so it is with the Church of Christ. The stream of time bears on the truth before to eternity, and the stream of grace bears on to glory successive they thoroughly generations, while the Church herself, like a river fed by peren- South. nial fountains, remains unchangeable in Christ's immutability, in His immortality immortal.' 16. controversy, without dispute, universally admitted. mystery, of wh. redemption was the historical revealment. godliness, a a "This mystery of the life of God in man is, in fact, the unfolding of Christ to and in him." God.. flesh, who, i.e. Christ, was manifest in the flesh. The great revelation of the religious life is, Christ. A powerful argument for the pre-existence of Christ. justified.. Spirit, "not here the Holy Spirit: evinced to be just in the higher sphere of His divine life."e .. angels, showed himself unto a. preached.. Gentiles, esp. by Paul: as the world's Redeemer. believed.. world," among Jews and others. received. . glory, ref. to ascension [ii. 220; iii. 10]. 66 i seen believe it." b Dr. Guthrie. the mystery of godliness a 1 Jo. iii. 1—3; Col. i. 27. b Alford, who says, "It is not the objective fact of God being manifested, o f wh. the Apos. is speaking, but the life of God lived in the Ch.... as identical (Jo. xiv. 6) with Him who is its centre and heart and stock -88 unfolded once for all in ii. 5-7. d Huther. e Ellicott. Christ, the manifestation of God.-I. The different branches of the "mystery of godliness :"-1. He who assumed our nature was truly and properly Divine. 2. As such, His claims were justified by the Holy Spirit. He was "justified in the Spirit"(1) With regard to the prophets; (2) At His baptism; (3) In the the unfolding of whole of His miracles; (4) In His resurrection; (5) On the day Him." of Pentecost. 3. He was also "seen of angels." 4. He was c Is. ix. 6; Ma. i. 'preached unto the Gentiles." This preaching will appear won- 23; Jo. i. 14; derful if you consider-(1) That the Jews had, for nearly two xiv. 9-11; Ph. thousand years, been God's chosen people; (2) How low the Gentiles were sunk in vice; (3) The unaccommodating nature of Christianity; (4) The preachers. 5. He was "believed on in the world." This belief seems wonderful when you consider-(1) The object-one who was crucified; (2) That it implies the renunciation of self; (3) The persecutions of believers. 6. He was "received up into glory." II. A few lessons of practical improvement, deducible from this subject-1. Was God "manifest in the flesh?" Then expect a complete salvation from, and give all glory to, Him. 2. Was He "justified in the Spirit?" Then give prominence to the doctrine of the Spirit, and spread abroad the truth. 3. Is He "seen of angels?" Then blush, man, for are they awake, and dost thou sleep? 4. Is He "preached unto the Gentiles?" Then let us do all to spread His Word. 5. Is He "believed?" Then let us believe. 6. Is He "received into glory." Then fear not death, for we shall rise. Lu. ii. 9-11; Lu. xxii. 43; Ma. 13; Ma. iv. 11; xxviii. 2; Jo. xx. 12; Ac. i. 10. g Ac. xiii. 46, 48; Ga. ii. 8; Ep. iii. 5-8. Ro. x. 18; Col. i. 27, 28. Lu. xxiv. 51; See Serm. by The incarnation.-Dr. Sewell, in his late tour in Europe, in company with a Unitarian clergyman from New England, paid a visit to the justly celebrated writer of the "History of the Reformation," Merle D'Aubigné. Soon after their introduction, D'Aubigné and Lardner ix. inquired of the clergyman to what denomination of Christians he 460. belonged. With some little hesitancy he replied, that he wask Dr. R. Newton. a Unitarian. A cloud of grief passed over the face of the pious historian, but again all was as before. The hour passed pleasantly, and the moment of parting came. D'Aubigné took the hand of the Unitarian, and fixing a look of great earnestness upon him, said, "I am sorry for your error. Go to your Bible,-study it,pray over it, and light will be given you. God was manifest in the flesh.' "The incarnation discovers to man the greatness of his misery, by the greatness of the remedy required."-Pascal. false teaching a 2 Pe. i. 22; Jo. xvi. 13. b Da. vii. 21; 2 Th. ii. 3, 7; 2 Ti. ii. 18; iii. 13; 2 Pe. iii. 3; 1 Jo. ii. 18; Jude 4; 2 Co. xi. 13, 14. See on the Essenes, Jos. Wars, ii. S. 13. As he ought to to a common CHAPTER THE FOURTH. a 1-3. expressly, clearly. seducing, deceiving. of devils, suggested, taught by d. speaking, in the hypocrisy of the speakers of lies. having.. iron, being branded on their conscience. forbidding, etc., false asceticism, as now the Papists. which God, etc., a suf. refutation of the error. Apostasy foretold.-I. The apostasy of a considerable part of the Church in the latter times was foretold long before the event -Daniel (xi. 27, 28)-Paul. II. The cause of this apostasygiving heed to seducing spirits. III. The persons revolting-not the whole Church, but a large part of it. IV. The authors of this defection. V. Their doctrines.c A monk confounded.