with every "wind of doctrine." The truths which are necessary to salvation, are those good old downright doctrines, which shine in every page of scripture, which the apostles continually preached, and for which the martyrs bled. The total corruption of man's nature, the atonement by the vicarious sufferings and death of Christ, justification through faith in him, regeneration by the power of the Spirit, good works, the fruit of faith; these, which exalt the free grace and sovereign love of God, which have stood the test of ages, are pared and smoothed by modern squeamishness; but they are the grand fundamental truths, which must be held, if you would attain eternal life. Let no these. man by cunning craftiness beguile you of Hold them in their breadth and length, and glorious fulness. Seek to be rooted and grounded surely in them. 4. Further: sobriety is in scripture often inculcated as a part of watchfulness; "the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer*.* The term means moderation generally. And it is well explained by the apostle Paul: "This I say, brethren, the time is short it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though * 1 Pet. iv. 7. they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away*." Worldly distinctions will soon be confounded; worldly honours will speedily disappear: for God, in his judgments, is no "respecter of persons:" "the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low." So watch then, as to regard the things of this world, just as if the judgments were ready to begin do not encumber yourselves with earthly cares. Now, more than ever, should you know that you are strangers and pilgrims here, be loose to the things of * 1 Cor. vii. 29-31. time and sense, and place your affections on that heavenly country where there is no revolution, no decay. 5. I have one admonition more: watch against every appearance of evil. Shew yourselves manfully and decidedly upon the Lord's side. It is no time for the soldier to go straying from his ranks, when the battle is just beginning; it is no time for the servant of the Lord to be hesitating and lukewarm, when the wheels of his chariot are heard approaching. coming will be a day of trial and sifting; stand then firmly at your post: his coming will be a day of struggle and of conflict; be then courageous in the Lord's quarrel. Be bold in testifying against every sin; be His resolute in shaking from you the touch of every unclean thing. There is now, more than ever, a work to be done by each professing follower of Jesus. He must not, when the world is full of business and activity, be idle. He must not spend his energies in vanity. He must watch for every opportunity of usefulness. He must improve, with the covetous eagerness of a miser, every talent entrusted to him. "Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing." |