and he that believeth not, shall be damned." Here is the sum-man was lost; Christ has come to seek and to save him; but saves him as an agent. Christ has laid the foundation, and given him the means wherewith to raise the tower of salvation. We will now proceed to make our calculation of the cost requisite to complete the building. And here we will stop one minute to explain the nature of the Christian salvation. We are not to regard it as an arbitrary thing. By this I would have you to understand, that it is impossible but that salvation should include true holiness, and exclude all carnality and sin. God does not require us to perform the duties of religion, merely to torment us; but, according to the immutability of his nature, and the eternal fitness of things, it is impossible that a man can be happy in the next world, who is not holy in this. The Christian salvation consists in imbibing the spirit of Christ, and following his example. Now, it is said in Holy Writ, "love not the world, nor the things of the world"—" for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." From this you may see, that to be religious will cost you the world. But what do you mean by that? I mean that you are to live in the spirit of separation from the world: I mean that you are to renounce its false pleasures, its profane joys, its criminal intrigues, the luxury, the pastimes, the folly, the customs, and the evil practices of the world; all that is calculated to foment the passions, and nourish the dissoluteness of the world. I would not have you to understand that a Christian is to hold no intercourse with the world: but you are, by your example, to give them a notion of the religion which you profess. In leaving the world you will irritate its spirit, and it will load you with reproach; but if you would be a Christian, you must suffer persecution. If any man come unto me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." That is, if their opinion come in contact with the duties of religion, unless we disoblige them to obey Christ, we are none of his. We may expect, my brethren, that the children of the bond-woman will persecute the children of the free. Let me assure you, that you will have to build the tower of salvation, like the children of Israel built the walls of Jerusalem, working with one hand, and holding the weapon of your warfare in the other. This spirit of persecution will be manifested under one form or other. Formerly it bound its victim to the stake, or shut him up in prison; but although persecution no longer takes away life, still it discovers its hatred to the followers of Christ in different ways. "I am come," says Christ, " to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law: and man's foes shall be those of his own household." This seems strange; but it is impossible that it should be otherwise, unless all embrace religion: for those who do not, will suffer their enmity to show itself either in anger or ridicule. 12692A Again, in counting the cost, it will be well to remember, that it will cost you your self-will. The word of God effects but little, till it casts down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Christ. Like him who sustained the agony in the garden, your temper must be expressed in these words: "nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." Ah! my brethren, here you will find a struggle. In addition to this, you will have to apply yourselves to the duties of religion, redeeming the time, and working out your salvation with fear and trembling; repenting, praying, acting faith, watching, fasting, fighting, running, striving, pressing, agonizing to enter in at the strait gate. What do you think of trying to get to heaven on these terms? I wait for an answer. O, says one, it will not do; I never can stand it; I cannot give up the world for religion. O my friend, my friend, what hast thou said? I know that religion is true, and that without it I must be miserable through all eternity; but the cross is so great, rather than bear it, I will consent to lie down in everlasting burnings. How will one moment's torment make you see and feel the folly of your choice! Yea, the prospect of hell, when on your dying bed, shall declare your madness and presumption. But, says one-my friend, I am almost disposed to be a Christian. O may my God help you to be altogether a Christian! What shall I to say turn the scale in favour of religion. Think not that the frowns of the world will be so very terrible, when you will have, at the same time, the support of an approving conscience, and the love and smiles of Christ. Think not that you will regret the loss of the world so much as you fear, when, in its place, you shall have a joyful assurance of an inheritance laid up in heaven, incomparably more valuable than the riches of both the Indies. Think not that the duties of religion will be irksome, when you have the spirit of Christ, and enjoy constant communion with him. Be not affrighted at difficulties, when God has promised to be with you in six troubles, and said, “in seven I will not leave thee." Take the example of saints, and may God prosper you! SERMON IX. 00000 For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where, and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. iv. 11, 12, 13. IT is an acquisition of no inconsiderable worth, to be able to view, at all times, all the various circumstances of our outward condition with perfect coolness; and to have courage to perform every duty which the most enlightened conscience enjoins. If we contemplate ourselves as dwelling beneath the planets, "The baleful influence of whose giddy dance, if we consider that the most apparently trivial circumstance is quite sufficient to obstruct the current of our delight, while at the same time we are the sport of ten thousand evils; how valuable must that science be, by which we are taught, not only to look with composure at the black blast of adversity, but even to obtain tribute from our hardest trials. More |