Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

was holy, harmless, undefiled, and went about doing good.

17. How did he prove that he was sent by God?

He healed the sick with a word's speaking, made the blind to see and the lame to walk, raised the dead, and did many other things which no man could do unless God were with him.

18. Ihat death did he die ?

He was put to the cruel death of the cross, by wicked men who would not hearken to him.

19. Did God suffer him to continue under death?

No; God raised him to life on the third day; and he afterwards ascended into heaven.

20. When will he come again?

He will come again in glory at the last day to judge the world.

SECTION IV.

21. Vhat must you do to become one of Christ's disciples?

I must deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and must resolve to live a sober, righteous and godly life in this pre sent world, looking for the blessed hope.

22. What are the blessings which he has promised to lis faithful followers ?

The pardon of sin, the favour and assistance of God, and eternal life.

23. What are the conditions on which these are promised?

Repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

24. What is it to repent of our sins?

It is to be sorry that we have sinned and offended God, and to do so no more.

25. What is faith in Jesus Christ ?

It is to believe that he was sent by God, and to pay the regard due to his sacred character.

26. How must you shew the sincerity of your faith and repentance ?

By a careful and diligent obedience to all God's commandments.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

27. What is the first and great commandment ?

To love God with all my heart.

28. What is the second, which is like unto it ?

To love my neighbour as myself; and to shew it by doing as I would be done unto.

SECTION V.

29. What is the honour which you owe to God's word? I must read and hear it with diligent attention ; I must meditate upon it, and frame my life according to it.

30. What is the honour which you owe to God in His Providence?

1 must receive all His mercies with thankfulness; and bear all afflictions with patience, and submission to His holy will.

31. What is the honour which you owe to the Lord'sday.

I must keep the Sabbath holy to God, by a diligent performance of the religious duties of the day.

32. How must you honour God in prayer?

I must every day by solemn prayer seek the favour of God, and give unto Him the glory due unto His name. 33. What must you pray for?

For mercy to pardon, and grace to help in time of need. 34. What else must you do in your prayers?

I must confess my sins, and give God praise for His goodness to me.

SECTION VI.

35. What must be your daily care concerning yourself? I must take care that my heart be not lifted up with pride, or disturbed with anger, or any sinful passion.

36. What must be your care concerning your words? I must never tell a lie; nor mock at or abuse any one; nor speak profane or wicked words.

37. What is your duty to your parents and governors ? I must reverence and obey them in the Lord; I must thankfully receive their instructions, submit to their rebukes, and labour in every thing to be a comfort to them, 38. IVhat is your duty to the poor ?

I must pity, help and relieve them, according to my ability.

39. What is your duty to all men?

I must render to all their dues; I must be honest and just in all my dealings; I must be respectful to my friends, and forgive my enemies; and speak evil of no man.

40. How are you able to perform these duties ?

By divine assistance, which I must seek for with sincerity and earnestness.

41. What must you do when you find you come short of your duty?

I must renew my repentance, and pray to God for pardon, and be careful to do my duty better for the time

to come.

42. What encouragement have you thus to live in the fear of God?

If I do so, I shall certainly be happy, both in this world and that which is to come.

SECTION VII.

43. What will become of you shortly?

I shall shortly die, and return to the earth.

44. What are we taught to expect after death?

We are taught to expect that we shall be restored to life again at the general resurrection.

45. To what purpose shall the dead be raised up ?

To have their actions and characters tried at the judgment-seat of Christ, and to have their portion appointed unto them according to the things done in this present life.

46. What shall be the portion of the wicked and ungodly

in another world?

The wicked shall be punished with tribulation and anguish, according to the evil deeds which they have done. 47. What shall be the portion of the godly in another world?

They shall be admitted to a state of everlasting rest and joy with God and Jesus Christ.

48. What life then will you resolve to live in this world ?, By divine grace I will live a holy, godly life, and will make it my great care and business to serve God, and save my own soul.

[ocr errors]

A Meditation after reading Mr. Butcher's Discourses on
Christ's Sermon on the Mount.

ALL men are born to die, and since I must,
O may the hour be welcome to my soul,
That hour which will consign me to the tomb.
There the great Messenger of grace and truth,
The perfect pattern of a Christian's life,
Has slept before me; thence triumphant rose,
A pledge to all his faithful followers

Of resurrection to eternal life ;

And (thanks to God for his transcendent love!)
Obtain'd the vict'ry over sin and death.
This is the consummation of true joy
And happiness unspeakable to those
Who keep his holy law, obey his will,
And, with a firm, undeviating step,

Walk the same path which Christ has mark'd and trod,
Conducting to the realms of endless bliss.

And is he raised to this exalted state
To execute his Father's will, as Judge
Of all the earth? And will he condescend
To take his faithful servants to himself,
That where he is, there also they may be?
And shall not we, who bear his honour'd name,
With gratitude accept the gracious boon?
Be this, my soul, thy constant aim; be this
Thy best ambition and thy wisest care;
For this consult the Oracles of Truth,
Peruse the sacred pages, let them be
Thy daily meditation and delight;
And may my heart, my temper, and
my life,
Be regulated by the rules they teach,
Obedient to the precepts they enforce,
And modell'd by the bright example set
By him who liv❜d and taught to bless mankind,
To train them fit inhabitants of Heav'n,
And to present them at his Father's throne.
But ill accord the maxims of the world
With the requirements of the Christian code:`
Nor will th' example of the multitude,
The sanction of high birth, of power or wealth,
Or pride of earthly wisdom, countervail

VOL. XII.

To weaken or annul the laws of Heaven,
Not to be broken with impunity.

For whom has Christ himself pronounced blessed? "The poor in spirit," humble and content,

Not sous of pride" shall be the heirs of Heaven.”
"The mourners," who forsake the sins they mourn,
And bow submissive to the chast'ning rod,
May rest assur'd "they shall be comforted."
"The meek," who patiently endure a wrong,
Strangers to base resentment and revenge,
More prompt to save than take a brother's life,
They shall enjoy a blest "inheritance."
"The pure in heart," not the lascivious eye,
Shall share the privilege of "seeing God."
"The merciful" and kind to man and beast,
For acts of kindness shewn, “ shall mercy find:"
While the oppressor and the tyrant crew
Shall feel the miseries which they inflict.
The friends of peace, of harmony and love,
As favourite children of their heavenly Sire,
Shall be esteemed but men of violence,
Who wield the weapons of destructive war,
Who measure glory by th' extent of crime,
And, boasting, aggravate their guilt and shame,
Must change the savage temper of their minds
Ere they expect a seat in Paradise.

They who, with steady, persevering faith
And trust in God, devote their lives and powers
The cause of Truth and Virtue to promote,
Will finally receive a rich reward.

Nor will th' inestimable prize be lost

To those who "suffer for their Master's sake;"
Tho' persecution, loss of friends and goods,
Tho' poverty, imprisonment and death,
May be their portion in this passing scene,
They shall have ample reason to "rejoice,
For great will be their recompence in Heaven."
Men daily see their fellow-mortals die,
And none can hope t' escape the shaft of death.
Let not the gay, the wealthy, or the proud,
Affect to disbelieve a future state,
A day of judgment for our actions here,
And a decree of righteous retribution.
These will as certainly succeed this life

« EdellinenJatka »