no other crime, real or pretended, they were seized by the hand of violence, they were cruelly beaten, their feet were made fast in the stocks in the inner prison; and it is midnight. What do these men? What do they? What can they do? They pray to God. Well they might. At midnight, in the inner prison, their feet fast in the stocks, and they themselves having been cruelly beaten, they pray. Ah, my friends, but they did more than that; the record says, that "at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God." Did they sing? What, did they sing in the midnight? Did they sing in the inner prison? Did they sing, with their feet in the stocks? Yes, they did; they sang praises to their God. Yes; then they were happy perhaps that was the happiest night they had ever experienced up to that period-happy to suffer in such a cause, and for such a master. So that, you see, godliness is profitable as it secures the happiness of life in every diversified situation. : his hoary locks, and tells me he has forsaken his wicked ways; whereas they have forsaken him. Alas, old man, deceive not thy own soul. Here are the young, blooming, and active, and vigorous; and the pulse of life beats high; and yet in the morning of life, and the bloom of youth, they spurn at the follies and vanities of the world, and say, Tempt me not. Godliness is profitable at the noon of life. If it illumine the morning, then it blesses the noon. Men in business-men actively engaged in the world, believe that godliness is profitable. Godliness will help you in every thing that you have to do; it will sweeten all, and sanctify all; and then that which is profitable as it illumines the morning, and blesses the noon, will also be profitable as it gladdens and cheers the evening of life. I see my aged friend advanced far down the vale of yearsI see the shades of night gathering around him. His heart and his flesh begin to fail. No matter; still God is the strength of his heart, and will be his portion for ever. Religion can make a man happy when he is old, when he bends under the pressure of increasing years and infirmities, and with the prospect of death and eternity before him. I need not stay a moment on this point; I believe we are all agreed here. There is not an individual within these walls listening to me, old or young, male or female, who will not subscribe to this, that godliness is profitable at the close of life. "Virtue alone has majesty in death." Call virtue genuine Christianity and it is true. The duties of our sacred profession sometimes call us to witness awful, and sometimes most cheering scenes. Will you permit me to adduce two facts, one of very recent occurrence, another that occurred some years ago, which came under my own personal observation, illustrating the few remarks I have made. Godliness is profitable in all the periods of the life that now is. It is profitable in the morn of life. That is a pleasant, and the best part of the day. If the morning be well improved, we may hope a great deal for all the subsequent periods of the day if the morning be lost the best part is gone. My young friends, hear this. It is the morning with you-it is the pleasant part of the day with you, the best part of the day: see to it that you improve it, that you do not lose the morning. Redeem the time. It is yours, by the grace of God, to have it in your power to give an example of your sincerity, which those who are converted to God later in life, never have an opportunity of doing. Here is an old man shakes hoary locks, and tells me, Sir, I have forsaken all the follies of my youth; I have abandoned all my wicked ways. I hope this is true, that he hates the sins and follies of his youth, and that he is truly giving his heart to God; but I know it is awfully possible that the truth of the case may be this-that his wicked ways have forsaken him. He is an old infirm man, tottering on the brink of the grave, and he cannot run with the multitude to do evil now, as he did formerly; and therefore this mar. puts on a grave face, and shakes his and then, as a sort of anodyne to his conscience, he tried to persuade himself that religion was all a cheat, and all a dupe. Thus he lived, not many years indeed, for by and by disease seized fast hold of him; and I fear that disease was superinduced by his ungodliness. If ever I saw a human being, who to all appearance was abandoned of God, and to whom God had said, "He is joined to his idols, | let him alone-conscience, let him alone-ministers, let him alone-good Spirit, do not strive with him again," I think he was the man. His agonized wife begged I would call and converse with him. I did so. Never can I forget his look: I think I see him at this moment-the horror-the malignity-the despair, depicted on the man's countenance. When I spoke to him he replied, I want none of your advice I want none of your prayers-I am a fallen spirit-it is all over I am lost. In vain did I try to talk to him about the mercy of God in Jesus Christ: in vain did I tell him that Jesus came to save the chief of sinners: in vain did I speak of the