f

^ THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,!
Princeton, N.

J.

BV 1475 .B8 1839 c.2

Brownlee, W. C. 1784-1860.
The Christian youth's book
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WlIItlLIAM SoIBmi}:WMILIE]

THE

CHRISTIAN YOUTH'S BOOK;

AND MANUAL FOR

YOUNG COMMUNICANTS,
IN

TWO

BOOKS.

BY WILLIAM CRAIG BROWNLEE,

D. D.

LETTERS ON ROMANISM," " POPERY AN ENEMY TO CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY," " LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF CHRISTIAN LIFE,"
THE CHRISTIAN FATHER AT HOME," &C. &C.

AUTHOR OP

"

''

"

God of my fathers Holy, just, and good

My God My Father My unfailing Hope
!

Jehovah Let the incense of my praise

Accepted, burn before thy mercy-seat.
And in thy presence burn, both day and
!

Maker

Whom

Preserver

have

On earth,

I in

My

the

but thee,

God
heavens, but thee
Redeemer

whom

'.

night.
!

alone

should I praise,

whom love?"
POLLOK.

NEW Y
-

ROBERT CARTER,

58

1839.

RK
CANAL STREET.
:

Entered according

to the

Act of Congress, in the year 1839, by Robert

Court of the Southern

Carter,

in the Clerk's Office of the District

District of

New-York.

New -Yore:
Printed by

Scatcherd and Adams,

No. 38 Gold Street

DEDICATION
TO THE YOUTH.
My

Dear Young Friends : These pages I dedicate to yoUj

who are Christian Youth; and to you, who ought to be Christian Youth.
I dedicate them to you, who are communicants;
and, also, to you
In

Book

I.,

all,

dear youth,

who ought

to

be communicants.

present to you a brief system of the doctrines of

the gospel, arranged in their natural order

with Questions on

each Chapter, designed to revive the memory of them, after you

have read them: with Meditations, and Prayers, suited

view

subject; with a

to cherish

each

to

a devotional frame of mind in

the reader.

In Book
as brief,

permit.

II.,

I present to

you a Manual on the Lord's Supper

to the subject

and as comprehensive as justice

It

consists of

two

short system of

Doctrinal

In the Second,

I offer

Parts.

would

In the First, you will find a

Instructions on the Lord's Supper.

you Devotional

your young minds to the Table of the

Instructions, to guide

Lord. They may,

per-

haps, prove useful also to Christians of riper years.

Accept

dear Youth, the fruit of the labour of

this,

anxious hours, and prayers, on your behalf.

beg an
that of

of our
I

interest in
all

God's

common

your fervent prayers on

faithful ministers, in all the

And,

my own

many

in return, I
behalf,

and

Reformed Churches

Lord, throughout our land.

am. Dear Youth, your servant

for Jesus' sake.

W.
Neui-Y(yrTi, June, 1839.

C. B.

CONTENTS

BOOK

I.

To Youth
Introduction Design and plan of
Dedication

the

PAGE.

the

brief

work

discussion of doctrines systematically proposed in

Book
Chap.

I.

21

1.

The end and aim of the Christian's

God

sole proprietor of all

life

27

thence we ascertain the great

end of our being Our happiness combined with his glory

This world the school of our training for oar eternal
impiety and rudeness of the man opposin the skies
The world our enemy GIuestions Medies religion
tation Prayer;

home

Chap.

II.

Of

the

Holy

Scriptures, the rule of Faith

34

Necessity of studying the Bible its various names

Evidence of divine revelation The necessity of it its genuineness authenticity credibility Proof of these
The EXTERNAL evidence Miracles How these prove it
Prophecy sketch of the prophecies Internal evidence
The harmony of the Holy Scriptures their purity and
spirituality
sublimity
efficacy
GIuestions
Meditation
Prayer.

Chap.

the Bible
ter,

Of God, the Living and True God

Of God's existence The God of nature the God

III.

I.

px'oof ofInhis existence from theory of mind, mat-

is

these proofs of his being, we perceive

a terrible Being, as well as a good Being the

and motion

that he

of

1*

60

CONTENTS.

quoted Contrast between Calvinism and Arminianism

Tiie superiority of the former over the latter gloomy and
dreary system in several particulars President Edward's
proof of Its tendency to Atheism Another evidence of the
The former
superiority of Calvinism over Arminianism
opens up the most joyous prospect of certain salvation of
The latter does not sevastly the majority of mankind
cure with certainty the salvation of even one soul The latAppeal. to
ter inverts the divine order in a material point
youth against this discouraging and gloomy system The
GIuestions Meditaattributes of this decree of selection
tion Prater.

Chap. XII.

Of the necessity of the xitonement

198

Salvation by a substitute only he behoved to give the

full atonement
This was absolutely necessary ExplaProof of it From the unchangeable character of
nations
God From the threatened and incurred penalty Scripthe appalling consequences
ture clear and full on this
that would follow from not requiring an atonement
GluESTioNs Meditation Prater.

Chap. XIII. Our substitute, what must he be, and

207
what must he do, for us, as our surety
Guided by divine Scripture, we inquire what our substitute must be He must be, 1st. our near kinsman He must
be absolutely sinless He must be more than a creature
he must have power over his own life He must be able to
give back to man his spotless nature Proof and explanation
He must give an obedience, active Bind jMSsive, most perHe must be one who can not
fect before infinite purity
only give back to man his holy nature but guarantee his
perfect obedience to his God, begun here complete in heaven He must be one who can conquer Satan the world
sin death
GIuestions Meditation Prater.

ing

He

all
is

Chap. XIV.

Christ

our only substitute, fully meet216

was required of him as surety of God, and son of man He presented to God
as Judge, a holy human nature Proof of

that

son

the Father
He pledged his divine honour to put every one of the
this
ransomed in possession of a holy naturer-Proof He gave
a perfect obedience to God's laws Proof He gave his divine pledge that every soul of the ransomed should in due
time give a perfect obedience to God in all things Proof
from Scripture and experience He gave full satisfaction
in his sacrifice of himselfto divine justice
Proof from the
Old Testament and the New Testament Enumeration of
the names by which this work of Christ is expressed Proof
of its perfection, and its acceptance The usui'ped power

CONTENTS.

of Satan, the world and

sin,

how destroyed. CIuestions

PAGE.

Meditation Prayer.

Of Regeneration

Chap. XV.

235

This naturally precedes our inquiry into Justification

The necessity of this renovation of the heart Nature of it
Author of it All life is from God full illustrations of
this
Testimony of Scripture on this Spiritual life something as real in the soul as animal life is in the body Note
Anecdote God conveys it to the soul by his own ap-

The

We

result of this life in the soul

But these are
to do our duty
not lodged in us They are in the fulness of Christ and
Analogy here
thence conveyed in free grace amply to us
between our natural, and spiritual lives View of the

means

pointed

have power and disposition

knowledge faith
Meditations

graces thence put into active operation

Evangelical penitence
GIuestions

Prayer.

Of Saving

Chap. XVI.

Faith.

Description of this christian grace

247

the free gift of

God Proof-ascertain its true and proper exercise by
keeping in view the nature of the gospel offer true idea
of the offer of Christ to us all It is a particular and personal offer Illustration Proof Faith is that mental exerHence the
cise which exactly ntieets this gracious offer
Illustration
personal and appropriating act in faith
Proof Of the assurance in this faith nature of it Distinction
Proof The assurance of sense different. Ques-

We

tions

It is

Meditation Prayer.

Of Justification

Chap. XVII.

267

Definition of DescripThe meritorious cause what meant by imtion of

theological meaning of the
puted righteousness
word imputed Christ's righteousness being made actually
This the

first

fruit

of

faith

it

is

it

strict

and really ours, it is thence imputed to us Hence the

pardon of our sins Hence the acceptance of our persons
Hence peace and joy And the various other blessings of
(Questions Meditation Prayer.
the covenant.

Chap. XVIII.

Of Evangelical Repentance.

There is a counterfeit repentance One " unto death"

True Repentance issues in life everlasting, as it proceeds
from

life spiritual in the soul

Definition
Description of
nature and elements its relation to true faith It folfaith in the order of its operation
Proof It begins
in the mind, or intellect It, thence, pervades the heart,
producing a radical change there It is displayed in a sincere confession of the lips, on the model of the fifty-first
psalm The characteristics of this It issues in a universal and thoi'ough reformation of life.
GIuestions Medi-

its

lows

tation Prayer.

268

CONTENTS.

10

PAGE.

Chap.

XIX. Of Sanctification

This is the result of our Lord's atonement Definition

The divine author of
Its difference from justification
Viewed in a twofold light
It is a progressive work

277

it

I.

As a work of divine grace Explanation, and illustration

of these God begins and carries it on by his own means
Analogy between his work in nature, and providence, and

Proof Of the manner in which the

cleanses us
2. It is a work of
Illustration
duty on our part Explanations Illustration Proof
"
out
our
salvation "
means
by
which
work
we
The
important maxim, never to be lost sight of^ The manner
in which we perform this duty of promoting our sanctifiprevailing sins are gradually desti'oyed by
cation
cherishing the opposite graces Result of this in the redraw nearer to God,
moval of shame and confusion
and he nearer to us Another grand result Deliverance
this is done, by God's
from the slavery of Satan
grace, and in the way of duty on our part Questions
Meditation Three Prayers adapted to different classes
of young Christians.
this Illustration

Holy Ghost

An

How

We

How

Chap. XX.

Of

their death

the state and benefits of believers at

-

ProofThe unanimous consent of

the Reformed Churches Cluotations Reformed Dutch
Church Presbyterian Episcopal Proof from the Holy
Scriptures Old Testament New Testament Examina-

sentiment fully stated

all

tion of the texts which speak of the

bosom of Abraham Criticism on

saints departing to the

the meaning of Paradise Examination of ovir opponents' theory that Paradise
is " distinct " and " apart from heaven "
scripture demonstration that Paradise and Heaven are precisely the
same place Review, and refutation of their exposition of
certain texts pressed in to prove an intermediate place

Q.UESTION s

Meditations

301

Of the

early sentiments
Various opinions on
The opinion which, by its extravagance, drove the modern doctors into an opposite extreme the theory of Dr.
Law The intermediate state and place Statement of all
First The soul
the creeds of all the Reformed Churches
Proof Creeds of the
is made perfect in holiness at death
Churches Bishop Bull quoted in our favour Texts of
Holy Scripture
The serious dilemma in which they
place themselves, who deny that the soul departs in
This leads to the fiction of Purgatory, and
holiness
prayers for the dead Second
The souls of believers do
immediately pass into eternal glory Examination of the
words used in the Old and New Testament to express a
future state Sheol
Hades Ouranos Gehenna Our
this topic

Prayer.

CONTENTS.

Chap. XXI.

11
PAGE.

Of our Resurrection from

the benefits following

the dead

and

320

it

The body

When

will sleep a long sleep in the grave

Christ will descend to judgment Day not revealed
God alone can raise the dead He will do it Proofs of it
Enoch's translation in body Job's testimony Isaiah's

Daniel's Our Lord's express and

testimony Texts
Specimen of doctrinal arguments Paul's complete argument
Cor, xv. Argument from Christ's divine purchase of our bodies from divine justice Contrast befull

in

tween the resun-ection of the righteous and the wicked

and the consequences of it to each of them The identity of
the body raised, and the body laid in the grave Proof
Questions Meditation Prayer.

Chap. XXII.

Of

the

Judgment

to

come, and

their

333

eternal results

Two judgments

awaiting every one of us The particular judgment atdeath The general judgment Definitions Explanations
What great events must take place

before the Church may look for the general judgment Our
Lord will be the Judge in that day Explanation Proof
the saints are said to judge the world Our Lord's
descent from heaven with the saints, and angels Its
grandeur its power, and glory His voice heard by the
dust of every sleeping human being Its results The
voice of the trumpet Whaf? and the purpose Order of
rising All the quick and dead caught up in the clouds
General conflagration The division of the sheep from
the goats Judgment Sentence on each personally Execution of that sentence instantaneous immutable Eternal Proof of this Self-perpetuating power of sin Man
makes and compels his own hell to be eternal Proof

How

GluESTiONs

Meditations

Prayers.

CONTENTS.
BOOK
PART

II.

I.

DOCTRINAL INSTRUCTION ON THE NATURE,

AND END OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.

USES,

PAGE.

Chap.

I.

The

347

Introduction

Christ the only King and Head of the Church The

Holy Spirit to be recognized as the prime minister of the
kingdom, in his official character The ministration of
angels Sketch of the different ordinances of God Government and discipline of his Church Reading of the
Holy Scriptures
Singing the praise of God Prayer
Preaching of the gospel Baptism.

Chap. n. Of the Lord's Supper

362

Brief history of this ordinance Of

the different names thereof
called the Lord's Supper
The communion The feast The eucharist The saGeneral remarks

It is

crament.

Chap.

III.

Of the

nature,

and use of the Lord's Sup-

369

per

God has been

pleased to reveal himself to us in tico

modes By doctrinal instruction By symbolical teaching

Specimens of these The natural mistake into which an
undisciplined mintfwould fall on this last mode
namely,
mistaking the symbol for the thing, or ideas, which it is

CONTENTS.

13
PAGE.

intended to represent This error actually exists Examination of this Another error to be guarded against SuThree errors of an opposite extreme
perstitious formality
First : That the Table of the
to be carefully avoided
Lord is surrounded by the awful terrors of Mount Sinai
deep line of distinction between the terrors of the law,
and the solemnities of the gospel ordinances Thence we
draw consolations, and comfort to feeble Christians Second: That there is safety in persisting to neglect this
most holy ordinance The excuse usually resorted to, examined Alarm to those who are sleeping under this easy
and fatal belief Distinction between those who plead their
non-preparation, and rest contented therein, without an efand those who are
fort, or even anxiety to be prepared
bowed down under a sense of their unworthiness, and
non-preparation, but are, nevertheless, struggling to get rid
Third ; The error
of every obstacle in the way of duty
of those who mistake the nature, the design, and mode of
evangelical preparation.

The nature and use of

continued

Chap. IV.

the Lord's

Supper

377

a monumental commemoration of a public and

most impressive nature Recapitulation of the things commemorated View of the ancient monumental commemorations Passover Heaps of stones at Jordan The sabbath Moral and religious use of these How these conveyed the truth of the facts commemorated down to posterity, while they carried the evidence of demonstration to
men's minds and removed all doubts So, in the case of
the Lord's Supper
The Church, as a body, stands before
the world as witnesses for God, and holds up this grand
and impressive monument in commemoration and proof
against all the world, of Christ's mission, incarnation, obedience to the law, death, resurrection, ascension, and perfect atonement
Illustration of this, and the bearing of this
againt the infidel world.

First

It is

The nature and use of the

continued

Chap. V.

Lord's Supper

387

Second : It is a spiritual commemoration, to be thankfully

kept up by all true Christians The events and things
which we do commemorate, laid down in seven particulars
our corresponding duty in this matter.

VL The nature and use of

continued

Chap.

the Lord's Supper

-

-391

a feast upon a sacrifice View of the ancient

symbolical sacrifices in the old church It required a variety of types and sacrifices, to make a complete exhibi-

Third

it is

CONTENTS.

14

by symbolical instruction One remarkable

prominently kept up in these sacrifices In one class
of them, the fire had its irresistible, and fullest sway it
consumed the victim to ashes. In another class, the victim was roasted in the fire, but not consumed to ashes
And they
it was prepared to be meat for the worshippers

tion of Christ
fact

who offered up the sacrifice sat down, not at the altar,

but at their sacra^menlal table, and feasted on the sacrifice ;
and every one who partook of the meat, was considered
before the Lord, as having actually oifered it up for himself And so he was typically pardoned of that which
was laid to his charge And if he did eat in faiih, of this
flesh, the type of Christ, faithfully relying on Messiah,
about to come, he was truly pardoned before God. This
brought to illustrate the nature and use of the Lord's Supper It is a true feast upon the true sacrifice The pious Jew looked to the same Redeemer, in his feast upon
Their faith looked forthe passover, to whom we look
look back to him on the
ward to the coming Messiah
meat
their
feast
The
oi
was
to ^/jem what the bread
cross
and wine of our feast are to us Proof Illustration.

We

The nature and use of

continued

Chap. VII.

the Lord's Supper

396

Fourth: This festival contains an extraordinary exhibition of

Christ through symbols divinely set apart for the purpose
Feasts on a sacrifice were eaten in celebrating a covenant of
unity and peace, entered into by the offended and offending
parties.
So in this holy festival, do we commemorate the
everlasting covenant of peace entered into between the FaThe condition of this covenant on the
ther, and the Son
The Father fulfils his promises,
part of Christ fulfilled
and bestows his blessings Hence the parties come toge-

ther at the table of the festival, to celebrate this reconciliation God, on the one hand, meets us who are viewed as
united to Christ, and are one body with him
This coven-

ant of peace confirmed to us by the'sacramental use of symProof Illustration This use of the
bols, bread and wine
ordinance designed to enlarge our knowledge of Christ
and confirm our faith in Christ, and our confidence in our

God.

Chap. VIII.
dinance

Various

other uses of this divine

or-

402

Hereby do we keep alive an affectionate remembrance of what Christ and what he has done for us
His Godhead and divine person He
Man the eternal
Son of God the son of man We keep up the rememof
his
brance
incarnation his deep humiliation obedience
sufferings agonies death resurrection ascension
First

is

is

intercession at the right

hand of God,

and the

fact of his

CONTENTS.

15
PAGE.

We

make
assurance that he will come again Second :
herein, a public and most solemn confession of Christ
stand forThird:
before God, Angels, and men
ward in the face of all foes and reproaches, as witnesses
upon
holy
cause
his
truths,
and
for God in his ways,

We

earth.

Chap. IX.

Farther uses of

the Lord's Supper

406

a mutual conimunicalion in it, and by it View

of the sacramental action The minister, in Christ's name,
makes over to us the assurances of the promises, and blessings of God, while he puts the sacred symbols into our
hands God conveys his blessings to our believing minds
humbly receive these in
in this sacramental action
faith, while our souls flow out to him, and v/e make an
unreserved surrender of ourselves wholly to him God thus
exhibits the pledge
we accept it.

There

is

We

The nature and use

continued

Chap. X.
per

of the Lord's Sup-

-410

A SEAL of the covenant of grace The use of the seal

How the covenant of grace is sealed
in covenants of old
importance of the proof of this It indicates that the
condition required of our surety, has been fully complied
with This seal appended to the New Testament, is the
confirming token to our faith, that Christ has fully met all
the claims against us, and secured all the promised blessings to us In the sacramental action, as we take the
holy symbols, we do put our hand to the seal, and hold it
up, in a formal public confession of Christ's atonement,
as our sure and infallible hope And by God's grace, we
feel the assured faith of this, sealed and confirmed on our,
For this is the
hearts, in a renewed joyful experience
will of God
It is designed by him to be a seal of confirmation to us
and it is actually so to every true ChrisIt is

tian.

Chap. XI.

--------

Another important use of the Lord's Sup-

per

414

Hereby " do we show forth the death of Christ" How

We show it forth to our God upon his
this is done
throne We show it forth before Satan and his angels be-

fore the world, in the face of all its opposition and reproachshow it forth to our own consciences, when stung
es
hold it forth before our
by reproaches, and remorse
own souls in the overwhelming troubles of life and at the

We

We

spirit-trying hour of the

The design, and

continued.

Chap. XII.
per

In this ordinance,

approach of the

God

last

enemy.

end of the Lord's Sup-

formally

owns us

--41

as his people in

CONTENTS.

16

PAGE.
the everlasting covenant, ratified by the blood of Christ
own him publicly; and with grateful hearts we accept
AVe ratify the covenant
the tokens of his love, and mercy
Specimen of the
transactions between him and our snuls
devotional exercises of the humble and affectionate believer
on this occasion.

We

PART

II.

DEVOTIONAL INSTRUCTION, TO GUIDE THE YOUNG

COMMUNICANT TO THE LORD'S TABLE.

I.
A general view of the obligations binding us to attend to the solemn duty of showing
421
forth the death of Christ, in this ordinance
1. The command of our Lord is plain, express, and

Chap.

peremptory It cannot be misunderstood. 2. It cannot

be set aside 3. Some satisfy themselves with unreasonable excuses in this matter Specimen of these CauFirst, that want of
tion against two opposite extremes
grace and due preparedness is an ample excuse for the negExamination of this general
lect of this divine ordinance
and plausible excuse 4. This is equalled only by the Second error, namely, that every command of God laid on
us, as we are, implies that we have actually full power to
perform aright the duty required View of the true state of
matters on this point. 5. God's command to duty always
includes in it a peremptory call to instant obedience Ivimediate compliance is included in the very essence of the

Some entertain irrational views on this matter, if

not atheistical This doctrine o^ instant obedience implies,
however, a previous duty to be forthwith performed you
must go, this instant, to the Lord Jesus, that through the
Holy Ghost you may obtain the necessary preparation
6. Then seize the earliest opportunity of obeying your
duty

Lord, in meeting him

at

his

Table

Reason remon-

strance.

II.
An earnest appeal to those who have been
received to the communion of the church, but have

declined from the path of duty

_
_

Chap.

1.

Attempt

to

awaken

their consciences

2,

Review of

whereby they strive to keep their

consciences asleep Do you venture to entertain any
doubts of the obligations binding your soul to this observance ? 3, Reply Remedy proposed Your past vows,

their different excuses,

427

A
CONTENTS.

17
PAGE.

have they no binding obligation on you? 4. Reply to those

who indulge such delusive dreams of security Remedy
proposed for this evil 5. Have you doubts as to the duty
This no excuse for the total
of frequent communion
neglect of the ordinance Reply to this Appeal to the
heart on behalf of Christ's love, which we are constrained
frequently to celebrate. 6. Has your declension in duty
arisen, and been cherished into total neglect, by sloth and
aversion to the labour and heart-searching duty of self-examineitionl Reply Remedy suggested 7. Has your
deplorable guiltiness arisen from lukewarmness, and avei'sion to the binding of yourself so strictly to duty, and
against all sin 1 Review Reply Remedy 8. Has this
negligence arisen from some family difficulty, or a quarrel
with some brother, or sister in the church ? Review of
this ^Reply
Remedy 9. Has your total neglect of this
solemn duty been originated by the resistance of your
guilty and accusing conscience?
Reply Appeal to the
terrors of the law, and your guilty soul
Remedy propos10. Perhaps thy delinquency is caused by a final and
ed
fatal apostacy
Perhaps thou hast been a Judas in Christ's
family Review of the causes which produced this horrible
Remonstrance entreaty appeal.
result

III.

been

Chap.

Invitation

to the

to

those

who have

Holy Communion

not

yet

434

1. Address to the children of the Church

2. Christ's earnest and loving call
Devotional frame of a young person
hesitating between fears, and hopes, and wishes, in view of
the holy communion
and is about to come forward
meditation, and prayer, suitable to this case 3. A farther
appeal to the tender-hearted Remonstrance, and invitation
4. A caution and direction against incorrect views
of this ordinance 5. Explanation of the words, "Eat and
drink damnation" 6. Satan and the world attempt to terrify youth, and drive them from duty
The necessity of
resisting such temptations The pleasures of communion
with God 7. The urgency of Christ's constraining love
8. The sin and danger of delay in this duty 9. The solemn obligations of your baptismal vows Sometrifle with
these, because their parents assumed them without their
consent Reply to this plausible, but heaven-daring objection
10. A meditation and prayer suited to a young mind
distressed and agitated, in view of these obligations, and

this duty.

Chap. IV.

Invitation to

God's distressed children,

who are in darkness, and halting in duty 1. "You are deterred," yoii say, "from coming to

the

Lord's Table, through the terror of the penalty of unwor-

443


CONTENTS.

18

PAGE.

thy communicating "

We

Instruction

and counsel on

this
the act

point 2.
must not allow ourselves to mistake
must
and grace of faith, for the assurance of sense
not make the possession of sensible assurance, a condition

We

of our complying withGod's

command

A mistake on this

point induces some misguided professors to refrain from

present duty, until they reach the evidence and assurance
of sense, or, until faith triumphs in their experience, over
all doubts
3. Examination of this too common delusion
Remonstrance against this practice of regulating the discharge of duty by our present feelings 4. Case of those
who repose their hopes on certain inward frames They
happen to lose their once happy frame of mind, and
thence neglect their present duty Remonstrance against
this criminal practice of determining obligations to duty,
by our inward frames Recover your holy frame of mind
by immediate recourse to the Holy Spirit, and disperse
darkness by going in humble penitence, to the Holy Table;
and seek your once holy frame there and not by flying,
like Jonah, from the divine presence
5. Case of the weak
and trembling professor, whose troubled soul surrounds the
Table of the Lord with all the fearful terrors of Mount Sinai 6. Remonstrance, and appeal on behalf of our Lord
and his blessed ordinance of love Instruction on the mode
of self-examination to be pursued by such a distressed disciples
Gluestions to be put by them to their conscience
7. Directions and encouragements given, by distinguishing
between weak, yet real faith, and strong faith
must
be jealous over ourselves; but we must recognize, and be
thankful for, the day of small things 8. The usual objections which such weak Christians bring against their
attendance on present duty shown to be irrational 9. The
case of the disconsolate, overwhelmed with a sense ot their
un worthiness
Distinction between the unworthiness of
those who " eat and drink damnation to themselves," and
that of those who " eat and drink judgments" of correction from their heavenly Father
10. Instruction, and exhortation to such, to come forward in huml>le, but sincere
reliance on Christ, and to seek riddance of their weakness,
and doubts, and fears, by a hearty meal at the Table of
the Lord
11. Duty of their immediate compliance ur^ed
again, on them No objection can be urged against this
mediate compliance with the call to present yourselves at
the Table of the Lord, which may not be urged with as
much propriety against compliance with the whole circle
of the divine commandments 12, Self-examination urged.

We

m-

Chap. V.

Directions

communicants, about to approach the Holy Table

1. This duty not rashly to be engaged in
We make our
to

approach to
after perseverance in the important duties
of self-examination, meditation, and prayer
Specimens
it

2.

464

CONTENTS.

19
PAGE.

of the forms of meditation, self-examination, and prayer,

conducted, at once, by a young Christian, who has prostrated himself at the foot of the throne of grace.

Chap. YI.

Directions for our exercise, while at the

Lord's Table

463

Specimens of the form of meditation, and devotion, during that deeply solemn hour.

Chap. VII. Directions to regulate the exercise of

the young Christian during the sacramental action 468
1. The sacramental action of the minister invoking the
divine blessing Breaking the bread, and delivering it with
the appropriate words
the action of the pious communicant
corresponding thereto 2. The pastor's sacramental action
in lifting, and giving the wine
The pious communicant's
action, and exercise thereto corresponding
3. Specimen
of the form of meditation, and prayer, suitable to this solemnity And a meditation and prayer to occupy the mind,
while the sacred symbols are being passed round to the
other communicants 4. Pleading lor those who are dear

to us.

Directions

Chap. VIII.

cise of the

to regulate the pious exer-

young communicant

the holy Table.

as he retires from

471

Specimen of the form of a divine meditation, and prayer,

suitable to that moment.

Chap. IX.

On

the self-examination to be pursued

by the communicant, after he has

of God, and retired to his closet
Specimen of

left

the house

474

given in ten questions to be

put to their conscience before God, and to be answered with
scrupulous honesty and care.
this exercise

Chap. X. Of the duties required of the devout communicant in future life .

.
477

We take leave of the young communicant in the

of Moses

Directions given in six particulars, to

his future

life.

words

regulate

INTRODUCTION.

HAVE long

Supper adapted

is

it

Besides the able treatises given in the different

the subject.

among

which

deserves to be ranked

among

of theology,

systems

D wight
;

and

the Sacramental Selections

These have, each,

of Philadelphia.

late

excellence.

They

that

President

of

the best,

we have

Mathew Henry, of Willison, of Bickersteth, of

the works of

Hobart

the habits

to

We have,

times.

want of a manual on the Lord's

and circumstances of our
true, a goodly number of works on

the

felt

The

in

tivo,

first

by Dr. Wilson,
their

particular,

appropriate

are

valuable.

possess a richness of thought, a deep insight into

divine things, and a knowledge of the complicated exercises

of the gracious heart

and

withal,

devotion pervading the whole,

an unction of piety and

rarely

met with

in

later

times.

more works on

this subject.

For,

one hand, there are some points which are too

slight-

But, there

is

a call for

on

the

ly

passed over by

scarcely touched at

some of
all,

these writers, while they are

by the

rest.

On

the other hand,

on which they dwell, and dilate to

such a measure of excess, that they become tedious, dull,
and fatiguing. We need something devotional, brief, yet
full
and adapted, in particular, to the different classes of
young Christians.

there are other topics

22

ITs^TRODUCTION.

In the Lord's Supper there are certain great

doctrines, held up to our view, by

are to be devoutly

necessary that

we

commemorated by

children of the light, in order to

means, through the

gloom of darkness, and

Then

is

We

these,

it

is

must be the

walk in the

Holy Ghost,

this

Ghost

Of

us.

should possess clear spiritual perceptions,

in order to our worthy communicating.

troubled soul.

and

facts,

sacred symbols, which

its

By

light.

the distressing

will

slavish fear be expelled from the

made

it

Holy

the temple of the

and the dwelling-place of love, peace, and heavenAnd then will our communion seasons be our most

ly joy.

delightful seasons.

And

this

saving knowledge whereby

Lord's Body, never exists alone

with

it

alone.

We

must have a

we

discern the

nor must we be contented

lively faith.

We

ceive Christ Jesus the Lord, as our Saviour.

and bring home

accept,

Nor

in this ordinance.

faith,

all

is

this all

we must add

love unfeigned.

We

re-

and

the blessings

which are impressively held

benefits of his atonement,

knowledge and our

our hearts,

to

must

W^e must
forth

to

our

must open

our hearts to the wonderful love of our Father in heaven

and
er's

mercy and grace

and

reasonable and just.

who

first

communion, and
Holy Ghost. This is a service
must love him with an ardent

to the ravishing

soul-refreshing joys of the

love,

overpowering tenderness of our Blessed Redeem-

to the

We

W^e must bring

loved us.

to the

Table of

the Lord, hearts possessed and filled with this divine affection.

We

must present our living sacrifices, holy and acGod and with the pure fire kindled from
And as the fire burns within us, must we give

ceptable unto

heaven.

utterance with the tongue

his throne, at the
It will

ceptable

what

is

and pour out our hearts before

communion

table.

order to pure and accommunion, we must have knowledge to discern

meant by the body and blood of the Lord
we

thence be manifest

that, in

23

INTRODUCTION.

must have a

true

and

upon the

the feast

lively faith in order to

sacrifice of Christ

dled by the love of our covenant

in

God

participate of

an ardent

love, kin-

and pure devotion,

which our souls are melted down, and poured out before

the Lord, in the well-sustained exercise of the graces of the

Holy Ghost.
moreover, be manifest that the saving knowledge

It will,

of God's precious truths, especially of those which are so

very prominently held forth in this divine ordinance, does

form the basis of

all

those other graces, so necessary to our

Hence

worthy communicating.
ture

" They
Psalm

thee."

know
as we

that

John

are taught of

ledge, shall

we

feel

the testimony of Scrip-

thy name, will put their trust in

" This

ix. 10.

&c."

thee,

know

xvii.

is life eternal, that

3.

they might

For, just in proportion

God, and grow in

this saving

know-

ourselves reigning with him by faith

and abounding with him in the peace of God and rejoicing

with him in the hope of his glory
and triumphing with
him in love, and in the fellowship of the Holy Ghost.
;

And just
rity

in proportion as these graces ripen into the matu-

of the

life

of

God

in our souls, shall

we be found

stead-

enemies which impede us in our Chrisand maintaining our conversation in the world,

fastly resisting the

tian duties

in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom,

but by the grace of

God

and following the Lord with welland exercises of new obedience.

very necessary that the young Christian be
;

pleasing, in the habits

Hence

it

is

carefully instructed in these great

and prominent doctrines

held up in the Lord's Supper, in order that his

mind may be

occupied with the saving knowledge of them.

And, in order

we need

more

the

a manual

on

effectually to attain

the Lord's Supper,

this

which

object,

shall

pre-

sent these all-important doctrines, not only in a systematic

form, but also apart, and by themselves

inexperienced mind

may

so that the

young

not be distracted by the contem-

24

INTRODUCTION.

mixed

plation of them,

up,

and confounded as they usually

have been, with the discussions on the Lord's Supper,

nature,

and

With

uses.

this view, therefore, I

of instruction on these principal doc-

together this form

may be
Book I.

trines, that they

have done in

And

as the

its

have thrown

studied

by themselves.

mode of teaching, by placing

This

before the

mind

of the pupil, a series of questions on what he has read, has

been attended with the happiest success in

appended

study, I have

to

all

branches of

each discussion a brief series of

questions, the answers to which the learner is to search out

by reviewing what he has studied. In doing this, he will

soon acquire a distinct view of each branch of doctrine.
has also occurred to me, that evangelical instruction

It

makes

its

divine and most effectual impression on the heart,

when man, by a

well-timed application, feels that he

gled out by the sword of the Spirit

conscience are laid bare

is

sin-

and when his soul and

and when the stroke

is

made

to

and when it pierces to

the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints
and marrow and when it becomes, before the man's awakened eye, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
fall,

as

it

were,

on

the

naked nerve

heart.

In attaining

this application, I

have subjoined forms

of meditations on each doctrine discussed, together with

forms of prayer

aim

at

all

of which the young Christian should

repeating from his heart, and conscience, with great

reverence before the Searcher of hearts.

The young

Christian having been thus instructed in the

and doctrines of the Gospel, which are impressively
held up in the Holy Supper, he will be prepared to enter
with us, on the consideration of its nature, uses, and etids
facts,

and,

lastly,

on the solemn duties required of him, in this

To aid him in this investigation, is our de-

holy service.

sign in

Book

II.

And now, oh

heavenly Father, from

whom cometh down

INTRODUCTION.

25

gift, and every perfect gift, grant us, I beseech

Unction of the Holy One, and we shall know all

every good
thee, the

things
fruits

And

Holy Ghost
into

do thou. Blessed Son of God, who hast, as the

of thy atonement and

soul

this

And oh

inspirest into thy servants

solutions,

thou

glorify Jesus Christ,

And oh

oh

and

myself in

Oh

their stead, to

and

desires, in their

may

message may come,

living

and powerful.
is

Lord, true

May

now
faith,

let

May

discern,

To

good

my

mind,

that out

and draw

forth a

every mind

Spirit

reading these pages.

to

whom

Lord, be made

be given

Vouchsafe

to the

to

him,

a firm hope, and ardent love to thee.

by holy perseverance in new obedience, work out

he,

the evidence of his regeneration by the

may he

I attempt

difficulties,

approach to the Lord's

thy word,

thy

especially

While

conceive their

Lord, shed thy light into

word, in season, to their souls.

person who

his,

of thy Holy Scriptures I

this

re-

come and

by taking the things which are

to us

feeble ones of thy family.

their wants,

Supper,

who

guide me, great source of wisdom and compas-

young and

to place

Spirit,

sioD, in these efforts to minister to thy children

the

life,

good purposes, and holy

all

Comforter and Guide,

and revealing them

the

and

light,

Holy

thou most

down

intercession, sent

send him in his

to thy people,

delight himself in

the water of

life,

Holy Ghost.

And

thy ordinances, as fountains of

ever pure, and delicious, and refreshing to

his soul.

And if I may venture, like Abraham, to plead with thee,

my gracious Master, let this book live, and be spread abroad
to

be the means, through thy divine grace, of guarding and

directing thy poor tempted

Holy Table
pilgrimage,
the dead

thy grace

and

long

and

distracted children to

in comforting
after I shall

them in

be in the congregation of

And whatever pleasure and power to

may vouchsafe to my own soul while
3*

thy

their Christian

edification

writing

it,

INTRODUCTION.

26

and

to thy

dear children while reading

it,

we

%vill

grate-

crown of glory, thereof, on thy head,

Lord, on whose head are many crowns
And in the
bright day of universal convocation, when the members
of God's ransomed family shall be all at home in glory, we
shall mingle mutual gratulations in our unceasing song of
Worthy is the Lamb, that icas slain, to receive
adoration.
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour,
and glory, and blessing ! Blessing, and honour, and glory,
and power, be unto Him that siiteih upon the throne, and to
the Lamb, for ever, and ever, Jlmen

fully

place

the

CHAPTER

I.

THE END AND AIM OF THE CHRISTIAN'S

"

LIFE.

Attempt how monstrous, and how surely vain

things of earthly sort, with aught but God,
To satisfy, and fill the immortal soul
!

With

Attempt, vain inconceivably

attempt

To satisfy the ocean with a drop

To marry immortality to death
And with the unsubstantial shade of time,
To fill the embrace of ail eternity!"
;

POLLOK.

The

Almighty Creator

and things.

For

his

is

the sole proprietor of

glory

we

are,

and were

all

beings

created.

Hence we are not our own. We belong to Almighty God.

As creatures, we are under the strongest obligations to own
As his creatures sushim, and glorify him as our Creator.
tained by him, we can never be set free from divine obligations to own him every hour, and honour him as our
As rational and accountable creatures, nothing
Preserver.
can excuse us from the duty of keeping our eye continually

on

him who will, before long, be our

As ransomed creatures, purchased by the

his throne, to adore

impartial Judge.

blood of Christ,
adore,

we

are under eternal obligations to love,

and serve him

The end

faithfully.

of our being, therefore,

enjoy him for ever.

And

is to

glorify

God, and

not only should a sense of these

THE END AND AIM OF

28
relations

in

which we stand toward Him, but also a con-

sciousness of His most compassionate interference in our

behalf, constrain us to glorify

Can we

him.

ever cease to

amazing love of God, in so constituting his

government over us, that, notwithstanding all the treasons
and crimes committed by us against him, he has combined
the

feel

our immortal happiness with his divine glory

proportion as

we evince

And

in

the sincerity of our love to him, by

reaching forward in the growth of holiness, and the attain-

ment of higher capacities to glorify him, do we enjoy

And having,
higher and higher degrees of happiness.
at length, reached " the perfect manhood, the measure of

we

the stature of the fulness of Christ ;"

fulness of joys,
It

we

and everlasting glory

must, then, be very manifest, that

own
If we

forsake our

love death.

mercies

and

shall enter

on the

in heaven.
if

we

if

we

forsake God,

we
way

hate his ways,

seek happiness in any form, or

we come short of the grand end of

own joys to His honour, we
To prefer human pleasures to
of denying Him.
To set up our own
is inexcusable selfishness.

foreign to God's glory,

our being.
are guilty
his glory,

If

we

prefer our

judgment in opposition
madness.
is fatal

life to

To

superstition.

To

any created thing,

will to his

obedience

supreme
to the

to

will, is

inventions into his service,

and

yield the devotion of our heart

is

god of

and

his revealed will, is folly

human

introduce

gross idolatry.

To

prefer our

To yield

heaven-daring rebellion.
this world,

and linger

own

among

the

fascinating pleasures of earth, instead of urging on in our

course to heaven,

is

nothing short of atheism

Man, viewed as a mortal being, has a temporal career set

But there is an infinitely
before him, which he must run.
higher destiny awaiting him.

has an eternal career before him.

the former, as a
future

good

citizen,

As an immortal
In

this world,

being, he

he pursues

and a good man.

In the

and eternal world, he has the never-closing career

to

THE christian's
pursue in the presence of

29

LIFE.

God and

the

Lamb

high and lofty fellowship of the angels, and

and

all

in the

the host of

heaven.

By an

appropriate education, are

In our seminaries

poral career.

ration consummated,
forth with cultivated

enterprises of

In

like

and from

we
is

prepared for our tem-

this

necessary prepa-

youth sent

these, are our

and virtuous minds,

on the

to enter

life.

manner, God has graciously provided us with the

spiritual training for our high and eternal des-

means of a

This training we enjoy in the bosom of his

tinies.

Church, on our sabbaths, and in private, by the ministry,

ordained for this purpose, and under divine ordinances, and
the special grace of God.

Hence,

godliness and pure religion, the rich gifts

vital

of God, cherished in the heart, professed and practised by

usj

under the discipline of the Holy Ghost, bear precisely

same relation to our immortal career, and our eternal

enjoyments in heaven, which a good education and proper
the

mental discipline do to a good citizen's best interests, and

usefulness in this world.

But

man's condition and destinies

surely a

sitory world,

can never bear

to

in this tran^

be even named in compa-

rison with his eternal destiny, and glory in heaven.

the possession

superior to the

Hence

and practice of pure religion are as infinitely

most perfect education which human inge-

nuity can convey to the mind, as heaven and eternity are to

earth

and time

The man who,

to

through ignorance and rudeness, ventures

oppose popular education, and the progress of science,

unceremoniously pronounced a Goth and a barbarian

he

is

shunned as an enemy

of his country.

good designate
the purest

to

man who

is

and

man's happiness, and the glory

But, by what terms shall the wise

the

and the

puts himself in opposition to

and most elevating of

ajl

education

and

that

THE END AND AIM OF

30

sublime and holy mental training which prepares immortal

beings for the assembly of the saints, and the presence of

God,

for

evermore

But the world cannot appreciate

enemy
This

hostility,

him.

Nay,

word

Hence,

this.

it is

the

of our Divine Master, and of our best interests.

however,

it

shall

not drive us from our duty to

should quicken our ardour in studying his

and constrain us

to a

more scrupulous

attention to

The opinions of the men of the world

weigh lighter than chaff, with all who are accustomed to
appeal "to the law, and the testimony."
Our God has
spoken the w^ord. To him do we devoutly listen. " Wheevery christian duty.

ther

ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of

" This is life eternal that they might
1 Cor. X. 31.

God."

know

thee, the only true

John xvii.
choosest, and causest

hast sent."

We

in thy courts.

3.

God, and Jesus Christ,

" Blessed is the man

whom
whom

thou

may

dwell

approach to thee, that he

to

thou

be satisfied with the goodness of

shall

thy house, even of thy holy temple." Ps. Ixv. 4.

"

No

one

of us liveth unto himself, and no one dieth to himself.

"WTiether
die,

die,

we
we

we

show me

the path of

n.

live

Lord's."

are the

hand

at thy right

xvi.

we

live,

unto the Lord

unto the Lord

cTie

"And

life

Rom.

8.
is

" Thou

wilt

fulness of joy

evermore." Ps.

there are })leasures for

we

live, therefore, or

xiv. 7,

in thy presence

or whether

whether we

heard a voice from heaven, saying unto

me, write. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from
henceforth
their

may rest from

works do follow them." Rev.

yea, saith the Spirit, that they

labours

and

their

xiv. 13.

aUESTIONS.
Can any one allege that he is his own ? Why not 1 To
do we belong ?
By what ties are we bound to God ?

whom

How

prove you

this,

out of God's word?

W^hat

is

the chief

THE christian's

31

LIFE.

How

end of our being, and preservation 1

Scripture and reason say?

prove you

this 1

Wherein then

What do

lies

man's chief and eternal happiness"? What is the belief of

men of the world on this? How do you refute them ? By
reason
is

By

Scripture

What

says each of these

the relative value of education, for the world

for eternity

Do

you

Confirm

faithfully

of your being

by

this

What

and

religion,

texts out of the Scriptures.

and sincerely keep in view

end

this great

MEDITATION.

my

Hast thou,

God
I

Am

belong

all

my most

to

am

not

my

to

soul,

v>^ith its

wonderful

out of nothing.

am no

This body, and

God's bounteous goodness.

him

this soul

for this

prolonged existence.

he sustains in being

and mental, and moral

troul over

my

This being of mine, so wonderful and so

enjoy from

Thee,

he create immediately

faculties, did

less indebted to

bodily,

and he gave

by an act of power and sovereignty.

them

delightful,

my
that

This body, and

Creator?

faithful

these limbs he formed out of the dust

me

art

own, but

unto the Lord, thou

soul, said

I truly sensible that I

and

in

no con-

I have

activity.

my being. God measures out to me,

my existence. Over this life and these limbs,

time, or

each moment,

and mental

faculties, I

Did

possess no sovereignty.

I arro-

gate the proud claim of dominion, and self-controul, one

word from him, one touch of

summon my

in dust, and

In him

I live, in

Should

body and

him

then devote

its

members,

move, in him

my

my

Judge

Oh my God

May the

Creator,
!

would lay

soul,

and

have

its

my
!

my

body

And whom

Preserver,

deliver

me

my

from

my

being.

faculties, or

to the service of sin

should be guilty of robbery.

less than

his hand,

soul to the dread bar of justice

and

should

rob

Redeemer, and
this

this

the world, I

No
my

heinous crime.

time past suffice to have wrought the will of the flesh

THE END AND AIM OF

32
Henceforth

my

to thee,

and in

heart

God,

And oh

life.

innumerable beings, thou hast

and on the

seas, in the air,

ever,

and they cease

be

to

me

The time

enduring existence.

I shall

my

being to

my God

eternity

Can

and

soul,

here

I for

that is in

all

May

never.

ward

I,

this

body,

What a motive

me,

to

devote

my

may serve and enjoy him in

moment think of burying such a
world?

this transitory

then, never cease to press eagerly for-

my

end of

to the great

and

that I

being in the beggarly elements of

No,

cease to be.

this soul

as long as God's eternal throne shall exist

up

for

an ever-

never come up in the

shall

bloom in immortal youth, in

to rouse

to

the

in

which thou revokest

hast thou given

when

ever-revolving ages of eternity,

shall

be truly devoted in

given existence

earth,

to

me

let

delightful thought, while

being

prayer:

Lord, thou hast created

Preserver, by thy power I

things, and for thy pleasure

all

My

they are, and were created.

awoke

Creator, and
into being.

am, the monument of thy ever- watchful

Providence.

I trust I feel I

To

overflows in love.

devote

my

Love and

my

these

able love, to have

and

do

bind

of

thee this heart

God, would

me, and bind

which

ties

me
me

humbly

Lord?

closely to
to

thee,

would seek, with unquench-

them speedily renewed never to be dismy God, the homage of my soul,

ful sacrifice,

faith

of this heart, the submission of

obedience of

faculties, the

my

life.

and service be always

blessed Redeemer, and the

And when my
ed,

To

here I

God

Accept then,

the affection

my

my

thee,

gratitude constrain

God, be dissolved

solved.

thine.

faithful

holy

"What can be more reasonable,

being.

Could

thee.

am

care,

my
And

grant,

And may

most

faithful

my

offered up to thee through

fire

of the Holy Ghost.

pilgrimage of duty and discipline

my

all

the delight-

is finish-

Creator and Redeemer, a

THE christian's
joyful entrance into the

poor body,

this

kingdom of thy

heap of

dust,

having

through the long dark night of death,

ing of the day of eternity,

my

33

LIFE.

let it rise

until the bright

morn-

heavenly Father, and thy rich grace,

a pure, and a powerful, and a

this

grave

according

Redeemer, and thy glorious power,

And

glory.

slept in the

to thy will,

my most

faithful

spiritual,

gracious

Holy

Spirit,

and an immortal

ransomed servants,

And let me,

my gracious God, enter,

man

in Jesus Christ," into thy

body, fashioned according to Christ's body.

as one of thy
soul

and body,

" a

kingdom above
grace, at

being

last,

which

might enjoy
in

it

attained to the great

I

in

have longed
full

whose name we

&c.

Amen.

perfect

having, through the infinite riches of thy

for,

measure with
pray,

" Our

and

sole

and panted

end of

my Saviour Jesus
Father

who

my

after, that

art

Christ

heaven,"

CHAPTER

II.

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

" This book, this holy book, on every line

Marked with

On

the seal of high Divinity,

every leaf bedewed with drops of love

Divine, and with the eternal heraldry,

And

signature of

God Almighty stamped,

This, Mercy took, and in the night of time

Stood, casting on the dark, her gracious look

And evermore beseeching man, with tears

And earnest sighs, to read, believe, and live.
POLLOK.

There

are three reasons

why

young Christian should

He owes

the

be thoroughly acquainted with the Holy Bible.

it

to his

own

will, thence,

personal comfort, in the Christian course

edifying those around him, in the associations of

he

will

he

be thoroughly furnished for the good work of

life

and

be equipped for the defence of divine truth against

its

natural enemies.
It is called

nence.
with

it.

No
To

The

Bible, that

is,

all

other books

it is

stupendous works over the whole

puny works.
t:>

TheJBooh, by way of emi-

other writing can be

Its

named

in comparison

as superior, as are God's

field

of creation, to man's

sublime and pure doctrines are as superior

the loftiest conceptions of

man, as the immortal

soul

is


35

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

to sordid dust

to the fast

and as the glories of eternity are

fading vanities of time.

The

Bible

This

viour.

is

God

and Testament of

the last Will

will isj strictly speaking,

one.

It

our Sacalled

is

and the New, simply in reference to

the outward form of its twofold dispensations. The Old Testament contains the exhibition of this will under the Jewish

the Old Testament,

The

economy.

and

will

its

The mode

truths are eternal.

of administration only was old, and, like that which

it

is old,

The New Testament containing

has vanished away.

the complete disclosures of the gospel, has a form of ordi-

nances

that is

always new.

give place to another.

until Christ's

In

this

never vanish away

It will

and glory

Its freshness

will

to

endure

second coming.

WILL, our dying Lord bequeathed us

all

the pur-

Herein they

chased blessings of the everlasting covenant.

may be summed up in two words,

And no enemy can hinder us from pre-

are fully detailed, and

grace and glory.

senting ourselves with

filial

boldness, to receive them from

For our Lord's words

our Heavenly Father's hand.

full

"I

of divine assurance and consolation.

allow

me

to

give

literal

its

translation,

"

are

appoint,"
I

bestow, by

kingdom upon you even as my father hath, by

covenant, bestowed a kingdom upon me." Luke xxii. 29.

covenant, a

Now,
to

will the heir of

an earthly inheritance allow himself

remain ignorant of his possessions and rights?

can a Christian man allow himself

his Lord's Will

to

and Testament, and

And

remain ignorant of

indifferent about it?

Besides, the Christian lives not for himself alone.

has

it

in charge to instruct

the gainsayer

prodigal

to

the

young

bring back the wanderer

to edify the

the hallowed,
this

and guide

church

and

to reclaim the

to spread

around him

and hallowing influence of a holy

he will be enabled

to

skilful in spiritual things,

do, just in

He

to reprove

life.

proportion as he

and mighty in the Scriptures.

All
is

36

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

And let us not forget that we live in " the last times."
The signal given us by our Lord has appeared. The
"scoffer," and "mocker" of God's word, have come.
They appear in the community as an organized body of
conspirators.
Hence the young Christian is bound by the
of honour and gratitude, to be always " ready to give

ties

an answer
hope

every

to

man who

asketh him a reason of the

And he must

him, with meekness and fear."

that is in

be as ready, by sound doctrine, to convince the gainsayers,

and

mouths of unruly and vain

to stop the

talkers,

and de-

ceivers.

Were

the

young Christian not bound

were he allowed

seek the

to

do

to

all this,

and

of a recluse, he might with

life

impunity, perhaps, remain unqualified to do these important

services

to

God and man.

But, as his

strong nourishment from God's word

own

faith requires

and as matters stand

with the enemies, and the friends of Christ in these last

times

when no

Christian, old or young, can remain neutral,

each one must gird on his armour

in the host of Israel to gird

We

and

and help

He who knows

possible.

is

created the soul of man, can

will to us, so as to

make

it

the feeblest

his.

begin with the simplest propositions.

from God

who

on

revelation

and

things,

all

communicate

his

mind,

perfectly intelligible.

This

needs no proof.

God

Since, then,

ought

cmi communicate his mind

of his infinite goodness

that

to us,

what

be legitimately inferred, on this matter, from the fact

to

God

Can any man

refuse to admit

designs to pity, and save his sinful, suffering chil-

dren, of our species

If so, then,

how can any one

reconcile

with the truth of his paternal goodness, the monstrous supposition that he has not given,

that

he will not give, a re-

velation of salvation to his poor erring

tures

What

save us

Does our

and perishing crea-

Creator, in his mercy, intend to

and yet has he never uttered one word

to us

on

the

37

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

Does God intend to save us, and yet has

how to seek him and how we are to wordoes God
him, and obtain peace and hope ? What

What

matter ]

he never told us
ship

intend to save us from fear, and pain, and death

And,

does he tantalize us, and vex us, and slay us by despair,

yet,

in keeping us in perpetual suspense, and doubt, and vexa-

and sorrow, over the whole field of human existence 1

envy neither the head nor the heart of that man, who

ation,
I

He

can imagine such a theory.

ment

against the
revelation

trifles

with the happiness

and venturously brings an impeachgoodness and mercy of the Almighty

of his fellow-creatures

God

of

I need only repeat,

which every reflecting man will admit

at present, the truth

is

necessary,

namely, that God alone can open, and declare his

MIND and will to MAN. Eveu the thoughts of a man can
no man discover, if he chooses to give no utterance to
them.

any of the sons of

Infinitely less can

and the

the thoughts,

will of the

men

discover

God
know how

incomprehensible

know God's mind, how can I

Unless I know his holy will, how can I
to please him ]
Unless I know him, how can I love
possibly obey him ?
him ? If I am left ignorant of his glory, how can I cherish
Now,

unless I

an exalted devotion

unknown god

to

Am

him

mother of devotion ]

If I

will inclines

of

human

God

me

to

do

will-worship

man

religion.

the assumption

tliat

an

altar to the

ignorance

must conjecture by reason,

is

the

I shall

in

And

I shall lie

Almighty what
!

That

under the

fearful

judge he ought

to

Hence, a revelation from God

is

essentially necessary to beget,

and pure

rear

that

mark out my own

my own way, and do what my
then is my religion wholly an act

guilt of dictating to the

accept from guilty

left to

be taught

If I venture to

be in perpetual doubt.
course, and worship

Am I

to

is, it

and cherish true worship

is

essentially necessary

on

our Creator intends to save us, and

4*

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

3S

make us happy. If God intends no mercy to us, then may

we look for no Gospel revelation
The Holy Bible contains this divine revelation beyond
all reasonable doubt.
This we now proceed to show.
First
The Bible is genuine ; that is, all the books of
!

which

were written by the persons whose names

consists,

it

they respectively bear.

Second

It is

authentic

as they did happen

and

it

that

is, it

relates matters of fact

contains, truly, the

mind and

God.

will of

Third

It is credible

that

these books were written

is,

by men, who neither were deceived, nor did deceive

others.

and doctrines which they taught were proclaimed

The
to hundreds of thousands of men, who, being their cotemfacts

every opportunity of exposing what was not

poraries, had
true, to their

Fourth

men

own

It is

of God,

certain knowledge.

given by divine inspiration, through holy

who spoke

ed to them the words

Greek

as they

He conveyed his mind,

Ghost.

to

l.Pet.

i.

will to

them

be used by them, in

and commanded them

specific words.

were moved by the Holy

and

21,

to

suggest-

Hebrew and

write them out in these

Rom.

xvi. 26.

In reference to the genuineness and authenticity of the

Holy

Bible, I observe, in general, that the proof thereof is

exactly of the

same character

as that by

any ancient, or modern document

to

which we prove

be genuine, and authen-

tic.

The young

Christian can

make the

experiment.

He can

prove the Holy Bible to be genuine and authentic, precisely

by the same form of argument by which he proves the writings of Homer, Virgil, and our Declaration of Independence,

to

be genuine and authentic.

to the sceptic, I

Suppose you say

adopt your process of doubting, and I deny

Homer, of Virgil, Voltaire, and

ment of our own national Independence, to be

the writings of

the docueither au-

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

39

or genuine, or credible.
Mark the nature and course
of his argument in reply, which he will with accuracy, adopt

the7itic,

genuineness of these ancient, and modern

to establish the

And when

documents.

need only beg him

to

he has finished his argument, you

transfer

to the proof of the

it

Holy

Bible.

now

I shall

present a condensed argument, on the gen-

uineness, authenticity,

First

and insjnration of the Holy Scriptures.

evidence.
This amounts to a

The external

demonstration.
I shall

myself

And

begin with the evidence of miracles.

propose merely a specimen of

to the

this,

examination of the

here,*

New

shall

as I

confine

Testament writings

as established by the evidence of miracles.

And,
lie,

here, let

in his

First

me

repeat the Rules

laid

down by Les-

" Short Method with Deists."

The

miracles wrought in evidence of the divine

commission of the inspired

writers,

must have been palpa-

They must have been publicly

done.
Third Public monuments, and actions must have
been instituted to commemorate the sayings, and miracuble to the senses.

Second

lous doings of Christ.

Fourth

These monuments, and

actions must have been instituted at the time of these mi-

raculous events.

Now,
Christ,

apply these rules.

and

The

miracles, the

death

of

his appearance alive after his death, in the midst

of hundreds of witnesses, wereentirely such as came within

the palpable evidence of the senses.
cles of

Mohammed,

adduced as

There are no mira-

nor in the pagan world, that can be

parallel to these.

No

one of them was,

these of our Lord, palpably evident to the senses.

mark

the point of this argument.

* See " Lights und

"

The

General."

The

Shadows of Christian

Apostles

Life."

like

Now

came

Article

be-

first,

40

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

fore the rulers,

and people

and foreign land

cease

not

Jerusalem

in

a long time after the

works, was wearing out of mind.

was

rulers that he

versed with him

sons at

were

not

in a distant

after

Christ's de-

and only a few days

alive

that they

memory of him, and his

They told the people and
had seen him, and con-

he had been seen by five hundred perone time, " of whom," they said, " the greater number

alive,"

that

and among them

cles before their

own

eyes

that Christ

that they

had wrought mira-

had seen him, and the

people had seen him, cure the blind, heal the maimed, raise

and cast out demons.

the dead,

Moreover, they
the people.

By

life.

did,

They

themselves, work miracles before

healed diseases, and raised the dead to

these miracles, which could be wrought only

by

power of God upon them, they authenticated their testimony, which was borne by them to the Lord Jesus Christ
the

and

By

their

own

divine mission from God, as his apostles.

these miracles was there an

outward senses, and

to the

evidence furnished to the

reason, and

judgment of men,

utterly overpowering.

Their mission and authority from God, being then

satis-

factorily settled, they delivered their divine doctrines, laws,

and ordinances,

the assemblies

in

of the people.

Their

writings, dictated by divine inspiration, were deposited publicly

with the church.

These autographs were preserved

with extraordinary care, in the archives of the churches,

until copies of

them were multiplied over

the vvorld.

Next, consider the method taken to keep up the vivid re-

membrance of

Christ's miracles, death,

the days of Christ,

resurrection,

and his

apostles, at the time

when

extraordinary events happened publicly, in order to

memorate them.

One

of the Sabbath to the

Sabbath

another

is

and

Public monuments were instituted in

ascension to heaven.

of these

first

monuments was

these

com-

the change

day of the week, or the Christian

baptism

another, the Lord's Supper

41

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

another, the gospel ministry

and the entire and beautiful

order of the holy sanctuary of God.

These

doctrines, laws,

institutions could not

and divine

possibly have been fabricated by impostors, in the days of

No

Jesus Christ, or his apostles, and the Jews then living.

combination of the most successful impostors could have

persuaded the multitudes of Jews, converted to Christianity,
at Jerusalem, to keep the Sabbath on the first day of the

week or to celebrate the Lord's Supper in solemn commemoration of a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour,
;

if that Saviour had never been heard of by them, and had

never been crucified, and had never risen from the dead,
and had never ascended into heaven. Within a few days

our Lord's ascension,

after

Christians

were many thousand

there

Each of

Jerusalem.

in

these stood up as a

public witness of the facts and events of our Lord's

Each of

mira-

was a living
these
handed
each
of
and
eye-witness of these things
again,
these,
and
to
children
to
their
things
down these

cles, death,

and resurrection.

these

theirs.

Hence,

it is

and

utterly inconceivable that the gospel

its

sacred institutions could have been invented, as a fiction in

the days of Christ,

and the

apostles,

and of

Pilate,

and the

Jews.
It is equally

bricated after

inconceivable that they could have been fathe death

of that generation.

For

if the

following generation had not actually received the

Testament, and
ries of Christ

its

and his

apostles,

then

it

would follow,

certain impostors had actually, though falsely,

millions of the best and most enlightened

tions, that the

them

New

pages.

men

that

persuaded
of

all

na-

now made known

to

had been actually handed down

to

Testament, just

for the first time,

them from

New

sacred institutions from the cotempora-

their forefathers

For

so

it is

stated on its first

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

42

The

on

impostors,

supposition

this

of infidels,

must

men of
from time immemo-

have persuaded millions of the shrewdest, and best

all

nations, that they, and their fathers

rial,

were baptized,

and

that

and

they,

their

fathers, did

commemoration
of events which they had never heard of, and never had
continually celebrate the LorcVs Supper, in

believed.

The

A thing inconceivably absurd

Just
our

truth is

as certainly as

national history,

and our national commemoration of independence on the

an expression of the nation's belief

4th of July, do afford

in the public fact of our national Independence

even

so,

Baptism, and the Lord's Sup-

the public institutions of

per and the Christian Sabbath and the perpetual Ministry of the gospel, do stand forth as grand public monu;

ments, kept up throughout the whole Christian world,

unshaken

bit the

New

doctrines of the

Second
PROPHECY

Strong
;

as

is

still

which

it

prophecy

was

the evidence of miracles, that of

stronger.

uttered

to

It

possesses the force

We

many generations.

fix

the remote

then

the thing foretold

have only

age of the past in

turn our eyes on the passing

events, givin g a literal fulfilment,

reality,

and, as

by the

man

it

of

were, a living

God

and we

are ourselves possessed of the evidence of the truth

vinity of the Bible, strong as is
tional being

and

and of one, moreover, lengthened out from age

to age, before the eyes of

to read the

to exhi-

facts,

Testament

perhaps,

is,

of a miracle

of reasonable men, in the

faith

and

any evidence which a

dira-

can require, not even excepting the evidence

of the senses.

For instance,

open the holy Book, and

a specimen, Gen. xvi. 12.

Of Ishmael

oflier

it

you

briefly

is written,

that

man ; that his hand will he against every

man against him ; and that, nevertheless, he

he will he a wild

man, and every

shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

now, in the

light

Study

this,

which history sheds over the national cha-

!!

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

and fortunes of the children of Ishmael, the Arabs of

racter

the desert
this

43

and you

will

perceive the

ancient prophecy carried over the

What

is

said of

said of

fulfilment of

literal

of 4000 years

field

them in prophecy, and in

history,

can be

no other nation under heaven.

Next, study, in the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy, the denunciations against the

Hebrew nation

their apostacy

from God.

examine the minute

to befall them on

which were

detail of the terrible calamities

These were

foretold,

Then

by Moses nearly 3300 years ago.

and recorded

read the history of

and

the sufferings of that wonderful people,

their jiresent

All these evils

condition in the four quarters of the world.

they were to endure, while they should be scattered into

nations under heaven.

main a

And

all

distinct people, 'not counted

an integral part of any of them

Behold the

tions.
It

force of a

among
Here

terrible fulfilment

presents, from age to age,

all

the while they were to re-

up

the nations^ as

are

to the

the predic-

very

the novelty, and

all

standing miracle, before

the

letter

the

all

nations of the

earth.

But the most prominent of all, perhaps, are those predicMessiah, our Lord. They marked out the

tions relative to
spot,
birth

and named
;

they

which he was

it,

named

his family

spoke of his virgin mother

decease.

See Daniel

ix,

24

to

immortalize by his

whence he was
they

27.

to spring

they

precise date of his

fix the

Moreover, they

detail his

manner of life, his doctrines, his sorrows, his agonies, the

selling of him for thirty shekels, the piercing of his hands and
feet.
These records were in public circulation throughout
the Hebrew nation ma?ii/ ceniwries before He appeared
and
;

history, sacred

and profane, has

faithfully

recorded their en-

tire fulfilment

And

time would

fail

me

the predictions re-

to rehearse

specting Tyre, and Babylon, and Egypt

destruction of Jerusalem, the dispersion

and moreover,

the

of the Jews, the


OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

44

rapid progress of Christianity,

its

check by the kingdom of

darkness for 1260 years, the rise of the Eastern, and the

These are

Papal, and the Infidel Antichrists.

jects of prophecy.

ment

is

is

some of them eighteen

:

The

it

has been evolved by

the evidence of their having been deliver-

twenty-five centuries ago

Third

the sub-

all

the evidence of their accomplish-

just as manifest, so far as

Providence, as
ed,

And

centuries,

and others of them

!"

Historical

Argument

for

the authen-

and genuineness of the Holy

From the present, back to the 4th
a specimen of it
exception
of a few eccentric writers, who
the
with
century
Bible

ticity

Here

is

is irresistible.

sought the immortality of doing mischief, like him

the temple of Ephesus,

who

fired

therehas been an unbroken and con-

tinuous chain of testimony, and evidence of the most satisfactory nature.

In the 4th century, we have the testimony of the churches

Rome, and over Europe and of

in Egypt, in Greece, in

such

illustrious writers as

Athanasius, Augustine, Jerome,

Eusebius, the Cyrils, and Gregory.

In the 3d century, the following writers, in union with all

and genuineness of

the church, testify to the authenticity,

the

Holy Bible

viz.

Arnobius, Lactantius, Origen, Cy-

prian, and the famous German Victorinus, who quotes nearly all the books of the New Testament.

In the 2d century, we have the testimony of Tertullian,

who quotes every book

of Clemens of Alexandria, Iraeneus,

of the
to

New

"i/ie code

Testament
of

and gives

his

the JVeiv Testament, as

solemn testimony
icell

as the

Old."

" These codes," says he, " are the oracles of God, and are
We have also in this century,
dictated by the Holy Ghost."
Justin Martyr

Gauls

we

and the Epistle of the persecuted Christian

to their dear brethren of Asia, in

A. D. 170.

And

have Tatian, who composed a harmony of the four gos-

pels in A.

D. 172.

45

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

In the

century,

1st

apostolic Fathers,

we have

of the Jive

the testimony

Barnabas, the

of Paul

fellow-laborer

Hermas, who wrote

Clemens, mentioned also by Paul
" The Pastor ," Ignatius and Polycarp, the disciple of St.
;

Thus we have an unbroken chain of

John.

writers,

and

witnesses, from the apostles to our day.

But we have

Holy

the

also the testimony of the bitter enemies of

The Jews admit

Scriptures.

and miracles of Christ's

the

facts, events,

but ascribe his miracles to

life,

ma-

Cerinthus, the Ebionites, and Marcion also, admit

gic.

these facts and miracles.

The heathen

philosophers,

who opposed

of them admit the authenticity and

all

jVew Testament.
gen

and

hammed

to

Christianity, did

genuineness of the

allude to Celsus, the antagonist of Ori-

Porphery, and Julian the Apostate

in the 6th century.*

genuine

the Script'jres to be

and miracles of

aiid

Mo-

All these candidly admitted

;

and

as containing real facts,

Christ.

Thus, we have the decisive testimony of ancient unbelievers, against

live at so

the recklessness of

modern

infidels

who

remote a period from the early Christians, that they

cannot be supposed to have any knowledge in the matter,

equal to that of their predecessors.

Second
dence of
1 st

We

mony of
1.

Let

the

me now

Holy

direct

you

to the

internal evi-

Scriptures.

perceive a divine testimony in the perfect har-

all its facts,

and doctrines.

This holy volume, you

by

tinct tracts, written

and stations of life

men

see, is

made up of several

and from

their condition,

and the distant

periods of time in which they respectively lived,

possible that

each other.

dis-

of the most various tastes, habits,

many

it

was im-

of them could ever see, or converse with

Yet, here is a book from these different per-

See

Home's
6

{ntrod.

I.

p.

95.

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

46
sons,

who

lived

unknown

to

each other, and scattered over

the period of about fifteen hundred years, in which they

same

utter the

to

time and

And

eternity.

there

is

all

man

doctrines relative to the Deity and to

hot a contradiction, or

even a dissension in sentiment among them, over the

whole extent of
2.

pages

their

The purity and

spirituality breathed

in them,

forth

demonstrate that they could have their origin from the

Fountain of

young

purity,

and holiness alone.

friend, to turn

your mind

I entreat you,

to their exhibitions

unity of God, of the person of the Father, and of

and of

the

Holy Ghost

my

of the

tlie

Son,

of the pure perfections of God,

particularly divine justice,

and divine holiness, ever

set

before you on the foreground of all their exhibitions of infia divine

nite majesty and of the character of Jesus Christ
model of the moral, beautiful, and sublime and of the most

charming loveliness of
combination of

composed of a perfect

religion, as

the virtues,

all

and

the graces that

all

can

adorn man, and beautify an angel their uncompromising

reproofs of vice, and their war of extermination against
;

crime and folly, even to the smallest delinquency. Let

your minds be possessed with clear ideas on these points
;

then

tell

mortal could, without communications

me what

indite, or even conceive, such things

There is a characteristic sublimity on the pages of the
I
Bible, to which no unassisted genius ever could ascend.
Deity
the
description
of
the
and
conception
allude to the

from the Deity, ever

3.

angels

the creation

the

Deity's

Providence, and of Redemption.

kingdom of

To

these I add the con-

ception of the heavenly state, called the

the region of despair, or hell

our Lord and Saviour.

conception, there

is

modern sages even

nature, of

kingdom of

glory

and, finally, the character of

In point of perfect sublimity in

nothing on the pages of ancient or

to

be named in the comparison with

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

these

47

and even their description leaves

" God

Let there be

said,

light,

and

He

them in his anger.

a specimen.

God

there ivas light.

removeth the mountains, and they hnoiv not

and

human com-

all

Take

posers at an immeasurable distance.

he overturneth

shaketh the earth out of her place,

He measures the waters of

the pillars thereof tremble.

He

the ocean in the hollow of his hand.

tains in scales,

and

the hills in

weighs

the

moun-

balance.^''

" / saw a great white throne, and

Him

that sat on

it,

be-

fore whose face the heavens and the earth fled away, and
there

small
4.

was found no place for them. Ayid I saw the dead,

and great, stand before God /"
The invincible efficacy which attended the Gospel of

Jesus Christ,

is

a clear demonstration of

divine origin.

its

Consider the simple and unassuming character of the apostles,

and primitive ministers of religion, utterly without patronage and power. Remember the burden of their messages, the
universal corruption, and depravity of

Take

tion by a crucified Saviour.

racter,

losophers,

all

human

eloquence, and

powers, were combined

in

order to stop

to, in

Kings, princes, orators, phi-

the progress of Christianity.

salva-

perseverance of the violence resorted

all

civil,

deadly hatred

and

military

against

them.

human means, and agency do to repel all this,

to make triumphant headway, and conquer na-

could

far less

tions,

men, and

view also the cha-

and prejudices of their opponents, such as the pagan

and philosophers and, in fine, the nature and

priesthood,

What

all

into

and kingdoms

to Christ

Yet, without civil power, without

human

patronage, and

in the face of ferocious persecution, in spite of tyranny

superstition, they triumphed.

The

disciples

and

who crowded

around the holy cross, renounced the bloody rites and religion of their fathers
they abandoned their vices and abominations
they became virtuous and holy men.
And
;

these disciples were not

all

from paganism

nor were they


OP THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

48

mean

of

all

^ew days
priests,

birth or

humble rank.

after our

In Jerusalem, within a

many

Lord's ascension,

and multitudes of

all

of the chief

ranks, embraced Christianity.

Within perhaps twelve days, first three thousand, then five

many " myriads," that is, " ten thousands,"

thousand, then

crowded around the cross, and bowed in worship

And, among the nations, philosophers, and

Lord.

our

to

orators,

and governors, and generals, and multitudes which could

And

not be numbered, bowed there in pure devotion.

your eyes over the nations, and behold the

fields

cast

of

its

triumph, especially since the Reformation, and especially in

our happy days of missionary enterprise

To

believe that

which

the preaching of the doctrines of the cross merely

pronounce human wisdom,

and

puerility,

many

so

its

folly,

and

highest pursuits

its

favoured, indulgences, vices

could

attract

of the learned as well as the unlettered, and effect

these marvellous conversions, and changes which are exhi-

and

bited in the moral

and

is

effect

a thing utterly above

who can
ting

all

human

to sustain it

is

it

the infidel believes

all this

So true

much more

is

hasten to a close

cannot omit

reason

may

internal, I

it,

while

And

yet

Home observes,

as

credulous than what even they

themselves represent Christians to be

the admission of the

assigned to produce them

is

that deists are

the subjects of historical record

no adequate cause

God
The man

credence.

believe this, believes in a miracle without admit-

any evidence

mightiest effects

5.

of the Christian

spiritual character

them, moreover, without the special power of

yet there

may

call

is

one evidence which

it.

It is this

yield to the force of argument,

man's

and yet he may

not be convinced in his heart.

There

is

instruction in the

ing and divine.

And, oh

behind vice and prejudice,

My

Holy Bible

infinitely touch-

were not the heart barricaded

how

forcibly

it

would

feel this

dear reader, set before thy heart the august majesty of

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

View,

the Deity.

49

in the light of eternity, the untold

of thy soul, and the comparative worthlessness of

Keep ever

lunary objects.

read the

judgment, and eternity and let all this menand discipline be sanctified by prayer. Then
;

Holy Bible

with the meek and docile

Heavenly Father's feet. In
see the justice and holiness of

read

of a child sitting at

that holy

God

sub-

in the foreground of thy medi-

tations, death,
tal effort

spirit

worth

all

page thou wilt

it

its

standing forward, pre-eminently conspicuous.

But,

most sweetly tempered by the presence of

divine goodness and love.
There pity finds its way to the
wretched bosom
grace to the undeserving
mercy to the

then, they are

perishing
to save

And

And

oh,

then, there

my dear young

the Divine Mediator, ready

is

reader, ready to save thee also

and perfection of grace in this

thy wants, and to cure all the mise-

there is a suitableness,

Holy One

to

meet

mind

ries of thy

all

overpowers the whole

penetrating and delightful constraint

soul.

healing efficacy

over the troubled conscience.

takes captive the whole heart,

and sends

is

exerted

sweetly persuasive force

and

divine

its

We are won
We see in him

transforming energies over the entire man.

over by the overpowering beauty of God.
a kind, reconciling.

Heavenly Father

we

see the Lord

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and Son of man, who first
loved us, and gave himself for us.
We rest not in cold
speculation, while

more than

we

read the sacred page.

the coldness of respect

hardness of the heart breaks, and

tenderness and affection.
yield

him

the

We

is

fall

homage of our

We

hiotu

it

to

down

hearts,

be from God.

The

sweetly dissolved into

before him, and

and our

yield ourselves willing captives to the divine

word.

We yield him

and admiration.

We

lives.

power of

We feel

it

to

be

his
di-

and we cannot be shaken from our faith and our

hopes by the barren speculations of ungodly men. We

vine,

have a demonstration within the core of our hearts, wLich

6*

50

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

and hell cannot shake that God has spoken to us,

and touched our hearts.
les! the impiety of the infidel's books and tracts may-

earth

excite

may

my

grief,

and

my disgust.

utter their reproaches

Herbert and Bolingbroke

revolting hypocrisy, they bepraise

his disciples of the

Holy

against the
it

Bible, as, iu

Hume, and

the while.

maniac philosophism, may

investigation and disinterestedness in

affect

deep

the search of what

they call truth, while they betray their ill-concealed malice

against the

Lord Jesus

Was

Christ.

the loyalty of a child's

heart ever persuaded to leave a kind father's arms, to follow

a hateful stranger, whose cold repulsive sophistry strikes

dead, even the hope of peace, and of heaven

whole influence of deism

eloquence on the ear of a child

mence of Rabshakeh,
phemy, could

madly

regret,

into

drive

him from

and a

an undone

tear of

this

children, listen to

on your

fidels

ears,

were

it,

me.

his

No, no

It

But, oh

men

it

se-

men

shall

and dying testimony.

bear
In-

you the
They beckon you from a

glimmerings of the dying lamp.

down with them

rushing

never could

This feeble voice

it its last,

blas-

might excite a

Listen to me, young

its

duty, or shake his

filial

would take away from you the sun, and

palace, to lie

the

with the vehe-

sympathy over

eternity.

duce him from his allegiance

my

or were

open on him the floodgates of

Heavenly Father?

faith in his

pang of

it

to

Were

pour the enchantment of

to

in a

offer

They seek

dungeon.

to

seduce you from associations with beings in whose charac-

and holy, and divine,

ter all that is beautiful,

to

is

combined

mingle in dens of wickedness, with men without devotion

without

religion

without

would demonstrate that

to be false.

They

try to

mockery of Him who

They tempt

to

is

God

without

be true which

woo us over

hope

to their

felicity,

They tempt us from

They

and feel
folly by the

hioio

dearer to our hearts than

us to the barter of supreme

us perishing dust.

we

life itself.

by offering

the side of the

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

Lord Jesus Christ,

of the demons of

to

51

mingle with them in the horrid dance

They tempt us a^yay from the

expanding gates of immortal glory, to crowd with them into
the gulf of perdition.
Oh, my dear youth, " madness is in
their hearts

dead /"

while they

Eccl.

so depraved

death.

ix.

and

that they

after

so

weak

go

I will

men

Can

confidence?

the

to

not say,

as to yield your faith to such a system

the morality of these

you from

live,

Can you be

3.

Can

win your

entice your hearts, or

the prospects they set before you, entice

Gospel

the hopes of the

whom they invite you

Lord Jesus Christ 1

to

Can

the beings with

associate, seduce

you from the

aUESTIONS.
Give the names of

Why

we

should

the points

matter

What

necessary.

nine

By

By

their

author's

Scriptures

on which the Christian

liever, in this
is

Holy

the

their

is

How

book genuine, and

divine revelation divided

Recite the first of

It is

Explain these.
?

What

are

issue with the unbe-

Prove that a revelation from God

meant by the Scriptures being geri-

being authentic

being inspired

is at

their

aiitheritic ?

What

this class

By

being credible

do you prove any ancient

argument to the Holy Scriptures.

diligently study the Scriptures

is

How

Apply

this

is the

the Externa/

of evidence.

form of

evidence of

Evidence

Define a miracle.

an extraordinary act of God's power, suspending the

laws of nature

or operating contrary to, or above their or-

dinary course, in order to bear testimony of the highest

order, to his truths.

Repeat the four Rules of Leslie, by which we

test the

evidence by miracles.

Apply these in the case of our Lord's miracles, and those

of his apostles.

When the

apostles,

and prophets had once established their

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

62

divine mission by miracles, did not the church thenceforth

receive the messages as infallibly inspired

What
and of

this divine inspiration

What

is

What
What
is

give specimens of

is

the

the second

There

first

is

The

you,

this internal

my

third

The

dear youth,

demonstration,

of truth in you

the Bible

instance of internal evidence

fourth

The

What

cherished in the Christian's heart.

Have

the historical argument.

a peculiar form of evidence that

is

The

it.

second division of the evidence of

the

is

Ex-

give specimens of prophecy.

of external evidence

third class
:

of the Bible?

the second branch of External evidence

plain this evidence

Explain

monumental evidences of these miracles,

are the

felt

is

What

fifth ?

lodged, and

is that ]

in your soul,

this

and

witnessing of the

heart,
spirit

A MEDITATION.

How

deplorable had been our condition, had

just retribution, left us

and

will

From

God in

his

without a revelation of his mind,

the condition of

pagan lands, and those

countries, where the people have permitted their tyrants to

banish the Holy Bible, can

had been,

if

God had

Bless the Lord,

truth

and mercy.

love, for the

we imagine what our condition

never visited us with the gospel.

O my
And

soul

for the precious

word of his

blessed be our Heavenly Father's

kind and merciful manner in which he has

conferred these gifts of his

will.

He pours on our minds the light of External Evidence.

He stretched forth his arm of power in miracles, wrought
in the presence of foes,

and

friends.

By

these,

was the

divine mission of our Lord, and his commissioned servants, confirmed before the church.

And, thence, was the

divine inspiration of their messages, and writings, confirm-

ed in the amplest and most satisfactory manner before

all.

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

63

In his superahounding goodness, has he added,

establishment in the
class of evidence,

coming of

and

spiritual

events

certain

of mighty

come

events will certainly

Many

pass.

being

and

faithfully

" these

did

come

recorded their

an evidence ever growing

is

Some

brighter.

fulfilled

They

to pass."

and history has

This

brighter,

said they,

to

of them were unfolded, centuries after they

were predicted
filment.

the

importance to the
" If our messages

a lost world be true,"

to

for our

another

his inspiration, his prophets recorded the

church, and to the nations of the earth.

from heaven

comfort,

of standing miracles,

a series

By

PROPHECIES.

faith,

ful-

and shining

now

of these prophecies are

and some of them, during the coming ge-

nerations, will yet continue to shed the light of their de-

monstration over the book of God.

To

this

all

And he who

evidence he has added that of history.

rejects this

kind of evidence, must reject every

item of ancient and modern history.

the law of

It is

my

nature to receive the evidence of

testimony, as confidently as the evidence of

my

A jury

even

and

decides on matters of the last

death,

from the evidence of testimony.

the law of

cisely according to

upon our

moment

conscience, indelibly

of nature

God

In that case

Of

am

an

I am rebelling
my soul, and

infidel against

Holy

course, I must receive the

Bible on the evidence presented to me, complete and

sistible as

it is

or, as the

myself by acting contrary

al

being

Even

life

pre-

Almighty God, impressed

against the laws which he has imprinted on

God

is

If I refuse this testimony, I do actually

nature.

put myself in opposition to Almighty

the

It

senses.

irre-

only alternative, I must degrade

and nature of a ration-

to the law,

this is not

evidence,

we have

all.

In addition

to this

overpowering

the irresistible testimony of

evidence. For instance,I look

at the

perfect

internal

harmony

in the

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

64

divine pages. There

is

nothing

to equal this, in all the inci-

The

dents of history, or science.

writers of the

inspired

books, were fishermen, herdsmen, shepherds, philosophers,

princes,

They were

and kings.

not by rank only, but by time.

of fifteen hundred years.

separated from each other,

They

Yet, they

lived over a space

think exactly alike,

all

same pure heavenly doctrines all concur presame facts, and in the same opinions on the
same facts. There is not an instance of diversity in sentiThey express the same faith
ment, in feeling, in wishes.
they avow the same hopes they worship the same God
they advocate the same Redeemer, the same worship, and
teach the

all

cisely in the

form of religion.

In

who never saw each

short,

other,

these diversified characters,

who

lived remotely from each

other, over a space of fifteen centuries, exhibit

unerring, inimitable, and perfect

ment, and expression

harmony

one uniform,

in every senti-

No combination of human wisdom,

knowledge, and sagacity could have achieved

this.

The

boundless and endless variations and contradictions of hu-

man

books exhibit an unanswerable proof of

only solution

These holy men

Holy Ghost.

is this.

were moved by the

all

But, the progress of science discloses a

here.

mean the

harmony of Divine

exact

this.

The

spake as they

new harmony
revelation with

and proviEvery discovery of historical researches, and geology throws a new light, and lends a fresh evidence to the
Book of God. And the wisest of our philosophers now
take the Bible as their unerring guide, even in the novel
The God of nature, and providence is
points of science.
the genuine disclosures of science in nature,

all

dence.

the

God

Food

of our salvation.

goodness

to the

to the ears;

hungry

nor

is

not

more adapted by

light to the eyes

his

nor sound

than are the good news and glad tidings of his

gospel to guilty and dying

In addition

man

to all this, there is the

combination of divine

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES,

What moral
What purity

and fascinating beauties.

55

loveliness

on

the

What sublimity
What a diin natural imagery, and mental conceptions
By them are
vine, and invincible efficacy attends them
page of divine revelation

we renewed, reformed, and

Then, there

is

sanctified.

the overwhelming appeal to our certain ex-

perience, as rational beings and

Christians.

describes the knowledge of God.

The

Bible

do

know

I feel that I

him, as there described.

The

God.

him, as there described.

I feel

that I love

Bible sets before

me

cepting him.

trust I feel

Bible describes the love of

the only Saviour,

that I

and

have

the

The

mode of

that faith in

ac-

him

and that I cleave to him by that love

commands. The Bible alone details the process
of regeneration, and sets forth the duties, and happiness of
penitence, and a holy life.
I humbly believe that I feel in

which

it

which

it

describes,

me, that new nature, that passing from death to life that
" mournful joy, and pleasing pain," attending true repent;

ance, and holiness in the Christian

There

is

sober reality in

this.

infallibly his father's voice in the

And

life.

child

can discern

dark night of his wander-

me that I cannot discern

my Heavenly Father, speaking to me in his
word, and in my heart 1
Can I feel, without deception, that
my heart loves my kind parents? And can any one persuade me that I do not know that I love my God, and Sa-

ings.

can any one persuade

the voice of

viour

This

experience.
tates

is

the sober

And

it

knowledge of

of infallible authority.

thus read:

fact,

and mental

corresponds, of course, with the dic-

"If any man

of the doctrine, whether

it

will

open the holy book, and

do God's

will,

be of God. "John

vii.

he
17.

shall

know

" Hereby

that we know God, if we keep his commandments." 1 John ii. 3.

I humbly trust I feel by God's grace, that I will do God's
will.
And, thence, I know, that these doctrines are of

we do know,

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

66

God.

know when, by

mands

and, hence,

God and

his grace,

keep God's com-

have the assurance

my

against the evidence of

external senses

me

Satanic power shall be able to persuade

dence of

my

know my

even

no

so,

against the evi-

internal senses.

have arrived

that I

As no human power can persuade me

Saviour.

conclusion that there

at the

is

as genuine

philosophy in the evidence of the Bible, and of practical

religion

as there is in any branch whatever^ of judicial, or

scientific evidence.

Precious Bible
this

book

to

know,

ty

as

my

What

a rich treasure have I found in

Every thing do

it

God, help me

to

and glory

all

me

time and eterni-

to render to thee

hearty thanks for it, and

nounces

I find here necessary for

respects grace,

my

the blessings

humble and

which

it

an-

us

A PRAYER.
Almighty God, and merciful Father,

would humbly ap-

proach thee in the light which thy love has shed on us, by

Holy Word.

thy

know

thee,

In

my God,

Lord, for the choice

to us

gift

of thy

secret since the world

men
by

could penetrate

everlasting

Blessed be thou,

apostles.

began

it.

and good pleasure, was kept

will,
;

and none of

God,

is it

faith.

To

the sous of

it is

made known
thee,

all

made manifest and,

according to thy command,

But now,

the Scriptures of the prophets,

obedience of

alone can I see thee, and

of thy Holy Scriptures, conveyed

by thy prophets, and

The mystery

light

this

in Jesus Christ.

my

to all nations, for the

God, do

give hearty

thanks, and praise, for this precious gift of thy mind, and
will,

through Jesus Christ,

And these Holy

my

Lord.

Scriptures hast thou, moreover, graciously

given to us, in a language which

hast

ill

we

understand.

Thou

great mercy, set us free from the tyranny of thy foes,

OP THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

and our

foes,

who

lock up the holy Bible, and declare

me my

gave

for ever

it

Glory be to thy kind providence, which

prohibited book.

being in a land of Bibles, and the glorious gos-

For

pel light.

57

this rich

boon of thy

love, will I adore thee

These Holy Scriptures hast thou ordained to be a light

my feet, and a lamp to my path. Without them, I know,

to

Lord, that

man

not in

is

it

Without them, could

steps.

that walketh, to

dark mountains, to the throne of thy

soul, thy

Word

shining of the

age in

cloud by day

the refreshing

is

of

pillar

by night, throughout

fire

Oh

this wilderness.

direct his

my way over the

glory.
To my weary

never find

lead

and the

my pilgrim-

me, and guide me, dear

wearisome journey.

And tell me,

Shepherd, through

all

soul loveth, where thou feedest at

thou

whom my

this

morn,
and where thou causest thy flock to rest in the
burning hour of noon and let me never turn aside after
the flocks of thy companions.
Thee will I follow whither-

and

eve,

And

soever thou leadest.

thy steps,

beaming with

me

venly light of thy word, will conduct

the hea-

over Jordan into

Canaan, thy glorious resting-place.

me feel more and more, that mercy which has enjoinme the duty of searching thy Scriptures. For they
testify of thee
and in them we know that we have eternal
life.
Thou bestowest blessings on the man who delights in
Let

ed on

the law of

Open mine

God, and who therein meditates day and night.

eyes,
Lord, that I may behold wondrous things

Then

out of thy law.

my

more

Thy
living

delight,

law,

Lord,

and powerful

shall thy

my

and

is

perfect,

it is

testimonies be more and

counsellors.

converting the soul

piercing to the dividing asunder of soul and

my

God, on

this heart of

the blessedness
er.

Thy

of

testimony

its

it

is

sharper than a two-edged sword,

mine,

perfection,

is sure,

let

and

its

making wise
6

spirit.

Here,

thy divine grace prove

converting powthe simple.

Let

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

68

my

longing soul,

It is sure

it

Lord, enjoy

testimony of thine.

this

contains the unalterable doctrines, and pro-

mises of thy love.

It discloses the never-failing

the well-ordered, and everlasting covenant.

to

my

It

mercy of

home

sends

disconsolate heart, in the hour of sorrow, the reviv-

ing assurances of thy unfailing presence, and unchanging

love.

that I

makes

It

am

the simple wise.

be the prey of sin

am

and am apt

confess to thee,

simple and foolish.

to

be tossed

Oh

every vain thing of time, and sense.

entrance of thy word, to send
into the inner

and glory

man,

that I

its

Lord,

constantly exposed to
to

and

grant

by

fro

me

the

wisdom and illumination

may be wise to seek my salvation,

in the cross of Christ alone.

All thy statutes are right

rejoicing the heart.

been a helpless wanderer from

have

Lord, the shepherd

thee,

and bishop of my soul. Oh bring me back from all places

into which I have wandered in the cloudy and dark day.
!

Feed me with thy rod, among the flock of thine heritage,

which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel,
Every command of thy word,
as in the days of old!
Lord,

From

pure.

is

And

issued.

Shed

lead us.

forth, I

their purity into

my

with thy holiness,

purity, to glorify

the

Lord

is

clean

thy

word and

spirit

is
;

and

reflect

Father who

life

back the
is in

my

thee,

that,

God,

being beautified

image of

fair

heaven.

Oh

endureth for ever.

it

of the Lord, which

of perfection in glory, do they

humbly beseech

heart,

may

my

of infinite purity they

the fountain

to the purity

The
!

its

fear of

for this fear

produced, and cherished in the soul by

this

cleansing

fear,

which

fills

the heart

with a godly jealousy, and watchful care, and holy anxiety

to drive

from the heart

soul for heaven

all that is

defiling

which purifies the

and which endureth for ever

able beauty in that land of the holy

in its imperish-

Lord, grant me sweet comThrough this word of thine,

munion with thee, in aii my trials, and in all my earthly joys.

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

More

precious to

me

than gold, yea, than

and sweeter than honey, and

69

much

honeycomb,

fine gold

the comHeavenly Father and

with thee, my Blessed Redeemer
and with thee, O Holy
Spirit
And oh my God, whatever thou mayest deny me,
in this world, or see fit to take fi-om me,
may I ever enjoy
the love of my Heavenly Father
and the grace of my
blessed Redeemer, and the communion of the Holy Ghost.

munion of

the soul with thee,

the

is

my

And

glory shall be thine, in Christ for ever.

who

art in

heaven, hallowed be thy name, &c.

" Our Father

Amen.

CHAPTER

OUR GOD, THE ONE,

" This is

I.

life

eternal to

This point

God

of

is settled

recognized over

all

LIVING,

know

AND TRUE GOD.

thee, the

only true God."

The God of nature is the God of

Adam, his posterity, and the church.

God's Existence.

the Bible, the

III.

in the

book of Genesis

and uniformly

the pages of holy writ.

" That which may be known of God is manifest to man

God hath showed it to him for the invisible things of
him from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made
even his eternal
power and Godhead. So that man is without excuse."
;

for

Rom.
"

i.

19, 20.

Day

utters speech to-day,

Tells knowledge.

The

and night to-night,

Silence has a tongue

the grave,

darkness, and the lonely waste, has each,

A tongue that ever says, Man, think of God

Think of thyself!

Think of eternity

Fear God, the thunders say fear God, the waves

Fear God, the lightning of the storm replies.
Fear God, deep loudly answered back to deep !"
;

POLLOK.

The

existence of mind,

conclusively prove that there

matter,
is

and motion, do most

a God.

Could

that

globe

OUR GOD, ETC.

make

Standing before you,

without the hand of the

itself;

artist ?

61

or spring up into being

Could

and

this vast earth,

these globes rolling around in the blue vault of heaven,

create themselves

power
motion
whole
roll

or spring into being,

chance

by,

What

and the earth; adapt each part

arrange each globe in

its

own

the

to

proper place

and

defect, or confusion, each in its own

What but an infinite mind and spirit, could create
many diverse minds and give to each its own faculties

them on without

orbit

so

the heavens

plan

omnipotence could put these worlds into

What wisdom short of infinite wisdom, could

short of

and

attributes

The

and preserve them in mental operation ]

God

devout mind sees the presence of

We

thing.

see

God

every

in

operating in grandeur and power, in

the minutest things, and greatest things

wonders

in the

of the grain of sand; in the wonders of the stupendous

hills

We

in the wonders of the great deep.

trace his

footsteps by the microscope, in the

minute world, of ani-

mate and inanimate

far

the

naked

eye.

things,

By

removed

we

the telescope

below the reach of

trace his wonderful

outgoings, in the vast regions of the heavens, far beyond

We

the reach of the unassisted eye.

goodness in spring

see his beauty

in the splendours of

summer

and

in the

profusions of autumn
and his glory in the rolling clouds,
and roaring tempests of winter. " My father made them all !"
:

We

hear

breeze

him

murmuring stream in the whispering

moaning of the winds. His voice is
roaring wave, and the peal of thunder.
We
in the

in the loud

uttered in the

see his terrible glory in the flash of his lightning

gleaming thunderbolt

His name

on every flower, on every

stateliest

oak of the

tree

and the

on every

plant,

from the humble shrub

to the

is

written

His being and perfections are

kingdoms of nature, and providence.

forest.

uttered aloud overall the

In these disclosures

an Almighty Creator

am

of

all

taught distinctly that there

things.

6*

And

I see,

is

know,


62

OUR GOD, THE ONE,

his
I

he is a just, and a terrible Being, as well

GOOD Being. I look on the innumerable displays of
goodness on the earth, in the air, in the waters and

I feel, that

as a

would fondly love him.

I see

him

look on his terrible judgments

him "marching through

" threshing the heathen

in the awful justice of his nature,

in his anger ;"

down

and

the land in indignation ;" I see

tremble before him, and throw myself

in despair. I see his

messengers of justice, war, famine,

sweeping away our species, gene-

pestilence, diseases, death,

ration after generation.

am

bones quake, before him.

filled

am

with horror, and

conscious of

guilt.

all

my
am

Can such a Being

Can he have mercy? No

conscious of his inflexible holiness.

love

me?

Can he

me?

pity

creature can answer this.

wisdom

The
swered

says,

it

is

not in

All nature

me

to

Bible alone can answer this

It

it.

and

it

has fully an-

has drawn the hitherto impenetrable veil

thrown over the Deity.

Lamb

Christ, the

Human

dumb.

is

answer.

points our eyes to the

It

Lord Jesus

And it sends this cheering

glory
God is a just God, and

of God.

voice from the excellent

A Saviour!

II.

The Unity

of the Godhead.

The

true

have none above him, or independent of him.

can be no god equal

to

him.

persons in the Godhead

omnipotence, one
But,

will,

one essence, one

one God.

Gods of

equal and dis-

they would have equal power, and be equally

independent of each other.

them could

of the other.

there are three divine

there is only

suppose there were two

tinct essence

ther of

While

God can
And there

Yet, this being the case, nei-

create, or rule without the full

If one of them did so,

it

consent

would bring one

Almighty being into collision with another Almighty being.

Since, then, neither could act without the
the other,

it

follows that each of

them

is

full

consent of

dependent on

AND TRUE GOD.

LIVING,

63

But a dependent being is not God. Reason,

that there must be one God, or no God.
But reason and the* existence of mind, matter, and motion

the other.

then, decides,

demonstrate that there

is

Hence

a God.

there

only

is

one

LIVING AND TRUE GoD.

The

Bible sets the doctrine of God's unity in the clear-

" Hear,

est light.

Lord." Deut.

Lord our God

Israel, the

"

4.

vi.

am

the Lord, your

the Creator of Israel, your king." Isa. xliii. 15.

first,

not any." Isa.

many

III.

In
as he

xliv.

but to

" There are gods many, and

is
one God." 1 Cor. viii. 5.
us there
6,

8.

The Perfections of God.

his divine essence

is infinite

God

is

in essence, so is

of existence always follows the

Our God

is

eternal.

and as certainly
" The mode
he eternal.

infinite

mode

of essence.

Because

existence adds nothing to essence, but actuality

is it

indeed distinct from essence.

thing else but continued existence.

if

God's essence be

must

one

am the last; and besides me there is no God." "Is

God beside me 1 Yea there is no God I know

there a

lords

is

Holy One,
" I am the

infinite,

also be infinite."*

That

Now,

duration

Hence,

his existence
is,

God

it

neither
is

no-

follows that

and duration

is eternal.

Angels and men are eternal by the will of God. But of

HIM only is it said, " He only hath immortality." He
only has an eternity without succession of time. He only

has

He

an eternity before we existed.

eternity,

over

all

our duration.

And

and necessary, it is derived from none

on none. " Art thou not from everlasting,
God, my Holy One?" Hab. i. 12.
lute

Our God

is

* Gale's

infinite.

His

essence

Court of the Gentiles, B.

only has

an

this eternity is abso-

ii.

it

is

dependent
Lord,

my

we cannot com-

4. Sect. 3.

64

OUR GODj THE ONE,

prehend.

He

has no bounds of time or space.

It

God

without limit in every perfection.

was before him

is infinite

is

no one

no being is superior to him no being is

His being and essence are as far superior to
the being and essence of man, as infinity is to what is finite.
God is infinite no one sphere of his activity is limited
no aid of any cause needs he in acting. Whatever he
:

equal to him.

he can do

wills to do, that

Our God
from

and

This follows necessarily

unchangeable.

is

he does infallibly.*

that

the fact of his essence being

He

infinite.

cannot

change, for he cannot descend from the infiniteness of his

He

perfections.

cause.

He

change,

to

what

and

his will is the

will

cannot be charged by any agent, or

" If he
infinitely over all, and above all.

were

to

not change

will

He

of omnipotence.
is

it

must be

is infinitely

to

what

is

the reverse."|

infinitely

better

But each of

this is

or

im-

possible.

There are two impressive evidences of

this set before us.

Holy Bible. " I am Jehovah I change

" With the Father of lights there is no
not." Mai. iii. 6.
variableness, nor shadow of turning."
James i. 17.
2d. In the work of Redemption.
God's immutability is
the very basis on which rests this entire plan of mercy through

The

1st is in the

Christ.

Had

changeable

the throne of his

had his

government not been unand holiness admitted

infinite justice

of a change in any degree in his law, and honour

word, could the Holy

One have receded from the

in a

high claims

of infinite purity, justice, and law, he would have spared

his

own Son

spared not his

and

sacrificed

law,

own Dear Son.

and

But he

justice.

Therefore he

is

immutable

in every perfection.

And
*

he who

Turretine.

is

immutably just

to his

t Plato,

own law and

De

Republ.

go-

AND TRUE GOD.

LIVING,

verument,

equally just to Christ, and his ransomed peo-

is

He who

ple.

will not

would not permit sin

permit one to perish for

punishment of

full

65

whom

Hence he

sin.

go unpunished,

to

Christ did bear the

infallibly destroy

will

the works of the devil, the world, the flesh,

Our God
these

is

omnipresent, and immense.

a modification of the

is

we mean

omnipresence,

The

When we

last.

first

of

speak of his

the presence of his essence, his per-

and operations, wherever there

fections,

and death.

mind, and matter,

is

and motion.

He

and things.

But God's essence and presence are not

in

is

all,

bounded by the limits of

where no creature exists.
birth

as

to

many more

and with

and over

all,

He

creation.

And were

equally present

is

he pleased to give

and as many more

worlds,

beings

all

he would be equally present with them, as with

creatures,

This

us.

we call God's immensity.

The heathen had their gods of the hills, and their gods of
But our God is everywhere present.
the vallies.
" Where is your God ?" We answer, he is near us at

times

all

He

dies.

He
is

is

even nearer
is

to

us than our souls are to our bo-

in the assemblies of heaven's vast populations.

present with the

doomed

and in the

His presence pervades the

of every land.

retired spots

gulfs of

and the most dreary solitudes of the wilderness.

present with every particle of air and
dust,

He

and water.

tions of each of these

and empires, and

And
space.

all

regulates the
;

He

every spot

at

once.

He

has no relation to time.

God

afar off*?

Can any

is

ana sand, and

not spread like air or

in

He

men, and angels,

as well as those of

a perfect God,

is

light,

ocean

movements, and posi-

the worlds above

his essence is

He

in the regions of wo.

in the busy haunts of the city

his entire

light,

over

essence,

in

has no relation to space, as he

"

Am

God

at

hand, and not a

hide himself in secret places, that

OUR GOD, THE ONE,

66
I

should not

him?

see

go from thy

shall I

presence
I

my

make

Spirit

not I

from thy

or whither shall I flee

thou

fill

" Whither

xxiii. 23.

If 1 ascend up into heaven,

Do

Lord.

saith the

heaven, and earth, saith the Lord." Jer.

art

bed in the lowest deeps of hades, thou

there

art there

if

!"

Ps. cxxxix.

Our God
vading

is

omniscient.

and operating by

all,

This

follows from his per-

his perfections

in

space.

all

He

must necessarily know all things. Besides, he has a

perfect and most exact knowledge of his own infinite being,
mind, and will.
Hence, he must have an exact knowledge
" He that planted the ear, shall he not
of all finite things.
hear

He

that

Lord knoweth

formed the eye,

the thoughts of

telleth the

number of

names."

Ps. cxlvii. 4, 5.

Our God has

things

all

is

effects.

it

is

The goodness
us good.
tion

it is

attribute con-

Wisdom

each other

all

their

in the

kingdom of grace.

in selecting Christ;

preparing him a body, and

sacrifice.

Hence

of God.

The divine goodness

of our God.

God's nature, by which he

It is the

their

and unfitness as

and proper matter of a

called the

that perfection of

"He

by

displayed through

glorified

appointing him to be mediator

our Lord

all

is

It

and

to

fitness

their

his providence

In a special manner
soul, to be the real

This

which these bear

the relations

nature,

he calleth them

comprehension of the nature of

harmony and opposition

means to produce certain
all

The

Ps. xciv. 9, 10.

infinite wisdom.

in his perfect

sists

man."

the stars

he not see ?

shall

is

moved

to

is

do

cause of our being, and our preserva-

the source of our hopes, and the foundation of

our happiness.

For, by his infinite goodness, was his om-

nipotence moved to put forth

its

glory in the creation of

all

AND TRUE GOD.

LIVING,

Nothing from without

things out of nothing.

mind

move

could

nimate nature, and

beings which

all

the

to

his divine

bring into existence

unnumbered

all

ina-

of living

classes

Neither necessity, nor want could have

exist.

The

moved him.

Deity

the

67

God

self-existent

And

necessity from any thing.

could not be under a

since he has

all

perfection

want of any created thing.

This display of power could, therefore, proceed only from
in himself, he could never be in

infinite

goodness

of which

This perfection

it

a glorious effect to give

is

many

being, and happiness to so

creatures.

strikingly exhibited in preserving

is

all

creatures and things, in existence, and in their proper spheres,

and movements.

Omnipotence

goodness alone moves the arm of

Infinite

in exerting itself in these

acts, the

doing of

which requires the same almighty power which brought

all

things intoexistence.

But above

all, is

divine goodness displayed in the work

Here it puts
and glory. For what

of redemption.
variety,

forth itself in
is

the freeness of the divine goodness to those

rited

What

a favour?

who

divine goodness to those

richest

who never me-

mercy of God, but

the

is

all its

the grace of God, but just

are in misery.

just the

What

the

is

patience, and forbearance of God, but just the goodness of

God

toward the guilty in deferring their punishment, to give

them time

to repent?

What

is

the love

of God, but just

the divine goodness pouring out the tenderness of his affec-

tions

us

on

us, reclaiming us,

home
And how
all

to his glory

great

something of

its

our Heavenly
to pity us.

is

and sanctifying us, and bringing

God's goodness

grandeur in

its

We

may

outgoings to us.

perceive

By

it,

Father was moved to stoop from his throne

By

it,

our Blessed Saviour was

moved

to leave

bend his mysterious steps

and to humble himself, and be-

the throne of his glory, and to

into our rebellious world

come obedient

Uiito death,

even the death of the cross,

that

OUR GOD, THE ONE,

68

he might ransom us from sin, death, and

Holy

Spirit raised us to the adoption of

the rich,

The
the

By

hell.

and eternal inheritance of heaven

our God.

justice of

unbending rectitude of

Viewed

his nature,

absolutely,

by which

ed relatively,

signifies the rectitude of

it

all

and judge.

God's justice

following ways in his moral government

He

1st.

View-

only

is

as their ru-

is glorified

man his laws, just, and in

The truth of this is evident.
and suitableness.

the judge of their justness

he has actually enjoined them on

in the

prescribes to

spects suited to us.

is

the divine acts

and proceedings toward his rational creatures

benefactor,

it

the acts

all

of his divine perfections are regulated unceasingly.

ler,

the

it,

God's children, and

all

re-

God
And

us, as altogether befitting

own honour and our happiness.

These laws are of tivo classes. They are either moral,
For instance,
that is, just and right in the nature of things.
we must love God, and obey him we must not kill, nor
his

Or, they are positive laws

steal.

that

is,

they derive their

obligation purely, and alone from the will of

God

enjoin-

For instance, we must keep the Sabbath day

we must celebrate Baptism, and the Lord's Supper.

ing them.
holy

From

the

are binding
the will of
duties,

first

on

of these originate our moral duties

all

God.

which

men from their very nature, as well as

From the second, originate our positive

binding on

us,

not from the nature of the case, but

simply from the positive will of our God, fixing in his rightful

sovereignty, a

test,

" If you love me, keep

remembrance of Me."

and law of our love and obedience.

" Do this in

my commandments."

In these, we have a divine specimen

of both of these laws.

2d.

The justice

of our

rewards, and penalties.

Take them away, and

God

These

sustains these laws by due

are essential to

the law dwindles

down

good laws.
to a

mere

AND TRUE GOD.

LIVING,
petition
to his

by
to

and request.

It is in justice to

moral subjects, therefore, that

these.

man,

no

It is

that the

superior to

less in justice to

69

himself, as well as

God

enforces his laws

God's government, and

rewards promised to the

possible losses and pains

should be

faithful,

on earth

and that
punishment of disobedience, should be greater than all
possible gains, and pleasures which man can promise to
himself in breaking these laws.
Hence, when the law is
in all respects good, as God's law is, it follows that the goodall

the

God

ness and justice of

are displayed, just in proportion to

the greatness of the reward,

For

if the

and

the severity of the penalty.

rewards and penalty were inadequate, there would

be a temptation held out

to

break the law.

Now, God's law

being infinitely good, the reward held out to the

not be too great

faithful

nor can the penalty be too severe.

accordingly, divine justice has fixed heaven, and

felicity as the

reward by his grace

and

its

the eternal

can-

And,
eternal

and

tolerable miseries of hell, as the penalty of unbelief,

in-

and

fi-

nal impenitence.
3d.
tial

God's justice

retribution.

tremendous

exhibited in

is

its

bestows the reward

penalty,

God

gospel.

It

according

to the

and impar-

strict

and

it

letter

inflicts the

of law, and

cannot promise, and declare one thing, and

cannot deny himself. The promised re-

He

do another.

ward comes as certainly as he maintains the

tude of his nature, and his government

infinite recti-

whether that
reward comes through the claims of holy obedience
as in
the case of the angels of heaven
or, through the claims
of our Redeemer's merits and intercession, to the believer,
;

as the reward of grace.

reason, be inflicted in

promise.
so

fell

It

must

fall,

And

its full

for

on the heads of the

the penalty must, for the

same

extent, without

com-

God

fail,

hath declared

fallen angels, in its

it.

or

And

it

immeasura-

And it so fell on the head of our Lord

Jesus Christ, the voluntary and accepted substitute of God's
ble vengeance.

OUR GOD, THE ONE,

70

And

Church.

never was there such another exhibition of

divine justice, in

unbending

all

The oMNiroTENCB
God

of

all

its

of our God.

The almighty power

always set prominently out in the pages of Re-

is

An

velation.

The

and

ineffable loveliness,

its

rectitude.

leading

important object

aim of Bible

be gained by

to

is

truth is to bring

man

this.

to the true

and the true worship

and wickedness checked, and
destroyed
and the redeemed brought home.
Hence the only true God must be The Almighty One.
object of worship

the true religion

idolatry is to be abolished

But the God of Adam, and of

for

by the declarations of the

the

Church is the true God

book of the Bible, he
;

first

And

created the heavens and the earth.

his

idols

the dumb, and

And

of the nations.

"

he

All the

deaf,

all

and

and impotent gods

blind,

gods of the nations are idols

And

all

the earth."

alone.

holiness

fear

Ps. xcvi.

quicken our adoration of the only true God, con-

to

template the vastness of his power.

it

him

but Jehovah

glory due unto

before him,

and

contrast with

are required to worship

made the heavens. Give unto the Lord the

worship him in the beauty of
name

his

set forth in

is

glorious majesty in a most instructive

was done

He

By

his

word he spake,

created the matter of

all

worlds, out

of nothing.

By

worlds

being and beautiful order, out of the chaos

into

his

word he brought

He created
and confusion of matter.
He fixed the light
fore he made the sun.
star,

and globe

space, around his throne.

and

orbit

rapidity

of

He

the

light

be-

in each of the

He

formed each

and moves in

gave each globe

he gave each of them by a word,

motion:

other

all

that exists,

great suns of their respective systems.

and each system

and

this,

its

place,

their

vast

he sustains them in that undimi-

Dished motion, and fixed law of their orbit, from age to age,

AND TRUE GOD.

LIVING,

"

without a visible degree of variation.

out the north over the

He

upon nothing."
culiar

He

families.

all

He

has stretched

and he hangs

has given to each world

He

inhabitants.

and inanimate

empty place

71

has

animals,

formed
the

all

all

its

matter,

the earth

own

pe-

animate

human, and the angelic

keeps up, on the earth, the unvaried succes-

In him
we live, and move, and have our being."
Now, let us see how nature and revelation respond muThe
tually in proclaiming this power of Almighty God.
globes in the starry regions still move on, as they have done,
for ages without change, or confusion.
The mighty power
of God is there put forth. The ocean still heaves his terrision of each genus, and species, of living thing.

ble

waves

but there

is still

'*

a hand that fixes their bounds,

" God touches the mountains

Every volcanic mountain raises its
smoking summit, and from age to age mutters in its terrific
" He lifteth up his
thunders the powers of a present God.
voice to the clouds, and abundance of rain covereth man."

and

stays the proud waves.

and they smoke."

The

Behold the unceasing process of his power.

cease not to ascend in vapours into the clouds
in copious showers

" he giveth snow like

or,

scattereth the hoar frost like ashes."

may go

nings, that they

we

are !"

the clouds,

We

eye

!"

''

He

He

sendeth light-

and they say unto Him,

his potent

arm wields

" we see where he stands by

removeth the mountains,"

earth,

and the

quake

fulfils this to

pillars thereof

cities of the east,

the

tremble!"

letter,

among

and the south. " All

the nations are before him, as vanity,

What was
What was

'*'

waters

and return
wool
and

here

see, accordingly, his lightnings playing in

and when

thunderbolt,

the Spanish

Armada

the gleaming

the flash of his

" he shaketh
The

the horror-stricken

flesh is as grass :"

the

terrible earth-

" All

as less than nothing !"

before his winds, and waves

the mighty host of the Assyrian king before his

angel moving on in the death-bearing sirocco of the desert

OUR GOD, THE ONE,

72

What were

Napoleon before

the proudly equipt hosts of

deadly frosts of the North

What

are

human

the

all

his

family

before his Almighty arm, sweeping them away, generation

by the angel of Death

after generation,

And

there

is

a connecting link of evidence here, which

brings these things, in power, and assurance,

While we look

heart.

accordance with revelation,

his power, in our
I

own

home

God makes us

personal experience.

feel,

each of us,

In every breath

draw, in every pulse that beats, in every act of

ses, I feel

move

my

here.

a present God, in his power.

faculties are kept in exercise

I feel

new

spiritual life in

ture in Christ Jesus

That God, who

is

know,

to the

responding in exact

at nature thus

me.

believe,

Almighty in nature,

My

my

sen-

members

God's power

am

is

crea-

and repent.

love,
is

new

my Almighty

Redeemer.

That God, who exercises such vast power in

same power with his love, on my beransom me, to protect me, to guide me, and to

nature, puts forth the

half,

to

bring

me home

"

to glory.

Oh

the depth of the riches

How unwisdom and knowledge of God

searchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding
For of him, and through him, and to him are all
out.
Amen."
to whom be glory, for ever
things
both of the

ClUESTIONS.

What
Prove

God ?
God of nature

is

Is the

the

same as the God of the Bible

it.

Can God's being be proved from nature's works ?

4. What do the Scriptures say 1
Is this sufficient ]
What does the Bible reveal, which nature and reason
cannot?

God

is

His

eternity,

God

one

prove this from reason and Scripture.

what? prove

is infinite

define

it

it

in the

prove

same manner.

it.


AND TRUE GOD.

LIVING,

His immutability define

His omnipotence, what?
His omniscience, what ?

it

Proof
His goodness

Name

define

it

two evidences of

it

what

His immensity, what?

His wisdom, what
Proof.

how

which

the varieties in

73

him

displayed by

goodness shows

his

itself.

His justice define it its three displays, what ?

His omnipotence define it give specimens of it.
0oes the voice of nature respond to Revelation on
:

matter

this

The

proof in our personal experience, what

How

feel you,

my

dear youth, in your soul and heart, in

reference to the proof of God's being, and his glorious perfections

Lovest thou God, as the only living and true

God ? Lay, now, thy hand on thy heart, and

God thou knowest that I love thee."
What darest thou live, and move on God's

say,

"

earth,

and

and answer this question,

love thee with all my soul and heart ?"

yet art thou unprepared to put,

<'

Lord, do

MEDITATION.

my

Bless the Lord,

of God, and

left

under him who

" good"
been

soul.

Thou wast

without hope.

O, had

not abandoned

this

my

been

lot

"severe" in his justice, as well as

is

in grace, 1 should,

like the heathen.

on account of

I should, like

my

guilt,

have

them, have been guilty

of neglecting " the things that are clearly seen," and " understood" by God's glorious works.

been without excuse.

worshipper of the host of heaven

passions, I should have been an
idols of the

North

I should, like

them, have

should, like them, have been a

;

or,

yielding to

my own

adorer of the ferocious

or of the licentious idols of the

balmy

climate of the East and South.

When I
my soul is

meditate on Almighty God, and his perfections,

overwhelmed, and melted down within me.

7*

He

OUR GOD, THE ONE,

74

God, the great and terrible God. I tremble before him.

But he bids me draw near. He proclaims himself, " The
Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious
forgiving ini-

is

quity, transgression,

my own

Christ

him.

I revere

have

Oh! he

and sin."

him.

adore him.

in the heavens, but thee

My

God, and Father.

my heart,

my

and

in

soul draws near to

I love

him

Whom

And there is none on

Thou art the strength

the earth that I desire besides thee.

of

my God

is

portion for ever

Our God is one. Besides him there is not, there cannot

be any other. I know no other. I own no other. With
him there is no rival in the heavens, or on the earth. Oh
the atheism of man who goeth after strange gods
I charge
thee, O my soul, let there be no idol within thee
none on
!

the throne of thy heart.

try,

And

to

guard against mental idola-

and the idolatry of the world,

let

my

possessed with the knowledge of God.

comed, and received, and adored in

my

and

soul be filled

Let him be welheart.

Oh

for a

true faith, an ardent love, a profound penitence, holy affections,

and

sanctified desires

Then

pure worship, and a uniform

Christian obedience in

him a

render

shall I

self-surrender,

and a

truly

life.

ANOTHER MEDITATION.
I meditate

on the Eternity of God.

in the boundless

The

conception.

My

Eternal

soul

lost

is

God!

Oh!

Oh breadth, and
and depth of God's eternity
He
had no beginning. He had no cause of his existence.
None were before him. There is no succession of time
Infinite duration adds
with him and no end with him

what are ye
length,

and

all,

ye creatures of time

The

subtraction

would make him no younger

AM

nothing to his age.

say,

height,

Thou,

of eternity from him

God, alone canst

In thy august presence

am

a worm, and nothing.

am

AND TRUE GOD.

LIVING,

nothing

less than

O my

Yet,

made immortal

art

Yes, I

soul, glorify

am an

for thou

Oh

and most transporting thought Thou art immorWonderful glory and honour
The decree has gone

forth

and

is irrevocable.

ever and ever

Oh

Yes.

my

this,

soul,

ever

I shall live for

!

Yes, for

transporting thought, I shall live

God

as long as the throne of the eternal

on

God,

immortal being.

delightful,
tal

76

shall exist

Think

and renounce the world, with

garly honours, and pleasures

cern to be ready to meet thy

And
God in

let it

its

beg-

be thy great con-

home.

thy eternal

ANOTHER MEDITATION.
I meditate
all

ye

little

Thou

on God's immutability.

and devotion of worldly men

and pleasures, depart from me.

attention
objects
spirit

God

is

and

is

my

actions.

all

Oh

ye

all

To

fast

fading

an immortal

my

and

all

O my

my

sees

He

all

is

everywhere

most secret thoughts,

soul, bear this

in thy constant re-

Watch,

O my

soul,

thy secret desires, affections,

thy besetting sins

Thou, God,

my God ?

shall I dare sin against

ration,

The

portion.

Thou, God, seest me

thy thoughts, over

appetites,

And

He

always with me.

membrance.

soul, of profit or pleasure,

seest

me

Will any conside-

move

thee to dare

No, no, my God. I am thy temple.

take possession of me, and walk thou in thy own temple,

sin against thy

alone

meditate on God's omnipresence.

He

over

and

world,

nothing changeable can be glory or happiness.

immutable
I

little

things which do, nevertheless, engross the sole

God

in the joyful triumphs of thy grace and holiness

And while God's goodness

me and his justice secures
;

everlasting covenant

enemy, and conducts

my
life,

soul, to

and

me

ceases not to heap favours

to

me

on

every blessing of the

his omnipotence

conquers every

to his throne of glory,

cease

not,

devote thyself to thy Heavenly Father, in

and in death.

Amen.

OUR GOD, THE ONE,

76

A PRAYER.
Most Holy One

gods of the nations are

made

hast

Lord,

we have

waited for thee

salvation.

art

And,

we

Thou

truth.

be delivered from

my soul,

away from

me

from

all

all idolatry,

Thou

art

the

Thy
art

coun-

our God,

And

rival in

Eternal One
Eternal One
:

Man

of Sin, I

Drive

and superstition.

spiritual idol worship.

bless thee that the

glorify thee,

Lord, that while

and heart every vanity and

Heavenly Father, without a

for thou

be glad, and rejoice in thy

will

grant, I beseech thee,

abhor the idols of the heathen, and of the

may

God,

will

earth.

thou hast done wonderful works.

of old are faithfulness and

sels

But thou

idols.

and the

the heavens

for

The

adore thee, the only true God.

my

idol.

Cleanse

reign thou,

I adore thy eternity,

is

my

heart unceasingly.

my

and

Father in heaven.

Prepare me, thy poor humble servant, for thy presence and
glory in the everlasting abodes prepared by thy love for us,
in eternity.

Thou
faithful

may

unchangeable One

art the

covenant keeping God.

be steadfast, and immoveable in

to thee

and

Grant

that

adore thee,

my

by thy grace,

my devotions, and duty

ever clinging to thee amid the world's evils, and

For

sorrows.

thou,

Lord, wilt never leave me, nor

for-

sake me, for ever.

In

all

my

wants,

and they are innumerable, bring me,

Lord, to the inexhaustible fountain of thy goodness.

When

me to fly to thy grace. When

my unworthiness, lead me to the
Christ.
When driven almost to de-

oppressed with sin, help

trembling under a sense of

throne of mercy, in
spair,

love,

oh let my poor soul feel a reviving sense of thy

and patience, and forbearance. When bowed down,
!

and crushed

to the dust,

guilt,

my

Jesus.

Clothe

God, help

me

under a

me

to

terrible

fly to the

conviction of

my

cleansing blood of

in his righteousness, then shall I stand

LIVING,

AND TRUE GOD.

and I will love and adore its

and exact requirements. And, my gracious

up in the face of thy justice

infinite purity,

Father, while, by thy good pleasure, I pursue

through

life, let

thy

the world, the flesh,

soul, the

wilt receive

sions

and

me,

my

and the

weakness, while

its

at last, in thy love

that this

Father

and summoned
be with thee.

who

art,"

Let

overcome

seal thou,

Lord,

and power,

to thy

man-

poor clay tabernacle, which will rest in

long absent soul.

shall ever

And

devil.

sweet and soothing assurance, that thou

hope, with the clods of the valley,

be raised

my pilgrimage

omnipotence be my sure defence.

thy power be honoured in

on my

77

&c.

shall,

And

so,

Glory

Amen.

for

by thy omnipotence,

and to receive back

Lord God Almighty, I
" Our
ever be to thee.

to join thee

CHAPTER

OF OUR GOD,

IV.

THE TRIUNE GOD.

" There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word,
and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one." 1 John v. 7. O God,
thou art my God, I will praise thee
!

In the unity of the Godhead, there is a plurality of perThis is a doctrine purely of revelation, but it is

sons.

not contrary to reason

and

three, in

for

same

the

we do

not say that

But God

sense.

sense, and he

is

three in another sense

God

in

tliis

is

one

is

God

is

one

in

one
one

in divine essence

one essence there are more persons

than one.

Thus,

can say without violating reason,

in one sense, and

ing

in another.

am

that I

am one

one human be-

yet in me, there are three distinct things, namely, a

soul, a body,

And,

God

three

and a

here, let

spirit.

me

requires us to

my young reader, that while

judgment on the testimony and

remind

sit

in

the idea of sitting in

we must never entertain

judgment on God himself, his being,

or the doctrines he

pleased to reveal.

evidence of divine revelation

is

Let

this

be noted

with piety and care.

The

question

of the divine

inspiration

of the Holy

Scriptures being settled, by that most perfect evidence which

OUR GOD,

God

79

THE TRIUNE GOD.

has given us, the only question that remains relative to

and

the doctrines,

simply

facts of the Bible, is

this,

Is the

doctrine, or the fact, under discussion, set forth in the Bible

If

be shown that

it

manifest that

God

by faith, and yield

It

may

it is

has spoken

to

it

therein contained, then

And we must

it.

our most cordial

may be weak

dark and mysterious

This

evidence.

is

others

it

and submission.

it may be a simple truth

may be strong. It may be

We

So

my

Ten thousand

believe

in theology

reason

feeble

Holy Bible
:

uttered

do not stop

comprehend

by God?

to inquire,

not

this, or

This

I inquire simply, is

Has he

recorded

in the

it

The

Scriptures teach us distinctly that there

plurality of persons in

name of God,

is

Elohim,

Godhead.

the

in the plural

yet

is it

Pye Smith

been advanced

that

no

is

the proper

used with a singular

verb in the simple language of holy Writ.

with Dr.

things in

while I cannot com-

course would be absolutely irrational.

this doctrine

the ground of

the basis of faith in the physical and

nature, do

prehend them.

These enter not

on

believe simply

moral, as well as spiritual world.

physics, and

or very luminous.

into its credibility.

First

is

be a profound mystery, or

our minds

does

faith,

it

receive

fully

agree

sufficient reason has ever yet

to set aside the force

of the argument that

word Elohim is studiously used to indicate a plurality

This receives strength from the
of persons in the Godhead.
consideration that the Jews were set apart from all other
On the
nations, as the worshippers of the One true God.

this

Godhead,

it

must

be admitted that the use of a plural word to express

God

supposition that there

can "with

difficulty

is

no

plurality in the

be defended from the charge of perni-

cious example, and very dangerous tendency."

This receives additional strength from the Bible use of

" Come, let us make man in

phrases implying plurality.

; :

THE TRIUNE GOD.

OUR GOD,

80

OUR image." " Behold the man, he " was" as one of us."*
" Remember thy Creators in the days of thy youth." " Thy

Makers
And,

thy husband."

is

heaven

the Father, the

the Trinity

The Father

I.

the true

is

Holy Ghost

the

See Hoioe

Wardlaw

and

Stuart

Solitarice

and

Owen

and Hall.

God.

But

This no one denies.

"

are three that bear record in

Word, and

One.|"

these three are

Kidd on

"There

One."

the Father are

named

divine persons are

finally, these

of importance to attend

it is

carefully to the proof of this.

Names, and

1st.

titles

are be-

stowed on him which the Holy Scriptures never apply to any

For instance, he

created being.

is

Jehovah

the

One who

the I am ;
he is Jah
is, and who was, and who is to come
the Most High God. 2d. He is uniformly honoured by attriHe is the self-existent
butes never bestowed on a creature.
:

one

infinite; eternal

immutable

and Almighty God. 3d.

He is glorified as doing the works which no created power can

He is Creator of all the Preserver of man and beast
do.
:

sovereign Ruler over

of salvation

4th.

devils.

ship by

all

the

He

all

in heaven,

Judge of
is

all

and on earth

the

God

men, and of angels, and

the object of supreme and exclusive wor-

in heaven,

and

all

on

This God

earth.

is

our

God.
II.

Jesus Christ

is

the only begotten

Son of God, and

the true God.

First.

This

He
is

is

the

Son of God, and Son of Man.

the true rendering of Genesis

t Bisliop Burgess, in

two volumes on

iii.

this

We

22.
text,

is

considered by

have settled the authenticity of this text. He produces quotations of it from the Greek Fathers, and thus meets the
Bound scholars

to

challenge of Prof. Porson.

THE TRIUNE GOD.

OUR GODj
must bear in mind
faith in his

that our

presented to our

Son of God
These two we must never confound
As Son of
distinctive characters.
the

nor mistake in their

sits

is

He is

two distinct sonships.

and the Son of Man.

God, he

Redeemer

81

enthroned in his natural, unborrowed, and im-

As Son of Man, he
As Son of Man and

mutable divinity.

assumed character.
forward in his

stands forth in his

mediator, he stands

This we must

official character.

carefully

Had
man never existed, he would have been the Son of God,
as much as the first person is the Father, or the third is the
Holy Spirit. Had men never been, or had they not fallen,
distinguish from his natural and immutable character.

nor needed redemption, he never would have been the Son

of

Man.
As Son

In

this

of

Man, he took on him

assumed character he

says he, "

The Father

his wonderful grace

and mercy,

And, as such, he

the form of a servant.

than the Father.

is

is

For,

But he who in

greater than I."

by his own voluntary

substitute

God.

is

is less

a servant, a victim and

act, is the

Eternal Son of

equal in power and glory with

For he expressly says, " I and the Father are one." " And whatsoever things the Father doeth,
these also doeth the Son likewise." " As the Father raiseth

the

Father.

the dead,

whom
the

and quickeneth them

he wilL^^

Son

Father."

''He

that hath

even so the Son quickeneth

seen the Father, hath seen

the Father is in the Son,

John

Hence he

v. 19,

did not

Look

and

the

Son

is

in the

21, xiv. 9. 10.

become

the

Son of God by

his miracu-

how readSon of Mary, was called,"

and ever shall be called, not made but " called the Son of
God." For he who took this human sonship, is the Son of
God, and he was called in heaven from all eternity the Son
of God, and will to all eternity be adored as Son of
lous birth.
est thou

at the

" That holy

testimony of the word

thing, the

God.

THE TRIUNE GOD.

OUR GODj

82

He

was not made the Son of God by

Look

from the dead.

"He

was declared
That is, he was by the

his resurrection

How

into thy Bible.

readestthoul

be the Son of God, with power."

to

power of God's own demonthe unanswerable

irresistible

Son of God, by

stration proved to be the

own

evidence of his resurrection from the dead, by his

power.

He

the

is

Son of God, not as Adam, and

The

or as believers are.
his

immediate

act of creation

Christ, infinitely diverse

liar

Son

The

first

God's eternal Son."

nature of this filiation of Christ

comprehensible by

minds.

finite

mind and

in the world of

ject of divine revelation

of Almighty God.

It is

is,

of course, not

one of those things

matter,

which

and

received on the ground

of divine testimony alone.

mony

all, is

God's only begotten Son

God by

by adoption. But
" God's own pecu-

the last,

from them

were

as angels

two are the sons of

is

I believe it

is

purely the sub-

simply on the

Let us apply our minds

testi-

to this tes-

timony.

Psalm

ii.

to translate

cree

the

"

7.
it

But allow me

I will declare the decree."

"I

will declare

said to

me, thou,

literally,

Lord hath

begotten thee."

according to the de-

my

Son, this day

impossible to mistake

have

The

Father plainly declares that the ground on which Christ

is

It is

this.

but on that of
by him from " the day," which with
there is no past nor future, must mean the

his Son, is not that of his being mediator

his being begotten

God, with

whom

day of eternity

He

is

the world.

For

that

is,

from

all

eternity.

not his Son, by virtue of his

He

was

that inspired

Son of God,

the

Son of God

saint exhorted

the

official

mission into

in the days of David.

Jews

to

"lest he be angry with them."

worship the
Ps.

ii.

12.

Hence, as Son of God, he was the object of worship

and was, therefore, equal in glory, then, with the Father,
;

long before his incarnation.

OUR GOD,
It is also

83

THE TRIUNE GOD.

very evident that our Lord's eternal

filiation is

For, un-

the foundation of the decree declared by the Son.

had

less Christ

from

all eternity,

stituted our

existence as God's

this

own

Son,

peculiar

he could not have been set up, and con-

Mediator by this everlasting decree, in which he

received the transfer of the heathen to him, as his inheritance.

He who

received this transfer from

had a previous existence

are here manifest.

must have
But two things

all eternity,

to that transfer.

As Son of God he received

this transfer

and

this transfer

of the heathen to him for his inheritance

was made

to

God from

all

him in

And hence

eternity.

previous to his assuming his

Man, and

as Mediator.

Prov.

24, 25.

viii.

official

See Prov.

24.

Cor.

i.

He

all

things," as

23,

"set up," and

is

"one brought up

with

before him, and had his delights

And

the earth," nor

Lord

and not by any

John

i.

14.

any of

is

the

its

Son."
made.

and

is

the

with the sons of men."

inhabitants.

Son of God by

God

had not

It is manifest,

eternal filiation

official relation.

"

We

beheld his glory, the glory as of the

only begotten of the Father."

exclusive

"by him who made

him rejoicing always
is

and glorious equal of the Father, was

this infinite

then, that our

acts.

therefore, a

is,

" brought forth," as his Son, " while as yet

made

God

Son of

and divine

He

person, possessing divine power, and honours

Son of God.

Son of

character, as

official

WISDOM of God, who performs

and

the

is

he was Son of

"When there were no depths, I was

He of whom this is spoken, is the

brought forth," &c.

ix.

Hence he

eternity.

expression.

Christ

Let us carefully mark this

is God's " only begotten

sets him apart from every thing created and

His sonship stands alone unparalleled by anything

This

in the world of created things.

proper and peculiar

Son

He

is

the

Father's

own

and as certainly as the Father

is

OUR GOD,

84

THE TRIUNE GOD.

not a person by any

office,

Son, his Son, by any

office

merely an

or creation, so neither

and

creation.

and assumed sonship

official,

official

who

Most Holy

hold this, denies the

and created

Eternal Father have an

is

the

Son has
then must the
If the

paternity.

Trinity, and

is

He

an athe-

For what, I pray you, is the real difference between

ist.
him who denies the existence of the true God, and him who
denies the true and only existence of God ?
Christ is God's "only begotten Son."
He cannot
be the Son of God by creation, therefore, for in that case,
this "only begotten Son" would have a sonship in common
with angels, and Adam.
He is the Son of God not by adoption. If so, then this
" only begotten Son" would hold his sonship in common
with

all

He

saints.

the

is

Son of God not by

For

begotten Son."

if

make

or ever so low, do

a call

to

an

Son ;" he has no equals,

Son of God not by any official

begotten

is

be

it

;" then was Aaron

But Christ is "the only
no rivals. Hence he is

relation.

another point which I must not omit.

be the Son of

God

elevate

one

be

one

it

to the

rank of divine honours.

act of positive idolatry.

is

No

official

ever so high, and no act of adoption, can

official,

absolute idolatry

To

worship

on a created throne, is an
If Christ, then, be the Son of God

in a created relationship

merely by

If Christ

by any created relation, then he could

not be the object of worship as the Son of God.

relation,

"only

ever so high,

God

"the only begotten son of God."

There

office,

the medithe

a person the Son of God, then are

magistrates the " only sons of

the

and call to
no sense be

office,

If he were, then can he in

atorship.

and created

on our

or

relation, then to

worship him

part.

But our Blessed Lord as Son of God, demands and reand religious worship. No one point

ceives divine honours

is

more manifest than

this.

We

are to " honour the

Sou

OUR GOD,

THE TR.IUNE GOD.

"

even as we honour the Father."

the

When God

begotten into the world, he saith,

first

God

gels of

85

Let

bringeth in
the an-

all

" And unto the Son he

ever and ever."

worship him."

God,

thy throne,

Hence, Christ

is for

the

is

that sense alone, in

saith,

Son of God

in that sense, and in

God

the Father's equal, in

which he

is

power, and glory.

is

On

the other hand, if any

the

Son of God by

birth, or

more worship
idolator,

Hence

office,

him

in

to

can no
being

as our

character,

arm

of Christ, as

our belief, as

the

Son of

and worship him.

to adore

surrender his Godhead

and

who

is

all trust,

and

For no created

God, and Redeemer.

" Cursed be the

flesh his

He

then must we, under the awful penalty of

and damnation, cease

official

us.

the eternal filiation

and admit him

Hence we must
hope

Christ not the object of

this created object of worship, without

we give up

if

only by

idolatry

is

that person.

to

than the Papist who worships his new-made god

God's equal

God

does believe that Christ

adoption, or by extraordinary

by his resurrection, then

homage and worship

divine

an

man

office, or

not the Father's equal, can save

man

that trusteth in man, and maketh

and whose heart departeth from the Lord,"

Jer. xvii. 5.

We

We must
and with the
eternal Son, surrender the Eternal Father, and all that depends on the divinity of the Father, and the divinity of the
Son or we must admit the necessary and eternal filiation
are reduced, then, to this awful dilemma.

either

surrender Christ, and

all

our hopes

of the Son of God.

That

is,

we must admit

the eternal

generation of Christ, or yield up the Eternal Father, and

the doctrine

of Trinity

and with

that,

yield up the only

object of divine worship in the Church.

Second: Christ
This,

my

dear

is

the true

young

God.

friends, is the radical doctrine of

8*

THE TRIUNE GOD.

OUR GOD,

86

none

the gospel, and second to

Take away

revelation.

of our Lord, and the glory

is

in the

this doctrine
is

departed

not the true and living God, in the

the Father

is

the true

God, then

is

whole

of divine

field

of the supreme Deity

If our

Redeemer

same sense

which

in

every Christian a gross

Redeemer be not the true God, then is there

no throne of grace, no mercy,
atonement,
Saviour,
no
no
no hope for us, in time or eternity!
Now, we laid down an outline of the proof of the FaIf our

idolator.

By

ther's deity.

the

same process do we

establish

tlie

fact

of our Lord's deity.

I.

He

is

and divine worship, under

no instance, conferred on any
We are taught by the spirit of in-

presented to our

names which are,

He is God.
creature.

those

spiration in

Heb.

ch.

i.

faith,

in

that in

Psalm xlv. we are

to

recognize

" Unto the Son the Father saith, thy

the deity of Christ.
" In tlie beginning
ever and ever."
is
for
God,
throne,

was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word
was God." Here, you cannot but perceive how distinctly
the spirit o^ inspiration sets forth his eternal sonship; "the
Word was ^uith God ;" and at the same time his supreme
;

Deity

This

" The Word was God."

is

not

all.

The

John

i.

1.

enemy

Spirit, foreseeing that the

would invest him with a created godship, or with the com-

plimentary title, as magistrates, who are called gods, has

taken care that the demonstration be complete, that he is
God supreme. In Col. i. 15, speaking of him who is "the

image of the invisible God," as the Son of God

" the first-born of every creature" as Son of Man the
;

expressly declai-es that Christ created

all

and

Spirit

things in heaven,

and
Jehovah, the incommunicable name of Deity, belongs
in earth."

to

him

of right.

In Isaiah

vi.

there

is

a vision of the

Jehovah of Hosts worshipped by angelic

Jehovah utters his message to the prophet

hosts

glory of
this

verse

THE TRIUNE GOD.

OUR GOD,
10.

Now,

87

John, ch. xii. 40, 41. There the

message of Jehovah to Isaiah, as the
message of Jesus, and adds, '' These things, said Esaias,
when he saw his glory, and spake of him."
turn

to

apostle quotes the

When John
Christ,

was

it

came and prepared the way of

him by divine inspiration, that he

the Baptist

of

testified

was fulfilling the prediction of Isaiah namely " The voice

of him that crieth in the wilderness prepare ye the way of
Jehovah." Is. xl. 3. Luke iii. 4. Nothing is more evident,
:

is the way of
Jehovah our God.

then, than this, that the ivay of Jesus Christ

Jeaovah.

That

is,

Jesus Christ

is

Let me direct your devout attention to Isaiah xlvii. 4

" As for our Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts is his name."
:

How

do

translate

know

monstration of his

Hosts

is

?
Let me
and we shall see the force of the de" As for our Goel, Jehovah of
Deity.

that this is applicable to Christ

it literally,

Now,

name.

his

the

Goel was

the near kinsman^

who, by the Hebrew law could redeem the mortgaged inhestill more literally
Goel, our Redeemer of nearest kin, our
kinsman Redeemer, is Jehovah of Hosts." To be our
kinsman, he behoved to be of our flesh and blood. Hence
he is called " God manifest in the flesh." 1 Tim. iii. 16.
Under this head I arrange a class of proofs of great force.

ritance.

this,

again, then, render the verse

" Our

offer

a twofold

made under

the

specimen of them.

Now,

law.

virtue of their creation,

extraordinary Being,

hence he

who was made,

is

" Christ took on him

Now,

Judge of

the Creator,

that

all.

God

Christ

But here
is,

its

by
an

is

legally consti'

Hence he
over

wLS

are,

all

is

not

Again

the form of a servant." Phil.

every created being, by virtue of

ii.

creation, is

7.

But here is a Being, who by his own

" took on himself the form of a servant."

servant of God.

voluntary act,

1st:

moral creatures

under God's law.

tuted under the law by the

a creature

all

OUR

88

Hence he
over

no creature

hence he

is

the Creator,

God

all

2nd
this

is

THE TRIUNE GOD.

GOT),

You

can glean a number of fine specimens of

How

form of proof, on the pages of the four gospels.

often did the rays of divine glory break through the vail of
his humanity,

and pour

eyes of the beholders.

their

heavenly effulgence on the

The humble

saw

ter

its

God, and blushed

asleep in the ship

and

as

God, rebuked

at the

the

!"

guest at Cana, as the

" The conscious wa-

Great God, turned water into wine.

The man

of sorrows was

prayer of his disciples he arose,

winds and waves into a calm

As

the despised and rejected of men, he was expelled by the ungrateful

Gadarenes from

As

their coasts.

the Great

God, he

expelled the evil spirits from the tormented demoniacs

As a

the wilderness

cast

servant under the law, he was tempted by the devil in

:

as the Great

out legions of devils

God

He

of heaven and

hungers and

hell,

he

thirsts as

man, and begs a cup of water from the Samaritan as the

Great God, he multiplied the bread and fish to feed many
As the Son of Man, he weeps at the grave of
thousands
Lazarus as the Lord of life and of deathjhe raises him from
As the man of
the dead by his own unborrowed power
as the Great God, he
sorrows, he bears all the ills of life
He is in his
utters his solemn word and pardons sin
as the Great God, he utters
last agonies on his cross
the word, as God over all, and receives the dying peniBehold his pitiable remains
tent with him into heaven
behold him as the Great God, raising himself
in the grave
from the dead. " I have power to lay down my life," said
he " and I have power to take it up again."
H. He is invested with all the attributes of Deity.
He is Almighty Revel, i. 8. And we have just seen that
he did the works of the Almighty. He is omnipresent
John iii. 13. As man he was on earth, as God he filled
:

heaven.

And

his presence in the church

is

guaranteed by

THE TRIUNE GOD.

OUR GOD,

" Where two or three are gathered in

this attribute of his.

my

name, there

" Lo

Had

am

am

in the midst of them." Matt, xviii. 20.

with you always, even to the end of the world."

he been a creature, he would not have used this phrase

he would have said, "

God

all

Our Lord knows

all

be with you." As the Great

am ;" and " I am with you in all

I will

he alone can say, "

world, and over

tlie

89

time."
things.

of his being everywhere.

This follows from the fact

only one text, " Jesus

offer

knew all men and he needed not that any should testify
man for he knew what was in man." John ii. 25.
Our Lord is the Creator of all things. " What things
;

of

Son likewise."
" All things were created by him, the Word and without
him, was not any thing made." John i. 3. Colos. i. 16.
He exercises supreme power, and absolute dominion.
"All power in heaven and on earth is given unto him."
This transfer of power is made to him as Mediator. But,
soever the Father doeth, these also doeth the

it

is

he were not

self-evident, that if

Son, he could not possess

God

created

in.

He

his word.

is

v. 21.

a right to judge, and

The

more be

over

day, raise the dead of

Thess.

16.

iv.

the quick and the dead. 2 Cor. v. 10.

ment.

God

all,

as the

power in heaven and in earth.

as absurd, in terms, as a deified creature

will, at the last

John

all

right

doom

ages, by

And he will judge

Now, God only has

the subjects of his moral govern-

and power

transferred to

all

to

judge

men, can no

all

a creature, than can the ineffable

perfections and glory of Deity!

IV.

He

is

and

the object of divine worship,

is

adored

with supreme homage, by every true Christian, and angel in

heaven.

The

lead the way,

bringeth his

latter

and
first

set

were summoned by their Creator to

the

example

to

man.

of God worship him." Heb. i.

nothing can be more manifest than this,
the angels

"When He

begotten into the world, he saith, Let

6.

that

all

And, surely

we

should

OUR GOD

90
honour

the Father with

THE TRIUNE GOD.

supreme divine honour and worship.

Well, this same high and solemn worship must

to the

men

has expressly declared this

we render
"

that all

should honour the Son, even as they honour the Fa-

And

ther."
is

God

Son.

he who denies

this divine

worship to the Son,

charged with the damning sin of not rendering

Father.

John

it

to the

21.

v.

Church adores him in the solemn ordiand in the solemn parting blessing at
the close of public services.
And all angels and saints in
heaven adore him unceasingly there. Revel, ch. v.
In a word,

all

the

nance of Baptism

III.

How
ty, as

Holy

the

Of the Holy Ghost.

Spirit subsists in the

a distinct person,

Most Blessed TriniGod, and

like the existence of

is,

the mysteries of his nature, utterly incomprehensible.

we do not reject the faith

we cannot understand it.

of

this,

can never

Yet

or his existence, because

sufficiently impress

on the young mind, the maxim, that we believe on the

ground of testimony, in all branches of natural, moral, and
religious knowledge.

The Holy Ghost " proceeds" from

Here

Son.

is

the evidence

And

eth from the Father."

the Father

and the

"the Spirit of

truth proceed-

"the

Spirit of the

he

is

also

Hence we conclude with all the orthodox, that he

proceeds from the Son also.
Now, as the filiation of the Sou does not imply a reSon."

ceiving of the divine essence from the Father

for the di-

vine essence, and the unity of Deity could not be conveyed.

It is

held in

common

So

by each person.

the procession

of the Spirit does not imply the conveying of the divine

essence, inasmuch
the

as

Divine Three.

the nature,

and

reality

it

is

held in

common by

These phrases,

therefore,

each of
indicate

of their 'personal relation to the Fa-

OUR GOD
ther,

and

THE TRIUNE GOD.

When God

to each other;

of Himself, he uses

human

deigns to speak to us

language, in compassion to our

Did he speak of

feeble intellects.

91

himself, as he speaks in

heaven to the perfect, we could not comprehend his

re-

no one can suppose that these words,

which he employs in their new application to him, are to be
When applied to God,
taken in their vulgar application.
we must attach a loftiness, and a holy mystery of idea to
them, befitting him of whom they are uttered.
The Holy Ghost is a distinct and divine person, not a
But,

vealings.

Thus, as a person, he has a

virtue, or attribute merely.

no man, but the

He

Spirit of

God."

has, as a person, a sovereign

" All these worketh the self-same

man

severally as

As

He

will.

a distinct person, he

new

he gives us the

Here

Church.

is

tered to the Lord,

rate

me

called

"As

fasted, the

Acts

proof of this

of

in Christ

He

for ever.

commands

in the

the apostles minis-

Holy Ghost

said,

SepaI

have

xiii. 2.

This distinct and divine person

The

anew

Barnabas, and Saul for the work, whereunto

them."

and

acts are those

he abides with us

unto each

down from heaven

creates us

an instance:
and

infinite will also.

xii. 11.

sovereign and divine

issues forth his

10, 11.

ii.

Spirit, dividing

sent

He

heart

and

dis-

things,

all

God know-

of

Cor.

His mighty

he comes as the Comforter.

a distinct divine person.

Cor.

is

searcheth

"The things

God."

yea, the deep things of

eth

"He

understanding and mind.

tinct

is

is

the true God.

same form with

precisely of the

that

of the Father, and of the Sou.

I.

He

attributes

stance,
vi.

saying,

is

presented to our faith by the names,

which belong

He is Jehovah

to

as well as the Son.

10, the prophet says,

whom

shall I

For

and
in-

Thus, in Isaiah

"I heard the voice of Jehovah,

send ?"

the inspired writer quotes

titles,

God incommunicably.

this

In the Acts, ch.

message from

xxviii. 25,

Isaiah,

and

OUR GOD,

92
thus ushers

in,

it

THE TRIUNE GOD.

" Well spake

In Exodus

another specimen.

I offer

Holy Ghost by the

is Jehovah.

the

Therefore the Holy Spirit

prophet Isaiali."

xvii. 7,

it

is

declared

tempted Jehovah in the wilderTurn now to Heb. iii. 7, 9, and you find these
" As the Holy Ghost saith, to-day, if ye will
words
that the children of Israel

ness.

hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the day of temptation,

He

when your
is

God

of

tempted me, and proved me."

fathers

"Ye

God.

are the temples of

dwelleth in you."

Cor.

iii.

God, and the

And

16.

Spirit

there is a

"To lie to the Holy

God."
II.
He possesses the incommunicable attributes of the
Deity.
He is "The Eternal Spirit :" and as Jehovah, he
notable testimony in Acts V. 3,4.

Ghost,"

is

"

to lie to

" He is everywhere, at
from everlasting to everlasting.
" Whither shall I go from thy Spirit, whither

is

times."

all

shall I flee

from thy presence?"

He is the Almighty,
God

Spirit of

made me

hath

me

Almighty hath given

nished," that

He

is

decked

Job xxvi.

heavens."

made by

is,

the breath,"

the

God

13.

the

dreary death of winter.

Psalm

He

is

all

the breath

"By

His

things.

"

The

(Spirit) of the
Spirit,

He

gar-

and perfected the beauty of " the

"All the host of heaven were
Ruach, the Spirit of his mouth.

who

revives nature after the

" Thou sendest

and thou renewest

civ. 30.

Life."

out,

of providence,

they are created

Psalm cxxxix.

and the Creator of

the

forth

thy Spirit,

the face of the earth."

sovereign author of spiritual

supreme glory of man. " The Spirit

quickeneth." We are " created by him" in knowledge,
righteousness, and true holiness.
To him are we indebted
for the books of inspiration, which lead us into all truth.
" Holy men of God, spoke as they were moved by the Holy
life,

which

Ghost."

is

And

the

as he raised up our

Lord Jesus from the

dead, so he will quicken, and raise us from the grave at the

last day.

Rom.

viii.

11.

And

thus the

same divine works

OUR GOD,
are ascribed equally to

THE TRIUNE

Him, and

to the

93

GOD.

Son, and

to the

Fa-

ther.

He

III.

has been, in

worship and adoration.

yield

him

this

Church.

In baptism his divine honour

And we

close our public solemnities by a

Him, and

of worship to

IV.

In his

supreme
homage, as a

ages, the object of

all

We

is

celebrated by us.

most solemn

act

Son, and to the Father.

to the

displays of mercy, in beginning

and
which may be,
and still is, committed against the Holy Ghost, which has
no pardon in this world, nor in the world to come. This
is a wilful and malicious rejection of him, and his official
operations.
It never can be committed by mistake, or surprise.

official

new

finishing the

creation, there is a sin,

a wilful, deliberate, and malicious rebellion

It is

Now, can any rational being doubt the supreme Deity of this most Holy and most August One, the
Holy Ghost, against whom such a sin may be committed
Him.

against

aUESTIONS.

How many
Is

God

persons are there in the Godhead

one and three in the same sense?

No,

How

then?
Is the doctrine of the

Most Holy

Trinity, purely of di-

vine revelation?

Are we allowed
the Bible

Can

to sit in

we, in like manner,

mind, and

will

With what

What
it

is

spirit,

in

judgment on the doctrines,

God ?

and disposition of mind should we

re-

the basis and ground of our faith

the act of a rational being, to reject a well-certified

doctrine, because

sion

sit

of Almighty

ceive God's doctrines

Is

judgment on the evidence of

it is

a mystery beyond

human comprehen-

OUR GOD,

94

Does not
and

all

Do

THE TRIUNE GOD.

this position hold

good

in the laws of nature,

sciences, as well as in Bible doctrines

the Scriptures teach a plurality of persons in the

God-

head?

Give the

first

Name

Another.

proof.

the divine per-

sons.

The Supreme Deity

of the Father.

supreme Deity of the Father?

What

is

Give

the leading proof of this essential doctrine.

said of the

The
What
What

Sonships of Christ.

are the different sonships of our

Lord

say you of his eternal sonship?

What, of

As Son

human

his

of God,

the Father

is

In what character
the Father

sonship

he not equal in power, and glory with

is

he the Father's servant, and less than

Did he become the Son of God by his miraculous birth ?

Did he become the Son of God by his resurrection ?
Is he the Son of God in the same sense as Adam, and
angels are?

Can any
filiation

created intellect

comprehend the mode of

Christ's

Give the proof of Christ's eternal sonship, as explained.

The next proof of

Can any being be
divine worship

it.

The

next.

elevated by

Son of God by

be the object of divine worship as

Does not our Lord demand

S'^on

of

be the object of

If Christ be the

OS the

office to

God ?

official relation,

Son of God

could he

divine worship, and accept

it

THE TRIUNE GOD.

OUR GOD,
If

an

95

you believe Christ to be the Son of God by virtue of

can you without sin, worship him as the Son of

office,

God?
What say you of those who believe him to be the Son
God officially, and yet do profess to worship him ?
What is the dilemma to which those are reduced here 1

The Supreme Deity

What

the next great

is

of Christ.

radical doctrine of the gospel

Lord's Deity proved in the same manner as that

Is our

of the Father
Recite the

What

and

of

I.

argument in proof of Christ's Deity.

names indicating our Lord's supreme

are the

Deity?

how do you
name ?
name of Christ ?

Creatures are called gods,

distinguish our

Lord's supreme Deity by this

What

is

the next divine

Specimens.

There are two peculiar classes of proof under

what is the ^rsi? Give specimens.

What is the second ? Give specimens.

The 11. argument for our Lord's Deity
Specify his attributes
the fourth

The
them

III.

argument

at the last

last:

will

the

Can we comprehend

he raise

the dead,

all

the third:

and judge

grand evidence of Christ's Deity?

this divine

the

of the

mode of the

homage.

Holy Ghost.
Spirit's subsistence?

reasonable to disbelieve, because

it ?

day?

The Supreme Deity

it

the first: the second

Give other specimens of

Is

head

the fifth.

The IV. and

hend

this

we cannot compre-

OUR GOD,

96

What

relation does the

Son?

the

THE TRIUNE GOD.

Holy

Spirit bear to the Father

Quote the Bible evidence of

Is not this relation different

and

this.

from Christ's

filiation

How prove you that the Holy Ghost is a distinct person ?

Do the same proofs also show that he is a divine person 1
How prove you the supreme Deity of the Holy Spirit?
His names ?
His attributes

he Jehovah

Is

Name

Is

them

God

he called

Has he

not been the object of supreme worship?

Is there

any

peculiar,

the proof?

and awful sin against Him ?

A MEDITATION.
Triune God, in thy manifold works.

behold thee,

look up to the Trinity not as abstract beings, nor removed

far
I

above caring for his

and

worlds, and their government.

;

adore thee in the bright uncreated glory of thy active

and sovereign

and

own

Triune God, in thy ceaseless agency

discern thee,

to

thee

Of thee, and

attributes.

are

things

all

through thee,

whether they be of creation, of

providence, or of redemption.
I

look forth on thy

and stupendous creation.

fair

these things are of Thee, Eternal Father.

mate and inanimate,

immortal,

rational

are op Thee.

all

and

irrational,

Thou

art the

All

All nature, ani-

temporal and
fountain and

origin of the works of the most adorable Trinity, and thou

didst plan

To
ating

them

all,

in thy

all

these

for

Thou

essence, and of one

things were

thing

wisdom.

Thee, Eternal Son, belongs equally the glory of cre-

made

will,

in

power, and of one

All

made by Thee, and without Thee was not any

that is

made.

Also of Thee, Eternal

tural world.

art equal

with the Father and Spirit.

The

Spirit, are all things

Spirit of

of the Almighty has given

God

me

hath

life.

in

the na-

made me the Spirit

To Thee belongs the
;

glory of perfecting, and beautifying the works of the

Tri-

THE TRIUNE GOD.

OUR GOD

Thou movedst on

nity.

97

Thou hast

the face of the chaos.

garnished, and decked the heavens.

This distinct work of each person

is yet one and inand omnipotence of the Triune

separable, as are the will

Each

God.

operated

vising and creating

Holy

Spirit creating

The

instantaneously.

Son

the

and adorning

Father de-

and establishing;

creating
all

And

things.

the

I ren-

der equal and undivided glory to each of the divine three

Of

Triune God, are

Thee,

cent work of redemption.

all

When

internal act of Trinity, I view

things in the maguiii-

contemplate this as an

with deep veneration as

it

a mutual and instantaneous agreement of the Father, the

Son, and the Holy

And

Spirit.

view

it

an external act.
and wonder, the inter-

also as

here, I recognize, with gratitude

vention of each of the persons, displaying the riches of

the glory of divine grace.

of the Father,

To Him,

vation.

and the

Spirit,

The

plan.

The love of God

in the person

adore as the originating cause of our

do

with the consenting love of the

sal-

Son

ascribe the device of the stupendous

grace of the Eternal Son, I adore as the meri-

torious cause of our salvation.

He

council of peace, as our mediator

gave himself in the

and in due time he

presented himself on this earth, to satisfy the claims of law

and

justice.

Holy

And

to the love

and sanctifying grace of the

Spirit, as the efficient cause, are

we

indebted for the

effectual application of Christ's grace to our souls, in finish-

ing and beautifying the

Throngh Thee,

new

creation.

Triune God, are

all

things in divine

Each of the most holy Three works

way for man's good, and the divine

providence, and grace.

in his

own

glory.

We

derful

can
ish

glorious

cannot originate, or execute any of the won-

works of Providence.

let.

No

He

works,

Kingdoms, and churches, and states

and fade away.

God

rules over all

by his Son

the all-pervading influences of the Spirit.

9*

rise,

and none

and
;

flour-

through

OUR GOD

98

And TO Thee,
is

THE TRIUNE GOD.

Triune God, are

things.

all

OF Thee, and through Thee, must

And

the best end.

infallibly

next to thy being, the bright display of

thy perfections over the field of creation,

This

Whatever
tend to

the most im-

is

which is just the bright shining

" Thou,
Lord, art worof thy divine excellence.

portant.
forth

is

thy glory

thy to receive glory, and honour, for thou hast created

things

and

for thy pleasure, they are,

all

and were created."

And, above all, is thy glory manifested in the new creNever was there such another display of all the
divine perfections, as that given by the Triune God, in the
ation.

my soul,
consummation of our redemption. Behold,
and wonder and adore. I behold the stern, yet most holy demands of divine justice the tremendous, yet most just
:

on the Just One, dying for

harmony with mercy, and
Truth met with mercy righteousness and peace emlove
Triune God, belong the
To Thee,
braced each other
and the majesty and the glory for ever. Amen.
victory
inflictions of

punishment

the unjust

and

all

for sin,

this

is

in
;

A PRAYER TO THE FATHER.

My

Father in heaven, I adore thee, the origin of

all

the

and works of Trinity. Nothing from without

moved thy divine mind in thy decrees, and stupendous
the depth of the riches of thy
works for thou art God.

councils,

goodness
body.
culties,

Thy

From

Father, I received this soul, and

thee,

parental care has kept

in their active exercise.

me alive
To thy

and these

fa-

owe the
pledged boon of the
grace I

and salvation of my soul and the

emancipation of my body from the grave in due time. 0,
Accept the pledged vow, and serthen, accept thine own.

life,

vice of this soul, and this body.

assurance sealed on

my

And let me have a sweet

am thy child. When

heart that I

prostrate in the dust, didst thou raise

by thy parental sentence, as

me

up

and justify

stood before thee,

my

me

Father,

OUR GOD

my

covered in

THE TRIUNE GOD.

99

Was

I not par-

in the

Beloved ?

Redeemer's righteousness ?

my

doned

the guilt of

Was

not reconciled to thee by the slaying of the enmity of

my

heart

But

and accepted

sin,

never have enjoyed peace

for this I could

And, blessed be thy name, thy patience and

of mind.

me to call thee my Father and my

God
And, now will I praise thee for ever, and ever
When I am poor and sorrowful, I will think of thee and
pant after the riches of thy grace. When forsaken of the
boundless grace allow
!

world

think of thee,

I will

When my

me

Father, wilt take

will

my

lift

Thou

whom

When

Father,

thee,

throbbings of

stillest the

I will fly to

that

all

life.

my

him in

fulness should

betake myself in the assured hope of the rich inherit-

rows, that thou,

cumstances of
senger

When

leaving this world, I will cherish

in the

my heavenly
my dying bed

of

aiidst

death!

And when

heavenly Father
gently asleep

will spring

my

mortal sorall

the cir-

the

last,

and parting hour comes,

soul into thy hands,

and soothed

to

on thy bosom.

welcome

My

the joyful

dawn of

my

But

and unchangeable

Father, accept these

:

spirit

everlasting,

in the fulness of glory.

the resurrection day

poor broken supplications

dear and

love, I shall

disembodied

life

poor body, the while, shall sleep in dust.

the keeping of thy power,

my

by thy

rest

up in the strong powers of

receive thy parental

Now,

my

Father, arrangest

and singlest out the mesand determinest the place, and time, and manner

I will breathe out

fall

and

arduous duties,

the pleasing satisfaction,

my

heavenly

and languishing,

sick,

labouring under sore bereavements, to thee

ance of thy love.

of

forsake me.

thou,

the refreshing fountain of

diseases,

called to

pleased

it

dwell.
will I

my

When

wilt never

When

up.

soul to thee,

healest

heart.

who

and mother leave me,

father

it

and

My

will rest in

love, awaiting

my humble

and mercifully deign

vows, and
to

add ano-

ther fresh favour to thy blessings already bestowed,

by ac-

THE TRIUNE GOD.

OUR GOD,

100

my

cepting

unworthy person, and

whose name

in

er,

For

services.

only for the sake of thy dear Son,

is

my

Our Father who

I pray,

all

ask

Redeem-

blessed

art in heaven,

Amen.

&c.

A MEDITATION, AND PRAYER TO THE SON OF GOD.

Eternal

Son of God

this existence.

and

am

my

God, what were

What were my

Without thy grace and

whole

received
religion,

thy sovereign grace

sawest

me cast

life,

without thy mercy and

existence, without thy saving grace ?

my immortality would prove

O Son of God, my Redeemer,

love,

an ever-enduring curse.

Thou

my

adore thee, with

destined to immortality.

But,
love

I will

By thy power, and goodness I

By thee was I made capable of

heart, for ever.

moved
out,

thee to pity me, from eternity.

and perishing in my blood. Thoil

deignedst from thy throne to notice me, to pity, and redeem

me.

language of thy love,

I love to repeat the

eternal

Son of God, in the everlasting councils of peace, "Lo!

I delight to do thy will,
my Father." For this
I come
coming thou preparedst the world by thy providence, and
The eyes of the
the church, by the Mosaic dispensation.
world were on thee, the desire of all nations
At the
;

time appointed

for fulfilling, thou

didst

come.

height,

length, and breadth, of the love of the Son of

and depth
God. He took our nature upon him. He became the
Son of Man. The immortal became mortal, without a
;

change in his divine person. The Father of eternity became a child born, without change in his divinity. The

King of Glory took on him the form of a

tonished,

Man
thou

my

soul,

and Son of God

Son of Man I love
I

servant

and wonder, and adore

I

throw myself

thee,

and cleave

at

Be

as-

Son of

thy feet.

to thee, as

my

Son of
pattern, and example of holiness, and perfection.
Man, thou wast the true and proper materiel of the sacri-

OUR GOD, THE TRIUNE GOD.

101

and the glorious instrument by which the eternal Son

finished transgressions, and made an end of sin.
Accept, then, dear and eternal Son of God, the divine
fice

of

God

homage of my
done

me

for

my

and adoration,

to

Redeemer.

Thee for all that thou hast

With wonder, amazement,

Lord, in thy career of mer-

I follow thee,

and condescension, over the

cy,
I

due

heart, ever

as

with

look

field

wounded, bleeding, and dying Son of

eyes to thy eternal Deity,

blessed

the glory of an infinite worth,

obedience, and

Thou

hast bought

and thou
dear

all

art

and

value,

own

us with thine

Man

And

lift

Son of God, and

thrown over

my

I see

all

thy

thy sufferings, and thy vicarious death.

mine, in

Shepherd.

of thy humiliation.

emotions on the sorrowing,

indescribable

will

blood.

indissoluble.

ties

follow

thee,

Lead

am

thine,

on, then,

whithersoever thou

on the path of duty. Lord, I will follow

Lead me
thee in it, through good report, and evil report.
into the green fields of thy divine pastures, and feed me by
And, deliver
the still waters of thy refreshing ordinances.
Shed

leadest.

light

me from

the noise of archers in the place of the drawing of

waters.

For, to thy care,

my

divine prophet,

myself for divine guidance through

thee,

my High

commit

my journey.

To

Priest, I shall daily resort for cleansing

the blood of thy atonement,

and

And

merits and intercession.

I will

all

bow, in daily submission

to

by

be accepted through thy

to thee,

my

sovereign king,

to thy laws, thy ordinances,

And when thy voice summons

mount up at thy command, to be
Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
for ever with thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
and the expressions of thy

me

will.

to thy presence, I shall

Ghost,

now and

Amen.

for ever.

A MEDITATION, AND A PRAYER TO THE HOLY

SPIRIT.

Holy

Spirit, living

and

true

God

help

me

to

approach

OUR GOD,

102

THE TRIUNE GOD.

thy presence with profound devotion.

thee

adore thee.

I fear thee

tremble before thee,

when

love

look at

myself; and think of thy infinite purity and awful majesBut, thou art the spirit of faith, and of holiness, to each

ty.

Thou comest not

of thy dear children.

sinners

but to prepare us for heaven

when

the boldness of hope

come

to destroy us,

poor

me

with

This

fills

before thee.

my

These
and thou
didst breathe into me the breath of life
and I became a
living soul.
And every silent moment, I feel the power of
thy sustaining influences.
In thee I live, and move, and
eternal Spirit

adore thee,

Creator.

limbs of mine were made, and fashioned by thee

have

my

SLXfd

those other faculties which crown the beauty of

Thou

being.

me

hast given

an understanding

my

immortal soul.

And
thee I
lect,

to

owe

indebted for the de-

To

of these sustained powers of mind.

the pleasures of reason, the pleasures of intel-

and of the

Wert

heart.

withdraw from

me

and

all

thou, in thy awful sovereignty,

thy sustaining power,

would be instantly deranged

to myself,

am

blessed Spirit,

to thee,

lightful exercise

and

To

around me.

should
thee,

all

my

faculties

become a terror
God, I devote

these powers.

But, oh
are,

what were

all

temporal

without thy divine graces.

as the sovereign of the

there be

spiritual

life

gifts,

precious

Holy Ghost

as they

adore thee

new creation. Thou sayest. Let

man and there is life. Thou

in

and there is light.

At thy word, and by thy appointed means, there spring up in us, all the graces which
Under thy power, and thy smiles, do
adorn the Christian.
and mount up in
faith, love, and hope spring into being
sayest.

Let there be

And he

is

new

light in his soul

creature.

thy praise, and glory.

By

thee

is

the rock smitten

the waters of genuine contrition flow amain.

liness buds into being,

By

and

thee, ho-

and ripens into heavenly perfection.

THE TRIUNE GOD.

OUR GOD,
I

thank thee,

holy and eternal Spirit, for those offices

which thou deignest

Thou

exercise towards us, in the church.

to

Oh

our guide.

art

103

lead

me

into

Glorify

all truth.

thou Jesus Christ, by taking the things which are his, and
revealing them, in their saving power, to us.
Thou art our

my soul in all the exercises of

may, with a pure conscience, run
thy commands.
Thou sealest thy people to
Oh, quickeu

SANCTiFiER.
the spiritual
the

life

way of all

that I

the day of redemption.

seal of

heaven

that I

Oh seal me, my God, with the

may bear the image of God's dear
!

Put me under the seal of thy powerful, and permanent protection, till I safely reach Immanuel's presence.
And, oh be to my drooping spirit, the pledge of heaven's
glory, by vouchsafing to me some of the first ripe fruits of
Canaan some of the grapes of Eshcol, tasted on this side
And, thou dear and most blessed Interof Jordan.
cessor, make thou intercession ivithin me, in this cold,
and languishing, and agitated bosom, with groanings
And, blessed Comforter,
which cannot be uttered.
children.

let

the

consolations

Breathe in love, on

of thy presence

my

poor

with fresh health, and strength.

ever

be with me.

me
my feeble soul,

body, and comfort

frail

Breathe on

and comfort me with the full play of a vigorous intellect,

and heart. Breathe on my graces and comfort me with
abounding joys, and overflowing pleasures, in the whole of
At the hour of dissolution, let thy comforts
the inner man.
;

especially
all

abound

the graces

that I

may

depart in the

leaving thy church, and

my

joyful exultation of a triumphant death.

day, set the

body

crowning glory of beauty on

and present

me

full

exercise of

relatives in the

And,

my

perfect in Christ Jesus

at the last

resurrection
;

the

crown-

ing glory of a Father's love, of a Redeemer's grace, and the

beautifying power of the
ther,

&c.

Amen.

Holy Ghost.

Glory be

to the

Fa-

CHAPTER

V.

OF THE DIVINE DECREES.

"

Keep

silence, all created

And

My

things

wait your Maker's nod,

soul stands trembling, as she sings

of my God.

The honours
Life, death,

and

hell,

and worlds unknown,

Hang on his firm decree

He sits on no precarious throne;
;

Nor borrows leave to be

Chained to his throne a volume
!

With all the fates of men

With every angel's form, and
Drawn by the Eternal's pen

lies,

size,
!

His providence unfolds the book.

And makes his counsels shine
Each opening leaf, and every stroke,
Fulfils some deep design.
Not Gabriel asks the reason why,
:

Nor God the reason gives.

Nor dares the fav'rite angel pry
Between the

folded leaves.

Book of Life, and grace,

O may I find my name
Recorded, in some humble place,

In thy

fair

Beneath

There

are

no

my Lord, the

difficulties

lamb

!"

attending the belief of the di-

vine decrees, greater or more insuperable, than those

at-

OF THE DIVINE DECREES.

106

tending the utterance of the prayer prescribed by our Lord,

" Thy

done on

will be

Those who can

utter

earth, as

it is

done in heaven."
and

prayer, in sincerity

this

truth,

do admit God's holy and everlasting decrees, in their true

meaning, and

To

extent.

full

the pious mind, the doctrine of the divine decrees

affords the

most legitimate

gratification,

and

He

delight.

thence, led to realize a present over-ruling and merciful

is,

Father in all the conditions, and events of life. While not

one objection can be framed against them, which may not,
with propriety, be urged against the prayer,

God, be done

By

the decrees of

reference to
are

will,

God, we mean the purposes of God, in

and things. They

future events, beings,

all

They

purpose.

his

" Thy

!"

constitute

one grand whole

they were formed instantaneously, and complete, at once,

The

in his divine mind.

sult

a creature

after the

infinite

nor to reason

manner of man.

He

his purposes instantaneously.

And on

amendment.

Jehovah knows

all

this

One needed

not to con-

nor make experiments,

formed the perfect model of

They need no

alteration

no

purpose of his mind, as the basis,

things by one intuitive act of his mind.

Acts XV. 18.

The

is manifest from the acpower before our eyes and from

existence of these decrees

tual operation of divine

the testimony of the

The
prove

Scriptures.

existence of mind, and matter, and motion, fully

this.

and motion

If a watch, or a globe could not give existence

to itself, infinitely less

systems of worlds above

tion.

Holy

us, give

could our globe, and the

themselves being, and

If matter cannot originate motion,

itself into

how

could this

operation under fixed and immutable laws,

globe on which

we

live,

mo-

and put

and these unnumbered worlds in

the vault of heaven, put themselves into their prodigious rapidity of

motion

and continue
10

that

motion

for countless

OF THE DIVINE DECREES.

106

moment's variation

ages, without a

Tliere must be a wise,

and regulating Divine Cause.

Seeing, then, the Almighty thus manifestly overrules,
follows that he does this

moves, and creates

all

according

purpose, and plan of his divine mind.

to a fixed

things

Almighty

If not, then the

it

acts without

any fixed purpose, or

Then you deny him the common share of wisdom and

You, thence,
intelligence which man is allowed to possess.
deny him to be a wise and intelligent being Not even the fallen angels have yet arrived at such atheism. See James ii. 19,
The testimony of the Scriptures is decisive on this.
They speak of these divine decrees in terms as explicit as
plan.

those in which they speak of God's being and perfections.

"

He

doeth according to his will in the army of heaven

and among

the inhabitants of the earth :"

" According to

his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself."

" According to the purpose of him who worketh all things
" Whatsoever the Lord
after the counsel of his own will."
pleased, that he did in heaven,

and in

all

and in

earth, in the seas,

deep places."*

These decrees have for their ultimate object, the highest

and best end. That is, the exaltation of the divine glory, and
the happiness, and glory of all innocent and faithful beings.
Whatever may be the subordinate eflTects, trials, and apparent difficulties, they

all

result in these.

And they

are ends

worthy of divine wisdom, acting in concert with divine

goodness, and omnipotence.

These divine

decrees, and their execution, extend to every

They reach the humblest

They extend to the smallest grain of
They are conof worlds in all space.

being, and thing, in the universe.

and

the

most

exalted.

sand, and the greatest

versant about the minutest event, and the humblest of invisible insects

Dan.

as well as the fate of empires,

iv.

35.

Eph.

i.

9, 11.

Psalm cxxxv.

and worlds,
6.

OF THE DIVINE DECREES.

and the universe

angels, and

all

and

tainty of every act,

mense

and most exalted of

the noblest

the host of heaven

107

They

all

include the cer-

and every work of God over the imits universal and par-

of divine providence, in

field

They

ticular operations.

include every purpose, and the

certain execution of every purpose, in relation to

all

beings

and things. They extend to all their actions on earth, and

be they free, or necessary, or, what in reference
in heaven
;

They extend

to us, are contingent.

in the natural, political, moral,

regulate

all,

world, a universe
all

to all events in time,

They

spiritual worlds.

with unerring wisdom, and power, from the

of a grain of dust, to the

through

and

fall

from the death of an invisible

insect,

gradation of being, to the immortal

the

fall

of an empire, a republic, a

life

up
of

angels, and the hosts in glory.

They

kingdoms of grace
the accomplishment of our redemption by the Son of God
the misthe various means of grace adaptsion of the Holy Ghost
extend, finally, over the whole

They

and glory.

include the purpose of mercy

ed

to the

death,
field

end

the complicated

of this world, and

plete family of

the glory,

and of

and

God

all

temptations, sorrows,

over the whole

the happiness,

body and soul!

com-

There,

and pursuits of the ransomed,

the angels, will reveal the fre^h evolutions of the diall

These decrees do not

free agents.
will.

time, until they meet in the

in heaven, in

vine purposes through

of

trials,

and triumph of each of God's children

He

We

eternity

admit that

acts without

violate the
all

freedom of action in

men have

a rational freedom

any consciousness of compulsion.

And, inasmuch as God's decrees are an impenetrable secret to man, how can they possibly subject his soul to any
compulsion ? God works his will by us, and in us. But
this
It

he does without violating our natural liberty of

has been said, "If

God

has foreordained

all

will.

that

comes

OF THE DIVINE DECREES.

108
to pass,

man

then

He

is

and crimes, and hu-

the author of sin,

misery."

We

1st.

deny

the alleged consequence, as illegitimate.

Besides, this charge

Holy

face of the
after the

brought unblushingly, in the very

is

who says, " God worketh all things

own will." Eph. i. 11. Let him who

Spirit,

counsel of his

ventures to bring such a charge, look well to

settle his controversy,

it.

He

must

not with man, but with his Creator.

2d.
While we teach that God has ordained all things
which come to pass, we also teach that he brings them to
pass by leaving man to act according to the rational freedom
of his own will, and the propensity of his heart.
They act
most freely, while they go on, unconsciously, in fulfilling
what is permitted to them, and decreed as the final result.
Nothing can be more satisfactory than the illustration of
the case of the Jews who murdered the Lord of
That most atrocious deed was decreed by an immupurpose of God from all eternity.
Hence, it could

this, in

glory.
table

And, yet every agent concerned in that

There was no com-

not but take place.

atrocious murder, acted voluntarily.

These Jews were urged on simply, by their own

Here is the testimony of the Holy Ghost
on this matter. " Him being delivered by the determinate
counsel, and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by

pulsion.

wicked

hearts.

wicked hands have

and slain."*

crucified

manifest that this awful crime was not merely fore-

It is

seen by

God

it is

distinctly stated to

have been " deter-

mined by the counsel of God." And this determinate

counsel was the basis of God's foreknowledge thereof. For
God knows all things, solely because he has decreed, and
determined their existence

infallibly.

we cannot

We

the

fully explain.

ways of

the Almighty.

humblest capacity,

that,
*

But,

it

inasmuch
Acts

But how

are too

ii.

23.

is

weak

to

this is

done,

comprehend

quite evident to the

as these

Jews who com-

109

OF THE DIVINE DECREES.

mitted the murder,

knew nothing

mind, and decree of Jehovah, in

of the fact of the secret

matter,

this

is

it

utterly

How

can
impossible that they could be impelled thereby.
a
or
purpose,
a
by
action,
an
I be moved, or compelled to

whose aim, and contents

Jews acted freely, according to

the

And

of their hearts.

No

know nothing?

decree, of
the

full

bent,

and wishes

hence, the apostle charged on them

"

the guilt of a free and voluntary crime.

Him

have ye

and by wicked hands, have ye crucified, and slam."

The decrees of God, therefore, violate no rational freedom

taken,

of man.

The infinite
of God are from everlasting.
up in it.
springing
new
Jehovah
can
have
nothing
mind of
We must, therefore, admit that every purpose, and plan now
If we make any
in his mind, was there from all eternity.

The Decrees

exception here,

it

will

Hence

his nature.

go

to

being from eternity.

That

infinito perfection

of

speak of his purposes

"The mercy

everlasting to everlasting."

mercy goes

deny the

the Scriptures

of the Lord

is,

as far back into eternity for

the purpose
its

from

is

of his

origin, as the du-

" The
extend onward
Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, I have loved
" God hath chosen us in
thee with an everlasting love."

ration of

into eternity.

its fruits will

Christ before the foundation of the world."*

These divine Decrees are sovereign and uncontrollable.

wisdom can admit of no counsel from a created
being.
And if the counsels of Jehovah could be kept in

Infinite

suspense, either in their formation, or in their execution, by

the will of

man, or of

angels, then

would omnipotence and

divine sovereignty be dependent on man's

tingent acts

No

man
We may

sober

atheistic principles.

will, or his

will venture to

con-

advance such

sooner bear to hear

it

alleg-

ed that the existence, and movement of the worlds career*

Psalm

ciii.

17.

Jer. xxxi. 3.

10*

Eph.

i.

4.

110

OF THE DIVINE DECREES.

ing onward in space, depend on man's

arm.

This insanity would

even the insinuation, that God's

his puny
who can bear

and

will,

But,

refute itself.

and the omni-

infinite will,

potence of his arm, which executes his decrees, can be sus-

pended on man's

will

and held paralyzed in

and be kept in a

state of suspense,

action, until the contingency be de-

man

cided by the ultimate action of

" Who hath directed

the Spirit of the Lord, or, being his counsellor, has

taught

With whom took he counsel and who instructed

him, and taught him the path of judgment?'*
These Decrees, and the execution of them, are covered
with the glory of divine wisdom.
Whatever may be the
apparent disorders in nature and providence, or in our own

him ]

personal
perfect

lot,

they will

all,

ultimately, appear in the glory of

beauty, and harmony.

wisdom presided

Infinite

over their arrangements, and every minute part of their ex-

And it could not allow any purpose, or any work

God to be otherwise than holy, wise, just, and good.
And what we see now, is unfinished work. Look to the
ecution.

of

end of

Then

all

Wait

things.

vidence appear in

its full

wise purpose, and pro-

And

splendour.

"0

every soul will

the depth

of the

knowledge of God.

How

repeat the loud plaudit of adoration.

riches both of the wisdom, and

consummation.

the grand

until

will the dazzling glory of his

unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding

out !"

The divine Decrees are unconditional and absolute.

They are all befitting the honour of the divine sovereignty

and they are

To deny

Him.

all

executed in a manner equally befitting

this, is to

mind, and the divine hand,

tingency. That

is,

suspend the action of the divine

on what

is

ing power," mounts the throne

* Isai.

13, 14.

human con" self-dntermin-

called

man's puny will, with

its

And

infinite

wisdom


OF THE DIVINE DECREES.

and omnipotence waits

movements

its

Ill

Of

all

the concep-

tions of an extravagant fancy, what can be conceived

absurd and impious than

this

waiting in suspense from

all

The

eternity;

eternal

more
Jehovah,

and watching the

will of his

own

incapable

of decreeing, or acting, until he shall see the

rebellious creatures

action of their wills

and events
will

and discover which way human plans

and how this princely
to fall out

happen

will

move, and act

shall

in perfect suspense

revolving round the earth

The

doctrine of the sun

old

or a universe of worlds

rolling

round an invisible grain of sand, has nothing in point of

absurdity equal to this
Besides, the impiety and atheism
!

of

it

fill

us with horror

pense on the creature

The Creator waiting

in sus-

Infinite justice, in suspense at the

Omnipotence watching for

man
Omniscience
waiting at the door of ignorance!
Infinite wisdom rendered incapable of acting until the folly of man's will shall
bestir itself!
And rebellious dust and ashes regulating the
door of the degraded rebel

movement

the deciding

of imbecile

awful sovereignty of the Creator!

The Holy

Scripture also lends

its

against this doctrine of Arminius.

is

none

else

am God, and

there

condemning testimony
" I am God, and there
is none like me
de:

end from the beginning

and from ancient

times, the things that are not yet done
saying. My
counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure." " God
claring the

doeth according to his will in the armies of heaven, and

among

the inhabitants

of the earth

and none can

stay

his hand, nor say unto him, what doest thou ?"*

Finally
all

God

the means,

has ordained, in connection with the end,

and agency of instruments,

to

accomplish the

end, throughout nature, providence, and grace.

lofty office of divine

wisdom.

Isai. xlvi. 9, 10.

This

It devises the best

Dan.

iv. 35.

is

the

end and

OP THE DIVINE DECREES.

112
happiest results

and in

certainty,

and

means

best possible

it

and puts

selects,

attain those

to

the best

into operation, the

ends, with

infallible

manner.

aUESTIONS.
Is there

any insuperable

difficulty in the doctrine

of the

divine decrees?

Do
pious

they not afford substantial comfort, and delight to the

?

What do you understand by the Divine Decrees ?

What are the two sources of proof of the Divine Decrees?
W' hat is the first ? Does God act without a purpose ?

Name

W'hat

is

the second

What

is

the ultimate end,

Do

the proofs from

Holy writ.

and design of these Decrees

extend to every portion of God's vast work

they

and kingdoms

Name

kingdoms of Jehovah

the three

to

which they ex-

tend.

Can
man's

Do

these decrees be supposed to violate the freedom of

will

these decrees

What

is

the

make God

the author of sin

proof that they do not?

first

State the striking illustration of this

Explain.

The second?

in the case

of the

Jews.

Did not
this

these murderers of our

Lord

act

most

freely in

decreed event?

WTiat

cond ?

is

the

The

first

third

attribute

The

of these decrees

fourth

State the monstrous absurdity,

minian theory on

What

The

se-

and impiety of the Ar-

this point, in various particulars

say the Holy Scriptures on this matter?

Quote

them.

Has God ordained

all

the means,

and the agency of

proper instruments, as well as the final results

the

113

OF THE DIVINE DECREES.

What
decrees,

are your

own

conscientious views of these divine

and of God's awful sovereignty

MEDITATION.
" Father Eternal Thine is to decree;
Mine both in heaven and- earth, to do thy will
!

Supreme!"
Milton.

am

comforted, and delighted with this sublime doctrine.

It

places the sceptre of universal empire in the right hands.

It

humbles

places the

man

the rebel,

and yet

Supreme Ruler on

his

does him justice.

it

own

It exalts all the

of his glory, and unlimited sovereignty.

divine perfections.

It

throws a halo of pure glory around

It

his omniscience, his

tence.

wisdom,

allows no stain to

sovereign power.

It

throne, in the fulness

his

fall

goodness, his omnipo-

on

It exhibits his

his sovereign will,

sovereign

and

and pur-

will,

pose, in exact conformity with his acts, and doings in the

kingdoms of

nature, providence,

thing to chance

in his paternal,

all that

see

nothing

to

and power of the enemy.

to the will,

God

and grace.

invested.

It

presents to us our

He

is

filial

present with

all,

love delights to

acting out his

purposes with severe justice, and boundless love.

watchful eyes are over
tains us

He

no-

nothing

and most loving character, clothed with

sovereign authority with which

him

It leaves

human contingency

all,

with a father's love.

He

His
sus-

under his powerful and permanent protection.

all events in wisdom, and uncontrollable

all

over-rules

power.

No

being, nor thing

is

too insignificant for his

Nothing is too minute for him in our cares, and

Without his permission ' there shall not a hair
sorrows.
Diseases and afflictions are his
of our heads perish."
He says to one, "go and it goeth to anomessengers.
and it cometh." He determines the bounds
ther, come
care.

OF THE DIVINE DECREES.

114

of our habitation

" Whatever

and

fixes

measure of our days.

the

right," under his controlling power,

is, is

and

unceasing goodness.
If I did not believe in the divine decrees, I could not

For

believe in God's special providence.

dence

is

carrying out the fixed purposes of his sovereign

wisdom

will,

injus-

and mercy.

tice,

If I do belong to

rejoice that
all

provi-

his holy

nothing else than his omnipotence, and

things,

God's house, and family,

my Heavenly

and not

my

Why

will.

exalt their will against the will of

God

men

is it that

God

Why

very anxious to exalt the freedom of their

pense of the freedom of

cannot but

Father's will should be done in

will, at

Almighty's will

should

are they so
the ex-

Will they

man has a self-determining power in his free

God Almighty has ?io self-determining power
I am inclined to think that, on due
infinite will ?

profess that
will

and

in his

that

consideration, this unphilosophical and rival power in man,

will be

found

be swallowed up, or annihilated by the in-

to

power of the Almighty.

self-determining

finite

cannot stand before the ark of

God

swallows up the rods of the magicians

Can any
done

will not

child of

God

Is he not our

be afraid

lest

Heavenly Father

do us ample justice?

with his benefits

The

rod of

Moses

God's
?

will should

be

Will our Father's

Is he not daily

Does he not save

Dagon

us by his

loading us

own Son ?

Does he not comfort us, and give us all good things, by

Does he not reprove our waywardness, and
reclaim us from our wanderings ? Let me ever rememhis Spirit?

ber what

God

vine decrees
holy

is,

and

And,

does to me.

what

then, I

am,

shall

and

what

which are but another name

my

Father

be submissive to his
for his

di-

most

will.

And may

the

and bring me,

good Lord

deliver

me from will-worship

like the fair angel choir, into

an humble and

OF THE DIVINE DECREES.

loving subjection to

and

Him, who alone has a

115
self-determining,

infinitely holy will.

" The heavenly audience loud

Sung Hallelujah, as the sound of seas,
Through multitude that sung: Just are thy ways,

Righteous are thy decrees on

Who

TheeV

can extenuate

all

thy works

"

Milton.

A PRAYER.
Incomprehensible Jehovah
of thy throne

and coverest

us, mortals, is utter darkness.

And

unceasing agency.

And

wisdom.

this

thou drawest back the face

with light ineffable, which to

it

works proclaim thy

All thy

agency

this

is

wisdom proclaims

rich

in thy divine

the existence,

and

the stability of thy eternal decrees.

With

thee,

Lord,

was a matter of the

it

whether thou would create

all
it

these worlds that contain them.

rested what they

With

thy will,

never be
ther, as

all

freest choice

and
With thy awful mind

these beings that exist

all

should, each of them, be, if created.

Lord,

it

rested whether

man

should be, or

whether he should be mortal, or immortal

whe-

a fallen creature, he should be ransomed, or passed

by, as the fallen angels

saved, or only

some

were

and whether

Thou

nority should be ransomed.

do as thou pleasest.

and whether

Even

should be

all

the majority, or the

mi-

alone hast the right to

so hast thou purposed,

and acted

and beneficent manner toward us.

God, purposed, and planned, and originated

in the most gracious

Thy
all

will,

things.

God

held.

None can

or lead thy infinite

hold

sit

in counsel with thee,

triune

No creature existed where thy eternal counsels were

No creature, therefore, could anticipate thy pleasure
mind

to

its

sovereign resolves.

Be-

thou puttest no trust in thy servants in the hallowed

OF TUE DIVINE DECREES.

116
circle of

heaven

What, then,
sinner,

able decrees

man

Can he

Cm the child of

who knows

day,

is

judgment on thy awful

in

sit

and thine angels thou chargest with

Lord,

will,

the dust

rebel

folly

a polluted

and thy unsearch-

the creature of a

nothing, anticipate the purposes, or control

the mind, of the Almighty

Thou

doest according to thy

And

armies of heaven.

will, in the

degraded and

shall the

corrupt children of this earth regulate the counsels of hea-

ven, to which

sion

and

Can

Can

in lowly submis-

determinations by " the free will" of rebel

irresistible

man

bow

the hosts in glory,

all

thy eternal decrees be suspended in their awful

the proud claims of

"

demand

free will,"

pre-

cedence in the court of heaven, and the councils of the

God

most wise
ceitful

above

my

things,

God, the heart of

man

and desperately wicked.

dust and ashes, I would relinquish

feet, in

thy

Oh

all

" So

and stubbornness.

foolish

am

I,

my

and ignorant

holy and sovereign Jehovah

a beast before thee,"

is

de-

Here,

at

pride,

am as
Oh

Lord, in thy tender mercy, be pleased to root up, and destroy this pride

in

sure.

this

atheism of

Then, in subdued

of soul,

my

feelings,

heart.

Work

And

of dominion.

and

dissoluble ties,

duty, to the

thy

will the

being bound

plea-

and the deepest lowliness

heart being purged from

shall cordially yield to

and in

my depraved

God, both to will, and to do of thy good

me,

its

innate depravity,

unbounded supremacy
Lord, by in-

to thee,

obligations, I shall press forward in love,

mark of

the prize of the high calling of

God, in Christ Jesus. And having, according to the will

of God, at length reached the mount of God, I shall joyfully strike my harp to the ceaseless song of the ransomed
;

and sing

for ever, the praises

of electing, and redeeming

love

Glory be to the Father, and

Holy Ghost
be through

all

as

it

was in

duration

to the

Son, and

the beginning, is

Amen.

to the

now, and

shall

CHAPTER

OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS

"

Of

Eat

every

freely,

tree, that in

YI.

AND THE FALL OF MAN.

the garden grows,

with glad heart

fear here

no dearth:

whose operation brings

Knowledge of good, and ill, which I have
But, of the tree

set

The pledge of thy obedience, and thy faith,

Amid the garden, by the tree of life,
Remember what 1 warn thee shun to taste
And shun the bitter consequence. For, know,
The day thou eatest thereof, my sole command
;

Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die

Thou, and thine offspring

!"

Milton.

Man,
in the

the last

and noblest of the works of God, was made

and was prepared for the high and

image of God

glorious end of his being.

From

man, like every

was under a law of obedience. He
could not exist in any other relation to God.
But it would
have been a pure act of goodness on the part of God, to
the earliest hour of his existence,

other moral agent,

enter into a covenant with

Adam.

It

would have been a

pure act of sovereignty to constitute

him

the federal, as well

as the natural representative of

his

posterity.

all

And

it

would have been an unparalleled act of sovereign authority

to give

him

the opportunity of

11

working out

for himself,

and

OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS

118
for each

one of

his countless

all

by

eternal reward,

own

his

a splendid and

children,

personal obedience

No

one can deny that the Most High had a perfect right
It was evidently advantageous to man, who
to do all this.
" Firm he
possessed in perfection, the image of God.

And he must have been

might have stood."

qualified to be our representative, than

ever lived,

or will live

on

be

earth, to

infinitely better

any mortal

now

his

that has

own

surety,

or representative.

Now,

this is actually the

course which our Creator has

adopted toward Adam, and his whole posterity.

" There are the two covenants

"The one

24.

iv.

is

;" says St. Paul, in Gal.

from Mount Sinai:" that

is,

it

was republished from Mount Sinai. And this was done

It
for a grand specific purpose, of universal importance.
was this, to pour upon the hearts of the Hebrews, and of

men, in

all

all

coming generations,

the overpowering

con-

viction of their guilt, their impotence, and the utter impossibility

of their obtaining salvation by the deeds of the law.

And thus, "

it

shut

them up

to

the faith" in the

blood of

most luminous manner

Hebrew, under the Old Testament, in every one of

the atonement, exhibited in the

the

his sacrifices

ment.

The

and

to the Christian,

New

Testa-

other covenant is "the everlasting covenant,"

spoken of by David, " ordered in

these

under the

to
all

we shall speak
The covenant

all

things and sure."

Of

in order.

of Works was the first covenant reman, in the order of God's dispensations to us.
This solemn transaction was entered into, by God with
Adam, Gen. ii. 16, 17. " And the Lord God commanded the
man, saying. Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely
but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou
eat
I.

vealed to

shalt not eat of

shalt

it

surely die."

for in the

In

day thou eatest thereof, thou

this brief narrative are

constituent parts of this federal transaction.

detailed the

::

119

AND THE FALL OF MAN.

Here we

discover,

cond

the

co7idition

common

namely,

life.

Adam.

father,

Fourth

Thus, though

the

Se-

Third

prescribed, and accepted.

the penalty distinctly enacted.

lated,

contracting parties

the two

first,

namely, the Creator, and our

the promise stipu-

word covenant

mentioned in the whole transaction, we have what

is

is

not
still

more, the necessary constituents of a covenant, fully set

Let us examine these more

before us.

We

First

hand, our

Maker

is

one

admire, and adore most,

He

by our obedience.

He

might have merely placed us

to

no opportunity, and no prolife

life,

and

and eternal

But, in condescending goodness,

he entered into a covenant with Adam.

eternal

one

he might have entered into no covenant with us.

might have admitted us

him

the

not which to

the riches of his goodness, or his

mise of obtaining a splendid reward of

glory,

On

And we know

party.

astonishing condescension.

under a law

closely.

find the contracting parties.

glory,

on

He

promised

the delightful condition of

loving God, and obeying his will.

And

herein

covenant our

is

the

divine goodness manifest.

Creator

acquired no

new

By

this

potver over us

no new service from us, to which He was not entitled fully,

for ever from us, as our adorable Creator.
It
was exclusively for man's benefit, and felicity, that God
now, and

thus

on

stooped in love, " to

his obedience to

him

make himself a debtor to man,"

and thence to crown his obedience

with immortal glory.

The

other contracting party

was Adam.

to perceive that there could

difficult

And

it is

not

be no greater prospect

of perfect success, on man's part, in this covenant, than

that

which was then

vished

on him the

" Come,

let

us make

set

before him.

fruits

man

His Maker had

la-

wisdom, and bounty.

in our image, after our likeof his

Such was the wonderful council of Trinity on

man's creation. " So God made man in his own image

ness."

OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS

120

in the image of

included every

God

He

created

He

model of a representative

this

image

was, therefore, a most perfect

God would

choose, and
And, accordingly, he

such as

appoint at the head of a covenant.

did select him, and appoint

him

to

be our federal head.

consent to the covenant, and

was

terms,

its

was not necessary; It was fully im*

The moment that God's will is made known to a

never demanded.
plied.

And

him."

and grace that could qualify him to obey

gift,

God, and enjoy him.

And Adam's

It

perfectly holy moral agent, such as

Adam

was, he presents

himself promptly for the required obedience, without the

The

formality of a consent asked and given.

existence of

God's image in him, and his entire dependence on his

Maker, expressed, in silence, his fullest, and most perfect
consent.

And,
mily of

my young

friends,

Adam been

occasion,

when he

for us, our

had each individual of the

by the side of Adam, on

there,

entered into covenant for himself, and

fection of our innocence, had

would have been our

we been

there, as

silent yet perfect,

In

Hence He

covenant."

See Heb.

transactions differ from

man meets man on

consent

is

says,

all

" God
ix.

is

invaria-

has enjoined on

And

20.

human covenants.

a footing of equality

explicit

covenant

all

transactions between God, and his subjects, this

this

per-

was,

and most

consent to the terms of the covenant.

you

The

Adam

consent would not have been asked.

bly the case.

fa-

that

and

herein these

In these,
their

mutual

indispensable in the transaction.

which we think will be readiOur sovereign Creator had the

right exclusively to appoint Adam, our common father, to
And, let it not be forgotten, that
be our representative.
in his transactions with man, God has adopted the principle

Now,

ly

there are tivo points

conceded here.

1st.

of representation, both in the covenant of works, and in the

AND THE FALL OP MAN.

" In

covenant of grace.

Adam

die

all

121
in Christ shall

all

be made alive."
2d.

The most

sent to the truth

common

on

the supposition that

Adam was
one

representative, he could not have had

qualified to
to

of the species cannot refuse his as-

selfish
that,

do the

suppose that

office.

we

Surely no one of us will venture

could have been better qualified, or more

likely to stand the test.

culty here, let

If

any one has a scruple, or

him only compare

own

his

guilt,

and

diffi-

utter

Adam.

with the holiness, and perfectness of

incapacity,

our

better

Will any one, after such a comparison, venture to say that

he would rather have been his own representative

Thou, a

guilty,

presentative,

and more

likely to succeed, than a

in perfection after God's

Second
nant.

own image

Let us examine

In addition

own image,

our

the

Maker made

He

as the sacramental test

condition of this coveon man, the gift of his

of

him

to

do that which man,

was quite able

his

could be

more

reasonable,

the penalty, in order to be a sufficient one,

on the delinquent a positive

than the benefit can be, which

breaking the covenant.

rives a greater benefit

keeping

it,

For

man
it is

evil,

co-

And

must be such as

and one greater

promises to himself by
evident, that

if

man

the penalty is not only not sufficient

de-

but

it

It will follow, then, that

in proportion to the severity of the penalty,

likely to

by breaking God's covenant, than by

holds out a temptation to crime.

more

he

or just

Gen. ii. 16, 17.

Third: Consider the penalty of the covenant.
venant, and a law, imply a penalty to enforce them.
to inflict

And

to do.

obedience and love,

abstain from the fruit of the tree of

to

What

knowledge.

man formed

the terms of the covenant

required

as a holy being, loved to do, and

man

better re-

to his lavishing

simple and easy.

required of

What

condemned, and impotent man, a

man

keep a rigid watch over his own

11*

will

heart,

be

and

OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS

122
nis allegiance,

and obedience

to

Hence, the severer

God.

the penalty, the greater the display of divine goodness to

man,

the contracting party.

But, the penalty included the loss of

body into dust

lution of the

the loss of eternal

life

and the disso-

life,

the loss of spiritual

That

in heaven.

incurred, brought the infliction of natural death,

death,

and

And

that

emption from
with spiritual

all

life

pains of

on

spiritual

this fearful penalty

proved

own

traitor to his
will, as

first estate,

by a

all

diseases of body

life

in heaven.

and responsibility before his eyes,

God. Being left to the freedom

every moral agent

fatal act

and the absolute ex-

life,

mind and

and eternal

earth,

innocence and probation,

is,

when

Adam and Eve

fell

in a state of

from

their

of rebellion and apostacy.

The covenant of works was made with all mankind,

as our common head, and representative. Hence

II.

in

man's obedience should be

graciously rewarded with natural

of his

and

threatened penalty, by necessity, implies the

this

With

eternal death, in hell

promise of Almighty God,

man

life

the penalty, if

is,

Adam,

we sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgresWith him, in the rest of his sins, w^e have no parti-

sion.

cipation.
I press on the attention of my young readers as one
important and essential doctrines of Christianimost
of the
no doctrine is more important, so no one is
as
And
ty.
more clearly and impressively taught in the holy Bible. There

This

are two great public characters

holy Scriptures,

Paul

calls

the

them the

held up to our view in the

first Adam, and the second

first

man, and the second man

Adam.
1

Cor.

XV. 47.

This can be spoken of them, only as public cha-

racters,

standing forward at the head of their respective co-

venants, each representing his

own

particular family.

expression removes every doubt on the matter

all

die

in Christ shall

all

be made alive."

This

" In Adam

AND THE FALL OF MAN.

Rom.

"By one man sin

12.

V.

Here

&c.

man.

world, by one

Adam

if

with no kind of truth, could

sin,"

not

world?"

man

every
it

is

it

manifest

Adam

only when

sinned.

The

the head of the covenant.

"So

clusive.

runs thus

It

whom

let

me

render

Hence

it

is

evident, that

men,
all

and

is

con-

for that all

have

obscure version

" So death passed upon

the

was consummated

otir representative,

all

this

and

said here,

men

literally.

through him,

have sinned."*
Verse 13. " For unto the law, sin was in the world

in

but sin

That

all

not imputed where there

is

is

men

all

died,

universally

even infants.

nant, binding on

all

sinned against by
therefore,

him we

all

Verse 14.

all

otherwise

all

Sinai, there
also

men would

broken

not have

no other law, nor covemen, but the covenant of works nor

But, there was

And

men, but the covenant in Adam.

clear that

it is

Mount

at

penalty, death, were in the world, raging

its

Hence, previous to the law of

over all men.
was a law universally binding on all men and
by

no law."

unto the time of the law, given to Moses

is,

Sinai, sin and

in

man

serpent,
it is

close of this verse

death passed upon

Now,

it

Therefore

stood in a public character as

sinned."

Yet

sin entered into the world."

deed was not consummated by Eve

Adam

" by one

the

that

also Eve, did positively sin before him.

" by one man

stood for himself,

be said,

"sin" in general, "entered into the

sins, but

Besides,

was no representation by

If there

on the contrary,

but,

entered into the world,"

not said sms, but sin entered into the

is

it

123

Adam

sinned, and

was our covenant head, and

fell.

" Death reigned from Adam

to

Moses, even

over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's
transgression."

So

the

Greek preposition

bed in which,

'c^ w,

the palsied

en-t

is

rendered in

man was

laid.

Mark

ii.

4.

"

The

OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS

124

That

all

men

And

the reason

here

is

Adam

died from

is

assigned,

"

Moses,

to

for all

is

the point of the Apostle's argument.

who had

transgression,

But,

Death reigned

not only over adults, who had sinned actually

over those

admitted.

have sinned."

but also

not sinned after the similitude of Adam's

that is, over infants,

who had

not, after the

Adam's transgression, sinned personally, and

But sin, with its consequences, is not imputed to
in deed.
Hence, it follows, that there
infants where there is no law.
and that law, moreover,
is a law binding upon infants
must have been broken by infants, else they could not have
But every one will admit
incurred the penalty of death.
similitude of

that this penalty could not

by

their

own personal

mitted an actual sin.

representative.

have been incurred by infants

The

infant never

com-

Hence, they sinned in Adam,

their

deeds.

little

This must be admitted, or

it

must be

af-

firmed that God's spotless justice punishes pure, innocent,

and sinless infants with the curse of death. For, "the

wages of sin is death."
Moreover, Adam is here styled "the figure," or type of
Christ,

who " was

to

come."

the covenant of grace,

Isaiah

of his people.

nant

to the

and

xlii. 6.

people:" "he

But Christ was

the head of

the substitute, or representative

is

"I will

give thee for a cove-

the mediator of abetter cove-

nant :" and hence "he was a sin offering for us ;" and
ransomed us by dying in our stead. Isaiah liii. This is
the only conceivable point in which Adam can be a type of
Therefore Adam must have been the head of the
Christ.

covenant of works, and the representative of

all

his

chil-

As certainly, therefore, as
dren by ordinary generation.
we are made savingly alive by Christ, were we involved in
death by
all

Adam.

Hence, Adam did

as certainly represent

his family in his covenant, as Christ did

all

his family

in his covenant of grace.

Ver. 15.

" Through the offence of one, many are dead."


AND THE FALL OF MAN.

Now,

comes only by sin

as death

125

and as " many" died

man Adam, it is quite maniin Adam must have sinned in

through the offence of the one

fest that the

many who

died

Hence, the covenant was made with him

of ^Hhe many" who make up his family. And,
him.

obscurity

on

this point, the

in the

name
no

to leave

Apostle repeats and accumulates

the evidence until the proof

is

absolute demonstration.

" The judgment was by one to condemnation." " By one

man's offence death reigned by one." In what language
could the truth be more

infallibly before us

that death reigned, that

pervaded

and sway

and

this not

by one man^s offence

And

is,

its

this,

dominion

by the offence of each one; but

even by

than

men by

all

one man did

this

it

reign.

deserves notice that Paul used a word that settles the

it

" By one man's disobedience many were

That is, they were legally constituted,
by law and equity they were declared and made
But they must have been legally in Adam, and

point at once.

made sinners."
sinners

sinners.

must have sinned against law in him

by no

act

otherwise they could,

made and

of law, or justice, have been legally

declared to be sinners, by the one man's disobedience.

Let
1

me

urge on your attention that impressive passage in

"In Adam

Cor. XV. 22.

die," for so is the

was

led by

Even

the Spirit.

Now,

cause.

wages of sin

:"

die :" that

all

iv.

1.

Adam

die by

so, all

Adam

by

is,

word rendered in Luke

recur to the principle, that " death

and where no sin

and wherever death

is,

there

Adam it is most manifest

And if we all sinned in him,
;

duly represented by

him

is

is,

there can be

sin.

then

we

But

as the
is

the

no death

of us die in

all

sinned in Adam.
we must have been

all

of course

as our

all

Christ

common

father,

and

federal

head in the covenant.

Hence, there is an irresistible force in

ken from the death of infants. Let me

direct

tion to this affecting appeal to our hearts

on

the

argument

ta-

your atten-

this important

126

OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS

You must have seen

doctrine.

mother's bosom.
It

a sweet smiling babe on

In a certain sense,

" an

is

it

its

innocent,'*^

has never committed a sin actually, in deed, in word, or

in thought.

Now,

has never trespassed by voluntary action;

It

if there

were no other sin than

voluntary action
proclaim, that

act unjustly

cious theories.

a thing impossible that

it is

justice

any case.

suffer, in

moans,

it

weeps,

suffer such pain

midst of

its

to

But, here are facts that overturn spe-

See

that

it is

Can

God can

can never allow the innocent

little

one, "innocent," as

now

suffering excruciating pain.

gards voluntary actual sin,

an angel weep

which consists in

a thing as impossible that that infant

it is

For

that

then, reason, philosophy, and the Bible

could suffer, or die, as

It

in

it

an agony of convulsion.

re-

Can

a pure and spotless being deserve to

and agony

This

is

Again,

severest pains.

not

all, it

dies in the

I recur to first princi-

Sorrows, pains, and death are the wages of sin.

ples.

They

are not blessings.

God may, and

ings.

They never can be

called bless-

does snatch the sufferer out of them,

and bring the agonized babe home to heaven. But still,

and agonies, and death are in themselves purely

disease,

curses,

of

God

and
will

that, too,

of the severest kind.

It is absolutely

die.

Now,

the justice

never permit the purely innocent to

deny himself.

"The

suffer, or

God cannot
that sinneth, it shall die."
Of
sinned can never die. Now,

impossible, inasmuch as
soul

course, the soul that never

bring these two points into contact

"

the

wages of sin

is

death :" and, the infant actually suffers agonizing pains, and
Either, then, there

death.

infants are guilty,

besides

is

another kind of sin of which

actual

and voluntary deed

or

God, in infinite justice, inflicts the most dreadful punishment on infants who are pure and spotless. But, this

else,

is

impossible.

sin.

that

But there
is,

Hence, infants are guilty of some kind of

is no other than that of our sin in Adam

original sin.

Hence

the certainty of the fact of ori-

AND THE FALL OF MAN.

ginal sin,

of the

is

just as strong,

and

of infants.

If

death

127

as conclusive as

we deny

leave unaccounted for, one of the

the fact

is

we

original sin,

most striking and painful

moral phenomena in the existing history of our species.

But our exposition accounts

for

on

it

the justest, and

most

rational principles.
It is, in fact,

An

founded on the universally recognized prin-

human

ciples of

intercourse,

example or two

and mercantile transactions.

will explain this.

merchant has his accredited agent in a foreign

This
goods

They belong
ciates

Now, whose

to great advantage.

whom

of

are the profits

him, as one of the firm, and

to

city.

He sells the shipment

his federal representative.

is

all

his

he represented in the transaction.

asso-

On

what

them mutually ? Just in

those solid, and well-known principles, by which Adam was
and which we all should have
our agent or representative
principles do the profits belong to

reaped the glorious reward of his obedience had he been

faithful, as

he might have been.

The agent happens to come

But, reverse the case.

to

bad market; he loses not only the whole amount with

which he was entrusted

Now, whose
is that

is that

loss

but he incurs a ruinous debt.

Whose

is that

ruinous debt

each one of his numerous partners in the concern.

what principles
in

It

of the agent, a partner in the firm, and also that of

Adam's

guilt,

Just on those by which

and consequent

loss.

So

we

On

are involved

plainly

and oband

great principle of the tivo covenants,

viously

is this

the two

Adams', recognized in the every day transactions of

civil society.

Upon

the same, great principle does the

father to a deed

signature of a

and a mortgage, bind, without consent

asked or given, his children, and children's children to a

thousand generations

while his profligacy involves them

in bodily disease, shame,

and poverty, throughout

all

their

OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS

128

Here

generations.

is

in divine providence.

what principles

a historical illustration afforded us

this just

Is

Is

fair

it

Upon

Just upon the same universal principle

on which Adam's hand-writing, and his faithlessness, involved us all in disease, death, shame and poverty
There is not an objection brought against this, which,
if brought against these transactions in human life, would
not throw every portion of society into irrecoverable confusion.

For instance one objects, " I never gave my consent

Adam's representing me." We have shown that Adam
was not asked to give his consent. And hadst thou been
present by his side, in the equality of his holiness, and per:

to

fection, thy

The

consent never would have been asked.

man's primitive nature promptly yielded the

and unasked consent.

perfection of
tacit

my consent to Adam's sin how could I

him without my consent?" Let me transfer this to

" I never gave

sin in

the case of

luded

one of the descendants

Suppose a

to.

father alluded to, should

come

sin lies in voluntary action

the case above al-

in

or remote descendant of the

child,

and say

into court,

my

of

the sin

be imputed to me, when I was yet unborn.

my

consent to

my

father's profligacy

father
I

" All
cannot

never gave

never gave him

my

consent to sign that deed, and those mortgages, whereby

am

diseased from his diseased body

his squandering
I

never gave

my

away

Inasmuch, then, as

his rich estates.

signature

nor consent,

and jury.
to

remove

my

those valuable inheritances lost by him,

Now,

and made poor by

demand back

sinning father

leave you to conceive the answer of the court

They would
the

tenderly

request the proper oflicer

unhappy young maniac

a proper asylum.

And

jections here treated less

for

to

his

friends,

and

what earthly reason are the ob-

tenderly

Is

it

because theolo-

AND THE FALL OF MAN.

gical mania
mania ?
You say

absurd and less mischievous than civil

is less

129

" All sin lies in voluntary action

I reply,

this

if so,

justice, is the little

death

on what principle of

" All sin

truism.

law, or

babe doomed to pains, and agony, and

All sin of a certain

is actual

is, all

kind,

voluntary sin

is

is

a curious

in voluntary ac-

lies

voluntary

all

actual sin,

But, what do you call that of the infant

sin.

"In Adam

This

in voluntary action."

lies

That

tion.

What do you

die."

all

Adam?

causes infants' death in

or the helpless infant,

To

sin."

equity,

Solve this before you glory in the resurrection of

the often refuted Pelagius, from the dead

sin

no man will

own

be called, or held to account for any, but his

of voluntary sinful action

call that

Either

we

or, there

our natural and federal head, which

is

is

without

die

incapable of action,

which

sin,

guilty

is

a sin incurred in

from

distinct

that of

voluntary action.

Suppose an infant were

to

sin lies in voluntary action ;"

Hence,

voluntary sin.
shall not die.

present the plea,

now,

that

"

all

never was guilty of

demand of divine

justice, that I

If all sin lie only in voluntary

action, then

and die without a sin, without a cause,

without a reason and therefore they die most unjustly

do infants

suffer,

pray you stand up before your just Judge, and meet the

facts of infants' death,

"All sin

by your bold theory

in voluntary acts ;" says the

lies

whose agent has unfortunately

moreover, incurred,
don.

For

" Now,
all

this

nor give

jector follow

merchant

is

my

and

merchant,

goods, and has,

a ruinous debt, in

officially,

debt," continues he,

sin lies in voluntary action

sonal contracting
ally

lost all his

all

debt lies in per-

I neither contracted this debt

consent

to

it

Lon-

" I will not pay.

personally."

person-

Let our ob-

him into a civil court, and hear whether the

made liable for his accredited agent's debts.

not

12

OP THE COVENANT OP WORKS

130

Then

him

let

learn whether he has reason,

and

common

sense on his side, to sustain the resuscitations of Pelagius'

extravagances.
Yet, after

consent to Adam's
full

man

not true that

all, it is

He

sin.

first

and overflowing consent

to

The

of reason, and mind.

it,

does not give his

does actually give his

the earliest

at

dawnings

early ebullitions of depravity,

which drown reason, and the early dawn of the mental faAnd
proclaim this actual consent to Adam's sin.

culties,

completes the evidence that thou gavest thy legal

this only

consent, in a legal

Finally

I have

way

in thy representative

only to beg the person

Adam.
who objects

to

of his sin

Adam's representation, and the consequences

falling upon us, to consider very seriously the

fatal results

of his theory.

the doctrine of

12

v.

in the

of

18, the doctrine

The

covenant of grace, as

Adam

apostle establishes in

Rom.

of our Redeemer's representation

distinctly,

in the old covenant.

Now,

and
if

certainly, as that

you deny the

fact,

and the correctness of the principle in the case of Adam,

you must maintain the same opposition in the case of our
Redeemer, in the new covenant. If it were wrong in principle, that

Adam should

represent you in his covenant

it is

Lord Jesus Christ

If it be wrong
should be your surety, in the new covenant.
in principle, that you should be involved in Adam's sin,
it must be equally wrong in princiwithout your consent
equally

wrong

in principle, that our

you should reap any benefit of our Redeemer's

atonement, without your consent, given to it, at the time
ple,

that

when he

Adam

If

died.

it

be wrong in principle, that the sin of

be charged on you, when

were born

it

is

equally

wrong

it

took place before you

in principle, that Christ's

righteousness should be charged, or imputed to you,

it

in

was wrought out before you were born.

fall

it

when

be wrong

any of the fruits, or consequences of

on you, when, as you say, you never did,

principle, that

Adam's sin

If

AND THE FALL OF MAN.

nor could give your consent

to

time

at the

it,

131
;

equal-

it is

wrong in principle, that any one benefit, or smallest

boon of Christ's suretyship should fall to your lot, when you
ly

never

nor ever could give your consent

did,

Adam,

For, if you did not die in

time.

cannot be made

it

is

to

at the

it,

doom

If you share not in the

alive in Christ.

you

certain

of the one representative, you cannot on any honest princigrace and restoration of the other repre-

ple, share in the

for the

Adam, and his covenant, you must,

Lord Jesus Christ, and the
Adam was not your federal head

If you reject

sentative.

same reason,

reject our

covenant of grace.

If

then was not Christ your federal head and surety.

If

we

do not inherit sin, and death in Adam, then do we not inhegi-ace,

rit

and eternal

in Christ

life

In

into serious consideration.

Take

these things

spite of all the speculations

of men, a practical decision on these points involves your

everlasting destinies
I shall

my young

here present

luminous exhibition of
legal characters of

any age

and pious Christian.

reader with the following

this doctrine

by one of the greatest

and a most singularly learned

mean

Mathew Hale, Lord Chief

Sir

Justice of England.

" God made

righteous law.

man righteous, at first, and gave him a

And inasmuch as man owed an infinite

subjection to the Author of his being, he

obedience

to the

owed an exact

law of his Maker.

" Yet God was pleased

to

him

give

this law,

the rule of his obedience, but as a covenant of

death

wherein,

1st.

and his posterity.

the race of

all

but pieces of

him

to

And

And

contract for

all

and of

just

he had in him,

for

succeeding generations are

All

Adam, who had

life,

a stipulation for himself,

was

this

mankind.

being but from him.

for

Man made

not only as

and could

not,

so

it

his

not, have their

was reasonable, and

posterity.

just in respect of the person contracting,

it

And
was

as

it

just

was

also just in

OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS

132

manner of the contract. The law, which was his coveis a just and righteous law
a law suitable to the endowments, and powers of his nature.
" Again, the blessedness which, by his obedience, he was
to hold, was not of his own creating, or obtaining.
It was
the free gift of God.
And it was reasonable that the Lord
the

nant,

of this

And

might give

gift,

it,

in what

manner

could not be unjust that the Lord

it

this blessedness,

should give

tions he pleased.

to him,

it

But, he gave

reasonable, and just condition

it

to

under what condi-

him under

namely,

he pleased.

who gave him

the

most

an obedience

to

a most just, and most reasonable law, which suited with the

and perfection of his nature.

" And, therefore, when, upon the breach of the covenant
by man, he withdrew the blessedness from him, and his posability,

he did no more than what was most just for him to

terity,

And,

do.
father

thus,

committed

we stand guilty of that sin, which our first

and we are deprived of that blessedness
:

and

life,

And

the privation of that blessedness

which our

first

once had, and

father

forfeited.

and immortdity

death."

aUESTIONS.
In what

state

Wherein does

man

\^ as
TVTiat

placed originally under a covenant

was

Detail

was man originally made ?

a law differ from a covenant

that

covenant called

Describe

it.

its parties.

Was justice

rendered to man, as a party in

Rehearse the two points

it 1

illustrating this.

Describe the condition of the covenant of works.

Detail the penalty thereof.

Was

this

covenant made with

all

Give some of the proofs of this.

mankind

in

Adana

is

AND THE FALL OF MAN.

What proof on
infants

this matter

draw you from the death of

Is this

covenant based on novel principles, or on such

as are universally received in civil society

What

Is not the
I

same

draw you from the practice of agency

illustration

and representation in
"

133

the mercantile world?

principle in operation in every family

never consented to Adam's sin,"

how

answer you

this?

" All sin

in voluntary action,"

lies

how answer

you

this?

Does not man,

after all, give his full

way, to this sin in

What

fatal

consequences follow from the denial of Adam's

and original sin

representation,

What was
trine

consent in a hoofold

Adam ?
?

the opinion of Chief Justice

Hale on

this

doc-

What

own personal views, and

?
Express them fully.

are your

important doctrines

belief

on these

MEDITATION.
God

I bless

the clear light shed

for

works with Adam.

glory

Herein

see

on

my

the covenant of

Blessed Creator's

Unsearchable sovereignty

manifested.

is

blended

most unmerited goodness in this transaction.

Every thing here, was manifestly in man's favour. He was
made perfect, and fully capable of doing all that was reand had an opportunity, on the most reaquired of him
with the

sonable condition, of gaining a splendid and eternal reward, for himself, and every one of his numerous offspring.

Good
in

IS

the Lord, in

honour abode not

I will

his ways.

But, alas

he became as the beasts

open

Lord

my

lips to justify

And

Man

being

that perish.

my God.
man, or impugn thy purwould mourn over man's froward12*

sing of judgments as well as mercies,

I dare not

poses,

all
:

OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS;

134

Had Adam

ness and his reckless doings.

integrity,

as he might have done,

stood fast in his

and procured

the pro-

mised reward, not one son, or daughter of Adam would have

manifested any scruple about accepting the reward, and

crown

Adam's obedience.

for

But, inasmuch as

it

we are

happens, that

involved in guilt

and misery, man dares murmur at God's dispensations.

Man dai^es blame God's sovereignty, while we overlook his

own inexcusable apostacy

Now, man blushes not to entertain the thought that, had he
been his own representative, he would have been more successful than the innocent and perfect Adam. I charge my
boundless goodness, and our

soul,

and

within me, to be humbled deeply in the dust

all

my

before

august and adorable Creator.

dare not

sit

judgment on

in

Lord,
Thou,
judgment on thee.
my God Let every

I will not sit in

didst all things well.

thee,

thought, and every emotion of

my

soul, be schooled

down

what am I in thy preby thy blessed word. Oh, Lord

Dare I elevate my mind, or plans, or wishes above
sence
!

Dare
?
preme and awful
thy law

will

my

up

I set
!

will in opposition

my

Purify

what says thy law ?

finding

it

What

to

me

that of

to

thy su-

Lord,

heart,

inquiry simply be,

says thy word on this

in thy holy book, help

no other feeling than

sess

my

Let

for the reception of thy truths.

and

soul,

And

bow down, and

pos-

unfeigned and profound

submission

Adam

distinctly recognize as

most

suitable representative.

May

I be

true

my

covenant head, and

could not have had a better.

delivered from selfishness, ignorance, and pre-

sumption in

my

this matter.

and federal head.

apostacy, I

am

My consent was legally given in

My practical consent to Adam's

mortified to say,

is

one of the

earliest

most stubborn, and persevered in exercises of

mind.

deplore

it.

am

guilty before

The

sin of

my

my

Creator.

nature

is

and

my young

confess

it,

and

ever rising up in me,

!!
;

AND THE FALL OF MAN.

and before my eyes.
not to pour out

my

But,

am

life,

By Adam

and hope, and

new

For

I fall,

his

for

but by Christ

Bless the Lord,

glory.

by our glorious se-

the intervention of Christ, the head of

covenant, I will praise and bless thee,

ly Father, for ever

my God

render to

soul, for the dispensation of grace

cond Adam.
the

fountain of pollution ceases

what can

and mercy

raised into

O my

The

streams of defilement, and death

soul,

ineffable love,
I

its

135

and ever

my Heaven-

A PRAYER.
Lord,

adore thy divine goodness, which gave us thy

primitive law, so adapted to our innocent nature, and

The

ability.

fulfilling

glorious Creator

full

of that law consisted in love to thee,

and in obedience

and

souls were devoted in veneration

to thee, to

whom our
am

But, I

affection.

wonder, and admiration, as often as I think of thy

amazing goodness, deigning to place man under a covenant.
What wonderful love, and goodness, surpassing all

lost in

thought

What

a divine promise

presence

And

ting condition

God

task

what could

all

these secured to us,

that of loving thee,

most easy, and

man

have wished

Creator's willing hands

But, oh

for

become

as the beasts that perish.

oflTer

Man, being

ourselves.

own

We

crime

sinful way.

all

ca7i

Oh

lift

Lord
!

Oh

we

plead before

injured

he has

Lord

Oh

up our faces before thee

We have, each one of us,

We have utterly destroyed

have each one of

gressed the covenant

own
befit-

more, from their bountiful

in honour, abode not

how can we

to extenuate our

turned to our

one

and obeying thee,

what

God

insulted sovereign,

this

what shall we say

!

on

delightful to our souls

thee,

or

Life everlasting, glory

uninterrupted, and boundless as thy

eternal, felicity

us,

" like Adam,

trans-

of us have dealt treacherously

OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS

136

womb

we

are

all

iniquity.

We

one of

human

by

the

amid

some of our
But

the faithless.

one

sin,

see the undeniable

and one

Not
put

all

species had been found

the universal ravages of

involved without excepruin

Lord,

we

the confounding evidence of this uni-

and

forth in

before thee.

Had man been

common

versal apostacy, everywhere.

from every heart

it

personal responsibility, as the

and death have proved us

sin,

tion, in the

and brought

family has escaped.

own

estranged from the

all

and deplore

confess,

angels were by thee,

faithful,

are

conceived in sin

Lord, on his

thee,

We

Lord."*

against thee,

filled

It

has torn the love of thee

us with hatred against thee.

It

has turned whole families against thee, oh, most sovereign

Lord

has turned cities against thee.

It

human

Nay,

the

whole

family throughout the world, exhibits one undivided

and desperate rebels, against thee. All are

every face
Adam. Every mouth must be shut
and all the world become guilty
covered with confusion
God!
and subject to thy judgments,

mass of

hateful

guilty with

Lord, blessed be thy name, thou openest a door of

But,

hope

There

for us in the valley of trouble.

is

a covenant

of grace, as well as a broken covenant, with the re-echoed

curse.

There

second Adam, to stand up in our name,

Give me grace,
Lord,
Instead of "covermyself, and thy glory.
is

as our head, and representative.

to

be wise for

ing

my

sin, like

Jesus, with

of finding

all

fault

Adam,"

let

the burden of

me

fly to

my sin,

my

dear Redeemer,

and sorrows

Instead

with thy most sovereign appointment in the

constitution of the old

covenant, and

its results,

Oh

me

haste to obtain reparation, and a glorious deliverance

the

new

the

fall

help me,

covenant.
of

let

by

Instead of fretting, and repining under

Adam, and blaming man, and blaming God,

Lord, to fly forthwith to the second Adam, my
Hosea

vi. 7.

AND THE FALL OF MAN.

137

head and representative, and Redeemer, in the gracious coIf Adam fell
my Redeemer can never fail me
gloomy and desperate by the fall of man in Adam
all is joy, and hope, and glory through our liOrd Jesus
" Our Father who art in heaven," &c. Amen.
Christ.

venant.

If

all is

CHAPTER

VII.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR FALL

I

My

own

All that

deserved

I eat,

and would bear,

it,

deservings

IN ADAM.

but this will not serve:

or drink, or shall beget,

Is propagated curse

voice once heard

Delightfully, increase and multiply.

Now

Death

to

hear

Or multiply, but
"Who of all ages

The

evil

this

my

head

increase

I
!

to succeed, but, feeling

on him brought by me, will curse

My head 1
For

For what can

curses on

111

fare our ancestor impure.

we may thank Adam

Shall be the execration

Mine own,

that bide

But

his thanks

So, besides

upon me,

Shall with a fierce reflux, on

all

me

from

me

rebound,

On me, as on their natural centre, light

Heavy, though in their place
O fleeting joys
!

Of

paradise, dear bought with lasting pains

!"

Adam's Lament

These consequences we

are not

left to

in

Milton.

conjecture. Uni-

versal experience, illumined by the light of

divine truth,

on us with irresistible demonstration.

All mankind are involved in the guilt of Adam's
This we present to you, dear youth, as the ne-

presses them
First.
first sin.

cessary conclusion from what has just been proved.


THE CONSEQUENCES, ETC.
need only add,

that

or charged to us,

And

our sin in our substitute.

punishment of

to suffer

Adam.

of

That

not the pollution of Adam's

guilt,

it is

sin, that is imputed,

the

the obligation

kind, as that

the party bound with

the prin-

pay the debt incurred, as

cipal, is as strictly obligated to

tlie

in consequence of

means
the same

guilt

specifically

say

is to

139

is

The surety, or endorser, must suffer with

The
who becomes a delinquent debtor.

principal.

principal,

Adam must suffer with their natural and federal

spirit of God has expressly declared this
** In Adam all die."
" By one man sin entered into the
world, and death by sin
so death passed upon all men

children of

The

head.

for in

him

death

reigned

all

''By the one man's offence

have sinned."

"By

by one."

many were made,

Second. All

that

is,

one man's disobedience

legally constituted, sinners."

mankind sustained
That

of the divine image.

the forfeiture,

is to say,

we

forfeited

and

and

loss
lost

our perfect knowledge, righteousness, holiness, and immor-

God had given

tality.

us the

the

last,

namely, eternal

life,

three

first

we might

his image, in order that

of these

traits

of

achieve the reward of the

enhanced with every blessing

of the divine bounty heaped upon us, on earth, and finally

Our apostacy was high treason against the

Supreme Ruler of the universe. God is necessarily just.

in heaven.

Hence
ty

all

that

have exacted our natural

a terror to
feited

much as his sovereignwe had forfeited. He might

faculties, and have made us

followed the utter loss of as

chose to exact of

all

being

around

us.

He

might have exacted our

tion after generation.

But he reserved us

for a

of discipline, under a gracious dispensation.

from us the
being

to

forfeited

image of God.

each child of Adam,

racter of

existence

Judge and Creator.

;

for-

and annihilated the whole species, generarecalled

And, now, in giving

God sustains
As

new course

He

at

once the cha-

Creator, he gives us our

as Judge, he creates us under

an absence of the

THE CONSEQUENCES OF

140
forfeited

He

image.

does not create us sinners

our bodily and mental powers.

all

nies us the image of

The

us.

God which we

testimony to that

its

in certifying this painful truth.

his own
Hence we do no longer

begat a son in

image."

he gives us

his strict justice de-

treacherously cast from

voice of Scripture unites

of universal experience,

"Adam

But

likeness,

his

after

image of

bear the

God. " We bear the image of the earthy." 1 Cor. xv. 49.
" The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint
from
is

of

sole

the

no soundness in

the
it."

foot,
Isai.

even
i.

the

to

head,

" The natural

5.

there

man re-

ceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness unto

him

" man

know

neither can he

they are spiritually discerned."

Cor.

them, because

ii.

Hence

14.

wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked."

is

In one word, " we are dead in trespasses, and in sins."

And

been the deplorable condition of man, since

this has

He

the hour of his apostacy from God.

and God
evil

is

and

The

Third,
is total

that continually."

for

depravity of

no one

Gen.

man

God

imagination

been

has

from

is far

" Every

him.

of his heart

thoughts

the

from

far

evil

and only

vi. 5.

is total,

and universal.

faculty of the soul, nor

member of

universal

It

the

body, has escaped the contamination, and moral death.

is

of

It

no individual of the whole species, has

for

ever been discovered, in the most distant

cluded spots, far from the haunts of

isles, or

guilt,

and

most

se-

pollution,

who has ever been free from the universal sin and stain
" The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of
!

men,
God.

to see if there

come

filthy

They
;

were any that did understand, and seek

all gone aside

are

there is

none

they are altogether be-

that doeth good,

no not one

!"

Ps. xiv. 2, 3.

Fourth,
actual sins.

Man

is

We

involved in the

guilt of

innumerable

need only open the Scriptures,

to see the

OUR FALL

God

wickedness.

temn God

not in

is

141
:

" There

Their inward part

no, not one.

ADAM.

man, therein given

appalling description of

none righteous

IN

all their

They con-

thoughts.

God

is

very

is

an
There is no faithfulness in their mouth.
an open sepulchre with their tongues they

they say in their heart

will not require

account of them.

Their throat

is

have used deceit

their

mouth

the poison of asps

is full

swift to shed blood

ways!"

Rom.

And, shocking as

lips

their feet are

destruction and misery are in their

10

iii.

the history of our

under their

is

of cursing and bitterness

19.

this description

own

and

hearts,

those around us, and the history of the

to verify the dreadful truth.

we need only

is,

lives

study

and the history of

kingdoms of this world,

Universal history

is just

one con-

tinuous chain of testimony to these appalling facts in our moral

Cast your eyes even over the nations, considered

condition.

most civilized. What

the

frauds,

and treachery, and injustice

What crimes against God,and man, perpetrated in cold blood

What scenes of robbery, and theft, and revolting pollutions
What scenes of murder, disgracing families, and neighbourhoods
What bloody and revolting wars, spreading wild
desolation over whole provinces, and kingdoms
Look
!

into the legislative assemblies.

Has

his blessed

word any place there

What

courts of justice.

ed

What

Is the fear

God

Look

Our

many Sodoms, and Gomorrahs

Now,

is their

con-

Look

into

history stained

With

since every sin deserves God's wrath, and heavy

visitation,

what must the whole amount of each man's sins

deserve at the hand of divine retribution

Fifth.

cities are

our quietest villages, and hamlets, and cottages.

what enormities

there

into our

revolting crimes are daily reveal-

chicanery, what injustice

verted into so

of

E very man

sentence of death.

is,

He

in his natural state, actually under

is

condemned

criminal, await-

ing the opening of the prison door, to be led forth to exe13

THE CONSEQUENCES OP

142

This necessarily follows from the relations which

holds to divine justice.
All his sins lie open

cution.

man

guilty

The God

to the eyes of infinite purity.

cannot be indifferent to
of

terrific

punishment on the

man

is

guilty.

What

evidence lends a

" Thou,

And

art

and thou canst not look on

acquit the wicked."

con-

And

the strength of its

truth.

of purer eyes than to behold

the

" The Lord

iniquity."

slow to anger, and great in power

all,

overwhelming

terrific force to the

mighty God,

approve

a mortifying and appalling con-

sideration to the reflecting mind.

evil

surely,

condemn it, and visit its

Hence every unconvert-

actually under the sentence of death,

demned criminal

is

of spotless purity

and he cannot,

If so, then he cannot but

it.

ed

it

and he

Judge of

" He

will not at

the quick

and

on
Son of God is not condemned but he that believeth
And this is
not, IS CONDEMNED ALREADY." John ill. 18.
the dead, has added this testimony

the

that believeth

which the awakened conscience feels he is

condemned by law and justice.
Sixth.
Every child of Adam, in his fallen state, is under
the first thing

the dominion,

and tyranny of Satan.

tifying truth of the gospel

the world, with scorn,

and

This

and hence

disgust.

To

it

is
is

another morreceived by

such an alarming

extent has the too successful delusion of Satan been carried,

that

man

has been induced to deny even the existence, and

operations of the god of this world,

Now,

his

own

master

no principle of reason,
It is manifest from the word of God
or sound philosophy.
that there are good spirits, and evil spirits, in constant inCor.

iv. 4.

this contradicts

tercourse with us, in their mysterious operations.

These,

must be allowed, can operate as readily on each other,

and on us, as do our souls on our bodies, and on the souls
And what these spirits, both angels and deof others.
mons, can do, they are willing to do. Experience and facts
confirm this. Thus far can reason and philosophy grope their
it

OUR FALL
way, in

this

143

ADAM.

IN

But the

mysterious and interesting subject.

Bible throws the fullest light of demonstration on

it.

what has a reference to the dominion

and powers of Satan. " Your adversary, the devil, as a

quote, at present, only

whom

roaring lion, walketh about, seeking

1

" The prince of

Pet. V. 8.

he

may

devour."

power of the

the

air,

the

now worketh in the children of disobedience."

" The great dragon, the old serpent, called the
2.

spirit that

Eph.

ii.

devil,

"

and Satan, deceiveth

We wrestle

the whole world."

the rulers of the darkness

these remarkable hints,

12.

vi.

evident that Satan, at

it is

kingdom, operates by an organized body,

the head of his

kingdom

against Christ's

men

xii. 9.

of this world, against spiritual

wickedness in high places." Eph.

From

Rev.

against principalities, against powers, against

as his subjects

he claims unconverted

that

he icorks in them as his victims

that

and malignant cun-

that he operates as a serpent, with deep

ning, seducing

men

undoing

to their final

and as a

roar-

ing lion, with fury and power, restrainable only by our

Lord Jesus

are wholly

and

his hosts of

alarm does

How dreadful the condition of all

Christ.

who

it

under

demons

excite

Man

Seventh.

this

And

among

yet,

what a small degree of

the sons of

stands exposed to

quent on these conditions.

His anger

every day."

men,

dominion, and tyranny of Satan,

is

" God

all

is

men
the miseries conse-

angry with the wicked

nothing else than the holy dis-

plays of his purity, and justice, wielded by Almighty power

against sinners.

And

hence, by the law of God's nature,

his justice does as necessarily

consume

the sinner, as the

raging flame does necessarily devour the dry stubble.

The

sweeping of the dry stubble into the roaring flames, doea

not more necessarily result in

than does the approach of the

its

being entirely consumed,

finally

impenitent sinner to

the bar of divine justice, issue in his everlasting burnings

inhell

how

deplorable

is

the condition of fallen

man

THE CONSEQUENCES OF

144

He

exposed

is

to death itself

Finally

to

all

and

Man

the complicated miseries of this

to the

pains of hell for ever

is utterly

He

helpless.

neither the will, nor the

ral state,

from

power

He

this deplorable condition.

The man
The

and in sins."

est action of life.

He

"

But these are

dead in trespasses,

is

that is dead,

himself

true, all the

it is

physical and mental powers he ever had.

paralyzed by spiritual death.

has, in his natu-

to extricate

has,

life

cannot do the small-

soul that is dead, cannot do the

life, until he is born again, and made

His physical powers, it is true, can do
His moral powers can do moral actions,
physical actions.
deranged, and weakened by sin though they are.
But to

smallest actions of holy

in Jesus.

alive

do spiritual functions, and render holy acts of obedience to

God. we

]^]2U2t

hiY? riew

To

capacities.

tell

me

life,

and

sniritnal dls^CsiticHS

that I can,

by

my

5,11

natural powers,

an unconverted sinner, do spiritual and holy actions, is

and as absurd, as it would be to persuade

as

as unphilosophical,

me

by

that

hands,

has not

my

natural eyes, I can

the will

what our Lord says,

to extricate

"Ye will

ye may have life." And, again

" He works in us to will," it
not ourselves possess the
possesses not

state,

our Lord's words

the Father

God

who

will.

That

my
man

or by

himself, is manifest from

not come unto me

since

is

God

that

that

assures us that

quite evident that

And

man, in

we do

his fallen

the powek, is equally evident from

man can come to me, except
me, draw him." John vi. 44. And it

" No

sent

that,

inasmuch

does work in us both to do, and to

will,

we

nature as destitute of the ability to act, as

to

fallen

manifest from the passage quoted,

is equally

as

see spirits

can lay hold upon angels!

we

are by

are of the will

come unto God.

And

let

no man deceive you,

my

dear youth, in this mat-

urge this point very earnestly on your consciences.

ter.

The

doctrine that

man, while dead

in sin, does possess the

OUR FALL

IN

will, or the ability in himself,

is

ral.

ADAM.

145

as fatal, as

it is

unscriptu-

would shut you up under the deep conviction of your

utter incapacity

and absolute helplessness.

For, just in

proportion as you feel this, you will be constrained, and

urged on to the use of

will,

all

On

life.

you have power, and

and

to

change your own

upon me

to

God,

ability in yourself to turn to

heart, in true regeneration

then

own ima-

should I be guilty of throwing you back on your

ginary resources

life,

the resurrection,

is

the contrary, did I take

that

and
and the
persuade you

appointed means, to seek

and capacity from him who

and thence impiously turning you away

Christ Jesus
and away

from your only hope, and help,

from the Holy Ghost, who alone can quicken you

and
away from your Heavenly Father, who alone can "work in
you both to will, and to do." In thus holding up flattering
delusions, I should have the blood of souls resting on my
conscience and I could not help hearing the cry of souls
;

perishing under

my

guidance

false

aUESTIONS.

From
effects

what sources gather we the evidence of the

of Adam's

What
What
What

the first fatal

consequence of our

is

imputed to us

is

the second consequence

Why
How

prove you

creates us, does he

make us sinners

is

human

depravity
total ?

this

lost?

the third fatal effect of our

you it
prove you

Adam 1

is

call

in

fall

this

image of God which we

prove you this loss

When God
What
What

the

How

fatal

all?

is

Wherein consisted

How

upon us

sin

first

fall ?

Why

universal

What

is the fourth consequence ?

Give the proof of this from Scripture

Can you prove

it

from history, and human experience

13*

THE CONSEQUENCES OF

146

What does every sin deserve ?

What is the Jifih consequence ?
What are the tivo sources of the proof
What is the sixth fatal effect of the fall
Give the proof of

How

of this

this.

man
What is the seventh fatal effect of man's fall ?
Can man extricate himself from all these miseries ?
does Satan exert his malice, and power on

Give the proof of

this.

What, say you, are the practical

man

has the

evils

What

will, or the ability

How

results of the belief that

in himself to remedy these

are the practical results of the belief that

utterly helpless in

man

is

himself?

feel you, dear youth,

under

all

these dreadful mise-

ries?

What

is

your

own

conviction, and experience as to your

ability, or inability, to

evils

relieve yourself

from these appalling

MEDITATION.

" Man disobeying,

-

Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins

Against the high supremacy of Heaven

Affecting Godhead, and, so losing

To expiate

all,

nought left,
But, to destruction sacred, and devote.
He with his whole posterity must die:
Die he, or Justice must
Unless for him
Some other able, and as willing, pay
his treason, hath

The rigid

satisfaction death for death

!"

Milton,

may

them.

some mere

yield a cold assent to these things, as to

theory in science.

My

But

this

is

not enough.

must

feel

conscience must be bowed down under them

OUR FALL

But,

versy,

my

are to

its efforts

guilty

mind, by the very

Beyond

no purpose.

of us are guilty with Adam, in his

all

soul, thou canst not

self to the contrary.

conceal

Should

whole

soul, conscience,

would

rise

Were

147

depravity, labours to stave off the evidence of

its

guilt.

ADAM.

The

and overwhelmed by them.

law of

IN

heart,

and

up as witnesses against me,

not guilty of this first sin,

first sin.

cannot persuade my-

my

attempt to justify myself,

and

it.

its

contro-

the
to

word of God,

condemn me.

should not, in early

infancy, and childhood, have been without the image of God.

have been joyful in perfect innocence and exempted from every pain of mind, and body. For, the guilt-

I should

less

cannot

suffer.

But,

the reverse of this

felt

what sorrows, and

vale of tears

my

in

how

soul,

painfully have I

have

afflictions

fallen to

my

in this

lot,

Instead of innocence, and perfection, vani-

my mind

ty has occupied

ted from

my

Instead of exemption from pain,

my

whole soul has been aliena-

God, in wicked devices, and works.

fallen state, feel a

Did

I ever,

law of holiness in me, naturally

and sweetly constraining me away from vanity, to the living

God and raising in me holy aspirations, and overpowering
no, no.
Cast out from
affections to thee, My God ? Oh
;

thy presence

fallen,

wounded, and

slain, I

have found

soul grovelling in the beggarly things of earth,

on

ashes.

Have

blessed word

God

thee,

I been delighted, and charmed by God's

and have I panted after communion with
No, no from my earliest years have I pre:

ferred the idle imagination,

men,

and vain productions of worldly

Have I
of the Holy One.

to the divine revelations

steadily set the

Lord before

me 1

Have

I,

with unwaver-

ing love, sought his presence in every created object

I

my

and feeding

Have

looked for his power, and goodness in the varied works of

his creation,

and

and providence ?

Have

traced his beauty

glory, with a holy enthusiasm, over the fields of his dis-

plays in his word, and in his works

No, no

am mor-

THE CONSEQUENCES OF

148

my

tified at

ashes have

and

vanity,

his presence

Dust and

and degradation.

folly,

pure and ravishing pleasures of

I preferred to the

and the beggarly elements of time, and of

sense, to the intellectual joys, and imperishable glory of

paradise

Need
habits,

This

I farther

and

feeble intellect

after

every thing,

conscience

froward will

this

^but

wavering judgment

God

uniform

this unset-

and seeking

and deceit-

this polluted

imagination

trifling

this

extravagant and

these

these sensual appetites, setting at defiance

and purity

order, law,

most
confounded before Thee.
I

relinquish

ment of mine

iniquities.

thy feet.

only

these roving desires

deplorable condition

at

soul, into thy

mortifying proofs are here?

vain and

this

unruly passions
all

What

panting in the race of ambition

tled heart,

ful

my

Look,

proof?

daily acts.

Here

my

my

proclaim

all

O my

God,

and

throw myself in the dust

pride.

my

I feel

helpless

am ashamed and

accept of the punish-

guilt

and the cruel

yoke of Satan's bondage crushing me. There is no help

Oh my God, unless I
in man.
I am utterly powerless.
am ransomed and extricated, by a. substitute of thy own
!

One mighty to save, I shall

Lord, save me
or, I perish

choice, even by

ever and ever

perish for

A PRAYER.
God, have mercy upon me, according to thy lovingaccording to the abundance of thy tender mer-

kindness

cies blot

out

all

throne, I throw
cy.

merit,

of

my

transgressions.

me down.

humbly confess unto

no

sacrifice,

recompense,

thee,

no offering

or

laws.

How

Lord, that

human
!

of thy

have no

way

Tears and penitential

can they avail

claims of God's eternal justice

foot

bring before thee, by

satisfaction.

sorrows cannot atone even to

human

to

At the

myself over on thy mer-

I cast

justice for sins against

to blot out the

confess

mine

infinite

iniquities

OUR FALL
and

my

tice against

And

me.

me

my own

satisfy

Lord,

have

How

my

can

for

for jus-

them.

and most pure

transgressed the covenant

Adam,

transgressions as

my

my

But,

with thee.

which can

then devise an ex-

ISefore thy all-seeing

I dealt treacherously

will not cover

soever I be-

and cry out

for the least of them,

conscience.

I have, like

in the face,

can frame no excuse

can conceive no apology

cuse for them,

149

Which way

sins are ever before me.

take myself, they stare

eyes

IN ADAM.

Adam

Nor

did.

there

God,

will I

I would acknowledge
and wicked apostacy, from
thee.
I will not add treachery to guilt, by seeking to excuse, or even to extenuate my crimes, by offering to roll the
blame over on Adam, as he did on Eve, and as she did on

hide mine iniquity in

my

freely

ths 5Cr"llt.

me

giving

Creator,

these

bosom.

wilful,

m^

JN^Or

my

that thou,

my

guilt, in

art

God. can

passions, and

these powers, and faculties of

vereign

the

bitter,

and deadly

venture to insinuate

fruits

my

desires.

mine

Lord,

But,

gifts.

the cause of

of

to

by

acknowledge

be thy rich and so-

my

is

it

guiltiness,

my own

sin,

the fruits,

wicked apostacy

from thee, that these passions and desires have become

*^ wild and strong." And when
I listen to their " bewitching
voice," and err grievously against thee,
the guilt of

made man
I

my own

evil

doings

it is

Thou,

upright, but he has sought out

the fatal fruit of

many

Lord, hast
inventions.

humbly confess it, and bewail it. Behold, I was shapen

and in iniquity did my mother conceive me. I

in sin

brought a corrupt nature into the world with

from the

earliest

dawn of my

me

my corrupt soul and the snares of all sin in my

and the deep and unwashed stain of all sin in both
in

I had,

being, the seeds of all sin

flesh

soul,

and body.
I bewail the

apostacy.

am

loss of the divine image,

lament the

vile in thy sight.

total

Mine

the fruit of

depravity of

my

nature.

my
I

iniquities have taken such a

THE CONSEQUENCES, ETC.

150

hold of me, that I cannot look up.

guilt, I

For, to

no soundness

in

me

no

merit.
I

lift

there

flesh living

up

my weeping

is

forgiveness,

mercy upon me,

iniquity, for

can be

it is

eyes unto thee,

unto thee,

for thy

O God

Lord.

my

with thee there

is

my

for in thy

am,
With thee

to Satan, as I

Lord.

Have

me

be merciful to

my

the deeps

voice

let

supplications.

soul doth wait.

is

me

by human wisdom, or

Out of

Lord, hear

came

my

my

a sin-

do

In thy word do

God, from

all

my

cry

thine ears

wait for
I

hope

mercy, and plenteous redemption

thou wilt redeem me,

For, Christ Jesus

original

name's sake, pardon

God

very great.

be attentive to the voice of

thee,

my

and there

mayest be feared.

that thou

Lord

Help, Lord, or I perish.

ner.

for,

justified

condemned, and a slave

Guilty,

Lord, enter not into judgment with

sight,

all

have added innumerable actual sins

and

iniquities.

into our world, to seek and to save

such poor and helpless sinners, as

am.

For

his sake

And let not this broken and contrite

hear me, O Lord.
and glory shall be thine in
heart be despised before thee
" Our Father, who art in hea-.
Christ, for ever, and ever.
;

yen

hallowed be thy name," &c.

Amen.

CHAPTER Vm.

OF DIVINE GRACE.

"

love divine

O mercy infinite

Surpassing
All thought

The Lord

far all
!

of

knowledge,

all desire,

The Holy One

for sinners dies

guilty rebels bleeds,

life for

duenches eternal
Abundant mercy

depth below,

love, all height above, all

fire

with blood divine

Overflowing grace

POLLOK.

In view of this helpless and deplorable condition of man,

two propositions are submitted to the attention, and faith of
our young inquirers.
First

Any

intervention

on

the part of

God, on our be-

must be wholly of free grace. Should he pluck the

brand out of the devouring fire, it must be the gratuitous

half,

act of his

mercy alone. Without violating his honour,he maymay not do it. Again, for the same reason,

or he

do

it

he

may do

it,

in the case of

any

some

and he may not do it, in

is not bound by

Surely the Almighty

the case of others.

attribute of his nature, far less

spare

guilty rebels

or

by any necessity,

to

receive sinners into his favour.

But his throne is established in justice, and judgment.

Every attribute of his nature requires that he be holy, just,
and

faithful in all his

ways.

The

Scriptures are explicit

on

OF DIVINE GRACE.

162

" The Lord,

Lord God merciful and gracious,

and truth keeping
mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity, transgression, and
sin, and who will by no means, clear the guilty."
Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. " I will have mercy on whom I will

this.

the

long-suffering, abundant in goodness,

have mercy."

And

there are hvo extraordinary points in the history of

his unsearchable ways,

matter

namely, his

which

terrible,

Satan, and his guilty associates

justice,

and mercy in man's

on

set to rest all doubts

this

and unmitigated justice toward

;

and the harmony of his

Who can, by search-

salvation.

ing find out the cause of the difference of his proceedings

towards these two equally guilty classes of rebels

Father, for so

and the

it

other.

seemed good

No

divine sovereignty.

" Even

so,

in thy sight," to do the one,

other solution can be found, than in the

To

attempt any other solution,

is to

up in arms against the sovereignty of Almighty God.

Second : If ever we be saved, it must be by a substitute. God has " driven the man out of paradise and he

rise

has placed cherubim, and a flaming

sword, which turned

every way," to keep the rebel from

regaining paradise.

Unless a new and living Avay be opened up

MIGHTY TO SAVE, he ncvcr can enter heaven.
fections guard the gate of heaven against
is,

from paradise.
"

man,

him

for ever, unless

to the uttermost" for his

guilt.

it,

by one

Three

per-

exiled as he

Divine justice stands there

his flaming sword against

tisfaction

to

and turns

he render sa-

Divine holi-

and demands of him the restoration of a

perfect holy human nature, before it will open the new way
An unconverted man bears a hell in his own
unto him.
ness stands

there,

And heaven would

be no heaven to him, unless he

by a renovated nature. Divine faithfulness stands there, to redeem God's pledge, that every
threatening shall be fulfilled on the sinner, and the eternal

bosom.

was

rid of this

law of his government sustained in

all its

stainless lustre.

OF DIVINE GRACE.

153

Now,
the

of all the delusions which beguile the sons of men,

most common, and most fatal are those which are

One

cherished respecting God's justice.

gravely imagine that "

And by

far the

easy

to see that

were

And

God

of their

this character

Yes, a magistrate

a monster!

sins venial, in his forbear-

most numerous class conceives him

And

"a God

if

he be unjust, he must be infinitely unjust

as there

worse than the leader of the

rid delusion of

the species

man

is

is

angels

fallen

all

no finite thing

is

unjust."

it

trans-

mercy, without justice would be

all

easy to see that

it is

But,

God

would actually be deemed a mon-

ferred to a magistrate, he
ster.

all

men

class of

themselves, and approves

mercy, without any rigid justice.

to be altogether
is

is like

Another deems

their sins."

ance.

God

God,
and therefore

Yet

mercy

in

hor-

this

cherished by countless thousands of

Connected with

the delusion of those

this, is

who

build

what slender hopes they have of heaven, on the merit of

their prayers, and tears, and repentance, and agonies of suffer-

common

Yet even

ing.

sense

tells

us that these avail no-

thing in staving off the righteous exactions of even

justice, in the

day when

it

demands

render up the criminal to the gibbet

tears,

Do

the prayers,

and deepest penitence, and unheard-of

the least, mitigate

human laws

human

No, no

nite justice, or satisfy the

ment?
There

is

justice,

and

sufferings, in

or satisfy the claims of

And how

human

the public officer to

can these appease

infi-

most holy laws of God's govern-

a spirit of unutterable frowardness in

which prompts him

to rely

man,
on human " men7," and " good

works.^'

In the 1st place,

human

That thou hast

and in

it is

denied that thou hast in any degree,

any " good works" to offer

many good works toward thy

merit, or

the circle of thy family,

14

I will readily

to

thy God.

fellow

men,

admit.

But,


154

OF DIVINE GRACE.

before the infinitely pure and holy God,

upon
guilt

who cannot look

and who sees thy best deeds polluted with more

nor
than merit, thou hast not one single good work
sin,

any human merit which thou canst

confusion and despair

Him, without

offer to

In the 2d place
merit and

^^

faith in the

Let us suppose

that thou couldst

good ivorks" find thy way

Redeemer's atonement

into

let

heaven

by thy

without

us suppose that thou

couldst be purified by the flames of a purifying torment, or

by any other way,

what

would be the consequences

Couldst thou join in the song of the ransomed,

heaven by

Jesus

the blood of

Father's love

who

Couldst thou celebrate the

Couldst thou crown Jesus, Lord of

the loud chorus re-echoed

entered

from every

lip,

all,

"Worthy

is

as
the

Lamb to receive glory and honour, who has redeemed us by

own blood !" No if tliou speakest truth in heaven,
thou would tell God that thou art 7iot indebted to his love
his

and

that of the

Redeemer

that thou hast reached glory in

heaven, without his atonement, or

would come near

None

thee.

ing looks of indignation.

Jesus

heaven

Christ
!

behoved

Thou

What

of the ransomed

of the angels would cast a

They would

look of love on thee.

intercession

Why, none

would be the consequence?

Nay,

visit thee

either thou,

with wither-

or the

to leave the glorious

Lord

assembly of

canst not dwell where he sheds forth the

glory of his redeeming love!

But, were

own

man

gravely to set himself to work out his

heaven, after the manner in which

slender hopes of

it,

he behoved

absolute impossibilities

to

some indulge

their

accomplish the following

He

must commence the impossible work of reparaGod, by presenting himself before his Maker, in a
perfectly holy human nature, such as that was, which man
1st.

tion to

wantonly threw away, when he fell. You will admit that

this mu<t be done ; or else admit that there was no guilt in-

156

OF DIVINE GRACE.

You must admit this, or

you can go through with the whole work of
reparation, while you are yet dead in trespasses and sins.
You must enter upon an exact course of obedience
2d.
curred in losing the divine image.
else admit that

to

You must come

God's laws.

all

up

fully

to every re-

quirement, in every word, in every action, in every desire

And

and thought.

And

transgression.

your

must be done without one

this

slight

and without one

must be done from

one short-coming,

without

deviation,

finally,

earliest infancy to

your

all

this

This

latest breath.

is

a second

class of impossibilities.

You must meet

3d.

shedding of blood, there

Guilt

demands

justice

" Without
For " God will

past guilt.

all

no remission."

is

by no means, clear the guilty,"

quate satisfaction.

of God's justice, and

the claims

give satisfaction by suffering for

that

is that

And

satisfaction.

is,

without an ade-

element in sin, for which

the nature,

and amount

The

of this satisfaction are not to be determined by man.

whom

lawgiver against

the sin is committed, has the exclu-

Now,

sive right to determine these.

evil,

the

and

its

the extent of moral

consequent punishment, are not determined from

humble character of him who commits

it

but from his

whom it is committed. This is founded

common sense of mankind. The aggrava-

character against
in reason,

and

tion of an insult offered to a private citizen, or to one prisoldier

vate

by another,

that offered to

bench
sin

is

and

it

committed against the

involves in

it

And

Now,

field.

High and Holy One

us not forget that

let

set.

If

left

worse by the very law of

self-perpetuating
like

infinitely

a breach of infinite obligations, to love

which no bounds can be

a^id

judgment on the

commander-in-chief on the

or to the

and obey God.

worse

very different in degree, from

is

a magistrate sitting in

power in

itself.

a stone on the side of a

hill

It

its

to

an

evil to

itself, it

waxes

it is

nature.

goes on, in

It
its

has a

career,

of ice, ever descending

OF DIVINE GRACE.

156

deeper and deeper, for ever.

straining power,

it

careers

and boundless duration

Hence

tims, are, from

tuating power,

it

Thou

of torments.

on thy

for thy sin,

infinite extent

ble nature

Deity,
not,

brings on

its

it,

which

nature, infinite

its

by God's

of extent,

must be

infinite in

it

brings on

and from

its

its

vic-

self-perpe-

victims an endless duration

sinner, atone

canst not, therefore,

an
whose hum-

part, without necessarily suffering to

But, as thou art not like One,

re-

infinity

sufferings

Its

itself,

an

to

a requisite satisfaction for

moral value.

its

Left to

onward

was united

to

when he endured

the Deity

and borne up by the

the pains of hell for us, thou canst

by any means, endure

once, an infinite load of suf-

at

fering laid

on

Hence,

render the necessary, infinite satisfaction to jus-

to

That would

thee.

instantly annihilate thee

tice,

thou behovest to suffer during an infinite space of

time

4th.

even

and ever

for ever,

Wert thou even

and wert thou capable

like

Adam,

in his primitive state,

God,
and an exact obedience, yet thou couldst
merit heaven by all thy good works.
The
like him, of rendering before

the holiest works,

not,

even then,

reason

is

The most

obvious.

perfect obedience to the law

would amount to nothing

more than simply the poor payment of the just debt of thy
And the mere payment
obligation to God, as his creature.
of a just debt, cannot entitle any one to the reward of a
kingdom, and a crown. It was only in consequence of the
promise of eternal life, given to Adam, in the covenant of
of God, couldst thou even give

it,

works, by his Maker, on condition of his perfect obedience,

that

even he could have entered heaven, by his good works.

Infinitely less,

heaven by

can any one of his

his works.

venant of works,

been broken.
for ever, is

to

For we
work out

We are

the reward

now under its

any promise of

sinful

race

now

enter

are no longer under the co-

life

of

curse.

held up by

life.

It

has

And no more,
it,

under any

OF DIVINE GRACE.
"

terms whatever.

By

living be justified."

167

the deeds of the law, shall no flesh

This

is

the voice of

God, and nothing

can gainsay his decision.

aUESTIONS.
Can we have any hope of

salvation, but through free

grace 1
Is

Give

God under any

obligation to be

merciful to rebels?

the two proofs.

would be the

Vv'hat

reignty

result of

denying the divine sove-

Can we be

saved otherwise than by a substitute

The

proof?

What are man's mistaken views of the divine justice ?

Can God exercise mercy to the exclusion of justice ?
Can repentance, sorrow, or human merits satisfy divine
justice

Can these satisfy even human justice for crimes ?

What do men of corrupt minds, usually rely on?
Repeat the first proof that human merit cannot

save

man.

The

Do

second proof?

not the claims of

involve blasphemy

Were man
What next?
What in the

save himself, what

to

third place

human

must he do

Is sin an infinite evil

merit

first 7

Proof?

If so, what kind of a moral satisfaction can be accepted?

Can

our best works, were they even perfect, save us

Proof?
State freely
this matter

and

fully

thy

own

views, and feelings

on aU

MEDITATION.
In thy

sight,

what

am

I,

LordJ
14*

And what

is

any of

OF DIVINE GRACE.

158

my

house that thou shouldst show us such muni-

father's

ficent grace

God

the love of

and depth

height,

Thou

such a sinner as I am.

No

that fell.

and

ness,

and length of

from heaven

my

to notice

and

soul,

all

God, didst pass by the angels

Saviour shed a beam of hope on their dark-

On

despair.

same

in the

breadth,

Bless the Lord,

Thou,

me.

that is within

didst stoop

nature,

us,

who were involved, with them,

on O Lord,

and extent of

thou didst look in divine

us,

guilt,

and mercy

pity,

and thou

saidst

Blessed be the God, and father of our Lord

to us, live.

Jesus Christ, who has bestowed on us the abounding riches

And

mercy.

crowns
free,

my

my

Blessed be

of his grace.

constrained him to

become

dear Redeemer, whose love

and

the channel of this love,

be the Holy Ghost, whose grace

blessed

soul with every blessing.

All

of rich,

is

all

and sovereign grace.

And

any one of our

shall

father's house,

venture to pre-

sent himself before thy awful throne, to put in a claim of

merit

on

guilt,

move

his

Can

own account?

infinite justice to

guilt,

can

show mercy

inexcusable

Can

vileness

and pollution woo infinite purity to pity, and love ? Can

treason, and long-continued rebellion demand the boon of
heaven's richest

gifts

ness to relinquish

my

Oh

Can

no.

the violent breach of

obligations possess any claims

infinite

God,

all

never can

its

on divine

claims on the sinner

by me.

the thought be entertained

adore thy justice, and acknowledge every one of

I

adore thy holiness, and admit

faithfulness,

fore thee,

and honour

all its

Lord, in the dust.

of thy throne.

Mercy,

All these delusions in

all its

claims.
I

claims.
I

faithful-

No, no,

its

adore thy

humbly bow

throw myself

my God, mercy

is

claims.

be-

at the foot
all

I crave.

which the sinner wraps himself,

hate

and abandon. Grace, free grace is all my hope. Not by

works of righteousness can I ever find peace, and hope.
And,

yet,

man

proudly resists this plan of free grace.

OF DIVINE GRACE.

Oh

man

frowardiiess of

the deplorable

159

When

he was

placed under the covenant of works, he refused to render

to

God

homage of a

Almighty, the

Now,

works.

that

obedience, by his

strict

covenant being broken, and dissolved

man,

and a dispensation of grace being introduced,

verse man, will not cast himself over on this

In the perverseness of his

expected grace of his Maker.

he

spirit,

He

works.

He

is,

he be

labours

it is

less is

way of

it

on

insists

to the

will for-

house of

and helpless as

trial for life

my

not in

man

man
to

that

owu

by his

walketh to direct his steps.

conquer

his saving himself.

I

renounce

good deeds

and

all

all

away

my hopes by

my

all

the impossibilities in

cast

Lord Jesus Christ as the only hope of

!

None but Christ

am thine, body and

And

my

my

selfI cast

soul, for ever

my

I take

soul.

Receive me,

er, for I

all

the law.

deeds together in a

evil

heap, at the foot of the cross of Christ.

Christ

obedience.

He

Egypt."

that, guilty

it,

once more, on his

in

righteousness.
all

flesh pots of

Lord^

Far

He

own

and the cloud," and return

put,

covenant of

to the old

himself anew on his

" to the

pillar

bondage

his

the

will put

will return

sake " the

he

on returning back

insists

per-

and un-

free

None

but

my RedeemAmen.

PRAYER.
Lord
to thee.

my God,

no claims on
of mercy.

known

my

thy love

I love thee,

thee.

thee,

waked

my

God.

Hadst thou passed

I

in

should have

inexcusable rebellion.

rebel

me

felt

hoping

in thee,

me

can

offer

love

had
no claims

first.

by, I should never have

only the consequences of

Hadst thou passed

should never have had the pleasure of

loving thee.

my bosom my

because thou lovedst

knowing

me

by, I

thee,

and

should never have had the sweet pleasure of

and enjoying

the

communion of

thy pre-

160

OF DIVINE GRACE.

my

And, oh,

sence.

and cast me

by,

against thee.

could not have brought a charge

love divine, and ineffable

my

love

And

Holy Ghost

throne.

sins

and

pity

trespasses.

relinquish

my God

on me,

art

my

my

And

and quicken-

only Saviour

Cast

my

to

Look

me

in

regard me, in thy

I cast

thee.

Redeemer.

and boastings.

pride,

and ashes.

dust,

Oh! deign

come unto

my

at thy feet,

Thou

grace

for his

tender mercy.

triumph

heavenly Father for his

for his all-subduing

myself, and repent in

I loathe

in thy be-

less than nothing, and vanity.

I am nothing
my God, art all in all. I bow in lowliness at thy
I am guilty, and miserable, and by nature dead in

ing power!

Thou,

my

my Redeemer

blessed be

me

didst visit

didst cause thy grace to

Blessed be

salvation.

blessed be the

Thou

Thou

neficent kindness.

in

Oh

could not have impeached thy justice.

me

God, thou mightst have passed

I

off.

myself humbly

not out of thy sight.

my

only guide,

all

in

all;

have no peace offering, no burned-offering, no sin-offer-

ing to bring to thee.

offering,

my dear

my

altar,

my sin-offering, my
Oh receive me to thy
Hide me from all my enemies.

my

Redeemer.

Thou
all.

art

burned
bosom,
I shall

be for ever blessed in receiving the outpourings of thy love

into

my

soul.

sacrifices of a

I shall

be ever blessed in offering thee the

broken and contrite

blessed in receiving the

heart.

communion

shall

of thy grace.

be ever blessed in rendering unto thee according

benefits received.

and
&c.

to the

Glory be

Holy Ghost,

Amen.

I shall

to all the

and to the Son,

" Our Father who art,**

to the Father,

for ever.

be ever

CHAPTER

IX.

OP DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED IN SUBSTITUTION.

Man

disobeying,

Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins

Against the high supremacy of heaven,

Affecting Godhead, and, so losing all,
To expiate his treason hath nought left
But to destruction sacred and devote,
He with his whole posterity must die.
Die he or Justice must
Unless for him,

Some other able, and as willing, pay

The rigid satisfaction death for death

!"

PollOk.

It has been shown, we

trust, satisfactorily, that if

must be by a substitute.
The denunciation uttered by God's
" In the day thou
strict and rigorous
saved,

we be

it

shalt surely die."

" Cursed

is

" The soul

law,

and

justice, is

eatest thereof, thou

that sinneth,

it

every one that continueth not in

shall
all

die."

things,

written in the book of the law to do them."

Now,

the

first

and most natural construction of

this, is,

which elsewhere expressed by our divine

" He by no means
Law and
that

will

tice

lawgiver,

is

must have

Most High has

clear the guilty."

their course.

Nothing can impede

it.

jus-

The

uttered his denunciation in the hearing of

OF DIVINE GRACE

162
his

all

It is

Almighty power can

therefore, as

all

one thing, and do another.

And

never be defeated, in

it

its

exists,

He

end of penalty can

solemn voice of warning, and inthe grand

of his empire.

the subjects

God

soul that sin nelh,

impossible that inflexible truth, and

utter

cannot deny himself.

struction to

"The

creatures.

intelligent

shall surely die."

and as God

As

certainly,

sinner

rules, shall the

die.

But,
strict

it

is

a principle as certainly involved here, that this

room

for a

substitute

from the historical

facts exhi-

and awful denunciation has

left

to step into the sinner's place.

This

is

clearly establish 3d

bited in the gospel of Christ.

Had

the law's rigorous de-

nunciation, and presiding justice, from

its

throne, admitted

of no intervention of a substitute, then no Saviour could

have stepped in

and no one promise, nor one

of truth had ever lighted up our path

the joys of God's salvation.

New

Testaments

solitary ray

or sent over our souls,

existence of the Old and

uttered by

and the voice of the Gospel

them, and the joyful

have established the

room

The

fact

truth

of Christ's actual intervention,

beyond gainsay,

that there was

for a substitute.

And

no sacrifice of any one elementary truth, or

Divine law, and justice must have their
They may roll in some new and
full unimpeded course.
must infallibly roll on
course
but
they
and roll
unusual
there is

principle here.

on, too, in their undiminished flood of glory.

And

so, in-

deed, they did, through the intervention of a substitute.

And

this

new, and extraordinary course was adopted in

end of

perfect keeping with the primary

penalty,

and pu-

nishment.

The grand and

is

primary end of penalty and punishment

not the destruction of the sinner.

Punishment, we admit,

does terminate in the death of the sinner.

secondary end of punishment.

But

that is the

The primary and grand

163

DISPLAYED IN SUBSTITUTION.

end of penal

it

as that of the

Now,

promulged law.

cannot be said that the penalty of the law

primarily, to destroy those under

mary and main end

a

same

infliction, is, of course, the

penalty attached to the

terrific

is

to enforce the law,

The

pri-

by exhibiting in

manner, the consequences of disobedience

them

into a persevering,

giver

and

to

intelligent beings, the

all

subjects of God's government, and

thence to constrain

obedience

dutiful

to the law-

and, thence, sustain the divine government in pow-

and spotless

er,

designed

regulations.

its

an awe into the breasts of

strike

assuredly

is

glory.

This being the

whenever

this

case,

follows of consequence,

it

that

grand end of punishment can be

effectually

upon the head of a

substitute,

accomplished, by visiting

it

instead of the original transgressor,

it is

perfectly consist-

ent with the law's denunciation, and the justest administration of the divine government, to admit of a transfer of per-

sons,

and of punishment. And where a divine substifound, whose intervention will throw a lustre

tute can be

of ineffable glory around the throne of justice

nify the law and

make

it

honourable

;"

and " mag-

and thence, display

a magnificent triumph in the spotless purity of the divine

government, then the end

most splendid manner

and thrones of heaven

attained in the highest

is

And

all

and

the principalities, mights,

and those distributed over

all

worlds are invited to admire, and adore the wisdom, and inflexible justice of the divine

empire.

closer than ever in

love, worship,

glorious Creator and Ruler.

But the Eternal Son of

the inhabitants of hell,
all

the pure

And

dominions

telligence throughout his vast

iii.

thence,

bound

to

their

9, 10, 11.

is this substitute.

When

all

moved by malicious sympathies, and

intelligences of heaven, were

awful suspense,

every holy in-

and obedience

See Ephes.

G od

is,

looking

for the certain

tion of our guilty species, the

and

in

deep and

utter destruc-

Lord Jesus Christ stepped

164
forth,

OF DIVINE GRACE

and presented himself between the throne of Justice,

He stood forward " a messen-

and our trembling world.

an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show man

His uprightness ;" and to meet and honour every requirement of law and every exaction of divine justice. " Lo
ger,

come

I delight

restore that

down
ly,

which

to the pit

I
I

do thy

to

my God

will,

us,

And

according-

who had no

and make an end of

finish the transgressions,

I will

" Deliver from going

took not away."

have found a ransom."

he " became a sin-offering for

"

!"

sin ;" to

sin.

ClUESTIONS.

Can man be saved

any other way, than by a

in

substi-

tute?

Recite the proofs, and reasons of this doctrine.

Was

not room

in the law's denunciations, for the in-

left

tervention of a substitute for

man ?

Recite to us the proof of this.

by a

Is not salvation

consistent with

Explain

this

what

substitute,

and Redeemer perfectly

the divine attributes

all

is

the grand

end of

the law's penalty,

and punishment?
Is not the doctrine of substitution,

and

satisfaction

substitute, consistent with this doctrine of penalty,

Explain

nishment?

Who

is

by a

and pu-

this.

the substitute in the

room of sinners

Give us

the proof of this.

What

are thy

own

personal views, and feelings on this

MEDITATION.

No

one of our

thy justice,

come

guilty

Lord,

before thee

race can look up to the throne of

Oh how can we
own name not in our own

without horror.

Not

persons with any hope.

in our

The

spiritually blind,

alone, can be indifferent in this matter.

and

The terrors

deaf,

of thy

DISPLAYED IN SUBSTITUTION.
law

me

fill

unto thee,

cy

and

me

my

wished

with

thunders of thy awful

horror.

cannot answer,

Lord, for one of a thousand of

In the midst of

cast

The

with distraction.

overwhelm

justice

165

deep distress,

my

my

sins.

heard the voice of mer-

cling unto thee.

to

mine eyes on thy holy and

bending and awful

But, as often as I

strict law,

and on thy un-

overcame me. But

" There is
the sweet voice of mercy rung in my ears.
room for a substitute
Law, and justice must have their
justice,

terrors

full

of sweeping and unstinted vengeance.

career

room

there is

to save, has

And

for a substitute

come, and

I beheld thee in

scend.

Man, our

of

is

He came

the

now drawing

One who

near

and, lo! I beheld the

looked,

And

^substitute,

is

But

mighty

!"

Son of God

our nature, dear and blessed

de-

Son

prepared with the proper sacrifice.

forward, and stood between us, and the throne of

awful justice.

The Father welcomed

my

beloved Son, in

The law

him."

of

thee as our substitute.

" This

whom I am well pleased

God welcomed him into the
;

is

hear ye
field

of

and obedience.

Divine justice welcomed

him to the field of his sufferings, and death. Zion welcomed
him as her Lord and Redeemer " Lo this is our God, we
his humiliation,

have waited for him

!"

thee welcome,

I bid

welcome,

dear Redeemer, to these weary and weeping eyes.

art

my

all

in

And, what enhances our salvation

all.

every perfection of
all

the divine nature is glorified thereby

and the divine government made the

intelligent beings.
For there never was

the law magnified

admiration of

Thou
is this,

such another degree of glory, shed forth before the eyes of

all holy intelligences, as that which our substitute pour-

ed upon the throne of justice

divine government

length of the love of God.

for ever

and

and over

height,

all

and depth

the acts of the

;

Bless the Lord,

ever.

15

breadth,

my

and
soul,

OF DIVINE GRACE

166

A PRAYER.
my God, in the dark hour of my terrors
was overwhelmed with conscious guilt. I
was ashamed, and confounded by the vileness of sin, which
was ever before me. I sought to hide myself from thy
I sought thee,

and

distress.

holy presence.

asylum.

which

I hurried

But, ah,

I sought.

God,

My

law-stricken,

my God.

thee not,

soul, to regain the

ed within,

was only the

and

flattering

relief /roj/i hell,

selfish spirit

way

that led to the tree of

my

in

and please

resources, to propitiate,

brought

hand, to buy what thou hast never sold.

sought to purchase what thou givest gratuitously,

the pardon of

heart flattered

my sin.
me that I

I sought to barter

and

which thy

bestows without money, and price.

my

the

my

grace

The more my

more

lost, the

free

found the way shut

re-entrance into paradise.

flamed on regaining the

foolish

But, the more I toiled

more

in this fruitless vanity, the

against

even

my

what

possessed, for that peace which

conscience sought,

troubled

saw

zeal

flames of

tlie

sword of the angels which guarded the way against

access to the tree of

life there,

vince

me

the

my

I look-

life.

thy holiness, and to draw a smile from thy throne.

a price

knew

I pressed on, in the bitterness of

my own

to

it

new and

every

after

my

more

life.

The more

all

anxiously sought

angel of truth con-

eflectually did the

that death awaited every

one who marched on the

Thy pitying mercy sought

was no hand to help me in the hour
thou didst open mine eyes to see the

flaming brand of divine justice.

me
of

When

out.

my

agonies

mighty One,

there
;

mighty

to save. I

found thee,0

because thou didst bring

stitute;

me

derings in the cloudy and dark day.

was awakened by thy loving

cause thou taughtest

who

laid

down

me

first,

me

my blessed sub-

back from
I

first.

my wanand

this

found thee be.

that thou art the

his life for the sheep.

all

love thee

good shepherd

And now,

that I

have

DISPLAYED IN SUBSTITUTION.
found thee, I will cleave to thee.
only, and thine for ever.

thine

Father, Son,

and Holy Ghost,

am thine, thine

Glory be

for ever.

to thee,

Amen.

167
wholly,
God,'

CHAPTER

X.

OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE WITH OUR SUBSTITUTE.

"

Then Thou

speakest in vision to thy

Holy One, and

saidst,

have exalted One chosen out

I have
of the people. I have made a covenant with my Chosen
sworn unto David my servant and with my holy oil have 1 anoint-

have

laid help

upon One that

is

mighty

My mercy

ed him.

nant shall stand

fast

will

keep

for

him

for

evermore.

And my cove-

with him."

Ethan Psalm Ixxxix.

:

We

must devotely bear in mind,

our salvation to our God,

that,

we owe an

when we

ascribe

equal and undivided

love to each of the three divine persons of the Godhead.

When we
ed in the
the

say that the plan of our redemption was conceiv-

mind of God, we must

mind of
and

the Father,

Ghost

lity.

When we

distinctly understand

that too, in a degree of the

of the Godhead
the redemption

it

of

and of the Son, and of the Holy

most perfect equa-

speak of the Father acting for the honour

;

and when we speak of the Son acting

of man,

we do not mean

to

for

say that they

acted simply, and exclusively in this personal character.

In

solemn covenant transaction, the Son of God was the

but the Father reprefederal representative of his chosen
the

sented each of the other divine persons, as well as himself.

For each of

the

Most Holy persons loved

of them hated, and punished sin

us equally

each

each of them purposed

OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE, ETC.

169

The

love of the

our salvation in love and mercy, equally.

Father was not purchased, or procured by the Son

was the love of the Holy

Spirit purchased.

It

neither

was

the love

of the Father, and the love of the Son, and the love of the

Holy Ghost, harmonious and one, that decreed the glorious

The purpose and promise of God the Father, was,
therefore, equally the purpose and promise of God the Son,
and of God the Spirit.
Let us most carefully bear in mind, the divine unity of
essence of the one living and true God. Let us as carefully
and devoutly bear in mind, the three divine persons existing
plan.

in the unity of the essence, necessarily, and independent of

man, and of the redemption of man being necessarily the
same three distinct and divine persons in the unity of the
:

divine essence, had

needed redemption.
view, by

faith,

man never
With

existed

and had man never

this distinction, let

Godhead sustaining not only

this peculiar

and

lation to each other, but that official relation

them has mercifully assumed

is

us carefully

each of these three adorable persons of the

essential re-

which each of

for our redemption.

usually called their economical characters.

This last

It did

not ori-

ginate the Trinity of persons, in the unity of Godhead,

This

plan of mercy did not originate the eternal sonship of Christ,

Spirit, from Father
and Son. Let us bear this in mind, in order to avoid
atheism on the one hand, and idolatry on the other. The
everlasting God, three persons in one Deity, ever the same,
independent of all creatures, and plans, whether of mercy,

nor the procession of the person of the

or of judgment, set himself forth as the

God

of mercy

and

each of the eternal and immutable persons, by an extraordinary personal act of condescension, became an agent,

each in his place, in accomplishing our redemption.

We

said that

God

the Father, representing the three per-

sons in the Trinity, " chose us in Christ," and gave us over

to

him

in a

solemn

federal agreement,

15*

on the condition that

OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE

170
he was

down

to lay

his

COVENANT OF GRACE.

and

grace, in which

usually called

is

called

is

the covenant of Re-

that holy transaction

God

ac-

the

This holy and mysterious transacis the Branch,

of peace,

in the council

This

and him whose name

tion between the Father,

demption

He

for their forfeited life.

life

cepted us on this condition.

enters into

of condescending

covenant with

us, in the

hour when he brings us into the bond of the covenant, and

reveals Christ unto us in peace, is

called

the covenant

OF GRACE.
Thus,

God made

the everlasting covenant of redemption

Son, in the council of peace before the

with the Eternal

foundation of the world

in

which he made over the elected

chiirc'i

of his love, to Christ, on the condition of his

ling

righteousness, and redeeming us by his

.11

A::d God

own

fulfil-

blood.

makes with us an everlasting covenant, even

when by the blood of the cove-

the covenant of grace

nant cf redemption, he brings us out of a

by ensctual

renews

calling,

us, justifies

us,

state

of nature

and

sanctifies

us.

Thia covenant between the Father and the Son from the
" I have made a
is very clearly set forth.

ages of sternity,

my

coyeiiar/i with

my serNew Testament David, which, rendermy chosen Beloved One, my servant.

chosen, I have sworn unto David

This was the

vant,''

ed into English

That Christ

is,

here intended,

is

is

clear

from the declarations

was to endure for evermore that he was

God's Holy One, on whom God laid help, as the Mighty
Psalm Ixxxix. 3, 19, 28, 29. He also is styled "the
G::e.

that his throne

Biescer-ger of the covenant, the

sought

Mai.

iii.

and who was

Lord whom

come suddenly

alludes to

Father, glorify

me

it

in his intercession,

with thine

own

self;

had with thee before the world was."

the church

to his temple."

1.

Our Lord
I

to

" Now,

with that glory which

It

cannot be sup-

WITH OUR SUBSTITUTE.

posed

that

171

he prayed for that uncreated personal glory, which

he had, as God, and as the eternal Son of God, which he

possessed equally and independent, with his Father and the

Holy

Spirit.

It

can

am

I,

which he
" Here

refer to nothing but the glory

had as Mediator, when he stood up

for us,

and

said,

Lo I come I delight to do thy will, O

The glory rested on him as the only one who
and who did stand up as mediator. The glory rested

send me.

my God."
coiild,

on him,

in the outgoing of his Father's love as he

him, and loved

him

who

as Mediator,

viewed

should honour the di-

vine perfections, secure the honour of God's throne, open

up the new and living way, through which divine mercy

could flow honourably to sinners

God and

a just

In

and they approach him as

a Saviour.

this character of

Mediator " he was daily the Father's

And

delight; rejoicing always before him."

it

was not merely

the

mutually terminating on each other

And

delight" are stated.

this

to

show

that

two persons

delight of the

infinite

the " objects of their

demonstrates the fact of

its

reference to a covenant transaction between them on our

" I was by him as one brought

Thus he speaks of his eternal filiation. "I
delight
rejoicing always before him
rejoic-

Here

behalf.

are the words

up with him."

was

daily his

ing in the habitable parts of his earth

were with the sons of

The

men

!"

Prov.

or,

and

10,

liii.

rendered

viii.

my

delights

30, 31.

For

Father.

"

He

reign for ever."

hand, here

who

condition,

is

is

is

"When thou shaltmake

"
soul make a
If his

the condition

is

actually exhibited

and giving

his soul,

his soul,'

pronounced by God the

seed
and he shall
;

the special promise.

the other party, the

the

propitiatory

shall see his spiritual

That

all

instance, I turn to

read,

literally,

That

sacrifice."

ture,

and

holy plan of redemption necessarily includes

constituent parts of a covenant.

Isaiah

Son of God

on

the

field,

and body

as

On the other
in

human

na-

accepting the
a sacrifice for

OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE

172

Man

US.

Divine

could not be the covenanting party.

no such agreement with guilty rebels

in arms against God.
Messiah who stands up,
It is
and causes his voice to be heard on earth, as it was heard in

justice could admit of

the council of peace

in

"

eternity.

Lo

come

in the

volume of the book," or, as Witsius justly renders the

Hebrew phrase, "in the section, and writing of the cove-

nant,

God

it is

written of me, I delight to

my

yea, thy law is within

gaged his heart

to

draw near

do thy

Jehovah."

to

him

This could not be uttered by

who, as such, owed obedience of law

Jer. xxx. 21.

as the

Messiah alone, the Son of God in

referred to

assumed character

Eternal Son,

none.

to

can be

It

new, and

his

servant for

Father's

exclusively, as the

my

will,

Thus " he en-

heart."

our sakes.

This covenant
V.

does far more

Lord

is

strikingly exhibited

He names

12-19.

not a covenant,

by Paul, in Romans

presented to view as the second

is

is

it

but he

true;

he gives an ample description of

Adam

Our

it.

and he

is

declared to be the representative, and head of his spiritual

Adam

seed, as distinctly as

the head, and representative

is

The

of his natural offspring.

apostle

agree in

all

presentatives.

They

differ

righteousness to eternal

Hence, he

is

life,

in

forth this transaction of

Messiah

surety

him as the head

;

nant.

He

re-

all

die,"

those

whom

vii.

22.
to

to

he repre-

" The

surety

This manifestly

be a covenant.
our behalf

sets

And

it

acting ad

draw near the throne of jus-

draw us near to our God, in the covealso " the mediator of the new covenant."

and
is

all

thereof, in

engaging his heart

;

"In Adam

called appropriately,

Heb.

tice for us

to

and

only in the widely different re-

of a better covenant."

reveals

made

In Christ, grace reigns through

he represented.

sented.

are

acts of public heads,

respective covenants.

sults of their

whom

and

the characters,

studiously exhibits

They

the points of parallel between them.

to

WITH OUR SUBSTITUTE.

Heb.

He

24.

xii.

sinners

to death, as the only

human

nature of God, and

lay his

tween them.

And

he

It is

God, and

stands between the Living

condemned

PEACEMAKER,
that

173

nature

and can, therefore, as

and mediate be-

hand on both
at the

it is

one who has the

parties,

head of the

new

covenant

presented, to our exceeding joy.

is

ever

new.

It is

not like the old covenant, which

has been broken by the failure of one party.

It

" the

is

everlasting covenant," sealed with the blood of Jesus,

could not

And

20.

us

fail

through

it,

God

"As

surance thereof.

for

surety,

to us the

he seals

And

no water."

is

as-

by the blood of thy

thee, also,

covenant, have I sent forth thy prisoners out of the

wherein

who
xiii.

" the God of peace " toward

is

and through our blessed

Heb.

in his covenant engagements.

pit,

our faithful and compassionate

Lord repeats this to us, as he fills us with joy and gladness.

" I engage by covenant, a kingdom to you
even as my
;

Father hath by covenant, engaged a covenant to me."

Luke

xxii.

This

is

29.*

the everlasting covenant

on which David

rested

with unshaken confidence, and thence enjoyed sweet peace.

"It

is

well ordered in

salvation,

And its

and

all

all

things,

and

sure.

It

is

all

our

our desire."

everlasting stability is based

on

Rock

on

the person,

and

of eternal ages

finished work of Christ, as

the
Nothing but our Lord's fulfilling all righteousness could be

the condition of the covenant of grace.

condition of connection in this covenant

out which

Rom.

we cannot

partake of

its

Yet,

there

is

that is faith, with-

purchased blessings.

x. 9.

aUESTIONS.
Owest thou not equal

love,

the persons of the adorable

This

is

and divine homage

to each of

Godhead?

the literal rending of the original Greek.

OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE.

174

Describe the love of each of the divine persons in our

redemption.

Son of God, an

Is the sonship of Christ as

ship

But
ship

official

son-

No.

not his sonship as

is

Son of Man, an

official

son-

Yes.

Explain the essential, and the economical relation of the

three persons.

Tell us what you understand by the convenant of grace.

What

How

is

the covenant of redemption

the Father's love herein manifested

is

What was the council of peace ?

held ?
What was done in it ?

Between

Give a proof of this council of peace.

whom was

it

Another proof ?

Another proof ]

Does not
action

the plan of redemption imply a covenant trans-

Explain

this fully.

proof of

Illustrate the

Why

call

What

On

said

what

What

you

it

the

this,

new

from

Rom.

covenant

David of this covenant

rests the stability of this

are thy

own

v.

12,

&c.

?
?

covenant?

views, and feelings, and experiences

in view of this glorious covenant,

its

head, and surety ?

MEDITATION.
I

adore the majesty of God's work of our redemption.

What
to pity

a height, and depth

and ransom the

lustre of glory

on each

The High and Holy One stoops

guilty,

and perishing.

perfection,

It

sheds a

and on each act of grace,

by the triune god.

It

and prepares him

crowns of honour, and glory in hea-

ven.

and

It

for

humbles the sinner

destroys the works of Satan.

the beauties of holiness, in the vast

It

to

the dust

restores order,

empire of God.

It

peoples heaven with the countless millions of the ransomed.

WITH OUR SUBSTITUTE.

The Most High stood

uo need of man,

in

his glory, or add to his happiness.

eternity, the

all

their glory

175
to minister to

Infinite in both,

Holy Three were

and happiness being made more, or

therefore, they stooped to

When,

less.

and redeem

notice,

from

above the possibility of

us,

was

it

purely an act of divine goodness to restore us to happiness

and of divine

vernment of his vast empire.

on

" who

in our misery,

send?"

the

I raise

adore the Father

and beauty in the go-

justice to restore order,

and

who looked

whom

and

said,

my

eyes with wonder, and admiration to

Son of God who received

the

shall go,

shall

kingdom from the Father's

hands, on the condition which divine love, and justice prescribed, in the everlasting covenant.
Spirit

who engaged

each one of

all

liness, in body,

the

Ransomed,

and in

soul, in

of our covenant keeping

I

in the

full

heaven

perfection of ho-

munificent grace

God

adore the divine faithfulness displayed in the stability

of the covenant.

It

cannot

fail

on the Father's

rests in his love,

and changes not."

part of Christ.

He

He

Holy

adore the

in this convention of peace, to present

has actually

fulfilled all

has fully complied wath the terms

dition of the

covenant

cannot

It

part.

He

And,

finally, I

Holy Ghost.

he creates in us

all

know

the

he

fulfilled the

is

a priest on his

and now he

has ransomed the Church with his

the atonement.
part of the

He

righteousness.

throne, following up the splendid victory achieved

cross.

"

on

fail

it

own

cannot

con-

on the
blood of

fail

on the

He creates us anew by his power

the graces,

such as

faith,

and repent-

ance, and holiness, which are conditions of connection re-

And, what has been

cross, and
in the new creation, in the hearts of the Ransomed, never
can be revoked never can be undone. The Triune God of

quired in the everlasting covenant.

transacted in the council of peace,

and on the

the covenant cannot fail us, nor forsake us.

piness of whose

who have

the bright

Oh

the hap-

and consolatory

evi-

OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE

176

made with them

dence, that the Lord has

covenant.

Seek

unceasing

activity.

obtained through
the divine

Give

no

thyself

faith, the

my

until thou

rest

blessed union to Christ

am

that I

spirit,

the everlasting

longing desire, and

soul, with

and growing testimony of

nessing with
circle of

my

this,

Holy

the

hast

and

Spirit, wit-

within the family

safe

God, in the new and well-ordered covenant. Amen.

PRAYER.
Lord God of

down

the everlasting covenant

for this divine constitution of

sible

condescension.

Thou

fearful pit.

sinner,

Thou

from

Can

deignedst to snatch

Can

soul,

me

and

me

from

hell

the

deserving

me with

to clothe

cease to love, and adore thee ?

I ever

my heavenly

grace of

I ever forget that

whole

what inexpres-

unworthy

the devouring flames

immortal glory.

humbly bow

down from the loftiness

stoopedst

poor

me

of thy throne to raise

Oh

mercy.

my

Accept the homage of

before thee.

Father, which

chose, and appointed the great deliverer, at the head of the

Can I forget the* hand of munificent grace,

covenant?
which chose, and appointed, and delivered the church of the
Ransomed, into Christ's hands ? Can I ever forget the
love which prescribed to our

demption?

And

can

Redeemer, who didst

Lord

the condition of our re-

my

ever forget thee,

glorify thy Father,

peace, and wast glorified by

him

who

didst glorify thy

Father upon earth, and wast glorified by him

utterable

emotions of a ransomed captive,

everlasting covenant.

Its

condition

blessings ratified to us,

by

thee.

Holy
pity

and

Spirit,

who, in obedience

love, hast

come down

into

to the

and

to the
all its

ever forget thee,

engagements of

the church,

our hearts, according to the terms of the

art

With un-

I look

is fulfilled

Can

Blessed

in the council of

and into

covenant, and

triumphantly carrying on the more glorious and enduring

works, and glories of the

new

creation

It

was

thy grace,

WITH OUR SUBSTITUTE.

177

God, that originated the glorious scheme of redemption.

was thy grace that regulated the whole execution thereof.
It
It was thy grace that devised the munificent results.
was rich grace that presided over the manner of consummy God, I adore thee for what thou
mating the work.
Accept the humble and sincere tribute of my
art in thyself.
It

love.

care

I
;

adore thee,

and

all

God,

thy boundless

Grace crowns us

vation.

for all the proofs

of thy watchful

goodness triumphing in
at

my

sal-

every step of our Christian

Grace crowns us with triumph in our last moments

Grace crowns us with immortal glory in heaven. Glory be
as it was
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost
course

in the beginning

is

now, and

Amen.

16

shall

be for ever, and ever.

CHAPTER

XI.

OF god's love selecting us in CHRIST

OUR SUBSTITUTE.
"

For the children being not yet born,

neither having done

any

the purpose of God, according to election

might
stand, not of works, but of him that calleth as it is written, Jacob
have I loved but Esau have I hated. For Jehovah said to Moses, I
and I will have comwill have mercy on whom I will have mercy
passion on whom I will have compassion. So, then, it is not of him
but of God who sheweth merthat willeth, nor of him that runneth
and
cy. Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy
good, or

evil, that

whom

he will, he hardeneth.

he yet find fault

man

who

Thou

For who hath

wilt say then, to me,

resisted his will 1

art thou that repliest against

God

why

Nay,

doth

but,

V
St. Paul.

It

is

safe to reason

existence of
certain that

and mercy,

tlie

from the

reality of the effect, to the

purpose of the efficient agent.

God does exercise

as God alone can

toward

us,

It is

very

such rich grace

display to our sinful race.

If so, then he acts according to a fixed purpose, or plan.

No

one of us

will venture to say that infinite

without any fixed, or determinate purpose.

he operates according to his

peach his divine wisdom.
our

God redeems

own

wisdom

To

selected plan,

It follows, that

his people, he did purpose

deny

acts
that

would im-

as certainly as

and resolve, in

OF god's love, etc.

his divine mind, to do

The

it.

179

certainty of the action de-

And

termines the certainty of the divine purpose.

the ex-

tent,

and nature of the actions, determine precisely the ex-

tent,

and nature of

mean by God's

This

his holy purposes.

He

selecting love.

what we

is

did purpose to do, in

our salvation, exactly that which his grace really does.

And

me

allow

your attention

to lead

for the proof of this.

Holy

to the

think you will admit that

Bible,

im-

it is

possible to understand the following passages without be-

Rom.

lieving in personal election.

remnant according
'^

The

Math.

hath obtained

elect

" If

xxii. 24.

very elect."

Rom.

it

viii.

it

and

God

"There

the rest

is

Verse

7.

blinded."

are

were possible, they shall deceive the

" Who shall lay any thing to
33.

the charge of God's elect," &c.

the purpose of

5.

xi.

of grace."

the election

to

according

Rom.

ix.

11,

to election

" That

&c.

might stand, not

of works, but of him that calleth." John xv. 16.

" Ye have

not chosen (elected) me, but I have chosen (elected) you."

Eph.

i.

" God hath chosen us in Christ before the

4.

foundation of the world."

beyond doubt, that God hath made a choice

Now, a choice implies that some are left. Here I
must school down my rebellious spirit to an implicit belief
It is, therefore,

of us.

of God's most holy mind, and

are not chosen .

Ghost

in a

It is

passage just quoted.

namely, grace

Some

will.

are

left

some

peremptorily expressed by the Holy

The

elect has obtained

but the rest are blinded.

it,

Those on whom

God is pleased to have mercy, are softened into contrition

" The rest are hardened." God hardens
and holiness
them in no other way than he, as Lord of nature, hardens
:

the earth

He

by

frost.

The absence

of melting heat

withholds his heat, the earth

holds his grace from wilful rebels

der no obligation to give

it

to

is
;

them.

hardened.

and he

is

is frost.

He

with-

assuredly un-

The consequence

is.

180

OF god's love selecting us

they are " hardened."

their

own

evil

This explains

Had

it.

God

election,

men been

all

leaves

them

to

the

fruit

of

ways.

ly deserving, there

and removes objections against

equally innocent, and thence equal-

would have been no room

for election.

would have been equally received into God's presence

All

in heaven.

Now, we
trine, that

men

reject,

God

"

simply as creatures

deserving,

ly

and oppose with great concern, the doc-

looked forth in his eternal mind, on

and, that out of these,

all

equal-

all

because innocent, he did select his own,

while he resolved to
their sin

damn

the rest, without

any reference

to

He made them solely to damn them." This,

my dear youth, to bear in mind, is the extraordi"

beg youj

nary doctrine of the ancient sect of Predestinarians.

And remember,
istic

charged on the Calvin-

that although this is

evangelical churches, by ignorant or designing

men,

THE Reformed churches never held this doctrine

they do most solemnly reject it from their creeds.
Our American churches do most earnestly and solemnly REJECT IT.
Our doctrine is this. God looked forth in his eternal
:

mind, upon our fallen race

guilty,

of these he selected his

eternal.

he viewed us

and miserable, under the claims of his

To

elect.

He

left

cessary consequences of their

sinful,

Out

These he chose

to life

them

own

as

justice.

the rest he did no injury.

perished at any rate.

all,

They would have

to the natural

wilful crimes.

and ne-

He

did

make them sinners. He did not compel them to sin.

They continued sinning and
They sinned voluntarily.
rebelling against him from the earliest dawn of reason in
They
infancy, to their miserable exit on their death-beds.
carried out into fatal effect, the natural freedom of their own
will.
They would listen to no expedient of mercy, to no
not

OUR SUBSTITUTE.

IN CHRIST

call,

to

no entreaty of God's ministry

Holy
There

the

to

ISl

no

striving of

Spirit.
is,

we

admit, a deep and awful mystery thrown

over this doctrine.

It is

so with every other great and sub-

lime purpose, and work of the Almighty.

admission, there

no greater

is

difficulty

Only admit, what

other doctrines.

But, with this

attending

this,

than

very manifest, that

is

dug his own grave

Only admit, what no rational
being can deny, that the infinite and eternal God is our
sovereign.
Admit these, and all the difficulty is removed
except what is created by sheer prejudice, and an erroneous
education.
Admit these, and then listen to the appeal of
" Is it not lawful for me to do what
Almighty God
I WILL, WITH MY OWN ?
Is THINE EYE EVIL BECAUSE I
AM GOOD ?" Math. XX. 15. And suppose the Deity would

man, by

his inexcusable

and formed

his

own

rebellion,

hell.

thus address thee, what wouldst thou say

creatures, has

been pleased,

mily, where
rise up,

to

eye

evil,

is

a right to gainsay

Who

my act ?

" When

and reserve them

the judgment of the great day,

ed the fallen angels

darkness, to

in like

manner,

the created

doom-

who, of

all

my

purpose, or question

What doest thou V Had

doom all the human fabeing, who could have claimed

unto me,

will say

my

in chains, under

'

to

my purpose and act ? Is thine

am good? Is thine eye envious, be-

and question

because I

I have mercy upon some

and as I choose to have
mercy on whom I will and leave some to the bitter fruits
of their own evil ways ?"
I shall put it before my young reader, in the plainest possible manner.
Here is a simple illustration of the doctrine
of personal election, and that "terrible" doctrine called re-

cause

probation, as they are presented in our public creed.

I

shall

suppose that a hundred criminals, doomed

death, are in chains in our prisons.

their crimes are atrocious.

