The Scottish Pulpit

are provided for the redeemed. They become the children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus, and are no longer treated as servants, but regarded as sons-adopted into God's family, they are made heirs of glory, and joint heirs with Christ. Yes, they who are savingly united to the Messiah, become the children of the kingdom, the heirs of the covenant; and the Eternal Word whom angels obey and seraphs worship, is not ashamed to call them brethren. Who are these with veiled faces and covered feet, that fly throughout the measureless expanse of heaven, exclaiming in tones of deepest humility, “ Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Hosts ?" These are the angels, the cherubim that never sinned. But who are those that stand in white robes around the Lamb, hymning the praises of one who bought them with his blood, following him wherever he goeth, and experiencing his continued care? These are they who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and who dwell for ever with the Lord, exalted in his exaltation, and abundantly experiencing in their supereminent glory, how their God hath turned the curse into a blessing.

III. God hath turned the curse of death into a blessing. It were a waste of words to attempt proving that death is indeed a curse it was the wo specially denounced against men as the result of transgression -the ill inflicted on the workers of iniquity. There are many persons who have not individually felt that sorrow is the bitterness of life, having lived amid the sunshine of undisturbed peace, fearing not the Lord, and shunning not his curse, who yet see in death a something so opposite to man's matured fondness for the world and its joys-a something so destructive of his natural love of the present existence, as to invest it with multiplied terrors, and to robe it in all the drapery of a curse. Here, however, the wisdom and the mercy of the Lord are also exemplified, and this dispensation, all dark and gloomy as it is, is converted into a channel of positive blessing. Doubtless these features of death which render its advent most undesirable, are its certainty to usher us guilty and unchanged, into a new state of being, while yet amenable to a righteous vengeance, and only indulging the prospect of a coming retribution; it is not so much the dissolution of nature's ties, the snapping asunder of the many and sacred bonds whereby we are knit to time, (though

fact, that death ushers in the judgment, and parades the sinner before the bar of a despised and unchangeable God, it is this that really darkens the aspect of the change and paints out death to the sinner in all the horribleness of the King of terrors.

But through the obedience and death of Christ the Redeemer the sting of death has been destroyed, the uncertainty of the future has been dissipated, and by the destruction of guilt, separation from the world has been revealed as the beginning of a perfected happiness and an enlarged blessedness to the believer. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, and to be conducted from this earth is to enter into that blessed rest above, where all the cares and griefs that now canker and consume the soul, shall be known no more, where those who watched and wept together below, shall meet in mutual peace to dwell before the throne for ever and ever. If it is indeed a blessed thing for a spirit weighed down with a sinking mortality, and groaning beneath the load of unnumbered ills, to flee away from its troubles, and soar amid the cloudless light of immortal day; then death has been turned into a blessing, since it merely cuts asunder the chains whereby we are bound to earth, and admits the spirit to a land of light and of joy.

If it is indeed a blessed thing for a being long pent up amid the closeness of a dungeon, to exchange its pestilential air for the fragrant breath of Paradise, then death has been turned into a blessing, since it serves to dissociate the children of the covenant from the pollution of this world, and advance them to the regions beyond the grave, where the Lamb shall feed them and guide them to fountains of living water, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Surely, then, Christians, surely, to minds assured of eternal unfading glory, death is no curse; it is the step to a far more exceeding, even an eternal weight of glory, the bridal morning of a ransomed soul, the passage from a howling wilderness to that peaceful and lovely state, where there are gathered together an innumerable company of angels the general assembly and church of the first-born, whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, all united in praising Him that liveth and abideth for ever and for ever. I say if God hath made death the very instrument for exchanging earth for heaven, for ending the warfare and strife of time, and crowning believers with the

doubtedly, while they exultingly proclaim, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"-they must not cease to remember that death was indeed a crying evil, a bitter curse, but that our "God turned the curse into a blessing."

For these, for all his mercies, let his people sing a perpetual song; ye, especially, who have this day shown forth the dying love of the Saviour, exult in the matchless undeserved mercy of Jehovah; rejoice that grace, infinite, boundless, unbought, hath been extended to the guilty; that God hath commended his love towards us, in that, while yet sinners, Christ died for us, and let the thought of this amazing lovingkindness constrain us to live now and for ever to the praise of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Finally, let the faithless and impenitent reflect that in regard to them the curse still exists in all its reality; sorrow still wears its

sickening aspect, the manifestation of heaven's displeasure; sin is still fraught with its condemning power, and stamps the soul as hell-deserving; and death is still disclosed in all its horribleness, disclosing the time when, in ghastly triumph, he shall conduct the unsatisfied, unredeemed soul to the place of endless misery and unutterable woe. Reflect, ere it be too late, what it is to be living beneath the Almighty's curse, sealed to eternal death; what it is to be exposed to the wrath which shall wither up the sinner's shattered peace for ever. Mark the consequences of final impenitence-the blessedness of communion with God-and let the fear of the one and the love of the other constrain you to seek the Lord while he may be found, to call upon him while he is near, lest he come and smite you with a curse, and there be none to deliver. Amen and Amen.

