Sermons on Several Subjects, Sermon 1
SERMONS ON Several Subjects. Preach'd at the Presbyterian Church in the City of New-York.
By E. PEMBERTON.
BOSTON: Printed by T. Fleet, for DANIEL HENCHMAN, over-againſt the Brick Meeting Houſe in Cornhill. 1738.
THE CONTENTS.
SERMON I. The wonderful Propagation of the Goſpel. I TIM. 3. 16. —Believed on in the World.—
SERMON II. The certainly of a future Judgment. HEB. 6. 2. —And of eternal Judgment.
SERMON III. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt appointed to be the Judge of the World. ACTS 10.42. And he commanded us to preach unto the People, and to teſtify that it is he which was ordain'd of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
SERMON IV. The Manner and Circumſtances of Chriſt's Appearance at the laſt Day. MATTH. 16.27. For the Son of Man ſhall come in the Glory of his Father, with his Angels; and then he ſhall reward every Man according to his Works.
SERMON V. The Nature and Neceſſity of preparation for the coming of Chriſt. II COR. 5.9. Wherefore we labour, that whether preſent or abſent, we may be accepted of him.
SERMON VI. The Diſſolution of the World a Motive to univerſal Holineſs. II PET. 3.11. Seeing then that all theſe Things ſhall be diſſolved, what manner of Perſons ought ye to be, in all holy Converſation and Godlineſs?
SERMON I. The wonderful Propagation of the Goſpel.
1 TIM. III. 16.
—Believed on in the World.
WHEN the Goſpel of Chriſt was firſt publiſh'd in the World, it had innumerable prejudices to conquer, and the ſtrongeſt oppoſition to break through. A crucified Saviour was to the Jews a ſtumbling, and to the Greeks fooliſhneſs.
The Peple of Iſrael were intoxicated with the dream of earthly grandeur, and vainly expected that the promiſed Meſſiah would aſſume the enſigns of royalty and power, ſubdue all Nations by the force of his victorious Arms, and exalt them to the ſupreme Government of the World. When therefore our bleſſed Saviour appeared in the humble circumſtances of poverty and diſgrace, and they beheld (inſtead of a Conquering Prince) a man of ſorrows and acquainted with grief; they deſpiſed his perſon, rejected his Doctrine, accuſed him as an Impoſtor, and condemn'd him as a public Malefactor.
The People of Iſrael were intoxicated with the dream of earthly grandeur, and vainly expected that the promiſed Meſſiah would aſſume the enſigns of royalty and power, ſubdue all Nations by the force of his victorious Arms, and exalt them to the ſupreme Government of the World. When therefore our bleſſed Saviour appeared in the humble circumſtances of poverty and diſgrace, and they beheld (inſtead of a Conquering Prince) a man of ſorrows and acquainted with grief; they deſpiſed his perſon, rejected his Doctrine, accuſed him as an Impoſtor, and condemn'd him as a public Malefactor.
The Gentiles were profeſs'd Admirers of Wiſdom, and diſtaſted every thing that was not recommended with the beauties of Wit, and adorned with the flowers of Rhetoric: the Goſpel they therefore deſpis'd as a ſimple and ill-contriv'd fable, deſtitute of Art and Eloquence, and treated its profeſſors with ſcorn and contempt. But notwithſtanding the unhappy prejudices of the Jewiſh Doctors, and the inſolent Pride of the Gentile Philoſophers, the Goſpel was attended with ſurpriſing ſucceſs, and Multitudes of all Orders and Degrees flock'd to the ſtandard of Chriſt. This is plac'd by St. Paul, in our Text, among the Myſteries of Godlineſs. Great is the Myſtery, &c.
In ſpeaking unto theſe Words (by Divine Aſſiſtance) I ſhall.
Firſt, Evidence the truth of the Fact, and ſhow that Chriſt was believed on in the World.
Secondly, I ſhall conſider this as a Myſtery of Godlineſs, beyond the power of ſecond Cauſes, and to be aſcribed to the ſupernatural influences of the Spirit of God.
Firſt. I am to evidence that Fact mention'd by the Apoſtle, and ſhew that Chriſt was believed on in the World.
No ſooner was the Goſpel publiſh'd by the firſt Miniſters of his Kingdom, but it was attended with aſtoniſhing ſucceſs, and made a triumphant Progreſs through the Earth.
When the Great Author of our Religion aſcended into Heaven, the number of his Diſciples was inconſiderable: But no ſooner was the Spirit poured out upon the Apoſtles, but there was immediately a mighty Acceſſion made to the Church, and three thouſand were added unto it in one Day *Acts 2.41.. The Word of God increaſed, and the Number of the Diſciples multiplied greatly in Jeruſalem; and a great Company of the Prieſts were obedient unto the Faith †Acts 6.7. From thence with incredible ſwiftneſs it paſs'd through all Judea, Samaria, &c. and by degrees penetrated to the more diſtant parts of the World; ſo that within thirty Years after the Death of Chriſt, and before the great and final deſtruction of Jeruſalem, it was not only diffuſed throughout the whole Roman Empire, the Seat of Learning and Politeneſs, but the dark corners of the Earth were inlightned with the Doctrine of Salvation, and the moſt barbarous Nations had the Goſpel of the Kingdom convey'd unto them: and wherever it came, it flouriſh'd exceedingly; multitudes of all Ages and Sexes embrac'd the faith of Chriſt. So quick and ſurpriſing a progreſs it made in the World, that in a few Years we find the Chriſtian Apologiſts boaſting of their mighty numbers, and repreſenting to the pagan Emperors, that their Cities and Provinces, their Camps and their Courts, yea the Senate-houſe and Palace, were filled with the deſpiſed Sect of Chriſtians, and that it would be impoſſible to deſtroy them without exhauſting the ſtrength of the Empire, and leaving all places in a ſtate of diſmal ſolitude and ſilence*Tertull..
And tho' at firſt the Diſciples of Jeſus were deſtitute of wordly wiſdom and learning, without power and policy, of an humble and inferior character: yet in a few Years Men of uncommon Sagacity and Learning, of ſuperiour Genius and Figure, laid aſide their ancient prejudices and chearfully embrac'd a deſpiſed Goſpel. Thus the Word of God went on conquering and to conquer, until at laſt the mighty Generals of the Earth were ſubdued by its victorious power, and reſign'd their lawrels at the foot of the Croſs. The Sovereign Princes of the Roman Empire were perſwaded to ſubmit to the Obedience of Faith, and zealouſly to propagate that Faith which before they had inhumanly perſecuted. Thus was that Prophecy of Iſaiah accompliſh'd, In the laſt days the mountain of the Lord's houſe ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the mountains, and be exalted above the hills, and all nations ſhall flow unto it and be ſaved *Iſai. 2.2.. But the ſwift progreſs of the Goſpel being a Fact to fully known, and ſo univerſally acknowledged, I need not enlarge any further in the proof of it.
Secondly. I am to ſhew, That this is a Myſtery, beyond the power of ſecond Cauſes, and to be aſcribed to the ſupernatural influences of the Spirit of God. And this will appear, if we conſider.
1. The aſtoniſhing Change it produced in the Lives and Manners of its Profeſſors. They were at once transformed into new Men and became obedient to the Faith, not in word but deed; they renounc'd their ancient Idolatries and became chearful Victims to the Croſs of Chriſt. When they chang'd their Profeſſion they reform'd their manners, and from the depths of iniquity were recovered to the unfeigned practice of Piety. The proud Maſters of Philoſophy forſook their beloved Sentiments and ſubmitted to the diſpenſation of Grace, the ſenſual and voluptuous were perſwaded to mortify the Fleſh, and renounc'd the forbidden Pleaſures of Sin, the ambitious deſpiſed their earthly honours, and receiv'd the Crown of Martyrdom as their higheſt Glory, the covetous Miſer became beneficent and charitable, and conſecrated his Wealth to the ſervice of the Saints; Perſecutors were diſarm'd of their fury and grew ambitious of appearing among the Martyrs of Jeſus; the fierceſt Natures were ſubdued into Meekneſs, and inſulting tyrants became patrons of oppreſs'd Innocene and Vertue.
