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and bodily; and ordering, by his providence, all things to work together for their good, till at length they are brought home, to be with him where he is, and to behold his glory. II. From what has been said, we may justly infer, in the first place, "that this is," as the apostle styles it, "a faithful saying." When man first fell, God, in the midst of judgment remembering mercy, declared, unsought and undesired, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, Gen. ui. In every succeeding age, he confirmed his purpose by types, promises, prophecies, and oaths. At length, in the fulness of time, Christ, the desire of all nations, came into the world, fulfilled all that had been foretold, and encouraged every humble penitent sinner to come unto him, that they might have life, pardon, and peace. To doubt, or to deny, his readiness to save, is, so far as in us lies, to make the word of God of none effect; it is, to charge God foolishly, as though, like the heedless unskilful builder in the gospel, he had begun to build that which was not to be finished. If, after all that is set before us, it is possible for any soul to miss salvation, that sincerely desires it, and seeks it in God's appointed way, it must be because the Lord Jesus Christ either cannot or will not save them. That he cannot, is flatly false; for, "all power is his in heaven and in earth;" (Matt. xxviii.) and it is particularly said, "that he is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him;" (Heb. vii.) and that he will not, is as false; for he himself hath said, "Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out," John vi.

We may infer, 2dly, That this doctrine is not only faithful, but "worthy of all acceptation." And here, methinks, I could begin anew. A point so much mistaken by some, and neglected by most, rather requires a whole, or many discourses, than to be passed over in few words. The most high and wise God has esteemed the redemption of mankind so precious, "that he spared not his only Son," Rom. viii. And are there any amongst us, in a land of gospel-light and liberty, where the words of wisdom are sounding in our ears every day, that dare make light of this message, just give it a hearing, and return to their farms, their merchandise, and their diversions, as though this unspeakable grace of God called for no return? Alas! "How shall we escape if we neglect this salvation?" Heb. ii. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy. It was dangerous, it was destructive, to refuse him that spoke upon earth; take heed how you trifle with him that speaketh from heaven! To such as neglect this, "there remains no other sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for of fiery indignation that shall devour his adversaries," Heb. x. Let none of us think it is well with us, merely because we were born

and educated in a christian country, have means of instruction in our hands, and enjoy frequent opportunities of presenting ourselves before God in public worship. To thousands these, so far from being advantages, will greatly aggravate their condemnation, and point the sting of the never-dying worm. Better were it for us to have been inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon, (Luke x.) yea, of Sodom and Gomorrah, than to appear in judgment with no better plea than this. Neither let us speak peace to ourselves, because we are not so bad as others, but perhaps live decently and comfortably, are useful in society, and perform many things that are commonly called good works. If these works spring from a true love of God, if they are framed according to the rule of his word, if they are performed by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, they are undoubtedly good, and shall be rewarded before men and angels; if otherwise, you have already your reward, in the complaisance of your own minds, and the approbation of friends and acquaintance. The christianity of the New Testament imports more than all this. It is, to believe in Jesus Christ; so to believe in him, as to obey him in all his commands, to trust him in all his dispensations, to walk in his steps, copying out the bright example of his love, meekness, patience, self-denial, and active zeal for the glory of God and the good of mankind. It is, from a consciousness of our utter inability to perform these great things, to depend continually upon the promised aid and direction of his Holy Spirit, to seek this assistance by frequent fervent prayer, to offer up ourselves daily as living sacrifices unto God; and, finally, when we have done all, to be deeply sensible of our unworthiness of the least of his mercies, to confess ourselves unprofitable servants, and to place all our hopes upon this faithful saying, "That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners."

