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diff --git a/old/60915-8.txt b/old/60915-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c56700c..0000000 --- a/old/60915-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5234 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Discourses on Various Subjects, Vol. 1 (of -2), by Jacob Duché - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Discourses on Various Subjects, Vol. 1 (of 2) - -Author: Jacob Duché - -Release Date: December 13, 2019 [EBook #60915] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DISCOURSES ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, VOL 1 *** - - - - -Produced by Bryan Ness, David King, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: Frontispiece.] - - DISCOURSES ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS - - - - - DISCOURSES ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, - - By - - JACOB DUCHÉ, M. A. - - - Rector of Christ-Church and St. Peter's, in Philadelphia; - - AND FORMERLY OF - - CLARE-HALL, CAMBRIDGE. - - - The SECOND EDITION. - - - VOL I. - - - LONDON; - - Printed by J. Phillips, George-Yard, - Lombard-Street. - - And Sold by T. Cadell, in the Strand; H. Payne, - Pall-Mall; C. Dilly, in the Poultry; and J. Phillips. - M.DCC.LXXX. - -[Illustration: Pelham Pinx.] - - - - -TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE - -LADY JULIANA PENN. - - -Madam, - -I have ever deemed it one of the most favourable circumstances of my -life, that your Ladyship condescended to honour my early youth with your -kind countenance and protection. Your amiable character, and exemplary -virtues, have always thrown such a lustre around you, as could not but -enlighten and improve those, who came within their influence. This -testimony from me, is no more than the just tribute of a grateful heart. - -I am, therefore, happy, in having your Ladyship's permission to inscribe -to you the following discourses. You are no stranger to the sentiments -they contain: you love and honour the doctrines they inculcate. - -The author intreats to be indulged with a continuance of that regard, -which your Ladyship hath hitherto shewn him; and which he hath always -held more desirable, in proportion as he hath been better qualified to -judge of what is truly honourable and estimable in the intercourses of -social life. - -With this sentiment deeply impressed upon his mind, he cannot but -rejoice in the opportunity your Ladyship hath granted him, of thus -publickly subscribing himself, - -Madam, - -Your Ladyship's - -Most obliged and - -Most faithful Servant, - -J. DUCHÉ. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -The following discourses were preached in the united Churches of Christ -Church and St. Peter, in the City of Philadelphia, of which the author -was appointed assistant minister in the year 1759, and to the rectorship -of which he was elected in the year 1775. - -The reader will find in them no display of genius or of erudition. To -the former, the author hath no claim: of the latter, he contents himself -with as much as is competent to the discharge of his pastoral duty. His -divinity, he trusts, is that of the BIBLE: to no other Standard of Truth -can he venture to appeal. Sensible, however, of his own fallibility, he -wishes not to obtrude his peculiar sentiments; nor to have them received -any further, than they carry with them that only fair title to -reception, a conviction of their truth and usefulness. From his own -Heart he hath written to the Hearts of others; and if any of his readers -find not THERE the Ground of his doctrines, they are, surely, at liberty -to pass them by, if they do it with Christian Candour, and to leave it -to time and their own reflections, to discover that Ground or not. - -UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE he considers as the SUBLIME of religion; the true -TASTE for which, can only be derived from the Fountain of INFINITE LOVE, -by inward and spiritual communications. The mind, that is possessed of -this true Taste, whatever its peculiarity of opinion may be, cannot be -very "far from the Kingdom of God."--"GOD is LOVE; and he that dwelleth -in LOVE, dwelleth in GOD, and GOD in him." One transgression of the -great Law of Love, even in the minutest instance, must appear more -heinous in the Sight of the GOD OF LOVE, than a thousand errors in -matters of doctrine or opinion. - -If the reader peruses these volumes under the influence of such -sentiments, it is not likely, that he will be offended with any -singularities of diction, or any inelegant and colloquial expressions he -may now and then meet with. Much less will his censure be incurred by -the constant use of SCRIPTURAL Ideas, and SCRIPTURAL Language, in -preference to what are called MORAL and PHILOSOPHICAL. Deviations from -the Simplicity of EVANGELICAL TRUTH, have too often been occasioned by -deviations from the Simplicity of EVANGELICAL LANGUAGE. A Christian -ought never to be "ashamed of the GOSPEL OF CHRIST which is the Power of -GOD unto Salvation," but should always speak of Christian Truths by -Christian Names. - -The revisal and correction of these discourses have relieved the -author's mind from much of that anxiety and dejection, which a long -absence from his family and his churches had occasioned. And he is now -happy in the thought, that these volumes will ere long reach his native -country, and revive the memory of his labours of love among a people, -with whom he enjoyed a reciprocation of kindness and affection, which -for eighteen years had known no abatement or interruption. - -He most gratefully acknowledges the kind and honourable reception he -hath met with since his arrival in England; the chearfulness and -generosity with which persons of all ranks have honoured his -publication; and the affectionate zeal of his friends, relations, and -connexions, in undertaking and completing his subscription, without -giving him the trouble of soliciting a single name. - -To his most ingenious and worthy Friend and Countryman, BENJAMIN WEST, -Esq. History Painter to his Majesty, he is happy to acknowledge himself -indebted for the elegant designs, taken from two of his most capital -paintings, which are placed as frontispieces to these volumes. - -To his dear and valuable friend, the Author of the late accurate and -elegant Translation of THOMAS à KEMPIS, he is sincerely thankful for his -kind and chearful advice and assistance, in conducting the whole -publication, to which the author's inexperience in printing, as well as -his frequent and necessary absence from the press, would have rendered -him altogether unequal. - -He hath only to add, that the revisal and publishing of these discourses -was undertaken at the instance of some of the most respectable names in -the list of his subscribers to the first edition, under whose kind -patronage, and in hopes of every indulgence from the candour of the -publick, he hath ventured to send them abroad. - -Hampstead, 1st March, 1780. - - - - - CONTENTS OF VOLUME FIRST. - - -DISCOURSE I. - -THE CHARACTER OF WISDOM'S CHILDREN. - -St. LUKE, CHAP. vii. VER. 35. - -"But Wisdom is justified of all her Children." - - -DISCOURSE II. - -EVANGELICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS. - -JEREM. CHAP. xxiii. Part of VER. 6. - -"And this is his Name, whereby he shall be called, The LORD our -Righteousness." - - -DISCOURSES III. and IV. - -THE RELIGION OF JESUS, THE ONLY SOURCE OF HAPPINESS. - -St. JOHN, CHAP. vi. VER. 66, 67, 68. - -"From that Time many of his Disciples went back, and walked no more with -him. Then said JESUS unto the Twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon -Peter answered, LORD, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the Words of -Eternal Life." - - -DISCOURSE V. - -TRUE RELIGION, A COSTLY AND CONTINUAL SACRIFICE. - -2 SAMUEL, CHAP. xxiv. VER. 24. - -"And the King said unto Araunah, Nay, but I will surely buy it of thee -at a Price: neither will I offer Burnt-Offerings unto the LORD my GOD, -of that which doth cost me nothing." - - -DISCOURSE VI. - -TRUTH, THE ONLY FRIEND OF MAN. - -GALATIANS, CHAP. iv. VER. 16. - -"Am I therefore become your Enemy, because I tell you the Truth?" - - -DISCOURSE VII. - -THE STRENGTH AND VICTORY OF FAITH. - -1 JOHN, CHAP. v. VER. 4. - -"Whatsoever is born of GOD overcometh the World: and this is the Victory -that overcometh the World, even our Faith." - - -DISCOURSE VIII. - -FAITH TRIUMPHANT OVER THE POWERS OF DARKNESS. - -St. MARK, CHAP. ix. Part of VER. 24. - -"LORD, I believe: Help thou mine Unbelief!" - - -DISCOURSE IX. - -THE FLOURISHING STATE OF THE RIGHTEOUS. - -PSALM i. VER. 3. - -"He shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of Water, that bringeth -forth his Fruit in his Season: His Leaf also shall not wither, and -whatsoever he doth shall prosper." - - -DISCOURSE X. - -THE CAUSE AND CURE OF THE DISORDERS OF HUMAN NATURE. - -St. MARK, CHAP. vii. VER. 34. - -"And looking up to Heaven, he sighed; and saith unto him, Ephphatha! -that is, Be opened." - - -DISCOURSES XI, XII, XIII. - -THE RICHES, PRIVILEGES, AND HONOURS OF THE CHRISTIAN. - -1 COR. CHAP. iii. VER. 21, 22, 23. - -"Therefore let no Man glory in Men: for all Things are yours; whether -Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the World, or Life, or Death, or Things -present, or Things to come; all are yours: and ye are CHRIST'S, and -CHRIST is GOD'S." - - -DISCOURSE XIV. - -CHRIST, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, THE UNIVERSAL SAVIOUR. - -St. JOHN, CHAP. xiv. Part of VER. 9. - -"Have I been so long Time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, -Philip?" - - -DISCOURSE XV. - -HUMAN LIFE, A PILGRIMAGE. - -PSALM xxxix. Part of VER. 12. - -"For I am a Stranger with thee, and a Sojourner, as all my Fathers -were." - - -DISCOURSE XVI, XVII. - -THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD INTERNAL AND PRACTICAL. - -JOB, CHAP. xlii. VER. 5, 6. - -"I have heard of thee by the Hearing of the Ear; but now hath mine Eye -seen thee: therefore I abhor myself, and repent in Dust and Ashes." - - -DISCOURSE XVIII. - -ON THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST. - -St. LUKE, CHAP. ii. from VER. 6, to 20. - -"And so it was, that while they were there, the Days were accomplished, -that she should be delivered," &c. - - - - - SUBSCRIBERS NAMES OMITTED IN THE FIRST EDITION. - - - Rev. Dr. Allanson, Rector of Rippon, Yorkshire - Mrs. Ambler, of Queen-Square - Mr. George Adams - Lady Boynton, Burton Agnes, Yorkshire - Rev. Mr. Bull, Rector of Sarensfield, Herefordsh. - Rev. Mr. Baker - Miss F. Baker - Robert Burton, Esq. - Rich. Wilbraham Bootle, Esq. - Francis Bernard, Esq. - Charles Barker, Esq. - Rev. Mr. Cook, Rector of Semer, Suffolk - Richard Combe, Esq. Harley-street - Mrs. Cotin, Upper Grosvenor-street - Mrs. Festing, Weymouth - Mr. George Fletcher - Mr. Francis Freshfield, Colchester - James Gordon, Esq. Glasgow - William Grover, Esq. - Mr. Robert Grimditch - Mrs. Garnett - Capt. Grindall - T. Grosley, Esq. - Mr. Greenwood - E. Gurney - Hon. and Rev. Mr. Hamilton - Mrs. Hyde, Bedford-row - Mr. James Hingeston - Mr. Handcock, of Bath - Rev. Mr. Harris - Mrs. Hall, of Tottenham - Mr. Healy, of Cambridge - Tho. Johnson, Esq. Bradford - Rev. Jonathan Judson, Essex - Rev. Mr. Lantley, Prebendary of Hereford - Dr. Lysons, of Bath - Mrs. Levison - Rev. Mr. Myddleton, Fellow of Clare-Hall - W. Middleton, Esq. Bath - Robert M'Kerrel, Esq. - Rt. Hon. Countess Dowager of Northampton - Mr. Nairne - Henry O'Carroll, Esq. - J. Palmer, Esq. of Bath - Rev. Thomas Pryse, Norwich - Mrs. Puget, Red Lionsquare - Tho. Rogers, Esq. Bradford - Robert Rasleigh, Esq. - Mr. Thomas Smith - Rich. Statham, Esq. Leverpool - Mrs. Schaak, of York - William Tompkins, Esq. Abingdon - Mrs. Tuson, Bath - William Taylor, Esq. of Worcester-Park, Surry - Mr. Wm. Taylor, London - Hon. Charles Vane, of Mount Ida, Norfolk - Mr. Vickary - Mr. Joseph Wrightman - Rev. Dr. Watkins, Preb. of Hereford - Rev. Dr. Wharton, of Barbadoes - George Wilson, Esq. of Bedford Row - Mr. Thomas Weston, jun. - Mr. Joseph Woods - Mrs. Wilding, Red Lionsquare - Mrs. Wright, Thunder-Hall, Herts - Miss Witts, Bath - Witham Book Society - - - - - DISCOURSE I. - The Character of Wisdom's Children. - - -St. LUKE, CHAP. vii, VER. 35. - - "BUT WISDOM IS JUSTIFIED OF ALL HER CHILDREN." - - -If we take an impartial view of the sentiments and conduct of mankind -with respect to religion, we shall find, that their errors in -speculation, as well as in practice, originate, for the most part, in -the will; that their understandings are blinded by their passions, and -that their ignorance of truth too often proceeds from their aversion to -goodness. - -To combat this prevailing depravity of human nature, and to strike at -that root of evil which we bring with us into the world, was the grand -and principal design of all those different dispensations, by which -Heaven hath condescended, from time to time, to speak to the sons of -men. Instead, however, of yielding a grateful attention to this -benevolent purpose, they have, in some instances, wholly rejected, and, -in others, perversly misconstrued, the dispensations themselves. Whether -"GOD spake at sundry times, and in divers manners, in times past, unto -the fathers by the prophets;" or, whether he spake, as in these latter -days, to the children, by his own INCARNATE SON; the generality of men -have either been deaf to the salutary message, or have availed -themselves of some idle pretexts to elude a compliance with its most -serious and solemn contents. Hence arose the inattention and opposition -of ancient unbelievers, to the missions of patriarchs and prophets; and -hence it is, that infidels of later ages have called in question the -truth and authority of that most full and complete Revelation of the -Divine Will, with which mankind have been favoured by the ministration -of the BLESSED JESUS. Far, however, from resenting their obstinacy, or -indignantly with-holding from them any further communications of Divine -Light, the great GOD AND FATHER OF SPIRITS hath still persevered in -carrying on the purposes of his Love; and, "whether they will hear, or -whether they will forbear," still seeks, by a variety of dispensations, -to gain possession of the hearts of his creatures. Notwithstanding, -therefore, the general indifference and obstinacy that have prevailed, -there have not been wanting, in every age and nation, some docile -virtuous minds, who have listened to the Heavenly Voice, and received -with gratitude the instructions of that "Wisdom which is from above;" -and who, as her true children, have vindicated her ways to man, and -admired and justified the different methods by which she manifests -herself to different souls. - -The truth of these observations we find remarkably exemplified in that -conduct and behaviour of the Jews, and particularly of the sect of the -Pharisees, which is mentioned in the verses preceding my text, and which -indeed gave rise to the pertinent and beautiful maxim there expressed. - -Ignorant of the spirit of that dispensation under which they lived, and -perversely attached to those externals of their religion, that most -gratified their pride and selfishness, they seem to have been equally -offended with the doctrines and manners of John the Baptist, and those -of the BLESSED JESUS. And though the grand object of the Master and his -Forerunner was one and the same, even the reformation of the heart and -life; and though the outward means, however inconsistent they might -appear, were but different parts of the same spiritual and redeeming -process; yet these degenerate Israelites sought to stifle the power of -conviction in their breasts, by childishly objecting to the abstracted, -severe, and rigorous life of the Baptist on the one hand, and the easy, -open, and condescending behaviour of JESUS on the other; insinuating, -that the former was only the effect of a gloomy, dark, and diabolical -spirit; and that the latter shewed a familiarity and levity, unworthy -the character of a prophet sent from GOD. - -Our BLESSED LORD exposes the weakness and inconsistency of these -objections, by the following apt and lively similitude: "Whereunto shall -I liken the men of this generation, and to what are they like? They are -like unto children sitting in the market-place, and calling one to -another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we -have mourned unto you, and ye have not wept." That is to say: We have -taken every method we could devise to engage your attention, and to -prevail upon you to bear a part in our recreations; but you have -unkindly and sullenly refused to come. We have endeavoured to adapt our -little sports and exercises to what we conceived might be your -particular taste and humour; but still we have failed of success. - -In application of this allusion, our LORD proceeds--"For John the -Baptist came neither eating bread, nor drinking wine; and ye say, He -hath a devil." The austerity of the Baptist's life, which was meant to -inculcate a lesson of self-denial, and abstraction from the follies and -vanities of a worldly life, as well as a solemn preparation for the -happiness of an heavenly one, ye maliciously declare to have proceeded -from the melancholy suggestion of some dark and evil spirit, that -hurried him into the desart, and secluded him from all affectionate -intercourse with men. On the other hand, because "the Son of man is come -eating and drinking, ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber, -a friend of publicans and sinners!" To answer the great purposes of -Divine Love, I have, with condescending freedom, mingled with all ranks -of people; put myself in the way of the giddy and the profligate, and -even accepted the invitations of publicans and sinners. For this, -without knowing the motives of my conduct, you have vilified me with the -opprobrious names of glutton and drunkard; and insinuated, that the -friendly attention I shewed to men of their character, proceeded not -from a regard to their souls, but from a fondness for their vices. But -notwithstanding your blindness and obduracy, notwithstanding your weak -and wicked misconstructions, be assured, there are those, who can do -justice to these dispensations of Heaven, whose minds, illuminated from -above, can discern the beauty, propriety, and uniformity of design, -which Wisdom manifests in these various methods of addressing herself to -the sons of men. Such children of Wisdom are abundantly convinced, that -the self-denying life of the Baptist was necessarily preparative to that -meek, gentle, condescending Life of Love, which I have inculcated in my -precepts, and recommended and enforced by my example; and that both -these are the happy effects of that Redeeming Power, which I manifest in -the hearts of those, who, with simplicity and self-abasement, receive -and gratefully acknowledge my spiritual salutary visits. "But Wisdom is -justified of all her children." - -The truth was this: the Pharisees considered the severe exercises of -John, his contempt of the world, and total disregard of the pleasures -and honours of life, as a personal censure of their hypocritical -pretensions to religion, by which, under the appearance of great zeal -for the external and ceremonial parts of the law, they "sought the -praises of men, more than the praises of God." In like manner, the -humility and condescension of CHRIST, his free and affectionate -intercourse with all ranks of people, even with those, whom (on account -of their ignorance of some minute traditionary precepts of their -Rabbins) they held accursed, were a perpetual impeachment of their -intolerable pride and arrogance, and most effectually tended to lessen -their credit and reputation with those whom they wished and earnestly -sought to engage for their pupils and admirers. No wonder, then, that -whilst they continued thus attached to favourite passions and -prejudices, they should wilfully misconstrue the purest intentions, and -vilify the fairest actions of those, who attempted to combat and expose -them. Their objections to the person and doctrines of CHRIST, as well as -to those of his illustrious Harbinger, came rather from their wills than -their understandings: nor would they ever have called in question the -Divine authority of their missions, had not the design and spirit of -them militated against their own evil tempers and dispositions: "Light -was come unto them; but they chose darkness rather than light, because -their deeds were evil." - -In every age of the world, and under every dispensation of religion, -human nature, in itself, has always been the same. The serpentine -subtilty of human reason, when engaged in the service, and acting under -the influence of vice and error, will never be at a loss for arguments -to support their cause against the voice of truth and virtue. Hence the -specious objections, which modern infidelity hath thrown out against the -necessity of Divine Revelation; and hence the weak and idle censures, -which libertinism on the one hand, and false enthusiasm on the other, so -illiberally denounce against the sincere, honest, and cordial votaries -of true Christianity. - -Sincerely to be pitied is the poor unbeliever, whose short-sighted -reason, incapable of seeing further than the externals of Christianity, -furnishes him with some plausible objections, that seem to weaken its -outward evidence, but cannot reach the spirit and power by which it is -animated and supported. "Christianity was instituted for the common -salvation of all men: its essential truths, therefore, are plain and -obvious, level to every capacity, and stand in no need of learned labour -to inculcate and explain them; they are rather matter of feeling, than -of reasoning. - -"Whatever is within, whatever is without us, calls aloud for a SAVIOUR. -Change, corruption, distemperature and death, have, by the sin of fallen -angels, and of fallen man, been unhappily introduced into this system of -things which we inhabit. The whole creation groaneth; and animals and -vegetables, and even the Immortal Image of GOD himself in man, are all -in bondage to their malign influences; so that every thing cries out, -with the apostle Paul, "Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" -so that every thing cries out, with the apostle Peter, "Lord, save me, -or I perish!" - -"What kind of a Saviour then is it, for whom all nature thus cries -aloud, through all her works? Not a dry moralist, a legislator of bare -external precepts, such as some would represent CHRIST to be: no, the -existence and influence of the REDEEMER OF NATURE, must, at least, be as -extensive as Nature herself. Things are defiled and corrupted -throughout; they are distempered and devoted to death, from the inmost -essence of their being; and none, but HE alone, "in whom they live, and -move, and have their being," can possibly redeem and restore them." - -These are inevitable truths, which all men, at some time or other, must -feel, and feel deeply too, whether they attend to them now or not. The -redemption and restoration of every sinner can be accomplished in no -other way, than by CHRIST'S spiritual entrance into his heart, awakening -in him an abhorrence of evil, and a love of goodness. - -This is the spirit of the GOSPEL OF JESUS; this the grand purpose of -Heaven, under every dispensation of Revealed Truth, from Adam down to -this day. The modes of communication, the outward forms of worship and -of doctrine, may vary; but the same spirit runs through the whole, and -the enlightened eye of "Wisdom's children" can see and adore her radiant -footsteps, in paths that appear dark and dreary to the eyes of others. -However her outward garb may change; whatever different appearances she -may put on, under the patriarchal, legal, and evangelical dispensations; -her real features, her whole person and employment, have ever been -invariably the same. These different appearances were only adapted to -the different circumstances of men, and calculated to direct their -attention to the one great and principal object she has always had in -view, even the Redemption of immortal spirits from the tyranny of earth -and hell, and the full restoration of them to their primeval innocence -and bliss. - -Turn then, ye advocates of infidelity! O turn back from those delusive -dangerous paths, into which the false light of fallen reason hath led -your wayward steps. Wisdom herself, and all her true and Heaven-born -children, lift up their sweet and instructive voices, and press you to -return; to recognize your illustrious origin; to spurn the transitory -and polluting joys of earth, and to aspire after the pure and permanent -pleasures of Heaven! From the Throne of the Most-High, the center of her -enlightened kingdom, she speaks, she illuminates, she warms every -intelligent being that turns to her benignant ray: the darkness of -nature kindles, at her approach, into the Light and Life of Heaven; -every evil principle, every evil passion, shrinks from before her, and -retires to its native hell; whilst the spirits of her redeemed children -issue forth from their long captivity, and triumphantly re-enter the -realms of purity and peace. - -Who would not wish, then, to become a votary, a pupil, a child of -Wisdom? But how is this privilege to be obtained? what path must we -pursue, that will lead us to her delightful mansion? what conduct must -we observe, that will entitle us to be members of her illustrious -household? Must we put on the raiment of camel's hair, and the leathern -girdle; follow the mortified Baptist into the desert, and feed upon -locusts and wild honey? Or must we not rather adopt the gentler manners -of the HOLY JESUS, mix with the world as he did, and chearfully employ -ourselves in acts of kindness and brotherly love? - -It is evident from the whole passage of Scripture, of which my text is -part, that our Lord blames the Jews no less for their disregard of the -ministry of John, than for the contempt with which they treated himself; -and plainly intimates, that, by the Children of Wisdom, we are to -understand all those who see the Baptist's ministry in its true point of -view, viz. as introductory and preparatory to his own; and in -consequence of this are fully convinced, that the chearfulness of Faith, -and the sweetness and condescension of Love, must naturally be preceded -by the severity of Repentance, and the salutary bitterness of sorrow and -contrition. - -"Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," said the Harbinger of -the SON of GOD: "The Kingdom of GOD is come; he that believeth shall be -saved;" said the SON of GOD himself. "Repentance, therefore, and Faith -working by Love," are the sure characteristics of Wisdom's Children. - -It is not, therefore, any distinguishing peculiarity of the Baptist's -character, the outward garb, or the outward deportment, that we are to -assume, but an inward temper and frame of mind corresponding to both. A -deep sensibility of the evils and infirmities of our fallen nature, an -heart-felt conviction of the guilt and misery of sin, and a penitential -sorrow for our own numberless lapses and deviations from the path of -virtue, are the true Harbingers of CHRIST in our hearts. When, under -their powerful ministration, we find ourselves called, not perhaps to a -life of outward solitude and mortification, but of inward retirement and -abstraction from the world; in the language of Scripture, "we repent, we -are converted:" we turn our backs upon every gay and glittering scene, -which worldly honour, wealth, or pleasure, can exhibit; we find nothing -in any of them, that can give a moment's real peace or rest to our -"weary heavy laden" souls; we are humbled to the dust; we feel -ourselves, as "worms, and not men," as "less than the least of GOD'S -mercies." - -In this mortified, penitent, and afflicted state, which is mercifully -intended to bring us to a proper sense of our helplessness by nature, -and of the indispensable necessity of Divine Supernatural assistance, we -must remain, till the happy effect is produced, and till GOD is -graciously pleased to call us out of the wilderness. The Harbinger then -hath fulfilled his office; "The Lamb of GOD" appears "to take away the -sins of the world;" "The kingdom of heaven is come" into our hearts. To -sorrow and disquietude, succeed sweet peace and heavenly composure of -mind: the understanding is enlightened; the will receives a new and -happy direction; a new principle animates our whole frame, a new conduct -appears in our whole life and conversation: the Spirit of Love breathes -and acts in every duty we are called to perform, in every little office, -which common civility and politeness requires us to do, even to those, -who have yet no taste or desire for the sublime comforts of religion. - -Thus it is, that Wisdom is justified of all her Children; and thus it -appears, that the Religion of the Gospel, which is the only True Wisdom, -is a RELIGION OF LOVE. A LIFE OF LOVE, therefore, is the best, the only -evidence, which its disciples can give, of the sincerity of their -profession; and the surest method they can take of recommending it to -others. "Let your light, then, so shine before men, that they may see -your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - - - - - DISCOURSE II. - Evangelical Righteousness. - - -JEREMIAH, CHAP. xxiii. VERSE 6. - - "AND THIS IS HIS NAME, WHEREBY HE SHALL BE CALLED, THE LORD OUR - RIGHTEOUSNESS." - -The great and essential distinction betwixt the legal and evangelical -dispensation, is accurately pointed out by the Apostle, where he tells -us, that "the law is but the shadow of good things to come, and not the -very image of the things." Its types, ceremonies, and outward -ordinances, are taken from the objects of temporal nature, which are, at -best, but shadowy representations of Eternal Truth. "The comers -thereunto could never be perfected," by the most minute observation of -its external rites. The pious, spiritual Jews, therefore, must have -looked further than these, and considered every outward purification, as -figuratively expressive of an inward cleansing to be performed in their -hearts. - -Moses, their inspired Legislator, and the prophets that succeeded him, -did not fail to acquaint them with the immediate and necessary reference -of these temporal symbols to Spiritual and Eternal Truths. Nevertheless, -it appears but too evident, from the whole Jewish history, that the -generality rested their hopes of salvation, merely upon their outward -law: "They went about to establish a righteousness of their own," -founded upon a strict observance of the Levitical ceremonies, which were -only adapted to their present circumstances, without paying the least -attention to that Inward Law of Righteousness, to which these ceremonies -referred. - -Hence it was, that their prophets were directed by the Most High, to -express, in the strongest terms, his disapprobation of those very -ordinances, which he himself had originally instituted for their good; -and to tell them, that "he had no pleasure in their burnt-offerings and -sacrifices, that their oblations were vain, and that incense was an -abomination in his sight." His displeasure was not with the ordinances -themselves; for, if considered and observed with proper views and -dispositions, they would have been subservient to the most glorious -purposes: but he was offended with the gross and flagrant abuses of -them, which the people were daily committing. - -Hence also it was, that the same inspired prophets, when the hand of the -HIGHEST drew aside the curtain of futurity, and exhibited to their -astonished view the successive displays of Gospel Light and Truth, with -all that variety of heavenly scenery, which his INCARNATE SON was to -open upon our benighted world; hence it was, I say, that the same -inspired prophets were particularly careful to distinguish the new -dispensation, by every figure and mode of expression, that might lead -the most dark and ignorant Jew to consider it as internal and spiritual. - -The righteousness of the new covenant is widely different from what the -carnal Israelite apprehended to be the righteousness of the old. With -respect to their essence, their foundation, their motives and ends, both -covenants are the same, differing only in the external mode of -revelation; the old being "the shadow," the new "the image of good -things to come;" the old, pointing to CHRIST; the new, revealing him in -all his fulness to the faithful. - -CHRIST JESUS, therefore, is and must be, "the end of the law to those -that believe;" that is, he is and must be, in himself, that very -Righteousness to which the law pointed, but which it could not attain. -"As a school-master," it served to instruct its ignorant, dark, and -fallen pupils, in the outward rudiments of Divine Truth; but could never -communicate to them the Light, Life, and Spirit of that real Evangelical -Righteousness, which is only to be found in the INCARNATE WORD OF GOD. - -It is for this reason, that the prophet, speaking of the approaching -kingdom of the MESSIAH, in whom all the law and the prophets were to -center, represents him as "a righteous branch springing forth from the -root of David; as a king, reigning, prospering, and executing judgment -and justice on the earth;" in consequence of whose mild and equitable -administration, "Judah should be saved, and Israel should dwell safely:" -and, as the most characteristical designation of his nature and office, -tells us, that "This is his NAME, whereby he shall be called, THE LORD -OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." - -Let us then enquire, in the first place, why our BLESSED REDEEMER has -the name of RIGHTEOUSNESS ascribed to him by the prophet; and secondly, -what we are to understand by his being called "OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." - -I. A name in Scripture is generally put to express the intrinsic nature -and qualities of the object named. When, therefore, the name of the -MESSIAH is here said to be "Righteousness," we must necessarily -conclude, that Righteousness is his very nature, his essence, the -substance of all his attributes and perfections. He is not called -righteous, but RIGHTEOUSNESS itself; the source and fountain, from -whence all that is really and truly righteous, throughout the universe, -perpetually proceeds. - -JESUS CHRIST is "the Brightness of the Father's Glory, and the Express -Image of his Person." All the beauties, excellencies, powers, and -virtues, which are essentially hidden in the invisible GODHEAD, are -substantially, vitally, inwardly, as well as outwardly, opened, -revealed, and illustriously displayed, in the person of the INCARNATE -JESUS. "All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing -made, that was made:" all the "thrones, dominions, principalities and -powers," possessed by angels, archangels, cherubim and seraphim, are -derived from him; for, "in, and through him, did the Father create all -things." The highest degree of Righteousness which the highest Seraph -can attain, is but a beam or efflux from this Eternal Sun. With glory -undiminished he perpetually imparts spiritual life and vigour to all -those countless myriads of intelligences, which inhabit the whole -compass of universal nature. He is himself the living law, the eternal -rule of order and rectitude. GOD THE FATHER hath "set this his King of -Righteousness on his holy hill of Sion." Every outward institute, -revealed and written, which GOD hath "at sundry times and in divers -manners," delivered to the sons of men, was but a transcript of that -original law, which lives for ever in the heart of CHRIST. "I am the -way, the truth, and the life;" "no man cometh unto the Father, but by -me; ye will not come unto me, that ye may have life; without me, ye can -do nothing--" are his own blessed words. - -Nature, without this CHRIST OF GOD, is impurity, emptiness, poverty, -want, and wretchedness extreme: nature illuminated, enriched, refreshed, -glorified by him, is holy, righteous, lovely, supremely happy. Known or -unknown to our fallen race, it is HE alone, who inspires every good -thought, every righteous deed, every sentiment and action that is -amiable and endearing. - -In the acts of the apostles we read of an altar with this inscription, -"To the unknown GOD!" St. Paul, taking occasion from this circumstance, -tells the Athenians, "Him whom ye ignorantly worship, preach I unto -you." In the whole frame of nature, says a truly sublime writer, every -heart, every creature, every affection, every action, is an altar with -the same kind of inscription, "To the unknown Beauty!--To the unknown -Righteousness!--To the unknown Jesus!" This is the eternal standard of -truth, order, righteousness and perfection, to which every being in -nature ignorantly moveth; this is that which all understandings, all -hearts, cannot but admire and adore. But blessed above all beings are -those, whose hearts are spiritual altars, with the righteous person of -CHRIST engraven upon them by the finger of GOD, flaming with the fire of -Heavenly Love, and bearing this radiant inscription, "To the known and -experienced Beauty and Righteousness of that JESUS, whom we know; that -Word of Life, which our eyes have seen, our ears have heard, our hands -have handled, and spiritually embraced!" And this leads me, in the -second place, to inquire what we are to understand by CHRIST'S being -called "OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." - -II. Under my first head, I observed to you from Scripture, that GOD -created all things "in and by JESUS CHRIST;" and that "without him, was -not any thing made that was made." Man, in particular, was "created in -the Image of GOD:" CHRIST is "the Brightness of the Father's Glory, and -the Express Image of his Person:" and, therefore, man was created in -CHRIST. - -Man in himself, in his outward nature, was but an empty vessel, till the -CHRIST OF GOD became his fulness and perfection. His outward form was -from the dust of the earth; but his inward spirit was the breath of the -MOST HIGH. The Image of GOD, even CHRIST himself, was his first, his -sole Righteousness and perfection; the infallible instructor and -enlightener of his understanding, the unerring guide and director of his -will. The Name by which the SON of GOD was known to him, was "The Lord -his Righteousness." Angels themselves know no other Righteousness, than -the Righteousness of GOD in CHRIST. - -The fall of man, or "Original sin," (as our church article with great -truth and propriety expresses it) "is the fault and corruption of the -nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of -Adam; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is -of his own nature inclined to evil." We have already seen what this -original righteousness was, which man possessed in a state of innocence, -viz. that it was CHRIST, "the Lord his Righteousness," in him. This is -what Adam lost--This is what CHRIST alone can restore. - -Man in his present fallen state, without CHRIST, must be naturally -inclined to evil; he has no righteousness of his own. And he can no more -be saved by any exertion of his own natural powers, than he can see by -the utmost stretch of his organs of sight, without the light of the sun. - -Here then a serious and inquiring mind may be ready to ask--How is this -BLESSED REDEEMER to become my Righteousness? I feel the force of these -Scripture truths you have mentioned, and experience in my soul the -dreadful consequences of an original apostasy--But I know not, whether -CHRIST is my Righteousness, or not. I know not, whether I have the least -traces of his Righteous Image in my soul. - -"Hath CHRIST, then, been so long time with thee, and yet hast thou not -known him?" Every little rebuke of conscience; every emotion of -kindness, tenderness, and love; every sympathetic feeling of the -prosperity or distress of thy neighbour; every sensibility of -admiration, esteem, and joy, from contemplating a truly wise and -virtuous character; every fervent desire of imitating what is good and -excellent in others; every weak aspiration after holiness and -perfection; nay, every little feeling of the restless cravings of thine -own nature, every little longing after happiness unpossessed; all, all -is CHRIST, speaking within thee, and waiting and watching to reveal -himself in Righteousness to thy soul. Nothing, therefore, is wanting, on -thy part, but a calm and quiet resignation of thyself, and all that is -within thee, to his sovereign disposal, to redeem, purify, and restore, -to do every thing that is necessary to be done, and which he alone can -do, for thy salvation. - -Thus have I endeavoured to give the plain and obvious meaning of the -text. Distinctions upon distinctions have been multiplied; books upon -books have been published, to tell us that we are to be justified by the -Personal Righteousness of CHRIST outwardly imputed, and sanctified by -the inherent graces of the HOLY SPIRIT; that one must necessarily -precede the other; and that we must be perfect in CHRIST by -Justification, before we can have the least spark of Holiness by -Sanctification. This is, indeed, travelling in the broad and popular -road; and such kind of preaching might be to the "praise of men." Let -systems be written upon systems, and comments upon comments; let -preachers oppose preachers, and hearers wander after this or that form -of godliness; but may Heaven in mercy preserve us from taking up our -rest, or placing our dependence upon any thing less than an intimate and -experimental knowledge of "The LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" revealing -himself, with all his holy heavenly tempers, virtues, and dispositions, -in our hearts! May we never rest satisfied with a nominal profession of -Christianity, a nominal acquaintance with CHRIST, or a nominal remission -of sins; for, surely, we are not warranted, by Scripture, to look upon -ourselves as redeemed by CHRIST, and born again of him, till by a total -purification, a complete deliverance from all the evil tempers and -passions of our fallen life, he hath obtained a full and peaceable -possession of our whole nature, erected his Throne of Righteousness in -our hearts, and by the effectual working of his HOLY SPIRIT brought us -to the "measure of the stature of that FULNESS, which is in HIMSELF." - - - - - DISCOURSE III. - The Religion of Jesus, the only Source of Happiness. - - -St. JOHN, CHAP. vi. VER. 66, 67, 68. - - "FROM THAT TIME, MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WENT BACK, AND WALKED NO MORE - WITH HIM. THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THE TWELVE, WILL YE ALSO GO AWAY? - THEN SIMON PETER ANSWERED HIM, LORD! TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? THOU HAST - THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE." - -Happiness is the great end and aim of all those restless pursuits in -which mankind are perpetually engaged. The laborious peasant, and the -contemplative philosopher; the man that wisheth for wealth, and the man -that possesseth it; the gay votary of worldly pleasure, and the gloomy -tenant of the solitary cell, are alike industrious in exploring this -hidden treasure. Their imaginations are ever upon the stretch after this -something yet unknown. Their ideas of happiness indeed, as well as the -means which they make use of to attain it, are as different as their -prevailing tempers and inclinations. Whatever objects coincide with -their present conceptions, those they esteem, and those they pursue, -with all the eagerness of newly awakened desire. Deluded, however, by -specious appearances, mistaken again and again in their choice of -objects, loathing to-day what they pursued yesterday with ardour, -chearful and confident in prospect, disappointed and melancholy in -possession, they fondly rove from one scene of imaginary bliss to -another, unable to rest on any with permanent satisfaction. They never -once consider, that no finite objects can fill up the immense void of an -immortal soul, no temporal enjoyments satisfy its boundless desires; and -that nothing less than "life eternal" can afford an happiness -commensurate to its eternal nature. - -This is not mere theory, or empty speculation. There is not one in this -assembly, but could bear witness from experience to the melancholy fact. -Was each of us to be asked, in a serious and solemn manner, Are you -really happy? very few, I am afraid, if they would speak ingenuously, -could answer in the affirmative. And yet, perhaps, most of us have -attained, from time to time, what we once deemed the height of our -wishes; and what we were then sure, if attained, would make us -completely happy. - -The child wishes for the employments and pleasures of youth; the youth -longs to arrive at what he calls the freedom and independence of -manhood; the man anxiously schemes and plots, and contrives, and labours -and toils, and then wishes to see the success of his schemes, the -accomplishment of his labours. His schemes turn out to his satisfaction; -the end is obtained; the object is enjoyed: his bliss is consummate, to -be sure; he cannot be happier--No such thing--New wants succeed; new -schemes are formed; new pursuits, new labours, new anxieties and wishes, -tread close upon each other's heels. But where is his happiness all the -while? Why he loses sight, at last, of the grand and principal object, -in the pursuit of which he had set out: failing of success in this, he -foolishly adopts the means for the end; and perpetual care, toil, and -vexation, are the wretched effects of his mistaken choice. - -Thus, for instance, the covetous man grasps, and saves, and fills his -coffers--for what? Not to make himself, his family, or his poor -neighbours round him, happy with the fruits of his penurious efforts. -No--he not only turns a deaf ear to the piercing cries of indigence, but -grudges even his family the common necessaries of life, and never parts -with a farthing, without uttering some ridiculous complaint of the -hardness of the times, and their want of economy. He saves therefore for -the sake of saving; his heart is shut up in his chest with his beloved -mammon, both alike inaccessible to the mild and soft approaches of -kindness and liberality. - -We cannot but shrink back with horror, from a character so odious and -detestable as this. But the observation with which I set out, will hold -equally true, when applied to any of those false paths, which men pursue -in quest of happiness. - -Pleasure and ambition will deceive them, as surely as avarice. Enjoyment -in every instance may pall, but cannot satisfy the restless desire. Nor -will it ever be satisfied, till the soul gets sight of the only true -beatifying object in the universe, to which she can rise, and upon which -she can rest, with the whole strength and energy of her immortal nature. - -The light of another world, however, must open and irradiate her -spiritual senses, before she can have the least glimpse of this supreme -source of bliss. The vanity and deception of all creaturely happiness -must in some measure be unfolded to her view, before she can stretch one -feeble thought towards Heaven; and she must be intimately convinced of -the bondage of her fallen life, and the misery of her condition in this -fallen world, before she can feel the force, or discern the spiritual -depth of these expressions of St. Peter, "Lord! to whom shall we go? -Thou hast the words of eternal life." - -There are many people, indeed, who though they are walking on in those -very paths of error and delusion which I have just mentioned, would fain -have their conduct hallowed by some religious appearances. They begin -with deceiving themselves, and then go on to deceive others. But, do -what they will, they cannot wholly divest themselves of the feelings of -truth and virtue. For they have within them a Spiritual Nature, that is -continually striving, under the influences of its native Heaven, to get -disengaged from the servitude of its corrupt companion. Call it by what -name we please, conscience, the light of nature, common sense, common or -preventing grace; or, as the Scripture denominates it, "the Light that -lighteth every man that cometh into the world, Christ in us the hope of -glory, the Incorruptible Seed of the WORD OF GOD," (for, as Christians, -I think we ought to prefer scriptural to philosophical terms;) I say, -call it by which ever of these names we like best, certain it is, that -every man at times feels this Divine Power stirring within him, and -endeavouring to awaken, reprove, inform, illuminate, and govern his life -and actions. - -Now it always happens, that the counsels of this Heavenly Monitor clash -with and oppose the dictates of corrupt nature. At this contradiction, -the passions are alarmed; they demand immediate gratification, and the -trembling mortal dares not at once yield to their solicitations. A -strong sensibility of the falsehood of their claim, is felt in his -breast. Something must first be done, to stifle or quiet this uneasy -sensation. - -Avarice, he will say to himself, is criminal, it is true; but a -well-timed parsimony is virtuous and commendable; and a good and prudent -man will think himself in duty bound to provide for the future support -of his children. - -Sensual pleasure, vain mirth, and jovial company, are not quite -consistent with the precepts of the Gospel of CHRIST: but a few innocent -amusements can do no harm; and it is but in character for a Christian to -be chearful. - -The pursuits of ambition are diametrically opposite to that meekness and -humility, which should characterize the disciple of the lowly JESUS: but -posts of honour, and exalted stations, may enable a man to be of -considerable service to his neighbours, and enlarge his sphere of -usefulness. - -Thus, every evil temper and inclination, wrath, hatred, revenge, envy, -jealousy, &c. may cloath themselves in the garb of virtue. Men may first -deceive themselves, by endeavouring to reconcile their criminal pursuits -with the dictates of conscience; and then employ the same infernal arts, -to deceive and impose upon others. It is with such masks as these, that -hypocrites, pharisees, and all pretenders to true religion, step forth -upon the stage of life, dare to enlist themselves under the standard of -virtue, and even sometimes assume the rank and authority of commanders. -But when they are summoned to the field of battle; when they are called -upon, from within, or from without, to exert themselves against their -spiritual adversaries, to assert the rights of Heaven, as well in -themselves as in the world around them, to subdue the evil lusts and -passions that tyrannize in their own breasts, or to engage with that -bitter and malevolent spirit, who opposes the advancement of their -Master's kingdom in the life and conduct of others; then it is, that the -traitors drop their masks; they meanly desert the banner of the cross, -openly disavow their pretensions to religion, and "deny the LORD that -bought them." They shrink from the combat, honourable as it would have -been for them to engage, and happy as they would have found themselves -in the issue; and meanly barter away their salvation for a false peace, -short in its continuance, and ending in woe and misery extreme. Like the -cowardly disciples mentioned in my text, "they go back, and walk no more -with their Master." - -Doubtless these timid Israelites were alarmed at that heavenly discourse -of the BLESSED JESUS, which we read in the preceding part of this -chapter. The mysteries of his kingdom there delivered, were too refined -for their gross conception. The nature, nourishment, and growth of the -Inward and Spiritual Man, which is there indispensably required, -militated too powerfully against their favourite passions and -prejudices. Their high-blown hopes of future preferment in a temporal -kingdom, were, by this spiritual address, entirely dissipated; and they -were taught to seek and expect nothing from their Master, but what was -opposite to the life, and spirit, and maxims of this world. - -Alas, how many apostates from the religion of JESUS, have imitated the -conduct of these unworthy disciples! Past, as well as present times, -afford too many melancholy examples of this kind. A temporizing spirit -hath prevailed in almost all ages; and ecclesiastical history abounds -with examples of its venomous influence upon the minds of men. The -temporal prosperity of the church, hath, in many instances, proved its -ruin; and accessions of wealth and power have only served to increase -its corruptions. Under the profession of a religion, which breathes -nothing but purity, meekness, and benevolence, men have been actuated by -all the diabolical passions that ever inflamed the breasts of the most -ignorant and unenlightened Pagans. - -Wherever the external profession of Christianity hath been attended with -any outward emoluments, its disciples have increased, and an outward -shew of zeal for its advancement, hath not been wanting. This outward -shew gives them but little trouble; and the hypocrite's garb, though -cumbersome at first, is not only made light and convenient by custom, -but even desirable for the profits and advantages it brings. - -Whilst the BLESSED JESUS is distributing his bounty, and loaves and -fishes multiply under his creating hand, he will never be without crouds -of followers to partake of his royal munificence. Whilst he is riding in -triumph through the streets of Jerusalem, nothing is heard from every -quarter, but "Hosannahs to the Son of David;" every one is ambitious of -joining his train, and of being in the number of his adherents. But when -the powers of this world confederate against him; when Herod and Pontius -Pilate, and the whole nation of the Jews, rise up in arms, seize upon -the innocent victim, and drag him to condemnation, torture and death; -then, indeed, his false friends appear in their proper colours; and, O -melancholy truth! even his disciples "go back, and walk no more with -him;" some of them deny him, and all fly and forsake him. - -Let us not deceive ourselves, my brethren. It is not an outward -profession of Christianity, or an outward zeal against its adversaries, -that will stand us in any stead: all this may well enough consist with -inward impurity, a worldly spirit, and an heart devoted to the service -of sin. The great trial of our faith, the sure proof of the sincerity of -our conversion, must be sought for in deeper exercises than these. - -When storms arise, when dangers threaten, when inward and outward -enemies attack our peace; when we cannot maintain our discipleship -without the sacrifice of some darling passion of almost irresistible -power; when we can walk no longer with our Master, without the loss of -some considerable temporal advantages; when we are summoned by him to -fly from the soft allurements of pleasure, to burst the bonds of avarice -or ambition, to disclaim all dependence upon the world, ourselves, or -any created being; in a word, "to forsake all, take up our cross, and -follow him;" then, indeed, is our hour of trial! then the sincerity of -our attachment to CHRIST, will be made manifest to ourselves, and to the -world; and we shall learn to know assuredly, whether we are, or are not, -of the number of those disciples, "who go back, and walk no more with -him." - -Therefore, O Christian, thy Beloved is then only thine, and thou art -then only his, when thou canst abide with him in the darkness of the -vale, as well as in the splendors of the mount; when thou canst walk -with him in the wilderness, as well as on the plain; and when "neither -tribulation, nor distress, nor trial, nor persecution, can separate thee -from the LOVE OF GOD, which is in CHRIST JESUS our Lord." - - - - - DISCOURSE IV. - The Religion of Jesus, the only Source of Happiness. - - -St. JOHN, CHAP. vi. VER. 66, 67, 68. - - "FROM THAT TIME MANY OF DISCIPLES WENT BACK, AND WALKED NO MORE WITH - HIM. THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THE TWELVE, WILL YE ALSO GO AWAY? THEN - SIMON PETER ANSWERED HIM, LORD! TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? THOU HAST THE - WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE." - - -The motives which induced many of our Lord's first followers to withdraw -themselves from his person, and wholly relinquish the connection they -had formed with him and his disciples, I have explained in the preceding -discourse. The erroneous conduct of mankind in general, their mistaken -notions of happiness, the false and dangerous paths in which they pursue -it, their delusive hopes and real disappointments; the palliative arts -they make use of to reconcile their duty with their passions, and the -various methods by which they deceive themselves as well as others; -their hypocritical pretensions to religion, and the ways in which their -deceptions are discovered, and their pharisaical professions unveiled; -in a word, the genuine sources of that error and apostasy, into which -the unworthy disciples mentioned in the text, as well as others who have -since imitated their example, have sadly degenerated; all these -particulars were suggested to my mind, from the consideration of these -words of the Evangelist, "From that time many of his disciples went -back, and walked no more with him." - -The tender and pathetic expostulation which this ungenerous conduct -produced from the blessed lips of the common Friend and Saviour of Man, -breathes such a spirit of love, kindness, and compassion, towards the -souls of those whom he came to redeem, as cannot but claim our most -serious and grateful attention. The deep concern he must have felt for -such an instance of apostasy, added to his apprehensions of the fatal -influence it might have upon his beloved Apostles, awakened in him all -those innocent and delicate sensibilities, which, even in his human -nature, were the genuine offspring of that ETERNAL LOVE to which he was -essentially united. - -Friendship, true friendship, is the HEAVEN-BORN OFFSPRING of Divine -Charity. Heaven is her native country. In that pure and gentle element -she lives and moves without constraint, free, chearful, delighting and -delighted. If ever she deigns to associate with the sons of men, it is -among the truly virtuous alone she can be found. She visits none but -those, whose "conversation is in heaven," who have within them a birth -congenial with her own, whose hearts and affections are governed by the -Spirit of Love, and can only be wooed and won by correspondent tempers -and characters. Her sacred name, indeed, is often prostituted to venal, -base, and corrupt purposes. Her fair and beauteous garb is often worn by -the votaries of avarice, pleasure, and ambition. Her sweet aspect, her -mild and winning graces, her obliging and disinterested disposition, -yea, even her peculiar warmth of affection, and glowing sensibility of -heart, are all profanely counterfeited by the selfish and sensual, the -vain and the aspiring. - -Take it for granted, however, that man, whether gay, dissolute, -covetous, or ambitious, is incapable of real friendship: all his designs -and prospects center in himself, and every seeming act of kindness, -every splendid appearance of courtesy and generosity, is calculated to -promote some selfish purpose, to procure some temporal emolument. - -Far different is the friendship of those who are "born of God;" who, -from a vital union with the Source of Love, derive such pure and -unadulterated streams of Charity into their breasts, as manifest -themselves in a life of general beneficence towards all men, and a warm, -affectionate, spiritual attachment towards "those especially, who are of -the houshold of faith." Such, but in the purest highest degree, were -those heavenly feelings of true friendship, with which the heart of -JESUS glowed, when he uttered this sweet and endearing expostulation, -"Will ye also go away?" - -The words are few, but the sentiments are manifold, gracious, and -animating; and they cannot but appear so to those, who attend, with nice -discernment, to the common feelings of human nature. It is to these -common feelings that our Lord makes his appeal, in all his heavenly -discourses. - -Though, from the general corruption, it is a case that has but seldom -occurred in the page of history, yet let us suppose a good and virtuous -man, associated with a set of good and virtuous companions, bound to him -by the strong and endearing ties of private friendship, in the defence -of some good and virtuous cause. Novelty, the love of fame, a desire of -appearing to the world in some conspicuous point of view, the prospect -of some great temporal advantages, and a variety of other motives of a -selfish nature, might suddenly prompt a considerable number of persons -to join these champions of virtue, and follow them in the glorious -enterprize. Enemies appear, dangers threaten; yea, death, perhaps, in -all its horrors, presents itself to their view. Personal security is to -be preferred before the general interest of virtue; and where virtue -cannot be supported without personal losses, her cause must be -abandoned. Upon these principles, the weak and timid multitude forsake -their gallant leader. Attached to him by no bonds, but those of interest -or ambition, when these fail, they think themselves at liberty to -abandon his person and his cause. The noble chieftain, not so much -affected with the prospect of danger to himself and his cause, as with a -real concern for the baseness of his followers, and an apprehension, -that their flight might perhaps intimidate those, whom he knew to be -attached, from principle, to virtue and himself; the noble chieftain, I -say, might with great propriety, and without the least tincture of fear -or despondency, but rather as a trial of their fidelity, and a most -powerful incentive to new and more vigorous efforts, address himself in -such words to the chosen few, as those, which the great Captain of our -Salvation delivered upon this occasion: "Will ye, also go away?" In this -address, there is not implied the least unkind suspicion of their -integrity. It is no more than an affectionate appeal to the warm and -tender sensations of true and genuine friendship. - -O, my beloved Apostles! ye see the weakness, timidity, and -worldly-mindedness, of those pretended friends, who have hitherto -associated with us. So violent hath been their attachment to earthly -pursuits, that they would not suffer truths of the highest importance to -interfere with them for a moment. My last spiritual address was too deep -and powerful a stroke at their corruptions. Could they have continued in -fellowship with us upon their own terms, and made their connexion -subservient to their own views of temporal interest, they would not have -so suddenly forsaken us. But shall their conduct have the least -influence upon yours? Will ye be intimidated by their flight? Will ye -suffer your fidelity and perseverance to be shaken by their evil -example? Will ye unkindly abandon a Master, into whose service ye -entered upon the most disinterested principles, and who knows and feels -you to be attached to him by the heavenly ties of religion and love? -After having seen so many indubitable testimonies of that almighty power -wherewith he is invested, will ye doubt his ability to protect and -deliver you? After so many kind and instructive conversations, in the -course of which he hath gradually, and as he found you "could bear -them," opened to you the great truths of his spiritual kingdom; will ye -be such enemies to yourselves, and your real happiness, as to forsake -your best of friends, your kindest and most powerful protector? "Will ye -also go away?" - -These sentiments, and more than these, are expressed in this pathetic -expostulation: and for our comfort, my brethren, may we ever recollect, -that, though ascended into the highest heavens, and seated at the right -hand of his Father, he continues the same loving conduct towards all his -faithful friends and followers, that he observed towards his disciples -whilst he was upon earth. The same gentle and affectionate modes of -speech, the same tender, but awakening expostulations, to which his -Apostles were accustomed, he still applies to the heart of every -believer. - -If we look back to past experience, we shall be convinced, that this -very expostulation of our compassionate Master, hath frequently sounded -in our ears. When the infectious influence of evil example, the sudden -attack of some powerful temptation, some severe stroke of adversity, or -some smiling prospect of temporal felicity; when these, or any of these, -have secretly solicited our frail nature, to relinquish our religious -pursuits, to surrender ourselves to the dominion of sin, and renounce -the favour and protection of our Master; hath he not frequently, and -with ineffable tenderness, whispered this gentle reprehension to our -hearts, "Will ye also go away?" Happy, indeed, if, with Peter's -affectionate warmth, and honest faithful adherence to our Lord, amidst -the severest trials, we have been enabled to reply, from a full -conviction of our own weakness, and of his all-sufficiency, "Lord! to -whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of Eternal Life." - -Peter generally spoke in the name of all his brethren. His answer here, -therefore, is to be considered as a solemn declaration on the part of -the Apostles, of their firm trust and confidence in their Master, -founded on the full evidence they had received of his Divinity. As if he -had said: - -Think not, dearest Master, that thy faithful disciples are actuated by -such unworthy motives as have prompted some of their weak and carnal -brethren to forsake thee. No--we are intimately convinced of the folly -of depending upon any creaturely strength, or seeking for happiness in -any sublunary prospect. Thou hast opened upon our wondering souls such -scenes of heavenly bliss, thou hast manifested to our outward senses -such astonishing displays of thy absolute power over all temporal -nature, thou hast revived our hearts with such sweet draughts of those -rivers of pleasure that surround thy Father's throne, thou hast -enlightened our understandings with such piercing beams of truth, thou -hast placed such endearing objects before our will and affections, and -hast so enamoured our souls with the beauty and excellency of thy -Gospel; that we are perfectly satisfied to remain with thee for ever, -implicitly to follow thy blessed footsteps, to accompany thee through -all the difficulties and dangers of life, and even to meet death -undaunted at thy side. Indeed, "to whom shall we go?" Every creature -around us, bears the stamp of its own imperfection. Whatever they -possess of beauty or of bliss, it is all from thee, thou Lord of life, -and source of all perfection! They are in themselves, as poor and -indigent as we are. If we make the experiment, and go to them in quest -of happiness, our fond hopes are suddenly overthrown, and vexation -succeeds to disappointment. The life we are now in, is fallen, temporal, -and transient. The words of this life are as vain as the life itself: -for it can only speak what it knows and feels, and the sum and substance -of this is want and woe. But as thou hast in thyself the very source of -eternal life, by virtue of thy eternal union with the Father; as the -powers, sensibilities, virtues, and perfections of this life, are -completely opened in thee; as the "fulness of the GODHEAD dwells bodily" -in thee, so thy words must be the "words of eternal life:" for thou -"speakest that thou dost know, and testifiest that thou hast seen." Thy -outward words are, indeed, but the outward signs of this life eternal; -the real participation of it can be nothing less than an inward and -vital union of our wills with thine, effectually co-operating, and -gradually "transforming us into thine own image, from glory to glory." - -Such was the import of the Apostle's reply; and such must be the real -heart-felt language of every sinner, that expects peace and pardon at -the hands of the Almighty. Pardon of sin, is not, as some vainly -imagine, like the cancelling of a bond, the remitting of a debt, or the -forgiveness of an injury betwixt man and man. No--It is a "dying unto -sin, and a rising again unto righteousness." It is life eternal opening -itself in the fallen soul, and extinguishing the life of sin, or at -least keeping it in due subjection, till the dissolution of the body -puts an end to its connection with this fallen world; it is, according -to the Apostle's language, "the law of the spirit of life making us free -from the law of sin and death." - -That eternal life, which we have, and can have only from JESUS CHRIST, -the second Adam, can alone pardon, remit, atone, cover, extinguish, (for -all these are words of the same spiritual import) that earthly life, -which we have received from the first Adam. The very first motion of -this eternal life within us, is a conviction of the vanity, sin, and -folly of our earthly life. "They that are whole need not a physician, -but they that are sick." A sensibility of want and weakness must -necessarily precede a desire of relief: and the soul must be "weary and -heavy laden," oppressed beneath the burden of her fallen nature, and -convinced of its inability to