who lived in the metropolis of the world, the seat of honor and of power, and had constant opportunity of observing how the mighty and the noble despised the doctrines of the cross.

the common opinion that this is a very evil world. While they soothe themselves, they condemn the world around them, and although delighted with their own vices, they dread the His firmness in the faith was iniquity of others. Half the exnot from party spirit, not from ertions of mankind are to repride to distinguish himself as press this common principle, a leader in a new religion, or to this universal practice of sinanswer any private purposes of ning. For this the parent is, his own; but from the benefits obliged to commence a watchhe found in Christianity, which ful and rigorous government, lay as open to all mankind, to even in the earliest stages of the receive whether Jews or Gen- child's life, lest its principles titles, as they did to him. To should prove a scourge to manevery one that believeth, what- kind. For this all the restraints ever his workdly condition may of society are imposed. Laws be, whether rich or poor, mean are ordained, penalties are anor honorable, the gospel is the nexed, judges are appointed, the power of God to salvation executors of justice are girded When we attend to the nature with the sword, and an infinite of this salvation we shall find it variety of punishments are ingreat and extensive, delivering flicted; and all this to prevent those who believe from every sin.-Public systems of defence evil, and bringing them to the are organized, that thereby on enjoyment of all possible good; nation may be protected against also that it is made sure by the the sin of others. For the save mighty power of God to every end, are all those institutions or one who receiveth it by faith.- moral instruction which are dpOf such a gospel, which offered ported by mankind. All yese all good to himself and to all his means, aided by the terror of miserable fellow men who should the divi Jaw, have been ford receive it, the apostle had no ineffectual to remove sin from need to be ashamed. The fala single heart. The most they ness and sufficiency of the gos-have done is to lay it under some pel appears from many consid-restraint, and prevent part of the erations. I takes away sin.-external violence with which the That sie naturally reigns thro' all the race of men,-that it is found in every age, in every place, and in every heart, is both affirmed in the word of God, and demonstrated by experience. The history of the world, is little beside an account of the nature, effects and general influence of sin, and though many are disposed to justify themselves, we find them agreeing in

earth would otherwise have been filled. Neither the exhortations, instructions and authority of men; nor the law of an Almighty God and its awful terrors have ever sanctified the heart of a sinner. It is the gospel alone, received by faith, and effectually applied to the heart, which takes away the reigning power and exercise of sin.

While the law instructs it al

1

1809.]

for the Happiness of Men.

so condemns, and leaves men | evil to others, so it leaves an with hearts opposed to their du- afflicting sense of guilt on the ty; but the gospel when effectu- mind of the sinner himself.→ ally applied produces reconcilia- Guilt is a liableness to punishtion to the holy lawgiver, to his ment: A sense of guilt is a congovernment, and to moral duty.sciousness of being thus exThe Spirit of Christ changes posed, accompanied with rethe heart, giving a new princi- morse and terror. This sense ple of moral action, new affec-of guilt is so intimately contions, new delights, and new nected with sin, that there are hopes, which issue in newness perhaps none of the human race, of life and a holy conversation: who have not felt and endeavorand although this renovation be ed to free themselves from its not perfect in its beginning, it power. Perseverance and even progressively increases,and there boldness in sinning is no eviis a promise which cannot fail, dence that men do not feel that almighty power shall com- guilty, for such is their love of plete the salvation. Divine pow-transgression, that in innumeer and grace in the gospel take rable instances, they will with the evil where it exists, and re-open eyes increase their guilt; move it by renewing the heart; while all human means which can be used, all instruction which can be given, all the warnings and terrors, which can be denounced, do but restrain the streams. How unwise are such as reject the gospel! Even those who love sin in themselves are obliged to allow that it is dangerous in others, and are ready to unite in means to prevent its reigning influence in the world: After all possible endeavors, they do but restrain the effects and not remove the cause. This gospel which is despised by so many of the wise and the noble of this world, is the only remedy for sin. It does that which human instruction, intreaties, warn-guilty creatures, although it be ings and punishment, cannot do. felt at some times more sensibly, When received in the heart, it and by some persons more than removes that which makes men by others. a mutual terror to each other, and which destroys the world.

The gospel when received by faith and effectually applied to the heart, takes away the fearful guilt of sin. As sin produces

they will sin against conscience; they will sin with a knowledge that it must bring a greater burden on their consciences. If there be any who say they are not conscious of guilt, they are mistaken in the state of their own minds, for wherever there is fear and alarming apprehensions there is guilt, and there are none who have not some kind or some degree of these. "Perfect love casteth out fear." Perfect moral rectitude, would deliver the mind from all fearful and disquieting apprehensions either concerning our present condition or things to come.We must determine thatall men, are in their own apprehensions

How immense! how ineffectual the labors of men to free themselves from this sense of guilt! As it is like a gnawing worm, they are constantly endeavoring to allay the pain of the

bite. For this a multitude of ceiving Christ, are entitled to the benefits of his righteousness; they see God glorified in the gospel and the mediation of his Son; his justice honored; his law magnified; his govern ment supported, and a way opened for the exercise of grace to the most guilty sinners. In addition to a doctrinal view of the manner in which the guilt of sin is forgiven, they feel the

means are used, but the end attempted is the same. Some attempt it by plunging so deep and so incessantly into sensual dissipation as to leave no leisure for reflection: Some by reasoning against truth, and the very existence of moral obligation Some by endeavoring wholly to hide, and others to reject just notions of the divine character, law and government: Some at-love of God shed abroad into tempt this by openly increasing their hearts, so that they can ap all manner of sin, and others proach him as a reconciled faby creating or artfully ascribing ther; his people have joy and the worst actions, to the purest peace in believing; the joy of motives. To answer the same delighting in God and the peace end we see the moralist paying of forgiveness in this manner attention to certain external ser- the gospel is the power of God vices and ceremonies, while he to remove a sense of guilt. omits the more important duties of a humble, believing, penitent and pure heart: The rigid opinionist endeavoring to cleanse his conscience by the precise correctness of his sentiments: The ignorant devotee to remove guilt by self-imposed penances, and others by an apprehension of universal mercy in God.-All these things show the difficulty of removing a consciousness of guilt, and the impossibility of doing it by human means. The gospel alone can remove guilt, and the consciousness of it which afflicts men, and for these purposes it is the power of God unto salvation.

The gospel, also, takes away the guilt of sin, by justifying the believer through the righteousness of Christ, and thus his conscience is cleansed from dead or sinful works, and the fearful apprehensions of suffering the vengeance, which is justly due to sin.

Those who believe, by re

The gospel received by faith and effectually applied to the heart, is a remedy for the un happiness of human life. Sin is the fountain from which all unhappiness flows, and if this can be dried up,the streams of course must cease. Guilt is a cause of much unhappiness, and we have already seen how the gospel is the power of God for its removal. It also removes those evil passions of the mind which precipitate men into trouble and disappointment; and that unqualified and unreasonable love of the creatures which is the cause of much sorrow, and many climes : It restores the influence of reason over the affections, so that objects are estimated according to their true value: It withdraws the heart from unworthy objects, and so regulates the appetites, that they become conducive to the perfection of both body and mind: It leads to fidelity, in the services we owe to God and to men, whereby it is pleasing

to contemplate ourselves the subjects of a holy kingdom, and to perform the duties which are incumbent on us in society: It removes that impatient spirit under the divine government, which is to many a constant source of unhappiness: It gives submission under avoidable evils, whether they are directly inflicted by a holy Providence, or happen through the instrumentality of men. The Christian spirit converts our troubles into evident blessings by making them the means of correcting our evil dispositions and meetening us for a better inheritance. If there be pains, if there be sorrows, which through the appointment of infinite wisdom must be endured, Christian piety furnishes a support by which the mind is upheld, and can rejoice in God, and his providence, under every adversity.

which is enjoyed by a humble and sincere Christian, as he passes through the world. The comforts of faith and divine enjoyment are superior both in their nature and fulness to the pleasures of sense: Also, these last are always followed with some alloy, some sting, some sense of dissatisfaction, while the comforts of religion have no bitter consequences. Give to a man all which the world contains; let him make the most full use of it which his reason can teach, and he will still be discontented,finding the world too small a portion, and his desires spreading beyond the sphere of mortal things. But give him the enjoyments of a life of faith and godliness, and these will make him contented with his condition.Set before him the moral glory of God as it is enjoyed by a true Christian, and his desires will be satisfied in the infinite object. Experience will teach him that the good is sufficient for the utmost enjoyment he can ever need, being in its kind the most pure and dignified that can be, and in its fulness infinite; so that let his desires increase through eternity, there arc glories in the object to satisfy them. Perfect contentment is the most happy state in which the mind can be placed. Satisfaction in the enjoyment of God will give contentment with his law, and government which dis

The gospel received by faith, and effectually applied to the heart, gives a happiness while we live in the world infinitely superior to what reason alone can discover, or sense can administer by any earthly enjoyments. Happiness is the common pursuit of mankind. For this they are reasoning, inquiring, laboring, indulging their appetites, and engrossing to themselves every possible worldly advantage. There are various kinds of worldly and sensual pleasure, all of which are in their nature different from the happi-poses the state of all things. ness of Christianity, and it is only a few of these which any one person can expect to obtain to any considerable degree; but if they were all possessed by any one, the amount would be to him far less than the happiness

Give to a man the whole world; still, it will not command his trust and dependence. He will still be afraid, and conscious that some other protection is necessary; especially, this will happen when dangers

are in prospect, or even when this world,who despised the gosthey are contemplated as possi-pel, were agitated with opinions, ble. But let him be reconciled doubts and fears, he could reto God through the gospel, hejoice in a sure and certain hope will trust and depend on him of life and glory to come. In with a sense of perfect safety. the Christian revelation, the eviWhile faith and love are in ex-dence of immortality and a gloercise, fear will be cast out, andrious life for the people of God the soul find a foundation of is complete. The immortality power, wisdom and goodness, of the soul, after the body hath on which its most secure depend- died, and the purpose of God to ence may be placed; so that raise the bodies of the dead, are neither the prospect nor con-made certain by promise; the templation of any worldly evils, invisible world, its employments, great and numerous as they are, and the state and condition of will produce an alarm. "He creatures opened to our knowthat trusteth in the Lord is safe," ledge; and the resurrection and and feels the security of his con- ascension of Jesus, is the high dition. Happiness is annexed evidence of the event. He, as to every Christian grace, and to the head of his people, hath every Christian, duty there is taken possession of the purchafound by experience to be a re-sed inheritance. ward. Christian piety affords to the people of God, while they live in the world, a happiness superior to what reason alone can discover. It also anticipates a blessed life to come.

The gospel received and effectually applied to the heart, by faith, takes away the fear of death. That death hath been the common terror of mankind is too plain to need any proof.Further, The gospel brings It is no mark either of true life and immortality to light. courage or strength of reason A future state, a life beyond the to speak lightly of death. The grave, to men without the gos- most wise have considered it as pel, is matter of conjecture.- an evil of human nature, and if Left to the mere information of some the most heroic, have met reason some may believe, and it calmly on natural principles, others disbelieve; but neither and without a hope in the gospel, have a sure foundation for their it was from its being unavoidaopinion. Some may hope, think-ble, and not because in itself it ing it will be best for themselves; is not an evil. And why to those others, through guilt and a con- who have not a hope in the gossciousness of deserving punish- pel doth it appear a curse and a ment, may dread it, while both mighty evil? Because it removes are in a miserable uncertainty. them from this world in which The gospel of Christ places this are the objects of their pleasure important point beyond doubt. and hope; because without faith An apostle was so far from being in the Christian revelation, they ashamed, that he triumphed in are uncertain of existence herethe gospel as the means of as- after; but most commonly and suring him of immortality.-principally, because they are sinWhile the wise philosophers of ful and guilty creatures. Sia