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as the foundation of the lip-confession. with..righteousness, Ma.x.32, 33; Jo. to believe in such a manner as to engage the affections, and in-xii. 42, 43. fluence the actions. mouth.. salvation, a true faith will be d Ac. xvi. 31; viii. 36, 37 ; iv. accompanied with a sincere profession. for.. saith, and both 23, 25. faith, and its expression should be Scriptural. ashamed, not conceal your faith as men ashamed.

e Ga. ii. 16; 2 Co. v. 21.

Is. xxviii. 16;

Confession of faith.-I. The Divine order of salvation: 1. Faith; 2. Confession. II. The result of this order: 1. Righteousness; xlix. 23. 2. Salvation. III. Inferences deduced: 1. These requisites are a "The language of matter of present duty; 2. Unbelief and silence are sinful.s-the Law is, Do Humanity's cry, and the Gospel's response.-I. Man cries for the this, and live.' supernatural. II. Christianity responds to man's cry. III. The The spirit of the Gospel is, Live, practical acceptance of the response is salvation. Redemptive and do this."" faith.-I. The faith by which man is saved is that of the heart. N. Hall. The faith of--1. The intellect springs from the senses; 2. The "However spiheart, from the heart. II. The object of this faith is Christ's ritual your creed, resurrection through the power of God. This is presented here- and into what 1. As the object of our faith rather than His death; 2. As having form its various been accomplished by God's power. III. Open confession of Christ points may be is an indispen sable accompaniment of this faith: 1. What is to constructed, be confessed? 2. Why is this confession enjoined? 3. How is it Save you! The to be made? i

ever symmetry of

it will not save you.

creed which is

Dr. Mellor.

The belief of the heart.-There was one Victorinus, famous in held, but not felt, Rome for teaching rhetoric to the senators; this man in his old will, in proportion to its corage was converted to Christianity, and came to Simplicianus, rectness, aggrawho was an eminent man, whispering softly in his ears these vate your conwords: "I am a Christian;" but this holy man answered, "I demnation."will not believe it, nor count thee so, till I see thee among the Christians in the church." At which he laughed, saying, "Do 9W. W. Wythe. then those walls make a Christian? Cannot I be such except Ih Homilist. openly profess it, and let the world know the same?" Awhile i W. C. St. Pierre. after, being more confirmed in the faith, and considering that, if "Faith is an he should thus continue ashamed of Christ, Christ would be humble, self-deashamed of him in the last day, he changed his language, and came to Simplicianus, saying, "Let us go to the church; I will now in earnest be a Christian." And there, though a private profession of his faith might have been sufficient, yet he chose to make it open, saying, "That he had openly professed rhetoric, which was not a matter of salvation, and should he be afraid to own the Word of God in the congregation of the faithful?” 12, 13. difference," essentially. rich, in gifts of mercy. no difference call.. Him, in earnest, importunate, penitent, believing prayer. for, so it is said in O. T. Scripture appealed to for confirmation of the saying. saved, now and for ever.

:

Free salvation.-I. The blessing: Salvation from-1. The guilt; 2. The power; 3. The results, of sin. II. The duty to call1. Upon God; 2. Through the mediation of Christ; 3. By the aid of the Spirit; 4. With a disposition to be saved. III. The promise to all-1. Nations; 2. Ranks; 3. Conditions; Characters.d

4.

makes the Chrisnying grace; it tian nothing in himself, and all in God."-Leigh

ton.

between the Jew and Greek

a Ro. iii. 22; Ga. iii. 28; Ac. xv.

7-9.

b Joel ii. 32.

c 1 Co. i. 2.

d W. W. Wythe.
"None of Adam's
children are na-

turally inclined to
receive the bless-
ing in borrowed

A mother's prayer.—An Indian family of superior rank in Martha's Vineyard lost their first five children in infancy; neither their medicines nor their powwows could save them. A sixth was born a few years before the English settled in the island, and the poor mother was greatly distressed lest this should die also. She always, accord. felt helpless herself, and she could not trust her priests

VOL. III.

