or whether they shall forbear. And if they do thus with a single eye to his glory, and in humble dependence upon his blessing, they are not answerable for the event, they shall in no wise lose their reward.

*

2. Faithful endeavours in the service of the Gospel shall not wholly fail. Though all will not hear, some certainly shall both hear and obey. Though all are by nature equally averse and incapable, yet there shall be a willing people in the day of God's power. If the wise and prudent turn away from the truth, there are babes to whom it shall be revealed. The Lord renews unto us a pledge of his faithfulness in this concern every time the rain descends. For thus he has promised, As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it.'†

3. The divine sovereignty is the best thought we can retreat to for composing and strengthening our minds under the difficulties, discouragements, and disappointments which attend the publication of the Gospel. The more we give way to reasonings and curious inquiries, the more we shall be perplexed and baffled. When Jeremiah had been complaining of some things which were too bard for him, the Lord sent him to the potter's house, and taught him to infer, from the potter's power over the clay, the just right which the Lord of all hath to do what he will with his own. It is only the pride of our own hearts that prevents this consideration from being perfectly conclusive and satisfactory. How many schemes derogatory from the free grace of God, tending to darken the glory of the Gospel, and to depreciate the righteousness of the Redeemer, have taken their rise from vain, unnecessary attempts to vindicate the ways of God; or rather to limit the actings of infinite wisdom to the bounds of our narrow understandings, to sound the depths of the divine counsels with our feeble plummets, and to say to Omnipotence, 'Hitherto shalt thou go, and no further.' But upon the ground of the divine sovereignty we may rest satisfied and stable; for if God appoints and overrules all, according to the purpose of his own will, we have sufficient security, both for the present and the future,

First, for the present. We may firmly expect, what Scripture and reason concur to assure us, that the Judge of all the earth will do right.' Whatever to us appears otherwise in his proceed

*Psal. ex. 3.

Isa. iv. 10.

Jer. xviii. 6.

ings should be charged to the darkness and weakness of our minds. We know that in every point of science difficulties and objections occur to young beginners, which, at first view, may seem almost unanswerable: but, as knowledge increases, the difficulties gradually subside, and, at last, we perceive they were chiefly owing to the defects of our apprehension. In divinity it is wholly so: God is light, and in him is no darkness at all:' his revealed will is, like himself, just, holy, pure in the whole, and perfectly consistent in every part. We may safely rest upon this general maxim, that 'the Judge of all the earth shall do right.' Though he does not give us a particular account of his dealings, and we are not fully able to comprehend them, yet we ought, against all appearances and proud reasonings, to settle it firmly in our minds, that every thing is conducted worthy the views which God has given us of himself in his holy word, as a Being of infinite justice, wisdom, goodness and truth. And further,

Secondly, For the future. He has appointed a day when he will make it appear that he has done right. Though clouds and darkness are now upon his proceedings, they shall, ere long, be removed. When all his designs in providence and grace are completed; when the present imperfect state of things shall be finished; when the dead, small and great, are summoned to stand before him; then the great Judge will condescend to unfold the whole train of his dispensations, and will justify his proceedings before angels and men; then every presumptuous cavil shall be silenced, every difficulty solved. His people shall admire his wisdom, his enemies shall confess his justice. The destruction of those who perish shall be acknowledged deserved, and of themselves; and the redeemed of the Lord shall ascribe all the glory of their salvation to him alone. What we shall then see, it is now our duty and our comfort assuredly to believe.

The great subject of our Saviour's joy, and which, so far as it is apprehended, will bear up his servants above all their difficulties and disappointments, I mean the consideration of the sovereign hand of God directing the success of his word when and where he pleases, we must defer speaking of till the next opportunity. And we shall close, at present, with a few inferences from what has been said thus far by way of introduction.

1. Take heed how you hear. The Gospel of salvation which is sent to you will be either a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death,' to every soul of you. There is no medium. Though, in a common and familiar way of speaking, we sometimes complain that the Gospel is preached without effect, there is, in reality, no possibility that it can be without effect. An effect it must and will have upon all who hear it. Happy they who receive and

embrace it as the joyful sound, the unspeakable gift of God's love. To these it will be a 'savour of life unto life.' It will communicate life to the soul at first, and maintain that life, in defiance of all opposition, till it terminates in glory. But wo, wo to those who receive it not. It will be to them a savour of death unto death.' It will leave them under the sentence of death already denounced against them by the law which they have transgressed; and it will consign them to eternal death, under the heaviest aggravations of guilt and misery. Remember the doom of Capernaum, and why it was denounced. Jesus preached amongst them the words of eternal life, and they rejected him. This was all. In other things, perhaps, they were no worse than their neighbours, and probably disdained to hear themselves judged worthy of a heavier punishment than Sodom, and those cities which, for their abominations, were consumed with fire from heaven. But our Lord assures us it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for those who slight his word. For this guilt and condemnation is not confined to the Jews who rejected his person, but extended to all who should at any time treat his Gospel with contempt. However inconsiderable his ministers are in other respects, if they faithfully deliver his message, he has declared himself closely interested in the reception they meet with 'He that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth both me and him that sent me.'* It is therefore at your peril to treat what we say with indifference, (if we speak agreeably to the Scripture,) the word of God, which we preach, will judge you at the last day.

:

2. Be afraid of being wise in your own eyes, lest you should approach to the characters of those from whom the righteous God sees fit to hide the knowledge of those truths, without which they cannot be saved. The Gospel is not proposed to you to ask your opinion of it, that it may stand or fall according to your decision; but it peremptorily demands your submission. If you think yourselves qualified to judge and examine it by that imperfect and depraved light which you call your reason, you will probably find reasons enough to refuse your assent. Reason is properly exercised in the ordinary concerns of life, and has so far a place in religious inquiries, that none can or do believe the Gospel without having sufficient reasons for it, But you need a higher light, the light of God's Spirit, without which the most glorious displays of his wisdom will appear foolishness to you. If you come simple, dependent, and teachable; if you pray from your heart, with David, 'Open thou mine eyes, that I may see

*Matt. x. 40.

wondrous things in thy law;'* you will be heard and answered; you will grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: but if you neglect this, and trust in yourselves, as supposing this promised assistance of the Holy Spirit unnecessary, the glorious light of the Gospel will shine upon you in vain; for Satan will maintain such hold of you, by this pride of your hearts, as still to keep you in bondage and darkness, that you shall neither see it, nor desire to see it.

Ac

3. Those of you who have some spiritual apprehensions of these things have reason to praise God that you see a little. You was once quite blind; you neither saw your disease nor your remedy. You could discern nothing of the excellence of Christ, or the beauties of holiness. But now the eyes of your understanding are in some measure enlightened. It is the grace of God has made you thus far to differ from what you once was, and from what multitudes around you still are. Be thankful. cept it as a token for good. Be not discouraged that the beginnings are small; but wait on the Lord, and they shall be increased. Seek him by prayer. Converse with your Bibles. Attend upon the public ordinances. In the humble use of these means (while you endeavour to act faithfully, according to the light you have already received) you shall gradually advance in wisdom and comfort. The Christian growth is not instantaneous, but by degrees, as the early dawn increases in brightness, till the perfect day, and as the corn comes forward surely, though unperceived. In this manner, your views of Gospel truth shall increase in clearness, evidence, and influence, till you are removed from this land of shadows to the regions of perfect light, to behold the truth, as it shines in the person of Jesus, without a veil, and without a cloud, for ever.

Psalm cxix. 18.

+ Prov. iv. 18.

Matt. xiii. 81, 32.

SERMON II.

IN WHAT SENSE THE MYSTERIES OF THE GOSPEL ARE HID FROM MANY.

MATT. Xi. 25.

At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

He

WHEN Our Lord appeared upon earth, though he came on the most gracious and important business, displayed the perfection of holiness in his conduct, and performed innumerable acts of kindness and love, he met with little regard. He found many enemies, but few hearty friends. Especially those who were most eminent for riches, learning, power, or reputed goodness, disdained him; and most of those who followed him were either people in low circumstances, or whose character had been offensive. Publicans and sinners, fishermen, unlearned and obscure persons, were almost the only friends he had. The Lord Jesus, who was infinitely above the selfish views which are too apt to influence our little minds, was well satisfied with this event. did not desire honour from men. 'The souls of the poor were precious in his sight."* He spoke kindly to those whom men abhorred; and, if he mourned over the obstinacy of the chiefs of the people, it was for their own sakes. Yet, (as I observed formerly,) when he considered the appointment and will of God, in this dispensation, he was not only content, but he rejoiced. He expressed his approbation in these words: 'I thank thee, O Father,' &c. There is something observable in this passage which will be of continual use and application, so long as the Gospel shall be preached. For as it was then, so it is still; the things that are hid from the wise and prudent are revealed unto babes. Five particulars offer from the words for our consideration.

1. What may be intended by these things?

2. Where and in what sense they are hid? 3. From whom? The wise and prudent?

4. How the knowledge of them is to be obtained? By revelation; thou hast revealed.