Skip to main content

Full text of "Sermons on the public means of grace, the facts and festivals of the Church, Scripture characters, and various practical subjects"

See other formats 


•• 


^4dL. 


<iC:' 


<-    < 
c      C 


■ca»;. 


<3^UI^^X%.  ^ 

^^*^ 

"4 

'■*;  _  . 

«a»r 


\ 


UK 


PRINCETON,    N.    J 


-^^^U^u^^^.^^^ 


Shelf.. 


Division TTTT.TTT^TT' 

^''^i°»    CK.7-«?"^^ 

Number v>  j    ■'*,■. 


^IISMBkI&!?'\- 


SERMONS 


OM 


THE    PUBLIC    MEANS    OF    GRACE, 


THE 


FASTS    AND    FESTIVALS 


SCRIPTURE    CHARACTERS, 

AND  VARIOUS  PRACTICAL  SUBJECTS. 


BY    THE    LATE 

RIGHT  REV.  THEODORE  DEHON,  D.D. 

RECTOR  OF  ST.  MICHAEL'S   CHURCH,   CHARLZSTON ; 
AND  BISHOP  OF  THE  PROTESTANT   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  IN  SOUTH.CAROLINA. 


TOGETHER  WITH  SOME  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  AUTHOR,   AND  A  SERMON 
PREACHED  ON  ACCOUNT  OF   HIS  DEATH. 


IN    TWO    VOLUMES. 

VOL.  II. 


A  NEW  EDITION,  CORRECTED. 


LONDON: 

PRINTED    FOR   C.    AND    J.    RIVINGTON, 

ST.  Paul's  church-yard, 

AND  WATERIOO-PLACE,  PALL-MALL. 

1835. 


LONDON : 
JfRINTED     BY    R.     GILBERIf, 

ST.  John's  squaue. 


CONTENT 


VOL.  II. 


PRIHGETOH 
THJIOLOGiciL 


SERMON  XLIV. 

ON  EASTER-DAY. 

St.  Luke,  xxiv.  5,  6. 

PAGE 

Why  seek  ye  the  Hving  among  the  dead  ?     He  is  not 
here,  but  is  risen   ....   ».... *• ••       1 

SERMON  XLV. 

ON  EASTER-DAY. 

Psalm  cxviii.  24>. 
This  is  the  day  which  the  Lord  hath  made  ;   we  will  re- 
joice and  be  glad  in  it 9 

SERMON  XLVI. 

ON  EASTER-DAY. 

Acts,  iv.  33. 
And  with  great  power  gave  the  apostles  witness  of  the 
resurrection  of  the  Lord  Jesus , 21 

SERMON  XLVII. 

ON  EASTER-DAY. 

1  Thessalonians,  iv.  14. 
If  we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again,  even  so  them 
also  who  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him  ....     33 

SERMON  XL VIII. 

ON  THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 

jCodossia^s,  ii.  10. 
And  ye  are  -complete  in  him 40 

a2 


iv  CONTENTS. 

SERMON  XLIX. 

ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

Hebrews,  ix.  24. 

PAGE 

For  Christ  is  not  entered  into  the  holy  places  made  with 
hands,  which  are  the  figures  of  the  true  ;  but  into 
heaven  itself,  now  to  appear  in  the  presence  of  God 
for  us 52 

SERMON  L. 

ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

Hebrews,  ii.  9. 
We  see  Jesus,   who  was  made  a  little  lower  than  the 
angels  for  the  suffering  of  death,  crowned  with  glory 
and  honour 61 

SERMONS  LI,  LII. 

ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

St.  John,  iv.  14. 
But  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him  shall  be  in  hmi  a 
well  of  water  springing  up  into  everlasting  hfe   ....  73,  85 

SERMON  LIII. 

ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

1  Thessalonians,  V.  19. 
Quench  not  the  Spirit   97 

SERMON  LIV. 

ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

Acts,  ii.  33. 
Therefore  being  by  the  right  hand  of  God  exalted,  and 
having  received  of  the  Father  the  promise  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  he  hath  shed  forth  this,  which  ye  now  see  and 
hear     107 

SERMON  LV. 
on  trinity  sunday. 
St.  Jude,  3. 
That   ye  should  earnestly  contend  for  the  faith  which 
was  once  delivered  unto  the  saints 116 


CONTENTS.  V 

SERMON  LVI. 
on  trinity  sunday. 

1  St.  John,  v.  7. 

PAGE 

There  are  three  that  bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father, 
the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost :  and  these  three  are 
one 128 

SERMON  LVII. 

ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL  AND  ALL  ANGELS, 

Hebrews,  i.  14. 
Are  they  not  all  mmistering  spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister 
for  them  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation  ? 138 

SERMON  LVIII. 

ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ALL  SAINTS. 

Revelation,  vii.  9,  13 — 18. 

After  this  I  beheld,  and,  lo,  a  great  multitude,  which  no 
man  could  number,  of  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and 
people,  and  tongues,  stood  before  the  throne,  and 
before  the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes,  and  palms 
in  their  hands. — And  one  of  the  elders  answered, 
saying  unto  me,  What  are  these  which  are  arrayed  in 
white  robes?  and  whence  came  they?  And  I  said  unto 
him,  Sir,  thou  knowest.  And  he  said  to  me.  These 
are  they  which  came  out  of  great  tribulation,  and  have 
washed  their  robes,  and  made  tliem  white  in  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb.  Therefore  are  they  before  the  throne  of 
God,  and  serve  him  day  and  night  in  his  temple :  and 
he  that  sitteth  on  the  throne  shall  dwell  among  them. 
They  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more ; 
neither  shall  the  sun  light  on  them,  nor  any  heat. 
For  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne 
shall  feed  them,  and  shall  lead  them  unto  living  foun- 
tains of  waters :  and  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears 
from  their  eyes j5j 

SERMON  LIX. 

ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL. 

Acts,  ix.  19 — 21. 
Then  was  Saul  certain  days  with  the  disciples  which  were 
at  Damascus.     And  straightway  he  preached  Christ 


Vi  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

in  the  synagogues,  that  he  is  the  Son  of  Gotl.     But 
^      all  that  heard  him  were  amazed,  and  said ;  Is  not  this 
he  that  destroyed  them  which  called  on  this  name?. .   162 

SERMON  LX. 

ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  BAPTIST. 

St.  Matthew,  xi.  11. 

Verily  I  say  vmto  you,  Among  them  that  are  born  of 
women  there  hath  not  risen  a  greater  than  John  the 
Baptist   176 

SERMONS  LXI,  LXII. 

ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER. 

St.  Matthew,  xvi.  17. 

And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Blessed  art  thou, 
Simon  Bar-jona:  for  flesh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed 
it  unto  thee,  but  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  .185,  195 

SERMON  LXIII. 

ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  MATTHEW. 

St.  Matthew,  ix.  9. 

And  as  Jesus  passed  forth  from  thence,  he  saw  a  man, 
named  Matthew,  sitting  at  the  receipt  of  custom  :  and 
he  saith  unto  him,  Follow  me.  And  he  arose,  and 
followed  him * 204 

SERMON  LXIV. 

ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST. 

St.  John,  xiii.  23, 

Now  there  was  leaning  on  Jesus'  bosom  one  of  his  dis- 
ciples, whom  Jesus  loved 214 

SERMONS  LXV,  LXVI. 

ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM. 

2  St.  Peter,  ii.  15. 

Balaam  the  son  of  Bosor,  who  loved  the  wages  of  un- 
righteousness  226,  235 


CONTENTS.  VU 

SERMON  LXVII. 

ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM. 

2  Samuel,  xvi.  15. 

PAGE 

And  Absalom,  and  all  the  people  the  men  of  Israel, 
came  to  Jerusalem,  and  Ahithophel  with  him 242 

SERMON  LXVIII. 

ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  ETHIOPIAN  EUNUCH. 

Acts,  viii.  39. 

He  went  on  his  way  rejoicing 255 

SERMON  LXIX. 

ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  CORNELIUS. 

Acts,  x.  31. 

Cornelius,  thy  prayer  is  heard,  and  thine  alms  are  had 

in  remembrance  in  the  sight  of  God 26i< 

SERMON  LXX. 

DELIVERED  AT  THE  CONSECRATION  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH, 
COLUMBIA. 

1  Kings,  viii.  66. 

On  the  eighth  day  he  sent  the  people  away  :  and  they 
blessed  the  king,  and  went  unto  their  tents  joyful  and 
glad  of  heart  for  all  the  goodness  that  the  Lord  had 
done  for  Israel  his  servant,  and  for  David  his  people . .   275 

SERMON  LXXI. 

ON  BEHALF  OF  THE  '  PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY  FOR  THE 
ADVANCEMENT  OF  CHRISTIANITY  IN  SOUTH  CAROLINA.' 

St.  Matthew,  ii.  11. 

And  when  they  had  opened  their  treasures,  they  present- 
ed unto  him  gifts ;  gold,  and  frankincense,  and  myrrh.  290 

SERMON  LXII. 

FOR  A  COLLECTION  IN  AID  OF  THE  FUNDS  OF  THE  '  PROTESTANT 
EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY  FOR  THE  ADVANCEMENT  OF  CHRISTIANITY 
IN  SOUTH-CAROLINA.' 

Nehemiah,  xiii.  14. 
Remember  me,  O  my  God,  concerning  this  ;  and  wipe 


V 


viii  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

not  out  my  good   deeds  that  I  have  done  for  the 
house  of  my  God,  and  for  the  offices  thereof 304 

SERMON  LXXIII. 

A  FAST  SERMON. 

Jeremiah,  xviii.  7,  8. 

At  what  instant  I  shall  speak  concerning  a  nation,  and 
concerning  a  kingdom,  to  pluck  up,  and  to  pull 
down,  and  to  destroy  it ;  if  that  nation,  against  whom 
I  have  pronounced,  turn  from  their  evil,  I  will  re- 
pent of  the  evil  that  I  thought  to  do  unto  them 320 

SERMON  LXXIV. 

a  thanksgiving  sermon. 

Psalm,  c.  4. 

Enter  into  his  gates  with  thanksgiving,  and  into  his 
courts  with  praise  :  be  thankful  unto  him,  and  bless 
his  name 334 

SERMON  LXXV. 

ON  DEATH. 

Job,  vii.  16. 
I  would  not  live  alway 346 

SERMON  LXXVI. 

ON  DEATH. 

Isaiah,  Ixiv.  6. 
We  all  do  fade  as  aleaf 358 

SERMON  LXXVII. 

ON  DEATH. 

Isaiah,  xl.  6 — 8. 

The  voice  said.  Cry.  And  he  said.  What  shall  I  cry  ? 
All  flesh  is  grass,  and  all  the  goodliness  thereof  is  as 
the  flower  of  the  field  :  the  grass  withereth  :  the  flower 
fadeth  :  because  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  blow^th  upon 
it :  surely  the  people  is  grass.  The  grass  withereth, 
the  flower  fadeth:  but  the  word  of  our  God  shall 
stand  for  ever 364 


CONTENTS.  JX 

SERMON  LXXVIir. 

ON  THE  DEATH  OF  CHILDREN. 

2  Samuel,  xii.  22,  23. 

PAGE 

While  the  child  was  yet  alive,  I  fasted  and  wept :  for  1 
said,  Who  can  tell  whether  God  will  be  gracious  to 
me,  that  the  child  may  live  ?  But  now  lie  is  dead, 
wherefore  should  I  fast  ?  can  I  bring  him  back  again  ? 
I  shall  go  to  him,  but  he  shall  not  return  to  me     ....   376 

SERMON  LXXIX. 

A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

Psalm,  xxiii.  4. 
Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow 
of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil :  for  thou  art  with  me  ; 
thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they  comfort  me 384 

SERMON  LXXX. 

A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE, 
Job,  xxxv.  14. 
Although  thou  safest  thou  shalt  not  see  him,  yet  judg- 
ment is  before  him ;  therefore  trust  thou  in  him 399 

SERMON  LXXXI. 

ON  THE  MISERIES  OF  LIFE. 

v^  St.  John,  xix.  41. 

There  was  a  garden;  and  in  the  garden  a  new  sepulchre.  409 

SERMON  LXXXII. 

ON  THE  NECESSITY  OF  SETTLED  PRINCIPLES  IN  RELIGION. 

St.  John,  vi.  67,  68. 
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    ....  417 

SERMON  LXXXIII. 

ON  THE  CHRISTIAN  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN. 

ExoDus,  ii.  9. 
Take  this  child  away,  and  nurse  it  for  me,  and  I  will 
give  thee  thy  wages 4^7 

VOL.  II.  A 


X  CONTENTS. 

SERMON  LXXXIV. 

UN  SOLICITUDE  FOR  THE  PROSPERITY  OF  RELIGION. 

1  Samuel,  iv.  13. 

J^  PAGE 

For  his  heart  trembled  for  the  ark  of  God 442 

SERMON  LXXXV. 

ON  FA3IILY  WORSHIP. 

Job,  i.  5. 
And  it  was  so,  when  the  days  of  their  feasting  were 
gone  about,  that  Job  sent  and  sanctified  them,  and 
rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and  offered  burnt  offer- 
ings according  to  the  number  of  them  all :  for  Job 
said,  It  may  be  that  my  sons  have  sinned,  and  cursed 
God  in  their  hearts.     Thus  did  Job  continually 452 

SERMON  LXXXVI. 

ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL. 

St.  Luke,  x.  42. 

But  one  thing  is  needful 461 

SERMON  LXXXVII. 

ON  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD. 

St.  Luke,  xiii.  18,  19. 
Then  said  he,  Unto  what  is  the  kingdom  of  God  like  ? 
and  whereunto  shall  I  resemble  it  ?  It  is  like  a  grain 
of  mustard  seed,  which  a  man  took,  and  cast  into 
his  garden ;  and  it  grew,  and  waxed  a  great  tree  ;  and 
the  fowls  of  the  air  lodged  in  the  branches  of  it 473 

SERMON  LXXXVIII. 

ON  THE  HEALING  OF  THE  BLIND. 

St.  Luke,  xviii.  37. 
And  they  told  him,  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth  passeth  by.      484 

SERMON  LXXXIX. 

ON  THE  RICH  AND  THE  GREAT  BEGGING  THE  BODY  OF  JESUS. 

St.  Matthew,  xxvii.  5S. 
He  went  to  Pilate,  and  begged  the  body  of  Jesus 493 


< 


CONTENTS.  XI 

SERMON  XC. 

ON  THE  COVENANTED  MERCIES  OF  GOD. 

Revelation,  iv.  3. 

PAGE 

And  there  was  a  rainbow  round  about  the  throne,  in 
sight  hke  unto  an  emerald     501 

SERMON  XCI. 

ON  THE  DANGERS  OF  YOUTH. 

Proverbs,  vii.  7. 

I  discerned  among  the  youths  a  young  man  void  of  un- 
derstanding        510 

SERMON  XCII. 

ON  THE  DISTRESSES  OF  THE  POOR  IN  WINTER. 

St.  Mark,  xiii.  18. 
Pray  ye  that  your  flight  be  not  in  the  winter 521 


A  DISCOURSE 

PREACHED    ON   THE    OCCASION    OF    THE    DEATH    OP    THE    RIGHT    REV. 

BISHOP    DEHON,    BY    THE    REV.    CHRISTOPHER    E.    GADSDEN| 

RECTOR    OF    ST.    PHILIP's    CHURCH,    CHARLESTON. 

Revelation,  ii.  10. 
Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown 
of  life 529 


PEIIiejaTGIT 


'•'*rv«,-^Y»W'^ 


SERMON   XLIV. 


ON   EASTER-DAY. 


St.  Luke  xxiv.  5,  6. 

Why  seek  ye  the  living  among  the  deadi  He  is  not  here,  htd  is 

risen. 


The  Church,  this  morning,  hastens,  with  the  amia- 
ble women  whose  affection  for  Jesus  was  stronger 
than  death,  to  the  sepulchre  of  their  departed  Lord. 
At  the  mouth  of  the  tomb,  they  were  met  by  two 
men  of  wonderful  appearance  ;  their  countenances 
like  lightning,  and  their  raiment  white  as  snow.  As 
they  stoop  to  look  into  the  sepulchre,  these  messen- 
gers from  the  court  of  heaven,  for  such  they  are, 
address  to  them  tidings,  which  disperse  their  sor- 
rows and  fill  their  bosoms  with  rapturous  joy  :  *'  Why 
seek  ye  the  living  among  the  dead  ?  He  is  not  here, 
but  is  risen."  "  Come  see  the  place  where  the  Lord 
lay  \"  They  descend  into  the  sepulchre.  ,  Jesus  is 
not  there.  They  see  the  linen  clothes  lie,  and  the 
napkin  that  was  about  His  head,  not  lying  with  the 
linen  clothes,  but  wrapped  together  in  a  place  by 
itself.  They  remember  that  thus  it  was  written,  that 
when  He  had  suffered,  He  should  rise  from  the  dead, 
the  third  day.  Transported  with  admiration,  they 
send  forth  their  praises  unto  God. 

»  Matt,  xxviii.  6. 
VOL.  II.  B 


2  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

This  resurrection  of  Him,  whom  we  have  lately 
contemplated,  offering  Himself  upon  the  cross  for 
our  sins,  is  a  subject  for  mutual  congratulations  to 
the  whole  human  race.  The  memory  of  it  is  worthy 
to  be  kept  a  feast  for  ever,  in  all  their  generations. 

For  ages,  mankind  had  been  subject  to  the  dread- 
ful dominion  of  the  king  of  terrors.  The  dismal 
grave  waited  for  them  in  awful  succession.  It  closed 
upon  them,  and  they  were  heard  of  no  more.  Whe- 
ther they  had  any  continuance  of  being,  beyond  this 
impenetrable  confine  of  life,  was  a  question  of  doubt- 
ful speculation.  It  is  probable  that  some  knowledge 
of  their  destiny  had  been  revealed  to  the  first  men, 
of  which,  as  of  other  important  revelations,  we  find 
some  tattered  and  defaced  remnants,  in  the  heathen 
world.  The  most  virtuous  of  the  philosophers  ga- 
thered from  these,  and  their  own  reflections,  a  sen- 
timent that  another  state  of  existence  awaited  them. 
But  it  amounted  only  to  a  hope;  a  hope  dubious 
and  hngering,  like  the  light  of  the  expiring  taper ; 
and  this  so  remote,  that  it  had  no  influence  upon 
the  mass  of  mankind.  They  saw  their  fellow  beings 
descend  irrecoverably  into  the  tomb.  They  followed 
in  their  turns,  and  the  grim  monarch  of  the  dreary 
domain  seemed  as  sovereign  as  he  was  inexorable. 
It  was  reserved  for  the  blessed  Author  of  our  faith, 
to  break  his  sceptre,  and  to  bring  "  life  and  im- 
mortality to  light,  through  His"  most  precious 
"  Gospel  ^" 

As  an  exemplification  of  the  most  interesting  truth, 
which  the  human  mind  can  consider,  the  resurrec- 
tion of  Christ  ranks  before  all  other  events,  in  the 
annals  of  our  world.  Whatever  conceptions  the 
more  considerate  of  the  heathens  acquired,  respect- 
ing the  continuance  of  their  souls  in  being,  after  the 

*>  2  Tim.  I  10. 


ON  EASTER-DAY.  3 

present  life;   of  the  resurrection  of  the  body  they 
had  no  idea.      This   they  relinquished  for  ever  to 
corruption.    Among  the  chosen  people  of  God,  with 
whom,  as  in  a  last  receptacle.  He   deposited   the 
truths  which  the  world  would  not   retain  in  their 
knowledge,  some  sentiments  of  this  mystery  were 
promulgated.      That  David  and  the  Prophets  were 
acquainted  with  it,  is  evident  from  their  predictions 
of  the  Messiah's  resurrection  ;  and  Job  felt  its  con- 
soling influences  upon  his  heart,  when  he  rejoiced 
that  "  though  after  his  skin  worms  would  destroy 
his  body,  yet  in  his  flesh  he  should  see  God'."  Still, 
however,  the  knowledge  which  the  Jews  had  of  this 
matter,  was  obscure  and  contested.    It  is  to  the  se- 
pulchre of  the  Arimathean,  that  the  children  of  men 
must  come  to  behold,  in  a  clear  and  convincing  light, 
the  interesting  truth ;  that  in  these  forms,  in  which 
we  have  known  each  other,  and  in  which  our  nature 
has  been  known,  we  shall  rise  to  renovated  life,  after 
sleeping  an  appointed  time  in  the  chambers  of  the 
dead.    It  is  here  we  may  behold  a  Brother,  made  in 
all  things  like  unto  us,  sin  only  excepted,  and  over 
whom  death  had  exerted  the  utmost  and  most  cruel 
extent  of  his  power,  bursting  the  adamantine  fetters 
which  the  tyrant  had  imposed  ;  coming  forth  from 
the  grave  in  the  form,  in  which  He  had  once  dwelt 
among  men ;  seen,  heard,  and  handled  by  the  com- 
panions of  His  former  days  ^.     Nor  is  His  resurrec- 
tion unconnected  with  our  own.    He  rises,  as  '*  the 
Captain  of  our  salvation  %"  as   "  the  first  fruits  of 
them  that  slept  V     In  His  resurrection,  the  Ever- 
lasting Father,  who  hath  the  keys  of  life  and  death, 
hath  given  us  an  earnest  and  pledge,  that  he  will  also 
quicken  our  mortal  bodies,  and  make  us  to  sit  toge- 
ther in  heavenly  places  with  Christ  Jesus. 

«  Job  xix.  26.  ''  1  John  i.  1. 

«  Heb.  ii,  10.  M  Cor.  xv.  20. 

B    2 


4  ON  EASTERDAY. 

Need  I  now  set  before  j^ou  the  consolations  and 
joys,  which  spring  from  the  assurance  of  our  future 
resurrection  ?  Need  I  demand  of  you,  considerate 
men,  whether  there  is  any  other  light  than  that  which 
flows  from  the  knowledge  of  man's  immortality,  in 
which  there  is  meaning  or  satisfaction,  consistent 
with  the  wisdom  or  with  the  goodness  of  God,  in 
this  present  promiscuous  and  perishable  state  ?  Need 
I,  ye  modest  pilgrims  in  the  paths  of  virtue,  inquire 
of  you,  what  encouragement  you  have  to  perseve- 
rance in  your  arduous  course,  but  the  animating  as- 
surance that  a  book  of  remembrance  is  kept,  and 
that  **  your  Father  which  seeth  in  secret  will"  one 
day  *'  reward  you  openly^  ?"  Need  I  appeal  to  you, 
sons  and  daughters  of  sorrow,  who  are  bowed  down 
to  the  dust  by  the  dissolution  of  the  friends  who  were 
dear  to  you,  and  tender  as  the  apple  of  your  eyes, 
whether  they  have  left  any  thing  behind  them  so 
soothing  and  precious,  as  the  knowledge,  that  they 
are  not  struck  out  of  the  scale  of  being ;  and  the 
hope,  that  you  may  again  enjoy  them  in  a  better 
world  ?  Need  I  inquire  of  you,  virtuous  widow, 
from  whom  death  hath  torn  the  partner  of  your  cares 
and  your  joys ;  of  you,  dutiful  child,  whose  heart 
is  yet  wrung  at  the  remembrance  of  a  parent  gone 
down  to  the  dust ;  of  you,  disconsolate  mother,  who 
bewail  the  darling  of  your  hopes,  untimely  taken 
from  your  fond  embrace  ;  of  you,  affectionate  sister, 
who  sigh  for  some  beloved  brother,  whom  you  shall 
see  here  no  more  ?  Need  I  call  upon  you  all,  my 
brethren,  who  are  journeying  rapidly  onward  with 
me  to  that  bourne,  whence  no  traveller  returns,  to 
say  soberly  whether  our  hearts  might  not  die  within 
us  as  we  approached  the  grave,  if  an  utter  extinction 
of  our  being  were  about  to  take  place  upon  its  brink  ? 

s  Matt.  vi.  4. 


ON  EASTER. DAY.  5 

No  :  I  need  not.  The  consolations  and  joys,  which 
flow  from  the  prospect  of  an  immortal  existence,  you 
have  felt  and  appreciated,  on  every  occasion  which 
has  required  them,  since  you  received  the  Gospel. 
Among  the  sincerest  offerings  which  you  bring  to  the 
God  of  heaven,  are  your  constant  thanksgivings  for 
**  the  hope  of  glory  ''." 

But  it  may  be  questioned,  whether  we  do  fully 
and  habitually  consider,  how  much  our  joy  in  believ- 
ing the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  is  connected  with 
the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ.  Take  this  away, 
and  all  would  be  uncertainty.  But  for  this  instance 
and  pledge  of  the  fact,  with  what  painful  hesitation 
would  our  minds  labour  over  the  dubious  inquiry, 
whether  the  vital  spark,  when  once  extinguished, 
could  be  rekindled  in  these  perishable  frames  !  But 
for  our  relation  to  the  Redeemer,  and  our  adoption 
by  the  Father  for  His  sake,  how  would  the  con- 
sciousness of  our  sins,  and  of  the  little  value  of  our 
race  among  the  immense  productions  of  His  hand  ; 
damp  our  expectations  of  being  fostered  into  an 
eternal  state  by  His  power,  who,  if  He  needed,  might 
only  speak,  and  His  universe  would  instantly  be  filled 
with  far  more  excellent  and  purer  creatures  !  In  a 
word,  how  would  our  thoughts  waver  with  all  the 
fluctuation  of  heathen  hope  ;  what  clouds  and  dark- 
ness would  be  raised  over  the  grave  by  our  fears, 
our  fancies,  and  our  foe,  did  not  our  faith  remind  us, 
that  we  are  purchased  with  the  blood  of  the  Son  of 
God,  and  that,  **  because  He  lives,  we  shall  live 
also  ' !"  It  is  the  resurrection  of  the  Saviour  which 
gives  a  basis  and  stability  to  the  expectation  of  ano- 
ther life.  And  this  it  does  so  completely  and  perma- 
nently, that  among  Christians  there  is  scarcely  room 
for  the  question  ;    ''  Why  should  it  be  thought  a 

"  Col.  i.  27.  *  John  xiv.  19. 


6  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

thing  incredible  with  you,  that  God  should  raise  the 
dead"?" 

Ungrateful  it  is  in  those,  who  have  received  such 
an  inestimable  gift  as  the  hope  of  immortality,  to 
"kick"  against  the  just  and  all-wise  Donor,  because 
of  the  way  in  which  He  hath  chosen  to  testify  its 
reality.  What  mean  the  complaints  of  the  partial 
appearance  of  the  risen  Saviour?  Is  it  not  enough, 
that  we  have  more  evidence  of  the  truth  of  this  fact, 
than  of  any  of  the  articles  of  belief,  to  which  our 
minds  are  daily  assenting  ?  Is  it  not  enough,  that 
His  resurrection  was  attested  by  '*  above  five  hun- 
dred brethren  at  once,"  to  the  greater  part  of  whom 
the  historian  of  it  appeals,  as  still  living'?  Is  it  not 
enough,  that  it  rallied  a  disheartened,  scattered,  and 
feeble  band  of  followers,  and  inspired  them  with  a 
confidence,  fortitude,  and  virtue,  which  nothing 
could  restrain  or  subdue  ?  Is  it  not  enough,  that 
the  witnesses  of  the  event  were  proverbial  for  inte- 
grity and  simplicity,  and  exhibited  all  that  consis- 
tency and  correspondent  behaviour,  which  ever  cha- 
racterize the  promulgators  of  truth?  Is  it  not 
enough,  that  without  wealth  to  support,  or  power  to 
befriend  them,  and  without  room  for  any  of  the  mo- 
tives to  deceive,  by  which  the  mind  is  in  such  cases 
actuated,  they  asserted  the  fact  before  great  and 
small,  with  uniform  harmony  and  perseverance,  and 
willingly  evinced  the  sincerity  of  their  belief  in  it, 
by  sealing  their  declarations  with  their  blood  ?  Is  it 
iiot  enough,  that  the  power  of  His  resurrection  alone 
established  His  Church  against  the  opposition  of 
policy  and  vice,  and  has  been  acknowledged  and 
felt,  in  every  age,  by  the  wisest  and  most  virtuous 
of  the  human  race  ?  I  know  not  upon  what  ground 
it  is  assumed,  that  the  Most  High  is  obliged  to  give 

''  Acts  xxvi.  8.  '  1  Cor.  xv.  6. 


ON  EASTER-DAY.  7 

the  utmost  demonstration  of  any  truth,  which  He 
sees  fit  to  require  His  moral  subjects  to  believe. 
And  with  respect  to  the  Jews,  as  they  had  disre- 
garded "  Moses  and  the  Prophets,"'  we  have  no  rea- 
son to  suppose,  they  v^^ould  have  been  persuaded  by 
one  risen  "  from  the  dead "'." 

We  stand,  then,  my  hearers,  contemplating  a  joy- 
ous and  most  important  event;  an  event  pregnant 
with  consequences  of  unspeakable  magnitude  to  the 
human  race.     *'  The  Lord  is  risen,"  and  our  nature 
is  risen  in  Him,  *^and  our  life   is  hid  with  H!im  in 
God "."     Shake  off  then,  O  Zion,  the  mourning,  in 
which  the  crucifixion  had  enveloped  thee.     Put  on 
thy  beautiful  garments,  O  Jerusalem,  the  holy  city. 
Take  to  yourselves,   Christians,  a  song  of  victory ; 
and  be  ye  all  attired  in  robes  of  praise.      What  gra- 
titude to  God  should  be  in  your  hearts  ;  what  Hal- 
lelujahs to  your  Redeemer  should  be  on  your  lips; 
what  transports  of  joy  should  pervade  your  souls, 
while  you  contemplate  the  king  of  terrors  stript  of 
his  sceptre,  and  the  hour  appointed,  in  w^hich  himself 
shall  be  bound,  and  the  captives  of  his  dominion  be 
all  released!     Behold,  "the  Lord  Himself  shall  de- 
scend from  heaven  with  a  shout,  with  the  voice  of 
the  archangel,  and  with  the  trump  of  God  °."    Death 
shall  be  destroyed,  and  from  the  innumerable  prisons 
in  which  he  hath  confined  them,  the  human  race  shall 
be  at  once  set  free.     But  ah!  amongst  the  rising, 
what  means  this  gloom,  amazement,  and  horror,  with 
which  the  countenances  of  so  many  are  overspread  ? 
Alas!  they  have  had  no  part  in  the  regeneration; 
they  are  covered  with  the  guilt  of  their  evil  deeds ; 
they  are  rising  to  shame  and  contempt ;  they  are 
coming  forth  to  be  consigned  to  everlasting  perdition. 
Awful,  afflicting  view !  O  let  us  turn  from  it  to  those 

"  Luke  xvi.  31.  "Col.  iii.  3.  "  1  Thess.  iv.  16. 


8  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

upon  whose  faces  peace  has  spread  her  smiles  ;  into 
whose  hands  angels  are  putting  palms  of  victory; 
unto  whom  seraphs  are  bearing  white  robes  from  the 
wardrobe  of  heaven  ;  whom  the  Lamb  is  conducting 
into  the  presence  of  God.  Behold!  He  presents 
them  triumphantly  to  the  Ancient  of  Days.  These 
are  they,  saith  their  Leader  to  His  Father,  who  have 
embraced  Thy  covenant  and  kept  Thy  word.  In  the 
days  of  their  flesh,  it  was  their  anxious  care  to  do 
justly,  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  their 
God.  And  now  they  plead  no  merit  before  Thee, 
but  ask  acceptance  in  My  name.  The  Son  ceases. 
A  pulse  of  joy  shoots  through  the  hosts  of  heaven, 
as  the  Everlasting  Father  smiles  upon  His  offspring, 
brought  back  unto  glory.  Children  of  the  regene- 
ration, saith  He,  '*  good  and  faithful  servants,  enter 
ye  into  the  joy  of  your  Lord  p."  They  range  through 
regions  of  bliss.  They  quaff  of  the  rivers  of  ever- 
lasting pleasure.  They  eat  of  the  trees  of  immor- 
tality in  the  gardens  of  God.  They  remember  their 
unworthiness,  and  look  back  upon  their  toils  and 
their  sorrows ;  but  the  hand  of  the  Almighty  hath 
wiped  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes'^.  Gracious 
Redeemer,  in  this  blessed  company,  grant,  through 
Thy  mercy,  we  may  all  be  found !  If  we  are  not 
already  Thine,  O  make  us  so,  and  leave  us  not  to 
any  vice  or  error,  which  shall  compel  Thee  to  reject 
us  when  Thou  comest  in  Thy  kingdom. 

PMatt.  XXV.  21.  '  Rev.  xxi.  4 


SERMON  XLV. 


-'^^ryrr^.y^X^-^V, 


"ON  EASTER-DAY.      "^'V^wv./.'-^*' 


Psalm  cxviii.  24. 


This  is  the  day  which  the  Lord  hath  made ;  we  will  rejoice  and 
be  glad  in  it. 

When  light  first  shone  through  the  darkness  of 
Chaos,  awfully  magnificent  must  have  been  the 
3cene.  Then  was  the  first  natural  day.  But  how 
incomparably  more  grand  was  the  display,  when 
life  first  shone  through  the  darkness  of  the  tomb ! 
Then  dawned  immortal  day.  The  sun,  which  rose 
in  the  lustre  of  the  former,  dispelled  an  unfelt  and 
material  gloom  ;  illumined  and  animated  a  world  of 
bodies ;  is  limited  in  its  influences,  and  will,  at  some 
future  period,  set  for  ever.  The  Sun,  which  rose  in 
the  lustre  of  the  latter,  dispelled  an  afflicting  and 
intellectual  gloom  ;  illumined  and  animated  a  world 
of  spirits ;  is  in  its  influences  unbounded,  and  will, 
in  meridian  glory,  be  eternal.  Well  did  the  earliest 
Christians  unite  the  commemoration  of  the  two  crea- 
tions, and  hallow  the  first  day  of  the  week,  as  the 
Lord's  Day.  With  still  more  striking  propriety  may 
the  Church,  at  the  annual  recurrence  of  the  Easter 
festival,  adopt  the  exultation  of  the  Psalmist,  uttered 
as  he  prophetically  contemplated  the  resurrection  of 
the  Messiah  :  **  This  is  the  day  which  the  Lord  hath 
made;  we  will  rejoice  and  be  glad  in  it." 


10  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

Suitably  to  improve  the  season,  and  to  illustrate 
the  propriety  of  the  exultation  in  the  text,  it  will  be 
my  endeavour,  in  the  following  discourse,  to  show 
how  great  sources  of  joy  and  gladness  were  opened 
unto  us,  by  the  event  which  we  this  day  commemo- 
rate. The  extensiveness  of  the  subject  renders  me 
fearful  of  being  tedious  to  your  patience.  But  it  is 
more  important  than  any  other,  upon  which  you  can 
bestow  your  attention ;  and  it  shall  be  my  aim,  to 
render  the  discourse  as  concise  and  perspicuous,  as 
the  scope  of  it  will  admit.  In  no  way,  perhaps,  can 
this  better  be  accomplished,  than  by  considering  the 
resurrection  of  our  Lord  first,  as  the  grand  evidence 
of  the  truth  of  our  religion,  and  secondly,  as  the 
genuine  earnest  of  our  immortality. 

It  will  appear  an  august  evidence  of  our  religion, 
if  we  contemplate  it,  first,  as  the  greatest  and  most 
decisive  miracle  of  which  we  can  form  an  idea. 
Miracles  are  credentials  which  we  should  naturally 
expect,  would  accompany  a  mission  from  Heaven. 
Hence,  the  Jews,  who  expected  an  extraordinary 
Personage,  sought  after  signs;  and  to  pretences  of 
these.  Gentile  impostors  have  always  resorted.  Of 
all  miracles,  the  restoration  of  life  to  the  dead  is  the 
most  astonishing  and  satisfactory.  To  recall  the 
spirit,  when  once  it  has  fled;  to  rekindle  the  vital 
spark,  when  once  it  has  expired  ;  to  resuscitate  the 
corpse  over  which  the  desolating  hand  of  death  hath 
once  passed  :  can  be  the  act  of  Him  alone,  who 
holds,  as  an  unalienable  prerogative,  the  attribute  of 
Omnipotence.  Other  wonders  may  be  attributed 
to  art,  to  sleight,  or  to  infernal  agency.  But  the 
keys  of  life  and  death  are  in  the  hands  of  the  Al- 
mighty ;  and  from  Him  can  in  no  way  be  obtained. 
So  uncontrollable  is  this  miracle,  that  the  pagan 
Pliny  imagined  it  impossible  to  any  of  his  gods,  and 
the  sceptical  Porphyry  declared,  if  he  could  credit 


ON  EASTERDAY.  11 

one  instance  of  it,  he  would  renounce  his  unbelief. 
If  then  to  restore  life  to  another,  be  such  unanswer- 
able testimony  of  authority  from  Heaven,  what  shall 
we  say  of  the  resurrection  of  Christ  ?  To  other  cases 
of  resuscitation  of  the  dead,  obstinacy  might  object 
that  there  was  connivance  between  the  subject  and 
the  author  of  the  miracle.  But  here  the  fact,  when 
ascertained,  admitted  of  no  evasion.  The  subject 
of  the  miracle  was  deprived  of  life  by  a  public  exe- 
cution, and  deposited  in  a  tomb,  which  His  foes 
studiously  secured,  *'  sealing  the  stone,  and  setting 
a  watch  ^."  The  aid  of  no  second  person  was  em- 
ployed in  His  resurrection.  His  disciples  did  not 
pretend  that  they  had  raised  Him ;  which  they  cer- 
tainly would  have  done,  had  they  accomplished  a 
fraud.  But  our  Saviour  was  the  author  of  His  own 
resurrection.  The  captive  of  the  tomb  burst  His 
fetters  by  the  energy  of  His  Divine  omnipotence,  and 
Himself  reanimated  His  sleeping  dust.  This  surely 
was  the  greatest  and  most  decisive  miracle,  of  which 
we  can  form  an  idea ;  and  is  the  corner-stone  of  the 
solid  base,  upon  which  Christianity  stands. 

Its  importance,  as  an  evidence  of  the  truth  of  our 
religion,  will  further  appear,  if  we  consider  it  as 
that,  to  which  our  Saviour  made  His  ultimate  ap- 
peal ;  and  on  which  He  rested  the  truth  of  all  that 
He  delivered.  "Destroy  this  temple,  and  in  three 
days  I  will  raise  it  up''."  The  candour  of  our  blessed 
Lord  was  conspicuous,  in  declaring  His  intention 
previous  to  His  death,  and  in  pointing  to  a  miracle 
which,  while  it  should  vouch  for  His  authority,  would 
actually  exemplify  the  principal  doctrines  which  He 
taught,  of  His  divinity,  the  acceptance  of  His  sa- 
crifice with  the  Father,  and  the  abolition  of  death. 
He  had  so  openly  predicted  His  resurrection,  and  so 

*  Matth.  xxvii.  6C.  "^  John  ii.  19. 


12  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

firmly  referred  to  it  as  His  best  voucher,  that  His 
foes  took  every  measure  to  prevent  an  imposture. 
They  ran  to  Pilate,  and  reminded  him  of  the  "  de- 
ceiver's" assertion  ^  Pilate  recollected  it ;  and  bade 
them  use  every  precaution.  And,  yesterday,  we  saw 
them  strenuously  engaged  in  making  the  sepulchre 
as  sure  as  they  could.  And  had  they  confuted  His 
predictions ;  had  the  tomb  retained  its  noble  pri- 
soner ;  had  death  held  Christ  in  fetters,  as  other  men, 
who  could  have  felt  the  **  fulness  of  joy"  in  believing'*? 
Great  as  are  the  other  evidences  of  His  religion,  they 
were  insufficient  to  sustain  the  faith  even  of  His 
Apostles.  Death  scarcely  took  possession  of  their 
Master,  before  some,  ashamed  and  intimidated, 
shrunk  from  sight ;  others,  sad  and  sorrowing,  were 
journeying  to  their  former  occupations ;  and  but  for 
the  tenderness  of  women,  there  had  been  none  to 
visit  His  remains.  Could  His  adversaries  have  pro- 
duced His  corpse  after  the  lapse  of  the  third  day,  a 
fatal  blow  would,  in  all  probability,  have  been  given 
to  the  faith  of  our  Redeemer.  And  this  we  learn 
from  the  records  of  the  times,  they  were  equally 
anxious  and  determined  to  do.  But  "  why  do  the 
heathen  so  furiously  rage  together,  and  why  do  the 
people  imagine  a  vain  thing  ?  The  kings  of  the  earth 
stand  up,  and  the  rulers  take  counsel  together 
against  the  Lord,  and  against  His  Anointed.  He 
that  dwelleth  in  heaven  shall  laugh  them  to  scorn ; 
the  Lord  shall  have  them  in  derision  \"  He  comes 
forth  triumphantly  from  the  tomb,  at  the  time  ap- 
pointed, and  His  exact  fulfilment  of  His  promise 
leaves  incredulity  without  a  plea.  It  rallied  the  dis- 
heartened disciples,  and  inspired  that  unconquerable 
zeal,  with  which  the  Church  was  established.  It 
reduced  the  adversaries  of  Christ  to  their  first  and 

'  Matt,  xxvii.  63.  ^  Psalm  xvi.  11.  •  Ibid.  ii.  1,  2,  4. 


ON  EASTER-DAY.  13 

last  resort,  bribery  and  lies  ^  It  gave  to  the  Chris- 
tian fabric  that  finishing  stroke,  without  which  its 
foundation  would  have  been  unstable,  and  its  con- 
sistence and  majesty  very  incomplete. 

The  importance  of  the  resurrection,  as  an  evi- 
dence of  our  religion,  will  appear  still  greater,  if  we 
consider  it,  as  capable  of  removing  the  principal  re- 
luctances, which  the  proud  mind  of  man  may  feel  at 
embracing  the  Christian  faith.  The  doctrine  of  Christ 
crucified  is  the  doctrine  which  unbelievers  find  it 
most  difficult  to  receive.  No  one  can  deny,  that 
human  nature  is  prone  to  vice,  and  that  vice  is  in- 
trinsically odious.  It  is  seen  and  felt  every  where. 
No  one  can  doubt  the  need  which  mankind  have  of 
an  instructor.  It  has  been  acknowledged  in  all  ages. 
No  one  can  question  the  possibility  of  another  state, 
and  immortal  life.  Of  these  the  soul  has  a  strong 
presage,  and  ardent  desire.  No  one  can  disregard 
a  profiler  of  pardon  from  his  Creator,  and  overtures 
of  His  mercy  and  favour.  It  is  what  man  has  every 
where  sought  with  trembling  hope,  and  soothing 
devices.  But  there  is  something  in  the  Almighty's 
laying  such  sufferings  upon  an  innocent  being; 
something  in  the  Son  of  God's  enduring  all  the 
abasements  of  humanity,  and  expiring  in  agonies 
upon  a  cross,  at  which  infidel  reason  revolts,  It  is 
a  hard  saying ;  they  cannot  bear  it  ^.  This  however  is 
an  uncandid  way  of  judging  of  Christianity.  It  is 
to  condemn  a  system,  upon  a  view  only  of  one  of  its 
parts.  To  fix  our  thoughts  upon  the  crucifixion, 
and  disbelieve,  without  connecting  it  with  the  resur- 
rection, is  surely  an  unfair  examination  of  the  Gos- 
pel. Would  it  be  right,  from  a  contemplation  of  the 
earth,  when  the  shades  of  night  are  spread  over  it, 
to  pronounce  the  world  dark  and  gloomy,  without 

'  Matt,  xxviii.  12—15.  «  John  vi.  60. 


14  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

continuing  our  contemplation  to  the  effulgent  glory 
which  is  diiFused  by  the  rising  of  the  sun  ?  Every 
objection  to  the  cross  vanishes  before  the  grandeur 
and  felicity  of  the  resurrection.  The  Son  of  God 
appears  no  longer  abased ;  His  humiliations  no 
longer  severe  or  useless ;  the  exactions  of  the  Al- 
mighty from  Him  no  longer  incompatible  with  the 
most  affectionate  goodness ;  when  we  consider 
Christ  Jesus,  "  for  the  suffering  of  death,"  thus 
*'  crowned  with  glory  and  honour ''."  The  Jews,  not 
regarding  the  satisfactory  testimony  which  the  Lord 
had  promised,  exclaimed,  while  He  hung  upon  the 
tree,  **  If  He  be  the  King  of  Israel,  let  Him  now 
come  down  from  the  cross,  and  we  will  believe  Him  V 
Had  their  obstinacy  permitted  them  to  have  gone 
with  the  wonder-struck  watch  to  His  tomb,  they 
would  have  found  even  stronger  demonstration  than 
that  which  they  demanded.  But  their  eyes  were 
blinded,  that  they  should  not  see.  God  grant,  that 
the  film  may  soon  be  removed  from  their  sight ;  and 
they  enabled  to  confess  in  the  risen  Saviour,  a  greater 
and  more  glorious  Messiah,  than  they  have  idly  ex- 
pected !  But  more  deplorable  blindness  has  existed 
in  the  Christian  world.  The  deluded  Paine,  from 
whom  thousands  have  received  a  cup  of  poison, 
deadly  as  the  most  depraved  nature  could  compose, 
has  with  insolent  infidelity  averred,  that  the  story 
of  the  crucifixion  is  too  cruel  and  ridiculous,  to  be 
told  by  Christians  to  their  children!  Had  he  humbly 
contemplated  it  in  its  connection  with  the  event, 
which  millions  of  the  best  of  his  race  are,  to-day, 
commemorating,  he  might  have  thought  it  a  story 
so  full  of  compassion,  wisdom,  and  sublimity,  that 
angels  might  ponder  it  with  admiration.  He  is 
passed  to  the  place  of  his  account;  and  far  be  it 

••  Heb.  ii.  9.  *  Matt,  xxvii.  42. 


ON  EASTER-DAY.  15 

from  us,  ray  friends,  to  load  his  followers  with  epi- 
thets of  opprobrium  and  malevolence.  Would  hea- 
ven^ they  might  be  led  from  the  cross  to  the  sepul- 
chre of  our  Lord  ;  and,  beholding  the  seeming  con- 
temptibleness  of  the  former,  lost  in  the  majesty  of 
the  latter,  there  render  homage  to  Him,  **  at  whose 
name  every  knee  shall"  be  compelled  to  **bow;" 
and  whom  "every  tongue  shall"  one  day  **confesa 
to  be  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father''."  The 
triumph  of  Christ  over  the  awful  monarch,  whose 
sceptre  had  for  ages  dealt  destruction  through  the 
world,  is  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  doubts,  and  remove 
the  reluctance  of  every  mind.  When  by  means  of 
death  He  overcomes  death,  and  ''destroys  him  that 
had  the  power  of  death,  that  is,  the  devil';"  this 
fruit  of  the  crucifixion  commends  it  as  the  wisdom 
of  God.  The  despised  "Nazarene","  the  humir 
liated  victim,  is  here  **  declared  to  be  the  Son  of 
God  with  power  °."  Amidst  the  glorious  lustre  of 
the  resurrection,  the  cross  no  longer  appears  either 
*'  a  stumbling-block,"  or  ** foolishness"." 

Such  are  some  of  the  considerations,  which  show 
that  the  event  we  to-day  commemorate,  is  the  grand, 
and  indispensable  evidence  of  the  truth  of  our  holy 
religion.  Which  leads  me  to  observe,  secondly,  that 
it  is  to  be  considered  as  establishing  for  us  the  best 
joys  of  life,  and  especially  as  the  earnest  of  our  own 
immortality. 

The  most  confirmed  sceptic  will,  I  believe,  allow, 
that  Christianity  to  those,  who  feel  satisfied  of  its 
truth,  is  the  source  of  such  happiness  as  cannot  else- 
where be  found.  Its  tidings  of  joy,  and  its  inimita- 
ble instructions,  the  truths  it  delivers,  and  the  pros- 
pects it  opens:  how  happily  are  they  adapted  to 

"  Phil.  ii.  10,  11.  '  Heb.  ii.  14.  "  Matt.  ii.  23. 

"  Rom.  i.  4.  »  1  Cor.  i.  23. 


16  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

the  perplexities  and  sorrows,  to  the  necessities  and 
desires,  of  our  nature !  I  might  speak  of  the  pro- 
vision it  makes  for  our  pardon  and  salvation.  I 
might  mention  the  revelation  it  gives  concerning 
God,  and  His  worship.  I  might  state  its  tendency 
to  promote  tranquillity  in  the  bosom,  satisfaction  in 
the  mind,  and  order,  peace,  and  felicity  in  the  world. 
I  might  adduce  the  ideas,  which  swelled  the  notes 
of  the  heavenly  choir,  as  they  chanted  at  the  birth 
of  its  Author,  "  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on 
earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men  p."  I  might  take 
the  light  of  Prophecy  in  my  hand,  and  carry  you 
forward  to  the  blissful  scenes  of  the  consummated 
influences  of  this  religion,  when  **  the  wilderness  and 
the  solitary  place  shall  be  glad  for  them,  and  the  de- 
sert shall  rejoice,  and  blossom  as  the  rose''."  Re- 
calling your  attention  to  these  things,  and  reminding 
you  that  we  have  seen  them  deriving  from  the  resur- 
rection their  confirmation,  I  might  demand,  whether 
on  this  day  "  which  the  Lord  hath  made/'  we  may 
not  well  be  filled  with  holy  exultation  and  ardent 
praise  ?  But  the  time  elapsing  too  rapidly,  to  per- 
mit me  to  dwell  on  each  of  these  topics,  I  hasten  to 
one  doctrine  of  our  religion,  which,  on  this  occasion, 
is  peculiarly  pertinent,  and  on  every  occasion  most 
interesting.  It  is  ''through  the  Gospel,"  that  "life 
and  immortality  are  brought  to  light '."  What  na- 
ture obscurely  denied  ;  what  reason  feebly  hoped ; 
what  virtue  earnestly  supplicated,  is  here  clearly  re- 
vealed. As  an  essential  part  of  Christianity,  this 
joyful  doctrine  shares  in  that  general  certainty  which 
is  given  to  all  the  truths  of  the  Gospel,  by  the  re- 
surrection of  its  Author  from  the  dead.  It  were 
enough,  to  read  upon  the  pages,  which  this  event 
hath  stamped  with  the  seal  of  Divine  authority,  that 

p  Luke  ii.  14.   .         '  Isaiah  xxxv,  1.  "2  Tim.  i.  10. 


ON  EASTER-DAY.  17 

the  time  shall  be,  when  "  all  that  are  in  the  graves 
shall  hear  the  voice"  of  the  Son  of  God,  "  and  come 
forth';"  "  when  this  corruptible  must  put  on  incor- 
ruption,  and  this  mortal  must  put  on  immortality '." 
For  who  shall  not  be  satisfied  with  the  declaration 
of  God  ? 

But  on  account  of  the  anxiety  of  our  nature,  and 
the  weakness  of  our  faith,  God  hath  graciously  con- 
descended to  grant,  that  this  truth  should  be  exem- 
plified as  well  as  taught.  With  all  the  hopes  and 
expectations,  which  nature  can  give  him,  man  longs 
for  evidence  of  the  possibility  of  his  future  being. 
He  stands  gazing  upon  the  remains  of  mortality  in 
the  chambers  of  the  dead,  and  scarcely  dares  to  ask, 
"Can  these  dry  bones  live"?"  His  mind  roves 
through  the  regions  of  visible  space  calling  anx- 
iously, Spirits  of  the  departed,  where  are  you  ?  He 
sees  that  the  plant  perishes,  and  is  renewed  from  its 
seed.  He  sees  that  the  sun  sets,  and  rises  on  the 
morrow.  He  sees  that  nature  fades  in  winter,  and 
in  spring  is  renewed.  But  '*  man  giveth  up  the 
ghost,  and  where  is  he  ^  ?"  Some  evidence,  in  fact, 
that  the  dead  may  live,  would  be  to  his  soul  wel- 
come and  enlivening,  as  the  light  of  the  morning. 
This  evidence  Christ,  in  His  resurrection,  has  fur- 
nished. One  in  our  own  nature  and  form  has  lain  in 
the  grave,  the  prey  of  death  ;  and  from  the  dominion 
of  this  king  of  terrors,  has  come  forth  triumphantly 
in  new  life,  and  is  passed  into  heaven,  leaving  us  as- 
surance, that  He  who  raised  Him  up,  will  "  also 
quicken  our  mortal  bodies  ^." 

Let  it  not  be  objected,  that  His  ashes  were  entire 
and  composed,  while  those  of  other  men  are  com- 
mixed and  scattered.     The  omniscience  of  the  Deity 

'  John  V.  28,  29.  '  1  Cor.  xv.  5S.  "  Ezek.  xxxvii.  3, 

'^  Jobxiv.  10.  '  Rom.  viii.  11. 

VOL.  II.  C 


18  ON  EASTER.DAY. 

can  accurately  discriminate  every  atom,  and  know 
to  what  body  it  peculiarly  belongs.  Does  not  "He 
tell  the  number  of  the  stars,  and  call  them  all  by 
their  names'?"  Does  not  He  bring  forth  from  the 
dust  the  various  tribes  of  plants,  reserving  to  each 
its  proper  form,  and  qualities,  and  season  ?  Does 
He  not  annually  restore  to  every  flower  its  infinitely 
fine  and  varied  hues,  and  give  **  to  every  seed  its 
own  body*?"  Can  He  then  be  at  a  loss  to  know, 
what  matter  must  give  to  any  person  his  proper 
identity,  *'or  with  what  body"  every  man  should 
'^come**?"  Nor  is  His  power  less  than  His  wisdom. 
No  single  atom  in  the  universe  can  secrete  itself 
from  His  view ;  nor  for  a  single  moment  resist  His 
word.  "Whither  shall  they  go  from  His  Spirit? 
or  whither  shall  they  go  from  His  presence  ?  If  they 
climb  up  into  heaven.  He  is  there :  if  they  go  down 
to  hell.  He  is  there  also.  If  they  take  the  wings  of 
the  morning  and  remain  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
sea,  even  there"  His  power  guides  and  will  control 
them^  Having  resolved  that,  "  as  in  Adam  all  die, 
even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive  ^ ;"  He  holds 
the  infinity  of  particles,  of  which  at  the  resurrection 
men  must  be  composed,  under  the  power  of  His 
might,  each  ready  to  take  its  proper  station,  when 
**the  trumpet  shall  sound %"  and  "the  Captain  of 
our  salvation^"  shall  give  the  great  command.  "  Be- 
hold," saith  He,  ''I  am  the  Lord,  the  God  of  all 
flesh  :  is  there  any  thing  too  hard  for  Me  ^  ?" 

Now  the  resurrection  of  Christ  is  not  only  an  ex- 
emplification of  the  possibility  of  our  own  resur-» 
rection,  but  also  *  a  pledge  to  assure  us  thereof.' 
He  rose  as  "the  first-born  among  many  brethren \" 

^  Psalm  cxlvii.  4.  =*  1  Cor.  xv.  38.         ''  1  Cor.  xv.  35. 

«  Psalm  cxxxix.  6--9.    ''  1  Cor.  xv.  22.         *  1  Cor.  xv.  52. 
'Heb,  ii.  10.  »  Jer.  xxxii.  27.       h  Rom,  viii.  29. 


ON  EASTER  DAY.  19 

He  is  taken  as  "  the  first  fruits  of  them  that  slept'," 
into  the  temple  of  God,  an  earnest  and  consecration 
of  the  mighty  harvest,  which  shall  be  gathered  in  the 
end  of  the  world,  from  all  the  beds  of  death.     By- 
raising  Him  up  from  the  dead,  God  hath  testified  His 
acceptance  of  the  expiation  He  hath  made  for  sin  : 
and  what  but  sin  gave  death  a  claim  to  our  race  ? 
By  raising  Him  up  from  the  dead,  God  hath  given 
us  assurance,  that  He  hath  appointed  Him  to  "judge 
the  world  in  righteousness ''  ?"     And  shall  they  not 
then  be  gathered  before  Him?     By  raising  Him  up 
from  the  dead,  God  hath  testified  the  redemption 
wherewith  he  undertook  to  redeem  us  from  the  mise- 
ries, into  which  we  were  fallen.     And  among  these, 
how  afflicting  were  the  loss  of  immortality,  and  of  the 
hopes  of  heaven!     By  raising   Him   up   from   the 
dead,  God  hath  exhibited  the  sceptre  of  death  broken 
before  our  eyes,  that  *  amidst  the  changes  and  chances 
of  this  mortal  life'  His  faithful  servants  might  flee  for 
refuge  to  the  hope  set  before  them.     "  If  we  be- 
lieve," says  the  Apostle,   *'  that  Jesus  died  and  rose 
again,  even  so  them  also  which  sleep  in  Jesus  shall 
God  bring  with  Him  V    "  Because  I  live,"  said  our 
Redeemer  Himself  to  His  sorrowing  disciples,  "  ye 
shall  live  also '"." 

And  now,  brethren,  is  not  the  doctrine  of  our  re- 
surrection to  immortal  life  that,  which  dispels  the 
deepest  glooms  of  our  present  existence  ?  Is  it  not 
this,  which  gives  to  virtue  her  best  encouragement, 
and  most  fervent  zeal  ?  Does  it  not  aiford  the  only 
consolation  under  the  loss  of  those,  whose  lives  and 
whose  love  were  the  zest  of  our  felicity  ?  Does  it 
not  illumine  and  cheer  the  valley,  at  the  entrance  of 
which  our  nature  exerts  its  most  powerful  recoil, — • 

'  lb  Cor.  XV.  20.  ''  Acts  xvii.  31. 

'  i  Thess.  iv.  14.  '"  John  xiii.  19. 

c  2        ■ 


20  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

the  valley  of  death  ?  Hath  it  not  erased  from  the 
tomb  the  inscription,  paralyzing  to  all  the  noble  pro- 
perties of  our  nature,  '  Death  is  an  eternal  sleep :' 
and  inscribed  in  its  stead  the  invigorating  truth, 
'  Man  here  takes  the  rest,  from  which  he  shall  awake 
to  eternal  day.'  If  then  these  choicest  of  our  con- 
solations, these  most  precious  of  our  hopes,  have 
their  certainty  from  the  event  we  are  commemorat- 
ing, with  what  fervent  joy  should  we  return  from  the 
sepulchre,  with  what  holy  gratitude  should  we  keep 
this  feast !  Mourning  widow,  have  you  a  husband, 
who,  you  hope,  when  he  passed  from  this  life,  en- 
tered upon  the  joy  of  immortality  ?  Weeping  pa- 
rent, have  you  a  child,  whose  spirit  you  trust,  hav- 
ing been  washed  in  the  laver  of  regeneration,  was 
taken  at  its  death  into  Abraham's  bosom  ?  Dutiful 
son,  have  you  a  mother,  whose  absence  from  you  you 
mourn,  but  concerning  whom,  it  is  the  solace  of  your 
grief  to  believe  that  she  is  among  the  spirits  of  the 
Just,  before  the  throne  of  the  Eternal  ?  Affectionate 
sister,  have  you  a  brother  for  whom  your  tears  still 
flow,  and  would  flow  without  intermission,  were  it 
not  for  the  faith  which  checks  them  with  the  assur- 
ance, "  Thy  brother  shall  rise  again  "  ?"  How  great 
should  be  your  gratitude  to  your  Redeemer,  who 
hath  purchased  by  His  death  and  resurrection  for 
these  your  friends,  the  immortality  and  joys,  upon 
which  they  have  entered  for  ever  and  ever ! 

"  John  xi.  23. 


SERMON   XLVI. 


ON   EASTER-DAY. 


Acts  iv.  33. 

And  with  great  power  gave  the  Apostles  witness  of  the  resur- 
rection of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

What!  the  Apostles  of  Him,  whom,  in  the  week 
past,  we  have  seen  abased,  crucified,  and  consigned 
to  the  mansions  of  the  dead,  do  any  thing  among 
the  Jews  "  with  great  power!"  Those  Apostles, 
who  but  lately  when  their  Master  was  arrested,  de- 
serted and  denied  Him  ;  who,  at  His  death,  trem- 
bling with  fear,  and  overwhelmed  with  despair, 
shrunk  away  into  concealment,  say  any  thing  in 
Judea,  concerning  the  Lord  Jesus  ' '  with  great 
power !"  Surely,  something  of  an  extraordinary 
nature  has  happened  ;  something  great  has  occurred 
to  give  them  boldness  and  success !  Great  indeed  ! 
An  event  took  place,  which  it  becomes  us,  this 
morning,  with  grateful  remembrance  to  review.  We 
will  then  consider  the  various  senses  in  which  it  was 
*'  with  great  power"  testified  by  the  Apostles. 

The  enemies  of  our  blessed  Lord  had,  as  they 
thought,  accomplished  their  desire  of  His  destruc- 
tion. They  had  brought  Him  to  the  cross.  They 
had  pierced  His  heart  with  a  spear.  They  had  de- 
livered Him  to  be  buried.  Recollecting  His  decla- 
ration, that  He  would  rise  from  the  dead  the  third 


22  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

day,  and  determined  to  have  His  body  to  produce 
after  that  period  should  have  elapsed,  they  placed 
upon  the  stone  of  the  sepulchre,  that  seal  which  it 
was  death  to  break ;  and  stationed  before  it  a  band 
of  the  Roman  soldiers,  who,  at  the  time  of  the  feast, 
were  on  duty  at  Jerusalem.  But  **  why  do  the 
heathen  so  furiously  rage  together,  and  why  do  the 
people  imagine  a  vain  thing  ^  ?"  "  He  that  dwelleth 
in  heaven  shall  laugh  them  to  scorn ;  the  Lord  shall 
have  them  in  derision  ^"  No  sooner  did  the  morn 
of  the  third  day  begin  to  dawn,  than  our  Saviour 
bade  death  resign  his  sceptre.  Having  been  subject 
to  it  awhile.  He  now  brake  it ;  and  leaving  the 
monarch  of  the  tomb  stript  of  his  power,  in  trium- 
phant majesty  left  his  domain.  Do  you  ask,  who 
rolled  away  the  stone  from  the  sepulchre  ?  What 
obstacle  was  that  to  Him  who  burst  the  strong  fet- 
ters of  death  ?  Do  you  ask,  where  were  the  guards  ? 
Appalled,  they  fell  or  fled.  Do  you  ask,  who  were 
the  spectators  of  the  sublime  scene  ?  God,  who 
watched  for  this  triumph  of  His  Son,  and  the  mul- 
titude of  the  heavenly  hosts,  who  had  not  ceased, 
since  He  was  there  deposited,  with  wondering  ex- 
pectation to  observe  the  sepulchre.  Earlier  in  the 
morn  He  rose,  than  any  of  His  earthly  friends :  for 
when  they,  whom  their  superior  tenderness  and  con- 
stancy determined  to  embalm  His  body,  came ; 
early  as  they  came,  He  was  gone.  Behold,  two  of 
the  heavenly  host  sat  at  the  sepulchre  ;  their  coun- 
tenances like  lightning,  and  their  raiment  white  as 
snow.  Unwilling  to  burst  unexpectedly  upon  His 
disciples  in  person,  and  overwhelm  them  with  sur- 
prise and  fear,  and  choosing  that  as  His  incarnation, 
so  also  His  rising  from  the  dead,  should  have  the  at- 
testation of  beings  from  the  heavenly  world.  He  had 

«  Psalm  ii.  L  ''  Ibid.  ii.  4. 


ON  EASTER-DAY.  28 

commissioned  these  ministering  spirits,  to  honour 
the  amiable  women  who  had  followed  Him  through 
His  Passion,  and  who,  He  knew,  would  presently 
come  to  embalm  His  remains,  with  the  first  tidings 
of  His  resurrection.  Accordingly,  the  angels  ad- 
dressed to  them  the  most  joyful  truth  that  ever  en- 
tered human  ears :  *'  Why  seek  ye  the  living  among 
the  dead  ?  He  is  not  here :  for  He  is  risen,  as  He 
said.  Come,  see  the  place  where  the  Lord  lay. 
And  go  quickly,  and  tell  His  disciples  that  He  is 
risen  from  the  dead  ;  and,  behold.  He  goeth  before 
you  into  Galilee  ;  there  shall  ye  see  Him  ^"  They 
went.  They  saw.  They  believed.  "  And  with 
great  power  gave  the  Apostles  witness  of  the  re- 
surrection of  the  Lord  Jesus." 

This  brings  us  to  consider,  as  was  proposed,  in 
what  this  great  power  consisted. 

In  the  first  place,  their  testimony  was  **  with  great 
power"  by  reason  of  the  great  number  of  witnesses. 
It  was  not  one,  nor  two,  nor  a  few  individuals,  who 
attested  the  resurrection.  Had  the  story  been  an 
imposture,  a  small  number  only  would  have  com- 
bined for  its  propagation.  But  here  were  more 
than  were  necessary  for  the  fabrication  of  a  cheat, 
and  too  many  to  keep  it  long  a  secret.  "  He  was 
seen  of  Cephas,  then  of  the  twelve :  after  that.  He 
was  seen  of  above  five  hundred  brethren  at  once^'* 
He  was  seen  of  the  women,  and  of  the  two  disciples 
who  journeyed  to  Emmaus.  These  could  not  have 
been  all  deceived.  Many  of  them,  at  first,  were 
criminally  incredulous.  They,  however,  saw  Him 
at  several  times,  in  different  places,  under  various 
circumstances.  They  ate,  and  drank,  and  conversed 
with  Him.  They  heard  Him,  and  they  handled  Him. 
They  saw  in  His  hands  the  print  of  the  nails,  and 

•  Luke  xxiv.  5.     Matt,  xxviii.  6,  7,  'I  Cor.  xv.  5,  6. 


24  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

laid  their  fingers  upon  the  wound  in  His  side :  and 
in  demonstration  that  it  was  He,  "  the  Son  of  God 
with  power  %"  He  commanded  for  them,  on  the  sea 
shore,  a  miraculous  draught  of  fishes.  His  appear- 
ance among  them  was  not  short,  nor  obscure  ;  but 
He  continued  with  them  coming  in,  and  going  out, 
for  the  space  of  "forty  days  V  arranging  with  them 
the  conduct  to  be  pursued,  with  regard  to  His 
Church,  the  kingdom  which  He  was  now  to  esta- 
blish in  the  world.  Will  it  be  said,  that  His  appear- 
ance should  have  been  universal  ?  Surely,  when 
God  has  given  sufficient  evidence  of  a  truth,  which 
He  requires  men  to  believe,  He  is  not  obliged  to 
give  them  more.  With  regard  to  the  world  in  ge- 
neral, if  none  should  believe  but  those  who  saw, 
Christ  must  have  dwelt  always,  and  every  where, 
on  the  earth :  and  there  would  have  been  no  oppor- 
tunity for  the  superior  blessedness  of  their  faith, 
who,  though  "  they  have  not  seen,  have,"  neverthe- 
less, on  the  word  of  God,  "  believed  V  And  with 
regard  to  the  Jews,  as  they  believed  not  "  Moses 
and  the  Prophets,"  we  have  no  ground  of  assurance 
that  the  vail  would  have  been  taken  from  their 
hearts,  though  '*one  rose  from  the  dead^"  "  Unto 
witnesses  chosen  before  of  God  ',"  was  Jesus  showed 
alive  after  His  resurrection  *'  by  many  infallible 
proofs  \"  Their  testimony  was  powerful,  in  that 
there  were  an  host  of  them,  and  that  it  was  of  the 
fullest  and  most  explicit  kind. 

How  far  they  were  credible  will  appear,  if  we 
consider,  in  the  second  place,  that  the  Apostles' 
evidence  was  **  with  great  power,"  by  reason  of 
their  well  known  character.  They  were  known  to 
be  poor,  timid,  and  friendless  ;  and,  therefore,  un- 


«  Rom.  i.  4.  ^  Acts'i.  3.  «  John  xx.  2d. 

^  Matt.xvi.  31.  *  Acts  X.  41.  ^  Acts  i.  3. 


ON  EASTERDAY.  25 

likely  to  devise,  and  unable  to  execute,  a  scheme 
for  imposing  a  falsehood  of  this  nature  upon  the 
world.  They  were  persons  who  aspired  to  no  emi- 
nence, who  slighted  all  honours  and  emoluments, 
and  who  had  neither  the  pride,  the  ambition,  nor  the 
prospects,  by  which  impostors  are  animated.  Above 
all,  they  were  proverbial  for  integrity  in  principle 
and  conduct.  Simplicity,  honesty,  and  rectitude, 
were  the  characteristics  of  the  followers  of  the  "  Na- 
zarene '."  Such  qualities  would  render  any  evidence 
respectable.  Such  witnesses  could  not  but  speak 
with  "  power."  Hence  it  was,  that  their  preaching 
commanded  such  attention,  and  obtained  such  suc- 
cess. Will  it  be  said  that  their  simplicity  exposed 
them  to  delusion  ?  There  were  among  them  Peter, 
sufficiently  acute  ;  and  Thomas  sufficiently  scrupu- 
lous. Will  it  be  said  that  they  had  been  the  follow- 
ers of  Christ,  and  were  interested  in  the  success  of 
this  story  t  Alas !  in  what  way  could  the  story 
advance  the  interest  of  any  of  them,  if  Jesus  was 
not  risen  ?  It  would  have  been  much  more  natural, 
as  well  as  reasonable,  for  them,  as  indeed  they  did 
after  the  crucifixion,  to  have  shrunk  from  the  public 
view.  There  was  not,  in  truth,  the  shadow  of  any 
thing  in  these  chosen  witnesses,  upon  which  suspi- 
cion could  fasten  his  criminating  eye.  They  had 
every  moral  quality  which  could  recommend  them ; 
and  if  the  character  of  a  witness,  can  give  weight 
to  his  testimony,  the  Apostles  of  our  Lord  were,  in 
the  highest  degree,  entitled  to  be  believed. 

Once  more.  Their  evidence  had  all  the  "  great 
power,"  which  is  ever  on  the  side  of  truth,  in  that 
there  was  among  them  consistence,  boldness,  and 
correspondent  behaviour.  They  were  perfectly  con- 
sistent.     Numerous  as  were  the  testifiers  of  the 

'  Matt.  ii.  23. 


26  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

Saviour's  resurrection,  there  were  no  divisions,  no 
contradictions,  no  separate  interests  :  and  if  there 
were  some  little  variations  in  their  narratives  re- 
specting minute  matters,  these  were  reconcileable, 
and  tend  rather  to  confirm  their  accounts,  by  evi- 
dencing that  there  had  been  no  combination.  In 
the  main,  as  might  be  expected  of  men,  who  were 
affected  with  a  truth  so  novel,  so  solemn,  and  so 
simple,  they  were  "  of  one  heart  and  of  one  soul""." 
They  were,  moreover,  undaunted.  Though  before, 
mortified  with  disappointment  and  shaking  with 
terror,  they  shunned  even  the  light,  they  now  were 
re-animated.  They  openly  and  eagerly  proclaimed, 
that  He  who  had  been  crucified,  was  risen  from  the 
dead.  In  the  face  of  the  High  Priest  and  rulers  and 
scribes,  they  asserted  that  God  had  made  Him  whom 
they  had  killed,  '*  both  Lord  and  Christ "."  In  the 
temple  and  in  the  synagogues,  before  kings  and  go- 
vernors, they  testified  the  fact.  The  scourge  was 
lifted  ;  but  their  lips  did  not  quiver.  Crosses  were 
shown  as  prepared  for  them,  and  they  replied,  **  The 
Lord  is  risen."  There  was  also  correspondent  be- 
haviour. They  took  those  steps,  to  which  the  doc- 
trine of  the  resurrection  naturally  led.  They  exhi- 
bited that  life,  which  it  necessarily  enforced.  They 
were  animated  with  that  joy,  which  it  was  calcu- 
lated to  inspire.  They  manifested  that  anxiety  and 
diligence  to  maintain  and  propagate  the  religion  of 
their  Lord,  which  it  could  not  fail  to  produce.  When 
commanded  to  abandon  it,  they  boldly  refused,  and 
refused  again  ;  and  refused  under  the  most  aggra- 
vated tortures,  and  most  terrifying  threats.  When 
driven  to  the  alternative  of  relinquishing  either  life, 
or  their  testimony  to  the  truth  of  the  resurrection, 
they  did  not  hesitate  which  to  resign ;  but  sealed 

""  Acts  iv.  32.  "  Acts  ii,  36. 


ON  EASTER-DAY.  27 

their  testimony  with  their  blood ;  rejoicing,  with  a 
humility  and  devotion  which  consummated  the 
sincerity  of  their  evidence,  "  that  they  were  counted 
worthy  to  suffer  shame  for  His  name  °."  It  needed 
not  arguments  to  show  that  this  was  the  conduct  of 
men,  who  were  fully  convinced  of  what  they  main- 
tained. They  gave  witness  of  the  resurrection  with 
that  *'  great  power,"  which  is  attendant  only  on 
truth.  Their  behaviour  was  such,  as  it  necessarily 
would  be,  if  they  were  assured  that  their  Master 
was  risen  from  the  dead ;  and  it  was  such,  as  nothing 
but  this  assurance,  could  have  instigated  and  sus- 
tained. 

Further.  The  witness  which  the  Apostles  gave  of 
the  resurrection  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  was  "with  great 
power,"  in  that  they  brought  to  their  support,  the 
types  and  statutes,  which  God  had  before  ordained 
as  shadows  of  this  great  thing  to  come,  and  the  words 
which  He  had  spoken  "  by  the  mouth  of  all  His  holy 
Prophets  since  the  world  began  p."  They  opened  the 
Scriptures,  the  oracles  of  truth,  which  God  had  com- 
mitted unto  the  Jews,  and  alleged  from  them  that 
**  it  behoved  Christ  to  suffer,  and  to  rise  from  the 
dead  the  third  day ''."  They  pointed  to  the  annual 
expiatory  sacrifice,  and  to  the  High  Priest  entering 
with  its  blood  into  the  Holy  of  Holies  ;  and  thence 
inferred  that  with  His  own  blood  Jesus,  the  High 
Priest  of  the  human  race,  having  offered  Himself 
upon  the  cross,  should  rise  and  pass  into  the  heavens, 
there  to  **  appear  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us^" 
They,  doubtless,  after  the  example  of  their  Master, 
pointed  to  Jonah,  the  mysterious  type  of  Him  who 
preached  repentance,  not  to  Nineveh,  but  to  a  guilty 
world  :  and  showed  that  "  as  Jonas  was  three  days 


"  Acts  V.  41.  P  Ibid.  iii.  21. 

''  Luke  xxiv.  46.  '  Heb.  ix.  24. 


^8  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

and  three  nights"  locked  up  *'  in  the  whale's  belly," 
so  was  it  appointed,  that  "  the  Son  of  Man  should 
be  three  days  and  three  nights  in  the  heart  of  the 
earth'."  We  hear  them  saying  to  their  astonished 
auditors,  **  We  declare  unto  you  glad  tidings,  how 
that  the  promise  which  was  made  unto  the  fathers, 
God  hath  fulfilled  the  same  unto  us  their  children,  in 
that  He  hath  raised  up  Jesus  again*:"  and  appealing 
in  attestation  of  this  declaration,  to  words  which  had 
long  been  sacred,  and  to  Seers  who  had  never  been 
disputed.  Now  we  behold  St.  Paul  addressing  the 
Church  at  Antioch,  and  summoning  Isaiah  to  con- 
firm his  assertion,  that,  in  the  resurrection  of  Jesus, 
were  given  unto  God's  people  "  the  sure  mercies  of 
David  "."  And  who,  at  this  distance,  perceives  not 
the  strength  of  the  reasoning  ot  the  great  Apostle  of 
the  Gentiles  ?  For  without  the  resurrection  of  Jesus, 
what  mercies  promised  to  David,  and  to  his  seed  for 
evermore,  are  sure  ?  Now  we  also  hear  St.  Peter 
bringing  David  himself,  to  confirm  the  testimony  of 
the  resurrection  of  Christ :  "  Thou  wilt  not  leave  My 
soul  in  hell,"  says  the  Psalmist,  "  neither  wilt  Thou 
suffer  Thine  Holy  One  to  see  corruption  '\"  "  Men 
and  brethren,"  says  the  Apostle,  "  let  me  freely 
speak  unto  you  of  the  Patriarch  David,  that  he  is 
both  dead  and  buried,  and  his  sepulchre  is  with  us 
unto  this  day.  Therefore  being  a  Prophet,  and 
knowing  that  God  had  sworn  with  an  oath  to  him, 
that  of  the  fruit  of  his  loins,  according  to  the  flesh. 
He  would  raise  up  Christ  to  sit  on  his  throne ;  he 
seeing  this  before,  spake  of  the  resurrection  of  Christ, 
that  His  soul  was  not  left  in  hell,  neither  did  His  flesh 
see  corruption  \"  And  who,  at  this  distance,  per- 
ceives not  the  strength  of  the  reasoning  of  the  great 


»  Matt.  xii.  40.  *  Acts  xiii.  3$-  "  Ibid.  ver.  34. 

^'  Acts  ii.  27.  "  Ibid.  ii.  29—31. 


ON  EASTER-DAY.  29 

Apostle  of  the  Jews  ?  For  certainly  "  David,  after 
he  had  served  his  own  generation,  fell  on  sleep,  and 
was  laid  unto  his  fathers,  and  saw  corruption  ;  but 
He,  whom  God  raised  again,  saw  no  corruption^." 
Thus  did  the  Apostles  bring  "  the  Law  and  the  Pro- 
phets," to  confirm  their  witness  of  the  resurrection 
of  the  Lord  Jesus ;  showing,  in  this  manner,  that 
either  the  Jewish  dispensation  received  its  signifi- 
cance and  consummation  from  the  Passion,  Resur- 
rection, and  Ascension  of  Christ ;  or  that,  as  it  was 
about  to  pass  away,  it  was  an  absurd  and  unmeaning 
letter.  .  What  wonder,  then,  that  so  many  of  the 
devout  Jews,  became  proselytes  to  Christianity,  and 
that  "  a  great  company  of  the  Priests  were  obedient 
to  the  faith  ^''  The  argument  was  of  wonderful 
power  with  those  Jews,  who  in  simplicity  and  godly 
sincerity  had  cherished  the  revelations  which  the 
Most  High  had  vouchsafed  to  them ;  and  it  is  of 
astonishing  import,  of  irresistible  force  to  every  man, 
who  considers  soberly  the  wonderful,  the  super- 
natural, the  connected,  the  singularly  significant 
nature,  of  the  Jewish  economy. 

But  I  would  observe  further,  that  the  testimony 
which  the  witnesses  of  God  unto  the  people  gave  of 
the  resurrection  of  His  Son,  was  **  with  great  power," 
in  that  it  left  His  adversaries  destitute  of  any  satis- 
factory, or  reasonable  replication.  Much  it  behoved 
the  rulers  of  the  Jews,  to  prove  to  the  people,  who 
were  many  of  them  struck  with  the  miracles  of 
Christ,  and  with  the  majesty,  and  awful  occurrences 
of  His  death,  that  they  had  not  "  crucified  the  Lord 
of  Glory  \"  In  their  care  to  secure  the  sepulchre, 
they  betrayed  their  anxiety  to  do  so.  And,  blessed 
Lord,  could  they  have  produced  Thy  sacred  body, 
after  the  third  day,  with  what  triumph  would  it  have 

1  Acts  xiii.  3Q,  37.  '  Ibid.  vi.  7.  ^  1  Cor.  ii.  8. 


30  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

been  exhibited  ?  They  would  have  dragged  it  into 
the  temple.  They  would  have  sent  tidings  of  it  to 
every  synagogue.  They  would  have  brought  it  in 
derision  unto  Pilate.  They  would  have  made  it  a 
spectacle,  till  corruption  obliged  them  to  mingle  it 
with  the  dust.  And  when  they  could  no  longer 
preserve  it,  they  would  have  written  in  the  tablets 
of  their  nation,  the  memorial  of  its  fate :  and  beneath 
the  records  of  its  exhibition,  they  would,  with 
triumphant  sarcasm,  have  inscribed,  what  Pilate 
wrote  with  indifference,  but  prophetic  import,  above 
the  cross,  **  This  was  the  King  of  the  Jews'*!"  But 
no.  There  was  no  such  refutation  of  the  resurrection. 
The  body  of  Jesus,  much  as  it  concerned  the  Jews  to 
exhibit  it,  and  so  surely  as  this  might  have  been  done, 
if  they  had  only  slain  a  deceiver,  was  never  produced. 
But  from  the  watch  was  purchased  a  declaration,  in 
which,  as  in  many  a  false  testimony,  there  was, 
through  the  providence  of  God,  involved  a  disclosure 
of  the  falsehood  of  the  testifiers,  "  His  disciples  came 
by  night,  and  stole  Him  away  while  we  slept'':"  a 
testimony  so  absurd,  a  defence  so  feeble,  that  it  needs 
not  any  investigation  ;  but  it  forced  from  one  of  the 
Fathers  of  the  Church  an  apostrophe  so  simple,  yet 
so  forcible,  concerning  "this  saying  that  is  commonly 
reported  among  the  Jews  '^,"  that  I  cannot  forbear  to 
introduce  it :  *  Ye  wicked,  corrupt,  senseless  wretches ; 
either  ye  were  awake,  or  asleep.  If  awake,  it  was 
your  business  to  secure  the  body  from  being  stolen 
away  ;  if  asleep,  it  was  impossible  you  should  either 
know  what  was  done,  or  who  the  persons  were,  that 
did  it.' 

Lastly.  The  testimony  of  the  Apostles  was  "with 
great  power,"  in  that  it  was  accompanied  with  the 
confirmation   and   blessing  of  God,  and  produced 

••  Luke  xxiii.  38.         •=  Matt,  xxviii.  13.        "*  Ibid,  xxviii,  15. 


ON  EASTER-DAY.  31 

great  and  extensive  conviction.  They  were  coun- 
tenanced from  on  high.  Nature  could  not  have 
nourished  the  virtues  which  they  exhibited,  and 
would  have  sunk  under  fatigues  and  sufferings  which 
they  endured.  They  were  enabled  to  '*  do  all  things 
through  Christ,  which  strengthened  them'."  To  the 
first  work  of  their  ministry,  it  was  necessary  that 
they  should  be  endued  with  miraculous  powers. 
Profane,  as  well  as  sacred  writers  declare,  that  these 
powers  were  furnished.  "  By  the  hands  of  the 
Apostles  were  many  signs  and  wonders  wrought ^ 
and  great  grace  was  upon  them  alP."  They  were 
anxious,  and  obliged  to  communicate  the  Gospel 
to  the  whole  human  race.  Poor,  illiterate,  friendless, 
obscure,  how  could  they  accomplish  this  ?  Yet,  be- 
hold, within  a  few  weeks,  many  thousands  of  the 
Jews,  among  whom  were  many  Priests  and  principal 
personages,  became  believers  ;  and  before  the  last  of 
the  Apostles  had  expired,  the  Gospel  was  diffused 
and  embraced  in  most  parts  of  the  then  known  world. 
The  establishment,  and  rapid  progress  of  a  religion, 
whose  Author  was  crucified,  and  its  propagators 
twelve  of  the  most  despised  men ;  of  a  religion,  so 
opposed  to  the  strongest  propensities  of  nature,  so 
different  from  any  thing  to  which  man  had  been 
accustomed,  and  so  destructive  to  ancient,  venerated, 
and  congenial  systems  ;  and  this,  too,  by  means  so 
simple,  and  seemingly  inadequate  to  the  object,  is 
of  itself  a  demonstration  of  the  wisdom  and  power, 
with  which  its  witnesses  unto  the  people  spake. 
Shall  I  be  told  that  Paganism  has  more  generally 
prevailed?  Paganism  has  its  hold  on  the  ignorance  of 
men,  and  its  advocates  in  their  vices  and  infirmities. 
Shall  I  be  told  that  Mahometanism  has  been  spread 
as  successfully  ?  We  behold  the  means  of  Mahomet's 

*Phn.  iv.  13.  'Acts  V.  12.  i^' Ibid.  iv.  33. 


32  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

success,  in  his  sensual  paradise,  and  his  sword.  But 
when  we  look  at  Christianity,  its  strongest  adver- 
saries were  in  the  human  bosom,  and  it  rejected  the 
aid  of  passion,  money,  or  force.  Who  then  that 
soberly  ponders  its  success,  can  doubt  that  it  had, 
in  its  earliest  ages,  irresistible  evidence,  that  it  was 
"  with  great  power"  the  Apostles  gave  witness  of 
the  resurrection  of  its  Author,  and  that  God,  doubt- 
less, did  bear  them  witness,  "  confirming  the  word 
with  signs  following "^  ?" 

^  Mark  xvi.  20. 


SERMON  XLVIL 


ON   EASTER-DAY. 


1  Thessalonians  iv.  14. 

If  we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again,  even  so  them  also 
who  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him. 

And  do  we  not  believe  it  ?  "  Who  is  this  that  cometh 
from"  the  tomb,  "  with  dyed  garments"  from  the  bed 
of  death?  ''This  that  is  glorious  in  His  apparel, 
travelling  in  the  greatness  of  His  strength  *  ?"  Is  it 
not  He,  whom  we  lately  attended  to  the  crucifixion, 
and  left  fast  bound  with  the  fetters  of  death  ?  Is  it 
not  the  resurrection  of  Jesus,  which,  this  day,  fills 
our  bosoms  with  unusual  joy,  and  does  not  the  de- 
claration of  the  event  which  we  have  heard,  call  it 
up  to  our  remembrance,  free  from  doubt  ?  Yes.  If 
our  service,  this  day,  and  the  service  of  the  whole 
Christian  Church  be  not  all  a  mockery ;  if  the  testi- 
mony of  witnesses  competent  in  number  and  cha- 
racter to  establish  a  fact,  which  fact  they  attested 
with  their  blood,  may  not  be  set  aside  by  mere  sup- 
positions and  sophisms ;  if  we  have  not  seen  such  a 
success  of  imposture,  as  is  contrary  to  all  the  past 
experience  of  mankind  ;  if  all  rules  of  evidence,  and 
all  grounds  of  belief,  be  not  altogether  arbitrary, 
and  if  the  Almighty  Governor  of  the  world  has  not 
poured  down  His  blessing  upon  the  work  of  a  blas- 

*  In.  Ixiii.  I. 
VOL.   If.  D 


34  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

phemous  deceiver,  Jesus  Christ,  who  died  upon  the 
cross,  according  to  tlie  Scriptures  rose  from  the 
dead. 

In  your  minds,  my  brethren,  I  presume  this  point 
is  established.  You  have  no  need  that  I  go  with 
you  to  the  sepulchre,  and  show  that  "He  is  not 
there,  but  is  risen ''."  You  awoke,  this  morning, 
rejoicing  in  the  glorious  truth.  Now,  the  inference 
which  the  Apostle  makes,  from  the  resurrection  of 
Christ,  and  which  renders  it,  to  us,  the  most  in- 
teresting event  in  the  annals  of  time,  is  the  certainty 
of  our  own  resurrection.  "  If  we  believe,"  says  he, 
"  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again,  even  so  them  also 
who  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with  Him."  And 
again,  writing  to  the  Corinthians  ;  "  If  Christ  be 
preached,  that  He  rose  from  the  dead,  how  say  some 
among  you,  that  there  is  no  resurrection  of  the 
dead '  ?" 

As  it  is  this  inference,  that  gives  us  such  an  in- 
terest in  the  event  we  commemorate,  it  shall  be  my 
present  employment  to  show  you,  in  the  first  place, 
the  certainty  with  which  it  is  drawn ;  and,  in  the 
second  place,  the  inestimable  value  of  it. 

That  our  resurrection  is  the  certain  consequence  of 
the  resurrection  of  Christ,  will  be  evident,  if  we  first 
consider  it,  as  an  evidence  that  the  Deity  accepted 
His  sacrifice  of  Himself,  in  our  behalf.  Death,  we 
know,  is  *'  the  wages  of  sin ''."  In  no  other  way  can 
we  account  for  its  introduction  into  the  creation  of 
God.  Now  of  the  rise  of  sin  in  our  nature,  we  have 
an  account  in  the  sacred  history  of  man's  transgres- 
sion. To  atone  for  this  transgression,  and  take  away 
the  doom  of  perpetual  death,  to  which  it  had  sub- 
jected man,  was  the  avowed  object,  for  which  our 
Saviour  offered  Himself  upon  the  cross.     If,  there- 

"Luke  xxiv.  6.         "  1  Cor.  xv.  12.        "  Rom.  vi.  23. 

9 


ON  EASTER^DAY.  35 

fore,  the  Eternal  Father  accepted  His  propitiation  for 
our  sins  ;  (and  what  stronger  evidence  could  he  give 
us  that  He  did,  than  by  raising  the  crucified  Victim 
from  the  grave  ?)  our  debt  to  the  law^  is  cancelled. 
The  reason  for  our  subjection  to  eternal  death  is 
remitted,  and  it  is  impossible  that  we  should  be 
holden  of  it. 

A  sense  of  unworthiness  would  naturally  excite 
doubts  in  any  mind,  unenlightened  by  revelation 
about  the  resurrection  of  men  to  immortality.  We 
are,  indeed,  conscious  of  faculties  which  qualify  us 
for  a  longer  and  better  being  than  the  present,  and 
of  an  inextinguishable  desire  to  prolong  our  existence. 
But  a  sense  of  our  sinfulness  and  moral  frailty,  must 
also  be  felt,  whenever  we  study  ourselves.  Whether 
the  Deity,  therefore,  who  is  able  to  people  his  uni- 
verse with  beings,  as  pure  and  exalted  as  He  pleases, 
would  condescend  to  exert  miraculous  power,  to 
recover  us  to  everlasting  life  after  our  dissolution, 
might  appear  problematical.  The  consciousness  of 
our  moral  corruption  would,  at  least,  diminish  the 
probability  in  some  minds.  We  find  that,  according 
to  the  degree  of  their  virtue,  was  the  strength  of  the 
heathen's  hope  of  a  future  existence.  But  in  Christ, 
**  we  have  an  advocate  with  the  Father,"  '*  and  He 
is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins  \"  We  have  acquired 
new  worth  by  our  relation  to  Him.  He  will  feel  an 
everlasting  regard  for  those,  whom  He  hath  redeemed 
with  His  blood,  and  will  plead  His  merits  with  the 
Father,  for  their  perpetual  preservation.  And  if  His 
expiation  of  our  iniquities  has  been  accepted,  we 
are,  doubtless,  begotten  by  His  resurrection  to  a 
blessed  hope  of  everlasting  life.  The  Father  will 
behold  us  with  peculiar  regard,  as  the  fruit  of  His 
Son's  sufferings,  and  for  His  sake,  allow  the  efficacy 

'  1  John  ii.  1,  2, 
I)  2 


36  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

of  His  merits  to  save  us  from  the  dominion  of  the 
grave. 

Indeed  the  Prophet  foretold,  and  He  himself  de- 
clared that,  in  *'  the  travail  of  His  soul,"  in  the  hap- 
piness of  those  whom  He  rescued  from  destruction, 
He  should  find  the  reward  of  His  obedience,  and  *'  be 
satisfied'."  Now  can  it  be  supposed,  that  in  the 
short  lived  tenants  of  this  chequered  life,  our  Saviour 
**  saw  His  seeds?"  Has  He  no  other  satisfaction, 
than  to  have  redeemed  them  to  the  transient  and 
adulterated  happiness  of  this  precarious  state :  or 
will  the  Almighty  Father  suffer  him  to  be  defeated 
in  His  purpose,  or  deprived  of  His  reward?  INo.  If 
He  were  pleased  and  satisfied  with  His  propitiation 
for  the  sins  of  the  world,  for  our  Redeemer's  sake,  as 
well  as  ours,  them  "  who  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God 
bring  with  Him." 

Now,  that  He  did  accept  His  sacrifice  of  Himself, 
His  resurrection  is  the  fullest,  and  most  satisfactory 
evidence^  which  could  be  given.  In  raising  Him 
from  the  dead,  God  set  His  seal  to  all  that  Christ  had 
done.  In  testimony  of  His  approbation.  He  gave 
Him  this  public  triumph  before  angels  and  men,  on 
His  return  from  the  conquest  of  sin  and  death.  Ac- 
cordingly the  Apostle  argues ;  **  if  Christ  be  not 
raised,  your  faith  is  vain ;  ye  are  yet  in  your  sins'':" 
implying  that,  if  He  were  raised,  our  sins  were  can- 
celled, which  were  the  sting,  that  is,  the  power  of 
death. 

Again.  How  certaiWy  the  doctrine  of  our  resur- 
rection is  established  by  the  resurrection  of  our 
Lord,  will  be  evident,  if  we  consider  it  as  the  suffi- 
cient, and  august  proof  of  the  truth  of  His  religion. 
That  miracles  are  stupendous  evidences  of  the  truth 
of  any  doctrine,  in  evidence  of  which  they  are  really 

'  Isa.  liii.  11.  *  Ibid.  ver.  10.  ^  1  Cor.  xv.  17. 


ON  EASTER-DAY.  37 

wrought,  is  incontrovertible.  That  to  raise  Himself 
from  the  dead  is  the  greatest  miracle  Christ  could 
have  wrought,  or  man  can  conceive,  no  one  will  deny. 
When  it  is  added  that  this  miracle  fulfilled  prophecies 
which  pointed  to  it,  in  distant  and  at  different  times, 
it  will  be  confessed,  that  it  combines  in  itself  all  the 
force  which  any  evidence  can  possibly  carry.  To 
this,  therefore,  Jesus  Himself  appealed,  and  when  a 
sign  was  demanded  of  Him,  rested  upon  it  the  credi- 
bility of  His  mission."  Without  this  resurrection  of 
our  Lord,  the  support  of  His  doctrines  would,  I  con- 
ceive, have  been  imperfect ;  but  while  this  stands, 
though  every  other  argument  should  be  subverted, 
the  Christian  faith  would  remain  unshaken.  And 
blessed  be  the  wisdom  and  care  of  our  God,  He  hath 
so  fortified  this  important  pillar,  that  it  defies  the 
enemies  of  the  Gospel,  and  without  being  married  or 
enfeebled,  has  repelled  their  most  vigorous  blows. 
Upon  this  pillar  the  religion  of  the  Redeemer  stands, 
the  wonder  and  joy  of  all  considerate  beings.  For 
the  eternal  validity  of  its  doctrines  and  promises,  this 
is  a  satisfactory  voucher.  Now  the  very  end  of  the 
Gospel  is  to  bring  us  to  everlasting  life  and  glory. 
No  doctrine  is  more  conspicuous  in  it,  than  that  of 
our  resurrection  to  immortality.  No  promise  more 
frequent  than  that  of  eternal  felicity  to  the  faithful. 
We  hear  it  from  the  mouth  of  Christ  Himself.  His 
Apostles  repeat  it.  It  is  declared  to  be  the  purpose 
of  God  in  the  gift  of  His  Son;  and  the  passages  are 
so  numerous,  and  familiar  to  you,  that  I  shall  not 
attempt  to  quote  them.  This  glorious  truth,  then, 
as  a  doctrine  of  our  religion,  is  confirmed  by  that 
event  which  of  itself  proves  the  religion  divine.  "  If 
Christ  be  not  risen,"  says  the  Apostle,  **  then  is  our 
preaching  vain,  and  your  faith  is  also  vain'."     But 

'  1  Cor.  XV.  14. 


38  ON  EASTER-DAY. 

by  rising  He  established  His  word,  and  this  word  is 
eternal  life. 

.  But  I  add  once  more,  that  the  resurrection  of  our 
blessed  Lord  confirms  our  expectations  of  being 
raised  to  a  future  life,  by  exemplifying  the  mystery 
to  us.  This  is  what  man  needs  and  desires,  to  place 
the  subject  beyond  all  doubt.  He  may  conjecture, 
from  the  imperfection  of  the  present  life,  and  the 
promiscuous  fate  of  the  virtuous  and  the  wicked,  a 
future  retribution.  He  may  gather  from  the  pro- 
perties of  his  soul,  and  forebodings  of  his  conscience, 
a  probability,  that  he  is  designed  for  another  state 
of  being.  What  he  wishes,  he  may  incline  to  be- 
lieve, and  religion  may  kindly  descend  to  confirm 
his  hopes.  But  in  a  thing  so  dear,  he  is  anxious  to 
have  the  possibility  of  the  thing  exemplified  by  fact. 
Till  some  one  exhibits  death's  sceptre  actually 
broken,  the  grim  monster  seems  to  reign  the  uncon- 
querable monarch  of  the  world.  An  instance  here, 
would  be  worth  many  arguments.  And  such  an 
instance  we  have,  through  the  abundant  riches  of 
the  power  and  goodness  of  God.  In  our  own 
nature,  in  that  body  and  soul  in  which  He  lived  and 
was  very  man,  Christ  returned  to  life,  after  death 
had  laid  his  hand  on  Him,  and  he  had  descended 
into  the  tomb.  In  this  the  Eternal  Father  demon- 
strated His  power  to  relume  the  sleeping  dust,  re- 
mand into  it  the  departed  spirit,  and  fit  it  for  an 
eternal  duration.  *'  Christ  being  raised  from  the 
dead,  dieth  no  more  ;  death  hath  no  more  dominion 
over  Him*"."  In  His  resurrection  God  hath  mani- 
fested His  power,  to  awake  every  son  of  Adam  from 
the  sleep  of  the  grave ;  and  the  end,  for  which  He 
hath  manifested  it,  is  our  assurance  that  He  will 
do  it. 

^  Rom.  vi.  9. 


ON  EASTER-  DAY.  39 

Such  is  the  evidence,  that  the  certainty  of  our  re- 
surrection is  the  consequence  of  the  event  which  we 
this  day  commemorate.  It  remains  an  interesting 
duty,  to  set  before  you  the  inestimable  value  of  this 
lively  hope,  to  which  we  are  begotten  of  God  by  the 
resurrection  of  His  Son.  But  time  will  not  permit 
me  now  to  enter  upon  it*. 

My  Christian  friends,  go  we  to  the  altar  of  our 
God,  and  as  the  fittest  expression  of  our  joy,  keep 
the  great  eucharistic  feast.  There,  in  commemora- 
tion  of  our  deliverance  from  the  bondage  of  death, 
let  us  celebrate  the  offering  of  the  true  Paschal  Lamb. 
"  And  thus,  shall  ye  eat  it*";"  *'  having  your  loins 
girt  about  with  truth";" — the  shield  of  faith  in  your 
hands; — "  and  your  feet  shod  with  the  preparation 
of  the  Gospel  of  peace"."  Ye  shall  eat  it  with  solem- 
nity, and  holy  joy ;  for  *'  it  is  the  Lord's  PassoverP." 
With  faith  and  obedience  apply  its  blood  to  your 
spirits,  and  have  in  remembrance  your  wonderful 
deliverance  from  death :  and  when  the  chosen  Son 
of  God  shall  appear  in  judgment  upon  a  rebellious 
and  impenitent  world,  you  shall  be  saved  from  the 
sorrows  which  will  come  upon  the  disobedient;  and 
be  taken  to  that  land  of  perpetual  rest  and  delight, 
which  the  Father  hath  given  for  you  to  the  ''  Captain 
of  your  salvation'',"  as  the  reward  of  His  sufferings, 
victories  and  triumphs. 

'  It  is  to  be  lamented  that  this  division  of  the  subject  was  left 
incomplete  by  the  author. 

™  Exod.  xii.  11.  "  Eph.  vi.  14.  ">  Ibid.  ver.  15. 

P  Exod.  xii.   11.  1  Heb.  ii.  10. 


SERMON  XLVIII. 


ON   THE  SUNDAY   AFTER  EASTER. 


COLOSSIANS  ii.    10. 

Atid  ye  are  complete  in  him. 

It  is  natural  to  look  back  upon  the  wonderful 
events,  some  of  them  sorrowful,  and  some  of  them 
joyful,  which  we  have  lately  commemorated.  Indeed 
the  Church  does  not  yet  cease  from  her  special  joy 
on  account  of  the  resurrection  of  her  Lord ;  but  still 
dwells  upon  it  with  exultation  and  delight.  As  we 
behold  our  adorable  Master  dying  for  our  sins  and 
rising  again  for  our  justification,  and  in  these  His 
acts,  are  reminded  of  His  character.  His  instructions, 
and  offices;  I  know  not  a  passage  of  holy  writ  more 
suitable  for  our  contemplation,  than  this  of  St,  Paul 
to  the  Colossians,  *'  Ye  are  complete  in  Him." 

Let  us  first  consider,  to  whom  these  words  are  ad- 
dressed. They  are  contained  in  an  epistle  to  the 
members  of  an  eminent  Church,  which  was  gathered 
by  Epaphras  at  Colosse.  These  "  saints  and  faithful 
brethren''"  had  embraced  with  a  lively  and  steady 
zeal  the  religion  of  Christ,  and  had  conformed  them- 
selves with  distinguished  exactness  to  His  institutions 
and  injunctions.  It  appears,  that  by  baptism  they 
'had  been  regularly  incorporated  into  the  Church  of 

»  Col.  i.  2. 


ON  THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER.  41 

their  Redeemer  ;  for  the  Apostle  observes  of  them, 
that  they  were  "  buried  with  Him  in  baptism,  wherein 
also  they  were  risen  with  Him  through  the  faith  of 
the  operation  of  God  "."  They  were  also  with  exem- 
plary fidelity,  lovers  and  cherishers  of  the  doctrines, 
sacraments,  and  discipline  of  the  Church  :  for,  says 
the  zealous  Paul  to  them,  **  though  I  be  absent  in 
the  flesh,  yet  am  I  with  you  in  the  spirit,  joying  and 
beholding  your  order,  and  the  stedfastness  of  your 
faith  in  Christ  ^"  As  might  be  expected  of  a  people, 
who  were  thus  established  in  their  principles,  and 
regular  in  their  conduct,  it  appears  that  these  Co- 
lossians  were  renewed  in  their  lives :  for  the  Gospel 
had  "  brought  forth  its  fruit  in  them'*,"  and  though 
there  was  room,  as  among  the  best  men  there  ever 
will  be,  for  Apostolic  cautions  and  exhortations,  yet 
it  is  evident  from  the  epistle,  that  they  had  abounded 
in  those  distinguishing  Christian  graces,  ''  faith, 
hope,  and  charity  \"  To  persons  of  this  description, 
were  the  words  in  the  text  addressed  ;  and  in  them, 
without  doubt,  to  the  sincere  disciples  of  our  Re- 
deemer, the  true  members  of  His  Church,  in  every 
age,  and  every  place.  To  all  such  His  ambassadors 
are  authorized  to  say,  *'  Ye  are  complete  in  Him."  \ 
Let  us,  in  the  second  place,  consider,  in  what  this 
completeness  consists.  Were  I  to  attempt  to  set  it 
before  you  in  all  its  extent,  it  would  require  a  volume, 
rather  than  a  discourse.  A  volume  did  I  say  ?  Alas ! 
and  who  should  write  it  ?  For  to  a  conception  of  the 
fulness  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  all  finite  powers  are 
utterly  inadequate.  It  is  well  styled  by  an  inspired 
penman,  "  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ  ^"  All 
that  we  can  do,  is  to  contemplate  it  in  some  of  its 
obvious,  and  most  interesting  particulars. 

"  Col.  ii.  12.  *=  Ibid.  ver.  5.  '^  Ibid.  i.  6. 

!  1  Cor.  xiii.  13.  f  Eph.  iii.  8. 


42  ON  THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 

Knowledge  is  the  foundation  of  all  religion,  and 
all  excellency.  Without  it,  there  can  be  no  elevated 
character  in  man  ;  no  wisdom  nor  satisfaction  in  his 
management  of  life ;  no  reasonableness  in  his  service 
to  his  Creator ;  no  basis  to  his  faith,  nor  certainty  in 
his  hopes ;  no  sunshine  of  joy  upon  his  soul ;  no 
pleasantness,  nor  safety  in  his  path.  In  this  funda- 
mental particular  we  are  "  complete  in  Christ  Jesus; 
for  in  Him  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
knowledge  s."  In  Christ  are  wrapped  up  all  the 
counsels  and  purposes  of  God.  In  Him  are  placed 
the  fountains  of  all  truth.  From  Him  proceed  all 
sure  instructions ;  and  there  is  no  rest  for  the  in- 
quiries of  the  soul,  till  it  is  brought  humbly  to  His 
feet.  He  is  appointed  as  the  Sun  of  the  intellectual 
firmament.  When  He  appears  there  is  light ;  we 
see  our  path  ;  and  order  and  beauty  are  discernible 
in  every  thing  around  us.  Where  He  shines  not,  all 
is  confusion  and  darkness.  Ah,  were  we  not  fami- 
liarized to  His  shining,  with  what  transports  of  joy, 
with  what  exclamations  of  gratitude,  should  we  hail 
His  beams ! 

'  In  this  article  of  knowledge,  where  else,  than 
;'inder  the  instructions  of  Christ,  shall  we  find  man 
**  complete?"  Shall  we  find  him  so  under  the 
guidance  of  nature  ?  Alas!  look  at  the  savage.  In 
many  things,  how  nearly  allied  to  the  brute ;  and 
upon  the  subjects  of  religion  and  salvation,  how  igno- 
rant even  of  his  ignorance  and  of  the  importance  of 
truth !  Shall  we  find  him  **  complete"  under  the  light 
of  science  and  refinement  ?  Look  at  the  philosopher. 
How  restless !  how  perplexed !  how  dubious  !  At  the 
end  of  his  labours,  and  height  of  his  attainments, 
still  asking  anxiously,  "What  is  truth''?"  The 
Christian  need  never  look  back  with  envy  upon  the 

5  Col.  ii.  3.  ''  John  xviii.  38. 


ON  THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER.  43 

world,  as  if  pure  instruction  could  be  found  in  any 
of  its  resources.  It  is  overspread  with  ignorance. 
Men,  out  of  the  Church  of  God,  have  been  every- 
where enveloped  with  darkness,  and  a  prey  to  delu- 
sions. The  highest  point  of  wisdom  attained  by  the 
wisest  of  their  number,  was  expressed  in  the  just 
and  humbling  adage,  *  This  only  do  I  know,  that  I 
know  nothing.'  On  this  account  it  was,  that  St. 
Paul  was  anxious  to  guard  the  Christians  at  Colosse, 
by  a  sense  of  their  completeness  in  Christ,  against 
being  beguiled  with  the  enticing  words  and  flattering 
opinions  of  philosophical  teachers,  by  whom  they 
were  surrounded.  **  Beware,"  says  he,  "  lest  any 
man  spoil  you  through  philosophy  and  vain  deceit, 
after  the  tradition  of  men,  after  the  rudiments  of  the 
world,  and  not  after  Christ.  For  in  Him  dwelleth 
all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  bodily.  And  ye  are 
complete  in  Him '." 

In  Christ  Jesus  resides  the  fulness  of  the  supreme 
intelligence.  We  can  have  no  better,  we  can  need 
no  other  instructor.  He  is  the  Word  and  Wisdom 
of  God.  All  the  will,  and  purposes,  and  counsels 
of  the  Almighty,  are  committed  unto  Him.  And 
the  renewed  mind,  which  hath  been  brought  in^o 
union  with  Him,  and  surrendered  itself  entirely  to 
the  guidance  of  His  hand,  and  instructions  of  His 
voice,  finds  itself  translated  into  regions  of  pure  and 
Divine  truth ;  which  present  on  all  sides  innumer- 
able bright,  and  safe,  and  delightful  paths ;  and  in 
every  part  of  which  is  seen  the  glory,  is  felt  the 
presence,  of  the  invisible  Deity.  In  these  regions, 
the  soul  of  the  diligent  can  never  be  destitute  of 
its  proper  knowledge.  What  is  there,  O  Christian, 
of  becoming  knowledge,  relating  to  thy  being,  thy 
business,  or  thy  destiny,  which  Christ  thy  Instructor 

*  Col.  ii.  8— la. 


44 


ON  THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 


hath  not  communicated  ?  What  is  there,  concerning 
thy  God,  or  the  universe,  or  truth,  or  holiness,  of 
which  it  is  certain  that  the  knowledge  would  be 
beneficial  to  thee,  that  thy  adorable  Master  hath  not 
revealed?  What  is  there,  concerning  the  ways  of 
life,  of  peace,  and  salvation,  which  it  behoves  thee 
to  know,  that  He  who  is  "  the  way,  the  truth,  and 
the  life  V  hath  not  explained  ?  And  how  great  is 
thy  felicity,  how  great  thy  security,  in  quaffing  thy 
knowledge  from  streams,  whose  source  is  the  fount 
fast  by  the  throne  of  God  ;  from  streams,  from 
which,  if  thou  drinkest  purely,  thou  canst  never 
imbibe  any  thing  that  can  savour  of  error,  or  prove 
injurious  to  thy  soul's  health ;  from  streams,  to  the 
source  of  which  all  higher  orders  of  intelligence  re- 
pair, for  the  draughts  that  inspire  them  with  heavenly 
wisdom,  and  which  are  perpetually  visited  and 
blessed  by  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God !  On  the  brinks 
of  these  streams,  who  that  abides  can  long  be  igno- 
rant what  is  good,  or  what  the  Lord  his  God  re- 
quireth  of  him  ?  These  instructions,  which  are  set 
open  to  us  in  Christ  Jesus,  are  full  and  certain ;  full, 
in  that  they  are  adequate  to  all  our  necessities ;  and 
certain,  in  that  He  is  the  wisdom  of  God.  Yea,  we 
may  go  further,  and  add  that  they  furnish  means 
for  our  perpetual  increase  in  knowledge,  and  ad- 
vancement in  goodness.  They  are  unfathomable; 
they  are  exhaustless.  We  may  say  of  the  wisdom 
they  contain,  as  an  Apostle  hath  said  of  the  love 
that  hath  made  them  accessible  to  us,  it  "  passeth 
knowledge '." 

But  further ;  true  knowledge  will  make  us  ac- 
quainted with  our  own  sinfulness,  and  with  the  ho- 
liness of  God,  and  consequently  with  our  need  of  a 
propitiatory  sacrifice,  wherewith  to  appear  before 

*  John  XIV.  6.  '  Eph.  iii.  ID. 


ON  THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER.  45 

our  Maker,  and  the  desirableness  of  a  Mediator  to 
intercede  with  Him  in  our  behalf.  Where  has  not 
man  indicated  his  sense  of  the  necessity  of  such  a 
sacrifice,  and  sought  to  avail  himself  of  some  such 
mediation  ?  There  has  been  no  religion  without  an 
altar ;  and  no  altar  without  a  priest.  In  the  usages 
of  mankind  in  every  age,  we  may  trace  strong  evi- 
dences of  an  early  promulgation  of  that  principle  of 
the  Divine  economy,  that  *'  without  shedding  of 
blood  there  is  no  remission  "" :"  and  where  is  the  en- 
lightened bosom,  in  which  may  not  be  found  feel- 
ings, which  resort  with  joy  to  the  thought  of  an  In- 
tercessor ;  and  reasons,  which  prove  it  as  fit  as  it  is 
desirable,  that  between  the  Holy  God  and  His  of- 
fending children,  there  should  be  a  Mediator  ?  Now 
in  these  most  important  particulars,  we  are  "  com- 
plete," in  our  Redeemer ;  for  He  is  the  all-sufficient 
sacrifice  provided,  and  accepted  by  our  heavenly 
Father,  even  the  Son  of  His  love,  **  in  whom  we 
have  redemption  through  His  blood "."  He  is  the 
Mediator  whom  the  Father  hath  sanctified  and  sent 
into  the  world,  and  of  whose  mediation  He  hath 
testified  his  acceptance,  in  that  He  hath  raised  Him 
from  the  dead.  The  blood  which  flowed  from  the 
cross,  is  of  efficacy  before  the  throne  of  the  Almighty, 
proportioned  to  its  value ;  and  its  value  who  shall 
calculate,  what  language  shall  express  ?  All  other 
sacrifices  were  insignificant,  but  as  they  had  respect 
unto  this.  They  were  ineffectual.  They  were  sha- 
dows of  which  the  substance  is  Christ.  Christians 
have  in  Him  both  a  sacrifice  and  a  Priest,  of  whose 
prevailing  power  with  the  Father  there  is  infallible 
assurance,  in  that  they  are  at  once  the  Father's  off- 
spring, and  the  Father's  appointment. 

And  where,  out  of  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer, 

!"  Heb.  ix.  22.  "  Col.  i.  14. 


46  ON  THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 

is  man  "  complete"  in  these  respects  ?     Where  else 
shall  we  find  him  with  a  sacrifice  for  his  sins,  on 
whose  efficacy  he  can  rely ;  or  with  a  Mediator  with 
his  God,   in  whose  success  he  can  be  confident  ? 
Shall  we  find  him  so  among  the  Gentiles  ?    He  is 
surrounded  there  with   a  host  of  mediators ;  but 
behold,  **  they  have  eyes,  but  they  see  not ;  they 
have  ears,  but  they  hear  not ;  neither  is  there  any 
breath  in  their  mouths  °."     He  is  offering  sacrifice 
upon  a  thousand  altars  ;  but,  lo !  they  are  offered 
to  the  Being  whose  they  already  were ;  and  what 
efficacy  is  there  in  their  blood  to  take  away  sin  ? 
Shall  we  find  him   "  complete"  in  these  respects 
among  the  Jews  ?     Their  whole  system  was  "  the 
ministration  of  condemnation  p."    Their  sacrifices  and 
ordinances  were  but  "  a  shadow  of  things  to  come*^." 
And  he  who  was  "  circumcised,"  became  "  a  debtor 
to  do  the  whole  law*","  and  by  every  transgression 
incurred  a  curse  ^.     It  was  on  this  account  that  St. 
Paul  was  anxious  to  guard   the  Colossians,  by  a 
sense   of    their  completeness   in   Christ,  not   only 
against  being  beguiled  with  the  opinions  of  vain 
philosophy,  but  also  against  resorting  to  heathenish 
superstitions,   or  subjecting  themselves  to  Jewish 
ceremonies  :    by  allurements  to  which  this  distin- 
guished Church,  and  indeed  almost  all  the  Churches 
in  the  first  ages,  were  assailed  and  endangered  : — a 
circumstance  which  you  must  keep  in  mind,  if  you 
would  rightly  understand  the  scope  and  meaning  of 
many  passages  in  this  and  most  of  the  epistles,  which 
are  in  the  New  Testament.     In  the  chapter  from 
which  the  text  is  taken,  the  Apostle  is  chiefly  anxious 
to  prevent  those,  to  whom  he  writes,  from  relying 
on  any  thing,  as  necessary  to  the  ground  of  their 


•  Ps.  cxxxv.  16,  17.         P  2  Cor.  iii.  9.         ">  Col.  ii.  17. 
'  Gal.  V.  3.  '  Ibid,   iii,  10. 


ON  THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER.  47 

justification,  *'  save  Jesus  Christ,  and  Him  cru- 
cified *."  They  needed  nothing  out  of  Him.  In  Him 
was  all  sufficiency.  "  For  it  pleased  the  Father, 
that  in  Him  should  all  fulness  dwell ;  and  having 
made  peace  through  the  blood  of  His  cross,  by  Him 
to  reconcile  all  things  unto  Himself*^."  Brought 
by  faith  unto  their  Redeemer,  and  justified  freely 
through  His  blood,  they  needed  not  to  burthen 
themselves  with  heathenish  observances,  or  Jewish 
rites.  Nothing  could  add  to  the  sufficiency  of  Christ's 
grace,  or  be  a  substitute  for  it,  if  it  were  wanting. 
*'  Ye  are  complete  in  Him,  which  is  the  head  of  all 
principality  and  power :  in  whom  also  ye  are  cir- 
cumcised with  the  circumcision  made  without  hands, 
in  putting  off  the  body  of  the  sins  of  the  flesh  by 
the  circumcision  of  Christ """ 

As  the  resources  of  Jews  and  Greeks  furnish  not 
the  means  of  atonement  and  peace,  how  great  is  the 
Christian's,  happiness  in  having  received  from  his 
Maker's  bounty  the  full  price  of  redemption.  His 
beloved  Son  hath  offered  **  in  His  own  body  on  the 
tree  y"  a  sufficient  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  world ; 
and  with  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice  is  passed  into  the 
heavens,  there  **  to  appear"  for  ever  "  in  the  pre- 
sence of  God  for  us  ^"  Ye  holy  and  humble  men, 
who  are  overwhelmed  with  the  contemplation  of  the 
majesty  and  holiness  of  Jehovah,  behold  between 
Him  and  you  a  mighty  Mediator,  in  whom  Goa  is 
reconciled  unto  you,  and  for  whose  sake  ye  are  ho- 
nourable and  precious  in  His  sight.  Ye  penitent 
offenders,  who  are  heavily  laden  with  the  conscious- 
ness of  your  sins,  behold,  in  the  blood  of  Christ,  a 
fountain  set  open  by  the  Almighty,  in  which  you 
may  wash  and  be  clean.     Washed  in  this  purifying 


1  Cor.  ii.  2.  "  Col.  i.  19,  20.  ""  Ibid.  ii.  10,  11. 

"  i  Pet.  ii.  24.  '  Heb.  ix.  24. 


48  ON  THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 

stream,  "  though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall 
be  as  white  as  snow ;  though  they  be  red  like  crim- 
son, they  shall  be  as  wool  ^."  A  persecuting  Paul, 
and  an  inconstant  Peter,  a  sinful  Magdalen,  and  a 
crucified  thief,  have  found  it  sufficient  to  take  away 
the  stains  of  their  guilt :  and  whenever  it  is  resorted 
to  with  penitence  and  faith,  the  Everlasting  Father 
hath  declared  that  it  shall  "  cleanse  from  all  sin  V 
Faithful  members  of  the  Church,  who  with  all  your 
faith  and  perseverance  are  conscious  of  the  smallness 
of  your  attainments  ;  and  when  ye  contemplate  the 
joys,  and  honours,  and  riches  of  heaven,  are  ready 
to  ask  with  exceeding  meekness,  shall  all  this  glory 
be  given  unto  us  ?  Look  at  your  Redeemer  ;  "  Ye 
are  complete  in  Him,  which  is  the  head."  As  mem- 
bers of  His  body,  ye  not  only  have  fellowship  in  His 
sufferings,  but  also  participation  in  His  resurrection. 
He  is  your  life.  And  for  His  sake,  ye  are  dear  unto 
the  Father.  "  When  He,  who  is  your  life,  shall  ap- 
pear **,"  of  that  glory,  with  which  the  head  is  encom- 
passed, shall  all  the  members  of  the  body  share.  Be 
not  dismayed  then  :  '*  ye  are  complete  in  Him." 

This  brings  us  to  contemplate  our  completeness  in 
Christ,  as  our  Head  and  King.  We  have  very  great 
need  of  grace  from  on  high  to  establish  our  faith, 
comfort  our  hearts,  and  protect  and  advance  us  in 
the  ways  of  holiness ;  for  of  ourselves  we  are  feeble, 
and  prone  to  evil,  and  beset  with  innumerable  diffi- 
culties and  dangers.  Our  adorable  Redeemer  hath 
received  of  the  Father  the  promise  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  In  His  state  of  exaltation.  He  hath  received 
all  necessary  and  excellent  "  gifts  for  men''."  He 
seeth  our  necessities  ;  and  the  grace  which  is  neces- 
sary, shall  not,  we  are  assured,  be  wanting  to  those,. 

a  Isa.  i.  18.  »»  1  John  i.  7. 

c  Col.  iii.  4.  ^  Ps.  Ixviii.  18. 


ON  THE   SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER.  49 

who  are  united  with  Him  as  their  Head.  For,  '*  from 
the  Head,  all  the  body  by  joints  and  bands  hath 
nourishment  ministered,  and  knit  together  increaseth 
with  the  increase  of  God  ^"     There  are  adversaries, 
too,  in  sin   and   Satan,   with  whom  the  good  man 
must  have  many  bitter  conflicts ;  and  a  terrible  enemy 
in  death  before  whom  the  heart  is  apt  to  be  dis- 
mayed.     It  is  the  Christian's  happiness  to  know, 
that   over   all   these   adversaries    "  his    Lord   hath 
triumphed  gloriously  ^"     What  trophies  are  these, 
which  we  behold   of  His  victory  ?     Approach  His 
cross.     Behold  ;    having   spoiled  principalities  and 
powers.  He  here  triumpheth  over   them  ;    and  the 
hand-writing  that  was  against  us.  He  hath  nailed  it 
to  the  tree  s.  Hasten  from  the  cross  to  the  sepulchre. 
See  the  bars  of  the  tomb  severed,  and  the  sceptre 
of  its  awful  monarch,  lying  broken  at  its  mouth.  Go 
forward  a  few  weeks,  and  lo !    tongues,  as  of  fire, 
resting  upon  the  heads  of  His  disciples,  sent  down 
to  qualify  them  for  overcoming  every  foe.     Light  up 
the  eyes  of  your  faith,  and  see  the  gates  of  heaven 
opened  by  Him,  and  Jesus  Himself  "  sitting  on  the 
right  hand  of  God  •'."     What  can  be  wanting  to  the 
safety  and  victory  of  those,  who  are  united  unto  the 
Being,    whom   the    Father  hath  in   so  many  ways 
acknowledged,  and  commended  unto  mankind,  as 
His  Son  their  Redeemer?  His  "throne  is  established" 
for  ever".     "  All  power  is  given  unto  Him  in  heaven 
and  in  earth  \"     The  elements  of  nature,  the  invisi- 
ble  **  power  of  the  air',''  the  hearts  and  properties 
of  the  dwellers  upon  earth,  the  events  of  time,  an- 
gels and  devils,  the  keys  of  life,  and  the  gates  of 
hell;  are  all  under  His  control.     They  shall  all  be 

•  Col.  ii.  19.         ^  Exod.  xv.  1.        «  Col.  ii.  14,  15,       ••  Ibid.  Hi.  1. 
'  Ps.  xciii.  S,  k  Matt,  xxviii.  18.  '  Eph.  ii.  2, 

VOL.  II.  E 


50  ON  THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 

bent  by  His  mighty  power,  to  the  eventual  promo- 
tion of  the  deliverance  and  glorification  of  His  body, 
the  Church.  This  is  the  end  of  His  administration ; 
the  subjection  of  His  enemies,  and  the  crowning  of 
the  faithful.  Whatever  troubles  may  overtake  the 
believer;  whatever  mysteries  may  envelope  the  ways 
of  Heaven ;  whatever  clouds  and  tempests  may  be 
let  loose  upon  the  world,  from  amidst  the  seeming 
confusion  and  darkness,  he  may  hear  the  voice  of  his 
King,  '*  It  is  I;  be  not  afraid "*."  And  in  the  awful 
hour  of  the  final  consummation,  when  God  shall 
wind  up  this  present  course  of  things,  and  the  Head 
and  King  of  the  Church  shall  come  forth  in  His 
•glory,  as  Judge  of  the  world,  then,  faithful  disciples 
of  the  Redeemer,  shall  it  be  fully  demonstrated  of 
you,  that  "  ye  are  complete  in  Him." 

What  now  remains,  my  Christian  friends,  but  that 
we  turn  our  attention  to  the  great  obvious  inference 
from  what  has  been  said,  the  importance  and  happi- 
ness of  being  one  with  Christ  ?  Surely  the  know- 
ledge, the  pardon,  the  safety,  the  immortality,  which 
result  from  this  union,  are  such  blessings,  as  no  man, 
to  whom  they  are  proposed,  can  wisely,  can  inno- 
cently forego.  Do  you  ask,  how  you  may  secure 
them  unto  yourselves  ?  Christ  is  **  the  vine,  ye  are 
the  branches"."  As  the  branch  cannot  partake  of 
the  strength  and  fatness  of  the  root,  except  it  abide 
in  the  vine,  so  neither  can  ye  of  this  completeness, 
*'  except  ye  abide  in  Him°."  Do  you  ask  how  you 
are  to  abide  in  Him?  *' The  Church  is  His  body, 
the  fulness  of  Him  that  filleth  all  in  all  p."  Repent, 
and  be  ye  by  baptism  ingrafted  into  it.  Dwell  con- 
stantly with  it.     Avail  yourselves  of  the  ordinances 

■"  Matt.  xiv.  27.  "  John  xv.  5. 

"  John  XV.  4.  P  Eph.  i.  %S. 


ON  THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER.  51 

and  means,  which  He  hath  provided  for  its  instruc- 
tion and  nourishment.  Endeavour  to  adorn  it  w^ith 
every  good  word  and  work,  holding  the  true  '  faith, 
in  unity  of  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace,  and  in  righ- 
teousness of  life.'  Then  shall  ye  be  found  in  Him. 
Of  His  fulness  shall  ye  all  receive.  And  "  ali  things, 
whether  Paul,  or  Apollos,  or  Cephas,  or  the  world, 
or  life,  or  death,  or  things  present,  or  things  to  come; 
all  shall  be  yours ''." 

1  1  Cor.  iii.  21,22. 


e2 


SERMON   XLIX. 


ON   THE   ASCENSION. 


Hebrews  ix.  24. 

For  Christ  is  not  entered  into  the  holy  places  made  with  hands, 
which  are  the  figures  of  the  true ;  hut  into  heaven  itself,  now 
to  appear  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us. 

At  this  season  of  the  year,  we  are  carried  back 
to  the  period,  when  our  blessed  Lord,  having  ac- 
complished all  things  for  which  He  came  to  our 
earth,  blessed  His  infant  Church,  and  departed  from 
them  into  heaven.  It  was  a  period  of  joy  to  the  an- 
gelic hosts,  which  met  Him  on  His  way,  and  wel- 
comed His  victorious  return  to  the  regions  of  bliss. 
It  was  the  jubilee  of  human  nature,  which  then  was 
freed  from  the  shackles  which  confine  it  to  earth, 
and  passing  the  portals  of  the  skies,  was  invested 
with  an  eternal  residence  in  the  celestial  world. 
There,  as  our  forerunner,  and  the  "  Captain  of  our 
salvation %"  Jesus  is  seated;  clothed  with  the  highest 
Priestly  and  Princely  dignity  by  the  Father;  making 
unceasingly  intercession  for  us ;  guiding  the  events 
of  time  by  the  counsels  of  the  Godhead,  to  the  final 
and  glorious  consummation  of  all  things. 

That  you  may  have  a  scriptural  knowledge  of  this 
mystery  of  our  faith,  I  have  chosen  for  a  guide  to 

"  Heb.  ii.  10. 


ON  THE  ASCENSION.  53 

our  present  meditations  these  words  of  the  author  of 
the  epistle  to  the  Hebrews  :  *'  For  Christ  is  not  en- 
tered into  the  holy  places  made  with  hands,  which 
are  the  figures  of  the  true  :  but  into  heaven  itself, 
now  to  appear  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us." 

This  passage,  and  most  of  the  texts  of  Scripture 
which  allude  to  the  ascension  of  our  Lord,  lead  us 
for  an  explication  of  it,  to  the  economy  of  the  ta- 
bernacle and  temple  of  the  Jewish  Church.     You 
will  remember  that  in  these,  according  to  the  direc- 
tions of  God,  there  was,  besides  the  vestibule  and 
outer  court,  an  interior  place,  separated  by  a  vail, 
and  called  *'the  most  holy  place''."     Here  was  the 
mercy-seat  of  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  between  the 
cherubim,  over  which  the  Shechinah,  or  manifes- 
tation of  the   Divine  presence,  usually  appeared. 
Into  this  sacred  recess,  none  was  permitted  to  enter, 
but  the  high  priest.     Once  only  in  the  year,  on  the 
great  day  of  expiation,  when  atonement  was  made 
for  the  sins  of  the  whole  people,  he  passed  through 
the  vail  into  the  presence  chamber  of  the  Deity,  to 
present  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice  before  the  mercy- 
seat.     The  ceremony  was  this.     Having  first  puri- 
fied himself  with  water  and  blood,  the  animal  which 
the  Most  High  had  chosen  to  be  the  expiatory  and 
propitiatory  sacrifice,  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  na- 
tion, was  offered  by  him  in  the  outer  court,  upon 
the  altar  of  burnt-offerings.     He  then  took  of  the 
blood  of  the  goat,  and  entered  with  it  into  the  holy 
of  holies,  where,  after  offering  incense,  as  a  token 
of  homage,  he  sprinkled  the  blood  seven  times  before 
the  mercy-seat,  and  made  intercession  for  the  peo- 
ple.    What  now  did  this  ceremony  signify,  which 
was  instituted  by  God,  and  the  observance  of  which 
was  made  a  condition  of  their  being  brought  into 

^  Exod.  xxvi.  33,  34. 


o4  ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

the  promised  land  ?  It  was  **  a  shadow  of  good 
thmgs  to  come'';"  whose  substance,  whose  reality- 
was  Christ. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  Jews,  as  we  learn  from 
Josephus,  and  the  writings  of  the  Hebrew  Doctors, 
considered  the  outer  courts  of  the  tabernacle,  as 
symbolical  of  the  earth,  and  the  holy  of  holies,  as 
an  emblem  of  heaven.  When,  therefore,  our  blessed 
Lord,  at  the  time  appointed  by  the  Father,  had  by 
the  sacrifice  of  Himself  upon  the  cross  made  a  full 
and  acceptable  expiation  *'  for  the  sins  of  the  whole 
World  '^,"  it  became  Him,  as  the  great  High  Priest 
of  mankind  ordained  by  God,  and  made  "perfect 
through  sufferings  %"  to  enter  into  the  holy  of  holies, 
not  made  with  hands,  even  "  into  heaven  itself,  now 
to  appear  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us."  Into  the 
purest  and  most  holy  place  in  the  universe,  *'  the 
heaven  of  heavens  V'  where  the  hosts  of  God  have 
their  abode,  and  the  Divine  Majesty  is  most  specially- 
present,  Christ  hath  ascended  in  our  nature  and 
behalf.  There  He  pleads  before  the  throne  of  the 
Almighty  the  merits  of  the  atonement  He  has  made 
for  our  race,  offering  the  incense  of  His  perfect  obe- 
dience to  conciliate  for  us  the  Divine  favour,  and 
interceding  powerfully  with  His  own  blood  for  all 
those  who,  *  with  hearty  repentance  and  true  faith,' 
fiee  for  salvation  to  the  foot  of  His  cross.  "  Christ," 
says  the  Apostle,  "  being  come  an  High  Priest  of 
good  things  to  come,  by  a  greater  and  more  perfect 
tabernacle,  not  made  with  hands,  that  is  to  say,  not 
of  this  building ;  neither  by  the  blood  of  goats  and 
calves,  but  by  his  own  blood  He  entered  in  once 
itito  the  holy  place,  having  obtained  eternal  redemp- 
tion for  us  =."  And  "  He  is  able  to  save  them  to  the 
oini  iii 

"  Heb.  X.  1.  M  John  ii.  2.  "  Heb.  ii.  10. 

f  1  Kkigs  viii.  27.  .,.^,,  ^  Heb.  ix.  11,  12. 

9 


ON  THE  ASCENSION.  55 

uttermost  that  come  unto  God  by  Him,  seeing  He 
ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them  ^" 

It  appears  from  many  accounts,  that  while  the  high 
priest  was  making  intercession  in  the  most  holy 
place,  the  people  were  without,  confessing  their  sins, 
and  professing  their  allegiance  to  the  Almighty. 
Among  the  uses  which  have  been  assigned  to  the 
golden  bells,  which  were  ordered  to  be  suspended 
around  the  bottom  of  the  pontifical  robe,  it  has  been 
supposed,  with  much  probability,  that  they  w^ere  to 
give  notice  when  the  high  priest  entered  within  the 
vail  OH  this  solemn  business,  that  the  people  might 
behave  with  correspondent  sobriety.  Be  this  as  it 
may,  it  is  certain  that  the  Jews  refrained  at  this  sea- 
son, from  every  thing  which  was  incongruous  with 
the  service  performing  for  them,  and  engaged  chiefly 
in  acts  of  devotion  and  mercy.  In  like  manner, 
while  our  master  is  in  heaven,  we  in  this  earth,  this 
outer  court  of  God's  universal  tabernacle,  have  our 
work  to  do.  There  are  conditions  of  the  covenant 
on  our  part  to  be  fulfilled-  Christ  hath  instructed 
His  Church  to  live  here,  in  the  exercise  of  faith  and 
repentance,  of  patience,  deyotion,  and  charity,  while 
He  is  interceding  for  them  with  the  Everlasting- 
Father.  And,  methinks,  there  is  a  propriety  in  this, 
of  which  no  considerate  mind  can  be  insensible.  For 
what  can  be  more  incongruous,  while  our  Head  is 
pleading  with  the  Almighty  the  merits  of  His  suf- 
ferings in  our  behalf,  and  supplicating  for  our  growth 
in  virtue,  and  reception  to  glory,  than  for  us  to  be 
immersed  in  the  pomps  and  vanities,  the  passions 
and  vices  of  this  transitory  state  ;  forgetful  of  our 
Intercessor,  and  of  the  glorious  inheritance  to  which 
He  would  exalt  us  ?  It  is  a  solecism,  which  the  an- 
gels, if  they  are  permitted  to  be  witnesses  of  our 
behaviour,  must  behold  with  amazement.     Surely, 

^  Heb.  vii.  25. 


5G  ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

there  should  be  something  of  harmony  between  our 
lives,  and  the  services  which  are  performing  for  us 
in  the  courts  of  heaven.  It  is  meet  and  right  that 
our  prayers  should  be  united  with  the  intercessions 
of  our  Lord,  and  our  souls  and  bodies  preserved 
pure  for  the  reception  of  that  Spirit,  which  His  pre- 
vailing offices  obtain.  *'  Having,"  therefore,  says  St. 
Paul,  **  an  High  Priest  over  the  house  of  God,  let  us 
draw  near  with  a  true  heart  in  full  assurance  of  faith, 
having  our  hearts  sprinkled  from  an  evil  conscience, 
and  our  bodies  washed  with  pure  water'." 

In  this  reign  of  frailty  and  temptation,  we  have 
need  of  much  forbearance  and  compassion,  on  the 
part  of  God.  Our  infirmities  are  great.  The  shades 
of  our  wants  and  dangers  ar^  too  varied  for  the  finest 
pencil  to  represent  them.  To  be  suited  to  our  nature, 
and  inspire  us  with  the  fulness  of  hope,  our  Advocate 
must  be  one,  who  can  enter  into  our  feelings,  and 
know  our  distresses  ;  who  can  plead  every  thing  in 
mitigation  of  our  sins,  which  the  frailty  of  our  con- 
dition can  furnish,  and  supplicate  every  thing  for 
the  promotion  of  our  peace,  which  the  difficulties  of 
our  situation  can  require.  Now  such  a  Mediator  is 
Jesus  Christ.  Though  He  is  in  heaven.  He  has  dwelt 
on  earth  in  our  nature,  and  has  all  that  sympathetic 
interest  in  our  cares,  which  the  most  perfectly  com- 
passionate disposition,  and  the  fullest  experience  of 
our  griefs,  can  unitedly  excite.  "  We  have  not  an 
High  Priest,"  say  the  oracles  of  truth,  "  we  have  not 
an  High  Priest  which  cannot  be  touched  with  the 
feeling  of  our  infirmities ;  but  was  in  all  points  tempted 
like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin  \" 

It  belonged  exclusively  to  the  priests,  under  the 
Mosaic  dispensation,  to  bless  the  people  in  behalf 
of  God.     And,  doubtless,  on  the  great  day  of  atone- 

'  Heb.  X.  21,  23.  "^  Heb.  iv.  15. 


ON  THE  ASCENSION.  57 

merit,  they  received  joyfully  that  blessing,  which, 
we  may  reasonably  suppose,  the  high  priest  brought 
from  the  holy  of  holies,  after  he  had  made  expiation 
for  their  transgressions.  In  like  manner,  our  High 
Priest  hath  received  of  the  Father  all  gifts  and 
blessings  for  His  Church.  With  the  voice  of  His 
ministers,  He  dispenses  to  the  penitent  assurances 
of  the  pardon  of  their  sins.  Visibly,  with  a  rushing 
mighty  sound  at  first;  and  in  a  still  small  voice  in 
the  bosom  since,  the  Comforter,  His  most  precious 
gift,  comes  down  ;  to  send  whom  '*  it  was  expedient 
that  He  should  go  away '."  Mansions  in  the  Father's 
house  are  given  Him,  which  He  is  preparing  for  the 
eternal  accommodation  of  His  friends.  And  the 
blessings  which  this  adorable  Priest  and  King  of  the 
redeemed  shall  bring  for  them,  when  He  "  shall 
come  in  like  manner  as  He  went  into  heaven*,"  are 
represented  to  our  minds  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  by 
crowns  of  glory,  palms  of  victory,  and  white  robes 
of  purity  and  peace. 

It  is  impossible  for  us,  in  this  confined  state,  to 
form  any  adequate  conception  of  the  blessings,  which 
are  in  reserve  for  the  faithful.  But  it  was  as  our 
representative,  that  Christ  ascended  into  heaven  in 
our  nature,  and  our  eternal  life  is  there  secured  with 
Him,  claimed  by  Him,  as  the  fruit  of  His  sufferings, 
at  the  throne  of  God.  When  the  daily  sacrifice  and 
oblation  was  to  cease,  in  consequence  of  the  offering 
of  Christ  once  for  all,  the  vail  of  the  temple,  which 
separated  the  holy  of  holies  from  the  outer  courts, 
"  was  rent  in  twain  from  the  top  to  the  bottom";" 
signifying,  that  there  should  be  no  more  occasion 
for  an  earthly  high  priest,  but  that  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  was  opened  to  all  believers,  through  the  great 
Intercessor.     And  when  our  Lord  shall  have  accom- 

'  John  xvi.  7.  •  Acts  i.  11.  "  Matt,  xxvii.  SL 


58  ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

plished  His  mediatorial  office,  the  type  shall  receive 
its  complete  fulfilment.  The  vail  which  now  sepa- 
rates heaven,  the  holy  place  of  the  Most  High,  from 
this  outer  court,  our  earthly  abode,  shall  at  the  grand 
consummation  suddenly  pass  away.  The  ransomed 
of  the  Lord  shall  ascend  with  Him,  into  the  dwelling 
place  of  the  Almighty ;  their  pardon  shall  be  pro- 
claimed, and  their  immortality  confirmed  :  and  Jesus 
Himself,  having  finished  His  office,  shall  become  sub- 
ject to  the  Father,  "  that  God  may  be  all  in  all  °." 

Thus,  I  have  imperfectly  illustrated  this  important 
mystery  of  our  holy  religion,  the  ascension  of  our 
blessed  Lord :  a  mystery,  resting  upon  the  strong 
and  stupendous  pillars  of  prophecy  and  type  ;  esta- 
blished by  the  testimony  of  those,  who  were  eye 
witnesses  and  martyrs  to  the  reality  of  the  fact ;  and 
placed  beyond  the  reach  of  reasonable  doubt,  by 
His  bestowing  those  supernatural  gifts,  which  He 
had  promised  to  His  Apostles,  as  evidences  and  fruits 
of  His  glorification.  But  why  do  I  speak  of  the 
evidences  of  this  part  of  revelation  ?  You  are  already 
persuaded  of  its  truth.  Your  belief  in  it  you  do 
every  Sabbath  declare,  before  the  presence  of  God, 
in  the  solemn  repetition  of  the  articles  of  your  faith. 
Let  me  rather  entreat  you.  Christians,  this  day,  to 
make  a  solemn  pause ;  and  implant  in  your  hearts  a 
just  consideration  of  the  ascension  of  Christ,  and  of 
its  important  consequences.  Is  it,  indeed,  true,  that 
having  cancelled  our  sins  upon  the  cross,  and  broken 
for  us  the  massy  sceptre  of  death.  He  hath  thrown 
open  the  gates  of  heaven,  and  entered  as  our  har- 
binger ?  Who,  among  the  heathen,  hath  named  such 
a  thing  2  Where,  in  the  gloomy  region  of  scepticism, 
shall  we  find  such  joyous  prospects?  Let  us,  then, 
hold  fast  the  profession  of  our  faith  ;  and  love  and 

"1  .Cor.  XV.  38. 


ON  THE  ASCENSION.  59 

adore  its  Author.  Is  it,  indeed,  true,  that  the  Son 
of  God  is  our  *'  advocate  with  the  Father,  and  the 
propitiation  for  our  sins  p  ?"  How  ravishing  the  re- 
flection !  What  holy  confidence  should  it  give  us, 
when  we  make  our  prayers!  What  zeal,  and  faith, 
and  delight,  when  we  offer  unto  God  the  memorial 
of  His  death,  in  the  eucharist !  What  comfort  in- 
effable, when  our  souls  are  cast  down  under  a  sense 
of  our  infirmities,  and  our  spirits  are  disquieted  with- 
in us  !  Is  it,  indeed,  true,  that  man,  "  made  lower 
than  the  angels,"  is  in  the  person  of  Immanuel  ad- 
vanced to  the  right  hand  of  God,  and  "  crowned  with 
glory  and  honour  "•  ?"  With  what  self-respect  should 
the  thought  inspire  us  !  Shall  habits  of  vice  debase  ; 
shall  carnal  affections  dishonour ;  shall  even  an  im- 
pure thought  defile,  a  nature  which  has  place  in  the 
courts  of  the  Most  High,  and  is  so  nearly  related  to 
the  Father,  and  to  His  Son  Jesus  Christ  ?  Is  it, 
indeed,  true,  that  a  time  is  approaching,  when  in 
the  dread  majesty  of  Justice  the  ascended  Lord  shall 
return,  summon  from  their  graves  the  slumbering 
dead  of  every  place  and  generation ;  and,  while  He 
takes  the  righteous  to  Himself  and  to  all  the  bliss 
of  the  Father's  house,  will  leave  the  ungodly  to 
themselves  and  to  all  the  miseries  of  condemnation? 
What  heart  can  lie  still  at  the  thought  ?  What  mind 
is  not  made  sober,  by  the  reflection  ?  Who  sees  not, 
that  it  is  his  interest,  as  well  as  duty,  to  conform 
his  life  to  the  lovely  example  of  his  Saviour,  and  to 
set  his  "  affections  on  things  above  "^  ?" 

My  brethren,  these  are  views  of  the  ascension  of 
our  Lord,  which  you  must  admit  as  just  and  rea- 
sonable, unless  you  abandon  your  faith.  Strange, 
that  they  have  not  a  more  powerful  influence  on  our 
lives!     It  is  true,  when  *'the  spirit  is  willing,  the 

P  1  John  ii.  1,2.  i  Heb.  ii.  9.  "■  Col.  iii.  2. 


60  ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

flesh  is"  often  "  weak  *."  Frailty  is  our  inheritance, 
and  our  life  is  beset  with  temptations  and  sorrows. 
But  for  our  encouragement  let  us  remember,  that  the 
Almighty  Father  is  compassionate  and  good.  Let 
our  sense  of  His  goodness  move  our  ingenuousness, 
and  rouse  us  to  circumspection.  **  Laying  aside 
every  weight,  and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset 
us,  let  us  run  with  patience  the  race  that  is  set  be- 
fore us,  looking  unto  Jesus  the  author  and  finisher 
of  our  faith  ;  who  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before  Him 
endured  the  cross,  despising  the  shame,  and  is  set 
down  at  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God '." 

»  Matt.  xxvi.  41.  '  Heb.  xii.  1,  2. 


SERMON  L. 


ON   THE    ASCENSION. 


"T*  Hebrews  ii.  9. 

We  see  Jesus,  who  was  made  a  little  lower  than  the  angels  for 
the  suffering  of  death,  crowned  with  glory  and  honour. 

The  last  grand  display  of  our  Saviour's  life,  and 
the  illustrious  consummation  of  His  ministry,  was 
His  ascension  into  heaven.  This  mighty  event,  we 
have  in  the  week  past  been  joyfully  commemorating, 
and  the  Church  yet  follows  with  the  eye  of  faith  her 
ascending  Lord,  wrapt  in  admiration,  and  exclaim- 
ing, "  My  Father,  my  Father,  the  chariot  of  Israel, 
and  the  horsemen  thereof  %" 

It  is  to  this  great  event,  as  the  fruit  of  our  Saviour's 
incarnation  and  crucifixion,  that  the  Apostle  alludes 
in  the  text.  The  words  are  peculiarly  proper  for  our 
present  contemplation,  as  they  will  naturally  lead  us 
to  consider,  the  great  honour  and  advancement  of 
our  nature  in  the  glorification  of  Christ,  and  the  con- 
sequences and  obligations,  which  we  should  infer 
from  this  important  doctrine  of  the  Gospel.  Yes, 
my  friends ;  in  the  glorification  of  your  Redeemer, 
men  was  exalted  to  the  highest  abode  of  glory  and 
felicity.     In  the  ascent  from  the  greatly  favoured 

*  2  Kings  ii.  \Z. 


62  ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

Olivet,  there  went  One,  who  wore  our  nature,  and, 
sin  excepted,  had  led  our  life.  This  His  disciples 
must  have  apprehended  of  the  Person,  of  whose 
ascension  they  were  taken  to  be  witnesses.  It  was 
their  well  known  Master,  whom  they  not  long  before 
had  seen  and  handled,  and  who  was  talking  with 
them  as  a  man,  when  He  was  parted  from  them. 

That  Jesus  Christ,  after  having  expired  for  our  sins 
upon  the  cross,  and  been  raised  from  the  dead,  did 
after  passing  forty  days  on  earth  in  arranging  the 
economy  of  His  Church,  ascend  into  heaven,  all 
Christians  believe.  But  when  we  give  our  Amen  to 
this  article  of  our  faith,  have  we  definite  ideas  of  the 
truth,  to  which  we  assent?  Who  is  it  that,  "  for  the 
suffering  of  death,  is  crowned  with  glory  and  ho- 
nour''?" When  He  says  to  His  disciples  before  his 
departure,  *'  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you%"  who 
is  it  that  goes  ?  Undoubtedly,  the  Being  in  whom 
existed  the  wonderful  union  of  the  human,  and  the 
Divine  natures.  It  was  not  solely  the  Divinity  of  the 
Son  returning  to  its  pristine  abode.  That  was  never 
*'  made  lower  than  the  angels."  That  being  in- 
capable of  passion,  never  tasted  "  the  suffering  of 
death '^."  That  was  not  limited  by  His  visible  pre- 
sence, but  while  it  dwelt  in  Him  upon  earth,  was  at 
the  same  time,  "  above  all,  and  through  all,  and  in 
all%" 

Of  the  place  and  state,  to  which  our  Redeemer  is 
exalted,  we  can  form  no  adequate  conceptions.  The 
Divine  Spirit  has  used  such  figures  and  descriptions, 
in  the  record  of  the  event,  as  give  the  loftiest  ideas 
of  glory,  bliss,  and  power,  which  our  minds  can 
embrace.  To  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God, 
the  place  of  highest  distinction  and  most  honourable 

•"  Heb.  ii.  9.  .  "  John  xiv.  2. 

■^  Ibid.  '  Eph.  iv.  6. 


ON  THE  ASCENSION.  ^^ 

pre-eminence ;  into  heaven,  the  peculiar  abode  of  the 
Divine  presence,  and  seat  of  purest  and  immortal 
joys;  to  the  Father's  house,  all  whose  inhabitants 
have  the  Father's  appropriate  affection,  and  in  which 
are  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  happiness,  open  and 
enjoyed  for  evermore: — is  Immanuel  gone.  But  to 
follow  Him,  and  fully  estimate  His  glorification,  we 
are  unable.  Our  mortal  faculties  could  not  sustain 
its  splendour.  A  cloud  receives  Him  out  of  our  sight. 
Of  this,  however,  we  are  assured,  and  it  is  the  utmost 
outline  of  exaltation  which  we  can  conceive,  that  our 
nature  has  been  taken  by  Him,  who  graciously  es- 
poused it  in  the  day  of  its  poverty  and  distress,  to 
all  ''  the  glory"  which  the  best  beloved  of  the  Father 
had  with  Him,  "  before  the  world  was^" 

Here  let  us  pause,  and  reflect ;  what  glory  to  the 
fallen  nature  of  man,  that  the  Eternal  Son  should 
assume  it,  even  to  dwell  in  it  on  earth,  and  say  of  its 
humble  offspring,  "  My  brethren  are  these  ^!"  How 
immeasurably  great,  then,  its  honour  and  advance- 
ment, when  He  is  exalted  in  it  to  the  right  hand  of 
the  Father ;  *'  angels  and  authorities  and  powers 
being  made  subject  unto  Him'M"  Where  are  now, 
the  pitiful  objections  to  the  humiliation  of  the  manger, 
and  severity  of  the  cross  ?  Where  is  now  the  des- 
pised Nazarene,  the  scorned  teacher  of  strange  doc- 
trines, the  unresisting  victim  of  malice  and  death  ? 
The  ascension  of  Christ  vindicates,  perfects,  crowns 
the  Christian  scheme;  it  is  the  top  stone  which  gives 
firmness  and  grandeur  to  the  fabric,  and  displays  the 
proportionate  beauty  of  all  its  parts.  The  railings 
at  the  incarnation,  and  objections  to  the  crucifixion, 
vanish ;  all  is  consistent,  grand,  and  worthy  of  the 
author.  God  is  just,  and  humanity  made  happy, 
while  we  see  Jesus,  "  who  was  made  a  little  lower 

'  John  xvii.  5.  »  j^ukg  yiii.  31.  ''1  Pet.  iii.  22. 


G4  ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

than  the  angels,  for  the  suffering  of  death,  crowned 
with  glory  and  honour." 

While  we  perceive,  that  it  was  in  our  nature  our 
Saviour  passed  into  His  glory,  our  advancement 
hereby  will  be  more  impressive,  if  we  consider  that, 
in  entering  upon  His  joy.  He  *  opened  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  to  all  believers.'  As  the  Intercessor  of 
man,  to  whom  the  Father  hath  refused  nothing.  He 
went  to  plead  for  the  justification  of  His  followers  to 
eternal  life,  that  they  may  be  with  Him,  and  partake 
of  His  glory.  As  the  *'  Captain  of  our  salvation'," 
He  in  His  person  took  possession  of  the  country 
which  His  triumphant  victories  had  secured,  enter- 
ing, as  our  forerunner,  upon  the  realms  of  light.  As 
the  head  of  His  Church,  it  was  meet  that  He  should 
be  first  exalted  to  the  kingdom,  prepared  for  the 
children  of  the  Father  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world,  and  of  necessity,  as  the  head  and  body  are 
one,  so  the  life  of  all  His  members  is  hid  with  Him  in 
God.  "  In  My  Father's  house,"  says  He,  "  are  many 
mansions. —  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you,  and  if  I 
go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you,  I  will  come  again, 
and  receive  you  unto  Myself;  that  where  I  am,  there 
ye  may  be  also''."  What  surer  pledge  of  our  inhe- 
ritance in  heaven  can  we  have,  than  the  exaltation  of 
Him,  in  our  nature,  to  the  possession  of  *'  all  power 
in  heaven,  and  in  earth',"  who  hath  sought  our  hap- 
piness by  the  sacrifice  of  Himself,  and  declared  it  to 
be  His  will,  **  that  they  whom  the  Father  hath  given 
Him,  should  be  with  Him  where  He  is""?" 

