Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

In order to obtain correct views of this most important subject, it seems necessary in the first place to understand what is meant by the fear of the Lord. This fear is not that slavish dread, which too many deluded minds entertain, by erroneously supposing that our heavenly Father is a tyrant, destitute of that goodness, which renders him the proper object of our supreme love and confidence; but it is that fear which love and confidence produce in the mind. We who are parents ought to understand this principle perfectly; for without it, it is impossible to govern our offspring to their advantage. If our children are taught to fear to disobey us, because they realize our love and affection for them, their fear will be a safe defence against transgression, while at the same time it is both honourable and pleasing to us. But what parent would wish to see the dear objects of his affections, filled with a slavish fear, standing and trembling, as if their lives were every moment in danger, from the uplifted hand of his vindictive vengeance?

The Apostle John has very justly disposed of this kind of fear, by informing us, that he that feareth is not made perfect in love, and that love casteth out fear. But love does not cast out the fear of the Lord, but induces it. This is that fear of the Lord, which the wise man said is the beginning of wisdom, and which he further describes as follows: "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil."

Too many misguided souls have erroneously mistaken this subject, and preposterously supposed that they were exercised with the true fear of the Lord, while all they feared was what their kindest benefactor might do to them! They learn to dread and to hate what they are taught to fear that God may do to them; but they neglect to learn the true fear of the Lord, which is to hate evil.

Having this rational and scriptural understanding of what the fear of the Lord is, let us next observe that this fear may be learned by a due at tention to the ordinances of christian devotion.

Mankind are naturally as capable of learning to fear and love God as they are to learn any science whatever. Let youth accompany their parents to the sanctuary of devotion, and let the true doctrine of the divine name be set forth in the light of the gospel of our Redeemer; let the odious nature of iniquity, transgression and sin be undisguisedly set before them; let the tongue of deceit and temptation, which endeavours to persuade the simple, that stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant, be silenced, and its folly exposed; let the loveliness of virtue and the true fear of the Lord be presented to the understanding; and let this be practised continually, and youth will learn, and the scripture which saith; "They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God, they shall bring forth fruit in old age," will be abundantly verified.

Christian friends and brethren who have cheerfully and willingly offered of your substance to erect this beautiful and convenient house for the public worship of our common Father in heaven, may I be indulged, not only in my own behalf, but in behalf of my ministering brethren, to congratulate you, for the good success, which has attended your laudable and praiseworthy exertions. Our eyes have been towards you, while our prayers have ascended to him, without whose aid, they that build the house labour in vain. And this day brings us to the mutual enjoyment of reciprocating our best and most refined affections, while bowing before the sacred name, and dedicating this fruit of your labours and expenses as a nursery for your families and the rising generation, in the wisdom, love, knowledge and true fear of the Lord.

Brethren, may all your hopes be realized, and may the ministry of reconciliation prosper within these walls, to the honour of God, and to the comfort of multitudes for many generations to come.

SERMON XVII.

THE INSTABILITY OF ERROR, AND THE STABILITY OF TRUTH.

DELIVERED IN HARTFORD, CONN, AUGUST 18, 1824.

HAGGAI, II. 6, 7.

"For thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts.

In the Epistle to the Hebrews, the author presents us with the true sense and proper application of these words of the prophet: "Now he hath promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."

The bringing in, and setting up of the blessed kingdom of gospel grace and peace in the world, must necessarily be preceded by the removing of all such political and religious establishments as naturally oppose the wisdom and goodness of our heavenly Father, by holding mankind in ignorance and slavery. This work is that which shakes not only earth but heaven. It crumbles to dust the proudest monuments of human wisdom and power, and prostrates the loftiness of spiritual wickedness, in high places.

In those prophetic visions which are recorded in Daniel, those empires which were represented by the splendid image, whose brightness was excel

lent, and whose form was terrible, and whose 50lidity and firmness were signified by gold, silver, brass and iron, became like the chaff of the summer threshing floor, before the all-conquering power of that Stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands; and while those became shaken and removed, this subduing Stone, though a "rock of offence," to the kings of the earth, and a stumbling provocation to priestcraft, became an extended "mountain, and filled the whole earth."

These representations, varied in vision, were signified to the same Prophet by the entire abolition of the four great monarchies, the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Grecian and the Roman, and the setting up of the kingdom and dominion of the Saviour, to which all nations shall yield perpetual obedience, according to what is record ed in his 7th chapter.

The Prophet Isaiah, in his 9th chapter, gives to the people that walked in darkness, and that dwelt in the shadow of death, a great light; breaks the yoke of oppression, and says, "Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with a burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a chid is born: unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and justice, from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this."

In love to the human race, and in compassion for the miseries of mankind, "The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world," from those inhuman oppressions and tormenting deceptions, which were practiced on the weak and defenceless, by the collusion of kingcraft and priestcraft, the elements of which compose the earth and the heavens which are to be shaken, as things which are contrived and made by the wisdom and power of this world, which are foolishness and weakness with God.

The shaking of nations, the convulsions of kingdoms, the confusion and divisions which characterized doctrines and the ministers of religion, at that eventful period when the kingdom of the Redeemer was set up in the world, together with the glory of the gospel day, may be regarded as the fulfilment of the words of the Prophet, which we have chosen to lead our reflections on this occasion.

After the Babylonian captivity, the Jews were permitted to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple which Nebuchadnezzar destroyed, and to restore the true worship; and it was for the encouragement of this good work, that this prophecy was delivered. The desire of all nations which was promised, and the glory which was to fill that house, were the Messiah and the doctrine of his

grace.

The falling away of the Christian Church, the corruptions of its doctrines by the inventions of an ignorant, superstitious priesthood, sanctioned by the authority of Synods and Councils, having introduced the man of sin into the Temple of God, who has for ages been worshipped as God, the glory which Jesus manifested departed, and the darkness of papal errors and abominations have

succeeded.

But the reign of the beast may be said to have come to an end; the true testimony is received, and God is now carrying on the work of shaking earth and heaven, removing those things which are shaken, as things which men have made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. The desire of all nations is advancing to enter the Christian Sanctuary, and God is about to fill the same with glory.

Having seen the true application of our subject, and also how it is accommodated to our own times,

« AnteriorContinua »