Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

of the notes of a Sermon

By

John Ryland, 1

D.D.

Prov. vi. 22.

[ocr errors]

N1789 6.1805

olomon is here representing the blessed Advantages of Attention to good Advice, giv ven by godly Parents or other Instrue. bors, whose Counsels correspond with the div. Word, For the following Y. (23) proves that he meant it sh. be tried by that Jest. For the Command, is a Lamp &r

It may therefore, with the utmost propiety be apply'd to the divine Word itself: for as Father & Mother must be obey'd only in the Lord, (when their Commands do not clash with God's Law) so the Arguments which prove that we in listen to an earth. ly Parent, enforce our Attention to our heavenly Father And it is a great advantage that we have his Word in writing, & that it is now more complete than it was in the days of Solomon.

If this is bound upon our Dr, & abides to us conrinually, the Declaration in the Text will have its full accomplishment.

(goest

When thoupet it shall

i.e.

wakest

flead

keep

talk with

} thee._

It Mall be (-Thy Guide in Action. -Thy Guard in Repose.

[blocks in formation]

1. Thy Solace in privacy.. The Counsels which correspond is. the divine Word. being laid thy D. Mall be thy Guide in active Life. When thou takest thyself a Walk, it shall lead thee. Man is an active Creature, he will be doing or pursuing some thing. Now the Divine word will direct What Ends to pursue.

you.

-The Glory of God must always be ultimate - The Good of Mankind should be connected. - Andour own best Interests included.

ye do, do

but

Whether ye eat or drink or is hatever all to the Glory of God. 1 Gr.x.31. • Look every man not upon his own things, also upon things off there. Phil...4. What shall a man be profited if he gain the whole world. & love his own soul. Matt. XVI.26 ¶ It will also direct you.

To the best Means for attaining there Ends, A cordial Compliance with the Go, pel. -A cordial Conformity to the div. Law. In this connection I place the Gospel first. because the Law having been once violated, it is invain to hope for real Conformity to it, till we an brot into a State of Reconcilation to God. Motives. 9. It will cheer, support and animate the Soul. "in this pursuit, by discovering the ground there is, to expect the attamment of this End: not. with standing all the Difficulty & opposition that may attend the pursuit & any temporal Spartial Disappointments. Key from Error & Sin

The Word of God, if due Attention be paid to its Admonitions, will be thy Guard in seasons of Repose. When thou it thall keep guard over thee.

It will keep thee from Sloth fulness & sinful Inactivity. From falling asleep like the foolish Virgins, in our Lord's Parable. Matt. xxv.

-It will keep up a spirit of holy Jealousy, and Watchfulness, in times of outward prosperity.

[blocks in formation]

Thus we hear what God the Lord has" said to us. whether by way of Instruction. Direction, Invitation, Consolation, or war. ing. He has spoken peace to his saints in his word. And there we are raught how to pour out our Ys before him, and to express the desires of our souls in the danguage which the Holy Spirit raught to to Saints of sw.

Thus also we do in a vort connnume with the Saints of God in past ages: we become acquainted with their Sent's ments and Feelings; we learn to imitate. their examples, and are en cour. uraged to expect future communio see their nion with them in Heuven. Trials, com foots. Cr.. While, by all, we are instructed.comforted. admonished, edified, prepared for the K of God.

Save you any

such Valuation of the word

I of God! are you used thus to use it, or

take delight in it? Or is the sible a Jull, uninteresting Book? Or if you read it at all, is it for more Curiosity? and not for any practical purpose? you are amused it the Histo ries, you speculate on the Doctrines &D but you neither tremble at the Threatening nor are charmed with its Discoveries, fear i its premises, nor are careful to conform to its precepts.

-If you love to go, whither the Bible ad never lead you, your Jouney will and dreadfully.

- If you love to indulge that kind of Ilumber in which the word of God afford you will are Long awake the place of torment.

[blocks in formation]

PASTORAL MEMORIALS:

SELECTED FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS

OF THE LATE

REVD. JOHN RYLAND, D. D.

OF BRISTOL:

WITH

A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

B. J. HOLDSWORTH.

MDCCCXXVI.

« FöregåendeFortsätt »