now beaten down under our feet. Faith in Christ dissolves the charms of sin, breaks its fascinating hold, and makes the sinner free indeed. Faith in Christ gives vigor and energy to the powers of the soul, and is the 'root and spring of every holy act; whilst legality is pernicious to the practice of all holiness and our whole salvation. My brethren, renounce all dependence upon your figleaf righteousness; it will leave you strangers to peace, easy victims to temptation, and heirs to perdition: whilst the righteousness which is of faith, will give you peace with God, prepare a way for your escape from every allurement, and secure a place at God's right hand. May you, my beloved brethren, by faith receive that imputed righteousness which is "clear as the sun," that inherent righteousness which is "fair as the moon," and thus be to all your enemies, "terrible as an army with banners." SERMON VI. "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them upon her wings; so the Lord alone did lead him, there was no strange God with him.-DEUT. XXXII. 11. The king of birds, combining as it does, more admirable qualities than any other fowl, forms a royal similitude. It has strength to mount above all, swiftness to outstrip all, an eye that penetrates the very fountain of light, affection that draws forth its blood for its young, and a sagacity, almost human, in instructing and disciplining them, which is specially noted in our text. The allusion is to the Jews. The subject illustrated, is their deliverance out of Egypt and their preservation in the wilderness; "Ye have seen," says He, "what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagle's wings, and brought you unto myself." But there is another nation to whom this language is as applicable. There is a spiritual Israel whom He has brought from the house of their bondage, and is leading onward and upward to their rest in the munition of rocks on the everlasting hills. We propose to show how God ac • Ex. xix. 4. complishes this gracious work. Without doing violence to the similitude, we notice four things; admonition, allurement, assistance and protection. Thus God acts for, and upon, and with his people, when He brings them from nature to grace, and from grace to glory. I. God uses divine admonitions, "As the eagle stirreth up her nest." When the eagle thinks it time for her young ones to leave their nest, she moves it with great gentleness and affection; she sees them sleeping and unwilling to relinquish their first home; she makes a noise and strikes her wings against the surrounding branches; then, having awoke them, she disturbs them still further; and finally, "stirreth up," turns the nest inside out, and compels them to take to the crags of the rocks, or to the boughs of the trees. This is one step towards mounting up. Thus did God with Israel. They were comparatively at ease by the flesh pots of Egypt; and if they had been allowed to remain thus at ease, they would have continued as dull of understanding, as when Moses smote the Egyptian, "supposing that they would have understood how that God, by his hand, would deliver them; but they understood not." But God "stirred up their nest" by moving the heart of Pharaoh against them, until they cried for deliverance. So, God finds sinners at ease; they prosper, their children are about them, they love the world and forget God; but God forgets not them. They forget the curse that is written against such as are "at ease in Zion," but God does not; He has purposes of love towards them. They are unwil ling to think that this is not their rest, unwilling to rise and stretch their wings towards a higher and a better world. God calls, but they refuse to hear; He calls again—“rise, *Acts vii. 25. come away"-they nestle but the closer; He stirs them up: sickness invades their dwelling, a wife is taken away with a stroke, or a husband dies in the pride and vigor of manhood, or a darling child is blighted in the bud; it is yet in vain. Not willing that they should perish, He comes next to break up their nest. The sails of commerce are rent; business is blighted; schemes are frustrated; property is wasted; the stately store, where thousands were once accumulated, passes into the hands of various creditors; they are turned out of house and home; "Where once they dwelt, their name is heard no more, God has destroyed their nest; He admonishes them that "this is not their rest;" He brings them out of their comforts, to point them to the skies. Afflictions, if any thing, will make a man seek after God. When Manasseh, who was a monster in wickedness," was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly," &c. * When the prodigal son began to be in want, he took up the pious resolution to return to his father's house. When God called Abraham, He, as it were, turned him out of his nest,-"Get thee out of thy country," &c,-then he became the father of the faithful. When Jacob was driven from the parental roof, he held such intercourse with heaven as he never did before; and when danger threatened him, and his wives, and his children, he obtained the blessing and Jacob became Israel; the supplanter was transformed into a princely prevailer with God. David went astray until he was afflicted. Few, very few, in their prosperity seek after God and if affliction fail to draw the soul from sin 2 Chron: xxxiii. 12. 13. 15. 16. to holiness, and from the world to Heaven, God says, "Let him alone"-it is his last message. If the young eagles will not step from their shattered nest, to the inviting bough or crag, they must fall and die. And if men will not, when the world is knocked from under them, place themselves in an attitude to look for another and a better, God says "Let them alone, they are joined to their idols, let their idols save them." Brethren, God is stirring up men's nests-not that He delights to afflict, but, that He may bless, that He may save. Oh, hear! oh, obey! When riches take wing and fly away, "covet earnestly the best gifts"-"Seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness "-Seek the wisdom which is from above "as for silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God "*"Search for me with all your heart and ye shall find me." shall find me." Transfer that diligence and skill which have been applied to "vanity and vexation of spirit," to God and thy soul, and thou shalt have "riches. which add no sorrow, and an inheritance incorruptible: but if thou wilt not hear and be wise, then, "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord." + II. We are met with divine allurements. The eagle "fluttereth over her young;" "hovers over them, and excites them to imitate her and take their flight." (Cruden.) Thus the Lord moved Israel to leave Egypt; and thus, speaking by His prophet Hosea of their restoration from Babylon, and especially of their conversion to Christ, He says "I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her." And thus, my * Prov. ii. 4, 5. + Obad. 4. + Hos. ii. 14, 15. |