But  of  this  interesting  and  stupendous  event  of  the 
Ascension,  where  are  the  evidences  ?  How  shall  we 
believe,  that  this  great  thing  hath  been  done  for  us ; 
this  thing  so  wonderful  and  of  such  amazing  conse- 

'  Heb.  ii.  10.  "  John  xiv.  2,  3. 

'  Matt,  xxviii.  18.  "'  John  xvii.  24. 


ON  THE  ASCENSION.  G5 

quences?  Behold,  1  bring  to  you  the  types,  which, 
*'  at  sundry  times,  and  in  divers  manners","  God 
vouchsafed  to  give  of  what  He  would  accomplish,  in 
the  great  Redeemer.  See  Enoch  translated  to  heaven 
under  the  patriarchal  dispensation,  and  Elijah  under 
the  Mosaic ;  that  men  might  be  assured  of  another 
sphere  of  existence,  to  which  the  faithful  would  be 
taken  by  the  great  Deliverer.     See  the  leaders  of 
Israel,  after  the  sojourning  of  the  people  in  the  wil- 
derness, conducting  them  through  the  flood  of  Jordan 
to  the  Canaan  of  rest  and  felicity.  See  the  high  priest 
passing  through  the  vail  into  the  holy  of  holies,  after 
having  made  the  great  expiation,   with  the  blood  of 
the  sacrifice,  there  to  appear  in  the  presence  of  God, 
in  behalf  of  the  people.     Look  at  these  types,  and 
others  which  attend  them.     They  are  ancient,   they 
are  consistent.     Ponder,  attentively,  the  testimony 
they  give.     You  shall  find  that  they  owe  their  ex- 
istence,  their  significance,   their  holiness,    to  that 
scheme  of  grace  of  which  the  ascension  of  the  Messiah 
was  an  essential  part.   You  shall  discover,  that  they 
were  oracles  set  in  the  darker  periods  of  the  world, 
to  testify  to  the  sincere  inquirer  the  truth  of  this 
mystery,   and  establish  his  faith  in  its  interesting 
consequences.      Yes.     These  holy  types   are   wit- 
nesses of  the  ascension  ;  witnesses,  celebrating  it  in 
all  ages  of  the  world ;  with  a  testimony  the  more 
impressive,  because  evidently  inspired. 

Again.  I  bring  to  you  that  venerable  evidence, 
which  the  Almighty  hath  so  often  employed  in  the 
service  of  truth.  Prophecy.  Her  He  admitted  to  a 
vision  of  all  things  concerning  His  Christ :  and  of  the 
ascension  she  has  testified,  with  unequivocal  fulness, 
and  irresistible  force.  Hear  her,  in  the  memorable 
testimony,  given  in  Babylon  :   "  I  saw  in  the  night 

•  Heb.  i.  1. 
VOL.  II.  r 


66  ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

visions,  and,  behold,  one  like  the  Son  of  man  came 
with  the  clouds  of  heaven,  and  came  to  the  Ancient 
of  days,  and  they  brought  Him  near  before  Him. 
And  there  was  given  Him  dominion,  and  glory,  and 
a  kingdom,  that  all  people,  nations,  and  languages, 
should  serve  Him :  His  dominion  is  an  everlasting 
dominion,  which  shall  not  pass  away,  and  His  king- 
dom that  which  shall  not  be  destroyed"."     How  ex- 
plicit, how  powerful  is  this  testimony!    The  Person 
appearing,  "  one  like  the  Son  of  man;"  the  situation 
in  which  He  was  seen,   in  "  the  clouds  of  heaven ;" 
the  character  of  Him  to  whom  He  came,  "■  the  Ancient 
of  days ;"  and  the  consequence  of  His  going  to  "  the 
Ancient  of  days,"  the  reception  of  glory,  and  domi- 
nion, and  a  kingdom ;   this  full  and  particular  testi- 
mony by  such  a  witness  as  Prophecy,  when  it  is  ap- 
plied, carries  with  it  a  force  solemn  and  irresistible. 
It  is  not  her  only  declaration.     She  often  has  pro- 
claimed the  same  thing.     Go  back  to  a  more  distant 
time.     Hear  her,  in  the  prospect  of  Messiah's  ap- 
proach to  His  high  abode,   calling,  in  sublime  apos- 
trophe :  "  Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates ;  and  be 
ye  lift  up,  ye  everlasting  doors ;  and  the  King   of 
glory  shall  come  in^!"     Hear  her,  in  contemplation 
of  Him,  as  entered  into  heaven,  offering  her  fervent 
adoration  :  "  Thou  hast  ascended  on  high.  Thou  hast 
led  captivity  captive :  Thou  hast  received  gifts  for 
men**."     What  is  this,  but  Prophecy  on  one  side  of 
the  event,  as  History  on  the  other ;  giving  evidence 
to  times  past,  present,  and  future,  of  the  ascension 
of  men's  Saviour  into  heaven  ? 

This  brings  me  to  observe,  that  we  have  the  his- 
torical evidence  of  those,  who  were  eye  witnesses  of 
the  fact.  We  have,  in  several  books,  written  by 
different  persons  not  long  after  the  event,  the  testi- 

•  Dan.  vit.  13, 14.         ^  Psalm  xxiv.  7.         '^  Psalm  Ixviii.  18. 


ON  THE  ASCENSION. 


67 


monies  of  tliose,  who  had  the  peculiar  felicity  of  be- 
holding the  Lord,  when  he  departed  from  the  world 
to  his°Father.  These  were  not  a  few  men;  they 
were  the  whole  company  of  the  Apostles;  these  were 
men  worthy  of  all  credit,  for  they  were  eminently 
honest,  consistent,  scrupulous,  explicit,  and  un- 
varying. These  were  men  who  had  no  power,  and 
could  have  had  no  motive  to  deceive  others,  by 
framing  a  falsehood  of  so  singular  a  nature.  They 
were  simple,  unambitious,  timid  ;  without  the  in- 
fluence of  wealth,  or  learning,  or  friends.  If  they 
believed  their  Master  had  failed  them  at  His  death, 
they  could  have  no  inducement  to  abide  by  His 
cause;  and  if  they  believed  that  He  was,  indeed,  the 
Son  of  the  Highest,  they  could  not  have  supposed 
His  cause  needed  the  aid  of  fiction.  These  were 
witnesses  who  in  this  matter,  could  hardly  have 
been  deceived  themselves.  They  were  on  the  mount 
in  open  day.  He  had  taught  them  that  He  should 
go  into  heaven.  Could  they  doubt  when  they 
talked  with  Him,  when  He  laid  His  hands  on  them, 
and  blessed  them  ;  when  they  stood  together,  after 
having  walked  to  the  mount,  that  it  was  He  Himself, 
Jesus^  who  had  been  crucified  ?  Could  they  have 
suffered  delusion  when,  while  he  talked  with  them, 
they  saw  Him  parted  from  them,  and,  with  adoring 
wonder,  beheld  Him  ascend  through  the  air,  till  the 
clouds  of  heaven  "  received  Him  out  of  their  sight  ^?" 
Could  the  eyes  and  the  ears  of  them  all  have  been 
deceived,  when  they  saw  and  heard  the  angels  of 
God,  who  were  kindly  sent  to  confirm  to  them  the 
reality  of  what  they  beheld?  They  were  not  cre- 
dulous; it  was  neither  a  situation,  nor  a  time,  in 
which  they  would  easily  be  deceived.  The  cir- 
cumstances of  the  ascension  were  such,  as  free  our 


Acts  i.  9. 
f2 


C8  ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

Redeemer  from  the  least  suspicion  of  imposture. 
These,  moreover,  were  witnesses,  who  made  such 
sacrifices,  as  no  human  beings,  with  so  little  induce- 
ment, ever  made  to  deceive  others  :  they  made  these 
sacrifices  with  a  calmness,  resolution,  and  perseve^ 
ranee  which  no  men  ever  exhibited,  who  were  not 
fully  convinced  they  were  not  deceived  themselves. 
They  encountered  scorn,  and  toil,  and  persecution. 
They  relinquished  houses  and  lands,  professions  and 
prospects,  kinsfolk  and  friends.  They  endured 
scourgings,  and  imprisonments,  and  tortures,  and 
threatenings,  at  the  recital  of  which  our  spirits  are 
appalled ;  yet  they  endured  them  with  unshaken 
fortitude,  and  often  with  joy,  rather  than  alter  their 
testimony.  They  laid  down  their  lives  for  their  testi- 
mony; sooner  than  recall  what  they  had  testified, 
yea,  sooner  than  remain  silent,  they  submitted  to 
death;  to  the  most  terrible  deaths  :  with  steady  and 
holy  joy,  sealing,  whenever  it  was  necessary,  their 
declaration  with  their  blood.  Could  the  witnesses, 
and  historians  of  our  Lord's  ascension,  have  been 
deceived  ?  Could  they,  at  such  a  price,  without  any 
countervailing  benefit  whatever,  have  imposed  an 
idle  fable  on  the  world  ?  In  men,  who  had  seen  the 
Master  that  blessed  them,  taken  up  into  heaven,  we 
might,  perhaps,  expect  a  devotion  like  this.  But 
sure,  the  Apostles  needed,  to  produce  in  them  such 
faith  and  perseverance,  and  to  sustain  them  under 
such  labours  and  sufferings,  all  the  conviction  of 
their  Lord  s  power  and  glory,  which  an  actual  vision 
of  His  ascension  into  heaven  could  give  them. 

Our  first  emotion,  upon  contemplating  the  ascen- 
sion of  our  Lord,  is  amazement.  The  lustre  of  His 
virtue  in  life,  and  His  sublime  equanimity  in  death, 
transport  us  with  the  perfectibility  of  our  nature. 
We  stand  by  His  tomb,  and  behold  Him  trample 
upon  its  grisly  prince,  with  exulting  astonishment. 


ON  THE  ASCENSION. 


m 


But  when  from  Mount  Olivet,  we  see  Him  rise  from 
earth,  with  the  eye  of  faith  we  follow  Him  to  "  the 
right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high %"  anticipating  the 
period,  when  all  His  redeemed  shall  share  His  glory, 
and  the  human  nature  be  enveloped  in  the  perfec- 
tions and  felicities  of  the  Divine  :— the  mind  faints 
under  the  greatness  of  its  object.  Devout  amaze- 
ment seizes  every  thought;  and,  like  the  eleven, 
"  we  stand  gazing  up  into  heaven*." 

But,  from  amazement  at  this  precious  part  of  the 
Christian  dispensation,  let  us  rouse  ourselves  to  con- 
sider our  obligations  to  respect  a  nature,  which  God 
has  so  highly  exalted,  and  destined  for  such  noble 
felicity.  Nothing  is  more  difficult,  than  to  think 
rightly  of  ourselves ;  to  temper  the  contempt  and 
abhorrence,  which  the  frailty  and  depravity  of  our 
nature  should  excite,  with  the  self-respect,  which 
beings  should  preserve,  who  have  "  fellowship  with 
the  Father,  and  with  His  Son  Jesus  Christ"."  Con- 
sidered without  the  light,  the  doctrines,  and  the 
prospects  of  the  Gospel,  man  is  an  ignoble,  unhappy 
beino-.  Every  considerate  person,  who  will  view 
himself  faithfully,  as  he  is  by  nature,  shall  find 
abundant  reasons  to  wrap  his  mind  in  the  garment 
of  humility,  and  in  meek  penitence  bewail  his  fall. 
But,  considered  in  the  view  in  which  the  Gospel 
places  him,  man  rises  from  his  ruins.  The  Christian 
is  allied  to  noble  beings ;  his  prospects  are  great ; 
and  it  is  scarcely  to  be  decided,  whether  he  is  more 
to  be  pitied,  as  he  is  by  nature,  or  reverenced,  as  he 
is  by  grace.  This  mixture  of  strange  extremes  in 
our  condition,  is  so  emphatically  expressed  by  the 
poetic  divine,  that  I  cannot  repress  my  inclination 
to  adduce  his  pleasing  authority  : 

'  Heb.  i.  3.  '  Acts  i.  11.  "1  Jolin  i.  3. 


70  ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

'  How  poor,  how  rich,  how  abject,  how  august, 
How  complicate,  how  wonderful,  is  man  ! 
Distinguish'd  link  in  being's  endless  chain  ! 
A  beam  ethereal,  suUy'd  and  absorpt ! 
Tho'  sully'd  and  dishonour'd,  still  divine  ! 
Dim  miniature  of  greatness  absolute  ! 
An  heir  of  glory  !  a  frail  child  of  dust ! 
Helpless  immortal !  insect  infinite  ! 
A  worm  !  a  god  ! 

An  angel's  arm  can't  snatch  him  from  the  grave  ; 
Legions  of  angels  can't  confine  him  there !' 

*  Reverence  yourself,'  was  a  precept  of  one  of  the 
wisest  of  the  heathen  sages.  How  much  more  suited 
to  the  Christian,  who  perceives  his  nature  recovered 
in  the  person  of  his  Lord,  and  justly  expects  to  be 
like  Him,  when  he  shall  *'  see  Him  as  He  is''."  Are 
we  members  of  a  body,  of  which  the  Son  of  God  is 
the  head,  and  shall  we  not  fear  to  pollute  so  illus- 
trious a  fellowship?  Have  we  a  Representative  in  the 
inmost  presence  chamber  of  heaven,  and  shall  we 
sink  into  a  mean  commerce  with  vice,  or  debase,  by 
folly  and  wickedness,  the  nature  He  has  exalted  ? 
Do  we  expect  to  be,  hereafter,  raised  to  the  right 
hand  of  our  Master?  and  shall  we  defile  ourselves 
with  evil,  let  ourselves  down  to  the  follies  of  His 
foes,  and,  with  our  noble  prospects,  here  wallow  in 
the  dust  ?  Forbid  it  every  dignified  sentiment  in  our 
bosoms!  Verily,  *'  every  man  that  hath  this  hope  in 
him  purifieth  himself,  even  as  He  is  pure^." 

We  may  further  observe,  from  the  subject  we  have 
been  contemplating,  the  wisdom  and  propriety  of 
raising  our  affections,  and  directing  our  pursuits,  to 
the  great  realities  of  the  future  existence.  If  He,  in 
whom  we  believe,  is  gone  into  heaven,  and  those  who 
*'  inherit  the  promises'"'  shall  follow  Him,  there  we 

"  1  John  iii.  2.  "  Ibid.  ver.  3.  ^  Heb.  vi.  13. 


ON  THE  ASCENSION.  7  J 

must  look  for  our  rest  for  ever.  Our  best  interests, 
our  eternal  abode,  our  life,  are  there.  We  are  here, 
but  passengers  of  an  hour,  "  strangers  and  pilgrims, 
desiring  a  better  country*."  Of  course,  to  loiter 
amid  the  vain  delights  of  this  transient  state,  is  to 
forget  our  business  and  our  home. 

That  '*  w^e  have  here  no  continuing  city'',"  we 
know.  Time  is  hurrying  us  unceasingly  to  leave 
this  earth ;  yea,  earth  itself  is  fast  hastening  to  be 
dissolved,  and  the  element  of  our  abode  to  pass 
away.  How  delightful  the  reflection,  that  in  the  ark 
our  Redeemer  hath  prepared,  our  nature  shall  sur- 
vive the  general  wreck!  Amid  the  havoc  of  death, 
and  the  solemn  awe  which  the  approach  of  judgment 
inspires,  how  solacing  the  thought,  that  the  faithful 
*'  look  for  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth,  wherein 
dwelleth  righteousness''!"  But  if  we  do,  indeed,  be- 
lieve, that  our  hopes,  our  conversation,  our  trea- 
sures, are  in  heaven,  will  not  our  hearts  be  there 
also  ?  Shall  we  be  absorbed  in  the  pleasures,  the  va- 
nities, and  the  vices  of  this  world,  which  every  thing- 
reminds  us  we  must  leave,  while  our  Head,  our 
Master,  is  calling  us  to  His  glory,  and  we  have  this 
momentous  calling  to  secure  ?  Shall  we,  in  the  out- 
set of  our  voyage,  encumber  ourselves  with  burthens, 
which  we  must  relinquish,  when  we  have  scarcely 
got  under  weigh,  while  we  neglect  the  habits,  the 
affections,  and  the  graces,  for  which  we  shall  have 
need  in  our  eternal  and  exalted  existence  ?  *'  If  ye 
then  be  risen  with  Christ,  seek  those  things  which 
are  above,  where  Christ  sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of 
God^" 

Let  us  then  be  induced  by  what  has  been  said, 
rightly  to  conceive,  and  faithfully  to  improve,  that 

•  Heb.  xi  1:3,  16.  "  Ibid.  xiii.  14. 

'  2  Pet.  iii.  13.  *  Col.  iii.  1. 


72  ON  THE  ASCENSION. 

sublime  and  most  gratifying  part  of  our  faith,  the 
ascension  of  our  Master  into  heaven.  Let  it  esta- 
blish our  confidence  in  the  Gospel,  rejoice  our  hopes, 
and  lead  us  to  fit  ourselves  for  an  entrance  **  into 
the  joy  of  our  Lord*."  Though  He  is  taken  from 
our  view.  He  is  mindful  of  our  conduct;  and  *'  shall 
so  come,"  for  the  consummation  of  His  M^ork,  "  as 
we  have  seen  Him  go  into  heaven ^"  While  de- 
prived of  His  presence,  are  we  anxious  that  His 
Spirit  may  rest  upon  us,  to  guide  and  support  us  on 
our  difficult'way  ?  Let  us  take  up  the  mantle  He  has 
left,  in  His  word,  and  His  sacraments,  and  seek,  on 
every  emergency,  *'  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah"."  So 
shall  we  be  of  the  number,  for  whom  "  it  was  expe- 
dient that  He  should  go  away\"  Our  journey  of 
life  shall  be  conducted  to  our  satisfaction.  And 
when  we  are  brought,  at  length,  to  the  waters  of 
that  Jordan,  which  lies  between  us  and  the  abode  of 
the  Prophets,  we  shall  be  able  in  the  power  of  the 
Spirit  of  our  Master,  to  smite,  and  pass  dry  shod, 
between  its  divided  waves. 

•  Matt.  XXV.  21.  '  Acts  i.  11. 

*  2  Kings  ii.  14.  *"  John  xvi.  7. 


SERMON  LI. 


ON   WHITSUNDAY. 


St.  John  iv.  14. 

But  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him  shall  be  in  him  a  well  of 
water  springing  up  into  everlasting  life. 

To  obtain  the  true  meaning  of  our  Lord  in  this  ani- 
mated passage,  we  will  recur  to  a  similar  declara- 
tion, made  by  Him  on  another  occasion.     Standing 
amidst  the  assembled  Jews,  on  the  last  day  of  the 
feast  of  tabernacles,  when  water  from  the  pool  of 
Siloam  was  poured  out,  as  a  drink  offering  unto  the 
Lord,  Jesus  cried,  "  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come 
unto  Me,  and  drink.     He  that  believeth  on  Me,  as 
the  Scripture  hath  said,  out  of  his  belly  shall  flow 
rivers  of  living  water  \"     Upon  the  record  of  this 
declaration,   there   follows  an  inspired  exposition : 
"  This  spake  He  of  the  Spirit  which  they  that  be- 
lieve on  Him  should  receive  ^"     The  passage  is  so 
evidently  parallel  with  my  text,  that  the  comment 
upon  one  may  be  considered  as  a  comment  upon  the 
<Dther:  and  we  may  learn  from  it,  that  by  the  water, 
which  Christ  mentioned  to  the  woman  of  Samaria, 
we  are  to  understand  the  grace  of  the  Comforter  or 
Holy  Spirit;  of  which  He  was  the  great  distributor 

'  John  vii.  37,  38.  '  Ibid.  ver.  39. 


74  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

appointed  by  the  Father,  having  purchased  it  by 
His  mediation  for  the  children  of  men.  Accordingly 
we  find,  that  when  the  woman  had  expressed  her 
surprise  that  He,  '*  being  a  Jew,"  should  ask  of  her 
a  Samaritan,  a  draught  of  the  water  which  she  had 
come  to  Jacob's  well  to  draw.  He  replied,  "  If  thou 
knewest  the  gift  of  God,  and  who  it  is  that  saith  to 
thee.  Give  Me  to  drink;  thou  wouldest  have  asked 
of  Him,  and  He  would  have  given  thee  living  waters" 
As  if  He  had  said,  Hadst  thou  known  the  riches  of 
that  grace,  which  God  will  pour  out  upon  those  who 
seek  it ;  and  that  I,  who  speak  unto  thee,  am  the 
Messiah,  to  whom  the  distribution  of  this  inesti- 
mable gift  is  committed,  thou  wouldest  have  asked, 
and  I  would  have  given  thee,  truths  and  influences 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  would  be  in  thee,  as  a  well 
of  water,  perpetually  springing  up,  and  refreshing 
thy  soul,  allaying  thy  thirst  for  ever,  and  nourishing 
thee  unto  eternal  life. 

In  an  age,  when  finite  reason  and  human  philo- 
sophy, are  made  the  standards  of  truth ;  when  many 
Christians  content  themselves  with  a  cursory  ac- 
quaintance with  the  precepts  of  the  Gospel,  and 
even  some  of  those  who  are  set  as  angels  of  the 
Gospel  pool,  **  forsake  the  fountain  of  living  waters, 
and  hew  them  out  cisterns,  broken  cisterns,  that  can 
hold  no  water**:"  the  dispensation  of  the  Spirit,  with 
the  doctrine  of  its  operation  on  the  heart,  and  im- 
portance to  salvation,  is  not  a  very  popular  theme 
of  discourse,  nor,  it  is  feared,  a  subject  of  very 
frequent  contemplation.  Yet,  it  is  an  essential,  pe- 
culiar, and  most  comfortable  part  of  the  *'  faith  which 
was  once  delivered  unto  the  saints*:"  and,  happily 
for  us,  we  are  annually  brought  by  the  excellent 
economy  of  our  Church,  to  acknowledge  and  con- 

'  Johniv.  9,  10.  "  Jer.  ii.  13.  •  Jiide  3. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  76 

sider  it,  in  the  solemnities  of  the  Whitsuntide  feast. 
To-day,  we  commemorate  the  fulfilment  of  our  Re- 
deemer's promise,  before  His  Ascension,  in  the  ac- 
tual and  visible  descent  of  the  Comforter  upon  His 
assembled  disciples ;  with  which  is  connected  the 
interesting  doctrine  of  our  participation  with  them 
of  the  heavenly  gift,  though  in  a  mode  that  is  dissi- 
milar, and  for  purposes  not  precisely  the  same. 
With  your  indulgence,  my  brethren,  I  will  improve 
the  opportunity  to  bring  to  your  consideration,  in 
the  first  place,  the  reality,  and  necessity  of  the  gift 
of  the  Spirit  to  all  true  believers,  in  every  age ;  se- 
condly, to  call  your  attention  to  the  inestimable  va- 
lue, and  important  uses  of  it ;  and,  in  the  third 
place,  to  point  to  you  the  channels,  through  which 
this  gift,  this  "  living  water,"  ordinarily  flows. 
Topics  these,  which  may  suggest  reflections,  that 
will  be  pertinent  to  the  joy  of  this  season ;  and  not 
unprofitable,  in  the  cause  of  righteousness,  if  Thou, 
O  Holy  Ghost,  vouchsafe  to  descend  to  consecrate 
our  labours,  and,  by  Thy  qtiickening  influences,  to 
fertilize  our  souls  ! 

That  the  extraordinary  manifestation  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  the  supernatural  powers,  which  accom- 
panied it,  are  continued  in  the  Christian  world,  is 
what  no  considerate  person,  at  the  present  day,  will 
advance.  For  the  visible  descent,  and  miraculous 
operations  of  the  Comforter,  on  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost, there  were  reasons  which  belonged  to  the 
time,  and  the  events  of  it ;  reasons,  peculiar  to 
that  age,  which  no  longer  exist.  And  the  "  sound 
as  of  a  rushing  mighty  wind,"  and  the  *'  cloven 
tongues,  like  as  of  fireV  have  subsided  into  an  in- 
visible influence  of  the  Spirit  upon  the  hearts  and 
lives  of  men.     So,  once,   it  was  expedient  that  the 

'  Acts  li.  5,  3. 


76  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

Almighty  should  descend  with  tremendous  majesty 
of  clouds  and  fire,  wind  and  thunder,  and  the  shaking 
of  Sinai  to  its  base.  But,  afterwards,  when  the 
Prophet  waited  for  His  instructions,  *'  the  Lord  was 
not  in  the  wind,"  nor  in  "  the  earthquake,"  nor  "  in 
the  fire,"  but  in  "  a  still  small  voice ^." 

From  the  change  of  mode,  which  we  acknowledge, 
we  are  not  to  infer  the  absence  of  the  substance. 
That  the  holy  fire,  which  sat  visibly  upon  the  Apos- 
tles, is  extinguished ;  that  the  Comforter,  who  de- 
scended on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  has  returned  to 
the  Father ;  that  Christians  are  not  all  partakers  of 
the  heavenly  gift,  is  contrary  to  reason,  to  the  de- 
clarations of  Scripture,  and  to  actual  observation. 
From  each  of  these  sources  may  be  deduced  the 
certainty  of  His  invisible  abode  with  all  true  be- 
lievers, and  the  reality  and  necessity,  of  His  opera- 
tion in  their  hearts. 

Man  is  now,  what  he  ever  has  been  since  the  Fall, 
a  feeble  being ;  ignorant  by  nature  of  his  God,  and 
duty;  living  daily  in  trespasses  and  sins.  While  he 
remains  unenlightened  by  the  communication  from 
on  high,  darkness  encompasses  his  mind.  When 
this  darkness  is  dispersed,  and  the  points  of  true 
excellence  are  clearly  revealed,  to  raise  himself  to 
them  by  his  own  strength,  is  not  in  his  power.  It 
is  with  anguish  and  humiliation  that,  in  proof  of  this, 
I  point  you  to  the  heathen  sage;  perceiving,  ad- 
miring, celebrating  the  virtues,  which  in  the  practice 
of  life  he  abandons.  It  is  with  fear  and  trembling, 
that,  for  the  same  purpose,  I  point  you  to  the  ar- 
duous struggles,  and  the  many  defeats,  by  which 
the  Christian,  in  endeavouring  to  maintain  his  hea- 
venly course,  is  taught  his  dependence  upon  some 
superior    strength.     Man's    moral    powers    are   so 

8  I.Kings  xix.  11,  13. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  77 

weakened  by  corruption  ;  his  affections  are  so  prone 
to  evil ;  the  holds  which  temptation  has  in  him,  are 
so  numerous  and  so  deep  ;  his  spiritual  life  is  so  far 
gone,  that  in  sacred  language  he  is  represented, 
with  awful  emphasis,  as  dead,  while  he  liveth\  And 
as  soon  may  he  raise  himself  from  the  iron  slumbers 
of  the  tomb,  to  the  life  and  glories  of  immortality, 
as  rise  by  his  own  strength  from  the  moral  decay 
and  corruption  of  his  nature,  to  the  purity,  spiritu- 
ality and  holiness,  of  the  new  and  eternal  life.  Do 
you  doubt  that  this  is  the  decision  of  reason  ?  Hear 
her  testimony  by  the  mouths  of  some  of  her  most 
enlightened  votaries.  Hear  the  thoughtful  Pytha- 
goras instructing  men  to  pray  to  the  gods  for  assis- 
tance, that  they  may  do  what  becomes  them.  Hear 
the  accomplished  Cicero  confessing,  that  no  man 
was  ever  excellent  without  some  divine  afflation. 
Hear  the  judicious  Hierocles  teaching  the  necessity 
of  the  divine  blessing  upon  our  endeavours  after 
virtue,  to  make  them  successful.  Hear  the  virtuous 
Seneca  declaring,  that  no  man  is  good,  without  the 
help  of  God.  The  insufficiency  of  man,  of  himself, 
to  recover  himself  to  a  state  of  holiness,  is  no  new 
discovery.  It  is  what  the  Gentile  and  Jewish  Pa- 
triarchs felt.  It  is  what  the  Christian  Apostles  be-^ 
wailed.  And  it  is  what  every  person  may  find  in  his 
own  case,  when  he  compares  his  life  with  the  requi- 
sitions of  the  Divine  law,  and  studies  the  character 
and  progress  of  his  virtues.  But,  that  we  must  rise 
from  this  state  of  sin  to  righteousness,  and  be  re- 
newed in  our  minds  **  after  the  image  of  Him  that 
created  us',"  before  we  can  enjoy  the  presence  and 
kingdom  of  God,  is  evident  in  the  nature  of  the 
thing,  and  is  the  settled   principle   of  every  Chris- 

"  1  Tim.  V.  6.     St.  James  ii.  26.      1  St.  John  iii.  14. 
'  Col.  iii.  10. 


7S  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

tian's  mind.  Reason,  therefore,  concludes,  that 
unless  our  heavenly  Father  has  abandoned  His  chil- 
dren to  vice  and  perdition,  He  will  provide  the 
means  of  sanctifying  their  nature,  for  all  those, 
whom  He  purposes  to  bring  into  His  heavenly  king- 
dom. And  when  we  are  once  informed  that  this 
office  belongs  to  the  Holy  Ghost,  we  cannot  doubt 
that  every  individual  of  our  frail  race,  who  seeks 
sincerely  the  mercies  of  the  Lord  Jesus  unto  eternal 
life,  is  a  partaker,  in  such  time  and  measure  as  God 
sees  fit,  of  the  blessed  Comforter's  protection  and 
aid.  If  any  are  good,  truly  and  uniformly  good,  it 
is  through  the  assistance  of  the  Divinity,  that  stirs 
within  them. 

But  from  the  deductions  of  reason,  we  pass  to  the 
declarations  of  Scripture,  for  additional  and  surer 
evidences  of  this  great  and  most  comfortable  doc- 
trine. It  may  be  considered  as  implied  in  many  of 
the  prophecies  relating  to  the  Messiah's  kingdom. 
Joel  proclaims,  that,  in  the  latter  days,  God  would 
**  pour  out  His  Spirit  upon  all  flesh  \"  Isaiah,  having 
the  fountain  which  Jesus  would  open,  in  view, 
breaks  forth  in  a  strain  of  prophetic  invitation : 
"  Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the 
waters'."  David,  contemplating  at  a  distance  the 
pouring  out  of  God's  grace  upon  his  people,  ex- 
claims :  "  Thou,  O  God,  sentest  a  gracious  rain 
upon  Thine  inheritance  :  and  refreshedst  it  when  it 
was  weary.  Thy  congregation  shall  dwell  therein  ; 
for  Thou,  O  God,  hast  of  Thy  goodness  prepared 
for  the  poor"."  Indeed,  as  the  gifts  and  graces  of 
the  Spirit  are  fruits  of  the  Messiah's  mediation  and 
achievements,  they  must  be  reckoned  among  the 
blessings  with  which,  in  Him,  "  all  the  families  of 
the  earth  should  be  blessed"." 

■•  Joelii.  28.  '  Isaiah  Iv.  1. 

"'  Psalm  Ixviii.  9,  10.  "  Gen.  xxviii.  14. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  79 

But  in  the  New  Testament  these  coruscations  of 
prophecy  are  collected  and  embodied,  and  shine 
forth  upon  us  with  an  enlivening  brightness.  He 
who  hath  the  command  both  of  "  the  upper  and  the 
nether  springs","  while  He  has  taught  us  the  need 
we  have  of  the  Spirit,  has  graciously  given  the  pro- 
mise of  it  to  His  followers  in  every  age.  In  the 
passage  already  quoted,  as  parallel  with  the  text. 
He  declares,  that,  through  the  bosom  of  every  one 
that  belie veth  on  Him,  **  shall  flow  rivers  of  living 
water  p."  Here  is  no  limitation  to  any  age;  no  re- 
striction to  any  place.  For  all  who  confess  and  fol- 
low their  Redeemer,  the  immortalizing  fountain 
flows.  To  the  reprehensible  Samaritan,  if  she  ear- 
nestly ask  it,  shall  the  ''living  water"  be  given; 
and  the  devout  Ethiopian,  "if  he  believe  with  all 
his  heart,"  shall  be  refreshed  by  the  stream,  and  go 
"  on  his  way  rejoicing''."  The  very  promise  of  the 
Comforter  made  by  Christ  to  His  disciples,  seems 
hardly  capable  of  fulfilment  in  the  plain  acceptation 
of  it,  unless  those,  to  whom  it  was  made,  be  con- 
sidered as  representatives  of  His  whole  Church :  for 
it  is  promised,  as  a  substitute  for  His  own  gracious 
presence,  which  His  Church  must  always  need  ;  and 
it  is  promised  to  abide  with  them  for  ever.  Nothing, 
indeed,  can  be  clearer,  fuller,  or  more  impressive, 
than  the  declarations  of  Scripture,  concerning  the 
perpetuity  and  importance  of  the  influences  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  Without  it,  we  are  said  to  be  nothing. 
All  men  are  represented  as  dependent  on  it,  for  faith 
and  sanctification.  It  is  spoken  of  as  the  source  of 
the  life  and  growth  of  every  Christian  excellence. 
It  is  extolled,  as  the  earnest  to  the  faithful,  of  ever- 
lasting life.  *'  Hereby,"  says  St.  John,  "  know  we 
that  we  dwell  in  Him,  and  He  in  us,  because  He 

"  Josh.  XV.  19.  P  John  vii.  38.  ''  Acts  viii.  37,  39. 


W  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

hath  given  us  of  His  Spirit'."  **  Ye  are  washed,  ye 
are  sanctified,  ye  are  justified,"  says  St.  Paul,  **  by 
the  Spirit  of  our  God'."  And  again  ;  "  Know  ye 
not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of  God,  and  that  the 
Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in  you'  ?"  And  again ;  ''  We 
have  all  been  made  to  drink  into  one  Spirit"."  In 
short,  what  can  more  strongly  testify  the  necessity 
of  this  grace,  than  the  declaration  of  our  Lord,  that 
"  except  a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit, 
he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God'?"  And 
what  can  more  satisfactorily  assure  us  of  the  readi- 
ness of  the  Spirit,  to  come  unto  all  the  followers  of 
the  Redeemer,  than  that  memorable  passage,  with 
which  St.  Peter  closed  the  first,  and  best  Whitsun- 
day sermon,  that  has  ever  been  delivered,  "  The 
promise  is,  unto  you,  and  to  your  children,  and  to 
all  that  are  afar  off,  even  to  as  many  as  the  Lord  our 
God  shall  call^?" 

Of  similar  import,  are  the  institutions  which  the 
Scriptures  have  hallowed.  Ordinances  are  of  little 
value,  but  as  means  of  grace.  These  means  are  or- 
dained to  be  of  perpetual  use;  and  they  are  of  uni- 
versal extension.  Of  the  typical  stream,  which  God 
caused  to  flow  miraculously  from  the  rock,  which  of 
His  people,  while  journeying  through  the  wilderness 
of  their  probation,  was  not  permitted  to  drink? 
And  unto  the  ordinances,  in  which  the  antitype,  the 
spiritual  stream,  now  flows  and  follows  His  Church, 
which  of  our  race,  while  journeying  through  this 
world  of  their  trial,  is  not  bidden  to  repair,  and  take 
of  the  "  water  of  life  freely^?"  The  appointment  of 
the  means  for  the  use  of  all,  shows,  that  all  need, 
and  that  all  may  obtain,  the  influences  of  the  Spirit 
of  God. 


nJohniv.l3.      'iCor.vi.ll.      •  Ibid.  iii.  16.      "  Ibid.  xii.  13. 
*  John  iii.  5.  ''  Acts  ii.  39.  ^  Rev.  xxii.  17. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  ^* 


Confirming  the  deductions  of  reason,    and  illus- 
trating the  declarations  of  Scripture,  there  remains 
the  evidence  which  is  drawn  from  actual  observa- 
tion.   And  here  shall  I  take  you  to  '  the  noble  army 
of  martyrs  ;'   and  show  you  them  stretched   upon 
racks,  standing  in  flames,  and  walking  through  fur- 
naces,  with  a  calmness,  a  patience,  a  firmness,  a  joy, 
which  it  would  seem  impossible  they  should  have 
possessed,  if  there  had  not  been  with  them  One,  like 
the  Spirit  of  the  Son  of  God  ?     Shall  I  go  further, 
and  take  you  to  '  the  goodly  fellowship  of  the  pro- 
phets,' and  show  you  them,  long  before  the  visible 
descent  of  the  Comforter,  wrapt  in  the  visions  ot  the 
Almighty;    fortified  to  the   noblest   undertakmgs ; 
consoled  under  the  heaviest  trials  ;   raised  to  the 
sublimest  virtues;  and,  like  the  children  of  Israe 
in  the  land  of  Egypt,  while  darkness  rested  upon  all 
around  them,  having  "  light  in  all  their  dwellmgs  ^  r 
No      I  will  not  take  you  to  those  ;  lest  you  should 
say,  though  the  one  be  prior,  and  the  other  subse- 
quent to  the  visible  effusion  of  the  Spirit,  these  were 
extraordinary  endowments,  fitted  to  the  necessities 
of  the  subjects  of  them,  by  the  faithfulness  of  God. 
I  will  take  you,  then,  to  the  infidel ;    and  by  the 
absence  of  grace  from  his  heart,  will  show  you  the 
necessity  of  it  for  all  men.     Whence  his  unbelief? 
He  has  not  used  the  means  of  obtaining  the  gift  of 
God      He  has  not  prepared  his  heart,  nor  bowed 
his  knee,  to  pray  unto  the  Most  High.     He  has  not 
heard  meekly  the  word  of  truth,  nor  studied  it  with 
docility  and  affection.     He  has  not  performed  the 
vows,  which  were  made  for  him  at  his  baptism  :  and 
all  the  institutions  of  Religion  he  hath  presump- 
tuously disregarded.      Refusing  to  use  the  means. 


»  Exod.  X.  23. 
VOL.    II.  G 


82  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

he  hath  not  had  the  protection  and  blessing  of  grace. 
In  his  exposed  situation,  unbelief  hath  seized  on 
him.  With  infatuating  impetuosity,  she  is  hurrying 
him  through  her  dark,  and  bewildered  paths;  and 
ah  !  she  will  dash  him  into  the  abyss  of  perdition ! 
Is  it,  that  Religion  hath  not  wherewith  to  commend 
herself?  Oh,  no.  This  wretched  being  hath  not 
sought,  yea,  he  hath  resisted,  yea,  he  hath  despised, 
the  guidance  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  And  lo,  grace, 
which  comes  to  all,  comes  not  to  him.  With  such 
the  Almighty  will  '*  not  always  strive  ^ ;"  for  He  is 
•*  a  jealous  God''."  He  hath  left  him  to  himself  a 
monument  of  our  danger  and  wretchedness,  when 
His  Spirit  is  departed  from  us.  From  him,  let  me 
take  you  to  the  youths,  whose  spirit  the  world  hath 
not  yet  wholly  polluted,  and  to  whom  the  **  truth, 
as  it  is  in  Jesus'^,"  is  happily  preached.  In  them  the 
Spirit  operates.  In  the  cool  of  the  day,  when  pas- 
sion is  still.  His  voice  may  be  heard  in  the  hearts  of 
every  one  of  them.  He  whispers  to  their  consci- 
ences the  importance  of  salvation  ;  He  places  before 
them  the  loveliness  of  virtue,  and  endeavours  to 
kindle  their  desires ;  He  checks,  gently,  the  devia- 
tions of  their  minds.  Do  they  disregard  Him,  and 
prefer  the  powers  of  this  world,  and  the  pleasures  of 
sin  ?  He  leaves  them  to  **  their  own  way,"  and  they 
are  "  filled  with  their  own  devices '."  Do  they  ob* 
serve  Him  ?  Do  they  obey  His  admonitions,  and 
cherish  his  counsels  ?  He  comes  to  them  more  inti- 
mately ;  He  abides  with  them  more  _  constantly  ; 
they  advance  "  from  strength  to  strength,  and  unto 
the  God  of  gods  appeareth  every  one  of  them  in 
Sion  V    From  these  let  me  take  you  to  the  matured 


*>   Gen.  vi.  3.  '  Exod.  xx.  5.  *>  Eph.  iv.  21. 

•  Prov.  i.  31.  '  Psalm  Ixxxiv.  7. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  83 

Christian,  for  in  him  it  is  most  manifest,  that  of  the 
grace  of  the  Spirit  all  the  disciples  of  the  Redeemer 
are  partakers  ;  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  the  Comforter 
to  every  follower  of  the  Lamb.  Behold  him,  be- 
neath the  long  torture  of  lingering  disease,  and  pain- 
ful wreck  of  nature,  calm,  gentle,  yea,  smiling  in 
his  anguish.  Behold  him  bereft  of  a  darling  child ; 
of  a  bosom  friend  ;  of  the  desire  of  his  eyes,  at  a 
stroke  ;  yet,  repressing  every  murmur,  and  anxious, 
chiefly,  to  improve  his  afflictions  to  the  advance- 
ment of  his  virtue,  and  glory  of  his  God.  Is  it  in 
nature,  to  be  patient  after  this  manner?  Though 
philosophy  may  teach  men  with  hardy  fortitude  to 
bear  the  stroke,  can  she  teach  them  with  such  meek- 
ness to  kiss  the  rod  ?  Behold  him,  bringing  into  sub- 
jection every  inordinate  passion,  and  decking  him- 
self with  every  godlike  virtue,  till  the  bosom  of  lust, 
anger,  envy,  pride,  and  malice,  is  converted  to  -a 
scene  of  purity  and  benevolence.  See  him,  raised 
to  spiritual  communion  with  his  Maker,  till  his  heart 
is  filled  with  a  seraph's  love ;  and  his  countenance, 
like  that  of  Moses,  shines  with  the  reflection  of  the 
glory  he  has  contemplated.  Approach  him  in  his 
final  hour,  and  behold  him,  meeting  death  with  such 
a  holy  and  heavenly  composure,  as  almost  exhibits 
the  saint  *'  made  perfect V'  on  this  side  heaven; 
and  compels  us  to  admire,  where  we  went  to  mourn. 
Is  it  in  our  feeble  nature,  to  rise  to  such  majesty  ? 
Though  reason  may  enable  us  to  submit  quietly  to 
death,  can  she  teach  us  to  rejoice  in  it,  to  triumph 
over  it  with  joy  ?  Though  nature  may  fill  us  with 
fear  of  God,  and  awful  reverence  ;  can  she  shed 
abroad  such  love  of  Him  in  the  heart  ?  Though  phi- 
losophy may  teach  us  to  be  brave,  disinterested,  and 
generous,  can  she  teach  us  to  be  humble  ?    Can  she 

fc"  Heb.  xii.  23. 
G    2 


84  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

enable  us  to  be  pure  ?  No.  "  In  us,  (that  is,  in  our 
flesh,)  dwelleth  no  good  thing  \"  The  Christian 
finds  in  himself  a  new  and  wonderful  creation.  He 
is  conscious  it  is  something  which  he  did  not,  by  his 
own  power  alone,  produce.  There  is  Divinity  in  it. 
In  the  calm  hour  of  contemplation,  he  surveys  the 
operation  in  his  mind  :  and,  wrapping  himself  in  his 
mantle,  like  Elijah  listening  to  the  "  still  small 
voice  V'  perceives  that  it  is  the  Spirit  of  God. 

Our  time  would  fail  us  for  the  duties  which  yet 
remain  to  be  performed  upon  this  holy  festival,  if 
we  were  now  to  pursue  this  subject  further ;  but, 
by  Divine  permission,  it  shall  be  concluded  in  the 
Afternoon. 

'■  Rom.  vii.  18.  '1  Kings  xix.  12. 


SERMON   LII. 


ON    WHITSUNDAY. 


John  iv.  14. 

But  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him  shall  be  in  him  a  well  of 
water  sjjringing  up  into  everlasting  life. 

Having  seen,  in  our  observations  on  this  text,  this 
morning,  the  reality  and  necessity  of  the  gift  of  the 
Spirit,  to  all  true  believers  of  every  age,  let  us  con- 
sider its  inestimable  value,  and  importance.  Given 
to  enlighten,  to  purify,  and  to  comfort  us,  it  is  satis- 
factory, and  it  is  perennial. 

We  are  formed  with  desires,  and  fitted  for  attain- 
ments, which  nothing  here  can  satisfy  or  complete. 
Our  minds  are  framed  for  knowledge.  We  need  it ; 
and  have  a  natural  bent  to  seek  it.  But,  of  the  sub- 
jects upon  which  we  fix  our  most  inquisitive  atten- 
tion, and  are  most  concerned  to  investigate,  nature 
leaves  us  deplorably  ignorant.  Of  ourselves,  our 
duty,  our  hopes,  and  our  destination,  unaided  reason 
can  give  us  little  information  that  will  not  distress 
us.  It  tells  us,  we  are  mortal,  though  capable  of 
perpetual  improvement;  but  it  discovers  nothing 
certain  beyond  the  grave.  It  suggests  that  we  are 
moral ;  but  can  neither  define  right,  nor  promise  aid 
or  reward  to  virtue.  It  teaches  us  that  we  are  crea- 
tures and  dependents :  but  it  brings  us  not  to  our 
Maker ;  it  leaves  us  less  acquainted  with  Him,  than 


86  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

with  ourselves.  We  are  in  a  region  of  obscurity. 
All  is  enigmatical  in  ourselves.  All  is  perplexing  in 
the  scenes  and  events  around  us.  We  go  to  the 
streamlet  of  this  belief  to-day,  and  of  that  system 
to-morrow,  and  return  again  to  the  changing  rivulets 
of  our  own  imaginations.  But  none  of  them  satisfy. 
We  drink  of  their  waters,  and  thirst  again.  It  is 
not  till  the  Spirit  of  the  Gospel  enlightens  our 
minds  ;  it  is  not  till  the  Comforter  has  guided  us  into 
truth,  that  we  find  rest  from  our  wanderings  and  are 
satisfied.  Established  by  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the 
faith  of  the  Gospel,  and  embued,  through  His  power, 
with  its  heavenly  principles,  the  Christian  has  in  him 
a  perpetual  spring  of  peace  and  joy.  The  knowledge 
drawn  from  the  founts,  to  which  the  Spirit  conducts 
him,  answers  all  his  necessities.  He  drinks  of  this 
water,  and  thirsts  no  more.  The  views  of  God,  of 
life,  of  salvation,  of  righteousness,  and  of  heaven, 
which  this  Instructor  of  the  ignorant  sets  before  him, 
and  enables  his  understanding  to  apprehend,  become 
in  him  as  "  a  well  of  water  springing  up  into  ever- 
lasting life." 

Again.  Our  desire  of  happiness  is  even  stronger 
than  our  desire  of  knowledge.  But  how  vain  is  the 
chase,  upon  which  our  passions  and  the  world  put 
us,  for  the  gratification  of  this  desire.  Alienated 
from  the  love  of  God,  and  having  his  moral  faculties 
impaired,  man  has  lost  by  the  Fall,  both  the  know- 
ledge and  relish  of  his  chief  good.  He  roves  awhile 
in  all  the  paths  of  earthly  pursuit,  seeking  in  each 
the  satisfaction  he  has  not  found  in  others,  and  mur- 
muring successively  at  the  barrenness  of  all.  The 
reason  is,  the  soul  cannot  be  satisfied  with  the  plea- 
sures and  attainments  of  this  sublunary  world.  They 
are  carnal.  "  They  mock  its  expectations.  They  are 
uncertain  and  transient,  subjecting  it  to  perpetual 
disappointments.     They  cannot  satisfy  us.     He  that 

9 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  8"/ 

drinketh  of  them,  thirsts  again  ;  and  though  he  be 
admitted  to  them  all,  and  take  of  each  most  copious 
draughts,  yet,  still  he  thirsts.  There  is  a  void  which 
is  not  filled.  There  is  a  feverish  anxiety,  which  is 
not  removed.  There  is  a  weariness,  under  which  he 
yet  wants  refreshment.  It  is  not  till  the  heart  has 
found  its  Saviour,  and  the  Comforter  whom  He 
sends  has  taken  possession  of  it,  that  man  knows  the 
source  of  true  happiness,  and  is  able  to  enjoy  it.  I 
see  him,  in  his  eager  pursuit  of  gratification,  meeting, 
in  many  a  path,  with  fruit  which  is  pleasant  to  the 
eye,  and  seemingly  good  for  food,  yea,  and  desirable 
to  make  one  wise\  Passion  urges  him  to  take  and 
eat.  Yet,  if  he  do  so,  death  is  the  consequence. 
What  is  to  enable  him  to  repress  his  inclinations, 
and  refrain  from  indulgence,  but  the  restraining 
grace  of  the  Spirit  of  holiness  ?  I  see  him,  amidst 
the  splendours  which  have  crowned  his  worldly  pro- 
jects, and  the  joys  which  have  been  opened  to  him 
by  his  success,  conscious  of  sinfulness,  and  responsi- 
bility, and  sighing  in  the  hour  of  sober  reflection, 
*'  O  wretched  man  that  I  am !  who  shall  deliver  me 
from  the  body  of  this  death  ^'  ?"  Where  shall  he  find 
happiness,  but  under  the  influences  of  that  Com- 
forter, which  says  to  the  trembling  offender,  "■  Thy 
sins  be  forgiven  thee%"  and  into  the  chambers  of  the 
bosom,  where  were  gathered  the  darkness  and  terrors 
of  despondence,  pours  the  beam  of  eternal  hope  ?  I 
see  him,  bending  under  affliction's  stroke.  Misfor- 
tune has  snatched  from  him  the  prosperities  of  his  life; 
or  death  has  bereaved  him  of  the  kindred  being, — the 
beloved  friend,  who  was  dearer  to  him  than  all  life's 
prosperities.  Philosophy  comes  to  him.  She  tells 
him,  his  fate  is  irreversible,  and  it  is  folly  to  repine. 
Ah,  this  only  aggravates  his  woe.     Reason  discourses 

•  Gen.  iii.  C.  ''  Rom.  vii.  2^.  "  Matt.  ix.  2. 


88  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

with  him  of  the  alleviations  of  his  trouble;  and  of  the 
duties  and  joys  which  remain.     It  is  the  voice  of  a 
charmer,  to  which  the  ear  of  sorrow  is  deaf.     Thou 
only,   O   Holy  Ghost,  art  the  Comforter  who  canst 
bind  up  the  breach  in  his  happiness,  and  heal  the 
anguish  of  his  wound.     Thou  difFusest  thy  soothing 
influences  through  his  bosom,  and  its  perturbations 
are  still.     Thou  conductest  him  to  the  fountains  of 
consolation,  which  God  has  blessed.     He  drinks  of 
the  waters,    and  his  spirits  are    refreshed.     Thou 
biddest  him  look  up,  and  showest  him  a  clear,  and 
peaceful,  and  unvarying  sky  above  the  clouds  and 
blackness,  which  are  rolling  away.     He  beholds ; 
and  wipes  away  his  tears,  and  says,  *  Blessed  Spirit, 
abide  with  me  for  ever.'     I  see  him,  on  the  brink  of 
the  grave ;  sustaining  the  conflicts  of  his  final  hour. 
His  body  is  agonized  with  the  torture  of  disease ;  his 
faith  and  patience  are  assailed  by  the  enemy ;  the 
angel  of  death  is  approaching  with  his  dismaying 
step,  and   appalling  aspect.     It  is  an  awful   hour. 
What  can  sustain  him  but  the  everlasting  arm  ?  Who 
can  preserve  his  soul  in  composure,  and  light  up  in 
it,  when  it  is  taking  its  flight,  the  smiles  of  peace, 
but  the  Spirit  who  hath  said,  "  When  thou  passest 
through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee  ;  and  through 
the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee  :  when  thou 
walkest  through  the  fire,  thou  shalt  not  be  burned ; 
neither  shall   the  flame  kindle  upon  thee*^."     As  a 
Comforter,  to  whom  man  may  go  for  strength  amidst 
dangers,  encouragement  amidst  difficulties,  freedom 
from  terrors,  and  support  under  adversities,  there  is 
none  worthy  of  his  confidence  but  the  Holy  Ghost. 
The  pardon,  salvation,  and  immortality,  of  which  He 
assures  us,  and  to  a  participation  of  which  we  are 
sealed  by  Him,  are  the   well-springs  of  all  durable 

^  Isaiah  xliii.  2. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  89 

and  satisfactory  joy.  Without  these  we  shall,  in  our 
pursuit  of  happiness,  roam  wildly,  and  perpetually 
thirst.  Until  the  peace  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  the 
heart,  we  may  drink  of  all  the  streamlets  of  pleasure 
which  are  accessible  to  us,  but  we  shall  thirst  again. 
The  soul  must  find  its  rest  from  its  anxieties  and 
fears,  before  we  can  be  satisfied.  This  rest  it  finds, 
when  the  Comforter  dwelleth  in  it :  for  His  gracious 
influences  are  the  sure  antidotes  to  fear,  and  dissatis- 
faction ;  and  the  light  of  His  countenance,  is  the 
source  of  peace.  '*  With  Thee  is  the  well  of  life: 
and  in  Thy  light  shall  we  see  light %" 

This  brings  me  to  observe,  further,  in  illustration 
of  the  inestimable  value,  and  importance  of  the  gift 
of  the  Spirit,  that  it  is  His  office  to  sanctify  us  wholly, 
in  spirit,  soul,  and  body.  Descending  on  us  in  bap- 
tism. He  consecrates  us  unto  God  ;  and  if  He  be  not 
resisted  and  grieved,  becomes  in  us  the  living  prin- 
ciple of  goodness  and  truth,  and  qualifies  us  for  God's 
heavenly  kingdom.  Man  is  apprehensive  of  his  ac- 
countability. When  the  paths  of  virtue  ,are  placed 
before  him,  he  sees  their  excellence,  and  conscience 
whispers  that,  if  he  would  please  his  Maker,  he  must 
walk  therein.  But,  from  each  of  these  paths,  he  has 
wandered  ;  in  all  of  them,  he  has  fallen.  There  is  a 
feebleness  of  his  will,  an  insubordination  of  his  pas- 
sions, a  prostitution  and  confusion  of  his  powers, 
and  consequently  an  impurity  of  his  nature,  which 
unfits  him  for  the  holy  abode  and  presence  of  his 
Maker.  It  is  the  office  of  the  Spirit  to  move  upon 
this  chaos  of  his  condition ;  to  reduce  the  confusion 
to  regularity ;  to  dissipate  the  impurity,  and  subli- 
mate the  affections ;  and  into  the  dark  mass,  that  is 
**  without  form,  and  void  V'  to  introduce  order,  and 
beauty,  and  meekness,  for  the  Divine  approbation. 

•  Psalm  xxxvi.  9.  '  Gen.  i.  8. 


90  ON   WHITSUNDAY. 

Hence,  **  the  washing  of  regeneration,  and  renewing 
of  the  Holy  Ghosts"  are  connected  as  contempo- 
raneous, and  co-operative  means  of  our  salvation. 
Hence,  the  earnestness  with  which  we  are  exhorted 
to  seek  and  cherish  the  Spirit,  by  the  tenor  of  many 
portions  of  the  Old,  and  the  explicit  instructions  of 
the  New  Testament.  It  is  through  this  Spirit  alone, 
that  we  are  enabled  to  recover  ourselves  to  a  state 
of  faith  and  obedience,  and  to  become  renewed  in 
our  minds  "  after  the  image  of  Him  that  created 
us*"."  He  sets  apart  the  faithful  to  the  service  of 
the  Most  High,  and  renders  them  meet  for  His  use 
and  favour.  Without  His  aid  they  can  attain  to  no 
excellency ;  and  without  the  shadow  of  His  wing,  can 
be  in  no  safety.  By  Him  they  are  "  sealed  unto  the 
day  of  redemption'."  And  in  that  solemn  day  of  the 
consummation,  to  which  we  are  all  rapidly  hasten- 
ing, none  will  be  partakers  of  *'  the  joy  of  the  Lord'','* 
who  have  not,  in  the  principles  of  their  minds,  and 
conduct  of  their  lives,  the  impression  of  this  sacred 
seal.  But  in  behalf  of  all  those,  who  have  sure 
evidence  that  they  bear  it,  the  Apostle  proclaims, 
"Ye  have  not  received  the  spirit  of  bondage  again 
to  fear ;  but  ye  have  received  the  Spirit  of  adoption, 
whereby  we  cry,  Abba,  Father'." 

Now,  it  is  to  be  added,  that  in  all  His  beneficial 
influences  the  Spirit  is  perennial.  His  truth,  in- 
structions, and  promises,  and  sanctifying  graces  are 
indissoluble  and  eternal.  All  the  other  streams  to 
which  man  recurs  for  knowledge  and  for  happiness, 
are  transitory.  They  are  for  ever  changing.  When 
the  wind  bloweth,  they  are  agitated.  When  the 
earth  is  shaken,  they  are  turned  into  other  channels. 
When  the  rains  are  withheld,  they  are  dried  up. 

?  Titus  iii.  5.  *  Col.  iii.  10.  '  Eph.  iv.  30. 

^  Matt,  XXV.  21.  '  Rom.  viii.  15. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  91 

But  the  river  of  God  is  full  of  water.  It  never  faileth. 
Its  source  is  as  independent  as  the  existence,  as 
eternal  as  the  duration,  and  as  exhaustless  as  the 
perfections  of  God.  It  is  the  same  upon  the  moun- 
tain, and  in  the  valley  ;  it  loses  not  its  efficacy  in  the 
tempest  or  the  calm.  If  at  any  time  we  suffer  an 
interruption  of  its  refreshing  influences,  the  incon- 
stancy is  in  us,  not  in  the  waters,  which  for  ever 
flow  on  in  their  course.  Like  their  humble  type, 
they  follow  the  people  of  God  in  all  the  windings  of 
their  journey,  and  variations  of  their  state,  until  they 
are  brought  to  the  promised  land.  Other  things 
fail.  Time,  and  misfortune,  and  death,  have  an  evil 
action  upon  all  the  sources  of  man's  temporal  ex- 
pectations and  joys.  But  the  water,  which,  through 
the  Redeemer,  is  given  unto  him,  will  **  be  in  him  a 
well  of  water  springing  up  into  everlasting  life." 

I  have  now  endeavoured  to  set  before  you  some 
evidences  of  the  reality  and  necessity  of  the  gift  of 
the  Spirit  to  believers,  in  every  age ;  and  some  con- 
siderations which  may  illustrate  its  inestimable  value 
and  importance.  If  I  have  been  successful,  you  will, 
with  the  woman  of  Samaria,  be  ready  to  say  to  your 
Redeemer,  **  Give  me  this  water,  that  I  thirst  not'";" 
and  will  yet  indulge  me  with  your  patience,  while  I 
point  out  the  channels,  through  which  it  ordinarily 
flows.  I  say  the  ordinary  channels  :  for  that  the 
Deity  is  not  limited  by  His  own  appointments,  but 
may,  and  sometimes  does,  accomplish  His  purposes 
towards  men  in  an  extraordinary  manner,  it  would 
be  presumptuous  to  deny.  But  it  is  in  the  channels, 
through  which  He  hath  ordained  His  spiritual  bless- 
ings to  flow,  that  we  are  to  seek  them ;  and  those 
channels  are  His  word,  and  the  ordinances,  and 
prayer, 

™  John  iv,  15. 


92  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

*'  Faith,"  the  first  principle  of  the  new  life, 
**  Cometh,"  saith  the  Apostle,  **  by  hearing  ;  and 
hearing,  by  the  word  of  God  "."  It  is  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, that  the  truths  we  are  to  receive  ;  the  motives 
by  which  we  are  to  be  influenced ;  the  graces  we  are 
to  cultivate ;  the  hopes  we  are  to  cherish  ;  and  the 
purity  and  happiness  after  which  we  are  to  aspire, — 
are  collected,  described  and  deposited  by  the  Holy 
Spirit.  In  them  the  doctrines  and  promises,  the  in- 
structions and  consolations,  which  came  down  from 
heaven,  are  placed  by  Him,  as  it  were,  in  a  reservoir, 
that  in  and  by  them  He  might  the  more  consistently 
with  the  laws  of  our  nature,  carry  on  His  great  work 
of  enlightening,  purifying,  and  comforting  the  human 
race.  Here  the  Apostle  speaks  of  some  of  his  con- 
verts, as  begotten  by  the  word :  and  Jesus,  in  a  prayer 
for  His  followers,  said,  "  Sanctify  them  through  Thy 
truth:  Thy  word  is  truth"."  To  the  word  of  God, 
therefore,  as  it  is  found  in  the  writings  which  He 
hath  inspired,  and  preached  by  those  to  whom  the 
ministration  of  it  is  committed,  we  should  give  the 
most  earnest  heed,  and  diligent  attention.  "  Blessed 
is  the  man,"  whose  "  delight  is  in  the  law  of  the 
Lord,"  and  who  hath  it  in  his  meditation  "  day  and 
night ;"  for  *'  he  shall  be  like  a  tree  planted  by  the 
water-side,  that  will  bring  forth  his  fruit  in  due 
season  P." 

Having  acquired  faith  and  knowledge  from  the  re- 
velations of  truth.  Baptism  is  the  appointed  laver  of 
regeneration,  in  which  we  are  washed  from  the  stain 
of  sin,  and  begotten  anew  in  Christ,  unto  the  inhe- 
ritance of  the  Holy  Spirit.  In  this  ordinance,  the 
Comforter  is  made  our  own ;  and  were  it  not  for  the 
inordinateness  of  our  passions,  and  the  perverseness 
of  our  wills.  He  would  abide  constantly  with  all  those 

"  Rom.  X.  17.  °  John  xvii.  17.  p  Psalm  i.  1—3. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  93 

whose  interest  in  His  graces  has,  in  this  sacrament, 
been  sealed  to  thena  on  the  behalf  of  God.  They 
are,  in  this  ordinance,  made  the  children  of  God  by 
*'  adoption;"  **  and  because  they  are  sons,  God  sends 
forth  the  Spirit  of  His  Son  into  their  hearts,  whereby 
they  cry,  Abba,  Father ''."  "  Repent,  and  be  bap- 
tized," says  St.  Peter,  **  and  ye  shall  receive  the 
gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost '."  In  Confirmation,  the  title, 
which  before  was  in  the  hands  of  guardians,  is  put 
into  our  own  hands,  and  we  enter  actively  upon  the 
enjoyment  of  the  inheritance. 

Having  been  thus  conceived  unto  a  new  life  by 
the  word  of  God,  and  '*  born  again  of  water  and  the 
Spirit  %"  we  need  sustenance  to  nourish  and  comfort 
us,  unto  eternal  life.  This  spiritual  refreshment,  the 
faithful  receive  in  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 
At  that  table,  the  Spirit  waits  to  distribute  His  re- 
freshing and  enlivening  graces.  In  that  ordinance, 
we  receive  the  pardon  ;  we  recognize  the  truths  ;  we 
enjoy  in  figure  the  promises,  by  which  the  Comforter 
enlightens  and  strengthens,  consoles  and  sanctifies 
us.  In  and  by  the  precious  streams,  which  flow  for 
us  around  the  altar.  He  enters  the  hearts  of  the 
redeemed,  and  becomes  in  them  "  a  well  of  water 
springing  up  into  everlasting  life." 

There  is  not  time  that  we  should  tarry  on  the 
sides  of  these  channels  of  the  Spirit,  to  mark  their 
depth,  their  course,  their  accessibleness,  and  their 
happy  adaptation  to  our  nature  in  its  present  state. 
Suffice  it  to  observe,  that  they  are  pointed  out  in 
Scripture  as  the  fountains,  to  which  we  are  to  have 
recourse  for  the  waters,  which  Christ  has  to  give  ; 
and,  as  such,  have  been  acknowledged,  guarded, 
and  kept  open  by  the  Church,  from  her  earliest 
existence. 

'  Gal.  iv.  6.;  Rom.  viii.  15.  '  Acts  ii.  38,  '  John  iii.  3,  5. 


i^4  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

I  add,  thmt  Prayer  is  another  great  and  appointed 
means  of  bringing  down  upon  us  the  blessings  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  In  the  context,  it  is  intimated,  that  we 
must  ask,  if  we  would  receive,  the  water  which  our 
Redeemer  gives.  In  many  other  places  of  Scripture, 
this  is  most  explicitly  declared.  "  Ask,  and  ye  shall 
receive,  that  your  joy  may  be  full  *."  *'  If  ye,  being 
evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your  children, 
how  much  more  shall  your  heavenly  Father  give  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  Him  "  ?"  Indeed,  if  it 
be  inquired  why,  with  such  great  and  glorious  re^ 
sources  in  their  power,  men  generally  fall  so  short 
of  the  perfection  of  righteousness  and  peace,  I  fear, 
the  cause  of  it  will  be  found  to  be,  either  that  they 
do  not  recur  to  the  channels  of  grace,  which  have 
been  mentioned,  or  that  they  recur  to  them  without 
frequent,  earnest,  importunate  prayer  for  the  blessing 
of  God. 

We  have  now  finished  our  remarks  upon  this  im- 
portant subject.  Upon  a  review  of  what  has  been 
said,  how  interesting,  how  solemn,  how  momentous 
the  inquiry.  Have  we  received  the  Holy  Ghost  ?  This 
you  will  answer,  not  by  adverting  to  occasional  tran- 
sports of  devotion,  fervours  of  enthusiasm,  or  sup- 
posed illapses  of  the  Spirit,  which  generally  proceed 
from  heated  imaginations  and  unenlightened  zeal  : 
but  by  looking  in  yourselves  for  those  *'  fruits  of  the 
Spirit,"  by  which  His  presence  can  be  certainly 
known.  These  are  said  in  the  Gospel  to  be,  "  love, 
joy,  peace,  long-suffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith, 
meekness,  temperance  "","  and  such  like. 

By  the  absence  of  these  fruits,  are  we  obliged  to 
apprehend  that,  in  our  bosoms,  the  Comforter  has 
not  His  abode.  It  is  an  awful  apprehension.  Let 
us  ask  ourselves,  whether  we  have  sought  Him  in 

»  John  xvi.  24.  "  Luke  xi.  13.  "  Gal.  v.  22,  23. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  95 

the  ways,  in  which  He  is  to  be  found.  Do  we  study 
with  meekness,  and  receive  with  affection,  the  word 
of  God?  Have  we  performed,  as  well  as  we  have 
been  able,  our  baptismal  vows  ?  Are  we  constant 
guests  at  the  table  of  the  Lord,  whenever  it  is  spread? 
And  do  we  humbly,  and  often,  "  bow  our  knees  unto 
the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,— that  He  would 
grant  us,  according  to  the  riches  of  His  glory,  to  be 
strengthened  with  might  by  His  Spirit  in  the  inner 
man ;"  that  we  may  "  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which 
passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  may  be  filled  with  all 
the  fulness  of  God^"  If  we  have  refused  to  avail 
ourselves  of  the  means,  which  He  hath  so  graciously 
provided  for  obtaining  that,  which  is  of  such  in- 
estimable value,  can  we  wonder  that  the  blessing  is 
withheld ;  or,  perhaps,  after  having  been  some  time 
enjoyed  by  us,  is  taken  away? 

Do  we  find  in  our  hearts  and  lives,  the  '*  fruits  of 
the  Spirit?"     Let  us  rejoice  with  humble  joy.     Let 
us  give  all  diligence  to  keep  the  inestimable  gift. 
Christians,  you  will  be  encompassed  with  tempta- 
tions, while  you  continue  in  the  flesh.    Cherish  the 
graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  when  you  are  weak, 
through  the  frailty  of  your  nature,  you  may  in  His 
power  be  strong.     Christians,  you  will,  in  all  pro- 
bability, be  overtaken  by  affliction,  while  you  are 
journeying  to  the  place  of  your  rest.     Cherish  the 
presence  of  the  Holy  Comforter,  that,  when  under 
the  heavy  strokes  of  its  chastening  hand  you   are 
ready  to  faint,  you  may,  beside  the  waters  to  which 
He   will    lead    you,    find    refreshment  and   peace. 
Christians,  the  hour  is  coming,  when  you  shall  be 
compelled  to  enter  the  "  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death'."      Cherish   the   friendship  of  the  Spirit  of 
God,  the  only  friend  who  can  go  with  you  into  that 

»  Eph.  iii.  li — 19.  '  Psalm  xxiii.  4. 


96  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

valley,  and  be  of  any  use  to  you  there.  Cherish  His 
friendship,  that  you  may  be  raised  above  the  fears 
and  sufferings  of  that  tremendous  vale,  by  His  con- 
soling testimony,  witnessing  with  your  spirits,  that 
vou  are  the  children  of  God% 

*  Rom.  viii.  16, 


SERMON   I.IIT. 


ON   WHITSUNDAY. 

1  Thessalonians  v.  19. 
Quench  not  the  Spirit. 

By  the  event,  which  the  Church  this  day  comme- 
morates, our  attention  is  turned  to  that  glorious 
mystery  of  the  Christian  economy,  the  descent  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  to  dwell  in  men.  The  visible 
manifestation  of  Him  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  was 
the  commencement  of  His  perpetual  abode  with  the 
faithful.  It  was  the  dispensing  of  the  excellent  gift, 
of  which  every  sincere  disciple  of  the  Redeemer  is  a 
partaker:  for  though  **  the  sound  as  of  a  rushing 
mighty  wind"  be  no  more  heard,  nor  the  "  cloven 
tongues  like  as  of  fire""  seen:  yet  is  the  Holy  Ghost 
in  the  heart  of  every  Christian  in  a  **  still  small 
voice''/'  asserting  His  presence,  and  waiting  to 
sanctify  them  wholly,  if  they  will  co-operate  with 
His  sacred  influence.  **  I  will  pray  the  Father," 
says  Christ  to  His  infant  Church,  **  and  He  shall 
give  you  another  Comforter,  that  He  may  abide  with 
you  for  ever'."  '*  The  promise,"  says  St.  Peter, 
"is  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  even  as  many  as  the  Lord 
our  God  shall  call^"     *'  Because  ye  are  sons,"  says 

»  Acts  ii.  2,  S.  "1  Kings  xix.  12. 

.    '    :■*  Johnxiv.  16.  ^  Acts  ii.  39.  ^ 

VOL.  II.  H 


98  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

St.  Paul,  ''  God  hath  sent  forth  the  Spirit  of  His 
Son  into  your  hearts*."  And  in  allusion  to  the  ap- 
pearance with  which  the  Comforter  came  upon  the 
Apostles,  he  exhorts  the  Thessalonians  in  the  text, 
"  Quench  not  the  Spirit."  From  which  passages 
and  many  others  of  a  similar  sense,  as  well  as  from 
the  nature  of  the  Gospel  scheme,  and  the  observa- 
tions of  those  who  have  watched  the  course  of  the 
Christian  life;  it  is  abundantly  evident,  that  every 
believer  has  an  interest  in  that  precious  gift,  which, 
on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  was  poured  out  upon  the 
Church,  so  far  as  it  was  a  source  of  light,  and  purity, 
and  comfort,  to  those  who  received  it.  "  The  mani- 
festation of  the  Spirit  is  given  to  every  man  to  profit 
withar." 

But  how  says  the  Apostle,  "  Quench  not  the 
Spirit  V  Is  the  grace  of  God  resistible  ?  Can  man 
withstand,  and  turn  away  the  operations  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  ?  Yes,  certainly ;  unless  the  exhortation  in  the 
text,  and  very  many  of  the  cautions  and  denuncia- 
tions in  the  Sacred  Volume  be  insignificant,  and  man, 
as  to  faith  and  virtue,  a  mere  machine.  We  are  made^ 
rational  and  moral  beings.  As  such,  God  contem- 
plates us  in  all  His  dispensations.  To  induce,  not 
force,  our  understandings;  to  assist,  not  compel  us 
to  be  virtuous ;  is  His  purpose  in  the  gift  of  His  Holy 
Spirit.  This  is  accomplished,  by  setting  the  truth 
before  us,  and  enabling  us  to  discern  it ;  by  stirring 
up  virtuous  affections  in  us,  and  by  the  most  per- 
suasive motives,  urging  us  to  **  refuse  the  evil,  and 
choose  the  good^."  But  in  our  nature  we  know 
there  are  principles  opposed  to  this  good  Spirit  of 
God.  We  have  ever  a  tempter  within  us.  And  if,- 
when  the  Holy  Ghost  invites,  and  would  conduct  us) 
to  the  way  of  truth  and  holiness,  and  **  the  lust  of 

•  Gal.  iv.  6.  '  1  Car.  sjLii..  7.  S  Isa.  vii.  15. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  99 

the  flesh,  the  lust  of  the  eyes,  or  the  pride  of  life''," 
iirg-es  us  into  devious  paths,  we  prefer  the  latter,  we 
are  capable  of  wandering  in  them,  and  may  fall  there^ 
in.  To  deprive  us  of  the  power  of  choosing,  would 
be  to  destroy  the  moral  freedom,  which  constitutes 
us  accountable  beings,  and  so  render  our  rational 
faculties  useless.  *'  Not  that  we  are  sufficient  of 
ourselves*,"  to  save  or  sanctify  ourselves.  Our  spi- 
ritual life  is  dependent  on  God.  But,  in  like  man- 
ner, is  our  natural  life.  He  is  the  source  from  whom 
our  daily  existence  .flows.  Without  the  support  of 
His  upholding  power,  we  could  not  be.  "  In  Him 
we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being''."  Yet  if 
any  man,  considering  that  the  power  of  the  Almighty 
is  the  support  of  his  life,  and  that  without  this  sup- 
port, his  own  exertions  would  be  ineffectual,  should 
neglect  to  be  cautious  amidst  the  dangers  to  which 
he  is  exposed,  and  forbear  to  use  the  means  qf  sus- 
taining life,  which  the  Deity  has  provided, — what 
would  be  the  consequence?  He  would  soon  find  that 
his  concurrence  with  the  Divine  providence  is  ordi- 
narily necessary  to  the  preservation  of  life,  and  that 
by  negligence  or  the  abuse  of  his  faculties,  he  would 
perish.  So  is  it  with  respect  to  spiritual  life.  The 
Spirit  of  God  is  the  great  source  of  regeneration. 
By  His  grace  we  are  saved,  and  renewed  "  after  the 
image  of  Him  that  created  us'."  But  this  mighty 
work  is  not  ordinarily  accomplished  without  the  con- 
currence  of  our  will  and  affections.  And  if  we  are  , 
at  liberty  to  concur,  and  this  concurrence  be  ordi- 
narily requisite  by  the  constitution  of  the  Gospel, 
we  may  neglect  or  refuse  to  do  it,  and  render  the 
admonitions  and  influence  of  the  Spirit  ineffectual, 
If  it  be  not  so,  wherefore  is  the  Almighty  introduced 

-'     .;  -  "  iJohn  ii.  16.  '  2  Cor.  iii.  5. 

.;.     ;  f:  Acts  xvii.  28.  '  Col.  iii-  10, 

H  2 


100  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

in  Scripture,  as  saying:  "  My  Spirit  shall  not  always 
strive  with  man""?"  Must  He  not  have  met  with  op- 
position in  the  hearts  of  men,  and  been  wearied 
with  their  iniquities?  Wherefore  are  they  who  were 
"  hardened  through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin%"  said 
to  be  "  unto  every  good  work  reprobate  „?''  Did 
the  voice,  which  some  time  or  other  speaks  in  all,^ 
not  speak  in  them,  and  were  they  without  the  offer 
of  that  aid  by  which  only  they  could  be  saved,  left 
to  perish?  Wherefore  are  we  exhorted,  not  to  "  re- 
sist," not  to  "grieve^;"  not  to  "quench  the  Spirit:" 
and,  instead  of  being  encouraged  to  trust  indolently 
to  His  operations,  because  it  is  He  who  "  worketh 
in  us  both  to  will  and  to  do^;"  why  are  we  required, 
by  this  very  consideration,  to  be  anxiously  active  in 
'*  working  out  our  own  salvation"^?"  Are  all  these 
pious  artifices  to  keep  us  employed  ?  Are  they  re- 
quisitions, on  our  compliance  with  which,  the  end 
they  propose  to  secure,  does  not  at  all  depend?  In 
short,  if  the  influences  of  the  Spirit  cannot  be  frus- 
trated, why  are  not  Christians  altogether  blameless, 
seeing  He  is  ever  willing  and  at  hand?  Why  is  the 
voice  of  the  Holy  Comforter  in  any  case  unheard,  or 
heard  without  effect?  That  His  friendly  desires  may 
be  rendered  ineffectual  by  man,  the  Scriptures  do 
evidently  suggest;  that  they  are  rendered  ineffectual, 
tne  lives  of  men  do  too  often  fully  prove. 
'  It  is  important  then,  that  we  be  informed  of  the 
ways,  jn  which  we  are  liable  to  "  quench  the  Spirit." 
And  this  we  may  do  by  our  heedlessness.  If  we 
do  not  admit  and  hear,  cherish  and  obey  the  sacred 
admonitions  of  the  Comforter,  we  may  bring  our- 
selves into  the  danger  of  being  deprived  of  them 
Though  the  manner  of  His  operations  is  mysterious 

»  G^n.  vi.  3.  "  Heb.  iii.  13.  "  Titus  i.  16. 

*  Eph.  iv.  30.  *»  Phil.  ii.  13.  /  Phil.  ii.  U. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  lOl 

it  is  nevertheless  sensible.  In  the  chaos  of  our 
nature.  He  moves  upon  the  face  of  the  deep :  and  if 
the  clamour  of  the  passions  be  silenced,  and  the 
mind  attentive  and  still.  His  voice  may  be  heard, 
raising  our  aifections  to  the  Deity,  and  teaching  us 
to  trust  in  His  goodness,  and  secure  His  favour : 
calling  to  us,  to  turn  from  the  base  and  ruinous  paths 
of  vice,  and  commending  to  us  the  ways  of  virtue  : 
assuring  us  of  the  importance  of  our  eternal  concerns, 
and  disposing  us  to  make  a  timely  provision  for  their 
safety.  If  these  suggestions  of  the  Holy  Spirit  be 
indulged,  and  we  improve  them  by  the  instructions 
of  the  word  He  has  dictated,  the  heavenly  Friend 
will  take  up  His  abode  in  our  hearts,  and  favour  us 
with  new,  and  fuller  communications  of  Himself.  For 
it  is  a  declared  principle  of  the  Christian  economy 
that,  to  him  **  that  hath  shall  be  given,  and  he  shall 
have  abundance'."  But  if  we  disregard  His  coun- 
sels ;  if,  immersed  in  the  vanities  of  life,  we  suffer 
Him  to  lift  up  His  voice  in  vain  ;  if  when  He  calls, 
we  refuse  to  hear;  if  when  He  stretches  out  His 
hand,  we  do  not  regard  it :  His  slighted  influences 
He  will  justly  withhold,  and  leave  us  to  pursue  our 
own  course,  and  reap  the  fruit  of  our  own  devices. 

Again.  The  Spirit  may  be  quenched  by  that  pride, 
which  fills  men  with  a  confidence  in  their  own  under- 
standings, and  a  complacent  attachment- to  the  ima- 
ginations of  their  hearts.  There  are  many,  who, 
when  they  attend  to  the  truths  of  religion,  are  sen- 
sibly warmed  with  a  conviction  of  their  excellence, 
and  in  the  management  of  life  are  impressed  with  a 
knowledge  of  their  obligations  to  virtue,  and  checked 
in  their  inclinations  to  vice.  They  hear  distinctly 
the  voice  within  them,  saying,  ''  This  is  the  way, 
walk  ye  in  it,  when  ye  turn  to  the  right  hand,  and 

*  Matt.  XXV.  2d. 


i02  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

when  ye  turn  to  the  left'."  But  the  pride  of  fallen 
nature  renders  them  superior  to  a  counsellor.  The 
arch  adversary  enables  this,  his  prime  minister  in  the 
hearts  of  men,  to  persuade  them,  that  the  restraints 
which  are  about  them,  and  the  emotions  of  goodness, 
are  the  prejudices  of  education,  and  superstitious 
fears.  They,  therefore,  prefer  the  guidance  of  their 
own  minds,  and  pursue  their  own  projects,  against 
every  remonstrance.  No  wonder,  then,  that  the 
counsels  of  the  Comforter  are  turned  away.  The 
Spirit  of  God  will  not  enter  into  competition  with 
the  reason  of  man.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  latter  tO' 
prostrate  itself  before  Him.  Whatever  truths  are 
contained  in  the  word  which  He  has  inspired,  should 
be  embraced  ;  whatever  path  is  approved,  in  the  in- 
structions of  life  which  He  has  given,  should  be  pur- 
sued ;  whatever  conduct  is  required  by  the  dictates 
of  conscience,  in  which  He  speaks,  should  be  ob- 
served ;  however  discordant  with  the  vanity  of  our 
minds,  and  imaginations  of  our  evil  heart.  Conscious 
of  our  frailty,  we  should  be  meek.  Reverencing  His 
perfection,  we  should  be  docile.  "  God  resisteth 
the  proud,  but  giveth  grace  unto  the  humble  "." 

Further.  The  Spirit  may  be  quenched  by  our 
habitual,  or  presumptuous  sins.  If  we  defile  this 
body,  which  He  condescends  to  inhabit,  by  surren- 
dering it  to  evil  and  corrupt  affections,  it  becomes 
unfit  for  His  presence.  The  fire  of  His  love  will  not 
burn  on  the  heart,  on  which  incense  is  offered  by 
the  passions  to  vice.  The  light  of  His  truth  will 
not  shine  in  the  bosom,  which  is  polluted  with  ini- 
quity. Besides,  to  subdue  the  dominion  of  sin,  is 
the  great  purpose  for  which  He  dwells  with  men. 
Every  voluntary  transgression  is,  therefore,  a  coun- 
teraction of  His  work,  a  league  with  His  foe  : — a  foe, 

*  Isa.  XXX.  21.  -       u  James  iv.  6. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  H'3 

which,  for  our  sakes,  He  has  undertaken  to  destroy. 
While  we  continue  in  this  league,  we  do  "  despite 
unto  the  Spirit  of  grace  %"  and  may  expect  a  dimi- 
nution, and,  at  length,  a  loss  of  His  friendly  admo- 
nitions and  aid.  For  those  frailties  of  nature,  from 
which  none  are  free ;  for  those  errors  of  infirmity, 
into  which  we  may  inadvertently  fall.  He  has  com- 
passion. He  waits  at  the  door  of  our  hearts,  to 
guard  us  from  these;  and  when  they  surprise  us.  He 
pities  our  weakness.  But  by  those  habitual  vices,  in 
which  some  allow  themselves  to  live,  and  those  pre- 
sumptuous sins,  which  others  commit  in  violation  of 
their  conscience,  and  the  instructions  of  God,  He  is 
grieved  and  offended.  "  Into  a  malicious  soul,"  says 
the  author  of  the  Book  of  Wisdom,  "  He  will  not 
enter ;  nor  dwell  in  the  body  that  is  subject  unto 
sin.  The  Holy  Spirit  of  discipline  will  flee  deceit, 
and  remove  from  thoughts  that  are  without  under- 
standing, and  will  not  abide  when  unrighteousness 
cometh  in  ^." 

I  observe,  lastly,  that  we  may  ''quench  the  Spirit," 
by  neglecting  to  recur  often  to  the  channels  through 
which  His  graces  are  usually  communicated.  Such 
a  guide  and  Comforter  is  worthy  to  be  sought.  By 
neglecting  the  appointed  means  of  grace,  we,  in  a 
strict  sense,  deprive  ourselves  of  His  services.  If  we 
do  not  study  "  the  word  of  God,"  when  it  is  declared 
to  be  written  by  the  Spirit  of  truth,  and  to  be  the 
"  incorruptible  seed  of  which  we  are  born  again':" — 
if  we  neglect  to  join  the  assembly  of  the  saints,  when 
Christ  has  promised  that,  "  where  two  or  three  are 
gathered  together  in  His  name.  He  will  be  in  the 
midst  of  them  ^ :" — if  we  neither  seek  the  blessing  of 
the  Spirit  in  acts  of  public,  nor  of  private  worship. 


^  Heb.  X.  29.  ^  Wisd.  i.  4,  5. 

*  1  Pet.  i.  23.  *  Matt,  xviii,  20. 


104  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

when  we  are  expressly  taught  to  "  ask  of  God,  that 
giveth  to  all  men  liberally,  and  upbraideth  not":"— 
if  we  use  not  the  holy  sacraments,  which  are  pro- 
vided in  the  Church,  when  we  know,  or  should  know 
that  they  are  *  outward  visible  signs  of  an  inward 
spiritual  grace  given  unto  us,  ordained  by  Christ 
Himself,  as  a  means  whereby  we  receive  the  same, 
and  a  pledge  to  assure  us  thereof:' — if  we  neglect  to 
recur  with  proper  dispositions  to  these  many  ap- 
pointed means  of  obtaining  the  Spirit : — the  proba- 
bility is,  that  His  place  in  our  hearts  will  be  occupied 
by  the  cares  and  vanities  of  life  :  the  holy  fire,  which 
once  may  have  burned  in  our  bosoms,  will  be  liable 
to  go  out :  He  will  leave  us  to  "  our  own  way,"  and, 
oh  most  unhappy  portion !  we  shall  '*  be  filled"  with 
the  fruit  of  "  our  own  devices  ^" 

You  see,  then,  that  you  may  resist  the  Spirit;  and 
in  how  many  ways  it  may  be  quenched.  Let  me,  I 
pray  you,  with  some  portion  of  the  Apostle's  concern, 
enforce  his  important  caution  by  a  few  weighty,  and 
affecting  considerations. 

In  the  first  place;  this  Spirit,  which  you  are  ex- 
horted not  to  quench,  is  the  principle  of  a  new  and 
eternal  life  ;  the  holy  source  of  knovv^ledge,  purity, 
and  consolation.  Hence  He  is  styled,  with  reference 
to  His  offices  among  men,  the  Paraclete  or  Comforter: 
and  hence.  His  visible  descent,  as  at  this  time,  upon 
the  Apostles,  was  a  pledge  to  the  whole  Church  of 
i^omething,  which  should  be  to  her,  in  her  militancy, 
a  substitute  for  her  absent  Lord.  Yes,  ye  lovers  of 
virtue,  conscious  of  the  corruption  and  infirmity  of 
your  nature,  here  is  the  pledge  of  "  grace  sufficient 
for  you  ''."  The  Spirit  of  God  is  sent  forth  for  your 
help.  The  light,  which  this  Spirit  diff"uses,  must 
guide  you  to  truth,  and  enamour  you  of  goodness. 

»'  James  i.  .5.  '   Prov.  i.  31.  ''2  Cor.  xii.  9. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  IOd 

He  moves  upon  the  chaos  of  j^our  disordered  nature, 
and  light  springeth  forth  from  the  darkness ;  order 
taketh  place  of  the  confusion  of  the  passions,  and 
moral  beauty  and  progressive  holiness  appear,  where 
all  was  anarchy  and  dismaying  corruption.  Yes, 
children  of  sorrow,  who,  amidst  the  disappointments 
and  bereavements  of  life,  find  nature  weak,  and  an- 
guish strong,  you  have  here  assurance  of  an  heavenly 
Comforter.  The  Spirit,  which  *  proceedeth  from  the 
Father  and  the  Son,'  is  a  Spirit  of  consolation.  Upon 
the  afflicted  soul,  which  looks  to  Heaven  for  help. 
He  will  descend  ;  and  at  His  voice,  the  tumult  of  its 
sorrows  will  subside,  and  the  perturbed  bosom  be 
hushed  to  a  calm.  Yes,  faithful  Christian,  journeying 
rapidly  to  the  tomb,  you  have  here  the  earnest  of 
Almighty  aid  in  that  hour,  when  nature  needs  all 
the  assistance  which  heaven  and  earth  can  give,  the 
hour  of  death.  Your  Master,  at  His  ascension,  hath 
been  taken  from  your  head,  and  you  have  been  left, 
with  more  than  the  Prophet's  affection,  to  exclaim, 
**  My  father,  my  father,  the  chariot  of  Israel,  and 
the  horsemen  thereof*!"  But,  behold;  His  Spirit 
resteth  upon  His  followers.  If  ye  take  up  the  mantle 
He  has  left  you  in  His  word  and  sacraments,  ye  shall, 
in  the  power  of  this  Spirit,  go  '*  on  your  way  re- 
joicing*^;"  and  when  ye  are  brought  to  the  stream, 
which  separates  you  from  your  home,  shall  be  able 
to  smite  the  waters  and  pass  over  untouched  by  their 
waves  ^  Oh  benighted  mortals,  encumbered  with 
imperfections,  enveloped  in  darkness,  and  trembling 
at  the  approach  of  death,  '*  Quench  not  the  Spirit." 
Again.  The  dignity  of  the  Comforter,  and  the 
price  at  which  His  renewing  influences  upon  our 
fallen  race  were  procured,  should  deter  us  from 
grieving,  or  resisting  the  Spirit.     He  is  the  Spirit  of 

•  2  Kings  it.  13.  'Acts  viii.  3D.  *  2  Kings  ii.  14. 


106  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

God  ;  and  to  purchase  His  restoration  to  the  souls  of 
men,  the  Son  of  God  expired.     What  is  this  event, 
which  we  have,    to-day,    been  commemorating  at 
yonder  holy  table  ?     Even  the  death  of  Christ ;  not 
only  to  expiate  our  past  transgressions,  but  to  pro- 
cure that  reconciliation  and  return  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  to  our  offending  souls,  whereby  we  may  walk 
in  newness  of  life.     As  the  reward  of  His  obedience 
and  sufferings,  Christ  received  of  the  Father  the  pro- 
mise of  the  Holy  Ghost;  and,  as  an  earnest  of  the 
blessing  to  His  whole  Church,  shed  forth  that,  on 
the  day  of  Pentecost,  of  which  you  have  this  day 
heard.     Oh  ye,  who  have  been  at  the  cross  of  your 
Redeemer,  and  have  witnessed  the  price  at  which 
the  descent  of  the  Comforter  upon  the  hearts  of 
sinful  man,  was  procured,  "  Quench  not  the  Spirit." 
Finally.     It  is  by  this  Spirit,  that  the  ransomed  of 
the  Lord  "are  sealed  unto  the  day  of  redemption''." 
Strive  then  to  obtain  this  Seal,  and  be  careful  to 
preserve  it,  by  walking  with  humble  minds  in  the 
paths  of  Christian  obedience ;  listening,  always,  to 
His  friendly  admonitions  within  you,  and  suffering- 
nothing  to  turn  you  aside  from  the  paths  of  holiness, 
which,  in  the  word  of  God,  He  hath  marked  out  for 
your  feet.     And  Thou,  O  blessed  Spirit,  who,  as  at 
this  time,  didst  descend  upon  the  first  followers  of 
the  Lamb,  vouchsafe,  for  His  sake,  to  descend  and 
rest  upon  our  hearts.     Bear  with  our  imperfections. . 
Elevate  and  purify  our  desires.     Enlighten  us  in 
ignorance.     Comfort  us  in  sorrow.     Guide  us  in  life, 
and  sustain  us  in  that  hour,  when  death  shall  sepa- 
rate us  from  this  scene  of  probation  for  ever  and 
ever. 

''  Eph.  iv.  30, 


SERMON   LIV. 


ON   WHITSUNDAY. 


Acts  ii.  33. 

Therefore  being  by  the  right  hand  of  God  exalted,  and  having 
received  of  the  Father  the  promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  he 
hath  shed  forth  this,  which  ye  now  see  and  hear. 

These  words  are  a  part  of  that  animated  sermon  of 
St.  Peter's,  which  converted  three  thousand  per- 
sons to  the  Christian  faith.  It  was  delivered  on  that 
memorable  occasion,  when  the  Church  received  from 
her  Lord,  His  richest  and  most  precious  gift.  With 
simple,  yet  awful  grandeur,  the  Holy  Ghost,  sent 
forth  by  the  Saviour,  had  descended  upon  His  Apos- 
tles, while  in  the  exercise  of  faith  and  love,  they 
were  waiting  for  the  fulj&lment  of  their  Master's 
promise.  Uncandid  and  amazed,  the  multitude  gave 
to  the  occurrence  and  its  effects,  the  most  unrea- 
sonable and  blasphemous  construction.  This  roused 
the  ardour  of  St.  Peter,  and  led  him,  in  a  very 
frank,  eloquent  and  pious  discourse,  to  declare  to 
them,  that  the  same  Jesus,  whom  they  had  lately 
crucified,  was  the  Messiah  ;  that  God  had,  in  exact 
fulfilment  of  the  predictions  of  the  Prophets,  raised 
Him  from  the  dead ;  that  He  had  been  constituted 
in  heaven,  "both    Lord   and    Christ";"   and   that, 

*  Acts  ii.  36. 


108  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

*'  being  by  the  right  hand  of  God  exalted,  and 
having  received  of  the  Father  the  promise  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  He  had  shed  forth  that,  which  they 
then  saw  and  heard." 

In  commemoration  of  this  miraculous  and  im- 
portant event,  the  day  of  Pentecost  has,  from  the 
first  ages  of  Christianity,  been  solemnized  by  the 
Church  :  and  under  the  significant  name  of  Whit- 
sunday, is  ranked  amongst  her  most  joyful  festivals. 
Let  us,  my  brethren,  employ  our  thoughts  upon  the 
great  purposes,  to  which  this  event  had  reference, 
and,  if  any  instructions  may  be  deduced  from  the 
circumstances  of  it,  let  us  lay  them  up  in  our  hearts. 

In  the  first  place,  the  miraculous  efi'usion  of  the 
Divine  Spirit,  was  the  strongest  attestation  of  our 
Saviour's  ascension  into  heaven.  On  the  last  Lord's 
day,  we  saw  the  importance  of  this  article  of  our 
faith,  to  the  design  and  perfection  of  Christianity. 
Our  blessed  Lord,  desirous  of  giving  to  His  Church 
the  fullest  evidence  of  His  glorification,  assured 
His  disciples  before  His  departure  from  the  earth, 
.that  in  testimony  of  His  exaltation.  He  would  send 
them  a  blessing  which  could  come  only  from  above, 
*•  even  the  Spirit  of  truth,  which  proceedeth  from 
the  Father^"  and  should  be  in,  and  abide  with  them 
for  ever.  On  this  test,  He  might  have  rested  the 
certainty  of  His  ascension,  and,  consequently,  of 
our  dearest  hopes.  It  was  a  test,  to  which  there 
could  be  no  exception.  If,  in  token  of  His  ascen- 
sion into  heaven.  He  would  send  to  His  followers 
such  gifts,  as  could  come  only  from  thence,  who 
would  be  able  to  doubt,  that  He  was  there  arrived  ? 
If,  in  demonstration  of  His  accession  to  His  king- 
dom in  heaven,  He  would  exhibit  incontrovertible 
evidences  of  supremacy,  who  would  be  able  to  deny, 

*  John  XV,  26. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  10l> 

that  "  the  Father  had  given  all  things  into  His 
hand"?"  With  holy  confidence,  the  disciples  waited 
for  these  fruits  of  the  ascension;  "  and  when  the 
day  of  Pentecost  was  fully  come,  were  all  with  one 
accord  in  one  place**."  He  was  '*  faithful  who  had 
promised  %"  The  great  attestation  of  His  "  being 
by  the  right  hand  of  God  exalted,"  was  heard,  was 
seen,  was  felt,  and  was  acknowledged.  The  Divine 
Spirit  with  expressive  majesty  descended.  In  visi- 
ble form  it  rested  upon  the  Apostles,  and  produced 
in  their  miiids  and  conduct  most  wonderful  effects. 
This  great  miraclej  then,  preserves  and  strengthens 
the  basis  upon  which  Christianity  rests.  In  this  we 
have  the  strongest  proof  of  our  Redeemer's  entrance 
into  heaven,  in  our  behalf.  This  is  indisputable  evi- 
dence of  the  glorious  truth,  that  the  "  Captain  of 
our  salvation V'  has  "  ascended  on  high,  has  led 
captivity  captive,  has  received  gifts  for  men^.'' 

Another  grand  purpose  of  this  miraculous  eflfusioii 
of  the  Spirit  was  to  qualify  the  Apostles  for  the  ar- 
duous duties,  which,  after  Christ's  reception  into 
heaven,  were  devolved  upon  them.  His  Church  was 
to  be  established  in  the  world.  They  were  to  be 
His  witnesses  among  all  people.  Through  them 
His  religion  was  to  be  maintained  and  propagated ; 
the  tidings  of  salvation  to  be  conveyed  to  all  na- 
tions. They  stood  in  need,  therefore,  of  superna- 
tural endowments.  Their  ministry  required  for  the 
successful  discharge  of  it,  the  aid  of  power  from  on 
high.  It  was  necessary  that  the  life,  the  doctrines, 
and  the  precepts  of  their  Redeemer,  should  be 
transmitted  to  posterity.  Destitute  of  human  as- 
sistance, and  subject  to  like  frailties  as  other  men, 
how  could    these   primitive  disciples  have  accom- 

«  John  Hi.  35,  d  Acts  ii,  1.  ^  Heb.  xi.  11. 

'  Heb.  ii.  10.  «  Psalm  Ixviii.  18. 


110  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

plished  this  important  work  without  error  or  omis- 
sion, unless  the  Holy  Ghost  had  "  brought  all  things 
to  their  remembrance''/'  and  "  guided  them  into  all 
truth'?"    It  was  necessary,  that  they  should  publish 
the  Gospel  to  people  whom  they  had  not  known, 
and  in  countries  with  which  they  were  utterly  unac- 
quainted.    Illiterate,  most  of  them,  even  in  their 
mother  tongue,  how  could  they  have  preached,  and 
preached  with  eloquence  to  the  inhabitants  of  all 
climes,  but  by  being  enabled  to  use  all  *'  tongues, 
as  the  Spirit  gave  them  utterance  *"?"     It  was  ne- 
cessary, that  they  should  oppose  venerated  systems, 
and  attack  prevalent  manners.    Poor  and  friendless, 
what  could  have  encouraged  them,  if  the  Comforter 
had  not  *'  given  them  a  mouth  and  wisdom,  which 
all  their  adversaries  were  not  able  to  gainsay  nor 
resist'?"  In  exposing  the  injustice  and  falsehood  of 
the  Jews ;  in  reproving  the  vices  of  the  Gentiles ;  in 
condemning  opinions  endearing  to  man  by  habit,  by 
superstition,   and  by  interest,  they  would  unavoid- 
ably be  exposed  to  fatigue,  to  danger,  to  persecu- 
tion, and  to  death.     How,  then,  could  they  have 
been  animated  to  their  work,  and  supported  under 
sufferings,  at  which  nature  would  have  recoiled,  if 
they  had  not  been  furnished   with   strength   from 
above,  and  experienced  the  truth  of  their  Saviour's 
assurance,  *'  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world"?"  Thus  to  qualify,  to  guide, 
to  encourage  and  support  the  Apostles,  in  their  great 
duty  of  maintaining  and  extending  the  religion  of 
Christ,  was  one  important  purpose  accomplished  in 
the  effusion  of  the  Holy  Ghost.   It  was  an  end  wor^ 
thy  of  the  great  miracle.     The  reality  of  the  occur- 
rence was  evidenced  by  the  effects  of  it ;  for  while 
yet  the  "  cloven  tongues,  like  as  of  fire","  were  vi- 

•*  John  xiv.  26.  '  Ibid.  xvi.  13.  "  Acts  ii.  4. 

!  Lukexxi.  15.  "  Matt,  xxviii.  20.  "  Acts  ii.  3, 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  Ill 

sible,  multitudes  abandoning  their  friends,  their  in- 
terest, and  their  ease,  believed :  and  before  seventy 
years  had  elapsed  after  the  ascension  of  the  Re- 
deemer, "  the  feet  of  those  who  brought  good 
tidings,  and  published  peace»,"  had  trodden  all 
parts  of  the  known  world.  Without  supernatural 
aid,  the  rapid  extension  of  Christianity,  in  the  way 
in  which  it  was  extended,  could  never  have  been 
accomplished  ;  and  those  endowments  which  were 
shed  upon  the  Apostles  on  the  day  of  Pentecost, 
were  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  purpose,  and  ade- 
quate to  the  amazing  effects  which  were  produced. 
It  was  "  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  marvellous  in^ 
our  eyes^." 

Once  more.  When  the  Comforter  was  given  vi- 
sibly to  the  Apostles,  it  was  an  earnest  of  the  fulfil- 
ment of  the  promise,  to  be  found  only  in  the  Gospel 
of  Christ,  that  the  Divine  Spirit  will  be  ever  ready 
to  instruct  the  sincere  in  the  season  of  inquiry ;  to 
strengthen  the  virtuous  in  the  hour  of  temptation ; 
and  to  comfort  the  good  man  in  the  day  of  adver- 
sity. A  moment's  reflection  will  convince  iis,  that, 
man,  in  his  present  state,  is  able  but  imperfectly  to 
investigate  the  truths,  which  it  most  concerns  him 
to  know.  Reason,  at  the  best,  has  but  a  limited 
range,  and  there  are  passions  and  prejudices,  which 
most  unhappily,  weaken  and  bias  its  operations. 
Equally  evident  is  it,  that  our  nature  is  feeble  of.- 
itself,  to  defend  the  fortresses  of  virtue  against  the* 
artifices  and  assaults  of  vice.  "  In  many  things  we 
offend  all**,"  and  the  best  of  our  race  have  be- 
moaned their  inability  to  bring  to  perfection  even 
those  virtues,  which  their  minds  and  their  hearts > 
approve.  And  who  has  not  known,  how  hard  the 
struggles  with  which  the  soul  supports  itself  under 

I  Isa,  Hi.  7.  ''  JPsalm  cxviii.  23.  "»  James  iii.  S. 


112  OJi  WHITSUNDAY. 

the  afflictions,  which  darken  its  prospects,  and  blast 
its  joys?  In  ease  and  prosperity  it  is  strong ;  but  in 
trouble  it  faints;  and  the  cup,  which  should  be  to 
it  as  a  medicine  of  life,  it  converts,  by  the  stubborn- 
ness of  its  will,  into  a  potion  of  maddening  anguish, 
or  impious  discontent.  A  consideration  of  these 
truths,  led  the  wisest  of  the  heathens  to  think  it 
necessary,  that  the  gods  should  invisibly  guide,  and 
comfort  the  virtuous.  And  every  person,  who  so- 
berly contemplates  man,  groaning  under  the  burden 
of  sin,  under  the  pressure  of  affliction,  and  under 
the  consciousness  of  mortality,  must  perceive 
amongst  its  most  pressing  necessities  the  want  of 
some  source  of  knowledge,  holiness,  and  consola- 
tion, greater  and  more  constant,  than  any  thing 
which  frail  nature  finds  in  itself.  But  who,  except 
the  adorable  Being  that  is  "  by  the  right  hand  of 
God  exalted,"  hath  *'  received  of  the  Father  the 
promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost?"  The  purchase  and 
gift  of  the  Comforter  was  the  work  of  Christ.  En- 
riching His  religion  with  a  boon  no  where  else  to  be 
found,  He  hath  taught  mankind,  that  upon  honest 
inquiry,  active  virtue,  and  humble  sorrow,  the 
Spirit  of  God  will  ever  bestow  its  needed  aid  and 
blessing.  The  precious  promise  is  His  gift  to  His 
Church ;  purchased  for  us  with  His  blood,  and 
bestowed  upon  the  redeemed  of  every  place  and 
generation.  And  the  miraculous  descent  of  the 
Comforter,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  was  the  con- 
firmation of  this  joyful  doctrine.  It  was  expedient 
for  the  conviction  of  the  multitude,  and  for  render- 
ing the  fulfilment  of  the  promises  apparent,  that  at 
the  first  full  effusion  there  should  be  a  visible  and 
.  significant  descent.  He  came,  to  be  to  the  Church 
in  her  militant  state,  the  holy  substitute  for  her  ab- 
sent Lord ;  and,  in  every  soul  which  is  willing 
to  become  a  temple  for  His  abode,  He  is  ready  to 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  H3 

dwell  ;  illumining  and  cheering  it  with  His  heavenly 
influences;  cleansing  it  from  all  defilement;  and 
filling  it  with  love,  and  hope,  and  peace.  This  the 
whole  tenor  of  the  Gospel  teaches  us.  This  the 
Apostles  declared,  while  yet  the  luminous  appear- 
ance rested  upon  them,  and  the  Spirit  filled  the 
house  where  they  were  assembled.  "  The  promise," 
said  St.  Peter  to  the  multitude,  "  is  unto  you,  and 
to  your  children,  and  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  even  as 
many  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall  cair."  But  the 
sacred  fire,  though  no  longer  visible,  still  burns  in 
the  souls  of  believers.  The  Spirit  which  then  de- 
scended to  protect  the  faith  and  virtue  of  the  primi- 
tive Christians,  to  furnish  them  with  counsel  and 
strength  for  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  and  to 
support  them  under  the  trials  and  troubles  which 
awaited  them,  is,  though  invisible,  yet  at  hand,  to 
continue  His  benevolent  offices  to  all  the  faithful. 

Such  are  the  leading  purposes,  to  which  the 
descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost  had  reference.  And 
whether  we  consider  it,  as  testifying  to  us  the  ex- 
altation of  our  Lord,  or  as  qualifying  the  Apostles 
to  publish  His  Gospel,  and  establish  His  Church, 
or  as  being  an  earnest  of  the  readiness  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  descend,  and  dwell  with  all  believers,  it 
is  an  occasion  for  ardent  thanksgiving,  and  sacred 
joy.  In  that  view  of  it,  especially,  which  encou- 
rages us  to  look  for  this  holy  Comforter  to  help  our 
infirmities,  and  guide  us  through  the  difficulties  and 
sorrows  of  the  region  of  sin  and  mutability,  it  is  a 
spring  of  unspeakable  elevation  and  happiness.  But 
let  us  not  be  unmindful  of  the  state  of  those,  to 
whom  the  "  Spirit  of  truth  and  holiness '"  was  sent. 

In  the  first  place,  they  were  waiting  for  Him  with 
faith.      Believing  the  word  of  their  Master,   they 

'  Acts  ii.  39.  •  John  xvi.  IS.       Rom,  i.  4. 

VOL.   TI.  1 


n4  ON  WHITSUNDAY. 

"  tarried  in  the  city  of  Jerusalem,  until  they  should 
be  endued  with  power  from  on  high'."  In  like 
manner,  believe  ye  the  declarations  of  the  Gospel. 
Have  confidence  in  the  promises  of  God.  In  all  the 
ways  which  He  hath  appointed,  seek  with  believing 
hearts  His  gracious  assistance,  and,  in  due  time, 
you  also  will  receive  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Further.  The  primitive  Christians  "  were  of  one 
heart  and  of  one  soul "."  They  observed  the  same 
ways  ;  and  thought  the  same  things.  That  divine 
love  reigned  in  their  bosoms,  and  regulated  their 
actions,  which  discards  whatever  is  contentious,  or 
unkind  ;  whatever  is  injurious  to  our  neighbour,  or 
offensive  to  God.  In  like  manner,  be  it  your  endea- 
vour to  '  hold  the  faith  in  unity  of  spirit,  in  the  bond 
of  peace,  and  in  righteousness  of  life.'  If  you 
would  have  the  Holy  Ghost  dwell  in  your  hearts, 
remove  therefrom  all  envious  and  malevolent  pas- 
sions ;  all  strife  and  dissension  ;  all  impurity,  con- 
tention, or  wrong,  which  may  injure  others,  or  de- 
base yourselves.  **  For  into  a  malicious  soul.  He 
will  not  enter ;  nor  dwell  in  the  body  that  is  sub- 
ject unto  sin  The  Holy  Spirit  of  discipline  will 
flee  deceit, ^ — and  will  not  abide  when  unrighteous- 
ness comes  in ''." 

Finally.  For  the  purposes  of  devotion,  the  Apos- 
tles **  were  all  with  one  accord  in  one  placed."  It 
is  prayer  and  Christian  communion,  which  brings 
upon  the  faithful  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
"  If  any  man  lack  wisdom,"  or  strength,  or  com- 
fort, "  let  him  ask  it  of  God  \"  In  asking  for  the 
assistances  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  cannot  ask  amiss ; 
and  he  has  the  most  express  assurance  of  his  Lord, 
that  whatsoever  he  shall  thus  ask,  "  believing,  he 


»  Luke  xxiv.  49.  •  Acts  iv.  32.  ^  Wisd.  i.  4,  5. 

y  Acts  ii.  1.  '  James  i.  5. 


ON  WHITSUNDAY.  115 

shall  receive  \"  If,  at  the  present  day,  the  power 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  is  little  felt,  and  the  iriiits  of  His 
influences  are  little  manifested,  it  is  because  the  or- 
dinances, which  are  the  channels  of  His  graces,  are 
unheeded,  or  frequented  with  unholiness  :  and 
prayer,  the  powerful  and  appointed  means  of  ob- 
taining His  aid,  is  forgotten  or  neglected.  Would 
you  be  partakers,  with  the  first  disciples,  of  this 
extraordinary  gift  ?  Imitate  their  devotion.  Form 
yourselves,  as  far  as  the  circumstances  of  your  age 
will  admit,  after  the  beautiful  model  of  a  Christian 
Church,  which  they  have  left.  Like  them,  "  con- 
tinue stedfastly  in  the  Apostles'  doctrine  and  fellow- 
ship, and  in  breaking  of  bread,  and  in  prayers  ^" 

These  are  important  instructions,  to  be  derived 
from  the  state  of  our  fathers  and  elder  brethren  in 
the  Church,  upon  whom,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost, 
the  Holy  Ghost  descended.  Lay  them,  my  Chris- 
tian hearers,  lay  them  up  in  your  hearts.  And  now, 
O  Holy  Comforter,  vouchsafe,  unworthy  as  we  are, 
to  descend  and  dwell  in  our  souls.  Increase  and 
establish  our  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus.  Quicken  our 
zeal,  and  enlighten  our  minds.  Check  and  restrain 
us  from  all  evil,  and  prompt  us  effectually  to  every 
good  work.  Support  and  comfort  us,  under  all  the 
allotments  of  our  probation ;  and  by  Thy  mighty 
influences,  purify  us  to  a  meetness  for  that  kingdom 
of  glory,  to  which  our  Redeemer  is  ascended,  and 
where,  with  the  Father,  and  with  Thee,  O  Holy 
Ghost !  He  is  worthy  to  receive  glory  and  honour, 
dominion  and  praise,  now,  henceforth,  and  for  ever. 

»  Matt.  xxi.  22.  b  Acts  ii.  42. 


I  2 


SERMON  LV. 


ON    TRINITY    SUNDAY. 


St.  Jude,  3, 

That  ye  sJioitld  earnestly  contend  for  the  faith  ichic?i  was  once 
delivered  unto  the  saints^ 

This  epistle  of  St.  Jude  is  written  to  all  "  them 
that  are  sanctified  by  God  the  Father,  and  preserved 
in  Jesus  Christ,  and  called  ^"  To  us  it  has  come  ; 
and  in  it  we  have  an  interest,  and  may  find  instruc- 
tion. The  assertion  it  contains  of  the  divinity  of  our 
Lord ;  the  striking  description  it  gives  of  corrupters 
of  the  faith,  and  separatists  from  the  Church ;  the 
solemn  admonitions  it  contains  to  purity  and  con- 
stancy in  our  principles  and  practice,  and  its  affect- 
ing allusions  to  past  dispensations  of  God,  as  il- 
lustrative of  His  government  towards  His  Church, 
render  it  a  very  impressive  part  of  Holy  Writ.  But 
chiefly  must  we  admire  the  solicitude  of  St.  Jude, 
about  the  genuine  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  as  they 
were  delivered  by  Jesus  Christ.  For  the  preserva- 
tion of  these  in  their  original  purity,  and  the  exclu- 
sion of  errors  and  innovations  from  the  Church,  he 
was  filled  with  holy  anxiety.  "  Beloved,  when  I 
gave  all  diligence  to  write  unto  you  of  the  common 
salvation,  it  was  needful  for  me  to  write  unto  you, 

•      a    Judo,  VCV.  1. 


ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY.  ll^ 

and  to  exhort  you  that  ye  should  earnestly  contend 
for  the  faith  which  was  once  delivered  unto  the  saints : 
for  there  are  certain  men  crept  in  unawares,- — un- 
godly men,  turning  the  grace  of  our  God  into  las- 
civiousness,  and  denying  the  only  Lord  God,  and  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ^"  Let  us  take  this  exhortation 
for  the  guide  of  our  present  meditations.  It  will 
furnish  us  with  some  hints,  worthy  of  notice  and 
remembrance. 

In  the  first  place,  we  may  remark,  that  the  faith  of 
the  Church  is  immutable.     It  is  the  same  in  every 
age.     The  ingenuity  of  men  may  form  new  theories, 
and  divers  schemes  of  salvation.     In  the  proud  exer- 
cise of  their  reason,  they  may   attempt  to  change 
principles,  and  rectify  revelation.     Or   in   ages   of 
lukewarmness,  they  may  suffer  fashion  to  become  an 
arbitress  of  opinions,  and  subject  to  her  capricious 
influence  religious  truth.     But  the  counsels  and  de- 
clarations of  God  are  unchangeable.     They  are  **  the 
same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever"."     What 
was  the  only  true  faith,   in  the  first  ages  of  Chris- 
tianity, is  the  only  true  faith  now.     Human  reason 
cannot  have  added  any  thing  to  the  revelations  of 
God.     Whenever  it  attempts  to  mend  the  work  of 
the  Almighty,  it  can  only  manifest  its  own  presump- 
tion and  feebleness,  and  must  leave  those,  whom  it 
undertakes  to  guide,  in  the  dangerous  state  of  per- 
plexity and  disputation.     In  forming  our  religious 
opinions,  whether  with  regard  to  doctrinal  points, 
or  to  the  constitution  and  discipline  of  the  Church, 
or  to   the  application  of  practical  rules,  we  should 
have  recourse  to  the  Sacred  Volume.     Here  we  may 
drink  at  the  source  of  truth  ;  may  derive  instruction 
from  the  fountain   head   of  knowledge.     If  doubts 
arise,  respecting  the  coincidence,  or  interpretation 

"  Judc,  ver.  3,  4.  '  Ileb.  xiii.  S. 


11$  ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY. 

of  any  parts  of  Scripture,  they  should  be  discussed 
by  the  light  which  the  primitive  Church  affords.     It 
should  be  a  recommendation  of  a  religious  opinion, 
that  it  wants  novelty ;  that  it  is  not  the  offspring  of 
modern  discovery  :  for  we  may  be  assured,  that  there 
is  but  one  scheme  of  salvation,  but  one  Gospel  of 
truth  ;  and  that  this  scheme  was  fully  received  ;  that 
this   Gospel  was  correctly  understood  by  those  in- 
spired men,  to  whom  the  establishment  and  care  of 
the  Church  was  first  committed.     Venerable  anti- 
quity is,  therefore,  a  characteristic  of  religious  truth. 
In  every  case,  the  oldest  opinion  in  the  Christian 
Church,  is  the  best.     Had  this  principle  been  ad- 
hered to,  the  existence  of  the   Holy   Trinity  ;  the 
interest  of  all  men  in  the  mediation  of  Christ ;  the 
divine   origin   and   distinct  orders  of  the  Christian 
Priesthood ;   and  the  final  administration  of  a  retri- 
bution to  every  man,  according  to  his  deeds,  would 
never  have  been  called  in  question.     But  the  human 
mind  is  never  at  rest.     It  has  been  prone  from  the 
beginning,  to  leave  the  ways  and  word  of  God,  and 
"to  seek  out"  for  itself  "  many  inventions'^."      "  Be 
not"  ye,  brethren,    "carried  about  with  divers  and 
strange  doctrines'."     "  Stand  ye  in  the  ways,  and 
see,  and  ask  for  the  old  paths,  where  is  the  good 
way,  and  walk  therein ^"     Recur  for  your  opinions 
to  the  sacred  MTitings,  and  to  the  interpretations 
and  practice  of  the  primitive  Church.     These  means, 
together  with  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  are  the  only 
sure  means  of  coming  at  "  the  faith  which  was  once 
delivered  unto  the  saints." 

Again.  For  those  truths  of  religion,  which  were 
received  by  the  Apostles  and  primitive  disciples  of 
our  Lord,  we  are  "to  contend;"  and  to  contend 
"  earnestly."     But  what!  is  St.  Jude  a  preacher  of 

*'  Eccles.  vii.  29.  *  Heb.  xiii.  9.  ^  Jer.  vi.  16, 


ON   TRINITY  SUNDAY.  119 

strife  and  contention  ;  of  bigotry  and  persecution  ? 
No;  by  no  means.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  man  to 
love  the  truth,  and  that  which  a  man  loves,  he  will 
cherish  with  ardour,  and  protect  with  resolution.  It 
is  also  the  duty  of  every  man,  to  set  his  face  against 
error,  especially,  against  those  errors,  by  which  the 
revelations  of  God,  the  blessed  words  of  eternal  life, 
may  be  endangered  or  corrupted.  This  he  owes  to 
his  Lord,  whose  cause  he  is  bound  by  the  highest 
considerations,  to  protect  in  its  purity  and  dignity ; 
and  he  owes  it  to  his  neighbour,  whom  he  cannot, 
consistently  with  the  regard  which  is  due  to  him, 
see  estranged  from  the  paths  "  of  truth  and  sober- 
ness^"  without  feeling  the  most  lively  concern.  But 
in  doing  this,  it  is  not  necessary  that  he  should  be 
filled  with  animosity,  or  neglect  any  dictate  of  can- 
dour or  charity  towards  his  fellow  men.  The  same 
right  of  judging,  which  he  asserts  for  himself,  he  will 
be  careful,  when  there  are  not  obvious  reasons  for 
restraining  it,  to  allow  his  neighbour  to  use  for  him- 
self: and  will  never  permit  a  discordance  of  opinion 
to  divert  the  streams  of  his  benevolence  from  his 
brother,  but  on  the  contrary  will  manifest  his  love, 
by  the  '*  meekness  of  his  wisdom ^"  and  the  disin- 
terestedness of  his  prayers.  But,  though  he  con- 
tends for  truth  with  meekness,  he  will  contend  firmly. 
Though  he  opposes  error  with  candour  and  charity, 
he  will  oppose  it  "  earnestly;"  not  with  any  view  to 
personal  triumph,  or  to  the  exaltation  of  the  party 
to  which  he  belongs ;  but  with  a  single  eye  to  the 
glory  of  God,  and  salvation  of  men,  which  the  pre- 
dominance of  truth  alone  can  accomplish. 

There  are  some  persons,  who  hear  all  doctrines, 
and  are  satisfied  with  almost  all  they  hear.  In  a 
state  of  easy  indifference,  they  care  not  to  perplex 

f  Acts  xxvi,  25.  h  jajnes  iii.  13. 


120  ON   TRINITY  SUNDAY. 

themselves  with  laborious  inquiries  about  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Gospel ;   wishing  only  that  the  current 
of  opinions  may  pass  on  smoothly,  and  that  they  may 
pass  on  quietly  \a  ith  it.     This  lukewarmness  is  pe- 
culiarly incompatible  with  the  spirit  of  the  text.     It 
proceeds  from  indolence,  or  spiritual  insensibility. 
Every  man  is  obliged  to  attend  to  what  his  Maker 
reveals.     "  The  faith  which  was  once  delivered  unto 
the  saints"  must  be  clear  and  definite  ;  for  we  could 
not  otherwise  be  exhorted  to  "  contend"  for  it.     It 
must  be  sublime  and  interesting ;  for  it  relates  to  the 
nature  of  God,  and  our  own  salvation.     It  must  be 
of  unspeakable    im}X)rtance  ;    for   the    Son   of  God 
came  down  from  heaven  to  bring  it  to  us ;  and  the 
Holy  Ghost  waits  to  confirm  it  in  our  hearts.     Every 
Christian,  therefore,  who  is  awakened  by  the  power 
of  the  Gospel,  will  apply  himself  sedulously  to  under- 
stand what  the  will  and  the  revelation  of  the  Lord 
is.     Those  fundamental  principles  of  His  religion, 
which  were  received  by  "  the  saints,"  and  have  been 
maintained  by  the  Church  in  all  ages,  will  be  dear 
to  his  heart.     He  will  cherish  them  with  such  zeal 
and  affection,  as   he  would  feel  for  their  adorable 
Author,  were  He  upon  the  earth.     Delusive  and  dan- 
gerous is  the  sentiment,  that  it  matters  not  what  are 
a  man's  principles,  provided  his  life  be  good.     It  is 
"  for  the  faith,"  we  are  charged  by  the  voice  of  in- 
spiration to  "  contend."     Indeed,  hardly  will  his  life 
be  good,  whose  principles  are  bad.    Though  a  sound 
faith  may  not  always  render  a  man  what  he  should 
be,  yet  without  a  sound  faith,  "it  is  impossible  to 
please  God*."'     For  he  who  cometh  unto  God,  unless 
he  would   affront  the  majesty  of  heaven,  must  be- 
lieve the  truths  which  God  hath  revealed,  and  live 
by  the  doctrines  which  He  hath  inculcated. 

'Hcb.  xi.6. 


ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY.  121 

There  is,  also,  a  false  complaisance,  which  under 
the  notion  of  liberality,  would  disguise  the  distinc- 
tions of  things,    and   amalgamate  all  the  different 
opinions  of  men.     Liberality,  rightly  understood,  is 
an  amiable  disposition  of  soul.     It  is  fostered  by  the 
spirit  of  Christianity,  as  the  offspring  of  heaven,  and 
chosen  companion  of  virtue.     But  there  is  a  dan- 
gerous imposing  principle  which  assumes  its  name. 
It  is  a  principle,  however  plausible  in  appearance, 
which  in  full  action  would  blend  what  the  Deity  hath 
eternally  separated ;  would  break  down  the  distinc- 
tions which  must,  forever,  exist  between  that  which 
is  right,  and  that  which  is  wrong.     This  mistaken 
liberality  can  derive,  I  think,  no  plea  from  its  utility, 
and  can  find,  I  am  sure,  no  countenance  in  Chris- 
tianity. The  Gospel  requires  us  all  to  think  the  same 
things,  because  it  teaches  all  the  same  things.     We 
should  represent  its  adorable  Author,   as  weak  and 
variable  as  ourselves,  if  we  should  suppose,  that  He 
equally  approves  those  who  own  and  adore  their 
God  in  their  Redeemer,  and  those  who  strip  Him  of 
His  divinity  and  worship  ;   those  who  abide  by  the 
ministry  and  ordinances,  which  He  hath  appointed, 
and  those  who  depart  from  them  altogether.     Reli- 
gion admits  of  no  coalition  between  right  and  wrong; 
of  no   compromise  between  truth  and  error.      As 
Christians,  we  are  obliged  to  sanction  the  currency 
of  those  opinions  only,  which  bear  the  stamp  of  the 
Almighty,  and  will  be  received  at  the  treasury  of 
heaven,  in  the  day  of  account. 

But  from  "the  faith  which  was  once  delivered  unto 
the  saints,"  there  have  been  many  departures.  In 
the  lapse  of  time  since  the  coming  of  Christ,  men 
have  corrupted  the  truth,  and  multitudes  are  in  the 
world,  who  hold  not  '*  the  form  of  sound  words'';" 

^  2  Tim.  i.  13. 


122  ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY. 

many  of  them,  doubtless,  through  unavoidable  igno- 
rance, and  involuntary  error.  With  w^hat  spirit  are 
they  to  be  considered  ?  Are  we  to  judge  them  se- 
verely, or  to  carry  ourselves  unkindly  towards  them  ? 
Should  we,  if  we  could,  let  loose  the  ministers  of 
persecution,  or  "  command  fire  to  come  down  from 
heaven  '"  to  destroy  them  ?  Ah,  no.  The  religion  of 
the  Prince  of  Peace  refuses  the  aid  of  passion  and  of 
force.  It  seeks  not  the  salvation  and  happiness  of 
men,  in  their  misery  and  destruction.  And  they  who 
in  any  age  have  had  recourse  to  these  means,  what 
shall  we  say  of  them  ?  Alas,  they  have  not  known 
'*  what  manner  of  spirit  they  were  of"' !"  That  con- 
tention for  "  the  faith  which  was  once  delivered  unto 
the  saints,"  which  the  Gospel  requires  of  us.,  is  not 
conducted  acceptably  to  its  Author,  unless  the  law 
of  kindness  be  upon  our  tongues,  and  the  feelings  of 
charity  in  our  bosoms.  But  while  the  true  Christian 
shrinks  from  a  persecuting,  he  shrinks,  also,  from  a 
prevaricating  spirit.  Charity  can  never  call  him  one 
way,  while  truth  calls  him  another.  Indeed  the 
highest  charity  he  can  confer  on  his  fellow  men,  is 
to  use  his  exertions  in  preserving  the  Gospel  among 
them  in  its  original  purity,  and  promoting  its  blessed 
influences  upon  their  hearts  and  lives.  He  abides, 
therefore,  with  zeal,  by  the  ancient  and  unchangeable 
doctrines  and  institutions  of  the  Church.  He  man- 
fully avows  his  belief  in  them.  He  asserts  with 
meekness,  yet  with  firmness,  their  authority  and  im- 
portance. He  concedes  not,  under  a  mistaken  notion 
of  liberality,  any  ground  to  error,  nor  abates  any 
thing  of  the  high  claims  of  truth.  Yet  he  wishes 
the  salvation  of  all  men ;  and  when  he  surveys  the 
heresies  and  schisms  which  are  in  the  world,  his  love 
for  *'  the  faith  which  was  once  delivered  unto  the 

'  Luke  ix.  54.  "  Ibid.  ver.  55. 


ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY.  123 

saints,"  as  well  as  his  desire  that  all  men  may  find  the 
mercy  of  the  Lord  Jesus  unto  eternal  life,  prompts, 
in  his  devotions,  the  ardent  prayer,  that  it  would 
please  God,  *  to  bring  into  the  way  of  truth,  all 
such  as  have  erred,  and  are  deceived.' 

But  the  text  further  suggests  to  us,  what  is  the 
ground,  upon  which  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  are 
to  be  defended,  that  they  were  '*  delivered  unto  the 
saints."  We  are  not  exhorted  to  *'  contend  for  the 
faith,"  which  reason  has  discovered,  or  philor 
sophy  devised.  We  are  not  exhorted  to  maintain 
*'  earnestly"  the  principles,  which  are  level  to  our 
capacity,  or  the  opinions  which  sagacious  inquirers 
have  formed.  But  we  are  exhorted  to  "  contend" 
for  the  doctrines  and  institutions,  which  were  origi- 
nally received  from  God.  And  this,  I  conceive,  is 
the  proper  ground,  upon  which  all  the  doctrines  of 
the  Gospel  are  to  be  embraced ;  that  they  were  re- 
vealed by  the  Almighty.  It  is  the  right  employment 
of  our  understandings,  to  ascertain  what  the  prin- 
ciples were,  which  the  saints  received,  and  to  ascer- 
tain also,  that  they  received  them  with  sufjicient 
evidence  of  their  coming  from  God.  This  done,  we. 
are  to  believe  them,  upon  the  ground  of  the  Divine 
veracity,  and  to  submit  our  opinions  and  lives,  en- 
tirely to  their  control. 

But  you  will  say,  there  are  things  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, for  which  we  see  no  reason,  and  mysteries,  of 
which  we  have  no  comprehension.  Be  it  so.  This 
does  not  at  all  disparage  their  truth.  If  we  will 
assent  to  nothing,  which  we  do  not  comprehend,  we 
shall  be  unable  to  believe  the  testimony  of  our 
senses,  or  the  consciousness  of  our  own  minds.  For 
we  have  not  less  comprehension  of  any  of  the  mys- 
teries of  religion,  than  we  have  of  the  manner,  in 
which  our  senses  convey  the  images  of  material  ob- 
jects to  our  minds,  or  than  we  have  of  the  wonder- 

4 


124  ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY. 

ful  daily  miracle,  whereby  we  retain  the  being  which 
we  are  conscious  we  possess.  The  subjects  to  which 
the  mysterious  doctrines  of  our  faith  relate,  we  have 
not  faculties  to  scan.  "  They  are  as  high  as  heaven ; 
what  can  we  do  ?  Deeper  than  hell  ;  what  can  we 
know "  ?"  And  as  to  the  institutions  and  require- 
ments of  the  Gospel,  whose  necessity  or  fitness  we 
cannot  perceive,  God,  surely,  is  not  obliged  to  give 
to  His  creatures  a  reason  for  the  mode,  in  which  He 
chooses  to  convey  to  them  His  blessings.  Whatever 
He  has  vouchsafed  to  reveal  to  us  of  His  nature  or 
will,  we  are  to  receive  with  the  submissiveness  of 
pupils,  with  the  docility  of  little  children.  And 
indeed  pupils  we  are  at  our  best  estate,  who  need 
some  one  to  instruct  us  concerning  the  Divine  na- 
ture, and  our  own  duty  and  destination.  We  are 
no  more  than  children,  who  have  not  faculties  for 
acquiring  the  knowledge,  nor  powers  for  obtaining 
the  treasures,  which  are  essential  to  our  everlasting- 
peace,  and  whom  it  becomes  to  receive  with  all 
humility  and  obedience,  whatever  instructions  our 
heavenly  Father  sees  fit  to  give  us.  The  mysterious 
doctrines  of  His  word  we  are  to  embrace,  not  be- 
cause we  comprehend  them ;  but  because  they  are 
taught  us  by  that  Being,  who  is  too  wise  to  be  de- 
ceived Himself,  and  too  good  to  deceive  His  chil- 
dren. Our  own  understandings  are,  in  matters  of 
revelation,  to  be  subjected  to  the  obedience  of  faith ; 
and  all  the  imaginations  of  our  minds,  and  inclina- 
tions of  our  wills,  to  be  brought  into  captivity  unto 
Christ. 

In  the  remainder  of  this  discourse,  I  shall  apply 
what  has  been  said,  to  a  subject  which  has  all  the 
while  been  in  my  vi^ew  ;  the  sublime  and  important 
doctrine  of  the  Trinity.      Having  in  the  festivals 

"  Job  xi.  8. 


ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY.  125 

which  we  have  successively  celebrated,  from  Advent 
to  this  day,  set  before  us  the  distinct  offices  of  the 
Son,  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  our  salvation,  the 
Church,  to-day,  calls  us  around  the  altar  of  Chris- 
tian faith,  '  to  acknowledge  the  glory  of  the  eternal 
Trinity,  and  in  the  power  of  the  divine  Majesty  to 
worship  the  Unity.'  This  mode  of  the  existence  of 
the  Divinity,  by  a  Trinity  of  Persons  in  one  undi- 
vided essence,  is,  indeed,  "  the  faith  which  was  once 
delivered  unto  the  saints:"  for  it  was  exhibited  in  the 
morning  of  creation ;  it  was  taught  to  the  chosen 
people  in  the  names,  and  by  the  circumstances, 
under  which  Jehovah  manifested  Himself  to  them ; 
it  is  illustrated  to  those,  who  have  a  spiritual  dis- 
cernment, by  many  striking  analogies  in  the  natural 
world;  it  is  unequivocally  asserted  by  Christ  and 
His  Apostles  ;  and  it  has  been  the  prevailing  faith  of 
the  Church,  in  all  ages  of  its  existence.  It  is  the 
most  essential  and  important  doctrine  of  our  reli- 
gion, and,  therefore,  we  are  "  earnestly  to  contend" 
for  it.  On  it  depends  the  consistency  and  signifi- 
cance of  Scripture  ;  the  greatness  and  sufficiency  of 
the  atonement ;  the  lawfulness  and  propriety  of  the 
homage  with  which  we  honour  the  Son  and  the 
Spirit,  "even  as  we  honour  the  Father";"  the  ful- 
ness of  the  Christian's  comfort  and  confidence  ;  and 
his  happy  assurance,  that  his  Lord  is  adequate  to 
the  supply  of  all  his  necessities,  and  "  ablq,"  by 
His  mighty  power,  **  to  subdue  all  things  unto  Him- 
self p."  The  ground  on  which  it  is  to  be  believed  is, 
that  it  is  taught  us  in  the  revelations  of  God.  To 
comprehend,  or  explain,  this  mysterious  existence 
of  three  Persons  in  one  God,  is  utterly  beyond  our 
power.  Nor  should  this,  in  any  degree,  surprise 
us.     Our  minds  would  be  infinite,  if  we  were  ca- 

°  John  V.  23.    •  .   P  Phil.  iii.  21. 


126  ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY, 

pable  of  apprehending  fully  the  mode  of  existence 
of  an  Infinite  Being.  He  alone  is  capable  of  inform- 
ing us  concerning  it,  by  whom  alone  it  is  compre- 
hensible. For  our  instruction  and  comfort,  He  has 
graciously  manifested  Himself  to  us  under  the  cha- 
racters, in  which  He  eternally  exists;  and  draws 
us  to  Him  by  each  of  these  characters,  as  the  Father 
devising,  the  Son  purchasing,  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
applying  that  merciful  redemption,  by  which  we  are 
saved  from  our  sins,  and  begotten  again  to  the  in- 
heritance of  eternal  life.  And  "  O  man,  who  art 
thou  that  repliest  against  God''?"  What  are  thy 
powers,  that  thou  shouldest  scrutinize  the  account, 
which  thy  Creator  hath  given  of  His  own  existence  ? 
Go,  say  of  the  pebble  under  thy  feet,  by  what  mys- 
terious power  its  parts  cohere  !  Go  tell  of  the  co- 
lours which  refresh  thy  sight,  how  they  exist  in  the 
tulip,  and  in  the  bow ;  and  by  what  mysterious 
connection  they  are  imaged  by  thy  eye  to  thy 
mind  !  Go,  say  of  that  reason,  in  which  thou  vainly 
boastest,  how  it  exists  in  conjunction  with  thy  body, 
and  actuates  thy  will !  Not  till  thou  canst  guess 
aright  concerning  the  things  that  are  upon  the  earth, 
can  it  become  thee  to  cavil  at  the  revelations  of  God. 
Betake  thee  rather  to  the  Father,  through  the  me- 
diation of  the  Son,  by  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost :  and  beseech  the  Eternal  God  to  give  thee 
grace,  to  confess  the  true  faith,  and  to  keep  thee 
stedfast  in  this  faith  evermore. 

My  brethren,  in  this  age  of  innovation,  when  hu- 
man reason  exalteth  itself  as  the  standard  of  all 
truth,  many  are  found,  who  depart  from  *'  the  faith 
which  was  once  delivered  unto  the  saints ;"  and  by 
stripping  Him  of  His  Divinity,  do  in  effect  **  deny 
the  Lord  that  bought  them'."     At  such  a  time,  it  is 

»  Rom.  ix.  20.  '  2  Pet.  ii.  1. 


ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY.  127 

peculiarly  incumbent  upon  you,  whose  lot  God  has 
graciously  cast  in  a  Church,  in  which  "  the  form  of 
sound  words'"  is  and  ever  has  been  preserved,  to 
assert  zealously,  and  maintain  inviolably  this  ancient 
article  of  our  holy  faith.  Listen  not  to  their  lan- 
guage, and  peruse  not  their  works,  who,  under  a 
show  of  philosophy  and  superior  reason,  would  carry 
you  away  from  this  fundamental  doctrine.  Teach 
your  children,  and  your  children's  children  the  ex- 
istence of  the  three  gracious  Persons  in  the  **  one" 
only  "  living  and  true  God ;"  and  accustom  them  to 
render  the  due  and  appropriate  homage  to  each 
of  the  names,  into  which  they  were  baptized. 

•2Tim.  i.  13. 


SERMON   LVI. 


ON    TRINITY    SUNDAY. 


1  St.  John  v.  7. 

There  are  three  that  bear  record  i?i  heaven,  the  Father,  the 
Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  these  three  are  one. 

It  is  a  peculiar  excellency  of  our  Church,  that,  while 
she  preserves  in  purity  the  morality,  she  is  not  neg- 
ligent of  the  doctrines  of  Christianity.  By  the  per- 
fection of  her  arrangements,  all  the  grand  doctrinal 
truths  of  the  Gospel,  are,  in  the  course  of  the  year, 
presented  to  her  sons  for  special  contemplation.  By 
this  means  she  secures  from  neglect  or  perversion 
those  points  of  faith,  which  are  the  essentials  of  our 
religion,  and  at  the  same  time  renders  unnecessary 
those  frequent  disputations  upon  doctrinal  subjects, 
which  do  not  make  men  either  wiser  or  better. 
Having  lately  exhibited  to  us  the  mercy  and  holi- 
ness of  God,  the  crucifixion,  resurrection,  and  as- 
cension of  Christ,  and  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
to  abide  with  Christians,  she,  to-day,  calls  us  to 
collect  our  thoughts  and  contemplate  that  mystery 
of  revelation,  the  holy  and  eternal  Trinity.  A  sub- 
ject this  solemnly  sublime ;  and  offered  to  finite 
minds,  as  a  matter  for  belief,  not  comprehension. 
Every  endeavour,  with  merely  human  faculties,  to 
comprehend  this  mystery,  must  prove  futile ;    for 


ON  TRINITY    SUNDAY.  12^^ 

-  can  wc  by  searching  find  out  God  ?  can  we  find 
out  the  Almighty  unto  perfection  ?     It  is  as  high  as 
heaven;  what  can  we  do?  deeper  than  hell ;  what 
can  we  know  ?    The  measure  thereof  is  longer  than 
the  earth,  and  broader  than  the  sea^"    The  business 
of  the  Christian  to-day  is,  not  to  indulge  in  human 
speculations  ;  not  to  be  beguiled  by  the  pride  of 
human  reason ;  but  to  recur  with  humility  to  that 
fountain,  which  the  Deity  has  set  open  for  his  in- 
struction,  and  to  draw  thence  the  truth,  with  which 
the  Church  now  requires  him  to  refresh  his  memory. 
Impressed  with  these  sentiments,  I  have  selected  as 
a  guide  to  your  thoughts,  the  plain  and  explicit  de- 
claration of  St.  John,  which  was  read  at  the  open- 
ing of  this  discourse:  "  There  are  three  that  bear 
record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost :  and  these  three  are  one." 

In  discoursing  from  these  words,  I  shall  endeavour 

to  show ; 

First,  that  the  Godhead  is  one : 

Secondly,    that  in  this   Unity  of  the.  Godhead, 
there  is  a  Trinity  of  Persons ;  and 

Thirdly,  that  the  Persons  of  the  Trinity  are  co- 
equal and  co-existent. 

The  illustration  of  these  several  points  m^U  be 
adduced,  almost  wholly,  from  Scripture  ;  for  I  aver, 
that  such  is  this  mystery,  as  to  leave  it  altogether 
improbable,  perhaps  impossible,  that  it  should  have 
been  devised  by  the  human  mind ;  and  that,  there- 
f<>re,  we  indulge  our  vanity,  and  our  aversion  to 
spiritual  truth,  when  we  look  for  the  circumstances 
of  it,  elsewhere  than  in  the  records  of  divine  reve- 
lation. 

/This  premised,  I   proceed  to  show,  in  the  first 
''place,  that  the  Godhead  is  one.     The  unity  of  the 

» Job  xi.  7—9. 

VOL.  II,  K 


130  ON   TRINITY  SUNDAY. 

Divine  essence  is,  throughout  the  sacred  volume, 
made  the  fundamental  article  of  true  religion.     It  i* 
probable  that  information  upon  this  point  w^as  com-! 
municated  to  man,  when,  in  a  state  of  innocence, 
he  conversed  with  his  God;  and  that  it  descended 
by  tradition   to  after  generations,  till  it  was  lost  in 
the  commixture  of  human  corruptions.     So  consen-. 
taneous   is  it  with  pure  reason ;  so  essential  to  the 
rational  idea  of  a  supreme  cause,  that  we  find  it 
separated  from  the  crude  mass  of  polytheism  by 
the  most  enlightened  heathen  sages,  who  possessed 
as  clear  perceptions  of  it,  as  could   be   expected 
among  nations,  whose  gods  were  as  numerous  as  the 
whims  of  fancy,  and  who  were  idolatrous  by  insti- 
tution.    When  the  Deity,  that  He  might  revive  and 
preserve  among  men  a  knowledge  of  Himself,  gave 
to  the    Jews   the    Old   Testament    revelation.    He 
founded  their  temple,  their  rites,  and  their  obedience 
upon  the  truth,  "  The  Lord  He  is  God ;  there  is 
none  else  beside  Him\"     "The  Lord  our  God  is 
one    Lord*"."     The   universal  language  of  the  Old 
Testament  is,  "  I  am  the  first,  and  I  am  the  last ; 
and  beside  Me  there  is  no  God**."     When  in  the 
fulness  of  time  the  whole  counsel  of  the  Most  High 
was   manifested   by  Jesus   Christ,    mankind  were 
taught  that  eternal  life  depended  upon  knowing  the 
**  only  true  God%"    The  acknowledgment  of  the  Re- 
deemer is  not  more  essential  to  Christianity,  than  a 
belief  in  one  Supreme  Creator  of  all  things,  and 
jSovernor  of  the  universe,  the  true  and  incompre^ 
hensible  God.     **  We  have  one  Father,  even  God^" 
**To  us  there  is  but  one  God^"     "There  is  none 
good  but  one,  that  is,  God\"     So  that,  whether  we 
consult  with  reason,  with  the  historians  and  prophets 

*>  Deut.  iv.  35.  "  Ibid.  vi.  4.  "^  Is.  xliv.  6. 

f  John  xvii.  3.  ^  Ibid.  viii.  41.  ^1  Cor.  viii,  6. 

•^  Matt.  xix.  17. 


ON  TRIxNITY  SUNDAY,  131 

0f  the  Old  Testament,  with  Christ  Himself,  or  witiv, 
the  writers  of  the  Gospel,  we  shall  be  taught  the 
unity  of  the  Deity. 

I  now  proceed  to  show,  secondly,  that  in  this  unity, 
of  the  Godhead,  there  is  a  Trinity  of  Persons.  Unabla 
to  comprehend  perfectly  the  nature  of  Deity,  man 
of  himself  can  predicate  nothing  concerning  the, 
mode  of  His  existence.  All  knowledge  upon  this; 
point  must  come  from  the  oracles  of  truth ;  and 
they  abundantly  substantiate  the  present  position. 
My  text,  in  as  plain  words  as  can  be  written  ort 
spoken,  declares,  that  three  divers  Persons  in  heaven 
were  active  in  and  about  the  redemption  of  man ; 
and  that  these  three  existed  in  the  unity  of  the  God-i 
head.  "There  are  three  that  bear  record  in  heaven,- 
the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost:  and: 
these  three  are  one."  I  know,  that  the  authenticity 
of  this  passage  has  been  disputed,  and  that  the  foes, 
of  the  orthodox  faith  have  parried  it,  by  calling  it 
an  interpolation.  The  objection  evinces  the  difficulty 
of  clothing  the  passage  with  any  other  construction, 
than  that  which  has  been  given,  and  thus  secures  it 
from  that  perversion,  which,  to  accommodate  humam 
reason,  or  rather  human  ignorance,  many  passages  of 
the  New  Testament  have  been  made  to  endure.. 
Admitting,  however,  that  the  authenticity  of  thjs: 
passage  is  not  certain,  our  position  does  not  depend, 
upon  this  oOne  passage  of  sacred  writ  for  support. 
At  the  baptism  of  Christ,  the  Scripture  history  ex* 
hibits  to  us  the  Holy  Three  severally  engaged  ;  the; 
Son  receiving  this  sacrament,  the  Spirit  descending, 
upon  Him,  and  the  Father  proclaiming  His  charac-' 
ter".  The  Apostles  wish  to  their  brethren,  the  grace 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  love  of  God,  and  the  fellow-; 
ship-of  the  Holy  Spirit ^    Our  Saviour  Himself  \yhe?ii 

'Matt.  iii.  16,  17.  "  2  Cor.  xiii.  H,  &c. 

K   2 


132  ON  TRINITY   SUNDAY. 

commissioning  His  ministers,  commanded  them  to 
baptize  **  in  the   name   of  the  Father,  and   of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost'."     To  adduce  no  more 
of  the  texts,    which  every  where   abound    in   the 
Gospel,  to   wave   the   traces    of  this  truth  in   the 
writings  of  some  heathens,  and  in  many  of  the  acts, 
titles,  and  adorations  of  the  Supreme  Being  under 
the  Jewish  dispensation,  and  to  avoid  mentioning 
the  conjectures  of  wise  and  good  men,  concerning 
the  symbolic  representation  of  the  Trinity  in  every 
created  object :  let  me  ask,  what  the  opponents  of 
the  doctrine  will  do  with  the  passages  above  quoted  ? 
Will  they  make  these  vital  parts  of  the  Gospel  in- 
terpolations ?    No.     They  prefer  giving  to  them  a 
sense  of  their  own.     Instead  of  humbly  following 
the  direct,  and  literal  signification  of  Scripture,  upon 
a  subject  infinitely  above  their  comprehension,  they 
have  warped  and  bent  the  word  of   God  to  their 
own  conceptions,  till  some  with  Arius  have  "  denied 
the  Lord  that  bought  them"","  reducing  Christ  to  a 
mere  creature  ;  others  with  Sabellius  have  rendered 
the  conduct  of  Jesus,  and  the  institutes  of  His  re- 
ligion ridiculous,  by  supposing  them  to  have  com- 
manded Christians  to  be  baptized  and  blessed,  first, 
in  the  name  of  the  Father,  the  one  entire  Deity,  and 
then,  in  names  appropriated  not  to  different  beings, 
but  to  energies  of  that  same  Deity ;  and  others  with 
Socinus  make  the  Redeemer  of  our  souJs,  a  mere 
humao  being.      These   schemes,    and   the   various 
branches  of  Unitarianism,  diverging  from  each  of 
them,  are  not  the  result  of  a  candid  reading  of  the 
Scriptures  ;  but  of  finite  speculations  concerning  the 
secrets  of  Heaven,  and   foolish  endeavours  of  men 
to  measure  the  mysteries  of  revelation  by  their  nar- 
row capacities.     Whoever  will  read  the  Bible,  with 

'Matt.xxviii.  19.  »2Pet.  ii.  1. 


ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY.  1^^ 

an  honest  intent  to  ascertain  its  doctrine  upon  this 
point  will  find  all  the  parts  of  it  concurrent  wuh 
the  declaration  in  my  text,  "  There  are  three  that 
bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and 
the  Holy  Ghost." 

I  hasten  now  to  show,  thirdly,  that  the  Persons  of 
the  Holy  and  ever  Blessed  Trinity  are  co-equal  and 
co-existent.  This  is  implied  in  the  last  clause  of  the 
text,  **  these  three  are  one."  No  one  can  need  to  be 
informed,  that  the  Father  is  fully,  and  essentially 
God  over  all  blessed  for  evermore.     Now,  if  it  can 
be  proved  from  Scripture,  that  the  Son  is  God,  and 
that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  God,  it  will  clearly  follow, 
that  the  Holy  Three  are  co-equal  and  co-existent. 
The  Deity  is  designated  in  Scripture  by  titles  ap- 
propriated to  Him  ;  by  honours  due  to  Him ;  and  by 
attributes  which  can  be  predicated  of  none  but  the 
Supreme  Being.  He,  therefore,  to  whom  these  titles, 
honours,  and  attributes  are  assigned,  must  be  God. 
Each  and  every  of  them  are,  in  numberless  passages 
of  the  sacred  writings,  given  both  to  the  Son  and  to 
the  Holy  Ghost.     As  my  time  has  almost  elapsed,  a 
few  texts  establishing  the  divinity  of  each  shall  be 
adduced,  and  recollection,  or  your  Bibles  wdll  fur- 
nish you  with  a  variety  of  others.     First  of  the  Son. 
It  was  lately  shown  to  be  an  essential  article    of 
Christianity,  that  Christ  should  judge   the  world. 
St.  Paul  speaking  of  this  judgment,  has  this  remark- 
able passage,  **  we  shall  all  stand  before  the  judg- 
ment seat  of  Christ :  for  it  is  written.  As  I  live,  saith 
the  Lord,  every  knee  shall  bow  to  Me,  and  every 
tongue  shall  confess  to  God.     So  then  every  one  of 
us  shall  give  account  of  himself  to  God  "."    Here  the 
Apostle  expressly  makes  Christ  God,  and  it  is  ob- 
servable, that  he  alludes  to  a  passage  in  Isaiah,  in 

"  Rom.  xiv.  10— 1. -2. 


134  ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY. 

Vhicli  these  very  words  are  represented  as  coming 
from  Jehovah  ",  a  name  so  solemnly  appropriated  to 
the  Most  High,  that  the  Jews  never  pronounced  it. 
St.  John  declares  the  Logos,  or  Word,  to  be  God, 
and  to  have  been  the  Creator  of  all  things  which  were 
made"".  The  same  Apostle,  in  the  chapter  from 
which  the  text  is  selected,  styles  Jesus  Christ,  *'  the 
true  God  ^"  In  St.  Jude,  He  is  called,  "  the  only 
wise  God  '•"  In  the  epistle  to  the  Romans,  He  is 
said  to  be  *'  over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever^"  The 
Redeemer  of  Israel,  the  Saviour,  the  Messiah,  is 
called  by  the  prophets  *'  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of 
lords;"  "  the  first  and  the  last';"  and  in  the  New 
Testament,  with  allusion  to  these  expressions,  the 
same  titles  of  Divinity  are  given  to  Christ ",  Divine 
worship  was  ordered  by  the  Father  Himself  to  be 
offered  to  the  Son  :  "  Let  all  the  angels  of  God  wor- 
ship Him  \"  He  received  adoration  from  His  dis- 
ciples when  present,  and  the  primitiv^e  Christians 
worshipped  Him  as  God.  In  a  word.  Omniscience, 
Omnipotence,  Eternity,  Infinite  Goodness,  all  the 
attributes  which  can  be  inherent  in  God  alone,  are 
declared  to  be  in  Christ,  in  such  express  terms,  as  to 
admit  of  no  equivocation,  and  such  numerous  pas- 
sages, as  to  render  a  selection  unnecessary.  From 
all  which  it  appears,  that  Jesus  Christ  was  true,  and 
very  God.  It  is  objected,  that  He  sometimes  speaks 
of  Himself  as  inferior  to  the  Father.  He  does  so  ^. 
JBut  whenever  He  does,  the  critical  observer  will  find. 
He  speaks  in  His  human  capacity,  viewing  Himself 
as  Man. 

Let  me  have  your  patience  a  few  moments  longer, 
while  I  adduce  some  Scripture  evidences  that  the 

"  Is.  xlv.  23.  P  John  i.  1—^.  '•   1  John  v.  20. 

^  Jude,  25.  '  Rom.  ix.  5.  '^  Is.  xhv.  G. 

