Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

quiefcence the fcriptural revelation of the pature and the office of the Meffiah? With refpect to myfteries, concerning which the limited underftanding of man is of itself utterly incompetent to pronounce any decifion; do you bring every thought into captivity before the declarations of God? Do you behold your Redeemer as the teacher of the will of God to man? Do you behold his blood as the fountain opened for the washing away of fin? Do you look to him as the Lamb of God; the only, the all-fufficient facrifice, by which atonement is made for tranfgref fors? Do you cordially believe that there is falvation in no other: that there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby you may be faved? Do you look up to him as your advocate, your continual interceffor with the Father? Do you elevate your thoughts to him as the King of kings, 11 feated on the throne of glory at the right hand of God, Lord of angels and archangels, of principalities and powers throughout the whole extent of creation as head over all things to his church, difpenfer of light and ftrength and life, the raifer of dead, the appointed judge of the world? Do you renounce as altogether indefenfible, as irreconcilably repugnant to the divine plan ? tof

[ocr errors]

of redemption, every pretenfion to the pardon of fin, evey claim to the inheritance of the faints, grounded on any fuppofed merit of your own? Do you defire to be found at the last day juftified exclufively through the righteoufnefs of Chrift; acceptable folely through the merits of his atonement? Then has the grace of our Lord Jefus, the author and finifber of our faith, been exceeding abundant to you with faith which is in Christ, even the faith which is the operation of God (c).

All Chriftians however are not as yet perfect Chriftians. All who are genuine members of the true church, the mystical body of our Lord, are not yet come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man; unto the measure of the ftature of the fulness of Chrift (d). There may be fome in this congregation, who, at the fame time that they humbly trust that they have laboured to obtain grace unto repentance and faith, perceive fuch ample grounds for deploring their deficiencies in both, that they tremble left they should be regarded in the fight of God as effectually poffeffed of neither. Chrift will not break the bruifed reed. His lambs he will carry

(c) Tim. 4 Heb. xii. 2. Col. 12 (d) Eph. iv. 13. VOL. I. G

in

ཝཱ

in his bofom. He beholds with compaffion and forbearance, he cheers with confolation. and encouragement, the mourner who feareth: for his foul. He ftrengthens the weak hands and confirms the feeble knees. Examine then thine own breaft, whofoever, thou mayeft be who art tempted to defpond; examine whether it be thy earneft and habitual desire to be enabled to repent and to believe.. Examine whether this be the spirit of thy fupplications before the throne of grace: "Make me a contrite heart, O God! Lord! "I believe: help thou mine unbelief." Examine whether thy forrow for fin, thy exertions in purfuit of holiness, correfpond with thy prayers. If to thefe enquiries thou, receiveft the answer of a good confcience, be comforted. Thou art already under the teaching of divine grace. Perfevere in thy course; and the Lord Jefus will cause thy godly forrow to work repentance tós falvation not to be repented of; and will perfect that which is lacking in thy faith. Bleffed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they fhall be filled (2). c. fubign ah proceed to the confideration of other fruits of the Holy Spirit

[ocr errors]

£4 A co via Thef. 10 Matt, v. 6.

ai.

1 at The 1.10

The Lord direct your hearts, faith St. Paul, into the love of God. The love of God is fhed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost (ƒ). Has the Holy Ghost shed abroad the love of God in your heart? Have you evidences to prove that you poffefs this fruit of the Spirit? Do God with all your you love the Lord your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength; and the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he hath fent? Do you ferve your Creator and Redeemer in fimplicity and godly fincerity? Are you anxious to further, according to the talents and opportunities which you enjoy, the glory of God, and the kingdom of his Son? Among the fruits of the Spirit par ticularly mentioned by St. Paul, righteousness ftands confpicuous: and righteoufness, as exemplified in the exercife of holy difpofitions towards the Deity, for of that branch alone of righteousness I at prefent fpeak, is a convincing proof of love to God. Have you this proof to bring forward? By piety, by devotion, by every act of religion which has God for its immediate object; by the cultivation of faith, and fear, and love, and gratitude, and refignation; do you witness before the world a good confeffion, that his favour is your aim, his falvation the prize which you (f) 2 Thef. iii. 5. Rom. v. 5. G 2 pursue ?

[ocr errors]

purfue? If it be your fervent desire and your habitual prayer to be enabled to love the Lord your God; then are you already under the teaching of his Spirit. If you are, thus enabled to fet your heart upon him; then bath God given unto you the Spirit of love: then the love of the Father is in you (g).

Ye yourfelves are taught of God to love one another. The Lord make you to increafe and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men (b). This alfo is the language of St. Paul to the Theffalonians. Has God wrought in you the grace of love towards your fellow creatures? Do you love your neighbour as yourself, with a pure heart, and with charity unfeigned, fervently? Do you love him thus becaufe God commands. you to love him thus; becaufe an apostle hath faid, that if God fo loved us that be fent his Son to be the propitiation for our fins, we ought alfo to love one another; because your Saviour has declared, that love to others is the diftinguishing mark, by which all men fhall know that you are his difciples (i)? Do you love your enemies? And do you love them becaufe, while ye were yet

enemies, God

(b) Thef. iii. 12. iv 9.

(g) 2 Tim. i. 7. 1 John, ii. 15.
(i) i Jolin, iv. 10, 11. John, xiii. 35.

[ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »