they were resolved to follow him, wherever be went. They left all to follow him; they had left their homes, their friends, and their trades, to be with him constantly, to hear the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. How much less is expected of you to be Christians? You need not leave your homes, your friends, or your business. You can enjoy them, and pursue them, and still be Christians. You have only to come here once in every week, pray to God and hear your duty; and you may for the rest of the week go about your usual business, receive pleasure from your families and your homes, remembering only to keep yourselves without sin, and living always as in the presence of your God and Saviour, serving him, both in your prayers and in your work, with all humility and sincerity of heart. When our Saviour and his disciples were in the ship, a great storm arose: the ship was covered with the waves, and was He in great danger. The Lord of Heaven and earth, who had taken man's nature upon him, felt the fatigue which man feels, and was asleep. His disciples, being exceedingly alarmed, came to him and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us; we perish. then said unto them with all calmness, knowing that all things were at his command, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Have ye not your Saviour with you? Can any harm happen to you without his permission? Can the sea overwhelm you and swallow you up, while he defends you and protects you by his presence? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. But the men, who saw such a wonderful thing marvelled and were astonished, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! In like manner, my friends, when you are in trouble of any kind, when, as is sometimes the case in this country, the winds are throwing every thing down about you, the rains pouring, and the thunder roaring over your heads, you must have faith in your God and Saviour. Jesus Christ is not present with us in a body; but he is in Heaven and knows all your fears, and all your dangers. You must go to him, must fall on your knees and say: Lord save us, we perish and he will either still the raging of the winds, or save you from their power, or, if he sees that it will be best for your souls, that your bodies perish, he will make you amends in another world, and save your souls and bodies alive at his glorious coming. when you look In the same manner, into your own hearts, and consider your past lives, and see how you were born in sin, and grew up in iniquity, how you have sinned against God, how you have neglected your prayers, been cold, and thoughtless, and sleepy, when you should have been in strong praying to your God, how impure He and foul your thoughts have been, and how full of malice and ill-will, and badtempers your hearts have been; when you consider all these things, and your spirits droop, and you come to your Saviour, saying, Lord save us! we perish: will hear your prayers, accept your tears and your repentance, and embrace you with the arms of his mercy: and immediately, there will be a great calm in your souls: you will feel peace of mind, and joy in believing, and you will go on your way rejoicing. Our Saviour now landed, and immediately performed a great miracle, a most wonderful thing. I must inform you, my friends, that our Bible teaches us there is a great spirit, an angel of darkness, as he is called, the devil, who works in all disobedient and ungodly people, and tempts them to wickedness. He it was who brought death into this world. If it had not been for him, we should have passed into Heaven without dying. Our Saviour came into the world to undo all that the devil had done, to drive him from our hearts by his spirit, to raise us from death by his power. It pleased God (for without his leave the devil can do nothing) that he should have great power at the time when Jesus Christ lived, in order that the world may see that the friend of mankind is more powerful than their enemy. I told you some time ago how he tempted Jesus Christ in the wilderness. God allowed him to have great power over the bodies of men at that time; he entered into them, or sent some of his spirits into them, which made them very fierce, and savage, and like madmen. Two such unhappy creatures met our Saviour. They were so fierce that people were afraid to pass by that way, where they were. As soon as they saw our Saviour, they cried out, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us 式 |