is constituted the inter
preter, instead of the judgment ; and that you thus discover allusions,
and deduce doctrines and instructions, true and goo.d in themselves, but
by no means contained in the Text, nor, indeed, easily made out in
the way of accommodation. In this case, your own vigour is princi
pally exerted in the exercise of the imagination ; and, while many
hearers are surprised, amused, and delighted, their understandings,
consciences, and hearts are not addressed or affected, by any means in
so powerful a manner, as by a plainer subject.
What St. Peter says of prophecy, that it is not of private interpre
tation, is true of every part of Scripture : The HOLY SPIRIT had,
in- every part, one grand meaning, and conveys one leading instruction ;
though others may, by fair inference, subordinately be deduced. This
is the real" spiritual meaning," which we should first of all en
deavour to discover, as the foundation of all our reasonings and per
suasions. We should open, alledge, argue, enforce, apply, &c; from
this mind of tlie Spirit in Scripture ; nor is any passage fit for a Text,
properly speaking, which does not admit of such an improvement of
it, in its real meaning. But that, which you seem to call the " spi
ritual meaning, is frequently no more, than a new meaning
put upon it, by a lively fancy. Typical subjects, indeed, have a
{Spiritual meaning, in another sense, under the Literal meaning ; being
yitpnded(

72 MEMOIRS
intended, by the HOLY SPIRIT, to shadow forth spiritual blessings
under external signs ; and some prophetical visions are ..Enigmatical,
and the Spiritual meaning is the unriddling of the ./Enigma — Parables,
and such parts of Scripture as Canticles, arc of the same nature.
But in all, the Judgment should be the expositor, not the Fancy ; and
we should inquire what the HOLY SPIRIT meant, not what wc can
make of it.
But there are many scriptures, that have no other meaning, than
the Literal ; and which are to be improved, not by finding out a New
meaning and calling it Spiritual ; but by trying what useful instruction
we can deduce from the plain sense of the passage. To illustrate my
meaning, let me bring forward your Text as an instance. — Nabopo-
lazar, King of Babylon, who, in conjunction with Cyaxares,
King of Media, subverted the Assyrian Empire, is supposed to be
meant by the Basher in pieces ; and your accommodation of this title
to the French was fair — But the latter part of the Verse, is a chal
lenge to the inhabitants of Nineveh, to do their utmost to withstand
this fierce conqueror; with an intimation, that it would be all to no
purpose. JCeep the munition; watch the way; make thy loins stror.^y
fortify thy power mightily. For, as the LORD had not spared the of
fending Israelites, but had punished them by the Assyrians, who
cruelly entreated them; so, he would not spare the Assyrians, but
would destroy Nineveh by the Babylonians, who would fully
avenge on the Assyrians their cruelties to Israel. Now, 1 think,
the accommodation of this", to our watching, praying, and using all means
of averting the wrath of GOD from a guilty land, with hopes of success,
must appear far-fetched to those, who study the Scriptures carefully ;
and who would say, " The instruction was good, but what right had the
preacher to put such a sense on the words ? At this rate, we may make
the Scriptures mean what we please, by putting our own sense on any
passage; and there will remain no certainty in interpreting Scripture,
but it will be equally easy to prove error as truth from thence." In
fact, I thought I pould see, that you had some difficulty in making the
allusion out; and was too much engaged in that pursuit, to bring it so
much home with energy to the heart and conscience, as you would have
done, if you had said the same things from the words of Joel for
instance, chap. i. v. 12 — 14, or 17; or those of Isaiah, chap. i. lo"
—18. Nor let it be forgotten, that many hearers of the Gospel, love
best to have evangelical truths proposed without much application, for
reasons best known to themselves, or rather to the LORD.
My dear Sir, I am so deeply convinced, that this way of Accommo
dation is capable of very dangerous abuses, and has been so abused to
very bad purposes, by those, who make divisions and deceive souls, that
I grieve when any person of real piety and respectability gives any coun
tenance to it; and I have so high an opinion of your integrity, benevo
lence, desire of glorifying GOD, and of doing good, and of your talents
likewise, if properly exerted, that I have long wished to discuss the sub*
j'.ct with you.— — - *-You

MEMOIRS. 73
—You have a popular turn : you will be sure to have hearers ; and if
I could drop a hint, which should render your ministry more unex
ceptionable and useful, I should be glad to be Prompter, when unable
to be an Actor. I have more need for spurs than a curb-bridle, in re
spect of the imagination; but I will venture to say, I speak the sense, not
of two or three fastidious critics, but of all the best judges in London,
that you need a strong curb, when your imagination is concerned in
preaching; for I have heard many persons, who are not unfavourable to
your preaehing, and who greatly love you, lament it; though, like my
self, they did not plainly say it to you.
It appears to me, that you are too much dejected about it; and rea
dy to despond, without any occasion. Your heart is upright ; your
doctrine sound ; your aim and dependence simple: there needs no
Revolution in your preaching, in any respect: a few hints, duly
and constantly kept in view, would remedy all, that your candid
friends object to ; and, as to the rest, you cannot expect to please
them. I should hint to you, 1. The propriety of commonly taking
plain and full Texts, which evidently contain the substance of what
you mean to set before the people. For taking difficult Texts has been
so abused, • that judicious persons are almost always ready to ascribe
it to a bad motive. 2. Of first inquiring after the primary meaning
and intention of the Text, by examining the context accurately ;
and then considering what subordinate uses may be made of the general
subject. 3. To aim at keeping judgment and imagination in their pro
per places ; — judgment as expositor, — imagination merely to illustrate
and give animation to the decisions of the judgment. 4. To be upon
your guard, when thoughts, which strike your fancy by novelty, occur
to you ; they are seldom so solid as brilliant ; and sometimes have
little but novelty to recommend them, as a sober review may often con
vince us. 
Though Ave have justly commended Mr. P.'s general
manner of associating Doctrine, Experience, and Prac
tice, in his public teaching; yet it perhaps ought to be
added, that he did not so frequently and so pointedly
enforce the Christian Tempers and the Relative Du
ties, as was the constant Apostolical method, and as
that minister will do, Avhose mind is feelingly alive to
the ease Avith which religious professors, especially in
this vast city, may delude themselves. We speak not
of those Sermons, in which he expressly treated of
some or other of the Christian Graces or Duties ; for
when he did this, he ' was very awakening and search
ing: nor do we, as is manifest from what has been said,
mean

74 MEMOIRS.
mean to insinuate, that he did not ahvays insist upon
a Holy Life as the fruit of Faith ; for that he did this,
is clear from the following Sermons, though even these
are not so full a testimony to this point, as they would
be if avc had in them all that he delivered; it being fre
quently his custom to enlarge, beyond Avhat he had
written, especially in the close of his Sermons: but
Ave mean to say, that while he so plainly and faithfully
brought forward all the grand peculiarities of the Gos
pel, and their lively efficacy upon the heart, that none
could well attend his ministry, and yet mistake the
only ground of a sinner's hope towards GOD, or not
feel the necessity of a deep personal interest in these
things, yet that he did not so frequently and fully
probe the Heart for its views and dispositions, search
the Family for its tempers and habits and practices,
and try the principles and maxims upon which Busi
ness was transacted Avith the world, as the exceeding
deceitfulness of the heart, and the peculiar temptations
of this great city, might require. We speak the more
freely upon this point, because Ave are convinced, that,
with his eye habitually directed to this object, few
men Avere better adapted than Mr. P. , to set an ex
ample worthy of the imitation of his brethren, and , to
direct the consciences of his hearers in adorning the
gospel of GOD, our Saviour, in all things, Avithout
running into that extreme of didactic instruction,
which is fitter for the chair of a Professor of Morals,
than for the pulpit of a Christian Preacher ; and be
cause we are desirous to withhold no remark, out of
partiality to the memory of our departed friend, which
may be useful to any of his brethren.
As a Divide, our brother sought to fashion himself
intirely by the Word of GOD. He seemed attached
to no system as such ; and it must be alloAved, that the
Scriptures refuse to submit to the shackles of any hu
man system. He, who would be a Bible Christian,
must, to a certain degree, reject all systematic me
thod*

memoirs, 75
thods of squaring doAvn the Scriptures; but, Mr. P.,
perhaps, carried this too far, and failed someAvhat in
that discriminating and distinguishing view of Divine
Truth, which "arises from the study of it in its connec
tion, dependence, and harmony.
As a Writer, it will be- observed that he had
something peculiar in his style, which does not ap
pear to have been formed so much by the rules of
just composition, as to have been accommodated to his
peculiar manner of speaking. They, Avho kneAV him
as a Preacher, will, by connecting his manner Avith
the matter of these Sermons, read them Avith much
more interest, than others can be expected to do.
These Discourses were Avritten currente ccilamo, and
without the remotest vieAv to publication.
The ministerial gift, in Avhich Mr. P. , perhaps, most
excelled, and it may be doubted, Avbether, in this re
spect, he has left a superior behind him, Avas in giv
ing counsel to afflicted consciences, and attending
upon sick beds. Whether his purpose Avas to convince
or to comfort, discretion and tenderness Avere admira
bly united Avith truth and faithfulness, both in his ex
hortations and his prayers. He exhibited, indeed, a
management and ability, such as few attain. It Avas
Truth so tempered by Benevolence, that it spoke at
once to the heart. It Avas a manner, so kind, so in
sinuating, so persuasiAre, that it was impossible to hear
him without recollecting St. James's description of the
wisdom that is from above ; — pure, peaceable, gentle,
full of mercy: (James iii. 17-) Persons, Avho had
not greatly admired him in the Pulpit, and had even
conceived a prejudice against him, oAvingto a reserved
and silent manner, Avhich often accompanied him in
mixed society, and had been unjustly attributed to
spiritual pride, or constitutional hauteur, Avere so
happily undeceived, on receiving a visit from him
in the time of sickness, that a repetition of the visit
was immediately solicited with great earnestness, and his

76* memoirs.
his attendance ever aftenvards preferred to that of
any other person.
InvieAving Mr. P. as a MAN, one feature of his
character, where he Avas intimately known, Avas
strongly marked. A species of Humour is here meant,
which rendered him often highly entertaining, though
never at the expence of truth or charity ; and which
discovered itself also in a sort of turn for adventure.
His Avhole tour through the Continent, from the time
he left Paris, Avas performed Avithout any other com
panion, than such as the casualties of the road might
throw in his Avay. And very frequently at home, he
made little excursions by himself; which, to most
people, Avould be the dullest thing imaginable, but
Avhich he Avas enabled, by this cast of character, to
enliven and diversify in such a manner, as not only
to enjoy them greatly himself, but to make them, by
the relation of what he had seen or done, a source
of innocent, and often of instructive pleasure, to his
friends; for his adventures, let it be remarked, had
usually something profitable, either to himself or
others, for their object, at least during the latter years
of his life, and not mere amusement or selfish gratifi
cation. A particular instance of this kind, which will, at
once, exemplify the turn of mind we ascribe to him,
and the manner in which he kneAV hoAV to sanctify its
indulgence, will not, perhaps, be unacceptable to the
reader. In 1791, he met with a pamphlet, containing
some account of a pious and poor man, Avritten by
himself. He was much affected and struck with this,
as containing some points in Christian experience,
which he had not entered into; and took a journey of
many miles, to see and converse with him. He combed
the poAvder out of his hair, wore an old great coat, and
introduced himself as a stranger in the place, wanting a
lodging. They soon became mutual friends, and much
instructive religious intercourse passed between therm
He staid four or five days, during Avhich he main
tained

MEMOIRS. 77
tained the whole family ; and left them, folloAved by
their blessings and prayers. He has since sent this
poor man five guineas annually ; but the object of his
charity has never known to Avhom he is indebted.
The folloAving is his own lively account of this ad
venture : — To Mrs. Pattrick. Dover, June 28, 1791.
FOR the basket maker I inquired, and easily found him, sit*
ting upon the step of his door ; before which, I presented myself, with
my green bag under my arm, into which I had stuffed a valuable black
coat; in which, however, I have not yet /dressed. *' So," said I,
" friend, you have taken such possession of your door, that one can
not well get in without your consent." " Why, Sir, if you have any
business with me, I can soon let you in." " Well, then, I shall walk
in." So, having introduced me into a tolerable back room, he said,
" Well, Sir, and what may your business be with me ?" " I am
tired," said I, " I'll sit down." I did so, and laid down my bundle ;
and told him of the heat of the day, to which he readily assented.
" Have you supped,'" said I; " No," said a good woman hard by,
" I was just thinking of preparing it 1" " Then," said I, " I am
come in good time, for as I am got into your house, I certainly shall
,not go without my supper." " Such as I have," said the man, " I'll
give ;— • but I have not the pleasure of knowing you." " Well, but,"
said I, " that is a defect, that time will probably correct ; — in the mean
while, How goes it with you ?" " I don't know what you mean,
Sir," said the man: ," Do you mean temporally or spiritually?"
" Why," said I, " you may answer me as to both." He did so, and
acknowledged he had cause for thankfulness respecting each. I soon
found by accent, expression, and deportment, that he was the man ;
and then I said, " Well ; though you don't know me, give me your
hand." — He did so, with a hearty good will. <; Well now," said I,
" you have given me your hand, and promised me a supper, but this
will not do ; you must give me morei" " What more, Sir ? — do you
mean a lodging ?" " Yes" — " That I cannot in my house, but I will
endeavour to get you one." " But not at an alehouse," said I. " Oh,"
said the woman, " I'll go to my neighbour Ellis's, and if I can't get
that, the Gentleman may have our's, and you and I can sit up."
However, to cut matters short, the bed was secured ; the bread, cheese,
and cold rabbit pie eaten ; — we got vastly well acquainted before the
repast was concluded. It was closed by his pouring out an excellent
prayer to the GOD of all our mercies ; and then he saw me to my apart
ment. He fetchqd me this morning to breakfast ; and has all day been
waiting upon me, and shewing me Dover. I purchased a quarter of
lamb, arid sent it in for dinner— and since then have retired to my tittle
prophet's

73 MEMOIRS.
prophet's chamber to take a nap, and write thus far of my" advent ui ¦?
to you — am now going to tea, take a walk, &c. so farewell.
That he was a man of a tender and feeling spirit,
will be easily gathered from these Memoirs. He was
of a modest and retired mind ; so much so indeed, as
to amount to reserve before strangers, though, among
his intimate friends, he Avas remarkably cheerful and
entertaining. He Avas formed for domestic life, and
no man enjoyed more than he the endearments of the
family circle; Avhich, indeed, he was peculiarly cal->
culated to enliven and improve. His groAvth in spiri
tuality of mind Avas strongly marked to the observa
tion of his nearest friends, in the ease with which he
relinquished many of those habits, to Avhich, for some
of the early years of his religious course, he was at
tached to a fault; such as the economy of his table,
in Avhich he had, at one time, displayed considerable
vanity. To mortify this vanity, or to reduce his ex-
pen ces that he might have more to give aAvay, was the
motive, probably, of that change, Avhich afterwards
took place in him, tOAvards this and all other things
of a similar nature.
As a CHRISTIAN, a conspicuous grace in his
character Avas Humility. His readiness at all times
to preach Avhen desired, and the apparent ease and
confidence which attended him in the Pulpit, have led
some to think, that his opinion of his own perform
ances must have been too good, to be easily reconciled
with such a state of mind. Perhaps his nearest friends
might once have entertained such a suspicion ; but
farther and very intimate acquaintance fully convinc
ed them, that these appearances, so far from denoting
secret pride and self-esteem, were the indications of true
humility. That man has certainly attained no ordinary
degree of self-mortification, who is willing- to be a
fool in the world's esteem, if he may but be Avise
enough to win souls; — Avho, Avith the lowest opinion of

MEMOIRS. f§
of his OAvn talents, yet shrinks not from any call of
duty, that -will bring them forward to observation,
but cheerfully, contentedly, and conscientiously oc
cupies Avith them, such as they are. This, so far as one
man can pretend, upon the best and fullest evidence
Avhich the nature of the case admits, to have attained
the knoAvledge of another's heart, is a true picture of
the mind of Mr. P. Such were his real feelings ; such
his real principles of action, as a minister of the Gos
pel of JESUS CHRIST.
If our brother failed in the exercise of this Chris
tian grace, it Avas, perhaps, chiefly Avhen he Avas re
monstrated Avith upon his favourite method of hand
ling the Scriptures. No doubt he thought it the best,
and possibly a peculiarly happy method; and Avhether
it Avas, that the injudicious approbation it too gene
rally met with, more than counterbalanced, by an in
sensible influence upon his prepossessed mind, the con
trary sentiments of friends, whom he was accustomed
to revere and listen to, or Avhatcver were the cause, yet
certainly on this point he avoided sometimes opportu
nities of being spoken to a second time; and it can
not but be remarked, that in his reply to his friend,
Avhose correspondence with him upon the subject Ave
haA^e given above, his mind seems rather borne doAvn
by the weight of authority, than convinced of its
error. GOD leaA^es his children to fail sometimes in
that very grace, in Avhich they seem habitually most
eminent; that he may lead us to abiding self-suspi
cion, and holy jealousy over our partialities and at
tachments, and may challenge to himself the un
mixed glory. We have not to draw the picture of
an Angel, but of a Man; and of a man compassed
with infirmity, like his fellow Christians; and yet, we
must be alloAved to say, standing, to the glory of
that grace which alone made him to differ, high in
the scale of Christian attainments.
Candour towards the ignorant and erroneous, was
a grace,

80 MEMOIRS.
a grace, in Aviiich he Avas not a little worthy of imita
tion. Many Avill recollect the kind and considerate
manner, in which he Avould endeavour to conciliate
those fellow-ministers, whose views were very diffe
rent from his OAvn. Possibly he might eAren go too
far, on some occasions; and, in his desire to conci
liate, might not sufficiently mark the things that dif
fer. But, certainly, in his motive and spirit, he
was truly Christian. The Spirit of God Avorks in
-gentle and loving frames. He Avho seats himself as
Judge, and especially he Avho takes up the Avhip of
the Executioner, -will almost inevitably do it in his
own spirit. It becomes a sinful worm, who OAves every
difference in his circumstances to Divine Providence,
and every difference in the operation of those circum
stances to Divine Grace; and Avho Avould have been,
therefore, himself, in like circumstances, the ignorant
or prejudiced opposer, Avhom he so severely censures;
it becomes such a man, to judge with reluctance, — to
utter his judgment only in cases of absolute necessity,
— and never to do it Avith harshness^ severity, or dog
matical pride. Where CHRIST hath given the au
thority and the charge, it becomes a duty to rebuke
sharply, if occasion of such rebuke occur: butj Avith
other persons, the servant of the LORD must not
strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, pa
tient; in meekness instructing those that oppose them
selves, if GOD peradventure will give them repent-
ance, to the acknowledging of the truth.
He Avas Charitable, to a more than usual extent,
even among those Avho rank high in Christian pro
fession. A tenth part of his income, there are good
grounds to believe, Avas devoted by him to charitable
purposes, in the earlier part of his religious life. There
is reason also to think, that, as he grew in grace and
in the knowledge o/'his Saviour, JESUS CHRIST,
his love Avas manifested, as by increasing in all the
other firuits of righteousness, so particularly by a-
bounding

MEMOIRS. 81
bounding in this grace also, beyond the proportion
just specified.
In Prayer, he possessed a very excellent talent. He
Avas copious, fluent, and had great choice of expres
sion ; especially in confession of sin ; in which part of
prayer, he Avas uncommonly searching to the consci
ences of those Avith Avhom fie prayed, and discovered
much experimental knowledge of the heart, as well as
great personal brokenness and contrition of spirit.
To say he was a very loyal subject, a faith
ful friend, an affectionate husband, a ten
der father, and a kind master, Avould be common
place; but never Avere any of these things said of any
man, Avith more truth than of George Pattrick.
He Avas truly exemplary in every relative duty; and
in caring for the souls of all with whom he was con
nected in any of the above-mentioned relations, in ap
plying reproofs, administering consolations, or giving
directions or advice, in praying with them and for
them, in conversing particularly and individually Avith
them on the state of their souls, in bearing Avith their
infirmities, forbearing threatening and severity, rea
dily forgiving what was wrong, and kindly encou
raging what Avas good ; in short, in doing every thing
both by doctrine and example, that Avas suited to pro
mote their eternal interests, and Avith a constant and
uniform zeal and affection, he has perhaps left feAv
equals, and certainly no superiors.

Mrs. P. Avas requested to give her view of Mr. P. 's
character. With this Ave shall close our own. ¦ " It
has always struck me," says she, " that the grace
which shone most conspicuously in my dear husband,
was Humility. He truly had the most mean and hum
ble opinion of himself* both as to his abilities as a
preacher, and in his attainments as a christian.
f I think

82 MEMOIRS.
I think the conviction of his natural depravity and
corruption, came nearer to Mr. Adam's' experience,
as related in his ' Private Thoughts,' than any thing
I have met Avith. Our blessed Saviour in all his
Offices and Undertaking, and most especially in his
Atonement for Sin, Avas a theme he ever dAvelt on
Avith gratitude and delight; and never seemed more
happy, than Avhen led to this subject, either in his
family devotions, or the more public exercises of his
ministry. " He took much pr.ins and time in his preparations
for preaching ; sometimes, he Avas afraid, too much,
lest it should be done more with a view to self-satis^
faction, than for the good of souls, though he felt it
his duty ; and when he had done, would frequently
remark, that the blessing and unction must come
from GOD alone, and that without that all the la
bours of the man, could avail nothing. He had the
poorest opinion of his discourses, and would often
lament how superficial they were ; ' and yet,' said he,
' the people do come to hear, therefore, I trust, they
Avill be accompanied by a blessing from GOD.' I
think it Avas this vieAV of himself, that made him fre
quently adopt the plans of Sermons, which he had
heard from others ; and it also accounts for some of
his Avritten Sermons being preached so often : Avhen
any friends, Avhose judgment he respected, expressed
approbation, he thought he Avas safe in using those
they approved.
" It may truly be said, he had no confidence in the
fiesh, but was willing to give all the glory of every
thing that was good to GOD ; and if at anytime I
spoke of the peculiar share of domestic comfort and
harmony Ave enjoyed together, he seemed almost afraid
of speaking of it, lest it should appear like boastihg,
and his constant reply was, ' My dear love, if we have
been mercifully preserved from those unhappy teftn
pers, which have embittered the lives 'of many, 'tis
owing

MEMOIRS. g3
owing intirely to the restraining and preventing grace
of GOD ; and Ave have as much need to pray for it,
and for a blessing on our union, as the first day we
married.' "¦ He Avas very silent in company, and often la-
mented that he had not a talent for more profitably
improving conversation ; and the conviction of this
made him very much avoid going into company lat
terly ; particularly if he knew there was to be a party,
and he expected to talk. The very idea of this effec
tually stopt up his mouth. When, indeed, it was the
Avish of any of his congregation, and he kneAV they
did it, Avith a vieAV to his expounding and praying
with them in the family, in that case he did not re
fuse ; but he never seemed so truly cheerful and com^
fortable, as Avhen Ave Avere quite alone together ; and
then he was always full of gratitude and praise.
" He often spoke of his temper as impatient and
fretful, and Iioav I must bear Avith his infirmities if he
was.spared to old age; and I have no doubt, but he
felt much of the inward contest between nature and
grace ; but this, I can affirm Avith strict sincerity, he
Avas enabled to overcome outwardly at least ; for, dur
ing the eleven years I had the great happiness of being
united to him, I never perceived in him any temper,
nor ever heard him utter a single word, that Avas in
consistent with his profession, either as a minister
or a christian. He Avas universally loved and re
spected wherever, Ave Avent; especially among the
pious poor. He had a liberty in converting and pray
ing Avith them, which he felt not in other company ;
'and, he always 'made it a point to find these out; and
when on a journey, or where he was not knoAvn,
would conceal his professional character, that there
might be less restraint.
"Mr. P. always had a particular taste for, and plea-
Sure in travelling ; but, of late years, he always laid it
in his plan, to blend and season it with religious in
tercourse. f 2 " I have

84 MEMOIRS.
" I have already mentioned his being much be
loved; and. I may Avith truth add, most by those
who kneAV him best. He never had a Servant, that
continued Avith him any time, but loved him as
a Parent; and these he never forsook, Avhen they
were no longer capable of continuing in their place.
A very old and faithful servant Avas taken out of this
Avorld, only three Aveeks before himself; who, in her
last days, Avas made comfortable, by his care and
kindness. " I never knew any one more tender of the cha
racter of another, nor less inclined to believe any
thing to their discredit, He ahvays made the most
candid alloAvances ; and, in some cases, Avhere I kneAV
he felt much, he Avas ahvays silent, and did not attach
blame to any one.
" In regard to myself, I could say much ; but, on
a subject so near my heart, I shall not have credit for
impartiality. HoAvever, I must add, that every thing
comprised in 'the most affectionate husband,
FAITHFUL FRIEND, WISE COUNSELLOR, AND KIND
reprover, i found in him. The LORD gave,
and the LORD hath taken away ; — Blessed be the
Name of the LORD !"

IN Conclusion we shall offer a single REFLEC
TION upon these Memoirs.
They, avho account such a character as that
of Mr. P. EVERY THING, and they, who
ACCOUNT IT NOTHING, do equally err.
Our friend's character as a Minister, Avas of that
kind, which is likely to be vieAved in extremes. The
insipidity of a perfectly tame character, Avhile it Avith-
holds from the man the tribute of applause, yet bears him.

c

MEMOIRS. 85
him harmless of censure. Where, on the other, hand,
the heart and the head combine to form a great and
rare character, he boAvs others before him as the heart
of one man. But, if there be any peculiar features,
as in the case of Mr. P. , the great majority of men
will applaud or censure, in proportion as they imagine
this character to approach tOAvards their OAvn habit
of thinking and feeling, and — its almost constant
offspring — their OAvn standard of excellence, or to re
cede from this habit and standard.
Many men may be found of sufficient discernment,
to acknoAvledge more than one standard of excellence;
and still more, Avho, under the influence of their feel
ings, Avill bow to the qualities Avhich they cannot imi
tate ; but the union of sound sense with true
candour is so unusual, that A^ery feAV indeed can be
found, who are both able and Avilling to appreciate
excellence according to the truth of things, and as it
stands related to certain effects under various circum
stances and in various spheres of action ; and yet, Ave
venture to say, that none but such persons -will form a
true and just estimate of the character of Mr. P.
Cold and phlegmatic men, because they possess
but little poAver of controling the affections of
others, and perhaps have seen that poAver abused,
Avould almost banish its use Avhere God has given
it, instead of laying it under salutary restraints, and
giving it a salutary direction. The Mathema
tician values nothing but proofs and demonstrations :
" It is very well," said an eminent mathematical
Professor, speaking of Paradise Lost, Avhich he had
been prevailed upon by a friend to read, " it is very
Avell; but it proves nothing !" The Metaphysician
.looks for subtle disquisitions ; the Logician searches
after syllogisms ; and the Elegant Scholar watches the
turning of the periods ; Avhile the Mass of Hearers
ahvays have, and always -will, bid high for no
thing but Emotion. But the Just and Competent Judge

56 MEMOIRS.
Judge inquires into tlie nature of the end pursued,
and the fitness of the means to that end, in the cir
cumstances under Avhich they Avere employed.
Let us apply these remarks to the case of Mr. P.
Whatever arrests the attention, will be deemed excel
lence, by the great body of hearers. This is their
only criterion, provided it be done Avith the great ar
ticles of Christian Truth ; for there is something in
the Gospel, and in the Gospel only, suited to the case
and necessities, the hopes and the fears, of man ; and,
however the body of hearers might be occasionally
arrested by something that even contradicted the
leading Truths of the Gospel, yet nothing but these,
though sometimes discoloured and distorted, can
habitually interest them. He, avIio so treats these
Truths, as to aAvaken the conscience and to rouse
the heart, will be Avith them Every thing! They
Avill make him their standard. They will hold him
up as a model. They Avill even adopt his pecu
liarities, and make them, perhaps, the chief subject
of their praise ! This Avas a ery much the case in the
present instance. We acknoAvledge Avith gratitude to
him, Avho raised up our brother for the benefit of -his
Church, the useful and impressive talents Avith Avhich
he Avas intrusted, and, above all, the grace given
him to ;employ those talents, with singleness of eye
and zeal of heart, to th^ glory of his Master; but Ave
cannot hold him up in all points as a pattern. There
Avere points in his Ministerial Character, Avhich every
Minister of CHRIST is bound to hold in high ho
nour, whether he have the ability to imitate them or
not ; hut there were other points, which he is as much
bound to avoid. We have endeavoured, Avith fidelity,
to mark out these things.
But, while Ave Avould correct, with tmie regard »to
the memory of Mr. P. this undiscerning applause, by
Avhat method shall Ave succeed? We do not find. iw
him that argumentative, discriminating, and compre hensive

MEMOIRS. §7
lien si Ve exhibition of Divine Truth, which belongs to
a different kind of mind, and which is very rarely
associated with the poAver of interesting and com
manding mankind ; but shall Ave, therefore, aim to
correct dne over-AVeening partiality, by opposing to it
another, Avhich has far less to be said in its behalf,
from the nature of man, and from its actual success
Avith men? Shall we account him Nothing, by
bringing him to the standard of Abstract Intellect, in
order to correct the error of those, who account him
Everything, by bringing him to the standard of
Mere Feeling ?
A wise and philosophical mind will never attempt
the correction of one extreme by another ; and will
consider, too, that for the remedy of any disorder to
be intitled to the name of a Right remedy, it must
depend as much upon the mode and measure of its ap-,
plication, as upon its nature. We may lament, that
the mass of hearers are not better informed and
more distinguishing ; that they do not more cultivate
their understandings and enlarge their views ; that they
are not, in short, better divines : — but if Ave expect
more of this kind from them, than observation and
experience shoAV to be possible, either in the nature of
man, or in the circumstances in Avhich he may be
placed ; or if, in attempting the salutary purpose of
their reform, we neglect or are unable to interest thfr
strong feelings of their nature, or overwhelm the un
derstanding, instead of opening and alluring it by easy
and gentle gradations ; in these cases, the blame of
unreasonable expectation, or of inevitable failure, lies
at our OAvn door.
It would be well for the Church and the World, if
christians would practically imbibe more of the '
spirit of the xiith and xiiith chapters of 1 Cor. and
would govern themselves in their judgment of each
other, and their conduct tOAvards each other, by the
principles inculcated in those Avonderful chapters. —
Covet

88 MEMOIRS.
Covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet
sheav i unto you a more excellent way. 
If, in this estimate of Mr. P.'s character, we should
offend, on the one hand, his injudicious advocates,
and, on the other, his uncandid censurers, we are so far
from lamenting this, that Ave account it an evidence,
that Ave have folloAved the line of true and just dis
crimination. Lord Mansfield observed to a friend :
— " Take it as the result of my long experience, that
those decisions which have left both parties dissatis
fied, have, almost Avithout exception, such is the par
tiality of men to their OAvn side of a question, been
those that I could ever after reflect upon with most
pleasure, as being conformed to the truth of things."

SUBSCRIBERS NAMES,
Received too late for the List at the end of the Volume.

Anon

a. g.
Goodwin, Mrs. Wycombe Marsh.

NONYMOUS, 2 copies. H.
B. Home, Rev. Melville, Macclesfield, iz cop.
Bates, Mrs. M. High Wycombe.
Biddle, A. E. Esq. Ditto. M.
Biddle, Mis. Ditto. Moid, Mis. Raynham.
Blanthorn, Mr. Iron Bridge, Salop. Mortimer, Mr. Thomas, Fleet Street, a 2d cop.
Botficld, Mrs. Malinsloi, Salop. P.
C. Price, Rev. James, High Wycombe.
Cdx, Mrs. MadeleyWood. R.
D. Russel, Mr. Stubbs, North Ockingdon,
Dickenson, Rev. John, Blimhill, Staffordsh. Essex.
F. W.
Folgham, Mr. Fleet Street, 2 copies. Wheatley, Mr. Thomas, Madeley.
Fell, Mr. Old Change, a 2d copy. Williams, Rev. W.B. B.A. High Wycombe.

SERMONS.

SERMON I.
CHRIST THE WAY.

i.

JOHN, Chap. xiv. Ver. 6.
I am the Way — .
CHRIST is every thing with a believer, and sermon
every thing to him; but, to one Avho is not
a believer, CHRIST is nothing but a Name;
and, of the bulk of those who are called
by this Name, few, in comparison, are really
christians. We live, hoAvever, in a coun
try, that professedly espouses CHRIST, as the
Object of our Faith, the Head of our Church,
the Way of access to the fiingdom, and the
Joy and Glory of the future and eternal World.
And, short as we may fall of the real expe
rience, of the power of CHRIST in the heart;
yet, so long as we call ourselves, after his
name, christians, Ave cannot reasonably ob
ject to the hearing of CHRJST— to having him
held out, as the constant and invariable tfterhe
b 2 of

4 CHRIST THE WAY.
sermow 0f 0lfr public exhortations, and as the lead-
.  ing and most conspicuous feature of all our
religious functions.
The candidate for fame, eminence, and per
fection, in any line of profession, will always
hear with pleasure the maxims, and Avalk Avith
diligence and vigour in the ways and pre
scribed paths, of the patrons or masters of the
respective lines or sciences, Avhich they are pro
secuting. To arrive at eminence and perfec
tion, then, in divine and heavenly things, Ave
must look up to a divine and heavenly Head.
Seek you the wealth of Heaven, the honours
of GOD, and a state independent of men and
things? Come unto me, then, saith CHRIST,
/ am the Way. Seek you a great estate,
great conquests, great triumphs? — would you
be croAvned with laurels, decked Avith robes,
invested with regal splendour, and installed in
the mansions and thrones of blissful immorta
lity and glory?— Well, then, saith CHRIST,
I am the Way, and there is no other Way.
?MAT.vii.i4. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth to life; referring to the oneness and
singleness of the entrance; not restraining, or
limiting, the numbers that shall enter, but the
Way in. There is but one Way in. The door
opens,

SERMON I. 5
opens, as it were, but upon one hinge: it opens sermon
but in one person ; but it opens wide enough to '
admit all, Avho are willing to enter; so'that, al
though there be not salvation in any other, yet, Acts iv. 12.
in and by the name of JESUS, all who thirst
after the kingdom, and burn Avith heavenly de
sire and ardour to possess it, shall find an abun
dant entrance. Come unto me, then, saith
CHRIST, for lam the Way.
It Avill be my present attempt to point out,
more particularly,
I. Hoav CHRIST is the way of salva
tion; and
II. Some of the privileges, to which,
AS THE AUTHOR OF SALVATION, HE IS THE
avenue; and if the influence of the HOLY
SPIRIT, for which we are accustomed to pray,
be vouchsafed, our labour will not be in vain.
L We are, then, to consider, HOW CHRIST
IS THE WAY OF SALVATION.
He is the Way, by his Covenant-engage
ment, entered into with the FatHer, before
the worlds were made, and ratified and sealed with

0 CHRIST THE WAY.
sermon with "blood, in the fulness of time: and, sub-
' sequent to this covenant-engagement and de
pendent upon it, he is the Way, b}r the Doc
trines that he taught, the Life which he lived,
and the Example that he set; by the Sufferings
and Death which he endured; by his glorious
Resurrection from the dead, his Ascension into
Heaven, and his present Session there. Thus
has he been, and thus he still is, the Way of
salvation ; the Way, by which and through which
alone, the Kingdom of Heaven is opened to
believers. The conditions Avere broken, of that Covenant
of Works, or the conditional salvation and hap
piness, that GOD had granted our forefather
Adam, the representative and federal head of
all our race. Happiness Avas lost, and death,
the penalty of disobedience, was incurred. The
nature and attributes of GOD being consider
ed, a difficulty occurs, How. the sentence of
death could be remitted — pardon granted — and
eternal life bestoAved, consistently with those
attributes; GOD being holy, just, and true,
as Avell as merciful and benignant, in his nature,
Luke x. 28 This do, and thou shalt live; but, the soul that
Kz. xviu. 4, gimieth, it shall die. The Law of GOD, which-
entitles ;to eternal Life, we have not obeyed^ the

SERMON J, \
*
the Sin, which' entails everlasting Death, we sermon
have committed. To wave, therefore, the argu- *
ments and proofs, that would conclude us sin
ners, in the share and effects descending to us
from original transgression; the sins of pur
practice, as well as that of our nature., bring us
within the influence and description of the
curse, and render salvation impracticable, and
utterly impossible, consistently with the decla
rations of a Being that cannot lie ; except some
way can be found out, Avhereby mercy and ]*>v$
may be dispensed to sinners, compatibly with th*
righteousness and veracity of GOD, who has
pronounced the sentence* Then^ says CHRIST,
I am the Way.
A Covenant of Grace, originating in thp
counsels of GOD, before the worlds wer*
made, contracted between the Father and th$
Son, to counteract and defeat the foreseen ma»
lice of Satan's seduction of our first parents,
prepares and makes ready this Way. The trans*-
gression of the first covenant being atoned for,
and satisfaction rendered by CHRIST to the
broken Law ; and the performance of all righte
ousness and obedience to the will and cpm-
mandment of GOD, on the part and behalf of
sinners, being accomplished by CHRJST, and
admitting

8 CHRIST THE Way.
sermon admitting of imputation and transfer to every
.____„ believer, Avho trusts to them as the means pro-
videdi— these are effectual to the purposes of
justifying believing sinners, delivering them
from the curse of eternal death, and reopening
to them the gates of everlasting life.
PiEB.vii.22. As the Surety, therefore, of a better Co
venant, and the maker of man's peace with
GOD, CHRIST is the Way. And this is the
most essential point of vieAv, in Avhich he is to
be seen, as the Way of salvation ; because there
is no Way but this, which man never could
hare devised, for pardon and eternal life ever to
be extended to sinners, consistently Avith the
truth, justice, and holiness, of that Almighty
Being, avIio cannot lie, and Avho pronounced
the curse. But, through this Way, the very
justice, righteousness, and truth of GOD,
"which, without it, made against the transgres
sor, are hoav all engaged in his favour, and se
cure to the objects and subjects of GOD's
eternal love, the redemption and reconciliation,
to which CHRIST is the Way.
That we may have a vieAv of this, i. e. how
the righteousness and justice of GOD are en
gaged in the believer's favour, let us consi der,

SERMON I. 9
der, that, the demand of any law, in the full- sermon
est operation of its poAvers, can extend no fur- '
ther, than to the performance of the condi
tions it stipulates for, or to the payment of
the penalty annexed to the breach of them.
If neither the one nor the other of these take
place, the law has no further demands. Death
is the penalty incurred by man, on the trans
gression of the divine laAV, and death, through
the medium of the Surety, is the penalty
suffered. CHRIST, inthe fulness of time, sent Gal. iv. 4.
forth according to his covenant-engagement,
made of a woman, made under the Law, suffered
death for sin, the just for the unjust; and iPET.iii.18.
the Gospel, Avhich we preach, authorizes us to
believe, that GOD, the offended party, accepts
death in the Surety, as the satisfaction that
acquits the parties for whom he is bound.
Thus the sentence of death is superseded, and
deliverance from Hell is effected.
And, because deliverance from Death and
Hell gives no claim to Heaven and eternal
life; and, because life everlasting is the re
ward of perfect obedience — this do, and thou Luke x. 28.
shalt live; CHRIST, the Surety of the co
venant of grace, performs the whole will of
GOD, in the body prepared for him, before the Heb. x. 5.
foun-

10 CHRIST THE WAY.
sermon foundations of the world; that, in the same
' manner as the satisfaction and atonement which

he made, so, the merits of his obedience
might be imputed to the parties, for whom he
was bound, and give them a right and title to
the reward of eternal life. Hence, then, the
Law being thus honoured, in the satisfaction
rendered it by a Surety, by his performance of
its duties and demands; and GOD, in his
covenant of redemption, that was settled from
all eternity, having agreed to these conditions;
the justice, truth, and all the attributes, of
Deity, are engaged in the believer's favour, to
secure to him all that is necessary to his salva^
tion. The condition, therefore, on which we look
forward to the regained paradise, is changed to
believing and relying on the work of CHRIST.
I do not mean, however, a dead, empty, and
unfruitful faith; because the faith, to which
the Gospel calls, is faith Avhich purifies the
heart and life ; but still, the condition on which
man, under the covenant of grace, obtains eter
nal life, is not by the righteousness of the Law,
but the obedience of Faith. This is the sub-
Rom. x. s, stance of the Apostle's testimony to the Ro*
, 6'3, mans: — Moses describeth the righteousness which

SERMON I. It
/
which is of the Law, That the man which docth sermon
those things shall live by them. But the righ-  — — .
teousness, which is of Faith, speaketh on this
wise  // thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord JESUS, and shalt believe in thine
heart, that GOD hath raised him from the
dead, for thy justification, thou shalt be saved.
Thus, in the plan, devised in eternity and
executed in the fulness of time, attributes, that
never could have been reconciled, without some
divine expedient, unfathomable by the limited
powers of man, are all harmonized and coalesce
thro' the medium, and in the way, that JESUS
CHRIST hath opened for us, in his person ; in
whom, mercy and truth are met together, righ
teousness and peace have kissed each other.
This, then, is the grand and fundamental in
stance, in which CHRIST is the Way to every
thing essential to the recovery and salvation
of the sinner; resulting from his mediatorial
engagements, on the part and behalf of sin
ners, being completely discharged and perform
ed by his active and passive obedience.
II. CHRIST is the Way to all the PRIVI
LEGES, and the different branches or parts, of
which salvation consists. Some of these Pri
vileges shall be mentioned. 1. He

Ps. lxxxv.
10.

J2 CHRIST THE WAY.
sermon J, HE IS THE AVAY TO THE FATHER. But
 '.  for the mediation and work of CHRIST for
his people, none could have had access to
GOD. The gate of Paradise was shut, and
his face Avas set against the transgressors.
Gen. iii. 24. Cherubims and a flaming SAVord, every way
kept the Tree of Life, from man's access.
The just and unappeased anger of GOD must
have perpetually breathed vengeance, could he
not have been approached through a Mediator.
But, through a Mediator, Avho could satisfy
and atone for every violence, which had been
offered to the honour of GOD and the sanc
tions of his LaAv, GOD is Avell pleased to be
2C0R.V.19. entreated. In JESUS CHRIST, he is seen,
reconciling the world unto himself; and Ave
have thus, to make use of a familiar idea, a
friend at court; a friend in the administration
of Heaven; a Joseph; a brother, on Avhose
friendship we can rely; an advocate, whose
pleadings are infallibly prevailing: we have a
peace-maker; and, though shut out and justly
banished our Heavenly Father's court, yet, by
Heb. x. 20. the new and living Way, which JESUS CHRIST
hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that
is to say, his fiesh, both jeav and gentile
Eph. ii. is. have access, by owe" SPIRIT, unto the Father.
Hee. x. 19. We enter with boldness into the holiest; we
claim

SERMON I. 13

claim a pardon, purchased at the expence of sermon
the Surety's blood; and are authorized to be- , 
lieve, that, peace being thereby made, GOD
noAv receives us, not only as pardoned, but acj
cepted; accepted as sons and daughters of a re
conciled Father in CHRIST JESUS.
We have not only a Pardon in CHRIST, but
a Patrimony; an Inheritance; a Father's Love.
The anger of JEHOVAH being turned away,
and belie\Ters standing before him in the Re
deemer's righteousness, as adopted children they
behold their Fathers face adorned Avith smiles,
and all the attributes of Deity— Omnipotence,
Wisdom, Justice, and Mercy, no longer the
objects of terror and doubt, but of jay and
confidence, through CHRIST, by whom we have r.om. v. 2.
access by faith into this grace wherein zee stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD. The
Avay to his presence has been laid open, not
partially and for a time only. The interces
sion of CHRIST, grounded upon the sacrifice
of himself, is of perpetual efficacy. He is
still, and ever will be, the way for all, who
are willing and desirous to approach the throne
of the Father.
Under whatever disadvantages Ave may la-
hour, from the accumulated force of sinful ha
bits,

14 CHRIST THE WAY.

sermon bits, and the "depths of iniquity in which wc
_'. , ., have been immersed, yet there is an absolute
ground of hope to the sinner, who flies for re*
fuge to CHRIST, and relies only' on the effi-
eacy of his work and mediation, who is able
Heb.vu.25. to save them to the. uttermost, that come unto
John x. 9. GOD £3/ him. I am the door, said he, by me
if any man eiiter in, he shall be saved. As by
one doort— Sin, death and the miseries of mor-
Rom. v. 12, tality entered* and the curse passed upon all
men, in the sentence denounced upon Adam;
so by thejighteousness of one, CHRIST JESUS,
are many made righteous: yea, all that shall
ever inhabit the blessed regions of light and
glOry, must enter by him, who hath " opened
the kingdom of Heaven to all believers," by
the virtue, merits, and efficacy, of the work
Acts iv. 12. which he hath wrought. As there is no other
name, . so .there is no other work, no other Avay,
gisren amongst, or proclaimed to, men, whereby
they xan be saved.
' : 2.'\A Second inestimable privilege, which JE
SUS. CHRIST is the Way to attain, is pu
rity AKD* HOLINESS OF H\EA&T AND LIFE;
for, in whomsoever the Saviour dwells by
faith, there is a renewed and transformed na
ture; the dispositions and affections of the
heart

SERMON r. 15

heart are sanctified by his SPIRIT; and thug, ssrmow
he becomes the Way to Holiness; the HOLY -
GHOST enabling the believer to appropriate
all that is in the Surety for his people, to
himself, and thus shedding abroad that love
in his heart, which constrains him to holy obe
dience. The same Spirit of Adoption,
which enables the believer to enjoy his recon
ciliation with GOD, and to glory in his rela
tion to him, diffuses his sanctifying influences
through the whole man, purifying him as GOD UoHNiii.3
is pure; like seed sown in good ground, of,
like leaven hid in measures of meal, where good MAT.xi#.8,
corn is constantly produced in the one instance,
and the whole mass is leavened in the other.
The holiness of believers is assimilated, by our
LORD himself, to the fertility of tlie en
grafted vine. I dm the true Vint  Abide in Johnxv. 1,
me, and I in you: As the branch cannot hear 4j 5*
fruit vf itself, except it abide in the Vine; no
more can ye, except ye abide in ME. I am the
vine, ye are the branches. Ht that abideth in
"StE, and I in hini, the same bringeth forth
wrath fruit :for wifhoui me, ye can do nothing.
Thus, through the operation of tlie HOLT
GHOST, JESUS CHRIST is the Way whereby
^believers in him are sanctified, and mademcet Cot. i. 12.
to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints
in light. 2. A

16* CHRIST THE WAY.

sermon 3. A Third privilege, to Avhich CHRIST is
' the Way, is true peace of mind. The
Scripture says, by the apostle : — Being justified
Rom. v. i. by faith, we have peace with GOD, through our
LORD JESUS CHRIST. This is, indeed, a
Phil. iv. 7. peace which passeth all understanding, Avhich
it transcends the united efforts of the Avorld to
John xiv. give. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give
unto you : not as the world giveth, give Junto
xvi. 20. you. Ye shall be sorrowful for a season, but your
. sorrow shall be turned into joy  your heart
22. shallrejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
; And, truly, infinite are the joys and peace, that
result from .believing in, and resting the soul's
besk interests and eternal salvation upon, the
finished work of CHRIST. Here, their peace
Is.l.xvi. 12. is extended like a river, the streams whereof
make glad the city of GOD ; and is apreliba-
tion to their drinking of the fountain of life
hereafter. In fine, were we to speak of wisdom,
honour, wealth, perfection, and of every desir^
able attainment and possession, in the best sense
of these things that might be named — to all of
these, JESUS is the Way, and the only Way,
i say, in the best sense, for all wisdom, but that
which flows from him, is folly; all other, ho
nour, disgrace ; wealth is poverty ; and perfec tion,

Ps. xlvi. 4.

SERMON I. 17

tion, the mere creature of imagination : but the sermon
Avisdom connected Avith him, and to which he ,

i.

is the Way, is the wisdom from above ; the James iii.
honour, such as the LORD confers on his ps. cxiix. 9.
saints; the wealth, that which neither moth nor MAT.vi.20.
rust doth corrupt; the perfection, to be trans- R0M.viii.29.
formed into his image here, and to be Hke
him, when zee shall see him as he is. J JoHN '"•
2.
4. To sum up all, the Messiah, by the doc
trines which he taught — by his holy life and
conversation — by his obedience unto death —
by the influence of his SPIRIT, reneAving
our will, and sanctifying our nature — and by
His perpetual pleading, before the mercy-seat,
of the atonement Avhich he made for sin upon
the Cross, and the everlasting righteousness
which he wrought out, — is the consecrated
Way, by AA'hich all, who are willing to walk in
him, may, and assuredly shall, obtain an en
trance into the Kingdom of Heaven.
The pride of man has made many exceptions
to this Way, and would ever prefer some other;
but this is the Way, Avhich the LORD hath
appointed, and thieves and robbers shall they
be accounted, who attempt to scale the city
of the New Jerusalem by any other. Their
c labour

18

CHRIST THE AVAY.

SER

liM0N labour also Avill end in disappointment, as their
- attempt is presumption and blasphemy.
In the application of our subject, viz.
CHRIST, the Way to glory, I Avould ob
serve Three distinct predicaments, in which avc
may stand respecting him.
I. We may ReceiVe him as such, and look
for the salvation to Avhich he leads, and,
guided by the HOLY SPIRIT, walk in him;
in which case, if the Scriptures be of GOD,
we shall inherit everlasting life.
2. We may Reject him as the Wav, either
from principles of infidelity, or determined im-
penitency from the love of sin; in which case,
there can be no salvation, upon the plan of the
Bible. S. We may receive CHRIST as the Way;
acknowledge him to be the only avenue to real
happiness and life everlasting, and yet walk on
in the world's broad Way, that leads to misery
and eternal death. Not a few are, I fear, in
volved in this description ; nor will the future
portion of these be less tormenting, than that of
those, who have never known the Way of life,
nor professed to own and adopt it. A faith pro-

SERMON r, 15

professed in JESU's blood and righteousness, sermon
will avail nothing to licentious and unreneAved „ - , ¦¦
professors, unless it be to enhance their hypo
crisy and guilt, and to accumulate the bitter
reAvards of it. There are those who own and
believe, that CHRIST is the Way; Avho think
and design, some future day, to walk in him :
—But remember the foolish virgins. They Max. xxv.
slept: their lamps Avere not furnished with the
oil of grace. They went, indeed, to buy; but,
at their return, they found the bridegroom had
passed by: the Way was no longer open; the
doors were shut.
The self-application of this similitude is easy.
May the LORD enable you faithfully to apply
it ! You are living, many of you, in the midst
of your sins; and the wages of sin is death. Rom.vi.23«
But the Way of life, the Way of pardon, the
Way of peace, is before you, CHRIST is that
Way; and, so long as his Gospel be sounded
in your ears, the door is open. Mercy now
courts your notice, and offers abundant en- £p£T.i. 11.
trance. Say not in your hearts, There is no
place of torment, or there is no heaven of joy :
if there should be— the very possibility, if we
were wise men, would determine our choice;
for, if there be, and the only Way that
c 3 saves

60 CHRIST THE WAY.

i.

sermon saves from the one and secures the other, be re
jected, Death's approaches will be aAvful in
deed, discovering Paradise twice lost by sin,
and the sentence of the second death on the
eve of being confirmed and ratified for ever.
The LORD forbid, that any of us should re
main deaf and insensible to the voice of mercy,
till the Way of Life and the Door of Hope be
closed for ever !

SERMON

SERMON II.
CHRIST THE TRUTH,

n.
PS. xxxix. 5i

JOHN, Chap. xiv. Ver. 6.
I am — the Truth.
OUR days are but as an hand-breadth. The sermow
term of man's life is both short and uncertain.
Yet there is a certain point to be attained,
and a certain treasure found, of infinite im
portance, as they regard Eternity. Since the
space for seeking is so short, and the object of
search so great, diligence and great care are
necessary, that herein Ave commit no fatal mis
take. The Object is TRUTH. Truth is not,
like Happiness, uniA'ersally pursued. Happi
ness, or pleasure, in one form or other, i-e a
general object of pursuit, though, for the most
part, 'tis the shadow, rather than the substance,
which men pursue.
Mankind look at happiness through different
mediums; and, therefore, vary in their ideas of

22 CHRIST THE TRUTH.
sermon 0f that, in Avhich they imagine it to consist.

it.

Some, avIio are Avise and judicious, see, that
Truth and Happiness are one and the same;
and that JESUS CHRIST is that Truth, as
he himself has declared : — / am the Truth.
There can be no real happiness, therefore, Avith
out CHRIST ; for, the Aery essence of extreme
and eternal misery consists in a total separa
tion and absence from him; and, Avith CHRIST
in the heart, as an abiding portion, there can
be no absolute misery, but, on the contrary, a
never-failing source of joyj
The Avords of the Text, then, teach us, that
Truth and Happiness are one; since they cen-
Jchn xvii. tre in the Saviour, whom to know is eternal
life.

3.

The general idea of Truth, as respecting
things of an eternal nature, and as connected
with, and put for, the person of JESUS CHRIST,
will occupy our present attention.
I. Truth, in the general idea of the term, is
that, which all rational and thinking men pro
fess to admire and seek after ; yet, the mind
of man is so perverted, that, notAvithstanding
the universal veneration pretended for Truth, she

SERMON II. 23

n.

she is only then acceptable, Avhen she visits sermon
them agreeably habited ; Avhen she comes Avith .
a pleasing aspect, fancifully drest, bringing a
present with her, and bearing a pleasant mes
sage, Ave bid her welcome; but, if she come
divested of the embellishments of exterior ad
dress and ornament, Ave don't knoAv her,---we
are not at home, — Ave refuse to see her: but
if she force an entrance, and approach with a
froAvn, a stab, or the home-thrusts of reproof,
she is considered as a rude and uncourtly, if
not a cruel, visitor; is indignantly dismissed
from our doors, as a bold intruder, and those
concerned in introducing, or bringing her
home, to the house of the heart, are considered
in the light of enemies. Falsehood, specious-
ness, and vanity, coming to our doors more
pleasantly habited, presenting a smiling face,
a bribe, and a soft message, gain access to the
heart, and poison the soul, Avhile they please
the sense.
But what is Truth? Truth stands opposed
to every thing, which is not original, real, and
genuine. She has no recourse to flattery, me
retricious ornament, subterfuge, or reserve; but
represents things just as they are, Avithout once
pausing to consider^ Avhether her representa tions

2-i CHRIST THE TRUTH.

II.

sermon tions Avill prove acceptable, or othenvise, to*
- those who consider them. Truth proposes a
real statement of facts, as connected Avith every
circumstance, to Avhich she is called upon to
bear tcstimonAr; Avhether in the Avorld of philo
sophy and science, the Avorld of commerce, or
that of civil, moral, or religious profession.
In all things, except those Avhich are con
nected Avith Eternity, mankind are, in general,
jealous for Truth. The man, Avho charges ano-
ther Avith the dereliction of it, is thought Avor-
thy of immediate chastisement, even at the
risk of the chastiser's life ; but, concerning
things of a divine and eternal nature, the lie
may be given to GOD, and it is daily given,
Avhile scarcely any are found anxious' to point
out the satisfaction, which his injured honour
justly claims. Nay, the very naming satisfac-
tion, as Avhat JEHOVAH's honour and bro
ken laAV demand, on account of every individual
transgression, and Avhich the Lamb of GOD,
by the sacrifice of himself, has provided, is
offensive in the ears of those, who live in the
- belief of their OA\n lie. But this by the way.
I might have contented myself Avith observing,
that, hoAveA'er jealous men are for the Truth,
and hoAvever vigorously they will fight her
battles,

SERMON II. 2a
"battles, for the visionary and paltry objects sermox
connected with the life that noAV is, they are _  ' —
pretty much relaxed, in their researches after
Truth, as connected with GOD, the present
state of man's soul, and its future and eternal
happiness or misery in another Avorld, But
then, II. CHRIST saith, my kingdom is not 6f JoHN xviii<
this world; therefore, Avhen he calls himself 3<5-
the Truth, it is to be noticed with reference
to a future state — another world. In short,
Truth, in a. religious sense; GOD, Heaven,
and the Soul; things of a spiritual and divine
nature; the satisfaction Avhich divine justice
demanded for the sins of man; how justice and
mercy unite and harmonize, in accomplishing ,. Ki3t
man's redemption; the deliverance of a sin
ner's soul, from the just sentence of eternal
death; and how GOD is, and shall be, glo
rified, in the accomplishment and perfection
of such a salvation ; — these are the things and
objects, which CHRIST regards, when he says
in the Text, / am the Truth : and Truth, as
it respects these things, is put for all the doc
trines, precepts, promises, and prescribed Avaj^s
and avenues to that salvation, which the Gos
pel of CHRIST reveals ; that truth of the G ospel
itself.

26* chrtst the truth.

sermon itself, for which the Apostle contends, wheri
j—  he reproves the Galatians, for cleaving W
Gal. iii. 2. legal ceremonies: — Who hath bewitched youf
that ye should not obey the Truth, before whose
eyes JESUS CHRIST hath been evidently set
forth, crucified among you ?
The Text speaks of Truth, not as regarding
the things of Heaven and Eternity in general,
so much as the Mediatorship of him, by whom
the heaA'enly inheritance, and the soul's bles
sedness, are obtained and secured for believers.
There are many Avays to Heaven, in the mis
taken apprehension of different persons ; but
St. Paul has respect to one only true way,
ai, hen he writes to the Ephesians, on the sub-
Eph.iv. 21. ject of divine teaching: — If so be that ye
have heard him, and have been taught by him,
as the Truth is in JESUS.
Are there diversities of opinions amongst
mankind? Is there a prophet, or a dreamer of
dreams, talking about this and the other sys
tem of salvation, and the way to Heaven, say*
Deut. xiij. ing, Let us go after other Gods, which thou
hast not known, and let us serve them? Thou
sl^alt not hearken unto the words of that pro
phet, or that dreamer of dreams. If you are
in-

SERMON It. 27

SERMON II.

inquiring the Way to glory, JESUS says, lam
the Truth. *
The Truth, therefore, and the preaching of
the Truth, implies, holding forth all the doc
trines of the Gospel, which contain, proclaim,
and prescribe, a remedy for the souls of men,
diseased by the fall ; and for the evil consequences,
of every kind, thence resulting to Adam's sin
ful posterity. It paints the state of man, as
exactly conformable to the inspired Avord; and,
regardless of every other system or scheme of
salvation, Avhich man's Avisdom, or rather folly,
hath invented, it, simply and plainly, holds
forth the Avay, Avhich GOD hath appointed;
speaks of sin and the consequences of it, in the
light, in Avhich GOD himself hath placed it;
denies all possibility of escaping the wrath to
come, or of obtaining the reAvard and blessed
ness of saints in glory, but through the merits
and advocacy of him, Avho stiles himself the
Truth. Whence, therefore,

III. We are led to £peak of the Truth, not only
as connected Avith, but put for, JESUS CHRIST
himself, Avho, in the Avords of the Text, repre
sents himself, not so much the Way to Truth,
as Truth itself. We know not whither thou ver. 5.
goest,

II.

28 CHRIST THE truth.
sermon goest, said Thomas, and how can u>e know the
way? I$m the Way, said CHRIST, and I am
Me Truth; by which he connects Personality
with the idea of Truth; whenceTruth is not only
an Object, but the object itself, in which
eveiy other object, contributing to the happi
ness of a believer, consists and centres. The
Truth, then, is one of the appellations, by
which the Saviour has thought fit to distin
guish himself. The divine and holy nature
of JESUS is evident in this name, Avhich he
has chosen to assume.

1. The Word, the Light, the Life, Avith
many more that might be instanced, imply the
Divinity of his nature, as they designate some
of the essential parts and characters of it. For
1 John iv. example; GOD is Love, and love in that sense,
to which are annexed properties, which are in*
communicable to any person or character not
divine in nature. It is thus with the Truth,
which, both expressing the character and pro
ducing the effects of Deity, implies no less than
the Deity itself, in the person of JESUS
CHRIST. This shall be illustrated in one in-
John vm. stance, Qur Lord says, If ye continue in my
word, then are ye my disciples indeed ; and ye
vm.36". s}mu know the Truth, and the Truth shall
make

SERMON II. g^
make you free  and if the Son shall make sermdw
you free, he adds, ye shall be free indeed. '
The freedom here mentioned, as is evident
from \rerse 34, is freedom from sin; imply
ing, in the first instance, diA~ine pardon of the
sin of our nature, and, in the second, the exer
cise' of that power, which alone can restrain
from the practice of it. Who can forgive s'ms, Mark ii.7.
said the people, but GOD only? If, then, Luke v. 21.
CHRIST forgives sin, and if the Truth makes
free from sin, one and the same instance of
divine power, which can only originate in, or
proceed from, GOD, attributed indiscriminately
to GOD— to Truth— to CHRIST, implies
the sameness of the person, under whatsoever
description the HOLY GHOST sees good to
point him out to us.
Both the Saviour, then, and the Salvation,
of which he is the author, are described under
the idea of the. Truth. Noav, though our
Lord, as a Sovereign, has a right to absolute
descriptions and representations of himself,
he seldom, if ever, assumes any name or appel
lation absolutely, without evident and conspi
cuous reasons for it, either assigned by his
word, or of which it may easily fall within our
comprehension to trace out the meaning. Thou Mat. i. 21.
shalt tall his name JESUS, for he shall save' HIS

50 CHRIST THE TRUTH,

sermon his people from their sins; the name JESUS
implying a Saviour. They shall call his name

n.