yield her a moment's real peace, before -she will think of making this solemn inquiry, "what shall I do to be -saved? to whom shall I go?" Yea, even after she is come thus far, many a -weary step must be taken, many doubts and difficulties must be -encountered, before she will be able, from her own experience, to adopt -this declaration of the Apostle, "Thou hast the words of eternal life." - -Those doubts and difficulties, with which men are frequently embarrassed -in their spiritual researches, do in a great measure proceed from that -general deviation from the primitive simplicity of Gospel Truth and -Gospel Language, which so sadly prevails among the various denominations -of Christians; in consequence of which, a multitude of useless and -unscriptural distinctions have been introduced into catechisms, systems -of divinity, and even books of practical devotion, which serve only to -perplex and confound the mind of anxious and well-disposed inquirers. - -"To whom shall I go?" cries the poor penitent sinner, whom CHRIST, by -the Power of his Grace, hath brought to a sensibility of his fallen -life. Why, go to the priest, says one; confess, and get absolution, and -you will come away as innocent as a new-born babe. Go, and study the -Augsburg confession, says another, and you will soon have every doubt -and difficulty removed. Go, says a third, and read Calvin's system with -great attention, and you will soon find your soul at rest. Some advise -him to join himself to one sect of Christians, and some to another; each -maintaining, in his turn, that the life and power of religion is only to -be found among those of his own particular society. - -The poor misguided seeker eagerly catches at every thing that looks like -spiritual advice; runs from one book to another, from one church and -conventicle to another, "seeking rest, but finding none," or at most, a -temporary peace, a partial truce from extreme distress; whereas after -all, a few plain words of Scripture, properly applied and attended to, -will go further towards setting him right in his researches, than all -the popes and priests, and Luthers, and Calvins, and sects and -denominations, in the world. - -What then hath a minister of CHRIST, or indeed any private Christian, to -say or do, when a true penitent under such circumstances applies to him -for advice, and asks him with the utmost anxiety, "To whom shall I go?" -What can he do, what can he say, that will have a more immediate -tendency to fix his attention, and compose his distracted mind, than to -answer him in the words of the text? "To whom shouldst thou go, but to -JESUS CHRIST? it is he alone who hath the words of Eternal Life." - -I know no other end of preaching but this; and I am sure, that we are -warranted by Scripture to declare to every such humbled, penitent, and -afflicted sinner, that if he thus seeks CHRIST, he shall not seek in -vain. By faithfully directing his will and affections towards his -REDEEMER, thus inwardly unfolding his graces and virtues in his heart, -he will become more and more acquainted, and more and more comforted, -with that "Life Eternal, which is the gift of GOD in CHRIST JESUS." - - - - - DISCOURSE V. - True Religion, a costly and continual Sacrifice. - - -2 SAMUEL, CHAP. xxiv, VERSE 24. - - "AND THE KING SAID UNTO ARAUNAH, NAY, BUT I WILL SURELY BUY IT OF - THEE AT A PRICE; NEITHER WILL I OFFER BURNT-OFFERINGS UNTO THE LORD - MY GOD, OF THAT WHICH DOTH COST ME NOTHING." - - -The preceding part of this chapter presents us with an awful and -instructive example of the fatal consequences which result from an -unbelief or distrust of the providential power and goodness of GOD. -Contrary to the express command of the Almighty, contrary to the spirit -of that dispensation, which inculcated an absolute and implicit reliance -upon Heaven in all dangers and difficulties, yea, contrary to an happy -experience of the most signal interpositions of Omnipotence; David had -rashly issued a commission to the general and officers of his host, to -go through all the tribes of Israel, and take a particular and exact -account of the numbers of his people. Such a flagrant instance of -unfaithfulness to his GOD, after so many merciful deliverances received, -drew upon him a most severe chastisement. To humble the haughtiness of -his spirit, and convince him of the folly of depending upon the arm of -flesh, instead of taking the most HIGH GOD for his shield and defence, a -messenger of vengeance was immediately sent forth. From Dan even to -Beersheba, he marked his progress with carnage and desolation: seventy -thousand men, within the space of a few hours, fell a sacrifice to the -devouring pestilence. He soon reached the beloved city, and was -preparing to pour his phial of wrath upon the mount of GOD. The eyes of -the unhappy monarch were now opened: he saw the destroying angel, -humbled himself in the dust, acknowledged his guilt, and deprecated the -further progress of the contagion. "Lo, I have sinned, and I have done -wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done?" Omnipotence arrested -the Angel in his progress: "It is enough--stay now thine hand." And -David was directed by the prophet Gad, to rear an altar unto the LORD, -on the very spot where the pestilence had ceased. This spot was the -threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite. - -Deeply sensible of the greatness of his deliverance, the king -immediately proceeded to execute the divine command. Araunah discovered -him at a distance; and with all the submission of a conquered and -tributary prince, hastened to meet him, and "bowed himself before the -king on his face to the ground." "And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord -the king come unto his servant?" And David said, "To buy the -threshing-floor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the -plague may be stayed from the people." Araunah, as a king, with a -princely generosity of spirit, immediately offered him, not only the -threshing-floor, but also his oxen for the sacrifice, and his threshing -instruments for wood. "And the king said unto Araunah, Nay, but I will -surely buy it of thee at a price; neither will I offer burnt-offerings -unto the LORD my GOD, of that which doth cost me nothing." The plain and -obvious meaning of which is undoubtedly this: - -Hath GOD favoured me with such an astonishing deliverance? Hath he -manifested his goodness and loving-kindness in withdrawing his -chastising hand, pardoning my guilt, and sparing me and my people from -utter destruction? Surely, then, I will not grudge, the trifling expence -of erecting, upon this spot, a monument of his love. Surely I will not -accept of the labours of another, or testify my gratitude by -burnt-offerings and sacrifices at another's expence. The least I can do -is, to make such an acknowledgment, and in such a manner, as will best -evidence my sense of the obligation, and the honour that is due to my -Almighty Deliverer. - -Those who look beyond the letter and the outward history, will readily -discern the state of David's mind. They will readily discern this -outward action of his, though adapted to the outward dispensation under -which he lived, to be highly expressive of that great and fundamental -principle, which every dispensation of Truth, from the fall of man down -to this very day, hath strongly inculcated, viz. that true religion is -an inward life, that cannot rest in external appearances, but manifests -itself in an absolute unlimited surrender of the whole man to his -Creator. This can never be accomplished without considerable cost and -expence on the part of the creature, inasmuch as his will and affections -must first be drawn off from all that variety of imaginations, desires -and enjoyments, to which his fallen nature strongly allures, and deeply -enslaves him. - -Hence it is, that our BLESSED LORD makes the very first duty of -discipleship to consist in "denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and -following him:" that is to say, in bearing, with meekness, the necessary -evils of our fallen life, resisting and overcoming its sinful -suggestions, and humbly waiting for and co-operating with his Spirit -revealed in our hearts. - -This is the spiritual warfare, the struggle betwixt the "law in the -members," and the "law of the mind;" the fighting "not only against -flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers," in which we are -all summoned to engage. The whole burnt-offering and sacrifice, the -whole price which this must cost us, is nothing less than the turning -our wills, with the whole tide of our affections, from the evil to the -good principle within us. And that GOD through CHRIST hath given us -ability to do this, will appear from the following considerations: - -The will of man, as coming forth from the Eternal Will of GOD, must be -eternally and essentially free. The will of the fallen angels in hell, -was as free as that of the highest archangel now in heaven: - - Freely they stood, who stood; and fell, who fell. - -The whole difference betwixt them consists in this, that the will of -those who fell, is freely turned to evil; the will of those who stood, -is freely turned to GOD and Goodness. - -Man stands in an intermediate state, betwixt light and darkness, betwixt -life and death, betwixt heaven and hell. The whole tenor of Scripture, -from beginning to end, represents him in this critical situation; -represents his Heavenly Father, as calling to him and inviting him to -"eschew evil, and to do good;" to "love light rather than darkness;" to -"come to him, that he may have life." All which certainly implies, that -GOD, by his Grace, hath given him a power of choosing, and has made his -salvation or destruction to proceed from himself, and not from any -predetermining divine decree. - -JESUS CHRIST is always spoken of, as a freely given Saviour; but -salvation, as "a treasure to be purchased, as a race to be run, as a -battle to be fought, as a work to be accomplished, even with fear and -trembling." The power or capacity of being saved, the whole merit of -salvation, comes from CHRIST; the using of this power, the availing -ourselves of this merit, from ourselves. "Why WILL YE die, O house of -Israel? TURN YOURSELVES, and live ye. Ye WILL NOT come to me, that ye -might have life. How often would I have gathered you, as a hen gathereth -her chickens under her wings, and ye WOULD NOT!" - -Upon this principle of forsaking sin, and turning our will to Goodness, -are founded all those Gospel precepts, which speak of "crucifying the -flesh with its affections and lusts, destroying the old man, dying to -sin, suffering with CHRIST, cutting off a right hand, plucking out a -right eye, passing through much tribulation;" all which plainly shews, -that True Religion is a perpetual sacrifice; and that this sacrifice -cannot be "offered to the LORD our GOD, of that which doth cost us -nothing;" that the price will be far more, than "fifty shekels of -silver," the purchase of Araunah's threshing-floor and implements; yea, -that it will be no less than the "whole body of sin," which we carry -about us, with all its affections and lusts; which we must, with -meekness and humility, surrender to our BLESSED REDEEMER, to be burnt up -and consumed upon the fire of his altar. - -Having thus endeavoured to establish this fundamental principle, that -"true religion is a costly and a perpetual sacrifice;" let us now, to -prevent any dangerous deception, turn our eyes to those false -appearances of it, which we frequently meet with in the world, which are -very easily assumed, and which cost nothing. - -The man of moral honesty first steps forth, and puts in his claim to the -character of religious. He looks upon any Revelation from Heaven to be -quite unnecessary; and, with all the forwardness and presumption of his -own blind reason, pronounces those books, which Christians believe to be -of Divine Authority, to be idle and chimerical. His religion, he will -tell you, is, "to do as he would be done by." Poor man! it were well, if -he even practised this golden rule; it might lead him to something -further: for, by endeavouring to fulfil this, he might be brought to a -view and feeling of his own natural inability; of the evil tempers and -passions of his soul, which, in innumerable instances, hurry him on to -do to others, what he would, by no means, have them to do to him. His -religion, therefore, is properly visionary. Every thing to him is just -and right, that comes within those bounds of honesty, which have been -fixed by the laws of the land. A right life is not, with him, a right -principle in the heart; but only a set of outward actions, that in the -eyes of the world give him the character of an honest man. - -The religion of such a person "costs him nothing." He has nothing to -sacrifice, but much to gain by the practice of it; at least, much of -worldly happiness; for he can have no idea of any other. Being wholly -destitute of all sensibility with respect to the evil of his fallen -life, he is not in the least desirous of purchasing a better, at the -price it will cost. Before he can form any conception of the necessity -of religion, as a real inward change and renewal of heart, he must first -be made sensible of his present error and misery: "for they that are -whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." - -Next comes the nominal Christian, who hath been baptized, and professes -to believe the great truths of the Gospel, and joins with some publick -assembly of Christians in outward worship. Surely his claim to the -religious character, hath a better foundation than the preceding one: he -purchases it at an higher price; it costs him more to support it. He -neglects no outward duty, either moral or instituted; you never miss him -at church, or at the sacrament: he hath been strictly educated from his -infancy; he is sober, virtuous, kind, and charitable. In a word, he -appears to be, what it were to be wished every man in the world really -was. Thus far he is undoubtedly right: a strict observance of all the -outward duties of religion, a minute attention to things in themselves -indifferent, and a prudent abstaining from every appearance of evil, are -doubtless incumbent, even upon those who have made the greatest progress -in the Divine Life. - -Let us, however, remember, that this outward strictness will avail -little, without a conformity of our inward man to the temper and -disposition of CHRIST; without being "born again," and commencing a new -life, even a life of Heaven upon earth. The nominal Christian is a -stranger to this blessed process. Talk to him of the necessity of -regeneration, of doing all that he does from a principle of Divine Love, -and with a view to God's glory, and not to any self-satisfaction, and he -will not understand you. His round of duties seems to be the God whom he -worships; at least, he makes them the _opus operatum_. He is never -tormented with spiritual doubts and temptations; he knows nothing of the -severe conflicts which real Christians sustain, and the dreadful pangs -they must suffer, before their purification is accomplished; before they -can "bow their heads," with the great Captain of their Salvation, and -say with him, "It is finished." He is willing to go to Heaven by an -easier and less thorny path, and to purchase glory at a cheaper rate. - -The last I shall mention, but the most specious appearances of religion, -are those which are exhibited by the pharisaical professors of -Christianity. And here I would willingly throw a veil over those follies -and extravagancies, to which false enthusiasm frequently gives the name -of spiritual exercises and experiences. But my duty calls upon me to put -you on your guard against these delusive appearances; as I cannot but -think, that spiritual pride, or an over-weening conceit and forward -exhibition of our own fancied spiritual attainments, is the most fatal -rock, upon which the Christian can make "shipwreck of his faith." - -In an age, wherein every appearance of religion ought to be encouraged -and promoted, it is melancholy to think, that we should be under a -necessity of speaking even against some appearances. But that you may -form a right notion of what I mean by a pharisaical profession of -religion, I will endeavour to draw the character of a modern Pharisee. - -In the first place, he is one, who talks much in a religious strain, but -takes care to make himself the chief subject of conversation. His own -illuminations and experiences, his conviction and conversion, with all -the particular circumstances attending them, he never fails to -communicate, without distinction, to all those who will give him an -hearing; and to communicate in such a manner, as to let them know, that -he considers his own experiences as the infallible standard by which he -measures the experiences of others. - -In the next place, you will generally find him insisting upon points of -controversy, rather than those of practice; urging your assent to such -and such articles of his faith, calling upon you to apply for -instruction to some favourite Rabbi of his own sect, or some favourite -system which himself has adopted, instead of sending you immediately to -him, who is the Fountain of all Wisdom, and "who giveth it liberally" to -those that ask it of him. - -You will find him careful to "pay tithes of mint, and annise, and -cummin;" to go to what he calls a gospel-sermon, though he should -neglect the necessary duties of his occupation; and to spend hours in -talking about religion, whilst he passes by "the weightier matters of -the law, judgment, and mercy, and faith." Tell him of the necessity "of -dying daily to sin, of suffering with CHRIST, of mortifying the flesh, -denying himself, cutting off a right hand, &c." he will answer you, that -his peace is made, that his sins are pardoned, that he has a full -assurance of everlasting life. Tell him of the necessity of being "born -again," of having the righteous nature, temper, and disposition of the -HOLY JESUS in his heart; he will reply, that he knows of no -righteousness but that of CHRIST imputed, and that his Saviour's -personal obedience is accepted by GOD instead of his own; and though he -may not go so far as to deny the great doctrine of sanctification, but -will even allow and insist upon it, yet it is such sanctification, as -will turn to very little account. For, who that looks upon his work as -already done, will chuse to labour any longer? Who that believes his -sins to be already pardoned, will think it necessary to implore the -forgiveness of God, or to obtain the healing influences of the Spirit of -Grace? - -In a word, if we may judge from his conversation, he thinks himself -perfect--if we may judge from his actions, he is indeed very far from -it. He shews the utmost bitterness against every one that happens to -dissent from his opinion; and looks upon all those as carnal and -unregenerate, who do not walk in his footsteps. Meekness, humility, -benevolence and charity, the most characteristical graces of the true -disciples of JESUS, are not to be found in any part of his conduct. His -life, therefore, is not in CHRIST, but in a set of doctrines and -opinions, supported by a "zeal that is not according to knowledge." Till -he is taught to see his own pride and presumption; till he discovers, -and strives to eradicate, the selfish principle that lurks at the centre -of his heart; he cannot be said to offer any other sacrifices to GOD, -than such as "cost him nothing." - -To conclude: Having seen what those real sacrifices of religion are, -which will be acceptable to GOD, and in how many instances men deceive -themselves, and others, by false appearances; let us determine to judge -of our acquaintance with and progress in True Religion, not merely by -outward observances, nor yet by any transient fits or lively and -pleasant frames of devotion; but rather by the discovery which GOD is -pleased to make to us of our weakness and misery, by our sincere desire -of being united to CHRIST, and in heart and spirit assimilated to his -nature. Thus having followed a Suffering Master, "travelling in the -greatness of his strength," through the ensanguined paths of a spiritual -warfare, we shall at length "come forth out of great tribulation;" and, -having "washed our robes in the Blood of the Lamb," shall be partakers -of his triumphs; and receive the accomplishment of his great and -glorious promise: "To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me -in my throne; even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in -his throne." - - - - - DISCOURSE VI. - Truth, the only Friend of Man. - - -GALATIANS, CHAP. iv. VER. 16. - - "AM I THEREFORE BECOME YOUR ENEMY, BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH?" - - -Men are generally too apt to consider religion as unfriendly to their -happiness, and incapable of yielding them any satisfactions, equal to -those which they derive from the pursuit of worldly objects. Hence, the -aversion to exercises of piety, and the society and conversation of the -good and virtuous. Hence, the listlessness and unconcern about the state -of their souls, whilst the whole attention of their minds, their -thoughts, their desires and affections, their hands and their hearts, -are all busily and constantly employed, in making provision for the -support, ornament, and gratification, of a perishing body. Surely, such -a strange conduct as this, must proceed from a secret persuasion, that -religion will interrupt their pursuit of some present favourite objects, -and damp and deaden all the sprightliness of enjoyment. Were they, -indeed, charged with holding such principles as these, they would -doubtless take it exceedingly amiss; and look upon that man as their -enemy, who should presume thus to arraign their conduct, and ascribe it -to motives, which they would blush to own. - -The tender and affectionate expostulation in my text, is evidently -founded upon an intimate knowledge of human nature. The sagacious -Apostle readily discovered the secret workings of pride and disgust, in -the hearts of his Galatian converts. After having expressed his -astonishment, that "they were so soon removed from him, that called them -into the Grace of CHRIST, unto another Gospel;" after having charged -them with folly, for suffering themselves to be "bewitched," as he -expresses it, by the artifices of deceivers; after having declared his -fears and apprehensions lest he should have bestowed upon them labour in -vain; and, after having enumerated some former testimonies of their -reciprocal regard and affection for each other; he, at length, addresses -himself to their consciences, and solemnly calls upon them to declare, -whether they could, with the least justice or propriety, change their -former sentiments of him, or deem him unfriendly to their best -interests, "because he told them the Truth;" because, by his Christian -and apostolical reprehensions, he sought to rescue them from the -dominion of passion and prejudice: "Am I therefore become your enemy, -because I tell you the Truth?" - -One would think, that such well-meant remonstrances, from the ministers -of Truth and friends of Virtue, would be kindly received, and have a -salutary influence upon the hearts of sinners; but experience, alas! -tells us the contrary. There have been many instances, and some, -perhaps, within our own personal knowledge, in which resentment, rather -than gratitude, hath been awakened by such expostulations; and where, -instead of humbling the spirit, they have produced a reply that bore the -marks of passion, checked and disappointed in its favourite pursuits. - -Considered with respect to the real state of his soul, every man, who -lives under the dominion of any evil passion, or suffers himself to be -drawn aside from the paths of virtue by the delusive arts of vice, is -doubtless in a situation similar to that of these Galatians. For though -his passions and prejudices may not be exactly the same, yet they -proceed from the same source, and enmity to GOD and Goodness is at the -bottom. - -But, blessed be GOD! there are no Galatians without an Apostle; no -sinner without an higher messenger of GOD than St. Paul; a greater -witness, and more awful reprover of his evil ways; a friend that speaks -to him at all times and seasons, in the hurry of the day, and the -silence of the night, amidst the anxiety of expectation, and the ardour -of possession; vigorously remonstrating against every sinful suggestion, -and sharply censuring and reproving the mind for every sinful act. - -The fallen spirit of man, it is true, brooks not the frequent appearance -of this Heavenly Messenger; but, as the Apostle says of the Galatians, -treats him as an enemy, and replies to all his friendly remonstrances -and affectionate warnings, with indignation and disdain. - -"Go thy way for this time," was the language of voluptuous greatness to -the same blessed Apostle. "Go thy way for this time," is still the -language of every unconverted heart, when it is checked or interrupted -in its vicious and lawless pursuits, by the voice of this Inward -Monitor--why art thou perpetually intruding upon my hours of business, -pleasure, or repose, and teizing and disquieting me with thine ill-timed -admonitions or rebukes? - -Who amongst us, let me ask, hath not, in innumerable instances, given -such a rash and impatient answer to the Servant of GOD within us? When -some darling passion hath importunately solicited for immediate -indulgence; some pretty fantastical object presented itself to our -desires; some impetuous call of pride, envy, covetuousness, or -resentment, demanded an immediate answer; have we not, though we were, -at the very instant, warned against the artifice and delusion, by this -constant and inseparable Friend, have we not petulantly rejected his -counsel, bid him "away for that time" at least, and treated him with -more contempt than we would dare to shew to an earthly enemy? - -His meekness, however, is not discomposed by our rising wrath; his -fortitude is not daunted by our repeated insults; his persevering love -is not in the least abated by the stubbornness and obduracy of our -hearts. He still keeps close to our side, accompanies us whithersoever -we go, and, "whether we will hear, or whether we will forbear," ceases -not, at one time, to whisper to us in the soft language of heavenly -instruction; and, at another, to thunder in our ears the most alarming -reproofs and menaces. - -But who is this Apostle, this Messenger of GOD, this Inward Witness and -Monitor, whom deluded mortals are so apt to consider as an enemy to -their peace?--Hear, O sinner, and let thy face be covered with -confusion! let thine hard heart break with deep compunction for its past -obduracy, whilst thou art told, that this enemy, as thou hast hitherto -deemed and treated him, is no other than the ETERNAL SPIRIT OF THY GOD -AND THY REDEEMER, who, by continually opposing the language of truth to -the suggestions of error, hath been endeavouring to emancipate thy soul -from its grievous bondage, and to bring it forth into light and liberty. - -Thou hast mistaken death for life, misery for happiness, time for -eternity! Thy will and affections have been fixed upon objects of unreal -bliss; turned from thy GOD, the true and only source of Goodness and -Happiness, and working evil in the element of sin and darkness! Spirits -thus employed, must mingle with congenial spirits: there is "no -communion of CHRIST with Belial;" no fellowship or likeness betwixt thy -spirit in such a state as this, and the Spirit of thy REDEEMER. He -appears, and cannot but appear to thee, as thine enemy, because the -truth he tells thee militates against thy darling lusts, and shews thee -those dark destructive purposes, which, because thou canst hide them -from others, thou wishest also to hide from thyself. - -But this seeming enemy is, indeed, thy real friend. He is only pursuing -thee with his internal counsels and reproofs, that he may snatch thee -out of the hands of the destroyer; that he may call thee out of thy -present "darkness, into his own marvellous light." When thou hast -experienced this blessed change, reconciliation will soon take place; an -union of spirits will commence betwixt thy SAVIOUR and thee; and thou -wilt gradually grow into his Image and Likeness, till thou art made -perfect in his Love. - -Believe me, my brethren, till this great change hath passed upon our -souls, till we begin to feel, and admire, and love the communications of -this Inward Friend and Comforter, we must be strangers to true peace of -mind, and totally ignorant of the proper enjoyment of ourselves, and the -proper use of the world in which we now sojourn. - -In our natural state, all is darkness, disorder, and disquietude. We see -every thing through a false medium. We are under a spiritual delirium. -Our heavenly physician is endeavouring, by the methods I have just -mentioned, to restore our health of mind, to open our spiritual senses, -to give us a clear and distinct view of "the things that belong to our -peace." We must, therefore, co-operate with his "labours of love." Even -the severity of his applications proves him to be our friend; for he -knows that, without them, we can never come to a "right mind." Let us, -then, recollect, how often these applications have been made; how often, -through inattention and neglect, they have failed of success; how often -we have slighted his counsels, despised his prescriptions, and cast his -medicines from us. But let us also remember, that there is a time at -hand, when, light as we may think of such a blessing now, we shall most -ardently long for his support and consolation. When languishing with -sickness, and oppressed with pain, it is he alone who can soften our -pillow, and supply us with inward strength; when tottering with age, and -bowed down with infirmities, it is he alone who can be our rod and -staff; and when the lamp of life is so near expiring, that we can -scarcely see our passage to the verge of time, it is he alone that can -light up the Lamp of GOD in our hearts, and conduct us through the dark -valley of the shadow of death, to the bright confines of a celestial -world. - -In a word, if the enmity is not destroyed in our souls in this life, we -must necessarily carry it with us into the next. And to those who die -under the dominion of a fallen life and sinful nature, "our God must be -a consuming fire." - -Let us lay these things seriously to heart. Let us earnestly seek -Reconciliation with GOD THROUGH CHRIST, and endeavour to perfect -ourselves in the great work of Peace and Love, "whilst it is day; -because the night cometh, when no man can work." - - - - - DISCOURSE VII. - The Strength and Victory of Faith. - - -1 JOHN, CHAP. v. VER. 4. - - "WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD, OVERCOMETH THE WORLD; AND THIS IS THE - VICTORY THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, EVEN OUR FAITH." - - -All the doctrines of our most Holy Religion conspire to inform us, that -the supreme happiness of man is not to be attained without unnumbered -labours and conflicts; and all its precepts are calculated to inforce a -perpetual activity, and unwearied perseverance, in the "pursuit of the -things that belong to our peace." - -"The Devil, the world, and the flesh," are the great adversaries, who -are continually plotting our ruin. The flesh, by which is meant that -corrupt nature which we bring with us into the world, is ever harrassing -us with its impure suggestions: "the Devil walks about as a roaring -lion, seeking whom he may devour:" and the world, by which we are to -understand that fallen state of things, in which we at present dwell, -never fails of opposing our progress toward Heaven, with its specious, -but delusive scenes of happiness. Against the united efforts of such -formidable enemies, where shall we find armour of sufficient proof? In a -conflict so long and arduous, where shall we meet with such supplies of -strength, as will enable us to contend and finally to overcome? The -power of contending, and the means of obtaining the victory, are clearly -pointed out by the Apostle in my text. "Whatsoever is born of GOD, -overcometh the world: and this is the Victory that overcometh the world, -even our Faith." - -From these words it appears, that those who engage in this heavenly -warfare, are persons of the highest dignity, and most illustrious birth: -they are the offspring of him whose "kingdom is not of this world;" they -are "heirs of GOD, and joint-heirs with JESUS CHRIST;" they are "born, -not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD." - -To be "born of GOD," is to rise out of the ruins of a fallen nature into -the glory of a redeemed one. It is to die to Adam, and to live to -CHRIST; it is to see, and feel, and to forsake our own weakness and -vanity and sin, and adhere to the strength and sufficiency and -righteousness of CHRIST. The first great work of the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, as -our LORD assures us, is to "convince the world of sin." The foundation -of that spiritual edifice which Heaven erects in the souls of men, must -be laid in humility: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the -kingdom of Heaven!" He that is "born of GOD," lives and acts in direct -opposition to him who is "born of the flesh:" meekness and love are the -prevailing dispositions of the former; pride and selfishness the ruling -tempers of the latter. A discerning mind, spiritually enlightened, and -viewing mankind as they really are, and not through the false medium of -worldly philosophy, will readily discover the manifest contrariety with -which their characters are marked by these two principles. Look round -you, my brethren; look into your own hearts; judge for yourselves: your -own experience of what is continually passing within and about you, will -afford you ample demonstration of these great truths. - -Wherever we discover in ourselves, or in others, the corrupt passions of -pride, envy, ill-nature, avarice, anger, jealousy, malice, prevailing, -there we may be as certain of the marks of unregenerate nature, as we -are of a disorder in the elements, when we see the heavens overcast with -clouds, and thunders and lightnings issuing from every quarter of the -sky. On the other hand, where meekness and gentleness, self-abasement, a -forgetfulness of our own interest, and a chearful attention to the -happiness of others, an heart-felt sympathy in their joys and sorrows, -an universal love of GOD and man, testified by a life of uninterrupted -piety and charity; wherever we find these amiable graces and virtues, -there