to establish his kingdom. Whoever may defpife your meffage, leave them not till you have folemnly warned them of their fin and danger; fince aggravated ruin will come upon them, for their contempt of mercy. The curfe of an incensed God awaits the inhabitants of those cities, which have fcornfully rejected my miniftry; and, however exalted their privileges have been, they fhall finally perish with a much more tremendous deftruction, than even thofe abandoned places, Sodom, Tyre, and Sidon, which have already felt the weight of divine vengeance. Thus, alia, I fhall confider myself, and my Almighty Father likewife, either as regarded or contemned by the perfons, among whom you fhall difcharge your embafly; and upon their conduct towards you their everlasting falvation or perdition will depend.' What eager folicitude, what a generous concern did Jefus difcover for the welfare of mankind! What various methods he devised, to fave immortal fouls! He fent out, we obferve, a numerous company of harbingers and heralds, proclaiming pardon and peace; and he himself took one laborious journey after another, for the fame benevolent purpose. Nor was his love lefs confpicuous, when he warned the defpifers of his Gofpel, that the most tremendous woes were coming upon them; for he poured out his heart in deep diftrefs on their account. Still he prefides as Head over his Church; and still, with a view to refcue finners from eternal mifery, he raises up and employs many ambaffadors in his fervice, to whom he "commits the word of reconciliation." And, as it feems most probable, that he will promote the cause of truth and righteoufnefs in the earth by means of faithful and evangelical minifters, we fhould unite our prayers to him for their increase, that by their teftimony his name may be declared from town to town, and from one kingdom to another. Where he fends his meffengers, we are encouraged to hope, that that he himself will foon appear, for the advancement of his own glory. Yes; he will be prefent with them, to fupport and to proper them in their arduous and important work. He has promifed, "Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world *.” We would, therefore, entreat thofe, among whom this proclamation of mercy is made, to confider, how much depends upon it." It is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life +." If it be not effectual to fave you, it will aggravate your condemnation. Thofe, who watch for your fouls," will finally witnefs either for you or against you, according to your reception of them. They are the reprefentatives of their adorable Lord and Mafter, who will fhortly arife to vindicate his own caufe: and how will you meet him, if you treat his gracious proposals with fcorn or indifference? The feventy difciples returned to Jefus, perhaps about the feaft of tabernacles, with an account of their miniftry. They appeared to be elated, as having fucceeded beyond their expectation, and expreffed their grateful furprise, because the very devils were fubject to them, as if nothing, from that time, fhould be able to ftand against them. Jesus himself, alfo, triumphed in the downfal of Satan, not only as approving the punishment inflicted on him for his original apoftafy, but as foreseeing the ruin of his intereft and kingdom in this world to be approaching. He promifed, therefore, to confirm to his difciples the miraculous powers, which they had exercifed, and to fupport them against every fnare and danger. But, left they fhould "be exalted above measure" through their distinguished privileges, he reminded them, that thefe were comparatively of little worth, and that it was a far greater caufe of thankfuluefs and joy to be admitted into the family of God, and enrolled among xxviii. 20. + Deut. xxxii. 47. the the heirs of heaven, than to possess an absolute dominion over the infernal fpirits. On that occafion, the Saviour exulted in his heart, and broke forth into expreffions of grateful fatisfaction, from the profpect of what thefe feeble inftruments fhould accomplish, though oppofed by perfons of confummate wifdom and prudence. But how profound the mystery! Salvation is revealed to those, who are weak and of as little account, as babes, while men of admired abilities and high rank in life remain in ignorance and contempt of it. In this infcrutable difpenfation, Jefus acquiefced and rejoiced. The Lord God is a righteous Sovereign; and, under a full conviction of his equity, we should fubmit im- · plicitly to his appointments, though we fee not the reasons of them. It fhould fuffice us, that "so it feemed good in his fight." Jefus took that opportunity, alfo, to direct the regard of