We have witnessed the success of the gospel [Those to whom our Lord spake, saw his ministry despised The great and learned of their nation rejected him— His followers were only a few, and those of the lowest class But we have seen the " grain of mustard become a large tree" The gospel has spread to the remotest corners of the earth It has triumphed over the prejudices and passions, the interests and powers, of the world Its influence is yet daily exhibited before our eyes-] How heinous then must be our guilt if we reject him! Surely our "sin must be of a crimson or a scarlet die"ADDRESS 1. Those who make excuses for their neglect of` Christ [With what foolish and weak excuses do men deceive themselves!! Surely God will not be deceived by these What cloak for your sin will you find when he shall call you to account? Will you plead a want of instruction, evidence, warning, or encouragement? Know that in that day you will be speechless Your love of sin and hatred of the light are the true causes of your rejecting Christ" And this will be the ground of a more aggrava, d condemnationo-] 2. Those who desire to attain the saving knowledge of him [It is a great mercy to have such a desire formed in the heart But beware of cloaking or extenuating your sin- There is a virtue in the blood of Jesus to cleanse you from it all—] We may notice a few: "I have not time." For what is time given?" I am not able." Do you do what you can?" It is time enough yet." Shall you certainly live, and have the grace you now slight offered you again?" I have the majority on my side." Are you not then in the broad road? and will associates mitigate your pain?" Professors are hypocrites." Is that a reason you should not be sincere?" God is merciful." To whom? the impenitent? m Matt. xxii. 12. P Prov. xxviii. 13. n John v. 40. • John iii. 19. q 1 John i. 7. LI. THE FRIENDS AND ENEMIES OF CHRIST CON TRASTED. Rev. xvii. 14. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they that are with him, are called, and chosen, and faithful. THE book of Revelations is confessedly dark and mysterious Yet there are many parts of it plain and perspicu ous The prophecy before us is not without its difficulties We cannot doubt, however, but that it declares the downfall of Popery But we forbear to dwell on those parts which are diffi cult of interpretation We confine our attention to what is most obvious in the text: in illustrating which we shall shew I. Who they are that war against the Lamb The text speaks of those who should oppose the cause of Christ, and the interests of his gospel-Now this is done by 1. Those who maintain sentiments contrary to the gospel of Christ [A person may err with respect to subordinate matters, and yet have his heart, on the whole, right with GodBut an error in the fundamental points argues a depraved state of mind A man who denies the divinity of Christ, the sufficiency of his atonement, the influences of his Spirit upon the soul, or the necessity of an unreserved devotedness of heart to God, sets aside the whole gospel He therefore opposes Christ in his most essential interests, and wars against the Lamb"-] 2. Those who endeavour to subvert his influence over his peoples hearts [There is scarcely an unconverted person that does not, like Čain and Ishmael, revile and persecute the children of God And how many does such treatment intimidate and subvert! a Luke x. 16. Whatever then a scoffing world may think of their conduct, they are really fighting against Christ himself In touching his people, they touch the apple of his eye-] But we cannot doubt II. What will be the issue of the contest The enemies of Christ may appear to triumph for a while But he will surely overcome them at the last- [None are beyond the reach of his arm None are so vile but that he feels compassion towards them Nor are any so stout-hearted but he is able to subdue them He who vanquished the persecuting Saul, can and will make others also to be similar monuments of his grace and mercy-] But those who reject all his overtures of mercy, he will break in pieces like a potter's vessel [His triumphs over them are admirably painted in the second Psalm And he himself tells us what a sentence he will pass upon them in the day of judgment However long their conflicts with him may be, this must at last be the termination of them-] To impress this on our minds, let us consider III. What assurance we have that such shall be the issue of it Two pledges of his victory are mentioned in the text 1. His own power [Were he the first of created beings, his success might be uncertain But he is "Lord of lords, and King of kings"— And though he is a Lamb, yet will he shew himself to be the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" Whoever shall presume to oppose him, he will go through them, and burn them up together"] 2. His people's constancy [They have not indeed, of themselves, any strength or constancy But they have been "chosen" of God from before the foundation of the world— Acts ix. 4. Zech. ii. 8. VOL. I. • Luke xix. 27. . Eph. i, 4. 3 E They have in due time been "called" by the effectual operation of his grace And they are made" faithful" by him, so that nothing can induce them to desert his causef_ The least and weakest among them all is more than conqueror through the strength of Christ And all may adopt the language of triumph, even while conflicting on the field of battle"] APPLICATION 1. Let us assist you in enquiring whether ye be among the friends or enemies of Christ [While some are against Christ, others "are with him❞— They are with him in sentiment, in affection, in profession, in conduct How great is the difference between those who in outward appearance are the same! O search and see whether ye be the friends or enemies of Christi According as you prove yourselves to be in this life, you will surely be found in the day of judgment-] 2. Let us address each of those characters [To his enemies we say, Consider whose enemies you are— Is this the treatment he has deserved at your hands? Is there not a time coming when he will fearfully resent it? If you be of the number of his friends, "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" Let nothing, however pleasing, or however formidable, tempt you to forsake him Be faithful unto death, and he will give you a crown of life'-] f Acts xx. 20. i Matt. xii. 30. 8 Rom. viii. b Rom. viii. 1 Rev. ii. 10. LII. THE DUTY OF CASTING OUR CARE ON GOD. 1 Pet. v. 7. Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. INEXPERIENCED Christians are generally partial in their views of religion They often exalt one duty, to the neglect, if not the exclusion of another But a proficiency in the divine life will discover itself by the united exercise of the various, and apparently opposite, graces Faith will not exclude fear, nor meekness fortitudeEvery grace will be limited and tempered by some other The soul must be humbled before God in dust and ashes Yet should it rely on him with most implicit confidence1 I. The duty of Christians Christians have learned "not to seek great things for themselves" Hence they are free from the corroding cares of avarice and ambition But they still have many grounds of care [They cannot but feel some concern respecting their bodily wants The casualties of life may also occasion some uneasinessBut they have other cares far more weighty and important— They see many dishonouring their holy professionThey feel within themselves also "an evil heart of unbeKef" Nor are they ignorant of Satan's devices to overthrow themMoreover, they frequently anticipate future evils And tremble, lest in the day of adversity they should faintThus do they torment themselves with anxious and desponding fears-] It is their duty, however, to "cast their care on God" [To cast their care upon any creature would be fruitless— And it would involve them in the deepest guilt God alone is able to sustain their burthen— On him they are commanded to cast it They must do so in the exercise of faith and prayer Nor are any cares whatever to be excepted, "Cast all," &c. None are so small but they shall be regarded, none so great but they shall be alleviated-] There is a backwardness in many to comply with this duty II. Their encouragement to perform it Ver. 6,7. b Jer. xvii. 5. e Ps. lv. 22. d Phil. iv. 6, 7. |