Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub

sinners. The sinner sometimes says, I am willing to receive Christ, but he is not willing to receive me. But what says the text? "Behold I stand at the door and knock.” Does not this imply his readiness and willingness to come in? Nor is this all-He calls, open unto me-open unto me. Nor is this all-He says, "if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in." He positively declares that he is willing. Nor is this all-you may say, I am such a great sinner-I have rejected him so long, that he will not receive me now. But what says the Saviour? "If any man hear my voice"-vile as he may be, if he is on this side of hell-"if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me."

If you are not now a Christian, permit me to say that you have never yet heard his voice, nor opened the door, nor been willing to receive him. You have never complied with the invitation in the text. The Saviour is ready and willing, but you will not come to him that you might have life.

4. Behold your danger. The Saviour stands at your door. He does not sit. He stands ready to enter or ready to depart. How long would you stand at the door of your neighbor, asking for admittance, if he should bar and bolt you out? And how long has Christ stood knocking? Even till his head is filled with the dew and his locks with the drops of the night. But he will not stand long. There will be a last knock. The Saviour can do without you; but you cannot do without him. He may say, as he once said to the Jews, "I go my way. Ye shall seek me, and

shall die in your sins." How often "I would," and "ye would not." "Behold your house is left unto you desolate."

I repeat, sinner, there will be a last knock at the door of your heart.

"Behold a stranger at the door,

He gently knocks, has knock'd before,
Hath waited long, is waiting still,
You treat no other friend so ill.

O lovely attitude, he stands,
With melting heart and loaded hands,
O matchless kindness, and he shows
This matchless kindness to his foes.

But will he prove a friend indeed?
He will, the very friend you need;
The friend of sinners-yes, 'tis he,
With garments dy'd on Calvary.

Rise, touched with gratitude divine,
Turn out his enemy and thine,
That soul-destroying monster sin,
And let the heavenly stranger in.

Admit him ere his anger burn,
His feet departed ne'er return;
Admit him, or the hour's at hand,
You'll at his door rejected stand."

SERMON XXVI.

Religion the only Source of True Happiness.

(ADDRESSED TO YOUTH.)

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom.-PROVERBS iii: 13.

The
But

ALL mankind desire and seek happiness. great inquiry is, "Who will show us any good?" happiness keeps at a distance, and they are subject to continual disappointment. My young friends, if you have not yet found happiness in the enjoyment of the world, you are too late-you have lost your chanceyou may give up the pursuit.

But try once more, and in another way.

"I tried each earthly charm,

In pleasure's haunts I stray'd,

I sought its soothing balm,

I asked the world its aid.
But ah! no balm it had,

To heal a wounded breast,
And I forlorn and sad,

Must seek another rest:

My days of happiness are gone,
And I am left to weep alone."

There is one source of true happiness. "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom."

True religion is denominated wisdom. And why? Because mankind despise it. The proud and haughty

sinner looks down upon it with contempt, as a thing beneath his notice. But God regards it as the height of wisdom; and he would rescue it from this degradation by pronouncing it wisdom.

It is also called wisdom, because it is the highest wisdom of man to attend to the concerns of the soul. Wisdom in a worldly sense, consists in selecting the most important object, and adopting the best means to secure-in laying a plan for time, which there will be no reason to regret. But wisdom in the text, is, laying a plan for eternity which will never be regretted. Sin is called folly, because although sinners affect to be wise, they will hereafter be constrained to alter their opinion, and to curse their folly to all eternity. The time will never come, when those who secure an interest in Christ, will regret it. They will not regret it on a dying bed. They will not regret it at the day of judgment. They will not regret it to all eternity. No one was ever heard to say, and no one ever will be heard to say, at the close of life, I am sorry that I have attended to the subject of religion. Let me die the death of the sinner, and let my last end be like his. This was never said. But directly the reverse has always been matter of fact. The sinner who now despises the subject of religion, will on a dying bed, and at the judgment day, curse his own folly for having neglected the concerns of his soul; and thus the sober judgment and conscience of all in heaven, and all in hell, will declare that sin is the greatest folly, and that religion is the highest wisdom. Hence it is calling things by their right names.

Or if, in the text, wisdom means Christ, as some suppose, it amounts to the same thing. Happy is the

man that findeth wisdom; and happy is the man that findeth Christ. One cannot be found without the other.

[blocks in formation]

Wisdom and Christ, and heaven are one."

I have selected this topic because the young often regard religion as a gloomy subject. But the reverse is true. Religion is not gloomy; but it is gloomy to be without it. This subject may be presented to advantage by contrast.

How gloomy must be the state of those who delight in nothing but what God forbids. All their pleasures are forbidden pleasures. With what stings of remorse, they must be accompanied. What a miserable portion this. And how gloomy the condition of those who have no other.

Sickness, and sorrow, and pain are the common lot of all, and no feeling heart could wish to interrupt the little joys of the present life, if there were no other.

How gloomy the state of those whose sins are all unpardoned. They are like prisoners under sentence of death, and every moment liable to be called forth to execution. "He that believeth not is condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth on him." "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil." O what miserable sport. They know not but the next moment they shall be hurried into eternity.

How gloomy the state of those who receive all their

« НазадПродовжити »