II. The manner in which they should be treated. 1. The caution expressed: "Take heed." The caution is not useless; even you may be in this danger. They have been neglected-the Church is guilty-many have grown up children of wrath in consequence-Awful fact! Why take heed, then? Because angels love them, Jesus died for them, and the Father will have them to be saved. "But I have more important business than to teach in a Sunday-school." I pity the man who thinks so. While employed for them you are working with angels-helpers of God. *** No employment can eclipse the object of saving a soul from death. * * * Money given will not do; go out and seek them-the lamb bleats in the thicket, and the wolf is near-fly and save it. Satan says, "It will lift the children out of their sphere," &c. A liar! What, to open their minds to Divine truth? * * No; ignorance will harm them, but never will they be injured by leading them to Jesus. Some say, do not trouble the Master with them, &c. "Suffer them to come." 2. The duty implied as well as the caution expresseddo not neglect them. There is the danger. Not in despr sing them-neglecting them is the damning sin of the world-neglect!! The word despise here means neglect. (See Dives-one instance of neglect.) No oppression is recorded of him, but he did no good.-Neglect his crime, hell his punishment.-When Jesus judges at the last day, will he exhibit a catalogue of crimes? No: "I was hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick and in prison, and ye visited me not." 3. The consequence anticipated in this neglect. "These shall go away into everlasting punishment." You say, "I ought to talk smooth things now. I injure the charity. * * * "I should esteem your favour, but I value the approbation of my Father. Have not I done my duty? You have neglected them-bear with me! Jesus will soon come-he loves these-even unto death. What would you give to Jesus? These children are his representatives. State of the schools.) May our Sunday-schools be nurseries for God! I cannot move you, but two considerations encourage me-I pray to the Holy Ghost for aid, and then simply lay the cause open to the hidden man of the heart. SERMON LIX. THE MORAL ILLUMINATION OF THE WORLD. A MISSIONARY DISCOURSE. Isaiah, lxii., 1.-For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. NEAR Jerusalem a range of mountains called Hermon, of which Zion was one extremity, and was enclosed in Jerusalem; on it the Temple was built. This accounts for the connexion between Jerusalem and Mount Zion. On St. Paul's authority we extend the meaning, both emblematical of the Christian Church (Heb., xi.). We interpret the text of the ultimate glory of that Church.-We may consider, I. The present implied obscurity of the Christian Church. III. The means to accomplish it. I. The implied obscurity is in the prophet's words. The Vulgate version mends it: "The Righteous One and the Saviour."-The meaning is the same as that of the general reading, and implies that whenever the Righteous One and Saviour are hid in the Church there is obscurity, and wherever that Gospel is not preached in which, &c.-The Righteous One and Saviour are involved in obscurity. This Gospel is intended for general distribution—“ all the world." The apostles and the Jews understood it not, but referred it to Judea and to the Jewish nation. God abolished these prejudices, and then they understood the Saviour's words, and entered fully into the work; they exalted in it: "Now thanks be unto God which always caus eth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." Opposition, however, is implied in the triumph, but this was overruledscattered abroad, they went everywhere preaching the word-like the wind it scattered the Gospel seed, and brought forth a hundredfold.-The wilds of the Roman empire blossomed like the rose. Perhaps the temple of God has been gradually rising ever since, though some think otherwise it may demand a doubt whether" he must increase" has not been in continual accomplishment. However, it is certain the light is comparatively under a bushel. We may estimate the present population of the globe at one thousand millions; say six hundred and fifty six millions in the cold, damp grave of paganism not a unit of millions of Christians among them-the rest are without Christ! The earth could not be more cheerless without the sun! One hundred and sixty millions of Mohammedans-coruscations from a marshy soil, leading to the bogs of sensuality. Nine millions of Jews.-Poor people! Their cloud is reversed, and the luminous side is the light to lighten the Gentiles. One hundred and seventy-five millions of Christians of these, one hundred millions Catholics. One thousand millions!! * * The lamp out, and a horrid stench emitted behind the scene. (Chesterfield.) Greek Church forty-five millions. Even in that golden candlestick the light but glimmers in the socket. The remaining thirty millions are Protestants. But if we reckon that England is in this number (and other countries), how many of them are Christians in name only; how small the circle in which the light shines! Dark, dark, dark! There is indeed danger in our congratulating ourselves too much on success. We may, however, inspire hope. II. Her anticipated glory. The burning lamp is a symbol of the presence of Jehovah. Jesus is termed "the brightness of his Father's glory and the express image of his perConnect both the figures in the text.-The Sun of Righteousness shall go forth like the light of the morning.— Like it, son." 1. It shall go forth manifestly. Light maketh manifest. The first effect of it in the heathen world is to show their state and danger. *** God broke the pause of eternity: "Let there be light!"-though still the earth was unfurnished. So the heart is first discovered by the light to be destitute and unfurnished of good, though at the same time filled with every evil temper.* The same light discovers to them their remedy-" the healer of the breach.". 2. Irresistibly as the light of the morning. The powers of darkness long have reigned, and will engage in opposition -enlist auxiliaries. They will seek another Nero to quench the light of Jesus in the blood of his followers, or another Voltaire, ambassador plenipotentiary of hell. But "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision!" Let them forbid the sun to shine--lock up his bed-chamber, * * * —Then may they indulge a hope.No; not even then. 3. Universally-as all the earth turns to the sun, all are visited by the morning light. The prayers of thousands must be heard-the blood of the martyrs under the altar demands it; he will avenge them in the universal triumph of the Gospel-the spirit of prophecy declares it, the bonds of the mediatorial covenant pledge it: "At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." The intercession of the Redeemer secures it: "Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession." The oath of Jehovah certifies it: "As I live, every knee shall bow."-" Righteousness shall go forth as brightness" in all the earth. III. The means by which the work is to be accomplished are indicated in the former part of the text-accomplished by some one being prompted to exert his power and voice: "For Zion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest." Some think these are expressions of Jehovah.-Correct or * Clarke. not, it is a Scriptural truth; it has long lain near the heart of God! exerted his power and raised his voice, &c., all for his Church-he deals with every potentate and kingdom in reference hereto. Others, that Jesus is the speaker-the world is his purchased property through the mediation-but his own world received him not. *** Yet the Father has pledged himself to vindicate his right: "Ask of me, and I will give thee"-"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron."—It is delegated by the Father. The most common opinion is that these words are Isaiah's, as a man of God and as a minister of God. In the same chapter he exclaims, "Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence. And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” It is proper to be used by all who mention the name of the Lord-I. Human agency, then, is the means employed. In Providence God helps man by man-rich or poor. In Grace the same. The word of God is to be carried and held forth as light-the ministry of reconciliation is intrusted to man: "We are ambassadors of Christ; as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God." The language of the text indicates the manner also. 1. It shall be consistent-prayer and exertion-"not hold my peace, not rest."-Thus connected: 2. Affectionate exertions also-from a principle of love for Zions sake. Love is the strongest of all-contribute from this motive. "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth." This ought to be universally adopted by every missionary, every member, every man, woman, child. Let it be my motive in addressing you.― 3. Persevering "until the righteousness go forth."-May we never look back; the next verse assures us of the certainty of the accomplishment. ***Remember what means a God of mercy has employed for our conversion. His light has shined into our hearts. |