SERMON XXXVI.

1 SAMUEL iii, 10.

SPEAK LORD, FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH.

'HESE were the pious words of the prophet Sa

THE

muel, then only a youth, on his receiving a message from the Lord. They imply his entire readiness to obey the commands of God, in whatever way those commands fhould be made known to him. To him they were conveyed in a vifion -a mode of conveying the commands of God, which hath ceafed fince the establishment of the gofpel. But there are various other ways, in

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which the Almighty fpeaks to man.

-In the

following difcourfe I fhall point out to you fome of the principal of them; and fhall conclude with a few obfervations, which the fubject fuggefts.

1

In the first place God fpeaks to us in the works of his creation. It is true, these mighty works have neither fpeech, nor language: but their voices are heard by every attentive ear; and their found is gone out into all lands.

With what a voice of power does that great Being speak, in creating the earth-in pouring the feas around it-in fpreading out the heavens, like a curtain over it-in filling it with innumerable creatures, all fuited exactly to their several stations --in creating the fun to warm it into fruitfulnessto give it light, and heat; day, and night; fummer, and winter!

Sometimes this great Being speaks to us in an awful and terrible voice. His lightnings dart around his thunder rolls over our heads-the ftorm is up the foreft bows before it-and the fea, impelled by its force, overpaffes its bounds.

At other times God fpeaks to us in a kind and gentle manner. The fun fhines-the air is foft, and refreshing-the rain defcends in moistening fhowers the earth gives its increase-and all nature smiles with joy.

But how are we affected by these different voices of God?When God fpeaks to us in the grand works of creation when we fee every thing

around

around us brought into being, and continually preferved by his over-ruling providence-are we humbled in our own eyes-do we adore with reverence that power, in whom we live, and move, and have our being-do we commit ourselves entirely to his gracious, government-do we fubmit religiously to all his difpenfations and affure ourfelves, that that God, who governs all nature, is abundantly able to govern our little affairs?

Again, when we hear the voice of this mighty God, in ftorms-in thunder-in earthquakes; do we stand in awe of that Being, in whofe hands are all these vaft convulfions of nature? I mean not, that we should tremble like guilty criminals: but are we under that fort of fear, which David describes, when he bids us ftand in awe, and fin not? Do we live under that fort of fear of the power of an almighty God, which will secure us from wilfully offending him? We are apt enough to ftand in awe of any powerful perfon, in hood we may chance to live.

then is due to almighty God?

whofe neighbour

What reverence

Remember the

words of Chrift, and how ftrongly he forces the idea. Fear not man, who can deftroy this body, and afterwards has no more that he can do: but fear him, who can deftroy both foul, and body in hell.

Again when God speaks to us in his goodness→→→ when he speaks to us in refreshing rains-in fruitful feafons, and in plentiful harvefts-when the world fmiles, and we enjoy its profperity, do we gratefully thank God for all the worldly bleffings he bestows? Are our hearts foftened into love, and duty? Are they opened towards our fellowcreatures? Or, do we take God's bleffings as things of courfe-confume them merely on ourfelves or perhaps think them only our due.

But ftill in the works of creation God spake to the heathen of old. To us he farther fpeaks by the fçriptures. Here he speaks in plainer language. He opens to us the great truths of religion -the wonderful work of our redemption by Chrift-and the bleffing of life, and immortality" brought to light by the gofpel.-Here too we have our duty to God-our neighbour-and ourselves diftinctly fet forth. With regard to God we are inftructed to love him with all our hearts to trust in him to caft our cares upon him-in every thing by prayer and fupplication to make our requests known unto him.-With regard to our neighbour, we are inftructed to love him as ourfelves-to do to others, as we should wish them to do to us-to put away

away lying, and fpeak every man the truth-to defraud no man in any matter-and to be kindly af fectioned one to another with brotherly love. With regard to ourselves, we are inftructed to abftain from fleshly lufts, which war against the foul-from rioting, and drunkennefs-from filthiness, and foolish-talking-to be content with fuch things as we have—to withdraw from fuch as walk diforderly knowing that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. If in our perverseness we misinterpret the voice of God fpeaking to us in the works of creation; in the fcriptures we have the voice of God fpeaking to us in a language fo plain, that we can have no excufe for tranfgreffion.

Befides speaking to us in the works of creation, and in the holy fcriptures, there is still another way, in which God fpeaks to us, and that is by our confciences. Hitherto God fpeaks only by external objects: but confcience speaks from within. We turn our eyes often from the works of creation: we throw our bibles often behind us; but confcience flies in our faces, and will be heard. Heard in fome degree it will be always: but we are at option whether we will attend to its remonftrances.-There are profligate people who harden

VOL. II.

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