Thus, from the consideration of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the greatness of our misery by nature, and the wonderful things he has done and suffered for our redemption, we may learn the complete security of that salvation he has provided, the extreme danger of neglecting it, and the folly and presumption of attempting to establish a righteousness of our own, independent of him who is appointed of God unto us, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor. i. In setting these things before you plainly and faithfully, I trust I have delivered my own soul. Time is short, life is precarious, and perhaps to some this may be the last opportunity of the kind that may be afforded them. God grant we may be wise in time, that, to-day, while it is called to-day, we may hear his voice. Then we shall un|derstand more of the text than words can

teach us; then we shall experience "a peace For a while these faithful followers of the which passeth all understanding;" (Phil. iv.) Lamb were known only by particular names, "a joy" which "a stranger intermeddleth not according to the different humours of differwith;" (Prov. xvi.) and a hope "full of glo- ent places, Nazarenes, Galileans, the pesry," which shall be completed in the end-ple of that way, pestilent fellows, and the less possession of those "pleasures which are at the right hand of God;" (Psal. xvi.) where sin, and its inseparable attendant sorrow, shall cease for ever; where "there shall be no more grief, or pain, or fear;" (Rev. xxi.) but every tear shall be wiped from every eye.

SERMON III.

ON THE CHRISTIAN NAME.

-And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.-Acts xi. 26.

THE evangelist Luke having contributed his appointed part to the history of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, proceeds, in the book we style the Acts of the Apostles, to inform us of the state and behaviour of those faithful followers he left behind him on earth, when he ascended in the name and behalf of his people, to that heaven from whence his love had brought him down. We are informed, that the gracious promises he had made while he was yet with them, began soon to take place; for, when the day of Pentecost was fully come, (Acts ii.) the Holy Spirit descended powerfully upon them, qualified them for preaching the gospel to the whole world, and gave them an earnest of success in making their first essay the happy means of converting about three thousand souls.

like; but at length, when they grew more numerous, when their societies were regularly formed, and their enemies universally alarmed, they began to bear a more general and emphatical name. St. Luke has informed us, that this was the case in fact, and has likewise told us where it first obtained; and as I suppose he did not this without some design, I shall endeavour to draw some observations for our use and direction, from this remark in the text, That "the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch," which I shall divide into two: thus,-That the first general name by which the disciples were distinguished from the world, and united among themselves, was that of Christians; and, secondly, That this took place first at Antioch. Thus the propositions lie in the text; but, in treating of each, it may be more convenient to invert this order, and consider the latter as previous to the former.

Now, if we consider the state of the city of Antioch, before, at the time, and since the event which is here recorded; from each of these views we may gather some lesson of instruction for ourselves, which ought to be our view in all we read, but especially when we read those books" which are able to make us wise unto salvation," and where no one sentence is insignificant. But let us not forget, with all we read and hear concerning religion, to mingle our frequent prayers to the great Author and Fountain of all grace, for that aid and assistance of his Holy Spirit, without which we can do nothing to advantage.

The first believers, who were of one heart and one soul, who continued steadfast in the apostles' doctrine, and had all things in com- Antioch, the capital of Syria, built about mon, would probably have been well content three hundred years before Christ, had been to have lived together in Jerusalem, till death long the most flourishing city of the East. had successively transplanted them to the Je- The most remarkable circumstance of its anrusalem which is above. But this was not to cient state, as suiting our present purpose, be their rest; and their Lord, who had ap- was its having been the seat and residence of pointed them to be "the salt of the earth," Antiochus, the most cruel and inveterate eneand "the light of the world," (Matt. v.) my of the church and people of God; the made use of the rage of their enemies to ef- most direct and eminent type of that Antifect that separation which those who are christ who was afterwards to appear in the united by the grace of God are often so loath world; spoken of expressly by prophecy in to yield to. Little did Herod and the Jews Daniel, chap. xi.; the completion of which consider what would be the consequence of you may see at large in the first book of the persecution they raised against the church Maccabees, in Josephus, and more briefly in of Christ: but persecutors are always blind, the 79th and 80th Psalms. But behold the and counteract their own designs. So here; wisdom, the power, and the providence of for we are told, that those whom they scat- God! when his people were brought low, he tered abroad "went every where preaching helped them; he set those bounds to the rage the word." Thus the word of the Lord "ran of the adversary which could not be broken and was glorified;" their bitterest enemies through; and, at length, in his appointed contributing to push it forward, till, in a few time, he erected this first general standard years, it was published "from sea to sea,' ," of the gospel upon the very spot where his and "from the river to the ends of the earth," grand enemy had so long encamped, and from Psalm lxxii. whence his pernicious counsels and enter

ners have hitherto been too conformable to that wicked world which in our baptisms we were engaged to renounce. I shall have occasion to speak farther upon this point before I close; in the mean time, here is a test to examine ourselves by. If we could not glory in the christian name, under the same circumstances as the disciples bore it at Antioch, we are yet unworthy of it. Let conscience judge.

