Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

Car

words, they no doubt teach us a most im- the foolish, "slumbered and slept.' portant and necessary lesson; namely, nal and unregenerated sinners are repreThat we should carefully search the sacred Scriptures, and, with a sincere and humble temper of mind, labor to know what is the "good, and acceptable, and perfect will of our God."

But I rather incline to understand this expression as importing the lively and constant exercise of all our Christian graces. This This is indeed the best preparation for our Lord's return. To have our repentance mourning over our past sins, and keeping the heart humble under a sense of guilt; our faith applying the blood of Christ for pardon, and deriving, at the same time, strength from above for vanquishing our lusts, that "sin may no more have dominion over us; "—our love embracing an unseen Saviour, and extend ing to all his members; our hope casting anchor within the vail, and keeping the soul fixed and steady, amidst all the revolutions of this changing world;-our patience triumphing over sufferings;-our meekness passing by injuries, blessing and doing good to our most inveterate enemies;—and, by the happy influence of all these, the light of our external conduct adorning our profession, and engaging others to glorify our heavenly Father: This is to have our lights burning indeed; this will make us ready to meet our Lord. We shall not be backward to open at his call, when all is thus cleansed and in good order within. And this is the preparation we ought chiefly to study. Our readiness to work will not avail us by itself; we must be doing, our work must be advancing; for in vain do we trim the lamp, if it do not shine and give light; in vain are our loins girded about, if we have nothing to do, or neglect our business. Further, in the

3d place, We are here directed to be constantly on our guard, and to keep a strict and careful watch till our Master

return.

Watchfulness is frequently in Scripture opposed to sleep and that even the best Christians have need of this caution, we may learn from our Saviour's parable of the ten virgins; where it is said, (Matth. xxv. 5.) that "while the bridegroom tar ried, they all," that is, the wise as well as

[ocr errors]

sented in Scripture as being in a state of death; quite stupid and unfeeling; but even those who have got a principle of new life may suffer very sad decays; and though they do not totally expire, yet they may fall into that sleep which is the image of death. Though the precious oil which feeds the light will not suffer it to go out; yet, for want of trimming, it may grow so dim and obscure, that it shall scarcely be discernible. Now this, my brethren, is a very melancholy situation; and it highly concerneth us to guard against it with our utmost care, We read of some who lost their first love; nay, Paul complains of the Hebrews, that they had lost even their former knowledge, and had need "to be taught again which be the first principles of the oracles of God." "The hand of the diligent maketh rich and he that is slothful is brother to him that is a great waster." Indeed, if holiness were natural to us, then it might abide with us, and grow up of its own accord without any care on our part; but as it is of a foreign extraction, and as our hearts are choked up with noxious weeds, this precious seed must be watched over, and carefully tended, otherwise it will starve and decay. The sleeping Christian cannot thrive; and if he be surprised in that condition when his Master calls, how great shall his disorder be! We should therefore beware of slothfulness; we have still work to do, and God hath not allowed us one moment more than is needful. Let us then awake to our business; let us never think we have finished our task so long as there is any part of the day to run; but let us imitate the great apostle of the Gentiles, who, notwithstanding his high attainments in religion, yet "did not think he had already obtained, either was already perfect; but, forgetting the things which were behind, and reaching forth unto those things which were before, he pressed towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.'

But we may consider watchfulness in another light, namely, as a duty arising from our present circumstances of danger. And in this view the necessity of it will appear unspeakably great; for though we

could acquire such a stock of graces that begin to beat the men-servants, and we needed not make any further addition maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be to them; nay, though we might even lie drunken; the lord of that servant will down and sleep, without any apprehension come in a day when he looketh not for of their decay; yet, if we be in danger him, at an hour when he is not aware, and from without, if thieves may break through will cut him in sunder, and will appoint and steal our treasure, then of necessity him his portion with the unbelievers." It we must be constantly on our guard; nor appears from this passage, that the faithful is it wise in us to drop our watch for one discharge of social duties has a higher moment. And who can doubt that this rank in religion than many seem to appreis our situation? "Watch and pray," hend. It is not indeed the whole of religion; said our Saviour, "that ye enter not into neither can it be called the most essential temptation." So great is our danger, that part of it; for no doubt the duties of the our own vigilance is not sufficient to secure highest class are those which belong to us; we must call in foreign assistance, we the first table of the law, and arise from must implore the divine aid; for "unless our first and most lasting relation. We an Almighty Guardian keep the city, the were the subjects of God before we became watchman waketh in vain.” Yea, when members of human society; and if we Satan desired to have Peter, that he prove unfaithful to God, it cannot surely might "sift him as wheat," our Saviour give him any pleasure to behold confederhimself, who had encountered this enemy, ated rebels living in the most perfect and knew his strength, prayed for his agreement among themselves: so that a zealous disciple, that his faith might not man may, in several respects, prove an fail. And if both watchfulness and prayer agreeable, perhaps an useful, member of be necessary for our defence, alas! what society, and after all be condemned for shall become of those who neglect both? his ingratitude to God, and rebellion One compares the gracious soul to a ship against his Maker. Nevertheless, the richly laden; which is the greater tempta- discharge of those duties which we owe to tion to pirates upon that very account. I one another, is of such importance in relisay not this to discourage the sincere gion, that I can warrantably affirm, no Christian; for greater is he that is with man shall be saved who transgresses them, you than all that can be against you; but or even who wilfully and habitually nemethinks it should excite you to double glects them. It is not to be expected, your watchfulness. If you have profited nor indeed is it necessary, that I should by the means of grace; if your treasure give you a detail of these; they are univeris increased; instead of growing secure, sally better understood than they are pracyou should be the more humble and watch-tised. Our duty here extends to all the ful upon that very account; for needful is that caution, "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." Once more, in the

different expressions of righteousness and love; and the rule is both short and plain; All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to 4th place, Our Saviour here directs us them. The best offices are those which to consider ourselves as fellow-servants promote our neighbor's spiritual and eterand members of his family; and in this nal interest; and therefore religious inview another part of our preparation for struction, friendly advice, and seasonable his coming must lie in the performance reproof, cannot be dispensed with. Whatof the duties we owe to each other, as ever tends to discourage vice, or to prowell as of those duties which more imme-mote the interests of religion and virtue, diately respect himself. This is more is strictly incumbent upon us, according clearly pointed out to us in the 45th and 46th verses of this chapter, where we find a fearful threatening denounced against those who neglect this mutual relation; "But, and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming, and shall

to the power and authority which our sta tion gives us; and therefore he is but half a magistrate, and a poor half too, who resents only the injury that is done to men, and overlooks those horrid instances of impiety against God, which the good laws

of our land authorize him to punish. In certain and necessary; and the apostle short, whatever be our condition in life, Paul, in the 8th chapter of his epistle to there are certain duties belonging to it the Romans, derives a very ingenious, but which we must perform; and I shall only substantial, argument in favor of this add, that as the obligation is mutual, both doctrine, from the present burdened state. parties are equally bound, and neither can and weary face of the creation: nor can withhold from the other what is due with- any who professeth Christianity pretend out an injury; nor is the superior less to question it. Should not this then strictly bound to those who are below him, oblige us to make ready for it? With than the inferior to those who are above these very eyes shall we sce our Rehim; and they who possess the highest deemer; and how shall we look him in stations are equally obliged, with the the face, if we have been unfaithful during meanest of their brethren, to "live his absence, and lived at random, as if soberly, righteously, and godly, in the world," and to promote the glory of God, and the welfare of human society, by the faithful and conscientious use of all those talents which God hath put into their hands; and if they do otherwise, they shall be condemned and punished by their Master and Judge when he cometh again. After this manner are we taught to make ready for the Lord's return.

none had power over us? Nay, methinks this very consideration that he is now removed from us, should work upon our ingenuity, and excite us to the utmost care and diligence in his service. Every one will be doing while he sees the master present; the test of fidelity is, to mind the master's interest when he is at a distance; especially the interest of such a Master, who hath bought us from the most deplorable slavery with his own precious blood, and requires nothing at our hand, but what tends to make us happy here, and to fit us for eternal glory hereafter.

