We also learn that holy angels in heaven rejoice greatly in the recovery of lost sinners on earth. Those pure spirits are the friends of men, and the servants of saints. It is probable that they witness the conversion of sinners; and it is probable that they carry reports up into heaven of these joyful events. But what shall we say of the Pharisees and Sadducees? They did not wish to see the conversion of vile offenders; they blamed the Lord of life for mixing with them in company and conversation. May we be saved from their temper and spirit; and with holy angels may we ever rejoice when one lost sheep is found! Amen. SERMON XC. WALKING IN TRUTH. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 JOHN 4. CHRISTIAN Ministers are appointed by the great Shepherd to watch over the souls of men; and the day is fast approaching, when they must give a strict account of the charge committed to their care. The Apostles of our Lord excelled in the discharge of ministerial duties because their hearts were in the work; and those who are called to the same work should follow after their example; and while they are influenced by the apostolic spirit, they will rejoice, like the beloved John, when their children walk in truth. We learn two things from this portion of holy Writ: First Christian believers walk in truth; and, Secondly, this is a source of great joy to their Ministers. I. CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS WALK IN TRUTH. But what is truth? The Bible is a complete revelation of Divine truth; but the truth to which our text refers is the Gospel of God our Saviour; and we walk in truth when we obey the Gospel. This is evident from the application of the word by the apostle Paul: "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?" Gal. iii, 1. Jesus taught the truth in all its beauty and fulness. We examine the works of eminently learned men with great caution, because there is a mixture of truth and error in most compositions that are merely human; but when we read the Gospel of Jesus, we feel confidence and assurance, because he knew all things, and taught the way of God in truth. We walk in the truth of the Gospel, when we believe its doctrines and obey its precepts. Without faith, we live in error; and without obedience, we live in sin. Where these two marks are found, we find genuine Christianity; but where they are wanting, we find gross ignor ance and debasing immorality. But faith and practice should always be united; for it is one thing to hold the truth, and another to walk in it. Too many "hold the truth in unrighteousness." Rom. i, 18. This is to be lamented, and should be carefully avoided; "for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James ii, 26. That we may walk in truth, let us seek Divine illumination. The prophet Isaiah saw the necessity of this, when he exhorted the house of Israel to "walk in the light of the Lord." Isai. ii, 5. Then, having the understanding enlightened by the light of the Lord, and being fully determined to obey him in all things, let us pray for a renewed heart. Thus when David resolved to walk obediently, he put up the following prayer: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Ps. li, 10. And when this is our experience, we walk uprightly, according to the truth of the Gospel." Gal. ii, 15. When we have attained a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, let us be careful to hold it fast. This advice was given by Solomon in the following passage: "Buy the truth, and sell it not." Prov. xxiii, 23. Part with wealth, fame, and life itself, rather than the truth. Be valiant for the truth when it is opposed; let your loins be girt about with truth in the Christian warfare; and do nothing against the truth. That you may prize it and hold it fast, recollect that it makes you free; and that you are sanctified and purified by its hallowing influences. John xvii, 17; 1 Pet. i, 22. We should examine ourselves daily whether we be in the truth; and how it affects our life and conversation. Our capacities are limited, and our knowledge is imperfect; but are our views, as far as they extend, agreeable to the Gospel? Is our experience in unison with the New Testament? Is our conduct, in all things, consistent with the truth? If this be the case, we deny "ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." Tit. ii, 12. We are temperate, sober, and chaste; patient, meek, and gentle; honest, just, and true: and we walk in every duty of piety, but particularly in prayer and praise, in faith and love, and in pure and spiritual worship. These duties are taught by the grace of God that bringeth salvation; and if we do not walk in them, we do not walk in truth. And is truth the rule of our conduct? Then let us cultivate a love of truth; and let us carefully inquire after it. We shall succeed in our inquiries by close thinking, by a careful perusal of the holy Scriptures, and by deep attention to the ministry of the Word. When we discover the truth in the use of these means, let us apply it to practical purposes in all the duties of our high calling. Then we shall build upon a rock, and our superstructure will stand in storms and tempests. And while we walk in truth, we are not afraid to look up to God; we are not afraid to look any man in the face; nor are we afraid of the final issue of all our concerns. But if we walk in wilful error, or in wilful disobedience to well-known truths, we build upon the sand; and our house will fall, and we shall perish under its ruins, when the storms and tempests of Divine wrath shall fall upon us. Let us lay these things to heart, and walk so as to please God, that we may be able to rejoice in him both in time and in eternity. II. CHRISTIAN MINISTERS HAVE GREAT JOY WHEN THEIR CHILDREN WALK IN TRUTH. But what is meant by joy? It implies gladness and exultation, either in the enjoyment of some present good, or in the prospect of some future blessing. This lovely affection exhilarates the spirits of a pious man, even in afflictive and trying circumstances; and produces a flowing tide of pleasurable feelings in the darkest hour of adversity. Thus Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God at midnight, in a dark dungeon, where their feet were made fast in the stocks. Acts xvi, 25. But there is an unsanctified joy in the things of time and sense. Men of the world are joyful when their corn and their wine are increased. Ps. iv, 7. And "folly," in all its abhorrent principles and practices, "is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom." Prov. xv, 21. But this joy resembles the crackling of thorns under a pot, which give a sudden blaze and soon go out. Thus the unsanctified joy of Haman, in the case of Mordecai and the Jews, was of short duration; and that which made his heart glad in the private circle of his friends, brought him to the gallows. Esther v, 9; vii, 10. Pious men have greater joy in spiritual things, than they can have in the good things of this life; for temporal things are of less value than those which relate to eternity; and they pass away like a rapid flood. We joy in the Holy Ghost, whose operations enlighten and renew our hearts; we joy in the God of our salvation, who delivers us in the hour of danger; we count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations or trials, because the trying of our faith worketh patience; and our joy, which is unspeakable and full of glory, is similar to the joy of the blessed in heaven, and is a sweet anticipation of eternal bliss. We are furnished with matter of perpetual joy; and are commanded to rejoice evermore. 1 Thess. v, 16. The joy of Christian Ministers, when their children walk in truth, is like the joy of angels over one sinner that repenteth; and they can say to them with the most pleasurable feelings, "Ye are our glory and joy." 1 Thess. ii, 20. Under the influence of human weakness, a Minister may feel joy when the people praise his sermons, and extol his gifts; but in his best moments, nothing affords him greater joy than the success of his labours in the conversion of sinners, and the edification of saints. He rejoices in the prosperity of believers, as a parent rejoices in the prosperity of his children; for they are his hope, his joy, and his crown of rejoicing. 1 Thess. ii, 19. John, the beloved disciple, whose piety far exceeded that of most other men, had many pure and exalted joys. Among these we may notice his union with Christ; his high and holy calling as an Apostle of our Lord; his fellowship with the church; his spirituality and heavenly-mindedness; reflections on his personal acquaintance with Jesus; and the distinguishing marks of his Master's love to him; with the prospect of a blessed and glorious immortality. Inspired with these joys, and allowing that he had no other, he was happier than the most ele vated of those mortals whose only portion was in the present world, and in such a frame of mind as those joys produced, he might look down on all the mighty sons of earth with pity and compassion. But he had no greater joy than to hear that his children walked in truth. He does not say he had no joy equal to that; but he had none that was greater. But why did he rejoice so much in the consistent character and conduct of his children? The following reasons may be assigned; and these reasons are encouraging to Ministers in the present day. The consistent conduct of Christian believers, and the good works which they wrought, glorified God. This is clearly stated by our Lord himself: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." John xv, 8. Truth was exalted and acknowledged before men by the correct conduct and good works of Christian believers. Truth is lovely when it is expressed by words; but much more lovely when it is exhibited in actions. And does not every man acknowledge the truth before the world, when he is governed by it in his temper and conduct? The ministry was honoured in the sight of men by those Christians who walked in the truth; for the preached word had taken hold of their hearts, and was the guide of their lives. And how can the Ministry be more highly honoured than when it produces these happy effects on the hearts and lives of men? Those who walked in the truth were happy. They had no condemnation; they had no tormenting fear of punishment; they enjoyed all the blessings of Christianity; and they rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. And what greater joy could a Minister feel than that which arose from a knowledge of his ministry having produced those blessed and glorious effects? BAXTER observes, that true Ministers rejoice more for the welfare of men's souls, than in their procuring wealth and worldly honours." Besides, it was matter of joy that those Christians who walked in the truth were useful members of society; and that they did "good unto all men, especially unto them who" were "of the household of faith." Gal. vi, 10. And while they so walked, John had the pleasing prospect of their being his confidence at the coming of the Lord. 1 John, ii, 28. Encouraged by these joyous feelings, the Christian Minister goes forward in his work with increasing ardour. The world, the devil, and sin oppose him; but he fights the good fight and gains the victory." 2 Tim. iv, 7, 8. When bonds and afflictions abide him, he fearlessly pursues his way in the name and in the strength of the Lord. He rejoices in his work, and counts not his life dear unto himself, that he may finish his course with joy, and the ministry which he has received of the Lord Jesus. Acts, xx, 23, 24. Such was the experience and practice of the apostle Paul; such was the experience and practice of John the Divine; and such is the experience and practice of every faithful and useful Minister of the Gospel. The people are truly happy when they are favoured with a Minister who has no greater joy than that which arises from their pious and holy conduct. Their best interests, both for time and eternity, lie near his heart; he carefully teaches them the truth; he remembers them in all his prayers; he visits them in all their afflictions; he sets them a good example in all things; and watches over them in the Lord at all times and in all circumstances. Such ministers are worthy of double honour. 1 Tim. v, 17. Let us obey such Ministers in the Lord; let us never wilfully grieve them; let us remember them in all our prayers; and, above all, let us comfort and encourage them by steady and persevering obedience. Amen. SERMON XCI. THE DAYS OF METHUSELAH. And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. GENESIS V, 27. WHEN man transgressed the law of God in the garden of Eden, he was arraigned at the bar of justice; and being found guilty, this awful sentence was passed upon him: "Dust thou art; and unto dust shalt thou return." This sentence has been executed on all the sons of Adam that have lived before our day, except Enoch and Elijah; and it will be executed on all that now live, or may hereafter live, except on those believers who may be found alive when Jesus comes to judge the world. Some men live longer than others, but all must die. The antediluvians, who lived many hundred years, died and returned to dust. Methuselah, the oldest man, lived many days; but those days passed away, and he died like other men. I. METHUSELAH LIVED MANY DAYS. In the present state of human nature we reckon fourscore years a long life; but Methuselah lived nine hundred and sixty-nine years. It has been conjectured that the years of his life were lunar; but there are insurmountable difficulties in this scheme. If his years were lunar, consisting of thirty days in a year, he only lived about eighty solar years; a shorter period than some men live in our day. And if Moses computed by lunar years, many of the antediluvians had children when they were mere infants; the time of the world before the flood was not quite one hundred and thirty years; Abraham died full of years when he was about fifteen; and Aaron died when he was about twelve years old. If Moses measured time before the deluge by lunar years, and afterwards by solar years, without giving notice of these different modes of calculation, no dependance can be placed on him as an historian. But we may dismiss this subject without any farther observation, and |