are the sure marks of Regeneration; there is the true disciple of -JESUS, "born of GOD, and overcoming the world." - -The state of such a soul, with respect to its GOD, may be expressed in -words to this effect: "LORD, what is man, that thou hast such respect -unto him; or the Son of man, that thou visitest him?" "Behold, LORD, I -am less than the least of all thy mercies!" And yet thou hast had -respect even unto me; and yet thou hast visited even me, with the -greatest of thy mercies! Thou hast caused thy light to shine into the -darkness of my nature; thou hast laid open every secret recess of my -heart, and shewn me those roots of evil, from whence the innumerable -sins of my past life have sprung forth, and diffused their venom -throughout my whole frame. Yea, thou hast not only discovered to me the -depth and malignity of sin, but, with thy Light, thou hast also imparted -thy Life to my soul; thou hast supplied me with strength from above; -thou hast furnished me with armour of heavenly proof to encounter the -enemies of my peace. Thou hast taught me to despair of my own strength, -and to trust in thine arm alone for salvation; thou hast taught me to -despise my own righteousness, and to seek thy righteousness in CHRIST -JESUS. Though the world should present to me her most alluring charms; -though she should give, to her visionary forms, the fairest features -that fancy's pencil can delineate; though she should court me to accept -her proffered pleasures, in all that false tenderness of language, which -artful vice so frequently assumes; yet, armed with thy celestial -panoply, I shall be enabled to contend with the enchantress, and -overcome her magic power; I shall nobly triumph over all her devices, -assert the dignity of my heavenly birth, and preserve my heart unspotted -from her impurities. For sure I am; that whilst united in spirit with -thee, my GOD and SAVIOUR, I breathe the air of Heaven, I feed upon the -bread of angels; the strength of Omnipotence is exerted amid the -weakness of nature, and I shall go on, under thine auspicious guidance, -"conquering and to conquer." - -Such is the state of the virtuous and regenerated Christian, with -respect to his GOD. With respect to man, his conduct flows from the same -Divine and lovely principle. He deems every spiritual blessing, by which -he may be distinguished from the rest of his brethren, as the gift of -GOD, to be accepted and enjoyed, not with an haughty, but an humble -mind. He does not, therefore, stand aloof from them, as if he was holier -than they. He cannot, indeed, but shrink from their vices, and, by a -prudent distance of behaviour, shew himself averse to, and even offended -with their levities. But he pities their blindness, and compassionates -the obduracy of their hearts. He is ever ready to exert himself for the -real service of wicked, as well as of good men; knowing, that his -"heavenly Father sendeth his rain, and causeth his sun to shine, upon -the unjust no less than the just." - -If he is blessed with worldly affluence, he cheerfully administers to -the temporal necessities of his indigent neighbours. If he is poor, and -can give them no earthly aid, he will do all he can--he will pray for -them, and beg his GOD to shower down upon them his temporal, as well as -spiritual comforts. He suffers no ill conduct on their part to excite -his indignation, or make him forget that they are his brethren, to be -redeemed by that precious blood, whose salutary influences he has -himself experienced. He envies none their fortunes, honours, and -accomplishments; neither does he repine, because he is not so rich, or -learned, or polite, or advanced to such an exalted rank in life, as -others are. He endeavours to be dead alike to the censure and applause -of beings, mortal and fallible as himself; inasmuch as he is convinced, -that their good or ill opinion cannot make the least alteration in the -real state of his soul: he is, therefore, guilty of no mean compliances, -or time-serving practices, to obtain the one, or to avoid the other. He -gives "honour to whom honour is due." He endeavours to "owe no man any -thing, but love:" he is, therefore, careful, not only to pay every just -debt, but to avoid embarking in any worldly schemes or prospects of -advancing his own interest, to the injury of others. In a word, by piety -to GOD, justice and charity to his neighbour, and chastity and -temperance in his own person, he seeks to maintain "a conscience void of -offence towards GOD, and towards man;" to fill the station in which he -is placed, and support the character in which he appears, in such a -manner, as will do honour to the Religion of his Master. - -This is Evangelical Morality, not confined, as you may observe, to the -external conduct of life; but reaching inward, even to the secret -thoughts and inclinations of the heart. What is generally called -morality, I am afraid, is little more than an external decency, and -common sobriety; and it is well, if, in every instance, it is carried -even so far. But surely none, but the truly Regenerate Christian, acting -under the immediate influence of the DIVINE SPIRIT, can properly be -called a moral man. For morality, without an inward principle, is but a -name; and the Scriptures tell us of no other true principle, but "the -LOVE OF GOD shed abroad in the human heart by his HOLY SPIRIT." - -Having thus given some of the marks or characteristicks by which the -Regenerate Christian, or the "Born of GOD," is to be known, let us now -enquire what the Apostle means, by "overcoming the world," and ascribing -"the victory to Faith:" "Whatsoever is born of GOD, overcometh the -world; and this is the Victory that overcometh the world, even our -Faith." - -"Overcometh the world!" methinks I hear some say--"that is -impossible--human nature has passions, and the world abounds with -objects suited to gratify them. Surely the GOD of nature hath not placed -man in his present circumstances, to make him miserable. He created us -for happiness, and hath furnished us with the means of obtaining it. -What a senseless doctrine this, that would shut us out from all the -joys, which earth holds forth for our acceptance?" - -Alas, vain man! who told thee, that GOD had given thee such corrupt -passions, as now solicit for indulgence? Who told thee, that GOD created -thee for this world; and that thou art to take up thy rest in that -visionary happiness, which thou findest here? These passions are the -proofs of thy fall; for thou hast them in common with the beasts of the -field. This world is thy temporary prison, though thy disordered -imagination may represent it as a palace. Thou art dreaming, though thou -thinkest thyself wide awake. Thou art in darkness, and canst not -distinguish the true appearance of objects around thee. Let but the SUN -OF RIGHTEOUSNESS dart one beam into thy benighted soul, and thou wilt -soon discover the deception, and long for the power of his Grace to -enable thee to triumph over those passions, that have been leading thee -blindfold to destruction; and to overcome that world, which hath been -cheating thee with visionary gratifications. - -"Overcome the world!" says some faint-hearted Christian--"Ah me! how -infinitely short do I fall of this glorious standard! I have been -striving for months, for years, to get the mastery of this powerful -adversary, without being yet able to discover that I have gained the -least advantage; though I have exerted my utmost endeavours to disengage -myself from his subtil, but violent assaults." Hast thou so? But didst -thou ever attend to the true and only means, by which the Scriptures -have assured thee this conquest may be obtained? "This is the victory -that overcometh the world, even our Faith." - -Now, what is Faith? It is "the substance of things hoped for, the -evidence of things not seen:" that is to say, it is a full and assured -trust and confidence in CHRIST, that the things hoped for will be -finally obtained, and the things not seen will be fully manifested to -our senses. It is such a trust and confidence as realises the immediate -possession of them to our minds, so that we regard not any pain or -difficulty we meet with in the pursuit, resting upon an OMNIPOTENT GOD, -by whose strength in us every obstacle will be gradually removed, and a -complete victory at length secured. Why then, O Christian, shouldst thou -despair of success? If thou hast hitherto been striving in thine own -strength, and depended upon the power of thine own weak resolution, it -is no wonder thou hast made such small advances. "Without me, ye can do -nothing," says our BLESSED REDEEMER. "I can do all things through CHRIST -strengthening me," says his experienced Apostle. - -When we repose so much confidence in a friend, as to entrust him with -the whole management of our temporal affairs, looking to him in every -instance, and upon the least appearance of difficulty or embarrassment, -running to him for counsel, and implicitly following his directions, -from a thorough conviction of our own ignorance, of his superior skill -in business, and his known regard and attachment to us; we are then said -to have faith in such a friend. - -And canst thou not, O Christian, have as much Faith in thy SAVIOUR, as -one frail mortal has in another? When temptations rise, when dangers -threaten, when enemies attack us from within and from without, so that -our souls are hard beset, and we know not how to extricate ourselves -from the perilous situation; can we not fly with confidence to our -Heavenly Friend, ask his counsel, and entreat his powerful interposition -in our behalf? He is ever ready and willing to come to our succour. -Nothing is wanting but Faith on our part; and "according to our Faith, -so shall it be done unto us." - -We are not, however, to expect that this Victory will be easily or -speedily obtained. The Canaanites were suffered to keep possession of -the land of promise for a considerable time, lest the Children of -Israel, instead of ascribing the glory of the conquest solely to the -LORD OF HOSTS, should vainly arrogate it to themselves, and, in -consequence of this, lose all sense of their dependence upon him. Many -strong and powerful temptations may be permitted to remain unsubdued, to -exercise the Christian's Faith, to keep him humble, and duly sensible of -his own weakness and inability. - -Besides, there is a wonderful analogy betwixt natural and spiritual -things. The Child of Grace, as well as the Child of Nature, must have a -gradual growth, during which many an anxious interval, many a severe -pang, many an arduous conflict, must be endured. For let this truth be -ever present to our minds, that the Inward Man increases in strength, in -proportion as the outward man weakens and decays; and the earthly nature -must be totally subdued, before "the BORN OF GOD" can attain the -"measure of the stature of the fulness, which is in CHRIST." - -Nor let what hath been said discourage those sincere and upright minds, -who have but lately turned their backs upon the world, and entered into -the school of CHRIST. Our trials are always suited to our strength: "GOD -will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able to bear." The -Child, the Young Man, and the Father in CHRIST, have exercises proper to -their different states; they are led on to glory by an unerring hand, -which supports them by its invisible, but powerful influence, through -the most rugged thorny paths of the Christian course. - -There is no spiritual adversary too strong for the Christian, that -engages in the Strength of his REDEEMER. David, though a stripling, -vanquished with ease the giant of Gath, because "he went out against -him," not in his own strength, but in "the Name of the LORD of Hosts, -the _God_ of the armies of Israel." The world, with all its temptations -and allurements, will be as easily overcome by him, who is truly "born -of GOD," as the uncircumcised Philistine was by the hand of David. - -To conclude: A worldly spirit is one of the greatest enemies we have to -encounter, because it insinuates itself into our hearts under as many -different forms, as there are different earthly desires predominant. The -man of business, according to the more common acceptation of the phrase, -hath obtained the name of a worldly man. But the truth is, wherever a -worldly temper prevails, whether it manifests itself in the pursuit of -wealth, or honour, or pleasure, or literary applause, or indeed of any -object, interest, or end, that is confined merely to this transient -state of things; there is the Worldly Spirit, the foe to our real -happiness, the "man of sin, the son of perdition;" from which may GOD of -his infinite mercy deliver us, for the sake of the Son of his Love, -CHRIST JESUS our Saviour! - - - - - DISCOURSE VIII. - Faith triumphant over the Powers of Darkness. - - -St. MARK, CHAP. ix. Part of VER. 24. - - "LORD, I BELIEVE: HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF!" - - -The false estimate of happiness, which is made by the generality of men, -entirely proceeds from their not taking into the account the real, -though invisible, objects of another world, with which they are much -more intimately concerned than with the present temporary state of -things. Hence it is, that they judge of the seeming pleasures of this -life, not from a comparative view of them with the superior enjoyments -of a better, but according to the proportion which they bear to one -another. It is upon this principle, coinciding with the peculiar -constitutional desires of different men, that their different worldly -pursuits are formed and regulated. - -The penurious grasping miser declaims, with an eloquence which avarice -alone inspires, against the rash and silly conduct of the gay and -thoughtless spendthrift. The man of pleasure expresses his astonishment -at the strange taste, and stupid employment of his neighbour, who can -sit poring over his accounts from morning till night, and values himself -upon the accuracy with which they are kept, and the strict economy with -which all his expences are regulated. The votary of ambition considers -his taste and pursuits of a far more sublime nature than those of either -of the former, and looks down with contempt upon the plodding dullness -of the miser, and the short-lived pleasures of the sensualist. In the -mean while, the sagacious enquirer after knowledge, who spends days and -nights in the most laborious researches, perpetually seeking after Truth -in the countless volumes of antiquity, congratulates himself upon the -superiority of his genius, and wonders that all mankind are not so -captivated with the charms of science, as immediately to forsake the -false and fleeting joys of avarice, ambition, and voluptuousness. - -Now all these various desires, employments, and pursuits, however -superior some of them may, on comparison, appear to be to others, -terminate generally in the nourishment and growth of that fallen life, -under which man, in consequence of an original apostasy, is born into -this world; and it may truly be said, with respect to them all, that "he -is only making provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof:" -for when the seeming good of this world is the sole object of his -attention and affections, he must necessarily be regardless of the real -good of another, and a better world. Whatever his desires center in, -that constitutes his life; and his own will may be said to create or -call forth, from surrounding nature, every thing that can feed and -nourish those desires. He stands in the midst of three worlds, -principles, or kingdoms, earth, hell, and heaven; and to which soever of -these he surrenders his heart, he becomes subject to its power and -influence; so that the real state of every man's soul depends upon the -exercise of his will: his will constitutes his faith; and "according to -thy faith," says the unerring Standard of Truth, "so shall it be done -unto thee." - -An afflicted parent brings to our BLESSED LORD a favourite child, who -was sorely vexed and tormented by an evil spirit, and in the most -earnest manner entreats his advice and assistance. The compassionate -JESUS, after having enquired into the nature and circumstances of the -disorder, and observed the distress and solicitude of the father, tells -him, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that -believeth." - -This answer abundantly evinceth the truth of the observation -above-mentioned, that our state depends entirely upon the inward -exercise of our will or desires. A sensibility of distress naturally -disposes us to seek for relief. Nature, without GOD, is nothing but -restless want and anguish: and though fallen man is possessed of the -powers and principles, by which this want may be supplied, and this -anguish effectually relieved, yet he too frequently seeks the remedy in -a wrong source; and cannot be convinced of his error, till the pangs of -disappointment succeed to the delusive assurances of worldly faith, and -the vain anticipations of worldly hope. Upon this view of human nature -it was, that the BLESSED JESUS founded his reply; "If thou canst -believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." As if he had -said: - -Thou appearest to be under great concern and anxiety of mind, for the -present afflicting circumstances of thy child. Thou hast a clear and -full perception of the cruel agency of an evil spirit, and canst not -doubt, but that all his torments are the effects of diabolical -influence. If thou desirest to see him rescued from this violent spirit, -and restored to a sound state of mind and body, thou must believe in the -more powerful agency of a Superior Spirit, to whose unlimited controul, -all the realms of nature, and its innumerable beings, are subjected, -and, consequently, that none but This Spirit, or those to whom he -imparts his healing powers, can possibly restore thy son. When this -belief rises in thine heart, by a living sensibility that carries its -own evidence along with it, thou wilt not entertain a doubt of the will -and ability of such a Divine Spirit to perform this miracle of Love, -but, in the full confidence of Faith, wilt apply to him, and to him -alone, for relief. This very turning of thy will and desire to the -Fountain of Goodness, makes it unite with those emanations of spiritual -health and vigour, which are perpetually flowing forth from his -all-merciful and compassionate heart. "All things are possible" to a -soul thus disposed and attempered; and thy child's health, and thine own -peace of mind, will be the sure and blessed consequence. - -The affectionate parent, overjoyed at a declaration which was -accompanied with such a Divine Power as awakened new sensations in his -breast, burst into a flood of tears, and cried out, "LORD, I believe, -help thou mine unbelief!" I am sensible, deeply sensible of the absolute -necessity of a supernatural interposition; and the mild Majesty of Love, -which shines so conspicuous in thy person and address, and whose -efficacy hath already passed from thy lips to my poor heart, more than -convinces me, that this Supernatural Power of Goodness is lodged with -thee. To thee, therefore, and thee alone, I apply! In thee I desire to -place my full confidence, earnestly entreating thee to remove from me -all darkness, doubt, and uncertainty, by further and brighter -manifestations of thyself, and thy heavenly virtues, in my weak and -unbelieving heart! - -We are very apt, when we read this, or other such passages of Scripture, -to consider them merely as historical facts, in which we are in no wise -particularly interested. What have we to do with evil spirits, or -possessions, at this day? Such things might have been permitted, whilst -our SAVIOUR was upon earth, to give him an opportunity of displaying the -Divine Powers with which he was invested. - -Alas! my brethren, human nature is just the same now, that it was then: -"the prince of the power of the air," and his infernal associates, are -as maliciously bent upon our destruction as ever they were; and the same -miraculous interposition of the same powerful and compassionate JESUS, -is still equally necessary for our security and relief. These spirits of -darkness are continually "walking about, seeking whom they may devour:" -they enter into all our worldly schemes and views; nay, they are -themselves frequently the first projectors of them: they enter into our -very blood and spirits, strive to gain possession of the very essence of -our souls, and to bring the whole man in subjection to their infernal -sway. They have deceived the wise men of this world, whom they have -taught to call them by some honourable appellation. Philosophy itself -seems, in some instances, to aid them in carrying on their dangerous -delusions. Pride, envy, covetousness, lust, malice, which are real -spirits of darkness, operating by real, though invisible, influences in -the human frame, have made their appearance in a fashionable dress, and -have been suffered to keep what is called the best company, when -introduced by the names of honour, decency, taste, dignity of sentiment, -virtuous resentment, free-thinking, and free-acting: they are, however, -devils in disguise, and are secretly undermining the real felicity of -man. - -Had we such a view of their cruel treatment of us, as the father just -mentioned had of their treatment of his child, you may think, perhaps, -that we should take the same steps which he did, towards obtaining -relief. And what is it that hinders us from having such a view of our -real misery? What, but that fascinating charm, which these very spirits -throw before our eyes to deceive us? They surround every worldly object -with a false lustre, and thus dazzle, in order to ensnare. Yea, though -we frequently detect the imposture, a succeeding one blinds us again. A -future world lessens to our view, in proportion as we become attached to -the present. Nor is the charm totally dissolved, till, by frequent -disappointment and vexation, we have learned to read and understand the -true name and character of worldly bliss, even "Vanity of vanities!" As -long as we have Faith in this world, we can have no Faith in another; as -long as ever we "think ourselves whole," we shall not apply to a -physician, or have the least confidence in his skill. - -But, blessed be GOD, there is a time, when the evil spirit tears and -wounds the child, and casts him into the fire, and into the water, -insomuch, that the affrighted parent is constrained to fly to JESUS for -aid. In pain, in sorrow, in distress, in temptation, or upon a sick and -dying bed, the sad effects of every diabolical delusion frequently -appear in their true colours. Though the infernal spirits themselves -then work within us with aggravated rage; though they seem to avail -themselves of our bodily indisposition, to storm the citadel of our -hearts; yet they are, in these instances, often egregiously deceived -themselves. The trembling sinner, destitute of every outward comfort, -which sun, and air, and animal spirits could give him, beholds every -sublunary object in its genuine colours, stripped of its false glare, -and emptied of its delusive treasure. He cries aloud for help?--"What -shall I do to be saved?" The Child of GOD, the offspring of Heaven -within me, will be torn to pieces and destroyed by the spirits of -darkness. LORD, if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on me and -help me! "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that -believeth," is the soft answer whispered to his soul. A beam of Heavenly -Light and Love accompanies it; sweet silence and stillness succeed; till -at length the soul, overpowered by an inexpressible sensibility of -meekness and humility, breaks forth in the language of my text, "Lord, I -believe, help thou mine unbelief!" The storm ceaseth; the evil spirits -are cast out, and the Child of GOD is delivered from their oppressive -bondage. - -"Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief," should be the constant -language of every Christian's heart. No words can more emphatically -express the weakness of man, and his absolute resignation to the will of -GOD, than these: they take every thing from the creature, and give all -to the Creator. Whenever the human will is thus effectually turned to -GOD, it soon manifests its origin, as coming forth from the essentially -and eternally Free Will of GOD. It brings down Heaven into the soul; it -triumphs over all opposition; and, through the greatest weakness of -human nature, it evidences the all-conquering power of DIVINE LOVE. - -Why then, O man! O Christian! Why shouldst thou despond in the hour of -trial? "Faith is, indeed, the gift of GOD;" but it is a gift, which he -bestoweth liberally upon all that ask it. Light and darkness, life and -death, heaven and hell, are set before us: freely to chuse, and freely -to reject, belongs to that free particle of the Divine Essence, which -"stirs within us." It was, originally, before the fall of man, the gift -of GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. It was the constitution of our nature in its -unfallen state: it was, if I may so speak, the Great Charter of Heaven, -freely delivered by the King of Heaven, to all his sons and subjects; -and though blotted, obliterated, lost by an original apostasy, it is now -restored, regained, and purchased by a REDEEMER'S blood. - -Shall we then tamely suffer these Rights of Heaven to be invaded by the -powers of darkness? Shall we suffer the Child of GOD, the Redeemed of -the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, to be taken captive by the armies of aliens? -Shall the splendor of accumulated wealth, the gay circle of worldly -pleasure, the tinsel trappings of honour, or the fading breath of -popular applause, make us forget our native home, forget that we are but -"strangers and pilgrims upon earth," and that we are "fellow-citizens -with the saints, and of the houshold of GOD?" Shall we continue the -willing slaves of the spirits of darkness, of pride, envy, covetousness -and wrath, whilst Heaven is declared to be our inheritance, and our -REDEEMER hath assured us, that we have "mansions prepared for our -reception in his Father's House." - -Regardless, however, as many of you, my brethren, may be of these -illustrious privileges now, the time may come, when a proper sensibility -of your present bondage, will make you cry aloud for deliverance; when -the service of earth and hell will appear base, dishonourable, and -unworthy the free-born sons of Light. - -When the good Providence of GOD, in kind commiseration of your secure -and thoughtless state, shall send sorrow and affliction to your houses -and to your hearts; when the shaft of anguish shall wound you, either in -your own persons, or in the persons of those whom you love; when duty, -when affection shall call you to some solemn death-bed scene, where you -shall behold expiring life just quivering upon the lips of a dear -departing friend or relative; or when your own frail tabernacles shall -be shaken by disease, and you shall feel death approaching to take -possession of the throne of life; when the counsels of the wise, and the -sorrows of the tender-hearted, can stand you in no stead; when the -immortal tenant of your earthly mansion is just ready to take his -flight, and stands trembling on the confines of a world unknown; at -these, or such like awful seasons, those amongst you, who have not -heretofore experienced the power of Divine Faith, will then, if ever, be -made sensible of your want of it. The visionary scene of earthly bliss -will vanish like a morning cloud, and deep heart-felt anguish will wring -the soul, and make it feel the full horrors of its bondage. But to -those, who have already tasted the comforts of religion, and who have -long been groaning for deliverance from the captivity of an evil nature, -and an evil world, Faith will open the doors of their prison, let in the -Light of Heaven as they are able to bear it, and sweetly sing this song -of consolation to their departing spirits: "I will ransom them from -death; I will redeem them from the power of the grave. O death! I will -be thy plague; O grave! I will be thy destruction." - - - - - DISCOURSE IX. - The Flourishing State of the Regenerate. - - -PSALM i. VER. 3. - - "HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER, THAT - BRINGETH FORTH HIS FRUIT IN HIS SEASON: HIS LEAF ALSO SHALL NOT - WITHER, AND WHATSOEVER HE DOTH SHALL PROSPER." - - -Whatever seeming inequality there may be in the dispensations of the -Almighty, or however partial he may appear to the eye of human reason, -in his distribution of spiritual or temporal blessings among the sons of -men; it will, nevertheless, be found, at the consummation of the great -scheme of Providence; that he has done every thing "in number, weight, -and measure;" and that every part and period of the Divine -Administration hath been planned by unerring Wisdom, and conducted by -universal and impartial Love. - -Minute philosophers, and men who value themselves upon what they call a -liberal and enlarged way of thinking, may imagine, that this is no more -than a religious dream; and argue, from present appearances, that "all -things happen alike unto all men, and that there is but one event to the -righteous and to the wicked, to him that serveth GOD, and to him that -serveth him not." But the Heaven-taught philosopher, whose inward eye is -illuminated from above, can see into the secret springs, by which the -vast machine is perpetually kept in motion, and by which all the -infinite variety of workings in intelligent and inanimate nature, are -rendered subservient to the Glory of GOD, and the final consummation of -his eternal plan in the supreme felicity of his creatures. By virtue of -that heavenly euphrasy with which his visual ray is purged and cleansed, -he sees, and is intimately convinced, that notwithstanding the frequent -vicissitudes with which the life of a good man is sadly checquered, he -is nevertheless "like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that -bringeth forth his fruit in his season; that his leaf also doth not -wither, and whatsoever he doth shall prosper." - -There is a peculiar beauty and propriety in this similitude, and every -part of it bears a wonderful analogy to that spiritual life, into which -fallen man hath been reinstated by the MEDIATION OF THE SON OF GOD. - -Man, by turning his will from his Maker, lost that paradisiacal glory, -in which he was originally created; and found nothing left, in its -stead, but a wrathful spirit within, and a dark disordered world -without. By this act of his own will, he transplanted his nature, if I -may so speak, from the delightful garden of Eden, in which the ALMIGHTY -had placed him, into the midst of a thorny barren desart. He deprived it -of all that nourishment it received from those waters of life, which -surrounded the blissful spot; and, in consequence, it must have been -parched up and have withered away, had not DIVINE LOVE affectionately -interposed, and put him once more into a capacity of recovering his lost -inheritance, and regaining the vital streams, by which alone his -heavenly nature could be preserved and cherished. - -It is true, man still continues in the desart of fallen nature: the -first Adam is still condemned to till the ground from whence he was -taken. But the second Adam, the LORD from Heaven, hath caused those -rivers of water, which are solely at his disposal, to flow through the -dry and comfortless waste, that "the wilderness and solitary place might -thereby be made glad, and the desart rejoice and blossom like the rose." - -When man, therefore, convinced of his dark and barren state by nature, -and the sovereign efficacy of these waters of life to chear and restore -him, freely opens his heart for their reception, he is then, indeed, -like "a tree planted by the rivers of water:" his roots shoot deep, and -his branches spread fair and luxuriant in the heavenly element: the -kindly moisture insinuates itself into every part, and leaves, and -flowers, and fruits, manifest the internal operation of the life-giving -stream. - -"I am the vine, ye are the branches"--says the LORD OF LIFE.