that they that "resist the powers that be resist the ordinance of God, and that he that resists shall receive unto himself damnation ?" Is not another a thief, because he knows not the Christian duty of "working with his hands the thing which is good?" But when the Gospel shall lie open on the table of every hut in our island,-when the inhabitants of this populous empire shall, by studying the volume of truth, be drawn to Jesus "with cords of a man, with bands of love ;" and, knowing that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord," shall be "zealous to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things," and to "walk righteously, soberly, and godly in this present world;"-when this shall come to pass, brethren, will not the Lord reward you even in this world "seven-fold into your bosom?" Oh! yea-for the evil doers shall “cease out of the land;"-Ye shall see a fresh race of citizens spring up ;-Ye shall sit securely, every man, "under his vine and under his fig-tree, and drink the waters of his cistern" in peace ;-Ye shall see around you, in your cities and in your hamlets, "the sons of the poor growing up as the young plants, and their daughters" adorned "as the polished corners of the temple ;"-and, instead of witnessing the destruction of the good gifts of God, by conflagrations which have impoverished alike the lord of the soil, and the yeoman, and the

C

peasant, ye shall behold "your garners full, and plenteous with all manner of store." We may trust, brethren, that such shall be the effects of the extended distribution of the Scriptures, and that national prosperity shall result from, and shall keep pace with, national piety.

But I will not enlarge upon these consequences, however important they may be;-God grant, that you may bestow your bounty from higher motives; God grant that you may set before you more brilliant promises. I would bid you, rather, to remember that, "they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever;' I would urge you to consider, that you have it in your power to serve your generation, and to advance your Master's purposes of love, by sending forth ministers to preach to the heathen abroad, and by putting into the hands of your brethren at home, the "pure language" of the Gospel. And though you be not permitted, during your sojourn upon earth, to witness the full effect of the exertions which you shall make, in testimony of your faith and love towards Him who made so great a sacrifice for you,-and though you behold not the day, when all the nations of the earth shall become converted, and "shall call upon the name of the Lord" to serve Him with one consent, yet it shall be enough, brethren, if you shall see "Jerusalem in

prosperity all your life long ;"-it shall be enough if you shall see the church increased and increasing;-if you shall hear of the blessed effects produced at home and abroad, by the preaching and distribution of the Gospel,-if the heathen shall gradually put away from him his idols of silver and of gold, and shall acknowledge the power of the cross;-if those who are now "dead in trespasses and sins, and alienated from the life of Christ," shall come and embrace his salvation; if, in fine, amongst the dry bones, both here and beyond the seas, when they shall be prophesied unto, and shall "hear the word of the Lord," there shall come "a noise and a shaking, and they shall live, and stand up" by the energy of the Spirit, " and become an exceeding great army." This shall be enough for you, brethren, and this ye may hope to see :-the Gospel, breathing, as it does, with the Spirit of God, and burning with the love of Christ,—is assuredly too precious to be rejected :- some may slight, but many will receive it :-some may think that they have no need of a physician, but all the sin-sick souls shall gladly hasten to Him :-yea, and it shall come to pass, that all they that "do hunger and thirst after the righteousness of Christ shall be filled;"--they that "believe shall not be ashamed;" -but, being refreshed by the Divine consolations which they shall hear and read, they shall " renew

their strength;-" they shall mount up" heavenward "with wings even as eagles,"-" they shall run" upon the road to the eternal city of our God,

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and never be weary,"-" and they shall walk" up the hill of Zion, " and never faint!"

THE END.

GILBERT & RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John's Square, London.

SERMON

PREACHED

H

BODLE

AT RICHMOND IN YORKSHIRE,

AT THE VISITATION

OF THE

LORD BISHOP OF CHESTER,

On the 14th of September, 1835,

BY GEORGE WADDINGTON, A.M.

VICAR OF MASHAM.

RICHMOND :

PRINTED BY M. BELL, FINKLE STREET.

SOLD BY

J. G. & F. RIVINGTON, LONDON; AND DEIGHTONS,

CAMBRIDGE.

M.DCCC.XXXV.

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