ment. Having tasted that the by the unrelenting hand of death. Lord is gracious, he adopts the Our friends and benefactors where joyful language of the church. "O are they? do they live for ever? Lord, I will praise thee: though They are gone to their long home, thou wast angry with me, thine and the mourners go about the anger is turned away, and thou streets. A necessary enquiry precomfortest me." sents itself here. How shall we The Gospel is not only suited bear up under the sorrows and to man as guilty and liable to con- vicissitudes of life without dejecdemnation, but as the subject tion and despair? Reason may 66 is the only true source of support and consolation. Its cheering rays pierce the thickest gloom of guilt and distress. It is a sovereign balm to heal the wounded heart. It speaks peace to the troubled breast. Let us hear its charming language, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. of numerous disappointments and silence, but not satisfy us; may sorrows. That sinners are suf- dispose us to conceal our sorrows, ferers under the righteous govern- but cannot assuage them. Scepment of God, ought not to be a ticism may infuse stubbornness, matter of surprize. All the de- but cannot give patience and rescendants of Adam are children of signation. The religion of Christ adversity and heirs of sorrow. alone can teach us, how to demean "Man is born to trouble as the ourselves under the sorrows and sparks fly upwards." No situa- discipline of a probationary state. tion, however exalted, no piety The Gospel of the grace of God however ardent and sincere, can exempt from affliction and distress. Every lot has its crook, and every heart its own peculiar anxieties and fears. Affliction marks every stage of human life. Childhood and youth are vanity." Manhood is a series of care and toil. Old age is accompanied with infirmities and diseases. Between moral and natural evil there is an inseparable connection. Sin is the cause of every woe we feel or fear. It has converted a fruitful field into a barren waste. With what a dark hue it has tinged all the fair prospects of life. The body is liable to pain and wasting sickness; the mind to be oppressed by disappointed hope, and bereaving providences. The imperfections of society, and the distress of families, occasion sorrow and pain. The loss of real, and the treachery of pretended friends, pierce the heart through with many sorrows. Some of the severest strokes to which suffering humanity is liable are occasioned by the death of those we love. The most tender relations of life are torn asunder V. The hope of immortality it inspires.-The human understanding, unaided by the word of God, knows but little, and that very confusedly, of the world to come. Upon this subject the most enlightened of the ancients were obliged to content themselves with vague notions and uncertain conjectures. Socrates, the brightest luminary of the heathen world, when making his defence before his judges, expresses himself in the language of doubt and perplexity. "Death," says he, "either reduces us to nothing, or as some say, it conveys us from this | perfect society, and interrupted world into some other region." enjoyments." He that sitteth upon The sentiment of the soul's im- the throne shall create all things mortality, among the Gentile mo- anew. "Our bodies shall be raised ralists, was more a speculation than from the ruins of the grave, and a principle of practice; therefore fashioned like unto the glorious inefficient, involved in obscurity, body of Christ; our religious atand blended with error and fable. tainments shall be perfected, our The doctrine of a future state and intercourse with the society of heathe resurrection of the body, were ven shall be uninterrupted, and our imperfectly understood and be- joys complete and eternal in their lieved even among the Jews. So duration. For in the presence of that with propriety it may be said, God there is a fulness of joy, that "life and immortality are and at his right hand are pleasures brought to light by the Gospel." for evermore." The darkness in which they were If such be the excellency of the involved is dissipated by the cheer-Gospel, what ought to be the coning rays of the sun of righteous- duct and temper of the professed ness. They are placed before us followers of Christ? To you, brein the word of God in the most thren, religion looks as to her friends interesting and convincing light. and advocates. In you she conEvery sober question respecting fides for support and commendaeternity is there answered in a tion. Beware you do not disapmanner calculated to accomplish point her hopes, that you do not the most important and practical betray her confidence. You propurposes. The believer's views fess that the Gospel of the grace are not terminated by the boun- of God has done much for you; dary of this world; by faith he see that you express your gratilooks at "the things which are not tude in studying the genius of seen and eternal." "If he had only Christianity; by imitating the exhope in this world, he would be of ample of your master, by obeying all men the most miserable. But the precepts of his word, and by he is looking for new heavens and exemplifying the holy and benevoa new earth, wherein dwelleth lent tendency of revealed truth. righteousness. His hope is full of Study in your different callings, immortality, and therefore replete and the various relations of life, to with blessedness. The pilgrim an- adorn the doctrine of God your ticipates the termination of his Saviour. 