IV. A FAINT Type of our great Intercessor, JESUS THE Son of God. Was Abraham's a generous interposition? That of Jesus is far more unmerited. He intercedes for enemies! A world in arms against him cannot interrupt. purposes of love toward the guilty race. Did Abraham appear to have some weight, as “the friend of God?" Yet see how his intercession must be preceded by the humblest apologies; and know, further, that it could never have been accepted, but through Christ. Far more authoritative is the mediation of Jesus. He stands in his own name, and on his own merits; not as a servant, high in favour indeed at court-but as the King's Son. Did Abraham persevere, with an earnestness which, in his own eyes, seemed almost to border upon presumption? The event shewed, notwithstanding, that he left off too soon. This will never be said of our divine Intercessor. "He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth"3-till he have fully accomplished all his purposes of grace. Once more let Abraham intercede as he might, whether on this or on subsequent occasions; yet his good offices were sure to be terminated, sooner or later" not being suffered to continue, by reason of death." 1 After death-as the rich man in torments found 2-he neither can nor will interpose. But Jesus "ever liveth to make intercession for us.” 3 To him, therefore, bring all your cares, sorrows, sins, wants. Quit devoted Sodom; and return to dwell with the Friend," who "loveth at all times," and who "sticketh closer than a brother." 4 66 1 Heb. vii. 23. 2 Luke xvi. 24, &c. 3 Heb. vii. 25. 4 Prov. xviii. 24. SERMON XLV. JAMES v. 10, 11.-Take, my brethren, the Prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. MAY the Spirit of Christ be our Teacher, while we I. CONSIDER THE EXAMPLES HERE DWELT UPON. "Take, my brethren, the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example 1. Of Suffering affliction."-Yes! even those, who come to us as messengers from heaven, find no exemption from sorrow on earth, high as they may be in favour with Him who sends them. Nay, he warns them to expect a greater share of these things; and to look for their complete happiness in that world only, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.' Every Christian warrior-much more the leaders in that warfare-"must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” 1 The sources of Affliction are various. It may proceed from the wickedness of Man-as in the case of those whom St. James is here exhorting to patience under their sorrows. They were poor, 1 Acts xiv. 22. N 1 labouring Christians, oppressed by the rich. A sad affliction this, when might overcomes right;' when those who should be the natural protectors, become the unnatural oppressors, of the feeble and helpless! Such oppression is, however, still more grievous, more strange, and more wicked, when it takes the form of "persecution for righteousness' sake." And this was the case of those prophets, by whose example St. James encourages his suffering brethren. "Which of them had not their fathers persecuted ?" 3 The city of Jerusalem had always taken the lead in this atrocious wickedness. "From the blood of righteous Abel, to that of Zacharias"-nay, to that of Jesus Christ himself-it was she "who had killed the prophets, and stoned them that were sent unto her." And, my brethren, as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now;"5 and, in one shape or other, so it will continue to be, till we reach that "new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." Affliction may come, moreover, from the influence of Satah. He is "the god of this world;"6 and (so far as he may be permitted) endeavours to lull his servants in a deceitful prosperity, and to heap trouble upon the righteous. We have an instance of this in the story of Job. From what is related concerning him, it seems probable that even those distresses which spring from natural causes-from disease, from war, from tempests and bad seasons-may have their origin in the malice of that Evil One, who is expressly called "the prince of the power of the air.”7 Nor can it be doubted, that, whatever power he may possess, either to afflict the body, or to distress the 1 James ii. 6. 2 Matt. v. 10. 3 Acts vii. 52. 4 Matt. xxiii. 37. 5 Gal. iv. 29. 6 2 Cor. iv. 4. 7 Eph. ii. 2. soul, it will be specially exerted against those who fear the Lord. Yet, in both kinds, affliction still comes from the permission of God. We must never so look at second causes, as to forget that He still "worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."1 This is clearly revealed in the case of Job: not only was "the end" the Lord's, but the beginning also was his. It was equally so in the persecutions which the prophets underwent. Nothing befel them, but what God had foreseen, foretold, permitted. The evil intention was man's-was Satan's : but without the Lord's permission not a hair of Job's head could have been touchednot "" a sparrow," even now, "falls to the ground." Let us take the prophets as an example, further, 2. "Of Patience" under affliction.-Doubtless they were men of like passions," in mind as well as body, "with ourselves."3 They therefore groaned under their sorrows, and earnestly prayed for deliverance. Nay, they were sometimes guilty of great impatience. Thus, in the moment of bitter anguish, both Jeremiah the prophet, and patient Job, "cursed their day :"4 even Moses, the meekest of men, once "spake unadvisedly with his lips." But the habitual disposition was patience; and this is evident from several considerations. For example They held fast their integrity under every affliction.The object of wicked men, and of Satan, was to seduce or terrify them from their adherence to the service of God. But all was in vain. (6 They loved not their lives unto the death." 6 Elijah, a single prophet of the Lord, sets himself in bold opposition to four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. Micaiah, when 1 Eph. i. 11. Matt. x. 29. 3 Acts xiv. 15. 4 Jer. xx. 14. Job iii 1. 5 Ps. cvi. 33. 6 Rev. xii. 11. 7 1 Kings xviii. 22. intreated to please the king who "hates" him, refuses. 1 The three children dare the furnace-Daniel, the lions; "because they believed in their God."2 Nor were those New Testament prophets, the apostles of Jesus, less courageous than they. Threatened, imprisoned, beaten they would still obey God rather than man." 3-Again, They blessed God, though he permitted their affliction.-Job's history may stand as the proof for them all. 66 Naked," saith he, "came I out of my mother's womb; and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” 4 Again, when urged by his wife to "curse God and die," he replied-"Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" 5-Once more, They sought the good of those who afflicted them.— The prophets were all along the true friends of their Jewish countrymen. See how Jeremiah weeps for them! 6 Recollect David's conduct towards king Saul 7-Job's sacrifice for his uncharitable friends 8Stephen's prayer for his murderers 9-Paul's "heaviness and continual sorrow" for the unbelieving Jews. 10 "Here was the patience of the Saints!" Here was their meekness and love; overlooked-undervaluedmisunderstood by men, but in high honour with God. And now, that we may be prevailed upon to follow the blessed Saints in their virtuous and godly living,' let us in the second place, 3 Acts v. 29. |