warning on the changeableness of man. Looking to God, we bid them bid them "draw near" "in full assurance of faith," "for he is faithful that promised " Looking to themselves, we admonish them that they must "watch and pray that they enter not into temptation 2;" that privileges, however great, may, by neglect, be forfeited; that grace, however powerful, may, if resisted, be withdrawn. In a word, we must speak to them of their privileges in the language of the Apostle Paul to those whom he had before addressed as foreknown," predestinated," "called," "justified," and " fied." "Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness: if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off1." 66 66 "glori And how, on the other hand, shall we address the "carnal person lacking the Spirit of Chrt ?" Our Church declares that "the Devil doth thrust" such persons "into desperation 5." If we therefore preach despair to him, we do the work of Satan and not of God. Rather let us remember that though he is "a branch broken off because of unbelief," yet, "if he abide not in unbelief, he shall be grafted in; for God is able to graft him in 1 Heb. x. 22, 23. 5 Art. xvii. 2 Matt. xxvi. 41. again!" He has been admitted into Christ's cove nant by baptism. He "was made a child of God";" he cannot be unborn: he may give away his birthright; he cannot annul his birth. He is indeed a prodigal son, but still a son. He has a father, who still waiteth to be gracious. Let him "arise and go" unto him: "while he is yet a great way off," he will "run" to meet him; he will welcome back again the child that "was lost and is found," while the angels in His presence shall rejoice "over the one sinner that repenteth "". Let such be our preaching to him; and if this be not enough to move him no longer to neglect and abuse the privileges which have been bestowed upon him, it may yet please God that "the terrors of the Lord 5" may persuade him, who is untouched by His love; and our last warning must be, that, if he live and die in his ungodly state, those privileges will increase his condemnation; and the word of life, which has been preached to him, will be to him "the savour of death unto death "." In this brief and imperfect sketch of the subject of Evangelical Preaching, I have confined my remarks entirely to the principles and doctrines of the system itself. One fertile subject remains un 1 Rom. xi. 20, 23. 4 Luke xv. 10. 20. 2 Ch. Cat. 3 See Note III. 62 Cor. ii. 16. touched, which it is yet impossible to leave wholly unnoticed. I mean the personal Religion of the Preacher. While he proclaims the tidings of joy, and utters the message of peace, he may indeed be to his hearers "as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice1;" but oh! how much more lovely and persuasive that voice, if every chord of his own heart vibrate in unison with it! On this point I might dwell at large, but I have detained you long already; and I would only, in conclusion, call upon all present to join me in humble prayer to God, that each member of our Christian Ministry, from its highest to its lowest order, may, by God's grace, be enabled so "to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest" that holy word which he has given us, that, whensoever he exercises the authority committed to him to "preach the Gospel," his own knowledge of Scripture may supply the matter of his Preaching; his own convictions add strength to its arguments; and his own life exhibit its practical application. 1 Ezek. xxxiii. 32. NOTES. NOTE I. page 19. THESE privileges may be considered as virtually included under the two terms Justification and Sanctification; terms which I consider synonymous with an admission into that covenant with Christ, of which justification is the very essence, and sanctification the inseparable attendant. I cannot express my meaning on this point more clearly than in the following words of Hooker: "Baptism is a sacrament, which God hath instituted in His Church, to the end that they which receive the same might thereby be incorporated into Christ, and so, through His most precious merit, obtain as well that saving grace of imputation which taketh away all former guiltiness, as also that infused Divine virtue of the Holy Ghost, which giveth to the powers of the soul their first disposition towards future newness of life." -Eccl.Polity, b. v. p. 339, ed. Keble. |