Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

holiness of his nature, and thy need of his son as thy ransom? This is glorifying God. Dost not thou call on his name for mercy, in dependence on the Redeemer? This is praise, or a confession of his grace, salvation, justice, and power. Do not think, that all acceptable praise consists in some inexplicable elevations of mind, but attend to plain Scripture. Remember that preaching, praying, reading, hearing, conversing, singing, and acting in faith, is confessing, that is, praising God. This will prove thee a real Jew, a confessor of the true God.

Prayer also is a most solemn confession of an immortal soul to God. God is the object to be thought of and spoken to. But, alas! alas! if this is praying, many, very many addresses, called prayers are no such things. When any person praying in his family, or in a prayer-meeting, intends to teach the persons present, rather than prevail with God, how entirely does he mistake the nature of prayer! It shows he has less faith in the promise he may plead, than in his own ability. Comparatively speaking, in the social or family circle, there is but little prayer. One attends more to the pleasing of his hearers by his language, or to teach them by his ideas, than to wrestle with God. Another intends his address, more as a comfort or reproof to some present, than a request to God. I do not say that our language, or the edification of others, should be neglected: but our concern in prayer is immediately with the present but invisible God. And if we try more to please ourselves or preach to men, than pray to God, we shall lose much time, and labour, and comfort, whilst we are obliged to bear the mortifying disappointment of not receiving an answer to prayers which were never addressed to God, but to men! How vain and inconsistent must that creature be, who can trust more to his own powers in prayer, than to the exercise of divine power in answer to his prayers!

No. CLIII.-SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION.

How greatly to be lamented is the scarcity of spiritual conversation. If but half-a-dozen christians meet together, and one of them begins on subjects divine and spiritual, perhaps he may gain attention for a few minutes; then, by pairs, a spirit of tattling begins: and if two or three in the company maintain, with profit, the consideration of better things, the rest, too generally, keep up their useless tales, and sometimes tincture the whole company with the novelty of their unprofitable subjects. Ah! imperfect state, that our thoughts, our converse, our enjoyments, are so broken, so rare, so transient. When will christians feel, think, speak, and act like christians? When shall the effects of the divine Spirit be more visible. O! thou delightful place, called Heaven; the im

perfection of society here, makes me think of thee, and thy inhabitants. Here, my poor soul is grieved, hindered, and discouraged; there, I hope to meet with kindred souls, who feelingly communicate what each enjoys, without imperfection, without weariness, and without end.

No. CLIV. THE SPIRIT.

THE necessity of the Holy Spirit's agency on the mind of a believer, is manifest, not merely in the support requisite under outward trials of inward weight, but even under the most trivial concerns of life. How deeply is the spirit agitated, vexed, and wounded by small, and sometimes, insignificant circumstances! What various passions shall be alternately moved by an occurrence, which, at first sight, hardly appeared noticeable! What fear, foreboding, and despondency reign over the mind! or what anger, revenge, and contempt of others will pollute the thoughts, inflame the affections, and disturb the soul! A surmise, a mere suspicion, however groundless, shall seem certain, and torture the soul with fearful consequences, which exist only in the disturbed imagination. Helpless creature! that one thought should be capable of rendering the spirit so miserable, for a season, as to prevent all pleasure, to spoil the enjoyment of every blessing of time and eternity; the business of life shall be a burden, the pleasures of life tasteless, the necessaries of life without refreshment, and "wearisome nights shall be appointed to thee."

But how few consider what such trifling talk proclaims! Can any one be persuaded that such persons are spiritual, when alone, who are so carnal in company? Does not a spiritual person suspect their love of Christ, their fellowship with God, and their attention to the word of God, when their conversation is so barren of divine subjects? If "out of abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," are not our words, the signs of the ideas and thoughts which fill the heart? Would we have persons be so inconsistent, as to believe our hearts are better than what comes from them? What does the root bear no resemblance to the fruit? Is not the tree known by its fruit? are not the thoughts, the sentiments, the favourite subjects, the reigning disposition known by the conversation? What then can any man think of his state and frame of mind, when it produces almost nothing but carnal, trifling thoughts, words, and affections?

