صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

was like that of a taper compared with the noon-day sun. The guilt and punishment of sinners are to be measured by the light rejected. "He that knew his Lord's will, and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes." Many in this house have known their Lord's will for years, and have not yet done it.

Were they stupid and thoughtless? So are you. Were they warned of God, and did they slight these warnings? Did they put far off the evil day, and vainly presume that there is time enough yet to secure their immortal interests? The same is true of you. Suppose ye, that they were greater sinners than yourselves? "I tell you nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Inferences.

1. Sinners often talk and complain of the sins of others, when they have not repented of their own sins, and when they are greater sinners than those of whom they complain, and are every moment in danger of perishing forever.

[ocr errors]

2. God does exercise sovereign mercy. When our Saviour delivered this discourse, there were some of his hearers, who were greater sinners, than some in hell. These very persons were indebted to sovereign mercy. Nothing but sovereign mercy kept them from the world of wo.

3. There may be redeemed sinners in heaven, who were greater sinners than some who are now in hell.

4. The chief of sinners may be saved if they will repent.

[ocr errors]

5. The least of sinners will be lost except they repent.

6. There may be sinners now in this house, who are more guilty than some who are in the world of despair.

SERMON XXIII.

The folly of making a hypocritical profession of Religion.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.-MATTHEW xxv : 2.

THE parable from which the text is taken was designed to illustrate the state of the visible church on earth.

All professors of religion are divided into two classes, which our Saviour denominates the wise and the foolish.

It is proposed to inquire

I. What is required in a wise profession of religion? II. Why some profess religion without possessing it. III. Why they are called foolish?

I. That something is required is evident from the distinction made by our Saviour. Though various shades of character may be found among professors of religion, yet all are included in these two classes, the wise and the foolish.

There is peculiar propriety in the employment of these terms. Proper attention to the concerns of the soul is a mark of superior wisdom, because an interest in Christ is of the highest importance. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." So on the other hand, a neglect of the concerns of the soul, is a mark of supreme folly. Sinners, in the Scriptures, are

denominated fools. dom, and sin, folly.

And religion is denominated wisThe distinction between the wise and the foolish may, to our limited view, appear small; and in some instances, it may not appear at all in this world; but in the sight of God, there is a distinction as wide as that between light and darkness.

The distinction does not consist in the fact that one has been baptized, and the other not. Nor

In the fact that one belongs to the true church, and the other not, for the characters described in the parable, are all represented as belonging to the true church-"the kingdom of heaven." Nor

In the fact, that the foolish had been once wise and had become foolish. They were foolish from the beginning.

In a wise profession of religion is implied

1. A strong attachment to the cause of Christ. Supreme love is required. "For he that is not with me," says Christ, "is against me." God requires the heart, and without that, no offering can be accepted. 2. A willingness to leave all for Christ.

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself," &c.

66

"If any man come after me, and hate not his father," &c.

He must be willing to make any sacrifices, which the cause of Christ may demand.

3. A willingness to suffer in the cause of Christ.

"If any man will live godly in Christ Jesus he shall suffer persecution."

He must be willing to endure shame and reproach, &c. 4. A willingness to engage in all the duties of religion.

Without this there can be no evidence of love to Christ, or attachment to his cause.

66

5. Faith in Christ.

Not a mere empty, speculative faith.

"With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." Faith worketh by love, and purifieth the heart.” It follows

6. That regeneration is required. For without regeneration there can be no evangelical faith. "He that believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God." Hence it is evident that without regeneration, there can be no wise profession of religion; because without it there can be no evangelical faith. Nor can there be any love to God. For "every one that loveth is born of God." Those only who are born again, are children of God, and heirs of God;-and they only can do any thing which is acceptable to him. For "they that are in the flesh, cannot please God."

Those whose hearts are renewed; in whom "old things are passed away, and all things are become new," may be said to take oil in their vessels. Their hearts are established with grace. They are children of light, and are prepared to shine as lights in the world.

Let us inquire

II. Why many profess religion without possessing it? The reasons by which persons are influenced to make a profession of religion, may be various. In the primitive ages of Christianity, persecution operated powerfully to guard against a hypocritical profession of religion. But even then the church was not exempt from false professors. Much less can we expect it will be at the present day.

« السابقةمتابعة »