lives in which the God who made us has in calling us into existence, and the not been doing something for us! Now universe around us. there is no principle in the Divine mind to which we can correctly affix the appellation of gratitude, because it is impossible that the great God of Heaven, the Lord of the Universe, to whom every thing belongs, can be brought under any obligation. But then, at the same time, we find him declaring that even a cup of cold water, given to a disciple in the name of a disciple, can in no wise lose its reward. And, my brethren, I would use that language. If God is not even to allow a cup of cold water given to a dissciple, in the name of a disciple, to pass without reward, what are the sentiments which that God must feel towards his creatures when they are every day and every hour receiving blessings, stretching forth their hands to these bounties that he gives, but continuing all the while to disregard the great author of these blessings? I beseech you to think of the displeasure with which he must look on that evil thing which leads to such ingratitude for these blessings he heaps upon those, even those who are utterly undeserving of them. Providence is another scheme of God. This is another undertaking which the Lord Jehovah has been pleased to impart, In the course of his Providence he is pleased to visit us sometimes with good, sometimes with evil-to make events sometimes befal us that are distressingto make events also of a prosperous nature befal us at other times. And, my brethren, his object in this is distinctly stated to us in the Scriptures. His goodness, the Bible tells us, is to lead us to repentance; and as to afflictions, we are as expressly told that these are sent to us that we may be made contemplers of God's holiness, When we seek that our sorrows should have the effect of weaning our affections from this present world, and fixing them on the country where “ there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain," and when we seek that prosperity should make an increase in gratitude to God who is the author of every prosperous circumstance, then we are instrumental. in furthering the object that God has in view in his Providence. But when we act other, wise when we receive the gift, but forget In the last place, God must look with the giver-and, still more, when we redispleasure on sin, because it is opposed ceive the gift and allow even God's bounty to all those great schemes, all those grand to be instrumental in weaning away the undertakings, which we read, in the Scrip- thoughts and affections from him-when, tures, of Jehovah having imparted. Crea- in the midst of trial, we continue hardened tion, his work of creation, is one of these, and indifferent and thoughtless, we do And what was God's object in the work what we can to defeat the object that God of creation? We are informed of it very has in view in the dispensations of his briefly, and most accurately, in our ex- Providence. cellent church catechism. The chief end But there is another undertaking in of man—the great, object for which man which we read of the great Jehovah, He was made-is, that he might glorify God is the God of creation-he is the God, of and enjoy him for ever. Consequently, Providence; but he is also the God of my brethren, when we seek to glorify, bliss, and of salvation. Knowing well, and serve, and enjoy him-when we seek as we do, that we are the workmanship to walk in the way of his testimonies, and of his hands, that fed as we are by his to cleave to him as the portion of our bounty, we have yet forgot him and gone souls, then we do what we can to farther, astray from him, his thoughts towards us to promote God's great object in creating were thoughts of kindness. He so loved us in creating mankind around us-in the world as to give his only begotten creating angels-in forming the world. Son that whosoever believeth on him -in forming the heavens But when we might not perish, but have everlasting life. act otherwise when we do not seek to He devised the scheme by which miserable glorify God-when we do not seek to sinners might be rescued from all the conserve him-when, instead of seeking to sequences to which their iniquities had enjoy God, we prefer the vain madness of this poor world, then we do what we can to defeat the object of God in creating us exposed them-by which they might have sin rooted out of their hearts-by which they might be raised even to that heaven, against which, by their iniquities, sooner did they sin, than the stream of they had rebelled. But who would be- kindness which previously had never lieve that mankind would set themselves ceased to flow to them from the throne in opposition to God even in this, instead of God, was stopt-no sooner did they of gladly welcoming him for his loving sin, than sentence of condemnation upon kindness-instead of according with God them was pronounced-no sooner did in the great objects he had in view in they sin, than that sentence was carried sending his Son into this world to suffer into execution. They fell from their lofty and to die. O my brethren, how awful eminence, and are preserved in chains and that mankind around us, that we ourselves darkness till the judgment of the great here also have, by our transgressions, been day. guilty of opposing God! For what pur- This, then, is one striking manifestation pose did Christ come? Christ came to which God has given us of the sentiment, redeem us from all iniquity-to purify the feeling by which he is actuated in unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of reference to sin. But it is by no means good works: consequently the man who the only one. We do