What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it. Even like as a dream when one awaketh; so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.
FOURTH SERIES
SERMON LXXXVII
THE DANGER OF RICHES
For if our supreme delight be in any of these, we are herein gratifying “the desire of the eyes.”. O ye that desire or endeavor to be rich, hear ye the word of the Lord.
SERMON LXXXVIII
ON DRESS
None can easily conceive, unless himself were to make the sad experiment, the contrariety there is between the “outward adorning,” and this inward. quietness of spirit.”. It is giving so much money to poison both yourself and others, as far as your example spreads, with pride, vanity, anger, lust, love of the world, and a thousand “foolish and hurtful desires,” which tend to “pierce them through with many sorrows.” And is there no harm in all this.
SERMON LXXXIX
THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY
It is the manner of the generality of Christians, if they are not obliged to work for their living, to rise,. He “labors not for the meat that perisheth,” (this is the smallest part of his motive,) “but for that which endureth to everlasting life.” And is not this “a more excellent way?”.
SERMON XC
AN ISRAELITE INDEED
Wollaston, in the book which he entitles, “The Religion of Nature Delineated,” endeavors to prove, that truth is the essence of virtue, or conformableness to truth. Then it is that “the love of God also is shed abroad in our hearts.” And according to the degree of our love, is the degree of our happiness.
SERMON XCI
ON CHARITY
There is not a tittle of it in the text: The words of the Apostle are simply these, ou paroxunetai. Faith is the only knowledge, which, in the sight of God, is of great price. This is as certain a truth as any that is delivered in the whole oracles of God.
And it is an allowed rule, that none can exceed in the praise of the founder of his house, college, or hospital.
SERMON XCII
ON ZEAL
But it is difficult; such is the deceitfulness of the human heart; so skillfully do the passions justify themselves. But it is not all that is cited religious zeal which is worthy of that name. For it is a certain truth, (although little understood in the world,) that Christian zeal is all love.
Another of the properties of love is meekness: Consequently it is one of the properties of zeal.
SERMON XCIII
ON REDEEMING THE TIME
But it is objected, “One measure will not suit all men; — some require considerably more than others. Lift up, therefore, your heart to the Spirit of truth, and beg of him to shine upon it, that, without respecting any man’s person, you may see and follow the truth as it is in Jesus. A still greater objection to the not rising early, the not redeeming all the time we can from sleep, is, it hurts the soul, as well as the body; it is a sin.
You must not therefore consider how small a fault it is to rise late; but how great a misery it is to want the spirit of religion, and to live in such softness and idleness as make you incapable of the fundamental duties of Christianity.
SERMON XCIV
ON FAMILY RELIGION
But what is the purport of this resolution, “I and my house will serve the Lord?” In order to understand and practice this, let us, First, inquire, what it is to “serve the Lord.” Secondly, Who are included in that. We may inquire, First, what it is to “serve the Lord.” not as a Jew, but as a Christian; not only with an outward service, (though some of the Jews. It is he that makes the grass and the flowers grow; that makes the trees green, and the fruit to come upon them.
Your son may nevertheless serve the devil if he will; but it is probable he will not.
SERMON XCV
ON THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
To this head is usually referred “the love of money;” one of the basest passions that can have place in the human heart. Indeed, like other diseases of the mind, it is far more violent in some than in others. The will of a parent is to a little child in the place of the will of God.
A wise and kind parent will be equally cautious of feeding “the desire of the eyes” in her children.
SERMON XCVI
ON OBEDIENCE TO PARENTS
To the Ephesians he adds, “for this is right:” It is an instance of justice as well as mercy. It is surely the more excellent way, to do nothing which you know your parents disapprove. Did you point out to that the will of God as the sole law of every intelligent creature; and show them it is the will of God that they should obey you in all things.
Show them the reason of your own plainness of dress, and show it is equally reasonable for them.
SERMON XCVII
ON OBEDIENCE TO PASTORS
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God.” The Apostle here shows, by the latter clause of the sentence, whom he meant in the former. But we may bring this matter to a short issue, by recurring to the very words of the text. This is implied in those words of the Apostle: “Submit yourselves to them;” yield to them; give up your own will.
You cannot but see, that all this is clearly contained in the very words of the text.
SERMON XCVIII
ON VISITING THE SICK
Suppose this representation be true, suppose the Judge of all the earth speaks right, those, and those only, that feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, relieve the stranger, visit those that are in prison, according to their power and opportunity, shall “inherit the everlasting kingdom.” And those that do not, shall “depart into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me;” and think nothing too mean to do for Him. When you find any of them begin to fear God, it will be proper to give them, one after another, some plain tracts, as the “Instructions for Christians,” “Awake, thou that sleepest,” and the “Nature and Design of Christianity.” At the next visit you may inquire, what they have read, — what they remember, — and what they understand.
Even those may remember that excellent rule, “Let our conveniences give way to our neighbor’s necessities; and our necessities give way to our neighbor’s extremities.” And few are so poor, as not to be able sometimes to give.
SERMON XCIX
THE REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS
King say to them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of thy Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”. In the year 1771, the Magistrates of Paris founded an institution in favor of the drowned. In the year 1775, forty-seven were restored to life: thirty two of them, by the direct encouragement and assistance of the gentlemen of this Society;.
He sent those who delivered her from death; at least from the death of the body.
SERMON C
ON PLEASING ALL MEN
Consequently, it ought to be carefully avoided by all those who wish to please their neighbor for his good to edification. If you would please your neighbor for his good, study to be lowly in heart. And while you are pitiful to the afflicted, see that you are courteous toward all men.
Let them inspire all your discourse; continually seasoned with that salt, and “meet to minister grace to the hearers.” Let all your actions be wrought in love.
SERMON CI
THE DUTY OF CONSTANT COMMUNION
If any believer join in the prayers of the faithful, and go away without receiving the Lord’s Supper, let him be. In order to understand the nature of the Lord’s Supper, it would be useful carefully to read over those passages in the Gospel, and in the First Epistle to the Corinthians, which speak of the institution of it. And this great truth, that we are obliged to keep every command as far as we can, is clearly proved from the absurdity of the contrary opinion;.
You answer, “Because I cannot live up to the profession I must make when I receive it.” Than it is plain you ought never to receive it at all.
SERMON CII
OF FORMER TIMES
We allow, indeed, there have been giants in all ages, in various parts of the world. From the time that the Church and State, the kingdoms of Christ and of the. Nothing like this has been seen since the time of Constantine; no, not since the time of the Apostles.
I cannot forbear mentioning one instance more of the goodness of God to us in the present age.
SERMON CIII
WHAT IS MAN?
But what are all the inhabitants of Great Britain, compared to all the inhabitants of the earth?. We may take one step, and only one step, farther still: What is the space of the whole creation, what is all finite space that is, or can be conceived, in comparison of infinite. Thus, in contemplation of the former, he breaks out into the strong words of the text: “When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, What is man, that thou shouldest be mindful of him; or the son of man, that thou shouldest regard him?”.
It seems to be in contemplation of the latter, that he cries out in the hundred and forty-fourth Psalm, “Lord, what is man, that thou hast such respect unto him or the son of man, that thou shouldest so regard him?”.
