was glorified_. It _grew mightily and prevailed_. But so much the more
did offences prevail also. The world in general were offended, _because
they testified of it, that the works thereof were evil_. The men of
pleasure were offended, not only because these men were _made_, as it
were, _to reprove their thoughts_. (_He professeth_, said they, _to
have the knowledge of God: he calleth himself the child of the Lord:
his life is not like other mens; his ways are of another fashion: he
abstaineth from our ways, as from filthiness: he maketh his boast, that
God is his Father_.) But much more, because so many of their companions
were taken away, and would no more _run with them to the same excess
of riot_. The men of reputation were offended, because, as the gospel
spread, they declined in the esteem of the people; and because many no
longer dared to _give them flattering titles_, or to pay man the homage
due to God only. The men of trade called one another together, and said,
_Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. But ye see and
hear that these men have persuaded and turned away much people. So that
this our craft is in danger to be set at nought._ Above all, the men of
religion, so called, the men of _outside_ religion, “the saints of the
world,” were offended and ready at every opportunity to cry out, _Men
of Israel, help! We have found these men! Pestilent fellows, movers of
sedition throughout the world. These are the men that teach all men,
every where, against the people, and against the law._
6. Thus it was that the heavens grew black with clouds, and the storm
gathered amain. For the more Christianity spread, _the more hurt was
done_, in the account of those who received it not, and the number
increased of those who were more and more enraged at these _men who_
thus _turned the world upside down_; insomuch that more and more cried
out, _Away with such fellows from the earth; it is not fit that they
should live_, yea, and sincerely believed, that _whosoever_ should
_kill them, would do God service_.
7. Meanwhile they did not fail to _cast out their name as evil_: so
that this _sect was every where spoken against. Men said all manner of
evil of them_, even as had been done of the _prophets that were before
them_. And whatsoever any would affirm, others would believe. So that
offences grew as the stars of heaven for multitude. And hence arose, at
the time foreordain’d of the Father, persecution in all its forms. Some,
for a season, suffered only shame and reproach; some, _the spoiling of
their goods_; some _had trial of mocking and scourging_; some _of bonds
and imprisonment_; and others _resisted unto blood_.
8. Now it was that the pillars of hell were shaken, and the kingdom
of God spread more and more. Sinners were every where _turned from
darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God_. He gave
his children _such a mouth, and such wisdom, as all their adversaries
could not resist_. And their lives were of equal force with their
words. But, above all, their sufferings spake to all the world.
They _approved themselves_ the servants of God, _in afflictions, in
necessities; in distresses; in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults,
in labours; in perils in the sea, in perils in the wilderness; in
weariness and painfulness, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness_.
And when having _fought the good fight_, they were _led as sheep to the
slaughter, and offered up on the sacrifice and service of their faith_,
then the blood of each found a voice, and the Heathen owned, _He being
dead, yet speaketh_.
9. Thus did _Christianity_ spread itself in the earth. But how soon
did the tares appear with the wheat? And the _mystery of iniquity_ work
as well as the _mystery of godliness_! How soon did Satan find a seat,
even _in the temple of God_! Till _the woman fled into the wilderness,
and the faithful were_ again _minished from the children of men_.
Here we tread a beaten path: the still increasing corruptions of the
succeeding generations, have been largely described from time to time,
by those witnesses God raised up, to shew that he had _built his church
upon a rock, and the gates of hell should not_ wholly _prevail against
her_.
III. 1. But shall we not see greater things than these? Yea, greater
than have been yet from the beginning of the world. Can Satan cause the
truth of God to fail, or his promises to be of none effect? If not, the
time will come, when _Christianity_ will prevail over all, and cover
the earth. Let us stand a little, and survey (the third thing which was
proposed) this strange sight, a _Christian world. Of this the prophets
of old enquired and searched diligently_: of this _the Spirit which
was in them testified, It shall come to pass in the last days, that
the Mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the
mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall
flow unto it. And they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and
their spears into pruning-hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against
nation; neither shall they learn war any more. In that day there shall
be a Root of |Jesse|, which shall stand for an ensign of the people.
To it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious. And it
shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again
to recover the remnant of his people; and he shall set up an Ensign for
the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of |Israel|, and gather
together the dispersed of |Judah|, from the four corners of the earth.
The wolf shall then dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down
with the kid: and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
and a little child shall lead them. They shall not hurt nor destroy,
saith the Lord, in all my holy mountain. For the earth shall be full of
the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea._
2. To the same effect are the words of the great apostle, which it is
evident have never yet been fulfilled. _Hath God cast away his people?
God forbid. But through their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles.
And if the diminishing of them be the riches of the Gentiles, how
much more their fulness? For I would not, brethren, that ye should
be ignorant of this mystery,――That blindness in part is happened to
|Israel|, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in: and so all
|Israel| shall be saved._
3. Suppose now the fulness of time to be come, and the prophecies to
be accomplished, what a prospect is this? All is _peace, quietness, and
assurance for ever_. Here is no din of arms, no _confused noise_, no
_garments rolled in blood_. _Destructions are come to a perpetual end_:
wars are ceased from the earth. Neither are there any intestine jars
remaining; no brother rising up against brother; no country or city
divided against itself, and tearing out its own bowels. Civil discord
is at end for evermore, and none is left either to destroy or hurt his
neighbour. Here is no oppression to _make_ even _the wise man mad_;
no extortion to _grind the face of the poor_; no robbery or wrong;
no rapine or injustice; for all are _content with such things as they
possess_. Thus _righteousness and peace have kissed each other_; they
have _taken root and filled the land_: righteousness flourishing out of
the earth, and _peace looking down from heaven_.
4. And with righteousness or justice, mercy is also found. The earth
is no longer _full of cruel habitations. The Lord hath destroyed both
the blood-thirsty_ and malicious, the envious and revengeful man.
Were there any provocation, there is none that now knoweth, to _return
evil for evil_: but indeed there is none that doeth evil, no not one;
for all are _harmless as doves_. And being _filled with peace and joy
in believing_, and united in one body, by one spirit, they all _love
as brethren_, they are all _of one heart and of one soul. Neither
saith any of them, that ought of the things which he possesseth is his
own._ There is none among them that lacketh; for every man loveth his
neighbour as himself. And all walk by one rule, _Whatever ye would that
men should do unto you, even so do unto them_.
5. It follows, that no unkind word can ever be heard among them:
no _strife of tongues_, no contention of any kind, no railing or
evil-speaking; but every one _opens his mouth with wisdom, and in his
tongue there is the law of kindness_. Equally incapable are they of
fraud or guile: their _love_ is _without dissimulation_: their words
are always the just expression of their thoughts, opening a window into
their breast, that whosoever desires may look into their hearts, and
see that only love and God are there.
6. Thus, where _the Lord omnipotent taketh to himself his mighty
power and reigneth_, doth he _subdue all things to himself_; cause
every heart to overflow with love, and fill every mouth with praise.
_Happy are the people that are in such a case; yea, blessed are the
people who have the Lord for their God. Arise, shine_, (saith the Lord)
_for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
Thou hast known that I the Lord am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the
mighty God of |Jacob|. I have made thy officers peace, and thy exacters
righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor
destruction within thy borders: but thou shalt call thy walls salvation,
and thy gates praise. Thy people are all righteous; they shall inherit
the land for ever: the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I may be glorified. The sun shall no more be thy light by day;
neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the
Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory._
IV. Having thus briefly considered _Christianity_, as beginning, as
going on, and as covering the earth, it remains only that I should
close the whole with a plain practical application.
1. * And first, I would ask, where does this _Christianity_ now
exist? Where, I pray, do the _Christians_ live? Which is the country,
the inhabitants whereof are _all_ thus _filled with the Holy Ghost_?
Are _all of one heart and of one soul_? Cannot suffer one among them
_to lack any thing_, but continually give _to every man as he hath
need_? Who one and all have the love of God filling their hearts,
and constraining them to love their neighbours as themselves? Who
have all _put on bowels of mercy, humbleness of mind, gentleness,
long-suffering_? Who offend not in any kind, either by word or deed,
against justice, mercy, or truth? But in every point do unto all men,
as they would these should do unto them. With what propriety can we
term any a _Christian country_, which does not answer this description?