^  Rev.  i.  11,  17.  i  xvii.  14. ;  xix.  16.  ''  Hcb.  i.  6. 
>'  John  xiv.  23. 


t)N  TRINITY  SUNDAY.  :l^h 

Holy  Ghost  is  God.     Jehovah,  in  Isaiah,  commands 
the  prophet  to  go  to  the  people,  and  utter  certain 
words,  and  St.  Paul  speaks  of  the  same  commission 
as  given  to  Esaias,  by  the  Holy  Ghost  ^     Jeremiah 
represents  Jehovah  as  resolving  to  make  a  new  cove- 
nant with  Israel,  and  in  the  epistle  to  the  Hebrews 
this  resolution  is  attributed  to  the  Holy  Ghost  ^,  as 
though  the  names  were  synonymous.     The  Apostle 
St.  Peter  condemned  Ananias  for  lying  to  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  and  immediately,  to  show  the  heinousness  of 
the  offence,  tells  him  he  had  "  lied  unto  God  ^"     In 
both,  the  epistles  to  the  Corinthians,  Christians  are 
styled  the  temples  of  God,  because  the  Spirit  of  God 
dwells  in  them ".     The  Holy  Spirit  is  said  to  have 
been  active  in  the  creation  ;  to  have  "  moved  upon 
the  face  of  the  waters'';    to  have  *'  garnished  the 
heavens  %"  and  to  have  given  life  to  man  ^     As  well 
as   the   Father  and  the   Son,   He  received  Divine 
honours.     All  the  attributes  of  the  Divine  Essence 
are  spoken  of  as  belonging  to  the  Holy  Ghost.     He 
is    Omniscient,    for    He    **  searcheth   all    things  ^," 
"guideth  into  all  truth'',"  and  is  "the  Spirit  of  wisdom 
and  revelation '."     He  is  Omnipresent,  for  God  is 
said  to  dwell  in  us  by  His  Spirit  \  and  the  Psalmist 
inquires,  whither  he  should  go  from  the  Holy  Spirit '. 
He  is  Omnipresent.     "  All  these,"  says  St.  Paul, 
**  worketh  that  one  and  the  self-same  Spirit,  dividing 
to  every  one  severally  as  He  will'"."     He  is  Eternal. 
He  existed  before  the  worlds,  and  abideth  for  ever. 
In  short,  the  Scriptures  attribute  all  the  insignia  to 
the  Holy  Ghost,  by  which   the  Supreme  God  is 
ever,  and  alone,  distinguished.     Thus  it  is  evident, 

'  Is.  vi.  9.  ;  Acts  xxviii.  26.        »  Jer.  xxxi.  31. ;   Heb,  viii.  8. 
"  Acts  V.  4,       «  1  Cor.  iii.  16.;   2  Cor.  vi.  16.       «■  Gen.  i.  2.  .. 
*  Job.  xxvi.  13.         '  Ibid,  xxxiii.  4.         «  1  Cor.  ii.  10. 
••  John  xvi!  13.  '  Eph.  i.  17.  "  Rom.  viii.  11. 

'  JPsalm  cxxxix,  7.  .         *  1  Cor.  xii.  U.        '        - 


136  ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY. 

that  '  such  as  the  Father  is,  such  is  the  Son,  and 
such  is  the  Holy  Ghost :'  and,  consequently,  that 
the  Persons  of  the  Holy  Trinity  are  co-equal  and 
co-existent. 

That  the  texts  which  have  been  adduced  are  not 
corruptions,  is  evident  from  a  comparison  of  the 
various  versions  of  the  New  Testament  which  exist. 
That  they  are  not  misunderstood,  is  morally  certain, 
from  their  being  thus  construed  bj^  all  the  primitive 
Christians,  even  those  who  had  conversed  with  the 
Apostles,  and  from  their  being  always  thus  explained 
by  the  Church,  till  the  human  mind  was  made  the 
test  of  divine  truths. 

We  have  now  seen  that  the  Divine  Essence,  or  the 
Godhead,  is  One ;  that  in  this  Unity  of  Essence,  there 
is  a  Trinity  of  Persons,  and  that  these  Persons  are 
co-equal,  each  being  '  very  God.'  This  is  the  doc- 
trine of  the  Bible.  This  is  the  doctrine  held  undis- 
turbed by  the  Church  for  the  first  three  centuries, 
from  the  establishment  of  Christianity.  The  enemies 
of  the  Catholic  faith  evince,  by  their  contradictions, 
its  foundation  in  the  Gospel  :  for  Sabellius  and  So- 
cinus  were  so  convinced  of  the  divinity  of  the  Spirit, 
that  they  made  Him  the  same  Person  with  the  Father; 
and  Arius,  and  Macedonius  were  so  satisfied  with  the 
distinction  of  the  Persons  of  the  Three,  that  they 
considered  the  Word  and  Spirit  as  mere  creatures. 
Had  it  not  been  for  the  pride  of  man's  heart,  for  his 
desire  to  unvail  the  secrets  of  Heaven,  and  to  mea- 
sure divine  truths  by  finite  faculties  ;  this  great 
mystery  of  our  religion  might  have  escaped  the  at- 
tack of  its  foes,  and  resting  upon  the  evidences  which 
prove  the  authenticity  of  our  religion,  might  have 
commanded  the  humble  belief  of  every  disciple  of 
Christ.  It  is,  perhaps,  an  unpleasant  feature  of 
modern  divinity,  that  the  prevalent  desire  of  simpli- 
fying Christianity  has  given  birth   to   many,    who 


ON  TRINITY  SUNDAY.  137 

would  cut  this  mystery  because  they  cannot  solve  it ; 
and  as  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut*  has  expressed  it, 
'  take  from  their  Redeemer  His  eternal  power  and 
Godhead.'  Let  us,  my  friends,  learn  from  what  has 
been  said  to  "  hold  fast  the  form  of  sound  words „," 
and  "the  faith  which  was  once  delivered  unto  the 
saints"."  That  we  cannot  conceive,  how  the  Three 
are  one  substance,  and  yet  distinct  Persons,  should 
not  shake  our  faith  ;  for  we  are  equally  as  unable  to 
conceive,  how  the  soul,  mind,  and  body  constitute 
one  man ;  or  how  natural  causes  produce  their  con- 
sequences, or  even  how  we  think,  believe,  or  reject. 
Convinced  that  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  is  the 
doctrine  of  the  Bible,  we  should  not  listen  to  "  vain 
babblings p,"  but  the  language  of  our  hearts  should 
be,  **  yea,  let  God  be  true,  but  every  man  a  liar  V 

Now  to  the  Father,  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy 
Ghost,  three  Persons  and  one  God,  be  ascribed  the 
kirigdom,  the  power,  and  the  glory  for  ever  and  ever. 

"  2  Tim.  i.  13.  '  Jude,  3. 

*  1  Tim.  vi.  20.  ''  Rom.  iii.  4. 

*  Bishop  Seabury. 


r  r, , 


^'  SERMON   LVII. 


ON    THE    FESTIVAL    OF    ST.    MICHAEL    AND    ALL 
ANGELS. 


Hebrews,  i.  14. 

Are  they  not  all  ministering  spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister  unto 
them  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation  ? 

We  have  just  risen,  my  brethren,  from  acknowledg- 
ing before  God,  that  He  hath  '  constituted  the  ser- 
vices of  angels  and  men  in  a  wonderful  order.'  And, 
indeed,  it  is  worthy  of  praise,  in  the  economy  of  our 
Church,  that  while  she  celebrates,  regularly,  the 
mysteries  of  our  religion,  and  commemorates  the 
actions  and  characters  of  the  Apostles  and  distin- 
guished disciples  of  our  Lord,  she  reminds  us  an- 
nually of  our  connection  with  the  higher  orders  of 
intelligences,  and  leads  us  to  contemplate  whatever 
the  Scriptures  have  revealed,  concerning  the  angels 
of  God.  On  this  festal  day,  which  happily  com- 
bines the  joys  of  the  Sabbath  with  the  pleasures 
which  may  spring  from  contemplating  what  know- 
ledge we  have  of  these  heavenly  hosts,  we  shall 
make  the??i  the  theme  of  our  discourse ;  endeavour- 
ing to  show  you  : 

In  the  first  place,  that  these  exalted  beings,  de- 
nominated Angels,  do  exist : 

Secondly,  that  they  take  an  interest,  and  have  an 
influence,  in  the  affairs  of  this  visible  world :  and, 


ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL,  &c       139 

"  Tliirdly,  that  the  doctrine  concerning  them  affords 
many  inferences,  conducive  to  our  comfort  and  reli- 
gious improvement. 

That  there  are  higher  orders  of  intelligent  beings 
than  man,  has  been  with  common  consent  believed 
in  all  ages.  The  Demons  of  the  ancients,  a  name 
which  they  used  in  a  good,  as  well  as  bad  sense, 
were  many  of  them  supposed  never  to  have  inha- 
bited material  bodies ;  and  answer  exactly  to  the 
jiowers  of  heaven,  which  by  us  are  styled  Angels. 
The  very  name  Angel  does  sometimes  occur  in  an- 
cient heathen  writings ;  and  the  beings  whom  it 
designates,  are  known  to  the  oldest  Poets,  and  in- 
troduced into  the  discourses  of  almost  all  the  Phi- 
losophers. Plato  styles  them  '  reporters  and  car- 
riers from  men  to  the  gods,  and  from  the  gods  to 
men  :'  and  Apuleius  has  this  remarkable  expression, 
*  all  things  are  done  by  the  will,  power,  and  au- 
thority of  the  gods,  but,  withal,  by  the  service  and 
ministry  of  the  Demons,'  or  Angels.  These  notions 
are  the  common  notions  of  mankind,  found  among 
them  in  every  age,  more  or  less  definite,  according 
to  their  situation  and  means  of  refinement. 

And,  indeed,  when  we  consider  the  vast  extent  of 
the  universe  ;  when  we  observe  the  splendid,  and 
richly  furnished  parts  of  it,  which  we  behold  above 
us;  and  on  imagination's  wings  pass  the  limits  of 
sense,  and  contemplate  the  unbounded  space,  over 
which  the  everlasting  God  presides ;  it  can  hardly 
seem  probable,  that  this  little  globe,  this  spot  which 
we  inhabit,  is  the  only  part  of  His  great  domain, 
which  He  has  seen  fit  to  people.  Below  us,  we  see 
a  beautiful  gradation  of  creatures  from  that,  in  which 
solitary  sensation  first  awakes,  to  a  being  who  thinks, 
and  reasons,  and  knows  his  God.  That  this  think- 
ing being,  man,  is  the  most  perfect  intellectual  crea- 
ture in  the  universe;  that  there  is  a  vast,  an  awful 

7 


140    ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL,  See. 

chasm  between  him  and  the  great  Creator,  improved 
reason  does  not  readily  admit.  Analogy  suggests, 
and  the  suggestion  comports  much  more  easily  with 
our  ideas  of  the  wisdom,  power,  and  goodness  of 
God,  that  man  is  the  link,  which  connects  the  ma- 
terial with  the  intellectual  world  ;  and  that  there 
are  above  us  gradations  of  beings,  equally  regular, 
and  infinitely  more  grand  than  those,  which  we 
behold  below  us. 

It  must,  however,  be  confessed,  that  these  deduc- 
tions are  not  obvious  to  the  capacities  of  the  mass 
of  mankind.  Their  common  consent  upon  a  subject, 
not  cognizable  without  a  miracle,  by  their  senses, 
has,  probably,  been  derived  by  tradition  from  reve- 
lations and  manifestations  made  to  the  parents  of  the 
race,  in  the  happy  morning  of  the  world.  I  am  the 
more  confirmed  in  this  opinion  by  the  fact,  that  in 
the  Scriptures,  the  existence  of  Angels  is  no  more 
made  a  new  revelation,  than  the  existence  of  God. 
Both  are  presumed  to  have  been  before  understood. 
When  the  appearance  of  an  Angel  is  first  mentioned 
in  the  sacred  volume,  no  preparatory  information  is 
given  concerning  him.  The  reader  is  not  supposed 
to  be  surprised ;  nor  does  the  writer  appear  to  ap- 
prehend any  necessity  of  explaining  his  nature  or 
office.  He  is  mentioned,  as  one  of  an  order  of  beings, 
with  whose  existence  mankind  were  already  ac- 
quainted. It  is,  therefore,  highly  probable,  that 
this  was  among  the  communications,  which  the 
Almighty  made  to  man  in  the  earliest  stage  of  the 
world;  and  that,  like  many  other  communications, 
it  was  both  preserved  and  corrupted  by  passing- 
through  the  polluted  channels  of  tradition,  among 
the  successive  generations  of  men. 

But  be  this  as  it  may,  in  us  who  possess  the  holy 
records  of  truth,  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  ex- 
istence of  angelic  beings.     "  The  host  of  heaven." 


ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL,  &c.      141 

and  "the  angels  of  God"  are  spoken  of  in  every 
part  of  Scripture  ^  We  are  taught  that  they  are 
numerous,  for  we  read  of  "  an  innumerable  company 
of  Angels";"  of  "  legions%"  that  might  be  dispatched 
to  the  service  of  Christ ;  and  of  the  holy  myriads  of 
their  hosts'^.  In  the  order  of  nature,  they  are  su- 
perior to  man  ;  for  he  is  said  to  be  made  **  lower 
than  the  Angels ^"  They  are  eminently  wise,  and 
good,  and  incapable  of  decay  ;  for  he,  who  has  much 
wisdom  or  goodness,  and  they  who  shall  die  no 
more,  are  compared,  in  the  language  of  inspiration, 
to  **  the  angels  which  are  in  heaven  V  They  are 
endowed  with  superior  force  and  vigour,  for  they 
are  styled  "mighty^,"  and  "  swift *"'  angels;  and 
the  Psalmist  extols  them  as  '*  excelling  in  strength'." 
We  may  believe  that  they  are  of  different  ranks,  and 
that  in  every  rank  there  are  subordinations  ;  for  we 
hear  of  '•  Michael,  one  of  the  chief  princes'';"  of 
♦'Cherubim'"  and  '*  Seraphim";"  of  ''Angels" 
and  "Archangels";"  of  "  thrones  and  dominions; 
principalities  and  powers" ;"  and  of  "  seven"  distin- 
guished "  spirits  of  God''."  They  are  accountable 
beings ;  for  those  "  which  kept  not  their  first  estate," 
are  "  reserved  in  everlasting  chains  under  darkness 
unto  the  judgment  of  the  great  day^"  In  their 
office,  the  Angels  wait  upon  the  Almighty.  Wher- 
ever He  holds  His  court,  they  attend  Him ;  consti- 
tuting His  august  retinue.  His  magnificent  train. 
Chosen  bands  of  them  surround  Him,  displaying 
His  glory,  whenever  He  vouchsafes  to  give  a  visible 
manifestation  of   His   presence.     In  the  high  and 

*  1  kings  xxii.  19 ;  John  i.  51,  &c.  ''  Heb,  xii.  22. 

*  Matt.  xxvi.  53.  ^  Dan.  vii.  10.  «  Ps.  viii.  5. 

'  Mark  xii.  25  ;  Luke  xx.  36.  «  2  Thess.  i,  7. 

"  Dan.  ix.  21.  '  Ps.  ciii.  20.  "  Dan.  x.  13. 

»  Gen.  iii.  24.  "  1  Thess.  iv.  16.         "  Is.  vi.  2. 

*  Col.  i.  16.  P  Rev.  iii.  1.  "»  Jude  6.     ' 


142    ON!  THE  PESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL,  &c,' 

lofty  abode,  in  which  He  everlastingly  dwellsj 
**  thousand  thousands"  of  them  *'  minister  unto 
Him,  and  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  stand 
before  Him'." 

'':  We  see,  then,  from  tradition,  from  the  reasonable- 
ness of  the  thing,  and  from  what  the  Scriptures 
contain,  the  certainty  of  the  existence  of  Angels, 
It  becomes  now  an  interesting  enquiry,  whether 
these  exalted  beings  have  any  knowledge  of  what  is 
transacted  on  our  earth  ;  or  take  any  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  men.  And,  perhaps,  we  shall  be  surprised 
to  iind,  how  great  concern  the  Angels  of  God  have 
with  this  terrestrial  world. 

That  they  know  and  observe,  what  is  done  among 
men,  is  indisputable.  St.  Paul  says,  expressly, 
that  "  we  are  made  a  spectacle  unto  angels';"  and 
we  are  taught,  that  "  unto  the  principalities  and 
powers  in  heavenly  places  is  made  known  by  the 
Church  the  manifold  wisdom  of  God'." 

But  they  not  only  know,  they  take  a  lively  in- 
terest in,  whatever  is  done  in  this  sublunary  part  of 
their  Maker's  dominion.  In  that  memorable  com- 
mencement of  a  new  epoch  in  the  universe,  when 
the  corner  stone  of  this  earth  was  laid,  and  the 
creation  of  its  inhabitants  accomplished,  "  the  morn- 
ing stars,"  the  hosts  of  heaven,  "  sang  together,  and 
all  the  sons  of  God,"  the  elder  offspring  of  the  Most 
High,  "shouted  for  joy"."  These  pure  and  bene^^ 
volent  spirits  rejoiced  in  the  creation  of  our  worlds 
which  would  enlarge  the  theatre  of  the  Almighty's 
glory,  and  multiply  the  beings,  who  would  taste 
His  beneficence,  and  adore  His  name.  When,  there- 
fore, the  earth  came  from  His  hands,  and  its  inha- 
bitants were  formed,  and  pronounced   good,  their 

'  Dan.  vii,  10.  '  1  Cor.  iv.  9. 

»Eph.ni.lO.  "  Job  xxxviii.  7. 


ON"  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL,  &c.      143^ 

voices  resounded  through  the  arches  of  heaven,  ce- 
lebrating the  creature's  happiness,  and  the  Creator's 

praise.  '^  ^  ^' 

There  has  been  another  memorable  occasion,  on 
which   the  Angels    manifested    the  lively  interest, 
which  they  take  in  the  affairs  of  men.     It  was  at  the- 
incarnation  of  the  Son  of  God.     This  was,  indeed, 
the  commencement  of  a  new  creation.     A  race  of 
intelligent  beings,  who  had  fallen,  were  now  to  be^ 
ransomed  from  destruction.      The  foundation  was- 
now  laid  of  *'  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth  %"  in 
which  would  finally  dwell  righteousness,  and  all  its 
concomitant  bliss.     When,   therefore,   our  Saviour: 
was  born,  an  Angel  rejoiced  to  be  the  herald  of  the; 
news  to  the  sons  of  men  ;   *'  and  a  multitude  of  the 
heavenly  host  y"  obtained  permission  to  accompany 
him  on  the  delightful  errand.      Scarcely  had  the 
messenger  delivered  his  tidings  of  joy,  when  there 
burst  from  the  bosoms  of  these  exalted  spirits  an 
anthem,  which  echoed  through  the  temple  not  made 
with  hands,   bearing   glory  to  the   Author  of  this 
great  salvation,  and  gratulations  to  the  objects  of  it.; 
It  is  not,  however,  on  these  great  occasions  only, 
that  the  Angels  have  been  interested  in  sublunary 
events.     They  are  always  made  glad  by  the  happi-- 
Bess  of  any  of  the  offspring  of  their  King,  and  by 
the  accomplishment  of  His  will  in  any  part  of  His 
kingdom.    Into  the  gracious  scheme,  devised  for  the 
recovery  of  our  race,  they  with  affectionate  cancem 
•*  desire  to  look  ' :"  and,  whenever  it  is  successful  in 
reclaiming  an  unhappy  wanderer  from  the  error  of 
his- ways,  "  to  the  wisdom  of  the  just";"  they  feel 
the  joy,  rejoicing,  we  are  told,  in  the  presence  of 
God,  "  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth^"  > 

'■  2  Pet.  iii.  13.  "  Luke  ii.  13.  '1  Pet.  i.  12. 

»  Luke  i.  17.  ^^  Ibid.  xv.  7. 


144      ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL,  &c. 

But,  I  have  to  observe  further,  that  as  the  Angels , 
do  know,  and  take  an  interest  in  the  affairs  of  our 
world,  so  they  have  a  considerable  care  and  influ- 
ence over  it.  Not  that  the  Almighty  needs  that  aid. 
He  is  able  by  His  own  inherent  power,  to  accom- 
plish with  a  word  all  the  purposes  of  His  will.  But, 
in  His  wisdom,  he  sees  fit  to  employ  the  creatures 
He  has  made  ;  partly,  no  doubt,  that  they  may 
adorn  the  creation  by  doing  Him  service,  and  be 
capable  of  the  pleasures  and  rewards  of  fidelity. 
Accordingly,  the  Angels  are  often  made  the  instru- 
ments of  His  providence ;  and  have  their  offices 
towards  the  human  race.  This  was  impressively 
revealed  to  the  sorrowful  Patriarch  at  Bethel,  in 
that  wonderful  vision  which  was  there  vouchsafed  to 
him,  of  a  ladder  reaching  from  earth  to  heaven,  with 
'*  the  Angels  of  God  ascending  and  descending  upon 
it^"  The  wandering  Jacob  learnt  from  it,  what 
every  wandering  pilgrim  upon  earth  may  learn,  that 
these  hosts  of  God  are  constantly  employed,  in  the 
protection  and  service  of  His  faithful  creatures.  I 
shall  pass  over  the  opinion,  entertained  by  the  Jews, 
and  current,  sometimes  in  a  disguised  form,  among 
the  heathens,  that  every  nation  is  the  peculiar  pro-, 
vince  of  some  tutelary  Angel.  Nor  shall  I  dwell 
upon  the  sentiment,  which  the  opinion  of  Socrates 
has  conspired  with  the  feelings  of  men,  to  render 
striking  and  interesting,  that  every  individual  is  the 
charge  of  some  particular  spirit,  who  is  the  guardian 
of  his  conduct  and  fortunes.  Upon  these  points,  I 
apprehend,  men  must  be  left  to  their  own  judg- 
ments ;  since  revelation  furnishes  no  absolute,  une- 
quivocal instructions  concerning  them.  What  I  am 
chiefly  anxious  to  state,  and  my  text  presses  upon 
your  observation,  is,  that  good  men  have  the  regard 

*  Gen.  xxviii.  12. 


ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL,  &c.      145 

and  services  of  the  Angels  of  heaven.  Upon  this 
subject,  the  Scriptures  are  explicit.  The  hosts  of 
God  are  beautifully  represented  in  them,  as  en- 
camping around  the  dwellings  of  the  just^  The 
Almighty  is  said  to  "  give  His  Angels  charge  over" 
the  upright,  *'  to  keep  them  in  all  their  ways%" 
And,  if  we  need  a  declaration  plainer  than  these, 
we  have  one,  in  the  words  which  I  have  placed  at 
the  head  of  this  discourse,  as  unequivocal  as  lan- 
guage can  express,  '*  Are  they  not  all  ministering 
spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister  for  them  who  shall  be 
heirs  of  salvation  ?" 

The  way,  in  which  these  holy  spirits  extend  their 
services  to  men,  is  generally  imperceptible.  They 
did,  indeed,  visibly  withstand  the  perverseness  of 
Balaam.  They  did  sensibly  protect  Lot,  and  re- 
ward his  purity  and  piety.  And  in  the  days  of  His 
temptation,  and  of  His  agony,  they  were  sent  to 
*'  minister"  unto  Christ  ^  But  generally,  and  for 
very  apparent  reasons,  their  succour  and  defence  is 
not  obvious  to  the  senses.  We  know  not,  how  many 
of  our  spiritual  enemies  they  may  oppose  and  van- 
quish. We  are  ignorant,  from  how  many  unseen 
dangers  they  may  preserve  us.  But  this  we  are 
assured,  that  the  sincere  disciples  of  Jesus,  however 
low  and  obscure  their  lot,  are  constantly  the  charge 
of  Angels,  "  who  behold  the  face  of  His  Father 
which  is  in  heaven  ^."  Hence  we  may  infer,  that 
they  render  them  many  and  great  services.  The 
Almighty  *'  rides  upon  the  Cherubim ''"  to  their  help. 
He  maketh  the  Angels  His  chariots,  when  He  visits 
them  with  His  mercies.  It  is  probable,  that  in  the 
final  scene  of  this  probationary  life,  when  the  souls 
of  men  need  all  the  support,  which  heaven  and  earth 

•'  Ps.  xxxiv.  7.      *  Ibid.  xci.  11.      ^  Matt.  iv.  11.;  Liike  xxii.  43. 
^  Matt,  xviii.  10.  *•  Ps.  xviii.  10. 

VOL.  TI.  L 


146      ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL,  &c. 

can  give,  that  these  blessed  ministers  of  h"ght  re- 
double their  sympathy  and  succour.  We  may 
gather  from  one  of  the  parables  of  our  Lord,  that 
they  wait  about  the  death  beds  of  the  just,  to  con- 
duct the  departing  spirit  "  to  Abraham's  bosom ' :" 
and  from  what  is  recorded  by  St.  Jude,  of  the  care 
of  Michael  over  **  the  body  of  Moses'',"  we  may 
safely  suppose,  that  even  that  dust  of  the  righteous 
is  not  viewed  by  them  with  indifference,  which 
through  the  promises  of  the  Almighty  rests  in  hope. 
These  spirits,  we  know,  will  be  active  agents  in  the 
morning  of  the  resurrection.  When  the  Son  of  Man 
shall  come  in  His  glory.  His  holy  angels  will  come 
with  Him.  He  will  send  them  *'  to  gather  together 
His  elect  from  the  four  winds,  from  the  uttermost 
part  of  the  earth  to  the  uttermost  part  of  heaven '." 
They  are  the  reapers,  who,  in  the  time  of  the  har- 
vest, will  separate  the  chaff  from  the  wheat ;  and 
gather  the  latter  into  the  garner  of  God. 

Such  is  the  doctrine  of  the  Scriptures  concerning 
Angels.  But  it  may  be  asked.  Of  what  use  is  this 
doctrine  to  us  ?  I  answer ;  of  very  great  use.  It 
affords  many  inferences,  highly  conducive  to  our 
comfort,  and  religious  improvement. 

For,  in  the  first  place,  it  extends  our  knowledge 
of  the  greatness  of  our  God.  Consider,  that  these 
myriads  of  exalted  intelligences  derive  their  being 
from  Him.  He  '*  calleth  them  all  by  their  names  ""," 
They  are  daily  upheld  in  existence  by  His  power. 
They  are  all  under  his  control ;  subservient  to  His 
will ;  ready  in  all  parts  of  His  universe  to  "  do  His 
pleasure  "."  How  great  is  He  who  made,  sustains, 
and  rules  them  all !  Verily,  when  we  return  from 
our  contemplation  of  this  part  of  His  dominion  to 


*  Luke  xvi.  22.  ^  Jude,  9.  '  Mark  xiii.  27. 

»"  Ps.  cxlvii.  4.  "  Ibid.  ciii.  21. 


ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OP  ST.  MICHAEL,  &c.      147 

our  own  little  earth,  and  survey  what  is  done  visibly 
beneath  the  sun,  we  may  exclaim  with  Job,  "  Lo, 
these  are  parts  of  His  ways  :  but  how  little  a  portion 
is  heard  of  Him " !" 

Again.  The  subject  we  have  contemplated,  may 
increase  our  admiration  of  the  goodness  of  God. 
What  infinite  benevolence  is  that,  which,  for  the 
diffusion  of  happiness,  has  so  multiplied  the  orders 
of  being  !  How  incalculably  great  is  the  sum  of  bliss, 
which,  flowing  perpetually  from  the  Deity's  right 
hand,  causes  these  countless  hosts  of  exalted  crea- 
tures to  rejoice  in  the  existence,  which  they  have 
received  of  the  Most  High  !  And  how  great  is  His 
mercy  and  goodness  to  us  men,  that  He  hath  given 
His  Angels  charge  over  us  ;  that  He  hath  sent  forth 
these  great  and  glorious  spirits  to  minister  unto  us. 
"  Bless  the  Lord,  O  our  souls:  and  all  that  is  within 
us,  bless  His  holy  name '' !" 

Further.  This  doctrine  we  have  been  consider- 
ing, furnishes  a  powerful  inducement  to  integrity, 
purity,  and  circumspection  in  all  the  walks,  and  all 
the  acts  of  life.  What  greater  restraint  can  we 
have  upon  our  conduct,  than  the  knowledge  of  the 
presence  and  observation  of  these  ministers  of  hea- 
ven ?  Thou,  who  art  quiet  in  thy  sins ;  thou  who 
wrappest  about  thee  the  mantle  of  secresy,  and 
under  it  art  guilty  of  falsehood  and  fraud  :  thou 
who  rejoicest  in  the  darkness  of  night,  and  givest 
thyself  to  the  indulgence  of  thy  lusts,  to  the  perpe- 
tration of  thy  crimes  ;  consider,  how  great,  and  how 
many,  are  the  spectators  of  thy  iniquity.  What 
witnesses  are  these,  which  the  Almighty  will  pro- 
duce in  the  awful  day  of  judgment,  not  only  of  thy 
"  presumptuous  sins  %"  but  of  thy  most  "  secret 
faults ' !"     In  the  persons  of  His  Angels,   as  well  as 

"  Job  jtxvi.  14.  p  Ps.  ciii.  1. 

'i  Ps.  xix.  15.  '  Ibid,  vcr,  12, 

L    2 


148      ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL,  &c. 

in  His  own  Omnipresence^,  **  He  is  about  thy  path 
and  about  thy  bed,  and  spieth  out  all  thy  ways  \" 
And  if  thou  wouldest  not  be  put  to  confusion  and 
shame,  when  the  inhabitants  of  heaven  and  earth 
shall  be  present  at  thy  judgment,  be  pure,  be 
honest,  be  circumspect  in  thy  whole  demeanour. 
Let  the  Angels  have  nothing  to  testify  concerning 
thee,  but  good  deeds  done  without  ostentation,  and 
virtues,  cherished  in  the  most  private  recesses,  as 
well  as  in  the  more  open  walks,  of  thy  life. 

Once  more.  Our  subject  affords  a  powerful  en- 
couragement to  the  heirs  of  salvation.  Arduous  is 
the  conflict,  in  which  the  Christian  is  engaged. 
**  We  wrestle  not  against  flesh  and  blood,  but  against 
principalities,  against  powers,  against  the  rulers  of 
the  darkness  of  this  world,  against  spiritual  wick- 
edness in  high  places  *."  But  for  our  encourage- 
ment we  are  informed,  that  Michael  and  his  Angels 
have  overcome  the  dragon  and  his  angels ".  When 
our  Lord  had  long  resisted  the  temptations  of  the 
adversary,  behold,  these  blessed  spirits  '*  came  and 
ministered  unto  Him  ''."  And  in  the  aflecting  scene 
in  the  garden,  at  the  tremendous  hour  of  the  power 
of  darkness,  when  the  '*  agony"  of  Christ  had  risen 
to  the  highest  pitch  of  human  distress,  there  ap- 
peared unto  Him  "  an  Angel  from  heaven  strength- 
ening Him  ^."  These  things  were  done  for  our  in- 
struction. Whether  we  contemplate  the  forces,  or 
the  personal  excellence  of  the  "  Captain  of  our 
salvation  %"  we  may  animate  our  souls  with  the 
persuasion,  that  greater  is  He  who  is  with  us,  than 
they  who  are  against  us.  The  angels  are  enlisted 
on  the  side  of  the  Church.     Let  us  hold  them  fast. 


*  Ps.  cxxxix.  2.  '  Eph.  vi.  12. 

"  Rev.  xii.  7,  8.  "  Matt.  iv.  11. 

y  Luke  xxii.  43.  '  Heb.  ii.  10. 


ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL,  &c.       149 

by  the  strength  which  we  have  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  and 
they  will  not  go,  until  they  bless  us\ 

Finally.  I  would  adduce  from  what  has  been 
said,  a  special  motive  to  sincerity  and  reverence  in 
our  religious  worship.  It  has  already  been  observed 
to  you,  that  wherever  the  Deity  is  particularly  pre- 
sent, it  is  with  the  retinue  of  His  Angels.  This  was 
eminently  the  case  in  the  Jewish  temple.  And  the 
Gospel  favours  the  opinion,  that  it  is  so  in  the  places 
of  Christian  worship,  in  which  God  receives  the 
homage  of  His  redeemed  creatures.  In  the  earliest 
ages  of  the  Church,  before  man  had  exalted  himself 
above  all  created  intelligents,  this  sentiment  was 
carefully  cherished.  *  Hear  thou  me,'  says  one  of 
the  most  eloquent  of  the  fathers,  *  hear  thou  me, 
and  know,  that  Angels  are  every  where ;  and  that 
chiefly  in  the  house  of  God  they  attend  upon  their 
King.'  *  Doubt  not,'  says  another  of  these  primi- 
tive disciples  of  our  Lord,  '  that  an  Angel  is  present 
when  Christ  is  offered.'  And  again,  says  the  holy 
Chrysostom,  '  When  the  Eucharist  is  celebrated,  the 
angels  stand  by  the  priest,  and  the  whole  quire  re- 
sounds with  celestial  powers,  and  the  place  about 
the  altar  is  filled  with  them,  in  honour  of  Him,  who 
is  laid  thereon.'  What  sobriety  should  these  consi- 
derations beget  in  us,  when  we  come  into  God's 
house !  How  powerfully  do  they  enforce  that  de- 
cency in  worship,  which  the  Apostle  recommends 
"  because  of  the  Angels^!"  Especially,  with  what 
pure  hearts  and  clean  hands,  with  what  reverence 
and  godly  fear,  should  we  come  to  the  holy  table  ! 
Consider  with  whom  you  there  stand ;  who  are  the 
spectators  of  your  conduct ;  yea,  who  are  the  asso- 
ciates of  your  devotion,  when  you  *  laud  and  mag- 

»Gen.  xxxii.  26.  "  I  Cor.  xi.  10. 


150     ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ST.  MICHAEL,  &c. 

nify  God's  glorious  name !'  This  will  not  fail  to 
inspire  you  with  reverence.  It  will  enable  you  to 
serve  God  acceptably,  at  His  altar,  in  His  house, 
and  throughout  your  lives  :  you  will  secure  the  suc- 
cour of  the  heavenly  hosts  in  the  hour  of  danger 
and  distress  :  and  they  will  guide  the  horses  of  hea- 
ven, when  they  come  to  translate  your  spirits  to  the 
regions  of  bliss. 


SERMON   LVIII. 


ON    THE    FESTIVAL    OF    ALL    SAINTS. 


Revelations  vii.  9,  13—18. 

After  this  I  beheld,  and  lo,  a  great  rmdtitude,  which  no  man 
coidd  number,  of  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and peojile,  and 
tongues,  stood  before  the  throne,  and  before  the  Lamb,  clothed 
with  white  robes,  and  palms  in  their  hands. —And  one  of  the 
ciders  ansivered,  saying  unto  me,  What  are  these  iphich  are 
arrayed  in  white  robes  ?  and  whence  came  they  ?  And  I  said 
unto  him,  Sir,  thou  hiowest.  And  he  said  to  me,  These  are 
they  which  came  out  of  great  tribulation,  and  have  washed 
their  robes,  and  made  them  tvhite  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 
Therefore  are  they  before  the  throne  of  God,  and  serve  him 
day  and  night  in  his  temple :  and  he  that  sitteth  on  the  throne 
shall  dtvell  among  them.  They  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither 
thirst  any  more;  neither  shall  the  sun  light  on  them,  nor  any 
heat.  For  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  shall 
feed  them,  and  shall  lead  them  unto  living  fount  fiins  of  waters: 
and  God  shall  wipe  aivay  all  tears  from  their  eyes. 

Heaven,  aud  the  occupations  of  those  who  have 
passed  the  boundaries  of  our  sight,  and  entered  upon 
its  glorious  scenes,  are  objects  in  the  highest  degree 
interesting  to  the  contemplative  mind.  Thither  have 
gone  the  Patriarchs,  Prophets,  Apostles  and  Martyrs, 
whose  instructions  we  value,  and  whose  memories 
we  revere.  There  rest,  we  trust,  the  spirits  of  the 
Christian  friends,  whom  we  shall  see  here  no  more. 
Thither  ascended  the  Great  Benefactor,  whose  merits 


152  ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ALL  SAINTS. 

and  favour  are  our  choicest  treasure.  And  there  we 
expect,  when  this  vain  world  shall  vanish,  to  find 
the  consummation  of  our  faith  and  hopes,  our  virtue 
and  joy.  On  these  accounts,  the  region  and  em- 
ployments of  the  blest  will  generally  excite  in  the 
serious  a  lively  curiosity.  If  it  be  chastened  with  a 
sense  of  the  feebleness  of  our  powers,  and  a  sub- 
mission to  the  wisdom  of  God,  this  curiosity  is 
laudable ;  and  when  we  think  of  the  worthy  cha- 
racters who  are  gone  from  this  state,  can  hardly  be 
suppressed. 

As  the  festival  of  All  Saints,  which  recalls  our  at- 
tention to  the  labours  and  rewards  of  the  departed 
servants  of  the  Most  High,  coincides,  to-day,  with 
the  Sabbath,  we  may,  with  peculiar  propriety,  make 
it  the  object  of  the  present  discourse.  Upon  this 
sublime  subject,  I  know  no  better  guide  for  your 
meditations,  than  that  vision  of  the  Church  trium- 
phant of  which  the  text  is  a  conspicuous  part.  It 
will  furnish  us  with  as  just  ideas  of  the  situation  and 
blessedness  of  the  Saints,  as  our  finite  and  encum- 
bered minds  can  receive,  and  will  lead  to  reflections 
adapted  to  the  season,  and  to  the  circumstances  of 
many  of  my  hearers. 

And,  in  the  first  place,  it  is  pleasing  to  observe, 
that  the  Saints  are  *'  a  great  multitude  of  all  nations, 
and  kindreds,  and  people,  and  tongues."  Every 
benevolent  mind,  which  has  any  concern  for  the  wel- 
fare of  mankind,  any  gratitude  to  their  Redeemer, 
and  any  just  conception  of  the  glory  that  shall  be 
revealed,  must  be  ardently  desirous  that  the  par- 
takers of  the  heavenly  gift  should  not  be  few  in 
number.  The  good  man  puts  up  no  prayer  more 
earnest  and  sincere,  than  *  that  it  may  please  God  to 
have  mercy  upon  all  men.'  To  know  how  many 
shall  have  mansions  in  the  Father's  house,  is  not  how- 
ever permitted  us.     We  are  taught  by  the   reply 


ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ALL  SAINTS.  153 

which  Christ  once  made  to  the  inquiry,  that  it  is  not 
our  present  business.  The  way  is  clearly  defined,  in 
which  we  may  secure  to  ourselves  the  happiness  of 
being  of  the  number :  and  to  rejoice  our  philanthropy, 
and  delight  us  with  the  triumphs  of  our  Lord,  we  are 
assured  that  His  redemption  shall  not  be  an  un- 
fruitful work,  but  that,  through  it,  there  shall  be 
many  sons  brought  into  glory.  In  their  high  state 
of  bliss,  the  Saints  want  not  the  refined  pleasure  of 
having  many  to  enjoy  with  them  their  delightful 
existence.  The  worthy  of  every  past  age  are  col- 
lected into  their  '  goodly  company.'  The  faithful  of 
every  future  generation  shall  swell  their  numbers  and 
their  joy.  For  St.  John,  in  his  vision,  *'  beheld,  and, 
lo,  a  great  multitude  which  no  man  could  number, 
of  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and  people,  and  tongues, 
stood  before  the  throne,  and  before  the  Lamb."  And 
a  greater  than  John,  even  the  Lamb  Himself,  has  as- 
sured us  that  *'  they  shall  come  from  the  east,  and 
from  the  west,  and  from  the  north,  and  from  the 
south,  and  shall  sit  down  in  the  kingdom  of  God^." 

In  unfolding  the  scenes  of  heavenly  vision,  the 
sacred  writers  are  obliged,  by  the  poverty  of  human 
language,  and  the  confined  state  of  our  minds,  to 
borrow  analogies  from  this  visible  world,  and  repre- 
sent things  which  surpass  our  comprehension,  by 
those  things  with  which  we  are  familiarly  acquainted. 
Hence,  the  introduction  of  the  sublime  and  interest- 
ing scenery,  which  charms  our  minds,  as  we  pass 
from  the  number  of  the  Saints  to  the  description, 
which  the  Evangelist  has  given  us,  of  their  condition. 
They  stand  "before  the  throne,"  and  **  before  the 
Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes,  and  palms  in  their 
hands."  White  is  the  emblem  of  innocence.  Spot- 
less purity  enters  into  the  very  idea  of  it.     And,  by 

*  Luke  xiii.  29. 


154  ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ALL  SAINTS. 

association,  the  spirits  that  are  arrayed  in  perfect 
righteousness,  and  celestial  glory,  are  beautifully 
imagined  to  be  clothed  with  garments  of  white.  Of 
such  lustrous  perfection  our  nature  is  destitute.  Its 
best  robes  are  sullied  and  torn.  Unfit  they  would 
be  for  man  to  wear  in  the  pure  presence,  and  august 
court  of  the  Most  High.  But  the  ransomed  of  the 
Lord  are  clothed  in  His  righteousness.  They  *'  hav^ 
washed  their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb."  Their  spirits  are  made  perfect. 
They  have  exchanged  a  nature  feeble  in  its  best  ser^ 
vices,  and  defiled  with  many  frailties  and  sins,  for  a 
nature  which  vice  cannot  approach,  nor  infirmity  dis- 
grace; which,  like  its  Author,  is  glorious  in  holiness, 
and  divinely  happy  in  the  consciousness  of  its  glory. 
With  their  improved  being,  the  honours  of  trium- 
phant virtue  are  also  theirs.  In  this  world,  the  faith- 
ful servants  of  God  have  often  arduous  and  perilous 
conflicts.  Some  have  *'  resisted  unto  blood,  striving 
against  sin^"  and  have  sealed  the  value  of  a  good 
conscience,  by  sacrificing  their  lives  in  defence  of 
the  truth.  Many  have  struggled  hard  with  tempta- 
tion, with  adversity,  with  the  injustice,  perverseness^ 
and  ingratitude  of  an  evil  world.  But  sorrows  break 
down  the  hearts  of  others.  All  encounter  dismaying 
foes  in  the  king  of  terrors,  and  his  numerous  emis- 
saries. But  their  reward  is  with  the  Lord.  When 
the  conflict  ends,  and  their  course  is  finished,  they 
reap  the  fruit  of  their  toil.  They  are  acknowledged 
victorious,  and  rejoice  in  the  recompense  of  their 
fidelity,  in  the  presence  of  the  celestial  world.  They 
now  share  the  triumphs  of  their  Master.  The  token, 
long  consecrated  to  victory,  is  given  them  for  ever. 
While  they  walk  "  in  white  robes,"  they  hav-e 
*'  palms  in  their  hands." 

*>  Heb.  xii.  *. 


ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ALL  SAINTS.         155 

What  a  view  does  this  description  afford  us,  of  the 
condition  of  the  Saints  in  their  exaltation.  Ye,  who 
have  tasted  the  pleasures  which  spring  from  the  con- 
sciousness of  virtue,  and  know  the  vexations  of  a 
frail  nature,  imagine  the  bliss  of  their  complacence  in 
being  divested  of  every  moral  debiUty,  and  clad  in  a 
pure  and  immutable  righteousness.  Ye,  who  have 
known  the  conflicts  of  virtue  in  the  day  of  trial,  and 
can  estimate  by  your  fears  the  precious  value  of 
safety,  judge  ye,  with  what  rapture  they  felicitate 
themselves  and  each  other,  on  their  escape  from 
death,  and  the  contagion  of  this  world,  the  triumphs 
of  their  integrity,  and  their  security  from  any  future 
hazard  of  their  reward.  They  are  happy,  in  the 
review  of  the  dangers  they  have  past.  They  rejoice 
in  the  robes  with  which  they  are  clothed,  and  in  the 
palms,  which  they  have  in  their  hands.  For  the 
former  qualifies  them  for  the  presence  and  service 
of  the  King  of  heaven,  and  the  latter  are  the  emblems 
of  their  eternal  victory  over  temptation  and  affliction, 
persecution  and  death. 

This  leads  us  to  a  more  particular  notice  of  the 
situation  and  employment,  to  which  the  faithful,  who 
have  quitted  this  earthly  residence,  are  advanced. 
And  here,  what  a  flood  of  glory,  from  the  station  they 
occupy,  overwhelms  the  astonished  mind.  They  are 
**  before  the  throne  of  God,  and  serve  Him  day  and 
night  in  His  temple :  and  He  that  sitteth  on  the 
throne  shall  dwell  among  them."  To  give  us  an  im- 
pressive idea  of  their  admission  to  His  loftiest  abode, 
and  of  the  ease  and  freedom  with  which  they  sustain 
His  glorious  presence,  they  are  represented  as  living 
before  His  throne.  It  is  that  throne,  from  which  He 
observes  the  conduct  of  all  creatures;  yet  are  they  not 
dismayed,  but  filled  with  love.  It  is  that  throne,  on 
which  He  lightens  with  His  arm,  and  thunders  with  His 


156  ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ALL  SAINTS. 

voice,  and  displays  the  terribleness  of  His  judgments. 
But  the  terror  of  these  attributes  is  softened  to  them 
by  the  intervention  of  "  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  throne,"  and,  amidst  the  awful  gran- 
deur of  the  scene,  they  peacefully  admire  and  adore. 
To  teach  us  the  purity,  and  holiness  of  the  region 
and  occupations,  to  which  they  are  exalted.  His 
temple  is  named  as  the  place,  in  which  they  con- 
stantly serve  Him.  It  is  that  temple,  in  which  His 
immediate  presence  rests  for  ever,  and  where  '  the 
angels  and  archangels,  and  all  the  company  of  hea- 
ven,' render  Him  their  homage,  and  receive  His 
commands.  In  what  part  of  the  wide  unknown, 
this  resort  of  the  blessed  lies,  it  is  unnecessary  for 
us  to  know.  We  are  much  more  instructed  by  the 
assurance,  that  "  He  that  sitteth  on  the  throne  shall 
dwell  among  them."  Wherever  He  abides,  there  is 
a  throne;  His  presence  makes  a  temple.  As  an 
affectionate  father,  God  is  among  His  Saints,  direct- 
ing their  affairs,  supplying  their  wants,  receiving 
their  homage,  and  repaying  it  with  His  smiles. 
They  live  in  the  light  of  His  countenance.  Inti- 
mately, and  unceasingly  they  contemplate  His  ado- 
rable perfections.  They  find  a  heaven  in  the  con- 
sciousness of  His  favour ;  and  the  work  of  a  heaven, 
in  serving  Him  day  and  night. 

To  form  an  accurate  sentiment  of  the  happiness, 
which  must  arise  from  the  vision  and  fruition  of  the 
Deity,  is  not  in  the  power  of  our  carnal  minds.  Our 
endeavours  to  follow  the  spirits  of  the  just  into  their 
blessedness,  in  the  bosom  of  God,  are  vain  as  the 
attempt  to  pursue  the  flight  of  the  eagle  towards 
the  luminary  of  day.  With  ease  we  may  trace  his 
remote  approaches  to  the  lofty  orb,  but  he  is  soon 
lost  in  the  distance  between  the  sun  and  us,  or 
hidden  in  the  vast  effulgence  of  its  beams.     Some 


ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ALL  SAINTS.  157 

faint  ideas  of  the  nature  of  their  joy,  we  may,  how- 
ever   collect  from  what  passes  m  our  own  bosoms. 
The' contemplation  of  moral  excellence,  even  m  a 
finite  being,  excites  a  pure  and  exquisite  pleasure 
in  the  virtuous  mind.     We  love  the  man  with  a  most 
oenerous  affection,  in  whom  are  the  amiable  virtues 
unmixed  with  guile  :    and  while  we  muse,  admiring 
his  worth,  our  own  hearts  glow  with  the  spirit  of  his 
goodness.     The  pleasure  is  greater,  the  nearer  our 
knowledge   of  his   character.      Our  delight  is  un- 
bounded, if  he  is  our  friend.      How  great,   then 
must  be  the  felicity  of  contemplating  with  unvailed 
eyes,  the  wisdom,  and  beauty,  and  goodness  of  die 
Source  of  all  perfection,  with  the  assurance  of  His 
love  towards  us,  as  His  selected  friends. 

Again.     Though  now  we  see  Him  not,  the  hope 
that'' His  providence  is  extended  over  us,  is  life's 
choicest  consolation.    He  is  our  final  reliance.    Our 
hearts  find  perfect  satisfaction,  no  where  but  in  Him. 
Wealth,  fame,  and  pleasure  fill  not  man's  desires. 
On  the  eminences  to  which  they  raise  Him,  he  feels 
a  void,  and  is  restless.     But  the  knowledge  of  God, 
and  consciousness  of  His  favour,   is  a  satisfactory 
bliss.      This,  even  here  on  earth,  gives  peace  and 
content  to  the  virtuous  inhabitant  of  life's  humblest 
vale    How  great  then  must  be  their  gladness  ;  what 
can  be  wanting  to  render  their  satisfaction  complete, 
who  live  under  His  immediate  protection  and  smile, 
receive  His  actual  approbation  and  have  Him  for 
their  portion  for  ever !  If,  at  this  wide  distance  from 
Him,  the  pious  mind  is  soothed  and  sublimed  by  its 
humble  devotion  to  the  invisible  God ;    and  by  its 
remote  communion  with  Him,  catches,  like  the  coun- 
tenance of  Moses,  a  gleam  of  His  glory  :  what  must 
be  the  composure  and  dignity  of  bosoms,  how  must 
they  be  changed  into  His  glory,  who  dwell  m  the 


158  ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ALL  SAINTS. 

radiance  of  His  perfections,  and  worship  Him  face 
to  face ! 

It  must  not  escape  observation,  that  there  is  no- 
thing to  interrupt,  or  terminate  this  happiness  of  the 
beatified  servants  of  the  Most  High.  They  have  no 
care  of  providing  food  for  a  perishable  body,  nor 
occasion  to  labour  with  perplexity  and  anguish  for 
an  unsatisfactory  wealth.  No  weight  of  affliction 
causes  their  spirits  to  faint ;  no  restless  desires,  nor 
impetuous  passions  disturb  their  tranquillity  ;  no 
concern  for  the  future  restrains  them  from  the  enjoy- 
ment of  present  bliss.  The  tears  which  were  here 
caused  to  flow  by  death's  cruel  ravages,  or  unme- 
rited wrong,  by  stern  adversity,  or  keen  repentance, 
are  wiped  tenderly  from  every  eye  by  the  hand  of 
God.  The  occasion  of  these  griefs  has  no  more 
operation.  Once  landed  on  the  celestial  Ararat,  the 
terrors  and  the  dangers  of  the  flood  are  over.  The 
scenes  of  sorrow  and  anguish,  darkness  and  dismay, 
give  place  to  brighter  prospects,  and  enlivening 
sunshine.  And  an  eternal  bow  about  the  throne 
assures  them,  that  the  bitterness  of  death  is  past, 
and  God  in  covenant  with  them  for  their  perpetual 
preservation. 

Such  is  the  blessedness  of  those  happy  spirits, 
who  have  departed  this  life,  in  the  true  faith  and 
fear;  so  great  is  their  reward  in  heaven.  The 
utmost  stretch  of  our  conceptions  will  not  reach 
their  felicity.  They  are  **  before  the  throne  of 
God." 

But  in  this  glorious  condition,  and  exalted  station, 
how  are  the  spirits  of  the  blest  employed  ?  No  toil 
makes  repose  necessary,  no  feebleness  requires  it, 
and,  therefore,  no  part  of  their  existence  is  lost  in 
sleep.  Night  and  day  they  serve  their  Maker  in 
His  temple.     In  doing  His  will,  in  celebrating  His 


ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ALL  SAINTS.  159 

greatness,  in  admiring  His  works,  in  imitating  His 
love,  in  joining  with  the  angelic  hosts  to  offer  per- 
petual praises  to  their  common  Lord,  they  spend 
their  existence.  They  have  no  fatiguing  duty,  nor 
unwelcome  business.  They  are  disencumbered  of 
wants  and  cares.  "  The  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst 
of  the  throne,"  is  perpetually  leading  them  to  the 
unsatiating  pleasures  of  His  Father's  house,  to  foun- 
tains of  life,  and  light,  and  of  every  elevated  plea- 
sure. To  receive  perpetually  the  smiles  of  the 
Highest,  is  their  daily  business  ;  and  their  chief  oc- 
cupation, to  praise  His  name. 

To  this  glorious  company,  my  brethren,  those 
departed  friends  have  assuredly  gone,  whose  Chris- 
tian excellencies  we  remember  with  delight.  How 
great,  then,  that  happiness,  upon  which  they  en- 
tered, when  we  bemoaned  their  departure  with  our 
tears !  What  disreg*ard  of  their  interest  and  plea- 
sure, to  wish  them  back  to  this  vain,  and  fluctuating 
scene  !  Let  us,  rather,  learn  to  adore  the  goodness  of 
the  Being,  who  provided  a  way  of  bringing  the  ob- 
jects of  our  love,  to  such  a  state  of  exaltation  and 
bliss.  We  are  wont  to  esteem  those  who  esteem  our 
friends,  and  feel  grateful  to  those  who  merely  wish 
them  prosperity.  How,  then,  are  the  bonds  of  our 
obligation  to  the  Most  High  strengthened,  what  in- 
cense of  gratitude  should  perpetually  rise  to  Him 
from  our  hearts,  whose  goodness  hath  brought  them, 
when  their  allotment  here  was  ended,  into  the  de- 
lightful inheritance  of  the  children  of  God  !  There 
cannot,  methinks,  be  a  more  sacred  claim  upon  our 
love,  or  more  powerful  incitement  to  our  obedi- 
ence. 

Again.  With  this  august  body  of  Saints,  we,  my 
brethren,  though  we  sojourn  on  earth,  are  closely 
connected.     Li  the  mystical  body  of  our  Lord,  we 

II 


160  ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ALL  SAINTS. 

have  a  communion  with  them.  Their  Head  is  ours. 
Their  objects  and  their  pleasures  are  those  which 
we  pursue.  The  seal  of  their  redemption  is  that 
in  which  we  trust ;  the  subject  which  swells  their 
celestial  Hallelujahs,  we  celebrate  in  the  sacramental 
supper.  And  the  Being,  by  whom  they  are  brought 
into  glory,  ascended  also,  we  trust,  to  prepare  a 
place  for  us.  "  Now  therefore,"  says  the  Apostle, 
**  ye  are  no  more  strangers  and  foreigners,  but  fellow 
citizens  with  the  Saints,  and  of  the  household  of 
God^"  In  this  high  connection,  beloved,  let  us 
walk  with  becoming  dignity,  purity,  and  circum- 
spection. Let  us  listen  to  the  remonstrances  against 
vice ;  let  us  obey  the  incitements  to  every  religious 
and  social  duty ;  let  us  indulge  the  noble  and  im- 
portant resolutions,  which  will  afise  in  the  bosom 
of  every  ingenuous  person,  who  sincerely  considers 
himself  as  related,  by  his  Christian  privileges,  "  to 
the  general  assembly  and  Church  of  the  first  born, 
— and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  and  to 
Jesus  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant, — and  to 
God  the  Judge  of  all'*." 

Which  leads  me  to  remark,  lastly,  that  the  glo- 
rious rewards,  which  the  Saints  possess,  may  also 
be  won  by  our  fidelity.  "  In  our  Father's  house 
are  many  mansions  ^"  And  is  there  any  interest, 
which  it  so  much  behoves  us  to  secure,  as  this  ?  For 
what  that  this  earth  can  profi'er,  and  our  most  suc- 
cessful exertions  obtain,  shall  we  relinquish  such 
inestimable  and  eternal  bliss  ?  Let  us,  rather,  "  give 
diligence  to  make  our  calling  and  election  sure  ^" 
Are  we  beset  with  temptations  ?  Does  the  Most 
High  seem  to  frown  on  us  in  sore  chastisement  ?  Is 
the  "  spirit  willing,  but  the  flesh  weak  ^  ?"     Be  not 

<=  Eph.  ii.  19.  <*  Heb.  xii.  23,  24.  «  Johnxiv.  2. 

f  2  Pet.  J.  10.  ^  Matt.  xxvi.  41. 


ON  THE  FESTIVAL  OF  ALL  SAINTS.  161 

dismayed.  In  like  manner  were  the  Saints  tried, 
who  have  conquered  and  are  crowned.  Let  us  take 
their  lives  for  our  ensamples,  and  in  the  uniform 
use  of  the  means  of  grace,  with  eyes  fixed  on  the 
hopes  of  glory,  pursue  the  path  in  which  they  jour- 
neyed, **  who  through  faith  and  patience  inherit  the 
promises  ^" 

^-Heb.  vi,  U^ 


VOL,  II.  M 


SERMON  LIX. 


ON   THE    CHARACTER    OF    ST.  PAUL. 


Acts,  ix.  19—21. 

Then  was  Saul  cettain  days  tvith  the  disciples  which  were  at 
Damascus.  And  straightway  he  preached  Christ  in  the 
synagogues,  that  He  is  the  Son  of  God.  But  all  that  heard 
him  were  amazed,  and  said;  Is  not  this  he  that  destroyed 
them  which  called  on  this  name  ? 

Among  the  characters  which  the  Gospel  history- 
presents  to  us,  St.  Paul  holds  a  conspicuous  place. 
Perhaps,  to  none  of  the  Apostles  is  the  Christian 
world  more  indebted,  and  none  of  them  exhibits  a 
life  more  wonderful  and  instructive.  Brought  to  the 
faith  of  Christ  by  an  extraordinary  conversion ;  em- 
ployed in  the  most  arduous  and  important  services ; 
raised  to  visions  surpassing  the  powers  of  human 
description ;  a  son  of  sorrow,  and  a  martyr  for  re- 
vealed truth ;  there  are  few  persons,  whose  lives  are 
more  fraught  with  interest,  or  have  stronger  claims 
to  our  consideration. 

The  conversion  of  this  great  Christian  hero  is,  this 
day,  commemorated  in  the  Church.  It  will,  there- 
fore, be  a  proper,  and,  with  the  Divine  blessing,  a 
useful  employment  of  our  minds,  to  attend  to  the 
principal  points  of  his  history,  and  to  the  reflections 
which  they  suggest.  \  Of  you  all,  my  brethren,  let 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL.     163 

me  bespeak  a  patient  and  candid  hearing.  It  is  a 
subject  full  of  instruction  for  every  mind.  But,  in 
an  especial  manner,  if  there  be  in  this  assembly  a 
man,  who  is  not  yet  satisfied  concerning  the  truth 
of  our  holy  religion,  him  I  am  anxious  to  interest. 
Would  to  God,  I  could  fill  him  with  candour,  and 
chain  his  attention  to  my  theme.  For  unless  all  laws 
of  reasoning  are  arbitrary,  and  all  grounds  of  evi- 
dence fallacious,  he  cannot  rise  from  the  faithful 
contemplation  of  the  argument,  which  is  founded 
upon  the  life  of  St.  Paul,  without  confessing  of  Christ 
Jesus,  "  that  He  is  the  Son  of  God."    V 

Saul  or  Paul,  for  by  both  names  he  is  called,  was, 
as  he  himself  informs  us,  a  native  of  Tarsus  in  Ci- 
Jicia.  \  This  town,  famous  for  its  trade  and  its  litera- 
ture, is  supposed  by  many,  to  have  been  honoured, 
likewise,  with  municipal  distinctions,  for  its  adhe- 
rence to  some  Roman  Emperor.  If  it  were  not  so, 
the  father  of  our  Apostle  must  have  obtained  the 
freedom  of  Rome  by  merit,  or  by  purchase :  for  it 
must  be  remembered,  as  furnishing  an  instructive 
instance  of  the  providence  of  God,  that  St.  Paul 
was  born  a  Jew,  but  at  the  same  time  an  heir  to  the 
privileges  of  a  Roman  citizen.  \  li 

His  education  was  liberal.  Favoured  by  nature' 
with  strong  and  active  powers,  and  brought  up  in 
one  of  the  most  celebrated  schools  in  Jerusalem  "  at 
the  feet  of  Gamaliel  %"  he  united  genius  with  great 
acquirements.  His  speeches,  and  the  Epistles  which 
have  come  down  to  us  bearing  his  name,  display, 
equally,  the  force  of  his  mind,  and  his  acquaintance 
with  the  literature  of  his  day.  Had  he  not,  after 
the  glorious  realities  of  the  Gospel  were  unfolded  to 
his  view,  counted  all  his  human  acquirements  "  but 
dung,   that  he  might  win  Christ  ^"  we  should  be 

•  Acts  xxii.  3.  ^  Phil,  iii  8. 

M  2 


164  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL. 

induced  to  remark,  in  honour  of  the  man,  that  the 
most  illustrious  masters  of  reasoning  and  rhetoric, 
Locke  and  Longinus,  have  bestowed  on  him  the 
meed  of  their  praise. 

As  might  have  been  expected,  the  pride  of  earthly 
wisdom,  and  the  vanity  of  Jewish  prejudice,  unfitted 
him  for  the  reception  of  Christ  and  His  doctrines. 
On  the  contrary,  they  qualified  him  to  be  an  instru- 
ment of  the  opposers  of  Christianity ;  and,  aided  by 
the  natural  impetuosity  of  his  temper,  rendered  him 
the  assiduous  and  unwearied  persecutor  of  its  Au- 
thor and  its  advocates.  ^  None  of  the  foes  to  Jesus 
and  His  disciples  was  more  known  and  dreaded. 
Every  where  his  fame  was  spread,  as  the  implacable 
adversary  of  the  sect.  Without  regard  to  age  or 
sex;  without  restraint  to  time  or  place,  we  find  him 
deriding  the  disciples  of  the  Lord,  and  dragging 
them  to  prison  and  to  torture:  and  when  the  first 
martyr,  the  amiable  St.  Stephen,  was  stoned,  this 
zealous  enemy  to  the  Christian  faith  "  was  con- 
senting unto  his  death '';"  and  kept  the  garments  of 
those  who  executed  the  horrid  deed''.  It  must  how- 
ever be  observed,  (for  he  tells  us  that  on  this  account 
he  obtained  mercy,)  that  in  his  animosity  towards 
tiie  followers  of  the  Redeemer,  he  was  actuated  by  a 
zeal,  which  he  thought  holy,  and  by  a  concern  for 
the  religion  and  honour  of  his  nation,  which  he 
thought  right.  He  was  a  mistaken,  not  a  careless, 
nor  a  vicious  man.  There  are  those,  alas!  who,  in 
deriding  and  opposing  the  Author  of  our  faith,  are 
impelled  only  by  their  levity.  Still  worse,  there 
are  those,  who,  without  regard  for  any  religion,  or  - 
zeal  for  any  thing  good,  would  destroy  the  autho- 
rity and  influence  of  the  Gospel,  to  quiet  themselves 
in  their  sins,  and  to  accomplish  their  base  purposes 

"  Acts  viii.  1.  ^  Ibid.  xxii.  20. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL.     165 

in  the  world.     For  such  the  pious  bosom  will  trem- 
ble.    Though  mercy  was  found  for  the  honest,  yet 
mistaken  Saul,  can  they  expect,  that  profane  levity 
and  determined  profligacy  will  find  an  apology  at 
the  bar  of  God  ?     No  ;  never.     These,  I  am  awfully 
afraid,  are  *'  vessels  of  wrath  fitted  to  destruction\" 
But,  to  return  to  our  subject :    **  breathing  out 
threatenings  and  slaughter  V  Saul  is  hastening  to 
Damascus,  with  authority  from  the  high  priest  to 
take,    without   distinction,    the   abettors   of  Chris- 
tianity, and  "  bring  them  bound  unto  Jerusalem^." 
As  he  journeys  with  a  considerable  company,  be- 
hold, "  at  mid-day,  a  light  from  heaven,  above  the 
brightness  of  the  sun\"  shines  suddenly  upon  them 
and  strikes  them  to  the  earth.  ^  It  was,  probably, 
the   Shechinah;    the   manifestation   of   the   Divine 
Presence.  '    A   voice,    terrible   and   inarticulate   as 
thunder  to  his  companions,  but  distinct  and  intelli- 
gible to  Paul,  calls  to  him  from  the  inexpressible 
glory,    "Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest  thou    me,?" 
Trembling,  and  astonished,  he  inquires,  "  Who  art 
thou.  Lord  ?     And  the  Lord  said,  1  am  Jesus,  whom 
thou  persecutest.     But  rise,   and   stand   upon  thy 
feet :  for  I  have  appeared  unto  thee  for  this  pur- 
pose, to  make  thee  a  minister  and  a  witness  both 
of  these  things  which  thou  hast  seen,  and  of  those 
things  in  the  which  I  will  appear  unto  thee''."     As 
one,  who  suddenly  stops  on  a  precipice,  appalled 
at  the  danger  into  which  impetuosity  had  hurried 
him,  Paul  stands  amazed  and  dismayed.     The  mani- 
festation of  the  Redeemer  is  irresistible ;    and  he, 
who  had  hitherto  been  solicitous  how  he  might  most 
effectually  injure  His  cause,  now  calls  to  Him,  in 
the  voice  of  suppliant  obedience,  "  Lord,  what  wilt 

*  Rom.  ix.  22.  ^  Acts  ix.  1.  *'  Ibid.  ver.  2. 

*'  Acts  xxvi.  13.  '  Ibid.  ver.  14.  ''  Ibid.  ver.  15,  16, 


166  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL. 

Thou  have  me  to  do'?"  Made  blind  by  the  bright- 
ness of  the  glory  which  appeared,  he  was  led  by  his 
companions  into  the  city,  which  was  at  hand  ;  where 
for  three  days,  overwhelmed  doubtless  with  sorrow 
for  the  error  into  which  he  had  fallen,  he  devoted 
himself  entirely  to  fasting  and  prayer.  Upon  this, 
for  the  confirmation  of  his  faith,  and  comfort  of  his 
spirit,  another  miracle  was  wrought  upon  him.  His 
sight  was  instantly  restored  to  him  by  a  minister  of 
the  Redeemer,  who  also  received  him  into  the 
Church  by  baptism,  and  instructed  him  in  the  work 
unto  which  he  was  designed.  "  Then  was  Saul 
certain  days  with  the  disciples,  which  were  at 
Damascus.  And  straightway  he  preached  Christ 
in  the  synagogues,  that  He  is  the  Son  of  God." 

As  the  wonderful  conversion  of  this  Apostle  is  a 
great  evidence  of  the  truth  of  our  religion ;  and  on 
it  rests  the  validity  of  his  important  testimonies,  it 
deserves  our  particular  examination.    Now,  St.  Paul 
must  be  supposed  to  have  been,  either  honest  or 
dishonest  in  this  matter.     From  the  character  he 
had  supported  before  his  conversion ;  from  his  ap- 
peal to  his  adversaries,  that  from  his   youth  "  he 
had    lived  in  all  good  conscience  before   God™;" 
from  the  face  of  his  writings  and  conduct ;  yea,  from 
his  zeal  for  the  religion  and  tradition  of  his  fathers, 
candour  should  infer  that  he  was  a  conscientious 
man.     While,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  nothing 
pn  which  we  may  reasonably  found  the  least  sus- 
picion of  his  veracity.     What  motives  were  there  to 
induce  a  person  of  his  character  and  prospects,  to 
attempt  to  impose  such  a  fraud  upon  the  world  ? 
Were  the  adherents  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  able  to 
proffer  any  inducements,  sufficient  to  win  this  re- 
nowned  character   to  their  party  ?    Theirs,   alas ! 

'  Acts  ix.  6.  "'  Ibid  xxiii.  1. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL.  167 

was  the  cause  of  poverty,  of  trouble,  and  of  persecu- 
tion ;  and  he  their  persecutor  well  knew  the  mise- 
ries to  which  the  followers  of  the  Nazarene  would 
be  exposed.  Were  there  any  prospects,  with  which 
he  could  have  induced  himself  to  practise  this  de- 
ception upon  mankind  ?  If  he  believed,  that  Jesus 
Christ  was  an  impostor,  and  had  expired,  for  ever, 
on  the  cross,  his  good  sense  could  not  but  have 
inferred,  that  his  religion,  which  renounced  the  aid 
of  the  wisdom,  wealth,  and  power  of  this  world, 
would  presently  come  to  nought :  and  his  know- 
ledge of  the  feelings  of  his  nation,  and  of  the  incre- 
dulity of  mankind,  must  have  assured  him,  that 
nothing  could  be  more  hopeless  than  the  fate  of  the 
advocates  of  such  a  cause.  Without  prospect  of 
any  thing,  but  implacable  enmity  from  those  he 
left,  and  disgrace  and  trouble  with  those  he  joined  ; 
without  the  least  reasonable  expectation  of  wealth, 
honour,  power,  or  success;  what  could  have  in- 
duced this  sensible,  and  hitherto  upright  man,  to 
relinquish  the  religion  of  his  fathers,  which  he  had 
highly  and  zealously  prized,  for  a  religion,  which 
he  believed  to  be  false;  a  religion,  which  he  had 
detested  and  persecuted  ;  a  religion,  to  which  he 
would  be  obliged  to  sacrifice  his  honours,  his  con- 
nections, his  comforts,  the  advantages  of  his  birth 
and  education,  his  hope  of  the  favour  of  his  God, 
and,  in  all  probability,  his  life  ?  Surely,  there  is 
not  the  least  ground,  upon  which  we  can  doubt, 
that  St.  Paul  was  sincere  in  his  profession,  honest 
in  what  he  related.  If  his  integrity,  whose  whole 
life  was  conformable  to  his  principles,  may  be  called 
in  question,  I  see  not  what  evidence  there  can  be  of 
any  man's  veracity ;  I  know  not  in  whose  testimony 
we  can  ever  confide. 

But,  if  St.  Paul  were  honest,  either  the  wonders 
which  produced  his  conversion  were  real,  or  he  must 


168  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL. 

himself  have  been  deceived.  Now,  there  are  but 
three  ways,  in  which  his  deception  could  have 
been  possible ;  by  the  artifice  of  evil  spirits,  by 
human  imposition,  or  by  the  enthusiasm  or  delirium 
of  his  own  mind.  There  are  few,  if  any,  who  can 
suppose  it  the  artifice  of  evil  spirits.  Whatever 
may  be  their  power,  we  may  be  perfectly  assured, 
that  they  never  exercise  it  in  favour  of  a  system  of 
the  purest  piety  and  morals ;  a  system,  whose  lead- 
ing aim  is  the  destruction  of  their  influence  among 
mankind,  and  whose  precepts  inculcate  truth  and 
goodness.  Was  there,  then,  a  delusion  practised 
upon  the  Apostle  by  human  beings  ?  It  is  impos- 
sible to  conceive,  in  what  way  any  impostor,  or  set 
of  impostors,  could  have  produced  a  scene  like  that 
which  took  place  in  the  road  to  Damascus.  And  if 
we  should  imagine  a  show,  any  way  similar  to  it,  to 
have  been  wrought  by  imposture,  could  we  believe, 
that  such  an  one  as  Saul,  would  have  been  its  dupe : 
— that  Saul,  who  was  distinguished  for  penetration 
and  strength  of  mind  ;  that  Saul,  whose  character 
was  decision,  and  who  carried  in  his  bosom  a  con- 
tempt of  the  Person  whom  the  miracle  aimed  to 
magnify ;  that  Saul,  who  was  an  acute  logician,  a 
good  philosopher,  and  a  keen  detector  of  the  arti- 
fices of  men ;  that  Saul,  who,  at  the  very  time  of 
the  occurrence,  was  impetuously  bent  upon  destroy- 
ing the  religion  of  Jesus,  and  distressing  His  fol- 
lowers ?  Recur  we,  then,  to  the  last  supposition. 
Could  a  delusion  have  been  occasioned  by  enthu- 
siasm, or  delirium,  in  his  own  mind  ?  Enthusiasm 
generally  acts  in  favour  of  something  dear  to  it.  Its 
usual  course  is  to  warm  itself  with  repeated  views 
of  its  darling  object.  It  raises,  by  the  application 
of  its  own  heat  to  its  own  opinions,  possibilities  to 
probabilities ;  and  these  to  certainties.  It  delights  to 
form,  and  to  catch  at  the  most  airy  ideas,  which 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL.     169 

favour  its  expectations  and  designs.  But  to  make 
one  leave,  at  once,  his  fondest  opinions ;  to  draw 
him  instantaneously  from  tenets  dear  and  sacred,  to 
principles  long  esteemed  false  and  odious: — and 
this,  too,  by  miracles  imagined  to  be  wrought  against 
itself: — these  are  not  the  operations  of  enthusiasm 
or  superstition.  Nor  can  a  delirium  be  assigned  as 
the  cause  of  the  Apostle's  impressions :  for  it  must 
be  imputed  to  his  companions,  as  well  as  to  him ; 
no  inconsiderable  number,  we  may  presume  from 
the  nature  of  their  errand  :  it  must  be  imputed,  too, 
to  Ananias,  who  was  supernaturally  informed  of  the 
vision  which  St.  Paul  had  seen,  notwithstanding 
the  dignity  and  reasonableness  of  his  conduct,  and 
the  good  report  he  had  both  of  Christians  and  Jews  : 
it  must  be  imputed  to  the  Apostle  during  his  sub- 
sequent life  :  and  conceived  to  have  been  always 
consistent;  to  have  enabled  him  with  conspicuous 
wisdom  to  adapt  means  to  their  ends  ;  to  have  raised 
him  to  a  sublime  elevation  of  piety  and  virtue ;  and 
to  have  qualified  him  to  produce  speeches  and 
writings,  which,  for  strength  of  reasoning,  and  force 
of  eloquence,  vie  with  the  most  finished  productions 
of  human  ingenuity.  This,  methinks,  were  a  de- 
lirium approaching  very  near  to  the  standard  of 
exalted  reason ;  having  very  much  of  the  character 
of**  truth  and  soberness"."  The  supposition  that 
the  Apostle  was  himself  deceived,  is  in  every  shape 
of  it  attended  with  so  many  and  insuperable  diffi- 
culties, that  "  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief""  must  per- 
vert our  own  faculties,  before  we  can  admit  it  a 
moment,  as  an  explanation  of  his  conversion.  What 
now  remains  ?  We  must  acknowledge  the  reality 
of  the  wonderful  manifestation  of  our  Redeemer,  or 
betake  ourselves  to  the  last,  the  miserable  subter- 

"  Acts  xxvi.  iJ5.  "  Heb.  iii.  12. 


170  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL. 

fuge,  that  the  whole  story  is  a  fabrication,  and  that 
no  such  person  as  St.  Paul  ever  existed. 

This  subterfuge,  should  any  resort  to  it,  will  be 
found  as  untenable  as  it  is  bold.     For  what  reason 
have  we  to  doubt  the  existence  of  St.  Paul,  more 
than  the  existence  of  any  celebrated  character  of 
antiquity  ?     We  believe  that  Homer  and  Virgil,  that 
Alexander  and  Caesar,  that  Socrates  and  Cicero,  lived 
in  the  ages  in  which  they  are  said  to  have  lived.    On 
what  is  this  belief  founded  ?     On  the  testimony  of 
historians,  and  the  possession  of  works  bearing  their 
names,  which  have  been  attributed  to  them  by  all 
posterity.  This  is  a  reasonable  and  sufficient  ground 
of  belief.     The  nature  of  the  case  admits  of  no  other. 
Now  we  have  minute  accounts  of  St.  Paul,  in  con- 
temporary, and  innumerable  historians  ;  and  we  have 
many  and  various  writings  bearing  his  name,  which 
have  been  acknowledged  as  his  in  every  age,  from 
the  time  of  his  life  to  the  present  day.     Such,  too,  is 
the  nature  of  these  writings,  that  they  carry  in  them- 
selves evidence  of  their  authenticity.     Do  we  doubt, 
that  there  were  Christian  Churches  in  Rome,  in  Co- 
rinth, and  in  Ephesus  ?     But,  while  these  Churches 
were    in   being,    could    Epistles   have  been  spread 
abroad,  as  addressed  to  them,  which  they  had  never 
received  ?  Or  could  they  have  received  Epistles  from 
St.  Paul,  referring  to  visits  made  them,  to  wonders 
wrought  among  them,  and  to  instructions  given  them, 
if  St.  Paul  had  never  existed  ?  Yet,  such  Epistles  are 
quoted  as  his  by  many  writers  in  the  first  centuries; 
and  have  been  preserved  as  a  part  of  canonical  Scrip- 
ture, in  all  ages  of  the  Church.     We  have,  too,  re- 
cords of  his  testimony,  as  ancient  as  his  day ;  and 
vestiges  of   his  labours  preserved  by  tradition,  to 
many  regions  which  were   blessed  with  his  visits. 
When,  therefore,  we  are  ready  to  renounce  all  con- 
fidence in  the  writings,  and  all  belief  in  the  existence. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL.  171 

of  the  distinguished  characters  of  antiquity :  when 
we  are  willing  to  set  all  historical  evidence  at  de- 
fiance, and  to  quit  the  only  ground  upon  which  we 
can  have  any  knowledge  of  the  transactions  in  the 
ages  before  us  :  then  we  may  doubt  the  authenticity 
of  the  story  of  St.  Paul,  and  the  genuineness  of  his 
writings.  But  till  then,  I  see  no  alternative  remain- 
ing, which  a  reasonable  man  can  take,  but  to  con- 
fess the  reality  of  the  vision,  which  converted  this 
great  Apostle  to  Christianity. 

There  is,  indeed,  in  this  miraculous  event,  as  if 
designed  by  God,  a  remarkable  combination  of  rea- 
sons, which  substantiate  its  credibility.     There  is  no 
other  ground  upon  which  we  can,  with  any  plausi- 
bility, account  for  the  Apostle's  conduct.     It  is  a 
kind  of  miracle,  which  no  one,  who  believes  in  a 
Deity,  will  say  was  impossible,  nor  upon  the  sup- 
position of  the  truth  of  Christianity,  will  any  one  say, 
it  was  unnecessary.     The  end  appears  worthy  of  the 
effort ;  and  both  the  effort  and  end  worthy  of  the 
Almighty.     The  circumstances  which  attended  the 
event,  were  such  as  would  have  facilitated  detection 
if  it  were  false,  and  the  consequences  of  it  were 
such,  as  might  be  expected,  if  it  were  true.     But  I 
am  particularly  anxious  to  remark,  and  to   dwell 
upon  the  remark,   that  the  subsequent  life  and  con- 
duct of  St.  Paul  are  the  best  evidences  of  the,  truth 
and  sincerity  of  his  conversion.    They  were  exactly, 
and  in  all  respects  such,  as  we  should  suppose  would 
be  produced  by  an  occurrence,  so  extraordinary  and 
solemn,  so  impressive  and  consequential. 

His  great  favour  and  interest  with  the  rulers  and 
chief  priests  of  his  nation ;  his  high  pretensions  to 
unblameableness  in  the  righteousness  of  the  law ;  his 
pride  in  his  acquirements  of  human  wisdom  and  ac- 
complishments ;  the  honours  of  his  station  and  his 
flattering  prospects  in  the  world,  he  cheerfully  re- 


172  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL. 

nounced  them  all.  As  the  youth,  who  is  raised  to 
the  views  and  expectations  of  mankind,  abandons  the 
toys  and  sports  of  his  boyish  days,  so  these  no  longer 
enamour  the  Apostle,  now  that  the  salvation  which 
is  in  Jesus,  is  disclosed  to  his  view.  How  hard  is  it 
to  forego  the  charms  of  honour,  of  science,  and  of 
life's  flattering  distinctions !  What  can  reconcile  men 
to  these  self-denials,  but  an  abiding  conviction  of 
the  reference  of  this  life  to  another,  and  a  lively  faith 
in  the  unspeakable  joys  of  the  future  ?  To  him, 
indeed,  who  has  tasted  the  '*  excellency  of  the 
knowledge  of  Christ  p,"  and  known  "  the  powers  of 
the  world  to  come^:"  to  him,  to  whom  the  Son  of 
God  stands  revealed  as  a  Saviour,  death  as  an  en- 
trance upon  an  eternal  existence,  and  heaven  as  the 
reward  of  the  faithful :  to  him,  indeed,  in  the  calm 
estimate  of  reflection,  every  thing  else  must  appear 
of  little  value.  In  renouncing,  therefore,  the  dis- 
tinctions, pleasures,  and  designs  of  this  world,  and 
devoting  himself  wholly  to  the  attainment  of  the 
*'  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus'," 
St.  Paul  has  given  a  noble  evidence,  that  the  scene 
on  his  way  to  Damascus  was  a  clear  and  satisfactory 
manifestation  to  him  of  the  ascended  Saviour,  whom 
he  had  persecuted. 

Soon  after  his  enlistment  under  the  banners  of  the 
Gospel,  we  find  him  waging  his  Master's  warfare 
with  courage,  skill,  and  determination.  To  his  own 
countrymen,  who  had  witnessed  his  outrages  upon 
the  followers  of  the  Messiah,  he  first,  with  undaunted 
confidence,  declared  his  faith  in  Him  :  proving  to 
them  from  Moses  and  the  Prophets,  that  Christ  must 
needs  sufler  and  die ;  and  that  this  Jesus,  whom  they 
had  crucified,  was  very  Christ.  But  he  was  taught 
by  the  Lord,  that  it  should  be  his  office  to  carry  the 
tidings  of  salvation  to  the  Gentile  world.     This  was 

.  P  Phil.  iii.  8.  ''  Heb.  vi.  5*  ■"  Phil.  iii.  14. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL.  173 

a  task,  to  undertake  which  required  more  than 
human  enterprise  and  philanthropy  ;  to  accompUsh 
which  required  a  patience,  perseverance,  intrepidity 
and  exemplariness,  which  could  be  furnished  only 
from  above.  In  this  vast  and  important  work,  St. 
Paul  "  laboured  more  abundantly  than  all'"  his 
brethren.  They  took  to  themselves,  generally,  some 
province,  or  part  of  a  country,  where,  with  pious 
diligence,  they  inculcated  and  spread  the  truths  of 
revelation.  But  the  measure  of  his  cares  was  the 
extent  of  the  human  race ;  the  bounds  of  his  labours 
were  the  limits  of  the  world.  Memory  and  the  time 
would  fail  me,  should  I  attempt  to  recount  to  you, 
his  travels  and  exertions.  Borne,  now,  on  the  wings^ 
of  Christian  zeal,  and  actuated  by  the  spirit  of  Chris- 
tian love,  he  seems  to  have  carried  the  glad  tidings 
of  redemption  into  almost  every  region,  from  the 
distant  recesses  of  the  East,  to  the  utmost  Islands 
of  the  West.  Nor  were  his  sorrows  less  than  his. 
labours.  Was  he  in  Ephesus,  or  journeying  to 
Spain  ;  was  he  bound  to  Rome,  or  would  he  go  to 
Jerusalem ;  in  every  place,  **  the  Holy  Ghost  wit- 
nessed, that  bonds  and  afflictions  would  abide  him  *." 
"  But  none  of  these  things  moved  him,  neither 
counted  he  his  life  dear  unto  himself,  so  that  he 
might  finish  his  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry 
which  he  had  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus"."  It 
would  seem  by  the  plain,  yet  pathetic  summary  of 
his  sufferings,  that  for  the  proof  of  his  faith,  and  the 
perfecting  of  his  character,  adversity  was  permitted 
to  bring  him  all  her  cups  to  taste :  and  of  each  one 
which  he  tasted,  compelled  him  to  repeat  the  draught. 
"  In  labour  more  abundant,  in  stripes  above  mea- 
sure, in  prisons  more  frequent,  in  deaths  oft.  Of  the 
Jews  five  times  received  I  forty  stripes  save  one. 

'  1  Cor.  XV,  10.  '  Acts  xx.  23.   .         "  Ibid.  ver.  24. 


174  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL. 

Thrice  was  I  beaten  with  rods,  once  was  I  stoned, 
thrice  I  suffered  shipwreck,  a  night  and  a  day  I  have 
been  in  the  deep ;  in  journeyings  often,  in  perils  of 
waters,  in  perils  of  robbers,  in  perils  by  mine  own 
countrymen,  in  perils  by  the  heathen,  in  perils  in  the 
city,  in  perils  in  the  wilderness,  in  perils  in  the  sea, 
in  perils  among  false  brethren  ;  in  weariness  and 
painfulness,  in  watchings  often,  in  hunger  and  thirst, 
in  fastings  often,  in  cold  and  nakedness.  Beside 
those  things  that  are  without,  that  which  cometh 
upon  me  daily,  the  care  of  all  the  Churches  \" 

Thus,  from  the  day  of  his  conversion,  passed  the 
life  of  this  once  proud,  and  implacable  foe  to  Chris- 
tianity, in  humility  and  faith,  in  travels  and  labours, 
in  affliction,  charity,  and  continual  exertions  for  the 
success  of  the  Gospel.  Like  the  sun,  he  stood  not 
still ;  but  constantly  diffused  upon  some  dark  region 
or  other,  the  glorious  light  with  which  he  himself 
was  illumined.  And  like  the  sun,  his  lustre  was 
more  lovely,  and  his  diligence  seemed  to  increase,  as 
he  verged  towards  the  evening  of  life,  and  hastened 
to  set.  Afflictions,  which  damp  most  men's  perse- 
verance, renovated  his.  Age,  which  brings  others 
repose,  called  forth  his  noblest  energies.  And  the 
approach  of  death,  which  sobers  every  mind,  filled 
him  with  exultation.  **  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered, 
and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I  have 
fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I 
have  kept  the  faith :  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for 
me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the 
righteous  Judge,  shall  give  me  at  that  day  ^." 

In  the  reign  of  Nero,  ready,  if  the  will  of  God 
should  be  so,  to  give  his  life  a  sacrifice  to  his  faith, 
he  returned  to  Rome.  There,  his  success  in  govern- 
ing with  St»  Peter,  and  extending  the  Church,  drew 
on  him  the  hatred  and  persecution  of  a  corrupt  go- 

*  2  Cor,  xi.  23—28.  »  2  Tim.  iv.  6—8. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PAUL.     175 

vernment :  and  in  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age, 
by  the  command  of  the  monster,  to  whom  the  Church 
owes  the  blood  of  many  of  its  martyrs,  and  fallen 
nature  a  new  disgrace,  this  champion  of  Christianity 
expired  on  a  scaffold  ! 

His  successors  in  the  ministry  have  a  rich  legacy 
in  the  example  he  has  left  them,  of  pastoral  fidelity 
and  judicious  zeal.      To   all  the   disciples   of  the 
Redeemer,  his  writings  are  a  treasure  of  divine  wis- 
dom, of  inestimable  value.     In  his  defence  before 
Agrippa,  his  discourse  upon  the  resurrection,  and 
several  parts  of  his  Epistles,  the  man  of  taste  may 
be  delighted,  while  the  Christian  is  edified.     But  it 
is  particularly  to  the  unbeliever,  that  his  life  presents 
the  most  important  instruction.     For  the  change  of 
his  opinion,  his  extraordinary  labours,  virtues,  and 
successes ;  the  willingness  with  which  he  encountered 
the  fatigues  and  sufferings  of  his  ministry ;  and  the 
readiness  with  which  he  sealed  his  testimony  with 
his  blood  :  it  is  impossible  to  assign  any  other  ade- 
quate cause,  than  that  he  had  received  satisfactory,, 
and  irresistible  evidence,  that  the  Gospel  he  had  per- 
secuted was  a  revelation  from  God.     When  I  con- 
template the  conversion  of  this  Apostle,  in  all  its  cir- 
cumstances and  consequences,  I  am  ready  to  believe 
that  the  Most  High,  in  condescension  to  the  weak- 
ness of  faith  in  the  children  of  men,  has  vouchsafed 
to  give  them  an  evidence  of  the  authority  of  His  Son, 
which  should  be  unexceptionable  and  irresistible. 
It  is  a  pillar  of  our  faith,  which  levity  may  attempt 
to  soil,  and  sophistry  may  endeavour  to  mar ;  but, 
like  the  pillars  in  the  eternal  temple  of  Jehovah,  it 
shall  stand  for  ever  ;  upheld  by  truths  and  admired, 
both  in  its  strength  and  beauty,  of  all  them  that 
believe.  ,,,  ,,  ^,  ,  ,,,     


SERMON   LX. 


ON    THE    CHARACTER    OF    ST.    JOHN   THE 
BAPTIST. 


St.  Matthew,  xi.  11. 

Verily  I  say  unto  you.  Among  them  that  are  born  of  wotnen 
there  hath  not  risen  a  greater  than  John  the  Baptist. 

What  an  encomium  is  here  upon  that  renowned 
person  and  distinguished  saint,  whose  nativity,  the 
Church,  this  day,  commemorates ;  an  encomium, 
too,  from  the  mouth  of  the  highest  and  most  perfect 
discerner  of  characters,  the  Eternal  Son  of  God. 
It  will  not  be  amiss,  my  brethren,  but  very  perti- 
nent and  commendable,  to  turn  our  attention  to  the 
life  of  the  man,  upon  whom  our  blessed  Lord  hath 
bestowed  such  honourable  expression  of  His  re- 
spects, and  approbation.  A  character,  which  Christ 
commends,  can  never  be  studied  without  advan- 
tage. 

The  course,  which  our  thoughts  will  most  natu- 
rally take,  is,  to  inquire  in  what  the  Baptist  was  so 
remarkable,  as  to  have  merited  and  obtained  such 
discriminating  praise. 

And,  in  the  first  place,  he  was  peculiarly  remark- 
able in  his  birth,  and  office.  There  is  a  striking 
and  beautiful  analogy,  in  all  the  works  of  God. 
Great,  and  remote  events,  are  typified  in  those  which 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  BAPTIST.       177 

are  immediate,  and  of  less  magnitude :  and  His  spi- 
ritual economy  is  frequently  illustrated  in  the  ar- 
rangements of  His  material  world.     When  the  sun 
approaches  to  scatter  the  darkness  of  night,  and  cheer 
and  invigorate   creation  with  his  beams,  he  is  pre- 
ceded by  the  morning  star  ushering  him  in  with  its 
fainter  dawn.     In  like  manner,  when  the  more  glo- 
rious *'  Sun  of  Righteousness''"  was  about  to  rise 
upon  our  benighted  world,  the  Most  High  ordained, 
that  an  harbinger  should  go  before  Him  ''  to  prepare 
His  way*","  and  announce  His  coming.     It  was  re- 
served for  a  pious  pair,  who  were  both  righteous 
before  God,  "  walking  in  all  the  commandments  and 
ordinances  of  the  Lord  blameless^"  to  be  assured  by 
an  angel  sent  from  God,  that  they  should  give  birth 
to  the  person  who  should  execute  this  extraordinary 
office.     The  Prophets  had  predicted  his  appearance 
and  character,  as  the  herald  of  Messiah  the  Prince : 
and  in  the  spirit  and  life,  and  even  attire  of  the  good 
Elijah,  this  herald  had  been  typified.     At  the  ap- 
pointed time,  contrary  to  the  expectation  and  hopes 
of  nature,  Zacharias  and  Elisabeth  were  blessed  with 
this  wonderful  child,  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost  from 
the  womb :  so  much  like  Elijah  as  by  many  to  be 
taken  for  him,  and  so  precisely  at  the  period,  when 
the  Jews  were  expecting  the  promised  Deliverer, 
that   some  supposed   he  was,  indeed,   the    Christ. 
Considered  as  the  forerunner  of  our  Lord,  there  is 
something  in  him  peculiarly  interesting,  and  entitled 
to  appropriate  respect.     We  admire  the  exact  fulfil- 
ment of  prophecies,  and  striking  accomplishment  of 
types  ;  and  we  cannot  wonder  that  Gabriel  declared 
to  the  amazed  Zacharias,   "  Thou  shalt  have  joy  and 
gladness  ;  and  many  shall  rejoice  at  his  birth  ^" 

»  Mai.  iv.  2.  ''  Ibid.  iii.  1. 

•^Lukei.  6.  *' Ibid.  ver.  14. 

VOL.  II.  N" 


178      ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  BAPTIST, 

Having  noticed  his  peculiar  office,  and  the  circum- 
stances pf  his  birth,  we  proceed  to  observe,  that  St, 
John  was  eminently  distinguished  by  his  piety  and 
humility.  There  is  an  intimate  and  nice  relation,, 
between  all  the  virtues  and  duties  of  life.  This  is. 
very  observable  in  piety  and  humility.  They  can 
hardly  subsist  apart.  The  man  cannot  be  pious, 
who  is  not  humble ;  and  seldom  is  he  adorned  with 
humility  who  is  not  pious.  They  generate  each 
other  in  the  heart.  In  the  life  of  the  Baptist,  there 
is  such  a  display  of  these  conjoined  graces,  as  ex- 
hibits him  at  no  ordinary  point  of  moral  elevation. 
When  our  blessed  Lord  presented  Himself  a  can- 
didate for  His  baptism,  an  occasion  which  would  have 
elated  and  flattered  many  a  teacher  of  righteousness, 
his  unassuming  modesty,  and  holy  reverence  for  the 
Redeemer,  form  a  most  lovely  picture.  *'  I  have 
need  to  be  baptized  of  Thee,  and  comest  Thou  to 
me*  ?"  Astonished  at  the  singularity  of  his  appear- 
ance and  doctrines,  the  Jews  mused  in  their  hearts, 
whether  he  were  not  the  Christ,  and  sent  messen- 
gers to  ask  him  the  question.  Had  he  been  im- 
pious, here  was  opportunity  to  arrogate  to  himself 
divine  honours.  Had  he  been  ambitious,  here  was 
an  occasion  to  have  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his 
nation.  But  equally  to  be  admired  for  his  diffidence 
of  himself  and  his  devotion  to  his  Lord,  he  replied, 
*' There  cometh  one  after  me,  mightier  than  I,  the 
latchet  of  whose  shoes  I  am  not  worthy  to  stoop 
down  and  unloose  ^"  But  why  do  I  adduce  parti- 
cular instances  ?  His  whole  life  was  one  continued 
exhibition  of  self-denial,  and  religious  devotion.  For 
him,  the  plaudits  of  fame  and  the  trophies  of  power 
had  no  charms.  In  him,  "  soft  raiment^"  and  deli- 
cate life  excited  no  covetous  desires.     In  the  plain, 

«  Matt.  iii.  14.  ^  Mark  i.  7.  ^  Matt.  xi.  8. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  BAPTIST.      179 

coarse  garb  of  the  penitent ;  sequestered  from  the 
haunts  of  pride  and  pleasure,  he  held  the  holy  tenor 
of  his  way : 

/  *  The  moss  his  bed,  the  cave  his  humble  cell, 
I    His  food  the  fruits,  his  drink  the  crystal  well. 
Remote  from  man,  with  God  he  pass'd  his  days,  ^ 
Prayer  all  his  business ;  all  his  pleasure,  praise.' 

Deep  must  have  been  his  sense  of  sin  ;  strong  his 
principles  of  sobriety  ;  great  his  love  of  God,  who 
could  retire  from  all  the  voluptuousness  of  life,  to 
the  wilderness  of  Judea ;  and  content  himself  for  sus- 
tenance, with  "  locusts  and  wild  honey  \"  In  his 
public  ministry,  he  evidenced  the  motives  of  his 
austerity.  "  Repent  ye,  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
is  at  handV'  was  the  substance  of  all  his  discourses. 

But  I  haste  to  observe,  that  the  Baptist  did  not 
live  for  himself  alone.  His  austerity  did  not  degene- 
rate into  a  mere  concern  for  his  own  salvation.  In 
his  devotion  to  God,  he  did  not  forget,  that  he  owed 
much  to  his  fellow  beings.  For  he  was  not  more 
distinguished  by  the  properties  which  have  already 
been  mentioned,  than  by  his  zeal  for  the  propagation 
of  truth,  and  the  welfare  of  his  countrymen.  What 
do  I  see !  "  Jerusalem,  and  all  Judea,  and  all  the 
region  round  about  Jordan,"  are  flocking  to  him  to 
be  "baptized,  confessing  their  sins^."  The  amiable 
man  has  been  amongst  them  as  their  friend,  declaring 
and  reproving  their  vices,  and  warning  them  of  the 
approach  of  Messiah,  with  rich  blessings  for  tho^e 
who  would  receive  Him,  and  awful  judgments  for 
His  enemies.  It  was  a  dissolute,  as  well  as  an  im- 
portant period  with  the  Jewish  nation.  Now  was 
the   fulfilment   of  the   promise   to   their  fathers  at 

*  Mark  i.  6.  '  Matt,  iii,  2.  k.  ibj^j^  ygr.  5,  6. 

N  2 


180      ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  BAPTIST. 

hand  ;  the  advent  of  "  the  consolation  of  Israel';"  the 
incarnation  of  the  Son  of  God.  But  they  were  ab- 
sorbed in  the  expectation  of  a  temporal  prince,  and 
the  desires  of  worldly  felicity  ;  and  immersed  in  all 
the  vices  and  hypocrisies,  to  which  such  views  of 
religion  and  life  ever  gave  birth.  St.  John  beheld 
them  with  regret.  He  was  bold  and  anxious  in  his 
reproofs.  And  it  was  concern  for  his  country,  as 
well  as  fidelity  to  the  Lord,  which  induced  him  to 
assume  an  unequalled  austerity  of  life  ;  that  he  might 
influence  them  by  his  example,  as  well  as  his  in- 
structions, "  to  bring  forth  fruits  meet  for  repent- 
ance"'." How  great  and  good  does  he  appear,  in 
this  view  of  him  !  How  commendable  is  every  man, 
who  thus  sorrows  for  the  vices,  and  is  solicitous  for 
the  welfare  of  his  fellow  beings  !  And  let  it  be  ob- 
served, in  passing,  that  a  true  regard  for  the  happi- 
ness of  our  countrymen,  and  the  human  race,  is  ever 
connected  with  a  regard  for  their  religious  and  moral 
improvement.  The  schemes  are  fanciful  and  falla- 
cious, which  would  separate  civil  from  moral  im- 
provement ;  temporal  from  religious  happiness.  Un- 
fortunate Jews !  Ye  are  a  solemn  monument  of  the 
truth  of  this  observation.  Happy  had  it  been  for 
you,  had  ye  listened  to  the  pious  Baptist,  as  the 
harbinger  of  Christ,  and  received  the  Messiah  whom 
he  pointed  out  and  preached.  But  they  were  car- 
ried away  with  schemes  of  their  own  aggrandise- 
ment ;  they  preferred  to  be  led  by  their  ambitious 
and  jealous  rulers.  And  when  the  Saviour  "  came 
unto  His  own.  His  own  received  Him  not"."  They 
suffered,  alas  !  in  the  destruction  of  their  city  and 
polity,  the  just  judgment  of  God  upon  their  perverse- 
ness  ;  and  continue  to  this  day  every  where,  a  dis- 
tinct, and  no  where,  an  established  people.     Hasten, 

'  Luke  ii.  25.  ""  Matt.  iii.  8.  "  John  i.  1 1. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  BAPTIST.       ISl 

great  God,  the  promised  time,  when  Thou  wilt 
gather  them  with  Thine  arms,  and  bring  them  to 
Thy  flock,  and  we  shall  be  happy  in  '  one  fold  under 
one  Shepherd,  Jesus  Christ*!' 

But  to  return  :  we  observe,  in  the  last  place,  that 
the  Baptist  was  eminently  remarkable  for  his  dig- 
nified resolution,  and  manly  constancy  in  the  cause 
of  righteousness.  He  was  not,  as  our  Saviour  hap- 
pily expressed  it,  in  His  ironical  questions  to  the 
multitude  concerning  John,  "  a  reed  shaken  with  the 
wind°."  He  was  the  avowed  advocate,  and  deter- 
mined professor  of  virtue.  Never  was  a  more  steady 
and  undaunted  adherence  to  principle,  exemplified 
by  man.  Not  the  sneers  and  scoflings  of  the  pro- 
fane ;  not  the  influence  of  fashion ;  not  the  frowns 
nor  the  smiles  of  the  great,  could  bend  this  prodigy 
of  rectitude  from  the  path  of  duty.  He  was  amongst 
'*  a  crooked  generation  p."  He  stood  before  a  cor- 
rupt court.  But  neither  flattery  nor  threats  could 
bring  him  to  a  truce  with  vice.  Into  the  bosom  of 
Herod  himself,  he  carried  his  reproofs.  The  adulte- 
ries and  iniquities  of  this  profligate  Tetrarch,  he 
dared  to  reprehend  ;  and  in  the  cause  of  virtue  finally 
shed  his  blood.  Herod  to  the  black  catalogue  of  his 
crimes  "  added  yet  this  above  all,  that  he  shut  up 
John  in  prison"","  and  in  an  hour  of  intemperance  and 
rashness,  at  the  instigation  of  the  lewd  woman  with 
whom  he  lived  in  the  basest  intimacy,  commanded 
the  holy  man  to  be  beheaded.  Thus  in  an  age  when 
sincerity  was  wonderful,  and  virtue  was  singular, 
did  the  good  Baptist  '  constantly  speak  the  truth, 
boldly  rebuke  vice,  and  patiently  suffer  for  the 
truth's  sakef.' 


*  Collect  for  Good  Friday. 

"  Matt.  xi.  7.  P  Deut.  xxxii.  5.  "  Luke  iii.  20. 

t  Collect  for  the  Feast  of  St.  John  the  Baptist. 


182      ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  BAPTIST. 

When  we  review  his  extraordinary  birth  and  office ; 
his  unequalled  piety  and  humility ;  his  noble  concern 
for  truth,  and  the  happiness  of  his  countrymen ;  and 
his  dignified  resolution  and  manly  constancy,  even 
unto  death,  in  the  cause  of  righteousness,  we  see  a 
rare  example  of  excellence,  and  feel  the  truth  of  our 
Lord's  declaration,  that  '*  among  them  that  are  born 
of  women  there  hath  not  risen  a  greater  than  John 
the  Baptist." 

A  few  observations,  pertinent  to  this  subject,  sug- 
gest themselves  to  close  this  discourse. 

We  are  not  called,  I  conceive,  my  Christian  friends, 
to  exercise  all  the  austerity  which  the  Baptist  prac- 
tised. Our  divine  exemplar,  the  blessed  Redeemer, 
hath  remarked,  that  "  John  the  Baptist  came  nei- 
ther eating  bread  nor  drinking  wine,"  and  that  He 
Himself  was  "  come  eating  and  drinking  "^ :"  hereby 
teaching  us  that  His  "  kingdom"  consisteth  not  in 
*'  meat  and  drink,  but  in  righteousness,  and  peace, 
and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost '."  But  there  is  a  measure 
of  self-denial,  salutary  to  the  growth  of  goodness, 
and  which,  as  Christians,  we  are  bound  to  practise. 
Whatever  is  vain  in  the  pomps  of  the  world  ;  what- 
ever is  covetous  in  its  pursuits  ;  whatever  is  sinful  in 
the  desires  of  the  flesh,  we  renounced  at  our  baptism : 
and  if  we  would  preserve  our  interest  in  Christ,  are 
solemnly  obliged  to  fulfil  our  vows.  While  there- 
fore we  enjoy  all  that  we  can  innocently  enjoy,  and 
guard  against  a  selfish  sequestered  pursuit  only  of 
our  own  salvation,  we  are  to  remember  that  the 
world  is  infectious  ;  and  that  Jesus  hath  said  of  His 
disciples,   "  They  are  not  of  the  worlds" 

Again.  We  may  learn  from  what  has  been  said, 
how  certainly  respect  attends  integrity.  Though  his 
manners  had  not  received  the  polish  of  refinement, 

_'  Luke  vii.  Z5,  U.  '  Rom.  xiv.  17.  !  John  xvii.  16., 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  BAPTIST.        183 

and  the  people  were  very  depraved  among  whom  he 
lived,  the  Scriptures  assure  us,  that  all  men  re- 
verenced John".  There  is  something  so  great,  so 
elevated,  in  the  character  whom  nothing  can  cause 
to  swerve  from  principle  and  duty,  that  the  mind  is 
forced  to  approve,  the  heart  is  compelled  to  respect. 
Even  the  vicious  are  conscious  of  inferiority;  and 
under  the  vail  of  profligacy  carry  a  secret,  uncon- 
querable reverence  for  the  good  man.  Herod,  the 
debauched,  heedless  Herod,  who  had  only  to  speak 
and  the  Baptist  should  be  put  out  of  life,  could  not 
suppress  in  his  bosom  that  awe  of  his  virtue,  which 
such  resolute  integrity  never  fails  to  excite.  His 
base  paramour  had,  before  the  fatal  hour,  sought  to 
kill  the  reprover  of  her  vices,  but  could  not :  for,  says 
the  historian,  "  Herod  feared  John,  knowing  that  he 
was  a  just  man  and  a  holy  \"  Could  a  more  striking 
evidence  of  the  majesty  of  virtue  be  adduced  ?  It  is 
an  instructive  lesson  to  us  all,  but  especially  so  to 
my  young  friends,  who  are  yet  forming  the  character 
of  their  lives.  You  will  find  enough  of  your  own  age, 
and,  indeed,^  of  an  age  that  should  set  you  better 
examples,  ridiculing  the  principles  of  righteousness, 
and  spurning  at  the  restraints  of  duty.  But  be  as- 
sured, my  young  friends,  there  is  an  innate  supe- 
riority in  virtue,  which  the  most  profane  and  profli- 
gate do  secretly  reverence,  and  from  which  they 
would  decoy  you,  for  no  other  reason,  but  because 
superior  excellence  is  always  irksome  to  corrupt 
mmds.  Be  induced  with  manly  resolution,  to  build 
your  characters  on  the  godlike  principles  of  truth 
and  rectitude;  and  you  will  find  that,  with  regard  to 
the  esteem  of  your  fellow  men,  as  well  as  in  other 
important  respects,  the  maxim  of  the  wise  man  is 
strictly  true,  "  he  that  walketh  uprightly  walketh 
surely  y."  r    o      j 

"  Matt.  xiv.  5  ;  xxi.  26.  -  Mark  vi.  ;:0.         ^  Prov.  x.  9. 


184        ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  BAPTIST. 

Finally.     To    the    honourable    encomium,  which 
raised  St.  John  to  a  level  with  the  greatest  "  that  are 
born  of  women,"  our  blessed  Lord  hath  added  this 
remark :  *'  notwithstanding,  he  that  is  least  in  the 
kingdom  of  God  is  greater  than  he :"  greater  in  the 
measure  of  revelation  bestowed  upon  us;  greater  in 
the  relation  which  we  are  adopted  to  bear  to  God 
and  His  Christ ;  greater  in  the  truths  with  which  we 
are  impressed,  they  being  the  fulfilment  of  what  he 
understood  only,  as  to  come ;  and  greater  in  the  pro- 
mise of  the  Father,  to  raise  us  to  be  "  kings  and 
priests^"  unto  Him  in  His  eternal  kingdom.     How 
thankful  then  should  we  be  for  our  Christian  voca- 
tion !     With  what  sobriety  and  self-respect,  should 
we  walk  through  this  probationary  life  !     Let  us  en- 
deavour, by  a  bright  exhibition  of  the  Christian  ex- 
cellencies, to  indicate  the  dawn  of  the  days  of  righ- 
teousness and  peace.     Let  us  all  be  anxious  *  so  to 
prepare  and  make  ready  the  way'  of  our  Lord,  '  by 
turning  the  hearts  of  the  disobedient,'  through  the 
influence  of  our  example,  *  to  thewisdomof  the  just; 
that  at  His  second  coming  to  judge  the  world,  we 
may  be  found  acceptable  in  His  sight*,'  and  be  taken 
by  Him  to  enjoy,  with  St.  John  the  Baptist  and  all 
the  Prophets,  with  the  Apostles  and  all  the  Martyrs, 
and  with  all  the  *'  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect  %" 
that  glorious  rest,  which,  through  His  merits,  is  re- 
served in  heaven  for  the  people  of  God. 

'  Rev.  i.  6. ;  v.  10.  "  Heb.  xii.  23. 

*  Collect  for  the  Third  Sunday  in  Advent. 


SERMON   LXL 


ON    THE    CHARACTER    OF    ST.    PETER. 


St.  Matthew,  xvi.  17. 

And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Blessed  art  Ihou,  Simon 
Bar-jona:  for  flesh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed  it  unto  thee, 
but  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 

To  contemplate  the  characters,  whose  names  and 
conduct  the  Divine  Spirit  has  rescued  from  oblivion, 
is  an  employment  obligatory  upon  the  Christian,  plea- 
sant and  instructive.  Their  lives  were  recorded  pur- 
posely for  the  perusal  and  benefit  of  mankind.  The 
diversity  of  incident,  the  view  of  our  own  nature  in 
various  interesting  shapes,  and  the  improving  lessons 
which  they  impress  on  the  heart,  amuse  while  we 
consider,  and  carry  us  interested  through,  the  hal- 
lowed tales. 

Among  the  characters  who  appear  in  the  Gospel 
history,  St.  Peter  holds  a  conspicuous  place.  St.  Pe- 
ter foremost  of  Apostles,  all-powerful  in  preaching 
and  in  miracles,  reverenced  by  Romanists  as  the 
Church's  head,  noblest  in  confessing,  frailest  in  de- 
nying the  Lord.  His  life,  together  with  St.  Paul's, 
furnish  the  principal  materials  of  which  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles  are  composed :  and  his  Epistles  form  a 
valuable  part  of  canonical  Scripture.  Richly  fraught 
with  lessons  for  us  all,  is  the  history  of  this  Christian 
hero.     And  as  the  day,  set  apart  by  our  Church  in 


186         ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER. 

honour  of  his  memory,  falls  in  this  year  with  the 
weekly  solemnity,  there  cannot  be  a  more  pertinent, 
nor  surely,  with  the  Divine  blessing,  a  more  profit- 
able, subject  for  our  present  meditations.  To  trace 
the  leading  incidents  of  his  life ;  to  mark  the  promi- 
nent features  of  his  character ;  to  gather  the  reflec- 
tions which  invite  observation: — these  be  our  labours : 
and  to  profit  alike  by  his  virtues  and  his  frailties,  this 
be  the  consecration  of  our  work. 

Of  the  parentage  of  St.  Peter  we  know  nothing 
more,  than  that  he  was  descended  of  one  Jona,  or 
John.     His  father,  however,  seems  to  have  been  in 
indigent  circumstances  :  for  this  son  was  bred  to  the 
occupation  of  a  fisherman.     To  toil  upon  the  lake  of 
Gennesaret  for  an  humble  livelihood  was  St.  Peter's 
employ,  and  in  this  laborious  business,  he  was  as- 
sociated with  three  others  of  the  most  eminent  dis- 
ciples of  our  Lord.  When  we  behold  the  great  Apos- 
tle dragging  his  net  in  the  waters,  or  mending  it  upon 
the   shore,  it  seems  not  probable,  that  he  had  re- 
ceived of  his  parents,  nor  been  able  to  aff'ord  himself, 
many  advantages  of  education.     In  the  place  indeed 
of  his  nativity,  these  advantages  were  not  easily  at- 
tainable.    He  was  born  in  Bethsaida,  a  village,  upon 
the  border  of  the  lake,  small  in  his  youthful  days, 
and  chiefly  inhabited  by  fishermen  and  huntsmen, 
notwithstanding  the  name  and  magnificence,  which  it 
shortly  after  acquired.     **  But  God  hath  chosen  the 
foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  wise ;  and 
God  hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to 
confound  the  things  which  are  mighty;    and  base 
things  of  the  world,  and  things  which  are  despised, 
hath  God  chosen,  yea,  and  things  which  are  not,  to 
bring  to  nought  things  that  are\" 

The  scene  in  which  he  is  first  introduced,  is  his  first 

M  Cor.  i.  27,28. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER.  187 

interview  with  Christ,  as  related  in  St.  John's  Gospel. 
This  interview  he  owed  under  Heaven,  to  the  affec- 
tion of  a  younger  brother.  When  the  Baptist  pointed 
out  Jesus  to  his  disciples,  as  '*  the  Lamb  of  God  who 
was  to  take  away  the  sin  of  the  world  ^"  St.  Andrew 
was  one  of  the  happy  two,  who  followed  Him  to  His 
abode,  and  became  acquainted  with  Him".  The  first 
care  of  this  amiable  man  to  whom  was  allotted  the 
crown  of  martyrdom,  was  to  find  his  own  brother  Si- 
mon, and  disclose  to  him  the  discovery  of  the  Mes- 
siah*. St.  Peter  went  with  him  to  behold  the  Man, 
and  as  soon  as  he  was  come,  Jesus  called  him  by 
name,  declared  to  him  his  descent,  and  gave  him  a 
prophetic  notice  of  his  future  destination".  Thus  to 
fraternal  love  and  zeal  is  owing  the  first  intercourse 
between  Christ  and  this  His  renowned  follower. 
Happy  would  it  be,  if  in  every  family  the  ties  of  af- 
fection bound  the  members  as  closely  together,  and 
each  one  were  as  anxious  that  the  whole  should  be 
brought  to  see  and  acknowledge  "  Him,  of  whom 
Moses  in  the  Law,  and  the  Prophets,  did  write ^" 

It  appears,  however,  that  St.  Peter  did  not  at  that 
time  attach  himself  wholly  to  Christ.  He  returned 
to  his  home,  and  pursued  his  occupation.  At  a  later 
period,  after  St.  John  was  cast  into  prison,  Jesus 
came  the  second  time  into  Galilee.  It  was  then,  that 
walking  by  Gennesaret,  He  saw  the  fishermen  and 
their  boats,  and  in  Simon's  boat  taught  the  people 
who  pressed  to  hear  Him.  He  now  ordained  the 
miraculous  draught  of  fishes  ;  which  stupendous  act 
wrought  conviction  in  the  mind  of  St.  Peter,  that  He 
was  the  Lord,  filled  him  with  becoming  reverence 
and  fear,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  his  adherence 
to  Christ.    The  Saviour  at  this  time  bade  him  follow 

I  John  i.  29.  36.  "^  Ibid.  ver.  39.  "  Ibid.  ver.  41. 

•  Ibid.  ver.  42,  '  Ibid.  ver.  45. 

7 


188        ON   THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER. 

Him,  and  taught  him,  that  his  occupation  would  be 
greatly  changed  ;  that  in  future,  it  should  be  his  bu- 
siness to  take  and  save  the  souls  of  men^.  Here  is 
the  date  of  St.  Peter's  determined  attachment  to  our 
Lord.  Human  imagination,  any  thing  he  had  heard 
of  men,  flesh  and  blood,  did  not,  could  not  fix  his 
faith  in  Christ.  But  when  by  the  power  of  the  Fa- 
ther, displayed  in  the  works  and  word  of  the  Messiah, 
and  by  internal  assistance  to  discern  rightly  His  cha- 
racter and  truth,  it  was  revealed  to  St.  Peter  that 
He  was  the  Christ,  he  confessed,  he  adored,  he  left 
his  friends,  his  business,  his  home,  his  all,  and  fol- 
lowed Him.  His  faith  was  grounded  on  the  divine 
evidences  in  Christ's  favour ;  to  estimate  which  evi- 
dences, he  was  blest  with  a  happy  readiness.  Simi- 
lar, and  increased  evidences  are  offered  to  all,  and  a 
like  readiness  to  discern  them  will  be  given  to  those, 
who  with  docile  minds  implore  it  of  the  Almighty. 
A  faith  thus  founded  is  the  firmest  and  most  satisfac- 
tory. It  will  enable  any  possessor  of  it,  (whatever 
men  may  say  of  the  Redeemer ;  yea,  though  the 
world  should  renounce  His  Gospel ;)  to  adhere  to 
Simon's  confession,  "  Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son 
of  the  living  God\" 

Humility  is  the  sure  attendant  of  real  greatness. 
It  is  an  indication  of  worth  in  any  character.  Of  all 
worth,  it  is  an  ornament.  This  virtue  appears  among 
the  first  exhibited  in  this  great  Apostle,  and  breaks 
forth  upon  us  frequently  in  the  conduct  of  his  life, 
as  one  of  his  peculiar  properties.  Upon  his  full  dis- 
covery of  the  Saviour's  character  in  the  boat,  this 
virtue  was  seen  in  St.  Peter  in  its  genuine  nature, 
and  loveliness.  He  felt  conscious  of  imperfections  ; 
he  felt  his  unworthiness  of  the  special  notice  of  Christ. 
He  prostrated  himself  at  His  feet,  and  exclaimed, 

«  Luke  V.  10.  ''  Matt.  xvi.  16. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER.  189 

**  Depart  from  me  ;  for  I  am  a  sinful  man,  O  Lord '." 
Conscious  of  frailties;  sensible  of  the  infinite  distance 
between  him  and  the  Christ ;  shrinking  from  the  sup- 
position that  he  could  be  serviceable  to  the  Lord  ;  he 
was  oppressed  by  His  presence,  and  felt,  as  once  the 
noble  Centurion  felt,  and  as  every  true  disciple  of 
the  Redeemer  must  often  feel,  "not  worthy  that  He 
should  come  imder  his  roof  ^"  How  interesting-  the 
scene!  Behold  this  mighty  Apostle  at  Jesus'  feet. 
Our  hearts  are  relieved  as  well  as  his,  when  our  Sa- 
viour encourages  him  tenderly,  with  a  declaration  of 
the  high  office  to  which  he  was  destined.  Often  was 
the  same  lowliness  of  character  seen  in  his  life.  How 
graceful  does  his  humility  appear,  when  wounded  by 
the  approach  of  his  Master,  to  do  for  him  a  menial 
yet  symbolic  service,  he  exclaimed,  "  Thou  shalt 
never  wash  my  feet ' !"  And  yet  when  Christ  told 
him  the  necessity  of  his  submitting  to  be  washed, 
how  readily  he  relinquished  his  own  sentiments  to 
his  Teacher  :  "  Lord,  not  my  feet  only,  but  also  my 
hands  and  my  head""!"  None  of  the  Apostles  re- 
ceived distinctions  more  calculated  to  elate  the  mind, 
than  he  did.  But  though  they  were  so  great,  that 
posterity  have  founded  on  them,  for  him,  preten- 
sions to  such  eminence,  as  they  never  conferred ;  it  is 
remarkable  that  he  wore  his  honours  with  unassum- 
ing propriety,  arrogating  to  himself  no  superiority 
over  his  fellow  Apostles,  but  exerting  himself  even 
in  the  smallest  offices  for  the  gratification  of  his  Mas- 
ter and  brethren,  and  the  salvation  of  men.  Through- 
out his  ministry,  he  was,  as  his  catholic  Epistle  ex- 
horted all  Christians  to  be,  "  clothed  with  humility " :" 
and  the  stamp  of  his  lowliness  was  set  by  his  con- 
temporaries, who  testify,  that  he  thought  himself 

*  Luke  V.  8.  ''  Matt.  viii.  8.  '  John  xiii.  8. 

"  Ibid.  ver.  9.  »  1  Pet.  v.  5, 


190         ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER. 

unworthy  to  die  on  the  cross  in  the  position,  in  which 
his  Lord  expired. 

It  is  a  frequent  remark  of  good  moralists,  that  hu- 
mility is  congenial  with  true  greatness  of  spirit,  and 
all  the  energies  of  a  manly  character.  Following  St. 
Peter  in  his  attendance  upon  our  Lord,  and  his  dis- 
charge of  the  ministry  to  which  he  was  appointed, 
we  find  the  observation  verified.  His  meekness  was 
blended  with  courage ;  his  humble  sense  of  his  un- 
worthiness,  with  zeal  for  the  truth.  There  opens 
upon  us  an  honest  warmth,  an  ingenuous  boldness, 
which  though  we  fear  the  consequences,  we  cannot 
but  admire.  Who  can  avoid  approving  emotions, 
when,  in  the  earnestness  of  regard,  he  girds  on  his 
fisher's  coat,  and  plunges  into  the  waves  to  swim  to 
the  Lord,  whom  St.  John  had  discovered  upon  the 
shore  ?  What  bosom  is  not  sensible  to  his  heroism, 
when,  conscious  of  the  integrity  of  his  cause,  he 
checked  Malchus  in  the  garden,  and  thought  with 
two  swords,  and  a  little  band  of  ten,  to  protect  his 
Master  from  the  armed  rabble,  which  came  out  to 
take  Him  ?  Who  can  withhold  admiration  at  his 
firmness,  when  he  appears  before  the  Sanhedrim,  or 
rises  in  the  Synagogue  ?  In  the  discharge  of  his 
ministerial  duties,  what  general  dignity,  wisdom, 
candour  and  stedfast  perseverance !  The  union  of 
humility  like  his,  with  such  ingenuous  frankness  and 
honest  zeal,  constitute  a  character  which  we  cannot 
help  loving  and  respecting,  and  which  the  Most 
High  delights  to  honour. 

Accordingly  it  is  to  be  observed  that  eminent 
honours,  favours,  and  marks  of  distinction  were 
bestowed  on  St.  Peter  by  his  Lord.  Early  called 
to  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  he  was  admitted  to  His 
most  intimate  confidence.  It  was  his  privilege  to 
witness  the  transfiguration  of  his  Redeemer.  In  the 
selection  of  the  twelve  from  the  number  of  followers. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER.         191 

to  be  His  ambassadors  and  representatives  to  all  the 
earth,  he  was  the  first.  In  the  retirements  of  his 
Master,  and  the  sacred  scene  of  Gethsemane,  he,  if 
any  one,  was  an  attendant.  He  had,  on  one  occa- 
sion, the  special  prayers  of  Christ  to  the  Father,  and 
was  assured  that,  though  Satan  would  sift  him,  he 
should  not  be  lost,  and  might  be  a  means  of  strength- 
ening his  brethren.  But  the  greatest  of  his  honours, 
and  that  which,  in  the  calendar  of  half  the  Christian 
world,  has  elevated  St.  Peter  to  supremacy,  is  r^'-' 
corded  in  the  passage  of  which  the  text  is  a  part.) 
*'  And  Jesus  said  unto  Him,  Blessed  art  thou,  Simon 
Bar-jona :  for  flesh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed" 
My  character  "  unto  thee,  but  My  Father  which  is 
in  heaven.  And  I  say  also  unto  thee.  That  thou  art 
Peter,  and  upon  this  rock  I  will  build  My  Church ; 
and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it. 
And  I  will  give  unto  thee  the  keys  of  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  :  and  whatsoever  thou  shalt  bind  on  earth 
shall  be  bound  in  heaven;  and  whatsoever  thou  shalt 
loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed  in  heaven  °."  These 
words  of  Christ  have  been  stretched  by  some  to  an 
amazing  extent ;  and  by  others,  they  are  almost  re- 
duced to  a  passage  without  meaning.  One  has  made 
of  them  an  elevation  of  St.  Peter  over  all  Apostles, 
to  the  place  of  Christ ;  the  other  has  made  of  them 
a  reward  to  his  faith  of  senseless  sounds.  That  some 
honour  or  reward  was  conferred  on  St.  Peter  by  this 
declaration  of  his  Lord,  is  indisputable.  What  that 
honour  was,  whether  it  was  participated  by  the  rest 
of  the  Apostles,  or  how  it  was  realized,  are  points 
which  are  intimately  connected  with  the  history  we 
are  contemplating.  That  the  declaration  did  not 
communicate  a  supremacy  of  power  over  the  rest  of 
the  Apostles,   is  evident  from  a  variety  of  consi- 

•  Matt,  xvi.  17—19. 


192         ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER. 

derations.  It  does  not  appear,  that  St.  Peter  ever 
claimed,  or  exercised  such  a  superiority.  Before 
this  commission,  induced  by  his  seniority,  or  na- 
tural eagerness,  he  had  often  led  the  debate  and 
spoken  for  the  whole.  And  after  it,  he  did  on  many 
occasions  rank  first,  and  chiefly  manage  the  common 
weal.  But  it  was  a  distinction  of  rank,  not  of  au- 
thority. There  was  no  pre-eminence  in  power.  If 
any  thing  he  did  were  wrong  or  displeasing,  no 
doubt  it  was  corrected  by  the  rest.  Indeed,  he  was 
by  the  Apostles  called  to  account  for  his  intercourse 
with  Cornelius,  and  when  he  was  to  be  blamed  for 
Judaizinof  in  Antioch,  we  know  that  St.  Paul  "  with- 
stood  him  to  the  face  p."  Besides,  the  expressions 
in  the  declaration  which  convey  power,  are  after- 
wards applied  to  all  the  Apostles,  and  expressions 
synonymous  are  used  by  our  Saviour  in  the  farewell 
commission  given  to  the  eleven,  immediately  before 
His  ascension  into  heaven.  The  giving  of  the  keys 
was  clearly  symbolical  of  the  power  of  the  receiver, 
to  open  and  shut,  to  bind  and  to  loose,  to  admit  and 
to  exclude,  and  in  general  to  manage,  or  superintend 
the  management  of  all  the  spiritual  interests  of  the 
Church.  This  power  was  declared  to  the  twelve, 
without  the  use  of  the  symbol,  when  at  Capernaum 
He  assured  them,  "  Whatsoever  ye  shall  bind  on 
earth  shall  be  bound  in  heaven :  and  whatsoever  ye 
shall  loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed  in  heaven "i."  The 
declaration  was  confirmed  alike  to  St.  Peter,  and  to 
them,  in  the  grand  commission  they  received  when 
they  were  assembled  after  His  resurrection,  and  He 
stood  in  the  midst :  "  Whosesoever  sins  ye  remit, 
they  are  remitted  unto  them ;  and  whosesoever  sins 
ye  retain,  they  are  retained  '." 

But  if  all  share  in  the  Apostolic  authority,  what 

p  Gal.  ii.  11.  '  Matt,  xviii.  18.  "^  John  xx.  23. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER.         193 

distinction  was  conferred  on  St.  Peter  ?    Something 
appropriate  to  him,  was  certainly  intended  by  those 
explicit  words,  **  Thou  art  Peter,  and  upon  this  rock 
I  will  build  My  Church  ^"     Let  us  give  the  most 
probable  purport  of  the  words,   and,   recurring  to 
the  life  of  the  Apostle,  observe  how  the  promised 
honour  was  realized.     This,  then,  we  conceive  to 
be  the  substance  of  our  Saviour's  declaration.    Thou, 
instructed  of  My  Father,  hast  nobly  confessed  Me 
to  be  the  Christ.     I  acknowledge  thee,  Peter,  fitly 
named  a  rock.     Thou   shalt  be  the  first  stone,  or 
pillar  of  My  Church.     From  thee  shall  be  its  first 
growth.     Thy  preaching,  thy  firmness,  thy  labour 
shall  make  the  beginning,  shall  lay  the  foundation ; 
and,  once  established,  it  shall  never  be  overthrown. 
Now,  if  we  can  find  all  this  fulfilled,  and  nothing 
more  relating   to   the   subject  experienced  by  the 
great  Apostle,   all  doubts  and  difficulties  must  va- 
nish, and  every  mind  be  satisfied  with  the  construc- 
tion of  the  text.     Return  we,  then,  to  the  sacred 
history.     When  the  Lord  was  risen  from  the  dead, 
who  of  the  Apostles  was  favoured  with  the  first  ap- 
pearance ?    St.  Peter.    Who  proposed,  and  managed, 
the  filling  of  the  vacancy  made  in  the  body  of  the 
Apostles,  by  the  fall  of  Judas  ?    St.  Peter.    When 
our  Saviour,  about  to  leave  the  earth,  determined 
to  vest  that  power  which  He  had  received  of  the 
Father,  in  certain  of  His  followers,  for  the  govern- 
ment and  benefit  of  the  Church  on  earth,  the  power 
of  receiving,  rejecting,  teaching,  judging,  forgiving, 
&c.,  who  was  the  first  selected  to  this  great,  and 
honourable  office ;  to  this  support  of  the  form,  and 
order,  and  purity  of  the  Church  ?     Was  it  not  St. 
Peter  ?     This  same  Apostle  first  preached  the  risen 
Jesus,  and  by  an  irresistible  discourse  gathered  the 

'  Matt.  xvi.  18. 
VOL.    IT.  o 


194         QN  THE  €HARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER. 

first  increase  from  the  Jews,  even  three  thousand 
souls.  He,  too,  first  opened  the  Gospel  to  the 
Gentiles,  and  Cornelius  and  his  family  were  the 
fi*uits.  In  all  these  things,  from  which  arose  by- 
gentle  gradations  the  visible  Gospel  Church,  St. 
Peter  was  eminently  the  chief  instrument.  We  see 
his  Master's  promise  verified.  In  these  honours, 
the  excellent  qualities  of  the  Apostle  were  called 
into  exertion,  and  his  humility,  zeal,  and  noble 
confession  of  Christ  abundantly  rewarded.  We  see 
his  virtues,  observe  his  favour  with  Him  who  dis^ 
tributeth  all  gifts,  and  acknowledging  him  first  of 
Apostles,  unite  a  reverence  with  our  love  for  his 
character. 

Our  time  having  now  elapsed,  the  subject  will  be 
resumed  in  the  afternoon. 


SERMON  LXII. 


ON   THE   CHARACTER   OF    ST.  PETER. 


St.  Matthew,  xvi.  17. 

And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  Mm,  Blessed  art  thou,  Simon 
Bar-Jona :  for  flesh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed  it  unto  thee, 
but  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 

In  our  discourse,  fellow  Christians,  this  morning, 
concerning  the  great  Apostle,  whom  the  Church  ho- 
nours this  day,  as  highly  favoured  of  her  Lord,  we 
adverted  to  his  origin  and  occupation ;  to  his  felicity 
in  having  a  Christian  brother  who  first  spake  to  him 
of  the  Messiah  ;  to  the  miracle  which  wrought  con- 
viction in  his  mind,  and  his  consequent  call  and  re- 
solution to  follow  Jesus  ;  to  that  humility,  and  that 
ardour,  and  that  manliness,  when  convinced,  which 
were  so  strikingly  combined  in  him,  and  form  the 
most  prominent  features  of  his  character ;  and  to  the 
honours  and  distinctions  conferred  upon  him,  by  the 
Most  High.  Under  this  last  topic,  we  considered 
more  particularly,  the  declaration  of  our  Lord : 
"  Thou  art  Peter,  and  upon  this  rock  I  will  build 
My  Church ;  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail 
against  it.  And  I  will  give  unto  thee  the  keys  of 
the  kingdom  of  heaven :  and  whatsoever  thou  shalt 
bind  on  earth  shall  be  bound  in  heaven  :  and  what- 
soever .thou  shalt  loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed  in 

o  2 


196  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER. 

heaven  *."  And  while  from  the  same  delegation  of 
power  being  conveyed  to  the  other  Apostles,  in 
nearly  the  same  words  ;  from  St.  Peter's  never  hav- 
ing claimed,  or  exercised  any  pre-eminence  over  the 
eleven  ;  from  his  being  called  to  account  by  them  in 
a  particular  instance,  and  being  withstood  in  another 
case  by  St.  Paul ;  and  from  the  circumstance  of  St. 
James,  the  Bishop  of  the  mother  Church  of  Jerusalem, 
not  St.  Peter*,  being  placed  in  the  Presidency  of  the 
first  convention  of  the  Church,  after  the  ascension  of 
our  Lord,  we  inferred  that  the  use  of  the  keys  was 
equally  shared  by  all  the  Apostles,  and  that  there 
was  no  ground  offered,  in  the  text  and  context,  for 
attributing  to  St.  Peter,  as  the  Romanists  have  erro- 
neously, and  it  is  here  supposed  unhappily  done, 
any  supremacy  : — we,  nevertheless,  saw  in  the  spe- 
cial mercies  and  favours  which  Christ  vouchsafed  to 
him,  and  especially  in  his  being  the  first  preacher  of 
the  Christian  faith,  and  in  his  gathering  both  the  first 
Jews,  and  the  first  Gentiles  who  were  added  unto 
the  Church,  a  fulfilment  of  our  Lord's  emphatic  and 
discriminating  promise  to  him  :  and  reasons  why  we 
should  study  his  life,  and  reverence  his  memory  as 
one,  whom  the  Head  of  the  Church  had  delighted 
to  honour. 

We  here  resume  the  history  of  this  distinguished 
Apostle,  and  although  there  are  forebodings,  which, 
perhaps,  the  very  boldness  and  ardour  for  w^hich  he 
was  distinguished,  would  warrant,  it  is  not  without 
a  persuasion,  that  his  faith  which  was  so  well  found- 
ed, and  our  Lord's  promise  which  is  for  ever  sure, 
will  bring  him  through  every  furnace,  to  which,  in 
the  subsequent  discharge  of  the  ministry  committed 

""  Matt.  xvi.  18,  19. 

*  The  last  circumstance  is  not  mentioned  in  the  preceding  Ser- 
mon, an  inaccuracy,  which  it  is  hoped  may  be  excused  in  a  posthu- 
mous publication,  not  intended  for  the  press  by  the  Author. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER.  197 

to  him,  he  may  be  exposed,  purified  by  the  fire  and 
seven  times  refined. 

Warm  in  his  affections,  his  faith  grounded  upon 
evidence,  and  noticed  with  many  favours,  it  would 
naturally  be  expected,  that  St.  Peter  would  be  san- 
guine in  his  attachment  to  his  Lord.  His  affection 
for  his  Master  and  for  his  cause,  was  exceedingly 
ardent.  It  seemed,  indeed,  as  if  nothing  should  *'  se- 
parate him  from  the  love  of  Christ''."  Twice,  he  was 
foremost  to  confess  his  conviction,  that  He  was  the 
Messiah.  Tender  and  determinate  was  his  reply, 
when  the  Saviour  asked  the  disciples,  whether  they, 
with  the  multitude,  would  also  go  away.  **  Lord, 
to  whom  shall  we  go  ?  Thou  hast  the  words  of  eter  • 
nal  life*"."  He  was  conscious  to  himself  of  the  most 
sincere  devotion  to  his  Master.  Anxious  for  His 
safety,  studious  of  His  accommodation,  careful  of 
His  honour,  he  thought  there  was  no  suffering  vhich 
he  could  not  endure,  no  sacrifice  which  he  could  not 
make,  if  his  Lord's  necessities  required  it.  When 
the  Saviour  declared,  that  one  of  the  twelve  should 
betray  Him,  no  one  was  so  uneasy  as  St.  Peter  to 
have  the  dreadful  truth  explained.  When  He  de- 
clared that  all  His  disciples  should  forsake  Him  in 
the  night  of  His  distress,  no  one  was  so  wounded  as 
St.  Peter  at  the  thought.  Overflowing  with  affec- 
tion, sure  of  its  constancy,  confident  of  his  strength, 
he  exults  to  say,  *'  Lord,  I  am  ready  to  go  with  Thee, 
both  into  prison,  and  to  death '*.  Though  I  should 
die  with  Thee,  yet  will  I  not  deny  Thee\" 

We  seem  here  to  see  human  nature  in  its  "  best 
state  V  and  virtue  at  its  highest  elevation.  But  alas ! 
that  nature  is  fallen ;  that  virtue  is  frail.  We  trem- 
ble as  we  advance.    Blessed  Apostle,  would  that  we 

''  Rom.  viii.  35.  «  John  vi.  68.  "^  Luke  xxii.  33. 

f  Matt.  xxvi.  35,  ^  Ps.  xxxix.  5. 


198         ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER. 

could  end  thy  story  here !  But,  as  if  to  put  a  re- 
proach upon  all  human  confidence;  as  if  to  teach  us 
that  of  ourselves  we  are  nothing ;  and  that  '*  there 
is"  indeed  **none  good,  save  one,  that  is,  God^;"  as 
if  to  beget  in  us  charity  for  all  men,  and  to  furnish 
the  most  pow^erful  enforcement  of  the  sacred  admo- 
nition, *'  Let  him  that  thinketh  he  standeth  take 
heed  lest  he  fall^;"  as  if  to  keep  us  sleeplessly  vigi- 
lant over  ourselves,  and  constantly  exercising  an  im- 
movable trust  in  God  ;■ — this  great  Apostle  is  permit- 
ted to  err;  and  the  Spirit  of  God,  in  the  sacred 
record,  has  exhibited  to  us  even  St.  Peter  fallen! 
In  an  evil  hour,  this  humble,  zealous,  honoured,  af- 
fectionate Apostle,  overcome  by  his  fears,  denied 
that  he  ever  knew  his  Lord  !  It  was  St.  Peter's  fail- 
ing, to  rely  too  much  on  his  own  strength  ;  he  did 
not  build  his  confidence  sufficiently  on  the  Divine 
support,  nor  recur  to  this  and  rest  upon  it  in  the 
hour  of  difficulty,  temptation,  and  danger.  By  this 
he  incurred  the  reproach  of  feeble  faith,  and  was 
brought  to  the  awful  error  of  his  life.  It  is  an  hu- 
miliating incident.  Let  us  look  on  it,  not  to  revile, 
but  to  compassionate  the  offender.  He  has  his  Lord's 
forgiveness.  Yes,  before  the  offence,  the  kind  Re- 
deemer made  his  apology;  "  the  spirit  indeed  is 
willing,  but  the  flesh  is  weak'."  The  eye  which 
turned,  as  the  cock  crew,  upon  the  terrified  disciple, 
while  it  looked  reproof,  beamed  forth  pity  and  for- 
giveness. Soon  as  the  Redeemer  had  risen  from  the 
grave,  the  angel  evinces  his  tenderness  for  the  offen- 
der's feelings,  "  Go  your  way,  tell  His  disciples  and 
Peter\"  And  on  the  triple  declaration  of  his  love, 
to  St.  Peter  it  is  given  "  to  feed  Christ's  lambs'." 
Indeed,  he  atoned  with  sighs  and  labours  for  his 

«  Luke  xviii.  19.  ^''  1  Cor.  x.  13.  '  Matt.  xxvi.  41. 

*  Mark  xvi.  7,  '  John  xxi.  15. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER.  199 

apostasy.  Never  was  contrition  greater  than  his, 
when  "  he  went  out,  and  wept  bitterly'"."  The  tears 
carae  from  his  heart ;  his  anguish  was  **  bitter."  But 
by  exertion  he  laboured  to  compensate  the  Church 
for  the  disgrace  he  brought  upon  it.  We  find  him 
with  unequalled  boldness,  preaching  Jesus  to  His 
very  murderers.  He  traversed  all  lands,  to  carry 
the  Gospel  of  his  Lord.  In  Asia  and  in  Africa,  we 
trace  his  steps.  In  Europe  he  preached  Christ.  Every 
where  he  sacrificed  comfort,  and  hazarded  his  life, 
that  he  might  promote  his  Master's  cause.  Not 
power,  not  pomp,  not  all  the  threats  of  malice,  not 
the  dread  armory  of  judicial  death,  could  dismay  him. 
To  demolish  the  strong  holds  of  error,  and  bring 
men  to  the  knowledge  of  redemption  through  Jesus, 
he  was  ready  and  desirous  to  '*  spend  and  be  spent"" 
in  the  Lord's  service.  Kindly  Christ  had  forewarned 
him,  that  when  "  he  should  be  old,  another  should 
gird  him,  and  carry  him  whither  he  would  not"." 
St.  Peter  treasured  in  his  bosom  this  prophetic  no- 
tice, that  he  should  be  crucified.  But  when  old 
age  approached,  and  he  was  sure  that  he  should 
shortly  put  oft  his  tabernacle,  as  the  Lord  had  showed 
him,  he  abated  not  his  boldness,  nor  his  zeal.  We 
follow  him  to  Rome,  unappalled  by  Nero,  at  whose 
name  nature  shudders.  There,  persecuted  and  per- 
plexed, he  governed  with  St.  Paul  the  Church  they 
together  founded;  till  the  cruel  emperor,  intoxicated 
with  malice,  barbarously  scourged  St.  Peter,  and 
nailed  him,  a  willing  and  exulting  martyr,  to  the 
cross. 

Thus  died  this  great  Apostle,  after  nearly  forty 
years'  service  devoted  to  his  Master's  honour,  the 
establishment  of  Christianity,  and  the  salvation  of 
mankind.     There  are  some  inferences  from  the  his- 

"  Matt,  xxvi.  75.  "  ;3  Cor.  xii.  15.  •  John  xxi.  18. 


200         ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.   PETER. 

tory  of  this  Apostle,  which  you  will  allow  me  to 
suggest,  in  closing  this  discourse. 

In  the  first  place,  in  considering  the  history  of 
St.  Peter,  we  are  struck  with  the  holiness  and  dig- 
nity of  the  Christian  Priesthood.     It  is  evident,  that 
*'  the  kingdom  of  heaven  p,"  in  the  commission  to 
the   Apostles,  signified  the  Church,    and  that  the 
keys  of  it  were  given  to  him,  to  exercise  on  earth. 
No  one  can  suppose  our  Saviour  intended,  that  at 
the  death  of  St.  Peter  these  keys  should  be  lost ; 
nor  is  it  probable,  they  were  then  to  be  resumed  by 
Himself.      The  delegation  of  the  power,   in  itself, 
supposes  the  necessity,  or  expediency  of  its  being 
exercised  by  some  persons  in  the  world  :  and  the 
communication  of  it  afterwards  to  all  the  Apostles, 
shows  that  its  operation  was  not  to  be  confined  to 
St.  Peter,  nor  to  terminate  at  his  dissolution.     The 
truth   is,  in   "  sending    them   as  His  Father  sent 
Him'',"  He  sent  them  with  power  to  send  others; 
and  the  constitution  of  His  Church,  with  His  assur- 
ance to  its  ministers  that  He  would  be  ''  with  them 
alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world',"  evinces 
that  He  expected  they  would  do  so.     The  Pastors 
of  His  Church  are  then  His  "  ambassadors,'   repre- 
sentatives in  "  Christ's  stead',"  acting  in  His  name, 
and  by  His  authority:  and  surely,  "  no  man  taketh 
this  honour  unto  himself*."     In  those  to  whom  it  is 
given,  the  sacredness  and  dignity  of  their  office  in- 
disputably requires  that,  on  their  foreheads,  and  in 
their  hearts,  and  through  their  lives  should  be  in- 
scribed, "  Holiness  to  the  Lord "."     And  does  it  not 
give  them  a  strong  and  sacred  claim  to  the  love,  the 
prayers,  and  the  respect  of  all  Christians  ?     **  He 
that  receiveth  you  receiveth  Me,  and  he  that  re- 

P  Matt.  xvi.  19,  "J  John  xx.  21.  '  Matt,  xxviii.  20. 

•  2  Cor.  V.  20.  *  Heb.  v.  4.  "  Exod.  xxviii.  3G. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER.    201 

ceiveth  Me  receiveth  Him  that  sent  Me\"  The 
Pastors  of  His  Church,  sent  successively  from  the 
Apostles  to  the  present  day,  have  then  "  the  minis- 
try of"  the  Christian  "  reconciliation^,"  including 
in  it  all  the  promises  of  pardon,  grace,  and  ever- 
lasting life,  committed  unto  them ;  and  while  the 
explicit  declaration  of  this  economy  to  St.  Peter, 
and  conveyance  accordingly,  should  beget  in  us  an 
entire  confidence  in  this  institution  of  our  Lord  ;  the 
use  we  should  make  of  the  fall  of  the  great  Apostle 
should  be,  to  remind  us  of  the  inspired  admonition, 
that  "  we  have  this  treasure  in  earthen  vessels,  that 
the  excellency  of  the  power  may  be  of  God,  and 
not  of  us^" 

Again.  From  the  life  of  St.  Peter  we  learn,  that 
frailty  is  inherent  in  the  best  of  men.  We  are  apt 
to  look  in  eminent,  and  in  sacred  characters,  for 
perfection.  But  it  is,  what  was  never  yet  found  in 
mortal.  Great  worth  may  be  acquired,  high  attain- 
ments may  be  made  in  virtue,  in  wisdom,  and 
divine  excellence.  But  some  weakness,  some  heed- 
less error,  some  fault  or  foible,  will  still  betray,  that 
every  merely  human  descendant  of  Adam  is  a  fallen 
and  sinful  being.  What  noble  and  lovely  qualities, 
have  we  beheld  in  St.  Peter  !  A  thousand  excellen- 
cies attach  us  to  his  character.  Who  was  more  con- 
cerned to  be  perfect,  or  better  instructed  in  his 
duty  than  he  ?  Did  he  not  seem  firm  in  his  station, 
as  the  rugged  oak,  defying  every  blast  ?  Yet  a  light 
breeze  laid  him  prostrate,  shorn  of  his  glory !  Where 
he  felt  strongest,  his  weakness  was  betrayed.  He 
fell  where  he  thought  himself  most  secure.  If  he, 
great  and  good  as  he  was,  erred,  in  whom  shall  we 
look  for  perfection?  If  the  cedars  of  Libanus  have 
been  shaken,    what  have  we  not  to  fear  for  the 

^  Matt.  X.  40.  »  2  Cor.  v.  IS.  ^  Ibid.  iv.  7. 


202         ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER. 

hyssop  on  our  walls  ?  Do  we,  then,  discern  im- 
perfections in  our  fellows  ?  Let  us  remember,  that 
we,  like  them,  are  men,  and  may  as  greatly  err.  Is 
there  not  that  entire  rectitude  and  holiness  in  the 
ministers  of  the  altar,  which  we  expect  ?  Let  not 
their  office,  nor  Christianity  suffer  neglect,  contempt, 
nor  blame.  Cover  their  failings,  or  look,  on  them 
with  holy  grief,  and  remember  that  St.  Peter  was 
unfortunate.  Let  not  the  errors  which  we  find  in 
any  of  our  race,  disparage  their  good  qualities.  With 
sorrow  behold,  with  tenderness  reprove,  the  frailties 
of  each  other ;  for  there  is  none  **  that  doeth  good, 
and  sinneth  nof*." 

Further.  The  history  we  have  been  contemplat- 
ing suggests  to  us  that  one  frail  step  should  not  con- 
sign a  man  to  blame  and  neglect ;  that  he  who  has 
erred  may  yet  be  good  and  useful.  The  chief  labours 
of  St.  Peter,  the  noblest  honours  he  gathered,  his 
best  services  to  his  Master  and  the  world,  were  after 
the  odious  event  which  stained  his  character.  Had 
he  been  reprobated  at  once  for  his  fault ;  had  he 
been  abandoned  by  his  Lord ;  had  he  been  left  to 
himself,  to  his  shame,  and  to  his  iniquity,  what  a 
valuable  character  might  have  been  lost  to  the  world, 
what  valuable  exertions  might  have  been  lost  to 
Christianity  !  But  his  Lord  was  wise,  and  kind  as 
>vell  as  just.  The  look  which  drew  his  tears  raised 
also  hope  and  resolution  to  retrieve  his  virtue.  He 
"wept'';"  was  forgiven;  and  became  the  means  of 
bringing  thousands  to  eternal  life.  This  instance 
speaks  an  affecting  lesson  to  mankind.  How  many 
men  condemned  by  society  for  one  mishap  ;  how 
many  friends  discarded  by  their  inmates  for  one  folly; 
how  many  children  abandoned  by  their  parents  for 
one  misconduct — have  '*wept"  their  miseries  and 

»  Eccles.  vii.  20.  *  Matt.  XJivi.  75. 

12  ^ 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PETER.  203 

their  faults  in  vain ;  sunk  in  despair  and  become 
wholly  criminal.  Pardonable  should  the  first  error 
always  be.  Yea,  "  seventy  times  seven%"  if  the  of- 
fender turn  repentant,  should  he  be  forgiven.  Would 
we  learn  the  proper  aspect  of  reprehension  ?  Look 
at  the  Saviour's  eye  when  it  fell  upon  St.  Peter ; 
catch,  if  it  be  possible,  but  part  of  its  expression. 
It  may  recover,  while  it  reproves  the  offending  son, 
or  brother,  or  friend. 

Lastly.  From  this  narrative,  let  us  learn  the  for- 
bearance and  tenderness  of  our  Lord.  If  He  forgave 
St.  Peter  his  denial  of  Him  in  the  hour  of  distress, 
honoured  him  with  excellent  gifts,  and  made  him- 
great  in  His  kingdom,  what  may  not  every  penitent, 
humble  offender  hope  from  His  love  ?  Does  the  Lord 
by  trials,  by  afflictions,  by  perplexities,  seem  to  look 
angrily  upon  you  ?  Be  assured,  they  are  reproofs  for 
your  good.  Call  to  mind  your  imperfections.  Be- 
wail your  unfaithfulness.  Devote  yourselves  to  Him 
anew,  with  full  purpose  of  amendment  of  life.  Then 
shall  His  strength  be  perfected  in  your  weakness. 
Instead  of  the  reproving  eye,  the  healing  light  of 
His  countenance  shall  be  lifted  up  upon  you.  Like 
the  great  Apostle  in  the  text,  you  "  will  go  from 
strength  to  strength,"  till  '*  unto  the  God  of  gods"" 
you  appear  with  him  covered  with  the  righteous- 
ness of  your  Redeemer,  and  partakers  of  everlasting 
glory. 

*  Matt,  xviii.  22.  *  Ps.  Ixxxiv.  7. 


SERMON   LXIII. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  MATTHEW. 


St.  Matthew,  ix.  9. 

And  as  Jesus  passed  forth  from  thence.  He  saw  a  man,  named 
Matthew,  sitting  at  the  receipt  of  custom :  and  He  saith  unto 
him,  Follow  me.     And  he  arose,  and  followed  Him. 

**  My  thoughts  are  not  your  thoughts,  neither  are 
your  ways  My  way&,  saith  the  Lord^."  Possessing 
sovereign  freedom  to  do  as  He  pleases,  and  guided 
by  infinite  wisdom,  which  sees  the  end  and  conse- 
quences of  things.  He  oft  times  acts  for  reasons,  in- 
comprehensible to  us,  in  ways  which  seem  myste- 
rious. In  the  dispensation  of  favours,  frequently  to 
our  narrow  sight  He  appears  to  act  with  an  unequal 
hand.  And  in  the  selection  of  instruments  for  the 
accomplishment  of  His  purposes,  frequently  to  our 
finite  judgments  He  chooses  such  as  seem  unsuitable 
and  unworthy.  But  '*  known  unto  God  are  all  His 
works  from  the  beginning  of  the  world'':"  and  the 
issue  of  them  all,  to  the  astonishment  of  our  igno- 
rance, is  glorious,  wise,  and  beneficial.  A  singular 
instance  of  this  truth  we  have  in  the  selection  of  St. 
Matthew  to  the  sacred,  important,  and  honourable 

^  Is.lv.  8.  "Acts  XV.  IS. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  MATTHEW.  205 

post  which  he  filled.  It  is  an  eminent  display  of  the 
sovereignty  of  His  grace,  and  a  wise  part  of  His 
economy  in  the  promulgation  of  the  Gospel. 

There  have  come  down  to  us  but  few  particulars 
of  this  great  Apostle  and  Evangelist.  The  parts  of 
his  life  which  are  known,  are  clear  and  important ; 
they  ought  to  be  remembered  and  understood,  as 
fragments  of  a  valuable  antiquity.  While  our  Church 
leads  us  to  honour  his  memory,  as  one  of  the  pillars 
on  which  her  goodly  fabric  rests,  it  becomes  us  to  be 
acquainted  with  his  character  and  life,  as  far  as  the 
knowledge  of  them  is  preserved,  and  to  avail  our- 
selves of  the  instructions,  which  may  be  derived  from 
the  sober  contemplation  of  his  vocation  and  ministry. 

The  first  knowledge  that  we  have  of  St.  Matthew, 
he  is  sitting  in  a  toll-booth  at  Capernaum,  upon  the 
borders  of  the  sea  of  Galilee.  We  learn  from  the 
other  Evangelists,  who  speak  of  him  by  his  other 
name,  Levi,  that  he  was  the  son  of  a  certain  man 
named  Alpheus.  But  of  the  place  of  his  nativity, 
his  education,  or  character,  there  is  no  information. 
He  was,  at  the  time  when  we  first  hear  of  him,  in  a 
very  lucrative,  though  a  very  iniquitous  office.  After 
the  Romans  had  subjected  the  Jews,  they  imposed 
upon  them  many  heavy  tributes.  The  collection  of 
these  was  a  very  profitable  business  ;  and,  at  first, 
entrusted  only  to  Romans,  and  those  of  honourable 
rank.  But,  in  process  of  time,  it  was  conferred 
upon  less  worthy  characters,  and,  at  length,  the  Jews 
were  permitted  to  buy  the  office ;  and  collected  with 
much  gain  taxes  upon  their  own  countrymen.  Abuse 
soon  ensued.  So  covetous  and  unjust,  so  abominably 
exorbitant,  fraudulent,  and  cruel  were  they  in  the 
time  of  Christ,  that  "  Publican^"  was  a  hateful  term; 
an  epithet  of  great  opprobrium.      Capernaum  was 

•  Matt,  xviii.  J  7. 


