the plain. Escape, escape for thy life to the mountain, lest thou be consumed; escape to the city of refuge, even Christ Jesus. In applying this, I would add two or three plain directions. 1. DREAD SIN AS THE WORST OF ALL EVILS. Losses of property are evils; poverty and contempt are evils; sicknesses in our persons or families are evils; national calamities are evils; wars, and famines, and pestilences are evils; but sin is the worst evil, for it is the cause of all others; bringing down upon the creature the displeasure and wrath of him from whose appointment all suffering originally comes, as well as all happiness, and, if having its full issue, landing the sinner in endless ruin. O sinnér, stop in thy mad course; sin will be thy ruin here and for ever, if persisted in. 2. REPENT IN TIME. There is a way of escape; there is space afforded for a change of mind. Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, ere it be too late. You want a changed mind, consisting in a deep sorrow for sin, a hearty acknowledgment of it before God, a lively faith in his free pardon through the blood of Jesus, and then an amended life in righteousness and true holiness. You must be born again, and God has promised, if you will inquire of him, to give a new heart and a new spirit. O can you be content to receive all your good in this life, and to be miserable for ever? but except you repent, you must perish. Turn you then, turn you, for why will you die. VALUE CHRIST JESUS SUPREMELY as the only refuge, the all-sufficient Saviour of the lost. Are you yet impenitent and unconverted? O value Christ, as able to give you repentance, and exalted for this very purpose. He came into the world to be the Deliverer from the wrath to come; He yet lives to make intercession for the transgressors. Apply to Him. You are yet in the land of prayer and of hope: you are yet within the possibility of salvation; it may be, you may yet reach the good land afar off, and gain everlasting light, and life, and glory; it shall be, if you do in earnest go to Jesus, with all your sins, and trust in him. Are you trusting in Jesus, and converted to God? blessed is your state! There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom. viii. 1.) Christians can say of him, He hath delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thess. i. 10.) They can stand on the rock of divine truth, amidst all the raging storm of wrath rushing on the ungodly, and be in perfect security, under the hiding-place from the wind, and the covert from the tempest. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? He who has the keys of death and hell, is their friend, and none can hurt or annoy. O Christians, may gratitude to your Redeemer, and tender compassion for perishing sinners, and persevering endeavours to lead them to your Protector and Deliverer, bear testimony that you are the redeemed of the Lord, whom he hath delivered out of the hand of the enemy, and formed for himself a people to show forth his praise! SERMON XIII. HEAVEN. REVELATION XXII. 3, 4, 5. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever. CANDIDATES for immortal bliss! here is the prize of your high calling! Here is the glorious recompense held out for your attainment. To assist you to gain this is the noble object of my whole ministry. O that you and I may together attain this holy and eternal happiness. We have now to consider this-the inheritance of the saints, the state of heavenly happiness and glory. May the Divine Spirit elevate our thoughts, and aid our conceptions, in reference to this, the blessed hope of our calling. Do you ask, Is such a state attainable by fallen sinful creatures? May I reach those happy regions? I will also ask you one question. Do you so really desire it as to follow the divine directions for its attainment? Are you prepared to sacrifice every thing that would interfere with your progress towards, and preparation for it? If indeed this be so, then I reply, It is attainable to you. Not one shall honestly, heartily, and enduringly seek this glory in God's appointed method, and fail of success. O that the consideration of the subject may excite in all the holy ambition of being for ever blessed in the presence of Him in whose presence is fulness of joy! This blessedness comprises, 5. Perpetual glory. |