Page images
PDF
EPUB

upon them: but their conclufions must be tried by other fcriptures. To all who are inclined to the above deluding practice, I would fay with the apoftle John, " Beloved, "believe not every fpirit, but try the fpirits, whether they are of God." Or with the prophet Ifaiah, "To "the law and to the teftimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in "them." There is alfo a very proper advice, mixed with caution, given by the fame prophet, in the following words; "Who is among you that feareth the "Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his fervant, that walk"eth in darkness and hath no light; let him trust in the "name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold all ye that kindle a fire, all that compafs yourselves about " with fparks, walk in the light of your fires, and in the fparks that ye have kindled; this fhall ye have of mine "hand, ye fhall lie down in forrow."

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

2. I muft alfo obferve, that many serious perfons feem to defire, and even to expect, affurance in fuch a measure and degree, as is not fuited to our prefent ftate. They would have faith and hope to be the fame with fenfe. They would have heaven and earth to be the fame, and would put on their crown before they have finifhed their course. I am perfuaded, many deprive themselves of that comfort to which they have an undoubted title, and which they might easily poffefs, by aiming at that which is beyond their reach. They do not remember, that it is true in this refpect as well as in many others, what the apoftle fays, "Now we fee through a glafs darkly, but then face to face; "now I know in part, but then fhall I know even as also "I am known." Would you but reflect upon yourfelves, Chriftians, you would be afhamed of your complaints. You would be afhamed that you fhould fo much as lay claim to fo high a degree of comfort, when you are fo careless in your duty. Your improvement in the fpiritual life is but very gradual, and therefore it is no wonder your hope fhould be but in proportion to it.

1 John iv. 1. † Is. viii. 20.

IC. l. 10 11. || 1 Cor. xiii. 12.

It is of the greatest consequence in religion, to diftinguifh carefully between that hope and comfort which ari fes directly from the promifes of God in fcripture, and that which arifes from a reflex obfervation of the change that has taken place in our own temper and practice. To entertain and encourage doubts in the former cafe, is directly contrary both to our duty and intereft; but in the other, perhaps fufpicion and diffidence is most becoming the Chriftian temper, and moft conducive to the advancement of the Chriftian life. Is there any perfon perufing this treatise, who is incommoded and diftreffed with anxiety and fear? Take heed that you be not doubting as much of the certainty of God's word, as you are jealous of your own ftate. Is it not more than fufficient that you have fo many gracious invitations, fo many full, free and unlimited offers of mercy, through a Redeemer, to the chief of finners? Does it not give repofe to the mind, and reft to the conscience, when, by direct acts of faith, you receive and rely on Chrift alone for falvation; feeing him to be fingle in this undertaking, and all-fufficient for its accomplishment, and therefore cleaving to him as your Lord and your God, and your all. I would not chufe to affirm, that assurance, in the ordinary fenfe of that word, is effential to faith, or that its proper defcription is, to believe that my fins are forgiven me; yet furely, fome measure of hope is infeparable from it. Faith and despair are oppofite and inconfiftent. If you do really believe the fincerity of the offer; if you do really believe the fulness and ability of the Saviour, "the God of hope will fill you "with all joy and peace in believing, through the power "of the Holy Ghost."

To this let me add, that confidering the matter, even with regard to a renewing and fanctifying work of the Spirit upon your hearts, your complaints are often exceffive and unreafonable. You would have evidence, not that the work is begun, but that it is finifhed. You defire comfort, not fuch as is fufficient to ftrengthen you against temptation, and bear you up under fuffering; but fuch as would make temptation to be no temptation, and fuffering to be no fuffering. But if you are fenfible that you ftill

adhere to God as your portion, that you cannot find peace or reft in any thing elfe; and that a whole world would not induce you to give up even your doubtful title to his favor and love, furely you ought to endeavor after compofure of mind: you may be frequently in the ftate of the apofile Paul, who fays of himfelf, "Our flesh had no rest, "but we were troubled on every fide, without were fight"ings, within were fears*." And yet fay with the fame apostle, "We are troubled on every fide, yet not diftreffed; "we are perplexed, but not in despair; perfecuted, but "not forfaken; caft down, but not deftroyedt." It is not meant by this to condemn an earnest defire to abound in hope, or a frequent and ftrict examination of our state and temper, but to warn Christians against impatience, and against an unthankful, fretful difpofition, which indeed difappoints itfelf, and prevents the attainment of that peace, for the want of which it complains.