Mat. 1. 23. Emmanuel, zchick, being interpreted, is, GOD
with us.
But the variety of names, by Avhich JESUS
CHRIST is distinguished, Ave must leave; and
confine ourselves to that in our Text, by Avhich
he is pleased to call himself — the Truth,
perhaps, Avith a special regard to these two or
three things; as if he had said: — " I am the
author and source, the sum and substance, the
way to and the perfection of Truth, which never
can be attained through any other channel. I
am the Truth, as all the legal types and anci
ent promises are fulfilled in me; and I am the
Truth, as I attest the Truths of GOD, and
teach you the true and the sure way to Hea-
John viii. vex." As Satan is a liar, and the father of
44- lies, so JESUS CHRIST is the Truth, and the
author of it. The Saviour has both Light
and Truth in himself, and from himself.
He is the fountain, whence light or truth is de-
Col. ii. 3. rived to all others. In him are hid all the trea-
John i. 17. sures of wisdom and knowledge. The law was
given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by
JESUS CHRIST. Neither desire, nor love, of
the truth, have place in the heart, concerning things

SERMON II. SI

filings of a spiritual nature, till CHRIST, as the sermon
dispenser of truth, cause the sacred seed to be 
sown, and to take deep root in the soul. And
when this principle is implanted, and a true hun
gering and thirsting after the Truth 'as it is in EpH.iv.21.
JESUS, is experienced in the soul, then the
believer is able to see, in a measure, that CHRIST
is the Truth, as possessing, in substance, all
that the types and ceremonies under the Old
Testament dispensation represented. These were
but shadows of things to come. The great anti- Col. ii. 17.
type Avas JESUS, in whom dwelleth all theful- Hee. x. 1.
ness of the Godhead bodily.
Was the rock smitten in the wilderness, and Col. ii.9.
came there thence the refreshing streams, that Ex- xv»-
made glad the drooping spirits of the Israel- Numb. xx.
ites, famishing Avith thirst? — then behold, in
the NeAV Testament, that true Rock revealed,
of which the Apostle asserts that they all drank 1 Cor.x.4.
in the Avilderness. The Manna, also, on
which they fed, Avas CHRIST in the type or Ex. xvi.
symbol; but, in the New Testament, CHRIST j0HN viij.
is revealed in the truth of his OAvn substance;
as he himself said, I am the living bread John™.
which came down from Heaven, that a man 50' 51"
may eat thereof, and not die. I am the true
Water of Life, of Avhich whosoever drinketh shall John iv. 14.
never

52 CHRIST THE TRUTH.
sermon never thirst; but the water that I shall givd
.  him, shall be in him a well of water springing
up unto everlasting life.
Were sacrifices offered under the Jewish law;
Heb.ix. 13. the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of
an heifer sprinkling the unclean ? and had they
any efficacy to produce the ends intended to
be subserved thereby ? Yes ; inasmuch as,
through these shadoAvs, the offerers looked to
the glorious substance of them. Behold, saith
CHRIST, / am the Truth — the Sacrifice —
Heb.ix. u. the Propitiation: How much more shall my
blood, through the Eternal SPIRIT offered
upon the altar of my cross, purge your con
sciences from dead works, to serve the living
GOD? "
Ex. xii. The paschal Lamb was slain, and the sprink
ling of its blood, upon the lintel and the door
posts of the houses of the Israelites in Egypt,
restrained the destroying angel's entrance. A
male, a firstling of the flock, Avithout blemish
or spot, yielded its life, Avithout murmuring or
resistance. This constituted the Jewish passo-
ver. But, in the Gospel, the true Lamb is
John i. 29. revealed. Behold, saith John the Baptist, the
Lamb of GOD, which taketh away the sin of
the

SERMON II. 33

the world — even JESUS CHRIST, who did no sermon n.

sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who
when he was reviled, reviled not again; when , 22—23"
he suffered, he threatened not ; but committed
himself to him, that judgeth righteously :
Who his oavn self bare our sins, in his own
body, on the tree, and by whose stripes' ye were
healed. This was the true Paschal Lamb,
and every conscience, sprinkled by faith with
the blood poured from the wounded side of
CHRIST, or, in other words, every believing
soul, cleansed from sin by the efficacy of that
sacrifice, is interested in the true passover; for
the destroying angel, executing GOD's de
nounced curse upon the transgressors of his
Law, will pass over them. He cannot execute
vengeance upon such, , for it Avas sustained for
them by the true Lamb, that was slain from the REv.xiii. 8,
foundation of the world. " I am the Truth,"
saith CHRIST, " inasmuch as I attest the truths
of GOD, and teach you the true and the sure
way to Heaven." He is called the faithful Rev. iii. u.
and true witness ; and our Lord himself told
Pilate, that he came into the world that he
should bear witness unto the Truth; and, in John xviii.
this sense, the scribes and Pharisees, in
words at least, acknowledged him as master: j'e™'
— We know that thou art true, and teachest MarkxH.
d the

14.

34 CHRIST THE TRUTH.

sermon the way of GOD in truth. Thus GOD some
times puts into the mouth of his enemies those

n.

uke xx. acknowledgments, Avhich amount to their own
condemnation. This Avas the case Avith those
jeavs, and must be the case with all, Avho, call
ing themselves christians, knoAving specula
tively and OAvning CHRIST and the doctrines of
the Gospel, preached by his ministers and in
his name, yet resist and deny him.
I shall iioav conclude Avith Tavo or Three ge
neral remarks.
First. Truth in general is unAvelcome, when
it reveals unpleasant tidings, or discovers to
men unfavourable representations of themselves.
This has been observed already. But the obser
vation holds good, still more fatally, respecting
him, avIio styles himself the Truth. There
is a three-fold character, or rather a three-fold
office, annexed to CHRIST — Of Prophet,
Priest, and King. In the first of these, he
comes under the idea of our Text, to shew men
the truth of their state ; to deal faithfully with
them; to apply his Law to their hearts and con
sciences, and convince them what sinners th«y
are, — Iioav impossible it is that they can be saved
Avithout conversion; to shew them the necessity of

sermon ii. 35
of their being born again, and the utter incom- sermon

11.

patibility with the nature of things, that they
can enjoy the pleasures of the Kingdom of
Heaven, it being a spiritual kingdom, Avhile
sensual and Avorldly affections reign in the heart.
CHRIST the Truth is always rejected here
by the natural man, who Avill not receive, who
cannot endure, spiritual truth. " But nowye seek John viii .
to kill me, a man that hath told you the Truth,"
said CHRIST to the jews, " and" on this very
account, " because I have told you the Truth."
CHRIST was the true Avitness here; for they cer
tainly did kill him for maintaining the Truth;
and since the Lord's departure, manyfolloAvers
in his steps have been slain for their faithful
testimony. And, in our day, when CHRIST
comes home; when the Truth is faithfully and
closely urged upon the consciences of men, by
the ministers of GOD, who, as ambassadors 2 Cor. v. 20.
for CHRIST, beseech men to be reconciled to
him; how often is offence taken, so bitterly as
to exclude all forgiveness ! So natural is it to
fallen man,* to love a pleasing falsehood, though
pregnant with the most destructive tendency to
his best interests; and to be disgusted, to the
-last degree, in hearing plain and unvarnished
Truth, though the sole aim of Truth be, to ef
fect the most beneficial services to the soul!
d2 May

36

CHRIST THE TRUTH.

SERMON 11.

May the LORD give your ministers faithful
ness and Avisdom, in simplicity and love to
preach to you CHRIST JESUS the Truth;
and you, grace and wisdom from above, to re-
Co l. ii. 6. ceive him and to walk in him !
Secondly. Perhaps some of you are favour
ed Avith this grace; are- Avell disposed to receive
CHRIST, and embrace him, as the Truth;
and you are asking, " Hoav shall I obtain, and
Lukexi.i.",. preserve, so rare a jeAvel?" Ask of GOD, in
John mv. JESU's name, and he will s;ive you the Spi-
i(>, 17, 2b. s J .
xv. co. wi. rit of Truth. CHRIST hath promised this.
i—i.). N0w, relying upon that promise, and pleading
it in the prayer of faith, is the only Avay of
obtaining Truth, as Avell as of retaining and
preserving it. This is that Spirit of Truth,
by Avhom your Lord hath engaged to lead you
into all Truth; to teach you all things; and to
manifest himself to you, as the Way, the
Truth, and the Life. In the investigation of
philosophic Truth, and curious inquiries into
the phenomena of creation, men Avander much
in the dark ; but, in seeking religious Truth,
with humility, perseverance, and earnest prayer
tn be led into the saving knoAvledge of the Scrip
tures, light uniformly, breaks upon the soul, so
pRov.iv.is. that the path of thejust*is as the shining light, that

SERMON II. 37
that shineth more and more, unto the perfect sermon
day. He hath not said unto any of the seed
of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: and again it is
written, they shall praise the LORD, that seek
H I M.

Is. xiv. ly.
Ps. xxii. 16'.

Thirdly. Some, Avithdoubts and fears cleav
ing to them, are desirous to knoAV, whether they
have or have not received CHRIST JESUS,
as the Truth. Many marks or evidences might
be laid doAvn ; but Tavo must suffice, in the con
clusion of a sermon, (l). The First shall respect
the View we have of Ourselves. Do we see our
selves sinners? Can Ave plead guilty? For, if 1 John 1.8,
we say that we have no sin, we deceive our
selves, and the Truth is not in us. But, if wc
see and confess our sins, and our unworthiness
of any mercy at the hands of GOD, he is faith
ful and just to forgive us our sins, and tb cleanse
us from all unrighteousness. If we say that zee
have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his
word is not in us. May the HOLY GHOST
convince us of sin, and then give us the com
fortable knowledge of CHRIST the Truth,
who saves his people alike from the poAver and
punishment of sin !
, (2. ) The Second mark respects the Regulation
of our Affections, and our Deportment toward
Others,

38 CHRIST THE TRUTH.

sermon others. Let us not love in word, neither in
tongue ; but in deed and in truth. And hereby

n.

u, j^ ' we know that zee are of the Truth, and shall
assure our hearts before GOD. CHRIST the
Truth, possessed in the heart, is not so clearly
discerned, in the profession of the lips, the flu
ency of debate, and the vehement maintenance
of the doctrines of the Gospel (though to con-
Jude 3, tendfor the pure faithonce delivered to the saints
is an essential duty), as in the life and conduct;
Avhen a Gospel Faith is evidenced to be genu
ine, by a Gospel-Practice. All the good works
in the Avorld cannot purchase salvation for a sin
gle soul, nor pardon for a single sin. The blood
of the Lamb is alone available to this end. But
where that is applied by faith, and CHRIST the
eternal Truth dAvells in any heart, love towards
GOD, displayed in every act of religious duty,
and of love toward man, and exemplified in
every affectionate and benevolent action, will
mark the life, — ascertain the truth, — and bear
testimony to the believer's sincerity, and the safe
ty of his soul in that eternal world, to which it is
hastening.

SERMON

SERMON III.
CHRIST THE LIFE.

m.

JOHN, Chap. xiv. Ver. 6.
I am — the Life.
IN the various elements of fire, Avater, earth, sermon
and air, animated nature breathes and exists;
and these elements are suited to the innumera
ble creatures destined to inhabit them. If the
order, which the God of Nature hath appointed,
be inverted, animation and beauty are suspended
or destroyed ; and, in proportion to this inver
sion, disorder and mischief ensues.
Could we soar, Avith eagles, the trackless
paths of air, and ascend to the limits of our at
mosphere, respiration would become difficult,
and would quickly cease; nor has the Author of
our being given us the faculties or members
suited to such a flight. Were we to descend, with

40 CHRIST THE LIFE.

III.

sermon wjfn great Leviathan, the depths of the Sea, the
same consequences Avould folloAV. We should
almost instantly perish, because avc do not pos
sess organs, enabling us to exist in so dense an
element as water. The birds soar to heights,
and enjoy existence, where our faculties and
poAvers would be destroyed ; and the inhabitants
of the mighty Avaters glide in safety, Avhere man
cannot approach them : both the one and the
other have all the enjoyment and support Avhich
their nature needs, and which the all- wise Crea
tor intended.
The Earth, the element of Avhich man Avas
formed, and with the dust of Avhich he mingles
when consigned to the grave, is replete Avith
life; Avith myriads of the works and creatures of
JEHOVAH. Analogy has led philosophers to
conclude the same, of the unnumbered stars and
planets, with Avhich the great arch of Heaven
is bespangled ; and it seems probable, that crea
tures, formed to exist with comfort in any one
of these, would be destroyed by transportation,
Were that possible, to another. But this is
mere speculation, and, therefore, not to amuse
you unprofitably, we will apply the subject to
mankind ; who, though sharing, in some
sense? similar powers and faculties, are yet al
most

sermon iii. 41
most infinitely diversified in their actions and sermon
pursuits. So various, indeed, and opposite ' 
are the vieAvs of different persons, that one can
scarce breathe or live in the element of another.
To do it Avith any degree of comfdrt, the one or
the other must undergo a suitable modification
or change, in his nature and affections.
A man is entering into life; advancing in
years and knowledge; coming forward upon the
stage of society, on which he is to act a part,
and in some particular department of which he
is to move : — He consults his inclination ; he is
eager after happiness, and naturally inquires,
Who will shew me any good. Every one is Ps. iv. 6.
ready to answer the question. Is there Youth,
Beauty, Rank, and Talents? — " Come with
me," says the Man of the World, " I will sheAV
you what happiness or life is." He takes the
inquirer by the hand to the assembly of fashion ;
initiates him in the dissipated amusements of
the times, — the theatre — the course* — the gam
ing table — the luxurious repasts and ensnaring
gratifications, in which Dives revelled, or the Luke xvi.
impure joys, in which Herod indulged, and the Mat. xiv.
reproof of which cost the Baptist his life. Alas ! Mark vi.
it is not Life, but Death, to Avhich such panders
lead the way. The dead are here; living in plea- x TlM> v- °--
sure, they are dead while they live. Others,

421 CHRIST THE LIFE.

sermon Others, of a more sober cast, will introduce
— -  j the inquirer into what they deem Life, through
the avenues of worldly Commerce, and the busy
scenes of Merchandise and Traffic. This is the
life of trade or business, and, so far as the body's
existence for a few short uncertain years may
be concerned, it may and does, sometimes, sub
serve the end. But this makes no provision
Mat. xvi. for the immortal part of man. What shall it
MARKviii. profit a man, if he shall gain the xvhole world,
36'. and lose his own soul? A man's life consisteth
Luke xii. not in the abundance of the things which hepos-
15- sesseth. , The larger class of society labour and
earn their daily bread, by the sweat of their
brow. This is, indeed, more immediately the
Avayr which GOD hath ordained; and, so far,
they are living and acting according to the
dictates of nature and right reason. But these,
as well as others in the higher ranks, are gene
rally deceived in their ideas of happiness, and
careless of improving life, to those glorious
ends which GOD intended; nay, not unfre-
quently, they surpass their superiors, in blas
phemy, dishonesty, intemperance, and unclean-
ness. There is little difference, however, in these
respects. Every order of persons in the world, must

SERMON III.

must meet upon one and the same ground, as sermon

nr.

sinners. The ways of sinning are variously mo
dified, refined, and subtilized; but there is no
difference in the general character : — There is ps. x;v. 3.
none that doeth s;ood. 1Jii- 1-
b Rom. iii. 12.
Yet, not to lose sight of my first idea upon
this subject, though we all meet upon one com
mon ground as sinners, abusers of the means of
life and the faculties of nature, — Ave live and
move in different spheres and stations; and let
the labourer, the man of business, or of fashion,
invert the order of things, and abandon their
several stations, — they will indeed physically
exist, but must be considered as unable to act
with propriety, or exist Avith comfort, because
out of their proper element. The Husbandman
"excels in and enjoys the labours of the field,
but would ill acquit or enjoy himself at court,
or upon change. The Courtier would be equally
at a loss, in the alteration of his station and em
ployments; and the man of Commerce Avould
share in similar unfitness, if transposed into
either of the other situations, without a suit
able change or preparation, in his faculties and
understanding, for the purpose. These

44 CHRIST THE LIFE.
sermon These observations are not altogether foreign
.  . to the object I have in vieAv, from the short Text
I have advanced : — / am— the Life. To enter
into the ideas suggested, by Avhich I am to point
out further two different and opposite
classes, which, in a special sense, may be said
to divide and comprise all mankind. They are
the CARNAL and the SPIRITUAL WORLD ;
and these persons may truly be said, to live each
in their peculiar and appropriate element. A
Spiritual person cannot exist, cannot find any
comfort or sustenance, in a carnal atmosphere ;
and if, led by the strong current of temptation,
he breathes in it for a time, he becomes dis
tressed, and hastens out of it as soon as possible.
On the other hand, the Carnal, Natural, and
Unconverted man, cannot breathe and live,
Avith any sort of comfort, in a spiritual atmos
phere ; and if he be, by any accident, draAvn
into it, he generally makes as speedy a retreat as
he can. The man who lives in Pleasure, in Sin,
in the World, has no idea of the life of Faith,
the life of Grace, or the life that is in CHRIST
JESUS. This, however, is the life Avhich the
Text leads us to consider, and on which we shall
spend the residue of our present opportunity. I. I shall

SERMON III. 45
I. I shall endeavour to show, That CHRIST sermon hi.
is himself the very and eternal life 

AVHICH HE GIVES.
II. HOAV THIS ETERNAL LIFE IS OBTAINED.
III. The effects which it has upon its
POSSESSORS. 1. JESUS CHRIST is himself the VERY
and ETERNAL LIFE; or, in other Avoids,
CHRIST and LIFE are synonymous terms.
It is not only, that in hlm was Life, and the life John i. 4.
was the light of men ; but, as has been observed
upon the preceding expressions of the Text, the
Way and the Truth, he is, emphatically
and truly, the thing itself, to which he is pleas
ed to assimilate himself. As to the proof of
this, it appears from his oavn words: — Search John v. 39.
the Scriptures ; for in them ye think ye have
eternal life; and they are they which testify of
me. He expresses it still more strongly to
Martha: in the xith chapter of the same
Gospel and the 25th verse, I am the Resurrec- JoHNxi.25.
tion, and the Life; and to this truth, the same
Evangelist bears testimony in his first Epistle:
— This is the record, That GOD hath given to us \ j0hn v.
eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He ll> 12'
that

46 CHRIST THE LIFE.

sermon that hath the Son, hath Life; and he that hath
not the Son of God hath not Life.

in.

Hence, therefore, we see the meaning intend-
Col. i. 27. ed by such expressions as these: — CHRIST in
Gal. iv. 19. you, the hope of glory; CHRIST born and
formed in your hearts by faith; an incorpora
tion, if I might use the term, of the divine and
holy nature of JESUS CHRIST in and with the
John xv. 1, members of his church ; the engrafting of the
believer into CHRIST, Avhich, however myste-
Jude 19. rious and incomprehensible by men having not
the SPIRIT, is not, therefore, the less genuine
and real. Independent of this union, there is,
and can be, no spiritual life. Where CHRIST
4§ not, in Avhatever duties, devotions, or forms of
worship, we may be engaged, Ave offer to GOD,
not a living sacrifice, but a dead carcass : —
John xv. 5. Without me ye can do nothing.
Hoav this mysterious union is effected, and
the manner of CHRIST'S living in the hearts
of his people, we can no more understand or
explain, than we can the union of CHRIST'S
two natures, the divine and human, in one and
the same person. But, if the Word of GOD
be true, the existence of this union is true.
The manner of the SPIRIT'S operation upon
the soul, and of CHRIST'S dAvelling or living
therein,

SERMON III. 47

therein, is inexplicable; nor is it to be expected, sermon
that we should fully understand this point, when '
we are so ignorant, that Ave cannot accurately tell
hoAv our daily food, a cordial, or a medicine,
Avhich we may take, acts upon the body. We
are satisfied that the effects are produced. So,
with respect to the invisible and immortal part,
the soul — CHRIST, the Bread of Heaven, is
that to the soul which material food is to the
body. How the nourishment is assimilated
with the body, and repairs the waste of sub
stance, Ave cannot precisely say ; neither do we
pretend to explain, hoAv the HOLY SPIRIT
works on the human soul: — The wind bloweth John iii. s.
where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and •
whither it gozth: so is every one that is born
of the SPIRIT; that is, in whom CHRIST, the
Life of the soul, lives.
Thus much, however, we understand on this
subject, that when CHRIST, by the operation
of the HOLY GHOST, is conceived and born
in the heart, there are new principles and powers
exercised by the soul. CHRIST, the divine
Life, increases and grows strong in his reci
pient — the inner man; and. the new creature EpH.iii. 16.
advances to that perfection, which GOD in- EpH- 1V- 13-
tends

48 CHRIST THE LIFE.
sermon tehds and causes in all his works. Like lea
ven hid in three measures of meal: — in the lea
ven was the quickening power, and the effect

in.

Mat. xiii.
33.
Luke xiii. Avas, that the whole mass, in time, became lea-
Arened; the power of this quickening principle,
diffused and extended itself through every part: .
or like a seed, for instance, the mustard seed,
which, though very minute in itself, yet, pos
sessing the rudiments of a large and extend
ing tree, it afforded, in due time, shelter both
to man and beast.
Ez. xxxvii. The parable of the dry bones will illustrate
this subjsct. From being dispersed, they were
brought together with the utmost symmetry,
exactness, and proportion ; and not only so, but
ver. 8. the sinews and the flesh came up upon them,
and the skin covered them above, so that the
figure became perfectly regular and beautiful
to the eye ; but there was no breath in them,
till the quickening power came. So, the mere
ly nominal christian is but a skeleton. Sym
metry and proportion, the sineAVS — the flesh —
the skirt, may all contribute to form a figure,
beautiful to the outward sense. There may
be Creeds and Doctrines, Articles and Establish
ments, Rules and Discipline; there may be Ce
remonials and Forms of Godliness ; all of them
really

III.

S'E'RMON III. 4°.
really beautiful and .proper in themselves; but st.rmon
all this, and a great deal more, ^wiiitje rbnt a
meer Skeleton — a dead body— ;a worshipper,
Avithout either the Spirit, or the Life of devo
tion, till CHRIST live within. Then all these
things, before merely artificial, and contrary to
the real inclinations of flesh, become, as it were,
natural; every joint discovers a free articulation;
every faculty of the soul is exercised, in the very
life and poAver of godliness; and a man becomes
holy, not by constraint, but by the act of his
OAvn will.

The same idea admits of illustration, from Johnxv. 1,
the practice of ingrafting, to which our Lord
himself alludes, i. e. inserting the scion of a
fruit-bearing tree, into the barren stock of ofte
wild by nature. In such a natural stock, there
might be, indeed, something of life—Leaves
and blossoms ; but no fruit, save that of a bit
ter and poisonous nature. It Avas dead, as to
fruitfulness or usefulness, before; but, by this
operation, new powers are set in motion, a new
nature is superinduced, and new properties are
imparted. II. We are to inquire, HOW CHRIST THE
LIFE IS TO BE OBTAINED. e l. CHRIST

50

CHRIST THE LIFE.

sermon J. CHRIST is to be obtained, by accepting
—  his invitations; avoiding the censure and
condemnation of those, who Avould neither come
to him, nor yet receive him in his voluntary
advances towards them. He came to his oavn,
John i. ii. and his own received him not; and he re
proached the jews, for their obstinacy on this
John v. 40. behalf, when he said unto them : — Ye will not
•come unto me, that ye might have Life.
By Coming to CHRIST, is ahvays under-
Heb. xi. 6. stood, Believing on him. Without faith, it is
impossible to please GOD. Without faith, it is
impossible to apprehend the Saviour; and
though Ave cannot tell iioav CHRIST, as a
quickening principle, is wrought in the hearts
of his redeemed, yet, Ave understand, clearly
enough, that faith is an instrument in this con-
Jo hn iii. cern. Thus he told Nicodemus: — ^.sMoses
14f""1. • lifted up the serpent in the wilderness; even so
must the Son of Man be lifted up; that who*
soever believeth in him should not perish, but
have eternal life. For GOD so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that who
soever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. To strengthen the argu
ment, and shew the danger of rejecting him,
ver. 18. he adds, in the next verse but one, He, that
believ-

sermon iii. £\\

believeth on him, is not condemned ; bufhe;t'hal sermon
believeth nof, is condemned. already.,, because- he - -'
hath not believed in the. name of the only begot-
ten Son of God. > ¦¦ < ;,ti !- ^ .
This is the victory that dvercometh'theiworld, 1 John v.
and sin, even oiir faith. This" is the grand Vehicle,
the Medium, and the Channel, through which
CHRIST the Life enters into the heart.7' This
is the Haiid, that lays hold upon him, as eter
nal ' life ; that apprehends h is grace, h is' blood
and righteousness, by Avhich he saAresi— -lam John xi. 25,
the Resurrection and the Life, saith the
LORD; he, that believeth in me, though '¦ he
were' dead, yet shall he live; und whosoever liv-
eth and believeth in me, shall never die. But,
On the other hand, Avhilst he, that believeth on JoiiNiii.36.
Me1' 'Son, hath everlasting life ; he that believeth
not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of
GOD dbideth on him.
£. Another means of obtaining CHRIST as the
Life, though, in effect, it comes to the same as
the foregoing, is the feeding upon him. In
the sixth of St. John1, our Lord holds out the
same doctrine, that he is the Life, under the
idea of bread. The Bread of God is he, JoHNvi.33
which cometh down from Heaven, and giveth ' J*
life unto the world. Then said they unto him;
e2 Lord ,

$& C H£*f T £yys fj. FE.

-==~-' SUS $##/ #w*<? j$$#, /f?;« /AeBREA^p p f Li /x :
he that coxnetk to m,$, $/z^// ^jsr hunger; an4
he that believeth on m_e, a/uz// nczier jtkfrsf. On
Ver. 53. the contrary, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son
Of Man, and drink jH^s J&fofl^, #e have vo Jgfe in
¦I NoAvthis can he interpreted in no way, hut
that, of receiving CHRIST, and feeding upon
him, by faith : and this is what the sacrament
r. of the Lord's Supper intends ; not merely Q$t-
ing and drinking, as if there Avere any virtue in
the Bread and Wine, but salvation an^d .deliver:
ance, accomplished . by the sacrifice upon the
cross, and sheAvn forth by these symbols, are
brought home to the soul, Avhich nests upon tins,
great atonement, and propitiatory, satisfaction
made for sin. The transgressions of every one,
who looks to this sacrifice alone, as tlie puKcbasf
of his peace; who, in this transaction, sees and
RoM.iv.25. apprehends CHRIST, a,s delivered for our of
fences, aftd raised again for oyr justification ;
wlio beholds this Saviour, not onjy in Hea
ven, but believes, th^t he hy.es in the hearts of
gjs people ; — his iniquities are purged, an4 he
may be said to feed upon CHRIST by fajtb.
In a full persuasion, that JESUS CHRIST has
Avrought out a full and complete redemption, itis

ni.'

•sfcfc&iW in. s,3
is~tHg1oftTee 6f Faith; to realize' and apply that seiMon
w*6ri£fd the individual. The sbui's? repose Up1 on
tfle*"etneacy of this sacrifice',- under a deep arid;
lively sense tHtftits'sins: required1 it, and' could''
be : atoned1 f of by rio other, is the spiritually eat*
iri^anddririkirig CHRIST, the Living Bread
and? the Living/ Water'; and Avithout this
spiritual reception and application of the Body
and Blood of CHRIST by faith to the con
science,' the receiving the simple elements of
Bread arid' Wiriey at the Lord's Table, carr
profit nothing.

•¦;,

Mtfnjr of- us partake' of this ofdiriarice, out-;
Avardbf at! least, onceairionth; but, if CHRIST, •
the" Life" df the soul,1 be' present in oiir hearts,
evierjr'p'iece'-'Of bread Ave break in daily food; and?"
every -draught df refreshment the bodyYeeerveSj
niky" be concerted, by tlie truly spiritual' lriind^
into" an' effectual sacrament; arid such as ar^f-
enable^ by grace, tb do this; may indeed' bf-
saSfS'to 'feed^ and feeflTichly arid profitably," upoff ¦
the^itEiADvOF Heaven ; in the tfdirig'of wKcjSg1-
WTth'a-fefverit arid5true/!hearrt,' tliey^sfrail riot-fa§l<
ofobtairfiiig" arid5 enjoying5 CHRIST the- BiF'k'
wfflnnt' ' Such; shall be' perpetually'" nourished :
and sustained iriHhelT soxtls* thereby," arid' riot *
only derive thWtferie^^ and

«5£;, CHRIST THE LIFE.
bermonj and 'justifying righteousness,- but of his sane-v
— - — - — 1 tifying grace: the one, supplying them with a
claim .to the kingdom of Heaven and rewards
of grace, • inspiring well-grounded hope and
assurance; the other, exhibiting, the character
istic marks of a, living faith, and evidencing
that CHRIST lives in us, by the genuine effects
and properties of such a life. ,,,,; , ¦, ,, , ,njf*
¦•'rn ¦ . ; ' V ' ." W i-n:
III. A short description of .these EFFECTS,
was to be the Third object of our, attention.
1. Where CHRIST dwells in the heart by
faith, and becomes the life of the soul, a. neav
direction is GI"VE,N to all itspoavers and
faculties.. NeAv light breaks in upon the
fnmd;' enlarged and extended vieAvs are opened
to the mental eye ; and there is an intirely new
set of pursuits. The delights and pleasurable
sensations of the man, issue from a source en
tirely neAv. A new spring is found, Avhose Ava-
• te^s' are. pure,- Avholesomej and refreshing ; , and,
therefore, he ceases to drink of the. muddy,
polluted, and unAvholesome stream, that, supplied
2Cor.v.17. him heretofore. Old things are passed away ;
behold, all -things are become new.{- Whilst :Sin
andSATAN ruled in his heart, the man was all,
alive to every thing connected with this Avorld;
.. .s but

SERMON III. 55
hut when CHRIST becomes the Life of his sermon
Soul, henceforth the believer lives to GOD, to ', .

Grace, to Holiness, to Heaven. Yea, where'
JESUS lives in the soul, the happy and
privileged subject of this grace becomes —
dead indeed unto sin, to the world and the R0M.vi.11.
things of the Avorld — its Profits — its Pleasures
— its Society. He is rendered independent, alike ,
of its smiles and of its frowns. He tastes and
enjoys the things of the Kingdom of GOD; is
attached to his children, and, Avith them, learns
the language of the songs, and the employ
ments, of Heaven.
2. Where CHRISTlives in the heart, he gives
the death-avound to sin; I mean, not only
to the Condemning Power of it, but to its Reign
and Influence over the Affections. There are
habits of sinning, that cleaAre so close to us, as
to be compared to right hands, or right eyes. Mat. v. 29,
xviii. 8, 9.
My friends! if CHRIST be the Life of your Mark ix.
Souls, he must, and he will, be Death to the
Right-Eye Sin, and the Right-Hand Gratifica
tion, • Have you yielded your members servants Rom. vi. 13.
to that, which GOD abhorreth? Have you re
ceived into the house of your heart that, which
your conscience tells you is opposed to GOD,
arfd contrary to his word? Be assured, then,
CHRIST

5$ CHRIST T-HB LITE.

ill.

sb»mon CHRIST will not dwell in the temple of your
T-TY
bodies* with such an enemy. He either aviU nott
liveAvith you, or, if he does, Avill cast out the-
strong man, and subdue your besetting sin.
Habitual sin must die; and; together with
CHRIST, practical Holiness must livej and
witness for you, that you are possessors of thei
divine- life. The LORD forbid, that any'of-
you should be deceiving yourselves, in this, re
spect! 3: A Third effect is inseparably connected1
with CHRIST, as the soul's Life, and that is,
LIFE DIFFUSED THROUGH ALL THE ORDI
NANCES OF GOD'S HOUSE AND AVOTtSHIP.
Hoav gloomy Avas the royal palace, Avhilst the
British king was debarred by indisposition, from
appearing there ! How cheerless is the banquet?
when he Avho invites comes not- forward, to bier"
us Avelcome ! As destitute of joy are dead Avor1-
shippers in the house of GOD, when CHRIST
is not living in the heart Hehce the languor,
the listlessness, the carelessness; the lightness,,,
the painful arid disgusting deportment, of many
outward:coUrt worshippers. They are dead. No
unction seems to attend their prayers; no plea
sure ffom hearing the Gospel. The Bread or
Heaven to these has no relish, and no refresh ment

SERMON III. Sf
ment is experienced1 from the Waters of the shrmo

III. w

Sanctuary, Avhich are living Avaters to those, in
Avhom CHRIST JESUS lives.

Wemay often observe, how far the soul of a
Jiearer is alive- to GOD, or not, by tlie aspect of
the countenance — frequently a true index of *
tHe;mindJ Some discover life and animation in
the eye, when things of a speculative, historical,
or entertaining' nature, are advanced and inge
niously handled. But Avhen we speak of sin and
a sinful 'nature; Avhenwe draw a faithful picture
of the heart, and describe its workings and its'
practices, in those striking colours, that speak
forcibly to conscious sinners, Thou art the man; 2Sam.xu.7.
Avhen the charge is brought1 home; the LaAV of
GOD applied; and the artillery of wrath and
judgment' is levelled, to the; shaking of the
strong-Holds of Satan, and making his house
to-tottery— Trus* is preaching to the Heart and1
the" Conscience," andVe see' a very different ef
fect in the- aspect of our hearers. So "likewise,'
with regard to the softer strains of tile 'Gospel ;
while some; who are'destitute ofthat life, Avhich
is*ironrrshed and Supported' by them, hear them"
alrirosfunhjeeded/— others discover this life, by
the' rich -enjoyment their countenanceslndicate,*
on hearingthc doctrines of" grace," and the spi^
ritual

58

CHRIST THE LIFE.

sermon ritual and heavenly joys of the future Avorld.
,.__ ; .* — Their hearts burn within them ; their eyes spar-
Luke xxiv. kle; and the very face Avill shine, as it Avere,
32. .
with the beams and emanation of Heaven it
self: whilst hearers of another description, Avho
are dead to the things of the SPIRIT, will evi
dently drop the lip of discontent; discover no
torious symptoms of weariness and disgust; and
adopt the style and language, Avhich the Pro
phet has described as proceeding from the lips
Mal. i. 13. of such persons: — What a weariness is it!
AMosviii.5. When — when Avill the Sabbath be over, that I
may mingle Avith the Avorld again!

Where CHRIST is really the Life of any
Soul, there -will be in that soul, a groaving of
John x. io. THe divine principle. I am come, that
they might have life, and that they might have
it more abundantly : Avhence there is a closer
union, or concentration, of all the hopes, de
sires, and efforts of the soul, in this one object.
None but CHRIST, nothing that has not the
Saviour connected Avith it, -will meet, or satify,
its Avishes. Every thing is given. up, which
cannot subsist Avith the supreme love of him.
, When CHRIST is my life, every thing I design,
undertake,, or perform, has an immediate refer-
ence to the maintenance, preservation, and per
fection

SERMON III. 59

fection of this principle. For me, said the Apos- sermon
tie, to live is CHRIST: Avithout him is no life,  —J —
and the life we think we live is Death ; whilst,
on the other hand, the believer can glory in a
consciousness of deadness and indifference to
every thing here below: — I am crucified with Gal. ii. 20.
CHRIST: nevertheless, I live; yet not I,, but
CHRIST Uveth in me; and the life, which I
now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the
Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me.
My friends ! can you say this? Have you at
tained any degree of deadness and indifference
to the things of this Avorld ? and have you any
lively desires after these things of GOD in
CHRIST JESUS, which have been set before
you? If not, the visionary and transient scenes
of this life, hoAvever decorated or richly gilded,
Avill profit nothing, Avhen the curtain falls. May
the LORD give you grace, to see the things
which belong unto your peace, AA'hile the Way, Luke xix.
the Truth, and the Life, are set forth before
you, ere they are for ever hid from your eyes !

SERMON

SERMON IV.
TH£G$$PE£ A FAITHFUL §AyiN£.

lTIM. i. 15.

IV.

This is afaiihfuf, saying, and "Worthy of all ac
ceptation, That CHRIST JESUS mme intp
the world to save sinners; of whom I am
chief.
THE words ,of the Tm.% are adopted, by the sermon
compilers of the Lit y RG-Ypf our Church, in her
sacramental service. They are received by the
general consent of all her true members; and
are some $f the richest .ac#pnapanhn£nijs pf that
service. To advert to the comfortable, as well as
IMPORTANT TRUTHS, WHICH THEY CONTAIN; With
suggesting an inquiry, whether each of us,
AS INDIVIDUALS, IS ENTITLED TO THE SUPREME
CONSOLATION, WHICH THEY ARE CAPABLE OF
supplying, wjlj be our present improvement of
$#*$ Wprdj, The

6*2 THE GOSPEL A FAITHFUL SAYING.

sermon Thg Apostle evidently refers to something,
 - — that had been said before; and, though any thing
advanced by St. Paul' himself, Avho Avrote
under the immediate inspiration of the HOLY
GHOST, would have carried full1 authority,
yet, in the present case, he cites Avhat had been
already said, as coming from the lip of him,
who is emphatically stiled tlie Truth itself; as
Aye may read it from the Gospel by St. Mat-
MAT.ix.i3. theav, in the folloAvino- Avords :— Go. ye, and
learn what thai meaneth, I will have mercy,
and not sacrifice ; for I am not come to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance: and from
Markh.17. St. Mark: — They that are whole have no need
of the physician, but they that are sick: I canle
not to call the righteous, but sinners to repcnt-
ancej\ ¦'--'jSo-I might read to you the same benignant,
and truly comfortable declaration, from every
Evangelist, who, under the HOLY SPIRIT's
guidance^ has recorded the good tidings of the
Gospel of CHRIST.
I. The First thing respecting this saying, that
calls for our attention, is its FAITHFULNESS?
It is a faithful saying. It is true. True, as
Num. xxiii. him Avho said it. GOD is not a man, that he
should

sermon iv. 6$

t

should lie. Hath he said, and shall he not do sermon IV.
it. No! blessed be his Name! the truths which 
he has advanced, and the declarations that re
gard his mercies; the acts of his grace, and the
blessings of his covenant; are equally unchanged
able, immutable, and everlasting.
Our GOD is an unchanging GOD. His
counsels are unshaken. His promise is firmer
than a rock, and his word endureth from gene
ration to generation. When Earth and the
created Worlds shall be dissolved, the Heavens
burnt up as a scroll, and all the elements melted
Avith fervent heat, the Word of GOD shall stand
and endure for ever; agreeably to Avhat himself
hath affirmed: — Heaven and Earth shall pass Mat. xxiv.
away, but my words shall not pass away. Mark' xiii.
31:
ii- -i • • fit Luke xxi.
Though this consideration is perfectly alarm- 33.
ing, when it is applied to the awful and solemn
declarations of GOD, against the Infidel, the
Hypocrite, the hardened, obdurate, and obsti
nately impenitent Sinner, and the Reprobate
among men ; yet, it is full of comfort, encou
ragement, consolation, and peace, when applied
to the gracious declarations of his mouth, that
are calculated to win the affections, and attach
the souls of his people to himself; by the pub
lication

6A the gospel a faithful saying.

iv.

m»kok Jication of an act of grace to the guilty, pardon
. to the condemned, freedom to the captive, deli
verance from the bands of eternal death, ransom
to the soul from Hell, and full deliverance, re
conciliation, and acceptance to sinners, weary
and heavy laden with their sins, on turning to
him, and coming to him for the promised rest.
Oh ! what security, Avhat blessedness, what
peace, what joy, and what unshaken hope, re
sult to a believer, from the faithfulness of GOD
to those promises of his everlasting Avoid, where
on he causes and enables him to put his trust !
This is the First idea of consolation, which I
would submit to your recollection from the Text.
It is a faith fu l saying. It next follows > —
II. It is WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTA
TION. Worthy of all men's reception; as it
is rendered in our communion service: — It is a
faithful saying, and worthy of all men to Br
RECEIVED. Worthy : — It is no trifling matter, like the news
of the day, the scandal of the times, or the un
interesting occurrences of a neighbourhood ;
that, perhaps, are better not heard, than heard;
and, when we hear them, it is of no consequence, whether

SERMON IV. 65
whether they be true or not. But the object of sermon
this declaration is a matter of infinite weight ;  ' 
not only worth every man's while to hear and
attend, but every man living is interested in it,
and bound by the strongest obligations to re
gard it. Every man's welfare depends upon it.
The tidings it comprises are of the last conse
quence, and of essential necessity to his well-
being in time and eternity.
The saying of the Text is a proclamation of
peace, to those long wearied by the fatigues of
war. It provides a remedy for every man's case ;
health and strength, for every distempered con
stitution; a sovereign balm for every wound; a
cordial for our fears.
It is a provision for every want ; an asylum,
for every benighted, weather-beaten traveller ;
an haven,, for the storm-tost mariner ; and a
harbour of eternal rest, to every distressed, self-
condemned, and affrighted soul. Hence, there
fore, it is said:— How beautiful upon the moun- Is- !»• 7»
tains are the jeet of him, that brmgetn good Rom. x. is.
tidings  unto Zion ! ITiere is not a man liv
ing, if he possess but a sound mind and a ma
ture understanding, to whom the saying is not
worthy of acceptatipn ; on account of the excel-
f lericy,

66 THE GOSPEL A fAlTHVVt SAYING.
sermon lency, necessity, and importance, of the matter
—  it contains.

Yea, it is worthy of all men to be received ,•
for there are none, however born, educated, or
distinguished in life by fhe natural or acquired
properties Avhich they possess/ Svho are not equal
ly interested in this saying; or, who can haA-e'
any true enjoyment in life, or hope in their
death, but Avhat results from the acceptation, or
receiving, in a confirmed belief of it, fhe decla
ration which this passage contains.
There is an absolute assurance of salvation,
and all temporal arid eternal happiness, to therh
Acts iv. 12. that believe and receive it. There is none Other
name under Heaven, given among men, zvhere-
by zee must be saved, but only the name of the
lORD JESUS. Therefore it is a faithful bdij-
itig, and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRISf*
JESUS came into the world to save sinners.
/ill. The GREAT CHARACTER, introduc
ed in the Text, coines riext, in order, to be con
sidered. Who is it? It is ii f, Avho is called
,"-¦ • •[ ',. ... , "
Is.ix. 6. "Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty Gob1,
The, Everlasting Father, The Prince Of
Rom. ix. 5. Peace. It is he, by Avhom the Avorlds Averemade;
Ps. xcvii. 7. _» _
H». i. 6. ™ha

SERMON IV. 67
whoisover all GOD,, blessed for ever; he, whom sermon
the angels are commanded to worship ; h e, whom  * .
we are directed to honoor, as we honour the Fa- John v. 23.
ther • he, who is coexistent, coeternal, and co
equal, With the omnipotent, the everlasting
GOD ; the only begotten of the Father,^// of John i. 14.
grace and truth ; Avho dwelt, from everlasting,
in the Father's bosom, and planned, in the
councils of the Trinity, man's redemption,
before he fell, and, in the fulness of time, for
sook his native glories, left the heaven of hea
vens, in which he had dwelt, descended through
the virgin's womb, and assmmed the human na
ture with all its infirmities, sufferings, and weak*
ness ; yea, and what must astonish men and an
gels to Eternity, he assumed our sins. Hi, who 2Co»,v.2i.
knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we might
he made the righteousness of GOD in him.
The greatness of the person, dignity, and
glory of him who came, connected with the
ideas of the gracioiasness and mercifulness of
his efrand, must fill the reflecting and enlight
ened mind, with more than wonder, love,, asnd
adoration ; especially if it be considered further,
T-0 whom he canie#— The nature of his recep-
tiQn,-*-and The death that he died.
F2 Hs

68 The gospel a faithful saying.
sermon ,. He came unto his own, and his own received

. IY-

him not. Meek, lowly, und sitting upon an ass,
Johd i. 11. and a colt the foal of an ass: he came, having
ZECH.ix.f). , , , -ii
Mat.xxj.5. salvation ; and that salvation Avas rejected by
John xm. ^hose, to Avhom it was peculiarly offered.

1.5.

He came to heal the sick, to cure the blind,
to cast out Sat a lir, to procure pardons for his
people, and to seal those pardons, and the gra
cious commission Avith which he was charged,
with his blood.
. He came to. save his people ; not Avith a sal
vation, that cost him nought, but the expiation
which he Hiade for sin, he made by an all-suf
ficient offering.' He offered a price, equal to
the blessing that he purchased. The atonement
that he: effected^ Avas effected, upon terms of
the strictest justice. GOD's broken Law and
offended Majesty demanded an infinite satisfac
tion.-- An infinite satisfaction Avas rendered,;
and' man's whole debt of sin paid off; whence
the ransom of man's soul -from eternal death,5
was obtained .on the strictest principle of equity^
The righteousness, needed to fit man for Hea
ven,^ and giA-e him a claim to it, upon the plea
of right, he wrought- out; and, oil man's be
half, performed the utmost tittle of the Law, and

SERMON IV. 69
and transfers the merit of his obedience unto mskmov
death to all; Avho, by faith, give this i saying  *  ,
acceptation ; Avhich confirms their title to the
inheritance and rest of GOD, and places them
on the foundations of unshaken hope.:
v By his death, he has destroyed Death;' put
the powers of Hell to flight ; and opened Hea-.
ven"s door's, which sin had shut; and displays a
gloriously Avide entrance,' to all, Avho are made
willing to seek it by CHRIST, the living way.
On these considerations, hoAv gracious' is, the
saying, and hoAv worthy to be received, That the
Great GOD came doAvh to save sinners ! Yes !
he came to save the lost: — you, the rebellious ;
you, the prophane, the Avorldly, the blasphemer;
you, the contemner of his house, his sabbaths,
his ordinances, his Avays, his people, and his
word ; you, who have fought against him ; you,
who have stricken hands Avith sin, made leagues
with Satan, yielded to his temptations, harr
boured his corruptions, and been most obedient
to his fashions, entertainments, and demands.
Yes ! my felloAv sinners ! you are the persons,
if you are made AA'illing to receive him ; if you
are made willing to be changed, and wrought
upon, by his grace ; Avhom JESUS came to save. If,

70 the gospel a faithful saying.

ssr-mo-n }£ then, you can believe the saying", you will
- surely acknowledge, that it is a faifhfulvaying,
and worthy, most worthy, your reception : espe
cially, if, in the last place, you can consider
yourself, as the chief of sinners.
:¦ IV. You are surprised, perhaps, especially
such of you, as have often beheld Paul's
holiness Avith envy; and can scarcely compre
hend, or reconcile with your ideas of truth, such
a termination of his address in the Text, that
CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save
sinners, OF WHOM I AM CHIEF.
But the more distinctly GOD, the object of
perfection, is seen and knoAvn by any man, the
more sensibly and perceptibly does that man see
and feel his own unAvbrthiness.
2 Cor. xii. St. Paul had been peculiarly favoured, with
special manifestations, of GOD's character and
his * own. He had been introduced into the
third heaven, and heard unspeakable words ; and
though, for a season, he was inflated with his
superior privileges, yet, after a while, through
tflre sanctified use of the thorn in the flesh, he
Avas brought to a true sight of himself, and what
his deservins:s were at the hands of GOD.

*s^

And,

IV.

SERMON IV. 7.1,
And, the mpj;e clearly he was enabled po fa- sermon
thorn and survey GOD's infinite love to him,
in (the gift. pf his Son to save him, the more
distinctly he discerned his own uiiAVorthiness.
And, added tp this, ,he had, what was commpn
to all other enlightened persons, a knoAvledge of
himself, that no other man besides himself had ;
arid. had that vieAvof his OAvn heart, that ano-
Jhe^- could nqt have ; and; therefore, he spake of
himself, as he appeared to his own humbled and
enlightened mind.

As grace enlightens a believer's .heart, as the Prov. xx.

candle of the LORD shines there, it reveals sin ;
and magnifies the various aspects of it, in pro
portion to the increase of light ; and hence, as
the Apostle was more enlightened than most
Others, his discernment Avas keener, his consci-
ence more tender, ,and his spirit more watch
ful. But to perspns, to whom a discovery of the
latent iniquities of their hearts is not sp clearly
made, confessions, such as the Apostle's, Avhere
he arraigns himself as the chief of sinners, are,
sometimes, difficult tp he understood.
Men,

27.

iv.

the gospei a faithful saying.
sermon Men, wanting spiritual discernment, have
thought such expressions savoured of hypo
crisy; arid, that they looked like aiming at a
more than ordinary degree of feigned humility.
But, it would relieve the minds of those, Avho
are thus stumbled, and lead them to hear and
receive the confessions of awakened and ten-
der-conscienced sinners Avith more candour, if
they would consider this familiar illustra
tion : —
An healthy man has oftentimes thought slight
ly of the pains and sufferings endured by the
infirm. Unversed in the symptoms of disorder,
and unacquainted Avith the tortures of some
diseases incident to humanity, he scarce knows
how to pity, and is utterly unable to sympathize
with, the feelings and distresses of another.
But) "when the hand of GOD touches him, and
brings him doAvn, upon the couch of affliction
and the agonizing bed of distracting pain, a
different vieAv breaks in upon him. He had
heard of the excruciating racks and tortures
of the stone; but has noAv that actual experi
ence, that makes it' appear to him, that one half
of its keen pangs Avas never told him. " I am
the chief of sufferers." So,

SERMON IV. 73
So, the woman who now remembereth no sermon
more the anguish, for joy that a man is born, -  !_**
was ready to assert, in the hour of her tra- H* XVI"
vail, that no sorrow was ever like unto her sor- Lam. i. 12.
row.

That man, Avho but half feels the stroke that
separates from another the desire of his eyes,
and blames and condemns the Aveak brother,
whose soul refuses comfort under his bereave
ments, is struck with sinking and heart-rending
grief, when the sword of GOD's judgments cuts
off from him his Avorldly joys : and he says,
" None have the cause to Aveep, and mourn,
and lament, that I have. I am the chief of
sufferers. None ever went through what I
do." You will easily apply this familiar illustration,
to the case of an awakened sinner, and an en
lightened believer; who, Avhen he sees the true
nature of his sin, and feels the smart of it in his
conscience, as well as its powers and influences
in the heart, no longer hesitates to call himself
the chief of sinners, but is-ready to believe that
he is so. He thinks that he sees, feels, and en
dures more, and has more to answer for, than
any sinner under the Sun. And

W THE GOSPEL A FAII4JFUL SAVING.

ft****?* o, Aftd j^is, my fiends, is that which, if ,$ny
.11 ' '. tJwng wiU, mwst enable you to.$e& and /compel
you to confess, that it ,is indeed a\fiaiftifyl say
ing, a&d .worthy ofiyll men to Jbye received, that
CHRIST JESUS came into the world to saxy
sinners. Y. I trust I shall be generally allowed, on
$M$ occasion at least, to lie speaking as the mi-
JWtej.of CONSOLATION, and the ambassador
of PEACE: and, as the conclusion of the sub
ject, I may well take wp the Apostle's idea, and
2.Cor.v.20. pray you, in CHRIST'S stead, ,be ye reconciled
jtp GOD. Accept the invitations of the G ospel,
and .believe its comfortable ridbgs-
I I have offered nothing new. I have bj#
reminded you of truths, that are too plain to
need much illustration; too Aveighty, to need the
enforcement of a creature; and too important,
jx> .admit of human embellishments. I shall
only add something of INQUIRY, on these
respective heads of pur discourse; and beg they
may be applied, in sincerity and an honesjt
heart, by yourselves, to your own consciences,
1, Is the saying, contained in the Text, a
faithful saying in your estimation pf it? Do
• you

you bsUeve it? Don't ^k-e-ysouf sutjfwer^p th# W*w*
question, from *he mi©u#i ; but fjrpm .Jhe jhgart, — .. '_:¦_
^ a<^iftn, the «onV(€r§ft1|ion, ajTHi the hfe.
How does this doclaR#iftp influfnce your
sentiments, feelings, and de^pi$m&nt<? If you
live in neglect of your Bihjes, in contempt of
GOD, in derision of -thje Scriptures, in prpfar
nation of ifcbe Sa^.bat^J, in ignorance of the
sinfulness of your nature and practice, in the
conceit of your oavii goodness, and in blind
ness as to your need of this salvation ; it is siot
a faithful saying to yojj. Ypp. give it n° -cre
dit; -you pay it no honour; you)beho|d it Avith
no reverence; you are neither entitled to any
comfort from it, npr can you extract or de#iy£
to yourselves such comfort.
% It is said to he a saying worthy of all :$a-
ceptfltipn. The truth it contains, ;it js worthy
of GOD .hi M;S elf to propagate, and of all the
hosts of Heaven to -admire.
Is , it worthy of ypuR attention and recep
tion $ iCan you see the importance of it? L\o
you -feel its -.weight? Is it the object of your
idesine, and -the p-a?ygr of your heart, to be in
terested irrtheblessiaagsitimpiies?. If not, ypu
evidently

76- THE GOSPEL' A FAITHFUL SAYING.
sermon evidently deem it unworthy. Yoii consider it
—  1 — as a trifle. It is not AYOrth your Avhile to re-
Mat. xxii. gard these things. The pro\'ing of oxen, the
Luke xiv. vieAving of estates, the extending of your manu
factures, the acquirement of Avorldly honours,
and the pursuit of earthly connections, plea
sures, and present enjoyments, are better Avorlh
your.Avhile, than the eternal mercies, pardons,
and deliverances from Sin and Death, of Avhich
Ave have been speaking.
S. Inquire again, as to the dignity of him
Avho came. Have you honourable views of
CHRIST? Can you believe in his infinite
greatness, and discern his surpassing love ? Can
you receive his mediation, and behold his suf
ficiency to save ? Have you a just feeling of the
Avisdom, the excellency, the all-sufficiency, and
the perfection of his work; of the suitableness of
that Avork; and of his infinite merits, as intirely
adequate to the purposes of atoning for all of
fences, and supplying the believer, Avith all need
ful and essential claim, to the Kingdom of Hea
ven ? If you truly live in this persuasion, you
will not deny CHRIST before men. You will
not prophane his name. You will not under
value the salvation that he brings. No! you
will rather live to his praise. You will give
him

SERMON IV. 77
him your heart. You will separate from the sermon
ways, the habits, the customs, the companions, '.
of an ungodly world ; and manifest your attach-;
ment to CHRIST, and the salvation of which he
is the author, by selling all to purchase so rare a Mat. xiii.
pearl." 45'46-
4.' If St. Paul could say it Of himself, Avell
may I ask you, if you can say, that, in your
OAvn judgment of yourselves, you are the chief
of sinners. Has the nature of sin been dis
covered to you,, by the convincing SPIRIT
of GOD? Has the being, and poAver of it, in
your own heart, been made known to you, by
the enlightening and quickening influences of
the HOLY GHOST? Hath the disease of the
soul been discovered to you ? Have the stone
in the heart, the keen feelings of spiritual
birth, and the painful difficulty of cutting off
all that separates between GOD and the Soul
of a repentant sinner, made you to cry out, O
wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me R0»;,vii.24.
from the body of this death ?
If strangers to such language as this, you are
strangers to the best joys which CHRIST gives.
For. the self-justified, the unbroken in heart
afid unwounded in spirit, are not the men for
CHRIST;

ift

MAT.ix.

12,

13.

MARKii

.17.

Luke v.

S-l,

32*

1 John

i.7.

fS THE G0SPE1 A FAITHF0L SAYING.
CHRIST; nor is CHRIST the physician of
ftStffefor them. The whole need him wd*. He
tidMe riot to call the fighfeOtis, but sinners.
G OD grant, then, that you may be more and
more convinced of sin ! Then will the bhoS 6f
CHRIST, that cleanseth from all sin, be more
and more precious. May the teachings of his
SPIRIT 3heAV us, that we arc the lost, whom
he expressly came to save j and give us that
view of the reality of our transgression, and
its consequences, Avhich aviU enable us to say
from a real experience and an heart- felt joy :—
It is a faithful saying,. and worthy of all aettep-^
ration, that JESUS CHRIST came into the world
tb save tinners.

SEltMOtf

79

SERMON V.

PRAYER BEFORE SERMON.
JriOLY SPIRIT! May we not say, we would see
CHRIST? Oh! that thou wouldest reveal him to us
in this day's preaching! Make us to know his power,
to taste his graciousness, to discern his love. Oh! that
every cloud, which veils and obscures the Sun of
Righteousness, may be dispersed by thee, and his
comfortable beams break forth and shine upon our cold
hearts! May JESUS, clothed with his Father's
glory, be disclosed to the eye of faith ! May we behold
him at his right-hand! and see Him there as our Ad
vocate, Pleader, High-Priest, and Intercessor!
May our hearts.be captivated with his beauty! our
souls inflamed with heavenly love; and a power be given
us to see. the King in his beauty — JESUS the King
of saints, — the chief est often thousand, and altogether
lovely. Oh! that we could see him as he is! we should
no longer fight against him, and oppose his entrance
into our hearts. LORD ! grant that we may not only
hear him knocking now, but may we open to receive
him as the sovereign of the soul, to erect his
kingdom within the Temple of our Body; and be made-
willing to yield our affections, faculties, and powers to
his Righteous Sceptre.
To these ends bless thou the present word, and make
it the means of effectual salvation to our souls, through
the righteousness and the grace of JESUS CHRIST
our LORD, who hath instructed us to pray, saying,
Our Father, &c.

CHRIST THE CHIEFEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND.

CANT. Chap. V. Ver. 10. latter part.
 the chief est among ten thousand.
J. HERE are no men, who are not actuated by sermon
some peculiar objects, that influence their af- ' 
fections ; Avho haAe not some point in vieAv, to
the attaining of Avhich, every thing else is made
to give Avay.
Every man finds his delights and enjoyments,
in something or other without him ; or, if he does
not find them, he labours to do so ; though expe
rience proves, that in all instances, — one only
excepted, the final result is, vanity, andvexa- Ecc. ii. n.
tion of spirit.
It is inquired, then, what is this one only
excepted thing, that shall not disappoint,
vex, or defeat the labours of those, who set
their hearts to seek it?
The Text points it out to you, by this cha
racter and description of its superior excellence
« — the

82 CHRIST THE CHIEFEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND.

SERMON V.

— the chiefest among ten thousand. And it
really is so.
Had the expression gone still farther, and
spoken of millions, of myriads of millions, it
Avould have been far short of p-iving- us an ade-
quate idea of the real value of the object. Nay,
the poAvers of language might be exhausted,
and yet, not a ten thousandth part of its excel^
lency Avould be displayed—for, it speaks pf
CHRIST! Of many particulars that might be treated,
on, respecting the great object Ave are about to
contemplate, we will select such as these :— -
I. IN WHAT MAY THE EXCELLENCY AND
PRECIQJIS.NESS QF CHRIST CONSIST?
II. AVHO ARE THE PERSONS, TO WHOM
CHRIST IS THE CHIEFEST AMONG TEN
THOUSAND? III. IN AVHAT. (CHARACTER AND'PFFICES.
DOES CHRIST THUS EXCEL?
I. To the question, what may his surpas
sing EXCELLENCE CONSIST IN ? It lHUSt be
v . an-

SfRMON V. 8^

•r -.5

answered— in the QUALIFICATIONS he sermon
'. • v.
possesses: his fitness and sufficiency to. an-  ^ —
SAver the needs, — to succour, support, and save
those, Avho commit their souls to him.
To enter into a full detail of the qualifica
tions, that perfect CHRIST for the work of
salvation, and entitle him to. the description in
the Text, Avould be beyond the limits of our pre
sent time; and the utmost Ave can do, >vill be to
enumerate a few; such as, —
Tlie glory of ins nature; being the bright
ness of the Father's glory, and the express Heb. i. 3,6.
image of his person, Avhom the angels of GOD
Avere commanded to worship : —
The dignity of his person, co-equal and
cp-eternal with the Father; he thought it not Pn- ii- 6, 7.
robbery to be equal with GOD, though he took
upon him the form of a servant : —
His unsearchable wisdom; for, in him Col. ii. 3.
are hid all the treasures of zeisdom and know
ledge : — r
His condescending goodness, that per
vades all nature, and givcth us richly all things 1TiM.vi.17.
to enjoy : — g 2 His

84 Christ the chiefest amon£ ten thousand.'

sermon His love, that wiaS from everlasting, and that
V .
_  *" to everlasting shall endure; and his peculiar
mercies and manifestations of that love, to the
distinguished Objects Of it :—
. The RfCHEs or his grace, and the power
which he possesses to effect all the purposes
and designs of his Loat; and, not only his
HE3.vii.25. ability to save to the uttermost, all that come
unto the Father by him, but
His good-will to do it also; for he waits
but to be gracious to his people, and continually
knocks at the door of their hearts to reveal
himself; and whosoever are Avilling, are en
couraged to come.
His truth, that from generation to genera
tion fails not; and his faithfulness, that
shall endure and outstand Avorlds : — •
His victories, his conquests, and his tri
umphs, won and obtained over Sin, Death, and
the Grave; yea, over Hell; which are the just
causes of eternal strains of praise ; and of the
emulation of saints and angels and all the hea
venly choir, in the adoration of him, who is now
pg.Uvrri.18. risen and gloriously ascended to ledd captivity
Epu. iv. 8. captive, and give gifts unto men. Thus

SERMON V. 85

v.

Thus qualified and endoAved with poAver both sermon
in Heaven and Earth, and vested with all
the splendor of uncreated excellency, may he
not well be considered as the chief est among ten
thousflnd; as all-sufficient for the satisfying of
his people's wants; and the all in all to those
that knoAV him, and have spiritual faculties for
discerning the unsearchable riches, the blessings,
and the arace, Avith Avhich his name abounds?
II. I say, therefore, in reply to pur Second
Inquiry, who are the PERSONS, to whom
CHRIST is the chiefest among ten thou
sand?' — THEY WHO HAVE A DUE SENSE PF
their jjeeD of him; such particularly, as,
1. The broken-hearted — the contrite
* — and they Avho mou rn for sin.
Where the heart is Avhole, and conscience un-
wounded, there is no need of CHRIST to heal
it ; and Avhere sin is neither seen, known, nor
mourned for, there Avill be no thirstings after
salvation and deliA^erance : but, if the heart be
softened, by the knoAvledge of sin ; and the spi
rit broken, by the condemnations of the LaAV,
and the prospect of its aAvful penalties; then
shall the God-man CHRIST, Avho finds a ran som

86 CHRIST THE CHIEFEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND.
sermon som from the pit, and saves the soul therefrom,
be esteemed as the chiefest among fen thou-

JoL^xxxiii. Sand:'— 2. To the man, who hath spiritual facul
ties, and a spiritual understanding; to him,
Avho hath ears to hear, and hath eyes to sec, the
salvation that he brings, is CHRIST as the Text
describes him. The choicest arrangements, and
the brightest display, of colours, Avill be totally
lost to him, that hath no sight; nor -will the most
exquisite harmony, Avhich music can supply,
give gladness to the ears of the deaf: so neither
can the natural man knoAv CHRIST JESUrs
Avorth, nor discern the things of the SPIRIT
of GOD. But Avhere the reneAving influences
of grace supply the seeing eye, the hearing ear,
and the understanding heart; there is CHRIST
JESUS seen, knoAvn, and experienced, as the
chief est among ten thousand: —
3. To the humble, loavly, and self-
abased; to him, Avho is little in his own eyes; to
him, who has nothing to offer but sins, infirmities,
andthesadfruitsof a corrupted heart; to such Avill
l Pet. ii. 7. CHRIST be precious, because, for these very
reasons, they see themselves exposed to tlie
Avrath of GOD, in the just retributions of eter
nity,

SERMON- V.- 87
nitv,— and yet,; possessing' in niM" all that can ^Rmon
qualify them for1 the presence cf a pure and -->¦¦  k
holy GOD, and lit them for GOD's Kingdom,
their hearts are! gladdened with the assurance1,
that CHRIST shall of GOD be made unto them,
alliAvhich salvation and the soul require; to
them, therefore, he is .the . chief est among ten
thousand: — :
4< To the hungry. The choicest food is
without; sweetness, Avhere ; appetite is wanting.
The full soul loatheth an honey-comb ; but, to pR.xxvii.7.
the hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
Much more, if you are hungering and thirsting
after righteousness, will CHRIST be precious
untoyou; othenvise he Avill be Of small account
with yoiii
There, are those, who think and say, with the Rev. iii. 17.
Laodicean church:—/ am rich, and increased
with goods, and have need of nothing. These
prize not. CHRIST.
But Conscious poverty, emptiness, and want,
make the soul Avise, and giA-e it understanding
in, the riches, the fullness, and the plenty, which
abound, in him, who is the chief est among ten
thousand: — 5. To

158 CHRIST the chiefest among ten thousand.
sermon 5^ To the sick and weary ; those Avho are

v.

sick and tired with sin ; Avho see Death in the
World, and in the Avays of the world ; who see
GOD's judgments ready to fall upon«the guilty;
who have sought pleasure in vicious habits, and
found nothing but pain, vexation, disappoint
ments, and sorrows. They Avho are thus sick
and weary, Avanting deliverance from sinful fet
ters, and refuge from the storm; these, made
welcome by him who invites the weary and the
heavy-laden, are enabled to behold him, chief
indeed among the thousands : —
6. To those, that, in another sense, are
weary, from havingi laboured long in their
own strength, to fulfil the numerous duties of
the moral Law; and, perhaps, have long toiled
in the rites of a formal Worship; and found,
.Is.xx\iii.20. after all, that the bed is shorter, than that a
man can stretch himself on it; and the covering
narrower, than that he can zerap himself in it, —
that they are still debtors, unable to satisfy the
LaAv's demands, and convinced, that the life of
their precious souls is justly forfeited to its
Rom. x. 4. claims: — tell such, that CHRIST is the end of
the Law, for righteousness, to everyone that be
lieveth; and, that his obedience is imputed by
faith to the sinner, who sees his own insuffici ency

sermon v» 89

ency and inability, to fulfil the -conditions of sebmout
a strict and unabating laAV, and he will, in-  —
deed* behold the Surety, that undertakes for
him, as the chief est among ten thousand: —
7- To those, who have burdens to bear,
sorrows to conflict with, sharp battles to fight,
fierce temptations to sustain, numerous and
powerful enemies to grapple with, fights with- 2Con>vii.5.
out, and fears within. They who are thus exer
cised and assaulted on every hand, and destitute
of all strength, wisdom, ability, and skill, to
Wage the unequal Avar, and to make a stand
against the foes of the soul, — these see righte
ousness and strength in JESUS, sufficient to
their needs : — In the LORD will such say, have Is. xiv. 24.
I righteousness and strength; he is the conso
lation and the remedy, suited to my case; he is
the chief est among ten thousand.
III. We may in the Third place, as Avas pro
posed, take a vieAv of the CHARACTERS and
OFFICES, in which .CHRIST thus ex
cels. We shall do this, by entering a little into the
contrast, or comparison, that may be inferred
from the Text-~- the diiefest among ten th-ousamd. The

90 CHRIST THE CHIEfEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND.
sermon The expression seems to be defective, for want
.  zz-  of a determinate idea to be annexed at the close.

The chief est among ten thousand; — ten thousand
what? Let us supply something, then; such
as Lords — or Kings — or Saviours.
1. He is the chief est among ten thousand
Rev. xvii. LORDS 0T KiNGS. He is the LoRD OF ALL
14
xix. 16. Lords, and the King of all Kings: by him
all Potentates exist, and from him all demre
their power. *•
And Avhat is their power, Avhen they ha\7e ob
tained it? — to rule and direct a people com
mitted to their charge, respecting outward
things; and how often fail they, and from acci
dents, Aveakness, or Avickedness, fall short of the
desired success !
Poor is the protection, that a regal worm can
give, even to the Body; Avhich, without the
sustaining hand of him, by whom princes
Weathe, Avould instantly perish; but JESUS,
the King of Saints, reigns and rules in tha
Heart. No earthly king can secure SAvay, in
the Hearts of his subjects. They find it hard
work, to rule the Outward-man. - But JESUS
governs,- protects and saves the souls of his
people

SERMON V. (ft
people; and neither Death, nor- Hell, can ;**«««»
4 V.
rob him of his subjects! JESUS, -therefore, ' 
is the chief est of ten thousand Lords.
2. So also is he the chiefest among ten thou
sand Warriors. The margin of your Bibles
calls him Standard-bearer; and the officer,
you knoAv, who bears the colours, is always dis
tinguished at a distance, above and beyond the
thousands of his hosts.
Thus, therefore, CHRIST is glorious in the
armies of Heaven ; and he is the all-victorious
Captain of our salvation. He never
fights in vain. Laurels ever croAvn his broA^;
and palms are ready vioav, to adorn the hand of
every faithful soldier, enlisted under him.
The standard, Avhich he hoists, is the-CROss.
It is painted in gloAving colours, AA'hite and
red. Love is his banner; " peace and salva- Cant. ii. 4.
tion," is his deA'ice; and victory, conquest,
salvation, and eternal peace, are the sure re
wards of those, Avho enter under him.
Oh! HE is a skilful General, as the leader of
his bands; faithful to his enlisted hosts. ' None
of his trusty soldiejs are left slain upon the
field.

f}2 CHRIST THE CHlEPf ST AMOW3 TEN THOUSAND.
sermon ^eid. jje heals all their wounds, received in
m- — '  battle. He bears the fiercest charges of the
enemy; and never deserts his post. He deals
death and destruction to the foe; but, rich
spoils and honours, glory, palms, and triumphs,
are the assured possession of him, who fights
with CHRIST, and in his strength. JESUS,
therefore, is the chief est of ten thousand Cap
tains.
3. Often thousandSAviovRS,too, CHRIS*
is the chief.
Them are many Saviours, to which vain man
betakes himself: — his wisdom, might, and con
sequence in the world; his riches, his power, his
interest, his strength, his friends! Poor Sa
viours, truly, will such be in the day of wrath !
Ps.xx. 7. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
some in this thing, some in that; but miser
able comforters, helpless deliverers; are they all,
in the time of trial, the hour of -death, or tlie
day of judgment.
" Not altogether so helpless," say you. " I
have a friend, who has saved my property;" —
" and I," says another, " a friend, who has
.preserved my. reputation." — " Yea," says a third,
"my

sermon v. g&
n my life has been delivered l!>y the hand* of my s^hmon y m
friend." This was kind, indeed; but which of 
them eA-er saved your soul?
None of them can by any means redeem his Ps. xlix.7.
Brother, nor give to GOD a ransom for him.
But this hath JESUS done. Your souls and
mine are redeemed at the price of his blood, if
We believe on his name; and JESUS, therefore,
is the chief of ten thousand^ avkiurs.
4. We mentioned Friends; but Avhat are
the friends and friendship of the world? — a
breath-*a bubble---a gilded picture ! Friend
ship, in its purity, is, indeed, ah honourable
affection ; but it is seldom formed upon a solid
basis. It is mostly like houses built on sand ;
and, Avhen storms and Avmds arise, when rains
and tempests beat — Avhere is friendship then ?
JESUS is the friend, that sticheth cl&ser than Ps. xviii. 24.
a brother; or, if we suppose, as sometimes Ave
may, and ought in charity to human nature,
that integrity, sincerity, and hon-our, &hid.
earthly friendships,' yet there is a dissolving
principle, that loosens the chord. But JESUS
never dies 1 He, -Who- eafled" Abraham His •
friend, and makes friendship between GOD and
Sinners,

94 CHRIST THE CHIEFEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND.
sermon Sinners, is a friend indeed ! HE is the chief est
_,  of ten thousand!

5. But, closely connected Avith Friends are
Brothers; I mean Avith regard to the simpli
city and sincerity of love and affection. IIoav
Ges-.xIv. amiable is Joseph, as Moses paints him, Aveep-
ingupon the neck of Benjamin ! — Aveeping too
on the necks of all the ten, Avho sold him ! Avho
would have destroyed, and put him to death! —
Blessed type of the still more kindly forgiving
JESUS! And have Ave then such a Brother? Yea,
blessed be his name, this very JESUS is our
R0M.viii.29. Elder Brother, whom Ave havre sold, denied,
and slain! We have Avounded him ten thou
sand times, and often Noav Ave crucify him
Heb. vi. 6. afresh, and put him to an open shame. Yet be
hold ! he is our Elder Brother still; and
still weeps upon our neck — still feeds, main
tains, upholds, and provides a place of refuge,
far safer than the land of Goshen, for traitor,
rebel brothers, like ourselves; whom yet he is'
condescendingly pleased to OAvn, and receive
under this intimate relation. Nor is he, says
Heb. ii. 11. the holy Paul, ashamed to call them brethren.
O JESUS

sermon v. 95
O JESUS then! thou art the chiefest of ten sermon

thousand Brothers.

6*.. Consider him as the Father, the Hus
band, the Spouse of his people. The same,
who is the Prince of Peace, is the Ever
lasting Father, to the offspring of his love. ,
And no parental ties on Earth, are like those
of JESUS to his children. A human parent
may be destitute, both of the affection and
the poAver, to guard and protect the fruit- of his
Own body. Can a woman forget her sucking
child? Yea, they may, saith GOD, yet will I Is. xlix. 15.
not forget thee, avIio art the offspring of mine
eternal love, and the object of my paternal care.
Oh! HE is the chiefest of ten thousand Fa
thers !
7. So also,behold h i m as the widow's Husband
—and the Spouse, of his betrothed Church: —
how faithful, constant, true ! Thy maker is thy is. liv. s.
husband, saith the LORD. He says it to his
Church, and to eArery member of his Church.
He comforts them, Avith the blessed assurance
of it; and this is the language that he uses: —
The LORD hath called thee, as a zeoman forsa- ver- s—%.
ken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth; when

V.

9$ CHRIST THE CHIEFE"ST AMONG TEN THOUSAND.
s-ermon when thou wast refused, saith thy GOD. For a
- small moment have I forsaken thee ; but, with
great mercies will I gather thee. In a little
wrath, I hid my face from thee, for a moment;
but, with everlasting kindness zvill I have mercy
on thee, saith HE, Avho is the chief of ten thou
sand Husbands.
8. To speak of him, as the Prophet and
Teacher of his people, and shew hoAv he
gives them Avisdom, and reveals the precious
truths of his Avoid; Oh! none often thousand
can teach like CHRIST!
9. To speak of him, as the atoning Priest
for the sins of his people, avho sacrificed, on the
altar of his cross, HisoAvn most precious blood;
to speak of him, as the Consolation of his saints,
the fearer of their SorroAVs, the Assuager of
their Griefs, the Drier-up of their Tears, and
the Soother and Supporter of every distress, af
fliction, and calamity, that befals them : —
Hoav powerfully and hoAv sAveetly nE pours
in the balm of Gi lead, and the Gospel Wine,
into the Avounded breasts of his people; how
sweetly he opens the sources of the Word's eter
nal comfort, to the bleeding hearts of them that
mourn

SERMON V, §
mourn— -Oh! what a Comforter is he! Ten sermon v.
thousand cannot match HIM ! — -»t-,~.- -

*

10. To speak pf him as a Counsellor, the
Wonderful, the blessed Advocate with the
Father: — Oh! what an effectual Pleader is
he for the condemned, at his Father's throne \
Fat iiT.R\ forgive them. Deliver them from the Lu ice xxiii.
pit; I have found a ransom. Oh! hoAf he in- JoB xxx;jj#
tercedes, Avith a continual intercession, for his 24.
Redeemed! Read his precious pleadings in the
xviith of St. John. Think of the love, the ear*
nestness,- the poAver, Avith which he argues" for
them. He is an Advdcate^ AVho pleads Avith
out a) fee. He is a Counsellor, Who neve*
lost a- cause. He id fhe chiefest^ therefore, of
ten thousand Interc-essors.
11. To speak fully of stich offices' and cha
racters as these, the time would fail. Once
more then only, let me hold him' up as the
Shepherd of mspeople; Avho knoztis his sheep,' Johnx. 14.
and is knozvn of them;' avtio Mis them all by John x. 3.
hamt; who provides' green pastures for1 their Ps. xxiii. 2,
food, and still waters Tor their comfort-; Avho
extends the pastoral crook', to bring in the sf fay
ing, — ni& drms to carry fhe lambs, — his hand, Is. xl. li.t
to lead gently those that are with young. Oh !
»• — h what

98 CHRIST THE CHIEFEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND.

sermon Avhat a gracious Conductor of his flock! — the
 Love, that he bears his sheep ! — the Price, that
John x. ii. he paid for their purchase! — Yea, he laid dozen
his life for the sheep. And, if green pastures
will not suffice, behold! he hath given his body
broken, and his blood poured out, to be the
nourishment, life, and salvation of the fold. Is
not then JESUS the chiefest of ten thousand
Shepherds? Give him, then, your Hearts. Give him
your confidence; — the trust, the faith, the cre
dit, Avhich his word demands. Give him your
affections, and let your love , be placed upon
him. Give him your souls, that his blood
may cleanse them; that his righteousness may
clothe them; that his SPIRIT may renew them,
and conform them to his most blessed likeness,
who is the chiefest among ten thousand.
Give him your Labours, quickened by his
Strength and SPIRIT, in a willing obedience to
ii is commands. Give him your gratitude, thanks
givings, and praise, for his free salvation. Give
him the full glory of his OAvn work upon your
l Chr. xvi. Souls. Give him the honour due unto his name^
Avho is the chiefest among ten thousand.

Ps. xxix. 2.
xcvi. 8.

An

sermon v. '99
An important observation must be stated in sermon
the close.  «  ?

All mankind shall one day see the glory of
GOD — and CHRIST, as the chiefest among ten
thousand; but it is not every one that shall see
him, as altogether lovely. All men shall not see
him under the pleasing aspects in which he
has been now held forth*
Unbelievers, and the finally impenitent, shall
behold him as the chiefest among ten thousand
avenging and condemning Judges;
If you have attended courts of Judicature
here beloAv^ and thought there was any terror
in the aspect of the death-pronouncing Judge;
think of the rejected JESUS, the Judge of Acts *, 42.
quick and dead; despised noAV, perhaps, and his
very Name insulted, mocked, and blasphemed;
but haply, in a feAV days, coming, with awful
pomp, to pass the final sentence on your souls !
Oh ! he shall then be the chiefest often thousand
Terrors! CHRIST JESUS, then, will be beheld, not
as the Saviour of the finally impenitent, but
as the avenging GOD, that must, according to
h 2 the

100 CHRIST THE CHIEFEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND.
s-eRwow to the eternal declarations of his Avoid, install
i  '.  i the righteous in the bright thrones prepared
for them, and deliver up the Avicked, the hypo
crite, and the infidel, to their place. Truly
then, my brethren, will JESUS CHRIST be to
those, that shall have finally rejected him, the
chiefest of ten thousand Ministers of Wrath.
But come ! I told you he Avas the Standard-
bearer, and his banner is Love. And as such,
may you still behold him! Perhaps you have
been hearing his offices and his character de
clared, with a secret Avish to knoAV them by ex
perience. Come then. He is yours in all his
offices, if you desire him. Be ye persuaded to
James i. 5. come, and enlist under one, that giveth libe
rally, and upbraideth not.
Though you have been enemies, and fought
against him; though you have pierced his
side, and made the blood to Aoav, and have hi
therto been implacable tOAvards CHRIST; yet,
still his banner is Love. Peace and Salvation
are inscribed thereon ; and all, Avho are willing,
may still enter, for the prize of pardon, and the
triumphs of eternal peace.

Oh!

SERMON V. 101
Oh! he is a gracious Lord, to the poor and sermon
broken hearted. No sorroAving souls are cast 

out by him. In no zeise shall those, that come Jomfvi. 37.
to him, miscarry. None ever perished at his
feet, or missed of the protection, that his ban
ners promised.
May GOD by his HOLY SPIRIT, then,
unfurl these banners now ! — display the glorious
Cross to faith ! — and let blood-bought pardons
and peace, flow cIoavii into the hearts of them
that look upon him, Avhom they have pierced, Zech. xii.
and mourn !
Hear him, FelloAV Sinners! still this is His
language: — Father! forgive them ! Father !
forgive them all ! Oh ! let us then be a for
given people; Avon to him by his loVe; pur
chased by his blood — and, by the powerful
operations of his grace, enlisted into the glori
ously successful warfare of HIM, avho is the
chiefest among ten thousand — thousand Lords,
and Conquerors, and Kings !

SERMON

SERMON VI.
THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

VI.

PSALM lxviii. Ver. 18.
Thou hast ascended on high; thou hast led
captivity captive; thou hast received gifts
for men, yea, for the rebellious also [even
jfdr thine enemies, Com. R.]
THE stone, which the builders rejected, is be- SE^ID"
come the head of the corner. GOD had deter
mined to exalt it, and thereon to build his
triumphant Church, Mat. xxi.
Acts iv. 11.
The Text resolves itself into those divisions l Pbt- "• 7'
of the subject, that will naturally and easily
lead us to contemplate the treasures of which
it consists, I. Thou hast ascended on high:—

Ps. cxviii.
22.

o

U Thou

]04 THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.
sermon II. Thou hast led captivity captive:—'
VI. III. Thou hast received gifts for men : — ¦
IV. Yea, even for [thine enemies'] the re
bellious. _
. » w"
I. The ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST,
which seems to be GOD's peculiar act of exal
tation, respecting him Avhom the builders refus
ed, is succinctly described in the first chapter of
the Acts; as it is predicted in the first clause of
OUf Text; and alluded to, by the Psalmist, in
yery; majestic terms: —
Ps. xhii. 1, O clap your hands, a\l ye people; shout unto
5,7,8,9. GOD,, with, fhe voice of triumph.... GOD is
gone up, with a shout, the LORD, with the
sound of a trumpet  For GOD is the King
of all the earth : sing ye praises, with. under-
Standing. GOD reigneth over the heathen:
GOD sitteth. upon the throne of his holiness.
The princes pf the people aye gathered together,
even the people of the GOD of Ab.raiiam;
for' the shields of the earth belong unto GOD:
he« greatly exalted. In

SERMON VI, IftJ

- In the fulfilment of this and other scriptures, ssrmow
which foretell this exaltation, or ascension, pf _J_^._,U..
the Son of God, consist the security and con--
eolation of believers : CHRIST being in Hea
ven, and acting there as the believer's Suret
•ty; — the Surety of an everlasting covenant,
and ablp to save them to the uttermost, that come HEB.vii.25.
unto GOD by him; seeing he ever Uveth, to
piake intercession for them. Every state, or na
tion connected Avith others, and especially if
subordinate in dominion, has its representative,.
or minister, to negotiate its affairs, preserve its
interests, and provide, in all points, for its Avell
being, So is it in the court of Heaven, and
in the Church Triumphant there. Relievers,
who constitute this loAver Church, have their
minister plenipotentiary, their representative
and mystic head; to whom they confide all
their concerns; to whom they commit the ad
vocacy and* arrangement of their whole cause;
and upon Avhom they rest all their claims, rights,
and titles, and every interest, property* and re
version ; in the full assurance and persuasion,
that, with such a friend at court, the Sovereign
pf the Universe will admit them to every
promised privilege, and establish them there-

To

106* THE ASCENSION Of CHRIST.

sermon t0 prosecute these interests, and to negotiate
—  . these eternal concerns, of his people, JESUS
CHRIST is their Forerunner, Representa
tive, and effectual Mediator. He made,
upon Earth, in the sinner's behalf, the atone
ment and satisfaction that Avas due to the hea
venly Father's justice. He fulfilled, in the
same behalf, the demands and requirements of
,an infinitely holy and perfect LaAv; transferring,
through faith, the meritorious reAvards of his
obedience, to the individuals of his Church;
giving them in himself, a claim to the King
dom of Heaven. And, having past through
the grave, in his Avay to take possession of his
Kingdom, he is risen and hath ascended up on
high, to establish, plead, and transact, upon the
ground and foundation of his own all suffici
ent merits, the whole concerns, cause, and glory
of the redeemed Avorld, for which he stands en
gaged. Nor Avill he give over the benignant
work, till his mediatorial kingdom be accom
plished ; till every living stone, constituting a
part of his spiritual house, be laid; and till
every individual member of the glorious assem
bly of the first born, that GOD, the Eternal
Father, gave him, be gathered in; Avhen the
triumphant Church shall be completed, and
1 Cor. xv. GOD shall be all in all,
28. II. The

SERMON VI, 107
II. The LEADING CAPTIVITY CAP- mmo*

VI.

TIVE, which is the next idea comprised in
the Text, has a manifest allusion to the grand
triumphal honours, Avhich, in former times,
Were granted to those, Avhose successful arms
had obtained important victories; when the
most deadly and tremendous foes, Avhich they
had vanquished and taken prisoners, Avere laden
with chains, and led in solemn procession, to
dignify the triumph of the conqueror.

The victorious and triumphant JESUS is here
represented under the same idea; having spoiled Col. ii. 15.
principalities and powers, he made a shew of
them openly, triumphing over them.
The principalities and powers, which are
meant by the Apostle, are Satan, the World,
and the Flesh; Death, the Grave, and Hell;
the victory over which, the prophet Hosea sang
in spirit, when he used this triumphant lan
guage: — / will ransom them from the power of Hos.xiii.i4*
the Grave; I will redeem them from Death.
O Death, I will be thy plagues; O Grave, i"
will be thy destruction. Agreements with Hell,
and leagues with Satan, whereby his people
were bound, he dissolved and rendered null, in
destroy-

H>5 THE ASC»NSI0N OF CHRIST.

sermon destroying SATAif,and pausing his kingdomyto
fajllas lightningfrom Heaven.

VI.

Luke x. 18.

All these enemies had led captive the subjects
pf JESUS's Kingdom; and they had their de
gree and measure of power, over him, who coiir-
Luke xxii. descended to submit to that power and the hour
of darkness, Avhen the fists of Avickedness smote
him; when the taunts of the spiteful wounded
him; Avhen his broAvs were torn Avith thorns ;
Ps. cxvi. 3. when the sorrows of death compassed him, and
the pains of hell gat hold upon him.
Neb. ii. 14. But, by Death, he conquered Death, and him
that had the poAver of it; taking them captive,
whose captive he Avas for a season.
And. Death and the Grave are so subdued, in
the present state of things, to believers, through
the ppwer of CHRIST'S victory over them, that
they are no longer the enemies of the kingdom,
. but the harbingers- and heralds, that make Avay,
and open the everlasting doors; — the actual
channel of communication, between the waiting
spirits pf the LORD's redeemed, and the glo
rious inheritance pf which they are heirs : Death
being uoav the believer's gate to Heaven, and
the Gra,ve his avenue to Eternal Rest. And
even

sermon Vi. \og
even before the last scene of dissolving nature! sermoh-
. vl.
the heirs of promise share in the triumph, ;  — --

through the present influences of grace, subdu4
ing captivating habits of iniquity, transgression,
and sin;— all those high and lofty thoughts,
evil imaginations, and unsanctified affections,
which lrad ensnared and led captive the weak
pupil in tlie school of CHRIST. These, even
in the present state, yield Avitness and testimony
to the power of CHRIST, sustaining them in
the conflict, and fulfilling the promise of his
own mouth, which hath said, that zehen the JohnxvLs,
Comforter is come, he shall convince the zeorld
of judgment, because the prince of this world is
judged. We are given to see, that the prince of
this Avorld is already condemned, and the sen
tence of his' condemnation is executing 'every
day: and JESUS, both LORD and CHRIST, Acts ii. 36.
to whom all power and judgment is committed,
shall cast down, more and more, the kingdom "
of darkness and AVickedness, setting up mi
kingdom of light, grace, and holiness on its
ruins, till he shall come to judge the Avorld, at
the last day. - lj
And not only the Church as a body, shall see
its corruptions yield to CHRIST'S power; but
every member of that Church Shall see f-he re
mainders

110 THE ASCfiNSION GF CHRtSf.

sermow maindersof sin and corruption purged aAvay;— t
VI. .
.  shall find grace groAv strong, and the inner man
established in truth, righteousness, and holi
ness, through the power of his great representa
tive in Heaven, and be one day enabled to lead
captive those that have enslaved him, and to
shout, in the triumphant strains of St. Paul:
Rom. viii. Who is he that condemneth ? It is CHRIST that
34 35 37 •
' 3S[ ' died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is
even at the right-hand of GOD, who also mak-
eth intercession for us. Who shall septate us
from the love of CHRIST? shall tribulation? or
distress ? or persecution ? or famine ? or naked
ness? or peril? or sword? Nay, neither death,
nor life, nor principalities, nor powers — no, not
the poAvers of Hell— 7 for in all these things we
are more than conquerors. Thus JESUS
CHRIST reigns triumphant over all that hath
militated against ins kingdom. He binds their
Ps. cxlix. 8. kings zeith chains, and their nobles zeith fetters
of iron; leads, and enables 11 is tp lead, those
in captivity, that have once acted, as the ty
rants and oppressors of ins people, in the spiri
tual warfare.
And let us remember, that CHRIST trium
phant in Heaven, in his mediatorial character,
triumphs, not in the divine, but in the human
nature;

SERMON VI. 11 J
nature; and that the triumphs no av entered ottj sermon VI.
are entered on as the blessedness infallibly re- 
verting to each individual, united unto him,
through the operations of a living faith, and on
behalf of that individual; nay, as Ave are to con
sider, III. Not only the triumphantly leading cap
tivity captive, but all the GIFTS of GOD, he,
now sitting at GOD's right hand in glory, has
received for men. Some translations ren
der it, that he has received gifts as man : — but,
both as man and for men, is he the receiA-er and
the holder of all gifts and blessings, as the trus
tee for his people. A feAV of these gifts may
be enumerated : —
1. All THAT NATURE CAN supply. The
air; the seas; the Sun, to rule by day; the
Moon, by night; the seasons; the supplies, the
food, and the medicine, Avhich the body needs;
are all of them but the gifts of GOD, given to
man through JESUS CHRIST, in whom we
live, and move, and have our being.
2. So is it as to providence. The arrange
ments of Providence; the government of the
world; the events of the times; the iprpserya; tion

llfi THE ASCENSION 6t "CHRIST".

SBRMda tion of Put persons,- or societies, of kingdomf,
-  '.,.-. or nations ; the destruction of others ; and th€
Whole system of causes and effects; all centre in
the breast and the hand of h*m, to whom all
things in Heaven and Earth are made over;
and nothing happens, that may not be vieAved in
the light of a gift, arranged, commissioned, or
appointed, to subserve, either the general, or the
peculiar and special interests, of the Church of
GOD ; or of some of its members in particular.
3. The gifts of the intellectual an&
moral avorld. If any are Avise, or virtuous^,
or learned, or skilful ; or possessed of any parts',
powers, or talents, that cause them to differ
from others; these also result from him, in
Cot. ii. 3. whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knozeledge; from him, in whom it pleased the
Col. i. 19. Father that all fulness should dzeell.
John i. 14. 4. Yea, A FULNESS OF TRUTH AND GRACft
is there in CHRIST JESUS for his people's
ver. 16. benefit: of which fulness have all we received^
saith St. John, if Ave are partakers of the etei«
nal life Avhich he gives, and grace for grace.
'¦-AS sefcWd-afr GOD'* right hand in His me*
dtetor4al-,k4agdomy ws look np-to- him to- be
stow

sermon vi. 1L3.

SERMON VI.

stow those gifts of grace, which, a* a man,
and for the men who are the objects of his re
deeming love, rebellious as they are, he hath
received. And where shall Ave begin to enume
rate these gifts?
(1.) Himself he receives as Man, sitting
at GOD's right-hand; but he gives as GOD;
he in the Father, und the FathE/R in him, John x. 3s.
according to his own idea of unity. He com- xvij' 2i".
municatesand gives himself., in the covenant
grace, unto all who are willing

of grace, unto all who are willing to receive
Jiim. He gives himself in the relation of a
Father, a Husband, a Brother, and a
Friend. (S.) He gives also the Disposition to Come
to him, for an interest in this gift; for, the
very repentance we need, the turning to him,
and the believing on him, are of his bestow
ing; and we are to look to him for it, whom
GOD hath exalted at his right hand, to be Acts v. 31.
a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repent
ance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
(3.) AncL as that in Avhich repentance chiefly
consists, he gives the NeAV Heart, according to Ez. xi. 19.
his promise; implanting it in the breasts of his
I people,

114 THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

sermotj people, through the agency of his HOLY
SPIRIT.

VI.

(4.) And that HOLY SPIRIT himself, he
John.xv.26. promises to give ; and noAv sits on the mercy
seat to bestoAv.
We pray, in tlie language of our Church,
that "GOD, the King or Olory," will send
us his "HOLY GHOST, to comfort us, and
exalt us to the same place, whither our Saviour
CHRIST is gone before." And Ave are en
couraged thus to seek this gift, and to ground
our plea and expectation of it, upon his own
John xiv. promise : — / lvm pray f,fie Father, and he
shall give you another Comforter; and, time
after time, he offers the water of life, by Avhich
he always intends the SPIRIT, to every one
who fhirsteth;— that HOLY SPIRIT, through
whom he perpetually dispenses and giA-es him
self to ins people; applying the various parts
of his salvation to their several necessities; and
shedding upon them his influences, as the puri
fier and the cleanser of the heart, and the divine
author of all holy and heaA-enly affections.
Having received the kingdom of GOD the
Father's hand, he thus not only gives us the
kingdom,

sermon vi. J.15

kingdom, purchased for us by his OAvn blood, sermon
but he gives us, likewise, the holiness and meet-  r~  ,
ness for, the^same, which he avoiIcs in us by his
SPIRIT; and that SPIRIT shall be assuredly
given, to them Avho ask it.
(5.) To the gifts that have been named, I can
only add, that, from the throne of his exaltation,
he Avho is both LORD and CHRIST, gives Acts ii. 36.
Ps lxxxiVo
GRACE AND GLORY, " n '
[1. ] He gives the grace of Faith; the grace
of Repentance; the grace of Sanctification; the
grace of Perseverance: — Grace, in all its chang
ing, renewing, establishing, strengthening, sup
porting, comforting, and refreshing properties;
or, in one Avord, the grace suited to their needs.
My grace is sufficient for thee. He sits upon 2CoR.xii.9.
the Throne of Grace, possessing thefulness Col. ii. 9.
of the Godhead bodily, and dispensing the bles
sings and grace of the diArine nature to all his
Church, and every member of it ; to each one
seA^erally, as his will and their necessities re
quire. [2. J And he croAvns the gifts of Grace, by
the. gift and consummation of Glory. What
that glory shall be, it is not given, either to
1 2 men

US THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

sermon men or angels, to fathom or comprehend; for
, - 1-- - , ,. the glory, which our ascended JESUS is ex
alted to bestoAV, is the glory of GOD. The like
glory, which GOD, the Eternal Father,
hath given JESUS, gives JESUS to them, who
are his. Mysterious, and incomprehensibly
great, is the goodness and love of GOD to
sinners ; who could not have dared to hope for
such glory, but from the authority of the in-
John xvii. spired Avoid: — And the glory, which thou gav-
est me, I have given them; that they may be
one, even as we are one, I in them, and thou
in me; that they may be made perfect in one;
and that the world may know, that thou hast
sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast lov
ed me. Oh ! Avhat gifts are these ! — the Grace*
the Glory ! and the Love of GOD ! and that
which should excite the wonder, gratitude, and
admiring praise of men, is, that they are receive
zdfor the rebellious. Thou hast received gifts
for the rebellious also;— for thine enemies ; as
bur Common-Prayer-book translation renders
it.
2 Cor. xii- W- Were the unutterable things, with a sight
1—4. 0f -which St. Pau l was favoured, to be describ
ed to us ; Avere the glories, the blessings, and
the whole inventory of the treasures of the New
Jeru-

SERMoar. vi. 117
Jerusalem, to be recounted to 115; and Avere sermon VI.
capacities v of understanding all their Avorth _—___—
and excellency to be vouchsafed us; it would
avail us but little, my fellow sinners, if they
were to be given, only to the Righteous and
perfectly Holy. The greater the joys, and the
more extensive and durable the nich treasures, of
an heavenly Canaan, by so much the Avorse
would it be, the more mortifying and distress
ing, if not given for the REBELLIOUS — we
being Rebels.
But, GOD be praised! the general tenor of
the divine promises, dispenses the gifts of our
exalted High Priest and King, to persons of
this description. To a rebellious people spread- Is. Ixv. 2.
eth out the LORD his hands; — his gracious 0M-X-21'
hands of invitation. Oh! let him not spread
them out in vain 1 Is mercy promised, and
pardon granted ? righteousness offered, and the
tenders of peace made?— It is to the wicked,* the
unrighteous, and the vile : let such forsake his rs. iv. p.
way, his unrighteous 'thoughts, and return unto
the LORD; there is mercy ; there is abundant
pardon. CHRIST is exalted on purpose to be- acts v. 31.
stow it. My thoughts are not your thoughts,- is. iv. 8.
neither are your ways my ways, saith the
LORD. I, saith

1 13 THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

SERMON VI.

lTiM.i.13.

I, saith St. Paul, was a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and injurious ; but yet / obtained
mercy. Oh! it is a faithful saying, and worthy
iTim. i.i5. of all men to be received, that CHRIST JESUS
came into the world, to save sinners.
Is CHRIST a physician ? and hath he Health
to bestow ? This will be of no \-alue, to those.
Mat.'x.i3. who are AA'ell; — I came not to call righteous,
MARcii.17. but sinners— the rebellious, to repentance.
Luke v. 32. Hath CHRIST a Gospel of Reconciliation to
dispense? It must be to those, then, Avho are
in a state of Avar and'enmitv against GOD.

o

Hath CHRIST made an Atonement? and hath
he offered himself a Sacrifice for sin? — They,
l John i. 8. then, who say they have no sin, need no Atone
ment — no Saviour-— no CHRIST!
Acts v. 31. Hath CHRIST an exaltation, and a com-
i mission to bestozjo repentance, and the forgive
ness of sins? — Ah! to Avhat purpose this, if mo
ral reformation Avill serve our turn ! And Avhat
need of the blood of CHRIST to cleanse, if
our tears and labours can purge the conscience
from its guilt? Hath

SERMON VI. 119
Hath JEHOVAH promised New Hearts ; his sermon
v VI
SPIRIT, and his new creating and renovating .  '.  L
grace? — It must be to the stony-hearted, the
unclean, the vile, and the rebellious; else the
promised gifts are neither worth, nor will they
find, acceptance at the hands of man: — GOD
commendeth his love towards us, in that, while RoM v 8#
we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us. Yes,
CHRIST died for the ungodly.
If, therefore, you are not enemies, not un
godly, not rebellious, not guilty, not sinners ;
or, if you have not been such, and, on this
ground, looked for your blessings; CHRIST
hath received no gifts for you; for he came to
save sinners, and to seek the lost.
Here, then, is the grace and glory of the
Gospel revealed, in the acceptance given to
enemies and rebels against GOD; if they will
lay down their arms, and come to him. Mis
understand me not, nor abuse the gracious doc
trines of the Gospel. All its promises, and all
the gifts which CHRIST JESUS has received
for men, are theirs, if they become willing in the Ps. ex. 3.
day of his pozver, to believe on and be saved by
him, from the guilt, and the punishment,, and
the habits of their sins. But, not repenting, not

120 the ascbnsion of Christ.
xvamo.* n©tbeKewdgs not coming to GOD, not being

-7.

willing to. be saved foom sinful* practices, no» td
attain Holiness and purity of life ; — the threat-
eoiingsi are as dreadful, as^ *©> others the promises
are grac ious. Bring hither, will CHRIST say
t® persons of this description, Avhoto the last re-
Lu«E,xix; ject hjm1,^ bring kitker those mine enemies,
which wouidnot that T should reign^wer them,
and slay them befare> me.
My brethren! he slits' upon, a Throne- of
Mercy now, ready to bestow gracious and
h^^v^ly gifts ;• but, hereafter, he will sit upon
a Thr©ne'of Judgment, to dispense the full
measures of his wrath, to those who hatfef de
spised, and trifled Aviths a day of grace.
• But still, our Text is an intire dispensation
ef grace, .mercy, and love. Once more 'let us
advert to tlie gracious terms of it, and inquire;
in the last pl&cey
V With the rich g*ifts in view/ that have
been mentioned, contrasted with the iraworthi'-
mess- and rebellions of the receivers, Whaft'are the
EMOTIONS to be excited, and the EFFECTS
to be expected in their hearts and lives?' The

sermon vr. 121
The emotions will be, Humiliation, Grati- sermon
tude, Love, and Won der: — LORD! what is man, V1,

that thou art mindful of him ? and the son of Ps- v"'-'*;
. .J , . . , , . , y, Hee. ii. 6.
man, that thou visitest htm, with the riches of
thy salvation.

The effects wrought in our hearts, and con
spicuous in our lives, will be an exaltation in
heart and mind to Heaven; an ascending thi
ther in spirit, and there with CHRIST continu
ally dwelling; a heavenly conversation; holy
affections ; and the Avell regulated tempers, that
are inseparably connected with the gifts Avhich
CHRIST JESUS is exalted to bestow.
In our intercourse Avith men, the duties of
benevolence and love towards any who have
injured us, or Avho need the refreshment and
support which our means may supply, are ef
fects most certainly to be expected from all, Avho
are interested in the Avork Avhich CHRIST hath
wrought, or who are built upon the foundation
which he hath laid.

SERMON

SERMON VII.,
CHRIST THE HEAD.

EPH. Chap. iv. Ver. 15, 1 6.
—Which is the Head, even CHRIST. From
whom the whole body fitly joined together, and
compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the mea
sure of every part, maketh increase of the
body, unto the edifying of itself in love.
Jhl MORE important question cannot be sug
gested, than what is, or ought to be, the head,
the first, the prime object of man's attention
and regard, as connected both Avith his present
and future welfare.
An interest in CHRIST JESUS is that—
without Avhich a man must be inevitably mise
rable for ever, let him possess Avhatever else the
Avorld can supply. But he, Avho has CHRIST, has

SERMON VII.
II

124 CHRIST THE HIAB.
sermon has more than the world can give him; for the

VII.

Avorld can only give Avhat conduces to the gra
tification ofafeAv uncertain years; but CHRIST
is an eternal good — a durable possession — an
exhaustless fountain — an unfathomable mine of
unsearchable riches, grace, and glory.
I. It shall be attempted to point out in what
respects CHRIST is eminently beheld as
the Head.
JL To view the- beautiful gradation, sub
jection, AND SUBORDINATION OF HIS SUBJECTS,
OR MEMBERS, AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE SIMILI
TUDE OF THE TEXT.
III. To RECOMMEND TO YOU, AS THE MEM
BERS OF SO DIVINE AND COMPLETE A BODY, TO
LABOUR AFTER THfi PRESERVATION OF THE HAR-
MONY AND BEAUTY OF THE SYSTEM.

T. CHRIST, then, is said' to be HEAD, or
CHIEF, of all persons or things Avhatsoever.
Rom. ix. 5. He is head over all, GOD blessed for ever. He
is, according to .St., Paul's description of him
CoL.i. 15— tp thq colossians ; — The image of the invisi-
17 ' bit GOD, the first-born of every creature : For
Sy, hIm were all things created, that are in
Heaven,

SERMON VIT. 125
HEAViEN, and that are in Earth; visible and se**«w

VII.

invisible; whether they be thrones, or dovnnions,
©r principalities, or powers : all things were
created by him, and for him; and he is before
all things, and by him ail things consist.
And, it is to be understood, that not only has
CHRIST this superiority and pre-eminence in
his Divine nature, as GOD overall, blessed for
ever; but in his Human nature, as Man and
Mediator; in which nature, GOD hath raised Eph.i.20—
h iMfrom thedead, and set him at his own right
hand in the heavenly places, far above all print.
cipality, and power, and might, and dominion,
and every name that is named, not only in this
world, but also in that which is to come : and*
hath put all things under His feet, and gave
him to be the head over all things to the church,
which is his body, the fulness of 'him thatfilleth
all in all.
Hence, therefore, CHRIST is seen as the
constituted Head over all things ; but, in a pe
culiar manner, the Head of his Church. And
that, First, in his federal, or covenant,
relation; and, Secondly, in the sovereign
ly, government, and DIRECTION OiF IT.
1. CHRIST

126

CHRIST THE HEAD.

sermon l CHRIST is the Head of ins church,
vu. ...
. as being in a fosderal relation to it; so
that, in and through him, are made over to his
people, all the privileges and advantages, which
they are authorized to expect as believers.
Sin had shut up every avenue, Avhereby the
Creature could have access to the Creator.
The tree of life, from Adam's expulsion out of
Paradise, Avas guarded, on every hand, by
Gen. iii. 2*. cherubim and a flaming sieord ; and GOD was
DEiTT.iv.24. no longer to be approached, but as a consuming
fire.

ix. 3
Heb.xu.29

But, in the severity of judgment, mercy is dis
pensed, through a Mediator ; and, though man
cpuld no longer approach the Deity in his own
person, the Mediator, coequal Avith the eter
nal Father, constituted and appointed to his
office before the foundations of the Avorld, steps
fonvard to treat A\ith an offended GOD, on
the behalf of the fallen creature; and opens a
way, whereby all may come, coming through
him, to GOD. A covenant Avas made, in the
councils of the Tri n i t y, That man's transgres
sion should be atoned for, and infinite justice
satisfied, by an all-sufficient sacrifice— That an
entire obedience of GOD's holy laAV should be
per-

SERMON VII. 187

VII.

performed, the merit Avhereof should be attri- sermok
buted, or imputed, to those, who were ordained .
to receive the benefit resulting from pleading
it. A sanctifying principle, too, through the
agency of the HOLY SPIRIT, Avas covenanted
for, AA'hereby GOD's chosen ones should be
converted, changed, and endued with fitness
for the regained paradise.
Great and precious promises are made. Par
don, forgiveness, and acceptance are granted.
Present grace, and all the means of it; future
glory, Avith present pledges and foretastes of
it; are all secured, made over to, and vested
in CHRIST JESUS, as the Head, Represen
tative, and Surety of the parties, for whom
he covenanted and engaged: and all the bles
sings of the NeAv Testament are treasured up in
him, for the use and on the behalf of those,
who, through that channel, come to the Fa
ther, to share his grace, and taste his love.
He sustains this office so perfectly, undivid-
edly, and intirely, that none, who aim at com
ing to GOD by any other way, can find access;
and all, who come by that way, find ready and
gracious entry: — so perfectly, that none can
obtain the mercy, the grace, the peace, and the

128 chrjst the head.

ijsbmot* the blessedness of gospel salvation, any other
. way; but that all, who seek them by that way,
infallibly obtain them ; — so perfectly, that all
present comfort, sustaiiiment, and support, to
sAVeeten life, and alleviate the sufferings of it,
are effectually obtained through this channel;
ibutno certain or secure refuge is to be attained
on any other ground. ,
Hence, therefore, as ¦ tlie Covenant-head,
-CHRIST is also the Conduit-head, into which
the Whole mass or body of heavenly and earthly
good is thrown, and from which again, in in
finitely numerous channels of conveyance, the,
blessed and healing streams are transmitted
down, to all the respective communicants with
the gracious and capacious fountain-head.
Zech. iv. The golden bowl, in Zechariah's vision,
receiving from the olive trees the oil, and,
through seven pipes, conveying the same to
lamps, emitting light to the Avhole church be
low, is a beautiful and simple illustration of
the three persons of the Deity, in covenant
arrangement for the favoured ones of GOD: —
The heavenly Father conveying to the Son
rich stores of grace; the Son dispensing them
through the Spirit, to burning lamps, warm ing

SERMON VII, Igf)
ing and enlightening the recipients of present sermon
grace, and fitting and preparing them for future v"*
glory. Hence all things needful for the Church
in general, or individual believers, in particular,
are treasured up in JESUS ; and that expressly
for the use and benefit of his members: he
having led captivity captive, and being now as- p9.iXviii.i8.
cended to his mediatorial throne, at GOD's Eph. iv. 8.
right-hand, for this express purpose, to give
gifts to men, yea, to the rebellious; that all men,
made willing in the day of GOD's power to re- P9- ex. 3.
ceive them, may receiAre and live.
Hence might be stated the privilege, the
blessedness, and the safety of those, whose in
terests are thus secured; but I must proceed.
I mentioned, that CHRIST Avas the Head
of his Church, considered as the sovereign,
the king, and governor of it; and herein,
is a two-fold display of h is power, the one In
it— the other Over it. CHRIST is a head of
rule or government In the hearts of his peo
ple; subduing their -wills; regulating their af
fections; purifying their hearts ; changing their
natures; and wielding his all-powerful and vic
torious sceptre, over every thing in the breasts
of his people, that opposes his reign, or rebels
k against

130 CHRIST THE HEAD
sermon against his dominion, as the lawful and right-
VII. ¦ - ful sovereign and lord of the soul.
Herein, therefore, CHRIST, as the Head,
establishes for himself the law of holiness, pu
rity, peacefulness, and love, in the respective
members of his Church.
But as a Head or King Over his Church,
and Captain of their salvation, he fights all
their battles; copes Avith all their enemies; chal
lenges all the powers of darkness ; vanquishes
principalitier and powers; subdues every high
thing; and leads on his hosts to victory,
triumph, and eternal glory.
II. But, in a further consideration of this
headship, or conduct of his Church, we are
led to survey, Avhat I proposed as the Second
division of the subject, the beautiful GRADA
TION, SUBJECTION, and SUBORDINA
TION OF THE RESPECTIVE MEMBERS of
this glorious body, as intimated in the subse
quent part of the Text:— CHRIST the Head,
from whom, the whole body fitly joined together,
and compacted by that which every joint sup-
plieth, according to the effectual working in the
measure

SERMON VII. 131

measure of every part, maketh increase of the sermon
body — that is, according to the due, regular,  «
punctual, and perfect co-operation, and coinci
dence of all the respective parts; the beauty,
symmetry, and perfection of the whole, is in
creased and accomplished.
Hence, therefore, to explain and illustrate the
nature of the union between CHRIST and ins
Church, and the subordination and dependence
of its members upon himself and upon each
other, various symbols are made use of; some
times, the vine; sometimes, the olive tree;
sometimes, the architecture of a building; and,
at others, as in the Text, the structure, parts, and
members of the human body.
The two latter are the similitudes made use
of by the Apostle, noAv Avriting to the ephe-
sians; and, agreeably to the first of these, he
says, in the close of the second chapter: — Now, Eph. ii. 19
therefore, ye are no more strangers and fo
reigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and
of the house-hold of GOD ; and are built upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
JESUSCHRIST himself being the chief 'Cor
ner-stone; in zvhom all the building, fitly
framed together, groweth unto an holy temple
k2 in

132 CHRIST THE head.

sermon in ffo LORD : In whom ye also are builded to-
Vll.
 '¦ — get her, for an habitation of GOD, through the
SPIRIT. Hence, then, in this allegorical representa
tion, CHRIST, the Head, is distinguishable as
the cAie/CoRNER-sTONE ; without which we shall
have neither symmetry, safety, beauty, nor per
fection. Sometimes, too, as the foundation
1 Pet. ii. 6*. stone, the precious, elect stone, laid in Zion;
whereon whatsoever is erected and superstruct-
ed, according to the rules of spiritual architec
ture, prescribed by the master-builder, shall
surely stand.
But then, you will observe, agreeably to the
idea I am now to bring forward, there is a gra
dation or subordinate arrangement of the vari
ous materials of the building, suited to their Te-
iCH*.jufix. spective properties and uses. Now, says David,
J have prepared, with all my might, for the
house of my GOD, the gold, for things to be
made of gold; and the silver, for things to be
made of silver ; and the brass, for things of brass;
iron, for things of iron ; and wood, for things
of wood; onyx-stones, and stones to be set ; glis
tering stones, and of divers colours ; and all
manner of precious stones, and marble stones in
abun-

SERMON VII. 13S

abundance;, forevery kind of service of strength »"mon
and beauty ; iron, for nails and doors and hing- ... * i» -
es ; Avood, for beams ; gold and silver, for needle
and broidered works, and the vessel* and uten
sils of rarer and more sacred use.
Now, the beauty and perfection of the house,
consisted in the due arrangement and applica
tion of the several parts of it. Precious stones
would not have served the purpose pf beams and
rafters to the building; the cups and vessels for
the solemn sacrifice, would have been inconsist
ently constructed of wood; and gold and-sil»
ver in the place of crystals, or plates of glass,
would have defeated the very design of win
dows. But, by the judicious disposition of mate
rials and workmanship, according to the direc*
tion of the wise master-builder : — Look that thou Ex.xxv.4G.
make them after their pattern, which was skew
ed thee in the mounts— the beauty, usefulness,
and glory of the edifice Avas preserved ; or, ac
cording to the idea of the Text, the whole build
ing fitly joined together, and compacted by that
which every joint supplied, according to the ef+
fectual working in the measure of every part,mad*

134"

CHRIST THE HEAD.

^mon j^a(je tne increase, or perfection, of the super
structure.

as

1 Cor. xii.
12—21.

There is little difference in the analogy, be
tween the parts of. a house, or. the members of
the fleshly tabernacle of the human body;
both being constructed of earthly materials, and
both resolvable again into the same dust: but
as the HOLY GHOST has, by the Apostle's
pen, been pleased to illustrate the union of
CHRIST Avith his Church, and the beautiful
arrangement and dependence of one member
Upon another, by the members and limbs of
the human body, connected Avith the head ; it
is a necessary elucidation of the Text, to take
a view of that subordination and dependence,
as Ave find it thus elegantly described: — For,
as the body is one, and hath many members,
and all the members of that one body, being.
many, are one body ; so also is CHRIST. . . . The
body is not one member, but many. If the foot
shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not
of the body, is it, therefore, not of the body?
— and so, of the ear — and so, of the eye. If
the whole body were an eye, where were the
hearing? If the whole were hearing, where
were, the smelling-? ,But now GOD hath, set
the members, every one of them, in the body, as it

SERMON VII. 135

it hath pleased him; and, as the bodv's ad van- sermon
** VII.
tage requires, The eye cannot say to the hand,  .
/ have no need of thee; nor again, the head
to the feet, I have no need of you,
Matters being so ordered, that the members
be equally subserved by one another, they should Ver. 25, 26.
have the same care one for another: And whe
ther one member suffer, all the members suffer
with it; or, one member be honoured, all the
members rejoice with it.
Noav this is particularly applied, to illustrate
the union of CHRIST and his Church; and
the respective places, departments, and allot
ments, of the individual members of that
Church:— Now ye are the body of CHRIST, and mem- ver. 27, 28.
hers in particular : And GOD hath set some in
the Church, first apostles, secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers. There is a variety of depart
ments ; some more distinguished, but not more
honourable than others; each subserving his
destined use ; and all, in their respective
places, necessary for the conducting of every
part, to the increase and perfection of the
whole. As in the Temple, there Avere vessels of

136

CHRIST THE HEAD.

sermon 0f a.11 sizes and qualities, from the smaller cups
¦ to the larger flagons; so in the Church, from the
highest in commission, to the very keepers of
the doors, there is a variety of officers or mem
bers, and each of them, in his respective place,
indispensably necessary to the Avell conducting
* of the whole. You remember David tells us
Ps. lxxxiv. he would rather be a door-keeper in the house of
10* the LORD, than dwell' in the tents of wicked
ness.
l Cor. xiv. Noav GOD is the GOD of order and peace;
33 not the GOD of confusion. Not only in his
Church, but in the moral government of the
World, he has prescribed the same beautiful and
necessary gradations of distinction, power, and
authority, in all governments, that are of his
ordaining, and that have his sanction, among
men. You see it in his. conduct and management
Ex. xviii. of the Children of Israel, under the govern
ment of Moses; when elders, and judges, and
magistrates, werer appointed, to bear their re
spective rule, and judge their respective causes.
Jos.iii.iv.vi. You see it under the administration of Jo
shua, who, by the LORD's direction, electedprinces

SERMON VII. I37
princes to govern, marshal, and conduct their sermom
respective tribes. '

You see it under the kingly government of
the jews; Avhen the LORD chose, anointed,
and established their sovereigns, their officers,
their subalterns, and their servants.
And you see, in and under other governments
of heathen and pagan nations, in the time of
JESUS CHRIST and his Apostles, and the
first propagators of his religion, the obedience
and subjection which CHRIST paid; and the
commandments and injunctions left upon re
cord, both by him and his Apostles, that all,
living in the fear of GOD, should submit them-
selves to, and pray for the Avell being and pros
perity of, those temporal, or secondary heads,
which GOD had set over them : and that, not
withstanding their tempers, treatment, and per
secutions were of the most hostile, malevolent,
and cruel kind ; as they affected the primitive
christians. — But I hasten to
III. The third and last thing I proposed,
which was, to press it upon you as the branches
or members of CHRIST, the Head, to LA
BOUR

138 CHRIST THE HEAD.
sebwon BOUR AFTER the preservation op
v"' HARMONY.

In two points of view, particularly, must this
be urged, as regarding the two respective claims
Avhich GOD and Cesar have upon us. As
both these claims originate in, or issue from
GOD ; on our yielding, both to the spiritual
and temporal claim, our spiritual and temporal
blessedness depend.
i Cor. xii. ] . There must be no schism in the body. The
25. appointments in GOD's Church must stand;
and, Avhatsoever department in that Church is
given to us, Ave must, according to the effectual
working in the measure of every part, make in
crease.

Measures of grace are given to us. Accord-
Mat.xxv. ing to the talent imparted ; so -will increase be
Luke xix. expectecl. There must be a diligent, an honest,
and a faithful labouring, in the strength of
Ph. ii. 12. GOD, to work out our salvation, and make our
2PET.i. 10. calling and election sure: and if you Avould
have eminence in the Church of GOD, and
rank high in the experience and attainment of
the special privileges of the Gospel, you will
not Come at these things, by looking at and

envyin

.< sermon vir. ¦¦¦¦) 139
envying others; but by looking at CHRIST, sermon
your covenant head, Avho places all the members .  '. —
of his body, the Church, in such degrees of
eminence as he chooses. When any are to be.
affixed by him, in the most conspicuous parts
of this spiritaal building, he usually imparts
unto them a spirit of humility,, diligence, and
zeal, Avhich he makes the ostensible, or outward,
means of leading to such distinctions ; and,
till the LORD imparts such distinctions, he
gives, in the meantime, a, contented, submis-i
sive, mind to each member, in the part and the
lot assigned him.
Some take the lead in exhortation, teaching,
and reproof; others are planted in the posts and-
stations of watchmen; som.e'are to be the hear
ers and receivers of the word ; and, Avhatspever
measure, or post, or gift, is given to any, it is
given to profit withal. 1 Co r. xii.7-
My friends, we have all of us that given, to
us, wherewith we are to profit. We have all of us
talents and gifts bestowed, wherewith to traffic,
bring honour to GOD, and edify one another in
love.

By:

140 CHRIST THE HEAD.
sermon By godly conversation, holiness of living, sub-

VII

mission and resignation to GOD under chas
tisements and suffering, we have all of us, if
members of CHRIST'S body, a part to act; are
dependant upon one another, and have a mean
put into pur hands of profiting one another.
And the poorest members, the least of the little
ones of CHRIST JESUS, that act faithfully,
and without wrath, doubting, or grudging, in
their respective places, bring honour to GOD,
and are respected and rewarded by him.
What matters it, brethren, whether we are of
the plainer materials, that more immediately rest
upon the foundation, and furnish', perhaps, more
solidly the strength and body of the building;
or, Hke the polished gem, adorn the higher
and more splendid apartments of the house ?
l Pet. ii. 5, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual
house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to GOD, by JESUS
CHRIST- And it is the same inthe disposition
of the human frame. Whether nearer or more
remote from the head, every member is equally
Heedful for the body ?s welfare. . .
You would find it hard to say, Avhich of your
members, or faculties, can best be spared ; and so

sermon yii. 141
so CHRIST, With equal love, regards each «ermow VII
member of his body, which, acting and serving  1— .
him in the measure of every part, uniformly
conduces to his perfection and glory, either in
the spiritual house, or the glorified body.
2. But, serving the LORD effectually in the
measure of 'every part, includes the claim that
Cxsar, that is, that Men have upon us, and
that we have upon one another. GOD not only
ranks and places us, as the living stones in his
spiritual house ; but he places us in our tempo
ral abodes, and dependencies upon each other.
And it will ahvays be found, that they Avho are
most evidently the assured citizens of GOD's
Jerusalem, will be the best citizens and sub
jects among men; in respect of the temporal
hand of power and rule set over us.
The arrangements made and departments re
spectively assigned to us, as men and members
of the body politic, are as Avisely and admira
bly appointed and conducted, as those of the
natural, or of the spiritual body: the various
members being as much dependant upon one
another, and each as much conducing to the ge
neral good. Hence,

142 CHRIST THE HEAD.

SERMON VII.

Hence, therefore, as the hands and feet,
though members distant from the head, are
as substantially connected with, and subject to
it, as the parts that are more contiguous ; and,
as the hands and feet must execute and perforin,
according to the plans and designs of the head;
— so, in the body politic, the members least
conspicuous in the system are equally valuable
and important, so long as they subserve their
proper and respective offices and employs.
But, invert the order of things, and there is a
schism in the body. The hand rending out
the eye, to occupy a higher place, Avould render
both useless; and the body Avould perish, in
blindness and in poverty, because its proper and
accustomed functions could not be performed.
So neither must the feet assume their sitting
upon the shoulder; for, in this case, the beau
tiful work and symmetry observed by the GOD
of order and perfection, would be marred; re
gular beauty would give place to deformity and
confusion ; and all offices of usefulness, to which
man is appointed, would be frustrated.
Hence I would observe, that the loAvest ranks
of men, while they act in their places, under
GOD's appointment, are a most honourable and

SERMON Vllk 143

SERMON VII.

and useful part of the system. I say Honour
able, because they Avho act Avell their part,
though never so Ioav in rank, are not only
characters in life Avorthy of respect, but JESUS
CHRIST himself put honour upon that rank
of men, by making choice of it, and Avalking
and Avorking humbly and obediently in it.

Subjection with all fear, is inculcated upon iPet.U.is.
us, not only to the gentlest, but to the^ro-
wardest of those Avho have the rule over us ;
much more if the sceptre of equit}', righteous
ness, and mercy govern us, should Ave yield' obe
dience. A religious and punctual abiding in the sta
tions in which GOD's pi-ovidence has fixed us,
and a contented, subordinate dependance upon
kings, and those that are in authority under them,
have Three arguments to recommend them.
1st. It is agreeable to the Avill and ordinance
of GOD, who has appointed governors in Church
and State, and enjoined our obedience.
2dly. Great blessings are the result of every
Well ordered government — happiness, peace, and
protection; — the lot and privilege of every, even

144 CHRIST THE HEAD.
sermon even the remotest branch and member of the
VII.
 constitution.

And, 3dly. Great curses are the present lot,
and the future inheritance, of those who sub
vert government, and resist the powers that
are ordained of GOD.
The first of these arguments, is supported by
the authority of GOD's word ; and the other
two, by observation and experience. We know
as to present blessings, our country hath abound
ed, and does abound; through the happy privi
leges we possess. Our poor are protected;
their earnings are secured to them; and dili
gence, in this country, is always croAvned with
success, while health and strength are given;
and, when these fail, our constitution and laws,
as at present established, compel the mainte
nance and support of the indigent.
And, to these advantages are added, the li
berty of thinking and acting; and worshipping
with all the latitude and freedom, that sobriety,
decency, and reason can require! May the
LORD teach us to knoAV our own mercies; and
neither to deny, nor abuse them ! The

SERMON VII. 145
The proof of the third argument, arising from sermon
the miseries and the curse inflicted upon the  '. —
subverters of government, may be seen in the
history of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who Num. xvi.
perished for their rebellion ; and in the hapless
distresses of the Jewish people, >vhen there was Judg. pass.
no king; and, lastly, a neighbouring country,
departed from civil and religious bonds, at the
present day, very strikingly exemplifies these
mercies; whilst in the midst of tiberr unmean
ing shouts of liberty and equality, they are in
the extremest degrees strangers to both. In Jer. xxxi.
Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and jyjAT j';# 18#
weeping, and great mourning; Rachel weep
ing for her children, and would not be comfort
ed, because they are not. I tremble at the
thoughts of liberty, that authorizes my blood
thirsty and ferocious neighbour, to murder the
man that expresses a sentiment or Avish not
according with his own; and I pity the boast
ings of equality, in the mouths of those, who
have nothing which they can call their OAvn,
and are in the most abject state «f .beggary and
wretehednesSk The smallest proportion of property, the
earnings of daily labour, which I can only
call my own, are, under our happy establish-
l ment,

146

CHRIST THE HEAD.

SERMON VII.

ment, a possession securer, and a more certain
* —  provision, than the lawless plunder of the Avhole
world. For were all things common to-day, and an
equal distribution of property made amongst
all mankind, the man, who has bodily strength,
on the suspension of the laAVS of the land will
double his fortune, by stripping me on the
morrow; and he, in his turn, excelled by ano
ther in the strength of understanding, and the
inventions of craftiness and fraud, will be the
prey of the still more voracious oppressor.
Ps. cxxii. 7. Peace, then, be within our walls, and plenr
teousness within our palaces ! May GOD sanc
tify our portion ; bless us in the enjoyment of
present comforts; and enable us to knoAV him
self, in peaceful subjection to the respective
fountain-headg, whence our civil and religious
blessinp-s flow.

*S"

Brethren, give ye your hearts unto JESUS,
the Covenant-Head of all spiritual and gra
cious mercies. Let him reign within; and
Rom. vi. 13. yield your members as instruments of righteous
ness, in peaceful submission to all temporal go
vernors of his appointing. May

sermon vii. 147

May the unshaken kingdom of GOD be esta- sermon
blished in our hearts ! The fruits of his reign

VII.

shall be peace ; and the effect of righteous sub- Is.xxxii.17.
mission, quietness and assurance for ever !

l 2 SERMON

SERMON VIII*
THE HOLY GHOST THE COMFORTER.

SERMON. VIII.

JOHN, Chap. xiv. Ver. 26".
The Comforter, which is the HOLY GHOST.

VvE have no idea of corporeal personality, in
any of the three constituent parts of the God
head, except in CHRIST; and in him only, as
his divine nature assumed to itself the man
hood. In his mediatorial capacity, we look
upon him, and consider him,, as still in our na
ture, but in its glorified state, in Heaven; whi
ther he has ascended, as the Forerunner and John xiv.
Representative of believers; preparing for
them mansions, and, by his HOLY SPIRIT,
preparing believers for those mansions.
The HOLY SPIRIT, from the very name
which he bears, — Spirit, is invisible in him
self,

130 THE HOLY GHOST THE COMFORTER.
sermon 5ELF) and incorporeal; though, for the encou-
*—  ragement and establishment of the faith of he

's*

lievers, he has been graciously pleased, at va
rious times, to assume sensible appearances,
and, Avith such an aspect and form to the man's
outward sense, as might convey to the heart,
or mind, his intended energy and comfort.
Mat. iii. 16". Hence, on the baptism of our Lord by
Mark!. 10. j0HN the heavens opened, and the HOLY
John i. 32. GHOST descended, either after the manner,
of in the form, of a doA-e, lighting upon JE
SUS. And so, on the assembling together of
the Apostles and Disciples of CHRIST, on the
Acts ii. 3. day of Pentecost, there appeared unto them
cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon
each of them.
Nowthe properties of the Dove, of the Tongue,
and of Fire, the appearances of Avhich Avere as
sumed on these several occasions, denote the
influences and effects of the HOLY GHOST,
in the hearts and experiences of men; but the
assuming of theseappearances does, byno means,
annex the personal form of these material sub
stances to that SPIRIT, which is an incorpo
real or invisible person, or part, of the Godhead.

SERMON VIII; 151

head. HoAvever, to wave speculations on this sermon
matter, some general observations on „
I. The nature of the HOLY SPIRIT :
II. His offices :
IIL The methods of his working i
IV. The NECESSITY of his influence: are1
what I shall on the present occasion, endeavour
to lay before you.
I; With regard to the NATURE of the
HOLY GHOST
1. The lie of AnAnias arid SapphirA. wRS AcTsv.3,4i
considered by the Apostles, as committed against
GOD; and yet, in St. Peter's statement of it,
as committed more immediately against, the
HOLY GHOST:— Why hath Satan filled
thine heart, to lie to the HOLY GHOST, and
to keep back part of the price of the land? ....
Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto GOD.
In this passage, HOLY GHOST, in the first
part of Peter's address, and GOD, in the lat-*-
ter, both expressing the same person, this ar-*
gues

152 the holy ghost the comforter.

sermon gues the divinity of the former, and his same-
 ness of nature Avith the latter. Whence, the
HOLY GHOST is GOD.
MAT.xxviii. 2. CHRIST'S appointment of the baptismal
l9' form: — Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, andof the Holy Ghost, decidedly
incorporates the latter in the Godhead.
2 Cor. xiii. 3. St. Paul's blessing, the grace of the Lord
14< JESUS CHRIST, and the love of GOD, and
the communion of the HOLY GHOST, uniting
the three in one common benediction, implies
the sameness of nature; and justifies the expres
sion of our Church, Avhen she confesses her
faith in the HOLY GHOST, as " the Lord and
giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father
and the Son, who with the Father and the
Son, together is worshipped and glorified."
4. To which may be added, the omniscient
power of searching, not only the heart of man,
but even the mind and will of GOD, attri
buted to him by the Apostle; Avho tells us, that
iCoR.ii.K). the SPIRIT searchcth all things, yea, the deep
things of 'GOD ':—

His

SERMON VIII. \S$
His omnipresence; dwelling in believers; sermon Vltl
who are thence said to be an habitation of  1__
GOD:— His almighty power, in the Avork of E"1-"-22*
regeneration ; subduing, reneAving, and sanc
tifying that, Avhich is naturally unholy and cor
rupt These attributes of omniscience, omnipre
sence, and omnipotence, indicate the nature of
the HOLY GHOST to be divine ; possessed of
properties peculiar to the Deity, and incommu
nicable to a creature. Therefore, the HOLY
GHOST is GOD.
II. The OFFICES, peculiar to this Divine
Person, are comprised in the term connected
with him in the Text:— The Comforter; and
the properties, comprised in that character, are
scattered throughout a good part of the three
chapters containing our Lord's last conversa- Johnxiy.
tions with his disciples, previous to his pas- XV-XV1-
sion. Indeed all the effects and benefits of CHRIST'S
passion and death, and his whole work of re
demption, are made available to believers only
through the influences of the HOLY SPIRIT:
— Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are jus- iCor.vUi,
tified,

154

SEBMON VIII.

THE HOLY GHOST THE COMFORTER.
tified, in the name of the Lord JESUS, and
by the SPIRIT of our GOD.
This SPIRIT, the HOLY GHOST, is. in the
language of our Church, " the Lord and Giver
of Life" toher members: and he effects this,
¦ by enlightening their minds Avith a true knoAV-
ledge of themselves, and of GOD ; creating in
them an ardent concern about their sah-ation ;
drawing them to CHRIST, and turning their
hearts to an hatred of all evil, and to a love of
GOD and holiness.
Among the special offices wnich our Lord
CHRIST ascribes to him, under the character
of the Comforter, are such as these: —

1. The abiding friend. CHRIST promised
John xiv. that he should abide with his people. I will
pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may .abide with you for
ever. And by this SPIRIT it is, that JESUS
CHRIST is still with us, in his Church; though
in the body of the flesh which he had assumed,
he is ascended from us. And a peculiar con*
solation it Avas to his disciples, and is to be*
lievers now, that, while their interests in Hea
ven are protected and furthered through him as

16.

sermon viii. 155

SERMOW VIII.

as the Intercessor perpetually pleading before
the throne, there is a perpetual presence by
this SPIRIT still Avith believers here, to com
fort and uphold them, while sojourning in the
fleshly tabernacle. In this respect, the HOLY
SPIRIT is, indeed, the comfort, the spring, the
source, and the furnisher of all the consola
tions, joy, and peace, Avhich belieA-ers knoAv;
and they far surpass all other joys.
2. That he should be also the teacher of •
His people, is a promise more immediately con
nected Avith our Text. The Comforter, which John xiv,
is the HOLY GHOST, whom the Father will
send in my name, he shall teach you all things,
and bring all things to your remembrance,
zehatsoever I have said unto you. All the sci
ence of the univ-cr.se cannot make a chris
tian, in the scriptural and experimental sense
of that Avord. ' The natural man, hoAvever ac- iCou.ii.i4„
complished by art or nature, receiveth not the
things of the SPIRIT of GOD, for they are
foolishness unto him"; neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned. They
must be inculcated, taught, and imparted, by the
SPIRIT of GOD. Arid; Avhilst the Avisest and
most learned of men are utterly in ignorance
and darkness, as to the things of GOD's spi
ritual

156 the holy ghost the comforter.

sermok ritual kingdom, babes, i. e. babes in understand-
VIII. . .
 _ ing, poor people, men destitute of all the learn-
LuAke x 21 "lg °^ tne schools, are oftentimes astonishingly
enlightened, and possessed of real understand
ing, in things of a divine and heavenly nature:
and if this seem wonderful, it is thus to be ao-
counted for, — the one sort of persons are taught
of the HOLY GHOST, the Comforter; the
other, destitute of his influence, possess only
that Avisdom, Avhich, however extolled by the
I Cor. iii, world, GOD counts foolishness.
19- 3. Another office of the Comforter is, to
Johnxv.26. testify of CHRIST. We want conviction;
we Avant evidence; we Avant faith ; in fine, we
want the exercise of this office of the Com
forter amongst us. Or, if we do not in rea
lity want evidence, yet we want that evidence
to be effectively applied by the HOLY GHOST
to our consciences. Literally, this promise to
the Apostles implied, that the Comforter
should cause the doctrine of CHRIST to he
embraced in the world, by those miraculous'
works, which he should enable them to per
form. But, though they wrought miracles,
and did many wonderful works, yet their preach
ing did not always make its way to conviction.
in the breasts of the witnesses tp those mira cles;

sermon viii. 157

cles; for, many saAv the miracles wrought both sermon
by CHRIST and them, and yet continued har- ,  '. —
dened. Why? Because the HOLY SPIRIT's
testifying power was wanting. We do not work
miracles now ; though the changes and effects
that are sometimes wrought in men's minds^ in
consequence of preaching the Gospel, may be
deemed little short of miraculous. And if mi
racles are, in this sense, still wrought, it is be
cause the HOLY GHOST still testifies of
CHRIST, and reveals CHRIST in the preach
ing of his Gospel to them, who are made wil
ling to receive it. And wherever the Gospel
is preached, and no such signs follow that
preaching, it is because the HOLY SPIRIT does
not, in those instances, testify of CHRIST to
the hearts of those, who hear only with the out
ward ear.
4. It is his office, to reprove or convince John xvi.S,
the world of sin ; and that, ' not of any particu
lar species of guilt only, but on the broader
and more general ground of unbelief; and to
shew men, that, if only on this score, yet their
destruction is already sealed, unless the sentence
can be superseded: — •

It

I5& the holy ghost the comforter.

SERMON
VIII.

It is his office, to reprove the world of righ-.
teousness, and sheAv men the Avay and the ground
Johkxvi.s, where-through and whereon they can be ac
counted righteous, viz. through him, Avho /*
Rom. x. 4. the end of the Law for righteousness, to every
one that believeth : —
JoiiNxvi.s, It is his office, to reprove the world of judg-
n- ment ; and sheAv men Iioav the prince of this
world is judged, his kingdom destroyed, and
his dominion over the souls of believers taken
Heb. ii. 14. away by him, who, through death, hath con-.
quered death, and him that had the power of
death, that is, the Devil,
To make these discoveries of man's true state
by nature, his redemption and delhrerance
through grace, and his final conquest over all
the enemies of his salvation through CHRIST,
are a part of the. HOLY SPIRIT's Avork, that
falls in peculiarly Avell Avith the idea of a Com
forter, to any man that has seen sin as it is,
and has had a just apprehension of its awful con
sequences.
John xvi. 5- Itis HIS office, tOGUIDE into alltruth;
13- to direct the sincere and faithful searchers after
truth, to the infallible and sure avenues that
lead

SERMON VIII. 15§

lead to it; to glorify CHRIST, by revealing, **™°*
displaying, and applying his Avork, shewing. to

VIII.

believers the glory, the fulness, the sufficiency,
and the suitableness of CHRIST'S mediation
and undertakings, to save them to the uttermost
that come unto GOD by him; to take of the HEB.vii.25.
things that are CHRIST'S, and shew them to John xvi.
15
his people, — his blood, his merits, and his
grace, — his sustaining of the Father's Avrathj
— his cup of soitoavs, — his tears, — his prayers;
— his gifts received for men, even the rebellious, Ps.ixviii. is.
— his present intercession; to enable us to see
all these things, and their suitableness, their
sufficiency, and their efficacy on our behalf to
the ends attributed to them by the scriptures of
truth, is the office of a Comforter indeed, and
Avhat no poAver in Earth or Heaven but the
power of GOD, through the HOLY SPIRIT,
can accomplish in the believer's experience.
III. With regard to the METHODS IN
WHICH HE WORKS; they are, for the most
part, undiscernible, by the limited powers of a
creature. CHRIST compared them to the Avind :
— The wind bldweth where it listeth, and thou John iii. 8.
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell
whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is
every one: that is born of the SPIRIT. We

360 THE HOLY GHOST THE COMFORTER.

sermon \ye mZj compare them to the tide, whose
*  .  ebbings and floAvings are well witnessed, but not
well understood ; or to the growth of corn, or
to any species of generation and produce of the
natural Avorld. It is obvious enough to sense,
that such things are ; but how the mechanism,
the Avorkmanship, the process is conducted, is
wonderful beyond compare; and the " Hoav
have these things been?" it will, it is not im
probable, be one of the blissful and delightful
studies and employments of all eternity to fa
thom. But yet, though, with regard to the la
tent and invisible agency of theHOLYGHOST,
we are in the dark, yet, the effects of his influ-!
ence are, in many respects, sufficiently discerni*
ble.
2Pet. i. 22. i. He speaks by his prophets. Holy
men of GOD spake, as they were moved by the
HOLY GHOST; under the Old Testament
dispensation by Prophets, and likewise by
CHRIST and the Apostles in the New. But
to all readers this is not evident, because alj
readers do not comprehend the Scriptures; but
when the word is felt and applied, and the grace
and glory of CHRIST JESUS is revealed in
it, there is the SPIRIT's work clearly seen,
in setting it home to the heart. Whenever GOD

SERMON VIII. l$l

VIII.

GOD speaks to the heart, it is his SPIRIT's sermow
Avork ; and Ave do often see the word and Avork
of CHRIST thus applied, and the heart thus
wanned. 2. I think it is discernible, that he ope
rates by sympathy. There is a sympathetic
union betAveen the HOLY GHOST and every
believer. There is something in every believer
in union "with the HOLY GHOST, whereby a
correspondence is kept up ; like as, through the
medium of an embassy, one nation corresponds
Avith another: so, GOD the SPIRIT, with the
renBAved man Avho is Uoav in treaty, in inter
course, in friendship with him, transacts and
keeps up a correspondence, and, by sweet insen*
sible drawings, rather than violent and impul
sive means, a man is directed, sanctified, govern*
ed by, and kept in subjection to, the SPIRIT
of GOD.
Would you know the motions of the SPIRIT
of GOD? — examine their tendency. Are they
humbling, sanctifying, purifying? Do they
wean from the world, attach the heart to GODt
and beget in the soul- an holy longing to be
with him? Oh! cherish these motions then.
>i These

162 THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.
sermon- These are the genuine' arid true effects of the
 IHl:  influence of the HOLY SPIRIT.

3. His operations are, for the most part, gra
dual and progressive. This Ave learn from
many passages. Our Lord speaks of the HOLY
Johnvii.38, SPIRIT as not yet given, i. e. not given in the
plenitude of his poAver, as he Avas to be expert
enced in the day of Pentecost, as hen the Apos
tles were all filled thereAvith. In another place
John xvi. HE tells them, I have many things to say unto
12* you, but ye cannot bear them now. And, in the
close of St. Luke's Gospel, he comforts them
Luke xxiv. thus: — Behold, I send the promise of my Fa-
"' ther upon you; but tarry ye in' the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power
from an high. And, though the Apostles there
after experienced a miraculous effusion of the
HOLY SPIRIT, yet it seems not to -have been
permanent, in those large and miraculous dis
plays of it ; for Ave read of frequent reneAvals
of it, as occasions required it;' whence there
must have been the intermission, or there could
not have been the renewal ; and, if it ad
mit of intermission and reneAval, it must admit
of progress, growth, and establishment.

So

SERMON VIII. 163
So now, though we look not for the miraeu- sermon

VIII.

lous effusion^ as on the day of Pentecost, yet -
Ave are authorized in expecting the out-pouring
of it upon the Church, and every individual
of the Church, in those measures and propor
tions Avhich the exigencies, both of the Church
and the Individual, require.
To this must be attributed the glorious tes
timonies, Which many, in past ages, have borne
to the truth of the Gospel, in what they have
done and suffered in the support and defence
of it; and to the aid of the same blessed "SPI
RIT. Ave must still look, for support and powers
to go on in the Church Militant upon- Earth,
in order to reach the palhis, the croAvns, land
triumphs, of a Church finally Victorious in
Heaven. IV\ A brief recurrence to some scriptural
testimonies, respecting the NECESSITY OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT's INFLUENCE to a
man's salvation, shall conclude.

1. From one We learn, that Ave cannot be
GOD's or CHRIST'S without this SPIRIT:—
If any man have not the SPIRIT of CHRIST, Rom. viii. 9.
he is none of his. M 2 Every

16*4 THE ASCENSION OP CHRIST.
sermon Every man's breast, Avhether he knoAV it or
.  1_ not, is possessed of some Spirit; the Spirit of
the Wicked One, or the SPIRIT of GOD.
UoHNiv.i. We should do well, therefore, to try what spi
rit we are of. For, if we are not CHRISTs,
whose are Ave ? If Scripture is to be believed,
the answer to this inquiry must be of the most
aAvful kind.

2. There is a necessity of our being ac
quainted Avith the HOLY SPIRIT, and of
being under his teaching-, because there is no
Acts iv. 12. other name under Heaven, whereby we must
be saved, but only that of JESUS CHRIST :
and CHRIST cannot be known, but by the
lCoR.xii.3. HOLY GHOST:— No man can say>, that JE
SUS is' the LORD, but by the HOLY GHOST.
3. That no divine truth can be discerned,
but by the HOLY SPIRIT's teaching, has
been said ; consequently, no man can see, feel,
or have sympathy with, CHRIST'S agony and
death, but by the Comforter's testifying, tak
ing, and sheAving them to the eye of faith.
Why are many of us so unaffected by the
agony, sufferings, and death of CHRIST, but
because Ave have not that view of them by the
HOLY

SERMON VIII. 16*5
HOLY GHOST Avhich alone can melt the heart sermon

VIII.

to contrition and godly soitoav. / will pour
upon them the Spirit of Grace and Suppli- Zech. xii.
10.
cation, and they shall look upon him, Avhom
they have pierced, and shall mourn.
Has this prophecy been fulfilled ? If not, Ave
are not prepared for the joys of the Holy Com
forter. The promise of GOD's eternal com
forts is to those only, avIio have experienced a
previous mourning. GOD grant Ave may soav
in tears noze, if those only shall hereafter reap Ps- CXXVI« 5«
with joy!
4. The HOLY SPIRIT is essentially neces
sary to our happiness, because, without a spirit
of holiness, there is no entrance into, no fitness
for, the Kingdom of Heaven.
It is declared, that, without holiness no man Heb. xii. u.
shall see the LORD. Nor could we, in the na
ture of things, enjoy the place of his presence,
Avithout dispositions congenial to it. Hence
thp necessity of the HOLY SPIRIT's office, as
a Sanctifier; which Ave learn from the institutes
of our Church, that teaches her members to say:
— " I learn to believe in GOD the HOLY
GHOST,

16-6

THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

MT*rw GH0ST> who sanctifieth me, and all the elect
VI11' people of GOD."

What a glorious houshold must be constituted
of those, Avhom GOD selects! Hoav bright
their crowns! Hoav great their joys! Hoav
high their rank ! Hoav full their glory ! Would
you see yourselves of this happy number? —
Judge not of your claim to these privileges
by nominal baptism ; nor by the external cere-r
monies of an established profession; no, nor yet
by boasted gifts, or special manifestations, as
some do; but, by solid evidences, that you are
the FIOLY SPIRIT's workmanship; that, en
lightened, born, taught, and wrought upon by
him, you can, according to your measure, trace
out in yourselves, as laid down in your Bibles,
the character, temper, and description of the
elect people of GOD; — your conformity to
CHRIST, and your possessing, or desiring to pos
sess, that inward holiness, which forms a blessed
part of the salvation, for Avhich Ave come to him.
The elect people of GOD are made holy by
the Comforter, which is the HOLY GHOST.
And Would you Avish to possess this SPIRIT,
and live and act under his special influences?
You will be led, then, to the exercise of prayer.
CHRIST

SERMON VIII. 167
CHRIST hath said:— £0 zvill your heavenly sermon

VIII.

Father give the HOLY SPIRIT, to them that
ask him. LuivExi.13.
May GOD pour it doAvn upon us noAv, in
measures suited to our needs, to the praise of
ins grace, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord;
to Avhom, Avith the Father, and the same co
equal and ever-blessed SPIRIT, be ascribed
everlasting adoration !

SERMON

SERMON IX.
FAITH WORKING.

SERMON IX.

St. JAMES, Cfmp. ii. Ver. 22.
Seest thou how faith wrought ?
1HEY, who think the doctrine of Salvation
by Grace, through Faith, unfriendly to the in
terests of practical Godliness, mistake the very
nature of the thing.
Not understanding the drift of the Apostles,
St. Paul and St. James, some persons suppose
them to maintain sentiments contradictory to
each other; whereas there is, in truth, a per
fect harmony in their sentiments, though each
has made use of the same expressions, differently
applied.

When St. James contends, that by works a ver. 14---26*.
man is justified, and that Abraham is an in
stance

170 >AITH WORKING.

sermon stance in point, he is illustrating the difference
k  " — betAveen a living and a dead faith. To an empty
boaster, Avho urges the sufficiency of faith to
salvation, as a pretext for declining the active
duties, Avhich faith never ceases to pursue, he
urges the necessity of exhibiting faith, and of
ver. 18. judging of it hy its produce: — i" will shew thee
my faith by my works ; for, if not productive of
righteous and godly Avorks, it is a dead and un-
ver. 19. profitable faith, and no better than that of de
vils, who believe and tremble.
Rom. iii. iv. St. Paul had largely maintained, that a man
is justified by faith in the Redeemer; and that,
altogether independently of the works of the
Law. St. James does not dispute this truth.
He only insists, that the faith, which thus jus
tifies, must be a living faith, evidenced by
living acts. If these be wanting, he affirms
the insufficiency of the faith, to which preten
sion is made : — Faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being alone.
St. Paul speaks, therefore, of the justifica
tion of our Persons ; St. James, of the justifi
cation, or evidencing, of our Faith. St. Paul
explains the manner of our being justified be
fore the all-seeing GOD; St. James point? out the

ver. 17.

SERMON IX. 171
the proof of a justified state, as it is visible to sermon
Men. "*

The justification of our Persons, as St. Paul
clearly states it, proceeds on the eternal Purpose
of GOD, the immaculate Righteousness of
CHRIST, and Faith, through which this Righ
teousness is imputable or transferable to the
believer; and the justification, or demonstra
tion, of our Faith, Avhich St. James as clearly
requires, consists in the fruits of righteousness
adorning the doctrine.
On this ground, and it is the most effectual
ground for producing them, Ave are champions
for good works ; and maintain, that holiness is
both the blessing and the glory of the Gospel,
when it is raised upon its proper basis. And, in
building up this beautiful fabric, all the pecu
liar privileges of the Gospel combine. Were
we chosen before the foundation of the world? Eph. i. 4>.
—it was, that we should be holy, and without
blame before him, in love. Were Ave predesti
nated? — it Avas, to be conformed to the image of R0M.viii.29.
his Son. Are we " effectually called in time?"
• — it is, that Ave may shew forth the praises of 1 Pet. ii- 9-
him, who hath called us out of darkness, into
his marvellous light. Are we born again ? his
work-

172 FAITH WORKING.
sermon workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS?— it
.... . is unto good works, which GOD hath before or-
i*H. n. 10. tfainerf^ tnat ux should walk in them.
In the case of Abraham, sccst thou how
faith zerought ? A more illustrious example of
the fruits of this divine principle, I suppose, the
earth or the worlds never kneAV, than when that
Gen. xxii. Patriarch with-held not, but gave up, his son,
his only son, the heir of the promises, at the
Heb.xj. 19. command of GOD, accounting that GOD was
able to raise him up, even from the dead, to ful
fil those promises, Avherein he himself had
caused him to put his trust.
The object before us is, to shew how
THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION BY "GRACE,
THROUGH FAITH, SECURES AND PROMOTES
THE INTERESTS OF TRUE HOLINESS AND
GODLINESS, OF HEART AND LIFE.
It is the proper office of Faith, to renew and
purify the heart. All the views it gives us, by
the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, have this
tendency. I. Faith BRINGS HOME TO THE: HEART
THE WORD OF GOD. While a man believes not

SERMON IX. 173
.not this word, it has no such influence upon sermon
him. David intimates, that the word of GOD,  —
Avhen mixed with faith, has a cleansing virtue:
— Wherezeithal shall a young man cleanse his Ps. cxix. 9,
way? by taking heed thereto, according to thy
word  Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee. And that
there are so many, living in the use, or under the
sound, of the Avoid, from Aveek to Aveek, read
and preached among us, Avho are yet in their
sins, and enslaved to habits of iniquity, is sim
ply from this "cause, that it is not mixed with Heb. iv. 2.
faith in them that hear it: and, I am bold to
say, that the Avant of true holiness and godli
ness among us, proceeds from this sole reason—-
the want of faith. '
And this accounts for the dead, insensible,
and unfeeling state, in which the greater part
of mankind are. They lie in wickedness ; they 1 John v.
sit in darkness ; and they live without GOD in Ps cfjj 10_
the world;— they have no faith. But, let faith Is- xlii- 7-
, v 1 1 ^ -^ t • t ,1 Luke 1. 79-
be supplied; let it be given to a man really to Eph. ii. 12.
believe'GOD's word; and it will aAvaken him to
a variety of a Avf id prospects and solemn appre
hensions, and to an anxious concern as to Avhat
Avill take place hereafter. It rouses a man
from his stupid state. It alarms his fears. It *'
¦ draAvs

174 FAITH WORKING.
sermon draAVS from his, heart that cry -.—What must X
 '-!—— do to be saved?

Acts xvi. 30.

But this is not the Avhole that faith Avorks;
Not only men, but devils, may believe thus
James'm.19. much; and find, from their faith, cause only
to tremble.
II. Faith APPLIES THE BLOOD OF
CHRIST. This is it, AA'hich effectually puri
fies. " But hoAv is this effect produced by
l.Tonui.7. blood?" IansAver — When the blood of CHRIST
is said to cleanse from all sin, it is by the act
ings of faith upon that blood, through the power
of the HOLY GHOST, and this cleansing is
Twofold. I. Bleeding and dying, as a victim, upon the
Cross, instead of the sinner, CHRIST supplies
an atonement, satisfaction, and propitiation,
which clears the guilty, puts away trans
gression, and, as to penal consequences, abso-
( ' lutely annihilates sin, supersedes the curse, ap
peases wrath, magnifies the Law, and silences
all accusations both of GOD and Conscience-
A just and holy GOD will not demand of the
Debtor that which has been paid by the Sure-
Mat, xviii. ty. The debt, wero- it equal to ten thousand talents,

SERMON IX. J 7$

ix.

talents, is in tirely discharged. All, sin is cleans* Sermon
ed and remitted to him, A\rho looks, through
faith, to the bleeding sacrifice.
And a very blessed cleansing from sin, and
putting it away, this is. No sin, not the least
that ever was committed, can be purged, but
by this blood; but all sin,- and all manner of
sin, may, in the case of those who believe. Past
sin has been cleansed, present sin is, and future
sin shall be cleansed, Avhensoever and how" of
ten soever faith applies this precious blood.
2. But the question ' now is, and ' it is the
chief design of this discourse to answer it, hoAV
faith in the blood of CHRIST cleanseth
from sin's influence on the heart and life;
1ioav it purifies ; hoAv it works j 'arid-how it makes
its possessor holy.
.v It Opens the Door of Access to GOD. Blood,
the blood of JESUS, having satisfied for my
transgression; taken aAvay my sin, which Avas
the barrier between GOD and me; and recon
ciled me to the Eternal Father, to whom,
through this mediation, lam now admitted i —
I can treat with GOD; I can converse with
GOD; I can behold and contemplate his per-
>',.•! fection;

176 *aith working.

sermon fection; and, if the Scripture be true, I can
become partaker of the divine nature.

IX.

2 Pet. i. 4.

And, truly, it is impossible to have inter
course and connection Avith GOD, without be
ing sanctified and made holy thereby. For
whosoever, being reconciled to GOD by the
blood of the covenant, obtains thereby admis
sion into his presence by faith, must, by be-
2 Cor. iii. holding him, be transformed, in his measure,
into the same image.

18.

Ex. xxxiv. Moses experienced this in a peculiar and
29—35. 1^^ manner. The interviews which he held
Avith GOD on the mount,, communicated to his
countenance so much of the divine effulgence*
that the children of Israel could not behold
him without a veil. .And thus, from tlie inter*
course which a reconciled sinner has with GOD,
the sentiments of his heart, the habits of his
mind, and the language of his tongue, bear the
stamp of a divine nature.
Common life illustrates this truth. A man is
not only known, by the company Avhich he
keeps ; but the company which a man has kept,
is known, by the manners and conversation of
the man. A man's language and manners will tell

SERMON IX. 177

tell you, whether he live in the city, or the sermon
country ; Avhether he frequent the drawing- 
room, or the alehouse. And thus, the savour of
men's conversation, and the habits of their mind,
will discover whether they have most intercourse
Avith Hell, or with Heaven.
The notions of J those, with whom we con
verse, will always discover to us the respective
schools, wherein they have been formed. Our
very words and phrases speak for us, and tell,
with as much truth as our tongues, and some
times with more, where we have been, and Avhat
model we have taken. Much more, then, shall
they who deal with GOD become holy, from
that intercourse with him, to which faith in the
blood of CHRIST admits them.
But can we not deal with GOD independent
ly of the blood of CHRIST? No! His blood
alone can bring us nigh. There is no other
way. We can enter the holiest only by the blood Heb. x. 19,
of JESUS; by a new and living way, which he
hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that
is to say, his flesh. N Faith

i(S FAITH avorking.
sermon paitl j the bloo{1 of CimlST tl,cn in
ix ' ' •
•  this sense, cleanses; inasmuch as it opens an ac
cess to him, intercourse and conA-erse -with
Avhom transforms the man into his oavii image
of holiness and glory.
III. From this vieAv and application of re
deeming mercy, Faith KINDLES LOVE. The
Rom. v. 5. love of GOD is shed abroad in the heart, by the.
HOLY GHOST, and is that poAverfully con
straining principle, which occupies the soul;
which raises a holy resentment against sin;
which SAveetens the path of duty; and which
urges to the patient, yet vigorous, enduring and.
sustaining the whole will of GOD.. And thus.
it is that the Faith, which, worketh by Love,
secures and promotes true godliness.
1. Love occupies the soul. Nothing can
generate the pure and unmixed love of GOD in
any heart, but that vieAV, that believing view,'
Avhich the HOLY GHOST alone can give, of
the sacrifice of the Cross, and of CHRIST slain
there, not only for the sins of the Avorld, but for
the sins of the individual believer, who, by
faith, looks thereon. " 1 fee,"

sermon ix* 179
" I see," says the christian, " engraven s,™ON
upon the table of my heart, by the SPIRIT of  ^ —
the living GOD, a dying CHRIST; whose righ
teousness was wrought out, and whose blood
was shed, for me. I see death, and the terrors
Avhich sin had prepared for me: — this death
sustained, and these terrors taken away, by JE
SUS CHRIST, on my behalf I see HeLL dis
appointed of its prey: my soul snatched, as a
brand, from the fire. I see GOD's holy Law Zech. iii. 2.
fulfilled, and the Kingdom of Heaven opened,
for me; though my sins Avere the spear that
pierced, him. . I see by him accomplished my
redemption from death, the pit, and everlasting
misery. I see reconciliation by the blood of the
covenant ; and peace, the great legacy of the
New Testament, . Avhich he sealed with his
blood, made between GOD and me."
'I I:"
This is the language of Faith, Avhen it be
holds, and applies the death of CHRIST to the
believer. Such transcendent blessings inspire
transcendent love; a love, that many Avaters .
cannot quench, nor can it be droAvned by all
the floods of temptation, trial, or affliction.
2. This view of the Cross raises a holy
RESENTMENT AGAINST SIN.
N2 "Did

ISO FAITH AroRKING.

IX.

sermon « Dki sin, and my sin," says the believer,
" bring JESUS to the cross ? Let a holy and
ardent indignation, henceforth kindle in my
breast, against sin in all its forms."
Brethren! Avhen I am brought to see him,
Avhom my sins have pierced; when the HOLY
GHOST discovers to me, by faith, the blood
of JESUS as my redemption from the pit, and
the security of my eternal peace ; a holy resent
ment fires my soul against all sin, and particu
larly against my OAvn sin, as the procuring cause
of CHRIST'S sufferings. And, thus impressed,
there are no lusts, no ungodly tires, no rage of
passion, no thirst of sin, no love and desire of
polluted, beastly, carnal, dishonest, and unseem
ly joys, which the blood of JESUS, thus ap
plied through faith, will not allay and extin
guish. Love, springing up in the heart from
believing views of pardoning grace, far more
. effectually than fear of the divine terrors, weans
tlie soul from its vices, and creates a godly and
sincere abhorrence of that sin, which is odious
in the sight of GOD the Father; — of that
sin, Avhich Avas the wounding of his Son;— of
that sin, Avhich is now the grieving of his
HOLY SPIRIT. 3. Faith

sermon ix. 181

3. Faith further worketh by Love in promot- sermon
ing holiness, in that it saveetens the path .
OF DUTY.
Believing and trusting in theAVork of CHRIST,
with a faith Avhich appropriates to the believer an
interest therein, is that Avhich ensures obedience
to his will; by making holiness, not his task,
but his privilege; and giving him to see, Avith
Wisdom's eye, that her ways are ways of plea- pu. iii. is.
santness, and all her paths are peace. j
That faith works thus, in those who really
possess it, will find its illustration in your oavh
feelings and experience. Has any one done
much to serve you ; shoAvn tenderness to your
interests, and love to your persons? Has he
long borne Avith your perverseness ? Has he
Avinked at your ingratitude and opposition;
put up with your affronts; and remains friendly
still? — Sparing neither counsel nor counte
nance — his honour, his property, his all, to
serve you? — going so far, as even to hazard life
itself, to secure your well-being ? Now believ
ing this of the dispositions of any fellow- crea
ture towards us, will inspire gratitude and love
in our hearts. And this gratitude and love will
put us upon studying the tempers, dispositions, and

IX.

FAITH avorking.
sermon an(i feelings of so dear a benefactor; and cause
us to delight in every attention, respect, and in
stance of service and obedience, Avhich Ave can
possibly render him.
Much more, then, the man Avho sees all these
dispositions, and a thousand times more, in
JESUS CHRIST, to seek, and to serve, and to
bear Avith him; and Avhen neither sufferings,
nor blood, nor life is Avith-held, to redeem sin
ful, backsliding, and treacherous rebels, like
us, from the punishment of our deservings, to
the inheritance, the joys, and the glories Avhich
Ave deserve not; I say much more will" such a
man be fired with ardour and zeal, to study the
will and commands of so gracious a Saviour.
And these considerations must surely be the
strongest incentive to holiness and obedience,
that the liveliest conceptions and imagination
of a man can possibly form, See then how faith
works }
A. And no less in exciting abhorrence of sin,
and in smoothing the path of duty, does Faith
work by Love, than in enabling the believer to
SUSTAIN AND ENDURE ALL THE' WILL OF
GOD ; producing passive submission, as well as
active duties, He,

SERMON IX. 183

He, Avho sees by faith the Avounds of JESUS, sermon
bleeding for his transgression; that Death is — — 
by him disarmed of 'his sting; and that, from
thenceforth, no curse, nor condemnation, nor
threatening Avrath, can mar his peace, or defeat
him of the future and everlasting portion, Avhich
CHRIST'S blood-shedding hatli obtained; —
this man is fortified Avith mail, as Avell as fired by
the energy of his affection, to run every length,
to face every persecution, and to sustain the hea
viest crosses, for CHRIST'S sake, that can be
laid, upon him. No bonds, no imprisonments,
Avill be deemed too much to be borne; nor life
itself too -great a sacrifice to be made.
In the fullest apprehension and expectation
of these sharp trials, the- Apostle speaks, Avith
gloAving ardour, of the re-acting poAver of love:
—the love of CHRIST constraineth us. 2Cor.v.h.
Faith, beholding the love of CHRIST, kin
dles a love in return, Avhich carries all aAvay
Avith it, as the original Avoid may import; a
strong and mighty tide, bearing doAvn all be
fore it.
Thus the Love, by Avhich Faith Avorks, swal-
Ioavs up every other idea ; : removes all impedi
ments; levels even mountains; lifts up vallies;
smooths

184 FAITH WORKING.

sermon smooths all difficultirs; and, in the end, trium-
1X' phantly bears the animated believer, rejoicing,
through the strong currents of affliction; sus
taining floods and fires, and boldly braving the
gulph of death itself.
Look back upon the sacred page; read
too the page of experience, and see what a
solid ground there is for the exulting inquiry
in the Text:— Seest 'thou how faith wrought?
The whole. eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the
Hebrews, is a noble answer to the question.
IV. But Faith Avorks likewise on this ground:
—it INSPIRES HOPE; the Hope of being a
gainer by the holiness which it produces. For,
Art. xiii. though " works done before the grace of
CHRIST, and the inspiration of his SPIRIT,
are not pleasing to GOD, forasmuch as they
spring not of faith in JESUS CHRIST," yet,
those, which spring from this principle, will
BEv.xiv.13. follow the blessed, and add to the measures of
future glory.
Our sacrifices of obedience have no perfec
tion in themselves, and, consequently, no effi
cacy, nor value; but as all the sacrifices under
the old law were sprinkled with blood, to ren
der them acceptable, so to the sacrifices of obe
dience,

SERMON IX. 185

dience, gratitude, and love, offered in the name,
and through the mediation, of JESUS CHRIST,
and upon the faith and persuasion that his
blood has procured them acceptance, which is
figuratively sprinkling them with blood, accep
tance is secured, and even a value is stamped
upon them in the sight of GOD.
While debtors in ten thousand talents, the
few pence, which Ave offered as the payment,
were contemptible; perfectly useless, as to clear
ing the account ; and of no avail, tOAvards pro
curing future blessings. But being reconciled,
we become sons, and our little services become
acceptable. Because I love my son, I accept,
with delight, the cherry, or the straw, which
he gives me ; not as the purchase of ray parental
care, but as the fruit and evidence of the child's
affection. Before the certificate of a bankrupt is signed,
and the creditors have bound themselves to an
act of grace, the man has little appetite for la
bour; but, once set free, he feels a proper ground
for activity and diligence.
No act or deed of a condemned felon can
stand good in law; but, after pardon ratified by
the

SERMON IX.

186 FAITH AVORKING.
sermon tije signature of royalty, his acts become valid.
 Now, in our case, we are freed, not merely by
an act of grace, but the pardon comes by blood,
the blood of the Surety, hiAvhom Ave are con
sidered as actually sustaining the penalty. The
blood of the Divine Victim purifies the Avorks of
him, Avhose faith acts thereon, from that, Avhich
would othenvise render them odious before
GOD. And thus, through believing, an acceptance
is procured for our Services, as Avell as our Per
sons. In this faith, Ave shall labour diligently
in the Avork of the LORD ; and Love, rather
than Fear, being the impelling motive, Ave shall
think Ave can never do, or sustain, enough for
GOD. While the slave, who Avorks from fear,
Job vii. 2. earnestly desireth the shadow of the eA*ening,
that he may rest from the painful and hateful la
bours of a wearied and reluctant hand; or, Avhile
<-• the hireling looketh, Avith a craving eye, for the
reward of his work and the hire of the day,
and, having that, he cares no more for the
householder, or the master, Avho pays it; the ac-
knoAvledged heir of the inheritance works on a
different principle. He labours, if Ave may so
speak, for the improvement of his oavh estate;
his works follow him. And

SERMON IX. 187

And the rewards, which Hope expects, are S!!lMOS
proportioned to the relation between GOD ¦
and his children; for, as the parent, or the
husband, pours out uncounted gold and un
numbered services and acts of tenderness, to
the son of his love and the wife of his bosom;
so, the heavenly householder, the adopting fa
ther of his chosen, the bridegroom of his
Church, and the everlasting lover of the bride
which he has purchased with his blood, deals
bountifully with them : he remembers no more
their disobedience and unfaithfulness; he re
members no more the sin, the backsliding, and
the treachery, Avhich separated them, blood
having brought them nigh, and opened the Avay
to pardon, peace, and every blessing.
In the CLOSE of this subject, what shall I
say ? Hath Faith wrought thus in you ? Hath
the blood of CHRIST cleansed your consci
ences, and purified your lives?
" No :" it must be said by some. Then, if
you are not Avashed in thefountain opened for ZECH.xiii.i.
sin and for uncleanness, how -will you appear
before GOD? How will you bear the weight
of guilt unatoned? How will you stand, at
the last day, before the throne of Immaculate Purity,.

188 faith working.

sermon purity, in filthy garments? I say, filthy gar-
« — '. — .  ments; for such are the unsanctified habits of
Zech. ni. tne mind GOD grant you to see the need
you have to wash and be clean ! Be assured
the two-fold cleansing, Avhich we have men
tioned, is indispensable to the entry of the soul
1 Cor. xv. into the Kingdom ofHEAVEN. Sin, the strength
$6. ofxehich is the Law, must be purged by blood.
And, through the same medium, the state of the
heart and the habits of the life must be chang
ed. And Faith is the only means of produc-
Heb. xi. 6. ing these effects. Without faith, it is impos
sible to please GOD. Where there is no faith,
there is no pardon: where there is no faith, there
is no holiness.
But some Avill plead, that they are not desti
tute of this divine principle. To such let us
put the inquiry of the Text: — How hath faith
wrought in you ? Are the genuine fruits of it
discernible in your heart and in your, life ? Are
you holier than those, Avho profess not the faith
of the Gospel ? Are you more conscientious
in your dealings? — more exemplary in the use
of GOD's Sabbaths ? — more devout in your at
tendance in h is house? Are you more spiritual,
and heavenly-minded? — more devoted to GOD?
— more dead to the Avorld?— more ripened for the
garner

SERMON IX.

189

IX.

garner of Heaven? — more fitted, from your sermon
intercourse Avith GOD, for the glories of that
place ? Are your evil tempers subdued, and evil
habits conquered? Art thou a belie\-er ? — If
so, be assured, thy faith Avill thus work; and, if
thou art not a holy, upright, conscientious,
godly man, it is because thou hast not the faith
of the Gospel wrought in thy heart.
Dear brethren ! dismiss every prejudice against
faith, and the doctrine of salvation through faith.
Thy unholiness, O man ! O woman ! whosoever
thou art, arises not from the preaching of faith
among you, but from the want of that principle
influencing your heart. Were there more faith
among us, there would be more virtue, more
godliness, more care of the soul, more prepara
tion for death, and more meetness for another
world. May GOD, by the HOLY GHOST, plant
this heavenly grace in every heart before me,
and cause it to produce more of its genuine
fruits in both your lives and mine, to his eternal
praise, and our eternal consolation !

SERMON

SERMON X.
THE LOVE OF GOD TO MEN, AND OF MEN
TO ONE ANOTHER.

X.

1 JOHN, Chap. iv. Ver. 11.
Beloved, if GOD so loved us, we ought also to
love one another.
THE fruits of the SPIRIT are always looked sermon
for from those, Avho profess to have partaken of
his influences; and a man in vain pretends to
have been renewed by the SPIRIT, or born of
GOD, if the works of GOD, the holiness and
disposition of GOD, become not apparent .in
the life, the conduct, and the daily convcrsa-
tion. Of all the fruits of. the SPIRIT, and the
graces that adorn GOD's true children, Love is

192 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN.
sermon is the grand and distinguishing characteristic;
.  insomuch that all Christian excellence is com
prehended therein.
Rom. xiii. The Scripture tells us, Love is the fulfilling
of the Law, and assures us that every one that
UoHNiv.7. loyeth is oorn 0f GOD. GOD is Love. He
8, 10. u
is Lo\Te, in himself. He is Love, in his deal
ings with all his people. From the foundations
Tr. viii. 31. of the world, his delights were with the sons of
men. In love, did he create them; in love, he
endoAved them Avith dominion and a terrestrial
paradise; and in infinite love, he redeemed
them, Avhen that paradise and life Avere forfeited
by sin. And, from the same sources of un
bounded, universal, everlasting love, hath he
given them, through the righteousness and
atoning merits of the blessed JESUS, a right
and title to the regal glories of the Kingdom of
Heaven. And what inference does the Apostle draw
from all this? Why that of the Text:— If
GOD so loved us, we ought also to love one ano
ther. Some remarks on the manner, in
which GOD hath loved us, shal% in the
First

SERMON X. 193

First place, be briefly stated ; and, in the Second, s
I shall point out in what avay our LovE to
wards EACH OTHER SHOULD BE EXERCISED.  <v.
I. When the Apostle, with peculiar empha
sis, bespeaks us,, If GOD so loved us, we are
naturally led to inquire HOW? and WITH
WHAT MANNER OF LOVE it was, with
which he distinguished such poor, unworthy,
creatures as we are, and who have so little to
recommend us.
As, the creatures of GOD, and th« produce
of his own workmanship, indebted to him for
breath and existence, Ave had no claims upon
him for further bounty; even considered as in-.
nocent, and possessed of the divine image upon
our souls;. much less, then, as guilty creatures,
despoiled of the divine image, rebels and trai
tors to his government, enemies and murderers
of his Son; much less, I say, under these cir
cumstances, could we hope to possess, his love,
or enjoy the. fruits , of it. Yet, for those that
come under this description, what manner of
love hath not GOD in CHRIST manifested ;
Avho, not only pitied our case, but stept fonvard
with a remedy for all, our misery. CHRIST
left the 'bosom of his Father, and the Hea?
0 vens

ERMON X.

194

THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN.

SERMON X.

vens in which he dwelt from all Eternity, and
into his oavti nature he assumed the manhood;
condescended to take upon him, not only the
Ph.ii. 7. form of a servant, but the character and de
scription of a guilty sinner, deserving death ;
Is. lui. 9. and though in him was no sin, neither was
IPet.U 22 guile found in his mouth, yet, in this capacity
of a condemned malefactor, for he was number-
Is. liii. 12. edwith the transgressors, he endured the curse
in the sinner's stead. Upon the altar of his
Cross, he offered up the atoning sacrifice, by
which man's peace was made, and victory over
sin and death obtained ; and, through applica
tion, of the same by faith to the conscience, all
Acts xiii. sinners whatsoever are justified from all things,
cleansed fiom all guilt, and enabled to stand
before GOD in judgment, being clothed in
the righteousness of one who is upright, and
furnished with an effective claim to everlasting
blessedness, through the merits of that holy
one, freely imputed and placed to their ac
count, and to the account of all who believe on
the Son of God, and receive him as the Fa
ther's gift of grace, mercy, and love, to final,
complete, and everlasting salvation.
UoHNiv.9. In this was manifested the love of GOD,
then, because that GOD sent his only begotten Son

SERMON X. 195
Son into the world, that we might live through sermon

him.

1. The gift of the Son, therefore, is the
great proof of GOD's love, and of the great
ness of that love to the sons of men. And, if
we consider for a moment, who that Son was;
how great; how divine; hoAv equal to the Fa
ther, in all essential properties of Deity;, the
eternal source of light; the Wonderful; the. Is-ix- &
Counsellor; the Mighty GOD; the issue
of eternal generation; the effective hand that-
created all things ; without whom was nothing John i. 3.
made, that was. made: — that this Maker of all
things, and this Judge of all men, as well as the
Father's only begotten, should thus be given
for such ignominious purposes respecting him
self, and for such gracious and inconceivably
merciful designs towards man, is surely an in
stance of love, beyond all adequate compre-,
hension of such finite and limited creatures as
we are. Well may the Angels be said .to won
der, and adore, desire to look into and con- 1 Pet.L 12.
template the mysteries of redeeming love; and
well might David, in contemplation of the
same mercies, exclaim, LORD ! what is man, Ps. viii. 4.
that thou art mindful of him / and the son of Heb. ii. 0.
man that thou visitest him !
0 2 2. Next

19^ THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN.

x.

sermon g. Next to the greatness of this gift of GOD,
by which his love tOAvards us is manifested,
consider the circumstances and charac
ter OF THOSE, FOR WHOM CHRIST WAS
given; — Sinners, enemies, and traitors; fotf*
such was CHRIST delivered up unto death.
Surely, then, the gift, contrasted -with the
objects for Avhom it Avas given, will still more
enhance and enlarge our conceptions of the
love, with which GOD hath loved us. Few
friendships are so genuine and confirmed, as
to receive the life of a man laid doAvn, to prove
their validity and truth. We think it Avell,
and admire those instances Ave meet with,
where, not only zeal and interest are exerted,
but properly applied, in any considerable de
gree, to discharge the offices of friendship; and
most of all) Avhen the Avhole of a man's for
tunes and possessions are sacrificed, to the de
sires of rendering essential service to the friend
he loves. Instances, indeed, are furnished us
by history, where life itself has been freely of
fered, to save that of a friend; and Avhenever
this rare instance has happened, Earth has re
sounded Avith praises and acclamations, in ho
nour of sentiments so refined, and friendship so-
exalted. But

SERMON X. 197

But what history, save the history of the Bi- sermon
ble, will furnish an instance of any laying down , —
theiriives for enemies. And yet GOD com- Rom. v. 8.
mendeth his love tozeards us, in that, while we
were sinners, CHRIST died for us.
Have, then, the nations rang with tlie hor
nours and praises of any who have laid down
their lives on the strength of human friendr
ships? Surely, then, Angels and Principalities
and all the Powers of Heaven will re-echo to
Eternity, the praises of him who hath so loved
us, as not only to lay down his life, but to lay
it down under the most aggravated circum
stances of distress and ignominy, to save his
murderers, and those who pierced him, from the
just and everlasting torments that aAvaited
them. 1
3. One circumstance more in the love with
which GOD hath loved us, I will state; and it is
the provision which a gracious GOD hath made,
not only that the effects of past transgression
shall be done away, but that even the future
INSTANCES OF MOURNED-FOR GUILT SHALL
NOT DESTROY. Surely,

^98 THE LOVE OF GOD A'ND MAN.

sermon Surely, if any thing can magnify our ideas
—I  of that love that has been already pointed out,
it is this, that the ratoning blood shall be of
eternal and never failing efficacy, to cleanse
and expiate, so long and so often as faith shall
apply it, and be a never-ceasing argument and
proof of the .greatness of the love of GOD to
l John iv. sinners. Herein is love, not that we loved
GOD, but that he loved us, and sent his Son,
to be the propitiation for our sins. What a con
solatory declaration is here ! and how forcibly
does the ibeloved John advert to this, in the
UoHNii.i. second chapter of, his epistle; — If any man sin,
we have an 'Advocate zeith the Father, JESUS
CHRIST the righteous, and he is the propitia
tion for our sins.
When I consider the depravity of my nature,
how prone to offend, hoAv soon and unawares
I am betrayed irito thoughts and actions, which
any own: heart condemns; when J find how
great my weakness, how little my power and
istrength to stand upright, and yet see, that the
;promises of GOD ensure my rising again;
wthen I. am assured,-, by the infallible woxd of
truth, that the great Intercessor still lives,
still pleads, and still bears upon his hands be
fore 'the throne the redeeming price, and that
that

SERMON x. iggj

that price is still available, for ail that come sshmoh
with boldness to the . mercy seat, for an inte- --'-¦-
rest therein; Oh! how is my soul refreshed,
and my spirit revived within me, under the
well-grounded hopes of deliverance, from the
body of this death ! RoM.vii.24.
Although, with St. Paul, the true believer
mourns the power of indwelling sin, and com
plains, Avith bitterness, that the things, which he ver. 15, 19.
would, according to the desires of the renewed
mind, he does not, and the thing that he would
not, that he does, and is, consequently, grieved
at the painful conflict between grace and na
ture; yet, with Paul also, -will he glory and
rejoice in GOD, through our Lord JESUS ver. 25.
CHRIST, who givethhim the victory,, and who
is still, and ever will be, a gracious Advocate
with the Father, and a propitiation for the
sins of all, who are affected with that contri
tion and godly sorrow because of their sins,
that is ever common to GOD's true children,
whensoever they fall from the path of duty.
II. Rut I hasten to a consideration of the
RETURNS) that, on our part, are due for this
love, wherewith GOD hath loved us. A re
turn to him, adequate thereto, we can never
make.

260 the love of god and man.

sermon mate. ^Eternity itself will not suffice, jf we
 had the powers; of Angels, to return him the
love and the praises that we owe him. But,
as the Apostle speaks, if GOD hath so loved
us, we can loye one another.
And, if Ave pretend to Christianity, Ave
John xiii. must love one another. It is the new com-
34. mandment of JESUS CHRIST ; and,' if Ave
be really born into him, anq interested
in the love AvhereAvith GOD hath loved his
people, Ave cannot but love one another. v It' is
the test, by which all genuine religion, and
Uohn xiv. sonship Avith GOD, is to be ascertained. If
a man say, I love GOD, but hath no love'
tOAvards the brethren, he is a liar ; for he that
loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, hozd
can he love GOD, whom he hath not seen.
First and principally, should our love one to
wards another be exercised respecting the inte
rests of the soul; either in endeavours to
awaken the unconverted, in shewing them the
error of their ways ; or, in labours of love, to
comfort, encourage, establish, and confirm those,
that are already treading the path to Zion ; al
leviating their sorrows, bearing their burdens; con-

sermon X. SOI
concealing their defects, and administering. to sermon
their necessities. -.  *¦—
But with regard to the ungodly, the> pro-
phane, and the worldly-minded, — must we love
them? Yea, surely, they are our brethren,
and we must love them; but we must hate
their Avays, and labour to make them hate
them also ; yea, though we should be accounts
ed their enemies for so doing.
And, in order to this, Ave must be diligent by
example, by precept, and by persuasion, to
shew them a more excellent way. We are to
set before them, to the best of our poAver, the
nature and the consequences of sin. We are
to warn them, to flee from the wrath to come.
We must discountenance and reprove, so far
as our authority in connection with them
shall enable us to do it, all vicious and un
warrantable usages. We must urge upon them,
according to our abilities, the Gospel, and
those doctrines of it that shew Iioav impossible,
and how incompatible with reason it is, that,
continuing in ; carnal habits and sensual gra
tification, their minds should ever be capable
of the joys of a spiritual kingdom; and that,
\yithout the work. of a neAv creation upon their
hearts;

202 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN.
sermon hearts, they cannot be citizens of the New
 Jerusalem.

We ntust also in our lives and manners, and
by every feature of our face, if I may so say,
convince them, that the ways we tread are
Pr. iii. 17. ways :of pleasantness, and that our paths are
peace. ;.. We - must recommend the religion of
JESUS CHRIST to the by-stander, by the
sweet effects it shalL have upon our own tem
pers and carriage towards them; and, by the
purity of our manners and well-disposedness
towards the Avorks of love and the ways of
holiness, Ave must let our light so shine before
them) that they cannot but love and honour
those principles in us, which produce such
amiable'and honourable fruits. 'But if, not-
Mat. v. 44. withstanding this, they revile us, we must not
LuKEvi.28. ., . " ./, , , ,
iPet.H.23. rev"e again; it they curse, Ave must bless;
and, in a continued and persevering spirit
of meekness, love, and patience, and a de
sire to serve them in their best interests, we
shall in GOD's due time, and by his good
SPIRIT attending these measures, soften their
hard hearts, melt down their obdurate spirits,
and subdue their prejudices and unreasonable
objections to the Avays and ordinances of GOD's
people. Thus shall their hatred of the truth be

SEHMON X. ^03
be converted into the love of it; their enmity sermoh
against the Gospel shall be changed into reve- , 
rence for it, and its Gracious Author; and their
hearts, as well as their knees, shall bow down
to the sceptre of JESUS CHRIST, and, in the Pi. ex. 3.
day of his power, they shall become willing
subjects of the Kingdom of his Grace.
This is a kind of proceeding, that will best
exhibit our love towards those, who, in a na
tural state, are haters of GOD. Thus did
JESUS love his enemies, and pray for those
who nailed him to the tree. Thus also it Luke xxiii.
34.
becomes us to love them; and to add our
prayers to our endeavours, that all may be
brought to look on him whom they have pierced, Zech. xii.
mourn for the part they have acted, and join,
both in heart and voice, with the LORD'S re
deemed. But they who are already such, who are al
ready of the LORD's particular household and
family, will unavoidably possess the love, the
-fraternal feelings, and the yearnings of heart of
all the saints, in manner and degree far exceed
ing the carnal love and attractions, that bind
mankind together, in the common ties of re-
lation-

10.

GOf THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN.

x.

sermon iationship and; natural affection. And bru*
therly love, resulting from a principle so pure,
and a source so profound, as the love of GQD
tOAvards us, Avill produce never-ceasing effects
in and upon :those who are interested therein,
and. that, in all possible directions, but chiefly
such as .these :'—
1. Encouraging and helping our
-brethren forward in the path of life.
We shall delight to be instruments, in the
SPIRIT's hand, of increasing their knoivr
ledge, their light, and their experience in the
things of GOD. We shall hearken to all their
complaints, and endeavour to remove them,
We shall listen to all their doubts, and strive
to clear them up. We shall pay the tenr
derest attention to the sorrows of contrition,
and the tears of those that mourn because of
their sins ; and labour earnestly to extract
from the dispensary of gospel grace, the cheer
ing and consolatory remedies, which it furnishes
for the awakened conscience and the broken
heart : and, to those that are spiritually wound
ed, we shall not fail to apply the wine and oil
iwhich the Gospel offers. 2. Christian

SERMON X. 205
2. Christian love will also exhibit A desire sermon
TO CONCEAL THE FAILINGS OF OUR BRO- -¦-;
ther, and to put a favourable construction on
every doubtful circumstance. It tkinketh' no l Cor. xiii.
evil; rejoiceth not in another's fall ; but hopeth
all things for the best; desiring to spread a
good report, and the veil of charity, over eVcry
short coming and defect that escapes our neigh
bour. 3. Neither is christian love pro
voked easily. It endureth all things: it 1 Cor. xiii.
beareth all things; unwilling to take any
thing amiss, it suffereth long, and is kind; ver. 4.
forgiving injuries and offences, not only seven Mat. xviii,
i • ' 22
times, but seventy times seven it forgives an
offending brother. It remembers 1ioav many
and great the sins are, that GOD hath for^
given; and hath thoroughly learned, that, if Mat. xviii.
GOD can forgive the sinner his debt iof ten 23""" 35"
thousand talents, there is no forgiveness that
every felloAV-sinner is not of his brother" en
titled to receive.
4. Christian love Avill also take an active
PART IN ALLEVIATING THE SORROWS, AND
ASSUAGING THE GRIEFS OF THE SUFFER
ING brother. Whatever be the cause of
the

$06 THE LOVE OF GOD AND MAN.

sermon the distress, if it be of a spiritual nature, spiri -
¦¦ tual consolation is supplied; sweet counsel
between man and man is taken; prayers and
< supplications to the Throne of Grace are
unitedly tendered, for such reliefs and consola
tions as the grieved spirit needs. And so also,
if the suffering pertain to the body, and tem
poral burdens are laid by GOD upon his chil
dren, the hand of brotherly love will be ever
extended to take a part; and the griefs, by
sympathy divided, will be mitigated and as
suaged. 5. And most especially, since GOD has dis
tributed property and possession with an un
equal hand, and while some are overflowing
with present and outward mercies, others, and
those frequently who are richest in faith to
wards GOD, are exercifed by the trials of po
verty and want; hence, therefore, will thofe,,
who, with the riches of faith and the bles
sings of grace, possess a competent abundance.
of this Avorld's goods, most especially exhibit
their love to their fellow-creatures, in being
1 Tim vi. READY TO DISTRIBUTE, AND AVILLING TO
communicate. Having received largely of
GOD's spiritual mercies, and that bread by
which the soul is nourished unto everlasting
life,'

SERMON X. 207
life, they cannot but readily impart of their sermo*
temporal good things, to the bodily comfort 
of all who are destitute of the means and sup
ports of life, especially to them who are of the GAL.vi. io.
household of faith. And they, who find them
selves of another disposition, -will do well tO
question, whether or not they be in any wise
interested in that love of GOD, which hath
given JESUS CHRIST to die for the sins of
the world. Hear how the beloved disciple
argues: — Whoso hath this world's good, and * J°hn iK-
seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up
his bowels of compassion from him, how dzvell-
eth the love of GOD in him ?
Be ye assured, my brethren, that, administer
ing to the necessities of the saints, and the
wants of the LORD's people, nay, and the
necessities of all men, according to the abili
ties and means Avith which GOD's providence
hath blessed us, is the most obvious of all in
stances in Avhich Christian love can be exhi
bited ; and, perhaps, the most easy and pleasant
of them all to be discharged, since, to every
mind that is fraught Avith liberality of sen
timent, it conveys a rich repast to the feel
ings of the man, whether he be under religious
impressions or not; and, for the christian, no
argu-

208 THE LOVE OF god and man.
sermon arguments are needful, to support the decla-
^_!l — ration of the LORD CHRIST:— It is more

Actsxx.35. blessed to give than to receive.

o

Such then are the dispositions and affec-1
tions, Avith Avhich our love one towards ano-1
ther should be exercised. I have been, per-1
haps, short in the description; because, truly,
the soul that is alive to GOD, and sensible
Eph. iii. is. °^ t^ie breadth, and length, and depth, and
height of 'his love, and the gift of ins SPIRIT
to apply to the conscience the satisfaction
made for sin, will unavoidably be actuated and
impelled, to promote GOD's glory in acts of
love to fellow-men, and especially felloAv-
christians, in a greater variety of forms, and
with a more universal attention to the bodily
and spiritual wants of his brethren, than the
short limits of a discourse, like this could as
certain.
Rom. v. 5. Let but the love of GOD be shed abroad irt
each of our hearts, by that SPIRIT AvhicH
GOD hath given to this end, and' let it be difj
fused and spread in the ample measures longed
for by the faithful, and I am well persuaded
l John iv. we shall, in GOD's due time, be perfected in
love,

sermon x. 209
love, have boldness in the day of judgment, ultM0K
and our hearts enlarged to live and love Avith  ^— —
Saints and Angels, throughout the countless
ages of Eternity.

SERMON

SERMON XI.
CHRISTIAN GRACES.

SERMON XI.

1 PET. Chap. iii. Ver. 8.
Love as brethren ; be pitiful; be courteous.
[Preached before a Club of Labouring Men.]
I HE Text comprises little more than Four
words which shall serve as Four heads of our
discourses, viz. ' 1. Love, 2. Brotherhood,
3. Pitifulness, 4. Courteousness, Love as
brethren; be pitiful; be courteous. 1 Cor. xiii.
I. Of faith, hope, and love, LOVE is the 13.
greatest of the three. And so great it is, that
neither men, nor angels, nor archangels them
selves, can sufficiently display and set forth the
gospel grace, that is here recommended,
p 21 A few

212 christian graces.

xi.

15.

sermon a few things, therefore, and those in the
plainest and most practical Avay that can be at
tempted, are noAv intended to be laid before
you. Love, then, is a commandment in the mouth
of GOD, in the mouth of CHRIST, in the
mouth of all his folloAvers. We are command*
ed to love — what? not the world, nor the things
1 John ii. of the Avorld. Love not the world; for, if any
man love the zeorld, the love of the Father is
not in him.
Love not the ways of sin ; for the ways of
sin are death, and its path-ways lead to Hell.
Love not the Avages of iniquity, nor the fruits
of ungodly gain; because, any thing you can
get by dishonest, artful, or unjust dealings,
Avill leave a thorn, and sting in your con
sciences. You will feel it, brethren, by and
by. Love not the gratification of present de
sires, at the expence of the soul's future
good. Love not the joys of the^ flesh, the
cups of the drunkard, the songs of lascivious^
ness, the language of the reprobate, nor the
com-

SERMOtt XI. ' 213

SERMON XI.

companions of Hell. O brethren! the hu
man heart is capable of loving all these. GOD's
Avoid declares this; and your own observations,
from time to time, made amongst mankind,
must pnrve it true.
But, brethren, love not these. Rather love
things that are of a contrary description; things
that are lovely, praise-AVorthy, and of good re- Ph"it' 8"
port.

Love is the noblest passion of the soul. Fix,
then, your Jove upon those objects that deserve
it. G OD, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises,
the Maker of the universe and Creator of your
bodies, the Preserver of your persons, the Sup
plier of your Avants, and he in whom you live
and move, and have your being, he is the object
that deserves your love. But love him chiefly,
as the GOD in JESUS that redeems your souls
from Death and Hell, and your bodies from
the grave; and that ransoms your immortal
part, from the prison of eternal darkness. If
I may address you as the LORD'S redeemed,
I may say, that JESUS sought you when, you
were strangers; when you Avere sinners, did
he come to save you-; when enemies, he died
for your deliverance; Avhen murderers of his
person,

Ex. xv. 11.

Acts xvii.

¦214 CHRISTIAN GRACES.

*brm,o* person, and nailing him to the Cross, he prayed
m. for you.

.XI.

But, perhaps, respecting many here, I must
say, you are strangers noAv, sinners now, ene
mies now, and murderers of JESUS still; still
Heb. vi. 6. crucifying him afresh, and putting him to
open shame. Still does he seek to save, and die
to give life to your dead souls: yes! to you,
Avho betray him; to you, who blaspheme him ;
to you, who curse him ; to you, Avho defy him;
and to you, who make sober persons, and al
most the earth itself, to tremble, at the profane
and blasphemous use of his name from your
polluted lips. Yes! brethren! he still seeks,
he still woos, he still courts, invites, and per
suades even you, to turn unto him and live.
Oh! Ioac him, then; love this all-merciful,
pitying JESUS; for he is worthy of your
love. '
Well, but love Holiness too; the tempers of
grace, and the transcript of CHRIST'S image
upon your souls.
I know that many of you, I must say this
when speaking to a large congregation, hate
holiness. You cannot endure it, because it is
so

SERMON XI. <2l£

so contrary to the pleasures, delights, and car- sermom
nal joys, in which you now indulge. But O - XI' -
brethren! did you but know the advantages,
the blessedness, the happiness, the enjoyments,
and the comforts, resulting from true Holiness,
you would find, that it would supply you with'
a thousand times more true pleasure on the one
hand, than it would deprive you of on the
other. Holiness would make you beautiful and lovely
in the eyes of mankind. It would give you
credit and esteem in the judgments of your
employers. It would make you amiable hus
bands, affectionate fathers, dutiful children,
virtuous subjects. It Avould make your bodies
healthy, your houses comfortable, your circum
stances easy. It would cause you to be belov
ed, to be trusted, to be taken notice of by the
excellent of the earth. It would make you1
Saints. It would impart to you the dispo
sition of Angels. It would conform you to the Rom. viii.,
image of JESUS CHRIST. It would make 29'
you partakers of a divine and heavenly nature.
It would fit you for the society of the Just
made perfect. It would qualify you for all the
joys and employments of Heaven. It would
prepare

2l6: CHRISTIAN GRACES.
skrmom prepare you for the presence, the converse, and
—  the full communion of GOD himself.

O what privileges,; Avhat blessedness, what
happiness, what joys, belong to the holy ! All
who hope for the salvation of the soul, and to
live with GOD in Heaven, are holy, or are
Lbv.xi.44. thirsting to be made so. Ye shall be holy, for
&c. &c j am hoiy^ saith tne LORD. O brethren ! love
Holiness, and pray to the LORD so to make
you by his sanctifying SPIRIT. But, once
more ; Love one another. Be ye all of one mind,
having compassion one of another; love as bre
thren. But this, as it makes the whole Second
head of our discourse, must be spoken of rather
more at large.
II. Love as BRETHREN. Love not as De
vils. Love not as men united with tfie bands
of iniquity. LoAre not Avith a purpose and de
sign of making Avorldly gain of one another.
Love not one another after the fashion of this
world. No! my friends! love not Avith a dia
bolical, infernal love, like Satan and the in
habitants of Hell, who sink one another
deeper and deeper in the destruction, in which
their love of sin and Avickedness has involved
them. Love not in that spirit, and with those ends

SERMON XI. 217

ends in view, that the ungodly, the reprobate, sermon
and the vile are seeking; forming bonds, unions,  »
and conspiracies, to -work Avickedness together,
and treasuring up wrath for one another against ^0M* "• 5*
the day of GOD's fierce wrath and fiery indig
nation. Do not love for the gratification of
carnal desires, ungodly lusts, and the wanton
joys of uncleanness, indecency, and filthy
communications; Avhich heap up curse upon
curse, and mutually operate to one another's
increased condemnation, and shall increase the
measures of keen hate and rancour in a place of
torment; Avhen present carnal love, and every
prostituted passion, Avhereby we have led one
another on from sin to sin, will be converted
into the stings of resentment, with which the
damned will for ever be adding to one another's
future torments. O no ! my friends ! do not
you love, like the wicked, the sensual, the
lustful, and the vile; but, love as Brethren,
as fellow-sinners, as brother-mourners, as sym
pathizing sufferers, as fellow-sharers in the gos
pel hope, as christians, as sons of GOD,
as brethren of JESUS, and as fellow-heirs of
the Kingdom ofHEAVEN.

'Ov

Brethren ! we are fellow-sharers of the same
delinquency; the same sinful nature and sinful
practice.

218 CHRISTIAN GRACES.

XJ.

HoM.iii.23.

sermou practice. We have all sinned, and come short
of the glory of GOD. We are brethren in mi
sery, in poverty, in nakedness, in blindness.
We are brethren in the same malady, disease,
and distemper of the soul ; and fellow-sharers in
the same condemnation, the same curse, and
the same everlasting death, that threaten the
finally impenitent.
Let there, then, be a sympathy amongst us; a
tenderness-; a fellow feeling ; and a disposition
to bear and alleviate one another's burdens;
a union of hearts ; a union of counsel ; a union
of endeavour ; a union of supplication on be
half of one another, as well as for each one's
own self, that some comfortable and safe re
medies may be obtained, and a common salva
tion sought, whereby we may secure deliverance
from the curse and the wrath that threaten
us. Thus let us love as Brethren. You know it
is common, where several persons are labour
ing under the same sort of distress, disease, suf
fering, or danger, that something of an inti
macy is begotten, and a friendship and degrees
of love, tenderness, and affection are sometimes
found, under such circumstances, that last for
life.

SERMON XI. 219
life. The same common pains and feelings *£E1,e"
affect them. The same treatment and diet suit —......... , ¦
them. The same common remedies cure them.
Thus, dear friends, then, let us, under the
idea of loving as Brethren, tell one another
what has been of service ; what is directed far
tlie common good; Avhat we have suffered;
what we have been carried through; — all this
as it respects tilings of an eternal and immor
tal sort; in short, what GOD has done for Ps.lxvi.~16.
our souls. This will be loving one another as
brethren indeed.
Yes; as there is brotherhood and fellowship
in the sin of our nature, and the misery and
helplessness of our condition as poor sinners, so
also there is brotherhood and felloAvship in the
privileges of the Gospel, the mercies of GOD,
the saving grace of our Lord JESUS CHRIST.
If Ave are believers, Ave are members of one
and the same body; of owe body, and one SPI
RIT, even as ye are called in one hope of your Eph. ir.
calling; one LORD, one faith, one baptism, one
God and Father of all, who is above all, and
through all, and in you all. Htfnce,

4 — 6.

220 christian graces.

SERMON XI.

Hence, then, Ave are subjects of the same di
vine mercy, objects of the same divine love,
justified by the same divine righteousness,
cleansed by the same blood, sanctified by the
same divine SPIRIT ; and if the HOLY SPI
RIT's Avork be effectually Avrought within us,
we are brethren from our common relation to
GOD as a Father; Ave are brethren from the
same common relation to JESUS CHRIST.
Rom. viii. He is our elder brother: Ave are joint heirs
17 29. of the same inheritance, and have a common
fellowship and brotherhood in all the privileges,
joys, and glories of the same kingdom, the same
immortality, and the same everlasting mansions
prepared for the adopted sons of GOD, and
heirs of glory through JESUS CHRIST.
O that a due sense and perpetual remem
brance of these high privileges might hence
forth teach us, to consider the near and inti
mate relationship that subsists between us ; and
lead us to love one another Avith the affec
tions, dispositions, tenderness, and regard, that
brotherly love requires : it Avould be needless,
then, to insist on the latter expressions of the
Text :— Be pitiful; be courteous.

But,

SERMON XI. 221

XI

But, as matters noAv stand, I fear I have too sermon
much need to insist on the Compassion and the
Courtesy also Avhich the Text comprises, and
Avhich are expected of youj both as brethren of.
an amicable Society, and members of the com
munity at large.
III. I proceed, therefore, in the next place,
to drop a few words on the PITIFULNESS, or
Compassion, pointed out in the Text:' — Be pi
tiful ; be full of pity, concern, compassion;
and, as charity begins at home,
L, Have pity and compassion for your own
souls. If you are properly exercised by love
and pity for your own souls, it will lead you
to consider what you are, and Avhat you must
do to be saved. It will lead you to consider
Avhat sinners you are ; what lives you have led;
in what respects you have injured, abused,
wounded, and exposed your own souls, to
GOD's wrath and condemnation.
There has never been an instance, in which
your passions have provoked you to swear by !
GOD's Majesty, or to take his name in vain';
there has never been an instance, in Avhich you
have committed theft, or drunkenness, or adul tery,

2£2 CHRISTIAN graces.

s*rmon ttry, or any act of injustice, dishonesty, or
--- - even unkrndness to another; but you haA-e, in
that instance, injured, stabbed, and Avounded
your own soul. You have never spent an idle
Sabbath, nor lost a day's work in the pursuit of
pleasure, nor deprived your Avives and families
of a single spare shilling, that might have been
laid out or employed for the common good of
your households, but your OAvn souls Avill be
the sufferers, and will surely be brought at the
last day to account for it.
O be pitiful, then, and disposed to compas
sionate your poor souls, for the future! What
a number of sores and stabs have you already*
inflicted upon your souls, without knowing it !
You are, in some respects, like a man that is
out of his senses, or has lost the use of his rea
son for a season, from being in liquor. Such.
an one -will suffer much beating and many.
wounds over-night Avhile drunken, and will.
not be sensible of the smart of them; but, when
he awakes in the morning, he will find him
self., dreadfwlljj indisposed and disabled, with
the sad effects of his folly. So, my brethren,
willsuch of you, whenever it pleases the LOiRD
to awaken you, from the sleep of sin, find y cur
ls, i. 6. selves fulfof muteda* and bruisesj and pittrefyni .
ing

SERMON XI. 22$

ing iores; and how many of them areVoundsy ***»ow
and bruises, and putrefying soTesi of your own .—..,....'.-,¦,¦
inflicting ! O, then, love and pity your poor
souls now! and cease to cut, and mangle, and
destroy them further, by continuing longer in
the wicked courses of ski, from which those,
who watch for your souls, would fain wean;
you. And this self-compassion will, in the next
place, lead you to inquire, what you mast do to
be saved from the consequences! of the manifold
guilt you have incurred ; and how you can get
the balm that is in Gi lead, to heal the dreadfuk jER. viii.22.
wounds and injuries you have inflicted tipon
you* OAvn souls.
: Pot, there are remedies, that can -heal;, there
is a physieiah, that can cure; there" is mercy,
that may be found; and there are pardoWSj that:
may he obtained for the vilest of the ySe"; 1$
they be diligently sought. rr Come, then,i 3&f
JESUS. ' 'He is tlie ipbyteicfcWi.' • H» is &#
healer. He is the pitying Lorb and Savtou ft,"'
that is come, not to call righteous persons, but Mat.ix.is.
. . ° r Mark ii.
sinners, sinners like you and me, to repentance. 17.
Be pitiful; then, to your own souls, and seefethe LuKS T* 32-
means of grace, the means of pardon, and the'
means

224 CHRISTIAN GRACES.
sermon means of cure, before they be for ever cut off
¦ and taken from you.

2. But further, my friends, be pitiful as
brethren. Be filled with pity and compas
sion for the souls of others; and this will lead
you to consider and to avoid the ways, Avhereby
you have injured one another, and have been
the instruments of one another's guilt. AAvful
consideration, truly ; that we are, many of us,
oftentimes the instruments and means of one
another's eternal ruin ! My brethren, do not
thus add to the weight of your own eternal
misery, by dragging others along with you,
down the broad paths that lead to death. Poor
is the triumph of an artful sinner, that mis
leads and tempts another from the paths of
sobriety and innocence, which is ofttimes done
and gloried in ! I say, short is such a triumph,
and very poor the wages and rewards of it ! for
the weight of such bloodrguiltiness will lie far
the heaviest on him, who hath led the other on,
and made the weak brother, or; the young, the
careless, and the unguarded stripling, a sharer
in his guilt.
Cease, then, old sinners ! from leading young
pnes into the crooked paths of darkness, sin, and
death.

SERMON XI. 225
death. Tell not to others your guilty pleasures, sermon
your unhallowed practices, your ungodly Avays,  .
and plays and pastimes, to draw them in to join
you. Do not encourage others to share in your
corruptions. Do not communicate the infec
tion of your vile sins, to those who are not yet
quite so bad. Do not laugh the young, and
the sober, and the more decent part of your
brethren, out of their scruples, and fears, and
backAvardness to engage in all the depths of
Avickedness, in which some of you are prac
tised. Be pitiful, be merciful and compassionate, to
the souls of those about you. Pity the Aveak;
spare the feeble lambs; do not act the Avolf,
nor the roaring lion, seizing and destroying
the souls of your children, your younger mem
bers, and others that come in your way, and
would be honest, and sober, and, perhaps, re
ligious too, but for Avant of resolution to
stand the scoff and the sneers Avhich you put
upon them.
Consider, friends, that the Hats which some
of you lead, the examples Avhich some of you
set, and the persuasion and encouragement
which some of you give to others to join you
(J in

226 CHRISTIAN graces.
sermon in the path that leads to Hell, shall sink you
 '. — yourseH-es by so much the deeper there.

Be pitiful, then, and filled with compassion
for your own souls, and the precious souls of
others among Avhom you live.
IV. But, lastly, you are called upon to be
COURTEOUS, as Avell as pitiful. Be gentle,
mild, compassionate, easy to be entreated, re
spectful in your carriage, obliging in your
tempers, modest in your conversation, and sub
missive in your manners and deportment.
Do not imitate the lion, the wolf, the serpent,
the untamed ox, or the sAvine. You may think
this manly ; but, indeed, my friends, it is not.
It is unmanly ; it is brutal ; it is devilish. Take
for your pattern the lamb, the turtle-dove, the
little child. This would be imitating the tem
pers prescribed by JESUS CHRIST. This
would be shewing forth the fruits of grace,
and of true repentance, in your lives. This
would be honouring religion and your minis
ters, and Avinning the regard, and esteem, and
love of those that employ you, and of those
with whom you live. Yea,

sermon xi. 227"
Yea, my friends, this courteousness, humL sermon
X I
lity, and gentleness in your deportment, would  '.  .
endear you to all, and make all men ybur friends.
You would find more encouragement, more
employment in the day of your health, and
more consolations, and supports, and assist
ance in the seasons of your tribulation, and
in the hours of distress.
I grieve exceedingly Avhen I find, as I often
do, the contrary tempers discover themselves
in men ; — rudeness, disrespectfulness, indecency,
surliness, and impatience of rebuke. Your lan
guage is so foul, your tempers so rugged, your
behaviour, oftentimes, so unseemly, so uncour-
teous, one sometimes almostfearstomeetyou, lest
one should hear or see something offensive and
disgusting. But, letme hope better things of you.
Be pitiful ; be courteous; pray to the LORD
that you may be savingly wrought upon by the
Gospel, and then the rough places in your
tempers will be made smooth, your conversation
will be, as the Apostle describes it, zeith grace, Col. iv. 6.
seasoned with salt, i. e. you will speak and
converse Avith sobriety, respectfulness, and love;
and your manners will all be moulded after the
gospel pattern, and the example which JESUS
CHRIST has set you. Q.% My

228 CHRISTIAN GRACES.
sermon My friends, this -will be the effect of cour-
— —.  teousness in your conversation: so, in jour
practice, behaviour, and employments, these
gracious tempers shall all make for your OAvn
advantage. Your working hours will all be
honestly employed, and your leisure seasons
Avill not be squandered away, prostituted, or
abused in this or the other pastime, idle games,
unprofitable wranglings and disputings, unmer
ciful and unmanly fightings, indecent and in
temperate spending of your little savings. In
deed, my friends, these things are neither pitiful
nor courteous.
But turn ye from all these evil Avords and
ways, to him avIio will wash away your guilt in
his own blood, renew you by his SPIRIT,
cause all grace to abound towards you and to
triumph in you, and, at length, present you be
fore the presence of his Father with exceed
ing j°y-

SERMON

SERMON XII.
CHRISTIAN LOYALTY.

MATT. Chap. xxii. Ver. 21.
Render, therefore, unto Caesar, the things which
are Cesar's; and unto GOD, the things that
are GOD's.
'/t <
GOD forbid, that his ministers should hold
forth the doctrines of the Gospel, in any points
of view to the prejudice of its moral duties ! No
theories of religious knowledge, no systems of
faith and doctrines whatsoever, nor any attain
ments in Christian experience, must be alloAved
to supersede the exercise of practical religion.
And they, who, from the large measures of
assent to which they pretend, Avould excuse
themselves on that ground from, the ac
tive

SERMON XII.

230 CHRISTIAN LOYALTY.

xii

sermon tJve labours of a pious life, are a disgrace to any
. religious persuasion which they may espouse.
They are subverters of the true faith, and are
entitled to no other appellation than that of
hypocrites and deceivers.
Fools and hypocrites Avere these Pharisees
and herodians, to tempt CHRIST with a de
vice so poor and futile ! and yet hoAv plausible
16. and specious the address! — Master, Ave knoAV
that thou art true, and teachest the zeay of
GOD in truth. Surely, when Ave consider
the omniscience of JESUS CHRIST in his di
vine character, and how clearly he discerned
their deceitfulness and their malice, we cannot
but Avonder at the patience and the meekness
with which he received their insidious ad
dress !
¦ . i; d ¦ '
And, truly, when we call to mind the Unhal
lowed dispositions, with which we sometimes
approach the same GOD ; the insincerity of
our hearts; the duplicity of our motives; the
Earthliness of our affections, whilst our eyes
• are lifted up to Heaven; it is well, if our
approaches do not somewhat resemble those of
Pharisaic disciples and Herodian orators, who
tempted GOD under the specious form of pro-.
found.

SERMON XII. 231

XII.

found respect and honour, and, while they af- sermon
fected a desire to be taught the truth from ins
divine lips, Avere enemies in their hearts; desi
rous to entangle him, if it were possible, in
ins talk; seeking an occasion to subvert, by
artifice and intrigue, that pattern of holiness,
and that divine instructor in righteousness,
whom they dared not to attack openly.
Hoav far this is a sort of character, that
may or may not be found among professing
christians of the present day, or, 1ioav far
this sort of hypocrisy is still extant amongst
those who wait upon GOD in his public assem
blies, it is not my intention to consider.
The injunction of the Text relates to the
rendering to men due tribute, only where the
duties of religion and the homage due to
GOD are not thereby infringed. And the
sententious expression, in Avhich this is incul
cated, suggests, as I conceive, Two natural
and obvious inquiries : —
I. What are the things which per
tain to GOD? II. What

232. christian loyalty.
sermon jj# What those which pertain to
 Cesar?

I. WHAT ARE THE THINGS WHICH
PERTAIN TO GOD?
1. The First thing I shall mention as incum
bent upon us to render to GOD, is, the
glory of man's salvation. If we render
not to him, this glory, all else we can offer him
will be but pouring contempt upon his com-
Eph. ii. 4. passions, his mercies, and his great love where
with h e loved us.
Such is the condition of mankind, by reason
of the extensive and destructive consequences
of sin, that nothing less than the righteous
ness, sufferings, and death of GOD's only be
gotten Son, can avail to rescue them. GOD
JonNiii.i6. gave this Son; and JESUS CHRIST submit
ted to the undertaking, and suffered all his
Father's will. He endured the penalty due
to our iniquities; and, in the transfer of his
righteousness to believers, they, though in
themselves sinners, obtain a title to its re
wards. Hence, therefore, the salvation of sin
ners, and their final deliverance from the pit to
the free gift and possession of everlasting life, is

SERMON XII.

tK?3

is the sole work of GOD; and, therefore, not 8EMOir XII.
unto us, nor to any of his creatures, but unto  — —
GOD alone must we render all the glory of (
this gracious design.
This great and fundamental principle on
Avhich our Church is founded, That GOD in
CHRIST is the alone author of our salvation,
unaided by any of his creatures, Ave have
strikingly illustrated by the Prophet Isaiah,
who, in surprize at the appearance of a most
majestic personage, asks ; Who is this that Is. Ixiii.
cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from s y" nn's
Bozrah? i. e. from the country and capital Duty of
of the implacable foes of the Israel of GOD. a"oL°'P*
The Redeemer replies; I that speak in righ
teousness, mighty to save. The Prophet renews
his inquiry; Wherefore, if thou art come not
to destroy but to save, Wherefore art thou red
in thine apparel, and thy garments like him
that treadeth in the wine-fat? The Redeemer
ansAvers; I have trodden the zeine-press alone;
infinitely too great in my poAver to Avant an
associate, and infinitely too jealous of my ho
nour to accept of any assistant. Of the peo
ple there was none with me; the salvation of'
sinners is my act alone in all its parts; — Yours,
therefore, be all the benefit, and mine be all
the

s#

XJI

CHRISTIAN LOYALTY

»e*m6n ^he glory. We must render, therefore, unto
GOD, as that which justly belongeth to him,

Ps.xxxiii.5 cxix. 6"4.

2. The praise due for salvation.
Abundant thanksgivings do Ave OAve for creat
ing, preserving, and supporting mercies. The
earth isfullofthe goodness of the LORD. Notan
individual is there present, who has not partaken
of his bounty, and is not bound to render him
due praise. But the riches of redeeming grace
Is. xxvii. 13. extended to those which were ready to perish,
a dear-bought ransom that sets free the soul
from the terrors and pains of the second
death, call loudly for the praises and thanks
givings of a grateful heart; and the heart,
that has indeed experienced the power and the
sweetness of that divine word, whereby an inte
rest in these mercies is conveyed, will never
cease from its ascriptions of praise,

" While life, and thought, and being last,
" Or immortality endures."

3. Our belief is a tribute that we must ren-
Heb. xi. 6., der unto GOD. Without a belief that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that dili
gently seek him; without a belief that he is
the

sermon xii. "235
the kind friend of returning sinners, Avhich his sermon XII.
word declares him to be; Ave can have no in- ___^._
terest in him; for, zvithout faith it is impossible
to please him; nor, Avithout the application of a
living faith, can the body which CHRIST hath
given, the blood Avhich he hath shed, or any
of the great things Avhich he hath done, be ren
dered efficacious to the blessed ends for which
the Gospel proposes them to us. Not .only,
therefore, does the honour of GOD demand an
assent to the truths and promises of a gracious
Gospel, but, "if this tribute be not rendered,
our own souls -will be deprived of the comfort of
them. 4. We owe to him, moreover, our fear.
Where there is no Faith in GOD, there will
be no Fear of him. This tribute of fear is essen
tially his due;— the reverence of his name;
the dread of offending him, who is able to de- Mat. x. 28.
stroy both soul and body in Hell. And, where
faith hath applied the promise of life and salva
tion to the soul, still Avill this tribute be ever
rendered; — the fear of unworthily receiA-ing all
his benefits; the fear of not Walking zeorthy of Eph. iv. l.
the vocation wherewith we are called; the fear
of not honouring the LORD as he delighteth
to be honoured and had in reverence of all ps. ixxsix,
them 7-

236 christian loyalty.

sermon them that are about him: yea, happy is the
man, who, in these respects, feareth altvay.

XII.

Pr. xxviii
14.

5. Equally blessed is he, Avho renders to him
the tribute of love; continual, persevering,
Rom. xiii. increasing love. Love is the fulfilling of the
Law. Love is a blessed emanation of the Deity,
l John iv. partaking of his oAvn nature, for GOD is Love.
Love is the heavenly bond, that unites the
LORD's redeemed, and forms them all into one
blessed family and fold under CHRIST, the
John x. n. good Shepherd, the everlasting Father of
his people, and the eternal Source of love.
Love is the sweetly constraining poAver, that
moves all difficulties out of the path of Chris
tian duty. It sweetens all the providences of a
changing world. It takes away all bitterness,
discontent, and sorrow, at the afflictive trials of
the chastising rod. In fine, the redeemed sin
ner that can render to GOD those returns of
love, due for the love vouchsafed to him, offers .
upon GOD's altar the purest sacrifice, and that
which he is assured will be accepted. He exults
in the rich feelings, which none can know but
those who love ; and he tastes what Angels do
in Heaven. 6. To

SERMON XII. 237

6. To GOD is due, likewise, the tribute of sermon
' XII.
obedience, and a STEADY attachment to  , —
his cause; that obedience, which the Gospel
of CHRIST prescribes, and Avhich is needful to
fit us for the enjoyment of glory; and that at
tachment to ins name and cause, which will
impel us to forego and abandon every attrac
tive in the present life, that Avould alienate our
affections from him, and cause us to betray and
dishonour the great cause in Avhich we have em
barked. No man, having put his hand to the Luke ix.
plough and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom
of GOD. A determined, universal, impartial,
undivided compliance, must be rendered to
those commands, which GOD has given for the
government of his people; and to the motions
of that SPIRIT, whose secret influences lead
to the sanctifying of the interior recesses of
the heart, to the mortifying of all sin in our CoL' "*• 5-
members, and to the perfecting of holiness in 2CoR.vii.i.
the fear of GOD. He, Avho, by the grace of
the SPIRIT, renders this holy obedience, and
is thus attached to the cause, the interests, and
the practice of gospel holiness, will be found
amongst those whom, at the last day, GOD will
honour as genuine disciples of his Son. 7. We

238 CHRISTIAN loyalty.
sermok : 7, we owe to GOD a submission to thisse
¦ -,*...— commands, Avhich enjoin love to our neigh
bour; a tender consideration of the interests
of others ; a faithful and upright conduct, and
strictly righteous dealings Avith all mankind.
And this, truly, is a comprehensive article
of duty; and, in fact, comprises all, or the
chief part of, the things Avhich we are com
manded to render unto Cjesar; and this may
lead us to inquire,
II. WHAT ARE THE THINGS WHICH
PERTAIN to CiESAR?
I. As the artful question, suggested to
CHRIST by the Pharisees and herodians^
and to which the words of the Text were given
in answer, respected the subject of Tribute, it
may be natural to enforce, in the first instance,
the propriety and necessity of rendering to
Caesar the things that are Caesar's, consider
ed in the literal sense of this expression.

Duty out of the question, it should seem,
that Self-interest might be of sufficient Aveight
to ensure a cheerful contribution to the exi
gences of that State, and in support of that
Govern-

sermon xii. 23$

SERMON XII.

Government, whereby our possessions and lives
are secured to us, and under the influences of
Avhich Ave are protected in the enjoyment of
our civil and religious liberties. But chris
tians must take up this matter upon the
ground of Duty. GOD requires of all His
people, and CHRIST taught both by preCept
and example, that, to Avhom tribute is due, RoM.xin.7.
tribute must be paid; and they, who receive
not this doctrine, are neither true citizens of
the State in Avhich they now live, nor will they
be received as citizens of the New Jerusalem
that is above.
Now this should be matter of serious con
sideration in those persons, who, though they
would be shocked at the idea of robbing on the
highway, or at any other of the grosser species
of dishonesty, yet think it no harm to evade
those taxes which are lawfully imposed by the
powers that be; in buying smuggled goods, and
Various other illicit practices, Avhrch, by com
mon and general use, seem to have gained sd
much footing among us, as scarcely to be con- •
sidered at all in the light of a crime.
This, I say, should be matter of serious con
sideration to the sober and decent part of mankind,

240 CHRISTIAN LOYALTY.

sermon kind, who, in other respects, shall oftentimes be
.- held up as patterns of morality and virtue:
much more, should this practice be Avell con
sidered, by the Christian professor, Avho aA-ows a
purer faith, and lays claim to a more enlighten
ed mind than the rest of men. Art thou a dis
ciple of the holy JESUS? A professor of his
Gospel? An avowed folloAver of his Example?
laying claim to a participation of his nature
in the Regeneration? — how canst thou recon
cile with such a profession, these frauds and
evasions? How different from this Avas the
path which he trod, and the example Avhich he
left for our imitation ! To render just dues unto
Cesar, was the lesson which he taught; and
Mat. xvii. his own conduct was a striking comment upon
his instructions. Though the circumstances in
which he stood might have exempted him,
had he so pleased, from rendering tribute, yet
he had recourse to a miracle, in order to avoid
giving offence — Notwithstanding, said he to
St. Peter, lest zee should offend them, go thou
to the Sea, and cast an hook, and take up the
fish that first cometh up ; and when thou hast
opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of mo
ney : that take, and give unto them for me and
thee.

And,

sermon xii. $41
• And, "as a further enforcement of so essen- m*mon
tial a part of Christian conduct; I might refer — ^-^™.
yOu to the Epistle of St. Paul to? the rowans ;
Upon Avhom he most expressly enjoins the duty
of rendering to all their dues; tribute, to xvhom Rom. xiii. 7,
tribute is due ; custom, to whom custom ; fear,
to whom fear ; honour, to whom hoiiour/ But
to say any thing farther, to Christian professors,
in proof of the duty, is heedless. The principle
is incontrovertible, even in the apprehension of
¦those, avIio make no religious profession. I
would submit it, hoAvever, to the serious con
sideration of all who regard the voice of eon-
science, hoAv unlike it is to their Master, and
how inconsistent it is with that good profession, l Tim. vi.
which they have professed before many witnesses,
td give into any blame-Avorthy and unwarrant
able practices of this nature, because, in so doing,
they may be countenanced by the ways of the
world, and screened 'by frequency and general
connivance.
t 2. Nor are the evasion of tributes by law
•enacted, and the withholding of customs due
to governors, the whole to Avhieh the precept of
the Text extends. It may be considered^ as
implying a prohibition of all other collu
sive MEANS OF ACQUIRING PROPERTY; SUch

243 CHRISTIAN loyalty.

XII.

»»rmow asj jjiaking hard bargains ; taking advantage
of necessity i either in those who sell or in those
who buy ; various frauds in trade, such as the
concealing of defects in what Ave have to sell,
and depreciating the just worth and value of
what we wish to buy; things which, I am sorry
to say, habit hath rendered harmless in the ge
neral opinion, and a part of that very profi
ciency in trade at which unholy men aim. But,
brethren, if JESUS CHRIST hath taught, that
Ave must render unto Caesar the things which
are Cesar's, Avhenever we extort from others,
by such little arts as these, more than is our
own, we do not merely fall short of the spirit of
the injunction in the Text, but we directly op
pose it; and unfaithful is that servant who does
not his master's will, but rebellious is he by
whom it is opposed.
3. Yea, he who would render unto Cesar
the things that are Cesar's, in the full extent
of the spirit of this precept, must apply it to
the various relations in which he stand*
to those around him. If he find himself de*
ficient in his station as a parent or a child, as.
a master or a servant, as a magistrate or a sub
ject, he conforms not to this injunction. 4. Nor,

SERMON XII. i 243
4. Nor, let me add, can we be considered as *exmon
rendering to CjEsar the things which are Cm- _«»___«_ ,
sar's, in any respect, Avorthy of the disciples of
CHRIST, unless Ave set a good example to
others. The spirit of the precept may be extend
ed to this point, for a good example is one main
duty which we OAve to all around. We are not
only to pay respect to the persons and stations of
men, with whom we have intercourse in life, but
to their opinion. How will such and such things
appear in the eye of the world ? We are not
only to avoid evil, but to abstain from all ap- * Thes. n
pearance of evil. Our blessed Lord commands
his followers to let their light so shine before Mat. v. 16.
men, that they may see their good works, and
glorify their Father which is in Heaven.
The world expects this of all who profess
themselves to be children of the heavenly Fa
ther; and much will he have to answer for
who fails herein.
A bad example, like collusive trade, operates
in opposition to the Text. It has a dangerous
tendency with respect to others, and is, too fre
quently, the cause of their falling. Beware,
then, of encouraging others to partake of your
sins. This will lay upon you accumulated
guilt, and bring upon you, therefore, accumu
lated indignation. *2 The

244 CHRISTIAN LOYA.LTY.

sebmow • The general Observations, with which I shall
. .CONCLUDE, are such as these:—

XII

1. Let no en© who professes the Gospel, set'
light, through a supposed attachment to itsglo*;
rious doctrines, by the advfce Ave have offered, -
or think it of a legal tendency ; for moral duties, ¦
though they certainly are not the ground of ac-
cfcp<aa8& with GOD, which is solely an interest.
by faith' in the merits and mediation of the'
Saviour, yet "are they the inseparable fruit*
of that faith. The tree, which produces not
such good fruit, cumbers the- ground, and*
is in danger of the- daily application of the fatal
axe.
"s. -\i -.-•'¦
2. Let no man deceive himself, under the
idea" that"ari outward profession, of fair-spoken
inquiries upon this of" that point of religious
knowledge and experience, shall compensate
for deficiencies in practical religion. No man
is renewed in nature, lior born of GOD, who .
AValks not aftdr the Spirit, but after the Flesh,'1'
Tit. ii. 14.. for if CHRIST hath purified to himself a peo-
i Pet. ii. 9. pie by. the sacrifice of the Cross, it is a peculiar
people, and a people zealous of good worlcti
. _ 3. Be assured, brethren, that they, who are
most devoted to GOD, Avill be the warmest sup-

SERMON XII.

245

supporters of good government. The true chil- sermon
dren of GOD, and heirs of his kingdom, will  :— -
ahvays be the best and the most faithful subjects
of their lawful earthly King. They Avill most
Avillingly contribute to the exigences of the
State. They Avill be the best patriots, the true
lovers of their country, and the most effective
supporters of her constitution.
And such as these, if admitted near the
croAvn, may be considered as the brightest jeAvels
that adorn it. Nay, for the encouragement
and comfort of those, Avho, perhaps, are not
likely to stand in the presence of earthly So
vereigns, ifyoure^de?- to GOD and Cesar the
things which are their due, your privileges rise
still higher. You are, and everlastingly shall
be, considered as ornaments of that immortal
diadem, which will encircle the broAV of those,
Avho have Avon you to the LORD: For what, iThess. ii.
,says the Apostle, is our hope, or joy, or crown of l^' 20,
rejoicing? are not even ye in the presence of our
jLord JESUS CHRIST at his coming? For
<ye are our glory and joy.

SERMON

SERMON XIIL
THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.
St. LUKE, Chap, xviii. Ver. 14.
I tell you, this man went down to his house jus
tified rather than the other.
VV HETHER the instances recorded here are
a picture taken from real life, ov whether they
are a parabolic representation, calculated to
convey instruction, it is of little importance.
They are, in either case, equally encouraging;
and shew us that it is not a multitude of sins,
so much as man's high thoughts of himself , that
disqualifies him for mercy, and excludes him
from a Throne of Grace. A Throne

248 THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.
sermon A Throne of Gracf, as the expression im-

XIII.

plies, dispenses its supplies freely, gratuitously,
and Avithout a price; if, therefore, Ave haA-e no
thing to offer, but crave the blessing and sal
vation that Ave need as a Gift, and that to Avhich
we have no right, Ave are the proper objects of
GOD's mercies, freely dispensed upon that
footing-Hthe footing of grace ; but, if Ave seek
these mercies and the heavenly inheritance, as
that to which Ave are, in any degree, intitled,
from our OAvn inherent worth, qualifications, or
performances, Ave cannot be admitted to treat
Avith GOD as sitting upon a Throne op
Rom. iv. 4, Grace; for, to him that worketh, is the reward
not reckoned of grace, but' of debt.. But to
him that worketh not, but believeth on him
that gratuitously, freely, justifieth the ungodly,
his faith is accounted to him for righteous
ness, On this principle it is accounted for, Avhy
many a man, Avith a multitude of moral and
amiable attainments, will, relying upon those
qualifications, find himself in a state farther
from acceptance, than many others, who 6tand
in no conceit of themselves, but from a con
sciousness of their own unworthiness and v-ile-
ness, think nothing is due to them but wrath, and yet

SiERMON XIIJ. 24^
yet are, on that very account, in the sight of sermon
GOD oj gKeat price : I tell you, this man went — 
down to his ftouse justified rather than the
other. You will naturally inquire, then, Who was
this man ? and What was the other ? — the Pha
risee and the publican? We Avjll
I. Examine their characters apart,
II. Contrast the two characters,
III. Offer some short conclusions
FROM THE SUBJECT.
I. Let us EXAMINE THE CHARAC
TERS OF THE PHARISEE AND THE •
PUBLICAN APART.
1. Consider the Pharisee's character.
We will not take the description of it from
the 23d of Mattheav, where our Lord re
proves them for hypocrisy, deceit, cruelty,
blindness, and a variety of unholy indulgences,
secretly practised under the form of religion
and the mask of piety, though we certainly
pight; for, that those, whom our Lord re
proved

250 THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN."
sermon proved for these things, were guilty of them,
— no doubt remains : but, on this occasion, it
seems a fairer thing, to take those of this
renowned sect, whose pretenfions may be ad
mitted as just, and avIio Avere Avhat they profes
sed to be; and, of some of them, we must cha
ritably suppose thus much. St. Paul, for in
stance, before his conversion : — -we must not
controvert his own account of himself, Avhich
he ga\-e after his conversion. We are sure that
the Spirit of Truth dictated every word
he spoke to the philipfians; and also be
fore his judges. In his unenlightened state, he
Ph. iii. 6. was zealous towards GOD, and, as touching
the righteousness which is in the Law, blame
less : and so, if we take our idea of the pha-
ver. 11. risee from the account of our Lord, GOD, J
thank thee, that I am not as other men are,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this
publican; we must suppose that this man
possessed, or thought he possessed, all this ne
gative merit — an exemption from these vices.
Charity forbids us to think, though he turn
ed out to be an unjustified man, that he would
in GOD's OAVn house and presence, call upon
him, as it Avere, to witness his freedom from
crimes,

SERMON XIII. 251
crimes^ of which he knew himself to be guilty, sermon

XIII.

And we must also give him credit for the ac
tual integrity and benevolence, Avith which his
character seems to be embellished, — in fasting
twice in the Aveek, and giving tithes of all
that he possessed; an account, Avhich, if en
tered into with a candid design to make the
best of it, might be considered as implying a
variety of religious, amiable, and honest de
portment, in which, perhaps^ many professing
christians of our day are defective.
On the whole, then, Who will say this Pha
risee, admitting him to have been sincere, had
not much that might recommend him to a fel
low-creature,1 and have given him some con
siderable comparative superiority over the dis
solute and abandoned, among whom he dwelt ?
Yet, with all this, this splendid Pharisee was
an unjustified person! And if you inquire
why, you will find the reason in the close of
Rom. ix :— because he sought it not by faith, RoM.ix.32.
but, as it were, by the works of the Law.
This Pharisee, as Israel did, stumbled at
that stumbling stone.
It was not that the Pharisee was a worse
jnan, and more incapacitated for salvation, because

852 THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.
sermon because he Was no extortioner, no.unrast,3idub-
xm. . J
 terous man, nor like this publican; viti was

not because he fasted, and paid tithes; for
these are all of them -points in Avhich he ought
not to have been qtrnenvise than he supposed
himself to be. No ! nol it. was not beinp; an
holy, upright, moral, conscientious man, that
was his ruin ; but the rock he split upon, Avas
the Relying or Depending upon that, which,
to adopt the words of the Prophet, is shorter
Is. xxviii. than that a man can stretch himself on it;
20. and a covering narrower than that he can wrap
himself in it: Or, in the language of the
Rom.x.2,3. Apostle, it was this, though he had a zeal <qf
GOD, it was not according to knowledge ;
for, being ignorant of GOD's righteousness,
standing upon his own justification, and going
about to establish his own righteousness, he did
not submit himself to the righteousness of
GOD. All that the PHARisEE^Ieaded, however real,
yea, and though hvfiad been more, evfen to thd
I Cor. xiii. bestowing of all his gtoods to feed the poor, an£
the giving of his very body 4o he turned, would
not have profited him. And,'

SERMON. XIII.
: And, on the other hand, without any of this;
-s*mth an humble, ¦self-abased,- and suitably de
pendent mind — Justification of the sinner be
fore GOD is attainable. To prove Avhich let
us ...
2. Consider The publican's character.
Amongst the jeavs, there was more odium
attached to the name and profession of a pub
lican, than to any other. The office of the
publicans consisted, in rigorously exacting
those tributes and impositions, that were laid
upon them by the Romans; and, in the very
nature of their occupation, it was such as Avas
exposed to temptation to vices of various
kinds,— -rapaciousness, cruelty, blasphemy, per
jury, and profanation of theSABBATH. They
were a set of people, infamous even to a pro-
vefb. It was disgraceful to associate with
them; and our Lord often struck the s addu
ce es and- Pharisees with horror and surprise,
that he should mingle with publicans and
siriNERd, (for these were synonynious terms),
or go, upon' any occasion, to be a guest with
them. Nay, Our blessed Lord himself con
siders them" ifi the mOSt abject point of VieW.
He classes them with the vilest orders amongst men,

25S

SERMON XIII.

254 THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.
sermoh merj) wrien> in rebuking and ¦ silencing the
 priests and elders who laid Wait to ensnare
him in his conversation, he saith unto them,
Mat. xxi. Verily I say unto you, that the publicans
and harlots go into the Kingdom of GOD
before you. So again, he couples them with
heathens, Avhen a reprobate offender,) Avho
refuses to listen to admonition, is to be ex
communicated, and considered as an hea-
Mat. xviii. then man and a publican. Thus to a very-
15—17. proverb, was the character of a publican vile,
even in the expressions of CHRIST himself.
We are to take, therefore, the puBLiCANj;al-
luded to in our Text, and contrast him Aviththe
character and pretensions of the self-justifying-
Pharisee, and consider him as quite the re-
Verse in all the negative, as well as positive
merit, to Avhich he put in his claim.
He saw himself thus. And Ave may suppose
Ps. Ixxiii. him speaking of himself as the Psalmist did, I
22- am. as a beast before thee; or, as AgUr, / am
Pr. xxx. 2. more brutish than any man; or, as the syro-
Mat. xv. Phoenician, ready to step down to the cha-
26, 27. racter by which she Avas alluded to, " I am a
Dog."i. Such were the sensations, the convic
tions, and the feelings of the poor, self-con
demning publican; when, at a great distance from

SERMON XIII. 255
from the Pharisee,— at the bottom of the sermon
. XIII.
Temple, — with a down-cast eye, an afflicted ¦ ¦
soul, a smitten breast, and an heart-felt agony
under the sense of his guilt, he cried out, GOD
be merciful to me a sinner I Well! with all this,
a sinner in the sight of GOD, a sinner in the
judgment of CHRIST, a sinner in Man's esti
mation, and a sinner in His OAvn judgment
of himself, — the poor publican was a justi
fied person! Why? — because of all this
sin? No! the publican's multiplied iniquity
was not that which justified him, any more than
the extraordinary uprightness and righteous
ness of the Pharisee was that Avhich conr
demned Him. But the publican was a justi
fied person, because he was sensible of sin, and
saw that there was nothing to depend upon,
but that mercy on which he cast himself :— r
he condemned himself.
Moral riches and virtues, like Mammon or
pecuniary riches, are the hindrances, in some
sense, and obstructions of Salvation ; by which
I mean, that moral virtues and attainments,
though desirable . ami A'aluable in themselves,
do sometimes lift up their possessors too high
in their own estimation, for them to be made
willing to come to GOD as poor sinners. Hence

256 THE PHARISEE AND- PUBLICAN.
jmmgw Hende it is in 4ome respects true, however para*

XIII

doxical it may sound, That some persons are
too good for JESUS CHRIST.
The fharIseE in the Text was such a one;
but the poor publican had none of these mo
ral or legal excellencies to plead, and, there
fore, was not blinded or misled Avith a mul
titude of shining virtues, as the Church of
Laodicea was, saying in the proud Pharisaic
Style of the passage we are considering, / am
Riv. iii. 17. rich, and increased with goods, and- have need of
nothing; nOt knowing that all the while she
was wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked. This was exactly the case
respecting the Pharisee of the Text, Rot*
withstanding Ave Avould Avish to give him credit
for the truth of all. to which he pretended,
II. For let us CONTRAST THE TWO
CHARACTERS with each other, and it will
appear to us, That, with all the rich pretensions
df the one to virtue, there Avas far from per
fection, even in a moral point of view; and,
with all the acknowledged guilt and sinful
ness of the other) there were the signs of true
grace. 1 To

SJRJMON XIII, 257
1. To say nothing of a .great variety of sinful a krmo.it
sentiments and usages, that might have existed — ;,. ., ' - 
in fhe Pharisee's mind and deportment, that
he did not set in order at the time he boasted
of his merits ; I say, 110^ to sift into .tlie Dark
Side of his character, for the sins of Avhich he
might have been guilty, notwithstanding his
many virtues; yet, admitting these virtues tp
be Real, there certainly was at least one sin
amongst them; ana1 one sin, in- a candidate
for Justification in the sight of GOD upon the
footing of his own merits, is as -fatal to- the
claim, and as much invalidates it, as an hun^
I}reil He that offendeth in one point, is. guilty James ii.
of the zehole Laze.
The Pharisee, therefore, had at least One
vice, and that was pride; and Pride com
prises a million, Avhereof Pharisaic duties, be
they never so numerous, genuine, and right,
can cover none, — no, not a single sin !
With all his. pretensions to merit, the. aspiring
Pharisee was far from being perfect; he could
not therefore be justified by the Law,
2. On the ofher hand, look once more on
the poor publican, avIio, with all the vices of
s con-

10.

258 THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.
sermow constitution, professional calling, a prostituted
"" • nature, and an ungodly life, might, for aught
we knoAV, have some good points about him, if
he had thought proper to have sheAvn us, or
brought forward, the Fairest Side of his charac
ter. But he pleaded nothing but guilt and un-
worthiness before GOD, — an evident sign that
he Avas not destitute of gospel grace. He Avas at
the least an humble man; a true-sighted man;
a man with a sinner-like spirit.
Now as Pride involves many sins, so in Hu
mility are involved a thousand Christian vir
tues, the seeds of every grace; and it is the
only soil in which graces groAv. With all his
iniquities, his vices, and his guilt, he had the
true marks of a child of GOD.
He saw Himself, — how vile and ill-deserv
ing he was ! He saw Sin, — Avhat a soul-de
stroying evil it was! He saAV GOD, in his
purity and the majesty of his holiness, and
trembled at the vieAv ! He saw the righteous
ness, the holiness, and the unabating rigour of
the Law Avhich he had broken, and the sentence
it denounced ! In fine, he saAV the true deserv-
ings of his soul were Wrath, — Death, — the Pit!
And the prayer 'he uttered, short as it was,
evinced

SERMON XIII. S59*

SERMON XIII.

evinced a knowledge of the ground of hope,
Mercy,— GOD's mercy through a Mediator: 
GOD be merciful to me a sinner ! This is the
man, then, with Avhom GOD's Interpreter Job xxxiii
dwells, one among a thousand, whom GOD
sends to shew the poor, fallen, convicted sin
ner, Avho has no righteousness of his own to
boast of, the Saviour's righteousness and me
rits, as the all-sufficient ground of his trust.
Unto this man is the Saviour gracious, and
saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit,
I have found a ransom.
Yea, this is the man for CHRIST, and
CHRIST is for him, — avIio smites upon his
breast, saying, GOD be merciful tome a s'm-
ner ! This is he of Avhom the Lip of Truth af
firms, I tell you, this man went down to his
house justified rather than the other; for every
one that exalteth himself shall be abased, and
he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. X
am aware, that this statement is far from being
grateful to persons, Avho think they have much
of moral, legal, or ceremonial righteousness to
plead. It is distasteful to the man, Avho stands
high in his own opinion, and in the flattering
judgment of an admiring Avorld; because it
humbles, brings Ioav, and levels to the ground
sg the

23© ;

THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.

SE

RM0N the towering thoughts of pride, and the boasted
=— — Pharisaic merit, that makes up the Avhole plea
and pretensions of many to the Kingdom of
GOD.

But this statement Of the Avay of a sinrter's
acceptance, as the Gospel reveals it, and as our
Church receives and maintains it, is blessedly
encouraging and sAveetly reviving to humbled
penitents, av ho feel they have neither merits nor
virtues- to recommend them. Broken-hearted,
sinners! is it not a glorious gospel, that
.opens the doors of Heaven and the gates of
Paradise, to the soul that is weary dnd heavy
laden with its infirmities, guilt, and wretched
ness? Is it not joyful neavs, to such of
ufc as are cbnvinced by the SPIRIT of GOD,
that we have no righteousness nor good work$
of our OAvn to plead, that the righteousness of
CHRIST is ours, and his rewards also rest on
us through believing? — that GOD holds him
iJoHNii.2. ouf as & propitiation? — and that the blood of
UoiiNi.7- JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth from all
sin? Plead guilty, then, my fellow-sinners, to
the numerous charges, which GOD's Law and,
your- own- Consciences -bring against you.
Seek fot the contrite spirit, the Aveeping eye, the

SERMON xiit.

261

the sorrowing heart. Confess the whole. Make "*M°*

no disguises nor reserves, but smite upon your
breast, and call out, GOD be merciful to me a
sinner !
This is the appointed Avay to soften Avrath,
disarm Heaven of its vengeance, and bring doAvn
the pardoning love of GOD, and the justifying
sentence of JESUS CHRIST on your self-
condemning spirit. It is this that shall bind
up the broken bones, make conscience Avhole,
and bid mourning sinners depart in peace.
From the subject before us, and from similar
.statements in the Word of GOD,
III. Let us offer some short CONCLUSIONS.
1. The professing Avorld are either of the self-
justifying, Pharisaic tribe, thinking them
selves better than others; or, they are in their
own eyes publicans and sinners, utterly
undeserving of mercy, and they are apt to
write bitter tilings , against themselves. Noav
from Avhalt has been said, we conclude th«e
LATTER ONLY OF THESE ARR IN A SAE? STAffE.

It

2ff2 THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.

SERMON XIII.

It becomes us, then, as religious professors,
to inquire, in which of these classes we our
selves must be included. The Pharisaic state
is unsafe; for it cannot be denied, but that
self-acquitted persons are proud persons, and
no proud person can be admitted into Heaven.
GOD resisteth the proud. On the other hand,
the self-condemned Sinner, smiting on his
breast as the publican did, must needs be
an humbled man ; and though GOD resisteth
James iv. 6. the proud, he giveth grace and favour to the
humble. GOD condemns the man, who acquits him
self; — but he acquits the confessing sinner.
l Cor. xi. Judge ye yourselves, brethren, that ye be not
31, judged of the LORD. The effect of this self-
judgment, David's history and experience
£ Sam. xii. sheAvs. I have sinned, says David; the LORD
also hath put away thy sin, says the LORD'S
-prophet. 2. Another Conclusion is; none shall in
herit HEAVEN HEREAFTER, WHO ARE NOT SEtF-
condemned here. Who ! the bold man that
shalliacquit himself, when GOD brings in all
men guilty, and says that not one is righteous?
Oh, then, let us not fly in the face of Divine Truth,

13.

SERMON XIII. &63

sermon XIII.

Truth, and give GOD the lie! Let us no lon
ger conceal our sin ! He that covereth his sins,
shall not prosper ; but whoso confesseth and for- Pa. xxvm.
saketh them, shall have mercy. CHRIST is
no Saviour to the righteous; not is his saL
vation calculated for those, avIio, trusting in
themselves that they are righteous, despise
others. CHRIST, therefore, to them is of
no account; but unto you which believe he I Pet. ii. 7.
is precious: for you, who believe, and see Sin
in your hearts, are sinking and groaning be
neath its weight, and are smiting upon your
breasts. In him is, the only hope of Justi
fication to Eternal Life. In him, if thou
canst believe, thine is CHRIST; thine is the
Pardon ; and thine is the Salvation with Avhich
JESUS saves his people!
3. Again, they grossly err, who attribute
THE GREATEST EXCELLENCIES IN THE HABIT, AND
THE HOLIEST LIVES, TO THE CHAMPIONS OF SAL
VATION ON THE GROUND OF WORKS ; OR, ON THE
CONTRARY, LOOSE LIVING AND SINFUL FREEDOMS
TO THE SELF-CONDEMNING SINNER, WHO MAKES
MENTION OF THE REDEEMER'S RIGHTEOUSNESS
ONLY. I appeal

56*4 THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.

XIII.

St*"°W ^ appeal to candid observation, whether or
not conscious sinners, to whom the gates of
Heaven and the arms of a reconciled GOD
are opened through the Saviour's merits, are
not, hoAvever vile in their OAvn eyes, a people
more jealous of life and conduct, and Avho live
evidently more close to GOD, than those con
tenders for the legal system, who are so often
seen, not-only wanting in genuine godliness, but
mere beggars and real paupers in that moral rec
titude, to Avhich they attribute so much worth.
4. In the Last place, I venture to Conclude,
that, THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE ARE NOT CON
TRARY to true godliness. They -will not re
lax, but strengthen the sinews of obedience.
They do not slacken, but quicken and invigo
rate the labours of love. They sanctify the
man !
The justified sinner will not, cannot liVfe
qnietly in the Avays, or the habits of sin. The
Grace that bringeth the sinner to smite On
his breast, — and the Faith that hears and ap
prehends the justifying voice of JESUS tin the
promises, will correct, reform, purify, and re
new the life; and, if this do not follow, you
are to question Avhether the justification be
really

serTmon xiii. Sid's

'SEftWOW XIII.

XXX1U.

reailly applied, and whether the man, who talks
about it, have any part therein; for such is the  —
nature of its workings, that, under : a sense
and real belief of yc-ur own sinfulness, 'and the
publican's conscious vileness, you will be
enabled, through the SPIRIT of CHRIST
working in you, to attain a far more substan
tial, genuine, real, unaffected holiness, than
that righteousness to which the proud boaster
in the Text laid claim. The contrast of the
two parts of the life of St. Paul will illustrate Ph. iii.
this point; of Manasseh ; of Mary Magda- 2 Chros.
len; and of Zaccheus, not only a publican,
but the chief of them, Avho, ¦ when salvation
came to his house, adopts this language, Be- Luke xix.
hold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the
poor ; and if I have taken any thing from any
man, by false accusation, I restore him four
fold. A short catalogue of Zaccheus's virtues; but
you see it goes to the contrast of his habitual
and constitutional vices. O that the gracious
doctrines, which we profess to receive, may
this day work in us ! GOD grant us a clear
understanding of the way of salvation, Avhich
JrErhaih-appointed ! and shew us the true grounds
on which we as sinners may be accepted, and
brought

8.

