Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

as violating the divine laws, because they suppose "God hath forgotten; he hideth his face; he will never see it: This is also one great ground of our coldness in our religious exercises. Would our worship be so languid, our prayers so unfrequent, our praises so heartless, our trust so feeble, if we had a proper sense of the universality, the watchfulness, the tenderness of God's providence? If then, we would grow in holiness, let us often recall to ourselves that wherever we are, and whatever we do, the Lord is with us; and let us exercise those affections, and perform those acts which this remembrance is calculated to produce.

2. This subject excites deep melancholy, when we reflect how many oppose the providence of God, and sin against it; such are those who, desirous of continuing in that sin which they love, wish that this doctrine may be false; and trembling at the inspection and government of God, endeavour to lull themselves to a fatal security, while they cry with those guilty men in the prophet, "The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil." (Zeph. i. 12.) Such are those who disregard the checks of Providence, and like Pharaoh, still proceed in their evil course, though God has thus manifested his displeasure: such are those who live in the habitual omission of prayer. The Psalmist gives it as one proof that fools deny God's government of the world, that they call not upon the Lord." If we really believed his watchful providence over us, and his sufficiency to help us, we should not so neglect to pour out our prayers to him, and look to every thing for assistance rather than to him. If we were more persuaded of the care of our Father, we should more readily flee to his bosom in our distress. Such are those whose

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

chief trust for felicity is in other things than God; in the power of their friends, in their wisdom or prudence, in the wealth they have accumulated; this is practically to deny the providence of the Lord. Such are those who, on the reception of mercies never raise their hearts in gratitude to God, but confine their thanks to the instruments he has employed: who attribute their prosperity only to their friends, their health to their own care, or the skill of the physician, their learning to their own industry. This is a base requital for the providential care of Him, without whom all second causes would be ineffectual. Such are those who seek wealth or honour by unlawful means. This is to reject the providence of God, and to seek relief of hell; to imitate Saul, who, when the Lord did not answer according to his wishes, fled to Satan. Such are those who envy their brother the temporal blessings, or the spiritual gifts which God has bestowed upon him. What is this but to reflect upon the Author of these gifts, and treat his providential distribution of them unjust or unwise? Such are those who are impatient under afflictions; quarrelling with the providential will of God, and charging him with severity and want of goodness. Such are those who blame Providence for the sins they have committed, and thus reproach the Most Holy. All these classes of persons sin against Divine Providence, Alas, how many of us have then been guilty before God!

3. This subject is full of consolation to all the piInnumerable fears and anxieties must seize upon every considerate mind, if the government of the world were left to accident, to fate, or to mere human conduct and direction; but these fears and anxieties vanish, and the troubled heart is at rest, when we

are assured, that though blind and helpless in ourselves, there is an infinite wisdom to guide us, and irresistible power to defend us. We may then sing, "The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice."

66

Friend of Jesus! God is thy friend. Attending to all his works, he yet exercises towards thee a special providence. "The eye of the Lord" is " peculiarly 66 upon them that fear him; upon them that hope in his mercy." "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his ways." Fear not then, the pressure of afflictions; not one shall befall thee, but by the providence of thy Father. Tremble not at the fury of thy enemies; the God whom thou servest, and who encompasses thee with his loving kindness, is omnipotent. Indulge no unbelieving apprehensions concerning thy future lot in life; but cast thy cares upon thy Heavenly Friend, assured that though the young lions do lack and suffer hunger, they that fear the Lord shall not want any good thing." If called to separate from those friends who formed the charm of your lives, pour forth those tears which nature requires, over their tombs; (thy God permits this sorrow;) but at the same time, bow submissively to the disposals of thy Father, acknowledge his wisdom and love; and cry, "Not my will, but thine be done." Let thy bereavements drive thee for consolation to thy God, and cause thee more anxiously to long, and more carefully to prepare for that world, where a heavenly light shall be shed upon all the providences of God, which here may appear dark and mysterious to thee; where, reviewing all his conduct to thee, thou shalt shout, "He has led me by a right way to the city whose builder is God; he hath done all things well."

SERMON CV.

PATIENCE OF GOD.

ROM. XV. 5. The God of patience. NAHUM i. 3. The Lord is slow to anger.

WITH What astonishment must an angel who has beheld the displays of divine power and holiness, regard worms of the dust contending with Omnipotence, and provoking the infinite justice and purity of God! But with greater wonder, with deeper indignation, must they contemplate ungrateful man, persevering in iniquity, because of the patience and forbearance of God. Yet, alas! this is not an uncommon spectacle to them. Man basely employs the kindness of God as an encouragement to sin. If the Lord were a rigid and inflexible tyrant, causing his fury to flame against transgressors for their first offence, we should tremble before him, and be filled with apprehension at the thought of sinning against him; but because he is "slow to anger, gracious and long-suffering," we sport with his laws, and trample on his authority.

But though the patience of God is thus abused, it is an attribute dear to the believer, and a serious

meditation on it is calculated to promote our holiness. Let us, then, in the ensuing discourse, consider,

I. The nature of this patience, or slowness to anger.

II. Some of the most illustrious manifestations of it.

III. The reasons why God exercises it. And, IV. The effects that the belief and knowledge of it should produce upon our hearts and our lives.

I. The patience of God is that exercise of divine goodness and mercy to the guilty, whereby the Lord defers immediately to inflict the punishment due for their sins, abstains from instantly avenging the insults and outrages offered him by rebels, renews to them the offer of pardon and felicity, and encompasses them with undeserved blessings, to lead them to repentance. This attribute bears different names in the holy scriptures: sometimes it is termed longsuffering, from the period of its continuance; sometimes slowness to anger, from the many provocations which it endures before the divine indignation flames against the guilty; sometimes keeping silence; (Ps. 1. 21.) because the Lord does not, on their first offences, summon the rebels to his bar, accuse, and condemn them.

In every part of the sacred volume, this attribute is presented in terms the most impressive and interesting. It is exhibited as a foundation of hope for the penitent, as an incitement to holiness for the sinner, as a theme of triumph and gratitude for the believer. When the Lord declares his name and shows his glory to Moses, this is one of the perfections which endears Jehovah to him: "long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth." (Exod. xxxiv. 6.)

[blocks in formation]
« ÎnapoiContinuă »