This mighty change was happily exemplified in the Corinthian Converts, who were practiced in the vileſt iniquities, but after their receiving the Goſpel were eminent for their temperance and ſobriety, they were waſhed, ſanctified, and juſtified in the Name of the Lord Jeſus and by the Spirit of our God *1 Cor. 6.10, 11..
Yea ſo exemplary were the lives of Chriſtians in theſe firſt and pureſt Ages of the Church that their very enemies repreſent them as a devout, innocent and charitable ſort of men, and the ancient defenders of the faith challenge their adverſaries to produce one of their Number that was condemn'd as a thief or a murderer, or was guilty of any groſs enormities for which the pagan world was ſo infamous. Now certainly nothing but a divine power could produce ſuch a wonderful Change in the lives and manners of men; it is only the almighty Spirit of grace, that can ſubdue the perverſneſs of human Nature, reſtrain the tumultuous paſſions of mankind, and transform Monſters of Vice and Impiety into patterns of Sobriety and Vertue.
2. Let us conſider the Meanneſs and Simplicity of the Inſtruments, that were employed in this Bleſſed Work. A Stranger to the ſacred Hiſtory will perhaps imagine that the Goſpel was propagated at firſt by Men of ſuperior Genius, intimately acquainted with the ſecrets of human Learning, well vers'd in the Art of diſputing, and aſſiſted by the Charms of Perſwaſion and Eloquence; and had this been the caſe, the ſucceſs of the Goſpel had not been ſo wonderful, nor the divine power ſo clearly diſplay'd: therefore God choſe the fooliſh things of the world to confound the wiſe, the weak things of the world to confound the mighty, that no fleſh ſhould glory in his preſence †1 Cor. 1.27, 29.. The Apoſtles were Men of contemptible figure, inferior extract, and of plain Underſtanding; they were not poliſh'd by Education, nor improv'd by ſtudy, but brought up to the meaneſt employments; they had neither Art to inſinuate themſelves into the affections of their hearers, nor power to compel them to embrace their doctrines; they were not ſupported by authority, nor clothed with pomp and ſplendor to awe the minds of men into ſubjection and reverence; but they appear'd with the utmoſt plainneſs and ſimplicity, and addreſs'd their hearers with humility and meekneſs. Theſe were the firſt Heralds of the Everlaſting Goſpel, and by theſe (in themſelves contemptible Inſtruments) it pleas'd God to humble the Pride of man, and ſubdue the world to the Croſs of Chriſt. This then declares the divine power that attended the Publication of the Goſpel: we have this treaſure in earthen Veſſels, that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us *2 Cor. 4.7.. And this divine Power will further appear, if we conſider
3. The manner in which the Goſpel was propagated in the world. The Inſtruments employed were not only mean and contemptible, but the method they took to accompliſh their deſign was contrary to carnal Policy, and moſt unlikely to prevail. Impoſtors have always endeavoured to propagate their doctrines by force, or inſinuate them into the minds of men by policy and contrivance.
Thus the Prophet of Arabia introduc'd his religion by the Sword, and by his victorious Arms oblig'd the Nations to receive the Alcoran. The Papal Empire was at firſt eſtabliſh'd by force, and has been ſupported ever ſince by continual Stratagem.
But the Apoſtles of Chriſt abhor'd all methods of deceit, nor did they propagate their doctrines by force and ſword; they were not attended with conquering Armies to prepare the way for their reception, nor did they make uſe of torture and violence to ſupport and enlarge their conqueſts. The Weapons of their Warfare were not carnal but ſpiritual: They addreſt their nearears not with the inticing words of man's wiſdom *2 Cor. 10.4., with ſtudied Ornaments of Speech or engaging methods of perſwaſion, but in the moſt plain and artleſs manner declared unto them the doctrine and miracles, the death and reſurrection of Chriſt; they proclaimed him whom the Jews had ſlew and hanged upon a tree, the Saviour of the World, and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth. They promiſed an Immortality of Happineſs and Glory to thoſe that believ'd in his Name and obey'd his Commandments: but on the contrary they threatned deſtruction and miſery to ſuch as ſhould impenitently deſpiſe and reject him. And yet by theſe contemptible methods, in the midſt of innumerable difficulties, they gain'd proſelytes to the faith and baffled the Wiſdom and Eloquence, the power and policy of the world: this certainly exceeds the power of man and evidences that the almighty influences of the Spirit attended them.
4. The Doctrines inculcated in the Goſpel make it ſtill more myſterious, that Chriſt ſhould be believed on in the world. Had the doctrine of Chriſt been ſuited to the Pride of human Nature and calculated to flatter Men in their Vices and Pleaſures, we might juſtly have expected that it would be ſuddenly and univerſally embrac'd: for men are fond of gratifying their ſenſual inclinations, they eaſily receive a doctrine which indulges their Pride and Paſſions, and affords them an unlimited enjoyment of their darling Pleaſures.
By this means the religion of Mahomet, became palatable to a vicious World, and quickly over-ſpread the Nations of the Eaſt; for it encouraged an unbounded indulgence of men's appetites and luſts upon Earth, and promiſed an eternal paradiſe of brutiſh and ſenſual enjoyments in a future world.—But the Goſpel of Chriſt had nothing of this nature to recommend it to the public reception; the doctrines it taught were ſublime and myſterious, contrary to the Pride and paſſions of men; the duties it inculcated were harſh and ungrateful, againſt the grain of our corrupt and defiled Natures; it obliged its profeſſors to deny all ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, to live ſoberly and righteouſly and godly in this preſent world *Tit. 2.12.. It required them to renounce their darling iniquities and part with their moſt deſirable enjoyments when they became inconſiſtent with a good Conſcience. Theſe were hard ſayings indeed and difficult to be practiſed by a degenerate Age: and yet notwithſtanding theſe difficulties and diſadvantages it prevailed exceedingly in the World, and triumph'd over the vices and follies of men. And this is ſtill more wonderful, if we conſider
5. The unhappy Prejudices, that prevailed againſt the Goſpel-diſpenſation. Prejudice is always an enemy to truth, and fixes the mind in an inveterate oppoſition againſt it, and no prejudice is ſo ſtrong as that which is received from the birth and founded in Education, eſpecially when it is ſtrengthned by Authority and recommended by the venerable claim of Antiquity. It is next to impoſſible to eraſe the early impreſſions that men receive in their tender Age, and perſwade them to renounce that Religion, which from their infancy they have been taught to revere and obey. And this was a mighty difficulty which the Goſpel had to encounter at its firſt appearance. Both Jews and Gentiles were filled with the ſtrongeſt prejudices againſt it.
The Jews, the peculiar People of God, had the higheſt reverence for the Law o Moſes, which was unqueſtionably of divine Authority, and deliver'd unto them from Heaven, with the utmoſt pomp and ſolemnity. They had alſo a venerable regard for the traditions of the Elders which they believed to be ſacred and binding upon the Conſcience. But above all their minds were filled with a flattering expectation of earthly dignities, and delighted with a groundleſs hope that their Meſſiah would be a temporal Prince and appear with a proſperous and conquering Army; this filled them with an invincible averſion to our humble Redeemer, and they deſpiſed the afflicted State in which he appear'd.
And the prejudices of the Gentiles were as ſtrong as thoſe of the Jews; they were addicted to the moſt execrable Idolatries and ſunk into the loweſt State of Ignorance and ſuperſtition; the Prince of darkneſs reign'd in their Hearts without controul, and for many Ages maintain'd an undiſturb'd dominion over them; the worſhip of their Idols was eſtabliſh'd by immemorial preſcription, and the method of it was ſtately and magnificent, their Prieſts were engaged by Intereſt to maintain their ancient Cuſtoms, and perſwaded the multitude that their coſtly Sacrifices and ſuperſtitious modes of worſhip appeas'd the Anger of the Gods and procur'd continual peace and proſperity.