£°"f> THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.
*xm°M hrought to receive the pardoning grace of the
„¦  . Gospel! GOD grant us an interest therein,
through that faith which bears, as its genuine
fruit, holiness and godly living !

SERMON

SERMON XIV-
ON THE TIMES*.
Preached at St. Mary Woolnoth, Lombard Street,
Wednesday, May 16, 1798.

2 KINGS, Chap. vi. Ver. 15.
Alas, my master! how shall zee do?
ALL things come alike to all; there is one SEaM0K
event to the righteous and the wicked. Man XIV-

is born unto trouble. He, who is faithful, Eccl. ix.2.
shall be brought into troubles and dangers, to v*
try his faith, and that he may see the glory
and faithfulness of GOD to deliver; and he,
who
* A few Clergymen in Low do if, impressed with the present
awful dispensations of Providence towards this Nation, and
Europe at large, and desirous of awakening to them the at
tention of their respective congregations, agreed to preach a
weekly sermon, on The Signs and Duties of the Times, on the
usual

268 ON THE "TIMES.

xiv

sermon wh0 js unfaithful, ungodly, and the Avorship-
per of his own lusts, shall be brought into
trouble, miseries, and Avretchedness — the fruit
and due Avages of his iniquity.
Look at Elisha, 15, &c. No man could be
more eminently in danger, as to his person;
so far as exterior circumstances are concerned ;
and the poor lad, , who had not Elisha's faith
usual Lecture-day, at each other's churches and chapels. This
Sermon of our brother P. , who was one of the number, is a
specimen of the purposes and aims of this friendly association.
The Weekly sermon is now changod to Monthly, in order to
give the Clergymen engaged an opportunity of general attend
ance; which was found to be incompatible, upon the former
plan, with their numerous avocations. Their great end is, to
stir up, in themselves and others,* a spirit of fervent and perse
vering supplication ; and to call upon all praying christians
to unite with them, particularly on the Evening of the Sab
bath, in bearing upon "their hearts before the Throne o1?
Grace, through the great Mediator, the state of public af
fairs. To make this more generally known, two Tracts hate
been published by their desire, one intitlcd, " 'Observations on
" the Signs and Duties of the present Times," by the Rev.
Thomas Scott, price 4d. or 3s. 6d. per dozen; and the other
iotitled, " An Address to True Christians, on the Signs and
" Duties of the Times,'' price ,6s. per .hundred j hath to be ^1
of Sskl&y, Ave Maria Lams.-^E4it-

and

SERMON. XIV, SSfih
and spiritual sight, thought so :—4 las, my mas- , "**°*
ter .'• how shall we do ? ,,, .' ',, — -

Let tins man be considered, as an emblem of
our surrounded island ; not-, indeed, surrounded
by enemies, because of its faithfulness to GOD,
as Elisha, but, in chastisement. for unfaith-
fulness and departure from GOD-ran unfaithr*
fulness and departure* ¦ that •abundantly justify
GOD in all the judgments Avhich surround us,1
and all the horrors by which we are threatened,*
If the righteous scarcely be. saved,,. wfte,r4 l Pet. iv.
shall the ungodly and the sinner appear.? And.
if the faithful, like Elisha, be thus environ
ed, what may the vile, like us, expect? j, Why,
truly, our expectations .are somewhat! b*}$er>
Yet, let our eyes be unto Elisha's Go3-yian4
refuge may be still looked for. What ! so vile,
unfaithful and rebellious, as Ave have toeenjfnd
are? Yes, because the first moving cause in
GOD to pity and deliver, arises, ,mot, out trf
h*s people's goodness, but his own sovereign
purposes of merey, manifested to the guilty,
through JESUS the.MEDiATon, to the /praise
fcf his grace, and the magnifying of his glory
to eternityi

To

270

SERMON XIV.

ON THE TIMES.
To speak in detail of Britain's surround
ing and internal causes for fearful apprehen
sion, is not my purpose. We are, beyond
measure, vile; and the impending calamities
are, beyond measure, or beyond any we have
experienced as a nation — awful. And, in
the view of this vileness, and the uplifted hand
of GOD, Ave may well take up the inquiry of
the Text: — Alas, my master ! what shall we do?
The man of weak faith will naturally address
this question to the man of stronger faith, like
the servant to Elisha; and we may all of us
look up to GOD, our justly offended Master
in Heaven, with the same inquiry : — How shall
we do ? that we may be directed, with Avisdom
and with safety, as to the part we, as indivi
duals, have to act, in the most eventful period
we have ever known.
To warn, to instruct, and to stir up one ano
ther to faith and deportment becoming chris
tians in the day of adversity, is the design of
those Ministers, who have decided upon the pro
priety of setting apart one day in a Aveek for
a special consideration, and attention to the
present times; and, supposing the inquiry of
the Text put into the mouths of my present
hearers, yea, and as an inquiry noAv lying upon my

SERMON XIV.' 27X
my OAvn heart, I shall, on the present occa- sermow
sion, look for some suitable answers, and en- -
deavour to lay them before you.
How shall we do ?
I. As RESPECTING OURSELVES, WITH A VIEW
TO OUR OWN SECURITY AND CONSOLATION?
IIV As RESPECTING OUR COUNTRY, AND WHAT,
BECOMES US AS GOOD CITIZENS AND SUBJECTS?
\ . . . ,'
I. RESPECTING OURSELVES — HOW
SHALL WE DO, WITH AVlEW TO OUR
OWN SECURITY?
1. From the context, Let us learn, to get
our eyes opened. We must get a Two-fold
sight of our condition : First, as regarding the
dangers to which we are exposed, to avoid
presumption — and then, regarding the suc
cours whereby we may avoid despair.
Get a sight of what Ave Are, and Avhat we
Deserve. This Avill reconcile us to what may
come; and, while it will teach us tb praise
GOD for his mercies, for his controling
'hand, for his sparing grace, if Ave are not
utterly

ver. VJi

S7S ON^ THE TIMES

sfrmpk utterly destroyed j it avjU shew- us the qxper.
¦_,¦¦¦  dienqy of seeking redress, and hoAy utterly
lost and undone, Ave must be, if a way of salva
tion is not revealed.
Get a sight also of Present Temporal Cala
mity; the- uncertainty of the possessions, en
joyments,, and pleasing connections of life; the
precariousness.of the tenure Avhereby Ave hold
our p.reje^t comfort^; the poverty of the Avowld;
and;hqw expedient it is to,get a, sight of some?
thing better
Get a. srghf, of /the Vengeance of GOD;
and the present exhibitions and hasty strides
of it, that we may be quickened, alarmed,
and stirred, up to the proper exercise of fajth,
prayer, ?>nd the. urgent duties to which we are
cabled-;. Whe^n men, in these respects, will net
&e,e, it is a had sign. It is yery ayful, and p.
symptom of GOD's forsakjng a people, when
he either doef not, open the eyes to a sigh},
of danger, or Avhen he judicially blinds men's
eyes, that they c*nnQt-T-shall nob— see the im
pending ruin. To see dancer, then, is to Avqip
PRESUMPTION.

Sf

SERMON xiv. 273

So likeAvise, to avoid despair, and counter- sermon
... XIV.
act the effects of a desponding spirit — let us  .
get our eyes opened to discern the succours
and the source of refuge, that may sometimes
be seen in the Providences, but will never fail
to be seen in the Word, of GOD, when the SPI
RIT of GOD directs the sight. Jehosha-
phat had an army, but he looked to GOD
for instruction. He Avas exactly in the state
of the inquirer in the Text -.^-Neither know
we what to do; but GOD the SPIRIT taught
him, in the same moment, Avhat to do, for he
adds to his confession, our eyes are upon thee. 2 Chr- xx
He saAv enough in GOD, to silence his doubts,
remoA-e his fears, inspire praise, and Avin the
battle. So did the young man in the context see,
that the mountain was full of horses and cha
riots of fire round about Elisha.
So sees David the angel of the LORD en- Ps.xxxiv.7,
camping rpund about them that fear him, and
delivering them. Let us get our eyes thus
opened, through the effectual prayer -of an In
tercessor; and let us get our sight directed,
not only to our sins, and the dangers and mi
series consequent upon them, but to GOD's
t Cove-

Ps. 1. 15.

274 on the times.
s*feto6M Covenant, whereby he is engaged to deliver and
protect all, who call upon him in the day of
trouble; not for the sake of any thing that
is in them, but for his oavn name's sake, and
through the merits and mediation of the In
tercessor. 2. A Second very natural answer to the in
quiry of the Text, how shall we do ? is, see who
is for us. Get a vieAv of GOD Avith us: they
ver. 16. that be with us are more than they that be with
them. The chariots of GOD are twenty thou-
'17> sand, even thousands of angels ; the LORD is
among them.

Know CHRIST as EMMANUEL;, not only
as GOD in our nature, but GOD on our
side. Get the eye of faith opened to see sin ;
but, see it pardoned — wrath suspended — justice
satisfied — GOD pacified. This contracts the
face of danger, in every aspect in Avhich it can
be beheld. This communicates an imvard peace.
This alleviates and dissipates all fears ; nay, it
inspires joy : — we also joy in GOD through
our Lord JESUS CHRIST, by whom we have
Roia.v. n. nozo received the atonement. Sin is put aAvay,
by the 'sacrifice of the GOD-MAN, in the be
liever's stead; and, sin out of the question, the
rest

SERMON XIV. £75

rest is nothing: Being justified by faith, we *!RMOK
have peace with GOD. --We can then glory in

Rom. t. 1,
tribulation. 3,

3. Is it inquired, in a time of fearful appre
hension, how shall we do ? — Is the storm burst?-
ing? — Are the thunders rolling? — Are the bil*
lows opening, and threatening to swallow me?
let me get upon a rock, and lay hold on
something that shall anchor me, and safely bear
me through the tempest. Get a fast hold of
CHRIST, and the hope of eternal life through
him, and him only. In this view, I wiU
turn away my eyes from the threatening ter*
rors; yea, from the sins that have caused
them; from my repentance, my tears, my du
ties; yea, from every thing that hath heretofore
been the false ground of my confidence.
Look upon JESUS, and the promises of
GOD made to sinners through him. Look
for succour, deliverance, and protection, oft
the ground of GOD's Covenant, — unconnected
with any thing and every thing in the Crea
ture. See St. Paul, in the view of stripes, bonds»
imprisonments, and the deaths that threatened
and surrounded him! He could say: — None of Acts xx»
t 2 these

276*

ON THE TIMES.

sermok these th- move mg ThM^ be to GOD,

XIV.

which giveth us the victory, through our Lord
1 Cm> vv J °
57." • JESUS CHRIST.
Ah ! this is the victory Avith Avhich the man,
l John v. Avho by faith fast holds his Saviour, triumphs
*' 5' over all the terrors of the Earth, and Death,
and Hell.

May present times sheAv men the sufficiency
of this strong hold in the day of trouble;
and lead them, for the security of their per
sons and their souls, to grasp the Gospel Hope,
as their only sheet-anchor !
Nothing short of this will give security ;
and therefore,
4. In answer to the Text, how shall we do ?
Do this: — inquire of yourselves, whe
ther you are landed on this rock.
Lose no time, in faithfully ascertaining, on
Avhat ground you stand; in case the over-
whelming flood, of the vengeance and Avrath
of an offended GOD, be let loose upon the
World. Is your house built upon the rock, or
reared only on a sandy foundation? — Were I to
ask— Are you depending upon the repentance, the

SERMON XIV. %77

SERMON ' XIV.

the tears,, or the righteousness, of the crea
ture? The greater part of this congregation — 
would answer, no. This is well. GOD forbid
Ave should make mention of any righteousness, p». ixxi. 16.
but his only,
But there are bold pretenders to grace, who
are not really gracious persons. There are
champions for faith, and salvation by faith,
Avho are not believers, Avith the SPIRIT's wit- Rom. viii.
ness, that they are the children of GOD.
There are many adA^ocates for the sovereignty
of GOD, his disinguishing grace, his elect
ing love, the freedom of his purpose, and the
power of his effectual calling; who have not
made their own calling and election sure. 2 Pet. i. 10.

'o

Shaking times, and sifting times, and the
times Ave anticipate, will try every man's work 1 Cor. iii.
— his work of faith; and shew whether it will 13,
stand the fire or not. Examine yourselves.
The fruits of the SPIRIT are not our Sa
viours. But every good seed, really soavii in
good soil, will produce its OAvn species. So the
divine seed of the word, where sown, is produc
tive. The predestination of believers is to ho- Rom. viii.
Jiness. Where CHRIST is, CHRIST'S nature, E^9'L 4<
and Pp- »'• 5-

278 on the times.
bxrm(sh jyjd the mind that was in him is seen. Where

XIV.

the man is new born, there Avill be the growth,
and the produce of the neAv man.
Many are the hearers of the Gospel at this
day. Many of us profess the truth ; but mere
profession will not stand in the day of trial. It
Heb. x. 23. is a blessed thing to holdfast the profession of
our faith; but a sad thing, to hold it in un-
Rom. i. 18. righteousness : the wrath of GOD is revealed
from Heaven, against all that do so. Realize
this truth.
The enemy approaches ; the destroying angel
is sent forth; the arrows of Death are flying
¦ — He points at you. AnsAver before GOD and
Conscience: does your hope bear you up?
And will you risk your soul's eternal doom,
upon its present hold by faith, of GOD, and
the work of the Redeemer.
If you tremble at this thought, let present
apprehensions apprize you, of the necessity of
examining on what ground you stand; and
whether you possess the genuine hope of the
Gospel, or whether you do not

You

SERMON XIV. 279
You may hear the Gospel; you jaay read, »«»»»*
and pray, and preach; you may be able def^n- ..'¦,,
ders of its doctrines, and the promoters of its
interests; you may be pillars of the visible
Church of GOD; and yet not true m«m$er» ©*!.*.#•
of it, nor sharers in its genuine blessiagf .
Ah, hapless case ! and yet not uncommon^-*-.
that a man may offer the cup of sajvatipn \9
others, and yet not drink of it himself; may
help to build the Ark, and yet perish m thg
Flood !
Thus far our answer? regard the saf^tt^-I
add another or two, respecting the eoMFQftT of
the inquirer. Alas, master, how shall we do,
in troublesome times Ijke these ?
5. Get a view of GOD, and the hani?
of GOD, in the calamity. See GOD rid
ing upon the storm, and directing ajl its move*
ments and operations: the rod of thine anger is js. x, 5.
the Assyrian. When desolating armies, like Joblh. 1—
Joel's locusts, convert a fruitful land jntp a
wilderness, GOD is m the transaction. Thf
believer sees this: he hsars the rod, and whp Mic. vi. 9.
hath appointed it ; he bows down; be submits?
he doe* not roujmur against the uigtruinent, or
Second

280-

ON THE TIMES.

sermon Second cause, but he confesses, reverences, and

xfv

»—  ¦ yields to the First.
l Sam. ii. » Are my tAvo sons slain in a day? — it is the
3%.»i.i * LORD. Have chaldeans and sabf.ans be
reaved me of my substance— my oxen, asses,
camels, servants, sons, and daughters ? — I see
GOD in them, and say, The LOR.D gave,
Job i. 13 — and the LORD hath taken azoay; blessed be the
name of the LORD. Does Shimei curse? —
2 Sam. xvi. Let him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD
5 13- hath bidden him.
- Do things go ill Avith us? do foreign foes
prevail against us, and threaten to destroy ? do
still • more dangerous enemies at home, en
deavour to render precarious all our domestic
comforts? And are the dreadful effects hereof
likely to come home to my House — my proper
ty — my- Person? GOD is in this. I am a
.. „ Sinner ! ! / will bear the indignation of the
Mic. vn. 9. ° J
LORD, because I have sinned against him.
But the believer not only sees GOD in the
affliction, riding upon the storm, and directing
the motions of it; he finds and feels GOD as
his companion, guide, and the protector in
Is. xiiii. 2. the fires.' The promise runs : — / will deliver thee
Ps. xii. 1.

1. 15.

IN

SERMON XIV. , 381

in trouble. That is a more glorious interposi- sermon
. . . XIV.
tion of GOD, and a much higher privilege in 
the sufferer's experience, that protects him in
the trial, than that Avhich delivers from the
trial. How much more Avas GOD glorified, and
the faith of the three children illustrated, by
GOD avith them in the fiery furnace, than if
Nebuchadnezzar had been prevented from Dan. Hi.
castins: them into so fierce a flame!

s

6. How shall we do? Get a clear view, a
well-grounded persuasion, and a lively,
active, and practical faith, in GOD's de
crees. The gun, the sword, and the thunder-bolt;
the falling toAvers of Siloam; the murderous Luke xiii.
knife of Herod, that mingled the blood of the 1""5'
Galileans with their sacrifices; the Assyrian is. x.5 &c.
to smite GOD's people, and a cyrus to dis- Is. xliv. 28.
solve their captive 'bonds; — every instrument, xlvI,1~~4,
every person, every army, every providence —
dispensation — or judgment of GOD, has an ex
press, limited, and absolute commission and
command from GOD, both as to the time and
the extent of its operations.

No

282 ON THE TIMES.

sermon jj0 destroying angel, no minister of justice,
. no devilish rage, no combined hosts nor law
less millions, can go one step beyond GOD's
appointment. Nor, on the other hand, is there
any power on Earth that can shorten, by a
single step, or counteract his destined progress.
Believest thou this? — in theory and profession
thou dost; but, if the faith of this be really
brought into practice, Avhence this perturba
tion, these fears, these doubts, and these dis
quieting anticipations, that sit upon thy coun
tenance, as the index of an unbelieving
heart? What in the Times can justify anxious, over
weening fears, in the man Avho has faith in
the Decrees and Purposes of GOD? Is he
a GOD of Power, and able to accomplish all
his -will? — Is he a GOD of Wisdom, ade
quate to the perfect arrangement of his de
signs? — Is he a GOD of Love, and under co-
Eojt. idii. \renant-engagement to make all work together
for good to his peqple? — And shall not his
people trust his W"isdom, Power, and Love?
Rev. xix.,6". Does the LORD GOD omnipotent reign, and
Is.ix. 6. shall it not be Allelujah? Is the government
upon his shoulder; and shall his believing children

SERMON XIV. fi83

children dishonour him, Avith their silly and *brmon
groundless fears? Trust him then with the ¦
management of the World, which he has made.
Believe that it shall be perfect, and that the
final issue of these aAvful events shall be glo
rious to himself, and blessed to his Church
and People. Think hoAv unnecessary these
fears of yours are, O believer ! who art se
cure and invulnerable as the apple of GOD's x^j^q.
own eye. Ps. xvi.S.
Zech. ii. S.
7, How shall we do ? I>ie to the things, C(JI" &• 3'
pleasures, and enjoyments, of the World; and
cultivate the hidden life, that the believer has
with CHRIST in GOD.
I grieve to see men, who profess godliness,
and claim an interest in CHRIST, and a title
through grace to an heavenly inheritance, so
much alive to the pleasures, connections, and
enjoyments of this present time. Here it is, that
we give Satan the advantage over us. Here it 2 Co*. 2.
is, that Ave lay ourselves open to a thousagad
wounds."

How well does the Apostle counsel ! The i Cor. vii.
time is short; it remaineth, that both they 29"*S1*
that have wives be as though they had none; and

284 on the times.

SERMON XIV.

and they that buy, as though they possessed
not ; and they that use this World, as not abus
ing it : for the fashion of this World passeth
azeay.

CHRIST, likeAvise, inculcates the same. He
Mat. x.37 \>vX% father , mother, zeife, yea, life itself out of
Mark viii *^e <luesti°n : he that loseth his life for my sake,
35. shall find it.
Lukeix.24.Ps.cxxxi.2. Let you soul become, like David's, as a
Col. ii. 20. weaned child. Hold every thing, as in the act
of surrender. Pray for deadness Avith CHRIST
to earthly profits, distinctions, enjoyments; yea,
and the ties of nature. Be, Avhat a believer
ought to be, dead to sensual and present things,
and more alive to GOD, and the believer's in
heritance through CHRIST; and then, you
will, Avith more indifference, calmness, and re
signation, look on the falling glories, and the
short-lived gratifications of these earthly king-
2Cor.iv.8. doms: Look not at the thinos which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen.
8. Once more. Get a familiar view of
Death, and an intimate acquaintance with
it. This will reconcile you to the stroke of
mortality,

sermon xiv. 285
mortality, and all the intervening events, that SE™r0N
have a tendency to bring it forward.

XIV.

See, through the atonement, sin pardoned;
and Death, as a disarmed tyrant, and an adder
bereaved of his stino-.

*&¦

The various modes of Death's approach, and
its unsightly forms and aspects, are gloomy,
chilling, and distressing to the feelings of our
nature; but, if you are believers, CHRIST Avill
be your shield; the rod and staff of GOD will Ps> xxiii. 4.
supply the needed strength, and dispel the
threatenine- fears.

'S3

In whatever mode this enemy advances, na
ture never bids him welcome; but grace says,
" Come, let me depart; I long to be Avith the rH- '• 2s"
" Lord."
Natural deaths, as they are called, by fevers,
gout, or stone; hay, if aided by the common
infirmities of old age and gradual dissolution,
are not so much to be coveted, especially'
when GOD opens a nearer and a readier door to
rest

It

286 on the times.

sermon It is true, we shudder Avhen Ave read of the
 L_ horrors of persecution; the Avanton cruelties
that have been inflicted on many thousands,
by the enemies Avho threaten us ; but still, if
Deut. that be true which GOD hath said: — As thy
xxxjn. 25. ^y^ g0 ^n ^ st^ngt^ fre — jt shall be well.
Mat. v. 10 Death, by persecution for righteousness sake,
iPET.iii'.i-t. connects with special privilege, honour, and tri
umph. Death, by massacre or assassination,
may spare many a groan, and a thousand pangs
that are the concomitants of common death*
beds. We will leave it then -with GOD. We
can die but once. GOD knOAVs the fittest time.
He has ordained the fittest mode. This, like*
Avise, is settled in the decrees of GOD, and the
Mark vii. day shall come Avhen you and I shall say :— he
hath done all things well.
I confess, that the pains of dissolving nature,
as they may be protracted or accumulated, in
some cases, through man's cruelty; and the
barbs and piercings, issuing from the thought
of wives widoAved, and children rendered or*
phans, or even violated, maimed, and butcher
ed; suggest the alas ! in the Text, how shall we
do? in a very plaintive tone indeed; and I
can only ansAver it by saying, This is the
time.

37.

SERMON xiv. 287
time and these the circumstances, to exercise sermo*
X I V«
the believer's faith. No times can honour 

faith, like these; and so well exhibit, the suf
ficiency and the glory of the Gospel hope.
If you turn to the Epistle to the Hebrews, Heb. xi. 33
you will there find, how the actings of faith
on the promises of GOD, bore our forefathers
through. In the exercise of this faith, Lions, fires, and
sword, were encountered; tortures preferred to
deliverance; trials of cruel mockings, and
scourgings ; yea moreover, of bonds, and impri
sonments sustained: they were stoned; they
were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain
with the sword : they wandered about in sheep
skins and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted,
tormented. What has been, may be; both as to the
furnace of affliction, and GOD's support and
deliverance therein. I would not speak de-
spondingly; nor Avould I wish to go forth
to meet a cross, prematurely. GOD only
knows, what he has prepared for us; and, if
Our enemies prevail against us, either the ene
mies abroad or those at home, there is not a suf
fering

288 ON THE TIMES.

sermon fering I have glanced at, Avhich wc may not
be called to pass through.

XIV.

But yet I have a hope, that GOD Avill
not give us up to all these terrors. And this
hope arises from the prayers, and the consistent
lives, of some amongst us, Avho are as the pre
serving salt of our country. GOD increase
this remnant !
Mat. v. 13. This, hoAvever, leads me to the latter idea
that occurred in the division of this discourse;
but, as the time is so far elapsed, it must be
treated briefly.
II. HOW SHALL WE DO, RESPECT
ING OUR COUNTRY? AND WHAT
BECOMES US, AS GOOD CITIZENS AND
SUBJECTS, IN THESE TROUBLESOME
TIMES? 1. Like the young man, Let us go to our
master to inquire,. On e greater than Eli
sha is here. David, on the famine that for
three years afflicted his people, Avent and in
quired of the LORD, and he found the cause;
2 Sam.xxi. sin lay at the door. It is for Saul, and for his
lm bloody

SERMON XIV.' 289

bloody house,' because he stew fhe gibbon- sermon
Ites.

xiv.

Let us inquire what we have done. Which
of us is the jonah, for whose rebellion the j0NAH 5#
stbfrh is raised? of Avhich the Achan, whose j08. vii.
accursed thing, — the hidden wedge, or Babylo
nish garinent, brings doAvn the curse?
I apply this especially to men professing
godliness." Christians! are you living the
life of CHRIST upon Earth1; or are you liv
ing and doing as do others, Avho pretend to no
knowledge Of CHRIST, beyond the name ?
If your consciences plead guilty here, why
then, in the Second place,
2. Humble yourselves; both for your- j^x^ 30
Selves, and eor your country. Stand in **•*<
the gap for it. Sigh and cry for its abomina*
tionsi ' Mourn for the sins of the land, and
for your own sins; as adding so mightily to the
mass of guilt that threatens to sink the nation.
Thus did Jeremiah; Thus did Daniel. Jer; and
Thus'did-HABAKKUK.' Thus did JESUS: nay, Dan.'S.
he does it still, or We should long since have $ab. iii.
.. ; ..,<-, , .,. Evange-
heen- CUt down. lists; pass.
v Sighing

290 ON THE TIMES.
serjjon Sighing and crying for the . abominations of
;  the land Ave live in, is sure to be attended. Avith
advantage. It may be the medium, through
which GOD -will shed abroad a spirit of faith
and repentance, upon the hearts of its inhabi
tants, and save. them. And, however GOD
shall deal Avith the guilty inhabitants of a land,
the faithful labours of those avIio sigh and cry
shall be connected Avith a preserving mark,
which GOD the HOLY GHOST shall put
upon their foreheads, Avhich shall defend them
Ez. ix. from the slaughter weapons of the destroying
angel : Come not near any man, upon whom is
the pta?-k.
3. How shall we do to serve our country?
Daniel may afford a useful hint: quit
sinful habits: do good with YOUR PRO-
Dan. iy.27. perty. Wherefore, O King ! let my counsel
be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by
righteousness, and thine' iniquities by shewing
mercy to the poor; if it may <be a lengthening of
thy tranquillity.
If Nebuchadnezzar was taught: this, re*
specting his temporal felicity, let. us aim at
preserving our invaluable privileges, and the
con-

'SERMON' XIV.'" " £<J1

continuance Of civil and religious liberty among •***;m6»
lis, by breaking off the inconsistent things, - ¦¦¦ ¦<
therein we afe conscious we ate not following
CHRIST' Let us be more separated fVom the
World; mote devoted to GOD 3 arld'hlbre self*
denying: There' are indulgences, pursuits, and
usages amongst professors of the Gospel, that
taaf account for the threatenings of GOD to
take- away our candlestick — a drinking into the kev; ii; 5.
spirit of the World — relaxation in the habits-1-.
company on the Sabbath— passions unmor-
tified — tempers uhcorfected^-and many other
things which your conscious minds may sug*
gest to you, far better than I can. O let us
not prove achans or jonahs; but as Paul, Ac*s xxt»«
who saved, Under GOD, the whole creAv of the
ship he sailed- in; or, as Lot, for whose sake'
the destroying angel dared not to smite eveii a Gen;xi°x.
sodom, till that righteous soul departed. Had 2Pet."h. 7
there been ten such,' the five cities of that fer- •"-' 8- -.:.-
. ' Gen. xviii.
tile valley would have been spared» Again, 32.
> 4. Hozc shall we do ? Why, abstaining from
the filthy fashions and usages of our city, let'
us intercede, as Abraham did: be much, Gen. xviii.
be earnest, be strenuous, be instant and perse^
Vering; in supplication; Prayer can Open and
shut the Heavens. It can raise the dead; can
u 2 vanquish

23—33.

£23 ON fH? TIMES.
*«*M9K vanquish armies; — but this resource has been
i . so recommended and enforced on former occa

sions, that I may be spared the dAvelling upon it
noAv. Only let me recommend, as a leading ob«
jgct of our supplications* that there may be a
spirit of VMon* liberality, and Christian love.
Era. vi.24. drawing the same way, amongst all who love the
LORD JESUS CHRIST insincerity. We want
EtH. iv. 3. more of the unity of the SPIRIT in the bond of
peace. S. Befound watch ing. Walk consistently.
Stand in the posture of expectation of GOD's
judgments; and let the World see, how Faith
and the Gospel of CHRIST bear you up, against
the overwhelming billows; that men, seeing
your safety in the Ark of GOD, may be desi
rous of coming to the same strong holds.
Tit. ii. 10. Thus, shall you adorn the doctrine of GOD
our Saviour. Thus shall you serve your coun
try. Thus shall you be instrumental in saving
men's souls; or, howsoever these things be,
you shall have the mark of GOD uppn you;
and, though the pit of Hell should open never
so close to you, the angels of ,GOD shall gather
you up, and house you from the storms of war, of
sin, and of. sorrow, to ajl eternity. I have.

SERMON XIV. 293
I have told you, as I have been enabled, how sermon
you shall do, should GOD realise the evils we —  .
anticipate. I have directed you to those Avell-
knoAvn resources, that will amply subserve and
secure believers. — But what must unbelievers —
the Avorldly, the Avicked, and the ungodly do ?
— they who have no faith? What must the man
do, AArhose only hope the Avorld is ? Alas ! Sirs !
I cannot tell. I know not whither an unbeliever
in JESUS CHRIST, an infidel, a man Avithout
religion, and a stranger to the' Gospel, can, in
such a day as this, go for comfort. There is for
such no comfort, but a certain fearful looking Heb. x. 27.
for of judgment, and fiery indignation.
If such are here, may GOD inspire in their
hearts the hope that there is mercy still, and
plenteous redemption in his Son.
The World, and your property and interest
in it, cannot give you rest; but come unto me, M.AT.xi.28,
says CHRIST, I will in no wise cast you out, jon^ 37.
and all that are weary and heavy laden shall find
fest unto their souls.

SERMON

SERMON XV.
THE BARREN FIG-TREE.

• St. LUKE, Chap. xiii. part of 8th and -Qth.VerSe.
Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig
about it, and dung it ; and if it bear fruit,
zeell ; and if not, then, after that, thou shalt
cut it down.

J\S life advances, it seems natural and reason- sermon
able, to take a vieAv of years that are passed ; of
the portion of life elapsed; and of the seasons
and opportunities , that -have, escaped us, and for
much abuse of which, it must be feared and
apprehended, that we are most of us, and
perhaps all, reprehensible. Certain

XV.

29°* THE BARREN FIG-TREE.
sermon Certain it is, that, in proportion to know-
.  ledge unimproved, shall be future stripes ; and,

according to means, opportunities, and mercies
abused, Avjll our subsequent condemnations lie
heavy upon us, and add to the zerath and
fiery indignation hereafter to be revealed.
ver. 6, 7. Our Lord spake this parable to the jeavs of
his time:-r-^ certain man had a fig-tree plant
ed in his vineyard; and he came, and sought
fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he
unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these
three years I ,cpme seeking fruit on this fig-
tree, and find none ; cut it dozen; why cumber?
tth it the ground?' Then follow the words
of the Text: — And he, answering, that is, the
dresser of the vineyard, said untoxhim,< Lord,
'tis true that these three years thou hast come,
seeking fruit to no purpose, but yet, let it
alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and
dung it ; and, if it bear fruit, well; andifnM;
then, after that, thou shalt cut it dozen.
The general scope of the parable is this.
-The jews, notAvithstandrng their long barren
ness of godly tempers' and the true fruits of
faith, notwithstanding' their long unprofitable-*'
ness under a variety of ministry, and their re
jection

sermon xt;; •; E07
lection: of those whom the LORD. 'sent, 'were sxrmox
^ XV.
yet, through the intercession of the LORD , , n ,v .-,
JESUS CHRIST, spared for a season; spared
to the privileges of a faithful ministry, and the
Mt offers of the Gospel; and aftenvards those
who refused it Avere to be cut off, and theft
city, place, and nation ¦ (considered as a peor
pie) 'actually" were'-cut off, for' their unbelief,
urifruitfulhess, 'and wickedness, "' in Jess than
forty years after,
This, I say, is the general scope of the pa*
rable,.as it Avas delivered by our Lord, to. Hie
people among whom HE exercised his ministry.
But,~ my -friends,- the parable is equally applii
cable to us ; and we are as mUGh concerned fit
the issue as the jeavs were. There are several
important points of resemblance between lis,
and that, generation of the jews- to whom it
Was pronounced; and they are. such. §s, these:—*
I. We- are as- trees,- which,, eor sab?
IIENNESS, ARE SENTENCEDTO T.JIE' AX& .;
II. IT IS INTERCESSION ONLY THAT
saves us :,— Lo rd, let-it alone: this year also.
There is. aia Intercessor now pleading fot

298 THE BARREN fig-tree.
sermon USj an(i th^ is the reason Avhy we are not cut
XV. j J
n __ down. . Ill, We, like the jews, are spared,
FOE THE DIGGING AND DUNGING NAMED IN
THE TfEXT-
IV. If fruitfulness be not the con-
t .
SEQUENCE OF SUCH INDULGENCE, AVE SHALL
BE FINALLY CUT DOAVN, AND CAST INTO
THE FIRE.
I. The first thing I observe, then, is, that
we, like the jews, are existing UNDER THE
CURSE, because, like the tree in the Text,
we are barren and unfruitful.
To prove this to you, look into your hearts*
lives, and conduct ; and inquire of yourselves,-
what you have done for GOD, and what fruits/
in these last three years, or in any or all the
years of your" life taken together, your tree has
yielded to GOD's: honour and glory. It is not
easy to recollect them. Plead guilty, then, my
brethren; and say, that the remonstrance of
Is. vX the Prophet suits you :r—What could have been
done more to m.y. vineyard, that I have, not
doge in it? Wherefore, then, when I looked that

SERM'QN XV. 29P

•SERMOM XV.

.that it' should bring forth grapes, brought it
forth wild grapes ?
. •¦, Admitting this- passage of Scripture to be a
•true description of our case, - and .that we are
-really impenitent, unbelieving,-, and , unfruitful
-under the means of grace,, there are.no systems
of opinion, there are no -mpdes of thinking,
there are no forms of worship or nominal, profes
sion, under Avhich.we .can . shelter. ourselves in
real safety.

Think not, said John the Baptist to -the Mat. Hi. 9,
scribes and phaRisees on a similar occasion^ 10*
think not to 'say within ¦ yourselves] We have
Abraham to our father ; for I. say unto you^
thai GOD is able of these stones. to raise up
children unto Abraham. . Nominal iprofessioli
is nothing. And now also the axe is laid unto
the root of the trees; therefore, every tree
which bringeth not forth good'. fruit, is- hezpM
down,- and cast into the fire.
' My friends; such passages sliould.be suffered
to make an impressioh nponusrl>fecaase^ex,cuse
rhy freedom) they describe oiirMSase, buf cif cufh-
stances, Our condefnnatibri.-
To

?G9 THE barren fig-tree.

•ermou To. say nothing.of original sin, which of it-
tLi  - , ¦ • ..i, self justifies GOD in passing the sentence,
Avithout regard to our oavii actual deservings,
this condemnation is founded in justice, be
cause of our actual transgression, our long
unfruitfulnessi our continued impenitency, our
determined unbelief, the shutting of our eyefr
against the light, our ears against the truth,
and our hearts against the gracious and kindly
motions of the Spirit of God, that would havtf
Jed us to repentance.
This being the case with us, had GOD Cat
down our tree some years ago, where should we
noAF have been? And if he cut it down this
night, stouthearted as many of you are, and
small as you may esteem your measure of inir
quity to be, I shquld tremble far the conse^
quences ; because, under the sentence contained
in the. parable, as that sentence is applicable to
ss» ;#e stand in the predicament of criminals
condemned in a court Of judicature, under the
just forfeiture of life to the broken laws of our
Country. According to the law Of the lMid,
$*e judge condemns, the unhappy felon ; andj
according to the Law of GOD tran^gjesfiedy.
!Iom. v. 12. the sentence of eternal death passes upon oilman?.
kind, for that all have sinned; and without a
divine

XV.

ri- SERMON XV. 30t
tjivine Mediator to make man's peace,.man dies **»mo»
for ever: a melancholy issue, truly; but I will
not leave you here, for, GOD be praised! there
is a MediatoRj and this
II- I engaged to point out to you, that
there is an INTERCESSOR. It has been
through the efficacy of that intercession, that
our tree has been hitherto spared; and though
spared, as it must be said respecting numbers,
to unfrukf illness, yet the Intercessor still
lives, and H^ still pleads in the language of the
Text, LORD, let it alone this year also.
I think it is needless to say, that, in this In
tercessor you behold the blessed JESUS ;— the
JESUS Ave have rejected, the CHRIST we have
despised, . the Saviour whose gracious offices
we have slighted. This King's Son, whom Ave
have cast out of the vineyard, and would . haA'e
»lain, saying> We zeill not have this man to LuKExix,
reign over us, this JESUS is the Intercessor,
and lo, he still pleads, notwithstanding our
rebellions; he still pleads, with prevailing
power, for all who desire ta be interested in hi*
mediation.

14.

Not

502 THE BARREN FIG-TREE.

SEIIWOW XV.

Not only those who rob n i m of the glory,
the worship, and the honour due unto his name,
but • even the haiids that nailed him to the
Cross, he blessed, and poured Out the prayer 6f
ins intercession, that even they might be bath
ed and Avashed in the very blobd they shed : —
Luke xxiii. Father, forgive them, said the dyihg JESUS,
°*' for ^hey know not what they do.
This, like the Text, is a prayer literally fof
ii*; for Ave knoV not Avhat we do, when we
rob CHRIST of the honour and worship that
are his due; when we sin Avith a high hand
against him; when Ave reject his Gospel;
Avhen Ave do despite to the Spirit of his
Grace, take part with his enemies, and thrust
the spear of our sins into his side; when avc
Heb. vi. 6". trample upon his blood, crucify him afresh,
and put ii iii to an open shame. From
the habits we indulge, from the hardness of
our hearts, from our love of the world, our
enmity to GOD, our intercourse with carnal
and ungodly associates, and our slighting and
contemning the only real avenues to life and
happiness, avc must be said, many of us, to be1 of
those A\ho knozv not what they do. Yet blessef
be 111s name ! hv. still pleads and intercedes for
.:¦"¦>, us,

• ¦* ¦' sermon xv: ' ¦ SOS
us, as he did for the jews of old :— LORD, let «*«©*
' XV.
it alone this year also. 

* On the success and efficacy of this inter
cession, all our hopes of salvation stand; and
we have the consolation to be assured, that
this • intercession will be effectual for all who
desire to be interested in it,, though not for
those who slight it. They, who through it
look to GOD/ and come unto GOD in virtue
thereof,- and rest their souls upon its efficacy,
are the. subjects of the Redeemer's saving
grace, and the . sharers of the Father's kwe.
Wherefore, says the Apostle, he is able to save. Hee.vu.25.
them to the uttermost, that come unto GOD by
niu, seeing 'he. ever Uveth to make interces- . . ¦.
sign for them: — LORD, let it alone this year
also, till I shall dig about it ¦ and dung if.
This was our next head.
- III. Till I shall DIG about.it and. DUNG
it
These • are terms, which, as relating to'
agriculture and vegetation,, are well under-:
stood. : Nor is there any difficulty in under-
standing:them, in this spiritual application to
GOD's

S04 the barren fig-tree.
sekmow GOD's' dealings AA-itlr the souls of his peo^
XV. °
-¦ pie.

- : I. The metaphor of DIGGING may include
such ideas as these : —
(l). By this operation the fallow ground
is broken up : and the Scriptures apply the
same idea to the awakening and stirring up of
jer.iv. 3. a dead soul to seek the LORt>. The LORD1
saith to the men of Judah, Break up your faU
low ground, and sow not among thorns. And,
to shew us that this falloAV ground is a spiritual
expression, and refers to the ground of tlie.
heart, the same LORD says by the Prophet
Hos. x. 12. Hosea:— -aSW to yourselves in rlghteousilessj
ttap in mercy; break up your follow ground:
for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come
and rain righteousness upon- you* -
Hence, therefore, the LORD*- by faithful
Warnings, admonitions, and the Avord of ex*
hortation, set home by tlie power of his HOLY
SPIRIT, digs about our tree,; (I meaft when
h £ has a purpose of grace t# our souls, theft h t
dig* about our tree), breaks tlie smooth but
deceitful -surface, destroys- the fafee' peace- :ef-
carna! security, alarms the soul, and aAvakens the

SERMON X\r. $Q5
the conscience. . This is the First idea of «s»m°*
CHRIST, as the dresser of the vineyard, dig- - , ¦—"¦¦¦ »
ging about our tree,— the breaking up «f ilie
fallow ground of our heafts^ .: i
(2). We may u^ersta#4 also, in the spiri
tual ftppliqation of ; the term, that, in , digging
or turning up the ground, the sto,nes a.re
removed, that obstruct tlie seeds, of, eternal
life from, faking ro<$ in \ the heart. Tlie, heart
itself is justly compared to, a rock, from its hardi
ness, insensibility,, and tiie repelling properties,
whereby, in its natural state, it resists the ar
rows of conviction; as adamantine walls and
the impenetrable rock resist the assaulting, darts
of the besieger. And, admitting the heart be
some what, splintered, and the fallow ground in
a certain degree broken, yet Avhat stumbling
bjlocks and stones of offence still lie at the door,
and in the path ^impediments these^ that, the
digging; of the Text alone, or the working of
GQD's .SPIRIT on the heart, can remove,
. (5). Another effect pf digging about a tree
is that of loosening its roots, that its na*
turfd. juices, its sap and its nourishment, may
circulate, and that its, smaller fibres, as Avell as
the larger ramifications, may spread and grow;
x for

S06

SERMON XV-

43.

THE BARREN" -FIG-TREE.
for it is AtfeH known, by persons that, are much
•among shrubberies and plantations, that, from
the har4 binding of a dry and barren soil, vege
tation is resisted and^'growth restrained.
*• And ii is1 thus with many plants in the' vine
yard of the Avorld. We are tied and- bound with
the chain of our sins ; we- are shackled by the
fetters of Vicious custom'; we are -kept in bond
age1' byndur lusts, -ahdj;Dur secret iniquities;
AVe are enslaved J to our reputation, and the
John xii. world's' "esteem; we love the praise of Men
more1' than the praise of GOD; we are kept
under by the fear of men; and we dare not
own CHRIST JESUS for the LORD, through
apprehensions that the world will not own,
but lightly esteem iis'. ' Now here are the liga
tures, the bands, the 'fetters, and the confin
ing ties, from which our blessed Lord, when
he dig-sr about our tree to the purpose, releases
us; and Avhen these bands' of our imprisonment
and confinement, by the actual working of his
power are made to give way, then it is, that he
gives a blessed liberty, faithfulness, and deter
mined will-, to become living trees and fruitful
plants in his vineyard; because, by the ope
ration of digging named in the Text, the fal-
Ioav ground is broken, the stones are gathered up

SEiRMON^XV.' 9Q7
up or removed, and the roots are loosdned and ssrmo^
delivered from that confinement, « which Avas one  „....,,„„.
chief cause of unfruitfulness.
% But still farther ; there are other assistan ces
needed,, to. render the Wee fruitful. DUNG
must be supplied ; that is, materials for mend
ing the soil .must be thrown in; and fortius,
We may naturally enough observe, the soil, by
the before-mentioned operation of Digging, is
well prepared. ,
, We may illustrate this- part of the metaphor
by the followin g id eas : — ; ;
( 1 ). A heart, prepared by that Digging which
Ave have described, will rightly entertain divine
judgments and providences; Avhen GOD
speaks by such storms and such a display of
conflicting elements, as, sometimes in the Cli
mate, and sometimes in the State, have roused
the world; Avhen our canrforts have been threat?;
ened,,our peace disturbed, our fears excited,
arid an apprehension come upon us of the
LORD'S fierce indignation^: I, would, the
LORD might grant,, that the loud calls >of his
voice, and the vivid flashes of his anger, Avhich
x 2 have

508 w THE B-ARRKBPIUa-.TREE.
i&MM* fewc ©filiate' sareudhoalaitoW^uipjniight dvby
' operats^upo'ifal^ooqcjaaifls

(2). The word of truth will be received
i»t>o!tha;fce3r^rlsss& is displayed "arid? opened by
aTaiiMul ministry; which first boldly reproves
andsMiours W convict- the sinner, and then of
fer^ m'CBRIST's *a«fe, mercy, life, &kd sa^
\Yjstiei«^a$(> freely given to all those, for whom
t&is£gtf$tt: dressed o^ the: Vineyard pfeadsv
(3.) Sanctified afflictions are among the
happy means* of ettticiing'aTia1 fertilizing 'souls
by nature barren.. Sickness, need:, and sorrow,
are sanctified to the growth of the LORD'S he
ritage. ;/ Bitter, indeed, and ungrateful they
ftiayttfe^ritit most Avholesome will they be found
Mat.xv.i3. *4 eheVyplkfit whkM our heavenly -Father hath
pktMed, [ (4).' But all these'' means1 of fertirMngf the
soil of'the heart will be useless, without the ac
companying mfluencies' of the HOLY SPIRLT.
Heb. vi. 7. The rains' of His 'grace friu^t descend.- The
Ps". ixv. n. clbudbbaatt/t drop fatness. -The dews of beaten
must soften and enrich the 'barren soil.
svBut I hasten to the close. IV. Let

•^BRHOM.iXy. 000

XV.

IV. Let it alone this year fikpygq^d -the dies- siehmjox
ser of the Vineyard, tilllslutll dig about it and
dung it: but mark; and\if it bear fruit, weU,;
but if nut, then, after that, thou, shall cut it
downi Hence!, tiberi, in -t&e Last place, remember,
that IFiTHE TREEoIS SCARED, FRUIT-
FULNESS IS EXPECTED.
If UTabelief,4bto»e»fifl0|s^^aafidva carnal, Acridly
spirit still prevail, the cursie.alsQ still prevails,
and retains its power. Nayjitacquiresak.aggra^
yated or accumulated power ; for he ^wh'oattter*
cedes, even he, in case of obstinate unbelief and
unfruitfulness, condemns : if it bear fruit, well;
but if not; then, after that, after the digging
and dunging we have mentioned, thou shalt
cut it down. Here, ^therefore, you see that the
very Inter g'es soe jumself passes sentence.
Let this circumstance be Avell weighed arid
considered by you. CHRIST is the Interces
sor; and CHRIST rejected, and his overtures
«f grace and mercy slighted now* will arm bis
brow with wrathfulnejss and ye»ge*i#30 pn the
judgment day. The

3*0 THE BARREN FIG-TREE.

SERMON XV.

The aAvfulness and danger of rejected inter
cession is strikingly drawn by the Prophet Je-
Jer. xviii. remiah.'v I stood before thee, to speak good
for the inhabitants ofJUDAH, and to turn axvay
thy wrath from them. This intercession was
abused. This good Avas recompensed Avith evil.
Theyr diggedja pitfdr the soul, of him that
ver. 21. pleaded! TMrefore, since the proper fruits of a
gracious inter cessiohTwefe not yielded, ' there
fore, said the Intercessor, deliver up their chil
dren tort he-famine; and pour out their bloptf by
theforceiof- the\ sword.; and , let their wives be
bereaved' jofi their \thildrm, and be widows; and
let their nteu be put to death ; let their yoUng
men be'slhin by the sword in battle.
Yea, still stronger.; so intirely is rejected
mercy turned into judgment ! the same Inter-
vcr. 23. cessor goes on: — Forgive not their .iniquity,
neither Mot out their sin from thy sight, but
let them be overthrozen before thee; deal thus
with them in the time of thine angers :
Thus speaks the Prophet, in the person of a
rejected Intercessor, the Son of God; and, as
if this were iiot sufficient to make our .barren
tree tremble, the same Prophet, in the character
of GOD the Father, exclaims: — Pray not
thou

sermon xv. ! - 3.11
thou for this people, neither, lift up. cry nor sermon
prayer for them, neither niakeii intercession to  I-.-*. .
me; for I will not hear thee. Jeu- ^ l6>
Hence, then, as the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit, have determined, from be
fore the foundations of the world, to saye those,
who, though naturally as barren trees, become
fruitful through the mediation and intercession
of the Son, and likewise to reject eternally and
cut doAvn those, who, refusing CHRIST, con
tinue to the last in unbelief, unfruitfulness, and
an impenitent state, let us consider the passage
and the parable as an interesting LESSON to
us. ,
That we are hitherto spared, considering our
years, our infirmities, our sicknesses, our trials,
and the vicissitudes we have been brought
through, must be surely looked upon as mattef
of amazement. Yet it is a fact, that spared we
are. But to what we are spared, and how far the
sparing mercies of an interceding JESUS have
been blessed to their expected ends, is a ques
tion. I would that the HOLY GHOST would
put that question Avith poAver to every one of
our hearts ! and though it made us tremble for a
season,

312 THE BAttREN JTI&rTREE.

SERMON XV-

sensory it might and Avould, with the blessing of
GOD, lay for us tfee ground and -foundation of
eternal rejoicing.
Were our tree to be ciitdoAvn this night, what
think you? Would1 it be cast into the1 fire? or
would it fee converted into a poffi^hed pillar of
GOD'S higher temple, — the hlesfced, spiritual
house of his glorified Presence, in the Neat
Jerusalem ?

Whether Ave may read the Text as an inter
cession for you and me to be spared yet ano
ther year, after those; during Avhicfr AveJhave
been spared, is doubtful. Nay, not doubtful;
for it is almost a moral certainty, that all of
us shall not be spared another year. Who will
be taken, and Avho will be left, none but GOD
can tell; and if you Avould be safe, let each in
dividual of you believe, that hhnself shall be
taken, ; and the others left; Since the axe is laid
MAT.iii.io. to the root of the tree, and waits but GOD's
Avord to fall, listen to the Intercessor now!
JESUS' still pleads with GOD for sinners-; yea,
he -pleads'"* Avith swmers too, that they, would
turn, unto him and live. y We, a& h is ministers,
scor.v.20. ara ambassadors for CHRIST, as- thotigh GOD
did beseech you hy us) we pray you-, in CHRJST's
stead, be ye reconciled to GOD. Fellow

SERMON XV* 31 ;

xv.

FelloAV sinners! let no prejudices, no ground- sermon
less hate, no envies, strivings, nor debatings of
the carnal mind, impose upon your clouded
judgments, to render CHRIST, and the salva
tion that he offers, offensive in your sight, or
to cheat you of the eternal peace of your souls.
May these admonitions abide upon your
minds, and may this neAv year be the com
mencement of the neAV life of faith and the
loA'e of GOD in your souls ! And then let
the great husbandman say, Cut dozen the tree,
Avhensoever he will; under these circumstances
it shall rise again; it shall strike fresh root
upon the banks of the river of GOD in para
dise, and yield its perpetual fruits to the praise
and glory of sparing and redeeming grace for
ever.

SERMON

SERMON XVI..
DAVID's CURSES' THE BELIEVER'S PRAYERS.

PSALM cix. Ver. 12. 13.

Let there be none, to extend mercy unto him;
neither let there be any to favour his father
less children. Let his 'posterity be cut off.
NOTHING could be more dreadful and un- sermoh
charitable,, than the,; use of such solemn Avords XVI'
as these, as the wishes of a man tOAvards any
sinful brother, who , has injured and offended
him. ; But yet of those, who lay aside the use of this
Psalm, because filled, as they say, with curses,
P^and I have known some over nice and scrur
pulous christians do this,-^-it may,, in some
respects, be said,, they know.not the Scriptures, Mark xii.
neither the power of GOD; for did they know the

il6 david's Curses the believer's prayers.

XVI.

sermon the Scriptures, particularly the matter of this
Psalm, the spirit and intent of it, and its rela
tion to that principle *f $vil that dwells in every
man's heart, so far from laying it aside as un
christian, unoamfprtable, or uncharitable, they
would make a redoubled and more diligent use
of it, and urge all the various parts of it, as the
most comfortable and seeded supplication and
prayer, that could be offered up at the Throne
of Grace.
But, in order to get sight of this Psalm in
this point of vieAv, we must consider David's
views in writing his psalms. This shall
be the First thing attempted ; and, having done
this, we shall Secondly see, that there are three
OBJECTS AGAINST WHICH THE IMPRECATIONS
OF THIS PSALM MAY BE DIRECTED.
I. The First point is, to consider DAVID'S
VIEWS IN WRITING HIS PSALMS.
This man after GOD's own heart is to be
looked upon in a variety -of characters, which
he very eminently filled; that of a King; that
ef a Prophet; that of a Type of the Mess i ah j
and also, that of a Private Individual in the
Church of GOD. His

SERMON XVI, $\J

His Psalms Avere \tfritten, sometimes in one 9™°*
of these characters, and sometimes in another.

Oftentimes, therefore, it will seem to us trt>
terry inexplicable what David means, viewing
bhn only fn one character; when, perhaps, the
Psalm or matter in question will be very intel
ligible and easy of comprehension, when we
consider him as speaking in another. Thus the
Psahn before us ;— if we read it as the breath-
imgs of wrath and revenge against hisi own per
sonal enemies, considered as a man and a king,
it is utterly inconsistent with: his profession
as a believer; but, if we consider him as sneak
ing here in his character of Propbefc and the
Type of JESUS CHRIST,, denouncing just
cuirses and malediction on him that betrayed
and sold his Lord, we are no linger surprised
at the severity and awfulness Of the sentence,
•wlhidx, as the LORD 'si Prdphet, and speaking
the language «xf inspiration, he pronounces
against the traitoit.
11... Agreeably,, then, to this variety s of cha
racter,7 in, some of bis Psalms he] writes his; sen-
fitments and makes his complaints, -prayers, or
thanksgivings, as the K,fNte and sovereign of
his

XVI.

318 david's curses the believer's prayers,

sermon h^ people, the master of his household, or the
XVI. ll'
.  father of his children; in which case he
speaks of his affairs as they affect him in his
political, domestic, or parental character.
2. At other times he speaks as a prophet,
shepherd, or pastor over the Spiritual inte
rests -of his people;- and warns those, committed
to his charge, against wickedness^ unfaithful
ness, and treachery, by the examples of others'
ruin, and the ruin that will befal thenv who
tread in the same steps. This is the case, or one
of the cases, that seems to respect the present
Psalm; and every verse of it, that seems to be
gin with the word let, in the imperative mood,
commanding or calling for the curse, might
have been translated in the future tense, by the-
word shall, describing what surely will be the
case and end of those, that imitate the wicked
ness of those alluded' to in this Psalm. And, to
convince you that this is no mere conjecture,
you will find in the margin of your larger Bi
bles, a reference from this to a corresponding
passage in Job; where, in prophecy of what
will be the fate and end of -the wicked, it is
Job xviii. said:— Histoots shall be dried up beneath, and
1 ~~ above shall his branch be cutoff.. His remem
brance shall perish from the Earth, and he shall have

SERMON XVI. 319
have no name in the street. He shall be driven sermon XVI
from liglit into darkness, and chased out of the .
World. He shall neither have son nor nephew
among his people, nor any remaining in his dzvel-
lings. So says our Text in stronger terms, yet
meaning but the same thing; referring to an
antecedent judgment of GOD, already pro
nounced against the sinner described ; and, in
the language of submission we must say, -Let
there be none to extend mercy unto him ; neither
let there be any to favour his fatherless chil
dren. Let his posterity be cut off.
- Thus, considering the Psalmist as -speaking
in his prophetic character, he denounces but
what we all of us generally understand from the
Avhole tenor of GOD's word, will surely be the
Jot and end of the wicked.
'¦• 3. Again, conceiving him as a type and
representative of JESUS CHRIST, the
Messiah, in which character, I apprehend,
the Psalmist more immediately prophesies in
this Psalm against the murderers of our Lord,
and particularly against Judas who betrayed
him, none can have a just idea of the vile- ness

33® J>avid's curses the believer's prayers.

SERMON XiVW

ness and defbBftiity . of the part they acted,
nithbut snbscribwigv with a satisfied mind, t&
the curses and taerrorsv denounced a^aanst them*
And now, so far as there i8 that in us, or in
others, that would betray CHRIST JESUS*
Ph. iii. io, none avIio know him, or the power of his re
surrection, bwt must join in the imprecation of
every thing, reyery. person, every evil spirit, or
every evil temper, ; thatt, fights against aiad op<-
poses. the growth and .e^abUsbittewitof CHRIST
in the believer's heart,
4. This, however, vleadsi to a considering of
the Psalmist in the Fourth character, wherein I
said he breathed out the feelings and] experi-
enpesof his oavn soul as a believer; and par
ticularly under tlie character of a tempted, af
flicted, and tried believer; in which character
he sets forth, in very lively points of view,1 the
exercises, trials, temptations, dejections, and
hindrances, to which he was subject, in com
mon with .other believers and members of the
Church of GOD.
,In this sense, how. ardently did he exclaim,
Ps xxv. 19. Consider miq'e eneriiies, far they are many, and
they hate me with cruel hatred \! And when it is
considered,, that these enemies ; are internal ene
mies;

sermon xvi. 9-2JI
mies; harboured Avithin, and enleagued against »»»wqn
a man's oavii peace, Avith design to devour and — ¦
destroy the soul ; I am persuaded that there is
no tempted, Avearied soul, but will gladly join
with the Psalmist, and with his whole heart, in
the expressions of this Psalm, with an earnest
desire of soul that they may be heard and re*
ceived, at the Throne of Ora,ce, as the pray
er most suited to his need. *
Hence, therefore, in the letter of this Psalm,
literally calling doAvn Curses, wishing ill or
breathing vengeance on a fellow-creature, it is
utterly unlawful to use it. Howsoever they
may have injured us, in this sense it must not
be applied, against even our greatest ene
mies. In the Second sense, or character, in which
David wrote, as the prophesier of severe wrath,
distresses, and terrors against the -wicked, we
must believe and receive it, as one of the most
solemn and important truths of GOD's Word.
To consider the Psalm as an Old Testament
prophecy, fulfilled in the Ncav, gives much re
lief to the mind. Who AviU say that GOD
Y has

DAVID S CURSES THE BELIEVER S PRAYERS.
sermon ]las |j-een unjust, in suffering Judas's wicked
ness to fall upon his oavu head ?

xvi;

In the Third sense, as applied to the case
of Judas in particular, Avhom the Psalmist
more immediately had in vieAv in penning it,
Ave must believe, and Ave must feel, that the
denunciations were most just.
And, Lastly, considering ourselves as Avar-
ring, contending, and conflicting with Judas
like tempers within, and a legion of other such
like dispositions, principles, and evil spirits,
that spread snares for our souls, and thirst for
our blood, Ave shall need the use of these im
precations as our prayers, and shall experience
much comfort, relief, and blessedness, in offer
ing them up in that light daily to GOD.
II. It is against an INTERNAL ENEMY,
therefore, that the artillery of this Psalm is
to be levelled, in the present use of it by be
lievers. Let us, then, in the Second part of
our discourse, endeavour to TRACE OUT
THE HAUNTS OF SUCH AN ENEMY,
if such an one lurk in our hearts. And if
we find him there, knowing his venom, ma
lice,

SERMON XVI.

xvi.

lice, and design to destroy the soul, we shall SE*^0K
not hesitate about pronouncing the anathema
against him, with which the Psalm in question
furnishes us.

In tracing out the haunts of our internal
enemy, let us
1. Consider the character of him against
WHOM THE PROPHET LEVELS THE IMPRECATIONS
OF THIS PSALM ; and SOME OTHER CHARACTERS
IN SCRIPTURE, WHOSE SPIRIT AND TEMPER MAY
DESERVE LIKE MALEDICTIONS.
This Psalm, Ave have said, was penned against
Judas Iscariot; and, though 17 or 1800
years ago that traitor hanged himself, under
dreadful convictions of his sin, yet Judas
still exists. He exists in Hell, amidst those
torments that are the due Avages of his guilt.
And his spirit and temper exist in the hearts
of some men; nay, not only Judas, but Cain,
Esau, Saul, and many others, do exist, in their
spirit and temper, in the hearts of many.
The unconverted and unenlightened part of
men, indeed, are not Avilling to own their in
timacy and connection with such disreputable
y 2 com-

224i david's curses the believer's prayers.

