BAPTIST MAGAZINE.

SEPTEMBER, 1829.

THE EXCELLENCY OF THE GOSPEL. God should be an indifferent spec

tator of the moral conduct of his intelligent creatures. He could not permit them to disapprove his perfections and government, to hate and injure one another, without signifying in the strongest manner his decided disapprobation of such conduct. To suppose the contrary would be to annihilate the essential difference between virtue and vice, sin and holiness. It would insinuate, likewise, that God was not a lover of righteousness, nor a determined enemy of moral evil, than which nothing can be more false. This statement is confirmed by the law which God has given for the direction of the conduct of his

THE gospel is the last and best dispensation of God to man. "In these last days God hath spoken unto us by his son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things." Highly instructive is the language of the apostle Paul, when speaking of the superiority of the Christian economy, compared with the Mosaic law; he denominates it the glory that excelleth. It claims God for its author, unmerited favour for its source, the illumination and purity of the mind for its object; and it will extend its benign influence and effects through everlasting ages. It is indeed the glorious Gospel of the blessed God." Boasting a celestial birth, it must neces- creatures, both towards himself sarily partake of that wisdom, rec- and each other, "Thou shalt love titude, and benevolence which are the Lord thy God with all thy essential to Deity. It is light heart, with all thy strength, and without darkness, holiness without thy neighbour as thyself." In a sin, and beauty without the least variety of instances we have vioshade of deformity. A dispensa-lated this holy rule of conduct. tion worthy of God; and safe, be- Now where the command of the cause suited to the fallen guilty law is broken, the curse of the law circumstances of man. The sub-enters; for it is said, "Cursed lime discoveries of the Gospel, its bright and harmonious display of the divine perfections- the religious character it forms-its suitableness to the guilty and afflictive circumstances of man-and the hope of immortality it inspires; all unite to illustrate and confirm our views of its excellence.

is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them." We have rendered ourselves miserable by our wilful rebellion against the authority of God. Human nature is essentially different now from what it was at first. Men have corrupted their ways. Sin renders us 1. Its sublime discoveries.—God obnoxious to punishment, and this is the centre and source of all per- punishment is as certain as the fection, natural and moral. He, justice and truth of God can make as our creator and sovereign, is it. There is something exceedentitled to the reins of universal ingly affecting in the idea that we government. It is impossible that have offended a Being of infinite VOL. IV. 3d Series.

t

K K

majesty, spotless purity, unbound- clude with our apostle, "He who

spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?—the full pardon of our sins, the free justification of our persons, admittance into the household of faith, and a meetness for the inheritance of the saints in glory." For all these sublime discoveries we are indebted to the Gospel of Christ. They are truths that "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither had they entered into the heart of man," had not God revealed them in his blessed word. This is the light that is to guide our feet in the way of peace.

ed goodness, and almighty power. We cannot hide ourselves from his all-piercing eye. We cannot evade the stroke of his almighty arm. Hence it is that men in every age have had their fears alarmed. They knew not but death would blot them out of being, or even remove them to a state of greater misery than they experienced upon earth. They were unacquainted with the way of access to God, and had no assurance that their prayers would be accepted, or their sins forgiven. All beyond the present moment was darkness and confusion. The light of reason, with all its boasted powers, could only "feel after II. Its bright and harmonious God." "The world by wisdom display of the divine perfections.knew not God." The ancient phi- Much of God's goodness has been losophers and moral teachers of displayed in our world in "giving mankind, "professing themselves life, and breath, and all things" to wise, became fools." For this the children of men. His sun ildark and fearful state of things luminates our path, and his rain "The day-spring from on high refreshes and fertilizes our fields. shone forth to give light to those who were in darkness, and in the region of the shadow of death." We are no longer left to the conjectures of human reason, and the fluctuating opinion of fallible men. The great truths of the Gospel were revealed by the Son of God himself. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." In the humiliation, sufferings, and death of Christ we behold infinite love to sinners, whilst at the same time the law of God receives more honour than it could have acquired by the obedience and death of all mankind. The " weary and heavy laden are now invited to partake of this grace." It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, even the chief of sinners." This is good news indeed. We may well con

He fills our hearts with food and gladness. But what are these expressions of benevolence, compared with the gift of his own Son?

Thanks be unto God for this unspeakable gift!" The most valuable that God himself could bestow upon us. The creation and support of the world itself, is but a small instance of his love compared with the gift of Christ. The wisdom of God eminently appears in every part of creation. Every insect and animal, every flower and plant, displays great contrivance and skill. "In wisdom thou hast made them all." But in the birth, sufferings and death of Christ, God hath" abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence." It is easy to see the glory of God manifested in the felicity of innocent creatures, but not so in the happiness of the rebellious and depraved. In the Gospel we not only perceive the righteousness of

God in the punishment of sinners, | played, the character and perfecbut in their pardon and justifica- tions of God are glorified. Now tion. In the method of grace in the mediation of Christ the apthere revealed, the rebel is not only parently opposite perfections of saved, but the law which he had the divine nature unite together in broken is magnified and made ho- the most perfect harmony. Infinite nourable. The rectitude and jus- justice and unbounded grace have tice of God are manifest in the their claims equally admitted and awful judgments inflicted on the exalted. Mercy and truth are rebellious and ungodly; but this met together, righteousness and is not so impressive an exhibition peace have embraced each other." of divine justice and spotless purity, Our God is glorious in holiness, as is displayed in the conduct of and unbounded in compassion. He God towards his own Son, when is the "just God," and yet "the he "bruised him and put him to Saviour of all that believe" in his grief" for us. What an affecting only begotten Son. He is the view of sin does this method of righteous governor, yet the tender salvation present us with! How Father of his people. No wonder sacred the honours of the divine the astonished angels, when first law which nothing but the death of they beheld this stupendous disChrist could repair! How awful play of the divine perfectious in the rectitude and justice of God, the person of our Redeemer, sang, which required such a sacrifice to "Glory to God in the highest, on "put away sin," and " bring in earth peace and good will to man." everlasting righteousness!" A world High in intellect as these illustrious of creatures suffering eternal death spirits are, they stoop to learn in as the wages of sin, does not ex- the church the manifold wisdom of hibit such an affecting view of the God. Though not personally indivine holiness and justice, as the terested in the work of redemption, astonishing spectacle of the Son they delight to study the mysteries of God dying for our sins. In the of saving love, and glorify God for mediatorial work of Christ, the per- such benevolence towards man. fections of God are not only mani- III. The religious character it fested separately, but in full har- forms.-The various systems of mony with each other. To exalt religion, the offspring of human one perfection at the expense of invention, which have been taught another, would not augment the to mankind in different ages of the divine glory. For instance, should world, have largely participated of God dispense his mercy in such a the weaknesses and vices of their way as not to appear the decided authors. The effect will never enemy of moral evil, and the friend rise higher than the cause that proof righteousness, his whole charac-duced it. The fruit will always ter, instead of being illustrated, partake of the nature of the tree. would be rendered less glorious. The streams will correspond with God is infinite in all his perfec- the fountain. "That which is tions, and he might as soon cease born of the flesh is flesh." A relito exist as act contrary to himself. gion originating with depraved man One attribute could not be mani- must be earthly and sensual. Pafested at the expense of another. ganism substituted a variety of All must be exercised together, superstitious ceremonies in the without confusion or disorder. In room of moral instruction, and, as proportion as this harmony is dis-might be expected, left the people

ignorant and vicious. The doc-give purity to a world lying in trines taught by Mahomet accom-wickedness. When the knowledge modate themselves to the cruelty of the Lord shall fill the earth, there and sensuality of the human heart. shall be nothing to hurt or destroy How widely different the Gospel throughout the world. The effects of Christ! "It is first pure, then of Christianity are not confined to peaceable, gentle, full of mercy, the individual; but benefit and and of good fruits; without par- bless all that come within the reach tiality and without hypocrisy." of their influence. The Christian's Like its divine author, it is "full light is not to be concealed. It is of grace and truth." Its doctrines so to shine before men that they enlighten the mind, its great and by seeing their good works, may precious promises console and cheer be induced to glorify their Father the heart; its motives and influ- in heaven. The converts of Christ ences form the man anew. It in- are blessed in order that they may culcates piety towards God, and be made a blessing. Their talents benevolence towards man. By the are not merely for themselves. hope of heaven it elevates and spi- They are only "stewards of the ritualizes the affections. The Gos- manifold grace of God." pel which is expressly styled "the blessings which they participate, ministration of the Spirit," and they are to communicate. They from whose agency it derives all are to comfort others with the comits energy to enlighten and bless, fort wherewith they themselves are when it comes "in power, in the comforted of God. How many Holy Ghost, and in much assur- miserable and mischievous sinners, ance," never leaves a man as it by the instrumentality of the glofinds him. It produces a change rious Gospel, have been rescued alike wonderful and beneficial. Is from the hateful tyranny of conhe afar off from God by wicked tending passions, and made to fill works? it brings him nigh. Is he up their places in society with rean enemy? it reconciles him and spectability, comfort, and usefulmakes him a friend. Is he pol-ness! luted? it purifies the heart. Is he

(To be continued.)

The

in bondage to sin? it emancipates him. Is he in a state of moral degradation? it elevates and refines RELIGIOUS CONVERSATION ENFORced. his mind: "If any man be in AMONG the signs of degeneracy Christ he is a new creature; old in modern professors, over which things are passed away, and behold all things are become new." "The wolf dwells with the lamb, the leopard lies down with the kid, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. Instead of the thorn comes up the fir tree, and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree, and it shall be unto the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." It is this heavenly doctrine that must restore peace, and

a devout mind cannot but deeply mourn, there is scarcely any so general and apparent as a neglect of pious conversation. Instead of imbuing their whole discourse with the spirit of religion, as from the name they bear, we might expect them to do, many of them almost entirely exclude this subject from their conversation, so that from intercourse with them in the social walks of life, it cannot be determined whether they make any pretensions to piety or not.. If they

ever talk about it, they treat it only

I. Let it be considered what

course.

as a subject of controversy, a topic the Scriptures say of pious disof curious speculation, or an occasion of discussing the merits of They repeatedly urge on our atsome celebrated preacher or writer. tention the striking injunction of In this case their discourse is by Jehovah, as if they would have it no means truly pious. To merit deeply impressed on our memothis character it must not only re- ries, and ever present to our late to religious themes, but must thoughts. "These words which I treat them in a manner which is command thee thou shalt talk of calculated to excite religious feel- when thou sittest in thine house, ing, or impart some spiritual benefit. and when thou walkest by the way, And where are the companies who and when thou liest down, and generally thus talk of religion? when thou risest up." They preWhere is the individual Christian sent David to us as an example, who can say that he has habitually making such resolutions as these: done so? Not long ago the writer" My tongue shall speak of thy of this paper was present at a social righteousness and of thy praise all meeting, of ministers and other pro- the day long;" "I will meditate fessors, which followed an ordina- on thy works and talk of thy dotion service. It was the first meeting of the kind that he attended, and therefore he expected to enjoy a spiritual feast. He waited for a considerable time to hear a political subject which was brought on the carpet, superseded by some serious topic. After a while politics seemed to have become uninteresting, and at length we set it aside, not however as the writer had fondly hoped by the introduction of religion, but by a trifling and lengthened chat about a variety of things; not including alas, in this variety, that one thing, which, if individually referred to, each would have acknowledged to possess the strongest claim on his attention. Four hours were thus murdered by nearly thirty persons who professed to be the ministers and disciples of Christ.

Not a single word of truly pious conversation passed during the whole time. This meeting, however, was by no means singular in neglecting sacred things; if report speaks truly, most meetings of the same kind are guilty of the same neglect.

And ought these things so to be? Certainly not, for

ings." They speak of this duty as a distinguished mark of the godly, by which the Most High paid especial respect in a season of great irreligion: "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him." They assert, in the words of Christ himself, that our discourse will be brought forward as a decisive mark of character, at the final judgment. "I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment; for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words shalt thou be condemned." And they command us to "sing unto God and to talk of his wonderous works; to let that communication proceed out of our mouth which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearer, and to let our speech, always be with grace, seasoned with salt. Nor do they thus instruct and exhort only, but they add the authority of a powerful example. They bring the discourse of the Saviour before us, that we