against every foe. Here was Peter's error. He rashly rushed into danger, although Christ had obtained permission for him and the other disciples to depart. And again, when in the conflict, Peter did not, as he should have done, look to heaven for aid, but presumptuously relied on his own strength; and how dreadful was the result ! Let every self-sufficient Christian, ignorant of his weakness, profit by the experience of an apostle. From Peter's restoration may be learnt something of the nature of true repentance. "The Lord turned and looked upon Peter." "And Peter went out and wept bitterly." This look of our Lord carried conviction to his heart. It conveyed feelings too big for utterance. No words could have been equally expressive; no eloquence so powerful. The rays of love and intelligence divine that beamed from his Master's eyes; the marks of suffering innocence exhibited in His countenance; the look that said, Peter! my sworn, my often avowed friend! hast thou also forsaken me?-these were too much for this generous, though fallen disciple.His heart breaking within him, he leaves his Lord's presence; but unable to quit him entirely, he stands without, and there, sheds floods of tears. He has come to himself. He is now a penitent transgressor; a returning backslider; a humble suppliant for forgiveness. He realizes his guilt. While we hear nothing of the punishment to which he thought himself exposed; he sorrows mainly because he has sinned against so much goodness, and so much excellence; and that too, after he had been warned of his danger. This is to some degree the case with every true penitent. He grieves most because he has sinned against so good a Being,-so kind a Father; so bountiful a Benefactor. He ingenuously confesses his sins without disguise and without palliation, and, like Peter, produces fruits "meet for repentance." He cannot rest till his peace with God is sealed. He wrestles with him for forgiveness. Such conduct awakens our tenderest sympathies. There is something in ingenuous penitence, which endears the subject of it to us. Excellencies of character are then unfolded, which could otherwise never have been discovered. Further; we can hardly imagine a more striking exhibition of the Love of Christ to the heirs of salvation, than is furnished by his dealings with this disciple. Although Peter forsook Him at a season, when above all others he should have proved most constant; yet he was preserved from final apostacy. The greatness of the love and grace which restored Peter will be more distinctly perceived; if we recollect the aggravating circumstances, which attended his denial of his Lord and Master. Christ had previously shewn Peter marks of peculiar favour. He often during his ministry staid at his house. This disciple with two others were the only ones of the eleven who were permitted to witness the interesting scenes that transpired upon Mount Tabor and in the garden of Gethsemane. He and John were entrusted with the whole preparation of the ordinance of the supper at its first institution. Christ had also styled Peter, "the rock" upon which he would build his church, denoting thereby this disciple's great instrumentality in establishing the Gospel of Peace. Again; Peter knew that the Lord Jesus had made his case the subject of particular prayer: "Simon, Simon, behold! Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” Christ had also in the fullest and most direct terms forewarned him of the approaching danger. And Peter had in terms as full and as unqualified, time after time, protested his faithfulness: "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." But when the moment arrived which tried his fidelity to Christ, he did deny him, again and again repeating "I know not the man," and endeavoured to confirm the declaration by adding oath to oath. Oh! the depth of the depravity of man, even when most sanctified. The time too of his denial, greatly aggravated his guilt. It was at the awfully interesting season, when his Master was about to redeem his soul from eternal perdition by suffering the accursed death of the cross. Under such aggravating circumstances, how inconceivably great then, was the Love which welcomed this returning backslider to the bosom, which he had pierced by his ungrateful desertion. But Christ did not merely pardon Peter: He restored him to his confidence.-Afterwards, Peter was the chosen one of the disciples, to whom Jesus first appeared subsequently to his resurrection. This frail believer was made the great instrument in introducing and establishing the Christian Church. After our Lord's ascension, he was the first who was permitted to preach to his own countrymen the then completed way of salvation through a crucified Redeemer. By being divinely sent to Cornelius, he was also permitted first to unfold the doors of the sanctuary to the Gentile world, and to publish to them the joyful intelligence that pardon and acceptance were without distinction offered to all our race. How great, therefore, is the love of Christ shewn to be in his pardoning Peter, and also in his making even this frail erring disciple the grand instrument in the first introduction of the religion of the gospel. From this we also naturally infer that the continuance, as well as the estabFishment of the Christian Church, is not of man. Flesh and blood are indeed made instrumental-the sacred "treasure" is indeed deposited "in earthen vessels"; but it is only "that the excellency of the power may" thus be seen to "he of God." I cannot refrain from observing, in conclusion, that the example of Peter is to every believer, a warning voice, lest he also bring upon himself the guilt of denying his Lord and Master. This we can all do, although not in the same manner and under the same circumstances, in which Peter denied him, because Christ will not be again arraigned before a tribunal of justice. The season of his humiliation is finished. Our once persecuted and crucified Lord is now exalted to an equal throne of glory on His Father's right hand. The era of martyrdom too is past. The disciples of Jesus are no longer in danger of being obliged to pour out their blood in testimony of their adherence to the truth. This temptation, the fear of death,-cannot then be now alleged in excuse by those who in their conduct deny the Lord Jesus; and therefore their guilt is the more aggravated. There are, however, many ways yet remaining, in which we can all in effect deny Christ. The minister of the Lord Jesus, who wrests the scriptures from their true meaning-who handles the word of God deceitfully, and thus ensnares the souls of his hearers, virtually denies His Lord, and heaps aggravated condemnation upon his own head. The professor of religion who does not observe the ordinances of God's house-who does not sanctify the Sabbath-who does not statedly and with proper feelings commemorate the dying love of the Lord; every such professor virtually denies him. So does he who knowingly violates any precept of Christ. And so also does every believer, who does not crucify his ungodly passions, or does not uniformly exhibit the spirit of christianity, or does not forsake every evil way and aim at universal obedience to all that is required in the word of God. So likewise, the man who does not cheerfully follow his avowed Lord through "honour and dishonour," through" evil report and good report," the man, who is at any time, on any occasion and under any circumstances, ashamed of the meek and lowly Jesus and of his religion ;-every such man denies his Lord, and with peculiar emphasis re echoes the words of Peter, "I know him not." If impenitent, how dreadful will be the doom of all of this character? "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in his Father's." If the transgressing Peter could not endure a single glance from Jesus when in bumiliation and disgrace, how will they bear to have those eyes beaming with heavenly splendour fastened upon them in the day when he shall come to judge the quick and the dead? Then there will be no escaping from his presence. Then it will be too late to repent. A SERMON. C. L. Ps. xc. 12.-So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Another year of our short life, where is it ?-Gone forever. Gone are its joys and its sorrows; its hopes and its disappointments. Gone are its fifty-two Sabbaths, with all its sermons and prayers-with all its public opportunities and private instructions. We have now one year more to account for, one less to live, one less to prepare for our great change. How solemn the thought! Gone too with the past year, are millions of the human family:-shivering poverty and sumptuous independence; sparkling wit and idolized beauty; the master and his slave-the tenant and his lord-smiling infancy, blooming youth, and grey decrepitude :-wisdom and folly, genius and stupidity, fading laurels and budding honours. Gone alas! are some of our dearest friends, parts of ourselves-the wife of our youth, a parent, a son of many prayers and hopes-a daughter, a sister, a babe sweetly smiling even in the arms of death and laid quietly by the side of its unconscious mother. We shall go to them, but they will not return to us. As all the great rivers run into the sea, so is the broad and rapid current of time bearing us onward after our friends, into the ocean of eternity. How short is a year;-spring, summer, autumn, winter! How uncertain is life! How few and evil are the days which go to make up three score years and ten! By meditations similar to these perhaps, the Psalmist was led to of fer up the comprehensive petition, which we have selected as the theme of the present discourse: So teach us to number our days, that we may ap ply our hearts unto wisdom. Standing as we now do, upon the threshold of a new year, let us make this petition our own. Who among us does not need to be taught how to make the most of time? Who can say that he has fully learnt the heavenly art of living for eternity? Wisdom seems in the text, and elsewhere, to be put for the whole of religion-comprehending experience, doctrine and practice. To apply our hearts unto wisdom, is to devote the best of our time and talents to the study and practice of vital godliness. So numbering our days as that we may do this, is making the most of every day as it passes. Instead of burdening to-morrow with present duties, it is doing whatsoever our hand findeth to do, with our might. In inculcating the duty of numbering our days aright, we shall consider, The Necessity of divine teaching in order to the proper performance of the duty; The Manner of performing it. Its Practicability in all conditions of life; And some of the principal Mo tives to its performance. 1. Let us consider the Necessity of divine teaching, in order to a proper performance of this duty. Sin has made dreadful havoc of those noble powers and faculties with which man was originally endowed by his Creator. It has inverted that beautiful subordination, which con- ceed a step without referring the stituted the perfection of our first matter to God in the words of Paul, parents in paradise; and thus brought “ Lord, what wilt thou have me to in anarchy and ruin. It has poison- do ?” Who can trust himself with ed the fountain of the moral affec- the numbering of his days for one tions, perverted the will, darkened month, or even for one week ? the understanding, and excited the I must not omit to add in this conpassions to a turbulent and trium- nection, that we need that effectual phant insurrection. Naturally blind to teaching, which changes the nature our best interests, “wandering and of the moral affections, and influences , loving to wander,” we are so far from the will. We are not by nature inapplying our hearts unto wisdom, clined to make the best use of time, that we waste life in the pursuit of and to apply our hearts unto wisphantoms, and are as prodigal of our dom, though we should see ever so probation, as if we knew it would clearly how it might be done. We last thousands of years. How much do not love God, nor shall we, till then do we need the teachings of the this love is shed abroad in our hearts Holy Spirit on the subject before us ? by the Holy Ghost. Our stubborn Who, left to himself, ever realized wills must be bowed, and our affecthe immense value of time? And tions must be made to flow in a new how obvious is it, that something channel, before we can number our more than speaking to