--"As the -branch cannot bear fruit, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, -except ye abide in me." There must be an intimate union betwixt CHRIST -and his redeemed offspring; an union not suddenly formed, and as -suddenly broken, but piously and constantly maintained; an abiding -union, without which there can be no communication of his Heavenly -Virtues, and, consequently, no fruits of holiness. But wheresoever this -blessed union effectually takes place, the regenerated nature soon -springs forth; the bud, the blossom, the leaves, the fruits, all appear -in their proper season: the man of GOD stands forth content, and, like a -tree nourished by a living stream, imparts his refreshing shade, and -pleasant wholesome fruits, to all around. - -Would you know what these fruits are? They are fully enumerated by the -Apostle, who tells us, that "the fruits of the SPIRIT are love, joy, -peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, -temperance." These fruits, says my text, are "brought forth in their -season." The sun must shine upon the tree, the air must breathe, the -dews and rains must descend, and the rivers of water must rise through -the roots into the trunk and branches. All this process must be -performed, before the fruit will appear. - -It is just so with that "plant of celestial seed," which is sown in the -human heart. Meekness, humility, resignation, love, &c. are not the -growth of an hour: days, and months, and years, must pass, before they -will begin to appear. I well know, that the first faint manifestation of -these graces in an awakened soul, hath frequently been mistaken for the -whole of a sinner's conversion. It has been called the "Witness of the -SPIRIT," testifying to the sinner, that the act of his justification is -past, and that his pardon is sealed in the courts of Heaven. The Witness -of the SPIRIT it undoubtedly is, because it results from an union of the -human spirit with the Divine. And as the DIVINE SPIRIT is meekness and -love supreme, so it is no wonder that such an union should produce such -a spiritual sensation. But we are not to conclude from hence, that a -sudden, and seemingly instantaneous sensibility of Heavenly Peace and -Love, can be the whole of our conversion. It is, doubtless, a sweet -token of Divine Grace; an happy earnest of the residence of the DIVINE -SPIRIT, who, perhaps, for years before, had been seeking to manifest -himself in our hearts, and now gives this present consolation, as the -result of previous and frequent operations. Our salvation is so far from -depending upon these momentary sensations, that our LORD expressly -assures us, that though we are united to him by as intimate an union as -"the branches are to the vine;" yet, except "we abide in him, we shall -be cast as withered branches into the fire." - -"Let him, then, that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." Let -us not value ourselves upon past experiences, or think that we are GOD'S -children, and that our names are indelibly written in his book of life, -merely because we were once under spiritual distress, and were once -rescued from it by the consolations of his SPIRIT. Nothing can preserve -us in a state of union with our Divine REDEEMER, but an inward, constant -thirsting after those "waters of life," which he alone can give us. -Whilst we stand before him in such a frame of soul, meekly and humbly -waiting for such portions of his Grace, as he sees necessary and -expedient to impart, we may then be assured, that "our leaf shall not -wither, and that whatsoever we do shall prosper." For when the will of -man coincides with the Divine Will, and is implicitly resigned thereto -in every situation, circumstance, and event of life, he must necessarily -prosper, because GOD wills nothing but Good, and Good Supreme is the aim -and end of all his dispensations. - -Well, but say some, How can this be? Do we not daily see the best of -men, groaning under the most grievous calamities, pining away with -sickness, worn out with pain, or afflicted with some sad reverses of -fortune? On the other hand, do we not daily behold men, who shew not the -least regard to religion, who have no fear of GOD before their eyes, who -neither in private nor in public testify the least sense of their -dependance upon him, or their connexion with another world, who violate -his sabbaths, deride his Revelation, and scoff at every thing that bears -the appearance of seriousness or sobriety; do we not daily behold such -men advanced to the pinnacle of preferment, abounding in wealth, -favoured with health and strength, and surrounded with every good thing -this world can afford? Yes--we certainly do; and so did David many ages -since. But attend to David's reflections upon this subject, and you will -find them rational and satisfactory. - -"I was grieved at the wicked: I do also see the ungodly in such -prosperity. For they are in no peril of health, but are lusty and -strong. They come in no misfortune like other folk, neither are they -plagued like other men. Lo, these are the ungodly; these prosper in the -world, and these have riches in possession: and I said, then have I -cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. Yea, I had -almost said even as they; but lo, then I should have condemned the -generation of thy children. Then thought I to understand this, but it -was too hard for me, until I went into the sanctuary of GOD; then -understood I the end of these men, namely, that thou dost set them in -slippery places, and castest them down and destroyest them. O, how -suddenly do they consume, perish, and come to a fearful end!" - -These are David's reflections on the condition of wicked men in his day; -and the experience of preceding, as well as of after-ages, does -abundantly confirm them. Vice will, sooner or later, meet with its -recompence, even in this world. But supposing this should not be the -case, and that good and righteous men should have a much larger share of -temporal misery than the wicked; yet it may with truth be said, that by -this very misery they prosper; yea, that their inward prosperity keeps -pace with their outward sufferings. - -Every thing that has a tendency to disengage the heart and affections -from this transient scene of things, ought to be deemed a real blessing. -Now, who can deny, that sickness, pain, sorrow and affliction, have in -their very nature this tendency? and, when seen by the happy sufferer in -a true point of light, they never fail of producing this effect. Hence -it is, that many a pious soul is enabled to rejoice in such visitations, -and to thank GOD for them as the richer blessings: for, "though no -chastisement for the present is joyous, but rather grievous; yet it -afterwards yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness to those that -are exercised thereby." True it is, that the outward man suffers, and is -sadly weakened and distressed; but the Inward Man, the Child of GOD, -thrives and prospers. The riches of eternity appear more and more real, -in proportion as he discovers the vanity of time; and his disappointment -in any worldly concern, is sure to render him more prosperous and -successful in matters of eternal moment. - -Alas! methinks I hear some say, it would be well if it were always so. -But are not many good men afflicted inwardly, as well as outwardly? Are -they not often destitute of spiritual as well as of worldly comforts? -Are not their souls as much bowed down by the weight of their sinful -nature, as their bodies by temporal evils and infirmities? And can these -men be said to "prosper in whatsoever they do?" Surely, they are alike -unfortunate with respect to the present and the future world. - -Suspend thy judgment, poor partial observer! reason not from -appearances. Inward darkness, and distress, and anguish, are the proper -inlets through which the CHRIST OF GOD is received into the heavy-laden -soul. A sensibility of its burden makes it groan for relief: and the -very moment that "patience hath done its perfect work," and the human -will is thereby brought to yield itself with implicit resignation to its -GOD, the burden drops, and sweet peace and tranquillity of soul succeed. -GOD never willingly afflicts his children; he deals with them as a most -indulgent parent. Sin must be known and felt, before it can be shunned -and conquered. And it is by repeated strokes, that the wayward child is -taught to avoid what may prove injurious and destructive to its -happiness. - -To conclude with the apt similitude of my text: the real Christian is -"like a tree planted by the rivers of water;" they afford it all the -nourishment that is necessary. The stormy wind and the beating rain, -while they try its strength, increase it; they make it cling closer to -the kindly soil, take deeper root, and bear fruit in greater abundance. -Thus, "all things work together for good, to them that love GOD;" and -"whatsoever they do," notwithstanding the many apparent disappointments -and disquietudes they meet with, "shall finally prosper," and terminate -in never-fading bliss. - - - - - DISCOURSE X. - The Cause and Cure of the Disorders of Human Nature. - - -St. MARK, CHAP. vii. VER. 34. - - "AND LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN, HE SIGHED; AND SAITH UNTO HIM, EPHPHATHA! - THAT IS, BE OPENED." - - -A serious and philosophical mind, contemplating the innumerable evils, -physical and moral, to which men are exposed during their short -continuance in this world, would very naturally conclude, that the -present state could not be that for which the ALMIGHTY originally -intended them. Storms and tempests, sickness and pain, darkness and -disorder, in the natural world; and the various and destructive effects -of pride, envy, covetousness, and wrath, in the moral world; are so -contrary to the Divine Nature, which is Life, Light, and Love, eternal -and unchangeable, that it would be almost blasphemy to say, that such a -system was the original finished workmanship of his adorable hand. - -To such contemplations as these, philosophy might lead her sober -votary--But Divine Revelation alone can carry him back to the origin of -things, and give him the true information with respect to their present -appearances. By this we learn, that the beautiful order and harmony of -creation were marred by the creature's transgression; who turning his -will from the source of infinite GOODNESS, lost that first gate in which -his Maker had placed him, and wherein all was light and joy; and found -himself in subjection to an evil nature within, and a world of darkness -and distress without. By this Revelation also we are informed, that -nothing less than a return to his Original Source, could reinstate him -in his original bliss; that this return could be rendered possible in no -other way, than by a ray, a spark, a seed, an earnest, a taste or touch -of his first life, imparted or inspoken into his fallen nature by the -GOD OF LOVE, to be gradually opened and unfolded by such a Redeeming -Process, as, with the co-operation of his own will, would effectually -restore him to his primeval felicity; and that this was undertaken, and -only could be undertaken and accomplished, by that ETERNAL SON OF THE -FATHER, in and by whom man was originally created, and in and by whom -alone he could be redeemed. - -Accordingly we find, that when this Express Image of the Hidden Deity -appeared on earth, cloathed in our fallen flesh and blood, he was -invested with an absolute and uncontroulable power and authority over -the whole system of temporary nature. His wonder-working Fiat was -sufficient to calm, in an instant, the most aggravated fury of the winds -and seas; and, as proceeding from the same wrathful source, to assuage -the violence of raging fevers; to heal, by a mere touch, by a word, the -most inveterate diseases; and to restore every organ of sense, which had -been injured or destroyed, to its true state, and proper use and -function. And as all outward disorders primarily proceed from a wrong -state of the human spirit, his influence pervaded the inmost recesses of -the soul, and awakened and called forth that precious spark of his own -Heavenly Fire, which had lain buried under the ashes of sin; and bade it -enlighten, invigorate, and restore health and peace to, the whole man. - -The gospel for the day presents us with a very remarkable instance of -the amazing effects of these redeeming powers--"JESUS, departing from -the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, came unto the sea of Galilee, through the -midst of the coasts of Decapolis: and they bring unto him one that was -deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put -his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his -fingers into his ears, and he spit and touched his tongue: and looking -up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha! that is, Be -opened!" - -There are three circumstances in this miraculous cure worthy of our -serious attention, viz. the looking up to heaven, the sigh, and the -Ephphatha. - -I. The looking up to heaven, was beautifully expressive of the real -situation, in which this great Restorer of human nature stood before his -Heavenly Father. It was intended, no doubt, to communicate to every -attentive observer, this great lesson of instruction; that all the -powers and virtues of which he was possessed, came down from above; that -they were communicated to him "without measure;" and that he could have -no authority over the evils of human life, so as either to mitigate or -remove them, but by standing continually in the Heavenly World, -inspiring its air, receiving its beams of light and love, and sending -them forth into every human heart, that was truly desirous of their -salutary influence; and that it was by such a communication alone, that -he should be enabled to restore hearing and speech to the unhappy -patient they had brought before him. - -II. This look was accompanied with a sigh. A sigh seems to indicate -distress. An anxious oppressed and afflicted heart is sometimes so full, -as to deprive the tongue of the power of utterance; it vents itself, -therefore, in a sigh. But what could oppress or afflict the heart of the -Meek and Innocent JESUS? His body, though a fallen one, does not seem to -have been sick or in pain; his soul was sweetly attempered to Divine -Love, and could have felt nothing but inward peace and serenity--and -yet, he sighs!--The poor deaf and dumb sinner, who stood before him, had -reason enough to sigh: but he was insensible of his misery, and -therefore sought not for relief. The truth is this: The BLESSED JESUS, -as the Second Adam, the Father and Regenerator of our whole lapsed race, -voluntarily assumed our nature, and became as intimately united to it, -as the head to the members of the body. In consequence of this union, -"he knows whereof we are made, he remembers that we are but dust." His -sympathetic heart is sensible of every want and distress of every son -and daughter of Adam. He is persecuted with the church that Saul -persecuteth; and who--"so toucheth his children, toucheth the apple of -his eye." Yea, he feels for those, who feel not for themselves; and -sighs over the sad state of those, who are blind to their true -happiness; "who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for -light, and light for darkness." - -It was from such a tender sensibility of human woe, that our Lord -sighed; whilst he was preparing to perform this miracle of love. This -look, this sigh, seem to have uttered some such language as this: "O -Heavenly Father! I am come into this world to fulfil thy blessed will, -in the restoration of fallen men to their primeval light and glory. My -desire of accomplishing this great work, which is continually called -forth by a general view of their complicated misery, as well as by the -particular wants and distresses of individuals, now solicits, in favour -of the poor mortal that stands before me, the application of those -healing powers, which I have received from thee!" This expression of our -LORD'S desire, coinciding with the Eternal Will to All Goodness, -immediately produced the Divine Ephphatha. - -III. "And he saith unto him, Ephphatha! that is, Be opened." Whatever -salutary efficacy there may be in medicine, it must proceed from that -Heavenly virtue, which rises from the re-union of divided properties. -This re-union is the source of health, and the restoration of aught that -may be impaired in any of our outward organs, or inward faculties. To -him, who had all nature under his controul, who knew how to bring -together and unite, in an instant, those properties which have been -separated, a single word, the mere motion of his will, was sufficient to -produce the desired effect. The same Majesty that said, "Let there be -light!" when "darkness was upon the face of the deep," now uttered the -authoritative cure, "Be opened!" The injured organs were instantly -renewed; "his ears were opened, the string of his tongue was loosed, and -he spake plain." - -The same Supernatural Powers, which the BLESSED JESUS displayed upon -this occasion, he still continues to exercise in the hearts of his -redeemed offspring. This look, this sigh, this Ephphatha, is spiritually -fulfilled in the relief of every one, who is convinced of his spiritual -disorders, and applies to CHRIST for a cure. - -Deaf and dumb with respect to our inward and spiritual senses, we all -are by nature. We can hear and speak, in deed, of worldly things, with a -quickness and facility, which manifests, in innumerable instances, the -strong attraction by which they hold our attention and affections. The -calls of business and of pleasure, we are ever ready to answer: our -earthly senses are continually open; but our heavenly faculties are -closed by a thousand obstructions, which we suffer the world, the flesh, -and the devil, to form in our hearts. - -The great Shepherd of Israel, who is perpetually employed in "seeking -and saving that which was lost," makes use of a variety of means and -methods to bring the soul to a conviction of its loss. The efficacy of -these depends, indeed, upon the concurrence of the human will; because -nothing can come into the soul, but what itself wills or desires. The -different dispensations of Providence are wisely and affectionately -adapted to the different circumstances of individuals: the end and -design of them all is one and the same, viz. to bring the wandering -creature to a sense of his deviations, and "to guide his feet into the -ways of peace." - -By whatever means this conviction is wrought, the soul soon becomes -sensible of its mistaken choice, and soon determines to withhold its -attention from the calls of earthly objects. In vain does the Syren sing -her delusive song; it ceases now to charm; for the finger of GOD stops -the outward ear, that the inward ear may be opened to a sweeter note. -The awakened sinner "looks up and lifts up his head, for his redemption -draweth nigh"--looks up to Heaven--For what? for the healing hand of his -Redeemer to interpose, and remove every remaining obstruction--looks up, -and sighs--No desire of deliverance, without a previous sensibility of -distress--a sigh is the true language of desire; it is more effectual -than long prayer; it is prayer itself, in its true spirit: words do -frequently render it less spiritual. The sigh of a contrite sinner -brings down Heaven into his heart. JESUS often sighed. He loves a sigh; -it invites him into his own Temple; and "Ephphatha, Be opened!" is the -blessed voice that precedes his salutary entrance. - -Be opened!--Opened, to what?--To the Harmony of Heaven; to the -symphonies of angels; to "the Voice of the Bridegroom." "The marriage of -the Lamb" is come; the Bride is prepared; the silver chord is tried; the -blessed union is completed! The soul is now all eye, all ear, all heart, -all tongue; and eye, and ear, and heart, and tongue, are all employed in -receiving the gifts and graces, and celebrating the beauties and -perfections of him, who is "fairest among ten thousand, who is -altogether lovely." - -O BLESSED JESUS! vouchsafe, we beseech thee, so to manifest thy power in -opening our ears, and loosing our tongues, that we may henceforth hear -no voice but thine, and offer up our sacrifice of praise and -thanksgiving to none but thee, who, with the FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT, -art ONE GOD, blessed for evermore! - - - - - DISCOURSE XI. - The Riches and Glory of the Christian. - - -1 COR. CHAP. iii. VER. 21, 22, 23. - - "THEREFORE, LET NO MAN GLORY IN MEN. FOR ALL THINGS ARE YOURS; - WHETHER PAUL, OR APOLLOS, OR CEPHAS, OR THE WORLD, OR LIFE, OR - DEATH, OR THINGS PRESENT, OR THINGS TO COME; ALL ARE YOURS, AND YE - ARE CHRIST'S, AND CHRIST IS GOD'S." - - -These words contain a complete and beautiful enumeration of those -distinguishing privileges to which human nature is exalted, by virtue of -that glorious plan of Redemption, which JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD hath -accomplished for our whole fallen race. They were occasioned by some -little jealousies and envyings, which had broken out among the -Corinthians, in consequence of an undue attachment to particular -apostles and preachers of the gospel; some declaring themselves -publickly in favour of one, and some of another; some saying they were -of Paul, others of Apollos, and others of Cephas. Upon this occasion the -blessed Apostle, in the true spirit of Christian Love, and free -disinterested impartial Charity, reminds them of this grand and -important truth, "that no man can lay any other foundation, than that is -laid, even JESUS CHRIST;" that whatever difference there might be in the -particular gifts and talents of their different preachers, yet no -preference was to be given on this account, but their attention was -solely to be directed to those fundamental principles, which all were -labouring to inculcate, though all were not equally agreeable and -captivating in their modes of communication and address. These -differences were to be considered as accidental and external, and by no -means sufficient to warrant any partial personal distinctions. He makes -use of a variety of the most sensible and cogent arguments, to dissuade -them from a conduct so illiberal and unchristian; and in order most -effectually to silence such a spirit of contention, he reminds them, in -my text, of the high and exalted privileges to which they themselves -were called in CHRIST JESUS--"Therefore let no man glory in men." As if -he had said: - -Let none of you value yourselves upon your personal attachment to this -or that favourite Apostle; let none of you boast of the superior -spiritual excellencies of those particular teachers, to whom you have -fondly surrendered your affections; or look upon the spiritual knowledge -you have acquired, as proceeding from any powers or virtues in them, -superior to those of their brethren: for let me assure you, such vain -distinctions are beneath the character of those, who are themselves -united to that very Source and Fountain, from whence the living streams -of real knowledge, holiness, and happiness, do alone proceed: "For all -things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or -life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours, and -ye are CHRIST'S, and CHRIST is GOD'S." - -What a glorious inheritance is here! the whole universe of things -declared to belong to the Redeemed Race of Adam! No prophecy is of -private interpretation. From the beginning to the end of the Bible, -every prediction, every promise, every truth therein delivered, equally -belongs to every individual of the human race: they are addressed to all -without exception. What a senseless distinction then is that, which some -narrow minds have adopted, and are fond of propagating, that the -promises of Scripture are made to none but believers? Whereas, these -promises are the very foundation of every one's faith, and the ground -upon which every one's hope of Salvation rests. - -No son of fallen Adam can apply for pardon upon any other ground, than -that the promises of Scripture, which are founded upon the Universal and -Impartial Love of God, are made to him, and every other person in the -like circumstances. His faith in these promises makes a glorious change, -with respect to himself; but, on the part of GOD, who is "the same -yesterday, to-day, and for ever," they were made to him before he -believed, or thought any thing about them: "We love him, because he -first loved us." He hath elected all mankind to salvation, in his Son -JESUS CHRIST. An immortal inheritance is secured to all, by the Merits -of this BLESSED MEDIATOR; and if any fall short of this salvation, or -lose their inheritance, the blame must lie at their own door: "They -would not come to CHRIST, that they might have life." - -Should an affectionate parent, with the utmost care and anxiety, make -such an ample provision for the sober and virtuous education of his -children, as, if accepted and improved by them, would secure to them -knowledge, esteem, and happiness in this world; would not such a parent -be thought to have done all that love and tenderness could do in this -respect, for the future welfare of his offspring? The provision is -equally secured to all; and yet, if any thoughtless, perverse, -disobedient child, should refuse to avail himself of these paternal -blessings, and prefer an idle, dissolute, and abandoned life, to all the -advantages which the father had taken care he should be furnished with, -he might justly be told, as the Apostle tells the Corinthians--"All -these things are yours." Your Father hath made you equal with the rest -of his children--knowledge, esteem, and happiness, is as much in your -power as in theirs; your falling short of them, therefore, is owing to -nothing but your own perverse disposition--"they are yours," but you -will not enjoy them. - -The same might be said of a temporal inheritance equally divided among a -family of children; each has an equal portion: and yet if any child -should be so weak and silly, as to chuse to forego the enjoyment of his -share, and prefer penury and contempt to opulence and honour, he might -still be told, that the portion was his, though he was so foolish as to -neglect and forsake it. - -Even so, "an inheritance incorruptible, immortal, and that fadeth not -away," is secured, in CHRIST JESUS, to every individual of our fallen -race: "All things are ours," by virtue of that Heavenly nature, which we -inherit from JESUS CHRIST the second Adam. Upon the birth, growth, and -maturity of this Heavenly Nature, depends our possession of this Eternal -Inheritance; and this birth, growth, and maturity again depend upon the -co-operation of our wills, which are eternally and essentially free, -with the Divine Will. - -What I have here asserted, is fully consonant to the very letter of -Scripture: "GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all -should come to repentance." But if GOD is willing to save all, Why are -not all saved? Why do not all men come immediately to repentance?--The -reason is obvious: it depends not, as some vainly assert, upon a Secret -Will of GOD, distinct from his Revealed Will. Such an idea of the GOD OF -TRUTH AND LOVE, is unscriptural, and even blasphemous--No, it depends -wholly upon the co-operation of our wills, with the unchangeable Will of -GOD. The promise is made to all; the inheritance is secured to all; but -the possession and enjoyment can never come, till the will of the -creature is united to the will of the Creator; till from a deep -conviction of his own nothingness by nature, he freely opens his heart -to the influences of Grace--and then he finds, by a blessed experience, -that, "having nothing, he possesseth all things." - -When a minister of CHRIST, therefore, addresses himself to a sinner, -insensible of his fallen condition, and strongly attached to that -earthly life, which he inherits from fallen Adam, he cannot use a more -effectual argument, than that which the Apostle in my text presses upon -the divided and contentious Corinthians--For so far as these jealousies -and disputes prevailed among them, they were doubtless under the evil -influences of the same corrupt nature, to which the unregenerate are in -bondage. - -Why, vain mortal, why, alas! art thou so strangely blind to thy best -interests, so amazingly neglectful of thy real happiness? Thou fleest -from the substance, and embracest a shadow; thou pursuest the vanity of -time, and despisest the riches of eternity; thou preferrest the life of -a beast to the life of an angel; thou art content to feed upon husks -among swine, whilst in "thy Father's house there is bread enough, and to -spare."--Thou art in search of a false and delusive happiness in this -world, whilst, if thou wouldst but attend to and "know the things that -belong to thy peace," thou wouldst soon discover, that "all things are -thine." For poor, wretched, sinful, polluted as thou art in thine -outward nature, thou hast, within thee, a Seed of Eternal Life, a Birth -of the TRIUNE GOD, a Son of the Second Adam, a Reconception of the Light -and Love of GOD, an Angel near its birth. To this seed, this birth, this -son, this reconception, this angel in thy breast, belongs the Kingdom of -Heaven, the pure element of Life, and Light, and Love. JESUS CHRIST, thy -Ever Blessed Redeemer, hath sown in thy heart, and in the hearts of all -thy fellow-sinners, this Seed of his own Heavenly Nature, by means of -which, he affectionately purposes to redeem thee from the bondage of -corruption, and exalt thee to a glorious state of life and liberty. As -he is invested with "all power both in heaven and in earth," so this -offspring of his, which is within thee, will become a partaker of his -Power, in proportion as it becomes a partaker of his Life and Spirit, in -proportion as it increases in Heavenly Wisdom and Stature. - -If thou shouldst ask, how this growth and increase is to be obtained, -and how all things are thine?--I could answer thee, that as the -earth-born babe could never grow and increase in bodily strength, -without a perpetual supply of the light, and air, and food, which this -outward world affords; so it is as really and physically true, that the -Heaven-born offspring of the Second Adam, can never grow or increase in -spiritual strength, without the light, and air, and food of the heavenly -world, imparted by its tender and affectionate parent, JESUS CHRIST: and -as nothing disposes the earthly infant to receive that nourishment which -is suited to its nature, but the hunger of that nature, earnestly crying -for a supply; so nothing can dispose the Heavenly babe within, to -receive the precious influences of Divine Life and Grace, which alone -can satisfy its nature, but an hunger and earnest desire of this -Heavenly Food; or, in other words, the spirit of the will turning to -CHRIST, loathing all other nourishment, and desiring only to be fed with -his Bread of Eternal Life. - -Thus fed, supported, and strengthened, by a Vital Union with thine -adorable REDEEMER, thou standest not in thine own strength, but in his; -not in thine own righteousness, but the Righteousness of CHRIST within -thee; not in thine outward and perishing nature, but in thy inward, -Angelical, and Divine Nature. In this nature, sweetly mingling with its -own kindred element, thou art safe, firm and collected; all temporal -objects are beneath thy feet; like Adam in his paradisiacal state, the -earth, and all that is therein, is subject to thy will. Health and -sickness, prosperity and adversity, storms and calms, spiritual comforts -or spiritual distresses, the vicissitudes of life, the horrors of death, -the vanity of time, and the riches of eternity, are all at thy command, -and thou makest them all subservient to thy spiritual growth and -consolation. - -All these powers, virtues, and enjoyments, are thine; thine by the Free -Gift of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, imparted to thee; and made thine, at the -very moment the "Seed of the Woman" was inspoken into Adam's fallen -nature. It is true, they are in an hidden state, and require the -strongest exertion of thy will co-operating with thy Saviour, in calling -them forth. They can only appear and manifest themselves, in proportion -as thy will is given up to CHRIST, in proportion as thou diest to thine -earthly nature, and its earthly desires, and becomest one Desire, one -Will, one Spirit with thy REDEEMER. This is not a sudden and -instantaneous work: the process is slow and painful. Many a right hand -must be cut off; many a right eye must be plucked out; many a favourite -passion must be sacrificed, many a weary step taken, many a temptation -baffled, many a victory obtained against the devil, the world, and the -flesh, before "all things are thine" by actual possession. - -The combat is tedious, and the victory sometimes appears doubtful. But -be not discouraged at this--darkness as well as light, doubt as well as -assurance, weakness as well as strength, will help thee on thy way. Thy -REDEEMER is perpetually watching over his own offspring; he eyes thee -with ineffable compassion throughout thy whole progress, and renders all -its vicissitudes subservient to thy real and eternal welfare. - -Think not, that it is necessary to thy spiritual growth, that thou -shouldst walk in perpetual sun-shine, beneath a clear unclouded sky. The -howling winds, the beating rain, are equally necessary at times; and are -as powerful and operative in spiritual, as in earthly vegetation. -Through these, and worse than these, even the gloomy vale of the shadow -of death, the invisible hand of an Omnipotent REDEEMER shall conduct -thee safe to a region of uncreated light and glory, where eternal -nature, in its essential and unchangeable splendors, manifests the -Beatifying Presence of FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST, in their full and -undivided Trinity of Glory. - -What though pain of body, and inward anguish of soul, should assault -thee; what though disease should blast the bloom of health, and -convulsion rack and rend thine earthly frame; what though death, with -all his grim attendants, should knock at thy door, summon thee to -relinquish all thy temporal prospects, and to enter at once into the -world of spirits; this single reflection, that CHRIST has made "all -things thine," will be sufficient to support thy sinking frame; nay, -more, thou wilt rejoice in thy deliverance from the captivity of the -body, look forward with transport into the Paradise to which thou art -hastening, nor "cast one longing lingering look behind." - -Such an address as this, from a minister of CHRIST, to a poor -thoughtless sinner, I cannot but think, by the blessing of GOD, would -have a more sure and certain effect upon his hardened heart, than all -the terrors of eternal damnation, thundered, as is too frequently the -case, with more than brutal violence and impetuosity against him. For -such a method would open two things to his mind, which are equally -necessary to be revealed to him, neither of which he can attend to in -his present thoughtless condition, viz. the sin and vanity of his fallen -life, and the comfort, happiness, and glory of his redeemed nature--one -should never be opened without the other: it would only be probing the -wound, without administring the restoring balsam. This method which I -have mentioned, was that which our dear REDEEMER and his blessed -Apostles always used; and if Christian ministers would more carefully -tread in their footsteps, they might be sure of greater success: not -perhaps in the way of extraordinary awakenings, violent convictions, and -instantaneous joys; but in the still, calm, and soothing ways of the -Gospel of Peace and Love. - -We should never tell the sinner, that he is by nature under the bondage -of the devil, the world, and the flesh, without acquainting him, that he -has in him an High and Heavenly Nature, to which he would do well to -attend, as to a Light shining in the midst of his darkness: When we -point out the destructive consequences of sin, we should enlarge at the -same time upon the delights of holiness, and the exalted privileges of -those that follow it. Thus we should imitate the Apostle in my text, -who, upon giving this advice to his Corinthian brethren, "Let no man -glory in men," immediately adds this high and encouraging motive to -their practice of it, "For all things are yours." - - - - - DISCOURSE XII. - The Riches and Glory of the Christian. - - -1 CORINTH. CHAP. iii. VER. 21, 22, 23. - - "THEREFORE LET NO MAN GLORY IN MEN: FOR ALL THINGS ARE YOURS; - WHETHER PAUL, OR APOLLOS, OR CEPHAS, OR THE WORLD, OR LIFE, OR - DEATH, OR THINGS PRESENT, OR THINGS TO COME; ALL ARE YOURS, AND YE - ARE CHRIST'S, AND CHRIST IS GOD'S." - - -My former discourse from these words contained a general view of the -Apostle's reasoning in this chapter. I observed, that this part of his -epistle was occasioned by some envyings and jealousies which had crept -into the Corinthian church, in consequence of an undue distinction and -preference which different persons had shewn to different Apostles and -Preachers of the Gospel; and that, in order to silence these -controversies, the Apostle, after a variety of other excellent -arguments, concludes with enumerating the high and distinguishing -Privileges, to which the Corinthians themselves were called, in common -with those very teachers, whose excellencies they were so injudiciously -magnifying. - -He tells them, that they ought not to "glory in men;" that is, to boast -of the superior excellencies of this or that favourite Preacher, because -"all things were theirs;" that by virtue of that Heavenly Nature, which -they, as well as their teachers, inherited from JESUS CHRIST, the Second -Adam, they were provided with a glorious inheritance, and invested with -high powers and privileges, whereby this world, and every thing in it, -was subject to their will, when in union and co-operation with the -Eternal and Unchangeable Will of their REDEEMER: so that all personal -distinctions among men, all personal admiration of their peculiar -talents and most shining endowments, were beneath the character of such -high-born souls, and ought not to come into competition with the -Heavenly Graces of love, meekness, humility, mutual forbearance, -condescension and peace, by which alone the dignity of their birth could -be asserted, and the actual possession of their spiritual privileges -known and ascertained. - -I endeavoured likewise to explain to you, the glorious and comfortable -meaning and import of this general proposition of the Apostle, "All -things are yours:" and shewed, by several similitudes and observations, -that this was not only applicable to the Corinthians, and the most -effectual motive that the Apostle could make use of, to disengage them -from their narrow and carnal notions and jealousies, but that it is -equally applicable to all men, at all times, and in all places and -circumstances; and the most effectual method that a Minister of CHRIST -can make use of, to awaken thoughtless sinners, and engage them to -pursue the things that belong to their peace. - -Let me now, therefore, entreat your attention, whilst I enter upon the -consideration of those particular Privileges, which are enumerated under -this general head. - -As the immediate design of the Apostle, upon this occasion, was to put -an end to that strife and division, which subsisted among them from the -attachment of different persons to different preachers, so the first -Privilege he mentions, is this, that in whatever light they might -confider the matter, these Apostles and Preachers were nothing in -themselves, but were furnished with peculiar talents and endowments for -the service of their brethren: they were "theirs," because instruments -in the hands of Heaven, to awaken their attention, and engage their -pursuit of real spiritual knowledge and happiness; and they were only to -be considered in this light, without any other personal respect and -veneration, than that which their character, as instruments, might -claim: for "all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas." - -That this is a true and just representation of the Apostle's design, we -may learn from his reasoning in the preceding part of the chapter. He -charges them with acting under the immediate influence of earthly and -carnal motives; and though he had adapted his preaching to their slender -capacities, though he had fed them with milk, as being yet in the Rate -of infants, and incapable of receiving or digesting the strong meat of -the great and glorious mysteries of the Gospel, yet they did not profit -even by this; for they had acquired no new spiritual strength from -thence; nay, they not only remained in their infant state, unable to -bear a further revelation of Gospel Truth, but gave themselves up again -to the principles and dictates of corrupt nature. "Ye are yet carnal: -for whereas there is among you envyings, and strife, and divisions, are -ye not carnal, and walk as men?