Why then, let us confess we have never yet seen a _Christian country_
upon earth.
2. I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, if ye do account me
a madman or a fool, yet _as a fool bear with me_. It is utterly needful
that some one should use great plainness of speech towards you. It is
more especially needful at _this_ time; for who knoweth but it is the
_last_? Who knoweth how soon the righteous Judge may say, _I will no
more be intreated for this people? Tho’ |Noah|, |Daniel|, and |Job|,
were in this land, they should but deliver their own souls._ And who
will use this plainness, if I do not? Therefore I, even I, will speak.
And I adjure you, by the living God, that ye steel not your breasts
against receiving a blessing at _my_ hands. Do not say in your heart,
“_Non persuadebis, etiamsi persuaseris_: Or, in other words, Lord, thou
shalt not _send, by whom thou wilt send_. Let me rather perish in my
blood, than be saved by this man!”
3. _Brethren I am persuaded better things of you, tho’ I thus
speak._ Let me ask you then, in tender love, and in the spirit of
meekness, is this city a _Christian_ city? Is _Christianity, Scriptural
Christianity_, found here? Are we, considered as a community of men,
so _filled with the Holy Ghost_, as to enjoy in our hearts, and shew
forth in our lives, the genuine fruits of that spirit? Are all the
magistrates, all heads and governors of colleges and halls, and their
respective societies, (not to speak of the inhabitants of the town)
_of one heart and one soul_? Is _the love of God shed abroad in our
hearts_? Are our tempers the same that were in him? Are our lives
agreeable thereto? Are we _holy as he who hath called us is holy, in
all manner of conversation_?
4. I intreat you to observe, that here are no _peculiar notions_
now under consideration; that the question moved is not concerning
_doubtful opinions_, of one kind or an other; but concerning the
undoubted, fundamental branches (if there be any such) of our _common
Christianity_. And for the decision thereof, I appeal to your own
conscience, guided by the word of God. He therefore that is not
condemned by his own heart, let him go free.
5. * In the fear then, and in the presence of the great God, before
whom both you and I shall shortly appear, I pray you that are in
authority over us, whom I reverence for your office sake, to consider,
(and not after the manner of dissemblers with God) Are you _filled
with the Holy Ghost_? Are ye lively portraitures of him, whom ye
are appointed to represent among men? _I have said, ye are Gods_, ye
magistrates and rulers; ye are by office so nearly allied to the God
of heaven! In your several stations and degrees, ye are to shew forth
unto us _the Lord our governor_. Are all the thoughts of your hearts,
all your tempers and desires, suitable to your high calling? Are all
your words like unto those which come out of the mouth of God? Is
there in all your actions dignity and love? A greatness which words
cannot express, which can flow only from an heart full of God――and yet
consistent with the character of _man that is a worm, and the son of
man that is a worm_!
6. * Ye venerable men, who are more especially called to form the
tender minds of youth, to dispel thence the shades of ignorance and
error, and train them up to be wise unto salvation, Are you _filled
with the Holy Ghost_? With all those _fruits of the Spirit_, which
your important office so indispensibly requires? Is your heart whole
with God? Full of love and zeal to set up his kingdom on earth? Do you
continually remind those under your care, that the one rational end of
all our studies, is to know, love, and serve _the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom he hath sent_? Do you inculcate upon them, day by day,
that _love_ alone _never faileth_? (Whereas, _whether there be tongues,
they shall fail, or_ philosophical _knowledge, it shall vanish away_:)
and that without love, all learning is but splendid ignorance, pompous
folly, vexation of spirit. Has all you teach an actual tendency to the
love of God, and of all mankind for his sake? Have you an eye to this
end in whatever you prescribe, touching the kind, the manner, and the
measure of their studies; desiring and labouring, that wherever the lot
of these young soldiers of Christ is cast, they may be so many _burning
and shining lights, adorning the gospel of Christ_ in all things? And
permit me to ask, Do you put forth all your strength in the vast work
you have undertaken? Do you labour herein with all your might? Exerting
every faculty of your soul? Using every talent which God hath lent you,
and that to the uttermost of your power?
7. Let it not be said, that I speak here, as if all under your care
were intended to be clergymen. Not so: I only speak as if they were all
intended to be Christians. But what example is set them by us who enjoy
the beneficence of our forefathers; by fellows, students, scholars;
more especially those who are of some rank and eminence? * Do ye,
brethren, abound in the fruits of the spirit, in lowliness of mind, in
self-denial and mortification, in seriousness and composure of spirit,
in patience, meekness, sobriety, temperance, and in unwearied, restless
endeavours, to do good, in every kind, unto all men: to relieve their
outward wants, and to bring their souls to the true knowledge and love
of God? Is this the general character of fellows of colleges? I fear
it is not. Rather, have not pride and haughtiness of spirit, impatience
and peevishness, sloth and indolence, gluttony and sensuality, and even
a proverbial uselessness, been objected to us, _perhaps_ not always by
our enemies, _nor wholly_ without ground? O that God would roll away
this reproach from us, that the very memory of it might perish for ever!
8. * Many of us are more immediately consecrated to God, called
to _minister in holy things_. Are we then patterns to the rest, _in
word, in conversation, in charity; in spirit, in faith, in purity_? Is
there written on our forehead and on our heart, _Holiness to the Lord_?
From what motives did we enter upon this office? Was it indeed with
a single eye _to serve God, trusting that we were inwardly moved by
the Holy Ghost, to take upon us this ministration, for the promoting
of his glory, and the edifying of his people_? And _have_ we _clearly
determined, by God’s grace, to give ourselves wholly to this office? Do
we forsake and set aside, as much as in us lies, all worldly cares and
studies? Do we apply ourselves wholly to this one thing, and draw all
our cares and studies this way?_ Are we _apt to teach_? Are we _taught
of God_, that we may be able to teach others also? Do we know God? Do
we know Jesus Christ? Hath God _revealed his Son in us_? And hath he
_made us able ministers of the new covenant_? Where then are _the seals
of our apostleship_? Who _that were dead in trespasses and sins_, have
been quickened by our word? Have we a burning zeal to save souls from
death, so that for their sake we often forget even to eat our bread? Do
we speak plain, _by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to
every man’s conscience in the sight of God_? Are we dead to the world
and the things of the world, _laying up all our treasure in heaven?
Do we lord over God’s heritage?_ Or are we the least, _the servants of
all_? When we bear the reproach of Christ, Does it sit heavy upon us?
Or do we rejoice therein? When we are _smitten on the one cheek_, Do
we resent it? Are we impatient of affronts? Or do we _turn the other
also: not resisting the evil_, but _overcoming evil with good_? Have we
a bitter zeal, inciting us to strive sharply and passionately with them
_that are out of the way_? Or is our zeal the flame of love, so as to
direct all our words with sweetness, lowliness, and meekness of wisdom?
9. Once more, what shall we say concerning the youth of this place?
Have _you_ either the form or the power of _Christian_ Godliness? Are
you humble, teachable, advisable; or stubborn, self-willed, heady, and
high-minded? Are you obedient to your superiors as to parents? Or do
you despise those to whom you owe the tenderest reverence? Are you
diligent in your easy business, pursuing your studies with all your
strength? Do you _redeem the time_, crowding as much work into every
day as it can contain? Rather, are ye not conscious to yourselves, that
you waste away day after day, either in reading what has no tendency to
_Christianity_, or in gaming, or in――you know not what? Are you better
managers of your fortune than of your time? Do you, out of principle,
take care to _owe no man any thing_? Do you _remember the Sabbath-day
to keep it holy_; to spend it in the more immediate worship of God?
When you are in his House, Do you consider that God is there? Do you
behave, _as seeing Him that is invisible_? Do you know how to _possess
your bodies, in sanctification and honour_? Are not drunkenness and
uncleanness found among you? Yea, are there not of you, who _glory
in their shame_? Do not many of you _take the name of God in vain_,
perhaps habitually, without either remorse or fear? Yea, * Are there
not a multitude of you that are forsworn? I fear, a swiftly-increasing
multitude. Be not surprized, brethren. Before God and this congregation;
I own myself to have been of that number; solemnly swearing to _observe
all those customs_, which I then knew nothing of; _and those statutes_,
which I did not so much as read over, either then, or for some years
after. What is perjury, if this is not? But if it be, O what a weight
of sin, yea, sin of no common dye, lieth upon us! And doth not _the
Most High regard it_?
10. * May it not be one of the consequences of this that so many of
you are a generation of _Triflers_? Triflers with God, with one another,
and with your own souls? For how few of you spend, from one week to
another, a single hour in private prayer? How few have any thought
of God in the general tenor of your conversation? Who of you is, in
any degree, acquainted with the work of his Spirit, his supernatural
work in the souls of men? Can you bear, unless now and then, in a
church, any talk of the Holy Ghost? Would you not take it for granted,
if one began such a conversation, that it was either _Hypocrisy_
or _Enthusiasm_? In the name of the Lord God Almighty, I ask, what
religion are _you_ of? Even the talk of _Christianity_ ye cannot, will
not bear. O my brethren! what a _Christian_ city is this? _It is time
for thee, Lord, to lay to thine hand!_
11. For indeed, what probability, what possibility rather, (speaking
after the manner of men) is there that _Christianity, Scriptural
Christianity_, should be again the religion of this place? That all
orders of men among us should speak and live as men _filled with the
Holy Ghost_? By whom should this _Christianity_ be restored? By those
of you that are in authority? Are you convinced then, that this is
_Scriptural Christianity_? Are you desirous it should be restored? And
do ye not count your fortune, liberty, life, dear unto yourselves, so
ye may be instrumental in the restoring it? But suppose ye have this
desire, who hath any power proportioned to the effect? Perhaps some of
you have made a few faint attempts, but with how small success? Shall
_Christianity_ then be restored by young, unknown, inconsiderable men?
I know not whether ye yourselves could suffer it. Would not some of you
cry out, “Young man, in so doing thou reproachest us?” But there is no
danger of your being put to the proof; so hath _iniquity overspread us
like a flood_. Whom then shall God send? The famine, the pestilence,
(the last messengers of God to a guilty land) or the sword? _The armies
of the |Romish| aliens_, to _reform_ us into our first love? Nay,
_rather let us fall into thy hand, O Lord, and let us not fall into
the hand of man_.
Lord, save or we perish! Take us out of the mire that we sink not!
O help us against these enemies, for vain is the help of man. Unto
thee all things are possible. According to the greatness of thy power,
preserve thou those that are appointed to die; and preserve us in the
manner that seemeth to thee good; not as we will, but as thou wilt.
SERMON V.
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH.
ROMANS iv. 5.
_To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth
the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness._
1. HOW a sinner may be justified before God, the Lord and judge of
all, is a question of no common importance, to every child of man. It
contains the foundation of all our hope; in as much as while we are
at enmity with God, there can be no true peace, no solid joy, either
in time or in eternity. What peace can there be, while our own heart
condemns us? And much more, he that _is greater than our heart and
knoweth all things_? What solid joy, either in this world or that to
come, while _the wrath of God abideth on us_?
2. And yet how little hath this important question been understood?
What confused notions have many had concerning it? Indeed not only
confused, but often utterly false; contrary to the truth, as light
to darkness: notions absolutely inconsistent with the oracles of God,
and with the whole analogy of faith. And hence, erring concerning the
very foundation, they could not possibly build thereon: at least, not
_gold, silver, or precious stones_, which would endure when _tried_ as
_by fire_; but only _hay and stubble_, neither acceptable to God, nor
profitable to man.
3. In order to do justice, as far as in me lies, to the vast importance
of the subject, to save those that seek the truth in sincerity, from
_vain jangling and strife of words_, to clear the confusedness of
thought, into which so many have already been led thereby, and to give
them true and just conceptions of this great mystery of godliness, I
shall endeavour to shew,
_First_, What is the general ground of this whole doctrine of
justification.
_Secondly_, What justification is.
_Thirdly_, Who they are that are justified. And,