INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE. COLOSSIANS i. 10-14. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness, giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. THESE are the words of the Bible, that book of God, out of which I used to instruct you. I have had great pleasure in teaching you, and in giving you good advice; and I shall always feel the same satisfaction in continuing to do so. And I hope you will make it a point of duty to come and hear me, as well as to pray to God through Jesus Christ, in this church. You have not had any instruction for a long time. I am extremely sorry for it: you know, my friends, that it could not be helped there was no remedy for the inconvenience. Now that you can get instruction, you will, I hope, be as glad to receive it, as I am, God knows, to give it. You know very well, that when we die, our souls will go either to heaven or to hell. It is, therefore, of the greatest consequence to you, to learn how you may go to the place of happiness, and escape that of misery. You can learn this only at church, and therefore, here you must come to learn it. Here you will learn all that Jesus Christ has done to save your souls from hell: all that he has done to fit, and prepare them for heaven. Before I left the island, I was engaged, as I trust you remember, in explaining to you the Gospel of St. Matthew. I have already told you, that our Saviour, Jesus Christ, was born of a virgin, through the power of God Almighty, that he was equal to God himself, and that he did many mighty works, such as healing the sick with a word, casting out devils, making the dumb to speak, and the deaf to hear, and even raising the dead to life. I have also told you much of what he said and taught. I shall hereafter continue to give you an account of all that he did and suffered till such time as he was received up into heaven: but at present, I shall say a little to you, this evening, and as plainly as I can, about the words I read to you at the beginning of this lecture. These words I shall read to you again: they will teach you a great deal of what you ought to know and to do, if you wish to be Christians, not in name only, but in deed and in truth. That ye might walk, &c. First. If you wish to be Christians indeed, you must endeavour to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." To be a Christian, it is not enough only to be christened. You are then, it is true, sold as it were to God, and from that time, you are to walk, that is behave as people that belong to God. You are to try to please him in all things. You are to believe all that he says, and to do all that he bids you to do. You are no longer to please yourselves, to do every thing you have a mind or inclination to do, but to do only what is right. For it is the right thing only, that pleases God. All wickedness he abhors, he hates-he punishes. But he loves the right thing—he loves the righteous person. If you do this, you will be fruitful in every good work. You will not be like trees, |