How signal are the honours which God puts upon spiritual conversation! Many have been solidly comforted, richly instructed, seasonably warned, and effectually roused, by conversation which was spiritual in its nature and design. Many owe their conversion to it as the means. Why then do we hear so little of it? Why is it in such small repute among Christians? If a Christian acts in character, he "fears God above many." His conversation will be

come the Gospel; and if it does, let him not fear that "all men will speak well of him." No! an ungodly world will abhor him and misrepresent his character, and "watch for his halting." The reproofs of his tongue and holy conduct, will exasperate and shame, torment and confound them. Luke-warm Christians will endeavour to find out something exceptionable in his practice or sentiments. Their language will be; "Ah, he is a good man, but too sanguine." Or," he has a warm heart, he means well; but his heart is better than his head." They will often impute his spiritual and faithful conversation to legality, or a disposition to trust in his own obedience for justification. "Poor thing!" an orthodox hypocrite will exclaim," he is very zealous; but it is a good thing to exercise ' zeal according to knowledge;' I fear there is a great deal of Arminianism about him." Thus, instead of following the example, which their judgment must approve; they censure, as their cold affections and carnal inclinations lead them. But, how often conscience speaks a language altogether different to them, from what they speak to others. How often does their "heart smite them," whilst their tongue smites others. I think I hear conscience speaking within them thus: thou poor unhappy creature! is not thy temper and conduct more tinctured with Antinomianism; or a disregard to known duties, than the man thou condemnest is with Arminianism? If thou hast the greatest gifts, thou art conscious that he has the greatest grace. Does it not become thee to add zeal to thy knowledge, as much as thy brother, to have knowledge with his zeal? Censorious man! The truth is, thou art jealous of thy brother, and enviest him his peace, his reputation and his usefulness. You cannot bear to hear his grace more admired than thy gifts and orthodoxy. You are afraid some will draw a comparison between thy talents, and his usefulness! thy gifts and his grace; thy description of a Christian, and his life; between thy sentiments and his practice; thy sound creed, clear head and carnal mind, with his holy temper, warm heart, and spiritual walk;-these are the thoughts which torture thy breast; this is a jealousy more cruel than the grave. No longer wish to level thy faithful brother with thyself in cold formality; but study to rise to his fidelity and zeal. Instead of censure, speak the language of thy conscience, and as thy judgment approves, let thy tongue do the same. Point out his excellences to others for their imitation, rather than create faults for them to blame. Follow his steps, and imbibe his spirit yourself, that you may share his happiness instead of increasing your own misery. If he is happy in the love of God, in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Communion of the Holy Ghost, and "holds his peace-the stones will cry out!" Yea, a Christian indeed, may be left to censure his brother, for reproving sin with courage, or introducing a subject of religion into some company. He may say, such forwardness disgusts, rather than pleases; and hardens, in

stead of profiting the hearers. But, surely, the ready way to harden the ungodly in their sins, is, for Christians to comply with their wishes, to imitate their conduct and spirit, and talk as they do. This will induce them to think religion all a furce; they seeing no difference between themselves and those who know better and profess more than they do. Such a conduct is injurious to the zealous Christian; for it makes the ungodly hate him the more for his spirituality. They will say what a stiff, precise hypocrite he is; he is talking about religion. What! does he think religion consists in talking about it? I was in the company of Mr. the other day, and he said nothing about religion; at least, nothing but what any person would like; and I am sure he is a sober, good sort of a man." Thus a professor may obtain the applause of carnal men; “men of corrupt minds," and promote a spirit of enmity against, and persecution of, his more zealous brethren.

There are various evils attending the neglect of this duty. In relation to God it is ungrateful, and a contempt of his authority. Many Christians have omitted it, until they have found but small remorse for the omission. They have heard it enforced from the pulpit, with divine authority; the preacher trusting more to his own abilities, than the word and spirit of God. And they have seen it disregarded by Christians in general, until they think little of the guilt of neglecting it. Thus the example of a formal Christian, has more influence upon the heart, than the will of God and the example of Christ, and a few of his people who "fear God above many."

It is one way in which we should confess Christ before men; "both good and bad men; and promote his cause in the world," "contending for the faith, once delivered to the saints," and being "valiant for the truth upon earth." Carnal men often support the form of religion by their presence in public assemblies, and by contributing money for that end. And there is nothing which more supports their false hope; but Christians, indeed, should “do more than others," as they profess more, receive more, and expect more.

A gift for spiritual conversation is one of the most useful among Christians, and particularly becoming in ministers. And they need divine wisdom to manage this duty; for the variety of cases, subjects, and tastes, which a minister meets, must be discerned and improved if he would be useful. To recommend our conversation, it should personally interest those we converse with. And this remark observed, we should find a variety of edifying subjects which would enrich our minds and our sermons, while it profited our hearers more extensively. If a good man has a taste for politics, may not a minister gladly embrace the opportunity of remarking what the Scriptures say on the subject? The conduct of princes and their ministers, interests every subject in the kingdom less or more; and is inseparably connected with the doctrine of providence. And shall we stupidly neglect the operations of Providence in our own

country and time, while we read with eagerness the history of foreign countries and past times? Our prayers and praises for our king, country, and fellow-subjects, must be regulated by circumstances: but these must be first known. For my own part, I think it manifests a contracted mind, or a stupid, ungrateful one, to be entirely silent upon these things. It often springs from an affected spirituality. What are politics?-The science of government. Am I not a man? a Christian? And can I be indifferent who are my governors or how they govern? Am I a social being? And can I be indifferent to the miseries and happiness of my fellows? The French revolution, for instance, engages the attention of all Europe. And should Christians be excepted? What Christian soul can reflect on the present situation of France without concern, without indignation, without prayer and praise? Our talk on this subject should be modest. We have no right to pass rash and heavy censure upon kings or their ministers. The motives of their conduct are not always published, and very seldom known.

Let our conversation be instructive and spiritual, discovering something of God's conduct towards us, or our conduct towards him; and the harmony of the words and works of God. Let the mind be guarded against extremes, and always make conversation on politics lead to nobler themes. Let us aim to point out the evil of sin with seriousness of soul-this may humble ;-the mercies of a particular providence-this will excite gratitude;--and our evident duties this will quicken our activity in obedience. Our best qualification will be a good acquaintance with the Scriprures, an humble dependence on the Holy Spirit, and fervent prayer for direction and success. It is a minister's disgrace to be ignorant of what his Bible says upon such subjects. Many a good man would be hurt, and think a minister ignorant, or illnatured, or suspicious, if he were to disregard his observation upon politics; but if he improved it, he might be pleased that a remark of his was the occasion of useful conversation: besides, it avoids disgust, and insures his esteem by respecting his remarks. Who likes to be slighted?

In conversing on political subjects, a Christian should regard "edification." This end kept in view, will regulate his remarks on the subject, and avoid a cavilling party spirit. If we forget that we are Christians, we shall find our minds injured by this subject, or indeed by any other. May not a believer talk spiritually on carnal things, as many talk carnally on spiritual things? May he not show what relation events bear to Christ? In what manner they display his Christian government and designs? Must it be forgotten, that "all power in heaven and earth is committed to him; and that the government of the world, as well as the church, is upon his shoulder? Surely, not. "The Lord's voice crieth to the city;" shall the men of wisdom not hear his name?--That is, his nature, perfection, and will. If it is the voice of THE LORD to a city, shall

« FöregåendeFortsätt »