Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

and be that shall come will come, and will not tarry. The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my foul, faith the Lord, shall have no pleasure in him. Be not ye of them who draw back unto perdition: but of them that believe to the faving of the foul (i).

(i) Heb. x, 36-39.

SERMON VI.

Goodness illuftrated by the Character of

Barnabas,

ACTS, xi, 22-24.

They fent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch: who, when he came, and had feen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghoft and of faith.

1

IN the management of worldly tranfac

tions, the foundness of the principles upon which we conduct ourselves is a circumftance of prime moment to our fuccefs. If the man of fcience builds his fpeculations on a groundlefs theory, and fuftains them by an unphilofophical procefs; fhall not they terminate in emptinefs and dif

appoint

appointment? If the Commander embarked in a perilous enterprife, has formed an erroneous judgement concerning its nature, and measures its facilities or its difficulties by a falfe ftandard; fhall not the event be difaftrous? Is it not then of inexpreffible concern that, in pursuing the interests of eternity, you should contemplate them with difcerning eyes; and eftimate, by a true criterion, every particular which is effential to the attainment of your object? The man of science may renew his labours on a firmer bafis. The Commander, reaping wifdom from defeats, may conquer in another campaign. Not fo the departed spirit, wilfully eftranged, while in the body, from the path of final happiness. Difappointment in that pursuit is ruin for ever.

There are few fubjects refpecting which a more confpicuous variety of judgement prevails than exifts with regard to goodness. How numerous, how difcordant are the ftandards by which it is measured! Enter the crowded circle of fociety, and advert to fome of the different characters, to which you hear the term Good continually and confidently applied.

First: there is the decent and orderly man. He is fo regular in his attendance

on

on the ordinances of the church, fo punctual in his dealings, fo free from grofs and open vice, fo unobtrufive in demeanour, fo decorous in all his proceedings; that he fpeedily establishes his claim to the title of a good man. If, when called upon to applaud him as fuch, you venture to pause for additional information: if, before you deliver your opinion, you with to obtain grounds for judging whether, while he bears the form of godliness, he alfo manifefts the power thereof; whether his religion is an outfide coat, a fuperficial varnish, or a principle of penetrating influence, warming and governing the heart: you are instantly decried as cenforious and uncharitable, and never to be fatisfied. " What," you are asked, “is goodness; if fo refpectable and exemplary a man as this is not good?"

[ocr errors]

Then comes the liberal man, and prefers his claim. His pretenfions are instantly admitted. He is to open-hearted and benevolent; fo prompt to empty his purfe; fo kind to the poor; fo hofpitable to his friends! If you begin to examine, with whatever modefty, with whatever care not to imply ftronger doubts than ambiguous appearances unavoidably raife, whether his libera

lity may not be thoughtlefs profufion; whether his benevolence may not be a mere natural feeling; whether his hofpitality may not be the indulgence of fenfuality and oftentation whether other parts of his conduct uphold or contradict the fuppofition of his goodness: you are encountered with vehement decla rations that a better man never exifted; and are filenced with the perverted text, that charity covereth a multitude of fins.

Then comes an oppofite character; the industrious and frugal man. So much laudable diligence in his bufinefs; so much care to provide for his family; fo much exertion, fo much patience; fo much perfeverance, fo much felf-denial; fuch exemption from parade, from noite, from extravagance, from diffipation: here is an example of laborious virtue! If you intimate a doubt whether his labours exemplify any difpofition beyond covetoufnefs or mere worldly prudence; you are treated as a man determined to find fault, as one whom neither generosity nor frugality can please.

The next perfon who demands notice is. the cautious man. His object is never to give offence. He fays civil things of every perfon; yet not fo civil of any person as to excite the jealoufy of another. He

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »