Images de page
PDF
ePub

should depart from iniquity;" and that every one who contends for the faith once delivered to the saints, should "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." Can you calculate the evils which have arisen, from the conduct of those professors of religion, who have proved themselves to be, in reality, the bitterest enemies of the cross of Christ? Can you estimate the influence or the extent of the prejudices they have created, the scepticism they have encouraged, the persecution they have awakened, and the aid they have rendered to the cause of the tempter and the destroyer? Be it, then, your solicitude, my christian brethren, that your light may so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father who is in heaven." Be it your concern to " do justly, and to love mercy," as well as " to walk humbly with your God." Let these essential duties of christian obedience be conjoined, in constant and inseparable alliance. Let it never be said, that you are deficient in the principles or in the practice of justice, in your secular transactions, while aspiring to the praise of christian benevolence, or of exalted piety. Let it not be in the power, either of any christian brother, or of any man of the world, to say, that you have injured him, in his fortune, or in his fame, or even in his feelings. On the contrary, "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever

things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Lastly, In the entire conduct of life, let there be a constant reference to death and to eternity.

"Let me remember," said the pious Doddridge, "that, through the mercy of God in a Redeemer, I hope I am within a few days of heaven!" Among the resolutions of President Edwards were the following:

"Resolved; never to do any thing which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life."

"Resolved; to think much, on all occasions, of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death."

"Resolved; that I will live so as I shall wish I had done, when I come to die. I frequently hear persons, in old age, say, how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again :-Resolved; that I will live just so, as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age."

"Resolved; to endeavour, to my utmost, to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven and the torments of hell."

Let such resolutions be ours! Never, indeed,

let us make them in our own strength, but in reliance on the promised aid of that Holy Spirit, who can "strengthen us with all might in the inner man." Let us not think it sufficient to resolve; but let us habitually enter on the work of self-examination, in order to ascertain whether these resolutions have been carried into effect. Let us not only review our conduct, but let us also scrutinize our hearts; and that we may effectually guard against the danger of self-deception, let our prayer ever be :-" Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

LECTURE XII.

THE OPERATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF HOLINESS IN THE DISCHARGE OF THE DUTIES ARISING OUT OF SOCIAL INTERCOURSE.

THE DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES.

EPHES. V. 33.

Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

IN several preceding discourses, I have endeavoured to exhibit the prominent manifestations of Holiness, in the exercise of Self-Government. I now proceed to the consideration of those displays of Holiness, which are required in the conduct of social intercourse. These admit of a triple classification, having reference to the duties of the Domestic Relations; - the duties we owe to our Christian Brethren:-and the duties we owe to our Fellow-men at large.

Among the Relations of Domestic Life, the precedence, in point of order and importance, belongs indisputably to the Conjugal Union.

[ocr errors]

The origin of this most interesting and endearing of all relations, we trace to the wisdom and the goodness of the benevolent Author of our being. It was He who made man,-and who therefore knew best how to consult his happinessthat said: "It is not good for man to be alone; I will make a help-meet for him." If this was said in Paradise, where there was joy without sorrow and without sin, how much more must man require this solace, where both sins and sorrows abound. That we may be prepared to estimate aright the advantages arising from the wedded union, as well as the attendant obligations, let our inquiries be directed:

FIRST, To the prerequisites to the right formation of the Conjugal Union :-

SECONDLY, To the duties arising out of this relation and

THIRDLY, To the advantages resulting from a right discharge of its duties.

FIRST, Let our views be directed to the grand prerequisites.

Without the slightest hesitancy it may be affirmed, that the most important of all these is the possession of real religion.

The individual who is destitute of the essential principles of personal religion, labours under a disqualification for the enjoyment of true happiness, whether in a single or a married state; and

« PrécédentContinuer »