Page images
PDF
EPUB

value of our Christian privileges, and feel our obligation to improve them. The object is a blessed immortality; their author Christ, the Son of God. To the goodness and mercy of God are we indebted for the scheme of our salvation. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. But Christ devoted himself, as Mediator, to the execution of the purposes of divine grace and mercy. The angels of heaven were the heralds of the advent of Immanuel; and, proclaiming his birth, they gave glory to God on high, and published peace and good will to men. In the high concern of our salvation, Jesus appeared in the nature of man, subjected himself to all the wants of humanity, endured the contradiction of sinners, and yielded himself the victim of the cross. Grateful to God for the gift of his Son, grateful to Christ for his voluntary mediation, let us, under the influence of our religion, conform ourselves to the divine image, and imitate the example of the Saviour. God in his goodness has given us an assurance of future life: do we with indifference receive the information? In mercy he has by his own Son promised us endless felicity in a future world, on conditions which prove that he consults our present as well as our immortal happiness: can we be unmoved by the gift?

Respecting the influence which religion ought to have on our tempers and practices, we may take useful lessons even from those whose ignorance and superstition we justly compassionate. The infatu

ated Pagan, in compliance with the requisitions of his system, with alacrity subjects himself to the se. verest bodily tortures, and with apparent delight offers his life in sacrifice to his idol deity. The de. luded follower of Mahomet never supposes his reli. gious duty performed, till he has made a painful journey to Mecca, and worshipped at the tomb of his prophet. Shall we Christians, then, we who are instructed in all truth pertaining to eternal life, and vindicated into perfect liberty, refuse gratefully to acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Master? Shall we neglect to observe those gracious directions which are designed to transform us into a likeness of his perfect character, to make us in disposition the most amiable, in practice the most benevolent, and to qualify us for the society of heaven?

May the example of primitive Christians more especially enliven our diligence in the path of piety and virtue, and fortify our minds with resolution to sustain the conflicts of our probationary course. Animated by the hope of the gospel, the apostles of our Lord subjected themselves to all the terrours of persecution, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. The great body of the first converts to our religion gave full evidence of their faith in the promises of the gospel, and clearly manifested that it had a salutary influence on their tempers and lives. These died in the faith, not having received the promises; but seeing them afar off, were persuaded of their reality, embraced them as the objects of their supreme dependence, and in consequence professed themselves strangers

and pilgrims on earth. The motives and assistances, which supported them, are presented to our minds, and our course is free from many of the difficulties and dangers with which theirs was beset. Let us, then, imitate those who, through faith and patience, have inherited the promises.

As Christians, we are bound to give a fair exemplification of our religion before the world. As candidates for immortality, it is our first duty and our highest interest to walk worthily of our Christian vocation; for the salvation of our souls is suspended on the improvement of our privileges as the disciples of Jesus Christ. May our religion in its life dwell in our hearts; may it in all its beauty and lustre shine in our lives.

In the consciousness of sincerity and diligence in the high concerns of our probation, let us open our minds to the hope and joy to which the Christian character is entitled. Disposed to approach the light of truth, and make it manifest that our deeds are wrought in God, a dependence on the promises of the gospel being in us the principle of Christian life, let not debasing fear enter into our religious services; but through all worldly vicissitudes, let us rejoice in the Lord, and joy ourselves in the God of our salvation. Not resting satisfied with the things that are seen, but seeking first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, may we with supreme delight consider ourselves as children of God; and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, to an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that will not fade away.

SERMON XXIV.

THE DUTIES ENJOINED BY THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.

EXODUS xx. 8, 9, 10, 11.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work; thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it,

THE ten commandments were introduced as a rule of life to the Israelites, with the highest solemnity. The manifestations of divine majesty and glory made at Sinai are fitted to fill the soul with the reverence of God, and to purify and exalt the piety of man.

God, at this time, was pleased to enter into a cov. enant with his people. The Israelites sacredly engaged to obey the commands of Heaven, and to do all that the Lord should speak unto them; and the

Divine Sovereign graciously promised on this condition to make them his people, to be their God and the God of their children, and to confer upon them the favours which he beareth to his chosen.

The covenant of grace and mercy, of which Jesus Christ is the Mediator, embraces conditions of divine favour, in which all mankind are interested; and in this the rewards of a future state are more clearly promised, than they were by the dispensation of Moses. Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. God is present with every individual of his rational offspring: he beholds their ways; and all, who obey his commands and resign themselves to his disposal, he will take into his holy keeping, guide by his unerring counsel, and finally admit to the glories of his more immediate presence. Under impressive views of divine superintendence, serious minds are led to inquire-What is the service which the Lord God requireth? When may we feel satisfied that we are safely walking in the path that leads to the favour of God, which is life, and to his loving kindness, which is better than life? The consideration of our text will, I hope, assist you, my Christian brethren, in forming satisfactory answers to these interesting questions.

The fourth commandment embraces two distinct parts of duty: the common employments of the world, and the religious offices of the Sabbath. 1. The employments of the world.

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work.

« PreviousContinue »