Y

and

robes, but will

ing to the spider's

bowels!"-Boston.

"The Lord's Prayer is short, mysterious, and, like the treasures of the Spirit, full

of wisdom and latent senses: it is not improper

motto, owe all to doctors. "But is there not some Almighty God to be prayed to?" themselves; and were her thoughts; "a God that made everything we see-a God so they attempt to climb up to who gave me life, and other people life, and who gave life to my heaven on a baby? and if He gave life, can He not continue it?" The poor thread spun out Indian mother determined to seek this God, and pray to Him for of their own the life of her child. As soon as she was able, she took it up in her arms, and went into the field, and fell down and prayed to Him in its behalf. The little one lived; this strengthened her faith; she believed there was One on high who heard and answered prayer, and thus, in the gratitude of her heart, she devoted her boy to God. Not long after, the white men came and settled at Martha's Vineyard, and the Indians, who had been at some of their meetings, told about their coming together, and that the man who spoke often looked up to the sky. The mother heard about it. "These strangers met for prayer," she thought, "and intended and sig- perhaps they pray to the same God I pray to, and who saved the nified by every life of my child." She longed to see them. Mr. Mayhew, the petition, that by minister of the white men, soon visited that part of the island authority we may where she lived, and preached the Gospel. The woman went to know what it is hear him. It was just the Gospel for her. She believed it, and lawful to beg of joyfully received Jesus Christ the Son of God as her Almighty Saviour and helper. She afterwards united with the Church, and in the story of her experience of God's goodness and mercy, they saw that "the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him." ." "What became of the little boy?" He grew up a Christian boy, became a preacher of the Gospel, and pastor of a flourishing Indian Church in the Vineyard. God will accept and bless a mother's offering! e

to draw forth those excellenwhich

ces

are

so excellent an

God." Taylor.

Jeremy

e Family Treas.

believing, hearing, and preaching

a He. xi. 6; Mk. xvi. 15, 16; Lu. xxiv. 46, 47; Ac. xxvi. 17, 18.

b Ro. i. 5; xvi. 25, 26.

c Ma. ix. 38; Co. v. 18.

d Is. lii. 7.

2

14, 15. call.. believed Pa acceptable prayer involves faith. hear.. preacher ? more especially in times when there were so few Christian writings. Preaching, the chief means of instruction. preach.. sent ? by the Head of the Church, and by the Church acting under His directions. written,d the sent preacher, a fulfilment of the promise. beautiful, bec. associated with good news and glad tidings. feet, the dirt and dust of the road being overlooked in the thought of the message they carry.

The institution of preaching.-I. The advantages of preaching. 1. Economy of exertion-how much is done with comparatively little speaking; 2. Many receive religious instruction who would e Lu. ii. 14; Ep. otherwise have none; 3. Religion is kept a conspicuous thing; ii. 17; Ac.xiii. 26. 4. All are made witnesses to all they have heard; 5. There is f "Sophocles something in it for the popular opinion to lean upon; 6. It tends represents the to secure for religion deep study, at least in some part of the them who come community. II. How are properly qualified preachers to be obon some kind er- tained? In preachers are requisite-1. The power of thought; 2. rand as beautiful A facility for expressing that thought in words; 3. A knowledge in the eyes of of the Scriptures.9

hands and feet of

those who are

9.J. Foster.

profited there- Thoughts about preaching.--What is preaching? is a question by."-Macknight. to which there would probably be as many replies as to what is truth? Almost every minister, and almost every man, has his "Some lawyers own taste, and his own standard, and his own weight, and his at the bar may own measure on this subject. One man thinks that to preach be as skilful as means accurately to divide a given topic, logically to illustrate it, the judge upon and to observe a perfect but cold propriety through the various without a com- steps and stages of the discourse. This is the mechanical plan of mission they dare preaching. Another imagines preaching to be the exposition of a

the bench, but

Flavel.

