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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/13824-0.txt b/13824-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c3bde29 --- /dev/null +++ b/13824-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1271 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13824 *** + +SER. XXVI. REV. DR. LELAND. +SER. XXVII. REV. MR. BALDWIN + +Vol. 2 No. 7 Dec. 1827. + +THE +NATIONAL PREACHER: +OR +_ORIGINAL MONTHLY SERMONS_ + +EDITED BY +REV. AUSTIN DICKINSON, +NEW YORK. + + * * * * * + +POSTAGE--_One Cent and a half_, not over 100 miles; _Two Cents and a +half_, any distance over 100. + + +TO THE REVEREND CLERGY:-- + +The undersigned proposes to commence another Periodical, of original +plan and character, provided that adequate pledges of supplies shall be +furnished. The Work to bear the following title, or something similar, +viz.: + +=THE AMERICAN PASTOR'S JOURNAL:= + +OR + +_Original Sketches of real Characters, Conversations, and striking +Facts. Furnished chiefly by Clergymen._ + +The following imperfect sketch of topics to be embraced, may serve to +illustrate the plan:--1. Instances of very early piety.--2. Striking +results of Parental faithfulness, or unfaithfulness; of filial respect, +or disrespect.--3. Cases of individuals raised from deep obscurity, or +wickedness, to eminent usefulness.--4. Remarkable cases of +conviction.--5. Cases of great hardness of heart, from resisting +convictions.--6. Distinctly marked cases of submission and conversion to +God.--7. Cases of awful relapse into sin.--8. Cases of strong temptation +and trial.--9. Cases of strong faith and confidence in God.--10. +Peculiarly manifest interpositions of Providence, in mercy or +judgment.--11. Instances of the wrath of man being made to praise +God.--12. Cases illustrative of the influence of piety on the +intellectual powers.--13. Instances of extraordinary beneficence or +covetousness.--14. Death-bed scenes, of the Christian, the backslider, +the infidel, the universalist, the profane man, or the worldling. + +It is conceived that the very existence of such a Periodical might be +the means of leading Clergymen, in their pastoral intercourse, to be +more observant of character, more discriminating in their views of human +nature, and more disposed to record and rescue from oblivion striking +conversations and facts. No species of knowledge can be more interesting +or more useful, than that thus drawn from real life;--especially from +portions of life most intimately connected with spiritual and eternal +realities. If it is all-important that masters in surgery and medicine +record, for mutual improvement, and for the benefit of mankind, striking +cases which occur in their practice; it cannot, surely, be less +important, that those who watch for the life of souls, should preserve +similar records. It would seem as though, from the daily intercourse of +several thousand Clergymen, such materials, of the character +contemplated, might be furnished, as, if well condensed and judiciously +arranged in an elegant Periodical, would not fail to be read with +intense and general interest. And who can tell, but that God, who is +rich in wisdom, may thus employ the simplest means for collecting, +condensing, and reflecting rays of sacred truth, in the form of +practical results, which may carry conviction and saving instruction to +uncounted millions--not merely in our own land, but in more populous +countries, where the importance of experimental religion is not +appreciated? + +But, for rendering such a work pre-eminently useful, or even commencing +it, there must be union of effort. As it is intended to consist wholly +of original matter, and that of a specific character, such as no genius +can originate, it is obvious that it cannot be commenced, without being +furnished with numerous pledges of supplies. And it will be important to +have a considerable number of communications on hand, at the +commencement, as well as afterwards, that due regard may be had to order +in the arrangement of subjects, and an interesting variety be presented +in every Number. + +It will not be necessary to publish the names of writers, nor of +individuals alluded to in communications; though in many cases it may be +desirable and expedient. But, in every case, the name of the writer, or +some respectable reference for attesting the accuracy of statements, +must be furnished to the Editor; as he must be responsible to the public +for the correctness of whatever may appear in the work. He will moreover +think it his duty to present Contributors a generous compensation. + +MINISTERS, of different Christian denominations, willing to aid in +executing the design, are affectionately requested _to write as soon as +practicable_--either furnishing matter for publication, or stating +definitely, _when and how much aid may be expected_. If the work is ably +supported by the co-operation of Clergymen, the Editor does not hesitate +to say, that he will at least circulate thousands and tens of thousands +of copies gratuitously, and thus afford Contributors the best of all +rewards--the opportunity of doing extensive good. + +That the blessing of God Almighty may crown the enterprise, is the +humble prayer of His servant, + +AUSTIN DICKINSON. + + + + +=CONTRIBUTORS.= + + +Upwards of fifty Clergymen, of five Christian denominations, and +belonging to sixteen different States, most of whom are well known to +the public as Authors, have encouraged the Editor to expect from them +Sermons for the Preacher. + + + * * * * * + +=TO THE ENTERPRISING.= + + +Persons having expressed a disposition to circulate this Work, provided +postage could be avoided; we would say to such, that for _ten_ or more +Subscribers, _who pay at one time_ in advance, or on first receiving +Numbers, a deduction from the price of One Dollar a year may be made, +equal to the annual postage. And in such cases money may be forwarded +without being post-paid. Experience shows, there is no mode of +conveyance safer than the Mail. + +[_Ordinary Terms, other leaf_.] + + + + +THE + +=NATIONAL PREACHER.= + +Go ... Teach all Nations.... _Matt_. xxviii. 19. + +VOL. II. NEW-YORK, DECEMBER, 1827. NO. 7. + + +=SERMON XXVI.= + +By AARON W. LELAND, D.D. + +CHARLESTON, S. CAROLINA. + + +THE PURE GOSPEL REJECTED BY THE PERISHING. + +1 COR. I. 18.--_For the preaching of the cross is, to them that perish, +foolishness_. + +In the Christian revelation, there is an evident purpose of infinite +wisdom, that in all the provisions for man's salvation, his moral agency +should be left free and uncontrolled. Instead of accommodation to human +prejudices, there is ample scope for captious objections. And if +additional proof were needed, of the divine origin of the Bible, it +would be found in this characteristic. Were it a system agreeable to the +narrow views, in unison with the selfish feelings, and gratifying to the +depraved taste of human nature, it would more resemble the fabrication +of man, than the workmanship of God. But as the current of its doctrines +is so entirely opposed to our natural inclinations, as to render a moral +renovation indispensable to a perception of the glory of revealed truth; +all such ground of skepticism is removed. + +Thus the obscurities and difficulties of revelation are admirably +adapted to exhibit human character, and constitute this state of +existence a real probation. For if the light of truth came upon the mind +with resistless energy, and the operations of the divine government were +clearly disclosed; if the motives and designs of infinite wisdom were +fully explained, and the realities of the spiritual world completely +laid open to view; one principal aim of this dispensation would be +frustrated. On the one hand, there would be no field for the exercise of +faith and humble confidence on the part of Christians; and thus a +precious test of their submission and obedience would be destroyed. On +the other, there could not be a full disclosure of the true feelings of +the unrenewed heart. Because, as all would be evident as the noon-day +sun, there would remain no choice in the matter of embracing the +truth--no means of evincing whether its reception were cordial or +compulsory. + +In this respect; there is displayed a matchless skill, as well as a +gracious condescension, in adapting revelation to the actual character +and condition of our race. While sufficient light is afforded to guide +the sincere inquirer, there is an obscurity to perplex and offend the +proud and self-confident. While the truth is accompanied by evidence +abundantly satisfactory to every mind open to conviction, enough of +mystery remains, to form an impassable barrier to those who are inclined +to disbelieve the testimony of God. While to the eye of faith there +appears a glorious system of wisdom and mercy, depraved reason and +prejudice may discover little else than an assemblage of inconsistencies +and absurdities. + +It is not without design, then, that the great facts of revelation are +made liable to misrepresentation; that its essential principles are +arrayed against the pride of human wisdom; and that its blessed +institutions are so obnoxious to abuse and opposition. Such a +constitution of things is evidently intended to furnish a decisive +criterion of human character--to exhibit, in striking contrast, the +humble votaries of faith, who reverently bow to the authority of +Scripture; and the adherents of a haughty, self-confident rationality, +who will receive the testimony of God himself, no farther than it +accords with their opinions and prejudices--and thus to elicit a fair +and full manifestation of every man's real disposition and feelings. + +Such, uniformly, has been the effect of the Bible, wherever its sacred +contents have been made known. To all who have received it with +penitence, humility, and confidence, as the infallible word of God, it +has proved their pleasure and delight--their fountain of +consolation--their guide to peace: while the self-righteous and +unbelieving have transformed it into a subject of perplexity and +disputation--_a cause of deeper guilt and more aggravated ruin_. The +Gospel has appeared transcendently beautiful and glorious to all who +have been savingly enlightened by the Holy Spirit--while, to the +impenitent and skeptical, it seems obscure, irrational, and +incomprehensible. The former rejoice in the scriptures, just as they +are, and willingly yield to the obedience of faith: the latter are ever +anxious to lower the standard of divine truth to the level of their +views of fitness, and to mould its materials into a form suited to their +unholy inclinations. + +On these principles it is easy to perceive the real nature and causes of +the insidious warfare, which is maintained, in various forms, against +the essential doctrines of the Gospel. It is just an effusion of the +malignity of the unsanctified heart. Its prevalence is an exact +fulfilment of prophecy; and therefore an irrefragable proof of the truth +and divine authority of that system which it is labouring to destroy. +The emphatic declaration of the apostle, in the text, strikingly +describes the state of feeling which now actually prevails, among many +who enjoy all the external privileges of the Christian +dispensation--_The preaching of the cross is, to them that perish, +foolishness._ + +In illustration of this passage, it will be attempted, to explain the +import of the phrase, _the preaching of the cross_--to enumerate some of +the _instances_ and _causes_ of such preaching being accounted +_foolishness_--and to describe the _fearful state and prospects_ of +those who hold it in such low estimation. + +The preaching of the cross is a plain and full announcement of all the +essential truths of that system which provides pardon and salvation for +the lost and guilty. The cross is the symbol of that amazing expedient +of infinite wisdom and mercy, by which a treaty of reconciliation is +offered to convicted traitors against Jehovah's government. Its +exhibition therefore must require a developement of the principles, and +a defence of the doctrines, peculiar to this gracious dispensation. + +The grand fact, which constitutes the very essence and glory of the +Gospel, and which it is the leading object of the Christian ministry to +announce; is, that He, who took upon himself the form of a servant, and +offered up the sacrifice of Calvary, is _God over all, blessed for +ever_. This gives to the cross all its glory and efficacy. It is on the +supreme Deity of Christ--on the expiation made for sin by the Maker and +Sovereign of worlds--that the whole fabric of evangelical truth rests. +On any other supposition, the sacrifice of the cross was a very ordinary +affair. If the Saviour of sinners be not God--if he be a created being, +of whatever grade,--where is the _mystery of Godliness?_--Where those +unfathomable depths of divine love, _into which the angels desire to +look_? If Christ be only a servant of God, however exalted, what was +there, in his appearance on our world, to constitute a new era in +heaven, and to fill its inhabitants with astonishment and ecstasy? Did +the heavenly host descend in rapture, and cause the mountains of Judea +to reecho with their acclamations, because a _dependent creature_ had +_consented_ to do his Maker's will? Whence the ascription of _glory to +God in the highest_, and why do the courts above resound with a new song +of praise to God for his redeeming mercy, if this redemption was +effected by the labours and sufferings of one inferior to the Deity? Was +such a dispensation as that of Moses, designed simply to prepare the way +for a messenger of God to declare his will, and to seal the testimony +with his blood, as many good men have done, both before and since? Why +did patriarchs and prophets foretell his coming, and celebrate his +praises?--Why did the continual offering of divinely appointed +sacrifices, for many centuries, typify his sufferings?--And why did +nature shudder, and shroud herself in darkness, at the consummation of +those sufferings? All these things are utterly inexplicable, on the +supposition that Christ is a created dependent being. + +But view him as _God manifest in the flesh_--view him as voluntarily +laying aside his glory, and descending from the throne of infinite +majesty, to assume the nature, and expiate the guilt of a ruined +race;--and we are struck with the appropriateness of all the attending +circumstances. The splendid ceremonials of the Jewish ritual, and the +raptured songs of prophets and of angels were well employed to prepare +the way for the visible manifestation of Deity among men. The +annunciation of the divine nature of the Redeemer must, therefore, be an +essential part of _the preaching of the cross_. + +Equally indispensable is a decided testimony to that perfect _atonement +for sin_, which was made by this great offering. Here is the only +foundation of human hope. This was the grand object accomplished by the +Saviour's sufferings. Thus was completely solved the mysterious problem, +which all created intelligences had deemed inexplicable--how sin could +be remitted, without infringing the rights and tarnishing the honour of +the divine government--and how the guilty could be rescued from wrath, +without a forfeiture of the divine veracity. Never indeed was the divine +law so completely vindicated, or the claims of justice so awfully +asserted, as when the Lawgiver offered himself as a ransom. And no other +possible manifestation of the malignity and atrocity of sin, of the +divine abhorrence of all iniquity, and, at the same time, of the +exhaustless treasures of redeeming mercy, could equal that which was +witnessed on Calvary. As, therefore, Moses lifted up the serpent in the +wilderness, so is the cross to be held up now, by its heralds, to a +perishing world. Its atoning sacrifice is to be proclaimed, and its +purchased blessings offered to lost sinners, as their only hope--their +only remedy. + +Another important part of _the preaching of the cross_ consists in a +full disclosure of _the entire depravity and helplessness of our fallen +nature_. This doctrine lies at the foundation of Christianity. It is +from the corruption of our race, the dominion of spiritual death, and +the actual sentence of condemnation, that the necessity arises for so +_great salvation_. If hope could have been afforded from any other +source, if there had been any possibility of the sinner's expiating his +own guilt, and restoring himself to the divine favour, the great +Sacrifice would never have been offered. But until men are convinced of +their apostacy and corruption, they will never be persuaded of the truth +and necessity of the great atonement. And until they feel themselves +justly condemned, and utterly helpless, they will never come as humble +suppliants to a Saviour's feet. + +The work of the _Holy Spirit, in enlightening and renewing the hearts of +sinners_, and thus carrying on to their accomplishment the purposes of +divine mercy, forms also an important portion of the message of the +Gospel. It is the glorious achievement of the cross, to slay the enmity +and subdue the stubbornness of the sinful heart: and the infinite +blessing purchased by the Saviour's blood, is the gift of the Holy +Spirit, to effectuate that transformation of character, that spiritual +regeneration, without which salvation is utterly impossible. The +preaching of the cross, therefore, must include an unwavering +declaration, that _the working of regeneration and the renewing of the +Holy Ghost_ are indispensable to salvation. + +It is moreover essential to a faithful _preaching of the cross_, that +_justification by faith in Christ_, should be distinctly declared as the +only ground of a sinner's hope. That view of the Gospel which represents +it as bestowing upon man a power of fulfilling God's holy law--or as so +lowering its demands as to render his imperfect obedience acceptable--is +most dishonourable to God, and ruinous to the souls of men. No such +provisions are found in the treaty of reconciliation sent from Heaven. +So far from abrogating, the Gospel exalts and honours the law. So far +from diminishing its strictness, it adds emphasis to its claims, and +fully meets its unmitigated requisitions. Most gloriously has Christ +vindicated the divine justice, by receiving its avenging sword in his +own bosom, as the Substitute, or surety for sinners; and most +effectually has he provided for their salvation, by rendering the +exercise of pardoning mercy consistent with the principles of the divine +government, and by working out for them a perfect righteousness, which +may render them just before God. By faith, the penitent sinner receives +all these blessings--is rescued from wrath, delivered from the guilt and +bondage of sin, and made a child of God, and an heir of eternal life. +Thus the triumph of the cross is complete, the pride of human merit is +humbled in the dust, and all the glory of the salvation of sinners is +rendered to the riches of redeeming mercy. + +In fine, _the preaching of the cross_ includes a faithful denunciation +of _eternal misery_, as the inevitable doom of all who pass from this +state of probation, unrenewed by the Spirit of grace, unwashed in the +blood of the Lamb. + +Such are the essential principles of that system of redemption, which +engaged the counsels of heaven from eternity; and which was carried into +effect, not like the work of creation, by a single word of the Son of +God, but by his assuming human nature, enduring a long exile of toil and +reproach, and humbling himself unto death, even the death of the cross. + +With what gratitude, then, ought this Gospel to be received by the +guilty, perishing creatures, for whose rescue from perdition it is +designed. How should this display of divine compassion melt and +captivate the hearts of those, whose sins have been thus expiated, and +for whom an offer of free pardon and endless blessedness has been thus +dearly purchased. + +But _be astonished, O heavens, at this_--these tidings of salvation are +received by many with chilling indifference--the sufferings of the cross +are regarded with unconcern--the treaty of reconciliation, written in +atoning blood, is by some contemptuously disregarded--by others repelled +with determined opposition. These appalling facts display more of the +malignity of sin, its blinding, deadening influence, and more of the +rancorous enmity of the carnal heart against God, than all the other +enormities which blacken the world's history. All other crimes appear +less atrocious than this scorn of a Saviour's love--this _trampling +under foot the blood of the covenant_. While no finite mind could have +conceived it possible, that Almighty love should be so slighted, yet the +Spirit of prophecy announced this impious ingratitude, long before the +incarnation. When Isaiah _saw the glory of Christ, and spake of him_, he +also saw that he would be _despised and rejected of men_. And by all +their hostility to the doctrines of grace, sinners are only verifying +the description, which inspiration gave long ago, of their blindness and +perverseness. By all their vain reasonings and presumptuous objections, +they just corroborate revealed truth, and evince the desperate +wickedness of the natural heart. + +As in the days of the apostles, so in this period of increased light, +_the preaching of the cross_ is esteemed _foolishness_. The message of +redeeming mercy is often received with utter listlessness--often with an +evident disgust--and sometimes with an openly avowed hostility. In the +apostolic age, it might be supposed that the resistance, with which the +Gospel had to contend, arose from the prejudices of a Heathen or Jewish +education, and from a very imperfect knowledge of Christianity. But, at +the present period, the undiminished hostility, which is displayed +against the pure doctrines of redemption, can be attributed to nothing, +but that hatred to the ways of God, which the Scriptures represent as +rankling in the natural heart, and for which they contain the only +remedy. + +It requires but a transient view of the religious state, even of +enlightened and refined society, to see that to very many, now, _the +preaching of the cross is foolishness_. While any temporal interest +excites feeling, this theme is listened to with apathy. O, how often are +those statements, which fill heaven with ecstasy, rehearsed to vacant, +listless hearers! How many weep at fictitious woes, who contemplate the +bloody scene of Calvary without a tear! How many hearts glow in +admiration of the benevolence or heroism of a fellow worm, while +entirely unaffected alike by the sacrifice or the triumph of the Son of +God! How often do men express sentiments of the most fervent gratitude +towards earthly benefactors, who would be ashamed of uttering one +emotion of thanks to Him who _gave himself to die_ for them! And is not +this treating the Gospel as _foolishness_? But this heartless unconcern, +criminal as it undoubtedly is, in the sight of God, is not so fearfully +impious--affords not so appalling a disclosure of depravity, as the +absolute disgust and contempt, with which the doctrines of the cross are +sometimes received. In almost every community, there are those who +utterly despise the whole system--who do not disguise their +abhorrence--and who evidently hate the very mention of the subject. How +indignant are such at any effort, in private conversation, to urge upon +their attention themes connected with the dying love of Christ! How +chilling is the effect, when such discourse is attempted, in many +circles of refinement and elegance? And what a brand of infamy is +affixed to the human character, by the fact, that from most such circles +all these topics are absolutely excluded! Let a man confine his +conversation to such subjects as engaged the attention of Christ and his +apostles--such subjects as now employ the hosts of heaven,--let him be +accustomed in company, to bring forward the holy mysteries of +redemption,--and by how many would he be shunned like a pestilence? And +with what scornful hatred are those churches avoided by many, where +nothing is heard but _Jesus Christ and him crucified_? Such are the +open, unequivocal expressions of contempt and disgust, with which many +treat the doctrines of the cross. Do not _they_ esteem them +_foolishness_? + +But there is a class of the contemners of evangelical truth, +characterized by more active zeal and decided measures. Far from the +giddy thoughtlessness of those who hardly reflect upon the subject at +all, and from the strange inconsistency of such, as profess to respect +what they really despise and hate,--these feel and express a deep +interest in religious opinions; devote time and attention to theological +studies; and, as the result of their investigations, avow their utter +disbelief of the peculiar doctrines of the cross; and undertake to +demonstrate their falsehood and absurdity. They tell you, they have +maturely examined the whole subject--that they have brought to the +investigation all the aid that extensive reading and critical research +can furnish--that they have carried the lights of science and philosophy +into the dark regions of fanaticism--and have become perfectly +convinced, that the whole system is an assemblage of the grossest +errors. When, however, the array of argument is produced, its force +seems to consist in the unwelcome impressions which the pure Gospel +itself makes upon their minds. They can see no wisdom or fitness in such +an atonement. They see nothing so very terrible in sin, as to require +such an expiation. Pardoning mercy, say they, is one of the natural +attributes of Deity; and the doctrine of eternal punishment seems to +them too horribly inconsistent with divine justice to bear reflection. +As for the substitution of the innocent for the guilty, and satisfying +the claims of law by the blood of a sinless victim, they are amazed that +any rational man can credit such absurd notions. Tell them of the +maladies and wounds of the soul, which can only be healed by the +Physician of Calvary--they can hardly conceal their contempt. Tell them +plainly, as the Bible does, that they are lost, perishing sinners--that +the wrath of God is revealed against them--that the avenging sword is +uplifted, and that, unless they fly to the cross and embrace it by a +living faith, they must sink to perdition--and you will witness the +smile of derision or the frown of indignation. They esteem the doctrine +of the Trinity as a monument of human credulity and folly. Their +feelings are shocked beyond measure, at the incarnation of Deity, in the +person of Jesus Christ. The personality and direct influences of the +Holy Spirit appear useless and incredible; and the necessity of a change +of heart excites their utter scorn. They cannot endure it. Their disgust +is inexpressible. + +Instead, therefore, of these offensive principles, they substitute a +system, not modelled from the Bible, but from what they consider reason +and propriety. This they adorn with all that is beautiful and attractive +to the carnal eye. Before this fair and flattering idol, of their own +workmanship, they bow down in delighted homage. This is a religion they +can love, for it flatters, exalts, and dignifies human nature! But as +for human depravity, and other hated doctrines of the orthodox creed, +they want words to express their aversion. The simple account of the +matter is, that _the preaching of the cross_, in their estimation, _is +foolishness_. + +Such are the various grades of hostility to the vital principles of the +Gospel, from contemptuous indifference, to malignant and rancorous +opposition. + +We now proceed to enumerate some of the causes, of this deplorable state +of feeling towards the _truth as it is in Jesus_. + +The depravity--the unholiness--of human nature, may be considered the +grand cause of all the enmity which has appeared against the doctrines +of grace. It is true, nevertheless, that the various degrees and forms, +in which this enmity is manifested, depend upon the peculiarities of +individual character and situation. + +Destitution of early religious instruction, generally leads to an entire +indifference to the whole subject. Persons who are brought up in +prayerless, worldly families--whose young minds are not moulded by a +pious influence--are usually found very insusceptible of religious +impressions. In such hearts the power of ungodliness reigns +uncontrolled. Uncultivated and waste, they produce nothing but _thorns +and briers_. Nor is it surprising, that this numerous class of the +hearers of the Gospel should exhibit an utter disregard and contempt of +its authority. _The preaching of the cross is foolishness_ to them, +because they do not understand it, and will not take the trouble to +examine it. + +A similar apathy is frequently observed in persons who have been well +instructed, when their whole souls have become engrossed in some worldly +pursuit. Their heads and hands are so entirely occupied, that serious +reflection is absolutely excluded. + +Contempt of evangelical religion is sure to be exhibited in places where +its professors are asleep or dead. In communities where real religion +flourishes, where its power is felt, and its votaries are consistent and +decided; whatever hatred may rankle in the breasts of opposers, they are +not apt to indulge in contemptuous derision. But where formality and +worldliness prevail, and no conspicuous standard of Christian character +is visible--the hearts of sinners will be manifested. They will, without +hesitation, avow, in how low and degrading a light they regard the +doctrines of the cross. Their contempt and loathing are wholly +irrepressible. + +In many instances, the pride of rank and intellect is the cause why _the +preaching of the cross is_ utterly despised and accounted _foolishness_. +The lofty speculations of an aspiring intellect can with difficulty +come down to the simplicity of the Gospel. The command, to come to the +Saviour's feet with the humility of a little child, fills the proud +heart of those _who are wise in their own eyes_, with indignation. They +cannot endure doctrines, which level all vain distinctions, and require +the noble, the affluent, and the learned, to assume the same station of +penitence and contrition, with the lowliest peasant. They cannot consent +to lay their honours in the dust, and address themselves only to +sovereign mercies. It is beyond endurance, that the messages of grace +should come _to them_, as condemned, guilty, and perishing sinners; and +that as such they should be invited to the cross. Hence the scornful +air, the undissembled disgust, with which so many, in high life, turn +their backs upon _the preaching of the cross_. And hence, encouraged by +their example, multitudes cluster round the standard of a haughty and +malignant opposition to the Gospel. + +While thus so many regard _the preaching of the cross as foolishness_, +and earnestly wish it were utterly false; it is not wonderful, that +efforts should be made to prove that it actually is so. Probably some, +engaged in this opposition, are perfectly sincere, and actually suppose, +as Saul of Tarsus did, that they are _doing God service_, by combating +the doctrines of the cross. But whoever obeys the natural dictates of +his own heart, and submits himself to the guidance of his own perverted, +blinded reason, refusing to supplicate the illuminations of divine +grace, will be likely to come under the power of _strong delusion to +believe a lie_. + +One other cause of opposition to the Gospel is found in the absolute +contrariety of its requisitions, to the habits of life, which men have +contracted, and which they are resolved not to abandon. While _the +preaching of the cross_ prescribes, as indispensable to salvation, +conditions with which many, who have no doubt of being saved, wholly +refuse to comply; and while it declares that eternal perdition will be +the result of a course, which they are determined to pursue; it must be +the object of their settled detestation. Hence the love of sinful +pursuits and gratifications, and an invincible repugnance to a life of +devotion, are the true reasons why many esteem _the preaching of the +cross foolishness_. + +It ought, however, to be kept in mind, while these causes are recounted, +that the operation of each of them is rendered more efficacious, by the +agency of that spirit of darkness, _that worketh in the children of +disobedience_. To increase disgust against the plan of redemption, to +exasperate the natural enmity of the carnal heart, to give a specious +appearance to objections, and to enforce, with seductive arguments, the +cause of unbelief, is the untiring employment of the grand foe of God +and man. It is indeed the darling achievement of infernal skill, to +inflate a poor worm with pride of talent, and fill his heart with hatred +to the Gospel, and then persuade him that his hatred arises from its +falsehood and absurdity. No event can afford the tempter greater joy, +than success in persuading perishing sinners to reject the only possible +way of escape from eternal death, and to contemn, as foolishness, that +doctrine which is the _wisdom of God and the power of God to salvation +to every one that believeth_. + +It only remains, that we briefly describe the fearful condition and +prospects of all to whom _the preaching of the cross is foolishness_. + +And here we have only to repeat the decision of the Searcher of +hearts--the Judge of the quick and dead. His infallible Spirit has, in +our text, divulged the tremendous fact, that the indifference, contempt, +and disgust, which have now been described, are characteristics of THEM +THAT PERISH. This authority, as well as the nature of the case, renders +it certain, that all, who indulge such feelings, are _in the gall of +bitterness and under the bond of iniquity_--_dead in trespasses and +sins_--_treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath_. Nothing short of +utter blindness of mind can be insensible to the glory of the +Gospel--nothing but entire depravity of heart can render its doctrines +offensive--and nothing but the most obdurate impenitency can resist the +melting influence of a Saviour's dying love. It is utterly impossible, +that a scornful neglect or disregard of the preaching of the cross +should exist, without fearful guilt and imminent danger. All those, +among the hearers of the gospel, who will finally be children of wrath, +are now characterized by such guilt. And all the lost spirits in the +world of wo, who once enjoyed the offers of mercy, cherished the same +fatal feelings towards the plan of redemption. It was _foolishness_ to +them. Many, even in this land of light, seem to be ripening for the same +tremendous doom. Whether in the ranks of open opposition, or under the +false colours of pretended regard, the deadly symptom is upon them--a +settled disgust and aversion to the _preaching of the cross._ + +Say not, 'It is no matter what a man believes, provided he is sincere.' +God has settled this question.--"_Because they received not the love of +the truth_, _that they might be saved_; _God shall send them strong +delusion, that they should believe a lie_; _that they all might be +damned, who believed not the truth_, _but had pleasure in +unrighteousness_." Is there not then, appalling evidence, that those, +who hold such preaching in contempt, occupy very perilous ground, and +exhibit fearful tokens of the divine abandonment? And especially might +not the angels in heaven tremble for those, who have enjoyed great light +and privileges--have witnessed rich displays of divine grace--and have +once felt a deep solicitude for their own souls--but who now despise and +hate those truths, and that cause, which they were once _almost +persuaded_ to embrace? + +How clearly and terribly, my hearers, does this subject discover the +ungodliness of the unrenewed heart. Those feelings of contempt and +hostility, towards what is most precious and glorious in the view of +God, constitute the summit of human guilt. That feeble worms of the +dust should thus dare to sit in judgment on the divine administration, +and pronounce that needless which God has declared indispensable, and +call that folly which God esteems the highest wisdom, is not merely +presumptuous;--it is inexpressibly _impious_. + +How resistless is the evidence, hence arising, of the necessity of an +entire change of heart--an entire change of feeling--to prepare men to +dwell with God. No wonder then, that our Lord should declare with such +emphasis, _Ye must be born again_, or ye _cannot see the kingdom of +God_. + +I beseech you, fellow sinners, lay these things seriously to heart. Do +any of you habitually hear the preaching of the cross with heartless +indifference--with a light and trifling temper? Beware, lest your heart +become fatally hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. + +Are any of you conscious of disgust and aversion, produced by such +doctrines? O, beware, lest that come upon you which is spoken in the +prophets, Behold, ye dispisers, and wonder, and perish: Beware lest you +convert the bread of life into the poison of death! + +Have any of you already attained such a degree of blindness and +perversity, as to persuade yourselves that the doctrines of the cross +are really irrational and absurd, and that you are doing right in +opposing and deriding them? Recollect, I pray you, with whose word you +are contending;--whose wisdom you are despising! Let the chaff contend +with the tempest, and the stubble with the devouring flame; let the +glow-worm despise all the lamps of heaven;--but Oh, let not a worm +contend with Omnipotence; let not dim reason reject all the splendours +of the Sun of righteousness. _The redemption of the soul is +precious_--Its rescue from perdition, and elevation to God's right hand, +are objects too momentous, to be sacrificed to the pride of intellect, +or to the fashion of a world which passeth away. _Receive_, then, _with +meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye +doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves_. + + + + +SERMON XXVII. + +BY ELIHU W. BALDWIN, A.M. + +NEW-YORK. + +THE FINAL JUDGMENT. + +HEBREWS, IX. 29.--_After this the Judgment_. + + +Whilst another year is ending, and time itself, as it respects us, is +fast hastening to its close, the question very naturally arises, _What +shall come after death_? The voice of inspiration replies, _After this +the Judgment_. There is no need of entering upon a laboured proof of the +doctrine so plainly declared, _That there will be a day of Judgment for +mankind_. It is what seems written by the finger of God himself upon the +consciences of men. The impression is nearly universal, with Pagans and +Mahomedans, as well as Jews and Christians, that _every one of us shall +give account of himself to God_. This impression is strengthened by a +view of the very unequal and indiscriminate allotments of the present +life. Here the virtuous are often the objects of hatred and relentless +persecution. Here the man of ambition and dark intrigue, circumvents and +treads down his more honest rivals. Here Providence often afflicts even +the most pious; while the licentious, and proud, and oppressive, are, +perhaps, suffered to enjoy uninterrupted prosperity. Now we believe, +assuredly, that "God is just;" and we infer, that he will so exhibit +himself by another and more equal distribution of his favours and +frowns. We conclude with the wise man, "that God shall judge both the +righteous and the wicked." Conscience and reason, then, unite with +revelation, in saying, that "God hath appointed a day, in which he will +judge the world in righteousness." No language can be plainer, and no +event more reasonably anticipated. + +With this absolute certainty before us, then, of a judgment for all +mankind, it would be unnatural--it would betray awful insensibility to +eternal concerns, not to inquire with all seriousness--When will this +universal judgment take place? What objects is it designed to +accomplish? What connexion will it have with our future and eternal +condition? We inquire then, + + +I. _When will the universal Judgment take place?_ + +The precise time, God has wisely concealed from every intelligent +creature. "Of that day and that hour knoweth no man. No; not the angels +that are in heaven." But the text speaks of it, in general terms, as +that which is to take place _after our death_. Other passages are +somewhat more explicit, as to the time. The apostle Peter declares, "The +heavens and the earth which now are, by the same word are kept in store, +reserved unto fire, against _the day of judgment_, and perdition of +ungodly men." According to this account of the judgment, it will occur +at the same time with the destruction of the world; "when," as the same +apostle declares, "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and +the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth, also, and the +works that are therein shall be burnt up." Paul gives a similar account +of the _time_, as he comforts the church at Thessalonica, under +persecution, with the prospect of the judgment, "when the Lord Jesus +shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, +taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel +of our Lord Jesus Christ." Indeed, if God is to "judge the whole world +in righteousness," what other occasion would seem so proper, as when the +last of our race have finished their work on the earth, and the world +itself is about to be destroyed? Would it not appear most suitable, that +the public and final decision of our destiny, should immediately succeed +the winding up of this world's drama?--the termination of all earthly +allotments? When, if not at that deeply interesting crisis, will all +things be ready for the great trial? _The final judgment, then, will +take place after our death, and at the end of the world_. We next +inquire, + + +II. _What are the objects, which the Judgment is designed to +accomplish?_ + +On this point, it becomes creatures of yesterday to speak with profound +humility, and especially to beware of contradicting what is revealed. +The objects which Jehovah will accomplish by the universal judgment, are +unquestionably vast and momentous, beyond all conception. Yet some of +them are obvious to reason, or are plainly revealed. + +Every person has experienced inconvenience and perplexity from the +circumstance, that the real characters of men, in the present life, are +but partially disclosed. Much the larger portion of human actions pass +unobserved by the world; or the motives which prompt them are concealed. +One design of the judgment, then, is to uncover these hidden springs, +and lay open every dark retreat of human conduct. We are told, "there is +nothing hid which shall not be revealed;" that "God shall bring every +work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or +whether it be evil;" that he "will both bring to light the hidden things +of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels the heart." + +Another design of the judgment, is publicly to assign to men their +proper deserts. This, we have before suggested, is not done on the +earth. "All things here come alike to all." "There is one event to the +righteous and to the wicked." But the future judgment is characterized, +as the day of "revelation of the righteous judgment of God;" "in the +which he will judge the world in righteousness;" and will "render to +every man according to his deeds." The mystery involved in the +prosperity of the wicked, and in the unequal allotments, which have here +marked the dispensations of Providence, will then cease for ever; and it +will then be seen and felt, that every one is treated according to the +strictest principles of wisdom and justice. + +Another special design of the judgment, is to manifest and gloriously +exalt the perfections of Jehovah. Revelation has indeed proclaimed his +perfections, in language which need not be misunderstood. But his +providence has often interposed a cloud between them and the eyes of +men. We do not comprehend the wisdom of present occurrences. We see not +the end from the beginning. A complete disclosure of both, will show to +the universe the deep counsels of God, and the consistent and benevolent +character of all his operations. He will then appear in the greatness of +his _power_, and _majesty_--as he summons the dead from their graves, +and folds up the earth and the heavens, like a decayed garment, to be +laid aside. He will then appear in the glory of his _justice_, his +_holiness_, and his _truth_,--while he examines, before his dread +tribunal, the risen and assembled millions of our race, and renders to +every one according to his works. All his perfections will then be +illustriously displayed; for, says the apostle, "He shall come to be +glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." + +But this glory of the Divinity is specially to shine forth in the person +of the Son. He it was, that "being found in fashion as a man, humbled +himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. +Wherefore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, which is +above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of +things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; and +that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory +of God the Father." Accordingly, "the Father judgeth no man, but hath +committed all judgment unto the Son." It is the _Son_ who will come "in +the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory"; whom "every eye shall +see;" and who, "in his own glory, and in the glory of the Father, and of +the holy angels," shall "judge the world in righteousness." Then will he +who humbled himself, and "became obedient unto death," be publicly +recognised as "the Mighty God," "by whom, and for whose pleasure, all +things are, and were created." Then will "every tongue confess that he +is Lord." The conviction will then be universal, "that all men should +honour the Son even as they honour the Father." This leads us to +inquire, + + +III. _What connexion will the Judgment have with our future and eternal +condition?_ + +Here let us not indulge in vain speculations, but examine simply the +word of God. According to the Scriptures, the judgment will result in +assigning to men _very different allotments_. It will recognise among +them two entirely different and opposite classes of character. One of +these classes, which the Bible denominates "the righteous," will be +graciously acquitted by the Judge, and publicly treated as his friends. +The other, comprising all the impenitent, will be as publicly condemned, +and driven from his presence. They "will have judgment without mercy." +Such is plainly the account which Christ and the sacred writers have +given of the final awards to the righteous and the wicked. We have the +account in detail. Says the Saviour himself, "When the Son of Man shall +come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit +upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all +nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd +divideth his sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his +right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them +on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom +prepared for you from the foundation of the world." "Then shall he say +also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into +everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." And again; +"The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear +his voice, and shall come forth; _they that have done good_, unto the +resurrection of _life_; and _they that have done evil_, unto the +resurrection of _damnation_". Thus broad and fearful is the +discrimination which the great day will make between the righteous and +the wicked. So entirely different are the awards in reserve for the two +different classes of mankind. The difference will be great, as between +holiness and sin; between cheerful submission to the will and providence +of God, and unyielding rebellion against him; between cordial faith in +the Lord Jesus Christ, and wilful rejection of the only Saviour; between +the splendour and joy of the celestial Paradise, and the gloominess and +misery of hell. No wonder, then, that "as Paul reasoned of +righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled." There +will, indeed, be fearful reason for "weeping and wailing and gnashing of +teeth," with those who shall then "see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, +and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and themselves thrust out." + +We are not to forget, my hearers, that these different awards of the +judgment day will be _irreversible_ and literally _endless_. All admit +this conclusion, with respect to the _righteous_. But if the righteous +are _finally acquitted_ at the judgment, so are the wicked _finally +condemned_. If the righteous are said to enter into "_life eternal_," so +are the wicked to "go away into _everlasting punishment_." The +Scriptures say not one word of any reprieve from this condemnation, or +of any other period of merciful visitation. But they close with the most +solemn assurance, that, from that awful day, he that is unjust shall be +unjust still; and he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that +is righteous shall be righteous still; and he that is holy shall be holy +still. Other passages, of similar import, might be quoted: but if men +will pour contempt on a single declaration of Jehovah--if they will +_make God a liar_--they would not be persuaded, though his voice from +the heavens were a thousand times repeated. And _because they receive +not the love of the truth_, _that they might be saved_, most justly may +he _send them strong delusion_, _that they should believe a lie_, and +_be damned._ + +I have thus endeavoured, with much brevity, to give a scriptural view of +the final Judgment. On a subject so tremendously awful, I have chosen to +present simply God's testimony. A practical inference from the whole +is,--that the present life must be regarded as probationary. We are +living here as responsible agents, continually adding to the number of +actions, for which we must give account to God. How solemnly +interesting, then, is this scene of our earthly pilgrimage! How +inexpressibly valuable is time! How infinitely precious are the means of +grace!--particularly those invitations of mercy, which meet us in the +word of God, and address us from the sacred desk. + +You, my fellow sinners, are the very individuals who must stand at the +judgment-seat of Christ. You must mingle in that vast multitude, which +the voice of the archangel and the trump of God shall assemble. And when +your characters are all laid open, you must pass off to the right hand, +or to the left, accordingly as it shall appear, that you have repented, +and believed on the Son of God, or have neglected this great salvation. +And are you diligently preparing for that day? Are you working out your +salvation with fear and trembling? Are you _agonizing_ to enter in at +the strait gate? Are you escaping for your life? + +Fellow mortals, your time of preparation may be far more brief than you +now think. A few, _very few_ more opportunities for prayer, and +reconciliation with God, and your account is sealed up. While you +hesitate, the recording angel may be writing your condemnation. In such +circumstances, what are worldly honours, or wealth, or all your hopes of +enjoyment here? The life, the _eternal life_ of the _soul_, is the _one +thing needful_--the _only_ thing really important. You will realize this +truth, when the last trumpet is sounding through the universe, and, with +increasing agony or ecstasy, millions of ages after the final sentence +is pronounced. O, then, consider it _now_. Prepare for that judgment, +_now_. To-morrow! where is it? Repent _to-morrow_! You may have far +other work to do. God, and conscience, and your immortal interests +plead, "_To-day_, if you will hear his voice, harden not your heart." +"Behold, _now_ is the accepted time; behold, _now_ is the day of +salvation." _Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, +when his wrath is kindled but a little. For he cometh, for he cometh, to +judge the world, in righteousness to judge the earth, and the people +with his truth_. + + + + +TERMS + +OF THE + +NATIONAL PREACHER. + + +I. Each Monthly Number to contain one long Sermon, or two of moderate +length, on fine paper. The Volume to commence annually the last week in +June. + +II. 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P.M. +Vienna, Uriah Medford, P.M. + +DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. +Washington, Reuben Post. +Alexandria, Reuel Keith. + +VIRGINIA. +Richmond, Nathaniel Charter. +Petersburg, James Dwight. +Norfolk, Shepard K. Kollock. +Weston, G.D. Camden, P.M. +Romney, John Jack, P.M. +Ebenezer Academy, H. Clary, P.M. +Cartonville, George W. Hundly. +Powhatan C.H., Thomas Scott. P.M. +Abingdon, Augustus Oury, P.M. +Gloucester C.H., W.D. Cairns. +Lynchburg, William Poe. +Boydton, James Brame. +Charlotte C.H., John Morton, P.M. +Liberty, James Mitchell, Jr. +Winchester, Samuel H. Davis. +Prince Edward C.H., Francis Bartlet. +Otter Bridge, J. Leftwich, P.M. + +NORTH CAROLINA. +Fayetteville, Robert H. Morrison. +Newbern, Thomas Watson, P.M. +Salisbury, Thomas L. Cowan. +Mecklenburgh, S. Williamson. P.M. +Alfordsville, Warren Alford, P.M. +Wilmington, A.J. De Ressot +Milton, James W. Douglass. +Lincolnton, Davin Reinhardt, P.M. +Raleigh, P.W. Dowd +Halifax, Sidney Weller. + +SOUTH CAROLINA. +Charleston, Horace Utley. +Camden, Thomas M'Millan. +Georgetown, Peter Cuttino. +Beaufort, David Turner, P.M. +Bradleyville, R. Witherspoon, P.M. +Edgefield, A.B. M'Whorter. +Conwayboro', Henry Durant, P.M.. +Lexington, C.H., J. Meetze, P.M. +Sumpterville, Jesse Hartwell. + +GEORGIA. +Savannah, J.C.A. Johnston. +Augusta, Timothy Edwards. +Riceboro', A.H. Sample. +Wrightsboro', Joseph Barnes, P.M. +Bethsaida, Oliver Morse, P.M. +Mount Zion, M.H. Carrington. +Powelton, J.H. Burnet. P.M. +Clarksville, Thomas J. Rusk, P.M. +Sunbury, F.R. Whitwell, P.M. +Athens, Leander A. Erwin. P.M. +Carmel, Isaac Proctor, P.M. +Bethlehem, John F. Wallis, P.M. +Fortville, Henry W. Jornegan. + +OHIO. +Columbus, James Hoge. +Steubenville, Charles C. Beatty. +Cincinnati, David Root. +Ellsworth, L.W. Leffingwell, P.M. +Marietta, L.G. Bingham. +Burton, Luther Humphrey. +Cadiz, Thomas Phillips, P.M. +Miami, Charles Atherton, P.M. +Rome, Elijah Crosby, P.M. +Vernon, Harvey Coo. + +INDIANA. +Portersville, Simon Morgan, P.M. +Salem, Burr Bradley, P.M. +Indianapolis, George Bush. +Barbersville, Timothy Barber, P.M. + +ILLINOIS. +Belleville, James Mitchell, P.M. +Greenville, Ansel Birge, P.M. +Canton, Nathan Jones, P.M. +Vandalia, James Hall. + +KENTUCKY. +Munfordville, J.T.S. Brown, P.M. +Princeton, H. Cassidy, P.M. +Danville, Benjamin Shaw. +Cynthiana, A. Broadwell, P.M. +Henderson, James Hillyer, P.M. +Shelbyville, A.A. Shannon. +Frankfort, S.M. Noel. +Hopkinsville, John Bryan, P.M. +Harrodsburg, Thomas Cleland. +Augusta, Samuel Bonde, P.M. +Columbia, John Montgomery, P.M. + +TENNESSEE. +Knoxville, James Campbell, +Winchester, John Goodwin, P.M. +Nashville, R.P. Hayes. +Dresden, Samuel A. Warner. +Paperville, T.C. Buckhart, P.M. +Jonesboro', D.A. Deadrick, P.M. +Murfreesboro', D. Wendell, P.M. +Columbia, Francis W.S. Frierson. +Lebanon, A. Bradshaw. +Hillsboro, G.W. Richardson, P.M. +Farmington, S.W. Calvert. + +ALABAMA. +Huntsville, William Leech. +Perry, C.H., G.W. Brame. +Somerville, M.C. Houston, P.M. +Bainbridge, S.M. Parry, P.M. +Florence, John Craig, P.M. +Courtiand, John White. +Shelby C.H., Thos. W. Smith, P.M. +Ashville, Archibald Sloan, P.M. + +MISSOURI. +St. Louis, Salmon Giddings. +Fredericktown, Thos. Mosely, P.M. +Clay, C.H., Wm. S. Smith, P.M. + +MISSISSIPPI. +Natchez, John Henderson. +Port Gibson, D. Greenleaf, P.M. +Woodville, G.A. Irion +Gallatin, A.B. Ross, P.M. +Columbia, A.G. Moore. +Pinckneyville, James Wilson, P.M. + +LOUISIANA. +Baton Rouge, H. Alexander, P.M. +New-Orleans, William Ross. + +FLORIDA. +Pensacola, W. Hazell Hunt, P.M. + +ARKANSAS. +Dwight, Alfred Finney. + +CHOCTAW NATION. +David Folsom. + +MICHIGAN. +Detroit, D.G. Jones. + +CANADA. +Montreal, William Hedge. +Kingston, Rev. Mr. Foote. + +SOUTH AMERICA. +Buenos Ayres, Theop. Parvin. + + +Post-Masters are hereby authorized to receive and forward payments to +the Editor, as well as names of Subscribers. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The National Preacher, Vol. 2 No. 7 +Dec. 1827, by Aaron W. Leland and Elihu W. Baldwin + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13824 *** diff --git a/13824-h/13824-h.htm b/13824-h/13824-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e9f47b --- /dev/null +++ b/13824-h/13824-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1426 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta name="generator" content= +"HTML Tidy for Windows (vers 1st August 2004), see www.w3.org"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 4.0"> +<meta name="ProgId" content="FrontPage.Editor.Document"> +<title>THE NATIONAL PREACHER, Vol. 2 No. 7 Dec. 1827, Edited by +REV. AUSTIN DICKINSON.</title> +<style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ + <!-- + p { text-align: justify; margin-top: .75em; margin-bottom: .75em } + table { border-collapse: collapse; border-style: none; border-width: medium } + *#col1 { border-style: none; border-width: medium } + td { border-style: none; border-width: medium; padding: 0em } + h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 { text-align: center } + hr { text-align: center; width: 50% } + html>body hr { width: 50%; margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25% } + hr.full { width: 100% } + html>body hr.full { width: 100%; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0% } + hr.short { text-align: center; width: 20% } + html>body hr.short { width: 20%; margin-left: 40%; margin-right: 40% } + body { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10% } + img { border-style: none; border-width: medium } + .ctr { text-align: center } + .linenum { position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4% } + /* poetry number */ + .note { margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em } + /* footnote */ + .blkquot { margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em } + /* block indent */ + .pagenum { position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right } + /* page numbers */ + .sidenote { width: 10%; font-size: smaller; float: left; clear: left; margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; padding-right: 1em } + .poem { text-align: left; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10% } + .poem br { display: none } + .poem .stanza { margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em } + .poem span { display: block; text-indent: -3em; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em } + .poem span.i2 { display: block; margin-left: 2em } + .poem span.i4 { display: block; margin-left: 4em } + .poem .caesura { vertical-align: -200% } + .tinyfont {font-size: xx-small} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13824 ***</div> + +<p>SER. XXVI. REV. DR. LELAND.<br> +SER. XXVII. REV. MR. BALDWIN<br> +<br> +Vol. 2 No. 7 Dec. 1827.</p> + +<h5>THE</h5> + +<h1>NATIONAL PREACHER:</h1> + +<h6>OR</h6> + +<h3><i>ORIGINAL MONTHLY SERMONS</i></h3> + +<h4>EDITED BY</h4> + +<h3>REV. AUSTIN DICKINSON,</h3> + +<h6>NEW YORK.</h6> + +<hr> +<p align="left">POSTAGE—<i>One Cent and a half</i>, not over +100 miles; <i>Two Cents and a half</i>, any distance over 100.</p> + +<hr class="full"> +<p>TO THE REVEREND CLERGY:—</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">The undersigned proposes to commence +another Periodical, of original plan and character, provided that +adequate pledges of supplies shall be furnished. The Work to bear +the following title, or something similar, viz.:</p> + +<h2>THE AMERICAN PASTOR'S JOURNAL:</h2> + +<h6>OR</h6> + +<h5><i>Original Sketches of real Characters, Conversations, and +striking Facts. Furnished chiefly by Clergymen.</i></h5> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">The following imperfect sketch of +topics to be embraced, may serve to illustrate the plan:—1. +Instances of very early piety.—2. Striking results of +Parental faithfulness, or unfaithfulness; of filial respect, or +disrespect.—3. Cases of individuals raised from deep +obscurity, or wickedness, to eminent usefulness.—4. +Remarkable cases of conviction.—5. Cases of great hardness of +heart, from resisting convictions.—6. Distinctly marked cases +of submission and conversion to God.—7. Cases of awful +relapse into sin.—8. Cases of strong temptation and +trial.—9. Cases of strong faith and confidence in +God.—10. Peculiarly manifest interpositions of Providence, in +mercy or judgment.—11. Instances of the wrath of man being +made to praise God.—12. Cases illustrative of the influence +of piety on the intellectual powers.—13. Instances of +extraordinary beneficence or covetousness.—14. Death-bed +scenes, of the Christian, the backslider, the infidel, the +universalist, the profane man, or the worldling.</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">It is conceived that the very existence +of such a Periodical might be the means of leading Clergymen, in +their pastoral intercourse, to be more observant of character, more +discriminating in their views of human nature, and more disposed to +record and rescue from oblivion striking conversations and facts. +No species of knowledge can be more interesting or more useful, +than that thus drawn from real life;—especially from portions +of life most intimately connected with spiritual and eternal +realities. If it is all-important that masters in surgery and +medicine record, for mutual improvement, and for the benefit of +mankind, striking cases which occur in their practice; it cannot, +surely, be less important, that those who watch for the life of +souls, should preserve similar records. It would seem as though, +from the daily intercourse of several thousand Clergymen, such +materials, of the character contemplated, might be furnished, as, +if well condensed and judiciously arranged in an elegant +Periodical, would not fail to be read with intense and general +interest. And who can tell, but that God, who is rich in wisdom, +may thus employ the simplest means for collecting, condensing, and +reflecting rays of sacred truth, in the form of practical results, +which may carry conviction and saving instruction to uncounted +millions—not merely in our own land, but in more populous +countries, where the importance of experimental religion is not +appreciated?</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">But, for rendering such a work +pre-eminently useful, or even commencing it, there must be union of +effort. As it is intended to consist wholly of original matter, and +that of a specific character, such as no genius can originate, it +is obvious that it cannot be commenced, without being furnished +with numerous pledges of supplies. And it will be important to have +a considerable number of communications on hand, at the +commencement, as well as afterwards, that due regard may be had to +order in the arrangement of subjects, and an interesting variety be +presented in every Number.</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">It will not be necessary to publish the +names of writers, nor of individuals alluded to in communications; +though in many cases it may be desirable and expedient. But, in +every case, the name of the writer, or some respectable reference +for attesting the accuracy of statements, must be furnished to the +Editor; as he must be responsible to the public for the correctness +of whatever may appear in the work. He will moreover think it his +duty to present Contributors a generous compensation.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>MINISTERS, of different Christian +denominations, willing to aid in executing the design, are +affectionately requested <i>to write as soon as +practicable</i>—either furnishing matter for publication, or +stating definitely, <i>when and how much aid may be expected</i>. +If the work is ably supported by the co-operation of Clergymen, the +Editor does not hesitate to say, that he will at least circulate +thousands and tens of thousands of copies gratuitously, and thus +afford Contributors the best of all rewards—the opportunity +of doing extensive good.</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">That the blessing of God Almighty may +crown the enterprise, is the humble prayer of His servant,</p> + +<p style="text-align: right; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 20%"> +AUSTIN DICKINSON.</p> + +<hr class="full"> +<h2>CONTRIBUTORS.</h2> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Upwards of fifty Clergymen, of five +Christian denominations, and belonging to sixteen different States, +most of whom are well known to the public as Authors, have +encouraged the Editor to expect from them Sermons for the +Preacher.</p> + +<hr class="full"> +<h2>TO THE ENTERPRISING.</h2> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Persons having expressed a disposition +to circulate this Work, provided postage could be avoided; we would +say to such, that for <i>ten</i> or more Subscribers, <i>who pay at +one time</i> in advance, or on first receiving Numbers, a deduction +from the price of One Dollar a year may be made, equal to the +annual postage. And in such cases money may be forwarded without +being post-paid. Experience shows, there is no mode of conveyance +safer than the Mail.</p> + +<h5>[<i>Ordinary Terms, other leaf</i>.]</h5> + +<hr class="full"> +<h4>THE</h4> + +<h1>NATIONAL PREACHER.</h1> + +<h6>Go ... Teach all Nations.... <i>Matt</i>. xxviii. 19.</h6> + +<hr class="full"> +<h3>VOL. II. NEW-YORK, DECEMBER, 1827. NO. 7.</h3> + +<hr class="full"> +<h2>SERMON XXVI.</h2> + +<hr> +<h4>BY AARON W. LELAND, D.D.</h4> + +<h5>CHARLESTON, S. CAROLINA.</h5> + +<hr> +<h5>THE PURE GOSPEL REJECTED BY THE PERISHING.</h5> + +<h5>I COR. I. 18.—<i>For the preaching of the cross is, to +them that perish, foolishness</i>.</h5> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>In the Christian revelation, there is +an evident purpose of infinite wisdom, that in all the provisions +for man's salvation, his moral agency should be left free and +uncontrolled. Instead of accommodation to human prejudices, there +is ample scope for captious objections. And if additional proof +were needed, of the divine origin of the Bible, it would be found +in this characteristic. Were it a system agreeable to the narrow +views, in unison with the selfish feelings, and gratifying to the +depraved taste of human nature, it would more resemble the +fabrication of man, than the workmanship of God. But as the current +of its doctrines is so entirely opposed to our natural +inclinations, as to render a moral renovation indispensable to a +perception of the glory of revealed truth; all such ground of +skepticism is removed.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Thus the obscurities and difficulties +of revelation are admirably adapted to exhibit human character, and +constitute this state of existence a real probation. For if the +light of truth came upon the mind with resistless energy, and the +operations of the divine government were clearly disclosed; if the +motives and designs of infinite wisdom were fully explained, and +the realities of the spiritual world completely laid open to view; +one principal aim of this dispensation would be frustrated. On the +one hand, there would be no field for the exercise of faith and +humble confidence on the part of Christians; and thus a precious +test of their submission and obedience would be destroyed. On the +other, there could not be a full disclosure of the true feelings of +the unrenewed heart. Because, as all would be evident as the +noon-day sun, there would remain no choice in the matter of +embracing the truth—no means of evincing whether its +reception were cordial or compulsory.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>In this respect; there is displayed a +matchless skill, as well as a gracious condescension, in adapting +revelation to the actual character and condition of our race. While +sufficient light is afforded to guide the sincere inquirer, there +is an obscurity to perplex and offend the proud and self-confident. +While the truth is accompanied by evidence abundantly satisfactory +to every mind open to conviction, enough of mystery remains, to +form an impassable barrier to those who are inclined to disbelieve +the testimony of God. While to the eye of faith there appears a +glorious system of wisdom and mercy, depraved reason and prejudice +may discover little else than an assemblage of inconsistencies and +absurdities.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>It is not without design, then, that +the great facts of revelation are made liable to misrepresentation; +that its essential principles are arrayed against the pride of +human wisdom; and that its blessed institutions are so obnoxious to +abuse and opposition. Such a constitution of things is evidently +intended to furnish a decisive criterion of human +character—to exhibit, in striking contrast, the humble +votaries of faith, who reverently bow to the authority of +Scripture; and the adherents of a haughty, self-confident +rationality, who will receive the testimony of God himself, no +farther than it accords with their opinions and +prejudices—and thus to elicit a fair and full manifestation +of every man's real disposition and feelings.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Such, uniformly, has been the effect of +the Bible, wherever its sacred contents have been made known. To +all who have received it with penitence, humility, and confidence, +as the infallible word of God, it has proved their pleasure and +delight—their fountain of consolation—their guide to +peace: while the self-righteous and unbelieving have transformed it +into a subject of perplexity and disputation—<i>a cause of +deeper guilt and more aggravated ruin</i>. The Gospel has appeared +transcendently beautiful and glorious to all who have been savingly +enlightened by the Holy Spirit—while, to the impenitent and +skeptical, it seems obscure, irrational, and incomprehensible. The +former rejoice in the scriptures, just as they are, and willingly +yield to the obedience of faith: the latter are ever anxious to +lower the standard of divine truth to the level of their views of +fitness, and to mould its materials into a form suited to their +unholy inclinations.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>On these principles it is easy to +perceive the real nature and causes of the insidious warfare, which +is maintained, in various forms, against the essential doctrines of +the Gospel. It is just an effusion of the malignity of the +unsanctified heart. Its prevalence is an exact fulfilment of +prophecy; and therefore an irrefragable proof of the truth and +divine authority of that system which it is labouring to destroy. +The emphatic declaration of the apostle, in the text, strikingly +describes the state of feeling which now actually prevails, among +many who enjoy all the external privileges of the Christian +dispensation—<i>The preaching of the cross is, to them that +perish, foolishness.</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>In illustration of this passage, it +will be attempted, to explain the import of the phrase, <i>the +preaching of the cross</i>—to enumerate some of the +<i>instances</i> and <i>causes</i> of such preaching being +accounted <i>foolishness</i>—and to describe the <i>fearful +state and prospects</i> of those who hold it in such low +estimation.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>The preaching of the cross is a plain +and full announcement of all the essential truths of that system +which provides pardon and salvation for the lost and guilty. The +cross is the symbol of that amazing expedient of infinite wisdom +and mercy, by which a treaty of reconciliation is offered to +convicted traitors against Jehovah's government. Its exhibition +therefore must require a developement of the principles, and a +defence of the doctrines, peculiar to this gracious +dispensation.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>The grand fact, which constitutes the +very essence and glory of the Gospel, and which it is the leading +object of the Christian ministry to announce; is, that He, who took +upon himself the form of a servant, and offered up the sacrifice of +Calvary, is <i>God over all, blessed for ever</i>. This gives to +the cross all its glory and efficacy. It is on the supreme Deity of +Christ—on the expiation made for sin by the Maker and +Sovereign of worlds—that the whole fabric of evangelical +truth rests. On any other supposition, the sacrifice of the cross +was a very ordinary affair. If the Saviour of sinners be not +God—if he be a created being, of whatever grade,—where +is the <i>mystery of Godliness?</i>—Where those unfathomable +depths of divine love, <i>into which the angels desire to look</i>? +If Christ be only a servant of God, however exalted, what was +there, in his appearance on our world, to constitute a new era in +heaven, and to fill its inhabitants with astonishment and ecstasy? +Did the heavenly host descend in rapture, and cause the mountains +of Judea to reecho with their acclamations, because a <i>dependent +creature</i> had <i>consented</i> to do his Maker's will? Whence +the ascription of <i>glory to God in the highest</i>, and why do +the courts above resound with a new song of praise to God for his +redeeming mercy, if this redemption was effected by the labours and +sufferings of one inferior to the Deity? Was such a dispensation as +that of Moses, designed simply to prepare the way for a messenger +of God to declare his will, and to seal the testimony with his +blood, as many good men have done, both before and since? Why did +patriarchs and prophets foretell his coming, and celebrate his +praises?—Why did the continual offering of divinely appointed +sacrifices, for many centuries, typify his sufferings?—And +why did nature shudder, and shroud herself in darkness, at the +consummation of those sufferings? All these things are utterly +inexplicable, on the supposition that Christ is a created dependent +being.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>But view him as <i>God manifest in the +flesh</i>—view him as voluntarily laying aside his glory, and +descending from the throne of infinite majesty, to assume the +nature, and expiate the guilt of a ruined race;—and we are +struck with the appropriateness of all the attending circumstances. +The splendid ceremonials of the Jewish ritual, and the raptured +songs of prophets and of angels were well employed to prepare the +way for the visible manifestation of Deity among men. The +annunciation of the divine nature of the Redeemer must, therefore, +be an essential part of <i>the preaching of the cross</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Equally indispensable is a decided +testimony to that perfect <i>atonement for sin</i>, which was made +by this great offering. Here is the only foundation of human hope. +This was the grand object accomplished by the Saviour's sufferings. +Thus was completely solved the mysterious problem, which all +created intelligences had deemed inexplicable—how sin could +be remitted, without infringing the rights and tarnishing the +honour of the divine government—and how the guilty could be +rescued from wrath, without a forfeiture of the divine veracity. +Never indeed was the divine law so completely vindicated, or the +claims of justice so awfully asserted, as when the Lawgiver offered +himself as a ransom. And no other possible manifestation of the +malignity and atrocity of sin, of the divine abhorrence of all +iniquity, and, at the same time, of the exhaustless treasures of +redeeming mercy, could equal that which was witnessed on Calvary. +As, therefore, Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so is +the cross to be held up now, by its heralds, to a perishing world. +Its atoning sacrifice is to be proclaimed, and its purchased +blessings offered to lost sinners, as their only hope—their +only remedy.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Another important part of <i>the +preaching of the cross</i> consists in a full disclosure of <i>the +entire depravity and helplessness of our fallen nature</i>. This +doctrine lies at the foundation of Christianity. It is from the +corruption of our race, the dominion of spiritual death, and the +actual sentence of condemnation, that the necessity arises for so +<i>great salvation</i>. If hope could have been afforded from any +other source, if there had been any possibility of the sinner's +expiating his own guilt, and restoring himself to the divine +favour, the great Sacrifice would never have been offered. But +until men are convinced of their apostacy and corruption, they will +never be persuaded of the truth and necessity of the great +atonement. And until they feel themselves justly condemned, and +utterly helpless, they will never come as humble suppliants to a +Saviour's feet.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>The work of the <i>Holy Spirit, in +enlightening and renewing the hearts of sinners</i>, and thus +carrying on to their accomplishment the purposes of divine mercy, +forms also an important portion of the message of the Gospel. It is +the glorious achievement of the cross, to slay the enmity and +subdue the stubbornness of the sinful heart: and the infinite +blessing purchased by the Saviour's blood, is the gift of the Holy +Spirit, to effectuate that transformation of character, that +spiritual regeneration, without which salvation is utterly +impossible. The preaching of the cross, therefore, must include an +unwavering declaration, that <i>the working of regeneration and the +renewing of the Holy Ghost</i> are indispensable to salvation.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>It is moreover essential to a faithful +<i>preaching of the cross</i>, that <i>justification by faith in +Christ</i>, should be distinctly declared as the only ground of a +sinner's hope. That view of the Gospel which represents it as +bestowing upon man a power of fulfilling God's holy law—or as +so lowering its demands as to render his imperfect obedience +acceptable—is most dishonourable to God, and ruinous to the +souls of men. No such provisions are found in the treaty of +reconciliation sent from Heaven. So far from abrogating, the Gospel +exalts and honours the law. So far from diminishing its strictness, +it adds emphasis to its claims, and fully meets its unmitigated +requisitions. Most gloriously has Christ vindicated the divine +justice, by receiving its avenging sword in his own bosom, as the +Substitute, or surety for sinners; and most effectually has he +provided for their salvation, by rendering the exercise of +pardoning mercy consistent with the principles of the divine +government, and by working out for them a perfect righteousness, +which may render them just before God. By faith, the penitent +sinner receives all these blessings—is rescued from wrath, +delivered from the guilt and bondage of sin, and made a child of +God, and an heir of eternal life. Thus the triumph of the cross is +complete, the pride of human merit is humbled in the dust, and all +the glory of the salvation of sinners is rendered to the riches of +redeeming mercy.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>In fine, <i>the preaching of the +cross</i> includes a faithful denunciation of <i>eternal +misery</i>, as the inevitable doom of all who pass from this state +of probation, unrenewed by the Spirit of grace, unwashed in the +blood of the Lamb.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Such are the essential principles of +that system of redemption, which engaged the counsels of heaven +from eternity; and which was carried into effect, not like the work +of creation, by a single word of the Son of God, but by his +assuming human nature, enduring a long exile of toil and reproach, +and humbling himself unto death, even the death of the cross.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>With what gratitude, then, ought this +Gospel to be received by the guilty, perishing creatures, for whose +rescue from perdition it is designed. How should this display of +divine compassion melt and captivate the hearts of those, whose +sins have been thus expiated, and for whom an offer of free pardon +and endless blessedness has been thus dearly purchased.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>But <i>be astonished, O heavens, at +this</i>—these tidings of salvation are received by many with +chilling indifference—the sufferings of the cross are +regarded with unconcern—the treaty of reconciliation, written +in atoning blood, is by some contemptuously disregarded—by +others repelled with determined opposition. These appalling facts +display more of the malignity of sin, its blinding, deadening +influence, and more of the rancorous enmity of the carnal heart +against God, than all the other enormities which blacken the +world's history. All other crimes appear less atrocious than this +scorn of a Saviour's love—this <i>trampling under foot the +blood of the covenant</i>. While no finite mind could have +conceived it possible, that Almighty love should be so slighted, +yet the Spirit of prophecy announced this impious ingratitude, long +before the incarnation. When Isaiah <i>saw the glory of Christ, and +spake of him</i>, he also saw that he would be <i>despised and +rejected of men</i>. And by all their hostility to the doctrines of +grace, sinners are only verifying the description, which +inspiration gave long ago, of their blindness and perverseness. By +all their vain reasonings and presumptuous objections, they just +corroborate revealed truth, and evince the desperate wickedness of +the natural heart.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>As in the days of the apostles, so in +this period of increased light, <i>the preaching of the cross</i> +is esteemed <i>foolishness</i>. The message of redeeming mercy is +often received with utter listlessness—often with an evident +disgust—and sometimes with an openly avowed hostility. In the +apostolic age, it might be supposed that the resistance, with which +the Gospel had to contend, arose from the prejudices of a Heathen +or Jewish education, and from a very imperfect knowledge of +Christianity. But, at the present period, the undiminished +hostility, which is displayed against the pure doctrines of +redemption, can be attributed to nothing, but that hatred to the +ways of God, which the Scriptures represent as rankling in the +natural heart, and for which they contain the only remedy.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>It requires but a transient view of the +religious state, even of enlightened and refined society, to see +that to very many, now, <i>the preaching of the cross is +foolishness</i>. While any temporal interest excites feeling, this +theme is listened to with apathy. O, how often are those +statements, which fill heaven with ecstasy, rehearsed to vacant, +listless hearers! How many weep at fictitious woes, who contemplate +the bloody scene of Calvary without a tear! How many hearts glow in +admiration of the benevolence or heroism of a fellow worm, while +entirely unaffected alike by the sacrifice or the triumph of the +Son of God! How often do men express sentiments of the most fervent +gratitude towards earthly benefactors, who would be ashamed of +uttering one emotion of thanks to Him who <i>gave himself to +die</i> for them! And is not this treating the Gospel as +<i>foolishness</i>? But this heartless unconcern, criminal as it +undoubtedly is, in the sight of God, is not so fearfully +impious—affords not so appalling a disclosure of depravity, +as the absolute disgust and contempt, with which the doctrines of +the cross are sometimes received. In almost every community, there +are those who utterly despise the whole system—who do not +disguise their abhorrence—and who evidently hate the very +mention of the subject. How indignant are such at any effort, in +private conversation, to urge upon their attention themes connected +with the dying love of Christ! How chilling is the effect, when +such discourse is attempted, in many circles of refinement and +elegance? And what a brand of infamy is affixed to the human +character, by the fact, that from most such circles all these +topics are absolutely excluded! Let a man confine his conversation +to such subjects as engaged the attention of Christ and his +apostles—such subjects as now employ the hosts of +heaven,—let him be accustomed in company, to bring forward +the holy mysteries of redemption,—and by how many would he be +shunned like a pestilence? And with what scornful hatred are those +churches avoided by many, where nothing is heard but <i>Jesus +Christ and him crucified</i>? Such are the open, unequivocal +expressions of contempt and disgust, with which many treat the +doctrines of the cross. Do not <i>they</i> esteem them +<i>foolishness</i>?</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>But there is a class of the contemners +of evangelical truth, characterized by more active zeal and decided +measures. Far from the giddy thoughtlessness of those who hardly +reflect upon the subject at all, and from the strange inconsistency +of such, as profess to respect what they really despise and +hate,—these feel and express a deep interest in religious +opinions; devote time and attention to theological studies; and, as +the result of their investigations, avow their utter disbelief of +the peculiar doctrines of the cross; and undertake to demonstrate +their falsehood and absurdity. They tell you, they have maturely +examined the whole subject—that they have brought to the +investigation all the aid that extensive reading and critical +research can furnish—that they have carried the lights of +science and philosophy into the dark regions of +fanaticism—and have become perfectly convinced, that the +whole system is an assemblage of the grossest errors. When, +however, the array of argument is produced, its force seems to +consist in the unwelcome impressions which the pure Gospel itself +makes upon their minds. They can see no wisdom or fitness in such +an atonement. They see nothing so very terrible in sin, as to +require such an expiation. Pardoning mercy, say they, is one of the +natural attributes of Deity; and the doctrine of eternal punishment +seems to them too horribly inconsistent with divine justice to bear +reflection. As for the substitution of the innocent for the guilty, +and satisfying the claims of law by the blood of a sinless victim, +they are amazed that any rational man can credit such absurd +notions. Tell them of the maladies and wounds of the soul, which +can only be healed by the Physician of Calvary—they can +hardly conceal their contempt. Tell them plainly, as the Bible +does, that they are lost, perishing sinners—that the wrath of +God is revealed against them—that the avenging sword is +uplifted, and that, unless they fly to the cross and embrace it by +a living faith, they must sink to perdition—and you will +witness the smile of derision or the frown of indignation. They +esteem the doctrine of the Trinity as a monument of human credulity +and folly. Their feelings are shocked beyond measure, at the +incarnation of Deity, in the person of Jesus Christ. The +personality and direct influences of the Holy Spirit appear useless +and incredible; and the necessity of a change of heart excites +their utter scorn. They cannot endure it. Their disgust is +inexpressible.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Instead, therefore, of these offensive +principles, they substitute a system, not modelled from the Bible, +but from what they consider reason and propriety. This they adorn +with all that is beautiful and attractive to the carnal eye. Before +this fair and flattering idol, of their own workmanship, they bow +down in delighted homage. This is a religion they can love, for it +flatters, exalts, and dignifies human nature! But as for human +depravity, and other hated doctrines of the orthodox creed, they +want words to express their aversion. The simple account of the +matter is, that <i>the preaching of the cross</i>, in their +estimation, <i>is foolishness</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Such are the various grades of +hostility to the vital principles of the Gospel, from contemptuous +indifference, to malignant and rancorous opposition.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>We now proceed to enumerate some of the +causes, of this deplorable state of feeling towards the <i>truth as +it is in Jesus</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>The depravity—the +unholiness—of human nature, may be considered the grand cause +of all the enmity which has appeared against the doctrines of +grace. It is true, nevertheless, that the various degrees and +forms, in which this enmity is manifested, depend upon the +peculiarities of individual character and situation.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Destitution of early religious +instruction, generally leads to an entire indifference to the whole +subject. Persons who are brought up in prayerless, worldly +families—whose young minds are not moulded by a pious +influence—are usually found very insusceptible of religious +impressions. In such hearts the power of ungodliness reigns +uncontrolled. Uncultivated and waste, they produce nothing but +<i>thorns and briers</i>. Nor is it surprising, that this numerous +class of the hearers of the Gospel should exhibit an utter +disregard and contempt of its authority. <i>The preaching of the +cross is foolishness</i> to them, because they do not understand +it, and will not take the trouble to examine it.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>A similar apathy is frequently observed +in persons who have been well instructed, when their whole souls +have become engrossed in some worldly pursuit. Their heads and +hands are so entirely occupied, that serious reflection is +absolutely excluded.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Contempt of evangelical religion is +sure to be exhibited in places where its professors are asleep or +dead. In communities where real religion flourishes, where its +power is felt, and its votaries are consistent and decided; +whatever hatred may rankle in the breasts of opposers, they are not +apt to indulge in contemptuous derision. But where formality and +worldliness prevail, and no conspicuous standard of Christian +character is visible—the hearts of sinners will be +manifested. They will, without hesitation, avow, in how low and +degrading a light they regard the doctrines of the cross. Their +contempt and loathing are wholly irrepressible.