error as no human folly can equal, such as no human virtue can expiate. This is a condemning error: this is the fatal and awful mistake of men; that they live as their own, while the voice of God, the dictates of conscience, the blood of Christ, the precepts of the Spirit of Truth, and the opening light of eternity, all show that "we are not our own:" they show that we are the creatures of another, the possession of another. Our Lord will come forth; he will discover all who have lived to themselves, he will take account of "the quick and the dead; and all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation." Let those who are rich remember that, as Christians, it behooves them who possess riches not to fail in good works. Let them act from Christian principles, and with Christian motives, and with a view to Christian reward. Let them recollect that they are bound to ascertain whether they are Christians. Till we are Christians, we cannot serve God as Christians we can serve God only in that state which belongs to us. Till we are Christians we cannot pay due regard to his will, we cannot act with a view to his glory, nor according to the instructions of his Word; nor can we seriously expect that eternal life, which rests nowhere but on his promise, which he will fulfil to “all that love his appearing." Let it be the care of all in the presence of God in this assembly that they be Christians; let them secure a portion among the saints; let them see that they have a place among the people of God; that they are united to Him "of whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named." Let them seek to be renewed, regenerated, and sanctified, and washed in the atoning blood of the Saviour, to be made members of Christ, and heirs of his kingdom; to be fitted and prepared for his eternal glory. Let them seek to be vessels of honour, sanctified by the Spirit of God, and fit for the Master's use, fit to serve him in the lower functions of his temple on earth, and to serve him hereafter in his eternal kingdom and glory. What will it avail any of us to possess now what we must then cease to possess; what we can possess only till we arrive at the threshold of death, and shall look back on the distinctions which must then have vanished; when we lay down our bodies in the grave, and have nothing before us but a vast eternity, the complexion of which will be decided by the will of another, by the will of that Being who sees not with the eyes of flesh and blood, before whom riches and poverty, wisdom and folly, and all physical distinctions are nothing; who will regard nothing in his creatures but the will to please him, and obedience to that will? The happiness to be obtained by faith will be infinitely superior to the happiness which is derived from the objects of sense. For a man thus to lose his own soul will be to sacrifice the great end of his being. But there are some here to whom the possession of riches is sanctified, who consider them as a great trust, for the use of which they are responsible, and who are asking, What shall I do? what return shall I make to God for all his benefits? and who tremble, lest at the final account they should be found unfaithful stewards. They trust in the Saviour: they cultivate communion with God; they condescend to men of low estate; they are rich in good works; they lay up a good foundation for the time to come; they will surmount the perils of the most prosperous fortune; they will combine the riches of this world with the riches of glory; they will be distinguished in both worlds, standing complete and ready for their Master's will; they are armed for the combat in the present state, and fitted at any moment to take wing, to "depart and be with Christ, which is far better." Happy those who, while they have abundance of the things of this world, have also a treasure elsewhere! While they walk in light, and glory, and reputation on earth, they seek first the honour that cometh from above; they seek, indeed, no higher honour than that which comes from Him who is the arbiter of all destinies. Let me now say a word to the poor. If they are poor, and yet partakers of true piety springing from the faith of the gospel, let them not repine. Let them indulge no envious thought at those who possess more of this world's goods than is allotted to themselves. To such I would say, Recollect that your happiness depends not on the station in life which you occupy, but on the manner in which you perform its duties. A small circle is not less complete than a large one: an humble field of occupation, yielding proper fruits in their season, will be recognised by God and approved of men. You will have the testimony of your conscience that "in simplicity, and godly sincerity, you have your conversation in the world." You will leave a testimony behind you of the power of religion: your remains will breathe a sweet odour in all the churches of which you formed a part: you will dignify a low station, you will rescue it from all reproach; for the reproach consists not in poverty, but in yielding to the temptations of poverty. Riches, in themselves, confer no lasting honour, but as they are accompanied by a resistance to their peculiar temptations. You are walking in the footsteps of "the Lord of all," who, when he came into the world, made poverty his abode, became a companion of fishermen, and at length a companion of sinners on the cross. Let such as are poor seek to be "rich in faith:" let them exult and rejoice in the prospect of future happiness: let them rise above the sorrows of time in the contemplation of the glory which awaits them. Your recompense is above; your pleasures are in heaven. If you are real Christians you would not relinquish one portion in heaven for all the happiness of the present state. Avoid every temptation to dishonesty, to prevarication, to envy, to murmuring, to discontent. Avoid all those temptations which arise from a narrow and scanty fortune. Show how religion can dignify the lowest station in society, and do all possible honour to that station. Thousands of saints have done this. Our Saviour illustrated the sorrows and privations of poverty and if you are animated by his spirit, you will walk in his steps; and after having suffered with him here, you will be also glorified together with him, and reign with him for ever and ever. INDEX. The Roman numerals refer to the volume, and the figures to the page; "Mem." refers to ACADEMICAL EDUCATION; its usefulness to the candidate for the Chris- Shows the fallen state of man, and the Divine displeasure against sin, 139, 140. Religion the effects of sanctified affliction, 369, 370. Feelings with which the afflictions of AGRICULTURE; its present depressed state, ii. 103. AMBITION; its pleasures shown to be unreal and imaginary, iii. 383. ANNUAL PARLIAMENTS recommended, ii. 62-64. ANTINOMIANISM, i. 389, 390, iii. (Mem.) 78. Its tenets described, ii. 458. APOSTOLIC PRECEDENT; explained, i. 310, ii. 213, 214. Examination ARBITRARY POWER, ii. 41. Approaches towards it in England, 85. Argu- ARISTOTLE; his remark on tragedy, i. 82. His opinions on the foundation of ASSOCIATIONS; origin of the political societies so called, formed at the close subject of political abuses, 58, 59. Their attachment to the principles of arbi- ASSURANCE OF SALVATION, iii. 282. Its importance, 180. ATHEISM; its effects on the French revolution, i. 38. Exposure of its pre- ATONEMENT OF CHRIST, i. 266, iii. 22. Its importance, iii. 209, iii. AUGUSTINE; his opinion on John's baptism, i. 300 (note). His remark on BAPTISM; instituted by Christ after his resurrection, i. 294. Implied a profes- BAPTIST MISSION; letter to the committee respecting an application of BAPTISTS; their sentiments stated, i. 291, 292; ii. 211. Causes of the pre- BARROW, Dr.; character of his sermons, ii. 293. BAXTER, Andrew; his work "On the Soul,” iii. (Mem.) 33. BAXTER, Rev. Richard; character of his writings, iii. (Mem.) 79. BEDDOME, Rev. B.; sketch of his character and talents, ii. 456. His hymns BELSHAM, Rev. T.; character of his "Memoirs of the Rev. T. Lindsey,” BENEVOLENT SOCIETY at Cambridge; account of, i. 76, 77. BENNETT, Rev. W.; character of his "Essay on the Gospel Dispensation," BENTHAM, Jeremy; Mr. Hall's high opinion of his writings, iii. (Mem.) 65. |