SERMON xvi.

companions ; and they deny their having any
thing to do Avith them; but men, who know
themselves, — men, Avhose hearts are brought
to the light, and in Avhom that light has
made manifest the hidden mystery of iniquity
that dAvells there,— are ready to own, with sor
rowing souls, that there is too much relation
ship and resemblance of feature, betAveen Avhat
passes in their hearts, and the part that was
taken by these characters ; I mean Avith regard
to the temper of their spirits.
To illustrate this, let us consider some of
the leading features of their characters.

Gen. iv. (]). Cain seems to have been the first that
displayed the full nature of sin, and the
lengths to Avhich it can go. Envy, rage, and
hellish revenge, Avere the principal features of
his soul; and these tempers impelled him to
murder his brother Abel.
Why? because Abel's Avorks Avere righte
ous, and his own Avere unrighteous; because
Abel's sacrifice Avas accepted, and his oavti re
jected ; because Abel had faith, and himself
had none. Because GOD loved, accepted,
owned, and honoured Abel, — Cain hated him.
Cain

sermon xvi. 325
Cain had neither righteousness, holiness, faith, ssrmon

XVI.

love, nor grade in his own heart> and, therefore,
he could hot bear these things in another;
therefore he arose and murdered A«eL
O that there were none of Cain's teft^>«r
and spirit in the Avorld now !
(2). Esau's predominant, feature* his cha
racteristic turn, Avas an earthly, carnal, sensual,
spirit ; preferring present and bodily gratifica
tions, to the privileges of a spiritual birthright,
and the spiritual mercies entailed on the pro
mised seed. Behold, I am at the point to die? Ge^- xxv.
and what profit shall this birthright do to
me? Esau sold the future, spiritual blessing, for a
present mess of pottage; and, ever afteiy he hat
ed the purchaser. The days of mourning for G£S- XXV11-
my father are at hand; then will I slay my
brother J ag ob.
Are there -no carnal spirits noAv, that fasten
on earthly things,- looking with revenge and
kateful eyes upon those, who enjoy the spiritual
blessing? If there be, — E,sav still lives, in
his temper, in their hearts. (3). Savi's

•Sb6 David's curses the believer's prayers.
1 sermon (3). Saul's leading character was an ungo-
Xvi.
¦¦„¦¦- r- -=  vernable pride and jealousy. Chosen of GOD
1 Sam. ^ tjjC highest worldly honours, and the greatest
charge that could be committed to a man, yet
could he not be satisfied with his OAvn honours
and -distinction.

l Saw, It Avas not enough, that the songs of vir-
xviii 7 ¦ *"
gins celebrated his thousands slain. The sound
of David's praise, in the strength of GOD,
subduing tens of thousands in the death of one
great Philistine, damped all the monarch's
joys, and caused him to thirst for the blood of
him, Avho had been the instrument of deli-
yermg himself and his kingdom from destruc
tion.

• O sad fruits- of a jealous and hateful spirit,
that will not bear to see others eminent in
grace, or highly favoured of GOD ! Are none
of you acquainted with such a spirit? May
GOD and Conscience set the inquiry home
with poAver !
2 Sam. xvi. - (4). Turn we now to Shimei; and you will
see a temporising, servile spirit, that, where it
cannot persecute,- cringes. He cursed David; and

SERMON XVI. 39,'t

and threw stones at him, in the time of his dis- sermon XVI .
tress; and David, a faithful type of CHRIST, 
endured it all, saying, Let him curse, for the vel' ' ""
LORD hath bidden him. It may be t/^e LORD
will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD
will requite me good for his cursings this day.
He did so; and, after a while, the once per
secuted, afflicted, banished King, returned a
conqueror. Who then, so soon as' Shimei, .offered ser
vile obedience ! — Let not my Lord impute ini- 2 Sam. xix.
- 19 20.
quity unto me, said he, neither do thou remem
ber that, which thy servant did perversely, for
 Behold, I am come the first this day,, of all
the house of Joseph, to go down to meet my
Lord the King. But after all this, Shimei 1 Kings ii.
died a traitor, by tlie untimely hand of jus
tice. Are there no shimeis now, Avho stone JE
SUS, when his interests seem to fail; and yet
seem to be the first to do him honour, Avhen
his name, doctrines, and religion prosper; and,
after all, die atheists in heart?
(5). Again; combined malice, rage, and
envy, distinguished the temper of the scribes and

3#8 David's curses the believer's prayers.
***»*& and Pharisees, Avho professed to Avait for and
 accept Messiah's coming, but, Avhen he came,
he Avas so holy, so upright, so faithful, so con
victing, so heart- searching, so obedient to the
Arill of GOD who serlt him, that envy, malice,
Markui.c*. jealousy, and rage, Avere excited against him.
JoHNxi.53. They took counsel, to put him to death.
Are there none now, Avho imbibe this spirit;
Avhen men, for resembling JESUS in faithful
ness to duty, are hated? when men, for bearing
His image upon their souls, are conspired
against? when men, Avho preach JESUS and his
free salvation, are discountenanced ? Avhen the
Hearts of people are Avon, and many are turning
to righteousness, and yet meet resistance, op
position, and hatred from a persecuting Avorld,
is not this the very spirit that took counsel
against JESUS to put him to death? When
men discover a real and earnest concern for the
soul, a genuine love of the Bible, and a hearty
attachment to CHRIST, attended Avith a holy
contempt of the things of the world, displaying
thus not only the form but the power of God
liness; it is no uncommon thing, for those, who
profess themselves advocates for what they call
rational; religion, to cast them out of their
houses,

sermon xvi. 329
houses, their assemblies, and their societies, sermo*
But I hasted to — Ul—

(&). Judas, who shall bring up the rear.
He professed an attachment to CHRIST, ac
cepted CHRIST'S call of him to the apostle-
ship, folloAved him through all his ministry,
ate with him, drank Avith him, convefsed
Avith him, and vowed With the rest that he
would never leave hIm; but, alas! With all
this, Money, not CHRIST, Was his God!
The love of MammOn had got possession: of
his heart, while his lips Were giA'en to JESUS;
yea, so much lip-service did Jo das render to
his Master, as to say, Hail, Master, in the
very act that betrayed him, and ga\re him up to
murderers. Who thinks not David's prophetical curses
too mild, too soft, too meteifdl, for this be
trayer ! And yet who does not mourn to see,
that the spirit of this traitor, of this caitiff
that bore the bag, still bears the sway, still
6ea»s the lu&g, in trie hearts of numbers that
call JESUS, Lord, Lord, and reverence him
with the lip ! Are there not now those, Avho be
tray the cause of CHRIST for money; pre
tending

330 David's curses the believer's prayers.
sermon tending to religion, for the countenance and
XVI' support of those Avho espouse it; and attaching
themselves to CHRIST, the ordinances of his
house, the society of his children, and the
assemblies of his saints, for the sake of the
profits and worldly advantages which they may
obtain by it?
They, who make religion and a godly pro
fession the stalking horse or the stepping lad
der to reputation, or to any other . Avorldly
convenience or gratification, have the spirit of
Judas. They Avill Avalk Avith CHRIST, so
long as they can live by his bounty; but, no
sooner is a certain price offered, but they will
sell him for a few pieces of silver !
O Christian professors ! though you are
shocked at the character and end of Judas,
and the curses which he now inherits, take
care that his temper does not, ,in.sc-me secret
and unseen corner, lurk even in your hearts.
He, like his infernal master, is Avell knoAvn
to retain some little portion of that heart;
whereof the residue seems to be given up to
GOD.

My

SERMON XVI. 331

My friends, deal faithfully with your hearts.
Consider Cain, Esau, Saul, Shimei, Phari
saic malice, and, lastly, this Judas. Compare
and examine with diligence, Avith honesty, and
with candour; and see whether, in your hearts,
there be not some features resembling these
monsters. See if there be not something of the
spirit and temper of these men, adhering more
or less to your natures; and if there be, you
will not think the language of the Text; nor
the verses that introduce it, too severe; nor,
considered as supplication, will you think it
pleads too strongly, or asks for too much. I
would not insinuate, that the spirit of all these
characters chvells in all hearts ; and, all toge
ther, I Avould hope they exist in very few; but
I believe there are few hearts, which harbour
not more or less of the spirit and temper, of
some one or other of them. Whichsoever then
it be, of these deadly foes to the soul, which
most easily besets you, let the eye of your
mind be fixed upon Him; and whether it be the
temper of Cain, or of Saul, or of Judas,
turn against.it, in holy pray er, the awful im
precations of this Psalm.
. To dwell particularly on the expressions of
the Text, in the Avay of discussion or explana tion,

SEB.MOK XVI.

S32 David's curses the believer's prayers.

SERMON XVI.

tion, should iioav seem needless. After what
• has been urged, it is evident, that, as applied
to Judas and others, whose tempers and spirits
still grieve and afflict the Church, no quarter is
to be given, no mercy shewn, no pleadings in
bur hearts must, be admitted of listened to,
in favour of them; no, not for a single mo
ment. If it Avere possible, it is the wish' of the
regenerate, that all remains, all posterity, every
seed, root, and fibre of such tempers, should
oe rtroted out.
And since, though Judas himself is gone,
there are so many Of his descendants and off'
spring that cling to us, and to whom Ave are
apt to shew too much lenity and indulgence,
cautions are ah^ays seasonable, to guard and
warn us against giving encouragement, at
yielding the lead, to such ungodly dispOsi*
tidns. Let there be nothing in my heart, to
extend mercy unto such a principle ! neither
let there be any advocate in my breast, to
favour any principles, dispositions, or tenden
cies, that may be considered as the descend
ants, Or the children, of such a corrupt pa
rent-!

SERMON XVI. 333

rent! but let his posterity be cut off, and
all his remains be utterly cast out for ever !
£. What has been advanced, will, I trust,
reconcile the sincere and upright in heart, to
the language of the Text, as applied to the.
particular tempers and spirits that have been
mentioned; yet, let us go one step further,
and apply the language of this passage to the
GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF CORRUPTION. Six
or seven evil spirits, under a variety of names,
have been laid before you. , Were all to dwell
in one breast, that breast might well be liken
ed to one that Avas possessed of seven Devils ;
but even this is not the Avorst supposeable state
of a man ; for legions of evil spirits dwell in
some. Is there a legion of evil spirits dwelling
in your heart or mine? — There are scripture
terms that imply, I think, nearly as much;
namely, when Satan himself is said to inha
bit the heart; the old man; the strong man
armed; the den of thieves; the cage of un
clean birds ; the body of death, of which the
Apostle Paul complained. These

SERMON XVI.

334 David's curses the believer's prayers.

sermok These are all terms, which imply an ex-
xvi. , ' r . .
 - treme fulness in the heart, of every thing
JER.xvii.9. that is evil; desperate wickedness, as Jere
miah terms it; universal putridity, and a soul
covered with spiritual tumours, as Isaiah de-
Is. i. 5, 6. scribes it, the whole head is sick, and the whole
heart faint; from the sole of the foot even
unto the head, no soundness,' but wounds and
bruises, and putrefying sores !
Enlightened and humble minds see and
allow even this, to be no exaggerated or over
strained description, of what we have Avith-
in us. If this be seen and felt by us, and Ave
then set this old man, this strong man armed,
this foul body of sin, before us, — this infernal
prince, the god of this world, with the depth
of his malice and the extent of his poAver, — we
shall not think the expressions of this Psalm
a whit too strong. We shall very cordially
breathe them out in prayer, against the sinful
nature, and the remainders of inbred corrup
tion, that dwell within us.
Yea, and most heartily shall we recite in
prayer, the blessed denunciations of this Psalm,
as levelled, in the last place, against 11
3. The

SERMON XVI. 335
3. The secret sores and enemies of the sermon

soul; the besetting sin; the overpowering
temptation; the constitutional snare; in which
Satan, perhaps, has been wont to take us
daily, to the great dishonour of our profession,
the great hindrance of our spiritual growth,
and the great discomfort of our OAvn souls;
and the intirely depriving them of GOD'S
presence in duties, and all communion and fel
lowship with the Father and Avith the Son.
Ah ! my friends, if you are sensibly touch
ed Avith a fellow-feeling here, in Avhat a
tempted, dejected, sorrowing soul endures, how
ready will you be, thus to take this bosom
sin, be it whatsoever it may; and how hear
tily will you apply the idea of the Text, and
the following words> Let his posterity be cut
offl Under these views, this Psalm will not be
laid aside in the use of it, by a believer War
ring against the powers of Hell, that are en-
leagued against his soul. It must, if we be
really engaged in this warfare, be a precious
part of GOD's Word to us ¦ especially if expe
rience has> in any degree, proved the efficacy
of it, as a weapon of prayer, and given us
reason

XVI.

336 David's curses the believer's prayers.
sermon reason to believe, that, if we continue to urge
XV I*
 it with energy, faith, and zeal, against the
soul's enemies, Ave surely shall prevail.
A blessed victory, over all these accursed
spirits, is already obtained by JESUS. As the
unhappy persons, Avhose characters have been
touched on, are now the vanquished prey of
present, and will be of everlasting torments ;
so that spirit and temper of theirs, with which
the regenerate are grieved noAv, are conquered
and subdued by JESUS for the believer, Avhose
final salvation shall not be affected by them.
These tempers shall not destroy, where they
cause godly mourning in the soul. Though
they may have a being in the heart, they shall
RoM.vi. H. not reign. Sin s/iall not have dominion over
Rom. viii. 1. you. There is no condemnation to them which
are in CHRIST JESUS; who walk, not after
the Flesh, but after the SPIRIT.
To him that believeth, victory is (certain.
It is already won for him, by the captain of
his Salvation; and his eternal triumph shall
be sure.
^ut the humble believer wants the fruils of
jt, and the present experience of it, np.w. H#
wishes

"SERMON XVI. 557

wishes hoav to see Dagon fall before the Ark; sermo*
and sin's poAver in the heart and. life denras>
He may enjoy eA-en this, in the promise applied
by faith. Blessed promises to this end are
comprised in numberless passages of the Word;
but time will not allow me to enumerate them
noAv. You may read some in the xxxvith of
Ezekiel, from ver. 24 to the end.
David's experience, in the close of the pre-»
sent Psalm, is a strong evidence that the poor
and needy, and wounded in heart, shall, in de
pendence on the promises of GOD, find deliver
ance.
' Before the Psalm closes, David's prayers
are turned into praises, in the full assurance of
this; and we are encouraged to the same; for
what David in spirit saAv Avas his blessedness,
described in the last tAvo verses, is ours, as much
as it was his, if it be applied by the same faith.
/ will greatly praise the LORD with my ver. 30, si,
mouth; yea, I will praise him among the mul
titude. For he shall stand at the right-hand
of the poor, to save him from those that condemn
his soul. .

Ah

535 david's curses the believer's prayers.

xvi.

sermoh a^ happy believer! Avho art thus intrenched,
under the defence of such an advocate ! Cain,
Esau, Saul, Shimei, and Judas, may bear
witness against him; Satan may condemn;
and all the sins of his life may step forward,
and will at the last day, to accuse; but they
shall. accuse in vain. The believer, shielded
by his faith in the Son of God, Avashed in
his blood, clothed Avith his righteousness,
and sanctified by his SPIRIT, shall arise and
ascend, under the blessed protection of the
Redeemer's wing, into the bright and glori-»
ously-reternal mansions prepared for him.
To these mansions, may GOD, by his Power
»nd Grace, preserve us, for the sake of JESUS
CHRIST our Lord!

SERMON

SERMON XVII.
GOD's SWORD AND BOW.

PSALM vii. Ver. 12.

XVII.

If he turn not, he will whet his sword: he
hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
THE translation of the Psalms, which is in sermon
the Prayer Book, introduces thus the Avoids
of our Text: — GOD is a righteous Judge,
strong and patient ; and GOD is provoked every
day. If a man will not turn, he will whet
his sword: he hath bent his bow, and made
it ready. GOD strong and patient: — Strength and
Patience supply a noble and beautiful idea of
an omnipotent, merciful, and long-suffering
GOD ; especially Avhen the subsequent part of
z 2 the

540 god's sword and bow.

SERMON
X\ I!.

the description is added, — and GOD is provok
ed every day. Patience to suffer, what there
is strength and poAver to avenge, and that
under continual provocation; — under these cir
cumstances to spare the life that is in mine
hand, is godlike. clemency indeed! We think
it noble to spare the enemy that has fought
against us ; but it is nobler far, to spare him still
fighting; yet this does GOD, strong and pa
tient, by you and me, by Avhom he is every day
provoked. It is added, however, If he turn not, he
will whet his sword: he hath bent his bow,
8$c.

This Avhetting of the sAvord, and bending
of the boAV, both describe the forbearing tem
per of the Deity; the reluctance, with which
Ez. xxxiii. he lets his judgments fall: — "The LORD Avil-
ll' leth not the death of a sinner, but rather that
he should repent and live. He Avhets his
sword, bends his bow, threatens, invites, and
pleads. Pious parent! are you provoked with per-
verseness and disobedience in your offspring ?
— You threaten your child; you form a pur pose

•sermon xvii. 341

-pose to correct him. For the sake of your sermon
•word and your parental authority, in obedi-  „
ence to GOD's commandment, and for your
child's good,— you prepare the rod; you lift
up your arm; you are about to chastise ! — but
lo ! the child confesses its fault, runs into your
arms, and prays for your forgiveness: — O with
what joy do you throAV doAvn the rod ! You
forget your anger, and receive to your fond
breast the little returning penitent !
GOD is not subject to passions as Ave are;
but, by the passions and feelings which he hath
given us, he teaches us to know something of
his di\-ine compassion. He conveys to us an
idea of his OAvn tenderness, by images of this
nature; for, like as a father pitieth his chil- Ps. ci«. 13.
dren, so the LORD pitieth them that fear
him; and such of you as attend to his pa
rental dealings will confess, that he is mer- Ver. 8.
ciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plente*
ous in mercy. And the very expressions of
the Text, — long whetting the sword before it
smites, and bending the bow before the arrows
fly, are significant resemblances of the slowly-
moving pace of the vengeance of the LORD. Some

34$ god's sWOrS and bow.
sermok Some observations on the sword and bow
xvii.
ear-  OF GOD ; A DESCRIPTION OP THEIR SEVERER
strokes, as well as of the persons against
whom ±hky are levelled ; and HOW TO TAKE
bpf the edge, or evade the stroke; — are the
Three objects to which we should look in the
present Text: — If he turn not, he will whet
ins sword: he hath bent his bow, and made
it ready. I. We are First, to make SOME OBSER
VATIONS ON THE SWORD AND BOW
OF GOD. The Sword and the Boav are in
struments of Avar; and both of them are strik
ing emblems of GOD's judgments. The SAvord
implies coming to close quarters, — the Boav,
more distant dispensations — strokes to operate
from remoter causes.
Hence, if the judgments, providences, and
warnings, already dispensed, will, not effect
their purpose, severer still are behind. The
SAvord Avill be sharpened, and the arrows more
keenly pointed. Think of this, my sinful bre
thren, who are not yet wrought upon to re
pentance by -the -hand., of GOD,- hitherto but
lightly laid upon you, compared Avith the
greater and heavier measures of his wrath, that

SERMON XVII. 8*8
that are vet behind, if ye continue to provoke "J*°*
him every day. - — ' — — •

The bow of GOD has, in some respects,
heen already discharged amongst us; and His
arroAvs have flown abroad. What sort of ar
rows? There are arrows of conviction; the darts
of love ; and, if these fail, there will be darts
Of VENGEANCE.
The arrows of love are aimed at the heart;
but the soul has a treacherous enemy, that
ofttimes turns them aside, that they should
not effectually wound ; or, if the conscience
be wounded, he sends us to unskilful physi»
cians, who heal it slightly. Thus convictions ^ER- V1- 14,
i ¦, 11,, „ , viii. n.
are smothered; and the gentle darts of love,
the kindlier drawings of the Spirit of God,
are quenched and resisted by the efforts of
the carnal mind, and an attachment to the
pleasures, the profits, or the respect, which we
love to receive from the present world.
I trust that I speak within the scope both
of your understandings and experience, my
"brethren. Is it not, hath it not been, thus Avith
you?

344 god'ssavord and loav.
sfcKSftjy ^'fju j - YOur judgments have at times been Con-
"XVI-I. v.j a-
« vinced; your consciences have been. awakened;
your fears haAe been alarmed ; your desires
have been- excited; your love has been in some
degree kindled; and your hearts have glowed
¦under the. truths Ave preach: — but the Avorld's
pleasures, man's favours, the heart's vices, arid
your bosom-sins, have deadened, smothered,
$md" extinguished them all!
The arroAvs of Conviction and of Love fail,
but the shafts of vengeance still remain; —
alarming judgments, keen distresses, and heart
rending terrors! But respecting these, he
first bends the boAV and makes it ready; that
U, he does not at once strike sinners dead, and
seal upon them unwarned damnation ; he hurls
jus vengeance obliquely, perhaps; not so im
mediately on the head of the offending party,
as on some collateral object. Trade and en
deavours are unprospered; friends are unfaith
ful; relatives are unkind; hopes are blasted;
health is declining; and a variety of other
bitter ingredients are, perhaps, mingled in
your cup, in order to call off your hearts and
affections to Avorthier objects. If

SERMON XVII. 343
If these remoter strokes of the boAV pfbve "*mon

XVII.

.effectual to awaken the man, it is well; but,
if not, at length the SAvord is drawn; it is
Avhetted; and his arm is out-stretched: but
he first lifts it up to save, before he destroys.
.And Avhen it falls, it falls, perhaps, into some
•breast short of his OAvn. It cuts off something
short of a man's life. It pierces another's body,
that it may spare my soul.

To spare the tree, its branches are lopped
off: there, is wisdom. To save the body's
mortifying, the limb is cut Off: that, is true
compassion. To redeem the chosen race, one JoiiNxi.50.
man must die for the people : there, is the sur
passing love of him, Avho sends forth the sword
against his oaati Anointed.
. It is a Avise, a divine, a heavenly husband
man, Avho saves the tree by pruning; and, by
purging, makes it fruitful. / am the true John xv. i,
vine, and my Father is the Husbandman. 2'
Every branch in me, that beareth not fruit,
he taketh away; and every branch, that bear
eth fruit, he purgeth' it, that it may bring
forth more fruit. How much wiser, then, as
well as kind, to purge and prune the brarich,
rather than remove it ! Such

346 god's sword and bow.
sermow guch are the merciful, though seemingly
.. , — severe, dispensations of tlie LORD ! It is not
till after many a threat, and many a pruning,
LuKExiii.7'. that he 6ays '.-'These three years I come seeking
fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down;
why cumber eth it the ground? The axe, like
the sword, is Avhettcd and lifted up, to save ra-
Ez. xxxiii. ther than destroy. " He Avilleth not the death
of a sinner, but rather that he should repent
and live."
We count the Surgeon wise, and consider
that he manifests a genuine compassion for
the patient, when he cuts off — no matter wha^
if the life can be preserved. Right hands, or
feet, or eyes, are not so precious to the body,
Mat. v. 29, as the blood that keeps warm the heart. It
30.
Markjx. is profitable for thee, said CHRIST, that
one of thy members should perish, and not that
thy whole body should be cast into hell. GOD
is this Surgeon; and the more the instrument is
sharpened, the better; and with the greater safe
ty will amputation be performed.
Yea, Aviser still, and still more compassion
ate, are yet seemingly severer Dispensations ;
though Nature^ life, or the life of any dearer ta

43—47.

SERMON XVII. 347
to me than my own, be smitten, if my Soul sermon

shall live thereby. .
- It is merciful, indeed, if the bended bow,
¦the whetted and uplifted sword, have pierced
another's breast, if my Idol were enthroned
ther£, and my heart estranged from GOD by
creature-love. GOD, who is a jealous GOD,
removes the Idol that hath stolen aAvay the
heart, that the heart may return to him.

O let us not, then, murmur at the bended
bow, or the whetted sword. GOD made for
you a greater sacrifice, than he hath either
demanded, or taken, at your hands, when he
gave his dear Son's soul to the lions, his
cheeks to the smiters, his back to the scourge,
and his body to be crucified for your sins!
The sword Avas here more keenly whetted, more
dreadfully lifted up, and more aAvfully it fell
too, Avhen bathed in the blood of JESUS. It
was a solemn fulfilling of Zechariah's pro
phecy: — Awake, O Sword, against my Shep- Zech. xiii.
herd, and against the man, that is my fol
low, saith the Lord of Hosts.
II. In the foregoing instances we have con
sidered the Sword and the Bow, as having been in

348 God's sword and boav.
sermow exercise, thus far, as the Ministers of Mercy:
v VII *
 '.  and in this liaht it is far more desirable to

behold them. But the Text may, perhaps, be
more obviously considered in the light of a ME
NACE, or THREATENING, against the ob
stinately wicked and impenitent; against persons,
Avho refuse the Avord of admonition, reject the
Lpke xix. offers of divine grace, will not have CHRIST to
reign over them, and slight the many gracious
messages and invitations which the Gospel
gives them; against those, Avho are contented
to let Sin and Satan bear rule and dominion
in their hearts, and give themselves up to the
pleasures of Sin for a season, as determined to
pursue the gratifications and sinful indulgences
of the life that now is, at the risk and ha
zard, nay, at the certain loss, of all the happi
ness, joys, and glories of another world, which
the Word of GOD proposes to their faith and
acceptance, through the satisfaction and merits
of the Saviour.
. -m. n. These are the zeicked, Avith Avhom GOD is
angry every day. And if these turn not, the
whetted sword, and the bended bow, may imply,
respecting them, a keener and severer vengeance
than any that has been hitherto mentioned, —
even the intire destruction both of the soul and

Deut.
xxxii. 41,

SERMON XV II. 343
and body. The SAvord, under this view of it, sermon
is awfully described: — If I whet my glitter
ing sword, and mine hand take hold on judg
ment, I will render vengeance, full, complete, 42,
and everlasting vengeance, to mine enemies,
and will reward than thai hate me. / will
make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my
sword shall devour flesh.
This is the SAvord of strict retribution and
justice, Avhich a righteous GOD must sheath in
the bowels of the impenitent. This is the SAvord
of wrath, which, in the day of GOD's fierce
anger, shall finally slay and destroy the wick
ed. This is the SAvord of vengeance, Avith
which he solemnly declares, I will repay.
So, again, amongst the severer terrors Avhich
he hath threatened, will be arrows more keen
ly pointed, barbed, and fitted for the sorest
judgments. We have heard of arrows dipped
in poison, to make the wound more rankling
and fatal: so will those of a long-provoked
GOD, at the last, be dipped in the cup of
trembling, the dregs and bitterness of his
wrath; yea, in the cup of Judas, or of Cain,
or of Esau ; that is, deep and sore convictions
of sin, Avhen the door of repentance and of
hope

S5Q god's sword and boav.

sermon hope is shut. / have betrayed the innocent
blood, said one of these. What is that to us?

XVII,

4,'5^V11, said the traffickers in blood, see thou to that.
He hanged himself in despair. Another com-
Gen, iv.13, plained, that his punishment zeas greater than
he could bear. A mark Avas set upon him,
that no man might render him the kind office,
as he would have esteemed it, of shortening
his life and his sufferings together. And a
third, Avhom we mentioned, was brought to
knoAV the value of the blessing which he had
sold, in that point of his unhappy experience,
GEM.xxviii. when it could not be obtained — no, not though
he sought it carefully with tears.
Brethren ! the same sword, that separates be-
tAveen the sinful soul of an unbeliever and
GOD's final mercies, is now lifted up amongst
us! O beware, then, that it fall not, before
we have seen the things that make for our
peace. Hardness of heart and final reproba
tion are amongst the instances of vengeance,
that a Avhetted sword and a bended bow in
flict on them, who continue still to forget
GOD; and, shall not the dread of these move
you? Will you not fear the eternal loss of
GOD's: presence? Where CHRIST is, the
finally impenitent can never come. The ab
solute

SERMON XVII. 351
•olute and eternal loss of GOD's presence, sermon

xvii.

and the remorse consequent thereon, which
will assuredly gall the conscience of every
child of darkness, furnish, perhaps, one of the
most terrible ideas of GOD's whetted and
sharpened sword; and, in this point of vieAVj
it was urged by CHRIST -.—There shall be LuKE *»»•
weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall
.see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all
the Prophets, in the Kingdom of GOD, and
you yourselves thrust out.
There is something very distressing, surely,
in the idea, that some, who may have been very
near and dear to us here, bone of our bone,
perhaps, and fiesh oj our fiesh, shall be received
into the Paradise of GOD, and the gates of it
shut against us !
Yet once more, it must be added, amongst
the threatenings which the sword and the
bended bow suggest, is the soul's punishment
1 in a place of torment.— -Of torment, — how long?
— for millions of ages? — Alas! no time, no
years, no ages, can limit the continuance of
the pains of that state, which CHRIST de-
. scribes under the idea of a fire that will Mark ix.
4,1. 4.6*.
never '

352 god's word and boav

SE X

rmon ncver be quenched, and a worm that neve*
 dies.

Such are the terrors, Avhich are implied in
the whetted and uplifted sword, and in the
prepared and bended bow; both one and the
other suspended, by the slender thread of na
ture's life: that once cut, there is no hope
nor possibility of a change. There is no passage
Luke xvi. over the gulph that kept Dives and Laza
rus apart in death. There is no repentance
in the grave.
LAM.iii.40. III. Turn then. Let us search and try our
ways, says the Prophet, and turn again to the
LORD ; since, if we turn not, such awful pro
spects aAvait us.
This was the last thing, of which I proposed,
to speak; HOW TO TAKE OFF THE EDGE
OF THE UPLIFTED SWORD, OR TO
EVADE THE STROKE. Let us turn, then,
unto GOD.
1. By confession; in the way Hosea ad-
Hos.xiv. l, vises: — 0 Israel, return unto the LORD thy
2' Gop ;ybr thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take

sER^oijr xvii. S53

fake with you words, and tyrn, to the LORD: sermon
say unto him, Take, away all in iniquity. Do — : — - —
not say, " I have no sin;" but say unto him,
take away all iniquity ', and receive us gracious
ly. Thus David turned to- the LORD, with
his mouth humbled in the dust, and the LORD,
poured the oil of gladness into his heart:—/ 2 Sam. xii.
have sinned,, said David: The LQRD also
hafh put away thy sin.-r-GOD be merciful tp Luke xviii.
me a sinner, said the publican. / tell you, '
said CHRIST, this man went down to his house
justified. Thus wa? the SAvord of justice sheath
ed, and the bow of vengeance slackened*
2. Turn unto the LORD, Avith humilia
tion. This disarms GOD's wrath against
even unbelievers themselves, so far as they are
brought to the exercise of it S.eest thou, 1 Kings
said the LORD to the Prophet, how Ahab hum- xxu29'
pleth himself?  I will not bring the evil in
his days. Thus does humiliation suspend the
stroke of an uplifted sAvord ! And if wqrkers
of iniquity, like Ahab, have experienced this
in a degree, a true penitent shall experience }t
to perfection. Does Ephraim smite upon his Jer. xxxi.
thigh ?r-h.e is my 4ear child still. l^' 20'

a a 3. Turn

SERM0W xvii.

5, 10

354 god's sword and bow.
3. Turn unto the LORD, in true and tho
rough reformation of life, — the relinquish
ing of Sin, and the denying of self in the habits
of iniquity. When the hand of GOD is lifted
up against a people for Sin, and his threaten-
ings are blessed to them in deterring them
from their iniquities, the stroke of vengeance
is suspended.- This Avas the case Avith the in-
JoxAHiii. habitants of Nineveh. They believed GOD,
proclaimed a fast, and put up a repenting cry
unto the LORD: — And GOD saw their works,
that they turned from their evil way; and
GOD repented of the evil that he had said
that he would do unto them, and he did it
not. 4-. Turn unto the LORD, in a full renun-
CIATION OF ALL DEPENDENCE ON THE WORKS,
RIGHTEOUSNESSES, AND PERFORMANCES OF THE
cr-eature, as amounting to the least grain or
tittle of weight or Avorth in the sight of GOD.
Plead nothingness, and insolvency; in a debt
equal to ten thousand talents, without any
thing to pay. Come to the Throne of
Grace, as a beggar for an alms; — a beggar,
Avho has no claim to Any thing, and yet
wants Every thing. Let the Avork and righ
teousness of the LORD alone be exalted in
that

SERMON XVII. 355

sermon XVII.

that day; and own, it is a faithful saying,
and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRIST
JESUS came into the world to save sinner. iTiM.i.15.
And if thou see thyself as St. Paul did, the
chief of sinners, thou wilt behold CHRIST
also as most precious, and the only Sa
viour. 5. If sin be discovered to thee as the worst of
evils, and thou dread the sword of justice, turn
unto the LORD, by presenting the shield
OF FAITH TO RECEIVE THE STROKE. Is the
SAvord whetted? — Is the bow prepared? — Is jus
tice about to strike?— Let faith place JESU's
breast betwixt the sinner and the uplifted
sword. That breast receives the wound; yea,
and all the arrows of the bow of veno-eance,
that Avould otherwise fall on and destroy the
sinner. 6. Turn unto the LORD, with Mary's t
Tn t_ . Luke vh.
love, it thou art a smner equal unto her, 36—50.
still fall at the feet of JESUS. Wash them with x- 39'
thy tears. Sit at those feet, to hear the words
of life ; wait there, for the look of love, which
melted Mary's heart, and which dissolved the
heart of Peter too; and believe that the Sa
viour thus regards you. Believe that his love
*A a 2 tran-

356

GODS SWOBD-AND BOW.

XVII.

sermon transcends your siaas, and that hi* mercies
outnumber your transgressions. Believe that
he has forgiven you; and see, that, having
much forgiven, much lov<e fili your breast.
Amdl if that love be shed abroad in your heart,
neither the sword of j-wtiee, nor tine arrows of
vengeance, will ever penetrate; but a belieA'ing
vieAv of him, who loved you with an everlast
ing love, will soiiten the rock, will melt the soul,
ar&d kindle a blessed flame Avithin, that shall
hum to the glory .of GOD, and the believer's
blessedness, for ever
. My Brethren, it is far more agreeaMe to my
^ifldlings, to close in the words of consolation ;
but, as the Scripture, which we have considered,
must be regarded as a menace to the wicked,
it seems expedient, to finish with a word of
Avarning. I will read it from Jeremiah- O
Jer. iv. 14 Jerusalem, wash thine heart from zeickedness,
that thou may est he saved: how long' shall thy
wain thoughts lodge within thee f For a voice
' declareth from Dan, and published affliction
from mount Ephraim. Make ye mention to
the nations, fahold, publish against Jerusa-
. lem, that Catchers come from a for country,
.and give: out their voice against the cities of
Judah. As keepers of a field are they against her

—n

XVII.

SERMON XVII. 357
her round about j because she hath been rebel- sermon
lious against me, saith the LORD. Thy way
and thy doings have procured these things
unto thee : this is thy wickedness, because it
is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

You will find from Daniel's interpretation Dan. iv.
of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, that watchers
Avere those, Avho waited for permission and op
portunity to destroy.
Such watchers avait for your souls.
May the LORD aAvaken your fears, enlighten
your hearts, and arm your breasts with the
shield of faith ! that your agreement with Hell
may be broken, Satan disappointed of his
prey, and your souls deliA'ered from the pit
and the fierce Avrath of GOD, to sing, Aviththe
LORD'S redeemed, Hallelujahs to GOD and the
LAMB for ever!

SERMON

SERMON XVIII.
ON THE CONFESSION.

2 COR. Chap. i. Ver. 13.
We write none other things unto you, than what
ye read, or acknowledge.
oT. PAUL, in his pastoral letters to the Co
rinthian Church, reminds the members of that
Church, that the doctrines and counsels, which
he inculcates on them, were no new thing. —
He Avrote nothing to them but Avhat they had
read, and Avere well acquainted with. He in
sists only on truths already granted, and seeks
to build them up on the foundation already laid
— We write none other things, &;c. This

SERMON XVIII.

360

ON THE CONFESSION.

sermon jhis likewise is my plea. My opinions are in
 no wise peculiar, or differing from the opinions
and sentiments that are subscribed to by others,
ordained to minister in the Established Church.
I am an admirer of its Articles, Liturgy, and
Homilies; and I take early occasion, on my
coming amongst you *$ to acknoAvledge this :
they are constructed upon the grand and essen
tial doctrines of the Gospel, and the proofs
and evidences of their truth are drawn from the
Bible. But I lament, that there is much of formality
amongst nominal christians — a mere assent
to creeds and confessions, AVithout meaning any
thing thereby.
Many will read and acknowledge with us
the confessions of the desk, who yet are un
willing to be reasoned and treated with, accord
ing to these confessions, from the pulpit.
This sentiment shall be illustrated, by a short
comment upon our General Confession; in
Avhich you read and acknowledge such things
as these: —
* This Sermon was preached at the "St/if day feVfeliiTig Lec
ture, at St. Bride's Church, in Fleet Street, soon after the
Author's election to that Lectureship.— Editor.
I. Man's

1 SERMON XVIII. 361
I. Man's general depravity; sermon
XVIII.
II. Acceptance by CHRIST alone; and,
III. A GODLY LIFE, AS THE EFFECT OF GOD'S
GRACE, AND NOT OF Man's ABILITY,
And yet there is not one of these Thres
things, if urged in earnest, and insisted on with
real energy and fervour, which does not prove
dffensive and disgusting to the greater part of
the very persons who reed and aekmwledgs
them. This short prayer, with which our Service
opens, divides itself into Three parts ; namely,
the believer's confession — his profession—
&hd his purpose. And where these really
exist in the mind, and influence the life of the
Worshipper — there is- salvation; but where they
are only in the Mouth, and affect neither the
Heart nor the Life — they do but enhance the
guilt of every person who uses them.
I. Tlie CONFESSION, every man joining
in tour Church Service makes, is — that he hath
erred:— Almighty and most merciful Fa
ther, AVE HAVE ERRED AND STRAYED FROM
t!BY ways like lost sheep,; like sheep in
sensible

S62

ON THE CONFESION'.

sermon sensible of their errors, and utterly unable,
xvin* • •ir •
 . without a guide, to regain the fold. How in
consistent this, Avith a man, Avho, at the same
time, maintains his uprightness; thinks himself
never in the Avrong — that his knoAvledge is com
petent to guide him aright — and that he has
not lost his Avay ! Such will not esteem a
Guide — a Saviour — Avho describes himself as
Mat. xviii. one Avho comes to seek and save the lost.
11.
Luke xix.
10.' You have just been confessing :-^-We have
FOLLOAVED TOO MUCH THE DEVICES AND DE
SIRES of our oavn hearts; yet will ill brook
the plain dealing of any one who tells you,
that you are under the government of your cor
rupt affections; that you seek the things of
Self, not of GOD; that you are under the
dominion of Avorldly principles, and not the
spiritual and Christian influences, that teach
a man to take up his Cross, deny himself, and
follow CHRIST.
Hoav can a man, Avho disowns the charge of
sin, or who thinks himself better than another,
confess before GOD, without a lie: — We have
OFFENDED AGAINST THY HOLY LAWS; WE HAVE
LEFT UNDONE THOSE THINGS WHICH WE OUGHT TO
HAVE. DONE, AND WE HAVE DONE THOSE THINGS
WHICH AVE OUGHT NOT TO HAVE DONE? Surely such

SERMON XVIII. £33
such acknowledgments as these are calcu- sumoh
lated for conscious sinners only, and must be  "*
deemed nonsense and falsehood by those, who
have not, in their own opinion, thus transgres
sed ! They are a form of Avoids, Avhich can
only suit the case and conviction of him, Avho
sees himself to have been a transgressor from Is xlv-;i s
the womb; yea, for men who see themselves al
together diseased and depraved,, utterly and
throughout polluted by sin : —
— For the confessional part of this prayer
concludes with this intire disclaiming of any
thing, either in part or in the Avhole, as wor
thy of GOD's regard, in a fallen creature:
WE HAVE NO HEALTH IN US. No HEALTH?
—this idea cannot be connected with any
thing in the Body, for we knoAV, that a very
small measure of bodily indisposition will keep
a man from Public Confession in the Church
at all. It is an expression, therefore, calculated
for men diseased in the Soul ; and how diseas
ed, let the Prophet Isaiah illustrate: — The ch. i. 5, 6.
whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
From the sole of the foot' even unto the head,
there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and
bruises, and putrefying sores.
You have not, perhaps, attended to this sub
ject : you have not had this internal view of
the

364 ON THE CONFESSION.
sermom the human heart, as desperately wickea\ deceit*

XVIII.

ful, and past the knoAvledge of a man untaught
jER.xvii.9, 0f GOD: you have not had David's views of
Ps. Ii. 5. yourselves, as shapenin iniquity, conceived in sin.
You are, probably, not in the habit of search
ing and tiying yourselves, and applying the
pure and holy LaAv of GOD to your con
sciences, your thoughts, your imaginations,
your desires, and your practices. You have
not learnt, by actual experience, your natu
ral insufficiency to the Avork of reformation,
change of life, alteration of habits, conversion
of inclinations from unholy to holy, from
Avorldly to heavenly, from temporal to eternal
things. If you had, you Avould soon have found,
the leprous for uncleanness, — the palsied for
debility, — the maimed in eyes, ears, hands, and
feet, for blindness, deafness, and incapacity,
are the proper emblems of your spiritual con
dition, and the most apt that can be to describe
your state, of inability and disinclination to
every good thought, word, and deed, comport*
ing with the holy injunctions of GODVLaw.
The man, who confesses before GOD, and as
many witnesses as surround him in the act .of

SERMON XVIII. S&6

XVIII.

of public worship, that he is an erring sermon
and lost creature, that he is governed by his
own selfish desires, has left Undone the things
he ought, and done those he ought not,
and that there is no spiritual health in him,
must cease, if he he a consistent character, to
contend for the morality, the purity, the up
rightness, or the merit of any thing in human
nature : and he must bear to be told the thing
which he himself reads and acknowledges ;
viz. that he is poor, sinful, perverted, deprav
ed, and lost; and can have no hope, nor pos
sible expectation, of an escape from Hell,
or an admission into HeAven, but through a
Mediator: — and, consequently, he will look
for— II. Acceptance through the alone merits of
the Saviour. This PROFESSION is com
prised in the Second part of the' prayer Ave
are considering, and Avhich every member of
our Church takes upon himself: a profession,
which pleads for Mercy not Judgment, ac
knowledging the condemning sentence just;
and Sues for restoration, only on the ground
of the promises of GOD, declared un
to MANKIND IN CHRIST JESU OUR
Lord.
i There

366 ON THE CONFESSION.

sermoj* There is not a promise throughout the whole
XVIII. * °
¦  — — book of GOD, to any man who stands upon
Acts xxv. his OAvn merits for justification: Hast thou
12- appealed unto Cesar? Unto Cesar shalt
Is. I. n. thou go. — Behold, all ye that kindle afire, that
compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in
the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye
have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand,
ye shall lie dozen in sorrow.
The man, who OAvns himself a miserable of
fender, and knows that a single sin incurs the
sentence of condemnation, shrinks from judg
ment; and gladly, if a consistent man, throws
himself upon the Judge for mercy: and yet,
GOD can sheAv no mercy to a sinner, but
"according to his promises, declared unto
"mankind in CHRIST JESU our Lord:"
Rom. iii. 26. in him GOD can be just, andthejustifierof
him which believeth.
A man, who is conscious of perpetual sin
needing perpetual contrition, and has, in the
offices of our- excellent Church, a daily con
fession put into his mouth, must see, and
know, that it is only on the " Promises of
" GOD," to receive him to favour, through
the Mediator, that he can ever venture to
approach

SERMON XVIII. 367
¦•'.V <¦'
*
approach him; but through this happy me- sermon XVII 1
dium, the daily sin of the Contrite -believer,

though it entails upon him through life- the
name and character of a sinner, yet finds' re
mission by the " Promises of GOD through
"JESUS;" and the man, who Believes and
Means the sentiment he reads and acknow
ledges, sees his " Almighty and most metci-
" ful Father," addressed in this Confession, as
a GOD justifying the ungodly; and that, if Rom. iv. 5.
any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Fa- John ii.
ther, JESUS CHRIST the righteous; and l'2'
he is the propitiation for our sins. ;-..*; ..;,• >
Tlie man, who prays for restoration as a pe
nitent, and recollects, as the ground of his
plea, that GOD restoreth the soul, and leadeth Ps. xxiii. 3.
the penitent in the paths of righteousness for
his OAvn name's sake: — the man, who -believes
his Bihle, which declares, whom GOD did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be con- Rom. viii.
formed to the image of his Son; that it is 29-
both the Promise and the Purpose of GOD,
and that for which -"he hath chosen the be
liever in CHRIST JESUS before the foundation
of the world, that he should be holy, and with- eph j. 4>
out blame before him in love: — the man, who
sees and .believes this, must certainly expect the
parxlon,

SfiJR on fae cawrE3^sioN-

EEKM«K pardon, the dpljvtranee, an4 the restoration of
¦ his sftul,— 4h« RCcejH&ne« of his person, and the
sanotificutigji ef it too, — only " according t$
" the promises of GOD, declared iinto man-
" kind in CHRIST JESUour LpRD."
How, then, pan we vindicate pur confessions,
and our professions to justification, righteous
ness, or life, through " the promises of GOD
"in CHRIST JESUS," if, like Paul's bre-
Rom. x. 3. threp jn the flesh, igqorant of GOD's righ
teousness, and gawg about to establish our
own, we submit not to the righteousness of
GOD?
iCoR.vi.9. The unrighteous shall not inherit the king
dom of GOD ; and it is the plain and em
phatic language of our Church, which you
also read and acknowledge in her Articles.,
Art. xi. that " We are accounted righteous before
GOD, only for the Merit of our Lord and
Saviour JESUS CHRIST by faith, and not
for our OAvn works or deservings." If this be a
truth, confessed and subscribed by us, how
can we consistently rest our hopes pf accept-
•ance, on any of the imperfect works pf man?
or Avith what propriety can the preaching of sal
vation, as the free gift of GOD to sinners
jiij through

SERMON XVIII. St?9

through faith in his Son, be objectionable, sbrmok
or disgusting, to the hearer? — Since " it is a  1^.
" most Avholesome doctrine," as our eleventh
Article expresses it, " and very full of com-
"fort:" audit is a doctrine according to god- iTiM.vi.3.
liness.
ni. > And that practical godliness is the end
aimed at by true religion ; the effect of GOD's
grace, : influencing the believer's practice;
Avrought in him for the gloRy Of GOD's
name; the PURPOSE of the christian;
and a principal object of the confessory prayer,
which we are considering; is the last thing of
which we proposed to speak.
1. I observe, that we may hereafter
LIVE A GODLY, RIGHTEOUS, AND SOBER
LIFE, TO THE GLORY OF GOD's NAME —
is a grant requested of our most merciful
Father for CHRIST'S sake.
A life stamped with the characters of god
liness, righteousness, and sobriety, is" expected
as the Grant of GOD, and as the Avork of Sis
.SPIRIT in the heart, only by the man who
Believes and Means the weekly confessions
that he makes. " We have no power," as
b b our

370 ON THE CONFESSION.

sermon our Church expresses it, " to do good Avorks,
 1__ "pleasant and acceptable to GOD, without
ArtjX. " the grace of GOD by CHRIST preventing
" us;" nor can we presume to ask, even the
grace enabling us to do this, in our oavn
names — it Avill only be given us, as we OAvn in
the Confession, for CHRIST'S sake; and
Avhen the grace of holiness is conferred, it is
not for man, the receiver of that holiness, to
ground his hope of life thereon; the hope of
eternal life stands on the alone Avork of
CHRIST: and the godliness Avrought in the
experience and practice of believers, is the
fruit of the SPIRIT in the heart; and, con
sequently, furnishes no ground of glorying or
boasting to any man. The praise and the glory
of a " godly, righteous, and sober life," are
ascribed by our Confession to the name
of GOD; Avhose poAver, and not our own, pro
duces it.
2. But I observe again; — in appealing to
matter of fact it will be found, that the Godli
ness of life required, together Avith the Ground
or Source of it, both one and the other, are
practically rejected by many of the persons
who OAvn, confess, and pretend to plead for
them. With

SERMON XVIII. 371
With regard to the Ground, or Source, of sermon XV11I.

true holiness, the cry is : " Tell us our Duty,
"and what we have to do ; rather than Doc-
" trines, and what we are to believe." Men
affect a desire to hear of doing, rather than
of believing. " Faith," say they, " opens
" the door of Heaven too wide: sinners may
" rush in as well as saints. "

The Fact is: — The salvation we preach
through faith, is connected with so much
self-denial and godliness, so much righteous
ness and integrity in our dealings, so much so
briety, moderation, temperance, chastity, and
purity, in the modes of living and conversation;
that the Faith and Love which is in CHRIST 2 Tim. 1.13,
JESUS, and is the very Ground and Source
of these graces and duties, is rejected under
the poor pretence that it is unfriendly to true
godliness; whereas, in truth, true godliness
itself is the thing that cannot be borne. Men
unchanged in hearthate holiness, and, therefore,
will not endure to hear of a system of faith in
CHRIST JESUS, that is inseparably connected
with a holiness, Avhich strikes at the root of
all their vices ; and, therefore, they shut their
eyes, their ears, and every other sense that
might serve as an avenue to the heart, through
B b 2 Avhich

372 ON the confession.
**xvu* -^irii those doctrines might acquire an autfco-
-=rr-r rity, that would disquiet tlie false peace of the
mind ; and make sinful practices, Avorldly plea
sures, and carnal gratifications, painful to them.
And this depraved sentiment is glossed and
varnished over, Avith a specious concern for
good Avorks, the interests of morality, and the-
duties of mankind.
i . How these duties are discharged, and Avhat
measures of godliness, righteousness, and so
briety of life, are possessed by the bulk of
mankind, Avho contend for the mora} system*,
will he seen by any Avho folloAV our mpdern
worshippers, and our violent contenders for
good works, into their houses— their closets
— -thfir marketplaces — their amusements — their
pleasures;— and inquire intp the expenditure of
their. time— especially on the Sabbath. ,Ll Bre
thren,, be honest to yourselves; and inquire,
Avhether, from the use. you make of thp Sab
bath, from the lax state of your morals, from
* " Moral System," The Authqr clearly (Joes not mean,
that morality is not to be contended for; but his censure is di
rected against that sys-tem ofpartial Ifthics, which differs little
from the heathen, and is disjoined from evangelical doctrines* '%
Editor. the

SERMON * XVIII. 373

XVI M.

the abuse tliat is made by £ you" of OOD 's- gt>pd s £ * M<> N
creatures, from the pro fonertess of your lan
guage, from the intempeiaruce. of your repasts,
and from the whole interior- of your private
life, — it be not obvious, that you mean, no
thing, when you confess- yourselves sinners'
before GOD ; when you pray for pardoning?
mercy, according to His " promises in CHRIST
" JESU our Lord;" and when you plead for
grace, in order tp the. living, " a gedly, righte-
" ous, and sober life."
My friends, though I thus speak,- *nay I
hope better things of you? May I hope' that
you AviU not be offended Avith the Avatchmenj
Avho watch for your souls, and tell you plainly, Heb. xiii.
that you are sinners, and that you must repent
and believe the Gospel? May I hope, that
you will not object and cavil at the plain
truths of that Gospel which proposes salvation,
on the alone merits and righteousness of the Sa
viour; nor froAvn on men, Avho contend for a'
faith producing holiness,- a change in yOui\
habits, a weaning from the Avorld, and from
its destructive pleasures. In ail these respects,
we preach none other things unto you, than
what you read or acknoielcdg-e. ¦ May

17.

374 ON the CONFESSION.
sermow May the LORD make us all consistent cha-
^  '.  1_ racters ! — Avork faith in our hearts, on the great

things we confess with our mouths! — enable us
to believe the. great truths Ave profess to admit;
and to feel the confessions, the hopes, and
the prayers we utter! To deal otherwise by
men, would incur their contempt and displea
sure; to deal otherwise with GOD, must incur
his present indignation, and an accumulated
measure of wrath and condemnation on our
souls hereafter.
O for the views of divine truth, which
GOD's HOLY SPIRIT gives!— those views of
the soul's true state of danger, and the way of
escape, which CHRIST'S Gospel exhibits to
believers !
Ps. ex. s. O for grace, to make us willing in the day
Zech.ix.12 of his power, to flee as sinners and prisoners
of hope, to the hope that still invites us! be
lieving on CHRIST the Righteous for life,
righteousness, and salvation; Avith a faith se
curing gospel holiness, man's happiness, and
GOD's eternal Glory.
3. Though the grand design of this discourse
is to caution those, who use a sound form of
words,

SERMON XVIII. 375

S.BRMOM XVIII.

words,; from resting in the mere reading and
acknowledging of them, without entering into
their meaning and spirit,— lest they offer the
sacrifice of fools, and so increase their con
demnation, I must, at the same time, insist, for
the encouragement of the sincere,
— That those, Avho not only confess, but, in
truth, see and feel themselves to be sinners,
justly deserving wrath, yet hoping for mercy
through " the promises of GOD declared unto
" mankind in CHRIST JESU our Lord;" and
A\rho earnestly desire holiness of life as a part and
fruit of salvation, and look for it, through the
SPIRIT's work wrought in them, to the glory
of GOD; are intitled to all the blessed and
extensiA^e consolations Avith Avhich the Gospel
of CHRIST abounds. Comfort ye, comfort If. xl. 1.
ye, my people; and for all such people, how
ever manifold their sins haA-e been, there is
mercy in store: for them the Advocate still
pleads ; for them, the gate of mercy still stands
open; for them, ambassadors in CHRIST'S
stead are still sent, praying them to be re
conciled; for them, the atoning blood is shed,
yea, and Avith the LORD there is plenteous re
demption. GOD

2 Con.

v.

20.

Ps. CXXX.

.7.

S76 ON TUB CONFESSION,

sermon GOD inspire the hope of it in eA'ery breast!
XVI II* * and encourage all the poor, the sinful, and the
wretched, to come, with one sound form of pe
nitent acknowledgment in the mouth, and ge*
nuine godly sorrow in the heart, and they may
freely partake of the rich grace and pardoning
Heb.vu.25. love of him Avho is able to save them to the ut
termost that come unto GOD by him !

HELP

TO

PRAYER.

ADVERTISEMENT*.
1HE following forms of prayer are designedly imperfect.
Many of them commence and conclude abruptly ; and, in most
of them, void spaces are left, with four or five full stops in suc
cession ; — the design of Avhich is, that the person who leads in
prayer, may supply something, according to his own judgment
and discretion, as the, particular circumstances, persons, or wants
of his family, may require.
In most cases it will be easily seen what supplications or ex
pressions are intended to- fill up such vacancies; and the filling
them up will be a profitable and serviceable exercise; as this
Avill be leading the devout reader to the expressing of some
wants, the pleading for some dear relative, and the laying before
the LORD some circumstances of sin and sorrow, that the au
thor has not provided for. This is a device, by which the author
aims at carrying his readers forward, towards the desirable exer
cise of laying their wants before GOD, without a form. Hence,
though in some of the void places alluded to, it may not be ob
vious at first sight, what petitions the author means them to be
filled up with; it will put the reader upon inventing some
thing to serve this purpose; and this will, still more immediate
ly, lead to an habit of speaking directly from the wants and de
sires of the heart, which, after all, are the best prayers we can
offer. These forms are mostly calculated for Family Worship; and
j!he plural number is, therefore, used. But they may be easily
accommodated to the use of single persons, by changing the
pronoun, and omitting the clauses relating to the family.
They are not limited to Morning or Evening worship ; but, by
attending to the general expressions inclosed between hooks,
they may be adapted to either.
* This little work was printed anonymously by the Author, in 1795,
chiefly for the use of his friends; and is now reprinted with a few slight
alterations, which seemed likely to render it more generally acceptable. —
Editor. Few

380 ADVERTISEMENT.
Few of them are more than five minutes long; and, as they
^ire Avritten in some peculiarity of style, there are but few of
them, which will not require that time to read them with dis
tinctness and profit.
Considerable pauses should be made at every full stop, that
the mind may apprehend, and-reflect upon ever}' petition. With
out this, no prayer whatever will be either-acceptable with GOD
or advantageous to the offerer.
On the Sabbath, Avhen most persons have a greater com
mand of time, it Avould be well to add, in some of the void
spaces, (and perhaps, for the most part, where the three asteiisks
are printed), some of the detached petitions at the end ; viz.
" for the Sunday," " for the King," &c— These will all be.'
founds as has been hinted, to be both begun and concluded Avith
abruptness, for the special purpose that has been mentioned ;
namely, the- weaving them into the body of Morning and Even-"
ing devotion..
May the Spirit of Grace and Supplication be poured
out upon the hearts, of the readers of this little manual! May
the advocacy of CHRIST JESUSmake their prayers effectual !
the SPIRIT itself helping their infirmities, ana making interces
sion for them, according to the will of GOD !

A
HELP

TO

PRATER.

PRAYER I.
Q GRACIOUS GOD! in yfoose sight the Angels
are not pure; hoAV must we come? and what 'must -be
the plea Avith Avhich-vve may appear "before thee? — the
merits of Jesus; the blood 'of .our atoning Priest;
the righteousness5 of thine Holy One. Tnese, these
are our plea, our cleansing, our covering, ^nd the
ground of our claim. We offer these, and humbly beg
that thou Avpuldest turn thine eyes, from the fulness
of corruption -anti vtteijess that dwells in us, to the pu
rity and 'perfect holiness that shine in the Sun of
Righteousness. ; "¦•
Look upon the face of thine Anointed; and, ac
cording to his deservings and the riches of thy grace',
be gracious unto usj Behold, webeseeeh thee, our
' ¦ ' Avants,

882 HELP TO FHAVER.
wants, our sins, our miseries; — see! — \vhat rescues we
stand in need of ! — what bondages enslave us ! — and hoAv
we are " tied and bound Avith the chain of our sins."
Never did sinful household need more than Ave do,
thy mercies in JESUS CHRIST, to save, deliver, and
set free their souls, from the sad effects entailed upon
them from the sin of Adam, their forefather !
Thou hast promised, that, as our day is, so our
strength shall be. Behold our sins, our conflicts, our
temptations, our wretchedness, our cares. Help us, O
LORD, to lay them all on thee. Unburthen the la
bouring conscience; open the door of hope; and set
our captive souls at liberty. O LORD, bid sin's do
minion cease! Make bare, we pray thee, thine
arm, and A'anquish the proud hosts, that fight against
our souls; the secret hindrances, that impede the ope
rations of thy grace, and quench its holy motions.
Are Ave any of us called by CHRIST'S name ? — call
us effectually by the grace that saves, and cause us
to feel the genuine effects of its poAver in our
hearts. Defend us, O LORD, from resting in a name to
live. Guard us from the religion of the Pharisee;
and take away from us the reproach of the hypocrite.
Make us imvardly holy; dead to the Avorld; and mor
tified to self. Let our conversation be this day in Hea
ven. Purify, O GOD, our hearts, as thou art pure;
and let, not only the name, but the power, of the King
dom of GOD, come upon each member of our house
hold. [O bless the absent members of it ! .... , may the
cloud, and fiery pillar, prepare their Avay, and lead them
into GOD's perpetual presence !]
Give grace to each of us, to fill up our respective cha
racters with the uprightness and integrity which thy
Word commands; and help us all to walk worthy of
our holy vocation. Make us, Ave humbly beseech thee,.
Christian

prayer ii. " 383
Christian Parents, Christian Masters, Christian Chil
dren, Christian Servants; honouring and adorning the
doctrines of GOD our Saviour in all things.
. Take all our concerns here, into thy wise and un
erring hand  Cast thou our lot. Deal out our por
tion to us; and give us a contented mind, with every
divine appointment *#*
And, with thy daily mercies, give, we beseech
thee, the disposition to daily praise .... [We praise,
&c] — [Guard thou our goings out this Day— Or- —
Avatch thou about our beds this Night.]
Dismiss us with an assured belief, that thou wilt
hear and ansAver, for the sake of him in whose name
we plead, JESUS, the Son of thy Love, Avho hath
taught us thus to pray : —
Our Father, &c.

PRAYER II.