They

are

Now, have any

16*

to

condemned

of these persons

1S2

OF god's love selecting us

any claim on public mercy

tive obligations to save

certainly

is

them

leave

death, as

He

not.
to

its

all,

Is the executive

might refuse

and

fit

known

own

to the rest?

their

only to himself, the

hun-

pardons, and places under pro-

Does

per training, in order to their being good citizens.

he any injury

He

shall suppose,

to save eighty or ninety, out of the

These he brings out

dred.

and thence,

which demands

inalienable right.

farther, that, for state reasons,

executive sees

to interfere,

the course of justice,

just

under posi-

or the half, or even one

He

is

He

not partial.

had his

we do not know
They would all,
interposed.
Those

reasons for doing as he did, though

He

them.

does them no positive injury.

man, have perished, had he not

Is our
perish, would have perished at any rate.
Hast thou a
eye evil, and envious, because he is good ?
right to blame him as partial, because he does not surrender his will to thy gratuitous and uncalled-for interference ?
Barest thou murmur at him as partial, because he does not
to a

who do

surrender up his
trusion

And,
titude

own independence

to thy inexcusable in-

pray you,

'if

this doctrine

whom no man number

minority, to perish by their

;"

own

of his selecting

and

crimes,

does open a door

to bring a charge of partiality and injustice,

must be the appalling

the

Judge of

all,

partiality,

and

in his passing by,

"a mul-

his leaving so small a

injustice,

-what, then,

on the

and leaving

part of

the whole

of the fallen angels, without one solitary exception?

oiight to be

humble and considerate

We

in speaking of the un-

searchable counsels of the Almighty.

Wilt thou say unto me, "

For who hath resisted

away by the reply of

St. Paul.

art thou, that repliest against

Why

his will ?"

Jlom.

doth he yet find fault

This objection was swept

" Nay, but,
man, who

God ?"*

ix. 19, 20, 21.

Has

the criminal a


OUR SUBSTITUTE.

IN CHRIST

right to prescribe to his judge

Has

183

man

the rebel

a right

Maker ? Is it conceivable that the exercise

of a sovereign right, on the part of Almighty God to pardon
whom he will, can establish a right on the part of other re-

to dictate to his

Him

bels, to deprive

Htm

of that sovereignty

what they require

Election of free grace

is

and

no longer defensible.

here notice one popular objection.

I shall

It is this

man who

If this doctrine be true, then the

cannot be saved,

not chosen

is

him do whatever he may,

let

to dictate to

If so, then this doctrine of the

or whatever he

possibly can."

This objection, I beg leave

1st.

the false assumption, that every one

to reply,

knows who

is

based on

is

an elected

man and who is not elected. 2d. No man can possibly

know certainly, whether he belong to the elect, or the non;

elect, until

visitation

and not
is to

he has voluntarily sinned away the day of his

and dies an obdurate impenitent sinner.

say,

no person
he

elect, until

God's
jects

all

dead

is

and stands actually condemned

Hence, 3d. the "reprobate"

bar.

Then,

know this fact certainly. That

can know certainly, that he is a non-

can he

until then,

at

deliberately re-

one single

the overtures of mercy, before he spends

thought about God's decree being /or him, or against him.

He

and persists in impenitence

and before he can -know any thing about

deliberately rejects Christ,

even

to the end,

God's decree toward him.

4th.

It will

be found,

judgment-seat of Christ, that not one of the

itent,

that

is,

the

finally

at the

impen-

non-elect, ever sincerely breathed one

prayer in earnestness, or ever sought, or even wished for

Far

salvation.

less did

have been done by him,

also,

be

made manifest

tion in the right way,

by them,

in

clared this

the

most

he

all

in the

to obtain

way of duty,

And

mercy.

that the elect alone did

and

way of

actually did

duty.

explicitly.

all

that could
will, then,

seek salva-

that could be

Our Lord

" All

it

that the

done

has, in fact, de-

Father giveth me,

OF god's love selecting us

184

come to me
no wise cast out."
shall

tion,

and him that cometh

John vi. 37. Hence,

" the non-elect cannot be saved

that

he may,"

theory.

It

known

never has been

only in

let

a merely gratuitous assumption.

is

found a place in the mind of the

ists

me,

to

its

to

him do what
It is a mere

be made.

" as

that,

made

is

for

in the atonement of Christ."

For,

we

reply, 1st

that, as

vered that any individual

make no

offer

is

soon as

it is

not elected,

we

who

are elected, and

tainly

known

only

We

the gospel, which,

lay

Because

this world,

And,

as

it

it

who
cer-

is

of judgment, of course no far-

beyond controversy, are true.

is free,

Third

it.

certainly

shall

made to him.
down these three fundamental

atonement possesses an
the gospel offer

non-elected.

are

at the bar

ther overtures can be

But, 2d.

certainly disco-

of Christ's atonement to him.

can never be certainly known by man, in

hear

ex-

It

projector's overheated imagination.

has passed by the non-elect, no provision

them

never

It

finally impenitent.

In the same manner we dispose of the objection,

God

will in

This objec-

6th.

infinite value in itself.

truths of

First

unshackled, and unlimited to

God has chosen

his

the

Second

own people,

all

who

in Christ,

before the earth was made, out of the corrupt mass of sinners.

we

These, as

shall

show

in the proper place,

are esta-

And

blished by the infallible testimony of the Scriptures.

any person discovers an insuperable difficulty in them,

The difficulty is no greater than
let him pause, and reflect.
the
in
works
others
of nature, and divine prothousand
ten
if

vidence.

And we

others, with

If a

man

leave

him

to settle this, as

well as the

Almighty God, his Maker.

will

not believe, nor act until he has solved the

insuperable difficulties he encounters in nature, in philo*

sophy, and in the gospel, he will never believe, nor act in

any sphere, as a rational being, in this world

draw your attention, dear youth, to the remark of
!

would

that

emi-

IN CHRIST

OUR SUBSTITUTE.

nent divine Dr. John Dick

tion, as

if

one

less

only

it

made God

" The outcry

a sense-

is

He

stupidity, or malignity.

a respecter of persons,

is

against elec-

a respecter of persons,

and proceeds from

185

who

confers favours upon

some, and withholds them from others, equally deserving

and not

he,

who, where none has a claim on him, disposes

of his gifts in the free exercise of his power over them,

which does naturally belong to him."*

And, my dear youth, I wish to place before your minds,
that of the Calvinist, and that of the Arthe two views,

And

minian, in juxta-position.

leave you to decide

I shall

word of God, by sober

reason, and the laws of mercy, and benevolence, to man.
First
The Arminian makes, no doubt undesignedly,

on

merits, by the

respective

their

a kind of god of the

human

kept in suspense from

He

sees which

and what

it

way

shall

He

this

And

will.

eternity,

place,

the

and over

god of the human

eventually determine

movement taking
suspense.

all

God Almighty

is

Almighty

all

will shall

move

will

man

and, thence, proceeds to elect him, in consequence of

happening

God

to elect

first

But the Calvinist believes

being eternal and
by a

human

supreme

infinite,

will,

will

is, it is

that the will of

which acts in time, merely.

was

inactive,

and

dependent on the creature's

Second

It

Almighty God,

never could be kept in suspense

does not choose us from

that the divine will

does not

mend

this

follows

suspense.

That

in

will.

the matter to say that

about

foreknowledge, he elected the believers

to be

believers

certain foreknowledge

If this

were

so,

ii.

p. 181.

and

God
that

who were

the basis of this

must have been established

Dr. John Dick's Theol. Vol.

If God's

all eternity, it

foresaw from eternity, man's faith anJ obedience

on

Then, upon that

no longer kept in

movement of man's

then follows the

is

time, until

Edinb. Edit.

either in


OF god's love selecting us

186

mind

the divine

tions
will

Was

it

Then

it

man whose actions

God foresee these ac-

or in the will of the

were thus foreseen.

How, then, did

by his looking into the human mind, and

follows,

that

this

of the

act

human

will,

being, as the Arminian says, a thing entirely contingent,

could not have been foreseen by any created being.

it

Sup-

it had been foreseen certainly and

must have been certain and infallible either by
God's decreeing it, and fixing it in his sovereign mind
or, it must
this the unbeliever in God's decrees rejects
have been fixed and determined by man, himself, by his
" free will." But, how can man know, or fix a thing en-

pose, for instance, that

infallibly,

it

He

contingent?

tirely

does not himself even know, to-

and

day, or this hour, whether he will certainly believe,

Here

obey God.

one insuperable objection which

is

lies

against this theory.

But, this

and

phy,

mind

is

not

It follows,

all.

from

this

novel philoso-

theology of Arminius, that God's eternal

false

could not have foreseen any thing to be certain, until

when man, by the very act of

made it certain to God !
we arrive, again, at the same conclusion

that eventful hour,

his be-

lieving and obedience, had

That

is,

these impious tenets, that

wise

God

as retained by

eternity, so that

He

tion, put forth

man

in

Then

end

against

Almighty and

exhibits the

utter suspense,

cannot select one

act of faith shall put an

uncertainty

it

soul, until

all-

from

man's

all

first

divine suspense, and

to the

follows the act of a conditional elec-

by a dependent deity

This doctrine,

my

God

Al-

dear youth, as you cannot but see, does undeify

mighty, by deifying man's corrupt will /*

Now, my young

friends,

you can readily decide on a

See President Edwards' proof of the tendency of the Arminian

unanswered work, " The In-

tenets to Atheism, in his admirable, and

quiry into Freedom of

iv. Sect. 12.

tlie

Human

Will."

Part

ii.

Sect. 3,

and Part

OUR SUBSTITUTE.

IN CHRIST

point so
follow

One

plain.

Either man's

of these three consequences must

act of electing

place before he was born

God, must have taken

Or, the sovereign

hovah must have been retained in doubt, and

from

eternity

all

187

mind of Jeutter

suspense

Or, lastly, our doctrine of God's free and

sovereign election of us, must be just, rational, and scriptural.

There

is

another point of importance.

minius would persuade you,

God

that

has

The pupil
left it

of Ar-

open

to

all

men to save themselves, as all happen to be made salvable.

All men may, if they select, without exception, be saved.
But, to this plausible and very flattering theory, they add

drawback, which annihilates the glory of

fearful

this

plausibility

namely,

that

certain, the salvation of

God

all

its

has not fixed, nor made

even one single human being

All

may, perchance, be saved. But the salvation of not even one

is

Our salvation is thus taken out of God's

made a mere contingency of human perad-

certainly secured.

hands.

It is

venture
tions

and

This all-important matter

of corrupt and wavering

its

is

flattering theory, to rest in the

man

succession, and existence

mere chance

The whole church

made, by a decepacts

of God,

nay, the whole success of

our Lord's purposes, and all-efficient atonement, are thus

mercy of

placed

at the

will

The will

of

fallen

man's corrupt and capricious

man may,

thus, defeat the entire pur-

pose of God, and the grace of Christ, and the love and influences of the

Holy Ghost

But the Calvinist, resting on the Rock of Ages, declares, in his sublime, and truly philosophic, and Bible system, that

God

ransom, and

has infallibly decreed, and does infallibly

infallibly

save his church, which

consisting of countless millions

no

man can number

;" that is, as

is

his

elect

even " multitudes which

I

conceive,

by

far,

un-

speakably, the majority of our race.

Bring these two points of the opposing systems together,

OF god's love selecting us

188
ill

and

contrast,

The

Godlike.

which of them

say,

suspense, until the suspense

man

in

utter

broken through by the hu-

is

the Almighty the course he has to

and determining man's destiny. At the same time,

will dictating to

pursue,
it

most consoling and

is

God and man

former represents

not secure the salvation of a single soul

does

Calvinistic system, exalts the

latter, the

him on

his throne of uncontrollable sovereignty

ing the richness of free grace

while

The

Most High, placing

it fills

display-

us with the di-

vine assurance of the certain salvation of millions of millions,

We

which no man can number

do, therefore,

mans, as tending

reject these

to

novelties of

James Her-

dethrone the Eternal One, from his

supremacy over man to make men independ^l^

while they overwhelm the Christian with the

absolute

of heaven

gloom of utter uncertainty. They bear one prominent

mark of being opposed to the cross of Christ. With them,
" the offence of the cross has ceased." They are conge-

and find the applause of popularity

But the pure, and uncompromising

nial to the corrupt heart

in the ungodly world.

doctrines of the gospel are a stumbling-block to the self-

righteous

profane

and an object of antipathy, and disgust

There

They

Acts

believed."

invert the divine order laid

" As many as were ordained

down by God.

xiii.

This

48.

is

the

divine counsel by the declaration of the

in the face of this, the

not so

many

Leyden

to eterngJ life

order fixed in the

Holy Ghost.

speculator taught that,

but that the order in their system

is this

But,

"
as

it

!"
as believed were, thereby, ordained to eternal life

Such
eternity.
to

the

another remarkable opposition in them to the

is

doctrines of the cross.

is

to

is

the decree of God's selecting love.

It

be ransomed by him.

lasting love."

It is

from

chose us in Christ, and gave us over to him,

"

Jerem. xxxi.

have loved thee with an ever3.

" In hope of eternal

life

OUR SUBSTITUTE.

IN CHRIST

which God,
gan."

an holy

cannot

that

Tit.

promised before the world be-

hath saved us, and called us with

calling, not according to our works, but according

own purpose and

to his

lie,

"God

1. 2.

grace, which

before the world began."

Tim.

own
;

most sovereign, and

to

testimony

com-

is

our works, but according to his

purpose, and grace."

"

immutable.

It is

vah

9.

is

The above

therefore, unconditional.

" not according

was given us in Christ

i.

This decree, as we have seen,

plete,

189

He

may sink

iii.

17.

Mai.

iii.

He

Jeho-

is

All nature

6.

" his kindness shall never depart" from

" The covenant of my peace shall never be re-

in ruins, but

his children.

moved,

"

rests in his love."

he changes not " Zeph.

Jehovah."

saith

Isai.

liv.

10.

If he changed,

it

must be from some cause in himself, or to accommodate

himself to the changing will of man. It cannot arise from the
first.

For

same, which

worse

must be from

if

he changed,

it

is

impossible

or from better to worse

to better

which

from the second.

is

the

equally impossible.

It

same

to the

from

or

cannot arise

For, to say with the Arminian

man does change, and may of elect become

that,

reprobate

"

as

and of

is to make the Almighty Sovereign of

heaven dependent on men, and as weak and as shuffling
as they !"
Hear the testimony of the Spirit. " The coun-

reprobate, elect,"

sel

of the Lord standeth for ever."

Psal. xxxiii. 11.

thing shall separate us from the love of

Christ Jesus

This decree

our Lord."
is

Rom.

calculated to give

viii.

God which

35

Jehovah

39.

all

"Nois

in

Finally

the glory

and

humble the sinner and bring him in the lowliness of

submission, to the foot of the throne of free grace.

to

We

cleave, therefore, to

the doctrines

taught by Luther, Calvin, and

formation

and

all

as exhibited in the

the

of our Lord, as

worthies of the Re-

Creed of all the Reformed

churches of Holland, Germany, France, Switzerland, England, Scotland, and America. They impart to us thesweet-

17


190

OF GOD*S LOVE SELECTING US

They pour upon our minds

faith, and hope.
The Ley-

est of divine consolations.

the joy of the

full

assurance of

den speculations are revolting

They

are

to the truly

gloomy and dreary as was

spiritual soul.

the side of the cloud

The

which lowered upon the camp of the Egyptians.

pure

doctrines of the cross are like the bright side of the glorious
cloud.

And

they shed a bright and unwavering light over

our pilgrimage to Canaan's mountains of glory.

aUESTlOlNS.
Is this doctrine sustained by reason

The proof? Is it
God ? Proof?

manifest from the very nature of Almighty

And by
Is

it

the explicit testimony of the

v/ithout a definite purpose

Is not "
for the

Holy Scriptures?

supposable that an infinitely wise Being will act

?

God's selecting love," just another expression

wise plan by which he acts in grace

Recite the proof of this from Scripture.

Your explanation of this ?

"God's hardening the rest."

Had men been

all

equally

been any selection of grace

Give your sense of the

deserving,

to salvation

text,

could there have

Has guilty man any claims whatever upon God ?

What were the sentiments of the old "Predestinarians?"
What are the true doctrines of the Reformed Churches on
this point

Have men

a right to

of Jehovah, and his acts

sit in

judgment on the

infinite

Is not this the only question here,

doctrine taught in the Bible

whether or not

al

Give the

is this

Is not the opposition to this doctrine founded

prejudices

mind

on

irration-

plain illustration of this doctrine

from the case

of a hundred state prisoners.

Can you name any

rational objection to this doctrine

IN CHRIST

Name the

OUR SUBSTITUTE.

popular objections to

What say you in reply to

God to be partial
Did he
?

Was

191

it.

the objection, that

pass by

it

represents

the fallen angels

all

that partiality?

" If a man be not chosen, he cannot be saved,

what he may."

Ifow do you reply

The

The second?

reply?

to this

The

third?

him do

let

The

first re-

The

fourth?

fifth ?

" God has made no provision in the atonement

non-elect,

Your

first

trines

how can you

reply?

offer Christ to

Your second, in

him

?"

for the

Refute

this.

fundamental doc-

three

Recite Dr. J. Dick's observations on this point.

Place Calvinism and Arminianism in contrast on this

important point.

What

is

the

first

point of contrast

The

second?
State the blasphemy involved in this
nius.

What

be the result

doctrine

of Armi-

one of which must

are the three consequences,

?

What was President Edwards' sentiment on this?

What is the conclusion arising from the doctrine of
sect, that all men are made "salvable?"
What is the Calvinistic view in opposition to this?
Is not this doctrine

most

liberal,

that

consoling, and Godlike

Is opposition to the decree of election popular with the

world, which hates sjoiriiual religion

Does not

the

Arminian view of

verse the divine order, in Acts

What

the decree actually re-

xiii.

48

are the four attributes of this divine decree

Is not this doctrine clearly laid

down

in the creeds of

all

Reformed Churches ?
Have you studied this doctrine with humility on your

the

knees before God?

Express freely your views and feelings on

it.

192

OF god's love selecting us

MEDITATION.
They, therefore, as to right belonged,
So were created, nor can justly accuse
Their Maker, or their making, or their fate,
**

As

if

predestination overruled

Tlieir will, disposed

Or high

by absolute decree,

They

foreknowledge.

themselves resolved

Their own revolt, not I. If I foreknew,

Foreknowledge had no influence on tlieir fault,
Which had no less proved certain, unforeseen."

Milton.

What

When

my

eyes to the throne of God, I

ed with a sense of

Adam

What an humbling truth!

am overwhelmand vileness. Can a child of

a sublime doctrine!

I lift

my

guilt,

persuade himself that he has claims on the sovereign

mercy of his Judge

Can he persuade himself

obtain not these claims,

God

law would he present his claims?

That very law has

against hirn

its

awful and

that, if

he

Before what

partial?

is

God's law?

Before

unanswerable claims

Will he bring his claims on God, into the

court of divine justice

That justice has put in claims

man can stand and which

no man can answer, without sinking into endless perdition
Proud and daring mortal
Canst thou dream of
against him, before which no

claims?

Possessest thou a controlling will to determine

God's acts of mercy

Lord.

We

cast

abounding mercy.

Enter not into judgment with

ourselves over

Teach us

on thy

us,

free grace,

and

we
owe every thing to the sovereignty of thy love.
Has the guilty doomed criminal a right to find fault with
the human judge, if he pardon him, and not another ? Can
he find room to blame him if he pardon another, and not
him ? The principle of right and equity is the same in
both these cases.
Can the pardon, or the death of another
criminal, make any alteration in the position of a condemnto feel

impressively that

OUR SUBSTITUTE.

IN CHRIST

193

Were

ed criminal, before the law, and the court of justice?

a criminal to forget the guilt of his crimes, and load the su-

preme pardoning power with opprobrium for not pardoning

him, as well as others, who would feel disposed to stand forward, to defend the impudence of guilt 1
And shall man,
guilty

and

vile

man,

judgment on

set himself in

Maker

his

and Judge
I rejoice to believe that the

decree of God's selecting love

cannot be charged with the allegation that the minority

elected,
it

was

and

few are saved.

that

the grand final result.

our conquering

portion

pose

many were called and

humbly conceive, does not decide

In the

Redeemer

last

day of the closing victo-

shall

have the "great man's

and the strong man's spoils."*

that the

vanquished powers of

hell

Who

can sup-

can have more of

the trophies, and spoils than the glorious conqueror

sides the death
cy,

is

our days, as

in our Saviour's days, that "

few were chosen." This,

ry,

It is true in

who have

kingdom of heaven

their place in the

the innumerable myriads,

who

tudes in heaven

pass to glory

shall

and

in

the

and the testimony of the

who saw, in the visions of glory, " multi-

thousand years' reign of Christ

beloved disciple,

Be-

perhaps, the majority of our race in infan-

of,

whom no man

could number,"

confirm the cheering truth that by

far

do

all

go

to

unspeakably, the ma-

jority will be saved.

And,
sitate

right
first 1

the

in reference to the priority

of choosing, can I he-

on the question, whether the sovereign Creator has a

or man, the right to choose Him
to choose first,

Oh

how can such

bosom of man, whose

a question be even agitated in

habitation

is

a hut of clay

Can

dungeon cell set up a claim " to choose

the governor's pity " first, and prescribe to him his course
of conduct ?
Oh my God, I was a vile rebel before thee.
the criminal in the

Isai.

liii.

17*

12,

OF god's love selecting us

194

Thou sawest
didst pity

me

How
No one

And,

if

me

thee

first.

Thou movedst

thou hadst not loved

thee, nor loved thee

Thou

knew

not.

me first,

me

never

impenetrable the mystery of this divine decree

know

can

his election, until he does, by his faith,

penitence, and holy

life,

election, sure" to his

tainly

ruin.

thou didst love

to love thee.

had known

my

ine in

know

" make his

conscience.

not

elected, as

that he is

No man

land of the living.

and thence

calling,

own

No man
long as he

his

can ceris

in the

can be certainly assured of his

non-election, until his impenitent and guilty soul hears his

last

sentence burst in thunder on his ears from the judgment-

God.
This secret decree of election, and non-election, cannot

seat of

my

be any rule of

conduct.

Secret things belong to

The fact

belong the things revealed.

to us

fully revealed

to

God

of the decree

But, the pages of the book of

me.

is

life

man, or angel. No one knows

But, this I
the names in the decreed, while he is on earth.
know, that I am commanded peremptorily to seek the Lord
This I do know, that if I believe
while he is to be found.
And, then, if I follow on to
in Christ, I shall be saved.

have not been opened

know
holy

the

Lord
will

life

to

in the revealed path

witness with

my

of duty, the fruits of a

spirit, that

am

a child of

And, on the contrary, if I believe not, and obey not,

I, thence, hdve none of the fruits, and evidences of God'a
I am, thence, working out the evidence of my
children.
God.

being a reprobate.

In the absence of the proper evidence, the anxious soul

has just as good a right to suppose that he

chosen, as that he

is

a non-elect.

That

is,

gitimate, and prescribed testimony, he has

the

one

side, or

the

other.

is

one of the

without this

Let the troubled soul hasten

then to betake himself to the Lord Jesus by a true and

ing

faith,

le-

no evidence on
liv-

and break oifhis sins by godly penitence through

OUR SUBSTITUTE.

IN CHRIST

And

Holy Ghost.

the grace of the

195

thus he will work out

the evidence of his election by grace.

"

I will

whom

have mercy on

reignty over his

guilty,

should hush every

have mercy."

This

into the divine

sove-

I will

disclosure of God's will resolves

all

and condemned subjects

murmur

urge us on to " work out our salvation" by

means

knowing

" God worketh

this for our

in us both to

all

This

into a quiet submission

and

the decreed

assurance of success, that

will, and to do of his good

pleasure."

And,

let

me

ever bear in

mind

am

If I

ed to

faith, to

cial

use of

ance in

all

elected to eternal

repentance, to a

these

life, I

life

is, I

of them, to the end of

destroy

unknown

election

all

my

I indulge in

the gospel.

Blessed be

to

am

certainly elect-

of holiness, to the spe-

my

I,

earthly course.

God

in the

If I

thence, cut off the con-

between the divine choice, and the

nection

means

also, as cer-

God's ordinances, and the diligent persever-

all

take away the intervening links,

That

all

end of the salvation of our

tainly decreed as is the grand

souls.

that

one of them

attain the decreed end, are, every

final

result.

hopes of election, as set forth in

the theory of a

Holy

new

doctrine of

Bible.

which

for the solid basis

this

immutable

decree lays in Zion, for holiness, and good works.

If I

cultivate all the divine graces, I shall receive the consoling

assurance that
state, I

joy
I

am

am

I rejoice in

it.

can never

ditional,
life.

fall

from the

am

being in this
feel

it.

en-

No enemy can prevail against me.

love of my God.
This is an adto

every virtue of a holy

sure of victory over Satan, the world, and

the flesh, and death

God,

it.

and powerful stimulus

For

And
my God. I

a chosen vessel.

ever in the hands of

for his everlasting

Glory

for ever

be to the

decree of selecting love.

Triune
Amen.

OF god's love selecting U3

196

A PRAYER.
incomprehensible and sovereign majesty
while

look up to thee.

Thou

absolute God.

consuming

"the

still

art terrible in thy justice.

But, blessed be thy

sinners.

fire to

tremble

dare not approach thee, as an

Thou
name

art

for

small voice" which utters a Father's name, and

compassion of the Holy

our Redeemer's love, and the

Ghost

sovereign and matchless love

divine and bound-

Thy compassion saw us wretched outcasts,

hurrying headlong to destruction.
Thou laidst thy hand on
me, and carriedst me safe away from the devouring flames

less

mercy

Blessed be thy eternal love to me, the chief of sinners.

Lord God,

Surely,
to love,

would have had a heart

as the

To

me

my

choice

to faith,

will, I

never

nor a will to elect thee

Be

thou exalted over

my heavenly Father; and to

my Redeemer and to thy rich and

thy everlasting love,

Holy

munificent mercy,

hope

all that I

faith,

freedom of

be humbled in the dust

thy unbought grace,

and

spiritual

to love thee,

supreme object of
Let

all.

me

thou hadst not chosen

if

and holiness, and

do

owe

all

that I

am,

of mine, and

My

penitence flow out.

Thy love, O Triune God begat

The rod of the word smote this

to be.

and love in me.

flinty heart

Spirit

made

the waters

of sorrow, and

love could never beget thy love

My guilt

could not awaken thy terrible justice to an act of

mercy!

My

vileness could not

woo

to

adorable and spotless purity

grace

Surpassing

height,

love divine

and depth

Without beginning
1 in thy sight

could rule thy

breadth,

or

I to

win by

is

me the

love of thine

of free, and sovereign

understanding

and length of divine love

Immutable!

What am
will,

All

all

Everlasting!

conceive

it

What am

possible that I

merit, thy everlasting love

IN

my God,

take me, body, and soul, and

And,

thine own.

remember

that I

my

works in

in the events of

am

Then

chosen in Christ

in love.

Cherish, and confirm

divine hope

my

to follow

that I

time.

arrive

am

may
**

to

to thy

me

work

name."

in love, and
all

things.

by a sweet and consoling

am accepted in the Beloved and am

And thence, through growth in

at the

me

ever

and without

thee

Christ in

ed into thy family.

1 shall

and make

to be holy

Establish

faith.

and help me

197

life,

shall I joyfully glorify thee

assurance that

all

human

humbly beseech
me, and take all the honour

blame before thee

all

CHRIST OUR SUBSTITUTE.

adoptgrace,

divine consolation, and abiding hope

a vessel of mercy, elected in

" Our Father who

art in

Christ before

heaven," &c.

Amen.

all

CHAPTER

XII.

THE NECESSITY OF THE ATONEMENT.

"

Law can

That when they

see

discover sin, but not remove,

Save by those shadowy expiations weak,

The blood of bulls, and goats, they may conchide
Some blood more precious, must be paid for man

Just for unjust: that in such righteousness

To

them by

faith imputed, they

toward God

may

find

and peace
Of conscience; which the law by ceremonies
Cannot appease, nor man the mortal part
!"
Perform and not performing, cannot live
MlLTOM.
Justification

We

have seen

on

that,

purposes of mercy on us,

that this

mercy could

the supposition that our

God had

was only through a

substitute

it

flow.

Now, on

the certain assump-

tion, that our substitute presented himself for us,

dispensably

atonement

for us.

The

all-important doctrine.
vation.

it

was

in-

necessary that he should give the requisite

necessity of the atonement
It is

Permit me, dear brethren,

deep sense of

its

is

an

absolutely essential to our salto

impress on you a

necessity.

Sin, though a debt,

is

not a

human

forgiven like a mere debt of man.

debt.

It is

It

cannot be

a debt contracted

against infinite justice, infinite purity, infinite power

It


THE NECESSITY OF THE ATONEMENT.
has no limit, or bounds, in turpitude and guilt.

which

ivill

out,

it

It is

a debt

The passing

be exacted, and imcst be paid.

by, or the blotting

199

by a gratuitous act of

it

and

pity,

would be an injury done to infinite justice. It

It would be an injury, and a
violence offered to infinite purity, and the divine govern-

friendship,

would be
ment.

infinitely unjust

It

would be infinitely impious

be done.

fore,

Hence

It

cannot, there-

Lord declares, that " he will, by

guilty."
"Without shedding of blood,

no means, clear the

is no remission

there

the

!"

Moreover, God did from the beginning, utter the terms

and penalty of his law. " In the day thou rebellest by
eating

the forbidden fruit, thou

soul that sinneth,

Now,

it

God

whatever

of his subjects,

shall

that

"

shalt surely die."

has uttered once, to one generation

he

always renewing on the ears of

is

every following generation.

Whatever moral law he en-

joins on one class of his subjects, in one age, that he

joining on

all

The

die !"

generations.

Here

WILL, BY NO MEANS, CLEAR THE GUILTY."

This,

is

en-

"He

are his words,

He

haS

on man's ears since the day of Adam's fall. This he

is now uttering on the ears of all men.
This he will utter
through all time, and in all eternity.
For, it is simply the
voice of the Most Holy One giving an ever-living testimony to the necessary purity, and perfections of his God"He will, by no means, clear the guilty."
head.
And his infinite purity, and justice do ever move on in all
uttered

their acts with his

infinite

power.

To

his

will

in

"not

clearing the guilty," his omnipotence gives an irresistible

and

terrific efficiency.

acts of his
will,

If

on
it

power are as

He

cannot pass by the guilty.

distinct

The

as the expression of his

this matter.

were possible

and admit rebels

that

God

should " clear the guiltv,"

to divine favour,

and into heaven, without


THE NECESSITY OF THE ATONEMENT.

200

an adequate

satisfaction

would be the
the

result

impious supposition,

be always uttering what

subjects

from

Then,

us, or

the God of
is

eternal

n:ie

speak

to

truth,

not truth, in the face of

If he should clear the guilty,

what

a substitute,

in that case, allow

should
his

all

then, the

God

infinite holiness should be always saying one thing, and

ways doing another

of
al-

Should he clear the guilty, thus,

and receive the unransomed, and unsanctified soul into heathen, the most faithful One should be always frownven,
!

ing upon the guilty, and always blessing them

The

righteous Judge would be always rewarding the wicked, and

always uttering their condemnation

One would

The

and

the virtuous

vicious, the holy

and unholy

separating them by an impassible gulph!

heaven would be always placing the

the

Just and pure

be always removing every distinction between

;

and unholy upon

fallen,

same footing of grace and acceptance, with

and sinless

in

heaven

and always

The King of
the unfallen

and he would be always placing an

impassible barrier, high as the battlements of heaven, and

deep as the bottomless pit, between them

The Judge of all, " will, therefore, by no means clear the
!

guilty."

power

Although " he

and

is

slow to anger

will not, at all, acquit

he

is

the wicked."

great in

"

He

is

and he cannot look upon

'* Our God is a consuming fire."
And as neiniquity."
cessarily as the flame consume the dry stubble, so necessa-

of purer eyes than to behold evil

rily,

by the very nature of divine purity,

sume the

sinner.

Hence,

*'

will justice

con-

without shedding of blood

THERE IS NO REMISSION." That is to Say, an atonement

was absolutely, and indispensably necessary, to secure man's
and preserve unimpaired the divine government,
salvation
;

honour, and glory.

THE NECESSITY OF THE ATONEMENT.

201

aUESTIONS.

Was not the

Did

atonement absolutely necessary

the admission of a substitute, set aside the necessity

of the atonement?

Can

is by man ?
Give a text to illustrate this.
If I deny the necessity of atonement, do I not thereby
abolish the penalty of the law, and the strength of the law ?
Explain, and illustrate this.

sin be blotted out by God, as a debt

Proof.

which God

Is not that

ration, in like

utters to his subjects

manner, uttered by God

to us,

Hence, are not the threatenings of the

repeated on our ears, as much as ever ?

Were God

to

of one gene-

and

men

still

admit any one into heaven, without the

penalty being fully honoured, would not our

law's

Gull, inthat case, be, at

once condemning, and

time glorifying, the soul before him, in heaven

and

all

law's penalty

illustrate this

at the
?

Holy
same

Explain

important doctrine.

Is not opposition to the necessity of the

atonement

to

be

ascribed to the mournful ignorance of God's justice, and the

iiature-of sin?

Explain

nonant

fully

your

own

views, and feelings on these im-

topics.

MEDITATION.
I call

is just

my

upon

and

sou),

right, to

my

and

all that is in me, to render what

God's prerogatives, and claims. I

admire, and adore the very

my

God.

purity

strict,

and unyielding justice of

In his vengeance on sinners,

sustaining his government, unimpaired.

judgments,
order

I see his spotless

and perfect holiness, giving efficiency

and

to his law,

In his

and

terrible

see and adore his impartial justice, restoring

his

omnipotence subduing treason, and rebellion

18

THE NECESSITY Of THE ATONEMENT.

202

in his empire.

In the

fearful glory of justice, I see

His

mire the beauty of his divine holiness.

and holiness, shines

parity,

The more

forth

and ad-

perfect love of

in his inflexible justice.

more do

terrible these displays are, the

holy beings love, and adore, and honour him.

perfectly

None

but

and degradation, can have

any other feelings toward the Just and Holy One, than those
of love, admiration, and rapturous adoration
Were man allowed to go on in crime, and die in his sin,
the guilty,

and

and the lovers of

sin,

be received

yet, after all,

reward of heaven, with-

to the

out an INFINITE satisfaction, all order would be at an end ;

and all peace, and security denied to the faithful and holy
and the purity of the divine government tarnished and its
:

glory departed.
sin

is

Hence

the terrible severity of

God

against

nothing more than a strong expression of his love

of order, and righteous government,

and his fixed pur-

faithful and holy in

His terrible justice against the damned, exhibits the overwhelming light, and overpowering beauty of
These strong vindications of his rights
divine holiness.
and honour throw a new and eternal glory around the
and give stable security to the ransomed, and to
throne

pose to grant peace, and security to the

all

his empire.

angels, that they

rights,

No

shall,

without

interruption,

and happiness, and gloiy for ever

sober mind can persuade itself that

grandeur of the world's preparation

for the

enjoy their

coming of Messiah, by

ceremonial law, and

all

and

all

the

pompous

that of the church,

the solemn system of the

the predictions of Messiah's sor-

rows, and agonies, and death,

indicated

no more than the

simple mission of the Mighty One, as a teacher only, or as

a martyr, to set us an example merely how to live, and

All this he verily
All this he verily was.
to die.

how
did.

But, blessed be his adorable majesty. King Messiah did

immeasurably more. He was a priest on his throne.

THE NECESSITY OF THE ATONEMENT.

"

He

redeemed us from the curse of the law

203

being made

a curse for us."

God's honour
without

ken

full

for

not allow the pardon

will

same manner

satisfaction, in the

payment.

as

man

of sin without
forgives a debt,

comparison should not be mista-

The Most High cannot

an argument.

sacrifice

his honour, nor his justice, nor the existence of his divine

government.
ment, he

Did he pass by

would

nounced the penalty before

the guilty without an atone-

honour, which

his

sacrifice

all his

clared that the penalty shall not be trifled with

He

cannot go unpunished.
infinite claims,

would have

For God's

case, his justice.

even claims

has

moral subjects

law,

pro-

and

and

de-

that sin

sacrificed, in that

and government have

befitting the infinite majesty

of Almighty God, against rebels, and their self-perpetuating

To

crimes.

take no vengeance

on

nished, crimes of infinite demerit.

an act of

infinite

ment, and himself

This would

Merely

This, in

injustice to

the equity of his supreme

what object 1

This would

This would be passing by unpu-

be rewarding rebellion.

itself,

admit the

sin, is to

sinner unpardoned, and polluted, into heaven.

fact,

his law, his

would be
govern-

sacrifice justice, law,

And

and holy government.

to oblige thankless rebels

and
for

Hence,

Satan, and traitors would bear sway in the divine empire

Hence, the throne of the Most Holy One would be overturned
and the rebellion of earth, and hell would triumph
in the dominions of Jehovah
This is not even suppo!

sable

The atonement was absolutely necessary. It could in

no case be dispensed with, on the supposition that our
Heavenly Father purposed to save us. To deny its neces'
sity, is to deny its reality.
And with this, you take away
all

hope,

all

peace,

all

joy,

all

from our fondest anticipation.

happiness,

nay, heaven
and

But, in the fact of our Saviour^s substitution,

itself,

in the

THE NECESSITY OF THE ATONEMENT.

204
fact

of his obedience for us,

and death

ings,

in this matter,

on

tion shed

for us, I

and

do

in the fact of his suffer-

my

see, to

perfect satisfaction,

the brightest light of heaven's demonstra-

For,

this all-important doctrine.

if the

atone-

absolutely and essentially necessary, then

ment was not

all

mighty preparation of !he Father, and all these mighty

works, and these sorrows, and this death of Messiah, were
this

utterly in vain

Lamb

As

cessity of law,

and justice

by thy own blood

And

in

all

this,

sity of

guilty,

am

not,

nature of

soul, the awful

they

feel not, the

So do not

tremble,

and

so never shall

fall

overwhelmed, with the overpowering evidences

My

eyes behold, everywhere,

complicated sufferings, and agonies of

man

Every-

where are the varied and horrid forms of death seen

in

on
the

the cross

and the unutterable horrors of the doomed,

bottomless

pit

God, what would have been

Jesus not interfered in
sit

down

my

proclaim that there

all, all

boundless, an infinite evil in sin

Here, I

my

It

is

Oh my compassionate

deplorable condition, had

behalf!

at the foot of the cross.

learn to be crucified to the flesh, with

*<

the

my Redeem-

inconceivable sorrows, and the cursed death of

er,

at

neces-

of the terrible evil of sin.

the

me

and hast redeemed

down at the foot

I am
my dear and blessed Redeemer
my God I am confoundand miserable,

God.

of thy cross,
guilty,

" Fools make a mock

God.

our Lord's atonement.

my

do,

ed,

my

behold,

And, thence, they see

sin."

me

for

sin, and rebellion against

Holy

thou wast slain,

certainly as

of God, so certainly hast thou met the inflexible ne-

Here,

all its lusts.

was the sight of thy dear cross

That weaned my heart from earthly

things

And taught me to esteem as dross,

The pride of fools, and pomp of kings

f"

let

me

THE NECESSITY OF THE ATONEMENT.

And,

205

since the atonement was absolutely necessa-

finally,

new and

ry to open the

living

way

heaven

into

my

let

soul be deeply impressed with this abiding conviction, that

if I

one, only, and all-sufficient atonement, I

reject this

must be doomed

and

to give a satisfaction for myself, for ever

ever, in the place of weeping, wailing,

and endless despair

PRAYER.
God, thy law
awful

light, I

see

me.
They weigh me down,

with their guilt.

And

this guilt is

sins ever before

never stationary.

waxes worse, and worse.

arm

Sin,

like a

when

my God

And,

am

in its

oppressed

mountain.

left to itself,

did not thy

and punish in
of rebel men, and fallen spiorder in thy dominion, and

arrest the progress of sin, in the world,

thy wrath, the enormous guilt

rits,

And

confess to be holy and just.

my

they would break up

holiness in the earth

and endless crimes

Thou

all

They would

government.

destroy

and

fill

peace

all

banish

But, die they, or justice must

all

thy empire with boundless

For

Lord, that
most Holy and Almighty. I confess,
our crimes cannot be restrained and punished, without the
terrific vengeance of thy law falling on our persons.
And
art

falling

on us

in the exaction of a

punishment due

government, on account of an infinite

rish for ever,

and

and Just One,

And

set aside.
It

faithful.

And,

ever.

that this
it

never shall be set aside

may be

transferred,

must

and

the divine
!

and

Lord,
thee,

laid

God's

never

for

be

thou art

upon another.

it

has been transferred

my

blessed Redeemer.

affecting proof of the necessity of the atonement.

We

pedient

do confess,

to

we must pemost Holy

punishment can never,

And, blessed be thy name,

over to thee, and laid on

What an

evil,

or the honour of
government be destroyed.

die for ever,

unsearchable love

and stead before the majesty of

18*

justice,

and

Christ took our

the law.

law,

glorious ex-

And

place,

being thus

THE NECESSITY

206

THE ATONEMENT.

OF

The whole punishment was ex" It is finished !" And

he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. And gloriously,
O my Redeemer, didst thou magnify the law, and make thy
constituted,

die he must

him

acted of

justice most honourable

and past finding

grace of Jesus,

might be

verty,

the uttermost.

to

out,

O the wisdom, and

my heavenly Father

of

love divine,
!

the rich

who became poor that we, through his poO the unsearchable goodness
made rich
!

of the Holy Ghost, whose invincible grace applies the

atonement

to our souls

my God, that I may feel that all my

my surety and that they have all
been taken away by him. Grant me the testimony in my
O grant me the
spirit, that I am his, and he is mine.
sweet and abiding peace of the man who is freely justified
and cleansed by his Spirit. May 1 be quickby his blood
ened daily, in thy holy way. May I grow in grace and
abound in every good word, and work. Bring me up,
And, now, grant, O
sins have been laid on

Blessed

Spirit, to the

measure of the stature of the fulness

of Christ, even to the perfect man.

bountiful and gracious

These,
gifts

and

freely given

price,

on our

part.

They

giving

more

way

living

I rejoice

man
in

Sweet are pardon and peace

God

And,

and the services of

who

died

on

heaven, &c.

and

love these gifts the

o%vn free gifts.

to the guilty.

O, how sweet

my

soul,

coming, as they do,

mercy,

my

covenant

homage of my poor
0, accept them for his

me

thine in Christ Jesus, for ever

art in

the

life.

the tree for

own
money

thy

thy gifts, purchased

And

my

all

without

them as thy

thy love thy

now, accept

are

harmonizing with mercy, in

these precious blessings are to

from thy grace

all

love,

Redeemer, who opened up the

for justice,

gifts to rebellious

for this.

are

my

secured by the blood of

new and

God

by thy unbought

And all
Amen.

heart,

sake,

the glory shall be

Our Father

who

CHAPTER

XIII.

OUR SUBSTITUTE, WHAT HE MUST BE AND WHAT HE

MUST DO, AS OUR SURETY.
;

"

But by

Nor can

this

be

which thou didst want,

Obedience to the law of God imposed
On penalty of death, and suffering death,

The

fulfilling that

penalty to thy transgressions due

And

due to theirs which out of thine will grow.

So only can high justice rest appeased.
The law of God, exact, he shall fulfil,
Both by obedience, and by love, though love
Alone fulfil the law thy punishment
He shall endure, by coming in the flesh.
To a reproachful life, and cursed death !"
Milton.
:

Here

the questions arise, what

and what must he

do,

whom

must the Substitute be

draw
;

the Father will cause to

near to him
and who engaged his heart to approach to
Jehovah?"*
He must be One who is able, and willing to meet fully
every want, and every exigency in our deplorable condition.
First
It behoved him to be our " near kinsman ;"
;

"bone

of our bone, and flesh of our flesh

* Jer. XXX. 21.

:" a truly perfect

OUR SUBSTITUTE

208

human being
is

body and

in

No

soul for soul.

An

us.

him

is

man
and

angelic being could be a substitute for

Besides, an

offer.

right to offer up, in the stead of another, that

The

not his own.

the nature of spirits

sinned.

had sinned

requires body for body,

angel has not our nature to

angel has no

which

Man

soul.

The law

under the law.

substitute

but the

must not take on

human

nature, that had

He must be a pure and

spotless man, and so be

" restore what he took not away." He
who is overwhelmed with debt, cannot be a surety to pay
He who is himself a sinner, cannot
the debts of another.

Second

able to

mo7'ally

the claims of justice, as a substitute for others.

meet

Third

The

He

ture.

body

so

substitute

must be more than a mere

must be sovereign
that,

lord

own

over his

without robbery, he

may be

soul,

able to

crea-

and
" lay

down his life, and take it up again."

You must perceive, at once, that no creature whatever, is
Every created being is,
sovereign lord over its own being.
in virtue of his creation, the inalienable property of God.

And,

therefore,

he has no

not his own, and offer

Such a

ther.

it

substitution

divine law, and justice.

who cannot

"

take

again."

it

nor warrant

to take

what

is

would be a positive violation of

being can be our substitute

No

stand up before the throne of justice, and say,

have power

ture.

right,

as a sacrifice unto death, for ano-

to lay

He

down my

life,

and

have power

to

must, therefore, be more than a crea-

But every thing above a creature is God absolutely.

it behoved our substitute to be God, and man in one

Hence,
person.

Our substitute must be one who can not mere:

away guilt by a sacrifice, but give his divine pledge
that all the ransomed shall infallibly be reinstated into that
and presented
spotless purity of nature which we lost
Fourth

ly

take

209

HIS qUALIFICATlOXS.

without blemish, and perfect in the great day.

this, ,his

Fifth:
the law

tice, the

It

behoved our substitute

to

be

"made

under

and thence, to render, at the call of law and jus-

:"

things.

Without

work could not be complete.

most exact and complete obedience thereto in

And

this

all

obedience must be in his every action of

body, and soul, according to the requirements thereof, in

perfect love to
sufferings,

God, and man.

and in death

It

By

itself.

must be obedience in
the first, the law must

"magnified and made honourable," as holy, just,

and good. By the last, the honour of the divine justice,
and government must be sustained in all their purity, and
be

honour.

We

have seen already, that without the shedding

of man's blood, there can be no remission of sin.

God's

law and government had been violated, and wantonly insulted

God had declared in

God could not

by rebels.

rebel shall surely die.

do another in the face of

all

the penalty, that the

say one thing, and

He

his intelligent creatures.

could not permit his justice and government to be rejected,

violated,

and trampled under

the consequence had

He

This would have been

foot.

allowed

man

execution of the penalty, even to the

as the love of
that

God

had resolved

which behoved, otherwise,

to

go on without the

letter thereof.

Now,

to transfer to the substitute

to

fall

on

us,

it

follows, of

course, that that substitute must be under the law in an ac-

tive and PASSIVE obedience.

Sixth: It behoved our substitute to be the "Mighty

One," who could give a pledge, and security that the ran-

somed should not only have the holy nature reinstated in

them, but that this holy and new heart should show the fruits
and be consumof sincere obedience, and a holy life here
;

mated in holiness, and glory in heaven.

Lastly :
It behoved Him who is our substitute, to secure
to his church a glorious emancipation from every enemy.

These may be

all

arranged under four classes,

Satan,

the

210

OUR substitute;

world, the flesh, and death.

of his work as Mediator.

This

This

will

be the consummation

will

be the completion of

our sanctification, and the beginning of our everlasting

Until this be done, our salvation cannot be

glory.

we cannot reign with

Until this be done,

pleted.

com-

Him

in

our perfected bodies, and souls, in his mansions of glory.

All this

behoved our substitute

it

behoved him
approach

to

to the

accomplish,

when

to

be

and

all this

it

''he engaged his heart to

Lord," on our behalf.

aUESTIONS.
Will an awakened sinner be willing to rely on any kind
of a Saviour

No, when he

is truly

illumined.

Will not a truly awakened sinner anxiously inquire into

the fulness

and perfectness of Christ?

WTiat did

Give

it

behove our Redeemer

the general view,

to be,

and explanation of

and

to

do for us?

this.

What behoved He to be, in the first place ? Give the

why he behoved to have oiir nature.
What is the second requisite in his official character ?
The third ? Could a mere man ransom us? Proof?
The fourth?
The fifth? Illustrate this.
The sixth requisite ?
The last one ? What are the four enemies of God, and

reason

man, which Christ

Have you

will destroy

anxiously looked to Christ's fulness, and per-

fectness, as your Saviour, your only,

and

all-sufficient

viour ?

MEDITATION.
"For

this,

he shall

live hated,

be blasphemed,

Seized on by force, judged, and to death condemned,

As

shameful and accursed, nailed

to the cross,

Sa-

211

HIS dUALIFICATlONS.

By
But

his

own

nation

slain for bringing

life.

he nails his enemies,

to the cross

The law that is against thee, and the sins

Of all mankind, with him there crucified,
Never to hurt them more, who rightly trust
In this his satisfaction."

Milton.

God's work of our redemption

deur.

It

and the entrance into heaven, of

of the ransomed.
brought forward

It involved,

all

the

the world,

This was

to

were

God

as

to

it

falling

on any of them.

and Satan, and

death.

What

a magnificent

Where

be done by purchase, and by power.

vine justice and law,

the divine attributes in their beauty,

the claims were just,

ped,

innumerable millions

of necessity, the overthrow of the reign of sin,

plan of mercy

faction

and gran-

glory,

sustained the divine government

It

harmony, and glory, without a spot

and

one of

is

contemplated no less than the restoration to God,

and

inalienable, as

they were

being Judge.

to

were those of

be met by a perfect

Where

di-

satis-

the claims were usurp-

were those of Satan, the world and the

flesh,

they

be exterminated by power.

The achievement
who could

of

all

this

And

was a mighty work.

leave the throne of his glory, and

come

he

into our

world by the act of taking our nature into union with his
divine, in one person, can be no ordinary son of Adam.

He must be One "mighty to save:" One infinitely above

mere humanity. He must be " a child born ;" that is, truly
He must be " a son given,"*
participating of our nature.

the

Son of God

And he

and

given, and appointed to be

he alone, who

is

the eternal

mediator.

Son of God by

a natural, necessary, and eternal filiation, could sustain this

glorious office^ttd achieve the mighty work.

Isai. ix. 6.

He

could

212

OUR substitute;

not have accomplished the work, had he been one

whom

He
office had elevated to an official sonship.
go through, unshrinking, in the mighty achievement, who,
being, as the Eternal Son, "the express image of the Faalone could

ther's person,"

the Father's perfect " equal, and fellow,"

could bring into the

and

er,

field,

an

infinity of worth,

an infinite powand thus throw an

infinite worth,

infinite sovereignty of his

and excellence,

own

into the obedience, suffer-

and death of the son of man. He behoved to bring

a real, and a proper matter of a sacrifice that is, a true
ings,

humanity, possessed of spotless holiness and perfection.

He

altar on which to offer this sacrifice

That is, his divine and eternal sonship, and his
supreme Godhead. That altar alone can render the sacrifice, and offering of infinite value, on the part of the son

to

behoved to have the

God.

of man.

my soul, where canst thou look, in the hour of thy menagony 1 Where shall I find the Saviour and the Great
One? Where, under what name alone, upon earth, can I

tal

find the

Son of God, and

prepared

the son of

man,

in one person,

own

purchase the church, with his

to

and, mighty in power to overthrow every

enemy

blood
Shall I

look for him in the rival and contradictory schools of the

philosophers

No, no. They bear on

tence of their condemnation.

the children of nature,

parted hero,

reason

their foreheads the sen-

Shall I look for

who rear an idol

No, no. They

and on

their foreheads the sentence of

Must

look for him in the rank of the

sons of Adam,
martyr

man,

What

mere man,

to the

him among

dead and de-

bear on their hands,

blasphemy, and death.

common and mere

a mere

teacher,

a mere

a monstrous absurdity, to think that a mere

sinful

man

under condemnation himself, can

undertake a work which none but the Great God, and Saviour can achieve

man,

a mere

What

teacher,

a manifest absurdity, that a mere

under condemnation himself, can

; !

HIS QUALIFICATIONS.
enter the

and by

lists,

his

the world, and the flesh,

who

those

213

own power, conquer

and death

are led into this extravagance.

thou art fled to brutish beasts

and

men

Satan, and

Yet there are

itself!
''

have

judgment

lost their rea-

!"

son

No

no

I shall

not be deceived.

my Redeemer

In

see the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

human

pure

nature,

the Father's equal.

Son! and

and a divine sonship.

" He was with God,

God," in

is

In him
I

see a

see in

him

as the eternal

His name

his divine essence.

is

The Wonderful !" In him are the most wonderful

contrasts.
He is the humblest and most sorrowful of
men. He is the most exalted and glorious of all beings.
He is the best of all friends he is the most tremendous
"

of

all

enemies

is

his

name."

" As
"He

is

the chiefest

And

and altogether lovely."

shall ever seek, or trust in.

alone,

Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts

for our

Holy Ghost,

in

this

among
is

ten thousands,

the only Saviour I

Guide me to him, and to him

whom my soul confides, in all

things.

PRAYER.
Lord, open mine eyes,
ness, I

may

ral insensibility

of

Let the

Saviour.

that,

my

heart,

terrors of thy law, sent in

reach this obdurate heart, and

ment.

being brought out of dark-

Leave me not to the natuand utter indifference about a

discern the truth.

make me

mercy,

Lord,

afraid of the judg-

ask not for smooth things to be prophesied to me

O Lord, let thy law send its flash of
deceit.

nor things of
conviction

not from

my heart, even as it proceeded

on Mount Sinai. Searcher of hearts,

into

thy presence

me

the worst of

my

condition.

from
hide

Scatter the fatal

delusions which encompass a sinner's soul, and heart. Let

the irresistible flash of thy law's light, reveal every hidden

sin

and every

idol within the

19

lurkings, and windings of

OUR SUBSTITUTE

214

my

And

deceitful heart.

rible,

feeling as

and soul-ruining nature of

to the

work of seeking

ought

and

the one, only,

do, the ter-

to

me

sin, stir

Lord,

up,

ali-sufiicient Sa-

viour.

am

I confess before thee that I

who comes merely

as a teacher,

convinced

and

to set

no one,

that

an example,

were he even from God, and were he even to seal his testimony with his blood, as a martyr, can ever be my Re-

mere instruction brings no

satisfaction to the urgent claims of thy divine law, and jusMere instruction from the holiest of thy prophets, on
tice.
Lord,

deemer.

the

mount of

throne, to

I believe that

guilty

heart, to enable

me

the dead.

guilt

and no new principle

Lord.

to return to thee,

Mere

my God

and misery,

need one

me

the throne of justice, and

to the

am

dead

life,

nor divine grace

need more than a teacher.

"

teaching can never raise

Persuasion can send no

into the heart.

my

soul

and trespasses."

in sins

In

can bring no pardon from thy

inspiration,

my

stand up between

to

to satisfy for the

need one who

overwhelm-

man,
ransom me by his own blood and one who can add an
infinite worth and merit, to his interposition on my behalf,
I need a Saviour of boundless comas the Son of God.
infinite
power.
Such a Saviour alone can
of
and
passion
deliver from going down to the pit. Such a Saviour alone can
ing claim against me.

to

is

the son of

conquer every

foe,

which

fills

my Redeemer

despair.

my

soul with distraction,

reveal thyself to

me

and

as the only

one who can stand up between the throne of the consumand who can lay thy hand on both
ing fire of divine purity
;

parties,

Man

on God,

as the

Son of God

on man, as

the

Son

and mediate peace between us. 0, thou Son of

God, and Son of Man have mercy upon me. Thou only
Thou only art my Saviour. There
canst be my Saviour.
of

are lords

many, and gods many.

am

from thee under the strong delusions of

prone

my

to

wander

corrupt nature.


HIS QUALIFICATIONS.

Great and blessed teacher

lead

me

215

to the foot of the cross

him bleed and die

I hear his last
It is finished !
words,
Lead me to the throne of his grace
in heaven.
There he is a priest upon his throne. There
he makes intercession for us.
This is my only Saviour.
And none in earth, none in heaven, shall divide the crown
with him.
On thy head, blessed Redeemer " are many
crowns." I crown thee Lord of all, with all my heart, and
of Christ

there I see

with

all

my soul. And now, Triune God accept, I humbly

my person, and services for Jesus Christ's
!

beseech thee,
sake.

"Our Father who

art in

heaven," &c.

CHAPTER

XIV.

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST OUR ONLY SURETY

MET ALL THE REQ,UISITIONS OF LAW, AND

HE FULLY

"

JUSTICE.

True image of the Father whether throned

bosom of bliss, and light of light
Conceiving; or, remote from Heaven, inshrined
;

In the

In fleshly tabernacle, and

Hail

dueller of Satan

Now

human

Son of the Highest,

enter,

On

and begin

thy glorious

to

work

save mankind

Milton

Every thing requisite

form,

heir of both worlds,

!"

Paradise

Regained.

to sustain the office of our substitute

In him

is fulfilled the prediction, on

which the eyes of the church were fixed in all generations.
He was "the child born," as well as "the Son given :"
is

found in Christ.

is the son of man, born of the Virgin

our near kinsman, " our flesh, and our blood." He is the only begotten
Son of God, equal in glory, and every attribute of divi-

he

nity with the Father.

less.

with his divine nature,

formation, by the

moment by
from

Hence, he was without

When he assumed human

its

itself,

earliest

it

Holy

spot,

and

nature, in mysterious

was done at the

Hence,

Spirit.

and apart from

first

as

it

moment

sin-

union
of

its

existed not a
it was
Hence, it

his divine person,

existence always his nature.

JESUS CHRIST OUR ONLY SURETY.

was not represented by Adam,

descendants, by
not sin in

Adam, nor

no original

guilt,

the federal

ordinary generation.
fall

in him.

It

For

nor depravity.

head of

It,

presented to our faith as "

is

undefiled, the separated

The

all

his

therefore, did

partook, therefore, of
the Great

Saviour, could not be represented by man.

he

217

God, our

Accordingly

holy, the harmless, the

from sinners; and made higher

than the heavens."

Moreover, being the Son of God, by eternal filiation,

and being equal with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, he is
-the absolute possessor, and lord of his own life, as Son of
Man. Hence, " he had the power to lay down his life
;

and power

to take

it

as our substitute, he
the appointed time,

And

again."

made

being thus

his appearance

and entered on

fully qualified

in our world at

his glorious

work,

the

achievement of our redemption.

.As our substitute, he

First

the Father, a

human

officially

presented to

God

nature of spotless purity.

This was
the first part of the oblation required of him.
This he did
when he presented himself to the Law of God, " and re-

stored that which he took not away." Psalm Ixix. 4.

This
he did when he " engaged his heart to draw near to God :"
and when for our sakes " he sanctified himself," and thereby
set

"

himself apart to the accomplishment of his suretyship.

Lo

come," cried

is

is

and cheering
volume of the book it

he, in the voice of love

" Lo come
written of me,
within my
thy law
Second He pledged
assurance,

in the

O my God

I delight to

do thy

will,

heart."

Psalm

xl. 8, 9.

yea,

his power, and honour, to restore

ransomed to the pure and holy nature which they had
lost.
This he makes manifest by the word of his assurance, and from the evidence of facts. Here are his pledges.
" The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart, to love the
Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul."
A new heart
will I give you
and a new spirit will I
all

the

19*

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

218

" The

put within you."

"

When he

change our

shall appear,

God of peace
we

body, that

vile

it

shall be like

may be

you wholly."
him." " He will

sanctify

fashioned like unto his

glorious body."*

And

the facts, in confirmation of this, are written in in-

delible characters in the heart of every soul that is born

of

God, and made a new creature.

Third

He rendered a

The

law.

honoured and sustained.

destroy the law

"

My

meat

finish his

perfect obedience to God's holy

claims of the broken and insulted law he

is to

" Think not

come not

that I

to

to destroy the law, but to fulfil."

do the will of him that sent

His whole

work."

fully

am come

was in

soul

me

and

this service

to

his

whole heart was in perfect accordance with the divine will,

and law. He never erred he never faltered in the line of
:

His Father's will received his supreme, and undiHis love, his zeal, and devotion in all
vided homage.
things, were sustained in unwavering perfection to the close
duty.

of his wonderful career.

requirement.

He

He never

fell

short in the strictest

never failed in a duty to God, or man.

Every thought, every

affection, every

desire,

every word,

every prayer, every action, was precisely in place, and in

due season, and came

fully up to perfection of the divine

Every principle from which the thought and action
every motive for which they were rensprung, was holy
His
dered up to the law, was spotless as his pure soul.
whole life was one unwavering exhibition of all holiness

law.

and of all the virtues without. What love, and

What condescension, and
and devotion toward God
What forbearcompassion, and benevolence toward man

within,
piety,

ance, and pity, and forgiveness toward enemies

Reproach

broke his heart; while not a murmur escaped his

*

Deut. XXX.

Phil.

iii.

21.

6.

Ezek. xxxvi. 26.

Thes.

v. 23.

John

lips.

iii.

2.

OUR ONLY SURETY.

When

219

When the lips

When insulted

he was reviled, he reviled not again.

of rebels cursed, he pitied, and blessed.

and abused by Jews and Romans, he was ever ready

When

display acts of good-will.

of

his, cut off the ear

of one of his enemies, he courteously

and by miraculous power healed the wound.

interfered,

When

Jerusalem persisted in rejecting the Messiah, he

wept over

When

it.

the murderers were

hands in his blood, he cried

for they
this

know

out,

" Father,

not what they are doing

!"

imbruing

their

forgive them,

And

in closing

how

hallowed oblation of his obedience unto death,

and instructive was his appeal in the extremity of

affecting,

his agonies,
I

to

the fiery zeal of a servant

" And, now. Holy Father, come

have glorified thee on the earth

unto thee

have finished the

WORK which thou GAVEST ME TO DO."

And his Father set the eternal seal of his

approbation on
This he did, when responding
our Lord's solemn appeal,
" Father, glorify thy name,^^

this
to

obedience of his Son.

came a

there

voice in thunder from heaven, saying,

have both glorified

This he

did,

it

once, and I will glorify

it

when, in the matchless agony of his

"

again."

sufferings,

an angel from heaven strengthening him

This he did, when he burst the barrier of the tomb, and led
This he did when
forth the prince of life from the dead.
there appeared

he placed him as Mediator on the throne of supremacy, and

crowned him Lord of

all

So complete, and

perfect

was

the active obedience of our substitute.

Fourth

He

justified his character, as our substitute,

by

giving surety for the perfect obedience of all the ransomed.

Let

it

be distinctly remembered that our Redeemer bound

make

himself to

as to deliver us
hell.

us an obedient, and holy people, as well

from the curse of law, and the pains of

His obedience

to the divine

law was not designed to

supersede the necessity of our obedience to God.

contrary,

it

secured

it.

For,

it is

On

the

just as certain that Christ

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

220
^'

left

we

us an example, that

certain that

is

''

should follow his steps," as

it

he redeemed us from the curse of the law

by being made a curse

of the Father and

for us."

Son

was as much the object

It

in the everlasting convention

grace, to secure our holiness, as

was

it

of

to secure our escape

was as

cer-

tainly in the purpose of the Father in sending his Son,

and

from the wrath impending on guilty rebels.

It

of the Son in coming into our world, to secure our personal

holiness,
the

and

final perfection

as

it

was

to

ransom us from

Let us never

punishment of the second death.

forget,

Lord entered upon his work with

the full purpose of making us holy, as well as of setting us
Hence, his intercessory prayer at
free from death, and hell.
" For their sakes I sanctify myself, that
the brook Kidron,
therefore, that our blessed

may be sanctified through the truth." And accor"he gave himself for us, that he might redeem us

they also
dingly,

from

and purify

iniquity,

all

to himself a peculiar people,

ii. 14.
And he presents all
" holy, unblameable, andunreproveable

zealous of good works." Titus

the

ransomed

at last,

in the Father's sight." Col.

And,

22.

i.

in demonstration of the

words of his assurance, we

We

have the visible fruits of his power.

saints walking with him,

beauties of holiness.

and with each

And

in

see around us the

other, in the lovely

vast assembly of the

the

we shall see the final consummation of

Each one of the saints in heaven, on
pledged work.

church triumphant,
his

his throne, with his robe, his sceptre,

glory, is there, in

Lamb.

spotlessly holy, in the blood of the

Fifth

There was another

atonement

He
this

and

and his diadem of

consequence of being washed, and made

that,

also,

branch in the great work of

our

substitute accomplished.

gave satisfaction to divine justice.

was

essentially necessary in

atonement.

It

was impossible

order to his being a Saviour.

that
It

We

have seen that

order to complete

God

the

could be unjust, in

was impossible

that he

221

OUR ONLY SURETY.

could allow law, justice, and his divine government to be

and treated with mockery, and successIt was impossible that he should pronounce
the law and its penalty, and yet never visit on the head of
the guilty, the appalling consequences of breaking this most
holy law, and incurring this terrible penalty. It was imtrampled under foot

ful rebellion.

God

possible that Almighty

should be always repeating this

and always enforcing

law,

same

this penalty

own

time, always trifling with his

and

at

the

faithfulness,

and

yet,

power.

Hence,

there is a weight,

which Christ's satisfaction

is

holy revelations of heaven

and clearness of evidence with

brought forward in the high and
which

altogether unequalled.

is

Every divine passage which alludes to him as our substitute,

reveals him in the most positive and unequivocal terms,

He

as the great saaijicial substitute.

the church, as a priest,

between the devouring

fire

He

had

all

is

set

forth

before

the great high priest, standing up

of justice, and his church.

the requisities of our high priest.

He

pos-

sessed the real, and the proper matter of a sacrifice in his

human

nature.

It

was

real

complete and perfect, as

the

he possessed human nature,

Adam was

hand of his Maker.

It

in Paradise, fresh from

was the proper material

it

was

Moreover, being the eternal

without spot, and blameless.

Son of God, he was, as we said before, the sovereign Lord

and absolute disposer of his own life. He had the right
and the power, to lay down his life and the right, and the
power to take it up again. And his divine nature was the
;

altar

on which he

of his sacrifice.

and rendered

it

laid

And

down

this

accepted

so, the altar

consecrated his sacrifice, and

fore his Father,

pure and spotless offering

as the altar consecrated the sacrifice,

made

of our Lord's divinity

it

of infinite worth be-

and our Father.

Being thus prepared and consecrated, he stood forth, and

This was done
justice.

assumed our place before law and

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

222
by a

God the Judge, and the cheerful consent

God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,

judicial act of

"

of the Son.

made under
law."

redeem them

the law, to

And
" Lo

that

were under the

as he approached us in this mission,

he cried

my God !"
come, I delight to do thy will,
And accordingly he " redeemed us from the curse of the
law, being made a curse for us." Psalm xl. 8. Gal. iv. 13.
These expressions make it manifest that there was a real
out,

exchange of persons on our

mercy

lifted

The arms

behalf.

us up from the terrible

fires

of divine

of law, and uncom-

and before them, burning in all their

Judge placed Christ. He took our place.
He gave body for body, and soul for soul. " He was made
under the law he was made a curse for us." The just was

promising justice

intensity, the

put in the place of the unjust.

The
was

strictly

Pet.

iii.

and

legally this

namely, a real transfer

OF OUR GUILT UPON OUR SUBSTITUTE.

under the law

were bound
gally his,

IS.

of this exchange of persons by substitution,

result

to

for us

and occupying

meet the claims of

For, being

made
who

the place of those

was leassumed the

justice, our guilt

by his voluntary assumption.

He

Hence, being his, in law, it

debt.
It was actually his.
was charged, or imputed unto him. The consequence was,
that he was treated before the throne of impartial justice, as
This allif he had contracted these sins, as his own debt.
important and peculiar gospel doctrine is clearly demonstrated

from these proofs.

We

direct your attention to the Old Testament

Nothing can be conceived more manifest than the
There was the victim presented
doctrines therein set forth.
There was the priest presenting
without spot, and blemish.
the victim. There was the solemn confession of sins on the
head of the victim, which had none of its own. There was,

First

sacrifices.

in consequence of this transfer of guilt, the stroke of death

inflicted

on the victim

after

this

typical transfer.

There

OUR ONLY SURETY.

was the
altar

fierce

which consumed the

fire

on the

sacrifice

while in one unique part of the great whole, the

scape-goat

the measure of representation.

filled .up

mate was consumed,

its

223

it

was

let

While
go into the wilderness,

bearing the sins of the people.

" These were shadowgr of things

to come," says the Holy

These types had an antitype. And that was no
than "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of

Spirit.

less

The victim was put in the sinner's place. So

The victim suffered, but not for itself. So
Lord die, the just for the unjust. The victim

the world."

was our Lord.

did our

away the sins of

Our Lord took away our

the people

carried

clearly

into a land

unknown.
So

sins into the land of oblivion.

were the worshippers of the ancient church taught

the grand, essential, most solemn doctrines of substitution,

exchange of person, transfer of

See Heb.

x.

Second

guilt,

and

real

This

is

He

the gospel.

"

was bruised

for

taught very clearly in the doctrines of

was wounded

our iniquities

for our transgressions

;

the transgressions of

make

be sin, that

Third

is,

own body on the

we

"

" For
" Thou

He himself bore

" God made him

tree."

sin offering for us,

he

healed."

all."

people was he stricken."

an offering for sin."

his soul

our sins in his

my

chastisement of our

the

peace was upon him

and by his stripes are
" Jehovah has laid upon him the iniquities of us

shalt

atonement.

119.

who knew no

to

sin."*

There are certain

facts in our Lord's life, and

which are inexplicable on any other supposition,
than those of substitution and atonement.
:

his decease,

It is

fact, that

the divine law.

body, the pains of

Hear

his

words

our Lord yielded a perfect obedience to

a fact, that he suffered in his soul

and
and the accursed death of the cross.
" My soul is troubled." " My soul is

It is

hell,

* Isaiah

liii.

2 Cor.

v.

21.

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

224

"

exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death."

My

God,

My

why hast thou forsaken me 1"

Now, beyond controversy the law had no claims on our
" God manifest in the flesh" could owe no debt of
Lord.
But " he was made under the law." Hence, as
obedience.
this could not be for his own account, it must have been for
Being made under the law, he did
us, as our substitute.

God

give the most cheerful, and exact obedience.

not be without an

on

own

his

object

and as

personal account,

it

it

This could

could not possibly be

must, of course, have been

given in our name, and on our behalf.

In

like

manner, he owed no debt of punishment

for

him-

In the exact government of God, no innocent and

self.

spotless being can be

subjected to punishment.

But, true

he did actually suffer the shameful, and most painful

death of the cross, and the pains of hell itself. Hence, he must
that

it is,

laid to his charge.

have had sin

For, as

we have

less
spot,

all

For

his sorrows,

and agonies must have been for our sins.

and death could not have been in vain.

his agonies,

all

This
Lord's

the only solution of these

is
life,

and

inexplicable

and without cause, or reason.

own

Such

and

fact

in our

of his

his sacrificial death for us, they are utterly

could not have been in vain

that the pure

phenomena

Unless we admit the

and decease.

substitution,

his

seen, a

can never be subjected to punishment, far

And, inasmuch as he had no
to the pains of hell.
guilt
on him, on his own account,
stain
of
nor even

sinless being

sinless

For, as these

so neither can

Redeemer

we suppose

suffered as a sinner

on

personal account.
is

the

And

work of our Redeemer.

here

let

us no-

tice the names by which it is made known to us.

because it opens up a chanIt is the Reconciliation,

nel to divine

mercy

to flow to the chief

brings us near to God, by removing

away from him,

in a state of terror,

of sinners

and

it

which kept us
shame, and hatred.
all

that

OUR ONLY SURETY.

because

Redemption,

It is

it

226

was

payment

the full

of the ransom price of our deliverance from

and cap-

guilt,

tivity.

is

It is the

Satisfaction.

death.

And we were

"Thou

substitute, took our place

and thereby made

called

up to the
tive

is a debt
the wages of sin
bound to pay this debt, and
and truth, and justice could not

God's law,

die the death.

allow us to be free.

It is

Sin

satisfaction

this

Christ's

and passive,

to

shalt surely die."

Christ, our

he poured out his soul unto death

for us.

Righteousnkss,

measure of a

full

held

right

because

it

and perfect obedience

law and justice.

The word

came
;

ac-

rendered

righteousness, literally signifies Justice.

This is highly
and expressive. For our Redeemer's substitution,
finished work render equal and full justice to all

beautiful,

and

his

parties,

to law, to justice, to equity, to

attributes.

And

it is

an

each of the divine

act of justice to Christ,

and

to

each

of his ransomed, that they should be justified, sanctified,

and

glorified through his blood.

It exhibits, in

every point

and most splendid triumph of justice,

ever displayed in the divine government.
of view, the

It is

fullest,

Christ's

Atonement, and Propitiation,

because

met, and fully answered,

and honoured every claim

against men.
Hence, divine justice is pacified: and God
is now propitious to us.
The word atonement signifies in
the original, a covering.
Christ made a covering for us
to hide us from justice, and the curse of the law.
This covering is his blood.
Being sprinkled, and " covered" with
it

his blood, that

is,

not consume us.

gave

for

us.

with his atonement, the divine wrath canIt

When

honour of law and

has accepted that which our

Redeemer

the Father, as judge, sustaining the

justice, looks

on

us,

under

this

"cover-

ing," he sees us covered with the righteousness of his

well beloved Son, our

Redeemer.

not go forth against the substitute

20

own

And, as his anger canany more, who has made

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

226

an ample and accepted atonement

forth against us

when under

It is called Christ's

so,

Merits,

because, by

obtained eternal redemption for us."

own

purchased the church with his

Suretyship,

It is called his

of the

debts due from us,

fatal

no more can

go

it

the hiding of his righteousness.

Heb.

because

"he
"

12.

He

Acts xx. 28.

blood."

and

his blood
ix.

it is

paid by

the

payment

him

as " the

on our behalf.
because he ofIt is Christ's Sacrifice and Offering,
His
fered himself up a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice.
human nature was the sacrifice required for us. His divine
surety of the better covenant,"

which consecrated the whole service,

as, indeed, the atonement

nature was the

altar,

and rendered

of infinite value,

it

of Christ, like

moral work of God, must of

every other

necessity be.
Finally,

it is

called

the Blood of Jesus Christ.

This

most common, as well as the most solemn, and impressive name by which it is spoken of in the New TestaAnd it necessarily conveys to us this strong and
ment.

is

the

consolatory idea, namely,

The

unlimited pecfectness

Because, the shedding of his

of our Lord's atonement.

blood was the closing, and highest act of his perfect obedience,

the

full

and complete consummation of his

ous obedience, sufferings,

And

let

vicari-

and death.

us accept the consolation arising out of the com-

plete evidence,

atonement.

and testimony of the perfection of our Lord's

First

Father, given, 1st,

We have

upon

the divine approbation of the

the Son's public entrance

work, when a voice from heaven declared,

beloved Son, in

whom

am

well pleased."

upon

" This
And

2d,

is

his

my

when,

through the blood of the everlasting covenant, the Father

brought him from the dead.

high approbation

atonement.

And

This put the

seal of heaven's

and the evidence of perfection on the

it

set

it

before the church, and the world,

OUR ONLY SURETY.

227

in the demonstration of his fullest approbation,

and accept-

ance.

Second

We have

when he

1st,

the testimony of the

uttered the

solemn appeal

have finished the work which thou gavest

when
" It

in

finished

is

!"

3d,

church, he ascended from

ble heavens, into

there to

Third
1st,

make

We

when

tude

to

Mount

"I

do."

2d,
out,

in the presence of his

Olivet through these visi-

" the holy of holies, not made with hands,"

continual intercession for us.

have the testimony of the Holy Ghost.

miraculous

of his

when

came down

he

me

dying hour, he cried

of his

victory

the

Son of God,

to his Father,

Pentecost, in the pleni-

at

gifts,

and cures.

2d,

in con-

tinuing these in the church during a long period, until

was

Christianity

evidence

fully established

in the world

and the

of the holy Scriptures entirely completed.

in his continuous,

3d,

and uninterrupted application of the

blood of Christ to sinners

in his convincing, converting,

renewing, and sanctifying his people from

all siii

and in

guiding them to eternal glory.

Had

the atonement of Christ not been

no one of

accepted,

perfect,

and not

these munificent displays of God's

all

love, and rich grace had ever taken place.

Had the atonement of Christ not been complete, and accepted, there would
have been no gospel of the grace of God; no Sabbath day;
no house of worship no solemn prayer, and praise no
ministry
no baptism no Holy Supper of the Lord no
conversions
no salvation
no triumphant death
no
no peace no heaven no immortal glory
christian hope
With the extinction of the atonement would have
for men
;

been quenched the Sun of Righteousness in our firmament

and with that had perished the last ray of hope, and immortality to man.
Death would have been a horrid introduction to everlasting woe.

And

Satan and his angels would

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

228

have revelled, with infernal and horrid malignity, over the

and

entire,

Such

is

eternal ruin of the

the

human

species

atonement of Christ.

met and honoured

It

every legitimate claim against us.

We

have not noticed, here,

from

us

delivering

his

power of Satan, the world, and sin and from

This he effectually does
the fears, and the power of death.
in the work of our sanctification, and by the blessed resur-

the usurped

These will be noticed

rection from the dead.

in their place.

aUESTIONS.
Did Christ
ed of him

fulfil all

the relations,

and predictions record-

Give the proofs ?

he the Son of Man ?
he the Son of God ? Give the proofs 1
As our substitute, what did he first of all ? Explain

Was
Was

What
What

Was

did he next, as our substitute

did he next

Explain, and

his obedience accepted of

Give us the

Did

and

proof,

Christ give

full

Did he give

Was

Was
this

this

Proof?

Explain

satisfaction to divine justice

a.

proper sacrifice

strictly

God?

a vicarious

Enu-

to this.

Was

a real, and proper sacrifice?

it

this.

a holy people to

illustration of this.

merate the most prominent testimony

Proof?

this.

this.

illustrate this.

God

What did he next, as our substitute

Did Christ undertake to present us

Explain

it

real?

Proof?

atonement

of

Proofs

Was
Was

there a real

him

guilt to

WhsLt

The
The

exchange of persons,

there, then, in

is

consequence, a

Christ

for us

real transfer

Proofs of this important Gospel truth

the first proof of the vicarious

atonement ?

second proof?
third proof?

Rehearse these testimonies.

of our
?

229

OUR ONLY SURETY.

Did Christ owe any debt of obedience, and of punishment for himself? Yom* proof of this 1
Can those extraordinary events in the life, sufferings,
and death of

Christ, be accounted

for rationally,

other principle than that of a vicarious

atonement

on any

The first
Rehearse the names of Christ's finished work.
name? Why? The second? Why? The third? W^hy?
The fourth? Why?
The fifth n^Lxnel Why? The
sixth ?
Why ? The seventh name ? Why ? The eighth ?
Why ? The last name ? Why ?
Are
this

there

great consolations to distressed sinners

Name

the first

The

What would have been

second

The

the consequence,

third

had the atone-

ment of our Redeemer not been given, or, which

same thing, had it not been infinitely perfect by the

mony

of

God ?

Explain

this

in

is

the

testi-

Express frankly your views, your feelings, your

faith

on

this all-important doctrine.

MEDITATION.
"

Harps of eternity

begin the song.

Begin to God
Redeemed, and angel harps
Begin the anthem ever sweet, and new
While I extol him, holy, just, and good.
Harp lift thy voice on high. Shout, angels, shout
And loudest, ye redeemed glory to God
And to the Lamb, all glory and all praise,
Amen
Glory to God, and to the Lamb
For ever, and for evermore. Amen !"
!

POLLOK.

How

august the majesty, purity, and holiness of the go-

vernment of Almighty God

It is

never turned out of its way

by the rebellion of any created beings. The wheels of his

government move straight forward. There is nothing weak,
nothing crooked,
the

Most High.

nothing

defective in the

Righteous

20*

art

thou,

government of
God, in all

my

230

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

No

thy ways.
guilt

No

They who broke peace

can elude thy holiness.

are cast out,

Hence,

and are doomed

and cast myself in the dust

overwhelmed with the

my

crushed under

God

confess

fusion covers me.

it

infinite

my

There

Every

my shame

in

man

in

am
am

sin deserves

God

purity.

no help

is

tremble be-

father's family.

down

I lie

in heaven,

at thy feet.

guilt of original sin.

and curse of

the wrath

of

guilt

iniquity

everlasting punishment.

to

learn to fear thy terrible majesty.

fore thee

No

treason can flourish in thy vast empire.

can escape the visitations of thy justice.

I feel

my

it.

con-

In the hour of darkness, and overwhelming despair,

me in
my God

saw a door of hope opened

1

saw thy hand open it,

I wept with

adored thee.

One.

my

joy.

saw thee hastening

to

saw

my

I felt

thy mercy, and

thee,

most Mighty

deliverance.

My

guilt

saw

vileness rose like a mountain to crush me.

thy Eternal

Son presenting himself

a one stand up for

me

the living, and the dead

None

plague?

seen him.

Lamb

of

for

Oh

me.

but a sinless one can do

Thou

can such

Can such a one stand between

Can he be willing to stay the
it.

have loved, and adored him.

God

the valley of trouble.

to

art

the glorious

Lo

have

O, thou sinless

who
Thou art all
Thou hast preThou didst offer
substitute

bringest with thee a pure and spotless nature.

I

My

want.

sented

body

substitute

for body,

My

human

a perfect

and soul

Saviour

nature for me.

for

soul.

was presented

It

and

fully accepted.

But, in the bitter sorrows of

cried out,
ties?

"

Is he able

overpowering

lay his

Son of God,

Yes,

my

as well as the son of

supreme lord of thy own

hadst power to lay

down

life

thy

par-

the Father,

and

Redeemer, thou

man.

as the son of

life,

guilt, I

hand on both

Can he mediate peace between God

miserable guilty sinners?"

the

my

Can he

art

Thou

art the

man.

Thou

and thou hadst power

to

OUR ONLY SURETY.

take

And

up again.

it

and thou

didst take

thou didst lay

down

up again by thy

my Redeemer
I adore
O my Redeemer!

I love thee,

And

it

didst thou,

231
thy

own

us

life for

divine power.

thee with

all

my

soul.

also give a pledge to

thy Father, and thy ransomed ones, that each of us should

from thy bleeding love, a new and holy

infallibly receive

nature too
following
justice,

even

That

it

suretyship thy Father did accept.

death,

the dreadful,

Justice uttered

cross.

Our

just

Judge

is

and accursed death of the

" It is finished !"

acceptance.

its

didst thereby, reconcile

earth.

all

things in heaven, and in

Angels now love

our best friend.

and mingle with us in affectionate services.

us,

In

thou didst meet, and honour every claim of

and of law, by a sinless obedience, and by sufferings

to the

Thou

out,

The stern-

Almighty One, who demanded vengeance, are now pacified, and are our protectors, and now deest attributes of the

mand

crown

the

what severity

love, divine

for us.

What

and boundless

goodness, and mercy beyond

all

con-

What grandeur of divine majesty

What puriWhat an intensity of glory thrown around thy everlasting throne
my divine and adored Redeemer thou
hast conquered all our enemies.
Thou hast secured to us

ception
ty

the

consummation of all blessings. Thy triumph is comglorious Redeemer

And our victory is complete

plete,

in

Thee

O unexampled love!
Love nowhere to be found less than divine
Hail, Son of God
Saviour of men
Thy name
!

my song
shall my harp thy

Shall be the copious matter of

Henceforth

Forget

and never

praise

nor from thy Father's praise disjoin

!"

Milton.

Accept the adoration of

my

whole

supreme and exalted Redeemer.

heart,

and

soul,

Accept the homage of

my
my

232

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

and

lips,

all

mage of my
that

in

humble

long to be

my

God,

for ever

that ever I

life

and

Blessed be the
ever be

I shall for

In the mansions of the ran-

see thee as thou art

I shall

and in

thine.

was born

with thee, Dear Redeemer.

somed,

Accept the poor hoblessed Redeemer,

offerings.

Thou knowest,
my
I am thine wholly

life.

love thee.

death,

Lord

their

face to face

thou

and adored object of the devotion of my soul. I

love thee as I ought, in that bright and sinless world,

beloved,
shall

ever hearing ever drinking

Blessed be
Blessed be thy name
ever heard of
thy name
Blessever was born again, and made a new
my God, Father, Son, and Holy
ings ever be
heaever and ever " Our Father who
Ghost,
ever beholding

thee,

thee,

in rapturous love from thy presence, for ever

thee

that I

that

creature

to thee,

for

art in

Amen.

ven," &c.

PRAYER.

my God What shall I render to thee

To thy gracious interposition I owe
!

cies

for all thy

it,

my

mer-

compas-

Redeemer that I am not with the doomed spirits in

Lord my God thou hast healed me. Thou hast
When there was
brought up my soul from the lowest hell.
no hand to help me, and no eye to pity, thou didst stand up
sionate

prison.

for us, in the

passing

all

lious angels.

sequences

shown
er,

Thou

Thou,

mercy.

didst leave

of their sin.

all this

sovereign love, sur-

convention of peace.

thought

God,

didst pass

them

by the rebel-

to all the fearful

con-

But, to our fallen race, thou hast

Thy

beloved Son,

assumed our place before the

fiery

presented himself as our substitute.

my dear RedeemHe

throne of justice.

He

brought with him

and the victim, in the same most holy and divine

He ofBlessed for ever and ever, be his name.
person.
This the law
fered a perfect and spotless humanity for us.
the altar,

233

OUR ONLY SURETY.

required us to do.

Lo

wisdom,

boundless mercy

^here thy

Lord, here

thy matchless

is

pure nature, he glorified the law, and magnified

up amid the lightning and devouring

was

sacrifice

on

offered

Blessed be thy name,

He

Lord,

my salvation, and

covenant are

all

of divine justice.

fires

my God,

complete

this

for

Lord,

This,

The terms of the new

and made good. And all the

my

fully satisfied,

desire.

precious blessings of thy love are confirmed to us.

my God,

thy justice,

crowned with

my

which

ed such divine honours.

adore

Redeemer has

faithful

law on which he has lavish-

I love thy

glory.

all

stood

the altar of his divine nature.

atonement, given by our divine substitute.

is all

this

before

it

intelligent beings, by his most holy obedience.

The

In

displayed.

is

rejoice in thy divine govern-

ment, which our righteous Redeemer has made exceedingly

glorious in the eyes of

my

Saviour.

am

all

of being made holy as thou

away

all

holy beings.

Thy faithfulness

art holy.

the pollution of our sin, as well as

I rejoice in the order, the beauty,

ment,

divine Majesty

in

glory,

all its

quered in thy

and unfading honours

and

shall

soul,

be under

and body.

My

its

the

full

I rejoice that

heart leaps with joy within me, at the

my

reigning Saviour.
I

Perfect

long to have

art all

as thou art holy.

I

am righteous. And thou, my blessmy righteousness. I long to be holy

my exalted
By thy blood, and Spirit,

evidence that

Redeemer,

when

cease, for

never more interrupt the

Lord, thy work of grace in me.

ed Redeemer,

it

Al-

blessed sway, in the perfection of

prospect of being ever with

then,

shall

my

and con-

all evil,

lovely order, peace, and glory of thy reign

I shall ever

thou,

of our enemies

and the world, and Satan, and death

power,

takes

our guilt.

all

hope of seeing

when

down

final triumphs, the last

ever, to have

God

and power of thy govern-

I exult in the

mighty Redeemer, shalt have put

sin,

rejoice in

transported with delight at the thought

obtain the cleansing of sanctification.

long

234
to

JESUS CHRIST OUR ONLY SURETY.

be strong, and complete for thy service.

ciful

am

and interceding High

Priest, art

Thou

complete only in thee.

are

all

my

Thou,

my

in

all

mer-

strength.

for

all.

my God.
for more pumore meekness, and heavenly mindedwhen shall I be made like thee, my dear and

higher and holier views of thee,

rity

of heart

ness.

for

blessed Saviour

When shall I have strength to subdue

When shall I reach the measure of

every remaining sin

the fulness of Christ

wicked way.
pollution,

I hate rebellion,

I deplore the

which keeps

me

guilt of

far

and every false, and

my

sin.

from thee, and

far

abhor

its

from the

O my loving Redeemer When shall

When shall I come up to thee, my
God, in the beauties of holiness 1 When shall I be satisfied
with thy likeness ?
When shall I awake to see thee ? The
entrance of my divine substitute, in the hour of his exalta-

purity of thy image,

I

be perfectly clean

tion, into the

heaven of heavens,

I shall also enter there,

nature,

O my

is

the sure guarantee that

and be with him

in

my

perfected

by the gracious power of the Holy Ghost.

blessed

are, I shall

God

in the bright world where the

render thee, the

full tribute

There,

ransomed

of glory, and honour,

without weakness, without languor, without interruption, for

ever

Glory

to

our sins in his

the

Holy Ghost,

heaven," &c.

Him who
own
in

blood
all

Amen.

loved us, and washed us from

!

Glory be tothe Father, and

eternity

^'

Our Father who

art

to

in

CHAPTER

XV.

OF REGENERATION.
" Verily, verfly, I say unto you, except a man be born of water,
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That
which is born of the flesh, is flesh: that which is born of the Spirit,

Jesus Christ.

is spirit."

The

next subject of inquiry would be,

partakers of this righteousness

fore

God

gift

is

How

are

to speak of the

this

new

to

are dead in sins,

show

to be the

that

It

is

summed

and trespasses."

man must

creature, before he

Our Lord has

heaven.
it

" They

need not stop

thence a

work of Rege-

need not here repeat what has been said of the

condition of every soul of Adam's family.

justified be-

an important inquiry which naturally prewe can be justified, we must have the

This leads us

faith.

neration.

up in

we made

are

we

Before

this.

of

How

But there
cedes

be made

alive,

And
and

can enter the kingdom of

settled this point.

He has

fundamental law of his kingdom,

declared

that,

unless

he be born again, he never can enter heaven.

This

is

founded in the very nature of things, and con-

Unless we have the new

we can no more enter heaven

firmed by universal experience.

heart,

and the sanctified

soul,


236

OF REGEINERATION.

nor mingle with the holy inhabitants there, nor enjoy the
beatific vision of

God, than a

formed

creature,

We

We

down
OF God Almighty.

IS

lay

creature can

create.

own

his

and made new

are regenerated,

alone.

heart.

this primitive

" Of

No

God

by

God

All

life

creatures,

principle,

are

things."

all

Adam

fallen child of

on

live

to

the dry land, can live in the depths of the ocean

No

can renew

recur to the elemental principle,

" All

of God."
Can any man impart, by human power,
any kind of life 1 Let him make the experiment. I hold
up before you this flower it is dead it has been cut off
from its parent stock and has lain withering in the dust.
life is

Who

can impart

and powers

Who

life

to

and put

can impart

Let

it ?

man

life to that

do

all

his ingenuity

Every mouth

dead flower?

None

no created being can do it.

of power to do it.
Thou, alone,
shut

exert

forth all the efforts of the philosopher.

is

put in their plea

Almighty God! canst

it.

I direct

you
ing.

your attention to that lamb lying dead before

all its

Who

natural

members

can restore

combined power, and

Can

periment.

mighty God

life

arts

they do

of

it 1

canst give

are there

man

life

animal

this

to

alone

is

Let

awantall

the

be put forth in the ex-

No.

life to that

Thou, alone,

Al-

dead lamb.

Here is an infant laid out in its shroud, and coffin.

Every member is there. Life alone is wanting. Who can
restore life, and bring back the soul to that child 1
Let
man exert all his powers, and art can he raise it from the
dead ? No, no. Thou, alone,
Almighty God
canst
;

give

life to that

Now,

is

being.

vegetable life

in man's soul
that

human

man can

tend to give

There

give

life to

Is animal life

more precious than spiritual life

no comparison. It is impossible
the dead flower
and shall he pre-

is

life to

an immortal

soul,

more valuable than

dead in

its

sins?

spiritual life

There

OF REGENERATION.

no comparison.

is

can give

Is

impossible that man's exertions

it

the dead lamb,

life to

237

and can he

pretensions to create spiritual

life

in his

then

own

set

soul

forth

human life more valuable than spiritual life ? There

no comparison. Is it impossible that man can restore

Is
is

the dead infant,

life to

and can he then sustain

sions to restore spiritual

others

life to

his

own

his preten-

soul, or the souls of

Reason and universal experience,

no man can originate

The testimony
on

therefore, declare that

spiritual life.

of the Holy Scriptures

The

is

and deci-

full

dry bones remained dead and

moLord sent life and power of

motion into them. He alone makes us alive. He alone
He alone awakes us from the dead. He
creates us anew.
sive

this point.

tionless, until the Spirit of the

alone infuses a principle of

mind and
we discern spiritually
we hope we act as

into the whole

life

This being received by

heart.

us,

we reason we judge we desire

new creatures, possessed of a new life
;

even the

life

of God

in the soul.
I

am

not competent to conceive what this

Neither can

life is.

in

judge

my

spiritual

which per-

body, and moves, and animates my whole limbs.

movements I feel it I live I act. This is enough
;

confirm the fact of

life

new

life is,

my

vades

I see its

to

conceive what this

my

soul.

God.

This

I
is

me.

hope

enough

to

the

So,

life.

new

creature.

I believe

And

animal

I act as

I desire

spiritual life in

my

feel

repent

new

reason

I
;

I return to

confirm the existence of the

word of God speaks of

it

as

a thing as certain, and manifest in the spiritual world, as

animal

life

in the material world.

vigorous in the

mind when

reason,

It

has been

known

to

be

memory, and judgment

were apparently extinguished.*

An extremely aged

servaiit of

God had sunk

21

into such a

mental im-

OF REGENERATION.

238
This new

life

God conveys
These

pointed means.

seed

by his own ap-

word of

"We are born

mises, his ordinances.

ible

the soul,

to

are his

truth

pro-

his

again, not of corrupt-

but of incorruptible, even the word of God,

which by the gospel

preached unto us."

is

Peter

i.

23,

25.
The Holy Ghost is the divine author of this life. His
gospel is the instrument of life, in his omnipotent hand.

He

speaks by the gospel, and

The

it is

done.

result of this life, is a willingness to

do God's

will

and a power, and capacity to do what he enjoins on us.

There is no controversy as to the fact of man's having a
This no man
will, and a capacity, and power to obey God.

The difficulty has been in deciding where that will,

and power, and capacity do lie. We dissent from those
who lodge it in the mind, and will of the sinner, who is
" dead in trespasses and in sins." We have the power to
denies.

will,

and

But,

to do.

We are made alive

we are made alive
obedience.

both to

will,

Thus, as
ritual

it is

the fruit of the Spirit's renovation.

and we exercise a will to follow him

and we cheeriully yield him a cordial
God has declared this. " He worketh in us
and to do of his good pleasure."
:

in the case of natural life, so in the case of spi-

God gives us life, and carries forth this life into

Even so, we receive our spiritual life from God's

action.

children.

fore,"

Hi.?

favourite

" I do not

him.

said

he.

Even

the

He

!"

soul, as

Spiritual

much

bute thereof.

as

never, to

He

did

the early scenes of

not

know

his wife seemed a stranger to him.

lo

him,

He

life is

own

He

de-

One of the friends

"Do you know who the Lord Jesus

to

his

was not even recognized by

my recollection, saw you be-

have seen

her.

has been

my

"Oh! yes; know

very dear Saviour these fifty

instantly rallied, and replied,

Lord Jesus Christ.

years

grandchild

remember

near his bed then said

is 1"

little

know you;

clared that he did not

Christ

Even

he could remember nothing.

becility, that

youth had been effaced from his mind.

a positive reality in the very essence of the

any other inseparable and known

quality, or attri-

239

OF REGENERATION.
free grace

and by the Holy Spirit we carry

and the power

Now, among
tlie

prominent graces which flow

the

active energies of the spiritual

regeneration by the Holy Ghost,

knowledge

we
;

sins, of all kinds, issuing in a godly

horrence of
sion

it

in all its forms, a

in

distinctly recognize
faith to receive his

whole testimony, and, by a special appropriating

cept of Christ as our only Saviour

life.

forth

as the result of this

life,

discern the Lord Jesus

to

the will,

forth

obedience of the new

to act, in all the

act, to ac-

and repentance
sorrow for

meek and godly

and a universal reformation, and a pious

for all

an ab-

sin,

confes-

life.

aUESTIONS.
Having found

the Saviour,

and the atonement, what

is

the next subject of inquiry?

Can we

possess an interest in our Lord's righteousness

wn'thout faith

Can

faith exist in the

unregeneraie mind

Is regeneration essential to our salvation

Proof?

Explain

this

necessity.

By whom
God?

are

we

regenerated

State the grand principle

regeneration

is

Can any

Sum

on which

ourselves,

or

by

rests the proof that

there not a spiritual

The dead

life really

com-

life ?

Proof from

facts

and

flower?

illustration

from the dead lamb

The

facts, and observations.

Holy Scriptures on this ?
doctrine because there is a mys-

up the argument from these

is

creature originate

The proof and

dead infant

What

is

to the soul

observation.

By

by the power, and grace of God.

Li regeneration

municated

the testimony of the

Should we repudiate
tery in the principle of

this
life,

and

its

origin

OF RKGENERATION.

240

new and

Is not this

use of

means

What

the

is

Is there

this.

conveyed

spiritual

Proof of

'(

fruit,

this

new

or result of this

a power and

to the soul thereby

Can you prove

conveyed to us by the

life

that

God

Explain

life 1

a capacity, and a disposition

Explain

alone

this

new

the author of this

is

life?

'

to

What is the first moving principle in the new-born soul?

What is the next ? The next ?
Can you, after a close examination of yourself, venture
say that you are renewed in your mind by the Holy Spi-

rit ?

MEDITATION.
"

Eternal Spirit we confess,

And sing the wonders of thy grace;
Thy power conveys thy blessings down
From God the Father, and the Son.
!

Enlightened by thy heavenly ray,

Our

shades, and darkness turn to

We learn the meaning of thy

And

Had

Holy

the

tual death, I

me

in

the blind open their

own

dead light up the darkness of the tomb

natural life I cannot create.

the nobler

Jehovah,
forms.

and higher

art,

life

of

God

gives

eyes

can

life,

sinner regenerate himself!

of

spiri-

Had he

not

new

Can

to-

the

in

then, create

I,

in the soul

alone, the fountain of

praise to created beings.

How

God

sins and trespasses," create a

Impossible

state

Can the dead reNo, never. My

store their bodies to their departed souls

own

my

Lord.

never should have lived, nor moved

Can

ward him.

Spirit not visited

never had sought thee,

quickened me,

!"

Lord

find salvation in the

day

word,

all

sinner,

heart within

Thou,
its

varied

"dead

in

himself!

not his glory to another, nor his

He

never transferred to the crea-

OF REGENERATION.

power of creating

ture the
that

God

make

shoidd

And

241

is

even conceivable

it

the doing of an impossibility,

on our

part, the

condition of our receiving his free and sovereign

grace?

