We ought not to demand the reafon, for which he obtained this honourable preference, fince God diftributes his favours as He pleases; but fuch was his amiable character before his extraordinary call, that he feemed less likely than many others to excite the prejudices of the Jews. He was a man of integrity. and ferioufnefs, under the guidance and renewing influence of the Holy Ghoft: his views were dark, but he walked uprightly, according to his light. He had been led, perhaps in a gradual manner, to feek reconciliation with God; and therefore, though ignorant of the particular difpenfation revealed in the Gofpel, he poffeffed a previous preparation of mind for its reception. With his convictions and impreffions, he could not but be ready to accept the falvation of Chrift,, when fairly propofed. In all cafes converfion is effected by the agency of God, "from whom all holy defires, all good counfels, and all juft works do proceed*." The very firft tendency to real, fpiritual religion, its beginning, as well as its continuance, progrefs, and perfection in the foul, must be afcribed to Him; "for it is God,. which worketh in you both to will and to do, of his good pleafure +." But the methods of his grace are different in different perfons. With fome afudden change is produced; their darknefs is almost inftantly difperfed; hope and comfort break in upon them; and they foon attain a clear and decifive evidence of their acceptance. But others difcover a gradual alteration,. and, though feriously difpofed and truly devoted to God, remain in much ignorance and perplexity. may be difficult, for fome time, to pronounce concerning their fate: yet of this we are affured, that the feed of God, implanted in the foul, is incorruptible,, and will fpring up to everlafting life . Whatever. #Second Collect at Evening prayer. 1 John iii. + Phil. ii. 13. 9. It $ 5 delays delays or obftructions there may be, the final iffue will be fafe and glorious. Cornelius, as being uncircumcifed and a "ftranger from the covenants of promife," was deemed unclean by the Jews; yet, as we have fuggefted, he had been brought under good impreffions, and delivered from the foolish and wicked practices of idolatry. Though a Roman foldier, he did not worship the gods of his country; but, in confequence, probably, of his refi-dence in Judea, he had become acquainted with the fcriptures of the Old Teftament, and was led to revere the God of Ifrael. Even then, he is faid to have been" a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house." Being fincerely defirous to know and do the will of God, he was ftrictly attentive to the duties of religion, as far as his information carried him; and, feeling a ferious concern for the fouls of his domeftics, he engaged them in the fame holy exercifes with himfelf. He difcovered, alfo, a liberal difpofition in relieving the diftreffes of the poor, as well as a peculiar fervour of mind towards God by the conftancy of his prayers. His benevolence and piety were beautifully connected; and they added a luftre to each other. How excellent and lovely the character! If we truly understand the Chriftian faith, we have received clearer light, and are laid under ftronger obligations; but do we furpafs or even imitate the pattern here exhibited? Are we impreffed with an awful fenfe of the majesty of God, and an earneft defire to pleafe him? Do we enforce the principles of religion in our refpective habitations, and endeavour to communicate the knowledge, which we have attained, to those who are immediately fubject to our influence? Do we direct and accompany them to the throne of grace? Ah! how many families never affociate together to own their dependence upon God, in their domeftic capacity! And is not the neglect difgraceful to the profeffion of the Gospel! A ferious A serious attention fhould be paid to different duties; fo that all may poffefs their proper place and proportion of regard. While you fhew a generous folicitude for the fouls of others, convince them that you are ready to relieve their bodily neceffities. True piety cannot confift with covetousness. If there be any pretenders to devotion, who "fhut up their bowels of compaffion," they will be condemned by the example of Cornelius, even before he knew the Gofpel. Yet, on the other hand, the most liberal contributions to the poor will not compenfate the want of godliness. We afk, then, if you "give much alms to the people," what are you offering to God? Are not his claims denied or withheld? Do you. pray alway," or feize upon every opportunity to pour out your heart before him?" You plead, perhaps, your numerous engagements, the peculiar fnares. and difficulties of your fituation, as if they rendered the performance of religious duties impoffible. But. we refer you to the cafe of Cornelius, who, though a foldier, in the midst of occupations and connections ex-tremely unfavourable to every thing of a ferious ten-dency, yet maintained a courfe of fold and exemplary piety. Your neglect arifes, not fo much from want of opportunity, as a fecret averfion to the fervice of God;. and therefore you are inexcufable. et An improper ufe of the excellent character before us, has been made by fome, who deny the neceffity of Revelation, on the abfurd idea that what they call natural religion is fufficient. It is argued, that men by the light of reafon and their own moral powers may attain to fuch a ftate, as to want no further information or affiftance. But this is a conclufion, which the prefent hiftory does not warrant. Corne-lius, probably, as we have intimated, was inftructed in the principles of the Jews, and indebted to the facred writings for all his knowledge of the true God. It is allowed, that he was upright,, and his goodness confpicuous, S 6 confpicuous. But the whole account fhews, that his righteoufnefs was defective: he was taught to feek remillion of his fins through the difpenfation of the Gofpel, and afcribe his acceptance with God to Chrift alone. This cafe, furely, ought not to be appealed to by thofe, who would fet afide the mediation of the Son of God. Through the influence of divine grace, Cornelius had been excited to feek the Lord with unfeigned fincerity and devotednefs of heart: and perfons of fuch a character fhall not be left to perish, or to grope in the dark without light." He, whom they ferve, will look upon them with gracious regard, compaffionate their ignorance, and raise up fome inftrument or other for their further instruction and advancement. The defires, which He hath implanted, are pleafing to him ; and, though they meet with impediments, they fhall not be difappointed. On a certain day, while the pious Centurion was waiting before God with peculiar folemnity, in fasting and prayer, an Angel appeared to affure him of the favourable notice of Heaven. Cornelius began to tremble, upon feeing the bright form ftand before him, and hearing himself fummoned by name. The celeftial meffenger, however, encouraged him by an explicit declaration, that his acts both of devotion and benevolence were recorded in the divine remembrance, and confidered as a decided mark of his fincerity. This circumftance has been thought to countenance the doctrine of human merit. We allow, that it furnishes a powerful inducement to abound in works of piety and mercy, and we would inculcate the performance of them by every fcriptural argument. If they are done from truly fpiritual motives, they fhall not be forgotten before God. But they will not entitle us to the felicities of heaven, or procure the remiffion of our fins. It feems an egregious ab furdity, furdity, to appeal to the new Teftament in fupport of fuch a scheme, as would render the whole fyftem of the Gospel needlefs and inconfiftent. According to that fuppofition, Cornelius was completely juftified by his own obedience; and faith in the Son of God was, to him at leaft, perfectly unneceflary. Yet it appears from the hiftory, that he was directed by the Angel to fend for the Apoftle Peter, for the exprefs purpofe of being inftructed in thofe principles, "whereby he and all his houfe fhould be faved *.' This account, furely, does not favour the prefumptuous notion of claiming the divine regard as a matter of debt; for it reprefents the redemption of Chrift as indifpenfably requifite for perfons of the most amiable character. The Angel himself did not explain or declare the nature of falvation. That honour was reserved for one of our fallen race. The Lord has not committed the word of reconciliation" to thofe holy fpirits, who, as they are not fubject to our temptations and infirmities, could not addrefs us, perhaps, with proper feeling and compaffion. But it is intrusted to them, who ftand as much in need of pardoning and fanctifying grace as any of their hearers, and are therefore better qualified to enter into their cafes with tendernefs, and accommodate themselves to their diftreffes. Thofe, however, who would preach Chrift with any good effect, fhould be truly acquainted with him, and be able to teftify his power and mercy from their own experience. Otherwife, they will, probably, deliver the declarations of the Gofpel with as much indifference, as if they were not to be depended on, or were of no importance. But, being enriched with all fpiritual bleffings in Chrift Jefus, they will, with a peculiar fervour, commend him, who is the object of their warmeft affec * Acts xi. 14. |