retreat. Has that woman any reason to boast of her virtuous conduct who was never solicited by those men who were most likely to have triumphed over her modesty? And yet many such, filled with self-approbation, will frequently applaud their own innocence, placing that to the account of virtue which was merely owing to providential circumstances, or, perhaps, to the want of personal attraction. Such plausible appearances no more merit the commendation due to solid virtue, than the sickly wolf, that peaceably passes by a flock of sheep, can be said to deserve the caresses which a shepherd bestows upon his faithful dog. 7. Effectually to impose upon others by a beautiful outside, we practise a deeper deceit upon our own hearts; and very frequently we succeed as well in hiding from ourselves our own evil dispositions, as in concealing from others our unworthy actions. Could we discover all that secretly passes in the world, we should not want demonstrative proofs of the depravity of the human heart. But why need we go abroad in search of a truth which is easily evidenced at home? Had we ourselves but dared to have executed openly what we have acted in imagination, when our irascible or concupiscible passions have been roused, where should we have hidden our guilty heads, or how should we have escaped the sword of justice? Convinced too late of our degenerate nature, we should haply have smitten upon our breasts with the repentant publican, adopting long ago his humiliating confession in the anguish of our souls. Every thinking person must allow, that had evil intentions fallen under the cognizance of human laws, and had the secular power possessed equal ability to punish them as it punishes those actions of which they are the very root and soul, the whole earth must, in such case, have become as vast a scaffold as it is now a place of graves. Can it be necessary to multiply observations upon this head, when the Almighty, whose mercy and justice are infinite, sufficiently declares the universal depravity of mankind by the variety of scourges with which he is constrained to punish both individuals and commonwealths? 8. If the children of this world are unable to form any just conception of the human heart and its evil propensities, it is because they are in the number of those natural men of whom the apostle Paul makes mention. 1 Cor. ii. 14. And such, having a natural antipathy to the gospel, while they are ever ready to cast reproach upon the faithful, are equally prepared to favour those of a like disposition with themselves. Thus Herod, Caiaphas, and Pilate mutually overlooked the faults of each other, while they united in accusing and persecuting Christ. It is usual with many who are destitute of true religion to esteem some among their sinful companions as moral and well-disposed men; but were they themselves to be converted, their error in this respect would soon become apparent. Upon daring to oppose any torrent of impiety with the zeal of their heavenly Master, instead of finding among their associates any natural disposition to real virtue, they would meet with indisputable proofs, in spite of a thousand amiable qualities, that all unregenerate men resemble one another in their " enmity against God." Rom. viii. 7. Yes, whether they inhabit the banks of the Thames or the Seine, the lake of Gennesaret or that of Geneva; they are in the sight of God as filthy swine trampling under foot the pearls of the gospel, Matt. vii. 6; or like "ravening wolves," Matt. vii. 15, outrageously tearing in pieces the Lamb of God. It might perhaps have been objected, that this portrait is overcharged, had not Christ himself, who is immutable truth and unsearchable love, pencilled the gloomiest traits observable in it. Following such a guide, though we may give much offence, yet we can never err. THE SECOND IMPORTANT DOCTRINE INSISTED UPON BY THE TRUE MINISTER IS A LIVING FAITH. To show the necessity of repentance without publishing the remission of sins through faith in Jesus Christ would be to open a wound without binding it up. It would be leading sinners to the brink of a tremendous gulf, and cutting off all possibility of their retreat. But nothing can be more contrary to the intention of the faithful minister, than to sport with the miseries of man, or ultimately to aggravate his distress. When he has discovered to his hearers that natural propensity to evil which manifests its existence in every heart by a variety of external transgressions; when he has convinced them by the word of God, and by an appeal to every man's conscience, 2 Cor. iv. 2, that they are unable to deliver themselves either from that fatal propensity or its dreadful consequences; after he has thus demonstrated the need in which they stand of a Redeemer, who hath "all power in heaven and in earth,” Matt. xxviii. 18; if they "harden not their hearts," Psalm xcv. 8; if they stand like the first sinner, naked and trembling before God, Gen. iii. 10; having received "the sentence of death in" themselves, 2 Cor. i. 9; in a word, when they cry out like the publicans and soldiers alarmed by the preaching of John, "What shall we do?" Luke iii. 12; they are then properly disposed to receive "the glorious gospel of Christ," 2 Cor. iv. 4, and will be enabled to experience its powerful effects. From this time the evangelical pastor affectionately preaches remission of sins through faith in the name of a merciful Redeemer. 66 This is the very same method which Christ and his forerunner pursued. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world," was the cry of John the baptist. John i. 29. And, "Blessed," said our Lord, are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matt. v. 3. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John iii. 16. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John iii. 36. "Whosoever shall drink of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but it shall be in him a well of water," a source of sacred consolation, "springing up into everlasting life." John iv. 14. Again: when it was inquired by the multitude, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day." John vi. 28, 29, 40. Thus it was that our adorable Master proclaimed salvation through faith in himself; and indeed it was for this end alone that he appeared upon earth, as we learn from the last address he made to his disciples: "It behoved," said he, "Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, that remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem," the abode of his murderers. Luke xxiv. 46, 47. Observe the great commission given to those messengers of peace: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark xvi. 15, 16. To the same purpose was the commission with which the apostle Paul was afterwards honoured. "I have appeared unto thee," said the persecuted Jesus, "for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness to the gentiles, unto whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in me." Acts xxvi. 16–18. The apostles unanimously preached in obedience to the orders, and in conformity to the example, of their benevolent Lord. And all true ministers, instructed by the same divine Teacher, continue to proclaim the glad tidings of the gospel through faith in Jesus Christ; laying as much stress in all their sermons upon this efficacious grace, as the apostle of the gentiles was accustomed to do in all his epistles. Take a few instances of St. Paul's usual method in this respect:-after having convinced the Romans of their corruption and misery, he sets before them "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness 66 for the remission of sins that are past, that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Rom. iii. 24-26. Therefore," continues he, "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. v. 1. To the Corinthians he writes: "Brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand, by which also ye are saved, unless ye have believed in vain." 1 Cor. xv. 1, 2. For " ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus." 1 Cor. vi. 11. "God hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trepasses unto them: for he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Cor. v. 18, 19, 21. To the Galatians: "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by faith, and not by the works of the law." Gal. ii. 16. Before "faith came, we were kept under the law. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ; but after that faith is come, we are no more under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. iii. 23-26. To the Ephesians: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath made us accepted in the Beloved; in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." Eph. i. 3, 6, 7. "By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. ii. 8, 9. "Finally, my brethren, put on the whole armour of God; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Eph. vi. 10, 11, 16. To the Philippians: "Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel." Philip. i. 27. "We rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Yea, I count all things but loss, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine |