nations, beginning" indeed "at Jerusalem." And after a while they understood it; and, as it is said, they "went forth preaching everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the words with signs following." But though the words refer immediately to Jews and Gentiles, by a parity of reasoning they may be extended to all other diversities and distinctions of the human race. Those therefore that are "nigh" and those that are "far off" will represent persons possessed of peculiar advantages or destitute of them. Let us explain. In this view some are "nigh:" that is, they are born of godly parents; they have had a religious education; they early kneeled at the family altar; from children they knew the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make them wise unto salvation. Others are "far off:" that is, they are the offspring of ungodly fathers and mothers, their parents teaching them to swear, but not to pray; leading them into sin, but never taking one step before them in the way everlasting. Some are (6 nigh;" that is, they are moral in their lives; they are amiable in their tempers; they seem teachable, and free from prejudice as well as from vice; they only seem to require decision. Such a one our Saviour spoke of when He saw the young man, and loved him, and said, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." Others are "far off:" that is, they are grossly vicious; they are abandoned; they are despisers of them that are good, they turn away from the Sabbath, and from public worship; they are drunkards, they are swearers; they turn everything sacred into ridicule; they seem so far off as to be beyond the reach of mercy. Some are 66 nigh" that is young: they are now free from those cares and toils which will hereafter engross them; their understandings are not yet perverted; their memories are not filled up with vanity and vice; their consciences are yet tender; their hearts are not yet hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Others are "far off:" they are old sinners, who can see, when they look forward only gloom, and when they look backward only guilt; whose vices are deep-rooted; whose habits have become a second nature and sooner may the Ethiopian change his skin, or the VOL. XII. But leopard his spots, than they learn to do good, or cease from doing evil. with God all things are possible, though with men many things are not possible. Now I could enlarge the number here, and you would soon find that there are many who possess advantages of which others are destitute; and men lay much stress upon these. But the Gospel does not. For instance; some are rich, and some are poor; but the poor can be "rich in faith," and "heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love Him." There are some who are learned, and others who are illiterate; but none are incapable of learning Divine things under the Divine teaching; and the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err therein." Some are honourable, and some are held to be ignoble; but a servant can be as great in the sight of God as his master, a subject as great as his sovereign. There are some who are assured of their interest in Christ, and they are certain of their future salvation; but there are others who, though they are equally safe, have many apprehensions and many suspicions concerning it: the blessings which they are pursuing seem to recede as they advance; and if even they see the king in His beauty, and the land which is to be given them, it seems, alas! now to be "very far off." But blessed be God, the Gospel is addressed to men without exception or discrimination. If there were any exclusion or any omission in the promises and invitations of the Gospel, we may be sure of this, that the man whose conscience is awakened would draw the conclusion that he was the person excepted. But this, is not the case now. The reason why the language of the Gospel is general and indefinite is, because at first we must come under this character, and we can only receive encouragement as sinners. Therefore so it is: let a man's views of himself be as discouraging as they may, yet he cannot question whether he is a sinner; and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners: he cannot question whether he is ungodly; but "when we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.' A man must be of some quality, either good or evil; but you will remember that the king required his messengers to go forth and to bid as many as they E found, both bad and good, to the wedding. Why, you must be the one or the other; and if you do not think yourselves too good, Christ does not think you too bad, to come to Him, and to be saved by Him. You must stand somewhere; you must be either "far off," or you must be "nigh;" and the language of the Gospel is. "Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near." 66 III. THE EFFICIENCY OF ITS INFLUENCE. "And," says God, "I will heal him." God by the Gospel heals in two ways, as you, Christians, well know by experience. For, first, He heals by the Gospel the anguish of a wounded spirit. "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." I am afraid that some of you have never felt your wound; sin has never disturbed you; it has not deprived you of sleep, or of that kind of pleasure which you have by day. But there are others, who well know the meaning of a conscience bruised under a sense of guilt, and a dread of the wrath to come. Such a man "eats ashes like bread," and mingles his drink with weeping." He sleeps, but he is scared with dreams and terrified with visions. The world can no longer charm him, nor his old companions allure him. "The arrows of the Almighty stick fast in me," as one of old said, "the pain of which drinks up my spirit." Now, my brethren, as Solomon says, "A wounded spirit, who can bear?" I add another question to his: A wounded spirit, who can heal? Men may skin over the wound by many things, but it will break out again. Outward reformation, vows, fastings, almsdeeds-from all these men endeavour to obtain peace of conscience; and sometimes they seem to succeed; they obtain something like a calm but as the light in them increases, and as they become better acquainted with the spirituality of God's law, all their fears and despair revive. No, my brethren, there is nothing that can effectually relieve an awakened mind, but the scheme of redemption revealed in theblessed Gospel. That alone can satisfy, an awakened conscience, which satisfied the justice of God; nothing but the blood of sprinking, which "speaketh better things than the blood of Abel." Surely," therefore, says the church of old, "He hath borne our griefs, and car ried our sorrows; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." I remember President Edwards says, that, when he was first