Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

.

an angel would have more. What reftraint and influence ought the contemplation of an ever present and omnifcient DEITY to have? He is invifible; but he feeth us. He penetrates the inmoft receffes of the foul. On him our state in this world and the future depends. Is it fit that his eye, and his authority, fhould excite lefs awe and reverence than that of man? Shall we fear where the ground of fear is fmall, and as nothing upon the comparison? and yet conduct toward him who is greatly to be feared, as though we were made without fear? Has man an arm like God? Shall he ftrengthen himself against the Almighty? Can he harden himself, and profper? The deference which a child, fervant or fubject pays to the parent, master or ruler whom he fincerely loves, reminds us of the superior reverence due to our Father, Mafter and Law-giver in heaven. In the former cafe, the will of the earthly fuperior is no fooner known, than obeyed and fubmitted to. If we love and revere the authority of heaven and earth, we fubmit to it without repining, our heart loves its precepts, and bows to its pleasure,

Let thofe, who are entering on life, be perfuaded to begin it in the fear and favor of God. Would you choose the safeft, the pleasanteft, the most useful and honorable course? be affured that true piety is this course. Keep a conscience void of offence, both towards God and towards men. Wherever you are, however you are employed, whatever your connections or circumftances, bear in mind this thought, Thou, Lord, feeft me. It will preserve you from fin, make you watchful against temptation, prompt you to the duties of your place, to the improvement of every talent; It will fupport and comfort under every trial, and fortify you in the hour of death. Under the influence of this ferious, folemn thought, you will confider the end for which you were fent into the world-who appoints your place and lot in it-where your chief good lies,

the way that leads to it, and that will comfortably clofe life. Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long-all thy life, from the first to its laft part and close, in all the relations, circumstances and viciffitudes of it. I repeat the fentiment, Be thou in the fear of the Lord all thy life long,

ར་ཚོནད་མང

1

SERMON VI.

GOD's GLORY MAN's SUPREME END AND HAPPINESS.

1. CORINTHIANS, x. 31.

WHETHER THEREFORE YE EAT OR DRINK, OR WHATSOEVER YÉ DO, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

THESE

HESE words are parallel to those which were the subject of the morning's discourse. They have been chofen with the view of further inculcating the neceffity and importance of religious principle in whatfoever we do that principle which forms a confiftent, uniform, fixed character. It is of great moment, that those who are beginning life be emulous of fuch a character a character which will support through all fituations and changes in life. What I have further to offer on this fubject will comport with the defign before mentioned of adapting a number of difcourfes to younger life-but in fuch a form as may be of use, by the bleffing of God, to the other claffes of hearers.

The fimilarity of the text to that which was last under our confideration, will fuperfede a number of observations which would otherwise be proper.

Reference is had to a custom among the heathen of feafting upon the residue of the facrifices offered to their idols. Whether it were lawful for Chriftians to eat of the refidue of thofe facrifices? was a question among the primitive difciples. To avoid every occafion of idolatry, every approach to it, the apoftle adwifeth not to accept an invitation to those feasts. A

Chriftian, indeed, might join in them with no defire or intention to do homage to an idol. But this action of his might offend the confcience of his fellow-difciples: They might view it as idolatrous worship. In fuch cafe, inftead of following his own opinion, he will condescend to them who are weak. With just fentiments, he knows, that "an idol is nothing;" that "every creature of God is good." But, in the ufe of his liberty, he pays refpect to the religious fcruples of his brethren. "Take heed, left by any means this liberty of yours become a ftumbling-block to "them who are weak. For if any man fee thee who "haft knowledge, fit at meat in the idol's temple, "fhall not the confcience of him who is weak be em"boldened to eat those things which are offered unto "idols? And through thy knowledge fhall the weak "brother perish for whom Chrift died? When ye ye fin "fo against the brethren, and wound their weak con"sciences, ye fin against Christ." The apoftle enjoins, upon the whole, Whether ye eat or drink, or whatfoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

[ocr errors]

Let it fuffice to have mentioned the occafion and connection of the words. The principle laid down, and the duty exhorted to, is general. In all things, our fupreme end should be, that God may be glorified through Jefus Chrift.

Religion regulates the inward principles and affections not lefs than the external converfation. We are indifpenfibly bound to act from fuch principles, and purfue fuch a courfe, as may be to the glory of God, whose we are.

What is it then to feek his glory? The determination of this question depends upon our rightly underftanding wherein he placeth his glory. When men miftake in this point, they are found fighting against God, while they verily believe that they do him fervice.

He hath revealed himself as a God glorious in holiness, a God of truth and without iniquity-exercifing loving

« FöregåendeFortsätt »