Page images
PDF
EPUB

was delivered, had once heard the word of the Lord, besides the actions which he did immediately upon believing, which plainly shewed great alacrity of heart, it is expressly added, that he rejoiced. The same account is given of the Ethiopian eunuch. "As soon as Philip had preached Jesus unto him, he was baptized, and though his heaven-appointed guide was snatched from him, yet the gospel taking place in his heart, he went on his way (it is not said reasoning, or deeply meditating only, but) rejoicing. Indeed we have reason to think that all who heard the gospel to any good purpose, heard it with the same sentiments of delight and joy. They behaved at first as persons quite amazed and surprised with the grace of God. Before habit or improvement could have time to manifest itself, they were raised by the pure joy of the gospel above this world, and ready, in its defence, to embrace the martyr's stake.

From what has been said, it appears that not only the prophets foretold the faithful in Christ should proclaim the incomparable worth of his gospel by their joy in God; not only did the Redeemer promise his peace and joy to his disciples, and declare that their joy should be full; but when his name was first preached, the genuine effect of it, in every place, was gladness of heart. You must, therefore, either affirm, that the christians described in the Bible, and those who lived when the gospel was first preached, differ in species from all who live now, though they sincerely profess the same faith, and love the same Lord, or you must grant it is a fact, that all real Christians have joy in the God of their salvation.

SUNDAY LII.

CHAP. LII.

The Love of Christ to his Church in all Ages the same.

WE have already proved it is reasonable to conclude, and certain from the testimony of Christ, the prophets, and apostles, that peace and joy in God are the privilege of Christ's church.

It is urged, to invalidate these proofs, that persecution in the first ages of Christianity called for great manifestations of divine love, which are now no longer to be expected or vouchsafed.

As this mistake is become very general, and its influence extremely pernicious, it shall receive a full refutation, and be exposed in all its absurdity.

Adopt this false notion, and scripture itself must lose its value. For we may say with as much reason of the whole, as of those passages which have been urged above, that they were delivered to particular persons on particular occasions. Wherefore, if scripture belongs to those to whom it was first addressed, in a sense it belongs not to the church in every age; then the Bible, instead of being a system of eternal truth, and an invariable rule of life, equally obligatory on all Christians, will dwindle into an antiquated obsolete book. It will absolutely require a discrimination to be settled between the scripture designed for the comfort and joy of the first believers in Christ, and what those live in after ages may claim just as some Papist divide the practical part of the New Testament into absolute commands,

which belong to all, and counsels of perfection given only to a few.

Besides, this notion is contrary to scripture. St. John declares the end for which he labour to establish Christianity was not merely the belief of the miracles, death, and resurrection of Christ, but that ye, saith he, might have fellowship with us, i. e. an equal share in all the high privileges, holy influences, and divine consolations which belong to that one body the church, of which Christ himself, full of power and glory, is the head. But we flatly contradict this apostle, when we affirm there is any difference in point of spiritual privileges between even the chosen twelve, and all who have obtained like precious faith with them, to the end of time.

Further, the absurdity of this popular and pernicious mistake is no less gross than its contradiction to the word of God is glaring. For have not all Christians one faith? The truth which sanctifies them is invariable. Have they not one Spirit to represent this truth to the mind, and make it effectual? Is not the practice of duty in the same extent required? the same sacrifice of worldly interests? the cutting off the right hand, and plucking out the right eye? And is not one heaven the eternal reward of all true Christians? As, in all these interesting points, there is a perfect equality, how absurd to make an immense difference in the matter of present peace and joy from the influence of the same truth, the same hope, and the same Spirit? This is the more absurd, because the word of God teaches us that no one is ever disposed to apply to the heavenly physician before the sickness of his soul compels him, and the fear of eternal death; and that no one can be saved before he calls for mercy on the Lord as a lost sinner. But this conviction annihilates all distance of time, all difference of external circumstances

between the contemporaries of Christ and his appostles, and succeeding believers, to the end of the world; because, without this conviction of sin, though Paul was preaching, or Jesus himself working miracles before our eyes, his salvation must be rejected; and with this conviction pressing on the mind, the record God has given of his Son becomes inestimably precious, and his salvation the one thing needful.

Thus absurd is the notion so constantly urged, to evade the plainest promises of great peace and joy to all true believers, and to keep those easy in a formal profession of Christianity, who experience nothing of its excellent power.

We must add the evidence of daily facts to the united testimony of prophets, apostles, and the Saviour, that real believers in his name have joy in God. How can we otherwise account for the total alteration of choice and conduct in some of every rank, age, and temper, as soon as they truly believe in Christ? All these with one voice avow they never knew true happiness before they knew the truth. Whatever the pleasures of sin were to them, they confess is far exceeded by their spiritual joy. Hence, long after the terrors of the Lord have ceased to work upon their minds, they keep at a distance from sin, from persons, pleasures, and amusements, which before engaged their hearts, in order to possess the peace and pleasures they have tasted in the service of Christ.

Nor can it be said, with any truth, all this arises from notions put into their heads, or from the force of imagination: because a great number have had no idea of spiritual joy, till it sprang up in their hearts, at once the object of their surprise, and the cause of their preferring above all things the service of the Lord. Whilst the perfect correspondence this spi

ritual joy bears with the scripture promises, its foundation, and the uniform experience of those who have had no means of catching it from others, concur to deliver it from all reasonable suspicion of religious delusion.

We may further observe, that there are many children whose meek spirit and excellent life cannot reconcile their prejudiced parents to the power of religion, by whom they are treated with great harshness, no one speaking a word in their favour. These children are still far from desiring peace, by returning to their former gaiety and fashionable follies. They find a sweetness in secret prayer, in meditation, and reading the word of God, which, even under their beloved parents' cruel displeasure, is better to them than all their former merriment, with the friendship of the whole family.

If it be said, who knows there have been such instances? I answer, the history of the church attests there have been, in all ages, a great number; and the excellent part of the Christian church at this day, young as well as old, vouch this truth. It is on account of better pleasures not from morose humour, or superstitious fear, that they have lost all relish for amusements they once pursued with eagerness, despising all who did not, as they themselves are now despised. Unless, therefore, we shut our ears against the testimony of scripture, and our eyes against the testimony of daily facts, we must allow, that all who receive and obey the Lord Jesus Christ are superior, in point of joy, to any people upon earth.

As this is fact, so it is necessary Cristians should be filled with peace and joy. Were men of a different make, or in a world more favourable to the cause of God, it would be then sufficient to mark out the line of duty, too plain to be mistaken, and enforce it

« PreviousContinue »