The Philoſophers were puffed up with a vain conceit of their knowledge, and were too proud to ſubmit to the humbling diſcoveries of the Goſpel, they deſpiſed the plainneſs and ſimplicity of its teachers, and diſtaſted the ſtrictneſs and purity of its precepts. The Doctrine of the Croſs they eſteem'd a ridiculous Story, and the Reſurrection from the dead the groſſeſt abſurdity; thus St. Paul was ſtiled a babbler by the Wits of Athens, and look'd upon as a ſetter forth of ſtrange Gods, becauſe he preach'd unto them Jeſus and the Reſurrection *Acts 17.18.: and yet the Doctrine of Chriſt bore up againſt all oppoſition, and triumphantly prevailed in ſpight of all partiality and prejudice.
6. Theſe prejudices were increaſed by the bitter perſecutions to which Chriſtianity was expoſed. The Primitive believers had not only the Corruptions of humane Nature to conquer, the propoſſeſſions of Education to ſurmount, but the Rage and Malice of Earth and Hell to contend with. The Dominion of Satan was diſturb'd by the preaching of the Goſpel, and the prince of darkneſs was unwilling to loſe ſo many ſubjects of his Empire, he therefore engag'd the Powers of the World ſtrongly to combine againſt it. The Kings of the Earth and the Rulers took counſel together againſt the Lord and againſt his anointed *Pſal. 2, 2.. The High Prieſts and Governors among the Jews uſed their utmoſt endeavours to ſtifle Chriſtianity in the birth, and ſuppreſs it in its infancy. And when it began to increaſe in the World, the whole face of the Roman Empire the Miſtreſs of the Earth was engag'd againſt it, and mighty perſecutions were continually rais'd to extirpate and deſtroy it.
How many forſook their moſt valuable enjoyments and were baniſh'd into the moſt deſolate Corners of the Earth for the teſtimony of Jeſus? how many ſubmitted to the moſt barbarous Cruelties rather than make ſhipwreck of faith and a good Conſcience, and ſuffer'd the moſt affrighting Deaths for the honour of our great Redeemer. They were expos'd to hunger, thirſt and nakedneſs, they were deſtroy'd by fire and ſword, they were condemned to be devoured by Beaſts and forc'd to expire in the midſt of torments. In fine, the King of terrors was preſented to their view in its moſt formidable appearance, to deter them from the profeſſion of the Goſpel, or perſwade them to renounce and forſake it.
And yet theſe ancient Heroes of the Chriſtian Church, this noble Army of Martyrs, perſiſted in their Faith in the midſt of their bittereſt ſufferings, they took joyfully the ſpoiling of their goods, and patiently ſubmitted to the moſt exquiſite miſeries, they gloried in the Croſs in the preſence of their enraged perſecutors, and rejoiced that they were counted worthy to ſuffer for the Name of Chriſt; they encountred Death not only with patience and reſignation, but embrac'd it with extacy and triumph; they hugg'd their Chains as the trophies of their honour, and receiv'd their Executioners as the Meſſengers of Heaven; to convey them to the happy manſions of Paradiſe. They enter'd into the fire with Joy, and breath'd out their Souls in chearful Hallelujahs.
Nor was this peculiar to men of undaunted Courage and manly Reſolution, but the Number of Confeſſors was vaſt, and conſiſted of Perſons of all Ages and Sexes, of all Orders and Conditions. The hoary Heads deſpis'd the Weakneſs of their declining Years, and joyfully devoted the remainder of their days to the defence of the truth. Blooming Youths forgot the tenderneſs of their Conſtitutions, and with undaunted Courage entered the fiery trial, and even delicate Virgins renounc'd the ſoftneſs of their Sex, and deſpiſed Death, tho' attended with the moſt ghaſtly terrors.
Now what but a divine Power could preſerve the Church in the midſt of the fiery furnace? Had this Work or Counſel been of men, it muſt certainly have been overthrown, when all the Powers of Earth were united to oppoſe it: but under all the diſcouragements that the Policy of men could invent, or the Malice of tyrants inflict, the Goſpel flouriſh'd, mighty additions were made to the Church, all attempts to ſuppreſs it prov'd ſucceſsful methods to advance its Glory. The Contradiction of Sinners redounded to the Credit of its Diſciples. The Blood of the Martyrs was the ſeed of the Church, and like the ſhowers of Heaven upon the thirſty Earth, made it more fruitful and flouriſhing. This muſt be acknowledged the work of the Lord, and it ſhould be marvellous in our Eves. It certainly deſerves a place among the Myſteries of Godlineſs, that Chriſt was believed on in the World.
IMPROVEMENT.
1. Let us all be perſwaded to believe the Truth and Divinity of the Goſpel, which was ſo eminently confirm'd from Heaven, and ſo miraculouſly prevailed in the world. The Great Author of our Religion evidenc'd his Miſſion by the moſt unqueſtionable Authority; the Father teſtified his approbation from Heaven, and in a Voice of thunder, declar'd him his beloved Son in whom he was well pleaſed.— The Miracles which he wrought in the preſence of Multitudes declar'd him to be the Son of God, and the Saviour of the World.— The wonderful deſcent of the holy Ghoſt upon the Apoſtles, and the aſtoniſhing Gift of tongues with which they were at once inſpired, was a viſible confirmation of his Doctrine, and a ſtanding teſtimony that the Goſpel was not a cunningly deviſed fable, but of divine and heavenly extract.
But were all theſe forgotten, the incredible ſucceſs that attended it at its firſt promulgation againſt all humane probabilities, would be a ſufficient demonſtration that it was of God and not of Man.—Is it poſſible to conceive, ſo unacceptable a Scheme could be impoſed upon the world by men deſtitute of Education and Learning, without art and addreſs; and univerſally prevail in ſpight of prepoſſeſſion and prejudice, in oppoſition to perpetual force and violence, without any advantages to recommend it, but the promiſe of an unſeen and future Reward? What but a ſtanding Miracle could propagate a Doctrine ſo ſevere and unungrateful, ſo repugnant to the Appetites and Paſſions of humane Nature, ſo diſpleaſing to fleſh and blood, ſo contrary to the Wiſdom of the World; a Doctrine that was ridiculed by the great Philoſophers of the Age, and perſecuted by the Princes of the Earth? Muſt not the happy Entertainment it met with, be principally aſcrib'd to the demonſtration of the Spirit and power that accompany'd it?—What but an almighty Arm could deſtroy the Kingdom of Satan, and baniſh the Prince of darkneſs from his ancient dominions?— Who but the Spirit of Grace could ſubdue the obſtinacy of rebellious Sinners, and ſet up the Throne of Chriſt in the Hearts of Men?— What but a divine power could ſupport the primitive Chriſtians under their numberleſs hardſhips, and influence the moſt ſoft and delicate Natures to deſpiſe the Cruelty of Tyrants, and bravely encounter the moſt tormenting Deaths? This muſt be own'd to have been the Work of God, and a remarkable evidence of the divine Authority of the Goſpel.