206      ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  MATTHEW. 

the  metropolis  of  all  Galilee,  and  on  the  sea,  by 
which  it  stood,  there  was  much  passing  and  con- 
veyance of  merchandise :  among  the  tax-gatherers, 
therefore,  it  is  probable,  that  St.  Matthew's  situation 
was  one  of  the  most  lucrative  and  eligible.  How  he 
had  conducted  himself  in  it  we  cannot  say.  He 
should  not,  however,  be  included  in  an  indiscriminate 
censure.  Possibly,  he  might  have  been  honest;  for 
in  all  classes  of  men,  some  that  are  worthy  may  be 
found.  There  were  a  "  few"  undefiled  "  names  even 
in  Sardis**;"  and  on  one  occasion,  our  Saviour  pro- 
nounced a  humble  Publican  "  justified  %"  rather  than 
the  proud,  and  important  Pharisee.  Be  this  as  it 
may,  certain  it  is,  that  he  was  of  the  number  of  Pub- 
licans when  our  Saviour's  eyes  were  turned  towards 
him.  When  he  received  the  invitation  to  follow  the 
Redeemer,  he  was  *'  sitting  at  the  receipt  of  custom." 
We  have  here  an  instance  of  the  unlimited  mercy 
and  goodness  of  God.  None  of  His  fallen  children 
are  excepted  in  His  gracious  proffers  of  salvation. 
From  an  odious  class  of  men,  and  a  proverbially  ini- 
quitous employment,  St.  Matthew  is  called  to  be  an 
Apostle  of  Christianity,  and  the  first  writer  of  the 
history  of  our  Lord.  I  know  not  with  what  reason, 
any  have  considered  this  as  an  exemplification  of  the 
sovereignty  of  Jehovah,  in  absolutely  and  uncondi- 
tionally electing  to  their  happiness  those  who  shall 
be  saved.  To  me  it  would  seem,  that  God  is  supreme 
over  all  His  works;  but  that,  in  vouchsafing  to  raise 
conspicuously  to  the  hopes  and  honours  of  the  Gospel, 
those  who  were  notoriously  "  dead  in  trespasses  and 
sinsV  He  would  teach  us  the  infinite  sufiiciency  of 
His  grace;  and  inculcate  the  truth,  so  worthy  of  His 
nature,  and  so  consolatory  to  the  human  race,  that 
His  arms  are  open  to  receive  all  who  will  hearken 

^  Rev.  iii.  4.  •  Luke  xviii.  14.  '  Eph.  ii.  1. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  MATTHTSW.      207 

to  His  voice ;  that  *  He  desireth  not  the  death  of  a 
sinner,  but  rather  that  he  should  turn  from  his 
wickedness,  and  live.'  Art  thou  oppressed  with  the 
burden  of  thy  iniquities  ?  Has  the  path  of  thy  life 
been  remote  from  the  way  of  God's  commandments  ? 
Under  the  consciousness  of  thy  manifold  sins,  art  thou 
ready  to  conclude  that  for  thee  there  is  no  mercy : 
that  thou  art  rejected  for  ever  by  thy  God  ?  Rouse 
thee  from  this  despair.  Hearken  to  the  voice  of  the 
Son  of  the  Highest.  Arise,  and  leave  all,  and  follow 
Him.  *^  Though  thy  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall 
be  as  white  as  snow ;  though  they  be  red  like  crim- 
son, they  shall  be  as  wool^."  In  the  vocation  of  St. 
Matthew,  and  throughout  the  whole  Gospel,  thou 
art  taught  that  Jesus  "  came  not  to  call  the  righ- 
teous, but  sinners  to  repentance ''." 

The  cavillers  against  our  holy  religion  have,  with 
sophistic  levity,  endeavoured  to  turn  those  things 
against  it,  which,  by  the  wise  and  considerate,  are 
placed  among  the  evidences  of  its  truth.  To  un- 
biassed reason  it  appears  no  small  argument  of  its 
authenticity,  that  its  first  propagators  were  of  the 
humblest  and  poorest  class  of  men :  so  illiterate,  as 
to  have  been  incapable  of  devising  such  an  imposture, 
and  so  destitute  of  wealth  and  power,  as  to  have 
been  unable  by  human  means  to  obtain  such  wonder- 
ful success.  But  no,  say  the  adversaries  of  the 
Christian  faith,  they  were  so  poor  as  to  have  nothing 
to  risk  by  joining  themselves  to  Christ;  and  so  igno- 
rant, as  to  have  been  liable  to  credulity  and  decep-. 
tion.  In  the  method  of  propagating  the  Gospel, 
wonderfully  has  God  condescended  to  the  perverse- 
ness  of  men.  What  will  these  objectors  to  the  il- 
literateness  of  the  primitive  disciples  say,  when  Saul 
of  Tarsus,  a  man  of  profound  understanding,    and 

«  Is.  i.  18.  "  Matt.  ix.  13. 


208     ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  MATTHEW. 

accomplished  in  all  the  learning  of  his  age,  is  found 
bowing  the  knee  to  the  Lord  Jesus  ?  What  will  these 
cavillers  at  the  poverty  of  the  first  preachers  of  Chris- 
tianity object,  when  the  Apostle  of  this  day  is  ob- 
served among  them  ?  He  was  taken  from  a  sect  so 
obnoxious  to  the  hatred  of  the  Jews,  that  no  im- 
postor would  have  selected  his  coadjutors  from  it. 
He  had  wealth  to  lose,  and  a  very  valuable  employ- 
ment. And  from  his  great  intercourse  with  men, 
from  his  success  in  procuring  his  appointment  to 
office,  and  from  his  preservation  and  exercise  of  it  in 
so  populous  a  place,  it  is  reasonable  to  conclude  that 
he  was  not  destitute  of  prudence,  or  understanding. 
But  to  the  call  of  Christ  his  ears  were  open.  As  his 
poorer  and  more  illiterate  brethren  left  their  friends 
and  risked  their  safety,  so  he  abandoned  his  office 
and  its  emoluments,  he  left  all,  "  arose,  and  followed 
Him." 

Here  we  are  not  obliged  to  suppose,  that  St.  Mat- 
thew divested  himself  of  all  his  possessions.  It  is 
not  the  office  of  religion,  to  strip  men  of  the  blessings 
which  the  Most  High  may  have  given  them.  We 
find  him,  indeed,  receiving  Christ  afterwards  in  his 
own  house,  and  making  an  entertainment  for  Him 
and  his  friends.  But  we  are  to  suppose  that  he  re- 
linquished all  covetous  inclinations  ;  that  he  relin- 
quished an  office  abounding  with  temptations,  and 
iniquities ;  that  he  relinquished  all  attachment  to  ill- 
gotten  wealth,  and  was  ready,  if  required,  to  devote 
all  to  the  service  of  his  Lord.  And  to  similar  con- 
duct is  every  Christian  called.  Father,  or  mother, 
he  may  not  love  more  than  the  Redeemer.  If  his 
"  right  hand  offend  him,"  he  will  '*  cut  it  off,  and 
cast  it  from  him '."  Whatever  in  his  disposition  or 
pursuits  is  opposed  to  the  holiness  of  the  Gospel,  he 

•  Matt.  V.  so. 


ON  THE  CHAKACTER  OF  ST.  MATTHEW. 


209 


will  sacrifice  to  the  will  of  that  Being,  who  gave 
Himself  a  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  the  world.  You 
will  not,  therefore,  deem  it  impertinent,  if  I  beseech 
you,  as  Christians,  to  consider  this  conduct  of  St. 
Matthew,  as  calculated  to  impress  on  you  the  neces- 
sity of  removing  from  your  bosoms,  those  covetous 
desires  of  the  pomps  and  vanities  of  life,  and  that 
inordinate  love  of  riches,  which  would  lead  you  to 
pursue  them  in  any  way,  or  by  any  means,  which 
are  incompatible  with  the  precepts,  or  the  spirit  of 

the  Gospel. 

To  return  to  the  narrative.  It  has  appeared  to 
some  strange  and  incredible,  that  St.  Matthew 
should,  upon  so  sudden  a  command,  have  quitted 
his  gainful  occupation,  and  with  such  ready  obe- 
dience have  followed  a  person  with  whom  he  had  no 
acquaintance.  These  difficulties  will  vanish  upon  a 
recollection  of  facts,  and  of  the  power  of  the  Spirit 
of  God. 

It  is  hardly  supposable,  that  the  Apostle  had  heard 
nothing  of  Christ,  and  been  wholly  ignorant  of  His 
doctrine,  before  He  called  him  to  His  service.     The 
Publicans*,  we  know,  were  generally  curious  to  hear 
Him,  and  in  the  synagogues  and  streets  of  Caper- 
naum He  had  frequently  taught.     From  His  terrible 
denunciation  against  this  city,  it  should  seem  too, 
that  here  He  had  wrought  many  of  His  most  mighty, 
and  convincing  miracles.     "  And  thou,  Capernaum, 
which  art  exalted   unto  heaven,  shalt  be  brought 
down  to  hell :  for  if  the  mighty  works,  which  have 
been  done  in  thee,  had  been  done  in  Sodom,  it  would 
have  remained  until  this  day''."     It  is  evident  from 
this,  that  most  satisfactory  evidences  of  His  Divine 

*  Why  naay  not  St.  Matthew  have  been  one  of  the  Publicans 
mentioned  by  St.  Luke,  (ch.  iii.  12)  who  came  to  the  Baptist,  to  be 
baptized? — Ed. 

"  Matt.  xi.  25. 

VOL.  II.  P 


210     ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  MATTHEW. 

authority  had  been  exhibited  in  this  place.  Can  it, 
then,  be  likely  that  an  inhabitant,  whose  business 
was  in  the  city  with  all  descriptions  of  people,  should 
have  heard  nothing  of  these  discourses,  and  seen  none 
of  these  works  ?  It  is  a  much  more  probable  sup- 
position, that  St.  Matthew  had  heard  the  doctrines 
of  Christ,  and  witnessed  the  wonderful  testimonials 
of  His  mission  which  were  daily  exhibited,  before  he 
was  called  to  be  His  disciple. 

There  is  no  difficulty,  however,  in  supposing,  that 
for  extraordinary  purposes,   the   Almighty  should 
sometimes  act  without  the  ordinary  means.    Hath  not 
God  the  hearts  of  all  men  in  His  hands,  and  may  He 
not  turn  them  even  as  He  will  ?  Hath  He  not  access 
to  the   minds   which   He   hath    created,   and  may 
He  not  convey  to  them  such  truth  as  He  pleases? 
When  He  would  select  to  Himself  a  peculiar  people, 
could  He  "  by  a  mighty  hand,  and  by  a  stretched 
out  arm,"   take   them  from   the  midst  of  another 
people* ;  and  can  He  not,  when  He  would  select  an 
individual  for  His  service,  take  him  by  the  power  of 
His  Spirit  from  darkness  to  light  ?    There  is  nothing 
unreasonable  in  the  opinion,  that,  if  the  occasion  re- 
quired it,  the  Almighty  would  supernaturally  incline 
St.  Matthew  to  His  will.     Upon  either  supposition, 
we  are  to  refer  to  the  Holy  Spirit  the  Publican's 
sanctification.     It  was  unquestionably  through  the 
aid,  and  under  the  blessing  of  the  Comforter,  that  he 
received  and  fulfilled  his  ministry. 

But  it  is  necessary,  that  I  should  here  caution 
you  against  an  unhappy  perversion  of  this  interesting 
case.  There  is  danger  in  the  present  day,  that  it 
may  be  made  promotive  of  spiritual  delusion.  The 
first  age  of  the  Gospel  was  an  age  of  miracles. 
Though  God,  even  then,  did  not  act  without  regard 

'  Deut.  iv.  34. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  MATTHEW.  211 

to  the  nature  of  men,  He,  nevertheless,  for  the  con- 
viction of  the  world,  vouchsafed  many  extraordinary- 
manifestations  of  His  power  and  Spirit.     But  now 
that  the  economy  of  the  Gospel  is  established,  and 
the  ways  and  means  pointed  out  by  which  men  are 
to  secure  the  salvation  of  their  souls ;  I  know  not 
that  any  have  more  reason  to  expect  extraordinary  in- 
fluences upon  their  minds,  than  they  have  to  expect 
a  light  from  heaven  shining  round  about  them,  as  it 
did  about  St.  Paul ;  or  to  hear  the  miraculous  voice 
which  he  heard,  speaking  audibly  from  the  skies. 
God  dealeth  with  us  according  to  the  nature  He  hath 
given  us,  and  the  condition  in  which  we  are  placed. 
He  hath  given  us  **  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which  are 
able  to  make  us  wise  unto  salvation""."     His  Spirit, 
indeed,    must  accompany  His  word  to   render  it 
effectual  in  our  hearts.     But  this  Spirit,  I  conceive, 
operates  as  silently,  as  the  orbs  of  heaven  are  moved 
in  their  spheres  by  the  power  of  His  invisible  hand. 
Guard,    therefore,    against  mistaking   the   glow   of 
animal  feelings  for  a  spiritual  sensibility.     Guard 
assiduously  against  mistaking  the  illusions  of  fancy 
for  the  motions  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     God  seldom 
does  that  in  a  supernatural  way,  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  which  He  hath  appointed  effectual  means, 
and  established  regular  laws.     Enter  into  covenant 
with  Him  by   the  rite    which  He   hath   ordained. 
Learn  by  the  light  of  His  word  the  whole  system  of 
your  duties.     By  prayer  and  an  attendance   upon 
His  institutions,  seek  the  aid  of  His  Spirit,  to  enable 
you  to   perform  His  will.     With  vigilant   circum- 
spection, and  unwearied  diligence  endeavour  that 
the  means  be  effectual.     In  this  plain  and  reasonable 
course  "  be  faithful  unto  death;"  and  the  immutable 
Author  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  will  not  fail  to 
**  give  you  a  crown  of  life"." 

"^Tim.  iii.  15.  "  Rev.  ii.  10. 

P   2 


212  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  MATTHEW. 

We  turn  again  to  the  highly  favoured  Publican, 
and  behold  him  enrolled  among  the  Apostles  of  our 
Lord.  Doubtless,  he  was  not  deficient  in  his  services ; 
but  M^ith  the  eleven  spent  his  time  and  strength,  in 
spreading  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  all  people. 
One  special  service  it  was  his  happiness  to  perform 
for  the  Church  and  the  world,  which  reflects  a  pe- 
culiar glory  upon  his  memory,  and  endears  it  to  all 
the  faithful.  The  first  and  most  complete  biography 
of  our  blessed  Lord  was  from  his  pen.  The  Divine 
Spirit  employed  his  hand  to  record  the  events  and 
doctrines,  in  which  all  posterity  was  interested,  and 
the  knowledge  of  which  is  destined,  in  the  fulness 
of  time,  to  become  "  the  joy  of  the  whole  earth °." 
Written  in  a  time  of  persecution  to  support  and  esta- 
blish the  Jewish  converts,  as  well  as  to  convey  to 
posterity  the  life  and  instructions  of  the  Redeemer 
of  the  world,  it  abounds  with  consolatory  facts  and 
remarks ;  it  notices  with  peculiar  exactness,  the  ful- 
filment of  the  prophecies  in  the  various  events  of  our 
Saviour's  life :  and  it  contains  the  most  awful  and 
sublime  particulars  of  the  day  of  the  coming  of  the 
Son  of  Man.  Such  a  treasure  of  wisdom  and  com- 
fort for  the  heathen  sages  would  have  pressed  to  their 
bosoms.  You,  my  friends,  will  not  allow  yourselves 
to  be  unacquainted  with  the  excellent  gift ;  and 
should  you  desire  the  aid  of  other  men's  thoughts, 
permit  me  to  recommend  to  you  the  Lectures  upon 
it,  delivered  by  the  pious  and  exemplary  Bishop  of 
London*. 

Of  the  latter  days  of  St.  Matthew,  time  has  spared 
no  indubitable  records.  What  was  his  fate ;  whether 
he  suffered  martyrdom ;  at  what  age ;  where,  and  in 
what  manner;  are  points,  however  interesting,  which 
are  involved  in  uncertainty.     But,  whatever  were 

"  Ps.  xlviii,  S.  *  Dr.  Beilby  Porteus. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  MATTHEW.   213 

his  other  services  and  end,  let  us  adore  the  extent  of 
the  Divine  mercy,  and  honour  the  memory  of  the 
man,  who  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Gospel  history. 
From  his  ready  obedience  to  the  call  of  Christ,  let 
us  learn  the  propriety  of  not  delaying  to  comply  with 
the  same  invitation,  which  in  His  word  is  given  to 
us  and  to  all  men;  "Follow  me."  By  considering 
the  station  and  employment,  from  which  he  was 
called,  let  us  learn,  that  there  is  no  condition  which 
the  grace  of  God  may  not  reach,  and  therefore  view 
with  pity  and  compassion  the  unfortunate  wanderers 
in  the  paths  of  iniquity.  And,  above  all,  by  advert- 
ing to  that  holy  zeal  and  Christian  benevolence,  with 
which  in  an  age  of  persecution  he  furnished  the  lead- 
ing narrative  of  our  Saviour's  life,  let  us  be  prompted 
to  a  lively  concern  for  the  welfare  of  the  Church,  and 
to  such  a  communication  of  the  light  and  comfort 
which  we  have  received,  as  may  lead  others  to  re- 
joice in  the  same  holy  faith.  **  They  that  be  wise 
shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament ;  and 
they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars  for 
ever  and  ever''." 

p  Dan.  xii.  3. 


SERMON   LXIV. 


ON    THE    CHARACTER    OF    ST.    JOHN    THE 
EVANGELIST. 


St.  John,  xiii.  23. 

Now  there  was  leaning  on  Jesus^  bosom  one  of  his  disciples, 
ivhom  Jesus  loved. 

There  is  something  so  interesting  in  the  situation 
of  the  person  here  introduced ;  and  so  high  an 
honour  is  attached  to  his  character  by  this  pictu- 
resque mention  of  him,  that  we  at  once  inquire  who 
he  was.  Though  his  name  is  not  mentioned,  cir- 
cumstances sufficiently  prove  that  the  enviable  de- 
scription belongs  to  St.  John,  to  whose  memory  the 
Church  has  consecrated  this  day.  Happy  Evan- 
gelist, to  be  permitted  to  recline  with  affectionate 
fondness,  upon  the  bosom  of  thy  Lord ;  and  have  thy 
name  transmitted  to  posterity,  as  emphatically  "  the 
disciple  whom  Jesus  loved." 

But,  how  did  St.  John  attain  to  such  peculiar 
favour  ?  Was  there  any  thing  in  him  above  the  rest 
of  mankind,  that  the  blessed  Redeemer,  who  incul- 
cated and  manifested  an  universal  charity  viewed 
him  with  such  a  partial  regard  ?  Surely,  the  wise 
and  equitable  Jesus  never  felt  a  blind  fondness  for 
any  individual.  What  were  the  qualities  which 
procured  for  this  His  friend  the  singular  happiness 


CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST.    215 

of  His  special  affection  ?  The  answer  to  these  ques- 
tions will  be  the  Evangelist's  best  and  proper  eulo- 
gium,  and  may  lead  us  to  some  useful  reflections. 

A  peculiarl))^  amiable  disposition,  with  an  ardent 
and  faithful  attachment  to  his  Lord,  appear  to  have 
been  properties,  for  which  St.  John  was  distin- 
guished, above  the  other  disciples. 

From   all   that  we  can  learn  of  him,    he  was  a 
character  whom  it  would  have  been  impossible  not 
to  have  loved.     There  was  in  his  nature  that  at- 
tractive union  of  a  modest,  benevolent  heart,  with  a 
luminous  and  devout  mind,  with  which  those  who 
know   how  to  feel  and  appreciate  excellence,    are 
always  captivated.     Benevolence  was  the  predomi- 
nant trait  of  his  character ;  not  a  romantic  feeling, 
an  effeminate  principle,  alive  to  artificial  grief,  but 
insensible  to  the  real  sufferings  of  men ;   concerned 
for  those  who  are  out  of  its  reach,  but  thoughtless 
of  the  claims  of  those  who  are  about  it.     It  was  a 
meek,    yet   manly   benevolence,    defined  as  to  its 
objects,  and  practical  in  its  operation.     It  was  that 
benevolence  which  makes  the  life  amiable ;  which 
feels,  and  pities  when  it  feels ;  which  carries  itself 
with  a  winning  sweetness  towards  every  being,  and 
finds  its  congenial  pleasure  in  doing  good.     Of  this 
excellent  principle   his   heart  was  the  seat.     This 
divine  virtue  formed  his  soul.     His  nature  glowed 
with  that  spirit  of  heavenly  kindness  which  views  all 
creatures  with  complacence  or  compassion ;  and  in 
the  happiness  of  others  finds  its  own.     In  all  his 
writings  this  spirit  is  found.     His  Epistles,  which 
are  written  from  the  heart,  and,  therefore,  are  the 
best  evidences  of  his  character,  glow  with  such  an 
enlightened,    pure,    and  tender  charity,    that  it  is 
impossible  any  person,  in  whom  the  last  remains  of 
goodness  are  not  extinguished,  should  not  be  made 
better  by  reading  them.     They  show^  him  formed  to 


216    CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST. 

love,  and  to  be  loved.  In  no  other  writings  is  there 
such  a  luminous  benevolence.  In  truth,  his  joy,  his 
life,  his  darling  theme  to  his  death  was  love. 

It  appears  that  St.  John  had  deeply  contemplated 
the  Divine  nature,  and  the  fruits  of  his  study  mani- 
fest, that  his  soul  was  capacious  and  devout,  as  well 
as  benevolent.  We  no  where  find  such  exalted 
view^s  of  the  Divine  perfection,  and  such  explicit 
statements  of  the  mysteries  of  the  Godhead,  as  in 
those  parts  of  Scripture  which  are  the  productions 
of  his  pen.  He  must  have  been  by  nature  amiable. 
But  religion  had,  doubtless,  improved  the  good  dis- 
positions which  nature  had  given  him.  It  was,  in 
all  probability,  his  acquaintance  with  God,  and 
particularly  his  habitual  contemplation  of  the  Divine 
goodness,  and  of  the  operation  of  it  in  the  salvation 
of  men,  which  filled  him  with  that  spirit  for  which 
he  was  conspicuous,  and  raised  him  to  a  degree  of 
excellence,,  which  few  mortals  have  attained.  That 
he  was  e\4dently  devout  is  evident,  not  only  from 
his  great  attainments  in  the  knowledge  of  God's 
truth,  and  from  the  pious  fervour  which  pervades 
many  of  his  writings,  but  also  from  the  habits  of  his 
life.  We  find  him  in  the  city,  going  up  to  the 
temple  daily  at  the  hour  of  prayer;  and  when  he 
was  an  exile  in  the  Isle  of  Patmos,  though  solitary 
and  afflicted,  "  he  was  in  the  Spirit  on  the  Lord's 
day\" 

Such  a  person  as  we  have  been  contemplating, 
could  not  but  have  loved  the  transcendant  character 
of  Jesus  Christ.  Congenial  spirits  will  attract  each 
other.  Nor  is  it  imputing  selfishness  to  our  Saviour 
to  suppose,  that  He  was  influenced  by  the  Evange- 
list's attachment,  in  admitting  him  to  His  intimate 
friendship.     It  seems  to  be  a  law  of  eternal  equity, 

.*  *Rev.  i.  9,  10. 


CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST.  217 

that  a  man  who  would  have  friends,  "  must  show 
himself  friendly  ^"  and  the  most  disinterested  Being 
avows  that  "  He  will  love  them  that  love  Him''." 

That  the  Evangelist  discovered  an  ardent  attach- 
ment to  Christ,  there  can  be  no  doubt.     The  mild, 
the  pure,  the  benevolent,  the  divine  Redeemer,  could 
not  but  have  been  loved  by  one,  who,  gentle  by 
nature,  when  he  had  been  filled  by  grace,  was  so 
much  like  his  Lord.     All  that  He  was,  and  did,  and 
taught,  is  calculated  to  obtain  the  homage  of  good 
minds,  and  an  indifference  to  the  loveliness  of  His 
character  is  among  the  surest  evidences  of  corrup- 
tion of  heart.     A  disposition,  like  St.  John's,  would 
readily  yield  to  the  impression  of  such  transcendant 
excellence.     The  position  in  which  we  see  him  in 
the  text,  is  not  more  indicative  of  the  Master's  par- 
tiality, than  of  the  disciple's  love.     It  is  indeed,  to 
the  ardour  of  his  attachment,  that  candour  will  at- 
tribute  his   unguarded   expression   concerning   the 
Samaritans  ;    the   only  instance  of  severity  in   his 
life,  a  severity,  which  nothing  but  the  exalted  mercy 
and  Divine  forbearance  of  the  Son  of  God  would 
have  impeached.     As  this  great  friend  of  all  man- 
kind passed  through  Samaria,  the  ungrateful  Sama- 
ritans refused  Him  the  common  civilities  of  huma- 
nity.    Wounded  to  the  quick  by  this  disregard  of 
his  Lord,  the  disciple  would  have  called  down  fire 
from  heaven  to  destroy  them.     In  this  one  instance 
his  zeal  outstripped  his  benevolence.     It  served  to 
show,   that   he  was  mortal ;    and  manifested,  that 
even  to  the  loved  disciple,  the  humble  Jesus  was 
superior '^. 

There  was  a  fidelity,  as  well  as  ardour  in  the  at- 
tachment of  this  disciple  to  his  Lord,  in  which  no 
other  disciple  equalled  him.    Constancy  marked  his 

*  Prov.  xviii.  24.  '  Ibid.  viii.  17.  ^  Luke  ix.  51—56. 


218   CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST. 

love.  When  our  Saviour  was  hurried  to  judgment, 
his  companions  forsook  Him,  or  followed  to  deny 
Him  ;  but  St.  John,  with  generous  courage,  went  in 
with  Him  to  see  the  end.  It  was  a  dismaying  end ; 
but  we  find  him  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  a  mournful 
spectator,  when  we  look  in  vain,  for  any  one  of  his 
compeers.  On  the  morn  of  the  resurrection,  he  left 
even  the  zealous  St.  Peter  behind  him,  though  they 
set  out  together ;  so  great  was  his  desire  to  be  at 
the  sepulchre  of  his  Lord,  if,  haply,  any  good  had 
betided  Him.  There  is  no  truth  more  certain,  than 
that  the  amiable  virtues  are  connected.  His  uni- 
form tenderness  and  genuine  benevolence,  his  mo- 
desty and  piety,  were  pledges  of  his  faithfulness  as 
a  friend.  He  adhered  to  his  Master  when  the  rest 
failed.  His  attachment  seems  to  have  been  such, 
as  danger  could  not  dismay,  nor  adversity  interrupt, 
nor  any  thing  destroy.  To  whom,  indeed,  but  to 
one,  whose  known  fidelity  furnished  ground  for  the 
most  entire  confidence  in  him,  would  our  Saviour 
have  committed  the  beloved  mother  whom  He  had 
honoured  in  life,  and  was  about  to  leave  in  the 
world,  pierced  through  with  many  sorrows.  "  When 
Jesus  saw  His  mother,  and  the  disciple  standing  by, 
whom  He  loved.  He  saith  unto  His  mother.  Woman, 
behold  thy  son !  Then  saith  He  to  the  disciple. 
Behold  thy  mother  ^  !"  What  an  expression  of  con- 
fidence !  What  a  tribute  to  the  Evangelist's  worth ! 
Who  can  forbear  to  envy  the  disciple  this  testimony 
of  his  Lord's  regard  ?  His  subsequent  conduct  veri- 
fied all  that  has  been  said  of  his  amiableness  and 
fidelity  :  for,  transferring  his  affection  for  his  Master 
to  the  object  who  was  dear  to  Him,  and  scrupulously 
obedient  to  His  wishes,  he  *'  from  that  hour  took" 
the  disconsolate  mother  *'  unto  his  own  home." 

•  John  xix.  36,  27. 


CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST.  219 

Many  were  the  trials  and  sufferings,  to  which  he 
was   exposed   after  his  Master's  ascension.      But, 
with  a  firmness  of  faith,  which  neither  crosses,  nor 
exile,  nor  the  boiling  cauldron,  nor  all  that  angry 
power  threatened  could   bend,   he  maintained  the 
religion  of  Jesus;  writing  a  gospel,  that  it  might  be 
preserved  in  its  integrity,  and  ready  at  all  times,  to 
seal  it  with  his  blood.    In  short,  he  merited  not  less 
by  his  character  and  conduct,  than  by  his  office,  the 
title  with  which  his  name  has  descended,  of  *'  the 
Divine."      Amiable,   modest,   enlightened,   benevo- 
lent, devout,  ardent  in  his  attachment,  pure  in  his 
affection,    capable   of   confidence   and   fidelity,    he 
appears  to  have  been  formed  by  grace,  to  be  the 
bosom  friend  of  the  Saviour  of  mankind. 

To   this   high   privilege   and    happiness   was   he 
raised.     His  sweet  disposition,  his  amiable  deport- 
ment, his  enlarged  soul,  his  piety  and  purity,  ren- 
dered him  more  like  his  Master,  than  any  other  of 
the  disciples  ;  and,  aided  by  his  ardent  attachment 
and  devoted  zeal,  in  all  probability,  procured  him 
that  place  in  the  bosom  of  Christ,  with  which  he 
was  honoured.     The  Redeemer  felt  for  him  not  a 
transient,    nor   superficial   partiality.       It   was    an 
union  of  His  heart  with  that  of  "  the  disciple  whom 
He  loved."    That  this  happy  favourite  was  admitted 
to  intimacies  of  the  most  endearing  nature,  is  evi- 
dent from  St.  Peter's  beckoning  to  him,  to  obtain 
an  answer  to  the  solemn  question,  which  all  feared 
to  ask.      He  occupied  the  place   of  honour,  and 
leaned  in  the   posture   of  innocent   affection  upon 
Jesus'  breast,  when  they  were  together.     He  was 
one  of  the  chosen  three,  whom  Christ  took  with  Him 
to  the  interesting  scene  of  His  transfiguration  on 
Mount  Tabor,  and  to  the  tremendous  scene  of  His 
agony  in  the  garden.     To  him,  as  we  have  noticed, 
was  committed  the  dearest  pledge  which  Christ  left 


220  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST. 

on  earth,  in  the  most  affecting  hour  of  His  earthly 
existence.  And  it  was  he,  who  was  honoured  with 
those  mysterious  revelations,  which  wrapt  in  their 
wonderful  folds,  all  the  purposes  of  God  towards 
His  Church.  As  if  his  character  and  qualities  ren- 
dered him  peculiarly  fitted  to  recommend  the  Gospel 
to  the  world,  he  was  continued  on  earth  long  after 
all  his  fellow  Apostles  slept  in  the  dust ;  and  in  com- 
pensation for  his  long  separation  from  his  beloved 
friend,  was  favoured  with  visions  and  divine  com-- 
munications,  and  made  the  honoured  instrument  of 
singular  service  in  His  cause.  He  is  said  to  have 
died  Bishop  of  Ephesus,  at  the  venerable  age  of  an 
hundred  years,  exhibiting  to  the  last  that  sweetness 
of  disposition,  and  all  those  estimable  qualities, 
for  which  Jesus  loved  him.  There  is  a  tradition  in 
the  Church,  that  when  the  infirmities  of  age  forbad 
him  to  make  long  discourses,  he  contented  himself 
with  repeating  to  those  who  heard  him,  that  great 
lesson  of  his  Master,  the  new  commandment  of  the^ 
Christian  scheme,  "  Love  one  another  V 

Such  was  St.  John,  whom,  if  it  were  permitted 
us  to  desire  the  felicity  in  which  another,  better  than 
ourselves,  was  made  happy,  the  Christian  might, 
perhaps,  with  more  propriety,  envy,  than  any  other 
being  of  the  human  race, — *'  the  disciple  whom 
Jesus  loved." 

From  what  has  been  said,  we  may  learn,  in  the 
first  place,  that  our  religion  is  not  hostile  to  those 
precious  pleasures,  which  are  derived  from  indivi- 
dual friendship.  Our  Lord  had  His  particular  friend. 
From  the  circle  of  His  disciples.  He  chose  one  con- 
genial person,  to  whom  He  opened  His  bosom,  and 
whom  He  loved  with  an  especial  regard.  It  did  not 
interfere  with  that  general  benevolence,   which   is 

^  Johnxv.  12,  ir. 


CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST  .221 

due  to  all  men.  Every  human  being  had  a  proper 
portion  of  His  regard ;  the  claims  of  none  were  over- 
looked ;  all  His  extraordinary  affection  for  His  friend 
was  a  surplus  of  love.  It  was  so  coincident  with 
the  inclination  of  feeling  minds,  to  seek  the  joys 
which  friendship  only  yields,  that  to  have  left  it 
unauthorized  by  His  religion,  would  have  been  a 
great  disparagement.  Unauthorized,  did  1  say  ? 
May  we  not  say  that  He  has  recommended  it  ?  Is 
not  His  example  as  holy  as  His  precepts  ?  What 
could  have  induced  Him  to  prefer  one  course  of 
virtuous  conduct  to  another,  but  to  point  out  the 
way  in  which  we  may  enjoy  the  greatest  happiness, 
and  attain  to  the  highest  degree  of  excellence  of 
which  our  nature  is  susceptible  ?  That  a  friendship 
such  as  religion  approves  is  indisputably  useful, 
precious,  and  oftentimes  salutary,  is  the  advice  on 
which  we  rely.  Animating  and  promotive  of  noble 
imitation  are  the  excellencies  of  a  friend.  How 
operative  is  respect  for  his  opinion,  in  restraining 
one  from  any  thing  which  his  virtue  would  reprove ! 
How  favourable  is  his  sympathy,  in  the  day  of  sor- 
row, to  our  peace  and  resignation !  That  it  contri- 
butes to  the  happiness  of  life,  who  needs  be  told  ? 
It  is  a  boon,  which  every  person  can  estimate.  Its 
pleasures  are  confessedly  the  purest,  and  most  ex- 
quisite of  any  on  this  side  heaven.  We  may  not 
therefore  hesitate,  I  conceive,  to  believe  that  our 
Saviour  encourages  by  His  example  the  cultivation 
of  a  virtue  so  favourable  to  the  happiness  and  im- 
provement of  those,  whom  He  delights  to  guide  into 
the  paths  of  bliss.  And  how  amiable  does  He  ap- 
pear in  thus  entering  into  the  feelings  of  men  !  What 
a  commendation  does  this  give  to  His  Gospel ! 
Surely,  the  religion  is  sublime,  and  must  have  the 
happiness  of  men  for  its  end,  which,  while  it  incul- 


222  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST. 

cates  an  universal  charity,  excludes  not  its  disciples 
from  the  pure  felicity  of  an  individual  friendship, 
v^^hich  multiplies  all  our  joys  by  sharing  them,  and, 
by  dividing,  lessens  every  woe. 

But,  to  avail  ourselves  rightly  of  this  liberty,  we 
must  learn  from  our  subject,  what  are  the  qualities, 
for  which  we  should  look  in  those,  whom  we  admit 
to  our  closest  intimacy.  A  good  friend  is  not  easily 
found.  The  bliss  of  this  treasure  is  rarely  enjoyed 
on  earth.  Led  on  by  feeling,  overpowered  by  good 
nature,  captivated  by  flattery,  infatuated  by  some 
single  excellence,  men  often  fall  into  such  friend- 
ships, as  are  inconstant  as  fortune's  smiles,  and  end 
in  bitterness.  Would  you  have  a  friend  who  will 
be  sincere  and  useful ;  whom  you  may  trust  to  enter 
into  your  bosom,  and  participate  all  your  thoughts ; 
who  will  be  faithful  to  your  happiness ;  stand  unal- 
tered in  his  attachment  when  adversity  assails  you  ; 
and  by  his  advice,  his  sympathy,  his  example,  and 
his  tender  reproof,  be  to  you  a  treasure  beyond  all 
price  : — guard  against  the  malignant,  the  envious, 
and  the  immoral.  Be  not  caught  with  splendid 
vices.  Seek  the  heart  which  is  formed  to  benevo- 
lence, and  hallowed  by  religion's  purifying  influ- 
ence. The  value  of  the  acquisition  will  repay  the 
most  active  caution.  To  be  secure  from  disappoint- 
ment, choose  such  a  character  as  *'  Jesus  loved." 

Again.  We  may  learn  from  the  subject  we  have 
contemplated,  how  we  may,  with  certainty,  obtain 
the  favour  and  approbation  of  our  great  Redeemer. 
To  please  Him  is  surely  our  desire.  If,  as  we  have 
lately  commemorated,  He  left  the  bosom  of  His 
Father  to  visit  us  for  our  salvation ;  to  be  indifferent 
to  His  pleasure  must  argue  the  basest  insensibility. 
Now  we  have  seen  what  the  qualities  were,  which 
He  admired  in  the  beloved  disciple.      He  is  un- 


CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST.  223 

changeable  in  His  affections,  **  the  same  yesterday, 
and  to-day,  and  for  ever^"  What  once  pleased 
Him,  He  will  always  approve.  To  the  amiable  vir- 
tues, which  obtained  for  St.  John  His  appropriate 
affection.  He  will  always  give  His  partial  regard. 
Cultivate,  then,  the  kind  and  benevolent  disposi- 
tion, which  the  Gospel  commends,  and  be  ardent 
and  faithful  in  your  attachment  to  your  Lord.  Be 
meek  and  modest ;  pure  and  devout ;  and  the  hap- 
piness, which  you  envy  the  Evangelist,  may  be  your 
own. 

Once  more.     We  may  learn  from  the  history  of 
St.  John  both  charity  and  humility.    *'  Why  callest 
thou  Me  good  ?"   with  scrutinizing  solemnity  said 
Jesus  Christ,  "  there  is  none  good  but  one,  that  is, 
God ''."     And  in  vain  shall  we  look  for  perfection,  , 
in  any  of  our  friends,  or  in  any  earthly  being.  What 
am  I  going  to  disclose  to  you  ?    Three  times  was  the 
beloved  disciple  obnoxious  to  his  Saviour's  reproof: 
— when,  influenced  no  doubt  in  some  degree,  though 
probably  not  entirely  by  his  mother,  he  sought  to 
sit  on  the  right  hand  of  his  Master  in  His  kingdom, 
and  received  the  answer,  *'  ye  know  not  what  ye 
ask':" — when,  in  an  hour  of  passion,  he  would  have 
imprecated  vengeance  upon  those  who  did  wrong, 
and  was  told,  "  ye  know  not  what  manner  of  spirit 
ye  are  of' :" — and  when,  in  the  garden,  during  the 
agony  of  his  Master,  (alas,  for  the  infirmity  of  our 
nature !)  with  St.  Peter  and  St.  James,  St.  John 
also  fell  asleep.      *'  The  spirit,"  said  Jesus,    "  in- 
deed is  willing,  but  the  flesh  is  weak '."      Learn 
hence,    not  to  expect  faultlessness  in  your  fellow 
beings  ;  and,  especially,  to  bear  with,  to  cover,  and 
to  excuse  the  imperfections  of  your  friends.   Though 

s  Heb.  xiii.  8.  "  Matt.  xix.  17.  *  Mark  x.  38. 

k  Luke  ix.  ^5.  '  Matt.  xxvi.  41. 

2 


224  CHARACTEH  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST. 

Jesus  had  occasion  thrice  to  reprove  St.  John,  he 
was,  nevertheless,  "  the  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved." 
**  Admonish  a  friend,  it  may  be  he  hath  not  done  it : 
and  if  he  have  done  it,  that  he  do  it  no  more.  Ad- 
monish thy  friend,  it  may  be  he  hath  not  said  it :  and 
if  he  have,  that  he  speak  it  not  again.  Admonish  a 
friend :  for  many  times  it  is  a  slander,  and  believe 
not  every  tale.  There  is  one  that  slippeth  in  his 
speech,  but  not  from  his  heart ;  and  who  is  he  that 
hath  not  offended  with  his  tongue "'  ?" 

But  you  are  ready  to  say,  if  we  could  have  been 
partakers  of  St.  John's  privileges,  we  should,  at 
least,  be  happier,  if  not  worthier  of  his  Master's 
love.  And  this  leads  me  to  observe,  finally,  that  of 
the  peculiar  privileges,  with  which  the  beloved  dis- 
ciple was  blest,  we  may  virtually  partake.  Would 
you  be  witnesses  of  the  scenes,  to  which  the  chosen 
three  were  admitted?  On  the  wings  of  faith  you  may 
ascend  the  heavenly  Tabor,  and  contemplate  the 
glory  of  your  Lord,  and  Moses,  and  Elias,  the  Fa- 
thers and  the  Prophets,  there  talking  with  Him.  In 
the  hour  of  meditation,  you  may  go  into  the  garden, 
and  ponder  the  agony  which  your  Redeemer  sus- 
tained, with  better  intelligence,  and  livelier  concern, 
than  they  possessed,  whose  eyes,  because  of  the 
hour,  and  the  fatigues  of  the  day,  and  the  power 
of  darkness,  were  unhappily  weary.  Is  it  the  hap- 
piness of  "  leaning  on  Jesus'  bosom,"  that  you  de- 
sire ?  Of  this  you  may,  in  some  degree,  participate, 
by  casting  your  cares  upon  Him ;  by  resting  your 
spirits  upon  His  merits  and  intercession,  when  you 
are  oppressed  with  the  consciousness  of  your  weak- 
ness ;  and,  by  pouring  out  to  Him  in  faithful  confi- 
dence your  sorrows,  your  wishes,  and  your  fears. 
But,  perhaps,  it  is  his  legacy  which  you  envy  the 

'»  Eccles.  xix.  13—16. 


CHARACTER  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  EVANGELIST.    225 

distinguished  St.  John.  You  are  ready  to  resolve 
that  your  joys  and  faithfulness  would  be  unspeak- 
able, could  you  have  had  the  mother  of  Him  who 
died  for  you,  committed  by  her  Son  to  your  care. 
Amazing  wisdom  of  the  economy  of  Christ !  Of  this 
satisfaction  you  may  partake  ;  of  the  sincerity  of 
this  resolution  you  may  give  evidence,  by  bestowing 
your  compassion  and  kindness  upon  any  of  the  mem- 
bers of  His  family,  especially  when,  like  His  be- 
reaved parent,  they  are  in  affliction,  poverty  and 
distress.  For  what  is  the  record  which  "  the  Spirit 
of  Truth  °"  hath  made  ?  Hear  the  words,  and  en- 
grave them,  as  the  sacred  incitement  to  the  best  and 
most  profitable  deeds  of  Christians,  on  the  tablets  of 
your  bosoms  :  *'  He  stretched  forth  his  hand  toward 
His  disciples,  and  said.  Behold  My  mother  and  My 
brethren !  For  whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  My 
Father  which  is  in  heaven,  the  same  is  My  brother, 
and  sister,  and  mother  °." 

"  John  xiv.  17.  "  Matt.  xii.  49,  50. 


VOL.  II. 


SERMON   LXV, 


ON    THE    CHARACTER    OF    BALAAM. 


2  St.  Peter,  ii.  15. 

Balaam  the  son  of  Bosor,   who   loved  the  wages  of 
unrighteousness. 

In  the  course  which  the  Church  directs  for  publicly 
reading  the  Holy  Scriptures,  we  are,  at  this  period, 
brought  to  a  very  interesting,  singular,  and  instruc- 
tive piece  of  sacred  history.  The  story  of  Balaam 
attracts  our  attention  by  the  matter  to  which  it  re- 
lates, the  ancient  customs  with  which  it  is  inter- 
spersed, and  the  strangeness  and  wickedness  of  his 
conduct,  whom  it  more  particularly  exhibits  to  our 
view.  In  this  celebrated  diviner  we  behold  an  ex- 
traordinary mixture  of  just  sentiment  with  perverse 
practice  ;  right  apprehensions  of  God  with  direct 
opposition  to  His  will ;  seeming  piety  and  inspira- 
tion with  diabolical  purposes  and  disgraceful  insta- 
bility. It  is  a  character  necessary  to  be  studied ; 
not  only  that  we  may  derive  instruction  from  it,  but 
also  that  we  may  perceive  the  justness  of  the  cen- 
sure, passed  upon  him  in  the  Gospel,  and  not  be  led, 
by  the  occasional  appearance  of  propriety  in  his  ex- 
pressions and  behaviour,  to  think  him  less  criminal 
than  he  is  represented.  For  so  wise  and  prudent, 
so  pious  and  just,  does  he  seem  to  be  in  particular 

4 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM.     227 

passages,  that  the  cursory  reader  may  be  ready  to 
exclaim,  Wherefore  is  he  blamed  ?  how  cautious  his 
steps !  how  sublime  his  visions  !  Examination  is  ne- 
cessary to  understand  his  character.  When  we  have 
well  observed  it,  we  shall  be  struck  with  its  incon- 
sistency and  baseness ;  and  wonder  that  he  ever 
possessed  a  virtuous  sentiment,  or  cherished  a  holy 
habit  in  his  bosom.  To  mark  it,  as  it  opens  upon 
us  in  the  sacred  narrative  ;  to  trace  its  peculiarities 
to  their  cause,  and  to  show  its  awful  termination, 
will  be  leading  objects  of  this  discourse  :  in  which 
we  will  take  the  inspired  St.  Peter  for  our  monitor, 
and  rely  upon  Thee,  Thou  '  Giver  of  all  good  gifts*,' 
for  assistance  and  an  improving  blessing. 

The  occasion  of  Balaam's  being  introduced  was 
the  arrival  of  the  Israelites  upon  the  plains  of  Moab. 
Dismayed  by  their  numbers  and  fame,  by  the  won- 
ders which  had  marked  their  footsteps  out  of  Egypt, 
and  the  destruction  which  they  poured  upon  their 
foes,  and  particularly  by  their .  recent,  terrifying 
conquest  of  the  Amorites,  and  powerful  King  of 
Basan;  the  Moabites  trembled  at  their  approach. 
TJhey  consulted  with  the  elders  of  Midian  about  the 
common  safety,  and  their  mutual  communications 
were  a  striking  accomplishment  of  the  prediction  of 
Moses,  that  the  nobles  of  Edom,  and  mighty  ones 
of  Moab,  should  be  dismayed  by  the  greatness  of 
the  Divine  arm,  in  delivering  His  people  *. 

Something  was  to  be  done  for  defence,  against 
this  mighty  company  which  devoured  all  before  it, 
*'  as  the  ox  licketh  up  the  grass  of  the  fields"  It 
was  an  important  part  of  ancient  warfare  to  seek  the 
influence  of  the  gods,  and  imprecate  the  foe.  In 
the  Greek  and  Roman  classics,  there  are  traces  of 

*  Prayer  in  the  Ember  Weeks. 
*  Exod.  XV.  15.  ^  Numb.  xxii.  4. 

q2 


228  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM. 

this  custom  ;  and  it  appears  to  have  been  prevalent 
among  most  of  the  heathen  nations.  They  were 
wont,  before  going  to  battle,  to  endeavour,  by  sa- 
crifices and  oblations,  to  enlist  on  their  side  their 
own  and  foreign  gods,  and  by  the  imprecations  of 
some  priest  or  magician,  to  devote  the  enemy  to 
destruction.  Being  a  worshipper  of  Chemosh,  and 
credulous  in  these  vain  superstitions,  it  was  the  first 
care  of  the  King  of  Moab,  to  send  for  a  diviner  to 
"  curse  the  people  ^"  He  hoped  that  thus,  with  the 
aid  of  his  sword,  he  should  be  able  to  prevail  against 
them,  and  drive  them  out  of  the  land. 

Accordingly,  messengers  were  sent,  with  the  pre- 
sents which  were  customary  on  such  occasions,  to 
Balaam,  the  son  of  Beor,  or  Bosor,  a  celebrated 
diviner  who  dwelt  in  Mesopotamia,  to  invite  him  to 
Moab  on  this  absurd  business.  From  all  that  we 
can  learn  of  Balaam,  it  appears,  that  he  was  an 
acknowledger  of  the  true  God.  In  many  parts  of 
the  heathen  world,  there  were  instances  of  persons, 
who,  though  they  were  not  Israelites  by  birth,  or 
profession,  gathered  from  the  rubbish  of  Paganism 
some  decaying  fragments  of  the  knowledge,  which 
was  diflPused  through  the  world  at  the  dispersion 
from  Babel,  and  in  various  ways  renewed  by  the 
economy  of  Divine  Providence  :  which  fragments 
furnished  them  with  an  imperfect  sentiment  of  the 
one,  supreme,  eternal,  Being,  As  it  was  in  this 
part  of  Mesopotamia,  that  Abraham  dwelt  before 
his  removal  to  Canaan  ;  and  here  that  Jacob  and 
most  of  his  sons,  once  had  a  residence ;  it  is  less 
surprising  to  find  here  some  traces  of  true  religion, 
some  inconstant  remembrance  of  the  true  God.  Be 
this  as  it  may,  it  is  certain,  that  we  find  Balaam 
speaking  of  the  Lord  Jehovah  as  his  God,  and  ac- 

•^  Numb.  xxii.  6. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM.  229 

kriowledoin<T  His  supremacy  over  the  minds  and  af- 
fairs  of  men.  There  is,  also,  reason  to  suppose, 
that  he  was  one,  to  whom  the  Most  High  had 
vouchsafed  to  make  some  special  communications. 
He  had  clear  notions  of  being  met  by  God ;  felt  a 
<;onfidence  which  must  have  been  grounded  upon 
>past  experience,  that  when  he  should  inquire  of  Je- 
hovah, he  should  obtain  a  revelation ;  and,  indeed, 
is  expressly  styled  a  Prophet,  in  the  context,  and 
other  parts  of  the  sacred  volume.  It  would  seem, 
too,  from  some  of  his  expressions  to  Balak  and  his 
messengers,  that  he  had  a  sense  of  the  supremacy 
of  ihe  Divine  will,  and  of  his  obligation  to  observe 
<jrod's  commands.  Such  is  the  fair  side  of  Balaam's 
-character;  an  acknowledger  of  the  true  God,  ad- 
mitted to  the  privileges  of  a  Prophet,  and  blest  with 
a  just  view  of  the  paramount  authority  of  the  Di- 
vine injunctions.  How  promising  the  appearance  1 
Who  would  not  expect  in  him  a  blameless  conduct  % 
But  alas !  sad  instance  of  the  corruption  of  our  na- 
ture, and  of  the  ease  with  which  vice,  when  it  is 
fostered  in  the  bosom,  undermines  the  power  of 
4:ruth  and  virtue !  we  shall  presently  find  him,  aban- 
doning his  God,  his  character,  and  duty,  for  his 
pride  and  covetousness ;  and  to  gratify  these  insa- 
iiate  passions,  proving  a  traitor  to  every  good  feel- 
ing, and  a  patron  of  the  basest  iniquity. 

But  why,  it  may  here  be  asked,  did  not  Balak 
seek  a  diviner  among  the  worshippers  of  his  own 
gods?  Why  did  he  send  for  one  to  Mesopotamia, 
and  for  one  who  acknowledged  the  God  of  his  ene- 
mies ?  This  has,  by  some,  been  explained  by  the 
supposition,  that  he  believed  the  strength  of  the 
Israelites  depended  on  the  power  of  their  God,  and 
that  Balaam  would  induce  Him  to  withdraw  His 
influence,  or  turn  it  against  them.  Shocking  as  this 
notion  may  appear  to  us,  it  may  have  been  enter- 


23Q  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM. 

tained  by  Balak.  So  lost  were  the  heathen  idola- 
ters to  all  just  apprehensions  of  the  Deity,  that  they 
readily  believed  the  friendship  of  the  gods  might  be 
bought  with  sacrifices  and  honours.  We  may  find 
the  Romans,  once  and  again^  most  solemnly  em- 
ployed, when  making  an  attack  upon  a  city,  in  en- 
deavouring to  induce  its  tutelar  deities  to  abandon 
it,  and  become  the  friends  of  the  besiegers.  Balak 
may  have  adopted  similar  notions  and  from  the  same 
-principles  have  called  Balaam  from  "  the  moun- 
tains of  the  east''." 

It  is  not,  however,  absolutely  necessary  to  resort 
to  this  supposition.  Balak  may  have  been  influ- 
enced by  the  greatness  of  Balaam's  fame,  to  prefer 
him  before  any  other  diviner.  That  his  reputation 
as  a  soothsayer  was  renowned,  and  that  the  King 
of  Moab  had  great  confidence  in  it,  is  evident  from 
the  language  in  which  he  addressed  him  :  **  I  wot 
that  he  whom  thou  blessest  is  blessed,  and  he  whom 
thou  cursest  is  cursed*."  Either  he  had  formerly 
prophesied  only  as  he  was  authorized  by  his  God, 
and  the  unfailing  fulfilment  of  such  predictions  had 
acquired  him  renown ;  or  he  had  been  led  by  his 
covetousness  to  abuse  his  office,  and  taking  advan- 
tage of  the  reverence  for  astrology  in  the  country  in 
which  he  dwelt,  had  become  eminent  among  those 
who  used  curious  arts,  and  prophesied  for  gain. 

We  are  sorry  to  find,  in  returning  to  the  narra- 
tive, that  this  last  conjecture  is  the  most  probable. 
The  messengers  arrived,  delivered  their  errand,  and 
were  ordered  to  tarry  all  night,  that  he  might  con- 
suit  with  the  Lord.  The  Most  High  anticipated  the 
Prophet,  and  demanded  who  the  men  were  that 
were  come  to  him.  Upon  his  relating  the  facts,  he 
received  these  plain  and  positive  instructions ;  "Thou 

.  ^  Niimb.  xxiii.  7.  •Ibid.  xxii.  6. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM.  231 

shalt  not  go  with  them ;  thou  shalt  not  curse  the ' 
people  :  for  they  are  blessed  V'  Whether  he  was  to 
be  blamed,  for  hearkenmg  at  all  to  the  request  and 
proffers  of  Balak,  as  some  have  supposed,  or  not, 
thus  much  is  indisputable,  he  had  now  a  clear  know- 
ledge of  the  Divine  will,  and,  unless  he  believed 
God  to  be  variable,  or  esteemed  gain  better  than 
obedience,,  should  have,  henceforth,  held  no  further 
communications  upon  the  disapproved  subject. 
.  The  answer,  imperfectly  reported  to  Balak,  pro- 
duced m  him  only  the  opinion,  that  the  temptations 
he  had  offered  were  not  sufficiently  great,  and  he 
immediately  despatched  a  more  noble  embassy,  with 
jicher  gifts  and  unlimited  promises.  His  pride 
elated,  and  his  eovetousness  inflamed,  Balaam  looks 
upon  the  honours  and  wealth  which  he  might  ac- 
quire; and  doubts  whether  he  may  not  be  indulged. 
How  fatal  is  the  first  hesitation  of  virtue!  He  who 
turns  not  instantly  from  vice,  but  stops  to  view  her 
baits,  and  listen  to  her  charms,  gives  himself  to 
danger,  and  will  generally  be  ensnared.  She  is  like 
the  wily  serpent,  which,  if  he  once  catch  the  eye  of 
the  unwary  bird,  rivets  it  to  himself,  and  with  well 
guided  glances,  infatuating  the  poor  victim,  lures  it 
to  a  nearer  and  nearer  approach,  till,  unable  any 
longer  to  withstand  the  action  of  the  fascinating 
spell,  it  rushes  willingly  to  irresistible  destruction. 
How  fortunate  for  Balaam  if  he  had,  at  once,  re- 
fused to  listen  to  the  proposals  of  these  messengers 
from  Balak!  He  knew  the  Divine  will  was  opposed 
to.  them.  "  Thou  shalt  not  go; — the  people  are 
blessed^;"  could  hardly  have  ceased  to  sound  in  his 
ears.  Why  then,  does  he. tamper  with  the  proffers 
of  iniquity  ?  why  stand  a  moment  on  forbidden 
ground?     His  heart  is  set  upon  the  wealth  of  Moab 

'  Numb,  xxii.  12,      :      ,         ,     c  Ibid.  xxii.  12. 


232     ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM. 

and  the  obeisance  of  its  princes  ;  and,  though  ac- 
quainted already  with  the  will  of  the  Almighty,  he 
desires  the  messengers  to  abide  all  night,  hoping 
that  it  might  be  changed.  How  affrontive  this  pre- 
sumption !  How  dishonourable  to  the  holy  and  im- 
mutable God !  What  wonder  that  the  Deity  was 
almost  ready  to  leave  the  headstrong  man  to  his 
way,  and  since  he  preferred  his  own  wishes  to  his 
Maker's  will,  bade  him  follow  his  inclination  if  he 
pleased.  This  is  the  import  of  the  Almighty's  words. 
The  permission  he  received  to  go  was  rather  a  me- 
rited abandonment  to  his  own  guidance.  But  he 
feels  not  the  awful  nature  of  this  abandonment.  He 
rashly  resolves  to  follow  his  desire.  Though  slow 
to  comply  with  the  mandates  of  infinite  wisdom, 
nothing  can  surpass  his  obedience  to  the  passions  of 
his  own  bosom.  He  rises  early  in  the  morning, 
saddles  his  ass,  and  is  immediately  on  the  road  to 
Moab.  So  voluntary  a  disregard  of  His  known 
pleasure,  in  one  so  favoured  and  well  informed, 
justly  excited  the  anger  of  the  Most  High.  Still 
with  parental  solicitude.  He  went  out  to  check  him 
in  his  course.  He  stood  in  the  way,  in  the  person 
of  His  Angel,  with  a  brandished  sword,  to  impede 
his  career.  But  intent  only  upon  reaching  the  place, 
and  gaining  the  promised  rewards,  he  saw  not  this 
minister  of  mercy  and  judgment,  till  **  the  dumb 
ass  speaking  with  man's  voice  forbad  the  madness  of 
the  Prophet^" 

It  is  the  curse  of  covetousness,  that  it  cramps 
every  expansive  effort  of  the  mind,  and  petrifies 
the  heart.  When  it  is  united  with  pride,  cruelty  is 
always  the  offspring  of  the  pair,  and  frequently  the 
associates  of  his  parents.  Twice  had  the  harmless 
beast,  on  which  Balaam  rode,  turned  from  the  path 

"  2  Pet.  ii.  16. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM.  233 

of  danger,  and  twice,  with  cruel  and  more  cruel 
blows,  been  forced  back.  Brought  to  a  situation 
in  which  she  could  neither  turn  because  of  the  nar- 
rowness of  the  way,  nor  advance  because  of  the 
angel,  she  fell  to  the  ground  beneath  her  impatient 
rider.  Enraged  and  blind,  he  beats  the  faithful 
beast  with  unrelenting  blows,  and  instead  of  having 
his  passion  cooled  by  her  sufferings,  wishes  only 
that  **  there  were  a  sword  in  his  hand,  that  now  he 
might  kill  her'."  How  seldom  is  one  evil  passion 
alone  in  a  bosom !  How  awful  is  any  one  at  its 
height !  When  several  are  raging  at  the  same  time, 
what  will  they  not  make  of  man !  How  fallen  is 
Balaam  from  the  divine  image  in  which  man  was 
created  !  How  unlike  the  merciful  God !  And  who 
could  expect  tender  mercies  to  his  beast  from  one, 
who,  to  gratify  his  covetousness  and  ambition,  was 
posting  gladly  to  a  distant  place,  to  devote,  as  far 
as  in  him  lay,  a  whole  nation  of  fellow  men  to  de- 
struction? 

God  hath  a  care  for  all  His  creatures.  He  who 
maketh  the  "ox  to  know  his  owner  \"  and  teacheth 
"  the  swallow  the  time  of  her  coming';  He  who 
formed  man's  mouth,  and  confounded  all  speech  at 
Babel,  He,  even  the  Almighty  Lord  of  all  creatures, 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  injured  beast,  and  gave 
her  power  to  utter  her  complaint,  and  at  the  same 
time  opened  the  eyes  of  the  rider  to  his  danger  and 
folly.  At  sight  of  the  Angel  he  fell ;  and  heard 
how  he  owed  his  life  to  the  animal  he  had  so  inhu- 
manly abused.  "  Unless  the  ass  had  turned  from 
me,  surely  now  I  had  slain  thee  and  saved  her 
alive'"." 

Surely  the  Prophet  will  now  see  the  folly  of  his 

*  Numb.  xxii.  29.  •'  Is.  i.  3. 

'  Jer.  viii.  7.  »°  Numb.  xxii.  53. 


234  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM. 

conduct.  Surely  he  will  immediately  return  to  his 
liome.  Surprising  perseverance!  We  hear  no  such 
resolution  ;  we  see  no  gratitude  for  his  preservation, 
nor  any  returning  step.  There  is  nothing  but  a  de- 
claration of  his  readiness  to  go  back,  couched  in 
such  terms  as  express  his  willingness  to  go  forward. 
**  If  it  displease  thee"."  He  knew  it  was  displeas- 
ing. This  was  equivocation  with  the  Almighty.  It 
is  true,  the  Angel  said,  '*  Go."  Buti  it  was  such 
a  permission;  -as  would  have  affected  any  good  man 
like  a  prohibitioa.  ^*  Only  the  word  which  I  shall 
speak  unto  thee,  that  thou  shalt  speak"."  Balaam 
knew  that  this  word  had  pronounced  the  people 
blessed,  and  was  immutable,  and  therefore  might 
have  seen  that  his  perseverance  must  be  as  vain,  as 
it  was  disobedient.  But  passion  is  always  unrea- 
sonable, and  generally  blind.  It  sees  no  obstacles, 
or  thinks  it  can  surmount  them  all,  and  thus  impels 
its  victim  to  danger  and  destruction.  Now  that 
Balaam,  after  all  that  has  been  said  and  done  by  the 
Most  High,  is  eagerly  intent  upon  following  his  own 
will,  and  neglecting  his  Maker's,  the  Deity  justly 
gives  him  up  to  himself,  and  he  must  abide  the  con- 
sequences. The  threatening  Angel,  most  dreadful 
omen  to  the  evil  man,  the  threatening  Angel  is'  re- 
moved' from  his  path,  r  His  covetousness  res-umes 
the  empke  of  his  bosom.  With  renewed  ardour  he 
pursues  his  way  towards  Moab,  to  disappointment, 
mortification,  iniquity,  and  ruin.  Here  we  shaU, 
for  the  present^'  leave  him,-  and  this  afternoon,'  con- 
clude our  remarks  on  this  interesting  and  instructive 
poHion  of  holy  writ.  ^'  •     "^• 


SERMON  LXVI. 


ON   THE    CHARACTER   OF    BALAAM. 


2  St.  Peter,  ii.  15. 

Balaam  the  son  of  Bosor,  loho  loved  the  wages   of 
tinrighteousness. 

In  the  course  of  our  remarks,  this  morning,  on  the 
character  of  Balaam  we  endeavoured  to  show,  that 
covetousness  was  the  reigning  vice  in  his  heart,  and 
that  his  disobedience  to  the  known  will  of  God  was 
the  effect  of  his  inordinate  desire  of  worldly  gain. 
Our  observations  brought  us  to  the  very  interesting 
scene  between  the  ass  and  the  Prophet,  and  we  left 
him  pursuing  his  way  towards  Moab.  We  now  pro- 
ceed with  the  sacred  story. 

Arrived  at  Moab,  Balaam  was  met  and  welcomed 
by  Balak,  and  brought  to  the  royal  city.  With  the 
princes  of  the  country,  he  was  invited  by  the  king 
to  a  religious  ceremony  and  feast,  and  on  the  morrow 
after  his  arrival  they  entered  upon  the  strange  busi- 
ness for  which  he  had  come.  The  heathen  nations 
had,  most  of  them,  "high  places"  consecrated  to 
their  gods.  They  had  generally  upon  them  thick 
groves,  as  suited  alike  to  their  meditations,  enchant- 
ments, and  lewdness.  To  "  the  high  places  of  Baal  %" 
the  king  brought  his  diviner,  from  which  he  might 
take  extensive  views  of"  Israel,  abiding  in  his  tents  ^'* 

'  Numb.  xxii.  4L  "  Ibid.  xxiv.  S. 


236  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM. 

Here  was  a  baser  apostasy.  It  is  painful  to  behold 
the  Prophet  blending  the  odious  superstitions  of  the 
heathen,  with  the  worship  of  the  Most  High;  build- 
ing "seven  altars'^"  to  the  Lord  Jehovah  upon  the 
polluted  eminences  of  Chemosh.  Yet  with  all  the 
effrontery  of  a  man  resolved,  at  any  hazards,  to  ac- 
complish his  purpose,  he  retires  from  this  mockery 
of  devotion  to  meet  God,  and  proclaims  pharisaically, 
"  I  have  prepared  seven  altars,  and  I  have  offered 
upon  every  altar  a  bullock  and  a  ram^"  In  the  per- 
son of  the  Uncreated  Angel  of  His  Presence,  the 
Deity  appeared  to  him,  and  therefore  it  is  said, 
"  the  Lord  met  Balaam,  and  put  a  word  in  his 
mouth ^"  Having  received  injunctions  what  to  say, 
he  returned  to  the  Moabites,  .and  found  them  still 
engaged  in  their  profane  services.  With  eagerness 
they  listened  to,  and  with  disappointment  heard  the 
word.  He  declared  his  inability  to  do  as  Balak  de- 
sired ;  and  actuated  by  fear,  or  Divine  impulse,  in- 
stead of  cursing,  greatly  blessed  the  people. 

Here,  one  would  think,  all  parties  would  have  de- 
sisted ;  and  from  the  sentiment  with  which  Balaam 
closed  his  parable,  would  suppose  he  had  returned 
to  wisdom  and  to  duty.  Mindful  of  the  honours 
heaped  upon  good  old  Jacob's  head ;  struck  by  the 
blessings  entailed  upon  the  posterity  of  the  righteous; 
and  convinced  of  the  immutable  love  and  care  of  the 
Almighty  for  the  godly ;  the  long  relaxed  chords  of 
virtue  seemed  to  recover  tone,  and  he  could  not  help 
exclaiming,  "  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous, 
and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his^"  An  exclamation 
worthy  of  the  noblest  mind.  But  with  sound  prin- 
ciples and  just  sentiments,  the  slave  of  passion  will 
often  exhibit   a  most  blameable  conduct.     He   is 

<"  Numb,  xxiii.  1,  U,  29.  ^  Ibid.  ver.  4. 

«Ibid.  ver.  IQ.  ^Ibid.  ver.  10. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM.  237 

drawn  or  driven  to  act  against  his  judgment.  He 
wishes  to  ''  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,"  yet  he 
lives  the  life  of  the  wicked.  Still  hoping  a  change 
in  the  Divine  will ;  still  anxious,  by  every  exertion,, 
to  satisfy  Balak  ;  still  unwilling  to  lose  *'  the  wages 
of  unrighteousness  ;"  the  mad  Prophet  suffered  him- 
self to  be  carried  from  place  to  place,  among  the 
high  mountains  of  Baal,  offering  upon  Pisgah  and 
Peor,  and  on  every  polluted  hill,  the  same  hetero- 
geneous, abominable  worship  :  as  if  the  mind  of  the 
Almighty  were  not  the  same  in  all  places,  and  could 
be  altered  by  the  different  views  which  were  taken 
of  the  people  !  "  God  is  not  a  man  that  He  should 
lie  ;  neither  the  son  of  man,  that  He  should  repent :. 
hath  He  said,  and  shall  He  not  do  it  ?  or  hath  He 
spoken,  and  shall  He  not  make  it  good  ^  ?"  He  had 
selected  this  people  for  a  blessing,  and  there  could 
be  **  no  enchantment"  nor  *'  divination  against 
Israel ''."  Balaam  was  every  time  sent  back  to  his 
employer,  with  a  declaration  of  the  happy  destiny  of 
God's  people;  and  every  renewed  attempt  to  obtain 
a  curse  was  answered  by  new  and  sublime  visions, 
which  revealed  greater,  and  yet  greater  glories 
which  should  rest  upon  Israel. 

Though  it  falls  not  within  our  design  to  notice, 
particularly,  the  different  prophecies  which  enliven 
and  enrich  this  sacred  story,  it  would  not  become  us 
to  pass  unnoticed  that  memorable  prediction,  which, 
as  the  Prophet  cast  his  eyes  over  the  Israelites  spread 
upon  the  plains  of  Moab,  he  uttered  concerning  the 
Redeemer  of  the  world,  who  should  come  of  that 
people.  There  is  something  in  it  so  sublime  and 
interesting,  that  I  cannot  resist  the  inclination  to 
introduce  the  remarkable  passage.  **  And  he  took 
up  his  parable,  and  said,  Balaam  the  son  of  Beor 

«  Numb,  xxiji.  19.  "  Ibid.  ver.  2.S. 


238  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM. 

hath  said,  and  the  man  whose  eyes  are  open  hath 
said:  he  hath  said,  which  heard  the  words  of  God, 
and  knew  the  knowledge  of  the  Most  High,  which 
saw  the  vision  of  the  Almighty,  falling  into  a  trance, 
but  having  his  eyes  open :  I  shall  see  him,  but  not 
now  :  I  shall  behold  him,  but  not  nigh  :  there  shall 
come-a  Star  out  of  Jacob,  and  a  Sceptre  shall  rise 
out  of  IsraeL— Outof  Jacob  shall  come  He  that  shall 
have  dominion,  and  shall  destroy  him  that  remaineth 
of  the  city  '."  Our  minds,  at  the  repetition  of  these 
words,  immediately  are  turned  to  the  Saviour  at 
Bethlehem,  whose  herald  to  the  Gentiles  was  a  star, 
and  to  that  dominion  of  his,  which  '*  shall  be  from 
sea  to  sea,  and  from  the  river  unto  the  ends  of  the 
earths''  While  we  admire  the  prophecy,  and  re- 
joice in  its  fulfilment,  how  melancholy  the  reflection^ 
that  Balaam,  with  the  glorious  vision  on  his  mind, 
was  yet  the  slave  of  an  idolater,  and  led  by  passion 
to  seek  the  ruin  of  the  people,  from  whom  Christ 
was  to  come  ! 

But  to  return  to  Balak.  Anger  now  rages  in  his 
bosom,  and  he  vents  it  upon  the  minion  whom  he  had 
seduced.  *'  Flee  thou  to  thy  place  :  I  tliought  to 
promote  thee  unto  great  honour;  but,  lo,  the  Lord 
hath  kept  thee  back  from  honour  '."  Such  hath  ever 
been  the  artifice  of  vice,  to  represent  the  restraints 
of  virtue  as  injurious  shackles ;  the  commands  of 
God,  as  obstacles  to  great  pleasure  and  felicity. 
But  "happy  is  the  man  that  feareth  alway  ";"  "  the 
integrity  of  the  upright  shall  guide  him  "." 
-  Frustrated  in  his  expectations,  and  upbraided  by 
his  employer,  what  is  the  conduct  of  Balaam  ?  Is 
not  *'  the  madness  of  the  Prophet  °"  wearied  into 
reason  ?    Oh  awful  instance  of  the  unreasonableness 

*  Numb.  xxiv.  15—17,  1J>.  ''  Ps.  Ixxii.  8. 

'  Numb.  xxiv.  11.  "'  Prov.  xxviii.  14. 

"  Prov.  xi.  S.  '2  Pet.  ii.  16. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OlF  BALAAM.  230 

of  passion  !  There  is -no  fixing  limits  to  its  extrava- 
gancow  When  onee  it  has  attained  a  supreme  iv> 
fluence  in  the  bo6om,  there  is  nothing  into  which  it 
may  not  lead  its  victim.  Though  disappointed  in 
his  desires,  Balaam's  heart  is  yet  intent  upon  its 
covetousness.  He  resolves  to  obtain  "  the  wages -of 
unrighteousness"  by  a  plot,  the  basest  that  ever  man 
designed.  Decency  '  requires -that  I  conceal  the 
stratagem.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that,  unabje  to  alienate 
the  Deity  from  His  people,  he  resolved  to  effect  his 
purpose  by  seducing  the  people  from  their  God ; 
and  this  diabolical  design  was  to  be  accomplished 
by  the  sacrifice  of  every  thing  dear  in  one  sex,  -and 
honourable  in  the  otbferi  The  Israelites  were  too 
easily  ensnared  5  and  awful  were  the  consequences. 
The  wrath  of  the  Most  High  was  brought  upon  them. ; 
and  a  plague  p'utiished  them  severely  for  their  ini- 
quity. The  Moabites>  however,  reaped^  no  ad  van* 
tage-  from  -the  sorrows  of  the  people.  Moses  waip 
ordered  to  march  against  them.  With  rapid  strides; 
and' dreadful  destructions  he  marked  his  way;  ^nd 
in  th&conflict  wMch  ensued^  Balaam  fell,  the  victim 
of  his  own  machination^  with  the  blood  of  four  and 
twenty  thousand  of  the  Lord's  people  upon  his  head-; 
unpitied  in  his  death,  and  odioits  to  all  posterity. 
An  example  this  of  the  veracity  of  that  inspired  and 
solemn  apothegm^;  *'  He,  that  being  often  reproved 
hardeneth  his  neck,  shall  suddenly  be  destroyed  and 
that  without  remedy  P;" ''        1     ■  -  ,  - 

You  have  now  seen,  beloved  brethren,  the  princi- 
pal parts  of  this  sacred  story;  and  the  defects  and 
baseness  of  the  person  who  is  most  conspicuous  in 
it.  It  is  very  full  of  instruction ;  but  time  will  per- 
mit me  to  notice  only  two  or  three  of  the  most 
obvious  remarks ;  and  it  must  be  left  to  reflection  to 
furnish  the  rest. 

»  Prov.  xxix.  1. 


240     ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM. 

In  the  first  place,  we  are  taught  in  this  narrative, 
that  clear  principles,  and  even  extraordinary  gifts, 
if  they  be  not  sanctified  by  Divine  grace  to  the 
melioration  of  the  heart  and  life,  are  no  sure  criterion 
of  merit.  "  The  manifestation  of  the  Spirit  is  given 
to  every  man  to  profit  withal''."  And  he  who  turns 
it  to  no  good  end,  would  have  been  as  well  without 
it.  In  Balaam,  what  correctness  of  sentiment  and 
extraordinary  favours  do  we  behold !  But  while  he 
sees  what  is  right,  and  prefers  what  is  wrong,  where 
are  his  claims  to  praise  or  reward  ?  He  is  ranked 
with  the  seed  of  evil  doers,  and  suffers  the  retribu- 
tion of  his  accursed  practices. 

Again.  This  story  forces  upon  our  consideration, 
how  dangerous  are  the  hesitations  of  virtue  ;  the  first 
inclinations  to  deviate  from  the  path  of  duty.  If 
Balaam  had  been  governed  by  the  dictates  of  con- 
science, and  resisted  the  first  wishes  of  his  fatal 
passion,  he  might  have  escaped  his  vexations  and 
crimes,  and  been  blessed  with  the  death  he  desired. 
But  once  seduced  into  the  devious  path,  he  could 
not  easily  leave  it,  and  by  proceeding,  as  is  generally 
the  case,  he  became  lost  to  all  sense  of  duty,  remon- 
strances of  conscience,  and  restraints  of  the  Divine 
Spirit.  Check  then  the  first  inclinations  to  eviK 
When  the  will  of  God  is  known,  wish  it  not  changed. 
Do  not  equivocate  with  it  a  moment.  Suspect  your- 
selves, with  the  most  anxious  and  vigilant  observa- 
tion, if  in  pursuit  of  any  object  whatever,  you  find 
a  secret  desire  in  your  hearts  to  go  contrary  to  the 
rule  of  God's  commandments. 

Finally.  We  are  taught  by  the  meditations  of 
this  day,  how  deplorable  is  his  situation  who  is  left 
to  the  impulses  of  his  own  passions,  and  given  up 
"  to  a  reprobate  mind'."      Balaam's  danger  was 

•>  1  Cor.  xii.  7.    ,  '^  Rom.  i.  28. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  BALAAM.  241 

never  the  greatest,  till  he  was  permitted  to  do  as  he 
pleased ;  and  man  is  never  in  so  awful  a  situation, 
as  when  conscience  has  ceased  to  remonstrate,  and 
inclination  is  his  only  guide.  Oh!  go  not,  my 
hearers,  to  that  measure  of  perverseness ;  advance 
not  to  that  degree  of  obduracy  ;  be  not  drawn, 
thousfh  the  whole  earth  and  all  that  it  contains  were 
the  lure,  into  that  willingness  and  desire  to  sin, 
which  may  compel  the  Almighty  to  say  concerning 
you  :  "  Ephraim  is  joined  to  idols  :  let  him  alone*." 
Dreadful  is  the  condition,  and  wretched  must  be  the 
end  of  that  man,  whom  God  has  resolved  no  longer 
to  withstand  in  the  way,  to  which  he  hath  been  led 
persistingly  to  wed  himself,  by  perverse  inclination 
and  unhallowed  desire.  Cherish  then  the  admoni- 
tions of  conscience.  Obey  the  restraints  of  the 
Almighty.  Discern  at  a  distance  the  Angel  in  the 
path.  Turn  from  every  unlawful  pursuit,  and  allow 
in  yourselves  no  wish  or  inclination  to  do  otherwise, 
than  as  God  allows.  At  the  suggestion  of  your  own 
bosom  ;  at  the  solicitation  of  your  companions  ;  yea, 
at  the  voice  of  an  angelic  being,  who  would  intimate 
that  you  are  free  from  the  restraints  of  holiness,  and 
may  go  contrary  to  the  will  of  God,  be  terrified,  be 
alarmed.  Let  it  hurry  you  back  to  the  most  entire 
compliance  with  the  will  of  the  Most  High.  For 
how  can  he  be  safe,  whom  God  no  longer  keeps  ? 
How  can  he  be  virtuous  or  happy,  with  whom  his 
Father  in  heaven  has  ceased  to  remonstrate. 

'Hos.iv.  17. 


VOL.    II.  11 


SERMON   LXVJl. 


ON    THE    CHARACTER   OF   ABSALOM. 


2  Samuel,  xvi.  15. 

And  Absalom,  and  all  the  people  the  men  of  Israel,  came  to 
Jerusalem,  and  Athithophel  with  him. 

The  events  of  scenes  which  are  laid  in  the  sacred 
and  tender  relations  of  life,  are  always  interesting, 
and  generally  instructive.  It  is  this,  which  gives 
the  Scripture  narratives  their  unrivalled  excellence. 
Unfolding  the  fortunes  and  fate  of  a  father,  a  son,  or 
a  brother;  a  ruler  or  subject,  a  neighbour  or  friend, 
they  hold  our  attention  by  their  applicability  to  our 
own  condition.  We  follow  the  intricate,  and  ad- 
mire the  surprising  events ;  we  exult  in  the  joyous 
and  weep  at  the  tragic ;  we  gaze  at  the  monstrous, 
and  recoil  indignant  from  the  base,  because  of  men 
like  ourselves  the  story  is  related. 

The  history  of  the  person,  whom  the  text  intrO' 
duces  to  your  view,  is  among  the  finest  pieces  of  the 
Old  Testament.  It  abounds  with  incidents,  which 
touch  the  tenderest  feelings  of  nature,  and  occur  in 
the  dearest  relations  of  life ;  and  is  full  of  useful  and 
impressive  instructions  to  every  serious  observer. 
All  may  contemplate  with  improvement  this  inspired 
story  of  the  beautiful,  accomplished,  and  brave,  yet 
base  and  unhappy  Absalom. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM.  243 

This  renowned  person  was  the  third  son  of  David, 
by  Maacha,  the  daughter  of  Talmai,  king  of  Geshur. 
He  appears  to  have  been  remarkable  for  the  graces 
and  beauty  of  his  body,  as  well  as  for  his  illustrious 
descent.  "  In  all  Israel  there  was  none  to  be  so 
much  praised  as  Absalom  for  his  beauty :  from  the 
sole  of  his  foot  even  to  the  crown  of  his  head  there 
was  no  blemish  in  him\" 

He  is  first  introduced  to  us  by  the  sacred  his- 
torian, as  avenging  his  sister's  wrongs,  by  the  mur- 
der of  his  eldest  brother.  He  was  prompted  to  this 
deed  by  a  criminality  on  the  part  of  Amnon,  paral- 
leled rarely,  for  horrible  blackness,  in  the  whole 
records  of  vice.  But  for  resentment  even  of  the 
greatest  wrongs,  to  trample  upon  the  sacred  com- 
mands of  God,  in  his  anger  to  slay  a  man,  yea  with 
premeditated  and  deceptive  malice  to  slay  a  brother, 
discovers  thus  early  that  inconsiderate,  unprincipled 
spirit,  which  strengthened  with  his  age,  and  was 
the  cause  of  his  ruin.  If,  however,  no  other  effects 
of  this  spirit  were  known,  his  youth,  the  precious 
nature  of  a  sister's  fame,  a  something  irresistible  in 
every  bosom,  would  plead  the  extenuation  of  his 
rashness ;  and  with  blushing  silence,  we  should  drop 
our  tears  over  the  dismal  tale. 

But  it  is  seldom  that  a  life,  which  is  uncontrolled 
by  religious  fear,  is  marked  with  only  one  criminal 
act.  There  is  an  infatuating  power  in  vice.  One 
step  beyond  the  line  of  virtue  renders  another  less 
difficult.  There  is  no  trusting  to  self-command, 
when  the  barriers  of  duty  are  down.  He  who  is 
destitute  of  those  hallowed  principles,  which  would 
restrain  him  from  the  commission  of  every  crime, 
has  no  certainty  that  he  will  refrain  from  the  com- 

*  2  Sam.  xiv.  25. 
r2 


244  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM. 

mission  of  any  crime.  Vice  is  rarely  single  in  the 
human  heart.  The  man,  who  can  be  hurried  by 
anger  to  murder  a  brother,  will  easily  be  induced 
by  ambition  to  dethrone  a  father.  Amnon's  blood 
on  Absalom's  robes  was  white  in  comparison  with 
the  spots  which  afterwards  defiled  them. 

Having  fled  because  of  his  guilt   to   Geshur  in 
Syria,   he  abode  there  three  years,  with  the  royal 
relations  of  his  mother.     Time  had  now  soothed  the 
wound  in  David's  bosom ;  and  forgetting  the  dead, 
he  longed  to  embrace  his  living,  his  favourite  child. 
His  servants  perceiving  the  tender  anxiety  which 
filled  his  heart,  contrived  by  an  ingenious  stratagem, 
to  obtain  permission  to  bring  the  beloved  fugitive 
back  to  Jerusalem.     And   "  Absalom  returned    to 
his  own  house ^"     Awful  was  the  sentence  of  the 
law,  which,  as  the  minister  of  justice  and  of  heaven, 
the  king  was,  perhaps,  obliged  to  have  executed 
upon  the  offender.     It  was  important,  too,  to  the 
virtue  of  his  people,  and  to  the  reputation  of  his 
government,  that  he  should  not  be  supposed  capable 
of  conniving  at   crimes,  even  in  his  own  offspring. 
Therefore,  though  his  son  was  not  punished  accord- 
ing to  the  severity  of  the  law,  he  was  not  permitted, 
for  two  years  after  his  return,  to  behold  the  face  of 
his  father.     This  was  vexatious  to  the  pride  of  the 
young  prince.      Through  Joab  he  remonstrated  to 
the  king,  who  then  received  him  into  his  presence, 
and  bestowed  on  him  the  kisses  of  affection  and  for- 
giveness. ' 
One  would  suppose,  that  henceforth  we  should 
see  nothing  but  filial  reverence  and  a  virtuous  life, 
in  this  hitherto  careless  character.     Surely,  Absa- 
lom, it  will  now  be  thy  chief  concern  to  cheer  the 

^  2  Sam.  xiv.  24. 


ON    THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM.  245 

declining  age  of  the  parent,    whom  thou  hast   so 
sorely  grieved,  and  to  obliterate,  by  the  regularity  of 
thy  future  deportment,  the  remembrance  of  thy  past 
misdeeds.     Alas,    how    slender   are   our   hopes  of 
those,  in  whom  the  religious  principle  has  no  place  ! 
How  terrible  is  the    progress  of  the  wicked,  who 
have  once  given  the  reins  to  their  will,  and  follow 
the  guidance  of  their  evil  imaginations  !     Restored 
to  favour,   this  unprincipled  young  man  uses   the 
riches  of  paternal  bounty,  in  procuring  the  gratifi- 
cations of  vain  desires,  and  the  attendants,  force, 
and  equipage,  which  may  add  strength  to  his  sub- 
tilty  when  he  shall  need  it.     The  heir  presumptive 
murdered,    and  his   intervening   brother   dead,    he 
aspires  to  the  kingdom  ;  and,  elate  with  his  personal 
charms  and  interest  with  the  people,  fancies  he  can 
better  manage  its  interests,  than  the  old  king  by 
whom  it  has  so  long  been   governed.     With  mad 
ambition,  he  resolves  to  depose  his  fond  and  vene- 
rable parent  from  the  throne.     With  worse  than  mad 
ambition,  with   the   vilest,    blackest  treachery,  he 
plots  his  father's  disgrace  and  destruction. 

But  how  is  it  possible?  Surely  the  people  will 
cleave  to  the  good  king,  to  whom  they  owe  such 
victories  and  prosperity  ?  This  vicious,  inexpe- 
rienced  man  will  never  be  able  to  drive  the  re- 
nowned David  from  his  throne.  So  it  should  seem 
to  sober  reflection ;  but  experience  will  tell  us,  it  is 
no  difficult  task.  The  breath  of  popular  regard  is 
varying  as  the  wind.  The  multitude  are  ever  open 
to  complaint,  and  fond  of  change.  Absalom  has 
already  some  interest  with  the  people,  and  with  the 
cunning  of  his  mind,  and  smoothness  of  his  address, 
he  may  first  blind,  and  then  lead  them  as  he  pleases. 
Observe  the  artifice  he  used.  **  And  Absalom  rose 
up  early,  and  stood  beside  the  way  of  the  gate :  and 


246  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM. 

it  was  so,  that  when  any  man  that  had  a  controversy 
came  to  the  king  for  judgment,  then  Absalom  called 
unto  him,  and  said,  Of  what  city  art  thou  ?  And  he 
said.  Thy  servant  is  one  of  the  tribes  of  Israel. 
And  Absalom  said  unto  him,  See,  thy  matters  are 
good  and  right ;  but  there  is  no  man  deputed  of  the 
king  to  hear  thee. — O  that  I  were  made  judge  in 
the  land,  that  every  man  which  hath  any  suit  or 
cause  might  come  unto  me,  and  I  would  do  him 
justice !  And  it  was  so,  that  when  any  man  came 
nigh  to  him  to  do  him  obeisance,  he  put  forth  his 
hand,  and  took  him,  and  kissed  him''."  And  thus 
he  **  stole  the  hearts  of  the  men  of  Israeli"  Vic- 
tims to  the  delusion  of  appearance,  they  became 
a  prey  to  his  designs,  and  verified  what  the  whole 
history  of  man  attests,  that  the  smooth  guise  of  de- 
ceit is  oftener  the  means,  by  which  baseness  ac- 
complishes its  purposes,  than  the  fair  argument  of 
reason,  or  the  rough  arm  of  violence. 

When  the  passions  are  engaged  in  any  evil  pur- 
suit, and  the  mind  has  given  itself  to  its  attainment, 
there  is  nothing  at  which  it  will  stop.  Truth  or 
falsehood,  affection  or  enmity,  piety  or  depravity  is 
assumed  by  it  with  equal  ease.  The  man,  who  per- 
mits himself  to  depart  from  the  path  of  rectitude, 
exposes  himself  to  be  hurried  into  every  species  of 
iniquity.  Hebron  was  the  place,  where  Absalom 
had  determined  to  rally  his  forces,  and  assume  his 
usurped  authority.  It  was  necessary,  he  should 
assign  some  reason  for  going  there,  and  he  scruples 
not  to  insult  his  God,  and  use  piety  for  his  plea. 
He  entreated  his  father,  that  He  might  go  to  Hebron 
to  offer  certain  vows  to  the  Lord,  which  he  had 
vowed  to   pay  when  he  abode  in  Geshur,  "  if  the 

'  2  Sam.  XV.  2—5.  *  Ibid.  ver.  6. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM.  247 

Lord  should  bring  him  again  to  Jerusalem'."  To 
such  ignoble  duplicity,  to  such  ruinous  falsehood, 
must  the  man  be  driven,  who  abandons  the  restraints 
of  principle,  and  enlists  in  the  prosecution  of  an  evil 
work. 

We  may  be  surprised  to  think,  that  in  so  short  a 
time,  this  daring  youth  should  be  emboldened  to 
attempt  his  enterprise.  But  there  are  always  weak 
men,  to  be  the  tools  of  such  characters ;  and  wicked 
men,  to  be  their  abettors.  There  accompanied  him 
many,  who,  the  narrative  says,  *'  went  in  their  sim- 
plicity, and  knew  not  any  thing  V  and  the  subtle, 
famous  Ahithophel  came  from  his  city  to  aid  the 
unnatural  conspiracy.  It  was  this  Ahithophel,  who 
had  been  the  confidential  counsellor  of  David  in 
his  prosperity,  and  now  joined  himself  to  his  foe. 
It  was  this  Ahithophel,  who  persuaded  Absalom  to 
prostitute  his  dignity,  his  virtue,  and  every  noble 
feeling,  to  the  base  accomplishment  of  his  nefarious 
designs.  It  was  he,  who  could  advise  a  son  to  the 
most  certain  ways  of  harassing  and  destroying  a 
father,  and  when  he  found  his  counsels  neglected, 
departed  to  his  house  **  and  hanged  himself^."  How 
often  have  such  counsellors  become  the  victims  of 
their  own  plots,  and  been  left  by  the  awful  judg- 
ment of  God,  to  punish  themselves  for  their  own  de- 
pravity ! 

By  the  aid  of  this  evil  man,  new  followers  of  Ab- 
salom were  daily  added,  and  he  succeeded  so  far  as 
to  compel  the  king  to  flee  with  his  adherents  from 
Jerusalem.  And  here,  there  opens  upon  us  one  of 
the  most  affecting  scenes,  which  imagination  can 
picture,  or  conceive.  A  venerable  monarch  driven 
from  his  city,  in  the  evening  of  life ;  a  city,  whose 

'  2  Sam.  XV.  8.  '  Ibid.  ver.  11.  f  Ibid.  xvii.  23. 


248  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM. 

protector  and  ornament  he  had  been ;  driven  from  it 
by  his  son  ;  by  the  son  of  his  fondest  indulgence  ;  a 
son,  whose  life  he  had  spared,  when  it  should  have 
been  taken  for  justice,  and  who  owed  to  him  the 
strength  and  address  which  he  turned  against  him. 
Ill-fated  David !  How  now  returned  to  thy  ear  the 
Prophet's  awful  denunciation,  "The  sword  shall 
never  depart  from  thine  house"!"  With  what  bitter 
remorse,  didst  thou  review  the  sin  which  brought 
all  this  evil  upon  thee!  But  he  bore  his  adversity 
like  a  good  man.  With  meekness  he  kissed  the 
chastising  hand,  and  sustained  all  the  aggravating 
circumstances  of  his  calamity.  *'  And  the  king  said 
unto  Zadok,  Carry  back  the  ark  of  God  into  the 
city  :  if  I  shall  find  favour  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord, 
He  will  bring  me  again,  and  show  me  both  it,  and 
His  habitation  :  but  if  He  thus  say,  I  have  no  delight 
in  thee ;  behold,  here  am  I,  let  Him  do  to  me  as 
seemeth  good  unto  Him'."  With  sentiments  like 
these,  the  grieved  parent  left  the  city  :  "  and  Absa- 
lom, and  all  the  people  the  men  of  Israel,  came  to 
Jerusalem,  and  Ahithophel  with  him*"." 

With  such  designs,  and  counsellor,  and  leader, 
what  might  we  not  expect  from  this  posture  of  af- 
fairs? It  is  happy  indeed  for  men,  that  there  is 
a  Deity,  whose  providence  rules  the  events  of  life. 
By  a  wonderful  interposition  the  counsel  of  Ahitho- 
phel, which  would  most  probably  have  been  suc- 
cessful, was  rejected,  and  the  advice  of  Hushai,  a 
friend  of  David  in  disguise,  was  unanimously  ap- 
proved. This  shrewd  person  exhorted  him  to  as- 
semble all  his  numerous  adherents,  and  go  forth 
with  them  in  person  to   the   battle'.     Addressing 

••  2  Sam.  xii.  10.  '  Ibid.  xv.  25,  26, 

^  ^b^d.  xvi.  15.  '  Ibid.  xvii.  11. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM.  249 

himself  to  his  vanity,  he  elated  him  with  an  anticipa- 
tion of  glorious  achievement,  and  delighted  the  vain 
Absalom  v^ith  the  thought,  that  if  his  adversary 
vi^ere  '*  gotten  into  a  city,  then  shall  all  Israel  bring 
ropes  to  that  city,  and  draw  it  into  the  river,  until 
there  be  not  one  small  stone  found  there*"." 

And  now  the  time  approached,  when  the  Most 
High  would  bring  upon  this  wicked,  rebellious  son, 
the  vengeance  which  his  crimes  deserved.  The  ar- 
mies entered  the  field  ;  and  Absalom  with  his  hosts 
were  defeated.  Terrible  was  the  slaughter  among 
his  people.  He  took  to  flight.  But  as  he  rode  in 
his  haste  through  the  wood,  in  which  the  battle  was 
fought,  "  his  head  caught  hold  of  the  thick  boughs 
of  a  great  oak,  and  he  was  taken  up  between  the 
heaven  and  the  earth  ;  and  the  mule  that  was  under 
him  went  away ".  Apprised  of  his  situation,  Joab 
hasted  to  the  place,  and  thrust  him  through  with 
darts,  and  the  adherents  of  the  king  took  down  his 
body  and  cast  it  into  an  ignominious  grave.  Un- 
happy end  of  an  unprincipled  life  ! 

You  are  doubtless  anxious  to  know,  how  the  king 
received  the  tidings  of  this  extraordinary  issue  of 
the  battle.  Words  cannot  express  his  grief.  His 
parental  tenderness,  the  struggles  of  nature  are  so 
beautifully  described  by  the  sacred  historian,  that 
I  must  give  you  the  scene  in  his  own  words. 

*'  And  David  sat  between  the  two  gates  :  and  the 
watchman  went  up  to  the  roof  over  the  gate  unto 
the  wall,  and  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  looked,  and  be- 
hold, a  man  running  alone.  And  the  watchman 
cried,  and  told  the  king.  And  the  king  said,  If  he 
be  alone,  there  is  tidings  in  his  mouth.  And  he 
came  apace,  and  drew  near.     And  the  watchman 

'"  'Z  Sam.  xvii.  13.  "  Ibid,  xviii.  9. 


250  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM. 

saw  another  man  running :  and  the  watchman  called 
unto  the  porter,  and  said.  Behold  another  man  run- 
ning alone.  And  the  king  said,  He  also  bringeth 
tidings.  And  the  watchman  said,  Methinketh  the 
running  of  the  foremost  is  like  the  running  of  Ahi- 
maaz  the  son  of  Zadok.  And  the  king  said.  He  is 
a  good  man,  and  cometh  with  good  tidings.  And 
Ahimaaz  called,  and  said  unto  the  king,  All  is  well. 
And  he  fell  down  to  the  earth  upon  his  face  before 
the  king,  and  said.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  thy  God, 
which  hath  delivered  up  the  men  that  lifted  up  their 
hand  against  my  lord  the  king.  And  the  king  said. 
Is  the  young  man  Absalom  safe  ?  And  Ahimaaz  an- 
swered. When  Joab  sent  the  king's  servant,  and  me 
thy  servant,  1  saw  a  great  tumult,  but  t  knew  not 
what  it  was.  And  the  king  said  unto  him.  Turn 
aside,  and  stand  here.  And  he  turned  aside,  and 
stood  still.  And,  behold,  Cushi  came;  and  Cushi 
said.  Tidings,  my  lord  the  king :  for  the  Lord  hath 
avenged  thee  this  day  of  all  them  that  rose  up 
against  thee.  And  the  king  said  unto  Cushi,  Is  the 
young  man  Absalom  safe  ?  And  Cushi  answered, 
The  enemies  of  my  lord  the  king,  and  all  that  rise 
against  thee  to  do  thee  hurt,  be  as  that  young  man 
is.  And  the  king  was  much  moved,  and  went  up  to 
the  chamber  over  the  gate,  and  wept:  and  as  he 
went,  thus  he  said,  O  my  son  Absalom!  my  son, 
my  son  Absalom !  would  God  I  had  died  for  thee,  O 
Absalom,  my  son,  my  son" !*'  Not  the  victory  over 
his  enemies,  nor  all  the  gratulations  of  his  friends, 
could  solace  his  sorrows  for  the  melancholy  fate  of 
his  rebellious  child.  The  utmost  wickedness  had 
not  exhausted  his  parental  love.  Like  the  Eternal 
Father  over  our  fallen  race,  his  pity  yearned  over 

•  2  Sam.  xviii.  2^-^33. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM.  251 

the  misfortunes  of  his  son:  and  the  profligate  youth, 
as  is  generally  the  case,  occasioned  more  grief  at  his 
death,  than  he  had  done  good  in  his  life. 

From  this  interesting  story,  which  we  have  thus 
imperfectly  contemplated,  we  may  derive  many- 
useful  reflections. 

In  the  first  place,  it  teaches  us  all,  and  especially 
the  young,  the  solemn  importance  of  acquiring  a 
control  over  our  passions  and  desires.  These,  if  left 
to  be  their  own  directors,  may  make  us  base,  will 
make  us  miserable.  To  what  duplicity  and  rash- 
ness, to  what  barbarity  and  guilt,  to  what  unhap- 
piness  and  ruin,  was  Absalom  led  by  his  ungoverned 
anger  and  ambition !  It  is  probable,  in  the  first  de- 
terminations of  his  mind,  not  half  the  wickedness, 
into  which  he  should  be  drawn,  was  foreseen.  A 
brother's  blood,  a  parent's  anguish,  perfidy  and  par- 
ricide, are  objects,  methinks,  at  which  the  most 
monstrous  nature  would  at  first  recoil.  But  passion 
is  an  infatuating  monster.  When  it  has  bent  the  man 
to  the  attainment  of  its  object;  thought,  mercy, 
duty,  a  parent's  claims,  God's  positive  commands, 
all  fall  before  it.  It  makes  a  man  in  its  haste,  what 
he  would  shudder  to  be,  in  the  most  vicious  mo- 
ments of  reflection.  While  we  mourn  its  eflfects  in 
the  beautiful  Absalom,  let  us  learn  the  wisdom,  let 
us  see  the  necessity,  of  early  and  steadily  bringing 
every  thought  of  our  hearts  under  the  discipline  of 
reason  and  religion. 

The  story  further  teaches  parents  the  solemn 
importance  of  implanting  and  cultivating  in  their 
offspring  those  principles,  which  are  the  only  sure 
preservatives  from  debasement  and  crime.  Happy 
for  David,  had  he  been  more  severe  with  his  darling 
son.  Not  that  we  plead  the  cause  of  justice,  and 
chide  the  weakness  that  spared  his  life.     For  who 


252  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM. 

can  wonder,  that  the  arm  was  feeble  which  should 
have  been  lifted  for  the  destruction  of  a  child.  But 
he  was  evidently  too  indulgent.  It  should  seem 
impossible,  that  such  hypocrisy,  treachery,  and 
cruelty,  such  a  total  destitution  of  moral  feeling* 
could  exist  in  a  bosom,  which  had  early  and  pro- 
perly been  formed  to  the  sensibilities  of  virtue,  and 
obligations  of  religion.  The  probability  is,  that  de- 
lighted with  the  graces  and  accomplishments  of  his 
external  form,  he  vainly  doated  on  his  beauteous 
boy,  and  neglected  to  form  in  him  the  principles  of 
truth  and  duty;  the  better  beauties  of  a  virtuous 
mind.  Sad  were  the  fruits  of  his  indulgence  and 
neglect.  Let  parents  learn  from  it,  as  they  value 
their  peace,  and  their  offspring's  felicity,  to  consider 
good  principles,  and  upright  habits,  as  the  best  gifts 
they  can  bestow  upon  their  children. 

We  may  thirdly  learn  from  this  history  the  barba- 
rity and  odiousness  of  filial  disobedience.  Who  can 
behold  the  good  king,  and  *'  sweet  psalmist  of  Is- 
rael ""j"  driven  in  old  age  from  his  house  and  city, 
and  read  that  he  "  went  up  barefoot  by  the  ascent 
of  Mount  Olivet,  and  wept  as  he  went  up'',"  with- 
out feeling  his  bosom  rise  indignant  at  the  monstrous 
son,  who  could  thus  destroy  a  fond  father's  peace ! 
When  we  hear  the  parent  unsubdued  by  the  indig- 
nities of  his  child,  saying  to  the  captains  of  his 
hosts,  as  they  went  forth  to  the  battle,  '*  Deal 
gently  for  my  sake  with  the  young  man,  even  with 
Absalom'':"  who  can  help  remarking  the  strength 
and  disinterestedness  of  the  affection  which  lives  in 
a  parent's  breast ;  and  feeling  the  sacredness  of  the 
duty,  which  we  owe  to  our  fathers  and  mothers  ? 
Well  may  filial  ingratitude  wear  the  stamp  of  base- 

P  2  $am.  xxiii.  1.  i  Ibid.  xv.  '40.  ""  Ibid,  xviii.  5, 


ON  THE  CEIARACTER  OF  ABSALOM.  253 

ness  in  every  clime.  Justly  does  it  deserve  the 
pointed  displeasure  of  the  common  Father  of  men. 
Observe  what  shame  and  wretchedness  it  brought 
upon  Absalom,  and  mark  the  source  from  which  his 
punishment  came.  **  The  Lord  had  appointed  to 
defeat  the  good  counsel  of  Athithophel,  to  the 
intent  that  the  Lord  might  bring  evil  upon  Absa- 
lom\" 

Finally.  We  may  learn  from  our  subject,  the 
folly  and  danger  of  priding  ourselves  in  the  posses- 
sion of  personal  accomplishments,  and  external 
charms.  We  see  in  the  case  before  us,  that  this 
may  be  joined  with  all  that  is  odious  in  nature  ;  that 
they  may  conceal  a  heart,  and  cover  a  disposition, 
which  excite  our  abhorrence.  Pride  too  in  these 
exterior  excellencies,  in  the  graces  of  person  or 
human  accomplishments,  is  apt  to  render  men  neg- 
ligent of  more  solid  and  useful,  nobler  and  more 
permanent  qualities.  Had  Absalom  thought  less  of 
his  beauty,  he  would  have  thought  more  of  virtue. 
Had  he  trusted  less  to  his  cunning,  he  would  have 
depended  more  upon  his  God.  As  if  to  punish  this 
foolish  vanity,  external  endowments,  when  unac- 
companied by  the  excellencies  of  the  heart  and 
mind,  are  generally  sources  of  misconduct  and  dis- 
appointment to  their  possessor,  and  often  are  the 
causes  of  disgrace.  Beautiful  were  the  locks  of 
Absalom  ;  with  pride  he  polled  them  every  year, 
and  weighed  the  produce  after  the  king's  weight. 
But  alas,  vain  youth !  He  was  caught  in  the  tree  by 
his  flowing  hair,  and  the  occasion  of  his  pride  was 
the  instrument  of  his  ruin.  Let  every  one  then  be 
induced  to  build  his  complacence,  only  on  the  ex- 
cellencies of  an  amiable  heart  and   upright  mind. 

"*  2  Sam.  XV ii.  14. 


254  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ABSALOM. 

Let  us  cultivate  those  principles  and  habits,  which 
shed  a  genuine,  permanent,  and  protecting  lustre 
upon  life.  Let  us  seek  the  glory  which  cometh  from 
God  only,  and  array  ourselves  in  the  beauty  of  that 
wisdom,  in  which  we  may  be  truly  lovely  while  we 
are  here,  and  "  shine  as  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever'," 
in  another  and  a  better  world. 

'  Dan.  xii.  3. 


SERMON   LXVIII. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  ETHIOPIAN 
EUNUCH. 


:7 


Acts,  viii.  39. 
He  went  on  his  way  rejoicing. 


That  Providence  is  ever  busy  in  promoting  the  fe- 
licity of  His  creatures,  is  a  grand  and  joyous  truth. 
The  contemplation  of  it,  as  it  is  discovered  in  the 
works  of  nature,  pleases  and  consoles  the  mind.  We 
behold  it  with  wonder  and  instruction,  in  the  history 
of  elapsed  time,  and  in  the  occurrences  of  life.  The 
little  tales  which  elucidate  it  catch  the  attention ; 
and  when  their  heroes  are  renowned,  or  their  events 
great,  they  equally  amuse  and  improve.  The  sa- 
cred Scriptures,  all  written  for  our  benefit,  abound 
with  valuable  information  clothed  in  this  kind  of 
garb  :  and  some  of  the  best  instructions  concerning 
the  duties,  and  the  government  of  life,  are  to  be 
collected  from  their  historic  records  of  extraordinary 
persons  and  events.  One,  most  abounding  with 
moral  suggestions,  most  evincive  of  the  Divine  pro- 
vidence and  goodness,  and  most  meet  to  be  remem- 
bered and  improved,  is  that  concerning  the  blessed 
mortal  of  whom  it  is  said,  "  He  went  on  his  way 
rejoicing."  Such  an  emphatic  attribution  of  happi- 
ness to  a  pilgrim  in  this  vale  of  misery,  cannot  but 

9 


256  ON  THE  ETHIOPIAN  EUNUCH. 

excite  our  curiosity  concerning  the  person  of  whom 
it  is  asserted.  Both  social  and  self  love  must  feel 
inquisitive  about  the  source  of  his  superior  fortune ; 
and  no  humane  bosom  can  be  uninterested  in  a  story, 
whose  close  exhibits  a  fellow  mortal  in  the  tranquil 
fruition  of  rational  felicity. 

It  will  be  best,  in  order  that  we  may  profitably 
peruse  the  sacred  narrative. 

To  know,  in  the  first  place,  the  character  of  this 
favourite  of  Heaven : 

Secondly,  to  examine  the  nature  of  his  joy  : 

And  thirdly,  to  ascertain  the  way  in  which  he  ac- 
quired such  enviable  satisfaction. 

The  Scriptures  give  us  to  understand  that  the 
hero  of  this  tale  was  "  a  man  of  Ethiopia,  an  eunuch 
of  great  aut  hority  under  Candace  queen  of  the 
Ethiopians,  w  ho  had  the  charge  of  all  her  trea- 
sure*." It  is  most  probable  that  this  Candace  was 
a  queen  of  the  ancient  Island  Meroe,  appendant  to 
the  vast  territory  of  Ethiopia,  and  famous,  in  Pliny, 
for  female  sovereigns  bearing  the  name  of  the  prin- 
cess here  mentioned.  The  Eunuch  appears  to  have 
been  high  in  her  favour,  and  to  have  possessed  her 
full  confidence.  It  is  probable,  from  the  customs  of 
the  country,  and  from  the  circumstances  of  the 
story,  that  he  was  a  prime  officer  of  her  kingdom. 
It  is  evident,  also,  that  he  was  one  of  those  whom 
the  Jews  denominated  proselytes  of  justice,  because 
they  were  converted  from  Paganism  to  the  Jewish 
faith.  He  might  have  been  proselyted  at  the  period, 
when  so  many  Jews  were  spread  through  this  dis- 
tant country  from  Alexandria.  Be  this  as  it  may, 
he  was  evidently  a  believer  in  the  Jewish  religion, 
for  he  *'  had  come  to  Jerusalem  for  to  worship."    If 

*  Acts  vlii.  27. 


ON  THE  ETHIOPIAN  EUNUCH.  257 

greatness,  therefore,  can  interest,  or  goodness  af- 
fect us,  the  character  of  this  Ethiopian  entitles  him 
to  attention.  He  was  a  man  of  high  station,  and  of 
extensive  influence ;  and  was  returning  from  Jeru- 
salem, whither  he  had  resorted  to  discharge  the  sa- 
cred duties  of  devotion.  We  find  him  returning 
home,  with  a  mind  surcharged  with  newly  acquired 
bliss  ;  and  are  here  led. 

To  examine,  secondly,  the  nature  of  his  joy. 
What  has  this  eunuch  found,  since  he  left  the  place 
of  his  residence,  to  render  his  excursion  the  most 
fortunate  act  of  his  life  ?  With  all  the  smiling  pla- 
cidness  of  prosperity,  he  is  on  his  way  home  re- 
joicing. Has  he  in  business  found  a  lucky  hour, 
and,  by  some  fortunate  occurrence,  obtained  an 
affluence  of  wealth  ?  By  his  office,  and  the  style  in 
which  he  journeyed,  he  needed  no  acquisition  of 
property,  and  by  the  character  of  his  joy,  it  was 
more  permanent  than  any  which  riches  can  afford. 
Had  he  received  the  titles,  distinctions  and  plaudits 
of  honour,  and  was  he  bearing  to  his  acquaintance 
the  insignia  of  new  glory?  He  had  been  among  the 
Jews  who  were  too  selfish  readily  to  bestow  their 
dignities  upon  strangers,  and  was  going  among  a 
people,  who  would  view  Jewish  honours  with  deri- 
sion. Had  he  found  in  this  strange  land  a  congenial 
soul,  and  was  he  exulting  in  the  possession  of  a 
friend,  to  share  with  him  the  comforts  and  the  cares 
of  life?  He  was  **  sitting  in  his  chariot*"'  alone. 
But  do  we  know  any  sources  of  joy,  independent  of 
all  these  which  have  been  mentioned  ? — The  Ethio-r 
pian  had  become  a  Christian.  It  was  not  the  trea- 
surer of  Candace ;  it  was  not  the  proselyte  of  Ju- 
daism, but  it  was  the  disciple  of  Jesus,  "  who  went 

"  Acts  viii.  2S. 
VOL.  II.  S 


258  ON  THE  ETHIOPIAN  EUNUCH. 

on  his  way  rejoicing."     This  was  the  only  change 
which  had  been  wrought  in  his  circumstances,  since 
he  came  from  home.     It  was  this,  which  was  suffi- 
cient to  give  him  a  felicity,  of  which  he  did  not  know 
himself  susceptible,  and  to  dispel  darkness  and  dis- 
quiet from  his  mind.     He  had,  indeed,  found  a  rich 
treasure.     He  had  received  an  high  honour.      He 
had  met  with  an  invaluable  friend.     But  they  were 
not  such  as  the  world  denote  by  those  names.     The 
treasure  was  the  tidings  of  the  Messiah.     The  ho- 
nour was  the  initiation  by  baptism  into  the  family 
of  Christ.     The  friend  was  the  Redeemer  of  man. 
It  was  the  acquisition  of  these  boons,  which  gave 
such  pleasure  and  satisfaction  to  the  eunuch's  mind, 
as  his  station  and  endowments  had    never  yet  af- 
forded.    As  a  man,  he  felt  the  necessity  of  a  Sa- 
viour,  and  was  led,  by  the  character  of  the  Most 
High,  and  the  predictions  of  Prophets^  to  hope  for 
a  Deliverer.     But  hitherto  he  was  ignorant  of  the 
counsels  of  heaven,  and  perplexed  by  the  *'  shadow 
of  things  to  come^"     Now  he  had  found  in  Jesus, 
"  Him,  of  whom  Moses  in  the  law,  and  the  Pro- 
phets, did  write^;"  a  Saviour  of  sinners ;  the  Re- 
deemer of  the  world.     As  a  free  agent,  he  had  some 
perception  of   the  excellence  of  virtue,  and  some 
sense  of  moral  obligation.     But  hitherto  his  know- 
ledge of  duty  was  very  imperfect,  and  the  uncon- 
querable strength  of  vice,  rendered  him  the  sport 
of  delusion,  or  the  victim  of  despair.     Now  his  duty 
was  made  fully  evident ;  he  saw  the  dominion  of  sin 
broken  ;  feeble  virtue  was  encouraged  by  promises 
of  Divine  assistance  :  and  he  received  assurance  that 
if  he  did  all  he  could,  he  should  find  acceptance  and 
reward.     As  an  inhabitant  of  earth,  he  knew  the 

'  Col.  ii.  17.  ''John  i.  45. 


ON  THE  ETHIOPIAN  EUNUCH.  259 

need  of  some  sovereign  balm  to  heal  the  wounds, 
which  he  could  not  but  receive  in  a  world,  where 
evils  lay  ambushed  at  every  step,  and  every  rose 
which  delighted  was  surrounded  with  thorns.     But 
hitherto  no  kind  remedy  had  been  presented,  which 
would  in  all  cases  ease,  much  less  effectually  heal. 
Now  he  had  found  a  physician,  who  could  bind  up 
the  wounded   heart ;  cause  the  bones  which  were 
broken,  again  to  rejoice ;    assuage  the  anguish  of 
bereaved  affection;  and  bid  pale  woe-worn  sorrow 
look  up  and  smile.     As  a  creature,  he  had  seen  and 
felt  that  he  must  die;  and  his  mind  had  felt  anxious 
to  penetrate  the  gloom,  which,  since  the  first  human 
exit,  had  enveloped  death.     But  hitherto  a  few  faint 
glimmerings  only  had  quivered  through  the  gloom ; 
as  undefined,  illusory,  and  transient,  as  the  gleam- 
ings  of  lightning  through  thick  dark  clouds.     Now 
the  dismal  mystery  is  solved :  where  he  feared  dis- 
solution, he  finds  immortality ;  the  darkness  which 
surrounds  the  tomb  appears  as  harmless  and  evanes- 
cent as  the  western  clouds,  which  conceal  the  reflex 
glory  of  the  sun,  which  at  its  appointed  time  has  set 
to  rise  with  renewed  lustre.     These  are  the  effects 
of  Christianity  ;  effects  essential  to  human  tranquil- 
lity ;    effects  which   nothing   but   Christianity  can 
produce.     When  the  illustrious  Ethiopian  became  a 
Christian,  he  viewed  life  in  a  new  light.     His  most 
anxious  hopes  were  confirmed.  His  most  awful  fears 
were  quieted.     All  the  enigmas  of  his  being  were 
solved.     He  found  an  antidote  to  every  bane  of  fe- 
licity.    ''  He  went  on  his  way  rejoicing."     Surely 
such  a  fortunate  change  in  his  situation  vas  extra- 
ordinary ;  and  we  will  hasten. 

In  the  third  place,  to  ascertain  the  means  which 
led  to  the  acquisition  of  such  enviable  satisfaction. 
In  this  season  of  the  year  was  one  of  the  great  holy 

s2 


260  ON  THE  ETHIOPIAN  EUNUCH. 

feasts,  which  the  Almighty  had  commanded  the 
Jews  to  consecrate.  As  the  Ethiopian  was  a  prose- 
lyte of  the  covenant,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  obey  the 
commands  of  the  Most  High,  and  for  no  other 
purpose  than  to  observe  the  hallowed  time,  he  had 
come  to  Jerusalem.  What  a  lesson  ;  what  a  reproof 
for  Christians  1  Though  not  obliged  to  make  tedious 
pilgrimages  ;  though  each  one's  Zion  is  within  is 
town,  how  trivial  circumstances  will  deter  them 
from  religious  duties!  How  lightly  do  they  regard 
the  Sabbath  and  other  ordinances  of  the  Most  High ! 
Yet  this  Ethiopian  relinquishes  the  weighty  business 
of  office;  leaves  the  court  of  his  queen  and  the  com- 
pany of  his  friends :  and  from  Ethiopia,  far  distant, 
encountering  the  most  intense  rays  of  the  sun,  and 
without  prospect  of  any  other  reward  than  the  con- 
sciousness of  having  done  his  duty,  travels  "  to  Je- 
rusalem for  to  worship^"  Blush,  Christian,  blush; 
who,  with  all  thy  advantages,  neglectest  the  insti- 
tutes of  thy  religion  ;  or  at  best  consecratest  but  the 
one  half  of  thy  Lord's  day!  Having  finished  his  duty 
to  his  Maker,  the  eunuch  returns  to  discharge  his 
obligations  to  his  fellows.  But  he  has  not  forgotten 
the  impressions  which  he  received  in  the  sanctuary. 
His  religion  was  not  merely  a  formal  ceremony,  a 
senseless  habit.  Behold,  as  he  returns  from  Jeru- 
salem, he  is  *'  sitting  in  his  chariot  and  reading 
Esaias  the  prophet  ^"  Ye,  whom  fortune  has  placed 
in  the  elevated  stations  of  life ;  ye,  who  have  with 
the  Prophets  their  interpretation  in  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  look  at  this  Ethiopian  ;  and,  regardless  of 
his  complexion,  venerate  his  worth.  He  seriously 
investigates  the  volume  of  truth.  As  he  journeys, 
he  carries  his  Bible.     Though  in  a  Chariot,  he  is 

•  Acts  viii.  27.  '  Ibid.  ver.  28. 


ON  THE  ETHIOPIAN  EUNUCH.  261 

perusing  the  Scriptures.  An  example,  which  af- 
tectingly  satirizes  many  of  the  professed  disciples 
of  Christ.  The  Divine  Being,  ever  ready  to  aid  the 
endeavours  of  the  humble  and  sincere,  beheld  and 
applauded  the  eunuch.  By  special  revelation  He 
commanded  Philip  to  go  towards  the  country, 
through  which  the  Ethiopian  would  pass.  His  at- 
tention, directed  probably  by  the  account  he  had 
had  of  the  recent  crucifixion  of  Jesus,  was  fixed 
upon  the  prophetic  description  of  the  sufi'erings  of 
the  Messiah.  While  he  lalDOured  to  understand,  the 
Spirit  bade  Philip  **  to  join  himself  to  his  chariot^:" 
and  he  proved  to  the  eunuch  from  the  passage  he 
was  reading,  and  the  other  evidences  of  Christianity, 
that  Jesus,  was  the  Christ.  The  eunuch  was  con- 
vinced and  baptized;  and  the  Deity  vouchsafed  a 
confirmation  to  his  faith,  by  taking  Philip  from  him 
in  a  supernatural  manner.  Thus  by  being  in  the 
practice  of  virtue ;  by  studying  the  Scriptures,  and 
by  possessing  a  docile  mind,  was  this  worthy  man 
led  to  see  and  embrace  the  truth  :  and  filled  with 
the  satisfaction  which  Christianity  gives  to  the  mind, 
'*  be  went  on  his  way  rejoicing."  His  happiness  was 
not  confined  to  himself.  Through  him,  his  country 
was  blessed.  By  his  means,  probably,  the  ancient 
prediction  was  accomplished,  that  Ethiopia  should 
early  '*  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God''."  The 
Abyssinians,  say  travellers  and  geographers,  to  this 
day,  venerate  his  memory ;  and  at  every  ministra- 
tion of  baptism  relate,  with  pious  gratitude,  the 
conversion  of  the  Eunuch. 

Thus  we  have  attended  to  all  the  circumstances 
of  this  interesting  narrative.  We  learn  from  the 
story  the  blessedness  of  observing  the  ordinances, 

«  Acts  viii.  29.  ^  Ps.  Ixviii.  31. 


262  ON  THE  ETHIOPIAN  EUNUCH. 

which  religion  has  hallowed  ;  the  usefulness  of  read- 
ing, studying,  and  investigating  without  discourage- 
ment, the  word  of  truth ;  the  readiness  of  Divine 
providence  to  aid  with  His  Spirit  and  blessing,  the 
humble  and  sincere  inquirer,  who  uses  the  means 
which  He  has  appointed  ;  the  peace  and  joy  which 
they  have  in  believing,  who  have  embraced  the 
Messiah ;  and  the  happiness  of  the  country  whose 
nobles  and  officers  are  taught  of  God.  Let  us 
then  be  instructed  by  the  treasurer  of  Candace, 
amidst  the  honours,  the  pleasures,  and  the  avo- 
cations of  life,  to  be  mindful  of  religion.  Let  not 
our  goodness  be  confined  to  the  temple,  but  when 
we  have  finished  our  devotions,  let  us  study  the 
Scriptures.  While  we  ponder  their  sacred  pages, 
let  our  hearts  be  humble,  and  our  minds  docile, 
if  haply  the  Spirit  which  blessed  the  Eunuch, 
may  open  our  eyes,  and  fill  us  with  His  peace. 
•'  Them  that  are  meek  shall  He  guide  in  judg- 
ment ;  and  such  as  are  gentle,  them  shall  he  learn 
His  way'." 

Christian !  Hast  thou  too  found  in  Jesus  of  Na- 
zareth "  Him  of  whom  Moses  in  the  law,  and  the 
Prophets,  did  write'';  one,  "  who  hath  borne  thy 
griefs,  and  carried  thy  sorrows; — and  with  whose 
stripes  thou  art  healed'?"  Hast  thou  hastened  in 
baptism  to  join  thyself  to  Him,  and  by  this  rite, 
which  He  ordained,  are  thy  sins  washed  away  ;  and 
thy  interest  in  the  privileges  and  hopes  of  His  fa- 
mily assured  unto  thee?  Go  on  thy  "  way  re- 
joicing." There  may  be  yet  before  thee  a  long  jour- 
ney. It  may  be,  thou  shalt  meet  with  some  trials 
by  the  way.  But  faithful  and  mighty  is  He  who 
hath  promised,  and  is  able  to  perform  it.     Let  thy 

'  Ps.  XXV.  8.  ^  John  i.  i5.  '  Is.  liii.  4,  5. 


ON  THE  ETHIOPIAN  EUNUCH.  2G3 

hope  then  be  strong;  thy  faith  stedfast;  thy  life 
pious  and  obedient  to  God,  fulfilling  all  His  ordi- 
nances with  a  willing  mind :  and  thou  shalt  de- 
scend into  "  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death""," 
"  rejoicing  with  joy  unspeakable""  in  God  thy 
Redeemer. 

"'  Ps.  xxiii.  4.  "  I  Pet.  i.  8, 


SERMON    LXIX. 


ON    THE    CHARACTER    OF    CORNELIUS. 


Acts,  x.  31. 

Corneliits,  thy  prayer  is  heard,  and  thine  alms  are  had  in 
remembrance  in  the  sight  of  God. 

To  know  and  survey  the  characters  of  men  who 
have  stood  foremost  in  events  which  concerned  the 
whole  human  race,  is  gratifying  and  instructive. 
The  mind  feels  a  satisfaction  in  thinking,  this  was 
the  leader  of  the  great  occurrence ;  in  him  first 
opened  the  interesting  scene  ;  and  if  he  were  re- 
nowned for  good  qualities,  we  look  to  learn,  as  well 
as  to  admire.  If  these  be  the  sentiments  of  my 
hearers,  they  will  at  once  feel  interested  in  the  cha- 
racter introduced  in  the  text.  What  event  more 
greatly  important,  than  the  breaking  down  of  the 
partition,  which  separated  one  people  to  the  service 
and  communications  of  the  Most  High  ?  what  oc- 
currence more  interesting,  especially  to  us  who  were 
not  of  God's  people,  than  the  admission  of  the  hea- 
then to  share  with  the  Jew  the  richest  revelation 
from  the  eternal  mind  ?  It  was  Cornelius  who  re- 
ceived the  earnest  of  this  great  gift.  First  Gentile 
proselyte  to  the  Gospel,  our  Abraham  in  respect 
to  his  call,  he  stands  conspicuous^  and  claims  our 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  CORNELIUS.  265 

notice.  His  character,  as  given  in  the  chapter  from 
which  the  text  is  taken,  the  blessing  he  received,  and 
the  instructions  arising  from  the  subject,  invite  your 
attention,  as  calculated  to  unfold  the  essential  nature 
of  religion,  with  some  truths  of  special  practical 
importance. 

To  keep  the  conquered  Jews  in  orderly  subjection, 
there  were  bands  of  soldiers  stationed  in  different 
parts  of  Palestine  under  the  Roman  control.  As 
captain  of  one  of  these  bands,  gathered  in  Italy, 
and  eminent  in  profane  history,  Cornelius  dwelt  at 
Caesarea,  about  seventy  miles  from  Jerusalem.  It 
appears,  that  though  an  heathen,  he  had  from  his 
intercourse  with  the  Jews,  or  in  some  other  way, 
become  a  worshipper  of  the  Supreme  Invisible 
Jehovah,  without  subjecting  himself  to  their  rites, 
or  feeling  bound  by  their  laws.  The  sacred  record 
styles  him  *'  a  devout  man^;"  an  expression  signifi- 
cant in  the  Scriptures  of  one  who  acknowledges  the 
only  true  God,  in  distinction  from  polytheists  and 
idolaters,  and  generally  applied  to  those,  who,  as 
adorers  of  the  same  Lord,  without  being  admitted 
to  circumcision  and  its  consequent  privileges,  are 
elsewhere  styled  *  proselytes  of  the  gate.'  Con- 
vinced of  the  existence  of  one  only  Almighty  Being, 
he  felt  holy  obligations,  and  cherished  the  prin- 
ciples, which  flow  from  the  relation  of  that  Being  to 
man  and  the  universe. 

There  are  many  men  (alas !  they  form  too  large  a 
part  of  our  race)  who,  though  they  believe  in  no 
other  God  than  the  Lord,  yet  forget  Him  ;  refuse 
His  laws  ;  feel  not  restrained  by  His  government  nor 
presence,  and  neglect  those  services  which,  if  He 
exist  and  they  are  intelligent,  are  their  most  solemn 
duty.  Such  was  not  Cornelius.  He  feared  the 
God,  whom  he  acknowledged  with  all  his  house. 

"  Acts.  X.  2. 


266    ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  CORNELIUS. 

His  belief  in  the  Supreme  Being  was  not  a  mere 
abstract  notion  floating  in  his  head.  It  entered  his 
heart,  and  planted  there  a  reverence  for  the  Divine 
character,  holy  emotions,  an  ever-living  desire  to 
please  Him.  His  religion  was  not  confined  to  his 
own  breast.  His  family  were  kept  in  habits  of  de- 
votion, piety,  and  virtue.  They  were  made  ac- 
quainted with  their  Maker  ;  they  were  assembled  at 
the  altar,  when  he  sacrificed  ;  they  were  taught  the 
rules  which  he  obeyed.  Receiving  religion  as  a 
celestial  guest^  he  introduced  her  into  the  family 
with  which  Providence  had  blest  him,  and  made  her 
a  constant  resident  therein.  He  "  feared  God  with 
all  his  house  ^" 

Various  are  the  forms  in  which  religion  was  clothed 
before  the  promulgation  of  the  Gospel.  Strange  and 
incongruous  have  her  appearances  sometimes  been 
among  Christians.  In  one,  she  has  been  seen  a  cold, 
retiring  spectre,  placing  her  merit  in  her  misery. 
In  another,  a  frantic,  superstitious  being,  displaying 
her  divinity  in  immolating  human  victims,  or  count- 
ing beads.  Here  she  has  seemed  a  stupid,  senseless 
form,  prostrate  to  a  stock  or  stone.  There  a  fan- 
tastic, airy  enthusiast,  consecrating  whims,  or  living 
on  reveries.  In  some  a  profusion  of  sympathies  and 
generous  deeds  has  been  exhibited  as  her  form,  while 
it  has  been  unanimated  by  one  pious  principle,  or 
one  spark  of  holiness :  in  others  a  piety,  hallowing 
hours,  observing  seasons,  and  making  many  prayers, 
without  a  smile  of  mercy  for  the  penitent  offender, 
or  a  tear  of  compassion  for  the  poor  and  the  wretched. 
Strange  incongruities !  Perversions  of  religion's  name 
to  cover  constitutional  frailties,  habits  of  ignorance, 
errors  of  education,  selfishness,  and  pride.  Religion, 
as  she  descends  undisguised  from  above,  is  of  plain, 

**  Acts  X.  2. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  CORNELIUS.         267 

cheerful,  and  lovely  ;  yet  holy,  firm,  and  dignified 
appearance.  Would  you  see  the  outlines  of  her 
character,  the  prominent  features  of  her  native  ex- 
cellence ?  They  claim  your  admiration  in  Cornelius. 
He  "  gave  much  alms  to  the  people,  and  prayed  to 
God  alway :"  that  is,  it  was  his  delight  and  labour 
to  relieve  the  w^ants  of  the  needy,  to  sweeten  the 
portion  of  the  miserable,  to  diffuse  happiness  among 
his  fellow  men :  and  in  public  and  private  offices  of 
worship  to  God,  he  was  regular  and  frequent.  Real 
benevolence,  and  sincere  devotion  ever  go  hand  in 
hand.  When  each  grows  out  of  the  other,  and  both 
proceed  from  a  regard  to  the  Divine  will,  they  form 
the  sum  and  substance  of  religion.  A  man  may 
"bestow  all  his  goods  to  feed  the  poor"";"  he  may 
mark  each  minute  of  the  day  with  some  act  of  libe- 
rality ;  and  yet,  if  he  be  destitute  of  affection  and 
piety  towards  his  Maker,  he  wants  that  principle, 
which  gives  benevolence  its  worth ;  his  will  be  a 
hollow  virtue,  "  as  sounding  brass,  or  a  tinkling 
cymbal*^."  On  the  other  hand,  though  a  man  rigidly 
observe  all  holy  times,  though  he  talk  much  of  God, 
and  do  no  act  unsanctified  with  a  prayer  : — if  he  be 
destitute  of  regard  for  the  happiness  of  his  race ;  if 
he  "shut  up  his  bowels  of  compassion^;"  if  the 
wishes  and  exertions  of  mercy  and  kindness  have  no 
cultivation  in  his  bosom  :  his  worship  is  an  imperfect 
service,  unsatisfactory  to  the  God  of  love.  Bene- 
volence and  devotion,  charity  and  piety,  united  as 
they  eminently  were  in  Cornelius,  discover  the  man 
who  rightly  feareth  God  ;  and  form  the  properly  re- 
ligious character. 

In  scenes  of  temptation,  on  lofty  sites,  or  where 
we  look  for  vice,  virtue  has  a  more  glorious,  because 
a  more  extraordinary  appearance.     The  star  which 

"=  1  Cor.  xiii.  3.  ''  Ibid.  vcr.  1 .  "1  -John  iii.  17. 


268         ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  CORNELIUS. 

breaks  through  the  misty  atmosphere,  when  all  its 
fellows  have  withdrawn  their  light,  discovers  more 
strikingly  the  gloominess  of  the  scene,  but  is  itself 
marked  for  its  superiority.  A  good  character  in  a 
corrupt  circle  attracts  the  admiration  of  a  melancholy 
attention.  The  piety  and  virtue  of  Cornelius  are  the 
more  pleasing,  because  of  his  station  and  office.  A 
soldier,  born  to  the  ambition  and  pride  of  a  Roman ; 
high  in  power  above  his  fellows;  surrounded  by  the 
allurements  of  the  wealthy  Caesarea,  amidst  a  people 
strange,  conquered,  and  resentful,  he  yet  is  humble, 
devout,  and  charitable.  How  many  would  have 
excused  their  piety  on  account  of  their  office !  how 
many,  their  charity,  because  the  objects  of  it  were 
hateful  Jews  !  But  moved  by  none  of  these  things, 
and  correcting  that  vaaity,  which  assumes  true  good- 
ness exclusive  to  its  own  class,  or  thinks  there  are 
stations  in  which  piety  and  benevolence  never  exist, 
we  find  "  Cornelius,  a  centurion  of  the  band  called 
the  Italian  band,  a  devout  man,  and  one  that  feared 
God  with  all  his  house,  which  gave  much  alms  to 
the  people,  and  prayed  to  God  alway^"  Such  a 
character  can  never  fail  of  love  and  respect.  AVe 
are  not  surprised  to  hear  his  domestics  giving  to  the 
Apostle  the  unflattering,  cordial  testimony  to  his 
worth  ;  that  he  was  "  just,"  and  ''  of  good  report 
among  all  the  nation  of  the  Jews^:"  so  exemplarily 
religious  in  himself  and  his  family,  in  a  station  so 
unaccommodated  to  virtue,  we  should  naturally  ex- 
pect he  w^ould  be  an  object  of  the  special  favour  of 
the  Being,  who  views  His  creatures  with  one  com- 
mon eye,  and  promises  to  honour  them  who  honour 
Him\ 

If  we  proceed  to  the  blessing  Cornelius  received, 
we  shall  find  it  was  conspicuously  the  case.     The 

'  Acts  X.  1,2.  '-  Ibid.  ver.  22.  *'.  1  Sam,  ii.  30. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  CORNELIUS.        269 

Divine  Being  created  man  for  felicity.     By  his  fall 
he  made  himself  obnoxious  to  instant  destruction. 
Christ  intervened  and  he  lived.     Early  He  began  m 
the  hearts  of  some  the  great  and  benevolent  work  of 
building  up  our  ruined  nature,  into  a  pristme  resem- 
blance to  the  Divine  likeness.     To  effect  this  re- 
storation in  the  soul  of  every  man,  was  His  mighty 
purpose  :  and,  -  in  every  nation,  he  that  feared  God, 
and  worked  righteousness,"  did  it  by  Hi^,  "^^^^f  ^^^^ 
Spirit,  and  was  through  Him  -  accepted     with  the 
Father'      In  Cornelius  we  discover   extraordinary 
attainments.     Benevolence  and  piety,  the  sum  of  the 
Saviour's  practice  and  preaching,  were    arge  and 
thriving  in  his  bosom.     They  grew  under  the  indus- 
trious use  of  the  means  he  had  in  his  power  and  the 
riches  of  the  Divine  Spirit  rewarding  his  endeavours. 
He  needed  but  to  know  Christ  to  believe  m  Him,  as 
the  Author  of  all  the  progress  he  had  made  m  good- 
ness, and  of  all  the  hopes  he  could  mdulge.     He 
wanted  but  this  belief,  to  be  the  Christian  m  name 

and  deed.  :  .    ,      , 

To  those,  in  whom  Christ  has  by  His  Spirit  dwe  t 
their  invisible  friend.  He  will,  if  He  have  been  wel- 
comed, in  some  wav  and  time  be  visibly  manifested. 
The  Gospel  had  been  preached  throughout  Judea. 
As  was  predicted,  the  Messiah  had  -  come  unto  His 
own    and   His  own  received  Him  not"."     It  was 
however,  though  preached  first  to  them,  a  revelation 
for  the  whole  human  race.     Now  it  was  to  be  pro- 
mulgated to  the  Gentiles.     They  were  to  be  admitted 
to  a  full  and  equal  fruition  with  the  Jews,  of  the 
communications  from  the  Eternal :  and  Cornelius 
was  destined  to  be  the  first,  who  should  realize  this 

great  behest. 

Accordingly  at  a  time  when,  with  holy  exercises, 

*  Acts  X.  35.  ^  John  i.  11. 

IG  • 


270    ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  CORNELIUS. 

he  had  disciplined  his  mind,  and  in  humble  prayer 
.  sought  the  Divine  blessing,  he  was  instructed  by  an 
angel,  sent  to  him  from  heaven  with  the  joyful  as- 
surance in  my  text,  to  send  for  St.  Peter,  the  great 
Apostle  of  the  Jews,  and  learn  of  him  the  will  of  the 
Most  High.     He  *'  was  not  disobedient   unto  the 
heavenly  vision'."     St.  Peter  in  the  mean  time  had 
the  scruples  of  the  Jew  removed,  and  his  heart  pre- 
pared to  comply  with  the  Centurion's  request,  by 
an  extraordinary  revelation,  that  in  the  Gospel  over- 
tures all  nations  under  heaven  were  included,  and 
that  he  should  henceforth  call  no  man  common  nor 
unclean"".     The   messengers    arrived ;    the  Apostle 
went  with  them,  and  was  welcomed  by  the  Centurion 
and  his  friends.     The  foundation   of  the  Apostle's 
.work  was  already  laid,  in  the   Centurion's  strong- 
belief  and   reverence   for   God ;    and    his   humble, 
anxious   desire   to  learn  how  he  might  be  saved. 
St.  Peter  therefore  opened  to  him  the  character  of 
Jesus  Christ.     He  dwelt  upon  the  miracles  He  had 
wrought  in  evidence  of  His  authority.  He  related  and 
explained  His  crucifixion.     He  declared  and  attested 
himself  the  mighty  resurrection.     He  preached  the 
consequent  consolatory  doctrines  of  immortality,  and 
future  glory.     And  he  lastly  led  his  hearers  to  the 
revered  Prophets ;  showed  that  they  all  pointed  to 
Christ ;  that  in  Him  all  their  wonderful  predictions 
were  singularly  verified,  and  that  they  united  their 
testimony  with  his  own,  that   *'  through  His  name 
whosoever  believeth  in  Him  shall  receive  remission 
of  sins"."     Standing  in  the  presence  of  God,  and 
listening  to  the  ministry  of  His  word,  w^ith  meekness 
and  fear,  the  mind  of  Cornelius  was  filled  with  that 
wisdom  which  is  from  above,  and  he  embraced  with 
full  satisfaction,  the  "  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  ^"    The 

'  Acts  xxvi.  19.  «"  Ibid.  x.  28, 

"Ibid.  X.  43.  °Eph.  iv.21. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  CORNELIUS.        271 

Holy  Spirit  confirmed  their  faith,  and  ratified  this 
adoption  of  the  Gentiles.  The  Centurion  and  his 
family  were,  by  baptism,  incorporated  into  the 
Church,  and  made  heirs  of  all  the  hopes  and  promises 
of  the  blessed  Gospel. 

Would  we  estimate  the  honour  of  this  acquisition  ? 
Consider  him  and  his  family,  as  selected  by  the 
Eternal,  to  be  the  first  fruits  to  Him  of  the  Gentile 
world.  What,  though  St.  Peter  was  called  to  ac- 
count for  his  neglect  of  Levitical  rules !  Cornelius 
was  a  seal  of  his  ministry,  more  valuable  than  fame 
or  ease  :  and  to  the  Centurion  how  ample  the  blessing, 
that  he  should  be  the  first  heathen  object  of  Gospel 
favour.  Would  we  estimate  the  worth  of  the  ac- 
quisition ?  Behold  him  but  imperfectly  acquainted 
with  his  God.  Conscious  of  his  sinfulness,  he  fasted. 
Dissatisfied  with  the  sacrifices  of  the  Jews,  and  their 
legal  purgation ;  considering  man  as  an  enigma,  and 
perplexed  by  those  doubts  in  which,  to  the  best  of 
heathens  the  human  destination  was  involved ;  he 
felt  that  something  was  yet  wanting  to  his  happiness. 
He'prayed  ;  and  God  vouchsafed  to  send  His  minister, 
to  declare  to  him  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation, 
through  the  blood  of  the  cross.  He  believed  and 
was  happy. 

We  here  see  the  reward  from  Him  '*  which  seeth 
in  secret P,"  upon  the  prayer  and  the  alms  of  faith 
and  love.  Doubtless  the  devotion  of  the  Centurion 
sought  not  observation.  His  deeds  of  benevolence 
were  often  done  silently  and  tenderly,  uncovetous 
of  fame.  They  all  however  rose  as  an  offering  to 
Heaven,  and,  received  by  the  Angel,  were  presented 
to  the  Almighty  with  the  prayers  of  the  saints.  They 
fitted  him  for  the  blessing  which  they  brought  down 
upon  him  ;  a  blessing,  whose  value  we  have  already 

P  Matt.  vj.  '1-. 


272        ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  CORNELIUS. 

observed.  For  every  Christian  uniting  benevolence 
and  devotion  in  his  character,  and  w^earing  them 
humbly  through  life,  an  equal  rew^ard  is  prepared. 
If  it  come  not  immediately,  it  is  nevertheless  sure. 
Not  a  sincere  petition  is  offered  to  Heaven  unheard  ; 
not  an  act,  not  an  intention  of  charity  is  unnoticed 
by  Him,  w^ho  enters  the  conduct  of  His  creatures  in 
His  book.  If  they  return  not  with  a  blessing,  they 
remain  with  a  double  blessing  in  reserve.  They 
found  a  treasure  for  us  in  the  land,  where  we  are 
destined  to  dwell.  It  shall  give  us  happiness  in  the 
moment  of  death,  that,  hidden  with  Christ,  we  have 
this  treasure  there.  Many,  I  am  sure,  are  hearing 
me,  who  scarcely  tell  themselves  the  alms  they  do ; 
many  who  always  seek  in  intercourse  with  the  Most 
High,  to  honour  and  serve  Him.  Perhaps  to  some 
of  them,  their  deeds  of  faith  and  charity  have  not 
returned  yet  with  the  expected  blessing.  They  shall 
find  them  after  many  days.  Look  at  the  Centurion, 
and  be  assured  that  ye  shall  be  recompensed.  The 
Angel  of  the  Scriptures  says  to  you,  with  as  much 
certainty  as  to  Cornelius,  **  Thy  prayers"  are  heard, 
"  and  thine  alms  are  come  up  for  a  memorial  before 
God"." 

Again.  From  what  has  been  said,  we  may  remark 
the  excellence  of  family  religion,  and  how  surely 
it  obtains  the  smiles  of  Heaven.  In  the  family 
where  the  Deity  is  reverenced,  religion  admitted  in 
every  scene,  and  virtue  welcomed  as  the  worthiest 
attendant ;  the  natural  fruits  are  order,  peace,  and 
love.  He  who,  like  Cornelius  in  his  domestic  circle, 
cherishes  each  sacred  precept ;  raises  each  member  to 
a  knowledge  and  delight  in  the  Invisible  Protector ; 
teaches  the  younger  their  duty,  and  walks  with  the 
elder  in  the  paths  of  wisdom  ;  lays  a  sure  foundation 

'i  Acts  X.  4. 


ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  CORNELIUS.    "278 

for  felicity.  Whatever  be  the  external  condition  of  the 
family,  in  which  the  principles  of  religion,  the  graces 
of  benevolence   and   piety  are  felt  and  cherished ; 
whether  the  winds  of  adversity  howl  around  their 
dwelling,  or  the  sunbeams  of  prosperity  shine  con- 
stantly upon  it ;  there  is  within  an  household  Deity, 
who  preserves  order,  and  speaks  peace.     But  if  it 
were  not  the  natural  tendency  of  domestic  religion 
to  produce  domestic  regularity  and  joy,  it  brings 
upon  the  family  in  which  it  is  eminent,  the  kindest 
regards    of    the    Most   High.     What    obtained  for 
Abraham  those  glorious  privileges,  that  were  at  once 
his  honour  and  his  interest?     "  I  know  him,"  says 
the  Almighty,  "  that  he  will  command  his  children 
and  his  household  after  him,  and  they  shall  keep 
the  way  of  the  Lord'."     What  was  the  prominent 
excellence  in  Cornelius  ?     He  "  feared  God  with  all 
his  house'."  He  from  whom  is  "  every  good  gift  and 
every  perfect  gift',"  seems  to  observe  with  special 
pleasure  the  exertions  of  heads  of  families,  to  render 
their  posterity  humble  and  benevolent,  moral  and 
devout.     And  yet  I  am  preaching  an  old  fashioned 
truth.     But  let  me  ask,  is  not  the  neglect  of  these 
things  inconsistent  in  Americans  ?     To  what  have 
they  traced  the  worth  of  their  Hero  and  friend,  when 
they  could  behold  him  no  more  ?     To  his  habits  of 
virtue ;    to   his    regard   for   sacred   things ;    to  his 
domestic   devotions;    to  his  fearing  God.     Surely 
then  I  touch  no  insensible  string,  when  I  urge  the 
importance  of  educating  each  generation  as  it  rises, 
and  guiding  all  who  are  under  our  management,  in 
the  principles  and  habits  of  benevolence  and  devotion. 
Let  philosophy  argue,  and  licentiousness  scoff,  as 
they  will.     He  will  not  fail  of  respectability,  useful- 
ness, and  satisfaction,  who  **  feareth  God  with  all 

'  Gen.  xviii.  19,  *  Aets  x.  ;^.  'Jamesi.  17. 

VOL.  If.  T 


'274    ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  CORNELIUS. 

liis  house  :"  and  such  a  family  is  fitly  compared 
with  Sion,  because  *'  there  the  Lord  promised  His 
blessing"." 

And,  finally,  we  shall  infer  from  what  has  been 
said,  the  wisdom  of  using  all  the  ordinary  and  ap- 
pointed means  of  improving  our  nature,  and  becoming 
"  wise  unto  salvation  \"  How  many  men  are  there, 
who  are  ready  to  say,  If  the  Deity  has  promulged 
a  Gospel  for  my  benefit,  why  does  he  not  bring  me 
to  believe  it  ?  How  many,  who  doubt  not  the  truth 
of  Christianity,  neglect  its  sacraments,  saying  to 
themselves.  Can  the  sprinkling  with  water,  or  the 
eating  of  bread  be  essential  to  my  salvation  ?  Had 
Cornelius  reasoned  thus,  he  might  have  come  short 
of  his  blessing.  An  angel  appeared  to  him,  and 
directed  him  to  send  for  Simon  to  Joppa^.  Persons 
of  the  above  character  would  in  this  case  have 
reasoned.  Cannot  the  Angel  tell  me,  without  further 
trouble,  what  I  ought  to  do  ?  Need  I,  when  he  can 
visit  me,  send  forty  miles  for  a  fellow  mortal  to  in- 
struct me  ?  Surely,  the  Apostle  is  not  greater  than 
the  Angel.  It  is  an  unnecessary  requisition. — But 
our  Saviour  had  hallowed  a  ministry  in  His  Church. 
The  Most  High,  without  necessity,  suspends  not  His 
established  rules.  It  is  the  duty  of  men  to  observe 
His  appointment.  Cornelius,  with  infinite  benefit, 
disdained  not  to  obey  the  Divine  mandate  :  and 
permit  his  example  and  blessedness,  to  act  as  an 
inducement  to  every  one  to  reverence  each  office, 
each  ordinance,  and  every  institution  which  our  Lord 
has  appointed,  as  the  proper  means  of  improving  our 
virtues,  and  obtaining  the  blessed  hope  of  everlasting 
Jife. 

*  Ps.  cxxxiii.  4.  '^  2  Tim.iii.  15.  '  Acts  x.  5. 


SERMON   LXX. 


DELIVERED    AT    THE    CONSECRATION    OF 
TRINITY    CHURCH,    COLUMBIA. 


1  Kings,  viii.  66. 

On  the  eighth  day  he  sent  the  people  away  :  and  they  blessed 
the  king,  and  went  unto  their  tents  joyful  and  glad  of  heart 
for  all  the  goodness  that  the  Lord  had  done  for  David  his 
servant,  and  for  Israel  his  people. 

These  words  conclude  the  account  of  one  of  the 
sublimest,  and  most  interesting  occurrences,  recorded 
in  the  sacred  volume.  A  magnificent  temple  had 
been  built  to  Jehovah.  There  M^ere  assembled  to  its 
dedication,  "  the  elders  of  Israel,  and  all  the  heads 
of  the  tribes,  the  chief  of  the  fathers  of  the  children 
of  Israel^."  An  innuriierable  company  of  Priests  and 
Levites ;  **  a  great  congregation,  from  the  entering 
in  of  Hamath  unto  the  river  of  Egypt ^"  While  the 
preparations  were  making,  *'  King  Solomon  was 
there,  with  all  the  congregation  of  Israel,  sacrificing' 
sheep  and  oxen,  that  could  not  be  told  nor  numbered 
for  multitudes"  When  the  ark  of  the  Covenant  of 
the  Lord  had  been  brought  in  unto  his  place,  and  the 
house  was  passing  into  the  possession  of  Almighty 
God,  to  whom  it  was  built,  the  king,  upon  his  knees, 

*  1  Kings  vm,  1.  ^  Ibk?.  Ter.  65.  *  Ibi<I.  ver.  5. 

T  2 


276  CONSECRATION  SERMON. 

offering  a  prayer  of  dedication,  scarcely  inferior  to 
the  temple  in  its  sublimity ;  nor  to  the  ark,  before 
which  it  was  offered  in  its  holiness.  It  has  been 
read  to  you,  in  one  of  the  Lessons  appointed  for  this 
occasion.  And  who  that  heard  it,  believes  not  that 
the  Spirit  which  filled  the  House,  filled  also  the  heart 
of  him  who  devoted  it  to  the  Most  High.  To  the 
consecration  of  this  temple,  succeeded  several  days 
of  festive  pleasure,  and  social  joy.  And  "  on  the 
eighth  day  he  sent  the  people  away :  and  they  blessed 
the  king,  and  went  unto  their  tents  joyful  and  glad 
of  heart  for  all  the  goodness  that  the  Lord  had  done 
for  David  His  servant,  and  for  Lsrael  His  people." 

We  may  see  here  in  this  temple,  a  type  of  every 
Christian  Church;  and  in  David,  a  type  of  Jesus 
our  Lord;  and  in  Israel,  a  type  of  the  people  of  the 
Redeemer.  The  blessings  which  the  congregation 
bestowed  on  the  king,  by  whom  the  temple  had  been 
built,  teach  us  the  obligations  which  any  people  are 
under  to  those  who  accomplish  the  erection  for  them 
of  places  of  public  worship.  And  the  emotions  of 
the  hearts  of  all  Israel  on  this  occasion,  describes  the 
delight  which  is  this  day  felt  by  many  of  my  hearers; 
and  which  should  always  be  felt,  when  a  temple  is 
built  and  consecrated  for  the  worship  of  God. 

But  why  should  the  erection  of  Churches,  and 
consecration  of  them  to  the  service  of  the  Most  High, 
be  an  occasion  of  such  extraordinary  joyfulness  and 
gladness  of  heart?  This  is  the  subject  of  our  dis- 
course. And  we  shall  find  sufficient  reasons  for  joy 
and  gladness  on  such  occasions,  if  we  consider  them 
with  respect  to  Almighty  God,  to  whom  the  buildings 
are  devoted ;  to  the  country  in  which  they  are  reared ; 
or  to  the  people,  who  shall  enjoy  the  blessings  and 
benefits  which  may  be  found  in  them,  and  they  are 
erected  to  secure. 

Jn  the  first  place,  with  respect  to  God.     Whea 


CONSECRATION  SERMON".  277 

Churches  are  erected  for  His  worship,  it  is  a  joyful 
thing  that  He,  in  whose  glory  every  intelligent  being 
should  feel  interested,  is  becomingly  honoured. 
"  God  that  made  the  world  and  all  things  therein, 
seeing  that  He  is  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  dwelleth 
not  in  temples  made  with  hands  ;  neither  is  wor- 
shipped with  men's  hands,  as  though  He  needed  any 
thing,  seeing  He  giveth  to  all  life,  and  breath,  and 
all  things'^."  Nevertheless,  He  is  pleased  to  consider 
Himself  honoured  by  the  devotions  of  His  creatures  ; 
and  those  devotions  are,  to  themselves  and  the  world, 
a  proper  memorial  of  His  excellence,  and  declaration 
of  His  praise. 