Gospel of

my

particular passage of Scripture, bringing out from it all that is in not sit there."— it, and nothing more. This is the textual idea of preaching. Another cares not a straw for a sermon, if it do not contain a train "It is a great mercy to enjoy of rigid argumentation, diversified by occasional bursts of party the rage and strong squirts of the odium theologicum. This is the Peace, but a still polemical idea of preaching. Another likes no preaching but greater to enjoy what contains a string of appeals, and queries, and adjurations, the peace of the Gospel."-Dyer. unconnected with principles, unsupported by reasonings, and "I have passed loose as a rope of sand. This is called, though falsely, practical through many preaching. Another wants a sermon to be a series of electrical places of honour shocks--one burst from beginning to end; the clouds returning and trust, both after the rain, and no cotton so thick and no conscience so hard in Church and State, more than as to exclude or resist the perpetual tumult. This is the clap- any of my order trap idea of preaching. Another wants flowers; whether natural in England these and fresh from the soil, or artificial and faded, it does not matter; seventy years before. But were if he do but get flowers, and hear them rustling above his ears, in I but assured the breeze of brilliant declamation, he is quite satisfied, whether that by they keep him languishly awake, or lull him into dreamy repose. preaching I had This is the florid and Corinthian idea of preaching. Another is content with exclamations; he is not pleased unless every other sentence begins with Oh! The interjection Ah! has to him a peculiarly pathetic sound; it seems to melt into his midriff like snow and that preacher would be his Magnus Apollo, who would say, all the honours "Oh! we remark in the next place." This is the interjectional idea of preaching. Another desiderates chiefly delivery. minister is a favourite unless his voice be musical, and his attitude smack of the boards; unless he indulge in a profusion of studied declamation, pointing to the four winds when he names remembered that them, and laying his hand gently on the heart, when he wishes to we glorify the indicate that interesting organ. This is the material or Anthro-word, not the pomorphic idea of preaching. Another judges of a sermon by its preacher."length, and likes it, either because it is an hour or because it is only the half of the time. This is the arithmetical idea of preaching. h

a

No

converted but one soul unto

God, I should take therein more spiritual joy and ; comfort than in

and offices which have been bestowed on me." -Abp. Williams.

"But it must be

Trapp.

h Gilfillan.

16, 17. have.. Gospel, who have heard the preacher. faith cometh Esaias, even the prophet Isaiah was not believed by men who by hearing admitted that he was a prophet of God. Lord, he, as a model a He. iv. 2; Jo. preacher, carried his trouble in prayer to his master. report? xii. 37, 38. news published concerning the Messiah. so then, the sum of the 6 Is. liii. 1. argument is this. faith.. hearing, hence, to obtain a know-c 1 Co. i. 21. ledge of things to be believed men should hear frequently, dili-d Col. i. 3-6. gently, prayerfully, practically.d hearing.. God, the Word of God supplies the preacher's warrant and theme.

C

e 2 Th. ii. 13, 14; Ja. i. 18, 19, 21;

1 Pe. i. 23, 25. "God, in the effectual dispensation of His grace, meeteth with them who attend with diligence on the outward adthe means of it. He doth so, I say, ordinarily, them who despise in comparison of and neglect

The faith that cometh by hearing.-I. The kind of faith that cometh by hearing-1. An historical, 2. A dogmatical, 3. A temporary, faith; 4. A faith of miracles; 5. A saving faith. II. The Word, by the hearing of which faith comes-1. Not the word of men; 2. Nor yet of angels; 3. But of God. III. What is meant by hearing this Word? Hearing it-1. Read; 2. Expounded; 3. Preached. IV. How is faith wrought by the Word?-1. The minister of God speaks it; 2. The ears of the hearer take it in; 3. The Spirit enables the understanding to receive it; 4. Having done this, it inclines the will to embrace it. Application: (1) Come to hear the Word with prayer; (2) Hear it reverently; (3) Apply it to thyself; (4) Confer it upon others. A large family to provide for.—A pious gentleman was engaged them."--Dr.Owen.

