Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

to the names of those who maintain its truth, and the most unfounded calumnies are circulated in reference to their character and conduct; and yet the gospel establishes its throne in the very midst of those who hate it, and converts its enemies into friends.

Such triumphs reflect high honour upon the gospel of Jesus, and show its glory in the method of its publication. Men may raise insuperable difficulties, as they suppose; but beautiful in their triumphant march over all these mountains, are still the feet of those who publish the gospel of peace and preach glad tidings of good things.

From this view of the glory of the gospel, we may learn,

1. That whatever men may think of the dispensation of the word, the rejection of the gospel is really a rejection of God himself. Whoever may proclaim to you this message of grace, and however weakly and infirmly he may proclaim it, provided he be faithful, he speaks the word of the Lord; and he that despiseth, despiseth not man but God. From God himself to you is the word of this salvation sent; and let all take heed that they receive not the grace of God in vain. In his name we demand the submission of your hearts to him. We offer you the fulness of mercy for perishing sinners, which is laid up in the Lord Jesus Christ; and by his authority we require you to repent and believe the gospel. We must leave it to your own choice whether you will accept the provisions of di-vine mercy or not. You may reject them indeed, but you will reject them to your eternal ruin. Brethren, Almighty God demands his own. He made you not to be destroyed; he has bought you with an inestimable price; he commands you to return to him and live; and you will answer it before him in a solemn, final judgment, how you have received and improved the precious opportunity of salvation which he has so long allowed you.

2. The way in which you should receive it, is not as the

word of man, but as it is in truth, the word of the Lord, which worketh effectually in you that believe. The word of God profits you not, if it be not mixed with faith in them that hear it. Listen to the gospel as a personal message to yourselves; hear it describe your necessities, and offer you a full and perfect remedy, with the humble acknowledgment of your want, and a cordial embracing of the mercy proposed; appropriate with thankfulness the privileges which God offers here to sinners, and learn to come with your whole heart, to the fountain of blessedness and mercy which he has laid open. The Lord Jesus invites you in great kindness to receive his love. By his ministers he calls you, and by his Spirit he strives with you, that you may not be permitted to destroy yourselves. Believe in him with your hearts, and it shall be well with you; he will pardon your unrighteousness, He brings and your iniquities will he remember no more. you this day good tidings; he publishes to you peace and salvation. O let your thankful hearts rejoice that there is a Saviour so worthy to be received, admired and loved, presented to your embrace; and come unto him and he shall give you rest.

LECTURE X.

THE GLORY OF THE GOSPEL FROM THE SUBJECTS WHICH IT PROCLAIMS.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth.ISAIAH, LI. 7.

SUCH we have seen is the divine description of the ministry of the gospel of Christ. Whether men justly appreciate their office or not, they are sent as messengers of God's chief blessing to a fallen world. Coming with intelligence of par don from on high, to the penitent and contrite their approach is welcomed, their feet are beautiful. God is pleased to put high honour upon their office, and to show himself personally interested in the acceptance and respect which they receive.

But why are they thus styled beautiful? Not for any personal merit or worth in themselves. They are infirm and imperfect. Not for any dignity or power which they possess, or which they can exercise. They are like other men, altogether weak, sinful and unprofitable. God honours them, and they are welcomed by believing man, altogether on account of the message which they are commissioned to proclaim. This message contains the highest possible benefit to man, and reflects unceasing glory upon God. The text exhibits

CC

this message at large, and introduces to your notice the subject of the present discourse.

The glory of the gospel, arising from the intelligence which it communicates to man.

1. It brings" good tidings." This expression is a general designation of the revelation made by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the title by which we know this glorious system, and which is thus called the gospel, because it is altogether a communication of good tidings to man.

The good tidings of the Christian system of truth involve many particulars, adapted to all human circumstances and conditions. It appoints every where to them that mourn, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. It speaks in language of consolation to all who suffer, of security to all who are in doubt, of encouragement to all who fear, of promise to all who seek for mercy. There is no condition of man under the Providence of the God of Truth, for which the gospel of Christ will not bring relief and comfort. He cannot be placed under such circumstances as shall shut him out from security and hope, if he be willing to accept the offers which are here made. Whenever the sinner is destroyed, he has destroyed himself, though God has offered him abundant help.

But the good tidings of the gospel may all be comprised in its one offer to man of universal pardon for sin, and perfect righteousness for justification with God. It exhibits a Saviour, who has accomplished in his own person a full salvation for the sinful posterity of Adam, and the riches of whose grace are truly unsearchable; and it offers simply through him, and in the acceptance of him, universal forgiveness and life to those for whom he died. I say universal forgiveness, for not a single sinner is personally excepted from the offer which it makes. Whosoever will, may come and drink freely of the water of life. Jesus has offered himself once for all. And

there is not a man living who can say with truth, "for me there is no redemption, God has shut me out of life." No, brethren, we do injustice, great injustice, to the free and unbounded grace of God, if we suppose that it is not honestly proposed to all, and proposed with a sincere desire on the part of its great author that all should partake of it and live. Whatever theoretical difficulties may be imagined, in reconciling God's purposes of love defeated, with his unlimited and resistless power to do his will, we cannot lay the blame of man's destruction upon him. Nor in searching through the whole catalogue of offenders against him, can we find one to whom we are authorized to say, that no atonement has been made for him, and no pardon is offered upon his return to God.

This offer of forgiveness is universal in regard to the transgressions of each individual. No sinner can be too guilty to be pardoned. No man can have fallen to a depth which is beyond the reach of Almighty grace. Is he the chief of sinners? Has no one ever passed beyond the limits of his transgression? Then is the faithful saying true for him, that Christ Jesus came into the world for his salvation, and is able to set him forth as a pattern of divine long suffering. All the offences of previous life are forever pardoned, when a sinner embraces the provisions of grace in Christ Jesus. One act of divine mercy restores him to the favour of his God, and removes forever all charge of guilt against his soul. It is true that the sinner's forgiveness is dependent upon his return to God. If he continue in a persevering rejection of the Holy Spirit, and determine to sin because grace abounds, he commits indeed a sin for which there is no forgiveness, either in this world, or in the world to come. None in this world, because he thus casts finally away the only possible means of pardon. None in the world to come, because all exercise of pardon is confined to the present life. This sin against the Holy Ghost cannot be forgiven, not because its guilt is too great, but be

« ElőzőTovább »