"Nothing but this realizing, approing faith, will bring peace and holito the soul therefore, "believe in e, though it be against hope:" for all gs are possible to him that believeth.

322

SERMON XVII.

THE EXPERIENCE, CHARACTER AND
COMFORT OF BELIEVERS.

2 TIM. ii. 11-14.

"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us if we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself. Of these things put them in remembrance."

Ir most seriously rests upon every one, who is called to the work of the ministry of the gospel, to be faithful to all, those to whom he is sent; to give to every one his portion of meat in due season; and to state the

plain and simple truth to all with whom he has to do, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. "Preach the word," saith the Holy Ghost: "be instant in season, and out of season: reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine." "These things speak; and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." The Holy Scriptures furnish the ministers of Christ with ample and rich materials for their addresses to all

descriptions of people, and to people under all circumstances. In those sacred writings, they have line upon line, precept upon precept; every thing that is suitable for "doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." My brethren, we cannot open the volume of inspired truth, without being struck (if we have any spiritual discernment) with the wonderful, the astonishing desire which the great God, the Saviour, there manifests for the salvation of sinners, and for the edification of His own believing people. Whatever is necessary in the way of alarm, invitation, encourage

ment, remonstrance, expostulation, is there to be found in most gracious abundance. And it may well be said, on reading the sacred pages, "What could have been done more, that God hath not done?" Well may it be said of those, who are not enlightened, and saved, " ye will not come to me, that ye might have life :" " ye have ears, but ye hear not; ye have eyes, but ye see not; neither do ye understand with your heart."

The text leads us to some very important reflections important, not only as they respect the comforts, but also as they regard the experience, the character, and the general walk of the people of God. I would humbly implore the divine blessing on my present attempt to say a few words upon a passage of Scripture, so instructive, and so interesting. May your eyes be opened, to distinguish things that differ, and your hearts be prepared to receive the word, which is able to save your souls!

I. It is said, in the first place, "if we be dead with Him, (that is, with Christ Jesus,) we shall also live with Him." It is a very common thing, my dear brethren, for people to confess their belief in the death and

resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, at the same time that they know nothing, practically, either of the one or the other. They will tell you, they hope to be saved by virtue of His death; and they believe their bodies will be raised from the grave, by virtue of His resurrection. And here their knowledge and their belief end; as if this were the whole of what the Scriptures reveal and teach upon these most important points. You shall speak to them upon the subject, that a believer is now, at this very time, dead with Christ, and at this very time, risen with Christ: you shall confirm what you advance, by the most pointed authorities from the Holy Scriptures, and from the authorized writings of our own church; and they will be perfectly dumb upon the subject; and will manifest the greatest want of interest in that which is, of all things, the most interesting. Now, whence does this painful ignorance, this insensibility arise? Men are thus ignorant, and thus insensible, simply because they are "dead in sin;" under the full influence of “the carnal mind,” which is death; and wholly destitute of that " spiritual mind," which is