,transcribed from the #ahei ,william ,skeffington edition by ,david ,price4 ,,plain ,,sermons 99 99 99 99 99 ,,preached ,,at ,,archbishop ,,tenison',s ,,chapel1 ,,regent ,,street4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,,james ,,galloway ,,cowan1 ,,minister4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,published by ,request4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,,william ,,skeffington1 #afc1 ,,piccadilly4 #ahei4 ,,contents4 ,,page ,,sermon ,i4 ,,taking ,,thought ,,for ,,temporal ,,things4 ,st4 ,matthew1 vi41 #bd1 #be4 #a 4 4 4 ,ye cannot serve ,god and mammon4 ,therefore ,i say unto you1 ,take no thought for your life1 what ye shall eat1 or what ye shall drink2 nor yet for your body1 what ye shall put on 4 4 4 ,,sermon ,,ii4 ,,right ,,thoughts ,,of ,,christ4 ,st4 ,matthew1 xxii41 #db4 #ad ,what think ye of ,christ8 ,,sermon ,,iii4 ,,the ,,churchman',s ,,thoughts ,,about ,,dissenters4 ,st4 ,luke1 xvii41 #af4 #bg ,and he was a ,samaritan ,,sermon ,,iv4 ,,eternal ,,abode ,,with ,,god4--,a ,,funeral ,,sermon4 #a ,thessalonians1 iv1 #ag4 #dj ,so shall we ever be with the ,lord ,,sermon ,v4 ,,man',s ,,knowledge ,,limited4 #a ,corinthians1 xiii41 #i4 #ec ,we know in part ,,sermon ,,vi4 ,,confession4 ,proverbs1 xxviii1 #ac4 #fd ,he that covereth his sins shall not prosper ,,sermon ,,vii4 ,,forgiveness4 ,psalm cxxx41 #d4 #hb ,there is forgiveness with ,thee ,,sermon ,,viii4 ,,the ,,principle ,,of ,,offerings ,,to ,,god4 ,,ii4 ,samuel1 xxiv41 #bd4 #aja ,neither will ,i offer 4 4 4 unto the ,lord my ,god of that which doth cost me nothing ,,sermon ,,ix4 ,,spiritual ,,progress4 ,philippians1 iii41 #ac1 #ad4 #aae ,brethren1 ,i count not myself to have apprehended3 but this one thing ,i do1 forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before1 ,i press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of ,god in ,christ ,jesus ,,sermon ,x4 ,,spiritual ,,things ,,not ,,revealed ,,to ,,the ,,natural ,,man4 ,i4 ,corinthians1 ii41 #ad4 #abg ,the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,,god3 for they are foolishness unto him3 neither can he know them1 because they are spiritually discerned ,,sermon ,i4 ,,taking ,,thought ,,for ,,temporal ,,things4 ,,st4 ,,matthew1 ,,vi41 #bd1 #be4 4 4 4 8,ye cannot serve ,god and mammon4 8,therefore ,i say unto you1 ,take no thought for your life1 what ye shall eat1 or what ye shall drink2 nor yet for your body1 what ye shall put on40 4 4 4 ,,every one who has thoughtfully read that description of the ,samaritans in the second book of ,kings--8they feared the ,,lord and served their own gods0--must have been struck with the mockery1 the blasphemy1 the absurdity of such a fear4 ,fear ,him1 who claims to be the only ,,god1 and yet regard many others as equally and independently gods6 ,worship ,him1 all whose service is pure1 and innocent1 and self-emptying1 and righteous and yet worship ,ashtaroth1 the goddess of licentious pleasure--,moloch1 the god of cruelty--,chemosh1 and his abominations--,belial1 and his worldliness6 ,this1 my brethren1 we all see is not simply a forbidden but an impossible service4 ,the commands1 the sanctions1 the promises1 the service of ,jehovah1 and of any one of these others1 are so thoroughly opposite1 so condemnatory of each other1 that the man who attempts to observe them both1 is far more impious and more foolish than the benighted heathen who carves an idol out of a block of wood or piece of stone and bows down to it alone in homage1 and looks up only to it for blessings4 ,if1 then1 mammon means a false god--either a deified human being1 or a personified vice or virtue1 or an actual dumb1 senseless idol1--we feel that ,christ has rightly said1 not ye 8shall not10 but ye 8cannot0 serve it and ,,god4 ,there is no room for the question whether ,,god will wink at a divided homage2 whether1 provided ,he is one of the objects of worship1 ,he will not be over-severe with you for having other objects4 ,the attempt to serve both is an attempt at what is impossible2 not at what may not be1 on account of certain commands and restrictions1 but at what cannot be from the very nature of things4 ,,god altogether--or mammon altogether1 if you will2 but 8ye cannot serve ,,god and mammon40 ,you see this1 you approve ,christ's teaching1 you are ready to condemn1 you do now condemn--the impiety1 the folly of attempting to serve ,,god and mammon4 ,but1 my brethren1 consider4 ,do you know what and whom you condemn8 ,are you quite sure that you do not yourselves attempt to serve mammon as well as ,,god8 ,oh1 yes6 you are quite sure6 ,mammon1 a false god--a name without a being like ,jove and ,mars1 like fairies and genii--or a substance without life--like ,bel of the ,chaldeans1 or ,juggernaut of the ,hindoos--you are not so senseless as to serve this6 ,or1 again1 if mammon be1 as some commentators tell us1 only a personification of riches1 and his service therefore be the immoderate pursuit of wealth and worldly aggrandisement1 still you are free4 ,you may sometimes make great efforts to be rich1 you may often desire and covet wealth2 but you are not sordid misers2 you are not engrossed in the pursuit of wealth2 you do not treat it as a god1 and give to it the thought and homage due to ,jehovah4 ,dear brethren1 it is not so certain that you could quite clear yourselves of the sin and folly of serving mammon1 even if this were all that is meant4 ,but it is not4 ,look to the text1 8,ye cannot serve ,,god and mammon40 ,what then8 ,why give up mammon6 ,and what is mammon8 ,the next verse tells you1 8,therefore ,i say unto you1 ,take no thought for your life1 what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink2 nor yet for your body1 what ye shall put on40 ,so1 then1 taking thought for these things is serving mammon4 ,who is free from idolatry now8 8,but10 some are ready to exclaim1 8taking thought for these things is a very law and necessity of my being4 ,i came into this world needing food and clothing4 ,others had to take thought to feed and clothe me4 ,they early impressed upon me as one of the clearest duties of my responsible life that ,i should take this thought for myself1 and now ,i can only get these things for myself and my family by taking thought for them40 ,ay1 and the very ,word of ,,god enjoins the duty3 8,go to the ant1 thou sluggard1 consider her ways and be wise0--learn1 that is1 from her forethought and provision2 look about thee1 be industrious1 store up for future wants4 ,our ,,lord ,himself set the example of such forethought1 when ,he committed the care of a bag to one of ,his disciples1 that food1 and money to buy food1 might be carried about with them2 and the ,apostle ,paul plainly taught--8,if any will not work1 neither shall he eat40 8,if any man provide not for his own1 he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel40 ,my brethren1 the law of nature has imposed1 and the ,word of ,,god therefore approves1 that we should look about and provide for our necessities4 ,wherever there is power to do this1 the power must be exercised1 or we must run the risk of want4 ,the lilies of the field are fed by ,,god',s own hand with nourishment1 which they cannot seek4 ,the unfledged bird has but to open its mouth to receive the food1 which divinely implanted instinct has caused the parent to bring2 but when it is grown it must itself make provision--it must search the trees for berries and the earth for worms1 or it must die of starvation4 ,,god takes thought for sparrows1 yet ,he requires1 if ,i may so speak1 that they should think for themselves2 and thereby ,he teaches us1 confirming this teaching by plain words of revelation1 that it is incumbent upon us to make provision for our necessities1 and so1 of course1 to think about them4 ,but thinking is not taking thought4 ,when our ,bible was translated1 to 8take thought0 meant 7as the ,greek word which it represents does7 to be anxious1 troubled1 perplexed about a thing1 and so to be drawn off by its consideration from other thoughts1 and cares1 and duties4 ,the consistent1 devoted servant of ,,god1 while intent upon his due and loved service1 may and should use precaution and diligence to sustain in appointed ways the lower life and wants of himself and his2 but if he takes thought about them1 cares more or thinks more about temporal things than spiritual2 if he leaves undone religious duties1 or transgresses divine commands1 or wears out his zeal1 or consumes his time 7of choice7 in securing or seeking worldly provision1 then does he attempt to serve mammon as well as ,,god1 and in so doing--attempting what cannot be--he actually foregoes the service of ,,god and becomes an idolater4 ,my dear brethren1 let us go into this matter1 and pick out its plain and wholesome lessons1 and ask ,,god to engrave them deeply on our hearts4 ,the text is especially addressed to such as we are4 ,it is not mainly for the grossly covetous2 for the would-be hoarders of great wealth2 for the epicure1 intent upon dainty dishes and costly wines2 for the giddy votaries of fashion1 ever meditating fresh extravagancies and greater absurdities1 betraying by their silly1 unchristian finery the emptiness of their minds and the callousness of their hearts1 making themselves gazing-stocks to the thoughtless and objects of pity to the thoughtful4 ,it is not1 ,i say1 chiefly for these 7though it is indeed for them1 and it behoves them to regard it very seriously71 but it is for those who take thought for necessaries that our text was spoken and written2 who are in concern not for a superabundance1 but for a sufficiency of the things of this life4 ,to them it says1 ,take no thought1 be not anxious1 perplexed4 ,let not these things engross your hearts1 or cause you in any way to swerve from the pure and entire service of ,,god1 for--this is the first reason--to do so is to sin1 it is to give up ,,god and choose mammon4 ,ye who do it are idolaters4 ,make no plea of opposing difficulty or necessity1 count upon no indulgence4 ,if you serve mammon1 you do not serve ,,god4 ,,god will have no part of a divided heart1 and will not be served at all by those who do not serve ,him altogether4 ,dear brethren1 try to embrace this truth4 ,,god',s commands are not to be explained away1 nor are excuses to be made for disregarding them4 ,obey them at all hazards--do not pare them down by pleas of expediency4 ,doubtless1 the service is a very hard one4 ,it is very difficult not to take thought for immediate and pressing wants4 ,it is a great temptation to a very poor man to have an opportunity of making a few shillings by working or keeping his shop open on the ,,lord',s ,day4 ,it is a great temptation to one who is hard-worked during the week to have the power of turning the day of holy rest into one of worldly pleasure4 ,it would be very convenient to the man of business to make up his ledger when he should be reading his ,bible2 to be thinking of his projects and prospects in this life rather than his coming eternity2 to be pushing a bargain which is very advantageous1 though it is a little unjust2 to get what he can for his goods1 rather than what he ought2 to tell little untruths2 to grind down his dependents2 to withhold from charitable purposes the money which can be made useful for self2 in short1 to be ever taking thought for temporal things and not taking thought for spiritual1 and so to miss opportunities of meditating1 and reading1 and praying1 of worshipping1 and communicating1 and doing good1 and preparing for heaven4 ,the comparatively well-to-do man doubtless finds this worldly taking thought agreeable and in a sense advantageous2 the poor man is hard pressed to give way to it2 but still the command of ,,god stands out--8,take no thought40 ,do not say you must--you must not4 8,my wants10 says one1 8must be relieved2 my family must be fed and clothed2 my work must be done2 my interests must be looked after2 my health must be preserved40 ,no1 brethren1 there is no must in any one of these4 ,,god must be served2 all the others may be1 if they can be included in ,his service1 not otherwise4 ,and would you really come to want1 if you were more religious8 ,would your family be left unprovided for8 ,would your health suffer8 ,you do not seriously think it would4 ,but what if it did8 ,welcome want1 welcome sickness1 welcome death--anything rather than worldly prosperity1 if it can only be obtained by renunciation of ,,god',s enjoined service and idolatrous devotion to mammon4 ,the world will laugh at such preaching1 brethren1 and call it foolishness2 but the world is nothing to us4 ,it is doomed to pass away with all the things in it which lure us to take thought2 but you and ,i must live on to eternity1 and how we are to live shall be decided by the master we serve--,,god or mammon4 ,a second reason why we are not to take thought is--that doing so will not insure what we want4 8,which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature20 or1 rather1 such is the real meaning1 can increase1 even by a little measure1 the length of his life4 ,and1 on the other hand1 avoiding taking thought 7from religious motives7 will insure what we want4 8,seek ye first the kingdom of ,,god and ,his righteousness1 and all these things shall be added unto you20 i4e41 you shall not want 7no more is promised here7 food and raiment4 ,at first thought1 doubtless some of you fancy that your experience contradicts both these divine statements4 ,you know many men who by taking thought have secured ample provision1 have apparently even added to their lives1 and you think you know some who have trusted in ,,god',s promise and fulfilled its conditions and yet suffered grievous want4 ,that some--yea1 that many--by taking thought have secured what they wanted1 is notorious2 but that others1 who have taken equal thought1 have failed1 is also notorious4 ,can you count the disappointed ambitious8 the thwarted seekers of pleasure8 the distressed hard-working8 the bankrupts who have devoted every thought and effort1 soul and body1 to business8 ,no6 ,well then taking thought does not insure what we want4 ,and1 on the other hand1 though a ,lazarus is sometimes fed with crumbs only1 if you knew the inner life of the seeming waiters on ,,god who are in want1 you would nearly always find that their necessity remains unrelieved1 because they have not thoroughly performed the prescribed conditions2 or that it was in some fit of independence1 by some forbidden taking thought that they overreached themselves and fell4 ,in proportion as any one has opportunity to investigate the causes of distress1 he will surely be more and more ready to confirm the testimony of a great observer3--8,i have been young and now am old1 and yet saw ,i never the righteous forsaken or his seed begging their bread40 ,and what1 then1 are we to infer from all this8 ,that besides ,,god',s general providence which rules over all1 ordering1 as from a distant throne1 the being and motions of the universe1 ,he exercises a particular providence1 drawing nigh to individuals1 stepping in between cause and effect1 saving1 helping1 prospering1 hindering1 confounding1 destroying1 just in those very cases which natural laws would treat otherwise4 ,not that this is always done in the case of all men4 ,the wicked are often and chiefly let alone2 they are1 it may be1 in great prosperity for a time2 they come perhaps to no present misfortune2 they do violence and escape justice2 their time of reward is not yet4 ,again1 the righteous are not exempt from trials1 and troubles1 and privations--their time of reward is not yet 7and if it were1 their very trials1 in the spiritual effects they produce1 may be part of their blessedness72 but they are never forsaken4 ,the very hairs of their heads are all numbered4 ,nothing befalls them but by ,,god',s permission--a permission which is only given when the event will work for their good4 ,they may commit themselves unto ,him as unto a faithful ,creator and most merciful ,saviour2 they may put their trust in ,him1 assured that it will not miscarry2 no evil shall approach to hurt them lastingly--,he will keep them as the apple of ,his eye2 none shall be able to pluck them out of ,his hand4 ,in short1 while they desire the things which ,he promises1 and love and do the things which ,he commands1 ,he will forward all their wise undertakings1 and bless them in all their circumstances2 and when their own ignorance1 or want of forethought1 or external so-called chances1 or the machinations of evil men or spirits expose them to danger1 ,he will interfere and ward off the consequences1 save only when1 like the trials of ,job or ,joseph1 they can be made productive of greater excellence and so of greater reward4 ,if this be so1 then surely expediency approves what right demands1 that we should forego the taking thought which is so uncertainly successful1 and that we should repose in a care which never fails--8,casting all your care upon ,him for ,he careth for you40 ,oh6 my brethren1 try to believe heartily this great doctrine of a particular ,providence6 ,look not back to the creation of the world1 and to the working out of men's redemption in ,judea1 or forward to the ,judgment ,day1 as though ,,god were only working and manifesting ,himself there and then4 ,,god is everywhere and is active everywhere2 ,he is here now2 ,he is marking how we conduct ourselves in this house2 ,he is looking into the very depths of our hearts and minds1 and noting whatsoever lurks there4 ,this night ,he will be about our beds2 to-morrow about our paths2 always spying out all our ways4 ,of every thought1 of every word1 of every deed of ours1 ,he will at once note the intent and the measure4 ,of all that is done in ,his fear and service1 ,he will record that it is 8righteous worship20 of all else that it is 8idolatry10 the setting up of some person or some thing as more worthy to be loved or feared than ,he is4 ,every undertaking1 every endurance1 all safety and all danger1 all wisdom and all folly1 will be watched and allowed or overruled according as we deserve or deserve not to be dealt with in love by a present ,,god4 ,oh6 if we felt this1 how easy would it be to avoid taking thought for temporal things6 how full would be our minds of ,,god6 how should we breathe as in ,his presence1 and listen for ,his guidance1 and trust in ,his providence6 ,and then how determined would be our service of ,him6 ,we should not talk of expediency2 we should not invent excuses2 we should not do evil that good may come1 or avoid good that we may escape unpleasant circumstances4 ,no6 ,,god would be indeed ,,god2 religion would be the one thing needful2 we should hope for what it promised1 and fear what it threatened4 ,the allurements of the world1 the offers of pleasure1 riches1 power1 honour1 would be scorned as childish toys idly held out to sage and sober men4 ,the scoffs1 the sneers1 the threats1 the persecutions of the world would be nothing cared for--they would be as the impotent threats of chained madmen4 ,serve ,god or mammon8 ,who would be in doubt which to do1 who would shrink from or fail in the service1 if ,,god were only thus palpably present8 ,having thus set ,,god before us1 how zealously should we serve ,him1 how confidently should we rest on ,him6 ,and1 lastly1 what men of prayer we should become4 ,if we felt that ,,god is indeed an interfering power in the world2 that ,his superintendence is not general only but special also2 that ,he may at any time avert a threatened danger1 or confer an improbable blessing2 that1 in short1 ,he may alter the whole face of things1 and their working upon us and ours on them at any moment1 and that our doings1 our yearnings1 our prayers may prompt ,his interference2 then would not prayer cease to be regarded as a mere necessary religious exercise1 to be gone through much as grace before and after meat is2 would it not become a vivid recital of our wants and feelings1 an earnest pleading1 a very wrestling with ,,god8 ,would not every event1 every shadow of weal or wo bring us to our knees8 ,should we make any plans or enter upon any course1 or indulge any thoughts1 before we had laid all before ,him8 ,in all our efforts1 all our fears1 all our wishes1 all our sufferings1 should we not betake ourselves to ,him not only as the ,wise ,counsellor but the ,effectual ,doer8 ,and in all our blessings and averted dangers1 as readily and as heartily should we offer the tribute of thanksgiving2 asking from ,him what we desired1 ascribing to ,him what we received throughout our life1 and its every circumstance realizing that the ,,lord ,,god ,omnipotent reigneth1 and that we are the subjects of ,his rule2 in all our interests and all our duties resting and acting upon the tremendous truth that ,,god is a ,,god at hand and not a ,,god afar off6 ,,sermon ,,ii4 ,,right ,,thoughts ,,of ,,christ4 ,,st4 ,,matthew1 ,,xxii41 #db4 8,what think ye of ,christ80 ,,jesus we know claimed to be the ,christ4 ,he was not wont1 indeed1 to manifest ,himself plainly in that character to the multitude2 ,he did not often so speak of ,himself even to the chosen2 but still1 indirectly1 by hint of speech and deed1 ,he did--parabolically--propose ,himself to mankind as the promised ,messiah1 the ,son of ,,god1 the ,son of ,david1 the ,saviour of the ,world4 ,but ,he was not often so received4 ,a ,galilean fisherman was enabled by the ,spirit to confess--8,thou art the ,christ1 the son of the ,blessed40 ,a ,samaritan asked in wondering faith--8,is not this the ,christ80 ,but more frequently ,he was regarded as merely a prophet1 as ,elijah or ,jeremiah1 or as a wonderful man who came from ,,god2 who spake as no other had ever spoken2 who could not do such works except ,,god were with ,him4 ,this was among the well-disposed4 ,his enemies called ,him 8,beelzebub1 the ,prince of the ,devils20 8,the fellow that deceiveth the people20 8a ,nazarene20 8a sinner20 8a winebibber20 8a ,sabbath-breaker20 8a blasphemer20 8guilty1 i4e41 deserving1 of death40 ,it mattered not that they were unable to resist the wisdom with which ,he spake2 that ,he did all things well1 making both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak2 that ,he was proved to be versed in ,divine letters1 without ever having learned 7of men72 that ,his appeals to ,,god for vindication as a teacher of truth and a forgiver of sins were visibly answered4 ,they saw no beauty or comeliness in ,him1 nor anything that should make them desire ,him2 they would not come unto ,him that they might have life4 ,he was despised and rejected4 ,it was when ,he had been exhibiting ,his credentials very openly and condescendingly1 and when the witnesses1 with marvellous obstinacy1 had refused to believe what they saw1 that drawing off their thoughts for the moment from ,himself the fulfiller of prophecy1 ,he bade them look back upon the prophecy itself and answer to themselves and to ,him what it was they expected3 8,what think ye10 ,he demanded1 8of ,christ80 8,since you see not in me any resemblance to ,,god',s portrait of ,his anointed ,one1 tell me1 tell yourselves what are the features for which you look4 ,i am not the being whom you expect--what1 then1 do you expect8 what think ye of the ,christ80 ,but the question was a wide one1 and had they been willing1 it might have perplexed them to know how to begin to answer it4 ,therefore as though dealing with them as children1 and considerately attempting to lead them on step by step1 ,he immediately limits the inquiry to one particular--,first tell me 8whose son is ,he80 ,ye searchers and expounders of prophecy1 what have you ascertained1 what do you know of the descent of the ,messiah8 whose son is ,he8 ,they say unto ,him--8,the son of ,david40 ,now1 if any of us1 my brethren1 were catechising ,sunday ,school children1 and they so answered such a question1 we should commend the answer as true though imperfect1 and we should patiently and encouragingly continue--8,true2 but has ,he not besides another ,father8 an elder and superior birth8 ,who else in ,holy ,scripture is called ,his ,father80 ,it might be that then some would answer--8,he is the son of ,abraham10 or perhaps even 8the seed of the woman40 ,we should bear with this1 we should approve it2 we should become more hopeful of leading them to the perfect answer1 and we should therefore gently proceed--8,it is so2 but now you have traced back ,his earthly being to its source1 tell me whether he had not another and previous existence1 and if so from whom ,he derived it40 ,in this way should we question children2 in this way from what we know of his forbearance and condescension do we believe that ,,jesus would have dealt--that indeed ,he did deal--with ,galilean fishermen or ,samaritan women2 but not in this way did ,he deal with the ,pharisees4 ,he made an objection to their answer--,he seemed to reject it as wrong4 ,he asked how can that be4 8,how then doth ,david in spirit 7by inspiration7 call ,him ,,lord80 ,if ,david call ,him ,,lord1 how is ,he his son8 and ,he put them to silence1 and turned away from them4 ,he was not pleased that they were so far orthodox as to say the 8son of ,david10 instead--as so many ,jews would erroneously have done--of 8the son of ,ephraim40 ,he did not lead on1 8,what else8 whose son besides8 you have but in part traced ,his parentage4 ,consider1 what are you taught more80 ,no6 ,he seems to contradict them--to say1 ,he is not ,david's son2 ,he is ,david's ,,lord--and ,he leaves them in apparent perplexity4 ,brethren1 if you are in the habit of considering what you read1 this passage of ,scripture must at some time have occasioned you more or less difficulty4 ,why should ,christ have apparently repudiated ,his true parentage8 ,why should ,he have darkened instead of enlightening these imperfect theologians8 ,it was because they had knowledge1 but perversely abused it2 because they were partial in learning and teaching the ,scriptures2 because they contented themselves with low thoughts respecting ,him4 ,they were not uninformed heathen3 they were not tyros in the school of divinity4 ,they were teachers of the ,word of ,,god--they possessed ,his whole ,word 7as far as then written71 and they were familiarly acquainted with all the contents of that ,word4 ,theirs was the ignorance of men enabled to be wise1 and responsible for wisdom3 it was the corrupt misconception of what was palpable and easy to conceive aright4 ,human pride1 false tradition of their own invention1 self-interest1 wilful short-sightedness1 or1 at the best1 culpable contentedness with low and imperfect doctrine1 had caused them to utter1 perhaps to conceive1 only half a truth1 when it was in their power to know the whole truth4 ,it was then in accordance with that teaching of ,his in parables--dark sayings hard to understand--it was on the principle that 8he that hath not1 from him shall be taken away even that he seemeth to have10 that ,he who hardened ,pharaoh's hard heart1 and chose not ,esau for not choosing ,him1 now darkened the understanding of the ,pharisees1 and made them blind because they would not see4 ,and ,his treatment of them utters a loud warning1 brethren1 to us4 ,the question1 8,what think ye of ,christ80 is not addressed with its full force to open heretics--to ,gnostics1 in whose philosophy ,christ is but one of many ons emanating from the hidden god of the ,pleroma2 to ,arians1 who make ,him but an inferior and created god2 to ,docet1 who teach that ,he never was more than the shadow1 the ghost of a man2 to ,eutychians1 who make ,him a compound of ,,god and man1 partaking of both1 yet being neither2 to ,unitarians1 who regard ,him but as a perfect and pre-eminently godlike man2 to ,universalists1 who say that every one1 righteous or unrighteous1 submissive or rebellious1 must be saved by ,him at the last2 to particular ,redemptionists1 who suppose that only a chosen few1 themselves that is1 shall be saved1 and they without regard or care for their holiness or iniquity--it is not1 ,i say1 to them that this question is mainly addressed--it is to us2 the orthodox1 the enlightened1 the receivers of the whole ,word of ,,god1 the maintainers of the ,three ,creeds1 the theoretical believers1 that ,,jesus is the ,christ1 the son of ,david1 the son of ,abraham1 the seed of the woman1 the ,son of ,,god1 the ,saviour1 the ,prophet1 the ,priest1 the ,vine1 the ,shepherd1 the ,,lord1 the ,king1 the ,judge4 ,it is to us that the question is addressed with all its force--with how much of its rebuke--8,what think ye of ,christ80 ,christians6 what think ye of ,christ8 ,ask and answer this question with all earnestness1 as in the presence of ,him who first put it1 ,who is true1 and demands the truth1 and the whole truth--and ask it1 not of your minds1 which it may be supposed are ready to assent to all that ,holy ,scripture sets forth respecting ,him1 but of your hearts1 your heart of hearts1 the seat of your affections1 out of which are the issues of life--8,what think ye of ,christ80 ,and stay for a moment1 pause at the threshold of the inquiry1 and honestly consider whether you think of ,him at all4 ,do you ever feel that there was and is such a ,being8 ,do you ever meditate on what ,he is1 and what ,he has done1 and is doing1 and is yet to do for you8 ,do your affections twine themselves around what they can reach of ,him1 and yearn for a more perfect hold8 ,do your spiritual appetites crave food of ,him8 your spiritual understandings beg for light8 ,in your sin1 is ,he grasped as your ,saviour8 in your sorrow as your ,sympathiser8 in your troubles as your ,helper8 in your comforts as your ,benefactor8 in your hopes as your ,all8 in your life1 passive and active1 as your ,,lord8 ,do you feel any of this about ,christ1 or do you only think of ,him as of some historical person long since passed away1 or as of some distant lord1 who knows nothing1 for the time1 of his vineyard--some future judge1 whom you need not trouble yourselves about now1 and yet whom you will not have to fear then8 ,is it only on ,sundays1 at church1 by your bedside1 that you think of ,christ8 ,is it only as some ideal being1 some vague1 distant1 indifferent1 easy person of the past1 the present1 or the future1 that you think of ,him2 or is ,he more real and perceptible to you than the men and women around you--more in your thoughts than any one else--more feared than your earthly masters and rulers--more implicitly obeyed than your most revered earthly superior--more looked to than your most substantial earthly benefactor--more loved than the dearest earthly object of your affections8 ,is ,christ in you the worship of your heart1 the motive of your life1 the centre and summit of your hopes8 ,if ,he stood visibly before you now1 and asked1 8,do you think of ,me20 and if your hearts1 your thoughts1 your lives1 rather than your lips1 had to answer1 would you be able to say honestly1 8,yea1 ,,lord1 ,thou knowest that ,i do think of ,thee80 ,it is well1 brethren1 to put this preliminary question1 and try to reply to it4 ,it is well to consider whether you do think at all of ,christ1 before you are further asked what you think of ,him2 because1 if you are led to feel that you do not think of ,him1 you will be ready to administer reproof to yourselves1 and that1 by ,,god',s grace1 calling you to a better mind may spare you the rebuke of ,christ2 because1 too1 if you do think of ,him righteously1 though imperfectly and partially1 you will be enabled to look up with humble hope of indulgent consideration from ,him who was the ,instructor of the simple and the unwise2 and because1 feeling your thought1 you will be anxious to enlarge1 and deepen1 and direct it1 and so will strive to provide yourselves with a right and full answer to the question1 ,what think ye of ,christ8 ,to do this fully1 is not the work of a mere half hour4 ,you must take out of ,,god',s ,word1 each description1 each title of ,christ2 you must ask for the ,holy ,spirit's special aid in its examination2 you must survey it and search it1 and survey and search yourselves1 and then with earnest desire to know ,him1 and to know yourselves1 with long meditation and much pains1 you must find out your heart's1 your life's answer to the question1 ,what think ,i of this view1 this title of ,christ8 ,then1 after profiting by this answer1 enlarging what is right1 correcting what is wrong1 filling up what is wanting1 you must go on to another and another description and title1 keeping in mind all the while those that have been already received4 ,thus1 and thus only1 will you come to know ,christ rightly1 and so to think rightly of ,him1 advancing step by step1 growing day by day1 till you reach ,his actual presence1 and see ,him as ,he is1 and are audibly approved by ,him as of the perfect stature and fulness of a man in ,christ ,jesus4 ,to help you in this most profitable1 spiritual exercise1 let me suggest to you how to pursue some few of its particulars4 ,what think you then of ,christ as the son of ,abraham1 the seed of the woman1 i4e41 as the promised ,saviour1 in ,whom whosoever would was to be blessed8 ,do you really appreciate the salvation which ,he has wrought out for you8 ,do you duly consider the misery of the 8not saved80 and are you heartily thankful for the proffered knowledge of the saved8 ,do you remember that ,he is a ,saviour from sin1 that there is no hope whatever of deriving any benefit from ,his sacrifice1 so long as you willingly yield to the temptations of the devil1 or indulge the lust of the eye1 the lust of the flesh1 or the pride of life8 ,do you therefore resolutely come out1 and become separate from sin and sinners8 ,do you further consider how ,his salvation is to be laid hold on8 ,do you avail yourselves very largely and eagerly of the means of salvation1 wrestling in prayer1 searching the ,scriptures1 using diligently all ordinances of grace8 ,is each sin carried to ,him to be effaced1 and laid before ,him1 bedewed with the tears of repentance8 ,in every weakness and doubt do you apply to ,him 7in holy communion1 for instance71 for strength and guidance8 ,is it your desire1 your labour1 to be joined to ,him1 to derive grace from ,him1 to grow in ,his image1 because of your duty1 because of your interest1 because1 above all1 of your grateful love8 ,the amount of your gratitude and devotion to ,him2 of your abhorrence and renunciation of sin2 of your attendance on means of grace2 of your growth in holiness2 of your joy in salvation1 will furnish you with a faithful answer to the question1 8,what think ye of ,christ as a ,saviour80 ,again1 what think ye of ,christ as the son of ,david1 the promised ,,lord and ,king who should sit on the throne of the true ,israel1 and own and rule all ,,god',s chosen people8 ,do you feel that ,he is indeed your ,,lord and ,master2 that ,he has purchased you wholly to ,himself2 that you are pledged and bound to ,his entire service2 that every precept which ,he has delivered1 must be implicitly obeyed2 that there must be no doing of what ,he has forbidden1 no omitting of what ,he has commanded1 no self-seeking1 no mammon-worship2 that all your faculties and talents must be laid out1 and all your work done for ,him2 that there must be no empty profession1 8,,lord1 ,,lord10 while you do not the things that ,he bids--no wasting of ,his goods1 no neglecting of ,his service8 ,as your ,,lord1 ,he claims you wholly1 body1 soul1 and spirit1 thoughts1 words1 and deeds4 ,as your ,king1 ,he has prescribed the service you are to render4 ,by and by1 sitting on ,his throne1 ,he will bring you to account1 and deal with you according to your merits4 ,what think ye of ,him as your ,owner1 your ,ruler1 your ,judge8 ,again1 what think ye of ,christ as the son of ,mary1 the perfect human being2 partaking of all the properties and qualities1 the infirmities and sufferings and sympathies1 the desires1 the wants1 the hopes and fears of man1 as far as they are separate from sin8 ,do you contemplate ,his life on earth1 to ascertain what you can and ought to be1 and to follow ,his example8 ,are you encouraged in every aim1 every resolute resistance of evil1 every patient submission to suffering1 every fulfilment of duty1 every pursuit of righteousness by the thought 8,man has done it1 the ,man ,whom ,i am required to imitate40 ,do you think of ,him as still retaining ,his manhood with all its experience1 and acquired wisdom1 and perfected obedience8 ,do you rejoice in such a ,sympathizer1 such a ,mediator1 such a ,helper1 such a ,judge8 ,one who can feel for you in your trials1 can describe faithfully to ,his ,father1 from ,his own experience1 your condition and necessities1 through ,his knowledge can supply exactly what you need1 and make due allowance for your shortcomings and offences8 ,once more1 what think ye of ,christ as the ,son of ,,god8 very and eternal ,,god1 with all the ,divine attributes1 power1 knowledge1 justice1 holiness1 and exaction of obedience1 abhorrence of evil1 wrath against sin1 love of righteousness8 ,do you feel that ,he is mighty to save8 ,do you live as under ,his all-searching eye8 ,are you convinced that ,he is impartially just1 alike to approve and disapprove1 to reward and punish1 in ,his present and future dealings with all the partakers of ,his covenant8 ,do you realise the utter impossibility of being loved by ,him1 of being allowed to draw nigh to ,him1 of deriving any benefit from ,him now or hereafter1 if you are impure1 worldly1 unloving1 indifferent8 ,are you impressed with the guilt of disobedience to ,him1 a twice revealed1 a doubly jealous ,,god1 binding you to ,himself by the mercies and responsibility of redemption1 as well as creation1 and by the threats and forebodings of a particular and most righteous judgment8 ,is it thus you think of ,christ as ,,god8 ,dear brethren1 make use1 ,i beseech you1 of these brief and plain suggestions1 to ascertain your past thoughts of ,christ1 to rebuke them1 if they have been low and partial1 to lead you on to perfection4 ,beware of separating what ,,god has joined together1 of recognising in ,him who is the ,son of ,,god1 only the son of ,david4 ,never allow yourselves to joy over salvation without remembering judgment4 ,dwell not on the ,deliverer apart from the ,purchaser2 appropriate not promises1 if you do not observe commands2 count not on human sympathy1 if you do not deserve ,divine compassion2 expect not heavenly blessings1 without using appointed means4 ,you do not think of the ,christ of the ,bible1 unless every phase of ,his character there represented1 has its due place in your thoughts4 ,and so your thoughts are unacceptable to ,him1 and unprofitable to you2 they are neither worship1 nor helps to salvation2 they do not recognise ,him at all1 because they do not recognise ,him altogether2 they prompt to no service1 because they prompt not to all4 ,an imperfect ,christ is no ,christ4 ,a ,christian who regards ,him as imperfect1 is no ,christian4 ,oh1 may ,he who has given ,christ to be our ,all in all1 enable us to recognise and incline us to serve1 and love1 and depend on ,him1 as indeed our ,all in all6 ,,sermon ,,iii4 ,,the ,,churchman',s ,,thoughts ,,about ,,dissenters4 ,,st4 ,,luke1 ,,xvii41 #af4 8,and he was a ,samaritan40 ,,the people known as ,samaritans had their origin from certain ,gentile tribes sent into the country of ,samaria early in the ,babylonish captivity4 ,they were of course idolaters1 and they continued to be mere idolaters1 until1 being troubled with lions1 which had become very numerous in ,samaria1 and understanding that these were let loose among them by the god of the country 7for various countries in their creed had various gods7 to punish them for neglect of his worship1 they applied to ,king ,shalmanezer for one of the captive priests to teach them the ,levitical law4 ,then they began to combine with their own superstition the acknowledgment and ceremonial service of ,jehovah4 8,they feared the ,,lord10 we read1 8and served their own gods40 ,on the return of the ,jews1 these ,samaritans1 who1 it would appear1 had now relinquished much of their idolatry1 sought permission to take part in the rebuilding of the temple2 but being properly rejected1 they in revenge hindered and harassed the builders1 and at length1 by false representations to the ,syrian ,king1 procured a decree which suspended the continuance of the devout work4 ,this naturally made the ,jews bitterly hostile to the ,samaritans3 and the building of a rival temple on ,mount ,gerizim--the rejection of all the inspired ,books1 excepting those of ,moses--the encouragement given to ,jewish criminals and outlaws to seek refuge among them1 and many other provocations1 had so sustained and deepened the feeling against them1 that1 in our ,,lord',s time1 the ,jews would have no dealings with the ,samaritans2 and in any want or danger1 would much rather have suffered death1 than receive succour at their hands4 ,thus were the ,samaritans despised and shunned2 and that there was at least some measure of justice in their treatment1 we may safely infer from our ,,lord',s rebuke of them--8,ye worship ye know not what20 and from ,his charge to the apostles1 8,into any city of the ,samaritans enter ye not40 ,their creed was heretical1 their worship schismatic4 ,they belonged not to the covenanted people of ,,god4 ,and yet the only one out of ten miraculously healed lepers1 who discharged the religious obligation of rendering thanks and glorifying ,,god1 and who received spiritual benefit from ,christ1 was a ,samaritan4 ,the model neighbour to the man who had fallen among thieves1 was a ,samaritan4 ,they were ,samaritans who so early and so openly professed1 8,we have heard ,him ourselves1 and know that this is indeed the ,christ1 the ,saviour of the world40 ,and when the ,jews persecuted the disciples1 and thrust them out of ,jerusalem1 ,samaria readily and largely received the ,word of ,,god at their mouths4 ,thankful and acceptable adoration of ,,god1 exemplary brotherly love1 enlightened faith1 prompt renunciation of error1 and acceptance of truth--these were graces which shone conspicuously in heretical and schismatic ,samaritans1 and won for them from the ,saviour of ,israel approbation1 and love1 and blessing4 ,remarkable as these things are in themselves1 they become much more so by contrast with the several cases of the ,jews mentioned in their respective contexts4 ,thus nine ,jewish lepers were unthankful2 a priest and a ,levite passed by on the other side2 the ,prophet returning from ,samaria1 where ,he had been confessed1 was not respected in ,his own country2 ,jerusalem had but lately rejected the ,word which ,samaria received4 ,how was this8 ,how came heterodoxy to be productive of acceptable fruit1 while orthodoxy in the same circumstances was barren and unfruitful8 ,the pursuit of this inquiry would doubtless be very interesting1 but it would necessarily occupy much time1 and lead us into the regions of speculation4 ,i prefer1 therefore1 just now1 to deal with the history of our text as a fact1 and to endeavour to deduce from that fact three or four plain and profitable lessons4 ,nine professors of the true religion1 members of the covenanted people of ,,god1 to whom pertained all the privileges1 and gifts1 and evidences1 and responsibilities of a manifested ,divine rule1 were undutiful and unblessed in the very circumstances in which a stranger1 an alien1 belonging to a sect unsound in doctrine1 and schismatic in practice1 volunteered to ,,god most acceptable service1 and received from ,him the highest spiritual benediction4 ,now1 what does this teach us--us1 the members of the ,church of ,england8 ,first1 with respect to ourselves1 it teaches us not to pride ourselves in1 or to rest satisfied with1 a mere profession of the true faith4 ,there is indeed but one true faith--that1 namely1 which ,,god has delivered to us in ,his ,word1 and maintained by the testimony of ,his ,church4 ,to accept this faith in its integrity1 is to set one's seal to the testimony that ,,god is true2 to reject deliberately one article of it1 no matter how small1 how apparently unimportant1 is to make ,,god a liar1 inasmuch as it is to refuse as false what ,he has offered us as true4 ,common duty then1 and ordinary fear lest we should become blasphemers1 render it imperative that we should most anxiously inquire what is the true faith1 and then most implicitly receive its every article4 ,we may not choose 7heresy means choice7 what we will believe1 and what reject4 ,to alter1 or accept less than what ,,god has propounded1 is to act in defiance of ,him1 and to cast a slur upon ,his infallible truth4 ,is it reason to suppose that we can do this with impunity8 ,besides1 remember1 what ,,god reveals to us as articles of faith1 are no mere abstract truths for the philosopher to muse upon1 and no more4 ,they are the impelling force1 the germ and embodiment of principles and ways of life1 on the observance of which our very salvation depends4 8,how can this man give us ,his flesh to eat80 ,whosoever says1 8,i do not choose to believe that ,he can in any way10 does not1 as he imagines1 merely deny a subtle dogma1 he gives up a vital principle of godliness1 without which of course he will not seek to eat ,christ's flesh2 and so1 if ,christ be true1 can have no spiritual life in ,him4 ,for these two reasons1 then--because they are revealed by ,,god as verities1 and because they are the foundations of godliness--it is essentially important to receive every article of the faith3 and we1 who find ourselves members of a communion in which the faith is thus received1 which is apostolic in doctrine1 and primitive in practice1 have therefore much indeed to be thankful for1 and may harmlessly1 so as it be humbly1 rejoice in the possession of such great privileges4 ,but let us not be high-minded4 8,let him that thinketh he standeth1 take heed lest he fall40 ,the ,jews were a highly privileged people2 they received the whole inspired ,word2 their priests were all called of ,,god1 as was ,aaron2 they worshipped in the appointed place1 and observed all the enjoined times and ceremonies2 yet with many of them ,,god was not well pleased4 ,they were unreal1 hollow1 formal1 hypocritical2 their service was listless and unmeaning2 and so1 notwithstanding all their privileges and all their orthodoxy1 a ,samaritan1 a dog of the ,gentiles1 a publican1 a harlot was often nearer to the kingdom of heaven than they were1 and met ,christ1 when they missed ,him4 ,is not this a warning to us8 ,what though we possess the pure and entire faith1 though we have an appointed ministry1 and continue in the apostles' fellowship1 though the spirit of ,christ be present in our ordinances1 and all our forms and ceremonies be after an approved pattern1 yet may we not any of us be unreal in our use of these things1 hollow1 formal1 listless1 and so go away unaccepted and unblessed1 while the less privileged ,romanist or ,dissenter is receiving the sweet assurance1 8,thy faith hath made thee whole80 ,depend upon it this may be1 and often is the case4 ,,god would have us intellectually wise1 but ,he would also have us heartily good4 ,a good heart and a right mind united1 form the being who is most blessed2 with whom the covenant is surest1 and in whom ,,god takes most delight2 but better1 far better1 a good heart alone1 than a right mind alone4 ,christ1 as ,he walked on earth the messenger of peace and love to all men1 had a special interest in the ,jews 7,his own people71 but it was in ,jews whose practice corresponded with their profession1 whose heart and life illustrated what their understanding received4 ,on such as these1 ,his highest favours would have been most readily bestowed2 but wanting these qualities1 ,he estimated their orthodoxy at nothing2 and1 on the other hand1 finding these qualities among strangers and aliens1 ,he allowed not their heterodoxy to prove an obstacle to their blessing4 ,in many cases uncircumcision was counted for circumcision1 and circumcision for uncircumcision4 ,my dear brethren1 value ordinances greatly1 but rest not1 ,i charge you1 in them4 ,boast not that you are ,anglo-,catholics2 that your ministers have an ,apostolic succession2 that you were regenerated in baptism2 that you are regular communicants and worshippers at the daily service4 ,these are1 indeed1 great privileges2 but connected with them are great responsibilities4 ,is your pure faith illustrated by a pure life8 ,do you make the best use of an ,apostolic ministry8 ,are you growing in the spirit of which you were born again8 ,do you feel and sustain the communicated presence of ,christ within you8 ,when you go down from the sanctuary1 does your life shine1 as ,moses's face did1 with the reflected glory of ,,god8 ,if not1 talk not of your high privileges--your case would be better without them4 ,when ,,god ceased to wink at the errors and ungodliness of mankind1 ,he began by punishing1 and with much severity1 the errors and ungodliness of the privileged ,jews4 ,yes1 and whenever ,he takes account1 and passes judgment1 it is on the principle that to whom much has been given1 of him shall much be required4 8,you only have ,i known of all the families of the earth3 therefore ,i will punish you for all your iniquities40 8,to him that knoweth1 to do good and doeth it not1 to him it is sin40 ,the second thought which the fact of our text suggests1 is one of great comfort to the benevolent heart4 ,it is1 that ,,god will make a way through a bad system1 to the disciple of that system who has been trying to reach ,him4 ,when one reflects on the grave and blinding errors of modern ,romanism2 on the awful denial of our blessed ,,lord',s ,divinity by the ,unitarians2 on the capricious choice1 what to believe1 what to deny1 which each ,protestant sect ventures to make and maintain2 on the disuse of a ministry1 the ignoring of sacraments1 and other holy ordinances by the ,society of ,friends1 what a comfort is there in our text1 8,and he was a ,samaritan20 in feeling that ,,god condescends to get through all this1 to the yearning1 would-be faithful heart2 ay1 that ,he even accepts the purblind visions and stammering utterances of such an one as faith4 8,thy faith hath made thee whole06 ,most of us know some members of such sects with whom we should wish to dwell together in heaven1 for whom our heart is rejoiced to feel that there are such prospects1 in whose sanctified lives we have the present proof1 that 7however originators of heresy and schism may be regarded7 in every nation and every sect1 he that heareth ,,god1 and worketh righteousness1 is accepted with ,him4 ,but1 thirdly1 are we therefore to make no difference between orthodoxy and heterodoxy8 ,are we to be indifferent to truth and error8 ,are we to frequent ,romish chapels or ,dissenting conventicles with as little compunction as though they were our proper sanctuaries8 ,are we to promote the schemes of other communions1 by contributing to them out of our substance1 or by lending our names or presence to them8 ,no1 brethren1 we are not to confound ,jew and ,samaritan1 nor to regard the schismatic building on ,gerizim1 as equally an approved sanctuary with the temple at ,jerusalem4 ,we are not to gather professors of different sects together2 by concessions and suppressions to produce an outward conforming1 and then to proclaim1 8,this is what ,christians should be4 ,this is an ,evangelical alliance40 ,evangelical alliance6 alliance1 i4e41 according to the ,gospel6 ,christ1 indeed1 willed us to be one2 but it was by all receiving the whole truth1 not by paring and cropping it each one as he will1 and then calling the hacked and deformed thing of our own shaping ,his glorious ,gospel4 ,judge for yourselves3--one man believes that the ,blessed ,virgin and other saints are his mediators with ,,god2 another1 that ,christ alone is the ,way1 the ,truth1 and the ,life1 but that ,christ must be sought in ,his own appointed sacraments1 or not found at all2 a third completely ignores all sacraments4 ,shall these three stand side by side1 and say1 8,we are allied according to the ,gospel--we all believe alike08 ,surely such a thing is a mockery of common sense1 and an act of treason against their respective communions4 ,yes1 and it is worse4 ,for1 first of all1 as ,i have already said1 there is but one faith propounded in ,holy ,scripture4 ,men may differ in their perception of that faith--the ,romanist regards it in one light1 the ,anglican in another1 the 8,friend0 in a third4 ,but each of these believes himself to be right1 and he must therefore regard the others as wrong4 ,now1 if they are wrong1 then by slurring over their error1 he makes it his own2 he joins in the choosing of a creed other than that ,,god has framed1 and so insults the ,infallible ,truth4 ,again1 there are no sins more strictly forbidden1 more severely denounced in the ,bible than those of heresy1 choosing what to believe1 instead of adopting the ,apostolic faith1 without increase or diminution1 and schism1 separating oneself1 that is1 without most strong reason from worship in appointed places1 conducted by appointed officers1 according to the prescribed form4 ,these sins are classed by ,st4 ,paul with the grossest works of the flesh1 and it is said of those that cause them1 that they shall not inherit the kingdom of ,,god4 ,it is evident1 then1 that patronising or encouraging in any way a religious community from which we personally honestly differ1 is disobeying a positive command of ,,god1 and incurring awful risk of ,his displeasure4 ,and there is another argument against seeming recognition of heresy or schism3 namely1 that we thereby often cause the weak brother to offend1 and hinder the anxious inquirer after truth from renouncing error4 ,if those who look up to us for guidance--and there are very few of us but are accepted as guides by some--see us once among the ,samaritans1 they will take license and encouragement from us to be there frequently2 and so1 if those who are in doubt between remaining aloof from the ,church and joining it1 see ,churchmen in their assemblies1 they will assuredly gather that there is no difference of importance between them and us1 and will remain where they are4 ,for all these reasons1 it is of the utmost importance that the ,churchman1 while entertaining the most benevolent feelings towards those who differ from him1 while gratefully acknowledging the good they do1 while inwardly rejoicing that wandering sinners should be proselytised by them1 and have a faith of some kind rather than none at all2 while1 too1 hoping and praying that our blessed ,,lord',s prayer may yet be realised1 and that all who call upon ,his name may ultimately be of one heart and one mind1 and with one mouth glorify ,,god2 should still most strictly abstain in presence1 in deed1 in speech1 and in look1 from the remotest encouragement1 or sanction of erroneous doctrine1 or religious disunion and division4 ,meet these men in business you often must2 meet them in friendship1 in secular consultation1 in practical benevolence1 you may2 but meet them in their religious capacity1 frequent their places of worship1 forward the objects of their sect you must not1 unless you are prepared to go over to them altogether2 to maintain that theirs is the faith1 and the fellowship2 and that all not in communion with them are heretics or schismatics4 ,give no uncertain sound4 ,halt not between two opinions4 8,he that is not with ,me is against ,me40 ,one more lesson to guard against misinterpretation of the last4 ,i have used some strong words in speaking of those that differ4 ,do not1 pray1 suppose that ,i would have you regard them with any but kind feelings1 much less that ,i would teach you to cry out against their errors1 in railing or contemptuous tones4 ,the ,christian minister intent upon laying down clearly the line of right thought and practice1 has occasion to speak plainly1 and for his hearers' sake to call things by their right names1 however grating they may sound2 but with the private individual it is otherwise4 ,in his ordinary course1 he has no need to speak of these things1 or to think of them1 further than to prompt his earnest prayers for the decay of error and dissension1 and the establishment of truth and union4 ,and if at any time it becomes his duty or desire to stay a soul from error1 or to convert him from it1 let him remember1 and be sure it is true1 that one ounce of love will do more good than many pounds of controversy4 #ch ,loud cries of 8,no popery10 invectives against ,high ,church or ,low ,church1 sneers against 8cant10 imputations of unworthy motives to those who differ1 contemptuous pity of their ignorance or inferiority1 are all carnal4 ,they will unspiritualise yourselves2 they will retard1 rather than advance the good work on others2 they will drive away from you the only power in which you can hope to prevail1 that of the ,spirit of holiness1 and love1 and peace4 ,while then as ,churchmen1 it is your bounden duty to regard other systems of religion as inferior1 perhaps erroneous2 be sure that in dealing with the individual disciples of those systems1 you remember the history of the thankful ,samaritan1 and consider that like him1 they may be approved and sanctified followers of your common ,,lord4 ,resolve to put away all animosity1 and strife1 and captiousness2 to take the best rather than the worst view of what you dislike1 or do not understand2 in short1 while maintaining as far as possible the orthodoxy of ,him who was a true ,israelite2 like ,him1 and for ,his sake1 endeavour to love men for themselves1 if you cannot love their system2 and to rejoice in the opportunity of treating the ,samaritan as a brother1 and of bringing him within nearer reach of abiding blessedness4 ,,sermon ,,iv4 ,,eternal ,,abode ,,with ,,god4--7,a ,,funeral ,,sermon47 #a ,,thess41 ,,iv41 #ag4 8,so shall we ever be with the ,lord40 ,,we read in the third chapter of ,genesis of the introduction of death into our world--how sin alienated ,,god from man and man from ,,god1 how those who had been endowed with the best faculties of enjoying bliss1 who were surrounded by all desirable blessings1 who dwelt beneath the bright sun of ,,god',s favour1 were by an act of unbelief and wilfulness1 suggested by the evil one1 driven angrily into the outer world1 where toil1 and pain1 and manifold misery were thenceforth to be their lot4 ,we are sometimes tempted to think1 that the actual punishment of our first parents was less than that they had been threatened with4 8,in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die10 was ,,god',s assurance2 but when they ate they did not die1--as we account dying2 they were but banished from the ,garden of ,eden1 and prevented from returning1 by cherubims who kept the entrance1 and a flaming sword which turned every way4 ,it was indeed a sad reverse--a wilderness instead of a garden--sorrow instead of joy--toil instead of rest--curses instead of blessings3 but it was not the threatened death4 ,they did not die4 ,so we are wont to think3 but we err therein2 they did die1 brethren4 ,this reverse was death4 ,death 7what ,,god means by death7 is not annihilation--not ceasing to be2 it is protracted existence apart from ,,god1 and the blessings of ,his right hand1 and the light of ,his countenance4 ,more truly did they die when they entered upon this state of existence1 than when1 hundreds of years afterwards1 their bodies stiffened1 and their breath ceased1 and their flesh turned to corruption in the grave4 ,it is a misconception--a practical unbelief of immortality1 which makes us think otherwise4 ,the soul does not perish--does not slumber2 living once1 it lives ever1 and ever knows and feels its existence4 ,the separation of it from the body alters its circumstances1 uncasing it--depriving it of one of its appendages--breaking off its connexion with a material and natural world2 but not destroying it4 ,no2 it lives on1 and lives on 7in its spiritual relations7 as it did before1 save that the withdrawal of bodily senses enables and obliges the spiritual senses to exercise themselves to the full1 and so intensifies the feelings1 and completes the realisation of the spiritual state4 ,suppose that in the moment that ,adam was driven out of ,paradise1 he had actually died1 that his soul had been immediately separated from the body2 what would have been the state of that soul8 ,the same1 really1 as it was while he lived--banishment from the presence of ,,god1 with the consequent absence of what was desirable1 and presence of what was hateful4 ,he would have felt it more4 ,having nothing else to gaze on1 the blankness of the spiritual world around him1 save where evil spirits stood revealed1 would have been more terrible4 ,the desires would have been more intolerable when there was nothing to divert attention from them1 and the constrained employments more distasteful4 ,hopelessness1 too1 of remedy in that fixed state1 which is to have no change but that of increase throughout eternity1 would have caused his death to appear a greater reality1 but it would not have made it a greater reality4 ,the continuance of bodily existence palliated death2 a natural world spread before his eyes diverted his gaze from the spiritual 8void02 natural pain even1 and sorrow1 and toil1 beguiled his thoughts and feelings1 in a measure1 from spiritual miseries2 but still he was dead1 though he knew it not fully4 ,his state was like to that of the child who sleeps calmly in the dark2 but when it wakes1 cries and starts in terror4 ,there was darkness all along2 but only when the eyes were opened was it fully perceived--felt4 ,now1 natural death is like this waking2 it does not so much transfer us to another state1 as show us clearly in what state we are2 whether in the presence of ,,god1 or banished from ,him4 ,to be in outer darkness1 where hope never comes1 where the sun of heaven sends forth no rays2 to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the ,,lord1 and from the glory of ,his power1 this is death completed4 ,surely1 then1 to be without ,,god in the world2 to be removed from ,his favouring1 and comforting1 and guiding presence2 to live only in such unconscious dependence on ,him as the beasts that perish2 to have but the good things of our own finding2 this is death begun3 this is to have a name to live1 and yet be dead1 to be as really dead as are the spirits of the doomed-departed1 except that we know not fully 7which is part of death7 the misery of our condition2 and 7blessed be ,,god67 that we may as yet live again1 and be restored to ,his presence1 because ,christ has opened the gates of ,paradise1 and bids ,his angels gently drive us in1 if we will2 yea1 calls to us ,himself1 and entreats us to enter2 to have again the condition--spiritualised1 exalted1 perfected--of unfallen ,adam4 ,my brethren1 thus think of death1 and of life4 ,do not make so much of the heaving of the last sigh2 the drawing of the last breath2 as though the battle of life were fought1 and the victory achieved on a death-bed2 as though the soul began its banishment when it quits the body4 ,many1 whose flesh has long since mouldered into dust1 have never really died2 and many1 who still walk the earth1 full of energy1 and vigour1 and what man calls life1 are really dead4 ,to live1 is to be with ,,god3 to live for ever1 is to be with ,,god for ever4 ,to die1 is to be without ,,god3 to die for ever1 is to be without ,,god for ever4 8,if10 says ,christ1 8a man keep my sayings1 he shall never see death40 8,whosoever liveth and believeth on me1 shall never die40 8,he that hath the ,son hath life1 and he that hath not the ,son of ,,god hath not life40 ,i have said thus much to suggest to your consideration a very important1 life-directing truth1 viz43 that the heavenly life and the second death1 both have their beginning on this side the grave2 that ,,god1 for ,christ's sake1 vouchsafes ,his presence1 to those who seek and honour it1 to guide1 and comfort1 and strengthen1 and sanctify them2 and where ,he is there is real life3 on the other hand1 that ,,god withdraws ,himself from those who disregard1 or slight ,him2 and where ,he is not1 there is death1 the second death--capable1 as yet1 of being overcome1 and put to an end2 but more likely to prevail permanently in proportion as it is not felt2 and even now working many of its miserable effects on all1 not excepting the most hardened and apathetic who are subject to it4 ,try1 dear brethren1 to impress yourselves with this truth4 ,do not merely hope for eternal life1 or fear the second death beyond the grave1 after you die4 ,try to secure the one 7the actual possession of it1 ,i mean71 and to avoid the other1 in this life1 by earnestly seeking and sustaining the real1 the proffered presence with you1 and in you1 of the life-giving and upholding ,,god4 ,but1 there is a better presence1 a more perfect life1 spoken of in the text4 ,to this ,i would refer1 as furnishing truest consolation1 exciting liveliest hopes1 and stimulating to holiest exertions1--8eternal abode with ,,god in heaven40 ,when the minister of ,christ would comfort the mourning relatives of a departed saint1 and1 as the phrase is1 improve the occasion to their good1 he does not forbid them to feel and express sorrow1 for he remembers that ,christ wept at the tomb of ,lazarus1 but only charges them to set bounds to their sorrow1 and prepare to stay it presently2 because1 it is merely a natural1 and not a ,christian feeling2 because1 if continued1 it becomes a selfish1 inconsiderate bemoaning of their personal loss2 a virtual denial that the departed is at rest1 and in bliss2 a rejection of the hope that they shall meet again1 in a better and abiding home4 8,so shall we ever be with the ,,lord40 ,what mean these words8 ,we know in theory 7many of us1 let me hope1 experimentally71 what it is to be with ,,god1 or to have ,him with us here4 ,it is not simply to dwell in the same world with ,him1 near ,him1 close to ,him1 by ,his permission1 under ,his observance and government1 as the omnipresent ,,god4 ,no6 it is not the necessary1 but a special presence which we mean4 ,a presence like that which accompanied the ,israelites through the wilderness2 which actually went with them1 guided them1 fed them1 helped them in difficulties1 reproved them in transgressions1 interested ,itself specially in their circumstances1 and manifested that interest1 not only by its doings1 but by a sight of ,itself in a pillar of fire1 or a pillar of a cloud4 ,again1 like that presence1 it is not constant2 the pillar is sometimes withdrawn4 ,there is1 occasionally1 no answer given by ,urim and ,thummim2 we are left to fight1 now and then1 in our own strength only1 and then we fail2 we hunger1 we thirst1 and no ,divine supply comes2 we mourn1 and there is no spiritual comfort2 we murmur1 and there is no reproof2 we sin1 and there is no chastisement3 ,,god1 for the time1 is absent from our camp4 ,again1 like that presence1 it does not secure us from trials4 ,we have long marches1 and powerful adversaries2 we journey on in perils in the wilderness1 in perils of waters1 in perils of robbers1 in perils of our own countrymen 7our fellow ,christians71 in perils by the heathen2 in weariness and painfulness2 in watchings often2 in hunger and thirst2 in fastings often2 in cold and nakedness2 in deaths oft4 ,,god1 peradventure1 is with us all the while2 but it is through the world of tribulation ,he leads us1 not by a miraculously smooth and safe path4 ,his presence is manifested in occasional glimpses4 ,his voice is heard in disjoined words4 ,his arm is felt in intermittent upholdings4 ,i cannot well picture this presence to those who have no experience of it2 ,i need not do so to those who have realised it3 but all may see that1 in this lower world1 we are not ever with the ,,lord in the fullest manifestation of ,his presence2 in the constant upholding of ,his arm2 in entire exemption from trials2 in perfect fruition of blessings4 ,that may not be on earth4 ,the sun may lighten up our dark hovel2 but it is a hovel still4 ,divine help may lessen our labour2 but we must labour still4 ,divine consolation may soothe us in our losses2 but we are to suffer losses still4 ,howsoever ,,god be with us2 whatsoever ,he does for us2 the wilderness is still a wilderness4 ,but the wilderness has a limit2 its limit is what we call death4 ,to the faithful1 that bourne is like the ,jordan1--when they have crossed it1 they shall be in the promised land1 the land that floweth with milk and honey1 where ,,god',s abiding1 glorious temple is set up2 wherein there remaineth rest and joy for the people of ,,god4 ,whoso entereth that land1 shall be ever with the ,,lord1 enjoying ,his most complete and satisfying presence4 8,father1 ,i will that those whom thou hast given me may be with me where ,i am1 that they may behold my glory40 ,this prayer shall then be realised4 ,they shall see the ,king in ,his beauty1 and the land that is now afar off4 ,there shall be no more curse2 but the throne of ,,god and of the ,lamb shall be in their dwelling3 they shall serve ,him1 and they shall see ,his face3 with what feelings and emotions1 at present we can form no adequate conceptions2 but we know that it shall be with joy3 that they shall love and praise ,him2 that it shall be their untiring1 unalloyed delight to gaze upon ,his glory1 to sing ,his praises1 to share ,his love4 ,and they shall be like ,him4 ,as1 in this world1 they have borne the image of the earthly ,adam1 so1 in that1 they shall bear the image of the heavenly4 ,that image1 lost in the fall1 must indeed begin to be resumed here in regeneration1 and be more and more put on in life-long conversion to ,,god4 ,by contemplating ,christ1 and watching ,his countenance1 as we are allowed to see it here1 we must gradually assume ,his features1 and be changed into ,his image4 ,but we must see ,him1 not in faint resemblances1 and bare outline1 but as ,he is1 before we can be wholly like ,him4 ,then1 but not before1 shall we be transfigured1 and glorified1 and changed from glory to glory2 body and spirit advancing in excellence1 and intelligence1 and love1 and bliss1 till they become what and as ,christ is1--reaching unto the full stature of a man in ,christ ,,jesus1 satisfied with the perfect assumption of ,his likeness4 ,yes1 and as they gaze ever on ,him1 so shall ,he on them4 ,no sin shall cause the ,,lord to hide ,his face from them2 no discipline shall require ,his occasional withdrawal2 no cloud shall obscure heaven's sky2 no frown shall be seen2 no reproof heard4 ,he shall not try them4 ,evil shall not approach to tempt them4 ,a ,saviour's love shall surround them2 not to carry them through a wilderness1 not to keep them in tribulations1 but to lead them beside the clear fountains of peace2 to plant them all around ,his throne1 where with eyes wiped of all tears1 they shall feast on ,his presence1 and1 with adoring souls and bodies1 rest in ,his love4 ,and shall not the sharing of this presence with others augment their bliss8 ,we 7they and us7 shall be ever with the ,,lord4 ,all the sons of ,,god shall there meet together1 and dwell with the ,,lord4 ,man1 ,i need not tell you1 is a social being3 he is formed for company2 he cannot be fully happy alone4 ,it is by sharing his good things that he comes to enjoy them2 it is by speaking of them1 that he comes to feel them4 7,would that ,christians could be brought to act on this admitted truth1 as ,christians67 ,in this world there is no greater enjoyment than to associate with a band of fellow-countrymen1 journeying towards the same place1 with kindred tastes1 and tempers1 and hopes4 ,oh6 what then shall be the blessedness of association in heaven with the whole body of the saints8 ,think of being associated in the presence1 and favour1 and adoration of ,,god1 with holy angels2 with ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob2 with ,david1 and ,daniel1 and ,mary1 and ,john1 and ,paul2 and all the others whose praise is in the ,gospel6 ,think of meeting1 in heaven1 with all the primitive ,christians and martyrs2 with all the perfected saints who once walked on earth with us2 with our relatives1 our parents1 our brothers and sisters1 our children1 our bosom friends3 to be re-united with them in bonds that shall never be broken2 where all are happy2 where every eye looks to ,,jesus1 where every heart leaps to ,him2 each mouth is opened in ,his praise2 each knee is bent in ,his adoration2 where ,,god is the centre and the circumference1 and heaven the roof and the floor6 ,and all this for ever--uninterrupted1 unending1 growing fresher1 intensified1 better appreciated by the rolling on of eternity4 ,so shall we ever be with the ,,lord4 ,bereaved ,christian1 as you gaze upon the vacant place of one who is in ,paradise1 advancing to this heaven1 will you dare to sigh that the old armchair1 or the little cradle1 is unoccupied8 ,would you prefer for your loved one1 as a better condition1 that he or she should come back and share your sorrows1 and difficulties1 and perplexities1 and be exposed to toil and contamination8 ,will your ingratitude think lightly of what ,,god has done1 and is doing1 for the removed one8 ,will your selfishness 7oh1 if the dead should know of this67 demand--8,let me have my loved one's company1 though thereby that loved one lose ,,god',s80 ,oh6 there is no religion1 there is no human love1 in the mourner who does not smile away the tears of worldly sorrow with the joy of this blessed consolation2 who does not turn each thought of the righteous dead into a theme of praise for their deliverance2 into a prayer1 that he1 too1 may soon be added to the number of those who are ever with the ,,lord6 ,christian pilgrim1 journeying through the wilderness1 footsore1 beleaguered1 stumbling1 smitten1 losing sight ever and anon of the guiding pillar1 wandering out of the path1 too often unsustained1 uncomforted1 do you fear death8 ,do you shudder at and flee from the sight of the ,jordan through which angels wait to guide you2 whose other bank is in heaven8 ,oh6 how little do you think of ,,god',s abiding presence6 ,what a mere name is your love of ,christ6 ,how unreal was your professed affection for those who have gone before6 ,how foolishly blind are you to your own best interests6 ,what a sham is your so-called pilgrimage1 your journey to a shrine which you fear to reach6 ,what shall ,i say to those who wilfully linger in the wilderness1 while the host passes on1 and the night1 with all its howling terrors1 is at hand2 to those who would turn back1 and would cross again the ,red ,sea into ,egypt1 while the waves are prepared to overwhelm the ,egyptians--in plain terms1 to those who live not in ,,god',s presence here1 and seek not to have it hereafter8 ,shall ,i describe to you the positive horrors of hell2 its gnawing worms1 its devouring flames1 its malignant frenzied spirits8 ,no2 ,i will but warn you1 that you are fast approaching an outer darkness1 where there is no enjoyment1 no hope1 no heaven1 no ,saviour1 no ,,god4 ,ye shall be for ever without the ,,lord4 ,brethren1 one and all1 what shall we do to inherit the glorious1 abiding presence of ,,god8 ,oh6 let us make much of the partial presence which is now within our reach4 8,abide in me1 and ,i in you10 says ,christ4 ,let us live near to ,him2 let us live much in ,him2 let us live as ,he tells us4 ,contemplate we ,him in ,his holy ,word2 pore over it day after day1 till we see ,him as in a glass2 till ,his glory is reflected on us1 and we shine with the glorious light4 ,watch we for ,him in all our ways1 listen for ,his voice1 lean on ,his arm1 fight in ,his strength4 ,feed we our desires with heavenly food2 not the quails of our own lust1 but the manna from heaven1 and the water out of the rock2 the bread and wine1 which are meat indeed and drink indeed4 ,having this hope--desiring1 that is1 to be ever with ,him--let us purify ourselves1 even as ,he is pure1 and study day by day to conform ourselves more and more to ,his pattern4 ,yes2 believe in heaven1 desire heaven1 live for heaven4 ,as ,st4 ,peter says1 8,add to your faith1 virtue2 and to virtue1 knowledge2 and to knowledge1 temperance2 and to temperance1 patience2 and to patience1 godliness2 and to godliness1 brotherly kindness2 and to brotherly kindness1 charity4 ,for if these things be in you and abound1 they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 and so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly1 into the everlasting kingdom of our ,,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,,sermon ,v4 ,,man',s ,,knowledge ,,limited4 ,i4 ,,cor41 ,,xiii41 #i 8,we know in part40 ,,in one sense1 the words of our text have been ever true1 and ever shall be4 ,even in the ,garden of ,eden1 when man possessed knowledge of such a kind1 and to such a degree1 as to be a feature of the moral likeness of ,,god1 there were still many things which he could not grasp1 nor fathom1 nor measure1 and there were many others which the ,divine will purposely kept unrevealed from him4 ,and so too1 hereafter1 in heaven itself1 the perfected finite being must necessarily fail to comprehend and scrutinize thoroughly the great infinite1 and doubtless will be left uninformed of much that he could grasp1 because the knowledge thereof will not concern his duty or his interest4 ,but1 in another sense1 man did once know1 and shall again know1 perfectly4 ,in his unfallen state1 ,,god talked to him plainly1 made ,his presence to be realised1 in a way showed ,himself as ,he is1 that is1 as ,he is in ,his relation to obedient and holy man1 taught clearly the duty1 and revealed the destiny and hopes of ,his creature4 ,and1 again1 in heaven1 though still dwelling in light which no one can approach to1 though still the ,invisible1 ,whom no man hath seen or can see1 ,,god shall yet be plainly reflected in ,his ,son1 the visible ,deity with ,whom the redeemed shall stand face to face1 ,whom they shall see and know even as now they are known by ,him4 ,and man1 too1 though still not omniscient1 shall know thoroughly with whom he has to do2 shall trace with easy clearness the path along which he has been led2 shall realise his position and appropriate his privileges1 and see even to the utmost his eternal future4 ,this has been already1 in a measure4 ,this shall be hereafter entirely2 but this is not now4 8,we know in part40 ,when man sinned1 the lamp of knowledge grew dim1 and well nigh went out4 ,,god put a thick cloud between ,him and ,his creature1 and between that creature and the future2 and around him and above him1 for light ,he gave obscurity4 ,but yet straightway of ,his compassion and love in ,christ1 ,he began to give back as with a slow hand1 what ,he had suddenly withdrawn with a swift hand4 ,a tiny spark was kindled1 which was very gradually to be fanned into a little flame1 and finally to burst out into a blaze1 which should make all visible again4 ,yea1 and more visible than at the first4 ,you know how the grace of ,,god--which made man at the first innocent1 upright1 and happy1 with great power of understanding and free will--having been forfeited1 was withdrawn1 but yet began at once to be recommunicated--not immediately in its former perfection1 but by little and little1 and at slow paces2 first1 externally by the ,spirit in the world2 then1 internally1 by the ,spirit of regeneration planted as a seed in each ,christian's heart1 to be gradually developed into the blade1 the ear1 and1 finally1 the ripe corn in the ear1 at the resurrection1 the restoration to the full favour and realised presence of ,,god4 ,this may explain to you how knowledge was reimparted4 ,at first it was but a spark for the whole world2 then it became a tiny flame1 by which those near at hand might dimly see4 ,then a spark from it was struck into each ,christian mind1 which may be1 and is to be gradually fanned up in him1 revealing more and more what is in him1 and about him1 and before him1 till in heaven it bursts out into a full flame1 showing all things clearly4 ,into each of us this spark has been struck2 in each of us it is to be fostered1 and fed1 and developed2 to exhibit more and more what ,,god is1 and does2 what we are1 and have1 and hope for1 till we come unto perfect knowledge1 and see all clearly4 ,men of the patriarchal age had but the one spark among them4 ,the ,jews had this spark become a little flame2 and some of them1 as ,david1 ,solomon1 and ,daniel1 had each a torch lighted from it1 and held near at hand to them1 as by a guardian angel4 ,we ,christians1 ,i say1 have each in us a spark kindled4 ,if we feed and fan it1 it becomes a flame2 and according as we feed and fan it1 grows brighter and larger1 and extends nearer and nearer to that point1 where it shall unite with others1 and light up heaven with an eternal blaze4 ,thus do we know1 all of us in part1 but not all equally1 some less1 some more1 according to our measure1 and according as we guard and tend it1 and all imperfectly1 because the time and place of perfection are not yet4 8,we know in part40 ,now1 one of the most important thoughts which this text suggests is1 that we ,christians all have to some extent the privilege of spiritual knowledge1 and consequently1 we all have resting upon us1 the responsibility of maintaining and increasing knowledge4 ,you all1 brethren1 know in part4 ,i do not mean merely that you have the instinct and intelligence which certain sagacious animals of the lower creation have1 nor yet that by natural conscience1 the embers of the primeval spiritual fire1 you are enabled dimly to discern between right and wrong1 to perceive that there is a power above you1 and an immortal future before you3 ,i mean1 that you all as ,christians are partakers of a new gift of knowledge--that you have within you1 as one of the ordinary graces of the ,spirit of regeneration in ,christ1 that ,spirit which was given to guide men unto all truth1 to convince of sin1 of righteousness1 and of judgment2 the faculty of knowing spiritual things--a faculty to be sustained in appointed ways1 and to be exercised upon the revelations of knowledge contained in the ,word of ,,god4 ,i shall not stay to prove this2 you know that since in ,christ all is quickened1 which died in ,adam1 knowledge must be revived4 ,you know that the ,spirit of ,christ is frequently spoken of as the ,imparter of light to all whom ,he visits2 that the coming of ,christ to men1 externally even1 as a teacher1 took away all cloak and excuse for ignorance and sin2 that to sin after receiving the ,spirit1 is to sin against the knowledge of the truth1 knowledge attainable1 if not attained2 that under the ,gospel dispensation1 the servant who knows not his ,master's will1 is nevertheless to be beaten if he transgresses it1 because he might and should have known it2 that to remain ignorant is to bring upon us judicial ignorance2 that from him that hath not 7that acts1 i4e41 as though he had not71 from him shall be taken away even that he hath2 that the light within us1 if treated as darkness1 will become the greatest and most terrible darkness4 ,you know1 too1 that we are commanded to increase and improve this gift1 to grow in knowledge1 to walk in the light2 and you know how to do it1 by asking wisdom of ,,god1 by heeding what the ,spirit says1 and by searching the ,scriptures1 the source of spiritual knowledge4 ,we all know--that is1 we all have the power of knowing--we all are required to know1 we shall all be judged as those who know1 and we shall all be rewarded according to our use or abuse1 our growth1 or falling off in knowledge4 ,now1 is not this a solemn thought8 ,does not it exhibit to us a great responsibility8 ,does not it speak stern reproof to our frequent and willing ignorance8 ,how little are many of us acquainted with ,,god1 the ,father of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,what little knowledge have we1 and do we seek to have1 of ,providence1 of grace1 of moral discipline1 of duty1 of prospects1 hopes and fears1 of spiritual succour and spiritual assaults of time and eternity1 of probation and judgment1 of heaven and hell4 ,is there any other subject of which the vast majority of us are so ignorant1 and so contentedly or carelessly ignorant1 as of that which ,,god has made so easy to learn1 and has so imperatively required us to learn1 the knowledge of ,him1 of ourselves1 and of ,his dealings with us1 revealed to us in the ,bible1 to be discerned by the ,spirit within us8 ,year after year passes away1 and we realise no more1 and feel no more what ,,god is1 what we are1 what we have to do1 and why1 and what awaits us4 ,chapter after chapter of the ,bible is read1 or heard again and again1 and what we did not understand at first1 we still do not understand2 what we did not feel at first1 we still do not feel4 ,sermon after sermon is preached1 and our stock of knowledge after all is just as much 7is it always this87 as was forced upon us at school1 or in preparation for confirmation and first communion4 ,restless and ever on the move in all other respects1 we are content to stand still here2 ay1 and if the preacher strives to lead us on1 by unfolding some great spiritual truth as far as he can1 by exhibiting and explaining some difficult doctrine more fully than usual1 too often we withhold the attention which we usually give him1 and after he has done1 not unfrequently condemn his pains1 and exclaim against his learned and abstruse sermon4 ,is not it so8 ,are not there many who cannot recollect a time when they had less spiritual perception than they have now1 and who therefore are witnesses to themselves that they have not grown in knowledge8 ,are not there many who are less acquainted with the ,bible than with any other book that has come into their hands8 ,are not there many who1 while they may have familiarised themselves with the history1 the geography1 the anecdotes so to speak of ,holy ,scripture1 and the fanciful1 often daring1 interpretations of unfulfilled prophecy1 yet know comparatively nothing of what ,,god is to them1 what they are to ,,god1 what is required of them1 and what is promised or threatened8 ,oh6 brethren1 how and why is this8 ,how is it that the ,object of supreme love and fear is to us but a shadowy and unintelligible name8 ,how is it that we have no perception of the ever-present1 ever-speaking1 ever-acting1 all-important ,spirit8 ,how is it that we have no intelligent or inquiring thought of the heaven which we are bidden to seek1 and of the hell which we have to avoid2 of the ,master we are bound to serve2 of the business to which life is an apprenticeship2 of the race in which we are runners2 of the warfare which we are enlisted to wage2 the weapons to be used2 the mode of fighting2 the field of battle2 the foes we are opposed to2 the punishment of desertion3 the reward of constancy2 the prospects of victory2 the perils of defeat8 ,is not it that we are not impressed with the responsibility of having this gift of knowledge8 with the peril of folding up in a napkin a precious talent given us to use and improve8 ,is not it that we do not think seriously of the existence of ,,god1 of the possession of ,his ,spirit1 of the reality of heaven and hell1 of the obligations of ,christian service1 of spiritual helps1 and difficulties1 and perils8 ,is not it that we have not 7which means that we do not seek7 that faith which is the substance of things hoped for1 and the evidence of things not seen1 enabling us to realise and grasp1 as though it were a substance1 that which is as yet but future2 and to behold plainly1 with the eye of faith1 that which to natural sense is not perceptible8 ,have but this faith1 and you will soon add to it knowledge4 ,concern yourselves about ,,god only as much as you would about the man with whom you have most to do in life1 and from whom you have most to expect or fear2 treat religion as you would the business by which you are to sustain natural life1 and to make or mar your temporal fortune2 and then interest and desire 7as much and more than duty7 will impel you to use every effort to acquaint yourselves thoroughly with ,,god2 to understand the working and unravel the mysteries of religion2 to ascertain all particulars about what you have to hope for or fear--heaven and hell--angels and demons--the ,holy ,ghost--and the spirit of evil4 ,deeper and deeper will you drink of the well of knowledge2 and each deep and frequent draught will but quicken your thirst and impel you to drink again4 ,but take care not to err in the other extreme3 we know in part1 and are always to know in part only4 ,our knowledge of allowed and enjoined things1 though ever increasing1 shall never be perfect on this side of the grave4 ,we are to augment it as much as we can1 but we must stand really face to face with ,christ1 before we see ,him as ,he is4 ,our grossness must be refined1 our souls and minds wholly transformed1 and our bodies glorified1 before we can fully perceive and appreciate the ,holy ,spirit4 ,we must be in heaven to know thoroughly what heaven is4 ,we must have ,christ for our audible teacher1 and angels for our prompting fellow scholars1 and the eternal records for our books1 and all time spread out before us as a map1 before we can learn perfectly1 what we are to spend this life and exercise the ,spirit of knowledge in acquiring in part4 ,and even then1 as ,i said before1 there are things which we shall not be able to grasp1 or fathom1 or perceive thoroughly4 ,we shall never see ,,god the ,father visibly2 we shall never comprehend altogether a ,being without beginning or end2 we shall never be omniscient or omnipresent4 ,,god will treat us as trusty and privileged friends1 and reveal to us much that is not revealed here1 and give us new powers of understanding it4 ,but ,he will not open to us all the workings of the ,divine mind4 ,he will not transform us into gods1 nor even into angels4 ,we shall still be finite human beings1 of limited understanding and limited knowledge4 ,the things which concern us we shall know fully2 the things which concern us not1 we shall not know2 just as the angels desired once to look into1 but were not able1 the mysteries 7which did not concern them7 of our redemption4 ,well1 then1 if there is to be holy ground in heaven1 which we must not tread on with the shoes of idle curiosity2 if there is to be there a bush behind which we must not look2 if even then there shall be secret things which belong only to ,,god1 and which we must not pry into2 how much more so here and now6 ,how necessary to remember that we are to know only in part2 that we are not to seek to be wise above what is written2 that1 respecting mysteries which concern not us1 it is distinctly charged3 8,draw not nigh hither06 ,when ,god puts forth and reveals ,his arm1 ,he proves to us1 indeed1 that there is more of ,him that is not revealed2 but it is profane to demand that it should be revealed4 ,when ,he tells us1 that the world was created so many thousand years ago1 ,he proves that it was not before then2 but ,he does not permit us to inquire1 what was then8 ,when ,he tells us1 that ,he made all good1 and that the devil introduced evil1 ,he does it not that we should inquire subtilly into the origin of evil4 ,we are to study what is revealed1 and not what is hidden4 ,where did ,,god exist before the worlds were made8 ,what is existence without beginning8 ,how was matter produced out of nothing--evil out of good8 ,how is it possible for ,,god to have ,his will1 and man his8 ,why did not ,,god prevent evil8 ,why does ,he now tolerate it8 ,why were fallen angels not redeemed8 ,why is man not perfected without trial8 ,how can finite beings be infinitely rewarded or punished8 ,these1 and the thousand other curious questions1 which perverse man is ever asking1 are inquiries which ,he forbids and baffles--which we may be sure provoke ,his displeasure4 ,check we1 then1 brethren1 our wandering fancies1 by the thought that we are to know only in part2 and that the only part which we are to know is1 that which concerns our duty1 and hopes1 and fears2 and our intelligent service and worship of ,him4 ,there is no better sacrifice to ,god than that of curbed idle curiosity4 ,there is no better discipline than that which requires us to trust in what we can only imperfectly comprehend4 ,there is no surer test of our earnestness about salvation1 than the ready renunciation of unnecessary inquiry1 and the steady1 concentrated effort to understand that which was revealed to be understood4 ,,sermon ,,vi4 ,,confession4 ,,proverbs1 ,,xxviii41 #ac4 8,he that covereth his sins shall not prosper40 ,,sin unconfessed is sin unforgiven4 ,he who has not brought himself to the approved publican's mind1 and with that publican's deep1 heartfelt humiliation and self-abhorrence1 poured out the contrite entreaty1 8,,god be merciful to me a sinner20 he who1 as he stands or kneels before the throne of grace1 is not emptied of self-justification--is not convinced that mercy alone can save him--is not eager to embrace the only proffered propitiation of rebels and outcasts 7that afforded by the ,son of obedience and love71 is still in the depths of iniquity--still under the condemnation of the law3 8,the soul that sinneth1 it shall die40 ,nor even if he has this general sense 7and confesses it7 of sinfulness and unworthiness1 is he much nearer to pardon and justification unless1 besides1 by diligent self-searching he has found out wherein he is a sinner and unworthy1 and1 like penitent ,david1 makes mention before ,god of every ascertained act1 and word1 and thought of offence2 every omission1 every transgression1 and prays for power to know himself better1 that he may confess himself the more fully4 ,i need not stay to prove to you that all this is required4 ,there are many precepts and many examples in the ,bible1 which set forth clearly the necessity of both general acknowledgment of sinfulness1 and also special confession of particular sins to ,,god1 as preliminary to pardon4 ,and we may easily see why it is so4 ,all things are indeed naked and open unto the eyes of ,him with whom we have to do2 and ,he1 therefore1 needs no informing of our circumstances1 our wants and feelings1 our griefs and burthens4 ,but1 by a rule of ,his own establishing1 ,he does not bless us in providence or grace1 unless we ask for the blessing1 and assure ,him that we should appreciate it4 ,when of ,his free love ,he had designed to bestow great things on the ,israelites1 and had even commissioned ,his prophets to make known the intention1 ,he1 nevertheless1 restrained the flow of ,his bounty by the condition1 8,i will yet for this be inquired of by the house of ,israel1 to do it for them40 #fe ,he would have men realise that they wanted the blessing2 and ,he would have them acknowledge their dependence on ,him for the bestowal of it4 ,and if this feeling1 this acknowledgment and supplication were required even when1 if ,i may so speak1 ,he longed to confer the gift1 and was standing with it ready in ,his stretched out hand1 how much more requisite must they be when ,his face is averted1 and ,his heart displeased2 when it is ,his wrath1 rather than ,his love1 which is made ready to reveal itself1 and will presently reveal itself1 unless it is deprecated and propitiated1 and ,his love won back8 ,yes1 surely1 in such a case1 we must arise and go to ,him1 like the prodigal1 acknowledging that we are not worthy to be called ,his children4 ,we must smite upon our breasts1 like the publican1 and cry out of our distress1 8,,god be merciful to me a sinner40 ,we must win ,his general sympathy by the manifestation of our contrition2 we must tell ,him1 one by one1 of the items of offence which1 of ,his mercy in ,christ1 we would have ,him blot out of the great book of ,his remembrance2 and not visit with ,his threatened vengeance4 ,we can have little fear of ,his offended justice1 if we do not thus guard against every particular exercise of it4 ,we can have but little appreciation of ,his pardoning grace1 if we will not be at the trouble of telling ,him when and for what we want it4 ,and we can have but little sense of ,his awful holiness1 if--all unclean1 and able only to be cleansed by ,him in answer to our entreaty1 and on the showing of our stains--we yet approach ,him1 and expect to be tolerated in ,his presence1 unconcernedly defiled1 and in filthy rags4 8,ask1 and ye shall have40 8,he that covereth his sins shall not prosper40 8,when ,i kept silence1 my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long4 ,for day and night ,thy hand was heavy upon me4 4 4 4 ,i acknowledged my sin unto ,thee1 and mine iniquity have ,i not hid4 ,i said1 ,i will confess my transgressions unto the ,,lord2 and ,thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin4 ,for this shall every one that is godly pray unto ,thee in a time when ,thou mayest be found40 #fg ,and there is a gracious purpose1 a merciful regard for the sinner's best interests1 in this imposed law of general and particular confession4 ,the offering of frequent confession will keep a man mindful of his state before ,god4 ,it will lead him to consider what he has to confess2 and so1 through self-searching1 he will come to self-knowledge3 and the act of describing each sin to ,,god will operate in representing that sin faithfully to the sinner2 so that the very ordinance1 which is properly the acknowledgment before ,,god of sins realised1 regretted1 and forsaken1 will often serve to show the sinner1 for the first time1 the sin which he has to repent of and forsake4 ,and one other benefit will surely arise from this exercise1 namely1 that the sinner will be deterred from a fresh commission of that confessed sin2 that1 having ascertained what are his evil propensities1 what are the weak points in which ,satan successfully assails him1 he will be more on his guard against lapses1 and wanderings1 and defeats4 ,he will nerve himself1 and fight more certainly2 8not as one that beateth the air40 ,he will seek to be better covered with the armour of ,,god1 and grasp more resolutely the sword of the ,spirit4 ,he will go forth conquering and to conquer4 ,to obtain pardon1 then1 for past sins1 it is necessary 7in accordance with ,,god',s law7 to confess them4 ,to know ourselves1 our difficulties1 failures1 trials from within and without2 to shame ourselves out of sin1 and to guide and encourage us to victory over it1 it is expedient 7and ,,god has mercifully required it7 that we should tell out before ,him1 ever and anon1 all that we can rake up against ourselves2 and not present even that as a total1 but beg ,him to add to it the secret things1 in which we offend without knowing it4 8,who can tell how oft he offendeth8 ,o1 cleanse ,thou me from my secret faults40 ,alas6 my brethren1 how high is the standard6 ,how far do many of us fall short of it6 ,where1 among the frequenters of the temple1 are the abashed1 and humbled1 and contrite penitents1 proclaiming their sinfulness1 and imploring pardon3 8,,god be merciful to me a sinner08 ,where1 among professed ,christians1 are the imitators of ,david1 communing with1 searching out their spirit in the night season1 rising early1 to tell out with sighs and pangs each sin that they can discover2 each renewal of it2 each thought of it8 ,but an hour since1 we all joined1 or professed to join1 in words of general confession4 ,who felt and abashed themselves as sinners8 ,who really confessed any sin to ,,god8 ,presently1 some of us will take part in a more solemn form1 and draw nearer still to a present ,,god1 seeking most intimate communion with ,him4 ,what sins are we going to confess1 and pray to be relieved from8 ,how much of self-abasement and contrition shall we take with us to the foot of the altar8 ,no further back than yesterday each one of us sinned in thought1 in word1 or in deed2 perhaps1 in all three1 ,how many of us brought those sins to remembrance1 last night or this morning1 by self-examination1 and confessed them1 and with contrition sought pardon of them8 ,which of us has done this1 and is wont to do it1 whenever wrong has been done1 or right omitted8 ,remember1 there is no forgiveness1 there is no favour with ,,god1 nor hope of heaven without it4 ,there is no knowledge of self1 no perception of danger from without1 no spiritual progress4 ,he that covereth his sin shall not and cannot prosper4 ,he walketh independently1 ungratefully1 rebelliously--in his own way2 and the end of that way is death4 ,my brethren1 think of these things2 think of your imperative duty1 and your sovereign interest2 and let close self-examination1 honest1 heartfelt1 contrite confession1 be your frequent and diligent exercise4 ,every morning settle what you have to do and avoid2 every evening consider what you have done and omitted1 and lay the account religiously before ,,god4 ,daily dress and undress your souls4 ,cleanse yourselves of what is amiss by confession and repentance4 ,prepare yourselves for future success1 by the examination of past failures4 ,you cannot approach ,,god3 ,he will not approach you 7but for judgment71 unless you have thus purified yourselves1 and put off the things that defile holy ground4 ,thus much by way of reminder and entreaty respecting confession to ,,god1 general and particular4 ,but the question is asked in these days1 and being asked should not be left unanswered1 whether1 in any case1 and if so1 in what1 confession should also be made to any other than ,,god8--whether it is ever needful1 or expedient1 to uncover our sins1 and make known our spiritual burthens to our fellow man8 ,now1 any mindful reader of the ,bible must be ready at once to answer that1 on ,divine authority1 it is sometimes necessary1 and often expedient4 ,when we have injured another1 by word or deed2 when we have defrauded him1 misled him1 maligned him2 provoked him to anger or displeasure1 or only in some secret way harmed him2 we must1 as a foremost duty1 go and acknowledge our fault1 and obtain his forgiveness1 or at least leave nothing undone to obtain it4 ,the rash striker1 the undutiful child1 the dishonest tradesman1 the unfaithful servant1 the seducer into any sin1 the scandalmonger1 the slanderer1 the base supplanter1 the peacebreaker1 may not atone for their offences1 may not have remission from ,,god1 but by the consent1 or at least after the sought consent1 of the person offended against 7which1 of course1 implies previous acknowledgment and confession of the offence74 8,if thou bring thy gift to the altar10--i4e41 if thou approachest ,,god in any way1 to serve ,him1 or to seek ,his blessing--8and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee2 ,leave there thy gift before the altar10--stop at the threshold of ,god's presence--8and go thy way2 first be reconciled to thy brother1 and then come and offer thy gift40 #ga ,and if the offence has been a public one1 to the scandal1 or detriment1 or provocation of a community1 the confession1 too1 must be public2 so that ,st4 ,paul1 writing to the ,corinthians1 commands that such an offender should be publicly censured1 and put away from among them2 and implies1 that he is not to be considered restored to the privileges of a ,christian1 until the community1 satisfied that he is penitent1 shall pronounce his forgiveness1 and confirm their love towards him4 ,in obedience to this ,scripture rule1 the ministers of our ,church are ordered to admit no notorious evil liver1 nor any that has done wrong to his neighbour in word or deed1 to holy communion2 until1 if he be an open offender1 he has openly declared himself to have truly repented 7in some such form as that of the ,commination ,service72 or1 if he be a private injurer1 until he has recompensed the parties to whom he has done wrong4 ,this discipline is not indeed enforced 7as it should be7 by man4 ,sinners and saints mingle together in the ,,lord',s house1 and alike partake outwardly of the tokens of spiritual approval and blessing3 but1 assuredly1 ,,god1 who is true1 maintains jealously what man neglects2 and refuses with displeasure the offerings of the violators and despisers of ,his law4 ,ay1 and moreover places a firm and impassable barrier of excommunication between ,him and them1 which shall not be removed till the appointed reconciliation with man has been made4 ,in such cases1 then1 confession to man1 to the injured or offended1 is necessary by the ordinance of ,,god4 ,in many other cases it is expedient1 we might even say enjoined1 since inspired precepts recommend it4 ,when1 for instance1 the burthened conscience needs the sympathy1 the advice1 the prayers of others to lighten it4 8,confess your faults one to another1 and pray one for another1 that ye may be healed40 #gb;a ,or when1 again1 the present consequences of a past sin can only be removed by the active assistance of others1 as when ,achan was bidden by ,joshua--8,my son1 give1 ,i pray thee1 glory to the ,,lord ,,god of ,israel1 and make confession unto ,him2 and tell me now what thou hast done2 hide it not from me40 #gb;b ,in this latter case1 ,,god had signified that ,achan was the offender who had provoked ,his wrath against ,israel2 and ,joshua1 the ruler of ,israel1 rightly demanded what was the offence1 that he might know how to do away with it4 ,whenever1 then1 you feel spiritual perplexity1 heaviness of soul which you cannot relieve1 faintness of heart1 need of consolation or help in prayer1 you may and should make known your circumstances to some pious and wise ,christian or ,christians1 able and willing to advise1 to succour1 to intercede for you4 ,and whenever you cannot undo the consequences of your sin without the active assistance of others1 you are bound to take to you partners in the work1 and to communicate freely to them what you have done1 and wish undone4 ,it is not easy for me to say--your own feelings will guide you best in such a matter--what confessor you should choose4 ,in some cases a parent would be the most fitting1 or a bosom friend2 in others1 a stranger1 or slight acquaintance2 in some cases1 again1 a person of your own age and circumstances2 in others1 a senior1 or a superior4 ,but if these fail to serve and relieve you1 then1 in all cases1 should you avail yourselves of the ordinance of ,,god1 and choose out your spiritual guide from among those whom ,he has specially appointed to teach1 and to console1 and to intercede4 ,first1 be sure that you cannot help yourselves1 because ,,god has imposed upon you an individual responsibility1 and entrusted to you powers of soul and mind which you may not neglect to exercise4 ,then1 if you fail1 go1 call to yourselves that aid which seems best in itself1 and can be secured with least violence to your natural feelings1 and least injury to your social character and position4 ,if that does not avail1 then betake yourselves to the ministers of religion1 in the hope1 nay1 with the assurance1 that even if their learning1 their habitual examination of human nature's wants and failings1 their experience and interest in soul-work1 should1 after all1 leave them insufficient guides and helpers1 still ,,god1 to ,whom in the person of ,his representatives you have thus come1 will not let you depart without a blessing1 but will send down from heaven itself ,his light1 and comfort1 and effectual strength4 ,one of two objections to this teaching may present itself to some of those who hear me4 ,some of you1 my brethren1 may be ready to assert1 that human aid is not wanted in such circumstances2 and others1 that to seek it of the clergy is to draw near to the error and corrupt superstition of the ,romanists4 ,to the first1 ,i would simply answer1 that they cannot really know much of spiritual life1 if they suppose that he who would lead such a life can always get on without external help1 and that they are little acquainted with ,,god',s mysterious ways1 if they do not know that ,he ever works by agents1 in the religious and the moral1 as well as in the physical world4 ,for their enlightenment1 let them inquire of the eminently spiritual1 or the marvellously reformed1 and they will assuredly find1 that human helps and sympathies have formed many steps of the ladder by which these have climbed so high towards heaven4 ,the other objectors merit a longer answer1 because the charge they make is a serious one2 not only affecting individuals1 but casting a blot upon the good fame of our ,church itself1 which unmistakeably teaches and recommends1 in special cases1 the use of human and clerical confessors4 ,my dear brethren1 let me ask you to bear with me patiently4 ,i have no party motives to serve1 nor party prejudices to indulge2 ,,god is my witness ,i reluctantly speak to you on this subject4 ,i am only induced to do so by the consideration that1 when a religious question is agitated out of doors1 it is the minister of ,,god',s bounden duty to take it up in the pulpit1 and exhibit it1 as far as he can1 in scriptural light1 keeping aloof alike from prejudging approval1 and from capricious and worldly condemnation of the thing maintained4 8,the priest's lips should keep knowledge1 and they should seek the law at his mouth40 #ge ,what1 then1 first1 is the ,romish use of confession8 ,every lay member of the ,church of ,rome is obliged1 at stated times1 to make a full and particular confession to a priest1 of every sin1 of every kind1 that he or she can call to remembrance4 ,no matter1 that they are repented of and confessed to ,,god2 no matter1 that the way of escape from them is plain2 that they have been escaped from2 out they must come1 with all their preceding1 accompanying1 and following circumstances2 without reserve of any kind4 ,if but a thought of sin be kept back2 if the priest but fancy that something is kept back2 excommunication is pronounced1 and the offender1 or supposed offender1 is cut off from all means of grace4 #gf ,and the doctrine which guides this practice is1 that no sin is ever forgiven by ,,god1 unless it has first been confessed to a priest2 and that1 even then1 though its eternal punishment is remitted by their giving of absolution1 works of penance must be performed on its account1 or a longer or shorter period of suffering in purgatory will have to be endured4 ,such is ,rome's course4 ,i need scarcely tell you1 that our ,church1 in condemning the 8sacrament0 of penance1 and denying the existence of a purgatory1 has swept away the only pretences on which such a prying1 unscriptural1 and most mischievous confessional could be maintained4 ,but1 still1 the ,church of ,england has a doctrine and a practice of confession4 ,in the exhortation to holy communion1 it is enjoined1 8,if there be any of you1 who by this means10 7self-examination7 8cannot quiet his own conscience herein1 but requireth further comfort or counsel1 let him come to me1 or to some other discreet and learned minister of ,,god',s word1 and open his grief1 that by the ministry of ,,god',s holy word1 he may receive the benefit of absolution1 together with ghostly counsel and advice1 to the quieting of his conscience1 and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness40 ,and in the ,order of the ,visitation of the ,sick it is directed3 8,here shall the sick person be moved to make a special confession of his sins1 if he feel his conscience troubled with any weighty matter40 ,and let it not be said1 that these are ,romish elements in a 8tesselated ritual40 ,the exhortation is a ,protestant composition2 and the words that make it imperative on us to move every sick person we visit to a special confession1 if he needs it1 were added at the last review of the ,prayer-,book4 ,what1 then1 is the sum of ,church teaching8 ,men are to confess their sins to ,,god alone1 with a view to pardon and religious homage4 7,in certain cases1 they are advised to seek assurance of absolution from the clergy4 ,i dwell not on this now1 because ,i purpose1 ,,god willing1 to give the subject full consideration on an early occasion4 #gg7 ,when they find this confession sufficient to procure spiritual peace and amendment of life1 they need not1 and ought not1 to make known their faults to others4 ,they are not to make their ministers partakers of the thoughts and secrets of their breasts2 they are not to look to them for pardon2 they are not to get rid of their responsibility to ,,god1 by accepting penance at man's hand2 they are not to seek direction from a priest1 in the ordinary ways of life2 they are not to submit themselves to close catechisings1 and prying investigations4 ,but they are1 when in doubt1 in difficulty1 in overwhelming grief1 in all circumstances of spiritual helplessness1 so to reveal their lives and open their thoughts to a spiritual officer1 that he may1 out of the treasure of his knowledge and experience1 and by virtue of his commission as a minister of holy things1 direct1 and comfort1 and strengthen them1 more really and effectually than he can in public sermons1 from mere guessing at their condition4 ,when the public ministry suffices for them1 let them seek no more2 when they need1 likewise1 private ministry1 by all means let them demand it3 the ,church binds us to render what they ask4 ,this kind of confession has the hearty approval of spiritual men of all ages1 and all shades of theological opinion4 ,all our reformers urged it4 ,luther said he would rather lose a thousand worlds than suffer private confession to be thrust out of the ,church4 ,calvin exhorted all who thought they would be benefitted by it1 to use it readily1 and showed them1 by precise rules1 how to do so4 ,puritans of old1 so-called evangelical ministers of our day--presbyterians1 anabaptists1 wesleyans1 independents1 all maintain and practise it now1 though sometimes under other names--8consultation10 8history of conversion10 8detailing of experiences40 ,richard ,baxter's characteristic words1 exhibiting the true spirit of ,church teaching1 and showing how nonconformists cling to it in this case1 are specially worthy of full recital4 8,i know10 he writes1 8some will say1 that it is near to ,popish auricular confession1 which ,i here persuade ,christians to2 and it is to bring ,christians under the tyranny of the priests1 and make them acquainted with all men's secrets1 and masters of their consciences4 ,to the last1 ,i say--to the railing devil of this age--no more1 but the ,,lord rebuke thee4 ,if any minister have wicked ends1 let the ,,god of heaven convert him1 or root him out of ,his ,church1 and cast him among the weeds and briers4 ,but is it not the known yoke of sensuality to cast reproaches upon the way and ordinances of ,,god8 ,who knoweth not1 that it is the very office of the ministry1 to be teachers and guides to men in matters of salvation1 and overseers over them4 4 4 4 ,i am confident1 many a thousand souls do long strive against anger1 lust1 blasphemy1 worldliness1 and trouble of conscience1 to little purpose1 who1 if they would but have taken ,,god',s way1 and sought out for help1 and opened all their case to their minister1 they might have been delivered in a good measure long ago4 ,and for ,popish confession1 ,i detest it3 we would not persuade men that there is a necessity of confessing every sin to a minister before it can be pardoned4 ,nor do we it in a perplexed formality only at one time of the year1 nor in order to ,popish pardons or satisfactions2 but we would have men go for physic to their souls1 as they do for their bodies1 when they feel they have need4 ,and let me advise all ,christian congregations to practise this excellent duty more4 ,see that you knock oftener at your pastor's door1 and ask his advice in all your pressing necessities4 ,do not let him sit quiet in his study for you3 make him know by experience1 that the tenth part of a minister's labour is not in the pulpit40 ,one more quotation3 it will be heard with respect when ,i tell you it is from the ,bishop of ,lincoln's sermons on repentance3 8,as ministers should be1 by their profession1 usually the best advisers in cases of conscience1 and are1 or ought to be1 every penitent's ready and sympathising friends1 so to them the stricken or perplexed soul will often have recourse4 ,and thus1 there is a sense in which those dreaded words1 #8confession to the priest1' 7in one sense1 justly dreaded1 for the iniquity of ages is upon them7 may express an edifying practice1 and even at times a duty40 #hj ,thus1 my brethren1 have ,i endeavoured to set before you1 the true merits of the question1 8,ought man to confess to man80 to remind you what is required1 what is allowed and recommended1 what is forbidden by ,scripture1 and the ,witness and ,keeper of ,scripture1 the ,church4 ,endeavour1 all of you1 to learn from the subject1 charity and wisdom4 ,if you feel that you need not this use of confession1 thank ,god for your easy circumstances2 but1 blame not1 and1 above all1 dare not to ridicule1 those who have need4 ,if you want it1 by all means seek it2 we may not refuse it4 ,to all of you1 ,i would say1 at all times regard your clergyman as indeed an appointed spiritual friend and adviser1 and so make use of him2 but1 especially in sickness1 when you call him to your bedside1 so far1 at least1 admit him to your confidence1 and enlighten him with respect to your spiritual state1 that his instruction may be pointed1 and his prayers appropriate2 and so his visits blessed4 ,oh6 look not upon us as mere ,sunday lecturers1 or mechanical readers of prayers1 in whom you have no week-day interest1 and from whom no benefit is to be derived1 but what may be had in church4 ,degrade not our office1 nor ignore our authority1 nor slight our willingness to use both for your temporal and eternal good4 ,nor1 on the other hand1 exalt us to the false position of spiritual despots--lords of men's consciences2 idols occupying the place of ,,god4 ,ministers we are2 servants of ,christ2 and your servants for ,his sake4 ,make use of our ministry as a ministry1 and doubt not but ,,god will then make it profitable to you1 and accomplish by it1 all the ends for which ,he appointed it4 ,,sermon ,,vii4 ,,forgiveness4 ,,psalm ,,cxxx41 #d4 8,there is forgiveness with ,thee40 ,,we all know what forgiveness of sin means1 namely1 remission of the punishment due to it by ,divine sentence1 and restoration of the offender to the position and privileges of the righteous4 ,we all know1 too1 our individual need1 our ever fresh recurring need of this forgiveness2 and we also know1 all of us1 that forgiveness is granted only for the sake and merits of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and on fixed conditions4 ,alas6 my brethren1 how little do we feel what we know4 ,with what vain speculations1 what idle dreams1 what perverse errors do we too often darken knowledge6 ,forgiveness1 ransom from eternal death1 deliverance from the terrible inflictions of ,almighty wrath1 gracious reception into ,,god',s own family1 and full participation of ,his inexhaustible love and benediction1 how can sinners consent not to value this when given or offered1 not to desire and seek it when needed8 ,yet so it is4 ,there is many an one of our poorest possessions which we cherish more fondly2 there is many an unobtained bauble which we would make more real effort to obtain4 ,ask yourselves1 seriously1 and answer to yourselves1 honestly1 my fellow-sinners1 whether it is not so4 ,all of you believe that you have been forgiven some thing1 nay1 many things4 ,you do not suppose that you are carrying about1 each one of you1 the unmitigated condemnation of original sin2 the full burthen of every transgression and omission of your whole lives1 from the first exercise of your self-will in childhood1 to that in which you offended but an hour since4 ,you know1 indeed1 that much remains written against you2 but you believe that much more has been blotted out2 that ,,god has been propitiated and reconciled to fallen man by the sacrifice and intercession of ,his ,son2 that wrath has been displaced by love2 that the way of return is open2 that the ears of mercy are unclosed2 that the arms of grace are stretched out to unfold all those1 who by birth inherited banishment1 and were kept in exile by the fiery sword which turned every way and allowed none to pass to the paradise of bliss and the tree of life4 ,what ,adam lost1 that and much more has ,christ won4 ,in ,him you already have regained much2 through ,him you may have all and abound4 ,this you know4 ,how much of it do you feel8 ,where is your joy of deliverance8 where your heart-leapings of praise8 where your homage of gratitude for what has been forgiven8 ,and where are your yearnings1 your wrestling prayers1 your strenuous efforts after the forgiveness yet needed8 the cries and struggles of drowning men1 grasping in your fresh peril the again stretched out rope of deliverance2 imploring to be taken up once more into the ark of salvation2 to be landed yet again on the shore of hope8 ,alas6 where8 ,is not forgiveness obtained1 unheeded2 forgiveness not obtained1 unsought8 ,not altogether1 ,,god be praised6 ,there are some who never forget their deliverance2 who have learnt from it gratitude for the past1 and hope and direction for the future4 ,there are some who are wont to gaze upon the book of the ,divine account of them 7that is1 so much of it as is revealed71 and as they gaze1 to keep moist with the tears of humble penitence and love1 the red stain of ,christ's blood1 which hides1 nay1 has obliterated so many of the black items against them2 and who1 seeing how much is cancelled1 cannot bear that aught should remain uncancelled1 and therefore rest not1 nor cease from pleading and entreating1 while one single black figure is uncovered by the crimson mark of remission4 ,some of you1 my brethren1 surely there are1 who1 looking back1 perhaps upon a youth of wild and wicked folly1 or a manhood of worldliness1 or much of an old age of dull1 spiritual indifference1 from the thraldom of which1 by ,,god',s grace1 you have been delivered1 whose fearful guilt1 you have reason to believe1 has been remitted2 some of you1 ,i say1 surely there are1 who so appreciate the obtained mercy as to think nothing comparable to it1 no gratitude enough for it2 and who1 therefore1 when need of more forgiveness arises 7as1 of course1 it constantly does71 betake yourselves early1 with the first fruits of your desires1 and the quick steps of urgent1 craving want1 to the fountain that ever floweth1 by whose waters alone you can be cleansed and refreshed4 ,yes1 there are such2 a few of them2 and they do value1 they do seek forgiveness4 ,but1 do the many8 ,judge for yourselves1 brethren4 ,trace back1 all of you1 as far as you can1 the course of your respective lives2 review your old habits1 your former careers of transgression or omission2 or pick out some single sin1 if you will of recent date2 some one of those many offences against which ,,god',s wrath is pronounced1 and on account of which it must descend1 unless forgiveness is secured4 ,is it a lie1 a filthy jest1 a profane speech1 a word of slander8 ,is it a thought of malice1 an encouraged lust1 a meditated misdeed8 ,is it an act of fraud8 ,did you use false balances1 or adulterate your wares1 or drive an unfair bargain1 exacting more1 or giving less than was right8 ,did you pilfer from your employer1 or rob him of your bought service1 or betray his interest8 ,is it direct ungodliness8 ,did you act in defiance of ,,god',s known commandment8 ,did you profane ,his holy day8 ,did you disregard ,his fear8 ,did you withhold aught that ,he claims of service1 of prayer1 of praise1 of money1 time1 talents1 influence1 of example8 ,brethren1 most of you follow1 or have followed1 some bad habit2 at least1 each of you has committed1 and can now bring to quick remembrance1 some one evident1 wilful sin4 ,now ,,god forbade that sin1 and warned you of condemnation if you did it4 ,,god witnessed its commission4 ,his displeasure arose2 ,he registered it in heaven2 ,he wrote down death1 eternal death1 against it2 and angels1 beholding what ,he did1 prepared themselves to fly with the lightning's speed and execute that sentence1 at the first motion of ,his commanding will4 ,the sentence is not executed4 ,the sin has1 or has not1 brought you inconvenience1 perplexity1 contempt1 pain1 sickness1 loss4 ,but1 at any rate1 it has not brought you death4 ,brethren1 why not8 ,do you know8 do you imagine8 do you care8 ,is the sentence still impending1 or has it been reversed8 ,are you forgiven8 or have you yet to seek forgiveness8 ,do you concern yourselves at all about the matter8 ,if you have forgiveness1 do you really value it8 ,if you have it not1 do you really seek it8 ,oh6 judge yourselves1 brethren1 that ye be not judged of the ,,lord4 ,i can imagine the comparatively religious ready to urge1 8,thus saying1 you reproach us also2 you bring all in guilty2 you do not allow that any are in the right40 ,even so1 brethren1 for there is none clear in this matter4 ,the standard of right is so high1 that all come short of it4 ,infirmity checks the accomplishment of our best purposes4 ,sin defiles even our holy things4 ,the flesh ever resists the spirit1 and too often blinds and deadens it4 ,and so our warmest desires are often all but cold2 our greatest industry is but little removed from sloth4 ,we cannot do the things1 nor think the thoughts that we would1 in perfection4 ,let us gather consolation from the fact1 that this is a law even of our regenerate being1 when we fall short of what we desire and aim at2 but let us not thereby justify ourselves in spiritual indifference1 nor suppose that a general culpability exonerates the individual4 ,much will always be amiss1 through the opposition of the flesh1 and through the difficulty of discerning spiritual things2 and much allowance we may hope will be made for us3 but1 much that is amiss1 might be corrected1 and ought to be2 nay1 unless it is1 we shall be without excuse4 ,it is so1 be assured1 in this matter of forgiveness4 ,at the best1 we shall never1 in this world1 appreciate it fully1 when bestowed2 nor seek it with sufficient earnestness1 when needed4 ,but1 if we concern ourselves to think right thoughts about it2 if we ascertain more clearly what it is1 and how obtained1 we shall speedily become more grateful for it1 more eager to obtain it1 more sure partakers of it4 ,let me throw out a few suggestions1 which1 by ,,god',s blessing1 may help to bring us nearer to this better state4 ,first1 consider what ,divine forgiveness is4 ,it is not capricious reversal of the sentence1 8,the soul that sinneth it shall die40 ,divine justice does not give up its claim4 ,divine truth does not belie itself2 ,divine resoluteness become fickle4 ,,god is not a man1 that ,he should repent1 or that ,he should say and not do1 or that ,he should come to love what once ,he hated4 ,,god might have been freely reconciled to the transgressor1 if ,he had not made transgression sin4 ,he might1 even then1 have left the sinner alone1 imposing no other punishment than exile from ,his presence1 if ,he had not solemnly declared1 8,in the day that thou eatest thereof1 thou shalt surely die40 ,but now1 ,his holiness1 ,his justice1 and ,his truth are irrevocably pledged to banish and destroy transgressors4 ,it can never be otherwise4 ,holiness cannot tolerate near unholiness3 like ,satan from heaven1 like ,adam and ,eve from paradise1 it must be cast out4 ,justice cannot acquit the guilty4 ,truth can never say1 8,thou shalt not die10 to him to whom it has already said1 8,thou shalt die40 ,there is no such forgiveness4 ,if you transgress1 you are a sinner2 if you sin1 you are condemned2 if you are condemned1 you must die4 ,,god has said it1 and there is no variableness1 or shadow of turning1 in ,him4 ,we are wont to think otherwise4 ,we fancy that sin1 though wrong1 is not destructive3 we wrap ourselves in false security1 and flatter and mislead others1 by a perverse assurance that ,,god will not be extreme to mark what is done amiss4 ,yea1 we think we have ,scripture warrant for so doing4 ,we read of ,divine promises which were never realised1 and ,divine threats which were never executed2 and we gather from them that1 like our poor fickle selves1 ,,god easily goes back from ,his resolution of favour or wrath4 ,but let us look again at those promises and threats1 and we shall see that1 if they were not fulfilled1 it was not because ,,god changed1 but because the objects changed on whom ,he had resolved to operate1 for good or evil4 ,jerusalem 7bound to ,,god by a covenant of allegiance7 was promised perpetual preservation4 ,jerusalem forsook the allegiance1 and therefore was destroyed4 ,nineveh's cry of wickedness provoked the ,,lord to threaten it with destruction within forty days2 but when those forty days were expired there was no cry of wickedness to be answered2 but a cry of repentance1 a pledge of amendment1 a nation's voice and posture of worship4 ,,god did not change1 but ,nineveh did4 ,the judgment was ready to fall2 but there was no object for it to fall upon1 and so it fell not4 ,if the righteous ceases to be righteous1 the promises made to his righteousness cannot be fulfilled2 if the sinner becomes sinless1 the sentence of sin cannot be executed upon him4 8,at what instant10 says ,,god1 by ,jeremiah1 8,i shall speak concerning a nation1 and concerning a kingdom1 to pluck up1 to pull down1 and to destroy it2 ,if that nation1 against whom ,i have pronounced1 turn from their evil1 ,i will repent of the evil that ,i thought to do unto them4 ,and at what instant ,i shall speak concerning a nation1 and concerning a kingdom1 to build and to plant it2 ,if it do evil in my sight1 that it obey not my voice1 then ,i will repent of the good1 wherewith ,i said ,i would benefit them40 #ij ,and the like is elsewhere declared of individuals4 ,thus only does ,,god change ,his word2 thus only is there forgiveness with ,him4 ,the sinner must change his sin1 for sinlessness2 and then for wrath he shall have favour4 ,but this change he cannot make4 ,he cannot wipe out or undo the past2 he cannot bring a clean thing out of an unclean2 he cannot repair the breaches in his soul2 he cannot strengthen the things that are ready to perish4 ,vain1 then1 is his idle trust in the non-fulfilment of a published threat2 and vain are all his efforts to avert that threat4 ,while he is a sinner1 ,,god will not forgive him2 and a sinner he can never cease to be4 ,but1 what man cannot do himself1 ,christ has done for him4 ,having in ,his own person satisfied the ,divine law1 and stood sinless and accepted before the ,father1 ,he has made ,himself the human source of faculties and graces1 by which other men1 joined to ,him1 may partake of the infinite merits of ,his atonement1 ,his tasting of death for every man2 and may also be cleansed1 and restored1 and strengthened1 and become again sinless2 escaping the guilt1 and putting away the corruption of sin4 ,there is such forgiveness4 ,mark1 it is not an indulgent ,father's concession to the mere request of ,his loved ,son4 ,it is not1 again1 such a substitution of the innocent for the guilty1 that no more account of sinners is taken2 nor is it a compromise by which one death is accepted instead of many4 ,it is a merited power1 vested in the ,,god-,,man1 to be the source of absolution and sanctification4 ,it is a purchased right to apply that power to all who will observe prescribed conditions4 ,christ holds and exercises that power4 ,it is in ,him to save whom ,he will2 it is in ,him to desire to save all4 ,but still1 ,he has not handed over the forgiveness to all4 ,nay1 let it be said with all reverence1 ,he cannot so hand it over4 ,men must come to ,him for it2 they must be joined to ,him to derive it2 they must become like ,him to be saved by ,him4 ,on conditions ,he received the power of salvation1 and on conditions ,he imparts it4 ,those who do not observe these conditions1 so far from escaping condemnation through what ,he has done1 and what ,he has attained unto1 do thereby become subject to surer and worse condemnation4 ,the same work1 the same authority1 which made ,him the ,saviour of all men1 made ,him also the ,judge of all2 and imposed the inflexible law1 that every one that would not be saved by ,him must be destroyed by ,him4 ,now1 in this day of grace1 ,he is labouring to save3 and ,he will save to the uttermost all who seek ,his salvation4 ,but1 by and by1 ,he must come to judge2 and then1 whosoever has not been already saved1 must be utterly destroyed4 ,are you forgiven8 ,christ has forgiven you4 ,are you seeking forgiveness8 ,if you seek it aright1 ,christ will bestow it4 ,are you not forgiven8 ,will you not seek forgiveness8 ,then1 rely upon it1 you must be condemned2 and that not only or chiefly by the law1 but by the ,gospel1 the dispensation on the one hand of unspeakable goodness1 on the other of unpardonable severity4 ,if ,christ is not made your ,saviour1 ,he will be your destroyer4 ,there is forgiveness with ,him4 ,there is no forgiveness elsewhere4 ,let me press this upon you1 dear brethren1 even though in so doing ,i repeat what ,i have already said4 ,there is no forgiveness with ,,god1 the ,father1 apart from ,christ1 the ,saviour4 ,there is no forgiveness1 for the ,saviour's sake1 to those who do not belong to the ,saviour4 ,you must not go to the ,father and plead1 while you continue in your sin1 that1 since ,one has died for sins1 there is no longer any such thing as sin4 ,you must not suppose that holiness1 and justice1 and truth are set at nought in all other cases1 because they have been maintained in one4 ,you must not expect that ,he who once refused forgiveness1 now freely grants it to the same persons in the same state2 that ,he is changed1 and1 therefore1 you need not be4 ,no6 to find any comfort in the assurance1 8,there is forgiveness with ,thee10 and to verify it in your own case1 you must have observed1 and be still observing1 the prescribed conditions4 ,you must have become ,christ's1 and ,christ have become yours4 ,you must have obtained the pardon from ,him1 and you must hold it through ,him2 and ,he must testify thereof1 and plead for you1 ere the ,father will pronounce ,his absolution3 8,the ,,lord hath put away thy sins3 thou shalt not die40 ,but how is all this to be done8 ,not by idly assenting to the truth1 that it ought to be done4 ,not by mere thinking and talking of ,christ4 ,not by working upon your feelings1 and warming your affections1 by the contemplation of ,him as a historical character2 not even by making mention of ,him in your prayers1 and pleading ,his merits1 and asking to be wrapped in ,his imputed righteousness2 but by intelligently1 and heartily1 and actively observing the conditions and using the means of salvation1 which ,christ has proposed to you1 and put within your reach4 ,as soon as ,christ had accomplished ,his work on earth1 and had been exalted to be the new head of the human race1 the source of pardon and grace1 calling in the powers of ,his ,godhead1 ,he established supernatural means whereby other men might be actually joined1 and kept joined1 to ,him1 and might derive from ,him the properties and privileges of a renewed and perfected nature4 ,the ,holy ,spirit1 the third ,person of the blessed ,trinity1 became the wonderful agent to effect and maintain this union and communication1 providing mysteriously for the gradual subjugation and destruction of the old nature1 with its guilt and proneness to sin1 and for the development and establishment of spiritual excellence in all those who become objects of ,his operations4 ,to become such objects1 it is necessary that men should be prequalified 7and ,he gives them the power1 if they ask it71 by realising the misery and condemnation of their natural state1 by sorrowing over and renouncing their sins1 by desiring pardon and grace1 and by believing that ,christ had them to bestow2 and1 then1 after becoming thus prequalified1 it is further necessary1 that they should make appointed use of certain outward ordinances1 in the due observance of which ,he pledges ,himself to meet them1 and to apply to them the merits and the graces1 in the possession of which they shall be accounted dead with ,christ unto sin1 and alive with ,him unto righteousness4 ,on none but those thus qualified will the ,spirit operate2 and on these only1 when they come to ,him and invite ,his operation in appointed ways4 ,such1 my brethren1 is the doctrine of forgiveness2 such is the law of its bestowal4 ,there is forgiveness with ,god of this kind1 and on these terms2 but there is no other forgiveness4 ,it is because we are not fully persuaded of this truth1 that we are so indifferent1 so apathetic1 so unthankful1 so unrighteous4 ,we do not appreciate forgiveness1 through not understanding it2 we do not duly seek it1 through not considering how only it is to be obtained4 ,dear brethren1 let us strive to be wiser and better4 ,first1 let us qualify ourselves for the application to us of forgiveness1 by realising the guilt and condemnation of sin2 by convincing ourselves that we are sinners1 and by ascertaining in what we sin2 by sorrowing for sin1 loathing it1 and desiring to get free of it2 by giving up its work1 forsaking its haunts1 and restoring1 as far as may be1 its plunder 7i4e41 by labouring to undo what we have done amiss74 ,then let us meditate on pardon1 and holiness2 on the happy freedom and glorious privileges of those who are forgiven and sanctified in ,christ1 till our reason and affections unite in demanding that our lips and lives should seek forgiveness and sanctification4 ,we have already learned where and how to seek4 ,let us hasten to use our knowledge4 ,let us seek the ,spirit where ,he is to be found2 let us submit ourselves to ,him1 and ask ,his blessing in the prescribed ways2 the ways revealed to us in the ,bible1 and made accessible to us through the ,church of ,christ3 baptism once1 for death and burial with ,christ unto sin1 and new birth unto righteousness2 holy communion frequently1 for the sustenance of the new life1 the meat and drink of the ,spirit2 and the ministry of reconciliation ever1 as the constant salve for the soul's constant wounds4 ,commending to your full and serious consideration the great importance of all the ,gospel-ordinances1 and bidding you remember 7and profit by the remembrance7 the sin and danger of neglecting any one of them1 let me now confine your attention1 for a few minutes1 to the application of forgiveness by the authorised ministers of reconciliation1 in what is called ministerial absolution4 ,whenever you draw near to ,,god in the sanctuary1 and make a public confession of your sins1 whether in the ordinary daily service1 or in the office for the holy communion1 immediately after such confession1 the priest is directed to stand up and pronounce what is called an absolution2 in the one case declaring1 that 8,,god pardoneth and absolveth10 in the other1 praying that ,he may do so4 ,whenever private scruples and peculiar spiritual difficulties keep you from the holy communion1 you are exhorted to go to some discreet and learned minister1 that you may receive the benefit of absolution2 and whenever you are laid on a bed of sickness1 and the clergyman is summoned to your side1 he is directed to move you to a special confession1 if you feel your conscience troubled by any weighty matter1 and if you humbly and heartily desire it1 to absolve you from all your sins1 in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,all of you know that such things are to be found in the ,prayer-,book4 ,some of you treat them with perfect indifference1 caring not that they are there1 neither assenting to them or opposing them4 ,others accept the poor explanation1 that they are mere kind1 comfortable delusions for weak minds4 ,others kick against them1 and denounce them as relics of ,popery and instruments of priestcraft1 indignantly repelling the notion1 that there is any such forgiveness promised or allowed by the ,word of ,,god4 ,hear me dispassionately1 dear brethren1 while in few words 7and1 ,,god knows1 without any party bias7 ,i endeavour to vindicate the ,church's teaching2 and to guard it against both superstitious misuse and profane contempt4 ,you know1 of course1 that ,christ1 in ,his life-time on earth1 before ,his passion1 commissioned certain disciples to go before ,him into every city whither ,he ,himself would come1 and when they entered into any house1 to pronounce peace upon its tenants1 with the assurance that ,his peace should1 in such case1 always rest upon them1 if they were worthy4 ,you know1 too1 that just before ,his ascension1 ,he invested the apostles with the power of remitting and retaining sins2 and that they both exercised that power themselves1 by absolving and excommunicating1 and also handed it on to others--so that ,st4 ,paul tells the ,corinthian presbyters1 that to whomsoever they forgive anything1 ,he forgives also1 and that his forgiveness is the forgiveness of ,christ4 ,and you likewise know 7if you are conversant with ,church history7 that the doctrine of ministerial absolution1 and the practice of administering it1 have been steadily maintained in all parts of the ,church1 from the apostolic age to the present4 ,in one place1 or time1 the doctrine has been distorted2 in another1 the practice has been abused3 but everywhere1 and at all times1 by ,greeks and ,romanists1 by high-,churchmen1 and by not a few low-,churchmen1 it has been1 and is asserted1 that ,christ gave by commission1 and continues by ,his promise to be always present with ,his ,church1 power and command to use ministerial absolution4 ,the ,church of ,england claims that delegated power1 and obeys that positive command4 ,she does not blasphemously exalt her clergy1 and plant them on the throne of ,,god1 to usurp ,his prerogative--to be judges between good and evil1 and awarders of favour or wrath2 nor1 on the other hand1 does she degrade them to mere voluntary reporters1 such as any of yourselves might be1 of statements contained in a published revelation3 she sends them forth to minister1 as in other respects1 so in this1 the grace which ,christ would communicate through them for the good of the fold1 whereof they are under-shepherds4 ,it is nothing of their own that they minister2 they can claim no honour1 nor thanks1 for ministering it1 and woe to them if they withhold it when rightly sought2 but to them it is intrusted to minister1 and through their ministry it is to be sought4 ,,god1 the ,father1 the primary ,giver of every good thing1 is nowhere directly approachable4 ,christ1 the second ,adam1 to ,whom all that pertains to man's salvation is committed1 sits at the right hand of ,,god1 the ,father1 and operates upon man only through the agency of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,,god1 the ,holy ,spirit1 does not convey ,himself spontaneously and independently of means into every heart1 but connects the gifts of ,his presence and working power1 with certain outward ordinances1 administered by appointed agents1 and promised to be efficacious in all faithful recipients4 ,we sprinkle with water in baptism1 and1 if there be no unworthiness in the person we sprinkle1 the ,holy ,spirit then and there regenerates4 ,we administer blessed bread and wine1 and1 on like conditions1 ,,god',s ,spirit conveys into the recipient's heart the spiritual food of ,christ's body and blood4 ,we say to those who have confessed their sins1 8,he pardoneth and absolveth20 or1 8,almighty ,,god pardon and deliver you from all your sins20 or1 8,by virtue of ,his authority1 ,i absolve thee from all thy sins30 and in the case of every real penitent1 there is then1 there1 and thereby forgiveness from ,,god4 ,we do not bid you look to us for pardon2 we tell you plainly that we cannot pardon you2 but we distinctly maintain1 that if you want pardon1 you must seek it in appointed ways2 that this is an appointed way2 that none have due recourse to it1 and fail of spiritual blessing2 that those who despise it despise not men1 but ,,god4 ,brethren1 thus soberly and scripturally regard the ,church's ordinance of absolution4 ,on the one hand1 do not superstitiously look upon it as an inherent power1 which any priest can give to whom he will1 and withhold from whom he will2 or as an indemnity1 to be bestowed without conditions1 to operate as a charm in absolving those who have not desired1 nor prepared themselves for forgiveness2 and1 on the other hand1 do not make light of its true exercise1 and forego opportunities of having it applied to yourselves1 according to ,christ's appointment1 and your several needs4 ,prepare yourselves duly for it1 and heartily accept the ministry of it1 and give ,,god the glory4 ,yes6 be sure you give ,,god the glory4 ,use the means1 and reverence them1 because ,,god has instituted them2 but let the gift be more thought of1 and let the ,giver be adored4 ,when1 with penitent hearts and humble lips1 you have made your open confession1 and the herald's consequent proclamation of pardon is ringing in your ears1 bethink you that it is ,,god',s forgiveness which is being offered to your acceptance4 ,bless ,him for the ordinance2 but look through it to the ,spirit who is present in it1 to the ,saviour who sent the ,spirit1 to the ,father who provided the ,saviour1 and let the vision both convince you of the sinfulness and condemnation of sin 7which could only be put away by such a wonderful contrivance1 and such continued operation of the ,blessed ,trinity71 and also prompt you to value the forgiveness which ,,god has so much at heart1 and so labours to bestow4 8,there is forgiveness with thee40 ,take to yourselves the unspeakable comfort of so sweet an assurance when it is offered2 but be sure that you always respond to it1 out of grateful and resolute hearts3 8,therefore1 ,o ,,god1 shalt ,thou be feared1 and served1 and loved40 ,,sermon ,,viii4 ,,the ,,principle ,,of ,,offerings ,,to ,,god4 ,,ii4 ,,samuel1 ,,xxiv41 #bd4 8,neither will ,i offer 4 4 4 unto the ,,lord my ,,god of that which doth cost me nothing40 ,,it was a thrice enforced precept of the law that none should appear before ,,god empty2 that when men drew near to ,him to celebrate ,his past mercies and deliverances1 to ask for blessings1 to deprecate wrath1 to render thanks1 to acknowledge dependence on ,his providence1 they should at the same time present unto ,him some offering of their substance4 ,and this1 be it observed1 was not a mere temporary ordinance4 ,it was not1 like the sacrifices of bulls and goats1 a ceremonious shadowing forth and pleading of the one sacrifice by which alone ,,god could be approached and propitiated4 ,it was a free-will offering1 an acknowledgment that all things come of ,,god1 and that all things1 though intrusted to them1 belonged still to ,,god4 ,it was a confession of ,his ,lordship1 an act of homage1 an exhibition of gratitude1 a pledge of readiness to yield all that ,he might require4 ,as such1 it was to be offered whenever man perceived ,,god to be operating upon1 or for him1 or whenever he would have ,,god to be thus operating2 it was to be presented at prescribed places1 and under prescribed circumstances1 which rendered pains and exertion necessary in the offerer2 and it was to be of a kind and in a measure which should make it a real sacrifice--the giving up of something valuable and valued4 8,every man shall give as he is able10 says ,moses4 8,i will not offer unto the ,,lord my ,,god10 exclaims ,david1 8of that which doth cost me nothing40 ,under the ,gospel1 this duty is not only continued1 but1 like all the other moral sanctions of the law1 enlarged and spiritualised4 ,we ,christians are to present ourselves1 our souls and bodies1 continually1 as a reasonable sacrifice unto ,,god4 ,we are to give up our wills1 our powers1 our affections1 our time1 our substance1 our lives to ,him4 ,our prayer is to be instant2 our praise continual2 our sacrifice perpetual2 our offering all that we are and have4 ,he who withholds anything from ,,god1 gives ,him nothing4 ,he who does not deny himself1 denies ,,god2 he who loves any one or anything more than ,,god1 hates ,,god2 he who bestows more thought and pains1 and spends more of his substance on any other object than on religion1 takes no thought1 bestows no pains1 spends none of his substance on ,,god4 ,lip-service1 stinted service1 careless or partial service is no service2 easy religion1 cheap religion1 intermittent religion is no religion4 ,religion1 to be worthy of the name1 must cost something2 yea1 and much--much thought1 much feeling1 much affection1 much labour1 much self-denial1 much submission1 much renunciation1 much cheerful sacrifice of self and substance4 ,the only limit to our offering is to be our capability2 the only time when we may forbear to offer it1 is when ,,god gives us no opportunity4 ,hence it was1 that the young man who would not sell all that he had1 and give to the poor1 and follow ,christ whithersoever ,he went1 could not be ,his disciple4 ,hence it is1 that selfishness1 and worldliness1 and pride1 and self-glorying1 and covetousness1 are such grievous sins4 ,hence it is1 that life must not be counted dear1 when to be faithful to religion would endanger it4 ,hence it is1 that not only directly spiritual acts are to be frequent1 and spiritual offerings to be many and large1 but that everything we have is to be held for religion1 and everything we do1 to be done for religion2 our daily tasks1 our rest and labour1 our very eating and drinking4 ,christ has purchased us entirely soul and body1 talents and possessions1 to glorify ,him by perpetually offering to ,him the sacrifice of love2 and there is no love in that offering which is formal1 indolent1 unwilling1 self-saving2 which is restrained from thought1 and effort1 and hazard1 and bountifulness1 by the consideration1 how much it will cost4 8,i will not offer unto the ,,lord my ,,god10 and the ,,lord my ,,god will not accept 8of that which doth cost me nothing4'0 ,this is the principle and measure of ,christian offering to ,,god4 ,would we offer affection8 it must be all affection4 8,my ,son1 give me ,thy heart40 ,submission8 ,deny ,thyself in all things4 ,time8 ,let it be all time--instant1 continual1 day and night4 ,substance8 ,be ready to part with all that thou hast4 ,work8 ,it must be all work2 every labour1 and every occupation4 ,whatsoever thou doest1 do all to the glory of ,,god1 that ,,god in all things may be glorified through ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,we1 and all that we are and have1 are claimed as whole sacrifices to ,,god4 ,the duration of the offering is to be the length of our life4 ,the altars upon which we are to be offered1 are all the places and all the circumstances in which ,,god puts us1 or we put ourselves2 and we are to be continually laying ourselves upon these altars1 without fear or grudging of the cost1 yea1 rather with cheerful incurring of it4 ,it is a great and difficult service4 ,the very best of our fallen race1 the ,abrahams and the ,pauls1 who have most realised this service1 and loved it1 and laid themselves out to render it1 have yet fallen short1 very far short of the perfect offering4 ,many a time have they reluctantly laid the costly sacrifice on the altar2 many a time1 alas6 have they substituted the lame1 the halt1 the lean1 the blemished1 for the firstling of the flock2 many a due sacred journey has not been undertaken2 many a holy service has been unperformed1 or performed amiss2 many an altar has been bare1 without an offering4 ,yes1 the most godly1 the saints that excel1 have fallen far short of ,,god',s standard1 and have withheld or offered amiss what ,,god required4 ,but yet through infirmity1 not through wilfulness or selfishness1 have they done it1 and speedily and deeply have they repented of it1 and then have they straightway laid upon the nearest altar the sacrifice of a broken and a contrite heart1 in whose fragrance the ill savour of the other has been lost1 with whose costliness ,,god has been well pleased4 ,such a sacrifice ,he never despises4 ,those who offer it shall be forgiven all that is past4 ,they shall be dealt with by the after1 not the former life4 ,but1 my brethren1 if such as these fall short of ,,god',s standard1 what of us1 who1 alas6 can lay no claim to attempted perfection1 or to grief and contrition for shortcomings8 ,what of our service of ,,god8 ,what do we offer ,him8 ,what does religion cost us8 ,it should cost us much thought--more thought than anything else4 ,does it8 ,is it the most frequent and most encouraged employment of our minds to meditate on ,,god1 our ,creator and ,preserver1 our ,redeemer1 our ,sanctifier1 our ,lord and ,judge1 on heaven1 on holiness1 on trial and reward1 duties and hopes8 ,we all of us have some favourite subject of thought and meditation1 something which we ponder chiefly1 and lay most plans about1 and zealously occupy our mental faculties upon4 ,is it religion8 ,does that cost us more thought than anything else8 or does business or pleasure1 or politics or philosophy1 or worldly prospects or cares8 ,if so--no matter how innocent the object1 how laudable in some respects its concern--in making it a chief consideration1 we leave nought to offer ,,god but that which costs us nothing1 and which is therefore nothing accounted of1 yea1 rather is rejected by ,him4 ,again1 religion should cost us much affection4 ,our affections should be chiefly set on it1 and only on other things when they can be lawfully considered the adjuncts of religion4 ,is it so8 ,do we love ,,god more than anything else8 ,do we desire heaven's treasures more than earth's2 eternal glories more than temporal8 ,do we delight above all things in spiritual pursuits8 ,if any other person1 any other thing presents itself as a candidate for our best affections1 is it rejected because the place is already filled8 ,is it disliked1 if opposed to religion8 ,is it but moderately esteemed and distantly entertained1 when though not opposed to it1 is not religion itself8 ,if otherwise1 then religion costs us not our best affections1 and so of our hearts we offer unto ,,god of that which doth cost us nothing4 ,again1 religion should cost us much labour1 much self-denial1 much zeal and patience1 more than anything else4 ,does it8 ,is there nothing for which we toil more1 and endure more1 and encounter more2 nothing which we pursue more constantly and zealously8 ,do we take more pains to please ,,god than man8 ,do we make more strenuous endeavours to become good ,christians than to become apt scholars1 profound philosophers1 able and respected politicians1 successful tradesmen1 accomplished members of society8 ,would we1 and do we rather rise early1 and late take rest1 go without our usual meals1 undertake fatiguing journeys1 contend with difficulties1 suffer reproaches for religion than for anything else8 ,do we bear the inconvenience of a warm church more cheerfully than that of a close shop1 a crowded hall of business or pleasure8 ,do we venture forth on religious errands1 in cold1 and wet1 and forbidding weather1 more readily than we do for anything else8 ,in what do we wear out our strength and energies1 run our greatest risks1 and consume our time8 ,is it1 directly or indirectly1 in religion2 or is it in business or in pleasure8 ,for what do we renounce all needless occupations1 for what do we get through as speedily as may be our necessary work8 ,is it to have time and strength for religion1 or for what8 ,the answer1 my brethren1 which your consciences honestly give to these questions1 and many like them that might be asked1 will help to determine what religion costs you in this respect1 and whether or no1 you offer unto ,,god only of that which doth cost you nothing4 ,again1 religion should cost much of our substance4 ,in one sense1 it should cost us all our substance1 i4e4 we should never spend one mite on a sinful or doubtful pleasure or business1 or in contributing to an unhallowed end4 ,much1 indeed1 we must lay out in the sustenance of our natural life1 in the prosecution of our worldly calling1 in the support and advancement of our families1 in the maintenance of our social position4 ,something1 too1 we are allowed to spend on our innocent recreations and those of others4 ,but that which is to cost us most1 on which we are to spend all that we can1 and to yearn to be able to spend more1 is on ,,god2 directly1 by spreading the knowledge of ,his name1 by promoting ,his service1 by building fit temples for ,his worship1 and adorning them suitably to our devotion and ,his glory2 indirectly1 by ministering to ,his representatives1 the poor1 and afflicted1 and helpless1 and ignorant4 ,what1 my brethren1 let me ask in all plainness1 for ,i speak for ,,god1 and ,,god',s representatives--the poor--what does religion cost you in this respect8 ,are you sure that you have left no ,lazaruses to perish of hunger8 no pining sick to die for want of the nutriment or attention which you could have afforded8 no children to grow up in ignorance and blasphemy whom you could have maintained at school1 and helped to make enlightened1 serious1 holy men and women8 ,have you looked to these things1 yourselves8 or have you ungrudgingly1 liberally supported those who do8 ,have you ascertained that the sick and visiting funds of your parish are able to meet the many demands upon them8 that there is no difficulty in maintaining the necessary staff of the poor's best guardians1 the clergy8 that the alms-boxes will hold no more1 or that there is no demand on their contents8 ,have you done all this before you have laden your tables with rich viands and costly wines1 and bought expensive toys and ornaments1 and gone on unnecessary excursions1 and paid much for amusements8 ,or have you consulted self first1 and fed1 and decked1 and petted1 and amused self1 and then been ready 7not1 perhaps1 even then1 forward1 but waiting to be asked7 to give up something of what self could conveniently spare1 for crying1 grievous necessities--sparing ,,god your leavings1 that which you did not want1 or1 at least1 could easily do without8 ,remember1 brethren1 ,i lay no charge against any one of you4 ,i only1 in faithfulness1 put to you plain questions1 which it is your duty to consider2 and bid you speedily discover1 from their consideration1 what your religion costs you2 whether1 in your succour1 temporal and spiritual1 of those worse off than yourselves1 you deny and inconvenience yourselves1 giving what you cannot part with without feeling its loss and curtailing from other things on account of it 7as you all ought to do72 or whether you offer unto ,,god1 in this way1 of that which doth cost you nothing4 ,once more1 religion should cost you much in the direct service of ,,god2 in providing amply for ,his wide and becoming worship4 ,i pass by now1 as duties which there are other opportunities of enforcing1 the maintenance of missions1 at home and abroad2 the building and endowing of schools and churches1 and many like things1 that ,i may dwell for a few moments upon the costliness of the materials of our churches1 and their furniture1 and1 let me add1 their ornaments2 for all which1 if ,i understand the ,bible1 we ,christians are bound to provide4 ,in the descriptions given us in the ,bible1 of heaven and heavenly things1 there is frequent mention and great display1 as it were1 of gold1 and precious stones1 and musical instruments1 and beautiful robes1 and the like4 ,there are some who understand these descriptions literally1 and who suppose that1 being raised in material1 though glorified bodies1 the redeemed will inhabit a material heaven--either this earth transformed1 or some other planet--and will be surrounded with glorious material objects1 the most beautiful and precious of nature's productions1 fashioned like to art's best accomplishments4 ,if this is to be so1 then it is urged1 earth's tabernacles1 as the type of heaven1 should be as nearly assimilated to heaven as possible2 we should improve and furnish our plainer and barer churches as much as we can2 we should build our new churches in the best1 the handsomest style of art2 and decorate and furnish them in the most substantially costly manner4 ,without subscribing to this view 7though there is really much to be said for it71 ,i would humbly suggest that1 since ,,god1 when ,he designed an earthly tabernacle1 prescribed that it1 and all in it1 should be costly and ornamental2 and that when ,he speaks of heaven ,he does so under the image of all that is accounted splendid and costly on earth1 ,he either must have meant to require that we should erect and adorn our churches after this description1 or ,he must have taken for granted that we should best understand spiritual beauties and excellencies by their comparison with what we account earthly beauties and excellencies1 and that we should naturally honour and worship ,him with the best of these within our reach4 ,it seems1 then1 to be our duty1 nay1 to be natural to us1 if we are in earnest1 whichever view we take1 to make our churches and their contents beauteous and costly1 either as images of the future church in heaven1 or as the nearest representations to it which we can furnish1 and the best copies of ,,god',s own pattern4 ,to this it has been objected1 firstly1 that the primitive ,christians afford us no such example2 and1 secondly1 that it seems unfitting1 trifling1 unseemly1 to decorate the spiritual palace as we would an earthly mansion4 ,the first objection falls to the ground1 when we remember1 that the early ,christians were very poor1 and1 moreover1 were obliged to hide themselves1 and1 therefore1 to refrain from all that would attract attention2 and that1 as soon as they had the means and liberty1 they made their churches very splendid1 and furnished them very gorgeously4 ,and the second objection is as soon disposed of4 ,what is unfitting1 trifling1 unseemly1 for the ,master1 is surely as much1 and more so1 for the disciple4 ,if ,,god is to dwell in tents1 we ought not to dwell in ceiled houses2 if gold1 and precious stones1 and beautiful arts are unfit for ,him1 then they are pre-eminently unfit for us4 ,if we may not furnish ,his house with rich furniture1 and put into it1 for instance1 the best musical instrument1 we must not do so in our own houses4 ,it is enough for us1 that we should be as our ,,lord4 ,we must not be above ,him1 or different from ,him4 ,we must not glory in what is unfit for ,him4 ,be then our own abodes rude2 let everything in them be homely1 unadorned1 inferior2 banish from them all traces of the artist's skill2 or give all1 and use all1 more exceedingly upon and in the house of ,,god4 ,one more argument for adorning and furnishing to the utmost1 the house of ,,god3--,we must not offer unto ,,god of that which doth cost us nothing of our substance4 ,now1 all that we offer indirectly1 no matter how much1 how frequently1 may yet cost us nothing--that is1 it may be only the laying out of that for which we get an immediate equivalent4 ,when you relieve the sick1 rescue the tempted1 raise the fallen1 by the contribution of your substance1 if you have not the reward of their gratitude1 there is at least the felt human satisfaction of the act2 and that would and has remunerated many an infidel4 ,the sacrifice1 therefore1 in this case1 ceases to be a sacrifice2 it is a laying out for those who pay you again4 ,but when you expend your substance largely on the direct service of ,,god1 hoping for nothing again1 perhaps getting nothing1 then you offer of that which costs you something2 something for which you do not expect an equivalent4 ,the exercise is a good one1 and the duty is imperative4 ,if you got your money's worth1 and your human satisfaction1 for its outlay1 then you would be offering to ,,god of that which doth cost you nothing4 ,let this consideration urge you1 then1 first1 indeed to provide what is necessary for the service of ,,god by yourselves2 afterwards1 what may help others in like manner to serve ,him2 and then1 not by mulcting them1 but by denying yourselves1 to give some true gift1 some free-will offering1 which is costly in itself1 and promises no present equivalent4 ,thus shall you overcome selfish and mere human feelings1 and render dutiful1 and grateful1 and costly sacrifice unto the ,,lord your ,,god4 ,my brethren1 depart not with the notion that you have heard nothing of ,christ this morning4 ,it is a deep-rooted error that1 under the law men were commanded to do1 but under the ,gospel they are forbidden2 that then salvation was a work1 but now it is only a contemplation4 ,the contrary is the truth4 ,men might contemplate and wait idly and dreamily before their ,redeemer came2 they must be up and doing now that ,he has laid ,his hand upon them1 and given them a lifelong1 arduous1 self-sacrificing work to do4 ,it is because ,christ has purchased you wholly1 body1 and soul1 and spirit1 thoughts1 words1 and deeds1 talents and substance1 to be an entire and constant sacrifice unto ,him2 it is because ,he is watching over you1 and working for and in you1 to make you that sacrifice2 it is because presently ,he will judge and deal with you1 according as you have been1 or have not been what ,he required1 that ,i have enforced on you the pre-eminently ,christian lesson of taking solemn1 anxious heed1 that you offer not unto the ,,lord your ,,god of that which doth cost you nothing4 ,,sermon ,,ix4 ,,spiritual ,,progress4 ,,philippians1 ,,iii41 #ac1 #ad4 8,brethren1 ,i count not myself to have apprehended3 but this one thing ,i do1 forgetting those things which are behind1 and reaching forth unto those things which are before1 ,i press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of ,,god in ,christ ,,jesus40 ,,to have apprehended2 to have attained unto the perfection of the knowledge of ,christ2 to have gone through the ,christian's appointed course of discipline and duties2 to have acquired the acceptable and approved character2 to have laid such a hold on salvation as could not be shaken off--this even ,paul did not claim to have done4 ,divinely enlightened as he was1 greatly zealous1 blamelessly righteous1 the chosen vessel of the ,,lord1 he could not be satisfied with the past1 he could not rest in the present1 he could not calculate on the future4 8,if by any means ,i might attain unto the resurrection of the dead0--be made one of those who shall be raised in ,christ to glory--8not as though ,i had already attained1 either were already perfect4 4 4 4 ,i count not myself to have apprehended40 ,brethren1 if ,paul1 with all his light1 all his labours1 all his holiness1 all his love1 felt that heaven1 was1 after all1 not his sure inheritance1 how can any among us count themselves to have secured it1 to have become perfect8 ,and yet1 not a few do6 ,i am not alluding now to those who are called ,calvinists1 to those who believe that salvation will infallibly be conferred on a few1 chosen without regard to their former1 or care for their after life2 and that they who believe this doctrine are certainly of the chosen few 7every ,calvinist1 according to his own creed1 is sure of salvation7--to those who fancy that a peculiar flutter of strange feelings in the breast which they felt at a certain moment of some day or night1 perhaps long past1 was the impression of ,,god',s seal upon them2 a seal which cannot be broken1 which has marked them ,,god',s for ever2 and that all they have to do in anticipation1 in preparation for glory1 is to talk and think about man's depravity1 and ,,god',s electing grace4 ,no6 ,i am alluding to such as are most of you1 brethren2 who have probably never concerned yourselves about supposed absolute decrees1 and irresistible grace1 and final perseverance2 who do not claim to be objects of any signal conversion2 who have felt1 and feel no ecstacy and rapture which betoken sure acceptance2 and of you1 ,i say1 that many of you count yourselves to have apprehended1 to know as much1 to have done as much1 to feel as much1 to be as perfect1 as you need1 and to have a sure hope of salvation4 ,none of you have a definite theory of this kind2 none of you1 if ,i took you apart and said1 8,are you sure of heaven80 would dare to answer1 8yes10 or to feel that you might answer1 8yes20 but many of you1 nevertheless1 do persuade yourselves1 that it is even so2 many of you so spend your lives as though you had already apprehended1 as though there were nothing which you had yet to attain4 ,listen6 ,you believe that there is another life after this4 ,you believe that it may be one of glory1 or one of shame and destruction4 ,you believe that there are necessary qualifications for glory1 without which it will not be conferred4 ,you hope and expect to partake of the glory4 ,you all know that the change from this life to the next may come at any moment1 to any one of you4 ,still1 the greater part of you make no effort to prepare farther for that change2 but go on1 day after day1 year after year1 doing the same deeds1 thinking the same thoughts1 feeling the same feelings1 in the same way and measure as heretofore4 ,is it not so8 ,and if it is1 do you not justify yourselves--do you not at least compose yourselves in your present state--by asserting1 or at any rate by not actively denying1 that you have attained as much faith1 and holiness and love1 as you need to fit you for heaven4 ,you have apprehended3 at least you think so4 ,otherwise1 how could you be contented8 ,believing in your heart of hearts that there is a heaven1 how could you be satisfied if you did not think you would go to it2 if you conceived it possible that the want of something which you have not yet1 might shut you out from glory8 ,as ,i speak to you thus1 you feel disposed to protest against my words4 ,you know you are not perfect4 ,you frequently sigh over your lamentable imperfections4 ,you feel that it is only unspeakable mercy which can make any allowance for you4 ,you are not fit for heaven4 ,you are not satisfied with yourselves4 ,you have not attained4 ,you have much to do4 ,you intend to do much4 ,yes6 this is your protest1 and it is an honest one2 you mean it1 you feel it4 ,but1 brethren1 ,i am not talking of what you mean and feel now2 of the momentary stir of right feeling which takes place occasionally1 in church when the minister of ,christ rouses you2 or at home or abroad1 when ,,god calls loudly to you by some unusual act of ,providence2 or on a sick bed1 when physicians speak doubtfully1 and friends wear ominously troubled looks2 or at the grave-side1 when one of your own age and circumstances of life1 and like constitution1 is being hidden out of sight4 ,no6 ,i am speaking of your usual feelings1 and your every-day life2 and ,i say1 on their clear testimony1 that many of you count yourselves to have apprehended4 ,you are at ease about heaven2 you do not strive1 you do not press forward as though it were yet to gain2 you do not imagine that any striving1 any pressing forward1 is needed4 ,what are the religious exercises of the many8 ,a few words of private prayer1 morning and evening2 an attendance once on the ,,lord',s day at church2 and now and then1 perhaps1 a participation of the holy communion4 ,these are the chief1 often the only1 efforts for grace to attain and apprehend4 ,no perpetual upraising of the soul in prayer2 no delight in public worship2 no frequent yearning for the communication of ,christ through ,his appointed ordinances2 no eager searching of ,his ,word for light1 and guidance1 and comfort1 and encouragement6 ,what1 again1 are the strivings of the many to attain a heavenly character2 to do the work which ,,god has given them to do2 to put aside the old man1 with his affections and lusts2 to walk in holy obedience8 ,alas6 they are merely negative2 forbearing to offend against the letter of the great commandments4 ,no literal idolatry1 no profane swearing1 no ,sabbath-breaking1 no stealing1 no deed of lust1 no deliberate slander4 ,this is their righteousness2 and if1 besides1 they occasionally sigh1 or utter a self-condemnation1 on account of the frequently reiterated1 uncurbed outbreaks and indulgences of what they call 8infirmities10 they seem to themselves to have attained to exemplary excellence4 ,no matter that all their usual feelings are earth-born1 and earth-directed2 that their affections are set on worldly things2 that they continue1 year after year1 every whit as spiritually indolent1 impatient1 bad-tempered1 sensual in thought1 jealous1 faithless1 unloving1 unholy4 ,they might1 indeed1 be better in these respects2 perhaps they ought to be2 but it is not actually necessary4 ,they have already attained what is absolutely needed4 ,if not quite perfect 7no man is7 they are perfect enough2 better than many others2 as good as ,,god will require4 ,oh1 if men do not think this1 do they not act it and testify it in their lives8 ,does not their religion seem to be a mere occasional pastime8 something to be taken up only in the intervals of life's earnest work2 a matter of no real moment2 which does not demand more than ceremonious observance1 leaving the thoughts1 the affections1 the energy free2 offering nothing 7worth the while7 to be pursued with zeal1 and industry1 and self-denial2 to progress and grow perfect in2 having no claims upon us which are not sufficiently discharged in the way of mere routine8 ,i should wrong many of you1 dear brethren1 if ,i meant this charge to be universal4 ,of not a few of you1 8we are persuaded better things1 and things that accompany salvation1 though we thus speak40 ,but1 in a degree1 even you answer to this description1 or part of it2 coming nearer1 now and then1 to contentment about your spiritual state than you should2 forbearing1 frequently1 to press forward enough for what is not yet attained4 ,well1 then1 we are all reproved by the apostle's lowly estimation of his own past and present3 8,i count not myself to have apprehended40 ,let us now seek to be instructed by his proposals for the future3 8,forgetting the things that are behind1 ,i reach forth40 ,first1 then1 we are to forget the things that are behind4 ,in the figure which the apostle uses1 that of a runner in a race1 to forget what is behind is1 not to pride ourselves upon1 not to think of the progress we have already made4 ,paradox though it seem1 the ,christian religion often bids us both remember and forget the same thing2 and it does so in this case4 ,we are to remember the success which has attended us hitherto in the attempt to serve ,,god1 both to prompt our gratitude for the past1 and to encourage us to persevere1 as having hope that we may prevail4 ,we are to forget it1 so as not to presume on our goodness2 not to rest satisfied with aught we have done1 or to count ourselves as having in any measure attained to what ,,god requires of us4 ,there is much temptation to such self-satisfaction1 and there is much danger in it4 ,few1 if any of us1 who have been earnestly endeavouring to work out our salvation1 can fail to observe that we have accomplished something4 ,we have come to feel an interest in spiritual things4 ,prayer1 instead of being altogether a wearisome task1 or a mere matter of routine1 has begun to be an enjoyable exercise4 ,the pursuit of godliness1 instead of being altogether a hard task1 requiring us to forego all that is pleasant1 to encounter much that is trying1 to do that for which we have no taste1 has begun to bestow on us its reward1 in fulfilling its promise of making glad the life that now is1 in elevating us1 though1 perhaps1 but little1 towards the hope of the life which is to come4 ,we like now 7that is1 we dislike less7 the exercises of devotion4 ,we more readily give up what once we clung to as the chiefest good4 ,we begin to realise1 that there is something worth striving for beyond2 and we make efforts1 though they may be feeble1 to reach it1 and lay hold on it4 ,but1 perceiving this change1 this improvement in ourselves1 we run the risk of coming to think1 that we are not like other men2 that we have come out1 and are separate2 that we are in the right way2 that ,,god approves us4 ,and the natural effect of this perception1 or rather the effect which ,satan causes it to produce1 is spiritual pride and spiritual indolence4 8,i love prayer1 ,i cultivate holiness3 what lack ,i yet8 ,i have attained2 ,i have apprehended ,christ2 knowing and loving ,him1 and laying fast hold on ,his salvation40 ,such a feeling once harboured in the breast1 and thus interpreted1 soon begins to deaden our spiritual energies4 ,we cease to be holy as soon as we fancy ourselves holy4 ,we relinquish effort as soon as we find that we have been using it4 ,in the remembrance of the past1 in the spiritual pride which it produces1 we forget the future and unlearn humility4 ,therefore we are to forget the past of progress4 ,but1 besides this1 we are to forget what is behind of failure and trial1 and former superiority4 ,there is nothing so apt to beget despondency1 to discourage further effort1 as the review of unsuccess3 8,i have tried this before1 and failed2 it is of no use to try it again4 ,destiny1 or innate corruption seems to thwart me and bind me down2 it is vain to contend against it40 ,thus it is that men persuade themselves to yield unresistingly to evil4 ,when bidden to forsake it1 when desiring to forsake it1 instead of making the effort as though it were a first one1 the beginning of a right course1 in which1 if they persevere1 they may hope by ,,god',s grace to do well1 they recall to memory how they have failed before1 and persuade themselves1 from their remembrance1 that in like manner they should surely fail again3 and so they refuse to try4 ,and so1 too1 the remembrance of former superiority discourages4 8,how pure1 how temperate1 how steady1 how comparatively good was ,i once4 ,alas6 that cannot be again4 ,i cannot undo what ,i have done4 ,i cannot recover what is lost4 ,the past can never be the present40 ,no1 it cannot1 brethren1 and therefore forget it4 ,do not seek to undo1 to recover4 ,since that cannot be1 aim at something else2 and1 that you may aim the more steadily1 do not let your eye wander elsewhere4 ,if you have left your father's house1 and wasted your substance in riotous living1 it is too late to prevent you from being a prodigal2 but it is not too late to become a returning prodigal4 ,forget your former independence2 forget the going away into the far country4 ,remember1 that your ,father still lives2 that ,he is a merciful1 a pardoning ,father2 that ,his arms are spread out to enfold you2 that there is still room1 and welcome room1 for you in ,his house4 ,forget what you have abandoned1 and seek what you may yet have3 not former innocence1 not the inheritance of uninterrupted dutifulness1 but reformed life1 and fresh favour1 a new place as a new character4 ,once more1 forget the things that are behind1 as you start1 as you run along the course from the world to heaven4 ,do not delay in considering what you have to give up2 do not grudge the effort2 do not turn aside your eyes to behold what you are leaving behind1 what you are passing by the way4 ,temporal things1 though so infinitely inferior to eternal1 are near and palpable2 while the spiritual are distant and indistinctly seen4 ,if you ponder and weigh1 if you count over too frequently the cost1 your own carnal judgment1 and ,satan's blinding influence1 will check you at starting1 or lure you aside4 ,to look back1 to gaze about you1 to stand still for a moment1 is perhaps to lose the race4 8,see10 says ,satan1 8what you are leaving1 what you are passing4 ,here are riches1 honour1 friends1 pleasure1 ease40 ,you look1 and the look leads you back1 or makes you stumble1 perhaps fall4 8,onward1 onward60 be this your cry2 this your aim4 ,stay not in all the plain2 look not behind you2 look on2 behold the goal2 remember the prize4 ,think not of the past2 regard not the present2 aim at the future4 ,forgetting the things that are behind1 reach forth unto those that are before4 ,i have anticipated the other lesson of wisdom2 that of reaching forth2 of concentrating all your thoughts1 and all your energies1 on what is held out to you by ,,god in ,christ4 ,you are not to measure the distance you have come2 you are not to brood over stumblings1 and falls1 and past slowness2 you are not to recall the things that you have left1 nor to look at those you are passing4 ,you are to run on1 as if the race were all before you2 as if the course were an untrodden one2 as if there were good hope of reaching the goal4 ,and you are to look steadfastly at the goal1 and run eagerly towards it4 ,this is your position2 this your course2 these your hopes4 ,gird up your loins then1 lay aside every weight1 the weight of worldly temptation1 the weight of experienced failure1 the weight of difficulties and troubles4 ,assured that the race may be run1 assay to run it4 ,knowing that the prize is still proffered1 attempt to gain it4 ,gather experience from the past1 what to do1 what to avoid4 ,redouble your efforts1 quicken your pace1 because the time is short1 and much of it has been trifled away4 ,take hope from the future1 because the lists are still open1 because you are accepted candidates for the prize1 because the king waits to crown you4 ,what does all this mean in plain language8 ,sinners6 repent1 cry for mercy1 pray for grace1 aim at godliness4 ,lovers of the world6 unloose your affections from what is worthless and perishable2 fix them upon what is above value and everlasting2 let go what you have1 cast it behind you1 and seek what you have not4 ,loiterers6 move on4 ,crawlers6 rise upon your feet and run4 ,there is no time for delay1 for tardy pace4 ,the ,,lord waits to crown you1 but ,he will not wait long4 ,racers6 race on1 faster1 more intent4 ,let your desires outstrip your feet4 ,quicken your feet1 to come up to your desires4 ,but a little1 and the trial of your speed will be over1 and the conquerors will be crowned1 and all others be rejected4 ,brethren1 one and all1 consider the prize of your high calling of ,,god in ,christ ,,jesus4 ,enlist heartily in its pursuit2 shake off everything that hinders2 shut your eyes against all that allures2 seek guidance1 strength1 and perseverance1 in prayer1 study of ,,god',s ,word1 and other holy ordinances4 ,use those graces in daily instant increasing efforts2 animate yourselves more and more by anticipations of what is held out1 by nearer and more constant beholding of it4 ,stay not1 and pause not till the arms of acceptance enfold you1 the ,voice of approval greets you1 8,well done10 and grateful1 realised joy enables you to exclaim1 8,i have fought the good fight1 ,i have finished my course1 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness40 ,,sermon ,x4 ,,spiritual ,,things ,,not ,,revealed ,,to ,,the ,,natural ,,man4 #a ,,corinthians1 ,,ii41 #ad4 8,the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,,god3 for they are foolishness unto him3 neither can he know them1 because they are spiritually discerned40 ,,all of you1 my brethren1 to some extent profess1 and to some extent desire1 to be religious4 ,all of you assent to the truth1 that religion is the 8one thing needful10 and yet many of you1 if you knew your hearts1 and examined your ways1 would be constrained to admit that religion is not the ruling power of your life4 ,you are indeed religious according to the standard of the age1 i4e41 you come to church on ,sunday1 perhaps occasionally to holy communion1 you say your prayers morning and evening1 you read the ,bible now and then1 you do not grossly offend against any one of the ten commandments1 you sigh over your frailties and infirmities1 you give something to the poor4 ,all this entitles you1 in the estimation of others1 to be classed among what are called religious people2 and suggests to yourselves the comfortable thought1 that1 at least1 you are not worse than other men2 that1 in fact1 you are much better than many4 ,still1 if you are careful readers of your ,bible1 if you are observant of the world within and around you1 if you are given to self-searching1 you must often feel that your religion is but a sorry counterfeit of what ,,god has taught and saints have reflected2 that you are scarcely half in earnest about it2 that you experience very little advantage from it2 that you render very empty homage to it4 ,for instance1 you read the ,sermon on the ,mount1 or the reiteration of many parts of it here and there1 in the epistles2 you put together the several characteristics of true religion there displayed2 and then1 turning an eye upon yourselves1 looking back upon the path you have trodden1 surveying the ground upon which you now stand1 testing your practice1 scanning your motives1 asking yourselves1 8,by what am ,i mainly influenced8 whither tend my chief desires8 what are my feelings80 8,alas60 you exclaim1 8where1 in all these1 are the influences and operations of the religion taught by ,christ and ,his apostles80 ,or1 again1 you read of ,joseph1 stoutly refusing the safe indulgence of a forbidden pleasure1 under a heartfelt conviction of required sanctity1 and present accountability1 which found its vent in those memorable words1 8,how can ,i do this great wickedness and sin against ,,god80 ,and then you find him1 after shining thus brilliantly as a saint1 patiently1 religiously bearing the treatment of a sinner4 ,or you read of ,abraham1 giving up at a word's bidding the comforts of home1 the ties of kindred1 and the means of support2 wandering henceforth throughout his life in a strange land1 apparently coming no nearer to the promised rest and blessedness1 yet cheerfully1 hopefully1 thankfully1 admitting and feeling that all was1 and would be right and well for him4 ,or you read of ,moses1 refusing the honours1 the pleasures1 the riches of a court life1 and choosing to be a wanderer1 to endure all kinds of hardships and reproaches1 that he might avoid sin and serve ,,god4 ,or you read of ,job1 subjected to concentrated miseries and undeserved chastisements and rebukes1 and blessing the ,hand which had imposed them1 or at least had not interfered to ward them off4 ,or you read of ,david1 weeping over a forgiven sin1 setting it always before him1 making frequent mention of it in his prayers1 accepting often reverses as the due chastisement of it1 and thanking ,,god for them4 ,or you read of ,stephen1 cruelly maligned1 savagely beaten to death1 and yet spending his dying breath1 not in protesting1 not in invoking vengeance1 but in praying1 8,,lord1 lay not this sin to their charge40 ,or1 once more1 you read of ,paul1 testifying that to die is gain1 and1 in the least adverse circumstances of his converted life1 coveting to depart4 ,you read1 ,i say1 of these things2 you consider under what feelings and hopes they were borne and encountered1 and you sadly exclaim1 8,where1 in me1 in deed or feeling1 in aim or restraint1 in perseverance or patience1 is the religion of ,joseph1 of ,abraham1 of ,moses1 of ,job1 of ,david1 of ,stephen1 of ,paul8 ,do ,i thus resist temptations to unlawful pleasures8 ,do ,i set loose my natural affections1 give up my worldly goods1 go forth into unknown and unguessed-at circumstances at ,divine bidding8 ,do ,i refuse proffered honours1 riches1 pleasures1 not because they are in themselves sinful1 but because they may possibly lead me into sin8 ,do ,i patiently and thankfully endure even merited chastisements8 ,do ,i struggle with myself and with ,,god to prevent past sins from escaping out of my remembrance8 ,do ,i seek to bless those who revile or injure me8 ,do ,i feel that to die is gain2 and do ,i covet to depart80 ,if not1 why not8 ,it is so that ,,god willed men to do2 it is so they have in many cases done2 and it is so that many still do4 ,yes1 there are still such saints2 men and women who steadfastly resist wrong pleasures1 under the heart-conviction of required sanctity1 and of accountability to a present ,,god2 who give up1 even while they hold them1 all worldly possessions1 and go forth1 in feeling1 in desire1 in deed if need be1 without distrust1 with happy1 thankful1 confidence1 when and whithersoever ,,god bids them2 who forego proffered advantages1 and content themselves with a low seat when they might1 perhaps1 have the highest1 because it is safer for them as servants of ,,god2 who weep and abhor themselves1 and desire to be chastened for their sins2 who love to do good to their enemies2 who holily yearn to die4 ,there are men and women who do make religion the one thing needful2 who hold themselves in check by its restraints2 who urge themselves on by its promises2 who bask in its sunshine1 and reflect its glorious image in their lives4 ,there are men and women whose business is religion2 who kneel long and often in prayer2 who meditate day and night on the ,bible2 whose hearts ever leap to ,,god2 who grieve to forego an opportunity of holy communion2 who never stop away from church because there are only prayers1 or because their favourite preacher will not be in the pulpit1 or because it is hot or cold4 ,good citizens they are1 attentive to their callings1 provident parents1 dutiful children1 affectionate husbands and wives1 cheerful companions1 most useful in their generation1 and yet truly religious1 bent upon religion2 regarding this life as an apprenticeship to it1 and striving so to use their apprenticeship as to be perfect in their calling1 ere they are summoned to exercise it 7their ardent expectation7 as partners with angels1 and patriarchs1 and apostles1 and perfected saints1 under the rule of the ,,lord of ,glory1 in the city of the ,new ,jerusalem4 ,my brethren1 if ,,god has prescribed such religion as this2 if saints of old1 ay1 and men and women of our own times too1 have been thus religious2 it must be important1 and1 ,i would fain hope1 acceptable1 for you who profess and desire to be religious1 but are not1 to learn wherein you differ1 why you fail4 ,the text tells you3 8,the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,,god3 for they are foolishness unto him3 neither can he know them1 because they are spiritually discerned40 8,the things of the ,spirit of ,,god0 7the matters1 that is1 of revelation7 are foolishness to the natural man1 and he cannot know or appreciate them4 ,my brethren1 are the things of the ,spirit of ,,god ever regarded by you as foolishness8 ,start not1 nor be offended at the question4 ,you would1 doubtless1 deem it very blasphemy to say1 8it is folly10 of anything ,,god has revealed4 ,you would rush from the bare thought4 ,still1 you may practically allow what you thus shudder at when exhibited in its plainness4 ,let us see4 ,do you ever deliberately do what religion forbids8 ,do you ever deliberately omit what religion requires8 ,do you never weigh the things of the world against the things of the ,spirit1 and then choose the former8 ,do you never prefer pleasure to duty8 staying away from church1 or curtailing your religious worship1 to take your leisure1 to enjoy a friend's company1 to go for a pleasant walk1 to read an interesting book1 to see some unusual sight1 to frequent some place of secular entertainment1 to forward some worldly end8 ,do you not1 at least1 excuse yourselves from acts of religion1 by pleas that you would not admit in these other cases8 ,do you not find time for earthly things1 that you do not find for spiritual8 ,do you not make exertions for worldly ends1 that you do not make for heavenly8 ,do you not curb1 and restrain1 and deny yourselves1 in the one case1 and use no such discipline in the other8 ,well1 of course you do this through some appreciation of the thing sought2 because it interests you1 is pleasant1 or expedient1 or profitable4 ,you do not deliberately choose 8folly10 you pursue it as the wise course1 i4e41 you treat the opposite as though it were unwise1 not realising it to be wisdom1 you put it aside as foolishness4 ,then1 again1 of restraints1 and sanctions1 and hopes4 ,would you not forbear to do in the presence of a fellow-being what you unhesitatingly do under the eye of ,,god8 ,do you not fear a parent1 a husband1 a wife1 a master1 a friend1 a customer1 more than ,,god8 ,does the thought of eternal punishment concern you as much as the prospect of chastisement at the hand of man8 of failure in business8 of serious illness8 of bodily disfigurement8 ,do you act chiefly with regard to the praise of ,,god1 or the admiration of your fellow-beings8 ,do you feast on the expectation of heaven1 or on that of some worldly joy or honour8 ,do you like1 above all things1 the thought of dwelling for ever where there will be no money-getting1 no earthly indulgences1 no flattery1 no vain glory1 no frivolity1 no unseemliness1 no rest from the praising of ,,god1 and the company of saints8 ,if a message came to you now1 that within an hour you should be removed to paradise1 would you not shrink from the announcement8 would you not cling to earth8 would you not wish your removal to be deferred8 ,then do you not appreciate something more than the things of the ,spirit of ,,god8 ,do not your desires1 and hopes1 and fears1 deal with them as though they were comparatively foolishness8 ,remember1 brethren1 ,i am not now inveighing against sin2 ,i am not attempting to make a catalogue of your offences1 that ,i may reproach you on account of its length4 ,my object is simply to lead you to ascertain how you regard the things of the ,spirit of ,,god2 and so to help you to answer for yourselves the important questions1 why you are not more truly religious1 why religion is not with you the one thing needful4 ,murmur not1 then1 at home-thrusts4 ,plead not excuses for what is felt to be amiss4 ,simply answer to yourselves whether or no your life approves the things of the ,spirit as wisdom2 and1 if not1 be anxious to learn 7that you may profit by the knowledge7 why it treats them as foolishness4 ,now1 ,st4 ,paul tells us1 that it is the natural man to whom these things are foolishness2 and the spiritual by whom they are discerned to be wisdom4 ,in proportion1 then1 as you receive them not1 or undervalue them1 you are natural in contradistinction to spiritual4 ,and what is it to be thus natural8 ,it is to regard the things of religion as one doth other things1 from a mere human point of view2 and with the faculties and feelings that belong to our human nature1 independently of the operation on it of the enlightening and persuading and strengthening influences of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is to attempt to acquaint ourselves with them by natural observation and scrutiny2 to expect to understand them through natural instruction received into natural ears2 to try to picture them by the exercise of natural imagination4 ,this is to be natural2 and this is what we too frequently are4 ,we get our religious notions as we do our acquaintance with natural science1 or with secular history3 from observation1 or reading1 or hearing4 ,we strive to be religious 7simply mechanically7 by obeying certain laws1 and following certain prescribed courses1 just as we become peaceful subjects or approved servants2 aiming to do what is bidden1 to avoid what is prohibited3 not from appreciating the sanction or restriction2 not from loving what is ordered2 but simply from following it as appointed and obligatory obedience4 ,and we get our conception of heaven1 of eternal bliss1 of ,,god ,himself 7just as we form ideas about countries afar off1 or men who lived before us71 by putting together for ourselves1 and making to assume a shape of fancy1 what we have read or heard about them4 ,it is the mere man--the brain1 the mind1 the human soul1 the natural affections1 the unassisted innate energy--which conceives and aims at the observance of the things of the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,hence the failure4 ,the natural powers1 which alone we use1 cannot grasp spiritual things4 8,eye hath not seen1 nor ear heard1 neither have entered into the mind of man to conceive the things which ,,god hath prepared for them that love ,him30 and yet it is the eye1 the ear1 or the mind1 which alone we use to discern them4 ,we have indeed a theory which contradicts our practice4 ,we know of an external power--the ,holy ,spirit1 which alone can take of the things of ,,god and show them unto us1 and influence us to love1 and enable us to follow them4 ,we know how that power is to be appropriated1 and sustained1 and made effectual4 ,we talk of its imparted gift1 and we use certain words of prayer for its continuance and efficacious working1 but still we go on thinking our own thoughts and doing our own deeds1 as though there were no such power2 and we wonder and grieve that we are not religious2 that we do not heartily approve and follow what ,,god has enjoined and promised4 ,believe me1 my brethren1 or1 rather1 believe the apostle1 it will never be otherwise till you are thoroughly convinced of the utter inability of the natural man to discern the things of the ,spirit of ,,god2 till your religion consists of earnest entreaties for ,divine instruction and impulse1 of ready1 eager use of all appointed means of securing and vivifying within you the operation of ,divine grace1 of entire submission to the ,spirit's rule1 of watchfulness for ,his motions1 of zealous co-operation with ,him4 ,you may spend your life in trying to learn and practise religion1 and yet be irreligious after all2 unless you renounce all the independent thoughts and efforts of the natural man2 unless you give yourselves1 actively and passively1 in all things1 to the special illumination and direction of the ,holy ,spirit of ,,god4 ,trust not to the eye1 to the ear1 or to the mind3 they cannot inform or influence you4 ,trust not1 ,i say1 to the eye4 ,people talk of finding out ,,god from the contemplation of ,his works2 of looking from nature up to nature's ,,god2 of examining the evidences of religion1 and becoming religious4 ,but who ever found out the ,,god of the ,bible from the works of nature2 by the traces of power1 and wisdom1 and skill1 and adaptation1 which it is true are marked upon every part of creation2 by theorising about a first cause2 by investigating ,scriptural coincidences1 and establishing the authenticity of sacred history8 ,one of the ablest naturalists that ever lived ascribed the various forms and functions of animals to chance1 to the operations of winds and streams1 to shaping in natural moulds4 ,one of the profoundest astronomers saw no necessity for a first cause2 and the man who penned perhaps the sublimest description of our blessed ,,lord',s character and career1 and the most cogent argument for accepting ,him as the ,messiah1 concluded all by saying3 8,and yet ,i cannot believe in ,him40 ,no6 brethren2 nature is the handmaid of religion4 ,it will corroborate what is already revealed2 but it is no ladder to heaven2 it is no telescope1 to bring near what is afar off4 ,look at yourselves1 and at all around you1 by natural light only4 ,you perceive ,providence1 but not love2 sin1 but not its remedy2 mortality1 but not immortality4 ,read history1 ponder probabilities1 accredit testimony4 ,your mind will be instructed2 your heart1 perhaps1 touched2 but your spirit will not be quickened4 ,it is for this reason that the advocates of religion protest so stoutly against harmless1 intellectual recreation as a compromise between godliness and ungodliness2 and maintain1 on ,scripture grounds1 that however sobered1 however civilised1 however naturally elevated1 the man is not one inch nearer to heaven and spiritual discernment who spends his ,sunday in a crystal palace1 or a museum of nature1 than he who riots in a den of infamy4 8,eye hath not seen40 ,the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,neither1 again1 hath ear heard them4 ,others1 that is1 cannot describe them to us4 ,it was this which made ,paul's preaching foolishness to the ,corinthians4 ,judges of beauty1 lovers of philosophy1 fertile imaginers they were1 but they had no spiritual ear2 they were not enabled by the ,holy ,spirit2 and so the preaching of ,christianity sounded to them as some unknown tongue would to us2 as unintelligible1 unmeaning jargon4 ,ask an unlearned man to give you an account of some abstruse lecture he has heard2 and he will be able to tell you as much as the natural man can tell you of the religious instruction he has received4 ,he will have caught certain names and definitions2 he will have remembered1 that something was to be thought about this1 and something to be done about that2 and1 if he is enthusiastic1 he will1 perhaps1 attempt the thinking and the doing4 ,but he will not have grasped the subject2 he will have no soul to receive it2 for the necessary qualification is wanting--learning1 and love of learning4 ,and so1 when the ,bible1 or the preacher1 sets forth the things of the ,spirit1 the natural reader1 or hearer1 receives them not1 and cannot know them4 ,when ,christ was on earth1 and spoke in simplest words1 the men who heard ,him1 even ,his own disciples1 knew not what ,he said2 and if ,he were now to come down from heaven and preach to us1 all ,his instruction1 all his loving remonstrances1 all ,his precepts and promises1 all his glowing pictures of bliss1 all ,his threats of wrath1 would be heard by the mere natural man 7by those who are not spiritually fitted for spiritual instruction7 without influence1 and all but without comprehension4 ,it is most important1 brethren1 to be convinced of this4 ,we are all of us too apt to make our religion consist of hearing sermons2 to suppose1 that if we listen patiently1 and grasp the intellectual meaning1 and feel a little emotion about what is pathetic and alarming1 and have a desire to do something that the preacher recommended1 or to give up something that he denounced1 then that we are receiving the things of the ,spirit4 ,whereas preaching cannot1 under any circumstances1 do the least spiritual good1 or at all enlarge spiritual comprehension1 unless the hearers are spiritually prepared4 ,we discourse on heaven or hell3 we put together all that the ,bible says or hints about it2 we form a kind of natural picture of a spiritual thing1 and we bid you look at it and consider it4 ,wherefore8 ,if you are spiritual1 to quicken your spirit2 if you are natural1 to speak to you a kind of parable1 the meaning whereof you may be prompted to ask of ,him who alone can reveal it1 the ,holy ,spirit of ,,god4 ,and so of all preaching2 it is an important means to an end4 ,it talks to men of ,,god1 of redemption1 of probation1 of the ,holy ,spirit1 of heaven and hell3 not with any hope of thereby revealing to them these things2 but only to convince their eyes1 their ears1 their hearts1 that there is a kind of knowledge which ought to be had1 but which they cannot take in2 and so to stir them up to the inquiring how it is to be had1 and to enlist them in the right effort to obtain it4 ,through the ear we arrest the natural man1 as the voice of thunder did ,saul on his road to ,damascus2 we do not sanctify him2 we do not show him the things of ,,god2 we only convince him that there is something which he has not rightly received1 or taken into account1 and we bid him go elsewhere1 to the ,spirit1 for instruction and salvation4 ,the only possible good that a sermon can do1 is1 by working on the feelings1 or appealing to the understanding1 or cross-questioning the conscience1 to stir men up to say3 8,i will know more of this matter40 ,and the work of grace is only then beginning1 when the hearer of the sermon becomes a learner of the ,spirit4 ,ear hath not heard4 8,neither hath entered into the mind of man to conceive0 spiritual things4 ,i need not enlarge on this4 ,we know1 indeed1 that the imagination has great powers2 that it forms a very tangible idea of what neither eye nor ear has had opportunity to discern2 that sometimes it surpasses eye and ear1 and succeeds in grasping what they have but touched4 ,hence such sayings as1 8,it is easier to imagine than describe20 and such practices as shutting the eyes1 when we want to realise an idea4 ,but still1 in spiritual things1 if actual observation and study1 if faithful descriptions by qualified persons1 a prophet1 an apostle1 the ,bible1 the ,spirit1 utterly fail to inform the natural man1 surely he cannot expect illumination from the fancies of his unassisted imagination4 ,religious ideas come into the mind through the eye and the ear2 if1 then1 these have all along been closed1 it must1 of course1 be empty4 ,and now1 dear brethren1 does not all this show you why you are so little religious8 ,have you not1 all along1 been dealing with the things of the ,spirit too much as though they were things which you could perceive by observation1 by investigating their evidence1 by intellectually studying them8 ,have not you tried to learn religion as you would a human language1 or a physical science8 ,and have not your highest religious exercises1 your searchings into the deep things of ,,god1 been the hearing of sermons2 or the indulging of your reason1 or your imagination8 ,what do you know of religion1 which you did not in some of these ways acquire8 ,how much has the ,spirit of ,,god taught you8 that ,spirit who alone knows the things of ,,god1 and who alone can reveal them2 that ,spirit which comes not first into the eye1 or the ear1 or the mind of man1 but into his spirit4 ,how often do you pray for the ,holy ,spirit1 and strive to prepare yourselves for ,him8 ,what dependence do you place on ,him for guidance8 ,what means do you use to bring ,him near2 and how much have you ,him in mind while using them8 ,what homage do you render ,him8 ,how do you serve ,him8 ,when do you commune with ,him8 ,when you regard nature1 is it by the light of the ,spirit8 ,when you read the ,bible1 is it to learn what the ,spirit will say to you1 the ,spirit invoked to speak8 ,when you hear a sermon1 do you pray the ,spirit1 8,,lord1 declare unto me1 unto my spirit1 this parable80 ,when you meditate1 is your supplication1 8,open thou mine eyes20 8,except ,thy presence go with me1 carry me not up hence80 ,is your life--thoughts1 words1 and deeds--directed by the consideration1 8,if any man will do ,his will1 he shall know of the doctrine1 whether it be of ,,god08 ,if not1 this is why you are not really religious2 and the remedy is in seeking to be and do what ,i have now described4 ,only use your spirit as you have hitherto used your eye1 your ear1 or your mind4 ,only put yourselves under the tutorship of the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,only seek to meet ,him in appointed places2 at public worship1 at holy communion1 over the ,bible1 on your knees4 ,only seek instruction from ,him1 and refer to ,him for interpretations and explanations2 and only ask ,his help to be spiritually used2 and order your life1 as far as you can1 in accordance with your prayers4 ,and soon you will be1 not smatterers1 but apt scholars of ,divine learning2 soon you will walk as seeing ,him who is invisible2 soon will you know the reality of spiritual things2 and1 knowing them1 love them and seek for them4 ,they will cease to be foolishness to you4 ,you will choose them in every circumstance1 as wisdom2 you will feel religion to be the one thing needful2 you will make it the business and the pleasure of your lives4 ,the life of a ,joseph1 an ,abraham1 a ,moses1 a ,job1 a ,david1 a ,stephen1 a ,paul1 will be found to be not simply possible1 but desirable2 the only life worthy of the name4 ,obedience will be easy2 trust will expel care2 love will cast out fear2 selfishness will pass away2 temptations will lose their power4 ,no matter will it be to you1 where or what you are4 ,prosperity1 adversity1 honour1 shame1 power1 weakness1 life1 and death1 will be indifferent to you4 ,if you live1 you will live to the ,,lord2 if you die1 you will die to the ,,lord3 living and dying1 in endurance and desire1 thought and deed1 you will be the ,,lord',s4 ,brethren1 this is what the ,spirit of ,,god would make you4 ,that ,spirit is pledged to all of you who ask for ,him2 ,he waits to reveal to you the things of ,,god4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,glory ,,be ,,to ,,god4 99 99 99 99 99 ,f4 ,shoberl1 ,printer1 #ea1 ,rupert ,street1 ,haymarket1 ,w4 ,published by ,,william ,,skeffington1 #afc ,,piccadilly4 ,,by ,,john ,,jackson1 ,d4,d41 ,,lord ,,bishop ,,of ,,lincoln4 ,,the ,,witness ,,of ,,the ,,spirit3 ,sermons preached before the ,university of ,oxford4 ,second ,edition4 ,fcap4 #hvo1 #es4 #f;d4 ,,the ,,sinfulness ,,of ,,little ,,sins4 ,contents3--,i4 ,the exceeding ,sinfulness of ,sin4 ,,ii4 ,sins of the ,temper4 ,,iii4 ,sins of ,pride and ,vanity4 ,,iv4 ,sins of the ,thoughts4 ,v4 ,sins of the ,tongue4 ,,vi4 ,sins of ,omission4 ,tenth ,edition4 ,fcap4 #hvo1 #cs4 #f;d4 8,a very earnest and practical little volume1 suited to all ages and classes40--,,english ,,churchman4 ,,repentance3 ,,its ,,necessity1 ,,nature1 ,,and ,,aids4 ,contents--,i4 ,the ,necessity of ,repentance4 ,,ii4 ,the ,nature of ,repentance4 ,,iii4 ,the ,properties of true ,repentance4 ,,iv4 ,the ,aids of ,penitence4 ,v4 ,the ,aids of ,penitence 7continued74 ,,vi4 ,the ,pardon of ,penitence4 ,fifth ,edition4 ,fcp4 #hvo1 #cs4 #f;d4 ,,the ,,day ,,of ,,prayer ,,and ,,the ,,day ,,of ,,thanksgiving4 ,two ,sermons4 ,second ,edition4 #as4 ,,rome ,,and ,,her ,,claims4 ,second ,edition4 #f;d42 or #es4 per dozen4 8,this sermon will supply a good vade-mecum for any one who wishes to secure much matter and many facts in a small compass40--,,christian ,,observer4 ,,sunday1 ,a ,,day ,,of ,,rest ,,or ,a ,,day ,,of ,,work8 ,a ,few ,words to ,working ,men4 #b;d4 ,,the ,,pastor ,,wholly ,,given ,,to ,,his ,,office4 ,an ,address to ,candidates for ,holy ,orders4 ,fcp4 limp cloth4 #as4 ,,war3 ,,its ,,evils ,,and ,,duties4 ,a ,sermon preached in the ,cathedral ,church of ,lincoln1 ,april #bf1 #ahed4 ,second ,edition4 #f;d4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,the ,,world1 ,,and ,,the ,,spirit ,,which ,,is ,,of ,,god4 ,a ,sermon addressed to the ,newly-confirmed1 and preparatory to the ,holy ,communion4 ,third ,edition4 #as4 ,,the ,,guidance ,,of ,,the ,,eye3 ,,the ,,lord ,,set ,,before ,,us4 ,two ,sermons preached at the opening of ,balliol ,college ,chapel1 on ,thursday1 ,october #ae1 and ,sunday1 ,october #ah1 #aheg4 #hvo4 #as4 ,a ,,charge ,,delivered ,,to ,,the ,,clergy ,,of ,,the ,,diocese ,,of ,,lincoln1 at his ,primary ,visitation in ,october1 #ahee4 #hvo1 #as4 ,a ,,charge ,,delivered ,,to ,,the ,,clergy ,,and ,,churchwardens ,,of ,,the ,,diocese ,,of ,,lincoln1 at his ,second ,visitation in ,october1 #aheh4 #hvo4 #as4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,job3 a ,course of ,lectures preached in the ,parish ,church of ,st4 ,james1 ,westminster1 on the ,fridays in ,lent1 ,a4,d4 #ahee4 ,by ,,john ,,edward ,,kempe1 ,m4,a41 ,rector of ,st4 ,james4 ,fcp4 #hvo4 #cs4 #f;d4 ,by the ,same ,author4 ,,three ,,sermons ,,on ,,the ,,war1 preached in the ,parish ,church of ,st4 ,james1 ,westminster4 ,contents--,i4 8,be not ,high-minded40 ,,ii4 8,the ,lawfulness of ,war40 ,,iii4 8,humble yourselves40 ,fcp4 #hvo4 #bs4 #f;d4 8,certainly the best on the subject40--,,guardian4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,hints ,,to ,,district ,,visitors1 followed by a ,few ,prayers selected for their use4 ,by ,,francis ,,hessey1 ,d4,c4,l41 ,incumbent of ,st4 ,barnabas1 ,kensington4 ,third ,edition1 cloth4 #f;d4 ,,the ,,schoolboy',s ,,way ,,of ,,eternal ,,life3 his ,religious ,motives1 ,trials1 and ,duties4 ,a ,course of ,twelve ,short ,lectures4 ,by the ,rev4 ,,edward ,,huntingford1 ,d4,c4,l41 late ,fellow of ,new ,college1 ,oxford4 ,fcp4 cloth4 #cs4 #f;d4 ,by the same ,author4 ,,the ,,voice ,,of ,,the ,,last ,,prophet4 ,a ,practical ,interpretation of the ,apocalypse4 ,fcp4 cloth4 #gs4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,plain ,,words2 or1 ,sixty ,short ,sermons for the ,poor1 and for ,family ,reading4 ,by the ,rev4 ,,walsham ,,how1 ,rector of ,whittington1 ,shropshire1 ,rural ,dean4 ,fcp4 limp cloth4 #bs4 ,cloth boards4 #bs4 #f;d4 ,,hymns ,,for ,,use ,,in ,,church4 ,collected by the ,rev4 ,h4 ,w4 ,,burrows1 ,b4,d41 ,perpetual ,curate of ,christ ,church1 ,st4 ,pancras4 ,second ,edition4 #as4 ,,the ,,church ,,and ,,the ,,people4 ,twelve ,sermons preached at ,st4 ,luke's1 ,berwick ,street4 ,by ,,henry ,,whitehead1 ,m4,a41 ,curate of ,st4 ,matthew's1 ,westminster4 ,fcp4 #hvo4 #ds4 ,a ,,practical ,,treatise ,,on ,,evil ,,thoughts3 wherein their ,nature1 ,origin1 c41 are ,considered2 with ,rules for their ,restraint and ,suppression4 ,by ,,william ,,chilcott1 ,m4,a4 ,new edition4 #bs4 #f;d4 8,it is brimful of poetical feeling1 of deep philosophy1 and of imperishable truth40--,,church ,,and ,,state ,,gazette4 ,,summer ,,experiences ,,of ,,rome1 ,,perugia1 ,,and ,,siena1 ,,in #ahed2 and ,sketches of the ,islands of the ,bay of ,naples4 ,with ,illustrations4 ,by ,mrs4 ,j4 ,e4 ,,westropp4 ,post #hvo4 #gs4 #f;d4 ,a ,,help ,,to ,,profitable ,,reading ,,of ,,the ,,psalms ,,for ,,christian ,,people4 ,by ,,edward ,,walter1 ,b4,a41 ,rector of ,langton1 ,lincolnshire4 ,fcp4 #hvo4 #ds4 ,by the ,same ,author4 ,,the ,,old ,,black ,,oak4 #b;d41 or #as4 #f;d4 per dozen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,retail ,,mammon2 or1 the ,pawnbroker's ,daughter4 ,by ,,henry ,,hayman1 ,m4,a41 ,fellow of ,st4 ,john's ,college1 ,oxford1 ,assistant ,preacher at the ,temple1 and ,head ,master at ,st4 ,olave's ,schools1 ,southwark4 ,crown #hvo4 #es4 8,a work of striking ability and interest40--,,morning ,,chron4 ,by the ,same ,author4 ,,dialogues ,,of ,,the ,,early ,,church4 ,fcp4 #hvo4 #ds4 #f;d4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,,brief ,,reply ,,to ,,mr4 ,,commissioner ,,phillips',s 8,,vacation ,,thoughts ,,on ,,capital ,,punishment40 ,by the ,rev4 ,j4 ,w4 ,,watkin1 ,m4,a41 ,oxon4 ,vicar of ,stixwould1 ,lincolnshire1 and one of ,her ,majesty's ,justices of the ,peace for the parts of ,lindsey1 ,lincolnshire4 #hvo4 #as4 ,,advent1 ,,and ,,other ,,sermons4 ,by the ,rev4 ,,arthur ,t4 ,,russell1 ,b4,c4,l41 of ,st4 ,john's ,college1 ,cambridge1 and ,vicar of ,whaddon1 ,cambridgeshire4 ,cloth4 #fs4 ,by the ,same ,author4 ,,the ,,christian ,,life4 #abmo1 cloth4 #es4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,infidelity ,,inexcusable4 ,one ,god1 ,infinite in ,power1 ,wisdom1 and ,goodness1 proved by ,his ,works and by ,his ,word1 with the necessary ,inferences therefrom4 ,by ,,barnett ,,blake4 ,post #hvo4 #ds4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,,brief ,,sketch ,,of ,,the ,,establishment ,,of ,,the ,,anglican ,,church ,,in ,,india4 ,by ,major-,general ,,parlby1 ,c4,b4 ,small #hvo4 #cs4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,conversations ,,on ,,human ,,nature ,,for ,,the ,,young4 ,by the late ,mrs4 ,,conyngham ,,ellis4 ,with an ,introduction by ,,samuel1 ,lord ,bishop of ,,oxford4 ,fcp4 #hvo4 #cs4 #f;d4 8,the manner in which the task undertaken has been executed1 fully justifies the praise bestowed upon the work by the ,right ,rev4 ,prelate1 who in his introductory remarks felicitously describes it as #8the fruit of great ability and unsparing labour1 animated and directed by the high instincts of a ,christian mother's love4'0--,,john ,,bull4 ,,pierre ,,poussin2 or1 the ,thoughts of ,christ's ,presence4 ,by ,,william ,,edward ,,heygate1 ,m4,a4 #ahmo4 #bs4 #f;d4 8,a beautiful little book4 99 99 99 ,there is a pathetic simplicity1 and an occasional eloquence and power in the narrative1 altogether unusual40--,,guardian4 ,,footnotes4 #ch ,hooker4 #fe ,ezekiel1 xxxvi41 #cg4 #fg ,ps4 xxxii41 #c1 #d1 #e1 #f4 #ga ,matt41 v41 #bc1 #bd4 #gb;a ,james1 v41 #af4 #gb;b ,joshua1 vii41 #ai4 #ge ,mal41 ii41 #g4 #gf ,in theory1 the penitent may reserve the confession of venial sins2 but1 as he cannot rightly judge what are venial sins1 in practice he has to confess all4 #gg ,see next ,sermon4 #hj ,repentance1 p4 #fa4 #ij ,jer41 xviii41 #g-aj4