SERMON V.

The Believer's Joy in Christ Jesus.

By HENRY HUNTER, D. D.

Preached at Leith, April 22. 1770, after difpenfing the Lord's Supper.

T

1 ACTS, viii. 39.

-He went on his way rejoicing.

HIS is the conclufion of the interesting

and instructive hiftory of the converfion of the Ethiopian eunuch. It commences at the 26th verfe, and exhibits to us a perfon highly diftinguished by his rank in life, and much more by his piety, on his return from Jerufalem, to which he had resorted to join in the folemn worship of one of the great Jewish feftivals, to Ethiopia, the theatre of his fecular employments. To amufe the tediousness of the road, and to fix the serious impreffions which the fervice of the temple had made upon his mind, he betakes himself to the reading of thofe facred books which, as a profelyte to Judaifm, he received as the rule of his faith and conduct. That Providence which watches over all events, and was haftening its gracious defigns upon

him to

their

their accomplishment, at once directs the fubject of his reading, and fends an interpreter. The good feed of the word, being cast into a well-prepared foil, fpeedily brings forth fruit unto God; the treasurer of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, becomes a difciple of Jefus of Nazareth He reads, he understands, he believeth, and is baptifed: He is filled with peace and joy in believing ;-" He went on his way rejoicing."

You have, this day, Chriftians, recognifed baptifmal engagements; you have profeffed your faith and hope in the Lamb, flain from the foundation of the world: you have been, with this illuftrious and early convert to Chriftianity, folemnly declaring, that with all your heart, You believe that Jefus Chrift is the Son of God. Would God grant the defire of my heart, concerning every one in this great affembly, you fhould with him alfo go on your way rejoicing. That by the grace of God,.

I

may contribute fomewhat to an end fo defirable, permit me, from the circumftances of this fhort hiftory, or from obvious conclufions founded upon it, to point out fome of the fources of the believer's joy in Christ Jefus; and then to direct you to fuch a walk. and converfation, as, by the bleffing of Heaven, may conduce to your true peace and comfort through life, at a dying hour, and in the glorious world of unmixed and everlasting love and joy.

I.

I. Then, we behold this good man rejoicing as he goes, that God had been graciously pleafed, and by means fo wonderful, to reveal to him his Son Chrift Jefus, and falvation through his blood. He was bleffed with a teachable difpofition, he had a heart turned to devotion; modeft, inquiring, zealous, indefatigable, he had come to Jerufalem for to worship; he waited for the confolation of Ifrael; he was in the habit of diligently fearching the fcriptures; but behold, he is, on his way homeward, ftill in the dark; the word that he reads is but a dead letter, as a fpring fhut up, a fountain fealed. Upon his arrival at the Jewish metropolis, he would no doubt be informed of the late interefting events, which had fo much engaged the minds, and affected the converfation of men; the crucifixion of Chrift, the progrefs of his apoftles, the martyrdom of Stephen, and the like But whether from his ignorance of the fcriptures, and of the real character of Jefus Chrift, or from the prejudices inftilled into him by fome Jewish teacher, who, in all probability, directed his faith and confcience; thefe events, however ftriking, had failed to make much impreffion he remains ftill ignorant that the promised Meffias was already come; and that there was no name under heaven given among men, whereby they could be rendered acceptable to God, and faved, but the name of him whom the Jews had just crucified and flain. But, now that he is fully inftructed

ftructed in the meaning and application of the prophecies; now that the veil is removed from his eyes, and the great myftery of godliness ftands confeffed; now that he fees Chrift Jefus the Lord, in what Mofes inftituted, David fung, and Ifaias foretold; his heart overflows with gratitude and delight: and may we not fuppofe him, in language fuch as this, expreffing the wonder and the joy which filled his foul?

"Glory to God in the higheft, that the "defire of all nations is come; that the fcrip"tures are fulfilled; that the fun is rifen, and "the fhadows fled away; and that it is a "light to enlighten the Gentiles, as well as "the glory of Ifrael. But what am I, O Lord "God, that to me this grace should be given? "an alien a wanderer from Ethiopia! ig"norant, bewildered, helplefs! Now know I "of a truth that thou art no refpecter of per

fons; that he who fincerely feeks, fhall cer"tainly find thee; that thou wilt have mercy "on whom thou wilt have mercy. What "fhall I render unto the Lord, who has made "me a chofen veffel to convey his name, and "his Son's name, to diftant nations and re

gions of darknefs? I came hither empty, "but I return filled with good things. Once "I was in uncertainty and obfcurity, but now "I am light in the Lord, for the glory of the "Lord is arifen upon me. I read, but un"derstood not what I read: but God has gra"ciously prefented me with the golden key

"which unfolds the paffage to the treasures "of fcripture, infinitely more precious than "those which my royal mistress has intrufted "to my care: now have I found him to whom "all the prophets give witness; him whom "my foul loveth; my Saviour and my God: "And I will go in his strength; I will make "mention of his righteoufnefs, even of his "only."

Have you obtained of the Lord, Chriftians, like caufe of rejoicing, from your attendance on the service of his house and table this day? You perhaps came hither, as Mary, inquiring, weeping, and complaining, "They have ta"ken away my Lord, and I know not where "they have laid him;" but are now ready to retire in the fatisfaction and triumph of Simeon, "Lord, now letteft thou thy fervant "depart in peace, according to thy word. "For mine eyes have feen thy falvation." Hold the beginning of your confidence ftedfaft unto the end. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; ye shall renew your ftrength; ye fhall mount up on wings as eagles; ye fhall run and not weary, ye fhall walk and not faint.

II. Another evident fource of joy to this great and good man, is his admiffion into the family of Chrift by baptifm, and all the privileges connected with that high dignity. Having heard and tafted of the grace of Christ, he cannot reft till he is folemnly united to that

venerable