Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
Ex
SIR
Libris
MICHAEL SADLER
ACQUIRED 1948
HELPS TO COMPOSITION;
OR,
SIX
HUNDRED
SKELETONS OF SERMONS;
SEVERAL
BY THE
REV.
CHARLES SIMEON, M. A.
Study to skew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not
ST. PAUL.
to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
VOL.
III.
JLontJont
Printed by Luke Hansard
FOR
T.
Sons,
Luke Hansard
Sc Soil*,
INDEX
SUBJECTS
TO THE
VOL.
OF
III.
THE PARABLES.
PAGE
SKEt.
22O
231
222
living water
223
beam and
224
strait gate
i-o
mote
the
13
-
16
22S
226
wise builder
227
perverse children
228
insolvent debtors
229
strong
230
relapsed dcemoniac
231
single eye
232
sower
43
233
lighted candle
48
234
tares
235
springing
23
26
31
man armed
19
33
37
39
56
236
grain of mustard-seed
61
237
leaven
63
238
hid treasure
239
240
net
field
67
73
6Q30 /O
INDEX TO THE
IV
SKEL.
241
-___..--
The householder
new wine and
242
H4
243
244
The
245
little
child
Au offending
24 7
248
good Samaritan
249
rich fool
250
watchful servant
251
barren fig-tree
252
ambitious guest
253
great supper
254
foolish builder
255
lost sheep
256
257
prodigal son
258
elder brother
259
unjust steward
260
rich
26l
obedient servant
262
importunate widow
'
ii.)
----------------------------
man and
--._-..
Lazarus
---.__.
good shepherd
265
266
ten
267
rebellious citizens
268
two sons
269
wicked husbandmen
270
rejected corner-stone
271
marriage feast
272
wedding
-------
pounds
-----------
263
member --------------------------------------------------.
246
264
old bottles
-----
--------
-----
..--..
garment ------
SUBJECTS OF VOL.
The budding
fig-tree
III.
VAG&
-----
...
----------------------
ten virgins
talents
i.)
----------
204
207,
on
330
THE MIRACLES.
THE
----
cures
The temptation
----------------------------who
-.__--.him
-----_--------------------------
2l6
023
228
232
236
were
240
244
An
246
Peter's wife's
mother cured
leper healed
paralytic healed
disabled
A man
The
man
--
-'-
-------------
dumb man
blind and
tempest calmed
dispossessed
woman
257
26-2
265
268
$72
276
279
284
288
men
Five thousand
253
blind
---------
Two
250
healed
men
fed
-------------------_.,
--------
291
294
297
300
Jesus
INDEX TO THE
VI
SKEL.
299
300
The daughter
302
Whole
303
The
dumb man
deaf and
<
healed
blind
man
healed
304
transfiguration
305
---------
lunatic
306
tribute
money
supplied by a fish
307
infirm
woman
healed
308
dropsical
man
healed
309
310
in the pool
of Siloam
311
Lazarus raised
312
313
The barren
314
Christ beating
fig-tree
cursed
down by a word
apprehend him -
315
*
316
those
who came
to
His resurrection
317
ascension
318
world
The
319
------------
CONCLUSION.
The whole
relating to Christ
is
a great mystery
378
APPENDIX.
FAST SERMONS
-
321
about
re-
383
A
V
'
complaint
SUBJECTS OF VOL.
SKEL.
s
322
323
325
327
328
329
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
III.
Vll
Vlll
III.
SKEL.
339
An
340
An
342
g -
devout wish
449
of
_.p
443
continuance of peace
447
fpr the
on account of
him on account
exhortation to love
them
341
him
-..------..
exhortation to fear
them
in
1789 -----
450
(f^*
For a Table of the TEXT? illustrated in the Skeletons, and for an Index to
for Particular Occasions
See the end of the 5th Volume.
SUBJECTS proper
THE PARABLES.
CCXX. THE
xiii. 13
15.
Therefore speak I to them in parables:
because they seeing, see not ; find hearing, they hear not,
And in them is fulfilled the
neither do they understand.
which
sailh,
Esaias,
By hearing ye, shall hear,
prophecy of
and shall not understand ; and seeing ye shall see, and not
For this people's heart is zcaxed gross, and their
perceive.
ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed ;
lest at
any time they should see with their eyes, and hear
with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and
should be converted, and I should heal them.
Matt.
is
ITthe most
our
well therefore be a subject of enquiry,
Lord adopted that method of instructing his
auditors, in preference to a plain undisguised declaration
It
Why
may
bjessed
of the truth
own
disciples,
respecting it,
8
The
point
subject of our present consideration.
.
I.
We
shall
receive instruction
having
*
VOL.
III.
Vr.
10.
(220.)
on
induce the
having raised the dead should
people
his
drift
the
of
saw
discourses,
they
him. The instant they
accused him of opposing the law of Moses, and of blasphemy
their eyes against the light,
against God. In short, they shut
and determinately resisted all the methods used for their conto believe
version
and
salvation.]
was
this state
blindness?
namely,
St.
1
opposite language*
Acts
Jer.
Mark
xxviii.
i.
10.
iv.
25 47.
Ezek. xliii.
n,
ia.
3.
and Luk
viii.
10.
(220.)
these evangelists expressly quotes the prophecy, as St. Matthew does ; they only allude to it : and therefore may be
considered rather as using the words in an accommodated
sense.
And indeed St. Mark's own declaration in ver. 33.
that " with many such parables spake he the word unto
them, as they were able to hear it" shews clearly, that what he
before spake in allusion to the prophecy, must be understood
in a sense that can be reconciled with the declaration itself:
for otherwise there would be an absolute contradiction between
his
assertions.
other, if
we
and something
able,
judicial.
The people
set
themselves
in
meaning of the
Having
fixed the
answer
more
State
II.
text
itself,
we proceed,
ing by parables
In the whole of his ministry our Lord was influenced
in addressing the people
by benevolence. More especially
he
sought
by parables,
i.
To
them
present
it
its real
scope.
in
When
when
Here the
depends,
is
a very
f
different interpretation.
Matt, xxi,
2327.
B 2
(220.)
when they could see no reference to themselves, they answered readily enough 8 and by this means they were often
:
made
dency
severity a conduct
structions.]
To
his
To
if
word
{Had
his instructions
full,
"
people of that generation, that the equity of the divine procedure might be more manifest in their destruction.]
Let
*
Luke
vii.
43.
h Matt.
xxi.
1
2832. &
xxii,
4146.
(220.)
Let us
2.
in those
who
minister the
gospel
[.Much harm has been done to the interests of religion
by an unguarded declaration even of the truth itself. Men
should be considered as having prejudices which may be increased by indiscretion, or undermined by a prudent exhibition of the gospel. St. Paul,
though as far as any man from
a want of zeal, was peculiarly attentive to this duly '; and
has left us instructions respecting it for the regulation of our
own conduct. The end of the ministry is to convert and
save the souls of men
and whatever is best adapted to that
end, is most worthy of our pursuit. No one should conceal
the truth through the fear of man ; nor should any one be
backward to put a veil upon his face, when the brightness of
it would defeat the end of his ministrations.
Zeal and prudence should be duly combined in those to whom the care of
souls is committed ; and if in this respect we imitate our Lord
and his apostles,- we may reasonably hope that we shall not
run in vain, or labour in vain.]
:
CCXXI.
John
iii.
I say
the
Cor.
iii.
i,
2.^
m Heb.
v.
12
14.
kingdom of God.
AS
there
is
human knowledge,
so
is
(221.)
it
authority of God ; and that too, no less when
our
when
it
of
than
the
reason,
may
sphere
beyond
on the
lies
easily
be comprehended by
The manner
it
in
which
re-
regeneration, he required a
testimony of his
rity,
while
we
own word
full
assent to
May we bow
it
upon
the
to his autho-
consider
The
The
nature of regeneration
mistakes which very generally obtain respecting
this subject being first rectified, the truth will be more
clearly seen
I.
Many
is
the
ration
[In the early ages of Christianity these terms were often
used as synonymous, because it was taken for granted that
none but truly regenerate persons would submit to a rite
which engaged them to separate themselves from an
ungodly
world, and exposed them to the most imminent peril of their
But there is a wide difference between the two;
lives
regeneration being absolutely necessary to salvation, while
baptism, as in the case of the dying thief, may under some circumstances be dispensed with Besides, it was doubtless the
great design of our Lord and his apostles to regenerate and
convert men but were they so intent on
the
" administering
rite of baptism ? Our Lord, we are
no man ;"
told,
baptized
and it is said of Paul, that " God sent him not to
baptize ;"
" thanks God that
he had baptized none but
yea, he himself
Crispus and Gaius :" but if he had regenerated none other,
would he have thought that a proper
ground for thanksgivand regeneration be the same
ing ? Again, if
thing,
baptism
\ve may use them
altogether as synonymous terms: now it is
3
said
:
OF REGENERATIONS
7
"
said that
Whosoever is born of God overcometh the world ,"
and that " he neither doth sin nor can sin, because he is born
of God b ." But if we should say the same of all that are baptized, would not the worldly and sinful lives of many flatly
It
contradict us ?
appears then from the superior importance
of regeneration, from the design of Christ and his apostles respecting it, and from the properties ascribed to it in scripture,
that it neither is nor can be the same with baptism
Baptism
is an outward work of man
upon the body ; regeneration is an
inward work of God upon the soul ]
if
hearers k ,
?
if, like them, we rest in any partial change
Surely,
our righteousness exceed not theirs, we cannot hope that
we shall be happier than they in our final doom ]
In opposition to all such erroneous notions, the scripnew creation,
ture itself defines regeneration to be
if
"a
wherein
1
John
Numb.
v. 4.
xxiv. 4.
Matt, xxvii. 4.
John
1
viii.
Mark
41, 42.
vi. 20, 27.
* l
*
John iii. 9.
Kings xxi. 29.
Ads
viii.
new
ALL
(221.)
things
become
'."
As
"
The necessity of it
The kingdom of God" sometimes
dom
king-
pose of
illustrating
that,
without
regeneration,
We
We acknowledge
restrain in
1
many
2 Cor. v. 17.
Acts
* Col.
ii.
iii.
may
3747-
2.
Pet.
Acts
John
14,
ix. 6.
i.
13.
OF REGENERATION".
(221.)
root out from his heart the /ove-of the world, and the love of
sin ? Can he truly lothe and abhor himself as well for the unhallowed corruptions of his heart as for the grosser transgresAs well may he attempt to create a world
sions of his life?
as to effect these things hy any power of his own
Again; it
"
is the Christian's privilege to enjoy that
peace of God which
" abound in
hope through the
passeth all understanding/' to
the
and
to
be
of
Ghost,"
Holy
power
transported with that
"joy which
is
unspeakable and
full
But can an
of glory"
when there
nothing
image
in his state
But
if
We
Col.
i.
n.
10
&C.
(221.)
ADDRESS
1
The
.
unregenerate
let
O,
Am
home
to
The
2.
regenerate
persecution,
Paul bids us under the heaviest calamities to be thankful for
vi. 15.
Pet.i. i, 3, 4.
3.
'A^ira? . i Pet.
CCXXII.
i.
11
ii.
9.
John
iv. 14.
Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall
give him, shall never thirst ; but the water that I shall
give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into
everlasting
life.
OUR Ix)rd
invites us to learn of
him
To
encourage
meek and
lowly in heart
Never was this disposition more displayed than in his
conversation with the Samaritan woman
She was of
the most abandoned character ; yet he condescended to
instruct her
And, when she slighted his proffered
is
mercies, endeavoured to
favourable acceptance
recommend them
We shall
I.
to her
sense
But
in his
more
consider
literal
By
(222.)
By
1J
Ghost
[The Holy Spirit is often represented in the scriptures
under the figure of water ft is he of whom the prophet
Isaiah speaks when he says, that God will pour out water upon
Ezekiel also explains himself as referring to
thirsty souls*
We
from
their pollutions
1*
this interpretation
authority to give
[Jesus had not received the Spirit by measure only, like
other prophets'
He had the residue of the Spirit abiding in
him" Yea, he had all the fulness of the Godhead dwelling
full
of Christ
To excite
k
Hence we
expressly ascribed to him
the Holy Ghost is so emphatically called
is
it,
he proceeded to
set before
her
The
II.
properties
it
possesses
Contrasting
O
hands, he told her
it
it
was
will
quench the
thirst
only for a short time Nor will it at all allay our appetite for
other things The men of this world are insatiable in their
The more they
desire after the vanities of time and sense
have of pleasure, riches, or honour, the more they want m
But a draught of this living water will satisfy the soul Of
this heavenly spring indeed, all who have once tasted, will
wish
*
Isai. xliv. 3.
John vii. 37
Mai. ii. 15.
fc
Ezek. xxxvi. 25
John
Col.
39.
and Acts
iii.
i.
27.
34.
19.
and
ii.
He
9.
received in
order that he might give
.
h
Thrice did he claim this authority in his conversation with
the Samaritan woman, and often afterwards in the plainest terms.
John xv. 26. and xvi. 7. 14.
1
* Acts ii.
John xx. 22.
33. before cited,
1
m Job xx. 22.
i Pet. i. ii.
with Eph.
iv. 8.
ii.
33.
12
(222.)
wish to drink again Yea, they will pant after it as the hart
But their desire of earthly things will
after the water-brooks
be greaily abated The consolations of the Spirit will be ren
wiJl
in
2.
all
inferior objects
its
Heavenly
tendency "
a well" are constant and
[The supplies of water in
uniform So the Spirit operates in the heart of man There
when his operations will' be less manifest
He
always reside in us as a principle of life?
will excite holy and heavenly affections in our breasts 1
He
r
And the one aim of all
will keep heaven/itself in our vievv
his motions will oe to lead us to everlasting life
Nor, if we
cherish his motions, will he fail of bringing us to the possession of it*
]
will
indeed be seasons
But he
will
INFER
1.
How
glorious a person
must Christ be
Gud
2.
How
earnest should
we be
in
this
heavenly gift!
[The worldly man is indefatigable in his pursuit of earthly
vanities
But which of them can be compared with this living
water? Which of them can give us life ? or satisfy the soul ?
or bring us to glory ?
O that we might thirst after this, and
this alone!
Then would the invitations of Christ be precious
to our souls
blessings*
3.
How
And we
dead ought we
to
be to
all
earthly things
Isai. lv. 2.
Gal.
iv. 6.
Acts
v. 3, 4.
Eph.i. 14.
See notes c and
iii.
7, 8.
iv. 4.
John
ii.
15
John
xiv. 16,
Rom. viii.
*
n
.
z
7 Rev. xxii.
Isai. xli. 17, 18.
17.
Jam.
Phil.
i.
John
17.
ROM.
viii.
9.
19. and
16.
i.
7.
13, 14.
(222.)
13
Gal.
vi. 14.
CCXXIII.
let
Gal.
us both
v.
-live in
the
24, 25,
vii. 3
And why beholdest thou the mole that is in
5.
thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine
own eye? Or how wilt ihuu say to thy brother, Let me pull
out the mote out of thine eye,\ and behold, a beam is in thine
own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of
thine own eye ; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the
mote out oj thy brother's eye.
Matt.
sumed
it,
office
of censuring
2.
Insulting
14
(223.)
wherein he
we
Hypocritical in
3.
itself
appellation,
Our Lord
II.
to
it
The
too,
religion
entitles
*
k
Rom.
Rom.
xiv. 10.
xiv. 4.
Cor.
Jam.
iv. 5.
iv. 1 1, 12.
and
ii,
1$.
(223.)
entitles
them,
to every one
1
guilty of
it
15
of censors
But
we should say,
[There
We
the stone
2.
Recollect the
which
he,
to conceal his
own
relation
to
in
you
whom you
faults, so
he
We
Now the person, whom the calumniator would traduce, is his brother No less than thrice in the short space of
the text is this endearing appellation given to our neighbour
Is he not entitled then from this consideration to some
portion of that regard which we pay to our more immediate
Should we officiously pry into his defects ? Should
relatives ?
we presume to criminate his motives? Should we judge of his
general character by a single act ; or take an instance or two
of indiscretion, and consider them as fixed and accustomed
" brother" should receive far different
habits ?
Surely our
should cast a veil over his intreatment at our hands
firmities, and exercise towards him that charity which hopeth
d
all things and believeth all things
]
brethren
We
John
viii. 7.
* i Pet.
iv. 8.
9.
i
Cor.
xiii. 7.
l6
(223.)
But
brother
some measure
is
to
effect,
we must
attain
Epb.
CCXXIV. THE
v. 11.
STRAIT
Ver. 6.
Matt.
is
the
way which
leadeth unto
life,
andfew
it.
AN idea
And we need to
comparatively few who go to heaven
be awakened to a sense of our
danger by the exhortation
before us
shall consider
We
I.
upon
it
is
broad,
and
the entrance
wide
life
We
respective
Sin
respective pursuits
And "
shapes"
wuy
all
MM.YS.
17
may" be indulged
may go
astray,
in ten thousand
every one in his own,
The
it
AND NARROW
'THE STRAIT
(224.)
is
strait
tire,
To
we
enter
upon
this
path
is
own
souls
[God never intended that men should follow the imagination of their own hearts
He calls us to himself, and invites
us by every argument that can effect a rational being
Nor
will he leave us to fail for want of strength
If we will exert
ourselves in earnest and cry unto him for help, nothing shall
be impossible unto us Difficult as the duty is, it has been
performed by many in all ages-^-We therefore should exert
must not stand aloof, doubting
ourselves without delay
and hesitating whether we shall enter upon this way or pot
Nor must we put off the time of entering upon it to some
more convenient season The command of God is clear and
universal, Enter ye in at the strait gate
]
We
We
shall
see
the
importance
of this
duty
we
if
attend to
II.
The arguments
^3
with which
No
stronger arguments
suggested in the text
i
it is
enforced
can be
urged
than
those
will infallibly
lead us to destruction
[Every way of
Whether
it
be
VOL,
III,
liii.
6.
John
x, 9.
18
(224.)
each other in the commisssion of it The idolatrous comnation was not the less sinful
pliance of the Babylonish
sanctioned
was
because it
by numbers ; nor was the nonrendered less acceptable to
Hebrew
of
the
youths
conformity
God on account of the fewness of those who dared to follow
c
Neither indeed will the end of any
the voice of conscience
in it
way be changed on account of the numbers who walk
The inhabitants of Sodom, and of the antediluvian world were
not exempted from punishment because they were manyThey were overwhelmed as examples of God's vengeance to
Should not this then make us cautious
all future ages*
what path we follow? Should it not stimulate us to flee from
the destruction to which we are hastening? Oh! "strive to
enter in at the strait gate
2.
The narrow
path,
"
however
unfrequented,
will
ADDRESS
i.
To
those
who
gate
[Perhaps you think that the multitudes by which you are
countenanced, afford a reasonable hope that you shall not
But it is not possible for God to assert the contrary
perish
more strongly than he has done in the words before us Will
you then, in spite of this warning, hope that the saved shall
be many, and the damned few? -Or will
you be contented to
perish, seeing that you will have so many companions in
what comfort will it be to
misery ? Alas
you to behold
others as wretched as yourself ?
Will their torments assuage
!
your
e
Dan.iii.
<<
Luke
xiii.
24.
2 Pet.
Rom,
ii.
ii.
5,6.
79,
(224.)
ig
them
it is
s
1
Josh.xxiv. 15.
i Cor. ix. 19
23.
Matt.
v.
10
12.
BY
Pet.
iv.
12
14.
ITS FRUITS.
Luke
vi. 43
45.
good tree bringeth not forth, corrupt fruit ;
neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every
tree is known by his own fruit : for of thorns men do not
of
the
his
mouth speaketh.
IT
is
c a
2O
ITS FRUITS.
(225.)
words and
I.
The
all
principles,
as if
it
sity
itself is
Mark
vii.
Zeph. ;. 12.
21
23.
(225.)
moving spring
ITS FRUITS.
2t
will
members be actuated
there
in
is unrenewed
but fruit thai is really good can no more
"
proceed from an unregenerate soul, than
figs and grapes
from a thorn or bramble-bush" On the other hand, where
the treasure of the heart is good, the life will certainly be
good also An holy practice must of necessity flow from holy
principles and heavenly affections-^-We say not indeed but
that there may be found some faults even in the holiest of
men, even as blighted or unsound fruit may be found upon
the choicest tree
But the good can no more practise iniquity,
so as to continue in it, than the bad can bring forth habitually
the fruits of righteousness
St. John assigns the same reason
as is suggested in the text, " He cannot sin, because the seed
of God remaineth in him d ," and, as an operative principle,
heart
necessary consequence,
viz.
II.
the motives
own
hearts that
we
assuredly
life is
good
"
[if
every tree is known by its own fruit," (and no man
hesitates to call a vine, or a bramble, by its proper name when
he sees the fruit) we need be in no fear of concluding that our
hearts are good, when our dispositions and actions accord with
the word of God
No man indeed is perfectly good, because
"
carry about with us a
body of sin and death :" but
he, who discovers the renovation of his heart by the holiness
of his life, is certainly possessed of a tf good treasure," and
"
may justly be called a good man" ]
we
still
The man
also
whose
life
is
evil
may
conclude with
John
Matt.
iii.
vii.
9.
15, 16,
c 3
22
ITS FRUITS.
(225.)
But what
conduct, will yet affirm that their hearts are good
is this but to affirm, in spite of the most indubitable evidence
Let auy
to the contrary, that a bramble is a vine or fig-tree ?
man put the question to his own conscience, Can a man, who
lives in a neglect of God and his own soul, have a good h$frt t
Can the proud, the passionate, the revengeful, the fewd,
the intemperate, the covetous, have good hearts ? Then may
a bramble be a fig-tree, notwithstanding iwifcevers bears any
thing but thorns and briers]
ADDRESS
1
Those whose
[It
but all,
ousness and true holiness, that we now address And what
must we say ? Shall we flatter you \ we dare not the scripture
speaks plainly ; and it would be at the peril of our souls to
conceal the truth St. John expressly calls you children of
the devil f ; and our Lord declares that everlasting fire must be
g
Shall it seem unreasonable that such should
your portion
be the doom of the ungodly, while the righteous are admitted
into heaven ? Are you at a loss to assign a reason why so great
a difference should be put between persons, who, to outward
appearance, do not differ very widely from each other ?
Know that, if you trace the stream to its source, and examine
their Tiearts, there will be found as great a difference between
:
;
partaker
"transformed, into the very image of
his God"
Seek then to have " a new heart and a right spirit
renewed within you"
MUST BE BORN AGAIN;" and
that too for this plain reason, because what you have by
nature is altogether carnal ; and you must receive a spiritual
nature to qualify you for the enjoyment of a spiritual kingdom* Ye must become " new creatures:" " instead of the
thorn must come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier must
come up the myrtle-tree," if ever you would be monuments
of God's saving mercy 1 ]
is
"YE
i John iii. 8.
John iii. 6.
10.
*
*
and
xii.
35
37.
(225.)
unlo death
ITS FRUITS.
2J
tliat
God may
BUILDER.
Luke
vi.
47
sayings,
built an house upon the earth, against which the stream did
beat vehemently, and immediately it fell ; and the ruin of
that house was great.
I
is of
great importance in preaching the gospel, to
discriminate between the different characters to whom we
deliver our message, and to separate the precious from the
If this be neglected, the wicked will hold fast their
vile.
I.
The
terms
["
They come
their entrance
under a sense of
no pretensions
on the divine
their
own
life
guilt
till
absolutely necessary to
they have come to Christ
is
;
they are obnoxious to the curse
of the law. and the wrath of God*.
After
*
John iii. 18. 36. and v. 40.
>
to godliness
24
After they have
sit
they
come
to Christ,
Mary
With
"
(226.)
God
."
"
thought
image nor would they rest, till they feel every
and desire captivated to the obedience of Christ."J
:
Their condition
[A man who
is
trial.
When the storms blow, and the tempests beat upon him,
then he finds the benefit of having " digged deep," and laid
his foundation well. Then he stands
immoveably secure the
promise and oath of Jehovah are his firm support: Omnipotence itself upholds him. In vain do troubles from without,
or temptations from within, assault him even in the immediate prospect of death itself he retains his confidence,
"
d
knowing in whom he has believed ," and assured that Jesus
:
will
save
him
to the uttermost.]
II.
drawn
already
[U
is
their
e
Luke x. 39.
a Tim. i. J2. and
Thess.
iv.
68.
ii.
13.
(226.)
25
6
performance
They may even shew an extraordinary zeal
about the ordinances of religion f, and may alter their con2
but there is some darling
duct, like Herod, in many things
When their besetting sin
lust with which they will not part.
comes to be exposed, they draw back, unwilling to have their
wounds probed, and their lusts mortified. When they are
"
required to
pluck out their right eye, and to cut off their
right hand," they turn away,
exclaiming, "This is an hard
"
h
saying who can hear it ?
.
with God."]
The
similitude
condition
it,
all
overwhelmed
his family, be
in its
ruins.
to
His
through
comfort
in death,
still
it
How
will
day
What
him
to
atoms
O that
*
3-2.
Isai. Iviii. 2.
8
.'
Mark
i
Cor.
vi.
iii.
20.
1
3.
26
that
we
of us would
all
!]
LEARN from
Let us
(226.)
and that
hence
and delusive.]
The
[A
Cor.
iii.
11.
Rom.
viii.
38, 39.
vii.
shall
they like ? Thty are like unto children sitting in the marketand catling one to another, and saying, We have
unto
yon, and ye have not danced ; zee nave mourned
piped
to you, and ye have not Kept .... But wisdom is justified of
all her children.
place,
THOUGH man
is
distinguished from all other animals
of
the
he is far from submitting readily
reason,
faculty
by
In things that are agreeable to his mind
to its dictates
he
is
easily
persuaded
but where he
is
at all
swayed by
prejudice,
(227.)
27
or to
companions
In
I.
this
The
God
recommend
his
gospel
[He
But
those to
whom
it
has
been rejected by
come
[The Jews rested in the letter of their law, but hated the
of it; they embraced the shadow, but rejected the substance
By whomsoever the gospel was preached, or under
spirit
was customary
to use pipes
28
It
is
(22?.)
II.
is
not properly
administered
condemn
(227.)
condemn
the preachers of
it
2p
But
the real ground of our conduct is, that " we love darkness
rather than light"
And, if Jesus Christ himself were again
to preach to us, the same conduct which he formerly pursued
would give the same offence to his hearers, and be made a
pretext for rejecting his testimony
But
The
"
in the close
gospel of Christ,
when
justly stated,
is
the truest
wisdom"
called
is
God
"
"
sit
make
b
f
30
(22?-)
make
it a
stumbling-block, over which they fall "and perish,
these will be rendered by it " wise unto salvation
What can a faithful minister wish for more ? He knows
that his labours shall not be altogether in vain, but that there
" his
shall be some who shall be saved by his means, and be
"
for evermore
And this far outjoy and crown of rejoicing
weighs all the injuries and insults, which in the discharge of
his office, he meets with at the hands of a perverse ungrateful
world
happiness
hear
What
a blessing
is
They
will consider
'"
they will "justify God
by an unfeigned acknowledgement
of his truth, and a ready compliance with his will
Let us then cultivate this disposition So shall that which is
" a savour
to many
of death unto death, be to us a savour of
f "
life unto life
]
d
Acts
xvii. 11,
2 Cor.
ii.
15, 16.
CCXXVIII.
Luke
40
vii.
42.
I have somewhat
PARABLES
most
the
manner
Nothing could exceed the beauty and efficacy of
Nathan's parable to David
That also in the text was admirably adapted to the
offensive,
occasion
The
I.
parable
itself
It presents to
1.
We
unto
God
all,
is
[There
law -of God
But though
than others
though
not a
all
in different degrees,
man on
earth
who
is
are debtors-
some
are far
more so
We
gross offences
2.
his
No
man, however
little
own debt
[If we could obey the law perfectly in future, our obedience would no more compensate for our past disobedience,
than our ceasing to increase a debt would discharge a debt we
had already contracted
But we cannot fulfil all that is required of us, or indeed
is
absolutely free
from
all
imper-
fection
How
care,
we cannot but
daily increase
it
all
our
Nor
*
b
32
Nor
will
(228.)
law, any
But
3.
more than
God
is
surely obtain
mercy
recompence or composition
No
by
is
required to be offered
e
u,s
On
God would
ab-
solutely preclude us
II.
to
is
while
his
own.
1.
do love him
While they approve of zeal
demn
But
in religion
this disposition
con-
it
is
mere
hypocrisy
If they had any true grace, they would delight to see Christ
honoured, and to honour him themselves ]
2.
[We would
zeal that
is
without know-
ledge
Are
* The
parable was not intended to set forth the doctrines of redemption, but merely tbe effect which a sense of great obligations
will produce. And, if we would infer that we have no need of faith in
Ibe atonement, because the parable makes no mention of it, we must
infer also that we
may be forgiven without repentance, since there is
no -mention made of that.
*
Isai. lv. i,
Gal. v. 4.
Isai.
i.
18.
and
Iv. 7.
(228.)
Are
there
any then
33
who weep
and
3.
all
penitent sinners
Only
own debt
And
thy
he
us acknowledge to
him our
sins are
forgiven thee"
woman,
inability to
"
Depart
pay our
in peace,
his
his
armour
zvherein he trusted,
and
THE
miracles wrought by our Lord were too manibe denied even by his most inveterate enemiesSome however endeavoured to evade the force of them
by ascribing them to a confederacy with Satan Our
Lord shewed them the absurdity of such an idea The
expelling of evil spirits was a confirmation of our Lord's
doctrine
Consequently it tended to the destruction of
Satan's kingdom, and the establishment of his own
This
Satan could not but be aware of He would therefore
never concur in an act which must terminate in his own
ruin
Hence it appeared that the power, which Jesus
exercised over the evil spirits, was not only without the
concurrence of Beelzebub, but in spite of his utmost
exertions to withstand it
To illustrate this truth our
fest to
Lord
VOL.
III.
Extreme
34
(229.)
it
in a
way of
familiar exposition
Satan
is
fitly
compared
much by experience]
"
his palace"
hearts of unregenerate men are
[He has the most intimate access to the hearts of men
He entered into the heart of Judas, and prompted him to
h
betray his Lord
By the same invisible agency he urged
Ananias and Sapphira to lie unto the Holy Ghost 1 In the
The
his controul
name of others m
Legion
is
the
He
*
e
f
h
1
Matt. xiii. 18
Rev. xii. 7.
Comp.
33.
and 36
d
40.
2 Cor. iv. 4.
2 Cor. xi. 3.
>
Eph.
with
vi. 14.
n.
20.
vi. 11.
Acts
v. 3.
Luke xi. 26.
ix.
ciii.
Rev.
Ps.
viii.
Eph,
30.
i.i.2*
(229-)
35
He
suggests that God is too merciful to inflict eternal punishment And that all apprehensions of divine wrath are the
effects of superstition or enthusiasm
Jf at any time they are
impressed l>y the word of God, he catches it away, lest
they
should believe
his vassals,
There
it
and
lulls
One
is
and be saved
who
is
stronger
than he
[Satan indeed is a roaring lion but Jesus is the all-powerof the tribe of Judah p Satan is the serpent that
bruised the heel of Jesus; but Jesus is the woman's seed that
Jesus vanquished him in repeated
effectually bruised his headi
combats'"
And at last triumphed over him upon the cross 5
Yea, and led him captive in his resurrection and ascension
Nor does he exercise less power in his people than he then
;
ful lion
did/or them
fiercest assaults
His grace
of Satan
is
Nor
comes
to eject him
[Satan strove indeed to the utmost to keep possession of
the bodies of men
Nor .relinquished them at last without the
most strenuous efforts to destroy them z Thus will he maintain a conflict with Jesus in their souls
If he be- driven from
the outworks, he will defend himself in the citadel
Sometimes
all its
Redeemer's
interests
And
Lord
every talent
into vessels
is
improved
in
Luke.
r
*
Matt.
Eph.
* Rev.
viii. 1-2.
iv. 10.
iv. 8.
' JRev.
vi.a.
John
v. 5.
and xvi.
John iv. 4.
xiv. 30.
u i
Mark
11.
Gen.
Col.
iii.
ii.
15.
15.
x 2 Cor. xii.
*
79.
a Cor. x. 5.
gf)
From
Whence
2.
it is
So
are in themselves the willing slaves of Satan
far from desiring deliverance from him, they fight against
Most assuredly therefore they are not. the autheir deliverer
It is Jesus alone who chooses
thors of their own conversion
It is he alone who begins and carthe objects of his favour
f
To him therefore must
ries on the good work within theni
redeemed soul ascribe the glory g None can boast as if
[Men
every
Nor need
they had effected any thing by their own power*
To
their
be
broken
bonds
could
never
as
though
any despair
every one, who wishes to be made free, there is abundant enMay our eyes be so directed
couragement in the scriptures
to Jesus that his power naay be magnified in our deliverance
]
1
11
What
is the
duty of those who are converted
Satan
never
leaves a soul without reluctance, so does
[As
lie ever watch for an opportunity to return to it
Nor will he
fail of accomplishing his purpose, if our hearts be not
guarded
by the Lord Jesus Let none then be satisfied with purging out
1
In vain will the house be swept and
only some grosser sins
garnished, if it be not occupied by the divine inhabitantSatan will return with seven devils worse than himself And
the last state of such men will be worse than the first m
Let
all then be on their guard
And commit the keeping of their
Then shall all the attempts of their enemy be
souls to Jesus"
He who never slumbers will surely preserve them
baffled
And they shall be made the habitation of God to all
*
3.
What we
2Cor.x.6.
h
J
i Cor. iv.
7.
2 Pet. i; 9.
Ps, cxxi.
47.
f
*
John
Zecb.
iv. 9.
Eph,
Heb.
24, 25.
eternity
all,
d
v. 18.
Isai. xlix.
m Luke
we say unto
22.
Rom.
xvi. 20.
Zech. iv. 7.
xii. 2.
WATCH
Mark xiii.
37.
CCXXX.
xii. 43
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a
45.
man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, andjindeth
none. Then he saith, I will return into
my house from whence
I came out and when he is come, hefindeth it empty, swept,
and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven
other spirits, more wicked than
himself, and they enter in and
dwell there : and the last state of that man is worse than the
Matt.
Even
Jirst.
wicked generation.
THOUGH
them
ble itself
He
is
15
and
to rule in
their hearts
But
*
Our Lord had cast out a devil ; and this was by the Pharisees imputed to a confederacy with Beelzebub. After shewing the absurdity
of such a notion, he contrasted their state with that of the Ninevites
and the Queen of Sheba; and compared them to a relapsed daemoniac,
who would be in a worse state than if Satan had never gone out of him
a't all.
If we proceed to explain all that is spoken respecting the unclean spirit, we must interpret it of Satan, ejected from the Jews,
and going in dry, that is, unfrequented places, or places not wafered
by the gospel, to find rest among the Gentiles ; and, upon being
pursued thither by the preaching of the apostles, returning to take
more full possession of the Jews than ever; since, however reformed
some of them might be, they were, as a nation, perfectly prepared,
through their inveterate lusts and prejudices, to receive him.
b
2 Cor.
iv. 4.
*:
Eph.
i>
ii.
2.
Mark
ix,
a2
38
(230.)
But he
of the gospel
[Paul was commissioned to turn men from the power
of Satan unto God e
And the gospel was the weapon whereby he rescued them
from his dominion f
often loses his
less real
still
to his assaults
often did he repeat his attacks on Peter
[How
buffet Paul
h
!
1
!
How did
Thus he
still
We had
subtle
this
for
enemy;
II. If we be a second time
our
It
is
the elect
[This
of them"
is
to
them
is
given
all
They, into
whom
in the
text
change *
And
fied
Judas,
'
Luke
Compare Luke
iv. 13.
'
o Cor. x.
4.
xxii. 31.
John
Pet. v. 8.
Mark
'
vi. 20.
xiv. 30.
Epht
Rom.
ps
t 2
25, 26.
2 Cor. xii. j.
xxii. 53.
ii.
Luke
vi> , lf ,
viii.
Tim.
38, 39.
Ixxviii. 36, 37.
14.
(250.)
Judas, Ananias,
world
"
Demas, no doubt
their
39
hearts
"
On his return
to
them
power ]
be worse than ever
And
will fearfully
ENQUIRE
Have vre ever yet been delivered from Satan ?
[Perhaps many doubt whether they have ever been possessed by Satan
But this alone is sufficient to prove, that they are yet under
his dominion
That usurper reigns in all till he is vanquished and expelled
1.
by Jesus Christ
hirn
Are we
is
Eph.
n
iv.
2 Pet.
Isai.
30.
20, 21.
]
Ixiii.
ii.
10.
Jam.
CCXXXI. THE
Luke
xi. 35.
Take heed
'
REASON
human mind
is
l
Thess. v. 19.
i Tim. iv.
with Luke xxii. 31, 32;.
SINGLE EYE.
that
therefore, that the light
is
in thee
be not darkness.
When
2.
iv. 7.
'endowment of the
word and Spirit of
regulated by the
D 4
God,
4O
God,
it
will direct
>
gested the
We
shall
inquire into
I.
1.
When, though
it
does shine, we
will
not follow
its
direction
When
it is
in the
organs of
vision
We
and
it
it
would be well
in ourselves
Not
if
to
(231.)
41
how
God
universally are
men
When, under a
3.
professed regard to
it,
we do what
is in itself evil
who
'violate
the dictates
of our
is,
conscience,
not to neglect or
impress it the
To
shall consider
The reason of it
The Jews had manifested
II.
a most astonishing perverseness in resisting all the evidences of our Lord's mission
And he well knew how fatal it would prove to them, if
it
any longer Hence he gave them
solemn caution, which may for similar reasons be
given also unto us
The evil,
i.
against which
we
are guarded,
is
common
evil
[Though there
is
much ignorance
far short of
any, whose practice does not fall very
what they know to be their duty There certainly are different degrees of light in the minds of unconverted men but
" resist the truth," and "
all in some measure
imprison it in
are few,
if
unrighteousness"
*
Iai. v. 20.
John xvi.
2.
Acts xxvi.
9.
42
11
"
When
(231.)
so general,
When all of us
is
unrighteousness
should we not be on our guard against it ?
see how much it prevails in others, should we not suspect its
Let every one tremhle for his own
influence over ourselves ?
house, when he sees it standing in the midst of a general
conflagration
an
It is
2.
evil to
[The heart
is
justly" said to be
its
things,
The world also presents to us ten thousand pleas that serve to confirm our delusions And Satan,
who beguiled our first parents in Paradise, doubtless lends his
aid to lead us astray, and to keep us ignorant of our real state
Who is there amongst us that has not experienced this proneness to
The very apostles on some occasions
" knew self-deception
not what spirit they were of" And who has not
its
own
all
satisfaction
3.
an
is
excusing" us according
we
Now
either
warp
it
by
it
not those,
who improved
it-]
It is
an
[If
we
will
tremendous
18. xetTtxptiruv.
heathen felt this: " Video meliora
e
deteriora
Rom. ii. 15:
proboque
sequor."
f
Jam. iv. 17. John xv. 22. and ix. 41. and iii. 19 21.
* 2 Thess, ii.
*
Isai. vi. 9, 10.
11,12.
d
Rom.
i.
(231.)
43
We should only
tremendous judgment would that be
wander further and further from God, till we had " filled up
the measure of our iniquities/' and be thus " treasuring up for
ourselves wrath against the day of wrath "-^-Should we ever be
" better were it lor us that we had never been
left to this state,
!
born"]
e
'-J
<i'j:J ;>,-.'*
"fioji.'fi
Get your
iiW..*:'i\i
caution,
we
will
in little
things
Guard
is
[He
and universally
*
Isai.
xxx. 21.
John
ii.
15.
CCXXXII. THE
JVIatt. xiii. 18.
Hear yt
John
viii.
12.
SOWER.
the parable
of the
sozvcr.
THE
When
THE SOWER.
44
(232.)
them
And
to the various
it,
we
produce
shall be led
to notice
The way-side
I.
hearers
Or
manner
of delivery
No wonder
truth
They
"
" catch
away the seed
The word is no sooner
from it
Nor
is it
difficult for
uttered, than
knows
that, if
be saved" by it
And that, if they hear
cannot but believe it
they truly
will
it
Hence
THE SOWER.
(232.)
45
Hence belabours
If, flfter .all,
These,
it is
l>y
to be feared, are
by
far the
most numerous
class of hearers
come
to
whom
the
to
in vain
differ
embrace
gladly
[Their affections, like a thin coat of earth upon a rock,
" receive the word"
The novelty of it, and their hope of an interest in it, delights
They
mind
They are moved
their
story
"
"
Immediately
make a
they begin to
profession of reli-
gion
And seem
to surpass
many who
in the
way ]
But they " renounce it again speedily"
[They never were deeply convinced of sin, nor
felt their
need of Christ
seriously counting
the cost
Ere long, they find that they have to endure " persecution
"
for the word's sake
"
the sun" in its brightness, penetrates through
This, like
the surface of their affections
And burns up the seed, which was " never rooted " in their
understanding and will
Then they renounce their profession as speedily as they had
taken it up
And either " secretly decline" from the society to which
they were attached
Or " openly proclaim the disgust," with which their late
pretensions have inspired
Nor
them
only persons
who
disappoint the
These are
true Christians
But
THE SOWER.
46
They maintain a
the word
their profession
away
ground
They maintain,
more
is
for the
most
like
end
the way-side
those of the
like
part,
their
specious,
to the
religious character
(232.)
stony-
gospel
associate with the people of
They
God
in preference to all
others
But the
fruit
is
not of a
"
perfect"
kind
There
is
"
always
real holiness
soil is
withdrawn by noxious
roots
And
by sur-
rounding branches
sincere
Their praises, that love and fervour, which alone can make
them acceptable
The whole obedience of
.^energy,
which
results
that
is
sown
is
Spirit
ductive
Not
that
free
from
human
depravity
But
THE SOWER.
(232.)
47
In hearing
they apply
it,
it
as the
word of
GOD
addressed
to their souls
And
is
(which
they
" understand
it"
They see its import,
suited to their case
.the others)
and embrace
it
as
it
They improve
xvith diligence
*"
to
bring forth the fruits"
of righte-
ousness
all
"
equal degree
may
...
God
serving
And
all their
but
less
eminent, are
filled
master's cause
If they be not borne as on seraphs' wings, they run eagerly
?s in a race
infirmities,
they bear
satisfied
with their
much
Nor
are they
who
are least
fruitful
attainment
They uniformly
God
is
holy
and long
to
be holy as
ADDRESS
[Let us "hear
ourselves
Let us
examine
this parable,"
to
belong
What
the word
What
gospel
we
classes
we
have, heard
the benefits
the preadhed
Have
THE SOWER.
48
hearts
(232.)
Have we
in
our
"
Surely neither Christ nor any faithful "sower of the word
will account his toil repaid if he see not this fruit of his
labours
Let us not then be satisfied with being
"
"
altogether Christians
If the word produce not its full effect,
benefit at
If
it
f<
almost
it
"
and not
convey no
will
all
life
unto
life, it will
be of death
unto death"
profession men may make, none but the good
will be saved at last
hearers
ground
Let us now then guard against the devices of our great
Whatever
enemy
Let us watch that he take not the seed out of our hearts
Let us harrow it in, at it were, by meditation and prayer
And, however fruitful we have been, let us labour to abound
more and more* ]
a
The
observations
made
8,
1823.
words marked
Mark
it
iv.
in this discourse being almost wholly consuffice to refer to that. See Matt. xiii.
may
8,14
with inverted
20.
commas
Luke
allude
viii.
15.
to
particularly
The
the
parable.
CCXXXIII.
Luke
No man when
covereth
16
it
18.
with a
vessel,
Mm
AMONG
who
He
(233.)
Of those who
The
is
It
is
With
1.
fidelity
is
We
We
"
We
c
must never omit any
nothing els.e among our people
opportunity of setting before men that ''light which God has
sent into the world "-We may indeed, yea we must, use
discretion in our method of dispensing the gospel, lest by an
God e
With perseverance
[As a man should not substitute any thing else in the
place of the gospel, so neither should he withdraw from the
2.
2 Pet.
Isai. Ix. i
ip.
3.
f
* Johnxvi. 12. i Cor.iii.
i, i. Heb. v. 11. 14.
i.
VOL.
III.
c
e
Cor.
ii.
2.
Actsxx. 20,27,
5O
f
(233.)
gospel
much
From
pass on
Of those who
II.
We
who preach
the gospel,
we
to consider that
should
hear
it
it"
*
should be extremely careful what we hear ; lest we
be led astray by those, who profess to guide us into the way of
k
We must also be duly attentive to the mariner in
peace
which we hear
must not be indulging a vain curiosity, or
a disposition to cavil; but must receive the word humbly, as
m
the word of God himself ; attentively, in order to retain it ;
n
and obediently, with a view lo practise all that it enjoins
If, like those to whom this injunction was given, we be already
in the ministry, or are preparing for it, our obligations to
profit by the word, whether in the church or in the closet, are
greatly increased
]
[We
We
An
1
We shall
we do
attend to
it
that has ever searched the holy scriptures in private, and waited diligently on the public ministration of the
gospel, has not found that, together with increasing views of
the truth, his faith, his hope, and all his graces, have been
[Who
We
neglect
we
it
* 2
Tim.
ii.
of preaching
but,
k Prov.
xix. 27.
Jam.
i.
3, 4.
21, 22.
Take
'
Tim.
Thess.
Acts
ii.
xvii.
m Heb.
13.
1 1,
12.
ii.
i.
(233.)
51
increased
difficulties
APPLICATION
[If the true light now shine around you, be thankful foi
and walk in the light, lest the candlestick be removed^,
and ye be left in utter darkness 1 And " let all make their
" as
to shine before men
in the
it,
light
world," they
P Prov. x.
4.
r
John
xii.
may
35.
Pet.
CCXXXIV.
His
Matt.xiii. 36.
unto us
the.
iii.
i, 2.
Rev.
ii.
5.
Phil.
ii.
15, 16.
THE TARES.
disciples
THERE
is much in the
holy scriptures which unenlightened reason cannot comprehend
Hence the proud and self-sufficient continue ignorant
of
many
truths
But they, who seek divine teaching have more enlarged views
The
apostles set us an
tation
Our Lord
delivered
many
understood
the
To
*
Ver. 24
30. and 37
E 2
43.
THE TARES.
52
To
elucidate
it
more
fully,
we
mem-
growing together
In their present growth
The church, like a field in which different grains are
sown, contains persons of very different characters
I.
Whatever
alone
is
indefatigable in
in the
church
raises
and carelessness of
Christ's
who
are truly
upright
[Faithful ministers carry their complaints to their Lord
and Master
And
But God
tempt
No man
whatever
is
capable of distinguishing
all
cha-
racters
left
by us
as wheat
are
as tares
From
He
regard to these
God commands
suffers us indeed,
us to forbear
and commands
notoriously profligate
But he reserves to himself the office of judging the hearts
of
men
this
mix-
ture
Aud
hypocrites
mercy continued
to
them
be wiped
away
II.
y er
The
THE TARES.
(234.)
5$
And
He
of
as his angels
all
And
will
in the
execution of
his will
Then
these
be gathered
shall
first
" bound
up
and
in
bundles*"
Thus
will they,
partners in sin, be
made
.partners in misery
crites, will
They too
tion
shall be
in
gathered
What a
then be
wonderful,
[Among
much
as
be found
will
Nor among
person
And
in perfect
The
harmony
more
fully
seen
III.
The
*
Ver. 39.
Ver. 41.
* Ver.
30.
Ps. xx-vi. 9.
E 3
THE TARES.
54
The wicked
"
will
(234.)
doom
which
for
tares, into
the fur-
'
nace
Nor, however
God
them now,
pities
will
mercy then
Not
consume them
utterly as
it
would
tares
To
the
metaphor
is
intentionally
changed
And
the godly 1
Thus
The
for
will the
ceived
kingdom prepared
them
[They, as wheat,
shall
heaven
Not
continue there
a state of inac-
in
tivity
To
God
is
also
changed
" their
called
Father"
to face
to glorify God ; they shall
in his service for evermore
They longed
faculty
employed
profane
at no
[You can be
or wheat
loss to
is
suggested by our
Your
1
Ver. 42.
'jr.
k Rev. xvi.
9, 11.
Ver. 30.
Ver. 43.
THE TARES.
(234.)
5f
Your conduct
all
eternity
in
kingdom of grace
crea-
tures
And
are
now
in the
become
as they
Let
2.
[It
self- deceivers
hear
yourselves the Lord's people
in vain to think
is
when
ye are not
r
Enquire whether ye have been truly born again ?
See whether ye differ from the world, and from your former
selves, as much as wheat differs from tares
Be not satisfied with " a form of godliness," and " a name
to live"
The day
for
it
God
.
titude
the sun
rain
So
shall
you be gathered
in
ripe
And
John
Eph.
John
iii.
ii.
iii.
3.
3.
P 2
7, 8.
and Gal.
iv. 12. in
rest
Cor. v. 17.
the Greek.
i
Cor.
iv. 5.
is
56
CCXXXV. THE
Mark
iv.
26-7-29.
^"d
^te
SPRINGING FIELD.
sa *d>
&
*s
tne
man
kingdom of God,
cri
THERE
is
bur Lord
Ahrfost everv thing around him was made a vehicle of
divine knowledge
Agriculture in particular afforded him many illustra**
He
it
was so
God
to seed springing
in the field
up
to the erection
of his
truly upright
field, in
that
it is
Spontaneous
when harrowed
[Seed,
is
left
wholly to
itself
fruitless
fruit
of
itself" or not
at; all
There
"(235.)
There
a principle of
is
life in
the corn
57
which causes
it
to
vegetate
Nor
is it
the heavens
Thus
is
it
when sown
in the heart
of
man
We
zcill, lives
to
God
This
is
d
only on him who gave it that power
The exertions of ministers, however unremitted, cannot
make
it
grow
must be left
f
to the operation of its own native
energy
then put forth its virtue, through the invigorating
beams of the Sun of I^gbteousness, and the refreshing
showers of the Spirit of God
]
It
It will
Gradual
2.
fit
for the
sickle
It passes
through
maturity
Thus
many
it
arrives at
4
also in a
ear,
and the
viour
self
is
and hopeful as
solid
more precious
His
a
c
Pet.
grace,
d
is
i.
'23.
JoTm
iv. 14.
and
to be
our
Rom.
Gal.
lite.
e
viii. 7.
Cor
Ueb.
11.
"20.
iii.
Col.
6, 7.
v. 13.
iii.
4.
58
(235.)
is
more
is
more
Though
ever, he
is
forth
Above
all
he lives
in
Inexplicable
" knoweth not how " the
[The most acute philosopher
grain vegetates
That it should die before
it
springs
up
its
appearance
none can explain
&c.
is
a mystery that
in the soul of
man
are also
inexplicable
We know
not
how
the Spirit of
God
on
acts
the powers of
our mind
We
striking,
may
be further
seen
II.
The
h
in
To
ii.
13, 14.
14.
John
iii.
8.
(235.)
59
[The husbandman in every part of his labour has the harvest in view
He manures, and plows, and sows his ground, in hopes of
reaping at last
In every successive state of the corn he looks forward to the
n
crop
And " wben the harvest is come," he " immediately puts
"
in the sickle
]
Thus also grace springs up in the souls of men to prepare them for glory
[God, having from the beginning chosen his people to
salvation, orders every the minutest incident for the accomplishment of his
All the
own purpose
dispensations
end
All the operations of his grace are adjusted with the
same
view
For
its
this,
The gloomy
tion, are
When
and deser-
overruled for
the soul
"
is
its.
final
good
et
immediately
will the
sickle be put in
When we
God
Then
mansion prepared
for us,
of his labours. P
The
ministers also,
together with
And
filled
who
ffim. q
shall
be
ful-
This
is
encouragement
to their
people
of God's word
James
P Isai.
v. 7.
liii.
11.
"2
^ i
lies
it
And
Thess. ii. 13, 14.
Thess. ii. 19, 20.
Rom.
r
viii.
John
28.
iv.
36.
<JO
And
much of
that
their seed
may
(235.)
when they
spring up,
their labours
their
once
at
And
to a state of perfection
to attain to ripeness
ing seasons
But
is
it
to
maturity
Well therefore
may
work with
cheerfi'lness-j
receive
may
description,
much
encouragement
life
But
let
rain
own way
Thus
heaven
The
due season
in
shall
we be
fit
for the
connexions
And we
1
separate
us from
all
granary of
our earthly
shall
Rom.
be carried
v.
35.
in
cc x 5j 6
Jobv. 26.
j
rest
CCXXXVL
iv. 30
And he said, Wherennto shall we liken the
32.
God? or wit ft what comparison shall we compare
of
kingdom
f
it t it is like a
grain of mustard-seed, which, when it is sown
Mark
in the earth,
when
is less
sown,
it
"
VERY
City of
God"
earth which
excellencies
We
I.
Illustrate this
"
comparison
The kingdom
muN
of
men
We
must
illustrate the
comparison
therefore
its limits
6-2
(236.)
But
vours
forth
its
arid
Indeed
its
full
in
this
world
For
Redeemer's grace
shall
now
proceed to
II.
Improve
it
The
We
observations
i.
at
large
[It is to be lamented that infidelity and profaneness have
overrun the world, and that this tree which the Lord hath
" wasted and
devoured by the wild beasts
planted, has been so
"
of the field c
But still the stock remains, nor shall it ever be
rooted up It shall yet "shoot forth its foots downward
and bring forth fruit upward d " At various seasons the church
has been contracted within
very narrow limits; yet has always
been preserved
[n the
days of Noah and of Abraham the
branches were cut down, and
nothing remained but the mere
stem yet it put forth fresh branches, and extended them far
and wide So shall it do yet again, till at last it cover the
whole earth Where there is
nothing now but idolatry and
every species of wickedness, there shall one day be " holiness
6 "
to the Lord inscribed.
upon the very bells of the horses
;
Let
*
This by the
Hos.xiv. 7.
2 Kings xix. 30.
Ps. Ixxx. 8
*
13.
Zech. xiv. 20.
(236.)
63
2.
prehensions
John
]
ii.
12, 13.
Zech.
CCXXXVII. LEAVEN
iv. 10.
Phil.
i.
6.
HID IN MEAL.
The
xiii, 33.
Another parable spake he unto them
kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took
and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole zvas lea-
Matt,
vened.
AS
I.
Assimilating
64
it
into their
does not
indeed essentially change either the faculties of the soul, or the
members of the body ; but it communicates to them a new
The gospel is
life and power, a new direction and tendency
when
melted by
into
which
to
a
souls,
mould,
compared
b
and
and heavenly form
Hence,
said to be renewed after the
and true holiness
And the
us, the more are we changed
to glory
it
disposition
own
M aster
The resemblance
further appears,
in
that
both of
them are
II.
the precise
and
*
'
2 Pet.
Rom.
vi.
<wa^i&j9)Ti
c
Eph.
1
i.
17.
-rv-noi
iv.
Cor.
^Jappjf,
23, 24.
vi. 17.
<
2 Cor.
i
iii.
18.
Cor. x. 17.
(237-)
65
invincible
most
11
many
respects inexplicable
If the gospel be so mysterious in its operation upon individuals, it must of necessity be so too in its operation upon the
We
world at large
pretend not to say how the simple doctrine
of the cross should be made to triumph over all the prejudices
and passions of mankind ; but, from what we have already
seen, we cannot doubt of its final success]
Lastly, they are both
degree, but universally in all their members and all their faculties
Their members are made instruments of righteousness *,
and their faculties are filled with light and holiness The man
is made
altogether" a new creature;" old things are passed
k
away and all things are become new
Thus will the world also be regenerated by the grace of the
" Those who are now
gospel
sitting in darkness and the
shadow of death shall behold its light/' and those who are
abandoned to the most brutish lusts and ignorance, shall be
transformed into the very image of their God This leaven
has long been put into the great mass of mankind It has
already raised a ferment throughout a great part of the world,
and in due season shall " leaven the whole lump" Though
its progress be but slow at
present, it shall work, till it has
"
and
soul,
pervaded every
brought all nations to the obedience of faith" ]
The
VOL.
Heb.
iv. 12.
Rom.
vi. 13.
III.
John
2 Cor. v. 17.
iii.
8.
66
(23?.)
may
duced
O beg of
God
never cease
his
that
till it
it
has
may work"
made you
effectually,
and that
it
may
all
will"]
To
Luke
i
xvii. 21.
Cor. v. 7.
John
xvii. 17.
Cor. v.
8.
Luke
xii. i.
p Ps. cxix.
M Tbess.
1 1.
v. 23.
6?
CCXXXVIII.
Matt.
xiii. 44.
The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure
hid in a field, the which, when a man hath found, he hideth,
andfor joy thereof goeth and sclleth all that he hath, and
buytth thatfield.
THE gospel,
various representations
It
is
its
beginnings, but
it
to be of small
increasing in
importance
But we must not therefore suppose
value
Our Lord
It will
Why
I.
be proper to shew
the kingdom of heaven
sure hid
"
the
is
likened to a
"
trea-
"
is
New
Testament
[By it we are not always
to
an expression peculiar to
understand heaven
itself
mated
in glory
This
"
"
a treasure
well be considered as
[There is no other thing so deserving of this name
" All
Rvery subject of it may say with truth,
things are
mine
He
may
"
is
" blessed
in Christ
things
with
b
all
"
is
spiritual blessings
in heavenly
contemptible in comparison of it
"
But it is compared to a treasure " hid in a field
[The mysteries of the gospel were from eternity hid
the
in
Who
And
Cor.
iii.
21.
Eph.
F 2
i.
3.
Eph.
iu. 9-
68,
And
of reducing
A finite mind
But
him
to
(238,)
still
man A
natural
They
still
many
if
God had
not
his eyes*
all
is
hid,
is
open and
for us as
it,
II.
of finding
delightful
flict
mind
And
But
He
away
And if by
the field he could gain the treasure,
purchasing
he would gladly
pay down the price
In doing this he would use all the
expedition and caution
that he could
sell all
Thus
*
Cor.
ii.
14.
'Acts xxn. 3, 4.
Luke xxiv. 45.
. John v. 39.
cor.
i.
23.
Acts ix 1?j l8
Matt> xi> 25> 2 6.
.
(238.)
69
He
And
Strll,
He knows
sure
Nor can he
He
p
beguile him
his hope*'
heart a proneness to despise
tell
may
apostles
all,
he
is
determined,
if possible, to
He
with
it
He
knows
well
that,
it,
he can be no
loser
He
And
APPLICATION
[The
field,
The owner
at
hand
invites all to
He
y
promises that all who seek in earnest shall find it
that
all
retain
it*
who
shall
Yea, moreover,
find,
Let those then who have never found it, begin to seek
But let them adopt that prayer of the apostle a
The Holy Spirit alone can give success to their endeavours b
And let them bear in mind the misery of those who fail c
*
If any have found it, let them hold fast the prize
Let them guard against every thing that may rob them
of it
Let them remember, it is not a small treasure, but an inex-
haustible
mine
Let them nerer regret any sacrifice they may make for it
But look forward to the complete enjoyment of it in
heaven
"
Matt.
xiii.
Mark
iv. 19.
y
b
Matt, xxviii. 8.
Matt, vii.y, 8.
Johnxvi.
Luke
20.
r
2 Cor.
iv.
3,4.
F3
a Cor.
xi. 3.
5.
z Prov. viii.
35.
c
13, 14.
viii. 12.
Matt. xxii.
Gal. i. 16.
x
a
Eph.
Rev.
i.
ii.
17, 18.
25. and
iii.
3, 11.
CCXXX1X. THE
and bought
MEN
it.
of gain
Advantageous bargains may be offered with the greatest frequency without fear of creating disgust
Our Lord well knew that a love of earthly things was
rooted in our hearts
deeply
And
himself of that
availed
He
precedes
But
it
it
suggests
portant
To elucidate
it
many
we may
consider
The
In
this
is
of inestimable value to us
world
[It unfolds to
And
It
is
know-
ledge""
It must therefore
greatly enrich its possessor
The gospel moreover imparts grace to the soul
Nor can this grace be ever appreciated too highly
1*
Our Lord
tells
us that
it will
make
us truly rich
Through
a
Col.
ii.
3.
Prov.
iii.
13
15.
Rev.iii. 18.
(239.)
we
also
71
obtain peace
our
in
con-
sciences
Who
this to
a heavy-laden soul?
understanding
We can
life
We
faint idea
What
is
still
enjoy
exalted terms
The
as
may
will hereafter
St.
in
such
gospel kingdom
may
also
be compared
to a pearl
ADORNING
[Pearls are considered as ornamental to the body
infinitely more does the gospel adorn the soul
But
changes the
It
[Even
power
And
them
the
life
to its
by
f
]
by
it
And
the
'
stead
their
men
finds
God"
And bearing
But
it
And
altogether
image
life
of
renews them
restores
them
This effect is
How just then
-
Phil. iv. 7.
Isai. xi.
"
John
in
is
68.
viii.
44.
Ps. cxlix. 4.
Cor. ii. 9.
Cor. vi. 11, 12.
Eph.
iv. 24.
F4
f
*
And
iii.
Eph.
1 John
m * Cor.
8.
iii.
iii.
3.
18.
72
And
(239.)
may
How
it will be
regarded by those who know its
value
It is not possible for them to regard it with indifference
1
They will seek it with diligence
II.
Much
They
They
in the pursuit of
gain
the value of' the gospel
will study that book wherein it is contained
will seek instruction from those who are best qualified
less will
to explain
its
they
who know
masteries
They
And
account
trouble
2.
its
blessings
of Solomon
'
a rich compensation
for their
They
it
however necessary
or
them
will
to use the
to
renounce
humble them
1
language of the prophet
in
comparison of
Christ'
view of it will enable us to do this
And will cause us to say like the holy apostle y
QUESTIONS
P
Mark
Phil.
Matt.
x. 22.
iii.
Prov.
9.
Luke
ii.
4.
v. 29, 30.
xiv. 26.
*
*
Matt. x. 37.
Isai. Ixiv. 6.
^Actsxx.
24.
(239-)
73
QUESTIONS
pearl
And
let
What have we
2.
[We
is
called to
make some
sacrifices
What
b
produced on Moses
In this way you will commend it to the world
And will most acceptably comply with our Lord's
rection
1
Matt.
vi.
33.
CCXL. THE
Matt.
di-
xiii.
was
when it
that
47
50.
Luke
Matt.
xi.
34, 35.
v. 16'.
NET.
is
like
unto a net
gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall
it b* at the end
of the world : the angels shall come forth,
and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them
into the furnace ofjire
of
and gnashing
teeth.
MEN
munity,
who
they
THE NET.
74
(240.)
The
greater part of them refer to the difemployments of husbandry, because our Lord so-
they relate.
ferent
I.
we
observe that
by the gospel
The
[When
God.
Thus the gospel
is
published to all without any respect of
persons. Korean the preachers of it command success: if
Paul or Apollos labour, it is God alone that can render their
endeavours effectual to the salvation of men b .]
things
All these persons will be collected into a visible church ; all
will profess an attachment to the
gospel and all will feel
some kind of confidence
respecting their final acceptance
before God.]
:
But
II.
Of
Fishermen
a
c
e
^?
Luke
v. 5, 6.
Jer. xxiii. 22.
b
d
2 Tim.
Ver. 20,21.
Ver. 22.
Cor>
iii.
5.
THE NET.
(240.)
Fishermen
will
75
ment
[God makes use of men
church
That separation
death a
little
But it is not thus with soujs that are cast away; for they shall
be " cast into a furnace of fire, where shall be weeping'and
O fearful end! how ingnashing of teeth forever"
be treasured
conceivably different from that of those who shall
" meet for their Master's use "
]
up in vessels as
!
INFER
1
How
the gospel
diligently should
we
[Ministers are made "fishers of men ;" and their one em"
g
ployment is to catch men ." Now it is in the ordinances that
forth
their
net and if persons do not attend
to
cast
they go
the ordinances, there is no probability of their ever being
drawn to God h Let not any trifling matters then be suffered
to detain us from the house of God; for we cannot tell the
precise time at which God has designed to inclose us in his
:
How
yet
* Matt. iv.
19.
1
John xxi. 6.
Luke
v. 10.
Rom.
x. 17.
THE NET.
76
(240.)
"
have
that are truly alive to God, or those who, though they
"
a name to live, are really dead before God '. Let it be re-
moment drawing
made and then
to shore.
Speedily will the scrutiny be
the
final
;
separation. May God prepare us
for that awful day, by renewing our natures, and accepting us
in his
beloved Son
!]
1
CCXLI.
Matt.
Rev.
iii.
i.
THE HOUSEHOLDER.
52. Every Scribe zchich is instructed unto the kingheaven, is like unto a man that is an householder,
which bringethforth out of his treasure things new and old.
xiii.
dom of
An
who expect
those
housekeeper or steward, who, having made good provision for the family, feeds
With
tive
and
this
them
to the full
intelligent disciples
his atten-
minister to an house-
He
is
provided with all things necessary for the family
over whom he is placed
steward, or householder, has the charge of providing
for the
He
family
considers not only what
is
wanting at the present
be wanted on future occasions
And he preserves for future use the productions of
foreign climes, or of succeeding seasons
will
Thus
THE HOUSEHOLDER.,
(241.)
77
He makes
1.
all
his people
Hence he
made an overseer,
is
his peculiar
is
God's
duty
led to reflect
each
And
He
in store
[The
2.
lays up
forth for their use
ledge
What
he daily
added carefully
to
his stock
Thus
his
experience
And
to
all
his
fund of information
he ministers ]
is
whom
In prosecuting
his
work
He dispenses
II.
is
church of Christ
He
And
THE HOUSEHOLDER.
78
(241.)
And though
He
2.
it is
fall in
Christ-
He
states,
in
each-
He
each
INFER
1. The
due season"]
we had only
Well may we
May
all
say,
"Who
is
it
were but a
who
minister
it
2.
The
[How
benefit arising
from
it
to the church
if
Let all then be thankful that the Master of the family has
appointed stewards to make suitable provision for them
Let them pray that their ministers may be taught of God to
teach others
And let them improve with diligence the ordinances dis-
pensed
*
among them
Numb.
v. 11
31.
]
&
2 Cor.
ii.
16.
CCXLTT.
79
Luke
v.
man
preserved.
THE
cavils of objectors have been frequently overruled for the benefit of the church
They have given rise
to many of our Lord's most instructive discourses, and
thereby furnished us with a much clearer and more
condemned
have
to
now
The substance
we shew
read
pensation
[Our Lord does not say that the children of the bridechamber were never to fast, but only, not while the brideb
Nor in the parables before us does he
groom was with them
old
that
the
say
garment should not be mended, nor the
wine put into bottles at all, but only that discretion was to be
exercised with respect to the
manner of doing
these things
are
priety of practising the duty there spoken of; but they
enforced
a
Ver.
33.
Ver. 34.
8O
(242.)
Our Lord
enforced by many other passages of holy scripture
our behaviour when we fast c ; and
directions
respecting
gives
indeed expressly says that, after his removal from them, his
d
fast
]
disciples should
[We
social duties
They
occasions, which demand peculiar abstinence and selfAs there are seasons for holy feasting and joy, so are
denial*
Wisdom and sincerity are
there also for fasting and sorrow'
a right judgment respecting these
requisite for the forming
things
The
them
will
to observe, that
are in their place, yet an injudicious attempt to enforce the practice of them will
injure rather than subserve the interests of religion
IT.
ae
imposed
at a
An
will
i.
do an injury
It will give
[The world
is
to religion
itself
itbe described, or
faithfully practised
But
c
Matt
vi.
16
18.
i
Cor.
vii. 5.
'
Ver. 35.
C cl.
iii.
4.
(242.)
8l
if we represent it in a formidable
will they
say
Surely they will exclaim against it as gloomy, superWhat a stumbling-block must this lay in their
stitious, hateful
What an obstacle must this be to the spread of the
way
Yea, what a dishonour to Jesus himself to represent
gospel
his yoke so heavy, and his burthen so intolerable
Besides,
the sincere enquirer after truth will be likely to be misled
He
will suppose that Christianity consists rather in the performance of penances than in the exercise of holy and devout
affections
Surely we should be cautious not to give occasion
for such unfounded sentiments, and such fatal errors
J
But what
shape
2.
It
weak
in
their
pursuit
of
religion
This subject
1.
may
To jtjdge
teach us
with candour
[We
uniting
with Pharisees in calumniating the children of God But it
is not our province, nor are we competent, to
judge others
The disciples of John might do right in fasting often, and
yet the disciples of Jesus not do wrong in forbearing to fast
There are many things belonging to the situations of indiWe must therefore
viduals, of which God alone can judge
" stand or fall to his own master"
leave every man to
Every
one should labour to approve himself to God, and allow to
others the liberty ofjudgingand acting for themselves ]
2.
To
prescribe with
wisdom
all
Christians
who
are advanced
in
VOL.
John xvi.
III.
h i
12,
Cor,
iii.
2.
82
(242.)
be performed with
upon
much
We
We
We
3.
Accordingly
fastings
whom God
would not
at first lead
We
"
aways
1
CCXLIII.
Heb.
v.
12
'
14.
M fk V
IT
is
attachment to
1
(243.)
83
God
little
regard for the laws of
tion are ever eager to censure
shew
is
As
the heart
is
the seat
c
Who
have any portion in the kingdom of heaven
would augur well of that heart, which gives vent to slander
and calumny ? Or who does not approve the sentence, of
excision, which David had decreed against those who should
d
.be notoriously addicted to such habits ?
Pleasing as flattery
is to our vain minds, every one is
disgusted with it except when
it bears the semblance of truth
Nor will God fail to punish
6
Even
those who so basely prostitute the powers of speech
an idle word is odious in. the sight of God And a strict
f
account of it shall be rendered in the day of judgment
]
r> *i
Evil
to
it
John
iii.
Matt.
Ps.
Matt.
15.
v. 22.
ci. 5.
xii.
36.
84
(243.)
Evil dispositions
[There is not any thing more sordid and grovelling than a
worldly and covt tous disposition The object of its desire is
always stigmatized by the name of "filthy lucre" As for
as rottenness in the bones g
It
envy, it is justly represented
even operates as a disorder to reduce our bodily frame, at the
same time that it wastes and destroys the soul Cemoriousness
nearly allied to this
is
arid base
mind
and no
a narrow^ selfish,
of internal depravity
less indicates
Even Enoch,
but
it
Evil thoughts
"
[The very
thoughts of our hearts are all naked and
open before God" And he regards them as infallible marks
of the stale of our souls Those thoughts indeed which are
rejected instantly with indignation, do not leave any stain
v pon the soul But those which are in the least degree harboured and indulged, most assuredly defile us We are told
" the
very thought of foolishness is sin'" And Simon
Magus was exhorted tok "pray that the thought of his heart
might be forgiven him "-Indeed it is but a small part of the
wickedness of the heart that discovers itself by words and
All sin is first conceived in the
actions
imagination and
much lies buried there for want of an opportunity to break
that
forth
Who
" vain
ritable, the revengeful, the unbelieving, and the
thoughts
that often lodge in the soul?"
Or who can estimate the guilt
which we contract by means of them ? It is worthy of
remark, that these are the very things whereby our Lord himself says that the heart is defiled
And
which, when brought to maturity, fill the world with adulteries, murders, and ail manner of abominations
]
111
II.
*
k
.
h
!
Jude
1416.
Ver. 21
23.
The
Prov. xxiv. 9.
* Jam.
iv. i.
(243.)
85
II.
know
i
The
extent of our
own
depravity
we
like
him
"
shall
die/' that
is,
we
and sins
Knowing the depravity of our
own hearts, we shall be willing to humble ourselves before
God as undone sinners
shall cry like Job, Behold, I am
Now
vile; I repent, and abhor myself in dust and ashes
till
we be thus brought to loathe ourselves, we have no
genuine repentance We must therefore learn wherein
spiritual defilement consists, if ever we would have the guilt
of it removed from our souls For, except we repent, we must
dead
11
in trespasses
We
perish
The
" Old
"
things must pass away, and all things must become new
And is such a change within the power of unassisted man to
effect?
Let any one strive to put away every evil disposition,
and to suppress with indignation every rising thought of sinLet him plant the contrary dispositions in his heart, and che-
We
rish
must,
therefore,
become
entire
new
creatures
He
Horn.
vii. 9.
G3
86
(243.)
He may
bis
We
own
laid
it is
The
3.
suitableness
sal-
vation
APPLICATION
1
To
those
who
But where
and perishing condition That is only like " the
of
a sepulchre which is full of rottenness and all unpainting
cleanness"
Remember then ye must " lay the axe to the root
of the tree" " Ye must be born again" This is the solemn
and repeated declaration of Christ himself " Ye must be
born of the Spirit, or ye can never enter into the kingdom of
God" Hearken then, and understand this solemn admonitionLet every one of you apply it to himself Cry with
" Create in
me a clean heart, O God, and renew a
David,
If any man hath ears to hear, let
right spirit within me"
him hear ]
religion
iu a lost
2.
To
those
to experience vital
and
spiritual religion
own
who
you
sufficiently thankful to
drawn
P
Ezek. xxxvi. 25
27.
Eph.
i.
ii.
10.
(243.)
87
lusteth
"
still
vi.
And
39.
had
blind
the
BLIND.
ditch ?
IGNORANCE
But
is,
some cases
in
of the soul
manifestly true in the concerns
of
of
the
salvation, must
way
person, ignorant
This
is
fall
short of heaven
And,
who
if
follow
all
him
To
person
may
04
88
And
(244.)
fatal to
them both
for
which he
qualified
Much
less so
is
not
men
to
heaven
Yet many assume
How
heaven !
Let all who would not perish under such an accumulated
load of guilt, examine well their motives for undertaking,
their qualifications for discharging, and their manner of
executing, this high office
ignorant
'
2 Chron. xxvi. 16
21.
d
It should be remembered, that it is not human
learning which can
qualify a man for the ministerial office, but rather an experience of
true religion in his own soul.
The Pharisees were acquainted with
the letter of the scriptures, but
they understood not the spirit of
them they saw not the spirituality of the moral law, nor the typical
Thus being ignorant of their fallen
import of the ceremonial law.
state, and of the means appointed for their recovery, they were only
blind guides.
man must be converted himi>elj\ before he undertake
to convert others: he must be able to
the
of the
:
adopt
apostle.
c
Isai.
See
xxx. 9
John
11.
i.
i,
3.
language
(244.)
approved
ability
if
89
one of
to
one who
blind person
also
folly
What madness
then
is it
for
men
The
*J
consider
The
II.
lessons
we should
learn from
it
Though
the
appears at
first
familiarity
---
---
holiness
God, unless we
jttj
2.
word
[The scriptures are the only proper rule of our faith and
practice
To them we must
standard
refier
truth in love."
1
Hos. iv. 6.
Cant. i. 8.
Matt.
vii. 13,
14.
Eph.
v. 6.
h
word by
his
this test
iu the
it is
expressly
3.
Spirit
[However
plainly man may preach, God alone can enable
m
you
to profit
Of
But the Holy Ghost shall be given to those who seek his
influence"
And shall guide into all truth those who submit to his
teaching
Matt,
xxiii. 8
10.
Acts
xvii. 11.
John
xvi. 13.
'
"
John
CCXLV.
ii.
20.
Thess. v. 21.
Luke
xi. 13.
Matt. xi. 25, 26.
A LITTLE CHILD.
Matt, x
DISPUTES
God
are
of any kind
among
most unbecoming their holy
when they originate in a
the children of
character,
more
competition for
the depravity of our nature,
that we are prone to affect
superiority and distinction
even after w.e have seen the
The
vanity of earthly things
disciples of t Christ, as well from their condition in the
especially
pre-eminence
Yet such
is
world
A LITTLE CHILD.
(245.)
9!
expected
emblem of true
I.
The
The
He
greatness,
nature of conversion
conversion here spoken of means either a deliverance from that sin of which they were guilty, or a
1*
In humility of mind
[A little child is not filled with notions of his own greatness and self-sufficiency, but feels his dependence on others
for support
Happy would it be for us if such were the habit
of our minds towards God
But fallen nature is far removed
from such a state as this
universally think of ourselves
more highly than we ought to think And imagine ourselves
But in
possessed of whatever is necessary for our salvation
conversion our views are greatly changed
are brought
to acknowledge our extreme guilt and helplessness -And are
made willing to depend on Christ alone for righteousness and
We
We
strength
2.
In teachableness of disposition
b
as a particular
admonition to them, or as a general declaration grounded on this
particular occurrence.
c
See St. Paul's views of these things before and after his conversion, Rom. vii. 9. and Phil. iii. 6, 7.
A LITTLE CHILD.
92
(245.)
sensible of his ignorance, and ready to receive, without gainsaying, the instructions given him, so the converted person,
conscious that he knows nothing as he ought to know, desires
He no
to have the eyes of his understanding enlightened
but
rethe
of
declarations
scripture,
longer disputes against
ceives them implicitly, and looks up to God for that spiritual
discernment whereby alone he can discover their truth and
11
]
importance
In
indifference
to the world
3.
[The world
adores
is
Its riches
Having shewn his disciples by this emblematical reprewhat conversion was, our Lord proceeded to
sentation
declare
The importance of it
This he suggests in two different points of view
1. Without such conversion no man can be
partaker
of the kingdom of grace on earth, or the kingdom of
glory in heaven
II.
[Conversion
is
necessary before
we can be
We
truly
admitted
We
a Saviour,
him,
him,
'
f
till
enjoyment
Job xxxiv. 32.
Rom.
viii. 7.
Jk'
by which.
A LITTLE CHILD.
(245.)
enjoyment of
The
93
crowns
before the feet of Jesus, and prostrate themselves in deep
How could we
humility, ascribing all their salvation to him
unite with them when we have never deigned to glorify him
thus on earth ?
As for our worldly desires, what should we
find to gratify them there?
Heaven could be no heaven to
us, if our affections were not set on the things that are there,
and our employments suited to the exercises of that blessed
state
it
2. In
proportion as we experience such conversion will
be our exaltation here and hereafter
[Our Lord now plainly answers the question put to him
Let any one point out to us the person that most eminently
him
We
i
may IMPROVE
.
this subject
For conviction
By
2i
*
Eph.
John
iii.
8.
iii.
3, 5, 7.
For
A LITTLE CHILD.
94
(24,5.)
Let
little child be always a source of instruction to us
us observe his simplicity of mind, and unity of desire ; and
This was the
let us regard him as a pattern for imitation
very mind of Christ himself, who, being in the form of God,
humbled himself, and took upon him the form of a servantLet the same mind therefore be in us that was in him l
k
" Seekest thou
great things unto thyself ? seek them not :"
" Mind riot
to
low
but
condescend
things,
things'"
" Whosoeverhigh
would become the greatest of all, let him make
himself the least of all, and the servant of all" ]
of a
Phil.
ii.
1
Rom.
CCXLV1.
Mark
ix.
better
5, 6.
xii. 16. in
Jer. xlv. 5-
the Greek.
AN OFFENDING MEMBER.
48.
If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is
thee to enter into life maimed, than having two
to go into hell, into the Jire that never shall be
43
for
hands,
quenched: where their zcorm dieth not, and the Jire is not
And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it. is better
quenched.
for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet, to be cast
into hell, into the Jire that never shall be
quenched : where
their zcorm dieth not, and the Jire is not
And if
quenched.
thine eye offend thee, pluck
it
out
it is better
for
thee to enter
God
TO
kingdom of
God
is
to
solemn
and
repeated
admonition
Ver. 42.
to
cut off
every
occasion
AN OFFFNDING MEMBER.
(246.)
occasion of sin
consider
I.
His injunctions
There are many things which prove
95
we
shall
to us an occasion
of sin
[We are too ready to be drawn aide by our worldly inHow often have they led men to profane the sabbath,
terests
to engage in unlawful
occupations, to practise deceit and
falsehood, and in a thousand other ways to violate the dictates
of their conscience
How has an undue regard to ihem deterred many from embracing the gospel and following the
Lord fully b
And how many have been turned aside by
them from the truth of God, even after they had maintained
!
and murmured against God the instant it was removed INeed we add sensual appetites to this black catalogue ?
who, that knows the danger of an impure look % must not
it,
tremble
To
God
consider
II.
b
Mark
a Cor.
x. 22.
Td. 14, 17.
The
AN OFFENDING MEMBER.
0,6
(246.)
God
[This truth
is
men
hereafter according
text as incontrovertible
truth whatever, that is
more agreeable
to reason, or
more
f
And can
abundantly confirmed by the sacred oracles
for
self
denial?
be
a
argument
stronger
Stwely if
any thing
eternal happiness or misery must be the issue of our conduct, we should diligently consider our ways, and put away
the accursed thing that would ruin our souls If we had no
" Let
future account to give of our conduct, we might say,
us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die"
But, if we believe
the scriptures, we shall rather labour to act with a view to
the future
judgment
Our Lord
repeats
it
attention
f
Rom.
viii. 13.
Gal,
vi. 7, 8.
AN OFFENDING MEMBER.
(246.)
attention
it
importance
deserves
and act
as those
who
97
and
INFER
In what a lamentable state are the world at large !
will persuade themselves that they are in the way
to heaven, even while
they are neglecting many duties, and
committing many actual sins But can they derive much
encouragement from the words of our text? O that they did
1
[Men
2.
over their
own
hearts
usV
1
VOL.
III.
Rom.
vi.
14-
AN OFFENDING MEMBER.
p8
(246.)
John
i.
m 2 Sam.
9.
CCXLVII.
xxiii. 5.
Matt,
likewise
shall
from your
my
trespasses.
MEN
and defective
injuries is universally
acknow-
ledged
it is
required of
them
Peter, though a
on
this
head-
He
And
tive parable
From
The
(247.)
99
The
extent
[It does not forbid the execution of human laws, since
magistrates are appointed of God on purpose to enforce
I.
them 2
Nor does
it
or masters
to all
offences,
however numerous,
Or
it
forbear to punish
to merit our
displeasure
we
Byt
while
we punish
the
offence
And
good
The
reasonableness
[Every man owes to God
lation
we
is
already can-
celled
Rom.
xiii.
"
Luke
18.
TOO
God
brother, as
and
rebels'
us,
(24?.)
The necessity
[There is an intimate connexion between the exercise of
God's mercy to us, and ours to others
Though our forgiving of others cannot merit forgiveness
from God, yet it will certainly be followed by it
On the other hand, an unmerciful disposition towards others
will be the certain means of excluding us from God's favour
It will cut us off from the enjoyment of the mercy we seemed
k
to have obtained
In uttering the Lord's prayer, we shall even seal our own
III.
condemnation
Let us
How
[We
giveness
is
to
How
for our
own
iniquities
to obtain
tasted
Let
1
The
Jubilee
commenced on
men
9.
Matt.
Jam.
ii.
13.
Ileb. viii.i3.
1
Matt.
vi. 12.
Col.
iii.
12, 13.
(247.)
101
we
CCXLVIII.
Luke
x.
30
35.
to Jericho,
MUCH
We
description
We
And was
life
desired
by our Lord
to state
re-
quired
29.
its
requirements,
not
all
Our
102
T'rfE
GOOD SAMARITAN.
(248.)
To convey
the
in reply, that
desired
information,
Lord spake
The circumstances of
and to correct
this parable
his
noticed
A Samaritan
is then introduced as
performing the kindest
towards him d
And as engaging for the whole expence of his maintenance
and cure 6
Thus our Lord shewed, that any person, of whatever nation,
or whatever religion, must be esteemed our neighbour
By his artful statement also, he drew from the lawyer
himself an express, though reluctant, acknowledgment of this
offices
truth
But
sion is
of the parable
to the occa-
explanation
[The lawyer was manifestly of a proud self-righteous
spirits
Though he knew
its
spiritual
import
He
b
to give
(248.)