'Only let your converpilgrimage, the Christian the rest sation be as becometh the gospel that awaiteth the people of God. of Christ." In your conduct emBlessed hope of immortality, that body and illustrate the articles of softens my afflictions, that brightens your belief. See that ye "walk my joys, that makes darkness light, worthy of the Lord unto all well crooked things straight, and brings pleasing, being fruitful in every distant futurity near! The en- good word and work. Be ye imijoyment of immortality shall free tators of God as dear children." the believer from what is not worth Let his infinite excellence and keeping, and put him in pos- matchless glories engage your susession of all that is desirable,-preme love, his majesty and doan eternal weight of glory! In minion excite your profound reveheaven we shall not complain of rence, his power and presence bodily pain, mental distress, im- produce diligence and watchful 66 W. B. ness, his rectitude and purity in- | inheritance of the saints in light. crease your hatred to sin and love" Without holiness no man shall of holiness, his providence and see the Lord." The gospel of rich benignity encourage unlimited con- free unmerited favour, that bringfidence, and promote the most sin- eth salvation, "teacheth us, that cere and lively gratitude. Guard denying all ungodliness and worldly against earthly mindedness and lusts, we should live soberly, righcriminal love of the world. An teously, and godly in this present inordinate attachment to the world world; looking for that blessed is idolatry, and incompatible with hope and the glorious appearing of the love of God, and the salvation the great God and our Saviour Jesus of the soul. Cultivate love to the Christ; who gave himself for us, saints, and benevolence to all men. that he might redeem us from all Remember "the grace of our Lord iniquity, and purify unto himself a Jesus Christ, who, though he was peculiar people, zealous of good rich, yet for our sakes became poor, works." Seeing that we look for that we through his poverty might these things, what manner of perbe rich." "Whoso hath this world's sons ought we to be in all holy good, and seeth his brother have conversation and godliness? need, and shutteth up his bowels Greenwich. of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" You are not your own, but bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are his. Watch against anti-christian and unlovely tempers. The HAVING been present in a comgrace of the Gospel is as much pany of several ministers, when a calculated to subdue and save from discussion took place on the nature evil tempers, as from outward im- and extent of Gospel threatenings, morality. "Be not deceived, God while listening in silence to the reis not mocked; whatsoever a man marks made on this subject, I was soweth, that shall he also reap." forcibly reminded of the observaRest not in present attainments, but tions of Dr. Owen, in his invaluable grow in grace, and in the know- Exposition of the Hebrews, ledge of our Lord and Saviour chapter ii. 3.; and though I am Jesus Christ. Giving all diligence, aware that it is not usual with you add to your faith virtue, and to to insert quotations from works virtue knowledge, and to know- already known, yet I hope you ledge temperance, and to temper-will find a place for the following ance patience, and to patience brief extracts, bearing immediately godliness, and to godliness bro- on the point, and well worthy, as therly kindness, and to brotherly I conceive, the serious attention of kindness charity." all who bear the character of ministers of the Gospel. 66 GOSPEL THREATENINGS. on "As the time of your complete salvation is nearer than when you I cannot forbear adding, that it first believed, set your affections has long been my earnest desire on things above, not on things on that something like a full digest of the earth. To be carnally minded the theology of Dr. Owen could is death, but to be spiritually mind-be extracted from his numerous ed is life and peace." Not only writings, arranged under suitable expect, but seek a meetness for the heads, and modified occasionally of God. And as such persons wil find themselves to have a weak and an enervated ministry here, so also they will have a sad account, for their partiality in the word, to give hereafter. Let not men think themselves more evangelical, than the author of the Gospel, more skilled in the mystery of the conversion and edification of the souls of men, than the apostles; in a word, more wise than God himself, which they must do, if they neglect this part of his ordinance." in the form of expression, so as to be more easily intelligible to the mere