prises had so far proceeded. The application | still founded upon scripture, and confirmed by of this is very suitable to the times in which experience. If we know nothing of it in our we now live. We see a powerful combina- own cases, it is because our tempers and mantion against the Protestant interest. Our enemies are many and mighty: their designs, we have reason to believe, are deep laid, and their efforts unwearied. Once and again our hopes have been almost swallowed up; and though we, through the singular goodness of God, have hitherto escaped, the storm has fallen heavy upon our brethren abroad. What may be the immediate issue of the present threatening appearances, we know not; but we may encourage ourselves, from the experience of past ages, as well as from the sure promises of scripture, that however the kings of the earth may assemble, and the rulers take counsel together, (Psal. ii.) God has a hook in their nose, and a bridle in their jaws; (Isa. xxxvii.) and all their force and policy shall at last bring about what they least de-vity are likewise forgot. Slavery, imposture, sire and intend,-the welfare and glory of God's church. He that caused the christian name go forth first at Antioch, where the truth of God had been most eminently and successfully opposed, can likewise introduce a temper and worship truly christian, in those places which at present seem destitute of either. And for this it is our duty continual-hitherto has been wonderful; often have we ly to pray.

Once more, Antioch, the city where the gospel once so flourished, that from thence the whole christian church received that name by which it is still called, is now no more. It has been a heap of ruins more than five hundred years. The light of the gospel has been long withdrawn; gaiety and festi

and barbarism, have blotted out the resemblance, and even the remembrance of what it once was. O that our yet happy land could from hence take a timely warning! Our privileges are great; perhaps greater, all things considered, than any nation has possessed since the days of Solomon. Our preservation

been in extreme danger, but have always found deliverance at hand. Yet let us not be high-minded; our sins and aggravations (it is to be feared) have been, and still are, very great likewise; and God, we see, is no more a respecter of places than of persons. Antioch is ruined; Philadelphia, which received so honourable a testimony from the mouth of the Lord himself, (Rev. iii.) has been long since destroyed. Let us beware of boasting; let us not presume too much on what we are; nor say, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these." Jer. vii. We are the bulwark of the Protestant interest, and none can hurt us. If the Lord is with us, it is true; if we walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, we are safe; but, if otherwise, we know not how soon God may visit us with his heavy judgments, war, famine, discord, or pestilence; till we become a warning to others, as others are now proposed warnings to us. Our liberties, our properties, our religion, are in God's hands; may he incline our hearts to true repentance, lest at length these blessings should be taken from us, and given to a people that will bring forth more fruit.

Again, if we consider the state of Antioch at the time the disciples were first called Christians there, we may learn how to form a judgment of our profession. This city was then luxurious and dissolute to a proverb, even in Asia, where luxury and effeminacy were universally prevalent. Whether this name was assumed by the disciples, or imposed by their enemies, we cannot doubt but that, in common repute, it was a term of the most extreme reproach and ignominy. Nor can I suppose the worst appellations any sect in succeeding ages has been doomed to bear, have implied half of that contempt which an inhabitant of Antioch or Daphne expressed when he called a man a Christian. If we imagine a sect of people, who, at this time, in France, should style themselves the disciples of the late Damien, and be called after his name, we may perhaps form some idea of what the people of Antioch understood by the word Christian. The apostle assures us, that he and his brethren were "accounted the filth and off scouring of all things," (1 Cor. iv.) es wigixainguaт* TOU XOGμIU -#*V. He has chosen two words of the most vile and despicable signification; which, I believe, There is an ambiguity in the original word no two words in our language will fully ex-xenia, which our translation renders callpress. The outward state of things is since ed; for, though that is the more general changed, and the external profession of chris- sense it bears in Heathen writers, wherever tianity is now no reproach; but let us not it occurs in the New Testament, except in imagine the nature of things is changed too. this passage, and in Rom. vii. 3, it signifies to It was then received as a maxim, That "all be taught or warned by a Revelation from heawho will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suf- ven. Thus it is spoken of Joseph and the wise fer persecution:" (2 Tim. iii.) and it is a truth | men; (Matt. ii.) Simeon; (Luke ii.) Cornelius;

