Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

Is there not a deficiency of faith in the case? together. The deprivation of human will "Ye have heard of the patience of Job:" con- was followed by a disorder of the harmony sider likewise the operation of his faith. The of nature: and, by that Providence which Sabeans and Chaldeans despoil him of part often places antidotes in the neighborhood of his property; the lightning consumes of poisons, vice was checked by misery, more of it; and a hurricane from the wilder- lest it should swell to universal and unlimness buries his children under the ruins of ited dominion." In a word, physical evil the house where they were feasting together. was ordained to be the punishment of But what says he? He mentions none of moral. them-"The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away."

But this punishment is seldom inflicted without previous notice. Watchmen are There may be another reason. To ac- generally sent to sound an alarm, and faithknowledge punishment is to confess guilt. ful witnesses are raised up, by their writings In owning the judgments of God to be upon and by their conduct, to bear their testius, we own that we have nade him our mony. Indeed, the word of God is a standenemy; and as the reflection is disagree-ing admonition to ages and generations, not ble, we fondly endeavor to persuade our-only by precepts, threats, and promises, selves, that our sufferings are owing to some instructing, rebuking, and exhorting, but other cause-to any other cause. But the in the historical and prophetical parts of just and prudent inference should run thus. Have we made him our enemy? Let us lose no time in making him our friend; since, when we are rolling onward to the brink of the precipice, our fall will not be prevented by shutting our eyes. Let us add to our faith humility, and honestly confess ourselves to be-what God knows we are. This leads us to the

Second consideration proposed, namely, the school in which God is teaching us, that of Affliction.

But why the school of affliction? Is there no other school in which we may be taught? Does God delight in the sufferings of men? Certainly not. We have his own gracious word to assure us, that "he doth not afflict willingly." He proceeds to do it, like a tender and affectionate parent, with reluctance. "How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim ? Mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together."-Can the force of words go farther?

There is another school, in which we once were placed, under the tuition of mercy, and drawn by the cords of a man, that the goodness of God might lead us to repentance. But if prosperity does not encourage us to be virtuous, adversity must compel us to be so. If we become not sensible of Heaven's blessings by the enjoyment of them, we must be made sensible by the loss. Foolishness is sometimes bound in the heart of a nation, as well as that of a child, and the rod of correction must drive it out.§ Misery and sin," says a great writer of the present age, "were produced † Lam. iii. 33. Prov. xxii. 15.

⚫ Job, i. 21. Hos. xi. 8.

it exhibiting a variety of cases and precedents, among which any nation, at any period of its existence, may, upon searching, meet with one applicable to its own state. So that whatever calamity befalls us, the holy Book, if we will but look into it, may be found reproving us, as St. Paul reproved the mariners in the ship: "Sirs, ye should have hearkened to me, and ye would not have suffered this harm and loss."*

The first chastisements are of a mild and gentle nature, as it were whispering repentance and reformation in our ears. To generous and well-nurtured spirits, the slightest appearances of displeasure are sufficient. When the heart is hardened, more rigorous measures must be taken, and heavier punishments brought forward. Majestic, and tremendous, God arises to judgment. The sound of his thunder is heard at a distance, and all the prognostics appear of an approaching storm.

Divine justice, though sure, is slow; and now, as of old, the long-suffering of God waits with so much patience and forbearance, that, as in the life of man there is a certain part, when, for some years together, perceiving little or no alteration in himself and those about him, he almost disbelieves, at least he seems willing to forget, that he shall grow old and die; so by the firm establishment and long subsistence of a nation, remaining nearly the same through the repeated vicissitudes of peace and war, we are tempted to exclaim, "Where is the threat of his coming? for all things continue as they were." But let us not so deceive ourselves. The nation, as well as the man, is verging apace to that period of

*Acts, xxvii. 21. † 2 Pet. iii. 4.

life which is to be labor and sorrow: the Herodias-first imprisoned, and then bemotion, however gradual and impercepti- headed. ble for some time, will be dreadfully ac- Josephus gives the following account of celerated in its latter stages; and perhaps, his unhappy countrymen, at the time immeafter incessant warnings and admonitions, diately preceding their final destruction: the grim spectre will suddenly appear in all" That time," says he, "abounded in all his terrors, at an hour when we look not for him.

In these particular judgments, as in that last and general one, "God hath appointed a day."* And although he hath reserved such appointments in his own power, yet are there symptoms of the disorder coming to a crisis, certain "signs of the times," by which they who are conversant in the Scriptures, and the history of declining empires, may form shrewd conjectures, partly from the moral, and partly from the political, situation of a people.

