SERMONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. John xv, 5. Sanctify them by thy truth; thy word is truth. John xvii, 17. SERMON I. DEUTERONOMY xxxii, 47. It is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life. THE honoured servant of God, whose words are here selected, was favoured with health and the unabated force of all his faculties, at a very advanced time of life: and, so far from claiming a privilege of relaxation from labour, he seems, as death approached, to have redoubled his diligence, in order that the Israelites might have the things which he had taught them in perpetual remembrance. The hoary head is indeed a crown of glory, when thus found in the way of righteousness: and "blessed is that servant, whom "his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing." Among other methods of durably impressing the minds of the people, Moses was directed to compose a prophetick song; as poems are generally learned with greater eagerness, and remembered more easily, than other compositions: and at the close of this sacred song he thus addressed the people, "Set your "hearts unto all the words, which I testify among "you this day, which ye shall command your chil"dren to observe to do, even all the words of this ing the full perfection of all that is adorable and ex cellent. The message teaches us our relations and obligations to this glorious God, as our Creator, from whom we derive our being and all our capacities; "in whom we live, and move, and are," and "who giveth us "all things richly to enjoy;" and as our Governor and Judge, to whom we are in all respects accountable. It further assures us, that our souls are immortal; that our bodies will rise again from the dead; that after death is the judgment; and that a state of eternal retributions will succeed to the present transitory scene. And after all the conjectures and boasted demonstrations of philosophers, even these fundamental doctrines must rest entirely on the sure testimony of God: for could it be proved with certainty that the soul is naturally immortal, who could know, whether the Creator might not see good to annihilate it, now it is contaminated with sin? So that in every sense, "life " and immortality are brought to light by the gospel." The same message from God makes known to us his holy law, in its extensive, spiritual, and reasonable requirements, and awful sanction; with the rules of his providential government. It instructs us in the malignant nature and fatal consequences of sin; and gives us a general intimation of the manner in which this destructive evil entered into the world: though it does not satisfy our curiosity by fully explaining that mysterious subject, the difficulties of which are not peculiar to any religious system. But it far more copiously and clearly instructs us in the way, by which we may be saved from sin and misery, which is unspeakably more conducive to our advantage. The scriptures are indeed more especially a message from God to us, concerning the person and salvation of Christ. "This is the record that God hath " given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. " He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."* This is the centre of revelation, in which all the lines meet from every part of its ample circumference. The everlasting mercy of God in purposing the salvation of sinful men; his infinite wisdom, forming the grand design of glorifying his justice and holiness, even in pardoning and blessing those who deserved the most tremendous punishment; his unfathomable love in giving his onlybegotten Son to be the Saviour of the world; the "great mystery of godliness, God manifest in the " flesh," Emmanuel purchasing the church with his own blood; the love of Christ in his obedience unto the death of the cross for us; his glorious resurrection, ascension, and mediatorial exaltation;-these constitute the central and most essential part of the message of God to us. "This," says he, by a voice from heaven, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I 46 am well pleased: hear ye him." Revelation also announces to us our real situation in this world, as criminals condemned to die: "Dust ye are, and to dust ye shall return." This sentence will certainly and shortly be executed upon every one of us; but we are also liable to a more awful condem *1 John v, 11, 12. : |