Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

faith, I pray thee, let me live. And the fubmiffion was not only accepted, and his life fpared, but he was treated with marks of friendship and respect.

Go and do thus,O finner : fubmit to mercy, without indenting and making terms with God. You have much greater encouragement to fubmit to theGod of Heaven, than they had to the prefent king of Ifrael. There was but a bare peradventure in that cafe. They had heard only in the general that the kings of Ifrael were merciful kings; but whether this king Abab was of fuch a difpofition, they knew not; and yet they adventur'd upon it to feek to him. But thou haft heard that the king of heaven is a merciful king. He has proclaim'd his name, The Lord, the Lord God, gracious and merciful, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. He has actually pardon'd thousands and millions in the like condition; and his reconciling work is not yet at an end. A gracious mediator is provided to introduce you into his prefence, and to make interceffion for you: If you will not then apply and feek, furely you deferve to perish.

O man, woman, whoever thou art, I must tell you before I leave you, Your election of God need not lie long at fuch uncertainty with you. Yea, I may venture to S 2

tell

cline your ear,

tell you,it may poffibly be bro't to a happy conclufion at this very time, that you are of this number. I muft repeat those words of our faviour, John 6. 37. All that the father giveth me, fhall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wife caft out. Coming to Chrift then is the fruit and evidence of election; and fo this important matter may be decided by it. Now the call of Chrift to you in the gofpel this day is; Inand come unto me; bear and your foul fhall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you,even the fure mercies of David. Come to me, O finner, for fuch bleffings as I have to bestow on the people of God. Put your foul over into my hands, to be wafh'd in my blood, juftified by my righteoufnels,fanctified by my fpirit,and preferv'd by my power. Let me henceforth be your prophet to teach and enlighten you, your priest to atone and interceed for you, and your king to rule you for my felf. If any foul of you do now comply with this call: If you can make this anfwer, Lord, I am willing to come to thee, for thefe ends and furpofes. Thou haft made me willing I consent to be thine now if I never did before, and take thee for my faviour leader, owner, and ruler for ever The matter is then at this time bro't to an iflue. The fecret decree of

election

election this day opens upon you. You may now know you were firft given to Chrift by the father, or you wou'd never have been inclined and enabled thus to come to him; and henceforth you may read your name written in the lamb's book of life.

5. The last use may be to put those who have any good ground to hope that they are of this number, upon fome fpecial duties agreeable to their ftate and privileges.

I. You fhou'd thankfully acknowledge and adore the riches of diftinguishing grace, eminently illuftrated in your election. The difciple was fo affected with the diftinguishing favour of heaven, to himself and others, as in a rapture to cry out, John 14. 22. Lord, bow is it, that thou wilt manifeft thy felf to us, and not unto the world! A believer may fay, How is it Lord, that thou fhou'd chufe me! That thou fhou'd fet thine everlasting love upon me, when fo many others, fallen men as well as fallen angels, are pafs'd by! And fo many of the learned, rich, and honourable of the world! And this before I had any thing good in me; upon no fore-feen merit; nay, notwithstanding thou faweft how I fhou'd dif honour and provoke thee by my fins! O glorious, fovereign, & diftinguishing grace!

I

I can never eno' admire it! Eternity will not be too long to praile thee for it! Peculiar favour calls tor fpecial thankfulnefs. I thank thee, O father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast bid these things from the wife and prudent, and baft revealed them unto babes: Even so, father, for so it seemeth good in thy fight! Here, here. fays one, are

thanksgivings of the most elevated ftrain "in chriftianity They are words, to lift 66 up the born. They found high in our "devotions. A thankful Chriftian rai"fes his thanksgivings to the highest notes, when he comes hereabouts. 'Tis a melody peculiarly acceptable to heaven; 'tis the very beginning of heaven.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

2.

[ocr errors]

Love him who has first loved you, in fuch a manner as may fomething answer his love to you. He lov'd you before you had a being; and you should love him while you have any being. He lov'd you above many others; & you must love him above all creatures, more than boufes and lands, brother or fifter, father or mother, husband, wife, or children; or you are not worthy of him, or of that love which he has plac'd upon you.

3. Always remember you are under the bigbeft obligations to holiness and obedience, For ye are a chofen generation, a royal priesthood, an boly nation, a peculiar people, that ye fhou'd

Shew

*

Shew forth the praises of him, who has called you out of darkness, into his marvellous light. † Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, bumbleness of mind, meekness, long-fuffering, forbearing one other, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Do nothing to difgrace this holy doctrine. Be blameless, and barmeless, the fons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverfe generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. Let your watchful, exemplary, fruitful converfation, ferve to confute them who fay this doctrine tends to licentiousness. Duty, gratitude and intereft, all confpire to make you abound in the work of the Lord. You are favour'd above others, and therefore fhou'd often think on that question which our Lord once put, Mat. 5. 47. What do you more than others?

4. Cheerfully acquiefce in all the dealings of God with you. For all his providences are the effect of his purposes, and are best futed to carry on his defign of grace concerning you. We know, fays the apoftle, in the verse before our text, That all things

+ I Pet. 2. 9. * Col. 3. 12, 13. || Phil. 2. 15.

[ocr errors]
« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »