his describes it as a faithful saying, and worthy | shall we reject the offer? If he gave of all acceptation. Elsewhere it is called only Son to die for us, shall we disregard the word of truth-the word of grace-the gift? What unspeakable perverseness the gospel of our salvation. In the pas- is there in rejecting the proposals-the sage before us, it is denominated a law, demands of love! and the same appellation is given to it Again, the gospel is called a law bein other places. Thus, Romans, iii. 27, it cause of its sanctions. The very idea of is called the law of faith-" Where is a law implies that it is supported by sanoboasting then? It is excluded. By what tions,-that it promises protection or relaw?-of works? Nay; but by the law ward to the obedient, and threatens punof faith." So, in the same Epistle, (viii. ishment to those who transgress it. And 2,) it is called "the law of the Spirit of how impressive the sanctions that accomlife in Christ Jesus." pany the gospel! He who believes in the You may naturally ask why the gospel blessed Saviour it reveals, shall never is called a law? I answer, Because of its come into condemnation-he has passed authority. It speaks with the authority from death unto life; but he that beof God, and requires submission from men.lieveth not is condemned already, because "God hath in these last days spoken to he hath not believed in the name of the us by his Son," and if the word spoken only begotten Son of God. by angels was perfect with authority, how Once more, the gospel is called a law much more that spoken by the Son of because of its efficacy. A wise sovereign God? The gospel was begun to be will not enact a law which he fears will spoken by our Lord, and by him was be altogether ineffectual,-he will provide committed to his apostles, whom he com- for the efficacy of the laws he prescribes. manded to go to all the world, and to Now, the gospel owes all its efficacy to preach it to every creature, God himself the almighty power of God. God is enbearing witness with signs, and wonders, gaged to secure the great end for which and mighty miracles. The gospel is ac- it is given-salvation through faith in the companied with the fullest evidence of its Lamb of God. The regular and irresisticharacterasa revelation from God. Its doc-ble order of nature is spoken of under trines are the dictates of unerring wisdom the appellation of a law. We speak of -the declarations of him who cannot lie the law of gravitation-the law that -the testimony of the true and faithful regulates the motions of the heavenly witness. Its precepts are the commands bodies, and the succession of the seasons. of the King of Heaven, and are enforced Now the gospel exerts an equally certain by all the authority of him who died for efficacy, my friends. It is true, God is us, that those who live should no more not limited to a particular mode or time live to themselves, but to him who gave of operation; nevertheless, he gives as himself for them. The testimony of the certain an efficacy to his word as to his gospel is, that God gave his Son to be the works. The gospel acomplishes the end propitiation for our sins, and its high for which God has designed it, he rencommandment is, that we believe in the ders it effectual, and where he begins the name of the Son of God. And, there- work he carries it on. He secures the fore, my brethren, the neglect of the destruction of the reign of sin, and the gospel is as unequivocal an act of disobe-establishment of that of righteousness. dience as the violation of any precept. But further, the Bible calls the gospel We all admit that the adulterer, the thief, the "law of liberty." It may be so or the murderer, is a transgressor of the called in opposition to the ceremonial law, law of God, but he is really not more which was a yoke of bondage, and also in certainly such, than he is who neglects opposition to the moral law, which, to the the gospel, and refuses to embrace the unconverted, is a law of bondage-for the Saviour. Nay, the neglect and rejection moral law prescribes duties which the of the gospel is, in some views, a greater unconverted sinner hates-it imposes sin than the transgression of the law-restraints that he regrets and abhors-it because it is a greater proof of determined denounces the wrath of God against his enmity; for it is not only to offend God, transgressions-it seals the impenitent to but to refuse reconciliation. If our of- condemnation. But the gospel imparts a fended Sovereign offers reconciliation, blessed liberty to all who embrace it. It delivers them from the guilt of sin and is now no condemnation to them that all its dreadful consequences; it declares are in Christ Jesus: and sanctification, that God is in Christ reconciling the though not indeed yet perfect, is neverworld to himself,-that God is in Christ theless secure-" My grace is sufficient not imputing their trespasses unto them, for you." Thus excellent is the gospel. —that all who believe are justified in all II. We proceed to notice, in the second things, and, accordingly, he who believes place, the description of the believer. in the Saviour is delivered from the guilt He looks into the perfect law of liberty, and condemnation of sin. How endear- he continues therein, being not forgetful ing, then, the views which the believer now obtains of God! and how precious the communications of heavenly grace! He no longer hates God as an enemy, or dreads him as a judge; but loves him as his gracious reconciled Father, and rejoices in his presence, in his favour, and in his government. The gospel encourages the Christian, and gives him authority to go to God, and he goes with boldness, therefore, to the throne of grace. It affords consolation in every sorrow, and relief under every distress. It sheds abroad in the heart a sense of the love of God, and it awakens the glorious hope of a blessed immortality! what manner of man he was. He looks into the perfect law of liberty. The word here used, is the same that you find in the gospel according to St. John, the 20th chapter, at the 5th verse, where we are told of John that he, "stooping down and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying." The same word is also used in the first Epistle of Peter, the 1st chapter, at the 12th verse," which things the angels desire to look into." The expression suggests the idea of a man looking earnestly into another; and this is the figure, you may remember, employed in the preceding verses. The gospel is a mirror which exhibits the most glorious objects in the Further, the gospel frees believers from clearest and purest light. How noble and the power of sin. It fills the soul with glorious the views which it presents of abhorrence of sin, and it strengthens it to the living God, his wisdom, and holiness, break the bonds in which it had been held. and mercy, and faithfulness! how well It inspires the love of God, and love fitted to awaken the deepest reverence makes obedience easy and delightful. He and the warmest gratitude! How full, who knows the gospel no longer com- and just, and distinct, the views given us plains that the law is too strict in its of the human character! How are the demands, or too severe in its penalties. secrets of the heart unfolded-the moral He reckons it as holy, just, and good; character of man-all those circumstances and while he knows that his sins are that enter into the real estimate of his forgiven, he delights in the law that character! There is no man who may condemns them. He yields it his wil-not find his own character pourtrayed in ling and affectionate submission: he de- the word of God. And how interesting lights in it in the inner man-in the in- and encouraging the discoveries made of most feelings and principles of his soul: the way of life and salvation!-how inhe runs in the way of God's command-teresting and encouraging the views given ments: he walks at liberty. The liberty of the person and work and grace of the which the gospel communicates can, in- Saviour! Now, my brethren, the true deed, be understood aright only by those believer looks into this mirror with who have felt the thraldom of sin;-it earnest attention-with diligence-with a can only work out joy to the soul that has desire to know and ascertain the truth. understood the pardon of guilt. Oh, how He contemplates the great and blessed invaluable the atoning blood of Jesus!-objects there set before him-the glorious, how precious his promise, and his grace! the great, the awful discoveries. He My brethren, it is a perfect law of inquires into the truth-he examines-he liberty." It is perfect in itself,-nothing compares spiritual things with spiritual. can be added to it-nothing taken from It is not idle curiosity that actuates him. it. Devised it was by Unerring Wisdom, but a sincere desire to know the will of and carried into effect by Almighty Power, God. He fixes his mind steadily and and the liberty to which it introduces the carefully on the discoveries of himself, believer is perfect. Even in the present and of the way of life, given him in the life, our justification is perfect; for there gospel of God. 66 Moreover, he continues looking into derstood, it necessarily remains in the this law. The study of the Word is a mind and the heart;—the truth reigns and frequent and every day occupation with lives in the individual who believes it, him, for he knows, that this is the foun- however feeble his natural powers-howtain of life, or at least, a channel through ever defective his memory; he forgets not which the waters of life are imparted. that he is a poor weak guilty sinner, and Every believer, I presume, in the general that Jesus is an all-gracious Almighty habits of his life, consults the Word of Saviour. " God affectionately and candidly every Once more,-He is a doer of the day, for he delights in that word-it is work." The expression may perhaps be the source of his purest consolations-it considered as referring to the great disministers comfort in every sorrow-it tinguishing work of the Christian in the ministers hope in all circumstances of act of faith. "This is the work of God, difficulty and affliction. He gathers daily that ye believe in him whom he hath this heavenly manna, and converts it into sent." Faith is a principle that must be sustenance for his soul. He is aware, that kept in constant exercise, and it is this whatever he may know, much remains that gives vigour to every other principle. unknown. He regards the Scriptures as But, further, the Apostle refers to the an inexhaustible mine, full of all precious work of holiness. There is a work asriches, which yields nothing to the super-signed to every believer. This work, in ficial observer, but every thing to the eye many respects, is the same, in reference of deep research; and accordingly, he to all. All believers are called to work grows in the knowledge of it,-he per- out their own salvation with fear and ceives more and more the excellence of trembling. They are called to glorify its truths-he feels more and more how their Heavenly Father, and to do good to suitable they are