Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

people; in the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows; thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. I will I will pay that that I have vowed: salvation is of the Lord. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows'. They shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it*. O prepare mercy and truth; so will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows'.

Of the examples of Joshua, and the Princes of Israel.

Joshua, with the princes of Israel, give us a noble example of that strict regard which ought to be paid to oaths and vows. When they had sworn to the Gibeonites, and the deceit of that people was discovered; we are told," the children of Israel smote them not; because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes; but all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore we may not touch them; this we will do to them, we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them".

ARTICLE VI.

OF AN OPEN AND STEADY PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH, AND OF OUR DEVOTIONS TO OUR GOD AND SAVIOUR.

SECT. 1. To this duty the true worshippers of God are solemnly called.-2. Such an open profession is indispensably required of all the disciples of our Lord

Ps. cxvi. 12, 13, 14.
Psalm lxi. 5.
* Isaiah, xix. 21.

e Psalm cxvi. 19.
b Jonah, ii. 9.
1 Psalm lxi. 7, 8.

f Psalm cxix. 106.

i Job, xxii. 27.

Josh. ix. 18, 19, 20.

Jesus.-3. The subject illustrated by the purposes of the Saints. The examples of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, of Daniel, of Jeremiah, and of the Apostles Peter, John, and Paul.

SECT. 1. To this duty the true worshippers of God are solemnly called.

MAKE a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands. Sing forth the honour of his name; make his praise glorious". Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; show forth, from day to day, his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard; which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth; because I will publish the name of the Lord; ascribe ye greatness unto our God. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what the Lord hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob".

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord, which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord'. And I will send unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard of my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and

a

§ 1. Psalm lxvi. 1, 2.

d Psalm lxvi. 8, 9.

Psalm lxvi. 16, 17.

* Isa. lxvi. 19.

b 1 Chron. xvi. 8.
Deut. xxxii. 1.
h Psalm lxxv. 9.

c 1 Chron. xvi. 23,24. f Deut. xxxii. 3.

Jer. ix. 23, 24..

shalt glory in the holy One of Israel'. Declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob". Surely shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength, even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed; in the Lord shall all the secd of Israel be justified, and shall glory".

[ocr errors]

SECT. 2. Such an open profession is indispensably required of all the disciples of our Lord Jesus.

And when Jesus had called the people unto him, with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven". Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also, many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men, more than the praise of God.

Jesus, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach". Rejoice in as much as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this behalf. God forbid, that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth'. And we have seen and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. It is a faithful saying; for if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer,, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us'. Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? or who shall descend into the deep?.. The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith which we preach, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation". Wherefore earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints"; fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

To the angel of the church in Pergamus, write, I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is; and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. Hold fast till I come. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels'.

SECT. 3. This subject illustrated by the purposes of

the Saints.

The proud have had me greatly in derision; yet have I not declined from thy law. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also, when I am old and greyheaded, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength. unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. I will wash mine hands in innocency; so will I compass thine altar, O Lord; that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. My tongue shall speak of thy word; for all thy commandments are righteousness. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come, the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done'.

Examples of Shadrach, Meshach, &c.

"This subject may be further illustrated, by quoting a few of the noble examples on sacred record, of these Saints who adhered to the profession of their faith in the greatest extremities. Remarkable to this purpose was the behaviour of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: when commanded to worship the image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up," they answered, and said, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this

§3.

9 Rev. iii. 5.

a Psalm cxix. 51.
Psalm xxii. 22.
Psalm cxix. 172.

b Psalm lxxi. 17, 18.

Psalm cxix. 13.
Psalm lxxiii. 28.

Psalm xxvi. 6, 7.
Psalm cxix. 46.
Psalm 1xxviii. 4.

« EdellinenJatka »