nant, ordered in all things and sure: for this is all Page. SERMON XVII. AND XVIII. SERMONS, &c. SERMON I. 1 COR: X. 31. “WHETHER THEREFORE YE EAT OR DRINK, OR WHATSOEVER YE DO, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD." I HAVE often had occasion to observe that the internal glories of the Christian religion far eclipse its external evidences. Here is a text that must have God for its author. It is an absolute impossibility, in the very nature of things, that this text should have come from finite being. I wish to impress the truth of Scripture on the minds of my young hearers, especially in the age in which we live, an age in which hosts of enemies are assailing the truth of B God from every quarter. Buy the truth and sell it not, my dear young friends; be determined to be possessed of it though it should cost you your lives. The apostle is writing on the lovely spirit of Christianity, and he says in the 27th verse, 66 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not, for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience' sake: for the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof." Here we see the delicacy with which we ought to treat each other: we should be very careful not to lacerate the feelings or wound the consciences of others; and be prepared to make any sacrifice whatever, rather than be the occasion of leading a brother or sister into sin. "Conscience, I say, not thine own but of the other; for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I, by grace, be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?" And then he adds, "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Again I say, it is an absolute impossibility in the very nature of things, that this text could come from any one but God. Do all-to gratify yourselves? No-do all to the glory of God! and eventually and for ever, you will find in this the sweetest and the richest self-gratification. God means to gratify his family eventually with every thing with which he gratifies himself, This is the end He has in view in the salvation of a chosen people. I shall now, in the first place, I. Contrast this principle with what naturally inhabits our own bosoms; and we shall then be fully convinced that this text must have God for its author. Man is naturally influenced by a principle which is wholly opposed to it-"All seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ." And 1 now embrace the opportunity (as I always shall) of dwelling on the glories of Jesus Christ. 1 Phil: ii. 21. T Could this be said, if CHRIST were not God over all, blessed for ever? I am exquisitely pained sometimes, when I think of Socinians. I remember once meeting one of their most celebrated ministers. I did not know him, but when Mr. Goode, who was walking with me, pointed him out to me, I cannot tell you the horror that pervaded my frame-and give me leave, my brethren, in your presence, this morning, to thank God for that horror! "All seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ." It would be wicked to seek the things of Jesus Christ, if Jesus Christ were not God over all, blessed for ever. Here we see what man's principle is, and what it ought to be. We ought, all of us, like the Apostle, to be primarily and perpetually seeking the things of Jesus Christ. But, alas! sin has contracted the human heart into the dimensions of a nutshell -there is no room for any thing but for little self, while man is dreaming it is great self. Believe me, when I tell you, that we are all, in every thought, and word, and action, engaged in undeifying God and deifying ourselves; and, |