--For while one faith, I am of Paul, and -another I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is -Apollos, but ministers, by whom ye believed, even as the LORD gave to -every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but GOD gave the increase. -So then neither he that planteth is any thing, neither he that watereth, -but GOD who giveth the increase. Now he that planteth, and he that -watereth, are one." As if he had said: - -I am truly sorry, O Corinthians! to find that such unexpected -animosities have risen among you: they are too flagrant proofs of your -deviation from that path of Gospel Truth and Love, into which you had -but just entered. Certain, indeed, it is, that I have laboured among you -with unceasing vigilance and care; and "by the Grace of GOD that was -given me," have planted a Church of CHRIST in the midst of you. The glad -tidings of the Gospel were sent from my lips to your awakened hearts: -you were taught to see, and feel, and relinquish the vanity and -corruption of your fallen life, and to look for and experience the birth -and growth of an Heavenly Nature within you. To this Heavenly Nature, I -administered much mild and gentle food and nourishment, as I knew was -best suited to its tender opening state. In this situation I left you to -the Grace of CHRIST, and the affectionate labours of those other -Apostles and preachers; who seconded my ministry among you. The labours -of Apollos and Cephas were as necessary to your growth in Grace, as -mine: for as ye "are GOD'S husbandry, as ye are GOD'S building," so GOD -hath bestowed different talents and endowments on those several -labourers or workmen, whom he chooses to employ for the culture of his -vineyard, and for the progress and completion of his great spiritual -edifice. "We are all, therefore, labourers together with GOD:" We have -all our different tasks allotted us by the great Husband-man and -Master-builder, under whom we labour, and from whom alone we receive -strength and wisdom to execute his will. My business was to plant, -Apollos's to water; but what could it avail to plant or to water, unless -GOD gave the increase? The Sun of Righteousness must shed his genial -light and warmth, and the Divine Spirit must breathe its refreshing -gales upon the tender plants, or they will wither and die. "He that -planteth, and he that watereth, therefore, are one," united in the same -blessed work. The culture, growth, and perfection of the plant, are -equally the care and concern of both, though their business or -employment in this work be different. Paul, and Apollos, and Cephas, are -only "ministers, by whom ye believed, even as the LORD gave to every -man," and prospered their several labours. Paul, and Apollos, and -Cephas, are yours: they are equally concerned, and equally laborious, -for your Growth in Grace, though their particular talents and exercises -may be different. Away then with your vain and unchristian distinctions! -for the planter, and the waterer, are equally necessary, and equally -estimable. Consider them always in these characters; entertain an equal -love and respect for them all; and beg of your Heavenly Father to give -increase to their respective labours." - -I need not take up your time,--my brethren, in endeavouring to ascertain -the peculiar and characteristical gifts of these several Apostles: this -would neither augment, nor diminish the weight of the argument. Whatever -these gifts were, they were not their own, but only intrusted to them by -JESUS CHRIST, for accomplishing his own wise and salutary purposes -towards the children of men. Some might be eminent for one kind of -usefulness, and some for another. But it is probable, that those who -possessed such talents, as most captivated the attention and affections -of animal nature, were most followed; and this merely on account of the -talents themselves, without any respect to those spiritual salutary -truths, which, through them, were intended to be conveyed to the -hearers. - -This conduct, however, is not peculiar to the Corinthians. The same evil -carnal principle, that raised so many unchristian animosities in that -infant church, has ever since been working in every part of Christendom. -It is the fatal source of all that variety of sects, opinions, and -doctrines, into which the outward church has been, and is still, sadly -divided. But Truth is One--it has been so from the beginning, and will -continue so for ever. The different sentiments and conceptions of -mankind about Truth, can no more alter its nature, or make it cease to -be what it is, than the looking through a variety of glasses of -different colours, forms, and densities, can change the real colour, -form, and proportion of objects. Every man admires and esteems his own -glass most; and not content with this, quarrels with his neighbour, -because he does not make use of it as well as himself. This is but too -true a picture of the present state of Christianity--while its -professors are disputing and differing about their own peculiar opinions -and notions of Truth, which are no better than the glasses through which -they contemplate it, they lose sight of the fair and beauteous object -itself. - -The ministers of JESUS CHRIST ought to have but one end in view, and -that is, the conversion of hearts to his Redeeming Love. Their talents -for this great work may differ as much as their persons; but by this -diversity of gifts, they are better enabled to do the different kinds of -work that are necessary to be done in their master's vineyard. They -should be careful, however, not to run before they are sent, not to -intrude upon the labours of their brethren, but be content to be -employed in a way suitable to their peculiar talents, and in the field -which Heaven hath assigned them. He that planteth, should be sent out -only to plant; he that watereth, to water; he that giveth milk, should -continue to give it till he has something stronger to give, and his -hearers are better able to receive it. At the same time, neither he that -planteth, nor he that watereth, neither he that giveth milk, nor he that -giveth strong meat, should interfere with, depreciate, or counter-act -each other's peculiar work; but rather should faithfully and lovingly -co-operate, each in the use of his particular gifts and experiences, to -edify and perfect the body of CHRIST. - -Were ministers thus tender, charitable, affectionate, and helpful to -each other; were they truly fellow-labourers in CHRIST; it is more than -probable, that there would be less divisions and jealousies among the -people. Much depends, under GOD, upon their prudence and-forbearance -with respect to each other: and though such is the corruption and -perverseness of human nature, that the closest union among themselves -may not entirely prevent disputes among their hearers (as was the case -at Corinth, though the Apostles did, no doubt, affectionately harmonize -in all their labours) yet such an union would have a great tendency to -heal or disperse them. - -But how dreadful must be the consequences, when any ambitious aspiring -preachers do themselves raise and foment these divisions; when they -limit the Mercies of JESUS, and call upon men to join and associate -themselves to their particular sect or party; as if the streams of -Spiritual Life had left every other channel which Providence had opened, -and, by their direction, taken entirely to one of their own -construction! If a preacher of this class happens to possess any popular -talents, he is capable of abusing them to great mischief--to impose his -own doctrines and opinions upon the ignorant multitude, by first -captivating their passions, and then leading their judgments and -consciences as he pleases. Many a soul has been awakened, indeed, under -such preachers, but few have attained to any solid or substantial piety. -Their minds have been kept in bondage to certain peculiarities of -doctrine and practice, but their hearts and wills have never been -surrendered to their true and only Master JESUS CHRIST. They have -blindly followed the commandments of men, of their clamorous and -enflamed leaders; but have neglected the weightier matters of Love, -Peace, and Spiritual Union with CHRIST and all true Christians. Paul, -Apollos, or Cephas, they are ready enough to magnify and extol: but the -Master of Paul, Apollos, and Cephas, they too easily forget--their -attention and affections are too much engaged by the instrument, to -observe and adore the Hand by which it is, or ought to be, directed. - -To conclude this head: As the best of teachers, even the Apostles -themselves, found it so difficult to controul the passions and -prejudices of men, and disengage them from partial distinctions and -preferences among their ministers; how careful should all ministers be, -to inculcate the Apostolical doctrine contained in this chapter, upon -their hearers! to caution them against depending upon, or glorying in -man; against trusting to the piety, zeal, or elocution, of the most -liberal teachers, and much more against giving up their consciences to -those, whose views are partial and confined, and who publickly avow them -to be such, by endeavouring to draw a deluded multitude into the narrow -limits of their own misguided sect. How often should they remind their -hearers, that they are no more than their servants, men of like passions -with themselves, though selected by Divine Providence to convey the glad -tidings of Salvation to their hearts: that they can, at most, but plant -and water; nor even this, without the continuance of Divine assistance; -but that it is to GOD alone they must look for the increase! - -O my brethren! let these truths sink deep into your hearts. Without a -thorough conviction of them, all the preaching in the world will be of -no service to you. You may hear a sermon every day, and every hour in -the week, and be as far from CHRIST as ever, if you continue to depend -upon preaching and preachers alone for your salvation. The utmost they -can do, is to direct you to CHRIST. Regard them only when they give you -this advice. Value them not for their natural or even spiritual -endowments; you may be deceived in both. The surest and most profitable -way you can take, is to consider them as mere planters and waterers; and -to follow them, so far only as they follow CHRIST. - - - - - DISCOURSE XIII. - The Riches, Privileges, and Honours of the Christian. - - -1 COR. CHAP. iii. VER. 21, 22, 23. - - "THEREFORE LET NO MAN GLORY IN MEN: FOR ALL THINGS ARE YOURS; - WHETHER PAUL, OR APOLLOS, OR CEPHAS, OR THE WORLD, OR LIFE, OR - DEATH, OR THINGS PRESENT, OR THINGS TO COME; ALL ARE YOURS, AND YE - ARE CHRIST'S, AND CHRIST IS GOD'S." - - -The scope and design of the Blessed Apostle in this passage of his -epistle, together with the true meaning and import of his general -proposition, "All things are yours," hath been already explained in my -first discourse from these words. In my second discourse, I entered upon -the consideration of those particular privileges of the Christian, which -are enumerated under this general head: And as the first of these -privileges had a more immediate and striking reference to the great end -he here had in view, which was to convince the Corinthians of the sin -and folly of attaching themselves to particular and favourite preachers; -I enlarged upon this head, and endeavoured to prove, that Paul, and -Apollos, and Cephas, and all other ministers of the Gospel, were no more -than the servants of their brethren; that they were "theirs" by a -particular privilege, inasmuch as their office, their labours, talents, -and several endowments, were entrusted to them for no other purpose, but -that God, through them, might communicate "the unspeakable riches of his -Grace" to the whole body of Christians. In this character, and in this -alone, they were all equally entitled to their esteem and love, but not -to any personal preference, or undue exaltation of one above another. - -Not content with this, however, the good Apostle, under the full -inspiration of Divine Truth, and the glorious enlargement of Divine -Love, breaks forth into a further declaration of those still higher -privileges, to which the meanest member of the church of CHRIST is -equally and in common entitled, with the greatest and most advanced -believers: not only "Paul, and Apollos, and Cephas, are yours; but the -world, and life and death, and things present, and things to come: all -are yours, and ye are CHRIST'S, and CHRIST is GOD'S." - -"The world is yours!"--Is it so, thou Blessed Apostle? Alas! this -strange assertion seems not to be confirmed, either by thine own -experience, or the experience of thy fellow-labourers; or of any of -those, who have since trod in the footsteps of thy Suffering Master. If -bonds and imprisonments, if stripes and persecutions of various kinds, -if cruel mockings and insults, if outward and inward tribulations might -be admitted as proofs of their having the world in their power, these, -alas, will not be found wanting. Sad privilege, indeed! Wretched -consolation! to be told that misery is our portion, and that distress -and affliction are the Christian's birth-right!--Let us, however, -endeavour to solve this seeming paradox, and reconcile the Apostle's -declaration with the common experience of Christians. - -Whence was it, O Christian! (for I now appeal to the real sensibilities -of every believing soul that has tasted of the Good Word of GOD) whence -was it, that thou hast acquired that power and dominion over the world, -by which thou canst sustain its adversity and prosperity, its evil and -its good, with equal calmness, fortitude, and complacency--for this is -that power and dominion, by which alone the world becomes thine! Was it -not by those very sufferings, which seem so diametrically opposite to -this triumphant state? Thy victory rose from thy defeat; thy -consolation, from the depth of thy distress; thy conquest of the world, -from its conquest of thee.--Yea, the world furnished thee with arms -against itself. Every new affliction gave thee some new acquisition; -every sigh, every tear, vanquished some mortal foe. - -Bonds and imprisonments, scourging and insults, hunger and thirst, cold -and nakedness, war, pestilence, and shipwreck, and all the dire -vicissitudes which the world can bring upon us, serve no other purpose -than to subdue the pride, envy, covetousness, and wrath of our fallen -life; to open the eyes of our inward man, and teach us to look upon this -world in its proper light, to fly its visionary pleasures, and support -with patience its substantial miseries. - -To suffer, therefore, is to triumph; to be distressed, is our glorious -privilege; to "be weary and heavy-laden," is the only way to rest and -happiness! Sure I am, that there are many here, who can bear witness to -this great and awful truth; who can say with the Psalmist, "It is good -for me that I have been afflicted." My God hath manifested his love in -all my sufferings. I should never have come to the knowledge of his -Truth; I should never have experienced the Light of his Grace; I should -never have overcome the world, abandoned its delusive prospects, and -gained a sure and everlasting inheritance; had not my GOD made this very -world to frown upon me, had he not beset me with its troubles behind and -before, and by making me deeply sensible of its evil, taught me to -despise even its good. Thus, and thus alone, "the world is the -Christian's," because he knows, that every thing in it, under the -administration of his BLESSED REDEEMER, is made subservient to his real -happiness, which he is convinced is more effectually promoted by its -storms than by its calms, by its frowns than by its smiles. - -And if "the world" is thus his, by particular privilege, consequently -"the Life" which he lives in it must be so too. The vicissitudes of life -arise from the natural instability of worldly enjoyments: but even this -instability the believer knows to be under the immediate Guidance of -ALMIGHTY LOVE. The real enjoyment of life depends upon the temper and -disposition of mind, with which its vicissitudes are received. The -Christian, therefore, who knows, that "not an hair of his head can fall -to the ground without his Heavenly Father," and whose will is secretly -resigned to his Father's, meekly and patiently, daily and hourly giving -himself up to his sovereign disposal, he alone can be said to have a -true enjoyment of life.--In sickness and in health, in prosperity and in -adversity, he alike beholds the hand of his REDEEMER opening to him, by -these various dispensations, the way to never-ending rest; unfolding his -misery by nature, and his happiness by Grace, and rendering every change -of outward life instrumental to some blessed change in the life of his -inward and spiritual man. - -But he has not only the highest enjoyment of this "world," and of "life" -in this world, but what is a still more surprising and more glorious -privilege, "death too is his." Not, indeed, in the sense in which it -belongs to the wicked and unregenerate, to whom it is solely the -consequence of guilt, and the dreadful introduction to misery extreme. -No--to the real Christian, it is the consequence of a new life, the -completion of happiness, the deliverer from woe, the gate that opens -into Paradise, the messenger of REDEEMING LOVE. Death, therefore, is the -believer's, because, by the strength of his REDEEMER, he hath been -enabled to make him, who was once his enemy, become his reconciled -friend.--The King of Terrors hath dropped his envenomed sting; and his -dart flies now for no other use, but a kind and friendly one, even to -dislodge the heavenly inhabitant from its frail tabernacle of clay, and -open the world of light upon its spiritual senses. - -But still higher privileges, still higher prospects, open to the -Apostle's view. "Things present, and things to come, are -yours."--Whatever the present moment brings to light, as well as what is -concealed in the womb of futurity, is equally in the Christian's power. -He is prepared to receive the former with thankfulness and gratitude, -because he knows, that it must operate for his good, be it painful or -pleasant: and from the same conviction of the kind and loving -Administration of his REDEEMER, he, can wait with patience and -resignation for the future dispensations of his Providence. - -I cannot, however, but think, that these words have a much deeper and -more comfortable sense than this. "Things present, and things to come," -generally denote, in Scripture, the visible and the invisible world; and -though they are equally present, yet, with respect to our common -apprehensions, the latter must be called future, because it cannot be -unveiled to our senses, till we have laid aside these garments of sin. -The believer, however, by virtue of his Heavenly Nature, united by Faith -to his REDEEMER, stands in the heavenly world at the same time that he -is in this. Its light, and life, and air, its powers, and virtues, and -glories, are opening themselves, though invisibly, in his heart. Hence -it is, that the Apostle speaks of "tasting the powers of the world to -come," even in this present state and that not metaphorically, but as -really and physically as our outward bodies may be said to taste the -powers of this present world. O, what an high and glorious privilege -does this appear, when considered in this point of light! An Heavenly -Man within us, standing upon heavenly ground, breathing the heavenly -air, and rising, by its animating influences, far above that sink of -evil and corruption, in which the earthly nature still remains a -prisoner; and with heavenly fortitude and resignation, supporting the -painful union, till his true parent and deliverer rescues him from his -captivity, and admits him into the liberty of kindred spirits in glory. - -Well, therefore, might the Apostle, at the close of this enumeration, -again repeat his general assertion, "All things are yours."--But he -repeats it, not only with a view of impressing the truth more powerfully -upon the hearts of Christians, but also to let them know, that their -privileges are in the most effectual manner secured to them; that their -title is indisputable, their inheritance unfading and eternal--"And ye -are CHRIST'S," says he. - -Think not, that your title to this inheritance is founded upon any thing -in yourselves, considered separately and distinctly in your own natures; -no, "Ye are by nature dead in trespasses and sins--The wages of sin is -death." No other inheritance, but destruction and misery, can you derive -from your fallen nature. This inheritance, therefore, which is "Eternal -Life," is solely the gift of GOD, through JESUS CHRIST. "Ye are -CHRIST'S," therefore, not only as being originally created by him in his -own image, which image ye lost by sin; but ye are now his by REDEMPTION, -which is in truth a second creation; for he hath planted his own seed in -your fallen nature. By this, he is become your Father, your Spiritual -Regenerator, your Creator anew in Righteousness and true -Holiness.--Thus, by turning your will to this SAVIOUR, the heavenly seed -springs forth, under his mild and genial influence, into a beautiful -plant, partaking of all the virtues, powers, odours, and colours of its -Eternal Parent, uniting, rejoicing, and living for ever in the same -Heavenly Glory. - -Nay, that your faith, and hope, and love, may rest upon an eternal -ground, and that your title may appear to you still more firm, and your -inheritance still more certain and glorious; I must tell you, that as -"Ye are CHRIST'S, so CHRIST is GOD'S."--Here rests the glorious climax, -rising by a fair and beautiful gradation, till its last step is fixed to -the throne of the Highest! - -The essential powers virtues and excellencies of the Invisible and -Supernatural GOD, manifest themselves in his eternal and only-begotten -Son JESUS CHRIST, GOD of GOD, GOD-MAN, uniting himself to human nature, -redeeming, glorifying, and exalting it, with himself, to the throne of -the Eternal Father; from thence they are communicated, in copious -streams of light and love, to the whole race whom he has condescended to -redeem; awakening, illuminating, sanctifying, restoring, and investing -them with the same kind of powers and excellencies, which he possesses -himself in an infinite degree, and thus accomplishing what he before had -prayed to his Heavenly Father might be accomplished--"That they all may -be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be -one in us--that they may be ONE, even as we are ONE--I in them, and thou -in me, that they may be made perfect in ONE." - -Thus you have seen, my brethren, the nature, extent, and excellency of -the great Christian privileges here enumerated, together with the -eternal and immoveable foundation on which they are built. Need I, -therefore, now call upon you to put in your claim to this vast -inheritance? Alas! I fear there is too much occasion for the most solemn -calls.--So various are the pursuits of the sons of men, and so foreign -to their real happiness; so mistaken are they in their conceptions of -good, so blind to real evil, so easily deluded by specious appearances, -and led astray by so many false lights; so prone to obey the dictates of -a corrupt nature, and so averse to every thing that is spiritual and -heavenly; that the weightiest Truths of the Gospel, the most animating -promises, the most glorious privileges there recounted, seem to have but -very little influence upon their hearts. O why, my brethren, why will ye -"spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that -which satisfieth not?" why, with deluded Esau, "will you sell your -birth-right for a mess of pottage," an heavenly for an earthly -inheritance? When "all things are yours," why will you take up with the -scanty provisions which a poor perishing nature can give? An immortal -soul, redeemed by the blood of the Son of GOD, spending its strength, -exerting its faculties in the pursuit of such fleeting momentary -enjoyments as this world can afford, is a spectacle at which Angels -might weep.--O that every thoughtless sinner might be induced to weep -for himself, to mourn his wretched, forlorn condition; and, from a deep -conviction of the insufficiency of all earthly possessions to make him -happy, that he might be led to seek that "peace of GOD which passeth all -understanding! that inheritance immortal, incorruptible, and undefiled, -which fadeth not away!" - - - - - DISCOURSE XIV. - Christ, known or unknown, the Universal Saviour. - - -St. JOHN, CHAP. xiv. Part of VER. 9. - - "HAVE I BEEN SO LONG TIME WITH YOU, AND YET HAST THOU NOT KNOWN ME, - PHILIP?" - - -"Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe," said our BLESSED -LORD to those earthly-minded Israelites, who were ever looking for some -external display of supernatural power, as the only means of conviction -in matters of religion. This fatal mistake hath prevailed too much in -the world; and still maintains its ground, even among those, whose views -are more spiritual, and who have been taught to look upon religion as an -internal operation, the work of GOD'S SPIRIT upon their souls. They do -not, indeed, seek for an outward sign, as the Jews of old did; they see -the impropriety of this under a spiritual dispensation: their delusion, -however, though perhaps more refined, is equally dangerous. They cannot -conceive that the Divine Power and Presence can be manifested to the -human soul, in any other way; than by extraordinary impressions, -visions, or extasies. Thus, whilst they are looking out for the -appearance of their GOD in a whirl-wind, a fire, or an earthquake, their -attention is wholly withdrawn from that "Still Small Voice," in which he -usually addresses himself to the hearts of his creatures. - -Such was the sad delusion under which poor Philip seems to have -laboured. "Lord, shew us the Father, said he, and it sufficeth us." Give -us some visible sign, some sensible demonstration of the Father's power -and presence with thee. Let him rend the heavens and come down; and if -thou art indeed his Son, let him own and honour thee as such, by placing -himself near to thy sacred person, and breaking forth in a flood of -glory upon our outward senses. Poor mistaken disciple! Little didst thou -think of the dreadful consequences which might have attended the -granting of thy request. It might have over-whelmed thy weak nature, but -could never have wrought any salutary conviction in thy soul: thy -outward senses could not have sustained the shock, and thy mind would -have continued as dark as ever, notwithstanding the heavenly effulgence -that surrounded thee. - -Ignorant, weak, and deluded, as Philip seems to have been, his BLESSED -MASTER bore with his infirmities, and answered him with all that -sweetness and gentleness, that usually accompanied even his censures and -reproofs--"Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not -known me, Philip? He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father. How sayest -thou then, shew us the Father?" - -Not one of all those excellencies and perfections, which constitute the -Divine Nature, but thou mightest have beheld manifested in me. The -healing of the sick, the raising of the dead, making the deaf to hear, -the blind to see, and the dumb to speak, instructing the ignorant, and -preaching the gospel to the poor, all these are the surest marks and -evidences that can possibly be given of the immediate presence of the -Divinity within me. He, therefore, who hath seen me thus manifesting the -Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of my Heavenly Father, in these works of -wonder, tenderness, and love to his children, "hath seen the Father;" -inasmuch, as in the present state of things, there is no other way in -which GOD can manifest himself to you his fallen creatures, but by -awakening your attention to every act and sensibility of goodness, which -you may discover either in yourselves or others. And as all these divine -communications are imparted from the Father through me; so in my -miracles life and conversation, had you yielded a proper attention, you -might have seen "the Brightness of the Father's Glory, and the Express -Image of his Person." "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast -thou not known me, Philip?" - -From this particular conversation of our LORD with his disciple, as well -as from the whole tenor of the Gospel, arises this grand and fundamental -truth: that our real knowledge of CHRIST depends upon an attention of -the mind to those Tempers, Qualities, Dispositions and Actions, which he -manifested in his life here upon earth, and which are recorded in -Scripture for our instruction, accompanied with a surrender of our will -and affections to those inward calls, motions, and sensibilities of -Goodness, by which he reveals himself with all his heavenly tempers in -our hearts. CHRIST, therefore, makes himself known to us in these two -principal ways, in his Word, and in our Hearts. - -His Word, or what is known by the name of the Holy Scripture, is only -the outward testimony--the rule or standard providentially transmitted -to us, by which we are to judge of the reality of his Presence in our -Hearts. It tells us of a CHRIST, who lived, and suffered, and died in -our human nature, in order to teach us how to live, and suffer, and die. -It assures us, that our everlasting salvation depends upon our knowledge -of this CHRIST; that this knowledge can only be attained by seeking him -earnestly; that the place where he chuses to be found, where he loves to -reside, is in the human heart;" that "his kingdom is within us;" that he -is "the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;" that -he is the "hope of glory," in every son and daughter of fallen Adam. - -The Scriptures likewise testify of the manner of his appearance and -residence within us--that he manifests himself as a destroyer of that -evil work, which the Devil has wrought in our nature; first convincing -us of sin, of the darkness and misery of our fallen life, and then -pointing out to us the paths of righteousness; opening and unfolding all -those sweet and lovely qualities, of which himself is the great Fountain -Spirit, and which he distributes to every man according to his capacity -and desire of receiving them. - -To know CHRIST, therefore, is carefully to cultivate those holy and -heavenly tempers and dispositions, which he manifested in his outward -life here upon earth, and which he now continues to manifest in the -breasts of all those who diligently seek after him. To know CHRIST, is -to know and feel the power of "love, joy; peace, long-suffering, -gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Wherever these -Graces take up their