The Christian mast serve God with the faculties of the whole Man. ever it was it originated in themselves. They had no temptation to it, but what arose from the mismanagement of the powers with which God had endowed them, for the government of themselves in obedience to his will. And, it is very likely that, because the temptation and sin were their own, the whole birth and origin of it was in themselves; their nature was thence so depraved, and so opposed to the will of God, that they were no more capable of obeying his laws; and, therefore, their transgression was unpardonable; they never could be reconciled to God, and so long as he continues their existence they must be in a condition of suffering and misery. Here, my brethren, we may observe that, the very desire to disobey God is, in itself, without any ulterior cause, productive of infelicity. For, unless God allow the gratification of this desire, in the prosecution of the rebellious purpose, the desire is disappointed, and disappointment, we know, is pain. Hence, in a society of beings in perfect order with the counsels, and perfect obedience to the will, of their Creator, the sinful associate is not only an The Christian must serve God with the faculties of the whole Man. an unfit member, but, if he could be suffered to abide there, he could not be happy; because his inclinations and affections would be in enmity with all that prevailed there. In this train of thinking, we seem to get sight of the reason, which in our present state will probably never be clearly presented to the understanding, why no means of redemp-' tion and salvation are offered to the fallen angels. We can also more clearly trace the wisdom and goodness of God, in granting the covenant of salvation to sinful man. If Adam and Eve had lived in Paradise unassailed by the Father of Sin, the apostate spirit; we may conceive that they would have continued in obedience to their Maker, and never seen death. They had doubtless power to withstand the temptation; still if they had not been seduced by the arts of the wicked angel, we may, I think, admit the supposition that they would not have sinned. In this supposition nothing appears more befitting the mercy of God, than the redemption which he prepared for them and their posterity. The curse denounced in the event of their disobedience, was necessarily · from The Christian must serve God with the faculties of the whole Man. from the immutable truth of God, inflicted upon them; and the effects of that curse, possibly by the unknown laws of their nature, fell upon all their descendants. By Adam's sin all were lost to the happiness and righteousness in which he was created. He forfeited both to himself, and to his seed, the capacity 'for everlasting progression in happiness, to 'which God in his infinite goodness, and for his infinite glory, designed them. In Jesus Christ they were all redeemed, and this capacity was restored to them. Since, by man came death, saith St. Paul, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For, as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive; first spiritually in the resurrection from baptism to a new life of holiness; and finally in the resurrection of the body from its natural death to a spiritual state of life and immortality. We must, however, bear in mind that, the redemption from the death and condemnation of sin to the life and blessing of righteousness, although universal, is not absolute and unconditional, but under the law of faith. By The Christian must serve God with the faculties of the whole Man. this law, those to whom the gospel is preached, are required so to believe in Jesus Christ, and in every thing that he hath revealed by his apostles and evangelists, that they keep his commandments, and, in their lives follow the example he has left them. Every person, to` whom Christ is preached, is bound to believe in him; all who really and stedfastly believe in him, will love and obey him. Then, by their faith in him they are justified to life, not by that obedience to the moral law, which even the best efforts of our corrupt nature can effect, in a world of sin and temptation. Nevertheless, be it noted, that although man cannot pass through life with unsullied purity of mind and undeviating rectitude of conduct, attaining to a perfect obedience; yet by the powerful assistance which the Holy Spirit is always at hand to administer, in proportion to the sincerity of our own efforts, a very high degree of holiness is possible to us; so that we may proceed from strength to strength far, far onward in the way of perfection. The grace of God is without measure to the meek, and honest, and tractable, and diligent. But he, who The Christian must serve God with the faculties of the whole Man. who is contented with his religious attainments, and strives not to draw still nearer to God, is most assuredly not yet recorded in the book of life. This law of faith is in its operation available not to the professor of Christ only. If it were so; all those who lived before the gospel dispensation, as well as those who never heard of it, would be placed out of the pale of salvation. It is the saving law decreed by the Eternal mind, established at the fall, valid and operative to mankind in all generations. He, that hears and believes the word, is saved by faith. He, that hears it not, may be saved through faith, that is by the law of faith; by that principle of faith which Abraham had being yet uncircumcised. He, who into an honest and good heart receives the seed of the word and bringeth forth fruit abundantly; and he, who into an honest and good heart, receives not that pure seed of the word, yet brings forth fruit of the best seed that has been offered to him, will be equally accepted by the Righteous Judge of all the earth. He, who hears and believes, and he who hears not; but is willing to hear, and would believe, if he |