not need to travel does not seek to be purified from his sins to the race of angels for manifestations. -who does not seek to be made zealous of good works-still more, the man who is determined that sin shall continue to have dominion over him-that he will continue to roll it as a sweet morsel under his tongue, sets himself in decided oppo- retained their innocence, they were sition to his Maker in the great scheme of redemption. We do not need to go beyond the range of our own world. We do not need to go beyond the race of which we are the sons. Our first parents were formed after God's own image, and so long as they happy-they were surrounded with every source of enjoyment-they were placed But, second, has Jehovah left us merely in a garden, where not merely their wants to infer this hatred which he cherishes were most luxuriantly supplied, but where towards sin? If it be true that these are blessings were heaped upon them during the sentiments-that these are the feelings all the moments of their happy existence. with which he regards it, surely he must And besides all that, the Lord God himself in some way or other have given manifes- walked in the garden, and condescended to tation of this sentiment and feeling. Is hold fellowship and communion with the this the case? Can we bring direct creatures he had made. But they sinned and positive manifestation of the fact of-they ate of the forbidden tree-they the displeasure with which God looks were guilty of disobedience, and as the upon the wicked? Yes, my brethren, we consequence of that one sin, Eden's bliss find very many such manifestations. The and Eden's beauty were for ever taken loftiest created beings of whom we can from them. They were sent forth into form an idea are the angels; and highly the wide world, and sentence of death elevated is the situation which they occupy was pronounced upon them, and but for in the scale of creation, and splendid the the interposition of the Saviour, the congifts must be which at creation were bestowed upon them. They are revealed to us as the ornaments even of Jehovah's throne. In one of the most sublime deAnd, my friends, many events have scriptions that are given us of God's taken place since then illustrative of the glory and his greatness, we read, Above same thing. There has been the destrucit "stood the seraphims: each one had tion of Sodom-there has been the dessix wings; with twain he covered his truction of the whole world by the floodface, and with twain he covered his feet, there were plagues brought upon Egyptand with twain he did fly." Among these there was the captivity into which God beings, however, thus distinguished at their permitted his own people to go-there was creation by every immortal and intellec- the destruction of Jerusalem, where, by tual attraction-into the midst of that race judgments of the most appaling character, of glorious intelligence sin once made its God's hatred of sin was evinced. appearance. Myriads after this transgresed-and no sooner did they sin, than at once they were stript of their beauty-no sequences of sin would have been experienced in a far more tremendous manner than they actually were. But is it only in looking back to what is past, that we can find such manifestations? Oh, there is another kind of mani festation still. Have we never ourselves given of his sentiments and feelings upon beheld it? Has there nothing taken this head? Yes, my friends, and one even place around us, showing that God cannot more horrible than those yet stated. look on iniquity without abhorrence? Hitherto, in speaking of the endurance He has not left himself without a witness of the consequences of sin, it has been even to our own observation. We do see the case of transgressors, those who peraround us, much that proclaims God's sonally provoked Jehovah's displeasure, to abhorrence of iniquity, in language the which we have called your attention. most affecting. Have you ever seen the But oh, there was One who was holy, cold bitter blasts of adversity beating upon harmless, undefiled, and separate from any of your fellow-creatures? Have you sinners-one who not only obeyed the ever witnessed disease? Have you ever law, but magnified it and made it honourwitnessed death? Then you have beheld able; but who yet suffered-suffered most the manifestations of God's hatred of sin. intensely-suffered most agonizingly beEvery sorrow-every bereavement-every cause of sin-because he was the surety calamity that is here, these are intimations for sinners-because sin was cast upon of what are the sentiments of God res him by implication. Yes, he was purepecting their great and only cause. Think, he did no sin, neither was guile found in then, my friends, of such manifestations his mouth. And not only was he pure, as in the course of providence you are but he was God's son-he was his only called to witness. And there are judg- begotten-he was his beloved son. But ments abroad in the earth. There are then it pleased the Father to bruise him, judgments, not abroad in the earth merely, and to put him to grief. His grief was but judgments at our doors, and in the so great, that he exclaimed, My soul is midst of us. I pray and entreat you to exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, and make this improvement of these manifes- the sweat was as it were great drops of tations-seek to have your sense of sin blood falling down upon earth. deepened in abasement, on account of it, in the sight of God. Here, then, is a manifestation of God's hatred of sin, such, my friends, as ought to fill us with the very deepest fear-such as ought to humble us in the dust, when we think of being chargeable with