both worlds, to fill up our several stations in life with propriety, usefulness, and comfort; and to avoid the numerous evils and distresses which those who live by no rule, or by any other rule than God's word, are perpetually running into. The promises shall be a support in every trouble, a medicine in every sickness, a supply in every need. Above all, the Scriptures will repay our trouble, as they testify of Christ. The more we read of his person, offices, power, love, doctrine, life, and death, the more our hearts will cleave to him: we shall, by insensible degrees, be transformed into his spirit. We shall, with the apostle, say, "I know in "whom I have believed," 2 Tim. i. Every thing we see shall be at once a memorial to remind us of our Redeemer, and a motive to animate us in his service. And at length we shall be removed to see him as he is, without a cloud, and without a vail; to be for ever with him to behold, and to share the glories of that heavenly kingdom" which, (Matth. xxv.) he has prepared, (for his followers,) from before the foundation "of the world." Amen. SERMONS, PREACHED IN THE PARISH CHURCH OF OLNEY, IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, ON THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS: 1. The small Success of the Gospel Ministry. 2. The Mysteries of the Gospel hid from many. 3. Of those from whom the Gospel Doctrines are hid. 4. The Nature of Spiritual Revelation, and who are favoured with it. 5. The Sovereignty of Divine Grace asserted and illustrated. 6. Of the Person of Christ. 7. Of the Authority of Christ. 8. The Glory and Grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ. 9. Labouring and heavy-laden Sinners described. 10. Of coming to Christ. 11. Of Believers' rest in Christ. 12. Of the Yoke of Christ. 13. The Service of Christ easy and pleasant. 14. Believers cautioned against Misconduct in their Profession. 15. The Extent and Sanction of the third Commandment. 16. The Christian Life compared to a Race. 17. No Access to God but by the Gospel of Christ. 18. Of a Living and a Dead Faith. 19. Guilt removed, and Peace restored. 20. Of the Assurance of Faith. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day; and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. Psal. Ixxxix. 15, 16. TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE PARISH OF OLNEY. My Dear Friends, I HAVE principally two motives for publishing these Dis courses. The one is, to exhibit a specimen of the doctrine that is taught and most surely believed amongst us, to satisfy those who desire information, and to stop, if possible, the mouth of slander. I cheerfully submit them to examination; in full confidence that they contain nothing of moment which is not agreeable to the general strain of the word of God, and to the principles of the church whereof I am a minister, as specified in the Articles, Liturgy, and Homilies. And that what I now print is to the same purport with the usual course of my preaching, I doubt not but all who statedly hear me will do me the justice to acknowledge. tance. My other motive is a desire of promoting your edification. It is my comfort that many of you live by the truths of the Gospel, and highly prize them. You will not therefore be unwilling to view the substance of what you once heard with accepBut it is to be feared, that the far greater part of the congregation have need to have the things pertaining to their peace pressed upon them again and again, for a different reason; not because they know them, and therefore love to have them brought to their remembrance, but because they have hitherto heard them without effect. For the sake of both, therefore, I am willing to leave an abiding testimony amongst you. I hereby take each of your consciences to witness, that I am clear of your blood; and that, to the best of my knowledge and ability, I have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God. In the choice of the subjects I have selected for publication, I have not been solicitous to comprise a succinct scheme of Gospel doctrine, but have given the preference to such topics, which the peculiar circumstances of the times, and of my hearers, make me desirous might be had in continual remembrance. The Exposition of the Third Commandment, which was first delivered in your hearing, I afterwards preached, (nearer the form in which it now appears,) at London; and as it led me to touch on some particulars of a very public and interesting concern, I have given it a place in this volume. And I shall think myself happy indeed, if it may please God to give weight to the testimony of so obscure a person with respect to a grievance under which the nation groans. As long discourses are in many respects inconvenient, I have chosen to publish no more than a brief summary of what you heard more at large from the pulpit. And as I aim to speak plain truths to a plain people, I have purposely avoided any studied ornaments in point of expression, being desirous to accommodate myself to the apprehensions of the most ignorant. May it please the God of all grace to accompany my feeble endeavours to promote the knowledge of his truth, with the powerful influence of his Holy Spirit. And I earnestly entreat all who know how to draw near to a throne of grace by Jesus Christ, to strive mightily in prayer for me, that I may stand fast in the faith, and increase in the knowledge of Jesus the Saviour; and that for his sake, I may labour without fear or fainting, in the service to which he has been pleased to call me. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! I am your affectionate friend, and servant in the Gospel of Christ, OLNEY, Jan. 20, 1767. JOHN NEWTON. |