National, like personal depravity, is progressive, and, at a stated time, attains to maturity-in the language of holy writ, it is FULL; when a voice issues from the throne, "Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; the wickedness is great."+

The wickedness of a country may be styled great, when it has abolished the old, virtuous, manly, national character, and introduced one of an opposite complexion, having established its dominion by fashion, and ruling with a high hand over all orders and degrees, no longer subject to fear and share, but becoming matter to itself either of glory or of mirth; trampling under foot, and spurning at the very name of that discipline which should check and reform it; according to those inost significant and ever memorable words of the Roman historian, containing in them the substance of a volume: "Ad illa mihi se quisque acriter intendat animum, quæ vita, qui mores fuerint: per quos viros, quibusque artibus, et partum et auctum imperium sit. Labente deinde paullatim disciplina, velut desidentes primo mores sequatur animo: deinde ut magis magisque lapsi sint; tum ire cœperint præcipites; donec ad hæc tempora, quibus nec VITIA nostra, nec REMEDIA pati possumus, perventum est."I

When dissipation and immorality reign triumphant in a Christian country, they will soon discard those principles by which they feel themselves condemned, and adopt the system of infidelity. Revelation after having been for a while "holden captive in unrighteousness,"§ disarmed and disabled by heretical and false glosses, will at length be openly denied and rejected-like him, who dared to thwart the pleasures of † Joel, iii. 13. § Rom. i. 18.

Acts, xvii. 31. Liv. Præfat.

manner of iniquity, so that none was left unperpetrated: Yea, though a man should have endeavored to invent some new species of it, yet could he have fallen upon none that was not then in vogue," Thus much for practice-Now for faith:-"It was familiar with them to make a jest of divine things, and to deride, as so many senseless tales and juggling impostures, the sacred oracles of their prophets, though then fulfilling before their eyes, and upon themselves." The chair of the scorner, probably, was regularly taken, and portions of the word of God tossed about upon the tongues of profaneness and impurity, as a Sabbath evening employment, for the diversion of the rabble.-After such an account, we naturally expect to hear of the event which soon followed-the carcass was thrown out, and the eagles flew to their prey.

From the political state of a nation, common sense, as well as the experience of past ages, forbids us to augurate favorably, when having been drained of its treasures by a long series of expensive and ruinous wars, it is, in consequence, oppressed by an accumulated and enormous load of debt, the very interest of which is with difficulty discharged by all the variety of taxes and imposts that ability and ingenuity can devise; when the body is grown too large and extensive for the head to govern; and the distant provinces, revolting, occasion, for the purpose of reducing them, a war still more expensive and ruinous than any of the former: when the ancient and avowed enemies of such a country, taking advantage of its situation, combine their forces to support the rebellion against it, aiming to extinguish its glory, the subject of their admiration, and to appropriate its commerce, the object of their envy; while of the surrounding nations, some stand unconcerned spectators, or perhaps look towards a share of the spoil, and others, even its oldest friends and allies, after having for some time secretly assisted, at length openly join the confederacy: when the war be comes one of procrastination and finance, each endeavoring to exhaust the resources of the other, so that the conqueror will

Joseph. de Bell. Jud. lib. vii. cap. 8. Edit. Hudson. † Ibid. lib. iv. cap. 6.

probably fall breathless on the body of his antagonist when, instead of unity and unanimity at home, the counsels and operations of a government, in these perilous circumstances, are clogged and impeded by everlasting contests for places of power and emolument; so that apprehensions arise, where there should least of all be the appearance for any ground of them, that the public interest has been sacrificed to that of a party: when through the prevalence of licentious tenets, for many years with unwearied pains disseminated, and now producing their proper fruits, in an impatience of all law and restraint, discontents, divisions, and searchings of heart abound, ready, at every opportunity, to break forth into tumult and confusion; as it happened to the wretched Jerusalem, and while the Roman armies were applying the instruments of destruction, in every direction, from without, a faction of zealots within set fire to the city and the temple.

If the foregoing particulars shall be judged applicable in any degree, to ourselves, and you shall be of opinion that the Almighty is indeed thus teaching us in the school of affliction at this time, you will deem it neither inexpedient, nor unseasonable, to consider,

Thirdly, the Lesson designed to be taught, under this severe course of discipline.

