Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

fpair of fucceeding in behalf of others, whatever their characters, their circumstances or provocations: nor muft you fail in the discharge of these duties, as you would not run the rifque of being fubjected to the fame cenfure with thofe, who, through the neglect of them, have made shipwreck of the faith. Affected with fuch confiderations, he not only told his fon in the ministry, what was incumbent on him to practise and preach, but exhorted him to preach and practife accordingly. Exhortation carries fomething of the pathos in the very nature of it, and fuppofeth conclufive and perfuafive arguments, couched or expreffed, to obtain men's compliance with it. When, therefore, our apostle faid, "I exhort," it is, emphatically, expreffive of his earnest and hearty concern to prevail; as his reference to the foregoing chapter, was, of the arguments by which he meant to fucceed.

Had Paul addreft this exhortation in particular, as he did the epiftle in general, to Timothy, it might have been inferred, that the duty was only of a temporary nature, and, at moft, extended to the age in which Timothy lived; but, as it is not, "I exhort thee," which would have wore an exclusive air in it; but, "I exhort," which is evidently an univerfal direction; it is abundantly plain he intended, that the commanding force of the exhortation fhould extend to all the members and office-bearers in the church of Christ, until the mystery of God fhould be finished.

The fubjects of this Chriftian concern, according to our reading of the text, are not perfons of one or another denomination only, but of all denominations; for the apostle enjoins, that the duties under view be performed "for all men." In whatever refpects they may differ, as to nation, language, kindred, government, principles, or practices,-as

F 3

men

men, there is an undoubted relation, an indiffolvable connection, that no diftance, no circumflance, can render void and null; for God "hath of one "blood made all the nations of the earth :" and they, having all sprung from one original, and defcended from the fame common parent, fhould, in performance of the duties here recommended, act toward each other as brethren,-as dear brethren according to the flesh..

Whether, in this exhortation, the apoftle means, that Chriftians fhould exercife fuch concern for all men, as our tranflation, with great propriety, bears; or, that fuch concern fhould be exercised by all men, according to the critical remark offered before, there is no room for difpute, that kings and thofe in authority, are, in a special manner, the fubjects in whom the Chriftian concern, pointed out by our text, fhould concenter.

With regard to our late fovereign, of happy memory, "fupplications, prayers, and interceffions," are now no more to be made by us; if it is not for the divine bleffing upon fuch plans of operation as were approved, or begun to be execute under his eye, though, in the infinite wisdom of God, his defire of feeing the fpeedy and happy iffue of them was denied. Though, we fay, his, justly and generally lamented, death, fupercedes the neceffity of

fupplications, prayers, and interceffions," "for himfelf, it diffolves not the obligation upon us to give thanks to that God, "by whom kings reign,

and princes decree juftice," for the numberless bleffings, whereof, to his happy fubjects, he was, in the hand of God, the chearful inftrument. If no nation under heaven, has enjoyed equal peace, fafety, freedom, and outward happiness, with the fubjects of the British crown, for above thirty three years back, will it not follow, that, of all others,

Britons

Britons are obliged,-indifpenfibly obliged, to the exercife of thanksgiving and praise.

A digreffion here, on the character of that illuftrious and royal perfonage, whofe memory muft be dear to Britons in particular, and Protestants in general, would be no lefs agreeable to me, than acceptable to you; but diffidence of my own abili ty, for fuch an unequal tafk, lays me under the painful neceffity of leaving you to imagine, rather than hear, what I would, was I capable, gladly fay. Without meaning, in the leaft, to exaggerate,-if talents for the cabinet or the field, if love to his fubjects, veneration for the laws, concern for the Proteftant intereft, charity and compaffion, juflice and impartiality, and, in one word,-if an unwea ried endeavour to diffufe or promote happiness an 1 profperity; if thefe, and fuch as thefe, conflitute the truly loyal and princely character, it may, from all I have had access to learn, be justly applied to our late dear and honoured fovereign.

Nor can I help obferving the propriety of these lands appearing now in fable weeds: Do we mourṇ the lofs of a friend, a benefactor, a guide, a protector, a father? In him, my brethren, we have lost one who stood and acted towards us in all thefe endearing relations; whence, gratitude, affection, and even decency itfelf, confpire to justify fuch expreffions of forrow and diftrefs.

I shall have done with this digreffion, when I have just put you in mind, that ingratitude to the -God of gods, for the laft peaceful and benign reign, might justly provoke him to blaft our expectations, however promifing, refpecting the tranquility and happiness of future years.

My text, as the proper clue to this difcourfe, would lead me next to point out the present fubjects, in whom our "fupplications, prayers, inter" ceffions

F4

[ocr errors]

ceffions, and giving of thanks," fhould particularly meet, our fovereign, namely, and thofe in authority; but, previous to our doing fo, the following corollaries, from what you have heard, may may not be unuseful.

If thefe things are fo, then it follows, that Chri-‹ tianity infpires with a truly public and generous fpirit. Those whofe concern is confined to themfelves, or extends not beyond the limits of any particular order of men, or denomination of Chriftians, may put in what claim to the venerable character they pleafe; but they fhow, to demonstration, how small, and how groundless, their pretenfions. Such pitiful fouls were never formed upon the gofpel of Chrift, and fuch groveling creatures deferve not fo much as a name amongst his friends.

But, from what was faid, it is equally plain, that concern for others, which is not expreffed by "fup"plications, prayers, interceffions, and giving of "thanks," whatever it may be in the eye of mortals, weighed in the balance of fcripture, is found wanting, it deferves not the name. Men may talk refpectfully of others, and perform many ufeful fervices to them; as to princes, they may fight under their banners, fit at their council-boards, carry their orders into execution, and be scrupuloufly exact in every outward expreffion of loyalty and efteem, while, living in the habitual neglect of the duties prescribed by our apostle, they are held, in the estimate of heaven, as chargeable with the moft criminal contempt of the intereft of others, -whether princes or people.

In fine, From this doctrine, it evidently appears, that fuch a difinterested regard to the happiness of others, claims a principal fhare in our public folemn worship. As a part of the church of Christ, we should make confcience of keeping the ends of

his appointment, by our meeting together, full in view, f our apostle is allowed to have wrote this letter to Timothy, under the influence of infpiration, then "fupplications, prayers, interceffions, "and giving of thanks," for others, must be claffed amongst the ordinances of heaven; confequently, must be performed by us with faithfulnefs and concern, as we would not be found chargeable with neglecting to obferve any one of the "all things whatfoever he hath commanded us." Thefe duties, in our church capacity, are not to be performed as fo many words of courfe, which has too much, and long been our reproach; but with a particular earneftnefs and fervour, according to the obligation, importance, and neceffity of them.

66

SERMON II.

*

π TIM. ii. 1, 2. Jexhort therefore, &c.

TH

HOSE for whom the apoftle would have Christians, fo particularly, to intereft themfelves, are "kings, and all that are in authority.” The exhortation having a refpect to Chriftians in general, plainly infinuates, that without excluding their generous concern for others, elsewhere intrufted with the regal power," fupplications, "prayers, interceffions, and giving of thanks," are efpecially to be made, for the royal perfon who fways the fceptre over themselves.

It was eafy for the apoftle to fee, that Chriftians would, by their birth, ftations, and places of refidence, be fcattered through the dominions of different potentates; and therefore, when he men

F 5

tions

« AnteriorContinuar »