superabundant mercy and grace of God to guilty men, through Jesus Christ. His leave unasked, I fell down on my knees, and besought the God of mercy for the sake of the Mediator to be gracious to him. He gave no assent, not one Amen, to any prayer I offered up. In this wretched condition did I leave him. His wife still anxious sent for a pious neighbour, who was treated by the man in the very same way. At last, as though his poor emaciated skeleton body, by some sort of preternatural influence, was wound up to an extraordinary strength, he sprang from the bed on which he had been stretched, and exclaimed, O God! I won't die,-and he rushed to the door, fell down, and expired. "Oh, my soul come not thou into their secret; and with ungodly and apostate men, mine honor, be not thou united." Behold another instance, the reverse of this; a man in humble life, who had been most distressingly afflicted with asthma, in whom I never saw any thing contrary to resignation and submission. One day a messenger came and announced if I wished to see him alive I must go, for he was dying. The man as to outward cir. cumstances indeed was to be pitieda poor man, but rich in faith. When I entered the room he recognized me and with a smile on his countenance, said, "The Lord is good." I talked to him about the love of God in Jesus Christ: his eyes were suffused with tears, and looking at me, he said, Sir, I have no fear of death-the fear of death is all taken away; my blessed Redeemer is with me. Yes, he that died and rose again, in death was remembering and blessing him. His breath was interrupted, but after some time he breathed again, and the eyes that had appeared to me to be swimming in the shades of death, were enkindled with lustre; and with an elevated tone, of which I thought him incapable, he said, It is all gloryglory-glory; and his spirit departed to glory. "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my latter end be like his." Give me a religion that makes me happy while I live, and which makes me triumphant when I die. Godliness is profitable to all things. Time will not permit me to enter on the advantages connected with godliness in the life which is to come. Let me, however, remark two things. The first is, if there were no positive certainty about a future state-if the arguments for and against were nearly even, surely no wise man would hesitate which to choose. I have sometimes said to the Infidel, On your own showing we are on vantage ground; if there be no hereafter we are none the worse for our Christianity—if there be, what is your condition? While we are in this world, if our Christianity be a delusion, it is a very amiable delusion; it makes a man happy and comfortable through life, and in death it supports him. You will not tell me there is any thing in infidelity that sweetens the bitter cup of poverty and affliction, which can afford a single drop of comfort; you cannot extract a drop from it, for it has not a drop in it. There is nothing in infidelity that can afford any consolation to a man in trying circumstances, or support him in the solemn agonizing hour of nature's dissolution. But Christianity can sweeten the bitters of life; it can support under all life's difficulties and troubles, and can also remove the fear of death, and make a man triumphant even in death. On your own principles, and your own | tated passions-in guilty consciencesshowing, then, we stand on vantage in an impaired constitution-in getting ground; and if all onward be uncer- drunk-in an empty pocket? I need tain, still every wise man assuredly not go any further with these queswould prefer Christianity. How untions. The case is decided, and is expressibly great and glorious are the just the reverse of that which we have advantages of religion-our light in been describing. It is profitable to darkness our strength in weakness all things-for both worlds. In thy -our riches in poverty-our life in case it is all loss, and no profit about death-our hope in time-our bliss in it. Turn thee from thine unprofitable eternity. ways. Why wilt thou die? Jesus died that thou mayst live. Secondly, Learn the inconsistency and folly of those who, while they admit the profit of godliness, make no practical effort to secure its advantages. If it be but whispered on tolerable authority, that such a profession, or such a branch of business, is very profitable, we say, I, or my son, or my friend will be in that profession, that he may reap the advantage; but when the most profitable business of all is proposed, none can listen to it. Oh, that all were wise, that they would understand these things, that they would consider their latter end. Would time allow us we would enter on the contemplation of the life that is to come, and describe that life in its nature and circumstances, so far as we know; still let me observe, that in regard to the things of God, and the blessings of religion, realized by the most pious in this world, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man to conceive, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." So with regard to that world, in a still higher and fuller sense, we cannot conceive the bliss and felicity which God hath prepared for them that love him. Are then these things so? They are, my friends. Godliness is profita- Lastly, Permit me to recommend ble to all things. Life and immorta- religion to you on a principle not orlity are brought to light by the Gospel. dinarily recommended. We generally Learn first, then, the fallacy as well recommend religion to you because of as the impiety of the sentiments and its essential beauty and loveliness. We language of those who are asking, with recommend religion to you because of their brethren, of old, “Who is the its authority coming from God. We Almighty that I should serve him?" recommend religion to you because it Who is the Almighty? He is the self- is your duty to obey it. I recommend existent being, the independent and it to you to night on the principle of exerlasting God, the Creator and pre- enlightened and true self-interest, server of all. What profit is it that I There is an unrighteous self-interest, should pray to him? Why much pro- and there is a righteous self-interest. fit-all profit, and no loss. Ask the A man is to do well for himself, and pious: they know and they can tell. it is in this sense that a man is said to But may we not retort your own lan- love his neighbour as himself; for guage on yourselves and ask,What are this implies that he is to love himself. all these divers lusts and passions that Do you, then, my dear friends, my you should serve them? Who and fellow sinners before God, hastening what is this evil world, that you to an eternal world-do you wish to should serve it? Who and what is do well for yourselves? do you wish Satan, that you should serve him? to be rich and happy for ever?-do Has he done any thing for your bene- you wish to have the true riches that fit? Can he give any thing to his will never perish, that will pass curservants better than he has for him- rent in eternity? do you wish to have self? and you know what that is pleasure pure and eternal? Oh, then, chains, darkness, and perdition. What get religion-pursue godliness-make profit is it that you should serve sin? it your first and principal business, Is there any profit in all the scenes of and then you will be rich and happy dissipation, in the sleepless nights, that for ever and ever. And may God in are devoted to the service of sin his mercy grant that such may be the and Satan? Is there any profit in irri-character and privilege of all of you. A Sermon DELIVERED BY THE REV. F. G. CROSSMAN, AT TRINITY CHURCH, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NATIONAL CHARITY AND SUNDAY 1 Corinthians, iv. 2.—“ Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." But if there are some duties peculiar to us as ministers of the sanctuary, there are others in which both the hearer and the preacher have a mutual concern. In the parable that is commonly known as that of the Good Samaritan, why does our Lord introduce the Priest, and the Levite, and the dweller in Samaria-why, but to let us understand, that the duty of lightening a brother's burthen was equally binding on all? Were we to find ourselves in the situation of the traveller, wounded, desolate and forsaken, we should be the first to say, This is a truth to be practically observed. The state of feeling in our own minds too commonly hinges on our own actual situation with regard to the large mass of mankind, whether our necessities require a hand to be stretched out for us, or whether we are required to stretch out a hand for others. THE introductory words of this chapter | proving, and exhorting, according to are used exclusively by the apostle the purposes of Him whose servants to show the awful and responsible we are; not striving about words to station which is occupied by the mi- no profit, but striking at the very nisters of Christ. These are the per- root of the matter, studying to show sons whom he calls "stewards of the ourselves approved and good workmen mysteries of God." But although in that need not be ashamed. the first verse he certainly had referred only to one order of men, he appears to have taken a more high and more widely extended view in the second. Here the application is general. "Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." It cannot be denied that we, as dispensers of the bread that cometh down from heaven, are stewards in a sense that belongs to no other portion of the human race. To have the charge of a message that involves the interests of many soulsto hold forth the word of life to every creature that will turn and embrace it -to sow the very seed that is to spring up into trees of righteousness-this is an operation so important to the Lord that saves sinners, as well as to sinners themselves, that we cannot expect less than to be called on and reckoned with, for the manner in which we have handled his weapons and done his work. With Ezekiel's picture before us of the slumbering shepherd, we have just cause to take heed to ourselves, lest we should be found by God raising up buildings with