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No. 14.]

SERMON BY THE REV. H. FELL.
SERMON BY THE REV. T. LEWIS.
SERMON BY THE REV. J. W. PEARSON.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1830.

A Sermon

DELIVERED BY THE REV. HUNTER FELL,
AT TRINITY CHURCH, CLOUDESLEY SQUARE, NOV. 14, 1830.

Psalm, cxvi. 7.-" Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee."

INGRATITUDE founded on unbelief has ever been the crying sin of the children of God: for though it is the language of nature, as well as the language of grace, to seek assistance of God in the hour of distress, yet when the cause of sorrow is removed, how little experience is there, even amongst the sincere children of God, of an abiding gratitude to the Father of mercies. As with the Israelites of old, so it is with the greater part of mankind"When the Lord slew them, then they sought him, and they returned and enquired after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. But their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant." When the pressure of any trial is felt they flee to God as their refuge and their security with fervent supplications, and with earnest resolutions, they entreat his help. But though we must not charge any sincere servant of God with an entire forgetfulness of the Lord's goodness, or an open neglect of the duty of praise, yet, as I observed, too many are deficient, lamentably deficient in this delightful privilege of praise. Very few preserve that anxiety for the improvement of their mercies which they felt in their search for them.

whence our text is taken, I need only observe, that the whole of it is descriptive of the Psalmist's feeling of gratitude for deliverance from trouble, from enemies without, and tribulation within. The Lord had heard and answered his prayers, and on this account he celebrates the mercy of God, and in the abundance of love desires to express his obligations in the strongest language, and to exemplify that expression by a devotedness of life and character. "What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me?"

In the consideration of this text, I propose to remark, in the FIRST place, the dealings of God with the favoured soul-" the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." SECONDLY, The acknowledgment which his dealings demand, as contained in the expression, 'Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee."

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I would first direct your attention to THE DEALINGS OF GOD WITH THE FAVOURED SOUL. That God is merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, I shall not at present stop to prove to you-my object is rather, to point out in what way God deals bountifully with his children. I must of course confine myself to general reviews, and leave you to apply the statement to your own case, according to his particular dealings with your

In reference to the Psalm from self.

VOL. I.

P

First, I remark that the Lord deals bountifully with the favoured soul in the dispensations of his Providence. It is one thing to receive the bounty of Providence, and another thing to discern the hand that bestows every good thing. As the blessings of Providence are, in a great measure, common to every thing that lives, it is of the greatest importance to have a deep and serious conviction from whom they flow -to be sensible of the absolute and constant dependance of every thing upon God, for life, and breath, and all things. It tends to bring about a holy familiarity with our Maker, and an increase of filial affection. But though this may, and should be the case, yet I now speak of the dealings of God in Providence, in union with his work of grace upon the soul, as the fruit of his special and distinguishing love.

The Lord frequently marks the bounty of his dealings with the favoured soul. First, In the means which he employs. Secondly, By their seasonable distribution. Thirdly, By the nature of his dealings.

First, When the result appears to be produced by extraordinary means, far beyond expectation, far beyond the reach of human wisdom, God frequently leads the children of grace to see the entire inability of the creature to procure deliverance, in order that their escape may be the more signal, and more evidently point out the finger of God. When the enemies of good men are waiting for their halting, and hope to overcome them, that they may speak reproachfully, and yet that they are remarkably delivered and preserved, and out of weakness are made strong-what a dealing of special bounty is this! Thus the sweet singer of Israel prays—“O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Show me a token for good; that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed; because thou, Lord, hast holpen me and comforted me."

Again, The Providence of God is sometimes seen in the season of the mercy. When the multitude were ready to faint with hunger, our Lord fed them with a few loaves and fishes. Help is bestowed when it is most required, and when it may be of the

greatest benefit. When the faith of his people is weak-when the vessel is, as it were, covered with the waves, and almost ready to sink, then it frequently meets with an unexpected and great deliverance. "Unless the Lord had been my help," saith the Psalmist, "my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth, thy mercy, O Lord, held me up." When the favoured soul has duties of importance to perform, such supplies of grace and of strength are frequently bestowed upon it as shall make it victorious. Sometimes to prepare the soul for trials which may be advancing upon it, greater measures of consolation are given: and sometimes in the midst of, or after trials, the favoured soul is directed to the ample recompense for the creature in the fulness of the Creator.

Further, The bountiful dealing of God is frequently to be observed in the nature of the mercy. As strength is given equal to the day, so trials are appointed and deliverances granted according to the state and the character of the soul. For example, if he gives to the rich humility, thankfulness, and liberality, and to the poor patience, trust, and resignation-and if he keeps the weak from temptation and trial, and gives a greater measure of strength and confidence to such as meet difficulty-can it be denied that he deals bountifully with them? Surely we must say with the Psalmist, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." And again

we must say with the Prophet Isaiah, "In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind."

Secondly, The Lord deals bountifully with the favoured soul when he gives clear and satisfying views of the salutary end, and enables the soul to make a sanctified use both of its trials and mercies. What a dealing of bounty is it when it pleases God to reconcile our minds to the will of his Providence -to bring home to the conscience his right of sovereignty, his title to dispose of our persons, our reputation, our substance, our relations, without exception, and without condition,

love.

of the soul from earth to heaven: it is not only made up of faith and contemplation in the present state, but of hope which breathes after further discoveries in a state of greater perfection. Such was the experience of the Apostle Paul. "For," said he, "we know in part, and we prophecy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know even as I am known." And was not the experience of the

even as he will-to be able to say with He is the immediate object of the adorable, but suffering Saviour, delight and wonder to the heavenly "O my Father, if it be possible, let hosts; and sometimes he vouchsafes this cup pass from me: nevertheless, similar exalted joy to his people on not my will, but thine be done." earth. It is indeed a bountiful dealIs there any thing unreasonable in ing of God when the soul is poured such a disposition of mind? Is there out in penitential sorrow, filled with any thing unscriptural? No; nothing hatred of sin, with the love of God's can be more reasonable, nothing more law, or submission to his providenceconsonant to the word of truth. Shall when the Spirit of God shines with not God do what he will with his own? | peculiar glory, either upon commands He must-he will-he does-and the or upon promises, and makes the heart Christian will say, he ought. How approve and rest in them. As intihappy is it to have our corruptions mate communion with God may be mortified by suffering-to have the said to bring down something of heaspirit broken by contrition and peni-ven to earth, so it carries the desires tence-when the body is broken by sickness or distress, to receive such dispensations as have a natural tendency to weaken our attachment to this world, by proving its instability, and its inequality for the immortal soul, and its uncertainty as a possession! How happy to be taught to hate the sin for which, and not the God by whom the stroke is inflicted! How happy to have divine consolation under suffering, an angel from heaven strengthening us-the soul still pressing onward and onward to God as its centre of perfect enjoyment-and to be enabled to delight in God in the absence of all outward comfort, and to say with the Prophet Habakkuk, "Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vinesApostle John similar to this? "Behold -the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat-the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls-yet will I rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation." I shall only add on this particular, how bountifully does the Lord deal with the favoured soul when he gives the sanctified use of what may be termed the smiling providences of God, when they do not lead us to security, or to pride, but to thankfulness, and a holy desire to improve them to the glory of God-when great abundance does not lead to sensuality, or hardness of heart; but, on the contrary, to humility, and liberality, and useful

ness.

Thirdly, The Lord deals bountifully with the favoured soul when it is admitted to close and intimate communion with himself. God is the object of our highest esteem and most ardent

what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. It doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." Alas, dear brethren, that frequent, and close, and holy communion should be so rare amongst Christian disciples; and that so few of us should attain to the disposition of the Apostle of the Gentiles, who desired to depart and be with Christ, as being far better. Let shame and confusion of face be ours. Surely many of us have experienced enough of the vanity of this world to wean our affections from it-why then should we desire to retain its fleeting possessions, further than to increase the glory of God? Truly blessed are they only who can use the language of the Apostle Paul to his Philippian converts"Our conversation is in heaven, from

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whence also we look for the Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall
change our vile body, that it may be
fashioned like unto his glorious body,
according to the working whereby he
is able even to subdue all things unto
himself." Surely I am warranted to
say of such who have felt the power
The
of this language of the Apostle,
Lord hath dealt bountifully with you."
Having thus briefly directed your
attention to several distinct ways in
which the God of salvation and sanc-
tification deals bountifully with the
soul, I proceed to our second general
idea, namely, THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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WHICH THESE DEALINGS DEMAND.

How gladly do men of this world receive the favours and the kindnesses of such as are exalted to stations of honour and patronage! With what satisfaction do they speak to those around them of their being the favourites of a mortal man, whose days, like those of other men, are but a handbreadth! Shall the children of this world be wiser than the children of light? Facts too plainly prove that they are so; but is it right that they shall excel the Christian in gratitude? -have they such grounds for praise? have they such an object of adoration? O no; our God is excellent; his praise should be in all our mouths; he is worthy of our highest adoration.

In the first place, the dealings of God demand the acknowledgment of God the Shall Father as the Author of them. our prudence, or pretended foresight, or judicious conduct, be placed in the stead of the Lord Jehovah, and have the honour which rightly attaches to his government and guidance? Shall the restoration to us of strength and peace of soul, be regarded as brought about by human aid, unconnected with the Divine ordering? Rightly apprehending the nature of those dealings of which I have been speaking, it is impossible to do this. But my meaning is rather, that we should view and acknowledge the superintending and ordaining power of God the Father in every dispensation. "Known unto God are all his works :" do not therefore suppose that one jot or one tittle of comes upon you your experience without the direction or provision of the Father of spirits. It is as the God of order, not as the God of confusion,

that he deals with us: and though to
the eye of sense the world goes for-
ward, and knows not the hand that
guides all things of the minutest kind,
yet it becomes the Christian to read
the ways of God in every day's events,
and more especially when he bestows
his particular favour
the marks of

upon us.

Again, I speak of this duty and privilege as it is more glaringly neg... lected the acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as the procuring cause of their benefits. Ah! little do men who deride the name of Jesus, or at most think lightly of it-little do they know their obligations to him as the procuring cause of every moment's ease. Little do they reflect, that the pangs and sufferings of our crucified Redeemer have procured, at least for them, a respite from all the horrors of eternal ruin. That such however is the fact, we cannot spiritually read our Bible and deny. God gives nothing to man, who is a rebel and an apostate, but for Christ's sake. It is only in his beloved Son that he is well pleased. How ardently, then, should the Christian acknowledge and adore the Saviour of sinners, as the purchaser of his daily supplies of mercy of every kind! With what different sentiments should we even partake of our daily sustenance, if, in the enjoyment of his provision, we remember who it was that bought this distribution of the bounty of God!

It frequently happens, as I doubt not you may have observed, that men are willing enough to own a general, and even a particular Providence. They speak of the Governor of the universe under the title of the Almighty, our Heavenly Father, Providence, and so forth; but alas! how seldom men How vain and honour the Son of God, even as they honour the Father. enthusiastic would they regard that person who spoke of Jesus Christ, the But shall such crucified Son of Man, as the Giver of all their blessings. examples of unbelief prevent our right and scriptural views of the Saviour's bounties? Let the thought be far removed from us-let the thought be abhorrent to our minds-and let us be As Christ determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. came into the world to procure our re

conciliation with his heavenly Father, so let us rejoice that he continues to plead his merits as the cause of every bounty -that he intercedes for his people according to their various necessities.

Again-Our text evidently speaks of the acknowledgment of God as the only sure rest for the immortal soul. Where shall we apply, even in the moment of received mercies, under a sense of favours bestowed, for peace and purity and satisfaction, but to God? Will the sympathy of our fellow men fully answer all the soul's desires? Will the mercies themselves be sufficient to rest in? It cannot be. The dispensations of covenant love never flow from the all-sufficient fountain but to return. His mercies resemble the waters of the rivers, which, deriving their supplies from the ocean, return thither again. The soul's fulness is God-out of his fulness as a Saviour, all the children of adoption receive their supplies, and grace for grace; but to him they all return as the rest of the soul. Thus the spirit of prayer produces the spirit of praise; love from the Creator begets love in the creature; and love from the creature-amazing condescension!-begets love in the Creator. Thus the Saviour hath said, "If any man love me he will keep my commandments." But without Christ he cannot keep them; "for without me ye can do nothing.' "And if any man keep my commandments, him will my Father love; and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Thus by the deep and mysterious union of Christ's mystical body with each individual member of it, there is real and satisfactory rest for the soul.

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this is the receptacle, if I may so speak, for spiritual affections. They come from God in Christ-they must return to God in Christ. Whilst on earth we behold but darkly the rays of the Sun of Righteousness, even in our very best frames; but yet we enter into rest-we have a rest in God as our covenant Saviour, whose purposes none can disannul. But beyond this, we anticipate rest in the mansions of unfailing bliss-that rest which remaineth for the people of God. It will not, I think, be forcing the passage, to consider that the Psalmist was inviting his soul, under a sense of vanquished difficulties and troubles, to look to that rest in God as the compensation for all his trials-as viewing eternity before him by the faith which is the substance of things hoped foras almost, from anticipation, hearing in the spirit that joyful declaration, "Come ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." "Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.”

Brethren, if the favoured soul can, with sentiments of lively gratitude, regard God as its rest, what a pitiable, what a miserable portion is reserved for the worldling. Ask him what is his rest, and if he be faithful to truth, he must say that his rest is this world, for it is either riches, or pleasure, or honour: he knows no higher enjoy. ment than the gross delights of the senses, or the desires of the understanding separate from the knowledge of the Deity. Is this a rational application of the bounties God has bestowed even upon you? Does he proAs explanatory of the simple spiri- vide you with daily food-does he tual meaning of the Psalmist's ex- give you life, and breath, and all pression, "Return unto thy rest, O things-has he endowed you with a my soul," I would refer you to a beau- body fearfully and wonderfully made tiful passage in our Communion Ser--has he granted you faculties of mind vice, where it is observed, that "if possessing a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive the Holy Sacrament, then we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood; then we dwell in Christ, and Christ in us; we are one with Christ, and Christ with us." This is a substantial restthis is a habitation for the soul in the hour of distress or of prosperity-this is the fountain of spiritual communion

capable of joining in devotion, and resembling those of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect—and in his revealed word given you the subject of angelic praise, God and man in one nature and will you continue to pervert their right and appointed use? Surely if God has thus dealt bountifully with you, it becomes you, and I am confident it is your wisdom, to return to God as the rest of your soul.

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