for him-how they are those around them. Each, also, has his adapted to his own state-how well fitted own appropriate work. Our duties are they are to arouse, and animate, and com- determined by the circumstances in which fort him. He applies them more and we are placed-by the capacities with more affectionately to his own heart, for which we are endowed-by the oppor he obtains increased and enlarged consol- tunities of usefulness which we enjoy. ation from them. The exercise of faith Each individual has something peculiar in the Word of God is his daily work,-to himself in the sacred work in which be finds it work, even for life, every day, he is called to engage. Well then, the and during the whole period of his pil-believer is anxious to know, and to do grimage on earth, he feeds on this manna. the work specially appointed him. He Again, he is not a forgetful hearer. consults the word of God, and goes to his Many persons complain of the weakness of their memory, and, undoubtedly, the faculty of recollection is possessed in very different degrees, by different individuals. But, although the sincere hearer may not be able to recollect much with accuracy, of what he hears, yet he cannot forget the impressive truths of the gospel. The truths of the gospel are of such a nature that, if but understood and believed, they cannot be forgotten.. If a man be warned that his house is on fire, does he forget III. We remark in the third place, the the information, supposing him to be really blessedness possessed by this character. persuaded of its truth? Does he forget," This man shall be blessed in his deed.” think you, till he has examined his No blessing belongs to those who embrace premises, or provided for his escape? Or, not the gospel-no blessing belongs to if a man feel the pain of a deep wound, him who hears, but does not do. Whatoccasioning much distress, and at the same ever be his knowledge-whatever his protime be acquainted with the salve that fession-whatever his apparent zeal, if he will heal it, will he forget, think you, to be not a faithful affectionate servant of apply that salve? If the gospel be un- God during his work, the gospel can Heavenly Father saying, “Father, what wilt thou have me to do?" He addresses himself to that work; and though difficulties may stand in the way, and interruptions may be given him, he perseveres, and goes from strength to strength; as a faithful labourer, he faints not under the heat and burden of the day, but strengthened by an Almighty arm, still perseveres, and at length gains his high reward. bring him no mercy-the gospel can that though religion were a dream,-convey nothing to the unfaithful and in- though there were neither heaven nor hell. sincere, but reproach and condemnation. yet, in reference to the present life, religion It warns them of their guilt-it disturbs would be infinitely preferable to infidelity, their pleasures-it interrupts them in their a watchful, a humble walk with God favourite pursuits-it announces to them would be infinitely preferable to all that the wrath of God and the sentence of formal religion can boast, or to all that a condemnation. Religion serves only to world lying in wickedness can bestow. disturb and to annoy them,-religion serves True religion, even in the present life, only to rebuke and condemn those who with all the difficulties and trials attending refuse to yield to its holy energy. But it, would be infinitely preferable to a life the humble, the obedient servant of the of the highest worldly prosperity without gospel, however imperfect his attain- it. But the sayings of God are true and ments, is blessed in his faith. There is a faithful. He who serves him here, shall present reward enjoyed by him,-there is hereafter be advanced to participate in his a blessing in doing the will of God. The glory. There is a crown of life--there is reward is not delayed to a future life. It a throne of glory awaiting the obedient is communicated, at least, in the earnest followers of the Lamb. Sharing, as he and foretaste of it, in the present life. does, in the sorrows of his master, here he Many are the blessings that accompany shall hereafter participate in his glory and true religion. There is a peace that in his felicity. passeth understanding, there is a joy Be excited then, my beloved friends, to unspeakable and full of glory. My breth- examine yourselves. Have you recognised ren, to be able to subdue our irregular the gospel as invested with the authority appetites-to restrain our inordinate af- of a law?-Have you yielded submission fections to be enabled to repel tempta- to this law?-Have you felt it to be a law tion, and to yield submission to the will of liberty, and a perfect law? And do you of God, is greatly favourable to serenity possess the character of the true believer, and peace of mind. There are pleasures looking habitually into this law-contemin the very restraints of religion, and the plating it-meditating upon it-continuself-denial it requires; for there is a ing in the study of it-being not forgetful pleasing approbation in the testimony of hearers, but doers of the word? Know our consciences, there is a hopeawakened you any thing of those foretastes of heavenby every successful effort. But, when ly bliss that the spirit imparts to those God lifts on our souls the light of his who humbly wait upon him. Let us be countenance,-when he admits the humble faithful, then, and examine ourselves → and affectionate penitent into his presence, Let us not shut our eyes on our real dan-when he gives him access with confi-ger. If we be not yet true Christians, dence to his throne, when he admits him O let us loose no time in seeking and obto a communion with the Father and with taining the requisites for heaven. Let us his Son Jesus Christ,-when he enables now, while it is day, call on our God, and him to say, My beloved is mine, and I am let us know and be persuaded that he is his,-when he enables him to look out to willing to receive us-that Christ will not the promised land, with all its joys and reject those who come to him. There are delights; well indeed may it be said, that many who regard the gospel as nothing the believer is conscious of a joy, which else than a system of restraints; and when the world knows not of. Then he feels we call on them to obey it, they draw that he has all in abundance; for whatever back, saying, This is a hard saying: they be the trials and sorrows, the wants and refuse to submit to it under the apprehennecessities of his outward man, he has sion that we deprive them of all that is all-he is possessed of all things-he belongs to Christ, and all Christ's possessions, all his property is, as it were, his. Thus, in the present life, the true believer is conscious of a true and sacred joy in the sense of the favour and love of his Saviour, so that I hesitate not to say, though there may be those that question the position, delightful, and that it will confine and restrict them to severe self denial. In place of this, it is a law of liberty. We find men enslaved by self-by sin-by Satan and by the world. We invite them to break their chains-we offer them Almighty aid, and set before them the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Be not so base as to prefer your chains to liberty. liberty, and of perfect felicity. Come, The gospel is the law of liberty-of perfect then, to Christ, that you may share in this liberty; not indeed giving us liberty in bliss, and that you may seek to adorn the sin, but freedom from sin, and liberty in doctrine of God your Saviour in all things, the way of the commandments,-opening and so to act as to induce others to submit to us such delights as we knew not of be- to his gracious will. May the blessing of fore, and conducting us to a land of perfect God follow his public ministry. Amen. ON THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD. A SERMON, PREACHED IN DR. FERRIER'S CHAPEL, PAISLEY, ON MONDAY, 12th MARCH, 1832, DURING THE PREVALENCE OF CHOLERA. By the Rev. JOHN Mitchell, D. D., & S. T. P. "And as for his judgments, they have not known them."-Psalm cxlvii. 20. In the language of Scripture, judgment is in this sense is apparently abrupt, and invested with a double sense. Sometimes there is a force in the contrast before us, it denotes the decisions of the Divine un- which seems to point to another and a disderstanding judgments concerning per- tinct object. Accordingly, the sense and sons and things, as propounded in his holy spirit of the passage may be conceived to Word. Hence we read of "the judgments be this: Notwithstanding all that God of his mouth." This is that sense which has done for you as his own people-notis generally given to it in the 119th Psalm, withstanding all the privileges you have where the term is synonimous with testi- enjoyed-notwithstanding all the afflic monies or ordinances. At other times, tions you have endured, and all the evils however, and most generally perhaps, the that have been poured out on the nations expression judgment has a different signi- around you for their sins; still you are fication, and refers to those penal inflic-insensible and unbelieving, still you are tions with which God avenges guilt, and disobedient and idolatrous. This is the in the course of which he afflicts nations sense which we shall assume at present, and individuals, wasting their property, and which we propose attempting, through embittering their comforts, and destroying the Divine aid, briefly to explain and to their lives. It must be evident, that the apply. With this view, in the first place, term judgment is employed in the first of I would speak to you a little concerning these senses in the preceding verse, "He the judgments of the Lord, in the sense we showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes have assigned to the expression; and then, and his judgments unto Israel." In the in the second place, I would show you clause we have selected, however, as more when persons may be said "not to know immediately our text, the same word in these judgments.' the Lord, considered in the sense of afflictive visitations poured out upon guilty individuals and communities for their sins a subject unquestionably awfully interesting, on which many misconceptions prevail, on which much scepticism is indulged, and concerning which sometimes perhaps the scoff is raised. the passage before us has a sense some- First of all, then, let us speak to you, what doubtful. Perhaps the meaning may my brethren, concerning the judgments of correspond with the former explanation, intimating that this people, although they had received the ordinances of God, and were divinely and largely instructed by him, had proved themselves but poor scholars, and were all greatly ignorant of the spiritual meaning, and of the ultimate bearing of their own oracles and ordinances; and this, doubtless, is a sense which We are to speak to you, then, of the we by no means reject, as either inappro- judgments of the Lord as inflicted on priate or inadmissible. Yet the transition guilty men. These, we have already said, |