ministration

of

"The promises in a certain branch of business by which he was rapidly increasing are so laid, that, his wealth. When he had made about 50,000 dollars, a minister like a well-drawn picture, they look was one day conversing with him, and asked if he had not accumulated property enough for his family, and if he had not now better give up that kind of business? "O," said he, "I have not yet made enough to give each of my children a single leaf of the catechism." Why," inquired the clergyman, "how large is your family?" "Above 600,000,000," was his reply. He looks on the whole family of man as his own family, and he is labouring for the salvation of them all.

on all that look on them by an eye of faith. The Gospel's joy is thy joy, that hast but faith to receive it."-Gur

nall.

f Bp. Beveridge.

universality of the Divine appeal

a Ps. xix. 4; Ac. ii. 5, 6; viii. 4; xi.

66

66

18-21. have.. heard ? all heard, though only some believed. sound.. world," "so general has that hearing already been, that to it may be applied the words in wh. the Psalmist describes the universality of the testimony of the works of nature to the glory of God." "This speech uttered by creation as properly God's as the speech uttered by the preachers of the Gospel." first.. saith, the feelings with wh. the Jews regarded the Gentiles, also predicted. jealousy, the Jews were enraged when the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles. foolish nation, bec. once idolators. Esaias, Isaiah as well as Moses Faith is an ear-foretold the facts of Messiah's day. all day, of prophetic teachnest persuasioning, and Divine long-suffering. stretched.. hands, gesture cerning the truth of earnest, passionate entreaty.

19; xxvi. 30.
b Vaughan.
c Macknight.
d De. xxxii. 21.
e Je. viii. 8.

f Is. lxv. 1; lv. 5.

g Is. lxv. 2.

of mind, con

of some matter propounded.. From faith doth naturally and duly result a satisfaction or ac

as

Their sound went into all the earth.-This fact a proof of—I.
The historical truth; II. The heavenly origin; III. The blessed
purpose of the Gospel.-The spread of the Word, a testimony—I.
Of whom ;
II. Through whom; III. For whom.

Christ the great helper of the helpless.-Christ, to convince the quiescence in the world of their unableness to emerge and recover out of that deep matter enjoined, best to be abyss wherein the load of sin (which in Scripture is called a done; a choice weight) hath precipitated fallen man, came not into the world and resolution to until well nigh four thousand years of sickness had made the disease comply with God's desperate, and the cure almost hopeless: so inveterate an appointment; an effec- obstinacy at once widening the distance betwixt God and tual obedience; man, and proclaiming the latter's disability to find, by his own a cheerful expec- wisdom, expedients of reunion. Thus Christ healed and disissue thereupon." possessed a dumb person, who was able to make entreaties but by the disability of pronouncing them, and might truly say to the secure world, "I am found of them that sought me not."i

tation of a good

-Dr. Barrow.

h Lange.

i R. R. Boyle.

God has not cast away His people

a Ro. ix. 6; Am. ix. 8, 9.

b 2 Co. xi. 22; Ph.

CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH.

1-3. hath.. people ?a wh. some might infer fr. the prophecies just quoted. forbid, for then I should exclude myself. I.. Benjamin,' yet not cast off; but one of God's people by believing in Jesus. cast away, Israel chosen as God's people to be the foundation of Messiah's kingdom; therefore cannot as a iii. 5; 1 Ti. i. 13. people be cast away. of.. Elias ?d i.e., in the hist. of Elijah. Mistakes concerning the number of the righteous.-Sometimes we make them from-I. The peculiar state of our own minds. This seems to have been the condition of Elijah. His language e Alford. With betrays-1. Severity; 2. Petulancy; 3. Despair. II. Observing Luther, Erasmus, multiplied instances of false profession. The apostasy of one preCalvin, Beza. tender often excites more attention than the lives of solid and

e Tholuck.