No we
;

We

man can

never wield

He

his

all

it.

And God's
The puny arm

hand.

he

thank God, that

God

ever sold.

are

gifts

grace, which

that

nothing.

sells

gives freely

But,

it

our part to use every

is

to obtain the proffered grace.

tent

own
And

can never be bought.

freely bestows,

none of

are not thrown

upon our own beggared resources.

helpless

creating power he retains in his

of

We

are under the dispensation of grace.

are not under the covenant of works.

man

lying at the pool.

will wait in patience,

pointed place.

and

I shall

means of God's wisdom,

I feel as
I

am

were an impo-

if I

utterly impotent.

in active perseverance at the ap-

be active in the use of all God's ac-

means of grace. I am passive in receiving of the

Almighty Creator, the new principle of spiritual life. My
Redeemer will pass by. The only Lord of life will send
credited

life

into

my

" dead"

eye upon him.

cry,

soul.

" God be merciful

impotent.

am

to

me, a sinner

in

my

!"

was Adam

The means

of grace are

hear the voice, and word of Christ,

even of the same divine One, who caused his voice

on the ears of the impotent man, and the

thered hand.

Oh

may

the

same

man

pany his word and means, and heal

invincible power which

me

I shall

severing in waiting

at the wells

in the use of

means, with what powers

the

were, thereby, to merit

my

to fall

with the wi-

accompanied his voice and word, and healed them

all

and

utterly

was the impotent man, or as

the withered hand.

possession.

dust,

am

as passive in regeneration as

in the hour of his creation, or as

was the man with

can only cast an imploring

can only throw myself in the

of salvation

salvation.

accom-

be as per-

and as
I

active

have, as

While my

if

entire

reliance for the final success, and triumph, shall be aolely

21*

242

OF REGENERATION.

Upon God's

And

free grace-

in regeneration,

and

ACTIVE in conversion,
from

my

all

self the

service

heart,"

the

graces,

aJl

making

errors

new

that

am

while I

my new

that is, in

in

is,

my

as active

that

is,

entirely passive

creation

in

be as

I shall

my God

turning to

"making

my-

to

in carrying out into active

and thence, by the proper evidence,

the possession of

sure to myself,

it,

who

man

as the

is

both willing and able to do

it,

God

the necessary powers and capa-

the

cities to

God
of

new

so,

grave."

it

is

obey him precisely as Lazarus

only difference
case,

all

My
by Christ's invincible grace, and love.
on me " to awake from the dead, and come out

do

calls

my

and

heart,

has actually received of

is,

natural

my

in

case

His

life.

stretch forth " the withered

with that physical

it

call

frailty did,

me

quickens

hand" of

into

faith, just as

deemer's command.

new

I believe,

man

heart," just as

his physical powers.

in his

life.

man

the

even by

" make to my-

does walk, and

act,

the effectual

I repent,

It is all effected

^I

work-

my Re-

ing of the divine power of grace, accompanying

self a

The

did.

spiritual life

is

and

live in

by the agency of his

Having received life and motion

Even so, having
by God's grace, I do, by the same

divine power, and grace.

from God,

walk, and

received spiritual
grace,

work out

active service.

"

make my

And

life,

speak, and act.

the living evidences

I

"

make

to

of that

myself the

life,

new

calling and election sure,"

by every

heart," just as

that

is,

to

my-

done just by exercising the various active graces of that life, and thence carrying them forward
into public life and thus completing the demonstration that
I am renewed by the Holy Ghost.
self.

this

is

my

And now,
dust before the
to

him, to

am
is

soul

whom

alone

indebted for the

man,

charge thee to

Holy Ghost, and give

due.

it is

new

heart,

To
and

bow

the glory,

lowly in the

and honour

his invincible
all its

graces.

that he should dare usurp the throne,

grace

What

and seize

his

OF REGENERATION.
sceptre

Whither

man

the folly of

will

dares set up pretensions to do what

clusively the

O my

soul

243
lead

him

peculiarly,

is

He

and ex-

work of the Holy Ghost

Be thou humble,
And stand in awe of the awful majesty of the
!

Holy Ghost

ANOTHER MEDITATION.
"

What image
Is

does

my

spirit

bear

Jesus formed, and living therel

Say, do his lineaments divine,

In thought, and word, and action shine

Searcher of hearts

my

The

secrets of

My

fears remove,

To

And now,

Godj and

my

to

O, search

me

still

1
;

soul reveal
let

me appear

my own conscience
view of

soul, in

clear!"

what

all this,

art

thou

What is thy real condition ? Art thou alive from

the dead ?
Have I the divine light and truth in my soul 1
Have I the saving knowledge of my God ? Have I a lively faith carrying me out to my Redeemer ?
Have I the
doing

spiritual life in

my

soul, daily

service,

and holy enjoyment

with

affections

all

its

my

heart, soul,

and

lusts

quickened by him, into active

Am

Do

mind, and strength

him ?

disposition to love and serve

dead

I live to

to

the

world,

my God

Have I
Have I the
?

spiritual

power, and capacity to yield myself unreservedly in

obedience to him

Am

the affections and lusts

God?

Is

my

Do

I live

the rock smitten by the rod of

and
lity,

all

my

more and more to my

Does this heart, like

God, send

forth the waters

love to God, and the brethren,

men, the genuine love of God's elect? Do humifaith, and holiness flow out from a living

repentance,

principle of grace in
life

Is

new

daily crucifying the flesh, with

penitence sincere?

of unaffected sorrow?

with

the true

devoted to

me ?

my God

my

Is

Do

heart,

and

my

whole

long to be more and more

244

OF REGENERATION.

him

like unto

him

Do

Holy

I trust in the

my

hope that

exult in the

and ever

for ever

be with

I shall

Spirit, that

he

shed light more

will

me with
Then shall I work out the
evidence of the new birth and make manifest before the
Church, the active existence of all the graces of the new
heart
and thus make sure to myself, before God's people,
And
the actions, and existence of the new heart in me.
and make to
thus, I shall cast away all my transgressions
myself a new heart, and a new spirit, in all its clear and
and more into

soul

he will strengthen

that

might in the inner man.

all

abiding evidences,

as God's free gift, as

my "working

ginating cause, and of

evidence, by a holy

it

regards the ori-

out " as

it

regards the

life.

A PRAYER.
Blessed be thy name,
cies, for the gift of the

And

fluences of thy grace.

tain of

all life,

free love,

being

and

able,

No

created

Thou
raised me

had

fallen,

hand could

how

to the

me

pit

of death.

Holy

from the

thou

pit

how

and

rich the

No

lost.

eye could pity me.

my

Thou,

God,

alone didst raise

me.

Thou didst renew me by the regeneThe lost power, and spiritual

Spirit.

God,

was blind

and power opened mine eyes.

didst

" seek

wandered

me

for

me up

capacity of the soul, thou hast most graciously deigned

restore to

of

and

adore thee,

to

utterly,

No

up.

voice sent a cheering hope.

ration of the

me

honour, and glory of

sovereign the love,

and was ruined

raise

ever blessed be thy name,

from the

bestowed on me, of thy

hast lifted

willing, to love thee,

And, oh

serve thee.

grace

hast

and the illuminating in-

blessed be the supreme foun-

for that spiritual life

and power.

Thou

death.

Father of lights, and divine mer-

Holy Ghost

out from

in the cloudy

all

was a

the places

and dark

day.'*

to

thy gracious word

lost

into
I

sheep

which

was dead

thou

had

in

my

OF REGENERATION.
sinful nature
life.

Thou

faculty of

power.

thy invincible grace raised

hast repaired

my

245

soul, I trust, has felt,

Thou

me

to the state of

the disorders of the

all

Every

fall.

and owned thy healing

hast sent into the dead soul, the

and

divine

Adored be thy divine

love, for the sweet pleasure I have of knowing thee, my
God. Thy grace opened these blind and weeping eyes.
Adored be thy mercy for the pleasure I have of loving thee.
For all these gifts, and graces do I humbly and heartily
This reason, once fallen and degraded, but
thank thee.
inextinguishable principle of

life.

now

raised to

its

proper oince, and duty,

alienated from thee, but

I

Lord,

dedicate,

now

and reckless in

trust in thee

rebellion, but

their

hope in thee

supreme portion.

Lord my God.
and affections.

I fear

To

I desire

Reign

am

thou,

arms,

my

my

when thou

thee

none but thee

as

my

my

and

heart,

Holy

and

let it

shed

Accept me,

glory.

am

thy

Spirit, set

up

beams

its

Lord

throw myself into thy gracious and protecting

Father.

and

delight,

none

knoiv

I believe in

Glorify thyself by me.

to thy praise

thine.

Lord, on the throne of this

and the work of thy hands.

around

by the

sanctified

to thee.

thy great and dreadful name, the

thy glory in this temple of thine

all

memo-

this

once depraved,

thee I offer the supremacy of

heart without a rival.

servant,

now

God, as the true God.

these passions,

de-

utterly

by thy grace,

This conscience,

do devote unreservedly

my

but thee,

do

liord,

rectified, I trust,

to thee.

ry, this heart, these desires,

Holy Ghost,

This judgment, once perverse, and

dicate to thee.

shalt

my

There, in

communion

with thee,

" days of heaven upon earth."

have finished

this

new

is

And

creation, I shall

be

my Creator, my PreseiTer, my ReI shall be perfect in

my Sanctifier, my Judge

with thee for ever,

deemer,

holiness, perfect in beauty

pacity, both in soul,

which thou,

my

perfect in will, power,

and in body.

In

that

and ca-

land of glory to

dear Redeemer, hast opened the

new and

246

OF REGENERATION.

living way,

I shall exhibit the perfected

creation, before

all

the angels,

ing saints in the same glory.

me

with

and

all

work of

O my

Meantime,

in this vale of sorrow,

Let

me

am

thine,

and

and in the days of disease, and sorrow, and

Glory dwells in Immanuel's land.

have existed.

made a new

me

God, be

mine, in the joyous days of health and glad-

that thou art

;

rejoice that I have

creature.

with joy, that

I rejoice,

I shall

And

I 'rejoice

fullest,

and

my

soon be with thee,

that

heart leaps

Oh

in

blessed Tri-

and most complete experience of

novated powers in body, and soul.

death.

been born again, and

une God, in the land of perfection, and everlasting

with the

new

and temptations.

have the sweet and delicious assurance that

ness

this

the ransomed, rejoic-

all

glory,

my re-

the divine happi-

ness of blessing thee, and of being blessed.

Oh

the trans-

porting pleasure of loving thee in heaven's perfected family

of the ransomed

of being loved by God, and of

in heaven's assurance, that I

Oh

am

loved of thee,

the inconceivable glory of giving

knowing

my God.

pleasure to

all

the

ransomed family and of receiving unbounded pleasures

from them in return. Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
" Our
and to the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever, Amen.
;

Father who

art,"

&c.

CHAPTER

XVI.

OP SAVING FAITH.
"

A man

is

by

noi justified

the

we have

of Jesus Christ; even

works of

law

the

but by the faith

believed in Jesus

Christ, that

we

might be justified by the faith of Ciirist and not by the works of the
law for by the works of the law shall no flesh living be justified."
St. Paul.
;

Here

it is

necessary to give a more

by which we are

faith,

As

it is

one of the immediate

of course, a free

gift

of God.

the behalf of Christ to believe

saved through faith

gift

love

of God."*
;

same

renews us

and

Hence it

and of the

us by the

in the

fruits

it is

"By

on him."

is

it is,

given in

grace ye are
;

it

is

Jesus

and

is

it

intellectual

of our minds.

And,

wrought in

beings

that place in the

and

therefore,

can, in no sense, be a meriting exercise of the mind.

can never occupy

the

the fruit of our heavenly father's

who makes us

spirit

of regeneration,

" Unto you

that not of yourselves

free grace of

spirit

description of

full

justified.

it

It

covenant of grace, which

good works held in the condition of the covenant of works.

It

can no more be conceived a meritorious act given on our

part, in

exchange
Phil.

for divine blessings, than

i.

29.

Eph.

ii.

8.

John

our possession

vi. 65.

248

OF SAVING FAITH.

of a free

gift

of a friend's love, can be said to have actually

procured that friend's love to us.

To
mind

arrive

at the true

new

act of the

idea of saving faith, let us call to

and mode of

the nature,

For

the gospel offer.

it

is

an

creature, exactly corresponding to that offer

of Christ.

In that

God

Son

He

is

dition of merit

we

in free

all-suffici-

gave

his only begotten

whosoever believeth in him, should not perish,

but have everlasting life."

as

to us

and

put forth as God's special gift to us.

so loved the world, that he

that

makes over

the Father

his beloved Son, as a suitable

ent Saviour.
^'

God

offer,

and grant,

gift

We

are.

must not wait

of process, prepare ourselves

His Son

serve his free gift.

able to save us

until

must come simply

we can, by some kind

and be in a condition

is

And

con-

We

to de-

the choicest gift; infinitely

and as willing as he was able

salvation to us.

No

He gives him freely.

required of us.

is

this offer

is

made

to

secure

to us personally.

Each one of us must consider the offer of Christ as being

made to ourselves as pointedly, and as personally, as if there
was not another human being besides us. This is as evidently the case, as is the command of God to obey him.

He

on every person as particularly as if

Our God speaks thus
The command and the ofto every one of us personally.
fer of Christ is, therefore, as particular, and personal as is
lays his injunction

none

other existed besides himself

our personal responsibility.

But he does more

perishing children of

ye die."
laden,
is

and

"

Come

I will

heavy laden.

helplessness.
less

He does not,

Adam.

unto me,

^'

all

This

is

Turn

ye

ye, turn ye,

that labour,

name

us.

why will

and are heavy

Every sinner

give you rest."

As

indeed,

he describes us as the sinful, guilty, and

labours,

and

his personal characteristic of utter

certainly as each

and miserable, so certainly

is

is

thus personally help-

Christ the willing, and

sufficient Saviour freely offered to you, personally.

all-

OF SAVI^'G FAITH.

Hence, God

him

in

all

Look upon my Son take

of his grace, and suitableness of
him to thy heart receive him as freely

the Father says,

the plenitude

Take

his offices.

as I give

249

him

rest

upon him alone

for salvation,

and thou

shalt be saved.

Now, saving faith springs up

mand and meets exactly this
;

into life at this divine

offer.

It is

com-

the act of the

new-born soul believing God's testimony, hearing his free

and promptly closing with that offer. I give thee my
Son, says God. I accept him, says faith. I give him to

offer,

thee freely.

ner has no

Lord,

says God.

ally,

I accept

him

bring to thee.

gift to

as freely, for a poor sin-

give him to thee person-

my own

accept the Saviour as

Saviour.

I put forth the withered

my

Redeemer.

him

to all

king,

my

hand by the command and power of

take him into my soul.
I appropriate

my own

He

personal wants.

atoning high

priest.

my

soul's salvation on his atonement.

This appropriating act is essential
and in fact it is that element in pure

guishes

it

is

my

I lean the

There

He is my

some

all

in

all.

faith

which

distin-

from the vague and wavering generalities of the

is

another peculiarity in this

Now,

ance.

my

to justifying faith

of the hypocrite, and the faith of devils.

faith

prophet,

entire weight of

let

faith.

James ii. 19.

mean assur-

us not have mistaken views here, which

do not mean the assurance of faith, and

We

betray.

of hope, and of sense, to which believers attain in the high

lofty walks of Christian life, and in closer communion

and

with God.

a godly

This

is

This

life.

the fruit of a highly perfected faith,

is

what the old divines

and

call the reflex act

For, the Christian having

of faith; and with propriety.
reached forward to the measure of the stature of a perfect

man

in Christ,

opens his Bible, and

character of the true Christian.

over his

own

life

light of the Bible.

sets before his eyes the

Then looking carefully back

he examines his

soul,

And, perceiving by
22

and heart in the

the divine aid of the

250

OF SAVING FAITH.

Holy Ghost, that he possesses, in reality, the

and life of the child of God, he arrives

graces,

ance of

faith, the

assurance of hope, the assurance of sense.

In other words, he
in him, that he

is

true marks,
at the assur-

feels

by the witnessing of the Holy Spirit

a child of God, the brother of Jesus, the

heir of heaven.

But, besides this delightful and most consoling assurance,

we mistake

there is another kind, which, if

And

the very essence of saving faith.

we

if

shall

admit
of

my

only look

at the definition

existence.

its

It is this

Saviour Christ, I do

it

of

when
on the
:

not, enters into

am persuaded, that
its nature, we shall

I believe,

and accept

of the divine

basis

Hence, in the act of faith in mj Saviour, I have

an assurance that, upon my accepting of him, as my Redeemer, and trusting in him alone for salvation, I shall asThis assurance is not based on any thing
suredly be saved.
testimony.

in

my own

mind.

for the Christian to say,

receiving

my

based on the faithfulness of the

It is

Hence,

vine testimony.

it is

perfectly rational

" Yes,

am

and

assured, that

di-

natural,

upon

my

beloved Saviour, and trusting in him accord-

ing to the divine testimony, and gospel

tainly be saved as

God is

able

offer, I shall as cer-

and Christ

is

willing to save

me."

ClUESTIONS.
Is faith a free

and saving

gift

of

God

Does the grace of the Triune God appear in this gift ?

Can faith be the condition of the covenant of grace

No:

Proof?

How
Has

can you arrive

pel offer

at

a just idea of faith

a direct relation to the peculiar nature of the gos-

it

State the nature of the gospel offer of Christ, as

us by God.

Explain, and prove

this,

by Scripture

texts.

made

to

251

OF SAVING FAITH.
State the character of this offer.

sonal

Give the proof of

Sum up
Now,

Is

it

free

Is

Explain

with this offer of Christ?

Then,

per-

the description of this gospel offer.

does saving faith correspond exactly, in

as the gospel offer

not true

it

this.

make

faith

is

its acts,

this.

particular

and personal, does

a particular and personal application of

Christ?
Is not this personal

saving faith

Does

appropriation

Give the

proof,

and

essential to the act of

illustration of this.

act discriminate true faith

this peculiar

from

other kinds of faith, which are not of a saving kind

Is there an

Define

all

assurance attending the act of saving faith ?

and distinguish it from another kind of as-

this,

surance.

What

is that

other assurance, or reflex act of faith, from

which we distinguish

What
Now,

is that

give

this

assurance, or reflex act of faith based on

me

a description of

this

assurance which

enters into the essence of saving faith.

What is it based on ?
Can you say that you have
Christ

this faith in

the

Lord Jesus

MEDITATION.
" Yea, doubtless, and

count

all

of the knowledge of Christ Jesus,

things but loss for the excellency

my

Lord,

and be found in him; not having mine

of the law

but that which

is

that

own

may win

Christ;

righteousness, which is

through the faith of Christ, even the

righteousness of God, by faith."

St. Paul.

I have every reason to bless God, that I am no longer

under the claims, and curse of a broken covenant. Free

grace does not

its

work by

halves, or in a stinted measure.

The

deliverance by divine love

fore,

not under a mixed dispensation,

is

complete.

am, there-

partly administered

252

OF SAVING FAITH.

and partly by human merit. My divine Redeemer needs no human aid to eke out, and complete the

by grace

His robe is seamless it canHis crown and throne can be usurped by

results of his infinite grace.

not be divided.

no created being.
God,

I have, therefore, to bless

a covenant that has " faith for

stead of the "

am

that I

its

not even under

easier condition ;" in-

more arduous condition of works." That early

delusion of the famous Baxter, I renounce

it,

Christ

and crowns the

in riper

me

giving

me, wo

certain

faith, or

trespasses.

terferes,

who

that

MERCY

it is

is

that

my God's

unto me, whether

is

Blessed be God,
grace indeed.

Saviour calls grace

dethrones

It

meritorious acts.

things are equally impossible to one

and

as he did re-

If the condition of

rebel.

salvation, rest with

that condition be

and more godly days.*

nounce

becomes God,

is

All

dead in sins

what my gracious
When his mercy in-

even our own God

There is nothing done grudgby him. There is no condition setup,

of the everlasting covenant.

and stintedly

ingly,
to

fill

acts as

God

he saves like

soul, that the

God

Bless the Lord,

he

my

but the hands of

even
my divine
Nothing can ever be added
such as
For what he
was
doing of

he,

in

substitute, fulfilled

Christ.

it

in perfection.
fection,

condition of the everlasting covenant rested

not in the hands of a creature,

And

He is God

the trembling penitent with despair.

to the letter,

to infinite per-

it

did,

is.

the

" the great God, our Saviour."

His atonement, and divine

favours can receive no accession of worth, and efficacy from
all this

in

man.

He

suspends not his love and his purchas-

ed favours on the condition of man's buying them.

no

The ransomed

of the Lord never

God

b^iy

any

This doctrine of Richard Baxter was embraced by a party,

after

sells

favours.

he had publicly renounced

it.

Hence he wrote

against Baxter," to reclaim them.

his

book,

" Baxter


OF SAVING FAITH.

253

This human system of bartering has no place

All is of " free and sove-

blessing.

in the covenant of free grace.

"He finished transgressions: He

He trode the wine-press alone

reign grace."

"

end of sin."

the people, there

willing stinted portion

Our divine substilove in paying down merely an unof what was required of us.
He

cross,
"It is finished !"
and impious delusions to flight.

on the

idle,

and of

was none with him."

tute did not exhaust his

said

made an
:

This puts

He

all

these

did not suspend

the certain result of the travail of his soul

on man's

or man's completing what

If works formed

any

part,

it

was lacking.

My soul abhors and de*

and impious system of bartering. It is

was no more grace.

tests this despicable

the renewal of the doings of

fering of

acting,

money

for the

Simon Magus

Holy Ghost

It is the of-

represents Christ's

It

perfect atonement, as merely a compromise,

faction in

It

full.

and not a satiswould substitute " the old cast clouts and

rotten rags"* of the Ethiopian, in the place of the glorious

robe of Christ's righteousness

of grace.
is

is

the condition

God's

a condition of connection in the covenant

" If thou believe, thou shalt be saved." Faith

But, there

on which

am

connected with Christ.

the withered hand stretched out to accept

this

we cannot be made

which enriches

And,

it.

As

free grace is held out to the perishing sinner, faith is

partakers of

it.

And

it.

Now,

it is

without
theg/if

not the hand of the beggar which receives

mere presentation of the hand to rebe conceived as an act of merit setting up any

surely, the

ceive, cannot

claim against the supreme and glorious donor.

I charge my soul to search, and see what thy true
Have I indeed this condition of connection
condition is.
rival

Now,

with Christ?

Have

complied with the gospel

compliance with the terms of the gospel, have

* Jerem. xxxviii, 12.

22*

offer

I freely,

In

and

254

OF SAVING FAITH.

with

all

Saviour

my

soul,

Have

and

ing a price, to buy what

God never

out money, and price

Do

and

offer to

God

accepted freely

Have

al offer.

in

all

filial

on

Do

all 1

assurance,

Do

gifts

all

singles

be, with-

it

my

crown

Sa-

Freely he gives

me

accepted him on his

him by

appropriate

He

except

sells,

simply accept the rich boon

the thank-offering

viour the supreme donor of

have

Lord Jesus as my

heart, accepted the

entertained the impious thought of offer-

out, with a person-

own

terms

my

a personal application as

Do

own,

my

hold him up before the Father, and cry in

" Behold,

the face of thine

own

God,

my

shield

and look

anointed Son Jesus Christ

And, complying with his terms, and accepting him on the

immoveable basis of the divine offer, I arrive in due time
to a soothing

and certain assurance

that,

upon

this act of

closing with the offer of Christ, being consummated, 1 shall

infallibly

This assurance

be saved.

feeling, or merit in myself:

based not on any

is

on the immutable testimo-

but,

ny of God, that those who believe in his Son Jesus Christ,

SHALL be saved.
And, I call upon my soul to proceed onward steadily in
working out the evidences of my new birth, by the acts and
habits of a holy life.
And when I shall, through grace,
reach the measure of the fulness of Christ,

I shall

reach the

and higher assurance of faith,

even a consciousness that I am my " Beloved's, and that he
And, pressing still onward to the highest chrisis mine."

happy

state of that other,

tian graces,

and holiness,

I shall,

reach the assurance of sense,

Father's love,

doubts,

all

taken away, while

through the Holy Ghost,

and a

and

all

consciousness of

fears,

and

all

pass through the dark valley to the

ness of joy, and immortal glory

my

sin being
ful-

A PRAYER.

O
my

Lord

sins

my God

let

and renounce

me humbly approach
at thy

feet, all

thee, to confess

hopes of safety by

OF SAVING FAITH.
the law of works.

man

rebellious

my

bewail the struggles of

and

heart against thy sovereign

is

255

When

depraved

How

free grace.

placed by thee,

perverse

sovereign

Creator, under the covenant of works, he refused to yield

thee obedience by works.

Now, when

mercy has

thy

placed us under the covenant of grace, in our frowardness,

we

on returning again into Egypt,

insist

bondage of the broken covenant

God,

my

sins,

Jesus, as he

Saviour

Here,

is offered to

at thy feet, I cast

away

believe

Lord.

ed,

and most gracious Lord.

On

thy

own

and

my

strength.

that I could cling closer

terms

thy

life.

Oh

views of

fuller

my

my

all

my

Freely

my unbelief.
my belov-

thou

h^elp

hopes,

legal

to thee,

art

thou offered to me.

Lord,

my

in

righteousness

my heart.
Oh

soul into ardent affection.

And, as

blessed

of thy righteousness,

Shed abroad thy love

Melt,

for deeper

which nailed thee on the

sins,

show forth the power of

advance in the christian course, 2;rant

for a holier

the pres-

and closer

accept thee,

penitential sorrow for

!

my

all

I take hold

my

And, under
and

the gospel.

And

Oh

and dissolve

clearer

see thee in the plenitude of thy offices.

I trust I

even thine,

me
me in

grant

self-righteousness.

cross

me.

slay this evil propensity in

sure of

be under the

to

Slay, I beseech thee,

to

life,

me the joyful assurance of faith, that

may cry Abba

Father,

and yield thee the homage of a sincere, and devoted child.

Deny me not the unction of the Holy Ghost,
my blessed

Remember

and exalted Saviour.

thou hast caused

Holy

Spirit !"

my
Be

gracious promise.

faith to rest.
it

unto me,

Grant him

to

thy promise

"

on which

send you the

Lord, according to thy

me

will

as the Spirit of faith,

of love, and of holiness

And,

life's duties,

and warfare being closed, when

nigh the Jordan of death, help

and

holiest

my

help

closing struggle.

arm of faithfulness.

And,

faith to put forth

let

me

me

to lean

depart in

the

draw

its

last

on thy
full

as-

256

OF SAVING FAITH.

surance of

faith

thrilling joys

then, be

my

and in the

full

assurance of sense, and the

of a triumphant death.

My

best days.

My

before the triumph of faith.

up in hope, and

faith,

My

doubts will

fears shall

and enjoyment.

last

days

be swallowed

By

my

risen

Lord, in the

sured hopes of a glorious resurrection.

God,
love

faith,

shall

faith I

commit my departing soul to thy dear bosom,

blessed Redeemer
and my poor dissolving body,
grave, as prepared by

will,

vanish away

all

full

my
to

the

and as-

my

Grant me,

grace to rear such an Ebenezer to thy bounteous

this

and edify

all

around

my

dying bed, by the triumphs of

And

over sin, and death, and Satan, and the world.

glory shall be to the Father, and to the

Son, and

Holy Ghost, our God in the everlasting covenant,

and ever Amen. " Our Father who art," &c.
:

to

for

the

ever

CHAPTER

XYII.

OF JUSTIFICATION^.
"

The law

God

of

exact, he shall

fulfil,

Both by obedience, and by love, though love

Alone fulfil the law thy punishment
He shall endure, by coming in the flesh.
To a reproachful life, and cursed death
Proclaiming life to all who shall believe
In his redemption and that his obedience
Imputed, becomes theirs by faith, his merits
To save them, not their own, though legal, works."
Milton.
:

Justification
sists in actual
is,

the first-fruit of faith in Christ.

is

deliverance from

guilt,

in strict parlance, a law phrase.

making

the sinner holy.

finding us righteous

and pronouncing us
sight

to

It

con-

and condemnation.
It

It is the act

not the

is

act

It

of

of the Supreme Judge

do not say holy^

but

righteous

be righteous, and accepted

in his

and, thence, acquitted from the condemnation of the

And

guilt of all sin, original

and

ference between

sanctification.

it,

and

actual.

here

single acf of the Judge, acquitting us from

divine pardon.

Sanctification

is

lies the dif-

Justification
all

guilt

is

by a

a progressive ivork of holi-

ness in the soul of the regenerated.

Now, when

the

Judge

finds,

and pronounces us

righ-

258

OF JUSTIFICATION.

teous,

it is

manifest that

we must have

a righteousness

And

acceptable in the presence of law and justice.

has,

it

been made evident, that the sinner has no righteousWhence, then, has he that by
ness of his own, personally.
I trust,

I answer, the imis made righteous before God ?

puted RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ so it is called repeatedly
in the Holy Scriptures.*

which he

Now, let us understand

" imputed," we have seen,
cal sense

by us

among men.

is

point distinctly.

This word

used in a distinctive theologi-

not precisely in the

It

this

common

acceptation

has the same force, as the words " charg-

ed to our account," when applied to the act of a benevolent

man, who presents himself to our

creditor,

and pays down

amount of our debts. That

payment is our payment, in law, by the will, and deed of
our benefactor.
Being ours in law, it is " charged to our
This is
account." In other words, it is imputed to us.

gratuitously, in

the exclusive

sense.

It is

is first really
it

" imputed

everlasting

we have

the whole

meaning of the word, as used in a theological

made our payment by " imputation." It
and actually ours and then, on this basis, is
not

to us."

Let us apply
tion before

full,

this to the

mode, and

reality of our justifica-

Our debts we never could pay without

durance, in the prison, and torments of hell, as
God.

already shown.

Christ, our substitute, presented

and in our name, and on our behalf paid them, in

This is what is properly called his righteousness, or

himself,
full.

atonement.

This was actually ours by the design, and con-

stitution of the

covenant of grace.

It

the Father's love, and sovereign will.

by the design and

free gift,

And,
*

will

let

me

add,

it

Rom. iv. 3. 5. 6. 22. 23.

same word, here,

ed, is the

of Christ.

and grant of the gospel

is really
24.

actually is
It

is

ours

actually

by

ours

It is actually ours, in the

offer.

ours in the instant of our

The word,

in the original.

rendered covMted and imput-

OF JUSTIFICATION.
For, the

believing in Christ.
is

By

it

we

are

with the Father.*

Christ, that

we

are so really

tution of the covenant of grace,

and

actually

own

in our
thence,

really ours.

proper persons,

imputed

justice, to

and

finds us,

one

united to

" members of

as

Father's

And

to us.

It is

it

his righteousness

much

so, as if

we

righteousness.

throne,

had,

We,

covered with

being, thus really ours,

reckoned

fully in law,

and

be ours.

Thence,
tually,

is this

fulfilled all

stand before the

justly

vitally

of this union, by the consti-

It is

the righteousness of Christ.

it is

and

to the

is

and of his bones."f

The immediate consequence

is

of faith

branches of the vine

are actually pronounced to be

his body, of his flesh,

fruit

are thereby as

one with him, as he

as really

We

We

him.

really united to Christ, as are the

vine.

immediate

first

a vital and certain union to

259

all

our guilt

is

legally taken away.

really righteous before

and pronounces us

to

God.

He

be righteous.

We

are ac-

accordingly

The pardon

He

can no more deem us unrighteous, than he

can find Christ unrighteous. And what God, the Judge,
goes

forth.

says once, he
righteous
to

is

always declaring.

in Christ;

and he

will

He

has pronounced us

never,

no, never cease

pronounce us righteous.

Hence

the certain

and absolute removal of

all

our guilt,

Hence the acceptance of our persons. Hence,

and a consciousness of our heavenly Fapeace of mind
for ever.

ther's love.

on

He

does not merely pass the word of a pardon

with supreme power, can do
Along with freedom from the bondage

us, as a magistrate invested

to a State's prisoner.

God actually sends peace into the conscience, and

and heart of the believer. There is the substantial
Hence, the
reality of a heavenly and irrevocable pardon.
of

guilt,

soul,

Christian has, in a degree, less or more, the assurance of

* John xvii. 22. 23.

Ephes.

v. 30.

John xv. 15.

260

OF JUSTIFICATION.

God's

love, the peace of

God that surpasseth understanding

the delicious joy of a christian

conscience
to the

hope

increase of grace

end of

his career.

the answer of a

good

and a joyful perseverance

Rom.

ch. viii.

aUESTIONS.
What

the

is

of faith

first fruit

What

Define justification before God.

Is there not

righteous,
is

is

it 1

a material difference between one's being

Ans.

and being holy ?

Yes

much

as

as there

between the jyardon of a criminal, and making him holy.

This

To

meaning of

the technical

is

be righteous,

word in theology.

the

be legally delivered from the guilt

is to

and punishment of crime. A person may be pardoned,

and yet not be holy. In the government of God, holiness
is invariably the condition and result of pardon.

Now,
and

then, describe the difference between justification

sanctification.

When God
tion, is

ours

it

declares us righteous in the act of justifica-

not evident that

we have a

righteousness, truly

Now, have we any

Whence,

own 1

righteousness of our

then, have

we

this righteousness

We

have no personal, but an imputed righteousness.

What is meant by the word " imputed,'''' in a theological
sense

Explain

Now,

will

this fully.

you apply

justification before

Is

it,

ness

is

strictly

God

this explanation to the

speaking, correct to say that Christ's righteous-

ours by imputation

some way or

mode of our

other, before

it

Ans.

No

it

can be imputed

must be ours in

to us.

When

generous benefactor interferes on my behalf, no payment

by him for me, can be imputed to me, unless the payment
be actually made

In

like

manner,

and, thence, be actually, and really mine.

my

debt cannot be

made

the

debt of

my

OF JUSTIFICATION.

261

benefactor by imputation merely.

There must, first, be a
voluntary assumption of my place, by him,
and the voluntary act of assuming it, on his part;
thence, being his debt,
it is

justly imputed to him.

Now,
Explain

How

then,

how

is it really

Being thus ours

us?

What

is

Christ's

righteousness actually ours

this fully.

is the

ours

Explain

actually,

this fully.

and really,

consequence of

this

is it

thence imputed
to
^

imputation of righteous-

ness?

Can this sentence of justification ever be reversed

?
What is the theological maxim on this point ? Ans.
" What God, the Judge, has once pronounced,
that
he

ways

al-

pronouncing from his throne for ever."

What follows this pardon by our God ?
Point out the difference between a pardon
is

from a human
and the pardon issued by God in our
justification.
Can a human pardon send peace, and freedom
from re-

tribunal,

morse, into a criminal's bosom ? No, never.

Does peace of mind and conscience follow our
pardon

by God?

See Romans,

ch. viii. 1.

Enumerate the blessings following our justification.

Do you entertain a well-grounded hope that you

are ius''

tified

MEDITATION.
"

There

is

a light that gilds the darkest hour,

When dangers thicken,

and when tempests lower

That calm to faith, and hope, and love is given
That peace remains when all besides is riven,
That light shines down on earth, direct from heaven."

Edmeston,

What

a glorious remedial plan has the

vouchsafed to us

In the best-regulated

23

mercy of our God

human government,

or JUSTIFICATION.

262

the pardon of a State's criminal is

public justice.

For,

justice receives

no

honour due

was
no death

another.

But, though

justice.

no penalty

uttered

its

is

penal-

sustain the law, say, and do

Thus, through the necessary weakness of human

government, mercy gains

its

triumphs.

In many instances

happens necessarily, and even perhaps

still, it is

impunity,

public justice, utter one thing

to

the executive,

this

and

The law has

follows.

The law, and

who profess

ty in vain.

expense of

at the

set free, with

The law is denied the

" The murderer shall
penalty.

the voice of law

is

made

perpetrated in the face of these,

the deed
inflicted

is

satisfaction.

to the violated

This

die."

when he

at the

expense of law and

But

justly.

justice, that its desira-

ble triumphs are gained.

In the government of the Holy and Just One, no such

of pardon can ever take place.

form

And

let

me

carefully

my soul. There is no weakness in

He never can utter one thing, by
divine government.
do
another,
by
his power.
He never can rule
law, and

treasure this up in

world by a fallacy

own

claims

in finitely just.

To

set aside claims that are infi-

act of infinite injustice

This would

introduce boundless evil into his government, by his

voluntary

act.

It

own

cannot possibly happen in any circum-

Divine law, and justice must have

stance.

his

Besides, the claims of his justice are his

would be an

nitely just,

his

his

unobstructed course,

let

their full

and

the consequences be what they

may.
I

pray

this truth

God
on

that I

may

ever retain a deep impression of

my heart. There

is

a disposition in the deprav-

ed mind, to measure the wisdom

and justice of God's government by those of human government. " Because man,"

say

they

the land,

" can pardon the

and public

greatest outrage to the laws of

justice, so

does

the face of his divine law, and justice.

man can

God pardon

sin, in

Because a c^enerous

forgive a debt due from a helpless debtor

so does

263

OF JUSTIFICATION.

God

forgive the debt of sin against his law,

May

never be so

deluded as to be

far

and justice.
away by this

led

These men mistake a comparison

weak sophism.

And

an argument.

for

draw a conclusion from

they, verily,

And

a compaWsoji, which they mistake for an argument!

drawn from man's

conduct, to regulate the divine government
and bring
down the infinite majesty, and justice of Almighty God to
a comparison, moreover, that

it is

is

the level of
trust,

human weakness

of suggesting a model for

shall

the,

never be guilty,

august and most holy

government of Almighty God, from the weakness, and imperfections of

and

human government

do another, in their

by venturing

Because

even

to teach, or

to think, that the

his subjects

unchange-

and as publicly denies himself, by contin-

ually doing another thing in his acts

No,

the penalty of law,

measure.
But,
fall,

human laws

and most holy One says one thing in his law, before

able,
all

one thing, and the executive say and

government shall I sin against God,

penalties proclaim

On

the guilty,

fall it mtist

as

we have

or,

divine government

the

seen, in

and justice must fall in its full

or, on the substitute it may fall.

its full

Hence, " God

the head of our substitute.

is

it

did

It

falls.

And

measure.

fell

a just

on

God,

and a Saviour."

From

mercy of God, we obtain a/ree, and

Nothing can be
It is free.
more free. It was the love of God which sent his own Son
into our world.
It was the love of the Son which moved
him to ransom us. And no price is required at our hands,
a full

the exuberant

pardon of our sins.

for his boundless mercies.

It is
its

a,

full pardon.

rich fruits.

And

It is
it

the form of this pardon,

is

complete in

its

how admirable

nature,

and

And, then, as

never revoked.
is

it,

all

to

how divine!

not like the pardon issued by a human government,

Such a pardon only takes away the pains of death, /or the

It is

264

OF JUSTIFICATION.

It cannot remove from the criminal, the remorse

and horrors of conscience, which crush his soul it cannot
take away the fearful anticipation of a dreadful execution in

present.

eternity.

My God

does not

call

issues

no such pardons

us up to his awful bar

any

the interposition of a substitute, without

his justice, without adhering rigidly

He

to us.

and, there, without

to

satisfaction

and necessarily

to

the

claims of faithfulness and truth, does thence, send us off

with a pardon.

No, no

if

such a pardon by our God, be even conceiv-

able, I should feel

no

relief of

mind from

should feel

it.

the horrors of conscience, as often as I turned

I

as often as I

saw

just

its

Were

this the

claims remaining unanswered,

form of pardon, wherever

and, oh
should

divine justice, face to face,

to

escape

its

awful purity,

my

thunder on

ears,

" Cursed

die !"

" The

is

peace could never,

whither could I

still

hear

soul that sinneth,

met
flee

uttering

it

its

shall

it

every one that continueth not in

no, never, enter

my

breast

all

Heaven-

things written the book of the law to do them !"

ly

eyes on

should be utterly overwhelmed with remorse,

the holy law.

against me.

my

never

could look on the burning throne of the Holy and Just One.

Heaven, in

would be no heaven to me.

that case,

be driven forth from the divine presence, by the

sword of his seraphim, and

ousness of

is altogether

to our guilt,

and weakness.

God,

his

His

divine

mode of

justice,

our, enters the arena.

He

and law are

The

Our Redeemer

incarnate God, our Savi-

presents himself, doing

law and justice of the divine government.

accepted as our substitute.

ele-

They cannot descend from

and most righteous demand.

descends from his throne.

to the

my

worthy of his government, and suited

vated high on their throne.

this lofty,

overwhelming consci-

guilt.

But, blessed be the Lord

pardon

my own

should

flaming*

He

voluntarily

homage

He

is

assumed our

265

OF JUSTIFICATION.
overwhelming

debt.

It

and a judicial

tution,

was made

by the act of substi-

his,

This

Father as Judge.

act of the

was
met every claim of law and
until it
justice, cheerfully, in his own person, on the tree
being completed, the dying Redeemer said, "It is finished !" And the Father repeated it, by raising him from the
debt of our sin being thus really, and actually his,

it

He

thence imputed to him.

dead

Now,

this

payment

in

full,

otherwise

called our Lord's

atonement, or righteousness,

satisfaction, or

was designed

me, by the purpose of my heavenly Father and was

wrought out for me, by the death of my Redeemer and is
for

my

actually mine, by virtue of

Thence
with

righteously imputed to

as with a fair

it

am

it is

led

union

up

and

to Christ,

through

me

and

am

am

faith.

clothed

spotless robe.

my

to the bar of

God.

presented be-

fore him, sustaining, as he does, the majesty of his law,

and the

inflexible justice of his

this righteousness, I

tice finds,

Law

am

government.

accepted before him.

and declares me righteous,

and justice having been

me

tion

these have

becaiise

me

to

truly righteous

seo

is

its

The law

holy claims.

now my

me in

They

debt.

full

all

They

been actually paid.

me

be righteous, just because they find

The

in Christ.

nounced on me.
and

cannot allow a

same

not a debtor to the claims of the divine adminisi ra-

pronounce

joice in

the

in

the eyes of God.

fully satisfied,

demand of a second payment of

find

in

Clothed

Divine jus-

fast

voice of pardon

rejoices over me.

pro-

is

And

re-

Divine justice rejoices over me,

and sure

friend, pledging its

honour

to

possession of the blessed inheritance of heaven.

glorious

remedial plan

divine dispensation

of

mercy! May all my blindness, and prejudices be taken

away, that I may see its glory, and suitableness and rejoice in it, with all my soul and heart!
And, Oh! for
clearer and fuller evidcence of my being found in Christ of
23*
;

266

OF JUSTIFICATION.

me

having his unspotted righteousness upon

imputed

to

original

and

me,

may have

the

pardon of

full

And, by the help of my God, I do resolve

this, by love to God, by a holy

And

the brethren.

all

my

guilt,

actual.

evidence of

may

being

that

all

way of

in the

duty,

and joy in the Holy Ghost

I find peace,

work out the

and love to
and a holy life,

to

life,

And

of the ransomed, and justified ones,

who compose

of Christ in heaven,
of the redeemed,

" Worthy

is

the

re-

in the bright circle

the family

with rapture, join

I shall

may

that I

joice in hope of the glory of God.

Lamb

song

the

honour

to receive

and glory, for thou wast slain, and thou hast redeemed us
God, by thy blood !" Amen.

to

A PRAYER.

God, and

come

father of our

to thee, to

Lord Jesus Christ

beseech thee

cross of Christ, before

to

bring

am summoned

These claims against me,

tice.

me

humbly
of the

to the bar of thy jus-

can never meet, and

Enter not into judgment with me,

live.

to the foot

sight no flesh living can be justified, by his

Lord.

own

In thy

righteous-

Quicken me, O God, by thy Holy Spirit. Without

is no life in me.
And with this holy and spiritual life, vouchsafe to me, I beseech thee, the faith of thy
chosen ones
and ripen it into maturity, that I may humness.

him

there

bly cherish the sweet hope, that I have fled for refuge to the

hope
for

set before

me, even Christ the hope of Israel. Oh

that " I am found of

an enlarged, and refreshing evidence

thee,

my

Father, in Christ Jesus

righteousness which
the faith of Christ

seal thy

is

of the law

not having on

my own

but that which isthroufrh

even the righteousness of God by

pardon on

my heart.

of conscience, and joy in the

Vouchsafe to

me

faith."

that

peace

Holy Ghost, which thy Fa-

me

therly pardon, alone,

can give.

surance of thy love.

Give me an abundant increase of thy

Let

feel

the joyful as-

OF JUSTIFICATION.

And when

grace.

and doubts cause anxious mis-

fears

267

me to fly to thee, on the

wings of faith, to be renewed in my strength and to mount
up as on eagles' wings, to run and not to weary, to walk and
givings of heart,

Lord, help

And when

not faint, in the Christian's race.

and sin overtake me,

And,

Oh! how

taken, through the weakness of faith,

of the

may

flesh,

quicken me,

Lord,

and

that,

temptations

am

often

over-

the infirmities

with fresh activity,

hasten to the throne of grace, there to spread out

all

my wants before thee. I am unworthy of the

But see, O God, here is my shield
look upon me in the face of my substitute, thy well beloved
Son the anointed and dear Reedemer. He is most worthy
for whose sake I plead.
O Lord, disarm every temptation.
Oh strengthen me for my duties and my warfare, against
every sin.
grant me the serene, and abiding evidence of
my pardon, and thy love, in the hour when first I sought and
knew thee, my adorable Redeemer
Enable me to work out
the evidence of my calling, my election, and my justificamy woes,

and

all

least of all thy mercies.

Oh

tion.

to

reach forward to the delightful and refresh-

ing evidence, by the steadfastness of a sincerely christian

And when

life.

reach the sinless world above, the land

of the ransomed and the righteous, there, by the rivers of

the waters of

life,

enjoy thee, with

for ever

and

ever.

shall I love,
all

my

and adore, and

serve,

and

perfected powers of body and soul,

And, now, may

the

God

of peace,

who

brought again from the dead the Lord Jesus, the Great

Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting

covenant,
will,

make me
every good work,
working in me which
perfect in

O my God

that

ing in thy sight, through Jesus Christ

O my

to

do thy

is well pleas-

to

whom, with

thee,

Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost, be glory

ever and ever
Amen.
;

for

CHAPTER

XVIII.

REPENTANCE.
"

What

better can

Repairing, where

we

do than

He judged

to the place

us. prostrate fall

Him reverent, and there confess

Humbly our faults, and pardon beg with
Before

Watering

the ground

tears

and with our sighs the air

Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign

Of sorrow

unfeigned, and humiliation

Undoubtedly

He

will relent,

meek

and turn

From

his displeasure

When

angry most he seemed, and most severe,

else but favour, grace, and mercy shone !"

What

in

whose look

serene,

Milton.

A MAN may

repent with a bitterness and pungency of

and yet he may not become holy. There is, in fact,
a repentance which is originated by no good principles, and
This is a repentis regulated by no Christian motives.
grief,

ance unto death,

for remorse,

not unto

and slavish

the judgment-seat.

he has no concern
heaven.

The

If

its

for

It

life.

terror.

It

is

just another

name

proceeds from horror of

victim can only escape from

a holy

life

hell,

or the sweet hope of

case of Judas exhibits a painful illustration of

this.

Repentance, which issues in

life,

spiritual

and

eternal, is

REPENTANCE.
essentially different
first

evidences of a

from

269

faith, it is one of the

a grace " granted to us "

Like

this.

new heart.

It is

by the Holy Ghost, the sole author of our regeneration.

springs forth into exercise the
the proper dispositions, and
birth.

It is

simultaneous in

inseparable from

penitent

To

and a

it.

true

moment we

receive

It

and

life,

power from God, in the new

and
its acts, with true faith
believer is always a genuine
;

true penitent

is

always a genuine believer.

suppose that a true believer can be impenitent, and un-

holy

is to

suppose as great an absurdity in the Christian

world, as to suppose a square circle, would be, in the physical world.

But, while faith and repentance are twin-sister graces,

still

we must admit that

Here is

der of nature.

precedes her

faith

the reason

nature of the two graces.

We

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

way of

it

believing.

sister, in the or-

arises out of the very

Repentance

our God, from our evil ways.

only in the

a returning to

is

return to

But,

we come

Hence, coming

and believing on him, are synonymous words.

Hence, believing in his name is first in the

God, only
Christ

to

to

Christ,

John

vi.

35.

order

natural

of mental operation.

Repentance begins in the human mind, the seat of know-

We must know our God, before we can love him we

must know ourselves, our corrupt natures, and heinous sins,
Hence,
before we can feel the proper abhorrence of them.
ledge.

we

are brought

pierced; then

first

"

to

look upon Christ

we mourn

Having begun

for

him."

whom we

Zech.

in the intellectual powers,

have

xii. 10.
it,

thence, per-

Our heavenly Father being presentthrough a divinely illumined mind, we spring

vades the whole heart.

ed

to our hearts

forward to him with desire, love, and affection, such as we

" I will return to my Father !" says the
never before felt.
penitent.
is

"

Whom

none upon

have

I in

heaven but thee

And

earth that I desire besides thee."

there

When

270

REPENTANCE.

Jesus, in
glory,

sand,"

all

his excellence, in his

as " ruddy

and

human, and in

the chieftest

wliite,

his divine

among

ten thou-

presented to the divinely illumined mind,

is

the

heart of the penitent springs forward to embrace him, with

ardent

affections,

height,

and depth

Christ

When

!"

which

without excuse,
through

all

law,

breadth and length of the

sin in

vinely illumined mind,

"

can quench.

nothing

an

as

viewed by a dicommitted against God,

true nature is

its

Oh

love of

evil

violating every sacred tie

and breaking

and every obligation which binds man

to his

glorious Creator, to his bountiful benefactor. Redeemer, and

Judge,

the

penitential heart, smitten

by the rod of God,

The

pours out the streams uf unaffected grief and sorrow!

whole heart

is

melted down,

Christ; and

it

gives vent to

the foot of

at

cross of

the

overpowering emotions, in

its

the most unaffected language of humility.

"

Show

pity,

Lord

Lord, forgive;
live !"

Let a repenting rebel

" I have heard of thee by

mine eye

seeth thee

"

in dust, and ashes."

fusion covereth

God
ed

and

"

!"

me

shall

lie

for I

down

in

my shame,

and

my conmy

have sinned against the Lord

unaccustomed

be turned

now

abhor myself, and repent

Lord, thou hast chastised

as a bullock
I

the hearing of the ear, but

wherefore,

for

to the

thou

was turned,

art

me and I am
;

yoke

my

Lord

the

repented

chastis-

turn thou me,

and

God.

Surely after that

was

instructed,

I sm.ote

yea,

even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of

my

upon

thigh

after that I

was ashamed,

my

youth."*

The confession

of the lips

is

a prominent

tory evidence of evangelical repentance.

under a present and abiding sense of

* Job. xlii. 5, 6.

Jerem.

iii.

25.

sin.

and

satisfac-

1st, It is

made

" Mine iniquity

xjfxi. 18, 19.

REPENTANCE.

is

ever before me."

2d, It

is

271

made under a

heart-rending

consideration of what the penitent has done formerly against

his

God.

Sd,

heavily on

He

dwells minutely on those sins which

"Against

conscience.

his

thee,

thee

lie

only,

and in thy sight have I done this evil."

done in great mental agitation, with tears,
and lamentations. "I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamLastly; All this is done with an
ed, yea, confounded!"

have

sinned

4th, All this is

humble and

child-like acceptance of the punishment,

correction for his sins.

heart be humbled

and

Finally

nuine

all

life.

ing mercy to the poor."

a holy

life

These are

ance."

my

remember

by righteousness

off his sins

fruits," in

these exercises of the

of a holy

fruits

punishment

they, then, accept the

of their iniquity, then will

Every
;

Dan.

covenant," &c.*

mind

issue in the ge-

true penitent "breaketh

and his
iv.

and

uncircumcised

"If, then, their

by show" They bring forth

iniquities,

27.

and conversation, "meet

the best proofs of

its

for repent-

existence, and

genuine nature, as a christian grace vouchsafed

to us

by the

Holy Ghost.

aUESTIONS.
Is there a

repentance to death

State the proper

marks of

this counterfeit

of evangelical

repentance?

Can you name any

dern times

What

Who
Can
It

Are

this,

in ancient

the other kind of repentance?

renewed heart ?

inseparable from a certain grace.

its

and mo-

the author of this precious grace?

exist anywhere, but in a

it

is

grace

is
is

instance of

acts simultaneous with faith?

*

Levit. xxvi. 41. 42.

What

is

that

REPENTANCE.

272

Can a

believer be impenitent,

or an

impenitent, a be-

liever?

While

and repentance are twin graces, which of

faith

them is
Does

first

man ?

The

in the order of nature

Proof of

From reason 1 from

Scripture ?

proof of this 1

When

gospel truth

is

the

whole heart?

presented to the heart through a

divinely illumined mind, what

is

the blessed result?

Give the proof and illustration from Bible

Is confession by the lips from the heart,
part of this grace

The

is

texts.

to

God

only, a

Name the first peculiar

What

powers of

Beginning thus, does it pervade

Explain, and illustrate this.

second

this

true repentance begin in the intellectual

third

attribute of this confession.

The fourth

The

The

last ?

the grand outward test of evangelical repentance

Give the proof of

Can you

this.

say that you have, in your heart, and in

the satisfactory evidence of evangelical repentance

life,

MEDITATION.
" Prostrate, dear Jesus

A guilty rebel lies

And upwards,

to the

at thy feet,

mercy-seat,

Presumes to lift his eyes.

If tears of sorrow would suffice
To pay the debt I owe;
Tears should from both my weeping eyes
In ceasless torrents flow!"

What an alarming condition is that of the impenitent

Oh how many, on every side around us, are sleep-

sinner

ing in apparent peace, on the very brink of eternal perdition!

They

are in a deep sleep, while their houses are

wrapt in flames
suspended, as

it

and

their souls,

dreaming of no

evil,

are

were, by a single hair, over the bottomless

273

EEPENTANCE.
pit

my

Tremble,

ter insensibility

my

Reflect,

who has
when it

soul,

on

the horrid condition of the sinner,

opened only in the

his eyes

too late

is

All

over with

is

God's patience, and man's

gone beyond remedy for ever

ance

bar of God,

is

gone;

He departs in horror.

who can conceive

at the

moments of life,
The hour of
him

last

opportunity

O my soul,

his irresistible

how sin, and

human mind in ut-

while thou seest

soul,

up the powers of the

spiritual death seal

on

his condition

and

and
And,

his appear-

as he hears the sentence of

doom

There is a turning point in every man's existence.

Every subject of God's moral government will be awakened,
Every knee
at some period of his being, sooner or later.
Every morshall bow to God
every mouth shall confess.
;

tal shall

grace,

do him homage

either at the foot of the throne of

or at the bar of inflexible justice

Blessed are the

chosen of God, the ransomed of the Most High.

lot to

be awakened in this

life.

Their

legal

It is their

hopes are

all

bowed down under the terrors of

God's law, whence they escape, by faith and penitence,
to the throne of his love, and a joyful acceptance
His
But, Oh the impenitent,
the finally impenitent
awakening, and horrors of soul commence on a dying bed,
or, it may be, at
or in the very valley of gloomy death,
the bar of God.*
Then, Oh then is the hour and power
destroyed, and their souls

of his darkness,
a darkness, which will never be broken in
upon by one single ray of light, or hope. He will weep endless tears of unavailing repentance!
" His hollow eyes will utter streams of wo.

There will be groans that end not, and the sighs,

That always sigh, and tears that ever weep,

And ever fall, but not in mercy's sight.

And sorrow, and repentance, and despair
See that remarkable text of Math.

24

vii.

22, 23.

REPENTANCE.

274

Among them

walk, and to their thirsty

lips,

Present the frequent cups of burning gall!"

POLLOK.

my

soul

sin,

and bewail the deep

and pollution

guilt,

fall

on

And

innumerable.
to

my

more and more,

turn thee

God, from every

Lord thy

to the

even the most cherished.

corrupting fountain of

and

all

my

actual sins.

the guilt of each

soul, as a thunderbolt,

lament

my

original

My

sins are

one of them,

would crush

were

it

me beyond

remedy, in helpless despair, for ever

Lord, there

But,

hope

to the

is

He

Spirit.

faith,

vouchsafes to

of repentance.

My

am

is

Thou

God, on thy gracious throne.

ing

There

allowed to see thee,

forgiveness with thee.

weeping penitent.

me

sendest thy quicken-

the rich

gift

of

life,

of

heavenly Father does not merely

on me, and beckon to me. He lays his mercime and hurries me out of the city of destrucI cannot awaken
All is of his free love and grace.
tion.
Death can never send forth the actings of a
life in me.
Without the Holy Ghost there is no breathing
living man.
of faith, or of penitential sorrow within me.
1 bless my God for the means of grace by which he grants
me repentance to life. I bless thee for the holy and pure light
call loudly

ful

hand on

of glory, shtd in bright effulgence over thy divine govern-

my

ment, by which

Thy

terrific

hope was

my

bones.

was

first

illumined, and alarmed.

justice flashed in overpowering majesty on

Thy law

guilty conscience.

which made

soul

my

soul quake.

utterly

All

uttered
I fell at

broken down.

my

its

my

peals of thunder,

thy feet.

My

carnal

Rottenness entered into

hopes, and vain confidence forsook me,

and vanished as a fond dream. I clung to the cross of my

Thy grace opened my eyes. It shed
bleeding Redeemer.
the precious light of salvation
I did cleave to

And

my

on

my

Redeemer, by firm

O, how joyfully did

this

poor trembling soul.

faith,

and ardent

love.

fond heart spring forward to

275

EEPENTANCE.
meet

thee,

my

God, when

saw thee

conciling God, in Jesus Christ.

salvation.

adore thee

cleave to thee

in the light of

love thee,

and

my

I love to

And

be bound closer and closer, by the cords of thy love.

more

the

know

of mine abhors

me.

long

And

heart,

sin.

by a

and in

feel thy love, the

loath

it

as a dead

more

this heart

body clinging

to

have the work of repentance perfected.

to

purpose will

for this

thereof,

and

thee,

re-

O God of my

life

labour to attain to the evidence

of quickened and growing holiness in

my God.

So help me,

life.

PRAYER.

God

gracious

ever blessed be thy name, that a door

me.
When thy glory was made
was by making thy goodness to pass before
our weeping eyes.
Thy voice proclaimed it on our disthat
thou
art merciful, and gracious, and long
tracted souls,
of hope

known

opened

is

to us,

to

it

This door of hope disclosed the new and living

By this, the sorrowing and believing

suffering.

way, to thy presence.

penitent has free access, and a joyful acceptance, with thee

and our

tears of penitence fall before thee,

not

in despair

but in sweet hope, and in mercy's sight

The rod

my

amain.

And

face, in love

and

when

and the

tears

they shall flow

deeper sorrow for

Lord,

Lord, has smitten the rock of

of thy word,

hard heart

mine

first it

iniquity

But

me, and made

it

was the

it

me weep

It

on the cross,

down, and caused the fountain of penitence

my

soul.

do

grieve for

more

my

I see thee,

abominable

and love

sins,

moved

was thy tender

me

the

law,

on

fatherly face that

in sorrow.

sight of Jesus bleeding

And

Thy

my soul, filled me
brought me to the borders

and
was thy smiling
;

and vileness.

burst in terror

with distraction and horror

of despair.

more and more, as thy

and melts me into

me

shines on

pity,
all

of repentance shall flow

still

that

love,

melted

to flow in

thee, the

more

committed against

276

REPENTANCE.'

thee,

against such

such mercy
the ear

but

resplendent

purity,

now mine
glory,

my

justice,

such

repent, and

Thy

abhor

as I think of

heart into love, as often

Now,

mixed emotions.

me so

O my

and long

that I

after purity,

Redeemer

blessed

and more of thy

ther

love,

may

me

sins,

and pollution,

Now,

O my

am

cap-

more

gracious Fa-

and pant more fervently

to look

with

upon thy holiness, thy

faith,

until this heart, in the full

then, reveal

Grant me strength

and holiness.

and thy mercy

Oh
me,

to

more

Thy

it.

a tumult of

be made like unto

to

and glory

love thee

stronger and stronger eyes of

justice,

my

abhor

unfit for thy presence.

tivated with love to thee,

thee,

myself, in

wonderful love in Christ Jesus,

captivating purity, and holiness excite in

which make

and

love,

eyes see thee on the throne of thy

and

sackcloth, and ashes.

melts

such

had long heard of thee by the hearing of

emotions

of a perfected repentance, shall rest on thee, and recline on

thy bosom, with unfaltering love
seal of

" My

my

heavenly Father's love

my

tablish

my

receive the

his voice say,

go in peace

I"

gracious God, and answer the desires of

Accept the homage of

heart.

contrite heart.

there

and hear

child, thy sins are forgiven thee

hear me,

my

and

Lead me

feet firmly in the path

of

poor broken and

this

way

in the

of holiness, and es-

When

life.

wander,

gracious Shepherd, bring the humble weeping penitent

back
lift

to the fold

me

up

and

of thy sheep.
restore to

me

When
the

light

fall,

graciously

of thy face in the

midst of the pleasing sorrows of penitence.

Let the

tears

of contrition mix, and flow forth with the tears of restorer

hope, and joy.
finished, receive

And when

my

into thy presence.

and

to the

all

my

services

And

I will

trials arc

ascribe glory to the Father,

Son, and to the Holy Ghost,

Our Father who

and

humble, but joyful and enraptured soul

art in

heaven, &c.

for ever

Amen.

and ever.

CHAPTER

XIX.

OF SANCTIFICATION.
"

Unworthy, most unworthy

To

is

your servant,

stand in presence of the King, or hold

Most distant, and most humble place in

Abode of glory, excellent, unrevealed.
But God Almighty be for ever praised,

Who of HIS
And

fulness,

fills

ornament, to make

Well

his

me with all grace,

me in liis sight,

pleasing, and accepted in his Court."

POLLOK.

The
tion of

blood of Jesus Christ ckansetb us from the polluall sin,

as well as from

called sanctijication.
rifies."

and

And

its guilt.
This cleansing is
" Whom he justifies, them he also glo-

the sanctification of our souls

final preparation for

no man

shall see the

It differs

from

heaven.

our glory,

Lord."

justification,

act of God's grace.

is

" For without holiness

This

which consists in one single

a ivorkof the Holy Spirit, proceeding in various degrees of progress, through its dreary
winter seasons
with

all its

maintains
lief,

and

its

is

bright

and balmy summers.

variety of aspect to the eye of

its

onward course.

through joys and sorrows

man,

it

But,

always

Through doubts, and unbe;

through sad reverses and

cheering victories, the Christian pursues his way by invinci-

24*

278

OF SANCTIFICATION.

ble grace, up the steeps of the narrow way, to the

mount of

God.

First,
This may be considered in a twofold view
work of grace on the part of God. Second; as a work
" We work out our salvation with
of duty on our part.
:

as a

fear

and

and trembling ;" while " God works in us both

good pleasure."

to will,

to do, of his

First

work of

as a

The Holy

grace.

Spirit takes the

glory exclusively, not only of implanting in our souls the

principles of spiritual

first

life

but

also

of sustaining,

strengthening, and ripening them into perfection.

There

an analogy between God's influences, and

and the spiritual world, at once

is

operation in the natural,

perfect

and

beautiful.

Our

natural

life

every

moment

tions.

Our

spiritual life, in like

Christ in God."

It is

manner, he bestowed on

That

cherishes

by his grace.

removed by
it

due time crowns

" In Him
tion.

the

quickens

it

"life

sustained by his love.

forth into healthy action

sickliness are

he sustains

life

of our existence, by his bounteous visita-

us by a sovereign act of his grace.

who

he bestowed on us

That

by a gratuitous act of his power.

Its

hid with

is

It is

drawn

languor and

balmy breathings of his

spirit

into active holiness

and in

it

with the ripeness, and beauty of perfec-

and in

Him we move

both

as christians,

and as

And all this, according to his universal system

Our
ture, God does by his own selected means.

natural

Him we

we

live

have our being,"

and in

CREATURES.

lives are sustained

in na-

by the means of his providence ; such as

We cannot de-

food, drink, clothes, rest, heat, medicine.

scribe the
life.

We

manner

in which these

means

cannot perceive how food

is

sustain and extend

converted by a hid-

den and mysterious process, into new and healthy blood.

enough to cherish our pious dependence on his divine

It is

providence, that

we do know

the fact that

all this is so.


OF SANCTIFICATION.
In

like

manner

is

our spiritual

279

And

sustained.

life

this

done by his selected means of grace ; such as his divine

doctrines, his promises, and all the ordinances of his sabbath, and his sanctuary
and especially the Lord's Supper.
is

How

this is done,

are not able to

and enlarges our

firms,

ledge

we

how he

tell.

How

he con-

spiritual perceptions,

and know-

how he

ripens into

strengthens our faith

maturity our love to him, our penitence, our hope, and

all

the graces which cluster around the heart of the Christian,

by the

effectual application of these

The

not comprehend.

means of grace, we canlife, and

mysteries in the natural

the mysteries in the spiritual

life,

teach us humility, while

they never shake our faith in the manifest facts of the one

and the
saints

all

his ordinances,

for the edifying of the

love of God gave us

" for the perfecting of the

The wisdom and

other.

the gospel, and

body of Christ

till

we

all

and of the knowledge of the

Son of God, unto a perfect man unto the measure of the

come, in the unity of the

faith,

stature of the fulness of Christ."

into

him

How
sin,

in

all

things." Eph.

iv.

And

thus,

"we grow up

12, 13, 1.5.

Holy Ghost cleanseth us from the defilement of

in some measure, understand by considering

the

we may,

the following things.

To

every vice, there

is

sin, there is

ing from the Holy

Spirit.

effectually uprooted

ples of the virtues,

die

away under

virtue.
To every
an opposite grace, proceed-

an opposite

form of indwelling

Now, these vices and

sins are

by the implantation of the living princiand graces of the Holy Ghost and they
:

the vigorous growth of these graces,

and

vir-

tues of the Christian.

The Holy Ghost "works

illumines by his word
sult

is,

that

life,

He

these works in us."

;

he perfects.

The

re-

and to do, of
we obtain from him, as the

in us both to will,

That

the will

all

he quickens

"he worketh

his good pleasure."

Lord of ill

is,

and the capacity

to love

God

to

280

OF SANCTIFICATION.

him our

yield up to

and our bodies, as instruments of

who are alive from the

souls,

righteousness, and holiness, as those

dead

and are zealous in new obedience. We now know

God for we have the will, and capacity to dis-

the things of

cern them

We now receive the

spiritually.

things of

God

no more foolishness to us, as they are to the

Our love is excited, and carried out with a
natural man.
supremacy of affection because " the love of Christ con-

for they are

We

straineth us."

repent with deep humility, of

we have done

all

our

and forsaking them,

and abhorring them, as "that abominable thing which
God hates." Our passions and desires, which cling to
sins

deploring the evil

earthly
er's

and sensual things, are disentangled from the tempt-

snares

and are made pure

holy and proper objects

and are directed

growth of divine love to God, and

love of the world

is

weakened, and consumed away by

life

are conveyed to our faith,

disposition is displaced, with

ing attendants,
wrath,
death,

strife,

is

degrees, as fresh vigour

and

covetous

and

disgust-

zeal.

horde of

evil

their overt fruits of bitterness,

all

and by degrees

mindedness, with

its

and

Unbelief

ambition, pride, hatred, envy, malice,

lust,

with

The

spiritual objects.

displaced by the increase of love,

devotional obedience to our Heavenly Father.

and

to their

by means of a fresh and vigorous

all

is

it

and

wholly removed by spiritual

lovely constellation of graces,

its

such as "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith, temperance."

Second

Our
Let

sanctification

may be viewed

us never forget that

duty on our part.

by

ficent grace is obtained

us,

as a

all

work of
muni-

this

and ripened into a healthy vi-

gour by us, in the way of our laborious devotion to every

in other words, in the steadfast and
requirement of duty
;

persevering use of appointed means.

does,

indeed,

" work

all

every grace, free as the

his

air

we

The Blessed

works in us
breathe.

;"

But,

Spirit

and bestow
it

is

just as


281

OF SANCTIPICATION.
true that he

does work them

in us,

by our devout, and

means of

steadfast use of his appointed

But, in order to obtain

his grace in us.

We

grace.

He

placed under a deep and solemn responsibility.

it,

are

creates

we must

put

forth every faculty of our souls into a laborious exercise in

and knocking

asking, and seeking,

the

at

door of free

We must do this with all om soul, heart, mind, and

strength.
We must neglect no one means of his grace.
We must employ each in its proper place and for its spegrace.

With unwearied pains-taking, with humility, and

we must wrestle, as in an agony, with the God of
and refuse, with a holy importunity, to let him go,

cial end.

prayer,

Jacob

until he blesses us.

In these

way,

we

if

"

cleanse ourselves.
this

must we persevere as earnestly

by these means, actually

dutiful exercises

and devotedly, as

"a new

could,

We

heart."

must make unto ourselves," in

And at the same time, our love

and duty to our Saviour, constrain us to rely so exclusively

on his divine grace, and merits, as if all means, and all
This
duties, and all efforts were powerless and vain.
maxim let me impress deeply on every mind, until it become familiar in our lips, God never requires man to
DO God's work but he commands every man to do

ALL HIS duty. Carry out this maxim in your whole conception of the work of God, and man's duty and agency,
in the great salvation.
It will prevent you from trenching

on God's high prerogative, and grace.

and know your own proper place, as

It

pient of divine grace

own

regeneration, and salvation.

and
ness.

not the contriver,

to ask,
It will

because

it

prompt us

God, who has assured us

is

God

to

the end, will cause us to find.

make you

humble

reci-

and author of your

It will

prompt us

to ask

that giveth out of his ful-

seek

that

will

the

feel,

and

to seek,

because

he combines the means with

It will

prompt us

to

knock,

282

OF SANCTIFICATION.

and

knock with persevering earnestness,

to

because

God will open to us. Math. vii. 7, 8.

The Scriptures abound with intimations, and commands
on this matter. "Work out your salvation." " Make ye
a new heart, and a new spirit." "Repent, and turn your" Grow ye in grace."
selves from your transgressions."
" Build up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in
Holy Ghost keep yourselves in the love of G od."
Now, let us see how we are to do all this. ^We grow in
spiritual discernment, when, by the study of the Holy Scrip-

the

tures,

we

more and more in God's pure

and thus we expel darkness from our minds,

illumine ourselves

light of truth

and drive

By

off doubts,

and

fears.

holy contemplation, and acts of devotion,

our Divine Redeemer, by fresh acts of

minds
power

steadily

we

on

his love,

we cleave to
we fix our

on his rich grace, and Almighty

unceasing care over

realize his

Teacher, our atoning High Priest

vereign Lord.

faith

as

us,

our

our Intercessor, our so-

Confidence, and love, and

him do

faith in

thence grow, and increase, and take possession of our hearts.

Hencf our faith is refreshed, and

And, thence, by necessity, unbelief
dually dies, with

its

doubts,

fears,

distrust,

The

my

weakened, and gra-

various attendant host of distressing

" Out of the

and despondency.

depths have I cried unto thee,

Lord

strengthened.

greatly
is

soul doth wait

Lord.

in thy

I wait for thee,

word do

hope."

habit of repentance, and contrition for sin,

we can

and strengthen, by having our hearts filled, and

possessed with a sense of God's awful and spotless purity
and the spirituality of his law and the august majesty,

cherish,

and uncompromising

purity

how loathsome

appear to our hearts

will &in

of his justice.
?

Oh

then,

With what

and
our compassionate Redeemer, crying, " Unclean

intense feelings of our

own unworthiness

self-ab-

horrence, will we, then, throw ourselves in the dust, at the

feet of

OF SANCTIFICATION.
unclean

We

have heard of thee, by the hearing of the

Wherefore, we abhor
!"
Now, " what

ear; but, now, our eyes see thee!

ourselves

and repent in dust and ashes

carefulness
selves

is

wrought in us

Yea, what clearing of our-

Yea, what indignation

283

what vehement desire

Yea, what fear

Yea, what zeal

Yea,

what

Y'ea,

re-

venge" against sin ?*

And

we

thus

destroy

obduracy of " the old

ourselves from

new

selves the

heart,

and

and the new

;"

and melt down the

thus " we turn

And

and " make

And,

spirit."

to our-

thus,

" we

filthiness of the flesh,

the

all

in us.

our transgressions

cleanse ourselves from

spirit

impenitence

man"

perfect holiness in the fear

and

We

of God."

consider with impartial care, what are the reigning sins in

And

us.

posed

more

to

selecting the virtues, or the graces

we

them,

cherish that grace

perfect exercise, that virtue

until

directly

And

mortified the flesh, with the aflections, and lusts.

can be done successfully, only through the Holy

this

who

op-

we mature into a
we have gradually
all

Spirit,

shed on us abundantly through our Lord Jesus

is

Christ.

Thus, the Blood of Christ, Good's Son, cleanseth us from

the guilt of

all

And

God.

sin

thus,

it

so that

we have pardon, and peace with

cleanseth us from the defilement of

all

sin.

Now,

me
evil

to

to

pursue this subject farther, with success, allow

remark

on

that this pollution of sin

us, as does the

tional beings.

confusion.

"I

First
lie

had

inflicted a double

consciousness of crime on
It

down

all

in

my

shame, and

my

confusion

covereth me, because I have sinned against the Lord

God."
this

ra-

overwhelms us with shame and

my

In the progress of sanctification, we are freed from

degrading and deplorable condition.

2Cor.

vii.

11.

With

the cause of

OF SANCTIFICATION.

284
our shame, that

shame

With

taken away.

is

the cause of

our confusion and disgrace, that confusion and disgrace are

Our heavenly Father now welcomes

removed.

presence, and the joys of his

draw near, with the true

us to his

"Come

fellowship.

let

us

heart, in the full assurance of faith

having our hearts sprinkled from an

evil

conscience, and

our bodies washed as in pure water."

Second

The

pollution of sin

makes us

objects of loath-

God

ing in the eyes of infinite purity, and holiness.

can-

not look upon us sinners, but with abhorrence of sin.

the cause of this loathsomeness being removed,

This abhorrence

acceptable in God's sight.

away from

sin in the abstract

we

is

But,

made

are

not taken

but from our persons as sin-

so that we are actually as those who are cleansed and

made pure before him. Hence God draws near to us
and we are brought near unto him. We are no more term-

ners

ed the forsaken f and desolate.

and he delighteth in us

"

We are married to the

and rejoiceth over

Lord,

us, as his belov-

And this love and commuIsai. Ixii. 4, 5.

nion are mutual, and abiding. " I am my beloved's and
my beloved is mine." Sol. Song, vi. 3.

ed spouse."

Lastly

another important part of our salvation consists

in our deliverance from the bondage of Satan.

purpose was the Son of

God

"For

manifested, that he

destroy the works of the devil."

First,

In doing

this

might

this,

our

power over man, in this

world and, in particular, over his own ransomed people.
This blow of our Almighty Redeemer's arm was felt by

Lord has broken up

his usurped

Satan, and

minion.
oracles

all

his legions, to the remotest abodes of his do-

They

retired in

consternation from the pagan

and the long-boasted scenes of

their

triumphs.

This blow has not yet entirely consummated the ruin of

The conquered
these rebels, and their machinations.
leader is, indeed, in chains, and he has been led captive
;

while his power has been greatly paralyzed.

But the

final

286

OF SANCTIFICATION.
triumph yet remains

his final destination.

reaping the

Satan

is

first

distinguished fruits of his glorious conquest.

compelled

is

"

truth

"

as

falling
latter

and

and glory of the

driven out, and

to recede, as the light,

And he

church advance.

of the

when he shall be cast into the pit of

Our blessed King is, the meanwhile,

is

now being

lightning from heaven."

The advance

day glory will send out the rays of effulgent

holiness,

beaming

brightly

Iniquity, as ashamed, will hide itself."

over

the

And our

world.

world shall

be cleansed from the presence, the treasons, and pollutions of

Satan.

when "

And
the

in the joyful day of universal

new

new
enemy

heavens, and the

from God, the victory over

this

emancipation,

earth " shall proceed

shall

be consummat-

ed for ever.
In the meantime the church

the field of the Christian's

is

personal triumphs over Satan, and

all

his wiles.

Our Lord

throws a wall of permanent protection around each of his

This wall of protection Satan cannot unHe who is " mighty to save," and

ransomed ones.

dermine, nor surmount.

who did in the days of his flesh, cast out devils, and
made Satan, and his angels fall as lightning from heaven,
and quail at his feet, does still retain them in chains and
render them powerless to harm us, beyond the mere trials
This love
Christ's love is changeless.
of his temptations.
;

Nothing can
Nothing can separate us from him.
His watchful care is the exercise of his omnipotence over
That secures present
That keeps Satan in chains.
us.
peace, and future triumph.
Second : Besides this, there is an additional care exeris

our indissoluble bond of union to him.

separate

him from

cised over us.

us.

As long

sin within us, there

and

is

as there

is

a vestige of indwelling

a dangerous foothold in us, for Satan,

his ever-busy emissaries.

are renewed in the spirit of our

But, in proportion as

minds

indwelling sin are, thence, gradually destroyed in us,

25

we

and the remains of

eacTi

286

OF SANCTIFICATION.

foothold of Satan, and his busy agents, is thence destroyed,

and

his facilities of assaulting us, are

by degrees

swept away.

In vain do the hosts of

Satan hurl his

fiery darts,

when

faith

hell

effectually

assail

keeps watch

and

us,

and our

Redeemer's righteousness, as a shield, covers our vitals.

And, finally, when this body of sin and death shall be abolished
when this soul, purified from every sin, shall be
;

clothed afresh, in our resurrection body,

and powerful,

and immortal,

spiritual,

ning, and sleepless malice of

assail us, than they

hell,

They

tempt us, nor trouble us.

now made

pure,

the watchful cun-

can thenceforth, no more

can, thenceforth, no

more

can an angel who has been ever sin-

unclouded holiness, and glory.

less in his

aUESTIONS.
What

cleanses us from

all

sin

State the difference between justification,

and

sanctifica-

tion.

Is there great variety in the exercise of those

state of sanctification

What

the hvo-fold

is

who

are in

view of sanctification ?

What is the

first ?

Who

is

the sole author of

all life,

natural

and

spiritual

Describe the analogy between God's influences, and operations in the natural world

What

are God's

means of providence

to sustain our natu-

ral lives?

What
lives

are

his

means of grace

to sustain our spiritual

Describe

How

this fully.

does the Holy Ghost cleanse away our sins

Ex-

plain.

Whence

derive

we

power, and grace to persevere in this

work?
In what way does the

Spirit destroy the habits of sin

287

OF SANCTIFICATION.

What
Does
ner

the second view of sanctification

is

How

work on our minds in an

the Spirit

man-

irrational

then?

Does grace tend

to cherish indolence,

and

the neglect of

divine means?

With what motives should we use

grace

means of

these

all

maxim designed

Recite the

proper dis-

to guide us into

tinctions.

What
maxim ?

Do

attending to

be the effect of piously

will

the Scriptures enjoin

on

it

us, to

work out our

this

salva-

tion?

When this,

and similar commands seem

be

to

difficult

reconciled with the melancholy truth of man's depravity and

mind and

inability in

maxim?
Can we

Holy God

Give a

Name

Jerem.

we

we

to

the above

have, without the

x. 23.

Ephes.

two great

2.
?

oppose and overcome impenitence

the pollution of sin inflicted

ii. 1,

commands

Another instance

farther illustration.

are

evils

on us

them.

Explain the first

and how

Explain the second

proof

do you practically, comply with these

How
Has

how do you apply

use the powers aright which

divine power of the

How

will

that evil is cured.

and how

that

is

cured.

text

text

There

What is
What

is

important branch of our salvation.

another

it?
is

the first thing our

Lord does in destroying

the

works of Satan ?
Is the

Satan

What

church the

Explain
is

field

of the Christian's triumphs over

this.

the second thing our

Satan's power

Lord does in destroying

288

OF SANCTIFICATION.

When

and where

Do

my

you,

and

will our triumphs over sin,

enemies, be perfected

dear friend, cherish the hope, that you are

under the cleansing power of the blood of Christ

Do

you obtained the Holy Ghost?

Do you
of

" grow in grace ?"

God" by

holy

all

our

all

Do you

means? 2

you study

to

Have

be holy?

" keep yourself in the love

Pet.

Jude, ver. 21.

18.

iii.

MEDITATION.
"

Rock of ages cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood,
!

From

thy side a healing flood,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath, and make me puke

Have

passed from death to

my

change in

love of the Father,

Here

pause.

my

views,

or, the love

God

the

am

Holy

Spirit, a principle

culty

my

of

habit,

reality in
life

my

life,

renewed

my

there

my

soul,

body.

The one

operation,

dead, in

of spiritual

is

my

every

fa-

And

heart.

corresponding activity.
is

life,

as strictly a

as is the principle of natural

The one
is

is

as real in

as is the other.

grave.

By his quick-

life.

inlaid, into

and every power of

real

is spiritual.

mode of

am

is

then have 1 received of

or principle of spiritual

diffused over

other

*
life,

been infused, and

soul,

where there

This

it

the

me ?

and guidance.

passed from death to

ening power has

Does

of the world reign in

for divine light,

*
If I

I perceive a real

and pursuits

now throw myself down on my

I will

knees, and pray to

Do

life ?

desires,

!"

Without the

natural
its

own

the

place,

and

life

Without the one, I

am " dead in

other, I

trespasses and sins."

And my

gracious God has promised this to us, as a real

and one of infinite importance. " A new heart
give to thee." " You hath he quickened into life, who

blessing
will I


OF SANCTIFICATION.
were dead."

Blessed be

God

289

for all this rich display of his

grace.

Now,

search,

my

soul, into the operations of this divine

Wherever it exists, it shows itself by action. It is

not a dead and inoperative element. And among its first
actions, it inclines and moves the whole soul, into disposilife.

and

tions,

acts suitable to its

own

spiritual nature.

my

veys an inclination, and disposition to

tion,

judgment, memory, and conscience:

spiritual functions

remember

to

it,

be regulated by

it

the will, the desires, the passions,

and holy.

mind.

It

It leads

afler the Spirit

con-

to

perform their

to discern the truth, to discriminate, to

of a good conscience before God.

pure,

It

reason, percep-

and

to give the

It inclines

and

answer

and moves

affections, to

what

has the power of a reigning law in

not

me on

to

and

have a respect

to

walk,

is

my

after the flesh, but

to

God's com-

all

mands.

And, in the midst of all temptations, and trials, which I

must encounter, it inclines and moves me to all the duties
of holiness with an evenness, and constancy of power.
And, finally, it is permanent in urgent inclinations. It is
a real life, and one that can never be extinguished.
Can

cause

my

the words of

I ever forget

divine Redeemer,

This

ye shall live also."

I live,

My

cient to secure abiding comforts.

divine

thus

life is

Be-

guarantee

is

suffi-

perseverance in this

intimately connected,

and interwoven

with the honour of the divine love, and power, and the very
life

of Christ.

But

there

is

something more, resulting from

and

consists of a certain power,

God commands me.

to believe,
I

The

to repent,

to

But these

are,

ural powers, or exertions.

to

It

do what

various calls to do our duty,

grow

have a power, and capacity

neration.

this life.

real capacity

in grace

to follow

do

by no means, the
It is

25*

all

imply that

Christ in the regefruit

of

my

na-

a disposition, and capacity

290

OF SANCTIFICATION.

conveyed

my

to

soul, in spirituaJ life,

by the gracious act of

Holy Ghost's regenerating power. From him proceeds

all life.
And the same texts of his holy word, which declare
the possession of that capacity, and strength, do also declare
emphatically, that they are wholly of the grace of God.
The Holy Spirit does so watch over the entire accomplishment of the scheme of our redemption, that not one of all the
and that
jewels of his crown shall be alienated from him
the

man's pride
Listen,

my

soul,

renew

the Lord, will

the

be levelled to the dust of abasement.

" They that wait on
to his divine words.

shall

Lord unto

all

"Ye

their strength."

pleasing,

And what can be

might, according to his glorious power."

surer than his promise

"In

We

and STRENGTH."

"

Spirit in the inner

man."

walk worthy of

^being strengthened with all

Lord have

the

I righteousness

are strengthened with might by his

We

can even exult and say, in

view of our ever present Saviour,-" I can do

For

Christ which strengtheneth me."

all

things through

and
" we are strong in the Lord, and in the power
might." For " the God of peace, through our Lord
all

encounters,

for all duties,

of his

Jesus Christ, makes us perfect in every good work

to

do his

will."*

Thanks be

to

my God,

Thanks

for all his gifts.

to thee

that thou hast given us this will, this disposition, this power
to

do the holy acts of a christian

divine author of this spiritual

cherish and preserve

it

gently, lest I permit

it

in
to

my

life.

life,

Vouchsafe, then,

that grace

soul.

Let

me

which
watch

will
dili-

be wounded by temptation, or

marred and weakened by the violence of indwelling sin.

And let me apply myself with all diligence to the strengthening and maturing of this life, by the habitual exercise
of its powers, and capacities.

And

having thus received " strength for holiness,"

* Isai. xl. 31.

13.

Eph.

vi. 10.

Col.

i.

10, 11.

and Heb.

Isai. xlv. 24.

xiii. 20,

21.

Eph.

iii.

16.

my

Phil. iv.

OF SANCTIFICATION.

291

soul shall labour with patient perseverance, to exterminate

criminal desires, and vicious propensities

all

affections
ly

lusts

unruly passions

all

all

unholy

ungodliness, and world-

and vain imaginations

rebellious thoughts,

all

may be found

that I

all

in a course of dutiful obedience to

all

the

commands, and ordinances of my Lord and Master Christ

as is befitting one who professes to be " crucified to the
flesh with the affections and lusts ;" and to be " cleansed
from

all

O my

the filthiness of the flesh

God,

to

my vow

redeem

and

spirit."

So help me,

A PRAYER.
Blessed be thy name, holy and merciful God, for the gracious mission of the Holy Spirit.
My soul was found of
thee in a deplorable state.

Thou

and from

pit,

didst mercifully

eternd

lift

miry

the

But, thou didst not abhor me.

the poor outcast, from the fearful

clay.

moved thee

to this

of the love of

God

As

my

visitation of love,

even

work of

was thy sovereign grace,

It

of holiness

spirit

and depth
on this unexpected

height,

often as I look

and

heart rejoices,

Saviour, and Sanctifier.

thy rich grace that

love.

exults in

the unspeakable joy,

God my
and plea-

sure of beholding thee, through the lattice of thine ordi-

nances

What must

!*

the glory of heaven

in thee,
thee

more
the

my
How

full

know

it

be to

the divine pleasure of believing

Redeemer

How

vision of thy glory,

to

for ever in the family

ones

do heartily bless thee,

and born

Jehovah,

sweet the joys of loving

what then must

God, and
born

and see thee in

thee,

delicious the hope of meeting thee, to part

And, oh

my

to

it

be, to

no

be with thee, in

be for ever with thee,

my

of the ransomed and holy

God,

such an inheritance.

that ever
I will

was

adore thee,

righteousness, and strength, for ever and

ever!
*

Song of

Sol.

ii.

9.

2
!

292

OF SA>;CTIFICATION.

God

thou

art

my God

soul thirsteth for thee

thirsty land,

my

where no water

the water brooks, so panteth

God

more, each day.

life

my

As

is.

my

the hart panteth after

God,

soul after thee,

my
me

long to bathe in the fountain of purity

may

that I

my

Mercifully deign to illumine

clouded, uninterrupted.

and

seek thee

will

longs for thee in a dry and

long to behold the light and love of thy face, un-

early

flesh

stand pure, before thee.

long to

more and more conformed to thy law and

the divine model, and pattern of my sanctification.
Thou givest strength to him that is weak even strength
Be it even so
along with the gift of purity, and holiness.
have

soul

me,

to

my

and

gled,

Oh
all

God, in

free

things

heart be lifted up, above

God,

art

my

life,

One

of the Holy

and be consecrated

be wholly thine

commune

to

the light of thy presence

disentan-

from the snares, and distractions of

for the unction

Hong

Lord, according to thy word.

with thee,

all

my

that I

Lord,

to thee.

foes,

and thy

sin.

may know
let

my

Let

foes.

it

my
and without a rival. For Thou,
my portion on earth, and my inheritance

in heaven.

Work,
me.

Lord, of thy goodness,

then,

Fulfil all the

work of

faith

with power

Redeemer may be

thy

all

good pleasure of thy goodness

:

that the

glorified in

me

name
and

of

I in

my

him

work in
and the
Blessed

accord-

ing to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thes.

i.

11, 12.

my Blessed Redeemer and thou Holy Spirit

humbly adore and love, strengthen, and confirm
Root out,
every grace in this humbled, and prostrate soul.
every evil desire
every
I beseech thee, O Holy Spirit
And,

whom

earthly

passion

dearest idol, to which

tion

ness,

and

my

is idolatry.

Overturn the

soul clings with idolatrous affec-

utterly destroy in

which

every impure affection.

me,

all

lusts,

Most Holy One

and
!

all

covetous-

make me

holy

293

OF SANCTIFICATION.

Give me the

as thou art holy.

the perfection of

let

Deign

heaven.

Enter

ple.

in,

own creating
And do thou,
utterly

it

then,

O Holy

Illumine

as the Spirit of

It will

by

and of

Arm my

means.

temptations, put forth to entice

and

my

feet

Satan under

overcome

may

it

find

in

later.

Lord, on

all

me

these

soul against the various

my

And,

feet.

all

these foes, which assail

heart

from thy commandments.

my
me

rejoice in the

this thy throne, in

Overthrow the influence of

temple.

their

be done, blessed be thy

be done, sooner or

strong constitutional sins

me

judgment and of burning,

and destroy even

will

Rule thou, then,

own

this thy

the habitation of thy

propensity

This

the inclination to sin.

name.

Spirit, to

with the beauty of holiness.

it

evil

and

my home in
make me thy tem-

me, in

and take possession of

consume every

assurance.

reality of thy holiness

in degree, await

away from thee

thou conqueror of death,

And when

the fears of death.

it

comes,

clothed in the robe of Christ's righteousness

having the white stone

my

and the new name

In due time, put

and

sitting at

Redeemer's feet and ready to pass with him, leaning

on his arm of love and power, while I pass through the
Jordan of death, into thy Canaan above.
;

And

while

life

duty with fidelity

continues,
;

and, in

may

all

I follow thee in the path

my

of

sufferings, with patience.

humbly renew my vow of self-dedication, to thee. I

holy and accepted, in Christ, on
God, graciously accept
Him, our New Testament altar.
And grant me an enlargement of grace and
the offering.
Then shall I
the divine quickening of the Holy Ghost.
and serve thee with all my heart,
joyfully fulfil my vows
and with all my soul, and with all my strength and with
I here

lay this living sacrifice,

all

my

mind.

In every duty of holy

life,

watchfulness and prayer

may

be found humbly and

Pour out upon me

assiduously employed.
;

and help

me

the spirit of

ever to mingle a pure

294

OF SANCTIFICATION.

and ardent devotion, with

Oh
my

model

perfect

Oh

in

my

creature,

for his purity

of heart.

carrying out

into an active

Oh
Oh

to

all

christian

the
life.

meekness, and

for that

humility, which adorned him.

life.

Lord Jesus, as

to follow the
efforts at

new

graces of the

the active services of

all

and strength,

for grace

be like him, in his

patience, and self-possession, and triumph, in the hours of

temptation

when

When

he was reviled, he reviled not again

a divine state of mind, and heart, and

Oh
Oh

life.

of fervent prayer, and habitual devotion.

spirit

simple, sincere, and unaffected submission to his

Father, in

all

things.

in his divine will.

Oh
And in
!

to

my

have

will

God, such

Grant me,

reproached, he cursed not.

for his

for his

Heavenly

swallowed up

order to reach forth to this, re-

move every weight, and the sins which easily beset me that
may perfect holiness in the fear of God. Grant me these
divine favours,
Lord God for his sake, who ransomed
us, and washed us in his own blood.
And glory shall be
thine in Christ, for ever.
Amen.
:

A PRAYER SUITED TO ANOTHER CLASS;

God, look down in compassion upon me.
and am ready

ly beset with temptation,

send forth thy

me

light

and thy

thy holy presence.

to

truth

Oh

let

to fall.

them

for a

lead,

am soremy God

and guide

time of refreshing

from thy life-reviving presence. Strengthen me with all

might in the inner man. In every trial and sore temptation, I

am

cheered with thy promise.

wilt not leave

is

more

clearly

wilt

grace

let this

obedience.

to the will

of

my

promised us than

make

Thou

more

me

us

final

stimulate

active in

my

victory,

more than conquerors.

me

to a higher

And, being assured of

infallibly.

Through thy

degree of steadfast

victory,

may

become

and immoveably fixed

O most deof my profession.

christian course

in thy love, and the stability

God thou
And nothing

faithful

enemies.

295

OF SANCTIFICATION.
licious joy, from such

What

We

an assurance.

Christ upon his throne

my

a contrast with

present condition

conceive the joys of being free from

foes.

me

Let

rejoice in

And grant me,

lift

my

to

Let

do aught willingly,

me

that

to

my

God.

word

act, or

left to

myself as
or give

my

deliver

soul

my feet from falling.

and tumults of life, I am very apt to forI tremble at the possibility of my falltears,

and

and restraining

and perhaps of even

away from my profession, and of
perhaps,
crimes, a
an apostate
and casting

falling

off fear,

too, into

falling,

backslider,

Let

divine

or grieve thee,

never be so far

ing into a cold and languid condition

prayer,

my

may

that

would grieve thy people

from death, mine eyes from

Li the business,

all

hold out, and persevere in

occasion to the enemy to blaspheme.

get thee,

can

fears,

all

Saviour.

every

bring dishonour on thy cause

of holiness

Who

doubts,

all

never yield aught to the foe.

anxiously guard against

spirit

destroyed.

head in the midst of

God my

Lord, grace

May

holy resolutions.

me

me

Let

misgivings.

all

shall reign with

enemy being

the last

God

beseech thee,

of faithfulness and divine com-

me continually.
keep me
let my eyes ever be on
Arm me against all
strength.

passion! guard me, and guide

ever under thy watchful eye

and

thee, for direction,

Oh

fiery trials.

the tempter

my soul,
Lord
me what is weak
:

and

for grace to resist the first

and

for

to

of every malady of sin.

confirm

me

in thy

ways

every disposition to waver and doubt.

the Lord,

backslide

and
;

approach of

shun even the appearance of

in the

power of thy might.

evil.

Heal

Strengthen in

and put an end

to

make me strong

in

Then shall

not

but I shall run with joyfulness in thy ways of

holiness.

When
But from

I look
thee,

back upon the

God

forward into the future,

comes

past, I

my

O my God

have much

pardon.
!

thou art

to fear.

When I look
all my hope.

296

OF SANCTIFICATION.
guide me, and guard me.

of those who hate

deemer

my

in thy

Saviour

hands

Am

soul.

new and

living

Re-

blessed

not love thee,

own

its

wavering

faith,

often loses sight of thee in the midst of

But

and sad delinquencies.

infirmities,

never forgettest me.

no, never leave me

poor, weak, doubting heart, in

sinful

not up to the will

my

way ? Do

no, thou wilt never,

My

me

give
I not,

Wilt thou ever give up the work of thy

often forgets thee

Lord

my

I rejoice at thy

thou,

promise of this,

which is sure and steadfast while I am mortified at the

weakness of my faith, and my ever intruding doubts, and
:

suspicions, and jealousies.

When

am

overtaken with afl^ictions, and thrown into

the fiery furnace.

Oh

let

it

Lord

be for thy sake,

as a Christian.

suflfer

let

me

my Redeemer

comfort me,

no

And, in the hot furnace, O thou Son of God

let me see thee, and feel thy presence while

thou walkest with

evil,

it

thee near

satisfy

me,

Thy frown

is

thee,

oh

what can

the unhappy, and

on thy arm,

as I lean

craving

I will fear

dark valley of the shadow of

terrific

my God

But,

Without

there.

can

no, not even the

itself.

endure

me

what

With

death

never have the experience of an evil one to add fuel

to the flames.

soul

and

my own. When I sufi*er, may

Let me have a pure conscience.

not for any misdoings of

thy anger,

who can

thy gracious smiles

spread

abroad the joys of heaven in the soul, even in a howling

wilderness

Thanks
to

even

in the fiery furnace

to thy divine

wisdom

promote our sanctification.

that thou

May

makest

feel

fiery trials

the purifying

power of these means. While they disentangle me more

and more from a world, which can be no portion to my
soul, may I rise up, and flee from its snares, its follies, its
sins
and may I cleave closer to thee, my God, than ever.
;

And, feeling that

1 abhor

it

sin causes the hidings of thy face,

with a perfect hatred.

It

brings on

me

all

may

my

;!

297

OF SANCTIFICATION.
bodily pains

my

all

our to the cursed

from

it

Hailed

abhor

my
it

SaviI

fly

not even such as

thou,

and as

full

ever.

Oh

me,

it

and ardent devotion of Israel that, like him,

my God, with strong crying and tears

was through thy

And

hate

wrestle with

my Redeemer why

And,

and, like him, prevail.

May

more holiness of heart and life.

for a
pray with more of the spirit and ardour of devotion.

for the zeal,

may

Oh

for

it.

heart to

sorrows of mind

tree.

I,

so wrestle and

Lord Jesus,
Redeemer art

strength,

O my

thou,

not

of love, and mercy, and as

so

prevail

It

he prevailed.

that

as near to us,

still

faithful to

hear us as

then hear me, and perfect thy work of grace in

that in

due time, I may, in the perfection of holiness,

praise thy boundless love, and faithfulness, and enjoy thee in

the land of perfection,

And,
all

my

these benefits

and

and glory above.

bountiful God, what can I render

!

I rejoice,

glory.

I exult

for

with joy at the prospect of

reaching that land, and that palace of

Land

to thee

look up to the mountains of holiness,

of eternal beauty and holiness

my

heavenly Father.

Land

of glory im-

maculate, ever shining, without the interruption of night

and brighter ever beaming from the throne of

What new and ravishing views
God, and the Lamb.
What new and delicious sensations
What transports

brighter

What new

pleasures

What boundless

entire deliverance from sin

bliss

These are
These are the

the joys of thy divine presence

!

These are

the fruits of an

issues of per-

fection in glory

Now,
shall

be

hear me,

Lord, and answer me.

to the Father,

Holy Ghost,

for ever

and

the eternal

to

Amen.

26

And

glory

Son, and

to the

OF SANCTIFICATION.

298

ANOTHER

FOR ANOTHER CLASS OF YOUNG

PIttiYER,

CHRISTIANS.

down upon one of thy poor

Lord, I beseech thee, look

and fainting children. May I venture to call thee,

Father? Abba, Father! have compassion on me, accordThis coldness
ing to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

feeble

my

of

love

this languor of

my affections

this feebleness

and penitence, alarm

justly
I
be
alarmed.
And yet, even in
ought
to
And
me.
my alarms, my unsettled spirit wavers, and halts between
of

faith

thee,

this averseness to daily duty,

know

that the

am

yea, woe's me, I

I do, I allow not

not

and what

a double will

by

When

and the world.

with me.

I hate, that I

new

will,

my

former and fleshly will

It is

even

eth against the Spirit

I

That which

would, that I do

God,

thee,

my

only chief

not yet been able to overcome with due steadiness,

evil habits.

Lord,

what

present

am carnal,

"I feel in me, as it were,

do
which had begun in me, where-

and enjoy

I could love thee,

evil is

but I

is spiritual;

sensual, sold under sin.

joy,

^has

would do good,

but, then again,

this

law

so,

so deeply rooted has

Lord.

and the

am more

in that

how

it

been in

the flesh lust-

Spirit against the flesh.

was, myself, on both sides

shame, that

I feel

but I must confess with

which

I approved in

myself

condemned in myself. Truly I am more

condemn because, for the most part, I suf-

than in that which T

in that which I

what

fer unwillingly,

Lord,

am

if I

I willingly

If Jesus be mine, and I

guid

tracted,

Why

is

did."*

indeed thine,

my

am his,

why is it thus, with me?

why is my devotion so lan-

love so cold 1

Why

is

and so easily drawn away from thee

Lord, that I

up thy word
give light

to

may
me,

and

hasten to keep

Lord

and

all

my

will so dis-

Quicken me,
thy commands. Open

let the

entrance, thereof,

scatter this dreary darkness, that has rested

* St. Augustin. de Contrit. Cord. Lib. 8. Cap. 5.

299

OP SANCTIFICATION.

my

SO long on

poor distracted

my heart.

love of Jesus in

me

its

shed abroad the

ardour inflame

my

zeal

and rouse up every power

nature into a new course of devotion, zeal, and holy

and quicken the new

of

Oh

spirit.

Let

my

in

life

obedience.

And free me,

Lord, from those enemies which now, of a

me

long time, have pressed on

temptations.

come them.

But thou

From

eousness.

with

the urgency of their

all

have no power, nor might in me, to over-

come

the enemy.

do

things.

my strength,

art

as well as

thee thy children have

my right-

supplies to over-

all

Through Christ strengthening me, I can

me this needful supply. Out of the
depths do I cry unto thee. O my God, hear my humble supplication. Answer me speedily. And let the ransomed capall

grant

from his chains, and sing aloud for joy.

tive leap

my distracted

Let
site

Oh

heart

too long, alas!

courses by conflicting principles

drawn

into oppo-

be subdued, and

follow

Let peace once more reign in my tranquilized bosom.

Let hope resume her joyful and cheering

hard after thee.

reign in

my

That

will silence

salvation

And,

my

foes

that will put a

God,

praise thee,

surely,

my

my

That love

will kindle love in

and

me the joys
my lips, and

new

restore

sing in

home

prodigal as I was

and take

of thy
I will

dear and blessed Redeemer, thou wilt

own

hands.

workmanship, created anew in Christ Jesus

;

me.

God, with exceeding joy.

not forsake the work of thine

thy child

my

for the fresh manifestation of

heart.

heavenly Father's love.

me

I not, then, call thee

I not thy

Am

I not

yet didst not thou bring

to thy paternal

My

Am

Father

bosom 1

me

God, may

In the former sunny hours of an unclouded heaven, and

during my first love, I beheld the face of my dear Redeemer.

knew him.

And

I felt his

1 rejoiced in

knew he was near me.

Saviour.

But, a dark cloud has

presence.

God my

been overwhelming me.

have been walking in darkness

300

OF SANCTIFICATION.

yet struggling to break through the cloud, and regain the

Oh

vision of thy gracious face.

let

these sweet days re-

turn in the revival of the freshness of former love and joys.

And, Oh

never

may I fall again into such bewilSun of light, and life, and all
keep me ever near thee
May I lean on thine arm,
never,

dering darkness.

my joys,
and

recline

deemer

blessed

Henceforth

whole

soul,

thine,

and

active

thy constraining love

let

and heart wholly, and

to

long

make my

Oh
am

to

be

thine,

to glorify thee in the duties,

May

life.

for ever thine.

have the transporting assurance that

wholly and for ever

And

my Re-

on thy bosom in joyful communion,

I glorify thee,

and business of

by the clear evidence

that

pure religion and undefiled, makes Christians better citizens,

and better prepared, every way, for every good word and work.
For this purpose,
Lord, grant me " that wisdom that is
from above

which

is first

easy to be entreated,
partiality,

full

pure, then peaceable, gentle,

of mercy, and good

and without hypocrisy."

Then

conversation in the world, with " simplicity

cerity

shall I
;

I trust, shall be ever upon

Redeemer watching for thy coming. Oh
by making me fully ready to welcome thee,
;

that

and

without

have

my

and godly sin-

not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God."

And mine eyes,

And

fruits,

grant

my

me

this favour,

setting sun

may be

thee,

blessed

glorify thyself
at thy

coming.

gracious and indulgent Father,

in all the sweetness,

and gentle-

ness of the summer's eve; not in clouds, nor in storms.

come whenever this day may.

and peace reign in my bosom. Then, O
my God, crown the work of thy own hands crown the work
of my sanctification, with a joyful, and triumphant death.
And glory shall be to the Father, and to the Eternal Son,
let all

And

and

these be swept away,

let serenity,

to the

art in

Holy Ghost, for ever and

Amen.

heaven, &c.

ever

Our Father who

CHAPTER

XX.

OP THE STATE, AND BENEFITS OF THE SOULS OF BELIEVERS AT THEIR DEATH.

"

And one

which

of the elders answered, saying unto me,

what

are these

and whence came they 1

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.
And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great
tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in
Therefore are they before the throne of
the blood of the Lamb.
God, and serve him day, and night, in his temple. And he that
sitteth

are arrayed in white robes

on

the throne, shall

dwell among them, For

which is in the midst of the throne,

them unto living fountains of water.
tears from their eyes,"

Rev.

vii.

13

the

Lamb

and shall lead

shall wipe away all

shall feed them,

And God

17*

Various opinions have been entertained on this pointfictions of Pagans^ Jews, and Romanists,
we would observe, that in primitive times, an opinion gainPassing by the

ed ground among some, that the soul

immediately into heaven, in
that there

held that

full

indeed, enter

did,

perfection of glory

but

was no resurrection of the dead

Another class
the soul remained in a state of insensibility to
!

pain, or happiness, from the time of death, to the last day

when

it was
was revived

raised,

along with the body

in the days of the Reformers,

26*

This opinion

and

latterly

by


302

CONDITION OF BELIEVERS

Dr. Law, bishop of Carlisle, England.

refuted

Another

class advocates not only

who admitted

heaven, at death

state

drawn, evidently,

by the rash error of those men-

into an opposite extreme,

tioned above,

an intermediate

They were

but an intermediate place.

To

Dr. Campbell has

him.*

the entrance

of the soul into

but rejected the resurrection of the body.

gain an advantage over these, the advocates of an inter-

mediate place, resolved

to

in a state of separation

from the body,

And,

The body was

heaven.

licity in

maintain that the soul could not,

thus, as the venerable

John

attain glory,

and

indispensable to

How

remarked,

fe-

this.

" They

they
let go one important truth, to hold another the faster
ransom one doctrine at the too dear, and unnecessary expense, and sacrifice of another."!
In this theory, we meet with a double error.
First
That the soul does not arrive at perfect holiness
:

Second: that it does not enter immediately into

is " in a prison,"
" in the lower parts of the

at death.

heaven
earth ;"

but

"

in a place out of heaven,"

And, jinally, "

mansions of glory."
which

On

is

" and

apart

from the

that place is Paradise,

not heaven."

the contrary,

harmony with

we

believe,

the creed of

and

publicly avouch, in

the branches of the

all

Reformed

churches, these two pure, and most consoling doctrines of

the

Holy Bible
made

First

death, are

that

the souls of believers, at

perfect in holiness.

Second

that they

enter immediately after death, into glory in heaven.

First
This

is

They

are

made

Dutch Church. " Our death

only an abolishing of sin
Campbell's
t
t

perfect in holiness at death.

the doctrine taught in the standards of the

New

is

Edit. p. 223, Note.

Heidelb. Catech. Quest. 42.

but

!"t

Transl. of the Four Gospels, vol.

How's Works, New-York

Reformed

not a satisfaction for sin

i.

p. 314,

&c.

AT THEIR DEATH.
It is the

decided belief of

the sections of the venera-

adhere to the Westmin-

all

Confession of Faith, and Catechisms.

ster

single quotation.
this,

all

who

ble Presbyterian Churches,

303

" The

In

I shall give

we find
death, made

admirable catechism,

their

souls of believers are,

their

at

perfect in holiness."
It is the

avowed doctrine

pal Church.

Service,

who

depart in the

faithful, after they

the flesh, are in joy,"

fully

taught that

livered

in the standards of the Episco-

quote one sentence from the Burial

" Almighty God

of those

of the

I shall

Here

souls

do

live the

it is

from

the

souls

burden of

and most

truly,

of the departed

from the burden of the

spirits

whom the

and with

are delivered

&c.

the

whom

with

Lord

faith<^

are

No man

flesh."

de-

will

violate fair criticism, by supposing that

by the flesh, any

meant than that expressed by the apostle Paul
namely, corruption, and the remains of indwelling sin.
See Romans, viii. 4, 5, 8, 13.
thing else

And we

is

have the testimony of no

less

a witness than the

learned Bishop Bull to the fact that this was held by the

Church in
the

all

times.

consentient, and

Church to be this

Here

are his

words

"

do affirm

constant doctrine of the primitive

that the souls of all the faithful,

ly after death, enter into a

immediate-

place and state of bliss, far ex-

all the felicities of this world

though far short of
most consummate, perfect beatitude of heaven, with
which they are to be crowned and rewarded in the resurHe goes on to show that the doom of the wickrection."*

ceeding

that

ed takes place

This

is

at their death also.

our doctrine, and that of the Holy Bible.

attention to the following evidence.

of saints,

^Isaiah says,

from the evil."

"

I beg
Speaking of the death

the righteous

The words " to come,"

Serm.

On

are taken

away
He-

are not in the

the Middle State.


304

CONDITION OF BELIEVERS

brew

and they are noted, accordingly, in

Italics

Hence, they are taken away from the

translators.

by the
evil

of

and of suffering.
At our Lord's transfiguration, two of the departed saints ap" Moses and Elias appeared with him perfect in holiness.

sin,

Hence

peared with him in glory."

take this in connection with

they were free from sin. I

Hebrews

Departed

23.

xii.

men made
that " God is

souls are there declared to be "the spirits of just

And we have the divine testimony,

God of the dead, but of the living for all live
unto him." Luke xx. 38. Now, it is inconceivable how
" the spirits of just men made perfect," do live unto God,
perfect."

not the

and with God,

Finally

John beheld

" For

they are not perfect in holiness.

if

evil shall not dwell in his

presence."
in vision, the saints in their glory,

" They had washed

and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
And, rehearsing the song which they sang, he declares, by
the spirit of inspiration, that " they have no guile ;" and

with the angels around the throne.

their robes,

without fault

they "are

Rev.

before the throne

of God."

xiv. 5.

And

there

who deny

is

and advocate the intermediate

themselves in a serious dilemma.

" intermediate

Those

another point worthy of notice.

all this,

If the saints go into

place," not " perfect in holiness,"

of two things must follow

place, put

First

If

left to

an

then one

themselves,

without any means to purify them from the sins which, they
say,

do accompany them

stationary; but always

then,

inasmuch as sin

perfectly evident from universal experience,

the

"

of accumulating

state

sinful saints,"

of God.
doctrine

guilt,

as is

and pollution of those

by the time they reach the judgment-seat

exhibits

But, second

never

what must be

This deserves grave consideration.

it

is

"waxes worse and worse;"

To

their

an insuperable objection.

If those

who

depart,

not

perfect in holi-

305

AT THEIR DEATH.
ness, have, in

"this

intermediate place,"

cleansing themselves from sin,

then

this

nothing else than the Purgatory of the

under a new

name

And

if so,

it

Roman

must be

per to pray for the dead

and the creed of

Reformed Churches.

Second

all

The

the

But, this

is

means of

the

must

be, after
sect,

right

all,

revived

and pro-

contrary to Scripture,

souls of believers enter immediately into

glory with Christ, in heaven.

Here

must introduce a remark on the

language of divine inspiration

clear

and

specific

in describing what is be-

yond the grave. In the Hebrew of the Old Testament, the

word Sheol, and in the Greek of the New, Hades are invaAll
riably used to convey the idea of the invisible world.
the dead have passed into Sheol, Hades,
the invisible

In

world.

this

place there

of eternal punishment

is

Gehenna,

and there

is

the

hell,

or the place

Ouranos,

the

heaven

of the holy and happy.

Now, sometimes
Sheol, or

Hades

is

in speaking of the

used.

person decides whither he has gone.

is

gone

to

Hades, into

deceased, simply

Because the character of the dead

that place of

If he

was wicked, he

Hades where

the finally

and
was
It was
not necessary to specify that he was in Gehenna.
enough to state the fact that he died impenitent, and was in
Hades in order to determine where he was. On the contrary, if he was a good man, and holy, it was not necessary
It did
to detail minutely in what part of Hades he was.
follow, as in the case of our Redeemer, that, being in

impenitent are punished.

in

Hades, he

lifted

Thus, "the rich sinner died

up his eyes, being in torment."

It

Hades, his pure soul was, of course, in heaven.

Now,

let

We admit

our sentiments be here distinctly understood.

an intermediate, or

STATE, in which the souls of

surrection.

all

rather,

But we do peremptorily deny

intermediate place.

an intervening

believers exist, until the rethat there is

any

306

CONDITION OF BE.LIEVERS

The

and are

souls of believers certainly pass into glory,

with Christ, where he

then, their

full

consummated

is,

and

in true

eternal glory.

But,

and perfection in happiness, are not

This is the
the day of final judgment.

glory,
until

true doctrine, held by the

Church in

all

past times,

as

we

have shown from Bishop Bull.

The Reformed Dutch Church has always

death
life."

up

to

" Our

it.

an abolishing of sin, and a passage into eternal

" My soul, after this life, shall be immediately taken
" After this life, I shall inherit perChrist, its head."
is

fect salvation,

And

held

which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard."*

German Reformed,

with our Church, agree the

the

French, and Swiss Churches.

The whole

of the different sections of the Presbyterian

Churches in our land, and in Scotland, teach

ly,

in their standards.

In

their

I shall

admirable catechism they teach,

believers are, at their death,

distinct-

this

quote one single testimony.

made

" The

souls

perfect in glory,

of

and do

IMMEDIATELY PASS INTO GL0RY."|

This doctrine

is also distinctly

of the Episcopal Church.

expressed in the standards

In no part of them

No

doctrine of an "intermediate place."

On

ing this fiction can be produced.

is

taught the

passage favour-

the contrary, I shall

quote simply one sentence, that must settle the point with

candid men.

In the Burial of the Dead, we have these

words,

" Almighty God, with whom do live the

those,

who

depart hence, in the

Lord;

spirits

and with

of

whom

the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the bur-

are in joy, and felicity," &c. This

and decisive as that of any of the
other branches of the Reformed Churches.
I now direct you to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures

den of the
testimony

flesh,

is

as strong,

* Heidelb. Catech. auest. 42. 57. 58.

t Cluest. 37,

Westminster Shorter Catechism.

AT THEIR DEATH.
on

307

Isaiah, in the passage already quoted, testi-

this point.

when taken away, " enter into peace."

" They rest in
to their souls.

fies that the righteous,

This can be referred only

that is, the body sleeps in the night of the

" Each one walking in his uprightness." That

their beds,"

grave.

can be referred only

the

to

soul in

its

departed state

of activity, and enjoyment.

When

" the body returns to the dust," the spirit returns

God, who gave it." Eccles. xii. 7. "Elijah and Moses

to

31.
Moses is, therefore,
"was taken up to heaven."
Hence, the departed soul of Moses is

Luke

appeared in glory."

where Elijah

2 Kings,

now

1, 11.

ii.

ix.

But, Elijah

is.

in heaven, as well as the

Again:

"We

know

tabernacle were dissolved,

body and soul of Elijah.

that

if

our earthly house of this

we have

a building of

God

an

house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

Cor.

nacle of the

^but

We

we have an

have

it

Hence, on our leaving this dissolving taberbody, we have,

it does not say, ive shall have,

V. 1.

eternal

house of habitation in heaven.

from the moment we leave

Take, in connection with

this, the

this world.

strong testimony of the

no man can mistake. To

be " at home in the body," is to be absent from the Lord.
" And to be absent from the body, is to be present with the
apostle in another place, which

Lord."
part,

2 Cor.

and

to be

manifest, that,

v. 6, 8.

if

he did not

an inspired apostle
diately

home

Hence, he was willing "

with Christ, which

fully believe,

it

as

be imme-

it would not have been

from the peculiar happiness of " his

Philip,

i.

23.

follows that, as certainly as the soul

from the Lord, while

it

believe

that his soul 'was, at death, to

days of heaven upon earth."

it

and

to de-

It is quite

in heaven, with Christ,

far better to depart

Hence,

is far better."

at

home

in the body

present with the Lord, when, by death,

is

absent

so certainly, is

it is

absent from

308

CONDITION OF BELIEVERS

And, hence,

the body.

our

also, the apostle couples

*'

de-

parture AT DEATH," wlth OUr " BEING WITH ChRIST."

God has one great family of the ransomed. Paul says,
'* Of whom," that is, Jesus Christ,
" the whole family in
Eph. iii. 15. Now, he
heaven, and earth is named."
speaks not here of angels

named

but of that whole family that

family

is

in heaven,

and on earth."

If,

is

But, this " whole

Christians.

after Christ, that is.

then, they are ab-

sent from the earth, they must be in the family of heaven.

where a third division of this

" in heaven, and in earth " only.
In connection with this fact of their being " present with

For, there
family

is.

is

no

the Lord," let

in Jesus,

third place,

They

God

me

are

quote the following

bring with him."

will

Cometh with ten thousand saints

Now,

all."

is it

the spirits of just

to

" Them

that sleep

" Behold, the Lord

execute judgment on

not quite clear, from these texts, that

men made

perfect, are not ^cithhim,

if

when

he descends to the final judgment, it could not with any

truth be said. He " cometh down with them," and " brings

them with him."

It is

very true,

when he has

raised their

sleeping bodies, he will " bring them," in soul and body,

<

when he returns after the day of judgment. But,

"he cometh with his saints to judgcan with no propriety be said, in reference to

with him,"

when

it is

ment,"

it

said that

their bodies.

And,

it

being spoken of their souls,

it

is evi-

dent that they must have been with him in heaven.

" I heaid a voice from heaven, saying, write blessed

are the dead who die in the Lord, from henceforth. Yea,
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and
:

Rev. xiv. 13.

Can any
works do follow them."
language express more plainly than this, that they " who
that is,
die in the Lord," are " blessed from henceforth,"

their

from

this instant,

even from the very moment they die ?*

Schleusner, on the word apn^ observes, that

when

it is

construed

AT THEIR DEATH.

mind of the

If any doubt yet remains in the

carefully read Revel, vii. 13

309
reader, let

him

17, in connection with this

clear testimony.

When

life, " they are carried by anbosom." Luke xvi. 22. This is an
attractive exhibition of heaven under the figure of a heavenly feast, wherein there is, at once, blessedness enjoyed both in

the saints depart this

gels into Abraham's

giving and receiving happiness, in heaven's purest joy.

Lazarus, and others who come from
down with him," must be where he
is.
But the Spirit of God has decided where he is. " Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are in the kingdom of heaven."
Matt. viii. 11.
Now, this cannot mean the branch of the
It is manifest, then, that

the four winds, to "sit

kingdom of heaven upon

dom

earth.

are with

Abraham, are

kingr

It is, therefore, in the

of heaven above, where Christ

is.

Hence, those who

This receives additional

in heaven.

Those who are not with

darkness, where are weeping and

force from the following verse.

Abraham, are " in outer

gnashing of teeth."
Finally

The

advocates of the distressing and gloomy

doctrine of the soul departing in sin, into an intermediate

place, lay the greatest stress, nay, indeed the
their defence,

ven

on

stress of

not

but " a place out of heaven," and " apart from

prison of spirits."
at death,

To
Cor.

main

the assumption that paradise is

this

"a

" prison of spirits," went Christ

and the soul of the penitent

thief.

sustain this, they call in the motly criticisms

xii.

dise.

To

hea-

it,"

4, to

show

They maintain

on 2
from Para-

that

heaven

that

Paul had two visions

one of them he was introduced

is

distinct

to the third

that in

heavens

and

in the other, into paradise.

This

is

mere affirmation without

with a preposition,
very instant.

ano, as in the text,

this

27

it

proof.

They were

the

denotes the present time, even


CONDITION OF BELIEVERS

310

same vision they bear

one, and

"fourteen years ago."

different

sions,

He speaks

from paradise.

the one,

and same

date,

of nothing he heard, or saw

If they had been two distinct vi-

not most likely that in " the third heavens," he

is it

would have heard "things unspeakable and unutterable," rather than in this same supposed inferior place of their's called Paradise

On the contrary,

he speaks not of the sights,

nor words, until he had stated the place into which he had,

Why, then, does he mention

" the third heavens," and then " Paradise ?" I answer,

in rapture, been caught up.

first

to define exactly the spot

on ano-

just as the Apostle says

ther occasion, of another thing, "

we

shall

be caught up in

air."
The air and
same place. So is heaven
and Paradise. And I applaud the remark of a good divine,
that the Apostle varies the expression of " the third heavens,"

the clouds,"

"to meet the Lord in the

the place of the clouds

the

is

and of " paradise," with a studied design

to refute the pre-

was a place

vailing Jewish fiction in his time, that paradise

distinct

from heaven.*

As

if

he had

said,

was, four-

teen years ago, caught up into the third heavens,

mean

to say, I

was caught up into paradise, or

^yes,

the third

heavens.
But,

let

me

present you a demonstration on this point.

xxii. 2, &c.
Here we have a sweet
and divinely consoling exhibition of heaven, which follows
the description of the general judgment in the preceding conNow, take notice, that in the midst of this heaven,
text.
was the Tree of Life. That is, Jesus Christ, the one
AND ONLY Tree of Life, is the centre and attraction of

Let us look into Rev.

all,

in the midst of heaven.

where we thus read,

to eat of

" Him

Now,

turn

we

to

Rev.

that overcometh, will

God

ii.

7,

give

the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the

Can any thing be more plain and deci-

paradise of God.*'

sive than this divine assurance of the

*

Holy Ghost,

See Dr. Guise's Paraph, on this

text.

that the

311

AT THEIR DEATH.

Tree of Life

and in the
same place as paradise, and paradise is identically the same place as heaven.
And let no man gainsay this testimony of the Holy Ghost.
The source of error in those who oppose us, on this plain
one, only

is

in the midst of heaven,

midst of paradise? Hence, heaven

gospel doctrine,

They

this.

is

is

collect those passages

holy writ, which describe the fulness

saints in

body and

the

And

soul, at the last day.

from these,

they draw the conclusion, that because the saints are

and happiness

fully perfect in glory,

of

of the perfection of

made

at the last day, at Christ's

coming therefore, they are not in glory, and in heaven

NOW, or previous to that day! This is what logicians call
By the same process of
a non-sequitur, a mere sophism.
;

reasoning might I prove, that because there

providence, therefore there

is

a general

no particular providence^!

is

Or, because saints are fully perfect in glory and happiness

only

day

at the last

therefore they have

nor

no

glory, nor happi-

after death, until the final

judg-

ment. But every one sees that the existence of the one

state,

ness in this present

does not preclude the certainty of the other at

at the last day,

the hour of death.

reason thus,
is

not true.

life,

that,

The

On the contrary,

BOTH are equally true

own proper place.
I

is true,

therefore the other

Holy Scriptures declare that

own proper time, and in their

the

at their

conclude with noticing some of their expositions of

texts,

for

opposers of this gospel doctrine do

because the one

"

pressed into their service.

you

and

myself," &c.

come

if I go, I will

John

go

to

Hence, say

xiv. 3.

prepare a place

again, and receive you to

they,

we

are not

received into "the mansions of heaven," until Christ

again.

But, he does not

Hence, not a soul

is

come again

until the

last

come
day.

received in heaven until the last day.

This sophism assumes

for

proved; namely, that there

remaining to be looked

for.

is

granted, what never can be

only one coming of Christ,

312

CONDITION OF BELIEVERS

Now,

us only open our Bible, and we shall see that

more comings of Christ than the one in his flesh
For instance, Christ comes to a
at the day of judgment.
Turn to Matt,
people, when he brings his gospel to them.
let

there are

and read,

xvi. 28,

"There be some
"

Christ, in the days of his flesh,

death,
It is

till

they see the son of

standing here,"
that shall

man coming

said

not taste of

in his

kingdom."

impossible to suppose that his auditors should not taste

of death until he should come to the general judgment.

man comes to each one of us personwhen he summons us to his bar, at death. " Watch
for ye know not the day, nor the hour, when the son of

Again, the son of

ally,

ye,

man cometh."
Finally,

He cometh

last day, to

at the

judge the whole

world of the quick, and the dead.

Now, you perceive that these critics, who advocate this

gloomy doctrine, that there is not even one soul in heaven, select all those

passages which speak of his coming to a people

by his gospel, and his coming to each of us personally at death,

and apply them all, in defiance of every rule of criticism,
Christ's

to

coming

the

second time, in the

and exposition must be manifest,

der.

Hence,

this text ministers

in favour of our holy

er is

gone

comes,

presume, to every rea-

evidence against them, and

and cheering doctrine.

to prepare

at death, to

flesh visibly, to

This violation of sound criticism,

the final judgment.

mansions of glory

for

Our Redeem-

And

us.

he

each one of us personally, to receive us

to himself in heaven.
I

shall

" These,"

notice

only

that is, the

one more.

Old Testament

obtained a good report through

promise

God having

Heb.
saints,

faith,

39,

xi.

"

all

40.

having

received not

the

provided some better thing for us,

that they without us, should not

be made perfect."

In

their

exposition of this verse, these critics assume, without proof,

that

by " the promise," not received by the

saints, is

313

AT THEIR DEATH.

meant nothing more nor less than " entrance into heaven
Hence, they conclude, from this mere asat their death."
sumption, that no saint does even now enter heaven

There

more than one

is

day

at death, or before the last

error in this, but I shall content

myself with noticing the main one.

meaning of

They mistake

the

no

evi-

There

words "the promise."

the

is

dence that the Apostle meant by it, heaven, or that by their

" not obtaining the promise," the saints were not admitted

By " the

into heaven.

promise," the Hebrew Church un-

derstood the promised coming of Messiah.

grand primitive promise,

the seed of the

This was the

woman, Mes-

And

siah incarnate, shall bruise the head of the serpent.

every additional promise was just a more luminous exhibition,

and a

Now,
promise

come
the

did

of "

the promise."

Old Testament worthies did not receive this

they lived not to see, or hear of Messiah actually
the

in the flesh

first
'*

full illustration

all

they lived not to enjoy the fulfilment of

gospel promise.*

But the

New

Testament

saints

receive that promise ;" they lived to enjoy the assur-

ance, as

we

the flesh.

all

do now, that Messiah

This

sation of the

is

New

that

"

better thing,"

Testament,

that

come

actually

is

in

that better dispen-

luminous exhibition of

the incarnate God, and of his finished atonement.

It was
But we actually enjoy the
Hence, " they could not be per-

anxiously looked for by them.

fulfilment of the promise.
fect without us."

out ours.

Their dispensation was not perfect with-

Their's contained the promise given

better thing, the

great promise perfectly fulfilled.

ours, the

The

gitimate exposition of this text, therefore, shows that

le-

it

is

foreign to their purpose.

So the words, " receive the promise," is used in Heb. x. 36,

under review, means, " to enjoy what

there, as well as in the text

promised."

27*

It

is

CONDITION OF BELIEVERS

814

aUESTIONS.

Among
was the

the conflicting opinions

What was

Law ?
Was

which we notice

earliest

was

the next, which

on

this

subject,

what

revived by Dr.

latterly

modern opinion of an " intermediate place"

the

probably originated by running into an opposite extreme,

from a desire

Who

to refute the

Law

refuted Dr.

opinion
State

mentioned

first

John How's remark on

this.

State the first point of our doctrine

in

opposition to

our opponents' opinion.

Give the first proof in refutation of their doctrine.

the Reformed Churches hold our sentiments on this
Quote the declaration of Bishop Bull in our favour.

all

Give
the

the

last,

first

proof from Scripture

taken from Revelation

vii.

the second proof:

State the

and

13, 14,

What is the serious dilemma into which

who hold that the souls of believers depart
fection of holiness

Do
1

xiv. 5.

those are thrown

not in the per-

second point of the doctrine of the Reformed

Churches, in opposition to our opponents' sentiment.

What

are the definite

words used by the

spirit

tion, in describing the invisible world, and

Do

all

Creeds

the

Reformed Churches hold

&c.
8

of inspira-

two

states

this doctrine, in their

Give the proof of

tures

its

the

first

text

One from
From Philip

this

doctrine from the

from Isaiah

2 Cor. v.
i.

23

1 ?

One from
One from 2

State the

Scrip-

Cor.

v. 6,

7,

From Eph. iii. 15 ? The texts

iv. 14 ? One from Rev. xiv. 13 ?

14, and 1 Thess.

Give the proof from the fact that saints are
ham's bosom by the angels, at death.

from Jude

Holy

Ecclesiastes,

carried to Abra-

opinions of opponents relative to

Paradise.

AT THEIR DEATH.

What proof bring they that Paradise

heaven," and " away from it."

Can you

refute this

did he vary the

Heavens/'
State the

gument on

How

a place " apart from

is

not Paul's vision and rap-

determined by the one date

ture, one, as

Why

Was

315

name of

the place from

"

third

" Paradise ?"

to

main source of the

error of our opponents' ar-

this point.

do you vindicate John xiv.

construction

3,

from

their forced

on the

Is not this based

assumption that there

false

is

only ONE coming of Christ remaining to be accomplished?

How

do you vindicate Heb.

neous exposition

39, 40, from their erro-

xi.

Is not their opinion based

on a mistaken view of " the

PROMISE," spoken of in that passage

MEDITATION.
"

When

the spark of

Weep

When

not for

life is

waning,

me

the languid eye is straining,

Weep

not for

me

When the feeble pulse

Start not at

its

is

ceasing,

swift decreasing,

'Tis the fettered soul's releasing

Weep
"

When

the

Weep
Christ

is

not for

me

pangs of death

not for

me

mine, he cannot

Weep

not for

me

assail

me,

me

fail

Yes, though sin and doubt endeavour

From

his love

Jesus

is

my

Weep
Blessed be

God

my

soul to sever,

strength for ever!

not for

me !"

for this doctrine, so

consoling and cheer-


CONDITION OF BELIEVERS

316

ing to the dying Christian, and to those

tian

Oh

friends.

During

long

the

of

sleep

who

survive chris-

and triumphant thought

delightful

body in the

the

dust,

our

pure and holy spirits are carried up to heaven by angels,

God, into the ravishing communion of

God, with saints and angels, in everlasting glory Blessed
into the paradise of

be

my

God,

be given up to a
to

on

that this soul,

wander in

of insensibility

state

*'

come

The Angel

" prison of

the vasty abyss, or

from the abodes of heavenly

Was

leaving the body, will not

its

nor abandoned

"away

spirits,"

bliss !"

of the Covenant,

and faithful

promise stood,

to his

walk with her through Death's dark vale;

And now her eyes grew bright, and brighter still,

Prepared

to

Then closed without a cloud.

They set, as sets the morning star
That goes not down behind the darken'd west,
Nor hides obscured among the tempests of the sky,
But melts away into the light of heaven !"
Blessed be

from

this

God

for this clear evidence,

which

sets

me

ens us with the loss of perfection in holiness

at death,

of an immediate entrance into heaven, where Christ

feel a

burden

ance.

free

melancholy and most dreary doctrine, which threat-

lifted

shall not

up from

my

by

heart,

and
I

is.

this divine assur-

be excluded for countless ages from

heaven.

I shall not be denied the happiness of being where

Christ

nor refused admittance

is,

heart exults in

me, and leaps with

rapturous prospect before

me

Oh

him

to

joy,
!

at

as I

My

death.

dwell

joyful hour

on

the

When

this bodily tabernacle is dissolved, I have, the next instant,

an eternal dwelling in the heavens. \Mien my poor body,

now a little dust and ashes, shall rest on the bed of death,

my

soul shall walk in

shall

its

uprightness in heaven.

be absent from the body,

shall

When

be present with the

AT THEIR DEATH.

When

Lord.

below, and
tainty,

dear friends, I shall, with infallible cer-

be with Christ.

will smile

on

my

him

I shall see

holy and pure soul

as he

And

is.

and send into

I shall see his face for ever

raptures of heaven.
his voice

and leave the Church

I shall depart this life,

my

all

317

and hear

and be covered with the eternal weight of

he
the

it

his

glory

Glory be

to the

Triune God,

and trium-

for this glorious

And, oh

phant hope of immediate glory.

most rapturous

thought, I shall behold, in heaven's dazzling vision, the pure

and perfected

spirits of that dear father

those dear brothers

fore

me

Yes

those dear sisters,

not lost are they,

not

that dear

mother

who have gone

be-

in a state of insen-

sibilitynot "in prison ;" not "in a place apart from heaven:"
but in the perfection of holiness,
I shall see

them.

by them, and
death

And

I shall

enjoying eternal glory.

meet them

and

be welcomed

shall congratulate them, at the instant

the

Triune God

will

souls the ineffable raptures of his love, and glory

And,

after the

all

below, and above,

the family of

when

God

into his king-

the last chosen

at his

this corruptible, put

command,

on immortality

put

on iucorruption,"

then

my own proper person, in body and

my Redeemer. And I shall, with all
in

made
I

perfect in glory,

and perfect

for

shall

shall

this

and

appear

soul,

by the side of

the

ransomed, be

in happiness.

be for ever with the Lord, and for ever with

ed,

one

And

have been converted, then will come the end.

" mortal having

my

long lapse of ages, when our dear Redeem-

er shall have gathered

dom

of

throw over our purified

And so shall

all

the

ransom-

and with all the angels, and with all the host of heaven,
ever and ever
I shall be " as the angels of God in
!

heaven."
lations,

Glory be

to

God,

for

such everlasting conso-

and good hope through grace

318

CONDITION OF BELIEVERS

To

be like to the angels

Are

Oh

The
I

words on my heart
would I grasp

these

fain

bright thoughts they impart.

will think on the angels,

Bring
I shall
I

their joys to

love

all that's

know

shall

my

view

good,

all that's true.

"Not an error to darken,

Not a sin to deplore,
Delighting in knowledge,

And

truth,

evermore

But no thought can conceive.

The

we

full bliss

When the

shall prove;

whole of our being

Shall be love, perfkct love

!"

A PRAYER.
Most gracious and heavenly

Father, what shall I render

to thee for this assured faith,

and these transporting hopes,

of entering immediately

death, into thy presence in the

perfection of holiness,

How
fect

God

delightful,

word leads us

at

and eternal glory

and

to

to follow thee whither

lift

thy per-

our eyes above the storms of

and all these tempestuous evils of life and above

gloomy valley of death, up on high to the mountains of
I adore thee for the
unfading beauty, and immortal glory
affliction,

the

assurance that

I shall

transporting thought,
I

always be where Christ

I shall

am, now, absent from him

body.

But,

when

at his call,

-and be absent from

the

Lord.

yes

my

is.

because

my

Yes,

where Christ
I am at home in

always be

is

the

soul shall leave this world

body, then shall I be present with

I shall

be present,

for ever

present

with the Lord

And

if thy

vouchsafes

communion

gracious

presence,

most Holy Comforter,

such sweet and heart-cheering joys to me, in

with thee, and thy saints, while in this gloomy

AT THEIR DEATH.

319

my Saviour, and
me yet unseen,

vale of sin, and misery, while I think of

love

him with rapturous

what

will

joy,

though

be the heavenly joy, and high transporting ra-

vishments, when
perfect in all

its

my

soul,

made

yes, to see thee as

heaven's joy and glory, unutterable

love,

if

and
shall

in

immediate presence,

enter, at the instant of death, into thy

Oh

holiness,

and enjoyment,

perfect

capacities of service,

see thee as thou art

And, oh

to

height and depth

Thou

art,

to

in

breadth and length of divine

such be the unutterable joy, and glory awaiting the

what tongue of man, or angel can tell,

what mind of man, or seraph, can conceive the boundless
glory, and rapturous felicity when, at thy right hand, at the
soul at death,

great day,

we

shall, in

body and

soul,

be received with thy

divine plaudit, into thy infinite, thy eternal, and ineffable

glory,

in the

full

assembly of saints, and angels, and

thy pure celestial hosts in

For

all

these transporting hopes,

body, and soul, are

we

all

worlds

indebted

and

this

to thee,

immortal glory in
Triune God
!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,
" Our Father who art in heaven," &c.
for ever and ever
:

Amen.

CHAPTER

XXI.

OF OUR RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD

NEFITS THAT FOLLOW

AND

THE BE-

IT.

Another angel stood,

of God. 'Awake, ye dead
Be changed, ye living, and put on the garb
''

And blew the trump

Of immortality! Awake! Arise!

The God of judgment comes
This
!'

And

silence,

said the voice.

from eternity that slept

Beyond

the sphere of the creating

And

the noise of

Word,

Time, awakened, heard.

Heaven heard and earth; and farthest hell, through all
Her regions of despair
The ear of Death
Heard and the sleep that for so long a night
Pressed on his leaden eye-lids, fled and all
The dead awoke And all the living changed !"
POLLOK.
all

Long after the sou), being made perfect in holiness,

have passed into heaven, will the body slumber in the
This sleep

will not

cognizant.
the things to

Of that day, and of that hour, no one is

was not given to our Redeemer, as a part of
be by him, as prophet, revealed to us. But in

It

appointed time.

shout

be interrupted until Christ shall descend

judgment.

to the last

his

shall

dust.

He

will

descend from heaven with a

with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of

God, and

will

summon

all

the dead

and living

to his bar.

OF OUR RESURRECTION, ETC.

This
can
can

is

raise the dust,

mighty

God
God

a doctrine of purely divine revelation.

us whether he will raise the dead.

tell

what he can, he

'*

321

Do

and build the human form

Though

dispersed in deep waters

known

And he who

to him.

They

and

he who has called

material,

all

earth,

these beings,

and of a mixed nature,

thing, can easily call the

are

has given birth to un-

numbered millions of beings in heaven, on

the waters

and

scattered in the air,

though they have passed through

a thousand changes, his eyes are ever on them.

well

And

for the Al-

not his all-seeing eyes behold every particle

of our dust, and bones

all

alone

afresh.

any thing too hard

Is

will."

alone

and in

spiritual,

originally out of no-

decomposed form, and already ex-

isting materials, into animated being.

Here, a sufficient cause

is

assigned.

And no man who

believes in the power of the Almighty can

"

incredible that

The
ly

God

deem

it

a thing

should raise the dead."

and consolitory. At an earEnoch's body, along with his

This gave us a literal pledge that our bo-

proofs of this are ample

God

period

soul, into glory.

translated

due time, be with God in heawe find Job declaring this to be

" I know that my Redeemer liveth

dies, as well as souls, shall, in

ven.

At an

early period

an article of his faith

and that he shall stand

though

my

after

flesh shall I see

skin,

God,

worms

whom I
Job

the consolatory truth in

shall live

awake and

together with

though

chap. xxvi. 19,

my

and mine

my reins

be con-

Isaiah declares

xix. 25, 26, 27.

my

and

destroy this body, yet in

shall see for myself,

eyes shall behold, and not another

sumed within me."

day upon the earth

at the latter

"Thy

dead

men

dead body, shall they arise

sing, ye that dwell in dust

and the

eai'th shall

cast out the dead."*

*

Allow me

shall live

to give a literal version

my dead body

from the original

shall they arise," &c. &c,

28

"Thy dead

322

OF OUR RESURRECTION
I

" The many that

same doctrine
sleep in the dust of the earth, shall awake
some to everlasting life
and some to everlasting contempt." " The
hour is coming," says our Lord, in John v. 28, " when
all that are in their graves shall hear his voice
and shall
Daniel taught

this

come
of

forth

life

have done good,

they that

" There

shall

be a resurrection of the dead

of the just and the unjust."

This

is

both

a specimen of the proof of this glorious doctrine

argument of

beg

Acts xxiv. 15.

We

in detached sentences.

set forth

dam-

they that have done evil, to the resurrection of

nation."

perfect

to the resurrection

to give a

Paul in

St.

refer to the full

and

Cor. xv. chapter.

specimen of doctrinal arguments.

I al-

Lord in his confutation of the deists

" Now, that the dead are raisof his day, in Luke xx. 37.
ed, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called God the
God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob for God is not

lude,

first, to

that of our

the

God

Now, here lies the

God is the God of these

of the dead, but of the living."

force of this divine argument.

God of Abraham, Isaac, and JaGod of their souls merely he is the

God of their persons. Now, the body is the essential part
The soul of Abraham is not Abraham. The
of a person.
hence Abraham's dead
soul and body make Abraham

holy patriarchs; he
cob. But, he

is

is

the

not the

body must be raised

hovah

is

to

complete that person of which Jeho-

"the covenant God."

This guarantees

bly the resurrection of every dead saint

infalli-

as well as that of

the three patriarchs here mentioned.

The

next

I allude to

mission to render

is

literally,

2 Cor.

v. 10,

"We must

all

which

beg per-

appear before the

judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive in the

body, according to what he hath done, whether

it

be good, or

Thus, every one must receive the doom of the judge

in the body.
Hence, the body must be raised up.
Our Lord " bought us with with his blood." This re-

bad."

FROM THE DEAD.

garded us as

human beings

323

as persons.

a part of the person as essential as

is

Now,

the

body

is

Hence he

the soul.

Hence, the body

hand of the enemy. Death.

bought our bodies, as well as our souls.

must be raised up out of

the

Take, in connexion with

this, the interesting fact, that the

Holy
V. 23.

who

Spirit sanctifies the body, as well as the soul.

And he makes " the body the temple

dwells in

Hence, as the purchased and

it."

Thess.

of the Holy Ghost

sanctified

temple of God, the body must be raised from the grave.

Finally

God

the justice of

the bodies of the righteous,

requires the resurrection of

we have done."
For it cannot
up.

receive in the body, that which

vine Justice will never yield

ry to

The body was

nature.

its

which the wicked perpetrated

demand of divine

resistible

tion, in order that

it

may

"We

and of the wicked.

the

act contra-

guilty instrument in

their crimes.

Hence

was ransomed by

it

And
which

and sanctified by the Holy Ghost,

and was, with the

soul, the

in the acts of holy

life,

instrument of glorifying God,

be put in possession of the rich re-

wards of grace.

Therefore

grave in order to

its

hand of

ir-

receive "the wages of sin ;" and

to itself to see that the body,

Christ,

the

justice will cause its resurrec-

expiate every crime by the award of endless suffering.

divine justice owes

must

This, di-

it

must be ransomed from the

receiving the crown of glory from the

Christ.

In a word, our Lord "by dying, conquered him that has

the power of death, that

is,

the devil."

But, if divine justice

did not secure to Christ every one of the trophies of his

umphant

grave, then, that

ble
vil,

tri-

ransoming them from the power of the

would happen which is absolutely impossi-

death, by

namely, he who has the power of death, even the de-

would gain the victory over the b6dies of those who are

ransomed by the Lord Jesus Christ

Third : Let us contemplate the extraordinary difference
between the righteous, and the wicked in their resurrection.

324

OP OUR RESURRECTION

The

righteous will be raised by the

bond of

their

union

to

even the Holy Ghost, who will quicken them, and

draw them up from the grave by his love.
Christ,

The wicked
son of

their

will

be raised, and driven forth out of the

graves, as culprits hurried from the

pri-

dungeon

a public execution.

cell to

The

righteous will be raised with loud acclamations of

"

joy and glory.

where

is

thy victory

victory through our

where

death,
!

is

thy sting

grave,

God who giveth us the

Lord Jesus Christ. The wicked will
Glory be

to

be raised up with consternation, and horror

The

now pure, and

The wicked will be rais-

righteous will be raised with bodies,

powerful, spiritual, and immortal.

ed with bodies covered and overwhelmed with corruption, at

the very approach to which
will be

its

long-absent tenant, the soul,

overpowered with disgust and horror, and the

bitter

pains of the second death.

The

righteous will be clothed in unfading glory,

and

dwell for ever in heaven's uncreated light, where the whole

God

family of

ness, every

shall

meet

deriving

moment, from

continually receiving

new

more happy, and more

new and

fresh happi-

the presence of the

pleasures in

Lord

making each

and
other

The wicked will be for

"worn and wasted with enormous

blessed.

ever held in chains, and

woe," under the unendurable, and eternal pains of the second

They

death

soul,

and

from them

in

will for ever

body

and

be suffering the agonies of death in

will

long

to die

b\it

death will fly

The righteous will know even as he is known in heaven.

And in these mutual recognitions of all the great and good

and of

all

their histories mutually

known,

in the

grand evo-

lutions of divine providence, they will derive a boundless

increase of happiness, and most rapturous pleasures from each

other's
their

company, and fellowship. The wicked

will, also,

have

mutual recognitions the seducer will meet the seduced

:

FROM THE DEAD.

murderer his victim

the

325

the tyrant, the hosts he slew

each side, in the murderous

and they

on

be
mutual and horrid tormentors of each other, through the
ages of eternity

The

kingdoms of

making new

righteous will be continually

in God's

And

battle-field

will

discoveries

and of grace.

nature, of providence,

they will thence continually attain to fresh and ever

increasing pleasures, and happiness, in the boundless ages

of eternity

God

being ever with his

and ever surround-

ed with the effulgent glory of his immediate presence.

wicked

him down

pressing

mountains of his

He

sin.

tom of
his

it

own

sin,

will

he

will

be

for ever

He

never cease to sin.

It is

the

He

pit.

He

will

be sinking, and

will never

bottomless pit

hell everlasting

adding enormous

crushing weight of his former

guilt to the

sinking in the

for ever

The

himself the weight of incurable sin, ever

will feel in

reach the bot-

Hence he makes

will obstinately

and defy God, and blaspheme

his justice.

justice will punish just as long as he sins.

That

continue to

And

divine

is to

say,

and ever. The happiness and glory of the righand the doom of the wicked are, in their duration, described by the same word, by the command of the Holy Ghost.

for ever,

teous,

And

that word is used to describe the eternity of the existence of the Deity. Math. xxv. 46. " They shall go away into

everlasting

punishment

but the righteous into

life

ever-

lasting."

Fourth
cally the

The bodies of

same

all

men

will

be raised identi-

but very different in their attributes.

We

Let us examine, in a
of the identity of each.
We have no-

have already noticed these attributes.

few words, the

fact

thing to do with the apparent difficulties which philosophy

and science may raise. We shall offer the proof from the
and leave men to settle their scepticism
Bible, and reason
;

with their Maker.

There are

infinite difficulties in natural

science, and the history of animated nature, revealed by

28*

OF OUR RESURRECTION

326
the miscroscope.

Yet,

he cannot solve the

who doubts

difficulties

undergo manifold changes

constitutes

and

the laws of

Now, this

yet there

is

come

our Lord says,

If

forth."

deposited that

is

That

it

"

is, it is

the raising

Hence,

up

the Spirit of

All that are in their graves shall

be not the same body which was there

then raised, this language cannot be de-

But they

fended.

which

it

man.

a resurrection.

of that which was put into the grave.

God by

in

that

is

one same body, before God,

identically the

it

the facts, merely because

The human body may

the

ai*e

words of

infinite truth,

and

power.
If the

same body be not

raised,

one deposited be

cannot with any pro-

it

If a body different from the

priety be called a resurrection.

raised, then is

it

new

not a

creation,

resurrection.

body be given

If a

to us diflferent

from

that

which we had

in this world, then is this a transmigration of souls

not a

particles of our body.

The

resurrection of the dead.

Death does not annihilate the

operation of

fire

in the universal conflagration will not an-

nihilate our bodies.

great day, from that

have we, each of

not

human

we have a different body in the

laid down in the grave
then
two bodies. This would make us

If

which we

us,

beings, but monsters

actually existing at the

The most Holy God

same

possessing two bodies,

time, in different places.

heaven any other

was ransomed by Christ, and
by the Holy Ghost. This secures the rising of
will not glorify in

body, but that one, which

sanctified

the

same body. And the equity of divine justice requires

same body of the finally impenitent be raised. For,

that the
if the

wicked

different

man receive

body from

that in

day of final retribution, a

which he committed his crimes,

at the

then does the guilty instrument escape for ever in the oblivious grave

and

that

new body,

which, on this supposition,

FROM THE DEAD.

he receives,

is

327

punished with everlasting destruction,

which

yet never was the instrument of sin, and never sinned

Finally, in addition to the texts already referred

" Our conversation

adduce only one.

we
our

body, that

vile

body." Phil.

it

iii.

may be

in heaven

is

look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus

who

to, I shall
;

shall

whence
change

fashioned like unto his glorious

20, 21.

aUESTIONS.
Whither go the souls of believers

The

proof of this

at death ?

Out of the Old Testament

proofs did Christ give of this

Out of

New?

the

What tivo notable

What becomes of
Will

it

the

body

be raised up again

at death

Is this a doctrine of piu-ely divine Revelation

Explain

this?

Is

it

improbable

Do we

not assign a sufficient cause

From

Recite the proofs of this?

Old Testament

the

Proof from the New Testament ?

Have you a regular and full argumentative exhibition of
this in the Bible

Yes, in

Cor. xv. chap.

Produce the doctrinal arguments

The
The
The

The

next ?
next,

the

The

it.

next, from Christ's conquest of

Name
:

for

from Christ's purchase

from the claims of divine justice

power of death
ed

next,

first ?
?

him who has

the difference between the righteous,

and the wick-

first ?

The next point of difference in the resurrection

?
The next ? The next ? The next ?
The manner
how will the dead be raised ?

next

Will

the

it

be the self-same body

Proof of this

identity

Explain

Another proof?

this.

The

;
!

OF OUR RESURRECTION

328
If the

same body

of a resurrection

Does

be, instead

it

the denial of this identity of the body, involve va-

rious absurdities

Give

not raised, what would

is

the proof of the identity

from Christ's purchase of

us.

Give the proof from divine

the self-same

justice, that

bodies of the wicked shall be raised.

Proof from a

text of the

Bible, that

same body remodelled from

How

feel you,

resurrection
feel

my

we

shall

Explain

have the
this.

dear reader, in view of death,

and eternity

anxious to

the grave

Are you prepared ?

be prepared

to depart this life

of the
Do

you

MEDITATION.
''

See Truth, Love, and Mercy in triumph descending,

And beauty all glowing in Eden's first bloom

On

the cold cheek of death, smiles and roses are blending

And

beauty immortal awakes from the tomb

!"

Dr. Beattie.

This body, so fondly cherished and caressed, must soon

these hands, head,

these heaving lungs these
which look
around
tongue, which gives
muon
soon be dissolved in
Oh
of language, must
of man born
mournful
heir of misery

die.

Yes, these limbs,

forth

sic

this

forth the
dust.

all

in sin

lot

What

eyes,

all

this beat-

this

ing heart,

a lesson of humility

is

vain, or proud of these limbs

of this beauty

here taught
?

Can

of this complexion

be converted into sordid dust?

ing event

My

the

Oh

me

be

boast of this shape

when
!

Can

will

all

soon

mournful, and shock-

My

soul shudders at the prospect.

trembles with dismay at the footstep of death

body

And God might have left us to the devouring grave.

Death might have been allowed to strew his dust over these
limbs, in its undisturbed, and perpetual sleep
Or, He
might have awakened us all, to the terrific retribution of
!

FROM THE DEAD.

329

justice, in body, as well as soul, in the devourings of ever-

lasting fire

But, a door of hope

Bless the Lord,

ble.

Saviour

Death

awakened from
of teeth.
soul,
ter

Glory

to

O my

But

more.

and

Nor

shall

for the

hopes of the gospel

Lamb,

its

removal from

thy

be

My

will

this

open these feeble eyes on the

I shall
I shall

of trou-

God

rejoice in

clean in the blood of the

immediately into glory, on

tabernacle.

to us in the valley

soul,

weeping, and wailing, and gnashing

God,

to

now washed

opened

not an eternal sleep

is

it,

is

earth,

enclay

no

open them in immortal strength, on the

Immanuel. 1 shall see my dear relatives on earth

But I shall meet them and the other saints in
glory, at my Redeemer's right hand.
This tongue shall no
more praise thee in thy Church on earth. But I shall praise
glory of

no more.

thee for ever in the skies.

And

this

body, so dearly loved, and so fondly cherished,

I shall not lose,

although

disabled pitcher," of
dust.

The Lord

descends into the grave, " like a

it

no use

and be resolved into

my bones anew

will build

and

its

native

set up this

glorious hope
more to be pulled down.
I shall see it,
consummated redemption
1 shall feel it
I shall exult, and rejoice in this renovated
temple of the Holy Ghost
My assurance of it rests on
" This is the
the word of the Almighty, and Eternal God.
says
Father's will, who hath sent me,"
my Redeemer,
" that of all whom he hath given me, I should lose nothing
but should raise it up again at the last day. John vi. 39.
Even so, faithful and Almighty Redeemer thou wilt lose
NONE of all those who are given to thee by the Father.
And thou wilt lose nothing of any one of them for thou
Yes I know it and
wilt raise it up again at the last day.
for he
I believe it, and I am sure God is able to do this
is Almighty.
He is ivilling to do it for the mouth of the
when I shall feel
glorious day
Lord hath spoken it.
tabernacle, never

glorious day of

330

OF OUR RESURRECTION
body raised up from the long sleep of the grave

this

and

reunited to this soul, with unspeakable joy and bliss.

boundless

felicity

my God,

render to thee,

glory

ineffable
for

What

shall

such blessings bestowed on a

poor rebel

And
dross

body, too, shall then reach

this

fection.

and from

the effects of sin,

all

powerful

raised up

wasting disease

its full

be raised up pure, from

It will

no more

and death.

It will

be

be bowed down with

to

nor enfeebled by

growth of per-

the earth's base

all

and pains.

toils,

I shall

be clothed and adorned with immortal strength.

It will
be raised up spiritual.
It will never again be weighed

down by
It will
lity

the grossness,

and sensuality of

and blood.

flesh

possess the joyful elasticity of spirit

and a capabi-

of moving with inconceivable celerity over the vast do-

minions of God
of thought.

It will

be raised immortal.

away

droop, nor fade

be dissolved.

on angel's wing, or with

as

It will

It will

in pining disease

it

the speed

never more

It will

never again

will

be made like to Christ's glorious body.

bloom in the glow of Eden's

first

beauty,

and the un-

fading glory of heaven

Remember,

my

then,

affections,

and

Let

lusts.

high destinies

soul, thy

the world's fascinating snares.

Crucify the

me

live as

it

flesh,

Shun

with

its

becometh an heir

of this glory, and the expectant of this glorious resurrection.

Amen.

A PRAYER.
O

eternal

God

yesterday,

One

alone,

would humbly approach

am a poor
and know nothing.

hast immortality.

worm
Thou art

dying

thee,

who only

a creature of

the immortal

ever the same, from everlasting to everlasting.

Jehovah,

Lord, what

am

art

immutable

I in thy sight

than nothing before thee

am

With thee

am

is

vanity

Thou

no change.
I

am

less

here a few fleeting days,

FROM THE DEAD.

on

me no

earthly desire

God
Let

graut

me

hold of

to

me

knows me now, will

Teach me to moderate every
check pride, and ambition.
eternal

And

thy footstool.

soon know

the place that

more.

grace to curb every passion, and affection.

The

sublunary things.

ready to receive me.

me

Let

be clothed with humility.

all

331

grave

is

keep a loose
opening, and

ever-living God,

In thee,

"I

is

will

and not be afraid. For the Lord Jehovah is my

and my song he also is become my salvation."
" Thou wilt go down with me into Egypt and thou wilt

trust

strength,

bring

me

When

up again."

body

Redeemer
and receive my soul

name

thou wilt ransom

thy hands, by an act of faith in thee,

and thy hands

myself into

will put

I die, I

will dissolve this

merciful

to thy glory.

And, blessed

for ever

be thy

from the power of the grave

And

death.

as

my

Saviour

What

lives, so shall I live,

wonderful love

before thee for ever.

grace

thou wilt deliver

God wrought

hath

crown thee, O glorious Redeemer

dead men," thy ransomed ones, to

mand

left their

and abide
matchless

Thou wilt cause " our

Thou wilt com-

live.

Yes, Lord, those

whose souls are gone

to thee,

sacred dust with us, here in the militant

this mysterious

bond

They have

phant.

have their dust with

the

are

own from

united to the church trium-

we
we hold as a certain and
Lord God wilt come again to

And

us.

have

church.

souls of our departed saints

infallible pledge, that thou,

recover thine

we

me

from

Everlasting honours

the earth to cast forth her dead.

dearly beloved beings,

By

me

this

death,

and receive them again from

the devouring grave.

Blessed be thy name,

venant

that death will

God

of the everlasting cove-

be destroyed by our glorious resur-

rection.
Christ, by dying, has conquered him that has the
power of death, even Satan. And he arose from the grave by
his own divine power he is the first fruits of them that sleep.
;

332

O my dear and dying Saviour

O my exalted, and ever-living

died with thee unto sin.

Redeemer

bodied

spirit.

er and

rise,

and

soul exults

at

my disemMy flesh shall rest in hope. And my soul

at the prospect of meeting thee, my Redeem-

the hope of meeting thee,

leaps with joy,

I shall

My

reign with thee for ever on thy throne.

Lord, in heaven in

my Judge on the morning of the

my dissolved, and long-lost

great day, in the

possession of

mortal shall put on immortality

put on incorruptiou

put on immortality

so, then,

and

and

when

body.

this

For

this

corruptible shall

this

mortal shall have

have put on

this corruptible shall

incorruption, then shall be brought to pass, the saying that

is written,

hour

Death

swallowed up in victory

is

most blessed day

honours of eternity

There,

all

shall

be amissing.

Nothing

shall

complete the glory, and the fulness of joy.

that ever I was born

Blessed be thou,

for thy sovereign love

art in

No

one of the

be awanting to

Blessed be

God

heavenly Father,

Blessed be the Son, and the Holy

Ghost, for free grace, and

" Our Father who

glorious

thy ransomed people shall

assemble before thee, in body and in soul.

redeemed

which ushers in the endless

all

its

rich rewards

heaven," &c.

Amen.

of glory

CHAPTER

XXII.

OP THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

PERSONAL, AND GENERAL

AND THE FINAL RESULTS OF EACH.
"

Day of eternal gain for

Day of etei'nal loss for

worldly loss

worldly gain

Great day of texTor, vengeance, wo, distress

Rein-trying, heart-investigating day.

Believing day of unbelief

Great day,
Great triumph day of God's incarnate son!
Great day of glory to Almighty God
!

Day

whence

Their date

And

the everlasting years begin

new era in Eternity

oft referred to in the

songs of heaven

!"

POLLOK.

There is a two-fold judgment awaiting us at the bar of

The particular judgment is that which awaits each

God.

of us

at the departure

The body descends

ing of the

doom

day.

last

in hell.

of the soul from this world,

at death.

into the grave, to sleep until the

The

soul departs to

The same argument, which,

its rest,

as

morn-

or to

we have

its

seen,

proves that souls enter immediately after death into heaven,

or into hell, do also prove the particular judgment.
is

For that

nothing more, nor less than the sentence of the Holy Judge

welcoming
and

the

ransomed

faithful servant

into heaven

" Well done good

Lord ;''

enter thou into the joy of thy

29


OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

334

or, dooming the impenitent by a voice from his throne,

" Depart thou cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the

and his angels."

g*e?iera/ judgment

devil

The

will take place

when

Christ

comes

and of the church. At

not
that day, sentence will be passed upon us as persons,
only on our souls, but on us constituted of the newly-raised
body, and the soul, which had long been in the unseen
to

wind up

the affairs of the world,

state.

It will

will hold

not be a sentence in a court of review.

up the sentence pronounced on each

at death

It

and

on each who did not die, but were at the instant of the resurrection of the dead, " changed in a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye

;"

and on

all

the

doomed

spirits of hell.

The

sentence of each will be uttered on every ear of every man, of

And

every angel, of every devil.

thus Christ's glory will be

consummated as the just and righteous judge and thus the

government of God will be approved and every rebel hurled into the pit whence they never will escape.
The particular judgment is going on in the invisible
world every moment. It is a solemn and awful thought,
that while I am reading these words, each moment, perhaps,
witnesses a sentence pronounced on a departed spirit.
The general judgment will take place at the unrevealed
:

hour of God.

We

can only

say, as to that unrevealed hour,

the glorious Redeemer has

work of providence, and grace. The destined
number of God's subjects, and God's family, must be comThe Jew must be gathered into the fold of Mespleted.
fathers' shepherd, even to David their king.
The
their
siah,
fulness of the Gentile world must be gathered in, by the diffusion of the word of God, read, and preached by the ministry, over every nation, kingdom, tongue, and country. The
spiritual reign of Christ, in his " days of heaven upon earth,"
must be extended, and consummated in his thousand years
The kingdom of antichrist must
universal gospel triumph.

that

it

will not take place

finished his

until

335

OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

Mohammed

be annihilated, and

destroyed, to usher in this

Numerous ages must roll

dawn of the day of judgment shall

millennial glory of our Immanuel.

on, therefore, before the
burst in heavenly glory

human

and in tremendous displays

" The Father judgethno man but

This is a
to the eternal Son."

Christ will be judge.

has committed

judgment

all

portion of his glory as mediator; because he

And

man.

is

it

The

and

saints,

luill
it is

They

and therefore can be

be the judge of the quick, and the dead.

also said, will judge the world.

be by him who

sessors.

the son of

is the

he has omnipotence and omniscience

the judge,

is

Son of God, equal in

Father, and the Holy Ghost, that

because he

power, and glory with the

shall

to the

family.

listen to his holy,

will

They

in the midst of the throne, as his as-

is

and just sentences

and they will repeat them and

" Thou art righteous, O Lord,
re-echo them on every ear.
who art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged
" Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be
thus."
decreed from his throne

to

HIM

And

that

sitteth

on the throne, and unto the Lamb."

doomed

the wailing of the

while

will

proclaim his inflexible

" Mountains,

and rocks,
on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth
upon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb."
Our Lord will descend through these visible heavens to

justice,

they shall say,

fall

judgment, Acts
and come down from

this

will reach every spot

mountain and
bed of every

man.
will

And,

11.

i.

He

will cleave these heavens,

where a human body

valley

cities

river, sea,

lies.

and villages

It will

the voice of the archangel.

reach

and the deepest

and ocean, where sleeps

at his bidding, all shall start

come with

That shout

his throne, with a shout.

the dust of

up into

As

life.

He

leader him-

and the hosts of heaven, he will

come, surrounded with an innumerable retinue of angels,

self of every tribe of angels,

and

the spirits of just

men made

perfect.

He

will

sound

336

OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

the trumpet of

God

everlasting jubilee
it

he will utter the joyful sound of the

it

will re-echo over the

whole globe, as

congregates the ransomed to the city of glory, in their

And

new-raised bodies.

it

will utter

the last war-note of

joyful victory, as the king of glory leads

on

his sacramental

host to the last onset, on the last battle-field, where will be

destroyed the devil, the world, and sin, and death

"

The dead

time, probably

in Christ shall rise

in point of glory,

first

first,"

in order of

first

and honour

first,

or

before the other arrangements of that great day.

Then
on the

the

immense

population,

earth, at that day, shall

who

are alive,

the newly-raised, in the clouds, to meet the

And

as they

move on

In an
fire will

an eye.

when

instant,

in a

universal

earth, the

rebel. 2 Peter,
right

body

shall

have

left

the earth,

And

conflagration.

shall

spring up a

from

its

new heavens, and

;

never again

nor to be trodden by the foot of the

12, 13.

iii.

righteous will be congregated, on our Redeemer's

hand

wicked on his

the

meet no more.
There, on each
ter of

a moment, in

to death, in

Cor. xv. 61, 62.

habitation of righteousness

to feel a stain of sin

The

the last

smouldering ruins, there

new

in the air.

proceed from our Lord's right hand, and envelope

the world

Lord

the bar, they will feel themselves

to

undergoing a change equivalent

the twinkling of

and remain

be caught up together, with

left.

They look upon each

side, are

The

Adam.

They have

parted to

other for the last time.

congregated every son, and daugh-

condition of each will be set forth

each will be judged according to the deeds he did on the

Each of

earth.

his saints shall

ledgment, and glorious plaudit,

Father

inherit the

receive the open acknow-

" Come ye blessed of my

kingdom, prepared

for

you from the foun-

dation of the world."

The wicked

will, each,

undergo the most rigid exhibition

and examination of character before

all intelligent

beings.

OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

There will be

set forth, in the imiiidurable blaze

of divine jus-

every act of rebellion, every word of treason, every crime

tice,

perpetrated, every speech uttered

truth,

and

civil,

and

and

There

purity.

religious,

every book written against

will stand the

who ruined immortal souls by er-

All

murderers of souk, well murderers

And each
receive
personal sentence be " Depart thou cursed, everlasting

heresies,

of bodies

long line of tyrants,

and all those who "waded through slaugh-

thrones !"

ter to their

ror

337

as

as

his

will

fore every eye,

into

fire,

"Ye knew

prepared for the devil, and his angels."

your

but ye would not do it !"

And, there is no remanding back, in postponement of the
day of execution. But, as rapidly as heaven's thunderbolt

duty

pursues the
rapidly

flash,

will the

and unindurable gleam of

horrible

his lightning, so

execution follow the utterance of

the sentence

The

of each class

lot

fixed immutably.

is

of the punishment of the wicked

is

The

duration

described, by the

same

term, which fixes the duration of God's infinite throne

and the glory of the righteous.*

And,

let

us never forget that there

ing power.

The

for ever sinning,

is

in sin, a self-perpetuat-

sinner goes on voluntarily, sinning,

beyond death

and beyond

and

the final judg-

+ See Math, xxv, 46. 1 would here add, that the peculiar terms, " for
EVER AND EVER," are used nineteen times in the Holy Bible. Of these
FIFTEEN instances I find, in which they are applied to the divine perfec-

fections,

God's glory, and government.

cribe the pei-petuity of the saints'

they employed

to

Once

glory.

are they used to des-

Rev.

xxii. 5.

Twice

are

denote the duration of the torments of the damned.

Rev. xiv. 11; xix. 3. And once are they used to describe the duraRev. xx. 10.
tion of the punishment of Satan, and the false prophet.

Hence

the

meaning of the terms

is

defined and fixed immutably,

by

di-

God, and his government shall ever

come to an end, then will also the torment of the doomed reach an end
For they are both " for ever and ever !" Their duration is described by the same phrase. And that is selected and used by the Holy Ghost.
vine inspiration.

If the glory of

29*

OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

338

He

ment.

sinning here, in

will not stop

he has the means of grace, and the urgent

He

to repentance.

there,

are

He

is

is like

law of

the raging

adds

to his infinite guilt

lenges,

it,

it

fire.

TMiile the dry stubble

will

burn without ceasing.

While

nature.

its

visita-

more efforts used to reclaim

and thus makes his hell for ever

incessantly swept into

It is the

There,

hell.

no

sins for ever,

Divine justice

where

of his maker

no more

calls of paternal love;

tions of divine mercy,

him

sinning in

will not stop

no more

this life,

calls

the sinner unceasingly

of crime, he constrains,

he compels, divine

he

him

justice to punish

for

chal-

ever

AND EVER

aUESTIONS.
Is there a two-fold

What

is

Describe

judgment awaiting man

Describe

the first?

it.

What

at

God's bar?

is the

second?

it.

Is the particular

judgment always going on ?

Recite the leading and great events which must take

judgment

place in the world, before the general

will take

place.

Who

will

be judge in that awful day

In what sense

will the saints

be judges

Will the judge descend from heaven

Describe his descent, with his attendants.

Who will
What
the earth

What

rise first

will

happen

Explain

to

this.

the living population then

upon

will

happen

after all the

dead are raised

WTiere will the righteous be placed ?

Where, the wick-

ed?

What

will

be the sentence of the righteous

Describe the

last

Is the sentence

judgment of the wicked.

on each

class absolutely

immutable

Will the sentence be forthwith executed on the wicked

OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

339

Does not the wicked man himself cause his

nal

hell to

be eter-

How ?

power

Is there in sin a self-perpetuating

What

Do

is the

you

necessary and practical result of that

strive,

my

brother,

my

judgments ever before your eyes

sister, to

keep these

two

Are you prepared, dear reader, to meet your God?

How can you permit yourself to yield to any rest, until you
have used every means

and

faithfully in prayer, to obtain habitual,

actual preparation to

meet your Judge

A MEDITATION.
-" Earth's

Is poisoned

cup

her renown, most infamous;

Her gold, seem as it may, is really dust

Her titles, slanderous names; her praise, reproach
Her strength, an idiot's boast her wisdom, blind
Her gain, eternal loss her hope, a dream
Her love, her friendship, enmity with God
Her promises, a lie; her smile, a wanton's;
Her beauty, paint, rotten within her pleasures,

Deadly assassins masked; her laughter,

grief;

Her breasts, the sting of death her total sum,

Her all, most utter vanity and all
Her lovers mad insane most grievously
And most insane, because they know it not !"
;

POLLOK.

How

vain are

all

earth, these bodies,

earthly things

and

are about to undergo a

souls,

and

These heavens,

all

this

things under heaven,

most eventful change

Ah well
And are there hvo judgments awaiting me
may the unbeliever exclaim, ^What two judgments awaitthere are indeed hoo
ing me !" Yes, thoughtless mortal
!

judgments awaiting
appeal.

How

thee, at that bar,

awful the thought

and solemn the lesson

I shall

whence

How

there

is

no

deeply impressive,

be carried to the judgment-


OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

340
seat, at

my

My

death.

chamber of

who

cheer,

and comfort

The pathway

circumstances.

is

its

bar of the

the

to

it

in

it,

from the

silently

mysterious pathway,

its

Angels guide

into the eternal state.

Judge

away

soul passes

It passes, in

death.

new and

rapidly sped

untried

to the divine

my Lord and Redeemon the throne. From that throne proceeds my sentence, and the sentence of every man.
Oh what an appalling sight to the rebel, and infidel.
There they will
meet face to face, the despised Nazareue, the injured and
blasphemed man of sorrow There in thee. Son of God, and
their judge, covered with an eternal weight of glory, will
they meet the despised Jesus
Who can conceive their
tribunal

er

where the human nature of

is

surprise,

their

confusion,

pious delusions, having

when

their horror,

instantly vanished,

all

im-

their

the truth

of the despised One, and the outraged Bible, shall burst in

the light of terrific demonstration

and when they

tains to

on

their

call in vain,

wicked minds

on

the

moun-

soul

ders of the

be heard Oh

the sights there to be seen,

in the dark valley,

there to

and

on them, and hide them from his face

what new wonders lie before thee the wondying hour, the wonders attending thy passage

fall

my

shall call,

passing from time, into eternity

voy of angels

their converse,

disembodied soul

Oh

the voices

my

the awful mysteries attending

the

The mystery of the conand communion with my

wonders of

eternity,

and

its

immortal hosts, as they burst in the vision of glory, upon

my

newly-disembodied

and waiting

my
my

its

spirit,

Redeemer's presence.
strong immortal eyes

fore him.
tear, as I

agony.
glory

He

will

come up

Oh

lift

I shall see
I shall

me

up.

him

will give

He

face to face

me

the

wonders of

him, as he

is,

with

throw myself down be-

to him, bathed in

1 shall see

He

hovering, and trembling,

heavenly welcome.

wipe away every

will

the tears of
!

the white stone

shall

my

last

behold his

and new name,

in


OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

He

the church triumphant.

nal throne, saying, "

thou hast given to

me

will put

and

my

before the eterthe children

his sentence of approbation

kingdom

the spirits of the just

all

the joy of

And

!"

me

and another of

and give

me

to all the host of heaven, as well as the an-

Redeemer

adorable

own

me

I,

in possession of the

an introduction
gels,

will present

Here am

341

my

made

my

perfect.

soul springs forward to meet thee,

Come, Lord Jesus, come in thine

tliou com est, let my soul be ravish-

soul.

And when

time.

ed with thy presence, as thy lips repeat the sentence,

" Well done, good and

joy of thy Lord !"

And my

And

in the joyful

will hear thy voice,

ening power.

arms of

who

I shall

love.

now

Oh

sentence.

hour

ed of

to thy call,

the great day,

and thy quick-

from the grave embraced in thy

be caught up in the clouds with them,

I shall

mingle with the holy, and hap-

and waiting

raised in their glory,

when we

my

morning of

and respond

I shall rise

sleep in him.

py ones,

hope on the bed of death, the

flesh shall rest in

silent grave.
it

faithful servant, enter thou, into the

illustrious

dawn of

eternity

shall hear his sentence,

Father, inherit the

their final

glorious

" Come ye

kingdom prepared

bless-

for you,

from the foundation of the world."

Now,

all

the

ransomed

are judged,

applauded, and received into glory!

and

God

acquitted,
is

all

in

Christ has finished the administration of his kingdom.

are

all at

home.

family of
glory

is

God

begun.

None
is

of the ransomed are missing.

complete.

And new

Now,

and
all.

We
The

the reign of eternal

heavens, and a

new

sprung up from the smouldering ruins of the old

earth have
earth,

and

Now, the wicked, and every enemy are

" and God's eternal government
put down, and doomed
approved." Amen.

the old heavens.

342

OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

A PRAYER.
Oh! Holy, and Just God, my

judge, I throw myself at

the foot of thy throne, in deep humility.
I am thy subject.

Thou hast made me. Thou hast redeemed me. And I am

dependent on thee, as a creature, and as a Christian, every
moment.

eternal Spirit

source of spiritual

life,

the graces, I implore thee to prepare thy poor

all

creature, for the closing scenes of life

awful hour of
life

my

be very near to

O Lord

nature.

In

death.

that

do

it

solemn and

thou Lord of

my fainting spirit and my dissolving

my Redeemer when thou takest my
;

God,

poor trembling frame to pieces,

in pity

for the

moment,

and of
humble

Oh

in tender compassion,

Spare me.

Oh

some

feel.

do

it

with

in love,

thy

do

own

it

gentle

me those terrific, racking

me fall gently asleep, and
expire in thy embrace, and on thy bosom, my dear and
faithful Redeemer!
Help me, in my last extremity, to put
hand.

pains which

forth the last

to

Oh

let

and expiring energy of

my

committing

spare

distressed

be by thee dissolved in the grave.

commit

to dust

earth.

This blow,

when

house, of old,

commanded

to

fragments on the earth

righteous

on

us,

on ac-

infested incur-

Even

God,

so,

and

This must be

effectually to destroy the leprosy

And
it

Judge

this earth, to

be pulled down, and

taken to pieces, and dissolved in the dust.

of sin

of mine be pulled down,

this clay tabernacle

done,

Lord, I

dust,

I confess, falls righteously

The

ably by the leprosy, was

must

This

these poor ashes, to ashes

count of our sin.

scattered in

in strong love,

faith,

and dying body into thy hands,

0, eternal Judge

shall be

let

my

disembodied

spirit,

overwhelmed with the strange novelty of

and untried
of

when
new

position, take its mysterious flight to thy pre-

sence, in the abundance of thy peace, and joy.

last act

its

my

faith in thee,

lowed up in enjoyment.

To

Let the

be succeeded by hope, swalthee,

my

Father, and

my

343

OP THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

Redeemer,

sence

from

Spirit,

last

its

stain

me by
me into

many mansions

transporting happiness

glory

And

with thee,

My

Oh

Lord

Oh

life.

amazement,

And

Redeemer

meet him,
body,

joy of

Oh

sur-

the

meeting of soul and

this

among

the countless millions of all

my most dear and blessed

at thy bar,

Perfect love will then have cast out fear,

actions with a

shall

mount

lasting love, to the

witness thy

I shall

of divine and ineffable ecstacy

thrill

I shall hear thy enrapturing words.

Come

the sentence is uttered, "

we

Son of God
new life,

my newly-raised

I shall see thy glorious face, in peace.

ther !"

my

final

be ever near thee,

shall feel thy presence.

when

my

in this

and rapturous pleasure

joy,

inefiable, the inconceivable

!

in their

What a moment of interest,

long glorified soul.

flesh, I shall

And

forward, with everlasting joy, to

and receive from him, there-union of

body

nations.

all

then comes the hour of

hear the voice of the

I shall

I shall spring

prise,

all

them

me

Let

be one of

to

my God

and awaken by his power, into

my

thy pre-

slumber in the grave until the hour of

flesh will

Saviour's descent.

to

to see

last

the dear

be for ever with them, and to be for ever

to

redemption.

from

the countless millions of the ransomed,

!

whom I leave below oh, receive

O let me hear thy approving sentence

be received into thy palace of

Oh

and the

which was wrung from

tear being dried up,

beings

Wash-

humbly, yet confidently approach.

let it

ed by the Holy

up,

we

And

ye blessed of my Fa-

shall fly

on wings of ever-

mansions prepared by

Re-

dear

thee,

deemer, for them that love thee

my God

And now,

live in the world,

to

may

spend each day, as

my

last.

Vouchsafe

live praying

Lord, praying

that I
;

if I

were conscious

me thy grace,
may patiently fight

that I

to

may

me to
me

while thy patience permits

never neglect one duty.

die,

praying

that

it

Help

might be

Lord, that

may

the battles of the

and pass, praying,

OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

344

through the dark valley, and enter heaven praying, to ap-

Lord, receive me to the

And to God, the Father to
God the Holy Ghost, one God in three

peal" at thy judgment-seat.

Then,

everlasting fellowship of heaven.

God

the

distinct

glory;

Son

and

to

and divine persons,

shall

Amen.

END OF BOOK

be present, and eternal

m
BOOK

II.

OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

30

BOOK
PART

II.
I.

DOCTRINAL INSTRUCTIONS ON THE NATURE,

AND ENDS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.

CHAPTER

USES,

I.

INTRODUCTION A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE DIFFERENT

ORDINANCES OF CHRIST, THE SUPREME KING AND ONLY
HEAD OF THE CHURCH.
"

The Lord

king

is

he

is

our judge

will save us."

the

Lord

is

our lawgiver

the Lord

is

Our Lord

Jesus Christ

supreme.

He reigns with uncontrolable sovereignty,

For he

rich grace.

is

is

the only

elders

that

is,

The

the ministry, and

world, with

King of Zion.

in the midst of the throne

the midst of the four living ones,

of the Old, and the

New
all its

and

the

the four

is

is

and twenty

Holy Catholic Church

successive generations of men, is

the theatre of his

And He

displays.

He

and
and in

Testament.

given by the Father, into his hands. Psalms

the whole earth

our

Isaiah xxxiii. 22.

moving

ii.

7.

governmental

Hence

acts,

and

on, in power, and with in-

creasing glory, at the head of the armies, clothed in white,

as the

King

conquer

of kings, and Lord of lords, conquering and to

His divine purposes are, to gather in all his ran-

;
:

348

INTRODUCTION.

somed

children from the four

abolish utterly every idol

false prophet

to

and

to

rid the

quarters of the

world of the curse

Then

the whole earth with his glory.

fill

globe

to

subdue antichrist, and the

and thence,

will

come

the

reign of the saints with him in his spiritual dominion upon

earth, for a

In

thousand years.

"

for Christ's kingdom is not

Holy Spirit, in his official character,
presides as the prime minister.
He is the sole author
of spiritual life, and light, and holiness.
Under the spiritual regulation of the Most High, the holy
angels are ministering servants in his kingdoms of nature
and grace with alacrity doing his pleasure inflicting vengeance on the blasphemers and theSennacheribs of the world;
and ministering to the heirs of salvation, by strengthening
them by cheering them in the hour of calamities, and heart-

kingdom,

this spiritual

of this world,"

the

rending sorrows

by watching over them with the assidui-

of tenderest love, and unwearied care

by repelling
from them the onsets of Satannic temptations and finally,
by conducting their pure, disembodied spirits to the pre-

ties

sence of Christ in heaven.

And,
called

lastly, there

by

They

duties.

of

God

the

different

are his ministers

earth.

to

their

These are
distinctive

are called pastors^ because they feed the flock

bishops, because they inspect

particular

church

which

over

ministers, because they serve

men

on

names, according

God

and
they

rule spiritually,

are

in the gospel,

ordained

and guide

with afl?ectionate care to the Lord of grace, and

evangelists, because they

come

life

as ambassadors of the Lord,

charged with messages of the good news and glad tidings of

redemption.

The
divine

world

is

the field of their spiritual operations. Their

Master lays his injunctions on them

preach the gospel to every creature of the

And

in due time, this

command

will

to go,

human

and

family.

be fully complied with.

THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.

For

when

the time is fast approaching

349

every nation, and

kindred, and tongue, and people, under heaven, shall be

visited with the tidings of

The

G od's

salvation.

aim, and end of the gospel ministry

glorious one.

man's salvation
and every

no

It is
;

rebel's

less

deed

and

together with the extinction of

and

in the world at large

thence, by necessity, the extinction of

human

all

and,

and

suffering,

which takes place happily, in each individual as

they are

a holy and

and, thence, the overthrow of every rebel,

moral evil in men's souls

misery

is

than the divine glory

made

holy,

and are removed

takes place, also, in the whole

and

as Christ, by his ministry,

to

human
the

heaven

and which

family, in proportion

means of grace,

the

fills

world with his glory, and sends abroad the joys of peace,

and abounding happiness.

Having mentioned

the ministry,

we

are led to notice the

divine ordinances of Christ dispensed by them.

First:

The

Government and

Discipline of the

Church.

To
his

own

King of Zion would

suppose that the supreme

kingdom on
choice

earth, without a

or that he would leave the modelling of

the sagacity, or caprice of

men,

time, to place erring mortals

it

to

once, to impeach his

is, at

divine wisdom, goodness, and sovereignty

same

l5ave

form of government of his

on

and,

his throne,

to

at

the

share

with him in the regal acts and honours of his government

to

mingle their caprices with the plans of his supreme wis-

dom, and invest them with the incommunicable prerogatives

of his divine majesty.
not to

deem admissible

Our Lord has

Such a thing
for

an

the Christian ought

instant.

formally, by a regal act, ordained in his

Church, teaching elders, who, we have seen, are called

pastors, bishops,

each, are

These, who are duly in-

and ministers.

vested with this holy

office,

which

on a footing of perfect
30*

is

orsE,

and peculiar

equality with

to

each other.

THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.

350

no

Christ Jesus, our sovereign, admits of

ors, lording

it

over his heritage.

The

lords, or superi-

apostle Peter claim-

ed no higher honour than that of a teaching elder.

Peter

V. 1.

With
united

these, he

has,

government of his house,

" Let the elders who rule
"be counted
inspired Apostle,

for the

ruling elders.

the

well," says Christ,

by his

worthy of double honour

especially they

who

labour in

word, and doctrine."

To

these two classes of officers in his house, he has add-

" Let them use the

ed that of the deacon.

" They

con."

that use the

office of a

chase to themselves a good degree."

from

their original

laymen

elders,

office

deacon

These, as

of a deawell, pur-

is

manifest

appointment, were, as well as the ruling

whose

official duties

were

to attend to the

daily ministration of temporal supplies to the poor.

Acts

vi. 1, 2.

By

these three classes, united in their official capacities,

government and discipline of the Church are duly adthese respective offices conferred, and thence
the walls and hedges of Zion duly guarded
perpetuated
the

ministered

the invading

foes repelled

wanderer reclaimed

the

profane

kept out

flock led forth into the green pastures, in peace, order,

purity,

the

the

and humbled
and the sheep and lambs of the

the froward rebuked

the apostate excluded

and

under the divine care, and refreshing influences of

good Shepherd of Israel.

Second:

This

is

The Reading

of the Scriptures.

a divine ordinance of Christ, making

it

our posi-

tive duty to read them in the closet, in the family circle, in

the social

meeting

in public worship.

reign Lord,

and in a peculiar manner, in the church

Here

" Search

are the

commands of

the Scriptures."

our sove-

"Whatsoever things

were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that

we, through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures, might


THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.

351

" The holy Scriptures are able to make thee

faith which is in Christ Jesus."
come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation,

have hope."

wise unto salvation, through

<'

Till I

to doctrine."*

The word
lead us into

of

God

designed, and fully calculated to

is

And

all truth.

the public reading of

it

in the

church, by the ministers of Christ, gives an authoritative, and

impressive exhibition of the mind of God, set forth in his

doctrines,

precepts,

and promises
and of his will, declared in his
and ordinances. And as the public ambassador of
;

a sovereign,

officially uttering, in

government

in the ears of the people, is considered as the

public,

sovereign himself uttering the laws

the laws of his

so the ministry pro-

nounces the laws, and doctrines of Jehovah, our king, in

his name.
And, the holy word, thus publicly read, in our
ears,

we

are to consider as the voice of the Almighty Ruler,

Hence, we do well
For in neglecting it, we wrong our own
against God.
And when, with open face,

speaking to each one of us personally.

to take

souls,

we

heed

to

and sin

it.

do behold, in

the Lord,
to glory,

we

this

word, as in a glass, the glory of

are changed into the

same image from glory

even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

And

there is this

God's words, whether they are uttered in nain providence, or in redemption

namely, there is

peculiarity in
ture,

and created

Christ.

And

light.

believe in the

word thus
our souls.

efficacy that is divine

And

light."

"

Be ye

John

V. 39.

:"

said

And

Christ,

along with the

he sends his quickening grace, and heals

With deep solemnity,

pastor read officially, in public, the

and cured

that word,

converted

Lord Jesus Christ."

uttered,

and in-

divine power went

" Stretch forth thy hand," said

divine power went with

the withered hand.

'<

and an

" Let there be

vincible.
forth,

virtue attending them,

Rom.

xv. 4.

2 Tim.

iii.

therefore,

should every

word of God

15, 16, 17.

and eve-

Tim.

iv. 13.

;;

352

THE ORDINANCES OP CHRIST.

ry head of a family, in

And

private.

cheerful solemnity, should every

one

with

listen to

it,

listening to Jehovah's awful voice thundered

a grave and

were

as if he

from Sinai

And

or repeated in accents of love from the mercy-seat.

all this

being duly complied with, we

may

with confidence,

look for God's choice blessings, and the happiest results

from devout attention to

this

efficacious

For,

ordinance.

" the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul the testhe
timony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple
statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the command of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." Psalm
:

xix. 7, 8.

Third

The singing of praise aloud

to

God

with sa-

cred music.

This

is

a highly important and peculiarly interesting or-

dinance of
Church.

God

It is

to

be performed in the assemblies of his

enjoined expressly by his authority

enforced by the divine example of Christ himself.

request you to read Psalm xcv.
15,

and Ephes.

In

v.

and we

is

Here
Col.

iii.

19.

this ordinance,

High

Math. xxvi. 30.

and

utter

we

celebrate the praises

our joy in

deemer, with our gratitude for

him

of the

as our Creator,

Most

and Re-

his various mercies.

all

It

must be done with grave, decent, and appropriate music.

with pure minds
It must be done in faith
wfth fixed at;

tention

and the deepest sincerisomething in this heavenly part

with profound reverence

ty of heart.

And

there

is

of our devotion peculiarly touching and interesting to every

pious soul.

It

troubled mind.

and

soothes,
It

and cheers, and tranquilizes the

rouses into a divine ecstacy of delight

elevates the soul

on wings of

love,

and desire to God.

It

melts the obdurate heart, and causes the waters of sorrow

to flow

bining,

from the stricken rock.

and concentrating

the

It

is

the

means of com-

devotion of the

church.

Hereby, the whole body of christian worshippers unite in

THE ORDINANCES OP CHRIST.

363

same instant, and as it were, by

same divine words of praises to God and
as Christians entertaining the same feelings of love to one
and the same sentiments and feelings toward God,
another
of faith, love, and joy.
And as the cloud of incense of old, ascended, in one
volume, toward heaven, so do the lips, and the hearts of the
faithful worshippers in the church collectively, offer up, as one
body, and one mind, the pure incense of love, adoration,
and praise to the Lord God of Zion.
There is another use of praise by the hallowed song and
psalm. We are often called on to sing the penitential
psalm the song of triumph and at other times, to express
other sentiments by the psalm or hymn, which do not seem
Uttering one song, at the

one mouth,

the

exactly to accord with the present exercises of our souls.

But,

let

it

be remembered that we unite with the church,

and in the private

circle at the family altar, in singing these

words and sentiments, in order

holy exercises.

psalm

In review of

to

beget in our souls these

we sing

sin,

the penitential

In the hour

to melt the'soul into penitential sorrow.

of languor and overwhelming discouragements,

we sing the

triumphant song of Zion, to rouse our souls into holy joy,

and exultation, in

God

our Saviour

and

pressed souls around us, to a like vigorous

to stir
faith,

up the deand renew-

Hence, we teach
and hymns, and spirit-

ed efforts to shake off doubts and fears.

and admonish each other

in psalms,

ual songs, singing with grace in

our hearts."

And

thus,

" we make sweet melody in our hearts to the Lord," and

also cause sweet melody to spring up in the hearts of our
brethren

and disperse

the

gloom of

fears from the discon-

fore

Hence, every Christian should sing aloud bethe Lord for God's glory, for his own spiritual benefit,

and

the edification of every

solate heart.

as

much

learn

to

one around him.

a man's duty to learn

read the Bible.

And,

to sing, as

it is

Hence,

it is

his duty to

I repeat the earnest words

of

THE ORDINANCES OF

354

CHRIST.

and holy President Edwards

the great

where there

no natural

is

" Those,

inability of voice,

who

therefore,

neglect to

learn to sing, do actually live in sin, as they do really neglect

what

necessary to their attending to one of the or-

is

dinances of God's worship."

Fourth : Prayer is another most important ordinance.

Herein the Most High admits us to an audience at the
foot of his throne.
In this we are not only indulged in a
blessed and very delightful privilege, but are by his un-

commanded

speakable grace,

sence, to receive the divine

to

come

into his gracious pre-

and refreshing blessings which

he confers on his ransomed, and reclaimed children

The duty of prayer includes in it a devout adoration of
!

God's glorious perfections, as they shine forth in

all

his

purposes, and the works of nature, and his divine provi-

dence, and his kingdom of grace.

God.

hearts before

We

tence for sin, while, by

In

it

we

faith,

we

cling to Christ,

In

with contrition, the confession of our sins.

a spiritual offering of our desires to

to his will

Christ,

offering can

And we come in

is

the altar

heaven.

and

all

we

we

is

And

finally,

also as necessary as

take shame to ourselves

glory to God.
other,

the spirit is
sacrifice, or

with acceptance before our Father in

part of prayer.

our mercies,

the one,

And

And, feeling deeply for our brethren, and friends,

mankind, we make earnest intercession for others

an important
all

the

on which we present

from heaven, without which no

come up

we make

for things agreeable

our persons, and services, and prayers.

the holy fire

and breathe
it,

by the guidance, and aid of the Holy

Our Redeemer

Ghost.

God

both temporal and spiritual.

name of Jesus

lay bare our

must come with the deepest peni-

By

the one,

exalt the Creator,

we abase

By

we

give

by the other,
the creature

and Redeemer.

petitioning favours from God,

his dependent creatures

thanksgiving for
confession.

we

act in a

by the

" In humbly

manner becoming
manner becom-

in confession, in a

THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.

ing poor sinners
angels

in thanksgiving, in a

in interceding for others, in a

;"

366

manner becoming
manner becoming

the imitators of Christ.

The Preaching of the Gospel.

Fifth

This

an all-important ordinance of Christ

and has his

most efficacious blessings attending it. " The
spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of convincing and conis

choicest and

verting sinners

and of building them up in holiness, and

comfort, through faith unto salvation."

Hence,

commission given

to the divine

to his ministry,

did he subjoin his gracious promise of his perpetual pre-

"Go

sence, and efficacious power.

ye into

and preach the gospel to^every creature lo

" He that
alway, to the end of the world."
:

He

baptized, shall be saved.

all

the world,

am with

believeth,

you,

and

that believeth not, shall

is

be

Math, xxviii. 19, 20. Mark xvi. 16.

Hence, the ministers of Christ publicly present themand declare officially, in the asselves as his ambassadors

damned!"

semblies of the people, the whole counsel of God.

are ambassadors for Christ

as though

God

"

We

did beseech you

by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled unto

God." And a living and abiding testimony is given to the
message. Paul, speaking of " the preaching of the gospel,"
it to be " the power of God unto salvation, to every

declares

one

Hence,

that believeth."

the ministers of Christ are a

sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them

To the one, we are the savour of death unto
that are lost.
death

and

to the other, the

hence, to them
Christ

is

who

savour of life unto

life."

the power of

God."

of the cross of Christ

is

And

although the preaching

foolishness

proud, the vicious, and the sceptic

in the eyes of the

nevertheless, by that

same foolishness of preaching, does God save them

believe.

And

are saved, the preaching of the cross of

that

THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.

356

To

this

divine testimony,

we add

the efficacy of the gospel by the

life,

the witness given to

and death of the

in-

numerable multitude of the saints in heaven and that being

now given to its divine efficacy, by the whole congregation
of the saints on earth which are " the epistle" of the re:

commendation of the ministry of the gospel, "written in

their hearts, known, and read of all men."
To this important, and solemn service, the ministry must
bring every necessary qualification.
the service of their divine master, the

They must bring to

minds which

He

has

given them, cultivated and invigorated, in the highest deThey must bring into
gree, by literature and science.
his service,

minds under

the unction,

and abiding influence

They must
of an enlightened zeal, and most ardent piety.
bring minds, and hearts imbued with the doctrines of the
Bible, daily read,

and deeply pondered, and thoroughly

di-

gested.

The MATTER

of their message is the whole gospel of

and they must rightly divide the words of truth

and give each one their portion, in due season. They
must study to select, and exhibit what is suitable to every
They must adapt their messages, to the
class of hearers.
Christ,

young, and inexperienced, whose characters are forming

and

to those just

temptations and

entering on the business of

trials.

And

life,

with

all its

they must labour to take pos-

young minds, by the truth, and love of Jedenounce the criminal ways of the vicious,
must
They
sus.
They must bring
the stout-hearted, and fool-hardy infidel.
nourishment
to
mental
the
of
vigorous, and
portion
their
session of their

lively Christian,

the

young and

whom

they feast with strong meat.

feeble babes

in

the sincere milk of the word.

Christ, they

To

those

And

must feed with

who

ruin their

peace by secret sins, they must administer sharp and alarming rebukes.

The

backslider, and the prodigal they

study and labour to reclaim by

all that is

awful,

and

must
fasci-

THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.

nating in truth

In

verity.

tidings to the

ed

and by every

their Master's

meek

367

of tenderness, and se-

eifort

they must preach good

spirit,

they must bind up the broken-heart-

they must proclaim liberty to the captive, and the open-

They

ing of the prison door to them that are bound."

must show

to the

mourner in Zion, what the compassionate

Saviour has appointed unto them, in his kingdom here, and

in heaven
takes

even beauty, and joy, and praise

away

all

heaviness.

defilement,

and

he

while

causes of mourning, and

all

Is. Ixi. 1, 2, 3.

manner, they must deport themselves befitting

the ambassadors of God to dying men.
They must study
to adapt the manner to the present audience
and the peculiar nature of the present message.
They must labour to
combine gravity, and warmth. They must exert all the
In

their

powers of gospel eloquence,

in persuading.
mility

to avoid

harshness

They must be impressively

upon

instructing, in convincing,

in

They must seek

the message.

and

to

be clothed with hu-

to

speak the truth in love.

Life and death hang

earnest.

In presenting doctrines, and meeting

objections, they must be argumentative,

denouncing

and luminous.

the terrors of the law against sin, error,

they must skilfully combine modesty on their

In

and

own

vice,

part

boldness for God, and tenderness for perishing souls.

They

must

imitate the beloved Apostle, in his love,

and

his boldness, as Boanerges, the son of thunder!

pre-eminent manner, they must

example of

their

set before

holy indifference to the world

steadfastness

in

its

watching over

them the

own

and

spirits,

its

and
in a

entire

habitual devotion

applause,

their

And

They must

Divine Master, Christ.

play invincible courage, and fidelity

pity

dis;

frowns

and

lives

a
;

all becoming courtesy

and a weeping tenderness toward the poor and disconsolate.
And, finally, they must be deeply experimental " bringing

together with overcoming love, and

out of their treasure things new, and old ;" for the convic-

31

THE ORDINANCES OF

358
tion

and regeneration of sinners

saints.

Sixth

Baptism

in

CHRIST.

and the

edification of the

the name of the triune god.

another institution of our Lord, peculiarly solemn.

This is
In the old church, the seal of initiation and membership was
circumcision, which was a seal of the righteousness of God
by faith.* But, under the New Testament church, we are
introduced by baptism, into the visible church, our membership publicly avouched

and our

and

spiritual rights

bles-

sings secured to us, by the rich grace of our covenant God.

The

name

pastor baptizes us in the

the Son,

and of

sacramental sign,

And

whatever.

without any additions,

alone,

pure water,

of the Father, and of

Holy Ghost. The element used as the

and seal of our Redeemer's blood, is simply

the

this is applied to the

or

admixture

body by immersion,

deemed prudent, and most safe for

For, as we lay no stress on the
quantity of bread and wine used in the Lord's Supper the
even so we lay no stress
smallest portion being enough
or by sprinkling

as

is

the individual concerned.

the quantity of water used in baptism.

on

The baptism

with water

is

never, for a

confounded with the baptism of the

The

type or symbol,

outward sign

is

is

grace.

against this irrational and impious error.

put forth by
the

wine

der the

to

He

We

be

it.

The

must guard

It is

a doctrine

has pronounced the bread and

be really the body and blood of Christ.

same

to

regeneration.

not the thing signified by

not the inward

antichrist.

moment,

spirit in

Un-

delusion has he declared the sacramental

fatal

use of the water in baptism, to be nothing less than the

inward grace of regeneration

principle,

might

are

preaching Christ,

veying knowledge

Upon

affirm that the

not the

the

same absurd

words of the minister

outward means of con-

but are, in reality, the very grace itself

Rom.

iv.

11.

