Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

PERSONAL AFFLICTION AND FREQUENT REFLECTION UPON HUMAN LIFE, OF GREAT USE TO LEAD MAN TO THE REMEMBRANCE OF GOD.

PREACHED

IN CHRIST CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA,

SEPTEMBER 1, 1754.

ON THE DEATH OF A BELOVED PUPIL.

PSALM xliii. 6.

O my God! my soul is cast down within me, therefore will I remember thee.

IT is elegantly said by the author of the book

of Job*, who seems to have experienced all the dire vicissitudes of fortune, "That man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards."

These Troubles, however, as the same author further observes, serve the wisest purposes, inasmuch as they are not the effects of what is called blind Chance, but of that unerring Providence, which graciously conducts all events to the general good of the creature, and the final completion of virtue and happiness. "Affliction comes not forth from the dust, neither does trouble spring out of the ground.” Very far from it. At that great day, when the whole council of God shall be more perfectly displayed to us, we shall be fully convinced, that all his dispensations have been wise, righteous, and gracious; and that << though no chastening for the

[blocks in formation]

present seems joyous, but grievous, nevertheless it afterwards yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby."

Of the truth of this we might indeed soon be convinced, at present, were we but wise, and suffered ourselves to reflect on what we daily see. 'Tis with the greatest injustice, that men ascribe their sins wholly to worldly temptations, and inveigh upon all occasions against this life on account of its vanities. These, if well attended to, would perhaps put us on our guard against sin; and, upon inquiry, it will be found that the great and general cause of all iniquity, is a stupid listlessness, or want of consideration; which, like some vast weight, oppresses the more generous efforts of the soul, and bears all silently down before it, unless checked by the powerful hand of affliction.

I sincerely pity the man who never tasted of adverse fate; and were I capable of wishing evil to any person, I could not wish a greater to my greatest foe, than a long and uninterrupted course of prosperity. A flattering calm portends a gathering storm; and when the stream glides smooth, deep and silent on, we justly suspect that the sea or some declivity is near, and that it is soon to be lost in the vast ocean, or to tumble down some dreadful fall or craggy precipice.

Such appears his state to be, who never knew an adverse hour, nor took time to consider whence he came, where he is, or whither bound. There is room to be apprehensive lest, being drunk with prosperity, he should swim smoothly from joy to joy along life's short current, till down he drops, through the pit of death, into the vast ocean of eternity! If we

loved such a one, what more charitable wish could we indulge towards him, than that the chastening hand of heaven might fall heavy upon him, arrest him in his thoughtless career, and teach him to pause, ponder, and weigh the moment-the eternal moment -"of the things that belong to his peace, before they are for ever hid from his eyes?"

That there should be any persons, endued with reason and understanding, who never found leisure in this world to reflect for what end they were sent into it, would seem incredible, if experience did not assure us of it. There are really so many affecting incidents in life (undoubtedly intended to awaken reflection) that their hearts must be petrified indeed, one would think, and harder than adamant, or the nether millstone, who can live in this world without being sometimes affected, if not with their own, at least with the human, lot.

I hope it is far from being my character, that I am of a gloomy temper, or delight to dwell unseasonably on the dark side of things. Our cup here is bitter enough, and misfortunes sown too thick for any one who loves his species to seek to embitter the draught, by evils of his own creation. But there is a time for all things; and, on some occasions, not to feel, sympathize, and mourn, would argue the most savage na

ture.

This day every thing that comes from me will be tinctured with melancholy. It is, however, a virtuous melancholy; and therefore, if publickly indulged, I hope it may be thought excusable.

You know it is natural for those who are sincerely afflicted, to believe that every person is obliged to

"The pulpit orators of France, have in general surpassed those of England in a torrent of rhetoric and overbearing eloquence; whilst, on the other hand, they have been greatly inferior to them in the didactic and moral part of preaching. In France, a sermon is an animated harangue; in England, a serious and instructive lecture. Tillotson,

Clarke, and Watterland, inform the understanding; Bossuet, Massillon, and Flechier, rouse the passions, Both talents should unite to make a complete preacher; since dry instructions are too dull and unawaking, and rhetoric often but an empty sound.

"The author of these discourses seems to have been aware of the deficiency of our English preachers in point of eloquence, and to have used his utmost efforts to avoid incurring the same imputation. In his first dicourse, which is a funeral sermon preached upon the death of a beloved pupil, there are some strokes equal to any in the Oraisons Funebres of Bossuet."

It was surely very encouraging to a young man, as our author was in 1754, when this Sermon was composed, to find his eloquence would bear the being mentioned at the same time with that of Bossuet!

The Monthly Reviewers also who had noticed our Author much earlier, "marking him with their approbation as a writer from his first appearance in

the London press; viz. in their Review for April 1754, on the publication of a small pamphlet, containing, inter alia, the celebrated speech of a Creek Indian; then in their Reviews for July 1759, and July 1763."

"The principal design of these Discourses is to shew the value of the blessings, arising from the enjoyment of the Protestant Religion and Civil Liberty, and to inspire a becoming zeal for their defence. They are written with an excellent spirit, and in a sprightly animated manner; the language is clear and forcible; the sentiments generally just, and often striking."

And again, after some extracts from these Sermons, "Sentiments such as these must do honour to the preacher; and are essentially necessary to the progress of science and true religion, in any part of the world. As far as the schemes in which this gentleman is engaged, are calculated to promote, or are consistent with, these truly Christian and Protestant principles; we rejoice in his success, and heartily wish the increase of it."

Both the Critical and the Monthly Reviewers, at the same time that they thus bear testimony to our Author's merit, give specimens of it in long quotations, the inserting of which in this place would be an unreasonable enlargement of the Preface.

« FöregåendeFortsätt »