that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?""2 3. They whose lives may be moral, but who indulge a careless unconcern about salvation, who are thoughtful about this world but thoughtless about the next, are most certainly hastening to hell. "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven. Then said he unto them, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many; and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandize: And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a price of ground, and I must needs go and see it; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. Then saith he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. For many are called, but few are chosen."3 4. They who are in the way to heaven, have been brought to see and feel the evil and sinfulness of sin, and been brought to true repentance; without which no one can be saved. "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the nigh and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to 2Matt. vi. 15; 1 John iii. 14, 15; iv. 20. revive the heart of the contrite ones. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Come unto me all ye that are weary and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ''2 5. They who are in the way to heaven, have been led to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; To the praise and glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted. Who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes yc were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." 6. They who are in the way to heaven have such a value for the Lord Jesus, that they prefer him to the whole world; and they who would not part with every thing and even life itself, for Christ's sake, cannot be his disciples. This truth is most certainly taught in Scripture, and is so decisive a mark of our real state, that I beg your particular attention to it. "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious. Lord thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee. Whom having not seen ye love. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and Luke xiii. 3; xviii. 14; Is. lvii. 15; Ps. li. 17; Matt. xi. 28. Cal. ii. 16; Ephes. i. 3, &c.; 1 Pet. ii. 24, 25. come after me, cannot be my disciple. Whosoever he ba of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha."4 7. They who are in the way to heaven set their af fections on things above; and they, whose affections are not fixed on heavenly things, whatever their profession may be, have no true religion. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust do corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But Jay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth. Now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city. Here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. For we walk by faith, not by sight. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemics of the cross of Christ. Whose end is destructionwho mind earthly things. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.""5 8. They who are in the way to heaven, manifest their faith in Christ, by lives of holiness. They resist sin; they watch and pray; they study and endeavour to be like their Lord; and they who are careless of leading holy lives are perishing in sin. "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love, faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall Phil. iii. 7; 1 Pet. ii. 7; John xxi. 17; 1 Pet. i. 1; Matt. x. 37, 38; Luke xvi. 27, 33; 1 Cor. xvi. 22. 5 Matt. vi. 19, 21; Col. iii. 1, 2; Heb. xi. 16; xiii. 14; 2 Cor. v. 7; iv. 18. he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness; and the end, everlasting life. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; whosoever doeth not righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth. Take ye heed, watch and pray. I say unto all, watch. Follow thou me. Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."'8 Sect. 3. Do any of the former of these few plain marks show you to be yet in your sins? or do the lat1er appear in you and mark you as a child of God. Have you been humbled before God, for your sins? Have you fled to Christ for righteousness and life? Have you learned to esteem Jesus and salvation above all earthly good? Would you sooner die for him, than live without him? Do you choose heavenly things in preference to earthly? and is it the chief desire of your heart, and the main concern of your life to live as you would wish to die? Multitudes go much further in piety, than all this, but if these marks of our possessing religion be wanting, be assured, on God's authority, that you are no more than almost a christian at the best; and far from happiness and heaven. Can you, when you look back on life, if unable to tell the time when you were first awakened; yet say, One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see! Can you see that you have, from your heart, devoted yourself to God? that you have seriously and deliberately, chosen 8Gal. vi 6; Rom. vi. 22; John xxi. 22; James ii. 17, 26; Gal. vi. 7, 8; Heb. xii. 14: Col. iii. 5; Mark xiii. 33, 37: Rom. viii. 13; 1 John ii. 3,4. him as your God, and Christ as your Saviour? If you discern nothing of this kind, depend upon it, the reason' is that you are as yet perishing in your sins. Transactions between God and the soul, of so much importance as these, cannot possibly have taken place without your notice and remembrance. When any one has been brought out of darkness into light, does he know it? When a' servant has changed masters, is he not aware of his change? and if he forgets the day, yet he remembers that' such a change has taken place; and if you had changed the service of the world and sin, for that of God' and Christ, would you not know that you had done so? Alas! you cannot have a plainer proof, that you are in your sins, than having no knowledge of any alteration of this kind in your views and feelings. But should I leave you thus? God forbid! I beseech you to be reconciled to God. I beseech you to choose the way of life. Sect. 4. Youth is your choosing time. The years between fifteen and twenty-five are an awful important season. What you are at the end of that period, you will probably be for ever. That laborious and useful minister, Doddridge, not many years before his death, observed, that by far the greater part of those who had been admitted to communion in the church, under his care, were as he apprehended, under twenty-four years of age; and that, of those who had been admitted later, several were brought to religion in their much earlier years. Another minister, who laboured with great success, in one church for nearly forty years, and under whose ministry, it has been supposed, as many as a thousand persons were converted, is stated to have observed, that he never knew one person, who sat under the preaching of the gospel till his thirtieth year, without embracing religion, that ever embraced it afterwards. So true is it, my young friend, that youth' is your choosing time: Now therefore decide, whose you will be in this world, and whose you will be for ever. Behold life and death are before you. It is for eternity that you have to make your choice. You have to decide whether you will be a child of God, or a slave of the devil; an inhabitant of heaven, or an out-cast in hell. Your early days are days for beginning to be happy; fór securing happiness that will last for ever; and can you do this too soon? If your would' |