369

THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.

of the Lord of the gospel.

we have

Besides,

a case of

satisfactory refutation of this impious doctrine, in the Acts,

Simon Magus was duly baptized with water by

eh. viii.

Was

Philip.

Let

he

regenerated by the inward grace

truly

the result give

The

the answer.

apostle

Peter pro-

nounced him an impious impostor, still " in the gall of bitterBapness, and bond of iniquity," after he was baptized.
tism, therefore, is by no means the same thing as spiritual
regeneration.

The

baptism by water, sacramentally exhibits the blood

of Christ, which, alone, cleanseth us from

Holy Ghost,

the divine grace of the

apply, and seal

The
tended

it

to the souls

of

all

divine privilege of baptism,

to infants,

who

all

And by

sin.

does sacramentally

believers.

we

believe,

is

also ex-

were, from the days of Abraham, the

made members of

father of all the faithful,

declared,

it

by our covenant God,

to

the church,

be members.

"I am

and
thy

God, and the God of thy children." We do receive and

But the right of adults to
practise " believers* baptism.
can no more be supposed

that important privilege,

away

to take

the right of infants, than adult salvation can preclude

infant salvation

Indeed, the warrant to baptize infants,

is

given in terms

Here

as express and direct, as that to baptize adults.

the words of our

disciples*

of,

"

Lord

all

" Go ye and

nations, baptizing

teach," that

is,

are

make

them in the name of the

Holy Ghost." Now,

no " direct or express" mention made here of men
must we exclude them ? There is no " direct and express"
mention made of women must we, therefore, exclude them 1
There is no "direct and express" mention made of infants;
must we, thence, exclude them ? No we are positively enFather, and of the Son, and of the

there is

joined to baptize,

first, all

Ma0jjrv(7are,

kinds of persons who constitute a

make ye

disciples.

Matt, xxviii.

19.

360

THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.

But, a nation

nation.

men.

is

made up

Therefore infants have as

of infants, men, and wo-

and as express a

direct,

warrant to receive this holy sacrament, as have men, and wo-

who are disciples, must be baptized.

Holy Ghost, declared to be disciples.
This is clearly set forth in Acts xv. No one will question
that infants- were circumcised of old.
Now, these same
men.

And, second,

all

But, infants are, by the

infants does the Apostle call

^'^

nqw

appointed in

God,

to put a

yoke on the neck of the

infants

that

"

must no longer be circumcised.

adults

was
and
tempt ye
Hence,

baptism, which

to

he maintains

place,

its

For, in pleading

disciples."

way

that circumcision had given

Why

disciples ?"

must be baptized.
"But, God has connected baptism with

infants

ance.

Hence

infants,

who have

We admit the premises

ed."

faith

and repent-

neither, should not be baptiz-

but deny the conclusion.

God

requires faith and repentance of adidts, in order to their bap-

But, the present question

tism.

God

about infants alone.

Are we

with faith and repentance.

salvation,

ment

is,

who have

not about

is

to

neither of those

therefore, purely

exclude infants from

graces

For

sophism.

equally againt infant salvation,

them, but

connected salvation

has also

This argu-

it

concludes

and infant baptism

"But, what knows an infant about sprinkling, or baptism

with water ?"

I ask, in return,

what does an infant know of

Adam, by virtue of which he dies, before

What knows an infant
the commission of one act of sin ?
of regeneration by the Holy Ghost, by which its tender
What knows an infant of
soul is made meet for heaven ]
original sin in

which it obtains its right and title to

deny the inward grace and salvation

the blood of Jesus, by

heaven

Are we

to infants,

their
I

to

because they

know nothing

of their Creator,

Redeemer, and holy baptism ?

conclude, in the words of the pious and learned Dr.

John Owen

"Why

is it

the will of

God

that unbelievers


THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.
should not be baptized

It is

361

because, not granting them

If God, then,
deny the sacramental sign to the infants of believers, it must
be because he denies them the grace of it. And, thence,
upon this principle, all the children of believing parents,

the grace, he will not grant

them the sign.

dying in infancy, must, without hope, be eternally

do not say that
all

must be

lost

all

must be

lost,

who

whom god would not have

But we now arrive at

most solemn of them

the last of the

all,

but,

baptized."

Divine Ordinances, the

the communion.

31*

lost.

are not baptized

CHAPTER

II.

" This do ye in remembrance of me."

The Lord

Jesus Christ.

This is aaother ordinance of our Lord. And this is the

main subject of our present discussion.
As an ordinance of God is deeply solemn in proportion
as it gives an extraordinary exhibition of God's love in
and is an impressive seal of the new covenant,
Christ
the Lord's Supper is, of course, one invested with the deepAt all times are we to approach God with
est solemnity.
:

the greatest reverence, and humility.

But, there are seasons

and ordinances in which, like Moses and Joshua, we must

" put off our shoes from off our feet, for the place we stand
on is holy ground." And, such is the Holy Supper of the
Lord.

Herein

is

given to the church, the

fullest

and most

impressive exhibition of the love of Christ in his sufferings

and death

for us.

to the foot of

Herein we make our nearest approach

Herein we have the channel

God's throne.

of an extraordinary communion opened up between God,

and our souls. And, in order to enjoy it aright, and glorify
our God, a searching preparation of heart, and great sanctity of soul, and of life, are required on our part.

THE lord's supper.

363

HISTORY OF THIS DIVINE INSTITUTION.

Our Lord,

the

only king and head of the church, es-

economy a
The moral laws

tablished in the ancient church of the Jewish

complete system of laws, and ordinances.

enacted by him remain the same, unchangeable, as our rule

The ceremonial code

of duty.

of laws, and

given to guide his chosen people to Messiah,

to

come.

Jew

By

was

these sacramental rites

faith of

him he

died,

about

believing

the

directed to Christ, the only Saviour of men.

was

rites,

who was

And

in the

and entered into heaven.

But these ceremonial

rites

Messiah, when come in the

ere to

\v

vanish away before

The dim moonlight

flesh.

shadows must vanish away, when the

glory of the

full

of righteousness shone out upon Zion.

Sun

Accordingly, as

our Lord approached the cross, and the closing act of the

consummation of our redemption, by the

sacrifice

of him-

every portion of that ancient ceremonial institution,

self,

which prefigured the sufferings and death of Christ, our

one, great, and perfect sacrifice, began to recede, and vanish
away.

The

Every

sacrifice of the altar

substance of

fore the church.

all

these shadows

The

was

to cease

now

stood

for ever.

visibly

be-

one, true, and all-perfect sacrifice

was then, actually being offered up. The glory of its' perfection, and acceptance, shone forth in a thousand bright
It was inIt admitted of no additions.
manifestations.
finitely perfect.

It

was never

to

be repeated in

reality, or

in figure.

The
God.

passover of the

The lamb was

Jews was a

propitiatory sacrifice to

a type of Christ, " the

like the other peace-oflferings,

fice.

The church
to feast

upon

sin of the world.

of God, after having witnessed the

pascal lamb roasted in the

semble

it

Lamb of God,"

And,
was a feast upon a sacri-

who has come and has taken away the

it.

fire,

And

but not consumed, did as-

every one

who

did eat of

THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.

364

was considered

that lamb,

have the same benefit of the

to

atoning sacrifice, as he had who did personally offer the sa-

Hence, nothing can be more manifest

himself.

crifice for

than this fact hereby exhibited, and sealed to us sacramentally, that

he who partook by

which represented

of the visible symbols,

faith,

and

Christ, the one, only,

pa-

all-perfect

of the divine benefit of

crifice for us, did actually partake

that sacrifice of Messiah, as really,

and as certainly as

he

if

had given an accepted sacrifice for himself.

I do not say that he could ever have given any thing
like

an accepted

But, I do say, that,

sacrifice for himself.

according to the Scripture

doctrine of substitution,

on

which the whole doctrines of the gospel are based, and

which is here distinctly recognized, every believer, by virtue of his partaking of Christ's sacrifice,

as really accepted,

personally given

and pardoned, and

all

is

viewed as being

justified, as

if he

had

satisfaction for himself,

the requisite

unto God.

Such were the outward forms of the Church's solemn fesof old, and down to the time of our Lord's advent.

tivals

But, the time

came when

all

these ceremonies, sealed by the

blood of typical victims, were to cease, and vanish away.

Hence, our Lord, on the evening preceding

his death,

gave a gracious display at once, of his love, and his supreme

He

authority.

abolished the passover, and

cient sacrifices.
institution,

he took

And

never to be revoked in time.

wine."

By

these,

and

flesh of the paschal lamb,

And

he enacted

times, present

and future

ments.

all

the other an-

in their stead, he ordained another

this
:

he

for

He took bread

its sacrificial

all

law

"

ever superseded the

accompani-

to his true disciples, in all

" Do

this in

remembrance of

me." That is, instead of the flesh of the paschal lamb, or

any other sacrifice, roasted on the altar, you shall henceforth
And you shall eat bread, and drink
use bread, and wine.
And, appealing to the love
wine, in remembrance of me.

365

THE lord's supper.

and

of his church, he added,

fidelity

come

" Do

this until I

again."

Such

is

the interesting origin of this

He who called
race the

to

Adam

in the garden,

most holy ordinance.

and vouchsafed to our

opening rays of divine hope

first

to our

condemned

and trembling parents He who placed Noah in the ark,

and thereby saved the church He who called Abraham,
and made him the father of all the faithful He who brought
;

Egypt by a memorable triumph He who

dried up the Red Sea before his ransomed host He who pronounced in thunder, his law from Sinai and delivered his
ordinances by Moses, to his church He who led his chosen
people through the wilderness, and dried up Jordan before

the church out of

them

and brought them

into the promised land

He who

and prophets
He who delivered all his divine doctrines, laws, and ordinances by divine inspiration, through the holy men of God,
gave

to the

Church her

patriarchs, her priests,

who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost He

who bought his church by his own blood He who sits in
;

heaven, enthroned in Zion, and invested with

all

power in

heaven, and on earth, He, our sovereign king, has ordained this most holy ordinance, and has stamped the seal of
his supreme authority upon it. Hence, it bears the name, and
token of his majesty impressed on it. It is the Lord's
Supper.

OF the various names of this ORDINANeH.

First

It is called the

Lord's Supper, for the reason just

now mentioned.
passover. It

is

Our Lord appointed it in the place of the

a Supper. It was first instituted to be eaten at

and it is very signiThat meal was the principal

one among the ancient orientalists, and Jews. It was a
So this is the
feast after the business, and cares of the day.

the time of the evening sacrifice

ficantly styled

The

Slipper.

::

366

THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.

and most solemn ordinance in the Christian
Tlie Lordh Supper.
Here we meet with

principal feast,

Church.

It is

Christ, not merely as occasional,

we sup

and transient

visitors

but

with him, and he with us, as permanent lodgers

with him in his holy habitation.

Second
16:

the Communion.

It is called

"The communion

munion of his

of Christ's body

We have,

blood."

Corinth, x.

1
;

and the com-

in this festival, the closest,

and most joyful communion with each other;

and, above

with the Triune God, in grace, in peace, in

all,

and

holiness,

love.

Third

It is styled

the Feast.

Feasts were institut-

ed in joyful commemoration of great deliverances

and upon

occasions of returning peace, and reconciliation of nations,

and

families,

Men

individuals.

the union of friendship,

and

feasted together to

And

love.

cement

he was reckoned

a monster of ingratitude, and one never to be trusted again,

who

man

could betray, or injure the

lebrated the feast of reconciliation.

down

sit

at the

" pacified

is

We

Lord's table, in

to us,"

whom

with

In

this

communion

with him,

and who has " reconciled us

We

ciliation

and we

eat,

and drink with him,

seal the

we
who

to himself."

do publicly commemorate his love to us, and

love to him.

he had ce-

ordinance

testify

our

in cordial recon-

renewed vow, and covenant of

And

peace, not to be revoked.

herein

we have

a foretaste

of the feast of uninterrupted joy in heaven, at "the marriage

supper of the
Fourth,
vourite

Lamb."
It is called

name, by which

the Eucharist. This is the fais known, chiefly in the Greek

it

Church.

It is

festival of

thanksgiving

for

his

so called, because
to

God,

it

is

as

the

the

Church's joyful

word imports,

unmerited favours through Christ Jesus, by the

Blessed Spirit.
Fifth

tism also

is

It is

commonly

a sacrament.

called

the Sacrament.

But, as the word of

God

Bapis call-

367

THE LORD*S SUPPER.

ed the Bible,
the

Book

of

the Book, by way of eminence,

or,

all

books

so

as

is

it

the Lord's Supper, by reason

is

of its pre-eminent solemnity, and extraordinary exhibition of

Christ, called

THE SACRAMENT.
This name is, indeed, not found in the Holy Scriptures,
But it has been in use among Christians from the earliest
It comes from the Latin word, sacramentum, an
ages.
oath, a military oath of the soldier to the

Roman emperor

in his letter to the

emperor.

Pliny,

Trajan, uses this word

in speaking of this festival of the primitive Christians.

Without doubt, he naturally used

it

in the sense in which

it

was used in the Roman army. The sacramenticm militare

was a public oath, and a vow of fidelity, given by the loyal
soldier to his country, his government, and his general.
Beyond doubt, the word was so used in its application to
But, it was,
this ordinance, by the primitive Christians.
no doubt, also used by them in the other sense of the word,
namely, to express a mystery.
That is, it conveyed to them
the idea that this Supper was not a

common

The

feast.

mystery exhibited Christ's body and blood given for us,

under the sacramental symbols of bread and wine.

We

object to neither of these views.

we approve

sacred pledge of our

We

our salvation.

we

oath, that

and

duties,

Besides

The men
faith,

no

vow

this,

all

On

the contrary,

this divine ordinance,

fidelity,

will follow

vering obedience in
fare,

In

of both.

and devotion

to him, with the

him

we

to the

give a

Captain of

solemnity of an

in love, in patience, in perse-

the complicated trials of

life's

war-

even unto our death.

as

we

said,

of this world,

it

contains a hidden

who possess no saving

spiritual discernment,

mystery.
grace,

no

can never penetrate the mys-

tery deeply veiled under the sacramental elements.

They

THE ORDINANCES OF CHRIST.

368

look on things with the eyes of their unconverted nature.

They

perceive nothing beyond the outward materials. Like

and foreigners, who do not understand the language of the country where they sojourn, these men feel not
strangers,

the eloquent

and solemn appeal made

mental symbols.

But

the eye

in these

holy sacra-

of the spiritual

sees, through these divine elements, as in a glass,

AND BLOOD,

ill

Other words, the all-sufficient

discerner

the body

atonement

of our Lord Jesus Christ, presented to him, and accepted by

him, as the

life,

and nourishment of his immortal

soul.

CHAPTER

III.

OF THE NATURE AND USES OF THE LORD's SUPPER AND

THE CORRESPONDING PREPARATION RECtUIRED OF US,
THERETO.
;

"Behold we come unto

thee, for

thou art the Lord our

God

!"

Here I beg attention to some preliminary observations.

Some injurious mistakes are entertained by many on this
point against which we shall do well to be on our guard.
;

And

here I

that

God communicates

deem

it

necessary to remind you,

prominent ways.

Second

by

his divine truths to

First

the forcible

youth,

man, in two

by plain doctrinal instructions.

and impressive means of symbols.
;

The Most High, who made

nature, has selected the

my dear

our frame, and knows our

most impressive and

of conveying his revealed truths to our souls.

modes
Our ideas of

efficient

foreign objects are conveyed through our external senses.

number of the senses employed in conto the mind, is the knowledge

If I hear a historical
thereof, clear, strong, and enduring.
statement, I remember it, in proportion as I distinctly hear
In proportion

to the

veying our perceptions

it.

If,

in addition to hearing

it,

of the narrative placed before

my

have an authentic copy

eyes, and am allowed to

follow the speaker, the impression, according to the ordina-

ry rules of attention, will be doubled in force.

32

If,

in addition


THE NATURE AND USES

370

to these, there are set before

me certain historical monuments,

together with certain corresponding actions,

exhibit

the

through the

all

tending to

same truth, and strengthen the impression

medium of my other senses, the perceptions,

and impressions

be very strong, vivid, and

will of course

enduring.

This law of our nature, our compassionate Redeemer has

For inin all ages of his church.

called into requisition

stance, the

Jewish church commemorated

from Egypt, and,

the

at

their spiritual foes,

same

their deliverance

from

time, their deliverance

by the grace of the Messiah, in the orIn addition

dinance of their Passover.

to the

their deliverance, the parents directed the

narrative of

attention of the

children to the paschal lamb, slain, and roasted, and eaten

They heard

sacramental ly.

touched

it,

they tasted

and seal conveyed

to their faith.

thus

my

As

And

it,

And

it.

they

saw

they

felt it,

the truth of the narrative forcibly

certain

am

lamb of the

sacrifice,

of the fact of our national deliverance out

And

carrying out,

still

sacramental action and instruction, by viewing

signed

to indicate the

coming

Lamb

in his time to

of God, the Messiah,

deliver his people

Egyptian bondage, the devout

As

certainly as I

of

my

and

home

certainly as I have the distinct evidence before

of the house of bondage.

this

they

each devout participant said in his soul

different senses, that this is a real

so

it,

thus the sacramental sign,

am

Jew

further,
it

as de-

who was

from worse than

said in his soul, thus

assured, by the evidence and testimony

senses, that this is really a lamb, sacrificially slain,

feasted on, as a sacrifice

so certain

am

I,

by the sa-

on a sacrifice, that my Redeemer

will take on him our nature, and will bleed, and will die in the
fire of divine justice, for me, and for the church of God.
And as certainly as I feast on this sacrifice, and, thereby,
cramental use of

this feast

share in the benefit of this material and typical sacrifice

so certainly shall I feast upon Messiah's body and

blood

871

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

And

given for me, and shed for me.

thereby shall I share

in the real sacrifice of Messiah for me, as certainly as if I

had actually offered

Now, one

to mistake the

hibited

to

up

it

to

my

God, myself, personally.

probable, and serious mistake here, would be,

symbol

for the

thing thus symbolically ex-

confound, for instance, the paschal lamb, for the

commemorated. Or to imagine that the

lamb was really the eating of the
Messiah
and that the enjoyment of the feast materially
considered, was actually the enjoyment of the spiritual feast
of grace, and pardon
Such, precisely, is the extravagance and error of those

actual deliverance

eating of the paschal

;

who conceive

the baptism with water,

to

be actually the

baptism of the Holy Spirit; in other words, that the

spiritual

is really the washing, and regeThis unaccountable error has ac-

water baptism of the body

neration of the soul
tually

been committed

Such, precisely,

represented

who

that the bread

and wine

to

to

be the very thing thereby

actually conceive the monstrous

and wine

are, in reality, Christ's

blood, soul and divinity !"

ments

of those who conceive

is also the error

the symbols of bread

idea,

" body and

If I suppose these material ele-

be the very Christ, bodily

and the presenting of

them, before the Church, to be an actual renewal of his

divine,
fall

and

into

It is

all-perfect sacrifice

an error

FATAL.

For,

perfect sacrifice,
ter

Christ

at once,
I

came,

(now)

(now)

killeth

all

cross, I

my soul.

is

For,

be repeated.

all-

af-

were abolished.

as if he slew a

says,

man

" He
he that

he cut off a dog's neck

is

as if he offered swine's

he that (now) burneth incense,

idol !" ch. Ixvi. 3.

on the

fatal to

New Testament times,

an ox,

sacrificeth a lamb, is as if

to

material sacrifices

he that (now) offereth an oblation,

blood

offered

thereby forsake the one only and

which was never

Isaiah, speaking of the

that

once

most absurd, and

is

as if he blessed an

372

THE NATURE AND USES

It is also

MOST ABSURD.

For, on the same principle, to

be consistent, miist

I maintain that the lambs of the passnumber, being eaten by millions of the
ancient worshippers, were, in reality, the very Messiah

over, countless in

even before he had a human body

BODILY,
siah
ox,

EATEN BODILY, and bcforc he had a body

and heifer, and

The very MesNay,

that

each

goat, symbolically exhibiting the Messiah,

and consumed bodily,

Nay, more still. If the
bread of the Holy Supper be, in reality, "the body and
blood, soul and divinity of Christ," as the canon of the
were in

on

Messiah bodily

reality the

the altar of the burnt-offering

Roman Mass teaches

then the victim of the burnt- offering

was the "real body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ!"
And as such in his " soul and divinity" he was continually

consumed to ashes on the altar, from day to day

Oh Holy and Gracious Spirit, purify the Church, and
!

the groaning Earth, from such revolting absurdities

tal errors

Oh

and

fa-

teach man, that the infinitely perfect atone-

ment of our Lord never needed a repetition by Christ himself;

far less

away

by

this

sinful

man

O God

be graciously pleased to take

high treason against the

from the face of the earth

Grant

King of Zion,

for ever,

God, out of com-

this,

passion to thy bleeding Church, and pity to perishing souls,

Amen.

for Christ's sake.

There

is

another remarkable error, originated by the same

and one which strangely lingers among

Reformed Churches. I allude to the superstitious

treasonable power
us, in the

belief that our going through the external acts, even with

the greatest apparent solemnity, does, by

'

the very doing of

the service,' entitle us to the grace of God,

ward.

Now hear

little."

the Apostle.

and a divine

Hence, the doing of the mere external

action, at

the table of the Lord, without a holy discerning mind,

a pure

faith, is if

no more

re-

" Bodily exercise profiteth

effect in

and

meriting the favours of

God, than any other bodily service whatsoever can do.Such

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

373

offerings at God's altar are, verily, the offering of the dead

body without the soul

This

is

They

in a high-handed degree,

tion, not discerning the Lord's

There are two

to eat

body."

we must

the honour of

God

and drink damna1

Cor.

xi.

29.

on the other extreme,

classes of error,

against which

I. 1

incur the wrath of God.

"

studiously guard,

my

dear youth, for

and our own purity and peace.

allude to the error of those

who have been led, by inMount Sinai, the table

discreet persons, to believe that, like

of the Lord has a combination of awful terrors thrown around

Those persons confound the altar of the Lord, with

TABLE of the Lord.* The altar was that on which
God's pure and inflexible justice, like fire, consumed the
victim, which was "God's meaff
The table was that
at which the worshipper, who offered the sacrifice, did eat of
the feast upon the sacrifice
as men reconciled to God,
"supping with him," at his table of reconciliation and
it.

the

divine fellowship.
Preserve,

beg you, dear Christians,

Never forget
of God and there

tinction.
altar

Christ approached the^ flaming

laid

down

and body as

his soul,

consumed by

the fire of justice.

This ended in his death.

was not destroyed like

He

met and appeased Justice.

But, as the paschal lamb, he was fitted

the burnt-offering.

and

to be taken out of the fire of divine justice,

table of the

God

Lord

laid

on the

we might approach our covenant

that

in perfect peace with him,

sacrificed

the

This, as " the meat" on the table of God, was

sacrifice.

He

this necessary dis-

it.

and

feast with

body and blood of our Redeemer

him on
in

token

the

of

our reconciliation to God, and God's true love to us.

this ordinance in this light, how can any child
God permit himself, for a moment, to compare it to the
terrific Mount of Sinai, at the moment the law was uttered ?

Viewing

of

How

can any believer venture

See Micah

i.

to say,

7.

32*

it is

Micah

safer to abstain
i.

12.

THE NATURE AND USES

374

from the sacrament, invested as

rors, than to venture forward to

with these awful

it is,

Oh

it ?

how can you

ter-

say

from the presence of divine

even while they are urging you, and enlove and mercy
treating you to meet your heavenly Father, and your Reit is

safer to absent yourself

;

deemer, and your Divine Comforter, at the table of the

heavenly banquet, in the feast of the memorial of the sacrifice

of Christ, given and accepted for us

Oh

law, with the solemnity

confound the terrors of the

cease, I beseech you, to

and joys of the gospel

feast of love

Cease to mistake the beseeching and melting accents of

the mercy of

God

Mount

The

Sinai.

in

Christ, for the terrific thunders of

law utters

its

denunciations, to con-

vince us, that under the curse of a broken covenant,

we can

have no hopes of salvation by our own works. In the

Lord's Supper we are invited to meet the God of salvation

By

in peace and love.

the terrors of the law,

hopes of the gospel.

keeps every way

man

is

driven

and is " shut up" to the way, and

The sword of the law's guardian

from his.own carnal hopes

and shuts up every avenue of man's renew and living way opened up by

turn, except through the

the gospel.
all

to

In the Lord's Supper, we are constrained, by

the urgency of divine compassion,

come and meet our God

and loving-kindness,

in the festival of mutual love,

and a joyful reconciliation

We must alarm men out of the easy belief
II.
!

that

there is safety in persisting in the neglect of this divine or-

The command, "to keep

dinance.
Christ,"

is

this in

remembrance of

from the same high and sovereign authority,

which enacted the ten precepts. It is as peremptory, and

divine, and obligatory, as is any one of these commands.

Can any one

sisting,

TEN

through

precepts

wilful

persuade himself that there

life,

is

any safety

in the wilful violation of

And can there

in per-

any one of the

be any safety in the open and

neglect of this most peremptory

command?

No

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

command

of

God

is

No

conditional.

375

subject

of the Al-

mighty's government has a choice of obeying, or not obey-

may

he

ing, as

absolute in

Many

its

see

fit

Every precept

peremptory, and

is

penalty.

a one, alas

succeeds to

lull

his conscience into

an amazing and most alarming degree of

matter
this

by alleging

" he

that

solemn transaction."

lemnity,

is trifling

with a vengeance

The

None.

This,

were serious in

If he

He

For every

reflecting

we

is

commands

this allegation ?

As he makes

glaring.

no

faith, for

declare, with deep so-

can be serious in

proof of this

comfort.

security, in this

not prepared by

with God, and his divine

Who

excuse, he feels no concern,

ed.

is

anxiety to be

this allegation,

this

prepar-

he could find no

could not even rest in peace on his couch.

man must

admit, that

pared for the Holy Supper, then

is

if

he be not pre-

he not prepared

awful hour of death, and judgment, and eternity

for the

Can

any man of sound reason, while viewing death, staring him

in the face, on his dying bed deliberately allege,
and allege, too, with a view to keep his conscience perfectly at ease,

that

he

who

is

is

not prepared to die

not under a

fatal

How

can any one, then,

delusion, allege, with a view to keep

his conscience quiet, that he is not prepared for the Lord's

Supper

There are some who do, indeed, plead their unworthiness,

and want of preparation. But they do not set up this plea
and seek a false peace while
to soothe their consciences
;

They make

good
and with mourning, and contrition.
And they allow themselves no rest, until they have found
Then, after due preparation through
grace, and peace.

living in a state of rebellion.

faith,

with

many

Christ, by the
their

the

tears

Holy Ghost, we

find

them hastening

Redeemer's command, in shewing

communion

in.

We

the plea in

to

obey

forth his death at

table.

must guard with care against

errors in refer-

376
and manner of preparation, for
We must
offering.

to the nature, design,

ence
this

solemnity.

come with no
never

It

is

not a peace

price in our hands.

We

sells his blessings.

buy

money, and without price." We

deeds, and all our good deeds

Our Heavenly Father

but " we buy without
cast down all our evil

and

at the foot

of the cross of Christ

and

all

our miseries,

there

we

j^^accept

of his free and sovereign grace, to help us in every duty.

must come in humility in steady faith in ardent love ;

We

in hope

and almighty power,

that

we

supplies of his divine grace.

ourselves

and return

filled

strained into a closer, and

vine love.

in confidence inspired

by his unchangeable love,

shall

receive

all

the needful

We

must come emptied of

and conwith his rich grace
;

closer

union

to

him by

his di-

CHAPTER

IV.

OF THE NATURE AND USE OF THE LORd's SUPPER, WITH

THE CORRESPONDING PREPARATION REQUIRED OF US,

CONTINUED.
" I will
tar,

wash mine hands in innocence

Psahn xxvi. 5.

so will

compass thine

al-

O God."

We

now

arrive at the

main point before

us,

on

this

head.
First

The Lord's Supper

memoration.
versal

It is

and held

fore the eyes of

the

monument of high com-

reared in the church uni-

most conspicuous manner be-

forth in the

all

is

monument

enemies of

ture,

It

Christianity.

the grandest in their character,

comme-

and some, yet fuand the most momen-

morates events, some of which are past

tous in their results, that can be conceived by

man, or an-

gel.

ly

These have been already detailed by us. We shall merethe everlasting covenant of
name the most prominent

grace

ment

the mission of Christ

his incarnation

the final redemption

his regeneration of the

;

his resurrection from the dead

intercession

reign

and his

final

human

of

family,

descent to the

last

his atone-

his ascension
all

in

the

the

his

ransomed

millennial

judgment.

378

THE NATURE AND USES

Compared
of fame

rolls

to these,

what are the grandest events on the

Laid in the balance with these ever-endur-

ing results, what are the mightiest affairs, and achievements

of men
the rise, and fall of empires, and republics ? In
;

their mightiest importance, they are as the small dust in the

balance

By

this glorious

combination of acts in Jeho-

move on

vah's government, the divine perfections

harmony, in man's redemption

There

in their

is all the attractive

loveliness of mercy, in unison with the overawing severity

of justice

move on

to

There, spotless purity, and unyielding equity

embrace

love,

and tender compassion

The

honour, and majesty of every attribute of the Godhead, are

not only preserved unsullied

but are

overpowering glory, and beauty

is

manifested, and

made most

And

intelligent beings.

in their deliverance

and

happiness

and

all

all holy and

consummated

glorious, before

all this

triumph

their

in full

from the

is

final

and

elevation to thrones of glory,

and uninterrupted communion with God,

as

if

they never

Now, do nations

rear

and the founders of

commemorate
it

second

pains of the

bitter

holy beings in his vast empire,

had fallen

could

divine government

ransom of countless millions of the human family

in the

death

covered with an

all

The

monuments to

their empires

their illustrious heroes,

Does a grateful people

?

And

God upon

earth,

the proud day of their national birth

be suspected that the kingdom of

THE Church, should want her monuments of these most

magnificent events of divine wisdom, love, and power

They of

the olden Jewish times possessed their

The

ments of national commemoration.

monu-

stones which

were taken from the channel of Jordan, while

its

waves

stood up in a heap, and allowed the church to pass over,

were reared into a

pillar

national deliverance.

at

Gilgal, to

The Passover

of their escape from Egypt

and

commemorate

kept up the

their

still

the

memory

greater deliver-

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

Bnce from the church's enemy,

world has

finally, the

its

typified

379

by Egypt.

And,

Sabbath, to keep up the perpetual

and holy remembrance of the stupendous work of the old

creation
and the finishing of the new creation, by the
;

resurrection of Christ.

your attention to the moral and religious use of

I invite

When

these.
pillar

the

of stones

of stones ?'

new

generations of Israel looked on the

at Gilgal,

and asked, " What means

Their fathers replied

to

been

The

here in our days, and in the days of our fathers."

dition relative

heap

this

" This heap has

tra-

them, and the holy record of Joshua,

correspond exactly with the existence of this monument.

Our

fathers, they told us,

passed over Jordan

by a miraculous drying up of
took up from

its

at

spot,

this

These stones they

waves.

deep channel, and with them they reared

Our

this pillar.

its

fathers

saw

this

over Jordan.

passage

They saw this monument reared in the presence of all the

people who came over.
They have handed down the tradition,

and with

the holy record in the writings of Joshua

it,

and, in confirmation thereof, they point to

reared.

heap of

stones, reared in
after another, has

was

this

No

commemoration of it. One generation

lived close by this pillar, ever since it
man, nor conspiracy of men, could have

invented this narrative by Joshua, of a passage over Jordan;

so as to induce a whole nation to believe
this day,

had

moment,

to have

it

never happened.

been a

fiction.

heap of stones could not, in

the days

This

that case,

of the first generation

fiction,

it

implicitly to

who

narrative,

it,

for a

and

this

have been got up in

lived

they could have instantly exposed the

were a

it

Now, suppose

by Jordan

imposition.

for

If

it

could not have been got up, and palmed

upon the public in any following age. For, in the tradition handed down
and in the sacred book of Joshua,
and all the
it is declared that the whole nation saw it
;

tribes of the nation believed it;

and they

all

saw themonu-

380

THE NATURE AND USES

ment

reared

times,

how could an impostor

in Gilgal.

If

it

were an imposition of after-

prevail

on a whole nation to
really handed

believe that this tradition, and record were

down

to

them from

their fathers

How

could he induce

the millions of a nation to confess that they

long before the appearance of

supposed

this

all

believed

fiction,

if

it,

the

passage over Jordan by a miracle, had never, on this supposition,

taken place

The

An

lute impossibility.

an abso-

infidel theory supposes

impostor, for no supposable object,

succeeds in making millions believe that their fathers, and

they themselves, had long held a tradition of a great national
deliverance, which yet, they never heard

of, until

this

sup-

posed invention was propagated

Take,

monument

also, the

generations.

The

We

of the passover.

great nation keeping up this sacred,

children of a

find a

and national custom

new

age,

demand of

for

their

" Wherefore keep ye

The parents
" This was ordained by our God,
of a whole nation
fathers,

feast ?"

this

reply,

time when He slew the first-born of Egypt, and passed OVER us in mercy." The written record of that deliveNow,
rance came down with this visible, national feast.
no man could have invented that narrative of a deliverance,
and made a whole nation believe it, and unanimously celeat the

brate this festival,

taken place.

if that

Such a

national deliverance had never

narrative,

and ordinance could not

have been invented by an impostor

ple's

coming out of Egypt.

For

appeal to the whole nation, saying,

first-born of Egypt

of the peo-

at the time

the narrative

and

" God has

festival

slain

all

the

and has spared you, and delivered you :"

and in memory of this, you keep this festival. Who would,

for a

moment,

credit that, if the facts

fresh before the eyes of the nation

None

were not certain and

could have invented this record of Moses, and this

ordinance, at any later date, and induced a whole nation,

without gainsay, to receive them,

if the facts

had not actual-


OF THE lord's SUPPER.

For, in the body of the narrative, and in the

happened.

\y

381

made

face of the passover, the appeal

is

that their ancient

and

forefathers,

whole body of the people

living,

to the

their

whole nation,

fathers,

and the

had actually received,

and given credit to the tradition, and written record:

and that all of them now living, had always been in the haof keeping this very festival,

bit

on

vented,

The

now alleged

to

be just in-

this infidel supposition.

national tradition, and the sacred written record

have always come down in conjunction with the national

of the passover.
Hence, it was a monument of
commemoration, calculated to give an irresistible confirma-

festival

tion of their faith in the national deliverance.

As

It

did more.

minds forward, in a
true and living faith, to the Lamb of God, even Messiah,
who was to come and deliver them from a worse bondage,
and the bitter pains of the second death.
In like manner, may we reason in relation to the Holy Sabbath, which is a monumental commemoration of the creation
a sacramental feast,

of the world

and

it

carried their

new creation, by the death and

But we leave our reader, at pre-

also of the

resurrection of our Lord.

sent, to follow this out for himself, according to the speci-

mens just given.

Now, the Lord's Supper, which has taken the place of
the Passover, is, strictly speaking, a divine monument,
commemorative of
tion,

death,

the facts of Christ's mission, incarna-

atonement, resurrection, ascension, interces-

sion.

to

THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL, which

This,

Supper

beg to say,

is

the

grand public use of the Lord's

THE WITNESS for Christ. Let us dwell a

These miraculous events, just recited,

stands forward as

little

on

this topic.

in the history of

and death, were facts palpable to the eyes and

Every one of them was publicly done before
thousands of witnesses. And tens of thousands of good
33
our Lord's
ears of

life,

men.

THE NATURE AND USES

382

men in Jiidea and Jerusalem,

contemporaries of Jesus Christy

rose up before the nation, and publicly bore testimony to them

in the days of the Apostles, and of the murderers of Christ.

This monument, the Lord's Supper, was, along with

up in, in the church, and the world, in

others, publicly set

a manner most conspicuous to

all

and, accompanying

it,

were certain outward actions, enjoined to be performed by

The church universal, in obedience to her
Christians.
Lord, assembled, and kept up, to this day, the solem.n

festi-

Bread and Wine, in remembrance of these divine

val of

and memorable events.

this monument of the Holy Supper, with variAgain
ous others, was instituted at the time, in which these divine
:

And

events transpired.
in

all

the tradition of

the churches,

all

parts of the world, the most widely separated

come down along

has

with the holy record of the Bible, together

with this solemn monumental commemoration, uninterrupted,

from the period when they happened, even to this day.

are facts of which no man, who believes in the evi-

These

dence of history, can entertain a single doubt.

Now, had these glorious events never happened in Jerusalem, it would have been impossible to persuade the myriads* of the best

men

of Judea,

who were contemporaries

with Christ, to believe that they did actually see Jesus raise

manner of miracles

the dead,

and work

the cross

for the sins of the people

the dead,

cend up

all

and appear
into

to

heaven,

hundreds

if

certain personal knowledge,

all

and

and die on

again from
and then publicly as;

rise

these had, to

not taken

place.

their

No

own

power

on earth could have induced the people of those times to

unless they had seen them with their
For the record, and
eyes, and heard them with their ears.

believe these things,

* Acts xxi. 20. " Thou seest, brother, how many myriads,
tens
of thousands, there are which believe," that is, in Jerusalem. Such
is the word rendered " thousands" in our version.

OF THE lord's SUPPER,

883

monument of commemoration, made a

the

appeal to

direct

them, that they had seen, and heard those things themselves, as living witnesses.

To
as

reject

such

evidence, would be as reckless

infallible

would be in a citizen, in our days, now,

it

our national jubilee

an imposition

is

to affirm that

that the

Indepen-

dence of our nation was never proclaimed, nor achieved

and that the annual commemoration is a mere imposture,
invented by our President, and governors for their own
:

private ends

in fact, the great body of the nation

that,

commemorate an event
some assert, never really happened
But the many myriads of the contemporaries of Christ,

has been strangely persuaded to

that, as

and

the Apostles, did as firmly believe

all

the facts of the

memo-

holy record, and did as zealously receive the sacred

rials

of the Holy Supper

tional Independence,

memory

we now do

as

and do

And

thereof.

believe in our na-

celebrate the annual festival, in

they did transmit to the following

generations, the tradition, and the holy Record in the Bible,

in connection with the Lord's Supper, in

memory

thereof;

just as our fathers of the Revolution did transmit the tradi-

and

tion,

the

genuine record of the Independence, and the

joyful festival in

commemoration

one,

we must,

with

all its results.

thereof.

If we

reject the

in order to be consistent, reject the other,

is only the one way of eluding this.

That is, 1st,
by recklessly affirming that this tradition, and the Record,
and the festival in remembrance of it, were invented, and

There

strangely imposed on the world, at a later period than that of

By

the Apostles' days.

down,

man

this

the rules and examples already laid

can be shown

to

be impossible.

First

No

many myriads of the church unipeople who never beheld each other, to

could persuade the

versal,

made up of

believe implicitly these historical facts

death of Christ

and

in the

life

and

to observe with solemnity, these sacra-

THE NATURE AND USES

384
mental

rites, in

memory

had not been given

with Christ

of them,

and brought down

if a

to their fathers,

most perfect evidence

who were contemporary

clearly, to their successors,

by an unbroken chain of evidence.

Suppose the experiment

to

A few

be made.

eminent

men go

into Austria,

on

4th of July, 1776, the Austrians, as a nation,

the

rose

up, in great

and persuade

whole nation, that

that

harmony against

proclaimed their national Independence, and achieved

tually,

by

public

their

and

wisdom, and valour

that

from

that

day

to

it

they

did, as a

all

nation, harmoniously celebrate the glorious deliverance,

a national festival on that day

reply,

memorate

We

the

never heard of

festival

not be induced to

by

Could any power on earth

They

the conversion of the nation to this belief?

effect

would

ac-

Re-

that they reared a

this,

all

and

their civil tyrants,

it,

we never

nor did our forefathers.

did

com-

We

can-

commemorate a thing which we

are sure

never took place

But, transfer this to the case of the Republic.

succeeded in persuading
facts

"VNTio

The

And

commemorative

facts did

has

the tradition

is

festival

The answer

is

happen as they have been declared.

in every one's lips

documents, with the annual

multaneously.

Who

nation to believe the above

succeeded in inducing the nation unanimous-

ly to celebrate the

easy.

this

festival,

And he who would

and the written

came down

to us, si-

venture to deny the facts

of the Revolution would be deemed insane.

Neither, 2dly, can

it

be affirmed, that these traditions, to-

gether with the divine record, and these solemn ordinances,

were invented, and

set

up at any period posterior to the days

of Christ, and his Apostles.

For,

it is

declared in the very

and in the very face of the inspired record, and

on the monumental festival of the Lord's Supper, that " your

traditions,

fathers, in the days of Christ

ceive

the traditions,

and

and the Apostle, did actually

that sacred record,

and

re-

that festi-

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

val.

And

and

they,

their descendants,

all

385
throughout

all

and did most religiously observe them even to this day."

Now, at no period, intervening between the Apostles' days, and our days, could
any man rise up, and say this before the world. How could
christian nations, did receive

he, in

them

one solitary instance, gain credit from one individual,

from all christian nations, to his declaration, that

far less

they and their fathers, back to the times of Christ, have been
in the uninterrupted possession of these traditions, and of this

divine record, and of these

solemn ordinances,

had never heard of them before

a record, with

Could a people

they

if

listen to

attendant festival, which, being brought

its

forward to them, by an impostor for the first time, does bear

a distinct statement on

its

every page, that they themselves,

and their fathers, had always been conversant with it, and
had from ancient times been in the habit of commemorating the events therein recorded

Hence, the Lord's Supper, faithfully kept up by the

church, is a mighty bulwark of evidence against all the

And

foes of Christianity.

it is

a divine

monument to conRedemp-

firm our faith beyond the reach of a doubt, in the

man by

As we

look on our public institu-

tions, our laws, our magistracy,

and our annual commemo-

tion of

Christ.

we have an

rative festival,

infallible

assurance that

all

the

grand events of the Revolution of 1776 did actually take

place.

Even

so,

when we look on

the institutions of the

church, her laws, her ministry, and her solemn

rative festivals,

shaken

we have an

infallible

faith in Christ's glorious

commemo-

assurance, and un-

redemption of man.

And

he who rejects the divine record, and the blessed events of

Christ's sufferings,

and death, with

evidences before his eyes

principles, to

deny the

revolution, with

This

is

all its

one of the

will

all

these

monumental

be constrained, on his

own

and events of our national

monumental evidence, before him
facts,

loftiest,

and most important designs

33*

386

OF THE lord's supper.

Hereby the church universal,

one vast empire, stands up, in all parts of the

of this holy ordinance.

on

earth, as

earth, as a united body, and, holding

up

this

monument,

pagans, and infidels, their strong and immoveable

all

mony

to the facts of the glorious

tion of

man by

And, hence,

pro-

Mohammed, and

claims before Jews, and Antichrist, and

testi-

and ever blessed redemp-

Christ in the flesh.

to neglect the

Lord's Supper, and to refuse to

assist in its perpetual celebration, is to refuse to stand

side by side, with

do

so, is to

do

so, is

the

all

Christians, as witnesses for

Him.

prove recreant to our blessed Redeemer.

an act of treachery.

monumental

treat before the

institutions

advancing

My brother, art thou

It is
;

an attempt

to leave the field

infidel host.

a Christian

to pull

down

and

to re-

Art thou a Christian ?

Oh

then,

how

thou permit thyself to act as a traitor to thy Lord

canst thou deliver

him

up,

To
To

canst

How

into the hands of his enemies

Such is the general aspect of this ordinance, as a grand

monumental display, on the part of the church, in opposition to the world.

But, like the pillar of the cloud, which

lowered threateningly over the Egyptians,

it

has also an un-

varying, beautiful, and bright side toward the

clusively, in her

encampments in

church, ex-

this wilderness.

CHAPTER

V.

OF THE NATURE AND USE OF THE LORD's SUPPER, WITH

THE CORRESPONDING PREPARATION REQUIRED OF US
;

CONTINUED.

We

now

observe, second, that the Lord's Supper is an

ordinance of spiritual commemoration to

1.

We

ant truth of Christ's

as being

Father from
2.

We

carnation,

the Son of God,

bosom of the

in the

all eternity.

commemorate the glorious fact of our Lord's inwhen he became the Son of Man and also
;

the facts of his voluntary humiliation,

the law,

true Christians.

and miracles, which established the all-importand his eternal

supreme deity

ficent events

filiation

all

herein commemorate, with exultation, the magni-

and obedience

to

it

and his subjection to

the fact of his

death

the

circumstances attending his sufferings, and agony, in the

together with the gracious end
garden, and on the cross
;

of divine justice and wisdom, in that death

portant facts

of his

resurrection,

and the

all-im-

ascension, and inter-

And, thence, do we proclaim, in the

cession in heaven.
most public and solemn manner, our faith in the one allperfect sacrifice for sin, by our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. We commemorate the doings, and sayings of Christ
as the prince of martyrs,

who has

divine revelation with his blood.

sealed the

In

this

Books of

his

ordinance

we

THE NATURE AND USES

388

recognize him, and do him spiritual homage in each of his

We

three offices.

repose our every hope in his vicarious

High Priest. We
him as the King of Zion, who
has all power in heaven, and on earth
and yield obedience
And we do,
to his truths, his laws, and his ordinances.
with affection, and implicit faith, yield our homage to him
as the great Prophet of his church, who sealed the whole testimony of his word, by his blood, as a martyr to its truth.
And there is a deep and awful solemnity imposed on our
up

sacrifice offered

yield

him

the

for us,

homage due

as our great

to

minds, while we

reflect that

and sacraments, make

them immoveably by his

and unparalleled miracles

of

and won-

infallible signs,

We

4.

God's word,

of the Holy Ghost esta-

blishing
ders,

reject

God's oath sealing them

blood confirming them

Christ's

who

they

light of

gratefully

and

duties,

trials,

devoutly to

We

tion.

keep up the remembrance of Christ as

model of the Christian's obedience, in

the perfect

and conditions of

We

life.

lift

the

all

our eyes

him

as the perfect example for our dutiful imita-

are,

thence, reproved,

quickened and encouraged in

all

We

and humbled.

our earnest attempts

are
at

and a more rigid imitation of his perand a more strictly filial obedience in all

closer walk with him,

fect

example

and

things,
6.

The
mies

We

at all times.

commemorate

at

every step

great distress.

we

be, but

humble

And

Christ as the triumphant conqueror.

We meet eneand we are often cast down, and in

christian life is a continuous warfare.

;

But,

we never

despair.

are never destroyed.

faith before our agitated

in the faith of all our

confidence,

who

achieved,

We

we may

Christ

minds, and feeble

enemies,

on the

Cast down
hold up

we

point to

in

faith.

him with

cross, his triumphs over all

these enemies.

We

raise

our eyes to him with reviving

joy, as our living, exalted,

and holy

faith,

and reigning sovereign

There,

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

we

see

him on

389

and majesty, follow-

his throne, in his glory,

ing up the victories of his grace, in a continuous succession of glorious triumphs over our sin, over the world, over
Satan, and over death

and receive
In

6.

this festival,

he

death

will

come

He

till

Surely

I
at

to the

" Show ye

again.

He who

"

come

He

quickly."

and

duty,

By

watchfulness.

fidelity in

"Even so

Oh my
!

where communion with

God,

thee,

and

this

diligence in

to

every returning oc-

we

are taught to res-

Come

the

all

in thy

own

banquet of heaven,

to the

ver be interrupted, and never will cease

commemorate,

to

On

come Lord Jesus."

time to receive me.

We

come

this ordinance,

injunction of which he has thus attached

casion, as he renews his assurance,

pond,

these things,

about to

is

our death, personally.

Lord's

the

forth

testifieth

assurance of his coming, we are excited

7.

we triumph,

each one of us, as individual Chris-

come."

each one of us

saith,

in these victories

and animation.

keeps up the remembrance of Christ's sure promise

tians,

that

And

fresh joys,

ransomed

will ne-

in a church capacity, the truth of

our Lord's divine assurance, that

"

He

will

come

the se-

cond time, without sin unto salvation." This promise of the

second coming of Christ, as son of man, as well as Son of
God, has came down
most solemn

The

Apostles.

to us, inseparably

connected with

this

from the times of Christ and the

festival,

existence of this ordinance, in

its

uninter-

rupted commemoration, does seal, and confirm to the church,

the fact of this

assurance of the Great God, our Saviour,

whose word cannot

And

fail.

our

faith,

and the

every Christian throughout the whole visible church,

faith
is

of

con-

verted into assurance, by the divine blessing on this holy

sacrament,

human
ties

that

of humanity,

and die

not

come

the second time, in

without

the innocent frail-

our Lord will

nature, "without sin,"

not

as a

to

hunger, and faint, and

" sin offering"

for

us

;but

suffer,

in hu-

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

390

man

nature, covered with the sublime glory of his divinity,

to receive the

bring us

all

church that

home

church in heaven

scattered over the earth

is

and make us

for ever with the

Meantime

God,

there, as the family of

communion

of everlasting and uninterrupted

memory

hour of time.

of this assurance of his second coming to the

And

she will be found in the very act

of the holy commemoration,

when

her Lord will descend in

glory from heaven to the general judgment.

The earth shall quake ]

The Lord shall come
The mountains to their centre shake
!

And with'ring from the vault of night,

The stars shall pale their feeble light.
The Lord shall come
But not the same,
As once in lowliness he came
!

A silent lamb before his foes

A weary man, and full of woes
The Lord shall come A dreadful form
!

With rainbow wreath

and robes of storm

On cherub wings, and wings of wind
Appointed Judge of all mankind
Can this be He, who wont to stray,
pilgrim on the world's highway
;

Oppressed by power; and mocked by pride

The J^azarene ! The Crucified !

While sinners in despair shall call,

Rocks hide us. Mountains, on us

The

to partake

there to be

Lord, and for ever with one another

last

'

and to

the church, faithful to her Lord, will keep up

the

"

one, in the glorified

all

saints,

fall

!'

ascending from the tomb.

Shall joyful sing,-'

The Lord

is

comb!'

*'

CHAPTER

VI.

OP THE NATURE AND USE OP THE LORD's SUPPER, WITH

THE CORRESPONDING PREPARATION REQ,UIRED OF US
CONTINUED.
:

Third
fice

The

Lord's Supper

is

a feast upon a sacri-

and, therefore, a joyful feast of mutual reconciliation,

peace, and love.

I

the

need scarcely stop

to prove, that in the

Jewish

sacrifices,

worshippers feasted upon the flesh of the sacrifice.

There was, indeed, a

diversity of sacrifices

for

it

required

a multiplicity of these "weak and beggarly elements"

to

complete the type of the one, perfect, and unrepeated sacrifice

In some of these, as the Sin

of Christ.

instance, the victim

without the

camp

was burned

while the

fire

to ashes, in

Oflfering, for

a clean place

of the Burnt Offering, which

consumed the victim on the altar, was never extinguished.

This prefigured the deIt was kept burning night and day.
vouring fire of sleepless justice, falling on sinners, who
venture to approach in their own name, and contemn the
only vicarious sacrifice of Christ.
But, a Peace Offering was united with these fiery and
terrific sacrifices.

the victim
justice had

was
its

In these, and in the Passover, the

roasted in the

due

it

was

fire.

satisfied.

The consuming

And

flesh

of

fire

of

the priest had his

THE NATURE AND USES

892

share, even his dues,

and

And

his honour.

the person

who

presented the offering had his share, which, as in the Passover,

and in

Peace Offering, he took home with him,

it on the table of God,

the

from the altar of God and, placing

;

he did partake of

it,

with his family, in a religious feast.

It

was not A COMMON meal. It was a solemn festival, a feast

on a sacrifice. And every one who partook of that feast on
the sacrifice, was considered as actually partaking of the reand thence, as really sharligious benefit of that sacrifice
ing in that pardon which God gave to those who did eat of
;

it

sacrificially

that is to say, in faith, looking to Messiah,

exhibited in that type,

who was about

to

come

in the flesh,

and die as a sin offering for the church. To partake religiously of the solemn feast on the sacrifice, was viewed by
the devout

Jew

as intimating, in a solemn

ner, their cordial reception of Messiah,

in

him

dying

as their substitute,

By

the fire of divine justice.

and public man-

and

for them,

this

their holy trust

on

the altar in

sacrifice, received

and

eaten by them, every believer did spiritually, and really re-

They became one with

Being one with him

ceive Messiah into their souls.

him

in the union of faith

and

in the eye of law

is,

in God's
at

was

them.

They were

sight.

love.

given the

that

in reality their satisfaction

Hence, they were righteous

from all sin. They

justified

peace with God, as completely as

selves, personally,

and death,

justice, his sufferings

his perfect atonement,

to all the claims against

were

and

they had them-

if

fullest satisfaction

to divine

justice.

And
me

Let
try.

this is precisely the true idea

direct

you

to 1 Cor. x. 16

The cup of blessing which we

of the Lord's Supper.

21.

" Flee from

bless, is

it

idola-

not the com-

munion of the blood of Christ 1 The bread which we breeik,

it not the communion of the body of Christ?
For we,
being many, are one bread, and one body
for we are all
is

partakers of that

one

bread.

Behold Israel

after the flesh

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

393

are not they which eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar

What

say I then

which

is offered

That the

idol

in sacrifice to idols,

devils,

and not

God.

to

any thing ?

is

say that the things which the Gentiles

fice to

you

Christians to flee from idolatry, assumes the

that a person, in eating of the flesh roasted

on

the altar as a

he believed in

the sacrifice of that substitute

If he eat of the flesh of the sacrifices

2d.

he thereby gave his consent

idols,

was thence

guilty of idolatry

urging

fact, just stated,

sacrifice, did thereby profess, publicly, that

and accepted of
on behalf of himself.

ye

devils.''

will perceive that the Apostle, in

substitution,

that

drink the

ye cannot be par-

of the Lord's table, and the table of

1st,

But, I

would not

Ye cannot

cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils

Here,

that

sacrifice, they sacri-

And

should have fellowship with devils.

taliers

Or

any thing]

is

offered to

to that sacrifice

and

because he thereby sacrificed to

idols.

He

3d.

proved this by a reference to the Jewish, and to

the Christian feasts.

In the former, he who partook of

the flesh of the sacrifice, partook of the offering

And

in the

latter,

of the Lord, which

and

is

the altar.

sacramentally received in the bread

communion

the wine, is our act of real

atoning

on

our act of partaking of the body and blood

with

him

in his

sacrifice.

Here, then, the Apostle establishes an exact analogy befestivals of the Jewish Church, and our festival

tween these

of the Christian Church.

passover,
fice,

and of the peace

and as the

feasts

on

Hence, as the Jews' feast of the

offering, was a feast on a sacri-

feasts of the Gentiles in their temples,

the idol-sacrifices

so the

the Apostle's decision, a feast

crifice

upon

Lord's Supper

the

by

New Testament sa-

of our Lord.*

See Cudworth's Discourse on the Lord's Supper.

34

were
is,

THE NATURE AND USES

394

Now, Christ, our sacrifice,

And this was not necessary.

could not be literally eaten.

was, in

It

He

true worship of the pious Jew.

literally, as the infatuated

fact,

not so in the

did not eat Messiah

In
lamb had the
which
come, and die
actually come, and ac-

victims of antichrist suppose.

the sacrament of the passover, the flesh of the

same

relation to

the bread

Messiah about

and wine have

to

to Christ,

In the ancient sacrament, the pious

tually sacrificed for us.

sacred symbol, which represented, sealed, and

Jew used the

applied to him, what the bread and wine, the sacred symbols

of the Lord's Supper, do represent, seal, and apply to us.

Jew

The

eating of the paschal lamb by the believing

and

the eating and drinking of the bread and wine, by the

believing Christian now,

are

to

of old

be considered as purely

typical of the act of those persons receiving into their souls

and hearts the

common

atonement of their

real

Lord.

By

became

identified with their

Saviour,

him, in close and indissoluble bonds.

Lord stood up before divine law and

faith,

stood up with him.

claims
all

we

in

him

When

When

and were one with

Hence, when our

justice,

we

he obeyed, and

as our substitute,

claims against us.

Saviour, and

through faith in him, they

this sacramental act,

in him,

by

satisfied all

obeyed and

satisfied

he died and consummated the

atonement, we died to the law, through the death of our sub-

And

stitute.

this

atonement

His

our atonement.

is

ceptance as our surety before the throne,

is

ac-

our acceptance.

Hence, every true believer in the Jewish, and Christian

dispensation, was, on the instant of his

made one with him.

really his

and thence

Thence
it is

Christ's

faith

in

Christ,

righteousness was

imputed to him, and he

is fully

accepted, thereby, before God.

The
This

is

result is,

true

peace with

communion.

God

We

ousness, pardon, peace, and

heavenly kingdom.

in a joyful reconciliation.

receive from

God

the inalienable right

We render to him in return,

the

righteto

the

homage

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

396

of devout and affectionate recognition, of faith, of penitence,

of love, of holiness, and gratitude.
through this ordinance,
secured to us.

all

We receive from him

spiritual blessings,

In return, we render up

to

sealed

him our

and

bodies,

our souls, our spiritual thank-offerings, in sincerity of heart

in the

homage of our

dience of our

lives.

lips

and the

steadfast

and pious obe-

CHAPTER

VII.

THE NATURE AND USES OF THE LORD^S SUPPER WITH

THE CORRESPONDING PREPARATION REQUIRED OF US
:

CONTINUED,
Fourth

This

an extraordinary exhibi-

festival contains

tlon of Christ by divinely-appointed symbols.

The

ancient feasts on a sacrifice, as

we have

seen, were

not designed for ordinary occasions, or the mere gratification of the appetite.

They were

joyful celebrations of a

Thus, when Laban and Jacob made a

covenant of peace, they sacrificed and reared a pillar, and
covenant of peace.

a heap of stones for the

table.

They

did eat of the sacrifice,

on this monumental heap, and entered into a solemn engagement to live in mutual harmony and peace, for ever.
Gen. xxxi. 44-54.
So, in this sacrificial feast of the
is

a most impressive exhibition

between the Father and the Son.

the sacrifice,
this

we

New

Testament, there

of the covenant of peace

And, while we feast on

remembrance of

gratefully put each other in

covenant of peace

and joyfully celebrate

it,

before the

Lord.

The Most High God, holy and just,

Our divine substitute iu human nature, is
appeared in our name, and on our behalf.

is

the

one

the other

The

party.
;

who

claims of

THE lord's supper.

divine law and justice, as

we have

397

seen, were entirely met,

and fully honoured by our blessed substitute. He was laid

on the altar, as our sacrifice. That is to say
This divine nature was the altar, which consecrated the gift of his
sacrifice, rendering it of infinite value.
His entire human nature was the perfect and spotless sacrifice. The fire
of divine justice fell from heaven, and consumed the sacrifice.
But when " it touched his Divinity, it expired."
:

He

was not destroyed and consumed

burnt offering, and sin offering.

and in

offering,

roasted,

fered

so,

to ashes, as

to

were the

But, as in the peace

the Passover, the flesh

and prepared

of the victim was

be food for those for

whom it was of-

our Lord was prepared to be received,

upon by us, symbolically. As the

offering was fetched from the altar, where

feasted

was quenched

in righteousness,

and was

table of the Lord, reared in the

flesh of the

and

peace

the fire of justice

laid

down on

the

family, where the parties

making

peace, and sealing their unity, did joyfully feast to-

gether.

Even so,

'*

Christ our passover,

us," was taken unconsumed,

flames of the

who was sacrificed for

that is to say, accepted, out of the

altar of God and was placed before

table of the Lord. Had his sacrifice
;

church, on the

the
for

us not been accepted, he never would have been taken out

of the flames.

consumed
ed.

But

Like the burnt

to ashes

offering, he

and with him,

all

would have been

our hopes had perish-

he, our sacrifice, through the infinite merits of his

was

lifted off the altar, and placed on the table of communion, as the prepared food of our souls. And,
moreover, we have been called to feast upon that sacrifice.
Hence, we have at once, a most perfect, and consoling proof,
that every claim of divine justice is fully satisfied on our

Divinity,

Hence, when the Holy Ghost assures us that " Our

is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed,"
he gives us the fullest assurance, that our substitute was not
only NOT consumed by the wrath of God, but was fully ac34*

behalf.

Lord's flesh

THE NATURE AND USES

398

This we joyfully commemorate in this divine festival of peace, and reconciliation with God.
The
But, here is an important point to be noticed.
cepted in his atonement for us.

flesh

possibly

sacrifice could not

and blood of our divine

on the taWhat, then,

ble of communion in the feast on the sacrifice.
was to be done ? The exhibition is effected by means of
the symbols appointed by God, to represent that body, and
be brought, literally, from the

altar,

and

laid

bread and wine.

These symbols do
Let me add,
that the body and blood of Christ just signify the true
and perfect atonement or, our divine substitute's finished work fully accepted on our behalf, before the throne of

blood, namely,

truly represent the

body and blood of Christ.

Infinite Justice.
f.

'Now, the

come
it

parties reconciled are,

together as Jacob and

were, with each other.

children, before
that

he

is

him

Laban

We

and he

sit

We

God and Man.

We

did.

down

together

declares, in this

graciously present with us.

"

down, as

sit

as

his

institution,

We sup with him

and he sups with us."

We

do not, indeed, see him.

We cannot see him.

But,

can we ever forget how he certified his real presence to

Abraham, when he condescended to enter into a covenant
with him ?

It

was customary, in ancient days, with

parties,

reconciled and solemnly pledging peace with one another,

to divide the victim of the sacrifice into

walk through between these parts.

victim, cut in two pieces,

between the

parts.

And

on

two parts

Abraham having

the ground,

as the shades

and

to

laid the

walked through

of night advanced,

the presence of Jehovah was indicated as he ratified the

covenant.

There passed through, between the parted

tim, the gleam of

fire,

as a burning lamp.

bol of his presence, did

ratify his gracious

God commune

covenant with him.

with

By

this

vic-

sym-

Abraham and

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

399
of bread

So, by the divinely appointed symbols

and

wiNEj does the most High as certainly indicate his presence

with us, as he did by

fire,

unto Abraham, in the covenant

of mutual peace.

While we take

the bread and the wine,

in our hands

the symbols of Christ's perfect atonement,

Father

is

"These exhibit to you, Christ, my well-bewho appeared in human nature who was humbled
death
and died for you and who was accepted for

open before us
loved Son,
to the

our heavenly

saying to us, by the assurances of his word, lying

you, as you are fully assured by his resurrection from the dead.

These symbols, now placed before you, on my table,

what the
altar,

are to you

peace offering, when roasted on the

flesh of the

and presented on the family

was

table of the Lord,

Therein contemplate the

to the devout worshipper of old.

divine proof set before you, of the reality of Christ's hu-

man

nature

of the truth of his substitution

He

and perfection of the atonement.

utterly in the fire of justice.

Had

this

of the reality

was not consumed

been the case, there

would have been no presentation of these symbols even

as there was no flesh brought from the altar of the burnt
offering.
Your Redeemer was accepted he was made a
;

peace offering.
full

I set before you,

my

evidence of these things, in these sacred symbols.

appoint them, as
clear

my

and impressive exhibition of

summated

the atonement.

that

all

and

am

through this all-perfect satisfaction to

at

my

is

death,

do hereby

through these divine symbols, that I

now

holy ordinance, to convey to you a

Christ's person, obedience, sufferings,

ransomed ones, the

taught

of

which con-

certify

to

you,

peace with you,

law and justice.

receive you, and entertain you, at this table of re-

conciliation,

and

love.

to you.

peace,

my love, and peace

my beloved Son.

am

do here communicate

well pleased with you, in

Receive, then,

these symbols, as the


THE NATURE AND USES

400

certain assurance of

from the hands of your Heaven-

all this

ly Father."

On

we

the other hand,

Christ's flesh

lemnity of

and blood

spirit,

we

say,

take these

symbols of

sacred

and, holding them up in deep so-

" As

certainly as the flesh of the

of the altar, and set upon

was the sure evidence of the accepted sacrifice

peace offering, roasted in the

the table,

fire

and as certainly as the joyful partaking of that prepared food,

by all the members of the offerers thereof, was the sure sign

and pledge of their partaking of the sacrifice on the altar

and as certainly as the believing worshipper was allowed, in
peace, and in a glorious deliverance from the devouring
:

of the

fire

altar, to eat joyfully

with their reconciled friends

of the peace offering, along

even

symbols of the

so, these

Lord's Supper exhibit the reality of Christ's offering of

his

body and

They

soul, as a sacrifice for us.

exhibit the

certain assurance of the acceptance of that sacrifice for us.

For, most assuredly, had he not been accepted, no flesh of the

peace offering had ever been set on

as

now, most evidently

is

it

symbols

and as we are allowed

an

and great joy before him,

wrath of
us,

and

hence,

God

fell

it

is

to eat

on the

was

you

by these divine

and drink in peace

infallible

turned away from us

is

we have

this table, before

set before you,

proof that the

seeing

it

passed over

And,

laid

on

the altar.

the divine assurance that

we

are reconciled

sacrifice that

unto our God, and he

is at

peace with us.

This exhibition, by these simple and appropriate symbols,

was designed

And

it

to enlarge our spiritual perceptions of Christ.

We

does enlarge them.

perceive the plan of salva-

tion through him, spread out before us, in the

Holy

Spirit.

him.

And

It
it

was designed

does confirm

our holy affections to him

it.

light of the

also to confirm our faith

It

to seal

was designed

on our

in

to cherish

spirits the as-

surances of his peace to us, and our personal acceptance.

And

it

does so, by the Holy Spirit, as certainly as the spoken

!;

OF

401

THE lord's SUPPER.

to us the assuran-

and written signs of language do convey

ces of a father's love, with

whom we

hold free and intimate

" If the Lord had intended

correspondence.
he never would have accepted a sin offering "
nor would he receive

of our divine Surety

ings at our hands.

We

consumed, each one of

tar of justice

And no

should, in

to destroy us,
at the

spiritual

case,

that

communion

would have ever been spread out before

us,

" Let us love, and sing, and wonder,

Let us praise the Saviour's name

He has hushed the law's loud thunder

He has quenched Mount Sinai's flame
He has washed us with his blood,
He has brought us nigh to God
;

" Let us wonder grace and justice

Join, and point to mercy's store
:

grace in Christ our trust

is,

Justice smiles, and asks no more;

*'

He who washed

us in his blood

Has

way

secured our

to

God

Let us praise and join the chorus

Of the saints enthroned on high,

Here they

Now

trusted

Him

their praises

fill

before us,
the sky.

Thou hast washed us with thy

Tho art worthy, Lamb op God
'

!'

blood,

"

al-

of his love

by our heaven-

ly Father.

When through

offer-

have been

on God's

us, as a burnt offering

table of the

hands

CHAPTER Vm.

Various uses of this holy ordinance

with the corresponding PREPARATION, AND EXERCISES REQUIRED

OF US
CONTINUED.
:

1.

In

tionate

mand

this holy festival

REMEMBRANCE

we

celebrate our devout

to the letter thereof.

deep and holy emotions.

and

affec-

We obey his divine com-

of Christ.

We cherish his memory with

We record, in the indelible re-

membrance of our hearts, his divine person. He is God,

and he is man, in one person.
Being God's eternal
Son, he became, as our Mediator, the Son of Man. We
cherish, in the tenderest

his humiliation

and most affectionate remembrance,

when upon

earth

his spotless

and exact

obedience to the laws of God's government, for us his ineffable sorrows of mind, and of body, when his " soul was
;

exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death."

He

suffered all

and
Hence, he endured

the pains of natural death, with the curse unmitigated,

unstintedly poured out upon his soul.

the immeasurable pains of hell, for us.

membrance of his atonement

the dead

We

cherish the re-

and of his resurrection from

which was the crowning evidence of the perfec-

tion of that atonement.

We

celebrate his ascension to the

throne of his Father, and our Father.

We celebrate his in-

tercession for us, unceasingly, in prayers, which are never

403

USES OF THIS ORDINANCE.

unnoticed, or unanswered.

we

these divine things,

memory

ing

be with
to the

He

call

of his divine promises, that his presence will

us, individually

end of
is

And, while we remember all

up the sweet and most refresh-

all

and with

his church, collectively,

time.

absent from us, as the

Son of Man,

in his bodily

He is present with us, as " the Great

He is absent, and we remember him

presence.

Saviour."

As Mediator, he

our souls and hearts.

absent

is

God, our
with
;

all

but he

bears us on his heart, in his all-prevailing intercession at

And we

him not but always

Our Redeemer
is absent from us
but he will come again,
" without sin,
unto salvation," to receive the whole family of the ransomed into heaven, where this ordinance will vanish away bethe heavenly throne.

forget

approach the throne of grace through him.

;

communion of the triumphant

Meantime, we shall joyfully
keep up his remembrance until he come. And, with humble, yet lively exultation, shall we welcome his coming to us
the purely spiritual

fore

church, in unfading glory.

personally, at death
versal, at the great

In

2.

last

coming

final

to the church uni-

judgment.

we present ourselves before God,

make a public and most solemn con-

this holy festival,

and men,

angels,

and his

day of the

to

fession of Jesus Christ, our only Saviour.

They who

sat

down

the peace offering, of old,

at

did

thereby declare, in the most public manner, thatthey renounc-

ed paganism, and the

ligions.

God

rites,

They avouched

and confessed

their faith

as "all their salvation,

So do we

at the

come forward
paganism, and
of

the flesh

the

all

and

and hope in the Messiah,,

all their

Lord's table.

before

and

and vain hopes of all false reLord God of Israel to be their

the

all,

desire."

We rise in our places,

openly, to declare that

the errors of antichrist

all

works of the law.

self-righteousness

We come,

at

and

and

and

we renounce
all

all

the works

hopes from

our Blessed Master's

;;

THE lord's supper.

404
bidding

and, with the deep solemnity of an oath, before

the Lord,

we

confess the Lord Jesus Christ, as our only

We declare that we

Saviour, and our all-sufficient Saviour.

have " put off the old man," with his works

wish " to put on Jhe new man, which,

ed in righteousness and true holiness."

ly

from us

all

human

and do anxious-

after

God,

We

do cast away

is creat-

and every meritorious

contrivances,

work, and the sacrifices of man's invention, to appease

God's wrath, and open a way

And we

accept of Christ, in

spirit,

the heavenly

to

do, with unaffected

simplicity,

his divine offices

all

Prophet to teach us, and lead us into

cession for us

obedience

ral,

and

all truth

and as our glorious King

to his will

and subdue

all

to

as our

as our

and make continual

Priest to atone for our guilt,

full

happiness.

and earnestness of

High
inter-

bring us into

our foes, tempo-

spiritual.

We

appear at his table, as witnesses for God, in all

ways of wisdom, and justice, and severe holiness, and
power, and boundless goodness, and ineffable love, and
3,

his

mercy,

displayed throughout

his vast empire, of universal

and universal providence and of

We stand up as witthe kingdom of grace and glory.
ness to our Lord's supreme Deity and to the everlastnature,

of particular

ing covenant of grace and

his

humiliation

his

and

justice for

his

satisfaction to

ings,

and death

his

divine justice

his rising

cension into heaven

come

incarnation

his

obedience to
;

his

the

vicarious

from the dead

his intercession

the promised pledge that he will

We

to

submission to the claims of law,

church

his

peace

law
suffer-

his public as-

and the assurance of

come again

to receive us.

a public manHis witnesses, all these divine truths. And we do

hold them forth in the devout, and lofly standard of our profession, before God, even our own God, in the covenant
and before angels, our ministering associates and before
to the

Lord's

table, to declare, in

ner, as

;;

;: ; ;

USES OF THIS ORDINANCE.

405

spirits of darkness
and before all men. We
and rejoice in these truths. We count all things but
mere dust, and ashes, in comparison with them. We nail
our standard openly to the cross of Christ
and there we
" God forbid that we should
take our position immoveably.

the

doomed

exult

glory, save in the cross of our

the world is crucified to us,

we bind

Lord Jesus

Christ,

we

that

life,

are faithful witnesses for our

blessed Redeemer.
" Jesus

my

cross have taken

All to leave, and follow thee

Naked, poor, despised, forsaken,

Thou from hence my all shalt be.
Let the world despise and leave me;
They have left my Saviour too
Human hearts, and looks deceive me,

Thou

art not like

them, untrue!

have called thee, Abba, Father

I have set my heart on thee.
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather
All must work for good to me.
Man may trouble, and distress me
I

me to thy breast
Life with trials hard may press me
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest
'Twill but drive

Haste thee on from grace, to glory

Armed by faith, and winged by prayer
Heaven's eternal day's before thee
God's own hand shall guide thee there!"
;

35

And

we shall evince,

ourselves by a vow, to our Lord, that

by a holy

by whom

and we unto the world."

most

CHAPTER

IX.

SOME FARTHER USES OF THE LORD's SUPPER, AND OUR

CORRESPONDENT ACTION IN IT: CONTINUED.
In the

of the Lord's Supper, there

festival

COMMUNICATION.

There

fering of Christ to us

is

we

and, on our part,

mutual

is

a formal presentation, and ofdo,

by a cor-

responding act of faith, accept the preferred mercy, and

ceive

him

The

sacred symbols are not merely set before us, for an

They

exhibition.

hands

are actually placed in our

never be saved by merely locking on, as spectators.

In the presentation of the symbols, we perceive Christ

mally

and

We

placed there for the purpose of being used by us.

shall

re-

into our souls.

made over

to us in his threefold offices

for-

together with

every benefit resulting from his gracious exercise of these

And

three offices.

" Take,
cup drink

eat

voice of

my

Son, to be
grant,

and

ye, every

my

words

one of you, of

gift,

Saviour

in him.

fall

on

body, broken for you,

it

;"

heavenly Father making over

my

to

me

my ears,

take

We

his beloved

and conferring on me, in

and we renew the

make new, and fresh, and

with us

this

discern the

every blessing of his redemption.

God communicates
faith

as the minister's

this is

free

Thus

acts of our

closer ap-


OF THE lord's SUPPER.

From him

proaches to our Redeemer.

407

do we derive fresh

and cheering illuminations. By his Spirit do we receive

more and more peace a confirmed and readier disposition,
and
as well as capacity, to resist the aggressions of Satan
;

overcome

all

firming evidence of our pardon

atonement

the blood of his

We,

and temptation.

sin,

thence, receive con-

by fresh cleansing through

and through

his intercession.

His divine love flows afresh into our souls, as we commune

with him.
Our faith, our affections, our hopes, our desires
Our hearts are melted
are all enlarged, and invigorated.
down
they flow out they " follow hard after him."
" I accept thee in all these offers, O my gracious, and lov:

ing Redeemer

Welcome

my longing soul Come, in

Oh come unto me. I am
And thou art mine. No other

to

the plentitude of thy grace.

thine,

Blessed Jesus

name under heaven

my

Saviour

as a deliverer

All other gods,

do
all

know, but

saviours do I heartily renounce, and utterly cast

thee

with

to thee

alone do I

my

and

all

heart

To

fly.

other

off.

To

thee alone do I

Receive

soul.

me

thine,

all

other hopes,

cleave,

my God
my

ceive me, in the everlasting covenant of love, for

re-

Re-

deemer's sake.

When

go through these outward acts of receiving the

sacred symbols of

They

follows.

gested in me.

ment

to

So,

by
1

The

faith, I

am ONE

feel

the

is,

they convey nourish-

for duty.

in spiritual fellowship, I receive Christ Jesus

am

incorporated into

with him.
feel his

I derive strength

and

next result

me, and renewed strength

when

grace.

bread and wine, a twofold consequence

my body and are di-

are incorporated with

in truth,
fall

and in

spirit.

from his love, and

holy refreshing presence ever near me.

from the

renewing

him

can never

delightful assurances of his love,

efficacy

of

his

gracious

the cheering, and exhilarating influence

mises, brought impressively

home by

power.

of his pro-

his Spirit to

my

heart.


THE lord's supper.

408

These promises are

my God,

of

the voice

soul with a deep sense of his presence

counselling

me

protecting

paths of duty, and

sealing

my

on

new

me

And,

obedience.

me

directing

me

leading

my

impressing

in the plain

at the

same

time,

and ever-growing assur-

heart the delightful

ances that he will never leave me, nor forsake me, in the

He

hour of need.
heaven, at

me

afterwards receive

Hence,

will bring

me

honorably, and safely to

" Thou wilt guide

last.

me

by thy counsel, and

to glory."

communicant holds

the pious

meditation

this

with his soul, during the solemnity of the sacramental acts.

my

"

Blessed Saviour

strongly

I perceive thy love

manifested in this divine symbol of thy broken and mangled body, and thy blood poured out, in the agonies of thy
soul, in

Gethsamene, and on the

My

thyself for me.

brace thee.

and

law,

didst die for

and

sin.

me

this

flesh,

didst rise

Yes,

boon

with

its

in heaven,

in

when

from the dead,

power of thy grace.

my

Saviour, they

is

made over

bodies, and

and our obedience

communion

lusts

death, to the

might

rise

with thee, by

I shall live with thee

body, as well as

and " be

that
I live

my

soul

when "

satisfied with thy like-

to us, in the glory of his per-

We

son, and the fulness of his graces, and gifts-

earth."

and

awake."

Thus, Christ

him our

do

with thee to the power of indwelling

shall rise in thy likeness,

ness,

lasting favour

affections

from the grave of guilt and defilement.

the quickening

my

this

Thy death was my

I die

to sin.

Thou

of death

me

grant

be crucified to the

to

Thou

And Oh

these sins of mine, which brought thee to

to the dust

Oh

shall die.

didst give

forward to thee, to em-

behold thy terrible agonies.

abhor the sins,

the cross,

Thou

cross.

soul springs

our souls.
in

life,

and

We

yield

in death.

affords us the joys of " the days of

Herein we have

the pleasures

yield to

him our

love,

This mutual
heaven upon

of divine know-

THE USES OF THIS ORDINANCE.

ledge

the pleasures of faith

munion with

Christians

the pleasures of spiri-

the pleasures of

com-

pleasures of pleasing God,

the

409

the pleasures of penitence,

and pleasing as they are

hope, and of lofty anticipations

plaintive,
tual

our Heavenly Father, through the grace of Christ, and the

Holy Ghost

sanctification of the

"

happy day

On

thee,

my

Well may

And

that fixed

this

tell its

glowing heart

raptures

happy bond

To HIM who

all

to that

'Tisdone
1 am my
He drew

all

With

his house,
I

move.

and he
I

is

mine.

followed on,

to confess the voice divine.

my

long-divided heart

this blissful centre, rest.

ashes,

When

fill

sacred shrine

me, and

rest,

Fixed on

my vows,
my love

The great transaction's done.

Lord's

Charmed

Now

rejoice,

abroad.

that seals

merits

Let cheerful anthems

While

my choice
my God

Saviour, and

who would grudge

to part,

on angels' bread to feast 1

High Heaven that heard the solemn vow,
called

That vow renewed,

Till in

And

life's latest

shall daily hear

hour

bless in death, a

35*

bow

bond so dear !"

CHAPTER

X.

THE NATURE AND USE OF THE HOLY SUPPER, AND OUR

CORRESPONDING EXERCISE IN IT
CONTINUED.
:

Hence, we

are led

to observe, that this

And

SEAL of the covenant of grace.

bits another class of these holy

sacrament

view of

this

is

exhi-

it

and intimate joys of com-

munion with God, which we have been enumerating.

Every covenant of
blood.

Even

old

was confirmed and sealed with

personal covenants were thus sealed

as that of Jacob and Laban.

covenant with his

ing a memorial.

High.

And

relative,

This

Jacob

ratified,

by offering a

was

sacrifice

we

in his doing this,

said

"

God, most holy,

this sacrifice to thee, in faith

Lamb,

slain

just,

and

rear-

offered to the

Most

sacrifice,

are to view

proaching with humility, and godly

such

and sealed his

fear, to

him
Him,

and merciful,

as apas he

I offer

of the coming Messiah,

from the foundation of the world, who

up

thy

is to

die

Through this blood, about

to be shed for me, and here typified, and impressively exI obtain pardon, sweet peace, and dihibited to my faith,
vine grace, to help me. And, as I do receive pardon, and
a sacrifice for

us in due time.

peace through
witness of

my

this sacrifice, so

pardoning

my

be this present sacrifice the

father

in thy fear, believing that, as the

Laban.

fire falls

on

And

do

this

the victim of

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

the sacrifice, so will thy wrath
this covenant,

who

fellow,

So

and pass over

fall

on him, who

this

memorial, to injure his

him

in these

the covenant of grace

ratified,

participates with

411
shall

solemn

break

rites."

and sealed with

" Without shedding of blood there is no remission
blood.
of sin." " Die we, or justice must." Our divine substitute,
as

is

we have

seen,

stood up

in our behalf.

The conven-

was between him, and the Father. The condition was, that our sins should be laid on him, and that he
should do what we should have done
and should suflTer, in
his body and soul, all that was due to divine justice from us,
tion of peace

He

his chosen people.

fulfilled

nant of grace, even to the

most
tice,

the condition of the cove-

To

letter.

the law, he gave the

To

perfect obedience in his holy nature.

and the law's penalty, he yielded up his

on the

cross, covered with his

divine jus-

He

life.

streaming blood.

died

This was

that could be required.

The holiness and faithfulness of
God re-echoed our Saviour's last words, " It is finished !"
And accordingly, by the same token, he raised him from the
all

dead.

The meaning
dent,

" This

blood."

On

is

of that remarkable expression

the

new covenant,

condition of his answering

his church, he

was

to

is

now

or testament,
all

in

evi-

my

claims against

have his church put in possession of

pardon, peace, and the kingdom of grace, and glory.

The

shedding of his blood,

was

or, the

yielding up of his

life,

the fulfilment of the condition, even to the very letter of the

And, as certainly as Christ died, so certain" church bought by his own blood ;" and is enevery blessing of grace and glory, promised, on that

requirement.
ly is his
titled to

condition, in the everlasting covenant.

"The new

cove-

nant was thus sealed by his blood."

Now,

this

holy festival, with

bols, exhibits to us this

its

divinely instituted sym-

seal of the covenant.

hibits the fact of Christ's death,

which

That is, it exand sealed

ratified,

412

THE NATURE AND USE

the transaction.

This bread, cut and broken

mangled

make

to

This cup exhibits the certain

in death.

his blood, that

to pieces, ex-

body having been scourged, and

hibits the certain fact of his

fact, that

And

his life, was poured out for us.

is,

assurance doubly sure, the bread and the wine are

given separately

and used in succession,

distinctly

thereby giving us the impressive assurance that his blood,

that

is,

his

was separated from

life,

Hence, the

his body.

pious communicant says this to himself, while in the actual

" As certainly as this is

enjoyment of the divine seal
so certainly am I assured that
bread, and this is wine
:

Christ partook of the body and blood of

human

certainly

certainly as this bread,

me

and put

made

into

my

am
all

am

tain

I,

all-sufficient

am

this

fully

that

I,

As

eat this bread,

that I

and

so

wine, were presented to

my Redeemer

the purposes for

himself, and died for me.

and

hands, and I eat the one, and drank

so certain

over to me, for

to take,

eyes

my Redeemer put to a most painful death for us.

was

As

the other

As

nature.

my

certainly as this bread is cut and broken before

freely

warranted
so cer-

cup,

this

warranted to take Christ for

and gracious Saviour.

a feast upon a sacrifice

am

certainly as I

and drink of

is

which he gave

As

my

certainly as this

is

commune

in

and as certainly as

these, my brethren, so certain

commune with the Triune God and that
THE Triune God communes with me. As certainly qs
bread and wine nourish, strengthen, and cheer man so certainly does the rich grace of my Redeemer, secured to me
by his death, and applied to me by his Holy Spirit, nourish
my soul and strengthen me and thence fill me with the

eating,

am

and in drinking with

that I

joys of God's salvation, and preparation for

for all suffering,

And,

as

we

and

thus

my

all

duty,

and

dying hour.

employ the Holy Supper

the authority, and faithfulness of God, does

as a seal,
it

by

actually con-

duce, as a seal appended to a deed, to call up the

rem em-

413

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

remove our
to strengthen our faith
and make us " strong in the Lord, and in the
power of his might." Our Lord ordained it for this very
purpose.
And he cannot fail in making it a blessing for
brance of Christ
doubts

that end.

When we

left to us, to

open, and read

not every sentence, and every word,

our friend

a token,

letter

of farewell

be frequently perused in his absence,

his kindness,

and

call

his love

When we look on

ring, for instance, given to us in

of a very dear friend,

just as often as

we

remembrance
look on

not his features, his looks, his words of love, and

does

image of

up the

it,

do

a thou-

upon our memory, and excite

And shall not an
?
ordinance, appointed by our dear and blessed Redeemer, expressly to commemorate all that he has done for us and to
sand tender things,

all

flash

our warmest afl?ection of the heart to him

seal the assurances of his love to his

-tainty

of his coming again,

brance of him

and grace

and

to us

call

all

cherish, in the tenderest

lasting affection of our heart to him, while

ing on the earth

cer-

up the fondest remem-

the liveliest gratitude for

and

own and the joyful

his love,

and most

we have

our be-

Hence, by the will of Christ, and his faithfulness to us,

rise up from the Table of the Lord, instructed, delighted,
and strengthened in the inner man animated, and conAnd, like Elijah,
firmed in the assurance of divine hope.

we

when

visited

by an angel, and fed by a meal from heaven,

when hungry, faint, and forlorn, we

in the wilderness,

go on through our pilgrimage, not merely

forty days

forty nights, as the prophet did, but during the

of our
the

lives,

New

rupted

until

and

whole course

" we reach the Mount of God," and

Jerusalem

communion of

lasting glory of heaven.

and are ushered into the uninterthe triumphant Church in the ever-

CHAPTER

XI.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT USE OF THE LORD's SUPPER AND

OUR CORRESPONDING DEVOTIONAL EXERCISE IN IT.

What

has been advanced will lead us to understand

that part of

our Lord's injunction, "

Shew ye

forth

the

Lord's death."

We

show

God, our Heavenly Father. "WTien

or when bowed down in shame,
and confusion, under some outbreaking of the sin that
it

forth to

overtaken by temptation

dwelleth in us,

We

we

We

of Refuge.

betake ourselves speedily to the only City

fly to the

blood of sprinkling, to obtain re-

We

show
and
we cry out
" See,
God, this our shield look upon us
in the face of thine anointed."
And our Heavenly Father,
who " is well pleased for his righteousness' sake," smiles on
and holy
us, in him
excites due penitence in our hearts
resolutions of increasing watchfulness, and a purer life.
lief.

hold up the merits of our Redeemer.

forth his death, in the

;

view of the throne of Justice

;

And

he restores to us the pleasing consciousness of our

pardon, by causing his divine love to be shed abroad in us

and

to

We

abound

show

to us in peace,

and joy in the Holy Ghost.

forth the death of Christ to the great

enemy of

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

416

even Satan, and his hosts of foes and emisThese busy enemies are continually " walking

our souls,
saries.

about, like roaring lions, seeking

whom

They

way, to draw us into sin,

assail us, in every possible

and apostacy from the

to hurry us into

We

show

fell

and

and

of sin,

Satan

shall

and

unbelief,

We

And we
name of

his

unspotted righteous-

the

Holy

all

and

Spirit, that

be put under our feet shortly, in a joyful triumph

sin,

all

folly,

receive the ready and free pardon of them

the divine assurance superadded by

over

and, thence,

their temptations.

of grace, in the

And, being clothed with

we

all

accuser of the brethren.

throne

up, afresh, to the

ness,

them

with deep sorrow, before our God.

all,

Christ.

them

forth the death of Christ to

admit the charges

come

devour."

Every opportunity they watch

truth.

brought against us by the

confess

may

crimes by the sudden surprise of temptation.

signify our holy defiance of

We

they

and every temptation of

this present evil

world.

We

show

We glory

forth the death of Christ to the world.

and exult with joy unspeakable, in our

We throw back the world's imputations

in the cross of Christ,

crucified Saviour.

and we despise its short-lived scorn.

ashamed to own him most publicly

We

are not only not

but

we

his laws,

and

his

The world may

despise

its

ordinances,

despise,

pride, its

and pour

vanity,

as
its

while

God

is far

that

which heals

which

from

casts out

it.

it

our sovereign King.

remains

wounds

all follies

us.

and beggarly elements.

We show

all

contempt on

pity its follies, its crimes, its splendid poverty,

cated miseries

and
and in

rejoice

exult in his blessed, but self-mortifying doctrines

far

We
We

and compli-

from God, and while

forth the death of Christ, as

which cures

all

diseases

and opens up the new and

liv-

ing way to a glorious immortality in Immanuel's land.

There the wretched beings who despise God, and blaspheme


THE NATURE AND USE

416

We

We

can never enter.

Christ,

And we

show

sciences.

meet no more

part to

part at the gate of heaven.

of Christ to our own conenemy assails us, by means of

and some unsubdued passion,

forth the death

When

a lurking

some constitutional failing,

and lust and we, thence, are hurried into the sin which
most easily besets us then are we brought into darkness,
and painful despondency, for a season. We become the
prey of tormenting self-reproaches.
We have no heart,
no love for duty. We dare not, in our darkness and sorrows, approach God in prayer.
We feel more like crimithan
nals slowly and reluctantly dragged to the tribunal
God's own children, coming to our Father on the throne of
We are overwhelmed with vexation and sorrow
grace.
while an awakened conscience sharpens the arrows of keen
self-reproach, which overwhelms us. But, " when we come to
;

we fly to

the

bitterness for relief.

"

ourselves,"

Lord Jesus
!

look on me, thy poor fallen child

down

my merciful Father,

and

raise

my shame, and my confusion covers

in

W^e cry out in

Christ.

Oh my God,

me

up."

I lie

me. But I has-

ten to betake myself to Christ Jesus, whose blood cleanseth

me from

all sin.

repent bitterly of this sin, which, as a very

dark cloud, has risen up between thy face, and

soul.

come, dear Lord,

the table of Christ.

add sin to

my

clean.

Oh

whelming shame of

me

must come,

as

my

my

my

sacrifice,

holiness.

O my

God.

this iniquity

ing conscience.

God,

my

thee,

dare not
unfit,

merciful Fa-

Wash me, O

Take away

the joys of thy salvation.

thy Table,

troubled

former sin, by thus making myself so

and then absenting myself from

ther, and Saviour, and Sanctifier.

make me

my

come in lowliness and sorrow to

the guilt,

from me.

Here,

Lord, and
and the over-

Restore unto

at length,

here

at

hold up Christ, and him crucified,

and the laver of my regeneration, and all

show forth the death of Christ to my chidI

confess freely

all

my

sins.

And


417

whom

point to Christ, on

turning peace, and joy,

And
over

" Here

cry out,

don sealed

my

to

soul,

I take fresh hold,

is

my

Saviour

by him

faith, for

Here

shall

my

is

re.

grace*
par-

have dominion

And, by the grace of God,

sin in due time."

all

by

the fruits of his pardoning

obtain the answer, and the testimony of a good conscience,

because

it

sees in the

Holy Supper, the

sealed pardon,

and

the promise of divine grace to conquer every sin.

And
'*

at the

approach of death,

enemy," the death of

last

When

viour.

grace, cry out,

where

when

nature sinks, I

"

death,

is

forth to

that

and most merciful Sa-

will, in

where

show

shall

dear,

the strength of his

thy

Thou comest

thy victory !"

is

my

sting

grave,

me.

to dissolve

But

walk with thee in the dark valley of the shadow of

For thou, O my Redeemer

and thy staff, they shall comfort me.
Christ has taken away the curse from all my
afflictions.
And he has tiken away the sting, even the pedeath,

I will fear

THOU art

no

with me.

nal curse of death.

evil.

Thy

My

rod,

not

dear lledeemer died,

only to

ransom me, but to teach me how to die. He was laid in

the grave, and he rose again, to show me that the grave,
is not a prison, but a bed of
the dark and gloomy grave,
from which we shall assuredly be awakened at the
rest
morning of the joyful day of eternity
He rose in his glo-

ry.
is

And

his body, in

its

present glorified state in heaven,

the bright form after which our raised bodies shall be

delled.

" This mortal

corruptible shall put

shall put

me, in

this

my

I derive joy,

luring

mothis

my

God, upon

my

And

heart.

thence,

complete deliverance from the fears of

done in the way of strengthening, and mathe graces within me
and, thence, by weakening
36

This
all

and

Redeemer, are ful.

and they are seal-

and heavenly peace.

also, I shall receive

death.

exalted

Holy Supper

ed in the divine assurances of

Thence,

on incorruption."

This purpose and work of

ly exhibited to

on immortality

is

418

"

OF THE lord's SUPPER.

and destroying

the

all

remains of sin in

my

ing the footholds of the enemies of

and threaten

and thence,

And by

all this,

it

me

and removassail me,

who

soul,

For, whatever strengthens and

me.

to destroy

ripens divine grace in us

sin

!:; !

does really weaken and destroy

removes distressing doubts, and

fears.

are faith and hope brought forward into a

joyful triumph in our

Lord Jesus

Christ.

ODE.
" Jesus, lover of my soul,

Let me to thy bosom fly

While the billows near me roll,
While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Saviour hide,
!

Till the storm of life be past;

Safe into the haven guide:

Oh

receive

my

soul at last

" Other refuge have I none

Lo

Leave, oh
Lest

Thou

leave

hang on

helpless

me not

thee

alone,

basely shrink and

art all

my

trust,

flee.

and aid

my help from thee I bring

Cover my defenceless head.
All

With

shadow of thy wing

the

" Let the world pronounce

Fling

its

its

shame!

scandals on His cause.

We will boast our Saviour's name.

We will triumph in his cross
We will the scoffing age,
tell

He the dead,
Now

has

left

the

tomb

he lives above their rage

And

we're waiting

till

he comes

CHAPTER

XII.

ON THE DESIGN AND END OF THE LORD's SUPPER, AND

OUR CORRESPONDING EXERCISE THEREIN.

It

Finally

is

manifest, from

vanced, that in this holy

between God, and

tified

festival,

all

is

Here

us, his people.

of this federal transaction between us,

my

been now ad-

that has

a covenant

mutually raare the words

" They

shall

call

I will say, it is my
them
Zech.
people and they shall say. The Lord is my God."
" What God is in himself, that He is to them for
xiii. 9.
their good."
He makes himself over to them as their God.
His wisdom is theirs, to direct them. His righteousness is

on

name, and

I will hear

theirs, to

His

make them

righteous before

his

awful tribunal.

justice stands pledged never to let the sentence of justi-

His Holy Spirit is theirs, to make

His kindness, and watchful care in providence are
theirs, to supply them with all needful blessings.
His
power is theirs, to protect them from every foe. His faithfulness is theirs, to secure the accomplishment of the whole
work of grace. And his eternity is theirs, to secure the
everlasting duration of their kingdom, their felicity, and
fication be reversed.

them

holy.

their glory

nant, I

On

All this

AM THY God

the other side,

is
:

secured in the pledge of the cove-

ye are

when we

my people

say, as

we do

say,

in

this

420

DESIGN AND END OF THE LORd's SUPPER.

Holy Supper, " The Lord is my God," we do give ourselves away to Him.
We bind ourselves to shun all sin
we devote our souls, and bodies to the Most Holy Triune
God to serve him with every faculty of body, and mind,
and heart in every duty, and in every trial, and condition
:

of

We

life.

put ourselves under his wisdom, for guidance:

under his righteousness,

his

justice, for our

growth in grace

his

pardon and acceptance

for personal

everlasting

security

kind providence,

for

his Spirit,

every

his divine power, for the conquest of every foe

fulness, for the glorious

his grace

and

consummation of

his eternity, as

the

supply

his

for
:

faith-

good work of
guarantee of

the infallible

our ever-enduring glory, and happiness.

And we
Hence,

covenant by the solemnity of an oath.

most appropriately called the sacrament, in

seal this
is

it

allusion to the oath by which the soldier

and

his country,

bound himself

to his general, for life.

ODE.
"

Lord

am

thine, entirely thine

Purchased, and saved by blood divine.

With full
And own

consent, thine

would

be,

thy sov'reign right in me.

Here, Lord,

my

flesh,

my

my

soul,

all,

beyond recal.
Accept thine own, so long withheld
Accept what I would freely give.
Thine would I live, thine would 1 die
I

yield to thee

Be thine through

The vow
And here

is

all

eternity

past beyond repeal

I set

the solemn seal

!"

to

PART

II.

DEVOTIONAL INSTRUCTION TO GUIDE THE YOUNG

COMMUNICANT TO THE TABLE OF THE LORD,

CHAPTER

I.

GENERAL VIEW OP THE OBLIGATIONS LAID ON

ENGAGE IN THIS IMPORTANT DUTY.
"

Do

this in

remembrance of me,"

The Lord
1.

You

mand

to

have heard,

show

my

forth the

TO

US,

Jesus Christ.

dear youth, that the divine

Lord's death,

is

peremptory.

com-

No

one precept has a more binding and constraining obligation

Our heavenly Father moves us by his paternal

commemorate his divine grace. And can we refuse him our most cordial love, and obedience?
Our Redeemer binds us, by the fascinating power of his love, to
than this.
love, to

celebrate,

mercy.

in this ordinance, his unsearchable grace

And

and

never was a more melting appeal made to the

"If you love

me, keep my comremembrance of ME. Do it

And as the Holy Spirit "glorifies
until I come again."
Christ by taking the things which are his, and showing
them to us :" while he urgently impresses them on our
36*

human

heart than this

mandments."

"Do

this

in

422

THE lord's suppkr.

minds

ed in

all

and awakes the soul

an exact obedience, render-

to

com-

the cordiality of love by us, our refusal to

memorate

Holy Supper,

the death of Christ in the

no-

is

thing less than a criminal, and dangerous resistance offered

Holy Ghost

to the

Take

these, I

beg you, into serious

consideration.

This command of

2.

will be obeyed.

It

God you cannot

Can you

of high treason against our sovereign king.

Most High?

with the injunction of the

fle

thinking that

it is left

It is

not

tri-

Beware of

No

optional with you to be neutral.

one can be neutral here

against him.

He

aside.

set

must be done by you under the penalty

We

left to

must be

for Christ, or,

us to judge whether

we are

we shall obey

him, or not obey him, and thence neglect the Lord's Supper.

To
to

suppose this power of choice

assume

laws to be

that the

trifled with,

pose, therefore, that

nance,

is to

left to

Almighty Sovereign
and

own

his

subjects, is

will allow his divine

nullified with impunity.

you may with

To

sup-

safety, neglect this ordi-

say with the fool in your heart,

that the

Lord

has abdicated his throne, and has ceased to rule in Zion.

To

suppose

this, is

to

suppose, therefore, that

neglect,

assume

that rebels

we may be excused

and open breach of this most solemn command,

monstrous imagination

to betake ourselves to the

will pass with utter impunity, the neglect,

breach of every one of the ten

3.

Many are

commands

that

satisfied with the belief that they are excusable

not yet in a state of grace. This

is

you, a very fatal delusion.

liate

rebellion against

every

man may

God.

because they are

a very common, but I must

It is

Upon

a direct attempt to palthe

same

supposition,

plead his excuse for the neglect of* prayer,

and every other duty.

'

am

not in a state of grace

therefore I need not conceive myself enjoined to do

duty.

am

is

God

and contemptuous

for neglecting to celebrate the Lord's Supper,

tell

To

triumph.

in the constant

any

not in a state of preparedness; therefore I

OBLIGATIONS TO ENGAGE IN

423

IT.

need not keep any of God's ten commands

dear youth, this

is

Ah

!'

my

nothing short of a denial of the Holy

One.

It is the undisguised language of atheism.

Our
want of grace, and of the necessary power to do our duty,
is the necessary and fatal result of our own apostacy.
Yet,

here, the position is criminally assumed, in the face of this

palpable fact, that our want of grace,

and want of power

to

do

our duty, can be pleaded as an excuse for neglecting the most

clearly defined

This dangerous sentiment implies

duties.

power

that rebellion against lawful

that lawful

power

sets aside the claims of

that rebellion against

from his divine claims of obedience

paiver,

and of

obey, although

to

ivill

it

God

that

sets us free

our want of

be the immediate

of our inexcusable rebellion, does, nevertheless, set

fruit

us free from the obligations of duty to our

Maker

im-

plore you to guard against this too

and very

fatal

general,

error.
4.

It

is

equalled only by a singular and popular error,

which would carry you

to

an opposite extreme.

into

I allude

the strange doctrine that has been advanced as

ence from the

command,

it

an

infer-

fact of

God's command

laid

said,

does imply that

we have powers

is

on

us.

That
to

even in our own depraved and unassisted nature.

That is to say, the disposition, and power to obey,
is not the gift of God, but is lodged in man, fallen, destiobey

it fully,

tute,

and helpless as he

you have

is

by the instructions which we have

set before you in Book I. of this volume, it is not probable
If

that

you

profited

will fall

into either of these

two dangerous ex-

tremes.

Be

assured,

my

dear youth, that both reason, and holy

Scripture assure you, that

no want of

will,

nor want of co-

pacity to do our duty to God, can ever be set forth as a plea

of exemption from our duty to God.

strength every

way

suitable,

There is fitness, and

and ample enough, for all our

THE lord's supper.

424

But, surely, that

duty.

and

ed,

is

not found in. the fallen, deprav-

You

spiritually dead.

ed Christ,

my

There

dear youth.

there is capacity

and

have,

fitness,

is

not so learn-

I trust,

every necessary

ample enough

to qualify

gift

us for

But all gifts, and all

at our hands.
him whom we rejoice to call " The
Lord our righteousness, and our strength."
5. The relation subsisting between Creator and creature,
every duty required

rich grace are from

manifestly implies that

it

is

the duty of every

comply with the divine command.

stcmtly to

one of us

in-

If he has the

that command enjoins peremptory and

The permission to delay, would be an
That cannot be. Now,
allowance to remain in rebellion.
"
you,
youth,
to show forth the death
dear
he does command

command,

right to

instant obedience.

Hence, it is the most so.

this Holy Supper.
lemn and indispensable duty of every one of you, without
And,
exception, to render prompt obedience to him.
hence, it is the solemn and most urgent duty of every one
of you, instantly, to betake yourselves to the Lord Jesus
Christ, in faith, and penitence to yield yourselves up to
him to receive out of his fulness, grace, for grace. And,
of Christ" in

having given yourselves

thus,
to

to the

Lord,

it is

your duty

present yourselves, without delay, at the table of the

Lord.
6.

Ah

my

dear youth,

and discreet

sober,

selves to

"wrong

Christ.

They

They

to

men, wise,
them-

venture to take refuge in the excuse of their

that grace,

and due preparation

actually fabricate

an excuse

" Do

They betake themselves

their own guilty and sinful

seek,

see

own souls," by trifling most crimiAlmighty God, and the love of Jesus

God's express injunction,

me."

is it to

point, permitting

their

nally with the law of

want of

how painful

on every other

that

are required.

for their rebellion against

this

in

remembrance of

for the refuge of

condition.

and even plead exemption in the

an excuse,

They

face of their

actually

Maker,

OBLIGATIONS TO ENGAGE IN

426

IT.

They

from reasonable services expressly enjoined by him.

do

this,

state,

by alleging

even

which

that

their criminal

in

is,

want of a

nal want of capacity for the duty.

It

was by

guilty

their

reality,

and

their crimi-

They want

the power.

will,

apostacy that they cast away that

their wilful

They want

power, to obey God.

the

That want

ivill.

is

the result of their heaven-daring act of persisting in rebel-

This

lion.

in their
al

as an excuse, in

act of rebellion, in refusing to

enjoined duty.
this

Their excuse,

We do
God

full, for

their addition-

comply with

stript

of

all

;"

we

They

spiritual death.

are " lovers of pleasure

spare no pains to persuade themselves

excuse for the entire neglect of obedience

!

more than
guilt, and

and because we are paralyzed by

that the fatal effects of their former rebellion,

come

this plainly

disguise, is simply

not obey God, and keep up the remembrance

of Christ, because
lovers of

down

result of their criminal condition, they set

own minds,

Ah " vain man

!

would be wise

to

an ample

is

God

in time to

though he

is

born

!"
like the wild ass's colt

May

the

abounding grace of God deliver you, dear youth,

from the snare of

if

men

The

this criminal excuse.

truth is this

did really feel this truly deplorable condition, aris-

ing from the want of

tion for duty,

so

will,

and power, and all due qualificaan excuse, they

it as

from urging

far

would humble themselves, and mourn, and lament most

terly over

Yes, dear youth

it.

ing condition,

so

far

your heart

if

unto him, until you found yourself,

at

ding, stretching out the withered hand

impotent as you

now

it,
you
and cry mightily

from seeking an excuse by

would instantly betake yourself to the Lord

are,

you

bit-

the alarm-

felt

Chrisfs merciful bidof faith

did, at his

and

until,

bidding, and the

all-subduing power of his grace, arise, and take

up your

bed, and walk.

Now, dear
You perceive

youth,

let

the clear

me come

to the

point

with you.

and impressive command of your

426

THE lord's supper.

" Do

remembrance of me !" You feel your

Go, then, to Christ. If
you are sincere in the profession of your want of due preparation, you will go to Christ.
You will cry out, " Jesus,
God,

guilt,

this

and your

ill

utter incapacity.

son of David, have mercy on me."

a fulness of grace awaits you.

bring you to him

lying at his

You know that

in Christ

Implore the Holy Ghost to

willing captive, in lowliness of spirit,

no appointed means to bring

you in penitence, and faith to him. If you do not come
to Christ, you are utterly inexcusable.
And you must perish as

all

JVeglect

feet.

And, oh

rebels perish.

these excuses, so

common

"When thou comest,

judgment, thou wilt

on
men.

pause, and reflect

in the lips of unthoughtful

sinner, to the bar of God's eternal

find,

when

it

trace thy steps, that thy guilt,

be too

will

and

its

late

to re-

necessary conse-

quences, namely, a want of capacity, and a want of a

to

come

for

to Christ,

exemption from positive duty.

But,

we must come

particular classes of character.

"

Come, humble

whose

sinner, in

A thousand thoughts revolve

Come, with your

And make
'

Prostrate

And,
I'll tell

and fear oppress'd,

guilt,

this last resolve,

I'll lie

there

breast,
:

my

before his throne,

guilt confess

him, I'm a wretch undone,

Without

his sovereign grace'

Peihaps he will admit my plea,

Perhaps will hear my prayer;
But if I perish I will pray

And
I

perish only there

can but perish

I

am

For,
I

ivill

can be no excuse, and no ground of plea

resolved to try

if I

must

if I go.

stay away,
for ever die

I
!'

know,
"

to

;!

CHAPTER

11.

TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED AS MEMBERS, INTO THE CHURCH, BUT HAVE DECLINED FROM
THEIR DUTY.
"
first

Remember from whence thou

works; or

else I will

art fallen

come unto

and repent

The Lord
1.

URGE

the very solemn

and do the

thee quickly !"

invitation

Jesus Christ.

of Christ upon

your consciences, who have already been admitted on the

confession of your faith, into the communion of Christ's
church but who have been declining from the path of duty
and have most wofully neglected, and despised the Table of
;

the Lord.
2.

Has

this

mournful and criminal negligence arisen

part, of the solemn obligations of

from any doubt, on your

Are you a Christian ? Have you cast off fear

and restrained prayer, before the Lord ? Have you abandoned your honourable badge of religious profession ? Ah
my fellow professor, have you betrayed your Lord and
Have you sold him into the hands of wicked
Master 1
companions 1 Have you, like Ahab, sold yourself to do
evin

this duty ]

3. I

am persuaded better things of you,

and things

that ac-

INVITATION TO CHURCH MEMBERS.

428

company
"

Do

Come,

salvation, although I thus speak.

the Bible

let

let

us open

us read our beloved Saviour's injunction.

remembrance of me." Can you doubt his

Can you really find it in your heart to
?
question his right, and authority to lay this command on
you ? Hast thou forgotten who he is, and what he has done
Oh canst thou ever forget him
for thee, poor wanderer ?
this in

my

love,

dear one

who stooped so low, as to notice thee, to pity thee, to ransom such as thee and me, by his own life ? Oh have thy
!

former solemn vows, then, been

mayst forget them

but,

registered in heaven,

God

for

all

forgotten

Ah

4.

Return

are

thou returning prodigal

thee,

or they are recorded against thee, to be rehearsed

day of thy doom, as a

thou

They

has not forgotten.

on the

final apostate

return in faith, having

to thy duty.

awaken-

ed from thy long and painful sleep.

Return with weeping,

and supplication, and prayer.

hope be closed for ever upon

Return before the ad-

Return before the door of

thee.

versary rivet the chains of death around thy miserable soul.

Oh

canst thou

afresh

canst thou thus

Canst thou bear

mine own
of

my

crucify the

Son of God

Canst thou wound him in the house of his friends 1

this bitter reproach of our Saviour,

familiar friend, in

"Yea,

whom I trusted, and who did eat

me !" Ps.

bread, hath lifted up his heel against

xli. 9.

6. Is

your absence from the table of the Lord caused

by any doubt on your

of

communion

with your duty.

it

often.

part, as to the

I trust

left it to

my

affections, to

dear one, are you not often

against him, and of negligence in duty

not, then, to

interfere

come

to

do

the loyalty of our hearts

and the unwavering ardour of our

how often it shall be done.
!

this to

Our beloved Master has required us

But, he has

And, oh

duty of the frequency

you cannot allow

determine

guilty of sin

And need you

frequently to the table of his

refresh-

INVITATION TO CHURCH MEMBERS.

merits, to obtain renewed
and new supplies of grace

How

often are

the tempter's

And

we

strength,

surprised,

sin

all

and nearly overwhelmed by

snares, and the

need we not

and fresh animation,

overcome

to

429

world's complicated trials

come, very often, to meet our beloved

Lord, in communion, to be blessed by him, and cheered,
to

and confirmed in our vows of

him, and greatly

fidelity to

strengthened, by the refreshing influences of his presence,

temptation, and every enemy ?
Hence, none but the cold, and formal, and worldly soul can
complain of this blissful, and animating communion sea-

to resist manfully every

son returning too often upon his worldly

spirit,

and pur-

suits.

Is your absence

6.

pray you, by indolence

from the Lord's Supper caused, I

and aversion to the labour, and
;

searching duty of self-examination, and

all

the necessary

Ah

my

preparations for that solemn ordinance

keep a

Fear not

strict

account with your soul.

the worst about yourself.

friend,

know

to

Yield not to this spiritual sloth.

Probe the diseased conscience thoroughly. Look into the

future
and tremble, as well you may.
Your tenure of
life is frail and uncertain.
In a brief space of time you
;

will be brought to the bar

Oh

you

what a deep, and

" Prepare

of your Creator, and Judge.

and

close,

hee.rt -searching trial

awaits

meet thy God."

7. Is your absence from the Lord's table caused by lukewarmness, and aversion to the strictness of the religious
there.

duties of the

to

christian

on your part,
and to keep up

Is

life ?

it

to

afresh

that strict

all

your intercourse with the world

ducing you.

Shun,

Pause

reflect

Sell not

Ah

the world is se-

doom

of

Demas.

Turn

your soul and body,

immortal being to the world, and Satan.

37

vows

and watchful conduct in

raise your thoughts to Christ.

beseech you, the sin, and

not aside to the world.

caused by a growing

take on you the solemn

aversion,

Listen

your

listen to

INVITATION TO CHURCH MEMBERS,

430

" What
the valae of your immortal soul.
man profited, if he should gain the whole world and
his own soul.
Or, what can a man give in exchange

him who knows

is

lose

ashamed of Christ, of you will

If you turn from Christ,
he will turn his back on you. If you apostatise, and deny
him, he will deny you, and cast you off for ever
8. Is your absence from the Holy Supper caused by
some family disturbance or by some quarrel with some
Are you a Christian ?
brother, or sister in the Church ?
Have you the spirit of the loving and forgiving Jesus in
you ? Can you allow yourself to sacrifice your vows, and

He

If you are

soul?"

for his

be ashamed in the great day.

your duty

to

sustain an unchristian grudge against a bro-

a sister

ther, or

Do

you not

stand in awe of your Judge

the expense of wronging your

the pride

fear

Do

God 1

you not

Will you indulge malice,

own

soul

and malice, with which Satan

at

Will you suffer

your heart, to

fills

drive you from your Saviour's presence, and the table of

his love?

who hung

In the name of the bleeding and dying Saviour,

in streaming blood,

accursed tree for us, can you,

and agonies of soul on the

can you permit that

Oh

spirit which Satan inspires into the wicked, to drive the

Oh
love of that dear, and Holy One from your bosom ?
!

think of this seriously, and consider your ways.

forgiven you ten thousand talents, and,
friend,

can you,

Oh

Oh

Has He

my poor erring

can you not forgive a brother, a

hundred pence ?

Let the power of Christ's constraining

love cast out this

devil from you.

ter's

words

and do

this instant,

Hear

offender by a deed, or a hasty word?

vine Master's words.

and there rememberest

thee

the beloved

obey them.

Then

hear the Di-

''If thou bring thy gift to the altar,

that thy brother has

leave, there, thy gift before the altar."

sent thyself from the holy

gift as the

Mas-

Art thou the

communion.

aught against

Do

not ab-

Leave, there, thy

manifest pledge of thy seasonable return.

"

Go


INVITATION TO CHURCH MEMBERS.
thy way,

be reconciled to thy brother

first,

Does thy

thy gift."

431

and then

offer

within thee refuse to do this

spirit

Well, then, mayest thou fear, and tremble for the conse-

quence, that thou

art

a child of malice, and of unforgiving

resentment.

On

the other hand, if thou have ought against thy

bro-

him frankly that thy Heavenly Father may

forgive thee.
Does this seem to thee impossible ? No,
my dear young Christian it is not impossible. Only pour
ther, forgive

out thy soul in ardent prayer, for thy offending brother.

Continue in prayer
severe in

this,

heart what

is

for his penitence,

long,

and ardently,

befitting,

and salvation.

until thou feel

Perin thy

and right toward thy brother

and

thou canst say to thy Father, and his Father in heaven,

" Forgive me,

I

O my

do forgive him

who

my

God,

trespasses against thee, as

has trespassed against me."

melts the icy heart, and causes the

warm

Prayer

affections to flow

toward an erring, and offending brother.

9.

Thy

long absence from the Lord's Table has perhaps

arisen from the resistance of thy guilty conscience.

Thou

hast cast off fear, and restrained prayer.

God

haps, blasphemed

in

thy

heart;

and betrayed thy

Peradventure

Master in the presence of his enemies.

some

guilty transactions

trouble your soul

neighbour

some

some horrid

in

Thou

hast, per-

business have continued to

fraud

some wrong done

to thy

secret sins cherished by thee, have

thrown thy soul into distraction, and covered thee with confusion,

and shame before the Lord.

For, although

man

cannot see into thy heart, nor penetrate the secrecies of thy
chamber, the ever-watchful and pure eye of thy Judge has

been on thee

and thy conscience

chidings of God's most holy law.

thy sin.

very hour.

Break up every

evil

bitterly

responds to the

Repent,

habit of soul

instantly, of

and body,

this

Prostrate thy soul in deep penitence before the

throne of mercy.

Let the smitten rock of thy heart send

INVITATION TO CHURCH MEMBERS.

432

Let the

forth the waters of sorrow for all thy crimes.

mation of thy

and

heart,

and repentance.

For

life

this

refor-

prove the sincerity of thy faith

purpose betake thyself now, this

There thou canst

very instant, to the blood of sprinkling.

that

thou

mayest, thence, perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.

Hi-

have effectual cleansing from

pollution

thy

all

Hither thou mayest

ther the chief of sinners have come.

yet come, to have peace to thy agitated heart.

distracted conscience has found

its bitter

Here

the

remorse and over-

powering sorrows taken away by the removal of the load of

Christ's blood cleanseth from
its guilt and uncleanness.
all

sin."

But, be

it

known

to thee, that if thou

and

secret indulgences,

guilt,

with a

remainest in thy

fair

exterior, while

thou absentest thyself from the table of the Lord, thy sins

find thee out.

will

fearful fall

and exposure

are before

more dreadful than all,

is gathering as a
and
betrayed
Lord
the wrath of an angry
Return, thou
of
vengeance
over
thy
head.
cloud
fearful
Oh return from all those ways, which have
self-destroyer
and driven thee from thy duty.
ruined thy peace of mind
Oh Return why wilt thou die and plunge thyself into

thee

and public scorn

and, what

is

the bitter pains of the second death

" Return,

And

\\

anderer, return

seek an injured Father's face:

Those warm

Were
" Return,

desires that in thee burn,

kindled by reclaiming grace.

wanderer, return

Thy Saviour bids thy spirit live

Go to his bleeding feet, and learn.

How

freely

Jesus can forgive."

10. But, perhaps, thy "spot

ren."

Thine absence from

is

not the spot of God's child-

the holy

communion

is

proba-

INVITATION TO CHURCH MEMBERS.

433

bly caused by the final apostacy from thy profession,

divine grace the final apostate never had enjoyed.

Thou

hast listened to the seducing persuasions of those

not the fear of

God

for

who have

or to the sneer of the scorner, pouring

contempt on thy profession, and God's holy ordinances.

Thou

drawn away by the love of their sinful

their guilty and abominThe world has welcomed thee back, as one

hast been

amusements, and thence into

able deeds.

of

own.

its

Like

the hypocrite,

Thy

upon God."

called

Thou

Christ.

hast sold

him

to his

ly pittance of the world's applause,

immersed

secretly
fliest

Oh
Ah

guilt

soon

now

"thou hast not always

treacherous heart has betrayed

enemies

Thou

art

And, thence, thou

its pollutions.

in

for the beggar-

and pleasures.

from the presence of the Lord, and from thy brethren.

Thou art wronging thy own soul.
man

miserable

How

how canst thou escape ? Brief is. thy career of

and apostacy. The terrors of thy injured Lord will
fall

on thy awakened, and guilty soul. Thy conscience

Thou mayst call this peace. But there is

slumbers.

no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Thy conscience,

" set on fire of hell," will soon consume all thy peace and
And,

comforts.

ascend

thou

Oh

into

whither canst thou

heaven

God

will

Shouldst thou hide in the deepest abyss

flee

cast

Shouldst

thee

the terrors

down.
of di-

Oh Did Ahab rebel, and

Annanias and Sapphira did apostatise as thou
Judas who, like
did they prosper and live ?
hast done
vine justice will consume thee.
prosper

thee, eat bread with

our divine Master, did

of rebellion, like thee, against him.

to enjoy the paltry bribe

lift

up his heel

Did he prosper and

the horrid price of blood

live

Their

doom is thy doom. And it lingers not. " Behold, the

Judge standeth even before thy door." And that sentence
pronounced on Judas may well make the ears of all rebels
" Good
It will soon fall in thunder on thy ears.
to tingle.
had

it

been

for thee, hadst thou

never been born

37*

!"

CHAPTER

in.

who have not been to the

invitation to those

lord's table.
" If

human

kindness meets return,

And owns

the grateful tie

If tender thoughts within us burn,

To feel a friend is nigh.

Oh shall not warmer accents
!

The

To

gratitude

him,

who

tell

we owe

died our fears to quell

Our more than orphans' woe

While yet his anguished soul surveyed
Those pangs he could not flee
!

What love

words displayed,
'Meet, and remember me!'
Remember thee thy death, thy shame,
his latest

Our sinful hearts to share

O memory! let no other name
But His, recorded there!"

We

Church,

address ourselves to you the dear children of the

who have been

baptized

up in the fear of God, and taught

and have been trained

to

respect

weighty obligation of your baptismal vows.

and

We

feel

the

also ad-

dress the stranger, who, like them, possesses proper christian

knowledge in

all

those points, which

we have

laid

down

be-

INVITATION TO NON-COMMUNICANTS.
fore you,

435

and who have some good disposition in you, and

feelings of love, and gratitude to the Lord, your Saviour.

Come

2.

this

to

my

feast,

beloved children,

You have seen

things are ready.

Come,

and object of this holy communion.

you hand

One

The

to the covenant.

for

then,

and put

holy and compassionate

Come,

has long' been calling upon you in his word.

leave the world's dangerous

snares

come

out of

take your position with your Lord, and his people.

is

all

the nature, the design,

it,

and

Here

given the most affecting display of the love of God.

Yield yourself up to

thy beloved

fore thee,

Redeemer passes

He

in blood.

soul

and

Yield

loved us.

hard

is

There

before thee in garments dyed

and shows himself mighty

him

He

to save,

life.

comes be-

and rich in

all

homage of thy

the undivided

the obedience of thy

Here, divine justice,

in the overwhelming lustre of their

truth shine forth

Let thy soul be

glory.

first

trode the wine-press alone.

his gifts of love.

and

Oh

constraining power.

its

which loves not him who

the heart

filled

with the deepest abhorrence

of sin, which, under these holy attributes, brought our Saviour to the cross, and to the dust of death.

Here are set

monumental exhibition of thy Saviour's
resurrection, and ascension into glory
here, his

before thee the

death,

righteousness, confirmed by
thee.

Come,

gratefully

strength.

And as
he says,

these tokens,

present thyself before

the

Lord,

heart, say,

"My

child, give

and obedience of thy

him.

cious Redeemer

Adopt me

and

"=

the
!

he makes himself over to thee in the

ciple unto

offered to

is

my blessed Lord I
and joyfully accept thee for my righteousness, and
To my soul thou, Lord, art my all in all."

Church and from thy

;

all

And
!

new

covenant,

thy heart, with the homage,

life."

Yield yourself a willing dis-

in true

communion,

to thee I

into thy family.

living in Jerusalem.

me

yield up

Give

me

say,

my
a

"

heart,

my graand

name among

consecrate myself to thee,

life.

the

Lord

INVITATION TO NON-COMMUNICANTS.

436
be thine

to

more

pure name, in living

and forehead
Supper, seal
thee in

all

Lord

blood

titude,

thee

do less?

to thee,

am

personal covenant with

Lord,

am

As

per.

me

vow over

me

thy

Moved by

come

and humility before

to say,

gra-

my

confirm

to

thee.

most dear and bless-

Thou

art

the sacred symbols of the

mine.

Holy Sup-

I take these seals of thy love, pledged therein to

even so do

love, I

And, oh

thine.

not

bought with thy precious

love,

filial

ed Saviour, thou permittest

shall seal the

the

Oh what should I
my Saviour! I am

thine by thy redeeming grace.

and constrained by thy

Now,

communion of

of allegiance, love, and obedience to

Can

things.

am

as I do here, in this holy

my vow

I live in

do willingly in obedience
creature

thine

wholly,
and thine everwrite thy
upon my soul
on my hands
characters on my heart

thiiie only,

Seal thy love,

accept thee, humbly,

my

dear Redeemer,

in the plenitude of the grace of the covenant, for wisdom,

and redemption.

righteousness, sanctification,
thy seal on me.
that I

may be

Let

my

new name

have the assurance that

am

into thy spiritual family

among the living who

Amen."
salem.

high,

3. I

vow

to

And, oh
that I

me

grant

the

may know, and

thy child, justified, and adopt-

and, thence, have

my

are registered in the

record

on

New Jeru-

have thus set before thee, the form of the devotional

required of thee.

any service be more

you

Set, then,

ear be bored to the door-post,

thy servant forever.'

white stone, and the

ed

make

men of the

Now, my

delightful

a sacrifice

and

dear Christian friend, can

He

does, indeed, call

would, to

that sacrifice

world, be an unreasonable sacrifice.

But,

it is

thing more, nor less, than the prompt renunciation of

only which dishonours his holy

and misery on your own

service at your hands

souls.

name
Is

and

this

will

all

on
the

nothat

bring ruin

an unreasonable

?
Besides, he calls on you to accept
from him every blessing, included in his love and commu-

437

INVITATION TO NON-COMMUNICANTS.

Would you not cordially welcome the family banquet,

communion of kindred spirits in your family

nion.

and

the sweet

circle,

beloved parents, and brothers, and sisters

with

But, what

Here,

banquet ?

at the

We commune

ly Father's gracious presence.

Blessed Saviour in the purest

mune

spiritual

joys.

our

with

We

com-

with the Holy Spirit, whose reviving influences give

fresh life to our languid spirits

tion^into every grace

How

upon our heads."

a presence,

meeting

course with

be

Come,

then,

polluted joys

degrading

How

pleasant the joy of

a delicious foretaste this affords us

of the coming joys of heaven

shall all

" everlasting joys

mothers, brothers, sisters at the banquet of

What

and new vigour and anima-

great the happiness to be in such

such a banquet

at

fathers,

Christ's table

while he, as the Comforter, sends us

forward in the christian

God

and holy joys of the spiritual

holy table, we meet in our Heaven-

the pure

is that to

at

home

when

the whole family of

my dear youth, come away from the world's

Come away from its vexatious cares its
;

follies

its

guilty pursuits.

" Let the dead bury

Leave the communion of a

of promises which it never
Come to the fellowship of saints and the light of
fulfils.
God's countenance, which beams brighter, and brighter upon
us, until we are ushered into heaven's complete and eternal

Come

their dead."

to Christ.

vain and deceitful world,

so

full

day
4.

You must beware

of associating

of the Lord, the idea of any thing

witli the joyful table

terrific, or,

what

is

calcu-

you are drawing near to

" The bush burns with flames." But it is not
the Lord.
the consuming flames of Horeb, whence the law was given.
The Lord speaks out of the midst of this awful symbol of
lated to excite horror.

his presence

Sinai.

He

It is true

but he speaks not in the terrific thunders of

speaks peace.

you from Egypt's bondage.

He

deliver
is come down to
You must bow down in solemn

438

INVITATION TO NON-COMMUNICANTS.

awe, and "put offyour shoes from off your

you stand on

is

holy."

But,

feet, for the

ground

your Heavenly Father

it is

speaks, and calls you to hear, and own, and

who

take comfort

from his well-beloved Son.

He makes

an appeal to your grateful affection

Do this

not to

remembrance of me." This duty

is never to be viewed as a task.
You must be prompted to
" For we love him who first
duty by the ardour of love.

your

'

fears.

in

" Perfect love casteth out

loved us."
slavish fear.

In proportion as love

the fear of the guilty conscience

truly

filial,

Let

5.

eateth

and

fear," that

all

perfected,

and drinketh unworthily,

It

is,

casts out

it

and gradually becomes

assimilated to the fear of holy angles.

not, then, that expression terrify you,

to himself."
ally

is

is

can be a

impenitent only.

fearful

To

" He

that

and drinks damnation

eats

doom

to the guilty

God's children,

it

and

fin-

declares

The unworthy partaker

will draw down fatherly corrections
but not the doom of
the impenitent.
And these visitations we must welcome
salutary correction, though severe.

as God's selected

means of our

us for a holier and purer

ven
6

sanctification,

communion on

earth,

prepare

to

and in hea-

Resist, then, the spirit of the world which attaches the idea

of gloom, and melancholy, and terror to the holiest services

of religion.

Let your companions know

that

it is

the only

thing on earth, which throws the sweetest and most delicious joys around the heart that reclines on Jesus' bosom.

Assure them

that

it

makes you blessed

in every condition.

In the deepest gloom of sorrow, and heart-rending privations,

it

cheers you with bright hopes, and inextinguish-

able joys,

which descend from the throne of the interceding

Redeemer.

You can by

Christian can, after

all,

faith,

assure the

afford to lose

promise, or earth can give.

even

world that the

all

that

man can

Ashes, and dust cannot satiate

the boundless wishes of immortal souls.

Can

mortals marry

439

INVITATION TO NON-COMMUNICANTS.
immortality to death

Can

ocean's immeasurable abyss be

No, never. The Christian's

home, and heaven lie beyond this world, and its perishing
fulness. Hence, no earthly fears, no dread of earthly losses,
can drive him from his dependence on God, and the path of
with

filled

dew-drop

On

his duty.

the contrary, the love

him, and binds him

of his duty.

And

to the cheerful

of Christ constrains

and affectionate discharge

the very discharge of his services,

new

does beget in him

and

strength,

fresh

every returning season of duty, and of

and

solemn ordinance,

especially his diligent observance of this

animation for

trial.

You
7. Hence, dear Christian, you must not hesitate.
must not waver between two opinions. Come forward, in
an honest and pure confession. Be ready and willing in
your avowed subjection to your dear Redeemer. You were
devoted to the Triune God in your early days. Beware of
bringing shame, and ruin on yourselves by looking back
with longing eyes to the world, as Lot's wife did, to the
cities

of the plain.

Keep your eyes on

one instance, or waver, in working out our

hesitate in

demption

Did he not
Did he

Jesus.

hasten from his throne for your deliverance

Was

soul,

by his unquenchable love

face

as

flint,

re-

he not carried through the agonies of his

to us

Did he not

set his

with immoveable courage, animated by

love to us, through the whole of his inconceivable pains, until

he

said,

"

tian brother

It is finished !"

and

sister, will

you,

And,

Oh

my

Oh can
!

honour him, by your most affectionate

dear chris-

you refuse

to

prompt, and unwavering obedience?

and your
Wait not until you

may

after,

in

obtain what the carnal

life,

my

mind longs

with worldly ease, and comfort.

gratitude,

a settlement

Begin

the world,

dear christian brother and sister, by beginning with

obedience to your God.

Set out in the world, by plac-

ing yourself on the side of Christ.

Set out in your

journey, with the pilgrims bound for Zion above.

life's

Oh


INVITATION TO NON-COMMUNICANTS.

440
seek

kingdom of heaven, and

the

first

righteousness.

its

Secure the soul's portion, before thy earthly portion, in

my

Cease, then,

world.

ends and aims,

to prefer selfish

Jesus Christ.

dear one

Cease

to gratify

beloved

to

own

desires to the ex-

Come

clusion of solemn and imperative duty.

Can you

and own thy Saviour.

who ought to occupy

Must salvation, and

place, always, in thy heart.

first

forward,

allow yourself to prefer

these small concerns of earth to one

the

Lord

the honour of the

your

this

in the Lord,

heaven be postponed for the things on earth ? Will you obey

the promptings of Satan, in preference to the command,

and the constraining love of Jesus Christ

You

8.

ing

have, already, lost

obedience in

to yield

matter has a delay been

much

this

precious time by delay-

solemn duty.

more dangerous.

In no other

For a

delay in

an act of positive rebellion against the Lord. Every

command of God, be it carefully remembered, carries on
duty

is

the face of

not only the necessity of obedience, but of

it,

And

instant obedience.
force the one, as

it

the

same penalty does equally en-

does the other.

If thy

Maker allowed

thee the right, or permission to delay obedience

imply a license of delay in sin.

punity to deliberate rebellion.
therefore, is a divine

call to

It

it

would

would be holding out im-

Every divine command,

instant compliance, under the

usual divine penalty, which guards the law.

And

is

a punishment attending each day's delay.

Each mournful

delay brings a positive hardening of the

there

and a growing insensibility of conscience. Hence,

and
the longer you delay, the more hardened you become
thence, the more insensible are you to the urgency of the

heart,

divine
fact,

call.

have, for
behold,
are

You cannot

help noticing this very alarming

who
Can you

exhibited in those aged persons in the church,

many

years, persisted in this rebellion.

without trembling,

and how

how

callous their consciences

utterly indifferent they

remain under God's

INVITATION TO NON-COMMUNICANTS.

441

judgments, and the solemn warnings of the law, and

urgency of Christ's pleadings, by his servants

Rouse
you

The

up, then, to instant activity in duty.

delay, the greater is the

The

ing over you.

fearful

all

the

longer

weight of guilt impend-

longer you delay, the

more of heaven's
Never

peace, and the pleasures of holiness do you lose.

allow yourself to forget that you have no control over time.

Death is ready to enter into your dwelling. Then, where

If you are unprepared for the solemnities of the
are you 1
Lord's Table then, most certainly, are you utterly unpre;

pared for the awful solemnities of death, and the judgment,

May God, in his great mercy,

awaken you all to tender solicitude in this matter
9. And, here, let me remind you of your baptismal
and the eternal world

In infancy your parents presented you with

vows.

anxiety, and

many

and vows,

prayers,

at

the

much

baptismal

You were, by them, given away to God, and to his

members thereof. These vows were taken upon
them, as your natural and covenant guardians.
Now, that
fount.

church, as

you have reached

the years of discretion, these

have passed over from them

to

you

solemn vows

and are binding on

no room for doubts in this

on you, as they were
on them. You must follow them out, under the call of your
God. Nothing can be more manifest than this doctrine of
God's holy word. That which is done in our name, by a
legal, and accredited representative, is as certainly done by
us as if it had been done personally.
Open thy Bible at
Jerem. xi. 3, 4, and read, " Cursed be the man that obeyeth

your conscience.

They

matter.

There

is

are equally binding

not the words of this covenant, which

fathers,"

Even
will

you

so,

my

be, if

baptism, which
selfish

commanded your

&c.

and

dear youth, let no man deceive you. Cursed

you obey not the vow of the covenant of

God commanded your parents. Men of

may doubt, and demur. Be it your

sceptical habits

38

INVITATION TO NON-COMMUNICANTS.

442

of

part, in the face

your baptism

Come

10.

You cannot

promptly to obey.

this,

all

renounce the honours of Christianity

you cannot deny

you cannot deny your God

out of the world then; and, approaching the

holy table of the Lord, there declare openly before

these just and appropriate
to

and

Take your

by

his grace

solemnity

my

to thee,

as thy child,

God, by all these ten-

my

Son,

dear Redeemer.

fully

new

come under

all

life

to

in

Here,

hum-

I believe in thy

of the gratuitous bless-

would humbly, and cheer-

new obedience

to serve thee with all

and mind, and strength

ditions of

these obligations of

love thee, to obey thee

soul,

I accept

covenant.

God

my God

bly beg to offer myself to thee,

ings of the

as thy

baptized, and devoted with

holy and merciful

to thee,

given

and
and piously

der and impressive ties laid on me, as thy creature

redeemed creature

that

places by the side of your father

" I am bound

all,

be piously responded

along with your christian brethren

say thus

shall

religiously paid before the Lord,

to you.

mother

vows

all

be thine wholly,

my

the relations,

to

heart,

to

and

and con-

be thine alone,

to

be thine now, and for ever

And, now, in token of my sincere faith, and vows before

O my God I here, in humble reliance on thy grace,

thee,

do

set

my

hand, and seal to this public covenant with thee,

And I would humbly, and sincerely avouch thee to

my God and myself to be thy servant, for all time.

Lord!
be

And, in token of this, I take the bread, and the cup I eat
the one, and I drink the other, in memory of my Saviour's
atoning blood, and rich grace. And, I hereby seal my
vow of personal dedication to thee. Father, Son, and
:

Holy Ghost.
merciful

So help thou me,

Amen.
Triune God
!

Blessed and most

CHAPTER

IV,

TO GOD*S CHILDREN WHO WALK IN DARkSOLUTION OF MENTAL DIFFICULTIES, AND OBJECTIONS, INSTRUCTION COMFORT.

INVITATION
;^

NESS

" Comfort ye, comfort ye,

my people,

saith

your God."
Isaiah.

1.

There

are

many who "

voice of his servant," and

and have no

fear the Lord,

who

yet

They seek

light."

" walk

the

and obey the

in

darkness,

Lord with much

sor-

They tremble at the thought of rebelling against

Lord. They try to walk in the way of his appointment.

rowing.
their

But, through fear of unworthy communicating, and the terrors of the

do.

judgment which follows

Permit

us, with tender

it,

they

know

not what to

sympathy, to address ourselves

to them.
2.

My

dear brothers, and sisters

guish between the

act,

Many do

and agency of

faith

not distin-

and the

evi-

They believe they

They rely on him
accept the proffered mercy in Christ.
But, then, they seem to expect, as one
as all their hope.
person does, while conversing with another, some visible
token, and assurance from the person they commune with
They
that they are doing right, and are actually accepted.
dence of sense, as

it

is

usually called.

are not content with merely believing God's promise, and

complying with his injunction.

They seem

to

expect some

sensible assurance like that which was vouchsafed to the

444

INVITATION TO GOD's CHILDREN,

holy disciple in Patmos,

Lord's day

that they are in the right

Now,

3.

God's promise
dience in that

in

on the

the Spirit,

way.

your duty simply to

is

it

when he was

an impression made on the mind, and heart

or,

and

yield, in the

rely, in full faith,

He

his injunction.

faith, to

on

whole man, a prompt obehas uttered his

assurance that he will bestow on you certain blessings.

Do

your duty in a cordial reliance on his faithfulness, and

Go

power.
face

tations of his love

his

he enjoins you

to his table, as

him

there plead with

there seek his

there seek the higher manifes-

and mercy; there seek the

clear light of

countenance, and the divine assurances of his love in the

way of duty, and

Seek
his

in the actual discharge of your obligations.

not, first of

all,

for these clear

love, in order that

and gracious tokens of

you may enter on your duty.

But,

go forward, and seek them in communion by faith, penitence, and purity of heart.
And do all this in an humble
reliance on the

You

Holy

Spirit.

in darkness,

are

and want assurance

Conceive,

then, yourself to be exactly in the position of a lost child

who

has wandered from his home, and his father.

dark and cloudy night, you cannot see your way clear

cannot see your

nor your home.

father,

In the
;

But, on the

you
still

ear of night, you can hear, distinctly, your father's voice,

you

calling

to

come,

cannot see him,

come

is

come up

to

true

You cannot have

still ?

there

it

the assurance of sight that he is

but you distinctly hear his voice, calling on you to

to

him.

Must you stand

have the assurance of sense

his

You

directly to him.

but are you then to stand

hand

No, no.

and

Well, you

still,

and linger

actually see him,

know

until

you

and

feel

the voice of your

Heavenly Father uttered distinctly in his divine word.

He calls on you to come up to him. He tells you what
" Turn not," says he, " to the right, or
is in the way.
the

left.

Avoid

all

bye- ways.

Come

directly

up

to

me,

INVITATION TO GOd's CHILDREN.

as you hear

and walk
duty.

and

On

Like

voice."

And soon

the hand,
4.

my

up

directly

to

the lost child, persevere

Keep

in the straight line of

him taking you by

bosom
we hear some very dear Chris-

you joyfully

will

lifting

him.

feel

you gently into

the eve of duty,

an excuse of

this nature

pleasing and heavenly frame of mind

tians offer

445

his

once had a very

"I

and

longed to come,
and appear before the Lord. But, now, it is gone; and I
am cast down."
You are in error to rely on a former frame of mind or
I

to absent yourself
is

from duty,

pleasant, indeed, to reflect

at the

on

fondly cherished frame of heart.

loss of that frame.

It

and to recal that

But, can you allow your-

the past

by any human standard, the divine obligaon you, by your adorable Master in heaven ?
Are you to obey him merely when you happen to be in the
Are you set free from
favourable humour of obeying him ?
self to measure,

tions laid

obedience when out of that peculiar frame

edly

nonever.

No

assur-

Therefore, proceed with self-examina-

Take a fresh hold of the gospel promise, by a renewed and stronger act of faith. Go forward at your ReGo, and do your duty and on your redeemer's call.
newed vow, and struggles against rising unbelief, seek for
Can you exthe joyful return of a happy frame of mind.
pect to recover that frame which you mourn over, by actually
neglecting duty, and sinning still more 1

tion.

6.

Many

an honest, but feeble Christian

objection of this kind

the Lord's table.

It

"

is

agitated by

would, indeed, willingly

has long been in

an

come to

my heart to

do

it.

But, the terrors of the law rise up before me, as the flaming

swords of the cherubim, which kept that way which seemed

me. And I am driven away beand thunders from Mount Sinai. I can

to be utterly shut against

fore the flames,

apply no part of God's word to

my

troubled heart, but the

denunciations against the hardened sinner, and the hypo-

38*

446

INVITATION TO GOd's CHILDREN.

seem

crite.

actually singled out

painful exposure, as

most pure law

his

me

you urge
I

am

one pointed

How

on, to

unworthy,

'

eat

utterly

and

stand forth in

by every threatening of

at

can I venture forward 1 Would

and drink damnation to myself]*
How can I, then,
unworthy
!

venture forward?"
6.

Indeed, you cannot, dear Christian, be too jealous of

yourself, or too humble.

But you must be

just to yourself,

As you

as well as severe, in your honest self-examination.

would avoid the extreme of the hypocrite, who deems himself better than others

tation of Satan,

who

so must you avoid the strong temp-

leaves

no means untried

children into the opposite extreme,

against themselves

bitter things

your

Be just

Cast yourself

closet.

Do
mine

Do my

at the feet

Do

I, at least,

sire

from

it

this

him

I hate

Do

I stand in

desire

it

distressing

often

Do

God
I

? Come, my

of the flesh

"

Oh

thee say.

to

awe of

Do

him with
the

languor, and heartlessness

those

own

Holy

Have

even de-

Do

bewildering

soul, art thou willing to sign,

and

seal

Saviour, and give up

the last hope, and even the desire of his love

to return

Am

long for deliverance

deliverance from

thy renunciation of Christ as thy

and

"

choose any object

every iniquity in his presence

long and pray for

doubts

Do

the strong desire to love

and

Enter into

of Christ in an agony

inmost thoughts tenderly recur

in preference to
1

the sons of

Prefer I

deep veneration, and holy awe

Ghost

all

any object on earth, to him ?

Redeemer, and choose him ivillingly as

love the

God's

humble.

Search yourself before the Lord.

God

a lover of

to drive

despond, and write

as if they were the very

to yourself, as well as

of supplication.
I

to

and the most hopeless ones of

outcasts,

men

and presence

again to the ways of the world, and the works

No,

no never can

Thou

So,

I hear

hope in him.

Thou

do that

wilt not surrender thy

!"

INVITATION TO GOd's CHILDREN.

How,

canst not yield up the desire to be his.

thou feel so, and desire so

and yet venture

thou lovest not God, thy Redeemer

does

genuine, and cherished desire,

having the love of

of thy

faith,

God

and love

in thee

yes,

God.

to thy

Be

our

war a

lot to

then, canst

say

to

that

assured, that the

even the desire of

indicate the reality

There

holiness, in degree, in this evil world.

it is

447

fierce warfare

is no perfection of
While in the flesh,

against

sin

the

that

Study the seventh chapter of

dwelleth in the very best of us.

Romans, and thence receive wholesome

and humbling instruction..
The main point to be resolved in thy mind, young Christian, is this.
Hast thou the true grace of God perfect in

the epistle to the

kind,

in thee

The

question

is

not, whether there be sin,

and complicated, and even turbulent sins in thee, raging

an enemy, that is tormented and dying. The question

like

is this

Does grace

even exist in
Is

it

struggle to prevail in thee

though

it

may

Or,

is

than the creature

Christ as the only Saviour

Lovest

Lovest thou Jesus

Dost thou anxiously pray

it

element of holy

sin the foul master spirit in thee

God more

Does

not noiu seem to prevail

in thee, as a living and struggling

life 1

thou

thee,

for

Holy Ghost ? Dost thou pray in thy heart for real holiness 1 Dost thou love God's holy day, and the ordinances of
Dost thou love the hour of secret prayer ? And
his house 1
the

at God's throne,
namest thy sins and

does thy soul melt into sorrow, in secret,

while, overpowered by divine love, thou
griefs over before

paredness for
life 1

him 1 Dost thou long, and

this

solemn

Dost thou long

to

duty,

and

all

be prepared

pray for due pre-

the

other duties of

for

the

service of

God, because Jesus Christ lays his commands on thee

do that service purely from his love ?

How

receivest thou these questions, or any one of them?

Canst thou respond

feebly

to

then

to

them

affirmatively, be

it

even very

rest assured, that thou art a Christian.

And

INVITATION TO GOD's CHILDREN.

448
if

thou art a true Christian,

the feeble,

even a babe in

be

thou even the feeblest of

and take the

Christ, be assured,

comfort of the assurance, that thou art as welcome to the

Table of the Lord, as

of the father of the

if

thou hadst the

For

faithful.

ing Redeemer delights to see

as well as the groivn-up sons

He

hold.

Keep

7.

of religion

opens

all

his

little

to thee

ones

this great

the joy of a cordial welcome.

reality of faith that carries thee

Saviour, to lean on

him

principle

merely,

not the strength of faith

It is

at his table,

and daughters of his housecome to the banquet with him.

would have us all

in view, for your comfort,
:

and assurance
and sympathiz-

faith,

the loving

It

that

is

the

up to the bosom of thy

at his table.

Keep up

plain

this

and drive away fears and doubts from thy bosom.

resting with unwavering confidence on
faith,
A vigorous
Christ, and spiritual knowlege to discern the Lord's body and
distinction,

blood, are of vast importance to thy

And

own joy and happiness.

homage to the power

and love of Christ. But, that which is essential to worthy
communicating, and which secures to thee a blessed welcome
from Christ, is true faith, be it ever so feeble and saving
they render a high and solemn

knowledge, be

it

ever so small.

In order,

therefore, to true

and worthy communion, assure thyself of this, that the reality

of faith to feed upon Christ, and the genuineness of saving

knowledge

to discern

him in

essentially requisite in the

faith,

overcoming

and a

clear

the

Holy Supper,

eyes of the

are the things

Lord.

the painful tumult of doubts,

A
and

lively

fears

and heavenly perception of Christ, and divine

things, do, indeed, elevate the vigbrous Christian to the high-

er joys of salvation

and send him forward exultingly, like

Elijah, passing through the wilderness to the

But the
is,

feeblest child of his household is as

Mount of God.
welcome as he

to the Lord's Table.

Keep

The

this distinction with care,

child

must eat many a meal

always before thy mind.

at his

father's table,

and

449

INVITATION TO god's CHILDREN.

gain from

many

nourishment, and growing

the

it

strength

and vigour of
small

Despise not the day of

his elder brethren.

Go, in

things.

all

thy feebleness of infancy, and

Joyfully partake of his grace.

youth, to thy Father's table.

Even Abraham, and

of

manhood

a returning festival, before he can reach the

and David were once babes in

grace.
Persevere in thy duties. And, passing on from infancy, thou shalt feel the joy and strength of youth, and of
ripe years.
fect

man

Ia

Paul,

due time thou shalt reach the measure of a per-

in Christ. And, in a word, lay this to heart,

wert already perfect, even according to thy wishes

if thou

if

thou

hadst no more weakness, nor hungering, nor doubts, nor

fears, then, assuredly thou

the

communion

8.

table,

me

And, allow

wouldst no more stand in need of

than do the perfect saints in heaven.

to transfer to

common

meal, thy late

mode of reasoning, in reference to thy not coming to the

Holy Table. What wouldst thou say of one, who, coming in
from the

field

am so

of his labours, should say, "I

weak, and

so feeble, and so languid, and faint, through hunger, and

thirst,
ivill

that I shall decline

not,

and

really

well-spread table.

my

master's invitation

I shall

neither eat, nor drink

here, until, being refreshed,

and

down

full

to sit

Wouldst thou say

that he acted like

not his very objections appear

why he

nay,

to

but wait

of strength, I shall be in

a wise

ought, promptly, to

man?

Should

the strongest of all

to thee,
sit

down, and by using

the bounteous provisions of his master, speedily get rid

and languor, and faintness,

his weakness,

and joyful

festival

that

!"
to these plentiful provisions

a good condition

reasons

down

cannot think of sitting

of

at the refreshing

My dear young brothers and sisters^ you who feel yourselves

in this condition, are the very persons

who

time in coming to the Lord's Table. Come, in

ness of

faith,

Come, with

and you

all

shall receive

your fears and doubts

should lose no
all

your feeble-

strength of the
;

Lord.

and, fixing your eyes.


INVITATION TO GOd's CHILDREN.

450

on your dear Redeemer's face, beaming with love and

them all away by the light of his countenance.
Come, then, to this holy communion. Come, at
his bidding.
Cast yourselves over on his promise, and assurance.
Come, leaning on his sure word. For, " He will
make thy righteousness go forth as brightness, and thy salgrace, chase

vation as a lamp that burneth."

" Yes

9.

know

it

But I am so unworthy, so

Most

well.

utterly unworthy !"

certainly thou art even so.

And this
whom

should urge thy speedy flight to Christ Jesus, through

thou shalt obtain righteousness, as well as strength, and

joyful acceptance.

And,

be assured that no believer can "

farther,

The

drink damnation to himself."

eat,

and

wilful unbeliever

and

impenitent sinner, whose polluted hands wrest

cular purpose, and bring

Lord,

shall feel the

the Christian

mockery

for

this to

a se-

an offering before the

whole weight of this denunciation.

But,

who may, and does sometimes, "eat and drink

unworthily," by not properly discerning the Lord's body

by not feeding aright on him,

shall

ment
some

shall receive corrections,

to himself."

appropriate

That

is,

he

These

afflictions.

"eat and drink judghis

by

compassionate

Lords brings on him to purify his soul, and fit him for a
more acceptable offering and a holier life, in time to
come. And thus, he is brought into the condition of a
;

worthy communicant, by discipline for former delinquencies.

10.

Come,

then, dear youth.

You cannot

cherish these

doubts, without questioning your Lord's love, or power.

can you allow yourself

for

moment

Be

to persist

assured, you cannot yield to these

doubts and objections without wronging your

and doing dishonour

ter.

He

eyes the

And

in that criminal exercise

own

soul

wisdom of your Blessed Masordained this ordinance, not to renew before our
terrors of Mount Horeb
but to renew the most
to the

INVITATION TO GOD's CHILDREN.

consoling expressions of his love before us in

He

children

table, at

others

when ready

He

to faint.

ordained

and

this, not to be
and superiority over

confirm us in grace,

but to

faith

to ripen

our graces

power, and beauty to holiness

and

give vigour

to

and, thence, give

course of our lives

we

until

perfect

men

in

all

reach the

in Christ

over the whole

our duties, and amid

measure of the

full

to

new

thus, give assurance to

us of his gracious presence, and guidance

trials,

but

which he should feed and strengthen his

of our perfection, and holiness

test

our

Mount Zion.

ordained this not to be an altar of a sin offering

to be

451

all

our

stature of

and be ushered into God's family

in heaven.

In a word, there seems

11.

urged against the duty

which

And

is

me

to

be no one objection

communicating,

not equally valid against any other christian duty.

beg

may

that this

reader.

"

to

of immediately

I cannot,"

Table, as I

you

be weighed thoughtfully, by every

"
Very

not

I dare

say,

now am."

come

But

true.

to the

my

Lord's

brother,

my

you must go the throne of grace, obtain

needful grace.
Go,
or you may
" cannot, Oh
dare not go
the Holy Table as
now am Very true you are
and

sister

to

first

to

this instant,

all

!"

perish.

to

correct,

for that

same reason, on which you seek to rest your plea of excuse

you cannot, you dare not go to the throne of your
Maker, even to pray
You need grace as much for the due

here,

You cannot pray

Must you, therefore,

discharge of the one duty, as for the other.

in faith in your present condition.
utterly restrain

You cannot

prayer,

and

without the aid of his grace.

effort

live as

the heartless atheist

give a spiritual welcome to God's holy gospel,

and continue

the gospel, with

to

all its

Must you,

therefore,

remain as you are

hopes and happiness

without grace, obey one single precept of

make no

and thus

all

reject

You cannot,
your Maker's

INVITATION TO GOd's CHILDREN.

452

Must you,

commands.

then, live as a heathen, and seek

your excuse in your want of due preparation

Let

me

repeat

it

with emphasis,

All these duties

And you must

mustcio; or you must perish!

we have

in them, this instant, as

seen.

But, there

you

God

obey

a pre-

is

You
You must go, this instant,
You must go, this moment,

vious duty which must also be done this moment.

must go to the Lord Jesus Christ.

and secure his

all-sufficient grace.

new

heart, and every needful supply of grace.

Go, then, this very instant, and give yourself up to the Lord.
And, this same moment, go and yield an unwavering obein prayer, and devout communion
dience to God's law
I cannot urge on you
at his Holy Table in its season.

to obtain the

too earnestly this truth

namely, that the delay of seeking,

and securing divine grace, by the appointed means, and

with all due fervour of spirit, cannot possibly be any excuse
obey any of God's commands, in general

for delaying to

to

or, for delaying, in particular,

Table.

Take

young

Christian.

this

12. Finally, enter

suitable humility,

you

to

we have

go forward

to

his

Holy

into your thoughtful consideration, dear

on

the

duty of self-examination with

We

and prayer.

earnestness,

request

give yourself to the study of the doctrines, which

submitted to your attention in the

first

Book

of this

Apply them to your own conscience, sincerely

and devoutly. Then, proceed to examine yourself on your

volume.

knowledge of saving things

knowledge
dinance

to discern the

him

your love to
to

God
man

and your purpose

And

principle.

sanctuary

of your

of your faith to accept him, and receive divine

grace from

your love

and, particularly,

Lord's body in this most holy or-

your sins

of

in the practice of every Christian duty

of

of your godly sorrow for

all

in the acts of benevolence and charity

to lead a

the

holy

Lord

life

will

from a new and gracious

send thee help from his

and strengthen thee out of Zion.

He

will re-

INVITATION TO GOD's CHILDREN.

member

He

will

all

thy offerings

and accept thy

grant thee according to thine

463

spiritual sacrifices.

own

heart,

and

the

fulfil all

Thou shalt rejoice in his salvation. And in

name of thy God wilt thou set up thy banner. For the

thy counsel.

Lord

will fulfil all thy petitions.

Ps. xx. 2

ODE.
"

The blest memorials of thy grief,

The sufferings of thy death,

We come, dear Saviour

to receive,

And would receive with faith.

The tokens sent us to relieve
Our

spirits,

when they

We come, dear Saviour

droop,
to receive,

And would receive with hopk.

The pledges thou wast pleased to leave
Our mournful minds

to

We come, dear Saviour!

move,
to receive,

And

would receive with love.

to thy word.
take the bread, and wine
The utmost we can do, dear Lord
For all beyond is thine
Here, in obedience

We

Increase our faith, our love, our hope;

Lord, give us

We would
And

thy

all that's

full

good

salvation prove;

share thy flesh, and blood

39

!'*

5.

CHAPTER

V.

WHEN ABOUT TO
APPROACH THE LORD's TABLE.

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS,

" Searcher of hearts, oh

The

My
To
1.

It

is

secrets of

my

fears remove
God, and my

search

me

still

soul reveal
let

own

me

appear

conscience clear 1"

not proper to postpone the important work of

preparation, to the near approach of the solemn season.

hope, therefore,

dear

you have kept

Christian, that

matter some time in view, with deep interest

have spent

many an hour

and self-examination.

through

this

that

yow

in suitable meditation,

and

have endeavoured

supply you,

examination

to

prayer,

in the preceding pages.

for this purpose, with materials,

Go

and

I
this

in

Ponder these doctrines of our holy

thorough

religion

manner.

make

yourself

thoroughly acquainted with each of them, in order that you

may be an

intelligent Christian.

Make

subject of close, and devout reflection.

the simplicity of children,

are to

You

each of them the

Receive them with

and with sincere

your souls, what wholesome food

is

faith.

to

They

your body.

do not receive them aright, and digest them, unless you

derive vital nourishment, audstrength from them, for the day


456

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.
of duty and

Rest not

trial.

any thing short

satisfied with

of a strongly quickening influence put forth by them, on

And

your heart.

the divine authority with which they

let

come upon your

produce a constant excitement to

soul,

and cheerful obedience.

love, devotion,

Fail not to reduce

You must

every precept of Christ scrupulously to practice.

Your
but you must walk in him.
not only put on Christ
Chrisholy
and
devout,
intelligent,
to
should
be,
an
aim
be
;

And

tian.

thus you will enjoy an habitual preparation for

this solemnity

to

And when

2.

your

and honour your heavenly Father.

the season of communion has come,

retire

house of God, and pour out your

closet, or into the

heart to God, and mingle devotion with self-examination,

after this
<'

It

is

feels the

Lord

manner

my

beloved Redeemer

constraining urgency of his

command.

at thy

ness of

the voice of

my

am

and

infirmities,

My

soul

O my

come,

overpowered by a conscious-

utter

had believed

fainted, unless I

call.

unworthiness.

to see the

had

Lord's goodness in

For the adversary has sought to

overwhelm me with distracting fears, and terrors. I often
feel that I must not,
that I really dare not come to the
Lord's table.
But I charge my soul, and all that is within
me, vigilantly to resist the tempter. Shall I yield to fears,
when God is with me 1 Shall I give way to doubts, and

the land of the living.'

despondency, when
will preserve

my

of the spiritual

work in my

have

my

Saviour's assurance that he

soul alive, and cherish in

life ?

soul,

Shall not

perform

it

to the

sink in despair, and, like Jonah,

the Lord, and from

hope

will bruise

then, yield up
the heavenly,

mighty

my

me

every grace

begins the good

day of Christ V
fly

present duty,

Satan under

my

He who

my feet

Can

from the presence of

when

shortly

the
1

God

of

my

Shall I ever,

inspired and cherished as it is by

hope,
and spirit-sustaining promises of the Al-

Shall I shrink from this call to

duty

Shall I

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.

466

bssely yield to the world, and the weakness of the flesh, and

power of Satan

the

my God ?

and, thereby, obey them, rather than

His command

divine assistance

his

is distinct

For

divinely cheering.

it is

and peremptory; and

attended by assurances of

and a joyful acceptance

The

abounding comfort.

it is

and an

voice of the tempter, on the con-

and desponding. It leads to desertion of

and darkness, and the death of the yielding traitor!

trary, is dreary

duty,

"I have entered on the examination of my heart, and

And, O my God! thou hast allowed me, amidst many

life.

and painful

fears,

difficulties, still to

have learned of Christ,

deceived, the more
the

more

to

thee.

thee,

my

know

indulge a hope that I

know

For,

if

do love thee, and the more humble

pure and awful presence,

For,

the self-deceiver.

if

I trust,

my

my

am

not

God, and Saviour,

faith

feel in thy

is

not that of

experience be

correct,

And

waxes, in some degree, stronger and stronger.

it

with

more than ever, the exdependence on thee

and the vanity of self-righteousness and the hypocrite's
its

growing strength,

ceeding

evil of sin

I trust, I feel

my

and

entire

And

trust.

assurance of Christ's

as the

all -sufficiency

grows, and waxes strong in

my

ing desire to renounce

righteousness which

all

conscience

I feel

a long-

of the

is

and every ground of hope from created power, and

man's merit. And may I not venture to say that, in propor-

law

see

tion as I

all

these in the light of thy unclouded glory,

and the stainless perfection of thy

man

merit,

and more

and

all self-trust,

hateful in

price to offer thee.

mine
I

justice, the

eyes.

I dare

have none to

They flow
come

tains.

not think

sellest

and as

cannot wrong thee,

freely as the

my

dear

thou,

thy blessing.

freely to us, poor sinners, through Christ.

as purely,

of any

And

offer thee.

most sovereign and gracious God, never

they

pride of hu-

and boasting, become more

Yes,

wind on our moun-

Redeemer!

cannot

bear the thought of taking the crown off thy august head,

on

457

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.

which " there are many crowns."

take one gem from its sparkling
love thee,

O my God

for

cannot, and will not

No,

glory.

what thou

I love thee because thou art glorious in holiness

unspotted
full

of majesty, and truth infinite

thyself.

of justice

whilst thou art

of compassion, and mercy to poor sinners, like

love thee,

self.

ceive

me

not,

my

heavenly Father

my

if

loves thee, and adores thee,

Christ,

and adores

who
thee,

Father

and

my

my salvation
O my Redeemer

is all

the

for

heart loves

all

that thou

me and for all that

now doing for me
;

thou hast, in thy condescension and faith-

for all that

fulness,

My

Blessed Intercessor, art

in

for the gift of thy

hast condescended to do, and suffer for

thou, as

me

This heart

covenant of peace, before the world began.

Son Jesus

my-

heart de-

love thee with gratitude unfeigned.

adore thee for what thou hast foreordained for

thee,

never.

and of

art in,

promised yet

to

perform on

my behalf,

in time, in the

And thee, I love

judgment day
and adore with all my heart, O Holy Ghost the author of
spiritual life, and of all the divine graces
and of all the
Christian's consolations, and of the assured hope of the blessed resurrection, and life everlasting.
I bow the knee daily
And I humbly
before thee, O most blessed Triune God
beg to yield up soul, and life, and all I havCj to thee in gratehour of death, and

at the

ful affection, adoration,

and obedience

"And, now, in this moment of doubting, and hesitation,

when the foe assails me in the near prospect of duty,-^0
smile upon

grace to me.

my

languid soul.

Receive

my

Vouchsafe thy quickening

languishing

faith.

Grant

me

peace, and a token for good, through the blood of the ever-

Am I not thy servant, Lord formed

lasting covenant.
by thee to be what I am, with all these faculties, and this
immortal being to know thee, to love thee, and serve thee?
Oh for increase of grace, and the spirit of holiness, that
!

may

be thy accepted servant in the ways of true holiness

39*


458

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.

" Thou,

Lord,

now

art

calling thy children to the festival

communion. And

of thy holy

thy will that

it is

dear children be amissing at such a season.

peace, and exceeding joy

come

them.

table.

Oh

to receive

**

have

I in

portion for ever

!'

In

is

from thy
know,

am

thy child,

feel that I

heaven, but thee

But God

nrtay

fall

to the children's bread.

And

My

desire beside thee.

earth, that I

heart faileth.

light, that I

may

my

the strength of

my

thee,

there

flesh,

heart,

God, have

and, I trust, long and earnestly,

heart of mine, and, notwithstanding

mities,

and

complicated cares,
there

is

none

and

my
my

have look-

into this anxious

all its

wants, and infir-

dark hours of sorrow, and

its

is

and

sought, and

in thee have I found this everlasting portion.

ed,

a feast of

Lord, as one of

come,

even the crumbs that

that I

and have a right

Whom

upon

and

an increase of

for

and a purer conscience,

Lord

none of thy

It is

and

sins,

its

do yet humbly indulge the hope, that

not one object under the heavens that I desire besearch

fore thee.

me and
my soul.

try

say to search, and try

me

And

if

there

there, usurping thy throne, consecrated to thee,

terly abolish

it

and reign thou,

there,

premacy, and the beauty of holiness.

thee, within the
it forth,,

humbly

as I do

be an

do thou

my God

esidol
ut-

in thy su-

If there lurks a foe to

windings, and foldings of this heart, bring

Lord, and slay

it

mine

before

eyes.

my supreme
Lord and Master ? Do I not love thy pure and hallowed
Are they not sweeter than honey to my lips ? Are
truth T
they not the light of mine eyes, and the guide of my feet,
^

Have

not chosen thee, Lord Jesus, to be

and the joy of

commands

my

Do \

heart?

Do

not venerate

I
all

not long to keep thy

thy ordinances

The

stamp of thy authority on them makes them dear to my

Do I not delight in thy house, and the place where
heart.
thine honour dwells?

When

children, do not I love

them as

I see

thy dear image in

my own

brothers

and

thy
sis-

"

ters

Am

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.

Do I not hate
not grieved

the

when

sabbath, thy word,

459

ways of false and wicked sinners

mocking

see transgressors

and thy mercies

thy

and thereby wronging

Does not my soul feel more joy, and

pleasure, in one sweet hour of communion with thee, my
God, than what the men of this world enjoy, when their
their

own

souls

corn and their wine abound

discouformed
ing of

my

to this

mind.

world

passions

be more and more

my

imagination

the carnality of

trials,

oh

how

my

thoughts

the levity of

In the hour

heart.

often I forget thee

hour of temptation, how often do

renew-

in the

my

I bewail the treachery of

and

of the world's

to

and transformed

the vanity, and looseness of

my

Oh

mournfully

In the

feel the cor-

and hateful remains of the old man in this heart

O
Lord! how long, how long shall it be, ere I be freed from
this body of sin, and death 1 Wretched man that I am
Who

rupt

me from it? Praise, and everlasting gratitude be to

thee, O God
the grace of Christ has the divine merit of
effectual cleansing.
And the Holy Ghost effectually applies
will free

and healing balm

" In the pressure of the world's cares, and the fascination
of its seducing pleasures, O let me know, let me feel, that

this purifying

it is

ter!

true

no more, what it used to be to me my Divine MasHelp me, in times coming, to mark successfully, the
line which divides the honest and allowable cares of

this world,

While

from those which are unreasonable, and

am

the world's slave.'

May

my soul
riches.'
When

from

them.

gratefully

seduce

in business, let

not slothful

shall

neither

thee.

its

I shall

all evil.

let

my

my

accept of thee

bow

in

For

its

pleasures

heart be set
all

thou

on

mayst

humble submission, when

thy hand withholds, or takes away.

lust of gold.

nor

sinful.

never be

Grant me neither poverty, nor

riches increase, let not

vouchsafe to give.

from the

cares,

me

this lust

Deliver me,
of

money

is

God,

the root of

soul be found steadily in the position

!:

460

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.

of thy spouse, as seen in vision by John.*

crowned with a crown of

stars

robe of thy righteousness

all

sublunary objects,

"The

<

and having the moon,'

'

my

under

motions of Uhe sin

feet

in deep troubles.

is

deep calleth unto deep

that dwell eth

heavy cloud

wave

after

do

I suffer thy terrors, I

I not love thee

am

and cling

me

am

that I

mind

my

will against thy

soul

soul

thy child.

last,

Lord,

and only

yet to be mortified.*

This
This vanity of thought
This love of the world
This awful
!

aversion to secret devotion

from thee in

my

go mourning before thee.

levity of

my

Yet

my

to thee as

in

over

rolls

On

me.

wave passeth over me.

distracted.

Oh! how much remains

hope.

even

within me' are

sin prevails against me,

can see no evidence remaining

When

my

be

I'

sources of constant uneasiness, and sorrow to

some occasions, when

me

Let

adorned with the spotless

These wanderings of

holiest services

sovereign will

heart

This obstinacy of

This

vile

impurity

my
of

These carnal workings, and persevering

struggles of my desires, affections, and passions, and apOh how sad and mournful these remains of
petites
O Holy Spirit, cleanse me from my sin
indwelling sin
wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity. Purge away all
my sin and I shall be clean wash me, and I shall be
God, restore me the joy of thy salwhiter than snow.
imagination

vation.

Create in

me

right spirit within me.

mind

a clean heart,

Grant

me

God

and renew a

a fixed and holy habit of

and a resolute courage to resist the first approach of

and to keep myself carefully from the sin that

the tempter

easily besetteth

me.

for that pure

Oh for a
my heart may
!

pervading spirituality of

be fixed on God.
Oh
and heavenly-mindedness, whereby I shall be

the whole soul, that

assimilated to

my Redeemer

Rev.

<

whom

xii. 1.

not having seen, I

461

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.
love

in

whom, though

him

I see

joice with joy unspeakable and

" But,
shall not

of glory.'

Pet.

i.

my cares, and sorrows, and indwelling

drive me from thy presence, nor tempt me to
I

come

ne-

my

thy holy table,

to

8.

sin

all

the present duty.

glect

not, yet believing, I re-

full

bowed down as I am, with a sense of my weakness

and infirmities and my utter unworthiness. I come, at thy
bidding; to meet thee, my God to commune with thee;
and receive out of thy fulness thy confirming and strengthenbut I buy without moing grace.
I come to thee, to buy
ney, and without price.
I come to lay down at the foot of
and to bewail
the cross, all my sins, original and actual
all my wants, and woes.
I come to receive from thy muni-

God

ficent grace,

my

my

Redeemer's robe of righteousness,

righteousness.

to beautify

come

to

be

to receive thy purifying grace

me, and 'make me

glorious within.'

all

" I come to obtain a fresh and exhilarating view of my God,

I come to receive
in the wonders of his redeeming love.
a new, and refreshing sight of the

away

all

our sins.

come

Lamb

sight of the appalling evil of sin

of

God who

that the rock of

being smitten by the rod of God,

took

another impressive

to receive

may send

my

heart,

forth the flow-

ing waters of penitential sorrow. I come to admire, and

adore the awful, but spotless justice of thy throne, which

caused the sword

to

awake

THE Man, thy Fellow,

dear Redeemer
I come
!

in

its

unmitigated fury, against

the Shepherd
to receive a

of the sheep, our

new, and animating

glimpse of the matchless glory of thy divine government

which has been exalted in unsurpassable majesty, and purity before

tion of

rection

all

my
;

intelligences.

Redeemer's

come

to

see a fresh exhibi-

triumphs in his death

in his ascension

in his resur-

in his intercession.

come to

celebrate the anticipated glory of his descent to the final

judgment.

come

God, the judge of

to

all,

show forth the death of Christ before

I come to show it forth to my own

!
!

462

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.

soul, as the only source of all

it

forth to the world

while

my

hopes.

exclaim

'

come

God

to

show

forbid that I

should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom the world

is crucified to me, and I unto the

show it forth to the angels, who are, in
the government of my Redeemer, made ministering spirits
to the heirs of salvation.
I come to show it forth to the

world.'

spirits

can

come

to

whom

of darkness, to

God's children
and bid defiance to all

the humblest of

offer a stout-hearted resistance

For, through the blood of the covenant,

their temptations.

Christ will bruise Satan under our feet shortly

"

come

my sins, and my personal acceptance

my adoption into thy family and to

of the pardon of
justification

to thy table, to re<;eive of thee a fresh assurance

and

in
re-

ceive afresh, the spirit of adoption, to say Abba, Father

I

my God

come,

out of thy fulness, and

to receive

And, being fed in

grace to cherish every grace within me.

by the angel of the covenant,

this wilderness,

the path of
I

my

to

man, and

I shall

pursue

to myself, until

reach the mount of the divine presence in heaven.

come

to

renew

my

Creator,

come

my

this body,

Preserver,

Lord! in

to thee,

that thou

mayest enlarge

anxious longings

and

covenanting vows, and make a fresh

surrender of this soul,

my
I

God,

duties to

eternal rest in heaven.

my

this spirit, to thee,

Redeemer, and Judge

the holy

my

fulfil

and

communion on

desires

and

earth,

satisfy

my

the delicious hopes I have of

Now, O God

go forward in thy

name. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, vouchsafe thy presence

and let my soul rejoice in the holy
to me at thy table
communion.
And to thy venerable
services of this
name shall be all the glory, now, and for ever.
Our Fa:

'

who
Amen."

ther

art

in heaven, hallowed be thy name,'

&c. &c.

CHAPTER VL

FOR OUR EXERCISES WHILE AT THE HOLT

TABLE OF THE LORD.

DIRECTIONS

"

Thine

Here,

at

the midst of

hast spared

ing season.
tive

am,

O my God

thy table I

many

wholly,

only, and for ever

!"

my soul to thee,
Lord. In
and sorrows, and deaths, thou

lift

troubles,

me to enjoy the spiritual pleasures of this returnMany a dear friend, and many a beloved rela-

have been taken away from mine eyes.

in the church and social circle are deserted.

them no more.

Their places

And we

see

Lord thy patience, and sparing mercy

have bestowed on me, thy poor unworthy servant, this fresh
!

privilege of glorifying thee in the land of the living

thy house

Now,

and

at thy table

grant me,

Holy

in

clear and refreshing

Help thy servant truly to

Spirit

views of these divine things.

discern the body, and blood of the Lord, in these symbols

own appointment that in this holy ordinance my

may be lifted up on the wings of faith to heavenly communion with thee,
God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

of thy

soul

Oh

for reviving grace in

munion. Remove from

this

my heart all

season of divine comthe obstructions of sin.

464

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.

Roll away from

my

troubled soul,

and sorrows, which weigh

quicken
the

new

strength

my

these oppressive cares

Oh

the earth.

to

languid spirit into the freshness, and vigour of

my

Let

life.

that I

all

me down

faith

go out

may come up

in

to thee

joyfully

into

its

renewed
presence,

thy

and take hold of thy rich promises, and receive out of my

Redeemer's fulness, and grace for grace. Sun of righteousOh shine upon me and chase away every
ness shine,

cloud of darkness, and doubt, which passes over

solemn hour of devotion.

this

And warm

my soul,
cold

this

in

and

languid heart into an ardent and unwavering affection to

my

thee,

To

Redeemer.

thee I

lift

my

adore thee for the

him

to hasten

Lord

soul,

and

bless thee,

and

of Jesus Christ, whose love prompted

gift

from the throne of his glory

who became our

and paid the ransom price for such a sinner as

me! What amazing condescension! What unparalleled
Oh height, and depth breadth and length
love of God
My sins were laid on thee, O my
of the love of God
substitute

compassionate Redeemer

Thou

the law for me.

Thou

didst suffer

didst bear the penalty of

in thy pure soul,

body, the terrible punishment exacted

us,

and

by divine

over the field of thy obedience, and

I follow thee

justice.

for

and death from thy cradle to thy cross. Oh pure

and holy One, thou hadst no sin of thy own. But thou
hadst all the sins of the whole church laid as a burden on
sufferings,

thy soul.

I here

commemorate thy love, in the achievement

For me, didst thou suffer these reproach-

of our redemption.

Thou knowest that I love thee.

commemorate thee, and thy dying agolook not at the cruel and unjust men who murder-

es which broke thy heart.

And
nies

therefore do I
!

ed the Lord of glory.

My

sins

my

sins

1 see

them

not.

I think not of

these were the cruel enemies,

My sins were the enemies which

bound thee
thee, and reproached thee, and blasphemed thee
!

them.

which

rejected

My sins

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.

465

crown of thorns on thy most sacred head.

and buffeted thee, O my dear Redeemcommemorate thy bloody sweat in the garden, and

put the horrid

My
er

sins smote thee,

the ineffable agonies of thy soul, which were caused by

this

My

Yes

iniquities.

sins laid

agony on thy pure

terrible

soul.

My

sins

soul

on thy

these pains of hell to be inflicted

mock

caused the horrible indignity of the

my

crushing burden of

the

caused

My

sins

before the

trial

My sins inand Pilate, and Herod

on thee the horrid scourging by the Roman barbaMy guilt pierced thy most sacred hands and feet
rians
My crimes nailed thee on the cross My sins pierced thy
tribunals of the Jews,

flicted
!

heart by the

were

Roman

crucified

dead unto

spear

Oh

may be dead unto them

that I

of

sins

that these

mine

and they

me
"

When

Jesus hung upon the

In agonies and blood

tree,

He cast his languid eyes on me,

As near the cross I stood.
Oh

never to

Can

my dying breath,

forget that look.

He

seemed to charge me with his

Though not a word he spoke.

A second look he gave, and

I freely all

This

With

thy ransom paid

thou mayst

live.

pleasing grief, and mournful joy,

My spirit
That

said,

forgive

life is for

I die, that

death,

now

is filled.

should such a

Yet, live

by Him

life

destroy

I killed !"

J.

Here, then, in view of

faith, into

this,

thy presence, to

own
40

come

in

Newton.

penitence and

thee publicly,

O my God

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.

466

Here do I own, and confess that I have all my righteousness

and strength, in Christ ;^and in him alone. Here, I avouch
my Heavenly Father's love to be the only procuring cause
of my salvation. Here I avouch the eternal Son of God,
manifested in the flesh, to be my only Redeemer; whose
righteousness

And,

tion.
all

is

my

the sole meritorious cause of

openly renounce

here, I

redemp-

self-righteousness,

all

God

personal justification, before

filthy

rags !"

Here,

sole author of

but as nothing less than

avouch the Holy Ghost,

be the

to

renewing, and sanctifying grace

all

immortal glory

life to

My heart leaps

my

and

divine Comforter, and guide through the duties, and the

of

my

legal hopes, as not only unavailing in the matter of

trial

with joy in me,

commemorate this glorious plan of redeemby the Triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy

while I thus

ing love

Ghost
But, I
leave

it

owe

my

thee,

the world, with

do vow

sinful pleasures

its

all

and

renounce the

I do, also,

degrading slavery.

And

God, another vow.

With solemnity

before thee.

to

here I

renounce

its vile,

flesh,

and

with

all

and protracted struggles, and opposition to the

work of grace. And I renounce the devil, and all his
usurped dominion by which he labours to hold man in his
Oh to be
'lorrid bondage, and misery, and spiritual death
when I shall be able to say, " Satan Comlike my Saviour
its bitter,

eth, but

he hath nothing in

" And with

this

compassionate

vow

God

Qeart,

this

am

thine.

Thou

myself to thee,

'

to

a price,

wholly

O my

thee in

to

this

Thou knowest that this

God
Oh
loves thee,
!

more, and serve thee more

hast made,

servant, bought with

covenant.

poor trembling heart,

that I could love thee

I

!"

myself away

to give

my

fresh renovation of

me

of renunciation, I here beg,

and fashioned me.

all price beyond !"

thee only

to

faithfully
I

am thy

I devote

thee for ever

engage, in humble reliance on thee, to labour more faith-

467

DIRECTIONS TO COMMUNICANTS.
fully than ever, in thy holy

body of sin and death in

mortify
out

cause

and

watch more studiously, over

lity to

my

it,

in

all its

me

salvation with fear

and

affections

me

both to will, and do

alive in the meditations,

myself in the love of

and

to

and

to

keep thy memory

and to keep
and
grow in grace

keep myself from mine iniquity.

O my

that

the doors of
that

may

versation

my

by thy reviving grace,

lips against

and in

vow

to thee,

I will carefully

guard

and against

evil- speaking,

my God, in my prayers in my
my business with men. I vow to

offend thee,
;

carefully to

God,

all

Holy Ghost, who

and love of my heart

God

to

and trembling, in the use of

divine means, through the grace of the

works in

and to
work

to resist temptation,

turbulent lusts,

humi-

to strive in all

the struggles of this

all

all

conthee

more watchful against the besetting sin of

languor, and negligence in the duty of secret prayer ; and
I vow to thee to be more careful and
family devotion.
that I shall be

painstaking in training^ up each one of the souls entrusted to

my

care, in

my

household

to

be more

my

dutiful, forgiving,

to be
and
more zealous in sanctifying the Lord's day and improving
every one of the means of divine grace for my growth in
holiness, and my better capacity to set a more christian Jike
example to all those around me. And, thus, I will labour,
in humility and fidelity, to acknowledge the Lord in all my

affectionate to each

one of

dear relatives

ways, in the delightful confidence that He will direct

my path.

CHAPTER

VH.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE GUIDANCE OF YOUNG CHRISTIANS,

DURING THE SACRAMENTAL ACTION.

The

1.

saying,

Sacramental action, by

minister begins the

while

Lord Jesus

he

lifts

and breaks

the bread,

Christ, in the

same night

in

it

" Our

which he was be-

and having given thanks, he brake it,

and he gave it to his disciples,
his example,

trayed, took bread,

as I do after

as I

my

now

you, saying,- '

body broken for you.' " At this

give

to

it

in silence thus reply

"

of thy broken body.

upon him human

surely as this bread

am

I sure that

As

accept

as sure that

am

nature, as I

As
me.

Lord

am

Take it, eat it this is

moment let your heart

cut,

is

it

as the

symbol

my Redeemer

sure that this

and broken

to

is

took

bread.

pieces, so

he was broken, and mangled in death

surely as I take this, so surely would

soul take, and accept Christ.

for

longing

now remember, and

do

my

commemorate my Redeemer's sorrows on earth his agony in the garden his condemnation that I might be set
;

free

his death

death.

gave a
all

on

profess

sacrifice,

the cross, that I might not die the second

my

faith

in

and offering

him

for

needful grace out of his fulness.

thee as

my

only Saviour.

as

me.

vow

my
T

substitute,

come

to

who

receive

here do publicly take

to be thine,

Lord, in

"

DIRECTIONS TO THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN.

new

obedience.

When

2.

cup

is

do

I will

death, to receive

me

come

thou

this until

to thy glory.'

the minister presents the cup, saying,

that is, signifies, the

New

469

me

to

at

" This

Testament, sealed by

my

many, drink ye, every one, of it ;" let your

souls reply in silence, as you take, and drink of the cup,
" As surely as this wine is poured out, so surely was the
blood of my Saviour shed on the cross as freely as this
blood, shed for

cup

put into

is

my

hand, so freely

my

is

Saviour's righte-

ousness, even the blood of his atonement, given to me.

And

as I drink of this cup, so do I receive

my

viour's righteousness, as

and growing ripeness

me

to

my

life,

faith,

my

Sa-

He pledges his love

my body and soul, and

As

glory.

for

by

nourishment in grace,

iu this festival, so do I pledge

up to him in faith, in hearty love, and new obeThine am I, O Lord, in time, and in eternity."
3. While the sacred elements are passing round to others,
pour out your soul to God thus
" Accept,
Lord, my
humble vows to thee, here presented at thy table. Pardon
all,

offered

dience.

the feebleness of m;' knowledge, while I essayed to discern

the Lord's body
faith

fections.

my

and blood.

Forgive the weakness of

the defects of my penitence

my

and the coldness of my af-

Lord, every thing amiss in the act of

Pardon,

partaking of the holy symbols.

And oh

my

heavenly

Father, give me, I beseech thee, a token of thy pardon, and

my

me

acceptance, by vouchsafing to

a large increase of

thy rich grace."

4.

And,

here,

my

God, while

ness of allowed communion, and

I crave
I

God, in behalf of

I plead

that dear

Here, mention a father, a mother

sister

thy

boldness, before thee,

a blessing on those who are very dear

throw myself at thy feet

my

at thy table, in the near-

filial

a son, a daughter

heart, in its

my

to

and wrestle with

and ^blessed one.*

;

a friend

anxious desires.

40*

a wife, a husband

;just

as the case

heart.

thee,

* * *
a brother,

may

be ia

470

Oh

DIRECTIONS TO THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN.

vouchsafe thy Holy Spirit to each of them.

for

convincing, for converting, and quickening grace to each of

Bring each one of them

and most merciful Shepherd, out

these dearly beloved relatives.

home

into thy fold, dear

of all "the places into which they have been wandering in

the cloudy

Lord,

the earth

and dark day."

bring them all,
and

And,

Oh

bring them, most gracious

to the fellowship of thy saints

to thy fellowship in

heaven,

on

at last.

Lord, regard in thy divine love, aU thy dear child-

May the good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart, in sincerity, to seek the
Lord God of his fathers although he be not cleansed accorren,

now before thee,

at

thy table.

'^

ding to the purification of the sanctuary."

King of Ziou, look

who watch over

Wilt thou,

on our dear
of

pastors,

Let the

life to us.

in kindness

and mercy

and break the bread

us,

measure of thy promised presence

full

be on each of them, in abundant and enriching supply of

all

personal and ministerial grace.

they,

and we meet

of heaven

And,

in

due time,

in the uninterrupted fellowship,

there to be for ever with each other

ever with the

Lord

Amen.
ODE.

Hark

the voice of love and mercy,

Sounds aloud from Calvary.

See

It

rends the rocks asunder,

Shakes the

earth,

and

It is fi?jished

Hear

veils the

the dying Saviour cry

Happy

sky

souls approach the table,

Taste the soul reviving food
Nothing's half so sweet and pleasant
!

As

the Saviour's flesh

It is finished

and blood.

Christ has borne the heavy load

may

and glory
;

and

for

;
:

CHAPTER

VIIl.

DIRECTIONS TO REGULA.TE THE EXERCISE OF YOUNG COM-

MUNICANTS, AS THEY RETIRE FROM THE HOLY TABLE.

As you

from the

retire

in fervent prayer

" As

begin every duty in the fear of

God, and with humble and

must

affectionate prayer to him, so

I close with gratitude, in prayer.

"

God, blessed be thy name

now

enjoyed.

came, to meet

me

in

its

me

And

and

accept,

services.

For

Lord,

my

and record

my

my

my vow

present them to thee, not for

my rightmy vow

Let

before thee, and the pledge which I have given of

of this day's vow, and

communion

life.

Let the

with thee,

Lord, be cherished in the fresh remembrance of

until I

before

poor unworthy person,

devotion to thee, in soul, in heart, and in

memory

as I sought to

Lord, and Re-

eousness, but for thy great mercies in Christ.

come up

call I

not only has no visible breach

gently constraining influence

deemer, in the holy symbols

Now,

At thy

in the fresh mani-

but, as I trust, thy love has flowed forth

discern clearly the body, and blood of

thee.

the privilege I have

my God, and rejoice

thee,

been made on

for

ventured to thy holy table.

festation of thy glory.

to

pour out your hearts thus,

table,
I

my

heart

come again before thee in this returning solemnity

I welcome thy coming to receiva me to glory

and even until

DIRECTIONS TO YOUNG COMMUNICANTS.

472
at

my

And,

death.

Oh my gracious

Father, vouchsafe

me

thy gracious presence for the sustenance of every grace in

me

may

that I

And,

Lord,

pay

faithfully

my

vow,

daily, before thee.

to all thy other favours, so graciously

vouch-

safed to me, be pleased to add this special favour, on this

iAs thou

occasion.
the

didst

wash thy

supper in the days of thy

first

Lord, in great mercy, wash

my
in my

holy services.

the sins of

disciples' feet after

flesh,

me

even so do thou,

after supper,

Forgive

from

me my

eJI

short-

poor and ^imperfect conceptions of thee,

and of thee, my divine RedeemHeavenly Father
RememHoly
Spirit, my Comforter
and of thee,
er
of
faith
and
the
weaknesses
my
against
me
ber not
the shame of my ungrateful fears, and my unreasonable

comings,

my

Forgive the coldness of my love

doublings.

of

my

affections,

and

the languor

my

the unruly propensity of

desires,

and the disorder of my passions, and appetites. Wert thou

to mark against me these sins of my holy things, I could
not stand before thy sore corrections. I should pine away
in lingering weakness, and sickness and I should sink in
Shew pity, Lord O Lord for.
the sleep of an early grave
:

give

myself

I cast

my Father, in Jesus
remembrance my sins. Oh my

at thy

feet,^0

Blot from thy

Christ
Lord, forgive me
God, incline thine ear, and hear me
O Lord hearken, do, and defer not thy reviving visit of
mercy. And send me a token for good, that the soul of thy
!

servant

may

respond

to the

rejoice in thee

the day.

all

enlargement of divine grace

And
:

let

of spiritual desire: and of an ardent devotion

cepted penitence

and

soul

and of a
and of an humble and ac
and of a purer, and more exact obedience

singleness of eye to thy glory

to thy will

my

and an increase
:

and a growing conformity of

my

whole heart

and heavenly-mindedness
And, then, purer indear and blessed Redeemer.

life,

to the lowly, forgiving,

of my
cense of praise, and a holier offering of soul and body,

shall

DIRECTIONS TO YOUNG COMMUNICANTS.

be rendered up

to

thee, as the

happy

Jesus

who

in

art in

fruits

of this

And glory shall be thine, for

whose name I am taught to pray,

nion season.

heaven," &c. &c.

Amen.

473

commu-

ever, in Christ

" Our Father

::

CHAPTER

IX.

ON THE SELF-EXAMINATION TO BE PURSUED BY THE COMMUNICANT AFTER HE HAS LEFT THE HOUSE OF GOD
AND RETIRED TO HIS CLOSET.
;

" Search me,

God

and

know my

heart

try me, and

thoughts."

know my

David.

Having

recalled to

memory what

thou hast learned out

of the preceding pages, of the nature, uses, and ends of the

holy ordinance, which thou hast just celebrated

pious meditation

and put these questions

enter on a

to thy heart

and

conscience, in the fear of the Lord thy God.

Did

First

coming up

I sincerely

to the Lord's

respond to God's authority in

Table

custom, or habit, or superstition ?

ous matter

Second

and
it ?

Or, was I

moved from

How

on

feel I

this seri-

Did

use the Lord's Supper with solemnity,

end alone, for which my blessed Lord ordained

Or, did I go through it with coldness, and indifference,

for that

as a customary ceremony, courting the notice of people

around

me 1

Third

How

Did

Christian spirit

I
?

feel I in my conscience on this point ?

come to the Lord's Table with a truly
Did I feel my mind, and heart opened

SELF-EXAMINATION OF COMMUNICANTS.
to the love of

blood,

even

on

rest

God ]

Did

discern the Lord's body and

his perfect atonement, therein

alone, as the only source of

it,

befitting a poor sinner

in

absolute

all

Did my

my hopes

my

by

soul, didst thou

faith,

soul

as

it is

need of pardon, and

peace, and holiness, by Christ's blood, and the

And,

475

feed upon

Holy Spirit?
him in this

Did I humbly and earnestly repent of all

?
Did I resolve to break off all open, and secret
evil habits ?
Did I feel my heart warmed into a more cordial love of God, and of my brethren 1
Did I forgive all

joyful festival

my

sins

my

enemies, and pass by their

and pray

for their salvation

be more conscientious in

cerity, to

now

and

strictly

heart in

Fourth

sin-

in

Do

obedience.

and particularly

temperate in

Did
my

all

things

to

be less world-

How

heart,

While showing

my heavenly

feels

Father, did

I,

poured out

my vow

God,

to

forth the death of Christ, before

in

any degree,

feel

some sweet

and thence weakening, and overcoming

lief?

Sixth

own

my

Or, was I straitened in myself?

assurances of his divine love, and grace, confirming

faith

life

receive a joyful enlargement of spirit,

whole

Saviour, at his table?

Fifth

new

their souls,

my vow

these points?

all

while, with

my

and love

I utter

a deeper resolution than ever, to lead a holier

feel

than I have hitherto done

ly,

faults,

Did

^TVhile

showing

forth the death

my

my

unbe-

of Christ to

my

conscience, aod while busy mem.ory brought up the

remembrance of past

sins,

me

and conscience accused

of

them, as well as of present delinquencies, did I feel a gra-

and consoling sense of God's love pardoning me, and

cious,

me
And

accepting

as righteous, before him, through

blood

did

I,

my Saviour's
all my

thence, feel a deeper sorrow for

sins,

and a more confirmed hatred of every iniquity

more

fixed resolution after

Seventh

While

and a

new obedience ?

pouring out

my

soul before

God

in

476

SELF-EXAMINATION OF COMMUNICANTS.

VOWS and

prayer, did I feel myself relieved, and comforted

against the painful oppression of fears, and doubts

now
that

Do

my faith,

and love so much excited, and confirmed

these doubts, and fears have been weakened, and are
feel

beginning

Eighth

to
:

vanish away

In

communion

the course of

table, did I feel a

with

cheering glow of comfort

God

at his

and thence an

increase of divine strength in view of the agitating cares,

and distressing anxieties of this evil world and also in

view of the distracting fears of death 1 Can I now look
forward with more calmness, and christian courage, and for;

them
Having

titude, to

"?

JViiith

power of God's

the constraining

felt

am

and saving grace,

love,

now

resolved to use

all

means,

and neglect no opportunity of promoting the peace, and the

salvation of every one around me, in the private and social
circles of life

Tenth

my

Do

the fruits of this holy ordinance

and do

comforts, as well as sorrows, and disappointments,

me

up in

holier longings after heaven,

grow

desires to

Eleventh
pleasure

in grace,

Do

Or, do

BO humble

gion

Do

I
I

and ripen

feel

immortal glory
rich,

contented with

my

be

it

ever
reli-

and penitence

the pleasures of pleasing

muning with him, above every

God, grant me grace ever

lot,

the pleasures

God, and com-

objects

earthly

Oh

'

Live, while you

And
'

And

live,'

the Epicure

would say

seize the pleasures of the present day.

Live while you

give to

Lord, in

my

live,'

God
view,

the sacred preacher cries

each moment as
let

do so in the uprightness of

to

heart.
"

and persons of

value the pleasures of pure

I truly

the pleasures of faith,

of heavenly hope

for

envy the gayj the

stir

and more prevailing

it flies.'

both united be

I live in pleasure, whilst I live in

thee

!"

my
my

CHAPTER

X.

ON THE DUTIES REQUIRED OF THE COMMUNICANT IN FU-

TURE
A.ND now,

with

some

deal" Christian,

allow

me

to take leave of thee

closing remarks on the duties required of thee,

in thy future

Moses

LIFE.

"

Let me address thee in the words of

have taught you statutes and judgments, even

life.

Lord my God commanded me. Keep them, thereand do them for this is your wisdom, and your un-

as the
fore,

Take heed
and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the
things which thine eyes have seen
and lest they depart
derstanding in the sight of those around you.
to thyself,

from thy

remember
at his

all

thy

when thou

the day

Table.

First

Be

ways

He

ance, that

And

the days of thy life."

heart, all

especially

didst appear before the Lord,

But, in particular

acknowledge the Lord thy God in

and thou hast the divine and gracious assurcareful to

will direct thy paths.

Prov.

iii.

Never

6.

be ashamed of Christ before this wicked and adulterous

generation.

Own

him, and he will

the gods sing praise unto

Second

Be

own

conscientiously strict in

duty of secret prayer.

thee.

" Before

the

important

him."

Hurry not

into the bustles

of the

tempting world, before thou hast communed with thy

41

God

: :

478

DUTIES OF COMMUNICANTS.

Give not sleep

in secret.

thou hast

to thine eyelids, until

offered up thy thanksgiving for all divine mercies

of the

and implored the continued goodness, and protection

of thy Almighty and heavenly Father.
Secret prayer will
day

keep thee from secret sins

or, secret

sins will soon drive

thee from secret devotion.

Keep thyself in the love of God, by using all

means of grace to cherish holiness in heart, and life.
The neglect of these, and the indulgence in sin, will cause
thee to lose a sense of God's presence and love
and compel thee to go mourning without the sun.
Third

the

Fourth:
ty,"

"Be

even

Be on

ties.

careful to

keep thyself from thine iniqui-

thy constitutional sins,

thy

habitual propensi-

Never

thy guard against every temptation.

parley with an enemy, or a temptation. Shut thine ears against

He who

the voice of the syren.

way over

into the fowler's

listens, is already

snare

gone half

Repel the approach of

each vice, by cherishing the opposite grace, and virtue.

Hasten

to the fountain of Christ's

Betake thyself
to

blood for fresh cleansing.

to the blessed Spirit,

and implore his grace

give thee divine resolution, and strength.

come

shalt

Holy Ghost always before thine

Fifth

Let

it

thou

eyes.

be thy constant study "

Having become

daily.

And

Set the fear, and presence of the

off victorious.

a partaker of

grow

to

in grace,"

communion

with the

and having escaped the corruption that is in

" giving all diligence, add to thy
the world, through lust
and to thy virtue, knowledge and to knowfaith, virtue
divine nature

ledge,

temperance

patience, godliness

and

to

and

and

to

temperance, patience

to godliness, brotherly

brotherly kindness, charity."

By

and

to

kindness

thus cherishing

each grace, through the Holy Ghost, thou wilt uproot each
vice and sin in thee.
in grace ;"

Sixth

and " keep

Whilst

And

thus thou wilt steadily "

thyself in the love of

grow

God."

thou art thus watchful over thy heart, be

479

DUTIES OF COMMUNICANTS.

Shun

careful to discharge all thy christian duties.

Render

holy Sabbath, in private, and public.

tify the

the con-

Devoutly and habitually sanc-

tamination of the profane.

all

due

and service to parents, and all superiors

and the most exact charity, and kindness to thy equals, and
inferiors.
Do violence to no one in thy thoughts, in thy
christian honour,

words, or deeds

but, as a

peacibly with

lies, live

all

meek

Christian, as far as in thee

men.

Maintain, in the strictest

and severest manner, the laws of temperance, sobriety, and

Abhor, and shun every violation of chastity in

purity.

and

purity,

and holiness are ever upon

in word,

The

and in thought.

action,

and solemn sense of

eyes of infinite

Maintain a deep,

thee.

Guard, I beseech thee, with

this.

care and anxiety, against every sudden

burst of passion,

Such passions, and fury are the atIn the moments

tributes of the children of the Evil One.
God,
Lamb
the Lord Jesus
of
the
temptation,
think
of
of
Christ,
and check, and subdue every passion within thee
Be rigidly just, upright, and honest in every one of thy

and ungoverned

fury.

dealings with man.

with the
ness

spirit

and

Shun, as

far

of our times, which

the hurtful,

litigious spirit.

as possible,
is

communion

the spirit of covetous-

and ruinous love of money.

And,

if practicable, rather suffer

Check
wrong,

Set a watch on
and offend not with thy tongue. Abhor,

than go to law with a christian brother.

the door of thy lips

and shun the

and

all

spirit

of defamation

manner of evil-speaking.

backbiting; slander;

Cherish a frame of mind

spiritual, and heavenly.

This
from thy heart, the emotions, and affections, and
deeds of " covetousness, which is idolatry." Thus, live

uniformly gentle, courteous,

will drive

usefully to thyself,

to

thy family, to

the

church, to thy

Endure unto the end, in the faith

country, and to
and in obedience to all his
of all God's pure doctrines
Let meekness, and huholy commands, and ordinances.
0,
mility be duly combined with true christian courage.
thy God.

DUTIES OF COMMUNICANTS.

480

"be steadfast, and unmoveable, always

abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as ye

beloved Christians,

know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

And let us cherish the divine assurance, that, in a short
time, we shall be called to the presence of our God, in the
and

glorious assembly of the angels,

the saints, to the

un-

interrupted, AND eternal communion OF THE CHURCH

triumphant, in heaven. Amen.

ODE.
" Jerusalem,

Name

When

my happy home

ever dear to me.

shall

my

labours have an end

Thy joys, when

When

I shall

shall these eyes thy heaven-built walls,

And pearly gates

Thy bulwarks with

behold

salvation strong,

A.nd streets of shining gold

Oh

see 1

when, thou

Shall

city of

my

thy courts ascend

Where congregations

God,
;

ne'er break up,

And sabbaths have no end 1

There happier bowers than Eden's bloom.
Nor sin, nor sorrow know.
Blessed seats Through wild and stormy scenes,
1 onward press to you
!

Apostles, martyrs, prophets, there,

my

Around

And soon my

Saviour stand

Will join the glorious band

my happy home

Jerusalem

My
Then

friends in Christ below.

!

soul

still

pants for thee

shall

my

sorrows have an end,

When

thy joys shall see

!"

THE END.