Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

Only let your enemies perceive in you a confiftent and exemplary conduct; and then, however they may affect to reproach, they cannot really defpife you. We may appeal to them, if there is not one or another, whom they diflike for his religion, and yet cannot look at without a fecret awe and terror on their minds, "knowing him to be a juft man and an holy." What would they give to exchange conditions? O that they would yield to their own convictions, drop their oppofition against thofe, whom in their confciences they believe to be right, and cordially join with them in zealous exertions for the cause of God and his truth!

Herod was not merely restrained from violence, by a reverence for the Baptift; it fhould feem, that he liftened to his inftructions, even after his imprifontment. Probably he fent for him, as Felix did for Paul," and communed with him." We conclude, alfo, that he paid attention to his doctrine; for it is exprefsly faid, that he "obferved him," and, what is still more remarkable, that he "heard him gladly." On certain occafions, at leaft, his affections were much moved: he could not but commend, and be pleafed with, the honefty of the preacher, and perhaps. would have fhewn no refentment, if one particular fubject had been avoided.

Some may enquire, How can perfons, of fuch a character as Herod, receive any pleafure from the plain and faithful declarations of God's word? Poffibly, the fpeaker may be admired; his abilities, addrefs, or elocution may excite notice and applaufe, even where the principles he maintains, and the practical exhortations he delivers, are not regarded. The novelty, importance, and fublimity of the things chiefly infifted on, may seem for a time to entertain and intereft the hearers, who may, therefore, be in

Acts xxiv. 26.

N 5

duced

duced to take great pains in frequenting ordinances. This may be the cafe, where no fpiritual affections are exercised, where the grand peculiarities of the Gospel are not understood, and no effectual application made to the confcience. O beware of refting in fuch a fuperficial attendance! Think it not enough to diftinguish truth from error, or to discover a fervour of zeal for right doctrines: be not fatisfied in feeling admiration and delight, while the awful myfteries of redemption are exhibited, and "good tidings of great joy" are announced. If you experience no godly forrow for fin, no warm attachment to the Saviour, no renovation of heart by the Spirit; the fermons which you hear, may afford you entertainment, but will not promote your falvation.

This is indeed a tremendous cafe; and yet it has frequently occurred. Of fuch auditors the Lord God thus warned the prophet Ezekiel: "Lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely fong of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an inftrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not *." Many of like defcription attended on the Saviour. Multitudes of men and women expreffed fuch delight in listening to his doctrine, that they travelled after him with much wearinefs and expenfe: yet many of them entirely forfook him; and fome, who had, probably, fung hofanna to his name, foon afterwards cried out with extreme malignity, "Crucify him, crucify him." John the Baptift had other hearers of this fort, befides Herod, who, as our Lord teftified, 86 were willing for a feafon to rejoice in his light +.' At first, they were fo ftruck with his folemn declarations of the Meffiah's approach, as to be tranfported with wonder and joy. But, when he boldly reproved their iniquitous conduct, and called them to the practice of mortification, they bafely calumniated his ministry, and exclaimed, "He hath a devil ‡.”

↑ Ezek. xxxiii. 32. † John v. 35. Luke vii, 33.

Herod,

دوو

Herod, however, advanced farther than merely expreffing an admiration of the preacher, he was roufed to action, and attempted a reformation. Convinced of the neceffity of a change," he did many things, relinquished many of his evil habits, and applied himfelf to the performance of various duties. This ap-peared promising indeed. But Herodias was ftill retained: he would not renounce his connection with that infamous woman; and there he betrayed the un-foundness of his heart. The real convert refts not in fuch a partial amendment of the life: he will abhor and forfake one fin as well as another, and yield a fincere and uniform regard to every known precept.. If, then, under the awakening influence of the word of God, you profefs to be penitents, examine faithfully whether you are new creatures.' Has an universal renovation been produced? Are you determined, by divine grace, to put away all ungodliness ? Have you made no referve? Do you plead for no exception? Is there not a "fin, which eafily befets you,' and to which, from your conftitution or fituation, you are most exposed? Is this, what you are willing to abandon? This is, more than any other, the Herodias, which must be divorced: for, if the favourite paffion ftill retain its afcendancy, where is your de liverance from the love and power of iniquity?

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Perhaps, there is no carnal affection more enfnar ing, or more generally fatal, than luft. To what horrible ravages has it given rife? Many have been gradually allured by it from one tranfgreffion to another, till they have been led into fuch enormities of conduct, as they once thought themfelves incapable of committing. What will not men facrifice to the gratification of their libidinous defires? They will. difregard their intereft,, health, and reputation, violate: the strongest ties and engagements, defpife every admonition, oppofe their own convictions, and, even while they feel the worth of their immortal fouls, ob

N. 6

finately

ftinately plunge into final perdition. What a grievous infatuation is this! Herod is but one, out of thoufands, who will have to lament for ever a fond attachment to a fhameless woman. How juft is that defcription of the adulterefs: "She hath caft down many wounded; yea, many ftrong men have been flain by her. Her houfe is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death *.".

Let us mark the event with the king of Galilee. Highly as he reverenced the Baptift, he was at length perfuaded to confent to his death, probably through the importunate entreaties of Herodias. Yet, for a time, he was prevented from proceeding to any ac of violence. "He feared the people," who univerfally regarded John as a prophet, and might have raised a general fedition, to avenge his murder. What! did he not fear to wound his own confcience, to shed innocent blood, provoke the fierce anger of the Lord, and destroy his precious foul? No: but he dreaded the refentment of a mob. A poor motive indeed! Yet it is well for fociety, that finners are, in any way, reftrained from effecting their purpofes. Frequently, when good principles fail, fome mercenary, worldly confiderations have a strong influence. Thus one evil paffion keeps down another; fo that none, perhaps, feel themfelves at liberty to do all that is in their hearts. Were it otherwife, the utmost confufion would prevail, and, fuch is the hatred of true religion, the Church itself would be foon extirpated. How wonderful is the government, which is maintained over the human race!

In an

After fome time, however, an occafion offered, for the accomplishment of Herodias's with. hour of temptation fhe carried her point: the compliant king was induced to give up his objections. At a fplendid banquet, prepared for the celebration

♦ Prov. vii, 26, 27.

of

of his birthday, when the daughter of his queen had danced before him and his nobles with great applause, he declared with an oath, that he would grant her fome mark of his favour, whatever fhe would afk, though it were the half of his dominion*. This was an instance of extreme rafhnefs, and produced the most terrible effects. Alas! what can we expect from entertainments, which are calculated to inflame and gratify the paffions? The young woman was perfuaded by her mother to claim the head of John the Baptift, who had excited her refentment. How ftrange the propofal! But a vindictive mind will give up every confideration,. for the fake of wreaking its vengeance on an enemy.

Herod himself appeared to be ftruck with horror at the thought of perpetrating the atrocious deed, and yet had not firmnefs enough to refift. However

his confcience might remonstrate, he determined not to exasperate Herodias by a refufal, and argued abfurdly, that, unless he complied, he would be defpifed by his nobility for weakness and inconitancy. He confented, therefore, to the request, though with visible reluctance, and inftantly commanded the head of the Lord's prophet to be fevered from the body, and introduced into the company, as an object, probably, of their profane sport and contemptuous ridicule. Yet furely, the condition of the Baptift, expiring by the hand of violence, was more to be envied, than that of Herod, exalted upon a throne of iniquity.

- It should feem, the king pretended a regard to veracity in this bafe tranfaction: he was unwilling to violate his oath. What vile diffimulation was this! To avoid the charge of perjury, he committed a murder of peculiar enormity. No declarations, however confirmed by an oath, could have bound him

*Matt. xiv. 6--11. Mar. vi. 21--28,

« AnteriorContinua »