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>In many instances, the pride of rank +and intellect is the cause why <i>the preaching of the cross is</i> +utterly despised and accounted <i>foolishness</i>. The lofty +speculations of an aspiring intellect can with difficulty come down +to the simplicity of the Gospel. The command, to come to the +Saviour's feet with the humility of a little child, fills the proud +heart of those <i>who are wise in their own eyes</i>, with +indignation. They cannot endure doctrines, which level all vain +distinctions, and require the noble, the affluent, and the learned, +to assume the same station of penitence and contrition, with the +lowliest peasant. They cannot consent to lay their honours in the +dust, and address themselves only to sovereign mercies. It is +beyond endurance, that the messages of grace should come <i>to +them</i>, as condemned, guilty, and perishing sinners; and that as +such they should be invited to the cross. Hence the scornful air, +the undissembled disgust, with which so many, in high life, turn +their backs upon <i>the preaching of the cross</i>. And hence, +encouraged by their example, multitudes cluster round the standard +of a haughty and malignant opposition to the Gospel.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>While thus so many regard <i>the +preaching of the cross as foolishness</i>, and earnestly wish it +were utterly false; it is not wonderful, that efforts should be +made to prove that it actually is so. Probably some, engaged in +this opposition, are perfectly sincere, and actually suppose, as +Saul of Tarsus did, that they are <i>doing God service</i>, by +combating the doctrines of the cross. But whoever obeys the natural +dictates of his own heart, and submits himself to the guidance of +his own perverted, blinded reason, refusing to supplicate the +illuminations of divine grace, will be likely to come under the +power of <i>strong delusion to believe a lie</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>One other cause of opposition to the +Gospel is found in the absolute contrariety of its requisitions, to +the habits of life, which men have contracted, and which they are +resolved not to abandon. While <i>the preaching of the cross</i> +prescribes, as indispensable to salvation, conditions with which +many, who have no doubt of being saved, wholly refuse to comply; +and while it declares that eternal perdition will be the result of +a course, which they are determined to pursue; it must be the +object of their settled detestation. Hence the love of sinful +pursuits and gratifications, and an invincible repugnance to a life +of devotion, are the true reasons why many esteem <i>the preaching +of the cross foolishness</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>It ought, however, to be kept in mind, +while these causes are recounted, that the operation of each of +them is rendered more efficacious, by the agency of that spirit of +darkness, <i>that worketh in the children of disobedience</i>. To +increase disgust against the plan of redemption, to exasperate the +natural enmity of the carnal heart, to give a specious appearance +to objections, and to enforce, with seductive arguments, the cause +of unbelief, is the untiring employment of the grand foe of God and +man. It is indeed the darling achievement of infernal skill, to +inflate a poor worm with pride of talent, and fill his heart with +hatred to the Gospel, and then persuade him that his hatred arises +from its falsehood and absurdity. No event can afford the tempter +greater joy, than success in persuading perishing sinners to reject +the only possible way of escape from eternal death, and to contemn, +as foolishness, that doctrine which is the <i>wisdom of God and the +power of God to salvation to every one that believeth</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>It only remains, that we briefly +describe the fearful condition and prospects of all to whom <i>the +preaching of the cross is foolishness</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>And here we have only to repeat the +decision of the Searcher of hearts—the Judge of the quick and +dead. His infallible Spirit has, in our text, divulged the +tremendous fact, that the indifference, contempt, and disgust, +which have now been described, are characteristics of THEM THAT +PERISH. This authority, as well as the nature of the case, renders +it certain, that all, who indulge such feelings, are <i>in the gall +of bitterness and under the bond of iniquity</i>—<i>dead in +trespasses and sins</i>—<i>treasuring up wrath against the +day of wrath</i>. Nothing short of utter blindness of mind can be +insensible to the glory of the Gospel—nothing but entire +depravity of heart can render its doctrines offensive—and +nothing but the most obdurate impenitency can resist the melting +influence of a Saviour's dying love. It is utterly impossible, that +a scornful neglect or disregard of the preaching of the cross +should exist, without fearful guilt and imminent danger. All those, +among the hearers of the gospel, who will finally be children of +wrath, are now characterized by such guilt. And all the lost +spirits in the world of wo, who once enjoyed the offers of mercy, +cherished the same fatal feelings towards the plan of redemption. +It was <i>foolishness</i> to them. Many, even in this land of +light, seem to be ripening for the same tremendous doom. Whether in +the ranks of open opposition, or under the false colours of +pretended regard, the deadly symptom is upon them—a settled +disgust and aversion to the <i>preaching of the cross.</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Say not, 'It is no matter what a man +believes, provided he is sincere.' God has settled this +question.—"<i>Because they received not the love of the +truth</i>, <i>that they might be saved</i>; <i>God shall send them +strong delusion, that they should believe a lie</i>; <i>that they +all might be damned, who believed not the truth</i>, <i>but had +pleasure in unrighteousness</i>." Is there not then, appalling +evidence, that those, who hold such preaching in contempt, occupy +very perilous ground, and exhibit fearful tokens of the divine +abandonment? And especially might not the angels in heaven tremble +for those, who have enjoyed great light and privileges—have +witnessed rich displays of divine grace—and have once felt a +deep solicitude for their own souls—but who now despise and +hate those truths, and that cause, which they were once <i>almost +persuaded</i> to embrace?</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>How clearly and terribly, my hearers, +does this subject discover the ungodliness of the unrenewed heart. +Those feelings of contempt and hostility, towards what is most +precious and glorious in the view of God, constitute the summit of +human guilt. That feeble worms of the dust should thus dare to sit +in judgment on the divine administration, and pronounce that +needless which God has declared indispensable, and call that folly +which God esteems the highest wisdom, is not merely +presumptuous;—it is inexpressibly <i>impious</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>How resistless is the evidence, hence +arising, of the necessity of an entire change of heart—an +entire change of feeling—to prepare men to dwell with God. No +wonder then, that our Lord should declare with such emphasis, <i>Ye +must be born again</i>, or ye <i>cannot see the kingdom of +God</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>I beseech you, fellow sinners, lay +these things seriously to heart. Do any of you habitually hear the +preaching of the cross with heartless indifference—with a +light and trifling temper? Beware, lest your heart become fatally +hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Are any of you conscious of disgust and +aversion, produced by such doctrines? O, beware, lest that come +upon you which is spoken in the prophets, Behold, ye dispisers, and +wonder, and perish: Beware lest you convert the bread of life into +the poison of death!</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Have any of you already attained such a +degree of blindness and perversity, as to persuade yourselves that +the doctrines of the cross are really irrational and absurd, and +that you are doing right in opposing and deriding them? Recollect, +I pray you, with whose word you are contending;—whose wisdom +you are despising! Let the chaff contend with the tempest, and the +stubble with the devouring flame; let the glow-worm despise all the +lamps of heaven;—but Oh, let not a worm contend with +Omnipotence; let not dim reason reject all the splendours of the +Sun of righteousness. <i>The redemption of the soul is +precious</i>—Its rescue from perdition, and elevation to +God's right hand, are objects too momentous, to be sacrificed to +the pride of intellect, or to the fashion of a world which passeth +away. <i>Receive</i>, then, <i>with meekness the ingrafted word, +which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and +not hearers only, deceiving your own selves</i>.</p> + +<hr class="full"> +<h2>SERMON XXVII.</h2> + +<hr> +<h4>BY ELIHU W. BALDWIN, A.M.</h4> + +<h5>NEW-YORK.</h5> + +<hr> +<h5>THE FINAL JUDGMENT.</h5> + +<h5>HEBREWS, IX. 29.—<i>After this the Judgment</i>.</h5> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Whilst another year is ending, and time +itself, as it respects us, is fast hastening to its close, the +question very naturally arises, <i>What shall come after death</i>? +The voice of inspiration replies, <i>After this the Judgment</i>. +There is no need of entering upon a laboured proof of the doctrine +so plainly declared, <i>That there will be a day of Judgment for +mankind</i>. It is what seems written by the finger of God himself +upon the consciences of men. The impression is nearly universal, +with Pagans and Mahomedans, as well as Jews and Christians, that +<i>every one of us shall give account of himself to God</i>. This +impression is strengthened by a view of the very unequal and +indiscriminate allotments of the present life. Here the virtuous +are often the objects of hatred and relentless persecution. Here +the man of ambition and dark intrigue, circumvents and treads down +his more honest rivals. Here Providence often afflicts even the +most pious; while the licentious, and proud, and oppressive, are, +perhaps, suffered to enjoy uninterrupted prosperity. Now we +believe, assuredly, that "God is just;" and we infer, that he will +so exhibit himself by another and more equal distribution of his +favours and frowns. We conclude with the wise man, "that God shall +judge both the righteous and the wicked." Conscience and reason, +then, unite with revelation, in saying, that "God hath appointed a +day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness." No +language can be plainer, and no event more reasonably +anticipated.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>With this absolute certainty before us, +then, of a judgment for all mankind, it would be unnatural—it +would betray awful insensibility to eternal concerns, not to +inquire with all seriousness—When will this universal +judgment take place? What objects is it designed to accomplish? +What connexion will it have with our future and eternal condition? +We inquire then,</p> + +<br> +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>I. <i>When will the universal Judgment +take place?</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>The precise time, God has wisely +concealed from every intelligent creature. "Of that day and that +hour knoweth no man. No; not the angels that are in heaven." But +the text speaks of it, in general terms, as that which is to take +place <i>after our death</i>. Other passages are somewhat more +explicit, as to the time. The apostle Peter declares, "The heavens +and the earth which now are, by the same word are kept in store, +reserved unto fire, against <i>the day of judgment</i>, and +perdition of ungodly men." According to this account of the +judgment, it will occur at the same time with the destruction of +the world; "when," as the same apostle declares, "the heavens shall +pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with +fervent heat, the earth, also, and the works that are therein shall +be burnt up." Paul gives a similar account of the <i>time</i>, as +he comforts the church at Thessalonica, under persecution, with the +prospect of the judgment, "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed +from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking +vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel +of our Lord Jesus Christ." Indeed, if God is to "judge the whole +world in righteousness," what other occasion would seem so proper, +as when the last of our race have finished their work on the earth, +and the world itself is about to be destroyed? Would it not appear +most suitable, that the public and final decision of our destiny, +should immediately succeed the winding up of this world's +drama?—the termination of all earthly allotments? When, if +not at that deeply interesting crisis, will all things be ready for +the great trial? <i>The final judgment, then, will take place after +our death, and at the end of the world</i>. We next inquire,</p> + +<br> +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>II. <i>What are the objects, which the +Judgment is designed to accomplish?</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>On this point, it becomes creatures of +yesterday to speak with profound humility, and especially to beware +of contradicting what is revealed. The objects which Jehovah will +accomplish by the universal judgment, are unquestionably vast and +momentous, beyond all conception. Yet some of them are obvious to +reason, or are plainly revealed.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Every person has experienced +inconvenience and perplexity from the circumstance, that the real +characters of men, in the present life, are but partially +disclosed. Much the larger portion of human actions pass unobserved +by the world; or the motives which prompt them are concealed. One +design of the judgment, then, is to uncover these hidden springs, +and lay open every dark retreat of human conduct. We are told, +"there is nothing hid which shall not be revealed;" that "God shall +bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it +be good or whether it be evil;" that he "will both bring to light +the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels +the heart."</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Another design of the judgment, is +publicly to assign to men their proper deserts. This, we have +before suggested, is not done on the earth. "All things here come +alike to all." "There is one event to the righteous and to the +wicked." But the future judgment is characterized, as the day of +"revelation of the righteous judgment of God;" "in the which he +will judge the world in righteousness;" and will "render to every +man according to his deeds." The mystery involved in the prosperity +of the wicked, and in the unequal allotments, which have here +marked the dispensations of Providence, will then cease for ever; +and it will then be seen and felt, that every one is treated +according to the strictest principles of wisdom and justice.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Another special design of the judgment, +is to manifest and gloriously exalt the perfections of Jehovah. +Revelation has indeed proclaimed his perfections, in language which +need not be misunderstood. But his providence has often interposed +a cloud between them and the eyes of men. We do not comprehend the +wisdom of present occurrences. We see not the end from the +beginning. A complete disclosure of both, will show to the universe +the deep counsels of God, and the consistent and benevolent +character of all his operations. He will then appear in the +greatness of his <i>power</i>, and <i>majesty</i>—as he +summons the dead from their graves, and folds up the earth and the +heavens, like a decayed garment, to be laid aside. He will then +appear in the glory of his <i>justice</i>, his <i>holiness</i>, and +his <i>truth</i>,—while he examines, before his dread +tribunal, the risen and assembled millions of our race, and renders +to every one according to his works. All his perfections will then +be illustriously displayed; for, says the apostle, "He shall come +to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that +believe."</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>But this glory of the Divinity is +specially to shine forth in the person of the Son. He it was, that +"being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself, and became +obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God +hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, which is above every +name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in +heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that +every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory +of God the Father." Accordingly, "the Father judgeth no man, but +hath committed all judgment unto the Son." It is the <i>Son</i> who +will come "in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory"; +whom "every eye shall see;" and who, "in his own glory, and in the +glory of the Father, and of the holy angels," shall "judge the +world in righteousness." Then will he who humbled himself, and +"became obedient unto death," be publicly recognised as "the Mighty +God," "by whom, and for whose pleasure, all things are, and were +created." Then will "every tongue confess that he is Lord." The +conviction will then be universal, "that all men should honour the +Son even as they honour the Father." This leads us to inquire,</p> + +<br> +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>III. <i>What connexion will the +Judgment have with our future and eternal condition?</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Here let us not indulge in vain +speculations, but examine simply the word of God. According to the +Scriptures, the judgment will result in assigning to men <i>very +different allotments</i>. It will recognise among them two entirely +different and opposite classes of character. One of these classes, +which the Bible denominates "the righteous," will be graciously +acquitted by the Judge, and publicly treated as his friends. The +other, comprising all the impenitent, will be as publicly +condemned, and driven from his presence. They "will have judgment +without mercy." Such is plainly the account which Christ and the +sacred writers have given of the final awards to the righteous and +the wicked. We have the account in detail. Says the Saviour +himself, "When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the +holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his +glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall +separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep +from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but +the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his +right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom +prepared for you from the foundation of the world." "Then shall he +say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, +into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." And +again; "The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves +shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; <i>they that have done +good</i>, unto the resurrection of <i>life</i>; and <i>they that +have done evil</i>, unto the resurrection of <i>damnation</i>". +Thus broad and fearful is the discrimination which the great day +will make between the righteous and the wicked. So entirely +different are the awards in reserve for the two different classes +of mankind. The difference will be great, as between holiness and +sin; between cheerful submission to the will and providence of God, +and unyielding rebellion against him; between cordial faith in the +Lord Jesus Christ, and wilful rejection of the only Saviour; +between the splendour and joy of the celestial Paradise, and the +gloominess and misery of hell. No wonder, then, that "as Paul +reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix +trembled." There will, indeed, be fearful reason for "weeping and +wailing and gnashing of teeth," with those who shall then "see +Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom +of God, and themselves thrust out."</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>We are not to forget, my hearers, that +these different awards of the judgment day will be +<i>irreversible</i> and literally <i>endless</i>. All admit this +conclusion, with respect to the <i>righteous</i>. But if the +righteous are <i>finally acquitted</i> at the judgment, so are the +wicked <i>finally condemned</i>. If the righteous are said to enter +into "<i>life eternal</i>," so are the wicked to "go away into +<i>everlasting punishment</i>." The Scriptures say not one word of +any reprieve from this condemnation, or of any other period of +merciful visitation. But they close with the most solemn assurance, +that, from that awful day, he that is unjust shall be unjust still; +and he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is +righteous shall be righteous still; and he that is holy shall be +holy still. Other passages, of similar import, might be quoted: but +if men will pour contempt on a single declaration of +Jehovah—if they will <i>make God a liar</i>—they would +not be persuaded, though his voice from the heavens were a thousand +times repeated. And <i>because they receive not the love of the +truth</i>, <i>that they might be saved</i>, most justly may he +<i>send them strong delusion</i>, <i>that they should believe a +lie</i>, and <i>be damned.</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>I have thus endeavoured, with much +brevity, to give a scriptural view of the final Judgment. On a +subject so tremendously awful, I have chosen to present simply +God's testimony. A practical inference from the whole +is,—that the present life must be regarded as probationary. +We are living here as responsible agents, continually adding to the +number of actions, for which we must give account to God. How +solemnly interesting, then, is this scene of our earthly +pilgrimage! How inexpressibly valuable is time! How infinitely +precious are the means of grace!—particularly those +invitations of mercy, which meet us in the word of God, and address +us from the sacred desk.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>You, my fellow sinners, are the very +individuals who must stand at the judgment-seat of Christ. You must +mingle in that vast multitude, which the voice of the archangel and +the trump of God shall assemble. And when your characters are all +laid open, you must pass off to the right hand, or to the left, +accordingly as it shall appear, that you have repented, and +believed on the Son of God, or have neglected this great salvation. +And are you diligently preparing for that day? Are you working out +your salvation with fear and trembling? Are you <i>agonizing</i> to +enter in at the strait gate? Are you escaping for your life?</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Fellow mortals, your time of +preparation may be far more brief than you now think. A few, +<i>very few</i> more opportunities for prayer, and reconciliation +with God, and your account is sealed up. While you hesitate, the +recording angel may be writing your condemnation. In such +circumstances, what are worldly honours, or wealth, or all your +hopes of enjoyment here? The life, the <i>eternal life</i> of the +<i>soul</i>, is the <i>one thing needful</i>—the <i>only</i> +thing really important. You will realize this truth, when the last +trumpet is sounding through the universe, and, with increasing +agony or ecstasy, millions of ages after the final sentence is +pronounced. O, then, consider it <i>now</i>. Prepare for that +judgment, <i>now</i>. To-morrow! where is it? Repent +<i>to-morrow</i>! You may have far other work to do. God, and +conscience, and your immortal interests plead, "<i>To-day</i>, if +you will hear his voice, harden not your heart." "Behold, +<i>now</i> is the accepted time; behold, <i>now</i> is the day of +salvation." <i>Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from +the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. For he cometh, for +he cometh, to judge the world, in righteousness to judge the earth, +and the people with his truth</i>.</p> + +<hr class="full"> +<h2>TERMS</h2> + +<h6>OF THE</h6> + +<h1>NATIONAL PREACHER.</h1> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'><b>I. Each Monthly Number to contain +one long Sermon, or two of moderate length, on fine paper. The +Volume to commence annually the last week in June.</b></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'><b>II. Price, One Dollar annually, +<i>in advance, or on becoming a Subscriber</i>, or One Dollar and +Fifty cents, if payment is delayed after the receipt of six +Numbers.</b></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'><b>III. <i>Five</i> or more persons +forwarding their annual payments <i>at one time</i>, <i>on becoming +Subscribers</i>, <i>or immediately after the receipt of the first +Numbers of the Volume</i>, may receive the work for the year at +<i>eighty cents</i> each. Or <i>twelve</i> or more so doing, may +receive it at <i>seventy-five cents</i> each: (viz. 6 1/4 cents a +Number.)</b></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'><b>IV. An Index and Title-page, +referring to all the Numbers, will accompany the twelfth.</b></p> + +<pre> + SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. ¦ RESIDENCE. + +</pre> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'><b>NOTE. <i>Ten Cents</i> each will be +allowed for procuring and furnishing the Editor <i>new</i> +Subscribers on any terms stated above. Essential service might be +rendered by copying the above terms in handsome form, and employing +a faithful person to go through the neighbourhood, with a specimen +of the work. The names of present subscribers may be ascertained at +the Post Office.</b></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'><b>Copies furnished, by the dozen or +hundred, at Tract prices, for gratuitous distribution.</b></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'><b>Such Subscribers as do not give the +Editor notice to the contrary, before the first of June, will be +considered as Subscribers for the ensuing year. Any one can +discontinue on paying up arrearages.</b></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'><b>Correspondents will be careful in +naming the individuals to whom credit is to be given, and the +Post-Office and State to which the Work is to be sent.</b></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'><b><i>Letters may be directed</i>, POST +PAID, <i>to</i></b></p> + +<p style="width: 100%; text-align: right; margin-right: 5%"> +<b>AUSTIN DICKINSON,<br> +144 <i>Nassau-street, New-York</i></b></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'><b>All Subscribers will be furnished +with the former Numbers of this Volume:—and with the first +Volume, if desired.</b></p> + +<hr class="full"> +<h3>RECEIVING AGENTS.</h3> + +<hr class="short"> +<h6>The following Persons are authorized to receive and forward +payments to the Editor:</h6> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" align="center" +summary="Receiving Agaents"> +<tr> +<td valign="top" colspan="10"><div class="tinyfont">MAINE.<br> + Portland, William Hyde.<br> +Bowdoin College, A.C. Baldwin.<br> +Waterville, B. Chase, P.M.<br> +Bangor, Royal Clark, P.M.<br> +Bristol, Aaron Blaney, P.M.<br> +Vassalboro', Theodore S. Brown,<br> +Lubec, Moses Fuller, P.M.<br> +Bloomfield, Joseph Locke, P.M.<br> +Whitefield, David Crowell, P.M.<br> +Ellsworth, Joseph A. Wood, P.M.<br> +West Jefferson, F. Shepherd, P.M.<br> +South Berwick, Charles E. Norton.<br> +<br> + NEW-HAMPSHIRE<br> + Hanover, George Wheeler, P.M.<br> +Cornish, William Whittlesey, P.M.<br> +Keene, Abijah Kingsbury,<br> +Concord, John West.<br> +Portsmouth, Childs & March.<br> +<br> + VERMONT.<br> + Middlebury, E. Brewster.<br> +Rutland, Charles Walker.<br> +St. Albans, Horace Janes, P.M.<br> +Sharon, Chester Baxter. P.M.<br> +Bennington, Stephen Hinsdale.<br> +Brattleboro, Holbrook & Fessenden.<br> +Burlington, C. Goodrich.<br> +Springfield, Nomlas Cobb.<br> +<br> + MASSACHUSETTS.<br> + Boston, A. Russel, at Hanover Ch.<br> +Salem, Whipple & Lawrence.<br> +Newburyport, Charles Whipple.<br> +Springfield, Solomon Warriner.<br> +Northampton, Simeon Butler.<br> +Amherst, Luke Sweetser.<br> +Greenfield, A. Phelps.<br> +Pittsfield, Joshua Danforth, P.M.<br> +Williams College, Saml. Hutchings<br> +Plymouth, Ezra Collier.<br> +Andover, Artemas Bullard.<br> +Wrentham, Robert Blake.<br> +Worcester, James Wilson, P.M.<br> +Berkley, Asahel Hathaway, P.M.<br> +Lowell, Jonathan C, Merrill, P.M.<br> +<br> + CONNECTICUT.<br> + New-Haven, Nathan Whiting.<br> +Hartford, Peter B. Gleason.<br> +Middletown, Edwin Hant.<br> +Brooklyn, Ambrose Edson.<br> +Woodstock, George Bowen, P.M.<br> +New London, E. Chesebrough.<br> +Norwich, John Hyde, P.M.<br> +Bozrahville, Alfred Holt.<br> +Stonington, William W. Rodman.<br> +Fairfield, Gershom Sturges.<br> +Litchfield, S.S. Smith.<br> +Norwich City, Charles Kinney, P.M.<br> +Greenwich, Esbon Husted.<br> +<br> + RHODE-ISLAND.<br> + East Greenwich, John Brown.<br> +Providence, Alexander Jones.<br> +<br> + NEW-YORK.<br> + Union College, John M'Dowall.<br> +Albany, George J. Loomis.<br> +Kinderbook, Henry L. Van Dyck.<br> +Onondaga C.H., Hezekiah Strong.<br> +Auburn Seminary, B.C. Cressey.<br> +Pen Yan, Ira Gould.<br> +Utica, Charles Hastings.<br> +Mount Pleasant, J. Dickerson.<br> +East Ridge, William Stone.<br> +Newburgh, Joseph Sibbet.<br> +Rochester, Seth D. Chapin.<br> +Moscow, Felix Tracy, P.M.<br> +De Ruyter, Sylvester Aylsworth,<br> +Geneva, J. Smith. Jr.<br> +Springville, Rufus C. Eaton, P.M.<br> +Catskill, Hezekiah Thayer.<br> +Venice, Sherman Beardsley, P.M.<br> +Youngstown, A.G. Hinman, P.M.<br> +Troy, Edward Wilson, Jr.<br> +Syracuse, Pliny Dickinson.<br> +Sidney Plains, Samuel Rogers.<br> +Fort Covington, Samuel L. Crosby.</div></td> +<td valign="top" colspan="10"><div class="tinyfont">NEW-JERSEY.<br> + Princeton, J.B. Van Dyck.<br> +<br> + PENNSYLVANIA.<br> + Philadelphia, Anthony Finley.<br> + [unreadable], Jared Bunce.<br> +Carlisle, G. Duffield.<br> +Huntington, I. Dorland. P.M.<br> +Meadville, B. Andrews, P.M.<br> +Pittsburgh, Robert Patterson<br> +Harrisburgh, William Graydon.<br> +Braintrim, H.W. Northup.<br> +Wilkesbarre, O. Collins.<br> +Bethany, Jason Torrey.<br> +Alexandria, John Porter, P.M.<br> +<br> + DELAWARE.<br> + Wilmington, Robert Porter.<br> +<br> + MARYLAND.<br> + Baltimore, John H. Naff.<br> +Princess Anne, Joshua Moore.<br> +Chestertown, Joseph Redue. P.M.<br> +Vienna, Uriah Medford, P.M.<br> +<br> + DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.<br> + Washington, Reuben Post.<br> +Alexandria, Reuel Keith.<br> +<br> + VIRGINIA.<br> + Richmond, Nathaniel Charter.<br> +Petersburg, James Dwight.<br> +Norfolk, Shepard K. Kollock.<br> +Weston, G.D. Camden, P.M.<br> +Romney, John Jack, P.M.<br> +Ebenezer Academy, H. Clary, P.M.<br> +Cartonville, George W. Hundly.<br> +Powhatan C.H., Thomas Scott. P.M.<br> +Abingdon, Augustus Oury, P.M.<br> +Gloucester C.H., W.D. Cairns.<br> +Lynchburg, William Poe.<br> +Boydton, James Brame.<br> +Charlotte, C.H. John Morton, P.M.<br> +Liberty, James Mitchell, Jr.<br> +Winchester, Samuel H. Davis.<br> +Prince Edward C.H., Francis Bartlet.<br> +Otter Bridge, J. Leftwich, P.M.<br> +<br> + NORTH CAROLINA.<br> + Fayetteville, Robert H. Morrison.<br> +Newbern, Thomas Watson, P.M.<br> +Salisbury, Thomas L. Cowan.<br> +Mecklenburgh, S. Williamson. P.M.<br> +Alfordsville, Warren Alford, P.M.<br> +Wilmington, A.J. De Ressot<br> +Milton, James W. Douglass.<br> +Lincolnton, Davin Reinhardt, P.M.<br> +Raleigh, P.W. Dowd<br> +Halifax, Sidney Weller.<br> +<br> + SOUTH CAROLINA.<br> + Charleston, Horace Utley.<br> +Camden, Thomas M'Millan.<br> +Georgetown, Peter Cuttino.<br> +Beaufort, David Turner, P.M.<br> +Bradleyville, R. Witherspoon, P.M.<br> +Edgefield, A.B. M'Whorter.<br> +Conwayboro', Henry Durant, P.M..<br> +Lexington, C.H., J. Meetze, P.M.<br> +Sumpterville, Jesse Hartwell.<br> +<br> + GEORGIA.<br> + Savannah, J.C.A. Johnston.<br> +Augusta, Timothy Edwards.<br> +Riceboro', A.H. Sample.<br> +Wrightsboro', Joseph Barnes, P.M.<br> +Bethsaida, Oliver Morse. P.M.<br> +Mount Zion, M.H. Carrington.<br> +Powelton, J.H. Burnet. P.M.<br> +Clarksville, Thomas J. Rusk, P.M.<br> +Sunbury, F.R. Whitwell, P.M.<br> +Athens, Leander A. Erwin. P.M.<br> +Carmel, Isaac Proctor, P.M.<br> +Bethlehem, John F. Wallis P.M.<br> +Fortville, Henry W. Jornegan.<br> +<br> + OHIO.<br> + Columbus, James Hoge.<br> +Steubenville, Charles C. Beatty.<br> +Cincinnati, David Root.</div></td> +<td valign="top" colspan="10"><div class="tinyfont">Ellsworth, L.W. +Leffingwell, P.M.<br> +Marietta, L.G. Bingham.<br> +Burton, Luther Humphrey.<br> +Cadiz, Thomas Phillips, P.M.<br> +Miami, Charles Atherton. P.M.<br> +Rome, Elijah Crosby, P.M.<br> +Vernon, Harvey Coo.<br> +<br> + INDIANA.<br> + Portersville, Simon Morgan, P.M.<br> +Salem, Burr Bradley, P.M.<br> +Indianapolis, George Bush.<br> +Barbersville, Timothy Barber, P.M.<br> +<br> + ILLINOIS.<br> + Belleville, James Mitchell, P.M.<br> +Greenville, Ansel Birge, P.M.<br> +Canton, Nathan Jones, P.M.<br> +Vandalia, James Hall.<br> +<br> + KENTUCKY.<br> + Munfordville, J.T.S. Brown, P.M.<br> +Princeton, H. Cassidy, P.M.<br> +Danville, Benjamin Shaw.<br> +Cynthiana, A. Broadwell, P.M.<br> +Henderson, James Hillyer, P.M.<br> +Shelbyville, A.A. Shannon.<br> +Frankfort, S.M. Noel.<br> +Hopkinsville, John Bryan, P.M.<br> +Harrodsburg, Thomas Cleland.<br> +Augusta, Samuel Bonde, P.M.<br> +Columbia, John Montgomery, P.M.<br> +<br> + TENNESSEE.<br> + Knoxville, James Campbell,<br> +Winchester, John Goodwin, P.M.<br> +Nashville, R.P. Hayes.<br> +Dresden, Samuel A. Warner.<br> +Paperville, T.C. Buckhart, P.M.<br> +Jonesboro' D.A. Deadrick, P.M.<br> +Murfreesboro', D. Wendell, P.M.<br> +Columbia, Francis W.S. Frierson.<br> +Lebanon, A. Bradshaw.<br> +Hillsboro, G.W. Richardson, P.M.<br> +Farmington, S.W. Calvert.<br> +<br> + ALABAMA.<br> + Huntsville, William Leech.<br> +Perry, C.H., G.W. Brame.<br> +Somerville, M.C. Houston, P.M.<br> +Bainbridge, S.M. Parry, P.M.<br> +Florence, John Craig, P.M.<br> +Courtiand, John White.<br> +Shelby C.H., Thos. W. Smith, P.M.<br> +Ashville, Archibald Sloan, P.M.<br> +<br> + MISSOURI.<br> + St. Louis, Salmon Giddings.<br> +Fredericktown, Thos. Mosely, P.M.<br> +Clay, C.H., Wm. S. Smith, P.M.<br> +<br> + MISSISSIPPI.<br> + Natchez, John Henderson.<br> +Port Gibson, D. Greenleaf, P.M.<br> +Woodville, G.A. Irion<br> +Gallatin, A.B. Ross, P.M.<br> +Columbia, A.G. Moore.<br> +Pinckneyville, James Wilson, P.M.<br> +<br> + LOUISIANA.<br> + Baton Rouge, H. Alexander, P.M.<br> +New-Orleans, William Ross.<br> +<br> + FLORIDA.<br> + Pensacola, W. Hazell Hunt, P.M.<br> +<br> + ARKANSAS.<br> + Dwight, Alfred Finney.<br> +<br> + CHOCTAW NATION.<br> + David Folsom<br> +<br> + MICHIGAN.<br> + Detroit, D.G. Jones.<br> +<br> + CANADA.<br> + Montreal, William Hedge.<br> +Kingston, Rev. Mr. Foote.<br> +<br> + SOUTH AMERICA.<br> + Buenos Ayres, Theop. Parvin.<br></div> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="full"> +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Post-Masters are hereby authorized to +receive and forward payments to the Editor, as well as names of +Subscribers.</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13824 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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AUSTIN DICKINSON.</title> +<style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ + <!-- + p { text-align: justify; margin-top: .75em; margin-bottom: .75em } + table { border-collapse: collapse; border-style: none; border-width: medium } + *#col1 { border-style: none; border-width: medium } + td { border-style: none; border-width: medium; padding: 0em } + h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 { text-align: center } + hr { text-align: center; width: 50% } + html>body hr { width: 50%; margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25% } + hr.full { width: 100% } + html>body hr.full { width: 100%; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0% } + hr.short { text-align: center; width: 20% } + html>body hr.short { width: 20%; margin-left: 40%; margin-right: 40% } + body { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10% } + img { border-style: none; border-width: medium } + .ctr { text-align: center } + .linenum { position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4% } + /* poetry number */ + .note { margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em } + /* footnote */ + .blkquot { margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em } + /* block indent */ + .pagenum { position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right } + /* page numbers */ + .sidenote { width: 10%; font-size: smaller; float: left; clear: left; margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; padding-right: 1em } + .poem { text-align: left; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10% } + .poem br { display: none } + .poem .stanza { margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em } + .poem span { display: block; text-indent: -3em; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em } + .poem span.i2 { display: block; margin-left: 2em } + .poem span.i4 { display: block; margin-left: 4em } + .poem .caesura { vertical-align: -200% } + .tinyfont {font-size: xx-small} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The National Preacher, Vol. 2 No. 7 Dec. +1827, by Aaron W. Leland and Elihu W. Baldwin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The National Preacher, Vol. 2 No. 7 Dec. 1827 + Or Original Monthly Sermons from Living Ministers, Sermons XXVI. and + XXVII. + + +Author: Aaron W. Leland and Elihu W. Baldwin + +Release Date: October 21, 2004 [EBook #13824] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NATIONAL PREACHER *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +</pre> + +<p>SER. XXVI. REV. DR. LELAND.<br> +SER. XXVII. REV. MR. BALDWIN<br> +<br> +Vol. 2 No. 7 Dec. 1827.</p> + +<h5>THE</h5> + +<h1>NATIONAL PREACHER:</h1> + +<h6>OR</h6> + +<h3><i>ORIGINAL MONTHLY SERMONS</i></h3> + +<h4>EDITED BY</h4> + +<h3>REV. AUSTIN DICKINSON,</h3> + +<h6>NEW YORK.</h6> + +<hr> +<p align="left">POSTAGE—<i>One Cent and a half</i>, not over +100 miles; <i>Two Cents and a half</i>, any distance over 100.</p> + +<hr class="full"> +<p>TO THE REVEREND CLERGY:—</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">The undersigned proposes to commence +another Periodical, of original plan and character, provided that +adequate pledges of supplies shall be furnished. The Work to bear +the following title, or something similar, viz.:</p> + +<h2>THE AMERICAN PASTOR'S JOURNAL:</h2> + +<h6>OR</h6> + +<h5><i>Original Sketches of real Characters, Conversations, and +striking Facts. Furnished chiefly by Clergymen.</i></h5> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">The following imperfect sketch of +topics to be embraced, may serve to illustrate the plan:—1. +Instances of very early piety.—2. Striking results of +Parental faithfulness, or unfaithfulness; of filial respect, or +disrespect.—3. Cases of individuals raised from deep +obscurity, or wickedness, to eminent usefulness.—4. +Remarkable cases of conviction.—5. Cases of great hardness of +heart, from resisting convictions.—6. Distinctly marked cases +of submission and conversion to God.—7. Cases of awful +relapse into sin.—8. Cases of strong temptation and +trial.—9. Cases of strong faith and confidence in +God.—10. Peculiarly manifest interpositions of Providence, in +mercy or judgment.—11. Instances of the wrath of man being +made to praise God.—12. Cases illustrative of the influence +of piety on the intellectual powers.—13. Instances of +extraordinary beneficence or covetousness.—14. Death-bed +scenes, of the Christian, the backslider, the infidel, the +universalist, the profane man, or the worldling.</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">It is conceived that the very existence +of such a Periodical might be the means of leading Clergymen, in +their pastoral intercourse, to be more observant of character, more +discriminating in their views of human nature, and more disposed to +record and rescue from oblivion striking conversations and facts. +No species of knowledge can be more interesting or more useful, +than that thus drawn from real life;—especially from portions +of life most intimately connected with spiritual and eternal +realities. If it is all-important that masters in surgery and +medicine record, for mutual improvement, and for the benefit of +mankind, striking cases which occur in their practice; it cannot, +surely, be less important, that those who watch for the life of +souls, should preserve similar records. It would seem as though, +from the daily intercourse of several thousand Clergymen, such +materials, of the character contemplated, might be furnished, as, +if well condensed and judiciously arranged in an elegant +Periodical, would not fail to be read with intense and general +interest. And who can tell, but that God, who is rich in wisdom, +may thus employ the simplest means for collecting, condensing, and +reflecting rays of sacred truth, in the form of practical results, +which may carry conviction and saving instruction to uncounted +millions—not merely in our own land, but in more populous +countries, where the importance of experimental religion is not +appreciated?</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">But, for rendering such a work +pre-eminently useful, or even commencing it, there must be union of +effort. As it is intended to consist wholly of original matter, and +that of a specific character, such as no genius can originate, it +is obvious that it cannot be commenced, without being furnished +with numerous pledges of supplies. And it will be important to have +a considerable number of communications on hand, at the +commencement, as well as afterwards, that due regard may be had to +order in the arrangement of subjects, and an interesting variety be +presented in every Number.</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">It will not be necessary to publish the +names of writers, nor of individuals alluded to in communications; +though in many cases it may be desirable and expedient. But, in +every case, the name of the writer, or some respectable reference +for attesting the accuracy of statements, must be furnished to the +Editor; as he must be responsible to the public for the correctness +of whatever may appear in the work. He will moreover think it his +duty to present Contributors a generous compensation.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>MINISTERS, of different Christian +denominations, willing to aid in executing the design, are +affectionately requested <i>to write as soon as +practicable</i>—either furnishing matter for publication, or +stating definitely, <i>when and how much aid may be expected</i>. +If the work is ably supported by the co-operation of Clergymen, the +Editor does not hesitate to say, that he will at least circulate +thousands and tens of thousands of copies gratuitously, and thus +afford Contributors the best of all rewards—the opportunity +of doing extensive good.</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em">That the blessing of God Almighty may +crown the enterprise, is the humble prayer of His servant,</p> + +<p style="text-align: right; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 20%"> +AUSTIN DICKINSON.</p> + +<hr class="full"> +<h2>CONTRIBUTORS.</h2> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Upwards of fifty Clergymen, of five +Christian denominations, and belonging to sixteen different States, +most of whom are well known to the public as Authors, have +encouraged the Editor to expect from them Sermons for the +Preacher.</p> + +<hr class="full"> +<h2>TO THE ENTERPRISING.</h2> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Persons having expressed a disposition +to circulate this Work, provided postage could be avoided; we would +say to such, that for <i>ten</i> or more Subscribers, <i>who pay at +one time</i> in advance, or on first receiving Numbers, a deduction +from the price of One Dollar a year may be made, equal to the +annual postage. And in such cases money may be forwarded without +being post-paid. Experience shows, there is no mode of conveyance +safer than the Mail.</p> + +<h5>[<i>Ordinary Terms, other leaf</i>.]</h5> + +<hr class="full"> +<h4>THE</h4> + +<h1>NATIONAL PREACHER.</h1> + +<h6>Go ... Teach all Nations.... <i>Matt</i>. xxviii. 19.</h6> + +<hr class="full"> +<h3>VOL. II. NEW-YORK, DECEMBER, 1827. NO. 7.</h3> + +<hr class="full"> +<h2>SERMON XXVI.</h2> + +<hr> +<h4>BY AARON W. LELAND, D.D.</h4> + +<h5>CHARLESTON, S. CAROLINA.</h5> + +<hr> +<h5>THE PURE GOSPEL REJECTED BY THE PERISHING.</h5> + +<h5>I COR. I. 18.—<i>For the preaching of the cross is, to +them that perish, foolishness</i>.</h5> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>In the Christian revelation, there is +an evident purpose of infinite wisdom, that in all the provisions +for man's salvation, his moral agency should be left free and +uncontrolled. Instead of accommodation to human prejudices, there +is ample scope for captious objections. And if additional proof +were needed, of the divine origin of the Bible, it would be found +in this characteristic. Were it a system agreeable to the narrow +views, in unison with the selfish feelings, and gratifying to the +depraved taste of human nature, it would more resemble the +fabrication of man, than the workmanship of God. But as the current +of its doctrines is so entirely opposed to our natural +inclinations, as to render a moral renovation indispensable to a +perception of the glory of revealed truth; all such ground of +skepticism is removed.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Thus the obscurities and difficulties +of revelation are admirably adapted to exhibit human character, and +constitute this state of existence a real probation. For if the +light of truth came upon the mind with resistless energy, and the +operations of the divine government were clearly disclosed; if the +motives and designs of infinite wisdom were fully explained, and +the realities of the spiritual world completely laid open to view; +one principal aim of this dispensation would be frustrated. On the +one hand, there would be no field for the exercise of faith and +humble confidence on the part of Christians; and thus a precious +test of their submission and obedience would be destroyed. On the +other, there could not be a full disclosure of the true feelings of +the unrenewed heart. Because, as all would be evident as the +noon-day sun, there would remain no choice in the matter of +embracing the truth—no means of evincing whether its +reception were cordial or compulsory.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>In this respect; there is displayed a +matchless skill, as well as a gracious condescension, in adapting +revelation to the actual character and condition of our race. While +sufficient light is afforded to guide the sincere inquirer, there +is an obscurity to perplex and offend the proud and self-confident. +While the truth is accompanied by evidence abundantly satisfactory +to every mind open to conviction, enough of mystery remains, to +form an impassable barrier to those who are inclined to disbelieve +the testimony of God. While to the eye of faith there appears a +glorious system of wisdom and mercy, depraved reason and prejudice +may discover little else than an assemblage of inconsistencies and +absurdities.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>It is not without design, then, that +the great facts of revelation are made liable to misrepresentation; +that its essential principles are arrayed against the pride of +human wisdom; and that its blessed institutions are so obnoxious to +abuse and opposition. Such a constitution of things is evidently +intended to furnish a decisive criterion of human +character—to exhibit, in striking contrast, the humble +votaries of faith, who reverently bow to the authority of +Scripture; and the adherents of a haughty, self-confident +rationality, who will receive the testimony of God himself, no +farther than it accords with their opinions and +prejudices—and thus to elicit a fair and full manifestation +of every man's real disposition and feelings.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Such, uniformly, has been the effect of +the Bible, wherever its sacred contents have been made known. To +all who have received it with penitence, humility, and confidence, +as the infallible word of God, it has proved their pleasure and +delight—their fountain of consolation—their guide to +peace: while the self-righteous and unbelieving have transformed it +into a subject of perplexity and disputation—<i>a cause of +deeper guilt and more aggravated ruin</i>. The Gospel has appeared +transcendently beautiful and glorious to all who have been savingly +enlightened by the Holy Spirit—while, to the impenitent and +skeptical, it seems obscure, irrational, and incomprehensible. The +former rejoice in the scriptures, just as they are, and willingly +yield to the obedience of faith: the latter are ever anxious to +lower the standard of divine truth to the level of their views of +fitness, and to mould its materials into a form suited to their +unholy inclinations.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>On these principles it is easy to +perceive the real nature and causes of the insidious warfare, which +is maintained, in various forms, against the essential doctrines of +the Gospel. It is just an effusion of the malignity of the +unsanctified heart. Its prevalence is an exact fulfilment of +prophecy; and therefore an irrefragable proof of the truth and +divine authority of that system which it is labouring to destroy. +The emphatic declaration of the apostle, in the text, strikingly +describes the state of feeling which now actually prevails, among +many who enjoy all the external privileges of the Christian +dispensation—<i>The preaching of the cross is, to them that +perish, foolishness.</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>In illustration of this passage, it +will be attempted, to explain the import of the phrase, <i>the +preaching of the cross</i>—to enumerate some of the +<i>instances</i> and <i>causes</i> of such preaching being +accounted <i>foolishness</i>—and to describe the <i>fearful +state and prospects</i> of those who hold it in such low +estimation.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>The preaching of the cross is a plain +and full announcement of all the essential truths of that system +which provides pardon and salvation for the lost and guilty. The +cross is the symbol of that amazing expedient of infinite wisdom +and mercy, by which a treaty of reconciliation is offered to +convicted traitors against Jehovah's government. Its exhibition +therefore must require a developement of the principles, and a +defence of the doctrines, peculiar to this gracious +dispensation.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>The grand fact, which constitutes the +very essence and glory of the Gospel, and which it is the leading +object of the Christian ministry to announce; is, that He, who took +upon himself the form of a servant, and offered up the sacrifice of +Calvary, is <i>God over all, blessed for ever</i>. This gives to +the cross all its glory and efficacy. It is on the supreme Deity of +Christ—on the expiation made for sin by the Maker and +Sovereign of worlds—that the whole fabric of evangelical +truth rests. On any other supposition, the sacrifice of the cross +was a very ordinary affair. If the Saviour of sinners be not +God—if he be a created being, of whatever grade,—where +is the <i>mystery of Godliness?</i>—Where those unfathomable +depths of divine love, <i>into which the angels desire to look</i>? +If Christ be only a servant of God, however exalted, what was +there, in his appearance on our world, to constitute a new era in +heaven, and to fill its inhabitants with astonishment and ecstasy? +Did the heavenly host descend in rapture, and cause the mountains +of Judea to reecho with their acclamations, because a <i>dependent +creature</i> had <i>consented</i> to do his Maker's will? Whence +the ascription of <i>glory to God in the highest</i>, and why do +the courts above resound with a new song of praise to God for his +redeeming mercy, if this redemption was effected by the labours and +sufferings of one inferior to the Deity? Was such a dispensation as +that of Moses, designed simply to prepare the way for a messenger +of God to declare his will, and to seal the testimony with his +blood, as many good men have done, both before and since? Why did +patriarchs and prophets foretell his coming, and celebrate his +praises?—Why did the continual offering of divinely appointed +sacrifices, for many centuries, typify his sufferings?—And +why did nature shudder, and shroud herself in darkness, at the +consummation of those sufferings? All these things are utterly +inexplicable, on the supposition that Christ is a created dependent +being.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>But view him as <i>God manifest in the +flesh</i>—view him as voluntarily laying aside his glory, and +descending from the throne of infinite majesty, to assume the +nature, and expiate the guilt of a ruined race;—and we are +struck with the appropriateness of all the attending circumstances. +The splendid ceremonials of the Jewish ritual, and the raptured +songs of prophets and of angels were well employed to prepare the +way for the visible manifestation of Deity among men. The +annunciation of the divine nature of the Redeemer must, therefore, +be an essential part of <i>the preaching of the cross</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Equally indispensable is a decided +testimony to that perfect <i>atonement for sin</i>, which was made +by this great offering. Here is the only foundation of human hope. +This was the grand object accomplished by the Saviour's sufferings. +Thus was completely solved the mysterious problem, which all +created intelligences had deemed inexplicable—how sin could +be remitted, without infringing the rights and tarnishing the +honour of the divine government—and how the guilty could be +rescued from wrath, without a forfeiture of the divine veracity. +Never indeed was the divine law so completely vindicated, or the +claims of justice so awfully asserted, as when the Lawgiver offered +himself as a ransom. And no other possible manifestation of the +malignity and atrocity of sin, of the divine abhorrence of all +iniquity, and, at the same time, of the exhaustless treasures of +redeeming mercy, could equal that which was witnessed on Calvary. +As, therefore, Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so is +the cross to be held up now, by its heralds, to a perishing world. +Its atoning sacrifice is to be proclaimed, and its purchased +blessings offered to lost sinners, as their only hope—their +only remedy.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Another important part of <i>the +preaching of the cross</i> consists in a full disclosure of <i>the +entire depravity and helplessness of our fallen nature</i>. This +doctrine lies at the foundation of Christianity. It is from the +corruption of our race, the dominion of spiritual death, and the +actual sentence of condemnation, that the necessity arises for so +<i>great salvation</i>. If hope could have been afforded from any +other source, if there had been any possibility of the sinner's +expiating his own guilt, and restoring himself to the divine +favour, the great Sacrifice would never have been offered. But +until men are convinced of their apostacy and corruption, they will +never be persuaded of the truth and necessity of the great +atonement. And until they feel themselves justly condemned, and +utterly helpless, they will never come as humble suppliants to a +Saviour's feet.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>The work of the <i>Holy Spirit, in +enlightening and renewing the hearts of sinners</i>, and thus +carrying on to their accomplishment the purposes of divine mercy, +forms also an important portion of the message of the Gospel. It is +the glorious achievement of the cross, to slay the enmity and +subdue the stubbornness of the sinful heart: and the infinite +blessing purchased by the Saviour's blood, is the gift of the Holy +Spirit, to effectuate that transformation of character, that +spiritual regeneration, without which salvation is utterly +impossible. The preaching of the cross, therefore, must include an +unwavering declaration, that <i>the working of regeneration and the +renewing of the Holy Ghost</i> are indispensable to salvation.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>It is moreover essential to a faithful +<i>preaching of the cross</i>, that <i>justification by faith in +Christ</i>, should be distinctly declared as the only ground of a +sinner's hope. That view of the Gospel which represents it as +bestowing upon man a power of fulfilling God's holy law—or as +so lowering its demands as to render his imperfect obedience +acceptable—is most dishonourable to God, and ruinous to the +souls of men. No such provisions are found in the treaty of +reconciliation sent from Heaven. So far from abrogating, the Gospel +exalts and honours the law. So far from diminishing its strictness, +it adds emphasis to its claims, and fully meets its unmitigated +requisitions. Most gloriously has Christ vindicated the divine +justice, by receiving its avenging sword in his own bosom, as the +Substitute, or surety for sinners; and most effectually has he +provided for their salvation, by rendering the exercise of +pardoning mercy consistent with the principles of the divine +government, and by working out for them a perfect righteousness, +which may render them just before God. By faith, the penitent +sinner receives all these blessings—is rescued from wrath, +delivered from the guilt and bondage of sin, and made a child of +God, and an heir of eternal life. Thus the triumph of the cross is +complete, the pride of human merit is humbled in the dust, and all +the glory of the salvation of sinners is rendered to the riches of +redeeming mercy.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>In fine, <i>the preaching of the +cross</i> includes a faithful denunciation of <i>eternal +misery</i>, as the inevitable doom of all who pass from this state +of probation, unrenewed by the Spirit of grace, unwashed in the +blood of the Lamb.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Such are the essential principles of +that system of redemption, which engaged the counsels of heaven +from eternity; and which was carried into effect, not like the work +of creation, by a single word of the Son of God, but by his +assuming human nature, enduring a long exile of toil and reproach, +and humbling himself unto death, even the death of the cross.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>With what gratitude, then, ought this +Gospel to be received by the guilty, perishing creatures, for whose +rescue from perdition it is designed. How should this display of +divine compassion melt and captivate the hearts of those, whose +sins have been thus expiated, and for whom an offer of free pardon +and endless blessedness has been thus dearly purchased.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>But <i>be astonished, O heavens, at +this</i>—these tidings of salvation are received by many with +chilling indifference—the sufferings of the cross are +regarded with unconcern—the treaty of reconciliation, written +in atoning blood, is by some contemptuously disregarded—by +others repelled with determined opposition. These appalling facts +display more of the malignity of sin, its blinding, deadening +influence, and more of the rancorous enmity of the carnal heart +against God, than all the other enormities which blacken the +world's history. All other crimes appear less atrocious than this +scorn of a Saviour's love—this <i>trampling under foot the +blood of the covenant</i>. While no finite mind could have +conceived it possible, that Almighty love should be so slighted, +yet the Spirit of prophecy announced this impious ingratitude, long +before the incarnation. When Isaiah <i>saw the glory of Christ, and +spake of him</i>, he also saw that he would be <i>despised and +rejected of men</i>. And by all their hostility to the doctrines of +grace, sinners are only verifying the description, which +inspiration gave long ago, of their blindness and perverseness. By +all their vain reasonings and presumptuous objections, they just +corroborate revealed truth, and evince the desperate wickedness of +the natural heart.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>As in the days of the apostles, so in +this period of increased light, <i>the preaching of the cross</i> +is esteemed <i>foolishness</i>. The message of redeeming mercy is +often received with utter listlessness—often with an evident +disgust—and sometimes with an openly avowed hostility. In the +apostolic age, it might be supposed that the resistance, with which +the Gospel had to contend, arose from the prejudices of a Heathen +or Jewish education, and from a very imperfect knowledge of +Christianity. But, at the present period, the undiminished +hostility, which is displayed against the pure doctrines of +redemption, can be attributed to nothing, but that hatred to the +ways of God, which the Scriptures represent as rankling in the +natural heart, and for which they contain the only remedy.