The representation given above has been given, not to produce despondency, but to rouse attention; not to discourage, but only to alarm. If a nation sleep, it must be awakened. It were cruel, in such circumstances, to be afraid of disturbing it. Affliction will not have wrought the effect intended, till we shall awake to RIGHTEOUSNESS, and learn, in this our day, the things which belong to our peace and welfare. If the sense of danger be not quick, the efforts to escape will be ineffectual.

and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them."* By repentance, through faith in our Redeemer, we disarm the wrath of God, because we cease to be any longer the objects against which it is levelled. Should we continue finally impenitent, like those mentioned by Isaiah in the verse following the text, who, "when the arm of Jehovah is lifted up, will not see," then must we be destroyed, that other nations admonished by our example, may be the more afraid to offend. But if we ourselves take the warning which otherwise we shall give, then will the great end of Providence in sending these calamities upon us be answered. We shall be reformed, we shall be pardoned, we shall be spared. We shall leave our dross and scum behind, and come forth out of the fire, bright and burnished.

Physical evil, by being made the punishment of moral evil, becomes the cause of moral good. And as things are now constituted since the fall, perhaps there is a very small portion only of moral good among men which does not owe its origin to this very cause. "If pleasure were not followed by pain, who would forbear it? If the inconvenience of suffering wrong were not greater than the satisfaction of doing it, when would mankind have submitted to the restraint of laws? Were it not for a consciousness of being liable to suffer the miseries we relieve, how would charity wax cold! And how few would fix their attention upon the future, if they were not discontented with the present! In a world like ours, where our senses assault us, and our hearts betray us, we should pass on from crime to crime, heedless and remorseless, if misery did not stand in our way, and our own pains admonish us of our folly." These are, in substance, the observations of the same great writer, to That it may be escaped, we have no rea- whom I have before alluded, who is so well son to doubt. For though the appointment known, that he need not be named. And of a general and eternal judgment be abso- most valuable observations they are. They lute, the time fixed for these partial and reconcile the mind to suffering evil, and untemporal visitations is always conditional. fold the mysteries of that divine chemistry, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be by which good may be extracted from it. I overthrown,"* cried a true prophet, at the cannot forbear reciting from the same place command of his God, in the streets of that the following just and beautiful description great and wicked city. But, at the voice of the whole process of this matter in an inof the prophet, Nineveh repented, and sub-dividual, from youth to age, which, in passsisted more than three times forty years ing, you will be pleased to apply, for yourafterwards. It is indeed a rule in the di- selves, to the case of a nation. vine proceedings, "At what instant I shall the issue, with respect to our own, be the speak concerning a nation and concerning a same! kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down,

[blocks in formation]

And may

"In childhood, while our minds are yet

* Jer. xviii. 7, 8.

It consisteth not solely in going through the services of this day; in acts of mourning and humiliation. They are preparatives, and excellent ones; but they are no more. Το what purpose confession of sin, if sin be not forsaken? What avail incitements to conversion, if conversion do not follow upon them? Why submit to medicine, if we intend to continue in those irregularities which first caused, and will ever perpetuate, the disorder? Alas! it is labor lost-it is an aggravation of our crime-it is mockery-" it is iniquity-even this solemn meeting!" +

unoccupied, religion is impressed upon them, | learned indeed by the book; but no man is and the first years of almost all who have been reputed to have learned it, till he can readily well educated, are passed in a regular dis- take it from thence, and perform it on the incharge of the duties of piety. But as we strument. "He that DOETH Righteousness is advance forward into the crowds of life, in- righteous."* numerable cares distract our attention. The time of youth is passed in noisy frolics; manhood is led on from hope to hope, and from project to project. The dissoluteness of pleasure, the inebriation of success, the ardor of expectation, and the vehemence of competition, chain down the mind alike to the present scene; nor is it remembered how soon this mist of trifles must be scattered, and the bubbles which float upon the rivulet of life be lost for ever in the gulf of eternity. To this consideration scarce any man is awakened, but by some pressing and resist less evil. The death of those from whom he derived his pleasures, or to whom he destined his possessions, some disease which shows him the vanity of all external acquisitions, or the gloom of age which intercepts his prospects of long enjoyment forces him to fix his hopes upon another state; and when he has contended with the tempests of life till his strength fails him, he flies at last to the shelter of religion." *

The

Late therefore though it be, let us yet apply our hearts unto wisdom. Had it been done sooner, it might have been done in a way more agreeable, and more to our credit. But let us neglect to do it no longer. instruction, which we have failed to reap from benefits conferred, let us, however, reap from calamities inflicted, and not subject ourselves to the reproach uttered formerly by the apostle to his Galatians: "Have ye suffered so many things in vain?—if it be yet in vain." +

It is not the business of the day to call our governors to account, but ourselves; to censure their measures, but our own. There is enough to correct and reform at home. At least, let us begin there. We shall have no leisure, for some time, to look abroad. "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren;" but be not curious to find fault with others, and careless to amend thyself. Enter into thy closet, and, when thou hast shut the door, let the most concerning question be the leading one-"Lord, is it I."

