of wicked men? Then be it known to you, you are ashamed of Christ! Perhaps you might be able to render some service to that branch of the church with which you are connected-to discharge some duty, to fill some office which might promote its interest. Do you withhold your services because you are ashamed to render them? David, who was a king, was willing, if duty required it, to be "a door-keeper"* in the house of God, and if you will examine the scriptures, you will ascertain that that was an humble office in the Jewish church. Perhaps you may consider God's dealings with you remarkable, and that your conversion is a wonderful manifestation of divine grace. Would the communication of your spiritual conflicts and encouragements, and the ultimate triumph of grace, comfort or assist others who tell you they are suffering under the frowns of an angry God, (as you know you have suffered) and are you ashamed to tell them. what had been your condition?-of your horrible anticipations, of the pangs of your repentance, of your darkness and uncertainty, and of the "joy and peace in believing," which you experienced when you had found that Saviour "of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write"? Now understand me upon this subject. No christian can boast of his religious experience, or intentionally encourage conversations upon religious subjects, which might lead *Ps, lxxxiv. 10, + Rom. xv. 13. others astray; but examine the lives of many christians who have lived since the days of the apostles, or consult the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and you will find that very many of the people of God in all ages of the church, have detailed many particulars which occurred in their passage "from death unto life." Two instances from the scriptures are deemed sufficient. David invites others to come near and he will tell them what God hath done for his soul;* and St. Paul recounts in public, the particulars of his conversion.t Permit me to make a few suggestions in addition to what I have already said upon this subject. We read in the gospel, that Christ in the days of his flesh, healed the diseases of many sick persons; palsy and leprosy, and many other diseases were driven away by him who has "all power in heaven and in earth." Amongst other miraculous cures, we read that he opened the eyes of one of age at the time of the miracle, who had been born blind; and restored to health and strength, a man who had been impotent thirty-and-eight years, If afterwards those persons had been asked by others afflicted as they had been, "tell us how you were relieved, that we may resort to the same remedy:" and the man born blind, ashamed of his benefactor, had answered, "it is enough for you to know that I see plainly:" and the man who had been impotent had said, "excuse my delicacy; the manner of my cure is known only * Ps. lxvi. 16. † Acts xxii. John v. and ix. to my physician and myself”—what would be your opinion of those persons? Reader! if you in truth know the great "Physician," and he has healed you, he has delivered you from more awful blindness, and freed you from diseases more horrible than any which can beset the body. And can you (because you are ashamed,) refuse to direct one spiritually blind and diseased as you once were, to the only remedy, to the same balm of Gilead which healed your soul, and to the only physician who can administer that blessed medicine? Reader! have you not failed to perform some, or all the duties which I have mentioned, because you are ashamed of Christ? Does your own heart condemn you? God is greater than your heart, and if you die without repentance, He also will condemn you! I bid you farewell, and apprise you-you must bear the cross of Christ with all the shame that attaches to it, or in the eternal world to which you are hastening, you will dwell with everlasting burnings. 13 |