cumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." But, you will observe, persons are not eager to follow the example of the godly who have gone before them. The reason is, because those shining examples find much within us to counteract them. On the other hand, the example of the wicked finds much within us that is congenial with it; and therefore these aid them. There are many of our fellow-creatures who are to be really pitied; they never see any good example before them. Even their parents, instead of going before them in the way everlasting, lead them astray; and, instead of drawing them off from the cares of this world, attach them to it. But if there are any such here this evening, let me remind them, that, however trying their condition may be, they have to withstand such examples and education; they are not to be guided by the | conduct of others, or of their own immediate connections. The Word of God is the rule of their conduct; and this they must obey, if they move on alone, and under a shower of reproaches. And be it remembered, that the more we are alone in such cases, the more we act a singular part-(not from affectation, but from conviction)—the more purity there is in the motive, the more dignity there is in the principle, the more does God Himself notice it, and say, "Those that honour Me, I will honour; but those that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." IV. It contains AN APPEAL. "Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?" As much as if He should say, Before you see what they once were, consider what they now are; consider their end before their beginning, and their death before their life. Many of them fell in the wilderness, many in the valley; many fell by the sword; others have died by accident and disease in a natural way: but they have all gone the way of all the earth. And whither does this lead? "The fathers, where are they?" You know where they once were, well enough they were living in the same villages, and in the same towns with yourselves; they passed and repassed along the same streets and the same roads; they occupied the same dwellings, the same warehouses, the same shops: but where are they now? They are now in the grave; they have made their beds in the dust; where they are saying “to corruption, Thou art my father; and to the worm, Thou art my mother and my sister." They are no longer in a state of probation; they are gone to be judged, according to the deeds done in the body, whether they are good or whether they are evil. For you will remember, that they are not now in an unconscious state; for there is a spirit in man which survives the body. "Man dieth and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost; and where is he?" Where are they, then? They are somewhere now. They are in eternity; they are in the world of spirits, towards which you are all hastening; for when the dust returns to the dust whence it came, the spirit returns to God who gave it. If they died in the faith of Christ, they are now with Him; they are "for ever with the Lord." Happy spirits! they have done with sorrow, and, what is better, they have done with sin. "They hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither does the sun light on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne feeds them, and leads them unto living fountains of water, and God wipes away all tears from their eyes." If they have died in their sins, where He is they cannot come. The rich man died, he was buried; “and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments." Lazarus died, and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom. This could only be perceived with regard to each of them by the eye of faith: the eye of sense could only see their corpses, their coffins, their funerals, and their tombs; the ear of sense could only hear the knell, and the funeral service; and this left them, perhaps, "in sure and certain hope of a resurrection unto eternal life." But the ear of sense could not hear what God said unto the disembodied spirit: “He that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is righteous, let him be righte ous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still." "And the prophets, do they live for ever?" Some suppose that the reference here is to the false prophets, who cried, Peace, peace, when there was no peace, and who had died with the blood of souls upon them. They had their day, and, having filled up the measure of their de supposition that he argues-on the thing being done. Nor does it depend on the sufferings of the dispenser. The apostle says, "I suffer as an evildoer, even unto bonds; but the Word of God is not bound." Nay, sometimes this hath more free course, and has been glorified under their sufferings; and "the blood of the martyrs" has been "the seed of the church." Nor does it depend upon his life. No, the prophets die; for "all flesh lusions, were hurried away to answer for | character. Judas was useful, as well as the the guilt of an unfaithful ministry. But other apostles. It does not depend on his we need not confine it to them; we may moral feeling. The apostle supposes that extend it so as to take in God's true pro a man may be useful, if he preaches Christ phets. "The prophets, where are they?"" from envy and strife;" for it is on this Why, even they are "not suffered to continue by reason of death." They succeed to each other; Elisha to Elijah; Moses takes off the robes from Aaron, and imposes them upon Eleazer his son. The apostle says, that those who have the heavenly treasure in them are "earthen vessels; therefore they are liable to be injured, and broken, and destroyed. Yea, instead of their living always, they do not live long; they often do not live so long as others a very mysterious dispensation is as grass, and all the glory of man as of Divine Providence. But whenever they are removed, it is a solemn event, and calls for reflection. It calls for reflection in preachers themselves: they should be admonished by it, and be the more disposed to say with Newton "I'd preach as if I ne'er should preach again, And as a dying man to dying men." the flower of grass; the grass withereth, and the flower thereof fadeth away: but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the Word, which by the Gospel is preached unto you." I wish you to note here, also, that men's unbelief and wickedness do not make the Word of God of none effect. No; People should think of it, and be more they may oppose it, they may deny it, concerned to improve this season. "Yet a they may ridicule it; but it is coming to little while is this light with you; and pass, it is continually "taking hold" of then they go their way to Him that them. Yes, they