,transcribed from the #ahfd edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,,two ,,sermons ,,preached ,,in ,,the ,,parish ,,church ,,of ,,nonington1 ,,kent1 ,,january #ag1 #ahfd1 ,being the ,sunday following the ,funeral of ,,john ,,pemberton ,,plumptre1 ,,esq41 ,,of ,,fredville1 ,,in ,,the ,,same ,,parish4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,herbert ,,james1 ,perpetual ,curate of ,goodnestone1 ,kent1 ,,and ,,the ,,rev4 ,,edward ,,hoare1 ,incumbent of ,trinity ,church1 ,tunbridge ,wells4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,dover3 ,,batcheller4 ,,london3 ,,nisbet1 ,,berners ,,street4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sermon1 ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,herbert ,,james4 8,remember them which have the rule over you 7are the guides71 who have spoken unto you the ,word of ,god3 whose faith follow1 considering the end of their conversation40--,heb4 xiii4 #g4 ,god's gifts to ,his ,church are manifold4 ,he has given ,christ and eternal life in ,him4 ,he has given the ,word of ,christ1 the precious casket which enshrines ,him and ,his salvation4 ,he has given the ,holy ,ghost to lead us by the ,word ,inspired to the ,word ,incarnate4 ,and ,he has given ,christians indeed--men and women saved by ,christ--living embodiments of a living ,saviour and a living ,word1 through the living ,spirit4 ,in all these gifts ,he has a special purpose in view4 ,they are not thrown at random into the world4 ,god does nothing aimlessly4 ,when ,he called this world of ours into being1 and gave it its proper place in the universe as the habitation for man1--when ,he gathered up the light into the light-bearers1 and commanded them to be for signs1 and for seasons1 for days1 and years1--when ,he put the topstone to creation1 and set man upon the earth to be ,his representative1--in all this there was nothing without design4 8,he hath made ,his wonderful works to be remembered40 ,and so1 brethren1 has ,he dealt in things of higher moment4 ,when ,he gave ,his ,son1 ,his ,word1 ,his ,spirit1 ,his people1 there was a meaning in each of these gifts4 ,they are no accidents4 ,his choosing is for our using4 ,his mercies are for our minding4 ,his gifts are for our gain1 as well as for the glory of ,his own grace4 ,now1 this is specially true of that great1 but often little-regarded1 gift--a ,christian indeed4 ,it is a mistake to suppose that such an one is here merely to work out his own salvation1 and heap up treasure for himself in the world to come4 ,he is not here for himself4 ,as an unconverted man an end is to be served by his being4 ,as a converted man a far higher end is to be served by his being in ,christ4 ,he is ,god's workmanship1 ,god's appointment for others2--a privilege for those amongst whom he is placed2 a light to see by2 salt to be savoured by2 a leader to be marked2 a guide to be followed4 ,the apostle recognises this truth in the scripture before us4 ,he is writing to a people whom he wishes to establish in the faith4 ,for this he plies them with motives1 and suggests means4 ,in so doing he comes to set before them those who were their guides in the faith4 ,he urges them to follow their example whilst living1 to treasure their memory when dead4 ,they would find this a mighty help towards standing fast4 ,brethren1 we are called to a like duty this day4 ,we are met together1 the poorer1 most of us1 by a friend2 the richer1 all of us1 by a memory and an example4 ,we have had--we still have--a gift of ,god1 in the person of ,his sainted servant4 ,we have had a real ,christian to look upon and live by4 ,let us listen1 then1 to these words of earnest exhortation1 and 8remember those who are the guides--following their faith1 and considering the end 7the termination71 of their conversation40 ,will you not pray that ,god the ,holy ,ghost may clothe ,his ,word with new power1 and enable me to speak so as to glorify ,god--to quicken1 to comfort1 to edify souls8 ,i propose more especially to take up the latter half of the verse1 and to mark-- ,i4 ,what ,god would have us to follow2 ,,ii4 ,what ,god would have us to consider4 ,i4 ,what is it1 then1 which ,god would have us to follow8 ,the faith of those who are 8guides40 ,this leads me to observe one view which every ,christian ought to take of his position4 ,he is called to be a guide in the faith--by his life1 if not by his words4 ,now1 brethren1 ,i am aware that this is held to be almost exclusively the duty of ministers4 ,the text is usually so applied4 ,i have no wish to shift off the responsibility from them4 ,they1 if any1 ought to go before the flock4 ,nor do ,i wish to put young ,christians out of their proper place4 ,but ,i do hold very strongly that this responsibility of ministers is shared by all the servants of ,christ4 ,whatever their position--whatever their measure of grace or gifts1 they are called of ,god to lead on others in the faith1 in some measure4 ,one star may differ from another star in glory1 or degree of brightness4 ,one member of the body may differ from another in size and shape4 ,but the least star has its place and power1 and the least member its work and fitness for that work 7#a ,cor4 xii4 #ba1 #bb74 ,and so of each ,christian4 8,as every man hath received the gift1 even so minister the same one to another1 as good stewards of the manifold grace of ,god40 ,your standing as a ,christian may not be advanced4 ,your measure of grace1 to your own thinking1 may be somewhat scant--but your working and example up to the extent of that grace1 are necessary for the well-being of the whole body4 ,to you1 as well as to others1 is this word spoken 8,ye are my witnesses10 and by you1 as well as by others1 may comfort be afforded to some soul not yet gathered1 some sheep yet straying upon the dark mountains4 ,none are too small in ,god's sight to be useful4 ,none are so low down but they may help to lift up others4 ,every atom has a shadow4 ,every ,christian has an influence4 ,believe me there is no such thing as an idle life--you are either a blight or a blessing4 ,this1 then1 ,i say1 is one view which every ,christian ought to take of his position4 ,if he has faith1 he has a faith to be followed4 ,and this1 too1 is the view which others are to take of every such ,christian4 ,wherever any such have realised their high calling1 and risen to it1 there would ,god have us remember them1 and follow1 or imitate1 their faith4 ,but whilst ,i say this of all1 it is emphatically true with respect to those who1 by the grace of ,god1 were1 in faith1 what they were4 ,need ,i say that1 until very lately1 we had one in our midst who did take a right view of his position1 and who has left a pattern of faith which we should be only too glad to follow4 ,looking at him as a ,christian1 ,i might justly use the words in which his spiritual helper of former days 7,bishop ,wilson7 described ,mr4 ,cecil3 8,all the finer materials which distinguished him as a man1 were wrought up1 if ,i may so say1 and sanctified by the ,holy ,ghost40 ,but as it was more especially as a man of faith that he stood out before the world1 it is in this character that ,i would ask you to look at him4 ,and1 here let me say once for all1 that in speaking of him to-day1 ,i desire to speak of him as ,god's handywork4 ,i have no wish to exalt the creature4 ,you know how he would have loathed any approach to that4 ,but ,i do wish1 however faintly1 to set forth what ,god's grace did for a poor1 weak1 sinful1 erring man1 of like passions with us4 ,to that grace he owed all1 and to the honour of that grace alone1 ,i ascribe all his eminence as a guide in the faith4 ,he believed through grace4 ,i am not aware of the exact time1 or of the exact circumstances of his conversion1 but ,i have reason to believe that for fifty years he had believed1 and known ,him in whom he believed4 ,the ground and warrant of his faith was the sure ,word of ,god4 ,the object of it was ,god in ,christ--a reconciling ,father1 a sufficient ,saviour1 an ever-present ,counsellor and ,comforter4 ,he received that which was delivered to him--as it is also to us--that 8,christ died for our sins according to the ,scriptures40 ,this all-perfect1 all-satisfying substitution and atonement of the ,lord ,jesus was from the first1 and to the last1 the one foundation of his trust1 the one source of his life and strength4 ,he felt this1 and nothing less than this1 to be necessary4 ,he found this1 and this alone1 to be sufficient4 ,he realised it4 ,he rested on it4 ,he rejoiced in it4 ,for among the more leading features of his faith1 these two stand out3--its fixedness1 and its joyousness4 ,it was a fixed faith4 ,having received the ,word of ,god1 he dealt with it as the ,word of ,god4 ,he submitted himself to its declarations with the simplicity of a little child4 ,where it warned1 he took heed4 ,where it led1 he followed4 ,where it promised1 he took hold4 ,and so having found it written therein that 8they who believe are justified10 he believed1 and was justified4 ,his faith grew into a full assurance1 for assurance is but faith intensified4 ,as such it wrought wondrously4 ,by it he became what he was4 ,it helped him to choose for ,god1 and to be decided for the right4 ,it enabled him to confess ,christ before man1 and to be steadfast when others were wavering4 ,by this he overcame the world when it bid fair and high for his service1 and by this he attempted not a few things for ,god1 in a day when there were but few to stand by him4 ,from this came his calmness in the midst of trouble1 and from this his confidence in the hour of death4 ,for thus he could say whilst passing into eternity3--8,were it not for mercy ,i should be lost2 but by the mercy of ,god in ,christ ,i am saved4 ,wonderful60 ,and again1 8,what should ,i do without ,christ4 ,such a poor sinner6 but complete and accepted in the ,beloved6 ,such a sure foundation4 ,such a great salvation60 8,he will never leave me nor forsake me40 8,i am complete in ,him60 ,it was a joyous faith4 ,he did not barely know and assent1 and rely--he delighted4 ,christ was the joy of his soul as well as the soul of his joys4 ,his heart ran over with gladness as he thought of the freeness and sufficiency of the great ,salvation4 ,the grace that brought it--the power that wrought it--the blood which bought him for it--and the love which taught him how to use it--were the subjects of his unceasing thankfulness and praise4 ,the result of all this was a very sunny ,christianity4 ,he was not without his trials--what ,christian is8 ,but1 with all1 he seemed to have real enjoyment of his religion4 ,the good news was good news to him1 and he shewed it4 8,he joyed in ,god40 ,o for a few more ,christians of the same sort--men and women who believe1 and live as if they believed6 ,what a reproach would be rolled from the faith if we could but hold up our heads a little more6 ,we do not want any alteration of doctrine to make ,christian truth more attractive1 but we do want more attractive cheerfulness in those who believe and know that truth4 ,such1 then1 brethren in outline at least1 is the faith which you and ,i are to follow4 ,god would have us remember this guide1 who thus spoke to us ,his word1 and imitate1 or copy1 his faith4 ,are you1 at this present speaking1 an unbeliever8 ,solemnly and personally1 ,god calls upon you to believe4 ,do not say that it is out of the question for such an one as you are4 ,here was one who1 like yourself1 was once a stranger to ,god4 ,but he obtained mercy4 8,the grace of our ,lord was exceeding abundant toward him in faith40 ,that grace is offered to you--can work in you4 ,go to ,god for it as he went4 ,you are invited to come4 ,he is waiting to be gracious4 ,he cannot deny you4 ,tell ,him that you have come in ,christ's name1 for the blessedness of those who know the joyful sound1 and you will go forth walking in the light of ,his countenance4 ,are you weak in faith8 ,be encouraged by this example1 to believe more fixedly1 more confidently4 ,you have the same warrant1 the same ground for your faith to rest upon--the word of truth1 the ,gospel of your ,salvation4 ,that assures you that all is done for you1--that a double punishment has been laid for you upon the ,surety1--a double satisfaction rendered on your behalf by ,him 7,isaiah xl41 #b71 8,look at ,christ set before you in the ,gospel1 and faith will come into exercise40 ,then you will come to rest where our departed friend rested4 ,it is no impossible attainment1 no act of presumption4 ,when the ,lord is saying 8,eat1 ,o friends1 yea drink--drink abundantly1 ,o beloved10 surely we ought not to reply to ,his large-hearted offers with any other response than a large-hearted confidence4 ,and you1 brethren1 who are walking in the steps of this faith1 set it still before you4 ,be not slothful4 ,follow on4 ,carry out this principle of foundation-faith which ,i have been illustrating4 ,you have still much to gain4 ,you can never sit down like the conqueror in old day who wept because there were no more worlds to conquer4 ,there remaineth yet much land to be possessed4 ,there are many enemies to be overcome4 ,there is much grace to be attained to4 ,there is a closer intimacy and fellowship with the ,lord ,jesus to be won4 ,for all this faith must be in action4 ,you have still much to meet4 ,duties--decisions--disappointments--car es--troubles4 ,the pressure will be great both from within and from without4 ,you have to learn better how to refer all things to a spiritual standard--how to commit everything to the guidance of a faithful and present ,god--how to endure as seeing ,him who is invisible4 ,for all this faith must be increased4 ,it is the only secret of power4 ,if you aim at this1 suffer me to remind you of that in our departed friend which tended to make his faith what it was4 ,no plant of righteousness can grow without being nourished in secret4 ,no ,christian soul can thrive unless it be fed from hidden sources4 ,our friend knew this1 and therefore largely used those 8nether springs0 of the ,word of ,god and prayer4 ,he loved both4 ,with both his hand was diligent1 and by this diligence he was made rich4 ,but it is of his habit of prayer that ,i would more particularly speak4 ,the flame of his faith was fed by the oil of prayer4 ,he had 8the gift of the knees40 ,of him it might be truly said that he gave himself unto prayer4 ,late at night and early in the morning was he known to be pleading before the ,throne4 ,his voice was indeed that of ,jacob1 and so the faith and the walk were those of ,enoch4 ,oh1 brethren--one great spring of sure and successful believing lies in sustained secret prayer4 ,when the one wanes1 the other withers4 ,when the hands droop ,amalek prevails4 ,many a lost jewel of assurance--of comfort--of usefulness1 must be looked for in the place where you dropped it--your place of prayer4 ,if1 then1 you would believe more1 pray more4 ,gird yourselves afresh to ,his work4 ,open your mouth wide and ,god will fill it4 ,why remain poor with a boundless treasury to draw upon8 ,,ii4 ,i pass now from what ,god would have us follow1 to what ,he would have us to consider1 viz43-- ,i4 ,the conversation of those who are guides4 ,,ii4 ,the end of that conversation4 ,if the faith of ,god's people is to be marked1 so also is the fruit of it4 ,we have seen the principle4 ,we have now to see the practice which followed from it4 ,i4 ,let me notice however that the word 8conversation0 does not mean merely 8speech0 or 8talk40 ,it refers to the whole character1 life1 and walk3 to the #8ins' and #8outs2' the turnings and windings of the life4 ,so that in these words we are called upon to act as if we had to survey a country from a height--to trace a line of coast1 and to mark it until it passes off1 and is lost to sight in the distance4 ,now ,i am bold to say that1 through ,god's abounding grace and power1 the conversation we are this day called to consider is a fair prospect indeed4 ,taking a rapid general view of his character1 ,i would say1 that to him to live was ,christ4 ,christ was the principle1 the power1 the pattern1 of his life4 ,entering more into detail1 ,i would say that the character has been sketched out for us by a master-hand4 ,if you look at the epistle for the day 7,romans xii41 #f-af7 you will see what ,i mean4 ,look where you will1 you can but say that ,god did all things well in him--the ,holy ,ghost filled him with ,his fruit4 ,you know full well what his purpose and manner of life was4 ,as a representative--a magistrate--a landlord--a master--a neighbour--there was always the same ,christian consistency--the same unworldliness of spirit4 ,well did he carry out the injunction of a dying father--8,see1 my son1 that you render unto ,csar the things that are ,csar's1 and unto ,god the things that are ,god's40 ,of his more private life ,i will only say that he was taught of ,god to fill up every relationship1 and in each one to show whose beauty and comeliness were put upon him4 ,if however1 ,i am still to select those features of character which were most prominently marked--the jutting headlands 7so to speak7 of that fair line of coast1 his life--,i would name these two3 #a1 ,meekness of humility2 #b1 ,tenderness of unselfish love4 ,as to both of these1 he had drunk deeply into the spirit of his ,master4 #a4 ,well was the mind of the meek and lowly ,jesus reflected in the life of ,his meekly humble servant4 ,humility was his clothing--no mere ornament on him--he was clothed with it1 and oh how real and deep it was6 ,to the eye of others there was much in which he might have gloried4 ,glory he did1 but only as a ,christian--only in the ,lord--only in the ,lord's ,cross4 ,throughout life there was the most utter self-abasement4 ,never was he unwilling to be nothing that ,christ might be all4 ,never was he unmindful of the ,rock from which he had been hewn4 ,never could any complain of him that they could not see ,christ over his head4 ,but most strikingly did his deep self-abasement come out at the close of life4 ,when asked if prayer should be offered for him1 his words were3 8,say nothing in my praise1 all to the grace of ,god40 8,people may say that ,i have been a good man4 ,i have been but a poor sinner4 ,i have left undone much that ,i ought to have done4 ,o ,lord6 my goodness extendeth not to ,thee4 ,even if ,i could say1 #8,i have walked in my integrity1' nothing but free redemption has saved me1 and could save me40 8,i'm a poor sinner1 and nothing at all2 ,jesus ,christ is my all in all40 8,a poor sinner in myself1 but pardoned and accepted in the ,beloved ,son of ,god4 ,amen4 ,amen40 ,truly brethren1 here was the humility which1 whilst it disowns and discrowns self1 puts the crown fully on the head which is worthy to wear it4 ,there is no affection4 ,nothing but the outpouring of the sincerest convictions of the soul1 telling us on the one hand that no flesh