We must lay aside every thing that may encumber us in his service; we must labor to know our Master's will, and to keep all our graces in lively and vigorous exercise ;-particularly, we should guard against slothfulness and security, and, 2dly. The uncertainty of the time of from a sense of our danger, keep a strict his coming should excite us to be always and habitual watch against the enemies of busy at our work, and in a fit posture to our souls; at the same time regarding receive him. This argument is much ineach other as fellow-servants, and faith-sisted upon by our Saviour. He often fully performing those social duties which compares his coming to that of a thief in belong to our several stations and rela- the night, who studies secrecy, and will tions. To all which I might further add, not give any previous notice: and this that we should earnestly look out for our seems to be the meaning of that allusion Master's coming, and long for his second in the 36th verse, where he likens himand glorious appearance, when we and all self to one who is attending a marriagehis faithful servants shall be admitted solemnity; because on such occasions peointo his immediate presence, and be ena-ple are not usually masters of their own bled to serve him without any mixture of time, which renders the season of their sin, in another and a better world than return to their own houses more uncerthis.

I COME now to exhort you to the practice of these duties; for which I offer the following motives and arguments:

1st then, One great argument for the preparation here recommended may be drawn from the certainty of our Lord's return. This is asserted in so many passages of Scripture, that there is no room left us to doubt it. The present mixt state of things renders a future judgment not only probable to reason, but almost

tain. And if this be the case, can there be a more powerful motive to an habitual preparation? Behold, I come as a thief," says our Saviour, in the book of the Revelation. "Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." Dost thou not know, O man! but that tomorrow thy Master may come to thee; or, which is the same thing, may call thee to him? and wilt thou not be busy? Show us thy security for one day, and

then claim that day as thine own: but if | vants, never more to rise again. O blessed thou canst not, how mad art thou to neglect thy business, or to leave any task unfinished, whilst it is in the power of thy hands to do it? Especially, if it be considered, in the

rest! O glorious society! O delightful entertainment! But what can these words mean, He shall gird himself, and come forth and serve them?-Surely this cannot be literally fulfilled; yet it must have a resemblance to something that is real, otherwise it would not have been mentioned.

Thus much we know, that on that day Christ shall bestow some extraordinary marks of respect upon his servants, which our ears have not yet heard, neither can our hearts conceive."

[ocr errors]

3d place, That when thy Master returns, thy working-time is over. What is then unfinished must remain so for ever. He comes to judge thee, according to what thou hast done, and not to call thee to perfect thy unfinished labors. This, my brethren, is a most awful consideration; we are now sowing the seed for eternity, and what we sow, that shall If "there is joy in heaven over one we reap. Our Master's order is, "Oc- sinner that repenteth," though he is then cupy till I come: that is the term; and only beginning his warfare, and has many we can neither get it protracted nor re- a weary and painful step before him; if newed; and if we be found unfaithful, the prodigal is so kindly embraced upon dreadful shall our punishment be; and his first return from feeding swine, and the more dreadful upon this account, that gets "the wedding-ring on his finger, and it shall be perpetual, without abatement the best robe put on him; what shall and without end. But, as I would rather be the saint's honor in that day of the choose to allure than frighten you to your "manifestation of the sons of God!" duty, I shall represent to you, as a

[ocr errors]

"If any man serve me," saith Christ, "let him follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be. If any man serve me, him will my Father honor." But these matters are too high for us; the glories of the upper world are far beyond our sight. Yet surely those discoveries which have been imparted to us, are sufficient to invite our thoughts frequently thither; and especially to excite us to the most diligent preparation for our Lord's return, "who is gone before to prepare a place for us, and who shall certainly come again, and receive us unto himself, that where he is, there we may be also."

