Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

pel as the end of the law for righteousness that affords such a view of sin as fills the heart with self-loathing and abhorrence of sin, and thus gently draws out the affections after Christ as a Saviour from sin, as well as from its punishment. When sin is thus hated for its own sake as intrinsically vile and execrable, it will be avoided and its consequences dreaded.

2. The history of Lydia's conversion teaches us the honour which God puts upon his own institutions.

These institutions are his appointed means to bring sinners to the knowledge of the truth. Though he is an absolutely sovereign God, yet he deals with us according to our intelligent nature. Hence he has given us a revelation of his will, which we are commanded to search. He has commissioned certain men to preach his word, to which we are directed to attend. He has made it our duty to seek his favour and blessing by prayer and supplication, and to improve our social intercourse by conversing of the things which pertain to salvation. These and other means possess no inherent virtue; but by attending to them we are in the way of

}

receiving his grace and eternal life*. They who neglect them, on the contrary, have no right to expect his blessing. Let me not, however, be understood as teaching that all who use the means shall be saved. Far from it. Multitudes perish in their sins because they do not use them aright. They either mistake them for religion, or they depend upon their own power to make them efficacious. God alone can enable us so to attend upon his institutions, as to meet with his approbation and secure his blessing.

3. The history of Lydia's conversion proves the absolute necessity of God's agency in changing a sinner.

As he opened her heart, so he must open the hearts of all sinners, or they will remain at enmity with him and die in their sins. In the work of conversion the sinner is passive. He receives the grace of God given to him, which grace makes him alive unto righteousness. Of himself he cannot even think one good thought; how then can he do any thing which is acceptable to God? He is under

• Dr. Lawson has an excellent discourse on the condition and duty of unconverted sinners, in his volume of Lectures on Ruth.

sentence of death by reason of his revolt from his Sovereign. How then can he escape that death, unless his Sovereign remit the offence? His heart is at enmity with God. How can he change himself, so long as his heart is in this state? And who but God can change him? Such are his character, condition, habits, feelings, and attachments, that unless an entire revolution takes place in them all, he must remain under the righteous indignation of God and such is the dominion of sin over him, that nothing short of the exercise of Almighty power can subdue him. The infatuation of sin alone prevents every one from feeling and confessing this truth; and accordingly look to God alone for strength and salvation.

4. This history teaches us the affecting truth that persons may be worshippers of God, devout in their conduct and regular in their external obedience to divine ordinances, and yet unrenewed and unsanctified.

Thousands of this description were found from time to time in the Church under the Mosaic dispensation. Not less is their

number under the Gospel dispensation.

ww

Multitudes following multitudes cherish the hope of eternal life upon no higher or more substantial grounds. They have a name that they live, but are dead; and their death is the more awful, because they think that they are alive from the dead. The words of Christ concerning such persons, have a fearful import, and ought to alarm every one of us, lest we belong to the number; Verily, I say unto you, publicans and harlots shall enter into the kingdom of God before you. There is no way in which an approach to their hearts and consciences can be opened. Wrapped up in their good opinion of their safe state, they see no danger and feel no necessity for alarming themselves. And yet even such persons yield to the Almighty power of the Grace of God. Hopeless as their case seems to human judgment, they are not without the reach of mercy. Lydia's heart was opened, so their hearts can be opened by the Holy Spirit.

As

Lastly, Lydia's conduct, whilst it illustrates the effect of real religion upon sinners, shows the inseparable connexion between faith and good works.

By their fruits, Christ has told us, shall ye

upon

[ocr errors]

know them. In no other way can we prove the reality of our conversion than by doing the will of God. And our conduct must be moral as well as religious. We must do justly and love mercy, as well as walk humbly with our God. The duties which we owe to our fellow men must be performed, as well as the duties which we owe to God. God requires mercy, and not sacrifice. No attendance the ordinances of religion, however, punctual, will or can compensate for a neglect of the offices of kindness, the gifts of benevolence, the displays of gratitude. We are stewards of the gifts of Providence, as well as of the Grace of God. Let this truth be deeply impressed upon our hearts, and whilst we strive to be abundant in religious duties, let us strive equally to be abundant in moral duties. Thus we shall in our several relations and situations adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. AMEN.

« ZurückWeiter »