2. How vaſt is the Guilt, how awful the danger of thoſe, who reject the Doctrine of Chriſt! The Jews perſecuted Chriſt in his State of ſuffering and weakneſs, and the Gentiles oppos'd the Progreſs of the Goſpel through the ſtrength and prejudice of Education; but the Infidels of the preſent Age inſult him upon his Throne, and caſt contempt upon him, to whom all power in Heaven and Earth is committed; and that after the cleareſt diſcoveries of his divine Authority, and the fulleſt evidence of the truth of his Miſſion. Their Sin therefore is of a deeper Dye than the Iniquities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and their puniſhment will be more ſevere than the deſtruction of ignorant Heathens. Had the Princes of this World been acquainted with the dignity of his Perſon and the excellence of his Doctrine, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory; this therefore was an abatement of their Guilt, and render'd them capable of Pardon: but now the Sun of Righteouſneſs hath appear'd in ſuch viſible Glory, chaſed away the darkneſs of Heatheniſm, and eſtabliſh'd his Kingdom upon the Ruins of Superſtition and Idolatry, it is unaccountable Obſtinacy not to acknowledge his Authority, and ſubmit to his juſt and righteous Government. Such have no Cloak for their Sin, no excuſe for their Infidelity; but may juſtly expect that the Saviour whom they deſpiſe, will clothe himſelf with Vengeance as with a Garment, and execute an exemplary puniſhment on his Enemies, in proportion to the degrees of Light they have reſiſted, and the invaluable Mercies they have abuſed.
3. The Sanctity of manners, ſo remarkable in the firſt Days of the Goſpel, ſeverely reproves the awful degeneracy of the preſent Age. The Primitive Diſciples of Chriſt were ſhining examples of Virtue, they caſt a Glory upon their Profeſſion, and recommended it with advantage to the World. Their Piety was fervent without Superſtion and Idolatry, their Charity diffuſive without hypacriſy and reſerve; they practiſed an aſcetic Virtue in the midſt of alluring temptations, and manifeſted a generous contempt of the World, when ſurrounded with its moſt agreable enjoyments;— but where is that ancient Piety and Virtue, by which the primitive Chriſtians were ſo juſtly diſtinguiſh'd?— Where that Purity of faith and ſanctity of manners, by which they ſhone as Lights in the World, and inſpired their very perſecutors with awe and reverence? Alas! in this degenerate Age, Religion is wounded in the Houſe of its Friends, the Profeſſors of the Goſpel are oftentimes Enemies to the Croſs of Chriſt, and the venerable Name by which we are called, is inſulted and blaſphemed by reaſon of the ſcandalous miſcarriages of thoſe who enroll their Names among the number of his followers: this is indeed a melancholy reflection, and ſhould inſpire us with a pious Indignation againſt the Vices and Impieties of the Age, and inkindle in our Breaſts a fervent Zeal to advance the honour of that holy Religion we proſeſs.
4. Let us ſincerely endeavour after a ſaving acquaintance with this Myſtery of Godlineſs. Our bleſſed Saviour is propos'd unto us in the Goſpel as the proper Object of our Faith, and recommended to our Eſteem and Regard by the moſt powerful and perſwaſive Arguments. This is a faithful Saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt is come into the World to ſave Sinners; our Neceſſity loudly demands his aſſiſtance, and his gracious Invitations ſhould encourage us to fly to him as our Saviour. It is not enough that we yield a naked aſſent unto the Goſpel, but our Faith muſt purify the Heart, and produce the works of ſincere Obedience, if we would be entitled to the favour of Chriſt, and own'd as his faithful Servants; if we believe his Doctrines, we muſt regulate our Lives by his excellent Precepts, and imitate his perfect and ſhining Example: for a Chriſtian in Name and profeſſion only, having a form of Godlineſs but denying the Power of it, is one of the worſt of Infidels, and will be diſowned by Chriſt in the great Day, and herded among the number of his Enemies.
To Conclude, therefore let us now be perſwaded to accept of Chriſt as our Saviour, and adore him as our Lord and Maſter. Let us be imitators of their Faith, Patience and Holineſs, who through Grace inherit the Promiſes. Let us earneſtly long and pray for that happy time, when all the Enemies of Chriſt ſhall be ſubdued under his Feet; when that promiſe to the Son of God ſhall receive its fulleſt accompliſhment, I will give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the Earth for thy poſſeſſion; when the Kingdoms of this World ſhall in a more illuſtrious manner become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Chriſt. To whom be Glory and Dominion for ever.Preach'd Sept. 10, 1737.
AMEN.