-It is a fact generally known, that whensuffer the greater ever the Roman Catholics put the Protestants to death, they punishment who employed one of their preachers to show the propriety of their throws poison in- conduct. On one occasion, John Cadurcus, a licentiate in law, well, where all suffered for the truth at Limorges, in France. The monk who men draw water; had been appointed to preach gave out for his text, 1 Ti. iv. 1: so offend they "In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed most, and are to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." Cadurcus, on with all extremity to be tormented, hearing this, cried out, "Go on to the next words-the words who corrupt the immediately following! On which the monk stood confounded, public mind by and the condemned man proceeded: "If you do not go on I will. false teaching. It follows: Speaking lies in hypocrisy: having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats;'" and he then enlarged on the words to the assembled multitude. He afterwards suffered death with constancy. c W. Burkitt, M.A. the creatures of God a Ro. xiv. 14; 1 Co. x. 30, 31. See Serm. v. ad Popu. by Bp. Sanderson. The author of the so often sung on public religious occasions, one before meat ("Be graces, which are 4, 5. every.. good,a everything He has designed for food. refused, refused on superstitious grounds. if.. thanksgiving, and used wisely. sanctified, made holy. by.. prayer, he who seeks God's blessing upon his food will not abuse (i.e., by not using at all, or by over-use) the good creatures of God. God's creatures, good for man.-I. The quality of God's creatures-good: 1. All His creatures are good; 2. From the goodness of the least creature, guess we at the excellent goodness of the Creator; 3. Even men, who find so much fault, acknowledge that these are good. II. Their use-for the food of man. III. The tribute of thanks we owe to God for the free use of His good present at our creatures. Giving thanks for mercies is an act of-1. Justice; 2. table, Lord," etc.), Religion." and the other Use and abuse of worldly things.—If you would use the world as after meat ("We not abusing it, consider, that in abusing the things of the world bless Thee, Lord, for this our you do pervert the end of God in giving you the things of the food"), was the world; for the end that God aims at is, that every creature should Rev. John Cen- lead you to the Creator, that thereby you may the more admire nick, a minister of the last cent. His goodness, and advance His praise and glory. He looks that b Bp. Sanderson. every blessing He bestows upon you should be as a perspective glass, through which you may have a clearer sight and view of Queen Elizabeth once said to a Himself, though you are at a great distance from Him. In 1 Ti. courtier, "They iv. 4, "Every creature of God is good, and to be received with pass best over the thanksgiving." As doves, every grain they pick, look upward, so world who trip should Christians; and therefore, if thou dost abuse any of His creatures, thou dost pervert the end of the Most High. God did ordain food for thy use, to satisfy thy hunger, and not to feed thy gluttony. He gave thee drink to extinguish thy thirst, and not to provoke thee to drunkenness. God gave thee apparel to cover thy nakedness, and to keep thee warm, and not to be an instrument of pride in thee, and so of any other comfort.c over it quickly; for it is but a we sink." bog: if we stop, c Chris. Love. the sacrifices, to be by God's com else the Lord would not allow them; so, unless we be seasoned with the salt of true godliness, we, and all our doings, shall be unsavoury to the 6, 7. these things,a vv. 4, 5. thou.. Christ, faithfully a good minister discharge thy duties as one. nourished, etc., the teacher's own nourishment is closely related to his fidelity. While expounding a 2 Pe. i. 12-15. to others, he applies to himself. fables, as silly, foolish stories, "Before ab. saints, relics, vestments, etc., vain as the garrulous talk of coming of Christ, old women. and.. godliness, give yourself to such studies acceptable, were, and labours as will promote personal holiness. The true ministry.-I. God has never left the Church without mand, to be seatrue ministers. II. The true minister feels an irresistible impulse soned with salt, to the announcement of the great truths of Christianity. III. The true minister ever exalts Christ, as the one only living and Divine Saviour. IV. All true ministers will not secure the same kind, or the same extent, of success. Learn:-There are two things which ought not to be expected of a minister: 1. Uniform brilliance and power of address; 2. Universality of literary entertainment. False ministers.-To a saint who was praying, the evil spirit Lord."