untempered mortar, making the gospel message broader than it is, and not rightly dividing the whole counsel of God. He spared not the priests of Israel; neither will he spare the careless of the Christian priesthood. He will make us feel that though we are but instruments, as instruments we must not be slack in our business; not dealing with the sick and dying as men pleasers; but rebuking, re But I will no longer detain you on the surface of the text, but enter at once into the particulars: and as the best means of placing these in a strong light, I shall attempt to show, in the First place, that every man living is a steward. Secondly, that to be a good steward, he must be found faithful in the things committed to him. Thirdly, that the time is at hand when the term of this stewardship will be dissolved. Lastly, I shall apply my text to the particular object of this present address. What have we to say against the first of these propositions? No man I conceive will go the length of saying it is not true; but thousands act as if this were really their belief. They live, oh, not as man should live, who cometh up and is cut down like a flower, who fleeth as it were a shadow, never continuing in one stage; but like the foolish ones whose characters are so well drawn by the Spirit of God, they seem to think that their houses are to continue for ever, and their dwelling places to endure from one generation to the other. This is a dream, but it is a dream so sweet that the children of this world refuse to be awakened out of it. There is something heavier than lead that keeps their thoughts fixed on the dust, that they neither perceive nor mourn over it as the fatal barrier that cuts them off from a holy peace and spiritual enjoyment. Look at them as they buy and sell, as they build and plant; they are moved by one principle-more easemore gain-more happiness. Would to God I could say it was more intense breathing after Christ-more hearty sorrow-more vehement desire to break loose from bondage. View them in possession. Do they hold themselves at all accountable for the disposition of what they call their own? Ask them. They will tell you that they are free to lay up or to expend-to erect or to pull down-to give or to withhold. They will answer you, not as responsible stewards, but as highminded and self-confident proprietors. I have said proprietors, but in what sense? Why there is not a spot of ground which measures as much as the foot treads upon, which of right belongs to one of us. The pride of man leads him to talk of his own houses, and his own fields, as if he held them in perpetuity. You may do this, but they are no more yours than those bright worlds that light up the firmament above you. You are suffered to enjoy the comfort of the one, and you are permitted to enjoy the grandeur of the other; but God is the great and sole proprietor. Who is there with a fleshly body which time preys upon, that can lay much stress on that which he seems to grasp most firmly. You know by what a poor tenure we keep our places on earthwhat a frail cord it is that keeps these tenements together; and yet, from the schemes and wild fancies of mankind, you might suppose that our abodes were built of iron instead of dust. It is the commonest, and it is one of the most mournful things, to see an unreflecting creature, who is within a few paces of the grave, stretch out his arms to hold a little longer the things he loves-to lay plans which he afterwards cannot mature-to plunge headlong into a sea of ungodly care, whilst the warrant is signing in heaven for bringing him to trial as an unjust steward, transferring his stewardship into the hands of another. You call Christ Lord, and you call him Master; and so he is; but when have you ever consulted his interest in preference to your own? Are you fighting with Christ's enemies? Are you combatting with this evil world among the rest? Are you walking with Christ's friends, and seeking, on every favourable occasion, to know and to understand what the will of the Lord is? You appear in the house of God as a sinner; that is, you repeat the humbling language of the Liturgy and of the Bible: but when have you done this in the closet? When have you ever said with the honest sincerity of David; "Try me, O God, and search the ground of my heart; prove me, and examine my thoughts?" Would not many of you be put to sad confusion, were you told to name the very day, and the very hour, that you spread the account of your souls before God without partiality and without hyprocrisy? Remember I am not speaking of that act which is common to all men, the opening the lips and pouring out words that are unfelt; but I am speaking of that positive spiritual communion which he who is the living branch must hold with the living vine, which you and which I must carry on if any thing is to come out of our discipleship. But, perhaps, you demand additional and more direct proofs that you are stewards in this comprehensive sense? Well, take the very regions of which you are the inhabitants: hear what the Psalmist says concerning them; |