Matters of mere science often terminate, as they begin, in speculation. But righteousness is an art, and must be acquired, like other arts, by practice, by use, by habit. It resembles a lesson in music, which is to be

See the paper in the Idler, entitled, Physical
Evil moral Good, vol. ii. p. 206.
† Gal. iii. 4.
Luke, xxii. 32.
Matt. xxvi. 22

To conclude-Righteousness is not partial; it is not limited to this virtue, or that person in a community, but extends to all the possible duties of all men in every station. The chastisements of God (as a learned pious prelate of the last century well remarks) "have a general aim. It is not their design, that we should quit one ill course to pursue another; that we should abhor idols, and commit sacrilege; fly from superstition, and run into profaneness; cry out of oppression, and bring in confusion; suppress Popery, to encourage schism and faction! From universal reformation we may expect universal deliverances." The effect of SUCH righteousness will be PEACE; to procure the re-establishment of which among Christian nations, do these judgments of the Almighty, now in the world, address themselves to its inhabitants of all ranks, ages, and conditions, high and low, rich and poor, young and old, clergy and laity.

But chiefly to you, O ye PRINCES, do they call, and their voice is to you that are judges of the earth, deputed by the Sovereign of the universe to rule his people in the integrity of your hearts, and guide them by the skilfulness of your hands. View the state of Christendom, often becoming, for years together, the theatre on which your subjects are sent forth, thousands after thousands, to inflict and suffer, in their turns, the manifold calamities of war. Tell it not in the realms of Hindostan, publish it not in the streets of Constantinople, make it not known in the new discovered islands of the distant sea; lest infidels triumph, and savages laugh us to scorn! Hearken what the Lord God speaks concerning you. He speaks to you out of the whirl

[blocks in formation]

wind, in a very audible manner. While you whom ye reign; if there be any consolation are endeavoring to destroy each other, the in Christ, by whose name ye are called; if fury of the elements, resembling the last con- there be any bowels of love and mercy; pity vulsions of departing nature, desolates the the miseries of poor mankind, and wipe the choicest possessions of you all. In one part tear from the eye of sorrow; agree to let the of the picture appear blood, and. fire, and horrid scene be closed, and restore joy and vapor of smoke; in the other, the heavens comfort to a lamenting world. Millions now are in confusion, and the foundations of the on earth shall break forth in your praise, and earth shake. If there be any fear of God, by generations yet unborn shall call you blessed.

DISCOURSE LXIX.

THE BLESSED EFFECTS OF PERSEVERANCE.

2 THESSALONIANS, III. 13.

Be not weary in well-doing.

THE honor of being thus called to plead and publications of the times. Fresh accounts the cause of a Society, whose reputation must are communicated of the progress made, to run coeval with that of religion and virtue, encourage the desponding; or of the farther is somewhat qualified by the consideration, supplies requisite, to give the opulent and that the subject has been already treated by generous an opportunity of furnishing them. so many persons of a superior eminence and It is a matter of general complaint, that the ability. The motives that have place in com- fervor and zeal which, at the commencepositions of other kinds, can have none here; ment of a charitable institution, diffused since in vain would it be for the preacher to warmth and splendor on all around, are but hope, that he shall be able either to invent too apt, by degrees, to languish and die away, new matter, or polish the old into new beauty unless some expedient be employed periodiand lustre. cally to revive and cherish the holy flame. Let me congratulate the Society on the additional circumstances of solemnity, devised, with equal benevolence and taste, to grace their anniversary, in the place where we are now assembled. The eyes and ears of all present will attest the propriety with which they have been adapted to answer the purpose in view.

Discouraging, however, as this reflection may at first sight appear, it affords no solid reason why such anniversaries should be discontinued or slighted. Successive generations of men require successive information; and the same men, though they may want to be informed but once, may want often to be reminded. Good impressions, we know, are impaired in much less time than that of a And respecting that part of the entertainyear, by the cares and pleasures of life, and ment to be provided by the preacher, it is need therefore to be frequently retouched. but doing justice to the subject to say, that, Many hear with more effect than they read: though in itself old, and "what we have many also may hear, who do not read at all: heard from the beginning," to the well-disand of those who do read, numbers may read posed mind it is ever new. No man is the a new sermon, who never read the old, less pleased to receive a visit from a muchthough "the old be better;" and, by coming loved friend, on the account of his having reinto new hands, it may procure us new friends ceived many before. No man nauseates the and allies. Fresh hints, and those of conse-meal of to-day because one composed of the quence, may be afforded by the occurrences like salutary viands was served up to him a

« AnteriorContinuar »