(Acts x.) Noah; (Heb. xi.) and elsewhere. | trust in him shall never be ashamed. This It does not therefore appear quite certain is another important lesson comprised in the from the text, whether the disciples chose word Christian. this name for themselves, or the wits of the time fixed it upon them as a mark of infamy; or, lastly, whether it was by the special direction of the Spirit of God that they assumed it. But I incline to the latter supposition; partly, because, in those happy days, it was the practice and the privilege of the disciples to ask, and to receive, direction from on high in almost every occurrence; but, chiefly, on account of the excellent instructions couched under this emphatical name, sufficient to direct and to animate those who were to be known by it, in their duty to each other, to God, and to the world. Some of these I propose to infer from the other proposition contained in the text, That the first name by which the followers of the gospel were generally known, was that of Christians.

Hitherto, as they were separated from the world, so they had been divided among themselves; and so strong were the prejudices subsisting between the members of the same body, that we find, in the beginning of this chapter, some of one party contended with the apostle Peter only for eating with those of another. Hence we read the phrases, "We of the Jews," " They of the Gentiles." But henceforward they are taught to blend and lose the greater distinction of Jew and Gentile, and the lesser divisions of Paul, Apollos, and Cephas, in a denomination derived from him who alone was worthy to be their head, and who was equally "rich in mercy to all that call upon him" in every place.

And, as they thus were taught union and affection among themselves, so their relation to God, the way of their access to him, and their continual dependence upon him, were strongly implied in this name. A christian is the child of God by faith in Christ; he draws near to God in the name of Christ; he is led and supported by the spirit of Christ! Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, of the faith, hope, and love of every believer. From him alone every good desire proceeds: by him alone every good purpose is established: in him alone any of our best performances are acceptable. Let us beware (it is a necessary caution in these days) of a Christianity without Christ. I testify to you in plain words, that this is no better than a house without a foundation, a tree without a root, a body without a head, a hope without hope; a delusion, which, if persisted in, will end in irremediable destruction: "For other foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid, Christ Jesus:" he is the corner-stone, "chosen of God and precious." Alas for those who are offended with him in whom God is well pleased! but those who

Nor is this all: in the name of Christian they might, and we may, read the terms upon which we are to stand with the world. If I were asked what the words Platonist or Pythagorean signified, I should say they expressed certain persons who embraced the sentiments, submitted to the institutions, and imitated the conduct of Pythagoras and Plato; and, in order to describe them farther, I need do no more than give an account of the lives and writings of their respective masters. Could I thus, in some distant, unknown country, where the name of christianity had been only heard of, have an opportunity of declaring the history, the doctrines, and the laws of Jesus Christ; how he lived, how he taught, how he died, and upon what account; what usage he himself received from the world, and what he taught his followers to expect after he should leave them: if I should then describe the lives and the treatment of his most eminent servants, who lived immediately after him, and show, "that as he was, so were they in the world;" (1 John iv.) that pursuing his pattern, they found exactly the same opposition;-would not the inhabitants of such a country conclude, even as the scripture has assured us, that the temper of christianity, and the temper of the world, must be exactly opposite; and that, as it is said, "Whoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God," (James iv.) so, whoever had boldness to profess himself a friend of God, must necessarily be an enemy to the world; and would be sure to find the world, and all in it, at sworn enmity with him? But if I should farther tell them, that though the same laws, the same warnings, and the same examples, still subsist, yet that fierce opposition I have spoken of is at length nearly over, so that none are better pleased with the world, or more agreeable to it, than many of those who speak most honourably of the christian name; would not these people immediately infer, that one of these contending powers must have yielded to the triumphant genius of the other? that either the whole world were become such christians as those who were first styled so at Antioch, or that modern christians must be, for the most part, so only by profession, and have neither right nor pretence to their ancient spirit? And could we suppose farther, that after this information, some of these remote people were to land at Dover, and make the tour of this kingdom, can you think they would be long in determining which of these is indeed the case?