Man's  dispositions  towards  his  Maker,  to  be  ex- 
pressed in  a  manner  correspondent  to  his  nature, 
must  be  expressed  by  sensible  acts.  No  acts  of  his, 
in  his  social  character,  are  more  significant  of  reve- 
rence, homage,  and  adoration  to  the  Almighty,  than 
the  devotion  to  Him  of  places  of  worship,  great  and 
magnificent,  according  to  the  means  with  which  He 
hath  blessed  them.  Without  His  temple,  God  is 
forgotten.  The  appropriation  of  part  of  their  wealth 
by  men,  to  build  Him  an  house  for  His  service, 
speaks  a  reverent  remembrance  of  His  name,  and  a 
laudable  desire  to  "  make  His  praise  glorious \" 

How  suitable  a  homage  to  the  Deity  this  is,  may 
appear  from  the  care  of  mankind,  in  every  country, 
and  in  every  age,  to  honour  their  gods  with  places 
for  their  names,  and  memorials  of  their  supposed 
presence  and  greatness.  Where  among  the  heathens 
is  the  god,  who  had  not  his  image,  his  altar,  or  his 
temple  ?  It  was  a  grief  to  David,  that  while  he 
himself,  "  dwelt  in  an  house  of  cedar,  the  ark  of 
God  dwelt  within  curtains ^"  Before  any  command 
required  it,  nature  taught  men  to  consecrate  places 

^  Acisxv'il.  ::i,ZS.  '  Ps.  Ixvj.  ;3.  '^ ;:  Sani.  \ii.  2. 


2'/S  CONSECRATION  SERMON. 

to  the  worship  of  the  Most  High.  Noah,  when  he 
went  out  of  the  ark,  *'  builded  an  altar  ^"  Wherever 
the  Patriarchs  in  their  journeyings  pitched  their 
tents,  they  erected  places  for  Divine  worship.  And 
Moses,  before  the  Ark  was  made,  and  the  residence 
for  it,  "  according  to  the  pattern  shewed  to  him  in 
the  mount'',"  pitched  a  tabernacle  without  the  camp, 
in  honour  of  Jehovah,  to  which  every  one  that  sought 
the  Lord  was  to  go. 

How  acceptable  this  homage  is  to  God,  we  may 
learn  from  His  own  lips  and  conduct.  Even  on  the 
purpose  of  David  to  build  Him  a  temple.  He  be- 
stowed His  approbation.  "  Whereas,"  said  the  High 
and  Mighty  One,  who  inhabiteth  eternity,  "  whereas 
it  was  in  thine  heart  to  build  an  house  unto  My 
name,  thou  didst  well  that  it  was  in  thine  heart'." 
Moses  He  instructed  how  to  make  the  tabernacle. 
He  blessed  and  rewarded  Solomon,  when  the  temple 
he  had  builded  was  finished.  In  the  houses  of  His 
worship.  He  condescended  to  "  place  His  name\" 
When  the  tabernacle  and  temple  were  devoted  to 
Him,  He  filled  them  with  His  presence  in  His  glorious 
cloud  ;  and  in  his  fixed  and  terrible  glory,  vouch- 
safed to  dwell  there  upon  the  mercy-seat. 

Surely,  every  new  instance  of  such  acceptable,  and 
expressive  homage  to  their  Creator  and  Redeemer, 
must  be  gratifying  to  His  intelligent  offspring.  Were 
a  statue  and  monument  erected  to  the  honour  of  the 
father  who  begat  and  sustained  you,  of  the  sovereign 
of  your  country,  or  of  the  friend  who  had  blessed 
you  with  his  counsel  and  his  love ;  would  you  not 
behold  it  with  delight,  and  speak  of  it  with  joy? 
How  much  rather,  when  there  is  raised  on  earth,  a 
temple  to  the  glory  and  service  of  your  Father  in 
heaven,    the   Sovereign  of   the   universe,  the   best 

'■'  Gen.  viii.  ,^^0.  ^  Heb.  viii.  5. 

'  1  Kings  viii.  ISs,  ''  Deut.  si  v.  2C>. 


CONSECRATION  SERMON.  279 

Benefactor,  and  most  affectionate  Friend!  The 
world  presents  much  to  dishonour  and  pain  Him. 
It  is  a  relief;  it  is  a  felicity  to  know  that,  amidst 
the  confusions,  follies,  and  pollutions  of  the  earth : 
— while  man  is  destroying  man,  and  war's  ruthless 
hand  is  desolating  the  fabrics  of  art,  and  in  the  whirl 
of  outrage  and  vice,  God  is  forgotten : — Piety,  ho- 
liest and  happiest  inhabitant  of  the  earth,  is  in  some 
places  employed  in  raising  mansions  for  the  celebra- 
tion of  God's  glory,  and  the  abode  of  the  ark  of 
the  Covenant  of  peace.  Turn,  oh  !  turn  Thy  face. 
Holy  and  Almighty  Being,  from  the  temples  of  ido- 
latry, and  abodes  of  pollution  which  are  on  our 
globe  !  Turn,  oh !  turn  Thy  face  from  the  atheism, 
the  ingratitude,  and  strifes  of  men,  and  condescend 
to  behold  the  buildings  which  Thy  children  do 
humbly  rear,  that  in  them,  they  may  worship  Thee 
and  learn  to  "  love  one  another'." 

But  we  are  to  consider  places  of  worship  with 
respect  to  the  country  in  which  they  are  erected  : 
and,  in  this  view,  the  erection  of  them  is  a  cause 
for  joy  and  gladness  of  heart.  He  who  loves  his 
country,  would  have  it  adorned  with  what  is  beau- 
tiful in  art,  and  excellent  in  character.  It  is  the 
happiest  application  of  art,  to  furnish  fit  temples 
for  the  worship  of  the  Almighty.  Such  temples 
beautify  the  regions  in  which  they  stand.  "  How 
goodly  are  thy  tents,  O  Jacob,  and  thy  taberna- 
cles, O  Israel""!"  Pleasant  are  they  to  the  eye,  '*  as 
gardens  by  the  river's  side,  as  the  trees  of  lign-aloes 
which  the  Lord  hath  planted"."  Who  indeed  would 
have  his  posterity  search  in  vain  among  the  build- 
ings of  their  ancestors,  for  houses  in  which  religion 
was  honoured,  and  her  peaceful  influences  enjoyed  f 
Who,  if  the  traveller  shall  one  day  come  to  survey 

'  John  XV.  12.  "'  Nunib.  xxiv.  5.  "  ibid.  vcr.  b. 


28G  CONSECRATION  SERMON. 

the  ruins  in  his  country,  which  calamity  or  time 
may  produce,  would  not  have  his  attention  arrested 
by  vestiges  of  temples,  which  should  show  that  the 
inhabitant|  loved  what  was  great  and  public,  and 
worshipped  God  ? 

Especially,  if  it  be  further  considered,  that  the 
appearance  of  such  edifices  indicates  civilization, 
and  suggests  many  pleasing  associations,  and  agree- 
able hopes.  They  are  monuments  in  a  country,  that 
piety  is  or  has  been  reverenced  there.  They  tell 
us,  that  the  people  have  the  means  of  Christian  im- 
provement, and  the  transporting  prospects  which 
Christianity  opens.  Hence  the  satisfaction  with 
which  the  stranger  speaks  of  them,  and  the  ele- 
vated emotions  with  which  we  behold  them.  The 
eye  wearied  with  contemplating  the  habitations  and 
desolations,  which  remind  us  only  of  earth  and  mi- 
sery, rests  relieved  and  brightening  with  joy  upon 
the  fane,  which  intimates  that  there  is  piety  on  the 
earth ;  and  on  the  spire  which  points  to  heaven. 
Naked  is  that  country,  destitute  of  the  best  mo- 
numents of  wisdom  and  improvement,  in  which 
Churches,  of  suitable  magnificence,  do  not  abound. 

In  this  view  of  the  subject,  joy  in  the  erection  of 
them  may  well  spring  from  the  hope,  that  they  may 
bring  blessings  upon  the  land,  in  which  they  are 
consecrated  and  endowed.  "  For  thy  temple's  sake 
at  Jerusalem","  was  a  plea  of  great  avail  with  the 
Most  High.  Upon  Zion,  the  hill  where  His  temple 
stood,  God  **  promised  His  blessingP."  When  the 
Jews  sent  an  embassy  to  Jesus  Christ,  in  behalf  of 
the  afflicted  Centurion,  this  was  their  commendation 
of  him  :  "  he  loveth  our  nation,  and  he  hath  built 
us  a  synagogue''."  From  the  anxiety  of  the  tribes 
of  Reuben  and  Gad,  and  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh, 

•  Ps.  Ixviii.  39.  ^  ibid.  cxx.\iii.  1.  ''  Lake  vit.  5, 


CONSECRATION  SERMON.  281 

to  build  an  altar  on  this  side  Jordan,  and  the  remon- 
strances then  used  with  them  by  the  other  tribes,  it 
would  appear  that  in  those  days,  the  country  was 
considered  unhallowed  and  unprotected,  in  which 
no  temple  or  holy  place  was  found.  In  every  place, 
where  the  memorial  of  His  Name  should  be  re- 
corded, the  Almighty  promised  to  meet  His  people 
with  His  blessing.  "  Go  up  to  the  mountain,"  said 
He,  in  the  time  when  no  temple  was  found  in  His 
land,  **  go  up  to  the  mountain,  and  bring  wood, 
and  build  the  house  ;  and  I  will  take  pleasure  in  it, 
and  I  will  be  glorified.  Ye  looked  for  much,  and 
lo,  it  came  to  little  ;  and  when  ye  brought  it  home, 
I  did  blow  upon  it.  Why  ?  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
Because  of  Mine  house  that  is  waste,  and  ye  run 
every  man  unto  his  own  house.  Therefore,  the  hea- 
ven over  you  is  stayed  from  dew,  and  the  earth  is 
stayed  from  her  fruit.  And  I  called  for  a  drought 
upon  the  land,  and  upon  the  mountains,  and  upon 
the  corn,  and  upon  the  new  wine,  and  upon  the  oil, 
and  upon  that  which  the  ground  bringeth  forth,  and 
upon  men,  and  upon  cattle,  and  upon  all  the  labour 
of  the  hands ' :"  intimating,  that  a  cause  of  public 
calamities  was  the  neglect  to  provide  places  for  pub- 
lic worship  in  the  land ;  and  that  the  erection,  and 
right  use  of  them  were  means  of  obtaining  Divine 
favour.  This  important,  though  unheeded  truth  is 
consonant  with  the  dictates  of  reason.  "  Except 
the  Lord  keep  the  city,  the  watchman  waketh  but 
in  vain  %"  But  how  shall  He  be  expected  to  keep 
that  city,  in  which  He  hath  no  dwelling  place  ?  On 
what  ground  shall  the  people  look  for  His  presence 
and  blessing,  who  refuse  to  provide  for  Him  a  house, 
that  He  may  **  place  His  name  there*?"  Dost  thou 
love  thy  country  ?    Rejoice  in  the  erection  of  every 

^  Hag.  i.  8  — 11.  '  Ps.  cxxvii.  2.  '  Deut.  xiv.  2 J. 


282  CONSECRATION  SERMON. 

new  Church  in  her  land.  When  the  destroying  An- 
gel shall  pass  over  her,  these  buildings  may  be  plea- 
sant to  the  eyes  of  God,  and  there  may  arise  from 
them  the  prayers  and  praises,  which  may  avert 
His  wrath,  and  obtain  for  her  forgiveness  and  fa- 
vour. 

But  we  approach  here  the  third  view  we  are  to 
take  of  new  Churches  :  namely,  with  respect  to  the 
people,  who  shall  enjoy  in  them  the  blessings  and 
benefits  which  they  are  erected  to  secure.  And 
here,  what  a  crowd  of  thoughts  rush  upon  the  mind. 
Who  can  estimate  the  pleasures  and  advantages  of 
access  to  the  house  of  God  ?  Who  can  sum  up  the 
blessings  and  benefits  of  the  sanctuary  ? 

It  is  in  the  house  of  God,  that  the  pleasures  of 
social  worship  are  most  highly  and  extensively  en- 
joyed. And  if  there  be  any  thing  which  will  give 
holiness  and  elevation  to  human  desires ;  any  thing 
which  will  soften  the  asperities  of  social  intercourse, 
and  improve  the  manners  and  character  of  men :  it 
is  to  meet  together  at  stated  times,  in  the  house  of 
their  common  Parent,  to  recognize  their  relations  to 
Him  and  each  other,  and  to  seek  the  influence  of 
His  instructions  and  grace,  for  the  attainment  to- 
gether of  eternal  life. 

It  is  in  the  house  of  God,  that  communion  with 
the  Father  of  our  spirits  is  most  purely  and  inti- 
mately enjoyed.  He  is  with  us  in  our  closets.  He 
is  every  where  present.  But  in  His  temple  He  de- 
lights to  dwell.  It  is  here  He  is  present  in  an  espe^ 
cial  manner ;  probably,  with  the  retinue  of  His  An- 
gels, as  the  decorations  of  His  ancient  tabernacle 
and  temple  intimated,  and  as  the  declarations  of  His 
word,  and  the  opinions  of  the  primitive  Church 
warrant  us  to  suppose :  and  retired  from  the  noise 
and  infatuations  of  the  world,  the  devout  soul,  under 
the  influence  of  the  holiness  of  the  place,,  becomes 


CONSECRATION  SERMON.  283 

more  still,  more  sensible  of  His  presence,  and  draws 
nearer  to  her  God.  If  but  "  two  or  three  be  ga- 
thered together  in  His  name.  He  is  there  hi  the 
midst  of  them  "." 

It  is  in  the  house  of  God,  that  the  word  of  His 
truth  will  be  most  surely  preached,  and  most  atten- 
tively heard  : — that  word,  which  He  sent  the  Son  of 
His  bosom  to  proclaim  to  a  ruined  world  : — that 
word,  which  is  glad  tidings  of  great  joy  to  all  peo- 
ple ;  and  "  deliverance  to  the  captives,"  and  reco- 
very of  "  sight  to  the  blind  :" — that  word,  which 
**  sets  at  liberty  them  that  were  bruised":" — that 
word,  which  causes  "  the  lame  man  to  leap  as  an 
hart,  and  the  tongue  of  the  dumb  to  sing^:"' — that 
word,  which  is  our  comfort  in  trouble,  which  is  as  a 
"  lamp  unto  our  feet,  and  a  light  unto  our  path%" 
which  bringeth  salvation,  and  showeth  us  heaven. 
"  How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of 
them  that  bring  good  tidings,  that  publish  peace*." 
If  it  were  only  to  be  entertained  by  them,  with  dis- 
quisitions upon  the  most  important  topics,  it  were 
no  little  gratification.  But  this  is  a  small  part  of 
their  business.  It  is  their  office,  to  bring  you  to  an 
acquaintance  with  God,  and  with  His  will  concern- 
ing you,  as  He  hath  revealed  it  in  His  word.  It  is 
their  office,  to  raise  before  you  the  cross,  and  show 
you  "  the  Lamb  of  God  which  taketh  away  the  sin 
of  the  world  ^"  expiring  upon  it ;  and  to  take  of  its 
blood,  and  sprinkle  it  upon  all  your  garments,  that 
when  the  destroying  angel  shall  execute  the  venge- 
ance of  the  Almighty  upon  a  guilty  world,  it  may 
be  to  you  the  token  for  preservation.  It  is  their 
office,   to  go  before  you  into  the  tomb,  with  the 

"  Matt,  xviii.  20.  "  Luke  iv.  18.  ^  Is.  xxxv.  C. 

'  P3.  cxix.  105.  *  Is.  lii.  7.  ^  John  i;  'J9. 


284  CONSECRATION  SERMOX. 

bright  torch  which  revelation  furnishes,  to  disperse 
the  blackness  of  darkness  which  hangs  over  its  en- 
trance; to  show  you  "  the  place  where  Jesus  lay':" 
to  wipe  the  tears  which  are  falling  upon  the  moul- 
dering relics  ;  and,  when  the  blood  is  curdling  at 
the  heart  amidst  the  horrors  of  the  scene,  to  restore 
to  it  its  equal,  peaceful  flow,  with  the  transporting 
assurance,  that  this  awful  dominion  with  its  awful 
king  shall  be  one  day  destroyed  for  ever.  It  is  their 
office,  to  show  you  hell  and  all  its  terrors,  and  teach 
you  to  escape ;  to  show  you  heaven  and  all  its  joys, 
and  entreat  you  to  enter.  These  are  subjects,  which 
the  ministers  of  the  word  have  in  charge  in  the 
sanctuary.  Where  there  are  churches,  it  is  reason- 
able to  expect  this  ministry  will  be  enjoyed.  Who 
can  estimate  its  fruits?  How  many  "  broken  hearts 
maybe  bound  up*^;"  how  many  **  mourners  com- 
forted*;" how  many  sinners  may  be  turned  "  from 
the  error  of  their  ways  \  to  the  wisdom  of  the  just  ^ ;" 
how  many  immortal  beings  snatched  from  perdi- 
tion to  the  enjoyment  of  eternal  life  and  bliss  in 
heaven  ? 

In  the  house  of  God,  moreover,  are  found  His 
holy  sacraments.  By  the  temple  are  placed  the 
waters  of  Baptism,  and  in  it  the  Supper  of  peace. 
To  the  Font  men  come,  and  are  washed  from  sin 
and  uncleanness  ;  to  the  altar  they  go,  and  feast 
upon  the  memorials  of  redemption,  the  tokens  of 
forgiveness  and  immortality.  Look  at  the  laver  of 
regeneration  ;  you  may  see  in  it  the  *'  beauty  which 
is  given"  to  sinners  "  for  ashes."  Behold  the  flagons 
of  the  sacred  table.  They  contain  "  the  oil  of  joy 
for  mourning."      In  the  righteousness  of  the  Re- 

"  Matt,  xxviii.  6.  "  Is.  Ixi.  1.  *  Job  xxix.  25. 

'  James  v.  iO,  s  Luke  i.  17. 


CONSECRATION  SERMON.  285 

deemer,  which  tliese  sacraments  hold  forth,  is  found 
"  the  garments  of  praise,"  which  our  compassionate 
Father  hath  provided  "  for  the  spirit  of  heavi- 
ness \" 

These  are  the  blessings  which  the  people  enjoy, 
who  have  access  to  the  temples  of  God.  Contrast 
their  happiness  with  the  condition  of  the  people,  who 
have  no  place  of  public  worship.  For  them  no 
sanctuary  is  near,  to  which  they  may  betake  them- 
selves from  their  sorrows,  their  fears,  and  their  spi- 
ritual enemies,  to  the  more  especial  protection  of 
Almighty  God.  From  them  there  rises  no  sacrifice 
of  social  prayer  and  praise,  the  sweetest  human 
offering,  to  their  common  Parent  in  heaven.  They 
are  not  cleansed  with  the  washing  of  water  and  the 
word.  They  never  do  that,  which  He  who  died  for 
them,  hath  commanded  to  be  done  "  in  remem- 
brance of  Him*."  Perhaps,  the  sound  of  his  name 
reaches  not  their  ears ;  the  peaceful  influences  of 
His  word  and  Spirit  are  unknown  to  their  hearts. 
They  live  without  the  pleasant  feasts  of  the  Church. 
Even  *  Sunday  shines  no  Sabbath  day  to  them.' 
You  may  find  them  on  the  bed  of  sickness,  without 
hope;  and  without  God,  on  the  confines  of  eternity. 
Awful  state  of  existence!  Deplorable  condition  of 
intelligent  and  moral,  dying  and  accountable  beings ! 
"  O  how  amiable  are  Thy  dwellings.  Thou  Lord  of 
Hosts  !  Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  Thy  house  : 
they  will  be  alway  praising  thee.  I  had  rather  be 
a  door-keeper  in  the  house  of  my  God,  than  to 
dwell  in  the  tents  of  ungodliness.  For  one  day  in 
Thy  courts  is  better  than  a  thousand ^" 

Ponder,  then,  in  the  city  in  which  a  new  Church 
is  built,  the  pleasures  and  benefits,  the  peace  and 

*•  Is.  Ixi.  3.         'Luke  xxii.  19.  "  Ps.  Ixxxiv.  1.  4.  11.  10. 


286  CONSECRATION  SERMON, 

joy  in  this  life,  and  the  salvation  in  the  life  to  come, 
to  which  they,  who  shall  worship  in  it,  may  attain  : 
and,  as  it  was  in  Samaria,  at  the  first  preaching  of 
the  Gospel,  there  will  be  *'  great  joy  in  that  city'." 

These  sentiments,  my  brethren,  are  in  harmony 
with  the  feelings  of  many  of  you.  You  have  looked 
forward  to  this  day,  with  anticipations  of  new  and 
lively  pleasure ;  and  a  more  joyful  event  has  not, 
perhaps,  occurred  in  the  years  of  your  life,  than 
the  consecration  of  your  Church,  which,  for  your- 
selves and  your  posterity,  you  have  built  unto  the 
name  of  the  Lord  your  God.  We  participate  in 
your  felicity.  It  is  with  great  satisfaction  we  behold 
your  Church,  decent,  and  convenient,  and  bearing 
the  name  of  the  Blessed  Trinity,  in  whom  is  wor- 
shipped the  One  Only  Living  and  True  God.  Bless- 
ing, and  praise  are  due,  in  no  small  degree,  to  the 
individuals,  through  whose  exertions  and  perseve- 
rance the  building  of  this  temple  has  been  so  hap- 
pily accomplished.  "  Remember  them,  O  my  God, 
concerning  this,  and  wipe  not  out  their  good  deeds 
that  they  have  done  for  the  house  of  their  God,  and 
for  the  offices  thereof"!  " 

The  congregation  who  will  assemble  in  this  place 
to  worship,  have  our  cordial  congratulations  on  the 
accomplishment  of  their  wishes.  You  have  now  a 
Church,  in  which,  we  trust,  *  God's  true  and  lively 
word  will  be  set  forth,  and  His  sacraments  righly 
and  duly  administered.'  How  much  is  opened  to 
you  in  this  prospect!  "  Alien  from  the  common- 
wealth of  Israel","  stranger  to  the  covenant  of  pro- 
mise, here  you  may  come  and  hear  of  God  and 
Christ,  and  receive  the  seals  of  *'  an  inheritance 
among  them  which  are  sanctified  by  faith  that  is  in 

'Actsviii.  8.  I"  Neh.  xiii.  14.  ;  Eph.  ii.  13. 


CONSECRATION  SERMON.  287 

Jesus"."  Awakened  sinner,  whose  bosom  heaves 
with  sorrow,  and  whose  eye  is  consumed  with  fear, 
hither  you  may  come,  and  learn  of  pardon,  grace, 
and  salvation ;  and  hear  from  your  Redeemer,  when 
you  have  cast  yourself  at  His  feet,  "  Thy  sins  are 
forgiven — go  in  peace''."  Pious  mother,  here  you 
may  find  a  place  *'  where  you  may  lay  your  young-, 
even  the  altar  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  your  King  and 
your  God'' :"  and  He  will  cover  them  there  with 
His  wing,  as  His  own  children  by  adoption,  that 
the  destruction  which  cometh  upon  the  ungodly, 
touch  them  not.  Youthful  Christian,  who  desirest 
to  be  recognized  by  thy  heavenly  Father,  and  pant- 
est  to  enter  upon  the  Christian  career,  here,  in 
Confirmation,  thou  mayest  ratify  and  confirm  thy 
baptismal  vows,  and  receive  His  grace  and  heavenly 
benediction ;  the  assurance  of  his  favour  and  good- 
ness towards  thee.  Faithful  disciple  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  who  desirest  a  nearer  approach  to  Him, 
"  whom,  having  not  seen,  you  love;"  who  wouldest 
receive  the  token  of  his  favour;  in  whom,  "  though 
now  you  see  Him  not,  yet  believing,  you  rejoice 
with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory':"  here,  at 
His  holy  table,  you  will  eat  of  His  bread,  and  drink 
of  the  cup  which  He  had  mingled ;  you  will  lean  on 
His  bosom  and  sup  with  Him,  and  He  with  you. 
Bereaved  mourner,  from  whom  death  shall  tear  the 
object  of  conjugal,  filial,  or  parental  affection,  here 
you  may  come  and  bring  your  dead  ;  and  over  their 
remains  be  reminded  of  Him,  "  who  is  the  resur- 
rection and  the  life' ;"  and  learn  that  your  dead 
*'  shall  rise  again*,"  and  put  on  immortality.  Chil- 
dren of  sorrow,  over  whose  day  of  life  adversity 

"  Acts  xxvi.  18.  P  Luke  vii.  48.  50,         "  Ps.  Ixxxiv.  3. 

'  1  Pet.  i.  8,  *  John  xi.  25.  «  Ibid.  ver.  23. 


286  CONSECRATION  SERMON. 

has  spread  a  thick  and  chilling  cloud  ;  here,  yoy 
may  come;  and  some  rays  of  light  will  break  through 
the  cloud,  attracting  your  attention  to  the  heaven, 
from  which  they  proceed :  and  you  will  hope  for 
better  joys  in  the  skies  beyond,  where  there  is  eter- 
nal sunshine,  and  celestial  day.  How  thankful,  my 
Christian  friends,  should  you  be  to  the  Almighty 
for  His  goodness  in  giving  you  a  temple,  which  will 
offer  to  you  such  truths  and  prospects,  such  occu- 
pations and  pleasures,  such  consolations  and  joys. 
Oh !  reverence,  then,  this  sanctuary.  Love  to  be 
in  it,  and  to  join  in  its  services.  Keep  it  in  its  ho- 
liness and  beauty,  and  teach  your  children  to  re- 
verence it.  Leave  at  its  door,  when  you  come  to  it, 
whatever  may  defile  it.  Henceforth,  let  nothing 
be  heard"  in  it,  but  the  instructions  of  religion,  and 
the  language  of  prayer  and  praise ;  let  nothing  be 
felt  in  it,  but  the  emotions  of  penitence,  the  reso- 
lutions of  faith,  the  joys  of  hope,  and  the  desires 
and  determinations  of  charity.  It  is  now  conse- 
crated to  the  Most  High ;  and  may  it  be  to  you, 
and  to  your  children  after  you,  for  many  genera- 
tions, **  none  other  but  the  house  of  God,  and  the 
gate  of  heaven  V 

And  now,  **  Arise,  O  Lord,  into  Thy  resting 
place.  Thou,  and  the  ark  of  Thy  strength.  Let  Thy 
priests"  here  ''  be  clothed  with  righteousness;  and 
let  Thy  saints  sing  with  joyfulness''."  **  But  will 
God  indeed  dwell  on  the  earth  ?  behold,  the  heaven 
and  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain  Thee;  how 
much  less  this  house  which  Thy  people  have 
builded !  Yet,  have  Thou  respect  unto  the  prayer 
of  Thy  servants,  and  to  their  supplications,  which 
Thy    servants   make   before   thee   this   day :  That 

I  Gen.  xxviii.  17.  *  Ps.  cxxxii.  8,  9. 


CONSECRATION  SERMON.  289 

Thine  eyes  may  be  open  toward  this  house  night 
and  day ; — that  Thou  mayest  hearken  unto  the 
prayers  which  Thy  servants  shall  make  towards 
this  place  ;  and  maintain  the  cause  of  Thy  people 
at  all  times,  as  the  matter  shall  require^."  Let  it 
be  a  "  house  of  the  Lord  our  God"  in  this  place, 
because  of  which,  for  the  purity  of  its  faith,  the 
perfection  of  its  charity,  and  the  holiness  of  its  wor- 
ship, all  people  shall  seek  to  do  it  good^ 

y  1  Kings  viii.  27,  &c.  '  Ps.  cxxii.  9, 


VOL.  II. 


SERMON  LXXI. 


ON  BEHALF  OF  THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY*. 


St.  Matthew,  ii.  II. 

And  when  they  had  opened  their  treasures,  they  presented  unto 
him  gifts ;  gold,  and franVincense,  and,  myrrh. 

Charitable  institutions  are  among  the  peculiar, 
and  most  excellent  fruits  of  the  promulgation  of 
Christianity.  To  associate  themselves  for  the  in- 
struction of  the  ignorant,  and  relief  of  the  wretched  ; 
to  combine  their  efforts,  in  well  ordered  societies, 
for  the  promotion  of  virtue  and  happiness  among 
mankind,  is  a  lesson  which  human  beings  have 
learned  to  practise,  chiefly  under  the  influence  of 
the  Gospel  and  their  Redeemer.  The  Infirmary  and 
the  Hospital,  the  Orphan-House  and  the  Dispen- 
sary, the  School  which  embraces  the  children  of 
poverty,  and  the  Society  which  brings  men  to  the 
knowledge  of  God,  and  practice  of  virtue,  belong 
exclusively  to  the  Christian  era.  While  this  opera- 
tion of  our  holy  religion  may  well  lead  us  to  admire 
the  benignity  of  its  character,  and  point  out  to  us 
the  affinity  of  its  spirit  to  the  Spirit  of  '*  the  Father 
of  mercies %"  it  is  productive  of  incalculable  good 

*  Delivered  on  the  Feast  of  the  Epiphany,  1813;  being  the  Third 
Anniversary  of  the  '  Protestant  Episcopal  Society  for  the  Advance- 
ment of  Christianity  in  South-Carolina.' 
""  2  Cor.  i.  3. 


ON  THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY. 


291 


in  our  dark  and  afflicted  world.  By  institutions,  to 
which  the  Spirit  of  the  Gospel  has  given  birth,  more 
is  done  in  Christendom  in  a  single  day,  towards 
instructing  the  ignorant,  relieving  the  miserable, 
reclaiming  the  vicious,  and  diffusing  the  knowledge 
of  virtue  and  immortality,  than  was  done  in  years, 
yea,  I  may  say,  in  centuries,  in  the  regions  of 
heathenism. 

I  am  to  address  you  at  this  time,  my  respected 
hearers,  in  behalf  of  a  Society,  which  has  had  its 
origin  under  the  influence  of  this  religion,  and  has 
for°its  aim  the  diffusion  of  its  principles  and  joys. 
On  this  occasion  *'  I  think  myseff  happy',"  that 
I  am  to  address  a  community  distinguished  for  its 
liberality  in  promoting  all  benevolent  purposes  ;  and 
I  do  the  more  cheerfully  engage  in  this  duty,  on  this 
day  of  the  Epiphany,  when  the  Church  leads  us  to 
commemorate  the  removal  of  the  partition,  which 
separated  "a  peculiar  people •="  under  the  favours 
of  the  Almighty  from  the  rest  of  mankind ;  and  the 
consequent  extension  of  the  revelations,  and  cove- 
nanted mercies  of  Jehovah,  to  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth.  For  who  can  contemplate  the  manifestation 
of  Christ  to  the  Gentiles,  and  all  that  is  implied  in 
it,  without  being  penetrated  with  gratitude  for  this 
unspeakable  mercy,  and  filled  with  a  desire  to  have 
all  men  partakers  of  this  great  salvation  ?  As  the 
Society,  for  which  I  speak,  is  new  among  you,  it 
will  be  my  duty,  in  the  first  place,  to  make  you 
acquainted  with  its  objects,  and  the  measures  by 
which  it  hopes  to  accomplish  them. 

And  you  will  allow  me,  in  the  second  place,  to 
brino-  to  your  view  some  of  the  motives  which  re- 
commend it  to  your  patronage,  and  liberal  assis- 
tance. 

^Actsxxvi.2.  <=  Deut.  xiv.  2. 

u2 


•292  ON  BEHALF  OF 

The  objects  of  this  Society  are  implied  in  the 
name  which  it  bears.  It  is  for  the  advancement  of 
Christianity,  according  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
faith,  in  South-Carolina.  In  its  views,  it  embraces 
notliing  but  what  has  respect  to  the  religious  pros- 
perity of  the  community.  Its  operations  are  not 
to  be  limited  to  this  or  that  section  of  the  state. 
Wherever  there  is  ground  for  the  expectation,  that 
its  labours  may  be  successful  in  spreading  the  truths, 
and  cultivating  the  virtues  of  the  Gospel,  there  will 
its  exertions  be  impartially  and  disinterestedly  made. 
To  the  excellent  lamps,  which  the  piety  of  your  fa- 
thers lighted  in  many  parts  of  this  their  habitation, 
the  Society  would  bring  a  replenishment  of  oil ; 
that  they  may  long  burn  with  a  revived  and  steady 
flame,  and  shed  a  strong,  and  pure,  and  increasing 
light.  Are  there  any  portions  of  the  state  in  which, 
as  yet,  no  such  lamps  have  been  placed  ?  Thither 
would  the  Society  hope,  in  a  course  of  time  to  send 
them ;  reserving  to  itself  the  right,  and  feeling  itself 
bound  by  the  obligation,  to  have  them  in  every  case 
formed  after  the  ancient  and  hallowed  pattern  of  the 
sanctuary.  In  short,  to  extend  the  knowledge,  and 
increase  the  influence  of  the  pure  and  undefiled  re- 
ligion of  our  Redeemer,  as  it  is  received  free  from 
the  corruptions  and  additions  of  men,  in  the  excel- 
lent Church  to  which  we  belong ;  these  are  the  ob- 
jects, to  which  the  Society  will  devote  its  labours 
.and  care :  and  this  with  the  truly  Christian  inten- 
tion of  counteracting  the  baneful  effects  of  a  gloomy 
and  debasing  infidelity  ;  of  preventing  the  progress 
of  '  false  doctrine,  heresy,  and  schism,'  and  of 
bringing  those  of  our  fellow  beings,  who  may  come 
vv'ithin  the  reach  of  its  beneficence,  to  a  partici- 
pation of  the  elevating  truths,  the  consoling  pro- 
mises, and  the  salvation  unto   eternal  life,   which 


THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  293 

*''  God,  who  in  time  past  spake  unto  the  fathers  by 
the  Prophets,  hath  in  these  last  days"  been*  gra- 
ciously pleased  to  communicate  "  unto  us  by  His 
Son"." 

There  are  three  leading  measures,  by  which  it  is 
proposed  to  pursue  these  important  objects.  The 
first  is,  by  distributing  gratuitously,  or  cheaply, 
the  Holy  Scriptures  ;  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer ; 
summary  and  clear  views  of  the  evidences  of  the 
truth  of  revelation;  and  tracts  of  approved  reputation 
upon  the  doctrines,  sacraments,  and  virtues  of  Chris- 
tianity. In  this  way,  it  is  presumed,  knowledge  may 
be  circulated,  and  attention  excited  to  those  truths 
and  duties,  which  form  the  basis  of  all  that  is  precious 
in  man's  hopes,  and  pure  in  his  character.  That 
excellent  Society*  to  which  many  of  their  churches 
in  the  United  States,  in  the  first  years  of  their  settle- 
ment, owed  their  ministry,  and  some  of  them  their 
existence,  found  this  a  most  useful  measure  for  pro- 
pagating the  Gospel  in  the  world.  They  expended 
in  this  way  much  of  their  funds;  and  there  are  many 
spirits,  I  doubt  not,  rejoicing  now  before  the  throne 
of  God,  who  found  in  the  tracts  that  were  thus  dis- 
tributed, the  light,  directions,  and  assistance,  which 
guided  them  to  God  and  to  heaven.  In  this  respect, 
it  will  be  gratifying  to  the  spirit  of  Americans,  to  be 
dependant  now  for  benefits  of  this  kind  upon  an  in- 
stitution of  their  own. 

Another  measure,  by  which  this  Society  purposes 
to  pursue  its  important  objects,  is  the  selection  of 
youths  of  genius,  and  pious  disposition,  from  the  re- 
tired walks  of  life,  to  be  educated  under  its  patronage 
and  direction  for  the  services  of  the  Church,  in  the 

••Heb.  i.  1,  3. 

*  *  The  Society'  in  England  *  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts.' 


294  ON  BEHALF  OF 

important  offices  of  the  ministry.     You  have  not  now 
to  be  told,  that 

*  Many  a  gem,  of  purest  ray  serene, 
The  dark  unfathom'd  caves  of  ocean  bear  ; 
That  many  a  flower  is  born  to  blush  unseen, 
And  waste  its  sweetness  on  the  desert  air.' 
'-^ 
To  procure  of  these  gems,    to    engrave    on    them 
"  Holiness  to  the  Lord%"  and  set  them  in  His  temple 
for  light,  and  for  truth ;  to  take  of  these  flowers,  and 
transplant  them    for    use    and    for  beauty  into  the 
Church,  the  garden  of  God,  where  man  is  once  more 
admitted  to  communion  with  his  Maker,  and  again 
bidden  to  reach  forth  his  hands  unto  the  tree  of  life, 
"  and  eat,  and  live  for  ever^ :"  these  are  purposes  of 
this  Society,  not  less  excellent  in  themselves,  than 
promotive  of  its  important  objects.     There  seem  to 
be  peculiar  reasons  for  adopting  this  measure  in  this 
state.     The  situation  of  the  interior  parishes,  and 
the  unfriendly  action  of  the  climate  in  one  part  of 
the  year,  upon  those  who  are  strangers  to  it,  render 
it  a  very  desirable  thing,  that  the  Church  should  be 
furnished  with  ministers  who  are  natives  of  the  land. 
A   fondness    too,    it   may  be  presumed,  would  be 
excited  in  favour  of  such  persons :  for  what  country 
does  not  look  with  the  strongest  affection  on  its  own 
sons ;  what  people  will  not  have  a  greater  admiration 
for  the  excellencies,   and  a  thicker  mantle  for  the 
imperfections  of  those,  who  have  the  same  distinctive 
name,  and  civil  relations  with  themselves  ?     It  may, 
moreover,  be  expected,  that  Clergymen,  who  have 
been  brought  forward  under  the  patronage  of  such  a 
Society,   will   feel    upon  themselves   an   increased 
responsibility,  and'  be  actuated  by  a  more  ardent 

'  Exod.  xxviii.  36,  '  Gen.  iii.  32, 


THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  295 

emulation  of  every  thing  honourable  and  useful  in 
their  profession.  Nor  may  we  doubt  that,  upon  the 
worthy  ministers  whom  the  Church  herself,  with 
pious  care,  shall  have  raised  for  His  service,  the  great 
Head  of  the  Church  will  look  with  peculiar  com- 
placency, and  bestow  His  grace  and  heavenly  bene- 
diction. It  is,  therefore,  probable,  that  with  the 
Society,  for  which  I  address  you,  this  will  be  a 
favourite  and  most  useful  measure. 

The  third  measure,  by  which  it  would  hope  to 
accomplish  the  great  objects  of  its  institution  is,  the 
supporting  of  Missionaries,  when  its  funds  shall  be 
adequate,  who  shall  officiate  under  its  direction,  in 
those  places  where  Ministers  in  that  capacity  may 
be  found  necessary  and  useful.  There  are,  it  would 
appear,  some  parishes  in  which,  on  account  of  the 
want  of  funds,  or  of  the  insufficiency  of  the  popula- 
tion to  maintain  the  ministrations  of  the  sanctuary, 
the  enjoyment  of  the  services  of  the  Church  has,  in 
a  great  measure,  passed  away.  There  are  also,  it 
would  appear,  places  more  recently  settled,  and 
others  still  settling,  and  with  a  population  destined, 
in  all  probability,  to  be  numerous,  wealthy,  and 
influential ;  in  which  the  holy  faith,  the  pure  wor- 
ship, and  the  admirable  order  and  economy  of  the 
Church  are  entirely  unknown. 

To  the  advancement  of  Christianity  in  the  state, 
nothing  would  be  more  conducive  than  the  employ- 
ment of  Missionaries  of  irreproachable  life,  and  sound 
theological  attainments,  who,  at  stations  assigned 
them,  should  preach  the  Gospel  according  to  the 
faith,  and  perform  divine  service  according  to  the 
ritual  of  our  own  most  excellent  Church :  thus,  where 
the  religious  opinions  of  the  people  are  yet  to  be 
formed,  leading  them  to  a  system,  than  which  there 
is  none  in  the  world  more  pure,  more  rational,  more 
holy,  more  promotive  of  good  order  in  society,  more 
5 


296  ON  BEHALF  OF 

friendly  to  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  social  and 
civil,  as  well  as  religious  duties  of  man  :  where 
this  system  has  once  been  enjoyed,  but  has  unhappily 
disappeared,  bringing  it  back  again  to  the  people, 
by  whose  ancestors  it  was  cherished,  and  exciting 
their  affection  for  it,  by  a  manifestation  of  its  worth, 
and  a  patient  developement  of  the  benefits  of  which 
its  operation  may  be  productive. 

In  each  of  these  ways,  the  Society  purposes  to 
seek  the  attainment  of  its  great  leading  objects,  the 
diffusion  of  the  truths,  and  cultivation  of  the  virtues, 
of  the  Gospel  of  your  Redeemer.  And  is  it  neces- 
sary, that  motives  should  be  adduced  to  recom- 
mend it  to  your  favour  ?  No.  An  institution,  which 
bears  on  the  face  of  it  such  strong  and  unequivocal 
expression  of  disinterestedness,  benevolence,  and 
piety,  asks  not  the  aid  of  other  pleas  in  its  behalf; 
but  establishes  for  itself  a  claim  to  our  good  will. 
Yet,  you  will  allow  me  to  bring  motives  to  your 
view :  for  motives  there  are,  which  will  consecrate 
your  deeds  ;  motives,  under  the  influence  of  which, 
what  is  done  by  you  for  this  Institution  shall  be  a 
benefit  to  yourselves.  There  is  not  a  benevolent 
intention  which  is  hallowed  by  a  sincere  love  of  our 
fellow  beings,  which  shall  be  forgotten  before  God  ; 
there  is  not  '^  a  cup  of  cold  water,"  given  by  any 
man  for  the  sake  of  Christ,  ''which  shall  in  any 
v/ise  lose  its  reward^." 

The  first  motive,  then,  which  should  induce  you 
to  bestow  on  this  Society  your  patronage  and  liberal 
assistance,  is  drawn  from  a  regard  to  our  blessed 
Redeemer.  When  we  consider  the  atonement,  which 
by  His  own  most  precious  death  He  hath  made  for 
our  sins ;  when  we  contemplate  the  light  which,  by 
His  instructions  and  example.  He  hath  shed  upon 

?  Matt.  X.  42. 


THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  297 

ttie  paths  of  virtue  ;  when  we  think  of  the  aid  of 
the  grace  of  God,  which  by  His  mediation  He  hath 
purchased  for  our  spirits  ;  when  we  look  forward  to 
the  state  of  immortality  and  incorruptible  joy,  unto 
which  He  is  anxious  to  bring  us : — who  has  not  his 
affections  drawn  out  towards  this  first  Benefactor  of 
our  race  ?  what  language  can  express  the  sum  of  our 
obligations  to  Him?  But  how  shall  we  testify  our 
gratitude  ?  What  tokens  shall  we  give  Him  of  our 
love  ?  We  cannot  "  pour  upon  His  head  a  box  of 
the  most  precious  ointment'',"  we  can  procure;  nor 
*'  wash  His  feet  with  our  tears,  and  wipe  them  with 
the  hair  of  our  heads'."  We  cannot  watch  with 
Him  while  He  sorrows,  or  sleeps  ;  nor  say  to  Him 
personally,  "  Thou  knowest  that  we  love  Thee'';" 
'*  all  that  we  have  is  Thine'."  How,  then,  shall  we 
manifest,  palpably,  our  affection  towards  Him  ?  We 
must  espouse  the  cause  which  is  dear  to  Him.  We 
must  promote  the  work,  which  He  desires  to  see 
accomplished.  And,  especially,  upon  the  Church, 
which  He  hath  taken  into  so  near  a  connection,  as 
to  make  it  one  with  Himself,  we  may  bestow  tokens 
of  our  regard  which  He  will  thus  receive.  The 
Church  He  loves.  With  the  Church  He  hath  left 
the  records  of  His  truth,  the  representatives  of  His 
power,  and  the  symbols  of  His  presence.  For  the 
Church,  as  His  body.  He  is  constantly  interceding 
in  heaven,  "  that  He  may  present  it  to  Himself  a 
glorious  Church,  not  having  spot,  or  wrinkle,  or  any 
such  thing""."  And  if,  what  is  "  done  unto  one 
of  the  least"  of  the  members  of  this  His  body,  is 
considered  "  as  done  unto  Him°,"  with  what  gracious 
satisfaction  will  He  behold  your  gratitude,  employed 
in  increasing  the  general  health  and  vigour  of  the 

*>  Matt.  xxvi.  7.  '  Luke  vii.  38.  "  John  xxi.  15. 

Luke  XV.  31.  ™  Eph.  v.%7.  "  Matt.  xxv.  40. 


298  ON  BEHALF  OF 

body ;  in  "  lifting  up  its  hands  which  hang  down," 
and  strengthening  its  "  feeble  knees";"  and  adding 
by  your  munificence  to  its  reputation  and  beauty. 
You  will  thus  promote,  though  you  cannot  now 
approach  His  person,  what  a  Prophet  hath  told  us 
is  His  dearest  recompense,  for  all  that  He  hath  done 
and  suffered  for  you.  "  He  shall  see  of  the  travail 
of  His  soul,  and  shall  be  satisfied^." 

Another  motive,  which  it  is  my  duty  to  bring  to 
your  view,  is  drawn  from  a  regard  to  the  community. 
Some  religion  mankind  must  have.  It  would  be 
difficult  to  discern  them  in  any  situation,  in  which 
they  have  not  found,  or  framed  for  themselves  some 
system  of  religious  belief.  Of  the  importance  of  a 
pure  and  operative  faith,  and  also  of  a  steady  and 
enlightened  worship,  to  the  happiness,  the  order, 
and  the  good  morals  of  a  people,  need  I  refer  you 
for  evidence  to  the  arrangements  of  the  wisest  Le- 
gislators, the  opinions  of  the  best  civilians ;  or  the 
contrast  which  is  exhibited  between  the  feelings,  and 
manners,  which  are  reputable  in  the  Christian,  and 
those  which  are  reputable  in  the  heathen  world  ?  I 
need  not.  The  important  truth  is  written  in  blood, 
in  many  parts  of  the  annals  of  our  race ;  and  if 
posterity  shall  not  find  it  upon  the  first  page,  they 
will  find  it  upon  the  last,  of  the  narrative  of  the  events 
of  our  own  days.  He  then,  who  shall  contribute  to 
the  advancement  of  Christianity  in  his  country,  will 
contribute  to  the  formation  of  her  best  interests. 
For,  compared  with  Christianity,  every  other  religion 
which  the  world  has  known,  is  as  the  star  that 
glimmers  amidst  the  darkness  and  clouds  of  a 
cheerless  midnight,  compared  with  the  sun  that 
discloses  the  beauties  and  joys  of  the  day.  If  man 
must  be  subject  to  some  religion,  who  would  not 

*Heb.  xii.  12.  Pis.liii.  11. 


THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  299 

have  him  subject  to  the  Gospel  of  his  Redeemer  ? 
This  religion,  I  have  already  intimated  to  you,  is 
possessed  by  the  Episcopal  Church,  under  singular 
advantages.  And  whether  1  consider  the  soundness 
of  its  faith,  the  transcendent  purity,  holiness  and 
beauty  of  its  liturgy,  or  the  tendency  of  its  eccle- 
siastical economy  to  promote  that  love  of  subordina- 
tion which  is  essential  to  order,  and  that  unity  of 
action  which  is  essential  to  prosperity  ;  there  seems 
to  me  to  rest  upon  every  member  of  it  a  solemn 
obligation,  arising  from  the  greatness  of  his  privileges, 
to  extend,  as  far  as  he  is  able,  the  participation  of 
the  system,  in  the  enjoyment  of  which  he  is  so  highly 
favoured  of  God.  Would  you  do  what  you  can,  to 
promote  the  religious  and  moral  improvement  of 
man?  They  can  have  no  better  instructions  than 
you  may  communicate  to  them  in  the  Gospel ;  they 
can  offer  no  purer  sacrifices  to  their  Maker,  than  you 
may  furnish  them  in  the  Book  of  Common- Prayer. 

There  is  another  consideration,  which  I  would 
bring  to  your  view.  It  has  respect  to  yourselves. 
'*  The  merciful  man,"  says  the  author  of  the  sacred 
Proverbs,  **  doeth  good  to  his  own  soul**."  This 
may  refer  to  the  exquisite  satisfaction,  which  ever 
accompanies  the  consciousness  of  having  done  a 
benevolent  deed  :  or  it  may  refer  to  that  respect  of 
society,  which  always  waits  upon  the  names  and 
memories  of  those,  whose  public  exertions  or  private 
benefactions  manifest,  that  they  love  to  do  good :  or 
it  may  refer  to  the  payments,  which  are  often  made 
by  the  most  High  in  this  life,  of  what  the  faithful  in 
charitable  acts  lend  unto  Him  '^ :  or  it  may  refer  to 
the  lofty  pleasures,  to  the  transcendent  rewards, 
which  in  the  day  of  retribution  shall  be  given  to 
those,  whose  benevolent  and  useful  deeds  shall  have 
commended  them,  through  the  mediation  of  Jesus, 

•»  Prov.  xi.  17.  ."  Ibid.  xix.  17. 


300  ON  BEHALF  OF 

to  the  favour  of  Heaven.  If  in  any,  or  all  of  these 
ways,  he  v/ho  promotes  the  temporal  welfare  of  his 
fellow  beings,  does  good  unto  himself,  how  much 
rather  he,  who  directeth  his  exertions  and  charities 
to  the  promotion  of  their  spiritual  and  eternal  inte- 
rests !  Surely  the  pillow  of  that  man's  death-bed 
must  be  smooth,  and  hope  will  shed  around  him  the 
light  of  her  most  peaceful  countenance,  who  can 
perceive  in  the  review  of  life,  that  he  has  done  what 
he  could  for  securing  the  safety,  and  extending  the 
blessings  of  that  ark  of  God,  in  which  are  deposited 
for  his  human  offspring,  wisdom,  virtue,  and  ever- 
lasting salvation. 

Does  there  arise  to  check  the  operation  of  these 
motives,  the  inquiry,  what  is  the  necessity  of  this 
Institution  ?  The  increasing  population  of  the  state 
in  parts  of  it,  where  the  fountains  of  living  water 
have  not  yet  been  set  open ;  the  decayed  state  of 
the  Churches,  in  which  your  forefathers,  in  goodly 
numbers,  once  ate  with  reverence  the  bread  of  life  ; 
the  unhappy  influence  of  scepticism  on  the  one 
hand,  and  not  less  unhappy  influence  of  fanaticism 
on  the  other  ;■ — will,  in  the  Christian  bosom,  furnish 
a  sufficient  reply. 

Does  there  arise  the  chilling  suggestion,  this  So- 
ciety is  young,  what  can  it  do  ?  Every  thing  must 
have  its  beginning.  The  majestic  river  has  its  ori- 
gin at  a  little  spring ;  the  cloud  which  contained  the 
rain  that  fertilized  Samaria,  was  at  first  no  bigger 
than  "  a  man's  hand';"  the  intelligence  which  illu- 
mines a  natix)n,  had  its  dawn  in  the  infant  hanging 
upon  the  breast.  Because  this  Institution  is  young, 
we  should  the  more  readily  and  more  liberally  be- 
friend it. 

Does  the  thought  present  itself,  that  the  fruits  of 
your  beneficence  will  be  gathered  in  other  times  ? 

'  1  Kings  xviii.  44. 


THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  301 

This  is  in  some  degree  true.  Before  the  benevolent 
designs  of  this  Society  can  be  fully  realized,  its  first 
benefactors  will,  probably,  have  been  gathered  to 
their  fathers.  But  is  there  not  something  SM^eet  in 
the  thought,  that  while  we  shall  be  slumbering  in 
the  grave,  posterity  will  be  reaping  great  and  im- 
portant benefits  from  what  we  shall  have  done  ?  Is 
there  not  something  consoling  in  the  reflection,  that 
the  power  of  death  so  dreadfully  to  abridge  our 
connection  with  the  scenes  of  our  affection  and  use- 
fulness, may,  in  some  measure,  be  counteracted  by 
this  posthumous  operation  of  our  works  ?  Much 
good,  it  is  believed,  will  immediately  ensue  from 
the  benevolent  exertions  of  this  institution.  But  it 
is  the  expectation  of  great  future  benefits  to  be  de- 
rived from  it  by  posterity,  that  will  give  to  your 
beneficence  a  more  disinterested  character ;  yea^ 
that  will  assimilate  it  more  perfectly  to  the  benefi- 
cence of  God.  For  are  not  His  blessings  often 
bestowed  in  the  sublimest  character  of  goodness, 
where  His  hand  is  unseen  and  His  name  unknown  ? 
You  see  then,  my  hearers,  that  this  Institution 
presents  itself  before  you,  as  an  infant  friend  of  your 
Kedeemer.  It  stretches  out  its  hands  to  you  for 
your  smiles  and  your  help.  It  says  to  you,  I  would 
be  strong,  that  I  might  go  forth  and  build  up  the 
waste  places  of  the  city  of  God;,  and  bring  much 
people  to  the  enjoyment  of  His  peace  and  salvation. 
The  spirits  of  those  worthy  laymen,  who  anciently 
sought  the  prosperity  of  the  Church  in  these  parts, 
seem  to  me  to  look  down  upon  it  from  their  places 
of  rest,  and  say;  Jehovah  prosper  you.  The  spirits 
of  the  mild  and  pious  Johnson,  of  the  sensible  and 
dignified  Garden  *,  and  of  those  patient  and  intrepid 

*  The  Rev.  Dr.  Johnson,  the  first  President  of  King's  College, 
New-York;  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Garden,  the  Bishop  of  London's 
Commissary  in  South-Carolina, 


302  ON  BEHALF  OF 

clergymen,  who,  in  the  difficult  years  of  the  settle- 
ment of  these  regions,  laboured  in  the  word  and 
doctrine,  seem  to  me  to  lean  from  their  seats  of 
bliss,  and  behold  with  delight  the  appearance  of  an 
Institution,  which  will  take  up  the  work,  in  which 
they  expended  their  labours  and  their  lives.  The 
spirits  of  your  fathers,  who  once  worshipped  in  the 
temples  which  are  desolate,  and  whose  ashes  rest  in 
their  cemeteries,  seem  to  me  to  call  to  you  from  the 
skies,  to  patronize  in  their  steads  this  infant  advo- 
cate of  the  Church  which  they  loved.  Yea,  the 
Spirit  of  Jesus  seems  to  me  to  be  heard,  saying  to 
you  from  His  throne,  "  Take  this  child,  and  nurse  it 
for  Me,  and  I  will  give  thee  thy  wages  *."  Daugh- 
ters of  Jerusalem,  love  ye  your  Lord  ?  I  know  that 
you  love  Him.  When  you  have  read  of  the  faith- 
ful, the  happy  women  who  embalmed  His  body,  you 
have  envied  them  their  felicity.  To  share  it  with 
them  is  not  in  your  power.  But  He  hath  a  mystical 
body,  the  Church.  Upon  that  you  may  bestow  the 
expressions  of  your  regard  for  Him.  And  how  can 
you  do  it  so  effectually,  as  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  this  Institution,  which,  as  Joseph  cherished 
in  its  humiliation  His  earthly  body,  would  cherish 
the  mystical  one  in  which  He  delights  to  dwell  ? 
Sons  of  the  Churchy  love  ye  your  Lord  ?  I  trust 
that  ye  love  Him.  When  ye  behold  the  wise  men 
coming  to-day  to  bring  to  Him  their  *'  gifts,  gold, 
and  frankincense,  and  myrrh,"  ye  are  struck  with 
the  grandeur  of  the  scene ;  and  are  ready  to  say  to 
the  Author  of  so  much  good  to  our  race.  Would  we 
could  do  likewise  !  To  bring  your  gifts  to  His  pre- 
sence, who  has  died  that  your  sins  might  be  par- 
doned, and  is  gone  into  heaven  to  intercede  for  you 
there,  is  not  in  your  power.     But  you  may  bestow 

'  Exod.  ii.  9. 


THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  303 

your  gold,  your  frankincense,  and  your  myrrh, 
upon  the  Church,  which  is  His  body.  And  how  can 
you  do  it  so  effectually,  as  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  this  Institution,  which,  as  the  angels  mi- 
nistered in  the  days  of  His  humiliation  to  His  earthly 
body,  would  strengthen  His  mystical  one  with  all 
the  services  it  can  devise.  Men  and  brethren,  know 
ye  that  the  Son  of  God  shall  come  again  from  hea- 
ven ?  Assuredly  ye  have  heard  it.  "  Behold,  He 
cometh  with  clouds ;  and  every  eye  shall  see  Him  ",'' 
and  you  also  shall  stand  before  Him.  And  if  there 
shall  be  found  among  His  attendants,  many  happy 
spirits,  who  shall  have  been  conducted  to  the  know- 
ledge of  Him  through  the  beneficence  of  this  So- 
ciety, would  you  not  exchange  the  recollection  of 
every  earthly  vanity  for  the  remembrance,  which 
would  enable  you  to  say  to  the  Institution  which 
was  instrumental  in  bringing  these  to  their  bliss,  I 
in  the  days  of  my  flesh  gave  a  portion  of  my  goods  ? 
Go  then ;  indulge  the  emotions  which  the  Spirit  of 
God  exciteth  within  you ;  and  the  fruits  of  which, 
the  recording  angel  waiteth  to  enter  *'  in  the  Lamb's 
book  of  life "."  Go ;  and  as  Jacob  held  the  angel 
with  whom  he  wrestled,  hold  ye  this  opportunity 
fast ;  let  it  not  go,  until  it  have  blessed  you  ^. 

"  Rev.  i.  7.  "  Ibid.  xxi.  27.  "  Gen.  xxxii.  26. 


SERMON   LXXir. 


FOR  A  COLLECTION  IN  AID  OF  THE  FUNDS  OF  THE  '  PRO- 
TESTANT EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY  FOR  THE  ADVANCEMENT 
OF  CHRISTIANITY  IN  SOUTH-CAROLINA.' 


Nehemiah,  xiii.  14. 

Remember  me,  O  my  God,  concerning  this,  and  wipe  not  out 
my  good  deeds  that  I  have  done  for  the  house  of  my  God, 
and  for  the  offices  thereof. 

I  AM  filled  with  wonder,  my  brethren,  to  behold  a 
mortal  man,  claiming  of  the  Almighty  a  remem- 
brance for  good,  on  account  of  his  deeds.  Man 
cannot  be  too  humble  before  his  God.  So  frail  is 
his  nature,  and  so  imperfect  are  all  his  performances, 
that  the  language  which  becomes  him,  when  he  ap- 
proaches his  Maker,  is,  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner  ^."  What  then  are  the  works,  which  a  mere 
man,  and  he  a  pious  and  humble  man,  ventures  thus 
to  name  to  the  Eternal  God  ?  It  is  the  good  Nehe- 
miah who  uses  this  language.  What  are  the  deeds, 
with  the  remembrance  of  which  we  find  him  solacing 
himself,  and  for  which  he  calls  upon  the  Most  High 
to  remember  him  ?  They  were  services  done  for  the 
advancement  in  his  country  of  the  worship  of  God, 
and  the  religious  instruction  of  the  people.  Jeru- 
salem lay  desolate.     In  the  holy  temple  its  services 

"  Luke  xviii.  13. 


COLLECTION  SERMON,  cVc.  305 

were  unheard.  On  the  altars  no  sacrifice  was  laid, 
for  there  was  a  want  of  Priests.  In  the  city  no 
Sabbath  was  hallowed,  for  the  house  of  God  was 
forsaken.  There,  where  once  the  Church  had  been 
seen  in  all  the  grandeur  of  her  Mosaic  state ;  with 
the  Law  to  instruct,  and  the  Prophets  to  console 
her  children,  and  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant,  from 
before  which  was  brought  to  them  pardon  and  peace : 
now  silence  and  desolation  reigned;  "  the  place  of 
the  fathers'  sepulchres  lay  waste,  and  the  gates 
thereof  were  consumed  with  fire^"  As  this  excel- 
lent man,  whose  interesting  history  in  the  book  from 
which  the  text  is  taken,  is  worthy  of  your  attentive 
perusal,  contemplated  the  decayed  state  of  the 
Church  of  his  fathers,  he  wept.  Actuated  by  a 
noble  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  religious 
institutions  of  his  country,  he  called  into  action  all 
the  resources  he  could  command,  that  there  might 
be  restored  to  Jerusalem  some  degree  of  her  former 
excellence.  Were  personal  services  necessary?  He 
went  round  the  walls,  surveying  their  state,  and  took 
measures  for  rebuilding  them.  Was  the  co-opera- 
tion of  others  wanted,  for  the  accomplishment  of  his 
work  ?  He  reasoned  with  the  nobles,  and  rich  men, 
and  rulers,  till  they  were  interested  in  the  restora- 
tion of  the  order  and  worship  of  the  house  of  God. 
Were  contributions  needed  ?  All  his  servants  were 
gathered  to  the  work ;  and  there  were  sustained 
daily  at  his  table  an  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  Jews, 
besides  heathens,  and  he  gave  to  the  treasury  a 
thousand  drachms  of  gold,  and  fifty  basins,  and 
five  hundred  and  thirty  Priests'  garments.  His  ex- 
ample animated  others.  There  were  given  by  the 
people  to  the  treasury  of  work  forty  thousand 
drachms  of  gold,  and  four  thousand  and  two  hun- 


"  Neh.  ii.  3. 
VOL.   U.  X 


306  COLLECTION  SERMON 

drecl  pounds  of  silver,  and  threescore  and  seven 
Priests'  garments.  By  these  means  the  waste  places 
of  Jerusalem  were  rebuilt :  where  the  Sabbaths  had 
been  polluted  they  were  now  kept  holy  :  Priests  in 
sufficient  numbers  were  procured,  and  appointed  to 
their  stated  ministrations  :  in  the  temple  were  again 
heard  the  humble  prayer,  and  Psalm  of  holy  praise ; 
the  book  of  the  law  of  the  Lord  was  once  more  read, 
and  explained  in  the  ears  of  all  the  congregation: 
the  sacred  feasts,  those  pleasant  remembrancers  of 
God's  mercies  to  the  children  of  men,  were  revived, 
and  celebrated  each  in  its  place  :  and  Jerusalem  was 
seen  **  shaking  herself  from  the  dust^"  and  putting 
on  her  beautiful  garments  ;  while  satisfaction  and 
joy  filled  every  bosom,  in  the  hope  that  the  Lord 
God  would  again  dwell  among  them.  The  heart  of 
Nehemiah  glowed  with  delight,  as  he  surveyed  the 
fruit  of  his  labours,  and  with  a  complacency  which 
deeds  of  no  other  nature  would  have  inspired,  he 
exclaims,  with  eyes  uplifted  to  the  Being  to  whom 
we  must  all  give  account,  **  Remember  me,  O  my 
God,  concerning  this,  and  wipe  not  out  my  good 
deeds  that  I  have  done  for  the  house  of  my  God, 
and  for  the  offices  thereof." 

That  which  strikes  me,  my  brethren,  in  this  pas- 
sage of  holy  writ,  is  the  intimation  which  it  plainly 
contains,  that  good  deeds,  done  for  the  houses  of 
our  God  and  for  the  offices  thereof,  are  peculiarly 
acceptable  in  His  sight :  a  doctrine  which  is  con- 
firmed in  His  holy  word,  by  the  expressions  of  His 
approbation,  received  by  David  and  Solomon,  and 
Josiah,  and  others  of  the  Scripture  worthies,  on 
account  of  their  beneficent  deeds  and  pious  exer- 
tions for  promoting  the  knowledge  and  worship  of 
His  great  name. 

'  Is.  lii.  2. 


FOR  THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  307 

But  why  are  works  of  this  character  so  peculiarly 
acceptable  to  our  Creator?  The  reasons  are  obvious, 
and  sufficiently  impressive  to  render  us  9II  desirous 
to  have  placed  to  our  account,  in  the  book  of  God, 
some  memorials  of  good  deeds  done  by  us  for  the 
advancement  of  the  religion,  to  the  knowledge  and 
fellowship  of  which  He,  of  His  abundant  goodness, 
hath  vouchsafed  to  call  u.?. 

It  may  be  observed,    first,    that   all   benevolent 
deeds  are  pleasing  to  God.     He  is  love*^ ;  and  from 
age  to  age,  without  slumbering  or  sleeping,  is  con- 
stantly occupied  in  doing  good.  When  His  offspring 
are   engaged   in  benevolent   works,  they  resemble 
Him.     The  greater  the  extent  of  their  designs,  and 
the  more  disinterested  their  motives,  the  more  per- 
fect is  this  resemblance.     And  the  nearer  to  perfec- 
tion the  resemblance  of  Him  is  brought,  in  any  of 
His  children,  the  greater  must  consequently  be  the 
complacency,   with  which  He  beholds  them  ;    the 
higher  the  approbation  He  v/ill  bestow  upon  them* 
And  here  it  may  be  remarked,  in  passing,  that  deeds 
done  for  the  advancement  of  His  Church  are  of  the 
sublimest  extent,  and  most  disinterested  character. 
They  are  of  the  sublimest  extent,  for  they  embrace 
the  interests  of  unborn  generations,  and  the  effects 
of  them  endure  through  eternity.     They  are  of  a 
very  disinterested  character,  for  the  authors  of  them 
expect  not  to  live  even  to  see  the  fruits  of  their 
works.     Before  incense  can  arise  from  the  altar,  of 
which  he  hath  contributed  to  lay  the  foundation; 
before  the  youths  whom  he  hath  assisted  to  educate 
for   the  sanctuary,  can  be  clothed  with  the  holy 
vestments;  before  the   ''beauty   of  holiness^"  can 
be  seen,  or  the  instruction  of  Heaven  heard  in  the 
temple  which  he  hath  aided  to  build ;  the  head  of 

"•  I  John  iv.  1 G.  M  Chron.  xvi.  29. 

X  2 


308  COLLECTION  SERMON 

the  charitable  man  may  have  been  laid  to  its  rest, 
and  his  soul  have  passed  to  other  worlds.  Sublime 
beneficence,  which  asks  not  to  be  known  by  those, 
whom  it  benefits!  Its  deeds  fall  like  the  showers 
which  God  sends  in  the  wilderness,  where  no  man 
is ;  that  He  may  produce  the  substances  on  which 
the  ravens  may  feed,  and  replenish  the  streams  at 
which  **  the  wild  asses  may  quench  their  thirst^;" 
though  neither  of  them  perceive  or  know  the  hand 
that  provideth  for  their  life. 

.  But  I  pass  to  a  higher  reason,  why  the  deeds 
which  are  done  for  the  advancement  of  the  interests 
of  His  Church  upon  earth,  are  peculiarly  accepta- 
ble in  the  sight  of  God.  Let  it  be  observed,  in  the 
second  place,  that  the  benevolence,  which  is  thus 
employed,  carries  on  the  great  purpose  of  the  Most 
High,  in  all  His  dispensations  to  this  lower  world. 
God  has  had  an  end  to  accomplish,  in  this  part  of 
His  dominion,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world : 
namely,  the  recovery  of  the  human  race  from  death, 
and  the  restoration  to  them  of  righteousness  and 
eternal  life.  To  this  end  the  great  acts  of  His  go- 
vernment, and  His  particular  providences  to  the 
faithful,  have  all  had  reference.  Whether  He  be 
heard  in  the  types  of  the  Patriarchal,  or  in  the  sa- 
crifices of  the  Mosaic  economy;  whether  '*  He 
speak  in  time  past  unto  the  fathers  by  the  Prophets, 
or  in  these  last  days  unto  us  by  His  Son^;"  whether 
He  select  *'  a  peculiar  people'';"  and  confide  to 
them  the  oracles  of  truth;  or  **  break  down  the 
middle  wall  of  partition',''  and  diffuse  the  revela- 
tion of  His  will  among  all  nations ;  whether  He  ap- 
point the  expiatory  offering  to  be  consumed  upon 
His  altar,  or  give  the  beloved  Son  of  His  bosom  to 

'Ps.  civ.  11.  «  Heb.  i.  1,  S. 

"  Deut.  xiv.  2.  'Epb.  ii.  14. 


FOR  THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  309 

bleed  upon   the  cross  :— His  purpose  is   one  ;  the 
object  of  all  these  dispensations  is  the  same ;  the 
operations  of  the    great    moral   apparatus,    whose 
parts  extend  through  all  portions  of  time,  are  to 
produce  one  result,— the  introduction  and  establish- 
ment of  the  knowledge  of  Himself,  and  of  His  great 
salvation  ;  and  the  renewing  of  men  in  their  minds 
"  after  the  image  of  Him  that  created  them'."    Has 
He  sent  affliction  to  individuals  ?  Its  office  and  com- 
mission has  been,  to  lead  them,  if  they  would  be 
docile,  into  the  paths  of  wisdom.     Are  the  nations 
of  the  earth  thrown  into  confusion  ?    His  voice  is 
heard  amidst  the  tumult:  "I  will  overturn,  over- 
turn, overturn,  until  He  come  whose  right  it  is^"  to 
reign.     As  the,  great  drama  of  the  events  of  this 
world  shall  be   drawing  towards  its  close,   '*  many 
shall  run  to  and  fro,  and  knowledge  shall  be  in- 
creased"':" and  the  anthem  which  shall  animate  the 
final  scene  is,  "The  kingdoms  of  this  world   are 
become   the   kingdoms   of  our   Lord,   and  of   His 
Christ;  and   He   shall  reign  for  ever  and   ever"." 
Every  effort,  therefore,  of  societies  of  men,  every 
exertion  or  benevolent  deed  of  individuals,  for  es- 
tablishing  and   extending  the   Church,  •'  and   the 
offices   thereof,"    is   a  co-operation    with    the   Al- 
mighty :  a  co-operation  with  Him  in  promoting  the 
>  accomplishment  of  purposes  dear  to  His  mind,  from 
before \he  foundation  of  the  world;  and  to  which 
He  has  applied  His  attributes,  devoted  His  provi- 
dence, and  given  "  His  only  begotten  Son"."     How 
ennobling  the  thought  of  being  **  workers  together 
with  God^"     How  strong  the  obligation  upon  us  to 
be  so,  whenever  it  is  in  our  power.     When  indeed 

"  Col.  iii.  10.  '  Ezek.  xxi.  27.  ""  Dan.  xii.  4 

"Rev.xi.  15.  'John  iii.  16.  r  o  Cor.  vi.  1. 


310  COLLECTION  SERMON 

I  contemplate  the  Almighty  as  the  rightful  owner  of 
all  things,  who  has  distributed  portions  of  them  as 
He  has  seen  fit  among  men,  to  be  used  for  His  glory, 
and  the  good  of  His  creatures ;  and  behold  His  in- 
stitutions languishing  for  want  of  the  aid  of  the  ta- 
lents, or  influence,  or  wealth,  which  He  hath  given 
men :  I  see  not  how  they,  with  whom  He  hath  en- 
trusted any  of  these  gifts,  can  escape  the  imputa- 
tion of  withholding  His  own  from  God :  when  the 
state,  too,  in  which  He  presents  to  their  view  the 
work,  which  they  know  He  has  in  hand,  indicates 
His  will,  that  of  His  own,  which  He  had  freely 
given  them,  they  should  offer  Him  a  part  for  the 
honour  of  His  name.  "  Will  a  man  rob  God  :"  said 
He  to  His  ancient  people,  when  they  had  suffered 
the  offices  of  His  house  to  fall  to  decay ;  "  Will  a 
man  rob  God  ?  Yet  ye  have  robbed  Me.  But  ye 
say.  Wherein  have  we  robbed  Thee  ?  In  tithes  and 
offerings'*:"  intimating,  that  to  so  much  of  their 
wealth,  as  was  necessary  to  the  maintenance  of  His 
holy  institutions  among  them.  He  had  a  claim, 
which  it  would  be,  not  merely  a  want  of  benefi- 
cence, but  an  act  of  injustice  to  Him,  not  to  ac- 
knowledge and  discharge.  Who  then  would  refuse 
to  co-operate  with  the  Almighty,  in  promoting  the 
knowledge  and  honour  of  His  name,  and  the  salva- 
tion of  His  human  children  ?  Surely  of  all  the  works 
which  men  may  do,  deeds  of  this  kind  must  be  pe- 
culiarly acceptable  to  Him  ;  whether  they  be  con- 
sidered as  expressive  of  our  desire,  that  His  plea- 
sure should  be  accomplished  in  the  world;  or  as 
promotive  of  objects,  which  He  Himself  has  de- 
clared the  most  important  which  can  be  pursued 
on  earth,  by  making  them  the  subject  of  His  own 

''  MaL  iii.  S. 


FOR  THE  EI>iSCOPAL  SOCIETY.  311 

eternal  counsels,  and  end  of  His  wonderful  dispen- 
sations. 

I  add  in  the  third  place,  that  in  Christians  good 
deeds  done   for  the  benefit  of  His  Church  are  emi- 
nently becoming,  as  a  proper  expression  of  grati- 
tude to  their  Redeemer.     Of  His  claim  to  your  gra- 
titude, it  is  not  necessary  for  me  here  to  speak. 
You  have  not  now  to  be  told  of  His  love,  nor  of  the 
greatness  of  the  salvation  He  hath  wrought  for  your 
race.     I  need  not  take  you  to  Bethlehem,  and  show 
.you  Him   emptied   of  Divine   glory,  and  for  your 
sakes,  entering  this  miserable  world  in  the  humblest 
form  of  human  existence.     I  need  not  conduct  you 
over  Judea,  and  point  Him  out  to  you  amidst  cares 
and  troubles,  going  about  doing  good.     I  need  not 
lead   you   to  the  garden  of  Gethsemane,  that  you 
may  look  upon  the  unspeakable  agony  He  sustains, 
while  "  He  bears  our   griefs,  and  carries  our  sor- 
rows;"— "  and  the  Lord  is  laying  on  Him  the  ini- 
quity of  us  air."     I  need  not  ascend  Mount  Calvary 
with  you,  that  you  may  see  Him  stretched  upon 
the  cross,  and  pouring  out  His  life  a  ransom  for  your 
souls.     I  need  not  turn  your  attention  to  the  sacred 
volume,  and  remind  you  of  the  blessed  instructions 
in  truth  and  righteousness,  which  He  hath  left  you. 
I  need  not  direct  the  eye  of  your  faith,  to  the  throne 
of  God,  that  you  may  behold  Him  there,  still  making 
intercession  for  you,  and  sending  from  thence  the 
"  Comforter,  that  He  may  abide  with  you  for  ever'." 
I  need  not  bid  you  rise  on  the  wing  of  holy  expec- 
tation, and  pass  to  the  portals  of  heaven,  and  con- 
sider the  mansions  of  bliss  and  immortality,  which 
He  hath  purchased  for  you  with  His  blood,  and  is 
preparing  for  your  reception,  that  "  where  He  is, 

'  Is.  liii.  4,  6.  «  John  xiv.  IG. 


312  COLLECTION  SERMON 

there  you  may  be  also'."  No.  With  these  deeds 
of  your  Redeemer  you  are  well  acquainted,  and 
there  are  hours,  when,  overwhelmed  with  the  con- 
templation of  the  greatness  of  His  love,  you  are 
ready  to  exclaim,  **  Oh  that  I  knew  where  I  might 
find  Him!  that  I  might  come  even  to  His  seat"!" 
But  while  He  is  within  the  vail,  presenting  before 
the  Mercy  Seat  His  own  expiatory  blood,  and 
making  intercession  for  us,  it  is  not  permitted  us  to 
approach  His  sacred  person.  Butthebody  of  which 
He  is  the  head,  is  on  earth  as  well  as  in  heaven. 
The  Church  is  His  body''.  In  all  its  afflictions  He 
is  afflicted^,  and  in  all  its  prosperities  He  is  rejoiced. 
Whenever  it  is  exalted,  and  its  interests  advanced. 
He  is  honoured :  and  when  it  is  neglected  and  de- 
spised, He  is  trampled  under  foot.  In  their  care  of 
its  growth,  and  reputation,  and  beauty.  His  disci- 
ples express  their  affection  for  its  head  :  and  what- 
soever good  deed  is  done  by  any  man  to  the  least  of 
its  members,  is  done  to  Him.  Yes,  blessed  Lord, 
though  now  we  see  Thee  not.  Thou  hast  left  us  a 
way  in  which  we  may  make  some  return  for  Thy 
unparalleled  love.  We  cannot  come  to  Thee,  and 
wash  Thy  wounds.  We  cannot  anoint  Thy  head 
with  ointment.  We  cannot  kiss  Thy  feet.  But  we 
may  espouse  the  cause  on  earth  which  Thou,  in  hea- 
ven, art  anxious  to  have  accomplished :  and  the 
good  deeds  and  gifts  which,  if  Thou  wert  present, 
we  should  come  with  eager  steps  to  offer  unto  Thee, 
we  may  bestow  upon  the  Church,  which  Thou  hast 
espoused  unto  Thyself,  and  in  her  Thou  wilt  re- 
ceive the  offerings  of  our  love.  And  how  great,  as 
well  as  meet,  is  the  satisfaction  which  we  may  af- 

'  John  XV.  3.  "  Job  xxiii.  3. 

"  Col.  i.  24.  '  Is.  Ixiii.  9. 


FOR  THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  313 

ford  our  Redeemer,  by  extending  the  knowledge 
and  influence  of  His  religion.  **  Is  there  joy  in 
heaven,  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God,  over 
one  sinner  that  repenteth^?"  How  much  more  in 
the  bosom  of  Him,  who  died  that  sinners  might  re- 
pent and  live?  Consider  that  the  enjoyment  of  the 
holy  Sabbaths  ;  that  access  to  the  fonts  of  Baptism  ; 
that  the  opportunities  and  means  of  offering  to  God 
acceptable  services  ;  that  the  instructions  in  righ- 
teousness, and  tidings  of  joy,  which  Christianity 
furnishes  ;  and  that  the  sacred  Supper  at  which,  for 
the  full  assurance  of  our  faith,  we  are  upon  earth 
brought  nigh  unto  God,  and  God  is  brought  nigh 
unto  us ;  w^ere  all  procured  at  the  expence  of  the 
incarnation,  and  death  of  the  Son  of  God.  How,  if 
I  may  speak  of  Him  as  a  man,  who  is  exalted  far 
above  all  principalities  and  powers,  how  must  He 
be  pained,  when  privileges  and  blessings  purchased 
by  Him  for  the  human  race,  at  such  a  cost,  are  but 
partially  enjoyed!  What  expression  of  our  grati- 
tude to  Him  can  be  more  becoming  and  acceptable, 
than  by  '*  good  deeds  done  for  the  houses  of  our 
God,  and  for  the  offices  thereof,"  to  contribute  to 
the  preservation  and  extension  of  those  principles, 
institutions,  and  instructions ;  without  which  the 
Church  of  His  regard  would  be  poor  and  feeble,  and 
sink  into  decay ;  and  many  of  the  family,  which  He 
died  to  save,  perish  "  for  lack  of  knowledge  %"  or 
for  the  neglect  and  abuse  of  it  be  condemned  to 
utter  perdition. 

And  this  leads  me  to  observe  in  the  last  place, 
that  good  deeds  done  for  the  advancement  of  reli- 
gion in  the  world,  may  well  be  supposed  to  be  pe- 
culiarly agreeable  to  the  Most  High ;  inasmuch  as 

»  Luke  XV.  7, 10.  "Hos.  iv.  6. 


314  COLLECTION  SERMON 

they  are  promotive  of  the  best  interests  of  our  fel- 
low beings,  His  human  children.  For  what  is  man 
without  the  instructions  of  his  Maker?  What  is  his 
condition,  where  the  light  of  God's  word  hath  not 
shined  ?  Shall  I  speak  of  him  as  an  individual  ? 
*'  How  art  thou  fallen"  from  thy  original  greatness, 
thou  **  son  of  the  morning''!"  He  wants  instruc- 
tion for  his  mind,  guidance  for  his  affections,  re- 
straint for  his  vices,  animation  for  his  virtues,  conso- 
lation for  his  sorrows,  a  sacrifice  for  his  sins,  foun- 
dation for  his  hopes,  and  some  staff  for  his  spirit, 
when  he  enters  '*  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death"." 
It  is  religion's  holy  power,  that  must  soften  his  cha- 
racter, brighten  his  path,  and  restore  to  him  the 
lineaments  of  the  image  of  God.  Shall  I  speak  of 
him,  as  joined  with  his  brethren  in  society  ?  He  is 
destitute  of  those  views  of  his  nature  and  destiny, 
which  would  give  elevation  to  his  character,  and 
teach  him  to  respect  both  himself  and  his  fellow 
beings.  Of  the  most  powerful  sanctions  of  the  laws 
of  kindness,  and  faithfulness,  and  charity,  and  truth, 
he  is  ignorant  or  regardless.  The  passions  are  with- 
out reins,  which  carry  him  with  desolating  impe- 
tuosity, over  the  rights  and  feelings  of  others.  There 
is  wanting  that  regard  to  a  future  retribution,  which 
hallows  and  protects  all  the  duties  of  the  social 
state.  How  different  his  character  and  happiness, 
when  blessed  with  the  religion  of  Christ,  under  the 
benignant  influence  of  which,  if  it  had  operation  in 
all  its  purity  and  power,  "  the  wolf  would  dwell 
with  the  lamb,  and  the  leopard  lie  down  with  the 
kid,  and  the  calf  and  the  young  lion  and  the  fatling 
together,  and  a  little  child  should  lead  them*^:"  a 
state,  which  Almighty  God  hath  taught  us,  is  not  to 

**  Is.  Ji^iv.  10.  "  Ps.  xxiii.  4.  ''  Is.  xi,  6» 


lOR  THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  315 

be  expected,  till  the  "  earth  shall  be  full  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord^  as  the  waters  covers  the 
sea*."  Shall  I  speak  of  him,  as  a  being  who  has 
higher  interests  than  the  concerns  of  this  fleeting 
life ;  whose  relations  and  fortunes  extend  to  other 
worlds ;  whose  existence  is  to  be  eternal  ?  Ah ! 
What  an  alternative  is  presented  in  this  the  most  in- 
teresting view !  He  may  rise  to  "  glory  and  honour 
and  immortality '^"  in  the  kingdom  of  God;  or  be 
driven  into  "  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  the  devil 
and  his  angels s."  How  important  to  convey  to  him 
that  *'  grace  of  God  that  bringeth  salvation''"  which 
shows  him  his  duty,  and  guides  him  into  the  path 
of  safety ;  which  reveals  to  him  that  Saviour  con- 
cerning whom  we  have  the  assurance  of  the  Al- 
mighty, that  '  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in 
Him,  shall  not  die  eternally.'  In  every  view  which 
we  take  of  man,  the  instructions  and  comforts  of 
Christianity  are  the  best  benefits  we  can  provide  for 
him.  It  is  well  known  to  you,  that  the  good  deeds, 
which  the  merciful  do  to  the  bodies  of  men,  are 
pleasing  in  the  sight  of  the  Almighty.  You  have 
heard  that  they  who  have  fed  the  hungry,  and  given 
drink  to  the  thirsty,  and  received  the  stranger,  and 
clothed  the  naked,  and  comforted  the  sick,  and  vi- 
sited the  prisoner,  shall  be  placed  on  His  right  hand, 
when  He  cometh  to  judge  the  world'.  If  these  acts 
of  charity  to  the  bodies  of  men  are  so  pleasing  to 
our  heavenly  Father,  with  what  high  approbation 
must  He  behold  those,  who  assist  in  providing  the 
means,  whereby  the  soul  that  is  hungry  may  be  fed 
with  "the  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven^" 
and  the  parting  spirit  have  its  thirst  allayed  at  the 

«  Is.  xi.  9.  '  Rom.  ii.  7.  ^  Matt.  xxv.  41. 

"  Titus  ii.  11.  '  Matt.  xxv.  SI,  &c.  "  John  vi.  41. 


316  COLLECTION  SERMON 

fountains  of  life :  whereby  he  who  was  a  stranger 
to  the  covenant  of  promise,  may  be  taken  into  the 
congregation  of  Christ's  flock ;  and  the  naked  soul 
be  protected  with  the  covering  of  the  righteousness 
of  its  Redeemer :  whereby  the  heart  that  is  sick 
with  the  sense  of  its  sinfulness,  may  be  visited  by 
the  Comforter,  who  will  seal  to  it  the  overtures  of 
forgiveness  and  peace ;  and  they  who  are  fast  bound 
in  the  prison  of  the  adversary,  with  the  chain  of  their 
sins,  may  be  set  free  by  that  grace,  which  destroyeth 
the  power  of  the  devil !  Deeds  of  such  charity  are, 
doubtless,  as  delightful  works  as  any  which  God 
sees  performed  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  our  world. 
Other  acts  of  benevolence  afl"ect  the  perishable, 
these  the  immortal,  part  of  men.  The  comfort  which 
the  former  afford  is  limited  to  this  transient  state ; 
the  benefits  of  the  latter  may  be  felt  eternally.  On 
this  account  it  is  written ;  "  they  that  be  wise"  in 
understanding  the  preference  of  spiritual  interests, 
and  making  them  sure,  *'  shall  shine  as  the  bright- 
ness of  the  firmament ;  and  they  that  turn  many  to 
righteousness,"  by  their  exertions,  their  example,  or 
deeds  of  benevolence,  to  which  the  love  of  Christ, 
and  of  men's  souls  hath  constrained  them,  ''  as  the 
stars  for  ever  and  ever'." 

You  see  then,  my  hearers,  bow  great  excellence, 
utility,  and  hope  of  the  Divine  approbation,  belong 
to  good  deeds  done  for  the  advancement  among  men 
of  religious  instruction,  and  the  worship  of  God. 
It  is  to  the  performance  of  deeds  of  this  character, 
that  I  am  now  to  invite  you.  The  object  of  the 
Society,  which  to-day  solicits  your  aid,  is  the  '  ad- 
vancement of  Christianity  in  South-Carolina,'  after 
the  principles  and  ritual  of  our  own  distinguished 

'  Dan.  xii.  3. 


FOR  THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  317 

Church.  This  object  it  would  endeavour  to  accom- 
plish ;  by  diffusing  liberally  works  of  approved  re- 
putation upon  sacred  subjects,  placing  always  at 
the  head  of  them  the  Scriptures,  and  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer :  by  educating  young  men,  who 
are  natives  of  this  country,  for  the  ministry  of  the 
Church :  and  by  sending  Missionaries  of  good  cha- 
racter to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  perform  the  ser- 
vices of  the  Church,  in  places  where  these  benefits 
cannot  otherwise  be  enjoyed.  When  they  cast  their 
eyes  upon  many  spots,  where  the  Church  once  stood 
in  her  glory,  they  **  think  upon  her  stones,  and  it 
pitieth  them  to  see  her  in  the  dust"."  When  they 
add  to  the  view  the  growing  population  of  the  state ; 
the  increasing  attention  to  religious  inquiries ;  the 
desire  manifested  in  many  places,  to  have  the  ad- 
vantages of  public  worship ;  and  the  wild  fanaticism 
which  is  spreading  itself  in  some  quarters,  and  is  as 
little  likely  to  honour  the  character  as  to  produce 
the  fruits  of  true  religion: — they  perceive  that  "  the 
harvest  truly  is  great,  but  the  labourers  are  few";" 
and  are  compelled  by  the  insufficiency  of  their  funds 
for  the  extent  of  their  work,  to  call  upon  you  to  aid 
their  exertions,  that  "  labourers  may  be  sent  forth 
into  the  harvest."  Of  this  charity  there  is  a  view, 
which  upon  my  mind  is  so  impressive,  that  I  cannot 
but  persuade  myself  it  will  fill  you  with  joy,  in  an 
opportunity  to  contribute  to  the  accomplishment  of 
its  purposes.  Suppose  that  our  blessed  Redeemer 
stood  amongst  us,  and  asked  of  you  an  alms  ;  an 
alms  to  assist  Him  in  carrying  on  the  work,  upon 
which  He  came  down  from  heaven,  the  enlighten- 
ing, reforming,  and  saving  of  mankind.  Do  I  de- 
ceive myself,  when  I  imagine  you  hastening  to  Him 

■"  Ps.  cii.  14.  »  Luke  x.  2. 


318  COLLECTION  SERMON 

with  holy  love,  with  fervent  devotion,  and  emptying- 
all  your  treasures  at  His  feet  ?  From  the  meek  and 
beneficent  Jesus,  the  most  dissolute,  I  am  sure, 
would  not  turn  away  without  offering  Him  a  portion 
of  his  possessions.  The  language  of  His  disciples 
would  be,  *'  All  that  we  have  is  Thine  °."  But,  my 
brethren,  the  necessities  of  the  Gospel  are  His  ne- 
cessities. When  His  religion  solicits  your  aid,  it  is 
He  that  speaks.  Societies  for  diffusing  the  blessings 
of  His  Church,  present  the  same  object  which  He 
would  propose.  '*  Inasmuch,"  says  He,  "  as  ye 
have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  My 
brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  Me  p."  And  what 
can  we  do,  concerning  which  our  God  will  be  so 
likely  to  remember  us  ?  What  acts  are  more  meet, 
in  the  days  of  your  prosperity,  than  '*  good  deeds 
done  for  the  house  of  your  God,  and  for  the  offices 
thereof?"  Of  what  works  will  the  recollection  be 
more  solacing  in  the  seasons  of  your  adversity,  than 
of  "  good  deeds  done  for  the  house  of  your  God, 
and  for  the  offices  thereof?"  To  what  transac- 
tions of  your  life  will  you  look  back  with  more 
pleasure,  when  you  shall  be  entering  the  vale 
of  death,  than  to  '*  good  deeds  done  for  the 
house  of  your  God,  and  for  the  offices  thereof?" 
What  works  can  you  be  more  desirous  to  have  re- 
hearsed concerning  you  in  the  day  of  judgment, 
than  '*  good  deeds  done"  upon  earth  "  for  the  house 
of  your  God,  and  for  the  offices  thereof?"  Give 
then,  ye  rich ;  that  of  the  abundance  which  He 
hath  given  you,  a  portion  may  be  used  to  the  ho- 
nour of  His  name.  To  the  treasury  of  this  work 
offer  your  contributions,  ye  gay  and  thoughtless,  if 
haply,  amidst  your  omissions  of  duty  and  trans- 

"  Luke  XV.  SI,  "  Matt.  xxv.  40. 


FOR  THE  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY.  319 

gressions  of  His  laws,  the  Almighty  may  remember 
you  for  this.  And  you,  lovers  of  Christianity  ;  who, 
if  its  Author  were  to  put  to  you  the  question  which 
He  put  to  His  Apostle,  "  Lovest  thou  Me?"  would 
reply  with  a  zeal  not  less  than  his  :  "  Thou  knowest 
all  things ;  Thou  knowest  that  I  love  Thee ;" 
— assist  by  your  oblations  to  "  feed  His  sheep, 
and  feed  His  lambs''."  Jesus,  from  His  throne, 
looks  down  to-day,  to  behold  the  measure  of  our 
beneficence.  Christians,  will  ye  refuse  to  gratify 
your  Redeemer  ? 

1  John  xxi.  15—17. 


SERMON   LXXIII. 


FAST    SERMON. 


Jeremiah,  xviii.  7,  8. 

At  what  instant  I  shall  speaJc  concerning  a  nation,  and  con- 
cerning a  kingdotn,  to  pluck  up>,  and  to  pull  down,  and  to  de- 
stroy it ;  if  that  nation,  against  whom  I  have  pronounced, 
turn  from  their  evil,  I  will  repent  of  the  evil  that  I  thought 
to  do  unto  them. 

The  vicissitudes  which  create,  which  alter,  and 
which  destroy  countries  and  communities,  are  among 
the  most  interesting  occurrences  of  our  globe.  In 
them  we  feel  a  lively  interest  as  men,  and  have 
naturally  a  desire  to  ascertain  the  spring  of  their 
movements,  and  the  principles,  according  to  which 
those  movements  are  governed.  The  Scriptures 
abound  with  passages,  which  furnish  information 
upon  this  subject ;  and  contain  the  only  instruction 
capable  of  solving  the  difficulties  in  which  it  is 
frequently  enveloped.  The  text  is  one  of  a  great 
number  of  declarations,  from  which  the  man,  who 
is  engaged  in  observing  the  events  of  the  world,  or 
is  alarmed  by  the  tendency  of  the  awful  phenomena 
of  nature,  or  concerned  for  the  vicissitudes  of  his 
own  country,  may  obtain  that  knowledge  which 
should,  at  once,  satisfy  his  inquiry,  and  render  him 
humble   and   virtuous.     **  At  what  instant  I  shall 


FAST  SERMON.  321 

speak  concerning  a  nation,  and  concerning  a  kingdom, 
to  pluck  up,  and  to  pull  down,  and  to  destroy  it ;  if 
that  nation,  against  whom  I  have  pronounced,  turn 
from  their  evil,  I  will  repent  of  the  evil  that  I 
thought  to  do  unto  them." 

These  words  suggest  to  us  in  the  first  place,  that 
the  being  and  condition  of  countries  and  communities, 
of  nations  and  kingdoms,  are  under  the  control  of 
the  Most  High. 

Secondly,  that  the  great  procuring  cause  of  per- 
plexities and  afflictions,  calamities  and  ruin,  in  any 
section  of  the  earth,  is  the  predominance  of  irreligion 
and  vice. 

And  thirdly,  that  by  timely  reformation,  a  people 
may  avert  the  evils,  which  on  account  of  their  sins 
the  Almighty  may  have  pronounced  against  them. 

These  three  most  interesting  truths  are  evidently 
contained  in  this  portion  of  the  sacred  writings:  and 
they  strike  me  as  peculiarly  proper  for  your  present 
meditation. 

That  the  fate  and  events  of  countries  and  commu- 
nities are  in  the  hands  of  God,  is  almost  a  necessary 
consequence  of  His  being  and  character.  That  He 
has  created  a  world,  and  then  abandoned  it  to  the 
government  of  chance,  is  a  supposition  so  repugnant 
to  the  idea  of  any  purpose  in  creating  it ;  so  incom- 
patible with  all  His  known  attributes;  so  contra- 
dictory to  every  reasonable  sentiment  of  a  God ; 
that  it  is  utterly  inadmissible.  To  suppose  Him 
watchful  of  the  operations  in  the  universe,  and  yet 
not  active  in  the  management  of  them,  would  seem 
irreconcileable  with  the  inefficacy  of  all  laws  without 
His  might ;  with  the  appearance  of  design  in  most 
events ;  with  the  effects  of  a  sublime  power  which 
many  of  them  display ;  and  with  the  existence,  on 
peculiar  occasions^  of  some  occurrences  wliich  have 

VOL.  II,  V 


322  FAST  SERMON, 

been  departures  from  the  ordinary  course  of  nature. 
To  believe  any  affairs  to  be  under  the  guidance  of 
His  providence,  and  yet  to  imagine  that  the  fortunes 
of  whole  countries    and   people  are  free  from  His 
observation  and  care,    would  be  inconsistent  with 
the  variety  and  magnitude  of  the  interests,  which 
are  in  those  fortunes  always  involved.     If  then  there 
be  a  God,  there  is  a  supreme  Providence.     For  can 
we  believe  Him  all-powerful,  wise  and  good,  and 
yet  regardless  of  His  works  ?     Are  there  not  events, 
for  which  we  can  in  no  way  satisfactorily  account, 
but  by  referring  them  to  His  special  exertion  ?     If 
there  be  a  Providence,  it  is  concerned  always  about 
the  condition  and  events  of  nations  and  kingdoms. 
For  can  any  objects  more  need  His  attention,  or  be 
more  suitable  for  His  care  ?      Does  He   cause  the 
grass  to  grow  upon  the  mountains,  and  number  the 
hairs  of  our  heads,  and  at  the  same  time  neglect 
those  occurrences  in  the  physical,  and  social  world, 
with  which  are  generally  connected  the  safety,  the 
happiness,  and  the  improvement  of  millions  of  His 
intelligent  creatures ;  with  which  are  often  connected 
the  progress  of  civilization,  virtue,  and  religion;  yea 
with  which  is  sometimes  connected  that  display  of 
His  own  glory,  for  which  all  things  **  are  and  were 
created''?"    These  sentiments  are  confirmed  by  their 
having  been  common  to  all  mankind.     The  poets  of 
remotest  antiquity  represent  their  heroes,  as  seeking 
by  sacrifices  and  libations  the  protection  of  the  gods, 
when  marching  to  battle ;  or  their  intervention  when 
assailed  by  plagues.     The    disciples    of  imposture 
and  of  ignorance  have  recourse  to  the  intercession 
of  their  prophet  and  their  Bramins,  for  distinguishing 
favours,  or  the  averting  of  awful  calamities.     And 

"  Rev.  iv.  11. 


FAST  SERMON.  323 

the  best  rulers  of  the  most  enlightened  times  have 
deemed  it  rational  and  useful  to  direct  their  thoughts, 
and  the  thoughts  of  their  people,  to  the  God  of 
heaven  in  seasons  of  alarm  and  danger.  Above  all, 
they  are  sentiments  which  are  rendered  unquestion- 
able, by  the  authority  of  the  sacred  volume.  In  the 
Scriptures  the  Almighty  is  explicitly  represented,  as 
superintending  all  the  wonderful  occurrences  in  the 
natural,  political,  and  moral  world.  They  expressly 
teach  that  an  arm  of  flesh,  and  a  bow  of  steel,  are 
destitute  of  strength,  when  He  bids  them  be  relaxed  ; 
that  peace  and  war  operate  in  the  manner  which  He 
permits,  during  the  period  which  He  limits,  and  in 
the  sphere  which  He  assigns :  that  the  blessings 
which  prosper,  and  the  calamities  which  deject 
communities,  are  sent  by  Him,  and  by  Him  recalled: 
that  *'  the  sword,  and  the  famine,  and  the  noisome 
beast,  and  the  pestilence,  are  His  four  sore  judg- 
ments ""i"  that  the  thunder,  and  the  eartht[uake,  and 
great  noise,  and  the  storm,  and  tempest,  and  flame 
of  devouring  fire,  are  visitations  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts : 
that  the  elements  of  nature  are  His  ministers,  to 
perform  His  purposes.  If  we  do  not  reject  the 
sacred  volume,  we  must  believe  that  every  people  is 
with  God,  as  a  vessel  of  clay  in  the  hands  of  the 
potter,  which  he  baketh,  and  marreth,  and  maketh 
again  according  to  hrs  pleasure,  and  the  uses  for 
which  it  is  designed^  In  the  history  of  His  *'  peculiar 
people*^,"  we  see  Him  regulating  their  movements, 
aiding  or  frustrating  their  purposes,  and  achieving 
their  exploits.  And  in  the  sublime  passage  vv^hich 
now  guides  our  meditations,  He  with  a  majesty  of 
language,  scarcely  surpassed  in  any  other  portion  of 
the  holy  books,  represents  the  fate  of  countries  as 

*  Ezek.  xiv.  21.  '  Jer.  xviii.  4.  ■*  Deut,  xi\ .  2. 

y2 


324  FAST  SERMON. 

determined  by  His  word.  "  At  what  instant  I  shall 
speak  concerning  a  nation,  and  concerning  a  kingdom, 
to  pluck  up,  and  to  pull  down,  and  to  destroy  it." 

But  it  may  be  objected,  if  it  is  thus  certain  that 
the  events  of  time  are  under  the  superintendance  of 
God,  why  are  there  so  great  evils  both  in  the  natural 
and  political  world?  Why  does  the  earthquake 
terrify  and  devastate  whole  cities  and  countries  in 
some  regions,  and  war  deluge  others  with  blood? 
Why  is  '  the  arm  of  abused  power'  ever  successful, 
and  unprincipled  violence  seen  triumphing  over 
prostrate  man?  To  this  it  would  be  sufficient  to 
reply,  that  in  us  beings  of  yesterday,  who  see  but  a 
few  links  of  the  vast  chain,  in  which  the  Almighty 
hath  connected  all  occurrences  in  the  universe  ;  who 
with  the  utmost  effort  of  our  faculties  are  unable,  in 
this  our  low  position,  to  perceive  the  final  results  of 
any  of  His  operations;  it  is  presumptuous,  vainly 
presumptuous  to  attempt  to  fathom  the  counsels  of 
His  mind ;  and  worse  than  presumptuous,  with  the 
evidences  which  He  hath  vouchsafed  to  give  us  in 
His  word  and  works,  of  His  wisdom,  goodness,  and 
rectitude,  to  doubt  that  all  His  arrangements  will 
terminate  to  the  honour  of  His  government,  and  the 
greatest  possible  benefit  of  His  creatures.  As  the 
objection  however  is  plausible,  it  may  be  well  to 
observe  further,  that  our  estimate  of  what  appears 
to  be  evil  may  often  be  erroneous.  There  are  cer- 
tainly reasons  for  apprehending,  that  in  the  vicissi- 
tudes of  this  disordered  world,  the  course  is  taken 
by  Divine  providence,  which,  upon  the  whole,  is 
best;  and  '  all  partial  evil,  universal  good.'  Thus 
though  the  earthquake,  or  the  whirlwind  may  destroy 
a  city,  and  both  be  made  instruments  by  the  Almighty 
of  executing  His  vengeance  upon  a  guilty  people, 
they  may  nevertheless  be   necessary  to  the  safety, 


FAST  SERMON.  325 

the  durability,  and  the  sahibrity  of  the  globe  they 
disturb. 

*  The  winter  is  as  needful  as  the  spring, 
The  thunder  as  the  sun  ;  a  stagnant  mass 
Of  vapours  breeds  a  pestilental  air. 
Not  more  propitious  the  Favonian  breeze 
To  nature's  health,  than  purifying  storms. 
The  dread  volcano  ministers  to  good ; 
Its  smothered  flames  might  undermine  the  world.' 

Somewhere,  I  know  not  where,  I  have  seen  it 
with  striking  force  and  beauty  asked,  whether  the 
insect,  whose  habitation  the  ploughshare  overturns, 
knows  that  its  motions  conduce  to  that  fertility  of  the 
earth,  which  is  to  sustain  many  intelligent  creatures  ? 
In  like  manner,  from  the  convulsions  and  terrible 
occurrences  in  the  moral  world,  there  may  be  educed 
by  the  Being,  who  bringeth  good  out  of  evil,  such 
results  as  will  advance  His  purposes,  and  the  general 
welfare.  '  The  arm  of  abused  power,'  as  in  the  case 
of  the  Assyrian  monarch,  may  be  used  by  Him  as  a 
scourge,  in  executing  His  anger  upon  the  nations 
whom  He  would  chastise  ;  though  it  may  be  an 
object  in  itself  of  Divine  abhorrence,  and  destined, 
in  manifestation  of  the  Divine  holiness,  to  be  itself 
finally  broken.  Evils  there  are  in  the  world.  They 
are  to  be  looked  for  in  a  world  inhabited  by  sinners, 
and  labouring  under  a  curse.  But  we  have  no  reason 
to  believe,  that  they  are  not  the  least  evils  of  which 
existing  circumstances  would  admit.  We  know 
that  they  shall  all  be  bent  by  God,  to  promote  the 
accomplishment  of  His  pleasure,  in  the  manifestation 
of  His  glory,  and  the  final  triumph  and  reward  of 
truth  and  goodness.  Could  the  state  and  character 
of  the  people  who  have  hitherto  been,  be  accurately 
known,  for  myself  I  cannot  doubt,  that  the  proportion 
of  the  measure  of  their  real  happiness,  and  the  degree 


326  FAST  SERMON. 

of  their  purity  and  virtue,  would  be  found  sufficiently 
just,  to  vindicate  the  agency  of  the  great  moral 
Governor  in  their  respective  allotments. 

This  brings  us  to  the  second  truth  contained  in 
the  text ;  namely,  that  the  great  cause  of  perplexities 
and  troubles,  calamities  and  ruin,  in  any  region,  is 
the  predominance  of  corrupt  principles  and  manners. 
For  the  evils  which  the  Divine  providence  sends 
upon  the  world,  there  can  be  no  other  cause  than 
the  transgressions  of  the  inhabitants  thereof.  If  M^e 
look  into  the  volume  of  revelation,  the  best  guide  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  principles  of  the  Divine  government^ 
we  shall  learn,  that  '*  He  doth  not  afflict  willingly  nor 
grieve  the  children  of  men\"  The  Scriptures  again 
and  again  represent  the  calamities  of  a  people,  as 
the  punishment  of  their  sins.  "  O  Israel,  thou 
hast  fallen  by  thine  iniquity^"  "Your  iniquities 
have  turned  away  these  things,  and  your  sins  have 
withholden  good  things  from  you^"  "At  what 
instant  I  shall  speak  concerning  a  nation,  and  con- 
cerning a  kingdom,  to  build  and  to  plant  it ;  if  it  do 
evil  in  My  sight,  that  it  obey  not  My  voice,  then  I 
will  repent  of  the  good,  wherewith  I  said  I  would 
benefit  them''."  "  Thou  didst  march  through  the 
land  in  indignation.  Thou  didst  thresh  the  heathen  in 
anger. — Thou  woundedst  the  head  out  of  the  house 
of  the  wicked,  by  discovering  the  foundation  unto 
the  neck'."  "  In  the  hand  of  the  Lord  there  is  a 
cup,  and  the  wine  is  red ;  it  is  full  mixed,  and  He 
poureth  out  of  the  same.  As  for  the  dregs  thereof, 
all  the  ungodly  of  the  earth  shall  drink  them,  and 
suck  them  out*"."  "  Then  will  I  cut  off  Israel  out 
of  the  land  which  I  have  given  them  ;  and  this  house, 
which  I  have  hallowed  for  My  name,  will  I  cast  out 

'    *  Lam.  iii.  33.  "^  Hos.  xiv.  1.  ^  5ex.  v.  25. 

'•  Jer.  xviii.  9,  10'..  *  Hab.  iii.  12,  13.  "^  Ps.  Ixxv.  9,  10. 

0 


FAST  SERMON.  327 

of  My  sight : — and  every  one  that  passeth  by  it  shall 
be  astonished, — and  they  shall  say,  Why  hath  the 
Lord  done  thus  unto  this  land,  and  to  this  house  ? 
And   they  shall  answer,  Because  they  forsook  the 
Lord  their  God, — and  have  taken  hold  upon  other 
gods,  and  have  worshipped  them,  and  served  them  : 
therefore  hath  the  Lord  brought  upon  them  all  this 
evil'."     Famine,  pestilence,  the  sword,  conflagration, 
earthquakes,  tempests,  and  all  the  public  calamities, 
are   mentioned   in   the   Scriptures   as   ministers    of 
vengeance,  calling  upon  the  people  to  whom  they  are 
sent,  to   observe  the  tokens  of  Divine  displeasure, 
and  consider  their  ways.     So  strong  is  the  language 
of  inspiration  upon  this  point,  that  it  represents  the 
Deity  as  constrained  by  His  holiness,  to  execute 
^is  judgments   upon   a   land   laden  with  iniquity. 
**  Shall  I  not  visit  for  these  things  ?  saith  the  Lord  : 
and  shall  not  My  soul  be  avenged  on  such  a  nation 
as  this'"?" 

Nor  is  reason  less  explicit  upon  this  truth,  than 
revelation.  Upon  a  little  reflection  she  perceives 
that  the  Almighty,  being  perfectly  holy,  wise,  and 
good,  will  approve  and  encourage  virtue.  This 
necessarily  implies  the  condemnation  and  punishment 
of  vice.  In  beings  destined  to  exist  hereafter,  there 
is  extensive  opportunity  for  the  fulfilment  of  the 
Divine  intentions.  Their  immortality  opens  a  wide 
field  for  the  display  of  the  justice  of  God.  And 
hence  it  is,  that  in  this  preserit  state  vice  does  not 
alway  in  the  individual  meet  its  retribution,  nor 
virtue  its  reward.  But  nations  and  communities,  as 
such,  are  not  immortal.  At  their  dissolution  they 
are  annihilated.  In  a  state  of  after  responsibility^ 
we  have  no  reason  to  think  they  will  ever  exist.  It 
should,  therefore,  seem  reasonable  that  they  should 

'  1  Kings  ix.  7—9.  '"  Jer.  v.  1). 


328  FAST  SERMON. 

in  their  present  existence  enjoy  the  rewards  due  to 
their  virtues,  and  endure  the  punishments  which  their 
vices  deserve.  If  their  fortunes  and  fate  be  subjects 
of  the  Divine  providence,  He  doubtless  applies  to 
them  the  principles  of  His  moral  government.  And 
under  the  application  of  these  principles,  shall  not 
the  thoughtless  "  fear  Thee,  O  Lord"?"  shall  not  the 
ungodly  be  afraid  ? 

To  place  the  point  beyond  dispute,  experience, 
weeping  as  she  reviews  her  venerable  annals,  de- 
clares from  them  that  the  indignation  of  Heaven  has 
frequently  been  brought  upon  whole  communities 
by  their  sins  :  that  debasement,  calamity,  and  ruin 
have  resulted  to  them  from  the  predominance  of 
depraved  principles  and  manners.  She  points  to  the 
**  cities  of  the  plain °,"  "  set  forth  for  an  example, 
suffering  the  vengeance  of  eternal  fireP;"  and  a  sigh 
escapes  from  her  lips,  as  she  repeats  the  cause  of 
their  destruction  ;  that  ten  righteous  men  could  not 
be  found  in  them''!  Se  turns  to  an  earlier  page, 
and  looks  aghast  upon  the  ravages  of  the  Flood  ;  and 
when  it  is  inquired,  wherefore  did  the  Almighty 
bring  this  dreadful  convulsion  upon  His  earth,  and 
desolation  upon  His  creatures ;  she  proclaims,  that 
"all  flesh  had  corrupted  his  way'"  before  Him. 
She  directs  your  attention  to  the  chosen  people,  and 
shows  you  them  now  visited  with  pestilence,  now 
languishing  in  captivity ;  now  terrified  with  awful 
phenomena  in  their  country,  now  scourged  with 
war;  now  having  '*  the  wisdom  of  their  wise  men 
perished,  and  the  understanding  of  their  prudent 
men  hid';"  now  having  the  fruit  of  their  labours 
wasted,  by  "  blasting  and  mildew',"  by  ^'  the  canker- 
worm,  and  the  caterpiller,  and  the  palmer-worm";" 

"  Rev.  XV.  4.  °  Gen.  xiii.  12.  *'  Jude,  7. 

"  Gen.  xviii.  33.  '  Ibid.  vi.  12.  '  Is.  xxix.  14. 

•  Deut.  xxviii.  2^.  "  Joel  ii.  25. 


FAST  SERMON.  329 

now  seeing  '*  the  cities,  the  places  of  their  fathers' 
sepulchres,  laid  waste,  and  the  gates  thereof  con- 
sumed with  fire":"  and  in  all  the  seasons  of  their 
calamities,  she  shows  you  the  demons  of  idolatry, 
turning  them  from  their  God ;  or  uncommon  pro- 
fligacy rendering  them  unfit  for  His  mercies.  She 
places  herself  upon  the  mouldering  relics  of  cities^ 
once  great  and  fair  ;  upon  the  territories  of  empires, 
once  splendid  and  mighty  :  and,  as  she  looks  upon 
the  gloomy  vestiges  of  their  destruction,  demands. 
Were  piety  and  purity  here  when  these  desolations 
came  ?  was  holiness  buried  in  these  ruins  ?  She 
stretches  out  her  hand  to  direct  your  eyes  to  Jeru- 
salem, even  *' the  city  of  the  great  King^;"  she 
reminds  you  of  the  ingratitude,  the  unbelief,  the 
hypocrisy,  the  licentiousness,  and  hardheartedness 
ofthe  people  by  whom  it  was  inhabited  :  and  while 
you  survey  with  horror  creeping  over  your  senses  its 
most  remarkable  desolation,  she  writes  with  a  pen 
dipped  in  the  fount  of  inspired  knowledge,  that  the 
Almighty  "  hath  not  done  without  cause  all  that  He 
hath  done  in  it^''  Thus  do  revelation  and  reason 
and  experience,  the  three  great  guides  to  knowledge, 
unite  in  their  testimony,  that  "righteousness  exalteth 
a  nation  :  but  sin  is  a  reproach"  and  destruction  "  to 
any  people^." 

This  leads  us  to  the  last  point  of  observation, 
that  by  a  timely  reformation  of  their  principles  and 
lives,  communities  may  avert  the  displeasure  of  the 
Almighty.  Contrition  is  estimable,  and  acceptable 
through  the  Redeemer,  in  an  individual.  It  has 
turned  away  the  wrath  of  Heaven  from  many  an 
offender.  But  when  a  community,  as  one  body,  is 
roused  by  a  sense  of  danger,  or  by  the  calls  of  the  Most 

"  Neh.  ii.  3.  ^^  Ps.  xlviii.  2. 

*  Ezek.  xiv.  23.  *  Prov.  xiv,  34. 


330  FAST  SERMON. 

High,  in  alarming  occurrences,  in  foreign  examples, 
or  in  His  holy  word,  or  by  their  own  consciousness  of 
a  relaxed  state  of  religion  and  morals,  to  **  consider 
their  ways  ^,"  and  turn  with  sincerity  to  God,  to 
humble  themselves  before  Him,  and  to  express  their 
earnest  desire  to  be  made  objects  of  His  forgiveness 
and  favour :  if  ever  He  may  be  said  to  be  taken  with 
holy  violence,  it  is  by  such  an  act.  "  Rend  your 
heart,"  says  He,  '*  and  not  your  garments,  and  turn 
unto  the  Lord  your  God  :  for  He  is  gracious  and 
merciful,  slow  to  anger,  and  of  great  kindness,  and 
repenteth  Him  of  the  evil  ^"  Of  the  efficacy  of  such 
repentance  examples  are  not  wanting.  In  the  history 
of  the  Jews,  a  people  selected,  I  conceive,  among 
other  reasons,  that  in  them  might  be  exemplified  to 
all  the  nations  of  the  earth  the  rules  and  method  of 
the  Divine  government,  as  it  concerns  them  ;  we  find 
that  as  their  departure  from  the  commandments  of 
God  subjected  them  to  divers  calamities,  so  their 
return  to  truth  and  obedience  averted  the  evils  which 
were  pronounced  against  them,  and  obtained  the 
Divine  favour.  And  how  great,  how  affecting  is  the 
example,  which  is  presented  to  your  view,  in  one  of 
the  Lessons  which  have  been  read.  Nineveh,  that 
great,  and  wealthy,  and  splendid  city,  had  become 
dreadfully  irreligious  and  dissolute.  Ruin  was  in 
awful  indignation  pronounced  against  it.  *'  Yet  forty 
days,"  the  Prophet  was  commanded  to  proclaim, 
**  and  Nineveh  shall  be  overthrown.  So  the  people 
of  Nineveh  believed  God,  and  proclaimed  a  fast,  and 
put  on  sackcloth,  from  the  greatest  of  them  even  to 
the  least  of  them.  For  word  came  unto  the  king 
of  Nineveh,  and  he  arose  from  his  throne,  and  he 
laid  his  robe  from  him,  and  covered  him  with  sack- 
cloth, and  sat  in  ashes.     And  he  caused  it  to  be 

"  Hag.  15.  «  Joel  11.  13. 


FAST  SERMON.  331 

proclaimed  and  published  through  Nineveh  by  the 
decree  of  the  king  and  his  nobles,  saying,  Let  neither 
man  nor  beast,  herd  nor  flock,  taste  any  thing  :  let 
them  not  feed,  nor  drink  water :  but  let  man  and 
beast  be  covered  with  sackcloth,  and  cry  mightily 
unto  God :  yea,  let  them  turn  every  one  from  his 
evil  way,  and  from  the  violence  that  is  in  their  hands. 
Who  can  tell  if  God  will  turn  and  repent,  and  turn 
away  from  His  fierce  anger,  that  v/e  perish  not  ? 
And  God  saw  their  works,  that  they  turned  from 
their  evil  way ;  and  God  repented  of  the  evil,  that 
He  had  said  that  He  would  do  unto  them ;  and  He 
did  it  not  "^.'^  But  why  should  I  multiply  examples  ? 
"  God  is  not  a  man,  that  He  should  lie  ^ :"  and  He 
hath  given  us  express  assurances  of  the  efficacy  of 
humiliation  and  amendment,  to  turn  away  His  wrath. 
With  the  text  before  us,  we  can  need  no  other  quota- 
tions :  *'  At  what  instant  I  shall  speak  concerning  a 
nation,  and  concerning  a  kingdom,  to  pluck  up,  and 
to  pull  down,  and  to  destroy  it ;  if  that  nation, 
against  whom  I  have  pronounced,  turn  from  their 
evil,  I  will  repent  of  the  evil,  that  I  thought  to  do 
unto  them." 

I  have  detained  you  too  long,  my  hearers,  upon 
these  important  topics,  to  be  able,  without  wearying 
you,  to  dwell  upon  the  many  instructive  inferences 
which  they  would  sustain.  You  will  indulge  me 
however  with  observing,  that  they  place  before  you 
in  a  striking  view,  the  propriety  of  that  act  of  your 
Chief  Magistrate,  which  has  assembled  us  in  this  holy 
place  :  and  that  they  off'er  you  the  most  powerful 
inducements  to  keep  such  a  Fast^  as  the  Lord  hath 
chosen.  Our  age  seems  to  be  an  awful  era,  in  which 
the  Almighty  hath  spoken,  **  to  pluck  up,  to  pull 
down,  and  to  destroy"  many  nations  of  the  earth. 

^  Jon.  iii.  4 — 10,  •  Numb,  xxiii.  19. 


332  FAST  SERMON. 

Our  country  has  not  had  httle  cause  to  be  alarmed, 
lest  of  the  cup  of  His  wrathful  displeasure  she  also 
should  be  called  to  drink.  The  skirts  of  those  clouds 
which  darken  Europe  have  been  seen  rising  on  the 
edge  of  our  horizon.  Thunders,  and  earthquakes, 
and  great  noises  ;  storms,  and  tempests,  and  the 
flame  of  devouring  fire,  those  ministers  of  alarm 
which  come  from  the  Most  High  in  mercy,  as  well 
as  in  judgment,  have  been  in  an  unusual  manner 
visiting  our  land.  And  "  the  voice  of  His  word*^" 
has  proclaimed  in  our  temples  His  standing  admoni- 
tions, that  though  "  He  is  gracious  and  long-suffering. 
He  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty^."  Of  the 
strange  events,  both  in  the  natural  and  moral  world, 
which  mark  this  age,  we  should  make  the  use  to 
which  rational  beings,  and  especially  Christians, 
should  convert  them ;  to  lead  us  to  religious  re- 
flection, and  godly  fear;  to  check  us  in  our  in- 
considerate practices,  and  turn  us  from  the  error 
of  our  ways  **  to  the  wisdom  of  the  just\"  It  is 
not,  however,  by  the  formality  of  a  day's  humi- 
liation, that  we  shall  recommend  ourselves  to  God, 
but  by  minds  purified  by  faith,  and  lives  distin- 
guished for  virtue.  Let  us  then  bring  every  one 
his  erroneous  principles,  his  vicious  dispositions,  his 
criminal  practices,  and  his  dissolute  manners,  and 
sacrifice  them  on  the  altar  of  his  country's  preserva- 
tion. Let  us  in  the  several  spheres  of  our  influence, 
discountenance  the  profanation  of  the  Sabbath,  the 
neglect  of  the  institutions  of  Christianity,  and  all 
that  corruption  of  sentiment  and  manners,  which  is 
as  little  promotive  of  man's  present  happiness,  as  it 
is  sure  to  produce  his  everlasting  destruction.  Let 
us  unbend  the  heavy  burdens,  and  deal  our  bread 
to  the  hungry,  and  cover  the  naked  with  a  garment, 

'  Ps.  ciii.  20.  »  Exod.  xxxiv.  6,  7.  ''  Luke  i.  17. 


FAST  SERMON.  333 

and  not  hide  our  face  from  our  own  flesh'.  Above 
all,  as  we  love  our  own  safety,  and  the  happiness  of 
posterity,  and  the  honour  of  our  God  and  Redeemer, 
let  us  endeavour  to  check  the  extension  of  those 
sceptical  tenets  and  habits,  which  made  David  afraid. 
While  we  see  the  Almighty  shaking  the  earth  in  His 
majesty,  *'  making  bare  His  holy  arm  in  the  eyes  of 
all  the  nations '',"  and  stretching  out  the  rod  of  His 
power  over  this  guilty  world,  let  us  hearken  to  the 
words,  which,  as  He  bends  to  execute  His  judgments 
over  the  creatures  of  His  hand,  do  yet  proceed  from 
His  gracious  lips,  '*  O  that  there  were  such  an  heart 
in  them,  that  they  would  fear  Me,  and  keep  all  My 
commandments  always,  that  it  might  be  well  with 
them,  and  with  their  children  for  everM" 

'  Is.  Iviii.  6,  7.  "  Is,  lii.  10.  '  Deut.  v.  29. 


SERMON    LXXIV*, 


PUBLIC    THANKSGIVING. 


Psalm,  o.  4. 

Enter  into  his  gates  with  thanksgiving,  and  into  his  courts  with 
2)raise:   be  thankful  unto  him,  and  bless  his  name. 

We  are  assembled  to  day  at  the  call  of  our  civil 
Rulers,  to  offer  an  annual  tribute  of  praise  and 
thanksgiving,  to  the  ever  blessed  God.  '  Very  meet 
and  right'  it  is,  '  and  our  bounden  duty,'  thus,  as  a 
people,  to  adore  and  magnify  the  great  and  benevo- 
lent Author  of  our  national,  domestic,  and  individual 
privileges.  Blessings  which  w^e  socially  enjoy  re- 
quire a  social  acknowledgment.  Mercies  which 
are  publicly  bestowed  demand  a  public  expression 
of  praise.  This  you  have  learned  from  the  Scrip- 
tures. Your  reason  and  the  authority  of  your 
Church  approve  it.  And  you  are  met  together,  I 
trust,  with  that  undissembled  gratitude,  which  may 
perfume  the  incense  that  is  at  this  moment  rising 
from  so  many  altars  in  this  part  of  our  common 
country. 

In  no  way  can  I  more  properly  lead  your  medita- 
tions, or  more  fully  set  before  you  our  obligations 

*  Preached  at  Newport,  Rhode-Island,  previous  to  1 809. 


PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING.  335 

to  honour  and  praise  the  Almighty,  than  by  en- 
larging upon  the  blessings,  set  forth  in  the  procla- 
mation, as  requiring  our  grateful  and  devout  ac- 
knowledgments. 

In  the  first  place,  we  are  called  upon  to  render 
thanks  to  '  the  Author  and  giver  of  every  good  gift,' 
that  our  country  has  enjoyed  peace,  and  freedom, 
and  their  happy  fruits,  while  the  nations  of  the  earth 
have  been  convulsed  by  wars  and  violence,  and  de- 
luded and  oppressed  by  the  cupidity  and  ambition 
of  wicked  men.  Peace  and  freedom  are  among  the 
choicest  blessings  which  Heaven  can  bestow  upon  a 
nation.  Alas!  What  people  have  justly  appreciated 
them  till  they  were  gone  ?  Without  them  small  is 
the  enjoyment  of  any  other  blessing.  Property  is 
not  safe,  improvement  languishes,  the  smiles  of 
comfort,  and  the  carols  of  joy,  cease :  the  endear- 
ing charities  of  life  yield  not  their  customary  de- 
light :  humanity  loses  its  bland  control  over  the 
hearts  of  men,  when  the  peace  and  freedom  of  a 
country  are  destroyed.  Even  the  kind  voice  of  re- 
ligion is  lost  in  the  din  of  contention,  and  her  bene- 
volent hand  palsied,  in  the  manacle  of  servitude. 
War  and  slavery  !  They  are  among  the  sores  and 
curses  which  an  angry  God  inflicts  upon  the  earth, 
w:hen  He  would  chastise  its  degenerate  inhabitants. 
In  its  preservation  from  these  evils,  our  country  has 
hitherto  been  peculiarly  favoured  by  the  Almighty. 
We  live  in  an  eventful  period  of  the  world.  Our 
age  is  an  age  of  tribulation  to  a  great  part  of  the 
earth.  We  have  seen  a  war  of  uncommon  terror, 
sprung  from  monstrous  parents,  and  uncontrolled 
by  any  principle  of  honour  or  right,  sent  forth  to 
ravage  the  most  civilized  portions  of  the  globe. 
Early  it  fed  upon  the  ruins  of  every  thing  great  and 
sacred.  It  demolished  the  weak,  and  dismayed  the 
powerful.      It  prowled  for  plunder,  even  into  the 


336  PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING. 

hallowed  abodes  of  religion.  It  spared  not  the 
peaceful  recesses  of  the  arts.  It  had,  at  lengthy 
returned  to  the  den  from  which  it  came,  spiteful  as 
a  wounded  tiger,  and  covered  with  the  blood  of  in- 
nocence and  virtue.  The  humane  were  wishing  that 
there  it  might  expire,  either  of  its  surfeit,  or  of  its 
dreadful  exertions.  But  it  is  again  let  loose.  Eu- 
rope trembles  at  its  approach.  The  nations  of  the 
earth  observe  its  movements  with  wonder.  Grown 
stronger  by  rest,  and  more  ravenous  by  confine- 
ment, who  can  foresee  the  extent  and  end  of  its 
devastations  ?  They  are  known  only  to  that  omni- 
scient God,  who  *  maketh  peace,  and  createth  war,' 
and  by  whom  alone  '*  the  remainder  of  wrath  can 
be  restrained  \" 

Melancholy,  in  the  course  of  this  tumultuous 
period,  has  been  the  fate  of  many  happy  and  inte- 
resting people.  The  great  and  splendid  nation, 
with  whom  these  confusions  originated,  relinquished 
her  hold  on  all  her  ancient  establishments  in  an  in- 
fatuated pursuit,  through  the  blood  of  the  best  and 
worst  of  her  sons,  after  what  the  unprincipled  and 
aspiring  had  persuaded  her  was  Liberty.  But  she 
mistook  a  cloud  for  the  goddess ;  and  for  her  rash- 
ness has  been  doomed,  as  yet,  to  turn  unceasingly 
in  a  mazy  wheel.  Nor  is  her  loss  of  freedom  to  be 
chiefly  deplored.  Unfortunate  Belgium ;  ill-fated 
Poland ;  unhappy  Swiss ;  deluded  Genoese,  we 
mourn  more  for  you.  The  genius  of  your  countries 
is  fled,  we  know  not  whither !  Your  fortunes  will  be 
remembered  by  nations  in  far  distant  ages,  as  so- 
lemn cautions  to  trust  no  friend  who  has  discarded 
all  principle,  and  rely  upon  no  earthly  power  which 
promises  to  give,  what  it  must  first  destroy. 

While  we  are  thus  led  by  the  proclamation,  to 

»  Ps.  Ixxvi.  10. 


PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING.  337 

advert  to  ,the  dealings  of  Providence  towards  the 
nations  of  the  earth ;  the  contemplation  of  their  ca- 
lamities should  increase  our  gratitude,  for  the  peace 
iand  civil  privileges  which  we  are  permitted  to  en- 
joy.    If  we  have  in  our  country  any  hard-earned 
wealth  which  might  be  plundered  ;  if  there  be  in  it 
any  virtue  which  might  be  oppressed  ;  or  infancy 
and  age  which  might  unresistingly  bleed ;  if  there 
be  any  chastity  which  might  be  ruined  ;  or  domestic 
joys  which  might  be  torn  from  us ;  if  we  have  any 
altars  which  might  be  demolished,  or  temples  which 
might  be  defiled : — then  have  we  reason  to  bless 
and  adore  the  Sovereign  Ruler  of  the  universe,  that 
our  nation  has  not  been  involved  in  the  horrors  and 
miseries  of  the  war,  which  has  desolated,  and  still 
threatens  to  desolate  the  most  populous  parts  of  the 
globe.     The  skirts  of  its  clouds  have  once  and  again 
been  curling  towards  our  shores,  but  His  gracious 
breath  hath  turned  them  away.     How  long  this  shall 
be  the  case  we  are  unable  to  say.    But  this  we  know, 
that  His  good  providence  can  restrain  the  provoca- 
tions and  injuries  of  misguided,  or  designing  powers ; 
and  that  the  way  to  deserve  a  continuance  of  our 
peace  and  freedom,  is  to  be  grateful  to  God,  that 
we  have  hitherto  enjoyed  them,  and  to  use  them 
soberly,  in  advancing  His  glory,  and  the  virtue  and 
happiness  of  our  species. 

Again.  We  are  called  upon  by  the  proclamation 
to  render  thanks  to  God,  that  though  He  has  seen 
fit  to  visit  some  of  our  cities  with  pestilence.  He 
has  stayed  the  hand  of  the  destroyer,  and  not  suf- 
fered the  people  to  be  destroyed  utterly.  When 
Moses  rehearsed  to  the  chosen  people  the  blessings 
which  they  had  received  of  the  Most  High,  he  led 
them  to  consider  in  their  hearts,  that  "  as  a  man 
chasteneth   his   son,    so   the   Lord  their   God    had 

VOL.    II.  z 


338  PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING. 

chastened  them^"  Awful  indeed  is  the  minister  of 
death,  which  has  "  walked  in  darkness %"  through 
many  parts  of  our  land.  But  is  there  not  a  cause  ? 
Alas !  there  are  spots  upon  thy  garments,  my  coun- 
try ;  thou  hast  departed  from  thy  purity.  A  little 
reflection  will  convince  us,  that  if  the  Deity,  in  a 
national  view,  regards  the  character  and  conduct 
of  a  people,  we  have  deserved  heavy  dispensations 
at  His  hand.  Has  our  country  exhibited  that  scene 
of  harmony,  sobriety,  and  order ;  of  chastity,  righ- 
teousness, and  piety,  which  a  country  so  favoured 
and  enlightened  ought  to  exhibit  ?  Our  consciences 
tell  us  it  has  not.  Though  we  have  been  blessed 
with  the  purest,  and  most  perfect  combination  of 
freedom  with  government,  we  have  been  factious 
and  dissatisfied.  Though  the  Almighty  has  raised 
up  for  us  a  host  of  worthies,  as  great  and  good  as 
ever  protected  and  adorned  a  nation,  we  have  mis- 
trusted and  slandered  them.  A  spirit  of  calumny 
and  contention,  vices  of  the  blackest  hue,  has  pre- 
vailed, when  quietness  and  deference  to  superior 
wisdom,  when  love  and  charity  and  concord  should 
have  been  our  delight.  Though  we  are  distinguished 
by  the  presence  of  religion  in  its  most  uncorrupted 
state,  we  have  not  entertained  it  with  that  affection 
and  respect,  which  such  a  guest  from  the  courts  of 
heaven  deserves.  Our  ears  have  sometimes  turned 
from  the  voice  of  the  charmer,  to  listen  to  the 
blandishments  of  a  dissolute  philosophy.  We  have 
harboured  the  works,  and  honoured  the  patrons  of 
infidelity.  When  with  indignant  faith  we  should 
have  shaketi  the  viper  from  our  hands,  we  held  it, 
and  pressed  it  to  the  bosom  of  our  country ;  and 
entirely  owe  it  to  the  grace  and  protection  of  the 

''  Deut.  viii.  5.  ^  Ps.  xci.  6. 


PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING.  339 

Almighty,  that  its  venom  has  not  poisoned  the 
whole  body.  Though  we  have  been  prospered  in 
our  agricultural,  commercial,  and  mechanic  pur- 
suits, beyond  all  example,  we  have  forgotten  the 
God  who  giveth  power  to  get  wealth.  His  sabbaths 
are  profaned,  and  his  laws  neglected.  We  have 
yielded  ourselves  to  luxury  and  effeminacy ;  and 
there  is  cause  to  fear,  that  the  mass  of  the  commu- 
nity are  much  more  intent  upon  securing  to  them- 
selves vain  and  polluting  pleasures,  than  upon  ho- 
nouring their  Creator,  and  obtaining  a  place  in  His 
kingdom.  Under  these  circumstances,  instead  of 
murmuring  that  He  hath  visited  us  with  pestilence^ 
we  have  reason  to  exclaim,  '*  It  is  of  the  Lord's 
mercies  that  we  are  not  consumed ''."  He  hath  in- 
deed chastened  us,  but  not  according  to  our  sins. 
In  the  midst  of  judgment,  He  hath  remembered 
mercy.  In  some  towns,  and  particularly  in  our 
own.  He  hath  greatly  blessed  the  exertions  of  the 
citizens  to  arrest  in  its  progress  the  insidious  dis- 
ease. In  others.  He  has  excited  a  spirit  of  com-' 
passion  and  benevolence  towards  the  wretched  suf-. 
ferers,  and  thus  has  converted  the  affliction  into  an 
occasion  of  calling  into  action  some  of  the  choicest 
virtues  of  the  human  heart.  And  when  all  hearts 
were  failing  them  for  fear,  He  hath  been  ready  to 
hear  our  prayers,  and  hath  graciously  called  to  thQ 
destroying  angel,  '*  It  is  enough  :  stay  now  thine 
hand  ^"  For  this  restoration  of  health  to  the  mournr 
ing  cities  of  our  land,  praise  should  wait  upon  our 
God  in  Zion.  We  who  escaped  from  peril ;  we, 
who  live  while  many  more  virtuous  and  useful  than 
ourselves  are  perished,  should  bless  the  God  of  Q^ii* 
health,  and  sing  of  His  righteousness.  '  ,  ;  :  ft 

Further.     We  are  exhorted  in  the  proclamation 

■*  Lam.  iii.  22.  •  9.  Sam.  xxiv.  16. 

z  2 


340  PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING. 

to  render  thanks  to  God,  for  the  provision  which  has 
been  made  for  the  sustenance  of  man  and  beast.  In 
no  country,  perhaps,  are  the  seasons  and  the  ele- 
ments more  friendly  to  man,  than  in  this  which  we 
inhabit.  While  there  is  occasion  enough  for  the  toils 
of  the  husbandman,  to  keep  him  in  the  wholesome 
habits  of  industry,  his  labour  receives,  generally,  a 
sure  and  sufficient  reward.  Seldom  does  the  hur- 
ricane blast  his  prospects,  or  famine  stalk  over  his 
fields,  spreading  dismay.  The  seasons  perform 
their  round  in  constant  and  beautiful  order,  and 
harvest  brings  with  its  generous  countenance,  the 
causes  of  thanksgiving  and  festivity.  When  we 
advert  to  the  occurrences  of  the  year  past,  and 
observe  the  dreadful  Tornado  laying  some  places 
waste,  and  in  others,  the  earth  yawning  and  swal- 
lowing up  multitudes  alive,  with  what  thankful 
hearts  should  we  bless  the  Lord,  for  this  good  land 
which  He  hath  given  us. 

Unwearied  too  is  the  Almighty  in  His  active  mu- 
nificence. He  rides  forth  gloriously  in  the  sun  ;  He 
descends  silently  in  the  dew ;  bjr  the  influence  of 
His  power  He  secretly  fertilizes  the  earth,  that 
"  all  things  living  may  be  filled  with  plenteous- 
ness  ^"  There  is  something  sublimely  affecting  in 
the  thought,  that  though  infinitely  happy  in  Him- 
self, this  great  and  glorious  Being  is  constantly  en- 
gaged in  providing  the  nourishment,  and  promoting 
the  joy  of  His  extensive  family.  Amongst  us  He 
has  not  left  Himself  without  witness.  Although  He 
gave  not  His  rain  in  the  usual  abundance,  yet  has 
the  fig-tree  blossomed,  and  fruit  has  been  in  the 
vine ;  the  labour  of  the  olive  has  not  failed,  and  the 
fields  have  yielded  meat ;  the  flocks  are  not  cut  off 
from  the  fold,  and  there  are  herds  in  the  stall.     To 

f  Ps.  cxlv.  16. 


PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING. 


341 


abuse  these  bounties  of  the  Almighty,  or  even  to 
receive  them  without  discerning  and  adoring  His 
munificent  hand,  would  be  to  make  ourselves  utterly 
unworthy  of  them.  The  heathens  had  their  offering 
to  Ceres.  The  Jews  waved  their  first  fruits  before 
Jehovah.  And  unworthy  are  the  people  to  be  called 
Christians,  who  feel  no  gratitude,  and  express  no 
praise,  when  the  benevolent  Creator  hath  "  crowned 
the  year  with  His  goodness^" 

Another  cause  for  which  we  are  exhorted  to  give 
thanks  is,  that  the  means  of  education  are  extended 
and    multiplied.     In    any   region    it  is  pleasant  to 
behold,  and  honourable  to  promote,  the  expansion 
and  improvement  of  the  faculties,  with  which  man 
is  endowed.     But  in  countries  like  ours,  this  is  a 
thing  of  very  great  importance.     It  is  equally  true 
that  a  people  must  be  ignorant,  before  they  can  be 
quietly  enslaved,  and  that  they  must  be  well  in- 
formed, before  they  can  enjoy  freedom.     Hence  in 
some  of  the  ancient  republics,  the  education  of  the 
rising  generations  was    made  a  public  care.     And 
hence  under  all  republican  governments,  the  culti- 
vation of  the  mind  and  manners,  the   diffusion  of 
knowledge  and  civilization,  is  a  matter  of  primary 
consequence.     It  must  therefore  afford  pleasure  to 
every  patriotic  American,  to  behold  the  seminaries 
of  learning  multiplied,  and  the  means  of  education 
facilitated,    in  all  parts  of  his  yet  infant  country. 
Of  such  great  importance  are  our  schools.  Acade- 
mies, and  Colleges,  and  so  rapidly  do  they  increase, 
that  we  may  apply  to  them  a  prophecy  which  re- 
lated originally  to  a  much  higher  blessing.     "  The 
wilderness,    and    solitary    place   shall    be  glad  for 
them;  and   the  desert  shall,"    through  them,  "re- 
joice, and  blossom  as  the  rose'."     There  is  perhaps 

S  Ps.  Ixv.   12.  ""Is.  XXXV.  1. 


M2  PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING. 

no  place  upon  our  globe  in  which  an  ordinary  edu- 
cation is  more  generally  acquired,  or  acquired  with 
more  facility,  than  in  New-England.  It  is  humili- 
ating, however,  to  confess,  that  in  this  our  state 
this  momentous  subject  has  received  little  public 
attention.  We  live  in  a  town  in  which  there  are 
upwards  of  seven  thousand  inhabitants,  and  conse- 
quently many-poor  and  some  rich:  and  yet  we 
behold  not  in  it,  a  single  school  free  to  the  children 
of  all  classes,  and  supported  by  common  consent. 
The  speaker  would  not  willingly  be  thought  to  in- 
trude upon  departments,  which  do  not  belong  to 
him.  But  conceiving  that  morals  and  true  religion, 
as  well  as  the  preservation  of  freedom  and  national 
prosperity,  are  very  dependant  upon  education,  he 
would  be  negligent  of  his  duty,  if  he  did  not  avail 
himself  of  the  opportunity  to  deplore  the  indiffe- 
rence to  so  important  a  subject  in  this  little  portion 
of  his  country.  At  the  same  time  it  is  highly  grati- 
fying, and  a  cause  for  great  thankfulness  to  God, 
that  the  diffusion  of  knowledge  is  so  general,  and 
the  means  of  education  so  extended  and  multiplied 
in  the  land,  as  to  render  the  good  sense  of  the  peo- 
ple, the  final  dependance  of  those,  who  calculate 
the  variations  of  public  opinion,  and  the  possibilities 
of  future  events.  This  is  as  high  an  encomium  as 
can  be  passed  upon  a  nation ;  and  we  know  of  but 
one  evidence  so  great,  that  it  is  highly  favoured  of 
the  Lord. 

Which  brings  us  to  the  last  and  crowning  bless- 
ing, for  which  the  proclamation  calls  upon  us  to 
give  thanks  ;  namely,  that  the  Book  of  divine  truth 
is  open  before  us,  and  that  we  read  and  hear  the 
glad  tidings  of  salvation.  Some  religion  every  as- 
sociated people  upon  earth  must  possess.  It  is  a 
pillar,  without  which  no  civil  society  can  stand. 
How  happy   are   we  in   having  a   religion,   which 


PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING.  ^4S 

reaches  the  heart ;  whose  awful  sanctions  affect  the 
ruler  as  well  as  the  subject ;  which  rests  upon  the 
bias  of  its  reasonableness,  and  its  evidences ;  and 
compared  with  whose  adaptation  to  the  necessities 
and  wishes  of  man,  the  properties  of  all  other  re- 
ligions betray  their  origin,  and  insufficiency.  The 
Gospel  is  the  choicest  blessing,  which  God  has 
bestowed  upon  the  inhabitants  of  this  miserable 
w^orld.  In  our  national  capacity,  it  is  the  best  safe- 
guard of  the  subject's  rights,  arid  the  strongest  se- 
curity of  the  magistrate's  fidelity ;  it  is  the  surest 
source  of  public  virtue,  of  order,  of  elevated  habits 
and  manners ;  and  it  is  the  most  precious  pledge  of 
Divine  favour.  To  each  of  us,  in  our  individual 
capacity,  who  can  estimate  its  worth  ?  It  *'  is  a 
lamp  unto  our  feet,  and  a  light  unto  our  path';"  it 
is  the  balm  of  our  sorrows,  and  the  staflf  of  our 
hopes  ;  as  an  angel  from  heaven,  cheering  us  on 
our  way,  it  guides  us  through  the  perplexed  and 
thorny  paths  of  this  unsatisfactory  life,  to  a  state  of 
rest,  and  glorious  immortality.  This  Gospel  we 
enjoy  in  its  purest  state.  No  sword  inculcates  its 
authority ;  no  stake  explains  its  doctrines.  It  comes 
to  us,  as  it  came  from  Jesus,  in  the  dignity  of  its 
.own  truth,  and  in  the  power  of  its  own  efficacy. 
Happy  for  us,  if  we  faithfully  appreciate  its  value. 
Yea,  happy  for  our  country  beyond  calculation,  if 
neglect  of  its  principles,  or  contempt  of  its  Author, 
do  not  cause  it  to  be  taken  away,  nor  impaired  with 
human  corruptions. 

Such,  my  brethren,  are  the  blessings  for  which  we 

are   assembled   to   praise  the  Author  and  giver  of 

-them  all.     "  Great,"  indeed,  "  is  the  sum  of  them  \'" 

What  return  shall  we  make  unto  the  Lord  for  His 

goodness?   wherewith   shall   we   repay   His  love? 

*  Ps.  cxix.  105.  ^  Ibid,  cxxxix.  17. 


344  PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING. 

Alas  !  we  have  nothing  which  we  can  give  Him,  but 
our  hearts;  we  have  nothing  to  offer  Him  but  our 
imperfect  services. 

"We  are  bound,  with  gratitude  and  praise,  to  at- 
tribute our  blessings  to  their  true  source,  the  loving 
kindness  of  our  heavenly  Father.  This  we  do  in 
the  act  of  thanksgiving,  if  our  hearts  originate  what 
our  lips  express.  And  in  the  grateful  overflow  of 
praise  to  your  Maker,  you  will  manifest  your  sin- 
cerity, by  beneficence  to  His  children.  While  with 
decent  festivity,  and  temperate  pleasure,  you  enjoy 
the  viands  of  the  day,  a  Christian  joy  will  not 
suffer  you  to  be  unmindful  of  those  to  whom  the 
relics  of  your  loaded  boards  will  be  a  welcome 
feast. 

Next  to  praise,  and  essential  to  it,  is  steady  re- 
verence of  the  Most  High.  This  you  will  manifest 
nationally  by  the  public  protection,  and  liberal  sup- 
port, of  His  word  and  institutions;  by  preferring 
the  unchangeable  principles  of  His  law  to  all  human 
policy  and  immoral  expedients ;  by  advancing  none 
to  offices  of  honour  and  trust,  especially  to  stations 
so  elevated  as  that  which  the  providence  of  God 
has  made  vacant  in  this  state,  who  in  principle  or  in 
practice  despise  His  word  and  disregard  His  name ; 
and  above  all,  by  aspiring  after  such  a  national 
character,  as  we  can  believe  He  will  approve.  In 
your  individual  capacities,  you  will  manifest  it  by 
being  uniformly  righteous  before  Him  ;  "  walking 
in  all  His  commandments  and  ordinances  blame- 
less'." 

Finally.  Whether  we  consider  the  character  of 
the  Deity  as  pourtrayed  in  His  works  and  judg- 
ments, and  revealed  in  His  word ;  or  contemplate 
our  own  situation  with  regard  to  our  physical,  so- 

'  Luke  i.  6, 


PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING.  345 

cial,  and  moral  state,  the  greatest  cause  of  joy  we 
have  is  found  in  the  truth,  that  God  is  the  Governor 
of  the  world.  It  is  our  staff;  the  anchor  of  our 
souls  ;  our  only  rational  ground  of  safety,  content- 
ment, and  happiness.  The  contemplation  of  it  should 
fill  us  with  holy  enthusiasm,  and  the  remembrance 
of  it  incite  us  to  exclaim  with  the  Royal  Psalmist, 
"  Enter  into  His  gates  with  thanksgiving,  and  into 
His  courts  with  praise  ;  be  thankful  unto  Him,  and 
bless  His  name." 


SERMON  LXXV. 


ON    DEATH. 


Job,  vii.  16. 

/  would  not  live  alway. 

There  is  nothing  to  which  human  nature  is  more 
averse,  than  to  dissolution.  Death  presents  himself 
to  the  imagination  of  every  man,  clothed  vs^ith  terrors. 
He  finds  in  most  men  feelings  that  recoil  at  his 
approach,  and  thoughts  that  regret  his  existence. 
Except  the  few,  whom  religion  hath  made  "  im- 
moveable''," and  the  few  whom  sorrow  hath  rendered 
desperate,  all  men  are  prone  to  look  upon  death,  as 
the  greatest  of  all  terrestrial  evils.  Yet,  it  is  an 
event  which  to  every  man  is  unavoidable.  To  die, 
is  the  doom  of  us  all.  We  all,  my  brethren,  shall 
be  called  to  submit  in  our  turns  to  that  fate,  which 
our  nature  so  obstinately  dreads.  If,  then,  there 
are  any  considerations,  which  may  reconcile  us  to 
this  unavoidable  doom,  blessed  is  the  wisdom  which 
suggests  them;  happy  is  the  prudence  which  engraves 
them  on  the  tablet  of  the  heart !  They  will  break 
the  most  gloomy  bondage  of  man.  They  will  correct 
the  most  bitter  ingredient  in  the  cup  of  his  allotments. 
To  the  evils  to  be  encountered  in  passing  through 

^  1  Cor.  XV.  68. 


ON  DEATH.  347 

**  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  '',"  Christianity 
furnishes  many  and  sufficient  antidotes.  But,  to  the 
existence  of  this  "  valley"  in  our  way,  we  must  also 
be  reconciled.  There  are  considerations  which, 
when  pondered  with  a  Christian  spirit,  render  us 
resigned  to  the  transitoriness  of  this  present  life,  and 
enable  us  to  say  with  the  venerable  Job,  *'  I  would 
not  live  alway."  Some  of  these  considerations  it 
is  the  object  of  this  discourse  to  bring  to  your  no- 
tice. And  happy  shall  I  be,  if,  through  the  Divine 
assistance,  I  may  suggest  any  thoughts  to  your  minds, 
which  may  reconcile  you  to  the  necessity  of  your 
own  dissolution,  or  to  the  deaths  of  those  who  are 
gone  before  you. 

In  the  first  place,  then,  let  me  observe,  that  a  due 
respect  to  the  Divine  will  would  deter  us  from 
wishing  to  "  live  alway."  **  It  is  appointed  uhtb 
men  once  to  die " :"  and  this  appointment  is  made 
by  the  wise  and  benignant  Father  of  the  universe. 
Our  life  is  not  made  transiewt  by  any  malignant 
power.  It  is  the  same  good  Being  who  hath  brought 
us  into  existence,  and  leads  us  through  the  different 
stages  of  life,  that  conducts  us  into  '*  the  valley  of 
the  shadow  of  death**."  Our  dissolution  is  apart 
of  that  economy,  by  which  He  accomplishes  His 
purposes  with  the  human  race. 

Now,  why  should  we  turn  with  regret  from  any 
allotment,  to  which  it  is  the  will  of  God  we  should 
submit  ?  Do  we  deem  it  unhappy,  that  to  the  light 
and  activity  of  day  the  darkness  and  sleepiness  of 
night  succeeds  ?  Do  we  complain  that  the  year, 
which  has  been  enlivened  with  the  several  charms 
of  spring,  summer,  and  autumn,  is  terminated  with 
the  dreariness  of  winter  ?  No.  Our  confidence  in 
the  wisdom  of  the  Supreme  Being  teaches  us,  that 

*•  Ps.  xxiii.  i.  "  Heb.  ix.  27.  "*  Ps.  xxiii.  i. 


348  ON  DEATH. 

night  as  well  as  day,  that  winter  as  well  as  summer, 
is  necessary  in  its  place ;  that  the  vicissitudes  which 
He  hath  ordained  to  the  hours,  and  the  months,  are 
productive  of  the  greatest  natural  benefits.  Why, 
then,  should  we  repine  at  the  vicissitudes  which  He 
hath  appointed  to  the  generation  of  men  ?  The  same 
wisdom,  which  at  the  close  of  the  day  requires  us  to 
lose  ourselves  in  the  sleep  of  night,  calls  us  at  the 
close  of  life  to  rest  in  the  grave.  The  same  God 
who  giveth  the  earth  in  the  end  of  the  year,  to  be 
bound  with  the  fetters  of  winter,  leaves  life,  when 
its  spring,  its  summer,  and  its  autumn  have  elapsed, 
to  be  bound  awhile  in  the  insensibility  of  death. 
The  purposes  of  God,  which  are  dearer  to  every 
good  man  than  any  thing  else,  are  as  much  carried 
on  by  our  dissolution,  as  by  our  birth,  or  by  our 
progress  through  any  other  stages  of  our  being.  The 
tomb  as  well  as  the  cradle,  we  may  safely  presume, 
is  meet  for  the  display  of  His  power.  Death,  were 
it  not  subservient  to  His  glory,  and  fit  and  necessary 
for  the  creatures  who  are  made  subject  to  it,  would 
not  have  place  in  any  part  of  the  dominions  of  God. 
That  I  must  die,  may  in  itself  be  an  awful  considera- 
tion. But  that  I  must  die,  considered  as  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  gracious  Being  who  made  me, 
claims  my  cheerful  acquiescence.  For  whatever 
may  be  the  views  of  the  Almighty  with  regard  to 
mankind  (and  I  have  evidences  enough  that  they  are 
views  of  benignity  and  love)  the  methods  by  which 
He  pursues  them,  I  may  feel  assured,  are  the  fittest 
and  most  proper  which  could  have  been  chosen,  and 
are  parts  of  the  scheme  by  which  He  is  accomplish- 
ing the  happiness  of  His  saints,  and  the  greatest 
possible  good  of  the  universe. 

There  is,  indeed,  in  a  submission  to  the  laws,  to 
which  the  all-wise  Creator  hath  subjected  our  nature, 
both  safety  and  virtue.    No  man,  who  considers  the 


ON  DEATH.  349 

wisdom  from  which  they  have  their  origin,  and  the 
ends  to  which  they  are  directed,  would  wish  an  ex- 
emption from  them.  It  is  enough  to  reconcile  us  to 
our  mortality,  that  it  is  the  will  of  God.  That  obli- 
gation to  duty  which  is  upon  a  child ;  that  obliga- 
tion to  obedience  which  is  upon  a  subject;  that  ob- 
ligation to  submission  which  is  upon  a  creature ; 
that  claim  to  confidence  which  wisdom,  like  the 
Deity's,  may  assert ;  that  title  to  unqualified  reliance 
which  goodness,  like  our  Maker's,  possesses,  all 
conspire,  when  God  hath  limited  our  present  life,  to 
restrain  us  from  wishing  to  "  live  alway."  Is  death 
punitive?  It  is  not  more  than  we  have  deserved. 
Is  it,  as  we  are  taught,  sent  in  mercy  ?  Let  us  not 
dare  to  dispute  its  expediency.  Whether  it  proceed 
from  justice,  or  from  mercy,  or  from  both,  the  good 
man  knows  that  it  is  his  duty,  and  also  his  safety, 
to  be  entirely  at  the  disposal  of  the  Almighty.  It 
may  be,  that  through  an  instinctive  affection  for 
being,  he  may,  in  the  hour  of  infirmity,  shrink  from 
what  has  the  appearance  of  a  destruction  of  existence, 
and  be  ready  to  exclaim,  *'  If  it  be  possible,  let  this 
cup  pass  from  me  *."  But  when  he  considers  the 
preference  which  the  Divine  will  ought  to  have  to 
his  own  wishes,  that  that  must  be  fittest  and  best, 
which  the  Almighty  hath  ordained,  reason  and 
religion  will  unite  in  correcting  his  wish,  and  the 
last  expression  of  his  lips  will  be,  "  Not  my  will, 
but  Thine,  be  done  ^" 

Again.  We  may  be  reconciled  to  the  necessity 
of  dying,  by  considering  who  have  passed  through 
the  gate  of  death.  *'  Abraham  is  dead,  and  the 
prophets  ^ !"  The  apostles  are  dead,  and  the  good 
men  of  every  age  !  Surely,  it  is  not  a  fate  so  much 
to  be  deprecated,  to  which  these  favourites  of  heaven 

'  Matt.  XXV 1.  39.  e  Luke  xxii.  42.  •  John  viii.  52. 


350  ON  DEATH. 

have  submitted !  Surely,  we  need  not  be  shocked 
at  entering  the  path,   which   these  worthies  have 
trodden !   It  is  no  inconsiderable  boon,  that  death 
will  dissipate  the  centuries  that  intervene,  and  make 
us  companions  of  those,  who  have  been  the  friends 
of  God,  and  the  bright  models  of  faith  and  virtue  to 
mankind.     Our  kindred  also  are  dead  ;  our  fathers, 
it  may  be,  and  our  dear  mothers  ;  and  the  friends 
whom  we  have  loved  as  our  own  souls.     In  a  world 
which  they  have  left  for  ever,  who  would  always 
remain  ?     To  the  state,  to  which  they  have  passed, 
who  does  not  sometimes  solace  himself  with  the 
expectation  of  one  day  going  ?    Death  gathers  us  to 
our  fathers.     Death  restores  to  us  the  friends  of 
whom  he  had  deprived  us.     Death  brings  the  child 
to  the  long  absent  parent,  he  brings  the  parent  to 
her  oft  lamented  child.     Pleasant  to  nature  is  the 
thought  even  of  mingling  our  ashes  with  the  ashes 
of  our  ancestors,  and  sharing  with  our  kindred  the 
repose  of  the  grave.     But  ravishing  to  the  eye  of 
faith  is  the   prospect   of  rejoining  their  spirits  in 
better  worlds,  ^nd  winging  with  them  the  flights  of 
immortality.    Jesus  too,  our  blessed  Redeemer,  He 
hath  passed  through  the  gate  of  death.     And  shall 
we  not  choose  to  drink  of  the  cup  of  which  He 
drank  ?  The  vale  which  He  hath  consecrated  by  His 
own  presence,  shall  we  be  averse  to  enter  ?     There 
is  a  noble  -satisfaction  in  sharing  the  fate  of  the 
worthy.     There  is  a  comfort,  a  joy,  in  being  con- 
formed in  our  fortunes  to  those,  whom  we  venerate 
or  love.     How  much,  then,  in  the  contemplation  of 
dissolution,  must  it  bend  the  Christian's  mind  to  his 
doom,  to  recollect  that  his  Lord  submitted  to  die ! 

I  know  not,  whether  there  is  not  a  generous  senti- 
ment in  human  nature,  which  amidst  the  universal 
mortality  of  mankind,  would  deter  a  noble  mind 
from  being  willing  to   **  live  alway,"  the  solitary 


ON  DEATH.  351 

survivor  of  the  desolation  of  his  species.     But  this  I 
know,  that  if  we  are  faithful,  death  introduces  us  to 
better  company  than  that  from  which  he  takes  us : 
and  that  those  whom  we  leave  here  will  presently 
follow,  to  be  added,  if  they  are  worthy,  to  the  same 
society.    It  is  by  death,  that  we  are  most  eminently 
brought  to  an  **  innumerable  company  of  angels,  to 
the  general  assembly  and  Church  of  the  first-bom, — 
and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  and  to 
Jesus  the  Mediator''."     Who,  then,  would  remain 
always   upon  the   earth,   to   be  separated  by  the 
partition  of  the  flesh  from  his  former  contemporaries 
and  the  righteous  of  every  age,  and  to  be  looked 
upon,  perhaps,  by  the  beings  of  later  years,  as  a 
stranger  and  an  intruder  ?     Better  it  is  to  share  in 
our  turns  of  the  common  allotment  of  our  race. 
Better  it  is,  when  we  have  served  our  own  generar 
tion,  according  to  the  will  of  God,  to  fall  asleep.  ;  r,i 
I  add  thirdly,  that  the  condition  of  this  present 
state  is  such,  that  no  Christian  can  wish  to  live  in  it 
always.     Not  that  it  becomes  us  to  find  fault  with 
the  circumstances  of  our  present  existence.      For 
what  it  is,  a  journey,  a  pilgrimage,  a  transient  abode, 
God  has  furnished  it  with  accommodations  suitable 
and  pleasant,  which  ought  to  be  noticed  by  Us  with 
cheerfulness,  and  used  with  thankfulness.     But  it  is 
a  happiness,  that  we  have  not  here  our  everlasting 
abode  ;  that  this  is  not  our  rest.     For  to  the  best 
men,  it  is  a  state  of  temptation,  and  difiicult  warfare* 
It  is  covered  with  snares ;  it  is  filled  with  devious 
paths ;  and  we  are  in  it  frail  to  resist,  and  inclined 
to  wander.     With  the  most  earnest  desire  to  walk 
with  God,  the  good  man  finds  himself,  many  times 
falling.     He   aspires   with  all  the  ardour  of  faith 
after  spiritual  excellence ;  but,  alas,  he  feels  himself 
weighed  down  by  this  body  of  sin. 

''  Heb.  xii.  22 — 24. 
12 


352  ON  DEATH. 

It  is  problematical,  whether  our  virtue  or  our  trials 
would  prevail,  if  our  probation  were  prolonged  ; 
but  discretion  would  seem  to  plead  for  the  shortest 
exposure  to  evil.     The  present  is  also  to  the  wisest 
of  men,  a  state  of  uneasy  ignorance.     Confined  is 
our  knowledge.     Fettered  are  the  noble  faculties  of 
our  souls.     Of  God,  and  the  unbounded  works  of 
God ;    of  being,   and  the   infinite  modifications  of 
being ;  of  truth,  and  the  glorious  beauties,  the  in- 
numerable applications  of  truth,  we  can  here  pos- 
sess but  a  very  imperfect  knowledge.     And  in  all 
probability,  a  prolongation  of  our  earthly  residence 
would  not  render  us  proportionably  wiser.     Suc- 
cessions of  great  minds  have  taken  up  the  thread  of 
investigation,  each  where  his  predecessor  left  it  ; 
and  yet,  how  little  way  in  the  course  of  ages  has  one 
been  able  to  carry  it  beyond  another.      In  these 
tabernacles  of  flesh,  we  can  "  know  but  in  part '." 
From  the  most  exalted  pleasures  of  intelligent  beings, 
from  the  expansion  and  gratification  of  the  noblest 
faculties  of  our  nature,  we  are  in  a  great  measure 
restrained  in  our  present  state.     It  is  evidently  an 
infancy,  in  which  we  can  acquire  but  the  rudiments 
of  knowledge.     There  are  glorious  heights,  there 
are  unbounded  extents  of  wisdom  and  of  wonders ; 
but,  while  we  are  confined  to  earth,  and  encumbered 
with  flesh,  we  cannot  attain  unto  them.     This  life 
is  also,  to  the  happiest  and  to  all  men,  a  state  of 
vexation  and  sorrow.    Ah !  where  shall  I  look,  to  see 
human  nature  unaccompanied  by  woe  ?   the  cries  of 
infancy,  the  disappointments  of  youth,  the  tribula- 
tions of  manhood,  the  tears  of  old  age,  all  proclaim 
that  in  this  world  we  are  ''  born  unto  trouble  \"    No 
man  finds  in  it  the  satisfaction  he  promises  himself. 
Every  man  may  be  seen  in  some  part  or  other  of 

»  1  Cor.  xiii.  9.  'Job  v.  7. 


ON   DKAIII.  363 

his  path,  musing"  in  sadness  over  the  burden  of  his 
sorrows  ;  perhaps  saying  to  his  soul,  if  not  to  those 
who  pass  by,  **  All  is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit  ^" 
It  is  only  in  the  grave  that  our  cares,  disappointments 
and  troubles  will  be  terminated.  There,  though  the 
ocean  of  life  be  thrown  into  tempests,  the  peaceful 
slumberers  hear  not  the  roar  of  its  waves.  There, 
when  the  sky  of  the  living  is  overcast  with  blackness, 
the  happy  dead  sec  not  the  terrors  of  the  clouds. 
There  sleeps  in  peace  the  venerable  father,  whom 
the  profligacy  of  his  sons  has  pierced  through  with 
many  sorrows.  And  there  the  fond  mother  ceases 
at  last  to  *'  weep  for  her  children,  refusing  to  be 
comforted,  because  they  were  not"\"  There,  too, 
the  mind  of  the  patriot  is  no  more  perplexed  for  the 
fate  of  his  country ;  and  there  the  heart  of  the  priest 
no  longer  trembles  for  the  ark  of  God.  **  There," 
says  Job,  "  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling ;  and 
there  the  weary  be  at  rest.  There  the  prisoners  rest 
together ;  they  hear  not  the  voice  of  the  oppressor. 
The  small  and  great  are  there;  and  the  servant  is 
free  from  his  master "." 

Let  it,  then,  be  remembered  of  death,  that  it 
releases  us  from  the  temptations,  ignorance,  and 
sorrows  of  this  probationary  existence  :  sorrows  and 
temptations,  to  which  we  may  resign  ourselves,  when 
we  can  consider  them  as  incidents  of  a  journey  to  a 
better  life  ;  but  which,  if  we  were  doomed  to  "  live 
alway"  among  them,  might  dishearten  our  virtue, 
and  break  our  spirits.  It  was  principally  with  a 
view  to  the  sufferings,  and  unsatisfactoriness  of  life, 
that  the  good  patriarch  exclaimed,  *'  I  would  not 
live  alway."  And  it  was,  probably,  with  a  fore- 
sight of  the  sins  and  the  miseries  to  which  man  when 
he  had  fallen,  would  be  exposed  by  a  perpetual 

'  Eccles.  i.  14.  ""  Jet.  xxxi.  15.  "   Job  iii.  17 — 19 

VOL.  ir.  A  a 


354  ON  DKATH. 

continuance  in  the  flesh,  that  his  merciful  Creator 
forbade  him  access  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  shortened 
his  days.  It  is  true,  in  this  present  world  we  may 
look  to  the  Cross,  and  be  healed  of  the  wounds 
which  sin  inflicts;  we  are  fed  in  the  ordinances  of 
the  Gospel  with  manna  from  heaven  ;  and  in  the 
influences  of  the  Spirit  there  floweth  water  from  the 
unfailing  rock,  wherewith  we  may  be  refreshed. 
But  it  is,  nevertheless,  a  wilderness  state.  We  are 
beset  in  it  with  dangers,  and  incumbered  with 
cares.  The  Canaan  of  our  rest,  the  land  of  peace 
and  prosperity,  which  our  God  hath  promised  us,  is 
not  on  this  side  of  the  grave.  Till  we  have  passed 
the  stream  which  separates  us  from  heaven,  we  are 
wanderers  at  best ;  we  sojourn  amidst  difficulties  and 
sorrows  ;  and  the  progress  from  one  stage  of  our 
journeyings  to  another  changes  our  stations,  without 
duiiinishing  our  disappointments,  or  our  cares. 

And  here  I  am  brought  to  observe  in  the  fourth 
place,  that  a  just  consideration  of  the  future  life  will 
reconcile  us  entirely  to  the  transitoriness  of  this.  If 
to  die  were  to  cease  to  be,  we  might  with  a  desperate 
tenacity  cling  to  this  present  existence,  chequered 
and  unsatisfactory  as  it  is.  But  our  citizenship  is 
in  heaven.  "  Our  life,"  all  that  is  worthy  to  be 
called  our  life,  "  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God  °."  We 
have,  beyond  the  regions  of  death,  an  inheritance  of 
immortality.  Here  we  are  probationers,  labourers, 
soldiers  ;  there  we  enter  upon  the  fruition  of  our 
reward.  Here  we  are  in  the  porch  ;  there  we  are 
admitted  into  the  temple  of  the  Almighty.  Here 
humiliation  and  mortality  are  our  portion;  there 
IS  laid  up  for  us  a  crown  of  life.  Here  "  we  see 
through  a  glass,  darkly  f" :"  there  we  shall  see  wisdom, 
and  justice,  and  mercy,  and  ail  the  fair  offspring  of 

"  Col.iii.3.  •'   1  t'or.  xiii.  12. 


OS  DEATH.  355 

the  Deity,  "  face  to  face."'      Here  in  the  blessed 

JesuSj  though  we  see  Him  not,  we  anxiously  believe  ; 
there  He  will  take  us  to  a  participation  of  His  glorv, 
and  we  shall  '*  follow  the  Lamb  whithersoever  He 
goeth ''."  Here  we  hear  of  redemption  from  sin,  and 
ignorance,  and  death;  there  it  shall  be  fully  enjoyed. 
Here  we  are  separated  from  the  vision  of  our  best 
Benefactor,  Him  whom  it  is  the  fullest  expression  of 
happiness  to  behold;  there  we  shall  see  God.  Who, 
then,  in  this  region  of  darkness  and  infirmity  would 
"  live  alway?"  When  we  fasten  the  eye  of  our  faith 
upon  that  state  of  knowledge,  purity,  and  unsullied 
happiness,  which  is  reserved  in  heaven  for  the  faithful, 
can  we  wonder  a  moment  at  St.  Paul's  declaration, 
*'  I  have  a  desire  to  depart,  and  to  be  with  Christ'?" 
Where  is  the  Christian,  who  has  "  done  justly,  loved 
mercy,  and  walked  humbly  with  his  God',"  that  may 
not  adopt  the  language  of  the  Apostle;  "  To  me  to 
die  is  gain'?'*  Surely,  our  aversion  from  dissolution 
will  be  subdued ;  yea,  we  shall  rejoice  in  the  tran- 
sitoriness  of  this  imperfect  state,  when  we  appreciate 
the  superior  felicities,  and  transcendent  glories  of 
that  heavenly  existence,  to  which,  through  the  grace 
of  our  Redeemer,  death  shall  introduce  us. 

For  let  me  remark  in  the  last  place,  that  by  His 
death  the  *'  Captain  of  our  salvation  ""  hath  overcome 
death,  and  made  the  passage  through  the  grave  the 
ordinan,'  entrance  to  the  reward  of  our  inheritance. 
"  That  which  thou  sowest  is  not  quickened,  except 
it  die\"  The  seed  must  perish  in  the  earth,  before 
the  beauties  and  the  glories  of  the  plant  will  appear. 
In  like  manner,  our  bodies  must  decay  in  the  grave, 
before  we  shall  be  clothed  with  immortality.  Of 
his  sceptre  Jesus  hath  deprived  death ;  the  nature  of 

^  Rer.  xiv.  4.  '  PLIL  i.  23.  '  Mk.  vi  8. 

'  Phil.  i.  21.  '  Heb.  ii-  10.  "  1  Cor.  xr.  S€. 

A  a2 


356  ON  DEATH. 

the  king  of  terrors  He  hath  changed ;  it  is  through  his 
domain,  gloomy  indeed  once,  but  now  enlightened 
with  the  light  of  life,  that  He  opened  the  passage  to 
His  heavenly  kingdom.  Of  this  passage  Jordan  was 
typical  to  God's  ancient  people  ;  and  it  is  typical  to 
us.  Its  waves  to  the  eye  of  nature,  may  appear 
terrible.  But  the  "  ark  of  the  Covenant-"  passes 
before  us,  and  the  waters  are  rolled  back  on  the 
right  hand  and  on  the  left.  On  the  opposite  shore, 
we  shall  not  regret  the  wilderness  we  have  left,  but 
our  souls  will  be  filled  with  "  songs  of  deliverance  \" 
You  see  then,  my  Christian  friends,  that  the  tran- 
sitoriness  of  the  present  life  is  proper  and  eligible, 
because  it  is  the  will  of  God :  that  in  dying,  we 
submit  to  the  fate,  to  which  the  greatest  and  best 
have  submitted,  and  go  to  our  fathers,  our  kindred, 
and  the  righteous  of  every  age,  in  the  same  way 
which  they  and  which  Jesus  our  Master  hath  trod- 
den :  that  the  state  which  w^e  leave,  though  good 
and  suitable  as  a  state  of  probation  and  pilgrimage, 
is  yet  a  state  of  temptation,  ignorance,  and  sorrow : 
that  the  life  beyond  the  grave  is  nobler  and  better, 
exalting  us  to  immortality,  to  perfect  knowledge, 
holiness,  and  happiness,  to  enlarged  acquaintance 
with  God,  and  full  enjoyment  of  Christ :  and  that 
the  monarch  of  the  intervening  grave  is  dismantled 
of  his  terrors  by  that  power  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
which  hath  overcome  death,  and  "  is  able  to  subdue 
all  things  unto  Himself"."  What  a  body  of  motives 
is  here  to  induce  you,  when  your  Creator  shall  call 
you  out  of  this  life,  to  depart  willingly !  Lay  them 
up  in  your  memories.  The  hour  is  coming,  when 
each  one  of  you  will  need  them.  Bless  God,  that  He 
hath  called  you  to  the  knowledge  of  truths,  wdiich 
may  support  you  under  every  contemplation  of  that 

''  Josh.  iv.  7.  '  Ps.  xxxii.  8.  *  Phil.  iii.  21. 


ON  DEATH.  357 

mortality,  of  which  you  carry  the  consciousness 
about  you,  and  which  is  so  often  brought  to  your 
remembrance  by  the  deaths  of  one  and  another  of 
your  friends. 

And  these  same  considerations  are  of  powerful 

efficacy,  to  render  us  resigned  to  the  departure  of 

those  who  are  called  before  us.     It  is  tranquillizing 

to  know,  that  they  have  died  by  the  will  of  God. 

It  is  soothing  to  consider,  that  they  are  joined  to 

their  ancestors,  and  the  spirits  of  the  just.     When 

we  consider  the  dangers  and  miseries  of  the  state 

from  which  they  are  taken,  we  shall  be  restrained 

from  wishing  them  back.     It  will  much  cheer  us, 

under  the  sense  of  our  own  bereavement,  to  consider 

that  they  are  gone  to  the  bosom  of  their  God.     There 

is  holy  submission   inculcated    by  the  conforming 

truth,  that  "  He  that  raised  up  Christ  from  the  dead 

shall  also  quicken  their  mortal  bodies\"    With  these 

thoughts,  then,  let  the  relations  and  the  friends  of 

departed  excellence   derive  consolation,   and  learn 

submission.    Let  it  be  the  chief  concern  of  surviving 

friends,   to  have  their  affliction  sanctified  to  their 

souls.     And  let  us  all,  my  hearers,  when  we  see  the 

aged  and  the  young,  and  people  of  every  age,  passing 

in  constant  succession  out  of  the  world,  be  induced 

to  set  our  own  houses  in  order,  and  to  remember, 

that  we  too  must  die.     Let  us  live  the  life  of  faith 

and  obedience;  having  respect  in  all  our  ways  to  the 

revealed  will  of  our  God  ;  that  when  our  summonses 

shall  arrive,  the  considerations  which  will  reconcile 

the  good  man  to  dissolution,  may  be  ours ;  and  we 

may  be  able  to  say,  *  Lord,  here  am  I,  do  with  me 

as  seemeth  unto  Thee  good^' 

•  Rom.  viii.  11.  ^  'Z  Sam.  xv.  26. 


SERMON  LXXVL 


ON    DEATH. 

Isaiah,  Ixiv.  6. 

We  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf 

This  metaphor  of  the  Prophet's,  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  which  can  be  found  in  the  sacred  volume. 
How  strikingly  does  it  describe  the  perishableness 
of  man.  In  the  spring  of  his  being  he  shoots  forth 
tenderly,  and  gradually  expands  his  beauty  and 
vigour  to  the  view.  In  different  individuals  his 
form  and  beauties  are  varied,  according  to  the  will 
of  the  Divine  Creator.  He  continues  awhile,  some- 
times quiet  in  the  sun-beams,  and  sometimes  shaken 
by  the  winds.  But  soon  he  begins  to  change. 
Some  blight,  or  worm,  or  time's  corroding  influences 
impair  his  beauty  and  life.  He  withers,  dies,  and 
falls  into  the  dust.     **  We  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf." 

The  metaphor  of  the  Prophet  marks  the  certainty 
of  every  one's  death.  Every  leaf,  whatever  its  form, 
or  properties,  or  beauty,  must  eventually  decay. 
None  is  exempt.  Even  the  evergreen,  which  stands 
through  all  the  seasons  of  the  year,  has  its  period  at 
which  it  must  fail,  and  resign  its  place  to  a  succeed- 
ing generation.     ''  It  is  appointed  imto"  all  ''  mem 


ON  DEATH.  359 

once  to  die*."  And  one  after  another,  whole  gene- 
rations of  men  appear  and  vanish,  like  the  transient 
foliage  of  succeeding  years. 

This  beautiful  metaphor  also  reminds  us  of  the 
uncertainty  of  the  time  of  any  individual's  death. 
Leaves  fade  of  every  age.  And  which  of  them  is 
our  peculiar  emblem,  we  are  unable  to  ascertain. 
Some  stand  through  winter,  verdant  amidst  the 
snows  and  frosts  of  ages.  Some  are  fitted  by  nature 
to  enjoy  and  adorn  a  short  summer.  Some  the  con- 
cealed moth  secretly  and  unseasonably  consumes. 
And  some  are  nipped  from  the  stock  as  soon  as  they 
appear.  We  are  unable  to  say  which  of  these  fates 
shall  be  our  own.  Few,  very  few,  however,  are  the 
leaves  which  survive  the  autumn  of  the  year.  It  is 
much  more  probable  that  we  shall  be  cut  down  in 
the  midsummer,  yea,  or  in  the  very  spring  of  life, 
than  that  we  shall  reach  the  winter  of  old  age.  And 
if  we  should  stand  through  all  the  seasons,  how  soon 
is  the  whole  year  gone  ! 

But  this  instructive  metaphor  suggests  to  us  the 
renovation  which  shall  follow  our  decay.  Nothing 
perishes  in  the  material  world.  There  is,  indeed,  a 
death  of  vegetative  nature.  But  it  is  only  for  a 
season.  Every  thing  fades  to  be  renewed.  The 
leaves  which  are  fallen  shall  in  the  spring  be  all 
replaced.  The  Almighty  **  turneth"  them  "  to  de- 
struction ;  again  He  saith.  Come  again '"'  ye  off- 
spring of  My  power;  when,  lo,  the  tree  which 
seemed  desolate,  is  re-animated ;  and  from  the  earthy 
with  which  its  faded  leaves  were  mingled,  there 
arises  a  new  covering  for  it  of  transcendent  fresh- 
ness and  beauty.  Thus  in  the  material  world,  de- 
cay is  invariably  succeeded  by  life.  The  grain  dies 
in  the  earth,  and  is  quickened.     The  sun  which 

•  Heb,  i.\,  *;.  '•  Vs.  xc.  5, 


^QO  ON  DEATH. 

sets,  rises.  The  leaves  which  fall,  are  restored  in 
wonderful  order,  and  each  in  its  own  peculiar  form 
and  properties.  And  who,  that  contemplates  these 
things,  and  observes  the  power  and  economy  of 
God  in  the  natural  world,  can  doubt  His  ability  or 
willingness  to  preserve,  in  the  moral  and  spiritual 
world,  the  nobler  beings  to  whom  He  has  given 
existence  ?  Who,  that  beholds  all  men  fading  as  a 
leaf,  and  reflects  upon  their  superior  endowments, 
can  avoid  embracing  the  hope,  that  there  shall  be 
for  them  a  glorious  spring,  in  which  the  Almighty 
Father  shall  say,  "  Come  again,  ye  children  of 
men^?"  Blessed  be  His  name,  "  that  He  hath  be- 
gotten us"  to  an  assurance  of  this  "  lively  hope,  by 
the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead ''." 
The  Gospel  confirms  and  enlarges  the  virtuous  ex- 
pectations of  nature.  By  its  light  we  see  a  beauti- 
ful analogy  in  all  the  operations  of  the  Most  High. 
The  doctrine-  of  our  immortality  converts  every 
plant  into  a  preacher.  Even  the  affecting  remark 
of  the  Prophet,  that  **  we  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf,"  re- 
minds us  that  we  shall  be  renewed  :  and,  (distin- 
guished lot !)  renewed  in  a  resemblance  to  the  tree 
of  life,  whose  leaves  neither  change  nor  fall,  but 
flourish  for  ever  in  immortal  beauty,  by  the  river  of 
the  city  of  God. 

Having  thus  developed  the  truths,  which  the  Pro- 
phet has  so  beautifully  wrapped  in  the  text,  let  us 
ask  ourselves,  w^hat  influence  they  should  have  upon 
our  lives  ? 

And,  in  the  first  place,  do  "  Vv^e  all  fade  as  a  leaf?" 
What  a  foundation  is  this  for  humility.  We  are 
prone  to  be  proud  of  our  wisdom,  our  beauty,  our 
accomplishments,  our  strength,  and  our  wealth  : 
and  to  nourish,  enjoy,  and  display  these,  constitutes 

'  Ps.  xc.  5.  '^   1  Pet.  i.  .:. 


ON  DEATH.  361 

a  great  part  of  the  business  of  mankind.  But  what 
a  satire  upon  all  this,  is  the  text !  How  should  it 
check  all  the  pride  of  life  to  know,  that  it  must  end 
in  the  abasement  of  the  grave !  Come  ye  beautiful 
and  young,  ye  wise,  and  accomplished,  descend  into 
the  chambers  where  sleep  the  dead.  Open  that 
coffin.  Lovely  in  death  is  the  beauteous  ruin  it  con- 
tains. But  ah!  on  that  pale  cheek  was  once  the 
rose's  hue !  That  eye  once  sparkled  with  the  dia- 
mond's lustre.  Those  limbs  were  once  the  seats  of 
elegance  and  dignity.  Alas,  how  changed !  Faded 
as  the  fallen  leaf;  and  hastening  to  be  converted 
into  dust !  Are  you  proud  of  your  personal  accom- 
plishments? Have  the  honours  and  charms  of  this  life 
captivated  your  heart  ?  Remember  that  to  this  state 
you  must  presently  come. 

Again.  Do  mankind  fall  like  the  leaves  of  every 
age,  and  can  no  one  ascertain  the  time  of  his  death  ? 
Let  us  not  presume  upon  our  lives.  Let  us  not  flat- 
ter ourselves  that  the  day  of  our  dissolution  is  far 
distant.  It  is  blinding  ourselves  on  the  edge  of  a 
precipice.  It  is  refusing  to  listen  to  the  voice  of 
exp'>rience  and  of  Providence,  while  we  yield  our- 
selves to  the  delusion  of  our  hearts.  For  what 
ground  have  we,  on  which  to  think  our  lives  are  safe, 
which  they  had  not,  who  are  now  no  longer  among 
the  living?  Are  we  young?  So  were  they.  Are  we 
healthy  ?  So  were  they.  Are  we  useful  in  the  world, 
and  necessary  to  our  families  ?  So  were  they.  Are 
we  enlisted  under  the  banner  of  faith,  and  fortified 
with  the  armour  of  virtue  ?  So  were  they.  Yet  in 
the  midst  of  life  they  are  cut  down.  Their  hopes 
and  expectations  in  this  world  are  perished.  They 
are  snatched  from  the  scenes,  which  they  seemed 
destined  to  beautify  for  many  years  to  come,  before 
they  had  expanded  half  their  charms.  We  are  of 
the  same  substance  with  them.     To  the  arrows  which 


362  ON  DEATH. 

pierced  them,  we  are  ever  exposed.  And  while  we 
are  busy  in  life,  and  letting  our  hearts  cheer  us  with 
many  joys,  the  fatal  shaft  may  be  winging  its  way 
towards  us,  which  shall  lay  us  in  the  grave.  What 
a  motive  is  this  to  diligence  and  watchfulness!  If  we 
have  yet  an  interest  in  our  Redeemer's  kingdom  to 
secure,  what  an  inducement  does  the  uncertainty  of 
life  furnish,  to  do  it  "  while  it  is  called  to-day  \" 
The  realities  of  eternity  at  stake,  and  the  probation 
in  which  they  may  be  secured,  liable  to  be  termi- 
nated with  the  passing  hour !  "  Whatsoever  thy  hand 
findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might,  for  there  is  no 
work,  nor  device,  nor  knowledge,  nor  wisdom,  in  the 
grave,  whither  thou  goest^" 

Once  more.  Are  we  destined,  like  the  face  of 
nature,  to  be  renovated  after  our  decay  ?  Let  us  not 
be  dismayed  by  our  own  mortality,  nor  by  that  of 
our  friends.  The  knowledge  of  a  resurrection  is  suf- 
ficient to  reconcile  us  to  all  the  painful  concomitants 
of  death.  When  our  virtuous  friends  decay,  the 
idea  that  their  spirits  have  ascended  to  the  care  and 
enjoyment  of  their  God,  should  alleviate  the  sting 
of  our  bereavement.  And  in  the  anticipation  of  our 
own  dissolution,  the  spirits  of  Christians  should  be 
supported  by  the  prospect  of  the  glory  reserved 
with  Christ,  and  the  assurance  that  He  *'  will  never 
leave  them,  nor  forsake  them^."  Our  chief  concern 
is,  while  we  are  passing  through  this  mutable  state, 
to  lead  a  life  of  faith  and  obedience ;  that  in  the  last 
day  we  may  not  be  gathered  for  the  burning,  but  be 
found  among  "  the  trees  of  righteousness,  the  plant- 
ing of  the  Lord'',"  which  He  will  glorify. 

These  are  the  truths  suggested  to  our  hearts  by 
the  affecting  declaration,  that  **  we  all  do  fade  as  a 
leaf."     Ever  and  anon,  is  the  providence  of  God  en- 

'  Heb.  iii.  13.  '  Eccles.  ix.  10. 

«  Heb,  xiii.  5.  '^  Is.  Ixi.  o. 


ON  DEATH. 


363 


forcino-  His  Prophet's  observation.  And  the  con- 
tinual removal  of  acquaintance  or  friends  in  the 
morning  or  meridian  of  their  days,  teaches  us  all  the 
precariousness  of  the  life  upon  which  we  are  prone 
to  lavish  our  fondest  expectations.  "  The  voice 
said.  Cry.  And  he  said.  What  shall  I  cry?  All  flesh 
is  grass,  and  all  the  goodliness  thereof  is  as  the 
flower  of  the  field.  The  grass  withereth,  the  flower 
fadeth  :  but  the  word  of  our  God  shall  stand  for 
ever':"  "  and  this  is  the  word  which  by  the  Gospel 
is  preached  unto  you\" 

'  Is.  xl.  6,  8.  "1  Pet.  i.  25. 


SERMON   LXXVll. 


ON    DEATH. 


Isaiah,  xl.  6 — 8. 

The  voice  said,  Cry.  And  he  said,  What  shall  I  cry  7  All 
Jlesh  is  grass,  and  all  the  goodliness  thereof  is  as  the  flower 
of  the  field:  the  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fade  th:  because 
the  sjnrit  of  the  Lord  blovoeth  upon  it:  surely  the  jpeople  is 
grass.  The  grass  ivithereth,  the  flower  fadeth  :  but  the 
word  of  our  God  shall  stand  for  ever. 

Interesting  and  affecting  passage!  We  feel,  bless- 
ed Spirit  of  the  Highest,  the  truth  of  Thy  descrip- 
tion! We  thank  Thee  for  the  consolation,  with  which 
Thou  hast  kindly  softened  the  shade,  in  this  too 
just  picture  of  human  fragility!  Your  hearts,^  my 
brethren,  are  attuned  to  the  contemplation  of  this 
subject:  and  it  will  be  my  endeavour  in  discoursing 
from  it,  to  set  before  you  the  vanity  and  transitori- 
ness  of  the  present  life ;  and  the  joy  to  be  derived, 
amidst  its  changes  and  decay,  from  the  purport  and 
certainty  of  "  the  word  of  our  God." 

It  is  a  humiliating  lesson  we  have  first  to  consider. 
The  love  of  ourselves  is  so  strong  ;  we  with  so  much 
pride  and  ardour  exult  in  the  possession  of  being ; 
our  earthly  projects  are  formed  and  pursued  with 
such  high  expectations  ;  and  we  behold  with  so 
much  complacence  the  attainments  of  the  wise,  the 


ON  DKA'l'H.  3G.S 

amiable,  and  the  accomplished :  that  our  spirits  faint 
within  us,  we  are  humbled  to  the  dust,  when  com- 
pelled to  realize,  that  man  in  all  the  glories  of  his 
best  estate  is  but  a  transient  being ;  that  as  a  flower 
of  the  field,  so  he  flourisheth. 

The  lesson  is  painful,  as  well  as  humiliating.  There 
are  objects  and  pleasures,  which  with  magnetic  force 
hold  us  to  earth.  The  actual  possession  of  the  pre- 
sent existence  makes  us  anxious  to  prolong  it.  We- 
form  attachments,  which  are  unavoidable ;  and  the 
severing  of  these  is  the  cutting  of  the  heart-strings. 
The  endearments  of  our  condition,  the  esteem  of  our 
fellow  men,  the  acquisition  of  the  means  of  happi- 
ness or  of  usefulness,  all  bind  us  to  life,  and  to  our 
friends :  they  delight  us  with  our  being,  and  make 
us  solicitous  for  its  prolongation.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances, the  voice  is  chilling  which  proclaims  in 
our  ears,  "  All  flesh  is  grass."  It  comes  like  a  blast 
over  the  feelings  and  affections  of  nature.  It  is  not 
till  age  or  disease  has  exhausted  the  strength  to  live, 
and  rendered  "  the  grasshopper  a  burden^;"  or  till 
the  world  has  lost  its  charms,  and  hope  withdrawn 
her  bow  from  its  clouds;  that  any,  but  those  who 
seem  almost  to  have  heaven  in  hand,  can  hear  with- 
out reluctance,  that  death  is  waiting  his  opportunity 
to  tear  them  from  all  that  is  dear,  and  lay  them  in 
the  dust. 

Hence  it  is,  that  men  fly  from  the  contemplation 
of  their  mortality.  There  is  nothing  on  which  their 
attention  is  with  so  much  difficulty  fixed.  They 
wish  the  hostile  day,  which  shall  dismantle  them  of 
all  their  goodliness,  for  ever  distant;  and  what  they 
wish,  almost  believe.  Riveted  to  present  objects, 
deluded  by  the  flattering  aspect  life  assumes,  proud 
of  their  acquisitions  and  powers,  and  entranced  in 

*  Eccles,  xii.  5, 


S66  ON  DEATH. 

their  joys,  they  care  not  to  admit  the  mournful, 
mortifying  consideration,  that  the  scene  in  which 
they  are  busy,  is  a  fleeting  scene,  its  actors  perish- 
able, and  all  its  charms  and  glories  *'  a  vain  shew''." 
Yet,  there  is  no  lesson  we  are  more  frequently 
called  to  learn  ;  none  which  the  providence  of  God 
more  impressively  inculcates ;  which  experience 
teaches  with  such  pathos,  and  solemn  repetition. 
What  is  the  funeral  scene  to  which  we  are  daily 
summoned  ?  What  are  the  insignia  of  the  places  in 
all  ages  hallowed  to  receive  the  dead  ?  What  the 
result  of  every  sober  review  of  the  years  we  have 
past  ?  What,  in  a  word,  are  the  annals  of  our  race, 
but  elucidations,  affecting  elucidations  of  the  Pro- 
phet's metaphor?  Men  have  *  come  up  as  flowers, 
and  been  cut  down ;  and  never  have  continued  in 
one  stay^'  Some  in  the  bud  have  been  nipped,  and 
never  opened  their  properties  to  the  light.  Others 
have  expanded  their  graceful  forms,  and  begun  to 
give  their  goodly  fragrance  to  the  world ;  but  before 
noon  have  shed  their  leaves,  and  died.  Others  have 
survived  the  day,  but  have  decayed  more  rapidly 
than  they  matured,  and,  shorn  of  their  beauty,  have 
presently  perished.  Some  few  stand  through  the 
season ;  but  much  do  they  fade,  and  suddenly  vanish. 
The  wind  passeth  over  them,  and  they  are  gone; 
and  '*  the  place"  which  once  knew  them  "  knoweth 
them  no  more"*."  All  in  their  turns  return  to  their 
dust.  The  lowly,  on  whose  plainness  no  eye  be- 
stows  an  observing  look ;  and  the  lofty,  on  whose 
goodliness  expectation  fastens  its  fondest  notice, 
alike  expand  to  perish.  In  no  age,  in  no  condition, 
may  we  feel  ourselves  secure  from  this  inevitable 
decay.  Do  we  trust  in  our  youth,  or  strength,  and 
rejoice  that  the  current  yet  moves  sprightly  in  our 

'•  Ps.  xxxix.  6,  *  .lob  xiv.  3.  ^  Ps.  ciii.  10. 


ON  DEATH,  367 

veins  ?  See  here,  while  age  stands  by  and  survives, 
the  young  and  the  promising  cut  down,  put  into 
darkness  at  the  bright  mid-day  of  life.  Do  we  for- 
tify ourselves  with  our  wisdom,  or  skill,  or  rely  on 
our  usefulness  among  men?  See  there  the  lamps  of 
knowledge,  which  illumined  the  world,  put  out;  the 
skill,  which  could  check  disease  in  others,  unable  to 
preserve  itself :  and  important  characters  taken  from 
the  world,  when  it  should  seem,  they  can  least  be 
spared.  The  destroying  tyrant  is  never  at  rest.  All 
are  exposed  to  his  shafts.  His  victims  are  often 
taken  from  the  safest  paths ;  and  the  young  and  use- 
ful do  most  frequently  magnify  his  triumphs. 

Not  that  we  are  to  think,  chance  rules  the  des- 
tinies of  men.  He  only  can  extinguish  life,  who 
kindled  it.  "  The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fa- 
deth :  because  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  bloweth  upon 
it."  Both  reason  and  Scripture  refer  us  to  the  Deity 
as  determining  the  boundaries  of  every  man's  life. 
'*  He  taketh  away  their  breath,  and  they  die^" 
"  He  changeth  their  countenance,  and  sendeth  them 
away  ^"     "  He  destroy eth  the  hope  of  man*^." 

It  may  well  surprise  us  to  find  death  in  His  crea- 
tion. Nothing  can  account  for  its  dominion  over  the 
fairest  of  His  works,  but  the  unfortunate  transgres- 
sion of  the  parents  of  our  race.  Experience  con- 
firms the  melancholy  tale,  which  the  Scriptures  nar- 
rate. Nature  has  found  herself  incumbered  with  a 
debt;  all  ages  have  been  subject  to  woes  and  deaths; 
which,  unless  we  renounce  all  belief  in  an  active 
Sovereign,  must  be  considered  as  tokens  of  displea- 
sure. Every  man  carries  in  himself  the  evidence  of 
a  fallen  state ;  for  though  formed  with  capacities 
for  eternal  progression  in  virtue  and  happiness,  and 
endued  by  his  Maker  with  an  unconquerable  love  of 

•  Ps.  civ.  .?9.  f  Job  xiv.  20.  *  Ibid,  ver,  10. 


368  ON  DEATH. 

being,  he  has  within  him  the  punitory  sentence, 
"  Dust  thou  art,  and  unto  dust  shalt  thou  re- 
turn ^" 

Is  all,  then,  fleeting  that  concerns  man?  Must  the 
bright  charms  of  life  be  all  dissolved  ?  While  the 
soul  fancies  itself  possessed  of  substantial  being,  and 
aspires  to  a  relation  with  eternity,  is  it  connected 
only  with  the  passing  moment,  and  nothing  perma- 
nent but  mutability  ?  If  it  were  so,  our  hearts  might 
sicken  at  a  life  so  vain.  Appalled  at  death's  domi- 
nion over  the  works  of  God,  we  might  be  urged  to 
ask  with  the  Psalmist,  in  his  anguish,  "  Wherefore 
hast  Thou  made  all  for  men  nought'?"  The  stupen- 
dous scenes  and  events,  with  which  we  are  conver- 
sant, would  seem  like  vast  arrangements  for  no  pur- 
pose ;  like  mighty  efforts  for  no  end.  But  this  is 
not,  cannot  be  the  case.  We  are  recalled  from  the 
declaration  of  the  perishableness  of  man,  to  the  cer- 
tainty of  the  designs  and  promises  of  God.  *'  The 
word  of  our  God  shall  stand  for  ever." 

What  this  word  is,  may  be  easily  ascertained.  At 
the  mention  of  it  the  Prophet  is  transported  from 
his  mournful  theme,  to  the  times  and  achievements 
of  the  Messiah.  From  the  rapture  with  which  he 
immediately  hails  the  glad  tidings  of  Zion  :  from  the 
explicitness  with  which  he  speaks  of  the  coming  of 
the  Lord,  and  passes  to  the  contemplation  of  Him 
in  the  tender  acts  of  His  office  ;  and  from  the  ter- 
mination of  his  fervent  strain  in  the  assurance,  that 
they  who  wait  on  the  Lord,  shall  renew  their 
strength,  and  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles ;  it  is 
evident,  he  had  in  view  the  eternal  purpose  of  God 
in  the  revelation  of  His  Son.  Indeed,  an  inspired 
Apostle,  having  quoted  the  passage  which  leads  our 
thoughts,    has  remarked  on  its  concluding  clause, 

'' Gen.  iii.  19.  '  Ps.  Ixxxix.  46. 


ON  DEATH.  369 

'*  This  is  the  word  whioii  by  the  Gospel  is  preached 
unto  you^" 

J^ow  the  grand  purport  of  the  Gospel  is,  to  ex- 
hibit death  subdued,  and  open  to  man  the  prospect 
of  eternal  life  and  glory.  It  proclaims  to  us  the 
gracious  determination  of  the  Most  High,  to  recover 
His  fallen  creatures  from  that  death,  to  which  they 
have  become  subject :  and  by  the  counsels  of  His 
infinite  wisdom,  and  efforts  of  His  Almighty  power, 
to  raise  them  from  glory  to  glory,  to  a  full  and  per- 
petual enjoyment  of  His  presence  and  heavenly 
kingdom.  Do  we  ask,  how  the  amazing  design  is 
to  be  accomplished  ?  His  Son  is  revealed  coming 
from  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  in  the  greatness  of 
His  strength,  to  arrest  the  monarch  of  the  tomb, 
and  break  his  sceptre ;  to  burst  the  prisons  which 
contain  his  victims,  and  strike  off  the  fetters  with 
which  they  are  bound ;  and  to  unbar  before  them 
the  portals  of  everlasting  glory.  Do  we  ask,  how 
we,  who  are  passing  to  corruption,  can  be  capaci- 
tated for  the  benefits  of  the  great  behest  ?  "  Behold, 
He  shows  us  a  mystery ;  We  shall  not  all  sleep,  but 
we  shall  all  be  changed,  in  a  moment,  in  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye,  at  the  last  trump :  for  the  trumpet 
shall  sound,  and  the  dead  shall  be  raised  incorrup- 
tible, and  we  shall  be  changed'."  The  way  is 
pointed  out  by  His  infallible  wisdom,  and  the  means 
are  furnished  from  His  exhaustless  treasure  ;  and 
all,  who  will  avail  themselves  of  the  glorious  salva- 
tion by  complying  with  its  conditions,  have  the 
joyful  assurance,  that  when  "  the  earthly  house  of 
this  their  tabernacle  is  dissolved,  they  have  a  build- 
ing of  God,  an  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal 
in  the  heavens'"." 

''  1  Pet.  i.  25.  '1  Cor.  xv.  51,  53.  *  5  Cor.  v.  1. 

VOL.  II.  E  b 


370  ON  DEATH. 

This  is  the  infinite  purpose  of  God,  as  revealed  in 
His  word, — to  free  His  offspring  from  the  dominion 
of  death  :  that  He  may  restore  to  them  their  resem- 
blance to  the  Divine  likeness,  and  exalt  them  to 
everlasting  life.  To  this  gracious  design,  time  froni 
the  commencement  of  his  flight,  and  the  great 
movements  of  the  Divine  government,  have  had  con- 
stant reference.  In  its  accomplishment,  this. visible 
scene  with  all  its  events  and  obscurities  shall  issue, 
and  the  intentions  of  the  Almighty  towards  this  part 
of  His  universe  have  their  august  completion.  Im- 
mutable in  His  purposes,  and  ''.able"  by  His  infinite 
power,  *'  to  subdue  all  things  unto  Himself"," 
though  men  decay  in  sad  succession,  and  no  trace 
remains  visible  of  the  life  that  has  fled ;  though  all 
nature  seems  subject  to  the  ruthless  havoc  of  time; 
yea,  though  the  earth  should  dissolve,  and  the  hea- 
vens with  their  host  pass  away  : — His  counsel  shall 
stand,  and  He  will  accomplish  his  pleasure;  His 
**  word  shall  not  pass  away." 

Here,  then,  is  a  permanent  point ;  a  rock  of  re- 
fuge from  the  dismal  mutability  of  every  thing  about 
us.  This  system  of  change,  this  scene  of  mortality, 
is  conducted  by  the  unerring  hand  of  the  Most 
High.  Out  of  it  shall  spring  the  accomplishment  of 
unfathomable  designs.  It  is  His  stedfast  purpose 
to  bring  the  children  whom  He  has  chosen,  to  inef- 
fable bliss  and  glory  in  His  kingdom  ;  "  and  though 
after  their  skin  worms  destroy  these  bodies,  yet  in 
their  flesh  shall  they  see  God°." 

In  this  view  of  the  transitoriness  of  our  present 
condition,  our  minds  are  tranquillized.  Were  we 
compelled  to  believe,  that  this  short,  delusive  being 
is  our  all ;  that  we  must  be  stripped  for  ever  of  life, 

»Phil.iii21.  »  Job  xix.  26. 


ON  DEATH.  371 

of  knowledge,  of  virtue,  of  all  we  hold  dear;  and  in 
the  corruption  of  the  grave  have  the  end  of  our  exis- 
tence.; we  well  might  fly  from  the  thought  of 
our  fate.  It  were  sufficient  to  cast  a  gloom  over 
every  hour  of  our  lives.  But  have  we  "  a  Captain 
of  salvation p,"  appointed  by  the  Highest?  Is  He 
"  the  resurrection  and  the  life'^?"  And  shall  those, 
who  believe  in  Him,  be  brought  through  the  vale  of 
darkness  into  the  presence  of  His  Father,  and  par- 
ticipation of  His  glory  ?  Then  may  we  consider  with- 
out being  overwhelmed  with  the  thought,  that  God 
will  bring  us  to  death,  and  to  "  the  house  appointed 
for  all  living '." 

But  it  is  in  the  dissolution  of  our  friends,  that  we 
feel  most  sensibly  the  vanity  of  life.  When  these 
dear  objects  of  our  fond  affections  are  taken  away, 
we  are  more  deeply  distressed  by  the  perishableness 
of  man,  even  than  when  we  contemplate  our  own 
mortality.  And  if  death  were  their  utter  extinction, 
their  decay  would,  indeed,  be  insupportable.  For 
who  could  bear  to  think,  that  their  hope,  their  love, 
and  all  their  goodly  powers,  were  annihilated  ;  and 
they  for  ever  struck  out  from  the  w^orks  and  care  of 
God  ?  Who  could  sustain  the  reflection,  that  they 
are  bound  with  everlasting  fetters ;  and  shall  slum- 
ber, senseless,  in  their  dark,  mouldering  beds, 
through  the  long,  long,  endless  duration  of  eter- 
nity ?  If  ages  shall  revolve  on  them  without  their 
waking;  if  being  shall  continue  for  ever  without 
their  having  any  interest  in  it,  alas  that  we  have 
known  the  objects,  who  have  bound  our  affections 
to  their  fate  !  But !  blessed  be  God,  we  are  not  left 
to  these  disheartening  opinions.    They  are  redeemed 

p  Heb.  ii.  10.  "*  John  xi.  25.  '  Job  xxx.  23. 

B  b2 


372  ON  DEATH. 

by  Ilim  from  death.     Out  of  decay  they  shall  rise 
in  a  more  glorious  existence.      His   word   "    shall 
st,and    for    ever;"    and  it  has  declared,    that  they, 
who   have    "   washed  their  robes,  and  made  them 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb%"  are  passed  from 
death  unto  life;  and  shall  die  no  more.     This  is  the 
description    He    has    given    us    of  their  condition, 
**.  They  are  before  the  throne  of  God,  and  serve  Him 
day  and  night  in  His  temple:  and  He  that  sitteth  on 
the    throne    shall    dwell  among  them.     They  shall 
hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more ;  neither 
shall  the  sun  light  on  them,  nor  any  heat.     For  the 
Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  shall  feed 
them,   and  shall  lead  them  unto  living  fountains  of 
waters  :    and  God  shall   wipe  away  all  tears  from 
their  eyes*."     Invaluable  corrective  of  life's  bitterest 
sorrow !     With  this  antidote  to  the  perishableness  of 
man,  we  can  support  ourselves  under  the  departure 
of  our  Christian  friends.     Affection  is  consoled  by 
clinging  to  the  idea  of  their  eternal  being ;  and  hope 
brings  a  precious  beam  of  comfort  into  the  bereaved 
bosom,  in  the  sentiment  of  presently  rejoining  them 
in  their  exalted  state. 

Indeed  in  the  extensive  field  in  which  the  Gospel 
places  us,  the  transient  events  of  time,  the  perish- 
able life  with  which  we  here  delight  us,  nay,  this 
little  earth  on  which  we  make  a  momentary  stay, 
are  inconsiderable  objects.  How  do  we  rise  above 
the  transitoriness  of  the  present  scene,  how  do  its 
hopes  and  prospects,  its  joys  and  pursuits,  sink  in 
our  estimation,  when  we  consider  eternity  as  our 
sphere,  God  as  our  portion,  and  heaven  as  our  rest  I 
When  we  reflect  on  our  real  condition  and  expecr 
tatiohs  ;'   when  we  behold  in  the  achievements  of 

•Rev.  vii.  14.  ^    '  Ibid.  ver.  15 — 17. 


ON  DEATH.  373 

the  Redeemer  the  point  of  death's  spear  blunted; 
and  the  cloud  which  rendered  mortality  terrible, 
removed ;  when,  through  the  promises  of  the  un- 
failing word,  the  glories  of  our  future  destination 
burst  upon  our  view,  pure,  blissful,  immortal :  does 
not  the  dissolution  of  this  temporal  life  seem  but 
an  incident  to  the  mighty  whole  ?  Are  we  not  ready 
with  the  Apostle  to  exclaim,  **  O  death,  where  is 
thy  sting?     O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory"?" 

From  the  contemplation  of  this  subject  we  learn, 
my  hearers,  with  how  little  wisdom  we  rely  on  the 
hopes,  pursuits,  and  expectations  of  this  vain  world ; 
and  how  much  it  behoves  us  to  attend  to  the  perma- 
nent concerns,  which  we  have  in  the  Gospel.  Is 
this  life  fleeting  as  the  breeze  ?  Are  all  its  charms 
and  glories,  like  the  evening  brilliance,  transient, 
and  followed  by  darkness  ?  Must  we  all  fade  like 
the  grass,  and,  divested  of  every  temporal  acquire- 
ment, lie  down  in  the  dust  ?  Then  let  us  cease  to 
use  this  state,  as  if  it  were  eternal,  and  its  perisha- 
ble joys  sufficient  to  satisfy  our  desires.  But  shall 
**  this  corruptible  put  on  incorruption,  and  this 
mortal  put  on  immortality''?"  Amidst  the  uncer- 
tainties of  life,  and  rapid  decays  of  the  generations 
of  men,  is  there  a  stedfast  purpose  of  Jehovah  to 
bring  "  many  sons  unto  glory  ^?"  By  this  let  us 
hold,  and  govern  ourselves  by  the  obligations  it  im- 
poses. Reflecting  nature  looks  for  something  per- 
manent. His  word,  like  a  rock  unmoved  by  the 
storms  and  fluctuations  of  life's  ocean,  offers  itself 
to  our  spirits,  fluttering  over  the  perilous  scene : 
and  on  it  we  may  rest,  and  feel  ourselves  safe,  till 
His  Almighty  arm  comes  to  our  deliverance. 

Finally.     As  rational  beings,  capable  of  improving 

"  1  Cor.  XV,  65.  .*^  Ibid.  ver.  b.i.  >  Heb.  ii.  10, 


374  ON  DEATH. 

the  events  which  pass  before  us,  it  becomes  us,  my 
brethren,  to  consider  the  end  of  **  all  flesh;"  and 
seriously  to  lay  it  to  heart.  To  the  young,  the 
sprightly,  the  busy  votaries  of  the  world  I  would 
call,  and  urge  them  to  awake  from  their  dreams  of 
vanity,  to  a  knowledge  of  the  insufficiency  of  that 
happiness,  which  is  passing  away.  The  objects 
you  pursue,  the  thoughts  on  which  you  rely,  are 
lighter  than  vanity,  and  unworth}^  of  your  powers, 
compared  with  the  views  to  which  you  may  attain. 
Trust  me,  my  friends,  you  have  immortal  spirits, 
which  death  does  not  affect.  Lay  hold  of  the  means 
of  bringing  them  to  a  glory  and  felicity  which  sur- 
pass your  conception,  that  an  all-gracious  God  has 
furnished  in  the  Gospel.  Live  by  its  laws.  Weigh 
soberly  its  claims  to  your  reverence.  And  through 
the  merits  of  its  Author,  seek  in  the  discharge  of 
every  religious  and  moral  duty,  **  for  glory  and 
honour  and  immortality  ^"  Then,  on  the  confines 
of  the  untried  scene,  to  which  time  is  imperceptibly 
bearing  you,  you  shall  feel  the  peace  and  joy,  which 
the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away:  and  with 
infinite  satisfaction  you  shall,  hereafter,  felicitate 
yourselves  on  the  course  you  pursued,  when  the 
Saviour  of  the  world,  who  is  now  on  the  right  hand 
of  the  Father,  shall  descend,  not  crowned  with 
thorns,  nor  to  bear  the  humiliations  of  the  cross, 
but  to  administer  the  everlasting  justice  of  the 
Almighty,  and  gather  His  redeemed  into  unspeak- 
able joy.  Let  none  of  us  delay  to  have  our  interest 
in  the  heavenly  world  made  sure.  The  moments 
fly,  which  are  carrying  us  to  the  tomb.  Soon  shall 
'*  the  silver  cord  be  loosed,  and  the  golden  bowl 
be  broken;"  soon  shall  "  the  keepers  of  the  house 

•  Rom.  ii.  1, 


ON  DEATH.  375 

tremble, — and  all  the  daughters  of  music  be  brought 
low*."  Perhaps  the  hour  is  now  receiving  its  com- 
mission, at  the  approach  of  which  the  looks  of  our 
friends,  and  the  voice  of  our  physician  shall  tell  us, 
we  must  die.  Happy  for  us,  if  on  the  rapid  and 
eventful  tide  which  is  wafting  us  from  the  present 
scene,  we  act  as  prudence  and  wisdom  dictate. 
Yea,  inexpressibly  happy,  if  we  so  conduct  our- 
selves, as  neither  to  be  deluded  by  the  life  which 
now  is ;  nor  debarred  from  the  eternal  glory  and 
happiness  of  that,  which  is  to  come  ! 

,  Eccles.  xii.  6,  S,  4. 


SERMON   LXXVIII. 


ON  THE  DEATH  OF  CHILDREN. 


2  Samuel,  xii.  22,  2d. 

While  the  child  was  yet  alive,  J  fasted  and  wept :  for  I  said, 

Who  can  tell  whether  God  will  be  gracious  to  me,  that  the 

child  may  live  1     But  noiio  he  is  dead,  wherefore  should  I 

fast  ?  can  I  brmg  him  hack   again  ?     I  shall  go  to  him, 

but  he  shall  not  return  to  me. 

We  have  in  this  chapter,  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
and  affecting  narratives,  v^^hich  the  sacred  volume 
contains.  A  parent,  even  David,  the  good  king  of 
Israel,  is  introduced,  fasting  and  w^eeping,  and  be- 
seeching God  for  his  child,  grievously  sick.  Op- 
pressed with  unutterable  woe,  the  distressed  father 
lies  all  night  upon  the  earth,  and  is  unable  to  eat 
bread.  His  fears  are  realized ;  the  child  dies.  Filled 
with  compassion  for  their  royal  master,  "  the  servants 
of  David  feared  to  tell  him  that  the  child  was  dead : 
for  they  said.  Behold,  while  the  child  was  yet  alive, 
we  spake  unto  him,  and  he  would  not  hearken  unto 
our  voice  :  how  will  he  then  vex  himself,  if  we  tell 
him  that  the  child  is  dead"?"  But  their  sadness  and 
stillness  spoke  more  than  words,  to  the  anticipating 
eye  of  parental  anxiety.  *'  David  perceived  that 
the  child  was  dead''."    What  now  is  his  conduct  ? 

*  2  Sam.  xii.  IS.  "  Ibid.  ver.  19. 


ON  THE  DEATH  OF  CHILDREN.  377 

"  He  arises  from  the  earth,  and  washes,  and  anoints 
himself,  and  changes  his  apparel,  and  comes  into 
the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  worships " :"  returned  to 
his  own  house,  he  takes  the  sustenance  which  nature 
requires,  and  exhibits  a  fine  model  of  resignation  to 
his  wondering  family,  in  the  memorable  words  of 
my  text,  **  While  the  child  was  yet  alive,  I  fasted 
and  wept :  for  I  said.  Who  can  tell  whether  God  will 
be  gracious  to  me,  that  the  child  may  live  ?  But 
now  he  is  dead,  wherefore  should  I  fast  ?  can  I  bring 
him  back  again  ?  I  shall  go  to  him,  but  he  shall  not 
return  to  me." 

I  will  not  detain  you  to  enlarge  upon  the  fact,  that 
it  was  the  hand  of  the  Lord  which  struck  David's 
child  with  the  sickness,  that  terminated  in  death. 
Whoever  believes  in  His  providence,  and  is  acquainted 
with  His  word,  must  know  that  all  diseases  act  by 
His  permission,  and  are  under  his  control.  It  would 
be  utterly  irreconcileable  with  the  truth  of  His  being 
and  government,  to  suppose  that  the  lives  of  any  of 
His  creatures  are  given  a  prey  to  chance,  and  that 
He  beholds  their  destruction,  uninterested  and  un- 
moved. A  sparrow  falls  not  to  the  ground,  without 
His  notice ;  and,  surely.  His  intelligent  children  are 
**  of  more  value  than  many  sparrows'^." 

Nor  need  I  stay  long  to  illustrate  the  propriety 
of  David's  conduct,  in  betaking  himself  to  God,  in 
behalf  of  his  child,  while  it  yet  lingered  on  this  side 
of  the  grave.  It  is  obvious  to  the  least  reflection, 
that  to  continue  life,  as  well  as  to  give  it,  is  the 
prerogative  of  the  Almighty.  Prayer,  therefore, 
should  be  made  to  him,  whenever,  in  our  own  case, 
or  in  the  case  ,of  others  for  whom  we  are  concerned, 
we  need  the  intervention  of  His  omnipotent  hand. 
Right  it  is,  *  and  our  bounden  duty,'  that  whenever 

*  2  Sam.  xii.  30.  "•  Matt.  x.  31. 


378      ON  THE  DEATH  OF  CHILDREN. 

sickness  endangers  life,  we  should  have  recourse  to 
the  skill  and  means  with  which  He  hath,  of  His 
abundant  mercy,  furnished  the  earth  for  our  use. 
But  for  their  efficacy,  they  are  dependant  upon  His 
blessing.  He  only,  to  whose  power  all  the  pro- 
ductions of  nature  owe  their  virtues,  from  the 
**  cedar  tree  that  is  in  Lebanon  even  unto  the  hyssop 
that  springeth  out  of  the  wall%"  can  render  their 
application  effectual  to  the  recovery  of  departed 
health.  It  is  He,  who  sendeth  forth  the  destroying 
angel  for  the  accomplishment  of  His  purposes :  and 
He  only  can  interrupt  his  progress,  and  say,  "  It  is 
enough  :  stay  now  thine  hand  ^" 

Suffice  it  to  have  said  thus  much  upon  the  agency 
of  the  Divine  hand  in  allotting  us  sickness  or  health, 
and  upon  the  propriety  of  applying  to  the  Most  High 
as  the  ablest  physician  in  the  day  of  disease.  It  may 
often  happen  that  His  will  may  be  adverse  to  our 
wishes.  But  as  the  righteous  do  always  offer  their 
supplications  with  perfect  submission  to  the  Divine 
wisdom,  this  should  not  be  an  occasion  of  grief. 
On  the  contrary,  when  we  have  been  faithful  in  oui* 
prayers,  and  faithful  in  the  use  of  such  means  as  skill 
and  prudence  have  directed,  we  should  acquiesce  in 
the  issue,  whatever  it  may  be. 

Which  leads  me  to  fix  your  attention  upon  the 
beautiful  picture  of  reasonable  and  holy  resignation, 
which  the  closing  scene  in  the  sacred  narrative  offers 
to  your  contemplation.  Here  are  two  things  worthy 
of  our  particular  consideration,  the  reasons  of  David's 
resignation,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  manifested 
itself. 

We  will  first  advert  to  the  grounds  of  his  resigna- 
tion :  "  Can  I  bring  him  back  again  ?  I  shall  go  to 
him,  but  he  shall  not  return  to  me."     The  good 


"  1  Kings  iv.  33.  *  3  Sam.  xxiv.  16- 


ON  THE  DEATH  OF  CHILDREN.  379 

Psalmist  had  done,  as  every  pious  parent  will  do  in 
similar  circumstances  :  he  had  bowed  himself  before 
the  Most  High  God,  and  besought  him  right  humbly 
for  his  child.  Death  had  signified  it  to  be  the  Divine 
pleasure,  that  the  child  should  be  taken  to  another 
state  of  existence.  To  resist,  would  be  vain;  to 
repine  would  be  fruitless.  Our  grief  may  unman 
ourselves,  it  may  distress  our  friends,  it  may  unfit  us 
for  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  life,  it  may  offend 
our  God :  but  it  can  never  call  back  from  the  tomb 
the  beloved  objects  upon  whom  death  hath  once 
fixed  his  unrelenting  hand.  They  hear  not  our  sighs ; 
they  regard  not  our  tears.  Though  rivers  of  waters 
should  run  down  our  cheeks,  though  we  should  give 
up  all  the  pleasures  and  pursuits  of  life,  and  devote 
our  days  and  nights  to  mourning  ;  it  would  be  of  no 
avail.  The  spirit  once  fled  returns  no  more.  We 
**  cannot  bring  it  back  again."  It  is  the  appointment 
of  that  Being,  who  will  not  condescend  to  dispute 
with  us  His  right  to  the  creatures  of  His  hand.  His 
will  must  be  done.  Reason,  therefore,  on  this  ground 
combined  her  voice  with  religion's,  in  inducing  the 
Psalmist  to  endure  with  manly  submission,  what  he 
was  unable  to  amend. 

It  is  true,  it  would  be  a  melancholy  fortitude  which 
these  reflections  produce,  if  it  were  not  strengthened 
and  cheered  bv  another  consideration.  Though  fate 
forbad  David  to  call  back  to  his  embrace  his  departed 
child,  was  he  separated  from  him  for  ever  ?  Was  the 
spark  of  life  which  had  been  kindled  in  his  babe, 
extinguished  eternally?  Was  the  little  off'spring  of 
his  body  struck  out  of  all  being,  born  only  to  die, 
fated  to  a  shorter  and  more  joyless  existence  than 
the  idle  gossamer  that  floats  upon  the  air  ?  Verily,  to 
the  tender  heart  of  the  affectionate  king,  the  thought 
had  been  insupportable.  But  he  was  consoled  with 
far  other  expectations.     The  spark  of  being  which 

16 


380  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  CHILDREN. 

the  Almighty  had  kindled  in  his  child,  was  kindled 
to  burn  for  ever.  The  Messiah  had  consecrated  it 
to  immortality.  **  I  shall  go  to  him,"  though  **  he 
shall  not  return  to  me." 

Even  in  the  prospect  of  being  joined  to  our  de- 
parted friends  in  the  noiseless  tomb,  nature  finds  a 
solace,  suited  to  the  gloomy  state  of  her  feelings  in 
the  hour  of  her  bereavement.  But  David  had  sung 
the  happiness  of  v^alking  "  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  deaths"  supported  and  comforted  by 
God's  rod  and  staff.  He  had  proclaimed  on  his 
inspired  harp  the  satisfaction  which  the  faithful  will 
find,  when  they  behold  God's  face  in  righteousness, 
and  awake  up  from  the  sleep  of  death,  created  anew 
after  His  likeness.  We  may  therefore  presume,  that 
his  views  were  elevated  above  the  repose,  which  he 
should  find  with  his  child  in  the  peaceful  grave. 
Faith,  doubtless,  carried  his  mind  forward  to  another 
state,  in  which  the  beauteous  bud  that  is  removed 
from  this  inclement  world,  before  it  is  blown,  expands 
in  wonderful  and  unfading  perfection.  He  thought 
of  heaven.  Hope,  the  inseparable  companion  of 
faith,  refreshed  his  heart  with  the  promise  of  a  period, 
in  which  he  should  find  his  little  one  in  Abraham's 
bosom.  It  was  not,  therefore,  a  cause  of  dejection, 
that  he  could  not  bring  his  child  "  back  again." 
God's  ways  were  perfect.  It  was  enough,  and  he 
rejoiced  that  he  could  say,  "  I  shall  go  to  him,  but 
he  shall  not  return  to  me." 

A  resignation,  grounded  on  such  considerations  as 
these,  must  have  blessed  and  exalted  the  Psalmist's 
character.  Let  us  briefly  notice  the  manner  in  which 
it  manifested  itself.  Behold,  he,  who  careless  of 
attire  lay  weeping  on  the  earth,  arises  and  washes 
himself,  and  changes  his  apparel.      He,  whom  no 

*  Ps.  xxiii.  4. 


ON  THE  DEAtH  OF  CHILDREN. 


38t 


consideration  could  draw  from  the  place  where  his 
child  lay  sick,  goes  forth  spontaneously  "  into  the 
house  of  the  Lord,  and  worships  \"     He,  whom  the 
elders  of  his  house  had  entreated  in  vain  to  receive 
some   sustenance,   himself  gives   orders  to   set   on 
bread.    He,  whom  his  servants  **  feared  to  tell  that 
the  child  was  dead ',"  leaves  their  astonished  minds 
below  his  fortitude,  and  discourses  with  them  on  the 
reasonableness  and  propriety  of  submission.     How 
majestic  in  his  affliction!  What  greatness  and  peace 
in  resignation  like  this  !  There  is  nothing  here  of  the 
coldness  of  the  stoic,  or  of  the  disgusting  hardihood 
of  the  unbeliever.     David's  heart  was  tender.     We 
have  seen  during  the  illness  of  his  child,  and  may  learn 
from  many  incidents  of  his  life,  that  he  felt  most 
sensibly  what  only  parents  feel.     But  his  acquies- 
cence sprang  from  a  sense  of  duty.    It  was  the  effort 
of  a  great  mind,  greatly  endowed  with  Divine  grace, 
and  anxious  in  all  things  to  honour  God. 
;    It  is  worthy  of  particular  observation,  that  the 
first  step  of  the  Psalmist  in  the  day  of  his  sorrow,  is 
to  "  the  house  of  the  Lord  ''."     As  soon  as  he  had 
attired  himself  in  the  garments  of  decency,  he  went 
into  the  temple.     There,  we  may  presume,  he  con- 
fessed his  sins  to  his  Maker,  especially  that  flagrant 
departure  from  the  law  of  God,  which  had  been  the 
occasion  of  the  death  of  the  child.     There,  we  may 
suppose,   he  humbled   himself  in  his  prayer,    and 
acknowledged  the  justice  of  the  Almighty.     There, 
we  may  believe,  he  sought  the  consolation  and  sup- 
port of  that  grace,  which  descendeth  from  heaven 
upon  the  afflicted  soul,  as  the  dew  upon  the  grass 
when  it  languisheth.     His  conduct,  my  brethren, 
is  worthy  of  imitation.      I   know  not  where  the 
children  of  sorrow  should  go,  if  not  to  the  house  of 

''  2  Sam.  xii.  20.  *  Ibid.  ver.  18.  ^  Z  Sam.  xii.  20. 


382  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  CHILDREN. 

their  heavenly  Father.  It  is  in  the  holiness  of  the 
sanctuary,  that  that  **  beauty"  is  found,  which  the 
Prophet  was  to  give  instead  of  **  ashes,"  to  those 
**  who  mourned  in  Zion'."  It  is  in  the  sacred  vessels 
of  the  temple,  that  the  "  oil  of  joy"  is  kept,  which 
God's  people  are  to  have  "  for  mourning."  And 
here,  we  trust,  when  we  are  assembled  "  in  His 
name,"  Immanuel  is  "  in  the  midst  of  us,"  who 
furnishes  from  the  wardrobe  of  heaven  "  the  garment 
of  praise  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness."  Are  you  then 
bereaved,  or  afflicted  ?  Fail  not  to  seek  your  Maker 
in  the  house  which  He  hath  chosen  '*  to  place  His 
name  there ""."  "  Go  into  His  tabernacle,  and  fall 
low  on  your  knees  before  his  footstool"."  Humble 
yourselves  in  His  sight  under  his  heavy  hand.  Pour 
out  your  griefs  before  Him,  and  beseech  Him  to 
speak  peace  to  your  perturbed  bosoms.  Trust  me. 
He  is  a  refuge  in  distress,  "  a  very  present  help"" 
**  in  the  needful  time  of  troubled"  David  went  into 
his  sanctuary,  and  was  strengthened.  And  his  God 
is  your  God,  powerful  as  a  Comforter :  at  whose  word 
the  gloomy  clouds  of  sorrow  will  vanish,  and  the 
impetuous  tossings  of  your  hearts  be  still. 

The  subject  we  have  contemplated,  though  sin- 
gularly appropriate  to  those  whom  Providence  has 
bereaved  of  their  children,  is  to  us  all  both  a  picture 
and  an  encomium  of  resignation.  In  vain  do  we 
afflict  our  souls  for  any  of  the  dead.  We  cannot 
"  bring  them  back  again."  But  we  have  duties  to 
discharge,  while  we  are  continued  here ;  and  religion 
holds  out  to  us  the  hope,  that  we  shall  find  them 
again,  when  our  probation  is  accomplished.  We 
"  shall  go  to  them  !"  Blessed  assurance  in  this 
region  of  mortality !  The  tender  parent,  whose 
breasts  have  nourished,   and  whose   prayers  have 

'  Ifl.  Ixi.  5.  "  Deut.  xiv.  S3.  "  Ps.  cxxxii.  7. 

•  Pfl.  xlvi.  1.  "  Ps.K.  1. 


ON  THE  DEATH  OF  CHILDREN.  383 

blessed  us,  slumbers  in  the  dust.     The  lovely  child, 
whose  life  and  qualities  were  just  expanding  to  view, 
is  cropped  by  an  untimely  blast.     The  friend  of  our 
bosoms,  who  was  dear  to  us  as  our  own  souls,  is 
gone,  irrecoverably  gone,  to  that  '  bourn,  whence 
no  traveller  returns.'     We  think  with  sadness,  that 
they  once  were.     We  sigh  with  anguish,  that  they 
will  be  here  no  more.     But  we  *'  shall  go  to  them." 
We  shall  lie  down  in  the  grave  together,  and  our 
ashes  will  be  mingled  with  theirs.     In  the  morning 
of  the  resurrection  they  will  revive  together.     We 
shall  appear  with  them  before  the  throne  of  the 
Lamb.     If  we  have  been  as  little  children,  we  shall 
enter  with  them  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  where 
there  shall  be  no  more  sorrow,  separation,  nor  death ; 
**  and  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears'*"  from  every. 
eye.     Surely,  my  friends,  if  this  were  delusion,  it 
were  a  delusion  to  be  prized  above  all  truth.     But 
when  we  have  it  assured  to  us  on  the  word  of  God ; 
when  we  have  it  confirmed  on  the  testimony  of  Jesus; 
when  we  see  the  heathen  Sage,  the  Jewish  Patriarch, 
and  the  Christian  Apostle,  entertaining  the  same 
hope,  it  ought  to  produce  in  us,  under  all  the  dis- 
pensations of  the  Most  High,  a  conduct  emulous  of 
David's  excellence.    "  While  the  child,"  the  parent, 
or  friend,   ''  is  yet  alive,"  it  is  becoming  to  fast  and 
weep  :    **  for  who  can  tell,  whether  God  will  be 
gracious,  that  they  may  live."      But  is  the  will  of 
the  Almighty  manifested  ?    *'  Wherefore  should  we 
fast  ?"  Rather  let  us  correct  the  wishes,  which  would 
oppose  the  providence  of  the  Most  High.      **  We 
cannot  bring  them  back  again."     But  it  is  given  us 
by  the  revelation  of  God,  to  rejoice  with  the  Psalmist 
in  the  consoling  expectation,  that  we  "  shall  go  to 
them,  though  they  shall  not  return  to  us." 

'  Rev.  Kxi.  4. 


SERMON    LXXIX. 


A   FUNERAL    DISCOURSE. 


Psalm,  xxiii.  4. 

Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death, 
J  will  fear  no  evil :  for  thou  art  with  me  ;  thy  rod  and  thy 
staff  they  comfort  me. 

This  Psalm  is  an  eminently  beautiful  description  of 
the  happiness,  which  waits  upon  the  servants  of  God. 
Its  holy  author  seems  to  have  composed  it  in  one  of 
the  happiest  moments  of  inspiration.  Contempla- 
ting the  constant  and  tender  care  of  the  Most  High 
over  those  who  love  Him,  he  breaks  forth  in  the 
concise  and  affecting  strain,  **  The  Lord  is  my  Shep- 
herd, I  shall  not  want^."  Filled  with  a  lively  sense 
of  the  peace,  and  joy,  and  delightful  tranquillity, 
which  the  righteous  find  in  the  experience  of  His 
grace,  and  the  contemplation  of  His  promises,  he 
assumes  the  pencil  of  fancy,  and  sketches  this  soft 
and  living  picture  of  their  bliss,  "  He  maketh  me 
to  lie  down  in  green  pastures  ;  He  leadeth  me  beside 
the  still  waters  ^"  But  there  was  a  stupendous  act 
of  Divine  goodness,  which  his  mind  rose  to  celebrate 
in  his  song,  even  that  dispensation,  by  which  the 
world  is  reconciled  to  God,  and  men  are  enabled  to 

»  Ps.  xxiii.  1.  "  Ibid.  ver.  2. 


A  FUNERAL   DISCOURSE.  385 

walk  acceptably  before  Him:  "He  restoreth  my 
soul :  He  leadeth  me  in  the  paths  of  righteousness 
for  His  name's  sake"."  Adverting  now  to  His  faith- 
ful mercy  unto  His  servants  of  old,  and  reflecting 
upon  His  power,  and  promise  to  support  the  souls 
of  the  faithful  in  every  emergency,  until  they  come 
to  the  place  of  their  rest,  the  enraptured  Psalmist 
still  vents  the  happy  emotions  of  his  bosom  in  the 
triumphant  and  solacing  words,  which  I  have  se- 
lected for  my  text :  "Yea,  though  I  walk  through 
the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no 
evil :  for  Thou  art  with  me ;  Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff 
they  comfort  me." 

Death  is  what  human  nature  is  prone  to  dread. 
Most  men  shrink,  as  long  as  they  are  able,  from  the 
entrance  into  "  the  valley  of  the  shadow"  of  it.  So 
frail  is  our  nature,  '  this  pleasing  anxious  being'  has 
so  fascinating  an  influence  over  our  affections ;  so 
dismal  are  the  accompaniments,  and  so  dark  our 
notions  of  death,  that  this  is  often  the  case  with 
the  best,  as  well  as  the  worst  of  mankind.  The 
hardened  Shimei,  v^hom  nothing  could  have  await- 
ed in  this  world,  but  mortification  and  disgrace, 
crouched  ignobly  to  the  king,  whom  he  had  abused, 
that  he  might  preserve  his  life  :  and  the  good  Heze- 
kiah,  whom  "  glory  and  honour  and  immortality  '^" 
awaited  in  a  better  world,  when  apprized  by  a  Pro 
phet  of  approaching  dissolution,  "  wept  sore 
This  is  an  infirmity  of  our  nature,  in  good  men  a 
deplorable  infirmity.  But  we  may  learn  from  the 
Psalmist,  that  there  is  an  attainable  freedom  from 
it :  and  who  shall  proclaim  the  value  of  this  to 
beings,  who  with  unquestionable  certainty  are  jour- 
neying to  the  tomb  ?  Let  us,  then,  consider  what 
are  the  evils  to  be  encountered,  in  passing  through 

'  Ps.  xxiii.  3.  «•  Rom.  ii.  7.  *  Is.  xxxviii.  3, 

VOL.   II.  C  C 


e  J» 


386  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

**  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  :"  and  observe, 
as  we  proceed,  how  well  and  sufficiently  calculated 
the  instructions  and  comforts  of  religion  are,  to  for- 
tify the  faithful  against  them.  *'  Though  I  walk 
through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will 
fear  no  evil :  for  Thou  art  with  me ;  Thy  rod  and 
Thy  staff  they  comfort  me." 

In  the  first  place,  the  pains  of  death  must  be  en- 
countered by  us;  and  these  fill  many  minds  with 
dismay.  God  has  been  pleased,  notwithstanding 
the  redemption  of  our  race  from  utter  destruction, 
to  leave  in  the  world  demonstrations  of  their  fall, 
and  of  His  displeasure  at  iniquity,  in  the  sorrows 
and  anguish  which  accompany  their  mortality.  We 
come  into  the  world  helpless  and  distressed,  and  we 
leave  it  conflicting  with  pain.  Sickness,  dying  lan- 
guor, the  burning  bosom,  the  aching  temple,  the 
wearied  limbs,  the  agonizing  convulsion,  and  the 
panting,  fluttering  heart,  these  direful  offsprings  of 
transgression,  which  surround  the  valley  of  dissolu- 
tion, increase  its  terrors  :  and  who  can  contemplate, 
without  some  anxious  emotion,  the  dark  idea  of  that 
shock,  which  shall  dissolve  the  union  of  soul  and 
body,  and  extinguish  the  vital  flame  ?  Under  these, 
and  whatever  other  pains  we  may  be  called  to  en- 
counter in  the  conflict  with  death,  where  shall  the 
generality  of  mankind  find  support  ?  Shall  they  have 
recourse  to  the  hilarity  of  life  ?  Ah  !  these  are  the 
hours,  in  which  they  will  *'  say  of  laughter.  It  is 
mad:  and  of  mirth,  What  doeth  it^"  Shall  they 
betake  themselves  to  philosophy  ?  Alas  !  to  but  few 
of  mankind  does  philosophy  come,  and  of  those 
few,  she  changes  not  the  aspect  of  their  suffering ; 
she  sheds  no  grace  of  heavenly  meekness  to  conse- 
crate their  fortitude ;  but  supports  by  hardening  or 

'  Eccles.  ii.  2. 


A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 


387 


by  flattering  the  sufferer.     Amidst  the  agonies  of 
the  vale  of  death,  there  is  no  unfeigned,  and  ade- 
quate support  for  men,  but  that  which  is  derived 
from  the   Gospel  of  God.     This  inspires  the  only 
true  motive,  and  furnishes  the  only  efficacious  means 
of  a  sincere  and  steady  composure ;  yea,  of  a  rea- 
sonable triumph,  amidst  the  distresses  which  may 
attend  dissolution.      By    that    sublime  influence, 
which  consecrates  all  the  acts  and  events  of  life  to 
moral  purposes,  it  converts  the  sufl'erings  of  nature 
into  occasions  of  meekness,  patience,  and  holy  sub- 
mission to  the  will  of  God.     It  sets  before  us  the 
animating  example  of  our  Redeemer,  enduring  with- 
out a  murmur  the  utmost  agonies  which  death  could 
inflict :    and  bids  the  Christian,  with  a  voice  that 
persuades  while  it  bids,   to  imitate  his  Lord.     It 
brings  to  us  the  aid  and  comfort  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
through  whose  sacred  influences  the  departing  good 
man  is  enabled  in  "  patience  to  possess  his  souP," 
when  his  body  is  racked  with  the  tortures  of  his 
condition.     Conscious  of  the  Divine  presence  and 
favour,  he  bears  with  calmness  the  burden  appointed 
him.     Amidst  his  pains,  there  is  heard  the  voice  of 
heavenly  consolation :  "  My  Son,  despise  not  thou 
the  chastening  of  the  Lord,  nor  faint  when  thou  art 
rebuked  of  Him:   for  whom  the  Lord   loveth  He 
chasteneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  He  re- 
ceiveth"."     It  is  the  voice  of  the  Most  High  God, 
his  Creator  and  Redeemer.     He  listens,  and  his 
pains  are  lightened.     The  hand  which  smites,   he 
sees  stretched  out  to  sustain  him.     His  flesh  and  his 
heart  may  fail,  "  but  God  is  the  strength  of  his 
heart' :"  and  is  able,  he  knows,  when  the  dissolving 
dart  shall  strike  through  his  frame,  to  support  him 
with  the  wholesome  strength  of  His  own  right  hand. 

»  Luke  xxi.  19.  "  Heb.  xii.  6.  '  Ps.  Ixxiii.  Z6. 

c  c  2 


388  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

In  hours  of  extremity,  he  may,  indeed,  groan ;  and 
"  O  my  Father,"  he  may  be  ready  to  say,  *'  if  it  be 
possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me  ^ !"  For  Jesus, 
that  He  might  be  "  touched  with  the  feeling  of  (all) 
our  infirmities',''  thus  deprecated  the  agonies  of  the 
hour  of  darkness.  But  it  is  a  momentary  and  qua- 
lified wish.  Recollection  emd  the  Comforter  return 
to  his  soul :  and  the  language  is  triumphant  of  the 
lips  which  are  trembling  with  anguish,  "  The  cup 
which  my  Father  hath  given  me,  shall  I  not  drink 
it'"'?" 

Again.  The  valley  of  death  is  rendered  terrible 
to  man,  because  it  interrupts  and  terminates  all  his 
earthly  pursuits  and  expectations.  *'  When  the 
breath  of  man  goeth  forth,  he  shall  turn  again  to 
his  earth  :  and  then  all  his  thoughts  perish"."  Life, 
chequered  as  it  is,  has  strong  attractions,  by  which 
our  souls  are  riveted  to  it.  For  when  we  become 
wedded  to  our  habits,  and  the  projects,  and  pur- 
suits, to  which  our  faculties  have  been  devoted,  it  is 
painful  to  think,  there  is  an  everlasting  end.  Every 
condition  has  something  to  engage  our  affectionj^. 
The  ease,  the  distinction,  and  the  magnificence, 
with  which  the  wealthy  can  gratify  themselves,  ren- 
der death  unwelcome  to  the  rich.  And  the  poor 
have  their  comforts,  and  purposes,  which  they  re- 
luctantly resign  to  be  terminated  for  ever.  To  the 
studious  it  is  sorrowful,  that  he  must  be  taken  from 
the  paths  of  investigation,  and  the  labours  and 
pleasures,  wherewith  his  mind  delighted  itself,  must 
be  ended.  And  the  virtuous  cannot  think  without 
regret  of  doing  no  more  those  works  of  justice,  and 
mercy,  and  piety,  by  which  they  advanced  the  hap- 
piness of  men,  and  obtained  to  themselves  an  agree- 

''  Matt.  xxvi.  39.  '  Heb.  iv.  15. 

*"  John  xviii.  II.  "  Ps.  cxlvi.  u. 


A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  389 

able  satisfaction.     The  eagerness  which  we  feel  to 
avoid  the  tomb,  is  much  increased  by  the  remem- 
brance, that  in  it  there  are  none  of  our  pursuits,  and 
occupations,   *'  nor  device,  nor  knowledge,  nor  wis- 
dom"."    But    religion    teaches    to  consider  all  the 
possessions  and  pursuits  of  this  life,  as  subordinate 
to  the  great  concerns  of  eternity;  as  of  little  con- 
sequence, but  as  they  advance  those  concerns  ;  and 
as  of  no  value,    when  the  end  of  them  is  accom- 
plished.    She  opens  too,  to  the  faithful  the  prospect 
of  such  new  scenes  and  occupations,   as  shall  more 
than  supply  the -place  of  those  that  are  to  be  left. 
Is  it  the  mansions  of  magnificence,  and  the  plea- 
sures of  affluence  that  we  regret  to  leave  ?     They 
fade  into  nothing  when  contrasted  with  the  man- 
sions of  our  Father's  housed    and  **  the   pleasures 
which  are  at  His  right  hand  for  evermore  ^"     Is  it 
the  delight  of  scientific  pursuits  and   acquisitions, 
which  we  reluctantly  resign  ?     What  are  the  attain- 
ments of  wisdom,  which,  with  our  encumbered  fa- 
culties, we  make  in  this  state  in  which  '*  we  know 
in  parf^,"  compared  with  the  intelligence  which  shall 
be  poured  upon  the  soul  in  that  state,  in  which  we 
shall  "  know  even  as  also  we  are  known  %" 

Another  evil  which  we  must  encounter  in  passing 
"  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,"  is 
the  separation  from  the  objects  who  were  endeared 
to  us,  and  the  scenes  and  pleasures  which  delighted 
us  in  the  present  world.  Here  is  poignant  grief. 
The  fond  husband  must  leave  the  beloved  of  his 
bosom;  must  leave  her  to  her  own  fortitude  and 
fate,  in  this  mutable  and  careful  existence.  The 
affectionate  mother  must  resign  her  darling  offspring 
to  she  knows  not  what  trials,  dangers,  and  sorrows, 

°  Eccles.  ix.  10.  PJohnxiv.  2.  pPs.  xvi.  II. 

■■  1  Cor.  xiii.  12.  '1  Cor.  xiii.  12, 


390  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

in  this  evil  world.      Our  friends  and  companions, 
with  whom   **  we  took  sweet  counsel   together  \" 
and  who  were  dear  to  us  as  our  own  souls,  we  must 
leave,  to  see  them  no  more  in  these  earthly  forms, 
in  which  we  have  known  and  loved  them.     They 
may  mitigate  for  us  the  sorrows  of  disease.     They 
may  soothe  our  apprehensions  on  our  way,  and  with 
piety's  sweetest  offices  encourage  our  hopes.     But 
they  can  accompany  us,   only  to  the  gate  of  death. 
There  they  must  leave  us.     We  must  be  parted  from 
each  other;  we  to  pass  into  regions,  from  which 
we  shall  return  to  them  no  more ;  ^and  they  to  be 
left  weeping  together  on  the  gloomy  confines  of  the 
vale.     And  how  happy  are  those,  with  whom  in  this 
dreadful  moment  God  remains ;  who  do  not  pass 
through  the  solemn  gate  alone  ;  but,  when  all  earthly 
friends  have  retired,  have  the  *'  Father  of  their  spi- 
rits"" with  them.     In   Him  they  discern  a  Being 
dearer,  and  more  excellent,  and  more  desirable  to 
their  souls,  than  any  they  leave  upon  the  earth.     To 
His  providence  they  are  able  with  holy  confidence, 
to  consign  the  objects,  for  whose   protection  and 
welfare  they  feel  a  tender  concern.     Instead  of  the 
beings  and  pleasures,  from  whom  death  takes  them, 
He  converses  with  them  on  their  way  of  nobler  as- 
sociates, purer  pursuits,  and  pleasures  that  will  be 
eternal.     With  the  *'  rod"  of  His  power,  and  the 
*'  staff"  of  His  promises,  He  sustains  and  comforts 
them,    in  making  their   painful   resignations :    and 
through  the  declarations  of  His  mercy  they  are  en- 
abled to  hope,  that  the  virtuous  objects  of  their 
affection  will,  one  day,  be  found  in  heavenly  forms, 
made  heirs  with  them  of  a  better  happiness  in  a  re- 
gion, where  there  will  be  no  more  death.     '  I  leave 
them,'  says  the  expiring  Christian,  when  he  looks 

'Ps.  Iv.  14.  "  Heb.  xii.  9, 


A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  391 

around  upon  those,  with  whom  nature,  or  love  has 
connected  him,  'I  leave  them  in  the  care  of  that 
Being,  who  made  me  the  instrument  of  their  hap- 
piness, and  is  able  to  make  them  happy  without  me. 
Presently  they  will  follow  me,  as   I  am  following 
those  of  my  connections  who  arc  gone  before  me. 
And  if  they  shall  be  found  worthy,  God  will  one 
day  make  us  happy  again  together,  in  His  unchange- 
able kingdom.'      Were  it  not  for   these   principles 
and  hopes,  which  religion  inspires,  I  know  not  how 
a  heart,  that  is  fond  and  sensible,  could  sustain  the 
thought  of  being  torn  by  death  from  the  dear  ob- 
jects and  social  pleasures  of  this  present  life.     But 
when  the  promises  of  revelation  are  disclosed,  there 
is  reason,  and  to  those  who  "  have  tasted  the  good 
word    of   God,    and    the    powers    of  the   world  to 
come  %"  there  is  peace,  in  acquiescing  in  the  priva- 
tions, to  which  death  necessarily  subjects  us.     In 
the  prospects  of  heaven  and  eternity,  earth,  and  the 
connections  and  pleasures  of  earth,  appear  of  subor- 
dinate consequence  ;  and  "  God  is  all  in  all^."  Gra- 
cious Being,  when  I  shall  pass  "  through  the  valley 
of  the  shadow  of  death,"  Oh  !  let  Thy  presence  go 
with  me.     It  shall  be  more  to  me  than  parent  or 
child,  than  friend  or  brother.     For  •'  whom  have  I 
in  heaven  but  Thee  ?     And  there  is  none  upon  earth 
that  I  can  desire  in  comparison  of  Thee^"     Let  me, 
in  the  vale  of  terrors,   but  behold  Thy  face  in  righ- 
teousness,   and  *'  though  an  host  should  encamp 
against  me,  my  heart  shall  not  fear*."      Let   me, 
when  I  must  leave  at  the  entrance  of  the  tomb  all 
earthly  associates,    have  but  *'  the  light  of  Thy 
countenance ''"  with  me,  and  I  shall  be  satisfied  with 
it !     Though  the  vale  be  gloomy,  if  Thou  art  with 
me,  I  shall  go  on  my  *'  way  rejoicing ^" 

^  Heb.  vi.  5.  ^  1  Cor.  xv.  28.  »  Ps.  Ixxiii.  24, 

*  Ps.  xxvii.  3.  "  Ibid.  iv.  6.  <=  Acts  viii.  39. 


392 


A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 


Another  thing,  which  renders  "  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death"  terrible  to  many,  is  the  darkness 
with  which  it  is  encompassed.     It  is  awfully  still. 
It  is  dreadfully   gloomy.      Shadows,    clouds,    and 
darkness  rest  upon  it.     I  see  the  infidel  approach 
its  entrance.     To  him  it  is  dismally  obscure.    Bones 
and  ashes  are  all  he  can  discover.     And  his  heart 
recoils  with  unutterable  horror,  from  such  an  ex- 
tinction of  his  being.     I  see  the  vicious  approach 
it.     To  them  the  gloom  is  terrible.     Conscience  fills 
it  with  ghosts  and  spectres,  and  images  of  terror. 
They  shudder  as  they  enter.     They  cry  aloud  for 
light.     And  whom,  indeed,  do  I  see  unappalled  by 
the  darkness   and    dismal   accompaniments   of  the 
grave,    but  those,   upon  whose  minds  the  blessed 
Redeemer  hath  opened  the  visions  of  immortality? 
To  them  *'  there  ariseth  up  light  in  the  darkness'^." 
The  hand  which  holdeth  **  the  keys  of  hell  and  of 
death %"  hath  rolled  back  the  clouds  which  hung 
over  the  valley  of  death.     The  voice,  at  which  the 
devils  tremble,  hath  chased  from  it  the  images  of 
fear,  and  spectres  of  despair.     To  the  sincere  fol- 
lowers of  the  Lamb,  it  is  not  a  valley  of  unknown 
windings,  and  uncertain  end.      They  see,   indeed, 
that  it  is  a  desolate  place.     But  they  are  taught, 
that  it  is  the  path  by  which  God  hath  connected 
this  present  stage  of  our  existence  with  the  next. 
They  know  that  it  is  the  passage,  through  which 
the  Patriarchs,   and  Prophets,  and  righteous  men  of 
every  age,  have  gone  to  the  fruition  of  glory.     They 
consider  it  as  the  valley  which  their  Lord  hath  tra- 
velled, subduing  in  it  every  thing  which  could  mo- 
lest or  dismay  them  ;  and  opening  through  it  the 
way  to  His  heavenly  kingdom.  They  enter  it,  there- 
fore, without  fear,  or  perplexity,  having  the  "  Spirit 

Ts,  cxii.  4.  '  Rev.  i.  18. 


A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  393 

of  truth  ^"  for  their  guide,  and  persuaded  by  Him, 
that,  desolate  as  is  the  path,  it  will  conduct  them 
to  the  regions  of  everlasting  day.  Blissful  light, 
which  religion,  sent  by  our  compassionate  Creator, 
sheds  upon  the  tomb  !  How  happy  the  relief  which 
it  gives  from  the  timidity  of  ignorance,  and  the 
anxiety  of  doubt !  Those  terrors,  at  least,  which  its 
darkness  gave  to  "  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death,"  are  of  small  power,  now  that  it  is  illumined 
with  the  instructions  of  the  Almighty,  and  declared 
by  Him  to  be  our  path  to  immortality. 

But  the  greatest  of  all  the  causes  of  anxiety  and 
fear,  which  the  children  of  men  encounter  at  the  ap- 
proach of  death,  is  the  apprehension  of  the  judg- 
ment which  will  ensue.  Little  as  they  think  of  it 
in  life,  most  men  are  sensible,  when  they  come  to 
die,  of  the  account  they  must  give  to  God.  Their 
strength  being  prostrated  ;  the  schemes  and  pursuits 
which  absorbed  them  being  dissolved  ;  their  tem- 
poral joys  all  palling  on  their  senses;  and  every 
thing  in  which  they  sought  their  comfort,  every 
thing  upon  which  they  placed  their  reliance  here, 
being  found  useless :  they  begin  to  feel  their  de- 
pendence upon  an  invisible  power,  and,  at  length, 
are  thoughtful  of  the  retribution  to  come.  The  bar 
of  the  Almighty,  if  it  have  not  been  regarded  before, 
will  force  itself  upon  the  thoughts  of  the  soul,  in 
"  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death."  And  who  can 
sustain  unmoved,  the  contemplation  of  its  majesty, 
or  of  the  issues  to  be  tried  before  it  ? 

To  the  man,  who  is  not  at  peace  with  God  ;  who 
has  with  him  no  evidence  of  pardon  and  Divine 
favour ;  but  finds  himself  going  to  the  tribunal  of 
Heaven  with  all  his  imperfections,  naked  and  un- 
atoned  ;  to  such  a  man,  the  apprehension  of  the  judg- 

'  John  xiv.  17. 


394  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

merit  to  come  cannot  but  be  exceedingly  terrible. 
For  how  shall  he  appear  before  the  holy  and  righteous 
God  ?  What  plea  shall  he  urge  with  the  Most  High, 
that  He  should  pardon  and  exalt  him,  and  give  him  "an 
inheritance  among  all  them  which  are  sanctified  ^  ?" 
He  is  conscious  of  innumerable  offences  against  his 
Maker,  for  which  he  can  make  no  reparation.  In 
the  account  he  is  to  give  of  the  deeds  done  in  the 
body,  alas  !  he  finds  nothing  of  faith  or  fidelity. 
Conscience  and  revelation  direct  his  attention  to  a 
throne.  But  it  is  a  throne,  out  of  which  **  proceed 
lightnings  and  thunderings  and  voices''."  He  ex- 
pects to  meet  a  Judge.  But  from  this  Judge,  he 
would  call  upon  the  rocks  to  hide  him,  and  the  hills 
to  cover  him.  It  is  the  necessity  of  giving  an  ac- 
count of  themselves  to  this  Judge,  and  the  fear  of 
His  just  award,  that  renders  terrible  to  so  many  the 
summons  to  pass  through  the  vale  of  death. 

But  in  the  bosom  of  the  Christian,  called  of  God 
in  Christ  Jesus,  and  **  turned"  from  the  error  of  his 
ways  **  to  the  wisdom  of  the  just',"  very  different 
are  the  emotions,  excited  by  the  contemplation  of 
the  untried  scene,  to  which  death  will  conduct  him. 
He,  too,  is  conscious  of  sin.  He  is  conscious  also, 
of  his  utter  inability  to  make  to  his  Maker  any 
atonement  for  his  offences.  But  he  has  been  unto 
the  Son  of  God,  that  he  might  obtain  life.  He  has 
found  Him  an  appointed  Mediator,  '*  in  whom  men 
have  redemption  through  His  blood,  even  the  for- 
giveness of  their  sins'"."  He  has  taken  of  that  blood, 
and  sprinkled  it  upon  all  his  garments ;  and  while 
carrying  it  upon  him  has  sorrowed  for  the  sins, 
which  rendered  it  necessary  it  should  be  shed,  and 
Jias  aspired  after  the  holiness  and  immortality,  to 

«  Acts  XX.  32.  ''  Rev.  iv.  5, 

'  Lukei.  17.  "  Col.  i.  14. 


A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  395 

which  it  hath  redeemed  him.     From  this  great  Me- 
diator he  hath  received  in  the  Gospel  the  promise, 
and  in  the  sacraments  the  pledges,  of  pardon  and 
grace,    of  peace   with   the  Father,  a   resurrection 
from  the  grave,  and  everlasting  life.     This  promise 
is  assured  to  him  by  the  oath  of  God.    These  pledges 
are  sealed  by  the  effectual  co-operation  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.     And  in  the  love  and  joy,  peace  and  long- 
suffering,  goodness  and  patience,  meekness  and  tem- 
perance, faith  and  charity,  which  are  shed  abroad 
in  his  heart  and  conduct,  he  has  the  fruits  of  the 
Spirit  witnessing  unto  him  that  he  is  a  child  of  God  ; 
begotten  again  to  the  liveliest  and  most  joyful  hopes, 
by  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead. 
From  him,  therefore,  the  terrors  with  which  the  ex- 
pectation of  a  consequent  judgment  arms  death,  are 
turned  away.     To  the  God,  into  whose  presence  he 
is  going,  he  can  look,  as  to  a  reconciled  Father  and 
friend.     In  the  Judge,  at  whose  tribunal  he  must 
appear,  he  can  thankfully  confide,  as  in  one  *'  who 
can  have  compassion  on  the  ignorant,  and  on  them 
that  are  out  of  the  way  V'  and  has  united  him  to 
Himself  by  dear  and  indissoluble  ties.    The  strength 
of  sin  over  him  is  broken.    The  promises  of  God  are 
with  him.     The  Spirit  of  God  is  with  him.     The 
oath  of  God  is  with  him.     And  in  the  blood,  and 
righteousness,  and  intercession  of  his  Redeemer,  he 
knows  there  is  a  treasure  of  merit  and  atonement ; 
upon  which  when  the  Father  looketh.  He  will  em- 
brace with  everlasting  mercy  those,  who  through 
faith  and  obedience  have  endeavoured  to  secure  an 
interest  in  it.     Great,  therefore,  is  his  peace.     The 
bar  of  the  Almighty  is  changed  to  him  into  the 
Mercy  Seat.     The  vail  that  was  before  it  is  rent  in 
twain.     He  sees  Jesus,  the  great  High  Priest,  prcr 

'  Heb.  V.  2. 
9 


396  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

senting  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice,  "  which  taketh 
away  the  sin  of  the  world  ™."  '*  Son,"  he  hears  the 
Father  say,  *'  all  Thine  are  Mine  ".  And  I  give 
unto  Thee  power  over  all  flesh,  that  Thou  shouldest 
give  eternal  life  to  as  many  as  I  have  given  Thee"." 
The  penitent  believer  here  forgets  his  mortality. 
His  heart  in  the  approach  of  death  is  glad  ;  and 
his  glory  rejoices.  His  "  flesh  also  shall  rest  in 
hope  ^" 

In  short,  a  sense  of  the  presence  of  God,  with  an 
assurance  of  His  pardon  and  favour,  makes  any 
condition  easy,  and  any  place  peaceful.  In  *'  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death"  it  is  the  soul's  amu- 
let, its  support  and  joy.  Pain  loses  much  of  its 
power ;  the  adversary  of  the  soul  flees  to  his  place  ; 
temporal  pursuits  and  advantages  ate  willingly  re- 
signed ;  the  poignancy  of  leaving  our  earthly  friends 
is  mitigated  ;  the  darkness  of  the  valley  is  illumined 
and  cheered ;  and  the  dread  of  judgment  is  con- 
verted into  the  peaceful  hope  of  pardon  and  im- 
mortality, through  the  efficacy  of  those  principles 
and  that  spirit,  which  belong  to  those  who  love  God. 
**  Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright : 
for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace ''." 

These  consolations  and  instructions,  so  impor- 
tant, my  brethren,  to  us,  whose  progress  in  life  is 
but  an  advancement  towards  "  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,"  were  very  strikingly  illustrated 
and  confirmed  in  the  recent  death  of  some  members 
of  our  communion.  To  the  surviving  friends  of  the 
deceased,  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  utter  the  words 
of  consolation  ?  A  voice  from  heaven  has  proclaimed, 
that  "  blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord '." 
Rather,  let  me  beseech  you  all,  my  hearers,  to  bring 

™  John  i.  29.  "  Ibid.  xvii.  10.  °  Ibid.  ver.  2. 

P  Ps.  xvi.  9.  0  Ibid,  xxxvii.  37.  '  Rev.  xiv.  13. 


A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  397 

yourselves  into  that  course  of  faith  and  obedience, 
whose  progress  is  safe  and  pleasant,  and  whose  end 
is  happy  and  glorious.  However  light  your  thoughts 
may  now  be  ;  however  gay  your  lives  ;  however 
brilliant  your  prospects ;  one  thing  only  is  certain 
to  you,  that  death  will  be  the  end  of  your  career. 
To  meet  it  without  fearing  any  evil  is  a  noble  attain- 
ment, a  most  desirable  happiness.  And  it  is  the 
privilege  of  those,  and  those  only,  who  are  furnished 
from  the  armoury  of  heaven  with  what  the  **  Spirit 
of  truth'"  has  styled  "  the  whole  armour  of  God'." 
With  this  armour  fortify  yourselves  against  the  day 
of  need.  Delay  not  to  buckle  it  on,  and  to  prove 
it,  till  you  see  the  king  of  terrors  approaching  with 
his  hosts  of  evils.  Those  dispositions  towards  God 
and  men,  which  you  would  wish  to  carry  into  the 
other  world,  should  be  sought  and  cherished,  before 
you  are  reduced  to  the  bed  of  death.  For  then  the 
corruptible  body  may  weigh  down  the  incorruptible 
mind;  and  though  the  "  spirit  should  be  willing, 
the  flesh  may  be  weak "."  While,  therefore,  it  is 
*'  well  with  you%"  take  to  yourselves  *'  the  whole 
armour  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  withstand 
in  the  evil  day.  Let  your  loins  be  girt  about  with 
truth,  and  have  you  on  the  breastplate  of  righteous- 
ness ;  let  your  feet  be  shod  with  the  preparation  of 
the  Gospel  of  peace.  Above  all,  take  the  shield  of 
faith,  wherewith  ye  shall  be  able  to  quench  all  the 
fiery  darts  of  the  wicked.  And  take  the  helmet  of 
salvation,  and  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the 
word  of  God :  praying  always  with  all  prayer  and 
supplication  in  the  Spirit,  and  watching  thereunto 
with  all  perseverance  ^"     Thus  fortified,   you  will 


•  John  xiv.  17.  *  Eph.  vi.  13.  "  Matt.  xxvi.  41. 

""  Deut.  V.  35.  >  Eph.  vi.  13—18. 


398  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

be  in  the  best  condition  to  share  the  triumphs  of 
those  who  are  gone  before  you  ;  and  may  partake 
of  the  holy  comfort,  with  which  the  Psalmist  so- 
laced his  soul :  **  Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil  : 
for  Thou  art  with  me  ;  Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff  they 
comfort  me." 


SERMON   LXXX. 


A   FUNERAL    DISCOURSE. 


Job,  XXXV.  14. 

Although  thou  say  est  thoti  shalt  not  see  him,  yet  judgment  is 
before  him  ;  therefore  trust  thou  in  him. 

This  chapter  is  part  of  a  conversation  which  Elihu 
had  with  the  renowned  sufferer  of  the  East.  He 
appears  to  have  possessed  juster  sentiments  of  God, 
and  His  government,  and  a  tenderer  sympathy  with 
the  miserable,  than  the  rest  of  Job's  comforters :  and 
his  discourse  was  not  involved  in  the  reproof,  by 
which  Eliphaz,  Bildad,  and  Zophar  were  condemned. 
The  words  of  the  text  form  one  of  the  finest,  and 
most  forcible  expostulations,  which  could  have  been 
used  with  a  man  amazed  by  the  strangeness,  and 
awed  by  the  weight  of  his  sufferings ;  and  are  not 
unworthy  to  be  pondered  by  us  on  every  occasion, 
when  in  the  emphatic  language  of  Scripture  the 
Almighty  "  hideth  His  face\"  "  Although  thou 
sayest  thou  shalt  not  see  Him,  yet  judgment  is 
before  Him  ;  therefore  trust  thou  in  Him." 

These  words  suppose,  in  the  first  place,  that  there 
are  seasons  and  situations,  in  which  the  ways  of 
Heaven  seem  dismaying  and  inexplicable  : 

*  Job  xxxiv.  29. 


400  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

Secondly,  they  assure  us  that  notwithstanding 
this,  unchangeable  righteousness  is  the  eternal  rule 
of  the  government  of  God  : 

And  from  this  consideration,  they,  in  the  third 
place,  encourage  us  to  maintain  in  every  situation, 
in  which  His  providence  may  place  us,  a  humble 
and  obedient  reliance  upon  His  holy  will. 

That  there  are  seasons  and  situations,  in  which 
the  ways  of  the  Most  High  do  seem  dismaying  and 
inexplicable,  is  abundantly  evident,  to  whatever 
department  of  His  government  we  turn  our  eyes.  If 
we  look  into  the  natural  world,  we  shall  not  always 
find  obscured  the  God  of  nature.  Here  is  not 
always  the  fruitful  season,  and  the  unclouded  day. 
The  Deity,  who  is  known  to  us  through  the  bene- 
volence of  His  works,  does  sometimes  clothe  Himself 
in  all  the  terrors  which  the  elements  He  has  created 
can  furnish.  Dread  thunders,  and  dire  pestilence, 
at  His  command  spread  terror  and  death  through 
the  air.  The  earth  quakes,  and  the  busy  city  with 
the  peaceful  plain  are  alike  entombed  within  its 
bosom.  Instead  of  the  gentle  dew  in  which  He 
refreshes,  and  the  generous  shower  in  which  He 
nourishes  the  earth,  He  sometimes  comes  in  a  tre- 
mendous torrent,  sweeping  beauty  from  nature,  and 
sustenance  from  man.  If  we  look  into  the  social 
department,  here,  too,  we  shall  find  His  ways 
mysterious.  There  are  times,  when  the  protection 
of  His  providence  would  seem  to  be  withdrawn  from 
society.  Its  interests  appear  subject  to  the  caprices 
of  fortune,  and  the  passions  of  men.  Who  can  dis- 
cover the  known  marks  of  His  providence,  when  the 
welfare  of  communities  appears  dependant  on  the  will 
of  the  strongest,  and  this  superior  strength  is  pos- 
sessed by  some  inhuman  monster,  thirsting  for  the 
blood  and  rights  of  his  fellow  men  ?  Impenetrable  is 
the  vail  which  conceals  the  issue  of  His  purposes. 


A  FUKERAL  DISCOURSE.  40 1 

wheti  the  charms  of  society  are  blasted,  and  its  young 
and  useful  members  suddenly  cut  down;  while  they 
who  stand  alone,  and  seem  cumberers  of  the  earth, 
are  permitted  to  remain  and  thrive.  V/ho  can  fathom 
the  cojnsels  of  His  will,  when  in  His  moral  creatures, 
that  reason  by  which  He  has  dignified  them,  is 
suddenly  extinguished,  or  the  bodies  and  faculties, 
by  which  He  has  so  happily  fitted  us  for  intercourse 
with  each  other,  are  converted  into  monuments  of 
our  frailty  and  misery  ? 

If  we  turn  our  attention  to  the  moral  department, 
here,  too,  we  shall  find  occurrences  to  astonish  and 
perplex  us.  Affliction  maintains  a  powerful  and 
oppressive  dominion  among  the  sons  of  men.  In  the 
form  of  vice,  of  adversity,  and  of  death,  she  stalks 
through  the  world,  obscuring  the  sun-beams  of 
heaven  with  her  shadow,  and  spreading  dismay  by 
her  mien.  And  is  it  upon  the  vicious  that  she  chiefly 
lays  her  scourge  ?  Alas !  They  frequently  are  seen 
upon  the  high  places  of  the  earth,  basking  in  sun- 
shine, and  trampling  upon  merit :  while  virtue, 
weighed  down  with  accumulated  sorrows,  in  lonely 
retirement  bleeds  and  weeps.  It  is  not  uncommonly 
the  lot  of  the  righteous  to  bear  the  heaviest  burdens, 
and  experience  the  severest  trials  of  life.  In  the 
management  of  their  allotments,  the  ways  of  the 
Deity  are  inscrutable.  The  pious  Job,  and  th6 
zealous  Peter  are  left  to  be  tempted,  the  one  to 
distrust,  the  other  to  deny,  his  Lord.  The  former  is 
supported  and  triumphs;  the  latter  falls.  Again. 
Peter  weeps  bitterly,  and  is  recovered  from  the  most 
heinous  off'ence:  while  for  a  smaller  one,  Esau  ''found 
no  place  of  repentance,  though  he  sought  it  carefully 
with  tears "'."  How  oft  have  we  seen  the  arrows  of 
the  Almighty,  lodged   in   the  bosoms  which  were 

.^  Heb.  xii.  17. 
VOL.    II.  D   d 


402  A  FUNEKAL  J3ISC0URS-E. 

anxious  to  beat  but  to  Ilis  service:  nay,  how  oft  has 
the  Church,  the  object  of  His  professed.  His  fondest 
regard,  been  left,  according  to  the  beautiful  allusion 
of  the  Prophet,  **  as  a  lodge  in  a  garden  of  cucumbers, 
as  a  besieged  city''."  In  the  dispensations  of  His 
grace,  as  well  as  of  His  providence,  in  the  moral  as 
well  as  in  the  natural  world,  the  Most  High  asserts 
His  sovereignty ;  '*  and  His  ways  are  past  finding- 
out"." 

When  we  compare  the  terrors  of  nature  with  His 
benevolence  who  rules  her  movements  ;  when  we 
contrast  the  triumphs  of  iniquity  in  the  world,  with 
His  power  and  holiness  by  whom  it  is  governed ; 
when  we  combine  the  afflictions  of  the  virtuous,  and 
the  trials  of  the  Church,  with  His  love  to  whom  they 
are  devoted  :  it  must  be  confessed  there  are  seasons, 
when  he  whose  faith  is  most  firmly  fixed,  may  be 
ready  to  exclaim  with  the  amazed  Prophet,  **  Verily, 
Thou  art  a  God  that  hidest  Thyself,  O  God  of  Israel, 
the  Saviour* !" 

But,  Christian,  pause.  Let  not  the  phenomena 
of  nature  impair  thy  admiration  of  her  usual  course, 
nor  shake  thy  confidence  in  the  wisdom  and  bene- 
volence of  her  Author.  "  Although  thou  sayest  thou 
shalt  not  see  Him,  yet  judgment  is  before  Him." 
When  we  consider  how  much  order  and  benevolence 
there  is  in  the  general  dispensations  of  God,  and 
reflect  upon  the  narrowness  and  imperfections  of 
our  views  ;  it  would  be  a  candid,  and  becoming 
conclusion,  if  we  had  no  other  light  upon  the  subject, 
that  the  allotments  of  His  providence  which  we  do 
not  understand,  are,  nevertheless,  adjusted  by  rules 
of  eternal  equity  and  goodness.  But  we  have  the 
plea  of  reason  enforcing  this  conclusion.  To  suppose 
that  God,  having   made  the  world>    has  left  it  to 

'•  Is.  i.  8.  '"  Rom.  xi.  33.  '  Is.  xlv.  15. 


A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  403 

itself,  is  impossible.  It  would  not  comport  with  the 
wisdom,  power,  and  goodness,  which  are  essential 
to  the  nature  of  God.  If,  however.  He  exercise  a 
government  over  the  affairs  of  the  world,  it  must  be 
a  moral  government.  To  suppose  Him  exerting  a 
partial,  or  passionate,  or  despotic,  or  irregular  con- 
trol over  the  events  of  time,  would  argue  impossible 
imperfections  in  the  Deity,  and  greatly  weaken  the 
obligations  of  His  laws.  His  government  must  be 
as  pure,  just,  and  benevolent,  as  His  nature ;  and 
consequently,  righteous  in  every  measure  of  it ; 
seeking  unceasingly  the  manifestation  of  justice,  and 
the  melioration  and  happiness  of  the  creature. 

In  confirmation  of  these  deductions,  we  have  the 
testimony  of  Scripture,  from  which  we  derive  our 
best  and  surest  knowledge  of  the  nature  and  designs 
of  the  Deity.  Revelation  assures  us,  that  **  the  Lord 
is  righteous  in  all  His  ways,  and  holy  in  all  His 
works  V  It  teaches  us  to  consider  the  most  ex- 
traordinary dispensations  of  Providence,  the  most 
mysterious  and  dismaying  occurrences  of  life,  not  as 
the  offspring  of  chance,  nor  as  deviations  from  the 
eternal  rule  of  rectitude  ;  but  as  appointed  by  Him 
for  the  furtherance  of  glorious  purposes,  which  His 
justice  and  goodness  conspire  to  promote.  He  has 
a  scheme,  a  just  and  stupendous  scheme,  a  scheme 
of  infinite  benevolence  in  the  administration  of  His 
government.  Its  end  is  the  improvement  and  exalta- 
tion of  our  race.  To  give  it  efficacy,  the  Scriptures 
represent  Him  as  sparing  no  pains  ;  as  giving  the 
Beloved  of  His  bosom  to  suffer  and  to  die.  And 
who  that  contemplates  this  scheme  of  redemption, 
can  doubt  that  all  his  dispensations  are  worthy  of 
Himself,  and  ultimately  conducive  to  the  general 
good  ?  When  the  light  of  revelation  rises,  it  disperses 

•  Ps.  cxlv.  17. 

D  d2 


404  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

the  clouds  which  in, the  seasons  of  calamity  surround 
and  seem  to  conceal  the  Most  High.     We  behold 
Him  in  a  manner,  worthyof  the  Judge  of  the  universe, 
and  Father  of  our  race,  administering  a  government, 
which  exhibits  the  most  wonderful  and  perfect  union 
of  mercy  with  justice,  of  righteousness  with  peace: 
and  pledging  Himself,  that  the  result  shall  be,  what 
every  virtuous  being  should  wish  it  to  be,  the  highest 
possible  good  to  His  creatures.     Though  for  a  season 
His  footsteps  may  be  unknown ;  though  in  the  day 
of  calamity  we  may  look  in  vain  for  the  light  of  His 
countenance ;  though  afflictions  may  appear  to  in- 
terrupt the  flow  of  His  mercies ;  and  to  the  good  may 
be  allotted  the  greatest  portion  of  distress  :  yet  is 
there  no  change  in  His  purposes,  nor  can  there  be 
unrighteousness  with  God.     All  His  dispensations, 
as  well  as  His  precepts,  are  done  in  truth  and  equity. 
Yea,  doubtless,  "  judgment  was  laid  to  the  line,  and 
righteousness  to  the  plummet  ^"  when  in  the  hour  of 
deepest  sorrow  His  beloved  Son  was  left  to  exclaim, 
"  My  God,  My  God,  why  hast  Thou  forsaken  Me*^?" 
We  cannot  reconcile  any  other  opinion  with  our  faith 
in  His  word,  nor  indeed  in  His  being.     We  must 
abandon  our  belief  in  His  government,  and  abide  the 
dreadful  consequences  of  relinquishing  our  hold  upon 
this  only  rock  amidst  the  billows  of  life ;  or  must, 
though  "  clouds  and  darkness  are  round  about  Him,"' 
believe  that  "  righteousness  and  judgment  are  the 
habitation  of  His  throne'." 

From  this  great  truth  the  inference  is  clear  and 
reasonable,  that  we  ought  to  maintain,  in  every 
situation  in  which  His  providence  places  us,  an 
unshaken  trust  in  His  goodness,  and  obedience  to 
His  will.  Nothing  more  frequently  distresses  the 
feelings,  and  disturbs  the  principles  of  men,  than  the 

*  Is.  xxviii.  17.  ''  Ma(t.  xxvii.  46.  '  Ps.  xcvii.  2,' 


A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  405 

inscrutableness  of  the  dealings  of  God.  But,  my 
brethren,  are  the  measures  of  His  government  wrong, 
because  they  do  not  coincide  with  our  partial  views? 
Are  the  methods  of  His  providence  to  be  condemned, 
because  they  cannot  be  comprehended  by  our  limited 
understandings  ?  An  ignorant  rustic,  should  a  spring, 
or  single  wheel  of  a  watch  fall  into  his  hands,  would 
not  perceive  its  design,  and  might  rashly  suppose  it 
wrought  to  no  purpose  :  but  in  the  hand  of  a  skilful 
artist,  it  becomes  the  principal  mover  of  a  machine, 
regular,  beautiful,  and  of  great  utility.  We  form 
our  judgments  of  detached  parts  of  the  economy  of 
the  Most  High,  we  judge  too  by  the  present  event 
without  knowing  its  connections  or  result,  and  we 
judge,  generally,  under  the  influence  of  some  one 
or  other  of  our  passions.  Thus  circumstanced,  we 
cannot  but  be  incapable  of  fathoming  the  counsels, 
or  estimating  the  deeds  of  the  Most  High.  That  His 
ways  are  mysterious,  should  fill  us  with  humility. 
It  should  inspire  us  with  reverence  and  godly  fear ; 
but  it  ought  not  to  excite  our  surprise.  For  who 
are  we,  frail  beings  of  yesterday,  and  limited  in  our 
duration  and  views  by  the  narrow  boundary  of  the 
present  ?  who  are  we,  and  what  are  our  pretensions, 
that  we  should  expect  to  be  censors  of  the  ways  of 
God? 

We  are  assured  by  reason  and  by  Scripture,  that 
His  government  is  infinitely,  and  uniformly  righteous. 
In  the  gift  of  His  Son  for  our  salvation.  He  has 
offered  us  the  greatest  pledge  we  are  capable  of 
receiving,  that  His  aim.  His  wish,  His  constant  care 
is  the  preservation  and  happiness  of  His  off'spring. 
Would  we  be  willing  to  take  the  management  of 
events  from  a  Being  thus  infinitely  holy,  thus  bene- 
volently inclined?  Are  not  our  interests,  and  the 
interests  of  our  friends,  and  of  all  our  fellow  beings, 
as  safe  in  His  hands,  as  we  should  wish  them  to 


406  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

be  ?  Are  they  not,  indeed,  safer  than  they  possibly 
could  be,  under  any  other  circumstances  whatever  ? 
Amazement,  then,  at  His  dealings  should  never  excite 
distrust.  Our  reliance  on  His  goodness  should  stand 
like  the  rock,  which  ages  have  rooted  in  the  bosom 
of  the  earth,  unchanged,  unshaken  by  the  storm.  The 
darkness  which  sometimes  envelopes  His  providence, 
instead  of  interrupting,  should  rather  call  forth  our 
unqualified  resignation,  and  obedience  to  His  will. 

It  is  true,  affliction  will  pour  dismaying  thoughts 
into  the  soul.  We  are  bowed  to  the  dust  by  the 
Being  who  loves  us.  He  withdraws  His  smiles  from 
those,  whom  He  came  to  save.  He  wounds  us  in 
the  tenderest  part.  For  this  we  are  distressed.  But 
if  to  fill  us  with  a  sense  of  our  frailties ;  if  to  remind 
us  of  His  sovereign  power ;  if  to  detach  us  from  the 
delusions  of  time  and  sense  ;  if  to  reclaim  us  to  the 
paths  of  righteousness ;  if  to  lead  us  to  the  Mediator, 
and  cause  us  to  know  the  fellowship  of  His  sufferings, 
and  the  power  of  His  resurrection  : — if  these  be 
the  end  of  our  afflictions,  how  benevolent  are  His 
purposes  ;  how  paternal  are  the  chastisements  of  His 
hand !  And,  surely,  we  can  never  be  faithful  to 
ourselves  in  our  use  of  adversity,  and  not  find  it 
productive  of  some  of  these  fruits. 

In  men  assured  of  the  perfection  of  a  Governor, 
and  of  the  principles  by  which  He  acts,  it  is  absurd 
to  be  dissatisfied  with  measures,  which  they  can  see 
but  in  part.  The  most  afflictive  and  inexplicable 
dispensations  may  often  be  the  springs  of  the  most 
important  and  happy  operations.  The  speaker 
would  modestly  observe,  that  the  pains  and  calamities 
under  which  himself  has  recently  laboured  *,  were  a 

*  This  Discourse  was  preached  at  Newport,  R.  I.  in  April,  1804, 
and  the  '  pains  and  calamities'  here  alluded  to,  were  probably  the 
dangerous  operation  the  Author  had  undergone,  of  the  extraction  of 
a  large  wen  from  his  neck.     See  the  Memoir,  post, 
5 


A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSIe.  407 

small  price  for  the  experience  they  brought  him  of 
the  power  of  the  Ahiiighty,  to  support  His  servants 
vmder  any  emergency  ;  and  as  well  to  resuscitate  our 
bodies  after  they  shall  have  slept  in  the  dust,  as  to 
cause  the  flesh  which  had  been  torn,  divided,  and 
benumbed,  to  become  new,   and  heal.     Yes,  Thou 
gracious  Being,  in  Thy  darkest  recesses  and  heaviest 
dispensations.   Thou  art  just  and  good.     Under  the 
influences  of  Thy  Spirit,  "  our  tribulation  worketh 
patience;  and  patience,  experience;  and  experience, 
llope^"     Incense,  therefore,  shall  arise  to  Thee  even 
from  the  furnace  of  affliction.     It  is  the  very  con- 
sideration of  our  inability  to  scan  immediately  the 
counsels  of  the  Most  High,  which  should  preserve 
us  from  suff"ering  our  trust  in  Him  to  be  shaken  by 
the  tribulations  of  life.     We  should  gather  around 
us  as  many  virtues  as  we  can,  and,  amidst  the  gloom 
that  surrounds  us,  and  the  raging  of  the  storm,  repose 
ourselves  upon  His  wisdom,  righteousness,   mercy, 
and  truth. 

Thus    we    have    illustrated    the  greatest  part  of 
Elihu's  expostulation  with  the  afflicted  Job.     May 
the  important,  and  consolatory  truths  it  has  led  us 
to  contemplate,  have  their  merited  influence  upon 
our  thoughts  and  conduct,  under  every  calamity  of 
life!     Many  of  you,  beloved,  have  recently  felt  the 
afflicting  hand  of  God.     You  have  been  bereaved  of 
your  friends  and  acquaintances  by  solemn  dispensa- 
tions of  His  providence,  and  are  come  up  to  His 
house,  mourning.     Listen  to  the  instructions  of  His 
word.    Learn  from  the  oracles  of  truth,  that  however 
distressing  are  the  events  of  life,  righteousness  and 
goodness  guide  the  hand  by  which  they  are  allotted. 
While,  therefore,  you  mourn  the  partner,  the  parent, 
the  child,  gone  down  to  the  chambers  of  the  dead, 

*  Rom.  V.  4. 


408  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

consider  the  wisdom,  the  justice,  and  the  mercy  of 
the  Deity,  as  so  many  comforters  calling  tenderly 
upon  you,  to  be  still  in  your  sorrows,  and  sanctify 
Him  in  your  hearts.  And  let  us  all,  my  friends, 
learn  from  what  has  been  said,  to  preserve  in  every 
situation  an  unshaken  reliance  on  the  love  of  the 
Almighty,  and  a  stedfast  obedience  to  his  will. 
Art  thou  distressed  with  a  sense  of  thy  sinfulness  ? 
Abide  thee  by  the  raercy-seat.  Say  not  in  thy  heart, 
*'  Thou  shalt  not  see  Him,"  but  recollect  the  soothing 
declaration,  '*  He  knoweth  whereof  we  are  made. 
He  remembereth  that  we  are  but  dust''."  Art  thou, 
alarmed  by  the  occurrences  of  life  ?  Remember,  that 
*'  though  touching  the  Almighty,  we  cannot  find 
Him  out.  He  is,"  nevertheless,  "  excellent  in  power, 
and  in  judgment,  and  in  plenty  of  justice'";"  He  will 
not  suffer  His  truth  to  fail.  Art  thou  bowed  down 
with  affliction's  burden,  with  unjust  aspersions  of 
thy  fame,  the  loss  of  thy  property,  or  the  death  of 
thy  friends  ?  In  thy  distress,  be  not  dismayed.  The 
bitter  plant  is  sometimes  the  medicine  of  life.  The 
blackest  cloud,  by  which  fair  nature  is  shrouded  in 
gloom,  carries  often  the  shower  which  fertilizes  and 
refreshes  her.  Reflect  how  partial  and  finite  are  thy 
views.  Assure  thyself,  from  reason  and  Scripture,  of 
the  benevolence  and  rectitude  of  God's  government. 
Ponder  the  amazing  pledge  of  His  love,  which  He 
has  given  thee  in  Jesus  the  Mediator.  This  faithfully 
done  cannot  fail  to  calm  thy  soul  in  her  most  sorrowful 
hours:  and  to  inspire  thee  with  the  resolution,  at 
once  the  fruit,  the  support,  and  the  glory  of  Job's 
piety;  yea,  "  though  He  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in 
Him"." 

'  Fs.  i:\\\.  11,  '"  Job  xxxvii.  "i'-i.  "  Job  xiii.  15. 


SERMON   LXXXI. 


ON    THE    MISERIES   OF    LIFE. 


^  •  St.  John,  xix.  41.  ' 

There  was  a  garden ;  and  in  the  garden  a  new  sepulchre. 

**  Man  is  born  unto  trouble\"  The  scenes  of  life 
are  perpetually  varying;  and  in  every  scene,  affliction 
has  a  conspicuous  place.  The  busy  children  of  men 
enter  upon  the  stage  of  action,  flushed  with  the 
expectation  of  happiness.  Their  pulse  beats  high. 
Hope  animates  their  bosoms  with  the  prospects 
which  fancy  sketches.  They  look  around;  the  world 
is  as  *'  a  garden"  before  them,  lively  and  pleasant : 
and  they  fondly  expect  to  take  their  pastime  in  it, 
moving  from  pleasure  to  pleasure,  and  regaling  them- 
selves long  with  unfading  delights.  Deluded  mortals ! 
The  pleasure-ground  of  Joseph  is  a  picture  of  life. 
**  In  the  garden  there  was  a  sepulchre." 

It  is  probable  that  the  taste  of  the  Arimathean 
may  be  questioned  in  this  refined  age.  What  avails 
it,  it  may  be  asked,  to  bring  often  to  recollection  the 
miseries  of  our  condition  ?  Are  not  the  joys  of  life 
sufficiently  imperfect,  without  blending  with  them 
the  symbols  of  sorrow,  the  monuments  of  mortality  ? 
Ah,  my  friends,  it  were  happy  for  us,  if  our  estimate 

»Jobv.  7. 


410  ON  THE  MISERIES  OF  LIFE. 

of  this  present  state  might  be  rectified  by  its  miseries. 
We  need  a  finger,  to  point  out  constantly  to  us  the 
"  vanity"  of  things  *'  under  the  sun''."  We  need  a 
voice  to  proclaim  daily  in  our  ears,  Remember  that 
thou  art  mortal.  Obvious  it  is,  that  there  are  evils 
in  the  vs^orld.  Our  earthly  joys  are  all  alloyed. 
Our  temporal  pleasures  have  all  an  end.  The  coun- 
tenance of  mirth,  which  to-day  beams  full  with  the 
expression  of  gladness,  is  to-morrow  covered  with 
gloom.  The  treasure  of  health,  in  which  we  exult 
with  such  thoughtless  joy  fulness,  makes  to  itself 
wings,  like  the  riches  of  the  wealthy,  and  suddenly 
flies  away.  Reason,  the  choicest  natural  possession 
of  man,  is  not  always  secure.  The  disorders  of  the 
body,  the  wanderings  of  the  fancy,  or  the  winding 
up  of  the  fine  chords  of  feelings  to  a  pitch,  which 
they  are  not  able  to  bear,  may  confuse  the  rational 
powers,  and  convert  into  frenzy  the  happiest  mind. 
Death  too  is  ever  in  our  world.  Our  friends  and 
fellow  beings  he  takes  from  us,  one  after  another : 
and  whenever  he  shall  lay  his  hand  upon  us,  we  must 
be  bound  with  his  icy  fetters,  and  relinquish  all  the 
charms  of  life  for  his  gloomy  domain.  Thus,  how- 
ever blissful  our  situation,  and  with  whatever  de- 
lights we  are  surrounded,  "  in  the  garden  there  is 
a  sepulchre."  ''  Man  cometh  forth  like  a  flower, 
and  is  cut  down :  he  fleeth  also  as  a  shadow,  and 
continueth  not^" 

It  is  natural  enough  for  the  considerate  to  in- 
quire how  the  miseries  of  life  found  entrance  into 
the  creation  of  God,  and  I  see  not  how  they  can 
explain  this  mournful  part  of  the  Divine  economy, 
but  by  considering  it  as  the  result  of  transgression. 
It  is  surely  punishment,  whenever  the  children  of  a 
benevolent  parent  are  afflicted:  and  under  the  just 

*  Eccles.  iv.  7.  '  Job  xiv.  2. 


ON  THE  MISERIES  OF  LIFE.  411 

and  compassionate  government  of  the  Universal 
Parent,  punishment  can  never  be  known  but  as  the 
consequence  of  sin.  Yes  ;  man  must  have  brought 
upon  himself  the  sorrows  of  his  condition  by  dis- 
obedience. We  carry  in  ourselves,  and  behold  in 
the  sufferings  and  mortality  of  our  fellow  beings, 
irrefragable  evidence  of  the  unhappy  fall,  and  de- 
generacy of  our  race.  In  an  evil  hour  man  built  for 
himself  "  a  sepulchre,  in  the  garden"  in  which  his 
Maker  had  placed  him ;  and  the  awful  inheritance 
has  descended  to  his  latest  posterity. 

It  is  wise,  however,  to  consider  our  situation,  as 
it  is.  A  state  of  delusion  with  regard  to  the  real 
circumstances  of  our  condition,  would  be  a  great 
misfortune.  Whoever  acts  without  a  correct  view 
of  his  powers  and  position,  must  always  forego  the 
character  of  discretion,  and  lose  the  advantages 
which  wisdom  derives  from  adapting  her  means  to 
the  end,  and  aiming  at  those  ends  only,  which  are 
practicable,  and  of  real  importance. 

I  invite  you,  then,  to  the  "  sepulchre,"  which 
is  ever  **  in  the  garden"  of  life  :  that  you  may,  in 
the  first  place,  perceive  and  remember,  that  it  is 
there.  Heedless  are  most  men  of  death !  The  young, 
the  gay,  and  the  busy,  with  what  light  and  careless 
feet  do  they  move  among  the  pleasures  of  the  earth, 
regardless  of  the  grave  which  is  under  them,  and 
the  dangers  with  which  they  are  surrounded  !  How 
many  stumble  upon  the  "  sepulchre,"  before  they 
have  discovered  it  in  the  path !  Our  eyes  are  will- 
ingly turned  from  it ;  for  we  have  not  learnt  to  look 
upon  it  without  pain.  We  plant  a  thousand  objects, 
which  hide  it  from  our  sight.  We  twine  the  flowers 
of  hope,  and  we  bend  the  vines  of  pleasure  to  con- 
ceal it  from  our  view.  It  is  *'  in  the  garden,"  but 
men  perceive  it  not.  Too  often,  alas !  they  sink 
into  it,  before  they  have  considered  themselves  as 


412  ON  THE  MISERIES  OF  LIFE. 

mortal ;  unacquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  pre- 
sent life,  and  unprepared  for  the  issues  of  that 
which  is  to  come.  But  who,  in  the  intervals  of  re- 
flection, will  say  that  this  is  wisdom?  "  It  is  ap- 
pointed unto"  you  "  once  to  die^"  Death  will 
conduct  you  to  consummate  happiness,  or  unspeak- 
able woe.  At  any  period  of  your  lives,  "  in  a  mo- 
ment, in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye%"  this  awful  and 
important  change  may  take  place.  Let  not  then  the 
gaieties  and  charms  of  the  world  beguile  you  of 
such  weighty  concerns.  Have  the  "  sepulchre" 
ever  in  view  ;  not  to  interrupt  the  duties,  nor  to 
damp  the  innocent  pleasures  of  life ;  but  to  prompt 
you  to  circumspection  and  fidelity  : — that  the  great 
event  of  your  beings,  on  which  such  everlasting  in- 
terests depend,  may  not  come  unhappily  upon  you, 
and  leave  you  in  the  untried  regions  of  the  eternal 
world,  conscious  of  heedlessness,  destitute  of  the 
blessing,  and  unable,  alas,  to  find  a  "  place  for  re- 
pentance, though  you  should  seek  it  carefully  with 
tears  ^ ! " 

Again.  I  have  asked  you  to  the  "  sepulchre," 
that,  with  it  in  your  view,  you  may  rightly  estimate 
the  scenes  and  objects  around  you.  As  mankind  in 
general  are  unmindful  of  death,  so  are  they  de- 
ceived in  their  valuation  of  the  pleasures  and  pur- 
suits of  life.  Time,  availing  himself  of  his  presence 
with  us,  has  a  competition  with  eternity  for  our 
affections.  He  decks  with  fascinating  objects  this 
present  world.  He  spreads  around  its  paths  many 
opening  flowers.  He  shows  us  fruits  of  various 
hues,  ripening  for  our  future  enjoyment.  He  as- 
sures us  unceasingly,  that  he  has  in  store  for  us 
greater  and  greater  joys  ;  and  we  are  led  on  by  him 
with  unsuspicious  steps,  in  expectation  of  the  hap- 

•*  Heb.  ix.  27.  '  1  Cor.  xv,  52.  \  Heb.  xii.  17. 


ON  THE  MISERIES  OF  LIFE.  413 

piness  which  shall  fill  our  bosoms  with  contentment. 
But  mark  the  deceiver !    While  he  promises  to  be 
with  us,  he  conceals  his  v/ings.      Through  the  paths 
of  life,  while  he  amuses  us  with  its  gaieties,  its  bu- 
siness, and  its  hopes,  he  is  leading  us  to  the  *'  se- 
pulchre."    Alas  !  it  is  not  a  "  sepulchre,"  like  that 
to  which  my  text  refers,  in  which  as  yet  "  never 
man  was  laid  s."     Let  us  look  into  it.     It  contains 
objects  which  will  teach  us  impressively,  what  God 
our  Redeemer  is  desirous  we  should  learn,  the  in- 
sufficiency of  the  happiness,  which  is  sought  by  the 
children  of  men,  in  the  occupations,  pleasures,  and 
vanities  of  this  imperfect  world.     Here,  ye  lovers 
of  riches,  ye  may  behold  many,   who  once  as  ar- 
dently pursued,  and  as  proudly  possessed  wealth  as 
yourselves.     Wrapt  humbly  in  a  wasting  shroud, 
they  sleep  in  dust :  and  the  treasures  which  they  so 
anxiously  accumulated,  are  scattered,  or  enjoyed, 
by  they  know  not  whom.     Here,  ye  sons  of  plea- 
sure, ye  may  find  those,  whose  days  were  once  as 
mirthful,   and  their  feasts  as  frolicsome  as  yours. 
Barred  are  their  ears  to  the  sounds  of  mirth ;  and 
their  bodies,  the  instruments  and  sources  of  all  their 
happiness,  are  the  food  of  worms.     Here,  ye  ambi- 
tious, ye  may  discover  some,  who  once  aspired  after 
pre-eminence,   exulted   in  power,    and  spurned  at 
control,  with  a  spirit  not  inferior  to  yours.     Bound 
are  they  now  with  the  fetters  of  the  narrow  house, 
and  slumber  forgotten   among   the   bones  of  their 
slaves.     And  here,  ye  young  and  beautiful,  ye  may 
see  the  end  of  many,  who  once  vied  at  the  ball,  and 
sparkled  in  the  circle  with,  charms  related  to  yours. 
The  rose  is  gone  from  the  cheek ;  the  lilies  of  the 
temple  are  faded.     Dust  and  corruption  is  all  that 
remains  of  what  once  prided  itself  in  the  incense  of 

^  John  xix,  41. 


414  ON  THE  MISERIES  OF  LIFE. 

admiration.  If  such,  my  hearers,  be  the  end  of  all 
flesh,  how  absurd  is  it  to  glory  in  the  distinctions^ 
how  delusive  to  build  upon  the  prospects,  how 
foolish  to  be  absorbed  in  the  pursuits,  of  the  pre- 
sent world  !  Its  hopes  bloom  but  to  wither.  Its 
joys  open  but  to  decay.  Whichever  of  its  paths  we 
choose,  the  retired  or  the  open,  the  sober  or  the 
gay,  that  which  has  its  pleasures  in  prospect,  or  that 
which  has  them  at  hand,  we  shall  find  them  all  beset 
with  disappointments,  and  terminating  in  a  "  se- 
pulchre." "  If  I  wait,  the  grave  is  mine  house :  I 
have  made  my  bed  in  the  darkness.  I  have  said  to 
corruption.  Thou  art  my  father :  to  the  worm.  Thou 
art  my  mother,  and  my  sister"." 

Once  more.     I  point  you  to  the  **  sepulchre  in 
the  garden"  of  life,  that,  perceiving  the  mixed  na- 
ture, and  uncertain  duration  of  all  earthly  felicity, 
you  may  be  induced  to  raise  your  attention,  and 
devote  your  affections  to  the  joys  of  the  heavenly 
world.     You  are  candidates  for  immortality ;  called 
of  God  in  Christ  Jesus  to  the  rich  inheritance  of 
everlasting  life.     It  cannot  but  occur  to  you,  that 
when  our  adorable  Lord  had,  in  this  "  sepulchre"  of 
the  Arimathean,  overcome  the  power  of  death,  '  He 
opened  the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  all  believers.'     It 
is  in  that  kingdom,  we  are  to  seek  our  happiness. 
All  here  is  perishable.     The  pictures  of  earthly  fe- 
licity, whifch  sanguine  fancy  forms,  will  mock  our 
expectation.     But  in  the  abode  of  His  glory,  the 
Everlasting  Father  hath,  for  His  Son's  sake,  pro- 
vided the  delights  with  which  His  redeemed  shall  be 
satisfied.     There,  by  *'  J;he  river""  of  God,  is  the 
garden  which  has  no  "  sepulchre."     Its  pleasures 
are  perennial.    Its  joys  are  nourished  with  the  dews 
of  immortality.     On  its  borders  are  Cherubim  and 

'.'  Job  xvii.  13, 14.  ,       '  Ps.  xlvi.  4. 


ON  THE  MISERIES  OF  LIFE.  415 

flaming  swords  to  exclude  for  ever  the  tempter,  that 
he  may  no  more  mar  the  innocence  and  happiness  of 
the  children  of  the  Most  High.  There  walk  the 
heirs  of  glory  amidst  unfading  flowers^  surrounded 
every  where  with  '*  trees  of  life."  They  "  follow 
the  Lamb  whithersoever  He  goeth  ^."  He  gives 
them  robes  of  pure  righteousness.  He  "  leads  them 
unto  living  fountains  of  waters '."  He  shows  them 
the  trees  whose  fruit  is  for  meat,  and  whose  "  leaves 
are  for  the  healing  of  the  nations '"."  There  do  the 
souls  of  the  righteous  rejoice,  that  they  are  reckoned 
among  the  children  of  God  :  and  God  Himself  once 
more  converseth  with  His  offspring,  **  as  a  man 
speaketh  unto  his  friend  "."  Happy  are  the  saints, 
who  have  already  entered  into  this  "  garden  of  the 
Lord "."  And  happy  are  we,  if  our  faith  and  obe- 
dience evidence,  that  we  are  of  the  number  for  whom 
Jesus  Himself,  as  a  forerunner ,  hath  entered  p. 

Having  set  before  you  the  uses  of  the  sorrows  and 
mortality,  which  were  introduced  into  our  world  by 
transgression,  and  are  blended  with  all  our  joys, 
I  would  address  myself  particularly  to  the  young, 
in  the  conclusion  of  this  discourse.  They  are  in  the 
spring  of  life.  Beautiful  to  them  is  the  "  garden" 
before  them,  and  teeming  with  innumerable  plea- 
sures. Its  opening  flowers  delight  their  hearts. 
With  sanguine  assiduity  they  are  setting  a  thousand 
plants  of  future  happiness.  They  hear  nothing  but 
promises  of  felicity,  in  the  whispering  gales  which 
pass  by  them.  But,  my  youthful  friends,  "  in  the 
garden  there  is  a  sepulchre."  Though  you  are  now 
in  the  spring  time  of  life,  there  is  a  winter  in  every 
man's  year.  The  flowers,  with  which  he  solaced 
himself,  must  fade.     The  plants  which  he  cherished 

"  Rev.  xiv.  4.  '  Ibid.  vii.  17.  "'  Ibid.  xxii.  2. 

"  Exod.  xxxiii.  11.        "  Gen.  xiii.  10.  p  Heb.  vi.  20. 


416  ON  THE  MISERIES  OF  LIFE. 

shall  wither.  Time  shall  prove  treacherous,  a  spoiler 
of  every  joy  ;  and  nothing  will  one  day  remain,  but 
the  '*  sepulchre"  and  the  relics  it  embosoms.  Build 
not,  then,  your  hopes  upon  this  present  life,  whose 
fashion  is  constantly  passing  away.  Aim  to  obtain 
the  love  of  God.  Aspire  after  the  inheritance  of 
virtue.  Acquaint  yourselves  with  the  Redeemer  of 
your  race.  Seek  your  happiness  in  the  immortal 
pleasures,  and  noble  pursuits  of  His  kingdom.  Then 
will  you  be  no  sufferers  by  the  transitoriness  of  tem- 
poral joys.  A  life  you  will  have,  which  death  cannot 
reach,  "  hid  with  Christ  in  God\"  The  debt  of. 
your  nature,  you  shall  indeed  pay  ;  but  when  your 
bodies  descend  into  the  "  sepulchre,"  your  souls 
shall  be  with  Him  "  in  paradise  ^" 

1  Col.  iii.  3.  ^  Luke  xxiii.  43. 


SERMON  LXXXII. 


ON    THE   NECESSITY   OF   SETTLED   PRIN- 
CIPLES   IN    RELIGION. 


St.  John,  vi.  67,  68. 

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  ivords  of  eternal  life. 

From  the  first  promulgation  of  Christianity,  there 
have  been  some  who  were  dissatisfied  with  its  evi- 
dences, and  offended  at  its  doctrines.  Pride  has 
always  started  at  sentiments,  which  its  short  sight 
could  not  comprehend.  Depravity  has  spurned  at 
precepts,  which  would  restrain  its  evil  propensities. 
Man,  so  vain  of  his  self-sufficiency,  has  deemed  the 
necessity,  even  of  the  Almighty's  aid  in  effecting, his 
salvation,  a  false  and  silly  notion.  In  the  chapter 
from  which  the  text  is  selected,  we  find  our  Saviour 
stating  some  of  the  peculiar  principles  of  His  reli- 
gion. They  related  to  His  pre-existence  in  heaven  ; 
to  the  value  of  His  flesh  as  "  the  bread  of  life'';"  to 
the  supremacy  of  His  Father  in  the  distribution  of 
spiritual  favours ;  and  to  His  own  future  ascension 
to  "  the  glory  which  He  had  before  the  world  was".*.' 
To  Jews,  who   gloried   that  their  fathers   did  eat 

*  John  yu  .'ir>.  ^  Ibid.  xvii.  r>. 

VOL.  II.       ,, .  Re 


418  ON  THE  NECESSITY  OF 

manna  in  the  desert ;  to  men  who  measured  truth 
by  its  coincidence  with  their  prejudices,  and  its 
comprehensibility  by  their  finite  minds,  these  were 
hard  sayings  ;  they  could  not  hear  them  ^  Though 
they  had  witnessed  the  miracles  of  Christ ;  though 
they  had  followed  Him  as  a  teacher  sent  from  God ; 
His  doctrines  clashed  with  their  feelings  and  opi- 
nions, and  '*  from  that  time  many  of  His  disciples 
went  back,  and  walked  no  more  with  Him''."  It 
was  then,  that  our  Saviour  said  to  the  twelve,  whom 
He  had  selected  to  be  the  foundation  of  His  church, 
"  Will  ye  also  go  away?"  To  this  affecting  ques- 
tion, St.  Peter  gave  that  excellent,  all-expressive 
reply,  "  Lord,  to  whom  shall  we  go?  Thou  hast  the 
words  of  eternal  life." 

This  passage  of  Scripture  is  capable  of  very  va- 
luable improvement.  So  long  as  the  human  mind 
continues  a  tenant  in  a  tabernacle  of  flesh,  till  the 
period  arrives  when  imperfection  shall  not  bound  its 
knowledge,  but  it  shall  see  with  expanded  powers, 
all  that  through  faith  it  now  believes :  there  will, 
there  must  be,  some  things  in  revelation,  hard  to  be 
understood.  So  long  as  human  nature  is  averse 
from  spiritual  truth,  till  clad  in  humility  the  mind 
can  receive  any  instruction  from  the  Most  High, 
these  mysteries  of  religion  will  be  made  "  a  stum- 
bling block  %"  and  used  to  prevent  men  from  follow- 
ing Christ.  So  long  as  there  are  infidels  in  the 
world,  and  vehicles  for  diffusing  their  sentiments, 
till  the  promised  time  is  realized,  when  no  man  shall 
need  say  to  his  neighbour,  "  Know  the  Lord^:"  the 
ambassadors  of  Christ  will  have  occasion  to  say  to 
His  disciples,  in  behalf  of  their  Master,  "  Will  ye 
also  go  away  ?"  Happy  for  them,  if  their  hearts 
always  dictate  the  answer  of  St.  Peter !    Let  us,  my 

'  John  vi.  66.  "^  Ibid.  ver.  36. 

'  1  Cor.  i.  ^3,  Jer.  xxxi.  3«i. 


SETTLED  PRINCIPLES  IN  RELIGION.  419 

brethren,  consider  what  it  implies,  that  wo  may  see 
its  force,  its  fuhiess,  and  its  beauty.  "  Lord,  to 
whom  shall  we  go  ?    Thou  hast  the  words  of  eternal 

life." 

The  first  thing  here  implied  is,  that  man  must 
have  some  fixed  principles;  that  if  he  relinquish 
Christianity,  he  must  have  some  other  system  of 
opinions  ;  that  if  he  leave  Christ,  he  must  seek  some 
other  instructor.  Whether  we  consider  it  as  affect- 
ing the  dignity,  or  the  happiness  of  man,  this  senti- 
ment is  just.  He  who  has  a  mind  and  uses  it,  can- 
not be  easy,  much  less  positively  happy,  while  wan- 
dering in  the  vague  fields  of  conjecture  without  any 
definite  and  determinate  opinions.  It  were  as  easy 
for  a  vessel  destitute  of  anchor  and  ballast,  to  ride 
safe  and  stately  upon  the  waters  amidst  the  commo- 
tion of  the  elements,  as  for  him  to  act  with  propriety 
and  satisfaction,  amidst  the  commotion  of  occur- 
rences upon  the  ocean  of  life.  Would  I  paint  a 
scene  of  ignobleness,  perplexities,  and  inconsisten- 
cies, it  should  be  the  mind  of  one,  who  thinks  and 
has  no  settled  principles.  It  argues  adisuse  of  the 
most  honourable  prerogative  of  men.  It  exposes  tcf 
all  the  wildness,.  and  weariness  of  uncertainty.  It 
must  be  less  at  ease  than  even  scepticism  itself,  de- 
termined to  be  led  by  its  own  blind  and  maimed 
offspring. 