O THOU, that art of purer eyes than to behold
iniquity, Iioav shall we approach thee? — We, Avho are
filled with the multitude of our wickedness, and 0Arer-
flowing Avith transgression! Thy word invites us,
tinder the cover of CHRIST'S merits, to come; no
thing doubting, but that he is able, to save to the ut
termost, all that come unto thee, through him.'
*„* Here may be insertedthe Sabbath-day pieces, or any other oc
casional additions that shall be thought expedient, O help

3S* HELP TO PRAVER.
O help us to eome. By thy Love and SPIRIT
draw us. Give us to approach by the door of access
to thee; answer our feeble knockings; and reveal
thyself. Reveal thyself as a sin-pardoning GOD.
Heal, O heal our b?\)ken bones. Make them to rejoice.
Gladden our hearts, with the joys of thy salvation.
O visit us thereAvith. Remember us with the favour
thou hearest unto thf people. Enable us to see the
good of thy chosen. Give us to rejoice with the glad
ness of thy nation. Help us to boast and gtory with
thine inheritance. Grant us thy HOLY SPIRIT,
that we may see our need of CHRIST, as the only
ground of our claim to Heaven; and help us to see
the sufficiency of his Salvation to every end. O
LORD, give us to see, that, through the fulfilling of
the Law by CHRIST, and the merit of his death, Ave
gain more than Ave lost by the transgression of Adam,
our forefather. GiAre us to see, that no power on
Earth, or in Hell, can condemn, Avhere GOD,
through CHRIST JESUS, justifies.
— O LORD, grant each member of our household
the light of the HOLY GHOST, to see and under
stand these great and important things, which alone
can constitute our true peace ; — [this child — these ser-
A'ants — this friend] — O teach Them, and teach us All,
to understand the things that are too hard for us, With
out thy SPIRIT's teaching; but With it, thou canst,
nay, hast thou not promised thou Avouidest teach
us all things ?
Teach us, then, thou promised Comforter, in
spiritual and heavenly things. Discover to us the mys
teries of thy Kingdom ; and may tbiat Kingdom
come, abounding Avith present grace,, and earnests of
future glory, into every breast that is hoav before
thee! • —With

PRAYER III. 385
—With these rich blessings, bless, Ave pray thee,
dear absent friends  and let their hearts, as Avell as
ours, be captivated by thy love. ***
We praise thee, gracious GOD, for these desires ;
so far as thou hast planted them in our hearts. We
praise thee for the beginnings of the work. of grace;
(if thou hast wrought them in us;) and for the de
clarations on record left us, that JESUS is not only
the Author, but the Finisher of his people's faith.
Most especially Ave praise thee for redeeming love;
" for the means of grace, and the hopes of glory." And,
O LORD, we praise thee too, for temporal mercies
 the delivering arm; the supporting hand ; the
unbounded bounty, that giveth us all things richly to
enjoy. Hear, gracious GOD, our prayers, and accept our
praises, for JESU's sake, who taughf us to call thee
Father: —
Our Father, &c.

PRAYER. III.

 O LORD, thou knoAvest, that, though by thy
grace we Would, yet, of ourselves, Ave Cannot pray.
Give us thy SPIRIT, then, the Spirit of Grace
and Supplication. Teach us, as thou taughtest
thine of old, to pray. i_
— O LORD, thou knowest, that, though by thy
grace we Would repent, yet, of ourselves, we Cannot.
c c We

386 HELP TO PRAYER.
We cannot weep for sin. We cannot enough lament
the Avickedness that fills our hearts. O give us, then,
Ave humbly implore, thy Grace and SPIRIT, that Ave
may look on him whom we have pierced, and mourn :
— mourn our rebellions; — mourn our backslidings; —
moum our treacherous hearts; hearts that harbour the
enemies of their peace within, and hold secret corre
spondence with the foe.
Yea, LORD, our treacherous hearts harbour our
enemies and thine; and oft-times, Avhile Ave call out,
" Come, take our hearts," Avith shame Ave confess, that
Ave give more Avilling access to carnal, worldly, sensual
thoughts, that alienate the soul from thee, and shut
out thy presence. —
— O that Ave could but hate our sins !-^and those
tendencies of our hearts to sin, that exclude and ob
struct the communion and intercourse of GOD with
our souls !
Help us, O help us, gracious GOD, to struggle
against the bands and fetters of habitual iniquity.
Give us thy promised grace and strength, to stand
against the keen tempter's malice. Alas! ave have no
poAver. It is thou alone avIio Canst, and Must, rend
our souls from the enrootments of besetting sin, to
Avhich AA-e are enslaA-ed. TiiYpoAver alone can set us
free, from the unholy tempers that captivate our
souls, — Save us, O LORD, from Hell! and snatch us as
brands from the fire, to burn in Heaven, -with a flame
of love, that shall blaze for ever. *#*.
— We ask not, O Almighty GOD, the thing thou
canst not grant. Thou art able, thou art Avilling,
thou hast promised, to do all these things and more.
O help us to believe thy promises !  In CHRIST'S
name we plead them. For his sake, vouchsafe to hear
us, and send the help for which Ave call; yea, send it
into

PRAYER III. 387
into the heart of each of these that Avorship here ; and
pour down upon our beloved absent relatives and
friends, thy richest streams of mercy. Make us, Ave
humbly pray, the parents of our household; and,
through our prayers and counsels, dispense thy grace
into every heart, that joins us in our present supplica
tions. Regard their interests. Watch over their Souls. Let
Convicting, converting, establishing, and effectually-
saving grace, be imparted to every breast. Make us a
family possessing divine, and holy, and heavenly love;
and let that love, shed abroad Avithin, constrain to holy
obedience, gratitude, and duty.
Yea, O LORD, let gratitude, evinced by duty and
obedience, adorn our lives; and invite thy future and
thy further mercies. O help our hearts to offer thee
sweet incense of sincerest praise, for temporal and spi
ritual mercies. We bless thee, gracious LORD, for
 — And the last instance of thy preserving
care, throughout the preceding [Night or Day], calls
for fresh acts of praise. Let not Lip-service serve
the turn; but Avith heart, and life, and soul, Avould Ave
adore thee.
Keep us this [Day or Night] in holy nearness to
thee, and let us never depart from thy presence 
— All this Ave ask, and still more we need and will ex
pect, for our Saviour's sake, in Avhom Areprav;
Our Father, Ike.

c c 2 PRAYER

388 HELP TO PRAYER.

PRAYER IV.

 GREAT Maker of our hearts ! anew create
them; for thine image in them is deformed. There
is no likeness of thee left. The World, the Flesh, and
Satan, have taken possession of thehouse, Avhich thou
buildedst for thyself. But, O LORD, thou art the
rightful oAvner. Take possession of thine OAvn, and
cast out the vile usurpers.
Take thou our hearts, and seal them thine. Take
Thou our hearts, Ave pray thee, and set up therein
thy throne. Plant in our hearts the faith, that pu
rifies ; the faith, that overcometh the world; that
shields off the fiery darts of Satan ; and that worketh
by love!
O Source of Light! dispel our darkness, and
chase aAvay the gloom of nature's night. O God of
Jesus! O Father of eternal light and glory, give
unto us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the
knoAvledge of thyself; — the eyes of our understand
ing being enlightened, that we may know zehat is the
hope o/'Thy calling; what the riches of the glory of
thine inheritance in the saints ; and zehat is the ex
ceeding greatness of thy power, to them-zeard that
believe. O LORD, reveal to us the special blessings of
the covenant of grace. Shew us that covenant; and'
plant in our hearts the godly fear, zvith which thy se
cret dwells. %*.
O LORD, quicken our dead souls, that cleave to th$
dust, the filth, the dross, and the pollutions of the
Avorld. Let not our affections fasten on dying objects. Chant

PRAYER IV. 389
Grant that the Avealth and glory Avith Avhich the trea
suries of GOD abound, may be disclosed to the eye of
faith; and grace be given to us, to pant and aspire after
the full possession of them.
0 let not thing's transitory exclude from our hearts
the glorious joys, adapted to our never-dying souls!
Blessed JESUS, Heavenly FATHER, Holy SPI
RIT, fill our hearts; make glad our souls; and visit
them with the fulness of the gospel hope. —
— No individual of our house Avould we exempt from
a share of these special blessings. O LORD, touch
all their hearts, Avith an earnest desire to obtain
them. —
— Be thou the Father of our children ; espouse our
best beloved on earth; be thou our common Master,
SoA-ereign, and Lord. Help us to serve thee, and
each other too, in the Avay, and Avith the faithfulness,
Avhich thy Word prescribes.
Write gratitude, Ave humbly beseech thee, upon our
hearts for blessings given. Help us to count up, to
estimate, and worthily to adore thee for, the mercies
thou hast vouchsafed us. Teach us hoAv to value re
deeming, justifying, sanctifying grace; and sheAv us
what Ave OAve thee, for the abounding riches of thv
providential love.
We praise thee for preserving mercy through the.,,
< — help us in thee to put our trust and .confidence, for
the needed succours- of the ensuing  May our
.praises be accepted, and our prayers answered, for the
sake and merits of our Saviour, Avho, &c.

PHAYER

390 HELP TO PRAYER.

PRAYER V
 HOW shall we dare to approach thee, O
GOD ! Shame and confusion of face belong unto us ;
for our iniquities are more than zee can number. How
desperately Avicked are our hearts ! the mystery of ini
quity that dwells therein, is deeper than can be fathom
ed. Yet Iioav Little do Ave Feel, Avhilst we Confess so
Much !
O give us feeling, contrite, broken hearts. We would
begin [or close] this day, Avith the solemn acts of self-
abasement and humiliation, which our deep sinfulness
requires. Pardon — pardon, gracious GOD ! Let pardoning
blood, proportioned to the measures of our guilt, cleanse
our polluted souls, and wash our sins away.
O give us, Almighty GOD, the eye of faith, discern
ing the bloody sacrifice, as offered up, not only for the
believing world at large, but for these few wandering
sheep, — these little ones, — this helpless family; of whom,
each individual's interest lies upon our hearts: For
them as Avell as for ourselves, our souls desire to plead.
0 let each member of our household be a forgiven
and an accepted subject of the Redeemer's kingdom.
Beget, in every heart, a hungering, thirsting desire, to
find admittance there. O let us not plead in vain;
nor let us ever give up the suit, till thou shalt breathe
the sweet sounds of pardon, by the HOLY GHOST,
into every heart.
Regard our burdens, our griefs, our dejections and
temptations. They are heavy ; they are manifold; they are

PRAYER V. 391
are strong; — and fall Ave must, if thy hand -support
us not. —
— Provide, O gracious LORD, for our necessities.
Vouchsafe the needed grace. Send us the promised
strength; and convince us that thou art GOD, suffi
cient to deliver from all Ave feel and fear.
Help us to believe, that thou Avilt hear and answer.
Let the remembrance of thy past mercies and sup
ports, be the ground of our unshaken hope, that thou
wilt be the supplier still, of every future blessing. O
help us to praise thee for the succours Ave have re
ceived, and trust thee for the promised grace to come.
Regard the dear absent  May our spirits meet
before the throne ; and may our prayers united, bring
down redoubled blessings on every head ! [ — Re
fresh us Avith blessings on our bed this Night]. Guard
preserve, and keep us throughout this [Day]. Watch
round our [path or couch], and keep us as the apple of
thine eye.
Be present Avith us, in all our Avalk through life, to
feed us Avith convenient food. Deal with us as thou
seestgood; and in all our ways, may we acknowledge
thee, as the Lord, the Sovereign, and the Redeemer
of our souls ! #*#
O let us not plead in vain, since Ave plead in
CHRIST'S name, and sum up our petitions in the
words, that he hath given us : —
Our Father, &c.

PRAYER

392 help to prayer.

PRAYER VI.
 LIFT up our hearts, O merciful GOD!
Help us to lift them up unto the LORD, in humble
hope and confirmed assurance, that thou wilt relieve
the Avants that press us, and set us free from the bur
dens, that Avould sink our souls beloAV the grave, but
for the victory JESUS CHRIST hath obtained, and
"for the captivity Avith Avhich he hath led captive sin,
death, and hell, that Avere enleagued against us. O help
us to repent, and to turn from these vanquished foes,
and receive, through faith in JESUS CHRIST, the de
liverance, victory, and sanation he hath wrought.
Open, O LORD, our eyes, that we may see the
wonderful things of thy Laze ; and give our hearts to
feel an interest therein. Teach us to believe, and feel
the power of, thy Word, revealing and discovering
the things of GOD, to our dark and benighted minds
Our souls cleave to the dust ; O LORD, quicken them
according to thy word. O take aAvay our deadness,
and bring to a lively sense of feeling, the lethargic and
paralytic souls of these thy servants; that they may
see, feel, and knoAV, the dangers that await their souls,
and fly from them. O help Them, help us AH, to fice
from the zrrath to come, and to " lay hold of the
'" blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast
tl given us in JESUS."
We humbly pray thee to Avean our hearts from the
love of sin. Let no secret snare render our profession
fruitless, nor cause us to make shipwreck of our jaith.
Send thine effectual grace, into all hearts before
thee. Bring them to true repentance noAv;. that,
hereafter,

PRAYER VI. 393
hereafter, none of this little family may be excluded
from the glorious household, and the triumphant church
in Heaven.
Is there an impenitent heart amongst us?— O touch
it, Avith thy right hand of power. Snatch it from the
jaws of the roaring and devouring lion. Secure it by
thy hand Avithin Avails and bulwarks, that shall ever
lastingly defend it from the future ravages of the King
of Hell.
— Are any of us inquiring the Avay of Salvation? and
have Ave turned our faces towards Zion? — O make
clear our vieAvs ; make plain our Avay. Let every ob
structing mountain fall; let every intercepting valley
rise; — to make smooth our path. And, O LORD,
prepare, to every heart before thee, the way of ever
lasting life. *#*
O LORD, strengthen the lambs of thy flock; and
add each soul, that is here before thee, to thy fold.
Lead us in thy pastures. Sustain our souls with the
bread of life; and give us in the body, the food con-
A'enient for us. Prosper the labour of our hands, and
guard them from engaging in an ungodly Avork.
Help us this [Day or Night] to set thee alway
before us. Ever fill our hearts; engage our thoughts;
and all the [Day or Night] long, may thy presence
and thy fellowship, be ever with us! Bless absent
 assist the sick, relieve the tempted, succour the
distressed:  Praise GOD, from whom all bles
sings floAv! *#*
*«* It is intended here, for the reader to add his particular calls for
praise. •

PRAYER

394 help to prayer.

PRAYER VII.
ASSIST our supplications, and teach our hearts, O
HOLY GHOST, to pray. Make us to know our
Avants, and to belieAre, that our help is in thee.
Give us the dispositions, with which Ave ought to
come before thee. And help us to come in faith,
with sure and certain hope that Ave shall not come in
vain. — LORD, regard us as thy children; and autho
rize us to regard thee in the character and relation of
our Hea\renly Father. Give us, O give us, thine
adopting SPIRIT; and teach us by experience to
know, Avhat the Spirit of Adoption means. —
— Make us thy children. Create us anew. Let us
be born again. As thou hast brought us from the
Avomb of nature ; may we again be born of grace, —
born of GOD,— born of JESUS,— born of the HOLY
GHOST! O work a perfect work upon our hearts. Stamp
thine image on them, we earnestly beseech thee.
GiA-e us a view of JESUS; — a transforming vieAv.
Make us to partake his nature, to reflect his likeness,
to walk in his steps, and to be one Avith him. — O
LORD, help us to knoAV CHRIST better, to love him
more, to serve him as his true disciples, to bear his
reproach, to forsake the world for him, and to sustain
a daily cross after him.
Peculiarly regard, O Almighty GOD, this house
hold. Pity their Avants ; alleviate their sorrows ; sanc
tify their troubles; and soav the seeds of eternal life in
every heart. [My spouse, my child, my parents, ser
vants,

prayer vii. sgS
vants, friends] — O bless them all! may each of them,
and each of us, be, in all our respective characters,
Avhat tmy Word prescribes!
Let th1 principle of love be diffused abroad in every
heart. Let us be bound therewith, each to subserve
the other's interest.
Prosper the intended occupations of our hand, and
ever let that hand be restrained from all ungodly deeds.
Help us to sanctify the LORD GOD in our hearts;
and let thy sceptre rule in every breast. Vanquish
our lusts; subdue our passions; regulate our affec
tions; mould our hearts anew; and let this day's con
versation be in Heaven. *#* Accept our imperfect
praises, for daily blessings — for the mercies of the
preceding [Night or Day]. Our souls desire to bless
thee for creating, preserving, and sustaining love;
but, more especially, for the pardoning grace that
saves from Hell, and gives the living hope of Hea
ven, for CHRIST the Saviour's merits. — 
— And, O LORD, not with our lips, so much as
with our lives, let us ever live to praise thee, our mer
ciful GOD, our long-suffering LORD, our everlasting
and all-sufficient portion !
Hear, accept, and answer, for the sake of him, in
whose name we pray : —
Our Father, &c.

PRAYER

396 HELP TO PRAYER.

PRAYER VIII.
 IN the multitude of sorrows that fill our
hearts, may thy comforts, O God of Grace, refresh
our souls!
— Sin is the cause of our griefs, and Ave grieve, be
cause our sorroAvs are infinitely short of the cause,
that calls them forth. O HOLY SPIRIT, plant in
our hearts a Avholesome, godly sorrow, that worketh
repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of.
Increase our abhorrence of iniquity, and give us, Ave
fervently pray, those vieAvs of sin, and a sinful nature,
that shall evince our need of an atoning JESUS to
make our peace. And give us, LORD, to know, by a
special experience of it, that the blood of CHRIST
cleanseth from all sin.
— We would not only be saved, through the cleans
ing efficacy of that blood, from sin's Punishment, but
from its PoAver in heart and life. O let us not be no
minal professors only, but genuine possessors of thine
effectual and special grace.
O LORD, search our hearts. Cleanse us, Ave be
seech thee, from our secret sins. Plant inward purity
in our breasts, and make us all glorious within. Let
CHRIST dzvell in our hearts by faith! and, rooted
and grounded in love, enable us, with all saints, to com
prehend the length, the breadth, the height, and the
depth of that divine and holy flame, and to knoAV, each
one of us, something at least of that love which passeth
knozeledge. O shed it abroad in our hearts, and fill us
with all the fulness of GOD. —Dis-

PRAYER VIII. 397
—Display, by the HOLY GHOST, to our dark
souls, the riches, the consolations, and the glory, Avith
Avhich thy Word abounds. Break thou the seals, that
lock up its treasures from our hungering, thirsting
souls; and grant, that, in dry and barren places, zvhere
no water is, the healing and refreshing streams may
flOAV. O Almighty LORD, fertilize the barren soil of our
hearts. Check thou the groAVth of poisonous Aveeds.
Tear up the roots of bitterness ; and, if the rent give
pain and anguish, pour thou in the balm of Gilead,
and apply the oil of gladness to the Avound.
Whatever be the cost, be thou, O CHRIST, our
portion. Help us to sell all, — all that is dear to flesh
and nature, to buy so rare a pearl. This be our lot,
— the inheritance and the cup of Us and Ours [ — our
children — parents — domestics, &c  ] — O let us all
ha\-e portions in celestial Canaan's land, and know
that our names are zeritten in Heaven. *#*
Let temporal things be given us, as thou seest good;
and in those proportions, that shall best subserve our
souls. Wean our hearts from Avorldly things, and fix
them on GOD, on CHRIST, on Heaven. — Guard us
this [Day or Night] 
Help us to praise thee for temporal  for spiritual
blessings  Let our offerings of praise be sprinkled
Avith CHRIST'S blood, and prayer be heard and an-.
SAvered, for his name's sake, avIio Avurrants us to address
THEE as,
Our Father, &c.

PRAYER

398. HELP TO PRAYER.

PRAYER IX.
CONFESSION, AND EARNEST PRAYER FOR CONVERSION.
 O GOD of pity! thou seest our miseries, our
impenitence, our hardness, and the infinite debt of
transgression that stands, against us. Thou seest our
emptiness of good, and the sad controul of unchris
tian, unsanctified, and ungodly tempers. Thou seest
that we are sold tinder sin ; that, by nature, zee have
made a league with Satan, and with Hell are at agree
ment. Thou knowest, O LORD, how faithful Ave have
been to Sin, the World, and Satan; and how well we
have kept our contract with them. Oh ! had we been
but half so faithful unto thee !
— O LORD, break these bands. Dissolve, we be
seech thee, the ties, that unite our hearts to sin. Open
the prison doors; and make our souls to loath the dun
geons, in Avhich they have AvalloAved ; that they may
take a ready and willing flight to JESUS CHRIST,
who came to set the captives free, and give enlarge
ment, deliArerance, and free salvation to his redeemed.
— O make us to abhor sin. Weary and heavy laden
may Ave be! and, under the keen sensations of the bur
den, help us to cast it all upon, and come with our
whole hearts to thee. —
—But, O LORD, those hearts are stupefied with
the effects of sin. We love the dungeon. Still Ave
thirst, and still we drink, the deadly streams of the
intoxicating Babylonish cup : O LORD, make it bit
ter to us. May we see death at the bottom of it !
Help

PRAYER IX. 399
Help us to dash it from us ; and give us, in its stead,
the cup of salvation.
O thou Prince and Saviour, exalted of GOD to
give repentance unto Israel, and the remission of sins;
Ave beseech thee give these to us.
We cannot believe; Ave cannot repent; Ave cannot
turn to thee, till thou draw us Avith the cords of love.
O Iioav helpless are Ave ! Utterly Avithout strength ; Ave
cannot even think a good thought of ourselves : all our
sufficiency is of thee.
O LORD, manifest, then, thy power in us. Display
thy glory in the effectual conversion of us rebels.
O help us to believe. Work in our hearts the all-
conquering faith, that shall remove the mountains of
corruption from us, and open a clear and unobstructed
way to JESUS. —
O for a believing vieAv of his compassions! and that
he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto
GOD through him !
O JESUS ! fain Avould we embrace thee, sit at thy
'feet, lie in thy bosom, and dAvell in union Avith' thee.
Dost thou stand at the door and knock ? — Are Ave will-
ling to giAre thee entrance? — Why then comest thou
not in, thou blessed of the LORD? Stand, O stand,
no longer on the threshold. Force thou an entrance
into our hitherto rebellious hearts. Set up, we pray
thee, thy throne therein. Cast out the Devil, the
World, and Sin; and let thy righteous sceptre bear an
unrivalled rule within us.
f General petitions and thanksgivings may be added at pleasure.

PRAYER

400

HELP TO PRAYEIT.

PRAYER X.
FOR CONTRITION, GODLY SORROW, AND REPENTANCE.
 O thou bleeding Lamb, give us to see thou
didst bleed for us ! —
— " Thou, that takest aAvay the sins of the Avorld,
receive our prayer;" — "have mercy upon us." "Grant
us thy peace." Long have Ave sought it; and we seek
it sorroAving: And Ave sorrow most, because Ave cannot
soitoav more.
— Our sins have pierced thy side: O that our sighs
might move thy heart! — and, Avith holy violence,
impel thee to giA-e crumbs of comfort to us, Avho, as
unworthy dogs, Avait for them at the children's
table. >
— Thou hast been merciful to such: vouchsafe thy
pity now. Hoav dark our minds ! how hard our hearts !
hoAv extreme our ignorance ! Iioav dead our souls ! O
for that quickening poAver, that bids dry bones to live!
O for the Avings of faith, to raise our thoughts to
Heaven! O for the effectual poAvers- of changing
grace, to create our hearts anew !
— Soften out hearts; break thou the rock, and cause
the streams to Aoav. We Avish our souls could mourn
Avith repentant Mary's soitoav. We Avish that our eyes,"
like David's, poured out rivers of penitential tears,
to Avitness our unfeigned grief for sin.
• -—Oh ! the pollution of our guilt ; hoAv deep it stains !
but ah ! hoAv slight our soitoavs are ! the morning cloud,
the early dew, the fleeting vapour, that are dispersed upon

PRAYER X. 401
Upon the sun's approach, are similitudes of our super
ficial, short-lived penitence.— '
O LORD, Avhen wilt thou work irt earnest with
our souls? When wilt thou speak forcibly to our
hearts? When wilt thou effectually call us; and
enable us to make our calling and election sure ?-—
— When shall Ave be saints indeed ! — not saints in
man's opinion, but owned and approved as such by
GOD. U
— But Oh ! Avhat mountains of corruption and un
belief must thou subdue! — Avhat unholy flames must
thou extinguish! — Avhat unsanctified affections must
be corrected!— and Avhat roots of bitterness plucked
up, before Ave are fit for the presence of GOD !
LORD, fit us for thyself. Thou art an all-suffi
cient GOD. Work in our hearts the faith, by which
inward foes shall be subdued.
O help us to look on JESUS. O HOLY SPIRIT,
give us to behold him. Let faith reveal him, ago
nizing, bleeding, crying, dying; and let the vieAv of
what he felt and endured for our sins, excite in us an
hatred and abhorrence of them. SIicav us, as thou
shalt enable us to bear it, the blackness and malignity
of,sin, by the sufferings of our Incarnate GOD.
O LORD, help us to wage eternal war Avith sin ; not
in our own .strength, but in thine. Arm us, we hum
bly beseech thee, for the fight; uphojd us in the con
flict. When temptation next assails us, may the shield
of faith sustain the attack ! and give thou to us the
SPIRIT's savoicI, to put the poAvers of Hell to flight.
— O cover our head in the day of battle. Leave us not
a prey to any thing, that Avould delight in our soul's
destruction. —
—LORD, suffer us not to parley with the foe; nor
hold secret correspondence with him. Let us not
prove traitors, nor self-deceivers; but purge our hearts
d d from

*02 HELP TO PRAYER.
from, the old leaven of iniquity, — secret, habitual, easi
ly besetting sins ; and make us to pray and fight, for
grace, for victory, and for triumph.
1f General petitions, &c. to be supplied as before.

PRAYER XI.
UNDER TRIBULATIONS.

 HOW heavy are our burdens ! But, O
LORD, hoAv great and ready is our help ! O teach us
hoAv to cast our cares upon thee.
But of all our burdens, sin most needs our soitoav ;
and yet.it, the least of all things, calls forth our
tears. O Almighty LORD, Avork godly sorrow in our
fiearts ; and make us to cease from the sorrows of
the zeorld. Call off our hearts and affections from
thence; and fix them on the great and blessed objects,
which thy Word proposes to our faith.
Grant us a sanctified use of our afflictions ; and let
every outward trial strengthen the inner man, and bring
us nearer unto GOD.
May David's sanctified cross be ours! and give us
cause, from experience, like him to say, 'tis good for us,
that we have been afflicted!
. Let not our trials drive us farther from thee; nor
tempt us to blaspheme, cr curse, our GOD. O let us
see thy fatherly, chastising hand, in every dispensa
tion; and kiss the rod with holy reverence and duty,
as the minister of love. Chastise

PRAYER XI. rvr
Chastise us, as thou wilt; if promised grace be grant-.
ed, to support the Avholesome burden. i Enable, us. Aye?
pray thee, with patience to bear it; till„THou in'mer-,
cy, and the time of thy wise judgment, shalt remove
^— /"¦ :., ;.
— Help us to praise thee, that we are not filled Avith
the Avorld's unmingiecl prosperity ; but rather chastised
as sons, and bearing afflictions zeith the people, of GOD,'
than enjoying the full SAving of SQul-desti'oying plea
sure for a season.
Hast thou laid thine hand on [the property — the
comforts — or the health of body, or the peace of mind
of thy servants — or thine handmaids]  good is the
word zehich thou hast spoken. Wisdom and mercy are
blended in the deed, that thou hast done. We know,
that, Avhen thou givest the bitter medicine, thou mean
est a cure. O let the sinful, leprous, paralytic Soul
be cured ; and Avound the Body as thou pleasest. —
— But, O LORD, plant patience in our hearts; and
give us grace to suffer, as JESUS suffered : — If it be
possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not
my will, but thine, be done.
Let no meang be relied- on, hut the means pf prayer,
to sanctify our cross Hast thou gent a message in
thy dispensations? O let us listen to. their voice; and
see, Avhat thou, by them, shalt say to us. Speak,
LORD, for thy servants hear ; or, desire to do so, in
all thy judgments: and seven times .a day,, we wish,
with all our powers, to praise thee for., the righteous
ness thereof . — But, O thou blessed JESUS, attend us
in the furnace. Let thy power, Son of God, b$
with us in the fires. "'l-jr d'J
* [When thou sendest healtk, ox- deliverance, _§r
ease, or peace, as thy gifts, let Us esteem, and P"ze
. .' *rt [I >h
* To be omitted, but in a case of bodily indisposition.
d d 2 them

404

HELP TO PRAYER.

them highly. If returning health, or protracted life,
be vouchsafed us; vouchsafe the grace to dedicate
them both to thee.
If Means are to be used, give them thy blessing;
and ordain to every Medicine its appointed course. ~]
Make kind onr hearts; and give us the feelings of
Sympathy and love, for those that suffer.
O LORD, graciously hear our prayer. Relieve us
and support us, as thy glory and our soul's best inte
rests call for. We ask for JESU's sake, Avho teaches
thus to pray : —
Our Father, &c.

PRAYER XII.
UNDER SHARP TRIALS, SIGKNESS, &C.
 THE bud may have a bitter taste ; but sweet
shall be the floAver. Cause this to be our soul's expe
rience in the present trial. Tried as gold in the fur
nace, bring us out refined. Help us, not only to con
fess with our mouth, but feel in our hearts, believing
suredly, that this sore affliction is for good.
Thou art baptising us with the baptism, wherewith
JESUS CHRIST was baptised. Thou art tendering
to us his cup. O enable us to drink thereof, with
Christ-like meekness ; and to have fellowship with him
in sufferings, death, and glory. —
• — Saviour, fill our hearts, and this cup of soitoav
shall ire indeed the cup of salvation. We Avould not
heed

PRAYER XII. 405
heed , the AvormAvood and the gall. Though bitter
to the sense, rare virtues shall be imparted to the
soul. —
Give us, then, if this be thy holy will, tears for
drink, and the bread of affliction for our food. JESUS
lived on these; and these were the means, that perfect
ed him for glory. —
Oft have Ave prayed for felloAvship with thee, O
JESUS! help us to bid it welcome, noAV it comes.
Thou hast taken the sting from death itself: surely
thou canst extract bitterness from the present sorrow;
and cause us to feel joy and gladness, in every painful
dispensation. f [Let not our pangs betray us into an impatient
spirit. AlleAriate the pain, or gi\-e the needed grace to
bear it, as CHRIST'S disciples. Rebuke a restiff, un
believing heart. Teach us to smile in torture, and
to count it all joy, for CHRIST'S sake, to Suffer.]
— But, O thou gracious Comforter ! reveal tht
consolations to the inner man, while the body suffers.
Give us to hear thy sin-forgiving voice :— be of good
cheer. Give us the gladdening of soul, that sin's re*
mission yields ; and in the multitude of sorrows, that
heart and flesh abound in, let thy comforts refresh the
soul.
* [Hast thou shut up from our willing feet, the
way to thy house? — O come, then, thou Heavenly
Guest, and visit us in thy temple of the body.]
* [Hast thou denied our willing eyes the sweet pe
rusals of thy Word? — let, then, the promised Com
forter take of the things of CHRIST, and shew
them to the eye of faith.]

t To be omitted, hut in cases of extreme pain.
* DiscTetiorairy Supplications, * [Hast

405

HELP TO PRAY1R.

, *'ttfa%t-THou closed the door of our lips, or the
Bp% df-any-Avho Avould pray, or praise thee, but can
not with the mouth?— O teach the heart to plead, and
Cbadore thee Avithout ceasing.]
> Dwell in the heart. Erect thy throne, thy temple,
and thine altar there; and may the offices of prophet,
priest, and king, be sweetly held and exercised with
in! —
— Let sin's dominion cease; and make Avay for the
blissful triumphs of faith, and hope, and love. Let
each of these grow stronger; and love the strongest
of them all ; till •faith and hope shall be swallowed up in
perfect love.
* • —These ends, O LORD, we seek as the ripe fruits of
present dispensations. Let them and every needful
evidence be given us, that our hearts are right Avith
t-mbe.— And, sharing in the trials, temptations, and the
griefs that JESUSkneAvon Earth, Avith him in Hea
ven, let us reign.
'Gtant us these, arid all things else we need, for his
name's sake, who teachetih 4is to pray: —
Our Father, &c.

PRAYER XIII.
Viii
FOR A' SIOK PERSON.
[.<*.:.. '¦ ... '
ACCEPT, O GOD, the humble petitions of my
heart. And thoogh. I cannot say : — / hatoeyealked be
fore thee in triith, -Mi^tyiih, a jwfoat "heart; yet Sin
ners

prayer xiii. 40?
ners have access to thee, through the merits of an in
terceding Saviour. K:
Full of guilt, of sin, and misery; conscious of der
serving infinitely more than noAv I suffer; I come be*
fore thee, humbly to implore, for thy dear Son's sake,
the mercies my necessities require.
Deal not with me after my sins ; neither reward me,
according to mine fniquities.
Spare me, gracious GOD,'; before I go hence, to
be no more seen. Nothing is too hard for thee;
and, if thou Avilt, thou canst raise me up in body;
if thou Avilt, thou canst make clean my soul from
sin. —
— So far as it is consistent Avith thy will and glory,
shew forth, I humbly pray, thy strength, and make
bare thine arm in delivering me from the power of
the grave. Rebuke the wasting influences of languish
ing disease. ReneAV my exhausted frame; and yet
enable my hands to labour, and my tongue to praise
thee in the strains of thanksgiving love. Make thou
my heart to dance for joy, and in my songs to praise
thee. —
— Add thou to my life, gracious LORD, a residue
of years; if in those years I shall magnify thy name\,
in more closely walking with thee, and in living more
tp th y praise and glory. —
, — Or, if it be f hy gracious will, to take me hence,
that will be done !— but give me, LORD, the evidence
of a heart reneAved, and those assurances -of pardon
ing love, -which my soul desires. — '"'
—Confirm my faith ; and refresh my mind, Avith the
joys and peace that fill the true believer's breast; and
build me up for the eternal world.
—Not my will, O GOD, but thine prevail. Prepare
my soul for glory. Let these afflictions have their per-
*J

408 HELP TO PRAYER.
feet work; and, in thine own due time, release me
from the chambers of mortality, and grant me a place
amongst the gloAving seraphs, that surround tht
throne 

PRAYER XIV.
ON RECOVERY.

BLESSED be thy name, O merciful GOD! for
though, Avhen thou dost touch my mortal frame, it
withers, droops, and fades; yet dost thou, in love to
my soul, deliver it from the pit of destruction. Thou
castest all my sins behind thy back.
O how hast thou sweetened the bitter cup to me!
— thy comfortable smoothings of the bed; the aids of
friendship, the prayers of thy people, and the consola
tions of thy SPIRIT, hast thou extended to thy un
worthy servant. —
O teach my poor heart to give thee the thanks I
owe. Thou hadst brought my crumbling body to
the borders of the grave ; but thou madest bare thine
arm, and didst magnify thy power in communicating
renewed life, and the sweet symptoms of nature's re
turning health. —
-trStill — still among the living, I live to praise thee!
Spared yet a little while, let me be spared to glorify
thy name, by a residue of life devoted to thy peculiar
service. But ah ! how short are my returns of praise, compar
ed with the measures of my mercies ! Remove the un
feeling stupor, and the dead affections of a mind, that
is. Joo insensible of thy goodness, — —Fill

ADDITIONAL PRAYERS. 409
—Fill my zehole heart Avith thanksgiving love ; and
let the fire of pure devotion be kindled there, to burn
and glow, with a continual and inextinguishable flame,
till my day of life expire in praise.
But, gracious G OD ! let my grateful thoughts arise
before thee, with a tenfold greater ardour, for the
healings of a diseased soul; for the blood of sprinkling,
granted to sooth the wounds of a condemning con
science; and for the gift of life through faith in
JESUS, that prevents the sufferings of the second
death. — Teach thou my soul, O GOD, to praise thee in
the language of constraining love, proportioned to
thine unfathomed mercies ; that every action of my
future life, the songs and language of my mouth,
and the grateful breathings of a thankful heart, may,
by thy poAver and grace, be sanctified to such degrees
of ripeness and perfection, as may prepare my soul to
join the choirs above; Avhere prayer shall be absorbed
jn everlasting praise 

^General Petitions that maybe added" to, or mingled with, any
of the former, as Times or Occasions may require.

*#* SUNDAY MORNING.
 LORD, sanctify to us thy Sabbaths. Make
them to us the earnests and the foretastes, of an eternal
rest in Heaven.
Prepare our hearts to meet thee in thy house. Ren
der spiritual our affections; exalt our thoughts; and
-fire our souls, with the holy and lively hope, that
CHRIST will meet us there, break to us the bread of

410 HELP TO PRAYER.
Of life, and give us "to rejoice- evermore in his holy
comfort." LORD, clothe thy Word Avith poAver ; and let the
sAveet influences of a faithfully dispensed Gospel, make
glad. our hearts in the full discovery of thv grace.
Melt down the obdurate; alarm the careless; and
aAvaken every sleeping conscience : that all may hear
the gospel trump and live. Shake thou the poAvers of
Hell this day; and give energy, grace, and power
to thy Ministers, to pull dozen tlie strong holds of Sa
tan, and build up CHRIST'S kingdom in every
heart. —
— Into each of our hearts, O GOD of Grace! let this
kingdom come. Make us the favoured subjects of thy
grace, and heirs of eternal glory.
Long have we sat beneath the sound of thy sanation
but, oh! how little are Ave profited ! LORD, termi
nate our days of barrenness, and make thy Avord, this
day, the powerful means of our effectual calling, and
of our abounding fruiffulness.
*#* SUNDAY EVENING.
 We praise thee, O LORD, for the .privilege
thou hast given us in thy Sabbaths. O grant that
they may never be SAvift witnesses against us for abus
ing them. Let thy Word and Ordinances, in which
we have this day shared, conduce to the comfort, and
not the condemnation, of our souls.
Water Avith shoAvers of grace, and the dews of hea
ven, thy Word that hath been soavii in our hearts;
and grant, O LORD, that it may bring forth in us
fruit unto eternal life.
Let the Gospel's poAverful sound for ever vibrate in
our ears. Let JESUS and his great salvation be the
objects, that keep warm the heart; and the everlasting
theme, that shall employ our tongues. Let

ADDITIONAL PRAIfiERS. 411
Let no birds of prey, nor evil beasts, beguile us, or
bereave us of the eternal seed. Make it, Ave humbly
beseech thee, an engrafted Avoid, confirming bur souls
in our most holy faith. Grant us thy HOLY SPI
RIT, to enable us " inAvardly to digest thy Word,"
and make it the wholesome diet of tlie soul, for all the
succeeding week 

*#* FOR THE KING.
 Let thy special grace protect the King.
Establish his throne in .riahteousness. Give Avisdom
to his counsellors, and dutiful submission to the fa
voured subjects of his realms.
Make us to knoAV, and feel, and rejoice in, fhe
civil and religious privileges we enjoy ; and grant, O
gracious LORD, that honour and peace, long life and
everlasting glory, may be the portion of him, through
whose mild and auspicious reign Ave happily possess
them  *#* FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY.
f; .-. '.  O "bless the Queen, the Prince of Wales,
atfd all the Royal Family. " Endue them with thy
HOLY SPIRIT; enrich them Avith thine heavenly
gsrace; prosper them Avith all happiness; and brin-g them
to thine everlasting kingdom  "
*#* FOR OUR COUNTRY.
 Send down, O LORD, thy blessing upon
our land. Pour out a spirit of grace and true repent
ance, upon the heads and hearts of its sinful and
impenitent inhabitants. While Avar and bloodshed
lay waste the nations abroad, O LORD, grant that
peace and unanimity,' at home, may still be preserved
to us.-— —Let

412 HELP TO PRAYER.
— Let the undeserved mercies Ave enjoy, lead us
to thyself in holier living- ; and plant in our hearts
a jealous, godly fear, lest our sins unrepented of
should fill up the measure of guilt, that might justly
sink the nation. O LORD, spare us from the de
served scourge; and grant that peace may still flou
rish within our borders, and plenteousness Avithin
our palaces 

*

* FOR OUR ENEMIES.

 O LORD, turn their hearts, and help us to
heap coals of the fire of kindness upon their heads.
Let them ever fight against us, (if they fight at all,)
without a cause.
For those that have Avantonly denied thy provi
dence, thine attributes, and thy very being, O
LORD, give them to knoAV the GOL they have re
nounced; restore them to a spirit of Avisdom and of a
sound mind; Let the religion of JESUS CHRIST, in
purity and simplicity, be, in thine own due time,
established in their land. Out of a multitude of ter
rors, distractions, and confusions, which present evils
furnish, let future and lasting blessings rise ; and so
over-rule, we beseech thee, the awful scenes in Avhich
they are involved, as to further thereby the glorious
Gospel of the blessed GOD, and the universal spread
of that salvation Avhich CHRIST hath wrought 

FINIS.

R. Noble, Printet,
Old Baiiey.

SUBSCRIBERS.

X\BBOTT, Mr. William, Colchester.
Abdy, Rev. W. J. M. A. Horslydown.
Adam, Rev. Robert, B. A. Oxford.
Adam, J. W. Esq. Clutched Friars, 2 copies.
Adam, Mr. B. Mansell Street, i copies.
Adderley, Thomas, Esq. Doctor's Commons.
Agar, Mr. James, Coggeshall.
Ambrose, Mr. John, Coptford.
Andrews, Mr. Thomas.
Andrews, Mr. Thomas, Colchester.
Appleford, Mr. John, Colchester.
Appleford, Mr. William, jun. Coggeshall.
Arding, Mr. James, Dorset Street.
Ardley, Mr. AVilliam.
Argent, Mrs. Colchester.
Armstrong, Rev. Robert, Hoxton.
Atkins, Mr. G. Blackheath, 2 copies.
Atkins, Mi. AV. C Blackheath.
Attfield, Mr. Wil. near Guildford.
Audinet, Rev. Mr. Great Russcl Street.
B.
Ball, Lady, Blackheath Hill.
Bannister, Rev. Mr. Winslow.
Barnes, Mr. G. Mile End Green.
Barns, Mr. Thomas, Greenwich.
Bartlett, Mr. ,Aveley.
Bates, Benjamin, Esq. Thames Street.
Bates, G. F. Esq. Queen's Col. Cambr. 2 cop.
Batley, Mr. Blackheath.
Baxter, Rev. Mr. Bulvan.
Beazley, Mrs. Surry Road.
Beilby, Mr. Birmingham.
Benamor, Ja. M. D. Millman Street, 2 copies.
Bennett, Mr. Thomas, London.
Biddle, Rev. Joseph, Bishop's Frame.
Biddle, AVilliam, Esq. Cupars.
Biddle, Miss, Cowper's Gard.ns, 3 copies.
Bigwood, Mr. Portsea.
Bird, Mr. Frjncis, Birmingham.
Bishop, Mr. Meredith, Blackheath Hill.
Blackburn, Mr. William, Coggeshall.
BLckwell, Mrs. Hoxton.
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Bowdler, Mr. John, Madeley.
Bowman, Mr. London.
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Brick, Mr. Thomas, Hertford.
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Broughton, Mr. SnOiwhill, 2 copies.
Brown, Mr. John, London.
Buckle, Rev. AVm. M. A. Pyrton, Oxfordfh.
Bunce, Mr. William.
Burn, Rev. Edward, M. A. Birmingham. ,
Burton, Robert, Esq. Longnor Castle. Salop.
Burton, Mrs. Longnor Castle, Salop.
Bii' ton, Edward, Esq. Shrewsbury.
Burton, Rev. Henry, Atcham.
Button, Mr. Paternoster Row.
Buxton, Rev. T. Norfolk.

Cardale, William , Esq. Bedford Row, 2 copies.
Carr, Mr. S. P. Colchester.
Carter, Miss, Iron Bridge, Salop.
Cecil, Rev. Richard, M. A. Little James Str.
Chapman, Mr. R. Paul's Cray, Kent.
Chapman, Mr. Samuel, Spur Street.
Charlesworih, Mr. John, Shoreditch.
Clark, Miss Maiy, AVhitechapel.
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Clarke, Mrs. Pimlico.
Clayton, Rev. John, Highbury Place.
Collingwood, Mr. William, Greenwich.
Collyer, Mr. Gray's Inn Lane.
Cotsford, Mr. Bishop Stortford.
Cotton, Mr. John, London.
Courthope, Mr, J. B. Lewisham Hill.
Cox, Miss, Balaam Hill, Suny, 5 copies.
Cox, Mr. Thomas, Spur Street.
Cracherode, Rev. C. M.
Crespin, Rev. Mr. Great Barford.
Crisp, Mr. Bankside.
Crouch, Rev. Isaac, M. A. Oxford.
Crowther, Rev. Sam. M. A. Bartholom. Close.
Cumber, Mr. Isaac, Wood Street.
Cunninghame, Mrs. Bower House, Mid Loth.
Curling, R. Esq. Bermondsey, 2 copies.
Ciutis, Mr. Ludgate Hill.
Cuthbert, Rev. Ed. M. A. HattonStr. 2 cop.
D
Dacre, Right Hon. Dowager Lady, Lee, Kent
Dale, Rev. Mr. Lewes.
Dale, Mr. Hatton Street.
Daniel, Mr. Thorp.
Danks, Mr. David, London.
Dan-ell, Mr. S. Coalbrook Dale.
Davies, Rev. John, M. A. Queen Sq. Westm.
Davies, David, Esq. Madeley, 2 copies.
Davies, Miss, Madeley.
Davies, Mr. William, Loudwater, Bucks.
Dawson, Mr. Roger, Borough.
Deverill, Mr. AVilliam, Fleet Market.
Devey, Mr. R. Shoe Lane.
Dixon, Mr. William, Blackheath, 4 copies.
Dodd, Mr. Samuel, Colchester. Doery

SUBSCRIBERS.

Doery, Mr William, John St. Blackfrisr'sro.
Downer, Ml. Nathan, Bishopsgatc Street.
Downs, Mrs. Iron Bridge, Salop.
Duddell, Rev John, Wormington, Gloucester.
Durant, Mr. John, sen. Coggeshall.
Dutton, Mr. John, Gutter Lane.
Dutton, Mrs. Gutter Lane.

Harle, Mr. Jos. Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Edwards, Mrs. Shrewsbury.
Elliott, Charles, Esq Clapham.
Emery, Mr. James, Iron Bridge, Salop.
Evans, Mr. J . Iron Bridge, Salop.
F.
Fachary, Mr. AVilliam, Aveley.
Farlow, Mrs. Barrow, Salbp.
Faulkner, Mrs. Charles Street, Hatton Street.
Fawcett, Miss, Queen Square.
Fearon, Devey, M. D. Ely Place.
Fell, Mr. James, Old Change.
Fennings, Mr. Rood Lane.
Ferriday, William, Esq. Madeley, 6 copies.
Ferriday, Mr. Merton College, Oxford.
Flitch, Mr. Aveley.
Field, Mr. Charles, Lambeth Marsh.
Fleming, Miss, Coleman Street.
Fletcher, Mrs. Madeley.
Firmin, Mrs. sen. Dedham.
Firmstone, Mrs. Madeley.
Forrester, Mr. Robert, Colchester.
Foster, Rev. Henry, M. A. Wilderness Row.
Fox, Mrs. Mary, Dedham.
Fox, Mrs. Elizabeth, Dedham.
Friend, at the Bank.
Friend, at the Bank.
Fiiend, by Mrs Gardiner.
Fries, Mrs. Upminster.
Frost, Mr. Samuel, Coggeshall.
Frost, Mrs. Lucy, London.
Fry, Rev. Thomas, M. A. Oxford.

Gale, Mrs. Carshalton, Surry.
Gant, Mr. James, Shoreditch.
Garlick, Mr. T. Fleet Market.
Gatty, Mr. William, East Street.
Gaviller, Mr. G. New Ro. St. Georges Eu. 3 co.
Gilbert. Mrs. Cockspur Street.
Gilbert, Rev. Nathaniel, Bedlow, Bucks, 2 co.
Gilby, Wi. iam, M. D. Birmingham.
Gilpin, Rev. Joshua, RockwanJine, Salop.
Glover, Mr. Charles, Birmingham.
Goode, Rev. John, Islington.
Goode, Rev. WiLiam, M.A. Blackfriar's Recr,
Goode, Mr James, Buckii gham.
Goodwin, Mrs. Coa.brookDale.
Gos'.in, Mr. John, Arlesford.
Graves, Mr. Lewisham.
Green, Mr. West Tburwck, Essex.

Gregg, Mi's. Dowgate Hill, 3 copies.
Griffin, Mr. Robert, Park P ace. St James'*.
Gnmwood. J M. Esq. Hatton Street.
Grove, Mr. Wiiiam, Cranium, Essex.
Guest, Mrs. C. Broseiey. H.
H H B. 2 copies.
Hammond, Mr. Samuel, Birmingham.
Hording, AV'u.iam, Esq. Queen St. AVestmrm*.
Harding, Mrs. Ditio.
Harford, Mr. John, Shoreditch.
Harper, J. J. Esq B ed ow, Bucks.
Harper, Mr. Edward, Madeley.
Harper, Mis. Madeley.
Harries, Thomas, Esq. Cructon, Salop.
Harries, Mrs. Cmcton, Salop
Harrington, Mr. John. Great Tcy, Essex.
Hairison, Mr. John, Shoe Lane.
Hanyman, Mrs. Hirhbury Place.
Hastings, Mr. Haymarket.
Hastings, Mrs. Haymarket.
Hawkins, Mr. Hackney.
Hawkins, Mr. Henry, Denzell Street.
Haywarri, Mr. Charles, St. Martin's Lane.
Hcd^e, Mr Nathaniel, Colchester.
Hcmslcy, Mr. Henry, Fleet Street, 6 copies.
Hcndrick. Rev G. Ackworth.
Heine, Mr Hoxton.
Hill, Rev, Rowland, M. A. Charlotte St. 3 CO.
Hills, Miss, Colchester.
Hitchin, Mr. J. Nassau Street.
Hitchin, Mr. Abraham, Nassau Street.
Hojsflesh, Mr. John, London.
Holland, Mr London.
Hood, Rev K AV M. A Ncttlebcd.
Horton, Mrs. Coal Port, Salop
Hose, Miss Chailotte, Ludgate Hill.
Howson, Mr. Dale House, Yorkshire.
Howson, Mis. Ditto.
Hushes, Mr William, Red Lion Pas. Fleet St.
Hughs, Mr. J. Coalbrook Dale.
Hughs, Mr. N. Coalbrook Dale.
Hunt, Mrs. Colchester.
Hunt, Miss H. Hornchurch, Essex.
Hunter, Mr. Thomas, Pilgrim Street, 3 copies.
Hutton, Rev. J. L. M. A. Buckingham.
1.
Inwood, Mr. Richard, New Street, Shoe Lane.
J-
Jtickson, Mrs. Thomhaugh Street.
Jackson, Mr. P. Shoe Lane.
James, Mr. John, Broseiey.
James, Mrs Chapel Street, Bed/Ord Row.
Johnson, Mrs Dedham.
Jones, Mrs. Mary, Broseiey.
Jordan, Mr, Balaam Hill,1 Surry.
oseph, Mr. Rich. Little New St. Shoe Lane.
Joy, MK Great Clacton, Essex. Joyncr,

SUBSCRIBERS.

!oyner, Mr. West Thunock, Essex.
owett, Mr. Joshua, Holborn. K.
Kemp, Mrs. Greenwich Road, 2 copies.
Keningale, Mr. Horkesley, Essex.
Kenncny, Mr. Thomas, 2 copies.

Lady, by Mr. Phillips, Holborn.
Langston, Rev. Step. M. A. Horwood, Bucks.
Langston, Miss, Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Langston, Mr, Richard, Manchester.
Launder, Mr. John, London.
Lawrence, Mr. London.
Lea, Mr. William, Birmingham.
Lee, Mr. Homerton.
Lee, Mr. Aveley.
Lee, Mr. William, Aveley.
Lee, Mr M. Stifford, Essex.
Lee, Mr. Roger, Fleet Market.
Lee, Mr. William, Strand.
Lewis, Rev. Mr. Wa.dron, Sussex.
Lewis, Mrs. Fleet Street.
Litchfield, Vincent, Esq. Council Off. Whiteh.
Litchfield, Mrs. Ditto.
Litchfield, Miss M A. Ditto.
Litchfield, Miss Martha, Ditto.
Livermore, Mr. Isaac* Bishop Stoitford.
Locke, Mrs. William, Devizes.
Lucas, Wm. Esq. Ho.;owci, Northampt. 2 co.
M.
M. F.
Maber, Mr. J. London.
Mackenzie, Mrs. Queen Squaie.
Manley, Timothy, Esq. Made.ey.
Marsh, Mrs. Lee, Kent.
Marsh, Miss, Lee,. Kent.
Mason, AVilliam, Esq. Colchester.
Mcakin, Mr. 8. A Hackney.
Merrier, Mr. Fieet Street.
Micklewright, Mr. Madeley.
Middleton, Mr. Robert, Fleet Strea.
Miller, Mr. Thomas, Iron Bridge, Sa'op.
Millet, Mrs. Ave.ey.
Morrey, Mrs. Sarah, Madeley.
Morris, Mrs. Buntingford, Herts.
Mortier, Miss, Balaam Hill, Surry, 3 copies.
Mortimer, Mr. H. W. Fleet Street.
Mortimer, Mr. Thomas, Ditto.
Mortimer, Mr. H. AV. jun. Ditto.
Mudge, Captain, Blackheath Hill.
Neale, James, Esq. St. Paul's Church Yard.
Needham, Mrs. Bow.
Needham, Mr. Shoreditch.
Newton, Rev. John, Coleman Strebt, 2 copies.
Nobbs, Mr. Isaac, Hoxton, 2 copies.
Noeth, Mr. V.
Noko, Mr. James, Upminster.

O.

Oliphant, Mr. William, Manchester, 2 copies.
Oliver, Rev. Mr. Wellington, Salop.
Onslow, Middleton, Esq. Newman Street.
Osborne, Mr. James, Birmingham.
Owen, Mr. Leadenhall Street.

Page, Mr. Thomas, Cranbourne Street.
Pain, Mr. John, Colchester.
Palmer, Mr. Hoxton.
, Parkinson, Mr. Thomas, London.
Parkhurst, Mr. John, Brighton, 2 copies.
Parrott, Mrs. Chersley, Bucks.
Pashley, Mr. William, Houndsditch.
Pateman, Mrs. Queen's Row, Walworth.
Pattison, Mr. J. Coggeshall.
Pattrick, Mr. Thomas, Lau, Pount. Hill, 6 co.
Pattrick, Mrs. Putney.
.Payne, Mr. Coin. Little East Cheap.
Peak, Mr. Richard, Greenwich.
Pearson, Mr. William, Upper Thames Street.
Pemberton, Miss Ann, Shrewsbury.
Pentycioss, Rev. Thomas, M. A Wallingford.
Percival, Richard, Esq. Islington.
Perkins, Mrs. Manningtree, Essex.
Phillips, Mr. Holborn.
Phillips, Mr. William, lion Bridge, Salop.
Pickcrsgill, Mr. Robert, Moid. Col. Blackh.
Piatt, Rev. W. F. London.
Pollard, Mr. Stephen, sen Hanover Street.
Pollard, Mr Stephen, jun. Ditto.
Pope, Rev. J. M. A. Great Stoughton, Hunts.
Pool, Miss.
Proctor and Brownlow, Messrs. Fleet St. 4 co.
Pratt, Rev. Josiah, M. A. Doughty St. 2 co.
Pratt, Mr. Isaac, Birmingham.
Pratt, Mr. Hcniy, Birmingham.
Pugh. Rev. Mr. Weston, Salop.
Puiton, Mr. Madeley. R.
Ranee, Mr.
Rashleigh, T. Esq. Hatton Street.
Rhodes, Mrs. Upper John Street, Frtzroy sq.
Richards, Mr. David, Minories,
Roberts, Thomas, Esq. Charter House Sq. 3 co.
Roberts, Mrs. Ditto. 2 copies.
Roberts, Miss, Lothbury.
Rock, Mr. Thomas, Birmingham.
Rodd, Mr. Billiter Lane.
Rogers, Mrs. Swithin's Lane, 2 copies.
Rolls, Mr. Job, Birmingham.
Ross, Mr. Wine Office Court, Fleet Street.
Rotton, Mr. John, Birmingham.
Rushton, Mrs. Broseley.
Russel, J. Esq. Newman Street, 2 copies.
Russel, Mr. Long Acre.

Sach, Mrs. Coggeshall.
Sadler, Mrs. Great Clacton, Essex.

Safroo

SUBSCRIBERS.

Salmon, Mrs. Beaumont, Essex.
Sandby, Rev  M. A. Blackheath.
Saward, Mr. Clapham.
Schmides, Mr. Bernard, Morden College.
Scott, Rev Thomas, Chjpel St. Up. Gros. PI.
Scott, Mr. William.
Share, Mr. J. Coalbrook Dale.
Sharp, Mr. Jos. Cannon Street.
Shepherd, Rev John, B. A. Charlotte Street.
Shrimpton, Miss, Aylesbury.
Simcox, George, Esq. Birmingham.
Sime, Mrs Mile End.
Simeon, Rev. Charles, M. A. Cambridge.
Simons, R;v. John, M. A. Paul's Cray, Kent.
Skingsley, Mr. H. Coggeshall.
Skingsley, Mrs. Coggeshall.
Skinner, Mr. Lee, Kent.
Skynner, Mr. Abraham, Dean St. Fcttei La.
Slann, Mr. William, Islington.
Smith, William, Esq. Hornchurch, Essex.
Smith, Mrs. Ditto.
Smith, Miss M. Mile End.
Smith, Mis.
Smith, Mr. Peter, Fleet Street.
Smith, Mr. S. Madeley.
Smithiman. John, Esq. West Coppice, Salop.
Smithiman, Mrs. Dittto.
Spragg, Mr. Matt. Shoreditch, 3 copies.
Spragg. Mr. William, Shoreditch,
Sprot, Mrs. King's Road, 4 copies.
Standish, Mr. Aveley.
Steddall, Mr. Shoreditch.
Stephens, Mr. T. Dorset Street.
Stoneham, Mr. Thomas, Colchester.
Stony, Rev. Robeit, Colchester, 6 copies.
Sutton, Miss', Charter House Square.
Sutton, Mr. R Ditto, 2 copies.
Symonds, Rev. Jclingcr, M A. Hackney.
T.
T. Mrs.
Tabor, Mr. R. Colchester.
Taylor, Rev. Isaac, Colchester.
Thatcher, Mrs. Fleet Street.
Theological Book Society, Macclesfield.
Thomason, kev.T.T. M.A.litt.Shciford, Cam.
Thompson, Mr. William, Fleet Street.
Thompson, Mr. G. Gutter Lane.
Thorby, Mr Thomas, Colchester, 3 copies.
Thurkle, Mr. G. New Street Square.
Tomlin, Rev. James, M. A. Oxford, 3 copies.
Towle, Mr. N H. Bank.
Towle, Mr. Joseph, Walworth, 2 copies.
Tracey, Mr Samuel, Fingeringhoe, Essex.
Turner, Mr John, Birmingham.
Turner Mr. t. P Hart Street, Covent Garden.
Turner, Mr. Beresford. Manchester.
Tyler, F. H. Esq. Great Marlborough Street.
Tyce, Mr. Fleet Market.

V.
Umphclbce, Mr. Matt. Skidbrook. Mord. Col.
Undushell, Mr. John, Grange Walk, Southw.
Unwin, Mrs. Coggeshall.

Van, Mr. Lambeth.
Aran, Mrs. Lambeth.
Venn, Rev. John, M. A. Clapham.
Vidler, Mr. Thomas, Shoreditch.
W.
AV afford, Mr. Elmstcad, Essex.
AValler, Mr. Gray's inn Lane, 2 copie,.
Walker, Mr. James, Harp Alley, Fleet Mark.
AValker, Mrs. Little Ormond Street.
AValsh, Miss.
AVaKh, Mr. Francis, Bank, 3 copies.
AValter, Rev. Samuel, M. A. Madeley, 2 co.
AVutson, Mr. Benjamin, Long Lane, Southw.
AVaison, Mrs. Ditto.
AVelford Mrs. Blackheath, 2 copies.
AVelford, Mrs. Tower Dock, 2 copies.
Wclford, Miss, Tower Dock.
AVestby, Rev. S. Diss, Norfolk.
West, Mrs. Stoke, near Guildford.
West, Miss, Holborn Bridge.
Weston, Mr. Kingsland Road.
Whatclcy, Mr. Thomas, Bedford Row, 3 cop.
Whennell, Mr. Birchett, Hornchurch.
AVhitchead, Mr. Francis, London.
AVhitchead, Mr. Charles, London.
AVhitehcad, Mr. David, London.
AVhittingham, Rev. Mr. Everton, Bcdfordfli.
AVilkinson, Mr. N. Iron Bridge, Salop.
Wilkinson, Mr. Jos. Moid. Col.
Williams, Mr. R. Madeley Wood.
AVilliams, Mr. R. Strand.
AVilliams, Mr. T. Stationer's Court, 6 copies.
Williams, Miss, Stafford.
AVilliamson, Miss.
Wilson, Mrs. J. Highbury Hill.
Wilson, Mrs. Sloane Street.
Wiltshire, Mr. Edward, Greenwich.
Wincop, Mr. R. jun. Lynn Regis.
Wing, Mr. James, Coggeshall.
AVingfi.Id, Mrs. Holborn.
Wood, Messrs, SpencerandCo. Bride. Pr. 3C0.
Wood, Mr. John, Shoe Lane.
Wood, Mr. William, Cavcrsham, Berks.
Wood, Mr. Aveley.
Woodd, Rev. Basil, M. A. Paddington Green.
Wooddrooffe, Rev. N. M.A. Shoreham, Kent.
Woodward, Mr Honduras Wharf, Bankside.
Wright, Mr. J. M. Wellclose Square.
Y.
Yate, Timothy, Esq. Madeley.
Yorke, Mr. T, Madeley Wood.

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