English scholar. The labour of such an undertaking would indeed be great, and it would require intellect, and information, and leisure, not often possessed, especially in combination; but sure I am, that a competent individual would find his reward in the toil, and that the benefit to the church of God would be immense. Nor do I believe that it would be necessary to go beyond the boundaries of our own Denomination to find such a In proceeding to shew the variperson, should it please God to ous grounds on which these parts incline his heart to the undertaking; of inspired truth are needful for beor that the pious layman by whom lievers themselves, Dr. O. remarks, the Christian world has been fur- "The hearts of believers are nished with a most valuable collec-like gardens, wherein there are not tion of "Devotional Thoughts" only flowers, but weeds also; and from his own stores, would be ill as the former must be watered and employed in facilitating the access of ministers, in particular, to the copious treasure of evangelical truth scattered through the voluminous writings of this distinguished divine. But I must not enlarge, or you will have a valid reason for excluding me from your pages altogether. Yours, &c. DELTA. "Some would fancy, that all comminations and threatenings do belong to the law; as though Jesus Christ had left himself and his Gospel to be securely despised by profane and impenitent sinners: but as they will find the contrary to their eternal ruin, so it is the I will of Christ that we should let them know this, and thereby warn others to take heed of their sins and their plagues. "If the dispensers of the word insist not on [those motives which are derived from the threatenings recorded in the Gospel,] they deal deceitfully with the souls of men, and detain from them the counsel cherished, so the latter must be curbed and nipped. If nothing but dews and showers of promises should fall upon the heart, though they seem to tend to the cherishing of their graces, yet the weeds of corruption will be apt to grow up with them, and in the end to choke them, unless they are nipped and blasted by the severity of threatenings. And although their persons, in the use of meaus, shall be secured from falling under the final execution of comminations, yet they know there is an infallible connection signified in them between sin and destruction (1 Cor. vi. 9.), and that they must avoid the one, if they will escape the other." After having observed, "that threatenings of future penalties on the disobedient are far more clear and express,' as well as "the punishment greater and more sore" in the Gospel than in the law, he closes by saying "This ought they to be well acquainted withal, who are called unto the dispensation of the Gos pel. A fond conceit hath befallen Some of you, my dear brethren and sisters, have begun to run well. On the last Sabbath you publicly enlisted yourselves under the banner of Jesus, and made an open profession before many witnesses. With the utmost Christian affection, I would now address myself particularly to you, and what passage of Scripture can I with more propriety enforce upon you, than the contents of the 6th verse of the 2nd chapter of the epistle to the Colossians, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, ON RECEIVING CHRIST, &c. Outline of a SERMON PREACHED BY THE REV. S. PEARCE, LATE OF CANNON STREET, Birmingham, TAKEN FROM HIS OWN HANDWRITING. BRETHREN, How just how necessary this exhortation, how suited to each professor of Christianity, and how particularly adapted to your circumstances, my beloved friends, who have so lately put on Christ Jesus the Lord by public profession. These words are the language of Christian love addressed by that affectionate minister of the gospel, Paul, to the believing Colossians, ch. i. 3. With Christian affection let me also attempt to explain, and apply, and enforce them. Let us I. Take a view of Christians as receiving Christ Jesus the Lord. Let us II. Open and enforce the exhortation-so walk ye in him. 1. The son of God is repre THE religion of Jesus Christ is founded in doctrine, is realized in experience, and is manifested in practice, or by a uniform and ex-sented in three capacities. emplary discharge of those duties 2. Christians receive him in each enjoined on us in the Holy Scrip- and all of these capacities. tures. Whatever professions men may make of their acquiescence in the former, or whatever they may say of their acquaintance with experience, we cannot justly believe them savingly brought to the knowledge of the truth, without their strict observance of religious duty, and walking in all things as becometh godliness: a perseverance in holiness, is so to run as at last to obtain. 1. The Redeemer is called Christ, which signifies anointed, and respects his Messiahship. A Messiah was promised and expected by the Jews, but Jesus was rejected because of his obscurity. He came as a deliverer, but not a temporal one; therefore, Paul first every where insists on the Messiahship of Christ. Acts xviii. 5-28. Now, the deliverance of the Messiah is of a spiritual kind from |