He
103
life
by
his obe-
dience
law-
judgment
Yet was
offence
The
II.
it
so
conveyed that
it
Improve
to
it
this scripture
teach
may
us
It
hearts,
single instance
Hence we are told that
no
by
it
God k
Let us acknowledge ourselves to need
the apostles
And adopt the language of St. Paul m
mercy
as
much
as
2.
h Gal.
iii.
k Rota.
iii.
10.
'
Rom.
Gal.
19.
Phil.
iii.
H 4
8, 9.
iii.
20.
ii. i<5.
The
(248.)
nation,
104
2.
The
city
narrow,
selfish
principles
And to
love
abound
in
disinterested,
self-denying offices of
The
3.
Christ
to represent his
love
But
it
it
We
made
"
We
No
us"
He
cure
And
let us
make
to
others']
o
Rom. ix. 2,3.
Lukexix. 41.
were the subject of a
Sermon
it would be proper,
Charity
in this place, to advert to the
particular circumstances of the charity.
r
Ezek. xvi. 6.
Rom. v. 6, 8.
."
If this
Eph.
iii,
18, 19.
'John
xv. 12.
CCXLIX. THE
RICH FOOL.
Lnke
HEAR
bigot, or
intemperate zeal
No
Jehovah's indignation
Covetousness, in whomsoever found, cannot fail of
provoking his utter abhorrence
young man had applied to Jesus to procure him an
equitable share of his paternal inheritance
There
are, alas
too
many
still
who
are actuated by
similar principles
For
their conviction
we
shall enquire,
I.
No
But
*
Ver.
It
1315.
was wrong
I do?"
J06
But
1
(249-)
two things
[He imagined
him happy
And
it
would be permanent
for
many
years
Can
t>f
mind
Can
body of
ward
it
troubles ?
Is there
more
compose domestic
Cottage
this
as
?-
And
poverty ?
Is not the
instability of riches declared in the strongest
terms h ?
Or, if they were more stable, can we prolong our own
lives
Has
expectations ?
Well then might
God
address
him by
pellation
fruitless anxieties,
and delusive
hopes"
And
him
off as a
warning to others]
An
Had
been
"
body
" But
*
1
Ver. 19.
Ver. 15.
Prov. xxiii. 5
night,"
Eccl.
ii.
11.
*Jobi. 13 19.
Jam. iv. 1315.
'
c.
" Whose
Thvufool."
shall those
things be," %c.
(249.)
107
anxiety
things
"
And occupy
terests
" Thou
and powers
ties
" Bless
bin)
that
he has
not
"
required thee of
me "
unprepared
"
And
by the very
gifts
which he
bestowed
then the divine displeasure
demerits ?
]
Surely
to his
adequate
Whether
means sinful n
Such prudent care will very well consist with ferven t piety
But our concern about earthly things should not preclude
an attention to the soul
Our
By
"
"
lay up treasure in heaven
duty is to
and his promises we may be " rich in
Christ
embracing
first
faith"
And by
good works
Thus, however poor with respect to
" rich towards God"-
in
iTim.v,
8.
we may be "
this world,
Rom.
xii. 11.
rich
we may be
1O8
us
make
(249.)
this their
chief employ-
How
is
languid
and reluctant
body
And
How
will
2.
In
his
punishment,
bosom
ftot the smallest portion of his former comforts
is
left
him
He
is called
by an incensed master to give an account of
his stewardship
And for his folly is consigned over to everlasting-burnings "]
We
Wisd.
Hab.
v. 4.
6.
ii.
(24Q.)
10Q
While we are
in the
world
we should
But our
first
to obtain
an eternal
inheritance
no more
]
1
CCL.
Luke
xii.
35
37.
Cor.
vii.
24.
loins be
wedding that,
when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immeBlessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he
diately.
;
SUCH
is the
uncertainty of life, and such the importance of eternal things, that one would suppose every one
should feel the necessity of standing ready for death and
judgment, even though no injunctions had been given us
to that effect
But our Lord frequently insisted on that
culcated
our duty
All of us are servants of one common Lord and
Master He is absent, and has commanded all of us to
I.
ment
may say,
may be protracted, so that scoffers
But " he is not slack
the promise of his coming a ?
concerning his promise" He is only exercising his patience
Where
This
is
and
a
iii.
3, 4.
11O
(250.)
[This
And
To
Lord subjoins
are
of very
Encouraging
"
stimulate us to watchfulness
And should
who would
wages
Alarming
[What
will
b 2 Pet.
c
iii.
9.
to
vre
this,
but
;
because his hearers
111
" cut him
it]
by
We may
IMPROVE
this
parable
For self-examination
[Peter asked whether it related to the disciples ? and
eur Lord directed them to examine themselves whether they
were such servants' ? This is a proper direction for us Are
Let us remember that
we then " like" such servants ?
to such, and such alone, will our Lord's advent be a source
of joy To all others, what a terrible surprise will his coming
be
Who
Let us then resolve, with God's grace, to watch
would not watch if he knew that his house would be assaulted
by thieves? And shall we not watch to preserve our souls?
Whatever be our station among men, our duty to Jesus is the
same O that we may all meet his approbation, and receive
1.
his blessing
For consolation
2.
Ver. 38.
* Ver.
47.
'
Hab.
*
i
ii.
Ver. 48.
m Ver.
39, 40.
.
i.
Thess. v. 6.
Jsai.
xxv.p.
CCLI.
his vineyard,
xiii. 7
9. Then said he unto the dresser of
Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree,
and Jind none : cut it down ; why cumbereth it the ground ?
And he answering, said unto him, Lord, let it alone this
year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it
bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut
it down.
Luke
them
Nor, though our conclusions were more certain, would it
to place ourselves on the seat of judgment
We are far more concerned to prepare for the account
which we ourselves must render unto God
Such was the advice which our Lord gave to his
become us
censorious hearers
He bade them
suming
And
repent of their
instructive parable
T.
own
sins instead of
judge others
enforced his admonition with an apposite
to
We shall
pre-
and
enquire
fig-tree
We
it is
but
conduce
We
h-is
ministers-
Nor
Ver.
15.
(251.)
113
us
fruitful
God may
church of old
Yet
it
to be feared
is
we have
been found
hitherto
barren
[For three successive years was the fig-tree destitute of
fruit
And have
The
not
fruits
obedience
But have
Have we
sinners
Have we
sacrifice
Has
\ve
it
abound
Have we
ful
to
'
in these fruits
Have we not
ground, been
Have not
Surely too
of old d
many
Israel
We
may
of us deserve the
to
justly
to
II.
We
no
unfruitful ness,
is
sin
state
is
not hateful
God
And
felt
his
all
successive
year
Hence he spake of
and indignation
b Isai. v.
4.
c
Matt, iii.8.
d
IIos. x. J.
" Behold
VOL.
III.
Luke
its
And
xviii. 8.
and Phil.
i.
11.
forcibly.
114
(251.)
And must he
many
Much
less are
we
spared because
we
others
[Doubtless there are degrees of sinfulness and guilt
so in the sight of God, there are some
worse than others
But what good can be in him who answers no one end of
As among men,
his creation
The
of Moses
The
intercession of Christ
is
forbearance towards us
was spared only at the request of " the
[The fig-tree
"
vine-dresser
The order given would certainly have been executed, if he
had not obtained a respite
And little do we think how often death has had a commission to cut us down
Surely our continued provocations must often have incensed
God against us
But, in former times, he often revoked his word at the
-
cessor k
The
respite
however which
is
III.
expect
if
we
continue
still
barren
God
If
will deal
now
at last
be well
[The vine-dresser
culture on the fig-tree
And
intimated that,
be a source of
How much
much
more
undertook to
if his
bestow
still
greater
it would
concerned
reference to our souls
satisfaction to all
is
this true in
At
f
Deut.
ix.
6.
(251.)
At
this
moment we may
115
'
fruit
In due season
it should be
transplanted to that richer vineyard above
And should bring forth fruit to God's glory for evermore
Yes, its past unfruitfulness should be no obstruction to, its
bliss
But
if
the culture be
still
its
everlasting portion
in vain,
we must be
speedily
cut clown
hausted
left to
God
cumber
the
himself be at
ground
last
ex-
Must
diluvian world
And not defer till the morrow, what,
involve him in such ruin
J
if left
undone, must
INFER
i
and Intercessor
[Many
What
spared
a mercy
How dreadful
must our
taken unprepared
1
Luke xv.
state
if
we had been
We
m Cant.
5, 6, 7, 10.
n
Gen.
I 2
vi. 3.
iv. 16.
Il6
(251.)
How
we be
earnest should
moment
[Many
in
are dead
who
lately
seemed
as likely to live as
ourselves
But when
their
resist
the
stroke of death
alive, tell
how long
a respite
shall
2 Pet.
p
CCLII.
Lukexiv.
10.
zeere bidden,
i.
58.
Perhaps one
in
twenty.
And he
to those which-
;
saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man
wedding, sit not down in the highest room ; lest a more
honourable man than thou be bidden of him ; and he that
bade thee and him, come and say to thee, Give this man place ;
and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when
thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room that
when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend,
go up higher : then shalt thou have worship in the presence of
them that sit at meat with thee.
rooms
to a
THE
And
(252.)
117
And
instructive
The
him
I.
as a
our conduct in one particular,
but as a parable that should be applied to the whole of
our deportment in social life
The scope of the text, whether as originally delivered
by Solomon, or as quoted and applied by our Lord, is
maxim
recommend
to
But
it
3-^
humility
its
meaning,
we must
own unworthiness
And
But
shall be ready to
if
vileness,
analyse, as
which implies
claim precedence
we cannot but
among
our equals
him d
While
"
'
b Phil. "
3d
xiii. 7.
Rom.
11 8
human
will
(252.)
to
pay
Excellent however as this principle is, it needs to be
limited by prudence, and exercised -with care
[Though this principle can never operate to too great an
extent, it may exert itself in a very absurd mannerThere are certain decencies in society that ought not to be
violated, as would be the case if the great and noble should
take the lowest place
literally
among
those
who
are of very
inferior rank
cretion]
Having endeavoured
we
shall
point out
II.
importance in
Its
human
life
is
tion of
them
It
i.
all
mankind
[Nothing tends more
to the happiness
claims'!
slight,
rancour as
But
let
much
easiness is destroyed
If we be willing to
give honour toothers, and be indifferent
to it ourselves, and
especially if we count ourselves unworthy
of it, we shall feel no pain -at
seeing others preferred before
us
to the
pace and
comfort of
society
What
is it
of contention
What
This idea will be
;n public assemblies.
fully
understood by those
f
who have
James
iii.
ever
14
mixed
16.
is it
is it
lig
g ?
itself is
and distracted
often torn
by
in the hearts
of
It is that
gospel
[The avowed scope of the gospel
ciples and practice of mankind
is
to
hesitate to
pronounce them
Who
nephew Lot
his
Who
made by Abraham
to
washing
k
?
who
ignorantly reject
This subject
i
The
[There
it
CONTEMPLATE
folly of sin
really as
is
muchfol/y, as there
is
sinfulness, in
sin
In
how many
humility,
what others
arrogance
This is well illustrated in the parable before us
Let us then simply endeavour to glorify God by an holy
conversation
And leave our temporal advancement to his all-wise disposal ]
2.
*
"
James iv.
John xiii.
i.
Matt. xx.
2028.
4, 5.
14
Gen.xhi.
i
Pet.
ii.
The
9.
1315-
THE AMBITIOUS
120
2.
t
The
GUEST*'
excellence of religion
will
their
esteem"
]
ra
Rorn.
CCLIfl.
xii. 10.
Pet. v. 5.
PERSONS,
God more
perfectly
dom b
Our Lord
The
in all
agesIts
*
b
See John
Ver. 15.
and
vi. 34,
35.
(253.)
Its import,
as
it
be comprised in two
may
respects us,
121
observations
God
I.
invites us to
gospel
[til
every thing
is
is fitly
compared
set forth
to
a sump-
palate
There
is
Christ
image of a
feast
God
called in
The
The
We
'
it were,
waiting for you
are moreover to urge you to accept the invitation
f
are to take, as it were, no denial from you
Such is God's desire to bless us with all spiritual blessings
and, as
We
We
Nor
mean
or abandoned, to be over-
looked
[We
are to
go and
call
people of
all
tions
We
most
distant,
most obscure,
most impious 5
c
e
that
We
d
Rom.
Isai.
xxv. 6.
The
xi. 1 1.
:
is to
ready to
the place prepared for you.
:
122
(253.)
h
of body, or distress of soul
"
God will have his house to be filled "
Nor are his servants to desist from their labours till that
work be accomplished
And, thanks be to God ." there yet is room" for more ]
ties
would
frivolous
excuses
Few
find
the gospel
[The Jews
in their
solicitation of the
apostles
to
make excuse"
Some
world
But
God
his
mercy
[The pleas urged
selves
to the
followed
Hence God
offer
declares that he
is
"
such pleas
ADDRESS
i.
of the gospel
[Every one
is
to
guilt
" The
poor, the halt," &c.
as temporal conditiou.
And,
may
(253.)
123
answer
cannot come"
plea, and in
will discern its fallacy
God
offered,
it
be
invitation
Nor
is
sion
We
all,
devise
k
consequences of absenting yourselves from it
Let all come, and "delight their souls with fatness"
The command given to the church is yet addressed to
]
you
l
"
can not,"
and "
-will
not,"
is
now
it
may
have
xiv.
sitteth
28
not
sufficient to finish it 1
foundation, and
is
124
begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was
Or what king going to make war against
not able to finish.
another king, sitteth not downfirst, and consulteth whether he
be able with, ten thousand, to meet him that cometh against
him with twenty thousand? or else, while the other is yet a
great zeay
off,
sendeth an ambassage,
he.
of peace.
tions
So
and
likewise, whosoever he
my
disciple.
MANKIND
Our Lord
that will attend the adoption of their plans
the
plainly to his followers
in,
and the
losses they
must
In the verses
his disciples
in
states
very strong language the
follow
I.
The
Both
To
him
thoughtlessly preferred
77/e
INCONSIDERATE KING.
(Q54.)
The
125
of such conduct
[A king who should inconsiderately plunge himself into
enemy that was too powerful for him, would
expose hoth his kingdom and his life to the most imminent
a war with an
way
known
to turn
it,
from
righte-
it
;" their
end
These parables
made
we
consider
direct
i.
with speculative
conscience by a
We
that
forsake
is
all
We
We
We
life and
glory in his more immediate presence
should dispassionately balance these against each other, that
we may see which scale preponderates, and whether the pearl
be worth the price demanded for it ]
eternal
2.
We
126
We
(254.)
without reluctance
must pay
2.
the
same trials to endure; but all will
not
have
[All
meet with some which shall prove a test of their sincerity
Whenever, or in whatever degree, we be tried, we must shew
must
our decided purpose, our fixed determination
" hate" (that is, we must esteem as worthless and of no
it
We
We
We conclude
1.
The
[Men
with an
ADDRESS
to
inconsiderate Christian
2.
when,
those,
labouring
*
Jam.
iv. 4.
INCONSIDERATE KING.
(254.)
127
mark prescribed
3.
The
timid Christian
back,
4.
The
stedfast Christian
them even
CCLV.
Luke xv. 3
And
go after
found
it,
he layeth
it
on
And when
.
he
"
128
(255.)
THERE
is
nothing more injurious to ourselves or
others than prejudice
While it operates as a bar to our own improvement, it-
on every thing we
LordHe conversed
the most
familiarly with
abandoned
good
Such condescension ought
to
But
it
haughty Pharisees
their
murmurs
appealing to their
By
own
condemn themselves
to
We
shall consider
The parable
The scope of the
I.
parable
is,
not so
The
i.
much
to
mark the
lost sheep, as
between
A shepherd's
enquiries about
He
it
to trace
back
its
fold again
of
If he gained
intelligence respecting
it,
he would go
in
quest
it
Leaving the
he found it
3
,
till
And
Th Jews
arable,
The
wilderness.
29
We
b
fold
to the great
Shepherd of
our souls
We are
lion
every
moment exposed
itself to
seek us
well delineated
is
by an inspired pro-
phet
his
By
spirit
he endeavours to apprehend us
labour too great, if he may but
last
he cannot endure
one
2.
it
when recovered
[When
it
The more
secure
it
more he labours
to
it
Exulting
meets
it
again he brings
in his success
he announces
back upon
it
it
to every
his
one he
Do we
Lord
Having apprehended us by
he overcomes our
his grace,
resistance
Our Lord
b Isai.
d
VOL.
liii.
Ezek. xxxir.
III.
6.
1116.
Pet. v. 8.
Zeph.
iii.
17.
The
I3O
The improvement
II.
of
(255.)
it
"
Repentance"
the soul to
is
it
was delivered
God
And
Hence
becomes a matter of
joy
we know not
But we are sure that
any
interest in our
welfare
of us f -~
fills
dant joy
The more
exquisite
Even
this sight
by
Not
from
godhead can
all
all
it
Nor
in
is
them
for rejoicing
it
However strange
this idea
may
seem,
it is
truly scriptural
1
In
this
men
?n us also
[This, though not expressed,
Words of our text
is
The
spirit
And
f
Heb.i. 14.
*
They who need no repentance, arc those, who having been converted to God, need not /xrr*vo, an entire change of mind, but
only to be confirmed in their present views, and to be rendered conh
formable to them.
So Jacob on account of his son
faithful witness."
Rev.
i.
5.
(055.)
131
'
Or do we
well to oppose
plished ?
Let us take heed lest
against
we be found
at last to
God "
to see
accom-
ample
Let us adore our Saviour for his condescension and grace
toward sinful man
And let that, which was urged as an objection against him,
be the greatest commendation of him to our souls
]
1
ADDRESS
[While some are turning unto God, others are striving to
draw them back
But let those, who have scoffed at religion, confess their folly
And those, who have discouraged repentance in others, repent
of their iniquity
amongst us
shou,t for
joy
if
all,
the angels
we ALL began
to
da}
And
Ver. i.
m Not because
they
Rev.
i.
5,
<5.
132
CCLVI.
Luke xv. 8
THERE
is
nothing in which we are so deeply
the extent and riches of the Redeemer's
interested as
grace
when we
are
bowed
But Jesus was the more careful to vindicate the conduct which they condemned
And in repeated parables assured them, that it was the
joy of his heart to save even the vilest of mankind
The parable of the lost piece of money very nearly
resembles that which precedes it
Nevertheless it suggests many useful thoughts which
,
import
vations
I.
is
deeply
The woman
Thus
of
is
men
[In some points of view the soul
is
undoubtedly of great
value
Nor
a
About
(&56.)
Nor can
133
it
bim
They could never
If
all
profit
no
loss
loss
even of
By
in their sins
Nor
is
his
wishes
II.
There are no
will
exertions,
however
great,
which he
might
find
it
Nor
Thus
Ps. xvi. 2.
Lam.
Luke
22.
xix. 41.
iii.
Job
c
xxii. 2, 3.
Hos.
xi. 8.
134
lost souls
uses
all
possible
means
(256.)
[Were we
all
When
appears
III.
his labours
Her whole
to feel the
in
more
danger
And
Isai. v. 4.
(256.)
Hence
it is
strongly marked
in every
it,
one of
135
fche
parables
or think the repetition of
it
tedious
Our Lord
well
in
sin
reason to regret it
if not put
among the treasures of God it must be for
ever miserable
To prevent this is the joy and delight of our blessed
Saviour
less
But
lost is
And
all
found
the angels that surround his throne rejoice together
him
with
As
INFER
1
How strange is it that men should have so little
regard for their own souls
[The generality of men are as careless of their souls as
if they were of no value
.
And
let us.be
beyond recovery
2.
How
lost,
we
136
[It
is
by
(2-50.)
sinners
If indeed
[If
our sins to
lie in
all
eternity
And when
found
word would be
verified
means
for our
in us 1
What
kindness then
is it
in
him
to use such
recovery
Let us never forget what obligations
!
He
will
more m
And
will
lodge us safely
we owe
his, that
we may not
in his coffers
he
to
him
may do
with us
fall
Eph.
i.
CCLVII.
m John x.
28.
Mai. iii. 17.
10, 14.
Pet.
i.
5.
Luke xv.
and let
is
23, 24.
Bring hither the fatted calf, and kill iV;
us eat and be
merry. For this my son was dead, and
alive again ; he was
lost, and is
found.
THE
At
(257-)
At
we may view
present
it
337
as a lively .representation
namely,
I.
the
His departure
went from his
He
his
Nor stopped
till
he had wasted
his substance in
riotous
living
At
He
to
his father
him
"
in his
more prosperous
No man/
either
clays
"
from gratitude or compassion,
gave
God
With
their
mercies which
for liberty
restraints
of education
and independence
God
138
(257.)
God
Nor can ever be prevailed on to turn unto him, till they
have fully proved the insufficiency of the creature to afford
them help
Whatever they may think of themselves in such a state,
"
are
and " lost "
they
really
But
dead,"
the prodigal
is
evident from
His return
II.
During
his departure
desti-
tute of reason
At
last
however,
his father s house
"
coming
he thought of
to himself"
And on
whom
under
who
lived
He
sinner's return
God
[He
first
begins to see
wickedly he has
acted
He
feels that
to a
wretched and
perishing condition
He considers how happy are those once despised people,
who enjoy the favour of his heavenly Father
And how happy he himself should be, if he might but
obtain the meanest place in his
family
With these views he determines to abase himself as a vile,
self-ruined creature
There
(257.)
13Q
finds
them
suited
to his case
mercy
Nor
Saviour-
He now
perhaps
may
be deemed
companions
But he should rather be considered
mad by
as
former
his
to
himself"]
The
effect
His reception
His father, it seems, was
III.
him
And, on
will
'
his first
appearance, ran to
testify
his
good
towards him
When
kisses
And
pardoned him
He
instantly put
And
upon
killed the
occasion
What
him-
this give us of
the reception which penitents find with God!
[God longs for their salvation even while they are at a
joyInstead
140
(25?.)
sation
He
rejoices over
And makes
it
him
as recovered
an occasion of
heaven
in
APPLICATION
[Who would
and contrition
Let none think
But let none imagine that they have gone beyond the
reach of mercy
The promise of acceptance extends to all without exa
ception
" There is bread
enough and to spare" for all that will
go
to
God
and ever
]
a
John
Matt.
vii.
37.
xi. 28.
141
CCLVIII.
Luke
And
xv. 28.
fore came
IT
is
he
his
an undeniable
fact, that
there"
lived a
life
excluded from
But
it
consideration
We shall
I.
notice
character
And doubtless there have been good men,
a
a pious
who
too
and
had of
their
Pha-
own
of the murmuring
Publicans
It might indeed have some further reference to the
d
Jews and Gentiles
But it admirably portrays the character of Pharisees
in
every age
*
k
4
The
Jonah
iii.
10.
and
iv. i, 9.
Acts
xi. 2, 3.
c
Ver. i
Ver. 31.
3.
Acts xiii. 42, 44, 45. and xxii. 21
23.
142
(258.)
The two
demand
angry
When
began
duct
He
complained that
sufficient respect
to
his services
away
his
in the
happiness
with disdain
As the feast was not
no
will they
(258.)
143
them
But when they find that all the praise is to be given " to
God find to the Lamb/' they have no ear for such music, no
taste for such employment
]
offered
us notice
II.
The conduct
it
His forbearance
first refusal
to
His condescension
2.
[He
principles
He
And
have both
to
He
This gives the proper clue to the difficulties in ver. 31. The
Pharisees had access to God at all times ; and all the privileges they
rould desire were enjoyed by them (see Rom. ix. 4.) so that, whatever
favour might be shewn to others, they could lose riothing, nor could
f
He shewed
him
(258.)
How
And
left
3.
His love
[The love shewn by him to the returning prodigal excites
our admiration
less
to his
ungracious
brother
The
solicitude expressed
And
is
ness
The
1.
evil
SUBJECT
MAY TEACH
us
[Self-righteousness
generally imagined
is
It not unfrequently is accompanied with pride, envy, discontent, and a thousand other evil tempers reigning in the
bosom
And
Moreover, if persevered in, it will infallibly leave us selfexcluded from the kingdom of heaven
Let us pause then, and solemnly examine whether rce be
not under its dominion ?
Let us enquire whether we more resemble this elder brother, or the repenting prodigal?
And, instead of justifying ourselves before God, let us
thankfully accept his proffered mercy
2.
The
Such
llos. xi. 8.
Luke
xviii. 11.
(258.)
145
the harvest which all shall reap who sow in tearsthat compares the state of the two brothers would not
prefer that of the penitent even in this life?
And how much more will its superiority appear, when the
happiness of admission to the Father's house, and the misery
of exclusion from it, will be consummated
Let us then, if we determine (as we must) in favour of the
prodigal, go instantly, and prostrate ourselves before our
offended God ]
Such
is
Who
CCLIX.
Luke
THE
same point
in
the
every particular
Some admit
more
partial
application
Some are to be interpreted solely in reference to the
principal idea contained in them
It is of great importance that we should read them
under
If
this
impression
we endeavour
main scope, we
to
shall
This observation
is
particularly to be attended to in
the
considering
parable before us
It will instantly remove all the cavils which have been
raised against our Saviour as a minister of sin
And
tion
I.
it
will
enable us to collect
much
useful instruc-
from
The
The wisdom
He
And
for this
he was now to be
discharged from
his
stewardship
[It is in vain for persons to hope that they shall always
escape detection
VOL.
III.
Dishonesty
146"
(&5Q.)
And provoked
it
his
in a
measure, the
evil
[As soon
as he
What shall I do ?
Nor ceased from
his enquiries
till
expedient
He
proud
felt
to
in himself that
he was too
idle to
beg
situation of
and confidence
It was probable therefore that he might soon experience the
pressure of extreme indigence
An artful plan for supplying his wants speedily arose in his
trust
mindHe determined
to
make all
in his iniquity
He
sum
he owed
Thus he secured
of his proposals
He cared not
souls he ruined
how much
guilt
commendation a
But it was the
ingenuity,
commended
The very epithet which he gave
who gave
the
dishonesty, that
the steward
shewed
he
his dis-
The
a
It
(259.)
The
Lord's applause
It
admirably
147
ground of our
illustrates
to illustrate)
II.
"
And
eternal
and
strict
their stewardship---
more glorious
their
reward
interests
in
eagerness in maturing,
executing his plans, did the unjust steward
e
!
pursuits
can the spiritual man thus engage in his work IAlas! vhat backwardness to duty, what languor in it, and
what readiness to disengage himself/row it, does he feel
How rarely
Happy
* "
**
He
What
down guJwA/y
shall
"
Uv?
I am
resolved
L a
John
vi.
every one
27.
sit
148
indeed would he be
Happy
who
(259-)
of worldlings
They
follow
[The children of
their
this
world have at
all
times an eye to
own advantage
Though
Paul
St.
They
contrive for
[If a worldly
man
them more
ingeniously
have prospects of advancement he
many
will
expedients
He will rarely lose any thing which his cunning will enable
him to secure
But how often does the Christian suffer loss purely through
own
his
folly
How often
shun
Many times
confession
]
is
'
To prevent misapprehension,
\\e subjoin
a word of
CAUTION
(Let not any one suppose that one fraud may he committed in order to prevent the consequences of another
This is too often practised; but it plunges the offender in
deeper guilt and shame
God has warned us in
of -dishonesty k
It
is
many
can be accepted of
However
who
God
their ingenuity
may be
admired,
it will
prove folly
in the issue
Let
'
Gal. v. 17.
Rom.
vii.
Prov. xxx.
2.
k
k
Isai.
!
i.
3.
remember the
To enforce the
ADVICE
1
Be
subject
faithful to
words 1
apostle's
we conclude with
suitable
is
the master
whom ye
serve
Be faithful
mammon
He is a
to
is
good
Be
2.
of the
world
We
3.
infinitely
richer
thy stewardship
But it will be a joyful word to those who shall be found
ready
Let us then be daily inspecting and balancing our accounts
He will then give us the true riches
He will bestow upon us what shall to all eternity be our
1
own P
J
1
John
i.
6.
m Prov.
Ver. 11.
CCLX. THE
xxiii. 26.
p Ver. 12.
Matt. xxiv.
RICH
Ver.
45
47.
3.
Luke
THE
upon the
150
(260.)
whose
every
the use he makes of that which
responsible to God for
" The
is entrusted to him.
Pharisees, who were covetOur Lord, however,
him*."
derided
ous, immediately
rich
man,
doomed
I.
The
rich
man
enjoyed
all
world
this
mind
[High titles, stately mansions, superb clothing, pompous
equipage^ numerous attendants, sumptuous entertainments,
courtly friends, and flattering sycophants, were his distinThese were the
guished portion, his daily enjoyment
things in which he took delight ; nor had his vain, earthly
heart a thought or wish beyond them 5
Doubtless he was to
his
an
in
of
admiration
and envy. And
day
many
object
many amongst ourselves are ready to say, Give me hut such a
.
desire
no more.]
Ver. 14.
Thy good
things."
'Eft&nTo.
(260.)
will
be reconciled to
this
seeming
we survey
state, if
The
rich
to a state
of deserved
misery
want
!]
the contrary,
of unspeakable felicity
[As death put a speedy period
was
raised to a state
one, so
it
152
(260.)
who
scarcely
to satisfy
enough
ever-blessed portion.
Now let us contrast the two
all
his
How
[What could
"
What
2.
severest trials
under the
so destitute, he doubtless
comforts as well as his sorrows. He would console
himself with such reflections as these: '1 have no earthly
I
treasures; but I have treasures laid tip for me in heaven
had
his
am
considerations
d
At
notice.
Jam.
v. 1
5.
so
(260.)
153
How
3.
earnestly
time in pre-
[Whether we be
in
prosperity or in affliction,
we
are
CCLXI.
Luke
So
xvii. 10.
likewise ye,
profitable servants
to do.
PRIDE is
that which
to be as
are
:
when ye
commanded you,
say,
We,
art un-
It was
deeply rooted in the heart of man
him
to
disobedience
he
wished
;
instigated
a
Since his fall it leads him openly to cast
first
God
services
1*
difficult
Gen.
iii.
5.
c
Ver.
3. 4.
Tim.
iii.
6.
154
difficult
it
might
But, aware
it
shall consider
I.
The comparison
The extent of God's
authority over us
is
not sufficiently
considered
[Some of
taken in war
Behold,
Ver. 3, 6.
Ver.
Lev. xxv. 44 46.
* In this land of
liberty this state of things does not exist: would
to God it did not in
any part of the Biitish dominions !
79.
21.
xod. xx. 2, 3.
Isai. xliv.
Job xxxi.
1315.
(261.)
155
l
He delivered
Behold, he withheld not the mighty ransom
m And has not
his
Son
for
us
all
this
up
given him a
Can we say in any respect that "we are
right over us?
Is not the
our own?"
apostle's inference just, That we
should glorify him with our bodies and our spirits which
are his"? ]
Hence it is evident
gation upon him
that
we can never
confer an obli-
the
their
him alone
to glory before
of judgment 1
2.
Sinful
God
unprofitableness
1
Pet.
Rom.
Rev.
i.
[It
ra
Rom.
Rev.
Jam.
18, 19.
viii.
v.
32.
1 1,
iv.
12,
q
'
6".
Cor.
vi. 19,
Jsai. vi. 2.
1
Prov. xvi. 5.
20.
156
(261.)
very
And acknowledge that
nually view our best performances
c "
" our
as filthy rags
are
]
very righteousnesses
ADDRESS
Those who are looking for acceptance through their
1
own works
[How manifestly is your spirit contrary to that which the
.
But
in part
in
far
knowledge of Christ
spirit
is
Pride
God
self deceit
humility
3.
their
unpro-
fitableness
[It
But the
is
well to be
feeling of
*
1
'
Ps. xvi. 2.
The
text.
Isai. vi. 5.
Isai. Ixiv. 6.
Rom.
Job xxii. 2, 3.
Job xl. 4. xlii. 6.
i Tim.
Eph. iii. 8.
Phil.
i
iii.
8, 9.
Cor. x. 12.
xi. 20.
i.
15.
(261.)
157
Christ
let
1'
Acts
xi. 23.
CCLXII.
Luke
xviii.
Eph.
John
2 Cor.
iii.
30.
v. 9.
>
vi. 8.
8-
saith.
judge
cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them ?
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless,
when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith
upon the
earth ?
THERE
no
To
it,
diffi-
culties,
We shall
I.
What
consider
labouring under
some heavy
oppression
[Sin
Ver.
i.
158
The world
And
they
greatest
who
their
fellow-
b
of robbery and oppression of every kind
are most defenceless usually suffer the
injuries-.
Every one
the
is full
is
widow
their comfort,
is
gratitude
tration
The judge,
it
was right to
solicit
to her request
He
He
We
and compassion
At
last,
by her importunity
gloried in
[He
divine
his
contempt of
all
laws
human and
He
on her
behalf
And
'
Ps. Ixviii. 5.
Tww7n*)
p*,-
obtundat me.
(262.)
159
And did that for his own ease, which he should have done
from a better motive
Thus, alas he proclaimed his own shame
But declared, in a very striking manner, the efficacy of
!
importunity
it
was,
may be
rendered pro-
our souls
fitable to
II.
In a
1.
We
all,
subject
way of instruction
a spiritual view, resemble
in
this
helpless
widow
and without
with indwelling corruption are great and
[We
Our
conflicts
manifold
have moreover to contend with
We
ness
all
any strength
Nor have we
saries g
in ourselves
He
help us
will
if
we
call
supplications of his
the
who come
to
him"
But he
This
will
never
fail to
succour us in the
be strongly
may
parable
[The widow was a stranger, not at
judgeBut we
"
season]
fittest
all
related
to the
"
peculiar
people
people
Eph.
vi.
h Matt.
k
i's.
12.
vii. 7, 8.
Ixxiv. 22.
g
'
John xv.
John xiv.
Joel
ii,
5.
13.
13.
l()O
(262.)
The widow moreover had none to intercede for herBut we have a righteous and all-prevailing advocate
She was in danger of irritating the judge by her intreaties
are, the
more God
is
pleased
with us"
She notwithstanding
all
quest
How much
And
Nor can
fittest
In a
2.
There
Nor
way of reproof
but
is
is this
little
to be
wondered
at,
since there
is
so
little
we
If
selves
is
weak and
God, we must
feel
our-
helpless
How
How
prayer
few maintain
this
fervour in
If Christ should
to
judgment, would he
find
us?
this faith in
[Some
now come
live
without
in
prayer
tain
will
cry to
God
also
who under
But
*
*
Jobnii.
He
firbt
Isai. Ixii. 7.
Prov. xv. 8.
" I tell
appeals to us, and then adds,
yuu," C*c.
i.
it is
l6l
in
to
widow
Few
pray, as if they
prayer
Jf
He
will surely
find faith
"
us?
in
works
And
he
if
will
ADDRESS
Those who
1.
live
without prayer
We
2.
able to
God
They tend,
for the
most
part,
souls
God
first
God*
But perhaps you faint merely through the discouragements
you meet with
Let the remembrance of the importunate widow revive your
l
hopes
"
Justify
his
gracious promise
Those
4.
p
Jonah
Mark
VOL.
i.
6.
vii. 6, 7.
1
Ps. Ixxvii. 7
Ps. xxii. 2, 3.
III.
9.
Prov.
xiii.
John
'
Rev.
iv.
ii.
23, 24.
v.
12.
*
Hab.
ii.
3.
103
4.
(262.)
of pride
God was not first moved by any worthiness in your petitions;
but he stirred you up to ask, because he had before determined
to give
If this view of things be humiliating,
it
also affords
much
encouragement
Every believing prayer may be considered
as a pledge of
the blessings asked 7
Adopt therefore the pious resolution of the Psalmist*
So shall your prayers terminate in everlasting praises ]
y
CCLXIII.
Luke
not
x Ps. cxvi- a.
Ps. vi. 9.
And
the
off,
would
much
tip so
MANY
is
so gene-
rally neglected
And
it
doubtless, a considerate
man
cannot
reflect
upon
But it is common also to substitute a formal and mistaken religion in the place of that which is spiritual and
saving
Nor is there sufficient jealousy entertained on this sub-
ject-
He
is
represented
them as engaged
all
prayer, which
they discover their true
in
character
He
(26,3.)
163
to
God
bless
God
for his
preventing grace
And acknowledge
in
him
Nor was
it sinful to feel a
pleasure in reviewing his past life
Paul, on proper occasions, spake of his disinterestedness
and generosity"
He thanked God also that he had laboured .more than all
the apostles b
And received much satisfaction in reflecting on his own
St.
integrity
By pride
[He came professedly
his spirit
we
shall
God
But he was so full of his virtues that he forgat all his wants
His acknowledgment of God was manifestly no more than
a mere compliment
His thanksgiving was one continued eulogium upon himself
Yet, after
all,
matter to boast of
And
By
means of
uncharitableness
cular
less
sinful
Nor should
it
ation
*
He
Acts xx. 33, 34.
a Cor.
i.
12.
O*
164
(263.)
He
By
3.
self-dependence
sins, because he thought he had none to
'[He confessed no
confess
Or
He
of
God
The whole of
his
his
The Publican
manifested a
the reverse
spirit altogether
of this
[He was
him
But now, "what had been sweet
gall in his bowels"
]
beset
He
approached
[He came
God
in his
bling
stood, as
He
it
placed
all his
confidence in
God
alone
his guilt
reparation for his
offences-
He
The Publicans were
tax-gatherers; and, under pretence of
gathering the legal imposts, generally extorted more than was due:
very employment was held odious, and all who
'
la
it
were detested.
engaged
(263.)
He
renounced
himself to
And
all
self-righteous
God
165
methods of recommending
The
rectitude
And
his
any thing
who
And
his
self-dependence, cut
divine mercy
Hence, though
blessing from
Though
him
off
from
all
full
hope
in
the
God
justified in his
own
The
beyond
his expectation
And
f
Ps. cxxxviii. 6.
Cor.
xiii. i
Prov. xvi
Gal. v. 2, 4.
k Isai.
3.
5.
Ixv. 5.
Here the Pharisee's character is described in
God's indignation against
perfect correspondence with the text: ai
him is very strongly painted.
Isai. Ivii. 15.
Ps. li. 17.
1
M3
l66
And
his
mercy
it
(263.)
were, to display
ADDRESS
j.
Tho?e who
[Almost
all,
when
Pharisee?
this
But we
men
If
we have been
free
from some
sins,
we have committed
others
many
And if we have practised some duties, we have neglected
many others
As sinners we must all humble ourselves like the Publican
Nor is there a possibility of obtaining mercy in any other
way* }
2. Those who are of a contemptuous spirit while
they
profess to believe in Christ
[Many pride themselves on the knowledge of the gospel,
as the Pharisee did on his virtues
And speak as contemptuously of the unenlightened world
as hef did of the Publican
Conceited, arrogant, contentious, they make the gospel
an occasion of sin
Well did St. Paul reprove such persons in the Corinthian
itself
church*
Let them remember that humility and love are the very
essence of religion
And beware, lest the higher they are exalted in privileges,
the deeper they fall into destruction
]
hearts"
Look
m
Ps. cxxv. i.
Isai. xxvi. 3, 4.
1
This is the import of that which the text
expresses in a way of
o
J Q ^ xxx iij. 27, 28.
comparison.
'
" I am not the worst
of sinners," &c. &c.
q Prov.
xxviii. 13.
i John i.
*
8, 9.
Cor.
iii.
3.
and
iv.
7.
Tim.
i.
15,
(263.)
Look
house
"
167
go down to your
justified
CCLXIV
John
/ am
x. 9.
shall be saved,
the door:
and
shall
go
by
me
if
in
and
out,
THE
strongly insisted
destructive as vice
In innumerable instances,
it
who
observances
" thieves
Jesus therefore declared them to be only as
and robbers," who, instead of belonging to the flock of
stitious
God
We shall
consider
J.
represents his
own
character
lie had been delivering
*"
"
" the
parable" of the good
shepherd
IB
a
The
affirmation
is
the text.
*
Ver. 6, 11.
M4
and
it is
repated
La
l68
In elucidating
of the
slice pfold
that,
(264.)
he speaks of himself as
"
the door
"-
neither
They
acknowledge him
in his pastures
They are strangers to that flock
d
diate care
13ut in every
age
God
which
is
people"
the days of
Till the
to
belong
They
him
to cast out
each other^as
aliens
Of this
"
is
the door"
[Parts of Judea were probably still infested with wolves
The sheepfolds therefore were better secured than ours
Perhaps the entrance into them was guarded by a door
Now, what that door was lo the fold, that is Christ to trfe
church
fold Christ
We
him
Nor indeed has
fold
'
And, through
ro
that,
we
also
have boldness
holiest
Some,
e
'
Isai.
Ver
liii.
6.
&
'
GaLiii. 26.
1
John
xiv. 6.
Rev.
xiii. 8.
with Eph.
ii.
>$.
Ep^
Horn.
jj
ii.
12
28. and ix. 6.
(264.)
Some,
is
it
other
true,
"
69
some
1
way
They profess to be his without having ever believed in him
But they are regarded by him only as thieves and robbers
Nor will they ever be admitted into the fold above ]
This description of Christ
is
of great importance
The
IT.
tended flock,
in Christ
1.
arise to those
who
believe
Security
[Protection
is
sheep
salvatiorr to
an immortal
Yet, such
is
who
aright
Thev
shall
lion
They
.the
shall
law
Death
itself,
disarmed of
its
sting, shall
have no power
to
hurt them''
by him
2.
