Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

but I will never believe he is a child of God, who belongs to that vile congregation! Can he, do you think, be a child of God, who holds such detestable opinions? or he that joins in such senseless and superstitious, if not idolatrous, worship?" So we may justify ourselves in one sin by adding a second to it! We excuse the want of love in ourselves by laying the blame on others! To colour our own devilish temper, we pronounce our brethren children of the devil! O beware of this! -and if you are already taken in the snare, escape out of it as soon as possible! Go and learn that truly catholic love which "is not rash," or hasty in judging; that love which "thinketh no evil;" which "believeth and hopeth all things;" which makes all the allowance for others that we desire others should make for us! Then we shall take knowledge of the grace of God which is in every man, whatever be his opinion or mode of worship: Then will all that fear God be near and dear unto us "in the bowels of Jesus Christ."

9. Was not this the spirit of our dear friend? And why should it not be ours? O thou God of love, how long shall thy people be a by-word among the Heathen? How long shall they laugh us to scorn, and say, "See how these Christians love one another!" When wilt thou roll away our reproach? Shall the sword devour for ever? How long will it be ere thou bid thy people return from "following each other?" Now, at least, "let all the people stand still, and pursue after their brethren no more!" But whatever others do, let all of us, my brethren, hear the voice of him that, being dead, yet speaketh! Suppose ye hear him say, "Now, at least, be ye followers of me as I was of Christ! Let brother' no more lift up sword against brother, neither know ye war any more!' Rather put ye on, as the elect of God, bowels of mercies, humbleness of mind, brotherly kindness, gentleness, longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Let the time past suffice for strife, envy, contention; for biting and devouring one another. Blessed be God, that ye have not long ago been consumed one of another! From henceforth hold ye the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

[ocr errors]

10. O God, with thee no word is impossible! Thou doest whatsoever pleaseth thee! O that thou wouldest cause the mantle of thy prophet, whom thou hast taken up, now to fall upon us that remain! "Where is the Lord God of Elijah ?" Let his spirit

rest upon these thy servants! Show thou art the God that answerest by fire! Let the fire of thy love fall on every heart! And because we love thee, let us love one another with a "love stronger than death!" Take away from us "all anger, and wrath, and bitterness; all clamour and evil-speaking!" Let thy Spirit so rest upon us, that from this hour we may be "kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us!"

AN HYMN.

1 SERVANT of God, well done!
Thy glorious warfare's past,
The battle's fought, the race is won,
And thou art crown'd at last;
Of all thy heart's desire
Triumphantly possessed,

Lodged by the ministerial choir
In thy Redeemer's breast.

2 In condescending love,

Thy ceaseless prayer he heard ;
And bade thee suddenly remove
To thy complete reward :
Ready to bring the peace,

Thy beauteous feet were shod,
When mercy sign'd thy soul's release,
And caught thee up to God.

3 With saints enthroned on high,

Thou dost thy Lord proclaim,
And still To God salvation cry,
Salvation to the Lamb!

O happy, happy soul !

In ecstasies of praise,

Long as eternal ages roll,

Thou seest thy Saviour's face!

4 Redeem'd from earth and pain,
Ah! when shall we ascend,
And all in Jesu's presence reign
With our translated friend?
Come, Lord, and quickly come !
And, when in thee complete,
Receive thy longing servants home,
To triumph at thy feet!

SERMONS

ON

SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

SECOND SERIES.

CONSISTING OF FIFTY-FIVE DISCOURSES,

MOST OF WHICH WERE FIRST INSERTED IN THE ARMINIAN MAGAZINE, AND AFTERWARDS REVISED, AND PUBLISHED IN FOUR VOLUMES, DUODECIMO, IN THE YEAR 1788.

PREFACE.

1. A GENTLEMAN in the west of England informed me a few days ago, that a Clergyman in his neighbourhood designed to print, in two or three volumes, the Sermons which had been published in the ten volumes of the Arminian Magazine. I had been frequently solicited to do this myself, and had as often answered, "I leave this for my executors." But if it must be done before I go hence, methinks I am the properest person to do it.

2. I intend, therefore, to set about it without delay: And if it pleases God to continue to me a little longer the use of my understanding and memory, I know not that I can employ them better. And perhaps I may be better able than another to revise my own writings; in order either to retrench what is redundant, to supply what is wanting, or to make any farther alterations which shall appear needful.

[ocr errors]

3. To make these plain Discourses more useful, I purpose now to range them in proper order ; placing those first which are intended to throw light on some important Christian doctrines; and afterwards those which more directly relate to some branch of Christian practice: And I shall endeavour to place them all in such an order that one may

« EdellinenJatka »