We have witnefied the fuccefs of the gospel [Thofe to whom our Lord fpake, faw his miniftry defpifed The great and learned of their nation rejected him His followers were only a few, and thofe of the lowest clafs But we have feen the "grain of muftard become a large tree" The gospel has spread to the remoteft corners of the earth It has triumphed over the prejudices and paffions, the interefts and powers, of the world Its influence is yet daily exhibited before our eyes-] How heinous then must be our guilt if we reject him! Surely our "fin muft be of a crifon or a fearlet die". ADDRESS 1. Those who make excufes for their Chrift neglect of [With what foolish and weak excufes do men deceive themicives! Surely God will not be deceived by thefe What cloak for your fin will you find when he shall call you to account? Will you plead a want of inftruction, evidence, warning, or encouragement?— m Know that in that day you will be fpeechlefs Your love of fin and hatred of the light are the true causes of your rejecting Chrift "- And this will be the ground of a more aggravated condemnation] him 2. Those who defire to attain the faving knowledge of [It is a great mercy to have fuch a defire formed in the heart But beware of cloaking or extenuating your fin Remember that awful yet encouraging declaration P———— There is a virtue in the blood of Jefus to cleanse you from it all -] 1 We may notice a few: "I have not time." For what is time given?" I am not able." Do you do what you can? It is time enough yet." Shall you certainly live, and have the grace you now flight offered you again?" I have the majority on my fide." Are you not then in the broad road? and will affociates mitigate your pain ? —“ Professors are hypocrites." Is that a reaton you thould not be fincere?" God is merciful." To whom? the impenitent? m Matt. xxii. 12. John iii. 19. 91 John i. 7. LI. THE FRIENDS AND ENEMIES OF CHRIST CONTRASTED. Rev. xvii. 14. Thefe fhall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb fhall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they that are with him, are called, and chofen, and faithful. THE book of Revelations is confeffedly dark and myfterious Yet there are many parts of it plain and perfpicu ous The prophecy before us is not without its difficulties We cannot doubt, however, but that it declares the downfall of Popery— But we forbear to dwell on thofe parts which are difficult of interpretation We confine our attention to what is moft obvious in the text in illuftrating which we fhall fhew I. Who they are that war againft the Lamb The text fpeaks of those who fhould oppofe the caufe of Chrift, and the interefts of his gofpel-Now this is done by 1. Those who maintain fentiments contrary to the gospel of Chrift [A perfon may err with refpect to fubordinate matters, and yet have his heart, on the whole, right with God— But an error in the fundamental points argues a depraved ftate of mind- A man who denies the divinity of Chrift, the fufficiency of his atonement, the influences of his Spirit upon the foul, or the neceffity of an unreferved devotednefs of heart to God, fets afide the whole gofpel He therefore oppofes Chrift in his moft effential interefts, and wars against the Lamb-] 2. Those who endeavour to fubvert his influence over his people's hearts There is fcarcely an unconverted perfon that does not, like Čain and Ithmael, revile and perfecute the children of God And how many does fuch treatment intimidate and fub vert! Whatever Luke x. 16. Whatever then a fcoffing world may think of their conduct, they are really fighting againft Chrift himself In touching his people, they touch the apple of his eye-] But we cannot doubt II. What will be the iffue of the conteft The enemies of Chrift may appear to triumph for a while But he will furely overcome them at the laft- grace [None are beyond the reach of his arm- None are fo vile but that he feels compaffion towards them Nor are any fo ftout-hearted but he is able to fubdue them He who vanquished the perfecuting Saul, can and will make others alfo to be fimilar monuments of his grace and mercy--}· But thofe who reject all his overtures of mercy, he will break in pieces like a potter's veffel [His triumphs over them are admirably painted in the fecond Pfaim And he himself tells us what a fentence he will pafs upon them in the day of judgment However long their conflicts with hian may be, this muft at laft be the termination of them-] To impress this on our minds, let us confider III. What affurance we have that fuch fhall be the iffue of it Two pledges of his victory are mentioned in the text 1. His own power [Were he the first of created beings, his fuccefs might be uncertain But he is "Lord of lords, and King of kings"— And though he is a Lamb, yet will he fhew himself to be the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" Whoever shall prefume to oppofe him, he will go through them, and burn them up together -] 2. His people's conftancy [They have not indeed, of themfelves, any ftrength or conftancy But they have been "chofen" of God from before the foundation of the world They b Acts ix. 4. Zech. ii. 8. Luke xix. 27. e Ifai. xxvii. 4. Eph. i. 4. 394 FRIENDS AND ENEMIES OF CHRIST, &c. (51.) They have in due time been "called" by the effectual operation of his grace And they are made "faithful" by him, fo that nothing can induce them to defert his caufe f The leaft and weakest among them all is more than conqueror through the ftrength of Chrift & And all may adopt the language of triumph, even while conflicting on the field of battle -] APPLICATION 1. Let us affift you in enquiring whether ye be among the friends or enemies of Chrift [While fome are against Chrift, others "are with him"They are with him in fentiment, in affection, in profeflion, in conduct- How great is the difference between thofe who in outward. appearance are the fame !— O fearch and fee whether ye be the friends or enemies of Chrift According as you prove yourfelves to be in this life, you will furely be found in the day of judgment—] 2. Let us addrefs each of thofe characters [To his enemies we fay, Confider whofe enemies you areIs this the treatment he has deferved at your hands?-Is there not a time coming when he will fearfully refent it ? If you be of the number of his friends, "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called ". k Let nothing, however pleafing, or however formidable, tempt you to forfake him Be faithful unto death, and he will give you a crown of life f Acts xx. 20 iMatt. xii. 30. k Rom. viii. Rom. viii. 1 Rev. ii. 10. LII. THE DUTY OF CASTING OUR CARE ON GOD. 1 Pet. v. 7. Cafting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. INEXPERIENCED Chriftians are generally partial in their views of religion They often exalt one duty, to the neglect, if not the exclufion of another But But a proficiency in the divine life will discover itself by the united exercife of the various, and apparently oppofite, graces Faith will not exclude fear, nor meeknefs fortitudeEvery grace will be limited and tempered by fome other The foul must be humbled before God in duft and afhes Yet fhould it rely on him with most implicit confidence I. The duty of Chriftians Chriftians have learned "not to feek great things for themfelves Hence they are free from the corroding cares of avarice and ambition But they ftill have many grounds of care [They cannot but feel fome concern refpecting their bodily wants The cafualties of life may alfo occafion fome uneafine fsBut they have other cares far more weighty and importantThey fee many dithonouring their holy profeflionThey feel within themfelves alfo "an evil heart of unbelief" Nor are they ignorant of Satan's devices to overthrow them- It is their duty, however, to "caft their care on God" On him they are commanded to caft it — They muft do to in the exercife of faith and prayer- &c.- Caft all, None are fo finall but they fhall be regarded, none fo great but they fhall be alleviated-] There is a backwardnefs in many to comply with this duty II. Their encouragement to perform it God • Ver. 6, 7. Jer. xvii. 5. ₫ Pf. lv. 22, ₫ Phil. iv, 6, 7. |