Слике страница
PDF
ePub

as to make the mind quiver whilst it takes the gift, lest it should offend God.

1. Let us attend to that part of experimental religion, which we call conviction. Now this conviction is a knowledge of oneself, and that includes a knowledge of the body, a knowledge of a frail set of organs, which the want of a little breath of air will bring to putrefaction; and that is a very mortifying knowledge: but it includes also a knowledge of the soul; a disordered spirit, that loves where it should hate; that hopes where it should fear; that "rushes where angels fear to tread." Now is it possible to know my body, know my soul, know that my reason is where my passions should be; and that my passions are got above my reason; and that what I know to be right, I have not a heart to do; and what I know offends my God, that I do :-but is not this sad and melancholy knowledge? And yet this I call evidence of the goodness of God. It is like informing a man who is going a journey, that there are thieves in the road that will take his property; assassins there who will aim at his life; so that there is great need of his calling in help. Yes, conviction is indeed expressive of the goodness of God, though it includes just grounds of fear. And

to this

2. We may add conversion. This literally means a turning about; and in its theological sense it means, the return of a sinner through Christ to his God. Oh! could the hearts of converted people speak, what would they tell us

on this subject? I (says one) was lost in ignorance and misery, and I thought my heart leaped for joy, when I heard there was a possibility of recovery. I (says another) I thought it next to impossible I could be saved; and when I found this promise, though it only assured me it was possible, though but a may-be, it was what I hovered over and laid to my heart, and lived upon. I said, O my God, this is better to my heart than thousands of gold and silver; and when I approached a little nearer to Christ in his gospel, methought my soul was all bedewed with a sense of his love; it was a kind shepherd; a good father running out to meet his prodigal son; it was a benevolent person looking into my poor cottage, and saying, child, have you any bread, have you any support; here it is for you, here in the cross of Christ, here in the grace of God; here set your foot, and you are safe for ever. And thus you were converted. Under an apprehension of the goodness of God in Christ you ventured to approach the Deity, and to say with an humble and broken heart, Lord, I beseech thee, let me live. But I ask, was all this so done as to leave out every ground of fear? No, say you, I was obliged to take the mercy where my God gave it, and though the most awful object in the world, was displayed before me, the cross of Christ, there I followed him. I have the hope of heaven, blessed be the name of the Lord, but I have it only through the blood of Christ. I have the blessing, but, O my soul, at what an expence !

I was almost afraid to take it, lest I should abuse it. Just as an artist, sensible of the worth of an excellent painting, would be afraid to touch it lest he should tarnish it or as a careful person would be afraid to possess a jewel of great price, lest he should lose it.-Need I take you beyond conversion, and lead you

up

[ocr errors]

3. To sanctification. And why need I remind you of those afflictions with which God has visited you to sanctify and make you holy. But it was goodness that made you feel. Perhaps you were lifted too much on account of your health. Your health, says God, shall suffer for many years. Perhaps your affections ran loose after a beloved wife, or child, to the neglect of your God. The desire of your eyes, the darling of your heart is taken from you. But still there is goodness in the stroke; the design is to mend the heart, to make you better. Then

4. There is the hour when the soul departs out of the body to God. Imagine yourselves come to that hour and O what a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of death! How mortifying to find our senses go off one after another, and bid us an eternal adieu. We lose the pleasure of seeing and hearing, of tasting and smelling, and we become dull old people. Our faculties fail, and we go about a truth, but are incapable of comprehending it. The memory fails, and we cannot recollect the things we most wish to remember: yet in this very state God is about to conduct us to heaven; there we are to have an eternal health

of soul; there we are to have the use of all our faculties, and those faculties infinitely improved. This is goodness, although the circumstances of it may be attended with fear.

But, to conclude, remember, God is not to be trifled with. We have said this whole dispensation puts the soul into a proper state between the two extremes of presumption and despair. There is an odious disposition in the heart of man to extremes; to presumption on the one hand, to trifle with divine things; and to despair on the other, to look upon God as a tyrant. We want to be kept from both; and it is this dispensation well wrought into the soul that keeps it between both. A good christian dare not trifle with God, or set light by his gospel; but at the same time God has laid such grounds of hope in his goodness, that he is bound over by the gospel and his own feelings to avoid bold presumption, and miserable despair. May God give to each of you, and may you live long to enjoy this promise literally may you fear the goodness of the Lord in the latter days.-Amen.

SERMON VI.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A RIGHT RECEPTION OF THE GOSPEL.

[Preached at Hempstead, Herts, after an Ordination Service.]

2 COR. vi. 1.

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

WHAT a melancholy truth, christians, does my text imply! That men may receive the grace of God to no purpose! A truth nevertheless, that it may not be improper or unseasonable to urge upon you this evening, who have this day openly and in the face of so many of your brethren, appeared to rejoice in receiving the grace of God. Sad would it be, if when the last account is made up, it should be found this was but the crackling of thorns under a pot, (to use a scripture expression,) and that after all you had received no saving benefit from the gospel. I persuade myself to night, to this congregation such a thought is shocking, and I think I hear every one saying God forbid !—Amen! I reply with all my heart: but the way to be saved from this, is well to understand in what it consists, and to walk with

« ПретходнаНастави »