"
Liberty
is
to
submit
itself to
shepherd
Thus they, who live without God in the world, may boast
of their liberty
5
But their very freedom is, in fact, the sorest bondage
And every moment they are in danger of everlasting
destruction t
It is far otherwise with those
who have
by Christ-
Ver.
Rom.
'
Heb.
Whether
i.
q
\iii. i.
vii.
25.
*
Ps.
vii.
12, 13.
v. 8.
1JO
Whether
(264.)
no restraint
Through Christ they have
all
can desire u
Secure of God's favour, " they go
in
the
wants of an highly
in perfect
peace
Provision
3.
[Good
pasture comprises
favoured flock
all
people
This privilege too, no less than the others, is the conseb
]
quence of entering into the fold by the appointed dour
ADDRESS
i
at a distance
from the
fold
silly
danger
your ruin
Jf they only,
you expect
who
safety, the
more
certain
consider, that the loss of bodily life is not to be comdoom that awaits you
Nor do you know how soon that doom may be inflicted
upon you
Blessed be God, however, the door
is
come
And
ears
the
Saviour's
declaration
is
He
is
yet open to
all
who
home on
his shoulders
rejoicing
Stay not then till the door be for ever closed upon youLet the caution given by our Lord stir you up to improve
the present
moment*
2.
"
John
viii.
36.
John
vi.
37.
46.
Those
(264.)
2.
Now
this
17!
shewn
to
God
who
way
We
liating
But our
by some
no
humi-
less
avail
name than
his
}
gate
then you shall have that promise fulfilled to you
'.
And
enjoy
are
}-ou to
to
"
sheep's clothing
Let
it
'
And
for
you
receive from
k
]
f
Acts
iv. 11.
CCLXV.
Matt. xx. 6,
7.
And
Luke
xiii.
24.
Pet. v. 4.
THE LABOURERS.
found
&
l
and
he.
Why
stand
ye
THERE
is
man
THE LABOURERS.
(265.)
and even
monuments of
And
divine mercy
the richest rewards have in
benefit derived
before us
The
men
many important
employment
We
need not speak of a Christian's work in generally e shall confine ourselves to the
figure of a labourer
in a
vineyard
with
manure
branches
And
If
*
Isai. v.
6.
xxvii. 3.
THE LABOURERS;
(265.)
173
own heart
Nor must he expect
ness of his
the natural
He
must get
grace of
fruit
soil
He
RENOWN
"
Without
With
and
God
plants of heavenly growth^
" THE
to possess
PLANT OF
this,
this,
flourish
and
tears
However
he be, he
fruitful
enough
to
weep
He
be pruned
many
...
Lastly, he
be glad
He
watchfulness
11
denial
Had
II.
idle hitherto, it
calls us to begin our labour
parable in its primary sense relates to the Jews
now
The
and Gentiles
[TUe
f
Ezek. xxxiv. 29. This certainly refers to Christ. See ver. 23, 24*
of that chapter.
" Christ in us is
e
Christ must dwell in our hearts by faith."
"
" Without him we can do
the hope of glory."
through
nothing;"
'
him,
h
1
all things.''
vi. ifc, 16, 18.
Eph.
Rom.
via, 26".
THE LABOURERS.
174
(265.)
with
the
Moses,
prophets,
patriarchs, together
Baptist, and Christ himself, had sought in their successive ages to engage the Jews in their proper work
Thus the Jews had been called, as it were, at the third,
[The
John
sixth,
The
But
it
may
also
description
[The occasion on which
it
was spoken
relates equally to
all*
their
work
What
scription
and
drawing
and mind
Surely all such persons
addressed in the text ]
To
us then
is
may
is,
now sent
" Go into
my
vineyard
day idle ?
Nor can any of
us,
we delay
Matt
stand ye here
all
the
"Why
therefore any
longer
we
shall
be utterly without
We
xix. 29.
1
The hours are reckoned from six in the
morning, that is, from
un-nse to sun -set; so that the third hour i&
early ia tie day.
.Rom. x. 21.
THE LABOURERS.
(265.)
175
We know indeed
i;
But
if not, let
God
finally to
It is in vain
exclude us
roust expect to
fail
we only engage
if
Nor,
we
to succeed
hope
Every intermission renders our task so much the more
difficult
and easy
Let us then be thankful that the invitation is sent us at
this late hour
And let the account once given of the Jews now be
q
light
realized
That
us
this invitation
may
we observe
been,
.
amongst
To
III.
We
made
fully
This
is
But
our works
Not
recompence according
to
that the
reward
will
is
in us"
The
* I must attend to
vide for, &c.
*
*
my
worldly business-;
have a family
Heb. iii. 7
11.
Matt. xi. 30.
Luke
"
Rom,
iii.
27.
xvi. 16.
a Cor. v. 10.
xi 6
iv.4, 5-
to pro-
THE LABOURERS.
176
The
(265.)
the gift of
happiness of heaven will be altogether
God
*
for Christ's sake
To
"
whatsoever
is
right,"
and
equitable
[If none shall have room to boast, so none shall have
reason to repine
The lowest degrees of happiness shall infinitely exceed any
thing we could claim
Every vessel too shall be full: though all have not the same
dimensions
The word of God is pledged that not the smallest service
z
shall be unrewarded
We may rest assured therefore that we shall find his promise true a ]
ADDRESS
To
1.
loiterers
[What
slothful servant
And
receive his
wages
To
2.
[Ye
able of
you may
at last
labourers
all
employments
much
profitableness
But God
is
not extreme
to
mark what
is
omitted or done
amiss
If
ye
really
make
it
"
will,"
cheer
is
be of good
fast
approach-
ing
Then
shall
you be
Master
Lord and
Not
*
Rora.
i
vi.
23.
Matt, x.4-2.
i Cor. Hi. 8.
Prov. xi. 18.
THE LABOURERS.
(265.)
Not
177
be over-
all shall
looked by him
Be not weary then of well doing, for you shall all reap in
due season
To every one of you shall those delightful words be adc
1*
dressed
]
* Gal. vi.
9.
CCLXVI.
THE POUNDS.
Luke
MANKIND
their
Messiah to erect a
temporal kingdom
The disciples themselves also were led away by this
fond conceit
At our Lord's last ascent to Jerusalem, this expectaa
tion prevailed amongst all orders and ranks of men
To rectify
And
he
is
their notions
shortly
reckon with us
coming
at the
day of judgment to
insist
on them
I.
Ver. 11.
The
Has
invested
parable states, that a nobleman, after having been
with royal dignity, reckoned with his servants to whom he had
committed money, and punished the citizens who had refused
submission to his authority.
These being perfectly distinct, we
shall treat them
attention at present to
separately, and confine our
the former.
VOL.
III.
THE POUNDS.
178
Has not
him?
[We are
I.
(266.)
when we
But we are apt
possess,
fix
to
improve for
From
these
we might have
learned
godliness
should therefore have studied
We
all
the mysteries of
them with
all
humility
and diligence
Have we not
received
many
calls
in his Providence ?
These,
if
much good
And
to,
an account
we must
here-
II.
us
all
after give
duly attended
to our souls
come"
"
all, is,
of his favours ?
Occupy, that is, Trade,
to
Have we
which we observed
world around us ?
dence,
Have
f
The
Cor.
xii. 7.
THE POUNDS.
(266.)
179
What
III.
earnestly to
fulfil
them
for
neglecting to improve
[The
Nor
we
excuse have
?
re-
semble him
We
God
say,
requires
more than he
will
enable us to
perform
But can this be affirmed with even a shadow of truth ?
Do not his promises extend to all our wants ?
f
May not every one adopt the words of the apostle Paul ?
Even if this assertion were true, it would not justify our
supirieness
we should
provoke him
We should endeavour at least to approve ourselves to him.
as well as we could
If we could not do all, it is no reason that we should do
fear to
nothing
"
justly say
us,
judge thee"]
reason to expect ?
Lord
will
reward
[Our
every man according to his
works
Are we ready then to give up our account to him ?
Can we say, " Lord, thy pound hath gained ttn, or five
pounds ?"
Can we say upon good grounds that it hath gained even
IV.
Happy
for us, if
we have
respecting this
shall gladly, like the
We
to our
good
honour
Lord 5
We
David
shall
11
and of
Nor
e
Phil. iv
*3-
"
hath gained:
They do not say I have gained, but, Thy pound"
their own to
they knew and acknowledged that they had nothing of
s
trade with.
h i
Cor. xv. 10.
THE POUNDS.
i8o
Nor
(266.)
will
exertions
a napkin
their
money
in
What recompence
fie
continues idle
Let not any one be satisfied with a mere negative holiness
Let our exertions in our Master's service be unwearied
Let us, like the saints of old, look to the recompence of
reward m
And let us stand ready to give up our account with joy
So shall we have confidence before him, and not be ashamed
at his
coming
k
i Cor. iii. 8.
The government of five
or ten cities is a rich compensation indeed for the improvement of
one pound.
m Heb. xi. 26.
i John ii. 28.
'
CCLXVIf.
Luke
A certain
THERE
is
think he loves
man
and to return
But
who
his
We
does not
God
disgust
the
heartily
welcome
Messiah
But
(267.)
l8l
his
this
I.
[It
the
title
is
b
is
Christ
ta
'*
country
his
But
at
liis
ascension he
was
fully
with royal
invested
dignity
He
him
to
And
was to have
f
all
at his return
to
II.
We wave
all
kingdom
But
notice of the nobleman *s reckoning with his serwe may keep the subjects distinct. See the pre-
ceding parable.
Johnvi. 15.
'
Acts
v. 31.
Eph. 1.20
22.
l82
(26?.)
They opposed
consent
it
virulently,
deliberately,
We
"
do not
" take on us
like to
Christ's light
and easy
yoke
We esteem
And
But
go unpunished
He
them on
returned at last
with
"
]
his return
full
power
to
avenge
his
cause
[Christ also will surely return ere long
"
then " come in power and great glory
!Nor will any one be able to resist his will ]
He will
He then ordered
them to be "
him
slain before
"
He
fulfilled
tion of Jerusalem
Then were the vials of his wrath poured out upon his
enemies
This however was but an earnest of the miseries he will
inflict
Every rebel
at
will
be
summoned
to his
tribunal
And
they,
whom now
shall
be slain
without mercy
INFER
"
This is intimated
tbeir
by
sending a message after him."
*
Exod.v. 2.
Josh. x. 24, 26.
f Ver. 27.
(267.]
183
INFER
How
1.
heart
astonishing
[Who would
hated Jesus
should
hate
one
so
amiable, so
active,
so
that gene-
We
human
In what a light do
ration
That they
useful
is
to
see not only the moral qualities of Jesus, but his divine
character
We see
him
dying
And " redeeming us
2.
How
removed
are
we concerned
to
have
this
wickedness
displeasure
To
all
and lamented
who
truly labour to
serve
him he
'
promise
And
John
2 Pel.
xii.
iii.
26.
9, 10.
m 2 Pet.
Isai.
iii.
4.
xxvi. 13.
CCLXVII1.
'
go
into the
INVETERATE
prejudice
is
scarcely ever to be
Nor any
reasoning,
not obstinately
The
it
condemn
best
it
will
resist
way
to
conquer
it
is
by secret and
indirect
attacks
Our Lord
would
first
their
guilt,
perverseness,
changed
his
involuntary acknowledgment
less obvious but well-
by means of a
adjusted parable
I.
The
jirst of
whom John
state
of those to
had preached
[His
(268.)
in
85
his vine-
yard"
This
"and went"
Thus many of the
duct,
an abandoned
character
They, by their
will of
lives,
God
for the
whom
our Lord
to his
father's will
God
for
They wished
to
dren
really
living cha-
racters
their sin
all
They
a
John vii. 37, 38, 48. There may be a further reference in the
text to the rejection of the gospel by the hypocritical Jews, and the
reception of it among the idolatrous GentileSt
b
Ps. xii, 4.
186
(268.)
conduct
On
no need of a phy-
" enemies
first
piety
And might
justly
father's house
But
his
racter
And
obedience arising from it proved him to have atbecoming sense of his duty
On the other hand, the latter was " an hypocrite in heart"
His fair promises only added to the guilt of his disobedience
And his continued violation of them constituted him a most
his
tained a
worthless character
its
assent in so clear a
Having determined
this point,
we
shall
proceed, in
Make some
parison
The Pharisees did not immediately
see for what end
"
our Lord put to them that
question
But, by their answer to that,
many important truths
are established
1.
It
THE TWO
(268.)
i
187
most likeh
It
SONS.
to
and profane
It is better to be a decent Pharisee than to be numbered
with " publicans and harlots"
But it is no less certain that moral persons are apt to pride
themselves in their virtue
They cannot endure to be told that they deserve the divine
displeasure
And, that they must be as much indebted to divine grace
as the very vilest of mankind-
at least
on
own works
Nor will
submit to the painful necessity of making
" Christ theirthey
all"
But more notorious sinners are more easily convinced of
sin
They
own
And, when humbled
have no righteousness of
their
embrace the
gospel-salvation
6
it was with the different hearers of John the
Baptist
thus it was in the apostolic, and all succeeding ages d
Let us then endeavour to bear in mind that caution of
Thus
And
Solomon
And
thankfully accept
the gospel
]
2.
The
characters of
men
will not
offered to us in
be determined by
We may
but he
will enquire,
Whether we
really go
IN or will
Let
c
Luke
vii.
Rom.
ix.
30
32.
5
Matt.
xii.
37.
THE TWO
188
SONS.
(268.)
"
What
I doing as much as others? but
"
And
let us
own
The most
3.
accepted of
God concerning
if
daring rebel,
conscience
God
And
desire
be realized at
shall
it
this
hour
to those
who
truly
it
in
it
common
no
And
him
that every
thing they
do
for
God
shall be
accepted of
O
serve
God's sight
may be welcomed
as they de-
TO-MORROW
command
His voice
to
every one
is,
I will regard
my
in
Father's
my
vine-
yard
None of
us can
tell
Matt.
i John iii.
20, 21.
Manasseh, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12, 13. Luke vii. 47.
Isai. i. 18.
Heb. viii. 12.
vii.
21.
Ezek.
THE TWO
SOXS.
189
this necessary
work
exhortation
that ye
may
iii.
CCLXIX.
Luke xx.
13, 15.
So they
15.
killed him.
What
i Cor. vi. a.
cast
him out of
the
vineyard, and
of
the vineyard
do unto them ?
it can
easily discern
where
the
error, especially
grounds of
clear
are
and
But
where
strong.
judgment
persons are
under the influence of prejudice or worldly interest, they
are blind to the most obvious conclusions, and obstinately
tenacious of the most absurd opinions.
Hence our Lord
is
unbiassed,
spake so much
aware of
in parables
their drift at
first,
In
we
whom
shall
it is
shew
accomplished
was manifestly
spoken
[God had planted
It
fulfilled in those to
whom
it
was
cultivated
it
them
*
Isai. v. i
4.
(26Q.)
them
of their
lusts,
kill
And
him.
to death
But
also accomplished in us
it is
is
[It
we cannot
true that
crucify
him
as the
Jews
did,
Who
We
f
thankfully submitting to his ?
many
Among
his
self-deceiving professors,
who acknowledge
is
By
much as
ever he was by
attentively
II.
with the
heaviest calamities
city
up,
er
Y
Rom. ix.
Heb
16 *
V1
'
3034.
6-
Acts
Rom.
vii.
27.
x. 3.
Luke xix.
Tit.
i.
14.
]6.
Matt.xxi. 4 i.
(269.)
gl
whole polity, civil and religious, was dissolved. Nor can any
one reflect on their treatment of their Messiah, without ac-
Let us then
1.
advan-
upon
us, doubtless
Think
despised, will bring upon us the heavier indignation.
then for how many things you are indebted to God ; and begin immediately to render to him his dues. That which, above
that he
all, he requires is, the tribute of a grateful heart.
and
that
we
ourreceive
it
from
devote
us;
may
may
daily
selves to
2.
him
in body, soul,
That we are
and
spirit
our treatment
peculiarly responsible for
of Jesus Christ
all his
sensible
k Deut. xxxii. 22.
1
Heb.
ii.
3.
1Q2
(269.)
We
ritance.]
17, 18.
And
he beheld them,
and
STONE.
What
snid,
is this
hearers
They were
They,
We
shall con-
sider
I.
The passage
appealed to
The
*
Ver.
1316.
(2?0.)
10,3
b
The words
also
[Christ is represented in scripture as the stone that
should both support and connect the church of God c And
the passage referred to in the text, particularly declared, that
lie should be rejected by the very persons whose
duty it was
to edify and build up the church
It announced however the
determination of God to frustrate their designs And to
establish him as the head of the corner in spite of all their
endeavours to destroy him In this view the passage is quoted
no less than six times in the New Testament And its full
builders
The
them
particular
is
manner
in
worthy of notice
[He "beheld"
and
tion
well
He
pity
among
The importance of
appear, if we consider
this
will
appeal
more
strongly
cutors
Perhaps we
may rather
that of
understand
common
it
believers
as importing
i.That
b
Acts
ii.
is
VOL.
III.
1Q4
1
That
their
own
all,
who stumble
(2?0.)
at Christ, greatly
endanger
souls
"
These
call him Lord, but will not do what he commands"
himself f And as he who falls
equally stumble at Christ
upon a great stone, will bruise and maim his body, so does he
who thus stumbles at Christ wound his own souls Solomon,
h
]
expressly speaking of Christ, attests this awful truth
2.
to cut
them
off in their
Surely this
is
attention
[They,
"
ADVICES
i
read or hear
God
which ye
And we who
How
Pet.
ii.
8.
K What
pangs of conscience, 'and dread of death and judgment, do
such persons experience !
h
*
k
f
Prov. viii. 30, 36.
Ps. ii. 9.
Acts ix. 5.
Ps. ii. 12.
you
Examine
2.
carefully
Christ
[All
reject
him
avowed enemies
Enquire then whether ve make
the foundation whereon ye build, and the corner-stone
that unites you in love to every part of God's spiritual temple
By this must ye know that ye are his true disciples ]
were
his
him
3.
Be thankful
if
knowledge of Christ
[There is no hope whatever for those, who
!
in a Christian
q
When the
nothing to fear To them is promised eternal life
whole assembly of the ungodly shall be banished from his
1
When the
presence, they shall stand with .great boldness
will be crying to the rocks and mountains to fall upon
them, the followers of the Lamb will be triumphing in their
God This promise is sure to all the seed s Let Jesus then be
more precious to all our souls Let us willingly consent to his
Let us, as lively stones, ever
being the head of the corner
seek to be built up upon him l And though we should be
despised and rejected like him, let us never be ashamed of
owning him as all our salvation and all our desire ]
wicked
" 2 Cor.
i
q
1
Pet.
ii.
ii.
16.
8.
Matt.
2 Thess.
2 Thess.
John
xvii. 3.
Rom. ix. 33.
i Pet.
xii.
ii.
50.
i.
8.
i.
9, 10.
4, 5.
FEAST.
Matt. xxii.
those
who
men
will
irritate
be reformed
"
But ministers must
speak
"
whether
will not
plainly,
hear or forbear
They
ig6
They must
if
present the
same
may win
Nor
But he
still
for their
persisted in his benevolent labours
good
We
same
our attention to
shall confine
its
two leading
features
I.
The
Some of
the parables
are
This
simple
is
rather
complex
i
It
to the marriage of
.a
king's
son
[God
"
is
"
that
certain king,
who makes
a marriage for
his son
Son
is
the bridegroom,
is
his bride
Nor
also
the use of
is
it
uncommon
in the
New
Testament
relation of a
man
The gospel
is
to his wife,
the
means of bringing us
Christ
love to
hearts
On
We
the other
d
possesses
And
a
fsai. liv. 5.
Jer,
iii.
14.
"
Matt.
ix. 15.
John
xvii. 22.
Eph.
Gal.
v. 32.
iii.
26.
(271.)
And *joint-heirs,
ritance
197
,.
The
present
g
espousals
time
indeed
The consummation of
is
the
only
the nuptials
is
season
of our
period
never be dissolved*
shall
and
fallings,
all
other things
in Christ
there
is
milk proper
1
for us
all
Are we hungering
m
after
pardon
there
is
an abundance for
Whatever be our
suited to us
provisions
"
exThere are " exceeding great and precious promises
p
to
want
tending
every
And the banquet, suited to the dignity of the king, will be
9
The
world
The invitations
The
f
h
k
Row.
viii. 17
Rev. xix. 7.
Heb.
m Matt.
c
e Jer.
'
v. 14.
31.
Isai, xli. 17, 18.
Rev.
vii.
ii.
Pet.
2.
ii.
xii.
q
Hos.
2 Cor. xi. 2.
19, 20.
2.
ii.
16, 17.
2 Pet.
i.
Comp. Esth.
03
4.
i.
3, 4'
Though rwe be
despise us
He
will
in the
may be
fit
will
not
for his
presence
And
bride
rejoice over
us as
a bridegroom
mankind
They 'came
to declare the
goodness of
God
to our fallen
race
And
to urge
men
human
them
The concerns of
for their
urged as an excuse
conduct*
"
text, They will not come"
are
so
They
occupied with carnal things that they have no
taste for those that are spiritual
And so wedded to this world that they have no desire for
In due time however they will meet with the recompence they deserve
"
"
[When the wedding is filled with guests the doors
will be shut
The
turn
But
far
more dreadful
will
day
The contemners
the banquet
They
r
1
Ezck. xvi.
5, 6, 8.
Jb.
Isai. Ixii. 5.
Vw.
5.
Ver. 6.
Ver. 7.
14.
(271.)
199
shall
not then so
be treated
INFER
How
1
inconceivably great is the honour and happiness of God's people
[It would be thought a great matter to be invited to a
royal banquet
And still more to be united to the son and heir of a monarch
But how contemptible are such honours when compared
with the Christian's
Let us not rest satisfied with
earthly comforts or distinc.
tions
How
world
astonishing
is
(If
we
offered
ears to hear
God-
CCLXXII.
Matt.
xxii.
guests,
1113.
h% saw there a
garment
THERE
This,
200
(272.)
This, though
And
deal with
will
men
racters
What we
in the text,
we
shall consider
The
wedding-feast
of the gospel
is
The garment
this righteousness
Nor
will
God<-
thought of depending on
Hence we
are
for
any
Christ*"
And
ment'
The possession of this garment founds our
And
title to
heaven'
a source of
unspeakable joy to the believing soul
Every one that wears it may well exult with the church of
old s ]
is
<
it
also as signifying
[Moral
*
Rom.
Rom.
Gal.
iii.
22.
v. 18, 19.
in.
16,
27'.
phiJ.
iii.
p.
Rom.xiii. 14.
Rev. vii. 14, 15-
201
11
man "
And
1
garments'"
Without such
qualities
divine presence"
But, if we possess them,
to enjoy
We
it
to
the
be counted worthy
shall surely
two ideas
[The righteousness of Christ
the sight of
is
necessary to justify us in
God
We
We
While we
we must
seek
renewed
to be
It
is
in
this
way only
marriage-supper
The
that
to the
is
of
infinite
importance
II.
monarch
and polluted souls sit down at
Lamb in heaven
at
in
the
[The king,
parable, was filled with indignation
intrusion of the unworthy guest
jj e
Much
h PB.
cxxxii. 9.
k
Col.
i.
'
'
12.
* Rev.
xvi. 15.
Rev.
iii.
4.
Rev. xix.
Eph.
Heb.
iv.
7, 8.
24.
xii. 14.
202
He ordered
outer darkness
all
him
to be
foot,
Lord's people
But when the king himself shall see the guests, he will fix
his eyes on them
He will cast them out from the place they had so pre-
sumptuously occupied
They shall never dwell in the mansions of light and glory
above
But take their portion in the regions of darkness and
despair
And
Nor
will their
punishment
in
guilt
He knew
that he
offer
of a wedding-
garment
ness
offered a
wedding-garment
We have
his spirit
Shall
offers
into
heaven
if
we
reject his
He might have
(272.)
Or
we accuse him of
shall
into hell
203
severity if he cast us
headlong
IMPROVEMENT
1
For conviction
[As Christians we profess
to
invitation
And to feast at his table here as
feast above
our
as
righteous-
Are we
also
We may
renewed by
easily
inward mail" ?
minister to us here
deceive
those
who
come
below
will
can
never be deceived
However
selves,
he
specious a garb
will
easily distinguish
it
for our-
We may
chosen
But
if
we
ably severe
2.
we
shall find
him
inexor-
For consolation
[Some perhaps are
sumption
Especially, that they have unworthily communicated at the
Lord's table
Well indeed may such guilt fill them with compunctionBut, however presumptuously we have acted in past times,
we have no reason to despond
wedding-garment is now offered to all who see their need
of
it
* a
Cor. v. 21.
Jer. xxiii. 6.
"a
204
(272.)
CCLXXIII.
Luke
xxi.
20,
the fig-tree,
at hand.
IT
was no small advantage to our Lord's stated followers, that they could ask him more particularly respecting any thing which they did not perfectly understand
Of this privilege they often availed themselves, and
obtained satisfactory information on many important
Our Lord told them that the time was coming
points
when that temple, which they so much admired, should
be utterly destroyed
This was so contrary to their
expectations, that they begged to know both the period
to which he referred, and the particular signs whereby
its approach
might be ascertained To this our Lord
full reply ; and illustrated his discourse by a
parable taken from the season of the year, and most
probabt)^ from the prospect then before their eyes
This parable, with the application of it, shews us
gave a very
I.
That we ought
which
God
has
given us
is
fully
accomplished
We may notice
this
times a
agricultural
Jer. viii. 7.
(2?3.)
205
2.
And
it
is
desirable to
attend to these
symptoms, because we may often derive from them a comfortable hope, when other circumstances might be ready to
overwhelm us with despair Our Lord himself formed his
judgment upon these grounds ; and we shall turn our observations to
good account,
Though we
God
II.
if
we
follow his
example
in his
word
The
b
c
Matt. xvi. 2, 3.
Markxii. 34.-
206
destruction of the unbelieving Jews, and the redemption of the church from the midst of them, were
emblematical of the judgments that would be executed,
The
The
of God's enemies
unnumbered
passages of scripture
[This
and the judgments, which are now executed in the world, are
so many presages of a future retribution
Whatever people
may imagine, this awful event shall come to pass The Jews
1.
final destruction
is
foretold in
of
d
Amos
ix. 9.
20J
be open to conviction
and
let
In a way of consolation
2.
"
are " not to despise the day of small things
Let
" some
us be thankful if there be
found
in our
good thing
"
hearts
Summer conies not all at once ; but, if the symptoms of it appear, we may wait with joyful expectation and
if the good work be begun in our hearts, we may be confident that God will carry it on and perfect it to the day of
Christ f ]
[We
Phil.
And
6.
CCLXXIV.
Matt. xxv. 10.
i.
the marriage,
and
the door
was
him
to
shut.
T O WA R D S
much upon
up
in the
future
fitably
I.
employed while we
Compare
their character
foolish virgins
each
to
resemble
other
appeared
[Both of them professed to be waiting the arrival of the
heavenly bridegroom Both, while the bridegroom tarried,
sleep
Both
And
instantly
2O8
instantly
hi
began
This
fitly
description
ceptance
they stood in need of They know how strict the scrutiny will
be in the last day, and have therefore prayed, that the Holy
Ghost might be shed forth abundantly upon them through
Christ Jesus But others there are (would to God they were
few
who have taken up a profession lightly, and who are
satisfied with having a form of godliness while they are
.')
destitute
(274.)
209
"
might have
bought oil of him without money and without
the bridegroom's arrival finds them unproBut
price"
And
vided
their folly
.
they are
left to
There being no
further
room
for comparison
we
shall
now
II.
foolish virgins,
for ever
who
excluded
or of tasting
Nor
will
they merely
VOL.
III.
The
210
(2?4.)
will pro-
him
xvith
'What we
7cch.
iv.
12
14.
an
CCLXXV. THE
TALENTS.
Malt. xxv. 22, 23. He also that had received two talents
came, and said, Lord thou de/iveredst unto me two talents :
behold, 1 have gained two other talents beside them. Plis
Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant:
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I zvill make thec
ruler over
many
things
joy of thy
Lord.
THE
his hearers
The
the
more he
Nor
The
insisted on it
can we too often dwell upon
it
in
our minds
Yet
some important
are there
between them
points
of difference
God
I.
bestows
gifts
his
own
sovereign will
God
is
blessing
we
enjoy
[To him we owe
powers
We
He
]
*
Luke
xix. 12
26.
a rich
man
going
made of
it,
the
rewarding the faithful and punishing
negligent.
b
In that of the pounds all the servants
mitted to them
but they
made a
different
James
i.
17.
P 2
THE TALENTS.
212
He dispenses
extremely various
him
Others again have had their eyes opened to behold his
glory
Great was the diversity of gifts bestowed on the Christians
d
of old
And
this
there
Hence we
God
is
made
in the
church at
day
f
are called
"
to
his
own
sovereign
will
[The
man
rich
in
g
"
is
God
we
him
alone
gifts,
man
hearts
We
d
f
h
k
Cor.
Cor.
xii.
12.
26, 27.
Dan.iv. 35.
i.
Eph.
iv. 7.
Ver. 15.
i
Con
'
Eph.
i.
iv. 7.
11.
"The
Eph.
i.
8.
merely,
practical,
THE TALENTS.
(27-5.)
We
213
may
his
conduct in
this
respect; for
He will
II.
improving them
man, endued with great
approved on that account
in
gifts,
will
apostles
But
his hearl
Nor was
privileges
of them
On
his guilt in
neglecting to
And he now
improve them
shame and
misery
now
Nor
heart q
He
them
than
all
fail
of
On
We
P 3
THE TALENTS,
214
(275.)
On
it
be but
points
them
INFER
1
What
little
great talents
[It is
our
reason
is
who have
responsibility^
To many,
the
greatest torment
And what reason have
God would
serving
ableness
Let us therefore rather improve what
what we have not ]
How
will
plaudit
to
hear
the Saviour's
O let every
!''
for
God-
2 Pet.
ii.
21.
How
THE TALENTS.
(275.)
How
3.
little
to repress
ungodly
[Men
never
215
condemn
their
own
faithful or diligent
Yet
if
But"
ment"
if
it is
them
as
their
over-righteous
endured
Let us then, every one for himself, " stir up the gift of God
that is in us"
And let us exhort one another in the words of inspira-
tion*]
2
P4
CCLXXVI.
Luke
vi.
for
IN
often
sessed of devils,
sitting with
benefactor.
ing forth
importance.
(2?6.)
21 7
we
bodies of men,
To
I.
we
shall
this point,
we may
God
The
natural
man
too
is
The leprosy also of sin lies deep in our hearts; as the prophet intimates, when, in allusion to the convicted leper, he
" Woe is
savs of himself, and of all aiound him,
me, I am a
man of unclean lips, and dwell in the midst of a people of
unclean lipsV
Though
Rev. iii. 17, 18.
Matt, x in. 15.
Ps.
b
d
'
Iviii.
4.
21 8
(276.)
the blessings
[Wherever
some highly
figurative expres-
was intended
to
be pointed out
9.]
There
is
him
forspiritual healing
[Of all the multitudes that came to our Lord, there was
not one who was not sensible, of his disease. Moreover, they
all
*
h
k
10
*
p
2 Cor. iv. 4.
Eph. ii. 2.
John xiii. 27. Acts
Isai. xxxv. 5, 6.
Compare
John
Isai.
ix. 39.
liii.
'
v. in.
4, with
Matthew
q
viii.
Ib. 40,
16, 17.
41.
&
xxxii. 3.
(276.)
21 9
We
strive
*,
violence
took the deaf man aside from the multitude, and put his fingers
into his ears, and said, Ephphatha, be opened, and then
e
So he has now many " hidden
charged him to tell no man
ones f," in whose hearts he carries on a secret wotk, and heals
them without attracting the notice of the world. At other
times he performed the cures openly, and in the sight of all;
as when he bade the man with the withered hand to stand
forth s.
So he often converts the souls of profligate sinners,
or bitter persecutors, in such a striking manner, as to fill all
around them with wonder and amazement.
Sometimes he wrought his cures instantaneously; as in the
man at the pool of Bethesda
and so he effects a sudden
.
11
change
the
in
first
the hearts of
converts,
and the
What
jailor,
shall 1
saved
*
Luke
*
c
f
Mark
Matt. xv. 22
Luke
Jam.
Ps. Ixxxiii. 3.
viii.
28, 41.
v. 26.
xiii.
i.
Matt.
33.
28.
24.
6, 7.
in. 3, 5.
Mark
viii. 3.
Mark
vii.
John
v. 8.
34, 36.
220
(2?6.)
in the blind
Since then, tvithout any forced interpretations or conceits, we may draw such instruction from the miracles in
general, let us endeavour to
II.
Improve the
If, in
tion or encouragement,
we cannot
find
more
prove
1.
it
For direction
him, and
tell
him,
doneV And,
if
the
1
1
"
p
Acts
John
ii.
37,
&
ix. 6.
Phil.
Matt.
i.
xvi. 30,
6.
vii.
**
13.
Mark
m Luke
viii.
24.
xvii. 14.
Ps. cxxxviii.
Josh. vii. 20.
8.
the Spirit of
221
we
shall find
no more
get our hearts impressed with the evil of our besetting sin;
and, carrying it to Jesus, we should confess it, lament it,
aggravate it, and implore both his mercy to pardon it, and his
grace to subdue it and, if we thus go to him labouring and
r
heavy-laden, we have his promise that he will give us rest
are told that
Follow them also in their earnestness.
the people pressed on Jesus, so that they who were nearest to
him could not maintain their place by reason of the multi3
tudes, who strove to get access to him, and to touch him .
left
their
own
in
not
business,
but,
instances,
only
They
many
:
We
who
Would
God
we were
that
all
We
salvation."
Once more
just
r
Matt.
Luke
Mark
xi. 18.
v. jy.
Matt.
iii.
10.
ix. 21.
222
we
just as
(2?6.)
persuaded
soning and yielding to doubts and fears will be of little avail;
but to go to Christ in faith, .will prove an infallible remedy for
" Go
thy
every ill: whatever be our complaint, he will say,
way and, as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee;"
;
and we
shall be
For encouragement
2.
[We
How
him c
he
51
Matt.
viii.
z Ps. ciii.
b
Zeph.
iii.
13.
3.
e
17.
Rom.
x. 12.
(276.)
223
he
Why
What
find
him able
To CONCLUDE
[Let us now picture to ourselves the state of the multitudes who had touched him what joys what raptures what
what congratulations from surrounding friends
ecslacies
what universal shouts and acclamations to the honour of
Jesus! None ascribing their recovery to an arm of flesh ; but
all acknowledging Jesus as the sole author of their
happiness
And why should it not be thus with us at this time ? Surely,
if this whole congregation would but vie with each other in
their endeavours to obtain his blessing, they would soon have
far more abundant cause for joy, than ever they had, whose
for their souls should be freed
bodily health was restored
from the deadly malady of sin, yea, " virtue should come forth
from him to heal us all."]
:
CCLXXVII.
Malt.
iv. i.
THE
men
to sin
He
first
God
Son of
himself
The account
is
intro-
"We
I.
shall consider
The season of
his assault
Our
224
(277-)
Our
attested
season
One would
mind of Jesus
But Satan knows that exalted enjoyments
fortify the
off our
We
favours
And
to
to
be established with
grace*
Hence Salan
is
against us
He assaulted Paul as soon as he
third
the
heave ns b
And
its
In them therefore
particularly on our
guard]
But, to counterbalance that, he had been left a long
time without food
"
[He had been led into the wilderness immediately
by
the Spirit" of God
Yet no supply of food had been given him for the space of
"
forty
days"
him
more fiercely
Thus he makes
his attacks
on
lo assault
him
us in a season of spiritual
desertion
If in a time of unusual light and joy
much more
God
We
ourselves
approach
all his
power'
b
c
Ts. xxx. 6, 7.
2 Cor. xii. -2, 4,
7.
2-2,
23.
The
(77.)
225
II.
To
1.
distrust
[Jesus, as
man, was
entirely
dependent on
his
Father
And was
therefore
him relief
As Moses and
bound
Elias
to wait
had done
till
heavenly
before, he
forty days
to
"
turn,
And
to
supply
for
To
2.
presumption
made
to the
Messiah
God
all his
children, in the
way of duty
This however does not warrant any to rush needlessly into
danger
The promise
is
" In all
thy ways ;" that is, in all the
but not in all the vrays to which pre-
restricted
calls
us
VOL.
III.
226
To
3.
(277.)
ambition
[What
all
And
him one
nation
He
conduct
'
The
III.
issue of
to
them
the authoritative
command
of
Jesus
from
his enterprise
his assaults,
He
us
moment
his
purpose to destroy
He
only
wails for
to
But
us m
if,
like Jesus,
we
resist
him manfully, he
shall flee
from
And
fc
Ver. jo.
k
Luke iv. 13. Accordingly we
John xiv. 30. Luke xxii. 53.
1
"
Pet. v. 8.
Roin.xvi. 20.
find
him
Deut. x./zo.
assaultiiig'our
James
iv. 7.
Ver. 11.
Lord again,
(277.)
And what
feel in
assigned them
Doubtless they would congratulate
had gained
227
him on the
victory
he
nister
They
They
day of
shall
battle
And when
encamp around
shall shield
'
exhausted with
conflicts,
Jation
their
we
shall receive
hands
conso^
INFER
1. There is no man, however
great or holy, who is
not exposed to the assaults of Satan
[If the Son of God himself was not exempt, who can
expect to be so ?
The more holy we are, the more inveterate will Satan be
against us
In the season
most
we
least
his temptations,
expect
may be
they
violent
In a season of
hard thoughts of
difficulty
God-
we may be soon
led to entertain
ended
As long
2.
conflicts
were
as
we
The way of
resisting
obvious
of
God-
'
Heb.
Acts
14.
xii. 15. Ps. xci. 4, 5, 11.
Compare Gen. xvi. 7 10. with
Rom.
* Ps.
i.
Luke
xi. 20.
Eph.
vi. 17.
xxxiv.
7.
xvi. 22.
m Matt. xxvi.
41.
TEMPTATION.
(277.)
succour
OTJE LORD'S
22$
own
Christ, by his
7
us
He
our strength
In his grace
let
]
y
Heb.
z a
18.
ii.
Tim.
iv. 7, 8.
ii.
11.
and
his
SMALL occurrences
Cana of
disciples
when
we
demand our
But
He
Lord
regard
wrought them
in confirmation
taught
And
divine mission
That
The circumstances
Our Lord was invited
I.
much
instruc-
we consider
tion, if
to
the
marriage-feast of a
relation or friend
To
honour the
invitation
institution
There an occasion
offered for
working a stupendous
miracle
[Probably the bridegroom was not very opulent
Jesus' presence
might bring many unexpected guests
Before the conclusion of the feast the store of wine was
And
consumed
a
By
this
,,
The
we may
see
how
marriage state.
(278.)
hopes that
their behalf
The maimer
in
which he performed
it
is
worthy of
notice
all
the
fo* ceremonial
water-pots
to be
washings
filled
with,
And
wine
Thus he avoided
all
lusion
He made
racle
And not only supplied the wants of the company, bat rewarded the generosity of the bridegroom d ]
It soon attracted general attention
[The governor of the
feast
immediately distinguished
its
superior excellence
any]
Without seeking an improvement of
this
miracle in any
j*
we
r
TUVO.I,
respectful a term as any he could use :
persons of the highest distinction were so addressed. But his address
was certainly a reproof to his mother for interfering with him in the
Nevertheless he intimated his intention of
discharge of his office.
complying presently with her request: and it is evi'dent from her
But how absurd
charge to the servants that she understood him so.
to pray to the virgin to command her son now, when she was rebuked
Woman, was as
the water.
d The
quantity must be very large, but the exact measure cannot
be ascertained : if, as is probable, the feast lasted seven days, the
wine thus miraculously supplied, might be intended for their use, on
His expression " well drunk" does not apply to the guests then
present: but if it did, it by no means implies excess: the word
pAvtvi being often used where the most perfect sobriety was- observed*
See Gen. xliii. 34. in the LXX.
e
Q3
230
(278.)
v
The importance of it
This was the first public miracle that Jesus wrought
And it was attended \vith the happiest effects
;
II.
f-i
poicer
He
The
lutely necessary
his
it
Thus he shewed
that nothing
for
him
to
bestow
And
conduce
to their present
It
confirmed the
faith
2.
them
But
their faith
was
in
of his disciples
Jesus the first moment he called
as yet but
is
is
all
to follow
OBSERVATIONS
i.
is
social
from society
Or, from piohibiting occasional festivities, provided they be
regulated by prudence and sobriety
But they should be made the- occasions of
spiritual improvement
Jesu&
St.
iv.
46.
it
in
a subsequent part of
his gospel,
('278.)
231
2.
will contribute
much
to
our happiness
[No doubt
And
plied
What
rienced
Thus, he never
fails
to instruct
him
He
turns
common
our most
blessings into
the
richest
dainties
The
we
very bread
eat, or air
we
breathe, are
made doubly
sweet
we
find
at
first,
him
though sweet
How
true shall
we
down
at
HIS
marriage supper
Let us then seek communion with him as our chief joy ]
3. If we leave our concerns to Jesus, he will surely
!
them
He
mate wisdom
And
own
glory,
good
Let us then commit our every concern
And our very straits shall redound to
eternal happiness
e
Matt,
to
him
his
]
h
xviii. 20,
Q4
Rev. xix. 9.
232
CCLXXIX. THE
John
ii.
17.
and importance
in
it
which
till
We
I.
The
upon
it
shall consider
remembrance
Our
Lord,
for the
over
God was
scanda-
lously profaned
And
to.
And
stationed
were proper to
money
for the
accommodation
(279.)