shall glory in ,his presence--on the other that the soul shall make her boast in the ,lord4 #b4 ,nor was the tender unselfish love less remarkable than the humility4 ,he realised in an uncommon degree the love shown in the coming and death of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,the thought of it would often melt his soul and overpower him for the time4 ,now1 such love1 so realised1 will always produce the reality of love4 ,no doubt there was much of tender feeling and deep affection in the natural character4 ,but these were increased a thousand fold by ,grace4 ,you could not look at him without being struck by this4 ,his heart looked out at his eyes1 and that look was a whole sermon upon love4 ,nor was it a mere sentiment4 ,love1 to be love1 must act1 and you know the forms which that action took in his case4 ,he loved and cared much for the bodies of men4 ,many of you now present can testify to this4 ,many hereafter will rise up and call him blessed4 ,but he loved and cared for souls more4 ,nothing could exceed the affectionate desirousness or the overflowing tenderness of his love for sinners4 ,by every means in his power he would labour to bring ,christ to them1 or them to ,christ4 ,i cannot dwell upon all the means he used4 ,his care to appoint godly ministers over the churches for which he was a trustee--his open-handed support of every society which put ,christ in ,his right place--these are as well known to you as to me4 ,i would rather recall his personal efforts to make known the ,gospel which was his own life4 ,many of you1 brethren1 can bear me witness that by the space of many years he did not shun to declare by lip and life1 by word and walk1 the whole counsel of ,god4 ,he was emphatically one of that class who1 to use the words of a poor man in ,london1 8carry their religion to other people's houses40 ,you know how he exhorted1 and comforted1 and taught2 and that nothing made him an happy as the telling out the story of the ,cross1 or seeing the change which it could work upon the soul4 ,what a striking instance of the activity of his love was given in one of his dying testimonies3--8,whilst ,i have power to speak it must be of ,salvation for ever and ever60 ,and this life was as unselfish as it was active4 ,as ,christ pleaded not ,himself1 so did ,his servant strive to act4 ,there was no living to self4 ,as ,jesus was the spring1 so ,jesus was the aim of the whole life4 ,it was ever1 8,lord1 what wilt thou have me to do80--ever--8,lord1 not my will but thine be done60 ,brethren1 consider this conversation--so humble1 so loving1 to unselfish4 ,look at it4 ,lay your own lives down by the side of it4 ,test them--not by what there was of the man1 but by what there was of the ,master4 ,see what the testing says2 and then rise up1 sadder possibly by the comparison1 yet wiser--humbled1 but yet hopeful4 ,for ,he who wrought here1 works still1 and loves to work1 for all who seek it at ,his hand4 ,,ii4 ,yet one point remains4 8,consider the end of their conversation40 ,i know it has been said--8,don't tell me how men died1 tell me how they lived40 ,but where the death is but the proper fruiting-out of the life it is right that we should mark it4 8,precious in the sight of the ,lord is the death of his saints10 and precious should they be in our sight4 ,the #8end' of our departed friend's conversation was one to be considered4 ,it was just what might have been expected4 ,it was perfect peace2 it is present rest2 it will be perfect glory4 ,the ,lord was faithful and loving to ,his servant1 and sustained him to the last4 8,grace0 and 8,christ0 were the two words oftenest on his lips--testifying at once to the source of his hope1 and the security of his standing4 ,it was an end which left nothing to be desired1 as the end of a saint of ,god4 ,calm1 settled1 unbroken confidence2 devout prayerfulness2 holy self-abasement2 loving consideration for and remembrance of others2 loving messages to you1 his poorer brethren1 loving words for you the children in the school--of whom he said1 8,i love them all0--these things and more than these marked that end4 8,he was happy10 he said1 8happy1 but only in ,christ2 not in myself1 nor from myself1 but only in ,jesus ,christ40 ,and so he passed away4 8,being 7to use the descriptive words of a writer of old day7 high in his communion with ,god1 holy and unblameable in his walkings with ,god--it was still day with his soul4 ,he lived and died in the joys and comforts of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and now that his sun is set1 his glass out1 his work1 done1 his race over1 he rests in the everlasting arms of ,divine love40 ,and now1 brethren1 what remains for us8 ,what for me but to speak home to your consciences8 ,what for you but to act upon what may be spoken to the point8 ,i say then--,remember the charge here given1 and consider the life of ,god's servant and its end4 ,he has been ,god's gift to ,his church--,god's gift to us in this neighbourhood1 that through him our souls might be helped on to salvation--,god's name become more abundantly honoured4 ,shall we not take this view of him8 ,consider this1 you that are ,christless--consciously without ,christ--without a well-grounded hope--what effect should this life and death have on you8 ,you have watched the one1 you have heard of the other4 ,you know in your heart of hearts that there has been no sham1 not a shadow of unreality4 ,if ever a real ,christian was to be seen1 you have seen one in him4 ,there is no doubt in your minds that he believed no lie1 followed no shadow4 ,you know that he has found all1 and more than all1 that he expected to find in ,christ4 ,you feel convinced that he chose wisely when he chose for ,god--because he chose a certainty4 ,with some here this is no new conviction4 ,as friend1 or neighbour1 or tenant1 or servant1 or labourer1 you have felt him to be in the right1 and have wished to be as he was4 ,i would to ,god1 brethren1 that you felt equally convinced that hitherto all has been uncertainty with you4 ,think for one moment4 ,are not your fears more than your hopes8 ,do you not feel sometimes that the end of your mirth may be heaviness1 the end of your pleasure pain8 ,does your name to live give you any real satisfaction8 ,will a gained world outweigh a lost