may deny the resurrecsent them :" and after having been thus tion of the dead: but see them rising and your instructors, they become your wit-coming forth to the resurrection of damnesses, to witness for you or against you before God. For carry away this with you, if you forget all the rest-that you have not done with sermons when you have heard them; nor with preachers, when you have buried them. nation. They may ridicule the day of judgment; but see, they are gathering together before the judgment-seat of Christ. How was it with the old world? Did not God's words and statutes "take hold" of them? How they sneered, how they scorned, when Noah said that there V. The address contains A TESTIMONY. was a flood coming to destroy them all! "But My words and My statutes, which But did it not come? Did not God's I commanded My servants the prophets, Word "take hold" of them, and pull did they not take hold of your fathers?" them into the gulf? So it was with Lot. The question is an affirmation: they did Lot warned the people of Sodom and Go"take hold of your fathers." They laid morrah; and he seemed to them as one hold of them; the meaning is, as an ar- that mocked. But did not his word rest, as bailiffs take hold of a debtor, and "take hold" of them? Yes, and drew as the police take hold of thieves. They them into a condition where, as Jude says, tried to get away from God's Word, but " they suffer the vengeance of eternal 'Oh!' said they could not they tried to get away fire." Look at the Jews. from its accomplishment, but these testi- they, We shall always prosper; we monies and statutes found them out, and shall see no evil.' But did not God's dragged them out into the light, where Word "take hold" of them? Were they the Saviour himself says, "As for these not dispersed? Look at their condition Mine enemies, who would not that I to this very hour, and compare their cirshould reign over them, bring them cumstances with the threatenings of God. hither, and slay them before My face." You should never disregard the execuYou see from hence, that the efficacy tions of Divine wrath recorded in the of the Word does not depend on the dis- Scriptures; for they are recorded for your Our Saviour therefore says, penser of it. It does not depend on his use. "Re member Lot's wife:" and so our text calls on you to remember how God's words "take hold" of these men who have disregarded and despised them. If you, knowing these, defy the power and wrath of God, you will be the more inexcusable. It was thus, that Daniel addressed Belshazzar, reminding him of his father's grandeur and degradation. "And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this." Mere knowledge is worse than nothing. "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." 66 And though there are no bands in their death, and their strength is firm, yet soinetimes the wicked are driven away in their wickedness, and truth extorts a confession from them. Take heed that none of you exemplify this. They mourn at the last, when their flesh and their body are consumed, and say, How I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly." And what will be their confession when they are in hell—when it will be said to them, "What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof ye are now ashamed?" Oh! then they will find that religion is a reality, when it is too late; that His Word is true, and that they have been fools. To conclude VI. It contains A CONFESSION. "They returned, and said, Like as the Lord of Hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways and according to our doings, so hath He dealt with us.' Every penitent now says this: he confesses the truth of God's Word; he condemns himself, he justifies God when He speaks, and clears These men, you see, could not be perHim when He judges. But here the con- suaded to say, "God will be as good as fession is the language of mere conviction, His Word, therefore we will seek and issuing from mournful reflections: just serve Him;" but had to say, "He has been as Pharaoh, under the reproof of Moses as good as His Word, and we feel His and the plague, said, “I have sinned:" veracity in our destruction." Oh! this and as Saul, when Samuel threatened him after wisdom, brethren-this after wisfor sparing Agag-" I have sinned," said dom! Oh! seek to be wise in time! he, "yet honour me this once:" and as Oh! turn at His reproof; for "he that Judas, when he found that the Saviour being often reproved hardeneth his neck, was condemned; he hoped that he should shall suddenly be cut off, and that without obtain the money, and that the Saviour remedy." "Turn ye at His reproof." himself would have escaped by a miracle, "Behold, I will pour out My Spirit upon but when he found that He was condemn-you: I will make known My Word unto ed, he went and cast down the thirty you." pieces of silver, and said, “ I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood," and he went out and hanged himself. Such acknowledgments as the text, are therefore not very uncommon. You would often hear them, if you got near the consciences of men; if you could join them in the hour of their solitude, when the delusions of reasoning, and the noise of passion, give way to the force of truth. Yes; and they are often constrained to express themselves in language, too, when they come into circumstances of affliction; for affliction has the power of awakening the conscience, when grace does not renew it: as you see in the case of Joseph's brethren when they were in the hold; they said, "We are verily guilty, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us." "Seize the kind premise while it waits, And then, while others will be held forth with His Word; that they have all conduced to your welfare; that He hath done all things well. You have set to your seal that God is true; you have tried His Word often, and therefore you can now trust it; you have experienced it; for " he that believeth hath the witness in himself." Therefore it is, that you, Christians, looking forward into the year on which you have entered, and not knowing whether adversity or prosperity, sickness or health, life or death, await you; yea, knowing, that in some way or other, bonds and affiictions abide you, and temptations surround you, and that you must expect pilgrimage and wilderness fare; yet you 66 hear Him say, "I will not leave thee nor forsake thee:" Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be?" "Fear not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." And therefore you can say, "I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of His righteousness, yea, of His only." "Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." God grant, that this may be the portion and experience of us all; and to Him be the glory. Amen. They so live, that it is "not they that live but Christ that lives in them." CHRISTIANS are required to be wise as They are bone of His bone and flesh of the serpent, harmless as the dove, bold as His flesh. They that "are joined to the the lion, swift as the eagle, and meek as Lord are of one spirit." "The same mind the lamb. There are three kinds of meek-is in them which was also in Christ Jesus." ness one is the gift of nature, another is the effect of cultivation, and the third is the product of grace. The latter accomplishes what nothing else can it establishes purity of principle, and then holiness of life and conduct follow as the certain consequence. The Spirit that descended on the Redeemer when He was anointed of the Father, came upon Him like a dove; the emblem of meekness, harmlessness, love and peace. The same Spirit was to inChristians are Christ-like. They "put fluence the church, and imprint upon each on as the elect of God bowels of mercies, member the same character, according to kindness, humbleness of mind, meek- their different measure and capacity. The ness, long-suffering, forbearing one whole mystical body have but one spirit; another and forgiving one another." the Spirit of God's Son sent forth into They "behold as in a glass, the glory of their hearts. And "if any man have not God, and are changed into the same the Spirit of Christ he is none of His." image from glory to glory as by the Spirit Christ was the anointed of God; Christians of the Lord." They are predestinated are anointed ones. "The anointing which to be conformed to the image of the Son ye have received teacheth you all things." of God, that He might be the first-born Christ was anointed with the Spirit beamong many brethren." There is an or-yond measure; Christians are anointed in dained likeness existing between them. a limited degree. As God is said to have The branches are of the same nature as the vine; the same sap pervades both. The members have the same life as the Head; the same spirit and temper with Christ. taken of the Spirit that was in Moses and put it upon the seventy elders, so He takes of the Spirit that was in Christ and puts it upon all His disciples. The oil with which Aaron was anointed was first poured in richest profusion upon the head, and thence flowed to the lowest border and fringes of his garment; so the Spiritwas poured out in richest effusionupon Christ Himself, and from Him descended to the lowest and least of His followers. Copiously enriched with this heavenly unction, they reflect the brightness of His radiance, and emit the same sweet and inimitable odours with the Lord their Head. The poorest Christians become the jewels of the earth's attire, having their all in Christ. "He is made of God unto them wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption." "It hath pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell." All the fulness of the Godhead; all the fulness of glory, all the fulness of wisdom, all the fulness of power, all the fulness of grace-pardoning grace-justifying grace-glorifying grace-" and of His fulness have we all received and grace for grace." "Allied to Thee, our vital Head, The Head is the wisdom of the body-the dignity of the body-the glory of the body; and clothes it with "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." a meek man mansuetis, used to the hand. The allusion is to the taming and reclaiming of creatures wild by nature, and bringing them to be tractable and familiar. "For every kind of beasts and of birds, and of serpents and of things in the sea, is tamed and hath been tamed of mankind.” Christianity in a nobler sense produce the same effect. Where its great and holy principles have disciplined the soul, and the grace of meekness has taken possession of the heart, it subdues the impetuous disposition, and teaches us, trusting in God, to submit and to forgive. 1. Christian meekness prepares the mind to receive instruction. Our Lord laid great stress on that docility, which is the universal and essential characteristic of His followers. "Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." "Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, verily, I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.' "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones.' "It is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." "Little children, yet a little while I am with you." Little children are innocent and harm less, yielding and flexible, conscious of their own ignorance and weakness-have The connection is sometimes expressed neither prepossessions nor prejudice-and by terms which are commonly made use present their unfurnished minds to their of to describe both. Thus Christ is the teachers to receive with implicit confiLamb of God that taketh away the sin of dence all that they are taught. They the world. Believers are also lambs. consult their father upon all occasions Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My lambs;" and make him acquainted with all they and to the other apostles, "I send you forth do and all they want. If any difficulty as lambs in the midst of wolves." The arise, they run to him, and his will is their "The same honour have all the It is law. lamb is the essence of meekness. therefore a fit emblem of Christ's disciples, who are meek and lowly of heart. "The Lord lifteth up the meek." "The meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek will He teach His way." "The meek shall inherit the earth." "Their sorrows and their tears they pour, Into the bosom of their God; He hears them in the mournful hour, And helps them bear the heavy load." They find it sweet to hold fellowship with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ. Let us contemplate Christian meekness, in its nature, in its excellency, in its pat-To walk with God and listen to the soft terns, and in its advantages. I. The nature of Christian meekness. It is a calm serene temper of mind, that is not easily ruffled or provoked. The Greek word for meekness is praos, easiness ofspirit; it may justly be termed this, for by quietly acquiescing in the dispensations, and will of God, it accommodates the soul to every occurrence, making a man easy to himself and to all about him. The Latins call whisper of His voice, telling them the choicest invitations of His love-to stay their minds upon Him and enjoy perfect peace-to receive with meekness the engrafted Word, that is able to save their souls-to have the fallow ground broken up for the reception of the heavenly seed— to have the soul with all its affections and desires turned towards the Sun of righ usness to have the heart open and to |