convinced of sin, he had such views of its evil that he could hardly pray for his salvation. He seemed to think that God ought to destroy him; till he saw in the Gospel that his perfections did not require it, but the very reverse- -till he saw that mercy and truth met together, righteousness and peace kissed each other, on the cross-till he saw, and was persuaded, that God, while redeeming Jacob, was glorifying Himself in Israel, and that " glory to God in the highest" accorded with "peace on earth and good will to men." Then by the Gospel He heals, secondly, the moral maladies of our nature. This always accompanies the former. It would be endless to enumerate the diseases of our fallen and depraved nature; suffice it to say, with Isaiah, "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint; from the crown of the head" (the highest intellectual faculty) "to the sole of the foot" (the lowest sensual appetite) "there is no soundness in it, but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores." I know there are persons who deny this, and yet profess to believe the Bible to be the Word of God, which tells us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God:" and there are persons who deny this, too, who in their public prayers are continually saying, "There is no health in us." The confession is true; we are not quarrelling with thisno, butadmittingit. But are we under the necessity of perishing? By no means. If there is no help in us, there is "help laid upon One that is mighty;" if there is no hope in us, "there is hope in Israel concerning this thing;" if there is no health in us, "there is balm in Gilead, and there is a Physician there ;" and the same light that shows us our disease, shows us also our remedy. And the same grace that makes us feel the one enables us to apply to the other; and that is a Saviour, who is "made unto us,' not only 66 righteousness," but "sanctification ;" who not only justifies, but renews. For "if any man be in Christ he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.' We are, therefore, says the apostle, "saved by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the د, ness. producing the subject of this praise-that is, the Gospel, with all its privileges, with all its promises, with all its blessings. The Gospel is entirely produced from the good pleasure of God's goodYou know, that sometimes good is produced by human endeavours; man's instrumentality is sometimes employed by God's agency. God raises the grain, and produces first the blade, after that the ear, then the full corn in the ear; but He requires that we should sow it. He clothesus; but we keep the sheep, and manufacture the wool, and make the garment, and put it on. Thus you see here is a connection between God's agency and man's instrumentality. But you have not this in the Gospel. No; that is what the apostle calls "the good and grace, given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." This therefore is entirely supernatural; this comes alone from Him, without any interposition on our side, opposed to all our desert, and distinguished from all desire and preparation for the reception of it. IV. You are to observe THE FRUIT WHICH IT IS TO PRODUCE. "I create the fruit of the lips," says God. Two in-pleasure of His goodness," saying, "He quiries must be here made; the first of has saved us, and called us with a holy which is What is the fruit of the lips? calling; not according to our works, but We know that this intended praise and according to His own purpose and grace" thanksgiving. We know it from the-His own entirely-" His own purpose authority of Hosea, who says, "Take with you words, and turn to the Lord; say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, so will we render the calves of our lips." He refers to the offering of praise and thanksgiving; only, in allusion to the Jewish dispensation, he calls these "the calves of our lips.' Even under the grosser economy, God was better pleased with these offerings of praise and thanksgiv.. ing; as David says, "This also shall please the Lord, better than an ox or a bullock that hath horns and hoofs." And therefore David says, "I will take no bullock out of Thy house, nor he-goat out of Thy folds. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High; and call Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." And we learn it from the language of the apostle to the Hebrews, who says, speaking of Christ, "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise unto God continually that is, the fruit of our lipsgiving thanks unto His name." upon The second inquiry is, How this praise, | this "fruit of the lips," is produced. Says God, "I create the fruit of the lips." He does this in two ways-Heproduces the subject of this praise, and also the disposition to it. He creates the fruit of the lips" by And nothing (this is intimated by the language of the text)-nothing can deserve your praise like the Gospel. Oh! that we esteemed it more highly than we do! The poorest cottage of the peasant where the Bible is, is more honoured than the palace of the monarch; and you may write on its door "JEHOVAI-SHAMMAH," The Lord is there. Capernaum was a little dirty fishing town; and yet because our Saviour resided there, and had preached the Gospel of the kingdom, He says, "Thou art exalted unto heaven." This Gospel early reached our happy shores; and it is owing to this, that our country has been of such distinction and of such pre-eminence. Even where the Gospel does not save, it civilizes; and as Whitefield somewhere says, It keeps a man from the gallows, if it does not keep him from hell; and this is beneficial ́with regard to the community and the present life. But when it comes "not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance," what does it accomplish then, under God, on the behalf of those who are enabled to receive it? Oh! then, it "produces rivers in high places;" then "the wilderness and the solitary place are made glad for it, and the desert rejoices and blossoms as the rose. God not only creates "the fruit of the lips" as He produces the subject of this praise, but also as He produces the disposition itself; that is, the application of the Gospel is from Him, as well as the existence of it. "Not unto us," therefore we are constrained to say, "not unto us, O Lord, but unto Thy name be the glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake"-if a Saviour has not only been provided but received by us. It is He that " opens the eyes of our understanding,' that we may know "what is the hope of our calling." It is He that renders the Gospel precious by impressing us with the sense of our wants, and showing us every blessing there that is adapted to relieve a fallen, guilty, depraved, helpless, perishing creature. It is He that