soul8 ,have you any real settled peace8 ,is not all vague1 dark1 cheerless1 uncertain4 ,o that these convictions might sink down deeply into your hearts1 and bring you to the desire to be found of ,god in peace1 and to put aside everything that now stands in your way4 ,only begin where he began--where he1 if he were now in my place1 would urge me to begin--with ,christ4 ,go to the ,lord ,jesus this very day4 ,he who received and taught his servant1 will receive and teach you1 for ,he is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever4 8,this man receiveth sinners4 ,none teacheth like him40 ,consider1 you that are in ,christ4 ,you have in this bright example a solemn but very helpful reminder4 ,you are called to aim at a higher style of ,christianity--do not despise the summons4 ,you are offered the power of the ,holy ,ghost--do not despond4 ,take your stand where he took his4 ,learn to see things as he saw them1 and to hold what he held4 ,believe more4 ,cultivate a more vigorous faith4 ,add to your faith courage4 ,be less ashamed of ,christ4 ,be satisfied with nothing short of the manifestation of ,god to your soul1 and the manifestation of ,god by you to the world4 ,this makes life happiness1 and death a joy4 ,live so as to be missed4 ,seek to have behind you that good name which is better than precious ointment4 ,hold forth the word of life4 ,try to lay aside every hindrance of selfishness1 indolence1 love of ease1 half-heartedness4 ,let it be said of you1 as it may fitly be said of him3--,he was what ,god made him4 ,he worked where ,god placed him4 ,he went where ,god called him4 ,he is where ,god in ,christ is with him--a sinner1 saved by grace1 through faith1 in the ,lord1 with an everlasting salvation4 ,,sermon1 ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,edward ,,hoare4 8,these are they which were not defiled with women2 for they are virgins4 ,these are they which follow the ,lamb withersoever he goeth4 ,these were redeemed from among men1 being the first-fruits unto ,god and to the ,lamb4 ,and in their mouth was found no guile2 for they are without fault before the throne of ,god40--,rev4 xiv4 #d1 #e4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it must have been a wonderful moment to ,stephen1 when he suddenly saw the ,heavens opened1 and ,jesus standing at the right hand of ,god2 and it must be equally wonderful to any departing child of ,god1 when the veil is drawn aside1 and he finds himself suddenly in the visible presence of that blessed ,saviour whom1 though unseen1 he has long since loved and trusted4 ,what a moment must it have been to our dearly beloved friend when his eyes opened in the presence of ,god6 ,i can imagine the profound humiliation at the sight of ,jehovah2 the fervent utterances of overpowering love1 when he suddenly beheld the ,lord ,jesus1 as the ,lamb that had been slain2 and the joyful fulness of heart in the three loved and loving brethren1 when they found themselves once more together1 all brought safe home1 by the rich grace of their blessed ,saviour1 there to wait together for his kingdom1 and while waiting1 to rejoice together in the fulness of his love4 ,happy1 indeed1 are those brotherhoods on earth1 that prepare they way for such a brotherhood as1 there is ,i am persuaded1 is in ,heaven4 ,but we have no account in the ,scriptures of the first entrance of the individual believer1 and therefore we must forbear from giving too much liberty to the imagination4 ,we have however in this passage a description of something in many respects corresponding to it4 ,in the #gth chapter1 we read of the servants of ,god as represented by the #add1jjj scaled ones4 ,the seal was placed on their foreheads just before the four angels loosed the winds that were to desolate the earth4 ,storm and tempest were about to burst upon the world2 and this little company were sealed beforehand by their ,god in order that1 as marked men1 they might be kept safe throughout the danger4 ,accordingly in the desolation produced by the locust woe1 when men were hurt all around them1 the sealed ones remained untouched4 ,there was woe on every side1 but in the midst of it all they were kept safe by their seal4 ,but in this chapter the whole scene is changed4 ,they are no longer in the midst of a world swept by a succession of desolating woes2 no longer a bidden people struggling with difficulties on earth2 they are now taken up to ,mount ,zion1 and this ,mount ,zion must be the ,heavenly ,jerusalem1 for1 in verse #b their voice is said to come from ,heaven1 and in verse #c they are described as before the throne of ,god4 ,the ,saviour whom1 though unseen1 they have loved and followed1 is now standing conspicuous in the midst of them4 ,the seal is no longer a secret thing1 but its true character is brought to light1 and the ,father's name is seen written on their foreheads4 ,so they come before ,god no longer with strong crying and tears1 in the midst of strong temptations and overwhelming woes1 but now they burst forth in the new song of the new ,jerusalem4 ,nor are they alone in singing it1 for the twenty-four elders and four living ones are described as their companions2 for when the time comes for this prophecy to be fulfilled1 the family on earth will be united to that in ,heaven4 ,the separation will be over4 ,there will be a blessed meeting between the sealed on earth and the living ones in ,heaven4 ,their new song will be quickened by the joys of reunion1 for1 according to verse #c1 8they sang the new song not merely before the throne1 but before the four living ones and the elders40 ,ye1 therefore1 that mourn your separation from those you dearly love1 picture to yourself that joyful gathering4 ,look on from the parting day to the meeting day3 when your wilderness journey will be over1 when you shall be caught up to meet the ,lord in the air1 when those that are gone will have the joy of welcoming those that remain1 and when those that remain are taken up to enjoy their welcome1 that so both they and we may rejoice together before the throne of the ,lamb4 ,but my object to-day is not so much to dwell on the meeting1 as to study the character of the sealed servants of our ,god4 ,we all desire1 ,i trust1 to be amongst them on the meeting day1 and ,i see not1 for my own part1 how any