residence, there is the Temple of JESUS. These are -the ministring servants that wait at his altar: and the sacrifices which -they there present and offer, are all the earthly and diabolical -passions with which human nature is polluted and oppressed,--pride, -envy, covetousness, jealousy, lust, wrath, bitterness of spirit, and all -the rest of the infernal legion. Love, Love Divine, is the vestal fire -which there burns pure and perpetual; which cleanses, refines, -sublimates, and glorifies every thing that comes within its reach. - -In this sense, CHRIST has been a long time, indeed, among the sons of -men, though they may not have known him: He has been long "come to his -own," though his own have not universally received him. Where is the -man, who hath not, in innumerable instances, felt the powerful -suggestions of vice; and, in innumerable instances, been inwardly warned -against them, and pressed to the exercise of virtue? - -Speak, thou unthinking, careless mortal! Hast thou never felt thyself -swoln with pride, or burning with envy? Hast thou never coveted, been -jealous, angry, revengeful, bitter, and implacable? Hast thou never -found thyself bound to this world, by such strong and numerous ties, -that the parting from it would be like tearing away thy very -heart-strings? Amidst all that storm and confusion, into which this -restless croud of evil passions has frequently thrown thee, hast thou -never once felt a monitor within, that would have let thee know, if thou -hadst attended to his voice, that all this uproar was from an evil -principle, and that thou wert injuring thy soul by submitting to its -power? - -Hast thou never been led to admire and revere the amiable graces of -Meekness, Humility, Love, and Peace, in the life of thy neighbour; and -secretly to wish, that these plants of Heaven would spring up in thy own -barren soil? Hast thou not frequently envied the happy frame and -circumstances of some, whom thou hast seen devout and pious in their -conduct towards GOD, and affectionate, mild, and gentle, in their -behaviour towards their brethren? And hast thou not, in such a -situation, been constrained to sigh out some such wish as this: O that I -could feel, and live, and act, as these men seem to do! Would to GOD -that this evil nature of mine, with all its horrid lusts and passions, -was wholly subdued, eradicated, or changed! - -Let me tell thee, then, poor mortal! that all these senses, -sensibilities, and secret desires, are from CHRIST, and that this is the -way he takes to invite thee to his friendship and communion. He is in -thine heart, waiting there with all the condescension, tenderness, and -compassion of a most indulgent father, to deliver thee from thy sins, -and shew himself to thy soul in reconciliation and peace. He hath been -waiting there ever since thou wert born, seeking to make himself known -to thee, sometimes by the frowns of conscience, sometimes by its -approving smiles, sometimes by the endearing intercourse of Christian -friendship and love, and sometimes by the sweet emotions of his own -Charity, kindled within thee, at the sight of an object in distress; -sometimes by providential deliverances from imminent dangers, sometimes -by providential visits of health and prosperity. Whence is it then, O -sinner, that, though thy SAVIOUR hath been so long time "with thee, yet -hast thou not known him?" Whence is it, though he has made thee such -frequent offers of his Love, thou hast still slighted or rejected them? - -Various are the obstacles and impediments which prevent us from coming -to a true and saving knowledge of CHRIST. In some persons, the -unrestrained sovereignty and dominion of fallen nature, leads them -captive at its will, makes them deaf to the voice of conscience, and -blind to every ray of light that seeks to illuminate the dark region of -their heart. They know not CHRIST, because they have not the least -desire to be acquainted with him. - -In others, the grand and principal impediment to the knowledge of -CHRIST, is their absolute dependence upon an external decency of -conduct, to which they have given the name of morality. If they -cultivate those seeming virtues, which are the faint images or shadows -of the True Graces of the Gospel, it is solely from a selfish principle, -a desire of being noticed and respected by the world: they have no view, -in any thing they undertake, to that real inward change of heart and -temper, in which alone the Knowledge of CHRIST consists. Such persons, -being unacquainted with the intrinsic evil and corruption of their own -nature, cannot have the least desire to be delivered from it; and, till -they are providentially awakened to a sense of this, they cannot find -themselves disposed to enquire after a Saviour, in and through whom -alone these evils and corruptions are to be healed or removed. - -Others again there are, who are kept from this saving knowledge of -CHRIST, by an attachment to external forms, modes, and opinions of -religion; who, provided they are found faithful in the observance and -belief of these, excuse themselves from the cultivation of those inward -and heavenly graces and virtues, which alone constitute the life and -power of religion. Such persons frequently fall into the grossest -inconsistencies. They can be angry, in the defence of meekness; proud, -whilst they are discoursing on humility; and can speak of all the -sublime truths of religion, and sometimes of its vital influences on the -heart, with the utmost elegance and pathos of sentiment and expression, -and yet remain totally insensible of their efficacy respecting -themselves. Such persons know not CHRIST, because they do not seek him -in the only way in which he can be found, viz. in a conformity to his -Heavenly Character. - -The last impediment which I shall mention, that excludes many serious -minds from the knowledge of CHRIST'S personal power and presence with -them, is that under which poor Philip laboured; even an expectation of -some unusual display of supernatural agency, to produce their conviction -and conversion.--He, indeed, looked for an external sign; they are -anxious for something internal and spiritual; but the nature of the -desire is the same in both, and is equally delusive and dangerous. Such -persons, solicitous for nothing but an assurance of the forgiveness of -GOD, expect to have it communicated by some vision, ecstasy, or sudden -illumination. - -Far be it from me to call in question the reality of such -manifestations, which good men in all ages have experienced. But at the -same time I must confess, that I cannot look upon them as essential to -Salvation. CHRIST JESUS reveals himself to sinners in various methods, -and by various means: but the end of all these means and methods is the -same, even to produce his own Image of Righteousness and true Holiness -in their hearts. Let us hear his own blessed words: "Come unto me, all -ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest"--Ye that -labour under the evils of fallen life, seduced by its temptations, -enslaved by its passions, and heavy-laden with its accumulated guilt and -woe, come to me, deeply sensible of your deplorable condition, and -earnestly desiring deliverance, and I will give you rest! From the same -Oracle of Truth, we learn too, wherein this rest, deliverance, or -forgiveness must consist--"Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in -heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls." Meekness and lowliness of -heart, therefore, is the true rest which CHRIST gives; for, wherever -these are, there is Faith, there is Hope, there is Heaven-born Charity. - -Tell me, ye favoured souls! who have been "called out of darkness into -the marvellous light of GOD;" who have experienced his "Peace, that -passeth all understanding;" who have received the sweetest tokens of his -Forgiving Grace; tell me, wherein did this marvellous Light, this Peace, -this token of Forgiving Grace consist? what kind of sensibility was -awakened in you at that happy season?--Was it not a sensibility of Love -intense, and Meekness unutterable? a Love, that would have clasped -universal nature in its charitable embrace; a Meekness, that would have -forgiven the grossest injuries and insults, and condescended to the -meanest offices of tenderness and kindness to your brethren? - -This, then, is the Knowledge of JESUS CHRIST: in this Gentle Element he -delights to move! Let but your souls be attempered to these Divine -Sensations, and CHRIST is yours! Seek not for any sudden and -extraordinary impulses or ecstasies, but "learn to be meek and lowly in -heart!" Ask for Divine Grace to subdue your corrupt and boisterous -passions!--Be weary of, and groan under, the burden of your evil -nature!--Fly from pride, envy, covetousness, and wrath; and cherish the -opposite tempers of meekness, humility, resignation, and love!--Wander -not after an imaginary forgiveness: but know assuredly, that there is no -other way, in which the All-atoning Blood of the HOLY JESUS can be -applied for the pardon of sin, but by inwardly cleansing, redeeming, and -purifying your corrupt natures, from every bestial as well as diabolical -impurity. - -It is in this process alone, that you can know, and be known by your -SAVIOUR: and unless you enter upon this, and seek in good earnest to be -intimately acquainted with him, thus revealing himself in your hearts; -he will one day have good reason to say to you, as he did to his -disciple in the text, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet have -you not known me?" - - - - - DISCOURSE XV. - Human Life a Pilgrimage. - - -PSALM xxxix. Part of VER. 12. - - "FOR I AM A STRANGER WITH THEE, AND A SOJOURNER, AS ALL MY FATHERS - WERE." - - -In every age of the world, and among people of every nation and language -under heaven, (if we may credit the testimony of history and experience) -there have been found many virtuous, thoughtful, and enquiring minds; -who, from an attentive observation of the moral as well as physical -disorders incident to the present system of things, from a personal -experience of the unavoidable miseries consequent thereupon, and from a -secret irresistible desire and longing after some superior but unknown -state of being, have been led to form these most philosophical and pious -conclusions: - -That their present mode of existence could not possibly be as that for -which they were originally intended by a being of Infinite Wisdom, -Goodness, and Love; that the intelligent and immortal spirit within -them, could not have been created merely to animate a dark terrestrial -body, and to be subject to the clamorous demands of animal nature; that -the fair signatures of beauty, order, and love, which they still saw, -and felt, and admired, within and without them, could not have been -originally impressed by the Divine Fiat upon that mixture of darkness, -deformity and confusion, in which they now appear; that the primeval -harmony and lustre of the creation must, by some means or other, have -been marred and spoiled; and that, for these reasons, they could not but -consider themselves as the fallen inhabitants of a fallen world. - -That these strange disorders must have proceeded solely from the -depravity of some created intelligences, they concluded, not only from -their own conceptions of the spotless purity and goodness of the Divine -Nature, but from their own observation and experience of the innumerable -evils that were produced in themselves and others, when ever their wills -and affections deviated from the strait paths of virtue, and wandered in -the mazes of vice. And yet they saw--and yet they felt--that so numerous -and powerful were the temptations and suggestions on the side of vice, -that nought but the kind interposition of their good and powerful -CREATOR, nought but the super-natural illumination and direction of his -BLESSED SPIRIT, could rescue them from the dominion of their passions, -open their understanding to the sight of TRUTH, and incline their will -to the pursuit and practice of GOODNESS. This affectionate intercourse -with their CREATOR, they considered as the only source of their virtue -and happiness in this life, as the only earnest of their future and -final felicity in the next. Hence they regarded themselves as strangers -and exiles in a foreign land, and looked upon death as the season of -their deliverance, of their return to their native country, and re-union -with their Father and kindred spirits in glory. - -Many traces of this sublime philosophy do we meet with in the lives and -writings of the virtuous heathen. For, however they may differ from us -in their modes of conception and expression, a discerning mind will soon -discover, that their feelings were congenial with our own; and that they -wanted but the aids of external revelation to enable them to "speak what -they knew, and testify what they saw," in the same language which we are -instructed to use. - -The Sacred Writings, however, afford us the noblest and most indubitable -testimonies to the great truths mentioned above. For whatsoever -scattered rays of knowledge or of goodness are found here and there -gleaming through the shades of paganism;--whatsoever the thrice-great -Hermes delivered as oracles from his sacred tripos;--whatsoever -Pythagoras, Socrates, Epictetus, Zoroaster, or Confucius, have laboured -to inculcate upon the hearts of their disciples--all this, and -infinitely more, without any corrupt or superstitious mixture, do we -find expressly revealed, with all the marks of Divine Authority, in the -Holy Scriptures--all this, and infinitely more, do we find beautifully -exemplified in those lives and sayings of patriarchs, prophets, and -apostles, which are recorded for our instruction and imitation in the -Old Testament as well as in the New. - -These venerable teachers and patterns of Truth and Virtue, do all, with -one voice, express their deep sensibility of the evils and miseries of -their present state of existence, and their ardent aspirations after -another and a better state. They all, with one voice, acknowledge the -vanity and insufficiency of every sublunary enjoyment, and the -indispensable necessity of "setting the affections on things above, not -on things on the earth." They all, with one voice, pronounce their state -in this world to be that of strangers and exiles; and consider their -temporary pilgrimage here, as only intended to purify and prepare them -for a state of eternal peace and happiness hereafter. In a word, they -all, with one voice, declare, that there is no other method, by which -they can be redeemed from the evils of their present life, and qualified -for the blessings of a future, but by a perpetual communion with the -great FATHER OF THEIR SPIRITS, kept up on his part by kind and liberal -effusions of his own essential goodness; and on theirs, by an -affectionate and ardent inclination of their wills and desires towards -him, and a grateful reception, and faithful improvement of his loving -communications. - -Under the Old Testament, this blessed intercourse was understood and -felt by patriarchs and prophets, through the outward means of -sacrifices, types, and various ceremonies and ordinances; all predictive -and expressive of a certain Redeeming Process, which, "in the fulness of -time," was to be accomplished for human nature, in the person of a -suffering and triumphant MESSIAH. Under the New Testament, it broke -forth, with meridian lustre, in the incarnation and nativity, life and -conversation, sufferings, death, resurrection and ascension of the -BLESSED JESUS; in whose sacred person the divine and human natures were -most happily united, to the end, that as the SON OF MAN and the SON OF -GOD, he might communicate to every Son of Man, that should receive his -testimony, and believe in his Name, the power of becoming a SON OF GOD, -John i. 12. - -His life and conversation upon earth must, therefore, be the true and -only standard, by which ours is to be regulated. As he lived, so should -we live also; and consider this world in the same point of view, and -treat it in the same manner, that he did. - -So far, indeed, as the worthies of the Old Testament have lived or -spoken according to the spirit of his Gospel, so far, without doubt, we -are bound to follow their example: and a very little acquaintance with -Scripture will be sufficient to inform us, that "they did all eat of the -same spiritual meat, and did all drink of the same spiritual drink," and -had all entered upon the same Redeeming Process, with those, who have -since lived under the Light of the Gospel, and have known and found this -meat and drink to be no other than those spiritual emanations of Truth -and Love, which we all receive, or may receive, from CHRIST OUR COMMON -SAVIOUR. - -When David, therefore, confessed, that he was "a stranger and a -sojourner with GOD, as all his fathers were," what was this, but an -express declaration, that, though he was encircled with a diadem, and -clad in the robes of royalty; though he had his residence in the -metropolis of Judea, and exercised an absolute sovereignty over the -whole realm; he considered himself, nevertheless, as a stranger in a -strange land, far distant from his native country, surrounded by a -multitude of enemies, who were perpetually upon the watch to take -advantage of any little mistake he might commit, perpetually in arms -against him, and determined, if they possibly could, to rob him at once -of his kingdom and his peace? What was it, but an humble acknowledgment -of his own spiritually helpless and indigent condition? and at the same -time an affectionate intimation of his secret hope, that, as his -forefathers had been in the same circumstances he was now in, and had -experienced the kind interposition of Heaven for their relief and -comfort, GOD would be graciously pleased to continue to him the same -loving-kindness, accompany support and protect him through his painful -sojourn, and conduct him safe to those blessed abodes, which he had -prepared for the reception of every true spiritual Israelite? "For I am -a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were." - -Upon this view of things, and under the influence of these principles, -he composed the pathetic psalm, from whence my text is taken; which -exhibits to us a lively representation of the vanity and shortness of -human life, the difficulties that attend our pilgrimage through this -world, the prudence and circumspection which the pilgrim must observe, -the enemies he must expect to encounter on the way, and the confidence -he must repose in the strength of a superior and Almighty arm, in order -to secure to himself Success and Victory. - -The truth of this representation we find abundantly confirmed by the -whole tenor of Scripture. The grand apostate seraph is there called "the -prince of this world, the prince of the power of the air;" from which, -and other expressions of the like import, we may justly conclude, that -he was once in possession of this very system which we inhabit--it was -the sphere of glory, in which he moved, whilst his lustre yet remained -unfaded. Envious, jealous of its new inhabitants, he is perpetually -"walking about, seeking whom he may devour." He avails himself of that -earthly nature which we inherit from our fallen ancestor, insinuates -himself through its foul channels into our inmost hearts, seduces us -from the paths of innocence and virtue, and, unless timely rescued by a -Superior Power, will hurry us headlong into the depths of his own dark -and fiery kingdom. - -On the other hand, the GOD of LIGHT and LOVE, who reigns supreme in his -own KINGDOM of LIGHT and LOVE, is most affectionately anxious for our -preservation. For this gracious purpose, he causes his light to shine -forth in the midst of our darkness; discovers to us the secret hostile -intentions of our malicious enemy; calls upon us to fly from his -infernal wiles; and invites us to walk with himself in his own -delightful element, with sweet assurances of peace and consolation here, -and glory, honour, and immortality hereafter. - -Ill fares the man, whose mistaken heart too easily opens to the false -friendship of his flattering foe--he walks upon enchanted ground--there -is no reality in the surrounding scene--every object is visionary--the -flowers have no real fragrance, the fruits no real flavour or -nourishment.--He plucks and eats, but still remains unsatisfied--he -plucks and eats again--he discovers the delusion, and yet the delusion -pleases him.--The wily enchanter leads him at one time into the gardens -of pleasure--at another, conducts him to the pompous edifice of -ambition--at another, opens upon his ravished sight the splendid -treasures, which Mammon offers to his foolish votaries.--With this -pretended friend and guardian he walks the tiresome round, pleased and -transported with every new prospect, but loathing the objects as soon as -possessed. In the mean while, the calls of a superior nature are totally -disregarded, and the soul is suffered to famish within the pampered -body. - -Not so the wise and virtuous candidate for sublimer joys. His breast is -no sooner penetrated by a ray of that Universal Light, "which lighteth -every man that cometh into the world," than it opens, with chearfulness -and gratitude, to receive more and more of the salutary effulgence. He -finds within himself a source of sensibilities, which correspond to a -world of objects far more real and sublime, than aught that meets his -outward senses in this shadowy scene. He finds, he feels the presence of -a true friend and guardian, whose unlimited power can controul the open -or secret attacks of his false friend and seducer; whose wisdom can -furnish him with every kind of knowledge that is necessary to his real -felicity; and whose ineffable love is perpetually feeding and refreshing -the angel that is within him, with such fruits and flowers as are of -celestial growth, and suited to its celestial frame. With this GUARDIAN -GOD, he walks the wilds of nature, unappalled, regardless alike of the -smiles and frowns of his spiritual adversaries. He considers himself as -a stranger and sojourner in this vale of misery; and under the conduct -of Unerring Wisdom, and Almighty Love, pursues his painful pleasing -journey to a better country, even an heavenly one. - -But this is not all. Care, prudence, circumspection, and confidence in -GOD, are not only indispensably necessary to secure to us a safe and -happy pilgrimage through life; but they are likewise the best, the only -preparatives for an happy and comfortable death. - -As strangers and sojourners, we ought to live under a constant -expectation of being called home to our native country. This expectation -will be either pleasing or painful, according as we are more or less -prepared for the awful summons. The summons we cannot dispense with: the -time in which it may be pronounced, is altogether uncertain. - -Some of us, within a very few years, and some, perhaps, within a very -few days, may behold the curtain drop, and shut out every scene of -temporal nature from our view. With respect to us, "the heavens and the -earth will then pass away with a mighty noise; the sun will be darkened, -and the moon turned into blood; the stars will fall from heaven, and the -powers of heaven will be shaken." Death, judgment, heaven, or hell, will -then be realized to our disembodied spirits. "He that is holy will be -holy still, and he that is filthy will be filthy still." The dissolution -of this outward body will close the season of Divine Grace; the hopes or -the fears, the happiness or the misery of man will be determined by his -expiring breath; and his GOD will be manifested to him, either in the -mild majesty of his Love, or in the consuming fire of his Wrath. - -What adds to the solemnity of this dread moment, is the frequent -suddenness of its approach. The king of terrors often knocks at the -door, when the master of the house is by no means prepared for the awful -visit. Nay, he frequently passes by the habitations of age, infirmity, -and distress, and thunders forth his tremendous summons in the ears of -the young, the gay, and the robust. Neither superior fortune, nor -superior station, can protract the fleeting date of life. The monarch -tumbles from his throne; and, after the momentary honours of a pompous -funeral, makes his bed in the dust, and lies there as poor and -undistinguished as the late tenant of the homely cottage. Even piety and -virtue cannot screen their votaries from death's unerring shaft; but he -is sometimes permitted to snatch away the most amiable patterns of both, -in order to awaken the attention, or chastise the carelessness, of their -friends and neighbours. - -Happy would it be for mankind, if these frequent indiscriminate strokes -did but produce a more general and serious attention to "the things that -belong to their peace:" and happy for you, my dear brethren, if the -solemn truths that have now been delivered, are permitted to have a due -weight and influence on your lives and practice! - -Examine yourselves, then, by these principles. Look well into the -present state of your souls. Be these important reflections continually -present to your minds--that you are but "strangers and sojourners upon -earth;" that every object, that attracts and engages your desires and -affections here, must very shortly be removed from you for ever; that it -is folly and madness to take up your rest in such poor perishable -things, as the present world affords, inasmuch as death must soon put an -end to their shadowy forms, and translate you to a world, where all is -real--all is eternal. - -Do not deceive yourselves. A gay and thoughtless life is no suitable -preparation for death. The heart must be gradually estranged from the -vanities of time, before it can turn its desires towards the riches of -eternity. You have heard of the difficulties you may expect to meet -with, of the enemies you will have to encounter, on your way to heaven. -Up then, and be doing. No time is to be lost. Every moment is precious: -"it carries Heaven on its wing." The victory is secure, if you will but -arm yourselves for the conflict. Your Heavenly FATHER is perpetually -drawing and inviting you to enter the lists, and contend for the prize. -His Eternal SON hath promised to be with you, and in you. And the -blessed SPIRIT, proceeding from both, will inspire you with all that -celestial strength and ardour, which alone can render you "more than -conquerors." Thus are you furnished, from the armoury of heaven, with a -divine panoply, which, upon trial, you will find impenetrable to "all -the fiery darts of the wicked." - -"Fear not, then, thou worm, Jacob! Be not dismayed, for thy God is with -thee!" Blessed encouragement, this! What though you are strangers and -sojourners upon earth, yet remember for your consolation, that you are -strangers and sojourners with GOD--"For I am a stranger and sojourner -WITH THEE." - -O MY brethren! what ineffable peace and satisfaction would spring up in -your hearts, could you once realize to yourselves, could you once feel, -the perpetual presence of an OMNIPOTENT GOD, travelling with you on the -journey of life, supplying all your wants, supporting you under all your -difficulties and distresses, and, with the affectionate fondness of a -father, minutely entering into all your real interests and concerns! To -know, that you are his offspring, fallen indeed, but redeemed by his -BLESSED SON: that his love for you is so ardent, that "whoso toucheth -you his children, toucheth the apple of his eye; that in all your -afflictions he is afflicted, and that the angel of his presence saves -and delivers you; that he will never leave you comfortless, but will be -with you always, even to the end of the world!" These are such sweet and -delightful assurances, as you could never have collected from the vain -reasonings of worldly philosophy, or the vain confidence, which many -pretend to derive from mere unassisted human virtue. - -Upon this ground you may rest secure; and, in the strength of an -Almighty arm, bid defiance to the open assaults, or secret stratagems of -the enemies of your peace. Whilst the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS continues to -impart his chearing beams, and fountains of living water spring up on -every side to refresh the weary pilgrim, you may pursue your journey -through the VALLEY OF BACA, with peace and confidence; you may "lift up -your heads with joy, as the Ransomed of the LORD;" and "proceed from -strength to strength, till you appear before the GOD OF GODS in SION." - - - - - DISCOURSE XVI. - The true Knowledge of God internal and practical. - - -JOB, CHAP. xlii. VER. 5, 6. - - "I HAVE HEARD OF THEE BY THE HEARING OF THE EAR; BUT NOW HATH MINE - EYE SEEN THEE: THEREFORE I ABHOR MYSELF, AND REPENT IN DUST AND - ASHES." - - -We can scarcely open any part of the Scriptures, but we meet with the -following great and leading truths of Religion: viz. that the LOVE OF -GOD is universal; that his "GRACE, which bringeth Salvation, hath -appeared unto all men;" that he hath given a "manifestation of his -Spirit to every man, to profit withal;" that "GOD so loved the world, -that he hath given his ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever believeth in -him should not perish, but have everlasting Life:" that he is "the True -Light, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;" that GOD -"wills not the death of a sinner, but rather that he would be converted -and live;" that his call has been, and now is to "every man," every -where, "to repent;" and that every man may partake of this Universal -Love, may be saved by this "Grace which hath appeared," may profit by -the manifestation which GOD hath given him. - -To these great and leading truths we are continually called and exhorted -to attend; and that there is a possibility of attending and yielding to -them, is implied in the very nature and spirit of the declarations -themselves. For, certainly, all is in vain--the call to all in vain, the -appearance of Grace to all in vain, the gift and manifestation of the -Spirit to every one in vain, and the shining of the Light in vain, if -fallen man is not put into a capacity of obeying it, and walking -therein. - -"Man's destruction is of himself"--If his distempered nature is not -healed, if his soul continues unredeemed, it is not because there is no -"Balm in Gilead;" it is not because "the arm of the LORD is shortened, -that it cannot save," or the fountain of LOVE so exhausted, that its -streams have ceased to flow--but because men will not avail themselves -of the healing Balm; because they refuse to be gathered by that -compassionate Arm, that is continually stretched forth to save; because -they will not open their souls to receive the Waters of Life. Their eyes -are so blinded by the false glare of earthly beauty, that they cannot -see the surpassing excellency of the Divine Glory--their ears are so -deaf, that they have no delight in hearing or obeying the Divine -Voice--they are content to walk on in the broad way, and suffer the -enemy of their souls to take them captive at his pleasure. Thus entered -sin at the beginning--thus it continueth, increaseth, and prevaileth. - -No man, in his present deplorable state, can open that eye which was -blinded by sin; nor unstop that ear which was sealed by his apostasy -from his Maker; nor save or deliver himself from the bondage of -corruption. Herein, therefore, is the UNIVERSAL LOVE OF GOD made -manifest, that "he hath laid help upon one that is Mighty, who is able -to save to the uttermost those that come to him;" that he hath appointed -and prepared a "Seed that can bruise the serpent's head;" that he hath -caused his Light to shine in the Hearts of all men; and hath called all -men every where to repent--Now if man still continues to shut his eyes, -and harden his heart, and refuse to be reconciled, "his destruction is -of himself, and GOD will be just when he judgeth." - -But here the grand question may be asked--How doth GOD manifest himself -to his creatures? There is no Revelation in these days--no spiritual -visions now.--no such Sight of GOD, as Abraham, Moses, the Prophets, and -the Primitive Christians were favoured with--GOD forbid!--for surely -where there is no vision, no sight or sense of heavenly things, there is -the Lost State indeed!--where there is no Revelation, there can be no -True Knowledge of GOD-for what saith the Scripture--"None knoweth the -Father but the Son, and he to whom the SON will reveal him?" - -Ever since the vail was spread over the human heart, there never was any -other way in any age, nor can there be in this age, of coming to the -true Knowledge of GOD, but by Revelation; that is, by taking off the -vail, and removing the covering that hides the Face of GOD from -man.--Men "have sought out many inventions," and devised many ways and -means of coming to the knowledge of the Deity; moral and even -mathematical demonstrations of his existence, have been attempted; but -all in vain. As such inventions and devices have increased, sorrow and -perplexity have increased also: and even if they have succeeded so far, -as to satisfy the natural understanding, what is it, at best, but a kind -of historical knowledge, a strong conceit or imagination of something -concerning GOD, without any thing like a sensibility of his Presence, or -an intuitive self-evident conviction of his nature and attributes?--Far -different this from the knowledge which Job experienced, and which every -real Christian may express in his language: "I have heard of thee by the -hearing of the ear; but now hath mine eye seen thee: therefore I abhor -myself, and repent in dust and ashes." - -It is not improbable, but Job might have amused himself, like some of -our modern philosophizing Christians, with fine-spun theories and -speculations upon the nature and attributes of the DIVINITY; and whilst -the tide of temporal prosperity continued to flow in upon him, whilst -"he washed his steps in butter, and the rock poured out for him rivers -of oil," whilst his health continued unimpaired, and his domestic bliss -uninterrupted, such empty researches might have been sufficient to -entertain his imagination; and such an outward knowledge of the MOST -HIGH, might satisfy a soul, that was yet insensible of any spiritual or -temporal wants or distresses. But let the hand of GOD fall heavy upon -him; let his body be visited with pain and sickness, and his soul -wounded with grief and disappointment; let him be stripped of all his -worldly affluence, and deprived of all his domestic comforts; and he -will soon find, that the wants of nature, when deeply felt, are not to -be supplied by reasoning and speculation; that an outward hearsay -knowledge of GOD is of no avail; that it cannot administer the least -relief either to the body or the mind; that it cannot sooth or mitigate -one bodily pain, or send one ray of light into the dark and comfortless -regions of the soul. - -Go to the chambers of sickness, visit the melancholy retreats of -indigence and woe! produce there your strong reasonings--strive, with -learned labour, to open and convince the understandings of your -suffering brethren--enumerate to them all the outward evidences, that -you can collect, of the great truths of religion--give them proof upon -proof, demonstration upon demonstration--talk to them of the Nature and -Attributes of GOD, and the immortality of their souls--tell them what -the SON OF GOD hath done and suffered for sinners; what are the means of -reconciliation, and what the sure grounds of an happy death--give them -all that they can receive "by the hearing of the ear"--and what have you -done, and what have they gained?--Why you have done just as much as an -unskilful physician would do, who entertained his patient with a learned -dissertation upon the virtues and excellencies of a certain medicine, -which he had somewhere read or heard of, as admirably adapted to the -disorder, but which he had never seen with his eyes, and of the nature -of which he knew nothing by his own experience. Thus it is with this -outward knowledge of GOD: the poor soul is left to feed upon words or -ideas, and to seek comfort, in vain, in empty speculations. - -Fruitless, indeed, are such attempts as these! Till the soul is shaken -to her very center, till the stone is removed from the door of the -sepulchre, that GOD who "makes darkness his secret place," can never be -seen. The eye must be turned inwardly, to view what is passing in the -inmost soul, to discover what its wants and necessities are, as well as -what will supply them, and yield it peace, and yield it happiness, from -an inexhaustible source. It must feel its own darkness, before it can -seek to have it enlightened--The same Light that breaks in upon it like -the dawn of day, gives it the first sensibility of distress, as well as -the first sensibility of consolation "now hath mine eye seen thee, -therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes"--I now feel the -misery of nature without GOD--I feel nothing but darkness, and want, and -hunger, and thirst! But in this darkness, under this want, in this -hunger and thirst, the soul must wait, without reasoning, without -repining, in stillness, in silence, till the invisible GOD shines into -the darkness, and till the darkness comprehends and eagerly imbibes the -Light, and he, in whom is no darkness at all, manifesteth his Presence -by a self-evident sensibility. - -Thus it is, that man, by virtue of the Redeeming Power of the Second -Adam, implanted in his heart as a spark of Heavenly flame, hidden under -the flesh and blood of fallen nature, is revived, quickened, and -enlightened. The Heavenly Birth soon perceives and owns its parent--the -outward knowledge gives way to the inward manifestation--and GOD, and -Heaven, and Goodness, and Grace, are seen and known, and felt by their -own incontestible workings in the human Heart. Hence, the fruits of the -SPIRIT, the fruits of Heaven, begin to bud and blossom: "love, joy, -peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness," are felt -and practised; and the soul lives and breathes in the Heavenly world, -even whilst she inherits this frail tenement of clay. - -And now, my brethren, is not such a Knowledge of GOD worth possessing? A -Knowledge, that unites you to him; makes you One Heart and Spirit with -him; gives the highest relish to all the joys, and the firmest support -under all the evils of life; which will stand by you, when every outward -comfort fails, when relations, friends, wealth, power, and all that -earth is able to supply, can no longer yield you the least support or -satisfaction. - -Some of the great obstacles and impediments to the attainment of this -Knowledge, I shall enumerate in my next discourse. - - - - - DISCOURSE XVII. - The true Knowledge of God internal and practical. - - -JOB, CHAP. xlii. VER. 5, 6. - - "I HAVE HEARD OF THEE BY THE HEARING OF THE EAR; BUT NOW HATH MINE - EYE SEEN THEE: THEREFORE I ABHOR MYSELF, AND REPENNT IN DUST AND - ASHES." - - -In a former discourse from these words, I explained to you the -difference between that Knowledge of GOD which is obtained by "the -hearing of the ear," and that which arises in the human heart, from a -spiritual sensibility of his Presence and Power within us. I observed, -that the former was, at best, but a kind of historical knowledge, or, -perhaps, nothing more than a strong conceit or imagination of something -concerning GOD; far different from that intuitive, self-evident, saving -Knowledge of him, which Job speaks of in the text, and which every truly -pious foul cannot but feel. I endeavoured, likewise, to point out the -Rise and Progress of this Knowledge, as well as the blessed Fruits or -Effects of which it is certainly productive. I then concluded with -asking you, whether such a Knowledge of GOD as I had been describing, -was not worth your possessing? A knowledge, that would unite you to him, -make you One Spirit, One Will, One Nature, with your heavenly -Father--that would give the highest relish to all the joys, and support -you under all the evils of life; that will stand by you, when every -outward comfort fails, when friends, and relations, and wealth, and -power, and all that earth is able to supply, can no longer yield you the -least support or satisfaction. - -Convinced, as I think you must needs be, of the infinite value of such a -possession as this, I would now ask you, what it is that keeps you from -desiring and seeking to obtain it. Your answer, if you knew yourselves, -would be, that you did not at present feel the want of it.--This state -of insensibility, therefore, to "the things that belong to your peace," -must arise from certain obstacles and impediments, which, agreeable to -my promise, I now proceed to enumerate. - -We are told, that the famous Selden, on his death-bed, sent for -archbishop Usher, and, in the course of a most serious and affecting -conversation, assured him, that he had accurately surveyed almost every -part of literature and science, that was held in the highest esteem by -the sons of men; that he had a study filled with the most valuable books -and manuscripts in the world; and yet, that, at that time, he could not -recollect one single passage out of any volume in this large collection, -upon which he could rest his soul, or from which he could derive one ray -of consolation, except some that he had met with in the Holy Scriptures; -and that the most remarkable passage that then made the deepest -impression upon his mind, was this: "For the GRACE OF GOD that bringeth -Salvation, hath appeared unto all men, teaching us, that denying -ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and -godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the -glorious appearance of the great GOD, and our Saviour JESUS CHRIST." - -"The GRACE OF GOD," indeed, "hath appeared unto all men." One of the -principal impediments to their sight of this Grace, is what poor Selden -complained of, viz. a looking for it in the writings of human reason, -and expecting to find it by the same learned labour with which we -investigate some mathematical or logical truth. Selden, with all his -learning, therefore, was obliged to seek for a True Knowledge of GOD, in -the volume of his own heart; and, agreeable to the direction of an -outward revelation, to look for the appearance of that Grace which it -promised, in a place, which his genius had not yet explored, and which -could never have been revealed to his outward eye. He had, no doubt, -"heard of GOD by the hearing of the ear," and could have accurately -demonstrated his existence and attributes--but, till that blessed -moment, "his eye had never seen him." - -Thus, all those fine literary accomplishments, which feed the pride of -the scholar, (though, when properly applied, they have their uses, and -great uses too) must, nevertheless, be sacrificed, when they prove, as -they frequently do, very great impodiments to a spiritual knowledge of -GOD. The most towering genius upon earth, can never gain admittance into -the Kingdom of Heaven, till he condescends to the simplicity of a child, -and with faith and humility opens his heart to his Heavenly Father for -that true wisdom, which can only come by immediate revelation from him. - -But the "wisdom of this world," or "science falsely so called," is not -the only impediment to our spiritual sight of GOD. There are many, who, -under a specious pretence of making a proper and honourable provision -for their families, involve themselves so deeply in business, as it is -called, that they will not allow themselves a single moment to attend to -the concerns of another world. And were we to enquire the reason of this -strange conduct, they might very properly make us the same answer, which -the Duke of Alva made to King Henry IV. upon another occasion: Did you -observe, my Lord Duke, said the Monarch, the great eclipse of the sun, -that lately happened?--No, may it please your Majesty, replied the -Duke--I have so much business to do on earth, that I have no leisure to -look up to heaven. In truth, my brethren, your mere men of business, and -a trading city like ours abounds with temptations to this kind of life; -I say, your mere men of business, either forget, in the hurry of -affairs, that their souls are immortal, and ought therefore to be fed -and attended to at least as much as their bodies; or else, to quiet -their consciences, they reason themselves into a belief that their souls -may die with their bodies, and therefore all thought or concern about -religious matters, is useless, and will only interrupt their worldly -pursuits. - -Success in trade introduces wealth, and, with it, its never-failing -attendant, luxury. From this fatal source proceed a thousand impediments -to a religious life, that are more readily felt than enumerated. Hence -an amazing increase of expence, with an increasing taste for high -living, sumptuous apparel, and splendid entertainments. By an immoderate -attention to these, the minds of men are gradually weaned from those -good impressions, which they have received in their earlier years, from -sober, frugal, and industrious parents.--The peasant treads close upon -the heels of the courtier; and such is the reigning fondness for what is -called fashionable life, that people of the most affluent circumstances, -and who move in the highest sphere, are scarcely to be distinguished -from those of the most scanty fortunes; and even indigence itself puts -in its claim for a share of the outward glitter.--And it were well, if -the evil proceeded no further than this. - -But if things should come to such a pass, that Religion itself, nay, -even the very appearances of it, should be deemed unfashionable; if -people should be afraid to come to the house of GOD, lest they should -have their taste called in question, lest they should be suspected by -their gay and worldly friends, of entertaining one serious thought about -another world, about GOD and their own souls; if the Sabbath, instead of -being wholly dedicated to, and spent in the service of, that GOD by whom -it was instituted, should be either lolled away in indolence, or spent -in posting of books, settling of accounts at home, or devoted to -entertainments and parties of pleasure abroad; if such should be the -consequences of an immoderate pursuit of business, and an inordinate -fondness for a fashionable life, would you not conclude, that these were -surely the greatest and most dangerous impediments to a true and saving -knowledge of GOD? If these evils have not appeared in such a degree, as -I have described them, I think, at least, they are not far from it; and -I begin to fear, that the time is approaching, when many amongst us will -be so far from "seeing GOD," as Job expresses it, "with their eyes," -that they will not even "hear of him by the hearing of the ear." For -believe me, my brethren, we cannot know GOD, we cannot even desire to -know him, whilst our whole hearts and minds are engaged in the things of -the world, whilst we turn, with all the eagerness of desire, to the -senseless pageantry and pleasures of a vain and trifling age. - -Shall I spare myself the pain of telling, what ought not to be an -offence to you to hear?--or will you give me leave to point out to you, -in plainer terms, what I apprehend to be your principal impediments to -such a view of the Divine Majesty, as would lead you to "abhor -yourselves, and repent in dust and ashes." - -It cannot be denied, that luxury, extravagance, and dissipation of every -kind, have, within these few years, made a most rapid progress amongst -us.--Your ministers have long, perhaps too long, been silent upon these -subjects.--But though preventive medicines are sometimes given with -success, yet the symptoms of a disorder, as they appear in its process, -are what must principally direct the application. What they have now to -say, comes to you with this corroborating circumstance in its support, -that we speak not from what we have apprehended might be, but from what -we have seen hath actually come to pass. - -We have observed, with real heart-felt concern, a general proneness to -pleasure, and a general indifference to the very forms of religion.--Our -discourses, though without particular applications, have been adapted, -as far as we were able to judge, to the circumstances of the people whom -we addressed.--We have not, however, been unconcerned spectators of your -conduct. We have observed, with what eagerness many of you have crouded -to scenes of amusement and dissipation, and what backwardness you have -shewn in attending the publick worship of GOD. Even the man of business -could devote many hours in the week, to the calls of worldly pleasure, -whilst he refused to give one to the calls of GOD upon his own Sabbath. - -Matters are, indeed, too serious to be passed by in silence. We are your -ministers, we are your servants; we should not be faithful to you, nor -to ourselves, were we to neglect giving you the alarm, when we saw, or -even apprehended, that you were in imminent danger. The enemy hath -already entered your houses--he hath entered your hearts! Under the -specious disguise and appellation of innocent amusements, he is secretly -drawing off your hearts from GOD, and carrying you away captive at his -will--Use not, I beseech you, the word innocent, in vindicating your -pleasures--Nothing can be innocent, let it be ever so seemingly -trifling, that wholly engrosses the mind, and takes it off from -attending to the great concerns of Salvation. Amusements, though they -may be innocent at first, become more or less criminal, as they have a -greater or less tendency to wean the heart from GOD. Upon this maxim, I -leave it to your own experience to determine, what particular kind of -amusements has had the greatest tendency to effect this in you. - -Far be it from me, to declaim, with an affected pharisaical severity, -against innocent recreations of any kind. But, Gracious GOD! can a -Christian complain of want of amusements, that has a family round him; -that has a dear child, or children, to educate; that has brothers, or -sisters, or relations, or friends; with whom he can live in a most sweet -and delightful intercourse of endearing offices? What a strange -perversion of nature, sense, and reason, to take delight in going -abroad, to have our affections excited by imaginary objects and romantic -representations, when we have so many real ones at home, in the course -of every day, and in the way of our duty, to call forth and promote -their best and highest exercise? I do not descend to particulars--let -these few hints suffice.--I have delivered them in love--in love, I -hope, they will be received. - -Permit me, however, once more to repeat--that it is this immoderate -fondness for pleasure and dissipation, that keeps you from feeling the -real wants of your nature, and, consequently, from applying to the true -and only Source, from whence they can be fully satisfied. But this -deception cannot last long; false happiness has no sure foundation; it -must, therefore, totter and fall at last. You will not always be as gay, -as healthy, and as prosperous, as you are now.--The vigour of the best -constitution cannot long preserve you from sickness, and from -death.--Neither the abundance of wealth, nor the increase of power, nor -the support of popularity, can long protect you from disappointment and -distress. You may think as lightly as you please of religious duties -now; but, depend upon it, the hour is at hand, when every little neglect -of them, every little preference you have given to the solicitations of -pleasure, will wound you to the very heart. You will then be convinced -of the danger of trifling with that immortal spirit that is within you; -and deeply regret, that you have been so far from having "seen GOD," -spiritually manifested in your hearts, that you have scarcely "heard of -him by the hearing of the ear." - -I cannot dismiss you, without one observation more. Hypocrisy, and a -pharisaical righteousness, are as great, and perhaps greater impediments -to the true Knowledge of GOD, than any of those I have already -mentioned. The root is deeper, the evil more difficult to be eradicated. - -Should any of you, therefore, have been solacing yourselves with the -view of your own fancied virtues, and thanking GOD, that you have not, -like others, been running after this or the other new and fashionable -amusement, but have kept yourselves strictly within the pale of outward -duties; I beseech you not to be too liberal of your censures, nor too -forward in prying into the conduct of your neighbours; but to look at -home with a jealous and watchful eye, to examine your own hearts, and -see, that whilst ye are "paying tithe of mint, and annise, and cummin," -ye do not "neglect the weightier matters of the law, mercy, justice, -forbearance, and charity." Whilst ye have "heard of GOD by the hearing -of the ear," your eyes, perhaps, may not yet have seen him; whilst you -are abhorring and standing aloof from your brethren, as if ye were -holier than they, ye do not "abhor yourselves, and repent in dust and -ashes." Remember, that a censorious spirit, and a disposition to think -and speak evil of others, is as foreign to the Spirit of Christianity, -as any other evil temper or disposition can be. - -To conclude: A true Christian will lament the general decline of -Religion, and wish and pray for better times, without being angry, or -shewing any marks of unkindness to his brethren. Yea, so far from -keeping himself at a distance, he will mingle, as occasion or duty -calls, with men of every class. He will be religious without severity, -and chearful without dissipation; he will instruct without seeming to -dictate, and reprove with such mildness, that his very censures shall be -received as the highest tokens of his love. - -In this sweet Spirit of the Gospel of JESUS, Heaven grant that we may -mutually receive and impart such truths, as "belong to our peace," both -here and hereafter! - - - - - DISCOURSE XVIII. - On the Nativity of Christ. - - -St. LUKE, CHAP. ii. from VER. 6 to 20. - - "AND SO IT WAS, THAT WHILE THEY WERE THERE, THE DAYS WERE - ACCOMPLISHED, THAT SHE SHOULD BE DELIVERED," &c. - - -In the first chapter of his Gospel, the Evangelist has given a -particular account of the conception and birth of John the Baptist, the -Salutation of the BLESSED VIRGIN, and her miraculous conception of the -HOLY JESUS. According to a regular series of historical facts, this -second chapter opens with a like circumstantial narrative of the -nativity of our BLESSED REDEEMER. - -An edict is issued by Augustus Cæsar, enjoining all the subjects of the -Roman empire to repair to their several cities, in order to have their -names enrolled for a general taxation. In obedience to this imperial -decree, Joseph, the espoused husband of Mary, is obliged to leave -Nazareth, the place of his residence, and take a journey to Bethlehem -the city of David, to be enrolled there, because he was of the house and -lineage of David. Mary, his espoused wife, though "great with child," -accompanies him. A most remarkable interposition of Divine Providence -appears in the whole transaction. The prophets had foretold, that the -MESSIAH should be born at Bethlehem, and that he should descend from the -family of David. The Roman emperor's decree was rendered subservient to -the accomplishment of these prophecies. Mary was thereby brought to -Bethlehem, and delivered of the MESSIAH, and her descent from the royal -line of David was publickly recognized. - -Ver. 6. "And so it was, that while they were there, the days were -accomplished, that she should be delivered." - -Ver. 7. "And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in -swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room -for them in the inn." - -A plain but affecting narrative! The apartments of the inn, we may -suppose, were occupied by more honourable guests. The Virgin Mother was -content to retire to a stable, and to lie down among brutes. Hapless -Mary! we are ready to exclaim--is it thus, that the promises of the -Angel are to be accomplished? Is this to be "highly favoured?" And are -these the blessings, by which thou art to be distinguished from the rest -of thy sex? Must thy spotless Babe, at the very instant of his birth, -enter upon his Labour of Love? and must the stable at Bethlehem be the -first scene of that awful drama, which was afterwards closed on the -trembling top of Calvary? - -But in what manner was the appearance of this illustrious Babe made -known to the world? Should not the princes and great ones of the earth -have had proper intelligence of his arrival, that they might have -hastened from their several kingdoms and provinces, thrown themselves at -his feet, paid him the homage due to his exalted character, and obliged -all their subjects to do the same? No--."GOD'S thoughts are not as man's -thoughts, neither are his ways as man's ways." The same reason for which -he thought proper to send his Angel to the humble Mary, induced him now -to give the first notice of his SON'S birth to a few simple shepherds. - -Ver. 8. "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the -field, keeping watch over their flock by night." - -Ver. 9. "And lo, the Angel of the LORD came upon them, and the Glory of -the LORD shone round about them, and they were sore afraid." - -The pastoral life was once thought to be the happiest and most innocent -life upon earth. Far from the noise of cities, and the hurry of the busy -world, free from its anxieties, and ignorant of many of its vices, they -enjoyed the full tranquillity of the rural scene. As their flocks were -their only care, they had abundant leisure for meditation and prayer. As -they had no schemes of interest or ambition to accomplish, they were -plain, unprejudiced, and undesigning men. A few of these shepherds were -in the fields, bordering upon Bethlehem, watching by turns their sheep -the whole night, as was the custom of the country; when their senses -were suddenly struck with a great and unusual glare of light, in the -midst of which appeared an Angel of GOD, bright and glorious. They were -confounded with the excessive splendor. They trembled, and were sore -afraid. But the Angel, with all the sweetness and chearfulness of Heaven -in his countenance, thus comfortably addressed them: - -Ver. 10. "Fear not: for, behold! I bring you good tidings of great joy, -which shall be to all people." - -Ver. 11. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, -which is CHRIST the LORD." - -Be not afraid! I am come, not to terrify you, but to bring you great and -joyous tidings, in which not yourselves only, but the whole nation of -the Jews, yea, all the inhabitants of the world, are deeply interested! -For he, of whom all the prophets prophesied, and whom all the people of -Israel have, according to the promise of GOD, long and ardently -expected, even the MESSIAH, the Saviour and Deliverer, is this night -born in Bethlehem, the city of David. - -Ver. 12. "And this shall be a sign unto you--" a sign, by which you -shall know him, the moment you enter into his presence--"ye shall find -the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." - -Scarce had the Angel delivered his message, when a whole choir of his -celestial brethren burst forth with additional splendors from the -midnight sky, and saluted the shepherds' ears with a birth-day anthem. - -Ver. 13. "And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the -heavenly host, praising GOD, and saying:" Ver. 14. "Glory to GOD in the -highest; and on earth peace, good-will towards men!" - -No expressions of joy could have been more admirably adapted than these, -to so glorious an occasion: for the glory of the Divine Majesty was most -eminently displayed in that gracious message of peace and -reconciliation, of Love and Good-Will, which was here published to the -world. If those pure and perfect Intelligences could thus testify their -transport upon an event, in which an inferior order of beings were more -immediately concerned; surely, that order are continually bound to -render the highest and most grateful returns of praise, acknowledgment, -and love! - -For us men, and for our Salvation, a GOD becomes incarnate. The ETERNAL -WORD clothes himself in clay. He assumes our nature in its most helpless -state; and is born, like one of us, a naked, weak, and wailing Babe. -Thus began the mighty process of Redeeming Love! To rescue us from the -misery of a fallen life; to restore the Divine Image to our souls; to -regain, for us, that state of rectitude, of union and communion with -GOD, which we had lost in Adam; and completely to repair the ruins of -nature were the benevolent purposes, which the GOD of LOVE determined to -accomplish by sending into the world his only-begotten SON. Well, -therefore, might the inhabitants of Heaven, at the prospect of such -ineffable goodness and condescension, break forth, enraptured, into -these sublime and joyous strains: "Glory to GOD in the highest; and on -earth Peace, Good-Will towards men!" - -Ver. 15. "And it came to pass, as the Angels were gone away from them -into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us now go, even unto -Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the LORD hath -made known unto us." - -They did not stay to "confer with flesh and blood;" to reason, and -doubt, and hesitate, whether this might not be a delusion; but, in the -true simplicity of faith, improved the heavenly warning, and hastened to -Bethlehem, in full assurance of meeting with every thing conformable to -the notice they had received. - -Ver. 16. "And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the -Babe lying in a manger." - -Glorious confirmation and reward of the shepherds' faith! O that all who -call themselves Christians, would with the same child-like simplicity -surrender themselves to JESUS CHRIST! They have frequent and sufficient -warnings of his kind intentions towards them. They are assured, that he -is the Light and Life of men; and that if they apply to him, they will -receive the most salutary manifestations of this Life and Light in their -souls. Were they to listen and obey these warnings, and go as they are -directed, they would as surely find this Heavenly Babe in their hearts, -as the shepherds found him in the stable at Bethlehem. - -Ver. 17. "And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying -which was told them concerning this Child." - -In like manner, the true Believer, who hath experienced the operation of -the Spirit of GOD bearing witness with his spirit, that the Child JESUS -is born in his heart, cannot but "make known abroad," what he has felt -and experienced of this spiritual birth, though his testimony rarely -produces any better effects upon his hearers, than that of wonder and -astonishment. - -Ver. 18. "And all they that heard it, wondered at those things, which -were told them by the shepherds." - -"They were greatly amazed, and at a loss to know, what to make of the -report. They could not think it likely, that such a set of plain, -honest, undesigning men should have formed the story, and should go -about to impose it on the world. They could not but know, indeed, that -their testimony was strengthened by a general expectation, at that time, -of the MESSIAH'S appearance, and by the prevailing opinion that his -birth would be at Bethlehem: yet they were astonished, that he should be -born of such mean parents, and in such despicable circumstances; and -that persons of such low figure as these shepherds, should be the men to -whom GOD had sent an Angel to reveal it." - -From the conduct of the shepherds, the Evangelist passes to that of the -Blessed Virgin, which differs much from theirs, as might indeed be -expected from her different situation and circumstances. For whereas, -"they made known abroad the saying that was told them concerning this -child," we are assured, that - -Ver. 19. "Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." - -By "these things," we are doubtless to understand the whole series of -astonishing events, from the first salutation of the Angel, to this -visit of the shepherds. - -Under the power of these reflections, methinks I see the Blessed Mother, -bending disconsolate over her shivering infant! Her countenance speaks a -thousand tender emotions of her heart! It is a look, composed of deep -anxiety, maternal fondness, compassion and love inexpressible! In her -varying features one may read too the varying sensibilities of her soul. - -Sweet heavenly babe! How mild, how serenely soft thy aspect! How -seemingly satisfied with thy hard allotment! Surely the bleak winds will -pierce thy tender frame! Surely the rugged winter means not to relent -for thee! And yet the Messenger of Heaven hath assured me, that thou -shouldst be a JESUS, a SAVIOUR; that thou shouldst be called the SON OF -THE HIGHEST; that thou shouldst sit upon the throne of DAVID, and that -of thy kingdom there should be no end. But where are the ensigns of -royalty? where are the tokens of thy illustrious birth? Instead of a -sumptuous palace, thou art lodged in a loathsome stable. No bed of down -receives thy precious limbs! No warm and comfortable apartments shield -thee from the rude inclemencies of the air! A manger is thy cradle! And -thy poor indigent mother seems, under Providence, to be thine only -support! No courtiers attend to bow the knee, to pay the customary -homage due to royalty, and bid thee welcome to the throne of Israel. A -few simple shepherds have indeed been here, and tendered thee their -honest obeisance! They told too a wondrous tale, from the several -circumstances of which, I am now more and more persuaded, that the -finger of GOD is here; that his Veracity spoke in the salutation of the -Angel; that his Power and Goodness will be exalted by thy present -Humiliation; and that I must henceforth feel more than a mother's -fondness, and look upon thee, sweet Babe! as my LORD, my LIFE, and my -REDEEMER. - -Such were the astonishing circumstances that employed the attention of -Mary; and thus it was, that "she kept all these things, and pondered -them in her heart." She did not publish her sentiments to the world. She -did not court the honour and respect of men, by displaying the dignity -of her babe, or telling abroad what she knew concerning him; but -satisfied with her own conviction, humbly waited, till Providence should -make use of some other means to acquaint the world with these "tidings -of great joy." - -If now, like Mary, we seriously attend to, and ponder in our hearts all -the amazing circumstances of this great event, we cannot fail, I think, -of learning from thence a lesson of Humility. This amiable and -peculiarly Christian grace, is the foundation and ground-work of every -other excellence and perfection. Without it, we can have no pretensions -to Christianity; we are strangers to the Truth and Spirit of the Gospel: -"Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye cannot be my -disciples!" As long as pride, vanity, arrogance, and inordinate -self-love, keep possession of thy soul, be assured, O man, that the Babe -of Bethlehem will not take up his residence with thee! In order to -invite this Heavenly Guest to thine heart, it must be as empty and free -from worldly ornaments, as was the stable in which he was born. "Be ye -then cloathed with humility." This plain and modest garb best becomes -the disciples of so meek a Master. Thou must feel thyself very poor, -before thou canst be rich in CHRIST. Thou must part with all that thou -hast, for this Pearl of great Price; and must come to him as naked and -helpless as a new-born babe, in a true child-like simplicity of faith. -It is this alone can give thee sweet tranquillity of soul, even that -"peace of GOD, which passeth all understanding;" that "white stone and -new name, which no man knoweth, save him that receiveth it." Thy soul -will then "magnify the LORD, and thy spirit will rejoice in GOD thy -SAVIOUR." - -This inward spiritual change, is not the consequence of a bare -meditation upon the circumstances of our Lord's nativity, a simple -assent to, or belief of, the historical account given by the Evangelist. -No, it arises from an experience of the whole process in our own souls. -In vain was this Divine Infant born into the world, unless he is -likewise born in our hearts, not figuratively born, which is no birth at -all, but manifesting himself by a vital and essential union with our -spirits. This is regeneration, our new-birth, our birth to light, and -life, and glory. Those who have experienced this, must taste and feel, -in some degree, the raptures of those exalted spirits, who dwell -continually in the Beatifying Presence of their Master. They are raised -above flesh and blood: "It is not they that live, but CHRIST that liveth -in them." They are sensible of the daily growth of that Heavenly Nature, -which they receive from him, and which diffuseth a light through their -souls, that "shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Like the -shepherds returning from Bethlehem, they are continually "glorifying and -praising GOD for all the things that they have heard and seen." - - -The End of VOL. 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