4th Motive to a diligent preparation for your Master's coming: The glorious advancement, and blessed reward, of the watchful servants, which is mentioned in the last part of my text; Verily I say unto you. It is introduced with a strong asseveration, to denote the absolute certainty of the thing; and, O how condescending is that which follows! He shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Surely this is a reward, not of debt, but of grace; for how can the most perfect obedience merit any thing like this? Those faithful servants shall be advanced to an honor, which, were it Well, then, my dear fellow-servants, not promised, they could not lawfully Let our loins be girded about, and our hope for They shall be entertained by lights always burning; ere long our work their Master at his own table; there shall shall be at an end, and this glorious they feast without any to disturb them. eternal reward shall begin. "Let us not Here, indeed, whilst we are at our work, be weary in well-doing for in due season we obtain some foretastes of this heaven we shall reap if we faint not." Above ly banquet; but how soon is the table all, let us guard against security and selfdrawn! But it shall not be so in hea-confidence; let us join prayer with our ven. Here we must eat, as the Jews did watching, depending upon him who hath their passover, "in haste, with our loins girded, our shoes on our feet, and our staff in our hand.”—But in heaven we shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and with all our dear fellow-ser

said, "My grace is sufficient for thee." To whom, with the Father, and the everblessed Spirit, one God, be glory and honor, dominion and power, for evermore. Amen.

SERMON XIV.

SIMILITUDE OF THE RACE.

are open, we may continually hear its voice behind us, saying, "Lo! this is the way, walk ye in it."

But the Christian life includes in it something more than the mere perfor

1 CORINTHIANS, IX. 24.-"So run that ye may mance of duty; the cross lies in our way,

obtain."

IN these words the Christian life is compared to a race, and the disciples of Jesus are warmly exhorted to press for ward in their way to heaven, till they obtain the glorious prize for which they contend.

I shall therefore make it my business, in the following discourse,

First, To give you a general account of the race we have to run; and

Secondly, To illustrate the fitness and propriety of this similitude. After which, in the

Third place, I shall press the exhortation by some motives and arguments.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

and we shall never get to the end of the race, unless we take it up, and, with meekness and patience, carry it along with us. It must be owned, indeed, that this, at the first sight, hath rather the look of a clog or incumbrance; and the Christian, while under the cross, is very apt to think so: he feels his burden, and in his own apprehension, moves so heavily, that he is afraid he shall never get to the end of his journey; which frequently inclines him to wish that the load were removed, and some easier piece of service assigned him. But this in reality is a mistake the cross is far from being a hindrance in our way to heaven; for though a heavy material load oppresses the body, yet in the spiritual I NEED not spend much time upon the race it often happens, that the burdened first of these particulars. In general, the soul makes both the swiftest and the surest race we have to run, comprehends the progress. Tribulation worketh patience, whole of that duty we owe to God; and patience experience, and experience namely, obedience to his laws, and sub- hope. The cross may be called a tree mission to his providence; doing what he both of knowledge and of life: the fruit commands, and patiently enduring what it bears hath no deadly quality; on the ever he is pleased to appoint. The charge contrary, it gives both sight and health; which our great Master hath given us is it opens our eyes to see the good we ought expressed in these words: Occupy till I to choose, and the evil we ought to shun; come. All the gifts of nature, of provi- and is often made effectual, by the blessdence, and of grace, are talents put into ing of God, to purge away those fatal disour hands; which must not only be care- tempers which sin hath brought into our fully kept, but diligently improved, for frame, to beget in us a loathing of every his glory and our own spiritual advantage; thing that is evil, and more ardent desires otherwise we shall be condemned, not only after higher measures of that holiness, as slothful, but as wicked, servants, and which is at once the ornament and the punished accordingly. "To him that happiness of our nature. The cross doth knoweth to do good, and doeth it not," not enfeeble us, though we erroneously saith the apostle James, "to him it is may think so; it only makes us sensible sin." It is not sufficient, barely "to deny of our weakness, that we may depend upungodliness and worldly lusts: " the on him who is "the Lord our strength; grace of God doth further teach us "to and instead of crushing us with its own live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the weight, obligeth us to quit our hold of world; " adding one Christian grace to those real incumbrances which mar our another, abounding more and more in the progress, and hinder us to "run the race work of the Lord, till we have perfected that is set before us. holiness in the fear of God. Thus extensive is the divine law, reaching to every part of our conduct, at all times, and in all places and circumstances. Wherever we are, it speaks to us; and if our ears

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Thus I have given you a general view of the race we have to run. It comprehends obedience to the laws of God, and submission to his discipline; doing what he commands, and patiently enduring what

« EdellinenJatka »