Page images
PDF
EPUB

-X.

immediate witneffes of their refpective con- DISC. duct and merit-alluding, I fay, to these circumstances, St. Paul, in the xiith chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, places the Chriftian combatant in the midst of a most auguft and magnificent theatre, filled with all thofe great and illuftrious characters, enumerated in the preceding chapter, as having overcome, through the power of faith, from the beginning of the world; whofe presence should animate and fire him to engage in the contest, with an ambition not to be reprehended, and a spirit altogether invincible.

You will give me leave to conclude with the paffage, every expreffion of which you are now prepared to tafte and feel, in it's full force and energy.

"Wherefore, feeing we are compaffed "about with fo great a cloud of witneffes, "let us lay afide every weight, and the fin " which doth fo eafily befet us, and let us "run with patience the race that is set be"fore us; looking unto Jefus, the author

" and

DISC." and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy "that was fet before him, endured the

X.

crofs, defpifing the fhame, and is fet down " at the right hand of the throne of God. "For confider him that endured fuch con"tradiction of finners against himself, left ye "be wearied and faint in your minds;" think of the hard and bitter conflict, through which he paffed; reflect upon his fortitude, and the promise of his grace, and be no more languid and difpirited. "Lift "up the hands which hang down, and the "feeble knees; and make straight paths "for your feet, left that which is lame be "turned out of the way;" exert in the Christian race those nerves that have been relaxed, and collect thofe fpirits which have been depreffed and dejected: make a smooth and even path for your steps, and remove the impediments which would obstruct and retard your courfe.-In all the particulars that have been mentioned, and every other if there be any other-so

RUN, THAT YE MAY OBTAIN.

[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]

IN

EPHE S. VI. ft.

Put on the whole armour of God.

[ocr errors]

ས་

XI.

N the foregoing parts of the epistle, Disc. St. Paul had enforced the duties refult-' ing from the various relations of life. These are easily stated, but, as all fadly experience, not fo eafily performed. An oppofition often arifes within, excited by our own paffions; and there are still more formidable enemies, who attack us from without; endeavouring either to prevent us from forming proper refolutions, or from carrying them into execution, when formed. Engaged as we are-neceffarily engaged-in

VOL. III.

e

this

XI.

DISC. this perilous warfare, what is to be done? We are weak; how shall we become strong? We are without armour, either to defend ourfelves, or to refift and put the enemy to flight from what magazine shall we be provided? These questions are answered at large, and perfectly to fatisfaction, in the portion of Scripture, which it shall be the defign of the following discourse to explain, being the portion appointed for the epistle of this day.

66

"Finally, my brethren, (fays the Apostle, "having finished his fcheme of duty) be ftrong." If the fentence closed here, the exhortation would be to little purpose. He who exhorts a weak man to become strong, only mocks and infults him, unless the means are pointed out by which this change may be effected; unless the fource be difcovered, from whence ftrength is derived.

66

"Be strong in the Lord, and in the
power of his might." That which was

wanting,

[ocr errors]

XI.

wanting, is now fully fupplied. What the DISC. of God's might is, we very well power know. Mountains tremble, and rocks melt before it; the fea feels it, and flies; Jordan is driven back. Armies are difcomfited, and cut off by a blaft, in the night. The world itself was produced by this power, in one inftant, and may be destroyed in another. All created power, if oppofed to that of the Creator, withers and falls, like a leaf in autumn, when fhaken by the ftormy wind and tempeft. It is "in the

power of this might," that the Apostle exhorts us to "be ftrong." But how is this?" Haft thou an arm like God; or *canft thou thunder with a voice like "him?" Yet St. Paul would never enjoin us to feek after that, which could not be obtained. Our Redeemer is Almighty; he is with us by his Spirit, and his strength is ours. Look at his apostles in their natural state; ignorant, and fearful of every thing: view them "endued with power "from on high;" acquainted with the whole counfel of God, and bold to proclaim

« PreviousContinue »