This leads naturally to the mention of another fault incident to serious perfons, which will lay a foundation for a very important leffon upon this fubject. The fault here intended is, falling into a flothful, defpondent neglect of duty. The devices of fatan, our great enemy, are very various, and unspeakably artful." When he cannot keep men in fecurity, and drive them blindly along the broad path which leadeth to deftruction, he endeavors to make their duty as painful and burdenfome to them as poffible. When fome perfons give themselves to ferious felf-examination, he embarrafles them with fcruples, he involves them in doubts, he diftreffes them with fears. This often brings on a relaxation, or fufpenfion of their diligence in duty; they give themfelves up to anxious, complaining thoughts; they stand still, and will go no farther in reli gion, till they are fatisfied whether they have as yet gone any length at all. But whatever good ground any perfon may have to be diffatisfied with himfelf, fo foon as he perceives that this is its effect, he ought to refift it as a temptation. I cannot better illuftrate this, than by a fimilitude borrowed from the fcripture language on the fame + 2 Cor. iv. 8, 9.

VOL. I.

* 2 Cor. vii. 5.

fubject. Whether do you think that child most dutiful, under a fenfe of his father's difpleafure, who patiently and filently applies himfelf to his work, or he who faunters about in idlenefs, and with peevish and fullen complaints, is conflently calling in queftion his father's love?

This lays the foundation for a very neceffary and ufeful direction, which indeed flows naturally from all that has been faid on the evidence of regeneration. Endeavor, Chriflians, to preferve and increafe your hope in God, by further degrees of fanctification, by zeal and diligence in doing his will. The more the image of God in you is perfected, it will be the more eafily difcerned. If you are at any time ready to doubt whether fuch or such corruptions are confiftent with real religion; if you find this a hard queftion to refolve, go another way to work, and fhrive by vigilance and prayer to mortify these corruptions, and then the difficulty is removed. If in a time of affliction and distress, you find it hard to determine whether it ought to be confidered as the correction of a father, or the feverity of a judge, endeavor through divine grace to bear it with the patience of a child, and you will foon fee its merciful original by its falutary effect. What should be the daily ftudy of a Chriftian, but to mortify fin in heart and converfation? and his comfort fhould arife from his apparent fuccefs in this important ftrife. When grain of different kinds is but fpringing from the ground, it is not eafy to diftinguifh between one and another, but their growth afcertains their quality, which is ftill more fully difcerned as they approach nearer to maturity. Imitate in this the great apofile of the Gentiles, "Not as though "I had already attained, either were already perfect; but "I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which al"fo I am apprehended of Chrift Jefus. Brethren, I count "not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I "do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reach"ing forth unto thofe things which are before, I prefs "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God "in Chrift Jefus*!"

* Phil. iii. 12. 13, 14.

Before clofing this fection, I muft obferve that though the account I have given of the great mark of real religion, may fill leave fome in the dark, yet furely it carries in it the cleareft and plaincft condemnation of many hearers of the gofpel. Oh, that it were poflible to faften a conviction of it upon their minds! Are there not many who appear from fabbath to fabbath in the houfe of God, who dare not affirm seriously to their own hearts, that God and his fervice has more of their habitual fettled affection than the world, or any of its enjoyments? I do not here underftand grofs finners, whofe crimes are "open going before "unto judgment; but I mean the more fober and regu lar profeffors of religion, who may have "a form of God"linefs, and deny the power thereof." I am perfuaded. this is a more proper trial of their state, than any particular rule of duty. Many fuch perfons know fo little of the extent and fpirituality of the law of God, that it is not impoffible they may be ready to affirm they do not allow themselves in any known fin, as the young man in the goipel feems to have anfwered fincerely, when he said to our Saviour, "Mafter, all thefe have I obferved from my "youth."

But I would farther afk them, Whether hath God or the world most of your love, moft of your thoughts, and moft of your care? Can fuch of you pretend this, whose eager, ardent, nightly thought and daily pleasure, is only to increase your fubftance? who would not go to market without re-examining your tranfactions, and computing your gain; but can daily go to the houfe of God, without obferving, enquiring after, or defiring to fee its proper fruits? Can fuch of you pretend this, to whom all serious converfation is tedious and difguftful, and the fociety of good men a painful reftraint? to whom the fabbath is a dull, melancholy, and burdenfome fcafon? Oh, my brethren, let me beseech you to be faithful to your own fouls. Your precious time is daily hafening on; the day of your merciful vifitation is wearing faft away. Hear while there is yet peace, and intreat that God, for Chrift's fake, would

* Mark x. 20.

« PreviousContinue »