But  in  general,  some  religious  system  will  be  ne- 
cessary. Some;  sentiment  of  this  kind,  man  has  ever 
possessed-;  His  mind  cannot  divest  itself  wholly  of 
the  idea  of  a  supreme  Being,  It  is  found  with  laim 
in  the  woods  of  nature,  and  it  follows  him  to  the 
seats  of  civilization.  Accompanying  this,  is  the 
c(iDSciousness  of  his  moral  nature,  and  the  faint 
sentiment  of  immortality.  These  grand  principles 
are  the  foundation  of  religion,  and,  possessed  of 
them,  he  is  naturally  led  to  devise  a  worship,  and 

E  e  2 


4^20  ON  THE  NECESSITY  OF 

define  virtue.  He  may  produce  very  rude  and  coo" 
tradictory  schemes  ;  but  till  he  can  eradicate  from 
hisr. nature  the  deeply  engraven  sentiment  of  an  in- 
visible ruling  power,  he  will,  he  must  have  some 
religious  principles.  If  he  be  unacquainted  w^ith 
the  true  God,  he  pays  his  homage  to  the  sun,  the 
inoon,  the  departed  hero,  or  the  hallowed  idol.  If 
he  be  ignorant  of  the  pure  Christian  worship,  he 
seeks  to  honour  and  please  his  deity  with  temples, 
sacrifices,  and  holy  gestures.  If  he  have  not  heard 
the  lectures  of  Christ,  he  listens  to  Confucius,  to 
Plato,  or  to  any  one  who  tells  him  what  is  right,  and 
discourses  upon  his  chief  good.  In  short,  the  prin- 
ciples interwoven  in  his  constitution  are  such,  that 
he  will  possess  some  sentiment  of  duty,  and  seek 
some  system  of  right.  Nature  inclines  man  to  reli- 
gion. Atheists  alone  can  feel  wholly  indifferent  to 
it,  and  of  not  one  of  them  is  she  the  parent.  All 
other  characters  must  wish  to  know  how  they  may 
acceptably  worship  God,  and  rightly  regulate  their 
conduct.  There  can  be  little  doubt  in  the  mind  of 
any  one,  who  has  studied  the  history,  and  observed 
the  nature  of  man,  that  if  every  vestige  of  Chris- 
tianity could  be  swept  from  the  world,  he  would 
soon  devise  for  himself  some  other,  and  far  more  im- 
perfect system  of  religion. 

This  brings  me  to  observe  another  thing  implied 
in  -the  answer;  namely,  that  no  one  can  leave  the 
religion  of  Christ,  and  better  himself  by  the  ex- 
change. Another  system  so  perfect,  so  consistent, 
so  promotive  of  virtue,  so  conducive  to  public  and 
private  felicity,  is  not  within  his  reach.  If  he  turn 
back  from  following  the  Messiah,  he_niust  listen  to 
tha less  perfect  teachers.  Upon  the  most  important 
su.bjects,  -tliey  can  give  no  instruction,  "To  whom 
shall: he  go.'-  for.  a  satisfactory  account  of  his  own 
origin,  nature,  and  destination  ?     ''To  whom  shall 


SETTLED  PRINCIPLES  IN  RELIGION.  421 

he  g-o"  for  a  discovery  of  the  character  and  will  of 
the  Most  High  ?    "  To  whom  shall  he  go"  for  rules 
of  conduct,  which  will  ensure  him  virtue,  peace,  and 
"joy  ?     *'  To  whom  shall  he  go"  for  support  in  the 
moment  of  grief,  of  pain,  and  of  death  ?  "  To  whom 
shall  he  go"  for  a  history  of  death,  and  instruction 
about  the  final  state  of  the  soul  ?    In  each,  and  all  of 
these  points,  he  is  deeply  interested  :  but  where,  if 
the  Gospel  is  not  satisfactory,  where  shall  he  ^Qt 
information  about  any  of  them?     Shall  he  go  to  the 
heathen  oracles  ?  Long  since  they  became  mute,  and 
when  they  spake,   far  from  instructing,   they  per- 
plexed inquirers.     Shall  he  go  to  the  Pagan  Philo- 
sophers ?    They  cannot  speak  to  him  with  certainty 
upon  the  most  important  topics,  and  best  show  their 
wisdom  by  owning  their  ignorance.     Shall  he  go  to 
Mahomet  ?    His  heaven  is  not  rational,  his  morality 
is  not  divine.     What  there  is  good  in  him,  is  evi- 
dently taken  from  the  Gospel,  and  with  it  much  vile 
matter  is  incorporated.     Shall  he  go  to  the  goddess 
of  modern  invention,  to  reason  ?   She  frankly  avows 
her  inability  to  teach  mankind,  and  declares  that 
it  is  only  in  seasons  of  insanity,  that  she  has  been 
deified.     There  is,  indeed,  none  to  whom  he  may 
go,  that  can  meet  and  satisfy  his  inquiries,  feel  and 
solace  his  sorrows,  know  and  confirm  his  hopes  ;  if 
he  turn  his  back  upon  that  Messenger  from  heaven, 
in  whom  "  all  fulness  dwells  ^." 

"  The  words  of  eternal  life"  are  with  Jesus  Christ. 
He  hath  come  from  the  Father  to  sinful  men  with 
the  overtures  of  everlasting  mercy.  That  atonement 
for  our  sins,  which  we  could  not  make  for  ourselves, 
this  Son  of  the  Highest  hath  accomplished  with  His 
blood.  That  aid  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  which  our 
spirits,  "  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins'',"  are  quick- 

«  Col.  i.  19.  "  Eph.  ii.  1. 


4^2  ON  THE  NECESSITY  OF 

ened.  He  hath  obtained  for  us  by  His  obedience  and 
sufferings.  Those  shackles  of  death,  witl^  which  our 
nature  was  bound,  He  hath  dissolved,  aud  hath 
'  opened  the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  all  believers' 
To  you,  and  to  me,  and  to  all  who  will  come  unto 
Him,  He  is  authorized,  in  behalf  of  the  Everlasting 
Father,  to  offer  the  remission  of  sins,  and  everlasting 
life.  By  His  miracles  and  doctrines  ;  '  by  His  cross 
and  passion  ;  by  His  death  and  burial ;  by  His  glo- 
rious resurrection  and  ascension;  and  by  the  coming 
of  the  Holy  Ghost;'  He  hath  provided  the  means 
whereby  we  may  live ;  and  hath  established  the 
assurance  of  rest  and  immortality,  to  the  people  of 
God. 

This  brings  me  to  remark,  further,  as  implied  in 
St.  Peter's  answer,  that  an  assurance  of  eternal  life 
is  the  object  of  the  highest  import  to  man's  happi- 
ness :  and  that  it  is  enough  to  attach  one  to  the  re- 
ligion of  Jesus,  that  in  it  this  most  interesting  as- 
surance is  credibly  revealed.  And  what,  indeed,  to 
"the  unfortunate  inhabitants  of  this  region  of  sin,  and 
mutability,  can  be  so  valuable  as  this  doctrine? 
Such  is  the  condition  of  society,  that  a  belief  in  a 
future  retribution  seems  necessary  to  secure  its  in- 
terests, and  give  efficacy  to  its  laws.  Such  are  the 
circumstances  of  our  present  being,  that  the  doc- 
trine of  immortality  seems  almost  necessary  to  give 
worth  to  life.  Indeed,  what  without  it  can  explain 
to  our  minds  the  promiscuous  distribution  of  good 
and  evil  ?  What  without  it  can  support  suffering 
virtue,  or  console  bleeding  affection  ?  What  without 
it  can  compose  the  agitated  conscience,  and  convey 
to  the  bosom  of  the  penitent  sinner  the  cheering 
beams  of  hope  and  peace  ?  What  but  the  assurance 
of  a  resurrection  of  the  dead  can  stay  our  tears, 
when  our  friends,  the  dear  objects  around  whom  we 
have  entwined  our  heart-strings,  are  turned  to  dust  ? 


SETTLED  PRINCIPLES  IN  RELIGION.  423 

What,  but  the  blessed  hope  of  a  future  existence, 
with  certain  knowledge  how  the  transgressions  of 
life  may  be  pardoned  and  our  futurity  rendered 
blissful,  can  strengthen  our  steps,  when  we  descend 
to  the  grave,  and  preserve  our  spirits  from  despon- 
dence ?  Were  we  left  to  sorrow  under  the  conscious- 
ness of  sin,  under  the  pressure  of  afflictions,  and 
under  the  knowledge  of  our  mortality,  without  any 
voice  to  whisper  mercy  in  our  ears,  or  any  hand  to 
point  our  eyes  to  heaven:  how  deep  the  gloom  which 
would  hang  upon  life,  how  awful  the  darkness  which 
would  envelope  the  grave !  The  assurance  of  another 
world  is  the  soul's  only  amulet,  amidst  the  ills  of 
this.  It  was  the  want  of  this  assurance,  which  ren- 
dered the  best  of  the  heathens  dissatisfied  with  their 
attainments.  Could  they  have  received  the  Gospel, 
in  which  are  "  the  words  of  eternal  life,"  they  would 
have  pressed  it  to  their  bosoms,  and  wetted  it  with 
their  tears.  Well,  then,  might  this  doctrine  alone 
attach  St.  Peter  to  the  religion  of  his  Lord.  He 
beard  it  taught  by  Christ.  He  was  convinced  of  the 
credibility  with  which  He  spake.  He  believed  the 
grand  doctrine,  attested  by  all  the  evidence  which 
the  case  would  admit.  What  then,  should  induce 
him  to  leave  the  teacher  of  a  truth,  which  yielded 
the  highest  satisfaction  of  which  man  is  susceptible  ? 
It  is  a  truth,  Mdthout  which  no  system  would  reach 
the  wants,  and  quiet  the  anxieties  of  human  nature. 
In  vain  would  he  recur  for  it  to  any  other  source. 
It  could  be  found  only  in  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ. 
There  was  wisdom,  therefore,  as  well  as  fidelity,  in 
adhering  to  his  Lord  ;  for  He,  and  He  only,  had 
**  the  words  of  eternal  life."  And  though  the  good 
Apostle  was  afterwards  shaken  from  his  stedfastness, 
it  was  only  for  a  moment ;  and  let  it  be  remem- 
bered, as  an  instructive  lesson  to  all  who  are  tempted 


424  ON  THE  NECESSITY  of 

to  apostasy,  that  when  he  thought  thereon,  he  "  wept 
bitterly'." 

This  leads  me  to  observe,  lastly,  that  this  answer 
of  St.  Peter  implies  a  full  satisfaction  in  the  religion 
of  Christ.  This  is  in  the  highest  degree  rational. 
Here  all  is  expressed  which  it  is  necessary  for  man> 
on  earth,  to  know.  There  can  be  no  reason,  there- 
fore, to  expect  any  further  dispensations  from  Hea- 
ven. Compared  with  this,  no  system  is  so  consis- 
tent, full,  and  adapted  to  man's  desires*  If  the 
evidences  which  support  it  be  examined,  they  are 
such  as  the  nature  of  things  requires,  and  broad  as 
any  foundationof  belief  and  practice.  Are  its  rules 
of  life  studied  ?  They  reach  every  case,  and  are 
approved  by  reason.  Is  it  important  what  prize  is 
proffered  ?  It  is  the  greatest  felicity  that  can  be  con- 
ceived or  desired, — *'  eternal  life."  Such  being  the 
satisfaction  which  Christians  may  feel  in  their  reli- 
gion, we  wonder  that  there  should  ever  be  occasion 
for  the  question,  "  Will  ye  also  go  away  ?"  We 
cannot  but  unite  our  voice  with  St.  Peter  and  say ; 
"  Lord,  to  whom  shall  we  go  ?  Thou  hast  the  words 
of  eternal  hfe." 

We  see  then,  my  hearers,  that  man  ever  has  had, 
and  will  have  some  religious  principles  :  that  it  is 
impossible  for  any  one  to  leave  the  Gospel  of  the 
Redeemer,  and  find  a  system  of  opinions  so  suited 
to  his  nature  and  happiness;  that  **  the  words  of 
eternal  life,"  the  object  of  our  highest  concern,  are 
with  its  Author,  who  alone  "  hath  brought  life  and 
immortality  to  light \"  Contemplating  these  things, 
it  should  seem  cause  for  surprise  that,  among  those 
who  had  known  "  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  V  there 
should  be  any  occasion  for  the  question,  "  Will  ye 

'  Matt.  xxvi.  75.  ^  2  Tim.  i.  10.  '  Eph.  iv.  21. 


SETTLED  PRINCIPLES  IN  RELIGION.  '425 

Ttlso  go  away  ?"      But  pride  has  ever  turned  from 
humbling  truths,  and  depravity  spurned  at  precepts 
which  would  restrain  its  propensities.     We  live  in 
an  age,  in  which,  alas,  the  dereliction  of  Christianity 
must  excite  deep  regret  in  the  bosom  of  every  friend 
to  truth  and  mankind.     Was  the  Saviour  now  upon 
earth,  how  often  and  how  anxiously  would  He  re- 
peat the  question  which  He  put,   in  the  text,  to  His 
beloved  twelve !     A  philosophy  has  appeared  in  the 
world,  whose  evident  object  is  to  raise  itself  on  the 
ruins  of  Christianity.     It  is  specious  in  its  appear- 
ance, lofty  in  its  pretensions,  and  addresses  itself 
to  those  dispositions  and  properties  of  men  which 
are  most  easily  deluded.     God  grant,  that  in  this 
young  and  happy  country  none  may  be  so  infatu- 
ated as  to  approach  this  philosophy,   which,    like 
some  deleterious  plant,   covered  with  luxuriant  fo- 
liage, and  flowers  of  lively  hue,  carries  in  its  veins 
a  virulent  poison,  and  sheds  a  deadly  influence  upon 
every  thing  within  its  reach.     Let  us,  rather,  learn 
to   estimate  justly  those   "  words  of  eternal  life," 
which  we  have  in  the  Gospel ;   and  to  ask  ourselves 
what  will  be  our  prospects,  to  whom  we  shall  go,  if 
we  neglect  our  Redeemer?  Lovers  of  virtue,  anxious 
to  elevate  your  nature  by  adorning  it  with  the  qua- 
lities which  are  "  pure,"   "  lovely,"  and  of  '*  good 
report";"  is  not  your  way  made  plain,    and   your 
strength  increased  by  the  instructions  and  influences 
of  Christianity  ?     Children  of  sorrow,  whose  day  of 
life  is  overcast  with  gloom,  are  not  your  sighs  sus- 
pended,   and   your  bosoms  composed,    when    the 
Angel  of  the  Gospel  descends  through  the  cloud, 
speaking  peace  to  your  perturbed  spirits,  and  open- 
ing to  you  a  state  in  which,  with  your  friends,  you 
shall  be  for  ever  removed  from  trouble  and  death, 

™  Phil.  iv.  S. 


426  ON  THE  NECESSITY,  &c. 

*•  and  God  shall  wipe  av/ay  all  tears  from  your 
eyeSn."  Followers  of  the  Lamb,  encumbered  with 
the  frailties  and  imperfections  of  nature,  yet  con- 
scious of  responsibility,  and  fearfully  looking  for- 
ward to  the  **  judgment  to  come";"  is  it  not  your 
choicest  felicity  to  know,  that  ye  *' ha,ve  an  Advo- 
cate with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous, 
and  that  He  is  the  Propitiation  for  your  sins  p."  Will 
ye  then  go  away?  Alas,  to  whom  wiUye  go?  Will 
you  leave  '*  the  Rock  of  ages'',"  and  throw  your- 
selves upon  the  unbounded,  confused,  and  perilous 
ocean  of  uncertainty  ?  Cleave,  rather,  to  the  only 
hope  of  this  ruined  world.  Abide  in  the  Lord  Jesus. 
Prize,  above  all  price,  the  knowledge  of  His  grace 
and  faith  in  Him.  Let  the  language  of  your  lips  and 
souls  in  every  hour  of  distrust  or  temptation  be, 
"  Lord,  to  whom  shall  we  go  ?  Thou  hast  the  words 
of  eternal  life." 

"  Rev.  vii.  17.  "  Actsxxiv.  25. 

P  1  John  ii.  1,  2.  ^  Is.  xxvi.  4. 


SERMON    LXXXIIL 


ON   THE  CHRISTIAN    EDUCATION    OF 
CHILDREN. 


Exodus,  ii.  9. 

Take  this  child  away,  and  nurse  it  for  met  f^nd  I  will  give  thee 

thy  wages. 

The  Christian  education  of  children  is  among  the 
most  interesting,  and  momentous  concerns  of  the 
Christian  world.  A  cruel  adversary  intends  the  de- 
struction of  them  all.  IN  ature  frames  for  them,  (it  is 
all  she  can  do),  frames  for  them  an  ark  no  better, 
alas!  than  **  an  ark  of  bulrushes*:"  and  in  it  she 
leaves  them  to  waves,  and  winds,  and  monsters, 
prowling  for  what  they  may  destroy.  The  Son  of 
God  descries  them  in  their  exposed  situation.  He 
sends  His  ministering  servants,  and  takes  them  from 
it.  He  procures  for  them  by  the  order  of  His  pro- 
vidence those,  who  may  protect  and  nurture  them 
till  they  shall  be  grown  up  for  a  noble  and  happy 
life.  And  to  the  parents,  the  guardians,  the  sponsors, 
to  whom  He  commits  them,  I  conceive  Him  saying 
in  every  case,  "  Take  this  child,  and  nurse  him  for 
Me,  and  I  will  give  thee  thy  wages." 
What  are  the  wages  of  fidelity  in  the  importaftjt 

\Exod.  ii.  3. 


428         ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN. 

work  of  the  Christian  education  of  Children  ?  Upon 
this  inquiry,  my  respected  hearers,  I  would  invite 
you  to  bestow  your  consideration.  For  such  are 
these  wages,  so  numerous,  so  great,  and  of  such 
duration,  that  whoever  will  faithfully  estimate  and 
sum  them  up,  shall  be  unable  to  refrain  from  wonder, 
that  all  who  have  children  under  their  care,  in  the 
Christian  world,  are  not  much  and  anxiously  engaged 
in  nursing  them  for  God. 

In  the  first  place  then,  a  part  of  the  reward  of 
fidelity  in  religiously  educating  your  children,  con- 
sists in  the  pleasure  of  the  work.  It  is  an  innocent, 
an  interesting,  and  an  honourable  occupation.  In 
the  performance  of  it,  there  is  a  delight  of  a  pure 
and  durable  character,  worthy  of  the  intelligence  of 
man.  That  heart  must  surely  be  destitute  itself  of 
lively  affection  for  the  Deity,  and  for  the  truths 
which  He  has  revealed,  which  finds  no  pleasure  in 
guiding  the  youthful  mind  to  its  Creator,  and  im- 
buing it  with  the  principles  which  may  remove  its 
deformities,  and  fit  it  for  eternal  life.  Do  you  take 
delight  in  raising  a  precious  plant,  in  propping  an 
opening  flower,  in  guiding  a  luxuriant  vine,  in  pruning 
for  its  health  and  its  beauty  a  fruitful  tree :  and  shall 
you  not  find  a  much  more  exalted  satisfaction  in 
training  the  germs  of  virtue,  and  cherishing  the 
opening  flowers  of  grace,  in  pruning  from  the  heart 
its  excrescences,  and  the  branches  of  its  defects,  and 
guiding  the  disposition  into  all  the  forms  of  beauty  ? 
Do  you  experience  a  lively  gratification  in  adorning 
the  bodies,  accomplishing  the  manners,  and  deve- 
loping the  personal  beauties  of  your  offspring  :  and 
shall  you  not  find  higher  pleasure  in  the  business  of 
cultivating  their  minds,  adorning  them  with  the 
qualities  and  graces  in  which  they  will  be  lovely  in 
the  sight  of  God  and  of  His  angels,  and  nurturing  the 
beauties  which  you  know  shall  live  for  ever?  Consider 


ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN.  429 

that  your  children  have  spirits ;  consider  that  they 
are  destined  for  immortality.  Every  plant  of  virtue 
vv^hich  you  plant  in  them  shall  bloom  through  eternity. 
By  every  progress  you  make  in  rendering  them  good, 
you  beautify  the  intellectual  creation  of  God.  What 
interest  does  this  give  to  the  work  of  their  education! 
How  great  the  designs  it  intends !  How  pleasing  the 
expectations  which  animate  it!  "  If  these  little  ones" 
have  **  angels,  who  always  behold  the  face  of  their 
Father  which  is  in  heaven  ^"  the  delight  which 
springs  to  these  angels  from  their  relation  to  them, 
is  found,  I  conceive,  in  the  work  of  ministering  to 
their  salvation. 

Again.  There  enters  into  the  reward  of  religiously 
educating  children,  the  pleasure  which  arises  from 
doing  good  to  society.  It  is  a  generous  satisfaction, 
which  flows  in  the  bosom  of  man  from  the  conscious- 
ness of  having  benefited  mankind.  And  who  are  they 
that  benefit  mankind  ?  Let  the  question  be  answered 
by  adverting  to  the  sources  from  which  the  imper- 
fections and  miseries  of  society  proceed.  Have  they 
not  all  proceeded,  either  mediately  or  immediately, 
from  the  passions  and  vices,  the  moral  feebleness 
and  spiritual  death,  toVhich,  since  the  Fall,  our  race 
have  been  subject?  And  who  are  they  that  have 
most  effectually  contracted  these  sources?  Let  the 
question  be  put  to  Wisdom,  who  stands  by  the  throne 
of  God,  and  she  will  turn  from  the  splendid  hero  and 
busy  statesman,  and  fastening  her  eyes  upon  the 
parents,  whose  goodly  offspring  are  abroad  in  society^ 
fearing  God,  practising  charity,  and  subduing  in 
themselves  the  wrong  passions  and  inclinations  of 
their  nature,  and  cheering  their  hearts  and  the  hearts 
of  others  with  the  prospect  of  a  better  world  :  and 
will  say  of  such  parents.  These  are  the  men.     He 

"  Matt,  xviii.  10. 


430  ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN. 

who  introduces  the  seed  of  a  useful  grain  into  a 
country,  contributes  more,  as  some  one  has  well 
observed,  to  the  happiness  of  that  country,  than  its 
mightiest  warrior  and  most  victorious  chief.  But 
more  highly  founded  yet  is  theb^  claim  to  this  pre- 
eminence, whose  culture  is  the  hearts  of  the  young, 
and  the  seeds  they  introduce,  seeds  of  goodness, 
brought  by  His  beloved  Son  to  our  world  from  the 
garner  of  God.  To  know  the  real  condition  of  man- 
kind, you  must  go  home  with  them  to  their  business 
and  their  bosoms  ;  you  must  look  into  their  families, 
their  houses,  and  their  souls.  It  is  here,  in  their 
domestic  scenes,  amidst  their  daily  enjoyments  and 
sorrows,  that  the  good  is  to  be  weighed,  by  the 
amount  of  which,  the  measure  of  their  happiness 
will  be  most  correctly  estimated.  To  this  good  no 
individuals,  perhaps,  contribute  more  largely  than 
those  parents  who  give  to  society  a  race  of  children, 
enriched  with  the  principles  and  habits,  on  which 
this  good  does  chiefly  depend.  Of  the  high  satis- 
faction, therefore,  which  rewards  him  who  can  say, 
I  have  benefited  my  country,  I  have  added  to  the 
happiness  and  honour  of  my  race ;  every  such  parent, 
whatever  be  his  condition  in  life,  when  he  looks  upon 
his  children,  is  entitled  to  partake.  It  is  of  such 
offspring  that  the  Psalmist  must  be  understood  to 
speak,  when  he  says,  "  Like  as  the  arrows  in  the 
hand  of  the  giant,  even  so  are  the  young  children. 
Happy  is  the  man  that  hath  his  quiver  full  of  them : 
they  shall  not  be  ashamed  when  they  speak  with 
their  enemies  in  the  gate*"." 

Further.  There  is  high  honour  in  co-operating 
with  God,  and  great  happiness  in  conforming  to  the 
intentions  of  His  providence.  Of  thisBhonour  and 
happiness  they  eminently  are  sharers,  who  are  en* 

•=  Ps.  cxxviJ.  5,  5. 


ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN.  4S1 

gaged  in  guiding  the  young  children  in  the  paths  of 
His  will.  Their  salvation  is  dear  to  God.  For  it  He 
hath  given  His  Son  to  live  in  our  flesh,  and  die  upon 
the  cross ;  for  it  He  hath  condescended  to  furnish  the 
light  of  His  word,  and  to  offer  the  assistance  of  His 
Holy  Spirit.  The  accomplishment  of  His  wishes  He 
has  very  much  confided  to  their  parents,  and  spiritual 
guardians.  He  hath  committed  to  them  the  care  of 
the  souls,  as  well  as  of  the  bodies  of  their  offspring. 
And  in  the  helplessness  of  the  child  and  experience 
of  the  parent,  in  the  docility  of  the  former  and  the 
authority  of  the  latter ;  a  state  of  things  resulting 
from  that  order  of  nature  which  He  himself  hath 
constituted  ;  He  doubtless  intended  a  provision  for 
the  well-being  of  His  human  children,  not  only  with 
respect  to  the  present  life,  but  also  to  their  eternal 
existence.  The  affection  which  moves  the  parental 
bosom  is  His  voice  crying,  "  Take  this  child,  and 
nurse  him  for  Me."  Alas!  that  through  the  blindness 
which  has  fallen  upon  our  nature,  this  affection  is 
limited  in  its  views,  and  so  many  children  nursed 
only  for  the  world.  If  there  be  any  pleasure  in 
conforming  to  the  intentions  of  God's  providence,  in 
the  order  of  nature  which  He  hath  established ;  (and 
probably  the  degree  of  this  conformity  in  every  per- 
son is  the  exact  measure  of  his  happiness  ;)  of  that 
pleasure  they  will  participate,  who  train  their  young 
for  their  high  moral  destinies,  who  nurture  them  for 
immortality.  If  there  be  any  honour  in  being  co- 
operators  with  the  Most  High  God;  (and  it  is  in  this 
co-operation  that  the  highest  seraph  of  heaven  finds 
the  honour  in  which  he  most  delights  himself:)  of 
the  honour  they  may  know  themselves  to  be  sharers, 
who  conduct  their  children  into  the  paths,  which  He 
hath  sent  the  Son  of  His  love  to  open  for  them,  and 
guide  them  to  the  cross,  on  which  He  hath  caused 

6 


432  ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN. 

that  Son  to  be  lifted  up,  that  they  may  look  unto 
Him,  and  be  saved. 

Once  more.  The  good  of  his  children  is  what 
every  parent  proposes  to  himself,  as  the  object  per- 
haps of  his  fondest  desire,  as  the  motive  to  all  his 
parental  conduct.  And  herein  is  a  large  part  of  the 
wages  of  fidelity,  in  religiously  educating  them,  that 
thereby  their  greatest  good  in  this  life  will  be  most 
effectually  promoted.  It  is  a  perilous  and  unhappy 
world,  into  which  you  introduce  them.  And  yet 
the  misfortune  is,  that  in  education  respect  is  more 
generally  had  to  its  pleasures  than  its  sorrows,  ta 
its  honours  than  its  snares.  The  great  question  con- 
cerning your  offspring  is,  where  in  it  shall  wisdom 
be  found,  and  where  is  the  place  for  satisfaction? 
Temptation  will  assail  them.  Troubles  will  over- 
take them.  Death  will  claim  them.  You  have  to 
fortify  them  against  vice,  and  tribulations  ;  you  have 
to  qualify  them,  if  your  education  of  them  is  adapted 
to  their  condition  in  this  world,  not  only  to  live,  but 
also  to  die.  Look  around  you.  See  in  what  path 
they  shall  be  most  likely  to  find  peace.  Examine 
the  claims  of  wealth,  of  honour,  of  rank,  of  power, 
of  pleasure.  Turn  to  religion.  Institute  a  com- 
parison between  her  claims,  and  theirs.  Inquire 
which  of  them  has  most  efficacy  to  quell  the  passions, 
which  are  the  parents  of  evil ;  to  soothe  the  sorrows, 
which  are  the  offspring  of  our  condition ;  to  open 
sources  of  happiness,  at  which  the  weary  spirit  may 
always  be  refreshed  ;  to  pour  upon  life's  path  an, 
uniform  cheerful  light ;  to  give  to  the  soul  a  tranquil 
contented  character ;  and  to  take  the  barbs  from  the 
arrows  of  death  ?  Such  a  comparison  will  assuredly 
produce  a  result  in  favour  of  a  Christian  education.' 
'  If  there  is  one  condition  in  this  life,.'  says  the 
sensible  and  celebrated  Bishop  Watson^  Vi^  there  is; 


ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN.         433 

one  condition  in  this  life  more  happy  than  another, 
it  is  surely  that  of  him,  who  founds  all  his  hope  of 
futurity,  on  the  promises  of  the  Gospel;  who  carefully 
endeavours  to  conform  his  actions  to  its  precepts ; 
looking  upon  the  great  God  Almighty,  as  his  pro- 
tector here,  his  rewarder  hereafter,  and  his  everlasting 
preserver.     This  is  a  frame  of  mind,  so  perfective  of 
our  nature,  that  if  Christianity,  from  a  belief  of  which 
it  can  only  be  derived,  were  as  certainly  false,  as  it 
is  certainly  true,  one  could  not  help  wishing,  that  it 
might  be  universally  received  in  the  world.'     This 
decision,  I  doubt  not,  would  be  always  confirmed  by 
fact.     Where  indeed  will  you  find  a  shield  to  defend 
your  offspring  from  the  ills  of  life,  if  you  find  it  not 
in  the  Gospel?  Where  will  you  find  the  friend,  whom 
they  must  every  day  need,  if  you  find  him  not  in 
Christ  their  Redeemer  ?  As  you  love  the  satisfaction 
of  promoting  the  good  of  your  children  here,  "brino* 
them  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord'^." 
It  is  a  Christian  education  which  will  most  eff'ectually 
form  in  them  those  qualities  of  character,  which  will 
render  them  lovely  and  useful  among  men ;    those 
habits  of  life,  which  will  be  most  productive  to  them 
of  peace  and  contentment,  respectability  and  health ; 
and  those  dispositions  and  hopes,  which  will  smooth 
their  pillows,  when  their  temples  shall  be  throbbino- 
under  the  sorrows  of  bereavement,  or  the  pains  of 
death.     You  may  give  them  wealth,  and  it  may  prove 
injurious  to  them;  you  may  procure  them  honours, 
and  these  may  be  a  vexation ;  you  may  give  them 
knowledge,  and  even  that  shall  be  unsatisfactory, 
unless  you  give  them  instruction  in  the  faith  and 
fear  of  God.     Leave  them  unblessed  with  religion's 
counsels,  and  unsecure  of  religion's  care ;  and  you 
may  live  to  see  them,  if  not  melancholy  examples  of 

"■  Eph.  vi.  4. 
VOL.    II.  F  f 


434  ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN. 

the  iinhappiness  of  unrenewed  man,  yet  halting  with 
dissatisfaction  and  weariness,  in  the  paths  into  wliich 
you  have  conducted  them,  before  they  have  half 
completed  their  course ;  and  saying  to  themselves, 
perhaps  to  those  who  pass  by,  *'  All  is  vanity  and 
vexation  of  spirit  %" 

This  leads  me  to  observe  in  the  fifth  place,  that 
the  faithful  parent  has  a  recompense  for  his  care  in 
the  religious  education  of  his  children,  in  the  greater 
security  of  his  own  happiness.  It  is  through  the 
child  that  the  heart  of  a  parent  is  most  vulnerable. 
"  My  son,"  says  Solomon,  **  if  thine  heart  be  wise, 
my  heart  shall  rejoice,  even  mine^"  Ah,  from  these 
relations,  which  were  designed  by  the  Creator,  to  be 
productive  of  the  sweetest  joys  of  man's  sublunary 
existence,  what  bitterness  has  flowed?  I  see  a  father 
in  the  evening  of  his  life,  when  nature  asks  for  peace 
and  cheerful  hope,  waiting  with  a  cheerful  bosom 
and  a  furrowed  brow,  for  the  final  rest  which  seems 
to  him  slow  in  coming.  The  profligacy  of  a  child 
has  stung  for  him  the  joy  of  life,  and  is  **  bringing 
down  his  gray  hairs  with  sorrow  to  the  grave  ^."  In 
her  inmost  chamber  I  see  a  mother  on  her  bended 
knees.  She  is  looking  to  heaven  and  tears  are  on 
her  cheeks.  For  what  does  she  ask  ?  With  a  trem- 
bling lip  she  ventures  to  supplicate,  that  God  would 
forgive  and  save  her  offending  child.  Who  can 
behold  them  and  not  remember  the  sacred  record, 
"  A  wise  son  maketh  a  glad  father :  but  a  foolish  son 
is  the  heaviness  of  his  mother  \"  Here  a  drunkard  ; 
and  there  a  gambler ;  here  a  deceiver ;  and  there  a 
man  of  blood  ;  here  an  Absalom ;  and  there  a  Simeon 
and  a  Levi ;  here  a  family  of  contention ;  and  there  an 
-unthankful    individual ; — break    down    the    manly 


'  Eccles.  ii.  17.  '  Prov.  xxiii.  15. 

«  Gen.  xlii.  S8.  '      h  Prov.  x,  1. 


ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN.         435 

strength,  which  was  once  employed  in  their  support, 
and  plant  in  the  breasts,  which  once  nourished  them, 
the  arrows  of  an  anguish  which  cannot  be  uttered. 
Whence  the  evil?  Either  they  were  not  taught 
sufficiently  early,  and  with  sufficient  assiduity,  the 
import  and  authority  of  God's  laws,  or  their  perverse 
wills  were  not  bent  by  the  parental  hand  and  parental 
prayers,  to  an  habitual  observance  of  them.  For 
very  different  surely  is  the  case  of  those  parents, 
whose  children  have  been  brought  up  at  the  feet  of 
their  Redeemer,  and  accustomed  from  their  earliest 
years  to  admire  his  precepts,  and  imitate  His  life. 
They  are  indeed  "  like  olive  branches  round  about" 
their  father's  ''table'."  The  fragrance  of  their  virtues 
perfumes  his  house,  and  all  that  enter  it  are  refreshed. 
The  holy  Dove  at  times  descends  upon  them  to  whom, 
as  "  olive  branches,"  they  are  fitly  consecrated.  The 
parental  eye  beholds  them  with  delight,  lovely  and 
flourishing,  and  advancing  to  a  state,  in  which  they 
shall  one  day  be  meet  to  be  transplanted  into  the 
heavenly  Paradise,  the  garden  of  God.  What  greater 
earthly  solace  can  parents  have  than  children  such  as 
these  ?  But  this  is  not  all  their  present  happiness. 
Parents  must  die.  The  hour  comes,  when  your 
children  shall  stand  around  you,  and  you  will  per- 
ceive that  you  are  leaving  them  without  you,  in  this 
evil  world.  What  can  mitigate  this  anguish  of  death  ? 
What  but  to  be  able  to  say  of  them,  when  you  cast 
on  them  your  final  look,  "  I  am  going  unto  my 
Father,  and  their  Father;  and  to  my  God,  and- their 
God ''."  They  will  honour  me  in  their  lives  when  I 
shall  be  gone.  The  Almighty  is  their  friend,  and  He 
will  protect  them.  Short  is  the  period,  for  which  we 
shall  be  separated.  They  too  will  die,  and  come  to 
me,  though  I  shall  not  return  to  them.      Happy 

*  Ps.  exxviii,  4.  ''  John  xx.  1 7. 

F  f2 


436         ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN. 

portion  of  an  expiring  parent !  **  Wages"  this,  for 
training  his  children  in  the  paths  of  goodness,  which 
more  than  recompense  all  his  care  ! 

But  not  in  this  life  is  the  reward  of  the  faithful  in 
any  case  complete.  By  far  the  largest  part  of  the 
*'  wages,"  which  God,  in  His  mercy,  has  promised 
to  any  of  their  good  works,  is  reserved  to  be  given 
them  in  the  great  day  of  the  final  consummation. 
And  to  the  Christian  parents,  whose  children  shall 
have  been  Christians,  that  day  will  indeed  be  a  day 
of  unspeakable  joy.  Imagine  yourselves  standing 
with  your  offspring  at  the  tribunal  of  heaven.  The 
numerous  generations  of  men,  the  angels  and  arch- 
angels of  God,  the  seven  spirits  of  the  Most  High, 
all  are  present.  Conceive  the  blessed  Son  of  God 
taking  your  children  by  the  hand,  and  presenting 
them  to  the  Father  as  rightful  heirs  of  eternal  bliss. 
Picture  to  yourselves  the  ministering  spirits  clothing 
them  with  the  '*  white  robes  V'  placing  upon  their 
heads  the  "  crowns  of  glory"","  and  putting  into 
their  hands  the  golden  harps  on  which  they  are  to 
strike  before  the  throne  the  strains  of  celestial  glad- 
ness. They  bow  before  the  Almighty  in  thankful 
adoration  of  Him,  for  their  stupendous  inheritance, 
and  turn  to  you  an  eye,  which  speaks  a  recollection 
of  your  care,  when  you  nurtured  them  for  this  bliss, 
and  a  grateful  satisfaction  that  you  are  partakers  of 
their  joy.  The  everlasting  Father  seals  their  in- 
vestiture, and  bids  them  '*  follow  the  Lamb  whither- 
soever he  goeth"."  And  turning  to  you.  He  bids 
you  be  ever  with  them,  and  smiles  complacently  on 
your  fidelity.  Christians,  to  such  a  tribunal  you,  and 
your  offspring  must  one  day  be  brought ;  and  joy 
like  this  shall  in  that  day  be  the  portion  of  every 
parent,  who  shall  be  found  to  have  taken  his  children 

•  Rev.  vii.  9,  13.  f  1  Pet,  v.  4,  "  Rev.  xiv.  4. 


ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN.         437 

and  nursed  them  faithfully  for  God.  There  is  an 
awful  contrast  to  this  scene.  I  cannot  describe  it. 
I  cannot  ask  you  to  imagine  your  children  turned 
by  God  from  the  company  of  the  good,  and  going 
away  from  heaven  into  regions  of  darkness,  and  un- 
discovered woe.  I  cannot  call  upon  you  either  to 
conceive  yourselves,  for  your  criminal  negligence, 
descending  with  them  into  the  abyss  of  perdition, 
or  to  behold  from  any  station  the  smoke  of  their 
torment  ascending  up  for  ever.  I  cannot  bid  you 
hear  the  accusations,  which,  from  the  place  of  their 
torments,  they  utter  unceasingly  against  you.  The 
scene  appals  the  soul.  The  horror,  which  the 
thought  of  it  pours  over  the  mind,  is  too  great  to 
be  long  endured.  Nor  can  I  willingly  believe,  that 
to  well  taught  Christians  the  motive  drawn  from  the 
miseries  of  the  damned  can  possibly  be  needed, 
when  there  is  set  before  them  the  motive,  which 
must  surely  be  irresistible,  of  beholding  their  chil- 
dren *'  shining  forth  as  the  sun^"  in  the  kingdom  of 
God,  for  ever  and  ever. 

Such  are  the  rewards  which  should  induce  you, 
my  hearers,  to  engage  in  the  Christian  education  of 
your  children.  To  such  education  there  have  been 
urged  sometimes  two  objections,  which,  as  they 
may  possibly  present  themselves  to  your  minds,  it 
behoves  me  to  notice.  There  are  some,  who  have 
deemed  it  unadvisable  to  prejudice  the  minds  of 
children  upon  the  subject  of  religion  ;  conceiving  it 
better  to  leave  them,  till  they  arrive  at  years  of  dis- 
cretion, to  choose  for  themselves.  This  objection, 
•if  religion  were  a  thing  of  questionable  authority  or 
importance,  might  seem  to  have  some  validity.  But 
with  Christians,  and  they  are  Christians  whom  I 

''  Matt.  xiii.  i5. 


438         ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN. 

address,  the  truth  of  the  Gospel  is  indubitable,  and 
the  revelations  it  contains  are  acknowledged  as  the 
best  gift  of  God  to  the  human  race.  A  thing  posi- 
tively good,  yea  a  good  above  all  other  things,  a 
parent  surely  is  bound  to  secure,  if  he  can,  for  his 
child.  He  might  as  well  refuse  to  take  possessioii 
for  him,  in  his  minority,  of  an  invaluable  estate, 
because  it  was  doubtful  whether,  when  he  should  be 
grown  up,  he  would  care  to  have  it. 

Beside,  this  objection  if  specious  in  theory,  would, 
it  is  feared,  be  found  pernicious  in  practice.  Such 
is  the  nature  of  man,  that  if  good  principles  and 
habits  are  not  planted  in  him,  the  soil  of  itself,  or 
the  enemy  that  would  destroy  him,  will  produce 
bad  ones.  If  he  be  not  bent  to  goodness,  and 
pruned  to  fruitfulness,  his  growth  will  be  rank  and 
worthless.  Go  into  the  woods  ;  and  select  there  the 
knotted,  and  gnarled,  and  fruitlessly  luxuriant  vine; 
and  you  will  have  in  it  an  emblem  of  those  children, 
for  whom  no  father  watches,  no  mother  prays ; 
whom  no  kind  hand  guides  and  cultivates,  as  God 
hath  instructed ;  but  a  mistaken  philosophy  attempts 
to  dignify  with  the  imposing  name  of  children  of 
nature. 

Moreover,  unto  Christians,  the  will  of  God  is 
known  upon  the  subject.  It  is  intimated,  as  has 
already  been  observed  in  the  body  of  this  discourse, 
it  is  intimated  by  the  order  of  nature  which  He  hag 
established,  to  have  been  His  purpose,  that  parent;^ 
should  have  the  care  of  the  minds,  as  well  as  the 
bodies  of  their  infants  ;  and  form  the  morals,  as  well 
as  the  manners  of  their  children.  If  He  have  not 
excluded  these  little  ones  from  His  holy  baptism, 
the  admission  of  them  to  this  rite  manifests,  how  far 
it  is  His  will,  that  they  should  early  be  devoted  to 
Him,  and  brought  under  the  influences  of  the  Gos- 


ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN.  43^ 

pel.  And  with  what  believer  can  there  remain  a 
doubt,  not  only  of  the  expediency  of  the  thing,  but 
of  the  great  obligation  to  it,  who  ponders  this  in- 
spired decision,  *'  These  words  which  I  command 
thee  this  day,  shall  be  in  thine  heart :  and  thou 
shalt  teach  them  diligently  unto  thy  children,  and 
shalt  talk  of  them  when  thou  sittest  in  thine  house, 
and  when  thou  walkest  by  the  way,  and  when  thou 
liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest  up  ^" 

The  other  objection  is  of  a  more  disheartening 
character.  It  is  drawn  from  the  ill  success  which 
seems,  sometimes,  to  attend  the  efforts  of  pious  pa- 
rents. Often,  it  is  said,  the  reward  of  carefulness 
in  this  matter  is  not  received.  Now  it  is  very 
doubtful,  whether  in  fact  the  cases  are  many,  in 
which  faithful  and  complete  endeavours  of  parents 
to  train  up  their  children  in  the  way  they  should  go, 
do  entirely  fail.  In  most  cases  they  unquestionably 
succeed.  So  far  as  we  are  acquainted  with  the  his- 
tory of  the  eminent  servants  of  God,  who  are  im- 
mortalized in  the  record  of  His  holy  word,  they 
appear  to  have  been  religiously  educated  in  their 
youth.  David  and  Samuel,  and  the  good  Josiah ; 
Solomon,  and  Obadiah,  the  virtuous  Joseph,  and 
the  beloved  Timothy,  were  all  brought  early  in  life 
to  the  knowledge  and  fear  of  God.  It  is  said  to  be 
worthy  of  remark,  that  most  of  the  Kings  of  Israel, 
who  had  any  merit,  had  received  in  their  youth  the 
instructions  of  religion,  and  this  in  many  instances 
through  the  care  of  their  mothers.  And  of  those, 
in  the  Christian  world,  who  attain  to  virtue  and 
eternal  life,  it  is  not  to  be  doubted,  that  a  large  part 
have  received  in  their  earliest  years,  through  the 
instrumentality  of  parental  or  other  instruction,  that 

■>  Deut.  vi.  6,  7. 


440         ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN. 

incorruptible  seed  of  the  word  of  God,  by  which 
they  were  raised  to  their  high  inheritance  and  at- 
tainments. 

Some  cases  however  there  are,  in  which  the  ex- 
pected effects  of  a  religious  education  seem  not  to 
be  produced.  But  in  these  cases,  our  judgment 
should  be  suspended,  till  the  life  is  finished.  For 
oftentimes  the  seeds  of  goodness  are  seasonably 
sown,  but  the  weeds  of  corrupt  nature  spring  up 
first  and  strongest,  and  choke  the  better  plants. 
These  weeds  however  have  their  growth,  and  wither. 
And  from  the  beds  on  which  they  have  fallen  and 
decayed,  the  seeds  which  were  early  sown,  and  on 
which  have  descended  secretly  and  often  the  power- 
ful influence  of  a  parent's  prayer,  do,  after  the  lapse 
of  forty  or  fifty  years,  at  length  spring  up  and  pro- 
duce abundantly  in  the  evening  of  life  the  fruits  of 
faith,  and  righteousness,  and  peace.  Many  pro- 
bably are  the  instances  of  this  kind,  in  which  pa- 
rents live  not  to  behold,  unless  indeed  they  behold 
from  heaven,  the  happy  effects  to  their  children,  of 
their  pious  care  to  educate  them  religiously. 

Let  us  however  suppose  the  worst.  Let  us  ima- 
gine, that  on  some  very  depraved  being,  these  pa- 
rental labours  are  bestowed  in  vain.  Of  whom  will 
the  situation  be  least  intolerable,  of  that  parent, 
who,  in  rendering  to  the  Almighty  his  account  of 
the  management  of  his  children,  shall  be  able  to 
say.  All  that  I  could  I  did  ?  Or  that  parent,  with 
whom  will  remain  the  bitter,  the  distracting  reflec- 
tion. But  for  my  negligence  to  this  my  child,  eter- 
nity might  have  been  blissful,  who  now  must  go  into 
everlasting  woe  ? 

I  have  detained  you  long,  my  brethren,  upon  this 
subject ;  too  long  I  am  afraid  for  your  pleasure ;  but 
not  too  long  for  the  importance  of  the  theme.    May 


ON  THE  EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN.  441 

God  Almighty  send  his  blessing  upon  what  you 
have  heard !  Take  now  your  children  whom  the  Son 
of  God  delivered  from  *  the  waves  of  this  trouble- 
some world/  and  having  adopted  them  as  His  own, 
has  committed  to  you  to  be  nurtured  for  His  king- 
dom :  take  these  your  offspring,  and  nurse  them  for 
Him;  and  in  His  name,  I  say  unto  you.  He  will  in 
some  shape  or  other,  give  you  your  reward. 


<f    ■ 

SERMON   LXXXIV. 


ON    SOLICITUDE    FOR   THE    PROSPERITY 
OF  RELIGION. 


.A 

LSamuel,  iv.  13. 
For  his  heart  trembled  for  the  ark  of  God. 


i 


You  have  here  a  picture  of  good  old  Eli,  in  one  of 
the  most  interesting  situations  in  which  man  w^as 
ever  seen.  After  that  terrible  defeat  v^^hich  the  peo- 
ple of  Israel  received  from  the  Philistines,  in  the 
battle  of  Aphek,  they  sent  to  Shiloh,  and  had  the 
ark  of  God  taken  from  its  place,  and  brought  among 
them,  hoping  that  this  token  of  the  Divine  presence 
would  revive  their  courage,  and  preserve  them  from 
the  hands  of  their  enemies.  The  rumour  of  it  at 
first  disheartened  the  foe  :  but  their  recent  victory, 
and  the  exhortations  of  their  leaders,  animated  them 
to  the  onset ;  and  the  battle  was  exceedingly  fierce. 
It  was  a  most  momentous  combat.  The  glory  of 
Israel  was  at  stake.  The  ark  of  the  Covenant  was 
in  thefield.  Eli  had  now  numbered  ''  ninety  and 
eight^^rs*"  upon  the  earth;  and  was  blind.  Nei- 
ther on  his  limbs,  nor  yet  with  his  eyes,  could  he 
follow  that  Ark,  before  which  he  had  so  long  mi- 

*  1  Sam.  iv.  15. 


ON  SOLICITUDE  FOR  RELIGION.  443 

nistered ;  and  from  which  he  had  so  often  redeived 
blessings  for  himself  and  the  people.  His  soul  was 
filled  with  anguish,  that  it  had  been  torn  from  its 
place  between  the  Cherubim.  He  knew  it  was  in 
danger ;  exposed  to  the  imprudence  and  heedless- 
ness of  its  friends,  as  well  as  to  the  rude  blasphe- 
mies of  the  enemy.  Nothing  could  quiet  his  pious 
concern.  Blind  as  he  was,  he  crawled  to  the  high 
road,  and  with  profound  anxiety  sat  there,  listening 
to  the  approach  of  every  traveller,  if  haply  he  might 
hear  from  Aphek,  that  all  was  well.  It  is  in  this 
situation,  that  the  Scripture  presents  him  to  our 
view,  a  most  instructive  and  affecting  model  of  ge- 
nuine piety.  **  He  sat  upon  a  seat  by  the  way 
side  watching :  for  his  heart  trembled  for  the  ark  of 
God." 

It  may  perhaps  appear  improbable,  that  our  anx- 
iety will  ever  be  excited  as  Eli's  was.  It  may  be 
feared,  that  our  piety  would  hardly  rise  to  the  noble 
measure  of  his.  But  we  may  be  led  by  his  example, 
to  observe,  in  the  first  place,  that  a  good  man  will 
always  feel  concerned  for  the  safety,  honour,  and 
advancement  of  religion:  and,  secondly,  to  consider 
some  of  the  ways  in  which  he  may  promote  its  re- 
putation and  success. 

In  the  success  of  the  Gospel,  are  involved  the 
pleasure  and  glory  of  God.  The  good  man  considers 
it  as  an  august  display  of  the  Divine  perfections,  as 
gaining  the  Deity  everlasting  praises  from  angels  and 
men,  as  dear  to  the  eternal  mind  in  its  design  and 
accomplishment,  and  as  vouchsafed  to  men  in  great 
mercy  and  trust.  As  a  creature  therefore  of  the 
Most  High  God,  he  will  feel  concerned  for  the  pros- 
perity of  a  work,  upon  which,  from  before  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world,  his  Creator  hath  bestowed  His 
care,  and  the  success  of  which  He  earnestly  desires. 


444  ON  SOLICITUDE  FOR  REILGION. 

and  hath  sent  His  Son  to  promote.     He  considers 
Christianity,  as  opening  to  the  sinner  the  only  means 
of  reconciliation  with  his  Maker ;  as  affording  to  man 
the  best  instructions  and  assistances  for  the  right 
management  of  life ;  and  as  offering  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of   this  region    of  infirmity  and  sorrow,  the 
most  animating  motives  to  virtue  and  contentment, 
and  the  most  enlivening  prospects  of  immortality. 
As  a  philanthropist,  therefore,  he  will  feel  interested 
in  the  safety  of  this  ark  of  mercy,  before  which  the 
penitent  may  find  forgiveness,  and  the  sorrowful  and 
the  dying   be   cheered  with  soothing  consolations, 
and  animating  hopes.     As  a  patriot  he  considers  re- 
ligion essential  to  the  stability,  happiness,  and  pros- 
perity of  the  state.     He  will  therefore  devoutly  wish, 
that  the  altars  of  his  country  may  never  be  destitute 
of  ministers,  nor   its   temples   of  worshippers  and 
friends.     He  contrasts  with  the  rude  schemes  of  po- 
lytheism and  idolatry,  which  ancient  legislators  ren- 
dered sacred  in  the  state,  the  pure,  the  rational,  the 
consoling  theology  of  the  Gospel :  and  his  love  for 
his  country  will  lead  him  to  promote  such  an  exten- 
sion of  the  knowledge  of  Christianity,  and  such  an 
attachment  to  his  doctrines  and  worship,    as  may 
preserve  it  from  being  taken  away,  as  it  has  been 
from    countries    which    were    once    Christian,    but 
through  ignorance,  and    coldness,    and  corruption, 
are  so  no  more.     When  he  considers  the  value  of 
this  religion  to  himself;  that  it  is  the  guide  of  his 
youth,  the  comfort  of  his  age,  his  joy  in  prosperity, 
his  solace  in  adversity,   and  the  staff  of  his  spirit 
when  he  shall  pass  through  '*  the  valley  of  the  sha- 
dow of  death'';"  gratitude  to  its  Author  will  make 
him  a  faithful  guardian  of  the  treasure,  with  which 

''  Ps.  xxiii.  4. 


ON  SOLICITUDE  FOR  RELIGION.  445 

he  is  entrusted,  and  strengthen  the  pleas  of  charity, 
when  she  prompts  him  to  extend  the  participation 
of  it.  In  short,  when  he  compares  the  objects  which 
religion  proposes,  with  anght  else  of  high  estimation, 
and  ardent  pursuit;  he  perceives  that  without  these 
a  man  may  possess  all  other  things,  and  be  wretched ; 
and  that  with  these,  the  humblest  of  the  sons  of  men 
may  be  resigned  and  happy.  He  knows  that  her 
counsels  are  better  than  strength ;  that  her  promises 
are  preferable  to  riches;  that  her  joys  no  pleasures 
can  equal ;  and  that  her  holy  influences  alone  pre- 
pare the  soul  for  heaven.  Her  nature,  therefore,  as 
well  as  her  origin,  and  the  great  ends  of  her  mission, 
render  him  careful  of  her  honour,  and  anxious  for 
her  renown.  He  will  be  filled  with  delight,  when 
her  interests  are  prospered,  and  his  heart  will  trem- 
ble for  them,  in  the  day  of  corruption. 

But  hath  not  the  Author  and  head  of  the  Chris- 
tian covenant  said,  that  "  the  gates  of  hell  shall 
not  prevail  against  it*"?"  He  hath.  And  though, 
for  the  accomplishment  of  the  Divine  purposes,  it 
may  be  appointed  to  many  trials,  and  often  enve- 
loped in  apparent  dangers,  nothing  shall  destroy  it. 
Like  its  ancient  type,  the  ark  of  the  whole  world,  up- 
borne by  its  own  buoyancy,  and  safe  under  the  gui- 
dance of  an  invisible  power,  it  will  rise  above  every 
deluge  of  depravity,  which  may  threaten  the  world, 
and  rise  the  sacred  deposit  of  all  that  can  save,  en- 
noble, and  rejoice  our  race.  But  while  man  con- 
tinues as  he  is,  proud,  corrupt,  and  hateful  of  the 
light,  '*  because  his  deeds  are  evil*^,"  it  cannot  be 
otherwise,  than  that  the  religion  of  our  Redeemer 
should  have  its  adversaries,  and  be  sometimes  ex- 
posed  by   its  friends.     Notwithstanding  the  assu- 

*  Matt.  xvi.  18.  ^  John  iii.  19. 


446  ON  SOLICITUDE  FOR  RELIGION. 

ranee,  that  the  Gospel  shall  ultimately  triumph, 
there  may  be  occasions  and  reflections  which  should 
awaken  the  good  man's  solicitude.  When  philoso- 
phy comes  forth  armed  with  arrows,  which  she  has 
winged  with  wit  and  dipped  in  poison,  will  he  not 
feel  fearful  that  they  may  wound  the  lambs  of  the 
Redeemer's  fold,  though  by  His  more  wary  followers 
they  should  be  avoided?  When  the  professors  of  the 
faith  apostatize,  or  neglect  the  ordinances  of  the 
Church,  or  relapse  from  the  zeal,"  the  holiness,  the 
purity,  the  circumspection  which  the  Gospel  re- 
quires ;  is  there  not  cause  for  his  anxiety,  lest  others 
should  go  away,  and  the  worst  enemies  of  the  Sa- 
viour be  they  of  His  own  household  ?  When  he 
ponders  the  solemn  and  memorable  inquiry  of  Christ, 
which  the  Evangelist  hath  recorded,  "  When  the 
Son  of  Man  cometh,  shall  He  find  faith  on  the 
earth  ^?"  is  there  not  enough  in  this  inquiry  to  ex- 
cite his  vigilance,  and  call  forth  his  care  for  the 
preservation  of  *'  the  faith  which  was  once  delivered 
imto  the  saints '^?"  Evident  it  is,  that  Christianity, 
like  the  ark  of  the  Covenant  for  which  the  Prophet 
watched,  may  be  endangered  by  those  who  place 
in  it  their  confidence :  and  there  are  enemies  into 
whose  hands  it  may  fall,  and  be  exposed  to  con- 
tumely, and  pollution.  These  considerations  will 
beget  in  the  bosom  of  the  good  man,  a  constant  care 
for  its  reputation  and  prosperity.  Not  noisy  and 
hollow  will  his  concern  for  the  ark  of  God  be  ;  bu^ 
sin.cere  and  deep  as  Eli's  proved,  in  the  sequel 
of  his  story,  which,  '*  wheresoever  the  Gospel  1$ 
preached  in  the  whole  world,"  is  worthy  to  "be 
told  for  a  memorial  of  him^"  As  he  sat  by  the 
way  side,  one  came  from  Aphek.     Mark  his  solici- 

« Luke  xviii.  .3.  '  Jude  3.  ^  J\I.att.  xxvi.  13. 

15 


ON  SOLICITUDE  FOR  RELIGION.  447 

tude  when  he  inquires,  **  What  is  there  done,  my 
son''?"  With  inimitable  tenderness  the  messenger 
replies,  **  Israel  is  fled  before  the  Philistines,  and 
there  hath  been  also  a  great  slaughter  among  the 
people,  and  thy  two  sons  also,  Hophni  and  Phinehas, 
are  dead,  and  the  ark  of  God  is  taken'."  Behold, 
at  the  mention  of  the  capture  of  the  ark  of  his  God, 
the  venerable  old  man  swooned,  fell  backward  from 
his  seat,  and  expired !  He  could  hear  of  the  flight 
of  Israel,  with  humble  acquiescence.  He  could 
hear  of  the  slaughter  of  the  people,  with  silent  sor- 
row. He  could  hear  of  the  death  of  his  children, 
with  chastised  regret.  But  when  the  ark  of  God 
was  taken ;  when  the  delight  of  his  heart,  the  hope 
of  his  country,  the  glory  of  Israel,  was  gone ;  over- 
powered with  sorrow,  his  spirit  failed  him ;  he  fell, 
and  died.  Sublime  piety !  Wonderful  instance  of 
hallowed  sensibility  !  Long,  thou  venerable  Seer, 
long  as  the  Scriptures  shall  endure,  piety  shall  turn 
with  fondness  to  thy  story :  and  the  tear  which  she 
drops  over  thy  affecting  end,  will  spring,  not  less 
from  admiration,  than  from  grief! 

But  from  admiring  the  concern  of  Eli  for  the  ark 
that  was  in  Shiloh,  let  us  be  led,  secondly,  to  con- 
sider, in  what  ways  we  may  contribute  to  the  repu- 
tatLoB,  and  prosperity  of  the  ark  of  the  better  co- 
venant, **  the  Gospel  of  our  salvation''." 

In  the  first  place,  we  should  not  disguise  our 
hehef  in  the  religion  of  our  Lord.  Too  easily  does 
pride,  a  dread  of  the  ridicule  of  the  profane,  or  a 
coincidence  with  the  current  of  the  world's  opi- 
nions, deter  the  disciples  of  the  Redeemer  from 
avowing  their  attachment,  to  Him,  and  their  depen- 
dance  upon  His  word,  for  their  best  principles,  and 

I;  1  Sam.  iv.  16.  « Ibid,  ver.  1 7.  '"  Epli.  i.  13. 


448  ON  SOLICITUDE  FOR  RELIGION. 

their  dearest  hopes.  Not  so  were  His  first  followers ; 
nor  so  should  we  be,  if  we  felt  as  we  ought,  the 
value  of  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  His  mercies,  and 
were  sufficiently  concerned  for  its  safety  and  ho- 
nour. Would  we  advance  the  interests  of  our  Sa- 
viour's kingdom  ?  Let  us  be  seen  in  the  ranks  of 
His  friends^  and,  as  an  inspired  Apostle  exhorts, 
**  Go  forth  unto  Him  without  the  camp,  bearing  His 
reproach  V 

Again.  We  may  promote  both  the  honour  and 
prosperity  of  our  religion  by  upholding  its  institu- 
tions, and  observing  devoutly  its  sacred  rites.  Con- 
secrated in  great  mercy  to  the  human  race  was  the 
holy  Sabbath,  and  it  is,  unquestionably,  one  of  the 
most  invaluable  means  for  keeping  alive  in  men's 
bosoms  a  fear  of  God,  and  a  sense  of  their  relations 
and  duties  to  Him  and  to  each  other.  The  Re- 
deemer, too,  hath  instituted  His  Church,  and  esta- 
blished the  divers  orders  of  ministry  in  it,  not  only 
for  **  the  perfecting  of  the  saints"","  but  for  *'  the 
gathering  together  in  one°"  the  offspring  of  God. 
The  ordinances  also  of  the  Gospel,  Baptism  and 
the  Lord's  Supper,  are  admirably  adapted  to  pre- 
serve its  peculiar  doctrines  in  remembrance  and  re- 
spect, and  to  manifest  the  purity,  simplicity,  and 
holiness  of  the  services,  which  it  requires.  These 
institutions  are  as  banners,  which  our  Saviour  hath 
furnished  for  His  Church,  and  around  them  His 
friends  should  be  found,  if  they  would  magnify  His 
name,  and  promote  the  respectability  of  His  re- 
ligion. 

Again.  You  may  contribute  to  the  safety  and 
honour  of  the  ark  of  God,  by  instructing  your 
offspring  in  its  origin,  its  value,  and  its  uses,  and 

'  Heb.  xiU.  13.  ""  Eph.  iv.  U.  "  Ibid.  i.  10. 


ON  SOLICITUDE  FOR  RELIGION.  449 

training  them  up  to  respect  and  defend  it.  Shortly 
you  must  leave  this  scene,  and  with  the  rest  of  your 
possessions  leave  the  religion  of  your  fathers  to  your 
posterity.  Solemn  and  affecting  is  this  considera- 
tion! It  is  the  best  gift  of  Heaven  to  our  world, 
and  its  welfare  in  succeeding  generations  may,  in 
some  degree,  depend  upon  you.  Great  therefore, 
is  your  obligation,  to  enlist  your  offspring  under  its 
banners;  for  if  they  be  brought  up  *'  in  the  nurture 
and  admonition  of  the  Lord","  there  is  a  reasonable 
probability,  that  their  lives  will  hereafter  be  its  en- 
comium, and  their  principles  its  defence. 

Further.  We  may  contribute  to  the  success  of 
Christianity,  by  thwarting  the  course  of  its  ad- 
versaries, and  counteracting  the  poisons  prepared 
against  it.  There  are  books,  the  vehicles  of  im- 
pious sophistry,  of  debased  wit,  and  of  blasphe- 
mous philosophy.  From  the  contagion  which  these 
diffuse,  the  good  man  will  endeavour  to  preserve 
his  household,  and  to  suppress  their  reputation  and 
influence.  There  are  men  of  ruinous  opinions  upon 
man's  nature,  duties,  and  destiny,  whom  he  will  feel 
it  his  duty  to  discountenance,  as  equally  unworthy 
of  public  trust,  and  private  approbation.  There  are 
friendships  with  the  vicious  and  profane,  fatal  as  a 
firebrand  taken  into  the  bosom.  From  these  he  will 
withhold  himself,  and  endeavour  to  preserve  those 
whom  God  has  placed  under  his  guardianship  and 
authority.  Unwilling  to  have  the  distinctions  be- 
tween right  and  wrong,  between  virtue  and  vice, 
between  the  commandments  of  God  and  the  opi- 
nions of  men,  obliterated  ;  he  will  reprobate  irreli- 
gion  in  whatever  character  or  form  it  appears :  re- 
membering the  declaration  of  the  Divine  Mediator 

*  Eph.  vi.  4, 
VOL.    II.  G  g 


450  ON  SOLICITUDE  FOR  RELIGION. 

between  God  and  men,  *'  He  that  is  not  with  Me  is 
against  Me^" 

Once  more.  By  his  personal  exertions  for  the 
advancement  of  those  arrangements  which  are  ne- 
cessary, to  give  stability  and  respectability  to  the 
institutions  of  religion  in  any  place,  every  Christian 
may  promote  the  honour  and  influence  of  Christi- 
anity among  men.  It  is  necessary  to  the  success  of 
the  Gospel,  that  its  rites  be  celebrated,  its  truths 
preached,  and  its  professors  assembled  together,  to 
recognize  often  in  social  worship  their  relation  to 
the  Head  of  the  Church,  and  to  each  other.  Where 
these  things  are  neglected,  pure  and  efficacious  re- 
ligion must  decline.  Its  substance  will  be  gone, 
and,  if  any  thing  of  it  be  retained,  it  will  be  only 
the  shadow.  But  to  give  to  these  means  of  religious 
proficiency  a  constant  and  respectable  being,  there 
is  requisite  good  counsel,  pecuniary  aid,  and  per- 
sonal exertions.  Not  to  the  ministers  of  religion 
alone  belongs  this  care.  In  the  nature  of  it,  it  may, 
and  should  be  shared  by  all  the  members  of  the 
community.  And  the  good  man,  who  is  anxious 
for  the  ark  of  God,  will  not  feel  his  conscience  dis- 
charged of  one  of  its  most  weighty  obligations,  till 
he  has  done  whatever  he  can,  towards  the  complete 
establishment  of  the  public  services  of  the  Church, 
in  the  place  where  the  Most  High  has  placed  his 
residence*.  The  sublime  spirit  will  animate  him, 
which  David  felt  when  he  resolved,  "  I  will  not 
come  within  the  tabernacle  of  mine  house,  norclirab 
up  into  my  bed ;  I  will  not  suffer  mine  eyes  to  sleep, 
nor  mine  eyelids  to  slumber ;  neither  the  temples  of 
my  head  to  take  any  rest :  until  I  find  out  a  place 

p  Matt.  xii.  so. 
*  This  discourse  was  preached  in  some  of  the  vacant  parishes. 


ON  SOLICITUDE  FOR  RELIGION.  451 

for  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  an  habitation  for  the 
mighty  God  of  Jacob ''." 

Finally.  It  is  above  all  to  be  observed,  that  every 
Christian  may  promote  the  honour  of  his  religion, 
by  exhibiting  to  the  world  in  its  purity  and  integrity, 
the  lustre  of  a  Christian  life.  Powerful  is  the  charm 
of  piety,  of  benevolence,  of  meekness,  of  equity, 
like  that  which  the  Gospel  requires.  Seen  in  the 
lives  of  men,  the  spirit  and  virtues  of  Christianity 
form  one  of  its  highest  commendations.  On  ac- 
count of  the  force  of  a  pure  Christian  example,  in 
commending  the  path  of  religion  to  men,  its  blessed 
Author  left  to  His  followers  the  impressive  injunc- 
tion, to  "  let  their  light  so  shine  before  men,  that 
they  may  see  their  good  works,  and  glorify  their 
Father  which  is  in  heaven'." 

'*  Ps.  cxxxii.  3 — 5.  "■  Matt.  v.  16. 


Gg2 


SERMON  LXXXV. 


ON    FAMILY    WORSHIP. 


Job  i.  5. 

And  it  was  so,  when  the  days  of  their  Jeasting  were  gone  about, 
that  Job  sent  and  sanctified  them,  and  rose  up  early  in  the 
morning,  and  offered  burnt  offerings  according  to  the  number 
of  them  all:  for  Job  said,  It  may  be  that  my  sons  have  sinned^ 
and  cursed  God  in  their  hearts.     Thus  did  Job  continually » 

Of  the  person  here  spoken  of  it  is  recorded,  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  that  he  was  **  a  perfect  man  ^."  And 
in  nothing  which  we  know  of  him,  is  his  excellence 
more  interesting,  than  in  the  picture  of  it  which 
these  words  exhibit.  "  There  were  born  unto  Job, 
seven  sons  and  three  daughters \"  It  is  in  the  height 
of  prosperity  and  happiness,  that  he  and  his  family, 
in  the  beginning  of  this  book,  are  presented  to  our 
view.  They  lived  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  delights 
of  life ;  happy  in  their  abundance,  and  blessed  with 
a  felicity  of  domestic  intercourse,  which  has  rarely, 
if  ever,  been  exceeded.  "And  his  sons  went  and 
feasted  in  their  houses,  every  one  his  day ;  and  sent 
and  called  for  their  three  sisters  to  eat  and  to  drink 
with  them^"  It  is  in  the  midst  of  this  cheerful  and 
prosperous  life,  that  the  father  of  the  family  recol- 

»  Job  n.  3.  "  Ibid.  i.  2.  *  Ibid.  ver.  4. 


ON  FAMILY  WORSHIP.  453 

lects  their  dependence  upon  God,  for  all  their  bless^ 
ings,  and  that  in  the  lapse  of  the  day  his  children 
may  have  sinned;  and  assembling  them  together, 
presents  them  before  God,  to  supplicate  in  proper 
acts  of  devotion  forgiveness,  and  a  continuance  of 
His  mercies.  **  And  it  was  so,  when  the  days  of 
their  feasting  were  gone  about,  that  Job  sent  and 
sanctified  them,  and  rose  up  early  in  the  morning, 
and  offered  burnt-offerings  according  to  the  number 
of  them  all :  for  Job  said,  It  may  be  that  my  sons 
have  sinned,  and  cursed  God  in  their  hearts.  Thus 
did  Job  continually."  And  is  there  a  parent,  who 
has  not  reason  every  evening,  to  fear  that  his  chil- 
dren may  have  sinned  ?  Is  there  a  household  who 
have  not  occasion,  every  morning,  to  acknowledge, 
and  to  seek  the  mercy  of  God  ?  Picture  to  your- 
selves this  holy  man,  gathering  statedly  his  family 
around  him,  to  sanctify  them  with  devotion,  and 
engage  them  with  himself  in  offering  homage  and 
adoration  to  their  gracious  benefactor  :  and  you 
may  wonder,  that  Family  Worship,  so  interesting, 
so  lovely,  is  so  generally  neglected.  Picture  to 
yourselves  the  pleasures  and  the  benefits,  which 
must  have  redounded  to  this  household,  from  this 
pious  care  of  their  head,  and  you  may  wonder,  that 
every  [parent  does  not  do  thus ;  that  he  does  not 
thus  do,  "  continually." 

I  have  brought  this  picture  to  your  notice,  bre- 
thren, to  engage  your  attention  to  a  discourse  upon 
Family  Worship:  a  business  which  is  too  certainly 
neglected  among  us,  more  than  it  ought  to  be  ;  and 
with  the  performance  of  which  are  undoubtedly 
connected  peculiar,  and  very  great  advantages. 
Were  that  attention  to  it  restored,  which  has  been  a 
prominent  feature  in  the  character  of  every  pious 
age,  and  pious  people,  it  would  strengthen  your 


454  ON  FAMILY  WORSHIP. 

Church,  and  bless  yoUr  families:  and  you  would 
have  a  larger  experience  of  the  peace  which  they 
have,  who  love  God's  law^.  It  is  in  the  desire,  and 
I  would  I  could  say,  the  hope  of  this,  that  I  would 
set  before  you  some  of  the  considerations,  which 
recommend  Family  Worship  to  your  observance : 
and  offer  to  you  some  directions  for  the  most  plea- 
sant and  useful  performance  of  it. 

I  am  first  to  set  before  you,  considerations  which 
recommend  Family  Worship  :  and  these  shall  be 
drawn  from  its  respect  to  the  Deity  ;  from  its  effect 
upon  families  in  their  collective  capacity  ;  and  from 
its  uses  to  individuals  who  compose  them. 

With  respect  to  the  Deity,  it  is  due  to  Him,  and 
it  is  pleasant  to  Him.  Man  is  to  worship  his  Maker 
in  all  the  capacities  and  relations  in  which  his  Maker 
places  him.  As  an  individual  he  offers  to  Him  his 
private  devotions.  Communities,  as  such,  bring 
to  Him  in  public  worship  their  gratitude  and  their 
prayers.  And  families  living  under  the  same  roof, 
affected  by  the  sins,  interested  in  the  wants,  and 
blessed  in  the  felicities  of  each  other,  owe  a  family 
sacrifice  to  the  God  of  mercy,  and  Giver  of  their 
common  safety  and  joys.  If  any  where  Almighty 
God  may  come,  expecting  justly  a  social  homage 
from  His  children,  it  is  to  our  houses  in  the  morn- 
ing :  when,  while  the  shades  of  night  encompassed 
our  dwellings,  and  our  strength  and  powers  were 
lost  in  the  helplessness  of  sleep,  we  have  been  pro- 
tected by  Him,  and  refreshed  amidst  we  know  not 
how  many  unseen  dangers,  and  have  risen ; — while 
many  have  sunk  into  that  dread  sleep,  from  which 
they  shall  not  awake  till  the  heavens  are  no  more ; 
— have  risen  in  safety  to  the  light  and  beauties,  the 

^  Ps.  cxix.  165. 


ON  FAMILY  WORSHIP.  ,      455 

hopes  and  joys  of  a  new  day.  If  any  where  Al- 
mighty God  may  come,  expecting  justly  a  joint 
expression  of  gratitude,  and  social  supplications 
from  His  children,  it  is  to  our  houses  in  the  evening:, 
when  we  have  been  fed  together  by  His  hand  at  our 
meals,  and  conducted  by  His  providence  through 
the  exposures  of  the  day ;  (while  many  come  not  to 
their  house  any  more;)  are  gathered  again  in  health 
to  the  sweet  pleasures  of  home,  and  are  about  to 
resign  in  the  arms  of  unavoidable  slumber  all  power 
amidst  the  dangers  of  night,  to  protect  or  help  our- 
selves or  each  other.  Surely,  it  is  strange,  that  to 
the  guest  who  tarrieth  but  a  night,  families  should  be 
anxious  to  offer,  morning  and  evening,  the  saluta- 
tions of  courteousness,  and  suffer  the  God  who  is 
with  them,  to  greet  them  when  they  rise,  and  bless 
them  when  they  retire,  without  receiving  from  them 
any  expression  of  regard ! 

Will  it  be  said,  God  has  no  need  of  such  service? 
We  have  every  reason  to  believe,  that  this  duty  is 
peculiarly  pleasant  and  acceptable  to  Him.  It  was 
from  Abraham  He  resolved  He  would  not  hide  any 
thing  He  would  do,  because  He  knew  the  Patriarch, 
that  He  "  would  command  his  children  and  his 
household  after  him,  that  they  should  keep  the  way 
of  the  Lord^"  It  was  Joshua,  highly  favoured  of 
the  Lord,  who  has  transmitted  to  posterity  the  cele 
brated  resolution,  "  As  for  me  and  my  house,  we 
will  serve  the  Lord^"  It  was  to  Noah,  when  he 
had  gathered  his  family  by  an  altar,  to  offer  a  sacri- 
fice after  their  preservation  from  the  flood,  that  He 
gave  the  bow  to  be  a  token  of  a  covenant  of  mercy 
between  Him  and  them,  placing  it  upon  the  clouds 
which  covered  them.      Cornelius,  the  first  of  the 

*  Gen.  xviii.  19.  'Josh.  xxiv.  15. 


456  ON  FAMILY  WORSHIP. 

Gentiles  to  whom  was  given  salvation  through  Jesus 
Christ,  was  **  a  devout  man,  and  one  that  feared 
God  with  all  his  house,  praying  to  God  alway  ^." 
And  it  was  of  him,  whom  we  see  in  the  text, 
gathering  his  family  statedly  to  acts  of  Family  Wor- 
ship, that  the  Almighty  said  to  the  malignant  ac- 
cuser of  the  human  race,  **  Hast  thou  considered 
my  servant  Job,  that  there  is  none  like  him  in  the 
earth,  a  perfect  and  an  upright  man,  one  that  feareth 
God,  and  escheweth  evil''?"  His  pleasure  in  this 
duty  hath  indeed  been  generally  manifested  towards 
those  who  perform  it.  **  The  curse  of  the  Lord  is 
in  the  house  of  the  wicked :  but  He  blesseth  the 
habitation  of  the  just'."  And  surely  they  cannot  be 
called  just,  who  withhold  from  the  chief  claimant, 
that  which  upon  every  principle  is  His  due. 

But  our  heavenly  Father  hath  not  left  our  duty  to 
Him  unconnected  with  benefit  to  ourselves.  Let  us 
proceed  to  consider  the  effects  of  Family  Worship 
upon  the  families,  in  which  it  is  performed.  It  is 
favourable  to  good  order.  The  very  recurrence  of 
joint  attention,  at  stated  times,  to  a  business  of  se- 
rious character,  is  calculated  to  give  a  character  of 
regularity  to  a  household :  and  when  in  the  per- 
formance of  that  business  all  are  brought  at  the 
beginning,  and  close  of  the  day,  into  the  presence 
of  God,  it  may  be  expected,  that  this  will  be  pro- 
motive of  that  fidelity  in  all,  in  the  discharge  of 
their  respective  duties,  by  means  of  which  the  pros- 
perity and  happiness  of  a  family  are  most  effectually 
secured. 

It  is  calculated  to  promote  and  preserve  amity, 
and  kind  offices  in  a  family.  The  oftener  mankind 
are  brought  together  before  their  common  Parent, 

«  Acts  X.  2.  ''  Job  i.  8.  '  Prov.  Hi.  S3. 


ON  FAMILY  WORSHIP.  457 

the  fonder,  and  more  tender  they  will  be  of  each 
other :  and  the  spirit  which  is  imbibed  by  a  joint 
communion  with  Him,  is  a  spirit  of  love,  and  good 
will  to  one  another.  Would  not  the  anger  of  the 
father  towards  the  son  be  mitigated  ?  would  not  the 
asperity  of  the  brother  towards  the  brother  be 
softened  ?  would  not  the  sullenness  of  the  servant 
towards  his  master  be  corrected,  if  all  were  brought 
every  morning  and  evening  into  the  presence  of  God, 
to  confess  their  sins,  and  recognise  before  Him  in 
the  spirit  of  humility  and  love,  their  duties  to  Him 
and  to  one  another  ? 

But  it  would  also  benefit  families,  by  bringing 
upon  them  the  blessing  of  Heaven.  Great  efficacy 
is  ascribed  to  prayer,  in  the  sacred  volume ;  espe- 
cially to  the  prayers  of  "  two  or  three''"  associated 
for  the  purpose.  How  largely  then,  may  the  dews 
of  Heaven  be  expected  to  descend  upon  the  families, 
in  which  prayer  is  made  unto  Him  constantly  and 
with  one  accord,  and  He  is  daily  praised  !  "  The 
voice  of  joy  and  health,"  says  the  Psalmist,  **  is  in 
the  dwellings  of  the  righteous'."  And  it  is  strikingly 
observed  by  the  pious  Bishop  Wilson,  that  *  igno- 
rance, profaneness,  and  a  curse,  must  of  necessity 
be  in  that  family,  where  not  a  creature  but  is  taken 
care  of;  not  a  swine  but  shall  be  served  twice  a 
day,  and  God  only  is  forgotten  !' 

But  this  duty  will  appear  still  more  important  and 
beneficial,  if  we  advert  to  its  uses  to  the  individuals, 
of  whom  families  are  generally  composed.  And 
first,  with  regard  to  the  pious  part  of  them,  it  af- 
fords, next  to  the  worship  of  the  sanctuary,  the 
most  convenient  and  unexceptionable  opportunity 
for  that  sociality  in  devotion,  which  minds  seriously 

*■  Matt,  xviii.  20.  '  Ps.  cxviii.  15. 


458  ON  FAMILY  WORSHIP. 

impressed  do  very  naturally  and  strongly  desire. 
Some  seek  this  opportunity  in  conferences  ;  and 
som.e  in  special  meetings  for  prayer.  But  it  may 
be  questioned,  whether  the  good  effects  of  these 
upon  the  community  or  individuals,  would  be  equal 
to  the  effects  of  a  performance,  in  every  house,  of 
family  prayers. 

But  you  will  say,  all  the  members  of  the  family 
are  not  religious.  For  those  who  are  otherwise,  fa- 
mily prayer  may  have  the  most  beneficial  operation. 
You  have  a  son,  his  religious  principles  are  not  set- 
tled ;  he  has  been  abroad  amidst  the  gaieties  and 
vices  of  this  evil  world.  It  may  be,  he  **  hath 
sinned,  and  cursed  God  in  his  heart."  How  impor- 
tant, how  interesting,  that  you  offer  sacrifices  for 
him,  to  the  Lord  your  God.  Are  there  any  in  your 
house,  yet  uninstructed  in  religion ;  any,  who  are 
volatile  in  their  minds ;  any,  who  have  unhappy 
dispositions,  or  evil  propensities  in  their  hearts  or 
lives  ?  The  constant  performance  of  this  duty  is  cal- 
culated to  diffuse  among  them  religious  principles 
and  feelings  ;  to  check  inordinate  volatility,  and 
produce  becoming  seriousness ;  and  by  its  gentle 
influence  to  correct  the  bad  dispositions,  and  re- 
strain the  conduct  of  the  wicked,  and  the  unhappy. 
While  its  tendency  is  to  render  the  parent  conside- 
rate, and  the  child  dutiful,  to  promote  the  unity  of 
the  husband  and  wife  ;  to  make  masters  kind,  and 
servants  sober  and  faithful,  it  promises  also  a  more 
distant  good.  The  individual  who  has  grown  up  in 
the  habit  of  family  worship,  will  be  most  likely, 
when  he  himself  has  a  household,  to  establish  this 
practice  in  the  midst  of  them :  and  thus,  this  duty 
would  be  the  means  of  transmitting  to  posterity  the 
blessings  of  religion.  It  may  be,  that  upon  some 
in  the  ungovernable  years  of  life,  the  efficacy  of 


ON  FAMILY  WORSHIP.  459 

Family  Worship  may  not  be  immediately  perceived : 
but  when  the  gay  season  has  elapsed,  the  passions 
have  cooled,  and  the  vv^eeds  of  corrupt  nature  have 
withered  with  the  season  that  produced  them  ;  the 
influence  of  the  scenes  by  the  domestic  altar  will 
remain ;  and  the  principles  and  feelings  which  were 
there  hallowed  will  be  recollected  and  cherished, 
like  the  counsels  of  the  paternal  lip,  when  the  incli- 
nations and  practices  which  thwarted  them  will  be 
remembered  with  regret. 

This  duty  may  be  recommended,  in  the  last  place, 
by  a  consideration  drawn  from  its  influence  upon 
the  community  at  large.  We  are  told,  that  "  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  encampeth  round  about  them  that 
fear  Him'"."  Were  these  encampments  of  the  hosts 
of  God  multiplied  in  a  land ;  did  companies  of  an- 
gels surround  every  habitation,  by  reason  of  the 
altar  and  piety  therein  :  what  a  force  would  they 
constitute  against  the  approach  of  evil !  what  pow- 
erful protectors  of  health,  and  peace,  and  joy!  Let 
every  private  home  be  a  temple  ;  from  every  dwell- 
ing let  there  arise  incense  to  heaven,  morning  and 
evening  ;  and  of  the  happiness  of  that  people,  who 
have  "  the  Lord  for  their  God°,"  our  country  would 
largely  partake.  These  daily  sacrifices  would  be 
returned  to  us  by  Him,  to  whom  they  were  offered, 
that  we  might  feast  upon  them,  and  live  by  them  : 
and  they  would  be  means  of  bringing  not  only  upon 
the  individual,  not  only  upon  the  family,  but  also 
upon  the  community,  a  participation  of  all  the  fruits 
of  that  great  sacrifice,  *'  which  taketh  away  the  sin 
of  the  world  °." 

My  Christian  friends,  you  see  how  weighty,  how 
affecting  are  the  considerations,  that  recommend 

"  Ps.  xxxiv.  7.  "  Ibid,  cxliv.  15.  °  John  i.  29. 


460  ON  FAMILY  WORSHIP. 

Family  Worship.  Forgive  me  that  I  have  said  so 
much  upon  this  neglected  duty.  Is  it  good,  is  it 
right,  is  it  useful  ?  What  remains  but  to  resolve  that 
a  duty  which  is  so  good,  and  useful,  you  will  imme- 
diately begin  to  perform. 

In  performing  it,  allow  me  to  recommend  that  a 
form  of  prayer  be  used,  as  best  calculated  for  all  the 
purposes  of  social  worship.  You  have  in  the  Prayer 
Book  a  form  at  hand ;  and  if  variety  be  wished,  by 
selecting  from  that  Book  the  Collects  for  repen- 
tance, and  faith,  and  charity,  for  grace  and  peace, 
the  prayer  for  all  conditions  of  men,  and  the  thanks- 
giving, with  the  Lord's  Prayer,  you  may  furnish 
yourselves  with  sacrifices,  with  which  the  members 
of  your  families  are  familiarly  acquainted,  and  they 
with  you  will  easily  offer  them  together. 


SERMON   LXXXVI. 


ON    THE   ONE   THING   NEEDFUL. 

St.  Luke,  x.  42. 
iBut  one  thing  is  needful. 

When  we  consider  the  various  ways,  and  numerous 
objects  in  which  men  seek  felicity,  it  hardly  seems 
conceivable,  that  all  which  is  necessary  to  the  true 
end,  and  happiness  of  life,  is  to  be  found  in  one 
definite  pursuit.  To  do  what  shall  become  our  na- 
ture, secure  our  interests,  and  please  our  God ;  to 
attain  what  shall  answer  the  true  purpose  of  our 
creation,  and  yield  us  peace  and  permanent  satis- 
faction,— these  are  momentous  concerns :  and  surely 
the  truth  is  surprising,  and  little  regarded,  that  in 
one  single  point  they  all  concentrate,  that  on  one 
distinct  object  they  all  depend.  Yet  this  truth  is 
declared  by  the  great  Founder  of  our  faith  ;  and  we 
have  the  record  of  His  declaration,  in  the  passage 
which  I  have  selected  for  my  text,  "  But  one  thing 
is  needful." 

Permit  me,  my  brethren,  to  invite  your  attention 
to  the  occasion  and  import  of  these  words ;  and  to 
the  instructive  lessons  conveyed  in  the  narrative  of 
which  they  are  an  interesting  part. 

There  dwelt  at  Bethany  a  very  amiable  family, 


462  ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL. 

whose  virtues  attracted  to  them  the  fondness,  and 
frequent  visits  of  our  blessed  Lord.     "  Jesus  loved 
Martha,  and  her  sister,  and  Lazarus  ^"     In  the  so- 
ciety of  this  affectionate  and  benevolent  famil}^  He 
loved  to  pass  an  hour  of  retirement :    and  to  their 
honest  minds  unfolded  the  overtures   of  salvation, 
which   He  brought  from  Heaven,  and  the  bright 
prospects   of  eternal   life   and  joy.      It   happened 
during  one  of  His  visits  to  them,  that  the  different 
characters  of  the  sisters  were  strikingly  displayed. 
In  Martha,  the  elder,  we  behold  a  busy,  generous, 
careful  person,  who  was  filled  with  anxieties  about 
the  affairs  of  the  household ;  and  on  this  occasion 
was   entirely  absorbed   in  making  preparations  for 
the  hospitable  entertainment  of  her  guests.  In  Mary 
we  discover  an  even,  contemplative,  docile  mind, 
which  wished  for  no  other  gratification  than  to  sit 
at  the  feet  of  the  celestial  Instructor,  and  hear  His^ 
words.      They  were  both  pious  and  virtuous  per- 
sons ;  both  happy  in  the  friendship,  and  presence 
of  their  Saviour;  and  each  of  their  characters  had 
undoubtedly  its  peculiar  excellence.     But  the  soli- 
citude of  Martha's  disposition  made  her  often  the 
prey  of  unnecessary  restlessness  and  care ;  it  ren- 
dered  the  object  too,    on  which  she  was  intent, 
however   commendable    in    itself,    painful    to   her 
friends,  by  reason  of  the  trouble  it  occasioned  her : 
and  it  was  this  uneasy,  immoderate  anxiety  about 
things  vain  and  transitory,  that  our  Saviour  repre- 
hended.    Filled  with  concern  about  the  entertain- 
ment of  her  guest ;    busily  absorbed  in  the  desire 
richly  to  refresh,  and  handsomely  to  serve  Him,  she 
complained  to  Jesus  of  Mary's  abiding  at  His  feet, 
and  neglecting  to  take  part  in  doing  to  Him  the  ho- 
nours of  the  house.      "  Lord,  dost  Thou  not  care 

*  John  xi.  5. 


ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL.  463 

that  my  sister  hath  left  me  to  serve  alone  ?  bid  her 
therefore  that  she  help  me^"  To  Him  who  lightly 
regarded  the  pleasures  of  the  senses,  who  knew  how 
to  value  the  ceremonious  complaisance  of  the  world, 
and  who  found  His  best  gratification  in  leading  the 
docile  mind  to  truth,  and  to  goodness  :  this  was  an 
ill-judged  compliment,  and  occasioned  a  tender  re- 
proof. '*  Martha,  Martha,"  said  He,  with  affec- 
tionate earnestness  repeating  the  name,  ''  Martha, 
Martha,  thou  art  careful  and  troubled  about  many 
things  :  but  one  thing  is  needful :  and  Mary  hath 
chosen  that  good  part,  which  shall  not  be  taken 
away  from  her*"." 

*'  But  one  thing  is  needful."  A  serious,  impres- 
sive declaration !  And  we  hasten  from  the  occasion 
of  it,  to  consider  its  import.  Evidently  our  Saviour 
asserts,  that  there  is  "  one  thing,"  essential  to  the 
end  and  welfare  of  every  man's  life ;  upon  which  he 
should  bestow  his  chief  solicitude;  in  which  he 
should  seek  his  proper  happiness.  What  is  this 
thing,  this  all  important  object  ?  Let  us  look  among 
the  many  things,  about  which  men  '*  are  careful 
and  troubled ;"  and  see  if  we  can  find  it  amons" 
them. 

In  one  path  of  human  life,  we  observe  many  as- 
sembled, who  are  all  anxious  to  gain  the  eminences 
of  power,  or  to  attract  the  notice  of  fame  by  the 
way.  They  strive  amidst  difficulties,  competitions, 
and  foes  :  and  some  few  obtain  the  object  of  the 
struggle.  But  is  this  the  object  to  which  our  Sa- 
viour points  ?  Is  the  gratification  of  ambition  the 
-"  one  thing  needful?"  By  the  constitution  of  things, 
distinction  can  be  the  lot  of  but  few;  and  therefore 
could  never  have  appeared  to  the  Divine  mind,  ne- 
cessary to  all.     Besides,  how  uncertain  is  the  fate 

.'  Luke  X.  40.  « Ibid.  x.  41,  42. 


464  ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL. 

of  the  ambitious !  *  One  Caesar  lives,  a  thousand 
are  forgot.'  How  unsatisfactory  are  his  delights ! 
The  insignia  of  power  dazzle  the  proud  eye ;  the 
notes  of  fame's  trumpet  feed  the  vain  ear :  but  nei- 
ther satisfy  the  heart.  At  best,  hovi^  short  is  the  use 
of  his  pomp  to  the  powerful,  or  of  his  name  to  the 
renowned !  Read  this  in  the  dust  of  the  great  of 
former  times,  the  memory  of  whose  eminence  serves 
only  to  enforce,  with  a  pathos  that  melts  and  hum- 
bles us,  the  sacred  admonition,  "  Let  not  the  mighty 
man  glory  in  his  might^."  Great  benefit  undoubt- 
edly accrues  to  society  from  the  gradation  of  its 
members :  and  for  the  general  good  there  must  be 
some  elevated  to  lofty  stations.  But  they  who  in 
these  eminences  seek  their  chief  felicity,  pursue  a 
bubble,  lustrous  indeed,  and  of  rich  colours  when 
first  blown,  but  thin  as  air  ;  dependent  on  the  ever 
variable  wind ;  and  oft-times  bursting  and  vanishing, 
without  leaving  a  fragment,  or  trace  of  what  it  once 
was.  And  to  beings  formed  for  high  behests,  capa- 
citated for  real  and  lasting  joys,  can  such  a  bubble 
be  the  **  one  thing  needful  ?" 

Turn  we  then  to  another  path  of  human  life.  Here 
in  a  broad  and  lively  road,  are  multitudes  thronging 
after  pleasure.  She  holds  out  to  them  a  sparkling- 
cup  ;  she  opens  before  them  gardens  of  delight : 
and  they  follow  her  under  the  action  of  her  fasci- 
nating spells,  fondly  flattering  themselves,  that  they 
have  found  all  that  is  necessary  to  the  true  end,  and 
happiness  of  life.  But  alas !  they  drink  of  her  cup, 
become  intoxicated,  and  forget  their  nature,  their 
powers,  and  their  destination.  They  relax  in  her 
gardens ;  and  from  innumerable  coverts,  vexations 
and  miseries  surprise  them.  They  are  hurried  by 
age  or  calamity  from  their  sports  and  joys  ;  and  in 

"»  Jer.  ix.  23. 


ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL.  465 

their  retreat  carry  but  an  empty  cup,  or  bitter,  bitter 
dregs.     Is  it  then  the  chief  business  of  life,  to  gra- 
tify our  senses,  to  take  our  ease,  and  to  roll  on  in 
pleasure's  varying  whirl?     Is  the  "  One  thing  need- 
ful" that  thoughtless  gaiety,  in  the  midst  of  which 
the  heart  is  sorrowful ;  or  that  prodigal  mirth,  whose 
end  is  heaviness  ?    Surely  that  which  shall  be  worthy 
of  our  nature,  and  satisfy  our  desires,  must  be  pure, 
substantial,    and   permanent;    qualities  which    the 
boons  of  temporal  pleasure  do  none  of  them  possess. 
But  there  is  another  path,  narrow,  steep,  and  re- 
tired, in  which  the  travellers  have  a  more  composed 
aspect.     This  is  the  path  of  science.     Knowledge 
is  the  object  of  those  who  frequent  it ;  and  for  their 
object,  though  silently,  they  laboriously  toil.     For 
them  the  morn  diffuses  its  earliest  beams ;  and  the 
midnight  lamp  sheds  its  expiring  rays.     With  ar- 
duous application,  they  pursue  truth  in  its  deep  re- 
cesses ;    and  to  the  attainment  of  it  devote  their 
time  and  labour,  their  talents,  and  all    their  care. 
But  is  this  the  path  to  which  our  Saviour  points  ? 
Is  the  object  they  are  seeking,   the    "  one   thing 
needful  ?"     Useful  indeed  to  mankind,  and  delightful 
to  themselves,  are  the  occupations  of  the  studious. 
Much,  ye  sons  of  science,  are  we  indebted  to  you, 
for  the  exaltation  which  ye  have  given  to  our  na- 
ture, and  the  conveniences,  refinements,  and   ele- 
vated delights  with  which  your  labours  have  en- 
riched life.      But  human  knowledge  neither  does, 
nor  can  set  open  a  fountain  in  which  man  may  wash 
from  sin  and  uncleanness  :  nor  hold  out  a  lamp,  by 
which  he  may  be  cheered  as  he  journeys  to  the  tomb, 
and  conduct  his  steps  in  safety  and  peace.    Without 
these  wisdom  is  vain  ;  and  understanding  but  an  in- 
crease of  sorrow.     As  the  chief  good  of  life,  even 
science  cannot  maintain  its  strong  pretensions  to  our 
regard.     They  who  long  and  assiduously  pursue  it, 

VOL.  II.  H  h 


466  ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL. 

how  little  do  they  know;  and  even  this  little  know- 
ledge which  they  have  in  part,  it  shall  vanish  away. 
Nor  can  the  wisdom,  which  they  have  acquired  with 
the  utmost  diligence,  defend  them  from  the  cala- 
mities of  their  nature,  nor  discharge  the  awful  debt 
with  which  it  is  encumbered.  "  There  is  no  remem- 
brance of  the  wise  more  than  of  the  fool  for  ever ; 
seeing  that  which  now  is  in  the  days  to  come  shall 
all  be  forgotten.  And  how  dieth  the  wise  man  ?  as 
the  fool'." 

From  these  several  paths,  we  turn  to  one  of  more 
general  resort.  It  is  wide  and  crowded ;  and  from 
the  zeal  and  industry  of  those,  whom  we  behold  in 
its  different  parts,  it  would  be  natural  to  conclude, 
that  here  has  unquestionably  been  found  the  essen- 
tial business  and  happiness  of  life.  The  object  of 
pursuit  here  is  wealth.  By  an  uncontrollable  mo- 
nopoly, this  engages  the  attention  and  labour  of  the 
greatest  part  of  mankind  :  and  not  Martha  herself 
in  all  the  hurry  and  anxiety  of  her  nature,  is  more 
"  careful  and  troubled^"  about  entertaining  her 
Redeemer,  than  the  votaries  of  fortune  about  the 
success  of  their  schemes,  and  increase  of  their  pro- 
perty. Are  riches  then  the  "one  thing  needful?" 
It  would  be  foolish,  and  false,  to  assert  that  riches, 
honestly  acquired,  are  not  a  blessing  to  virtuous 
characters.  But  their  claim  to  the  chief  desire,  and 
first  pursuit  of  men,  must  be  tried  by  their  suffi- 
ciency to  procure  happiness,  their  power  to  ward 
off  the  calamities  of  life,  and  their  stability,  or  per- 
manence. If  in  these  points  they  be  deficient,  they 
cannot  be  the  proper  objects  of  man's  chief  regard. 
Now  can  wealth  give  regularity,  contentment,  and 
peace  to  the  bosom,  or  bring  to  the  soul  pardon, 
purity,  and  the  hope  of  eternal  life  ?     Can  it  keep 

Eccles.  ii.  16.  '  Luke  x.  41. 


ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL.  467 

at  a  distance  adversity,  or  vexation,  or  sorrow,  or 
death  ?  Can  it  promise  its  possessor  to  remain  with 
him  a  day,  and  will  it  accompany  him  for  his  ser- 
vice, in  the  future  states  of  his  existence  ?  In  the 
bright  mid-day  of  abundance,  a  cloud  may  arise 
to  darken  his  prospects ;  or  a  little  root  of  bitter- 
ness in  his  bosom  may  blight  all  his  joys.  He  may 
grow  indifferent  to  the  gratifications  which  wealth 
procures,  as  soon  as  he  is  accustomed  to  them  :  and 
in  the  mansion  of  splendour,  upon  the  bed  of  down, 
may  pine  a  wretch,  and  die  accursed.  What  then 
are  the  claims  of  this  infatuating  object,  about  the 
possession  of  which,  mankind  in  general  are  so 
"  careful  and  troubled  ?"  That  certainly  cannot  be 
the  "  one  thing  needful,"  which  a  man  may  pos- 
sess, and  be  at  the  same  time,  miserable  and  worth- 
less. 

But  if  in  the  paths  of  ambition,  pleasure,  science, 
and  wealth,  which  contain  the  principal  objects  of 
human  pursuit,  the  '*  one  thing  needful"  may  not 
be  found,  what  and  where  is  the  great  object  to 
which  our  Lord  alludes  ?  We  have  his  own  com- 
ment upon  His  declaration,  which  will  at  once  lead 
us  to  the  true  import  of  the  words.  **  But  one 
thing  is  needful :  and  Mary  hath  chosen  that  good 
part,  which  shall  not  be  taken  away  from  her."  The 
part  she  had  chosen  was  to  hearken  unto  Christ; 
and  to  learn  of  Him  how  to  regulate  properly  her 
present  life,  and  secure  to  herself  a  resurrection 
from  the  grave  to  future  and  endless  felicity.  To 
this  she  gave  her  principal  care.  This  was  her  com- 
mended choice.  And  from  the  connection  of  her 
praise  with  the  text  we  may  safely  conclude,  that 
religion,  or  an  attention  to  the  means  of  passing  life 
here  conformably  with  the  will  of  our  Creator,  and 
of  securing  His  favour  and  an  entrance  into  His 
heavenly  kingdom,  is  the  great  thing  to  which  our 

H  h  2 


468  ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL. 

Saviour  points,  as  the  most  interesting  concern  of 
every  sojourner  upon  earth,  and  source  of  his  proper 
happiness. 

The  necessity,    and   pre-eminent  importance   of 
this  object  -will  be  evident,   if  we  consider  to  what 
it   relates ;    how  great  the  interest  it  involves.     It 
respects  the  soul,  the  better  and  immortal  part  of 
man;  it  respects  its  happiness  for  eternity.     What 
words  can  express  the  magnitude  and  weight  of  this 
consideration  ?     Is  it  indeed  true,  my  hearers,  that 
these  bodies  are  inhabited  by  spirits  of  divine  origin, 
by  which  we  think,  and  feel,  and  are  raised  to  our 
high  station  in  the  scale  of  being?     Is  it  indeed  true, 
that  these  spirits  do  not  die,  but  are  destined  to 
exist  for  ever  ?     Is  it  indeed  true,  that  after  these 
bodies  shall  have  slept  their  sleep,  these  spirits  in  re- 
union each  with  its  own,  "  shall  come  forth ;  they 
that  have  done  good,  unto  the  resurrection  of  life;, 
of  damnation^  ?"     These  things  the  spirit  within  us 
suggests,  and  the  revelation  which  God  hath  been 
graciously  pleased  to  give  us,   most  certainly  de- 
clares.    What  then  can  have  such  claim  to  our  first 
attention,  or  be  so  absolutely  needful  to  our  safety 
and  peace,  as  the  things  which  involve  our  faith  and 
duty  here,  and  our  happiness  for  ever  ?     What  com- 
pared with  these  interests  of  the  soul,  are  all  the 
concerns  of  this  fleeting  existence  ?     The  acquisitions 
and  pleasures  of  life  shall  presently  have  an  end. 
This  globe  itself  shall  be  dissolved.     The  fires  of 
yon  sun  shall  be  extinguished  ;  "  and  the  heavens 
shall  be  rolled  together  as  a  scroll \"  and  pass  away. 
But  the  soul  shall  survive  them  all ;    and  its  happi- 
ness for  ages  without  end  depends  upon  the  prin- 
ciples   we    embrace,    and  the   course  we   pursue. 

(  John  V.  29.  *  Is.  xxxiv.  4. 


ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL.  ^6^ 

What  then  can  ambition,  pleasure,  science,  or  wealth 
produce  in  competition  with  objects,  whose  value 
can  be  measured  only  by  our  love  of  happiness,  and 
the  extent  of  their  importance  by  the  duration  of 
eternity  ? 

Again.  An  attention  to  the  means  of  living  right- 
ly here,  and  being  raised  from  death  to  pardon  and 
eternal  life,  is  pre-eminently  needful,  because  with- 
out it  no  man  can  be  uniformly  and  permanently 
happy.  Strike  from  the  human  mind  all  that  reli- 
gion unfolds  and  enjoins,  and  man  would  wander 
through  life,  like  an  anxious  traveller  in  an  unknown 
wild  ;  would  yield  to  adversity,  like  the  uptorn  tree 
to  the  blast ;  would  laugh  in  his  vices,  like  the  mad- 
man in  his  chains  ;  and  at  death  would  appear  to 
sink  like  the  brute  into  utter  extinction.  But  with 
his  inquisitiveness,  to  be  perplexed  about  his  very 
being ;  amidst  the  troubles  and  calamities  of  life,  to 
have  no  shelter  nor  prop ;  with  his  nature  capable 
of  glorious  moral  attainments,  to  be  enslaved  to  vice; 
and  with  his  longing  after  immortality,  to  die  with- 
out comfort  or  hope ;  what  situation  can  be  more 
incompatible  with  happiness  ?  He  must  sigh  over  his 
condition,  whenever  it  presents  itself  to  his  con- 
siderate view.  Dissatisfaction,  if  not  wretchedness, 
must  oppress  his  spirit,  in  whatever  path  he  pursues 
his  unmeaning  way.  To  guide  his  steps,  to  soothe 
his  sorrows,  to  dispel  his  fears,  and  to  unbar  to  him 
the  portals  of  heaven,  is  exclusively  Religion's  office: 
and  for  this  office,  as  she  descends  in  the  mild  form 
of  the  Gospel,  she  is  divinely  consecrated,  and  ade- 
quately endowed.  Let  but  her  truths  be  studied, 
and  life  is  no  longer  an  inexplicable  maze.  Let  her 
consolations  be  used,  and  the  weary  spirit,  fainting 
under  the  tribulations  and  perplexities  of  its  pilgri- 
mage, is  refreshed.  Let  her  guidance  be  followed, 
and  the  soul  recovers  the  image  of  its  Creator,  and 


470  ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL. 

with  it  the  consciousness  of  His  peace  and  favour. 
Let  her  promises  be  believed,  and  immortality,  like 
the  reflecting  beams  of  a  sun  beyond  the  horizon, 
gilds  with  mild  grandeur  life's  evening  clouds,  and 
beautifies  the  approach  of  night. 

I  will  only  add,  that  this  care  of  our  spiritual  and 
eternal  interests  is  important  before  all  things,  be- 
cause it  is  this  to  which  all  the  dispensations  of  God 
have  reference,  and  in  which  alone  His  gracious  will 
concerning  us  can  be  accomplished.  For  what,  be- 
fore the  foundation  of  the  world,  was  Jehovah  em- 
ployed in  devising  the  scheme  of  government,  which 
He  would  administer  over  our  race  ?  For  what  are 
the  wonders  of  visible  nature  displayed  to  our  view, 
and  we  furnished  with  powers  and  incitements  to 
look  through  them  to  their  God  ?  For  what,  **  at 
sundry  times  and  in  divers  manners  hath  the  Al- 
mighty spoken  in  times  past  unto  the  fathers  by  the 
Prophets,  and  in  these  last  days  unto  us  by  His 
Son'?"  For  what  hath  His  hand  been  discerned  in 
all  ages,  conducting  the  motions  of  a  stupendous 
apparatus,  which  introduces  and  explains  a  revela- 
tion, to  which  with  the  voice  of  parental  anxiety. 
He  summons  the  attention  of  the  children  of  men  ? 
For  what  hath  the  Son  of  God  been  incarnate,  and 
crucified,  and  raised  from  the  dead,  and  set  forth  as 
the  Lord  of  the  dead  and  the  living  ?  For  what  hath 
His  Gospel  been  promulgated  to  the  world,  and  His 
Church  instituted,  and  furnished  by  Him  with  a 
ministry,  and  ordinances,  and  holy  Sabbaths  ?  For 
what  are  we  called  to  the  knowledge  of  God's  grace, 
and  faith  in  Him,  and  put  in  possession  of  the  oracles 
of  truth  ?  For  what  are  His  dispensations  to  us  indi- 
vidually intended,  in  the  various  forms  which  He 
sees  fit  to  give  them  ?     For  what  especially  are  afliic- 

•Heb.  i.  1,3. 


ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL.  471 

tions  and  sorrows  allotted  us,  and  our  lives  embitter- 
ed with  chastisements  from  our  Father's  hand  ?  All, 
all  hath  reference  to  our  salvation,  and  spiritual  im- 
provement. The  righteousness,  and  everlasting  hap- 
piness of  men  are  the  ends  which  the  gracious  and 
mysterious  economy  of  God  towards  this  vv^orld,  is 
designed  to  promote.  The  general  and  stupendous 
acts  of  His  government,  and  the  particular  events 
which  His  providence  ordains,  are  all  intended  to 
manifest  the  "  one  thing  needful,"  and  to  excite  and 
enable  us  to  make  "it  sure.  And  surely  that  about 
which  the  Almighty  God  hath  vouchsafed  thus  to 
interest  Himself,  that  upon  which  He  hath  bestowed 
His  counsels  and  care,  and  to  which  He  in  so  many 
ways  presses  our  attention,  must  be  the  chief  and 
all-important  concern  of  our  being.  If  our  business, 
interest,  and  happiness  are  to  be  considered  as  inti- 
mated by  the  purposes  of  God,  our  principal  care 
should  be  to  place  ourselves  at  the  feet  of  His  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  that  we  may  learn  to  live  according  to 
the  Divine  will,  while  we  sojourn  here,  and  make 
our  election  to  eternal  life  sure. 

And  now,  are  there  any  hearing  me,  who  like 
Martha  suffer  the  business  and  cares  of  this  life  to 
absorb  their  attention?  Let  them  share  with  her 
the  Redeemer's  reproof.  Let  them  learn  from  Him, 
that  to  be  "  careful  and  troubled  *"'  about  many  of 
the  concerns  of  this  transitory  state,  is  to  create  to 
themselves  unnecessary  uneasiness  ;  perhaps  too  at 
the  expense  of  better  objects,  and  durable  joys.  Let 
them  observe  His  finger  pointing  them  with  un- 
speakable affection  to  His  salvation,  as  the  *'  one 
thing  needful;"  and  ponder  His  intimation,  that 
having  this,  they  will  possess  all  things.  Sufficient 
for  their  solicitude  is  the  care  of  their  souls  :  and  a 

**  Luke  X.  41. 


472  ON  THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL. 

knowledge  that  they  are  safe,  through  the  Redemp- 
tion that  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  can  alone  give  peace  and 
satisfaction  to  their  bosoms. 

To  those,  and  I  doubt  not  there  are  many  such 
here  present,  who  like  Mary  have  chosen  it  as  the 
object  of  their  first  desire,  to  be  taught  of  Christ, 
and  to  be  sincere,  and  without  offence  unto  the  day 
of  His  coming ;  what  confirmation  is  the  Scripture 
we  have  been  contemplating,  calculated  to  afford. 
Let  it  encourage  you.  Christians,  in  your  cause.  It 
is  a  "  good  part"  you  have  chosen ;  good  in  itself, 
good  in  its  influence  upon  life,  good  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  most  High  God,  your  Creator,  and  good 
in  consequences  of  infinite  and  eternal  importance. 
While  perishableness  is  written  upon  every  earthly 
object ;  and  calamity,  and  tiriie,  and  death  take 
away  the  things,  on  which  others  rely ;  the  part  you 
have  chosen  the  Almighty  is  engaged  to  uphold; 
and  the  declaration  of  His  voice  to  the  meek  and 
constant,  the  devout  and  docile  Jewess,  is  a  pledge 
also  to  you,  that  it  shall  never  be  taken  away  from 
you. 


SERMON   LXXXVII. 


ON    THE    KINGDOM    OF   GOD. 


St.  Luke,  xiii.  18,  19. 

Then  said  he,  Unto  what  is  the  kingdom  of  God  like  ?  and 
whereunto  shall  I  resemble  it  ?  It  is  like  a  grain  of  mustard 
seed,  which  a  man  took,  and  cast  into  his  garden ;  and  it 
grew,  and  waxed  a  great  tree;  und  the  fowls  of  the  air 
lodged  in  the  branches  of  it. 

The  kingdom  of  God  is  an  expression  of  various 
significations  in  the  sacred  volume.  Sometimes  is 
meant  by  it,  the  universal  dominion  of  the  Deity ; 
sometimes  the  final  blessedness  to  which  the  saints 
are  heirs  ;  and  in  a  more  confined  sense  it  frequently 
signifies,  the  Gospel  state,  or  Church  of  Christ.  In 
this  last  sense,  it  is  used  in  the  text :  and  the  thing 
signified  is  illustrated  by  a  comparison,  remarkable 
for  that  aptness  and  beauty,  with  which  all  our 
Saviour's  parables  are  distinguished.  "  Unto  what 
is  the  kingdom  of  God  like  ?  and  whereunto  shall  I 
resemble  it  ?  It  is  like  a  grain  of  mustard  seed, 
which  a  man  took,  and  cast  into  his  garden ;  and  it 
grew,  and  waxed  a  great  tree  ;  and  the  fowls  of  the 
air  lodged  in  the  branches  of  it."  This  parable  is 
worthy  of  our  attentive  consideration.  The  illustra- 
tion of  it  may  instruct,  and  the  inferences  from  it  may 
confirm  us  in  that  faith,  which  to  have  received  is 


474  ON  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD. 

our  greatest  privilege,  and  to  retain  which  is  eternal 
life. 

We  are  first  led  by  the  resemblance,  to  which  our 
Saviour  likens  His  kingdom,  to  remark  the  sniallness 
of  Christianity  in  its  beginning.  Seeking  for  the 
symbol  with  careful  consideration,  He  chooses  one, 
proverbial  among  the  Jews  for  littleness,  the  smallest 
object  possessed  of  life  and  expansive  force.  Small 
as  is  the  symbol,  it  is  not  smaller  than  the  thing  it 
was  designed  to  represent.  An  obscure  prophecy 
was  the  first  germ  of  Christianity,  and  its  only  label, 
a  simple  rite :  the  prophecy — God's  promise  to  the 
woman,  and  sacrifice — the  rite.  We  are  not  to  look 
for  the  mustard  seed  in  the  appearance  of  Christ,  nor 
in  the  paucity  and  poverty  of  the  first  Apostles. 
Christianity  boasts  a  greater  age.  Tracing  it  only 
to  the  visible  ministry  of  Christ,  some  have  greatly 
erred  :  and  very  many  sceptics,  more  especially  the 
ingenious,  yet  subtle  Volney,  have  supported  upon 
the  error,  the  dangerous  small  arms  with  which  they 
have  assaulted  our  holy  religion.  They  have  ad- 
duced the  notions,  mysteries,  and  rites,  of  more 
ancient  ages  and  different  nations  ;  and  have  repre- 
sented these,  as  the  elements  which  imposture  bor- 
rowed of  antiquity,  and  wrought  into  a  cunning  fable, 
which  passes  in  the  world  for  revelation.  Whereas 
these  very  notions,  mysteries,  and  rites  are  nothing 
more  than  faint  imitations,  or  distorted  parts  of  the 
stupendous  apparatus,  which,  from  the  fall  of  man, 
was  put  in  operation  to  effect  his  recovery,  and 
introduce  "  the  kingdom  of  God."  Christianity  is 
older  than  they  all.  They  owe  their  origin  to  cor- 
ruptions of  the  promises,  types  and  symbols,  which 
prepared  the  way  of  the  Messiah :  and  not  one  of 
them,  perhaps,  that  has  any  majesty  or  significance, 
would  ever  have  existed,  but  for  the  redemption 
wrought  for  us  from  the  remotest  age,  and  unfolded 

6 


ON  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD.  475 

in  the  Gospel.  As  soon  as  justice  took  cognizance 
of  man's  transgression,  mercy  promised  the  Deliverer: 
and  it  was  then,  the  "  mustard  seed"  was  cast  into 
the  garden,  the  seed  of  Messiah's  kingdom  sown. 
From  that  solemn  period  we  date,  from  that  dark 
promise  we  trace,  the  rise  and  progress  of  "  the 
things  which  belong  unto  our  peace  *."  Little  in  its 
beginning  as  was  this  obscure  hint,  its  expansive 
force  was  soon  exerted.  The  rite  of  sacrifice  soon 
succeeded.  In  that,  in  the  separation  of  the  "  pe- 
culiar people '',"  in  their  institutions,  the  shadows  of 
good  things  to  come,  the  seed  lay  concealed,  and 
swelling,  and  ready  to  burst  into  humble,  yet  per- 
petual life.  They,  therefore,  have  rudely  mistaken 
their  cause,  who  would  derive  our  religion  from  the 
"beggarly  elements'^"  of  heathen  antiquities.  Though 
exceedingly  small,  enough  so,  to  be  as  unobserved 
as  the  "  mustard  seed"  sown  in  the  ground,  its  be- 
ginning was  before  the  posterities  of  Adam.  We 
have  ever  to  bless  our  God  that  as  early  as  death 
laid  claim  to  our  race,  the  seed,  whose  fruit  is  to 
nourish  us  into  immortality,  was  sown  by  His  hand ; 
and  in  due  season,  made  to  spring  up  into  lively  ap- 
pearance, before  an  expecting  and  wondering  world. 
This  brings  me  to  remark,  from  the  image  which 
Christ  furnishes  in  the  text  of  "  thekingdomof  God," 
its  progressive  character.  Already  we  have  noticed 
its  gradual  expansion  in  types  and  prophecies,  till  it 
burst  into  life.  In  the  visible  ministry  of  the  Messiah, 
and  promulgation  of  the  Gospel,  it  assumed  its  de- 
finite appearance.  This  took  place  under  the  most 
unfavourable  circumstances.  The  soil  in  which  it 
appeared  was  incongruous  with  its  nature,  and  the 
clime  inclement.  In  its  genuine  state  Christianity 
had  to  withstand  many  a  blast ;   to  endure  both 

*  Luke  xix.  42.  ''  Deut.  xiv.  Z.  "  Gal.  iv.  9. 


476  ON  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD. 

chilling  cold,  and  scorching  heat ;  to  encounter  every- 
thing which  could  threaten  to  check  its  growth,  and 
crush  it  in  the  dust.  But  it  was  a  plant  of  an  in- 
herent vigour,  which  no  climate  could  kill,  nor  rude- 
ness impair :  and,  under  the  fostering  care  of  Him 
who  rules  all  seasons,  and  disposes  all  events,  it  grew 
daily,  it  rose  in  height,  and  spread  the  wonder  of 
the  world  ;  it  became  established.  Even  the  most 
unfavourable  circumstances  were  made  to  contribute 
to  its  increase.  Persecution  lopped  off  its  goodliest 
boughs ;  but  this  gave  strength  to  the  body,  and  the 
more  it  was  curtailed  of  its  branches,  the  more  did 
it  thrive.  Corruption  caused  its  fairest  blossoms  to 
fade  and  decay.  But  under  an  all- wise  Providence, 
they  fell  at  its  root,  and  nourished  the  life,  which 
they  had  left.  At  length,  the  supernatural  props 
which  had  supported  and  guided  its  earliest  growth, 
became  unnecessary.  It  needed  no  longer  the  aid 
of  miraculous  powers,  and  they  were  removed. 
*'  Kings  became  its  nursing  fathers,  and  queens  its 
nursing  mothers  *^."  Protected  by  its  holy,  lovely 
form;  supported  by  its  intrinsic  excellence;  culti- 
vated assiduously  by  faith  and  zeal ;  and  blessed  with 
the  kindliest  influences  of  Heaven,  it  has  exhibited 
a  growth,  and  acquired  a  greatness,  unparalleled,  in 
its  particular  circumstances,  in  the  annals  of  the 
world  ;  and  has,  or  has  had,  a  name  and  a  praise  in 
most  of  the  nations  of  the  earth.  During  this  pro- 
gressive state,  it  has  indeed  been  injured  much,  and 
at  various  periods,  by  unfriendly  gales,  and  the  hands 
of  ignorant  or  depraved  cultivators.  In  our  own 
age  it  has  experienced  terrible  shocks.  Corruption's 
worms  have  fattened  on  its  trunk ;  and  infidelity, 
with  its  most  destructive  winds,  has  attempted  to 
overturn  it,  or  to  blast  its  beauty.    But  goodly,  like 

*  Is.  xlix.  23. 


ON  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD.  477 

the  young  cedar  of  Lebanon,  it  resists  the  worm,  and 
thrives ;  firm,  like  the  oak  upon  the  mountain's  side^ 
it  stands  inspiring  awe,  and  scarcely  gives  the  tre- 
mulousness  of  its  leaves  to  the  conflicting  gales.  I 
stop;  and  looking  back  through  the  long,  long  period 
of  two  thousand  years,  behold  with  astonishment  a 
religion, — whose  Author  was  crucified,  and  its  pro- 
pagators twelve  of  the  most  despised  of  men,  whose 
doctrines  were  opposed  to  the  dearest  tenets  and 
pursuits  of  the  world,  and  whose  only  arms  and 
friends  under  heaven  were  its  truth  and  its  merits, — 
rising  from  the  smallest  seed  with  such  steady  growth, 
withstanding  every  injury  of  time  and  weather,  ac- 
quiring place,  and  strength,  and  magnitude  in  half 
the  earth  ;  and  in  those  portentous  days,  when  the 
heavens  are  overcast  with  unwonted  clouds,  and  the 
earth  is  shaken  with  a  strange  convulsion,  presenting 
to  the  confused  **  fowls  of  the  air,"  the  only  branches 
in  which  they  can  lodge  with  composure  and  safety. 
'*  It  stands  fast  for  ever  and  ever;  and  is  done  in 
truth  and  equity'."  Verily,  it  "  is  the  Lord's  doing; 
and  it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes^" 

This  brings  me  to  observe,  that  the  parable  carries 
us  forward  to  a  perfected  growth,  and  triumphant 
state  of  the  Gospel  kingdom.  Though  now  it  pre- 
sents the  sure  refuge  to  all  people,  its  branches  are 
not  filled ;  there  is  room  for  much  further  growth,  and 
dread  occasion  for  much  pruning.  As  yet,  defiling 
vines  cling  to  the  stately  tree,  obstructing  its  spread, 
and  defacing  its  beauty.  As  yet,  the  Jews  "  look" 
not  "  on  Him  whom  they  pierced  ^ ;"  and  to  many 
Gentile  tribes,  the  cross  is  "  foolishness''."  As  yet, 
there  is  need  to  cry  to  the  children  of  men,  "  Know 
the  Lord';"  and  many  of  them  are  fluttering  wildly, 

•  Ps.  cxi.  8.  *  Ps.  cxviii.  SS.  ^  John  xix.  37. 

'   1  Cor.  i.  2S.  *  Jer.  xxxi.  34. 


478  ON  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD. 

and  wandering  into  dangers,  for  want  of  the  places 
in  which  they  may  find  rest  and  shelter.  But  the 
figure  by  which  the  Church  is  described,  and  which 
has  appeared  hitherto  so  apt  and  exact,  apprizes  us 
of  a  mature,  and  triumphant  state  of  our  Redeemer's 
kingdom.  The  plant  of  the  little  seed,  through  its 
progressive  growth,  is  to  attain  to  a  perfect  height, 
and  strength,  and  greatness.  It  is  to  become  a 
**  great  tree;"  yea,  greater  than  all  the  trees  that  are 
in  the  earth.  Its  root  is  fixed ;  and  it  shall  continue 
to  extend  its  growth,  till  all  the  inhabitants  of  our 
world  rejoice  in  the  shadow  of  the  branches  of  it. 

The  Christian  religion  is  composed  of  such  ele- 
ments ;  there  are  in  it  such  principles  and  arrange- 
ments, as  suggest  of  themselves  that  if  it  be  true,  it 
is  designed  for  universal  extension  and  perpetual 
duration.  From  the  wisdom  of  the  Divine  govern- 
ment, and  the  analogy  of  the  works  of  God,  we 
should  also  infer,  that  its  course  would  be  progres- 
sive ;  and  that  having  advanced  under  His  special 
blessing  to  its  present  state,  it  will  continue  to  ad- 
vance, till  the  vast  end  to  which  it  is  adapted,  shall 
be  fully  accomplished,  and  it  shall  reach  the  maturity, 
without  which  its  perfection  cannot  be  developed, 
nor  its  utility  realized  in  all  its  extent.  In  the  view 
of  reason,  it  is  much  more  probable  now,  that  it  shall 
in  the  fulness  of  time  become  **  a  great  tree,"  and 
fill  the  earth,  than  it  was  at  its  beginning,  that  it 
would  ever  attain  to  its  present  height,  strength,  and 
greatness. 

But  it  is  chiefly  from  the  prophecies  and  revelations 
of  Scripture,  that  we  derive  instruction  concerning 
this  interesting  truth.  They  lead  us  to  expect,  that 
in  an  appointed  time,  the  Gospel  will  spread  itself 
over  the  world  ;  and  the  Church  of  Christ,  purified 
and  extended,  become  the  ark  of  all  nations  and 
people.     In  dark  figures,  mysterious  symbols,  and 


ON  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD.  479 

sublime  predictions,  they  declare  these  truths.  But 
indistinct  as  are  the  details,  enough  is  evident  to 
assure  us,  that  as  "  the  comparison"  wherewith  the 
Saviour  *'  compared"  His  kingdom  ^  has  hitherto, 
through  so  many  centuries,  been  exactly  verified,  so 
it  shall  at  length  in  the  universal  extension  of  the 
knowledge  and  blessings  of  the  Gospel,  have  a  com- 
plete fulfilment.  For  the  protection,  nourishment, 
and  maturity  of  this  tree,  which  the  Most  High  hath 
planted,  His  providence  is  engaged,  and  His  word 
pledged.  "  It  shall  stretch  out  its  branches  unto 
the  sea,  and  its  boughs  unto  the  river' :"  and  in  its 
presence  every  idol  grove  shall  be  made  to  wither, 
and  every  plant  of  error  shall  be  rooted  out.  **  No 
weapon  formed  against  it  shall  prosper  "."  It  may 
be  shaken,  and  some  of  its  leaves  which  harbour 
corruption,  or  have  lost  their  verdure,  shall  fall :  but 
its  root  is  immoveable,  and  its  strength  is  eternal ; 
and  it  shall  not  cease  to  multiply  its  branches,  till  it 
shall  have  spread  itself  "  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from 
the  river  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth  "." 

Fastening  our  eyes  upon  the  miraculous  reservation 
of  the  Jews,  as  a  pledge  of  the  completion  of  these 
great  promises,  it  is  our  duty  to  ponder  with  atten- 
tion these  gracious  purposes  of  the  Most  High,  and 
to  rejoice  with  faith  and  becoming  gratitude,  in  the 
greatness  and  glorious  destiny  of  our  holy  religion. 
Bearing  ever  in  mind  our  Saviour's  reply  to  the  too 
inquisitive  Apostles,  '*  It  is  not  for  you  to  know  the 
times  or  the  seasons,  which  the  Father  hath  put  in 
His  own  power";"  we  should,  with  reverent  humility, 
check  our  inquiries  where  the  Almighty  hath  assigned 
limits  to  them ;  and  maintain  a  stedfast  confidence 
in  the  wisdom  of  His  arrangements,  and  the  certainty 

^  Mark  iv.  30.  '  Ps.  Ixxx.  11.  "'  Is.  liv.  17. 

"  Ps.  Ixxii.  8.  •  Acts  i.  7. 


480  ON  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD. 

of  His  word.  Appreciating,  faithfully,  our  own  pri- 
vilege and  happiness  in  having  been  brought  *  to  the 
knowledge  of  His  grace,  and  faith  in  Him,'  we  should 
contribute,  by  all  the  means  which  He  hath  put  in 
our  power,  to  the  extension  of  His  kingdom  :  and 
when  we  offer  the  petition,  which  we  are  taught  and 
commanded  to  offer  daily,  that  His  kingdom  may 
come,  we  should  offer  it  with  the  utmost  devotion 
of  our  souls,  both  with  an  eye  to  the  glory  of  our 
God,  and  a  generous  concern  for  the  instruction  and 
salvation  of  all  our  fellow  men. 

We  have  now  considered  the  beautiful,  and  exact 
resemblance  furnished  by  Christ,  of  *'  the  Kingdom 
of  God."  There  are  inferences  from  this  subject,  of 
great  weight  and  variety.  Let  me  entreat  your 
patience,  while  I  adduce  only  a  few  which  are  too 
instructive  to  be  omitted. 

The  first  is,  that  this  is  one  of  those  singularly 
important  comparisons,  or  parables,  which  are  not 
only  illustrative,  but  prophetic.  We  are  to  remem- 
ber that  it  was  used  eighteen  hundred  years  ago, 
when  the  Christian  Church  was  as  small  and  feeble, 
as  the  germ  just  starting  into  life  from  its  seed. 
Had  Jesus  Christ  been  any  other  than  He  declared 
Himself;  had  He  not  come  from  God,  He  could  not 
have  known,  that  His  cause  would  not  be  crushed 
at  its  birth :  and  would  never  have  hazarded,  upon 
ground  altogether  uncertain,  a  prediction,  whose 
failure  must  have  betrayed  His  falsehood  and  defeated 
His  design.  The  progress  of  the  Gospel  thus  far,  is 
evidence  that  its  Author  had  an  intuition  of  the  far 
distant  course  of  events.  He  spake  His  parable  with 
the  confidence,  which  His  prescience  only  could  have 
inspired  :  and  the  prediction  it  involves,  will  appear 
to  the  humble  and  sincere  inquirer,  as  a  daily  at- 
testation of  the  truth  of  the  religion,  in  support  of 
which  it  was  uttered.     For  who,  but  one  acquainted 


ON  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD.  481 

with  the  counsels  of  the  Almighty,  would  have  ven- 
tured to  pronounce,  that  the  little  seed  of  the  Gospel 
kingdom  should  become  "a  great  tree,"  and  fill  the 
earth  ?  Who  else,  that  had  thus  pronounced,  could, 
under  the  government  of  that  Being  who  "  heareth 
not  sinners'',"  have  had  his  prediction  so  wonderfully 
fulfilled  ? 

Another  important  inference  from  what  has  been 
said  is,  that  the  Gospel  is  the  object  of  constant 
providential  care.     It  much  favours  its  claim  to  be 
considered  as  the  work  of  God,  that  it  is  analogous 
in  its  course  to  His  other  operations.     There  is  a 
method  with  the  Most  High.    His  works  are  all  pro- 
gressive.    There  is  a  gradation  of  cause  and  effect 
in  all  the  operations  of  His  hands.     The  course  of 
revelation  is  in  striking  harmony  with  this  method. 
As  the  day  gradually  rises  from  its  dawn  to  noonday 
splendour ;  as  the  year  gradually  unfolds  the  suc- 
cessive perfections  of  its  seasons;  as  the  plant  springs 
from  its  seed,  and  gradually  grows  to  its  maturity ; 
as  every  thing  in  nature  advances  to  its  end  by  steps 
of  a  constant  and  majestic  order : — so  Christianity 
has  been  progressive ;  not  flashed  upon  the  world  with 
sudden  glare,  like  the  transient  lightning,  but  syste- 
matically introduced,   established,  and  developed, 
according  to  His  uniform  method,  who  "  worketh 
all  in  alP."      Although  it  has  been  made  a  noisy 
objection,  that  this  religion  was  not  earlier  promul- 
gated, and  in  resistless  manner  ; — to  the  reflecting 
mind   the  preparation  that  preceded   it,   its  small 
beginning,  gradual  expansion,  and  steady  progress 
towards  its  maturity,  point  to  the  same  deliberate 
hand,  to  which  we  refer  the  works  of  creation  that 
surround  us. 

But  more  especially  the  inadequateness  of  the 

John  ix.  31.  •»  1  Cor.  xii.  6. 

VOL.   II.  I  i 


482  ON  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD. 

means  to  the  effect  obliges  us,  when  contemplating- 
the  rise  and  progress  of  the  Gospel,  to  acknowledge 
an  agency,  invisible  and  Almighty.  Survey  the 
venerable  oak.  As  you  trace  back  its  astonishing 
growth  to  a  small  acorn,  dying  in  the  earth,  do  you 
not  perceive  irresistible  evidence  of  an  invisible,  and 
intelligent  power,  framing  in  embryo  its  curious 
parts,  giving  it  life,  conducting  its  growth,  and  bring- 
ing it  to  its  majestic  form  and  maturity  ?  You  surely 
do.  For  where,  but  in  the  wisdom  and  power  of  the 
Creator,  can  be  found  adequate  cause  of  the  wonder- 
ful process  ?  But  look  now  at  the  religion  of  the 
Gospel.  Retrace  its  progress  back  to  its  small 
origin.  Observe  how  curiously  and  wonderfully  its 
parts  are  formed  and  connected.  Behold  how, 
without  human  aid,  it  has  struggled  through  every 
difficulty  which  could  obstruct  its  growth,  or  impair 
its  beauty.  See  it  rise ;  mark  its  increase  ;  and 
contemplate  the  prospect  of  its  unlimited  extension. 
Do  this,  and  say  if  ye  do  not  perceive,  that  it  must 
have  been  from  the  beginning  the  work  of  God ;  that 
as  the  object  of  your  Creator's  care,  it  is  of  divine 
origin,  and  entitled  to  your  reverence  and  devout 
regard.  Who  hath  heard  such  a  thing?  Who  hath 
seen  such  a  thing?  The  growth  of  this  "  tree  of  life'," 
from  the  little  seed  cast  in  the  garden,  demands  for 
its  explanation  the  agency  of  infinite  wisdom  and 
power.  And  by  this  in  the  moral,  as  "  by  the  things 
that  are  made,"  in  the  natural  world,  "  the  invisible 
things"  of  Jehovah  are  "  clearly"  manifested,  *'  even 
His  eternal  power  and  Godhead  %"  So  that  the 
unbeliever  and  the  sinner  are  without  excuse. 

The  last  inference  I  shall  make  from  our  Saviour's 
lively  representation  of  His  kingdom  is,  the  encou- 
ragement it  is   calculated  to  afford  to  His  pious 

'  Rev.  ii.  7.  '  Rom.  i.  20. 


ON  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD.  483 

disciples,  in  times  unfavourable  to  Christianity,  when 
the  laugh  of  the  scorner,  and  the  delusions  of  vice 
prevail.  It  is  in  times,  M^hen  many  are  offended  at 
His  doctrines,  that  our  Saviour  has  occasion  to  say 
to  His  nearest  friends,  **  Will  ye  also  go  away  *?"  It 
is  in  the  seasons,  when  the  overflowing  of  ungodliness 
makes  him  afraid,  that  the  good  man,  like  Eli,  will 
be  on  "  the  way  side  watching,"  with  **  his  heart 
trembling  for  the  ark  of  God  "."  But  when  his  spirit 
is  sinking  within  him,  and  anxiety  and  perplexity 
are  seizing  upon  his  thoughts,  he  can  repose  with 
consolation  upon  the  Divine  assurance,  that  the  plant, 
which  his  heavenly  Father  hath  planted,  is  rooted  in 
the  earth  by  His  unalterable  decree  :  that  it  shall 
there  stand  and  flourish,  in  defiance  of  every  worm, 
and  every  wind,  which  may  assail  it ;  that  storms 
and  tempests  shall  only  serve  to  free  it  of  its  lifeless 
wood  and  leaves,  and  establish  it  more  firmly,  with 
more  renowned  greatness. 

Such,  Christians,  is  the  illustration,  and  such  are 
the  inferences  of  the  "  comparison,"  wherewith  our 
blessed  Lord  hath  "  compared  the  kingdom  of  ©od  V 
Upon  the  whole  it  appears,  that  this  goodly  tree  is 
the  hope  of  our  world.  Let  then  the  rich  befriend 
it  with  their  fostering  aid,  as  affording  the  safest 
shade,  beneath  which  they  may  enjoy  their  privi- 
leges and  blessings.  Let  the  poor  gather  themselves 
around  it,  as  yielding  the  only  odours,  with  which 
their  weary  spirits  may  be  refreshed.  And  let  all  the 
good  unceasingly  ask  the  dews  of  Heaven  upon  it, 
that  reaching,  ere  long,  its  promised  maturity,  its 
fruit  may  be  for  meat,  and  its  "  leaves  for  the  healing 
of  the  nations  ■\" 

'  John  vi.  67.  '  1  Sam.  iv.  13. 

»  Mark  iv.  30.  ^  Hev.  xxii.  2. 

I  i2 


SERMON    LXXXVIII. 


ON    THE    HEALING    OF   THE   BLIND. 


St.  Luke,  xviii.  37. 
And  they  told  him,  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth  pnsseth  by. 

To  whom  was  this  told ;  and  what  were  the  effects 
of  the  information  ?  It  was  told  to  one,  in  whose 
bodily  infirmity  there  was  a  figure  of  our  spiritual 
condition ;  and  the  effects  of  the  information  were 
an  image  of  the  deliverance  which  we  may  have, 
through  our  Redeemer.  I  ask  your  attention  to  this 
interesting  story,  that  you,  "  through  patience  and 
comfort"  of  this  Scripture  **  may  have  hope  ^." 

We  will  first  attend  to  the  subject  of  the  miracle, 
which  the  Gospel  records.  There  are  four  things 
concerning  him  worthy  of  observation :  his  condition, 
a  blind  beggar  :  his  application  for  help,  under  the 
sense  of  his  blindness,  to  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  as  soon 
as  he  heard  of  Him :  his  perseverance,  notwithstand- 
ing the  obstacles  which  were  thrown  in  the  way : 
and  his  wonderful  recovery  of  his  sight. 

A  blind  beggar !  Can  a  condition  be  conceived 
more  humble,  more  helpless,  more  deplorable  ?  In  a 
spiritual  sense,  it  is  the  condition  of  every  sinner. 
He  sees  not  God  ;  he  sees  not  salvation  ;  he  sees  not 

•  Rom.  XV.  4. 


ON  THE  HEALING  OF  THE  BLIND.  485 

peace.  By  the  fall  his  understanding  is  darkened. 
By  reason  of  the  film  which  his  iniquities  have  spread 
over  his  spiritual  sight,  the  light  of  God's  counte- 
nance, which  shines  eternally  upon  His  creatures,  is 
not  seen.  On  the  way  side  of  life,  he  is  poor  and 
blind,  dependent  for  guidance  upon  any  one  who 
will  undertake  to  lead  him,  and  for  gratification  upon 
the  pittance  of  pleasure  which  he  begs  of  some  passer 
by,  or  the  tidings  which  he  asks  of  the  traveller  con- 
cerning vain  and  temporal  things.  **  I  counsel 
thee,"  says  one  who  is  alone  worthy  to  advise,  **  I 
counsel  thee  to  anoint  thine  eyes  with  eye  salve, 
that  thou  may  est  see ;  for  thou  art  wretched,  and 
miserable,  and  poor,  and  blind  \"  So  unhappy  is 
the  condition  of  this  blind  beggar,  that  when  he 
feels  his  necessities,  he  sees  not  of  whom  he  may 
ask  for  help  :  and  when  the  Saviour  passes  by,  who 
can  restore  to  him  his  vision,  and  satisfy  him  with 
bread,  through  his  blindness  he  asks  "  what  it 
means  ^"  And  the  greatest  misfortune  is,  that  he  is 
less  anxious  to  be  delivered  from  his  spiritual,  than 
from  his  bodily  wretchedness  :  a  disposition,  which 
is  illustrated  and  reproved,  in  the  second  thing  to  be 
noticed,  concerning  the  beggar  on  the  way  to  Je- 
richo, namely,  his  immediate  application  for  help, 
under  the  sense  of  his  blindness,  to  Him  who  was 
able  to  heal  him.  **  They  told  him,  that  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  passeth  by.  And  he  cried,  saying,  Jesus, 
Thou  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me\"  Jesus  of 
Nazareth !  His  fame  was  now  spread  abroad.  He 
was  approved  amply  of  God,  by  signs  and  wonders 
which  He  wrought.  This  blind  beggar  had  heard 
that  by  Him  "  the  blind  received  their  sight,  and 
the  lame  did  walk,  the  lepers  were  cleansed,  and 
the  deaf  did  hear,  the  dead  were  raised  up,  and  the 

'  Rev.iii.  n,  17.         ^  Luke  xviii.  S<5.       '  Ibid.  ver.  37,  m. 


486  ON  THE  HEALING  OF  THE  BLIND. 

poor  had  the  Gospel  preached  to  them'."  Of  His 
character  as  the  Messiah,  he  had  obtained  some 
knowledge,  for  he  addressed  Him  as  the  **  Son  of 
David."  Probably,  he  had  heard  of  His  wonderful 
compassion ;  that  none  who  sought  of  Him  deliver- 
ance from  misery,  however  poor,  or  friendless,  or 
wretched,  were  turned  away.  Perhaps  he  recol- 
lected, without  understanding  the  spiritual  import, 
that  in  the  days  of  the  "  Son  of  David,"  the  eyes  of 
the  blind  should  be  opened  *'.  At  any  rate,  He  who 
might  heal  him,  was  passing  by.  He  would  not 
wait  for  a  better  opportunity.  He  would  not  stop 
to  calculate  the  probability  of  success.  Without 
asserting  any  claim  to  His  help  ;  yea,  with  a  con»- 
sciousness  that  he  had  nothing  to  give,  in  compen- 
sation for  his  cure,  he  immediately  cast  himself  upon 
the  pity  of  the  Redeemer:  he  cried,  "  Jesus,  Thou 
Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me^."  And  thus 
should  the  blind  beggar  in  the  spiritual  sense  seek 
for  deliverance.  The  fame  of  Jesus,  as  the  Saviour 
of  sinners,  has  been  spread  abroad  through  all  ages. 
Prophets  have  proclaimed  it.  Apostles  have  de- 
clared it.  His  own  miracles  of  grace  have  testified 
it.  By  raising  Him  from  the  dead,  God  hath  also 
approved  Him  unto  all  men,  as  His  "  Messenger  of 
the  covenant ''"  to  this  lower  world,  to  give  salvation 
to  its  sinful  inhabitants,  by  the  remission  of  sins. 
Destitute  of  the  joys  and  benefits  of  the  light  of  life, 
exposed  to  innumerable  perils  and  privations,  poor 
and  friendless,  shall  sinful  men,  when  this  Messiah, 
who  is  **  mighty  to  save',"  passes  near  them,  neglect 
to  call  upon  Him,  defer  to  seek  His  help  ?  What 
though  they  have  no  claim  to  His  assistance  ?  What 
though  they  cannot  remunerate  His  love  ?   He  offers 

•  Matt.  xi.  5.  ^  Is.  xxix.  18.  '  Luke  xviii.  38. 

"  Mai.  iii,  1.  '  Is.  Ixiii.  1. 


ON  THE  HEALING  OF  THE  BLIND.  487 

His  mercy  "  without  money,  and  without  price  ^" 
With  confidence  in  the  fame  they  have  heard  of  His 
Almighty  power,  and  the  declarations  He  hath  vouch- 
safed of  His  authority,  they  should  stretch  out  their 
hands  to  Him  as  needy  supplicants,  and  beg  the 
mercy,  which  is  Jehovah's  alms.  "  Jesus,  Thou 
Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  us."  They  will  not 
cry  in  vain  if  they  imitate  the  blind  beggar  ; — 

In  the  third  particular  to  be  noticed  in  him,  name- 
ly, his  perseverance,  notwithstanding  the  obstacles 
which  were  thrown  in  his  way.  "  And  they  which 
went  before  rebuked  him,  that  he  should  hold  his 
peace  :  but  he  cried  so  much  the  more,  Thou  Son 
of  David,  have  mercy  on  me '."  Great  and  innumer- 
able are  the  difficulties  which  sinners  may  have  to 
surmount,  in  coming  to  Christ.  How  shall  I,  says 
one,  who  is  poor  and  naked,  mean  and  despised, 
look  for  a  place  in  the  Church  of  the  saints,  or  ex- 
pect any  notice  from  the  ministers  of  the  sacred 
pools  ?  What,  says  an  uncharitable  multitude  con- 
cerning the  ignorant  and  stupid,  the  blindest  and 
poorest  beggar  by  the  way  side,  can  these  expect 
to  attract  the  attention  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  to  be 
made  heirs  of  His  covenant,  and  of  the  household  of 
the  Most  High?  Hold  thy  peace,  wretched  sinner, 
saith  the  adversary.  Cease  from  thy  prayers,  thy 
hopes,  and  thy  inquiries.  Canst  thou  hope  for  deli- 
verance, whose  sins  have  caused  thee  to  be  given  up 
to  blindness,  who  art  too  wicked  to  be  regarded  by 
God  ?  Thus  the  world  derides ;  conscience  intimi- 
dates; the  adversary  terrifies.  But  a  sense  of  his 
dangers  and  miseries,  and  confidence  in  the  power 
and  mercy  of  the  Saviour,  will  render  the  sinner  im- 
portunate and  persevering  in  his  prayers.  The  pres-^ 
sure  upon  him  of  his  miseries  and  danger,  together 

''  Is.  Iv.  1.  '  Luke  xviii.  S9, 


488  ON  THE  HEALING  OF  THE  BLIND. 

with  his  apprehension  of  the  power  of  the  Messiah 
to  set  him  free,  will  not  suffer  him  to  remit  his  im- 
portunity. He  will  supplicate  so  much  the  more 
earnestly,  as  God  the  longer  deferreth  to  deliver 
him.  Like  the  blind  man  in  the  Gospel,  whose  per- 
severance is  recorded  for  our  instruction,  obstacles 
and  delay  will  add  strength  to  his  cries;  he  will 
continue  to  call  till  Jesus  hears  him. 

The  success  and  happiness  of  such  perseverance, 
are  taught  us  in  the  fourth  particular  we  have  to 
notice,  concerning  the  subject  of  this  miracle, — the 
wonderful  recovery  of  his  sight.  *'  And  Jesus  said 
unto  him,  Receive  thy  sight :  thy  faith  hath  saved 
thee.  And  immediately  he  received  his  sight,  and 
followed  Him,  glorifying  God ""."  Who  can  forbear 
to  picture  to  himself  the  joy,  which  now  rushed  as  a 
torrent  over  the  blind  beggar's  heart  ?  The  sun  in 
the  heavens  he  saw  with  delight  and  wonder ;  the 
face  of  nature  transported  him  with  its  beauty  and 
sublimity,  and  the  relations  and  proportions  of  all 
its  parts.  He  gazed  upon  the  fair  colours  of  the 
flowers,  which  had  refreshed  him  with  a  fragrance, 
that  came  from  objects  which  he  could  not  behold. 
He  lifted  his  eyes  with  admiration  to  the  source  of 
that  heat,  which  had  sometimes  imparted  to  his  im- 
poverished frame,  a  genial  warmth,  with  the  origin 
of  which  and  its  transcendent  glory  he  was  unac- 
quainted. He  felt,  too,  free.  He  saw  the  face  of 
man.  He  walked  without  a  leader.  What  wonder 
that  he  clung  to  the  Being,  who  had  given  him  such 
independence,  and  opened  to  him  such  views  and 
hopes  ?  Well  might  he  follow  Jesus,  "  glorifying 
God  °."  This  is  but  one  of  many  instances,  in  which 
our  Lord  seemed  not  to  hearken  to  **  the  prayer  of 
the  poor  destitute","  till  their  earnestness  had  been 

'"  Luke  xviih  42,  *S.  "  Ibid.  ver.  43,  "  Ps>.  cii.  1'/. 


ON  THE  HEALING  OF  THE  BLIND.  489 

proved,  and  their  faith  and  perseverance  manifested. 
And  as    the    importunate  widow  overcame  by  her 
continual    supplications    even    the  unjust  "  judge, 
which  feared  not  God,  neither  regarded  man^;"  so 
God  will  help  the  needy  who  "  cry  day  and  night 
unto  Him,  though  He  bear  long  with  them\"     Nor 
will  their  joy  and  the  sources  of  their  happiness  be 
less  than  the  blind  man's,    when  He  turneth  Him 
unto  their  prayer,  and  granteth  their  desire.     His 
reconciled  *'  countenance,"  they  will  behold  pleasant 
and  glorious,  *'  as  the  sun  shineth  in  his  strength^" 
Faith,  and  hope,  and  charity,  and  all  the  objects  of 
the  moral  world,  will  be  seen  in  all  their  beauty  and 
grandeur,    their   proportions  and  relations  to  each 
other.     The  source  of  the  good  feelings  which,  while 
yet  they  were  blind,  occasionally  warmed  their  souls ; 
and  the  fair  complexions  of  the  grace,  with  whose 
benevolent  deeds  they  were  occasionally  refreshed, 
will  be  seen.     They  see  man  in  his  true  character 
and  destination.     They  feel  their  spirits  free.  They 
lift  up  their  eyes,  and  a  heaven  is  seen  above,  ethe- 
real, unbounded,  glorious  :  and  beyond  the  reach  of 
their  spiritual  vision,  they  imagine  regions  of  immor- 
tality, where  God  dwells.     To  these  regions  they 
hope  to  come.     The  joys  of  this  immortality,  the 
restoration  of  their  sight  is  a  pledge  to  them,  that 
they  shall  one  day  share.     And  how  shall  they  for- 
bear to  follow  Him,  to  whom  they  owe  this  "  great 
salvation'?" 

From  Bartimeus  we  turn  to  Jesus  of  Nazareth; 
from  the  conduct  of  the  blind  beggar,  to  the  conduct 
of  the  Son  of  God,  who  gave  him  sight.  Three 
things  here  deserve  our  consideration — the  extent 
of  His  benevolence ;    His  gracious  condescension ; 

'  Luke  xviii.  S.  "  Ibifl-  ver.  7. 

'Rev.  i.  16.  '.Heb.  ii.  3. 


490  ON  THE  HEALING  OF  THE  BLIND. 

and  His  ascription  to  the  blind  man's  faith  of  the 
salvation  which  he  found. 

The  extent  of  our  Lord's  benevolence  is  worthy 
of  remark.  It  embraces  the  whole  human  race. 
The  rich  and  honourable  counsellor  of  Arimathea, 
and  the  blind  beggar  on  the  way  from  Jericho,  are 
alike  observed  by  Him,  and  have  His  regard.  In 
like  manner  His  redemption  embraces  all  mankind. 
The  penitent  Magdalene  shares  it  with  faithful  Abra- 
ham. No  sinner  is  so  far  removed  from  God,  that 
he  may  not  be  brought  '*  nigh  by  the  blood  of 
Christ  *."  Poor  blind  man  by  the  way  side,  despair 
not  to  call  upon  Jesus,  if  He  come  in  thy  way.  He 
died  for  thee. 

Another  thing  remarkable  in  the  conduct  of  our 
Lord  is  His  gracious  condescension.  He  *'  stood, 
and  commanded  him  to  be  brought  unto  Him :  and 
when  he  was  come  near,  He  asked  him,  saying. 
What  wilt  thou  that  I  shall  do  unto  thee  ?  And  he 
said.  Lord,  that  I  may  receive  my  sight.  And  Jesus 
said  unto  him.  Receive  thy  sight :  thy  faith  hath 
saved  thee"."  The  Son  of  God,  the  heir  of  all 
worlds,  stops  on  His  way  to  hearken  to  the  prayer 
of  a  blind  beggar  :  He  calls  him  to  Him,  and  enters 
into  an  inquiry  concerning  his  wishes  and  his  wants, 
and  this  for  our  instruction : — that  when  awed  by 
the  greatness  of  our  Creator,  and  overwhelmed  by 
the  distance  between  Him  and  us,  we  may  be  en- 
couraged to  call  upon  Him,  and  hope  in  His  name. 
The  blind  man  put  confidence  in  His  goodness,  and 
obtained  his  desire. 

It  is  important  also  to  observe,  that  the  faith  of 
this  suppliant  procured  him  his  relief.  The  Scrip- 
tures give  us  no  example  of  any  blessing  obtained 
from  our  Saviour,  without  this  quality.     "  If  thou 

'  Eph.  ii.  13,  "  Luke  xviii.  40—42. 


ON  THE  HEALING  OF  THE  BLIND.  491 

eanst  believe,  all  things  are  possible  to  him  that  be. 
lieveth"."  And  again,  "  O  woman,  great  is  thy 
faith:  be  it  unto  thee  even  as  thou  wilt^"  And 
here  in  the  case  before  us,  Jesus  said  unto  him, 
^'  Receive  thy  sight:  thy  faith  hath  saved  thee^'' 
Awakened  sinner ;  wouldst  thou  share  the  mercies, 
and  come  unto  Him,  believing  that  thy  God  hath 
sent  Him  into  the  world  for  thy  redemption  ?  Have 
confidence  in  His  goodness,  and  the  sufficiency  of 
His  power  to  save  thee.  If  there  were  no  other  rea- 
son why  faith  should  be  required  of  thee,  it  were  a 
sufficient  and  an  awful  one,  which  St.  John  hath 
given,  "  He  that  believeth  not  God  hath  made  Him 
a  liar ;  because  he  believeth  not  the  record  that  God 
gave  of  His  Son.  And  this  is  the  record,  that  God 
hath  given  to  us  eternal  life,  and  this  life  is  in  His 
Son%" 

Brethren,  the  application  of  this  interesting  por- 
tion of  Scripture  is  to  yourselves.  God  has  placed 
you,  though  blind  and  poor,  in  the  way  in  which 
you  may  hear  of  His  Son  the  Redeemer.  When  you 
hear  the  voices  of  the  Prophets,  and  the  movements 
of  the  types  and  the  sacrifices  are  set  before  you, 
do  you  ask  what  it  meaneth  ?  "  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
passeth  by."  When  the  Church  calleth  you  to  joy 
in  the  Christmas,  to  keep  the  Lent  fast,  to  solemnize 
the  Good  Friday,  to  observe  the  Easter  festival,  to 
celebrate  the  Ascension,  do  you  ask  what  it  mean' 
eth?  "  Jesus  of  Nazareth  passeth  by."  When  the 
altar  of  God  hath  upon  it  its  white  covering,  and 
there  are  placed  thereupon  bread  and  wine,  and  the 
priests  stand  by  it,  in  deepest  humility  and  highest 
adoration,  do  you  ask  what  it  meaneth  ?  "  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  passeth  by."  Are  your  desires  to  go  to 
Him  for  the  salvation  you  need,  restrained  by  your 

'^  Mark  ix.  23.  y  Matt.  xv.  28. 