We had taken down in shorthand, for the SCOTTISH PULPIT, the Sermons of Dr. Mitchell of Glasgow, and Dr. Peddie of Edinburgh, delivered on occasion of the death of Dr. Dick, Professor of Theology to the United Secession Church, and the latter was actually in type before we learned that both were to be published by request. We cheerfully make the following extract from the former :

"Of his abilities and attainments, I need not speak particularly. The proofs of these are before the world, and the public have appreciated them. His praise is in all the churches.' These talents, however, we may be allowed to say, were of the first eminence. Seldom has such a combination of faculties, in respect of variety and energy, been conferred on one human being. He was highly gifted by the God of nature, and of grace. Few have possessed such power, and penetration, and perspicacity of mind-such capaciousness, correctness, and retentiveness of memory. Few have made such proficiency in extensive, and accurate, and varied scholarship; and few have acquired such treasures of knowledge, literary and sacred. His taste was chaste; his imagination was well regulated; and he wrote the English language with a purity, a precision, and an elegance, which have, we apprehend, been seldom equalled. Of his diligence in study, you are all witnesses. His preparations for your instruction, from Sabbath to Sabbath, were careful, assiduous, and greatly varied. Verily, he served not his God, or you, with

what cost him nought. He gave himself wholly to the things of the Lord.' His public discourses, accordingly, bore testimony, uniformly, to his travail for your bene fit, being digested into a simple and luminous order, and replete with sound sentiment, comprehensive views, just criticism, and scriptural illustration. Like a scribe who is instructed unto the kingdom of God, he brought forth out of his treasury things new and old.' His delivery, partaking of his constitutional simplicity, was natural, correct, and dignified-entirely exempt from affectation of any kind. And with regard to the discharge of his professorial functions, those who were so happy as to be placed under his care, will all, we are assured, with one accord bear witness to the punctuality and assiduity of his labours, the ability and excellence of his instructions, the impartiality of his administrations, the judiciousness of his criticisms and counsels, and the condescending kindness of his attentions. Long will his works praise him in the gates,' and long will his pupils speak of him with affectionate veneration."

GLASGOW:-W. R. M'PHUN, PUBLISHER, 86, TRONGATE,
To whom all Communications should be addressed.

EDWARD KHULL, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY.

A SERMON PREACHED ON SUNDAY, 17TH FEBRUARY, 1833, IN ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH, IN BEHALF OF THE EDINBURGH SOCIETY FOR THE RELIEF of indigenT AND DESTITUTE OLD MEN,

By the Rev. JOHN HUNTER,

One of the Ministers of the Tron Church, Edinburgh.

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”—GAL. vi. 10.

In discoursing to you from these words, I propose to direct your attention to the principle of christian beneficence, to its objects, its qualities, and its value. Let us then attend, in the first place, to the principle of christian beneficence. The excellence of any action in the sight of a heartsearching and holy God, depends entirely on the motive from whence it proceeds, and on the spirit with which it is performed. We are strictly enjoined in Scripture to give alms to the poor of such things as have; but it is not every deed of mercy that is acceptable to our great Creator. Many acts of liberality, which have gained the applause of the world, have originated, there is reason to believe, in vanity and

blessed Saviour, they sound a trumpet before them, and do their alms to be seen of men. I need not say, that such is not the charity of the Gospel. However beneficial its effects may sometimes prove, its principle is strongly reprobated by the divine Author of our religion; nay, it is condemned even by the worldling and the profane; and the very multitudes, who act habitually under its influence, carefully endeavour to hide it from the view of others, and if possible, to conceal it from themselves. But, there is a beneficence of a higher order, which is still widely different from that which is enjoined by the Apostle in the text. It is the impulse of natural feeling, and not the result Though destitute of any of christian principle. Look around you feeling of duty, and devoid of any emotion in the world; you perceive individuals of sympathy and compassion, we yet some- who exhibit no marks of love to God—of times perceive men ready to bestow their gratitude to Christ-of resignation to the substance for the relief of the poor and divine will-or of zeal for the interests of afflicted. The liberal contribution is cheer-religion, who are yet possessed of mild and fully given the splendid hospital is reared amiable dispositions, and who are ready to -the charitable institution is supported-perform every deed of mercy, or to engage or the eloquent appeal is made to the in every labour of love. They rejoice at benevolence of others, while the sacred the happiness and prosperity of others. flame of love has never been kindled in Their hearts are deeply moved at a scene their own bosoms, while the duties of of wo. They delight to soothe the sordomestic life are habitually neglected, and rows of the children of misfortune, and to while they are entire strangers to those comfort those that mourn. To persons secret acts of kindness, which shun the possessed of such a character, none can view of mortals, looking for their reward refuse the tribute of regard. They enjoy the from God alone. In the language of our esteem and gratitude of their fellow-creatures,

ostentation.