-Cawdray. showed himself radiant with royal robes, and crowned with a jewelled diadem, and said, "I am Christ; I am descending on the earth; and I desired first to manifest myself to thee." The saint kept silence, and looked, and then said, "I will not believe that Christ is come, save in that state and form in which He suffered,-save with the marks of the wounds of the cross." And the false apparition vanished. The application is this: dains the folly of comes not in pride of intellect, or reputation for ability. These attempting to are the glittering robes in which Satan is now arraying. Many reinforce the respirits are abroad, more are issuing from the pit: the credentials ligion of the which they display are the precious gifts of mind, beauty, richness, tics of the mind." depth, originality. Christian, look hard at them, with the saint-Croly. in silence, and ask them for the print of the nails.c Christ b Dr. Parker. "Christianity has no cere monial. It has forms, for forms are essential to order; but it dis heart by the an c Dr. Howson. 8, 9. for.. exercise, a bodily training, whether gymnastic or bodily ascetic ritualistic genuflexions, and other such carnal nonsense. exercise profiteth little, is of only a very small advantage. godliness," a 1 Co. viii. 8; piety, spiritual religion. is.. things, of advantage for body and soul, for time and eternity. life," the highest blessedness of the creature." this, etc., see on i. 15. Col. ii. 23. Ps. xxxvii. 4; lxxxiv. 11. c Ma. vi. 33; xix. d Dr. J. Burns. Godliness.-I. What godliness is: 1. The knowledge of God in the mind; 2. The grace of God in the soul; 3. The love of God in the heart; 4. Obedience to God in the life. II. Its universal advantages. "All things" refers to-1. The life that now is. (1) It tends to a healthy life; (2) It materially prolongs life; (3) It sweetens it; (4) It prospers it; (5) It blesses it. 2. The life to come: it secures (1) A home in that life; (2) A title to it; (3) A meetness for it; (4) The absolute promise. Conclusion: that a man un(1) What can ungodliness propose? (2) What can the form of practised stood godliness offer? (3) What does godliness give ?-every good." in need to enterA waxwork exhibition.-A gentleman once entered a hall with tain both a danchis son. They saw a number of well-dressed people,-some of ing master and a them standing together in groups, others apart; some sitting in . Several of our various postures. The son's attention was fixed by a pleasant-Churches did remembrancer. way, and, from a thereby frequent-looking gentleman, somewhat gaudily dressed. He said, "Father, ly mistake their who is that gentleman? He seems a mild, pleasant-looking Popish kind of person; but what a singular dress he wears! Who is he?" "Ask worship, fell into the gentleman who stands near you," said the father. "If you the Roman re- please, sir, can you inform me who that gentleman opposite is?" ligion."-A. Mar- No answer. The boy thinks it strange. At last, the father tells him, "My son, those are only wax figures; there is no life in Remains, 193, them; they are all outside,-very fair to look at, but there is no and Lardner, ix. soul, no life; they are outside,-and nothing else." So it is with those who have no internal religion. vell. 496. the Saviour of all men 10, 11. therefore, in ref. to that prom. v. 8. reproach," fr. those who do not understand our spirit and purpose. because a 1 Co. iv. 11, 12;.. God, and hence act upon plans of a dif. nature fr. those of this He. xi. 24-26; 1 world. Saviour. . believe," He saves, or preserves, all men in Ti. vi. 17; Ps.cvii. this life; but those who believe he saves with a special salvation b Jo. i. 29; 2 Co. even to the extent of the life to come. command, enforce. teach, explain. v. 15. bears the pearl, exalts the e c Dr. J. Barrow. "Because she Christ, the Saviour of all men.-He is the Saviour of all men: that makes the I. By having induced God to be thoroughly reconciled to manoyster sore:-casting away His wrath-and conceiving a kind affection for him. Be thankful for II. By satisfying the Divine justice, and vindicating God's honour. the pain that but III. By having transacted and ratified a new covenant, in man's more."-Ruckert. behalf, very necessary for, and very conducible to, the salvation of mankind. IV. By having purchased and procured for them com"On such a theme petent aids, whereby they are enabled to perform the conditions 'twere impious to required of them in order to their salvation.c be calm; passion On repeating sermons.-A poor, juiceless sermon should never is reason, tran- be preached the first time; but a nutritious, savoury discourse sport temper here."-Young. be made all the better on a second delivery. Dr. Addison may Alexander preached his glorious sermon on the "Faithful Saying," "He is the best until he wore out the manuscript; and Dr. Griffin repeated his most livelily and elaborate discourse on the "Worth of the Soul" ninety times. powerfully dis- He never wearied of it; nor did his audience either. His congreplay Jesus Christ before the people, gations change constantly, and memories are leaky. A first-rate evidently setting practical sermon ought to be repeated (with extempore improveHim forth as ments) about once in five years. Fewer sermons and richer should crucified among be a settled pastor's aim. Whitefield attained great finish and them."-Flavel. power by giving the same discourse over again through all his missionary tours.d artist that can d T. L. Cuyler. minister's duties a Hammond. d 12–14. let . . youth, “let the gravity of thy life supply the want of years." a word, teaching, conversation. conversation, conduct. charity.. faith, faith and love the springs of conduct. give.. reading, i.e., the public reading of O. T. and N. T.e Scriptures. exhortation, public. doctrine, private. gift, of preaching and teaching. which.. prophecy, by v. 22, 23. means of prophecy. with.. presbytery, the body of elders d2 Ti. i. 6; 1 Co. in the Ch. where Tim. was ordained. xiv. 12. b 1 Co. xi. 1; 1 Pe. v. 3: 2 Co. vi. Col. iv. 6; Ga. 4-6; Tit. ii. 7. e Col. iv. 16; 1 Th. v. 27. Ac. vi. 6; viii. 17; xiii. 3; xix. 6. g J. M. Freeman. "Oh, study not only to preach Give attendance to reading.-I. Why should we read? 1. We shall thus get wiser; 2. By it we can become better. II. When? 1. Have a regular time, if possible; 2. Improve the spare moments. III. What?-only that which is good. IV. Where? In most places. V. How? 1. Not too much at once; 2. Understand what you read.s exactly, but to Unfaithfulness of ministers.—A dying nobleman sent for the live exactly! Let clergyman whose ministry he had attended, and said to him, in "Do you know that my life has been licentious? Yet you have the misplacing of action never warned me of my danger." With some hesitation, the one, your lives trouble clergyman replied, "Yes, my lord: your manner of living was you more than not unknown to me; but your kindness and my fear of offending the misplacing of you deterred me from reproving you."-"How cruel! how wicked!" said the dying man. "The provision I made for you and your family ought to have induced care and fidelity. You have neglected to warn and instruct me; and now my soul is lost." These were the last words of one whose case is too often paralleled. words in your is the way to succeed in your embassy, and give up your account with joy."-Flavel. discourses. This 15, 16. meditate.. them," "practise these things, exercise take heed to thyself in these things;" i.e., those of vv. 12, 13. profiting, thyself progress. take.. thyself, conduct. doctrine, thy subject a Ac. vi. 4; xx of preaching, etc. continue, persevere. for..this, taking 23, 24; Ph. i. 21. heed and persevering. b Ellicott. The devoted pastor.-I. The truths to be investigated are too c Ac. xx. 28. vast and profound to be appreciated by a mind distracted with a Ez. xxxiii. 9; other and contending interests. II. The public and active duties Da. xii. 3; Ja. v of the ministry require entire devotion to the work. III. The 20. variety of dispositions and characters of persons to be conciliated, "There are men SO holy, that requires a knowledge, not only of the prominent features, but of their very chathe minute shades of human nature, a knowledge attained only racter is suffiby close observation, deep reflection, and long experience. IV. cient to perAs a minister would hope for success, let him give himself wholly suade. They to his work. V. The remembrance of what Christ has endured should incite us to this. VI. Consider also the infinite consequences connected with the ministry.e appear, and the whole assembly which is to hear them is, as it were, already impressed and convinced by the e S. Woodbridge. As stewards let The serious work of the ministry.—A soldier had his limb amputated near his body. The veins had been taken up, and he seemed to be doing well. Suddenly, in dressing his wounds, their presence. The discourse blood began to flow. The nurse placed his thumb on the vein, which they deand sent for a physician, who, on entering his room, said, "It is liver does well, my brave fellow, that this is not a large artery. I can take rest.”—La Bruthis up." Soon, however, the blood flowed more freely than be- yère. fore: the nurse placed his thumb upon the large artery, and sent for the physician. Examination showed that to remove the thumb was death; and so the brave soldier began to make preparations for death. Three hours were spent in sending messages to loved ones, and arranging his effects. Then he said, Now, kind nurse, you can take off your thumb. I must go. Farewell." Here came the severe trial of the nurse. How could he lift his finger under such circumstances? The accumulated blood, however, rendered it difficult to hold the artery; so, turning his eyes master's eye."from the soldier, he lifted his thumb, and in three minutes death Milton. had done its work. Such the responsibility the Christian minister feels when he thinks that upon his words may rest the issues of life. in us feel our rebeing entrusted sponsibility with the rich treasure of God's word. "As ever in my great Task CHAPTER THE FIFTH. 1, 2. elder,a i.e., an elderly man. but.. father, respect his age. and.. brethren, be brotherly, kind. purity, of purpose, manner, speech. Reverence of old age." Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God" (Le. xix. 32). God hath put a signal honour upon it by styling regard for the aged a Le. xix. 32. "I am much beholden to old age, |
