Page images
PDF
EPUB

condemn all; you say just what Scripture hath said before you: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God," Rom. iii. 23. If you question, "Who then can be saved?" Matt. xiv. 26, the answer from the same unquestionable authority is direct:"By the deeds of the law no flesh can be justified in his sight," Rom. iii. 20. If

you remain silent, as I pray God you may, under the conviction of these awful Scriptures, you then arrive at the same conclusion, the sacred word hath done before you; that "Every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God," Rom. iii. 11.

Parishioner. I am astonished with the representation of things you make, and cannot but confess, that I never before considered sin in this solemn light, or apprehended man to be the guilty creature, Scripture evidently makes it appear that he is.

Minister. 1 was convinced of this from your answer to my first question. But I hope I need not remark to you, that truth is not the less truth for your misconceptions of it. The standard of decision is not by what we think, but by what is matter of fact. However light and unthinking minds may consider human transgression, it is certain it doth not appear so in the sight of God. The Psalmist says, "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance," Psalm xc. 8. Since the fall of Adam, our nature is not only corrupt and sinful, but expressly said in Scripture, "To be dead in trespasses and sins," Ephes. ii. 1; and as incompetent to any acts of spiritual life before the quickening grace of God hath passed upon it, as a dead body is to any animal function. We cannot think a good thought uninfluenced by this grace; for Scrip

ture says, "We are not sufficient of ourselves, to think any thing as of ourselves, but all our sufficiency is of God," 2 Cor. iii. 5. We cannot speak a good word; for the same authority as positively declares the impossibility of it: "How can ye, being evil, speak good things; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," Matt. xii. 34. We cannot do a good action void of Divine aid: for Jesus says, "Without me ye can do nothing," John xv. 5. So totally corrupt, sinful, and depraved is man, in his highest attainments by nature, in the present fallen state, that we are told "Every imagination of his heart is only evil continually," Gen. vi. 5.

Parishioner. If this be the case, how is it that the generality of the world are so careless and unconcerned, respecting these awful truths.

Minister. The circumstances which I have mentioned, at the same time that they prove the fact, do as fully account for the causes of the world's indifference concerning it. Man by nature is blind and ignorant; a stranger to himself, and a stranger to his God. The world also engrosses his thoughts and affections; and hence you will see the various orders of mankind, however differently engaged in the several objects of their pursuit, yet it is all with this one view: "to make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof," Rom. xiii. 14. Hence they are at ease in Zion, because they are unconscious of danger. No serious inquiry drops from their lips, because no serious concern is awakened in their hearts. And in the various providences by which the Lord calls upon the unthinking world, if at any time through trouble, or affliction, the death of a

friend, or sickness in themselves; if either of these events should induce an anxious concern (as perhaps sometimes it is almost impossible to avoid,) it is but a momentary impression, like traces on the water, effaced almost as soon as made; which the form, void of the power of godliness, like the lullaby of children, easily satisfies, and they fall asleep again very shortly after, as unconcerned as before. Hence you will find thousands and tens of thousands, every Lord's day, attend the service of the church, and confess, as one of the prayers expresses it, "that they have erred and strayed from God's ways like lost sheep; and are miserable sinners," and cry out frequently during the season of public devotion for mercy and forgiveness; and then rise from their knees with as much complacency and satisfaction, as plainly manifests that they feel nothing of the misery they expressed, and are not very highly concerned, for to obtain the pardon they implored. They speak of sin, therefore, and the misery connected with it, as men in health do of sickness; or as the man on shore does of a storm or shipwreck, which he knows of, only by history. Let your own heart determine, whether such notions can correspond to the state of those who must feel the burthen of sin, before they can know its evil, or heartily desire a deliverance from it.

Parishioner. You alarm me with this representation, so different from any thing I have ever experienced.

Minister. If I alarm you, it is but with a view to your future peace. As none but sickly bodies desire the physician's aid, so none but diseased and lost souls, can know the value of a Savior. I have now explained to you in a brief manner, the first of the great and leading

points of the gospel. Go home, my Christian friend, and ponder very seriously the truth I have now proposed to you. And above all things make it the subject of earnest prayer to God, that he may illumine your understanding, and convince your heart. And if these blessed effects follow, which uniformly distinguish all awakened souls: if you are led to cry out under the burthen of sin, as the poor man we read of at Phillippi: “What must I do to be saved?" Acts xvi. 30; or with the Jerusalem sinners, who were pricked at the heart under the effect of Peter's sermon, and the preaching of the rest of the Apostles, so as to be alarmed as they were, questioning with great earnestness, "Men and brethren what shall we do?" Acts ii. 37; in this case I shall hope to be favored with another visit: that having been instrumental to make you sensible of your danger, I may then be commissioned by the same gracious Power to point to the means of safety: and having shewn you your lost state by reason of sin, I may direct you to the way of salvation, in that "Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the worid," John i. 29. But if I hear from you no more on the subject, and your mind shall continue, to the last, unawakened to the truth as it is in Jesus: I shall conclude that that effect hath taken place in you, which is so awfully revealed in Scripture of blinded Isracl: "Go to this people and say, hearing you shall hear, and not understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive," Isaiah vi. 9. My prayers will follow you, that He who alone can open the blind eye, and unstop the deaf ear, may work those blessed effects on your mind, to give you the "light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," 2 Cor. iv. 6,

THREE GREAT POINTS IN RELIGION.

DIALOGUE II.

Minister.

I AM glad to see you again, for this renewed visit seems to say, that what I lately proposed to your consideration, hath not been without its effects, but that you are now come for further information on the important subject. And I am led to hope therefrom, that, under the same Divine blessing which must have operated upon my poor endeavor, if any good hath resulted from it, our conference will at length terminate to your advantage, and my joy.

Parishioner. God grant it may! for at present I am truly miserable. You have awakened such distressing apprehensions in my mind, from what you then said, respecting the sins of my nature, that unless you can afford me relief, I shall be of all men most miserable.

Minister. The Lord, whose gracious office it is, to comfort his people, will, I hope, give you an answer of peace: for he who reproves the heart of sin, can only convince also of the righteousness of the Savior. And He who promised the one, promises no less the other. The same Almighty hand which wounds, is the only hand to heal. I, (says God) even I, am he that comforteth you, Isaiah li. 12. But in the mean time, however distressed you may be, I do not repent of my faithful dealing with you: neither will you, I trust, when we have gone over the whole ground of our subject. Had I desired your immediate approbation, more than your eternal welfare, I might have led you over a more velvet path, but the VOL. III.

28

« PreviousContinue »