d 1 K. xix. 10, 18.

regard to."

their

steady Christians. III. The righteous themselves. Because of
1. The obscurity of their stations; 2. The diffidence of their
dispositions; 3. The manner of their conversion; 4. The
diversity of their opinions; 5. The imperfections of
character. Application: (1) The use which the Apostle makes
of his subject; (2) Are you among the number of the saved?
(3) Let all true Christians consider the Author and end of
their salvation; (4) Remember also for whom you have been
saved.

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ing of the world, though the world A wise man will not cast away his jewels. They are

esteems them so.

his servants. All the willing ser

not

ex

A Jewish appeal to Christians.-A Jewish congregation, solicit- vice he hath ing money of Christians to build them a synagogue, is a new done Christ in thing. An American congregation makes this appeal: "The the world, cepting that of Congregation Mischan Israel,' of this city, propose to build an angels-is done house unto the Lord their God; but being poor though Jews, by these men. they respectfully appeal to the liberality of Christians to aid them. A wise man will No Christian can read the first five verses of the ninth chapter of such as are truly cast away Romans, without the feeling of kindness towards those who are serviceable to Israelites, to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory,' and him."-Caryl. ' of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came."" On this f W. Jay. Zion's Herald (Methodist) says, 66 Let all believers in Christ read the eleventh of Romans, and help these heirs of the same promise, even in their shadowy state of faith. their eyes, as Christ did their ancestors'."

Such gifts will open

election of

4, 5. what.. answer, etc., "the case is now just as it was remnant in the time of Elijah; an apparently universal defection, but in according to reality a considerable faithful remnant, even among the Jews."a Baal, Gk., Tỹ, i.e., feminine. A goddess, Astarte, was worshipped under the name of Baal. election.. grace, "acc. to a selection

of free favour."

grace

a Vaughan. "If even Elijah was

deceived in his estimate of the

them amiss."

The election of grace.-I. The election is eternal, in the same number of God's sense as Christianity is eternal. II. It does not of itself imply faithful servants, eternal salvation. III. It does not imply a decree of reprobation. how much more Apostolic preaching.—“ To preach practical sermons, as they may you reckon are called," says Bishop Horne, "that is, sermons upon virtues Wordsworth. and vices, without inculcating those great Scripture truths of re- "God's people demption, grace, &c., which alone can incite and enable us to are His children; forsake sin and follow after righteousness,—what is it but to put they are born of together the wheels, and set the hands of a watch, forgetting the God, and sons of the Most High. spring, which is to make them all go?"—The atonement is funda- Natural love will mental. The late Thomas, Earl of Kinnoull, a short time before not cast away a his death, in a long and serious conversation with the Rev. Dr. child. They are Kemp, of Edinburgh, thus expressed himself:-"I have always lot of His inheriHis portion, the considered the atonement the characteristic of the Gospel; as a tance, His revesystem of religion, strip it of that doctrine, and you reduce it to a nues of glory, He scheme of morality, excellent, indeed, and such as the world never has by them. A man will not desaw; but, to man, in the present state of his faculties, absolutely spise his impracticable.”—The present and the future.—I see the first glory, or reject handsel that God gives them [the Israelites] in their voyage to his own inheritance."-Caryl. the land of promise, thirst and bitterness. Satan gives us pleasant entrances into his ways, and reserves the bitterness for the end. b Homilist. God inures us to our worst at first, and sweetens our conclusion c Bp. Hall. with pleasure.c

6-8._grace," unmerited favour. ence. Israel, nation as a whole. of continuing to be the people of

works, meritorious obedi- grace and that.. for, "the honour works God." election.. it, by

own

a Ro. iv. 4, 5; Ga. v. 4; Ep. ii. 8, 9.

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