Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

rescued from the flavery of fin. Nay, God himself vouchfafes to give him his love and favour; he is brought under the care of his indulgent providence ; he enjoys the conduct of his grace; and is now there fore likely to be safe for ever in his heavenly kingdom. He is become, in a word, one of thofe fheep, concerning which our Lord tells us, that " he knows "them, and will give unto them eternal life; that "they fhall never perish, neither shall any pluck them "out of his hands (c)."

Thus you fee the happy ftate of a finner upon his conversion, the comfortable change produced in his circumstances. He that was dead in fin, and under the curfe of the law, is now made alive to God, and reftored to the hope of eternal life. He that was loft to the fervice of God, and every moment in danger of perithing, is now brought home to the fold of Chrift, and under his care fhall be for ever fafe.

But, Laftly, This is mentioned in the text as a juftifiable ground of the higheft joy. "Let us eat and "be merry for this my fon was dead, and is alive again; he was loft, and is found."

Now, this will be evident, if we confider either the glory that thereby redounds to God, or the benefit and happiness which accrue to the converted finner himfelf.

1. The converfion of a finner will appear to be a folid ground of the higheft joy, if we confider the glory which by that means redounds to the Almighty. The advancement of the divine glory is certainly the moft justifiable ground of joy. And nothing furely is more eminently conducive to this, than a finner's converfion for this is the work of God himself; a work which, above all others, manifefts the glory of his infinite mercy and omnipotent grace. Hence, it is fpoken of in fcripture as that which fhows the exceeding greatness of his power, and the glory and 2 F 2

(6) John x. 27, 28.

riches

riches of his grace. By this means, Chrift obtains the most glorious triumph over his enemies, and erects his throne on the ruins of Satan's empire. By this means, there is one fubject more added to his kingdom, and one child to his family; one more, in whose falvation the virtue of Chrift's atonement fhall be difplayed, and the victorious influence of his grace for ever magnified. By this means, in a word, one fheep more is added to the fold of Chrift, and one member to his myftical body, whofe future dignity and happiness fhall be an acceffion to the glory of his exalted Head and Lord, when he comes to be glorifed in his faints, and admired in them that believe. And furely, when the glory of God and the Redeemer is fo highly advanced by a finner's converfion, this is, and will be, ground of real joy to every fincere believer.

2. This will appear, if we confider the benefit and happiness that thereby accrue to the finner himself.

Chriftian charity fhould difpofe us to defire the welfare and happiness of others, and to welcome the tidings of it with unfeigned joy. Now, the converfion of a finner is the greatest bleffing he can be poffeffed of; it is a favour in which the falvation of his foul is concerned, and a mercy unspeakably greater than can be conceived for by means of it, he that was dead in fin and under the curfe, is now made alive to God; and he that was loft, is happily found. And furely, if the temporal good of others be the ground of joy, much more should their spiritual and eternal welfare. Is it matter of joy when a difeafed patient is recovered, and a miserable captive fet at liberty? and fhall we not rejoice when a dead finner is restored to fpiritual life, when a flave of Satan is redeemed from his wretched bondage, and a child of wrath becomes an adopted child of God, and heir of heaven? This we are told is a subject of the highest joy to the blesfed angels above; for there is joy in heaven over one

finner

finner that repenteth: And if thefe benevolent fpirits rejoice at the converfion of a finner, it becomes us to do fo likewife.

It now only remains that we bring home what has been faid to your confciences, by a particular applica

tion.

I would, 1, Addrefs myself to unconverted finners. And oh that I knew what words to choose, or what arguments to urge, that might poffibly prevail. with you.

(1.) Reflect seriously upon the mifery of your pre

fent ftate.

You are here reprefented as dead, dead in fin, and under the curfe. Though you live and act in a natural fenfe, and with refpect to the affairs of this world; yer, with refpect to thofe of your fouls and eternity, you are under the power of fpiritual death. Now, to convince you of this, look into your own hearts, and try if the following figns of fpiritual death do not belong to you. You have no fenfe or feeling of your mifery and danger; no fuch fenfe, I mean, as thoroughly to awaken you to fly to Chrift the only remedy. Yon have no fpiritual motions towards Chrift, or things. that are fpiritual, no breathings after communion with God, and conformity to him: a fure fign of fpiritual death; for, were there a principle of life in your fouls, it would point towards heaven, and be in you a well of water fpringing up to everlafting life. You have no appetite for fpiritual food; you favour not the things that be of God; nay, during the whole period of your lives, you can remain without any communion between God and your fouls: a thing that could never take place, if you were not fpiritually dead. You have no heat or fpiritual warmth in your affections to God and things above. Your hearts indeed are warmed to the world by your lufts; but how cold and dead are they towards Chrift and fpiritual objects #

2 F 3

objects! And finally, you have no real concern for your own prefervation: the wrath of God hangs over you; you are upon the very brink of deftruction; and yet will make use of no means to avoid it. How plain is it, then, that your fouls are spiritually dead! Nay, you are proceeding from fpiritual death to death eternal, being bound over thereto by the righteous fentence of the law of God, and every moment in danger of the execution of it. Now, if this be your dreadful condition, be not at reft till you are made alive to God by Jefus Chrift. Of all things, the most dreadful and lamentable is the death of thy precious foul. Awake, then, ye that are dead in fin; arife, and Christ will give you life.

You are alfo reprefented as loft. With regard to all thofe excellent purposes for which you were created, you are ufelefs and unferviceable to God. You have hitherto fruftrated the defign of redeeming grace. Nay, you are estranged from God, the flaves of fin, and in danger of eternal mifery. And is this a fituation in which you would with to continue? Is this a state in which you can reft satisfied? Will you not open your eyes to fee your danger? Will you not at last come to yourfelves, and entertain ferious thoughts of returning to God?

may

2. Be perfuaded then to return to God, that so it be faid of you, that though you were once dead, you are now alive; though you were loft, you are now found. To perfuade you to this, let me urge upon you the argument fuggefted in the text.

Confider what a folid foundation of joy your converfion will be. The great God himself will rejoice in it: He has no pleafure in the death of finners, but in their repentance and falvation. The bleffed angels will rejoice in it: It will be welcome news to them, if any of you are delivered from the power of darkness, and tranflated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. The children of God, and the faithful

ministers

1

ministers of Chrift will rejoice in it. Nay, let me tell you, you yourselves will have the greatest reafon to rejoice in it, and will review this change in your nature and state with the highest fatisfaction.

I now conclude with a few advices to those who are converted to God.

1. Rejoice in your own converfion. Blefs God, and be thankful. Confider how important the favour; how few there are who partake of it; and in the midst of how much oppofition his grace has laid hold on your fouls.

2. Rejoice in the converfion of others; and let it appear you do fo by your earneft endeavours to promote it. Labour to be the happy instruments of turning fome finner from the error of his way; for in confequence of this, you will fave a foul from death, and cover a multitude of fins.

Lastly, Wish and long for that bleffed world, where your falvation fhall be complete, where Chrift, who is your life, will receive you to himself, and make dwell for ever in his immediate prefence. Amen.

you

SER

« AnteriorContinuar »