Man, in his holy and uncorrupted state had
the promise of his Maker's favour so long
as he continued in the paths of perfect
obedience, but still he must occasionally
have indulged the thought of possible failure
in duty, and so of the futureloss of all his joys:
the crown almost gained might be lost, and
the inheritance never attained to; when al-
most arrived at the shores of endless peace,
one blast of transgression might drive him
back to the ocean of despair; and thus, in
his best estate, the prospect of future glories
must always have been uncertain, and the
issue of man's probation proved his frail-
ty and the mutability of his former
ground of confidence. But herein also is
the curse changed into a blessing. Our help
was laid on one mighty to save, even upon
Jesus Christ the righteous; he stood forth
as the Saviour and the sanctifier of sinners,
draining the bitter dregs of wrath, hum-
bling himself to the death even the death
of the cross, and thus purchasing and pro-
curing life and immortality for all who
trusted in him, so that now, instead of
final peace being periled on man's obedi-
ence, it rests securely on the changeless
merit of a Redeemer. Instead of glory
hanging suspended on the result of man's
practice, it flows forth resistless from the
cross of Immanuel, and therefore is now made
stable and secure; placed in higher keeping
than that of the creature, based on a right-
eousness that is perfect and challengeless
for ever, the believing sinner may rejoice
in its fulness and in its certainty-exulting
that now there is no condemnation to them
that believe in Christ Jesus, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
shall lay anything to the charge of God's
elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he
that condemneth? It is Christ that died,
yea, rather that is risen again ;" and because
he liveth, his people shall live also to in-
herit his crown and to share his glory.

aside to bless the Lord for this his matchless grace, stirring up our souls, and all that is within us to magnify his holy name, and seeking to awake the minstrelsy of a thousand hearts strung with the chords of gratitude, and thrillingly alive to the remembrance of a Saviour's love. Let every crown that angels wear and every diadem that saints enjoy be cast at the feet of the exalted Jesus, while the incense of ten thousand songs in earth and heaven ascends in sweetest melody to the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, to Him that was dead and is alive again, and liveth for ever and for ever. Man, in his holy and uncorrupted state, was admitted to sweet and immediate intercourse with his eternal Father; he knew of his love and felt of his goodness, excelling in the contemplation of his character, and finding his chiefest delight in continued communion with a being so glorious and bliss-giving; but sin terminated that nearness and severed from that joy; man was cursed in his understanding, and the effect of that curse was the immediate dissolution of the sacred fellowship, and the "darkening of man's foolish heart." But in the cross of Christ that evil is counteracted, a way of access to the Father is revealed, containing in itself all the elements of restored communion, and the fullest discovery of Jehovah's attributes. Yes, if it be the end of all God's dispensations to disclose himself; if it be man's highest happiness to know God as he is, then sin has been converted into a blessing, inasmuch as its counteraction has been the means of bringing out the glories of the Godhead more fully and splendently than would have been otherwise accomplished. Jehovah is most perfectly known when he is known as the just God, and yet as the justifier of them that believe in Jesus. Wonder, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth, that over the grave of man's hope- Even, however, if man had successfully lessness, where all things promised eternal resisted the wile and temptation of the addarkness, mercy and truth have met versary; if he had walked in all the statutes together, and righteousness and peace have and commandments of the Lord blameless, embraced each other. Justice has been and had at last been transferred to the upper emblazoned in awful sternness. Holiness sanctuary to inherit the promised blessing, has appeared in most unblemished purity, he could only have been regarded as a Sacred Truth in most unbending rectitude; faithful servant of the Lord-a little lower while mercy, gentle and unsullied, is seen than the angels-rendered capable of sharbending over the godless, plucking the sin- ing their felicities, and mingling in their ner as a brand from the burning, and setting praises. But now that the omnipotence of him down amongst the living in Jerusalem. grace has been manifested in the sinner's salThus the curse was turned into a blessing. | vation, a richer glory and an higher honour

"Who

are provided for the redeemed. They become | fact, that death ushers in the judgment, and the children of God, through faith in Christ parades the sinner before the bar of a deJesus, and are no longer treated as servants, spised and unchangeable God, it is this but regarded as sons-adopted into God's that really darkens the aspect of the change family, they are made heirs of glory, and and paints out death to the sinner in all the joint heirs with Christ. Yes, they who are horribleness of the King of terrors. savingly united to the Messiah, become the children of the kingdom, the heirs of the covenant; and the Eternal Word whom angels obey and seraphs worship, is not ashamed to call them brethren. Who are these with veiled faces and covered feet, that fly throughout the measureless expanse of heaven, exclaiming in tones of deepest humility," Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Hosts ?" These are the angels, the cherubim that never sinned. But who are those that stand in white robes around the Lamb, hymning the praises of one who bought them with his blood, following him wherever he goeth, and experiencing his continued care? These are they who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and who dwell for ever with the Lord, exalted in his exaltation, and abundantly experiencing in their supereminent glory, how their God hath turned the curse into a blessing.

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