the outward days aright. In other words, we ear, and through that to the under- must be effectually taught by the standing, is necessary. What in transforming influences of the Holy general avail the most striking repre- Spirit. sentations of the uncertainty and 2. The Manner of numbering our brevity of life? How soon are the days aright. This is a widely differmost solemn warnings forgotten? ent thing, from carefully noticing the Though death is always digging his days of a month or a year, for graves around us, our deceittul hearts amusement, profit, or convenience. whisper that they are for others and Many are scrupulously particular in not for ourselves; why then should these respects, who are total strapwe be alarmed ? Heaven and hell gers to that divine art for which the are thus kept out of sight. Nothing Psalmist prays in the text. And so reaches the heart, till it is made ef- are they, who impatiently and unfectual by the Spirit of God. Hours thankfully count the weeks and days and minutes are never estimated ac- that lie between them and some excording to their intrinsic value, inde pected worldly gratification. pendently of divine teaching. As the student so numbers his days Again ; after we begin to realize as to apply his heart to the acquisihow precious time is, we still need tion of knowledge, when he devotes further teaching, with respect to the himself daily and steadily to his best possible use and improvement of books; and as the labourer so numit. That man makes the most of his bers his days as to apply his heart to time, who does most for the glory of the accumulation of wealth, when he God, for the good of his fellow-men, rises early, sits up late, and eats the and for his own soul. But who is bread of carefulness : so does the there, that, left to himself, can "or- christian apply his heart unto wisder his steps aright;" can give the dom, when he diligently and persebest and most profitable direction to veringly devotes his best faculties to the various faculties with which he is the study and practice of true religion. endowed? Who in making choice While he is necessarily busied with of his profession, trade, or other em- things seen and temporal, he keeps ployment in life;—or in fixing upon his eye steadily fixed upon things unthe plan of his abode, can safely pro- seen and elernal. He feels that he has a great work to accomplish, and that the time is short. Thus, would we number our days aright during the present year, or that portion of it which may be alotted to us, we must begin in the fear and service of God. We must make the best possible use of every hour, and of all our talents. We must strive to grow in knowledge and grace daily, doing all the good in our power, and looking to God continually for teaching and for strength. And as we begin to-day, so must we proceed tomorrow, and the day following, and as long as we live. Some, who set out with great apparent zeal, soon falter in their course, and by yielding to sloth or discouragement, lose the prize. Whoever would secure it, must be faithful to the end. As it respects personal religion, all have the same duties of faith and repentance and new obedience to perform while our relative duties are as various, as our talents, relations, employments and opportunities; and upon the faithful discharge of these, the numbering of our days according to the spirit of the text, greatly depends. Neither diligence, nor zeal, in other spheres of action than those which providence has assigned us, can make any atonement for the neglect of appropriate duties. We must do the very things which belong to us, or we can never receive the reward of good and faithful servants. Are you a parent, and have you a number of immortal beings committed to your particular care? Would you number your days aright, you must, on no consideration, neglect the religious education of your children. You must train them up in the way they should go, that when they are old, they may not depart from it. You must not relax in your exertions, but hold on in a steady course of duty, giving "line upon line and precept upon precept;" enforcing all your iustructions by a blameless example, and looking to God for his grace to make them effectual. Are you a child? You must Vol. 4.-No. I. 2 love and honour your parents. Whatever else you may do, if you fail here, God will not accept you. Thus also masters must treat their servants with kindness, gentleness, and christian benevolence: and servants must obey their masters, 'not with eye service as men pleasers; but as the ser'vants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.' Thus likewise, pastors must devote their time and talents to the appropriate and momentous duties of their office, giving attention to reading, to exhortation and to doctrine; be instant in season and out of season, that they may save themselves and them that hear them. The flocks committed to their care must also on their part attend punctually and seriously upon all divine institutions. They must receive the word into good and honest hearts and bring forth the fruits of it, in a steady course of christian obedience. Age must speak; experience must cheerfully impart instruction, and youth must listen and learn. In a word, every person who would so number his days as to apply his heart unto wisdom, must acquaint himself with the duties of his station, and perform them, as in the presence of that God who has enjoined them and who trieth the heart. In like manuer humbly looking to God for the teachings of his Spirit, he must strive daily to gain some new victory over himself, to become more holy as well as more useful, that whether his life be longer or shorter, he may at the close of it look back with thankfulness, and forward with. a hope full of immortality, relying wholly on the merits of the Redeemer. 3. Let us now briefly consider the Practicability of so numbering our days as to apply our hearts unto wisdom, or to the study and practice of true religion, in whatever condition of life we may be placed. Some may be ready to enquire, how it is possible in a world where so much is to be done for the body, and especially in employments such as theirs, to comply with the spirit of the text? |