renders it cffectual to relieve the conscience under its pressure of distress, and also to purify the heart by faith, and to fill the life with all the fruits of righteousness; for this is by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise-not of the man who exercises it but "to the praise and glory of God" who produces it." He says to the soul, "I am Thy salvation;" and thus, therefore, as the apostle says, "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast; for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." whereof if a man eat he shall live for ever?" But where is the "fruit" of your " lips?" Is it in that silent sadness, in which some of you continually live? Or is it in the murmuring and repining of discontent? Or is it in the suffering the influence of one trouble to erase the impression of a thousand blessings in hand and ten thousand blessings in hope? "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" Hezekiah said, "The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day.' And yet soon after, "Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem." Oh! bless God for a Gospel committed to writing; bless God for a Gospel preserved unto this day; bless God for a Gospel translated; bless God for a Gospel expounded and a Gospel preached; and above all, bless Him for a Gospel that you have been enabled to receive in the love and in the blessedness of it; so that you realise the words of David, "Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound." Never read the Gospel, never hear the Gospel, without calling to remembrance the language of our Saviour, Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which ye hear and have not heard them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear." 66 Is this the only feeling which should arise from the subject? No; the apostle says, "Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into this Well, has He done this for you? Can rest, any of us should seem to come you reflect, my dear hearers, and not short of it." My brethren, this dispengive Him the glory that is due to His sation is final, and your responsibility holy name? Can you feel the petty rises in proportion to its importance and kindnesses which you receive from your advantage. This is the meaning of fellow-creatures, and disregard this infi- His forerunner when He says, "Now nite Benefactor? Can you praise God the axe is laid to the root of the tree." I for the seasons of the year, and the beau- dare say, you have seen a fellow throw ties of nature, and the bounties of Provi-his axe down at the root of a tree; but dence, and pass by "the unsearchable it was only while he stripped; then he riches of Christ ?" Can you praise Him took it up, and began to assail it. After for the sun in nature, and not much more a while you saw it beginning to reel; for "the Sun of righteousness" that arises upon us "with healing under His wings?" Can you be thankful for your daily bread, and not much more for "the bread that cometh down from heaven, Get out of the way,' he cries; now it comes down with a tremendous crash to the ground. "So," says he, "every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and is cast into the fire." Oh! says the Saviour, "The you have done well to meet the call of words that I have preached shall judge God; and I always commend Christian you in the last day." Well would it be congregations for exercising confidence for many, if they could be judged by the in those cases in Him who has said, law of nature, or by the law of Moses." The silver and the gold are Mine." İ But no, says He, "You will be judged know that ministers sometimes feel these by My Gospel;" that is, by light the applications to be the most unpleasant most perfect, by kindness the most en- part of the public service; and sometreating, by advantages innumerable times, after they have delivered a sermon, and immeasurable. Be concerned there- which, as far as they can judge, from fore, to embrace them. "Kiss the Son, appearances, has been well received, lest He be angry, and ye perish from when they have intimated that a collecthe way, when His wrath is kindled but tion was to be made, their countenances a little. Blessed are all they that put their have fallen, and have immediately trust in Him." acquired a north-east aspect and influence. But I am glad that this is not the case here this morning; this is not the case with you, I see; I see that many of you can even smile upon the business. This is a token for good; and as I have already surpassed your time, it will not be necessary to employ any teasings or tricks in order to succeed in this endeavour, or to prolong the discourse. I am persuaded that we shall see by the result that you have been ready to this good word and work; and therefore, while they repair to the doors with the plates, let us just sing And another emotion will be a concern to diffuse it. Indeed I could never perceive any alternative between our believing the truth and the importance of the Gospel, and our feeling an obligation in the same proportion to extend it to others. Well (for I am desired not to keep you beyond twelve o'clock and I see five minutes have passed already over the time,) you know I stand here not only as a preacher but a beggar. I am not begging for myself, nor for your minister, but for those who would have no accommodation but for this recent enlargement. The school therefore I (rejoice that it is so enlarged) rendered it necessary. It was therefore a call, and "Praise God from whom all blessings flow; THE FOURTEENTH OF A COURSE OF LECTURES. ON THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. BY THE REV. T. GOUGH, SEN. DELIVERED AT WESTBURY LEIGH CHAPEL, ON LORD'S DAY MORNING, MARCH 11, 1838. "Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, to commit fornication, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her ehildren with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts and I will give unto you according to your works."-Rev. ii. 20-23. You perceive our text to be unusually long; but we could find no reason for cutting shorter this solemn and interesting subject. you have it to the life in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the things which He declared, both favourable and unfavourable, of these churches of Asia. This is in acIt is generally considered, by all who cordance with the prophetic account of know what character should be, that Him-"The Spirit of the Lord shall rest whether a man assumes the character of upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and una historian, a biographer, or preacher, derstanding; and He shall not judge one thing among others is essentially ne- after the sight of His eyes, neither recessary; I mean faithfulness. Hence' prove after the hearing of His ears"- |