wise man can rest till he has a well grounded hope given him by ,god1 that he is one of the number now4 ,it is most important then that we study well their character1 and may ,god grant that the seal may be on our foreheads during our struggle upon earth1 and the ,father's name clearly seen there when the ,lord comes to take the kingdom6 ,the character is given in the four descriptions of these two verses1 and ,i have been led to them now1 because they seem to give so faithful and true a portrait of our beloved and honoured friend--may ,i not say of the three dear brothers1 for in ,christian character they were one8 ,i4 ,in the #ast clause there is some difficulty1 because it seems at first sight to disparage the holy tie of matrimony--that sacred union which is a ,scriptural type of the mystical oneness which is between ,christ and ,his ,church4 ,but ,i am persuaded this is not the meaning of it4 ,the whole of the ,book of ,revelation is full of symbol2 and alliance with sin1 worldliness1 and popery is described in it1 as in other ,scriptures1 under the figure of spiritual fornication4 ,thus the ,church1 the ,bride of the ,lord1 is to be kept free from all such alliances and presented at last as a chaste virgin to ,christ4 ,but ,i will not dwell on this point any further than to remark how wonderfully it was illustrated in the case of our friend4 ,there was no such thing as unhallowed alliance in his conduct2 no pandering to the world2 no dallying with popery2 no attempt to win his objects by unfaithful compromises2 no mixing up with that which he disapproved4 ,he held on his way as one that was set apart unto ,god1 as one betrothed wholly to the ,lord4 ,there was a wonderful consistency about his whole character1 and he uniformly acted on the ,apostolic maxim1 8,have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness40 ,he delighted in his fellowship with ,god1 and he could have no alliance with anything contrary to ,god's will4 ,,ii4 ,but1 whatever we may think of the first description1 there can be no doubt about the second4 8,these are they that follow the ,lamb1 whithersoever he goeth40 ,there is no symbolical language here1 but a plain1 clear1 unmistakeable1 description of ,christian character4 ,our ,lord describes his own sheep by this invariable test1 8,they follow me40 8,i know them 7,he says7 and they follow me40 ,he knows them4 ,he knows each one by name1 by disposition1 by circumstance2 knows who we are1 where we are1 what we are2 knows all our wants1 our cares1 our joys1 our sorrows1 our temptations2 and if we be ,his1 we follow ,him1 seeking to know ,his will1 watching for ,his beckoning hand1 listening for ,his directing voice1 and tracing ,his sacred footsteps4 ,but this text goes a step further than the words of our ,lord1 for it adds the words 8whithersoever he goeth10 shewing that there is no reserve and no qualification4 ,wherever the ,lord leads the way1 there the sealed servants are prepared to follow4 ,they do not want to pick and choose for themselves1 or merely to follow in pleasant paths2 still less do they wish to be led by the leaders of the world1 or guided by the motives of the world4 ,to follow the ,lord ,jesus ,christ is the great object of their life1 to walk in ,his steps1 to do ,his will1 and to live to ,his glory4 ,now1 perhaps1 some might be disposed to say 8,have you ever known any one that has thus followed ,christ8 ,can you point to an example of such a character80 ,and1 ,i believe ,i may safely say that ,i can4 ,i point to our honoured friend 7,i might add1 to all the brothers7 and say1 8,these are they that followed the ,lamb1 whithersoever ,he led the way40 ,i am not afraid of appealing to all that knew him1 to all that were connected with him as servants in his house1 or as dependants on his estate1 to all that were acquainted with him as a magistrate and country gentleman1 to all that observed him in that most difficult and testing place of character the ,house of ,commons2 ,i can appeal to all1 and ,i am sure that when you look back on all your intercourse with him you must admit that you never found bye ends governing the character2 but you saw a man who1 with a single and simple aim desired in everything1 without reserve1 to follow ,christ4 ,this was the secret of his whole life4 ,many look back on his gentleness and kind affections1 many on his princely liberality so often and so generously helping in secret those whose wants were known only to himself1 many on his holy fidelity to the truth of ,god2 but all sprang from one principle1 and that was 8,follow me40 ,whatever he had to do as a father1 as a master1 as a friend1 as steward of an ample fortune1 as a trustee for ,church patronage1 or as a member of ,parliament1 there was one single end before him1 and that was to follow ,christ4 ,he could truly say as ,standfast did in 8,pilgrim's ,progress10 8,i have loved to hear my ,lord spoken of1 and wherever ,i have seen the print of ,his shoe in the earth1 there have ,i coveted to set my foot too40 ,and this ,i believe to be the secret of his perfectly peaceful end4 ,he had not lived for the world1 so he was not disturbed when called to leave it4 ,during life he had walked with ,god1 so in death he was not afraid of meeting ,him4 ,for nearly fifty years he had followed the ,lamb1 and no wonder that there was not a shadow of fear when the message of love was sent to call him through the veil to see that ,saviour face to face4 ,and so1 dear brethren1 ,i am persuaded it must be with us4 ,if we would die as he did1 in perfect peace1 we should seek to follow ,christ as he did1 whithersoever ,he goeth4 ,god forbid that ,i should lead any one to suppose that peace either in living or dying is from any source but the free gift of ,god's grace2 but as one that has witnessed hundreds of ,christian death-beds1 ,i bear my testimony that1 as a general rule1 inconsistent ,christians very frequently have anxious death-beds3 while1 on the other hand1 those who have walked nearest to the ,lord in their life are the people who have found ,him nearest to them in their death2 and those who1 like our dear friend1 have set the ,lord always before them1 find1 as he did1 the ,psalmist's words invariably true 8,because he is on my right hand ,i shall never be moved40 ,are we to suppose1 then1 that our dear and honoured friend saved his soul by his consistency in following the ,lord8 ,god forbid6 ,i venture to say that there is nothing from which his whole soul would have recoiled more than from any such a thought1 for he knew well enough that he could never save his soul by following ,christ nor by any other act of his own4 ,he never had the slightest hope of doing so1 for he knew too much of the deep corruption of his own sinful heart4 ,but to redemption and redemption alone he owed his life1 as he said himself in his last illness 8,even if ,i could say ,i have walked in my integrity nothing but free redemption saved me40 8,i'm a poor sinner1 and nothing at all ,but ,jesus ,christ is my all in all40 ,the salvation came first1 and faithful following was the fruit of it4 ,no one will ever really follow ,christ1 till he is first saved through ,his free grace4 ,thus in the text all is traced to ,redeeming love1 for observe the next clause3-- ,,iii4 8,these were redeemed from among men1 being the first-fruits unto ,god and the ,lamb40 ,now let us carefully observe the language of this text4 ,it clearly traces everything to atonement4 ,they were redeemed by the blood of the ,lamb4 8,not with corruptible things as silver and gold1 but with the precious blood of ,christ1 as of a ,lamb without blemish and without spot40 ,there is no explanation of such language except by atonement through the blood of the ,lord ,jesus1 or the substitution1 or vicarious sacrifice of the love of ,god4 ,if any meaning is to be attached to words1 it is impossible to believe that our ,lord's death was nothing more than a noble example of devoted self sacrifice4 ,it must have been the satisfaction of the law of ,god by the actual infliction on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ of the whole penalty due to sin4 ,so the great fact that our sin has been already fully punished in his person is the one fact on which we rest for present and everlasting acceptance with ,god4 ,but there is more than that taught here1 for redemption goes far beyond atonement1 and includes the actual deliverance which is the result of that atonement1 when applied to the heart by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is not merely the payment of the ransom1 but the liberation of the ransomed slave4 ,thus the sealed servants are said to have been 8redeemed from among men40 ,not merely was an atonement made for them1 but1 through the power of that atonement1 they were delivered from the bondage of corruption unto the glorious liberty of the children of ,god4 ,an atonement was made on their behalf2 but that was not all1 for it was applied to their hearts by the ,holy ,ghost1 and the result was that they were saved and separated unto ,god4 ,thus they became first-fruits to ,god and the ,lamb4 ,the first-fruits are a small portion set apart unto ,god1 the remainder being left in the possession of the original owner4 ,so1 ,god's people are separated and dedicated at the first-fruits onto ,him1 while the mass of men remain under the power of the god of this world4 ,they are mixed up with other men in all the relationships of life2 but in the midst of all they are distinct1 for ,god has redeemed them1 and put ,his seal on them1 thereby to mark them as his own4 ,oh6 holy calling of the child of ,god4 ,oh6 sacred privilege1 to be thus set apart unto the ,lamb6 ,how is it that any one thus sealed can be ashamed of it8 ,how is it that any child of ,god can shrink from the confession of it8 ,of one thing ,i am sure1 and that is1 our dear friend did not4 ,he was not ashamed of being a marked man for ,christ6 ,god had called him4 ,god had saved him4 ,god had settled him6 ,god had placed him among the first-fruits of the harvest1 and he was not ashamed of it4 ,but1 when we look at the character1 let us never forget the ground work of all4 ,i said a short time ago that the secret of his consistency was that he followed ,christ2 but there was a deeper secret still4 ,there was the secret that lay at the foundation of his following ,christ1 and that was redemption4 ,his own language was1 8,oh1 to grace how great a debtor4 ,it was free redemption then1 and is so now4 ,wonderful6 ,it is so wonderful1 such a poor sinner saved and loved60 ,he was one redeemed1 delivered1 set free1 brought out1 and for ever accepted through the blood-shedding of the ,son of ,god4 ,and so1 brethren1 must we be1 if we are among the first-fruits unto ,god4 ,nothing1 nothing1 nothing but the atoning blood can ever blot out your guilt4 ,as long as you are a stranger to atonement1 so long you are a stranger to ,god4 ,if any man ever felt this1 it was our friend1 our father ,i would rather say4 ,he was a happy man1 because he was an accepted man4 8,happy1 quite happy10 he said1 8but only in ,christ1 not by works of righteousness which ,i have done1 but saved by the mercy of ,god in ,christ4 ,such a great and blessed salvation--so glorious to the ,giver1 so gracious to the receiver40 ,god had made atonement for him through the precious blood of the ,son of ,his love1 and called him out to enjoy a fellowship with ,himself4 ,so now1 if you desire to walk with ,god during life1 and meet ,him in peace when ,he summons you2 or to welcome the ,lord ,jesus with joy1 should he come before you die2 remember1 and let your affectionate recollections of our dear friend stamp it for ever on your memory1 that you must first know what it is to be reconciled to ,god through the blood of atonement before you can live near to ,him1 or be found among the first-fruits of ,his kingdom4 ,our ,lord's own words are decisive on this point1 8,i am the way1 the truth1 and the life2 no man cometh unto the ,father but by me40 ,,iv4 ,but we must hasten to the last clause of the description4 8,in their mouth was found no guile1 for they are without fault before the throne of ,god40 ,here are two things mentioned--,a guileless corruption before men1 and a faultless standing before ,god4 ,on the first ,i need say but little4 ,you have been so familiar with the practice1 and beautiful exhibition of it in the character of the dear brothers that you do not require a description of it from me4 ,most truly we may say of them all 8,in their mouth was found no guile40 ,there was a guileless transparency of character pervading them all4 ,but we must not pass thus hastily by the remaining clause1 8,for they are without fault before the throne of ,god40 ,strictly speaking these words refer exclusively to the #add1jjj1 when taking their place before the throne of ,god4 ,but surely they give us an insight into the present standing of all those already there4 ,they seem to teach us that spotless faultlessness is like the atmosphere of ,heaven1 and that all before that throne are faultless4 ,we may think1 then1 of those we dearly love as now standing before yonder ,throne1 quite faultless4 ,there is no sin reckoned to them1 for it is all blotted out for ever2 and no sin cleaving to them1 for they are free from its corruption1 being 8made perfect0 8as the spirits of the just40 ,there is no sin there1 for there are no tears2 and where sin is there is always sorrow4 ,let us be cheered1 then1 by the happy thought that they are now without fault before the ,throne of ,god4 ,but must we wait till we reach the ,throne before we can be without fault before it8 ,are we to toil on through the wilderness1 and wait till the pilgrimage is over before we can go faultless into his presence8 ,if so1 the ,christian's life would be indeed a dreary one4 ,but1 believers1 ye are without fault before the ,throne now1 even now6 ,i verily believe that when you saw our dear friend in the midst of you1 in his farm1 in his garden1 in your cottages1 he was at those very times without fault before ,god4 ,how so8 you may say4 ,did he not perpetually confess that he was a sinner8 ,did he not acknowledge his sin1 and weep for it8 ,how1 then1 could he be without fault8 ,how could he be a guilty sinner1 and yet faultless before ,god8 ,hear his own words in answer to it--8,a poor sinner in myself1 but pardoned and accepted in the beloved ,son of ,god1 and only so1 only so1 ,amen1 only so1 only so1 ,amen1 ,amen40 ,and1 again1 8,what should ,i do without ,christ8 such a poor sinner1 but complete and accepted in the ,beloved4 ,such a good foundation6 such a blessed salvation60 ,if all his faults were cast into the depth of the sea1 and ,god's promises fulfilled which said 8,the iniquities of ,israel shall be sought for and shall not be found20 then before that ,throne he was faultless4 ,and so1 if we stand in the righteousness of ,god1 nay6 if in ,christ we are made the righteousness of ,god1 then in ,him we are faultless1 faultless even now1 because ,christ is faultless1 and we stand in ,him4 ,in this connection observe the allusion to the #cbnd ,psalm4 ,the ,revelation is full of allusions to the ,old ,testament1 and ,i cannot help thinking that here is one4 ,the same two things are mentioned in this passage and in that psalm2 the absence of guile1 and the absence of all fault4 ,of the guile the ,psalmist says1 8,in whose spirit there is no guile0 and of the fault he says1 8,blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven1 and whose sin is covered4 ,blessed is the man unto whom the ,lord imputeth not iniquity10 c4 ,here1 then1 is the secret of being without fault before the ,throne4 ,their transgression is forgiven1 their sin covered1 and their iniquity not imputed by ,god4 ,thus it is1 that at the same time in the same person there may be the two apparent opposites2 in yourself deep corruption1 in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ unblemished spotlessness4 ,before your own conscience you may be full of sin1 and at the same time before the ,throne of ,god perfectly faultless3 in yourself humbled to the dust2 in ,christ ,jesus reconciled1 accepted1 and beloved1 and regarded as though you were absolutely spotless2 for you are without fault in the righteousness of ,christ4 ,what1 then1 is the conclusion of the whole matter8 ,what is the lesson to be learnt from the text8 and what from the whole history of our honoured friend8 ,what is the lesson that he would have drawn from it himself had he been here to speak to us this day8 ,i believe he would have summed it all up in one word1 i4e41 ,,christ4 ,this is what he taught in his family1 and made the unceasing subject of his family worship4 ,this is what he taught in the ,sunday school1 and pressed with a holy perseverance on the hearts and consciences of his class4 ,this was the subject of his addresses in the schoolroom1 as well as of all his visits in the cottages4 ,in these visits he carried many a kind gift for the body1 but he always remembered his one message1 and was never silent on the free grace of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,and do you think he would speak less of ,him now8 ,now that he sees that blessed ,saviour whom he so long believed1 and has himself experienced the actual joy of his presence8 ,no1 if he now were to speak to us ,i am persuaded it would be all of ,christ4 ,if he could give one more lesson to his class it would be to assure them that the half had never yet been told them1 and that there is a joy in ,christ of which he had known here only just the small beginning4 ,if he were to speak to you young men he would tell you there is nothing that can ever satisfy your soul but ,christ4 ,life may now seem very bright to you2 but there are days of mourning before you as well as days of rejoicing1 and there is nothing but ,christ then can either save or satisfy your soul4 ,and so1 if ,he were to speak to you mourners it would still be the same thing to you4 ,how would he tell of the balm of ,gilead for the wounded heart1 and of the great purpose of ,god1 surely doing all things well for the eternal life of ,his chosen people6 and once more1 if he were to speak to those amongst us who are still unchanged1 still unconverted1 still without the new birth1 still without ,christ1 how would he press upon you the great atonement made on the ,cross for every guilty sinner2 and how would he weep over the hard impenitent hearts that remain unmoved1 unsoftened1 unsaved by ,his grace6 ,but we cannot hear his voice3 it is now silent upon earth1 and must remain so till the ,lord comes4 ,his thanksgivings are now heard only in ,heaven4 ,but the unmistakeable testimony remains1 and may ,god so write it on our hearts1 that when we are called1 as he has been1 to give up our great account1 we may be found1 as ,i am persuaded he is1 without fault before the ,throne of ,god4