Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

own happiness, that you will think of salvation, and so think of it, as immediately to be in earnest to procure it, that you may not perish, but have everlasting life.

2nd, Let us consider how salvation is to be procured. Some of my hearers are, I hope, demanding-How shall I appear before the Lord? They, who have sinned with a high hand, will imagine, perhaps, that the day of grace is past, and that the long suffering of the Almighty will be no more extended to them. They think, and the enemy of their souls will not fail to press the thought strongly upon their minds, they think, I say, if they are pardoned, sin will not receive its due reward, and that, should the same degree of happiness be granted to them as to others, who have not been such great offenders, God would act unjustly. Long will they sometimes dwell upon such unpleasant thoughts, and would fall into despair, as the natural consequence, unless they were directed to Jesus Christ, the friend of sinners, who bore their sins" in his own body on the tree"* of the Cross, thus suffering "the just for the unjust, that he might bring" them "to God." Let their sins be ever so nume. rous, aggravated, or long persisted in, we are authorized to tell them, that "the blood of

* 1 Peter, ii. 24. + iii. 18.

Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin,"* and that whosoever will may wash in that fountain and be clean. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."+ Upon Christ, as I have said, the Lord laid the iniquity of us all. Come then, O sinner, to this Saviour; put thy trust in him, and thy faith shall make thee whole. Others, it may be, though indeed it is to be feared there are not many so well intentioned, have been endeavouring to walk agreeably to all God's Commandments, and well knowing that he requires the most perfect purity, and the most exact obedience, are fearful they are not sufficiently holy to deserve his favour; and that they certainly are not, neither can they be so, for though they should exert themselves with all the diligence of which human nature is capable, now and then a thought will intrude, which will prove their weakness and frailty. Though, then, they should strive to be ever so holy (and far be it from me to prevent them from such a strife), yet they must take care not to make their works their Saviour, but only Jesus Christ, through whom,

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

with all their imperfections, the Father will graciously receive them.

Lastly, let us all be thankful for the Redemption of our souls by Jesus Christ; let us accept of his salvation, and let us live to his praise. As pure Love induced the Lord of Glory to assume the likeness of sinful flesh, in which, for our benefit, he suffered and died, let us not be wanting in returns of love for such wonderful grace, and such undeserved mercy; and that we may in any measure glorify and serve him, as we ought, let us pray for the influences of the Holy Ghost to inflame our hearts with zeal, and to excite in our souls every generous temper and every kind affection. If we think of the horrible miseries of the damned, and of the unspeakable happiness of the redeemed: if we reflect, that without Christ the former must have been our everlasting portion, but that by him we have a claim and title to the latter, how can we withhold our gratitude from him, and how can we avoid saying with the enraptured Psalmist ?_" Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name; bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruc

tion, who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies."* That such may be the disposition of your hearts may God, of his infinite mercy grant, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalm ciii. 1-4.

« EdellinenJatka »