Numbers are deceived by restricting many passages in the New Testament to the times in which they were delivered, though it seems

to have been the great care of the apostles to | light of nature, and the powers of human prevent, if possible, our making this mistake. reason, venture to determine the fitness of St. John, having expressly said, "if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him," immediately explains what he means by the world, namely, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life," 1 John ii. If high distinction, vain show, and sensual pleasure, make no part of the world at this day, I must allow that we have no part in the apostle's decision, nor any cause to observe his caution; but if these things are as highly prized, as eagerly, and almost as universally pursued now in Britain as they were sixteen hundred years since at Rome and Antioch, surely we bear the name of Christians in vain; if our hopes and fears, our jcys and sorrows, our comforts and our cares are not very different from those of the generality among whom we live. "If any man," says St. Paul, "have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his," Rom. viii. Now, whatever more is meant by the phrase of having the spirit of Christ, it must certainly mean thus much at least, a disposition and turn of mind in some degree conformable to the mind that was in Christ Jesus, to be evidenced by a life and conversation suitable to his precepts and example: "He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners; he went about doing good," Heb. vii. He was gentle and compassionate, meek and patient under the greatest provocations; so active for the glory of God, that his zeal, by a strong and lively figure, is said to have eaten him up; (John ii.) so affected with the worth of souls, that he wept over his bitterest enemies; so intent on his charitable designs towards men, that an opportunity of helping or instructing them was as meat and drink when he was hungry, (John iv.) and made him forget weariness and pain; so full of devotion towards God, that when the day had been wholly consumed in his labours of love, he would frequently redeem whole nights for prayer, Luke vi. But I must stop.- -No pen can describe, no heart conceive, the life of the Son of God in the flesh: yet, in all these things he was our great exemplar; and no profession or appellation can benefit us, unless we are of those who copy closely and carefully after him. For thus saith the beloved apostle, "He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself so to walk even as he walked. He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him," 1 John ii.

I shall conclude with a short address to three sorts of persons. And, first, If there are any such here (would to God this part of my labour may prove needless!) I would recommend this subject to the consideration of those who have almost, if not altogether, cast off the honourable name into which they were baptized, who, trusting to what they call the

things by their own standard, and declare in their words, as well as by their actions, "they will not have this man to rule over them," Luke xix. Is not this an unaccountable event upon your plan, that the name which first went out from Antioch, under the greatest disadvantages, should so soon overspread the world, without arts or arms, without any force, or any motive of any external kind? Is it possible that any kind or degree of enthusiasm could influence, not a few, at one time, or in one place, but multitudes, of all ages, sexes, tempers, and circumstances, to embrace a profession which, in proportion to the strictness wherewith it was followed, was always attended with reproach and suffering? Those laces which were most noted for opposition to this way, have been long since buried in the dust; but a succession of those whom the world counted "not worthy to live, and of whom the world was not worthy," (Acts xxv. Heb. xi.) has always subsisted, and still subsists. Had you lived in those days when Jesus Christ assured a company of poor disregarded fishermen, that neither the power nor the policy of the world, nor the gates of hell, should ever prevail against them, (Matt. xvi.) you might have been less inexcusable in refusing to believe him. But now, when you have the accomplishment of this promise before your eyes, and well know (for you are book-read) what various attempts have been made, with what steadiness and formidable appearances they have been for a while carried on, to render these words vain, but how at length such attempts have totally failed, and ended in the confusion and ruin of those who engaged in them,-what tolerable reason can you assign for the part you act? Does the tendency of the gospel displease you? Is it an enemy to that virtue you are so fond of talking of? On the contrary, we are ready to put it to the proof, that here are not only the sublimest maxims of true virtue, but that the practice, or even the real love of virtue, are quite unattainable upon any other scheme, and that the most specious pretences, independent of this, are no more than great "swelling words of vanity," 2 Pet. ii. I speak the more freely upon this point, because I speak from experience. I was once as you are. I verily thought that I "ought to do" (or at least that I might do) "many things against Jesus of Nazareth," Acts xxvi. None even went farther than me, according to the limits of my years and capacity, in opposing the truths of the gospel. But the mercy of God spared me; and his providence having led me through various changes and circumstances of life, in each of which I have had a still deeper conviction of my former errors, has at length given me this opportunity to tell you,

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