itsuch as ought, if properly viewed, to drive us all to the blood of sprinkling, and words of humble prayer for the influence of that Spirit which can deliver us from the power of this evil thing which the Lord hateth. But oh, my friends, these are not the most striking manifestations that are to be made in reference to our race. This is what takes place even in this world in which we dwell-this is what is at the door, within the limits of a portion of God's creation, where the proclamation of kindness has been extended. Oh, then, what will those sinners' consciousness be in that place where the Lord has forgotten Oh, then, my friends, I conclude with to be gracious? There are many views earnestly beseeching you that you will given us in Scripture of the suddenness, seek to have part with your God in your the fearful character of the manifestations views and sentiments with regard to sin. of God's hatred of sin, but on these it is Oh, bring to God, your maker, the grounds impossible we can at present enter. I on which we have dwelt. Think of the shall call your attention simply to one. way in which he has manifested his hatred In one portion of Scripture-in one parable of sin. Do think again of the judgments spoken by the Redeemer, the sorrows endured in the place of darkness are described, and the only prayer we ever read of as ascending from the regions of the lost-from the regions of the damned, is recorded too in that parable. It was this prayer,-Father, send Lazarus that he may dip his finger in the water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. Even that prayer was not heard. Have we then exhausted the subject? Is there any other manifestation God has which, in various ages of the world, have And over justice? Is the honour of the divine | own sakes, we beseech you to be reconciled law neglected, or are the rights of the to God. Let every man who hears the divine government sacrificed? No; God message of peace consider that he is deeply is just when he justifies the sinner; concerned, and that upon the cordial refor he pardons him from respect to the ception of it his everlasting well-being great atonement in which he smelled a depends. Let the terrors of the Lord sweet savour of rest. It was so precious rouse you to flee from the wrath to come, in his sight, and was offered with such and let the promises of the gospel encourzeal for his glory, that it reconciled him age you, for they proclaim peace, and secure forever to the sinner, although not to his it to those who believe. Being justified sin. by faith, you shall have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by him have access into that grace wherein believers stand, and rejoice, and hope in the glory of God. But there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked; there remaineth to unbelievers, those who persist in unbelief, no more sacrifice for sin, but à certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation to devour the adversaries of God. Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven, and whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin. His blessedness is to be estimated by the evil from which he is delivered, and the good of which he is put in possession. He is delivered from the wrath of God, of which it is sufficient to say "It is fearful thing;" and is put in possession of all the privileges and blessings of the righteous. This blessedness belongs by covenant to those who receive the reconciliation; and it is sealed in the holy Supper; for Christ says of the bread "This is my body, broken for you; and of the wine-" This is my blood, shed for you, for the remission of sins." The reconciliation on the part of God is fully effected. Nothing farther is necessary to remove the grounds of his displeasure. No other sacrifice is required, as if there were some defect in the sacrifice of Christ. We are by nature the enemies of God, and cannot expect, while we continue in this state, to derive any advantage from the dispensations of grace. There must be a mutual reconciliation. As God is appeased to us, so we must be well affected to God; and it is with this view that he has committed to his servants the ministry of reconciliation. Now, then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you, in Christ Jesus, be ye reconciled to God. The preachers of the gospel are ambassadors sent by the King of Heaven to call upon his rebellious subjects to return to their allegiance, and to encourage them by a promise of pardon. And how should we discharge this important duty of our office? We beseech you, not for our own sakes, and still less for the sake of God, who is independent and all sufficient, but for your ON THE MIRACULOUS CURE OF THE LEPROSY. LECTURE ON LUKE v. 12–15, DELIVERED IN THE UNITED SECESSION CHURCH, LOTHIAN AMONG the numerous and very striking concerning this disease, such as we find peculiarities of the Jewish dispensation in the 13th and 14th chapters of Leviticus, which have excited the sneer of the infi- without exclaiming,-"What great mysdel, the wonder and admiration of the tery must lie hid under these apparent Christian, and the astonishment of all, absurdities? We have, in the passage benone seems more remarkable than the law fore us, an opportunity of discussing that of leprosy. Who can contemplate the Almighty creator of heaven and earth condescending to give various minute and, to us, at first sight, unmeaning directions question, for we have the great physician himself treating it. Whether we consider the violent disease of the body, or the moral guilt of the soul which it was in tended to represent, we have this physi- of the Jews was a peculiar disease, and 1 |