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>It requires but a transient view of the +religious state, even of enlightened and refined society, to see +that to very many, now, <i>the preaching of the cross is +foolishness</i>. While any temporal interest excites feeling, this +theme is listened to with apathy. O, how often are those +statements, which fill heaven with ecstasy, rehearsed to vacant, +listless hearers! How many weep at fictitious woes, who contemplate +the bloody scene of Calvary without a tear! How many hearts glow in +admiration of the benevolence or heroism of a fellow worm, while +entirely unaffected alike by the sacrifice or the triumph of the +Son of God! How often do men express sentiments of the most fervent +gratitude towards earthly benefactors, who would be ashamed of +uttering one emotion of thanks to Him who <i>gave himself to +die</i> for them! And is not this treating the Gospel as +<i>foolishness</i>? But this heartless unconcern, criminal as it +undoubtedly is, in the sight of God, is not so fearfully +impious—affords not so appalling a disclosure of depravity, +as the absolute disgust and contempt, with which the doctrines of +the cross are sometimes received. In almost every community, there +are those who utterly despise the whole system—who do not +disguise their abhorrence—and who evidently hate the very +mention of the subject. How indignant are such at any effort, in +private conversation, to urge upon their attention themes connected +with the dying love of Christ! How chilling is the effect, when +such discourse is attempted, in many circles of refinement and +elegance? And what a brand of infamy is affixed to the human +character, by the fact, that from most such circles all these +topics are absolutely excluded! Let a man confine his conversation +to such subjects as engaged the attention of Christ and his +apostles—such subjects as now employ the hosts of +heaven,—let him be accustomed in company, to bring forward +the holy mysteries of redemption,—and by how many would he be +shunned like a pestilence? And with what scornful hatred are those +churches avoided by many, where nothing is heard but <i>Jesus +Christ and him crucified</i>? Such are the open, unequivocal +expressions of contempt and disgust, with which many treat the +doctrines of the cross. Do not <i>they</i> esteem them +<i>foolishness</i>?</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>But there is a class of the contemners +of evangelical truth, characterized by more active zeal and decided +measures. Far from the giddy thoughtlessness of those who hardly +reflect upon the subject at all, and from the strange inconsistency +of such, as profess to respect what they really despise and +hate,—these feel and express a deep interest in religious +opinions; devote time and attention to theological studies; and, as +the result of their investigations, avow their utter disbelief of +the peculiar doctrines of the cross; and undertake to demonstrate +their falsehood and absurdity. They tell you, they have maturely +examined the whole subject—that they have brought to the +investigation all the aid that extensive reading and critical +research can furnish—that they have carried the lights of +science and philosophy into the dark regions of +fanaticism—and have become perfectly convinced, that the +whole system is an assemblage of the grossest errors. When, +however, the array of argument is produced, its force seems to +consist in the unwelcome impressions which the pure Gospel itself +makes upon their minds. They can see no wisdom or fitness in such +an atonement. They see nothing so very terrible in sin, as to +require such an expiation. Pardoning mercy, say they, is one of the +natural attributes of Deity; and the doctrine of eternal punishment +seems to them too horribly inconsistent with divine justice to bear +reflection. As for the substitution of the innocent for the guilty, +and satisfying the claims of law by the blood of a sinless victim, +they are amazed that any rational man can credit such absurd +notions. Tell them of the maladies and wounds of the soul, which +can only be healed by the Physician of Calvary—they can +hardly conceal their contempt. Tell them plainly, as the Bible +does, that they are lost, perishing sinners—that the wrath of +God is revealed against them—that the avenging sword is +uplifted, and that, unless they fly to the cross and embrace it by +a living faith, they must sink to perdition—and you will +witness the smile of derision or the frown of indignation. They +esteem the doctrine of the Trinity as a monument of human credulity +and folly. Their feelings are shocked beyond measure, at the +incarnation of Deity, in the person of Jesus Christ. The +personality and direct influences of the Holy Spirit appear useless +and incredible; and the necessity of a change of heart excites +their utter scorn. They cannot endure it. Their disgust is +inexpressible.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Instead, therefore, of these offensive +principles, they substitute a system, not modelled from the Bible, +but from what they consider reason and propriety. This they adorn +with all that is beautiful and attractive to the carnal eye. Before +this fair and flattering idol, of their own workmanship, they bow +down in delighted homage. This is a religion they can love, for it +flatters, exalts, and dignifies human nature! But as for human +depravity, and other hated doctrines of the orthodox creed, they +want words to express their aversion. The simple account of the +matter is, that <i>the preaching of the cross</i>, in their +estimation, <i>is foolishness</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Such are the various grades of +hostility to the vital principles of the Gospel, from contemptuous +indifference, to malignant and rancorous opposition.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>We now proceed to enumerate some of the +causes, of this deplorable state of feeling towards the <i>truth as +it is in Jesus</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>The depravity—the +unholiness—of human nature, may be considered the grand cause +of all the enmity which has appeared against the doctrines of +grace. It is true, nevertheless, that the various degrees and +forms, in which this enmity is manifested, depend upon the +peculiarities of individual character and situation.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Destitution of early religious +instruction, generally leads to an entire indifference to the whole +subject. Persons who are brought up in prayerless, worldly +families—whose young minds are not moulded by a pious +influence—are usually found very insusceptible of religious +impressions. In such hearts the power of ungodliness reigns +uncontrolled. Uncultivated and waste, they produce nothing but +<i>thorns and briers</i>. Nor is it surprising, that this numerous +class of the hearers of the Gospel should exhibit an utter +disregard and contempt of its authority. <i>The preaching of the +cross is foolishness</i> to them, because they do not understand +it, and will not take the trouble to examine it.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>A similar apathy is frequently observed +in persons who have been well instructed, when their whole souls +have become engrossed in some worldly pursuit. Their heads and +hands are so entirely occupied, that serious reflection is +absolutely excluded.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Contempt of evangelical religion is +sure to be exhibited in places where its professors are asleep or +dead. In communities where real religion flourishes, where its +power is felt, and its votaries are consistent and decided; +whatever hatred may rankle in the breasts of opposers, they are not +apt to indulge in contemptuous derision. But where formality and +worldliness prevail, and no conspicuous standard of Christian +character is visible—the hearts of sinners will be +manifested. They will, without hesitation, avow, in how low and +degrading a light they regard the doctrines of the cross. Their +contempt and loathing are wholly irrepressible.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>In many instances, the pride of rank +and intellect is the cause why <i>the preaching of the cross is</i> +utterly despised and accounted <i>foolishness</i>. The lofty +speculations of an aspiring intellect can with difficulty come down +to the simplicity of the Gospel. The command, to come to the +Saviour's feet with the humility of a little child, fills the proud +heart of those <i>who are wise in their own eyes</i>, with +indignation. They cannot endure doctrines, which level all vain +distinctions, and require the noble, the affluent, and the learned, +to assume the same station of penitence and contrition, with the +lowliest peasant. They cannot consent to lay their honours in the +dust, and address themselves only to sovereign mercies. It is +beyond endurance, that the messages of grace should come <i>to +them</i>, as condemned, guilty, and perishing sinners; and that as +such they should be invited to the cross. Hence the scornful air, +the undissembled disgust, with which so many, in high life, turn +their backs upon <i>the preaching of the cross</i>. And hence, +encouraged by their example, multitudes cluster round the standard +of a haughty and malignant opposition to the Gospel.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>While thus so many regard <i>the +preaching of the cross as foolishness</i>, and earnestly wish it +were utterly false; it is not wonderful, that efforts should be +made to prove that it actually is so. Probably some, engaged in +this opposition, are perfectly sincere, and actually suppose, as +Saul of Tarsus did, that they are <i>doing God service</i>, by +combating the doctrines of the cross. But whoever obeys the natural +dictates of his own heart, and submits himself to the guidance of +his own perverted, blinded reason, refusing to supplicate the +illuminations of divine grace, will be likely to come under the +power of <i>strong delusion to believe a lie</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>One other cause of opposition to the +Gospel is found in the absolute contrariety of its requisitions, to +the habits of life, which men have contracted, and which they are +resolved not to abandon. While <i>the preaching of the cross</i> +prescribes, as indispensable to salvation, conditions with which +many, who have no doubt of being saved, wholly refuse to comply; +and while it declares that eternal perdition will be the result of +a course, which they are determined to pursue; it must be the +object of their settled detestation. Hence the love of sinful +pursuits and gratifications, and an invincible repugnance to a life +of devotion, are the true reasons why many esteem <i>the preaching +of the cross foolishness</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>It ought, however, to be kept in mind, +while these causes are recounted, that the operation of each of +them is rendered more efficacious, by the agency of that spirit of +darkness, <i>that worketh in the children of disobedience</i>. To +increase disgust against the plan of redemption, to exasperate the +natural enmity of the carnal heart, to give a specious appearance +to objections, and to enforce, with seductive arguments, the cause +of unbelief, is the untiring employment of the grand foe of God and +man. It is indeed the darling achievement of infernal skill, to +inflate a poor worm with pride of talent, and fill his heart with +hatred to the Gospel, and then persuade him that his hatred arises +from its falsehood and absurdity. No event can afford the tempter +greater joy, than success in persuading perishing sinners to reject +the only possible way of escape from eternal death, and to contemn, +as foolishness, that doctrine which is the <i>wisdom of God and the +power of God to salvation to every one that believeth</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>It only remains, that we briefly +describe the fearful condition and prospects of all to whom <i>the +preaching of the cross is foolishness</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>And here we have only to repeat the +decision of the Searcher of hearts—the Judge of the quick and +dead. His infallible Spirit has, in our text, divulged the +tremendous fact, that the indifference, contempt, and disgust, +which have now been described, are characteristics of THEM THAT +PERISH. This authority, as well as the nature of the case, renders +it certain, that all, who indulge such feelings, are <i>in the gall +of bitterness and under the bond of iniquity</i>—<i>dead in +trespasses and sins</i>—<i>treasuring up wrath against the +day of wrath</i>. Nothing short of utter blindness of mind can be +insensible to the glory of the Gospel—nothing but entire +depravity of heart can render its doctrines offensive—and +nothing but the most obdurate impenitency can resist the melting +influence of a Saviour's dying love. It is utterly impossible, that +a scornful neglect or disregard of the preaching of the cross +should exist, without fearful guilt and imminent danger. All those, +among the hearers of the gospel, who will finally be children of +wrath, are now characterized by such guilt. And all the lost +spirits in the world of wo, who once enjoyed the offers of mercy, +cherished the same fatal feelings towards the plan of redemption. +It was <i>foolishness</i> to them. Many, even in this land of +light, seem to be ripening for the same tremendous doom. Whether in +the ranks of open opposition, or under the false colours of +pretended regard, the deadly symptom is upon them—a settled +disgust and aversion to the <i>preaching of the cross.</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Say not, 'It is no matter what a man +believes, provided he is sincere.' God has settled this +question.—"<i>Because they received not the love of the +truth</i>, <i>that they might be saved</i>; <i>God shall send them +strong delusion, that they should believe a lie</i>; <i>that they +all might be damned, who believed not the truth</i>, <i>but had +pleasure in unrighteousness</i>." Is there not then, appalling +evidence, that those, who hold such preaching in contempt, occupy +very perilous ground, and exhibit fearful tokens of the divine +abandonment? And especially might not the angels in heaven tremble +for those, who have enjoyed great light and privileges—have +witnessed rich displays of divine grace—and have once felt a +deep solicitude for their own souls—but who now despise and +hate those truths, and that cause, which they were once <i>almost +persuaded</i> to embrace?</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>How clearly and terribly, my hearers, +does this subject discover the ungodliness of the unrenewed heart. +Those feelings of contempt and hostility, towards what is most +precious and glorious in the view of God, constitute the summit of +human guilt. That feeble worms of the dust should thus dare to sit +in judgment on the divine administration, and pronounce that +needless which God has declared indispensable, and call that folly +which God esteems the highest wisdom, is not merely +presumptuous;—it is inexpressibly <i>impious</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>How resistless is the evidence, hence +arising, of the necessity of an entire change of heart—an +entire change of feeling—to prepare men to dwell with God. No +wonder then, that our Lord should declare with such emphasis, <i>Ye +must be born again</i>, or ye <i>cannot see the kingdom of +God</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>I beseech you, fellow sinners, lay +these things seriously to heart. Do any of you habitually hear the +preaching of the cross with heartless indifference—with a +light and trifling temper? Beware, lest your heart become fatally +hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Are any of you conscious of disgust and +aversion, produced by such doctrines? O, beware, lest that come +upon you which is spoken in the prophets, Behold, ye dispisers, and +wonder, and perish: Beware lest you convert the bread of life into +the poison of death!</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Have any of you already attained such a +degree of blindness and perversity, as to persuade yourselves that +the doctrines of the cross are really irrational and absurd, and +that you are doing right in opposing and deriding them? Recollect, +I pray you, with whose word you are contending;—whose wisdom +you are despising! Let the chaff contend with the tempest, and the +stubble with the devouring flame; let the glow-worm despise all the +lamps of heaven;—but Oh, let not a worm contend with +Omnipotence; let not dim reason reject all the splendours of the +Sun of righteousness. <i>The redemption of the soul is +precious</i>—Its rescue from perdition, and elevation to +God's right hand, are objects too momentous, to be sacrificed to +the pride of intellect, or to the fashion of a world which passeth +away. <i>Receive</i>, then, <i>with meekness the ingrafted word, +which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and +not hearers only, deceiving your own selves</i>.</p> + +<hr class="full"> +<h2>SERMON XXVII.</h2> + +<hr> +<h4>BY ELIHU W. BALDWIN, A.M.</h4> + +<h5>NEW-YORK.</h5> + +<hr> +<h5>THE FINAL JUDGMENT.</h5> + +<h5>HEBREWS, IX. 29.—<i>After this the Judgment</i>.</h5> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Whilst another year is ending, and time +itself, as it respects us, is fast hastening to its close, the +question very naturally arises, <i>What shall come after death</i>? +The voice of inspiration replies, <i>After this the Judgment</i>. +There is no need of entering upon a laboured proof of the doctrine +so plainly declared, <i>That there will be a day of Judgment for +mankind</i>. It is what seems written by the finger of God himself +upon the consciences of men. The impression is nearly universal, +with Pagans and Mahomedans, as well as Jews and Christians, that +<i>every one of us shall give account of himself to God</i>. This +impression is strengthened by a view of the very unequal and +indiscriminate allotments of the present life. Here the virtuous +are often the objects of hatred and relentless persecution. Here +the man of ambition and dark intrigue, circumvents and treads down +his more honest rivals. Here Providence often afflicts even the +most pious; while the licentious, and proud, and oppressive, are, +perhaps, suffered to enjoy uninterrupted prosperity. Now we +believe, assuredly, that "God is just;" and we infer, that he will +so exhibit himself by another and more equal distribution of his +favours and frowns. We conclude with the wise man, "that God shall +judge both the righteous and the wicked." Conscience and reason, +then, unite with revelation, in saying, that "God hath appointed a +day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness." No +language can be plainer, and no event more reasonably +anticipated.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>With this absolute certainty before us, +then, of a judgment for all mankind, it would be unnatural—it +would betray awful insensibility to eternal concerns, not to +inquire with all seriousness—When will this universal +judgment take place? What objects is it designed to accomplish? +What connexion will it have with our future and eternal condition? +We inquire then,</p> + +<br> +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>I. <i>When will the universal Judgment +take place?</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>The precise time, God has wisely +concealed from every intelligent creature. "Of that day and that +hour knoweth no man. No; not the angels that are in heaven." But +the text speaks of it, in general terms, as that which is to take +place <i>after our death</i>. Other passages are somewhat more +explicit, as to the time. The apostle Peter declares, "The heavens +and the earth which now are, by the same word are kept in store, +reserved unto fire, against <i>the day of judgment</i>, and +perdition of ungodly men." According to this account of the +judgment, it will occur at the same time with the destruction of +the world; "when," as the same apostle declares, "the heavens shall +pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with +fervent heat, the earth, also, and the works that are therein shall +be burnt up." Paul gives a similar account of the <i>time</i>, as +he comforts the church at Thessalonica, under persecution, with the +prospect of the judgment, "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed +from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking +vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel +of our Lord Jesus Christ." Indeed, if God is to "judge the whole +world in righteousness," what other occasion would seem so proper, +as when the last of our race have finished their work on the earth, +and the world itself is about to be destroyed? Would it not appear +most suitable, that the public and final decision of our destiny, +should immediately succeed the winding up of this world's +drama?—the termination of all earthly allotments? When, if +not at that deeply interesting crisis, will all things be ready for +the great trial? <i>The final judgment, then, will take place after +our death, and at the end of the world</i>. We next inquire,</p> + +<br> +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>II. <i>What are the objects, which the +Judgment is designed to accomplish?</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>On this point, it becomes creatures of +yesterday to speak with profound humility, and especially to beware +of contradicting what is revealed. The objects which Jehovah will +accomplish by the universal judgment, are unquestionably vast and +momentous, beyond all conception. Yet some of them are obvious to +reason, or are plainly revealed.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Every person has experienced +inconvenience and perplexity from the circumstance, that the real +characters of men, in the present life, are but partially +disclosed. Much the larger portion of human actions pass unobserved +by the world; or the motives which prompt them are concealed. One +design of the judgment, then, is to uncover these hidden springs, +and lay open every dark retreat of human conduct. We are told, +"there is nothing hid which shall not be revealed;" that "God shall +bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it +be good or whether it be evil;" that he "will both bring to light +the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels +the heart."</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Another design of the judgment, is +publicly to assign to men their proper deserts. This, we have +before suggested, is not done on the earth. "All things here come +alike to all." "There is one event to the righteous and to the +wicked." But the future judgment is characterized, as the day of +"revelation of the righteous judgment of God;" "in the which he +will judge the world in righteousness;" and will "render to every +man according to his deeds." The mystery involved in the prosperity +of the wicked, and in the unequal allotments, which have here +marked the dispensations of Providence, will then cease for ever; +and it will then be seen and felt, that every one is treated +according to the strictest principles of wisdom and justice.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Another special design of the judgment, +is to manifest and gloriously exalt the perfections of Jehovah. +Revelation has indeed proclaimed his perfections, in language which +need not be misunderstood. But his providence has often interposed +a cloud between them and the eyes of men. We do not comprehend the +wisdom of present occurrences. We see not the end from the +beginning. A complete disclosure of both, will show to the universe +the deep counsels of God, and the consistent and benevolent +character of all his operations. He will then appear in the +greatness of his <i>power</i>, and <i>majesty</i>—as he +summons the dead from their graves, and folds up the earth and the +heavens, like a decayed garment, to be laid aside. He will then +appear in the glory of his <i>justice</i>, his <i>holiness</i>, and +his <i>truth</i>,—while he examines, before his dread +tribunal, the risen and assembled millions of our race, and renders +to every one according to his works. All his perfections will then +be illustriously displayed; for, says the apostle, "He shall come +to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that +believe."</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>But this glory of the Divinity is +specially to shine forth in the person of the Son. He it was, that +"being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself, and became +obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God +hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, which is above every +name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in +heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that +every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory +of God the Father." Accordingly, "the Father judgeth no man, but +hath committed all judgment unto the Son." It is the <i>Son</i> who +will come "in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory"; +whom "every eye shall see;" and who, "in his own glory, and in the +glory of the Father, and of the holy angels," shall "judge the +world in righteousness." Then will he who humbled himself, and +"became obedient unto death," be publicly recognised as "the Mighty +God," "by whom, and for whose pleasure, all things are, and were +created." Then will "every tongue confess that he is Lord." The +conviction will then be universal, "that all men should honour the +Son even as they honour the Father." This leads us to inquire,</p> + +<br> +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>III. <i>What connexion will the +Judgment have with our future and eternal condition?</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Here let us not indulge in vain +speculations, but examine simply the word of God. According to the +Scriptures, the judgment will result in assigning to men <i>very +different allotments</i>. It will recognise among them two entirely +different and opposite classes of character. One of these classes, +which the Bible denominates "the righteous," will be graciously +acquitted by the Judge, and publicly treated as his friends. The +other, comprising all the impenitent, will be as publicly +condemned, and driven from his presence. They "will have judgment +without mercy." Such is plainly the account which Christ and the +sacred writers have given of the final awards to the righteous and +the wicked. We have the account in detail. Says the Saviour +himself, "When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the +holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his +glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall +separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep +from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but +the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his +right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom +prepared for you from the foundation of the world." "Then shall he +say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, +into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." And +again; "The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves +shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; <i>they that have done +good</i>, unto the resurrection of <i>life</i>; and <i>they that +have done evil</i>, unto the resurrection of <i>damnation</i>". +Thus broad and fearful is the discrimination which the great day +will make between the righteous and the wicked. So entirely +different are the awards in reserve for the two different classes +of mankind. The difference will be great, as between holiness and +sin; between cheerful submission to the will and providence of God, +and unyielding rebellion against him; between cordial faith in the +Lord Jesus Christ, and wilful rejection of the only Saviour; +between the splendour and joy of the celestial Paradise, and the +gloominess and misery of hell. No wonder, then, that "as Paul +reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix +trembled." There will, indeed, be fearful reason for "weeping and +wailing and gnashing of teeth," with those who shall then "see +Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom +of God, and themselves thrust out."</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>We are not to forget, my hearers, that +these different awards of the judgment day will be +<i>irreversible</i> and literally <i>endless</i>. All admit this +conclusion, with respect to the <i>righteous</i>. But if the +righteous are <i>finally acquitted</i> at the judgment, so are the +wicked <i>finally condemned</i>. If the righteous are said to enter +into "<i>life eternal</i>," so are the wicked to "go away into +<i>everlasting punishment</i>." The Scriptures say not one word of +any reprieve from this condemnation, or of any other period of +merciful visitation. But they close with the most solemn assurance, +that, from that awful day, he that is unjust shall be unjust still; +and he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is +righteous shall be righteous still; and he that is holy shall be +holy still. Other passages, of similar import, might be quoted: but +if men will pour contempt on a single declaration of +Jehovah—if they will <i>make God a liar</i>—they would +not be persuaded, though his voice from the heavens were a thousand +times repeated. And <i>because they receive not the love of the +truth</i>, <i>that they might be saved</i>, most justly may he +<i>send them strong delusion</i>, <i>that they should believe a +lie</i>, and <i>be damned.</i></p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>I have thus endeavoured, with much +brevity, to give a scriptural view of the final Judgment. On a +subject so tremendously awful, I have chosen to present simply +God's testimony. A practical inference from the whole +is,—that the present life must be regarded as probationary. +We are living here as responsible agents, continually adding to the +number of actions, for which we must give account to God. How +solemnly interesting, then, is this scene of our earthly +pilgrimage! How inexpressibly valuable is time! How infinitely +precious are the means of grace!—particularly those +invitations of mercy, which meet us in the word of God, and address +us from the sacred desk.</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>You, my fellow sinners, are the very +individuals who must stand at the judgment-seat of Christ. You must +mingle in that vast multitude, which the voice of the archangel and +the trump of God shall assemble. And when your characters are all +laid open, you must pass off to the right hand, or to the left, +accordingly as it shall appear, that you have repented, and +believed on the Son of God, or have neglected this great salvation. +And are you diligently preparing for that day? Are you working out +your salvation with fear and trembling? Are you <i>agonizing</i> to +enter in at the strait gate? Are you escaping for your life?</p> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'>Fellow mortals, your time of +preparation may be far more brief than you now think. A few, +<i>very few</i> more opportunities for prayer, and reconciliation +with God, and your account is sealed up. While you hesitate, the +recording angel may be writing your condemnation. In such +circumstances, what are worldly honours, or wealth, or all your +hopes of enjoyment here? The life, the <i>eternal life</i> of the +<i>soul</i>, is the <i>one thing needful</i>—the <i>only</i> +thing really important. You will realize this truth, when the last +trumpet is sounding through the universe, and, with increasing +agony or ecstasy, millions of ages after the final sentence is +pronounced. O, then, consider it <i>now</i>. Prepare for that +judgment, <i>now</i>. To-morrow! where is it? Repent +<i>to-morrow</i>! You may have far other work to do. God, and +conscience, and your immortal interests plead, "<i>To-day</i>, if +you will hear his voice, harden not your heart." "Behold, +<i>now</i> is the accepted time; behold, <i>now</i> is the day of +salvation." <i>Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from +the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. For he cometh, for +he cometh, to judge the world, in righteousness to judge the earth, +and the people with his truth</i>.</p> + +<hr class="full"> +<h2>TERMS</h2> + +<h6>OF THE</h6> + +<h1>NATIONAL PREACHER.</h1> + +<p style='text-indent: 2em'><b>I. 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Noel.<br> +Hopkinsville, John Bryan, P.M.<br> +Harrodsburg, Thomas Cleland.<br> +Augusta, Samuel Bonde, P.M.<br> +Columbia, John Montgomery, P.M.<br> +<br> + TENNESSEE.<br> + Knoxville, James Campbell,<br> +Winchester, John Goodwin, P.M.<br> +Nashville, R.P. Hayes.<br> +Dresden, Samuel A. Warner.<br> +Paperville, T.C. Buckhart, P.M.<br> +Jonesboro' D.A. Deadrick, P.M.<br> +Murfreesboro', D. Wendell, P.M.<br> +Columbia, Francis W.S. Frierson.<br> +Lebanon, A. Bradshaw.<br> +Hillsboro, G.W. Richardson, P.M.<br> +Farmington, S.W. Calvert.<br> +<br> + ALABAMA.<br> + Huntsville, William Leech.<br> +Perry, C.H., G.W. Brame.<br> +Somerville, M.C. Houston, P.M.<br> +Bainbridge, S.M. Parry, P.M.<br> +Florence, John Craig, P.M.<br> +Courtiand, John White.<br> +Shelby C.H., Thos. W. Smith, P.M.<br> +Ashville, Archibald Sloan, P.M.<br> +<br> + MISSOURI.<br> + St. Louis, Salmon Giddings.<br> +Fredericktown, Thos. Mosely, P.M.<br> +Clay, C.H., Wm. S. Smith, P.M.<br> +<br> + MISSISSIPPI.<br> + Natchez, John Henderson.<br> +Port Gibson, D. Greenleaf, P.M.<br> +Woodville, G.A. Irion<br> +Gallatin, A.B. Ross, P.M.<br> +Columbia, A.G. Moore.<br> +Pinckneyville, James Wilson, P.M.<br> +<br> + LOUISIANA.<br> + Baton Rouge, H. Alexander, P.M.<br> +New-Orleans, William Ross.<br> +<br> + FLORIDA.<br> + Pensacola, W. Hazell Hunt, P.M.<br> +<br> + ARKANSAS.<br> + Dwight, Alfred Finney.<br> +<br> + CHOCTAW NATION.<br> + David Folsom<br> +<br> + MICHIGAN.<br> + Detroit, D.G. Jones.<br> +<br> + CANADA.<br> + Montreal, William Hedge.<br> +Kingston, Rev. Mr. Foote.<br> +<br> + SOUTH AMERICA.<br> + Buenos Ayres, Theop. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/old/13824.txt b/old/13824.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..608086c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13824.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1659 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The National Preacher, Vol. 2 No. 7 Dec. +1827, by Aaron W. Leland and Elihu W. Baldwin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The National Preacher, Vol. 2 No. 7 Dec. 1827 + Or Original Monthly Sermons from Living Ministers, Sermons XXVI. and + XXVII. + + +Author: Aaron W. Leland and Elihu W. Baldwin + +Release Date: October 21, 2004 [EBook #13824] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NATIONAL PREACHER *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +SER. XXVI. REV. DR. LELAND. +SER. XXVII. REV. MR. BALDWIN + +Vol. 2 No. 7 Dec. 1827. + +THE +NATIONAL PREACHER: +OR +_ORIGINAL MONTHLY SERMONS_ + +EDITED BY +REV. AUSTIN DICKINSON, +NEW YORK. + + * * * * * + +POSTAGE--_One Cent and a half_, not over 100 miles; _Two Cents and a +half_, any distance over 100. + + +TO THE REVEREND CLERGY:-- + +The undersigned proposes to commence another Periodical, of original +plan and character, provided that adequate pledges of supplies shall be +furnished. The Work to bear the following title, or something similar, +viz.: + +=THE AMERICAN PASTOR'S JOURNAL:= + +OR + +_Original Sketches of real Characters, Conversations, and striking +Facts. Furnished chiefly by Clergymen._ + +The following imperfect sketch of topics to be embraced, may serve to +illustrate the plan:--1. Instances of very early piety.--2. Striking +results of Parental faithfulness, or unfaithfulness; of filial respect, +or disrespect.--3. Cases of individuals raised from deep obscurity, or +wickedness, to eminent usefulness.--4. Remarkable cases of +conviction.--5. Cases of great hardness of heart, from resisting +convictions.--6. Distinctly marked cases of submission and conversion to +God.--7. Cases of awful relapse into sin.--8. Cases of strong temptation +and trial.--9. Cases of strong faith and confidence in God.--10. +Peculiarly manifest interpositions of Providence, in mercy or +judgment.--11. Instances of the wrath of man being made to praise +God.--12. Cases illustrative of the influence of piety on the +intellectual powers.--13. Instances of extraordinary beneficence or +covetousness.--14. Death-bed scenes, of the Christian, the backslider, +the infidel, the universalist, the profane man, or the worldling. + +It is conceived that the very existence of such a Periodical might be +the means of leading Clergymen, in their pastoral intercourse, to be +more observant of character, more discriminating in their views of human +nature, and more disposed to record and rescue from oblivion striking +conversations and facts. No species of knowledge can be more interesting +or more useful, than that thus drawn from real life;--especially from +portions of life most intimately connected with spiritual and eternal +realities. If it is all-important that masters in surgery and medicine +record, for mutual improvement, and for the benefit of mankind, striking +cases which occur in their practice; it cannot, surely, be less +important, that those who watch for the life of souls, should preserve +similar records. It would seem as though, from the daily intercourse of +several thousand Clergymen, such materials, of the character +contemplated, might be furnished, as, if well condensed and judiciously +arranged in an elegant Periodical, would not fail to be read with +intense and general interest. And who can tell, but that God, who is +rich in wisdom, may thus employ the simplest means for collecting, +condensing, and reflecting rays of sacred truth, in the form of +practical results, which may carry conviction and saving instruction to +uncounted millions--not merely in our own land, but in more populous +countries, where the importance of experimental religion is not +appreciated? + +But, for rendering such a work pre-eminently useful, or even commencing +it, there must be union of effort. As it is intended to consist wholly +of original matter, and that of a specific character, such as no genius +can originate, it is obvious that it cannot be commenced, without being +furnished with numerous pledges of supplies. And it will be important to +have a considerable number of communications on hand, at the +commencement, as well as afterwards, that due regard may be had to order +in the arrangement of subjects, and an interesting variety be presented +in every Number. + +It will not be necessary to publish the names of writers, nor of +individuals alluded to in communications; though in many cases it may be +desirable and expedient. But, in every case, the name of the writer, or +some respectable reference for attesting the accuracy of statements, +must be furnished to the Editor; as he must be responsible to the public +for the correctness of whatever may appear in the work. He will moreover +think it his duty to present Contributors a generous compensation. + +MINISTERS, of different Christian denominations, willing to aid in +executing the design, are affectionately requested _to write as soon as +practicable_--either furnishing matter for publication, or stating +definitely, _when and how much aid may be expected_. If the work is ably +supported by the co-operation of Clergymen, the Editor does not hesitate +to say, that he will at least circulate thousands and tens of thousands +of copies gratuitously, and thus afford Contributors the best of all +rewards--the opportunity of doing extensive good. + +That the blessing of God Almighty may crown the enterprise, is the +humble prayer of His servant, + +AUSTIN DICKINSON. + + + + +=CONTRIBUTORS.= + + +Upwards of fifty Clergymen, of five Christian denominations, and +belonging to sixteen different States, most of whom are well known to +the public as Authors, have encouraged the Editor to expect from them +Sermons for the Preacher. + + + * * * * * + +=TO THE ENTERPRISING.= + + +Persons having expressed a disposition to circulate this Work, provided +postage could be avoided; we would say to such, that for _ten_ or more +Subscribers, _who pay at one time_ in advance, or on first receiving +Numbers, a deduction from the price of One Dollar a year may be made, +equal to the annual postage. And in such cases money may be forwarded +without being post-paid. Experience shows, there is no mode of +conveyance safer than the Mail. + +[_Ordinary Terms, other leaf_.] + + + + +THE + +=NATIONAL PREACHER.= + +Go ... Teach all Nations.... _Matt_. xxviii. 19. + +VOL. II. NEW-YORK, DECEMBER, 1827. NO. 7. + + +=SERMON XXVI.= + +By AARON W. LELAND, D.D. + +CHARLESTON, S. CAROLINA. + + +THE PURE GOSPEL REJECTED BY THE PERISHING. + +1 COR. I. 18.--_For the preaching of the cross is, to them that perish, +foolishness_. + +In the Christian revelation, there is an evident purpose of infinite +wisdom, that in all the provisions for man's salvation, his moral agency +should be left free and uncontrolled. Instead of accommodation to human +prejudices, there is ample scope for captious objections. And if +additional proof were needed, of the divine origin of the Bible, it +would be found in this characteristic. Were it a system agreeable to the +narrow views, in unison with the selfish feelings, and gratifying to the +depraved taste of human nature, it would more resemble the fabrication +of man, than the workmanship of God. But as the current of its doctrines +is so entirely opposed to our natural inclinations, as to render a moral +renovation indispensable to a perception of the glory of revealed truth; +all such ground of skepticism is removed. + +Thus the obscurities and difficulties of revelation are admirably +adapted to exhibit human character, and constitute this state of +existence a real probation. For if the light of truth came upon the mind +with resistless energy, and the operations of the divine government were +clearly disclosed; if the motives and designs of infinite wisdom were +fully explained, and the realities of the spiritual world completely +laid open to view; one principal aim of this dispensation would be +frustrated. On the one hand, there would be no field for the exercise of +faith and humble confidence on the part of Christians; and thus a +precious test of their submission and obedience would be destroyed. On +the other, there could not be a full disclosure of the true feelings of +the unrenewed heart. Because, as all would be evident as the noon-day +sun, there would remain no choice in the matter of embracing the +truth--no means of evincing whether its reception were cordial or +compulsory. + +In this respect; there is displayed a matchless skill, as well as a +gracious condescension, in adapting revelation to the actual character +and condition of our race. While sufficient light is afforded to guide +the sincere inquirer, there is an obscurity to perplex and offend the +proud and self-confident. While the truth is accompanied by evidence +abundantly satisfactory to every mind open to conviction, enough of +mystery remains, to form an impassable barrier to those who are inclined +to disbelieve the testimony of God. While to the eye of faith there +appears a glorious system of wisdom and mercy, depraved reason and +prejudice may discover little else than an assemblage of inconsistencies +and absurdities. + +It is not without design, then, that the great facts of revelation are +made liable to misrepresentation; that its essential principles are +arrayed against the pride of human wisdom; and that its blessed +institutions are so obnoxious to abuse and opposition. Such a +constitution of things is evidently intended to furnish a decisive +criterion of human character--to exhibit, in striking contrast, the +humble votaries of faith, who reverently bow to the authority of +Scripture; and the adherents of a haughty, self-confident rationality, +who will receive the testimony of God himself, no farther than it +accords with their opinions and prejudices--and thus to elicit a fair +and full manifestation of every man's real disposition and feelings. + +Such, uniformly, has been the effect of the Bible, wherever its sacred +contents have been made known. To all who have received it with +penitence, humility, and confidence, as the infallible word of God, it +has proved their pleasure and delight--their fountain of +consolation--their guide to peace: while the self-righteous and +unbelieving have transformed it into a subject of perplexity and +disputation--_a cause of deeper guilt and more aggravated ruin_. The +Gospel has appeared transcendently beautiful and glorious to all who +have been savingly enlightened by the Holy Spirit--while, to the +impenitent and skeptical, it seems obscure, irrational, and +incomprehensible. The former rejoice in the scriptures, just as they +are, and willingly yield to the obedience of faith: the latter are ever +anxious to lower the standard of divine truth to the level of their +views of fitness, and to mould its materials into a form suited to their +unholy inclinations. + +On these principles it is easy to perceive the real nature and causes of +the insidious warfare, which is maintained, in various forms, against +the essential doctrines of the Gospel. It is just an effusion of the +malignity of the unsanctified heart. Its prevalence is an exact +fulfilment of prophecy; and therefore an irrefragable proof of the truth +and divine authority of that system which it is labouring to destroy. +The emphatic declaration of the apostle, in the text, strikingly +describes the state of feeling which now actually prevails, among many +who enjoy all the external privileges of the Christian +dispensation--_The preaching of the cross is, to them that perish, +foolishness._ + +In illustration of this passage, it will be attempted, to explain the +import of the phrase, _the preaching of the cross_--to enumerate some of +the _instances_ and _causes_ of such preaching being accounted +_foolishness_--and to describe the _fearful state and prospects_ of +those who hold it in such low estimation. + +The preaching of the cross is a plain and full announcement of all the +essential truths of that system which provides pardon and salvation for +the lost and guilty. The cross is the symbol of that amazing expedient +of infinite wisdom and mercy, by which a treaty of reconciliation is +offered to convicted traitors against Jehovah's government. Its +exhibition therefore must require a developement of the principles, and +a defence of the doctrines, peculiar to this gracious dispensation. + +The grand fact, which constitutes the very essence and glory of the +Gospel, and which it is the leading object of the Christian ministry to +announce; is, that He, who took upon himself the form of a servant, and +offered up the sacrifice of Calvary, is _God over all, blessed for +ever_. This gives to the cross all its glory and efficacy. It is on the +supreme Deity of Christ--on the expiation made for sin by the Maker and +Sovereign of worlds--that the whole fabric of evangelical truth rests. +On any other supposition, the sacrifice of the cross was a very ordinary +affair. If the Saviour of sinners be not God--if he be a created being, +of whatever grade,--where is the _mystery of Godliness?_--Where those +unfathomable depths of divine love, _into which the angels desire to +look_? If Christ be only a servant of God, however exalted, what was +there, in his appearance on our world, to constitute a new era in +heaven, and to fill its inhabitants with astonishment and ecstasy? Did +the heavenly host descend in rapture, and cause the mountains of Judea +to reecho with their acclamations, because a _dependent creature_ had +_consented_ to do his Maker's will? Whence the ascription of _glory to +God in the highest_, and why do the courts above resound with a new song +of praise to God for his redeeming mercy, if this redemption was +effected by the labours and sufferings of one inferior to the Deity? Was +such a dispensation as that of Moses, designed simply to prepare the way +for a messenger of God to declare his will, and to seal the testimony +with his blood, as many good men have done, both before and since? Why +did patriarchs and prophets foretell his coming, and celebrate his +praises?--Why did the continual offering of divinely appointed +sacrifices, for many centuries, typify his sufferings?--And why did +nature shudder, and shroud herself in darkness, at the consummation of +those sufferings? All these things are utterly inexplicable, on the +supposition that Christ is a created dependent being. + +But view him as _God manifest in the flesh_--view him as voluntarily +laying aside his glory, and descending from the throne of infinite +majesty, to assume the nature, and expiate the guilt of a ruined +race;--and we are struck with the appropriateness of all the attending +circumstances. The splendid ceremonials of the Jewish ritual, and the +raptured songs of prophets and of angels were well employed to prepare +the way for the visible manifestation of Deity among men. The +annunciation of the divine nature of the Redeemer must, therefore, be an +essential part of _the preaching of the cross_. + +Equally indispensable is a decided testimony to that perfect _atonement +for sin_, which was made by this great offering. Here is the only +foundation of human hope. This was the grand object accomplished by the +Saviour's sufferings. Thus was completely solved the mysterious problem, +which all created intelligences had deemed inexplicable--how sin could +be remitted, without infringing the rights and tarnishing the honour of +the divine government--and how the guilty could be rescued from wrath, +without a forfeiture of the divine veracity. Never indeed was the divine +law so completely vindicated, or the claims of justice so awfully +asserted, as when the Lawgiver offered himself as a ransom. And no other +possible manifestation of the malignity and atrocity of sin, of the +divine abhorrence of all iniquity, and, at the same time, of the +exhaustless treasures of redeeming mercy, could equal that which was +witnessed on Calvary. As, therefore, Moses lifted up the serpent in the +wilderness, so is the cross to be held up now, by its heralds, to a +perishing world. Its atoning sacrifice is to be proclaimed, and its +purchased blessings offered to lost sinners, as their only hope--their +only remedy. + +Another important part of _the preaching of the cross_ consists in a +full disclosure of _the entire depravity and helplessness of our fallen +nature_. This doctrine lies at the foundation of Christianity. It is +from the corruption of our race, the dominion of spiritual death, and +the actual sentence of condemnation, that the necessity arises for so +_great salvation_. If hope could have been afforded from any other +source, if there had been any possibility of the sinner's expiating his +own guilt, and restoring himself to the divine favour, the great +Sacrifice would never have been offered. But until men are convinced of +their apostacy and corruption, they will never be persuaded of the truth +and necessity of the great atonement. And until they feel themselves +justly condemned, and utterly helpless, they will never come as humble +suppliants to a Saviour's feet. + +The work of the _Holy Spirit, in enlightening and renewing the hearts of +sinners_, and thus carrying on to their accomplishment the purposes of +divine mercy, forms also an important portion of the message of the +Gospel. It is the glorious achievement of the cross, to slay the enmity +and subdue the stubbornness of the sinful heart: and the infinite +blessing purchased by the Saviour's blood, is the gift of the Holy +Spirit, to effectuate that transformation of character, that spiritual +regeneration, without which salvation is utterly impossible. The +preaching of the cross, therefore, must include an unwavering +declaration, that _the working of regeneration and the renewing of the +Holy Ghost_ are indispensable to salvation. + +It is moreover essential to a faithful _preaching of the cross_, that +_justification by faith in Christ_, should be distinctly declared as the +only ground of a sinner's hope. That view of the Gospel which represents +it as bestowing upon man a power of fulfilling God's holy law--or as so +lowering its demands as to render his imperfect obedience acceptable--is +most dishonourable to God, and ruinous to the souls of men. No such +provisions are found in the treaty of reconciliation sent from Heaven. +So far from abrogating, the Gospel exalts and honours the law. So far +from diminishing its strictness, it adds emphasis to its claims, and +fully meets its unmitigated requisitions. Most gloriously has Christ +vindicated the divine justice, by receiving its avenging sword in his +own bosom, as the Substitute, or surety for sinners; and most +effectually has he provided for their salvation, by rendering the +exercise of pardoning mercy consistent with the principles of the divine +government, and by working out for them a perfect righteousness, which +may render them just before God. By faith, the penitent sinner receives +all these blessings--is rescued from wrath, delivered from the guilt and +bondage of sin, and made a child of God, and an heir of eternal life. +Thus the triumph of the cross is complete, the pride of human merit is +humbled in the dust, and all the glory of the salvation of sinners is +rendered to the riches of redeeming mercy. + +In fine, _the preaching of the cross_ includes a faithful denunciation +of _eternal misery_, as the inevitable doom of all who pass from this +state of probation, unrenewed by the Spirit of grace, unwashed in the +blood of the Lamb. + +Such are the essential principles of that system of redemption, which +engaged the counsels of heaven from eternity; and which was carried into +effect, not like the work of creation, by a single word of the Son of +God, but by his assuming human nature, enduring a long exile of toil and +reproach, and humbling himself unto death, even the death of the cross. + +With what gratitude, then, ought this Gospel to be received by the +guilty, perishing creatures, for whose rescue from perdition it is +designed. How should this display of divine compassion melt and +captivate the hearts of those, whose sins have been thus expiated, and +for whom an offer of free pardon and endless blessedness has been thus +dearly purchased. + +But _be astonished, O heavens, at this_--these tidings of salvation are +received by many with chilling indifference--the sufferings of the cross +are regarded with unconcern--the treaty of reconciliation, written in +atoning blood, is by some contemptuously disregarded--by others repelled +with determined opposition. These appalling facts display more of the +malignity of sin, its blinding, deadening influence, and more of the +rancorous enmity of the carnal heart against God, than all the other +enormities which blacken the world's history. All other crimes appear +less atrocious than this scorn of a Saviour's love--this _trampling +under foot the blood of the covenant_. While no finite mind could have +conceived it possible, that Almighty love should be so slighted, yet the +Spirit of prophecy announced this impious ingratitude, long before the +incarnation. When Isaiah _saw the glory of Christ, and spake of him_, he +also saw that he would be _despised and rejected of men_. And by all +their hostility to the doctrines of grace, sinners are only verifying +the description, which inspiration gave long ago, of their blindness and +perverseness. By all their vain reasonings and presumptuous objections, +they just corroborate revealed truth, and evince the desperate +wickedness of the natural heart. + +As in the days of the apostles, so in this period of increased light, +_the preaching of the cross_ is esteemed _foolishness_. The message of +redeeming mercy is often received with utter listlessness--often with an +evident disgust--and sometimes with an openly avowed hostility. In the +apostolic age, it might be supposed that the resistance, with which the +Gospel had to contend, arose from the prejudices of a Heathen or Jewish +education, and from a very imperfect knowledge of Christianity. But, at +the present period, the undiminished hostility, which is displayed +against the pure doctrines of redemption, can be attributed to nothing, +but that hatred to the ways of God, which the Scriptures represent as +rankling in the natural heart, and for which they contain the only +remedy. + +It requires but a transient view of the religious state, even of +enlightened and refined society, to see that to very many, now, _the +preaching of the cross is foolishness_. While any temporal interest +excites feeling, this theme is listened to with apathy. O, how often are +those statements, which fill heaven with ecstasy, rehearsed to vacant, +listless hearers! How many weep at fictitious woes, who contemplate the +bloody scene of Calvary without a tear! How many hearts glow in +admiration of the benevolence or heroism of a fellow worm, while +entirely unaffected alike by the sacrifice or the triumph of the Son of +God! How often do men express sentiments of the most fervent gratitude +towards earthly benefactors, who would be ashamed of uttering one +emotion of thanks to Him who _gave himself to die_ for them! And is not +this treating the Gospel as _foolishness_? But this heartless unconcern, +criminal as it undoubtedly is, in the sight of God, is not so fearfully +impious--affords not so appalling a disclosure of depravity, as the +absolute disgust and contempt, with which the doctrines of the cross are +sometimes received. In almost every community, there are those who +utterly despise the whole system--who do not disguise their +abhorrence--and who evidently hate the very mention of the subject. How +indignant are such at any effort, in private conversation, to urge upon +their attention themes connected with the dying love of Christ! How +chilling is the effect, when such discourse is attempted, in many +circles of refinement and elegance? And what a brand of infamy is +affixed to the human character, by the fact, that from most such circles +all these topics are absolutely excluded! Let a man confine his +conversation to such subjects as engaged the attention of Christ and his +apostles--such subjects as now employ the hosts of heaven,--let him be +accustomed in company, to bring forward the holy mysteries of +redemption,--and by how many would he be shunned like a pestilence? And +with what scornful hatred are those churches avoided by many, where +nothing is heard but _Jesus Christ and him crucified_? Such are the +open, unequivocal expressions of contempt and disgust, with which many +treat the doctrines of the cross. Do not _they_ esteem them +_foolishness_? + +But there is a class of the contemners of evangelical truth, +characterized by more active zeal and decided measures. Far from the +giddy thoughtlessness of those who hardly reflect upon the subject at +all, and from the strange inconsistency of such, as profess to respect +what they really despise and hate,--these feel and express a deep +interest in religious opinions; devote time and attention to theological +studies; and, as the result of their investigations, avow their utter +disbelief of the peculiar doctrines of the cross; and undertake to +demonstrate their falsehood and absurdity. They tell you, they have +maturely examined the whole subject--that they have brought to the +investigation all the aid that extensive reading and critical research +can furnish--that they have carried the lights of science and philosophy +into the dark regions of fanaticism--and have become perfectly +convinced, that the whole system is an assemblage of the grossest +errors. When, however, the array of argument is produced, its force +seems to consist in the unwelcome impressions which the pure Gospel +itself makes upon their minds. They can see no wisdom or fitness in such +an atonement. They see nothing so very terrible in sin, as to require +such an expiation. Pardoning mercy, say they, is one of the natural +attributes of Deity; and the doctrine of eternal punishment seems to +them too horribly inconsistent with divine justice to bear reflection. +As for the substitution of the innocent for the guilty, and satisfying +the claims of law by the