*  Luke  xviii.  4^.  '  1  John  v.  10,  11. 


492  ON  THE  HEALING  OF  THE  BLIND. 

fears,  or  the  opposition  of  the  enemy,  or  the  cavils 
of  an  evil  world  ?  "  Rise  ;  He  calleth  you  ^"  Are 
you  guilty  ?  He  calleth  you  to  pardon.  Are  you 
feeble  ?  He  calleth  you  to  grace  ?  Are  you  afflicted? 
He  calleth  you  to  consolation.  Are  you  mortal  ? 
He  calleth  you  to  eternal  life.  *'  Come  unto  me," 
saith  He,  "  all  ye  that  labour,  and  are  heavy  laden, 
and  I  will  give  you  rest  ^"  Be  not  deterred  then 
by  the  difficulties  in  the  way.  Lay  aside  the  upper 
garment  of  your  own  sufficiency.  It  may  entangle 
you  in  going  to  Jesus.  Think  not  of  your  claim  to 
His  help.  Regard  not  your  inability  to  compensate 
Him  for  your  cure.  Have  faith  in  His  character. 
Have  faith  in  His  pity,  and  His  power.  His  name 
is  Saviour'*.  Contemplate  Him  by  His  name,  and 
cry  to  Him  perseveringly,  **  Jesus,  thou  Son  of 
David,  have  mercy  on  me  %"  He  standeth  still  when 
the  poor  calleth ;  **  He  also  will  hear  their  cry,  and 
will  help  them'." 

"  Mark  x.  49.  *•  Matt.  xi.  28.  ^  Ibid.  i.  ai. 

« Luke  xviii.  38.  '  Ps.  cxlv.  19. 


SERMON    LXXXIX-* 


ON   THE   RICH    AND    THE    GREAT,  BEGGING 
THE    BODY    OF   JESUS. 


St.  Matthew,  xxvii.  58. 
He  went  to  Pilate,  and  begged  the  body  of  Jesus. 

The  fate  of  the  body  of  our  blessed  Lord,  after  His 
cruciaxion,  is  a  very  interesting  part  of  His  history. 
You  have  often  heard,  that  it  passed  from  the  cross 
into  the  hands  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  and  by  him, 
being  affectionately  embalmed  with  spices,  and  wrap- 
ped in  clean  linen,  was  deposited  in  a  sepulchre  m 
his  garden.     Many  a  pious  Christian  has,  doubtless, 
envied  this  Arimathean  his  felicity,  in  possessing  the 
body  of  his  Lord.     You  all,  when  reading  the  nar- 
rative, have  admired  the  constancy  of  his  affection, 
his  resolution,  and  his  pious  fidelity.     But  there  are 
circumstances  of  this  transaction,  in  the  reading  of 
which,  it  may  be,  the  uses  they  import  have  not 
been  noticed,  nor  the  instructions  they  suggest,  re- 
garded.    About  to  go  up  to  the  table  of  the  Lord, 
to  receive  that  which  He  hath  left  us  as  His  body, 
these   circumstances    may  be  well  brought  to  our 
recollection,  and  made  subjects  of  our  meditation. 
They  relate  to  the  event  we  are  to  commemorate. 

*  Preached  on  a  C<^TMnunion  Sunday. 


494  ON  BEGGING  THE  BODY  OF  JESUS. 

They  are  instructive,  some  one  or  other  of  them,  to 
all. 

In  the  first  place,  he  whom  we  here  find  begging 
"  the  body  of  Jesus,"  was  rich.  **  There  came  a 
rich  man  of  Arimathea,  named  Joseph,  who  also 
himself  was  Jesus'  disciple''."  It  is  pleasant  to  find 
the  rich  among  the  disciples  of  the  Lord.  To  His 
merits  and  ititercession,  they  owe  whatever  good 
things  they  enjoy.  By  their  influence  in  society, 
and  the  conspicuousness  of  their  examples,  they  may 
render  Him  the  greatest  service.  And  amidst  more 
cares  and  temptations  than  others,  having  more  to 
resist  while  they  live,  and  more  to  leave  when  they 
die,  they  have  the  most  need  of  the  guards  and  con- 
solations of  His  holy  religion.  Of  the  benefits,  par- 
ticularly, which  the  Lord's  Supper  was  instituted  to 
convey,  they  may  avail  themselves  with  the  greater 
advantage.  No  where  can  the  sanctifying  influences 
of  His  body,  be  more  necessary  or  useful,  than 
amidst  the  possessions  and  dangers  of  the  affluent. 
Disdain  not,  ye  rich,  to  beg  it  at  His  table.  Afflu- 
ence, with  religion,  is  a  blessing  from  God,  and  be- 
neficial to  the  world.  But  irreligious  influence  is 
the  greatest  ingratitude  to  the  Most  High,  and  per- 
nicious in  its  influence  among  men.  The  good  Ari- 
mathean,  "  who  himself  also  was  Jesus'  disciple," 
was  rich. 

Further.  This  person,  whose  care  to  obtain  the 
body  of  Christ  has  given  him  an  unperishable  re- 
nown, was  in  public  life.  He  was  an  **  honourable" 
man,  and  a  "  counsellor  \"  And  though  ''  with  God 
there  is  no  respect  of  persons  %"  yet  for  men  and  for 
themselves  it  is  happy,  when  public  characters  are 
guided  by  the  principles,  observe  the  ordinances, 
and  are  adorned  with  the  graces,  of  religion.     They, 

*  Matt,  xxvii.  67.  "  Mark  xv.  43.  '  Rom.  ii.  11. 


ON  BEGGING  THE  BODY  OF  JESUS.  495 

in  an  especial  manner,  need  her  influences  to  sustain 
them  under  the  burden  of  their  cares,  and  preserve 
them  in  their  numerous  liabilities  to  evil.  And  it  is 
of  great  utility  to  all  orders  in  society,  when  they 
who  are  to  rule,  or  to  teach  others,  are  seen  sub- 
mitting themselves  obediently  to  the  ordinances  of 
the  Almighty.  Refrain  not,  ye  who  are  in  stations 
of  trust,  or  of  power,  from  seeking  in  the  sanctuary 
of  her  strength  the  blessings  of  religion.  Go  to  her 
altar,  to  contemplate  and  crave  '*  the  body  of  Jesus." 
Amidst  the  fears  and  perils  of  your  place,  it  will  in- 
spire you  with  strength,  and  holy  hope.  Amidst 
the  ingratitude,  and  querulousness,  and  slander,  to 
which  those  who  are  in  public  stations  are  always 
exposed,  it  will  teach  you  to  bear,  and  to  forgive. 
It  will  teach  you  to  persevere,  as  far  as  you  are  able, 
in  "  doing  good  unto  all  menV'  even  to  your  ene- 
mies. It  will  cleanse  your  spirits,  if,  amidst  the 
exposures,  and  turmoils,  and  injuries  of  life,  they 
have  been  sullied  with  wrong  passions  or  evil  de- 
sires. It  will  give  rest  to  your  souls,  amidst  the 
fatigues  of  business,  and  anxieties  of  fidelity,  by 
opening  to  them  again  and  again,  that  happiness  of 
heaven,  of  which  "  the  body  of  Jesus"  is  the  pledge 
to  the  faithful.  Nor  will  Religion  ever  fail  to  give 
to  those,  who  seek  her  in  public  life,  their  highest 
grace.  More  to  be  valued  is  the  precious  oil  of  that 
sanctity,  which  she  sheds  upon  the  heads  of  her  vo- 
taries, than  any  laurels  which  proclaim  their  heroism, 
or  bays  that  crown  their  wisdom.  You  see  it  among 
princes  in  the  great  Alfred.  You  see  it  among  coun- 
sellors in  that  model  of  Christian  sanctity,  Chief  Jus- 
tice Hale.  Nor  are  there  wanting  among  the  most 
estimable  of  the  public  officers  of  our  own  country, 
some,  who  are  seen  going  humble  to  the  altar  of  God,  - 
and  "  begging  the  body  of  Jesus." 

•*  Gal.  vi.  10. 


496  ON  BEGGING  THE  BODY  OF  JESUS. 

It  is  believed  that,  in  Christian  countries,  there  are 
many  among  the  rich,  and  among  those  in  public 
stations,  who  would  gladly  stand  among  the  disci- 
ples of  the  Redeemer.     But  they  shrink  from  the 
opinion  of  the  world;  of  that  world  too,  which  is 
evil,  and  whose  "  friendship  is  enmity  with  God  %" 
We  will  pass,  therefore,  to  notice,  in  the  third  place, 
the  resolution  of  the  faithful  Arimathean  in  the  act 
recorded  of  him  in  the  text.     "  He  went  to  Pilate, 
and  begged  the  body  of  Jesus."     This  man  was  a 
Jew.      His   own  kindred  and   nation  had   caused 
Christ  to  be  slain.     By  the  people  among  whom  he 
dwelt,  the  crucified  Jesus  was  held  in  derision.    Not 
only  contempt  and  scorn,  but  persecution  and  death 
awaited    His  followers.    But  Joseph  "was   Jesus' 
disciple  V     The  body  of  his  Lord,  of  his  friend,  of 
his   Saviour,  was  not  to  be  lightly  regarded,  nor 
timidly  neglected,  though  all  men  should  desert  it, 
but  himself.      He  presses   forward    to    obtain    it, 
through  the  levity  and  sarcasms  of  his  neighbours. 
He  presses  forward  through  the  scorn  of  an  unbe- 
lieving world.     It  is,  indeed,  the  body  of  a  crucified 
Man.     But  it  is  the  crucifixion  of  that  body,  which 
procures  the  pardon  of  his  sins,  and  restores  him  to 
the  favour  of  God.     It  is  the  body  of  the  Being, 
who  hath  given  Himself  for  him,   through   whom 
alone  he,  a  sinner,   hath  hope   of  everlasting  life. 
He  thinks  not  what  he  shall  hazard.     He  minds  not 
what  the  wanton  and  the  thoughtless  will  say  of  him. 
To  obtain  the  precious  body,  he  presses  forward, 
even  into  the  presence  of  Pilate ;   of  that  Pilate,  who 
had  delivered  up   Christ  as  a  malefactor,  and  pro- 
bably looked  upon  His  followers  with  pity  and  con- 
tempt, as  miserable  children  of  delusion.     Even  into 
the  presence  of  Pilate  does  Joseph  press  to  obtain 

*  Jam.  iv.  4.  Matt,  xxvii.  57 


ON  BEGGING  THE  BODY  OF  JESUS.  497 

the  body  of  his  Lord  ;  regardless,  alike  of  the  inqui- 
sition of  the  Roman  governor,  and  the  scorn  and 
derision  of  elevated  life.  He  "  went  in  boldly  unto 
Pilate,"  says  St.  Mark,  **  and  craved  the  body  of 
Jesus  ^."  Hallowed  constancy !  Transcendent  reso- 
lution of  pious  affection  !  Were  a  spirit  like  thine, 
thou  saint  of  the  Most  High  God,  in  the  hearts  of 
the  Christians  to  whom  this  body  is  offered,  would 
they  turn  their  backs,  lest  a  thoughtless  and  profane 
world  should  point  at  them,  as  religionists,  deluded 
or  insincere  ?  It  is  to  be  feared,  that  many,  particu- 
larly among  the  rich,  and  the  great,  and  the  younger 
part  of  the  Christian  community,  are  deterred  from 
avowing  their  respect  for  Christianity,  and  its  insti- 
tutions, and  especially  from  going  to  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper,  by  a  regard  to  the  opinion,  a 
fear  of  the  remarks,  a  subjection  to  the  influence,  of 
the  world.  But,  Christians,  is  it  not  the  body  of 
your  only  Saviour  which  is  there  offered  you  ?  Is  it 
not  the  body,  without  which  you  could  have  had  no 
pardon  of  your  sins  ?  Is  it  not  the  body  of  Him  who 
died  for  your  redemption,  and  whose  blood  hath  pur- 
chased heaven  for  you  ?  And  can  the  opinion  of  the 
world  weigh  any  thing  against  your  obligation  to 
receive  that  body  ?  So  long  as  you  neglect  to  do  so, 
are  you  not  living  in  an  habitual  disregard  of  the 
commandment  of  the  Lord,  and  consequently,  in 
habitual  sin  ? 

But  it  may  be  said,  we  are  immersed  in  the  bu- 
siness, and  the  pleasures  of  life  ;  we  are  not  in  a 
situation  favourable  to  religion ;  how  shall  we  use 
**  the  body  of  Jesus  ?"  Ah,  this  is  the  error!  As  if 
there  were  any  situation  in  which  rehgion  is  not 
needful  for  man :  as  if  the  Deity  had  required  any 
thing  of  all   men,   which  the  condition  in  which  He 

s  Mark  xv.  43. 
VOL.  II.  K    k 


498  ON  BEGGING  THE  BODY  OF  JESUS. 

has  placed  any  one,  unfits  him  to  perform !  What 
did  Joseph  with  the  body  of  Jesus  when  he  had  ob- 
tained it  ?  He  took  it  into  his  garden.  He  deposited, 
he  kept  it  there.  And  thus  should  all  His  disciples 
do.  We  all  have  gardens  of  our  delight ;  some  in 
the  domestic  circle ;  some  in  the  regions  of  busi- 
ness ;  some  near  the  walks  of  ambition,  or  of  science  ; 
and  some  on  pleasure's  grounds.  Wherever  they 
are,  we  need,  while  we  walk  in  them,  the  body  of 
our  Lord  to  remind  us  of  sinfulness  and  the  heinous- 
ness  of  sin  ;  to  assure  us  of  pardon  and  a  better  life ; 
and  to  impel  us  to  the  love  and  service  of  our  Cre- 
ator. And  surely  the  hosts  of  heaven  are  where 
the  body  of  the  Lord  is  ;  surely  it  repelleth  the  evil 
one,  who,  at  the  sight  of  the  blood  of  the  Re- 
deemer, relinquisheth  his  hold  upon  his  prey  ;  surely 
where  it  had  been,  angels  met  the  beloved  disciple, 
and  St.  Peter,  and  the  pious  woman,  with  the  blissful 
assurances  of  the  resurrection.  It  is  like  the  Pas- 
chal Lamb.  Its  blood  is  the  token  for  preservation 
to  the  destroyer.  Because  of  the  infatuating  at- 
traction, and  contaminating  influence  of  business 
and  pleasure,  we  have  reason  to  go  often  to  the  altar 
of  God,  to  renew  our  repentance,  and  our  vows ;  to 
be  sanctified  again  with  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice 
which  is  upon  it ;  and  receive,  afresh,  the  Spirit  of 
grace  from  on  high.  Religion  does  not  interfere 
with  any  proper  business,  or  innocent  pleasure  of 
life.  Her  ordinances  are  not  arrows  to  wound,  but 
shields  to  protect  us.  Never  was  the  garden  of  Jo- 
seph safer,  or  pleasanter,  than  when  he  had  in  it> 
*'  the  body  of  Jesus."  It  kept  the  hosts  of  heaven 
near  him.  One  cannot  forbear  to  think  that  at 
times,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  God  walked  there. 

But  this  brings  me  to  the  last  circumstance  of  this 
transaction,  to  which  your  attention  may  happily  be 
directed ;  the  reward  of  Joseph's  fidelity.     It  was 

2  . 


ON  BEGGING  THE  BODY  OF  JESUS.  499 

his  distinguished  felicity,  that  in  his  ground  deatk 
was  overcome,  and  the  bars  of  his  prison  broken, 
and  everlasting  life  opened  to  the  human  race.  Here 
first  was  heard  the  blissful  sound,  "  The  Lord  is 
risen  ^ !"  Here  first  broke  forth  that  light  of  immor- 
tality, which  from  that  day  hath  brightened  every 
chamber  of  the  tomb.  Happy  Arimathean!  We 
may  not  share  with  him  in  this  felicity.  But  there 
is  another  resurrection  :  a  resurrection  from  '  the 
death  of  sin,  unto  the  life  of  righteousness.'  And 
when  the  body  of  the  Redeemer  is  taken,  and  wrap-^ 
ped  in  the  clean  linen  of  a  pure  faith,  with  the  spices 
of  affectionate  devotion  and  obedience,  this  resur- 
rection is  witnessed  in  the  bosom,  into  which  it  is 
received.  And  who  shall  speak  its  joy  ?  It  enliven* 
eth  life.  It  giveth  "  songs  in  the  night'/'  Its  fruit 
is  present  peace  and  transporting  hope,  and  its  end 
an  ascension  with  the  Conqueror  of  death,  the  Deli- 
verer of  man,  to  His  kingdom  in  heaven,  and  ever- 
lasting life  there.  Virtually  shall  every  one,  who 
faithfully  receives  the  body  of  the  Lord,  share  with 
Joseph  the  recompence  of  his  fidelity  to  his  Master 
and  friend  ;  for  he,  too,  shall  witness,  and  *'  know 
the  power  of  His  resurrection  ^" 

There  have  been  set  before  you,  my  hearers,  the 
striking  and  instructive  circumstances  of  this  part  of 
the  history  of  our  Lord.  May  it  lead  the  rich  to  be 
of  His  disciples,  who,  "  though  He  was  rich,  yet  for 
our  sakes  became  poor,  that  we  through  His  poverty 
might  be  rich '."  If  any  are  hearing  me,  who  are  in 
stations  of  trust  or  power,  may  it  induce  them, 
amidst  the  exposures  and  cares  of  their  situations, 
to  seek,  and  exhibit  the  sanctifying  influences  of  re- 
ligion. May  it  encourage  the  young  and  the  fearful, 
yea,  and  all  the  followers  of  the  Lamb,  to  go  to  His 

'■  Matt,  xxviii.  G.  '  Job  xxxv.  10. 

^  Phil.  iii.  10.  '2  Cor.  viii.  9. 

K  k  2 


500         ON  BEGGING  THE  BODY  OF  JESUS. 

altar,  without  regarding  the  opinion  of  an  evil  world, 
and  with  pious  affection,  '*  crave  the  body  of  Jesus." 
And,  Christians,  when  you  have  received  it,  take  it 
with  you  into  the  gardens  of  your  life.  It  may  be, 
that  its  presence  will  cause  some  noxious  plants  to 
wither.  But  not  a  plant  of  goodly  qualities  but  will 
flourish  more  luxuriantly  ;  not  a  flower  of  innocent 
beauty,  but  will  bloom  more  lovely  by  **  the  body 
of  Jesus."  Its  presence  in  the  garden  will  conse- 
crate the  ground ;  and  shed  an  air  of  solemn  majesty 
and  holy  stillness,  which  will  remind  you  of  another 
world.  As  you  advance  towards  the  evening  of  your 
day,  you  will  find  yourselves,  in  whatever  walk  you 
may  be,  bending  your  steps  most  willingly  towards 
His  sepulchre.  On  death  you  will  muse  with  most 
peaceful  stillness ;  and  the  hope  of  resurrection  will 
come  near  your  souls,  sweeter  than  the  last  rays  of 
the  departiiig  sun,  while  you  have  near  you,  and 
contemplate,  with  the  emotions  and  expectations  it 
is  given  to  produce,  "  the  body  of  the  Lord  Jesus." 


SERMON    XC. 


ON    THE    COVENANTED    MERCIES   OF    GOD. 


Revelation,  iv.  3. 

And  there  was  a  rainbow  round  about  the  throne,  in  sight  like 
unto  an  emerald. 

To  penetrate  the  vail  which  separates  heaven  from  our 
view,  and  look  into  its  glories,  pleasures,  and  pur- 
suits, is  the  natural  desire  of  the  Christian  mind.  As 
the  country  to  which  our  virtuous  friends  have,  many 
of  them,  departed,  and  to  which  our  hopes  and  steps 
are  directed  by  our  faith,  we  cannot  help  feeling 
inquisitive  about  it ;  every  instruction  or  description 
which  relates  to  it,  deeply  interests  our  thoughts. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  chapter,  from  which  I  have 
taken  my  text,  St.  John  enters  upon  the  relation  of 
the  most  beatific  vision  of  this  country,  which  has 
been  yet  vouchsafed  to  any  mortal  being.  Having 
had  his  visual  strength  perfected  by  the  Spirit  of 
God,  **  he  looked,  and,  behold  a  door  was  opened  in 
heaven''."  The  state,  and  majesty  of  the  Deity,  in 
His  high  abode  ;  the  attendants  of  His  throne ;  their 
occupations  and  bliss  ;  the  economy  of  the  celestial 
world  ;  its  furniture  and  glories,  were  unfolded  to 
his  sight.     And  when  he  sunk,  overwhelmed  with 

Rev.  iv.  1. 


502  ON  THE  COVENANTED 

the  brightness  of  the  display,   an  angel  attended  to 
strengthen  and  instruct  him. 

Among  the  objects  in  the  glorious  prospect,  which 
attracted  his  admiring  view,  he  tells  us  in  the  text, 
**  there  was  a  rainbow  round  about  the  throne"  of 
the  Eternal,  "  in  sight  like  unto  an  emerald."  An 
object  this  of  singular  grandeur  and  expression. 
Amidst  all  the  glories  of  heaven  he  describes,  it  may 
worthily  hold  our  consideration  awhile :  and  to 
ascertain  its  significance,  and  pursue  the  reflections 
it  suggests,  shall  be  our  employment  of  the  passing 
hour. 

Every  one  will  perceive  in  the  rainbow,  which  St. 
John  describes,  an  allusion  to  that  beauteous  offspring 
of  Divine  power  and  goodness,  in  the  natural  world, 
which  bears  the  same  name.  This  last,  when  the 
Flood  had  executed  the  just  vengeance  of  the  Most 
High  upon  an  irreclaimable  world,  was  given  to  the 
few  righteous  persons  who  had  been  saved  in  the 
ark  from  perishing ;  as  a  token  to  them,  and  to  their 
posterity  for  ever,  that  the  waters  of  a  flood  should 
no  more  destroy  the  earth.  Awful  was  the  de- 
struction they  had  escaped  !  Great  was  the  favour 
which  their  uprightness  in  the  midst  of  "  a  per- 
verse and  crooked  generation '',"  had  secured  them  ! 
Anxious  was  their  dread  Preserver  to  endear  Himself 
to  them,  by  mitigating  their  fears,  and  encouraging 
their  confidence  in  Him.  When,  therefore,  the  re- 
sentful waves  had  subsided,  and  they  had  passed  in 
the  ark  to  the  Ararat  of  their  safety,  mercy  triumph- 
ing hand  in  hand  with  justice,  thus  addressed  them, 
"  I  do  set  My  bow  in  the  cloud,  and  it  shall  be  for 
a  token  of  a  covenant  between  Me  and  the  earth. 
And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  I  bring  a  cloud  over 
the  earth,  that  the  bow  shall  be  seen  in  the  cloud. — 

i)  Dcul.  xxxii.  5. 


MERCIES  OF  GOD.  503 

And  I  will  look  upon  it,  that  I  may  remember  the 
everlasting  covenant  between  God  and  every  living 
creature  of  all  flesh  that  is  upon  the  earth  \"  Such 
was  the  consecration  of  the  rainbow,  to  be  to  the 
faithful  a  token  of  a  covenant  of  mercy,  between 
God  and  man,  whenever  descending  showers  and  a 
darkened  sky  recal  His  former  vengeance  on  the 
ungodly,  or  excite  terrific  apprehensions  of  His 
power.  Delighting  the  mind  with  its  mild  beauteous 
brightness,  it  seems  when  it  appears  in  the  murky 
cloud,  to  speak  the  covenant  of  which  it  is  the  token  ; 
to  look  the  mercy,  which  it  was  ordained  to  signify. 

There  is  a  harmony  between  all  parts  of  the  uni- 
versal dominion  of  God  ;  and  from  those  which  are 
known,  emblems  and  analogies  are  borrowed,  to 
furnish  us  with  proper  conceptions  of  those,  with 
which  we  have  no  natural  acquaintance.  Great 
systems  and  dispensations  are  dimly  represented  in 
small  ones  :  remote  and  spiritual  objects,  by  those 
which  are  more  sensible.  Thus  the  flood  which  once 
scourged  the  earth,  was  typical  of  the  final  confla- 
gration, from  which  shall  rise  the  "  new  heavens  and 
new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteousness  'V  Thus 
too  the  preservation  of  Noah  and  his  family  was  em- 
blematic of  the  salvation  of  the  redeemed,  in  the  ark 
of  Christ's  Church.  And  thus  the  significance  of  the 
Rainbow,  which  surrounds  the  throne  of  the  Eternal, 
is  shadowed  forth  in  the  inferior  one,  to  whose 
beauty  and  hallowed  use  we  have  just  adverted. 

We  may  consider  it  with  respect  to  Him,  whom 
it  surrounds,  and  with  respect  to  those^  by  whom  it 
is  beheld. 

As  it  respects  the  Deity,  this  emblem  of  mercy 
qualifies  Him,  if  I  may  use  the  expression,  to  be 
beheld  by  those,  who  are  admitted  to  the  joys  and 

"  Gen.  ix.  13,  li,  16.  "3  Pet.iii.  13. 


504  ON  THE  COVENANTED 

honours  of  His  abode,  with  perfect  peace,  composure, 
and  delight.  The  most  excellent  blessedness  of  His 
saints  consists  in  the  perpetual  vision  and  fruition  of 
His  glory.  It  is  in  "  His  presence,  that  there  is 
fulness  of  joy,  and  at  His  right  hand"  only  '*  there  is- 
pleasure  for  evermore  ^"  But  in  His  fuU^  unqualified 
glory,  to  behold  Him,  would  be  too  much  for  any 
created  being.  In  His  essential  holiness,  if  He  look 
unto  **  the  moon,  it  shineth  not;  yea,  the  stars  are 
not  pure  in  His  sight  * :"  and  in  the  light  of  His 
unveiled  wisdom,  **  His  angels  are  chargeable  with 
folly  ^."  His  tremendous  power.  His  transcendent 
purity,  would  be  insupportable  to  the  most  perfect 
of  the  "  spirits  of  the  just '',"  if  they  were  not  softened 
by  the  mild  beams  of  mercy  to  their  trembling  per- 
ceptions. But  while  there  is  about  Him,  a  lively 
emblem  of  His  goodness  towards  them  ;  while  He  is 
surrounded  by  the  perpetual  token  of  His  covenant 
of  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus,  with  the  children  of  men  ; 
they  are  not  terrified  by  the  greatness  of  His  power, 
nor  by  His  awful  justice  :  for  He  stands  displayed  as 
their  protector  and  friend,  and  the  garment  of  His 
appearance  is  the  pledge  of  love.  Oftentimes  the 
Deity  appears  severe  in  His  dispensations.  Terrible 
is  He  in  the  habiliments  of  judgment.  Therefore  to 
St.  John,  He  who  sat  upon  the  throne  of  heaven, 
'*  was  to  look  upon  like  a  jasper  and  a  sardine  stone :" 
the  former,  in  its  unqualified  strength,  a  fit  emblem 
of  His  omnipotence  ;  the  latter,  in  its  fiery  redness, 
expressive  of  His  terrible  fierceness  in  the  day  of 
His  displeasure.  But  with  the  dismaying  hue  of  the 
jasper  and  the  sardine,  are  blended  the  emerald's 
mild  beams.  Of  that  agreeable  green,  which  re- 
freshes and  protects  the  feeble  sight,   this  precious 

•^Ps.  xvi.  IJ.  '  Job  XXV.  5. 

.   ?  Job  iv.  IS.  ^  Hcb.  xii.  23. 


MERCIES  OF  GOD.  505 

stone  was  chosen  to  represent  to  us  that  tender 
mercy  towards  His  children,  which  envelopes  all 
the  perfections  of  the  Most  High.  To  them  every 
affliction  is  tempered  with  mercy.  Though  "  clouds 
and  darkness  are  round  about  HimV'  and  His  dis- 
pensations, sometimes,  fill  His  most  faithful  servants 
with  dismay ;  yet  the  token  of  His  covenant  with 
them  is  ever  in  His  view,  and  He  **  doth  not  afflict 
nor  grieve ''"  them  without  regard  to  their  final  good. 
Amidst  all  th'e  terrors  of  His  restless  might,  and  the 
severest  dispensations  of  His  providence,  they  may 
repose  still  upon  God  :  they  may  approach  Him  with 
confidence ;  they  may  rely  upon  His  goodness,  safe 
and  delighted  in  His  presence,  while  there  is  a 
*'  rainbow  round  about  His  throne,  in  sight  like  unto 
an  emerald." 

Here  the  transition  is  natural,  from  the  Being 
whom  it  surrounds,  to  those  who  have  an  interest  in 
the  covenant  of  mercy,  of  which  it  is  the  significant 
token.  While  they  continue  pilgrims  in  this  lower 
world,  it  is  revealed  to  them  as  an  object  of  faith, 
and  an  assurance  to  them  of  spiritual  blessing  and 
salvation.  In  this  life  evil  has  a  constant  flood. 
Though,  through  the  long-suffering  of  God,  it  does 
not  rise  to  a  deluge,  yet  its  waves  unceasingly  flow, 
alarming  both  the  virtuous  and  the  vicious.  But  to 
the  former  "  there  ariseth  up  light  in  the  darkness*." 
To  the  faithful  servants  of  the  Most  High,  who  exert 
to  the  utmost  the  powers  He  has  given  them.  He 
shall  give  His  Spirit  to  aid  and  crown  their  exertions, 
and  to  bring  them  in  safety  out  of  every  trouble.  In 
the  seasons  of  temptation,  when  nature's  powers  of 
resistance  are  feeble.  He  has  promised  the  strength 
of  His  grace,  to  support  them  against  the  powerful 
tide.     In  times  of  affliction,  when  the  waters  **  come 

'  Ps.  xcvii.  '<i.  ^  Lam.  iii.  33,  '  Ps.  cxii.  4. 


606  ON  THE  COVENANTED 

^ven  unto  their  souls'"/'  His  Spirit  is  deputed  to 
preserve  them  from  fainting  or  sinking  under  the 
impetuosity  of  the  waves.  In  the  hour  of  death, 
when  they  are  brought  to  the  dark  deep,  at  which 
nature  shudders,  but  which  all  must  pass.  He  has 
promised  His  staff,  to  buoy  His  redeemed  over  the 
pold  flood  ;  and  His  Spirit,  to  conduct  them  to  the 
safe  haven  of  the  opposite  shore.  Thousands  have 
realized  the  gracious  promise  ;  and  the  pledge  of  its 
fulfilment  to  all  the  upright,  is  the  bow  that  per- 
petually surrounds  His  throne.  If  they  are  faithful. 
He  "  will  look  upon  it,  that  He  may  remember  the 
everlasting  covenant ","  and  *'  will  never  leave  them, 
nor  forsake  them  °." 

But  it  is  the  saints  and  spirits,  who  have  their 
abode  in  the  mansions  of  His  house,  that  this  rainbow 
of  the  celestial  world  is  of  most  precious  significance. 
They,  in  the  widest  sense,  survive  the  devastation 
of  a  world.  They  have  passed  the  floods  of  vice, 
and  the  cold  waters  of  death.  From  the  awful  ven- 
geance upon  the  ungodly,  before  which  "  the  heavens 
shall  pass  away — the  elements  melt,  and  the  earth 
be  burned  up  ^',''  they  are  delivered.  To  them  the 
Deity  appears  clothed  in  the  emblems  of  love  and 
salvation.  While  the  token  of  covenanted  mercy 
about  Him  tempers  His  ineffable  perfections  to  their 
view,  they  behold  in  it  the  evidence,  that  the  storms 
have  subsided  by  which  they  were  endangered  :  and 
the  sure  pledge,  that  none  of  the  imperfections, 
troubles,  dangers,  and  deaths,  which  they  have 
escaped,  shall  ever  again  disturb  their  minds,  or 
endanger  their  existence.  To  them,  therefore,  it  is 
of  most  delightful  appearance  ;  the  seal  and  security 
of  inconceivable  bliss.     They  are  made  happy,  be- 

'"  Ps.  Ixix.  1  n  Gen.  ix.  16. 

"  Heb.  xiii.  5.  >■  2  Pet.  iii,  10. 


MERCIES  OF  GOD.  507 

yond  our  conception,  in  the  thought  that  the  Deity, 
having  graciously  delivered  them  from  the  doom  of 
a  guilty  world,  looks  always  upon  a  remembrance 
of  that  covenant  with  the  Son,  by  which  He  hath 
obliged  Himself  to  perpetuate  their  felicity. 

Such  is  the  significance  of  that  glory  of  heaven, 
with  a  description  of  which  we  are  furnished  in  the 
text.  Confirming  this  illustration,  it  may  be  re- 
marked, that  to  Ezekiel  was  vouchsafed  a  vision  of 
the  majesty  of  the  Deity  in  His  high  abode,  who 
beheld  with  rapture  the  same  glorious  emblem  about 
His  throne,  and  thus  depicts  it :  *'  As  the  appearance 
of  the  bow  that  is  in  the  cloud  in  the  day  of  rain,  so 
was  the  appearance  of  the  brightness  round  about. 
This  was  the  appearance  of  the  likeness  of  the  glory 
of  the  Lord''." 

From  the  contemplation  of  this  glorious  object, 
which  St.  John  beheld  in  the  celestial  world,  we  may 
learn  the  fulness  of  the  felicity  of  *'  the  saints  in 
light'."  To  escape  the  wrath  of  Heaven,  and  stand, 
saved  by  His  mercy  from  the  wreck  of  this  world, 
before  the  Most  High : — to  dwell  for  ever  in  His 
presence,  filled  with  the  transporting  assurance,  that 
their  sins  are  forgiven  them,  that  the  bitterness  of 
death  is  past : — to  see  in  ''  a  rainbow  round  about" 
God's  "  throne,"  an  infallible  token  that  the  floods 
of  temptation,  sorrow  and  death,  shall  no  more  come 
nigh  them ;  but  that  the  future  shall  be  an  eternal 
progress  from  knowledge  to  knowledge,  from  glory 
to  glory  : — this  is  the  view  which  the  Scriptures  give 
us,  of  the  happiness  to  which  their  spirits  are  brought, 
*  who  are  departed  in  the  true  faith  of  His  holy 
name.' 

Which  leads  me  to  observe,  secondly,  from  what 
has  been  said,  the  importance  of  having  an  interest 
in  that  covenant  of  safety,  whose  glorious  token  we 

-t  Ezek.  i.  28.  '  Col.  i.  12. 


60S  ON  THE  COVENANTED 

have  been  considering.  What  are  the  perishable 
joys,  the  grovelling  pursuits,  the  fallacious  vanities 
of  this  transient  state,  vs^eighed  in  the  balance  of 
sober  consideration  w^ith  the  realities  of  heaven  which 
we  have  it  in  our  power  to  secure  ?  Do  we  flatter 
ourselves,  that  it  will  be  time  enough  by  and  by,  and 
trust  to  the  sincerity  of  our  intentions  ?  Time  steals 
away  faster  than  we  leave  our  follies,  or  can  mend 
our  pace  ;  and  ever  and  anon,  some  solemn  monitor 
echoes  the  inspired  instruction,  **  Now  is  the  accept- 
ed time  ^"  Do  we  trust  that  it  will  go  well  with  us 
without  our  efforts  ?  Unless  a  flood  should  execute 
vengeance  on  the  ungodly,  there  would  be  little  need 
of  a  bow,  betokening  safety  to  the  upright.  There 
is  but  one  ark  of  preservation.  It  is  that  prepared 
by  the  Redeemer  of  the  world  :  "  for  there  is  none 
other  name  under  heaven  given  among  men,  whereby 
we  must  be  saved  *."  If  in  this  we  embark  our- 
selves, our  hopes,  and  our  cares,  we  shall  be  safe 
amidst  all  the  storms  of  life.  Providence  will  make 
us  His  charge,  when  He  visits  the  earth  with  afiiic- 
tion.  We  shall  ride  triumphantly  over  death's  dark 
waves,  and  resting  under  the  auspices  of  an  olive 
branch,  brought  by  the  heavenly  dove  upon  the 
mount  of  God,  the  transcendent  beauty  of  the  spiri- 
tual rainbow  shall  refresh  our  sight,  and  rejoice  us 
with  the  assurance  of  eternal  safety. 

Which  suggests  to  us  the  sweet  consolation  our 
subject  affords,  under  the  departure  of  virtuous 
friends  from  our  sight  and  embraces.  How  wisely 
does  the  Apostle  exhort ",  that  we  mourn  not  as  with- 
out hope,  for  those  that  sleep  in  the  Redeemer. 
When  the  survivor  of  the  flood  was  safely  moored 
upon  the  peaceful  mount,  who  could  have  wished 
the  exulting  Patriarch  back  to  the  threatening  of  the 

•  2  Cor,  vi.  2.         •  Acts  iv.  12.         "1  Thess.  iv.  13,  11. 


MERCIES  OF  GOD.  509 

tumultuous  waves  ?  When  once  he  hath  beheld  the 
bow,  proclaiming  his  perpetual  safety  from  the  wa- 
ters, who  could  have  wished  him  again  exposed  to  the 
cares  and  perils  which  he  had  escaped  ?  And  when 
our  friends  have  '  passed  the  waves  of  this  trouble- 
some world,'  in  the  true  faith  and  fear,  and  we  have 
reason  to  trust  that  they  have  reached  the  celestial 
Ararat  of  rest  and  safety  ;  who,  that  does  not  think 
more  of  his  own  happiness  than  of  theirs,  would  wish 
them  back  to  the  cares,  the  sorrows,  and  the  dan- 
gers of  this  vain  world  ?  Escaped  to  heaven  from  the 
storms  and  tempests  of  the  dark  flood,  and  rejoicing 
with  inconceivable  joy  in  the  bright  token  "  round 
about  the  throne,"  that  the  waters  of  affliction  and 
death  shall  no  more  approach  them ;  they  rather 
demand  our  gratulations  than  our  tears.  Let  us 
then,  my  friends,  cheerfully  submit  to  the  dispensa- 
tions of  God,  whatever  they  may  be,  **  knowing  that 
all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love "," 
and  fear  Him.  The  "  rainbow"  still  glows  "  about 
the  throne"  of  the  Eternal ;  and  He  who  sits  upon 
the  throne  is  still  a  God  in  covenant  with  the  chil- 
dren of  men.  Let  us  then  with  patient  perseverance 
**  seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  His  righteous- 
ness ^  ;"*  assured  from  the  experience  of  the  faithful, 
as  well  as  by  the  token  which  surrounds  His  throne, 
that  "  He  is  faithful,  who  has  promised  ^" 

'  Rom.  viii.  28.  J'  Matt.  vi.  S$.  ^  Heb.  x.  23. 


SERMON   XCI. 


ON    THE    DANGERS    OF    YOUTH. 


Proverbs,  vii.  7. 

I  discerned  among  the  youths  a  young  man  void  of  under-^ 

statiding. 

Youth  is  the  most  important  part  of  man's  life.     If 
we  compare  life  to  a  day,  youth  is  the  morning  of  it. 
The  faculties  and  feelings  are  then  strong  and  lively  ; 
the  hours  are  favourable  to  activity;  and  he  who 
wastes  them  in  idleness  or  folly,   will  probably  find 
his  noon  perplexed,  and  his  evening  destitute  of  the 
sweetest  pleasure  of  the  evening,  a  peaceful  review 
of  the  day.     If  we  compare  life  to  a  voyage,  youth 
is   the  time  of  preparation.     It  is    then   we   must 
choose  our  course,  and  provide  the  stores  which  may 
sustain,  and  the  means  which  may  improve  or  amuse 
us  on  our  way  :    it  is  then  our  friends  should   be 
made  glad,  by  seeing  us  well  furnished  for  our  des- 
tination, and  the  credentials  be  obtained,  which  may 
procure  us  safety,  and  favour,  and  distinction,  in  the 
regions  to  which  we  are  bound.     If  we  compare  life 
to  a  year,  youth  is  its  spring-time,  upon  which  the 
felicity  of  all  the  other  seasons  depends.     It  is  then 
the  seeds  must  be  sown,   and  the  plants  cherished, 
whose  fruits  may  delight  us  in  summer,  enrich  us  in 
autumn,  and  sustain  and  cheer  us  when  winter  shall 
have  arrived.     Whatever  view  we  take  of  life,  youth 


ON  THE  DANGERS  OF  YOUTH.  61* 

is  its  most  precious  period  :  a  period,  which  he  who 
suffers  it  to  go  by  unimproved,  may  afterwards  be- 
wail, but  can  never  retrieve.  The  day  may  revolve, 
and  morning  again  return.  The  year  may  elapse, 
and  other  springs  appear.  Oceans  may  be  crossed, 
and  the  voyager  may  set  out  anew.  But  to  human 
life  there  is  but  one  morning,  but  one  embarkation, 
but  one  spring.  Of  the  advantages  which  youth 
may  furnish  us,  we  must  avail  ourselves  as  it  passes  ; 
or  else  be  destitute  of  them  for  ever. 

The  pictures  which  the  author  of  the  book  of  Pro- 
verbs has  drawn,  are  most  of  them  taken  from  real 
life.     Amongst  them  I  know  not  one  more  strikmg 
and  affecting  than  this,  which  is  presented  in  the 
text.     In  the  most  interesting,   important,  and  dan- 
gerous part  of  human  life,  there  is   seen  *'  among 
the  youths  a  young  man  void  of  understanding." 
Before  him  is  vice,  beckoning  him  with  alluring  arts 
to  her  impure  abodes.     Behind  him  are  advancing, 
obscurely  indeed,    but  with  sure  and  rapid   step, 
shame  and  remorse,  and  misery  and  ruin.    Over  this 
youth,  I  imagine  angels  and  spirits  of  the  just,  look- 
ing down  from  the  skies  with  the  most  anxious  con- 
cern.    By  his  side  I  behold  a  father  with  a  beating 
bosom  and  a  furrowed  brow,  observing  with  unut- 
terable  anguish  the  destruction  of  his  fondest  hopes. 
In  a  retired  corner  I  see  a  female  figure.     It  is  a 
mother  on  her  bended  knees.     She  is  looking  to 
heaven  with  tears  upon  her  cheek,  and  supplicatmg 
the  Almighty  to  forgive  and  save  her  child.     Gra- 
cious God  !  Little  do  the  young  know,  how  great  is 
the  interest  they  excite  in  heaven  and  on  earth! 
Seldom  do  they  consider,    how  deep  is   the  cup, 
which  their  conduct  may  fill  with  wretchedness  or 
bliss,  both  for  themselves  and  others  1 

In  looking  round  upon  this  assembly,  I  behold  the 
greater  part  of  it  in  the  morning  of  life.     For  them 


512  ON  THE  DANGERS  OF  YOUTH. 

the  following  discourse  is  particularly  designed.  In 
it  I  shall  set  before  them,  some  of  the  qualities  which 
indicate  in  youth,  a  want  of  wisdom  and  under- 
standing :  and  fondly  I  flatter  myself,  that  they  will 
give  me  that  attention,  which  a  sincere  regard  for 
their  welfare  may  claim,  whatever  the  discourse 
may  want  of  novelty  in  its  doctrines,  or  beauty  in 
its  dress. 

Foremost  among  the  qualities  which  mark  the  un- 
wise youth,  is  a  disregard  of  the  principles  and 
offices  of  Religion.  It  is  Religion,  which  must  ele- 
vate, purify,  and  adorn  the  human  character.  Sent 
from  the  courts  of  heaven  by  the  everlasting  Father, 
as  the  minister  of  His  best  blessings  to  mankind,  she 
opens  to  the  mind  the  sublimest  truths  ;  she  brings 
for  the  heart  the  most  precious  comforts  ;  she  pours 
upon  our  paths  the  brightest  light ;  she  conducts 
our  steps  to  the  highest  bliss.  Without  her  aid,  the 
young  man  cannot  *'  cleanse  his  way^;"  without 
her  counsel,  he  cannot  walk  worthily  of  his  high 
faculties,  and  destination;  without  her  protection, 
he  will  be  a  prey  to  his  passions  ;  a  prey  to  his  in- 
experience ;  a  prey  to  the  thousand  delusions  which 
lie  in  wait  to  deceive,  and  the  ten  thousand  vices 
which  lurk  to  destroy  him.  Manifest  to  all  as  the 
best  guide  of  life,  speaking  in  the  name  of  the  Al- 
mighty, and  seeking  only  the  improvement  and  ever- 
lasting happiness  of  mankind,  where  is  the  wisdom 
of  rejecting  her  counsels,  and  despising  her  restraints  ? 
What  is  there  of  understanding  in  setting  at  nought 
the  God  who  made  heaven  and  earth,  and  hath  power 
to  *' destroy  both  soul  and  body  in  hell"?"  What 
is  there  of  understanding  in  abandoning  the  altars, 
at  which  our  fathers  have  worshipped  and  the  ser- 
vice in  which  they  found  peace  and  salvation  ?  What 

*Ps.  cxix.  9.  "  Matt.  X.  28. 


OF  THE  DANGERS  OF  YOUTH.      5ia 

is  there  of  understanding  in  departing  from  those 
principles  and  offices  of  religion,  without  which  vir- 
tue has  no  encouragement,  sorrow  has  no  consola- 
tion, society  can  have  no  order,  man  has  no  certain 
hope  ?  The  youth  who  contemns  religion,  indicates 
thereby  a  deplorable  want  of  wisdom.  His  judg- 
ment is  at  variance  with  his  best  interests.  It  is  at 
variance  with  the  opinions  of  the  wisest  and  best 
men.  It  is  at  variance  with  the  fountain  of  exis- 
tence, and  of  every  excellence.  It  is  at  variance 
with  God.  **  Cease,  my  son,"  says  the  wisest  of 
men,  "  to  hear  the  instruction  that  causeth  to  err 
from  the  words  of  knowledge  \"  "  The  fear  of  the 
Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom  ;  a  good  under- 
standing have  all  they  that  do  thereafter  ;  the  praise 
of  it  endureth  for  ever"*." 

Another  thing  which  marks  the  unwise  youth,  is 
his  yielding  himself  up  to  the  allurements  of  vice  and 
folly.  The  young  are  surrounded  with  temptations. 
Vice  spreads  for  them  snares  as  enticing  as  they  are 
destructive.  In  the  city,  in  the  place  of  concourse, 
they  are  exposed  to  courses,  which  are  at  once  fas- 
cinating and  ruinous.  I  speak  not  of  the  ordinary 
vices,  into  which  they  may  be  hurried  by  the  con- 
tagion of  a  corrupted  atmosphere.  I  have  now  par- 
ticularly in  view  the  extravagant,  maddening  riot  at 
the  wine ;  the  impure  haunts  of  illicit  pleasures  ; 
and  those  graves  of  youthful  excellence  and  promise, 
public  gaming  tables.  Dreadful  is  the  demoraliza- 
tion, incalculable  are  the  evils  which  are  born  and 
fostered  in  these  vicious  resorts.  Here  the  ingenu- 
ous blush  of  innocence  is  for  ever  dissipated ;  and 
the  barriers  against  iniquity  are  thoughtlessly  broken 
down.  Here  are  sacrificed  and  abandoned  the  holy 
instructions,  which  fell  from  the  parental  lip  upon 

*  Prov.  xix.  27.  *  Ps.  cxi.  10. 

VOL.   II.  L  1 


514  ON  THE  DANGERS  OF  YOUTH. 

the  youthful  heart,  soft,  and  wholesome  as  the  dew 
of  heaven.  Here  the  name  of  the  Being,  whom'an- 
gels  fear,  is  rudely  profaned  ;  His  laws,  which  carry 
the  most  awful  sanctions,  are  defiled ;  and  conscience, 
the  kind  monitor  which  He  has  placed  in  the  bosom, 
is  trampled  under  foot.  Here  we  may  see  the 
wrecks  of  genius,  the  destruction  of  fortune,  the 
immolation  of  character,  the  dissipation  of  health, 
commencement  of  disquietude,  progress  of  discon- 
tent, weariness  and  despondency  of  soul,  unrestrain- 
ed profligacy,  and  the  consummation  of  wretched- 
ness. Here — but  I  will  proceed  no  further.  Even 
those,  whom  the  frequency  of  the  scenes  has  hard- 
ened to  their  turpitude,  even  they  would  blush  at 
the  exposure  to  the  innocent  and  wise  of  the  crimi- 
nality and  debasement,  to  which  they  descend  in 
these  vicious  resorts.  And  is  not  the  youth  "  void 
of  understanding,"  who  in  the  earliest  and  most  im- 
portant period  of  his  life  suffers  himself  to  be  drawn 
into  these  vortices  of  ruin  ?  Reason,  when  she  is 
heard,  proclaims  the  danger.  Conscience,  could  she 
be  listened  to,  would  remonstrate  and  entreat.  The 
shades  of  pious  ancestors  descend ;  the  spectres  of 
victims,  who  have  been  led  on  to  destruction  in  those 
paths,  appear  to  check  the  youth  in  his  career,  and 
turn  him  into  the  paths  of  safety.  Yea,  a  voice  is 
heard  from  the  throne  of  the  Almighty,  calling  to 
him  in  the  language  of  inspiration,  *'  Enter  not  into 
the  path  of  the  wicked,  and  go  not  in  the  way  of 
evil  men :  avoid  it,  pass  not  by  it,  turn  from  it,  and 
pass  away  *."  But  passion,  not  reason,  blind  incli- 
nation, not  manly  sense,  govern  his  conduct.  There 
is  nothing  of  the  grace,  or  circumspection  of  wisdom 
in  his  steps.  He  goeth  to  his  fatal  indulgences,  '*  as 
an  ox  goeth  to  the  slaughter  V  or  **  as  a  bird  hast- 

'  Prov.  iv.M,  15.  '  Ibid.  vii.  22. 


ON  THE  DANGERS  OF  YOUTH.  515 

eth  to  the  snare,  and  knoweth  not  that  it  is  for  his 
life  ^"  And  what  will  be  the  result  of  his  foolish- 
ness ? — "  for  all  these  things  God  will  bring  him 
into  judgment ''."  **  The  evil  days  will  come,  and 
the  years  draw  nigh,  in  which  he  shall  say,  I  have 
no  pleasure  in  them  '."  He  will  then  look  back  with 
shame,  upon  the  profligacies  of  his  youth  ;  and  hap- 
py for  him,  if  the  Almighty  do  not  leave  him,  in 
awful  judgment  upon  his  abuse  of  the  advantages  of 
a  Christian  education,  to  reap  to  the  last  *'  the  fruit 
of  his  own  way,  and  to  be  filled  with  his  own  de- 
vices ''." 

Another  thing  which  indicates  a  want  of  wisdom 
and  understanding  in  the  young,  is  forming  connec- 
tions of  friendship  with  unprincipled,  and  profligate 
persons.  Sweet  to  the  youthful  bosom  are  the  plea- 
sures of  friendship.  Noble  and  unguarded  is  the 
freedom,  with  which  our  minds  and  hearts  are  then 
thrown  open  to  those  we  love.  And  on  this  account 
it  is  of  unspeakable  importance,  that  the  companions 
of  our  earliest  days  be  such  as  may  be  worthy  of 
our  confidence,  and  capable  of  promoting  in  us  the 
qualities  and  virtues,  which  exalt  the  human  charac- 
ter. But  by  falling  into  intimacies  with  the  vicious, 
this  source  of  generous  joy,  this  spring  of  youth's 
most  exquisite  pleasure,  may  be  converted  into  a 
source  of  disappointments  and  debasement.  For  he 
who  can  wrong  his  God  ;  who  can  renounce  the  ob- 
ligations of  religion  and  virtue ;  who  can  disregard 
the  feelings  of  his  parents,  and  virtuous  connections, 
what  reasonable  ground  can  there  be  for  confidence 
in  him,  that  he  will  not  wrong  his  friend  ?  Besides, 
the  influence  and  example  of  such  a  one  are  fatal  to 
the  fairest  and  best  properties  of  youth.  What  does 
the  voice  of  wisdom  so  often  lament  ?  over  what  is 

«  Prov.  vii.  23.  ^  Eccles.  xi.  9. 

'  Eccles.  xii.  1.'  ^  Prov.  i.  31. 

l1   2 


516  ON  THE  DANGERS  OF  YOUTH. 

experience  so  often  seen  shedding  the  tears  of  regret^ 
as  the  ruins  which  are  occasioned  by  evil  company  ? 
I  see  an  amiable  youth,  upon  whom  kindred  affec- 
tion has  fastened  the  fondest  hopes.  His  talents  are 
good,  the  best  principles  were  early  instilled  into  his 
bosom  by  parental  assiduity ;  and  in  a  course  of 
manly  and  virtuous  pursuits  he  might  be  distin- 
guished in  society,  and  an  ornament  amongst  the 
works  of  God.  He  steps  into  the  world.  The  un- 
principled and  profligate  meet  him :  and  with  all  the 
eagerness  of  fallen  spirits  bent  on  mischief,  resolve 
to  make  him  a  partaker  of  their  shame.  His  simpli- 
city renders  him  their  easy  prey.  With  fair  speech 
they  gain  access  to  his  heart,  and  with  guilty  arti- 
fices they  kindle  his  passions.  They  take  him  to  the 
orgies  of  folly.  With  blind  infatuation  he  follows 
them  to  the  haunts  of  vice,  and  to  the  abodes  of  pol- 
lution. His  former  principles  they  now  laugh  to 
scorn.  His  boldness  in  iniquity  they  extol  and  en- 
courage. They  draw  him  at  length  into  all  the 
dreadful  excesses  of  their  own  guilt.  And  he  who 
was  once  like  the  young  cedar  of  Lebanon,  fair  and 
strong,  and  promising  much  growth  and  beauty,  is 
now  like  the  scathed  tree,  shorn  of  his  glory,  marked 
with  the  vengeance  of  heaven,  and  exhibiting  a  me- 
lancholy spectacle  of  worthlessness,  and  untimely 
decay.  Who  sees  not  in  this  youth  a  "  young  man 
void  of  understanding?"  He  has  chosen  those  for  his 
friends,  who  were  destitute  of  principle  and  virtue, 
and  therefore  were  only  capable  of  promoting  his 
debasement  and  destruction.  And  what  is  his  re- 
compence  for  the  sacrifices  they  have  led  him  to 
make  ?  Even  to  be  reduced  to  the  same  level  with 
them ;  to  be  deserted  by  them,  in  all  probability, 
when  they  have  stript  him  of  his  virtue,  his  fortune, 
and  respectability  ;  and  to  be  one  day  ashamed  of 
them  at  the  bar  of  the  Almighty,  as  the  panders  of 


ON  THE  DANGERS  OF  YOUTH.  517 

his  vices,  and  promoters  of  liis  misery.  **  My  son, 
if  sinners  entice  thee,  consent  thou  not'."  **  He 
that  walketh  with  wise  men  shall  be  wise :  but  a 
companion  of  fools  shall  be  destroyed  ""." 

It  is  another  indication  of  **  a  youth  void  of  under- 
standing," to  be  wholly  occupied  about  the  decora- 
tions of  his  person,  and  the  display  of  external  pomp 
or  accomplishments.  There  is  an  attention  to  the 
decencies  of  dress,  which  is  conducive  to  the  well- 
being  of  society.  And  if  by  an  attention  to  manners, 
men  may  smooth  the  asperities  of  social  intercourse, 
and  render  themselves  more  pleasant  and  agreeable 
to  each  other,  this  also  is  a  laudable,  and  a  Christian 
duty.  But  there  are  many,  with  whom  the  adorn- 
ing of  their  persons  is  the  principal  source  of  self- 
satisfaction,  and  the  chief  business  of  life.  Man  is 
an  intelligent  being.  He  has  glorious  faculties  to 
cultivate.  He  has  noble  duties  to  discharge.  He 
has  an  immortal  soul  to  improve.  He  has  eternal 
life  to  secure.  What  can  more  strikingly  indicate  a 
want  of  that  wisdom,  by  which  such  a  being  should 
be  distinguished,  than  to  have  his  faculties  absorbed, 
and  his  ambition  satisfied,  with  the  transient  vanities 
of  external  attire  ?  Besides,  how  contemptible  is  the 
distinction,  which  is  merely  superficial !  The  bee, 
that  gathers  treasures  from  every  flower,  has  not  the 
finest  coating.  The  eagle  that  soars  on  majestic 
wings  to  the  birth  of  the  morning,  has  not  the  most 
glittering  plumage.  It  is  the  butterfly,  that  idly 
flutters  on  the  passing  breeze,  which  the  fopling 
emulates.  The  care  of  the  body  is  more  with  him, 
than  the  care  of  the  mind.  With  usefulness  and  vir- 
tue, with  knowledge  and  heaven  to  engage  him,  be- 
hold him  the  slave  of  a  colour,  or  a  fashion  ;  placing 
his  glory  in  that,  in  which  inferior  animals  may  often 

'  Prov.  i.  10.  "'  Ibid.  xiii.  20. 


518  ON  THE  DANGERS  OF  YOUTH. 

vie  with  him,  and  flowers  and  plants  excel  him. 
Such  a  young  man,  whom  dress  alone  occupies  and 
delights,  will  be  claimed  by  folly  as  her  legitimate 
child.  Wisdom  rejects  him ;  intelligence  sighs  over 
him,  as  "  a  young  man  void  of  understanding." 

I  add,  in  the  last  place,  that  habitual  idleness  is 
a  characteristic  of  an  unwise  youth.  Idleness  at  any 
age  is  the  parent  of  vice  and  unhappiness.     In  the 
morning  of  life  it  is  peculiarly  inexcusable  and  ruin- 
ous.    The  youth  who  has  nothing  to  do  will  learn 
to  do  evil.    Neglecting  to  cultivate  the  noble  powers 
of  his  nature,  he  will  be  drawn  into  habits  of  dissi- 
pation. All  the  advantages  of  early  industry  in  pro- 
curing knowledge,  fortune,  character,  and  esteem, 
he  will  forego,  and  he  will  in  all  probability  be  rest- 
less and  dissatisfied  ;  a  burden  to  himself  in  the  hours 
of  reflection,  and  a  useless  cumberer  of  the  ground. 
Nor  can  he  find  any  palliation  of  his  folly  in  the 
plea,  that  he  finds  nothing  to  do.     There  is  ever 
enough  to  employ  usefully  the  hours  of  every  one's 
life.     Go ;  cultivate  and  expand  the  noble  faculties 
which  thy  Creator  hath  given  thee.     Go  ;   call  into 
exercise  and  useful  application  the  powers  that  lie 
dormant  in  thy  nature.     Go ;  search  the  pages  of 
wisdom ;  traverse  the  regions  of  truth  ;  and  by  ac- 
quisition of  knowledge  lay  the  foundation  of  future 
usefulness  to  thy  country,  and  to  the  world.     Go  ; 
seek  the  Most  High  God,  thy  Maker,  Redeemer,  and 
Sanctifier.     Consider  studiously,  what  it  is  that  He 
requireth  of  thee,  in  order  that  thou  mayest  spend 
wisely  the  years  of  this  fleeting  life.     Go ;  bring  to 
the  habitation  of  thy  parents  the  reviving  fragrance 
of  a  good  name ;  and  get  to  thyself  the  habit,  in 
which  thou  mayest  emulate  angels,  the  habit  of  in- 
dustriously doing  good.     Go  and  do  this,  and  much 
more  that  is  equally  obvious  and  worthy  of  thee  ; 
before  thou  complainest  in  apology  for  thy  indo- 


ON  THE  DANGERS  OF  YOUTH.       519 

lence,  that  thou  findest  nothing  to  do.  Unhappy 
the  youth,  in  whose  mouth  is  this  delusive  plea  !  For 
him  the  best  years  of  life  will  pass  away,  with- 
out furnishing  the  foundations  of  respectability  and 
comfort.  On  him,  neither  peace  nor  prosperity, 
neither  public  esteem,  nor  self-satisfaction  will  ever 
wait :  but  in  their  stead,  that  contempt  which  the 
common  sense  of  society  fastens  upon  those,  who 
have  no  object  nor  employment ;  and  that  weariness, 
dissatisfaction,  and  self-reproach,  to  which  the  Al- 
mighty, in  His  justice,  generally  exposes  the  inac- 
tive. With  great  propriety,  therefore,  has  expe- 
rience always  recommended  to  the  young  a  definite 
pursuit,  and  diligent  occupation :  and  it  is  with  strik- 
ing and  apposite  acuteness,  that  Solomon  represents 
"  the  field  of  the  slothful,"  as  the  same  ground,  with 
the  "  vineyard  of  the  man  void  of  understanding "." 
Thus  I  have  set  before  you,  some  of  the  qualities 
which  indicate  the  character  in  the  text.  As  you 
have  accompanied  me  in  these  observations,  you 
have  perceived  and  felt,  that  they  are  qualities,  by 
which  human  nature  is  degraded;  prosperity,  im- 
provement, and  happiness  frustrated  ;  and  the  best 
hopes  of  society,  the  hopes  which  depend  upon  the 
rising  generation,  most  unhappily  blasted.  Be  in- 
duced then,  my  young  friends,  to  use  industriously 
the  morning  of  your  lives.  Let  not  your  attention  be 
absorbed,  and  your  ambition  satisfied  with  external 
decorations  and  distinctions.  As  you  would  avoid 
taking  fire-brands  into  your  bosoms,  guard  against 
admitting  to  the  near  intimacies  of  friendship,  the 
unprincipled  and  vicious.  "With  a  discretion  worthy 
of  your  rational,  and  immortal  natures,  "  flee  youth- 
ful lusts  °,"  and  avoid  the  resorts  of  pollution  and 
abasement.     Above  all  things,  "  know  you  the  God 

»  Prov.  xxiv.  30.  "  %  Tim.  ii.  22. 


520       ON  THE  DANGERS  OV  YOUTH. 

of  your  fathers,  and  serve  Him  with  a  perfect  heart 
and  with  a  willing  mind  ^  ?"  Cherish  for  religion  that 
respect,  which  you  would  cherish  for  the  guardian 
of  your  race  ;  and  the  arrows  which  are  aimed  at  her 
name  or  services,  consider  them  as  aimed  at  the 
shades  of  your  forefathers,  and  at  the  dearest  inte- 
rests of  the  world.  Then  shall  the  hearts  of  your 
parents  be  gladdened  with  the  knowledge  of  your 
wisdom  and  discretion ;  then  shall  your  country  find 
in  you  her  glory  and  defence ;  then  shall  the  Church 
rest  upon  you,  as  her  strong  and  affectionate  sup- 
porters ;  then  shall  your  bosoms  be  filled  with  self- 
approbation,  and  the  peace  of  God ;  then  at  what- 
ever period  death  shall  remove  you  to  other  duties 
and  other  worlds,  you  shall  not  depart  prematurely  : 
"  for  honourable  age  is  not  that  which  standeth  in 
length  of  time,  nor  that  is  measured  by  number  of 
years  :  but  wisdom  is  the  gray  hair  unto  men,  and  an 
wispotted  life  is  old  age**." 

P  1  Chron.  xxviii.  9.  '  Wisd.  iv.  8,  9. 


SERMON   XCII. 


ON  THE  DISTRESSES  OF  THE  POOR  IN  WINTER. 

St.  Mark,  xiii.  18. 
Pray  ye  that  your  jiight  he  not  in  the  winter. 

Our  blessed  Lord  is,  in  this  chapter,  informing  His 
disciples  of  the  awful  calamities  which  should  come 
upon  Jerusalem,  after  His  ascension;  calamities, 
**  such  as  had  not  been  since  the  beginning  of  the 
world  to  that  time,  no,  nor  ever  should  be  *"  after- 
wards. Of  these  evils  He  forewarns  them,  and  in- 
structs them  how  to  act  for  their  own  escape  and 
preservation.  Among  other  precepts  which  He  gave 
them,  "  Pray  ye,"  says  the  compassionate  Saviour, 
**  that  your  flight  be  not  in  the  winter." 

At  this  inclement  season*,  these  words  do  the 
more  forcibly  strike  our  attention.  Let  us  meditate 
upon  them.  They  will  present  some  topics  to  our 
minds,  worthy  of  our  consideration. 

And  in  the  first  place,  they  remind  us  of  the  seve- 
rities of  Winter.  This  cold  and  hoary  monarch  is 
not  content  with  stripping  the  earth  of  all  its  vege- 
tative beauty,  and  covering  it  with  a  dreary  garb, 

*  Matt.  xxiv.  21. 
*  This  discourse  was  preached  in  Charleston,  in  a  rigorous  win- 
ter, after  a  fall  of  snow. 


522  ON  THE  DISTRESSES 

he  compels  the  beings  who  have  life,  and  inherent 
warmth,  to  bow  beneath  his  icy  sceptre.  The  beasts 
are  mute  and  chilled ;  the  birds  flee  to  their  coverts  ; 
and  man,  feeling  in  winter  the  awful  power  of  God, 
cries,  *'  Who  can  stand  before  His  cold  *'  ?"  In  this 
season,  the  exposed  and  the  destitute  endure  pecu- 
liar hardships.  The  wandering  traveller  plods  com- 
fortless on  his  way ;  the  poor  seaman  eyes  the  bil- 
lows with  horror,  and  shivers  in  the  storm.  To  the 
children  of  want  it  is  a  time  of  complicated  wretched- 
ness. They  feel,  alas  !  that  Winter  furnishes  poverty 
with  fangs,  which  she  has  at  no  other  season. 

But  amidst  all  the  severities  of  winter,  we  may 
discover  the  benevolence  of  God.     How  wonderful 
is  that  goodness  which    leads  instinctively  a  part 
of  the  animal  tribes,  from  the  inhospitality  of  a  win- 
try region,  to  milder  climes  !     How  equally  tender  is 
that  kindness,  which  tempers  the  bleak  and  frosty 
winds  to  the  sides  of  the  little  birds,  and  more  help- 
less beasts,   which  He  has  taught  to  remain  !     How 
gracious  is  that  providence,  which  causes  the  earth, 
in  the  seasons  of  her  fertility,  to  produce  a  sufficient 
provision  for  the  dreary  months,  when  winter  will 
check  her  fertility,  and  bind  her  furrows  with  frost ! 
How  merciful  is  that  forethought,  which  has  stored 
a  marvellous  element  in  the  forest,  and  the  bowels 
of  the  earth,  to  furnish  man,  when  the  sun  departs 
from  his  zenith,  with  a  pleasant  substitute  for  the 
warmth  of  his  beams  !     And  when  we  consider,  how 
many  human  beings  are  exposed,  some  tossed  at  sea, 
amidst  the  horrors  of  the  waves  and  fierce  raging  of 
the  storms  ;  others  naked  on  the  land  to  the  scourg- 
ings  of  the  tempest,  and  oppressed  with  the  hard- 
ships, beneath  which,  it  should  seem,  that  human 
nature  would  sink  ; — when  we  contemplate  these  ex- 

"  Ps.  cxlvii.  17.  .       : 


OF  THE  POOR  IN  WINTER.  523 

posures  of  multitudes  of  our  race,  and  behold  them 
brought  through  all  the  dangers  and  sufferings  of  the 
season,  to  the  joys  and  hopes  of  spring : — who  sees 
not  that  the  God  who  rules  the  winter,  is  the  same 
merciful  God  who  rules  the  year  ?  The  displays  of 
His  power,  are  indeed  at  this  season  more  awful. 
We  see  Him  in  the  terrors  of  His  might.  But  He  is 
nevertheless  kind. 

Which  leads  me  to  another  topic  which  the  text 
suggests,  that  to  Him  should  all  men,  and  especially 
those  '  who  are  in  danger  and  necessity,'  apply  for 
protection  *  from  the  evils  to  which  they  may  be  ex- 
posed.' It  is  God  who  causeth  the  winter.  *'  He 
giveth  snow  like  wool,  and  scattereth  the  hoar  frost 
like  ashes  ^"  Again,  **  He  sendeth  forth  His  word, 
and  melteth  them  ;  He  bloweth  with  His  wind,  and 
the  waters  flow  ^."  He  therefore  has  power  to  miti^ 
gate  the  rigours  of  our  condition.  To  His  Father 
the  Redeemer  sends  His  disciples,  for  preservation 
from  the  calamities  to  which  winter  might  expose 
them.  And  to  whom  should  those  who  are  in  dan- 
ger of  necessity,  so  confidently  go,  as  to  their  hea- 
venly Father,  who  maketh  the  wool  to  be  warm  on 
the  lamb,  "  and  feedeth  the  young  ravens  that  call 
upon  Him '  V  Art  thou  then  exposed  at  this  season 
upon  the  billows  of  the  ocean,  or  filled  with  distress 
for  thy  seafaring  friends  ?  Look  up  with  devotion  to 
that  Almighty  Being,  who  rides  upon  the  tempest 
which  scours  the  deep.  Art  thou  fearful  of  the  con- 
flagration which  so  often  increases  the  calamities  of 
this  season  ?  Use  that  prudence  which  God  has 
given  thee  for  thy  direction,  and  supplicate  the  pro- 
tection of  the  shadow  of  His  wing.  Art  thou  among 
the  children  of  poverty,  and  for  want  of  food,  of  rai- 
ment,  or   of  fuel,  dost  thou  mourn  in  the  wintry 

«  Ps.  cxlvii.  16.  «>  Ibid.  ver.  18.  *  Ibid.  ver.  9. 


524  ON  THE  DISTRESSES 

blast  ?  Go  to  the  God  who  heareth  prayer.  With 
humility  make  thy  wants  known  to  Him;  entreat 
Him,  for  His  Son's  sake,  to  compassionate  thy  dis- 
tresses ;  and,  if  He  have  not  some  better  purpose  to 
accomplish  by  withholding  thy  wishes.  He  will  de- 
vise a  way  for  thy  safety,  and  supply  thy  wants. 
For  He  despiseth  not  **  the  prayer  of  the  poor  desti- 
tute^;" but  when  he  maketh  his  cry,  His  ear  heark- 
eneth  thereto. 

This  suggestion  will  be  enforced,  if  we  observe 
another  thing  which  the  text  most  strikingly  and 
affectingly  impresses  upon  our  minds,  namely,  the 
compassionate  nature  of  the  blessed  Redeemer,  who 
is  our  Intercessor  at  the  right  hand  of  God.  Every 
act  of  His  life  was  a  display  of  tenderness  and  love. 
Whether  we  consider  Him,  descending  from  the  bo- 
som of  His  Father,  and  taking  our  nature  upon  Him 
for  the  recovery  of  our  race  from  perdition  ;  or  con- 
template Him  while  He  dwelt  upon  earth,  making  it 
His  meat  and  drink  to  enable  the  poor  to  forget  his 
poverty,  and  the  afflicted  to  remember  her  misery 
no  more ;  or  behold  Him  on  the  cross,  seeking  with 
persevering  benevolence  the  pardon  and  salvation  of 
His  wretched  enemies ;  we  have  sufficient  evidence 
of  the  loveliness  of  compassion,  and  that  it  dwelt  in 
the  bosom  of  our  Lord  in  an  unspeakable  perfection. 
But  in  the  little  incident  which  the  text  records, 
there  is  a  refined  sensibility,  an  exquisite  tenderness, 
which  will  touch  every  feeling  heart.  He  knew  how 
rigorous  are  the  severities  of  winter.  He  knew  how 
multiplied  and  bitter  are  the  miseries  which  it  brings 
upon  those,  whom  adversity  has  laid  bare  to  its  in- 
clemencies. For  His  poor  disciples  His  heart  was 
afflicted.  He  dreaded  that  the  calamities,  in  which 
they  were  about  to  be  involved,  should  be  aggravated 

'  Ps.  cii.  17. 


OF  THE  POOR  IN  WINTER.  525 

by  the  hardships  and  sufferings  which  attend  this 
season.  His  kindness  anticipated  their  distresses, 
and  He  taught  them  where  to  look  for  preservation. 
'*  Pray  ye,"  said  their  affectionate  Master,  *•  that 
your  flight  be  not  in  the  winter." 

This  compels  me  to  remark,  in  the  fourth  place, 
that  if  the  same  mind  be  in  us  which  was  in  Christ 
Jesus  ^,  this  season  will  excite  in  our  bosoms  a  sym- 
pathetic concern  for  all  those,  who  are  exposed  to 
its  sorrows.  Now  will  the  good  Christian  offer  his 
petition  with  increased  fervour, '  for  all  who  travel  by 
land  or  by  water.'  Now  will  his  heart  be  moved, 
and  his  hands  be  opened,  by  the  distresses  of  the 
poor  and  needy.  The  howling  wind  seems  to  re- 
mind us  of  their  necessities.  The  cold  and  storm 
knock  at  our  hearts  in  their  behalf  Ah !  my  bre- 
thren, you  sit  by  your  fire-sides  sheltered  from  all 
the  inclemencies  of  the  winter.  Your  clothing  is 
warm  and  good.  Your  houses  are  comfortable  about 
you.  And  your  tables  are  covered  with  food, 
**  enough  and  to  spare  ^."  You  know  nothing  of  the 
miseries  of  want.  Come  with  me  to  the  habitation 
of  poverty.  It  is  rugged  and  of  wretched  appear- 
ance. But  it  contains  your  fellow  beings.  Do  not 
decline  then  to  enter.  Here,  in  the  cheerless  cham- 
ber, dwells  the  poor  widow.  She  "gathers"  for 
herself  a  few  "  sticks,"  and  dresses  a  *'  handful  of 
meal ' ;"  and  the  rest  of  the  day  sits  shivering  over 
the  embers  ;  full  often  ready,  in  the  bitterness  of  her 
anguish,  to  wish  to  herself  that  she  might  die.  Are 
you  moved  by  this  scene  of  misery  ?  Alas  !  my 
friends,  it  is  but  one  of  many,  which  may  be  found 
in  our  world.  Come,  and  I  will  take  you  to  another 
habitation.  There,  in  that  bleak  and  confused  hut, 
dwells  a  whole  family  of  wretchedness.     I  cannot 

e  Phil.  ii.  5.  "  Luke  xv.  17.  '1  Kings  xvii.  \%, 


626  ON  THE  DISTRESSES 

tell  where  is  he,  who  should  be  the  support  of  the 
household.  The  mother  sits  stunned  with  cold  and 
sorrow,  unable  to  give  food  but  to  one  of  her  off- 
spring, and  that  from  her  own  impoverished  bosom. 
Her  children  are  crying  around  her.  They  are  hun- 
gry. They  are  cold.  And  when  the  long  wished 
for  night  arrives,  and  they  betake  themselves  to  the 
thin  and  ragged  bed,  who  can  say  whether  sleep, 
sometimes  a  soother  of  the  wretched,  is  able  to  give 
to  this  chilled  and  famished  family  any  respite  from 
their  woe  ?  Oh !  ye,  whom  Providence  has  blessed 
with  abundance ;  who  have  riches  more,  much  more 
than  you  use ;  think  of  what  happiness  you  may  be 
the  authors,  by  bestowing  here  a  portion  of  that 
wealth,  which  you  must  presently  leave  to  you  know 
not  whom  !  And  ye,  who  have  only  a  competence  of 
the  good  things  of  this  life,  is  there  nothing  super- 
fluous in  your  comforts,  or  is  any  gratificatioti  you 
may  forego,  to  be  compared  in  value  and  delight, 
with  **  the  blessing  of  those  that  were  ready  to 
perish  ^ ;"  which,  believe  me,  is  often  heard  and  seal- 
ed by  the  God  of  heaven.  We  are  commanded,  my 
brethren,  to  "  charge  you  that  are  rich  in  this  world, 
to  be  ready  to  distribute,  and  willing  to  communi- 
cate' ;"  and  I  know  not  how  I  may  more  powerfully 
enforce  this  charge  than  by  remarking,  that  unless 
this  spirit  of  compassion,  which  was  in  the  bosom  of 
Christ  Jesus,  and  would  have  preserved  His  poor 
disciples  from  the  sufferings  of  winter,  be  also  in  you. 
Himself  hath  declared  you  are  none  of  His. 

Such  are  some  of  the  topics,  which  this  interesting 
passage  in  our  Saviour's  life  is  calculated  to  suggest. 
Let  me  hope  they  are  not  impertinent  to  the  season, 
and  will  not  be  unprofitable.  You  are  about  to  com- 
memorate the  greatest  act  of  Divine  compassion,  in 

^  Rom.  xxix.  13.  '1  Tim.  \l  17,  IS. 


OF  THE  POOR  IN  WINTER.  527 

the  incarnation  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  many  of  you 
are  preparing  yourselves  to  go  up  and  be  feasted 
with  the  bread  of  life,  at  the  table  of  your  Lord. 
Benevolence  is  the  garment  in  which,  on  that  day, 
every  Christian  should  appear.  It  has  been  a  godly 
custom  of  the  Church,  to  exact  an  offering  of  her 
sons  at  that  festival,  for  the  poor  of  **  the  household 
of  faith""."  Need  I  say  that  they  at  this  season, 
need  your  liberal  assistance  ?  Their  number  is  not 
lessened,  though  those,  alas !  are  diminished,  who 
were  wont  to  contribute  to  their  relief.  The  ex- 
pences  too  of  living  are  so  much  enhanced,  that  what 
would  formerly  have  supplied  a  day,  will  now  scarce- 
ly furnish  a  meal.  With  these  considerations.  Chris- 
tians, enlarge  your  charity.  Bring  to  the  feast  an 
offering  worthy  of  the  occasion,  and  worthy  of  the 
acceptance  of  God.  It  is  not  merely  in  behalf  of 
the  poor,  though  I  gladly  appear  the  humble  organ 
of  their  wants,  but  it  is  also  in  *'  Christ's  stead,  that 
I  beseech  you","  *'  be  ye  merciful,  as  your  Father" 
in  heaven  "  is  merciful  °." 

»»  Gal.  vi.  10.  "2  Cor.  v.  20.  "  Luke  vi.  SG. 


END    OF    THE    SERMONS. 


DISCOURSE, 

PREACHED  ON 
OF    THE 

RIGHT  REV.  BISHOP  DEHON. 

BY    THE 

REV.  CHRISTOPHER  E.  GADSDEN, 

RjECTOR   OF   ST.  PHILIP's   CHURCH,   CHARLESTON. 


VOL.  II.  Mm 


This  Discourse  was  published  at  the  request  of  the  Vestry 
and  Wardens  of  '  St.  MicliaeVs  Chvrch,'  and  also  '  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Society  for  the  Advancement  of  Chris- 
tianity in  Sovth  Carolira.^  Some  Correclions  have  been 
made,  arl  a  few  Notes  have  been  added,  by  the  Author,  in 
the  present  Edition,  which  were  not  received  in  time  for  the 
former  Edition  of  this  Work. 


D  I  S  C  O  IT  R  S  E, 


Rev.  ii.  10. 


Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of 

life. 

On  the  last  day  of  his  life  our  departed  Bishop  was  asked — • 
*  On  what  promise  of  God  do  you  now  rest  ?' — and  he  re- 
plied, "  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a 
crown  of  life,'"  He  said  a  second  time,  "  thee"  with  emphasis: 
and  added,  *  There  you  have  it  all,  the  promise  and  the  con- 
dition.' 

It  is  my  intention  to  lay  before  you  such  particulars  of  his 
life,  as  I  have  been  able  to  collect.  To  his  friends,  I  know, 
I  shall  not  be  tedious.  The  facts  to  be  detailed  will,  I  am 
persuaded,  carry  to  the  mind  the  conviction  that  his  exam- 
ple enforced  his  precept,  and  to  the  heart  the  chief  conso- 
lation under  the  sorrow  for  his  death,  that  he  has  received  a 
crown  of  glory. 

Theodore  Dehon,  was  born  in  Boston,  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember, 1776*;  and  in  early  life  was  remarked  for  his  per- 
sonal beauty,  the  index,  in  his  case,  of  a  celestial  disposition. 
Under  a  pious  mother,  he  was  rehgiously  educated.  She 
regularly,  on  Sunday  evenings,  heard  her  children  repeat 
the  catechism — read  to  them  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  and,  at 
the  appointed  seasons,  conducted  them  to  the  church  to  be 
catechized  by  the  minister.      In  the  Latin  school  of  the  town 

*  Soon  after  ilie  evacuation  of  that  town  by  the  English  forces.  He 
departed  this  life,  August  fJ,  1817,  after  an  illness  of  six  days. 

M  mS 


532  A   FUNERAL  DISCOURSE  ON 

he  passed  seven  years,  and  he  has  expressed  his  approba- 
tion of  the  old  EngHsh  system  of  instruction  there  adopted, 
and  his  affection  for  his  preceptor  (the  late  Mr.  Hunt)  *  who,' 
he  remarked,  *  loved  to  teach  *.'  He  passed  the  four  suc- 
ceeding years  at  Harvard  University  in  Cambridge,  and  here, 
as  at  school,  received  the  first  honour  of  his  class  f .  For 
his  alma  mater  he  retained  much  affection.  He  loved  to 
look  at  her  stately  vi^alls,  and  to  speak  of  his  college  friend  J, 
and  of  those  families  in  the  village  whose  hospitality  had 
soothed  the  labours  of  the  student. — He  often  declared  that 
his  happiest  days  were  at  that  season,  in  which,  with  little 
experience  of  the  depravity  of  mankind,  he  had  pursuits, 
associates,  and  prospects,  calculated  to  awaken  all  the  ener- 
gies of  the  mind  and  heart.  While  he  was  pursuing  his  stu- 
dies, he  engaged  in  the  business  of  keeping  a  school,  and 

*  Dehon  was  remarkable  for  his  docility  and  love  of  learning.  The 
prevailing  wish  of  his  heart  from  bis  earliest  youth  to  become  a  Minister 
of  the  Gospel,  excited  him  to  unremitted  exertions.  In  the  common 
amusements  of  youth  he  took  little  delight,  but  devoted  all  his  leisure 
to  such  reading  as  was  adapted  to  his  years.  The  scholars,  even  those 
who  were  some  years  older  than  himself,  looked  to  him,  as  to  a  superior 
being.  He  bad  in  consequence  the  love  and  approbation  of  his  instruc- 
tor, and  was  often  called  upon  to  assist  him  in  his  labours.  Extract 
from  a  Letter  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cranston,  resident  in  Savannah. 
;-  t  The  promise  of  peculiar  excellence,  which  had  attracted  the 
attention  of  those  who  knew  him  in  his  early  youth,  was  now  seen  and 
acknowledged.  The  years  that  he  spent  at  the  University,  were  an 
honourable  testimony  of  his  moral  principles,  and  of  his  mental  powers. 
Amidst  the  numerous  temptations  inseparable  from  a  seminary  of  youth, 
he  afforded  an  example  of  persevering  industry.  Though  he  naturally 
possessed  a  generous  independence  of  mind,  he  never  failed  to  exhibit  a 
perfect  respect  for  his  instructors,  and  the  laws  of  the  College  :  and  his 
amiable  deportment  endeared  him  to  all  his  acquaintances.  Those  who 
knew  him  there,  declared  that  his  love  of  piety  and  virtue,  and  his  hatred 
of  vice  were  remarkably  great.  At  the  commencement  in  1795,  though 
he  was  then  scarcely  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  obtained  his  first  degree 
in  Arts,  and  received  the  honours  of  the  University,  having  performed 
the  English  Oration,  which  is  consideretl  the  highest  appointment  in  the 
exercises  of  the  day.     3Ir.  C.  nt  supra. 

t  The  late  Mr.  Francis  Channing,  who  was  his  room  mate. 


BISHOP    DEHON. 


OOO 


on  the  Lord's  day  officiated  as  a  lay  reader  at  Cambridge, 
and  once  or  twice  at  Newport  in  Rhode-Island.  He  was,  by 
his  own  choice,  destined  from  early  youth  to  the  sacred  of- 
fice, and  was  admitted  a  Deacon  in  1798,  and  a  Priest  in 
1800,  by  Bishop  Bass.  He  received  confirmation  from 
Bishop  Seabury  *,  the  first  consecrated  of  our  Bishops.     He 

*  The  Rev.  Samuel  Seabury,  D.D.  was  sent  over  to  England  soon 
after  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  of  peace  with  the  United  States,  on  a 
mission  from  sucii  of  the  English  Clergy  as  survived  the  calamities  of 
that  period,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  Episcopal  Consecration, 
with  a  view  to  the  settlement  and  perpetuity  of  the  Church  in  tlic 
United  States  on  the  truly  Apostolical  pattern  of  the  Church  of  En- 
gland :  and  was  most  favourably  received  by  his  Grace  the  Archbishop 
ofCanterbury  (Dr.  Moore,)  and  others  of  the  English  Bishops,  who  could 
not  but  feel  very  desirous  of  effecting  a  measure  which  had  been  fre- 
quently recommended  to  his  Majesty's  Government  by  the  Venerable 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  from  the  ear- 
liest period  of  its  institution  ;  a  measure,  which  in  the  Reign  of  Queen 
Anne  had  very  nearly  been  accomplished,  and  which,  if  it  had  been  then 
or  even  at  a  later  period  accomplished,  it  has  been  thought,  might  have 
averted  the  horrors  of  the  unnatural  contest  of  the  Colonies  with  the 
Parent  State.  However,  several  difliculties  having  presented  themselves 
to  the  Archbishop  and  his  Colleagues,  which  it  was  thought  could  not 
be  removed  without  the  Aid  of  Parliament;  Dr.  Seabury  wearied  with 
delay  applied  to  the  remnant  of  the  Bishops  and  Clergy  in  Scotland, 
who,  notwithstanding  the  severity  of  many  penal  statutes,  had  still 
preserved  the  genuine  succession  of  the  Episcopacy,  and  the  faith  and 
discipline  of  the  Church  in  its  utmost  purity :  and  he  was  accordingly 
consecrated  a  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Connecticut 
at  Aberdeen,  on  the  14th  November,  1784,  by  the  Right  Rev.  R. 
Kilgour,  Bishop  of  Aberdeen,  primus,  assisted  by  the  Right  Rev.  Arthur 
Petrie,  Bishop  of  Ross  and  Moray,  and  the  Right  Rev.  John  Skinner, 
Coadjutor  to  Bishop  Kilgour. 

The  Act  of  Parliament  26  Geo.  III.  chap-  84.  having  authorized  the 
Archbishops  of  Canterbury  and  York,  &c.,  to  consecrate  to  the  office  of 
a  Bishop  persons  being  subjects  or  citizens  of  Foreign  States ; — The  Rev. 
Dr.  William  White  and  Dr.  Samuel  Provvost  were  on  Sunday  the  4th  of 
February,  1787,  consecrated  in  the  Arciiiepiscopal  Chapel  at  Lambeth, 
Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York,  by  his  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  (Dr.  Moore)  assisted 
by  the  Lord  Archbishop  of  York,  (Dr.  Markhaiii)  tlie  Lord  Bishop  of 
Bath  and  Wells,  (Dr.  Moss)  and  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Peterborough  (Dr. 
llinchliff.) 


534  A    FUNERAL    mSCOURSE   ON 

accepted  the  charge  of  Trinity  Church  in  Newport,  Rhode- 
Island  :  and,  by  his  uncommon  prudence,  thovigh  he  was 
then  only  twenty-one  years  of  age,  settled  some  unfortunate 
dissensions  that  had  long  existed  in  the  Church,  and  pro- 
duced a  harmony  among  its  members  which  was  never  after- 
wards interrupted  *.  He  had  the  unbounded  affection  of 
this  people.  They  seemed  to  watch  his  every  motion,  and 
to  consider  him  as  almost  more  than  mortal.  They  anti- 
cipated his  wishes.  They  made  every  little  incident  an  oc- 
casion for  some  token  of  kindness.  When  his  health  M^as 
feeble,  they  urged  him  in  summer  to  go  to  the  Springs,  and 
in  winter  to  a  Southern  clime  f.  This  was  an  important  pe- 
riod for  us. 

At  a  subsequent  period,  Dr.  .Tames  Madison  was  consecrated  Bishop 
of  tlio  Protestant  Episcopal  Cliurcli  in  Virginia,  in  tlie  Arcliiepiscopal 
Chapel  at  Lambeth,  on  Sunday  the  lOth  September,  1790,  by  the  Arcii- 
bishop  of  Canterbury,  assisted  by  Dr.  Portcus,  Bishop  of  London,  and 
Dr.  Thomas,  Bishop  of  Rochester. 

The  Church,  thus  happily  constituted,  is  now  in  a  very  nourishing 
condition,  for  which  see  an  extract  from  a  Sermon  by  Bishop  Moore 
j)re(!xed  to  the  first  volume  of  tliesc  Sermons. 

*  Tliis  is  stated  nearly  in  the  words  of  a  person  who  was  a  member  of 
his  congregation  in  Newport,  the  Rev,  Mr.  Cranston. 

f  During  the  time  of  his  residence  in  Newport,  he  constantly  grew 
in  the  aflcctions  of  his  people.  He  was  an  example  to  age  as  well  as  to 
youth,  lie  possessed  the  same  self-control,  whicli  always  distiuguislied 
him.  Against  the  irreproachable  integrity  of  his  life,  enmity  never 
whispered  a  suspicion ;  and  it  was  a  common  remark  that  he  could  not 
be  censured  even  for  an  act  of  imprudence.  His  gentle  manners, 
his  piety  and  goodness  of  heart,  secured  him  universal  esteem  ;  and  the 
benevolence  and  heavenly  charity,  which  made  his  future  bright  career 
so  useful,  and  which  will  make  his  death  so  widely  afflicting,  were 
permanent  traits  of  his  character.  Entertaining  the  most  grand  and 
lovely  apprehensions  of  the  Deity;  his  devotion  yielded  him  his  highest 
pleasure,  and  fitted  him  to  kindle  the  sacred  (lame  in  others.  It  was  as 
rational  as  warm ;  consisting  not  in  occasional  sallies  and  inconstant 
flashes,  but  was  a  steady  divine  flame,  fed  by  the  clearest  and  strongest 
persuasion  and  most  worthy  apprehensions  of  the  Divine  perfections  and 
providence  ;  and  it  animated  his  whole  deportment.  His  taste  for  the 
nobler  pleasures  of  literature,  devotion,  and  benevolence,  made  it  easy 
for  him  to  observe  the  strictest  temperance.     He  was  ualurally  of  a 


BISHOP  DLIION. 


535 


In  his  first  visit  to  this  state  in  1803,  his  health  permitted 
him  to  officiate  only  a  few  times.  He  was  generally  ad- 
mired * ;  and  it  was  observed  by  one  of  our  Clergy  f,  that 
he  should  be  happy  to  have  that  young  man  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese.  He  was  soon  after  invited  to  be  the  Assistant  Mi- 
nister of  St.  Philip's  Church.  He  had  many  inducements 
to  accept  this  appointment.  The  climate  was  more  con- 
genial to  his  constitution ;  the  society  more  diversified ;  the 
means  of  improvement  better  in  this  metropolis,  and  the 
congregation  much  larger.  He  resisted  these  considerations, 
and  remained  at  Newport.  He  sought,  from  the  studies  and 
cares  of  his  profession,  relaxation  in  the  culture  of  a  little 
garden,  an  occupation  in  which  he  had  delight,  and  which, 
let  me  observe,  he  relinquished  in  Carolina,  on  account  of 
his  increased  duties  to  the  Church.  He  had  a  still  higher 
gratification,  in  guiding  the  disposition  and  the  mind  of  a 
sister,  who,  from  childhood,  was  entirely  under  his  super- 
intendance.  Many  of  our  citizens  were  of  his  congregation 
in  Newport,   and   some  of  them,   in  sickness,  sorrow,  and 

cheerful  temper,  considering  cheerfulness  as  a  kind  of  habitual  gratitude 
to  tlie  Author  of  his  being,  and  while  he  constantly  paid  this  homage 
himself,  he  enabled,  by  his  example,  all  about  him  to  pay  it. 

His  habitual  hearers  used  to  observe,  that  his  sermons  were  remark- 
ably equal  and  always  interesting.  Such  was  their  satisfaction  in  hearing 
his  discourses,  that  they  never  were  pleased  to  see  his  place  in  the 
pulpit  occupied  by  another. 

He  was  my  Minister — the  only  one  of  my  youth.  I  cannot  express 
the  feelings  that  crowd  upon  my  heart,  when  I  think  that  he  is  no 
more.  I  cannot  tell  my  sense  of  his  worth  or  of  our  loss.  We  seem  to 
lament  the  removal  of  one  of  the  higher  order  of  beings,  who  had  taken 
his  abode  on  earth  for  a  time  to  teach  us  the  way  to  heaven,  and  is  now 
returned  to  his  native  place.  How  interesting  and  glorious  is  the  path 
by  which  the  rigliteous  ascend  to  God  !  His  was  indeed  the  path 
of  the  just,  which  like  the  shining  light  shines  more  and  more  unto  the 
perfect  day.     Mr.  C. 

*  One  of  the  discourses  he  preached  at  that  time,  for  our  Orphan 
Asylum,  was  from  tl)e  text—"  And  behold  the  lahe  nept."  He  was 
remarkable  for  selecting  the  most  striking  passages  as  the  texts  of  his 
sermons. 

t  The  laic  Rev.  Thomas  Frost,  reclor  of  St.  Philip's  Church. 


•536  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE  ON 

death,  received  his  consolation.     In  the  year  1804,  the  ves- 
try of  St.  Philip's  again  endeavoured  to  procure  the  services 
of  Mr.  Dehon,  and  tendered  to  him  the  rectorate  of  that 
Church,  recently  vacated.     But,  though  his  health  was  still 
sufFering  by  the  climate  of  Rhode-Island,  he  declined  this 
invitation;    and,     it  is    believed,    subsequently,    invitations 
from  Baltimore  and  elsev^^here :  having,  it  appears,  formed 
a  resolution  that  he  would  remain,  as  long  as  a  proper  re- 
gard for  life  would  permit,  with  his  first  charge.     He  gave 
them  his  prayers  always,  and  his  presence  whenever  practi- 
cable ;    and,    in  his  last  rapid  visit  to  the  Northern  states, 
expressed  much   gratification  in   an   opportunity  of  seeing 
them  once  more,  and  administering  to  them  the  Supper  of 
the  Lord.     In  the  year  1 808,  as  a  member  of  the  General 
Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal   Church,  at  Balti- 
more, he  distinguished  himself  by  a  temperate  but  steady 
opposition  to  the  proposal  for  setting  forth  additional  hymns, 
a  measure  which  he  disapproved  as   an  innovation  on  the 
service  of  the  Church.     He  attracted  the  particular  atten- 
tion of  the  venerable  Bishop  White,  who  then  said,  that  he 
hoped  to  see  him  in  the  house  of  Bishops.     He  soon  after 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  from  the  College 
of  New  Jersey ;  in  consequence,  as  there  is  reason  to  be- 
lieve, of  the  ability  exhibited  on  that  occasion.     In  the  year 
1809,   the  rectorate  of  St.  Michael's  Church  in  this  city  was 
tendered  to  him,  and  as  his  ill  health  very  frequently  pre- 
vented his  officiating,  and  it  had  become  evident,  that  if  he 
remained  at  Newport  he  must  die,  he  determined  to  visit 
South-Carolina;  and  in  the  course  of  the  winter  form  his 
decision  as  to  his  future  residence.     With  singular  delicacy 
and   candour  he  stated  to  the  Vestr}^,  that  he  felt  himself 
under  obligations  to  St.  Philip's  Church  for  their  esteem, 
evinced  in  their  having  twice  invited  him  to  be  their  Minis- 
ter; and  that  on  this  account  he  would  prefer  that  Church,, 
should   it   be   vacant,  and  he   should  conclude   to  remove. 
During  several  months  he  deliberated  seriously  on  the  course 
which  duty  called  him  to  pursu?.     He  made  it  a  subject  of 
frequent  and  anxious  prayer,  and  asked  the  counsel  and  the 


3ISII0P    DEHON.  537 

prayers  of  pious  friends.  He  had  the  greatest  confidence  in 
prayer;  and  would  quote  that  promise,  "  If  two  of  you  shall 
agree  on  earth  as  touching  any  thing  that  they  shall  ask,  it 
shall  be  do?ie  for  them  of  My  Father  which  is  in  heaven^" 
Before,  ahnost,  every  undertaking — the  writing  of  a  sermon, 
the  commencing  of  a  journey,  attendance  on  a  society,  and  a 
visit  of  business — he  would  have  recourse  to  prayer. 

He  had  for  seven  years  the  sole  charge  of  the  large  con- 
gregation of  St.  Michael's  Church.  He  wished  the  funds  of 
the  Church  to  arrnninlafe,  so  that  his  successor  might  have 
an  assistant ;  but  he  was  unwilling  that  they  should  be  im- 
paired for  his  accommodation.  His  labours  here  were  very 
great.  On  the  Lord's  Day,  he  has  been  engaged  in  his  du- 
ties, with  little  intermission  for  ten  hours.  He  has  performed 
morning  service,  administered  the  communion,  and  imme- 
diately gone  to  a  sick  chamber — come  thence  to  afternoon 
service,  and  returning  to  the  sick  person,  remained  with  him 
until  nine  o'clock  at  night.  How  often  was  he  seen  at  the 
altar  with  a  body  ready  to  sink,  supported  by  the  vigour  of 
an  intense  devotion!  In  his  sermons  he  constantly  pre- 
sented to  his  hearers  "  Jesus  Christ,  and  Him  crucified'^.'" 
His  first  sermon  was  from  the  text,  "  /  am  not  ashamed  of 
the  Gospel  of  Christ  "^,"  and  his  last  from  these  words,  "  Ye 
are  complete  in  Him^."  He  loved  to  dwell  on  the  nature  of 
the  ordinances,  on  the  characters  of  the  Saints  commemo- 
rated by  the  Church,  and  on  the  excellence  of  the  Liturgy*, 
so  as  to  induce  his  people  to  value  prayer,  and  the  read- 
ing of  the  Scriptures  more,  and  Sermons  less.  He  thought 
that  the  best  preaching  was  that  of  inspired  men,  and  of  our 
Lord  Himself,  contained  in  the  lessons  read  in  the  daily  ser- 

•  Matt,  xviii.  19.  "  1  Cor.  ii.  2. 

'  Rom.  i.  16.  "  Co],  ii.  10. 

*  A  discourse  of  his  on  this  subject,  in  the  first  volume,  was  pub- 
lished at  the  request  of  the  Societi/  for  the  advancetnent  of  Christianity  in 
Pennsylvania,  by  whom  it  is  now  circulated  as  one  of  the  best  tracts  on 
that  subject.  His  discourses  on  Confirmation,  which  are  now  inserted 
in  the  first  volume,  are,  probably,  the  most  complete  vindication  of  that 
ordinance,  to  be  found  in  any  work. 


638  A    FUNEKAL    DISCOURSE    ON 

vice.  He  considered  the  Lord's  Supper  the  great  means  of 
increasing  the  numbers  of  the  faithful,  and  would  have 
wished  to  have  it  administered  every  Sunday :  and  when  he 
became  Bishop,  he  advised  the  Clergy,  in  their  visits  to  the 
vacant  parishes,  every  time  to  *  set  up  the  altar.''  He  thought 
that  in  general,  more  good  was  to  be  expected  from  public 
prayer,  the  administration  of  the  Sacraments,  catechizing, 
and  the  visits  of  the  Clergy,  than  from  preaching :  and  that 
too  many  came  to  Church  to  hear,  not  to  pray ;  to  gratify 
taste  and  curiosity,  rather  than  to  humble  tliemselves  before 
God.  He  believed  that  they  who  came  to  Church  from  in- 
correct motives,  might  be  induced  in  time  to  attend  from 
right  motives:  and  would  occasionally  allure  such  persons 
with  a  feast  of  fancy  *,  which  showed  his  powers  in  this  way. 
In  his  style  he  preferred  the  persuasive  to  the  vehement 
manner,  and  resembled  Bishop  Home,  and  St.  John,  (his 
favoui'ite  apostle,)  rather  than  Horsley,  or  the  apostles  St. 
Peter  and  St.  Paul.  His  delivery  was  slow,  partly  from 
choice,  for  he  remembered  the  precept,  "  Be  not  rash  with 
thy  mouthy  and  let  not  thine  heart  be  hasty  to  utter  any  thing 
before  God^.""  In  prayer  he  was  engaged  heart  and  mind, 
and  succeeded,  to  a  very  great  degree,  in  losing  sight  of  the 
objec-ts  around  him.  In  the  offices  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's 
Supper,  his  whole  deportment  was  most  solemn  and  affect- 
ing. In  catechizing  the  little  children  he  had  particular 
pleasure,  and  was  so  interesting  that  their  parents  liked  to 
be  present.  In  the  chamber  of  sickness  and  affliction  he 
was  often  seen,    and   was  always  a  most  welcome  visitor  f. 


*  This  remark  will  naturally  revive  a  recollection  of  his  sermon 
from  the  text,  "  There  teas  a  garden  ;  and  in  the  garden  a  new  sepulchre." 
John  xix.  41. — Vide  the  8\st  Sermon  in  this  collection. 

*  Eccles.  V.  2. 

•)-  It  had  been  a  custom  among  the  pious  in  our  community,  on  the 
death  of  a  friend,  to  seclude  themselves  even  iVom  the  public  services  of 
the  Church,  but  he  succeeded  to  a  great  extent  in  recommending  the 
better  example  of  king  David,  who  under  the  loss  of  his  child,  went 
to  the  temple  for  consolation.     Vide  the  87th  Sermon  in  this  collection, 

7 


BISHOP    DEHON.  539 

In  the  day  of  trouble,  strangers,  and  the  members  of  other 
congregations  sought  with  avidity  his  counsel  and  consola- 
tion. He  visited  the  people  of  his  charge,  not  as  often  as  he 
and  they  wished,  b.ut  as  often  as  his  more  important  duties 
would  permit.  If  in  this  matter  he  made  any  distinction,  it 
was  in  favour  of  families  in  humble  life.  He  was  a  most 
patient  instructor  of  the  illiterate  Africans.  He  encouraged 
them  to  partake  of  the  ordinance  of  Baptism,  and  while 
they  were  preparing  for  it,  had  them  frequently  at  his  house. 
In  accommodating  his  instructions  to  their  capacities,  an 
undertaking  entirely  new  to  him,  he  succeeded  to  a  remark- 
able degree.  With  his  brethren  of  the  Clergy,  he  had  now 
attained  the  influence  of  a  Bishop.  If  there  was  any  differ- 
ence of  opinion  on  ecclesiastical  affairs,  they  were  led  to 
serious  deliberation,  and  this  usually  terminated  in  a  con- 
viction that  he  was  right,  and  they  were  wrong.  Under  his  in- 
fluence '  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Society  for  the  advancement 
of  Christianity  in  South  Carolina^  was  organized  and  attained 
unrivalled  prosperity;  measures  were  adopted  for  restoring 
the  harmony  of  our  state  convention,  which  in  the  course  of 
a  few  years  completely  eflTected  that  desirable  object;  and 
a  general  disposition  was  produced  in  the  minds  of  both  the 
Clergy  and  the  laity,  to  adhere  strictly  to  the  *  rules  of  our 
excellent  Church,  particularly  in  relation  to  Baptism,  and 
to  the  observance  of  the  festivals.  I  repeat,  these  important 
results  were  accomplished,  before  he  was  elected  Bishop,  by 
the  influence  of  his  kind  and  sensible  expostulations. 

In  the  year  1812,  the  Convention,  by  an  unanimous  vote, 
elected  him  our  Bishop.  Into  the  views  of  the  pious,  in  re- 
lation to  the  necessity  of  this  order,  he  had  heartily  entered, 
but  he  had  sincerely  hoped  that  the  choice  wolild  not  fall 
on  himself.      This  was  probably  the  most  anxious  moment 

*  He  was  strict  in  his  compliance  with  the  Rubrics  and  Canons  of  (he 
Church  in  obedience  to  liis  solemn  ordination  vows,  and  he  thought  also, 
that  these  regulations  contained,  in  general,  the  collected  wisdom  of  the 
pious  in  many  ages;  and  that  the  unity  and  peace  of  the  Church  were 
endangered  by  a  deviation  from  them. 


54'0  A    FUNERAL    DISCOURSE   ON 

of  his  life.     In  accepting,  said  he,  there  is  much  responsl- 
bihty  incurred,  but  there  is,  perhaps,   as  much  in  decUn- 
ing.     He    was    accustomed    to  look  at  both  sides  of  every 
question.     He  put  out  of  view  every  consideration  but  the 
Church.     He  saw  that  this  office  would  locate  him  in  this 
state,  whereas,  if  his  health  should  be  established,  he  might 
return  to  his  native  country  and  near  relations.     He  saw  the 
labours,    the  privations,    the  anxieties,    and  the  misconcep- 
tions to  which  he  would  be  exposed  in  the  exercise  of  this 
office,  so  little  known  in  our  country.     He  saw  that  it  would 
take  him  from  the  sphere,  endeared  to  him  by  natural  incli- 
nation, by  early  association  and  habit,  and  place  him  on  an 
elevation  afflicting  to  his  diffidence:  for  to  him,  as  to  Ad- 
dison, honours  were  burdens.     He  felt,    above  all,    a  most 
humble    conviction    of  his    own    imperfections,    and   insuffi- 
ciency in  himself,  for  a   station  of  such  high  trust.     He  de- 
voted much  time  to  prayer.     He  read,  with  particular  atten- 
tion, in  the  Epistles  to  Timothy  and  Titus,  the  qualifications 
of  a  Bishop.     He  frankly  stated  his  difficulties  to  his  bre- 
thren of  the  Clergy.    They  intreated  him  to  accept  the  office, 
and  declared  their  impression,    that  Providence  seemed  to 
make  it  his  duty.     He  formed,  at  this  time,  two  resolutions, 
should  he  obtain  the  office  of  Bishop,  that  it  should  never 
be  to  him  a  source  of  emolument ;  and  that  he  would  endea- 
vour to  be  more  condescending  than  ever,  as  he  expressed 
it.  '  the  servant  of  all.'     He  committed  to  a  paper,  (which 
has  been  discovered  since  his  decease)  the  following  obser- 
vations : — '  It  having  pleased  Almighty  God  to  permit  me 
to  be  called  to  the  office  of  a  Bishop  in  His  Church,  I  ought 
to  be  humbled  to  the  dust,  by  the  sense  of  my  unworthi- 
ness ;  and  penetrated  with  gratitude,  love,  and  fear,  for  this 
undeserved  distinction. — Lord!  what  am  /,  or  what  is  my 
Fathers  house,  that  thou  shouldest  bring  me  to  this  honour  in 
thy  service  ? — I  have  examined  my  past  life.     Oh  !  how  little 
do  I  find,  with  which  to  be  satisfied !  how  much  to  condemn ! 
"  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner^!"    Would  men  inspect 

^  Luke  xviii.  13. 


BISHOP    DEHON.  541 

themselves  closely  by  the  light  of  God's  word,  how  little 
cause  would  they  find  in  themselves  for  self-complacency. — 
Alas,  my  best  services  have  been  alloyed  with  too  much  sel- 
fishness ;  and  conscience  accuses  me  of  many  sins.  Never 
have  I  felt  myself  so  poor  and  needy,  so  culpable  and 
wretched,  so  much  a  subject  for  mercy,  rather  than  favour. 
"  Lord,  what  is  man,  that  Thou  hast  such  respect  unto  Mm,  or 
the  son  of  man  that  Thou  so  regardest  him^?"  At  times  I  have 
felt  as  if  I  would  give  worlds,  if  I  had  them,  could  I  but  go 
spotless  into  the  office  whereunto  I  have  been  permitted 
to  be  called.  Perhaps  there  is  something  of  pride  and  self- 
love  in  this.  *'  There  is  none  good  but  One^."  All  whom  He 
has  employed,  from  among  men,  have  been  sinners.  In  Him 
alone  can  there  be  any  glorying ;  to  Him  must  be  all  glory. 
Saul  who  persecuted,  and  Peter  who  denied  Jesus,  were  em- 
ployed as  Apostles  by  Him,  and  their  conversion  has  scarcely 
done  less  than  their  labours  for  His  cause. — I  hope  God  has 
presented  me  with  this  most  humbling  view  of  myself,  that 
I  may  perceive  fully  at  my  entrance  on  this  office,  that  if  I 
stand  at  all,  it  must  be  in  the  worthiness  of  Christ :  that  in 
me  there  is  no  good  thing  to  give  me  authority,  power, 
complacency  or  confidence :  that  I  must  act  by  His  autho- 
rity and  power ;  be  a  dependant  of  His ;  and  owe  every 
thing  to  Him  ; — especially  that  I  may  know  and  feel  the  ab- 
solute necessity,  the  amazing  extent,  the  obliging  power  of 
His  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus ;  and  so  have  a  fuller  sense  of  the 
importance  of  the  treasure  entrusted  to  me.  My  best  delight 
has  been  in  His  law.     My  fondest  joy  *  ***  *.' 

This  abrupt  termination  shews  that  we  have  here  only  a 
fragment.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  concluding 
reflections,  if  they  were  ever  committed  to  paper,  have  not 
been  found. 

He  was  consecrated  to  the  Episcopate  on  the  15th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1812.  His  life  had  been  rather  retired,  but  he  soon 
became  familiar  with  all  the  duties  of  a  public  station.  In 
the  chair  of  the  state  convention,  he  exhibited  the  utmost  dig- 

g  Ps,  cxliv.  3.  ,  Matt.  xix.  17. 


.54^  A    FUNERAL    DISCOURSE    ON 

nity  and  impartiality,  and  greatly  facilitated  business  by  the 
collectedness  and  discrimination  of  his  mind.  In  adminis- 
tering the  Episcopal  rites,  lie  had  an  expression  of  air  and 
countenance  of  the  most  engaging  character ;  and  he  pre- 
served his  interesting  manner  throughout  the  sen'ices, 
although  they  were  protracted  for  many  hours,  and  some- 
times interrupted  by  want  of  sympathy  in  those  around 
him  *.  In  his  visitations,  he  never  lost  sight  of  his  proper 
business.  In  the  social  circle,  the  affairs  of  the  Church 
were  made  the  subject  of  conversation,  introduced  by  him, 
and  continued  as  long  as  there  was  any  prospect  of  doing 
^ood.  In  the  vacant  parishes,  the  candidates  for  the  ordi- 
nances were  often  privately  instructed  by  himself;  and  he 
would  go  many  miles  out  of  his  way  to  visit  the  Christian 
inquirer,  the  sick  and  the  afflicted,  who  had  no  minister  of 
their  own.  His  duties  to  a  large  congregation  would  not 
permit  his  absence  for  any  length  of  time  :  many  of  the  pa- 
rishes were  remote  from  his  residence,  and  his  episcopal 
visits  were  necessarily  made  during  six  months  of  the  year, 
as  in  the  summer,  the  planters  usually  leave  their  home : 
his  journeys,  therefore,  occasioned  much  exposure  and  fa- 
tigue. He  sometimes  travelled  beyond  midnight ;  and,  after 
holding  service  in  one  church,  has  had  to  hasten  to  another 
at  a  distance,  without  any  of  that  refreshment  which  a  grate- 
ful people  wished  to  bestow.  He  succeeded,  under  the  Divine 
blessing,  in  his  endeavours  to  revive  the  worship  of  the 
Church  in  several  parishes,  where  it  had  long  been  neg- 
lected ;  and  to  establish  it  in  some  places,  where  it  had 
never  been  known  ;  among  which,  Columbia  may  be  men- 
tioned as  a  station  of  peculiar  importance,  the  capital  of 
the  state  and  the  seat  of  its  college.  He  felt  much  solici- 
tude for  those  members  of  the  Church  scattered  through  the 
country,  and  particularly  in  the  Western  districts,  who  had 
no  opportunity   of  enjoying   her  ordinances,    and    corres- 

*  His  appearance  while  in  the  act  of  '  laying  on  of  hands,'  and  at  a 
consecration,  as  he  proceeded  up  the  aisle  is  recollected  by  many,  as  of 
a  character  which  the  best  efforts  of  the  pencil  could  never  pourtray. 


BISHOP    DEHON.  543 

ponded  with  some  of  them  on  the  subject  of  the  course  they 
should  pursue,  until  they  became  sufficiently  numerous  to 
form  congregations.  The  candidates  for  the  ministry,  in 
our  church,  having  no  regular  instructor,  ouv  bishop  volun- 
tarily undertook  that  arduous  office.  He  patiently  examined 
the  abstracts  of  the  principal  works  in  theology,  which,  by 
his  advice  they  had  made.  He  conversed  with  them  with 
the  freedom  of  a  brother,  while  with  parental  attention  he 
endeavoured  to  correct  their  errors,  to  cultivate  their  good 
qualities,  and  to  mould  their  understandings  and  disposi- 
tions for  the  sacred  office.  He  strictly  examined  their  at- 
tainments when  they  applied  for  holy  orders :  and,  in  no 
case,  ever  consented  to  dispense  with  a  single  requisition  of 
the  canons.  He  had  a  great  affection  for  his  clergy.  He 
loved  them  as  the  ministers  of  his  Lord.  He  considered 
them  as  near  and  intimate  relations.  In  every  work  he 
sought  their  co-operation.  At  the  altar  he  loved  to  see 
them  gathered  around  him ;  in  his  visitations,  he  wished 
one  or  more  to  accompany  him :  and  in  this  feeling,  he 
thought  he  was  supported  by  the  example  of  our  Lord,  who 
sent  out  his  ministers  by  two  and  two. — In  their  concerns, 
even  of  the  minutest  nature,  he  felt  an  interest ;  and  no- 
thing was  omitted  to  befriend  them,  that  influence  and  ex- 
ertion, counsel  and  liberality  could  do.  His  purse  was  open 
to  all  of  them  who  needed.  To  some  he  gave,  to  others 
lent.  Their  families  were  dear  to  him.  And,  whether  the 
last  moments  of  a  wife  were  to  be  soothed,  or  a  beloved 
child  educated  for  usefulness,  he  was  always  ready.  To  serve 
the  Clergy  he  never  spared  himself.  He  "  laboured  more 
abundantly^  than  they  all.  He  was  more  than  their  Bishop ; 
their  friend  and  father.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  he 
never  addressed  a  charge  to  his  Clergy.  This  composition, 
he  conceived,  claimed  more  than  ordinary  excellence,  and 
his  multiplied  duties  did  not  affi^rd  him  sufficient  leisure. 
But  in  his  annual  addresses  to  the  convention,  which  were  pub- 
lished, he  brought  to  the  view  of  the  Clergy  and  the  Church 
in  general,  the  most  suitable  cautions  and  directions.  In 
one  of  these  addresses,  it  will  be  recollected,   he   recom- 


544  A    FUNERAL    DISCOURSE    ON 

mended  with  affectionate  earnestness,  the  steady  observance 
of  family  worship. 

The  General  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  CJmrch, 
was  held  in  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1814.  As  it  was  a  time 
of  war,  he  would  have  to  go  by  land,  and  return  at  a  sickly 
season,  through  a  sickly  country  :  but  his  presence  was  a 
duty,  and  private  feeling  and  convenience  were  not  re- 
garded. He  returned  in  August,  and  was  sick.  With  this 
experience  of  the  hazard  of  a  return  to  our  climate  at  Mid- 
summer, he  again  went  during  the  last  spring  to  New  York, 
to  attend  upon  the  general  Convention.  Here  his  reputa- 
tion was  gloriously  consummated.  He  never  appeared  to 
more  advantage.  His  influence  seems  to  have  pervaded 
both  houses  of  the  Convention.  The  establishment  of  a  semi- 
nary, under  the  patronage  and  controul  of  the  whole  Church, 
for  the  education  of  candidates  for  the  ministry,  was  a  measure 
attempted  by  him  without  success  at  the  preceding  general 
Convention,  and  still  anxiously  desired.  He  had  to  en- 
counter strong  opposition,  but  he  prevailed :  and  by  conci- 
liating suggestions,  induced  a  change  of  opinion  in  some  of 
those  who  had  differed  from  him.  He  felt  on  this  occasion 
the  most  lively  gratitude  and  joy,  and  considering  the  mea- 
sure of  vital  importance  to  the  Church,  he  declared  that  its 
adoption  was  among  the  happiest  events  of  his  life.  The 
Theological  Seminary  has  received  benefactions  to  a  consi- 
derable amount ;  and  should  it  meet  with  success,  (of  which 
at  present  there  is  good  hope,)  it  will  be  a  splendid  mo- 
nument to  the  memory  of  our  Bishop.  This  one  act  may 
claim  for  him  the  gratitude  of  the  whole  Church  to  the  latest 
posterity. 

But,  (to  return  to  the  narrative,)  in  about  six  weeks, 
from  the  time  of  his  departure,  our  Bishop  was  again  with 
us,  in  the  exercise  of  his  duties,  with  his  accustomed  acti- 
vity. On  the  last  day  of  his  health  he  was  at  Sullivan's 
Island,  occupied  with  the  concerns  of  the  Church.  He  at- 
tended to  the  small  as  well  as  the  great ;  and  it  was  plea- 
sant to  see  him,  who  had  so  lately  been  a  chief  in  our  chief 
Ecclesiastical   Council,  directing  his  mind  to  the  minutest 


BISHOP    DEHON.  545 

matters  in  the  economy  of  a  small  place  of  worship :  that  its 
seats  might  be  arranged  so  as  best  to  accommodate  the  con- 
gregation, and  to  afford  a  proper  situation  for  the  military 
stationed  at  that  island.  His  last  visit,  and  that  within  a 
few  hours  of  his  sickness,  was  to  the  chamber  of  a  bereaved 
mother.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  seeds  of  his 
disease  were  received  in  the  house  of  a  clergyman,  whose 
family  in  sickness  and  trouble  he  frequently  visited,  though 
he  had  expressed  a  conviction  of  the  hazard  to  his  health 
in  doing  so.  He  went  to  the  grave  of  the  wife  ;  and,  in 
true  affection  for  an  absent  brother,  patiently  remained  til 
all  was  done  *.  His  illness  was  too  severe  to  admit  much 
conversation.  But  the  greatest  sufferings  covUd  not  disturb 
the  serenity  of  his  mind.  To  his  attendants  he  was  uni- 
formly kind.  Having  made  a  sudden  exclamation  from  pain, 
he  immediately  observed,  '  Do  not  suppose  that  I  murmur  :' 
and,  to  calm  the  bosom  of  affection,  he  referred  to  that  pas- 
sage of  Scripture,  "Be  still  then,  and  know  that  I  am  God^." 
The  33d  chapter  of  Job  having  been  read  to  him,  he  re- 
marked, *  /  do  not  hnow  whether,  (as  there  expressed'',)  my 
jlesh  will  ever  again  be  fresher  than  a  child!  s ;  but  this  I  know, 
I  am  just  where  I  would  be,  in  the  hands  of  God.'  He  de- 
clared that  his  trust  in  God  had  never  been  shaken  ;  that  he 
knew  that  he  should  carry  to  God  at  death  much  sinfulness, 
but  that  is  covered ;  he  said  a  second  time,  with  emphasis, 
*  That  is  covered.'  Adverting  to  his  particular  disease,  he 
said,  '  Why  is  it  that  the  stranger  is  subject  to  this  calamity 
from  which  the  native  is  exempt  ? — but  God  hath  set  the  one 
over  against  the  other  ^ J'  On  his  last  day,  he  was  asked  what 
I  have  mentioned  in  the  beginning  of  this  discourse :  and 
also,  '  With  what  subject  are  your  thoughts  now  employed  ?' 
— and  he  replied,  '  that  I  would  endeavour  to  be  a  more  per- 
fect being.'     '  But  you  do  not  depend  on  your  own  merits 

*  Tlie  last  letters  he  wrote  were  to  the  two  absent  relatives  of  the  de- 
ceased, to  comfort  them  under  their  affliction. 

*Ps.xlvi.  10.  ^Wcr.'lo. 

t  Ecclesiaslcs  vii.  14. 
VOL.  11.  N   a 


5i6  A    FUNERAL    DISCOURSE    ON 

for  salvation !'  '  Oh  no !  I  rest  on  the  Saviour ;'  or  words  to 
that  effect.  He  quoted  from  one  of  our  Collects,  the  words 
*  Increase  and  multiply  upon  us  Thy  mercy ;' — and  thus  com- 
mented— '  increase,  not  only  increase — but  multiply.'  His 
last  quotation  from  Scripture  was,  "  God  of  Abraham,  of 
Isaac,  and  of  Jacob  V  expressive,  as  I  suppose,  of  his  con- 
fidence in  that  Divine  faithfulness,  on  which  the  Patriarchs 
rested,  which  is  everlasting,  from  generation  to  generation. 
As  his  end  drew  near,  he  was  silent  and  still.  His  eyes 
looked  lovelier,  as  if  fixed  on  the  angels  ready  to  receive  his 
spirit.  His  countenance  had  the  expression  of  his  happiest 
and  most  pious  moments.  It  was  turned  from  earth  and 
friendship,  unto  heaven  and  God.  "  Mark — the  upright : 
for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace ""." 

The  great  and  peculiar  characteristic  of  Bishop  Dehon 
was  devotedness  to  God  and  His  Ministry.  In  this  cause  he 
left  his  quiet  home,  his  select  friends,  his  favourite  studies 
and  contemplations,  and  entered  into  general  society,  for 
which  he  had  no  taste,  and  on  a  life  of  perpetual  activity, 
which  was  uncongenial  both  with  his  disposition  and  his 
habits.  In  this  cause  he  spared  no  sacrifice,  and  declined 
no  difficulty  and  danger;  he  was  willing  to  spend  and  be 
spent,  and  would  allow  nothing  to  divert  him  from  it.  But 
his  conduct,  in  the  other  relations  of  life,  ought  not  to  pass 
unnoticed ;  for  in  them  also,  "  he  was  faithful  unto  death.'^ 
As  a  good  citizen  it  was  his  uniform  practice  to  call  on  the 
Chief  Magistrate  of  the  State,  soon  after  his  election,  and 
express  devout  wishes  for  the  prosperity  of  his  Administra- 
tion. He  prayed,  and  requested  his  friends  to  pray  for  his 
Country.  He  suggested  the  propriety  of  several  of  the 
Fasts  and  Thanksgivings  ordered  by  the  Civil  Authority. 
In  the  possibility  of  a  separation  of  the  union  he  had  the  so- 
licitude of  a  true  patriot.  He  expressed  for  the  Father  of 
his  Country  filial  respect  and  affection,  in  a  Sermon  preached 
on  the  Sunday  after  the  intelligence  of  his  death  *.     He  pa- 

'  Matt.  xxii.  32,  «>  I's.  xxxvii.  37. 

*  The  Sermon  on  (he  death  of  Washington  is  not  in  this  collection. 


BISHOP   DEHON.  o47 

Irohizctl  important  literary  institutions  and  publications,  not 
to  avail  himself  of  their  advantages,  for  he  had  not  suffi- 
cient leisure ;  but  because  he  considered  them  valuable   to 
the  country.     He  rejoiced  in  the  establishment  of  the  Free 
Schools,   and  when  their  suppression  was  thought  probable, 
conversed  on  the  subject  with  men  of  influence.     He  has 
left,  in  print,  two  judicious  plans  for  securing  to  the  poor 
of  this  city  *  the  knowledge  and  the  Ordinances  of  Religion, 
and  he  went  into  its  bye-lanes  for  the  express  purpose  of 
making  himself  acquainted  with  their  condition.     To  his  sug- 
gestion it  is  owing,  under  God,  that  the  unhappy  beings,  who 
have  their  abode  in  the  Poor-House,  have  the  Gospel  sta- 
tedly preached  unto  them.     He  contemplated,  with  the  feel- 
ings of  a  Patriot  and  a  Christian,  the  moral  condition  of  a 
large  class  of  our  population  f ;  and  he  believed,  that  it  was 
not  only  a  duty  to  instruct  them  in  Christianity  ;  but  that  the 
safety  of  the  country  required  that  they  should  be  instructed, 
not  by  the  ignorant  and  the  visionary,  but  by  regular  Minis- 
ters, in  the  pure  principles  of  that  religion  which  commands 
servants  to  be  obedient  to  their  own  masters  ",  and  contented 
in  that  state  of  life  in  which  God  had  placed  them.     In  short, 
though  the  Church  was  the  proper  field  of  Bishop  Dehon, 
few  men  have  done  more  for  the  country. 

In  the  intercourse  of  society  he  was  courteous  to  all,  but 
he  flattered  nobody.  He  was  as  tender  of  the  feelings  and 
reputation  of  others,  as  of  his  own,  and  equally  so  in  their 
absence  and  presence.  He  was  careful  to  avoid  giving,  and 
very  slow  to  take,  offence.  The  wrong  must  be  obvious,  and 
intended,  before  he  would  censure  it,  and  then  it  was  evident 
that  he  was  discharging  a  painful  duty.  He  declared  his 
sentiments  in  relation  to  wicked  conduct  without  fear  or 
affection;    and    when    it    was    necessary,    with    the    bold- 

*  One  of  these  had  relation  to  Sunday  Schools,  and  the  other  to 
the  erection  of  a  Church,  in  which  special  accommodation  should  be 
made  for  the  poor. 

t  The  Slaves.  "  Eph.  vi.  5. 


o48  A    FUNERAL    DISCOURSE    ON 

ness  of  an  Apostle,  to  the  offender,  to  his  face.  lie  had 
charity  for  those  whom  he  conceived  to  be  in  error.  But  he 
never  could  be  seduced  by  a  specious  liberality,  to  do  any 
thing  which  might  reasonably  be  considered  a  compromise 
of  his  own  principles.  *  Charity^  (he  used  to  remark) '  re- 
quires me  to  bear  with  ilie  errors  of  my  brother,  not  to  adopt  or 
to  approve  them.''  He  was  forgiving  to  those  who  had  injured 
him.  If  he  suffered  long,  he  was  still  kind ;  when  he  was 
reviled,  he  imitated  his  Lord  and  Master,  and  reviled  not 
again;  and  when  unjustly  accused,  '  he  answered  not.'  He 
was  most  beneficent.  He  attached  no  importance  to  the 
possession  of  wealth,  except  so  far  as  it  would  enable  him 
to  go  more  about  and  do  more  good.  He  had  for  many  years 
appropriated  one  tenth  of  his  income  to  charitable  purposes ; 
but  latterly  he  gave  one  seventh ; — observing,  that  Christians 
ought  to  do  more  than  the  Hebrews  did,  and  that  this  pro- 
portion seemed  to  be  suggested  by  the  circumstance,  that 
God  required  of  man  one  seventh  of  his  time.  But  he  found 
reasons  for  giving  away  still  more.  He  lent  sums  which  could 
not  be  returned.  He  never  laid  up  money  from  his  income, 
and  he  never  wished  to  do  so  ;  for  he  used  to  say,  *  he  had 
never  wanted,  and  could  not  doubt  the  future  good  provi- 
dence of  God  towards  him.'  In  this  way,  he  had  sources 
of  happiness,  far  more  valuable  than  lands  and  houses.  He 
had  the  blessings  of  the  widow,  and  the  affection  unto  death 
of  the  tradesmen,  whom  he  had  assisted  in  business  ;  and 
of  the  youths  whom  he  had  educated.  Often,  as  he  con- 
templated the  embarrassments  of  an  honest  man,  would  a 
sigh  that  he  could  not  relieve  him,  escape  his  benevolent 
heart,  and  he  would  say,  *  Ten  thousand  dollars  would  not 
}^  missed  by  a  wealthy  man,  and  how  much  happiness 
would  it  here  dispense  *.'  Thus  liberal  himself,  he  suffered 
no  favourable  opportunity  to  escape  for  exciting  the  libera- 

*  His  feeling  for  others  was  pleasingly  exhibited  in  his  last  sick- 
ness. Lavender  being  offered  lo  him,  he  thought  immediately  of  the 
distress  of  a  sick  person,  and  desired  that  a  bottle  should  be  sent  to  her, 
observiug, '  I  have  felt  much  refreshed  by  it.' 


BISJiOP  DEHOX.  o4<9 

lity  of  others.  And  he  enforced  the  claims  of  charity  on  the 
affluent,  with  a  delicacy  which  was  almost  irresistible.  To 
his  influence,  the  pious  and  the  poor  are  indebted  for  seve- 
ral generous  benefactions  and  legacies,  as  honourable  to  the 
givers^  as  they  have  been  valuable  to  the  receivers.  In  the 
near  relations  of  life,  he  appeared  with  uniform  tenderness 
of  heart,  and  stedfastness  of  Christian  principle.  He  was 
a  dutiful  son,  a  kind  brother,  an  affectionate  husband  and 
parent,  and  the  most  generous  and  faithful  of  friends.  Of 
his  mother,  who  spent  with  him  at  Newport  most  of  her  time, 
he  delighted  to  converse.  He  often  thought  of  her  in  his 
meditations,  for  at  such  times  the  expression  would  escape 
him;  *  Spirit  of  my  mother !  where  art  thou  ?'  He  cherished 
most  fondly  the  hope  of  meeting  her  in  lieaven.  He  was 
also  most  tenderly  attached  to  the  memory  of  an  early 
friend  *,  with  whom  he  had  passed  several  years  of  close 
and  uninterrupted  intimacy :  and  it  was  delightful  to  listen 
to  his  glowing  description  of  their  connection,  and  the 
warmth  of  his  expressions  on  the  value  of  friendship.  Of 
his  feelings  towards  the  dearest  of  his  relatives,  I  would 
that  I  were  allowed  to  speak,  for  they  gave  rise  to  some  of 
his  most  interesting  remarks.  Blessed  be  God ! — they  will 
afford  unspeakable  comfort  to  the  heart  to  whom  they  be- 
long. 

Of  the  powers  of  his  understanding,  it  may  be  observed, 
that  they  were  of  the  first  order ;  for  in  the  various  situa- 
tions in  which  he  was  called  to  act,  he  always  held  the  first 
rank.  His  talents  were  not  so  generally  noticed  as  his  vir- 
tues, and  as  those  of  other  men  who  were  really  his  infe- 
riors :  for  they  were  concealed  in  a  great  measure  by  his 
uncommon  diffidence ;  and  also,  if  I  may  so  speak,  by  his 
moral  excellencies;  just  as  the  warmth  of  the  sun  causes 
mankind  to  forget  for  a  time  the  majesty  of  his  beams.  His 
imagination  was  lively,  and  in  early  life  had  been  culti- 
vated.    His  memory  was   remarkably  quick  and  retentive. 

*  Mr.  Francis  Channing,  bis  room  mate  and  only  intimate  companioa 
at  College. 


550  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE  ON 

His  judgment  was  eminently  sound.  His  opinions,  on  sub 
jects  not  connected  with  his  profession,  were  seldom  incor- 
rect, and  were  eagerly  sought  by  his  friends.  He  had  a 
complete  command  of  his  intellectual  resources,  and  could 
use  them  with  equal  advantage  in  public  and  in  his  study. 
His  mind  had  an  energy  which  was  not  to  be  controlled  by 
the  fatigue  of  the  body.  In  the  services  of  the  Sanctuary, 
long  protracted,  when  his  body  was  ready  to  sink,  his  mind 
was  still  in  full  exercise ;  and  after  a  tedious  journey  he 
could  apply  himself  during  the  greater  part  of  the  night  to 
the  preparation  of  a  Sermon,  or  to  a  conversation  main- 
tained with  his  usual  ability.  His  attainments  in  know- 
ledge were  extraordinary,  considering,  that  from  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  he  had  been  occupied  with  the  active  duties 
of  a  large  congregation,  and  he  was  continually  adding  to 
his  stock  of  improvement.  His  studies  being  interrupted 
during  the  day,  were  often  continued  through  the  greater 
part  of  the  night;  and  it  appears,  in  some  instances,  to  the 
dawn  of  morning  *. 

I  will  now  briefly  state  what  I  conceive  to  be  prominent 
excellencies  in  the  character  of  Bishop  Dehon.  In  the  first 
place,  inflexibility.  He  was  careful  to  ascertain  the  right 
course  of  conduct.  He  never  acted  precipitately.  He  re- 
flected long,  and  consulted  books  and  wise  men.  But 
when  his  opinion  was  once  settled — to  adopt  the  remark, 
made  of  him  on  a  particular  occasion,  by  the  excellent 
Bishop  White — '  Nothing  could  move  him.'  This  rendered 
his  conduct  remarkably  uniform  and  steady:  foi",  on  all 
questions  of  importance,  his  opinion  had  been  settled.     He 

*  By  unwearied  application  to  his  studies,  he  had  injured  his  con- 
stitution which  was  not  naturally  very  strong.  As  he  was  exposed  to 
frequent  interruption  during  the  day,  his  studies  were  protracted  to  the 
hour  of  midnight.  I  have  heard  him  say,  that  the  dawn  of  morning 
frequently  found  him  at  his  books.  He  did  not  approve  of  midnight 
studies,  yet  he  could  not  overcome  his  love  of  conversing  with  the 
oracles  of  God,  and  the  living  monuments  of  the  mighty  dead,  in  the 
calm  and  silent  hours  of  night.  May  I  not  say  that  this  was  the  only 
instance,  in  which  he  practised  what  he  disapproved  ?     Dr.  C. 


BISHOP  DEHON.  551 

was  precisely  the  person  described  by  the  ancient  morahst: 

'  ■ — ■ Fixed  and  steady  to  his  trust, 

*  Inflexible  to  truth,  and  obstinately  just.' 

But  no  one  was  ever  more  accommodating  to  the  incUnationa 
of  others,  on  occasions  that  did  not  involve  moral  principle. 
He  united  in  an  eminent  degree  stedfastness  of  purpose  with 
gentleness  of  manner,  the  *  suivater  in  modo,^  and  the  '  for- 
titer  in  re'  His  character  had  the  ornament  of  meekness. 
The  cares  of  life,  and  the  vexations  inseparable  from  an  in- 
tercourse with  mankind,  were  not  permitted  to  ruifle  his 
temper.  In  circumstances  similar  to  those  in  which  Moses 
had  been  placed,  he  was  acknowledged  by  all  to  be  like  him 
indeed,  very  meek  *. 

Another  excellence  in  his  character  was  discretion.  He 
knew  when  it  was  proper  to  act  or  not  to  act,  to  appear  or  to 
be  silent.  This  quality  made  him  sometimes  appear  unso- 
cial, but  it  rendered  him  most  valuable  in  his  public  employ- 
ments. The  members  of  his  congregation  could  consult  him 
on  the  most  delicate  questions  with  a  certainty  that  his  pru- 
dence would  let  nothing  escape  him.  His  sense  of  gratitude 
ought  to  be  mentioned,  for  it  was  peculiarly  lively.  He  was 
grateful  for  the  smallest  favours.  He  seemed  never  to  have 
forgotten  the  little  attentions  of  hospitality  which  he  re- 
ceived on  his  first  visit  to  S.  Carolina,  and  took  every 
opportunity  to  return  the  kindness  to  the  persons  them- 
selves, and  their  connections.  For  the  lesser  comforts  of 
life,  which  are  often  unnoticed  by  the  pious,  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  expressing  his   gratitude   to  the  Almighty  Giver. 

*  In  illustration  of  his  self-command  the  following  circumstance  is 
related.  Many  years  ago  it  became  necessary  to  extract  from  his  neck 
a  wen  of  considerable  size,  and  the  surgeon  wished  to  employ  two 
persons  to  hold  him.  But  he  refused,  and  during  a  painful  operation, 
in  which  the  slightest  motion  would,  it  is  said,  have  cost  him  his  life, 
exhibited  a  composure  which  Dr.  Warren  declared  had  never  been 
surpassed.  It  ought  to  be  added,  that  he  was  perfectly  aware  of  the 
hazard  of  the  operation.  He  has  alluded  to  it  in  one  of  his  Sermons,  vol. 
II.  p.  406. 


652  A  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE  OX 

The  healthy  ah*,  the  pleasant  walk,  the  sublime  scene  of 
Sullivan's  Island,  would  spontaneously  turn  his  affections 
to  Heaven,  and  excite  the  praises  of  his  lips  in  that  devout 
hymn  of  thanksgiving,  the  '  Te  Deum/  His  character  was 
strictly  formed  on  Christian  principles  *.  He  referred  every 
thing  to  the  Scriptures.  He  was  accustomed  to  ask  him- 
self. How  would  my  Saviour  have  acted  under  such  circum- 
stances ?  and  in  this  way  resolved  several  questions  of  the 
most  intricate  nature.  In  the  various  situations  in  which  he 
was  placed  through  life,  he  could  always  find  some  precept 
to  guide,  and  some  promise  to  comfort  his  heart.  It  was 
this  complete  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  and  skill  in  ap- 
plying them,  which  rendered  him  so  valuable  a  counsellor 
in  the  time  of  temptation  and  trouble.  He  could  not  be  sa- 
tisfied with  a  cold  performance  of  duty,  but  wished,  in  the 
service  of  God  and  his  fellow-creatures,  to  do  ail  he  could, 
and  to  become  every  day  more  and  more  capable  of  useful- 
ness. He  placed  before  himself  the  standard  of  Scriptural 
perfection,  and  in  dependence  on  the  assistance  of  the  Spi- 
rit of  God,  pursued  it  with  ardour  and  perseverance  even 
unto  death.  To  be  holy  was  his  ruling  desire,  and  was  the 
last  wish  which  he  expressed.  It  was  the  consciousness  of 
his  distance  from  this  standard,  which  rendered  him  so  hum- 
ble and  condescending.  Of  his  faults,  (for  who  is  he  that 
sinneth  not  ?)  I  know  more  from  his  own  declarations  than 
from  observation.  They  were  such  as  persons  in  general 
would  not  have  noticed,  but  they  seldom  escaped  the  atten- 
tion of  his  own  bright  perception. 

In  his  person  he  was  above  the  middle  height,  and  though 
not  slender,  yet  by  no  means  robust.  His  eye  had  the 
greatest  sweetness  of  expression,  and  his  countenance  was 
expressive  chiefly  of  settled  conviction  on  great  points,  and 
of  inward  peace.  When  he  smiled,  it  bore  the  features  of 
benevolence,  and  when  he  looked  grave,  of  piety. 

I  have  thought,  my  friends,  that  this  particular  account  of 

*  He  thought  that  the  religion  founded  on  feeling  rather  than  prin- 
ciple, was  usually  inconsistent  and  short  lived. 


BISHOP    DEiHON. 


553 


a  faithful  man  would  be  useful.     He  was  placed  by  the  Pro- 
vidence of  God  in  a  variety  of  situations,  and  in  all  of  them 
acted  well.     In  youth  and  manhood,  in  sickness  and  health, 
in  adversity  and  prosperity,  in  private  and  pubhc  hfe,  in  the 
world,  in  the  Church,  and  at  the  hour  of  death,  let  us  be 
followers  of  him,  as  he  was  of  Christ.     This  career  of  use- 
fulness is  now  arrested  by  the  hand  of  death.     This  bright 
example  lives  only  in  memory.     Those  lessons  of  wisdom,  to 
which  you  Ustened  with  increasing  delight,  and  which  you 
fondly  hoped  your  children's  children  might  enjoy,  are  now 
hushed  in  the  -ilence  of  the  grave.     The  widow  and  the 
fatherless  have  lost  their  protector  and  patron.     The  hopes 
of  our  Church  are  scattered  to  the  winds.     Surely  this  is  a 
time  to  weep  and  be  sad— to  humble  ourselves  under  the 
mighty  hand  of  God  ;  to  come  into  His  tabernacle  and  fall 
low  on  our  knees  before  His  footstool,  and  to  say,  *'  We  have 
sinned,  and  have  committed  iniquity,  and  have  done  wicTcedly ;  to 
us  belongeth  confusion  of  face  as  at  this  day :  but  to  the  Lord 
our  God  belong  mercies  and  forgiveness "." 

Gentlemen  of  the  Vestry  of  St.  Michael's  Church ;  I  em- 
brace the  present  occasion,  in  behalf  of  the  Clergy  and  the 
Church  in  general,  to  thank  you  for  the  generosity  which, 
overlooking  your  particular  interest,  and  seeking  the  good 
of  the  whole  Church,  added  your  request  to  that  of  the 
Convention,  that  Dr.  Dehon  would  accept  the  Episcopate. 
We  thank  you  for  your  endeavours  to  promote  his  comfort 
while  he  hved,  and  for  the  many  affectionate  tokens  of  re- 
spect which  you  have  evinced  for  his  memory  *.      Under 

°  Dan.  ix.  5. 

*  Among  other  expressions  of  their  respect  and  affection,  the  Vestry 
resolved  that  the  corpse  should  be  buried  beneath  the  altar,  that  a  slab 
with  his  name  and  age  should  cover  the  spot,  and  that  a  monument 
should  be  erected  to  his  memory  in  the  most  conspicuous  place  in  the 
Church.  The  standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese,  in  their  resolutions 
on  the  occasion,  commended  the  Church,  as  under  a  most  heavy 
bereavement,  to  the  prayers  of  all  the  Bishops,  and  of  Episcopalians  in 
general.  The  '  Society  for  the  Relief  of  the  Widows  avd  Orphans  of  the 
Episcopal  Clergy,'  the  *  Society  for  the  Advancemejit  of  Chrisliaiiity  in 

7 


554  A    FUNERAL    DISCOURSE    ON 

your  present  feelings  I  can  wish  you  no  greater  consolation 
than  that  you  may  be  the  honoured  instruments  of  giving  to 
your  Church  another  such  minister.  But  where  will  you  find 
such  a  rare  combination  of  mind  and  manners,  of  know- 
ledge and  goodness,  of  zeal  and  prudence  ?  May  God  pour 
upon  you  the  influences  of  His  Holy  Spirit,  that  you  "  may 
perceive  what  things  you  ought  to  do,  and  also  may  have  grace 
and  power  faithf idly  to  fulfil  the  same.'' 

My  friends  of  St.  Michael's  Congregation ;  On  this  occa- 
sion, while  you  weep  for  yourselves  and  your  children,  you 
have  the  sympathy  of  the  whole  diocese,  of^.other  congrega- 
tions in  this  city,  of  many  persons  in  other  states,  and  of 
the  venerable  Fathers,  the  Bishops  of  our  Church.  To  have 
had  for  several  years  the  services,  the  example,  and  the 
prayers  in  your  behalf,  of  such  a  man  of  God,  is  no  com- 
mon privilege.  May  you  be  suitably  thankful  to  God  ;  and 
as  *  much  has  been  given  you,*  may  it  appear  in  the  end,  that 
*  you  have  profited  much.* 

My  Brethren  of  the  Clergy ;  Our  own  sorrows  are  swal- 
lowed up  by  our  solicitude  for  the  Church.  We  tremble  for 
the  ark  of  God,  for  its  high  priest  is  removed.  We  are 
afraid  that  the  Sheep  will  be  scattered,  now  that  the  Shep- 
herd is  smitten.  We  feel  as  if  we  would  call  on  our  Elijah, 
the  chariot  of  Israel,  and  the  horsemen  thereof,  to  come 
back  to  us ;  to  leave  his  glory,  to  share  our  cares  and  la- 
bours. The  Church  is  now  committed  to  us.  We  cannot 
do  all  we  wish,  let  us  do  all  we  can.  Thanks  be  to  God ! 
her  principles  and  institutions  cannot  fail  to  commend  her 
to  the  affection  and  admiration  of  the  wise  and  good.  Thanks 
be  to  God !    she  has  already  enlisted  in  her  cause  in  this 

South  Carolina,'  and  the  '  Bible  Society,''  entered  into  resolutions  expres- 
sive of  their  deep  sorrow  and  sincere  respect  and  regard.  The  three 
Episcopal  Churches  in  Charleston  were  hung  in  mourning,  and  that  of 
the  German  Lutherans,  who  also  addressed  a  letter  of  condolence  to  <he 
Vestry  of  St.  Michael's ;  and  many  persons  of  both  sexes  in  this  state, 
and  in  Savannah,  put  on  hiack,  'J'hc  body  was  carried  to  its  last  abode 
by  his  Clergy,  and  the  grave  was  tilled  up  by  the  labours  of  the  Vestry, 
and  other  respectable  citizens. 


BISHOP   DEHON.  555 

Diocese,  intelligent  and  virtuous  laymen,  who  would  be  a 
blessing  to  any  Church.  Thanks  be  to  God  !  He  is  on  our 
side — for  He  has  promised  to  be  **  a  wall  of  Jire  round  abou  t 
her,"  and  "  a glorrj  in  the  midst  of  her  p  ;"  and  if  God  be  for 
us,  who  can  be  against  us  ?  To  despair  of  the  Church  would 
be  criminal.  Let  us  guard  her  venerable  fabric  as  our  most 
sacred  inheritance.  Let  us  never  consent  to  remove  the 
smallest  part  of  it,  either  to  please  our  friends,  or  to  conci- 
liate our  enemies.  Let  us  be  united  ourselves,  and  make  it 
a  chief  care  that  the  people  should  be  of  one  heart  and  of 
one  mind.  Let  us  gather  up  the  maxims  of  our  departed 
Bishop  :  and,  in  the  light  of  his  example,  cherish  more  and 
more  the  Apostolical  faith,  the  piety  without  enthusiasm, 
the  zeal  according  to  knowledge,  and  the  manners  of  the 
primitive  Christians.  Let  us  remember  the  time  is  short, 
and  work  diligently  while  it  is  called  to-day.  Let  us  always 
look  to  God  for  direction :  for,  though  St.  Paul  should  plant, 
and  ApoUos  water,  God  only  can  give  the  increase.  O  ye 
ministers  of  the  Lord!  O  ye  servants  of  the  Lord!  pray 
without  ceasing  for  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  Church. 

Zech.  ii.  5. 


THE    END. 


LONDON! 

PRINTED    BY    R.    GILBERT, 

ST.  JOHN'S  SQUARE. 


WORKS  IN  DIVINITY. 

PUBLISHED    BY    C.    AND    J.    RIVINGTON. 

1.  THE  BOOK  OF  COMMON  PRAYER,  with  NOTES  Expla- 
natory, Practical,  aud  Historical,  from  approved  writers  of  the  Church 
of  England,  selected  and  arranged  by  the  Right  Rev.  Richard  Mant, 
D.D.  Lord  Bishop  of  Down.  Third  Edition.  In  one  large  Volume, 
Quarto,  price  £l  16s.  boards;  or  on  Royal  Paper,  £3  I2s. 

2.  The  same  Work,  with  Notes,  selected  from  the  Quarto  Edition* 
In  two  large  Volumes,  8vo.  Price  £1  4s.  in  boards,  or  on  roy%l  paper, 
11.  16s. 

3.  A  CONCORDANCE  lo  the  HOLY  BIBLE  ;  to  which  is  added 
a  Geographical  Index,  with  the  Calendar  and  Table  of  Lessons  ;  de- 
signed to  accompany  any  Quarto  Edition  of  the  Bible,  and  adaptedto 
the  Maps  and  Notes  of  the  Family  Bible,  published  under  the  Direc- 
tion of  the  Society  for  promoting  Christian  Knovviedge.  Edited  by 
James  W.  Bellamy,  M.A.  Rector  of  the  United  Parishes  of  St.  Mary, 
Abchurch,  and  St.  Laurence  Pountney,  aud  Prebendary  of  St.  Paul's. 
Price  5s.  on  Medium,  and  7s.  on  Royal  Paper;  also  in  Royal  8vo. 
Price  8s. 

4.  The  OLD  TESTAMENT,  arranged  on  the  Basis  of  Lightfoot's 
Chronicle,  in  Historical  and  Chronological  Order,  in  sucli  Manner, 
that  the  Books,  Chapters,  Psalms,  Prophecies,  &c.  may  be  read  as  one 
connected  History,  in  the  very  Words  of  the  authorized  Translation, 
with  Notes.  To  the  above  are  added,  Six  Indexes.  By  the  Rev. 
George  Towns  end,  M.A.  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge.  In  two  very 
large  Volumes,  8vo.  11.  I6s. 

Extract,  from  Mr.  Home's  Introduction  to  the  Critical  Study  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, vol.  ii.  p.  402. 

"  The  writer  of  these  pages,  on  the  completion  of  the  present  work,  proposed 
to  himself  to  attempt  a  harmony  of  the  entire  Bible.  This  laborious  undertaking  Las 
been  happily  rendered  unnecessary  as  it  respects  the  Old  Testament,  by  Mr.  Town- 
send's  A-rrangement.  This  beautifully  printeriland  carefully  executed  work,  is  indis- 
pensably necessary  to  those  who  are  preparing  for  the  sacred  office.  The  notes  are 
very  appropriate,  and  possess  the  rare  merit  of  compressing  a  great  variety  of  valu- 
able information  into  a  small  compass." 

5.  The  NEW  TESTAMENT,  arranged  in  Chronological  and  His- 
torical Order,  (in  such  manner  that  tlie  Gospels,  the  Epistles,  and 
the  Acts,  may  be  read  as  one  connected  History.)  The  Gospels  on  the 
Basis  of  the  Harmonies  of  Lightfoot,Doddridge,  Pilkington,  Nevvcome, 
and  Michaelis — the  Account  of  the  Resurrection,  on  the  Authorities 
of  West,  Townson,  and  Cransfield.  The  Epistles  are  inserted  in 
their  places,  and  divided  according  to  the  Apostles'  Arguments.  With 
copious  Notes  on  many  of  the  principal  Subjects  in  Theology.  By  the 
same  Author,  in  two  large  Volumes,  8vo.  price  £2  in  boards. 

6.  A  SUMMARY  OF  CHUISTIAN  FAITH  and  PRACTICE, 
confirmed  by  References  to  the  Texts  of  Holy  Scripture,  compared 
with  the  Liturgy,  Articles,  and  Homilies  of  the  Church  of  England; 
and  illustrated  by  Extracts  from  the  chief  of  those  Works  which  re- 
ceived the  Sanction  of  Public  Authority,  from  the  time  of  the  Refor- 
mation to  the  final  Revision  of  the  established  Formularies.  By  the 
Rev.  E.  J.  Burrow,  D.D.  F.R.  and  L.S.     3  vols.  12mo.  1£  1*.  \ 

7.  An  ATTEMPT  to  ILLUSTRATE  those  ARTICLES  of  the 
CHURCH  of  ENGLAND  which  the  Calvinists  improperly  consider  as 
Calvinistical,  in  eight  Sermons  preached  before  the  University  of  Oxford, 
in  the  year  1804,  at  the  Lecture  founded  by  J.  Bampton,  M.A.  Canon 
of  Salisbury;  with  copious  Notes.  By  the  Most  Rev.  Richard  Lau- 
rence, LL.D.  Archbishop  of  Cashel.     8vo.  12s. 

8.  CONTEMPLATIONS  on  the  LAST  DISCOURSES  of  our 
BLESSED  SAVIOUR  with  his  Disciples,  as  recorded  in  the  Gospel  of 
St.  John.  By  the  Rev.  John  Brewster,  M.A.  Rector  of  Egglescliffe, 
Durham.    8vo.     10s.  6d. 


:>f^^ 


:'^ 


i 


P 


I 


i»,rV<'.  ;1* 


jy:M 


:'^' 


"^S.1 


Jor^_;3j^ 


-'-^^   ^5^