his difciples to himself, as united with the Father in the grand economy of grace, as poffeffing an extent of power and understanding, far beyond the reach of any creature, and as the only One, who can declare the nature and will of God. Then likewife, to excite their thankfulness for being acquainted with him, he congratulated them, apart from the reft, because they were favoured with higher privileges and clearer difcernment in divine things, than many of the moft eminent characters in old times, prophets and kings, who were beloved of God. And are not our obligations immense, if we "have obtained like precious faith," and can on folid ground conclude, that our CC names are written in the book of life?" For, "how great things hath God done for us!" We need not envy thofe, who were invested even with the apoftolical commiffion and miraculous powers. That grace, which is infinitely more valuable, is bestowed upon us. Our diftinguished felicity appears the more remarkable, when we obferve VOL. III. R that that many are tellure of, was in every other refor are far uc ances love is. Are we the tabes," to von Sed - må revcd mdē mags?” The raka zut ce fought, act in us, but in 1.5 unfearch20s cames. Suri T in the contemplation of this merry, we thall cry out win wonder, love, and Prats, Even , Fa anter, for & it kened good in Let us alfo pray for dick, who are yet in darkness, that they may partake of our happiness, by being " called into marvelous light:" that fo their eyes may be bletted, in benoiding the glory and excellency of our Redeemer. During fome part of cur Lord's address to the feventy upon their return, it fhould feem that he was furrounded by a large company. Among the reft was a certain lawyer (one of thofe wao ftudied and expounded the law of Motes), who came forward with much felf.confequence and fecret contempt of Jefus, and propofed a question to him, profeffing regard, but defigning to involve him in a difficulty. He begged to be informed, what he must do, for the attainment of eternal life. The fubject is indeed important above all others; and, had the information been asked with an humble, teachable disposition, Jefus would not have refufed a direct and explicit anfwer. But, as he knew the proud and captious temper of the man, he replied in a way, which might tend to humble or filence him. He referred him to the demands of the law (upon his obedience to which the Scribe placed his dependence), affuring him, that an entire compliance with those claims, of perfect love both to God and man, would entitle him to the bleffedness of heaven, as the juft recompense of his deeds; "This do, and thou fhalt live:" as if he had faid, "Perform, in their utmost extent, without diminution or interruption, all the injunctions of God's righteous commands, and a fure and everlasting reward will await await thee: but the leaft deviation or defect will expofe thee to condemnation *.” In the fame manner it may be proper to treat all fuch perfons, as value themselves on their fuppofed goodness. This method feems calculated to convince them of their ignorance and prefumption; fo that the law may serve as a schoolmaster to bring them unto Chrift, that they may be justified by faith t." We afk, if your hopes are built on your own duties, are you aware, how much is required of you? Have you never failed of loving God fupremely and fervently, with all your heart, foul, ftrength, and mind; or your neighbour as yourselves? If these difpofitions have had their conftant and full influence upon you, from your earliest moments to this present hour, you need not implore mercy, or be indebted to the Saviour: on the ground of juftice, according to "the law of works," you may expect and even claim eternal life. But does not this, very reprefentation awaken your fears, rather than flatter your pride, or confirm your vain confidence? What effect was produced upon the Scribe? He was neither humbled nor filenced; but, ftill defirous to ftand upon his own defence, and perhaps in order to evade conviction, he propofed another queftion, "Who is my neighbour?" From this circumftance our Lord took occafion to confute the erroneous notion, then generally prevalent, that neighbours included only particular friends, and fuch as were fituated near to each other, or connected by the bonds of kindred or religion. The fenfe of the law was confined within a narrow compass, while it was thought, that perfons of this defcription only have any claim upon our benevolence. But Jefus fhewed, that we are indispensably required to extend our utmost kindnefs to all our fellow-creatures in diftrefs, of what * See Gal. iii. 10-13. † 24. R 2 ever |