blood of a sinless victim, they are amazed that +any rational man can credit such absurd notions. Tell them of the +maladies and wounds of the soul, which can only be healed by the +Physician of Calvary--they can hardly conceal their contempt. Tell them +plainly, as the Bible does, that they are lost, perishing sinners--that +the wrath of God is revealed against them--that the avenging sword is +uplifted, and that, unless they fly to the cross and embrace it by a +living faith, they must sink to perdition--and you will witness the +smile of derision or the frown of indignation. They esteem the doctrine +of the Trinity as a monument of human credulity and folly. Their +feelings are shocked beyond measure, at the incarnation of Deity, in the +person of Jesus Christ. The personality and direct influences of the +Holy Spirit appear useless and incredible; and the necessity of a change +of heart excites their utter scorn. They cannot endure it. Their disgust +is inexpressible. + +Instead, therefore, of these offensive principles, they substitute a +system, not modelled from the Bible, but from what they consider reason +and propriety. This they adorn with all that is beautiful and attractive +to the carnal eye. Before this fair and flattering idol, of their own +workmanship, they bow down in delighted homage. This is a religion they +can love, for it flatters, exalts, and dignifies human nature! But as +for human depravity, and other hated doctrines of the orthodox creed, +they want words to express their aversion. The simple account of the +matter is, that _the preaching of the cross_, in their estimation, _is +foolishness_. + +Such are the various grades of hostility to the vital principles of the +Gospel, from contemptuous indifference, to malignant and rancorous +opposition. + +We now proceed to enumerate some of the causes, of this deplorable state +of feeling towards the _truth as it is in Jesus_. + +The depravity--the unholiness--of human nature, may be considered the +grand cause of all the enmity which has appeared against the doctrines +of grace. It is true, nevertheless, that the various degrees and forms, +in which this enmity is manifested, depend upon the peculiarities of +individual character and situation. + +Destitution of early religious instruction, generally leads to an entire +indifference to the whole subject. Persons who are brought up in +prayerless, worldly families--whose young minds are not moulded by a +pious influence--are usually found very insusceptible of religious +impressions. In such hearts the power of ungodliness reigns +uncontrolled. Uncultivated and waste, they produce nothing but _thorns +and briers_. Nor is it surprising, that this numerous class of the +hearers of the Gospel should exhibit an utter disregard and contempt of +its authority. _The preaching of the cross is foolishness_ to them, +because they do not understand it, and will not take the trouble to +examine it. + +A similar apathy is frequently observed in persons who have been well +instructed, when their whole souls have become engrossed in some worldly +pursuit. Their heads and hands are so entirely occupied, that serious +reflection is absolutely excluded. + +Contempt of evangelical religion is sure to be exhibited in places where +its professors are asleep or dead. In communities where real religion +flourishes, where its power is felt, and its votaries are consistent and +decided; whatever hatred may rankle in the breasts of opposers, they are +not apt to indulge in contemptuous derision. But where formality and +worldliness prevail, and no conspicuous standard of Christian character +is visible--the hearts of sinners will be manifested. They will, without +hesitation, avow, in how low and degrading a light they regard the +doctrines of the cross. Their contempt and loathing are wholly +irrepressible. + +In many instances, the pride of rank and intellect is the cause why _the +preaching of the cross is_ utterly despised and accounted _foolishness_. +The lofty speculations of an aspiring intellect can with difficulty +come down to the simplicity of the Gospel. The command, to come to the +Saviour's feet with the humility of a little child, fills the proud +heart of those _who are wise in their own eyes_, with indignation. They +cannot endure doctrines, which level all vain distinctions, and require +the noble, the affluent, and the learned, to assume the same station of +penitence and contrition, with the lowliest peasant. They cannot consent +to lay their honours in the dust, and address themselves only to +sovereign mercies. It is beyond endurance, that the messages of grace +should come _to them_, as condemned, guilty, and perishing sinners; and +that as such they should be invited to the cross. Hence the scornful +air, the undissembled disgust, with which so many, in high life, turn +their backs upon _the preaching of the cross_. And hence, encouraged by +their example, multitudes cluster round the standard of a haughty and +malignant opposition to the Gospel. + +While thus so many regard _the preaching of the cross as foolishness_, +and earnestly wish it were utterly false; it is not wonderful, that +efforts should be made to prove that it actually is so. Probably some, +engaged in this opposition, are perfectly sincere, and actually suppose, +as Saul of Tarsus did, that they are _doing God service_, by combating +the doctrines of the cross. But whoever obeys the natural dictates of +his own heart, and submits himself to the guidance of his own perverted, +blinded reason, refusing to supplicate the illuminations of divine +grace, will be likely to come under the power of _strong delusion to +believe a lie_. + +One other cause of opposition to the Gospel is found in the absolute +contrariety of its requisitions, to the habits of life, which men have +contracted, and which they are resolved not to abandon. While _the +preaching of the cross_ prescribes, as indispensable to salvation, +conditions with which many, who have no doubt of being saved, wholly +refuse to comply; and while it declares that eternal perdition will be +the result of a course, which they are determined to pursue; it must be +the object of their settled detestation. Hence the love of sinful +pursuits and gratifications, and an invincible repugnance to a life of +devotion, are the true reasons why many esteem _the preaching of the +cross foolishness_. + +It ought, however, to be kept in mind, while these causes are recounted, +that the operation of each of them is rendered more efficacious, by the +agency of that spirit of darkness, _that worketh in the children of +disobedience_. To increase disgust against the plan of redemption, to +exasperate the natural enmity of the carnal heart, to give a specious +appearance to objections, and to enforce, with seductive arguments, the +cause of unbelief, is the untiring employment of the grand foe of God +and man. It is indeed the darling achievement of infernal skill, to +inflate a poor worm with pride of talent, and fill his heart with hatred +to the Gospel, and then persuade him that his hatred arises from its +falsehood and absurdity. No event can afford the tempter greater joy, +than success in persuading perishing sinners to reject the only possible +way of escape from eternal death, and to contemn, as foolishness, that +doctrine which is the _wisdom of God and the power of God to salvation +to every one that believeth_. + +It only remains, that we briefly describe the fearful condition and +prospects of all to whom _the preaching of the cross is foolishness_. + +And here we have only to repeat the decision of the Searcher of +hearts--the Judge of the quick and dead. His infallible Spirit has, in +our text, divulged the tremendous fact, that the indifference, contempt, +and disgust, which have now been described, are characteristics of THEM +THAT PERISH. This authority, as well as the nature of the case, renders +it certain, that all, who indulge such feelings, are _in the gall of +bitterness and under the bond of iniquity_--_dead in trespasses and +sins_--_treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath_. Nothing short of +utter blindness of mind can be insensible to the glory of the +Gospel--nothing but entire depravity of heart can render its doctrines +offensive--and nothing but the most obdurate impenitency can resist the +melting influence of a Saviour's dying love. It is utterly impossible, +that a scornful neglect or disregard of the preaching of the cross +should exist, without fearful guilt and imminent danger. All those, +among the hearers of the gospel, who will finally be children of wrath, +are now characterized by such guilt. And all the lost spirits in the +world of wo, who once enjoyed the offers of mercy, cherished the same +fatal feelings towards the plan of redemption. It was _foolishness_ to +them. Many, even in this land of light, seem to be ripening for the same +tremendous doom. Whether in the ranks of open opposition, or under the +false colours of pretended regard, the deadly symptom is upon them--a +settled disgust and aversion to the _preaching of the cross._ + +Say not, 'It is no matter what a man believes, provided he is sincere.' +God has settled this question.--"_Because they received not the love of +the truth_, _that they might be saved_; _God shall send them strong +delusion, that they should believe a lie_; _that they all might be +damned, who believed not the truth_, _but had pleasure in +unrighteousness_." Is there not then, appalling evidence, that those, +who hold such preaching in contempt, occupy very perilous ground, and +exhibit fearful tokens of the divine abandonment? And especially might +not the angels in heaven tremble for those, who have enjoyed great light +and privileges--have witnessed rich displays of divine grace--and have +once felt a deep solicitude for their own souls--but who now despise and +hate those truths, and that cause, which they were once _almost +persuaded_ to embrace? + +How clearly and terribly, my hearers, does this subject discover the +ungodliness of the unrenewed heart. Those feelings of contempt and +hostility, towards what is most precious and glorious in the view of +God, constitute the summit of human guilt. That feeble worms of the +dust should thus dare to sit in judgment on the divine administration, +and pronounce that needless which God has declared indispensable, and +call that folly which God esteems the highest wisdom, is not merely +presumptuous;--it is inexpressibly _impious_. + +How resistless is the evidence, hence arising, of the necessity of an +entire change of heart--an entire change of feeling--to prepare men to +dwell with God. No wonder then, that our Lord should declare with such +emphasis, _Ye must be born again_, or ye _cannot see the kingdom of +God_. + +I beseech you, fellow sinners, lay these things seriously to heart. Do +any of you habitually hear the preaching of the cross with heartless +indifference--with a light and trifling temper? Beware, lest your heart +become fatally hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. + +Are any of you conscious of disgust and aversion, produced by such +doctrines? O, beware, lest that come upon you which is spoken in the +prophets, Behold, ye dispisers, and wonder, and perish: Beware lest you +convert the bread of life into the poison of death! + +Have any of you already attained such a degree of blindness and +perversity, as to persuade yourselves that the doctrines of the cross +are really irrational and absurd, and that you are doing right in +opposing and deriding them? Recollect, I pray you, with whose word you +are contending;--whose wisdom you are despising! Let the chaff contend +with the tempest, and the stubble with the devouring flame; let the +glow-worm despise all the lamps of heaven;--but Oh, let not a worm +contend with Omnipotence; let not dim reason reject all the splendours +of the Sun of righteousness. _The redemption of the soul is +precious_--Its rescue from perdition, and elevation to God's right hand, +are objects too momentous, to be sacrificed to the pride of intellect, +or to the fashion of a world which passeth away. _Receive_, then, _with +meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye +doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves_. + + + + +SERMON XXVII. + +BY ELIHU W. BALDWIN, A.M. + +NEW-YORK. + +THE FINAL JUDGMENT. + +HEBREWS, IX. 29.--_After this the Judgment_. + + +Whilst another year is ending, and time itself, as it respects us, is +fast hastening to its close, the question very naturally arises, _What +shall come after death_? The voice of inspiration replies, _After this +the Judgment_. There is no need of entering upon a laboured proof of the +doctrine so plainly declared, _That there will be a day of Judgment for +mankind_. It is what seems written by the finger of God himself upon the +consciences of men. The impression is nearly universal, with Pagans and +Mahomedans, as well as Jews and Christians, that _every one of us shall +give account of himself to God_. This impression is strengthened by a +view of the very unequal and indiscriminate allotments of the present +life. Here the virtuous are often the objects of hatred and relentless +persecution. Here the man of ambition and dark intrigue, circumvents and +treads down his more honest rivals. Here Providence often afflicts even +the most pious; while the licentious, and proud, and oppressive, are, +perhaps, suffered to enjoy uninterrupted prosperity. Now we believe, +assuredly, that "God is just;" and we infer, that he will so exhibit +himself by another and more equal distribution of his favours and +frowns. We conclude with the wise man, "that God shall judge both the +righteous and the wicked." Conscience and reason, then, unite with +revelation, in saying, that "God hath appointed a day, in which he will +judge the world in righteousness." No language can be plainer, and no +event more reasonably anticipated. + +With this absolute certainty before us, then, of a judgment for all +mankind, it would be unnatural--it would betray awful insensibility to +eternal concerns, not to inquire with all seriousness--When will this +universal judgment take place? What objects is it designed to +accomplish? What connexion will it have with our future and eternal +condition? We inquire then, + + +I. _When will the universal Judgment take place?_ + +The precise time, God has wisely concealed from every intelligent +creature. "Of that day and that hour knoweth no man. No; not the angels +that are in heaven." But the text speaks of it, in general terms, as +that which is to take place _after our death_. Other passages are +somewhat more explicit, as to the time. The apostle Peter declares, "The +heavens and the earth which now are, by the same word are kept in store, +reserved unto fire, against _the day of judgment_, and perdition of +ungodly men." According to this account of the judgment, it will occur +at the same time with the destruction of the world; "when," as the same +apostle declares, "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and +the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth, also, and the +works that are therein shall be burnt up." Paul gives a similar account +of the _time_, as he comforts the church at Thessalonica, under +persecution, with the prospect of the judgment, "when the Lord Jesus +shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, +taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel +of our Lord Jesus Christ." Indeed, if God is to "judge the whole world +in righteousness," what other occasion would seem so proper, as when the +last of our race have finished their work on the earth, and the world +itself is about to be destroyed? Would it not appear most suitable, that +the public and final decision of our destiny, should immediately succeed +the winding up of this world's drama?--the termination of all earthly +allotments? When, if not at that deeply interesting crisis, will all +things be ready for the great trial? _The final judgment, then, will +take place after our death, and at the end of the world_. We next +inquire, + + +II. _What are the objects, which the Judgment is designed to +accomplish?_ + +On this point, it becomes creatures of yesterday to speak with profound +humility, and especially to beware of contradicting what is revealed. +The objects which Jehovah will accomplish by the universal judgment, are +unquestionably vast and momentous, beyond all conception. Yet some of +them are obvious to reason, or are plainly revealed. + +Every person has experienced inconvenience and perplexity from the +circumstance, that the real characters of men, in the present life, are +but partially disclosed. Much the larger portion of human actions pass +unobserved by the world; or the motives which prompt them are concealed. +One design of the judgment, then, is to uncover these hidden springs, +and lay open every dark retreat of human conduct. We are told, "there is +nothing hid which shall not be revealed;" that "God shall bring every +work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or +whether it be evil;" that he "will both bring to light the hidden things +of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels the heart." + +Another design of the judgment, is publicly to assign to men their +proper deserts. This, we have before suggested, is not done on the +earth. "All things here come alike to all." "There is one event to the +righteous and to the wicked." But the future judgment is characterized, +as the day of "revelation of the righteous judgment of God;" "in the +which he will judge the world in righteousness;" and will "render to +every man according to his deeds." The mystery involved in the +prosperity of the wicked, and in the unequal allotments, which have here +marked the dispensations of Providence, will then cease for ever; and it +will then be seen and felt, that every one is treated according to the +strictest principles of wisdom and justice. + +Another special design of the judgment, is to manifest and gloriously +exalt the perfections of Jehovah. Revelation has indeed proclaimed his +perfections, in language which need not be misunderstood. But his +providence has often interposed a cloud between them and the eyes of +men. We do not comprehend the wisdom of present occurrences. We see not +the end from the beginning. A complete disclosure of both, will show to +the universe the deep counsels of God, and the consistent and benevolent +character of all his operations. He will then appear in the greatness of +his _power_, and _majesty_--as he summons the dead from their graves, +and folds up the earth and the heavens, like a decayed garment, to be +laid aside. He will then appear in the glory of his _justice_, his +_holiness_, and his _truth_,--while he examines, before his dread +tribunal, the risen and assembled millions of our race, and renders to +every one according to his works. All his perfections will then be +illustriously displayed; for, says the apostle, "He shall come to be +glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." + +But this glory of the Divinity is specially to shine forth in the person +of the Son. He it was, that "being found in fashion as a man, humbled +himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. +Wherefore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, which is +above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of +things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; and +that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory +of God the Father." Accordingly, "the Father judgeth no man, but hath +committed all judgment unto the Son." It is the _Son_ who will come "in +the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory"; whom "every eye shall +see;" and who, "in his own glory, and in the glory of the Father, and of +the holy angels," shall "judge the world in righteousness." Then will he +who humbled himself, and "became obedient unto death," be publicly +recognised as "the Mighty God," "by whom, and for whose pleasure, all +things are, and were created." Then will "every tongue confess that he +is Lord." The conviction will then be universal, "that all men should +honour the Son even as they honour the Father." This leads us to +inquire, + + +III. _What connexion will the Judgment have with our future and eternal +condition?_ + +Here let us not indulge in vain speculations, but examine simply the +word of God. According to the Scriptures, the judgment will result in +assigning to men _very different allotments_. It will recognise among +them two entirely different and opposite classes of character. One of +these classes, which the Bible denominates "the righteous," will be +graciously acquitted by the Judge, and publicly treated as his friends. +The other, comprising all the impenitent, will be as publicly condemned, +and driven from his presence. They "will have judgment without mercy." +Such is plainly the account which Christ and the sacred writers have +given of the final awards to the righteous and the wicked. We have the +account in detail. Says the Saviour himself, "When the Son of Man shall +come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit +upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all +nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd +divideth his sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his +right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them +on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom +prepared for you from the foundation of the world." "Then shall he say +also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into +everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." And again; +"The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear +his voice, and shall come forth; _they that have done good_, unto the +resurrection of _life_; and _they that have done evil_, unto the +resurrection of _damnation_". Thus broad and fearful is the +discrimination which the great day will make between the righteous and +the wicked. So entirely different are the awards in reserve for the two +different classes of mankind. The difference will be great, as between +holiness and sin; between cheerful submission to the will and providence +of God, and unyielding rebellion against him; between cordial faith in +the Lord Jesus Christ, and wilful rejection of the only Saviour; between +the splendour and joy of the celestial Paradise, and the gloominess and +misery of hell. No wonder, then, that "as Paul reasoned of +righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled." There +will, indeed, be fearful reason for "weeping and wailing and gnashing of +teeth," with those who shall then "see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, +and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and themselves thrust out." + +We are not to forget, my hearers, that these different awards of the +judgment day will be _irreversible_ and literally _endless_. All admit +this conclusion, with respect to the _righteous_. But if the righteous +are _finally acquitted_ at the judgment, so are the wicked _finally +condemned_. If the righteous are said to enter into "_life eternal_," so +are the wicked to "go away into _everlasting punishment_." The +Scriptures say not one word of any reprieve from this condemnation, or +of any other period of merciful visitation. But they close with the most +solemn assurance, that, from that awful day, he that is unjust shall be +unjust still; and he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that +is righteous shall be righteous still; and he that is holy shall be holy +still. Other passages, of similar import, might be quoted: but if men +will pour contempt on a single declaration of Jehovah--if they will +_make God a liar_--they would not be persuaded, though his voice from +the heavens were a thousand times repeated. And _because they receive +not the love of the truth_, _that they might be saved_, most justly may +he _send them strong delusion_, _that they should believe a lie_, and +_be damned._ + +I have thus endeavoured, with much brevity, to give a scriptural view of +the final Judgment. On a subject so tremendously awful, I have chosen to +present simply God's testimony. A practical inference from the whole +is,--that the present life must be regarded as probationary. We are +living here as responsible agents, continually adding to the number of +actions, for which we must give account to God. How solemnly +interesting, then, is this scene of our earthly pilgrimage! How +inexpressibly valuable is time! How infinitely precious are the means of +grace!--particularly those invitations of mercy, which meet us in the +word of God, and address us from the sacred desk. + +You, my fellow sinners, are the very individuals who must stand at the +judgment-seat of Christ. You must mingle in that vast multitude, which +the voice of the archangel and the trump of God shall assemble. And when +your characters are all laid open, you must pass off to the right hand, +or to the left, accordingly as it shall appear, that you have repented, +and believed on the Son of God, or have neglected this great salvation. +And are you diligently preparing for that day? Are you working out your +salvation with fear and trembling? Are you _agonizing_ to enter in at +the strait gate? Are you escaping for your life? + +Fellow mortals, your time of preparation may be far more brief than you +now think. A few, _very few_ more opportunities for prayer, and +reconciliation with God, and your account is sealed up. While you +hesitate, the recording angel may be writing your condemnation. In such +circumstances, what are worldly honours, or wealth, or all your hopes of +enjoyment here? The life, the _eternal life_ of the _soul_, is the _one +thing needful_--the _only_ thing really important. You will realize this +truth, when the last trumpet is sounding through the universe, and, with +increasing agony or ecstasy, millions of ages after the final sentence +is pronounced. O, then, consider it _now_. Prepare for that judgment, +_now_. To-morrow! where is it? Repent _to-morrow_! You may have far +other work to do. God, and conscience, and your immortal interests +plead, "_To-day_, if you will hear his voice, harden not your heart." +"Behold, _now_ is the accepted time; behold, _now_ is the day of +salvation." _Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, +when his wrath is kindled but a little. For he cometh, for he cometh, to +judge the world, in righteousness to judge the earth, and the people +with his truth_. + + + + +TERMS + +OF THE + +NATIONAL PREACHER. + + +I. Each Monthly Number to contain one long Sermon, or two of moderate +length, on fine paper. The Volume to commence annually the last week in +June. + +II. 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P.M. +Vienna, Uriah Medford, P.M. + +DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. +Washington, Reuben Post. +Alexandria, Reuel Keith. + +VIRGINIA. +Richmond, Nathaniel Charter. +Petersburg, James Dwight. +Norfolk, Shepard K. Kollock. +Weston, G.D. Camden, P.M. +Romney, John Jack, P.M. +Ebenezer Academy, H. Clary, P.M. +Cartonville, George W. Hundly. +Powhatan C.H., Thomas Scott. P.M. +Abingdon, Augustus Oury, P.M. +Gloucester C.H., W.D. Cairns. +Lynchburg, William Poe. +Boydton, James Brame. +Charlotte C.H., John Morton, P.M. +Liberty, James Mitchell, Jr. +Winchester, Samuel H. Davis. +Prince Edward C.H., Francis Bartlet. +Otter Bridge, J. Leftwich, P.M. + +NORTH CAROLINA. +Fayetteville, Robert H. Morrison. +Newbern, Thomas Watson, P.M. +Salisbury, Thomas L. Cowan. +Mecklenburgh, S. Williamson. P.M. +Alfordsville, Warren Alford, P.M. +Wilmington, A.J. De Ressot +Milton, James W. Douglass. +Lincolnton, Davin Reinhardt, P.M. +Raleigh, P.W. Dowd +Halifax, Sidney Weller. + +SOUTH CAROLINA. +Charleston, Horace Utley. +Camden, Thomas M'Millan. +Georgetown, Peter Cuttino. +Beaufort, David Turner, P.M. +Bradleyville, R. Witherspoon, P.M. +Edgefield, A.B. M'Whorter. +Conwayboro', Henry Durant, P.M.. +Lexington, C.H., J. Meetze, P.M. +Sumpterville, Jesse Hartwell. + +GEORGIA. +Savannah, J.C.A. Johnston. +Augusta, Timothy Edwards. +Riceboro', A.H. Sample. +Wrightsboro', Joseph Barnes, P.M. +Bethsaida, Oliver Morse, P.M. +Mount Zion, M.H. Carrington. +Powelton, J.H. Burnet. P.M. +Clarksville, Thomas J. Rusk, P.M. +Sunbury, F.R. Whitwell, P.M. +Athens, Leander A. Erwin. P.M. +Carmel, Isaac Proctor, P.M. +Bethlehem, John F. Wallis, P.M. +Fortville, Henry W. Jornegan. + +OHIO. +Columbus, James Hoge. +Steubenville, Charles C. Beatty. +Cincinnati, David Root. +Ellsworth, L.W. Leffingwell, P.M. +Marietta, L.G. Bingham. +Burton, Luther Humphrey. +Cadiz, Thomas Phillips, P.M. +Miami, Charles Atherton, P.M. +Rome, Elijah Crosby, P.M. +Vernon, Harvey Coo. + +INDIANA. +Portersville, Simon Morgan, P.M. +Salem, Burr Bradley, P.M. +Indianapolis, George Bush. +Barbersville, Timothy Barber, P.M. + +ILLINOIS. +Belleville, James Mitchell, P.M. +Greenville, Ansel Birge, P.M. +Canton, Nathan Jones, P.M. +Vandalia, James Hall. + +KENTUCKY. +Munfordville, J.T.S. Brown, P.M. +Princeton, H. Cassidy, P.M. +Danville, Benjamin Shaw. +Cynthiana, A. Broadwell, P.M. +Henderson, James Hillyer, P.M. +Shelbyville, A.A. Shannon. +Frankfort, S.M. Noel. +Hopkinsville, John Bryan, P.M. +Harrodsburg, Thomas Cleland. +Augusta, Samuel Bonde, P.M. +Columbia, John Montgomery, P.M. + +TENNESSEE. +Knoxville, James Campbell, +Winchester, John Goodwin, P.M. +Nashville, R.P. Hayes. +Dresden, Samuel A. Warner. +Paperville, T.C. Buckhart, P.M. +Jonesboro', D.A. Deadrick, P.M. +Murfreesboro', D. Wendell, P.M. +Columbia, Francis W.S. Frierson. +Lebanon, A. Bradshaw. +Hillsboro, G.W. Richardson, P.M. +Farmington, S.W. Calvert. + +ALABAMA. +Huntsville, William Leech. +Perry, C.H., G.W. Brame. +Somerville, M.C. Houston, P.M. +Bainbridge, S.M. Parry, P.M. +Florence, John Craig, P.M. +Courtiand, John White. +Shelby C.H., Thos. W. Smith, P.M. +Ashville, Archibald Sloan, P.M. + +MISSOURI. +St. Louis, Salmon Giddings. +Fredericktown, Thos. Mosely, P.M. +Clay, C.H., Wm. S. Smith, P.M. + +MISSISSIPPI. +Natchez, John Henderson. +Port Gibson, D. Greenleaf, P.M. +Woodville, G.A. Irion +Gallatin, A.B. Ross, P.M. +Columbia, A.G. Moore. +Pinckneyville, James Wilson, P.M. + +LOUISIANA. +Baton Rouge, H. Alexander, P.M. +New-Orleans, William Ross. + +FLORIDA. +Pensacola, W. Hazell Hunt, P.M. + +ARKANSAS. +Dwight, Alfred Finney. + +CHOCTAW NATION. +David Folsom. + +MICHIGAN. +Detroit, D.G. Jones. + +CANADA. +Montreal, William Hedge. +Kingston, Rev. Mr. Foote. + +SOUTH AMERICA. +Buenos Ayres, Theop. 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