&C.
to
233
exchange
Thus they
GodTo
He
moved
This act of
his
could not
fail
of attracting universal
notice
It discovered
1.
sin
We
saints
2.
to the dishonour
done to God
If they did not
encourage
it
moted it by connivance
Thus they, no less than the
traders,
at least
pro-
were interested
it
with
power
But Jesus feared not the face of men, though
combine against him
in
all their
all
should
He
*
Every one had occasion for an half shekel for the service of the
16.
temple, Exod. xxx. 13
b
Jer. ix. i.
Ps. cxix. 53, 136, 158.
*34
He
abomina-
tions
perform
duty
Nor
ever
be deterred from
it
in the
by the
way of duty
dictates of carnal
policy
3.
men
We
minds
The
im-
mediate followers
And
II.
[In their
in reference to
Christ
plishment in David
David elsewhere expresses in very strong terms his zeal for
God d
.Nor can
we
forget
how he
manifested
it
when he danced
But David
Some
alone
The words
honour
Nor
*
e
Ps. ci.
2 Sam.vi. 14.
cannot well be applied to any but David; nor can ver. 21.
to any but Christ.
It is thus that the literal and
prophetical parts of
scripture are continually intermixed.
Jer.
Ver.
i.
17.
5.
'->
38.
235
Nor
And
manifested the
in his person
full
accomplishment of
this
prophecy
They
foUffw&rs
[God
greatly dishonoured
is
His name
is
rejected
Does
become
it
his people
to
indifference?
Should
idolaters at
Athens
Paul when
he
beheld
the
particular
often
!
How
do fear or shame
God
restrain
Alas what a sad contrast does our conduct form with that
of our Lord
Have we not reason then to be ashamed, and mourn for our
!
neglect?
But many, so
far
from rebuking
God
themselves
Nor
are at
all
concerned to have
from
vile affections
apostle
is
in all
things that
required of us
They
*
1
1
Acts
xvii. 16.
h
v
Mark
Eph.
vi. 18-.
v.
11.
m Gen. iv.
9.
"
i Johnii. 6.
236
&C.
inflicted
Thus
called to
vindicate God's honourIn the same manner we should do whatever our place and
elation require
must not all take on ourselves theoffice of magistrates
Or assume the authority which does not belong to our situ-
We
and circumstances
zeal must be regulated by the word of Godmust be in a good cause and in support of truth and
ation
Our
It
virtue
must be pure
It
wrath
and
free
excites
it
And
it
sin in ourselves as
much
as in others
Such a zeal as this
An
intemperate zeal
the cause
will injure
attempts to
it
serve
dom
will
from .heaven 7
And
is
volent*
Thus
shall
we approve
ourselves to
be
God's peculiar
people"
He was
shall
be a blessing to
all
Compare
magistrate.
J
Horn. x. 2.
'
Rev.
Luke
iii.
ix.
19.
54.
Rom.
Jam.
xii.
iii.
11..
x
a
17.
Gal.
Tit.
iv. 18.
ii.
14.
49
doK-n, ere
my
had
(280.)
IF
his servants
And
his
237
as he was
way.
met him, and told him, saying,
God
his
I.
faith
differ
widely in their
effects
This
is
particularly discoverable in the history before us
[The nobleman's faith, though weak, induced him to lake
a considerable journey that he might find Jesus, and brought
him to apply to Jesus with much humility and respectYet he could not refrain from limiting the power of Jesus,
and prescribing to him the time and manner in which his
And because his petition was not
request should be granted
granted at first, he grew impatient, and intimated his apprehensions, that, if the relief were not instantly afforded, it
would soon be too late even for Jesus himself to interfere
But when his faith was strengthened by the word and spirit of
Christ, the tumult in his mind subsided, the irritation yielded
to composure, and his apprehensions were banished by a firm
accomplish
his
own word
in his
own way
produced in us also by a
similar cause
[The weakest faith, if truly sincere, will bring us to Jesus
with reverence and humility And will make us urgent with
him to bestow upon us his benerits^-Nor shall we regard any
trouble in seeking him, provided we at last obtain the desired
But if our " hope be deferred, it will make our
blessings
heart sick"
shall become impatient, if the pardon which
we seek be not instantly sealed upon our consciences, or
the victory we solicit be suspended for a while in dubious
effects
We
conflict
238
(280.)
him work
in his
in
'-
him assured
Like Abraham,
the glory of
him
we
II.
its
and acceptance
efficacy
more evidence of
will
God
vouchsafe
unto us
The
truth
[His faith while it was yet weak, prevailed for the obJesus kindly overlooked his
taining of the mercy he desired
impatience, and granted him even more than he had asked
This was a rich reward of faith But when the nobleman
returned home in full expectation of finding every thing true
which Jesus had declared, his faith received a yet stronger
confirmation from the account, which the servants gave him
And the more minutely he enquired into the circumstances of
his son's recover}', the more fully was he convinced that it had
been effected by the invisible agency of the Lord Jesus By
this
was
all his
all
believers
Luke
i.
18.
* Ver.
52, 53-
Rom.
iv.
20.
10.
(280.)
239
come
to
God h " ]
To IMPROVE
this subject,
we would
suggest
some
suitable
advice
1
Let
all
Jesus
["
We
upward"
troubles
I went
Many must say, Before I was afflicted
" "
"
" Hear
It is good for me that I have been afflicted
astray
then the rod, and him that hath appointed it" Its voice to
us is, " Seek ye the Lord while he may be found ;" " turn ye,
turn ye, why will ye die"
Improve afflictions thus, and you
will be thankful for them to all eternity
What a mercy in the
issue did the sickness of the nobleman's son prove both to the
;
all his
And most assuredly, if your
family
troubles should prove the means of bringing you to an acquaintance with Jesus, and an experience of his grace, you
will never regret the means by which the
mercy was conferred
nobleman and
upon you
Josh.
vii.
9.
2 Cor. v. 5.
34O
(280.)
right
3.
way'"
his
mercy make us
more
all
that
]
1
CCLXXXI.
Luke
Ps. cvii. 7.
And
heard
28
30.
these things,
NOT H ix
applause.
praise that
is more
However
c;
equal
(281.)
We shall consider
I.
The
Our
manner
[He had opened
faithful
to them a
passage from the prophet
and informed them, that it was accomplished in him.
This on the whole afforded general satisfaction but yet he
saw that there were some objections lurking in their minds,
relative to his parentage and education
and that they were
displeased because he had not given a preference to his own
townsmen, and wrought his miracles there rather than at
other places. These objections he anticipated, and proceeded
to return an answer to them. He observed ,^rs^ that prophets
in general were not received in the place where they had been
educated, because the people who had known them as equals
Isaiah,
tion
upon
their minds,
and
them.]
not sufficient nor could they be contented even with exno nothing but his blood would
pelling him from the city
:
VOL.
III.
satisfy
242
satisfy
in executing
they might dispatch him in a moment. Probably
thus, what they would have called, the judgment of zeal %
they thought they were doing an acceptable service to" their
God ; so blinded were they by their own passions, and cap-
tivated
by
II.
sidered.
As it respected them
[His withdrawment from them was miraculous, as much
or smitten
ns if he had beaten them all down with his word
them with blindness d or struck them dead upon the spot*.
The precise mode of his withdrawment is not specified but
it seems that he rendered himself invisible, and thus
escaped
from their hands.
It was also merciful, both as it tended to convince them of
his miraculous power, and especially as it prevented them from
executing their murderous purposes. What a mercy did David
esteem it, when by the interposition of Abigail he was kept
Much more, if they ever received
from destroying Nabal
grace to repent of their wickedness, was it a mercy to those
infatuated zealots, that they had not been suffered to imbrue
their hands in the blood of God's only Son.
But it was also judicial: for, by means of his departure,
the people of Nazareth were deprived of many temporal benefits, which, if they had received him more worthily, he
would have imparted to them they were deprived also of his
if duly improved, would have
spiritual instructions, which,
converted and saved their souls.]
1
As it respects us
[In this escape of his we see, what care he will take of
us, and what care we ought to take of ourselves.
Every faithful servant of God must expect persecution. But
2.
Numb. xxv.
John
xviii. 6.
13.
d
f
vi. 16,
17.
(281.)
243
seasonably, and in what an unlocked for manner, did God inThus will he exert his almighty
terpose for their deliverance
behalf
of
all who serve him
on
power
faithfully, unless indeed
the hour is come for them to receive their full reward.
never need to fear the face of man for God has '" put a
hook in the nose, and a bridle in the jaws," of every man;
" nor can
any havg even the smallest power against us, except
it be
given him from above."
But notwithstanding our assurance of divine proteetion, we
ought to take all prudent precautions to avoid the fury of our
enemies, and to avail ourselves of those methods of escape
.which God in his providence has opened tons. "If they
persecute us in one city, we should flee to another," and like
" let down
bv the wall in a basket," elude the
Paul, when
resentment which we cannot pacify.
must not indeed
deny Christ, or decline any duty, even though death should
be the inevitable and immediate consequence of our fidelity:
but we must never court death,' if we have an opportunity of
saving our lives by privacy or flight.]
11
We
We
IXFER
What
need have
all
versation
tacit,
stand at
all
it,
2.
What
if
we are
in
if
What a mercy
then
Acts
16
11
-24.
Acts
xii.
58,
"
244
THE DRAUGHT OF
CCLXXXII.
FISHES.
Luke
from
to land, they
forsook
all,
and followed
THE
We
The
I.
The
miracle
is
worthy of notice
The miracle
itself
instructive.
The conduct
See John
43.
THE DRAUGHT OF
(282.)
FISHES.
245
humility
The
III.
which
application
miracle
The draught of
fishes
our
was intended
as a figurative
ts, if
left to
And an
now
given
to.
Peter
[Peter's fears were dissipated by our Lord's exhortation
Indeed, by every dispensation, Jesus speaks in the same encouraging terms to contrite souls None who bewail their own
The promise of sucsinfulness have aught to fear from him
cess in catching men could not but rejoice the soul of PeterWho that knows the value of one soul would not labour night
and day to secure it ? And how much more should we labour
in hopes of saving many
The promise was gloriously verified
in Peter's first sermon c
And shall be verin'ed to all whom.
Jesus has commissioned to preach his gospel J
!
IV. The
They
effect
gladly
his associates
follow Christ
by him demanded
And
their
b
e
felt
services
B3
246
relinquished their
all
to attend
on him
Nor was
(282.)
their sacrifice
"
small in our eyes
all," it
Being their
was as much as any man cnuld part with^-^hey never found
reason to regret this sacrifice 41 Nor will any others who
follow their example ]
the less because
Such
is
it is
produce on us
not indeed been called to part with our worldly
and
perhaps may never be But we must be wifpossessions,
Jing to do it, whenever the honour of Jesus requires the sacrifice
Surely his miracles of mercy demand this at our hands
must devote ourselves wholly to his service And if we
[We have
We
obey
lor ever
we
John
CCLXXXIII.
xii.
26.
voice, saying,
thou Jesus
of'
Ltt us alone
F any doubt
that head
mouth of
It
the
there rcaa a
man which
hud
do with
thce,
Nazareth?
history before us
own
him
is
man whom
person, and
in the
name
killed
b
AX UKCLEAN
(283.)
247
endeavour
in the
let
I.
text
viz.
him alone
In order to
this
we
would
shall
In acknowledging Jesus
own fears
He knew Jesus
rather by his
1.
[Jesus was like any other poor man ; bis own disciples,
except on some extraordinary* occasions, did not appear
acquainted with his real character But Satan knew him,
notwithstanding the lowly habit in which he sojourned among
men He knew Jesus to be the Son of God, who bad left
rfhe bosom of bis Father, that he might take our nature, and
dwell amongst us- -He was well aware that this Holy One
must of necessity feel an irreconcileable aversion to such an
*'
unclean
spirit,"
as
he was; while
interposition
R4
AN UNCLEAN
No wonder
(283.)
us?"
That such
that,
desires
will
It
is
certain that
many
in his gospel
[Men
will
themselves are
endure
free,
to hear
is
brought to discover their besetting sins, they hate it,
and wish to have it removed from them This is found to be
the case even in the public ministration of the word But it
obtains in a still higher degree in private and personal admo-
light
nition
in sentiment
and
inclination
of
Isai.
xxx.
911.
AN UNCLEAN
(283.)
what
profit should
we have
d
?
It is
evident that not only the sentiments of these sinners, but also
their very expressions, are almost the same with those or Salan
in the text
To
we
shall
III.
It
was
in
requests,
by whomsoever
In vain also will be all our wishes to retain with impunity our beloved lusts
and say, Let him alone* When he sees that we " will none
of him," he may justly give us up to our own hearts lusts f
But this would be the heaviest curse that he could inflict upon
us It would be even worse than immediate death, and
immediate damnation ; because it would afford us further
"
opportunities of
treasuring up wrath" without any hope of
Besides, it would be only for
obtaining deliverance from it
a little time, and then u wrath would come upon us to the
uttermost"
When we stand before the judgment-seat we
shall in vain say, Let us alone; What have we to do with
Our doom will then be fixed,
thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?
and our sentence executed with irresistible power and inexorable (irm ness
When once we are " fallen into the hands
of the living God," all hope of impunity or compassion will
have ceased for ever ]
[We
knowledge, if we be not sanctified by it? It will only aggravate our guilt, and consequently enhance our condemnation
also
We never know Jesus aright till we love his presence,
and delight in an unreserved compliance with his will ]
2.
d
Jobxxi.
1315.
1
"
Hos.
Endeavour
iv. 17.
AN UNCLEAN
250
Endeavour
2.
to
improve
his
(283.)
good
of your souls
fulfil in
God"
me
all
CCLXXXIV.
PETER'S WIFE'S
MOTHER CURED.
Luke
And
taken icilh a fever ; and they besought him for her.
he stood over her, and rebuked the fever ; audit left her:
and immediately khe arose, and ministered unto them.
are
not to expect
common
apostles
This
trials
affliction
own
his
arises
upon
it
we may
notice
The
She was
express
PETER'S WIFE'S
(284)
MOTHER CURED.
251
Who
and compassion ]
In what manner she endeavoured to requite this favour
we
II.
shall see
The
by considering
him
of
The
of
a
Perhaps the gift of miracles was not yet bestowed upon the
But after it was, the apostles could only exercise that gift
when 'they were moved by God to do so. Why else did Paul leave
Trophimus at Miletum sick (2 Tim. iv. -20.) or sutler the sickness of
church.
ii.
The loss of
when he
gretted
7.)
divine ordinances
fled
chiefly re-
252
(284.)
of circumstances Nor would they, who ascribed the expulsion of devils to the agency of Beelzebub, have been ashamed
to adopt such a sentiment
But, if this had been the case,
a state of debility
much as before her
This then was an unquestionable proof of ihe
sickness
c
And she became a witness for Jesus
reality of the miracle
while she intended nothing more than to testify her love
towards him ]
The goodness
2.
still
[The hearts of
in
of her
own
heart
"
speaking, most
desperately
us that u a good man out of
all are,
strictly
wicked"
continued
tell
3.
The duty
of
all
God
[God
is
to be
acknowledged
as
much
more
in
The
c
Matt.
ix.
Rom.
i.
21.
as the
8.
*
f
Luke
xvii. 17.
Unthankfulness to God
in the heathen world,
PETER'S WIFE'S
284.)
MOTHER CURED.
253
The
We
11
2.
In a
way of consolation
h Ps. Ixxviii.
k
1
37.
CCLXXXV. THE
Mark
34
Exod. xv. 26.
LEPER HEALED.
But
and
'
i.
45.
to blaze
THERE
is
between
many
But
254
(285.)
some circumstances
And
power of Jesus
one whose manner of applying
for relief, and of discovering his gratitude towards his
benefactor, were very peculiar
The
I.
text informs us of
man came
cure
ability to heal
infected
with
it
Hence he doubled
his
willingness
to
his compassion
bestow so great a
blessing
He
physician
And with deepest humility implored his sovereign help b
Our Lord
with
infinite
condescension
granted
his
request
not extreme to mark the weakness of the leper's
[He was
faith
But,
relief
mand
And
instantly,
disordered body
He
charge
What was
Our Lord
[The
*
i Kings v. 7.
He came
him.
Compare Matt.
viii. i.
Luke
v. 12.
(23.5.)
[The
priests
They were
255
all
man clean
down in the
Moses c
When
to
be clean he was to
He
one
till
strict as possible
He
well
knew
might
And thus
man of
the
now
entitled
Tliis
regard
e
III.
What
to
He
i*
prohibition
To
offer his
gladness
But he
to
his love
gratitude
and
We
'
Lev. xiii.
d Lev. xiv,
46.
-232.
ctvruf graviter
inlerminatus
ei, ver.
43.
256
(285.)
good principle
Nor can
\ve
readily pardon
it
evil
Though
[Our Lord's
the country
all
afforded by
them
for the
we
working of
trust also, to
ADDRESS
l. To those who
gure
Indeed so fatally has it spread, that we may well apply to
ourselves that loathsome description h
In reference to this very disorder we may well exclaim
with the prophet'
Let not any then, who feel the infection, hope to heal
themselves
The disorder bids defiance to every hand but God's
Come then to Jesus, the almighty, 'the only physician
Come
to
him,
like
reverence
Nor doubt his willingness any more than his power to heal
you
Wherefore came he from heaven but to seek and save the
lost
his blood
sin,
Let
f
i.
*
'
5, 6.
k
Zech.
xiii. i.
Luke
v. 15.
Isai. vi. 5-
(285.)
257
'
However polluted we
be, he will
And by
power
his sovereign
To
2.
will
'
condescend to touch us
remove the guilt and pol-
who hope
those
their leprosy
You
commanded
are rather
to ma'ke
it
known
this
matter
to all
around
you
"
obey
we
Thus
And
unto him
]
1
John
i
vi.
Pet.
m Ps. cv.
37.
ii.
Luke
9.
P Matt. vii. 6.
ii.
12.
Why
3.
46
48.
HEALED.
And
them,
Ps. xxxix. 2.
ii.
way into
VOL. III.
thy
thine house.
And
S
up
'
: -
258
(286.)
up the bed, and went forth before them till ; insomuch that
never
they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying,
We
saw
it
on
this fashion.
so often interrupted
But it is indeed astonishing that so many should continue hostile to so benevolent a person
And that he should persist in doing good, wheYi his
words and actions were so constantly perverted, and
made grounds of accusation against him
Having retired to an house in Capernaum, he was
soon encompassed with a crowd
Amongst them were many Scribes and Pharisees who
came only
to cavil
his
by
his
works
And
some as
the
means of
convincing others
The
to
in the text
authority he exercised
And
*
Luke
v. 17.
k Ver.
3, 4.
(286.)
And
259
then
of the room
where Jesus was c
Nor did Jesus take offence at his intrusion, as though he
were an unwelcome guest
He, on the contrary /beheld their solicitude with approbation
We
man
or his friends
But the very sight of such misery was sufficient to call forth
our Lord's compassion ]
Jesus, healed not his disorder, but authoritatively forgave his sin
[AH that the man thought of was, a restoration to bodily
health
And
soul
a punish-
evil
Yea, he spoke to the man in the most affectionate and condescending terms
And gave him a comfortable assurance that his iniquities
were forgiven
How must the helpless dying man rejoice in such tidings
Surely, after this, he would scarcely wish to have his life
!
prolonged
it
He
c
Their houses were scarcely ever above one or two stories high.
Their roofs were flat, and guarded on every side with a battlement
or balustrade, Dent. xxii. 8 ; thither the inhabitants used to retire for
for conversation, Matt, x.27.; for meditation
exercise, 2 Sam. xi. -2.
and prayer, Acts x. 9. There were two ways of access to the top ;
one from the inside, -by a lattice or trap-door, 2 Kings i. 2. the other
ascended to the
steps on the outside, Mark xiii. 15. Having easily
;
by
somewhat
differently.
260
He
their
" knew
minds
in
(286.)
But
their
founded
having claimed
immediately stated
Jesus,
His vindication of
II.
the
power of
forgiving
sin,
it
who desired
information
proofs, to leave determined infidels
And, by multiplied
without excuse
man
heal the
man
Nor, if he were a blasphemer, would God work such a stupendous miracle to confirm his blasphemies
Thus his claims to divine authority were brought to the
test
And
According
made
a competent judge of
to that criterion,
he immediately vindicated
his divine
authority
[He commanded
the
man
to arise,
and go home
Instantly he,
stored to health
who
and take up
his couch,
And,
*
Kings
xviii.
21
24.
(286.)
And,
in the presence
of
all,
26l
his
couch upon
his shoulders
Thus were the enemies of Jesus effectually put to silenceYet none understood the full extent of the conclusion to be
drawn from the miracle
They still viewed Christ only as a "man" acting by a
e
delegated authority
Whereas they should have acknowledged him to have been
God
truly
however "
all
They
glorified
dous works
God"
the marvellous
for
INFER
1
Jesus
is
[When he
to
power
as able,
to forgive sins,
was
as ever he
forgive sin
exercised that
And often
He even
enthroned in glory ?
Or, now that he
power
tions
will
We
affliction
Would
that
this
hour that
amongst
God had
sent
Thus
e
Matt.
ix. 8.
*
Acts
v. 31.
262
(286.)
spiritual blessings
God h
And
let
those,
that- are
We
3.
have
all
now
this, give
thanks to
[Many
or sensation
intrusion
Nor
shall
be without
many good
effects
in
promise
Who
'?
can
tell
but that
we may
We
CCLXXXVII.
'
THE MAN
TIlfALED
James
v. 15.
AT THE POOL
OF BETIIESDA.
v. 14.
Afterward J csus Jindeth him in the temple, and
said unto him, Behold, t/tou art made whole : sin no more,
John
lest
t/tec.
MOST men
troubles
(28?.)
that are
soon
as
They
possible, not to
houses of dissipation or amusement, but to "the temple"
of God
And, while others are only hardened by their
will be favoured with fresh manifestations
these
mercies,
of God's love
The man whom our Lord addressed in
the text, experienced this
When he was returning thanks
for the cure he had received in his body, Jesus instructed
him for the good of his soul
shall consider
upon them
263
will repair as
We
I.
The
lities
signifies
an house of mercy
The
to typify his
works
this
pool an impotent
man had
now
a
To ascribe them
up
water by a messenger from the temple, only shews to what wretched
shifts infideliiy is often driven by its desire to explain away the
to the blood of the sacrifices stirred
piiracles of Christ.
b
Ver. 6, 7.
in the
264
(28?.)
now easily t6ok up his bed and walked Nor was he intimidated by those who accused him of violating the sabbath
He rightly judged that the person who had power to heal
him
thus
miraculously,
conduct
had
also
authority
to
direct
his
The
II.
It
was
sin
this infirmity
upon
him
c
This
[God often punishes transgressors even in this life
was extremely common under the Jewish economy Nor are
If
there wanting instances under the Christian dispensation'
we could dive into the secrets of God, it is probable we should
1
trace
many
Nevertheless
did
this
thy
sin in future
their sin
abhors
Nor
Jesus
he
[Though
pities sinners,
will he accept the persons of those who live in it p
He
jemindcd the man of the deliverance he had experiencedAnd guarded him against the cause of- his past calamities
This admonition too he enforced with a most weighty argument The years of misery that the cripple had endured were
nothing in comparison of hell torments These will hereafter
be the recompence of sin Nor will any feel them so bitterly
ADDRESS
i.
spiritual infirmities
[Jesus possesses the same power still over bodily diseases
And will render the skill of earthly physicians subservient to
the welfare of those who call upon him
But the infirmities
of our souls are incomparably more grievous Yet these also
can he heal by the word of his mouth If he only speak the
word,
we
shall
become new
His ordinances
creatures
shall
be
c
e
8.
16.
d
f
Eph. ii. 7.
Job xxxvi.
13.
(287-)
Nor
265
is
We
utterly our
own
fault,
healing mercy
we may
all
become monuments of
his
How many
'
desire the prayers of their friends and of the conthem to render thanks for
Pet.
ji.
2022.
Acts
i,ii.
8.
THE
exercise of benevolence
But
is,
in itself, calculated to
it is
far
from producing
who
I.
Consider
(288.)
do so on
[Wishing
"
held
They, unable to answer except to their own confusion,
convinced
of
their
their peace"
unreasonableness
Though
and impiety, they would not confess it ]
Our Lord beheld their obstinacy with indignation and
grief
as our Lord was, he was susceptible of anger
anger was not like the passion that too often agitates
us It was perfectly just and righteous Sin was the object
And, while he was angry with
against which it was directed
the sin, he mourned over the sinner
Hereafter indeed his
[Meek
Yet
that
anger
will
also should
offending person
Not
against
him
Matt.
*
"
TT
Having
Luke
xii. 10.
vi. 11.
litical
ingly.
differed so widely both in their poand religious sentiments, that they hated each other exceedBut what enemies will not unite against Jesus? Lukexxiii. 1-2.
(288.)
we
the miracle,
267
incidents in
shall proceed to
Deduce some
II.
We
1.
We
2.
should never decline our duty from an apprehension of our inability to perform it
[If the man had refused to put forth his hand, it is
But he
probable he would have been left without the cure
saw that it was his duty to attempt whatever Christ com-
And
manded
in
Thus when
11
we may
to kill
k
'
CONCLUSION
[Some may ask, Who is sufficient for
We answer, No man is, of himself" But
powers are withered, apply
his will,
we
do
Matt. x. 28.
Isai.
E i Pet. iv.
13, 14.
1
"
Eph.
Acts
v. 14.
ix. 25.
2 Cor.
iii.
5.
li.
We
it
In endeavouring to do
shall do all things
to Christ
shall be enabled to
these things"1 ?
let those, whose
7, 8, 12, 13.
h Ezek. xxxvii.
3, 4.
Matt. x. 23.
m 2 Cor.
*
ii.
16.
268
CCLXXXIX. THE
Lwke
not
vii.
6, 7.
far from
to him,
the house, the Centurion tent
friends
NOTHING
than a difference in
evil
many-
We
their
good
offices
on behalf of
his servant
behalf
To
I.
The
we
shall consider
Centurion's character
Soldiers, for the most part, are unfavourably circumstanced with respect to religion
X But here was one, though an heathen, whose character
may well put to shame the greater part of the Christian
world
may observe
We
i.
unto death
In this disorder, persons can do nothing
for others, or
even
for themselves
Compare Matt.
viii. 6.
with Luke
vii. i.
(289.)
Yet
this
tenderest affection
And interested
fare
269
all
he could
in the
What could the servant himself have done more for the
kindest master?]
2.
discipline
Jewish church
But he had learned to acknowledge the only true God
And he was glad to promote the worship of God, even
though he himself did not acquiesce in the peculiar mode in
which he was worshipped
He even built a synagogue for the Jews at his own
f the
expense
What
How
different
his wealth
3.
his
zeal for
God
While
others judged
for
wrought
smallest favour
This was the reason of his forbearing to wait on our Lord
in
person
How
and man
4.
God
to
admit of converse
with an heathen
tion of
Ihe
commands
of his officer
Thus
Jewish
On
'"
270
Thus did he
alone
ascribe to Jesus a
power proper
(289.)
to
God
The
II.
He
recompensed
He
1.
his assiduity
faith
[We
world
He
tion k-
" he marvelled
faith,
at it"
He
his faith
And
*
'*
John
John
iv.
ii.
a Pt.
i.
46
25.
i.
50.
k
ra
Mark
Mark
John
xii.
34.
xiii. i,
i.
Ver. 9.
16.
2.
(289.)
And shewed
that
too
much
271
at his
hands
No,
verily
eternity
That declaration
shall
be found true to
all
He
professing Christians
Surely what our Lord said respecting the unbelieving Jews
8
shall be realized in Christians of this character
And the humbler heathens, who walked agreeably to the
light that they enjoyed, shall be preferred before them
Nor can we doubt but that the Centurion, in reference to
whom these things were spoken, shall be among that blessed
among
number
APPLICATION
[Let us then learn to plead earnestly for ourselves
let a sense of tin worthiness
keep us from carrying our
wants to Jesus
Let us also sympathize with, and intercede for others
Job, like the Centurion, found benefit from his own inter-
Nor
cessions
Nor
others
p i
r
shall
Sam.
What
ii.
30.
a contrast to
him who,
q i Sam. xxx.
13.
entirely at his oicn expense, erected
viii.
12.
Job
xlii.
10.
272
RAISED.
vii. 14
16.
And lie came mid touched the bier; and
they that bare him, stood still. And he said, Young man, I say
unto thee, arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to
speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came
a fear on all : and they glorified God, saying, That a great
Luke
prophet
risen
is
visited
his people.
will
abound
any servant of
God
is,
the
more
in labours
Now we behold
to
We
I.
him employed
in
restoring a dead
man
life
shall consider
The miracle
The Jews used
of their
At
to bury their
cities-
funeral pro-
cession
We
affliction this
Her
loss
is
child
If one out of
grieved
many had
how much more
this
losing him, in
whom
her affec-
surviving child
But
(290.)
left to
273
declining years
Destroyed both root and branch, she had no prospect but
that her name woul<ibe extinct in Israel
]
Filled with
behalf
[Jesus, addressing himself to the mourning widow, bade
her not weep
How vain, how impertinent had such advice been, if given
by a common man
But, from him, it came as a rich cordial to her fainting
!
spirit
He
Arise
Nor were
by
pointed
he would
Nor
body
The
in
restoration to
life
effected perfectly,
and
an instant 6
To complete
"
the mercy,
to his
mother
fail
of exciting
suitable emotions
II.
The
There
effect
it
is little
produced
in the scriptures to gratify
our curiosity
Hence
*
Intercession
was made
distressed widow.
neighbours; but none besought him for this
b
xvii. 21.
Elijah arid Elisha obtained this power by prayer, i Kings
2 Kings iv. 33. ; and Peter wrought his miracles in the name of Jesus,
Acts iii. 6. and ix. 34.
* 2
*
John v. 21.
Kings, iv. 34, 35.
e
VOL.
"
III.
He
sat up,
and began
f
to speak."
J74
Hence
was
the mother
affected at the
first
son
But,
born,
if
wow-
the
But
minds
meekly
Jesus,
it is
majestic,
first
delivering
emotions of
their
relatives to expressions
of mutual endearment
Grace, on the other hand, would rather lead them first to
admire and adore their benefactor
Perhaps, looking alternately on Jesus and on each other,
they might stand fixed in silent astonishment
need not however dwell on that which, at best, is mere
We
conjecture
The
is
recorded for
When
it will
But
it is
conductHappy would it be
our whole
for us if
we were
'
pressed
2.
They
glorified
God
that he was
" a
great prophet"
And
Compare Acts
Jer. x. 6, 7.
v. 1 1.
and Luke
i.
65,
* Isai. vi.
<
x
Pfov.. xxv
(290.)
And
that
God,
after
275
suspending
all
We
disposition
But who has not reason to regret, that mercies produce too
transient an effect upon his mind ?
Let us at least profit by the example they then set us
And
labour to glorify
This history
,1.
of
may
God
he
teach us to
loose to the
things
sit
this life
good
We
ages
Let
us then
apostle
It
2.
deep
will
never
a season of
flee in
afliiction
could
little
thought of
it,
And
trouble
calls us to
himself
is
when we
Let us then
call
affliction
And,
k
Jobi. 13
ig.
* Col. iii. a.
T 2
Cor.
Ps.
1.
vii.
29
31.
276
(2QO.)
say with
We may
3.
preached gospel
[The word of Christ
days of his flesh
It quickens many
It rescues
in his
to bless
is
gospel
them from
it
God
for the
as powerful as in the
in trespasses
and
sins
them
to an eternal life
How many
souls,
life,
Let the whole multitude of us then " fear the Lord ami
his goodness P"
Let us glorify him for sending us such an adorable Saviour
And let us seek, both for ourselves and others, fresh displays
of his power and grace ]
John
vi.
68, 69.
Hos.
iii.
5.
Matt.
'
xii.
22, 23.
devil, blind
THE
We
any
To
strength sufficient to counteract his malignant efforts
Jesus alone can we look for deliverance from him
He
alone who rescued this daemoniac from his
oppression,
can deliver us
From
we
shew
L What
(91.) BLIND
What power
I.
Though he
Satan
is
still
exercises over
2/7
mankind
successfully
assaults their souls.
j
He
blinds
them
[[t
He
" our
[The tongue is justly called
glory," because it is
the member whereby \ve most glorify God e But, as far as
respects this use of our tongue, we are as dumb as the very
beasts
speak not to God in fervent prayer and praise,
notwithstanding our daily wants should stimulate us to the
We speak not of
one, and our daily mercies to the other
God to our friends and families, but prefer every other topic
of conversation
speak notyb/'God in the world, even
though we witness the indignity with which he is every where
treated
Were we to hear our friend or fadier insulted thus
we should endeavour to vindicate their honour But for God
and his glory we feel no concern -And whence is this but
from the agency of that " Spirit, who ruleth in all the children
"
of disobedience f r
]
We
We
We
II.
That
all
who apply
if
we
consider
obtain
deliverance
Our
blessed Lord
is
as able
and
willing to help us as
ever
vam*
'2
c
e
Cor.
Jer.
iv. 4.
ii.
13.
Ps. xxx. 12.
T 3
Cor.
EphEph.
ii.
14.
iv. 18.
ii.
2.
278
(291.)
now
that he is in
impaired
heaven and in earth committed
may exert it on behalf of his
the same zeal for his Father's
Nor
any make
shall
power and grace from whose success we may derive encouragement However blind we have been, he will open the
eyes of our understanding However impotent we have been
his
with respect to the right use of our tongue, he will loose our
tongue that we may speak plainly He will fulfil" to us his
Our eye*
promises beyond our most sanguine expectations;
that were blind shall be opened, and our tongues that were
dumb
shall sing
No
"
sooner shall
we
we
shall
find
III.
How
less, whose faculties are renewed by grace
he now see his former bondage to Satan \ How
does
plainly
does he marvel at the rich mercy vouchsafed unto him
Above all, how does he adore the sovereignty of God who has
thus distinguished him from others
Often does he exclaim,
me, Lord ? why hast thou taken me, while so many
others are yet left in a state of nature ? ]
*wonder
Why
Nor
much
confirm
our faith
in.
Christ
Eph.
i.
23.
opened
Isai.
xxxv.
5, 6.
(291.)
opened
for
us
others,
him to
DEMONIAC HEALED.
279
we can have no doubt of his ability to do
whatever we peed
We shall exultingly appeal to
Is not this the Christ
Yea, we shall recommend
others as a sure refuge, and an almighty friend
]
my
eyes,
APPLICATION?
1
To
who
those
power of Satan
we should
speech have been employed only for secular and carnal purand who have been utterly blind to the beauty and
Know then, that however great
excellency of true religion ?
an object of commiseration a man is, who is incapable of
seeing to supply his own wants, and of speaking to make them
known to others, he is in a far happier state than you His
poses,
"
To
those
devices of Satan
CCXCII.
Matt.
viii.
of man
THE
27.
But
is this,
more we
see
constrained to admire
of Christ,
the
more we are
him
280
it
(2Q2.)
in
to
by a
storm
And
to sea
in
command*
Yet were they not exempt from the dangers incident
to
navigation
Christ himself submitted to be thus tossed by winds and
waves
what
his
disciples,
in vain, applied to
In
trials
How
against
we
apt are
God d
to
their weakness, in
all
in his
almighty aid
whom,
J
He
storm
But then the disciples would not have discovered their own
weakness
Nor have seen this marvellous display of their Master's
power
It
is
for
the
that
he permits our
troubles
And, when they have brought us to him in fervent supplication, he will deliver us from them
He arose from his pillow, and with authority rebuked the
storm
*
!
Ver. 18.
Job
iii.
23.
&
vi. 4.
& viu
20.
Instantly
Acts xiv. 22,
i
Pet.
i.
6, 7.
(292.)
28 1
calm
Such
is
"
soul
clcud
power
And
yield
to consider
What
II.
The
disciples,
scarcely
*/
But
knew what
to us his
to think
truths
i.
man
like ourselves
But
to be
God
also
And
Elijah
the sea
by
had made a
his
path
wonder-working rod
through Jordan by
his
mantle
their miracles in
dependence
God
Jesus,
this miracle
by
his
own
power
And
It
is
the sea
this in
make
mind
this the
3
'
Actsxvi. 29
34.
Prov. xxx. 4. Ps. Ixv. 7
unto
2.
f
2 Cor. xii. 9.
* Isai. xlv. 22.
to
He
282
He
(292.)
is
of us
ful
We
of old
But
us k
is
we be embarked with
equally applicable to
We
if
him
His ark
winds
may
He
3.
will
weakness of our
faith
[The excessive
faith-
shewed
their
want of
He
ties
goodness
Nor
his
power
And
his
all
their wants
most pressing
culties
1
Isai. xlix.
14.
Matt. viii. t.
diffi-
And
Mark
ix.
22.
k Ib. ver.
15, 16.
m Ps. Ixxviii.
19, 20.
(292.)
ADDRESS
1. To the
he
is
disobedient
to
bestow on
man
the gift of
reason
And
to leave
Alas
how
mercy
They
him
vilely
are
And
this the
is
end
for
us?
Is
revolt
it
our obedience to
God may
be a
them
2.
To
those
who
truly
Christ
[All seasons are not alike in the spiritual,
The greatest
difficulties
But know
that your
Lord
is
an
way of duty
all-sufficient, ever-present
belp
trial
that
And from
poetical description*
n
Heb.
Ps. xlvi.
vii.
Ver. 25.
25.
i, 2,
3 r 5.
* Ps. cvii.
-2330.
284
Mark
to
with him.
MANY
at
cavil:-, 1
infidels
by
This
has
afforded
much scope
for
their
profa
objections
the
man
to
have
be;
is
\vas
really possessed
And that the swine
The
They may be
illustrated by,
and
will reflect
light upon,,
to
enemy
man
poor Gadarene
[There were two dsemoniacs; but one
noticed as the
is
more remarkable h
Satan drove him from the converse and society of men
Satan enabled him to break the chains and fetters with
which he was bound
Satan made him a source of terror to others, and of misery
to himself
much
[His agency
*
No
is
still
exerted as
it is
invisible
as ever
is
We
Matt.
viii.
28.
less
two thousand,
(293.)
We
may
discern
we do
as
it,
the wind,
28^
by
its
outward
effects
The
scripture represents
him
men
as leading
captive at his
\vill
He
converse with
all
God and
his
peo-
ple
stimulates
them
to a
all
conduct injurious
themselves
to
and others
He
the god of
is
this
world,
all
iniquity"
is,
there
is
One
superior to
him
Jesus
II.
is
others,
approached
And
expect
to deprecate the
Nor could he
He
permission
Satan asked permission, in order that he might destroy the
swine, and thus incense the Gadarenes against our Lord
Jesus suffered him to do it, in order that the Gadarenes
might see how great a deliverance had been wrought for the
poor daemoniac
Instantly the swine, possessed by the devils, rushed into the
n
sea and perished
But the man delivered from them was restored to his
right
mind
Thus was
1
to a),-]
2 Tim. ii. 26.
2 Cor. iv. 4.
Eph. ii. 2.
f
Ver. 9.
Ver. 7.
s Ver,
He was afraid lest Jesus should command him to
7.
go into the deep, that is, the abyss of hell, where his punishment
will at the last day be
greatly increased.
Compare Luke viii. 31.
and Matt. viii. 29.
h Ver.
i
Ver.
13.
<i
15.
286
he
(293.)
on
the
will
still
our behalf
trong
He
will
feet
fail,
are greatly indebted to Jesus for restraining Satan, there is a wide difference in the
III.
Though
all
dispositions of different
The
ungrateful Gadarenes
from
them
[The Jews who owned the swine were justly punished for
keeping them
Yet were well recompensed for the loss of them by the dismission of the evil spirits
And should have rejoiced, that so mighty a deliverer was
his presence
to gain instruction
their
terests
to
in his gospel
them'-
Were
Luke
"
2 Cor.
p
*
11
Col.
ii.
Eph.
vi.
They
(holy.
15.
^13.
lest it
(293.)
Were
287
sorest
bondage
Not
Peter 1
far different
thoughts of his
benefactor
[He begged
to
become
follower
of Jesus
When, for wise reasons, his petition was refused, he acquiesced cheerfully in his Lord's will
He willingly denied himself, that he might benefit his
friends,
and glorify
his
Lord
He
will
spiritual privileges
fulfil their relative
duties
APPLICATION
from
We
roaring
must nut judge by extorted confessions, or occasional
prayers
Satan acknowledged Christ, and deprecated his wrath
But
Compare Job xxi. 14. with the
John
iii.
19, *o.
text.
Luke
v. 8.
288
(293.)
devil
still-
"
self-de-
nyingand
live
to his
glory]
Mark
v. 25
certain woman which had an issue of
29.
blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many
physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing
bettered, but rather grew worse, when she heard of Jesus,
came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she
And
said, if I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
was
dried
and
she
her
blood
the
;
up
straightway
fountain of
felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
THE
miracles of our
Lord
much
afford
useful in-
struction
They were
But they
tions
To
I.
many
us,
we observe
world
[Sickness and pain and death are the effects of sin
If our first parents had not sinned, these things had never
existed
The infirmities of the weaker sex are especially noticed in
a
this view
Deplorable was the condition of the woman mentioned in
the text
to
us b
in us."
Isai.
i
i.
Cort
5, 6.
vi. 9.
We
(294.)
We
II.
289
them
[The woman- had employed mnny physicians
had spent her substance on them without any benefit
blame her not for using all possible means or' relief
But she had looked no higher than to the creature for
And
We
help
And
amendment
If guilt
lie
And expect mercy, not for our diligence, but for his name's
sake
Unless we do this, our labour will end in disappointment ]
III.
Lord Jesus
is
medicine
the
soul
Nor
are there
wanting
many
of
testified
monuments of
living
this truth
'
faith,
the
more
his
will
And
*
Rom.
Mic.
*
vi. 6, 7.
Cor. vi. 11.
Tim.
i.
16.
30,0
(294.)
daughter"
Thus
he
will
who
rely
upon him
youths
Nor
shall
'
Their
Their
come m
sins,
ADDRESS
1. To those who
maladies
are sensible that we are sinful creatures
profess an intention to seek forgiveness
Yet for the most part we defer this necessary work
If our bodies were disordered we should apply to the pby-
[We
all
And
jsician
We
aid
And
We
without price"
What
strange infatuation possesses impenitent sinners Ifolly is it to prefer the transient welfare of a
perishable body, before the eternal welfare of an immortal
What extreme
soul
And
let
presence
them
this
woman
To
those
is
Let
k
Dan.
Mark
iii.
'
Jer. xvii. 5, G.
2gl
and
and
confidence
Nor doubt but that virtue shall proceed from him to heal
our souls ]
CCXCV.
Luke
viii.
When
50.
Fear not
JAIRUS'
Jesus heard
believe only,
AFFLICTIONS may
ful to flesh
DAUGHTER HEALED.
and blood
and
it,
she shall be
well be deprecated
by us as pain-
God
Multitudes came as suppliants to our Lord, who would
never have regarded him if they had not felt the pressure
of disease or trouble
The
rich
in
general were
acknowledge him
But they found that
could do them good
in the
the
hour of
most backward
affliction
to
none other
Hence
Nor
rich or poor
How
it
was
tried
Jairus (such was his name) had much to try his faith
[He had an only child (twelve years of age) in dying
circumstances-
to
to
heal tli
JAIRUS'
DAUGHTER HEALED.
(295.)
in
the
blasted
They have
and
an increasing
find only
sense of guilt
for deliverance
tation,
assaults of
thnn ever
Thus they
God
But
in this*
them
is
diversified,
gene-
this
How it operated
He was enabled humbly
II.
and confidently
to
depend on
Jesus
[It was his faith that first led him to Jesus for help
Nor, when his case seemed desperate, did he give up his
hope
probable that our Lord might perceive some rising
apprehensions in his mind
But he sustained him instantly with that encouraging word,
" Fear not "
Jairus expected now that his child should be raised as from
a sleep
The idea of sleep, however, only called forth the derision of
the mourners
Such was the fruit of their ignorance and unbelief
But the ruler himself resembled the father of the faithIt is
ful
11
-]
It
is
in this
way
shew
tions to
We
him
shall
itself
our supplica-
difficul-
ties increase
We
Ps. cvii. 5, 6, 12, 13, 18, 19, 26,
27, 2&,
J Horn. iv. 18, uo, 21.
We shall
Job c
do not under-
How
III.
it
fail
honoured him
was rewarded
And
child
it-r-
And
What
Nor
shall
in faith, be disappointed
d
[Our Lord has commanded us to ask in faith
And has assured us that petitions, so offered, shall be
answered by him 6
Things the most impossible to man, shall, if they will conduce to our good and to God's honour, be effected by the
f
prayer of faith
Crimes the most atrocious that ever were committed, shall
be pardoned g
Lusts the most inveterate that ever enslaved a soul, shall be
subdued h
The dead in trespasses and sins shall be raised, like Christ
himself, to a new and heavenly life*
Nor
heaven
shall
k
they
fail
of attaining eternal
A
APPLI"
Epb.
happiness in
i.
Mark
Mark
xi. 24.
ix. 23.
h Isai. lix.
19.
ii.
5, 6.
John
iii.
Cor.
vi.
11,
DAUGHTER HEALED.
JAIRUS'
2Q4
APPLICATION
[Every man must
The
(295.)
dearest friends
separation
But let every trouble drive us to the compassionate Jesus
And every want be spread before him in prayer
are not now indeed to expect miraculous interpo'
We
sitions
unqualified
his all-wise
disposal
for spiritual blessings we cannot be too importunate
faith in his word be too strong
But
What
The
n
follow
he said to Martha he
advice of Jehosaphat
still
is
m
says to us
the best direction
we can
m John
Phil. iv. 6.
xi.
40.
Gal.
ii.
20.
Matt.
They
Then touched he
be
it
unto you.
And
your faith)
their
importunity
Two
(296.)
in vain supplicated
followed him into
295
people
observations which
Waving many
will
arise,
when
I.
God
is
to be received
by us but
;
has revealed in
it
is
us, if
cious intentions
[In confirmation of this we may observe, that in the most
eminent instances of faith, the power of God has been chiefly
b
regarded
And in the most remarkable instances of unbelief, his
c
Moreover God
power has been principally doubted
in a peculiar manner points out this attribute to our notice d,
6
expostulates with us for not attending to it sufficiently , and
exhorts us to take it for our strength*
]
Lord
to the
Matt. xx. 30
Abraham, whose
the power of
and
to
raise
The
34.
faith is so highly
God to give him a son in his old age, Rom. iv. 19 21.
him up from the dead, Heb. xi. 19. In dependence on
formed, Numb. xi. 21, 22. And Martha deemed the putrid state of
her brother's corpse an insurmountable bar to his restoration to life,
John
d
xi. 39,
Ps.
Ixii.
40.
ji.
U4
Jsai. xxvi. 4.
(296.)
II.
[Our Lord makes more enquiry after this than after any
He overlooked many faults, where this was
other grace 8
exercised ; and disregarded every thing that was apparently
He invariably bestowed
good, if this were wanting'
k
the highest encomiums upon it ; and made it, riot only a
condition, but the very measure of his favours
]
11
APPLICATION
To
1.
unbelievers
men may
To
those
who
are
example of unbelief"
weak
in faith
lief?
3.
To
[You
believers in general
will
find that
peace
He
man, John
k
Mutt. viii. 10. and xxi. 21, 22. See particularly 2 Chron. xvi.
where it was not only commended, but rewarded.
Markix. '23. Matt. viii. 13. and xv. 28. See also the text.
m Heb. iii.
n 2 Tim. i.
12.
18, 19. and iv. Jl.
? 2 Chron. xx. 20.
f Isai. vii. 9.
1
8,
TWO
BLltfD
MEN HEALED.
2Q7
victory over the world, and indeed all that you hold dear,
vary according to the weakness or stability of your faith
Beware then of ever " limiting the Holy One of Israel"
" what is
Beg that
yet lacking in your faith may be per"
fected q
-And seek to become " strong in faith, giving glory
to
God"]
1
Thess.
iii.
10,
CCXCVII.
Luke ix. 12, 13. And when the day began to wear away, then
came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away,
that they may go into the towns and country round about,
and lodge, and get victuals : for we are here in a desert
But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat.
place.
calls,
own
which
vineyard, while
may
blend
we
are
duties
When
the occasion
"
is
"
urgent,
God
will
have mercy
of
We
I.
shall call
The
your attention to
leisure to eat
To
bread
from
their importunities,
he
took ship
The
Unmindful
*
Mark
vi.
31.
Jf
298
Unmindful of
their
own
lonely
And, though
to depart from
How
destitute of
him
wants,
(297.)
" food or
lodging," were unwilling
doubt
[Some perhaps were really
desirous of divine instructionOthers sought nothing but the healing of their bodily dis-
orders
And
many were
too
curiosity
But
their
warm Christians
[It would not indeed be expedient for us to imitate them,
altogether
The august
instruction
We
and
interests
And
II.
hopes
The
He
out a shepherd
He
instantly
resumed
his labour
and bodies
And
necessities
try the faith of Philip, Jesus enquired about purbread d
of
chasing
[To
But
?
Ver.
1,
John
vi. 5, 6.
(297.)
them
By
this
God
in his
boun-
and
ties,
to
did
it
afford
he
Nevertheless
wasted
[He ordered
would not
suffer
any thing to be
gathered up
Of these there were not less than twelve baskets full f This afforded an additional confirmation of the miracle
By this too he shewed that, not the poor only, but even the
most opulent, should exercise frugality ]
From
this history
We
i.
may
we may IXFER
that,
our
wants
We
But he can
wan ts
is
fore us
And
in the season of
our necessity he
our
relief-
Let
e
'
Esth.
i.
47.
30O
Let us then,
b
given us
(29?.)
upon
We
2.
in firm reliance
fare
at feasts to
which he was
invited
also to
be present at
to appetite!
Or
to
squander away
ments!
How
does
provisions
it
And under
Paul
St.
rather
become them
to be satisfied with
mean
1
!
We
mand"
Thus we also are directed to exercise liberality to the poor"
And what we do for them, Christ will accept as done for
himselfP
k Ps. xxxvii.
3.
k
'
fish,
J
the desert. John vi. 13.
Phil. iv. 16.
n It should seem that 200
pence, about six guineas, was all the
stock that they and their master had at that time to subsist upon,
n
Ver. 13.
John vi. 7.
Ueb.
xiii.
CCXCVIII.
Matt.
sea,
16.
When
Be of good
THE
Christian's
denying
cheer
it is
be not afraid.
CHRIST
($98.)
WALKING ON THE
SEA*
3O1
fed by him
They, probably approving
had been made to invest him with royal authority", were
somewhat averse to leave him; but, being commanded to
b
In the prosecution of their duty they
go, complied
were overtaken with a storm, which not only obstructed
their progress^
lives
In
this state
they were greatly terrified ; but they soon found that the
way of duty was the way of safety
In elucidating the miraculous interposition of Jesus on
we
their behalf,
The power he
I.
He came
to
shall notice
exercised
we
up
power
He
them
to
to produce
Johnvi. 15.
,,
CHRIST
302
The
first effect
WALKING ON THE
produced by
his
SEA.
(298.)
appearance to them,
leads us to notice
The
II.
His
fears he occasioned
disciples
were extremely
of
him
[The day but just beginning to dawn, their view of him
was very indistinct They supposed him to be a spirit They
knew that it was an evil spirit who had raised the storm by
which Job's family were destroyed 8 and they possibly might
think that such a spirit had stirred up this tempest, and was
now coming to overwhelm them utterly Filled with terror,
they cried aloud ; accounting him an object of dread, whom,
if they had known him, they would have regarded as their
most seasonable, most welcome deliverer But the trouble was
necessary, in order to engage their more fixed attention to the
;
miracle
now
Thus
~\
by
unnecessary fears
[All are called to sustain some conflicts in the path of
And in the midst of trouble the mind is apt to faint
If our difficulties or dangers be great, we are prone to indulge
despondency, and to increase by imaginary fears the calami-
duty
ties
this very
end
These
fears
Thus
* Job
i.
fc
ia, 19.
John
vi.
21.
(298.)
Thus does he
303
people
[Are they distressed by reason of fierce opposition? he
reminds them that, with him on their side, they have none to
1
with them
11
INFER
There is no state in which Christ can not save us
[Our difficulties may be greatly multiplied, and appear
But "his hand is not shortened that
utterly unsurmountable
1.
it
is
cannot hear"
it
He who
to
may
suffer all
appear
with us
But he
for us iu
And
will
his
presence
both alleviate our labours, and crown us with
success
Only let us invite him into the vessel with us, and
we shall gain in safety the desired haven 3
1
shall
Isai. xli.
10
15.
k Isai.
Luke
xliii. i, 2, 5.
xii. 32.
Isai. xl.
Isai.
27
xxxv.
31.
4.
IN THE SEA.
And
save me.
MEN'S
tray
them
into
many
frailties
304
(299.)
of
I.
his character
We
in the
trials,
way of duty
[We
we
that
God
shall
and love
call,
God
the hour of
will be
we be
If
at
petition
Ps. cxxx, i, 2. and xviii. 3
5.
See Jojiah i. 12. and ii. i, 2.
(299-)
305
His
petition to the Saviour will bring us all-sufficient help
word to all is, " Call upon me in the time of trouble, and I
will hear thee, and thou shalt
]
glorify me"
III.
faith of persons even more than their humithe other hand, unbelief most dishonours
him Other sins pour contempt on the law, but unbelief
reflects
upon the lawgiver as destitute of truth, or power, or
love
This therefore Jesus notes with peculiar disapprobation
But
Justly did he reprove it in Peter; as he will also in us
he will not be extreme to mark it He reproved it, in a distressed parent d ; butgranted his request
So he will make us
to feel his displeasure but he will not shut his ear to our cry
If we had all the guilt of the universe, or the most deeprooted lusts that ever man had, our prayer should prevail for
the removal of them
And the soul that once appeared to be
sinking to perdition, shall be securely embarked in the same
vessel with Jesus
Nor shall it be long ere it be brought in
to
the
haven
of eternal rest ]
safety
lity
or love"
On
ADDRESS
1
The presumptuous
.
is
2.
in Christ Jesus
The doubting
is
[Unbelief
a sad enemy
in
the time of
trial
It will
If
it
soul at last
The
confirmed believer
3.
[Labour to unite fear and confidence, caution and boldness
You are as a light in the world and in the hour of
;
many
Matt.
viii.
Mark
ix. 23.
10.
vii,
50.
t
VOL.
III.
306
thy faith
RETIREMENT
is
necessary for all; especially for those
Cut on certain occasions it
minister in holy things
must be sacrificed to the pressing calls of duty Jesus
who
bestowed on
minute inves-
Behold
Her love
[She considered her daughter's affliction as her own ;
and, when imploring relief for her, cried," Have mercy upon
ME" And knowing that there was One able to help, she
sought him out with diligence, and applied to him with
1.
importunity
VVe too, like her, may be deeply affected with the bodily
and may make application to phydisorders of our children
sicians on their behalf
But, though we know the power of
Jesus to' heal disorders, and the utter inefficacy of all human
means without his l/iessing, how rarely do we spread our wants
before HIM in fervent prayer
Yea, when we see the souls
of our relatives possessed by Satan, and are assured that none
but Jesus can deliver them, we profess perhaps to pity them,
but find no disposition to intercede for them at the throne of
;
grace
nearly related to us
2.
Her
humility
[Nothing could express more unfeigned humility than
her demeanor did on this occasion
She addressed our Lord
in
(300.)
307
most profound respect, and prostrated herself before him with the deepest reverence
And, when he, by
in terms of
deeming
it
which seemed
'"
a dog"
Her
faith
[This, as
commended
held him as
tf
human power
all
4.
Her
patience
h er
[When
first
When
might
I^ow oersons
tible
in bitter
of neglect, and
much more oi
x 2
THE DAUGHTER OF
308
(300.)
her request
Thus when answers to prayers are delayed, we should con" [ will not let thee
tinue urging our petitions, saying,
go
b "
should
me
Nor
any thing ever induce us
except thou bless
to entertain hard thoughts of God, or to. murmur at his
dispensations towards us, seeing that we deserve nothing at
hands but shame and contempt
his
this
woman,
let
us
also contemplate
The behaviour
II.
to act in a
manner unworthy
of himself
[Towards all others he shewed himself kind and condescending, and ready to administer the relief they solicited
Yea, he frequently almost obtruded himself upon the notice
of men, and urged them, as it were, to ask for blessings at his
hands Even to the abandoned of all characters he displayed
e
But towards this distressed
this readiness to impart mercy
of
all sympathy, or compassion
destitute
he
seemed
suppliant
He had indeed reasons abundantly sufficient to justify his
conduct: he chose to draw forth the grace that was in her
heart, and thereby to reprove the indifference of those who
called themselves exclusively the children of God
By the
the
too
he
rendered
benefit
more
acceptable to the
delay
woman, and the woman herself a brighter pattern unto us
In a similar way,and for similar reasons, he sometimes hides
his face from us, and turns, as it were, a deaf ear to our comAnd, if we listened to the dictates of impatience and
plaints
" What
unbelief, we should be ready to exclaim,
profit is
there that we should call upon him ?"
]
How
different
under a far
*
less
disappointment!
John
iv. 10.
(300.)
graces that
With
we
exercise
309
hence, that
A
f
.
Jam.
v. 17, 18.
Ps. xl.
13.
Exod. xxxii.
Isai. kii. 7.
Mark
spit,
sighed,
THE
And we
have
new
distinct miracle was attended with some
circumstances
peculiar
And ou^ht to excite our admiration as much as if it
had been the only one recorded
To improve that which is now before us, we may
consider
But every
I.
The manner
Many
in
which
instructive
it
was wrought
lessons
may
be learned from an
this
Humble
[He "took the man aside from the multitude" that
surrounded him
.Not that he was afraid of having his miracles inspected and
scrutinized
Matt,
vi. 3.
(301.)
.And
that
6
applause
Hence he
311
love of man's
"
so strictly " charged the people not to divulge
this miracle
He
also
"looked up
to
heaven"
he
willed
acknowledgement of
in
power
do whatsoever
to
And
glory of
God
own
Compassionate
with
[Touched
"
" he
pily toward the object before him,
sighed
He
sin,
pries t
and to bear
their
burthens
We should never behold the bodily infirmities of others
without longing to relieve them
Nor,, without gratitude to God for the continued use of our
own
faculties
Sovereign
[Though he looked up to heaven^e wrought the miracle
by his own power
He had only to issue the command, Be opened
He who once said, Let there be light, and there was light,
needed only to express his will in order to be obeyed
Instantly the
man
ties
his
silence,
became an
Benefactor's praise
active instrument
Mysterious
[Our Lord was pleased to put his finger into the man's
ears, and to touch his tongue with his finger, winch lie had
previously moistened with his own spittle
What was the precise intention of these
means we cannot
determine
Certain
b
d
John
Heb.
v. 44.
iv. 15.
x 4
John
v. 21.
Gal.
vi. 2.
312
Certain
it is
(301.)
miracle
II.
We
A
.
him f
Here then
ment
Nor could
the prophecy
bodily disorders
He is the great physician whose office
it
that of healing
is
to heal
men's
souls
The
were only
perform
He unstops the ears of men so that they may " hear his
"
voice and live
He loosens their tongues so that they may shew forth his
praise
Let those,
who have
aid
Let those,
who
his favour
Soon
f
Isai.
xxxv.
5, 6.
(301.)
Soon
word g
"
And
313
to hi
heavenly
An
3.
encouragement
upon him
recommend
him
His
desire of relief
was
of
our Lord
Who
from turn ?
Should we not rather take occasion from them to plead
with him more earnestly ?
And would not he rejoice in manifesting his power and love
towards us ?
Let every one then apply to him in humility and faith
No disorders, however complicated, shall be able to withstand his will
The
of his grace
And
old
shall
J
e Isai.
xxxii. 3, 4.
CCCII.
Ver. 37.
God of Israel.
EVERY
some
We
persons
314
(302.)
What
I.
sensations
have excited
more
that which
must
this
exercise of divine
On
power
made
of
We
harmony
On
and
a
This
Acts
may
iii. 8.
See
Mark
ix. 43.
(309.)
^15
and their sympathy with those whose maladies had been removed, could not fail of exciting in their minds the most
On Jesus
3.
himself
Not
indulge mere
to
useless speculations
exercise of divine power, let us enquire
What
on
this
reflections should
'
Have
Jesus
improvement
[It
use of
it
may be
all
their faculties
Have we no
deliverance?
intellectual
Do
ears
f
31 6
(302.)
him"]
3.
Let us glorify
God
with andjfor
all
the faculties
we
possess
[Our bodily and mental powers are rich mercies from the
hand of God, and should be exerted continually in promoting
his glory
But, if our eyes have been opened to behold the
if our ears have been
;
unstopped, so that we
can hear the voice of the good shepherd; if our tongues have
been loosed to speak of his name; and if our feel have been
strengthened to run the way of his commandments; it becomes us to imitate the multitudes who surrounded him on.
There should not be a cold heart, or an inactive
this occasion
member, throughout this whole assembly We should all either
be filled with admiration of his goodness, or, with ecstatic
Were we
ardour, render him the tribute of incessant praise
thus occupied, we should enjoy a very heaven upon earth
We cannot conceive a better idea of heaven than if we set
before our eyes this adoring multitude
Do we see Jesus encircled by them, every eye fixed on HIM, every tongue sounding HIS praises, every soul ascribing all its happiness to HIS
power
*
Isai.
xxxv.
5, 6.
(302.)
power and
317
us then re-
CCCIII.
Mark
viii.
and
man
led
clearly.
he both shewed
who were
manner
in
cured, to
which he effected
single miracle
We
particularly on that
this
cure
peculiar to this
more
profitable
observations
I.
views
little
of their
own
depravity, or of
b
Even after
death", or the spiritual nature of his kingdom
Christ's resurrection they could not conceive for what ends he
was risen c Nor, for several years after the day of Pentecost,
did they understand their entire freedom from the Mosaic
law, or the purpose of God to make the Gentiles partakers of
hi*
*
Acts
i.
6.
Luke
ix.
54.
31 8
his salvation
amongst
ourselves,
still
Christ,
"
heart
(303.)
We may
Nor
For
appear strange unto us
Though our Lord could heal our blindness in an
instant, yet he chooses rather to do it by the
II.
should
this at all
[Our Lord,
light to shine out of darkness, could with the same ease shine
into our hearts with meridian splendor*
But this is not his
mode of proceeding in any part of his works He perfected not the creation but in six successive days of labour
The vegetable, the animal, and the rational creation rise to
maturity by degrees Thus in the ne\v creation of the soul
jusual
"
And
enables us at last to
love
However
now
is,
it
must
3335.
John
xvi. 13.
Eph.
jii.
18, 19.
(303.)
319
We
We
We
"We
2.
Consolation
[Many
Abijah
1
p
r
*
Numb. xxiv.
3,4. Heb.
vi.
Phil.
Judg.
i.
6.
xiii.
John
Ps.
23.
v. 11, 12.
and
vi. i.
i.
7.
cxxxvni.
Rom.
6.
Heb.
xi.
20.
Heb.
xii. 2.
John
ix. -25.
Zech.
iv.
10.
8.
320
(303.)
y
He will bring us to his temple and
more
us
enlarged discoveries of divine truth as we are
give
Nor let us think that we use the means
able to bear them 2
not immediately to reap all the bein vain,
though we seem
When the day of his power is come, we
nefit we could wish
Jericho was enshall find that we have not wailed i.) vain
vain
But at the
in
times
apparently
compassed many
appointed sound of the rams' horns, the walls fell* So, in
God's good time shall the scales fall from our eyes b Let us
be thankful then if the day begin to dawn in our hearts
And let us seek to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
]
rf
z Ezek.
b
Acts
viii. 6,
9, 13, 15.
ix. 9, 18.
d
Isai. xl.
2 Pet.
iii.
1 1.
Cor.
iii.
2.
18.
ix. 2q
nance was
32.
And as
of his counte-
and
his
THEY,
in
(304.)
321
[God has on many occasions signally manifested his regard to prayer It was at the beginning of Daniel's supplications that an angel was sent to reveal to him the period fixed
for the Messiah's advent*
The reason that God assigned for
to open the eyes of Saul was, " Behold he
sending Ananias
b "
Thus Jesus was at this time engaged in prayer
prayeth
his
form was
visibly
and
Godhead
dis-
wonderfully changed
[In his transfiguration, as
it
is
called, the
played itself through the vail of his human nature his countenance shone like the meridian sun and his very garments
were so irradiated by the lustre of the indwelling Deity, that
" so white as
they were white and dazzling like the light,
yea,
no fuller on earth could whiten them d " He had hitherto
" in the form of a servant
;" but now he apappeared only
in
his
own
peared
proper form as God at least, so far as his
divine nature could be rendered visible to mortal eyes
Nor
was this Transfiguration intended as a mere ostentatious display of his glory it was necessary perhaps for his support as
man that, when he should come into the scenes of his deepest
It was also well calculated
humiliation, he might not faint
to prepare his disciples for that awful view of him, which they
were afterwards to have, when thev should see him in the
garden, prostrate on the ground, bathed in a bloody sweat,
and supplicating " with strong crying and tears" the retnovaj,
of the cup which his Father had put into his hand ]
:
The
II.
upon him
[The body of Moses probably had been preserved, as
that of Elijah had been translated to heaven, without suffering
the total change which is usually effected by death
They
were on this occasion arniyed " in glory," somewhat like to
their .divine Master,,
a
b
e
VOL.
Ill,
but .as
though, of course, they were
twinkling
Mark
ix. 3.
xii,
48.
322
(304.)
hands
of heaven
ject,
which
itself will
versally exploded
occupied their attention during this delightful interview ;
"
they spake of his decease which he should accomplish in
Jerusalem" O what do we lose by lending ourselves so
And
entirely to other topics, and so totally discarding this
how infatuated are men, that, even in the society of their
dearest friends, they do not improve their hours by conversing
!
Nor were
wholly excluded
We
read of
III.
The
some of
his dis-
ciples
Some more
this
who lay, as it were, iti his bosom, and was called, by way
of eminence, " The disciple whom he loved" But the three,
who had been taken up to the mountain to spend their time
in prayer, had fallen asleep, and lost thereby much of the
vision, which they might have seen, and of the conversation,
which they might have heard Alas! What an irreparable loss
did they sustain Well might Jesus have said to them, " Sleep
on now and take your rest " But the effulgence of his glory
roused them at last, and they both beheld this bright assemblage of persons, and heard the sublime discourse which passed
between them Happy were their eyes which saw, and their
ears which heard such things
Can we wonder that Peter
should
one,
(304.)
323
though
was an ignorant proposal for it was needful
both for themselves and for the world, that
they should
resume
their wonted labours, and fulfil the work asspeedily
Peter however may well be excused, for " he
signed them
knew not what he said " ]
well meant,
it
them
in their
subsequent conflicts
INFER
How
How
2.
earth
2 Pet.
i.
1618.
now upon
the
mount
324
mount
(304.)
and
to
go
3.
What
to have be[It
held, though for so short a time, this heavenly vision: but
what must it be to " see Jesus as he is," in all the full blaze of
divine majesty ; to see him, not attended with two only, but
with ten thousands of his saints; and to hear, not a conversa-
triumph
selves resembling the Lord Jesus ; our " bodies fashioned like
unto his glorious body," and our souls " shining above the sun
"
glory
Ps. xxx. 6, 7.
ix.
25
27.
When
Rev.
iii.
12.
him by
the.
VARIOUS,
states,
experienced
(305.)
He
joy-
325
to seasons of exalted
countenance
But he descended only to behold the miseries to which
sin had reduced us
And to renew his labours among a scoffing and unbelieving people
To bring into
The wretched
I.
we
shall consider
state of the
him
Imagination can scarcely point out a more distressing
scene than that exhibited in the context
[Here was a youth afflicted with an epilepsy, or fallingsickness
To complete his
This
evil spirit
ting agonies
And deprived him of the powers of speech and hearings
Thus had Satan tormented him even from his very child-
hood h
So that,
[We
a
but
the
not absolutely asserted by the Evangelist
"
for the
great amazement" which the people
This idea is confirmed by
discovered at the sight of him, ver. 15.
the account given us of Moses the Jewish lawgiver, who experienced
a similar continuance of glory on his countenance after conversing
with God on mount Sinai, Exod. xxxiv. 20,, 30. with 2 Cor. iii. 7.
This
is
it
Matt.
Luke
Mark
xvii. 15.
ix. 39.
ix. 18.
Mark
Y3
Ib.
ix.
11.
is
326
(305.)
that his
bodies
if
ties
And
acts
Doubtless
much
depraved appetites
us by
vassals
And
if viewed in a
spiritual light, exhibits
than such wretched spectacles as that before us? ]
little else
With such
conversant
scenes,
continually
II.
to the
[The
disciples
devils^
in
the
full
exercise of
Had
sible to
em
on
this
instruction
Our
k
Pet. v. 8.
Compare John
Eph.
'
Mark
ii.
2.
xii. 6.
Acts
m Acts
v. 3.
Tim.
ix. 14.
ii.
26.
xiii.
10.
35.
q
Matt. x. 8.
Matt. xvii. 20.
Matt. xvii. 21. It seems from hence that some of the evil
spirits
have more power and
than others. See also Matt. xii.
malignity
45.
(305.)
OUT.
all
$27
the powers
of darkness"
And must
word
forth in a believing
it
put
dependence on
his
He now
applying
The
reproof
And
intreats the
How
And
should we be
verted relatives
less
failed,
we
are ready to
tition
III.
youth
And
design
[Jesus ordered the voune;
man
to be brought unto
him
Satan,
"
y
a
Rom.
Eph.
Mark
xvi. 20.
vi. 16.
ix.
22.
Y 4
Mark
ix.
23.
(305.)
his life
r-
help
He
usually
makes
of
upon
us,
when he
is
dominion over us
effected
who
dead
However
fiercely they
11
conquerors
And
more
distinguished
e
Luke
Luke
CCCVI.
ix.
ix.
42.
h
42.
Mark
ix.
ilom.
viii.
26.
37.
Matt.
xvii. 27.
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them,
to the sea, and cast an hook, and take
up the fish that
first cometh up ; and zi hen thou hast opened his mouth, thou
go thou
me and
that take
thee,
THERE
(306.)
a
329
shall consider
I.
the
miracle
certain
tribute
was about
to
be demanded
of
him
b
It was originally lo be
[This tribute was half a shekel
one
above
of
the
twenty, whensoever the
age
paid by every
It was called the ransom money,
people should be numbered
and an atonement for their souls, because it was .an acknowledgment to- God, that their lives had been justly forfeited,
and were spared merely through his sovereign mercy More
was not to be paid by the rich, nor less by the poor, because
the lives and the souls of all are of equal value in the sight of
God, and there is but one ransom-price for all It was to be
applied to the service of the tabernacle and temple, in which
all classes of men were alike interested, and to the due
support
of which all should contribute
]
From
this,
is
But he waved
Under
these circumstances he
We
Mark
Exod. xxx.
i.
13.
1216.
to
J5o
now proceed
About
i
Cor.
fifteen
viii. 13.
330
(306.)
that he
Hence
His omniscience
His omnipotence
2.
[It
From
this
miracle
we may LEARN
all
"
things
in
(306.)
331
nothing"
this
THE
to
man
command
in Paradise,
it was
engraven on stones by God himself,
But the
Ihe
other
with
precepts of the law
together
sanctification of that day consists, not in a mere abstinence from bodily labour, but in a suspension of all
tions
when
332
(30?.)
in discoursing
upon which, we
shall
consider
The
I.
miracle he wrought
hi the
synagogue a
There was
in
woman much
afflicted
body
[By
Our Lord, \vell knowing her case, afforded her a miraculous relief
[Me needed not to have his compassion moved by earnest
Unsolicited tie called her to him
And by the
intreaties
imposition of his hand conveyed an instantaneous cure Thus
he shewed how easily he could " destroy the works of the
3
devil ;" and that neither length of time nor inveteracy of
disorder could at
The
all
His vindication of
The
it
at this exerci.se
<*f
power
[That which in reality hurt his feelings was, the populaHe could not endure to see him followed by
of
Jesus
rity
such multiludes, and confirming his divine Mission by such
miracles But, because he could not with the smallest appearance of reason condemn the miracle he had seen, he pretended to be offended at its being wrought on the sabbath-
John
iii.
8.
(307.)
33 ,
vindicated his
own conduct
in
the necessity of
sanctifying the
OBSERVATIONS
i
What blindness and
human heart
.
many
in
2.
334
(SO?.)
confusion
your conduct,
to
3.
under
all
to their
our troubles
to Jesus
is
Amen
b
.
alike easy to
disorders
CCCVIII.
Luke
Ps. xxxviii. 6.
xiv.
4.
Isai. Ixi. 1.
Ps. cxlvi. 8.
And
came
(308.)
335
And lit
took him,
let
him go.
to
We
friendly part
iCor.v.
9, 10.
ridicule
some expressions
to
them,
what he knew
one
(308.)
<e
in answer" to
There was but
But they knew
was enabled
II.
of all perfection
cannot but admire
i
On
this
occasion in
we
particular
His wisdom
The
(308.)
them
less conduct
We should endeavour to " cut off occasion
from those who seek occasion" against us c We should
" shew out of a
good conversation our works with meekness
" our
of wisdom* ;" and prevent, as much as
possible,
good
from being evil spoken of'" ]
1
His fortitude
he saw their obstinacy, he was not deterred frord
his
will
He would do good, even at the peril
Father's
doing
of his life, rather than lose the opportunity afforded him He
therefore healed the man of his dropsy, and dismissed him,
lest he also should be exposed to their murderous
rage Thus
should we act, whenever we are opposed in the way of duty
While we labour to disarm our adversaries by a meek and
We should say,
gentle behaviour, we must not fear them
like Nehemiah, "Shall such a man as I flee?"
We should be
ready to face any danger and suffer any extremity father that!
decline from the path which God, in his word or providence,
has marked out for us ]
2.
[When
Two
i.
the ungodly
[The more friendly the world appear, the more are we in
danger of being ensnared by them While they continue
carnal, they cannot but retain a rooted enmity against spiritual
things Though therefore considerations of honour, interest,
or consanguinity,
may
" watch
for our halting *;" they will seek to find some matter of
offence in us, that they may seem the morejustified in followg
Let us then be doubly on our guard
ing their own ways
when
their
in
bridle"
observers
And
h
company
pray
"
to
God
the eating of
primitive Christians were at liberty respecting
meats offered to idols ; yet in the use of their liberty they
*
might offend their weaker brethren^ and sin against Christ
It is a great part of Christian prudence to discern persons,
times
*
fc
* Ps.
See Ps.
VOL.
v. 8. in the
Ill,
21, 25*
marginal translation.
Rom.
xiv. 16.
338
(308.)
times and circumstances, that we may be able to adapt ourLet this then be our
selves to the exigencies of the occasion
endeavour Let us " walk in wisdom toward them that are
"
without," and endeavour to
put to silence the ignorance of
men by
foolish
well doing
"
to
Pet.
ii.
15.
CCCIX.
Luke
t en
AS
indiffer-
At
made
sion of sinners
We
I.
village
On
*
Luke
ix.
(309-)
On
his
entrance
another
into
village,
339
the lepers
saw
him
How
now
It
p
them
was not permitted to lepers to approach even their dearest
afforded
i
friends
They
" stood
therefore
afar
off,"
for
crying earnestly
relief
in.
And might
Messiah
le'ad
them
to receive
him
as
the
promised
The
effects
alike in all
their
Having obtained
all
only of
Benefactor
Nor
v
Z 2
34O
(309.)
And burned
had deceived
Returning instantly, he prostrated himself at the feet of
Jesus
glorified
God
as the author of
his
And gave
whom
it
was sent
Nor was he
II.
The
text
i
first reflection
which naturally
arises
from the
is,
.
What ingratitude is
[We are amazed at
lepers
We
large-
blessings
How many
God!
What
souls
made
healing of our
The Son of God himself has suffered, that he might " heal
us by his stripes"
And offers of pardon and salvation have been proclaimed to
us in his name
Yea, we have been promised a deliverance from the leprosy
of sin d
And have been in treated to become children and heirs of
God-
May
!
Rom,
vi. 14.
(309.)
May
God complain
not
341
Jews' ?
Let us then abase ourselves before
God under
a sense of
our vileness f
Nor
let
the-
world
Who
does not
commend
leper?
How
often
make
tages,
ministers
They
them
respecting them
to
will
"
the contrary, was a
stranger"
God's covenant
The
all
all
opportunities of in-
Jews
By
this
off
from
struction
Yet he returned to glorify his God, while all the Jews overlooked the mercy vouchsafed unto them
And are there not many amongst ourselves, who are far
from improving
enjoyed
our privileges?
Are there not many illiterate and obscure persons whose
hearts overflow with gratitude, while ours are as insensible as
a stone ?
Let us remember that God expects from us according to
h
the means of improvement he has afforded us
And
Isai.
'
i.
2, 3,
b
Jobxvi. 19.
2 3
Job
xlii. 6.
Lukexii. 48.
342
And
upon
us'
3.
(309-)
How
is
plain
sought help
And
at his
hands
yield to his
Has he
inercy
commands
not encouraged us by
many
express promises of
Let us then, like the lepers, cry, <l Jesus, Master, have
mercy on us"
Nor let us cease from our importunity till we have pre
vailed
But
if
we have
them k
ful for
let
us be thank-
wonder
at
nine
Much more
will
he,
if
we should forget
to
tribute of praise
"
"
Waiting for our approaches, he says, Where are they r
Let him then see us daily prostrating ourselves before him
Let us be earnest in bur thanksgivings as well as in, our
prayers
Isai. v.
26.
Ps. xxx. 2.
Ps. cxxvi. 2.
glLOAM.
He
went his
way
THERE
is
which
(310.)
&C.
and
jecture
which
I.
will
it
The
be proper to notice
historical fact
[The
conviction
It
ef souls, prevailed
Z4
$44
(310.)
conviction that was fastened on the minds of the more ingenuous, they enacted a law, that every one who should confess
Such
Jesus to be the Messiah, should he excommunicated
are the weapons with which ungodly men have ever combated
the truth of God: when they fail in ^argument, they have
recourse to authority, and establish that by pains and penalties,
which they have in vain laboured to maintain by an appeal to
Reason or scripture
The parents of the man were intimidated and silenced; but
the man that had received the benefit, boldly vindicated the
character of his benefactor.
His arguments were irresistible:
but they served only to incense the haughty Pharisees, and to
bring upon himself the sentence of excommunication Thus
will every truly enlightened man confess his Saviour ; and,
when called to suffer for him, will take up his cross with cheerful resignation, yea,
bear
and
rejoice that he
is
counted worthy to
it
Our
blessed
amply rewarded
his fidelity
"
life,
The
ancj
we
typical interpretation
We
typically repre-
spiritual
b
Mark
Mai.
x. 29, 30.
iii.
i,
'
John
x. 36.
(310.)
345
is
all,
The end
Our
blessed
further insight
The
III.
spiritual
improvement
men
h
k
*
'
m Luke xxiv.
45.
"
2 Cor. iv. 7.
Rev.
Luke
iii.
ii.
17. i Cor.
32.
Acts xvi. 14.
Acts xxvi. 17, 18.
Ver. 39.
ii.
14.
346
(310.)
and prudent 5
With respect
he
to the latter,
tion of their
own
themselves in their
in their
passions,
and
of
" taken
"
in their own craftiness*," a d
utterly perish in their
own corruptions*"
The improvement then which our Lord himself teaches us
to make of this miracle is, to "cultivate a sense of our own
" become fools in order that we
blindness, and to
may be
"
7
wise
If we be " wise in our own conceits, there is more
hope of a
fool z ," or of
living
On
us.
God
will
guide us into
all
truth"
ADDRESS
[All of us must of necessity resemble the man while his
blindness continued, or after it had been removed
Let us
then enquire whether we can say with him, " This I know,
that whereas I was blind, now I see 3 ?" If we cannot, let us
remember that the Saviour is nigh at hand, and that the
means used for our illumination, weak as they are, are quite
Let us take ensufficient, if accompanied with his power
couragement to ask the influences of his good Spirit, and to
pray
i
Luke
Matt.
*
y
iv. 18.
xi.
Cor.
Cor.
15.
iii.
iii.
19*
18.
?
Ver. 25.
2 Pet.
ii.
12.
(310.)
347
CCCXT.
LAZARUS RAISED.
John
xi. 40.
SUCH
his disciples,
we may
We
The
Our
I.
purpose to consider
occasion of his words
afflicted sisters, when they despaired of their broexcept through the intervention of a miracle, sent
and Jesus returned them a
to Jesus to come and heal him
5
favourable, but inexplicable answer
Apparently forgetful
of their request, he continued where he was two days longer,
and did not reach Bethany till Lazarus had been dead four
c
But on coming thither, he renewed the promise which
days
he had before made them, and had given an order for the
removal
[The
ther's
life,
Ver. 4.
Mark
ix.
33
37.
LA2AKUS RAISED.
348
(311.)
Amoral of
began
by considering
in which they were fulfilled
manner
II. The
an
authoritative voice he bade the dead come
With
forth
to his
great event,
the graves shall hear the voice of the
"
h
come
forth
By
this
shall
God most
signally dis-
played
[Who could refrain from magnifying him who had condescended thus to hear the requests of two feeble mortals, and
to exert such almighty power on their behalf? Who could,
after this, entertain a doubt of Christ's divine mission, or of
his power to quicken the bodies or souls of whomsoever he
would.: Some indeed there were,, whose rancour, instead of
being
a
sympathy, ver. 35 ; and deep concern for the unbelief which he saw in
tht hearts of many, ver. 33, 38.
'
f
Horn. iv. 20.
Gen. xviii. 1-2 15,
Vr.
41.
John
v. 28, 29.
LAZARUS RAISED.
(311.)
349
While we see by
reproofs to
III.
The
but
many
this miracle
let
Martha,
lessons
we
We
2.
The more we
exercise faith in
God,
the
more
will
God
Ver. 45,46.
x. 49, 50.
him,
away
58.
And
Be of good
casting
xiii.
CCCXII.
Mark
Matt.
his
unfa
they call the blind man, saying
calleth thee. And het
he
rise
;
comfort,
OUR
35O
OUR
in
(312.)
without
I.
The
important
whom
Jesus called
mercy
[He was both
blind,
and necessitated
Who would
whom he
who might
upon the
him on the high-
to subsist
pass*
way
towards
in
many
instances; his
own
day Hearing that Jesus passed by, this blind man earnestly
importuned his aid He would not lose the opportunity which
now occurred nor cease from his cries till he had obtained
his request
His language was expressive of an assured faith
in Jesus the promised Messiah, at the
very time that the rulers
and Pharisees almost unanimously rejected him Thus it is
frequently found, that those things which are hid from the
wise and prudent are revealed unto babes ]
;
Afflictive as
such a condition
is,
it
affords a pleasant
God]
In
(312.)
In confirmation of
this point
II.
we proceed
351
to
shew
him
to
And
more
whom
he does
But the
invite,
most express
mention of our names could be We might doubt whether
there were not others of our name; but who can doubt wheYet such are repeatedly
ther he be a sinner, a lost sinner ?
declared to be the very persons whom he came to seek and
save Are we, like the blind man, longing for mercy, and
striving to obtain it ? It is impossible to doubt whether Jesus
have mercy in store for us, since he particularly calls to him
"
every one that thirsteth" Only let his invitations be treasured up in our minds, and we shall never despond, never shall
entertain a doubt of obtaining our desire at last ]
are far
II I.
The
effect
it
(312.)
He had come
that, of which the value was above rubies
to one who was able to grant whales'er he should ask ; and,
as he was not straitened in his benefactor, he would not be
straitened in his own petitions]
but
necessary
it
may
be to
"
us, rather
than suffer
it
to retard our
We
Going
he ask,
If we thus
sins, renew my soul
improve
never be disappointed of our hope ]
We
shall
CONCLUDE
his calls,
we
shall
His humility
[It is scarcely possible for words to express deeper humithan that manifested by Bartimeus
He sought nothing
but mercy for mercy's sake He had no plea but that of his
own misery, together with that which was implied in the apgiven to Jesus The son of David was to confirm
Eellalion
is divine* mission
by the most benevolent and stupendous
miracles The import of the beggar's petition therefore was,
Let me, the poorest, meanest, and most necessitous of manSuch
kind, be made a monument of thy power and grace
exactly is to be the spirit and temper with which we must approach the Lord If we bring any self-righteous plea, or build
our hope upon any thing besides the work and offices of Christ,
we never can find acceptance with him It is the broken and
contrite spirit and that alone which God will not despise
]
lity
His perseverance
[The circumstances under which he persevered in his reHe was rebuked by the people,
quests were very discouraging
2.
(312.)
353
3.
His gratitude
his
concern was
to
honour
his
Benefactor
He
became a
instantly
How
are relieved, forget all the vows that are upon them
Let
this base and odious character
Let us rather
yield up ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord, and devote
!
not us be of
end
for
which
his
mercy
is
among
CCCXIII.
.Matt. xxi. 18
Now in the morning, as he returned into
22.
the city^ he hungered.
And when he saw a Jig-tree in the
leaves
ivay, ht came to it, and found nothing thereon, but
only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee hcnccfor->
ward for ever. And when the disciples sm& it, they marvelled,
saying, How soon is the Jig-tree withered away ! Jesus
ansieered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye
have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is
done to the jig-tree, but also, if ye shall say unto this mounshall
tain, Be thou removed, and be thon cast into the sea
;
be done.
believing,
And
ye
it.
THE
most
VOL.
III.
This,
354
(313!)
We shall
I.
There
some
to
is
the literal
easy to be
understood But St. Mark mentions, That " the time of figs
"
This has given occasion to infidels to represent
was not yet b
our Lord as looking for figs at a season when, according to
the Evangelist's own confession, there was no probability of
refers to the time of
But " the time of
finding any
figs"
gathering them ; and as that time was not yet fully come,
there was every reason to expect that the whole crop was yet
upon the tree The fruit of a fig-tree grows at least as early
as the leaves ; and therefore, as the foliage was luxuriant,
there was ground to hope that the fruit also was abundant
This accounts in an easy manner for the disappointment
experienced by our Lord ; and shews how weak and frivolous
are the objections urged by infidels against the truth of our
holy religion
all
culture
God
They professed themselves indeed to be his pecupeople ; but they brought forth no fruit that was suited to
that relation
Now therefore God had determined to abandon
their
liar
them
effect,
before
*
That of sending the devils into the herd of swine was rather a
permission to them to fulfil their own desire, than an actual miracle
wrought by our Lord himself.
b
Mark
xi. 13.
If the words,
leaves"
Mark
xi. 13.
(313.)
355
have been,
if
which
all
Having explained
it
we
as they
is
ought
necessary
to a just
shall
II.
disciples
and consequently
On
an Almighty
The
church
their
this
Gpd
may be
latter
.understood in
reference to
the
at large
We
John
A A
The
356
1
tflor
(313.)
2.
The
true source of
all
our fruitfulness
We
3.
What
Christ's
exalted
power
thoughts
we
should
entertain
of
God,
ttnd beside
'
Song
h
iv, 16.
HOB. xiv. 8.
Matt. xiii. 58.
me
there
'
*
'
is
none eke"
John
xi.
40.
357
]
*
xviii.
9.
Jems
therefore,
knowing
JESUS,
should come upon him, wtnt forth and said unto them, Whom
seek ye?
They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus
saith unto them, 1 am he.
And Judas also, who betrayed
him, stood with them. As soon as he had said unto them, I am
Then asked
he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
he them again, Whom seek ye ? And they said, Jesus of
Nazareth. Jesus answered, I hate told you that I am he :
Jj' therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: that the
saying might be fulfilled which he spake, Of them which thou,
gavest me, have I lost none.
THE cross of Christ has been an offence and a stumbling-block to both Jews and Gentiles in every age they
think it absurd to expect salvation from one, who saved
:
not himself, arid life from one who was made subject unto
death
But every step of his humiliation was accomwith
circumstances which abundantly attested the
panied
*/
I.
will
go
Not so our
to it would entail on them nothing but disgrace
Lord " he knew all things that should come upon him :" he
had already tasted of the bitter cup, and knew that he was
about
A A 3
:
JESUS, (314.)
He
own
defence
[Enquiring calmly whom they sought, and being told,
te
Jesus of Nazareth," he arisvvered, " I am he"- Here vVeie
no reproaches (for though reviled, he reviled not again) but a
plain acknowledgment that he was the object whom they
wanted But with what a glorious power were his words
No sooner were they altered, than all the
accompanied
tand of soldiers', with the chief priests, and scribes, and elders,
and Judas at their head, were struck as with lightning, and
staggering backward, they fell to the ground This miracle,
!
But
his
Notwithstanding
this
still
moment
2 Kings
i.
14.
(314.)
moment
as rising
if left to
3,59
own
heart
Our
and
miseries,
humbled
himself,
he
power by
He
his hitter
fit
cup
[He had
to
him
in iheir
strength
On
this
John
x. 18.
Ps. xl. 7, 8.
Luke
iv.
Eph.
v. 2.
A A4
John
vi. 15.
360 THOSE,
JESUS, (314.)
they could not even retaliate upon Peter whose temerity had
exposed both himself and his fellow-disciples to most imminent hazard Jesus had just before declared to his heavenly
Father, that he had preserved all whom the Father had committed to him f He was therefore peculiarly solicitous for
their welfare in the hour of danger and shewed that, though
he saved not himself, he was both able and determined to
save those who had put their trust in him
]
:
Let us from
As a
1.
this history
is
precisely what he has
Does
enemies of our salvation
the justice of God arrest us, or his holy law condemn us ?
Behold, Jesus gives up himself in our stead, and says respectIsaac was not more certainly
ing us, Let these go their way
doomed to death in the purpose of his father, than we were
by reason of our iniquities but Jesus, like the ram, is accepted
in our stead, and we rise to a life of immortality and glory
Let us ever view Jesus in this light; let us regard him as our
surety and substitute ; nor doubt, but that through his willing
sacrifice, and authoritative mediation, our souls shall live for
[What
to all the
ever]
2. As an
avenger of sin
[We have seen what Christ
whole hearts
As a
power
f
John
xvii. 12.
"(314.)
361
" Not
any
were
power of Jesus, as Judas and the soldiers
"
weapon formed against us can prosper, if only we put our
Let us then flee to him and he will hide us
trust in him
under the shadow of his wings As birds riving to protect
;
young, so
will
the wall
e
Isai.
h Isai.
xxxi. 5.
xxv. 4.
OF MALCHUS* EAR.
Luke xxii. 50, 51. And one of them smote the servant of the
High Pritst, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus atiswercd,
and said, Snjfer ye thus far. And he touched his earf and
healed him.
We
direction
from
his
own unhallowed
be proper to notice
The indiscretion of Peter
Peter, in striking Malchus with
corded,
I.
will
it
will
the
sword,
was
was
certainly deserving of
blame
A want of Christian
temper
i.
It
argued
sword
in
taking
362
EAft.
(315.)
taking
An
[[t
was
officiously
The
appear by considering
"
Our Lord
in his
Of his misconduct.
fc
.
John
xviii. 5
11.
(315.)
363
wound, and restored the ear to its perfect state What a marvellous return was this for all the indignities which this
miscreant had offered him
If Jesus had chosen to work a
miracle on this occasion, one wouid rather have expected that
!
heard of
left to his
when persecuted by an
From
this history
we may LEARN
To guard
on some occasions,
defective upon others 5
far
2.
To
it
love
exercise
will
towards
enemies
"
are not to be carnal," nor
weapons
[The Christian's
"
He is to " turn the right
must he " war after the flesh
that
smites
him
the
on
cheek to him
left," and, by rendering
"
heap coals of fire on the head of his enegood for" evil, to
mies."
Instead of being overcome of evil, he is to over-
come
d
e.
g.
Gal.
Pharaoh was
iv. 18.
by judgments or mercies.
Luke ix. 54.
Gal. i. 13.
Such persons are compared to " a cake no't
alike uninfluenced
364
(315.)
"
that
3.
To
his steps
"
so deep a
wound
as sin has
wounds
made
it has
had merely killed the bnd\
But Jesus can heal
indicted a mortal wound on our souls
It
if
it
us; nor should any sense of unworthiness prevent our applicaLet us go to him, and he will add' us to the
tion to him
number of those whom he has made monuments of his
Rom.
xii.
his
1921.
unbounded mercy
'
Pet.
ii.
20
23.
LIFE.
John xi. 25, 26. Jesus said unto Jier, I am the resurrection
and the life : lie that be/ieveth in me, though he if ere dead,
and whosoever livcth and believeth in me,
yet shall he. live
:
IN
self in
his
affliction that
sisters his
fully to the disconsolate
glory.
Accordingly, when they intitheir persuasion, that, if he would pray to ( iod for
the restoration of their brother to life,
would grant his
mated
God
request,
(316.)
365
shall notice
I.
the
prevailing
opinion of the Jews, expressed her expectation of a general resurrection at the last day, Jesus says to her
" I am the resurrection "
[Our Lord, in his divine nature, possessed omnipotence
and of himself. In his mediatorial capacity he
was invested with it by his Father, agreeably to the plan concerted in the divine counsels. To him who had undertaken
to procure salvation for a fallen world, was delegated all
necessarily,
power requisite for the full discharge of that office. The restoring or his people to a new and heavenly life after death,
was essential to their complete salvation this therefore was
a
committed to him ; and he both declared he would execute
b
this great work , and gave an earnest of its accomplishment
c
in raising himself from the dead .]
:
"
am
the life"
[Tn^this term our Lord proceeds further than in the
former, and asserts, that as he is the author and first-fruits of
the resurrection, so is he the very pj-inciple of life whereby his
people live. This might indeed be collected from many figurative expressions of scripture, which represent him as the.
d
but we are not left to
fountain of life to all his people
truth
from mere parables; it is
an
important
gather such
asserted frequently in the plainest terms: be is a quickening
f
e
He i< to the
that hveth in us , and is our very life e
spirit ,
is
to
the body
he pervades, animates,
soul
the
soul, wjiat
and invigorates all our spiritual faculties: by his secret energy
our understanding is enabled to apprehend .divine truth, and
our will inclined to obey it: and, without him, the soul would
be as dead as the body without the soul.J
I
John
John
v.
21, 25
x. 18.
29.
b
d
11,
20.
15, 16.
57yicd
(316.)
latter,
the
;
of the powers expressed in
text
the former.
1.
As being "the resurrection," he will raise the
bodies of his people
[Judging of things according to our weak reason, we are
ready to think that the restoration of bodies, which may have
undergone so many changes, is impossible. But cannot he
who formed the universe out of nothing, collect the atoms
that constitute our identity, and reunite them to their kindred
He
souls?
upon the
"
As
_,
awakened from
and enhance
.their .bliss.]
We must
John
" Ver.
John
i.
LI.
* 1 Pet.
*
John
18.
i.
23.
XIY.
*
'
iii.
Rom.
21. -;
viii.
10.
r Col.
*
icj.
Phil.
iii.
John iv.
John xv.
3.
14.
5.
AND THE
(316.)
LIFE.
367
have whereof to glory before God and God has decreed that
no flesh shall glory in his presence, and that we shall
glory
u
It must never be forgotten that God
only in the Lord
has
caused all fulness to dwell in his Son, Jesus Christ*; and that
\ve must, by a cdntinued exercise of faith, receive out of thai
:
hath not
The
life
"]
it
suggests to us
infinite
importance.]
That the
believing of this record is the most effectual antidote against the troubles of life, or the fears of
2.
death
[[f Martha had felt the full influence of these truths, she
would have moderated her sorrows, under the persuasion that
her loss was her brother's gain ; and that, if her brother were
not
11
*
*
Rom.
iii. 27.
Col. i. 19.
2 Cor. i. 24.
* \
*
John
v.
n,
Eph.
12.
ii.
8, 9.
Cor.
John
2 Cor.
John
i.
i.
16'.
v. 7.
v, 24.
2931.
* Gal.
iii.
Gal.
Ib. ag.
ii.
11.
16.
368
not restored to
Thus
life,
(316.)
in
CCCXVII.
i. 3.
IVlio, bring the brightness of his glory, and the
express image of his person, when he hud by himself purged
our sins, sat down at t/te right hand of the Majesty on
]Ieb.
high.
REVELATION of God, by vt ha tcver means or init may be communicated, demands our solemn
strument
attention.
The
in
We
seen
(317.)
369
seen the Father 8 ." But the Father is, in himself, invisible to
mortal eyes b ; it is in Christ only that he is seen: on which
account Christ is called " the image of the invisible God c ."
And as all the glory of the sun is seen in the bright effulgenca
of its rays, so is all the glory of the godhead seen in the face
of Jesus Christ d .]
His
2.
official
dignity
them
into existence
By him
all
that
is evil,
The
As in
this is
"
of administra-
diversities
"
and of operations
under Christ, who is the author
of them, so in the work of Christ himself there is a diver-
tions
sity
of ministrations.
"
purged our sins" by his blood on earth
needed
an atonement, and such an atonement as no
[Sin
created being could offer. Jesus therefore, the Creator himfor us, and such an one
self, undertook to make an atonement
as should satisfy divine justice on our behalf, and put honour
on that law which we had violated. For this end he assumed
that nature which had sinned, and endured the curse due to
our iniquities. When he had only to create or to uphold the
universe, his zcord was sufficient but when he came to redeem
the world, nothing would suffice but his own precious blood.
Other priests offered the blood of bulls and of goats as typical
Jesus
but, to make a true and proper atonement,
expiations
was forced to offer up" himself" His prayers and tears were
insufficient: if he would purge away our sins, he must do it
"
"
death."
by himself," by the pouring out his soul unto
This is what Jesus undertook to do nor did he ever draw
back till he could say, " It is finished."]
jj e
He
i.
John
Col.
VOL.
2.
III.
Tim.
d Col.
15.
and John
Matt. x. 2;, 30.
Ver.
xiv. 9.
i.
f
i.
3.
Col.
i
ii.
i.
Cor.
i.
17.
9.
and
vi. 16.
i Cor. iv. 6.
17.
xii.
46.
370
He
in
(317.)
heaven
[The high
priest,
The
him
We may
1
[Who
k
believe in Christ
them ? " Jehovah's
with his blood ? The God of
is it
."
Who bought them
Who has undertaken to keep them ? He
heaven and earth
10
Who is contithat " upholdeth all things by his word ."
their
salvation
? He that is
nually engaged in completing
constituted head over all things for this very purpose". What
then have they to fear either from their past guilt, or their
present weakness? Let them only be strong in faith, and
" none shall ever
pluck them out of his hand ."]
fellow
3
.
Let us lay it to heart. To neglect this
such a mixture of folly and ingratitude, of impiety
and rebellion, as involves in it the highest degree of crimius to the heaviest condemnation''.
Let
nality, and subjects
those who are guilty of this neglect remember that" the ene"
and let them kiss
mies of Jesus shall all become his footstool
the Son, lest he be angry, and they perish without a re-
on
in this epistle"
Jesus
is
medy
1
I
.]
k Zech. xiii.
7.
m Col. i.
17, 18.
II
Ps.
* John x.
28.
ii.
6, 9, 10, 12.
Deut.
3Ji
CCCXVIII.
Powfcfc
i.
17,18. Fear not-, lam the first and the last: 1 ant
he that liveth, and was dead', and beh'ild, I am alive
for
evermore, Amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Rev.
MAN, while
communed
but from
freely with his Maker face to face
the time that sin entered into the world, he has dreaded
:
fear
to his weakness,
dispelled his fears by making known to
him the perfections of his nature, and the offices which
in his mediatorial
capacity he sustained.
In discoursing on
his
words we
shall consider
Our
i.
The
eternal
[The terms,
God
" the
first
and the
last," are
intended to ex-
2.
* Ver.
8, 11.
ProVi
viii.
* Phil.ii. 6,
and Rev.
2230.
xxii. 13.
Mic.
v. a.
John
i.
l.
tsai. xliv. 6,
Meb.
siii. 8.
Rom.
."B
B 2
i.x.5.
The
CHRIST'S EXERCISE OF
372
SUPREME POWER
(318.)
The
living Saviour
whose
[He,
brightness now exceeded that of the meridian sun, once hung upon the cross. But, says he, " though*
I was dead, yet I am the living One g , possessed of life in myh
self , and the source of life to others; and immutably living,
" Behold "
to carry on the work which I began on earth."
for I,
this with wonder, yet with a full assurance of its truth
" the true and faithful
the "Amen,"
witness, declare it unto
Now as the former assertion shews us what he was in
thee."
his divine nature, this informs us what he is in his mediatorial
" He died for our
office.
offences, and rose again for our
justification;" and is, not only our advocate with the Father',
but the head of vital influence to all that believe k /J
2.
3.
The
universal Sovereign
"
"
of
[By hell we are to understand, not the habitation
and " death"
the damned only, but the whole invisible world
:
And
sovereign.]
From
record,
we
When
its
also be a comfort to us
fall
*
'
K.
Horn.
8 'O
viii.
"Uev.iii.y.
34.
h
r.
John
'
Eph.
i.
22,23.
sa '-
Dan.
V. 16.
xx "- 22
x. 5
12.
(318.)
373
Under
2.
fears
of eternal condemnation
reflect
upon
his
own
character without
hell appal him with their terrors ? they are altogether subject
to the control of Jesus, whose power and faithfulness are
pledged for the salvation of all his ransomed people*. To the
adorable Saviour,
thou shalt thresh
the mountains l
and though thou art the smallest grain that
has been gathered from the field, thou shalt be treasured safely
in the granary of thy heavenly Father".]
;
APPLICATION
[We cannot
it
to
those
has only, as it were, to turn the key of the invisible world, and
your souls will be locked up in the prison, from whence there
O consider this, ye that live unmindful of
is no redemption.
>.
r
*
Amos ix.
B B 3
9.
Rom. viii.
31.
John
i, 2.
i.
374
OF OUR LORD'S
MIRACLES.
John xx.
30, 31
And many
THOUGH
all their
attendant circumstances, St. John tells us, in the hyperbolical language of the east, that the whole world would
scarcely be able to contain the books that would be writ3
ten
Some however are transmitted to posterity as a
specimen of the
rest, in
order that
we may be
assured of
him
to
I.
the Son of
himself to be
" the
Christ,
God"
and
a
John
xxi. 25.
him
to death as a
THE USE,
(319.)
&C, OF
375
tised,
when
also
8
any other evidence that could be given him .]
Exod.vii. 10,
u.
But
Exod.
vii. 3.
13, 14.
Aaron's rod swallowed up all the rods of the sorcerers, ib. ver. 12.
The sorcerers were permitted to bring calamities 011 the land, but not
And they themselves
to remove them, ib. ver. 21, 22. andviii. 6, 7.
were constrained to acknowledge a divine power working by Moses
and Aaron, when they could no longer imitate the miracles wrought
by them, Exod. viii. 18, 19.
f
John
v. 36.
and xiv.
u.
B B 4
Luke
xvi. 31.
this
(319.)
intent of these
The
was
ultimate end
upon
ment of
1.
Spiritual life
{The unbeliever
b
in trespasses and sins :" lie is as
been
have
as
that
bones,
spiritual exertion,
dry
for many years, are of exercising the functions
dead
is ."
incapable of
entombed
to live to God.]
Eternal
2.
[The
Kfe
life
begun on
soon expire;
shall
it
earth,
is
P.
Now
is
this truth,
but
to
k
k
Eph.
i
Cor.
m John
!
ii.
Gal.
i.
vi.
17.
Eph.
iv.
15, 16.
'
v. 24.
ii.
20. Col.iii. 4.
Ezek. xxxvii. 4.
2 Cor. J. 17.
2 Pet.
John
i.
i.
4.
12.
OUR
(319.)
LORD'S MIRACLES..
377
to make us rely on him as our Saviour, that we might experience the true "end of our faith, even the salvation of our
souls."
This was an end worthy the inspired writers, an end,
which has already in myriads of instances been accomplished,
though its success hitherto has heen only as the drop before
the shower.]
INFER
1.
How
should
we
!.
Christ!
of
themselves
even
the
our
will
scriptures
[All
knowledge
be of little use to us, unless we be possessed of a living faith :
"
salvation ;" but then it is
they will indeed make us wise unto
r
"
through faith in Christ Jesus ." More can not be said,
and less must not, respecting the excellency of faith, than
what is spoken in the words of our text. Every thing relating
to spiritual or eternal life must be received by faith, and maintained by faith. In heaven this principle will be superseded;
" walk
but till we arrive at those happy mansions, we must
" live
the
on
Son
faith
of
and
God,
altogether by
by faith,"
who loved us, and gave himself for us."
Let us then read the scriptures, in order to increase and
confirm our faith let even the strongest believer improve
s
them to this end ; and in due time he shall be where faith
2.
is lost in
sight,
John
v.
and hope
in enjoyment.]
!
39.
f
John
v. 13.
2 Tim.
iii.
15.
378
CONCLUSION.
CCCXX. THE GREAT MYSTERY
I
GODLINESS.
-OF
Tim.
iii.
16. Without controversy, great is the
mystery of
godliness : God was manifest in the Jiesh, justified in the
Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed
on in the world, received up into glory.
a mystery* , a great
many e fundamental doctrines as
{
and of its ministers
a
rich
mystery
gloriously
mystery
"
In the words
as
stewards of the mysteries of God 8 ."
of
its
,
"
enumerated, and confessedly declared to be a
great
Let us then contemplate them in their order,
mystery."
and enter with deepest reverence into the investigation
of them
"
I.
God was manifest in the flesh"
[It was not a mere creature that took upon him our
h
nature, but God himself, as the scriptures both of the Old
and New Testament' uniformly assert. He had for many ages
manifested himself in the Sheehinah, the bright cloud that
first abode upon the tabernacle, and afterwards resided in the
most
8
*
r
1
i
i
i
Cor. ii. 7.
Cor. xv. 51.
Cor. iv. i.
John
i.
i.
Rom.
h
ix. 5.
Col.
Eph.
i.
i.
9.
Isai. ix. 6.
Phil.
16.
ii.
Rom.
xvi. 25.
John x. 30.
(320.)
379
He
signs following*
And
is
He
"
seen of angels"
[The angels had beheld his face, and had worshipped
before his throne from the first moment of their existence but
II J.
was
wheu
k Col.
'
ii.
* John
*
q
Pet.
g.
i.
iii.
John xv.
18.
26.
Acts
ii.
3, 4.
Heb.
ii.
4.
viii. 3.
Matt.
xii.
Rom.
i.
'
John
34.
-29
Rom.
"
24, 25.
4.
xvi. 7
11,14.
But what different feelings must have been exciled in their breasts, when they beheld him conflicting with
Satan in the wilderness, and sinking under the load of his
Father's wrath in the garden of Gethsemane, -nnd in both
seasons needing their friendly aid l
of
Nothing is
numger
spoken
cross
He
IV.
own
hopes
prejudices vanished
and
their
And
Luke
ii.
12
Matt, xxviii.
14.
24.
Matt.
iv. 11.
Ib. ver. 5, 6.
Acts
i.
10,
u.
Luke
xxii. 43.
(320.)
38 1
And were not these things also mysterious, that the poor
idolatrous Gentiles should have such glad tidings proclaimed
to them ; and that he, who hud not saved himself should be
regarded as the Saviour of the whole world ?]
" was received
up into glory"
[The return of Jesus to his heavenly mansions
He
V.
is
geneperhaps the reference
rather is to the glorious reception which he met with
among
those who believed on hi in a they did not merely assent to
the truth of his gospel, but received him into their hearts with
most fervent love. " No sooner did they hear of him, than
they obeyed himV and accounted his service to be perfect
freedom and so unreserved was their surrender of themselves
to him, that they desired " every thought," as well as every
c
" to be
In short,
action,
brought into captivity" to his will
" counted all
for
the
but
things
dung
they
excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord ;" nor were their goods,
their reputation, their liberty, or their life, of any value, when
put in competition with his will, or when an opportunity was
rally
to: but
honour d
Such was the reception given him wherever his name was
" blessed themselves in
preached multitudes in every place
and " rejoiced in him with joy unspeakable'." And
what a glorious mystery was this that they should so highly
honour one who had been abhorred by all his own countrymen, and executed as the vilest of malefactors and that they
should feel such love to one whom they had never seen, as to
renounce for his sake all that their eyes had seen, and all that
is held dear
among men! This was wonderful indeed: yet,
wonderful as nt is, it is still daily experienced, and daily
offered to sacrifice
them
to his
mm V
manifested, by
We
all
that believe.]
important QUESTIONS ,
reception have you given to
What
i.
this
mystery?
[Are the great subjects of Christ's humiliation and glorydisregarded by you as matters of doubtful disputation ; or are
they entertained with that reverence which is due to such
mysterious truths ? Alas notwithstanding they are preached
!
among
a
members of
different
most
Phil.
iii.
7, 8.
f
Pet.
5.
8.
2 Cor. x. 5.
Ps.
l.xxii.
17.
382
(320.)
among
appearing.]
2.
mystery of godliness?
"
*
*
Tit.
ii.
TU
ii.
14.
11, ia.
383
APPENDIX.
CCCXXI. THE UNCONCERN OF MEN AMIDST
GOD'
CALLS TO REPENTANCE.
In that day did the Lord God of hosts
14.
call to zoeeping and to mourning, and to baldness, and to
:
girding with sackcloth and behold, joy and gladness, slaying
oxen, and killing sheep, eating fash, and drinking ivine :
let us eat and drink ; for to-morrow we shall die.
And it
Isai. xxii. 12
was revealed
in
TRUE religion
is
equally abhorrent from an atheistical
of
God's
contempt
providence, and a presumptuous re"
It teaches us neither to
liance on it.
trust in lying
The
of
the
the
of the
words, saying,
Lord,
temple
" temple
a
of
the
Lord
are
we
the
on
the
Lord,
;
temple
nor,
own
will."
was
It
Jews were
itself
them
I.
his heaviest
judgments.
express
repentance
[The shaving of the head, and cutting of the beard, and
putting on of sackcloth, were used among the Jews as indica-
b
Of themselves indeed, neither those nor any
ether actions, however significant, had any value before God
they
tions of sorrow
Jer. vii. 4.
3&*4
(321.)
This
is
But how
we
ministers?
little
Yes
attention
we pay
to
him
will
appear, if
consider
II.
are, alas
We
ing to God
[So often has God prospered our naval exertions, that we
almost universally overlook his providence, and ascribe our
success to our own superior skill and valour. Our hopes also
of future conquests are founded wholly on our own prowess.
We are active enough in making preparations; but are as
unmindful of God, as if we needed not his aid, nor were at
all dependent on his will.
For the truth of this assertion we
appeal to the public prints, and to the expressions of all with
whom we
2.
converse.]
We
still
live
in habits
sipation
[It is not intemperance and excess that is the object of
the prophet's reprehension, but an unsuitable gaiety of mind,
at a time when it became them to be humbling themselves in
And is not this the case with us amongst all
dirst and ashes.
ranks and orders of the community ? Doubtless the pressure
of the public burthens must impose restraints on many
but
still the
change in them is not the effect of a voluntary humiliation, but the reluctant fruit of irresistible necessity.]
:
and
c
Isai.
Mic.
i.
vi. 9.
l.xvi. 3.
i
Kings xxi. 17
'Awful visitations were always considered
Joel, Isaiali,
&c.
Joel
ii.
12.
29
in ibat
(321.)
385
and drink, for to-morrow we shall die." We indeed, havi nono information from God respecting the issue of public
affairs^
cannot imitate, with
to them, the
impiety of the Jews!
respect
But, in relation to infinitely more important matters, there is
as much profane scoffing amongst us, as
amongst them: the
declarations of God's word are set at
nought and they, who
most faithfully denounce God's judgments
against sin and
sinners, are most universally regarded either as
or
;
hypocrites
fanatics.]
Let us then, as
shew
to
it
becomes
us,
proceed with
all
fidelity
The
evil and
danger of such a state
can be more unsuitable to our condition ?
[What should we think of a child or servant that should
manifest such a spirit under our rebukes ? Does such conduct
then become us towards God, when he is contending with us,
and chastising us for our sins ? Yea, are we not as devoid
of humanity as of piety, while we feel no sympathy with
the thousands of our suffering fellow-creatures ? Well says
the prophet on a similar occasion, " Should we then make
mirth h ?" Surely it becomes us rather to " cry and howl" for
the miseries that are come upon us.]
What can be more offensive to God?
"
and is it
[The word
surely" is equivalent to an oath
a light thing which causes Jehovah to swear by his own life
and immortal perfections ? Is it a small matter that causes
" the Lord God of hosts k " to shut
up his tender mercies, and
III.
What
" never
Must not that be beyond measure
be purged" away ?
offensive to him, that can fill his breast with such " fiery
indignation ?" The sins that have brought down his chasbut an obstinacy under those
tisements are doubtless great
chastisements which are intended to reform us, is a sure
to swear, that the guilt of such or such an action shall
"
What
.]
its
consequences ?
[The nation cannot be delivered but by means of a nanor can any individual escape the eternal
tional repentance
wrath of God, but by means of his own personal repentIf there be only one impenitent transgressor in the
ance"1
whole kingdom, " God will search him out with candles/' in
"
order to
punish him"." Even in his present dispensations
:
God
h
k
1
Amos
6
iv. 12.
to 11.
VOL.
16.
Such
also
is
m Luke
III.
is
Heb.
very emphatical.
xiii. 3.
Zeph.
Cc
i.
j-a.
386
God
&C.
(321.)
Whether therefore we
decisions at the clay of judgment P.
consider our national or our personal danger, it becomes us
instantly to put away our unbelief and impenitence, and to
turn to God with the deepest contrition.]
ADDRESS
[It may be thought that the injunctions given to the
Jews, had respect to them rather than to ourselves. Let an
apostle then be heard in confirmation of the prophet; and let
us depart with a determination through grace to obey his
" Be
afflicted, and mourn and weep; let your laughter
voice;
be turned into mourning, and your joy into heaviness: humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God ; and he shall
lift
you upV'J
Amos
q
vi. i,
James
ix. 4, 5.
p Isa. v.
n,
and
12.
Ixv. 12
14.
CCCXX1I.
Isai. ix.
Ezek.
7.
iv. 9, 10.
13.
RICH as
excision
for
their
impenitence
The grounds of
his
I.
judgments
Upon
Matt. xi. 20, 21, 28.
Compare
15.
OUR IMPENITENCE,
&C.
387
individuals
[His most highly favoured people are not exempt from
chastisement While they have any sin unmortified, God will
not leave them altogether unpunished
Even the upright
Job had much dross which was to be purged in the furnace
of affliction d David also found much benefit arising from
his trials 6
And acknowledged them to have been tokens of
Upon
God's love and faithfulness'' Under the New Testament disHe " delivered
pensation God has had the same end in view
the incestuous man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh,
"
that his spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus g
And visited with bodily sickness many of those who had
profaned the Lord's supper, in order that they might not
Nor can we doubt but that
perish with the ungodly world
our troubles are sent for the same benevolent purpose Of
whatever kind they be, they are intended to purge away our
*
sin, and bring us nearer unto God
]
1'
nations
Upon
[When
their
for
Jiar
We
good
cannot precisely say what are the pecuwe have provoked the Majesty of
enormities by which
heaven
But
calamities
us, is
accomplished
day to enquire
chastisements have produced upon us?
evil
ways
In the nation
[Every reform
and
lives.
What
Cor. v. 5.
Heb.
xii. 10.
m Mic.
C C 2
vi.
9.
388
(322.)
any
serious
fasts
Because they do
altogether regardless of God's displeasure
not feel in their own persons the stroke of his rod, they are
indifferent about the calamities of others''
Many, like Ahaz,
have even increased in their iniquities since the commencement of our present troubles' They have hardened their
hearts and refused to receive correction, nor will they cry
when God binds them. T Nor is this peculiar to any one
8
Some are presumptuorder of people more than another
to
withstand
the arm of God l
our
of
power
ously boasting
Others, of whom better things might have been hoped, refuse
to unite even in the outward services of this day
(Have these
men never done any thing to increase our national guilt, that
they refuse to deprecate our national judgments ? Or ha~ve
they no occasion to implore mercy for themselves ?) To none
was the prophet's complaint ever more applicable than to
ourselves at this juncture u
]
1
In individuals
and the
we
Some
there are,
altar
"
trust,
Who
Who
effect]
D
Those
We
whom God
particularly notices in
" the
the text, are
lies."
Ezek. xxxiii. 6 8.
2 Chron. xxviii. 22.
Job xxxvi.
Jer. v. i, 4, 5.
Isai. i. 4
6.
Ver. 10.
Amos
Ezek. xx.
7.
vi. 6.
13.
389
We shall
OBSERVATIONS
1.
God
[He
is
we expect
Four times
are
we warned
that his
hand
is
stretched out
still
t:
without delay
3. If
we
return not to
will
unto you
z
b
d
f
all,
Kings
Fear HIM
and
e Jer. xviii. 8.
1
Luke
Heb.
xii. 11.
xiii. 3.
x. 31.
x. 4.
10. and
<z
Joel
c c 3
li.
12, 13.
3.
CCCXXIII.
39
Ps. cvi. 21
THERE
is
scarcely any sin more strongly reprobated
In the catalogue which
in the scripture than ingratitude
the apostle gives us of crimes committed by the Heathen
God
must be
in the
sight of
in
the text, we shall
the instance recorded
hateful
it
I.
as not to need
is
In improving
so well
known,
many words
Apply
existing circumstances
[We need not recal to your minds what great things God
has lately done for us also in Egypt d
Except in the history
of the Jewish nation, there is scarcely any victory recorded in
the annals of the world that was more glorious or complete
than that vouchsafed to us- Yet how have we requited the
Lord ? At first, like the Jews, we were willing to give God
the glory, and to sing his praise
but has not the impression
worn off? and have we not shamefully " forgotten our beneit
to
factor?"
a
Rom.
21.
Exod. xxxii. 8
after
i.
14.
(323.)
wax hot
against us
ascribe
it to
any thing but the intercessions of God's people, that his
wrath has not burst forth against us, as against JCorah and
his company, to destroy us utterly
Nor can we
"J
Deduce from
III.
1.
The duty
it
some
suitable observations
Observe
of secret intercession
[We
of
2.
we
e
C C
Jonah
Ezek.
Amos
vi.
iii.
10.
ix. 4, 6.
i, 6.
Zeph.
iii.
18.
OF INGRATITUDE. (323.)
392 THE EVIL AND DANGER
" God our Saviour k ?"
we expect if we should forget
Nor is it the intercession of others that shall ever prevail to
we must pray, every one of us for himself
avert it from us
Not but that mutual intercession may in "this respect be
;
productive
of great benefits
Heb.
ii.
3.
OF TRUE
PENITENCE.
Hos.
vi. 1.
Come, and
let
THE
who
The words
before us
to consider
I.
The
characteristic
A sense
in the
world;"
sheep going astray, every one to his own way," and that
"
they can never find happiness but in
returning to the
and
of
their
shepherd
bishop
souls."]
like
2.
Hos.
v. ult.
An
(324.)
An
2.
ment
acknowledgment of
affliction as
a just chastise-
tor sin
wounds
[When
delight
.]
all
[As
To
we
us,
II.
shall
proceed to state
to return to
penitent
God
may
take encou-
feel within
ourselves,
to heal us
himself without witness even among
but has shewn, by his goodness to the
;
evil and unthankful, that he is ever ready to exercise mercy.
But to us who have his revealed will, he has left no possibility
of doubt for " if he spared not his own Son, but delivered
i.
has not
the heathen world
[God
left
him
b
Song
v. 6. 8.
394
him up
us
all
for us all,
things?"
(324.)
word
is filled,
From
2.
in the
wounds he has
inflicted
it
which we have
on us
God
in
his
afflictions,
Whether
way.
he
will
his troubles
APPLICATION
i
To
those
who have
deserted
God
pent
f
Ver.
e
1
2.
Song
xiii.
i.
4.
23.
Matt. xi. 28.
Judg.
Zech.
viii.
John i. 41,45.
Heb. xii. 6.
21.
h
k Jer.
ii.
13.
OF TRUE PENITENCE.
(324.)
395
by
his stripes."]
To
those
[God does
"
who
find
it
V *]
Hos. xiv. 4. Lam. iii. 31, 32. Ps. xcvii. 11. and cxlvii. 3.
* If this were the
subject of a Fast Sermon, the APPLICATION
might be comprised in the following observations, i. The calamities
of the nation are manifest tokens of God's displeasure, and calls to
2. All the efforts of our rulers to heal our wounds will
repentance
be in vain, if we do not repent 3. A general turning unto God
would bring us speedy and effectual relief.
1
CCCXXV.
A CALL TO REPENTANCE.
Jer.
xiii.
the
15
17.
Lord hath
REPENTANCE
enforced
is
but more
The words
before us
to send
them
A CALL TO REPENTANCE.
396
(325.)
and they
into captivity in Babylon
considered as addressed to us, now that his
them
up
may
well be
hand
is lifted
we know,
for the
repent.
But the occasion, and the text itself, call rather for
shall therefore,
exhortation than discussion.
though
not without a due attention to the order of the words,
proceed to urge upon you the great, the seasonable, the
We
[Know
then,
delivered to
you
in his
O glorify
his
the secrets of
my
vile".
off,
Glorify
a
2 Cor.
Jam.
"-
'
i.
v.
20.
Thess.
ii.
13.
*
21.
and
Rom,
Josh.
xlii. 2. 6.
111.4.
g Ps.
'. i.
9.
A CALL TO REPENTANCE.
(325).
397
in the blood
To
more ."
But repentance may yet avert the storm, both from the
Numberless are the declanation, and from our own souls.
111
rations of
souls P: and we trust that there are many, who will lay
to heart the evils which ye are too proud to acknowledge, too
obdurate to deplore. But we intreat you to consider, Is there
one amongst us all, that is not a sinner before God q ? and does
own
not
k
Phil. iii. 8, 9.
* Isai. vi.
9, 10.
1
'
Joel
ii.
2, 3.
perhaps a true
A CALL TO REPENTANCE.
(325.)
tt
Gal.
10.
iii.
2 Tim.
ii.
26.
Jude
6.
* Isai.lxviii.
8, 10.
Jer. ix. i.
OF SINNERS.
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chamand shut thy doors about thee : hide thyself as it were
for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For
behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.
bers,
COD
provides
*
Amos
iii.
7.
Gen.
vi.
13, 14.
(326.)
399
d
provides them a retreat in the neighbouring mountains .
Thus he had decreed the destruction of Babylon; and
the preceding part of the chapter contains a hymn of triumph, which should be sung by his people on that occasion.
But, as there would be great danger of their being
involved in the common calamity, he apprizes them of
his intention, and exhorts them to hide themselves, till
the danger should be overpast.
It is not, however,
all
such occasions.
In discoursing
attention to
I.
on
this passage,
And
from thence he
is
we
shall
call
your
said to
come
when he
forth,"
to
visit
them with
his sore
judgments
*
!
But there
is
menV
"
'
an
d
If this
and
Mic. i. 3.
were the subject of a Past Sermon, the particular judgments that are deprecated, should be specified here as the tokens of
God's displeasure ; and should be dwelt upon at some length.
k Rom. ih
Acts in 21
*8.
Rona. ii. 5. 2 Pet. 111.7.
"
"'
a Pet. 111.3, 4.
Rom. ix. 22.
Acts xvii. 30.
Isai. Ivii. 15.
Ixiii. 15.
'
400
an end, and
all
summoned
(326.)
to his tribunal, to
The warning being of such universal and infinite importance, let us consider
The
II.
advice accompanying
it
in the text
whom
"
an hiding-place from
very prophet describes as
His person, work,
the wind, and a covert from the storm n ."
and offices are a security to his people, that " they shall never
perish, but shall have eternal life."
To him therefore we should flee by faith, and hide ourselves
from the impending judgments. As Noah entered into the
ark*, which was the appointed mean of delivering him from
the deluge, and as the Israelites shut themselves up in their
houses to escape the sword of the destroying angel *, so are we
to take refuge, as it were, in Christ, that the sword of divine
may not slay, or the deluge of God's wrath overjustice
J
this
"
1m
us.]
While we
listen
to the voice
of God,
we must
not
overlook
The
III.
If
Ps. xc.
i.
&
p
i.
'
7, 8.
Ivii. i.
laai. xxxii. 2.
Gen.
vii. 7.
Cor.
iv.
5.
Matt. vi.
Heb. vi. 18.
Exod. xii. 22, 28.
Ps. iv. 4.
6.
(326).
If
we were bidden
401
dungeon,
Did the
were to
be*
plural
z
b
VOL,
Ps. xxvii. 5.
Nah.
III.
i.
6.
Ib
Expd.
ix,
19,05.
402
(326.)
" Come,
thy"
flee, the
FEAR.
12
14.
Say ye not,
confederacy, to all them to
people shall say,
confederacy ; neither fear ye
their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself;
and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread : and he
Isai. viii.
whom
this
RELIGION,
more
times,
view
is
is
The
Chap.
vii. 2.
(32?.)
I.
We
fixed
on
the
[Christ
and
St. Peter,
11
we
In him
evil
is
[Christ
to consider the
text
II.
In seasons of
difficulty
ready to faint
is, it
[There
at this
time,
b
e
s
Compare
i
Pet.
iii.
Ps. xlvi.
Ps. xxvii. 3, 5.
14, 15.
i, 2.
D D
Rom.
e
ix. 33.
Rom.viii. i.
Rom.viii. 35
30.
(32?.)
them
.]
But
God
is
[Men
it
to its scabbard.
Now,
if
we do not trem-
fleets
we
If
trust
in
him he
will
liverance
mercy
to penitent nations.
we ought, and
And
if at this
really turned
from our
iniquities, he
nor need we
would appear for us. This he has promised
doubt but that he is both able and willing to perform it. At
all events, if the measure of our national iniquities be full, so
that God will no more be intreated for it, yet shall ise, be
screened from the evils that shall come upon it, or have such
consolation under them, as shall evince his truth and faithm
fulness
fast as
.]
APPLICATION
[Let us this day apply our minds to the consideration of
our personal and national sins, and turn with unfeigned peniLet us tremble on account of the temporal
tence unto God.
which
he
has inflicted, and the eternal judgments
judgments
which he has threatened. But let us not affix limits to his
power and grace. Let us rather enlarge our conceptions of
his goodness, in proportion as our need of his mercy may
seem to have increased. Then will he interpose both for our
national relief, and for our personal prosperity. He will make
" he is a buckler to them that trust in
it to appear, that
"
if he be for us, none can
him;" and that,
successfully be
against us."]
1
-
v,
When we had
Exod.
xviii.
to contend
405
CCCXXVIIF.
Now
it is
in
mine heart
to
make a
covenant with the Lord God of Isratl, that his farce wrath
sons, be not now negligent.
may turn away from us.
My
A TRULY
serving
God
pious
man
will not
be
satisfied
with
in his closet
all
who
We
The
day
I.
tion
may
But
in general
we may
say, that
God
is
greatly in-
censed against us
i. When our sins are multiplied against him
[Sin is invariably the object of God's abhorrence
nation
no iniquity,
tised without remorse
There
If
we look
may we
*
is
Heb.
find
v. 4.
into our
is
not prac-
What
k
Heb.
'
iii.
13.
D D 3
Hab.
i.
13. Ps. v. 5.
406
What ingratitude
sins
committed
deplore
and impenitence
for
What
what
(328.)
what contempt of
his Son,
have we not occasion to
And
shall not
When
2.
[God
love
his
But
of his wrath
spiritual judgments are a certain token
Blindness of mind, obduracy of heart, and obstinacy in sin,
6
are
inflicted
But
now
on us?
by temporal judgments chiefly that he punishes
it is
nations
It
f
against the Jews
And are not these multiplied upon our land at this time ?
Surely the displeasure of God can scarcely ever be more
strongly displayed, than it is in the calamities under which we
now groan ]
But that none may
we
shall
We
God
in
perpetual covenant
We
should
give
seriously
up
ourselves
to
God
as
his
redeemed people
And
d
5
Heb. xii.6.
Ver.
Gal.
8, 9.
fc
Heb.
viii.
6.
iii.
10.
(328.)
And
see
fit
intreat
him
to perfect us in
407
shall
God m
And recommends
.
a similar practice to
all
Christians of
n
]
every age and nation
Nor can we doubt of their acceptableness to God
[Hezekiah manifestly supposed that God would accept
him
in this duty
q
averting his displeasure
Not that we are to suppose that there is any thing meritorious in such an act
But, it tends, of itself, to the humiliation and confirmation
of our souls
And will be both accepted and remembered by our coveGod and Father
]
These means being at once so scriptural and so imT
nant
portant,
III.
we
shall
the adoption of
them
There
no time
for delay
"
[Many are negligent" at present in expectation of a
is
2 Chron. xv. 12
Isai. xliv. 5.
xii. i.
15.
Jer.
1.
4, 5.
k 2
Kings xxiii. 3.
m 2 Cor. viii.
5.
The
Rom.
Ezra
x. 3.
* Jer. iv.
4.
D P 4
text.
408
(328.)
But who can assure himself that lie shall be alive on the
morrow
Or that, if he be, he shall have an inclination to that from
s
is now averse
Or that God will grant him the aids of his Spirit, which are
now refused ?
The voice of God to every one is, Seek me to-day, while it
which he
is
called to-day
respect to the nation, who can tell how soon the cloud
that hangs over us may burst, and overwhelm us utterly ?
Let us follow the example of the repenting Ninevites"
If " it be io our hearts to make a covenant/' let it instantly
With
be done
of
If
we
the wrath of
we cannot hope
to escape
God
Who
him no longer
But, in the penitent language of the prophet, devote yourselves to his service
3. If
we
.J
heartily
engage
in this duty,
we have nothing
to fear
Unfaithfulness
*
Jam.
Ps.
fv.
14.
cxix.6o.
* Ps. xxxiv.
18, 19.
Heb.
iii.
13, 15.
Jonah
Isai.
Mai.
iii.
59.
xxvi. 13.
iii.
17.
(329.)
409
But found
all
behalf]
b
Jer.
xxxiv. 18
20.
CCCXXIX. THE
Eccl. v. 5. 2 Pet.
ii.
21.
Jude 24.
Kings
his
forth
hands towards
thy dwelling-place,
man
this
house
do,
and give
to
every
RELIGION
is
often thought to be an
But
it is
employment
who have
nothing
men
Never did Solomon appear more
God
He
set
And
ceeding generations
In this portion of his instructive prayer
we may
see
The
An
are comprised in
i
A deep
41
1.
(329.)
corruption
"
"
Every one" has some sin that more easily besets him
a mere acquaintance with this plague is sufficient
must know the depth and inveteracy or' our disorder
Our knowledge too must produce an unfeigned self-abhorrence
And a full conviction of our utter helplessness
Nor without this knowledge can we offer up acceptable
"
Not that
We
prayer
We
receive mercy
should not even be willing to accept of
We
to
mercy on God'*
terms
they prayed
That temple was typical of the Lord Jesus Christ c
"
In him " dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily
To him our eyes are therefore to be directed
We are to offer all our petitions to him, or in his name"
This regard to him is necessary to the acceptance of our
1-
prayersIt
is
through him
alone that
we gain
access
to
the
Deity
We cannot approach
way
Nor
Some understand " plague" as expressing some loathsome disor" sore " in the
der ; and the rather because it is translated
parallel
passage 2 Chron. vi. 29. This is the true sense of it when it relates
but here the heart is represented as the seat of this disto the body
This is confirmed
order, and therefore it must be understood of sin.
what
is said in the text, of God's knowing the heart.
by
m
b
A man, not sensible that he had subjected himself to capital punishment by breaking the laws of his country, would reject with indignation an offer of deliverance from an ignominious death but a selfcondemned criminal on the eve of his execution would receive such an
:
offer gladly.
c
bee John
pression
ii.
"
My name
Isai. xlv.
TEph.
ii.
22.
18.
Exod.
xxiii. 21.
can flow
On
41
down
HIM
answer
will
obtain
the
richest blessings
National
1.
[The passage
before us relates
to
nation
It
God
And teaches them how they ate to avert his wrath
Nor did God leave them in suspense about the issue
of such
humiliation
He declared in a vision to Solomon that his petitions were
k
accepted
The Jewish history affords many striking instances of deliverance vouchsafed to a repenting people
Nor can we doubt but that the same means would still be
crowned with the like success ra ]
'
Personal
"
2.
He who
we can
desire"
Forgiveness of sin
[Who more infamous and abandoned than that wo-
man
Yet
h
1
she, in humility
And received an
given"]
Peace
John i. 16.
Jam. iv. 3. Matt. xv.
k
-2
Chron.
vii.
12
8, 9.
Jam.
i.
6, 7.
14.
i John v. 14,
Luke vii. 38.
15.
Luke
vii.
37. 39.
* Ib.
47, 48, 50.
<
lieving
* Deliverance from
temporal troubles
conceive
cannot
greater temporal
[We
u
that endured by Jonah
when
manner*
to
Yet,
this
And
*
appearance irrecoverably
than
affliction
he prayed in
lost,
7
]
Paul
The
afflicted
saint
to
Lord
the
Jesus a
ultations
Renewal
image
Yet
An
*
effect
it
peaceful death
[Stephen died by the hands of cruel and bloodthirsty
enemies d
But he offered an humble and believing prayer to Christ 6
And his death was to him as a serene and peaceful sleep f ]
glorious immortality
died justly by the hands of the public executioner must have merited in ah high degree the wrath of
[He who
Gods
Nevertheless in his last hour he directed his eyes to Christ h
And that very day was he admitted with Christ to Paradise
APPLICATION
[Let none despair on account of the greatness of their
sins
Or of the judgments
them
*
1
e
f
ii.
37.
'
46.
Acts
vii.
Ib. 59.
Ib. 60.
u
x
Ib. 38.
Mb.
d
God
Acts
54.
Jonah
ii. i
Ib. 4. 7.
Ib. 10.
3.
* 2 Cor. xii.
7.
Ib. 8.
b
h
!
Ib. 9.
lb.
iii.
18.
(329-)
God
will suffer
f This will suffice for two Sermons, the first head being the subIf it form the ground
ject of one, and the second head of the other.
of one Sermon only, those particulars which are marked with an
asterisk* under the second head may be omitted.
CCCXXX. GOD
1 1
/ know the thoughts that I think towards
13.
you, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected
Then Khali ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray
end.
unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me,
andjind me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jer. xxix.
THE
sent
to Babylon
They at first despised his
a speedy return to
and
themselves
promised
chastening,
captive
I.
God
has
"
never think of
thoughts of peace"
shall all in
towards
due time
many who
him
[Even before the foundation of the world God determined to remedy the evils which he foresaw sin would bring
upon mankind When our first parents were ruined, and fled
fr,pm his face, besought them out a.nd communicated to them
his
G OD WILL BE
414
FOUND
(330.)
pour
down
his spirit
them
into a state
And have not we also reason
either possess or hope for is
to bring
These thoughts of
plished
[It may be a long time before his eternal counsels are
manifested by visible and correspondent acts But not one of
Paul was " a chosen
his purposes shall ever be frustrated
"
in
and
the
divine intentions,
vessel unto him,"
separated,
from his- mother's womb b :" but4iow long was he suffered to
go on in the most inveterate enmity against Christ and his
mad
career,
And thus
gratifying a foolish curiosity
ceived our first serious impressions, when
from desiring to fear God And it
tion, that many, who are yet dead
is
a comfortable reflec-
in
and
trespasses
sins,
"
are in the divine purpose
predestinated to the adoption of
one
ar
d
will
children V'
day be "heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ"
]
Nor
shall
his
word be
ever disappointed
[Improbable as the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon
God brought them out at the appointed time And as
he gave " them an expected end," so will he to all of us
If an ungodly man begin to look unto the Lord Jesus Christ
for repentance and remission of sins, he shall not look to him
If an afflicted or tempted soul flee to him for consoin vain
lation and succour, the desired aid shall not be withheld
Provided only we rely on his word, and not on any presumptuous imaginations of our own, we may rest assured that he
will interpose effectually on our behalf
]
was,
But however
may be
II.
*
c
i Tim. i. 9.
Luke xix. 4,
5, 9.
Acfs
ix. 15.
E^h.
i.
5.
Gal.
i.
They
15.
OF SINCERE WORSHIPPERS.
(330.)
II.
They must
415
God
his blessings
"
[This is the universal voice of scripture,
Ask, and ye
shall have"
Even where God most freely promises his bles-
"
sings, he
Israel to
still
Nevertheless I will be enquired of by
says,
"
do it for them e
We do not say that he never
deviates from this method of conveying his mercies
for
sometimes " he is found of them that sought him not, and
known to them that enquired not after him f :" But the
earnestness with which this duty of prayer is inculcated in
;
is
no
born infant
Nor
God
has pre-
have,
f
Dan.
ix.
24.
1
'
Isai. Ixv. i.
iv. 29.
41 6
&C.
(330.)
This subject
will
To humble
i.
the proud
God have
us:
his precepts,
it is
if
that
we
which we are
to his
him
know
his
that
own
and negligence ]
comfort the feeble-minded
folly, sloth,
To
3.
God
Continue
purposes
" Ye
to ask,
may
shall
me, when ye
shall find
whole heart
and you
have
for
"
me
* See also
Eph.
i.
1 1.
and
Phil.
ii.
13.
with your
CCCXXXI.
417
12.
He saved them from the hand of him that
hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the
enemy.
And the waters covered their enemies : there was not one
Ps. cvi. 10
of
them
left.
GRATITUDE
his z&ords,
is
and sang
his praise.
a duty
universally
approved
Every one sees the propriety of acknowledging personal
obligations
Nor
it less incumbent on us to
be thankful for
on
in
national
conferred
our
us
blessings
capacity
The words before us record the conduct of the Israel-
is
when a
them
ites
May we be as devoutly,
while
I.
signal deliverance
to
we consider
in
a state of extreme
danger and
distress
Red
Sea,
in
Egvpt
by
tiiev
encamped by the
iu;passable mountains
and
morasses
with
all
his
hosts
Nor doubted
They,
to all appearance,
self-defence
And
in this situation
But
God
deli-
verance
He made
He
Vo L.
III.
But,
4l8
(331.)
But, when
manifested to them
The
II.
effects
produced by it
They had shewed themselves an ungrateful and unbe-
lieving people
But now, for
racles
renewed
their
Nor
lief
again
2.
God
They sang
his praise
However
therefore they
might
pity
the individuals
who
IMPROVEMENT
i. Let us endeavour to
get our minds duly impressed
with the temporal deliverances vouchsafed to us as a
nation
acknowledgments
2
Had
(331.)
US.
419
Had
mercy
Let us plead the promises he has made to all penitent and
believing people
And let us, in faith and penitence, expect the accomplishment of his word ]
2.
for the
deliverance
for
us
as
individuals
spiritual
wrought
[Our danger from the broken law was far greater than
way
for us
if
God had
not
own Son
And
hope
Then
shall
every fresh
victory
be a pledge of future
triumphs
And
eternal praise.]
CCCXXXII.
Ps. cxxiv.
8.
now may
Israel
THE
This Psalm
November.
is
E E 2
the
ffth of
TJ-IE Psalmist,
after
either
from
foreisri
O
'
m
t
itself
dous
irresistible
tremen-
II.
Our duty
arising
from
in
is
is
here cele]
it
two things
[This
comprised
Gratitude The language of all our hearts should be,
" Blessed be the Lord f "
We should in all future difficulties hope and
2. Affiance
trust in God as our almighty Protector 5
]
1.
APPLICATION
[However thankful we may be
we must not
The number
is
itself (the
principles
which
421
CCCXXXIII.
it
shall
be light.
are obscure in
agreed
will elucidate
We shall
point out
I.
to,
it
evi-
dently refers to
The
millennial period
[Before the gospel shall universally prevail, there will be
a season
b
''
Zech.
xiii. i.
Compare Acts
i.
9, 12.
Ver. 6.
with ver.
4.
E E 3
422
(333.)
a season of great darkness in the church of Christ. By whatever it may be accomplished, whether hy means of infidelity
to expect that there will
01 Popish superstition, we are
taught
be a dreadful defection from the faith of the gospel, as well as
e
But
a general prevalence of iniquity throughout the world
the
shall
a
is
darkness
while
even
then,
people,
covering
gross
and
one
be
the
arise
world,
bright
day
upon
suddenly
light
f
The church itself shall be quite
visible in either hemisphere
astonished at the suddenness of the change, which will pass
like lightning from one end of the world even to the other g ,
insomuch that accommodations will be w anted for the multi.
But
this
like
prophecy,
.]
numberless others,
may be
and
different sea-
apostolic
writers
we may
properly affirm that they are frequently accomplished in the souls of men ;
i
The
seemed
apostle Paul
God
to
also
f
h
1
2 Thess.
Dan
ii.
xi. 3-2
Isai. Ix.
8.
3,
may
36.
3.
Matt. xxiv. 10
14.
what
Tin), iv. i.
Perhaps
is
past.
18
23.
with Matt.
If this
(533.)
423
[Deep
We
i
may IMPROVE
this subject
For caution
his
and
a
subject ourselves to so great
The word of God calls upon us to turn to him without
risk.
x
Let us consider, that with respect to the continuance
delay
of our lives, or to the continued offers of divine grace, it
(i
may be evening already. Surely with many of us the day
y
of
out
awake
that
we
it
time
is far
and
is
sleep ."
spent ;
high
z
Let us then pray that the day-star may arise in our hearts ,
in
and that instead of having our lamp extinguished
darkness,
" a
our darkness be as
light may arise to us in obscurity, and
God
forbid that
we should ever
the noon-day
1
."]
m Matt,
Ps.
Job
Amos
xlii. 6, 7. Ixxvii. i
vi. 4. et passim.
Rom.
viii. 9,
10.
9. Ixxxviii. 3
'
Ps. cxvi. 3
Ps. cxii. 4.
z 2 Pet.
i.
E4
19.
xxvii. 44.
p Isai. xli.
17, 18.
7.
6.
14
Job
10.
16. cii. i
xlii.
12
Heb.
Isai. Iviii.
Hi. 7, 8.
10.
424
(333.)
Fcr encouragement
2.
[We
we may
yet experience
trust in the
Lord shall never he confounded. God has promised that our
b
He does indeed someextremity shall he his opportunity
times bring his people into straits on purpose that he may be
the more magnified in their deliverance c
If then the vision
ever
so
let
us
in
wait,
for
certain
it,
tarry
expectation
long,
that it shall come at last d
Let us trust in God even though our difficulties should
increase to ever so great a degree e yea, in humble dependence
on his promise, let us say, Though he slay me, yet will I trust
in this world.
him
in
.]
Deut..xxxii. 36-
Mic.
Hab.
Hab.
ii.
3.
CCCXXXIV.
GOD'S
iv. 10.
iii.
Exod.
17, 18.
xiv. 10
f
14. Isai.
Job
xiii.
li.
10.
15.
li.
5. Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God,
of the Lord of hosts though their land was Jilted with sin
against the Holy One of Israel.
Jer.
THE
gether extirpated
in* this
From
I.
these words
we
The
i
"
against
GOD'S MERCY,
(334.)
AND OUR
SINFULNESS.
425
"
God
against us
[Since a sight of others' sins rarely begets any true humieach of us in particular search out his own
Let our thoughts, words, and actions be strictly scrutinized
Let those sins which are more immediately against God, be
enquired into ; our pride, our impenitence, our unbelief, our
ingratitude for temporal blessings, and especially for the unspeakable gift of God's dear Son ; our obstinate resistance of
God's holy Spirit, together with all our neglect of duties, or
our coldness in the performance of them ; let these be counted
up, and be set in order before us and the very best of men
will see cause for the deepest' humiliation ; yea, we shall
wonder that we have not long since been made like to Sodom
liation in us, let
and Gomorrah
The
mercies
Justly have
our
God
sins, let
us contrast with
has vouchsafed to us
we deserved
to
be entirely abandoned by
God
*
f
Ps.
li.
4.
Sam.
GOD'S MERCY,
426
AND OUR
SINFULNESS.
(334.)
ADDRESS
Let the long-suffering of
i.
God
be gratefully acknow-
ledged
[Wed should
salvation
praise
."
Let
it
salvation
}
d
CCCXXXV.
2 Pet.
iii.
15.
Ps. cvii. 8, 9.
Oh that men zoould praise the Lord for his
goodness, and for his wonderful works unto the children
of men! for he satisfieth the longing soul, and fillet h the
soul with goodness.
AMONG
When
they have been renewed by the Holy Spirit.
once we have " tasted that the Lord is gracious," and
been impressed with a sense of redeeming love, we shall
view the goodness of God in all his dispensations ; and,
not only glorify him ourselves, but earnestly desire that
all should render him the honc-ur due unto his name.
This
till
(335.)
427
The duty
factor,
An
is
important duty
Hence
deportment, more exalted privileges
it is, that thirteen times in the space of six short verses, David
renews his exhortations to everv living creature to praise the
Lord
2.
.]
delightful duty
[Praise necessarily presupposes an elevated state of mind :
in fact, it is only the external expression whereby a soul,
filled with admiration and gratitude, gives vent to its feelings.
It is an exercise of which the glorified saints and angels are
never weary f ; and in which we enjoy a foretaste of heaven
Words can scarcely convey a more sublime
itself g
idea of this employment, than those by which David describes
h
In this view he strongly reits effects upon the soul
commends
other/as
"
it
it
to us,
to
each
3.
a i Thess. v. 18.
Eph. v. 20.
b It is the
strongest mark of an
ungodly state,
Rom.
i.
A
21
much
;
and a
p^a
9.
* Ps. Ixiii.
5.
Ps. cxlvii. i.
428
(336.)
as we might expect.
Many, alas! live at so great a
distance from God, that they can scarcely ever rise above a
petition for mercy, or, at most, a sense of thankfulness that he
has not utterly cast them off. They cannot soar to a contemplation of the divine perfections, or of the excellency of
Christ, or of the blessedness of those mansions that areprepared
for them.
They have so much of the world in their hearts,
and so little faith, that they cannot realize their principles, or
Instead of cultiglorify God in any measure as they ought.
k
vating the devout spirit of David , they rest satisfied in a
ment
excellent greatness
"]
II.
There
is
reasons of
nothing that
may
it
not in
In the
the wonderful
m Ps. cl. 2.
J
Ps. cxxxix. 6.
Ps. Ixiii. 3, 4. and cxix. 164.
In proof of this we need only look back to the slaughters and
massacres, the rapes and ravages, and all the other horrors of the
k
"
French Revolution.
(335.)
429
not have perpetrated many more evils than he has, if God had
not imposed an invisible restraint upon us, and diverted us
from our purpose ?
But on this occasion we must particularly call to mind the
happy termination.]
and
"
ADDRESS
i.
future happiness
praise
God
at all
How
6; of Laban, Gen.
p
Ver. 43.
430
(335.)
an ox or an
ass
employment.]
Those who
2.
desire
and endeavour
[While some
to praise
him
Oh
enjoy
and rejoicing? Perhaps they pore over
ing instead of in joy
their own corruptions without contemplating the divine attributes they look at themselves more than at Christ they
consider their own wants; but overlook the Lord's promises:
without adverting to past
they anticipate future difficulties,
in short, they cannot praise God as they would
deliverances
wish, because they are forgetful of those benefits which are
Let all such persons
the occasions and grounds of praise.
then be aware of their error. Let them begin this clay the
the long-neglected work. Let them
important, the delightful,
unite in praising God for his mercies, whether public jor per:
To
all
i Isai.
r
i.
3.
Ps. xlvii. 6, 7.
OF
THANKFULNESS FOR
GOD's
MERCIES.
Zeph. iii. 14, 15. Sing, O daughter of Zion shout, O Israel;
be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O datighter of Jerusalem.
The Lord hath taken way thy judgments.
;
THE
much
more
(356.)
431
must the removal of his paternal chastisements be regarded as aground of praise and
thanksgiving
The exhortation before us speaks to this
effect*; and
more
therefore
apparently relating
to past events, were used in the
prophetic manner to
declare things which should be accomplished at a future
period, namely, the restoration of the Jews from their
captivity in Babylon,
in the latter day.
The judgments
and
their conversion to
Christianity
*
.
2.
Temporal
Spiritual
judgments
amongst
God
s
already effected .]
While the prophet thus sets before us the grounds of
thankfulness, he strongly intimates also
II.
a
The
432
The manner
II.
in
(336.)
it
is
In their nature
become
11
That, however, which both our temporal and spiritual mercies most demand, is a thankful heart. It is by this exclusively
that we are to make our acknowledgments for spiritual mercies
and, in comparison of this, all outward demonstrations
of joy are vain, yea, even hateful in the sight of God.]
:
In their degree
[The deliverances which we have been now considering,
Even those of a temporal
are great beyond all conception.
But those
nature can scarcely be estimated too highly
which have been vouchsafed to our souls, what words can
adequately express them or what imagination can fully comprehend them ? Doubtlass then the prophet's exhortation,
animated as it is, requires no more of us than the occasion
We should " sing, and shout, and rejoice
justly demands.
with all our hearts." Such should ever be the frame of our
minds for though our temporal blessings are only occasional,
our spiritual mercies are renewed day by day they never wax
old
nor should the remembrance of them be ever effaced
from our minds: " the sacrifices of praise should be offered
up continually ;" and the fire that kindles them on the altar
of our hearts, be never suffered to go out" .]
2.
'
We
will
not
conclude
without
some ADDITIONAL
IMPROVEMENT
i.
For caution
God
may
inflict
if
we
h
1 Cor. x. 27.
lleb. xiji. 15.
Esth.
m Lev.
ix. 22.
vi. 13.
Gen. xxi.
8.
'
(336.)
433
for
q
.]
For reproof
[Many, it is to be
eternity.]
3.
For encouragement
calamities: and
we
trust that
p
*
CCCXXXVII. TRUST
IN GOD
RECOMMENDED.
Ps. xxi. 7.
THERE
is
It
434
composure under
and dangers
But this he cannot possess, unless he repose
It is his privilege to enjoy
(33?.)
all diffi-
culties
fidence in
his con-
God
any
man
But
in the midst
of
all
maintained a
full
assurance of
divine protection
He records his experience in the words before us
We shall
consider them
According to
I.
their original
import
Mor feared
to
encounter him,
who filled
all
with terror 6
him
to
"
But, on the whole, he was
strong in faith, giving glory
"
God
Nor was he
less sensible
of his
own
insufficiency
when he
was a king
He
still
e
made
the
Most High
his
only
and
continual
refuge
"
moved
greatly
But these only served
faithfulness of his God Si
more
fully to
In a prophetkfll sense
the
Christ
[The
*
c
Sam.
Ib. xxvii. i.
e
(
4.
(33?.)
435
Mes-
to the
siah
Christ
is
that
"
"
King
who was
raised to
sit
of David"
And,
trust in
He
God
good thing,
so
was he eminent
for
"
through weakness
But he soon shewed how vain were the attempts of his
adversaries
itself
captive
And he
feet"]
will in
due season
<e
put
all
enemies under
his
sets before us
his
an instruc-
tive
example
But we may consider
it
further
II.
The
solemnities of this
of the text
We
is
may
be accomplished
[The religious
to a nation
in
him
conduct of kings
is
is
of great importance
others
them
How
h
1
Lukei. 32.
John
xi. 8.
m This was
preached on occasion of
6,
F F 2
&
436
(33?.)
How much
offered to
manifested towards us
And
if
we
We say
moved
that
It is certain
we deserve
upon us
But we shall not be given up
fall
to ruin if
we
cry unto
God
for help
To
Much
as
we
God's protection
We all
And,
need to
if
we
vail against
do,
trust in the
promises
" the
gates of
made
hell shall
to us in
him
us"
led captive
"
his blood
by our
lusts,
" we
shall
shall be
us
Sooner
fail
shall
of accomplishment'
APPLICATION
all
ings
in
God
trust in
God, when
in reality
all
we
crea-
ture-con S deuce
It
? Jer. xviii.
7, 8.
(337.)
437
It also
And
in
And
in every difficulty,
him
Thus
And
God
for the
temporal or
spiritual,
shall
be
eternity
mercies
we
confide in
present troubles
faithfulness
to all
2.
And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto
Hear
The
me,
Asa, and all Jndah and Benjamin
him,
ye
Lord is with you while ye be with him and if ye seek him,
he will he found of you: but if ye, forsake him } he will
Chron. xv.
forsake you.
AS
a season of affliction
in
it
When Asa
his victorious
army
not to salute him with fulsome compliments, but to impress upon his mind a salutary admonition.
In this concise and pointed address we see
Tiie rule of God's procedure
is not
necessarily bound by any rules for he both
"
and
does, according to his own will
may do,
actually
in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of
J.
God
the earth
"
to himself
i
him according
to
(338.)
and their
as they were obedient or disobedient to his word
whole history may serve to illustrate the correspondence there
was between their dealings towards him, and his towards
:
them a
on this head
Indeed,
peculiar jealousy
In the communications of
his
grace
O
him
Who
amongst
On
Who
not
a
See this exemplified in Asa, i Chrou. xiv. 5
7, 11, 12. andxv.
10
10. & xx.3_ 30.
15, 19. withxvi. 7
g;inJehosaphat, xvii.
with xix. 2. & xx. 35
37 ; in Joash, xxi\, 20.
b
Compare Ezek. xviii. 24 29. with Lev. xxvi. 3 45. and
Deut. xxxi. 16, 17.
36,
Ps. Ixxiii. 3
14.
(338.)
not
of his Spirit both in public and private ordinances; and perhaps left him for a season to the power and influence of his
own corruptions? We know indeed that God has said, he
6
and we believe he will
will not finally cast off his people
"
"
visit them with the rod
not we believe he will
till he has
f
with
them
back
to
him
contrition
but as long
deep
brought
:
To
us consider
let
The
II.
universal importance of
The Prophet
it
a most solemn manner called the attention both of the king and all his army to the subject
before us
intimating thereby, that there were none who
were not interested in it, nor any occasion when the consideration of it would not be useful to their souls.
It is suited to us
in
In prosperity
l.
[Of
11
strong,
fat,
was
lifted
ries,
Strange as
it
may seem,
even the manifestations of God's love to the soul are calculated
to puff us up with pride, if we have not some thorn in the
flesh given us to counteract this evil tendency, and to keep us
from abusing the divine mercies k
The more sail a ship car-
up
it
The
requires.
likely to render
him
careless
and
secure, as
e
1
Sam.
xii. 2-2.
Heb.
Ixxxix. 30
35.
2 Chron. xxvi. 5, 16.
1's.
Isai. liv.
xiii. 5.
Ilab.i. 16.
10.
h
k
F F
if
h.m.
Similar admonitions are also given to us, to countenict the
ot our hearts.
"Be not high-minded, but fear 1 ."
" Let him that thinkelh he
standeth, take heed lest he fall "."
" Blessed is the man that feareth
always"." Even the great
to be a chosen vessel
he
himself
knew
himself,
though
Apostle
unto God, yet felt the necessity of" keeping under his body,
and bringing it into subjection, lest, after having preached to
Let us
others, he himself should become a cast-away ."
therefore exercise the same caution ; and, whether we rejoice
on account of national or personal mercies, " rejoice with
pride
trembling
P."]
In adversity
[As in prosperous circumstances we need to be guarded
against presumption, so in heavy trials we need to be cautioned
against despondency. If we appear to be forsaken of our God,
we are apt to think that he has altogether " shut up his tender mercies, and will be favourable to us no more
But in
the words before us we see, that no nation or individual can
be in so low a state, but that their recovery is certain if they
only wait upon God. He will assuredly be found of them
that seek him yea, at the very time that they perhaps are
" is
bewailing his absence, he
actually present with them"
working in them that very contrition, and enabling them to
wait upon him, when their unassisted nature would have fainted
2.
in despair.
Let every one then apply to himself the text in this view.
Are we ignorant ? let us look to God for the teachings of his
Spirit. Are we guilty ? let us cry to him for remission through
the blood of Christ.
Are we in any strait or difficulty what? Our
way is clear; let us wait upon God in assured
expectation of succour and support. This promise shall never
r
3
fail us
though we had a million of men or devils to en"
more than conquerors*." "Believe
counter, we should be
in the Lord ; so shall ye be established : believe his prophets ;
ever
*
r
Rom.
i
Heb.
"
-2
xt. 6.
Cor. x. 12.
f Ps.
'
ii.
"
2 Chron. xiv. 9.
11.
'
Rom.
viii.
g.
37.
The
441
CCCXXXIX.
1
SENSE
Sum.
xii.
way.
you.
A ZEAL
injuries received,
who have
His words
442
(339.)
text
While
excused,
Many, who
feel
is
both right
1 Chrcm. xxv.
c
i
2.
Chron. xxviii. 9.
e
Matt.
vii.
13, 14.
(339.)
443
Let none however imagine that an}' lawful calling is an impediment to religion Adam even in Paradise had work assigned
him by God himself, as being no less subservient to the welfare
f
The truth is,
of his soul than to the health of his body
"
"
nor
needful
is
the
one
that religion
though, like
thing
Samuel or David, we had a kingdom to govern, could we
plead any exemption on account of the multiplicity or importance of our engagements: the word of God to every living
creature is, " Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this
g"
is the whole duty of man
]
:
it,
let
also
be
us consider
II.
for their
deliverance from Egypt, their preservation in the wilderness, their investiture in the promised land, and the many
The temporal
will
enjoy in
The
spiritual
we should but
ill
Gen.
ii.
15.
giving,
opened.
the
special
occasions
for
thankfulness
should
here
be
444
we
which
God
how
easy,
how
simple,
how
to our
lost
we
and advance
but
how we may
while we
glorify his
name,
And
his interests
v.
14.
Rom.
xii. i.
John
iii.
18.
if it
CCCXL.
445
TIONS TO LOVE
ye love
the
MUCH
And
made
[We may
Numb.
xiv.
9.
Matt.
vii.
7.
2 Chron.
vii.
14.
ARE
(340.)
which
owed
their
circumstances
origin to him alone
And,
while these mark his providential care, they compel us to
" it is he who
d "
fighteth for us
acknowledge that
}
Nor are we without a hope, that his mercies to us
have been sent in accomplishment of his promise
[Many have mourned over the troubles of the land, and
have made earnest intercession with God on our behalf And
44^
though there
be-
it
We
time of trouble
On
this
ber them
Nor
-,,
illustrated
c
by Ps. xliv.
3.
Ps. cxvi. i.
Ps. xviii.
Ib.
i.
with the
title
of the Psalm.
(340.)
This subject
may
447
teach us
Where
[If
we look
'
"
He
by many or by few
can, save
superior
"
Were we ever
so
our
to
Sennacherib k ;
he could render us victorious
And it is certain that if we
" walk in
pride, he will abase" us, but if we humbly seek his
aid, he will support and deliver us
]
1
Where
Eph.
vi. 13.
CCCXLI.
2
Thess.
iii.
16.
'
Isai. x.
8-
Ps. cxv.
19.
i.
Ib. ver. 4.
i
Now
the
Lord of peace
always by
all means.
in a
448
remonstrances of those
advise
qualified to
it
(341.)
authorized and
would be necessary to cut off
such a corrupt member from the church, and to cease
from all needless or familiar intercourse with him, till he
a
But these are only
had repented of his wickedness
extreme cases, where milder means will not avail. As a
should strive to the utmost to walk in
general rule, we
those who are without, and them that
towards
both
peace
him,
the church
the disposition of our hearts
should exactly accord with the desire contained in the
are within,
words before
us.
The
relating
To
I.
nations
of war:
it
mankind into ferocious beasts, that seek only to overpower and destroy each other. It spreads desolation over
whole countries. It cuts off thousands, and ten thousands in
a day and turns that into an occasion of joy and triumph,
which ought rather to overwhelm us with distress and anguish.
Even those who are not actively engaged with the enemy, are
the burthens which are imposed
yet no light sufferers through
Peace is, under God, the remedy of all
to support the war.
turns
these evils not that it can ever repair the losses that have
been sustained ; but it prevents the progress of these evils, and
restores to the world those friendly and commercial relations
:
but know
11
.
how
to
that
appreciate
who
parties
*
Ver. 14.
b
e
c
Mic. iv. 3, 4.
Prov. xxi. i.
2 Chron. xv. 6. with Ps. cxlvii. 14.
(341.)
have agreed
parties
to
their
compose
449
differences,
there
II.
To
societies
is
peace.
But here again recurs the question, Who shall so govern
the sinful passions of men as to bring them into habitual sub>
Who
shall
prefer,
Happy are the societies, the families, the churches, that are
governed by such a spirit. Happy indeed if they could
**
always" enjoy uninterrupted harmony It is the interest of all
!
members of a body
to forget, as
it
and
f
i
h
k
Cor.
Eph.
The
i.
ji.
10.
14
and
17.
iii.
and
3.
!
iv. 3.
Phil.
ii.
Jsai. xi.
4.
&
i Cor. x. 24.
9,
poured upon the head of our great high priest, shall descend to the skirts othis clothing, Ps. cxxxiii. \, 2.
oil
VOL.
III.
450
(341.)
As no means would he
left
III.
To
individuals
in esteeming
it.
We
We
when he
passeth
By
m Rom.
xiv. 19.
xxvi.
3, 4.
Eph.
iv. 16".
ii.
12
15.
by
"
fervent intercession,
9 Isai. ix. 6.
r
John xiv.27.
Ps. Ixxxv. 8.
(341.)
all
Jill/*
and ror ever.
passeth
"
it
451
always"
J *
in life ) in
* *
deatli,
always
By
by
"."]
Phil. iv. 6, 7.
Ivii. 1921.;
by fervent prayer,
by glorifying God with our substance, Isai. Iviii.
711.
CCCXLII.
RECOVERY.
tee will
of
to save me:
therefore
the stringed instruments, all t/ie
days
our lift, in the house of the Lord,
TO
sing
my songs to
make
national mercies
testified
their joy
on account of any
made some
or
cause
for
greater
thankfulness than that which we are now assembled to
commemorate, England scarce ever saw.
Sovereign,
who for his amiable qualities in domestic life stands
almost unrivalled ; a sovereign, who is truly the father of
his people ; a sovereign, who is, if I may so speak, the
idol of the nation which he governs, is restored to health
from the most afflictive of all disorders, and to the
offered sacrifices
to their honour.
deities,
we should
HEZEKIAH'S THANKSGIVING
452
in
and,
he
(342.)
of death,
as he tells us,
answer to his prayer, was delivered from
was brought,
"
into
the dust
it,
name unto my
brethren-,
in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye
that fear the Lord praise him ; all ye, the seed of Jacoh,
him and fear him all ye the seed of Israel for
said,
glorify
the
I.
Lord"
we
will consider
perity
(342.)
453
illness,
HEZEKIAH'S THANKSGIVING
454
(342.)
But we
shall
of the text,
themselves
if
we
as
(342.)
455
of the
II.
The
use
To
particulars.
ft holds good in the persons who zvere ill.
Hezekiah, you
have heard, was one of the most illustrious kings that ever
sat upon the Jewish throne the glory of God and the welfare
of his people were ever near his heart. He set a good example
to all hi* subjects, and ardently desired to see them no less
obedient to their God than loyal to himself: he published his'
edicts prohibiting whatever was offensive to God, and enforcing the observance of the divine laws : in short, if you
would know his character, see it drawn by the inspired penman,
" Thus did Hezekiah
2 Chron. xxxi. 20, 21.
throughout all
which was good, and right, and
that
and
Judah,
wrought
and in every work that he
truth before the Lord his God
began in the service of the house of God, and in the Jaw,
and in the commandments to seek his God, he did it with all
Now compare that of our gracious
his heart and prospered."
Sovereign: he has but limited power, and therefore cannot
effect all he would ; but what he would do, if he were able,
we see by the proclamation which was not long since issued.
But this is a part of our subject on which it would not be
proper to say much, nor is it needful that we should for we
trust his excellent qualities are too deeply engraven in all our
hearts to need any repetition of them from this place
But further The resemblance holds good in the probable
Hezekiah was sick nigh unto
consequences of their illness
death, so that till his recovery he was utterly incapacitated
If he had been left in the
for the business of the nation.
slate he was, or had been taken away, his subjects would have
What they would have suffered
suffered an irreparable loss.
we may judge in part from what they did actually suffer, when
Manasses the son of Hezekiah came to the throne : idolatry
was re-established throughout the kingdom ; and God, wearied
as it were with the greatness of their provocations, gave them
over, together with Manasses their king, into the hands
of their Babylonish enemies. What would have been the
:
consequence
*
March
15th, 1789.
HEZEKIAH'S THANKSGIVING
456
(342.)
We
We
is
lives.
Once more
God vouchsafed
in the readiness
Hezekiah's and
was answered before Isaiah had gone out into
the middle court and in three more days the cure was effected.
So has it been with respect to the cure vouchsafed unto
u'ith
which
Isaiah's prayer
our
(342.)
457
Now
2.
To
redemp-
tion
[We
all
what
ore infected with a mortal disease ; " and the whole heart is
faint," that is, the people at large, without any exception,
" from the sole of the foot
are dying of the same malady
even to the head there is no soundness in us, but wounds, and
bruises, and putrifying sores/' Sin is this deadly disorder,
and, unless we be recovered from it, the consequence must be
dreadful to us all.
are not left to conjecture what this
may be ; we know ; we know for certain ; we know that no
temporal calamity whatever can be compared with it: we
know that our disorder, if not speedily cured, must issue in
everlasting death ; in an everlasting separation of soul and
body from God, and in an everlasting suffering of divine vengeance. But we are fully warranted to say with Hezekiah ia
the text, " the Lord is ready to save us." Of all the thousands
and tens of thousands who came to our Lord for healing when
nor did
he was on earth, not so much as one applied in vain
ever any one call upon him for spiritual healing without expe" the same
yesriencing his readiness to save. And is he not
:
We
Vo L.
Ill,
?'*
Would
HH
come
dovva
4j8
down from
HEZEKlAlfs THANKSGIVING
(342.)
heaven,
if
he would
flourish in
We
no
%vill
use
all
means
in vain,
that
if
459
SERMON".
[The Author had at one time thought of inserting a considerable number of short sketches ; but he relinquished the idea,
from an apprehension that they would not afford sufficient aid
to those, zvhose more immediate benefit he comulted.
The folAnalysis is added as a specimen.]
lowing
PUBLIC
proper
The
king's recovery
is
this
time
I.
In which observe
Here notice
and
dread
of approaching death
[Hezekiah's
His character, as most concerned for God's glory and the
illness,
national warfare-
The
The
II.
use
to
Our
yent
2.
fer-
mercies of redemption
The Lord is ready to heal USgrand mean of recovery All should rejoice ;
that the Lord is ready to save; The recovered, that
PRAYER
universal
is .the
The sick,
he ipeu, and
still isf
ready
USD OF
VOL. in.
Luke Hansard
&
Sons,
is
Form L9-42m-8,'49(B5573)444
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